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World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan's record 147, 20 years on - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Twenty years ago, Ronnie O'Sullivan made history with the fastest ever 147 - a record nobody has come close to breaking.
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Twenty years ago, Ronnie O'Sullivan made history with the fastest-ever 147 - a record nobody has come close to breaking.
Watch the 2017 World Snooker Championship live across BBC Sport from Saturday, 15 April.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39577334
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MS-13 gang: The story behind one of the world's most brutal street gangs - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Born in the barrios of Los Angeles, MS-13 has risen to become one of the world's most feared gangs.
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US & Canada
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A string of brutal murders in the US has thrown a national spotlight on MS-13, a street gang that was born in LA but has roots in El Salvador.
The latest was a mass murder on Monday on Long Island, where the bodies of four males, including three teenagers, were found mangled in the woods, according to police.
President Trump tweeted to call the gang "bad". Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to "devastate" it. Both blamed Obama-era immigration policy for its rise.
But what is MS-13 and is Obama really to blame?
The gang began in the barrios of Los Angeles in LA during the 1980s, formed by immigrants who had fled El Salvador's long and brutal civil war. Other members came from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.
The MS stands for Mara Salvatrucha, said to be a combination of Mara, meaning gang, Salva, for Salvador, and trucha, which translates roughly into street smarts. The 13 represents the position of M in the alphabet.
MS-13 established a reputation for extreme violence and for killing with machetes. It took root in neighbourhoods dominated by Mexican gangs, and later expanded to other parts of the country.
According to the FBI, the gang has spread to 46 states.
In 2012, the US Treasury designated the gang a "transnational criminal organisation". It was the first street gang to receive the dubious honour, placing it alongside much larger international cartels like the Mexican Zetas, Japanese Yakuza and Italian Camorra.
MS-13 has been accused of recruiting poor and at-risk teenagers. Joining is said to require being "jumped in" - subjected to a vicious 13-second beating - and "getting wet" - carrying out a crime, often a murder, for the gang.
Leaving is potentially even more dangerous. Large chest tattoos brand members for life, and some factions are said to murder members who attempt to leave.
A 2008 FBI threat assessment put the size of MS-13 between 6,000 and 10,000 members in the US, making it one of the largest criminal enterprises in the country.
It is now larger outside the country, according to the agency. An anti-gang crackdown in the late 1990s saw hundreds of early members shipped back to Central American countries, where they established offshoots. Estimates put the number of members in Central American countries at at least 60,000.
The gang's annual revenue is about $31.2m (£23.4m) according to information from a large-scale Salvadorean police operation obtained by the El Faro newspaper - mainly from from drugs and extortion.
Recent high-profile cases linked to the gang include the murder of two female high-school students who were attacked with a machete and baseball bat as they walked through their neighbourhood in New York last month - a revenge attack over a minor dispute, according to police.
Four alleged MS-13 members were charged with that crime. Another two alleged members were charged at the same time with the murder of a fellow gang member said to have violated gang protocol.
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The same month, two alleged members of the gang in Houston, Texas were charged with kidnapping three teenage girls, holding them hostage and raping them before shooting one dead on the side of the road.
Miguel Alvarez-Flores, 22, and Diego Hernandez-Rivera, 18, laughed and waved at the cameras during their court appearance.
MS-13's motto is "kill, rape, control", according to one FBI gang specialist who investigated the group.
Mr Trump and Mr Sessions have pointed the finger at former President Barack Obama over the spread of MS-13, alleging that his open-door immigration policies fuelled its growth.
But the gang formed and flourished in the US long before Mr Obama came to power. MS-13 was identified as a significant threat in the 1990s, and a special FBI taskforce was convened against the gang in 1994.
"The big surge was during Bush-Cheney when the drivers of illegal migration in Central America grew, when various crackdowns on crime filled prisons to bursting point, and when funding for rehabilitation programs declined," Fulton T Armstrong, a research fellow at the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University, told fact-checking website Politifact.
"I have seen no evidence that the Obama administration can be blamed in any way for the existence or activities of the gang in the US," said Ioan Grillo, author of a book on US gang crime.
The Obama administration also prioritised the deportation of gang criminals, including MS-13 members, in an aggressive deportation program.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39645640
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Why an American went to Cuba for cancer care - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Judy Ingels is defying the embargo by flying to Havana for treatment.
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Magazine
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Cuba has faced more than 50 years of US sanctions. Now, for the first time, a unique drug developed on the communist island is being tested in New York state. But some American cancer patients are already taking it - by defying the embargo and flying to Havana for treatment.
Judy Ingels and her family are in Cuba for just six days. They have time to go sightseeing and try out the local cuisine. Judy, a keen photographer, enjoys capturing the colonial architecture of Old Havana.
And while she is in the country, Ingels, 74, will have her first injections of Cimavax, a drug shown in Cuban trials to extend the lives of lung cancer patients by months, and sometimes years.
By travelling to Havana from her home in California, she is breaking the law.
The US embargo against Cuba has been in place for more than five decades, and though relations thawed under President Obama, seeking medical treatment in Cuba is still not allowed for US citizens.
"I'm not worried," Ingels says. "For the first time I have real hope."
She has stage four lung cancer and was diagnosed in December 2015. "My oncologist in the United States says I'm his best patient, but I have this deadly disease."
He does not know she is in Cuba. When she asked him about Cimavax, he had not heard of it.
"But we've done a lot of research - I've read good things," Ingels says. Since January, Cimavax has been tested on patients in Buffalo, New York state, but it isn't yet available in the US.
Ingels, her husband Bill and daughter Cindy are staying at the La Pradera International Health Centre, west of Havana. It treats mostly foreign, paying patients like Ingels, and with its pool complex, palm trees and open walkways, La Pradera feels more like a tropical hotel than a hospital.
This trip from their home in California, together with a supply of Cimavax to take back to the US, will cost the Ingels family more than $15,000 (£12,000).
Cimavax fights cancer by stimulating an immune response against a protein in the blood that triggers the growth of lung cancer. After an induction period, patients receive a monthly dose by injection.
It's a product of Cuba's biotechnology industry, nurtured by former President Fidel Castro since the early 1980s.
Ironically, Cuba's biotech innovations can partly be explained by the US embargo - something Castro continually railed against. It meant Cuba had to produce the drugs it could not access or afford. And medications like Cimavax - low-tech products that could be administered in a rural setting - were developed to fit the Cuban context.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Cuban cancer drug CIMAvax is bringing hope to US patients in the first collaboration of its kind
Now the industry employs around 22,000 scientists, technicians and engineers, and sells drugs in many parts of the world - but not in the US.
And although the Cubans will not reveal the cost of producing Cimavax, it is cheaper than other treatments.
For Cuba's residents, all health care is free. One beneficiary is Lucrecia de Jesus Rubillo, 65, who lives on the fifth floor of a block of flats in the east of Havana
Last September she was given two or three months to live. What began as pain in Lucrecia's leg, was diagnosed as stage-four lung cancer that had spread.
She had chemotherapy. "That was really very hard," she says. "It gave me nausea, and it hurt. But my kids asked me to fight, so I did."
After radiotherapy, Lucrecia began Cimavax injections. Now she is strong enough to walk up the five flights of stairs to her home, and her persistent cough has diminished. She feels better, more hopeful, and is thinking about what to do next.
"Perhaps I'll go to Spain to visit my kid," she says. "I feel happy, and I'm still dreaming of the future, but I also feel sadness. I've had a lot of friends who've died of cancer, and they never had the chance I'm having with these injections. I feel privileged."
Her doctor is Elia Neninger, an oncologist at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana. Neninger is one of the principal clinicians to trial Cimavax on patients since the 1990s.
"Lucrecia arrived incapacitated by her disease in a wheelchair," Neninger remembers. "Now the tumour on her lung has disappeared, and the lesions on her liver aren't there either. With Cimavax, she's in a maintenance phase."
In Cuba, specialists like Neninger do not talk about curing cancer - they talk about controlling it and transforming it into a chronic disease. She has treated hundreds of patients with Cimavax.
"I never thought I'd work on something that would improve the lives of so many people," she says. "I have stage-four lung cancer patients who are still alive 10 years after their diagnosis."
But mostly Cimavax is proven to extend life for months, not years. And it does not help everyone. In trials, around 20% of patients haven't responded, Neninger says, often because the disease is very advanced, or they have associated illnesses that make treatment more difficult.
Nonetheless, Dr Kelvin Lee is impressed. He is the Chair of Immunology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, where the American trials of Cimavax are taking place.
It is the first time a Cuban medication has been trialled in the US, and required special permission because the embargo prohibits most collaboration and trade.
Cancer immunotherapy is getting more expensive in the US, Lee says. A cheap vaccine that can be administered at primary care level is very attractive. And he thinks it is possible that Cimavax could be used to prevent lung cancer, too.
"If we could vaccinate the high-risk smokers to prevent them from developing lung cancer, that would have an enormous public health impact both in the United States and worldwide."
This has not been proven, however, and the initial US trials of Cimavax only began in January.
There is political uncertainty, too. On the campaign trail before his election, President Trump said he would reverse the thaw with Cuba that began under the Obama administration, unless there was change on the island, which is governed as a one-party state.
"Our demands will include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people, and the freeing of political prisoners," Trump said on the campaign trail in Miami.
So far, Cuba has not made it to the top of his in-tray. There is a large constituency of Americans who believe that Cuba does not deserve the kind of recognition and status the association with the Roswell Park Cancer Institute brings.
But Lee thinks political arguments against US-Cuba collaboration are misplaced.
"The gas we put in our cars, the iPhones we tweet from, the shoes we buy our kids - all come from countries that the United States has fundamental differences with regarding women's rights, freedom of speech, personal liberties. Yet that has never stopped us from working with them in areas that benefit the people in both countries."
For now Bill Ingels, Judy's husband, isn't worried about falling foul of US authorities.
"I told them I was coming for educational purposes," he says. "And I am learning about cancer and medication! I'm basically a very honest person, but if I have to, I will lie."
Ingels will not know if the vaccine has made a difference until she has a scan in three months.
"We feel pretty positive, and we thought this would be a great experience and journey for my family to take together. It's the first time I've felt up since I was diagnosed."
Cindy Ingels, Judy's daughter, is a nurse - she will administer the Cimavax shots to her mother back home in California.
"Even if she remains stable - that it maintains the tumour size, and it doesn't worsen - we'd be happy with that," she says. "If the tumour decreases from what it is now, that would really be a miracle."
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39640165
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Brianna Rollins: US Olympic champion banned for a year for missing drugs tests - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Olympic champion Brianna Rollins is banned for 12 months for missing three drugs tests in 2016 under the 'whereabouts' system.
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Last updated on .From the section Athletics
American Olympic champion Brianna Rollins has been banned for a year for missing three drugs tests in 2016 - one of which came while she was meeting former United States president Barack Obama at the White House.
Another saw Rollins, 25, miss a test to attend 'Brianna Rollins Day' in September in her hometown in Florida.
Rollins, who won 100m hurdles gold in Rio, is banned until 18 December.
She will therefore miss the World Championships in London in August.
"This is one of the most difficult times in my career, especially after having such a great 2016 season," Rollins said in a statement on Instagram.
• None When BBC Sport tried the 'whereabouts' drugs testing system
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) says Rollins failed to properly file her whereabouts information for drug testers.
Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, athletes cannot miss three tests in a 12-month period.
Rollins missed one in April 2016, as she was travelling, and two in September - one when she was visiting the White House and the other when she returned to Florida.
Usada says her results from 27 September - the date of her third whereabouts failure - will be disqualified, meaning the world champion will be allowed to keep the Olympic medal she won in August.
"This is a difficult case because it involves the imposition of a serious penalty on a brilliant athlete who is not charged or suspected of using banned substances of any kind," Usada said in the ruling.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39664382
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Champions League draw: Real Madrid face Atletico Madrid, Monaco v Juventus - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Holders Real Madrid will face city rivals Atletico in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Holders Real Madrid will face rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League - a repeat of last year's final.
Zinedine Zidane's side could become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era in the final on 3 June in Cardiff.
French side Monaco take on Italian club Juventus in the other last-four tie.
The first legs will be played on 2 and 3 May, with the return legs taking place the following week.
Real, aiming to win Europe's premier club competition for a 12th time, beat German champions Bayern Munich 6-3 on aggregate to reach the last four.
Atletico, meanwhile, ended Premier League champions Leicester's fairytale run in Europe, edging the Foxes 2-1 over two legs.
Juventus claimed an impressive 3-0 aggregate win over Barcelona while Monaco defeated Borussia Dortmund 6-3..
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39667252
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How Ferrari gave Sebastian Vettel the chance to beat Lewis Hamilton - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Flexing floors and fuel additives? Not a bit of it - the key to Ferrari's revival is all down to a new way of working and some very neat pieces of design.
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How have Ferrari done it? That is the big question on many people's lips in Formula 1 this year.
Sebastian Vettel is leading the championship by seven points from Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton after two wins and a second place in the first three races. The German is giving every impression of being a serious title contender.
What a difference from last year, when Ferrari went winless, Vettel had a fractious relationship with his bosses and the big question was about whether the most famous team in F1 were disappearing into one of their periodic declines.
Vettel started 2017 with a win in Australia, took a close second to Hamilton in the second race in China and won again in Bahrain last weekend.
Mercedes appear to have a faster car over one lap (in qualifying, for example), but the Ferrari is very strong in races, particularly on the very softest tyres, which the Mercedes is over-heating.
Had the cards fallen differently, arguably either Vettel or Hamilton could have won any of the races. Which just underlines how close it is, and what massive progress Ferrari have made.
What are Ferrari saying about it?
Ferrari have been cautious in all their public pronouncements so far this season - to the extent that there is something of a media blackout, with even the drivers' news conference appearances significantly cut back. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has said almost nothing of consequence at all.
The idea, it seems, is to establish themselves in the season with as little pressure as possible.
When Vettel has spoken, he has not held back in his praise for the efforts Ferrari have made to turn their competitive position around.
"We did a massive stint over the winter," he said after his victory in Bahrain. "Last year was a very good year for us. It wasn't good in terms of results, don't get me wrong, but I think for the team, getting together, a lot of things that had changed now seem to start clicking.
"It helps when straight from the box, in testing, we had a good feeling. We looked reasonably competitive.
"Australia obviously was a massive boost for all the team. The whole factory has really come alive so that's great and we need to just make sure we keep it going.
"I'm really enjoying it; the car has been a pleasure. Things start to click and hopefully that sort of success now in the first couple of races helps us to build up some sort of momentum that maybe these guys [Mercedes] had in the past and the last couple of years. So they will be the ones to beat."
What has happened behind the scenes?
Hard work is one thing. But all F1 teams work hard. Ferrari were working hard last year - and in 2014, when they also failed to win a race.
The explanation for the turnaround is more complex than that, and it starts a year or so ago, in the first difficult months of Ferrari's 2016.
Ferrari were confident heading into last year that they had further closed the gap on Mercedes after a 2015 in which Vettel won three races. The team bosses told president Sergio Marchionne as much, and he came out before the season started and said he expected Ferrari to be absolutely competitive from the off.
The problems started when they were not. Marchionne is an uncompromising Italian-Canadian businessman with a reputation as a hard man with colourful language. His nickname is "the jumpered assassin". He was not happy, and he wanted to know why performance was not what had been promised.
He began a full investigation into how things worked at Ferrari's Maranello factory. He personally interviewed many staff, not just the bosses, wanted to know their thoughts on why Ferrari could not compete with the best British-based teams, and asked for an explanation about why they had a reputation for lack of imagination and innovation in F1 design.
Marchionne decided the design department needed to be restructured, to free up some of the more creative minds and make a less top-down structure.
He identified, he has said, about 20 key "high-potential individuals" to promote and harness. Management was reorganised; the format of meetings, too.
The idea was to make design more flexible, to ensure all ideas were discussed and make the group more open to suggestions. And to encourage a greater sense of ownership and responsibility among a much wider array of people, to avoid the usual Ferrari problem of people keeping their heads down so they could not be blamed for failure.
At the same time, Ferrari undertook an analysis of their weaknesses and concluded three main issues - aerodynamics, especially on circuits that require efficiency, such as Barcelona and Silverstone; tyre management; and gearbox fragility.
That done, they had a redefined baseline focus for 2017.
Is this really James Allison's car?
This restructure took place in the summer of last year. A major part of it was the departure of former technical director James Allison - fundamentally because of a disagreement with Marchionne on details of the restructure - and his replacement by former engine boss Mattia Binotto, who had a reputation as an excellent engineering manager.
F1 cars are a long time in gestation. Even in a normal year, layout is being done in the spring of the previous season. When there has been a big regulation change, as there has been this season, design work starts much earlier. Most 2017 cars have been at least two years in the making.
The teams knew the fundamentals of the 2017 rules as long ago as the summer of 2015 but the regulations were not finally signed off until early March 2016. At the very least, the fundamental concept of this year's Ferrari - its wheelbase, dimensions, basic aerodynamic philosophy and so on - was done on Allison's watch.
He and former aerodynamic head Dirk de Beer left at the same time last July and are now ensconced at other teams - Allison as technical director of Ferrari's title rivals Mercedes; De Beer, who also worked with Allison at Lotus, at Williams.
So Allison, who is one of probably the top two most highly rated design leaders in F1, was at Ferrari for all but the final five or six months of the creation of this car. Clearly, his contribution to it was significant, even if he played down his influence when asked in Bahrain last weekend.
"I left Ferrari many months ago," Allison said, "and joined Mercedes just some small number of weeks ago. And anything that Ferrari has done for this year's car is a credit to the people that work at Ferrari over these months and what they have delivered."
Ferrari have, though, made progress since Allison departed. The car features a number of innovative design interpretations, and it surely cannot be an accident that this has happened in the first season after they restructured the design department with the express intention of being less conservative.
As ever when a team makes a big relative step forward like this, the paddock is a hotbed of rumour as to what they might have done.
People are talking about Ferrari having found a way to make the floor flex for aerodynamic advantage - in a similar way to that in which Red Bull were so successful in the early 2010s. Theoretically, this is not allowed, but everything flexes a bit, and there are load tests conducted by governing body the FIA. As long as a car passes these, it is legal.
Rivals also say that a significant chunk of Ferrari's pace has been down to major progress with the engine. Vettel confirmed this in Bahrain when he said: "We did a very, very good job, especially on the engine side. I think there's been a very big step so it feels great, feels like a lot more power than last year."
Again, there are rumours, this time about fuel additives to make a bigger combustion bang and therefore more power. Again, the FIA does checks and everything has been found to be above board.
The unanswered question so far is whether Ferrari can keep up in the development race, a weakness so far this decade.
What is good about Ferrari's car?
Ferrari's design innovation this year is most obvious around the front of the sidepods, the bodywork that sticks out either side of the cockpit and which house radiators and other ancillaries.
This area is unique - the sidepod air inlets are much higher and shallower than on other cars, and feature unusual airflow shapers at their front. The benefits are that the air has a cleaner route into the sidepods and there is more space under the inlets, through the cutaway section below, for the crucial downforce-defining airflow to the rear.
The result has been a car Vettel is actively enjoying driving, one that suits his driving style, unlike last year.
Vettel is a great driver, but he needs a car to behave in a certain way to be at his best. If a car won't do what he wants, he can get into a downward spiral, as happened last year and in 2014, his final season at Red Bull.
Vettel likes consistent and predictable rear grip on corner entry, so as to enable him to rotate the car early in the corner, get on the power early and therefore increase speed down the following straight.
It was a technique that worked to perfection in the Red Bulls he drove to four world titles, and it is working again this year. The downforce created by Ferrari's innovative design under new rules aimed at making the cars faster and more demanding has been crucial in creating this balance for Vettel.
Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, is struggling, his pace affected by a lack of front-end grip, which has always been his biggest Achilles' heel, and which does not bother Vettel in the same way.
What does it all mean?
Ferrari's strong start to the season led to the first sign that their ultra-cautious approach is starting to peel away and their self-confidence is growing. Following Vettel's victory in Bahrain, Ferrari put out a statement from Marchionne.
"It is, of course, hugely satisfying to be back on the top step of the podium with Seb," he said. "More importantly, however, we are now completely confident that our victory in Melbourne wasn't just a one-off and that we will be at the forefront of this world championship until the last.
"We finally have a competitive car to count on and it is important to recognise the speed with which we implemented the developments demanded for each new race.
"All this is the fruit of superb work at the track and in Maranello, so my compliments not just to Seb for his achievements in Bahrain, but also to the whole team.
"That said, we are well aware we have a long road ahead and know that if we want to get to the most important finish-line of all, we cannot stint on our commitment and focus for a second."
Ferrari's performance is not just good for Ferrari, though; it is good for F1 as a whole.
For the new owners, ensconced only in January, it has given a superbly exciting championship battle to sell to the world.
Ferrari's success may, however, complicate negotiations over the teams' new contracts post-2020, which are already starting.
Ferrari's historic value means that under the current deal they are given 5% of F1's total revenues (which are about $1.5bn, so that's $75m) before the prize money is distributed - plus another $120m or so from the prize fund. Cutting that as part of a more equitable income distribution to the teams won't be easy when Ferrari's value as a stop on Mercedes' domination is so clear.
Beyond the arcane finances of F1, though, most importantly it means that in an era of falling television figures and questions about F1's appeal to a younger generation, two of the greatest drivers in the world are fighting for the title while racing for two of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
On every level, that's good for everyone who has even a passing interest in the world's biggest annual televised sport.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39647299
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Ugo Ehiogu: Former England defender in hospital after collapsing - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu is in hospital after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu is in hospital after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.
The 44-year-old, who is Spurs' Under-23s coach, received medical treatment on site before being transferred to hospital by ambulance, the Premier League club confirmed.
"Everyone at the club sends their best wishes to Ugo and his family," Tottenham added in a statement.
Ehiogu has been at Spurs since 2014.
He made over 200 appearances for Aston Villa between 1991 and 2000 and then spent seven years at Middlesbrough.
He won the League Cup with Villa in 1996 and also with Middlesbrough in 2004.
Ehiogu, who was capped four times by England, also played for West Brom, Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United before retiring in 2009.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39660196
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Geraint Thomas wins Tour of Alps: Welshman the first Briton to win event - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas wins the Tour of the Alps, becoming the first British rider to do so.
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Last updated on .From the section Wales
Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas has won the Tour of the Alps, becoming the first British rider to do so.
Team Sky's Thomas claimed the title by seven seconds after finishing third in the fifth and final stage.
France's Thibaut Pinot, who won Friday's stage, finished second overall with Domenico Pozzovivo of Italy third.
Thomas, who came into the final stage with a 13-second lead on Pinot overall, held on despite numerous attacks, winning his first stage race of 2017.
The Tour of the Alps was first contested in 1962, although it was known as the Giro del Trentino until being renamed for this year's event.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/39659982
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Europa League draw: Man Utd v Celta Vigo, Ajax v Lyon - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Premier League side Manchester United will face Spanish club Celta Vigo in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester United will face Spanish side Celta Vigo in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
The Premier League side have won the European Cup three times but have never triumphed in the continent's secondary club competition.
Dutch side Ajax, winners in 1992, come up against French club Lyon in the other last-four tie.
The first legs will be played on 4 May with the second leg on 11 May, and the final in Stockholm, Sweden on 24 May.
United manager Jose Mourinho won the competition with Porto in 2003 and comes up against La Liga club Celta, who have never won a major European competition.
Ajax, who beat Schalke 4-3 on aggregate to reach the last four, are also experienced European campaigners. They have won the Champions League/European Cup four times previously and the Europa League/Uefa Cup once, beating Torino in the 1992 final.
In the Champions League draw, holders Real Madrid play city rivals Atletico Madrid and French side Monaco take on Italian club Juventus.
Zinedine Zidane's side could become the first club to retain the trophy in the Champions League era in the final on 3 June in Cardiff.
The first legs of those ties will be played on 2 and 3 May, with the return legs taking place the following week.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39668392
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World Championship: Shaun Murphy's 'exhibition' trick shot - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Shaun Murphy pulls off an exquisite "exhibition" trick shot during his second-round match against Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible.
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Shaun Murphy pulls off an exquisite "exhibition" trick shot during his second-round match against Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39660136
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Trump or Trumpism? A conservative dilemma - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Fox News faces a bigger problem than sexual harassment lawsuits: how to cover the man in the White House.
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US & Canada
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As Fox News is forced to reassess its role in American political life, it might ask the question, is this White House about Trump or about the movement he stands for, call it Trumpism? There's a difference. It's the same question millions of voters who supported Donald Trump will soon want the answer to.
For the past couple of decades Fox News has dominated the American cable landscape by successfully combining a coherent conservative ideology with top quality television visuals. The political ideology is talked about a lot and was driven by one man, Roger Ailes who became founding CEO of the channel in 1996. His talent for TV is mentioned less often.
This piece is not about the sexual harassment allegations against Bill O'Reilly or Fox's role in putting women in overly sexual roles on air - that's the dark side of Roger Ailes' knack for producing seductive TV.
When I praise Fox's visuals, I'm thinking of the graphics, the maps, the movement, the speed with which they get video up on air and the relentless determination to make sure the screen didn't look dull, even for a single moment.
The network was revolutionary. Yes, Fox could be lampooned for being too whiz-bang, but don't fool yourself, every other TV producer looked at what Mr Ailes was doing back in the 1990s and they were awestruck. They quickly followed suit as far as their own budgets allowed. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Now Fox faces a different challenge, how to respond to the man in the White House, and the answer to that lies in the broader determination of what this presidency is really about.
Donald Trump was elected to be a champion of the "forgotten men and women" of America. That was his populist promise. He would revive their economic fortunes and return power to the people.
To do so, he promised to be tough on the countries that had stolen those jobs - primarily China. It was a "currency manipulator", he railed, which "raped" America, didn't play fair and should be slapped with 40% tariffs.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Five Trump changes you may have missed
In the old steel mill towns of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and even Wisconsin, they nodded with relief. Finally here was someone who said what they had been thinking for years. It was time to get bearish on Beijing. That's a pretty good example of Trumpism.
Candidate Trump ignored the wise old foreign policy hands who said that this strategy was unrealistic and that it would alienate China's co-operation on other issues, namely North Korea. With the arch-populist Steve Bannon whispering in his ear, Mr Trump continued to say what the people wanted to hear, he promised not to be afraid of anyone, not to compromise on their beliefs and always to put America first. The slogans won him the White House.
The Trump House in the former mining and steel town of Youngstown, Pennsylvania
But once he actually got into the Oval Office and sat behind that historic desk, two things happened to undermine that commitment. First, Mr Trump realised that the world was a lot more complicated than he'd taken time as a candidate to learn. The old hands were right, he did need China to help deal with Kim Jong-un and he wouldn't get that help if he slapped them with tariffs or started a currency war. Second, his approval ratings fell, dramatically.
Although Mr Trump has seen a recent uptick in his poll numbers in the past couple of weeks, he is still at historic lows. This was embarrassing to a man who routinely spent a lot of time in his campaign speeches touting his impressive poll numbers. It was also embarrassing to his family.
The Trumps have built their brand on success. Failure was not a popular option in the family. Inside the White House, the president's daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared, realise that for Mr Trump to succeed, Trumpism may have to go. Or at least, be substantially sidelined. The two liberal, cosmopolitan New York Democrats had never been particularly wedded to the hellfire-and-brimstone vision of America that Steve Bannon described in the lines of Mr Trump's inaugural address. Neither of them are natural working-class populists.
Posters outside the Fox News headquarters in New York City
As they both formally expanded their roles and their presence in their father's administration, a shift occurred away from protecting the ideology to protecting the man. The risk for Mr Trump is that these policy shifts - on China, the Export Import bank, the currency, Nato - risk disappointing his base.
The latest polls show Mr Trump scoring very badly on questions like "shares my values" or "cares about people like me". Many of these people really want Mr Trump to deliver on his campaign promises, not abandon them.
This is where Fox News comes in. Fox did well out of the Trump campaign. It was firmly in the president's camp and his frequent interviews with the network helped drive ratings which helped drive ad revenue. Throughout the Obama years, Fox was the insurgent network of opposition. Now it needs a new role.
It can be a mouthpiece of the Trump administration (though supporting the government doesn't make for the most gripping cable TV.) Or Fox can stick to its conservative roots and champion Trumpism, even when the man himself does not.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39657091
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Germaine Mason: Former GB high jumper, 34, dies in Jamaica motorbike crash - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Germaine Mason, an Olympic high jump silver medallist for Great Britain in 2008, dies aged 34 in a motorcycle crash, say Jamaican police.
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Last updated on .From the section Athletics
British Olympic high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason has died aged 34 after a motorcycle crash in Jamaica.
The Jamaica-born athlete, who switched to represent Great Britain in 2006, won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He was a friend of sprinter Usain Bolt, who was on the scene soon after the crash at 04:20 local time on Thursday.
"Usain Bolt was part of the group that came by and he was very, very emotional, and still is," said Senior Superintendent Calvin Allen.
Senior Supt Allen, commanding officer of the Jamaican police traffic and highway division, told the BBC: "I understand they are very close friends."
He was unable to say whether Mason had been in Bolt's company that evening, or if the eight-time Olympic champion was in a following vehicle.
Mason won Britain's first athletics medal of the Beijing Games, finishing second behind Russian Andrey Silnov.
British Olympic champions Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Denise Lewis and Linford Christie have all paid tribute, with Christie saying he would never be forgotten.
Senior Supt Allen said the former high jumper had been travelling from the direction of the airport towards Kingston when the accident happened.
"Our information suggests he lost control of the motorcycle and fell to the ground and received serious injuries, mainly to his face, head and upper body," he said.
"The evidence suggests he was not wearing a protective helmet.
"It is a very mournful time in Jamaica. The entire country grieves for this standout athlete. It is very, very sad. We want to express our deepest condolences at the untimely death."
Jamaica prime minister Andrew Holness tweeted: "Our sincere condolences to the entire sporting fraternity."
Mason claimed world indoor bronze for Jamaica in 2003 and recovered after suffering a career-threatening knee injury the following year.
He was eligible to represent Britain because his father David was born in London, and he switched allegiance two years before the Beijing Games.
On his Olympic debut, he managed 2.34m at his first attempt, with favourite Silnov the only athlete to clear 2.36m.
British Athletics senior high jump coach Fuzz Caan, who worked closely with Mason at the time of his Olympic success, called him an "outstanding athlete and a truly lovely man".
"He had a wry sense of humour and was a pleasure to be around. He was a great ambassador of British high jumping. It is an honour for us to have him as part of our sporting history," he said.
UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos said staff were saddened to hear of Mason's death.
"Our deepest sympathies go to Germaine's friends, family and the athletics community at this difficult time," he said.
'Definitely one of the jokers of the pack'
Retired sprinter Jeanette Kwakye, who was part of the GB athletics team in Beijing along with Mason, said he was "really, really fun, really, really cool and nice to be around".
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Kwakye added: "The one word that I would describe Germaine was fun.
"He was somebody that was so loveable, really caring and always fun."
She added: "You never really saw Germaine with a sad look on his face. In fact, I think the picture that the media are using a lot is where he's kind of putting his hand to his ear, and I can tell you that was when he was jumping over the high jump bar in Beijing and getting the crowd to make loads and loads of noise.
"He wanted to make sure he could hear them, so he's definitely one of the jokers of the pack."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39657369
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Tiger Woods has back surgery and is expected to be out for six months - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Ex-world number one Tiger Woods has another operation to treat ongoing pain in his back and leg that has kept him out since February.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
Tiger Woods faces a further six months on the sidelines after having another operation to try and cure pain in his back and leg.
The American 14-time major winner has had surgery three times in 19 months.
"I look forward to living without the pain I have been battling so long and to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids and competing in professional golf," said Woods, 41.
Woods is likely to miss this summer's US Open, Open Championship and US PGA.
"The surgery went well, and I'm optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain," said Woods, who will rest for several weeks before beginning his rehabilitation.
The former world number one returned to action in December 2016 after 15 months out following two back operations.
However, he was forced to withdraw before the second round of February's Dubai Desert Classic after a back spasm.
And he was unable to take part in this month's Masters, an event in which the four-time champion has only competed once since 2014.
Woods won the last of his 14 major titles at the US Open in June 2008.
A statement on his website said that patients "typically return to full activity after six months".
This is yet another massive blow to Tiger Woods' hopes of resurrecting his career. It is another lost season, another lengthy spell of rehab and another period in which the leading players stretch further clear of the former world number one.
His main objective is merely a pain-free life in which he is able to accomplish the domestic and family lifestyle most of us take for granted. Returning to the heights of the top of the sporting world seems further away than ever.
It feels as though he is moving ever closer to a painfully anti-climactic end to his career.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39662377
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Norwich City 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Goalkeeper David Stockdale scores two own goals as Brighton lose at Norwich to miss out on sealing the Championship title.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale scored two freakish own goals as the Seagulls lost at Norwich to miss out on securing the Championship title.
Both came from Alex Pritchard shots, the first smashing the bar and rebounding in off Stockdale's back.
Albion's Jamie Murphy had a penalty appeal waved away before Pritchard curled against the post, with the ball again hitting Stockdale and going in.
The Seagulls, who sealed promotion on Monday, were well short of their best.
• None Relive Norwich's victory over Brighton as it happened
Chris Hughton's Brighton needed a win to become champions and came closest to scoring when Glenn Murray saw his header cleared off the line by Jonny Howson.
The ineffective Anthony Knockaert, recently named as the Championship's player of the year, was replaced just after the hour mark, though his side remain seven points clear of Newcastle, who have three games to play.
Eighth-placed Norwich, who cannot make the play-offs, remarkably did not register a single shot on target despite winning comfortably.
The Canaries could have gone ahead early on but Nelson Oliveira could not quite reach Howson's dangerous cross.
Brighton must now wait until at least Monday to clinch the title, as Newcastle must avoid defeat against Preston to take the race into the penultimate round of fixtures.
"A few weeks ago we hadn't beaten a side above us all season - now we have beaten three of them and that is very pleasing.
"I thought we deserved to win, even though I have just been told that we didn't have a single shot on target, unless you count the ones against the woodwork.
"I thought we controlled the game for most of the time. I thought we passed the ball really well, especially in the first half, and also defended well, especially when they were putting balls into our box."
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton on the two own goals:
"That's not something I have ever seen before. It happens to keepers from time to time, but not usually twice in one game.
"Obviously there is no blame attached to David at all - he was just trying to make the saves and the ball just came back off him.
"What I would say is that we were punished for allowing the player to get his shot away by not closing him down on the edge of the box.
"Norwich have got a lot of quality in their side and when that happens you are asking for trouble."
• None Offside, Norwich City. Ryan Bennett tries a through ball, but Nélson Oliveira is caught offside.
• None Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Solly March tries a through ball, but Chuba Akpom is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno.
• None Substitution, Norwich City. Wes Hoolahan replaces Josh Murphy because of an injury.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Mitchell Dijks (Norwich City) because of an injury.
• None Attempt missed. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Bruno.
• None Attempt blocked. Nélson Oliveira (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Steven Naismith.
• None Attempt saved. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
• None Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) 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/39597355
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Manchester United 2-1 RSC Anderlecht aet (agg 3-2) - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Marcus Rashford scores in extra time to send Manchester United through to the Europa League semi-finals at Anderlecht's expense.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Marcus Rashford's extra-time goal sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-final at the expense of Anderlecht on a night of tension at Old Trafford.
The Europa League has acquired huge significance for United and manager Jose Mourinho as it offers a potential route into the Champions League, away from the battle for top-four places in the Premier League - making this victory crucial.
United took the lead on the night and in the tie when Henrikh Mkhitaryan drilled in a low finish in the 10th minute but Anderlecht restored parity when Sofiane Hanni scrambled home an equaliser after 32 minutes.
Mourinho's side were their own worst enemies with a shocking display of finishing as they missed chance after chance, their cause also undermined by injuries to defender Marcos Rojo in the first half and a serious-looking knee injury to top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of normal time.
United were facing the prospect of a penalty shootout but Rashford, a scorer against Chelsea at the weekend, made the decisive contribution after 107 minutes with a brilliant turn and finish from Marouane Fellaini's knockdown.
Manchester United flirted with an exit from the Europa League here - and if they had gone out they would only have had themselves to blame.
As on so many occasions this season, United created multiple chances only to waste the opportunities and leave themselves hostages to fortune and the threatening counter-attacks of Anderlecht.
Rashford, Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba were all guilty of a succession of bad misses as the flaw that has undermined United all season reared its ugly head once more and kept Anderlecht in contention right until the final whistle in extra time.
On this occasion, at least, United rescued themselves with Rashford's goal but Mourinho will know his side must discover the killer touch from somewhere if they are to secure the Champions League place that must be the minimum requirement from this season.
United can celebrate another step towards winning the Europa League and the Champions League place that comes with it - but this may yet prove to be expensive night for Mourinho as the season reaches its climax.
The biggest concern will surround Ibrahimovic, whose knee looked to give way as he challenged for a high ball in the final moments of normal time. He managed to get to his feet and wave away the waiting stretcher but was helped off as he limped down the tunnel at the Stretford End.
Ibrahimovic had actually had a nightmare before his injury but his influence this season has been huge and United will anxiously await the medical update.
Rashford has delivered against Chelsea and here against Anderlecht, offering the pace and movement which the 35-year-old Swede cannot, but the loss of Ibrahimovic would still be a setback of major significance after his 28 goals this season.
And there will be almost equal concern about the injury to Rojo that saw the central defender taken off on a stretcher in the first half. He had received lengthy treatment previously before collapsing in a second challenge. United are already without injured central defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, so they can ill-afford to lose Rojo.
This was a vital victory for Manchester United - but it may yet be victory at a heavy price.
Mourinho still on course
When Mourinho was appointed United manager, it was with the express intention of bringing more trophies to Old Trafford - but also putting the club back in the Champions League.
Mourinho may be taking the scenic route and learning to love a competition he derided for so long, but with the fight for the top four in the Premier League so tight and with United facing tough trips to Manchester City and Arsenal in the run-in, the Europa League provides a welcome safety net.
The poor relation of European football's competitions has suddenly acquired crucial status at Old Trafford, as the celebrations at the conclusion of extra time proved.
Mkhitaryan among the goals again. The stats
• None Jose Mourinho has won his past nine European home games as manager, including all six with Man Utd this season.
• None Man Utd are unbeaten in their past 26 games in all competitions at Old Trafford (W17 D9); their longest unbeaten run since October 2011 (37 games).
• None Anderlecht have never won in 18 previous away games against English sides (D2 L16), conceding in every contest.
• None Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored in five of his past six Europa League games.
• None Mkhitaryan has scored in three successive appearances (all comps) for Man Utd for the second time this season.
• None Only Genk (25) and Roma (24) have scored more goals in the Europa League this season than Anderlecht (23).
Manchester United switch their focus back to the Premier League as they travel to Burnley on Sunday (14:15 BST) before travelling to Manchester City on 27 April (20:00).
• None Attempt missed. Kara (RSC Anderlecht) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ivan Obradovic.
• None Offside, Manchester United. Henrikh Mkhitaryan tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.
• None Attempt blocked. Uros Spajic (RSC Anderlecht) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
• None Attempt saved. Frank Acheampong (RSC Anderlecht) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kara with a headed pass.
• None Attempt saved. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
• None Goal! Manchester United 2, RSC Anderlecht 1. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marouane Fellaini with a headed pass. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39611675
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The couple who want to rebuild their shattered city - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
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Magazine
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Someday, what seems like Syria's forever war will end. Then the focus will shift to rebuilding a country shredded and scarred by conflict. A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
"It's not easy to rise from the ruins, it's not easy," reflects Marwa al-Sabouni.
We're standing in the cool dark depths of a hammam - a public bath dating back to Roman times in the old quarter of Homs. Its thick stone walls are now rough blotches of black and brown, dappled by shafts of light streaming through holes in a domed ceiling designed to draw light into this ancient warren.
The history within these walls is even darker.
"This was a major battleground," Sabouni explains as we walk through the hammam's main chamber, with what remains of a water fountain at its centre.
The debris of recent battles has been slowly cleared since two years of fierce clashes in the Old City area ended in 2014 when the government took back what had been a rebel-held enclave of Syria's third city.
"So many of us didn't even know this beautiful hammam, and so many other parts of our heritage, existed before the war," Sabouni says.
"It was neglected and then destroyed before we had to chance to know it."
Sabouni has taken me on a walk to illustrate some of the main ideas in her acclaimed book, The Battle for Home. An evocative memoir of her family's experience of living through a punishing war in their city, it's also an architect's vision of how to rebuild Syria to help mend its wounds and avoid errors of the past.
One of her biggest allies is fellow architect Ghassan Jansiz - who happens to be her husband. Their ideas about architecture brought them together as students.
They remained with their two young children in a city which saw some of the first protests and the most vicious fighting of the war.
This 2,000-year-old hammam is our first stop on Sabouni's itinerary as we set out to explore the souk, a sprawling market that was once the vibrant heart of the Old City.
Its labyrinth of alleyways is still largely deserted with most shops shuttered, or shattered by the gunfire and explosions.
Syria's destructive conflict has been fuelled by many faultlines. Sabouni says architecture is one of them.
"Of course, I'm not saying that architecture is the only reason for the war, but in a very real way it accelerated and perpetuated the conflict," she explains.
Her book chronicles the rise, over the past century, of soulless tower blocks and urban sprawls that effectively created sectarian ghettos and eroded shared public spaces which had long shaped Syrian society. Sabouni sees the built environment as a crucible for the frictions that led to civil war.
A meander through Homs's old market is also a journey further back in time, through thousands of years of Syrian history and successive empires that left their mark. In this rich story, Sabouni finds lessons for a more inspired and inclusive way of living.
"Certain architectural elements from different eras are all incorporated within the same structures and they don't cancel each other out," she explains as she leads me to what she calls a "hidden house."
A long dimly lit corridor leads into an exquisite courtyard with leafy fruit trees dotted with oranges. A sudden burst of bright colour surprises, as a small symbol of renewal.
"You see, this is what I talk about in the book," Sabouni exclaims.
"We had something very beautiful, very ancient and very harmonious interwoven in our lives, in our daily lives," she says, making her point that Syria's precious world heritage lies not only in famed sites such as the Roman ruins of Palmyra, but in its everyday social fabric.
"We vandalised a lot of it, and we mistreated a lot of it, so maybe we have the chance to start over now."
In another corner of the market, Jansiz shows me another hammam dating from the days of the Ottoman empire.
Its vaulted ceilings with intricate patterns of holes creates a dance of circles of light on the stone walls and floor.
But it's a pattern of light caused by damage rather than design which provides a small example of how to build from the ruins. The market's metal roofs - punctured by bullets and shrapnel - inspired Jansiz's work on the first rebuilding project in the Old City funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
On the day we visit, the project is a hive of activity. Workmen in blue overalls are putting the finishing touches on the new patterned screen now arching over the alleyway at one of the market's main entrances.
"Rebuilding is not just about stones," explains Jansiz, who was the lead architect on the first phase of the project.
"This market wasn't just a place to sell and buy stuff. It was also a social hub where people from all social and religious groups would spend time with each other."
Both Jansiz and Sabouni underline how the damage to Syria's social fabric is far deeper even than the endless ruins in pulverised neighbourhoods.
"All the workers you see around you are from Homs," Jansiz adds. "They understand this city and understand its pain."
The long arcades of shuttered shops bear silent testimony to this aching sense of loss. Only about 30 out of nearly 5,000 have reopened.
Some shopkeepers can't afford to rebuild, or await electricity and other services. Some sided with the rebels and were forced to flee, and are now unable or unwilling to return.
With still no end in sight to this war, major Western donors still resist putting money for reconstruction into areas now back in government hands.
"So far we're only focusing on limited rebuilding to provide some support and a bit of hope," UNDP Country Director Samuel Rizk tells me.
But the EU recently began to carefully raise the prospect of reconstruction funds, if and when a hesitant process of political talks with the opposition makes significant progress.
And a Chinese delegation was in Damascus this week to discuss future investments in industries and infrastructure.
There are already hints of conflicts to come over contracts and concepts for a post-war Syria.
Even the first phase of this small project to rebuild a roof in the Old City ended up being clouded by disagreements.
Sabouni believes Syrians must begin to imagine a different future.
"It may sound so sophisticated or a luxury to talk about architecture," she says. "But if we don't think about it, I think we will miss the chance to rebuild it in the right way."
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39671004
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Fed Cup: GB women can end 24-year World Group absence by beating Romania - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Great Britain head into their Fed Cup tie with Romania as underdogs as they look to return to World Group for first time in 24 years.
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Website: Live streaming and text commentary service will be available on both Saturday and Sunday on the BBC Sport website
It's 24 years since Great Britain's women last contested a Fed Cup World Group tie, although that is very recent history to the residents of the Black Sea resort they find themselves in this weekend.
Constanta is the oldest continually inhabited city in Romania. The sun will soon be beating down on the thousands of holidaymakers who flock here every summer, although these early British tourists have been treated to rain, strong winds, single digit temperatures - and even the occasional flurry of snow.
The outdoor clay court looked very sorry for itself on Thursday and Friday, as the players were forced under cover.
For the third time in six years, Britain are a play-off win away from the World Group. They were well beaten in Sweden in 2012, and then again in Argentina in 2013, and have once again travelled as underdogs.
But they have at least earned themselves the opportunity after successfully negotiating a week of Euro Africa Zone qualifying matches in the Estonian capital Tallinn in February. It is a week which does little for the exposure of the Fed Cup and ends most countries' involvement for the year before the daffodils have come into bloom.
"I think it's damaged the competition if I'm perfectly honest," GB's captain Anne Keothavong said told BBC Sport in Constanta.
"There's no momentum if you look at where we have been in recent years. We've been in a group where there have been 15 other nations and only two of those nations go through for a chance to even play for a World Group position.
"It's been notoriously tough and one we have struggled with, and even this year - with a top-10 player - we only just managed to do that in a deciding doubles match."
Johanna Konta, partnered by Heather Watson, lost the first set and twice had to recover from a break of serve down in the decider to win that match with Croatia and set up this play-off tie.
Romania boast a strong line-up. Simona Halep, who will open the tie against Watson at 10:00 BST on Saturday, can be horribly inconsistent but she is the world number five, the French Open runner-up of 2014, and a major star in her home city of Constanta.
Every other member of their team is a top-100 singles player, while Britain - after Watson's recent fall in the rankings - has just the one.
But that 'one' is some player.
Konta is the world number seven and third in the annual points race after her victory in the Miami Open earlier this month. Halep finds herself at 44th in the same list and has lost both her matches to Konta, although this will be a first meeting on clay, which is very much the Romanian's favourite surface.
Having a player of that ability - who could well play two singles as well as the doubles this weekend - opens up exciting possibilities for the team. The 11 points Andy Murray contributed as Britain won the Davis Cup in 2015 may never be matched by another British player, but Keothavong recognises the contribution made by her number one.
"She brings a lot to the team," the captain agrees.
"Just the way she is, the way she operates and the level she demands from everyone is great, and hopefully it filters down to the other players and inspires the others to really step up."
And Fed Cup can be a two way process. Konta described the week in Estonia as "one of the most adrenalin driven weeks I've experienced in a while."
"I felt I took away a lot of really positive emotion, and a lot of new experiences," she continued.
"The adrenalin and the nerves you get during Fed Cup are unlike others you experience during the season, and I really really enjoyed that."
But will Konta - who plays world number 62 Sorana Cirstea in Saturday's singles after Romania made a late change from Irina-Camelia Begu - get to feel that on a regular basis, and will the competition become as relevant to British audiences as the Davis Cup has been in recent years?
If Britain lose this weekend, they will return to the 16-team Euro Africa Zone shoot-out in February 2018, but if they win they could start next year as one of the 16 teams which will contest the trophy.
As things stand, the winners will be promoted to World Group 2, but the International Tennis Federation wants to merge the two existing World Groups to form an elite 16 team top tier to mirror the Davis Cup.
The semi-finals and final would be played in one city, in one week, at the end of the season - but all of this is subject to the approval of the ITF's member nations at August's AGM in Ho Chi Minh City.
One other incentive this weekend is the possibility of a home tie next February. Since Monique Javer, Clare Wood and Amanda Grunfeld dispatched Turkey in Nottingham in May 1993, Britain have played every single Fed Cup tie on the road.
Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Malta, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Turkey have many charms. But next year, there really would be no place like home.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39670884
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European Championships: Ellie Downie is first Briton to win all-round gold - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Ellie Downie is the first Briton to win all-around gold at a major international championship - with victory at the European Championships.
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Last updated on .From the section Gymnastics
Ellie Downie has become the first British gymnast to win all-around gold at a major international championship - with victory at the European Championships.
The 17-year-old was in second place going into the final apparatus but beat Hungary's Zsofia Kovacs to the title.
Briton James Hall won all-around bronze in his first major senior competition.
The 21-year-old scored 84.664 to finish behind gold medallist Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine, and Russia's Arthur Dalaloyan.
"I'm speechless, so happy. It's just a massive thing and I don't think I'll realise how big for a while," Downie told BBC Sport.
"That was probably one of the hardest competitions I've done and when the score came through I was speechless."
GB's Joe Fraser, 18, came fifth in his first senior year, scoring 82.982, while 16-year-old Alice Kinsella came 10th in the all-round event.
"To come to a European Championships, do my best gymnastics and come away third, I can't get my head around it," Hall said.
Hall has a world team silver medal to his name and was at the Olympic Games in Rio last summer.
However, he was reserve in both competitions and did not compete.
Find out how to get into gymnastics with our special guide.
"My first senior major and I've shown the world what I'm made of. I'm so happy. I can't believe it," he said.
The Kent gymnast qualified third best and improved his overall score in the final, with increased apparatus scores on floor, pommel, rings and parallel bars.
"In the training gym I was thinking 'just go through the same as qualifying and nothing is impossible'," he said.
"I started hitting floor, hitting pommel, did my best rings and I thought nothing could stop me after that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/39668194
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Ugo Ehiogu: England boss Gareth Southgate 'stunned' by death of former team-mate - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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England manager Gareth Southgate says he is "stunned" by the death of former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough team-mate Ugo Ehiogu.
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England manager Gareth Southgate says he is "stunned" by the death of former team-mate Ugo Ehiogu.
Former England defender Ehiogu died at the age of 44 on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest the previous day.
Southgate and Ehiogu formed a centre-back pairing for almost 10 years at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, winning the League Cup together at both clubs.
"He was a gentle giant away from football, he was a colossus on the pitch," Southgate said.
Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Saturday (17:15 BST) will see both teams wearing black armbands and a minute's applause before kick-off, with Villa's derby against Birmingham following suit on Sunday.
Ehiogu, who was Tottenham's Under-23s coach, was taken to hospital on Thursday after collapsing at the club's training ground, but a statement said he had died in the early hours of Friday morning.
Capped four times by England, Ehiogu made over 200 appearances for Villa between 1991 and 2000 and then spent seven years at Boro. The defender also played for West Brom, Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United, before retiring in 2009.
"I'm stunned and deeply saddened by Ugo's passing and clearly my initial thoughts are with his wife Gemma, his children and his family.
"I know that football will be grieving because he was so highly respected by everybody he worked with and losing him at such a young age is difficult to come to terms with.
"Most importantly, he was a gentleman and he is one of those characters that people would find it difficult to have anything bad to say about him.
"I probably played more games with Ugo than anybody else in my career and while in many ways he was a gentle giant away from football, he was a colossus on the pitch. It felt like a true partnership with Ugo because we were prepared to put our bodies on the line for each other.
"We shared highs, lows and won a couple of trophies together with Villa and Boro and it's those memories that I will always cherish when I think of Ugo.
"He was one of the most professional people I played with in terms of how he applied himself to his job and it was great to see him progressing through the coaching pathway with that thirst for learning.
"I've spoken to several of our former team-mates today and there's just a sense of disbelief that we're having these conversations.
"Ugo was a credit to football, a credit to his family and he will be missed by everybody who was lucky enough to know him."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39670619
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Exclusive: Westminster attack prompted playwright to consider rewriting comedy - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Oscar-winning writer of The Philanthropist was worried references to an attack on Parliament was in poor taste.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Call the Midwife's Charlotte Ritchie is part of the cast for The Philanthropist
The Oscar-winning writer of West End play The Philanthropist contemplated rewriting his 1970 comedy in the wake of last month's Westminster attack.
Christopher Hampton was concerned the play's references to a fictional attack on Parliament would be in poor taste.
He said: "I said to Simon Callow, quite seriously, maybe we should change it."
Yet Callow, who directed the revival at London's Trafalgar Studios, said it was "important" the play be staged as originally seen.
Christopher Hampton won an Oscar for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons
"Christopher was perfectly willing to tone it down," said the actor and director after the play's opening night on Thursday.
"But I think it's very important there's this big shock in the play, that the characters then completely dismiss."
Lily Cole is also in the play...
... along with Matt Berry and Simon Bird
Set in Oxford in the early 1970s, The Philanthropist depicts a group of self-absorbed academics who have little interest in the wider world.
The play begins with news that a man armed with a machine-gun has killed the prime minister inside the House of Commons, along with a number of his front bench colleagues.
"The play is about how insulated and cocooned you can be in certain parts of life," said Hampton, who won an Academy Award for writing 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons.
"Therefore, I wanted to have bizarre things going on in the outside world."
Simon Bird, who plays lead character Philip, said it had been "shocking and jarring" for a real-life attack to occur "just down the road" from the play's West End home.
"The content of the play is bizarrely topical," said the star of Channel 4 sitcoms The Inbetweeners and Friday Night Dinner.
"It takes place in the backdrop of terrorist attacks and political turmoil, which makes it feel like it was written yesterday."
Four pedestrians were killed last month after Khalid Masood drove his car along the pavement on Westminster Bridge.
He then entered the grounds of the Palace of Westminster and fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead.
Nicki Minaj's video was partly shot on the south side of the River Thames looking back at Westminster Bridge
Pop star Nicki Minaj faced criticism on social media this week for including shots of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster in the video for her song No Frauds.
The Trafalgar Studios, formerly known as the Whitehall Theatre, are located a short distance away from where the events of 22 March took place.
Last seen in London in 2005, The Philanthropist has traditionally been staged with actors considerably older than the characters they are playing.
The late Alec McCowen played Philip in the original Royal Court production, while Matthew Broderick took the role when it was revived on Broadway in 2009.
"The characters are between 25 and 33, yet in the past they've always cast very skilled actors in their 40s," said Hampton.
"This production is different because the cast are the correct age. In a curious way, it feels much more like the play I wrote."
Bird's co-stars include Matt Berry from Channel 4's Toast of London, model turned actress Lily Cole and Call the Midwife cast member Charlotte Ritchie.
It was recently revealed that Call the Midwife is to have its first regular black character - a West Indian nurse whom Ritchie predicted would be "a very good addition to the cast."
The Philanthropist runs at the Trafalgar Studios until 22 July.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
• None First black nurse for Call the Midwife
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39659068
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Ugo Ehiogu dies: Former England defender 'a hugely popular football figure' - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44, enjoyed a fine career and seemed destined for more success as a coach, writes Phil McNulty.
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Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest, was not just a highly accomplished and successful defender who was forging a growing reputation as a coach - he was a hugely popular figure within the game.
The reaction to his death after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre, the club where he was an under-23s coach, is a reflection of the esteem in which Ehiogu was held.
Ehiogu was a powerful, imposing figure as a player and a well-rounded character away from the game, making a career in the music business while also shaping the future of the next generation at Spurs.
He was a player who should have won many more than his four England caps - but still enjoyed a fine career and seemed destined for more success in the next stage of his development as an important member of the Spurs backroom team before his death.
Ron Atkinson was one of Ehiogu's biggest champions and can regard the £40,000 it took to take the teenager from West Bromwich Albion to Aston Villa in August 1991 as one of his most astute moves in the market.
Ehiogu was raw but the potential was there and even through some uneasy early moments in his career, Atkinson dismissed the doubters and never wavered in his belief that the Homerton-born powerhouse - a product of the Senrab Football Club that could count the likes of John Terry, Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe among its former players - would be a success.
And his judgement, both in making the bargain deal and mapping out Ehiogu's future, was accurate.
Current Villa manager Steve Bruce, who played against Ehiogu for Manchester United, said: "Big Ron bought him and what a bargain. He was a great player."
Atkinson recalled "the nervous 18-year-old" who arrived but who then became an integral component of a fine era at Villa Park.
He formed one half of a formidable central defensive partnership with Paul McGrath, whose brilliance and experience aided his development, and also played in the Villa rearguard alongside England manager Gareth Southgate.
The trio were part of the Villa team that won the League Cup at Wembley in March 1996 with a 3-0 victory over Leeds United, cementing his status with the Holte End, who regarded him as a reassuring and inspirational presence in the side throughout more than 200 appearances.
Andy Townsend, who played in that League Cup-winning side, says: "Like all younger players it wasn't easy for him at the start of his Villa career - but in the end you saw that nobody was going to get the better of him.
"He was a commanding and formidable in the air, a player that every team would like to have at the back."
Ehiogu was alongside Southgate when Villa lost the 2000 FA Cup final - the last played under Wembley's Twin Towers - 1-0 to Chelsea and the pair were to link up once again at Middlesbrough.
That showpiece was Ehiogu's last fling with Villa as he soon moved on to fresh pastures and a glorious, unexpected new chapter in his career.
Middlesbrough signed many outstanding players during Bryan Robson's reign as manager - and Ehiogu can take his place near the top of the list following his move from Villa to Teesside for a then club record fee of £8m in October 2000.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson was prepared to bankroll the acquisition of high-profile, high-quality signings and Ehiogu fell perfectly into that category as the expenditure was rewarded with performances that ensured he will always be fondly remembered at the Riverside.
He did start to suffer with the knee problems that would undermine the latter days of his career but it was at Boro where his friendship with Southgate continued to blossom, first as team-mates when the latter made the same journey from Villa as Steve McClaren's first signing as manager in July 2001, and then when Southgate took over as manager.
The old defensive firm was soon back in action and providing the platform of solidity, experience and ability that culminated in both playing key roles as Boro won their first major trophy in 128 years with a 2-1 in over Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the 2004 Carling Cup final.
It was a Boro side laced with quality players, such as Gaizka Mendieta and Juninho. Mark Schwarzer was their outstanding keeper and he remembers the cool colleague who exuded authority, saying: "He was always calm and reassuring. He was not too vocal but spoke when he needed to speak. He was a completely dedicated footballer."
Boro entered the uncharted waters of European glory to reach the 2006 Uefa Cup final, but it was to provide a signal that Ehiogu's time at his peak was drawing to a close. They were thrashed 4-0 by Sevilla in Eindhoven and he was only an unused substitute.
As at Villa, Ehiogu will be associated with success at Boro and chairman Gibson delivered a warm tribute when he said: "Ugo was one of the heroes at Cardiff when the club won its only ever major trophy, Ugo and Gareth Southgate were the rock on which Steve McClaren brought the club the best period in its history.
"He wasn't just a good footballer. He was a great man."
Ehiogu won only four England caps, a victim of injuries and the sheer quality of competition from the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell - but he still played his part in a piece of history.
He was named as a substitute by Sven-Goran Eriksson - the side's first foreign manager - for his first game in charge against Spain at Villa Park on 28 February 2001, scoring after coming on.
Ehiogu also gave away a penalty but keeper Nigel Martyn saved Javi Moreno's spot-kick.
Ehiogu's struggle with knee problems meant his career came to a low-key close with loan spells at Leeds United, Rangers and Sheffield United, retiring in August 2009 after a trial with MK Dons.
He was still not prepared to go quietly, however, and revived memories of his glory days with a goal that ensured he will be remembered forever at Ibrox, a spectacular overhead kick that gave Rangers a 1-0 derby win against Celtic in March 2007.
It was voted 'goal of the season' by Rangers fans and the surprised goalscorer smiled as he said: "I couldn't have written a better script. It was probably my best goal ever. A surreal moment."
Once again, the towering defender had made his presence and personality felt when it mattered.
As he moved into coaching at Spurs, initially working at the Premier League club's academy under Chris Ramsey and Tim Sherwood, Ehiogu's love of music started to play a greater role in his life.
The man who admitted he "used to get psyched up to a bit of Bon Jovi before games" helped set up Dirty Hit, a record label with the likes of The 1975, Ben Khan, Superfood and Fossil Collective on its books.
It was the mark of a personality who enjoyed life and pursued wider interests outside football. He said: "My love of football is massive but my love of music is amazing. You have people eating out of your hands when you're singing."
Ehiogu was a musical mentor as well as a wise counsel and guide to the young players at Spurs.
He was a distinguished man as a player and coach in a career carried out with professionalism, dignity, respect and success.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39666072
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Ugo Ehiogu: Former England defender dies after suffering cardiac arrest - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu dies aged 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.
A Spurs statement said Ehiogu died in hospital in the early hours of Friday.
Ehiogu, who was Spurs' Under-23s coach, was capped four times by England.
"Words cannot express the shock and sadness that we all feel at the club," said Tottenham's head of coaching and development John McDermott.
Ehiogu made over 200 appearances for Aston Villa between 1991 and 2000 and then spent seven years at Middlesbrough.
He won the League Cup with Villa in 1994 and 1996, and also with Boro in 2004.
The centre-back also played for West Brom, Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United, before retiring in 2009. He began coaching at Tottenham in 2014.
Ehiogu was a co-founder of music label Dirty Hit, which has British indie band The 1975 on its books.
He married his wife, Gemma, in 2005. He had two children - son Obi Jackson and daughter Jodie.
Villa will hold a minute's applause before their Championship match against Birmingham City on Sunday, with both sets of players to wear black armbands.
The same tribute will be paid before Spurs' FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Spurs' reserve team game at Manchester United on Monday has been postponed.
And all of the club's weekend academy matches have also been called off.
"I can't fathom he's no longer here," former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who won the League Cup with Ehiogu, told BBC Radio 5 live.
He added: "He was a tremendous person, a tremendous character, a dedicated footballer and dedicated to his family. He was a great guy to be around, so full of life and so enthusiastic.
"As a centre-back, I rate him right up there. He suffered from injuries throughout his career, but with more consistency he could have added to his England caps.
"He was very much a family man and it's such a shame to leave such a young family behind."
Former Aston Villa team-mate Andy Townsend told BBC Radio 5 live: "He was a defender every team would like to have at the back. It's a life that is so tragically cut short and so sad.
"He was on the training field with the academy boys and would have stayed active. I saw him recently and he was a picture of health, which is why this come as such a huge shock."
'One of our heroes'
Middlesbrough bought Ehiogu for a then club record fee of £8m in 2000 and he became a mainstay of the defence alongside Gareth Southgate as Steve McClaren's side won the League Cup.
"Ugo was one of our heroes at Cardiff when the club won its only ever major trophy," said Boro chairman Steve Gibson.
"Ugo and Gareth Southgate were the rock on which Steve McClaren brought the club its best period in its history. He wasn't just a good footballer, he was a great man."
Former Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson, who signed Ehiogu, added: "He was such a good, strong defender and a fitness fanatic, which is why it becomes a real shock.
"I know he was a good lad and a team man who would chat to everybody, so I always thought he could be a coach because he was good at dealing with young lads."
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce, who played for Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup final, added: "I had so much admiration for him as a fellow centre-half.
"He was uncompromising, quick and gave his all every single week - he was a great defender. All the football world will be saddened."
Former Villa boss Ron Atkinson, who brought Ehiogu to the club in 1991, said: "It is a complete shock. He was a big physical specimen, a strong man. You realise that can happen to anyone.
"He was a defender that liked defending, he loved a full-blooded challenge.
"He didn't have the best of starts for Villa and made a couple of blunders against Norwich that cost us the result, and it took him a long time to live that down. But he showed character and developed into a centre-half who would have got a lot of England caps but for injury."
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino added: "Ugo was a lovely man and we had a very good relationship. It's a huge loss personally and for all the Tottenham family."
Club chairman Daniel Levy said: "This is an incredibly sad day for the club and a tragic loss of a talented member of our Spurs family. Ugo was an extremely popular and respected academy coach, a tremendous influence on our younger players, both in training and away from the pitch."
Football Association chairman Greg Clarke said he was "a hugely popular figure across English football but particularly at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. He was also close to many at Wembley and St George's Park through his England connections - both as a player and as a coach".
Ex-Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas tweeted: "Gutted is an understatement. An aspiring coach and all round top guy. My thoughts and prayers are with your family."
Former England women and Arsenal Ladies forward Kelly Smith on Twitter: "RIP my friend Ugo Ehiogu, gone too soon. A wonderful, caring man."
Ex-Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker Chris Sutton posted: "Really upsetting news about Ugo Ehiogu. Football has lost a great player and a great man. Thoughts go out to his family. RIP Ugo."
Ex-Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich tweeted: "RIP Ugo Ehiogu. Tremendous player and an even better man. Words can't do justice to how sad I am."
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted: "Can't believe the news that Ugo Ehiogu has passed away. Calm & warming vibe when in his company. My heart goes out to his family."
Ex-England defender Sol Campbell described Ehiogu as "one of my East London mates of old" and "a true defender". "My heart goes out to his family. I just can't believe it," he added.
Jamie Oborne, who co-founded Dirty Hit with Ehiogu in 2009, tweeted: "Gutted to hear that my friend Ugo has tragically passed away. I will always treasure the memories of our chats about love, life, hopes and dreams. Feel very blessed to have had you in my life. Love to Gemma and the little man. Such a sad day."
'A beast on the field, a gentle soul off it'
He was a very unassuming, gentle soul to deal with - very softly spoken. On the field he was an absolute beast, a colossus, an animal.
Gordon Cowans, a former midfielder at Aston Villa, and Ron Atkinson, his manager at the time, often tell the story of Ugo Ehiogu's first tackle at Villa.
In a pre-season game at Witney Town in Oxfordshire, he went into this tackle and Cowans, in the dugout with Atkinson, turned to him and said: "Did you see that?" He was such a strong defender, they knew they'd bought an absolute diamond for £40,000.
Atkinson knew him at Sheffield Wednesday and when he moved to Villa in 1991, he went after Ugo.
In his first game - Norwich City at home - he had a shocker. They lost 3-2 and Atkinson joked with Ugo that he was the player of the month - but he took it well.
For the next nine years, he was a tremendous centre-back alongside Gareth Southgate - a mixture of elegance, technical ability and strong, aggressive defending from Ehiogu.
Ehiogu was from the school of hard knocks. When he was trying to make his way in the game, he wrote to about 10 top clubs looking for a chance but got nowhere - other than at West Brom, where Atkinson liked the look of him.
So Ugo's career was a triumph of perseverance as well as undoubted talent and ability to look after himself physically.
He was a role model to a lot of the young players he'd been coaching at Tottenham because he could say he didn't have a gilded passage, like so many in academies nowadays.
Ehiogu had to work for everything he got, as an international and a Premier League defender.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39664839
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Jared Kushner: Who is the Trump whisperer? - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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What drives Donald Trump's son-in-law, and what advice does he give the president?
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What does Jared Kushner want to achieve with his new-found power?
Some White House watchers have noted that weekends can be tricky for President Donald Trump.
A number of crises have blown up on a Friday and not been sorted out until Sunday.
Observers say it's because that's when President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner - an observant Orthodox Jewish man - is off duty, marking the Sabbath.
Mr Kushner, the husband of the first daughter, Ivanka, is a power in the land, the crown prince.
Because of his semi-public power struggle with Steve Bannon, he's seen as an enemy by the hard, nationalistic right.
But what drives him? What does he believe? And how could that change the world?
The provocative conservative commentator and early Trump supporter Ann Coulter - author of Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole - told me the suspicion was not personal.
"You can't hire your kids," she said.
"They can't be fired, they are more than first among equals.
"It's a Third World thing to get elected and bring in all of you family.
"It's what they do in banana republics."
And this story is all about family, dynasty and destiny.
President Trump has placed his family - including Jared Kushner (second right) - at the centre of his administration
"J-Vanka" - their couple name - provides a soupcon of sophistication, implying smoothly groomed beautiful youths in a court that is more King Midas than Camelot.
While Trump Sr starred in the downmarket tabloids, they have been a fixture of the glossy magazines.
Last year, Elle Decor gushed about the couple's Upper East Side apartment, and its Lindsey Adelman light fixtures and candlesticks by Jeff Zimmermann.
The room in black and white - with just a hint of imperial purple - is cool, understated. So are they.
In the White House, amid the balding billionaires - and a leader who made vulgarity a virtue - their sleekness stands out.
Lizzie Widdicombe, an editor of the New Yorker's Talk of the town, watches them closely.
"They both have a noticeable level of polish," she says.
"It is often said that Ivanka softens the brash, abrasive image of her father and makes it palatable."
I ask if Jared does the same thing politically.
"That's a great way of putting it," says Widdicombe.
"He has been the link to Wall Street, and Rupert Murdoch, who he's cultivated as a close personal friend, so he has emerged as a powerbroker."
The president and his son-in-law are both what's known as "bridge and tunnel guys" - President Trump from the outer borough of Queens, Mr Kushner from out-of-state New Jersey, each well versed in making a splash in the magic kingdom of Manhattan, turning grit to glitter using the glamour of gold.
And there's a hint of resentment in both of them, sharpened by Mr Kushner's background.
He's not just a property billionaire. He's not just the son-in-law of a property billionaire. He is also the son of a property billionaire - a property billionaire who went to jail.
Jared Kushner stepped in to run his father, Charlie's, property business after he was sent to prison
It was ugly - a family feud that went nuclear. As the row spiralled, Jared's father, Charlie, was jailed for tax evasion and deception.
Jared's close friend Ken Kurson, editor of the New York Observer, told me the trauma had been the making of him.
"This is a guy who at 24-25 was made chief executive of a giant sprawling complex company," said Kurson.
"He not only handled that in an emergency, but grew the company.
"To step into a world of grizzled real estate guys, treat them with respect but also lead, was a truly astonishing feat."
Gabriel Sherman, who wrote an early profile of Mr Kushner for The New York Magazine, agrees with Ken Kurson's analysis.
"Without question, it is still the defining moment of his life," he told me.
"Growing up, the family always thought he would run for political office and become a major figure in America, but much further down the road.
"When Charlie went to prison, Jared was required to start that climb to power at much earlier age.
"That was traumatic, but he also seized his opportunity."
Jared Kushner (left) is said to have clashed with fellow Trump adviser Steve Bannon
According to one profile, friends say Jared's father, Charlie, is mostly a charmer - but can also be volcanic and irascible when crossed.
"Charlie is a really aggressive, flamboyant, high-profile figure a lot like Trump," says Lizzie Widdicombe.
"Being the son or daughter of a person like that is a very specific experience. Jared is the Trump whisperer."
But what does he whisper?
Probably a more pragmatic, more cautious, more mainstream Republican view than President Trump's own.
One of my sources said he'd reflect the views of his New York friends who "hate Trump".
To some on the hard right, he is the swamp President Trump promised to drain.
Ann Coulter feels the will to power may outweigh any ideology.
"I think he wants to help his father-in-law," she says.
"It'll be embarrassing to be the son-in-law of a failed president.
"That's the good part of it - and it's very clear how his father-in-law can succeed or fail.
"If he keeps his promises, he'll be the first president we've had in a long time who didn't just break all his promises.
"He will not succeed unless he keeps his promises on immigration and trade."
In his old office, Mr Kushner kept a picture of President John F Kennedy addressing a crowd, from the front, and from the back.
He is still in the backroom, not in front of the crowds, portrayed by Saturday Night Live as a preppy mute.
He may not speak in public - but when he whispers, President Trump takes notice.
Watch him closely to learn what the president will do next.
Listen in full to Mark Mardell's profile of Jared Kushner on BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39642391
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David Luiz: Chelsea defender's progress from 'PlayStation defender' to PFA team - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Once derided as a defender "controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation", here's how David Luiz has gained the respect of critics, peers and fans.
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Last updated on .From the section Chelsea
"It is like he is being controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation."
That's how David Luiz's defending was described by former England right-back Gary Neville in 2011.
It was a label that seemed to stick - unfairly, according to some - and was used by many fans to deride the Chelsea defender.
Five and a half years later, perception about the 29-year-old centre-back - who rejoined the Blues in August after a two-season sojourn at French side Paris St-Germain - appears to have changed.
Certainly it has among his peers, who selected the Brazil international in their Premier League 'all stars' after a successful first season back at Stamford Bridge.
The stats: 'We're not seeing mistakes'
Luiz's shock return to Chelsea was first mentioned early on deadline day on 31 August, gathering pace throughout the day, before the £34m deal was eventually confirmed in the final hour before the window closed.
Not everyone was convinced by the signing, despite Luiz being part of a PSG side who won back-to-back trebles in France.
"He has been a liability for PSG more than anything else," French football journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 live on deadline day.
"I can hardly remember four games where he was actually good. He had some shockers.
"He hasn't improved since leaving Chelsea. He's probably coming back a worse player than when he left."
However, Luiz's fellow professionals believe he has returned a better player on the evidence of his 28 starts during Chelsea's title push.
Compared with his first spell between January 2011 and May 2014, the Blues have certainly improved with him in their side.
They have a higher win percentage, have scored more goals and conceded fewer, and have gathered more points on average.
This season Luiz has helped Chelsea keep 12 clean sheets in the Premier League - only team-mates Thibaut Courtois and Cesar Azpilicueta, along with Tottenham trio Eric Dier, Hugo Lloris and Kyle Walker (13) contributing to more.
And, while his first spell at Stamford Bridge was blighted by rash decisions and the odd mistake, he has cut these heart-in-mouth moments out of his game.
The Brazilian has not made a single error leading to an opposition goal this season, while he has only made two errors leading to shots - a tally which 71 other players have either equalled or made more errors than.
"The mistakes we saw - which were limited in the first place anyway - we are not seeing any of them now," BBC Sport analyst Pat Nevin said.
"In Britain we tend to pick out big mistakes - every centre-half makes mistakes. Everyone got on a roll with David Luiz because he is that different and special."
The critics cool: 'He looks more mature, he's not getting distracted'
Chelsea's pursuit of the title, which appeared almost a foregone conclusion for several weeks until their lead shrank to four points last weekend, has been built on solid defensive foundations - of which Luiz has been a key pillar.
And that has led to many previous critics, including Gary Neville, to change their opinion in recent months.
"His decision-making has been far better in terms of not being as rash," the former Manchester United defender said.
"I have to say he looks more mature. He's not getting distracted by the sideshow stuff on the pitch like he did before. He looks to me to have a really good focus."
Luiz's return did not initially go to plan, however. The Blues conceded five goals in his opening two games - defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal - although the Brazilian could not be made entirely culpable for those losses.
Then came Antonio Conte's tactical masterstroke which changed the fortunes of both Chelsea and Luiz.
Switching to a three-man backline, with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso operating as wing-backs, shored up the defence and brought Luiz plaudits from Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker. Eventually...
Chelsea deciding to end their search for John Terry's replacement with the re-signing of Luiz was also met with an element of doubt by the BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty.
"While undoubtedly talented, he had proved himself something of a liability defensively for both his clubs and his country, Brazil. And, like many others, I have been surprised by the scale of his success at Stamford Bridge this season," he said.
"Conte has brought added concentration and discipline to Luiz's game, while also playing with a three-man defensive system that offers the Brazilian greater security and licence to play with the freedom he enjoys."
Luiz's inclusion in this season's PFA team of the year was announced on Thursday, representing the first time he has been honoured by his fellow professionals in England.
After joining Chelsea in January 2011, the former Benfica man clearly did not have enough time to force his way into the end-of-season gongs.
In his first full season, he helped the Blues win the Champions League and the FA Cup, although a poor league campaign - finishing sixth under Roberto di Matteo after he replaced the sacked Andre Villas-Boas in March - meant no Chelsea player was deemed good enough to make the league's best XI.
Team-mates Juan Mata and Eden Hazard made the cut in 2012-13 as Chelsea finished third under Rafa Benitez, but there was again no place for Luiz.
This season he is one of four Blues players chosen by their fellow professionals, with Luiz and centre-back partner Gary Cahill's inclusion down to their team's defensive strength.
As the news of Luiz's impending return to Stamford Bridge grew on transfer deadline day, it was met by some fans using #bbcfootball with scepticism and, to a degree, more derision.
Josh Earl: The David Luiz deal is laughable, overrated, unreliable and an all round loose cannon, decent free-kick taker that's about it.
Richard Larque: Have Chelsea forgotten how poor at defending David Luiz is? Great hair mind.
Shane Daly: David Luiz back to Chelsea. Both Manchester clubs are rolling on the floor laughing right now. A donkey at a thoroughbred race.
Joe Wedgwood: Would 100% prefer Matt Miazga to the walking calamity that is David Luiz....Conte, have you gone potty?
Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing. But not everyone was convinced his return was going to be a disaster...
Joe Borko: Koulibaly would have been a panic buy, not David Luiz. Luiz will be a great asset.
D.Tee: David Luiz. One of my favourite players. Full of verve! Will make Chelsea stronger. No doubt.
Darren Long: Great to have David Luiz back! Time to take our title back.
And alongside Luiz winning over many of the pundits, he has also convinced BBC Sport readers of his worth.
More than 40% of users picked the Chelsea defender when they selected their own Premier League team of the year - only narrowly the second most popular centre-back after Spurs' Toby Alderweireld.
The pairing of Luiz and Alderweireld was selected in just under 50% of all teams picked.
The pundits: 'People are taking their blindfolds off'
So what has changed for Luiz? Very little, according to Nevin.
The former Chelsea winger believes it is not simply because of Italian manager Conte or his tactics. Nevin believes it is down to the 29-year-old growing in experience and maturity.
"I think the understanding of him is better and people are taking their blindfolds off slightly," said the former Scotland international. "He's still the same player.
"It helps playing three at the back - but that would help anyone. With two people around him, his ability to read the game and pass becomes more obvious.
"Every centre-back you ever see does not peak until he is 27 or 28, they are very few centre-backs, and you look back through history, that were absolutely brilliant at 23 or 24.
"Yes, he's improving but he's on the same improvement curve as every other centre-back."
Chelsea v Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final is live on Saturday, 22 April on BBC One from 16:50 BST and on BBC Radio 5 live from 17:15 BST, along with live text commentary online.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39660216
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Does this court judgement make any sense? - BBC News
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2017-04-21
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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India's Supreme Court has sent back an incomprehensible judgement to a High Court judge.
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India
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Did a High Court judge in Himachal Pradesh write his judgment with thesaurus in hand?
There are few professions that allow one to be as verbose as a judge. Sometimes, this freedom can result in powerful judgements that weave brilliant legal interpretation with sparkling prose.
At other times, legal judgements are so complicated that they make little sense to normal people.
In rare times, as happened recently in India, they even bewilder lawyers directly involved in the case.
A bemused Supreme Court bench sent back a convoluted judgement from a high court judge in the state of Himachal Pradesh to be re-drafted because it was simply unintelligible.
"We will have to set it aside because one cannot understand this," MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta were quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying on 14 April.
And what was so complicated about the judgement, which ruled in favour of a tenant locked in a years-long battle with a landlord?
"However, the learned counsel...cannot derive the fullest succour from the aforesaid acquiescence... given its sinew suffering partial dissipation from an imminent display occurring in the impugned pronouncement hereat wherewithin unravelments are held qua the rendition recorded by the learned Rent Controller..."
"The summum bonum of the aforesaid discussion is that all the aforesaid material which existed before the learned Executing Court standing slighted besides their impact standing untenably undermined by him whereupon the ensuing sequel therefrom is of the learned Executing Court while pronouncing its impugned rendition overlooking the relevant and germane evidence besides its not appreciating its worth. Consequently, the order impugned suffers from a gross absurdity and perversity of misappreciation of material on record."
The lawyer representing the tenant, Aishwarya Bhati, reportedly joked in court that she needed to hire an English professor to understand the convoluted ruling.
But the UK-based Plain English Campaign (PEC) said it had seen similar language deployed in the past by judges, though the wording in this case was "preposterously overblown".
"There is simply no reason or excuse for it," the PEC's Lee Monks told the BBC. "We've often heard the defence that these are 'legal terms' but that's very often a cop-out.
"The idea that something like '...fullest succour from the aforesaid acquiescence' is at all necessary is ridiculous."
While that may be true, judges in the Indian sub-continent, and elsewhere, clearly enjoy the freedom they have to show off their verbal dexterity and cultural knowledge in judgements - though they usually make more sense.
On Thursday, a judgement from Pakistan's Supreme Court ruling that there was insufficient evidence of corruption to remove Nawaz Sharif from the role of prime minister began by mentioning Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, before quoting 19th Century novelist Honore de Balzac, in the original French.
Back in India, a 268-page Supreme Court judgement last year from Justice Dipak Misra was particularly verbose in dismissing a challenge to the constitutionality of the criminal offence of defamation brought by Subramanian Swamy, a politician.
The judge wrote, in a sentence described by the journalist and former law lecturer Tunku Varadarajan as "among the worst sentences I've encountered in all my years of reading legal materials":
"This batch of writ petitions preferred under Article 32 of the Constitution of India exposits cavil in its quintessential conceptuality and percipient discord between venerated and exalted right of freedom of speech and expression of an individual, exploring manifold and multilayered, limitless, unbounded and unfettered spectrums and the controls, restrictions and constrictions, under the assumed power of 'reasonableness' ingrained in the statutory provisions relating to criminal law to reviver and uphold one's reputation""
But Indian judges, with few exceptions, "love purple prose which they mistake to be or believe to be Shakespearean English", says journalist Binoo K John, who wrote a book - Entry from Backside Only: Hazaar Fundaas of Indian English - about the peculiar use of English in India.
"So considering the long history of such prose, it is not all all embarrassing in India," he told the BBC.
Meanwhile, at least one High Court judge in England has listened to calls to simplify the language used in judgements.
Justice Peter Jackson published a simply-worded ruling last year in a family court case so it could be understood by the children affected by it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39672453
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Notts County Ladies: WSL 1 club fold on eve of Spring Series season - BBC Sport
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2017-04-21
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Women's Super League One club Notts County Ladies announce they are folding on the eve of the Spring Series campaign.
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Last updated on .From the section Women's Football
English top-flight club Notts County Ladies have folded, two days before their first match of the Spring Series.
Due to face Arsenal on Sunday, Notts' players were told the Women's Super League One club cannot stay afloat 15 minutes before Friday's announcement.
Previously known as Lincoln Ladies before relocating in 2014, the squad included England's Carly Telford, Laura Bassett, Jade Moore and Jo Potter.
Notts finished sixth in WSL 1 in 2016 after reaching the 2015 FA Cup final.
In March, a winding-up petition against the club was adjourned for a second time, giving Notts until 3 July to pay debts owed to HM Revenue and Customs.
Local businessman Alan Hardy purchased Notts County's men's and women's clubs in December, aiming to clear debts owed to HMRC by both outfits.
A club statement said: "Alan Hardy has reluctantly admitted defeat in his bid to save Notts County Ladies Football Club after facing a near-£1m bill to keep the club afloat this season.
"The Notts County chairman and owner had hoped to restructure six-figure HMRC debts inherited from Ray Trew and fund ongoing projected losses this season of half a million pounds.
"Despite weeks of negotiations with lawyers, HMRC and the Football Association, Hardy has now called time on his plans to save the Ladies set-up.
"The club has today been officially withdrawn from the Women's Super League and will play no matches in the Spring Series, including this Sunday's away fixture at Arsenal."
Reacting to the news, Notts and England goalkeeper Telford posted on Twitter: "CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE JUST WITNESSED!!! NOTTS COUNTY LADIES NO LONGER EXISTS!!!"
Former Arsenal winger Rachel Yankey, who had a spell on loan with Notts in 2016, posted: "Totally gutted for the @Official_NCLFC players, staff and supporters. I hope the @PFA and @fa are doing everything they can to support them."
An FA spokesperson said: "The FA is aware of the situation and is liaising with all involved parties.
"Our priority is the welfare of the players and we will work closely with them, the PFA and wider stakeholders to support them through this time."
With the WSL transfer window having closed, it is not yet clear if any of the Notts squad will be able to sign for another English top-flight club this season.
"I am devastated that we cannot continue the Ladies project but the numbers simply do not stack up," said Notts County chairman Hardy. "Continuing would have been little short of financial suicide.
"When I took over the club, HMRC and other creditors had in excess of £350,000 of unpaid liabilities. Additionally, I was extremely concerned that to operate Notts County Ladies for the current season was going to cost us approximately £500,000 - a figure principally made up of player and coaching salaries.
"Our total projected incoming revenue from attendances and sponsorship was £28,000.
"It's a very sad day for me personally and supporters should rest assured I have left no stone unturned in my quest to save the club.
"However, having taken all factors into consideration, the only possible outcome is to discontinue our Ladies club.
"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the staff and players and we all wish them every success in finding new clubs."
All the noises from Alan Hardy had suggested that the tax bill would be paid and that Notts County Ladies would be able to continue, so this news comes out of the blue.
He had even spoken about creating an academy for girls from across the county.
I was at Wembley for the Women's FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2015 when it seemed like the club was on the way up. Even now, four of the current squad are in the England set-up.
They've only been in existence - since moving from Lincoln - for three years and this is a loss for Nottingham as well as for women's football.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39667392
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Michele Scarponi: Italian cyclist dies in training crash - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi dies aged 37 after being involved in a collision with a van during a training ride.
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Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi has died aged 37 after being involved in a collision with a van during a training ride.
A statement from his Astana team said the crash happened close to Scarponi's home in Filottrano.
Scarponi won the 2011 Giro d'Italia after Alberto Contador was stripped of the title and claimed victory in stage one of the Tour of the Alps on Monday.
"This is a tragedy too big to be written," said the Astana statement.
The statement described Scarponi as a "great champion" and a "special guy", adding: "The Astana Pro Team clings to the Michele family in this incredibly painful moment of sorrow and mourning."
Scarponi leaves behind a wife and two children.
After finishing fourth in the Tour of the Alps behind British winner Geraint Thomas on Friday, Scarponi returned home by car with his masseur before heading out for a ride on Saturday.
"Devastated to hear the news about Scarponi. Can't believe it. My thoughts with all his friends, family and team," Thomas posted on Twitter.
"Terrible news to wake up to. One of the smiliest, happiest guys in the peleton. Rest in peace," said British cyclist Alex Dowsett.
Spanish rider Contador said: "Paralysed and speechless with the news about Scarponi. Great person and always with a contagious smile. Rest in peace, friend."
Astana team-mate and compatriot Fabio Aru said: "Endless tragedy. There are no words. Rest in peace, my friend."
Specialist climber Scarponi turned professional in 2002 with the Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo team, finishing 18th in his debut Giro d'Italia.
In 2007 he was banned for 18 months after being implicated in Operation Puerto - a major Spanish doping scandal involving some of the world's top cyclists at the time.
Scarponi admitted his involvement in the scandal but denied doping, having been charged with using or attempting to use banned substances and possession of those substances.
Returning in November 2008, he won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in 2009 before initially finishing second in the 2011 Giro d'Italia.
He was later awarded his first Grand Tour title after original winner Contador was stripped of his title by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2012 after a positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France.
Scarponi was suspended for three months in 2012 by his then team Lampre for visiting doctor Michele Ferrari - who is banned for life by the US Anti-Doping Agency for his role in Lance Armstrong's doping programme.
Following fourth-placed finishes at the Giro d'Italia in 2012 and 2013, Scarponi joined Astana in 2014, primarily riding Grand Tours as a domestique and helping team-mate Vincenzo Nibali to victory in the 2014 Tour de France and 2016 Giro d'Italia.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39677856
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The Sun in Ross Barkley apology over Kelvin MacKenzie column - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Sun said it had been contacted by Mr Barkley's lawyers, who made a formal complaint.
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Liverpool
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The Sun has printed an apology to Everton and England footballer Ross Barkley over an article in which its former editor Kelvin MacKenzie compared him to a gorilla.
The newspaper said it had been unaware of Mr Barkley's heritage and there was "never any slur intended".
The 23-year-old footballer's grandfather was born in Nigeria.
The Sun said it had been contacted by Mr Barkley's lawyers, who had made a formal complaint about the piece.
In the article, published on 14 April, Mr MacKenzie said looking at Mr Barkley's eyes had given him a "similar feeling when seeing a gorilla at the zoo".
His eyes made him "certain not only are the lights not on, there is definitely nobody at home", he wrote.
Alongside the article, was an image of a gorilla next to a picture of the midfielder.
The columnist is currently suspended by the newspaper.
The Sun's apology, printed on page five of the paper, said that as soon as Mr Barkley's background was drawn to its attention, the article was removed from its website.
The apology did not extend to other elements of the article, in which Mr MacKenzie suggested that the only people in Liverpool who could earn as much as footballers were drug dealers.
Kelvin McKenzie has said it is "beyond parody" to call his article racist
On Friday, Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said Mr McKenzie would be facing questions from the police about the article.
Mr Anderson described it as a "racial slur... and something we won't tolerate".
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said its investigation was ongoing and officers would be speaking to relevant witnesses.
Mr MacKenzie was approached for a comment but is on holiday, although previously he has said it is "beyond parody" to describe his column as racist.
The Sun, which has previously apologised for the "wrong" and "unfunny" views of Mr MacKenzie expressed in the column, has said he will be "fully investigated" on his return.
"On April 14 we published a piece in the Kelvin MacKenzie column about footballer Ross Barkley which made unfavourable comparisons between Mr Barkley and a gorilla.
"At the time of publication, the newspaper was unaware of Mr Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.
"As soon as his background was drawn to our attention, the article was removed from online.
"We have been contacted by lawyers on behalf of Ross Barkley, who has made a formal complaint about the piece.
"The Sun has apologised for the offence caused by the piece.
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise personally to Ross Barkley."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-39677539
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Why Beijing should lead on the North Korean crisis - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Carrie Gracie looks at China's stance on the nuclear crisis and explains why its position should change, in its own interest.
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China
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Mr Kim needs reining in - but will China take the lead internationally on the issue?
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results."
The quotation is attributed to Albert Einstein but after a torrid few days on the Korean peninsula, it's one for Chinese leaders to ponder.
China is simply in the wrong place on North Korea. It is allowing Kim Jong-un's nuclear ambitions to undermine Chinese national interest.
There are complex reasons for this including history, habit and political culture. But among Chinese foreign policy experts and even on social media, unease is beginning to spread.
North Korea's nuclear programme has already driven South Korea to agree to the deployment of an American anti-missile system, locking Seoul deeper into a defensive triangle with Japan and the United States.
Relations between Beijing and Seoul are at their worst in a quarter of a century and many South Koreans have been alienated by unofficial Chinese sanctions against the whole spectrum of South Korean interests from supermarkets to boy bands.
This is good for North Korea but for no-one else. It is nonsensical for China to punish South Korea for trying to defend itself against a nuclear threat which even Beijing describes as real and urgent.
And if North Korea continues its drive for nuclear weapons, there may be a worse arms race to come. A nuclear-armed Japan would hardly be in China's national interest.
But despite this catalogue of warning signals and failures, China seems trapped in an unfinished history marked by binary choice: a nuclear-armed North Korea or a reunified Korea with American troops on China's border. Between these choices, it finds a nuclear-armed North Korea preferable.
But if it thinks hard enough, perhaps there is an alternative.
US President Donald Trump has offered China an incentive if it helps resolve the North Korean crisis
In fact, this is a moment of decision for China. President Xi has talked of an Asia led by Asians. Showing flexibility and resolve on fixing Korea in the interests of the region and the world would demonstrate a readiness to lead.
Almost everyone, even China's most suspicious neighbours, would be grateful. President Trump has already promised that American gratitude would take material form in a favourable trade deal.
So China could use the current crisis on the Korean peninsula to engage its neighbours and cement a key area of partnership with the US. Or it could duck the challenge and let the US lead. A choice put starkly in a tweet from President Trump: "I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with its allies, will."
Of course, China's view on what constitutes "dealing with North Korea" does not coincide with Mr Trump's. But there will be no dealing with North Korea worth the name that does not require a fundamental shift in how Beijing sees the region and its relationships within it.
China is after all an ideologically insecure one-party state. A profound aversion to liberal internationalism has tied it to a rigid position on non-interference in the internal affairs of another state. A position which now constrains it in managing the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
What's more, in Beijing's worldview, the United States is its long-term rival in Asia and the US system of alliances is a barely concealed strategy of containment.
For decades, China's security planners have war-gamed scenarios of brinkmanship and conflict with the US as enemy in a zero-sum game. There are no established scenarios in which the US presents as a partner in managing a rogue state masquerading as a Chinese ally.
China shares a land border with North Korea and fears the regime's collapse
China and North Korea signed a mutual aid treaty in 1961. The treaty says if either ally comes under armed attack, the other should provide immediate assistance, including military support. But it also says both should safeguard peace and security.
Some Chinese experts now argue that Beijing is not obliged to defend North Korea on the grounds that its nuclear weapons breach the mutual defence pact. But in general, China's security policy for the Korean peninsula seems frozen in time.
Despite establishing diplomatic relations with Seoul 25 years ago, and despite the burgeoning economic relationship with South Korea which followed, the security logic has not changed.
And now that China's only formal ally is threatening a nuclear war which would bring incalculable horror to the entire region including China's own citizens, Beijing's position looks a quarter century out of date.
If it wants to claim leadership in Asia, it could say loudly that Pyongyang's threats are completely intolerable and must not stand. After all, what loyalty does it owe a regime which shows only contempt for Chinese diplomacy and Chinese national interest?
Rather than dragging its feet on economic sanctions and turning a half-blind eye to Chinese companies which supply high-tech components to North Korea's arms programme, Beijing could choose to lead the sanctions charge.
Rather than repeating tired rhetoric urging all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, it could suspend oil exports and foreign currency dealings.
Rather than staging an unnecessary set piece forum on President Xi's "one belt, one road" slogan next month, it could host an emergency conference for Asia on dealing with North Korea.
That Beijing will not lead on North Korea is China's tragedy and Asia's tragedy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-39663663
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Why are farmers in India protesting with mice and human skulls? - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Unique farmers' protest shines a spotlight on a drought India forgot.
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India
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Chinnagodangy Palanisamy says he will be forced to eat mice if the farm crisis doesn't end
Last week, Chinnagodangy Palanisamy, 65, held a live mouse between his teeth to draw the government's attention to the plight of farmers in his native state of Tamil Nadu.
"I and my fellow farmers were trying to convey the message that we will be forced to eat mice if things don't improve," he told me, sitting in a makeshift tent near Delhi's Jantar Mantar observatory, one of the areas of the Indian capital where protests are permitted.
The tatty tent and the street outside have been home to Mr Palanisamy and his 100-odd fellow farmers for some 40 days now. They hail from drought-affected districts of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, one of India's most developed states.
It appears to be a drought that India forgot, so Mr Palanisamy and his spirited co-protesters mounted a unique, eye-catching protest to put pressure on the government to act.
They are demanding ample drought relief funds, pensions for elderly farmers, a waiver on the repayment of crop and farm loans, better prices for their crops and the interlinking of rivers to irrigate their lands.
Wearing traditional sarong-like garments and turbans, these farmers have brandished human skulls that they claim belong to dead farmers.
They have held live mice in their mouths, shaved half their heads, worn women's traditional saris, slashed their hands and oozed "protest blood", rolled bare-bodied on boiling hot macadam, and conducted mock funerals.
The protesters said these skulls belonged to farmers who took their lives
More than 100 farmers from Tamil Nadu have protested in Delhi for some 40 days
The protesters have also eaten food off the road, and stripped near the prime minister's office in the heart of the city after they were reportedly refused a meeting.
Fire-fighters rescued a protester who tied a noose around his neck and tried to hang himself from a tree at the venue. Many of them have been taken to the hospital and treated for acute dehydration.
Some complain that the famously inward-looking Delhi media have painted their protest as an exotic freak show, often missing the pain and desperation driving it.
One commentator wrote that the protest had taken on a "farcical proportion where the performance seems to have become the point of it, and the protest itself is lost".
In Tamil Nadu, where more than 40% of the people make a living from farming, lack of water due to poor rainfall, low crop prices, and dwindling access to formal credit has created what is possibly the state's worst agrarian crisis in decades.
The jury is out on whether this protest will fetch results. India, after all, has seen many abortive uprisings. But this Delhi protest shines the spotlight on how drought, debt and dysfunctional policies continue to blight India's farmers: agriculture growth has shrunk to a worrying 1.2%, and tens of thousands of farmers are struggling with debt and little income.
There was a time not so long ago, recounts Mr Palanisamy, when his 4.5-acre farm in Tiruchirappalli would yield abundant rice, sugarcane, pulses and cotton. There was also a bountiful crop of fruit from his mango and coconut trees.
Crippled by a debilitating drought brought on by years of poor rainfall, Mr Palanisamy's farm is now largely barren.
Two of his sons, who helped their father farm, have been forced to take up small jobs to keep the home fires burning. There's no money to pay his five workers. Loans worth 6,00,000 rupees ($9,287; £7,247) have piled up, and he's already pawned a lot of family gold as collateral.
Tamil Nadu has been in a grip of drought for more than two years
"This is the worst farm crisis I have seen in my lifetime," says Mr Palanisamy, a second generation farmer, whose lean and sinewy frame belies his age. "I have never lived through such a crisis."
Many haven't. Fifty-eight debt-stricken farmers have taken their lives in drought-affected districts in Tamil Nadu since October, according to officials. A local farmers association insists the number of farm-related suicides and death of farmers is more than 250.
One of them is Mr Palanisamy's own brother-in-law who fell ill, refused treatment, and "wasted himself to death" in November. He was crushed under loans that he had taken out to buy a tractor and a bore well to irrigate his five-acre farm.
Led by a charismatic sixty-something farmer-lawyer, the protesters at Jantar Mantar have unwavering spirit. Most of them, like Mr Palanisamy, took a train ride to Delhi in March and found the weather "rather cold". At night, many of them slept fitfully in the open, enduring mosquito bites.
The farmers tell stories of their denuded villages where lack of water has left their trees bare and the landscape barren. They swap stories of mounting crop loans taken from banks and money lenders. They rave and rant in their dog-eared diaries. On some days, the mercury soars to 45C (113F)
Some of them complain that the media is more interested in the spectacle than the problem. They are men and women of dignity who have fought hard all their lives against all odds.
The fire brigade rescued this protester who tried to take his own life
Mr Palanisamy, for example, belongs to a hunter-gatherer tribe, among the most underprivileged people in India. He studied until high school, picked up a certificate as a recognised farm teacher, and was employed at an anganwadi - a government sponsored mother and child-care centre - until his retirement even as he tilled his farm.
His three sons have been equally hardworking - two of them have earned degrees in engineering - and have helped their father in the farm. His brother-in-law, who took his life, used the money he earned from farming to send his only daughter to a nursing school.
They are symbols of the hard-fought social mobility of India's poorest, and also examples of how a long-drawn farm crisis can return them to a precarious existence.
The farmers say they won't budge until the government agrees to their demands
When dusk falls, and the noise recedes, Mr Palanisamy sometimes takes out his diary and scribbles furiously. He said he recently wrote some verse, remembering the hard times back home. It is a haunting elegy for farming in India:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39650496
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FA Cup: Stunning Willian free-kick puts Chelsea ahead - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Willian scores a stunning free-kick to put Chelsea 1-0 up against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Willian scores a stunning free-kick to put Chelsea 1-0 up against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39680402
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Manchester United: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to come back 'even stronger' from injury - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will "come back even stronger" after suffering cruciate knee-ligament damage.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will "come back even stronger" after suffering cruciate knee-ligament damage.
The 35-year-old was injured in the final minute of normal time during last week's Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht.
Ibrahimovic is United's top scorer this season, with 28 goals but it is unclear when he will be fit to play again.
"I will be out for a while," he wrote but added "giving up is not an option."
Writing on Instagram, the Swede added: "I will go through this like everything else and come back even stronger. So far I played with one leg so it shouldn't be any problem.
"One thing is for sure, I decide when it's time to stop and nothing else."
Speaking before Sunday's 2-0 win at Burnley, United manager Jose Mourinho said on Sky Sports: "I know (how long he will be out for), but it is for the medical department to be more specific and they prefer to wait a couple more days because the players want to see other specialists and to have an extra opinion and we have to respect that. But they are important injuries."
Asked whether Ibrahimovic would play again, the Portuguese replied: "I don't care about it in this moment, I just want the player to recover the best he can."
Ibrahimovic joined the club on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain last summer but is yet to agree an extension to his one-year United deal.
Marcos Rojo also suffered cruciate knee-ligament damage in the same game.
The defender was replaced on 23 minutes after colliding with a visiting player.
Mourinho said he also knew how long Rojo would be out for, adding: "Marcos was in the best moment of his career, playing very well for us and finally getting a position as a central defender in the national team. It's really sad."
Rojo's injury leaves United manager Jose Mourinho short of options at centre-back with England internationals Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already on the sidelines.
Eric Bailly and Daley Blind are United's only fit senior centre-backs ahead of the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
United midfielder Juan Mata says the loss of both players has tarnished recent good results.
"These situations just happen in football, that's for sure, although they're never easy to take," he said.
"Now it's time to be patient and strong to face the recovery period and I'm sure both of them will do their best."
Mata, 28, is currently recovering from groin surgery and is hopeful of returning before the end of the season.
"The truth is I'm feeling much better now and I hope to be back with the team soon, to try to help in the last spell of the season," he added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39677389
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World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan - I'm a bit like James Blunt - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Ronnie O'Sullivan compares himself to singer James Blunt after beating Shaun Murphy to progress at the World Championship.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan described himself as being "a bit like James Blunt" after progressing to the World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield.
The five-time champion saw off fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy 13-7 to reach the last eight for the 18th time.
And the 41-year-old said afterwards: "I look at myself as a band or a singer nowadays.
"But I have not had the greatest of seasons and not written a great album this year."
O'Sullivan, who last won the world title in 2013, suggested the slog of tournament play week in week out appealed less than occasional high-profile 'guest' appearances.
"If you want to write great albums every year, then you need to do well on the snooker circuit. I don't see that I need to write a great album anymore, I just need to be a supporting act," he said.
"I don't mind the other players writing good albums, if I can be invited along for half an hour - 'here he is, he is still alive, can still perform' but then I'm happy to fade back into the security of life.
"Maybe I'm a bit like James Blunt. He seems a pretty cool dude."
O'Sullivan will next face Ding Junhui, who took the last two frames for a 13-12 win over fellow Chinese Liang Wenbo.
It was a good-humoured showing, and a change of tone for the former world number one, who has had an inconsistent season, marked by a fractious relationship with the sport's authorities.
My main aim now is to travel, play exhibitions, do my punditry work and work with people outside the industry
He has been beaten in three finals - by Judd Trump, John Higgins and Mark Selby - and has also played in a number of exhibition matches, written a book and done TV punditry work for Eurosport.
But on the way to winning a record seventh Masters title in January, he lost control by swearing at a photographer and criticising a referee.
Since the tournament at Alexandra Palace in London, he had refused to engage with the media - answering questions with one-word answers, mimicking a robot, and on one occasion responding by singing an Oasis song - in protest at what he has this week alleged were "bullying and intimidation" by the snooker authorities.
He made that claim in an emotional news conference after his first-round win over Gary Wilson but displayed a lighter touch on Saturday after his comfortable win over another former champion in Murphy.
"I am not confident enough of writing brilliant albums every year so I choose to play the tournaments, have some fun and do my best," he said.
"My main aim now is to travel, play exhibitions, do my punditry work and work with people outside the industry - it is fun. I can be like a band who do a world tour - they pitch up, they play and it is all very nice for them because there is no pressure. I enjoy being in that position more.
"I have a responsibility to play at a certain level but you cannot do it all."
'I am not driven by records'
A triumph at the Crucible Theatre this year - in the 40th anniversary of the event's first staging here in 1977 - would bring O'Sullivan a sixth world title, taking him level with Steve Davis and one behind Stephen Hendry.
It would also be his 29th ranking title win, taking him second on the all-time list behind Hendry, who has won 36.
O'Sullivan added: "If I was to win it, it would be a great feeling but I have had that five times before. It is nice for a few days, a week or so but then you think, 'is it worth putting 365 days of blood, sweat and tears to hopefully win the world title for that feeling?'
"It is just a game, a few balls and I get the same feeling at the club - it is just a game for me. I have never been driven by records or titles or being the greatest player on the planet."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39679501
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'Everything's on fire' - the scramble to organise an election - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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News of a snap poll means many late nights and cancelled weekends for some over the coming weeks.
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UK Politics
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When Theresa May announced on Tuesday she was seeking an early general election, scores of people saw their weekends and half-term holidays vanish in a giant puff of electioneering, manifesto-writing and the mammoth admin task of staging a nationwide ballot.
By anyone's estimations, the general election of 2015 was an immense piece of administration.
Forty-five million ballot papers were printed to reflect 650 separate candidate lists for the election. Forty-three thousand polling stations were staffed for 15 hours by 120,000 people. And the total cost of it came to £98,845,157.
But all that was organised with five years' notice - the duration between the previous election and the date of the 2015 poll.
The time frame for the 2017 ballot, which takes place on 8 June, is little more than seven weeks.
One Conservative member of staff told the BBC she was completely taken aback. "I have friends who work for ministers and even they didn't see it coming until the Cabinet meeting took place."
The clock is already ticking, and there is much work to be done. A Labour aide working for an MP described the past week as "very stressful".
"In my own time after work I've been contributing to campaign materials and arranging to uproot myself from London so I can go back to the constituency."
While general elections are about putting MPs in Parliament, it falls to councils to organise the nitty-gritty of voting and counting.
Venues for polling stations and counting centres will need to be earmarked and reserved for 8 June. And that needs to happen before polling cards can be sent out.
Some of the 120,000 people employed to conduct the 2015 election
This work is carried out by local authorities' electoral services divisions and overseen by returning officers.
John Turner, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, predicts this election will be particularly onerous for two reasons - the compressed time scale, and the fact local elections are already taking place in many areas in less than two weeks.
"Many polling stations aren't publicly owned," said Mr Turner. "They're church halls or community centres, and a lot rests on returning officers' ability to persuade the owners to move things around and make the space available."
As for staffing, electoral services departments maintain databases of temporary workers. But "in this case some of them may already have made other plans or booked holidays".
"Although returning officers are helped by permanent teams, this varies a lot. In some district councils it will only be two or three people and colleagues from other departments will have to pitch in.
Polling stations have to be organised
"It's going to be an intense time for many of us, working 12-hour days."
Mr Turner is confident, however, that it will all come together in time, noting: "We're a bit like the duck paddling away beneath the water but serene on the surface."
There's equally little hope of sleep for those in charge of political policy making. They will be working around the clock on putting together manifestos.
It's a particularly stressful time for the party in government, says Nick Pearce, head of the No 10 policy unit under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. As well as existing government duties, staff will be working "flat-out" to get the document finalised.
"A minister, usually from the Cabinet Office, takes overall responsibility, working with political staff from different departments to draft sections and liaise with the prime minister and her chief of staff," he explained.
Ministers, lobbyists and Treasury staff also get heavily involved, trying to place pet projects and ensure big-ticket items are properly costed.
"There's huge pressure not to get anything wrong," said Mr Pearce. "But working quickly like this there is certainly potential for that to happen."
And what of getting the message out?
Seven weeks is "a very, very tight time frame" for organising a marketing and advertising strategy, said Rachel Hamburger, an advertising executive and former Lib Dem campaigner.
"I'd be very surprised if we saw any nationwide broadcast campaigns comparable to famous ones of the past such as the Blair 'devil eyes'," she said.
"With a long run-up, parties could be expected to run focus groups, market research and analysis of what is most important to their campaign before deploying adverts.
This time, she believes. parties will "concentrate resources on individual seats and simple messages".
Elsewhere in the media, broadcasters are preparing for election night. The BBC is reassigning hundreds of researchers, producers, camera crews and local reporters to put together its results programme.
Parties, meanwhile, have to deal with the small matter of ensuring there are candidates in place in 650 constituencies for people to elect.
Labour and the Conservatives have both altered their normal selection procedures to speed things up, while all 54 of the SNP's existing MPs are expected to stand again.
The other parties are in varying states of readiness.
The Lib Dems say they have about 100 candidates still to pick. UKIP and Plaid Cymru will adopt the bulk of their candidates next week, while Greens' selection is under way with local electoral alliances under consideration.
None of Northern Ireland's parties are thought to have selected candidates, as talks continue about restoring devolved government.
Most candidates will not have had a chance to allocate resources. It has already led some to take the unusual step of appealing for online donations.
Regional party offices will provide MPs and activists with support, but the prevailing mood could be described as one of apprehensiveness.
When asked to sum up how things were going, a fretful Conservative source said: "Everything is basically on fire."
A Labour campaigner replied with a series of distressed crying and screaming emojis.
However, on a purely technical point, it's worth noting the 50-day gap between announcement and polling day is actually the longest since 1983.
What's different this time is the lack of preamble, and thus preparation.
As the BBC's former head of political research David Cowling put it: "Everyone was lulled into a false sense of security by assurances... and we're now completely stunned."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39660686
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Fed Cup: Ilie Nastase banned after swearing at tearful Johanna Konta - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Romania captain Ilie Nastase is banned from the Fed Cup tie against Great Britain after an incident that leaves Johanna Konta in tears.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Romania captain Ilie Nastase was banned from the Fed Cup tie against Britain after an incident that left Johanna Konta in tears and her match suspended.
In Konta's match against Sorana Cirstea, Nastase was sent off after swearing at the umpire and abusing Konta and her captain Anne Keothavong.
The world number seven lost her serve in the next game and was visibly upset before play was halted for 25 minutes.
The world governing body said it was looking into "this matter as well as previous comments made by Mr Nastase during the week".
Nastase - a former world number one - had caused controversy in the build-up to the tie after being heard making a derogatory comment about Serena Williams' unborn child.
While Romanian player Simona Halep was answering a question in English about Williams' pregnancy on Friday, the 70-year-old turned to one of his other team members and added in Romanian: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"
He also put his arm tightly around Keothavong and asked for her room number, in earshot of the watching media.
Before play had even started on Saturday, Nastase insulted a British journalist over their reporting of Friday's events, calling the Press Association's tennis correspondent "stupid".
And as he was finally escorted away from the venue by a group of security guards, he abused the reporter again, calling her "ugly".
WARNING: Some people may find the language below offensive
The incident that led to him being dismissed on Saturday happened when Cirstea was 2-1 up in the second set of the World Group II play-off tie in Constanta.
After Konta and Keothavong had complained of calling out from the crowd at 1-1, Nastase was involved in a discussion with officials in which he used foul and abusive language.
Nastase called both Konta and Keothavong "a bitch" multiple times, as well as swearing at them.
He was sent off the court by referee Andreas Egli and, after initially taking a seat in the stands, was then escorted back to the locker room.
Konta went 3-1 down after her serve was broken in the next game and was in tears before the umpire suspended play.
Romania player Halep spoke to the crowd during the suspension to try to calm the situation.
When play resumed in a subdued atmosphere, Konta won five games in a row to win the match 6-2 6-3, levelling the tie at 1-1.
The ITF explained Nastase was asked to leave "for unsportsmanlike conduct, having already received two official warnings".
A statement added: "Mr Nastase was also removed from the grounds due to his serious misconduct. His accreditation was removed and he will play no further part in the tie."
"It was not something anyone should experience," Konta told BBC Sport.
"It did upset me quite a lot and that was shown. I am not one to cry on court. It was slightly embarrassing but it affected me more than I would have liked.
"I know that Fed Cups can be quite emotional and can sometimes take an unexpected turn but it wasn't something I was prepared for.
"Obviously, it left me slightly unnerved but the best I could do was to make it as much about the tennis as possible. I felt I did that and am looking forward to that again tomorrow."
Keothavong said she had "expected a patriotic crowd", but did not expect "abusive language to be used".
"It's unacceptable. No-one deserves to be spoken to in that way," she told BBC Sport.
"We've come here to play tennis. The referee made the right call to suspend the match, and during the break I was just trying to keep Johanna calm.
"All of the players - from both teams - handled the situation incredibly well. It's happened, it's done and there is a lot to play for tomorrow."
The Lawn Tennis Association said it was "deeply shocked" by Saturday's events.
"There is no place in sport for that type of behaviour, it's not acceptable and the integrity of the sport must always be paramount," it said in a statement.
"We will be submitting an official complaint to the ITF after this tie and expect a full investigation into the actions by the Romanian captain."
'Maybe next time I will cry'
"Someone crying cannot stop a match," she told BBC Sport.
"From a tennis point of view, Johanna deserved the win - she is a better player than me - but the behaviour of the British team was exaggerated.
"Why did we stop? Only because Johanna cried? I have never cried on the court because someone told me something. You have to toughen up.
"OK, at 2-1 you take our captain out, that was the right decision, but then at 3-1 I break you and now you cry. I am not saying it was fake, but it was not logical.
"Next time I'm in trouble I will cry, maybe I can go off the court. As Romanians we get double insulted because of our nation but it's OK, we are tough. Tougher than British people apparently."
Before play started on Saturday, Nastase went into the media centre to seek out British journalists over their reporting of the comments he made about Williams at Friday's news conference.
Press Association Sport reported that their tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks was the only member of the British media present in the room at the time and that he said to her: "Why did you write that? You're stupid, you're stupid."
PA Sport has sent details of Nastase's remarks to the International Tennis Federation.
"He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist," said Crooks.
"I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour. He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times.
"Fortunately he was across the other side of the room from me and there were other journalists around so it was unpleasant rather than threatening.
"But it is certainly not the behaviour you would expect of someone in his position and wholly unnecessary, especially given he did not dispute the accuracy of what was reported."
And when Nastase was escorted from the venue on Saturday he confronted Crooks again, calling her "ugly" as he was being led away by security.
When asked about the comments made about Williams and to Keothavong on Friday, he told told BBC Sport: "That's Nastase. He was all the time with a lot of jokes. That's why everybody likes him.
"He didn't make any mistakes. It was not racist, you cannot take it seriously. I'm sure it was just a joke," Cosac added.
"What I know is that he is a very good friend with Yannick Noah and he played many tournaments together with Arthur Ashe [Noah and Ashe are the only black men to win Grand Slam singles titles] - I'm sure he didn't say something wrong."
Earlier on Saturday, Romania took the lead when Halep won 26 of the last 33 points on her way to comfortably beating Heather Watson 6-4 6-1.
World number five Halep increased her intensity at 4-4 and broke Watson to love before serving out to take the opening set for the hosts.
Watson, ranked 113, struggled to cope with her rival as she lost her serve twice to love in the second set.
This was a very decorated player, but an increasingly isolated man, losing his cool on a spectacular scale.
Nastase appears to have no concept of why I, and my three British colleagues here in Constanta, felt his slurs and actions of Friday needed highlighting.
Having targeted one of the journalists in the morning, he turned his ire on his opposite number and her star player when battle was joined on the court.
ITF president Dave Haggerty says Nastase's conduct is "unacceptable". They have issued more than one stern statement this weekend, but will be judged on their deeds, rather than their words.
If the ITF do not act, then the Romanian Federation clearly will not either. Their president cannot understand why we do not appreciate Nastase's sense of humour.
Why can't we see that his captain is more than entitled to make derogatory comments about Serena Williams - because many of his best friends are black?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39677397
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World Championship 2017: Select your most memorable Crucible Theatre moment - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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To celebrate 40 years of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, we want you to pick your top three most memorable moments.
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What is the most memorable moment in the World Snooker Championship's 40-year history at the Crucible Theatre?
The sport's showpiece event was first held at the iconic Sheffield venue in 1977, and to mark the 40th anniversary of the move, the BBC is broadcasting a special documentary.
Host Steve Davis chats to snooker greats Dennis Taylor, who beat him in the famous black-ball final of 1985, Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White as well as Crucible superfans Stephen Fry, Gary Lineker, Johnny Vegas and Richard Osman - plus Lauren Higgins, daughter of two-time world champion Alex Higgins.
To tie in with the programme we have selected 10 famous moments from the past 40 years and want you to pick your top three from the shortlist below.
To celebrate 40 years of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, we want you to pick your top three most memorable moments.
Cliff Thorburn's first world title win against Alex Higgins saw drama taking place both on and off the table. The Canadian had fallen 5-1 and 9-5 behind, before producing a fightback to eventually triumph 18-16.
However, the BBC were inundated with complaints after switching their coverage to broadcast live footage of the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy in London to end a six-day siege.
Alex Higgins defeated Willie Thorne and Jimmy White en route to another final, coming up against six-time winner Ray Reardon. A superb 135 break gave him an 18-15 victory over the Welshman, but what followed was pure emotion.
As the Northern Irishman was handed the trophy and winners' cheque, the tears flowed, but the rest of the nation soon followed as Higgins mouthed "my baby, my baby" with 18-month old blonde-haired daughter Lauren and wife Lynn delivering a loving embrace in the arena.
Only one previous televised 147 break had been made in the sport's history before Thorburn - helped by a fluked opening red - pocketed all the balls up until the pink. "Good luck, mate," whispered Jack Karnehm in the BBC commentary box, before Thorburn sunk the final black. He dropped to his knees and held the cue aloft in the air as the crowd erupted.
Widely regarded as the best match in the championship's history, the 1985 final attracted 18.5 million viewers. Overwhelming favourite Steve Davis - aiming to become the first player in the modern game to win three consecutive world titles - looked to be on his way to a comfortable win after taking an 8-0 lead, before Taylor began an astonishing comeback.
In the deciding 35th frame, which lasted 68 minutes, Northern Irishman Taylor potted brown, blue and pink, taking the final frame to the final black, which Davis overcut from a blind pot. Taylor knocked it in and produced his famous, finger-wagging, cue waving celebration.
The following year Davis reached another final, coming up against Yorkshireman Joe Johnson, who had never won a tournament in seven years as a professional. A 150-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, Johnson's nerveless showing allowed him to complete a comfortable 18-12 victory - one of the sport's most unexpected triumphs.
Scot Stephen Hendry went into the final with a fractured left arm, which gave Jimmy White hope, having lost in the previous four finals and five times in total. At 37-24 up in the decider, White inexplicably missed a black off the spot, allowing Hendry to capitalise and claim his fourth world title… all against the same opponent.
"He's beginning to annoy me," White said afterwards. 'The Whirlwind' failed to reach another final.
It would take Ronnie O'Sullivan another four years to claim his first world title, but 20 years ago, 'The Rocket' whizzed round the table to stroke in the quickest 147 in history in the first round against Mick Price.
Timed at a staggering five minutes and 20 seconds, the Englishman averaged nine seconds a shot, earning him £147,000 for the maximum and £18,000 for the highest break.
The phrase "snooker from the gods" was coined by BBC commentator Clive Everton during Hendry's 1999 semi-final win over O'Sullivan, which contained 22 breaks over 50, including four centuries apiece. Hendry had lost the 1997 final to Ken Doherty and gone out in the first round the following year, with question marks raised about his ability to win another world crown.
He silenced the doubters by beating Welshman Mark Williams 18-11 in the final for his seventh and last title, surpassing six-time winner Davis in the process.
O'Sullivan had played just one match - in September - when he appeared at the tournament in April, but despite the lack of competitive action, produced some glorious snooker to collect his fifth world title by beating Barry Hawkins 18-12 in May's final.
O'Sullivan compiled a record six centuries in the contest, as well as beating Hendry's record of 127 Crucible tons.
Stuart 'Ballrun' Bingham's name seemed to be on the trophy when the underdog beat former champions Graeme Dott and Ronnie O'Sullivan, before edging past Judd Trump in the semi-finals.
He still had a job to do against another former champion Shaun Murphy, but the 50-1 shot emerged victorious 18-15 to become the oldest first-time winner at the Crucible, claim the £300,000 prize money and move up to second in the world rankings.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39657950
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World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Shaun Murphy to reach quarter-finals - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan reaches the quarter-finals of the World Championship by beating Shaun Murphy 13-7.
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Last updated on .From the section Snooker
O'Sullivan led 10-6 overnight and breaks of 111, 67 and 55 on Saturday put him through to the last eight at the Crucible for the 18th time.
A century and three 70-plus breaks in Friday's opening session had put him 6-2 up - a lead he did not relinquish.
O'Sullivan will next face Ding Junhui, who took the last two frames for a 13-12 win over fellow Chinese Liang Wenbo.
Last year's runner-up Ding had led 6-2 and 9-6, but English Open champion Liang composed himself superbly in the final session with breaks of 98 and 61 to go one frame from victory.
However, Ding's stunning 132 and 70 saw him progress.
Ding said: "It is quite hard because I played one of my best friends. I told him there are no winners or losers, we just play a good game."
Four-time champion John Higgins came from behind to beat Northern Irishman Mark Allen 13-9.
The Scot was 5-2 behind at one stage, with Allen compiling three centuries, but Higgins showed his experience and nous to punish his opponent's mistakes, and goes on to face Kyren Wilson in the last eight.
Defending champion Mark Selby leads China's Xiao Guodong 6-2 after the first session. The pair resume on Sunday at 14:30 BST.
• None 'I feel a bit like James Blunt. He seems a cool dude' - Ronnie on responsibility and fun
In an extraordinary news conference following his first-round win over Gary Wilson, O'Sullivan had accused snooker authorities of "bullying and intimidation".
An already tasty encounter had further intrigue added to it by fellow Englishman and world number five Murphy, who dismissed his opponent's claims.
It seemed to fire O'Sullivan up, who looked focused and determined to produce a delightful performance in the first session, from which 2005 champion Murphy was unable to recover.
"I have practised for this tournament - given it six to seven weeks - but it does not necessarily mean you are going to play well. I have put my work in and hope to get stronger each match," said O'Sullivan.
"I don't pay attention to what anybody says. I come here, get into my own cocoon, and do what I have to do. It is a long slog - hard mentally, especially for me - but you just have to try your best."
After defeat on Saturday, Murphy said: "Any match against Ronnie is a test of your skills and you have to play at your absolute best to win. I did not.
"Ronnie played really, really well in the whole match and if he plays with that level of focus he will go on to win the title.
"I don't subscribe to the 'not being bothered' stuff. He certainly looks like he is trying."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39677604
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Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Nemanja Matic scores a stunning goal as Chelsea beat Tottenham in a thrilling semi-final at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final.
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Last updated on .From the section FA Cup
Eden Hazard came off the bench to make the decisive contribution as Chelsea won an FA Cup semi-final classic against Tottenham at Wembley.
Hazard had been rested, along with Diego Costa, as Chelsea manager Antonio Conte shuffled his pack against a Spurs side high on confidence after closing to within four points of their London rivals in the Premier League title race.
But the Belgian emerged as substitute to help settle an enthralling encounter.
Willian, in for Hazard, gave Chelsea the lead with a fine free-kick after five minutes but Harry Kane levelled for Spurs with an instinctive stooping header. Willian put Conte's side back in front from the penalty spot just before the break - Son Heung-min penalised for a foul on Victor Moses.
Spurs seemed to have the momentum after Dele Alli converted Christian Eriksen's brilliant pass seven minutes after half-time - before Hazard was introduced as Chelsea's trump card, along with Costa, on the hour.
Hazard drove powerfully past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris after 75 minutes and Nemanja Matic set up an appearance alongside Arsenal or Manchester City in the FA Cup final with a spectacular drive five minutes later.
• None Pochettino 'not worried' about title challenge after defeat
Conte raised eyebrows with a team selection that saw Belgian outcast Michy Batshuayi given a rare outing on this huge occasion.
It led to suggestions Conte was prioritising the Premier League title race with Spurs after last weekend's jaded performance in a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.
The winner takes the spoils, though, and Conte has every right to accept the plaudits as Chelsea won a magnificent game of football to reach the final.
Conte used Hazard and Costa at a crucial juncture - on the hour, with Spurs building a head of attacking steam and looking the more assertive side - after Alli had equalised for the second time.
Hazard, a scourge of Spurs having scored the goal that effectively ended their title chances last season, was involved in what turned out to be the defining moment 15 minutes after coming on, hitting a low drive that gave Chelsea a lead they would not surrender.
It was also an illustration that the strength of Chelsea's squad runs deeper than Tottenham's as they were able not only to bring on Hazard and Costa but also Cesc Fabregas to change the face of the game.
Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino did not enjoy such success with his tactical tweaks, especially the decision to play Son as a left wing-back.
The South Korean never settled to his task or looked like reproducing the attacking threat that has been such a feature of Spurs' recent outstanding run of form - and his decision to go to ground provided an open invitation for referee Martin Atkinson to award a 43rd-minute penalty for his challenge on Moses.
Conte and Chelsea were the winners of this battle.
If Spurs do make Wembley their home next season while a new stadium is built at White Hart Lane, they must somehow find a way of lifting the curse that has afflicted them on recent visits here.
Since beating Chelsea 2-1 to left the League Cup in 2008, they have played at Wembley nine times - winning once, losing six times and drawing once before today.
This was their third FA Cup semi-final loss in that time, following a 2-0 loss to Portsmouth in the 2010 FA Cup semi-final and a 5-1 loss to Chelsea two years later. They also lost League Cup finals to Manchester United in 2009 and Chelsea in 2015.
The Champions League also proved an unhappy home this season as they went out at the group phase after staging their games at Wembley.
As the Spurs players trooped off, they must have wondered what they have to do to win here because - for large parts - this was an excellent performance in a match of the highest quality.
Spurs looked to have the game in their hands at 2-2 but could not provide the sure touch in front of goal that has served them so well in recent times, despite dominating possession.
This failing was underlined by Chelsea's ability to ruthlessly punish every Spurs flaw, from Lloris not quite covering Willian's free-kick to Son's injudicious dive to concede the penalty.
Spurs are developing into a side with outstanding talent in all parts of the pitch but they were brought down by Chelsea's streetwise, experienced approach and Conte's clever use of his greater resources.
Spurs must have felt the door to a Premier League title triumph was ajar after their seventh successive home win against Bournemouth last weekend reduced Chelsea's lead to four points before they lost at Old Trafford.
Chelsea were hit hard by that loss and suddenly questions were being asked about a team that looked to be making serene progress towards the finishing line, as Spurs suddenly appeared on their shoulders.
This, however, was an emphatic response of resilience and brilliance from Conte's side as they reasserted themselves over their closest rivals with a win they will hope has enough psychological impact to give them that extra push towards a title that has looked theirs for so long.
'As a coach, you must take a strong decision'
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "I feel proud. We were fantastic in the way we played and in our philosophy. They had five shots and scored four goals and we score only two. The penalty for me was a soft penalty or was not a penalty.
"Only now we can look forward. We are four points behind them and we will try to win our next game. I am not worried. The team is strong; we are focused. We were competing today with one of the best teams in Europe. Did we deserve more? Sure, but that is football.
"Now we will try to be calm, watch the game again and try to improve. We are in a process of trying to improve. If we cannot win the FA Cup this season we will try again next season."
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "I am proud for this achievement. It is great for the players for me. This is my first season in England and it is great to fight for the title and reach the final of the FA Cup, a great competition.
"During the season there is a moment as a coach you must take a strong decision. You have to take a risk. If you win the plan worked, if you don't the responsibility is on you. I think today our plan worked very well."
Chelsea goalscorer Nemanja Matic: "It was a nice goal! But first of all I want to say I am very happy for the team, that we're going to play in the final.
"It's great when you have a chance to play in this stadium. For our supporters, you can see this is something special. To have a chance to win this trophy is significant for us as players.
"This result gives us more confidence of course - it's always good to win. Now we have to recover quickly for the next game on Tuesday."
Lucky number seven for Chelsea - the stats
• None Chelsea have reached their seventh FA Cup final of the 21st century, more than any other side in that time (Arsenal could equal it on Sunday).
• None Tottenham have now lost their past seven FA Cup semi-finals in a row, the longest ever such run in the competition.
• None Eden Hazard has scored five goals against Tottenham in his Chelsea career, more than he has against any other side.
• None Christian Eriksen's two assists mean he has provided more than any other player in all competitions among Europe's big five leagues this season (20).
• None Including penalty shootouts, Chelsea have won 10 fixtures at the new Wembley Stadium, second only to Manchester United (11).
• None Meanwhile, Tottenham have suffered seven defeats at the ground (including shootouts), more than any other side.
• None Harry Kane has scored 21 goals in his last 24 London derby matches in all competitions for Spurs.
• None Dele Alli has 20 goals in all competitions this season, double his tally from last season.
Both teams turn their attention back to the Premier League title race in midweek.
Chelsea host Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday (19:45 BST), while Tottenham visit Crystal Palace on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
• None Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
• None N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dele Alli.
• None Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
• None Attempt missed. Diego Costa (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas with a cross.
• None Attempt blocked. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
• None Goal! Chelsea 4, Tottenham Hotspur 2. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Eden Hazard. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39604653
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Was ITV's The Nightly Show a success? - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The eight-week entertainment show didn't get off to the strongest start but after ending more positively does it just need a second chance?
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Entertainment & Arts
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Dermot O'Leary and Davina McCall were among the hosts
ITV's The Nightly Show didn't get off to the strongest start - but its fortunes improved over its eight-week run.
The first series of the new entertainment show drew to a close on Friday after 40 episodes.
It was broadcast every weeknight in the 10pm slot normally occupied by the news, and saw a different celebrity take over presenting duties each week.
The show struggled at the beginning - viewing figures quickly dropped after the first episode hosted by David Walliams and critics weren't too keen on it either.
But things improved as the series progressed, with the show gradually building an online audience and some presenters proving particularly popular with viewers.
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV is doing better than any other terrestrial channel this year in terms of year-on-year performance, we've had a really strong start to the year.
"We're in a strong position to try some new things and experiment, it is imperative we try new things, which have the potential to enhance our entertainment offering."
Let's take look back over The Nightly Show's first season.
David Walliams was the first of The Nightly Show's guest presenters
David Walliams was on hosting duties for The Nightly Show's first week - and helped the series start strongly with an average of 2.9 million live viewers tuning in for its opening episode.
But his performance received negative reviews from critics and the audience dropped to 1.2 million by Friday's programme.
"I think David Walliams just isn't a natural presenter, and it really came across," says Frances Taylor, TV critic for the Radio Times.
"He's a great actor and comedian but we'd never seen him at the helm of a programme, and if you're going to have revolving hosts you've got to have someone strong to kick it off.
"If you don't, viewers will lose interest, and once they've gone, it's difficult to get them back."
Dermot O'Leary was one of the most popular presenters with viewers
Walliams put the viewing figures and poor reviews down to people being annoyed about the News at Ten being moved back by half an hour in the schedules.
After his stint, John Bishop, Davina McCall, Dermot O'Leary, Gordon Ramsay, Bradley Walsh and Jason Manford all had a turn.
Some presenters were more popular with viewers and critics - particularly O'Leary, who was booked for a second week later in the run.
Ramsay proved a successful booking too, and he helped the show build a stronger online following, partly due to the star guests he drew to the show.
Several of Gordon Ramsay's segments went viral, such as musician John Legend's comic take on Ramsay's sweary language
UK chat show hosts such as Graham Norton, Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross regularly attract high-profile guests, but their shows only air once a week.
When you've got five nights of shows to fill, talent booking is a greater challenge, especially outside the US, says author, lecturer and television executive Lyndsay Duthie.
"In the US, you've got A-list guests night after night because there's a bigger talent pool to draw from," she says.
"James Corden has Madonna and Michelle Obama taking part in Carpool Karaoke, which makes it not only entertaining, you can't believe the talent they've got on there."
The Nightly Show struggled a little on this front - but it did manage to attract some big names as it went on, particularly the week Ramsay was in charge.
"The stuff Gordon Ramsay did with John Legend has got such global appeal because they're such big stars in America," says Frances Taylor.
In one segment, which was a hit, Legend was seen at a piano, singing some of the foul-mouthed chef's most famous TV insults.
"If you've got names like that then people all round the world will recognise them, and that means that it probably will go viral, and that's the whole point of shows like this," Taylor adds.
"Bradley Walsh interviewing Louise Redknapp didn't have quite the same worldwide appeal."
The Oscars mix-up occurred the evening before The Nightly Show launched
One of the benefits of producing a show which is recorded on the same day it's broadcast is the writers' ability to put in jokes about the day's news events.
Taylor says: "A show like this lives and dies by the writing, and The Nightly Show was billed as a topical programme, but there was hardly any topicality in it."
"The Oscars gaffe, which happened the day before their first show, was such a gift as a topic, but David Walliams could only come up with a couple of poor envelope swapping gags."
She compares it to the pastiche The Late Late Show did in the US, where Corden dressed up as Emma Stone and sang a parody song about the Oscars mix-up, which Taylor says was a stronger treatment.
"If The Nightly Show comes back it needs to play on the topicality. The fact this is filmed a couple of hours before transmission, they're not maximising that opportunity."
But Duthie says: "In the US you have teams and teams of people writing the opening monologues, which is a luxury that most British shows don't have."
Jason Manford hosted the show in its penultimate week
ITV pushed the News at Ten back by half an hour to make room for The Nightly Show as part of the broadcaster's initiative to try out what it calls "Five Nights of New" schedule.
But, says Duthie, where The Nightly Show was concerned, it may have suffered due to its chosen timeslot. The most successful chat shows in the US start much later in the evening.
"In the UK we're much more conservative," she says. "By 10:30pm, peak time is over. But if a show is on later, you're catching people coming home from the pub late at night, and a lot of younger viewers."
She adds that part of the problem facing any new nightly entertainment show is the difference in audience expectation between the UK and the US.
"We've gotten so used to watching light-hearted entertainment shows on Friday and Saturdays that a lot of British viewers aren't used to upbeat, happy content on a Monday evening," Duthie says.
"Also, perhaps the networks wouldn't pay for original programming at 11:30pm in the UK - budgets are usually spent by about 10:30."
But she praised ITV for being willing to try something new in the first place: "As much as I love the News at Ten, it wasn't performing very well for ITV, so commercially it was a good decision to look at that 10 o'clock slot."
ITV pushed its evening news bulletin, fronted by Tom Bradby, back in the schedule
ITV's director of TV Kevin Lygo told Broadcast: "In terms of The Nightly Show, this eight-week run is about extending the 10pm hour, extending the primetime feel of ITV, and seeing how that looks and feels during this period and how viewers respond to something other than repeats, alongside the News.
"The intention was to make that hour feel a bit fresh and different with some stunt scheduling and I think we've done that.
"After the run has finished we'll obviously look at the shows and all the data and discuss what next.
"The broader point is - TV is a risk business, you need to try new things, and launch them with confidence and visibility to give them the best chance of success.
"And you've got keep doing that, and we will."
John Bishop and Bradley Walsh presented The Nightly Show during its run
US chat show hosts - from Ellen DeGeneres to Jimmy Fallon - now depend heavily on building a strong online following to match their viewing figures.
The Nightly Show had mixed fortunes on this front, with some segments not attracting many views, but others going viral worldwide.
At the time of writing, a compilation of Ramsay's best pranks during his week on the show has attracted 3.4 million views.
Fay Ripley giving parenting tips to John Bishop, in contrast, has had just a couple of hundred.
But while social media success can give a show a huge boost, it can also cause the problem of shows being judged too quickly.
Fleabag's strong online following helped it build an audience
"Now you get such a snap decision with everything," says Taylor. "If something isn't immediately funny, you see people all over Twitter saying 'this is rubbish'.
"Social media can be great because you can build an audience for a show and make it an underground hit, like Fleabag.
"But conversely, when you've got something high profile that people don't enjoy, the knives are out.
"To some extent, all publicity is good publicity, but if a show can't breathe, it will put people off. Once that dies down, more people are likely to come to it naturally."
The ITV spokesman said the show's online clip performance had been "impressive, amassing more than 40 million views in total for its online content across various platforms, and more than 50,000 subscribers and followers".
Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon's US shows have a strong online presence
"The figures reflected the viral nature of the content. The John Legend/Gordon Ramsay sketch accrued more than 16.5 million views on Facebook. It was shared more than 310,000 times.
"The Gordon Ramsay Blender clip accrued over 4.3 million views on Facebook. It also trended at number one worldwide on YouTube for three days as well as accruing over 3.5 million views on YouTube."
The clip saw Ramsay pretend to cut his hand in a food blender, to the horror of the audience and guest Frank Skinner.
"It was the most talked about video on the Internet for the weekend of 1-2 April," ITV said.
As for The Nightly Show's future, ITV will now take some time to examine how the first series performed in more detail, before deciding whether to commission another.
ITV said: "We don't normally make decisions on recommissions until after a series has ended."
Whether it comes back in its current form or returns with a few tweaks, we could well be seeing much more of The Nightly Show in the future.
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-39592206
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General election 2017: No cut to UK aid spending, says May - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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PM ends speculation over foreign aid budgets and the chancellor hints the Tories' pledge not to raise taxes may be dropped in their manifesto.
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UK Politics
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Theresa May has ruled out cuts to the UK foreign aid budget if she wins the election but doubts have been cast on other existing Conservative pledges.
The prime minister said the commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on aid "will remain" although it must be spent "in the most effective way".
It follows speculation she was ready to drop it from the Tory manifesto.
But she declined to guarantee existing spending on state pensions which ensures a minimum 2.5% annual increase.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted that a pledge in the 2015 Conservative manifesto not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance before 2020 could be abandoned.
The 0.7% aid commitment was adopted by David Cameron when he became prime minister in 2010 and later enshrined in law.
The UK has met the international target - which originates in United Nations aspirations from the 1970s - every year since 2013. There has been talk it might be among a number of high-profile policies championed by Mrs May's predecessor that she might drop to ease pressure on the public finances.
But asked about its future at an election campaign event in Berkshire, Mrs May said: "Let's be clear, the 0.7% commitment remains and will remain.
"What we need to do though is look at how that money is spent and make sure that we are able to spend that money in the most effective way."
Former chancellor George Osborne welcomed Mrs May's pledge, tweeting that it was the "morally right" thing to do and would maintain the UK's global "influence".
Leading aid organisations, including Unicef and Save The Children, expressed delight at the development, which comes 24 hours after Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates warned that ending the commitment would cost lives.
But the Taxpayers Alliance campaign group said it was disappointed that the "arbitrary and meaningless" target was not being dispensed with.
Foreign aid has been ringfenced from public spending cuts over the past seven years and has been one of the few areas to see a large increase in budgets.
In 2015, the last year for which figures are available, the UK spent £12.1bn on overseas development assistance. This was projected to rise to £13.3bn in 2016.
This has proved unpopular with some Tory MPs at a time of austerity in domestic public services and amid media reports about waste in certain aid projects.
The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said a senior Conservative source, familiar with the aid budget, refused to be drawn as to whether this amounted to an acceptance of how aid spending is currently defined, or could potentially include a broadening of what would count as aid spending in future.
The triple lock is one of the government's most expensive policy commitments
Asked about another of the Conservatives' 2015 election manifesto commitments - the so-called "triple lock" on the state pension which guarantees an annual rise of at least 2.5% - Mrs May declined to confirm it would stay in force.
"What I would say to pensioners, is just look what the Conservatives in government have done," she said.
"Pensioners today, £1,250 a year better off as a result of action that has been taken. We were very clear about the need to support people in their old age and that's exactly what we've done".
The triple lock - which pegs the state pension to annual increases in prices or earnings, whichever is higher, or a minimum of 2.5% - was introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2010.
A review carried out by the former CBI boss John Cridland earlier this year recommended it be ended. He warned that if it remained in place, an extra 1% of GDP - equivalent to £19.5bn in current prices - would probably have to be spent on pensions by 2036-37.
Labour, which has vowed to retain the lock and other pensioner benefits such as the winter fuel allowance if elected, said its opponents were "abandoning older people".
Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Hammond also cast doubt on David Cameron's 2015 pledge not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance before 2020.
He told the BBC that while no final decision had been taken, the government needed "flexibility" on taxes.
The BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed said it was the clearest hint yet that Mr Hammond - who was forced to backtrack on his proposed Budget rise in NI contributions for the self-employed - would like to see the promise significantly amended if not ditched altogether.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39670703
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Reality Check: How many children are in classes of more than 30? - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Labour alleges that pupils in England's primary schools "are packed like sardines" in classrooms.
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Education & Family
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The claim: Speaking in Swindon, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Half a million children are now being taught in super-size classes of over 36."
Reality Check verdict: This is incorrect. Actually about 42,000 pupils are in classes of 36 or more - about 1% of children. Mr Corbyn appears to be confusing statistics. It is right, as the earlier Labour press release said, to say about half a million pupils in state-funded primary schools in England are in classes of between 31 and 35.
Labour claims that pupils in England's primary schools "are packed like sardines" in classrooms.
Jeremy Corbyn said in a speech in Swindon on Friday: "Half a million children are now being taught in super-size classes of over 36."
This is at odds with what his party's press release said, which was that half a million children in state-funded primary schools are in classes between 31 and 35 pupils. That's about 12% of primary school pupils.
That figure is confirmed by government figures from the school census (see tables 6a and 6b), which also says that about 42,000 pupils are in classes of 36 pupils or more, which is about 1% of primary school pupils.
Government rules say no infant school child should be taught in a class size greater than 30 - that's children in Key Stage 1 who are aged five to seven.
That rule can be waived in exceptional circumstances - usually if twins or siblings are admitted to the school, or a child in care has to be given a place.
The official school census for 2016 shows that more than half of Key Stage 1 classes with one teacher have either 29 or 30 pupils in them. Of the infant classes with more than 30 pupils, roughly 95% have 31 or 32 pupils. Classes with more than 32 children in them are uncommon.
Rules on classes sizes do not apply to children in Key Stage 2, which is ages seven to 11.
Between 2006 and 2016, the average Key Stage 1 class grew from 25.6 to 27.4 but at Key Stage 2, where there is no cap on numbers, it has remained stable at around 27 pupils in a class on average.
While numbers of pupils in oversized classes has increased, the number of primary school aged children has increased by about half a million over that period.
Since 2010, the proportion of children in classes of 31 to 35 pupils has risen from 10.6% to 11.9%.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39666686
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European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Munster 26-10 to reach final - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Defending champions Saracens survive a first-half Munster examination to reach a third Champions Cup final in four years.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Defending champions Saracens survived a first-half examination from Munster before taking control to reach a third Champions Cup final in four years.
Munster dominated the first half but somehow trailed 6-3 at the break, Tyler Bleyendaal landing one penalty to two from Owen Farrell.
A converted Mako Vunipola try saw Saracens start to pull away.
And, with Farrell landing his shots at goal for a 100% record, a Chris Wyles try saw them home with some ease.
Saracens will face the winner of Sunday's Clermont Auvergne v Leinster match in the final in Edinburgh on Saturday, 13 May.
The scoreline might suggest it was yet another ruthless performance from Saracens, who did the English and European double last year, but for the first 40 minutes it looked as though it might be two-time former winners Munster heading to Murrayfield.
Their run to the last four has been hugely emotional, with head coach Anthony Foley dying the night before they were due to face Racing 92 in their opening match in this season's European Champions Cup.
Determined to honour the memory of a true Munster man, they had rekindled memories of their European reign a decade ago and their passionate supporters filled nine-tenths of the 51,300 seats in the Aviva Stadium.
Roared on by their fans they had two-thirds of the territory and three-quarters of the possession in the opening half, but superb defence from Saracens kept them at bay and ensured that the romantics hoping for a Munster victory were denied by the pragmatists from north London.
Saracens are renowned for the ruthless efficiency of their game, content to kick for territory before launching attacks, and happy to use their 'Wolfpack' defence to not only keep the opposition at bay but drive them back behind the gainline.
And it was their defence that kept them in it during an opening 40 minutes that saw them pinned inside their own half by the accurate boots of Munster half-backs Duncan Williams and Bleyendaal.
Indiscipline prevented Saracens from building any momentum of their own.
But no matter how hard Munster pressed they could not break down the Londoners' defensive wall, and so obdurate were they that, despite being under the cosh for long periods, the champions turned round three points to the good.
After the restart it was the most workmanlike part of the game that saw them wrest the upper hand, with their front row increasingly dominant in the scrums as tight-head Vincent Koch turned on the power.
A trickle of penalties enabled England sharp-shooter Farrell to edge them further into the lead and after cutting out the silly penalties of the first half they assumed total control.
They were still far from perfect and added two more bad misses to one in the first half, when Richard Wigglesworth had dropped the ball with a clear run to the line.
First Alex Goode passed behind Chris Ashton with a try begging, before George Kruis showed his rugby intelligence to pick and drive from a ruck, only to drop the ball as he reached to score.
But England prop Vunipola rumbled over to give them a 10-point lead and with their big carriers - brother Billy prominent among them - now smashing over the gainline, the momentum had swung entirely.
Replacement Wyles latched on to a Farrell grubber kick to put them out of sight and although Lions tourist Stander scored a late consolation, it was long since clear that it was the businesslike Londoners who were headed to the final.
'Our togetherness shone through' - what the managers said
"I thought our defence was extraordinary. We soaked up a lot of pressure and coped with their attack really well.
"The game started exactly as they would have wanted. We couldn't really escape our half in the first half but our defence remained good.
"It was a brilliant occasion. Munster's supporters are as good as any in the world. In the face of that, the fight and the togetherness we had to show, to win the game was brilliant."
"We played against a team that were better than us. That's a reality.
"Even though there were stages that were close and we had a few opportunities, I thought the scoreboard was a true reflection of the game."
Replacements: Saili for Taute (55), Sweetnam for Earls (63), Keatley for Bleyendaal (71), Cronin for Kilcoyne (56), Marshall for N Scannell (60), Archer for J Ryan (63), D. O'Callaghan for P O'Mahony (52), Deysel for O'Donnell (50).
Replacements: Lozowski for Bosch (74), Wyles for Maitland (62), Spencer for Wigglesworth (71), Lamositele for M Vunipola (71), Brits for George (50), du Plessis for Koch (71), Hamilton for Itoje (74), S Burger for Wray (55).
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39635185
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FA Cup: Eden Hazard fires Chelsea in front again - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Substitute Eden Hazard fires home for Chelsea to put them 3-2 up against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Substitute Eden Hazard fires home for Chelsea to put them 3-2 up against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681512
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FGM: The mother trying to protect her daughters - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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One FGM survivor explains her struggle to protect her daughters from the practice.
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Wales
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FGM is illegal in the UK but campaigners warn children are still taken abroad to have it done
A case of female genital mutilation was discovered every three days, on average, by maternity staff in Wales last year, according to new figures. One victim - an asylum seeker mother-of-three living in Swansea - describes her struggle to protect her two daughters from the practice. Names have been withheld to protect her children.
I was cut when I was two days old. I didn't know anything about it until years later my mum told me I had it done.
For me, growing up in Benin City in Nigeria, it was normal. Everyone had it done. The eldest of five daughters I was aware of my younger sisters having it done when I was growing up.
But I would just go off to play when the cutter came, I didn't really realise what was going on.
It wasn't until the cutter came to see my youngest sister I realised what was happening. By then she was seven and I was 12, so I was a bit more aware.
My mother told my sister in the weeks before: "Someone is coming to cut you, like I cut your sisters, my mum cut me and my great-grandmother cut her. It is nothing."
Then I asked her about it. She said it was a man who cut me, I bled for an hour and nearly died. After that they didn't cut my sisters until they were a bit older as they were scared they would die.
Even though I knew this, I couldn't tell my sister because if she didn't have it done or tried to run away people would have told her she was unclean, the community would have despised her and she would have been told she didn't belong.
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That day, the cutter had already been to see other girls. The cutter lay a small mat down in the back yard of our house and had pieces of broken bottles, razor blades to do the cutting. They were not clean, they had blood on them already.
She had a big lady with her, she forced my sister onto the ground and sat on her chest to hold her still. My sister could hardly breathe and couldn't move her arms or legs. The cutter was behind the lady and got to work.
My sister was fighting, she was screaming, but there was nothing she could do. I was screaming "stop this".
By the end there was blood everywhere and my sister was unconscious. She had cried so much she didn't have anything left to give.
They said to give her water and tried to clean her up. That was all she had to make her feel better - water.
I just thought it was something that had to happen or you wouldn't be accepted by the community. I didn't know any different.
My mum told you: "If you don't do it your husband in future will not like you, will not respect you, will not appreciate that you are a proper woman. You will be cast out by the community".
They want the man to enjoy sex with you, it is all for the man, but why go through pain for just the man to enjoy sex with you when you don't enjoy it? It does not make sense to me.
When I came to England in 2007 I started to realise it was not necessarily the natural thing I had been brought up to believe. When I had my first boyfriend it was painful both during sex and after sex, I couldn't understand it. But I had no-one to talk to about it. I just assumed it was normal.
When I fell pregnant they told me I couldn't give birth naturally, so I had to have a Caesarean with both my girls and my little boy.
My daughter will soon turn seven - the age when my sister had it done - and I am so scared that someone will try to do it to her.
For links to organisations offering support on FGM visit BBC Action Line
I'm so happy my girls weren't born in Nigeria - if they had been my mum would have quietly come to my house, even if I said no, when I was at the market she would have come and had them cut.
I'm no longer in touch with family back in Nigeria, and thank god for that at the moment because of the risk of FGM. I'm just trying to bring my girls up, to teach them about my country and gradually teach them about FGM. But how do you explain FGM to a seven-year-old child?
I'm afraid to take them back to Nigeria to visit, I would really love to, but how safe is it? Even though it is banned there now it is still a way of life, because their foremothers have been doing it for a long time they continue to do it.
If I saw my mum, my sister or my grandmother there would be a very-massive risk for my girls.
Campaigners believe young girls are targeted for FGM in the summer holidays - when there is time for them to recover
No way will I let someone do that to my girls, no way. They are happy, they are free, they are so blessed.
But even though we are in Wales now I'm so worried about someone seeing them and thinking they must have it done, and taking an opportunity to do it.
I know people might think "why would they cut my daughters if they don't know them?" but they are from a community that practises it. They might think this is a young girl, she needs to have it done.
I can never leave them anywhere, I can never leave them with anyone.
Survivors like me need to talk about being cut so that people know about it, so we are empowered to protect our children from it. If everyone keeps quiet, how are we going to stop it?
I want my daughters to know I stood up to speak against it, that is what I think my mum should have done for me and I want to do it for them.
Just as generations have been doing it, maybe my generation will be the one that stops it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39282927
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Norwich City 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Goalkeeper David Stockdale scores two own goals as Brighton lose at Norwich to miss out on sealing the Championship title.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale scored two freakish own goals as the Seagulls lost at Norwich to miss out on securing the Championship title.
Both came from Alex Pritchard shots, the first smashing the bar and rebounding in off Stockdale's back.
Albion's Jamie Murphy had a penalty appeal waved away before Pritchard curled against the post, with the ball again hitting Stockdale and going in.
The Seagulls, who sealed promotion on Monday, were well short of their best.
• None Relive Norwich's victory over Brighton as it happened
Chris Hughton's Brighton needed a win to become champions and came closest to scoring when Glenn Murray saw his header cleared off the line by Jonny Howson.
The ineffective Anthony Knockaert, recently named as the Championship's player of the year, was replaced just after the hour mark, though his side remain seven points clear of Newcastle, who have three games to play.
Eighth-placed Norwich, who cannot make the play-offs, remarkably did not register a single shot on target despite winning comfortably.
The Canaries could have gone ahead early on but Nelson Oliveira could not quite reach Howson's dangerous cross.
Brighton must now wait until at least Monday to clinch the title, as Newcastle must avoid defeat against Preston to take the race into the penultimate round of fixtures.
"A few weeks ago we hadn't beaten a side above us all season - now we have beaten three of them and that is very pleasing.
"I thought we deserved to win, even though I have just been told that we didn't have a single shot on target, unless you count the ones against the woodwork.
"I thought we controlled the game for most of the time. I thought we passed the ball really well, especially in the first half, and also defended well, especially when they were putting balls into our box."
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton on the two own goals:
"That's not something I have ever seen before. It happens to keepers from time to time, but not usually twice in one game.
"Obviously there is no blame attached to David at all - he was just trying to make the saves and the ball just came back off him.
"What I would say is that we were punished for allowing the player to get his shot away by not closing him down on the edge of the box.
"Norwich have got a lot of quality in their side and when that happens you are asking for trouble."
• None Offside, Norwich City. Ryan Bennett tries a through ball, but Nélson Oliveira is caught offside.
• None Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Solly March tries a through ball, but Chuba Akpom is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno.
• None Substitution, Norwich City. Wes Hoolahan replaces Josh Murphy because of an injury.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Mitchell Dijks (Norwich City) because of an injury.
• None Attempt missed. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Bruno.
• None Attempt blocked. Nélson Oliveira (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Steven Naismith.
• None Attempt saved. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
• None Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) 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/39597355
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The 13 MPs who opposed snap general election - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A total of 13 MPs voted against an early general election. We look at who they are and why they said no.
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UK Politics
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Parliament voted for an early general election on Wednesday, with 522 MPs in favour. However, 13 voted no. But who are the 13 and why are they against the poll?
When did he first win his seat? 1987
What positions has he held? Parliamentary commissioner for administration (June 1987 - March 1997), Health Committee member (October 2005 - November 2007), Public Administration Committee member (July 1997 - May 2001).
Why did he vote no? Mr Campbell is 73 and has been treated for stomach cancer. However, he is on the road to recovery after an operation and chemotherapy. He announced earlier on Wednesday he would stand again for election as it would be the party's national executive committee who would choose his replacement rather than the local party - not something he was keen on.
When did she first win her seat? 1984
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow secretary of state for international development (January 1989 - January 1992), shadow secretary of state for Wales (July 1992 - November 1992), shadow minister for culture, media and sport (November 1992 - January 1993), chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (May 2005 - December 2006).
Why did she vote no? The Welsh MP said the only reason the prime minister called the election was a "cut and run tactic" because of how difficult Brexit negotiations will be. As a former MEP, she said members of the European Parliament were "not going to roll over with a handshake and a smile, they are going to talk tough and be tough". Ms Clwyd added: "Nobody is ready for this general election. I do think this is an irrelevance considering what is happening in the world at the moment."
When did he first win his seat? 2001
What positions has he held in the party? Member of multiple committees, including the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (July 2015 - present), the Privacy and Injunctions Committee (July 2011 - March 2012) and the Consolidation Bills Committee (December 2010 - March 2015).
Why did he vote no? Mr Farrelly has one of the smallest majorities in the UK, with only 650, so it may be understandable why he was not keen for an election. But he told a local newspaper reporter for the Stoke Sentinel that he voted against it because he believes it will be "bad for the country" and the unity of the UK.
When did he first win his seat? 1997 (the seat changed from Poplar and Canning Town to Poplar and Limehouse in 2010)
What positions has he held in the party? Minister of state for environment, food and rural affairs (June 2009 - May 2010), shadow minister for environment, food and rural affairs (May 2010 - October 2010), shadow minister for transport (October 2010 - August 2013).
Why did he vote no? Mr Fitzpatrick was planning to retire in 2020, but he will be standing for re-election. He said he voted no because he thought the prime minister was "taking advantage of a lead in the opinion polls for purely party political advantage, not in the national interest." He added that Mrs May's "misleading [of] the public... ought to have been objected to and opposed."
When did he first win his seat? 2015
What positions has he held in the party? Shadow secretary of state for defence (June 2016 - Oct 2016) and shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy (October 2016 - February 2017).
Why did he vote no? It may be for personal reasons as he is due to get married on 6 May. He told the Daily Telegraph: "Theresa May kind of has thrown a clanger into my life. We've had to cancel the honeymoon and we don't even know if we're getting married now, so I don't know. It's a bit of a disaster personally." But he has also said it was down to the way the government had gone about turning over the Fixed Term Parliament Act. "At this critical time, it isn't the time for Theresa May to simply call an election when it is convenient," he said. "Had a motion of no confidence in the government been on the table I would have voted for it."
When did she win her seat? 1997
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow minister for the equalities office (October 2010 - April 2011) and shadow minister for equalities (April 2011 - October 2011).
Why did she vote no? The former Labour minister has announced she is not going to stand for re-election, saying she is "bored by political squabbles over personalities". Of the election she said: "I can't believe that spending eight weeks of a time-limited negotiation period campaigning in an election rather than talking to our EU partners will strengthen her hand in negotiations with anyone outside her own Conservative Party."
When did she first win her seat? 2014
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow minister for communities and local government (September 2015 - June 2016) and shadow minister for foreign and Commonwealth affairs (October 2016 - present).
Why did she vote no? The Greater Manchester MP said she voted against the election because of "voter fatigue". She told Buzzfeed that after a by-election that saw her become an MP, the 2015 general election, the referendum, and the mayoral race in 2017, there was the potential for low turnout. Ms McInnes added: "I haven't met anyone who welcomes it, people just go 'oh no, not again'."
When did he first win his seat? 1970
What positions has he held in the party? Member of the National Executive Committee (July 1979 - July 1992, July 1994 - July 1998, July 1999 - May 2010), vice-chair of the Labour Party (July 1987 - July 1988) and Party Chair (July 1988 - July 1989).
Why did he vote no? No official word from Mr Skinner, but during PMQs he asked for a guarantee that those Tory MPs under investigation for election expenses would not stand. For him, failure to do that would make the whole campaign "the most squalid in my life time". Perhaps not a surprise he voted against it then.
When did he first win his seat? 1997
What positions has he held in the party? Parliamentary secretary at the cabinet office (November 1999 - June 2001) and Lord Commissioner at the Treasury (June 2001 - May 2002).
Why did he vote no? Mr Stringer condemned his own party for not opposing the snap election and "falling into Theresa May's trap" to boost the Tories. He added: "The opinion polls might be a few points out but they're not telling a complete lie. We have got to spend the next seven weeks getting our policy issues over, they appear to be popular with the public when tested. But I wasn't going to vote to support Theresa May's cynical move to try and increase the Conservatives' majority."
When did she first win her seat? 2001
What positions has she held? Shadow spokesperson for trade and industry, home affairs, women and culture, media and sport (May 2001 - May 2005, when she was an Ulster Unionist MP).
Why did she vote no? There has not been a public statement on her reasons.
When did she first win her seat? 2015
What positions has she held in the party? SNP Westminster spokeswoman for disabilities (May 2015 - November 2015).
Why did she vote no? It was an eventful day for Ms McGarry, who confirmed she was pregnant after she fainted in the Houses of Parliament. An ambulance was called, but just as a precaution. The politician, who lost the SNP whip and now sits as an independent after allegations of fraud were made against her, hasn't explained why she voted as she did.
When did she first win her seat? 2015
What positions has she held in the party? SNP Westminster group leader for business, innovation and skills (May 2015 - October 2015).
Why did she vote no? She is currently sitting as an independent after withdrawing the SNP whip last year. Ms Thomson took to Twitter to say she voted against the early election, unlike many of her SNP colleagues. She said: "This is a time for leadership from the opposition, not abstention."
When did he first win his seat? 2005
What positions has he held in the party? Leader from 2011 to 2015.
Why did he vote no? He said Theresa May's call for an election was a "cynical exercise" aimed at "gathering up muscle to confront Europe and go for a hard Brexit".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39644981
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FA Cup: Dele Alli equalises from stunning Eriksen cross - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Tottenham's Dele Alli volleys home against Chelsea after Christian Eriksen's stunning cross in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Tottenham's Dele Alli volleys home against Chelsea after Christian Eriksen's stunning cross in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681108
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The couple who want to rebuild their shattered city - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
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Magazine
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Someday, what seems like Syria's forever war will end. Then the focus will shift to rebuilding a country shredded and scarred by conflict. A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
"It's not easy to rise from the ruins, it's not easy," reflects Marwa al-Sabouni.
We're standing in the cool dark depths of a hammam - a public bath dating back to Roman times in the old quarter of Homs. Its thick stone walls are now rough blotches of black and brown, dappled by shafts of light streaming through holes in a domed ceiling designed to draw light into this ancient warren.
The history within these walls is even darker.
"This was a major battleground," Sabouni explains as we walk through the hammam's main chamber, with what remains of a water fountain at its centre.
The debris of recent battles has been slowly cleared since two years of fierce clashes in the Old City area ended in 2014 when the government took back what had been a rebel-held enclave of Syria's third city.
"So many of us didn't even know this beautiful hammam, and so many other parts of our heritage, existed before the war," Sabouni says.
"It was neglected and then destroyed before we had to chance to know it."
Sabouni has taken me on a walk to illustrate some of the main ideas in her acclaimed book, The Battle for Home. An evocative memoir of her family's experience of living through a punishing war in their city, it's also an architect's vision of how to rebuild Syria to help mend its wounds and avoid errors of the past.
One of her biggest allies is fellow architect Ghassan Jansiz - who happens to be her husband. Their ideas about architecture brought them together as students.
They remained with their two young children in a city which saw some of the first protests and the most vicious fighting of the war.
This 2,000-year-old hammam is our first stop on Sabouni's itinerary as we set out to explore the souk, a sprawling market that was once the vibrant heart of the Old City.
Its labyrinth of alleyways is still largely deserted with most shops shuttered, or shattered by the gunfire and explosions.
Syria's destructive conflict has been fuelled by many faultlines. Sabouni says architecture is one of them.
"Of course, I'm not saying that architecture is the only reason for the war, but in a very real way it accelerated and perpetuated the conflict," she explains.
Her book chronicles the rise, over the past century, of soulless tower blocks and urban sprawls that effectively created sectarian ghettos and eroded shared public spaces which had long shaped Syrian society. Sabouni sees the built environment as a crucible for the frictions that led to civil war.
A meander through Homs's old market is also a journey further back in time, through thousands of years of Syrian history and successive empires that left their mark. In this rich story, Sabouni finds lessons for a more inspired and inclusive way of living.
"Certain architectural elements from different eras are all incorporated within the same structures and they don't cancel each other out," she explains as she leads me to what she calls a "hidden house."
A long dimly lit corridor leads into an exquisite courtyard with leafy fruit trees dotted with oranges. A sudden burst of bright colour surprises, as a small symbol of renewal.
"You see, this is what I talk about in the book," Sabouni exclaims.
"We had something very beautiful, very ancient and very harmonious interwoven in our lives, in our daily lives," she says, making her point that Syria's precious world heritage lies not only in famed sites such as the Roman ruins of Palmyra, but in its everyday social fabric.
"We vandalised a lot of it, and we mistreated a lot of it, so maybe we have the chance to start over now."
In another corner of the market, Jansiz shows me another hammam dating from the days of the Ottoman empire.
Its vaulted ceilings with intricate patterns of holes creates a dance of circles of light on the stone walls and floor.
But it's a pattern of light caused by damage rather than design which provides a small example of how to build from the ruins. The market's metal roofs - punctured by bullets and shrapnel - inspired Jansiz's work on the first rebuilding project in the Old City funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
On the day we visit, the project is a hive of activity. Workmen in blue overalls are putting the finishing touches on the new patterned screen now arching over the alleyway at one of the market's main entrances.
"Rebuilding is not just about stones," explains Jansiz, who was the lead architect on the first phase of the project.
"This market wasn't just a place to sell and buy stuff. It was also a social hub where people from all social and religious groups would spend time with each other."
Both Jansiz and Sabouni underline how the damage to Syria's social fabric is far deeper even than the endless ruins in pulverised neighbourhoods.
"All the workers you see around you are from Homs," Jansiz adds. "They understand this city and understand its pain."
The long arcades of shuttered shops bear silent testimony to this aching sense of loss. Only about 30 out of nearly 5,000 have reopened.
Some shopkeepers can't afford to rebuild, or await electricity and other services. Some sided with the rebels and were forced to flee, and are now unable or unwilling to return.
With still no end in sight to this war, major Western donors still resist putting money for reconstruction into areas now back in government hands.
"So far we're only focusing on limited rebuilding to provide some support and a bit of hope," UNDP Country Director Samuel Rizk tells me.
But the EU recently began to carefully raise the prospect of reconstruction funds, if and when a hesitant process of political talks with the opposition makes significant progress.
And a Chinese delegation was in Damascus this week to discuss future investments in industries and infrastructure.
There are already hints of conflicts to come over contracts and concepts for a post-war Syria.
Even the first phase of this small project to rebuild a roof in the Old City ended up being clouded by disagreements.
Sabouni believes Syrians must begin to imagine a different future.
"It may sound so sophisticated or a luxury to talk about architecture," she says. "But if we don't think about it, I think we will miss the chance to rebuild it in the right way."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39671004
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FA Cup: Chelsea regain lead with Willian penalty - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Chelsea's Willian slots home a penalty after Tottenham's Son Heung-min slides in on Victor Moses in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Chelsea's Willian slots home a penalty after Tottenham's Son Heung-min slides in on Victor Moses in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681104
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Ugo Ehiogu: Football pays tribute after former England defender's death - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu is honoured before Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea at Wembley and at football matches around the country.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Former England and Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu was honoured before Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea at Wembley and at football matches around the country. Ehiogu died at the age of 44 on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest at Spurs' training centre on Thursday. The same tributes will be held before Villa's derby against Birmingham on Sunday. England boss Gareth Southgate, who played alongside Ehiogu at Villa and Middlesbrough was at Wembley alongside Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn A giant screen outside Wembley Stadium before Saturday's FA Cup semi-final bears a picture of Ehiogu. who was capped four times by England Images of Ehiogu were shown around Wembley as fans paid tribute Aston Villa have put an image of Ehiogu on a billboard outside Villa Park. He made over 200 appearances for the club between 1991 and 2000, winning the League Cup twice. The players from Middlesbrough, one of Ehiogu's former clubs, joined opponents Bournemouth and supporters for a minute's applause before kick-off in their game at the Vitality Stadium Benik Afobe kissed his black armband after scoring in that match for Bournemouth A minute's applause was held before Norwich's Championship game against Brighton at Carrow Road on Friday Norwich and Brighton players wore black armbands and other sides are set to do the same over the weekend
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39677538
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UK music industry braced for Brexit - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Whether you consume music digitally or collect vinyl records, Brexit has the potential to affect you.
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Business
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Whether you consume music digitally or collect vinyl records, Brexit has the potential to affect you.
The UK music industry, like its counterparts in other countries, has had a tough time adapting to the technological shake-ups of recent years.
But now it also has to plan for the changes that will be ushered in by the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Obviously there is still huge uncertainty about what the country's future relationship with the EU will be like, since its expected departure in the spring of 2019 is still subject to lengthy negotiations.
However, it is already possible to identify areas of the music business that may feel the effects.
With the industry's annual Record Store Day falling this year on Saturday, 22 April, record shops are enjoying a boom in sales of old-fashioned vinyl releases.
The format was widely expected to die a slow death with the advent of the CD, but in recent times, vinyl records have managed to outsell downloads.
However, when Record Store Day 2020 rolls around, there is a risk that those singles and albums could cost significantly more.
Will these records cost more post-Brexit?
If the UK does not manage to conclude a favourable trade deal with the EU, then tariffs may be applied on goods coming into the UK.
There are now only a couple of vinyl pressing plants left on British soil, so the majority of records sold in the UK are manufactured in factories based in other EU countries. The same goes for CDs.
If tariffs on goods return, record labels will face increased costs, which they will have to pass on to consumers.
So why buy music on physical formats anyway? This is the 21st Century, so go for streaming or downloads.
Well, even there, Brexit is likely to have consequences.
The pound has fallen in value in the wake of last June's referendum outcome. The leading music streaming services, from Sweden's Spotify to US-based Apple Music, are all multinational firms whose pricing policies are decided elsewhere.
Apple has already increased the price of its apps this year, in a move widely attributed to the Brexit vote. Apple Music subscriptions could follow suit if the pound falls any further.
In other ways, however, Brexit will have no effect at all. Many politicians and business leaders have called for the UK to preserve its access to the European single market, but in digital terms, things are more complicated.
The vast majority of Spotify's catalogue is available all over the world
While goods are covered by the single market in Europe, the market for services is still very much a work in progress.
And when it comes to the distribution of digital products, including music and e-books, consumers will still find that borders get in the way.
If you have an account with Amazon UK, you can buy a CD from Amazon's French website, but it won't allow you to buy the same music on download.
That said, streaming services are more unified. Spotify, for instance, makes practically all its catalogue accessible everywhere in the world, with some minor variations in local-language music.
But although Brussels has failed to create a digital single market for music consumers, it has done a lot for music producers.
People who make music can make money from it in various ways. As well as selling digital or physical copies of it, they are also paid royalties every time it is played in public.
There are two kinds of these:
Mechanical royalties date back to the days of piano rolls
And although there is no EU single market for digital music purchases, there is now a thriving single market for licensing music and collecting royalties on it.
In the UK, the main royalty collection society is PRS for Music. Its chief executive, Robert Ashcroft, says that the European Commission made a big difference with its Collective Rights Management Directive, which came into force in the UK in April last year.
As a result, it is now much easier to license music in many territories at once, rather than having to authorise it country by country, as was formerly the case.
PRS, for example, works in a joint venture with its counterparts in Sweden and Germany, STIM and GEMA, to operate a pan-European online music rights licensing service.
This means that songwriters and music publishing companies can get paid more quickly and accurately.
"We have already been licensing our rights on a pan-European basis," says Mr Ashcroft. "Brexit won't stop that and it's not in our business interest to stop it either."
The UK's law on music copyright has changed in recent years because of Brussels.
In November 2013, UK copyright protection on sound recordings increased from 50 years to 70 years, in line with an EU directive approved in 2011.
However, recordings that had already slipped into the public domain, such as the Beatles' first single, stayed there.
The Beatles' earliest recordings are now out of copyright
And there is a "use it or lose it" provision for hitherto unreleased recordings from 50 years ago. If record companies have ageing tracks in the vaults that they have never issued, then they have no comeback if other people get hold of them and release them.
Will all this change when the UK "takes back control"? PRS's Mr Ashcroft thinks not.
"I expect it to continue unless and until someone presents an argument that it's damaging to the economy," he says.
One area where Brexit could have a negative impact is on touring musicians. There are fears that music groups might have to scale back European tours after Brexit and fewer European acts could travel to the UK.
"We have a very healthy business in royalties that are earned when our members' works are performed overseas," says PRS's Mr Ashcroft. "If there were obstacles to British bands touring, that would be a potential challenge."
At the same time, however, he is concerned about Brexit's potential impact on his own organisation's staffing levels. "Eleven per cent of our employees come from countries other than the UK. We operate daily in 13 languages. We need the prime minister to give assurances that the people resident and working here can stay."
On that basis, he feels that the UK's music business is well integrated with the rest of Europe and hopes it will stay that way, despite Brexit: "We are so international that we think our business transcends that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39418829
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European Championships: Medals for Ellie Downie & Courtney Tulloch - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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British gymnast Ellie Downie claims vault silver and uneven bars bronze, while Courtney Tulloch wins rings silver at the European Championships.
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Last updated on .From the section Gymnastics
Britain's Ellie Downie followed up her all-around gold medal with a silver in the vault and a bronze in the uneven bars at the European Championships.
Courtney Tulloch, 21, won Britain's first major international rings medal with silver at the event in Romania.
Ellie's older sister Becky Downie, 25, was unable to defend her uneven bars title as she fell during her routine and is out of Sunday's beam final.
Having got his hands on one major medal, rings specialist Tulloch was already turning his attention to the World Championships in Montreal, Canada, in October.
"I felt really confident out there - I don't look at anyone else and fear them," he told BBC Sport.
"[Petrounias] did an amazing routine but I know I can catch him - I've got skills to add to my routine so I know I can beat him and I can't wait to go to the World Championships and we can have another battle.
"Great Britain isn't really known for the rings but I want to keep improving that and hopefully some younger gymnasts can follow in my footsteps and we can become a great nation on rings."
Tulloch's silver adds to an impressive championships for a largely inexperienced British men's team, which contains none of the competitors from the Rio Olympics, following James Hall's all-around bronze on Friday.
He scored 15.066 to move into second with only one athlete remaining and held on to silver place as Turkey's Ibrahim Colak could only finish fifth, with Ukraine's Igor Radivilov claiming bronze.
Ellie Downie became the first British gymnast to win all-around gold at a major international championship on Friday and claimed her third medals in as many finals, with bronze in the bars.
She ended tied for third alongside Eli Seitz after sister Becky, the last gymnast to go, abandoned her routine after falling and hurting her right elbow. Belgium's Nina Derwael won gold and Russia's Elena Eremina took the silver.
"I mainly just felt gutted for her - she worked so hard and the won I bronze is for her and me," Ellie told BBC Sport.
"The bars bronze was just so unexpected and if Becky had gone through her routine I'm sure she would've knocked me into fourth."
Britain's Claudia Fragapane will take Becky Downie's place in the beam final, while Ellie will compete in both the beam and floor finals on Sunday.
A statement from British Gymnastics said Becky Downie will be assessed by their medical team when she returns to the UK.
Earlier on Saturday, Downie produced two solid vaults to lead with an average of 14.350, only to be pipped by the final competitor, Coline Devillard of France, with Hungary's Boglarka Devai in third.
"I was really happy with the vault - I was in first until the last girl and she full deserved it," Downie added.
"Her vaults were definitely tidier than mine so I was happy to let her have that title."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/39679366
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Thunderous Matic strike sends Chelsea to brink of victory - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Nemnaja Matic strikes from distance to put Chelsea 4-2 up and seal thei victory over Tottenham in the 2017 FA Cup semi-finals.
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Nemnaja Matic strikes from distance to put Chelsea 4-2 up and seal thei victory over Tottenham in the 2017 FA Cup semi-finals.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681516
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Hibernian 2-3 Aberdeen - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Aberdeen reach the Scottish Cup final for the first time in 17 years by beating holders Hibernian at Hampden.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Aberdeen reached the Scottish Cup final for the first time in 17 years with victory over holders Hibernian.
Adam Rooney pounced on a defensive mix-up to put the Dons ahead 12 seconds after kick-off, and Ryan Christie's free-kick doubled their lead.
Substitute Grant Holt headed Hibs back into the game before half-time and the striker set up Dylan McGeouch to level.
But Jonny Hayes' shot deflected off Darren McGregor and beat Ofir Marciano for Aberdeen's winner.
Manager Derek McInnes, who won the League Cup with the Dons in 2014, now has a cup final against either Celtic or Rangers on 27 May to prepare for, with the Glasgow sides meeting on Sunday.
Aberdeen, who are second in the Premiership, will attempt to end a 27-year wait to win the Scottish Cup.
Their opening to the match was as perfect as it was calamitous for Hibs.
A McGregor mistake allowed in Rooney, who wasted no time in storming into the penalty area to slot home. The Aberdeen fans could barely believe it. It was a moment to make everyone of a Hibs persuasion sick to the stomach.
Aberdeen looked much the more assured side in the early stages. Hibs, in contrast, looked ill at ease as they struggled to find any sort of foothold.
Hibs looked groggier still as they went 2-0 down. Christie lined up a free-kick wide on the right on the edge of the box and the Hibs defence prepared for a cross.
Instead the on-loan Celtic player went straight for goal, whipping the ball in at pace and beating Marciano at his near post. It was a superb strike from Christie - selected ahead of Niall McGinn - but it was a goal the Hibs goalkeeper and defensive wall simply should not have conceded.
Having seen his side fail to get any traction, Hibs manager Neil Lennon realised something had to change tactically. A visibly disappointed Fraser Fyvie was brought off, replaced by the burly presence of striker Holt as Hibs changed tack.
It paid immediate dividends. Martin Boyle went on a great run and his cross to the back post was perfect for Holt to steer a header home with his first touch and give Hibs a vital lifeline.
The 36-year-old's introduction completely changed the dynamic. Suddenly the cup holders were winning the ball in the air and disrupting Aberdeen's flow as the match became a much more even affair.
Hibs drew level with a moment of real quality, with Holt again involved. McGeouch swept forward and played the ball to the feet of Holt, who flicked it back to the midfielder and McGeouch kept his composure to fire low past Joe Lewis.
It was a huge blow for Aberdeen who had earlier gone close through Shay Logan and switched to a back three, with Anthony O'Connor replacing Christie.
Suddenly the game of chess became more complex, McInnes now the manager with the dilemma and Lennon in charge of the side with the wind in their sails.
McGinn came on in place of Mark Reynolds, the Dons shuffling the pack again as the match moved towards its final quarter.
In the end, a stroke of luck gave Aberdeen the edge. Hayes did well to make space for a shot from long range, and the ball appeared to pose no real threat to Marciano's goal until it took a deflection off the unfortunate McGregor and trundled into the net.
Hibs had one last roll of the dice as they tried to hold on to the cup. Keeper Marciano came up for a stoppage-time corner and headed towards goal, but his counterpart Lewis held on to ensure Aberdeen progressed to the final.
• None Attempt saved. Ofir Marciano (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
• None Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
• None Grant Holt (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39605157
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Hammond hints tax pledge may be dropped - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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Chancellor hints Tory manifesto may drop pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.
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Business
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The chancellor has given a major hint that he is no fan of the 2015 Tory manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.
After the embarrassing U-turn on the attempt to raise taxes for the self-employed, Philip Hammond told me the government needed "flexibility" on taxes.
The manifesto is not yet final, so no irreversible decisions have been taken.
The chancellor said he didn't come into politics to "increase taxes".
But it is the clearest hint yet that Mr Hammond would like to see the 2015 manifesto promise on taxes significantly amended if not abandoned all together.
"We do need flexibility to manage the system and we do need to make sure that Theresa May and her government have a clear mandate to execute our plan," he told me.
"All chancellors would prefer to have more flexibility in how they manage the economy and how they manage the overall tax burden down [rather] than having to have their hands constrained.
"But what we put in the manifesto will be decided in the next few days and we will publish that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39671163
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Fed Cup: GB women can end 24-year World Group absence by beating Romania - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Great Britain head into their Fed Cup tie with Romania as underdogs as they look to return to World Group for first time in 24 years.
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Website: Live streaming and text commentary service will be available on both Saturday and Sunday on the BBC Sport website
It's 24 years since Great Britain's women last contested a Fed Cup World Group tie, although that is very recent history to the residents of the Black Sea resort they find themselves in this weekend.
Constanta is the oldest continually inhabited city in Romania. The sun will soon be beating down on the thousands of holidaymakers who flock here every summer, although these early British tourists have been treated to rain, strong winds, single digit temperatures - and even the occasional flurry of snow.
The outdoor clay court looked very sorry for itself on Thursday and Friday, as the players were forced under cover.
For the third time in six years, Britain are a play-off win away from the World Group. They were well beaten in Sweden in 2012, and then again in Argentina in 2013, and have once again travelled as underdogs.
But they have at least earned themselves the opportunity after successfully negotiating a week of Euro Africa Zone qualifying matches in the Estonian capital Tallinn in February. It is a week which does little for the exposure of the Fed Cup and ends most countries' involvement for the year before the daffodils have come into bloom.
"I think it's damaged the competition if I'm perfectly honest," GB's captain Anne Keothavong said told BBC Sport in Constanta.
"There's no momentum if you look at where we have been in recent years. We've been in a group where there have been 15 other nations and only two of those nations go through for a chance to even play for a World Group position.
"It's been notoriously tough and one we have struggled with, and even this year - with a top-10 player - we only just managed to do that in a deciding doubles match."
Johanna Konta, partnered by Heather Watson, lost the first set and twice had to recover from a break of serve down in the decider to win that match with Croatia and set up this play-off tie.
Romania boast a strong line-up. Simona Halep, who will open the tie against Watson at 10:00 BST on Saturday, can be horribly inconsistent but she is the world number five, the French Open runner-up of 2014, and a major star in her home city of Constanta.
Every other member of their team is a top-100 singles player, while Britain - after Watson's recent fall in the rankings - has just the one.
But that 'one' is some player.
Konta is the world number seven and third in the annual points race after her victory in the Miami Open earlier this month. Halep finds herself at 44th in the same list and has lost both her matches to Konta, although this will be a first meeting on clay, which is very much the Romanian's favourite surface.
Having a player of that ability - who could well play two singles as well as the doubles this weekend - opens up exciting possibilities for the team. The 11 points Andy Murray contributed as Britain won the Davis Cup in 2015 may never be matched by another British player, but Keothavong recognises the contribution made by her number one.
"She brings a lot to the team," the captain agrees.
"Just the way she is, the way she operates and the level she demands from everyone is great, and hopefully it filters down to the other players and inspires the others to really step up."
And Fed Cup can be a two way process. Konta described the week in Estonia as "one of the most adrenalin driven weeks I've experienced in a while."
"I felt I took away a lot of really positive emotion, and a lot of new experiences," she continued.
"The adrenalin and the nerves you get during Fed Cup are unlike others you experience during the season, and I really really enjoyed that."
But will Konta - who plays world number 62 Sorana Cirstea in Saturday's singles after Romania made a late change from Irina-Camelia Begu - get to feel that on a regular basis, and will the competition become as relevant to British audiences as the Davis Cup has been in recent years?
If Britain lose this weekend, they will return to the 16-team Euro Africa Zone shoot-out in February 2018, but if they win they could start next year as one of the 16 teams which will contest the trophy.
As things stand, the winners will be promoted to World Group 2, but the International Tennis Federation wants to merge the two existing World Groups to form an elite 16 team top tier to mirror the Davis Cup.
The semi-finals and final would be played in one city, in one week, at the end of the season - but all of this is subject to the approval of the ITF's member nations at August's AGM in Ho Chi Minh City.
One other incentive this weekend is the possibility of a home tie next February. Since Monique Javer, Clare Wood and Amanda Grunfeld dispatched Turkey in Nottingham in May 1993, Britain have played every single Fed Cup tie on the road.
Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Malta, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Turkey have many charms. But next year, there really would be no place like home.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39670884
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European Championships: Ellie Downie is first Briton to win all-round gold - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Ellie Downie is the first Briton to win all-around gold at a major international championship - with victory at the European Championships.
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Last updated on .From the section Gymnastics
Ellie Downie has become the first British gymnast to win all-around gold at a major international championship - with victory at the European Championships.
The 17-year-old was in second place going into the final apparatus but beat Hungary's Zsofia Kovacs to the title.
Briton James Hall won all-around bronze in his first major senior competition.
The 21-year-old scored 84.664 to finish behind gold medallist Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine, and Russia's Arthur Dalaloyan.
"I'm speechless, so happy. It's just a massive thing and I don't think I'll realise how big for a while," Downie told BBC Sport.
"That was probably one of the hardest competitions I've done and when the score came through I was speechless."
GB's Joe Fraser, 18, came fifth in his first senior year, scoring 82.982, while 16-year-old Alice Kinsella came 10th in the all-round event.
"To come to a European Championships, do my best gymnastics and come away third, I can't get my head around it," Hall said.
Hall has a world team silver medal to his name and was at the Olympic Games in Rio last summer.
However, he was reserve in both competitions and did not compete.
Find out how to get into gymnastics with our special guide.
"My first senior major and I've shown the world what I'm made of. I'm so happy. I can't believe it," he said.
The Kent gymnast qualified third best and improved his overall score in the final, with increased apparatus scores on floor, pommel, rings and parallel bars.
"In the training gym I was thinking 'just go through the same as qualifying and nothing is impossible'," he said.
"I started hitting floor, hitting pommel, did my best rings and I thought nothing could stop me after that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/39668194
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Ugo Ehiogu: England boss Gareth Southgate 'stunned' by death of former team-mate - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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England manager Gareth Southgate says he is "stunned" by the death of former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough team-mate Ugo Ehiogu.
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England manager Gareth Southgate says he is "stunned" by the death of former team-mate Ugo Ehiogu.
Former England defender Ehiogu died at the age of 44 on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest the previous day.
Southgate and Ehiogu formed a centre-back pairing for almost 10 years at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, winning the League Cup together at both clubs.
"He was a gentle giant away from football, he was a colossus on the pitch," Southgate said.
Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Saturday (17:15 BST) will see both teams wearing black armbands and a minute's applause before kick-off, with Villa's derby against Birmingham following suit on Sunday.
Ehiogu, who was Tottenham's Under-23s coach, was taken to hospital on Thursday after collapsing at the club's training ground, but a statement said he had died in the early hours of Friday morning.
Capped four times by England, Ehiogu made over 200 appearances for Villa between 1991 and 2000 and then spent seven years at Boro. The defender also played for West Brom, Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United, before retiring in 2009.
"I'm stunned and deeply saddened by Ugo's passing and clearly my initial thoughts are with his wife Gemma, his children and his family.
"I know that football will be grieving because he was so highly respected by everybody he worked with and losing him at such a young age is difficult to come to terms with.
"Most importantly, he was a gentleman and he is one of those characters that people would find it difficult to have anything bad to say about him.
"I probably played more games with Ugo than anybody else in my career and while in many ways he was a gentle giant away from football, he was a colossus on the pitch. It felt like a true partnership with Ugo because we were prepared to put our bodies on the line for each other.
"We shared highs, lows and won a couple of trophies together with Villa and Boro and it's those memories that I will always cherish when I think of Ugo.
"He was one of the most professional people I played with in terms of how he applied himself to his job and it was great to see him progressing through the coaching pathway with that thirst for learning.
"I've spoken to several of our former team-mates today and there's just a sense of disbelief that we're having these conversations.
"Ugo was a credit to football, a credit to his family and he will be missed by everybody who was lucky enough to know him."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39670619
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Exclusive: Westminster attack prompted playwright to consider rewriting comedy - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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The Oscar-winning writer of The Philanthropist was worried references to an attack on Parliament was in poor taste.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Call the Midwife's Charlotte Ritchie is part of the cast for The Philanthropist
The Oscar-winning writer of West End play The Philanthropist contemplated rewriting his 1970 comedy in the wake of last month's Westminster attack.
Christopher Hampton was concerned the play's references to a fictional attack on Parliament would be in poor taste.
He said: "I said to Simon Callow, quite seriously, maybe we should change it."
Yet Callow, who directed the revival at London's Trafalgar Studios, said it was "important" the play be staged as originally seen.
Christopher Hampton won an Oscar for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons
"Christopher was perfectly willing to tone it down," said the actor and director after the play's opening night on Thursday.
"But I think it's very important there's this big shock in the play, that the characters then completely dismiss."
Lily Cole is also in the play...
... along with Matt Berry and Simon Bird
Set in Oxford in the early 1970s, The Philanthropist depicts a group of self-absorbed academics who have little interest in the wider world.
The play begins with news that a man armed with a machine-gun has killed the prime minister inside the House of Commons, along with a number of his front bench colleagues.
"The play is about how insulated and cocooned you can be in certain parts of life," said Hampton, who won an Academy Award for writing 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons.
"Therefore, I wanted to have bizarre things going on in the outside world."
Simon Bird, who plays lead character Philip, said it had been "shocking and jarring" for a real-life attack to occur "just down the road" from the play's West End home.
"The content of the play is bizarrely topical," said the star of Channel 4 sitcoms The Inbetweeners and Friday Night Dinner.
"It takes place in the backdrop of terrorist attacks and political turmoil, which makes it feel like it was written yesterday."
Four pedestrians were killed last month after Khalid Masood drove his car along the pavement on Westminster Bridge.
He then entered the grounds of the Palace of Westminster and fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead.
Nicki Minaj's video was partly shot on the south side of the River Thames looking back at Westminster Bridge
Pop star Nicki Minaj faced criticism on social media this week for including shots of Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster in the video for her song No Frauds.
The Trafalgar Studios, formerly known as the Whitehall Theatre, are located a short distance away from where the events of 22 March took place.
Last seen in London in 2005, The Philanthropist has traditionally been staged with actors considerably older than the characters they are playing.
The late Alec McCowen played Philip in the original Royal Court production, while Matthew Broderick took the role when it was revived on Broadway in 2009.
"The characters are between 25 and 33, yet in the past they've always cast very skilled actors in their 40s," said Hampton.
"This production is different because the cast are the correct age. In a curious way, it feels much more like the play I wrote."
Bird's co-stars include Matt Berry from Channel 4's Toast of London, model turned actress Lily Cole and Call the Midwife cast member Charlotte Ritchie.
It was recently revealed that Call the Midwife is to have its first regular black character - a West Indian nurse whom Ritchie predicted would be "a very good addition to the cast."
The Philanthropist runs at the Trafalgar Studios until 22 July.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
• None First black nurse for Call the Midwife
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39659068
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Ugo Ehiogu dies: Former England defender 'a hugely popular football figure' - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44, enjoyed a fine career and seemed destined for more success as a coach, writes Phil McNulty.
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Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest, was not just a highly accomplished and successful defender who was forging a growing reputation as a coach - he was a hugely popular figure within the game.
The reaction to his death after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre, the club where he was an under-23s coach, is a reflection of the esteem in which Ehiogu was held.
Ehiogu was a powerful, imposing figure as a player and a well-rounded character away from the game, making a career in the music business while also shaping the future of the next generation at Spurs.
He was a player who should have won many more than his four England caps - but still enjoyed a fine career and seemed destined for more success in the next stage of his development as an important member of the Spurs backroom team before his death.
Ron Atkinson was one of Ehiogu's biggest champions and can regard the £40,000 it took to take the teenager from West Bromwich Albion to Aston Villa in August 1991 as one of his most astute moves in the market.
Ehiogu was raw but the potential was there and even through some uneasy early moments in his career, Atkinson dismissed the doubters and never wavered in his belief that the Homerton-born powerhouse - a product of the Senrab Football Club that could count the likes of John Terry, Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe among its former players - would be a success.
And his judgement, both in making the bargain deal and mapping out Ehiogu's future, was accurate.
Current Villa manager Steve Bruce, who played against Ehiogu for Manchester United, said: "Big Ron bought him and what a bargain. He was a great player."
Atkinson recalled "the nervous 18-year-old" who arrived but who then became an integral component of a fine era at Villa Park.
He formed one half of a formidable central defensive partnership with Paul McGrath, whose brilliance and experience aided his development, and also played in the Villa rearguard alongside England manager Gareth Southgate.
The trio were part of the Villa team that won the League Cup at Wembley in March 1996 with a 3-0 victory over Leeds United, cementing his status with the Holte End, who regarded him as a reassuring and inspirational presence in the side throughout more than 200 appearances.
Andy Townsend, who played in that League Cup-winning side, says: "Like all younger players it wasn't easy for him at the start of his Villa career - but in the end you saw that nobody was going to get the better of him.
"He was a commanding and formidable in the air, a player that every team would like to have at the back."
Ehiogu was alongside Southgate when Villa lost the 2000 FA Cup final - the last played under Wembley's Twin Towers - 1-0 to Chelsea and the pair were to link up once again at Middlesbrough.
That showpiece was Ehiogu's last fling with Villa as he soon moved on to fresh pastures and a glorious, unexpected new chapter in his career.
Middlesbrough signed many outstanding players during Bryan Robson's reign as manager - and Ehiogu can take his place near the top of the list following his move from Villa to Teesside for a then club record fee of £8m in October 2000.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson was prepared to bankroll the acquisition of high-profile, high-quality signings and Ehiogu fell perfectly into that category as the expenditure was rewarded with performances that ensured he will always be fondly remembered at the Riverside.
He did start to suffer with the knee problems that would undermine the latter days of his career but it was at Boro where his friendship with Southgate continued to blossom, first as team-mates when the latter made the same journey from Villa as Steve McClaren's first signing as manager in July 2001, and then when Southgate took over as manager.
The old defensive firm was soon back in action and providing the platform of solidity, experience and ability that culminated in both playing key roles as Boro won their first major trophy in 128 years with a 2-1 in over Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the 2004 Carling Cup final.
It was a Boro side laced with quality players, such as Gaizka Mendieta and Juninho. Mark Schwarzer was their outstanding keeper and he remembers the cool colleague who exuded authority, saying: "He was always calm and reassuring. He was not too vocal but spoke when he needed to speak. He was a completely dedicated footballer."
Boro entered the uncharted waters of European glory to reach the 2006 Uefa Cup final, but it was to provide a signal that Ehiogu's time at his peak was drawing to a close. They were thrashed 4-0 by Sevilla in Eindhoven and he was only an unused substitute.
As at Villa, Ehiogu will be associated with success at Boro and chairman Gibson delivered a warm tribute when he said: "Ugo was one of the heroes at Cardiff when the club won its only ever major trophy, Ugo and Gareth Southgate were the rock on which Steve McClaren brought the club the best period in its history.
"He wasn't just a good footballer. He was a great man."
Ehiogu won only four England caps, a victim of injuries and the sheer quality of competition from the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell - but he still played his part in a piece of history.
He was named as a substitute by Sven-Goran Eriksson - the side's first foreign manager - for his first game in charge against Spain at Villa Park on 28 February 2001, scoring after coming on.
Ehiogu also gave away a penalty but keeper Nigel Martyn saved Javi Moreno's spot-kick.
Ehiogu's struggle with knee problems meant his career came to a low-key close with loan spells at Leeds United, Rangers and Sheffield United, retiring in August 2009 after a trial with MK Dons.
He was still not prepared to go quietly, however, and revived memories of his glory days with a goal that ensured he will be remembered forever at Ibrox, a spectacular overhead kick that gave Rangers a 1-0 derby win against Celtic in March 2007.
It was voted 'goal of the season' by Rangers fans and the surprised goalscorer smiled as he said: "I couldn't have written a better script. It was probably my best goal ever. A surreal moment."
Once again, the towering defender had made his presence and personality felt when it mattered.
As he moved into coaching at Spurs, initially working at the Premier League club's academy under Chris Ramsey and Tim Sherwood, Ehiogu's love of music started to play a greater role in his life.
The man who admitted he "used to get psyched up to a bit of Bon Jovi before games" helped set up Dirty Hit, a record label with the likes of The 1975, Ben Khan, Superfood and Fossil Collective on its books.
It was the mark of a personality who enjoyed life and pursued wider interests outside football. He said: "My love of football is massive but my love of music is amazing. You have people eating out of your hands when you're singing."
Ehiogu was a musical mentor as well as a wise counsel and guide to the young players at Spurs.
He was a distinguished man as a player and coach in a career carried out with professionalism, dignity, respect and success.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39666072
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London Marathon 2017: Jo Pavey targets World Championships qualification - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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British five-time Olympian Jo Pavey can secure qualification for the World Championships when she races in Sunday's London Marathon.
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Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Watch: Live on BBC Two and BBC One with extra coverage of the elite races and the finish line on Red Button, online, Connected TVs and app Follow: Text updates and the best of social media on BBC Sport website and app.
British five-time Olympian Jo Pavey is aiming to secure qualification for the 2017 World Championships when she races in Sunday's London Marathon.
Pavey needs to finish as one of the top two British women and run a time of two hours and 36 minutes or better.
She will be at the Worlds in August to receive a bronze medal after her 2007 fourth place was upgraded when Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse failed a doping test.
"I've trained as hard as I could," said the 43-year-old.
"I've had a bit more illness than I would have liked but any busy parent can relate to that and I've kept training consistently."
Pavey will race her first marathon in six years on Sunday. She is up against fellow Britons Alyson Dixon, Louise Damen, Charlotte Purdue and Susan Partridge as they also compete to qualify for the World Championships, which are being held in London from 5-13 August.
With Callum Hawkins already selected, Tsegai Tewelde goes up against 10 other male runners in a bid to make the British team for the summer's event.
Meanwhile, Britain's six-time Paralympic champion David Weir says Sunday's race "could be" his last.
Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, who is the 5,000m and 10,000m track world record holder, headlines the men's elite race.
The women's elite line-up also includes Kenyan Florence Kiplagat, who won last year's Chicago Marathon, compatriot and Tokyo Marathon champion Helah Kiprop, and Olympic 5,000m champion and fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, who will make her marathon debut aged 33.
'There are still people cheating the system'
Drugs cheats like 2016 London marathon champion Jemima Sumgong are "ruining the sport", says European 10,000m champion Pavey.
Olympic gold medallist Sumgong, 32, tested positive for banned substance EPO in an out-of-competition test.
"It is a shame you have got a winner like Sumgong testing positive," Pavey told BBC Sport. "We're glad that she's been caught, that's one good thing to say.
"You want to believe in a good performance, you want to be looking at athletes winning Olympics and big events and admire their performance.
"There is still a lot more work to do to make sure others are going through the same anti-doping methods as we are in the UK - I had people on my doorstep a couple of days ago and that is what you want to see around the world.
"People like her are ruining the sport because every time you see a good performance, you're wondering is that for real or not."
'I am not getting slower'
Britain's Weir, 37, will be competing in the race for the 18th year in a row, on the back of winning the Paris Marathon men's wheelchair race earlier in April in one hour 29 minutes, 25 seconds.
He told BBC Sport: "I am just happy to be in good shape to compete. I don't put that pressure on my shoulders [to get the seventh title].
"I wait until the morning to see how I feel - I am in pretty good shape and I am happy with my performance over the past couple of weeks.
"I feel I am not getting any slower - to do that time on that course in Paris, a very rough, hard course. It just gave me a lot of confidence to perform mentally and physically in London.
Asked if it will be his last race, Weir replied: "It could be. But I have enjoyed the training and enjoyed just concentrating on the road, not thinking about being back on the track after the marathon."
In January, the six-time Paralympic champion said he will never wear a Great Britain vest again after an unsuccessful Paralympic Games in Rio last year.
Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, who won last year's Berlin Marathon in the second-quickest time ever, heads the men's elite field along with Kenya's Stanley Biwott.
"Times are very important," Bekele said. "On the track I don't see anyone out there looking like they can reach my marks at the moment. In the marathon, running two hours, 10 minutes and winning would not give you full happiness. Winning in two hours, four minutes would be a different feeling.
"But it is really challenging. It is almost 10,000 metres pace so it is difficult. I had to learn how to run differently from the track, a different foot strike. Every race, every course is different and I am learning with every one."
BBC commentator Brendan Foster is set to commentate on his last London Marathon - an event he has covered since its inception in 1981.
The 69-year-old, who will retire after the World Championships in London in August, said: "I'm looking forward to it.
"It's the 37th time I've done it, you'd think I'd be used to it by now. I've done every single one but it's as good as ever.
"The whole city comes alive and is awash with people and colour. It will be exciting at the front end, as it always is."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39669673
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Jared Kushner: Who is the Trump whisperer? - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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What drives Donald Trump's son-in-law, and what advice does he give the president?
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What does Jared Kushner want to achieve with his new-found power?
Some White House watchers have noted that weekends can be tricky for President Donald Trump.
A number of crises have blown up on a Friday and not been sorted out until Sunday.
Observers say it's because that's when President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner - an observant Orthodox Jewish man - is off duty, marking the Sabbath.
Mr Kushner, the husband of the first daughter, Ivanka, is a power in the land, the crown prince.
Because of his semi-public power struggle with Steve Bannon, he's seen as an enemy by the hard, nationalistic right.
But what drives him? What does he believe? And how could that change the world?
The provocative conservative commentator and early Trump supporter Ann Coulter - author of Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole - told me the suspicion was not personal.
"You can't hire your kids," she said.
"They can't be fired, they are more than first among equals.
"It's a Third World thing to get elected and bring in all of you family.
"It's what they do in banana republics."
And this story is all about family, dynasty and destiny.
President Trump has placed his family - including Jared Kushner (second right) - at the centre of his administration
"J-Vanka" - their couple name - provides a soupcon of sophistication, implying smoothly groomed beautiful youths in a court that is more King Midas than Camelot.
While Trump Sr starred in the downmarket tabloids, they have been a fixture of the glossy magazines.
Last year, Elle Decor gushed about the couple's Upper East Side apartment, and its Lindsey Adelman light fixtures and candlesticks by Jeff Zimmermann.
The room in black and white - with just a hint of imperial purple - is cool, understated. So are they.
In the White House, amid the balding billionaires - and a leader who made vulgarity a virtue - their sleekness stands out.
Lizzie Widdicombe, an editor of the New Yorker's Talk of the town, watches them closely.
"They both have a noticeable level of polish," she says.
"It is often said that Ivanka softens the brash, abrasive image of her father and makes it palatable."
I ask if Jared does the same thing politically.
"That's a great way of putting it," says Widdicombe.
"He has been the link to Wall Street, and Rupert Murdoch, who he's cultivated as a close personal friend, so he has emerged as a powerbroker."
The president and his son-in-law are both what's known as "bridge and tunnel guys" - President Trump from the outer borough of Queens, Mr Kushner from out-of-state New Jersey, each well versed in making a splash in the magic kingdom of Manhattan, turning grit to glitter using the glamour of gold.
And there's a hint of resentment in both of them, sharpened by Mr Kushner's background.
He's not just a property billionaire. He's not just the son-in-law of a property billionaire. He is also the son of a property billionaire - a property billionaire who went to jail.
Jared Kushner stepped in to run his father, Charlie's, property business after he was sent to prison
It was ugly - a family feud that went nuclear. As the row spiralled, Jared's father, Charlie, was jailed for tax evasion and deception.
Jared's close friend Ken Kurson, editor of the New York Observer, told me the trauma had been the making of him.
"This is a guy who at 24-25 was made chief executive of a giant sprawling complex company," said Kurson.
"He not only handled that in an emergency, but grew the company.
"To step into a world of grizzled real estate guys, treat them with respect but also lead, was a truly astonishing feat."
Gabriel Sherman, who wrote an early profile of Mr Kushner for The New York Magazine, agrees with Ken Kurson's analysis.
"Without question, it is still the defining moment of his life," he told me.
"Growing up, the family always thought he would run for political office and become a major figure in America, but much further down the road.
"When Charlie went to prison, Jared was required to start that climb to power at much earlier age.
"That was traumatic, but he also seized his opportunity."
Jared Kushner (left) is said to have clashed with fellow Trump adviser Steve Bannon
According to one profile, friends say Jared's father, Charlie, is mostly a charmer - but can also be volcanic and irascible when crossed.
"Charlie is a really aggressive, flamboyant, high-profile figure a lot like Trump," says Lizzie Widdicombe.
"Being the son or daughter of a person like that is a very specific experience. Jared is the Trump whisperer."
But what does he whisper?
Probably a more pragmatic, more cautious, more mainstream Republican view than President Trump's own.
One of my sources said he'd reflect the views of his New York friends who "hate Trump".
To some on the hard right, he is the swamp President Trump promised to drain.
Ann Coulter feels the will to power may outweigh any ideology.
"I think he wants to help his father-in-law," she says.
"It'll be embarrassing to be the son-in-law of a failed president.
"That's the good part of it - and it's very clear how his father-in-law can succeed or fail.
"If he keeps his promises, he'll be the first president we've had in a long time who didn't just break all his promises.
"He will not succeed unless he keeps his promises on immigration and trade."
In his old office, Mr Kushner kept a picture of President John F Kennedy addressing a crowd, from the front, and from the back.
He is still in the backroom, not in front of the crowds, portrayed by Saturday Night Live as a preppy mute.
He may not speak in public - but when he whispers, President Trump takes notice.
Watch him closely to learn what the president will do next.
Listen in full to Mark Mardell's profile of Jared Kushner on BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39642391
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Does this court judgement make any sense? - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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India's Supreme Court has sent back an incomprehensible judgement to a High Court judge.
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India
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Did a High Court judge in Himachal Pradesh write his judgment with thesaurus in hand?
There are few professions that allow one to be as verbose as a judge. Sometimes, this freedom can result in powerful judgements that weave brilliant legal interpretation with sparkling prose.
At other times, legal judgements are so complicated that they make little sense to normal people.
In rare times, as happened recently in India, they even bewilder lawyers directly involved in the case.
A bemused Supreme Court bench sent back a convoluted judgement from a high court judge in the state of Himachal Pradesh to be re-drafted because it was simply unintelligible.
"We will have to set it aside because one cannot understand this," MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta were quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying on 14 April.
And what was so complicated about the judgement, which ruled in favour of a tenant locked in a years-long battle with a landlord?
"However, the learned counsel...cannot derive the fullest succour from the aforesaid acquiescence... given its sinew suffering partial dissipation from an imminent display occurring in the impugned pronouncement hereat wherewithin unravelments are held qua the rendition recorded by the learned Rent Controller..."
"The summum bonum of the aforesaid discussion is that all the aforesaid material which existed before the learned Executing Court standing slighted besides their impact standing untenably undermined by him whereupon the ensuing sequel therefrom is of the learned Executing Court while pronouncing its impugned rendition overlooking the relevant and germane evidence besides its not appreciating its worth. Consequently, the order impugned suffers from a gross absurdity and perversity of misappreciation of material on record."
The lawyer representing the tenant, Aishwarya Bhati, reportedly joked in court that she needed to hire an English professor to understand the convoluted ruling.
But the UK-based Plain English Campaign (PEC) said it had seen similar language deployed in the past by judges, though the wording in this case was "preposterously overblown".
"There is simply no reason or excuse for it," the PEC's Lee Monks told the BBC. "We've often heard the defence that these are 'legal terms' but that's very often a cop-out.
"The idea that something like '...fullest succour from the aforesaid acquiescence' is at all necessary is ridiculous."
While that may be true, judges in the Indian sub-continent, and elsewhere, clearly enjoy the freedom they have to show off their verbal dexterity and cultural knowledge in judgements - though they usually make more sense.
On Thursday, a judgement from Pakistan's Supreme Court ruling that there was insufficient evidence of corruption to remove Nawaz Sharif from the role of prime minister began by mentioning Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, before quoting 19th Century novelist Honore de Balzac, in the original French.
Back in India, a 268-page Supreme Court judgement last year from Justice Dipak Misra was particularly verbose in dismissing a challenge to the constitutionality of the criminal offence of defamation brought by Subramanian Swamy, a politician.
The judge wrote, in a sentence described by the journalist and former law lecturer Tunku Varadarajan as "among the worst sentences I've encountered in all my years of reading legal materials":
"This batch of writ petitions preferred under Article 32 of the Constitution of India exposits cavil in its quintessential conceptuality and percipient discord between venerated and exalted right of freedom of speech and expression of an individual, exploring manifold and multilayered, limitless, unbounded and unfettered spectrums and the controls, restrictions and constrictions, under the assumed power of 'reasonableness' ingrained in the statutory provisions relating to criminal law to reviver and uphold one's reputation""
But Indian judges, with few exceptions, "love purple prose which they mistake to be or believe to be Shakespearean English", says journalist Binoo K John, who wrote a book - Entry from Backside Only: Hazaar Fundaas of Indian English - about the peculiar use of English in India.
"So considering the long history of such prose, it is not all all embarrassing in India," he told the BBC.
Meanwhile, at least one High Court judge in England has listened to calls to simplify the language used in judgements.
Justice Peter Jackson published a simply-worded ruling last year in a family court case so it could be understood by the children affected by it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39672453
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General election 2017: Lib Dem raise £500,000 in 48 hours - BBC News
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2017-04-22
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Tim Farron says donors have been "flocking" to the party since the snap election was called.
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UK Politics
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The Lib Dems believe their opposition to Brexit gives them a distinctive message
The Liberal Democrats claim to have raised more than twice as much as Labour from individual donors since a snap election was called.
All parties have made cash appeals to supporters after Theresa May's surprise decision to hold an election on 8 June.
The Lib Dems say they raised £500,000 in 48 hours.
A similar Labour fund-raising drive is reported to have raised £200,000. Labour has yet to comment on the figure, reported by the FT.
The Conservatives have been contacted for details of their fundraising efforts.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron claimed activists and donors were "flocking" to his party on the back of its anti-Brexit message.
The party, who are arguing for another referendum on the final Brexit deal, say they have seen their membership jump to 95,000, attracting 8,000 new members since Tuesday alone.
The Lib Dems also raised £1.972m in donations in the final quarter of 2016 - more than Labour over the period.
Labour saw a massive increase in membership - to more than 500,000 - after Jeremy Corbyn's election in 2015, although a report leaked to The Guardian suggested 26,000 had left since last summer.
Speaking in Swindon on Friday, Mr Corbyn said Labour had signed up a further 2,500 members since the election was called.
The Lib Dems have traditionally struggled to match the Conservatives or Labour in terms of big donations and tend to spend far less on advertising at general elections than the two bigger parties.
They launched an emergency fund-raising drive on Wednesday after Parliament approved Mrs May's surprise decision to seek a snap general election.
The party is attempting to recover from their 2015 electoral wipe out, which saw them lose nearly 50 Commons seats.
Opinion polls suggest they are unlikely to get the 57 seats they won in 2010, let alone the 62 seats they won in 2005 when Charles Kennedy was leader.
Lib Dem strategists point to their success in November's Richmond Park by-election, where Sarah Olney overturned a 23,000 Tory majority, as proof they can win back constituencies which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.
But critics say they could be vulnerable in existing and target seats which voted Leave in the EU referendum.
Mr Farron has said only his party stood in the way of the Conservatives substantially increasing their majority.
Some senior Lib Dems, including former leader Lord Ashdown, have backed co-operation with other "progressive" parties to keep Conservatives from winning certain seats, while the Greens have backed local electoral pacts in some seats.
But the Conservatives have accused the Lib Dems of being determined to defy the will of the people and overturn Brexit.
They have also warned of a "coalition of chaos" with Labour and the SNP, prompting the Lib Dems to distance themselves from talk of working with Labour in the event of a hung Parliament.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39665212
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FA Cup: Harry Kane heads in equaliser for Tottenham - BBC Sport
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2017-04-22
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Harry Kane flicks a cross in to draw Tottenham level against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Harry Kane flicks a cross in to draw Tottenham level against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681100
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PFA Player of the Year: Chelsea's N'Golo Kante wins top award for 2016-17 - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Chelsea's N'Golo Kante is voted the PFA Player of the Year for 2016-17, with Tottenham's Dele Alli picking up the young player award.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
N'Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17.
The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players.
Tottenham's Dele Alli won the young player prize for the second successive year. Manchester City's Lucy Bronze won the Women's Player of the Year award.
Birmingham's Jess Carter was named Women's Young Player of the Year.
Kante said: "It's a huge honour to be chosen by the other players. It's the biggest honour to get this award."
The midfielder is on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea, having done so last season at Leicester, and added: "My first two seasons were very beautiful. Last season was very beautiful. This season so far, we have had a good season but we have to finish well."
Former England captain David Beckham received the PFA's Merit award for his contribution to the game during the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday.
Former England women's captain Kelly Smith - who became England's first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999 - landed the PFA Special Achievement award.
• None How do you create the next N'Golo Kante?
Kante was key to Leicester's surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season's race.
Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play.
In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation.
France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on 4 January.
BBC pundit Danny Murphy, speaking on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, described Kante as irreplaceable in the Chelsea line-up.
Former England midfielder Murphy said: "He's the one you can't replace. If Eden Hazard wasn't there, you could put Willian in. Kante is the best midfielder in the Premier League, if not Europe."
Matthew Upson, the former England defender, added on the same programme: "It's 100% deserved. He is the most valuable player in the Premier League with his contribution.
"He might not be the most creative player, or have the biggest sudden impact, but over the course of the season he is the most valuable player in the Premier League. He's been outstanding."
Speaking earlier this season, BBC pundit Phil Neville described Kante as "the one who has knitted this Chelsea team together".
"I thought he was a number six like former Chelsea player Claude Makelele. But he is a number six, an eight and a 10 - he plays absolutely everywhere, three different positions," he said.
"I think Kante is the most complete midfielder in the Premier League at the moment.
"He will redefine what we are looking for from a midfield player."
Kante is famously a quiet man, yet on the pitch he is a tigerish opponent.
His total of 110 tackles in the Premier League this season is second only to Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye (127), while his figure of 72 interceptions is eclipsed only by Ander Herrera of Manchester United.
Watford captain Troy Deeney recently spoke about what it is like to play against Kante - an insight that perhaps explains why his peers voted him the best of their number.
"Whenever we broke on them last season, I always had the fear factor that Kante was coming back and I knew we didn't have much time before he got there," Deeney said.
"Even if I actually did have time, I always thought he might be there, so I would rush things a bit."
Kante only third pick among BBC Sport readers
Kante might be top of the class among his fellow professionals, but he did not quite come out on top among BBC Sport readers, who were recently asked to name their Premier League team of the year.
More than 40,000 teams were selected, with the most popular XI displayed below.
Kante was named in more than 80% of users' teams, but his exploits in the middle of the park for the Premier League leaders were not enough to make him the most selected player overall.
That accolade instead went to Spurs midfielder Alli, followed by Chelsea midfielder Hazard and then Kante.
Two of the nominees for the senior PFA award failed to make the BBC Sport team of the year, with Arsenal forward Sanchez and Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic missing out.
Alli's young player prize is consolation for his omission from the six-man shortlist for the senior award, despite scoring 16 goals from midfield as Spurs have mounted a serious title bid.
The 21-year-old's importance to Tottenham's hopes is underlined by the fact they have scored a goal every 42 minutes with Alli on the field in the Premier League this season, compared to every 83 minutes without him.
He scored eight goals in six Premier League games between 18 December and 21 January, and was named the league's player of the month for January.
The England midfielder also showed his class with a brilliantly taken goal in Spurs' FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.
Alli said of his award: "It's an unbelievable feeling, especially to be voted by the other players as well.
"It's been an unbelievable season for us all. I think we've just got to keep going, keep fighting and keep improving as a team."
England full-back Bronze, 25, won the PFA Women's Player of the Year award for the second time after being part of the Manchester City squad that won the Women's Super League without losing a single game in 2016.
Bronze said: "As a defender, you don't really get a lot of accolades, but it's a great award to win.
"As a team, we've been very successful, and individuals have performed really well in the team. This award for me is all thanks to the team, because without them, I wouldn't be anywhere near this."
Birmingham midfielder Carter, 19, saw off competition from three Manchester City players to win the Women's Young Player of the Year award.
She started every game in the WSL in 2016 and completed 90 minutes in all but the season-opener at Sunderland.
Former Manchester United midfielder Beckham was honoured by his peers in recognition of his stellar career at club and international level.
Beckham, 41, won 115 England caps - captaining his country on 59 occasions - and played for some of the most famous clubs sides in the world.
He scored 85 goals during his time at United, where he also won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He also won Spain's La Liga during a four seasons at Real Madrid.
Beckham follows former United team-mate Ryan Giggs in winning the Merit prize. He also received the award alongside his 'Class of 92' United team-mates in 2013.
"I dreamed of playing for Manchester United and England my whole young life," Beckham said. "To have represented my country the number of times that I did, and to have been captain as well, that is my proudest thing as a footballer.
"I had 22 years of playing the sport that I never saw as a job. I always saw it as a hobby because I would have done it whether I'd be paid or not. I lived my dream and I had a lot of people to support me."
England's record goalscorer and former Arsenal forward Smith retired from football at the age of 38 in January.
She scored 46 goals for her country, earned 117 England caps, played in six major tournaments and represented Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.
"When I started out playing football as a little girl I never imagined me reaching the heights that I have, in my 20-odd-year career," she said.
"It's been a phenomenal journey: lots of highs, lots of lows, but I've really enjoyed every moment of it, and I feel very privileged to be here tonight to pick this up."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39686272
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Premier League and FA Cup double is definitely on for Chelsea, says Alan Shearer - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Alan Shearer says Chelsea FA Cup semi-final victory against Tottenham shows why they will go on and win the Premier League.
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The way Chelsea beat Tottenham in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final showed why they are going to win the Premier League title too.
As usual, Antonio Conte's side were dogged and resilient - and the manager's gameplan worked perfectly.
They were content to soak up Spurs' pressure and possession and, when they went up the other end, they took their chances brilliantly.
The Blues scored four goals against the team with the best defensive record in the top flight, so you cannot say they did not deserve their victory.
And anyone who doubted Chelsea after their defeats by Manchester United and Crystal Palace just had to watch them at Wembley to see how good they are.
This was a superb display that won a brilliant cup tie and, psychologically, could and probably should pull them across the line in the title race too.
They know they beat their closest rivals despite not having three key players for the majority of the game - centre-back Gary Cahill, who was out injured, and winger Eden Hazard and striker Diego Costa, who came off the bench with less than half an hour to play.
Conte's decision to leave Costa and, in particular, Hazard out of his starting line-up was a huge call - but it worked.
The guy he brought in for Hazard - Willian - scored twice. Then, when he brought Hazard on in the second half, the Belgium international changed the game.
Hazard scored Chelsea's vital third goal and he also rolled the ball into Nemanja Matic for his fantastic strike to make it 4-2.
When you make big decisions, you want them to work in your favour, and things could not really have worked out any better for Conte on Saturday.
The Italian has not got very much wrong in his first season in the Premier League, especially since switching to his favoured formation of three at the back at the end of September.
The double is definitely on, which would be an incredible achievement.
Kenny Dalglish (with Liverpool in 1986) and Carlo Ancelotti (with Chelsea in 2010) are the only other managers to have done it in their first season in England, and now Conte has a fantastic chance of doing the same.
Tottenham did not make their possession count
The benches illustrated the difference in depth between the two teams, because Chelsea's substitutes made a huge difference, and Tottenham's didn't.
It obviously helps when you have got big hitters like Hazard, Costa and Fabregas to come on - but I still think Spurs wasted a great opportunity to beat a weakened Chelsea side.
Tottenham dominated possession - they had 63% of the ball and played 544 passes to 323 by Chelsea - but I don't think they did enough with it.
They only had four shots on target, and one of them was in the 93rd minute.
Kane took his goal very well and Dele Alli's finish to make it 2-2 was superb after a brilliant ball by Christian Eriksen.
The way Alli found the space inside the area was very similar to the headers he scored when Spurs beat Chelsea in the league in January but, other than that, they did not open Conte's side up often enough.
No trophy for Tottenham this time
As much as victory will lift Chelsea, this defeat will damage Tottenham - who have now lost seven straight FA Cup semi-finals.
I don't think it affects Spurs' title hopes, because I never thought Chelsea would chuck the league away whatever happened at Wembley.
But, trophy-wise, it now looks like Mauricio Pochettino's team will not have anything to show for their season - and I think the next 12 months will be a crucial time for the club.
If you go through the Tottenham team, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League - if not the best - in Hugo Lloris, and they certainly have the best defender in Toby Alderweireld.
Alli is one of the most sought-after young players in the world and Kane is one of the best strikers in the Premier League, and with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele in midfield they have one hell of a spine.
But all that talent needs to get over the line in something - and soon.
They need to win a trophy next season, otherwise I fear their top players will look to go elsewhere to get some silverware.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39682193
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Guardiola must improve Man City's mood quickly after Arsenal defeat - Jermaine Jenas - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Pep Guardiola must lift his players quickly to ensure they qualify for next season's Champions League, argues Jermaine Jenas,
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I don't see Manchester City's failure to win a trophy as a disaster for Pep Guardiola, but finishing outside the Premier League's top four would be unacceptable.
Expectations were so high when Guardiola arrived in England because he had won silverware in each of his previous seasons as a manager, dating back to 2008.
So a trophy in his first year in charge at City was seen by many people as the benchmark for success, but it was never a given and I don't think he ever thought it would be that easy either.
By now, he knows how gruelling a Premier League season really is, and has probably changed some of his plans for new signings accordingly.
Sunday's defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final underlined exactly how much there is for him to work on, and I am sure he will embrace that challenge.
But to carry out those plans, and get the new players he wants and needs, City simply have to be in the Champions League next season.
'Guardiola must pick up his players quickly'
This is Guardiola's biggest moment as City manager, because has to make sure his players are ready to perform in the Manchester derby on Thursday.
They will be very disappointed because they put a lot into the semi-final, and the game going to extra time will not help their preparation either.
Guardiola has to pick them up and turn the mood around. It is all about him now, and what he can do about the situation City are in.
United reduced the gap between themselves and City to a point by beating Burnley on Sunday and they are in the ascendancy right now after making it to the semi-finals of the Europa League as well.
I don't think City need to beat them, because just avoiding defeat would be a huge psychological boost.
'City will make top four - but it will be tough'
The United game is not make or break but, after being knocked out of the FA Cup, City definitely need a lift to set themselves up for the run-in.
If you look at their remaining games after they play Jose Mourinho's side, they might appear simple when compared with United's run-in.
But, apart from their win over Hull at the start of April, I don't remember City having a really comfortable game at Etihad Stadium for some time, regardless of the opposition.
Teams have sat back against them and been hard to break down, a bit like Arsenal did in the first half at Wembley.
Losing David Silva so early on against the Gunners was a big blow, and it will hurt City's chances if his injury turns out to be a serious one.
I still think City will make the top four, but it is going to be tough.
'City were too predictable going forward'
In the next month, City will need their star attacking players to perform better than they did against Arsenal.
The Gunners looked far more dangerous when they attacked. When Danny Welbeck came on late in normal time, I felt the tide turn in their favour because his pace gave City's defence a different test.
Arsene Wenger's gameplan was very good, of course, but City just seemed to lack something going forward and their build-up play was too slow and too predictable.
I could see Guardiola on the sidelines screaming at Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane to run in behind the Arsenal defence. They did not really test the Gunners' back three - as good as those defenders were.
Don't get me wrong, City's players did not let him down - they gave everything they had, but it was not good enough.
Probably the biggest positive for Guardiola was Yaya Toure, because I thought he was absolutely sensational - the best player on the pitch.
Toure did everything he could to pick City up and drag them into the final on his own. It wasn't enough but if he can maintain that kind of form, then he could make the difference to City's top-four prospects.
When Guardiola is making plans for next season, I think 100% that Toure should be part of them.
He turns 34 in May and is out of contract in the summer but he showed against the Gunners how much he still has to offer.
Toure's problem is that he is entering the stage of his career where you have to adjust the team to suit his game - he is at his best when he is going forward but, when he does that, other people need to provide some protection.
That is why there could be a split. I don't think Guardiola wants to build his side around any individuals, because his vision is always a complete team.
If Toure is prepared to sit on the bench then he could still have a part to play at City next season. If he's not, I can see him leaving, although he clearly still has so much class.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39688387
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FA Cup: Manchester City's goal controversially disallowed - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Raheem Sterling's goal for Manchester City is ruled out after the linesman says Leroy Sane's cross went out of play behind the goal before coming back in.
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Raheem Sterling's goal for Manchester City is ruled out after the linesman says Leroy Sane's cross went out of play behind the goal before coming back in, during their FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39682228
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Manchester United: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to come back 'even stronger' from injury - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will "come back even stronger" after suffering cruciate knee-ligament damage.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will "come back even stronger" after suffering cruciate knee-ligament damage.
The 35-year-old was injured in the final minute of normal time during last week's Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht.
Ibrahimovic is United's top scorer this season, with 28 goals but it is unclear when he will be fit to play again.
"I will be out for a while," he wrote but added "giving up is not an option."
Writing on Instagram, the Swede added: "I will go through this like everything else and come back even stronger. So far I played with one leg so it shouldn't be any problem.
"One thing is for sure, I decide when it's time to stop and nothing else."
Speaking before Sunday's 2-0 win at Burnley, United manager Jose Mourinho said on Sky Sports: "I know (how long he will be out for), but it is for the medical department to be more specific and they prefer to wait a couple more days because the players want to see other specialists and to have an extra opinion and we have to respect that. But they are important injuries."
Asked whether Ibrahimovic would play again, the Portuguese replied: "I don't care about it in this moment, I just want the player to recover the best he can."
Ibrahimovic joined the club on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain last summer but is yet to agree an extension to his one-year United deal.
Marcos Rojo also suffered cruciate knee-ligament damage in the same game.
The defender was replaced on 23 minutes after colliding with a visiting player.
Mourinho said he also knew how long Rojo would be out for, adding: "Marcos was in the best moment of his career, playing very well for us and finally getting a position as a central defender in the national team. It's really sad."
Rojo's injury leaves United manager Jose Mourinho short of options at centre-back with England internationals Phil Jones and Chris Smalling already on the sidelines.
Eric Bailly and Daley Blind are United's only fit senior centre-backs ahead of the Manchester derby at Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
United midfielder Juan Mata says the loss of both players has tarnished recent good results.
"These situations just happen in football, that's for sure, although they're never easy to take," he said.
"Now it's time to be patient and strong to face the recovery period and I'm sure both of them will do their best."
Mata, 28, is currently recovering from groin surgery and is hopeful of returning before the end of the season.
"The truth is I'm feeling much better now and I hope to be back with the team soon, to try to help in the last spell of the season," he added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39677389
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'Everything's on fire' - the scramble to organise an election - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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News of a snap poll means many late nights and cancelled weekends for some over the coming weeks.
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UK Politics
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When Theresa May announced on Tuesday she was seeking an early general election, scores of people saw their weekends and half-term holidays vanish in a giant puff of electioneering, manifesto-writing and the mammoth admin task of staging a nationwide ballot.
By anyone's estimations, the general election of 2015 was an immense piece of administration.
Forty-five million ballot papers were printed to reflect 650 separate candidate lists for the election. Forty-three thousand polling stations were staffed for 15 hours by 120,000 people. And the total cost of it came to £98,845,157.
But all that was organised with five years' notice - the duration between the previous election and the date of the 2015 poll.
The time frame for the 2017 ballot, which takes place on 8 June, is little more than seven weeks.
One Conservative member of staff told the BBC she was completely taken aback. "I have friends who work for ministers and even they didn't see it coming until the Cabinet meeting took place."
The clock is already ticking, and there is much work to be done. A Labour aide working for an MP described the past week as "very stressful".
"In my own time after work I've been contributing to campaign materials and arranging to uproot myself from London so I can go back to the constituency."
While general elections are about putting MPs in Parliament, it falls to councils to organise the nitty-gritty of voting and counting.
Venues for polling stations and counting centres will need to be earmarked and reserved for 8 June. And that needs to happen before polling cards can be sent out.
Some of the 120,000 people employed to conduct the 2015 election
This work is carried out by local authorities' electoral services divisions and overseen by returning officers.
John Turner, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, predicts this election will be particularly onerous for two reasons - the compressed time scale, and the fact local elections are already taking place in many areas in less than two weeks.
"Many polling stations aren't publicly owned," said Mr Turner. "They're church halls or community centres, and a lot rests on returning officers' ability to persuade the owners to move things around and make the space available."
As for staffing, electoral services departments maintain databases of temporary workers. But "in this case some of them may already have made other plans or booked holidays".
"Although returning officers are helped by permanent teams, this varies a lot. In some district councils it will only be two or three people and colleagues from other departments will have to pitch in.
Polling stations have to be organised
"It's going to be an intense time for many of us, working 12-hour days."
Mr Turner is confident, however, that it will all come together in time, noting: "We're a bit like the duck paddling away beneath the water but serene on the surface."
There's equally little hope of sleep for those in charge of political policy making. They will be working around the clock on putting together manifestos.
It's a particularly stressful time for the party in government, says Nick Pearce, head of the No 10 policy unit under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. As well as existing government duties, staff will be working "flat-out" to get the document finalised.
"A minister, usually from the Cabinet Office, takes overall responsibility, working with political staff from different departments to draft sections and liaise with the prime minister and her chief of staff," he explained.
Ministers, lobbyists and Treasury staff also get heavily involved, trying to place pet projects and ensure big-ticket items are properly costed.
"There's huge pressure not to get anything wrong," said Mr Pearce. "But working quickly like this there is certainly potential for that to happen."
And what of getting the message out?
Seven weeks is "a very, very tight time frame" for organising a marketing and advertising strategy, said Rachel Hamburger, an advertising executive and former Lib Dem campaigner.
"I'd be very surprised if we saw any nationwide broadcast campaigns comparable to famous ones of the past such as the Blair 'devil eyes'," she said.
"With a long run-up, parties could be expected to run focus groups, market research and analysis of what is most important to their campaign before deploying adverts.
This time, she believes. parties will "concentrate resources on individual seats and simple messages".
Elsewhere in the media, broadcasters are preparing for election night. The BBC is reassigning hundreds of researchers, producers, camera crews and local reporters to put together its results programme.
Parties, meanwhile, have to deal with the small matter of ensuring there are candidates in place in 650 constituencies for people to elect.
Labour and the Conservatives have both altered their normal selection procedures to speed things up, while all 54 of the SNP's existing MPs are expected to stand again.
The other parties are in varying states of readiness.
The Lib Dems say they have about 100 candidates still to pick. UKIP and Plaid Cymru will adopt the bulk of their candidates next week, while Greens' selection is under way with local electoral alliances under consideration.
None of Northern Ireland's parties are thought to have selected candidates, as talks continue about restoring devolved government.
Most candidates will not have had a chance to allocate resources. It has already led some to take the unusual step of appealing for online donations.
Regional party offices will provide MPs and activists with support, but the prevailing mood could be described as one of apprehensiveness.
When asked to sum up how things were going, a fretful Conservative source said: "Everything is basically on fire."
A Labour campaigner replied with a series of distressed crying and screaming emojis.
However, on a purely technical point, it's worth noting the 50-day gap between announcement and polling day is actually the longest since 1983.
What's different this time is the lack of preamble, and thus preparation.
As the BBC's former head of political research David Cowling put it: "Everyone was lulled into a false sense of security by assurances... and we're now completely stunned."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39660686
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FA Cup: Monreal brings Arsenal level - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Nacho Monreal fires in from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's teasing cross to draw Arsenal level against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Nacho Monreal fires in from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's teasing cross to draw Arsenal level against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39687188
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Fed Cup: Ilie Nastase banned after swearing at tearful Johanna Konta - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Romania captain Ilie Nastase is banned from the Fed Cup tie against Great Britain after an incident that leaves Johanna Konta in tears.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Romania captain Ilie Nastase was banned from the Fed Cup tie against Britain after an incident that left Johanna Konta in tears and her match suspended.
In Konta's match against Sorana Cirstea, Nastase was sent off after swearing at the umpire and abusing Konta and her captain Anne Keothavong.
The world number seven lost her serve in the next game and was visibly upset before play was halted for 25 minutes.
The world governing body said it was looking into "this matter as well as previous comments made by Mr Nastase during the week".
Nastase - a former world number one - had caused controversy in the build-up to the tie after being heard making a derogatory comment about Serena Williams' unborn child.
While Romanian player Simona Halep was answering a question in English about Williams' pregnancy on Friday, the 70-year-old turned to one of his other team members and added in Romanian: "Let's see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?"
He also put his arm tightly around Keothavong and asked for her room number, in earshot of the watching media.
Before play had even started on Saturday, Nastase insulted a British journalist over their reporting of Friday's events, calling the Press Association's tennis correspondent "stupid".
And as he was finally escorted away from the venue by a group of security guards, he abused the reporter again, calling her "ugly".
WARNING: Some people may find the language below offensive
The incident that led to him being dismissed on Saturday happened when Cirstea was 2-1 up in the second set of the World Group II play-off tie in Constanta.
After Konta and Keothavong had complained of calling out from the crowd at 1-1, Nastase was involved in a discussion with officials in which he used foul and abusive language.
Nastase called both Konta and Keothavong "a bitch" multiple times, as well as swearing at them.
He was sent off the court by referee Andreas Egli and, after initially taking a seat in the stands, was then escorted back to the locker room.
Konta went 3-1 down after her serve was broken in the next game and was in tears before the umpire suspended play.
Romania player Halep spoke to the crowd during the suspension to try to calm the situation.
When play resumed in a subdued atmosphere, Konta won five games in a row to win the match 6-2 6-3, levelling the tie at 1-1.
The ITF explained Nastase was asked to leave "for unsportsmanlike conduct, having already received two official warnings".
A statement added: "Mr Nastase was also removed from the grounds due to his serious misconduct. His accreditation was removed and he will play no further part in the tie."
"It was not something anyone should experience," Konta told BBC Sport.
"It did upset me quite a lot and that was shown. I am not one to cry on court. It was slightly embarrassing but it affected me more than I would have liked.
"I know that Fed Cups can be quite emotional and can sometimes take an unexpected turn but it wasn't something I was prepared for.
"Obviously, it left me slightly unnerved but the best I could do was to make it as much about the tennis as possible. I felt I did that and am looking forward to that again tomorrow."
Keothavong said she had "expected a patriotic crowd", but did not expect "abusive language to be used".
"It's unacceptable. No-one deserves to be spoken to in that way," she told BBC Sport.
"We've come here to play tennis. The referee made the right call to suspend the match, and during the break I was just trying to keep Johanna calm.
"All of the players - from both teams - handled the situation incredibly well. It's happened, it's done and there is a lot to play for tomorrow."
The Lawn Tennis Association said it was "deeply shocked" by Saturday's events.
"There is no place in sport for that type of behaviour, it's not acceptable and the integrity of the sport must always be paramount," it said in a statement.
"We will be submitting an official complaint to the ITF after this tie and expect a full investigation into the actions by the Romanian captain."
'Maybe next time I will cry'
"Someone crying cannot stop a match," she told BBC Sport.
"From a tennis point of view, Johanna deserved the win - she is a better player than me - but the behaviour of the British team was exaggerated.
"Why did we stop? Only because Johanna cried? I have never cried on the court because someone told me something. You have to toughen up.
"OK, at 2-1 you take our captain out, that was the right decision, but then at 3-1 I break you and now you cry. I am not saying it was fake, but it was not logical.
"Next time I'm in trouble I will cry, maybe I can go off the court. As Romanians we get double insulted because of our nation but it's OK, we are tough. Tougher than British people apparently."
Before play started on Saturday, Nastase went into the media centre to seek out British journalists over their reporting of the comments he made about Williams at Friday's news conference.
Press Association Sport reported that their tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks was the only member of the British media present in the room at the time and that he said to her: "Why did you write that? You're stupid, you're stupid."
PA Sport has sent details of Nastase's remarks to the International Tennis Federation.
"He repeatedly called me stupid, asked me why what he said was racist," said Crooks.
"I explained we simply reported what he said and that it was unnecessary to make such a comment about colour. He said the English were out to get him and called me stupid a few more times.
"Fortunately he was across the other side of the room from me and there were other journalists around so it was unpleasant rather than threatening.
"But it is certainly not the behaviour you would expect of someone in his position and wholly unnecessary, especially given he did not dispute the accuracy of what was reported."
And when Nastase was escorted from the venue on Saturday he confronted Crooks again, calling her "ugly" as he was being led away by security.
When asked about the comments made about Williams and to Keothavong on Friday, he told told BBC Sport: "That's Nastase. He was all the time with a lot of jokes. That's why everybody likes him.
"He didn't make any mistakes. It was not racist, you cannot take it seriously. I'm sure it was just a joke," Cosac added.
"What I know is that he is a very good friend with Yannick Noah and he played many tournaments together with Arthur Ashe [Noah and Ashe are the only black men to win Grand Slam singles titles] - I'm sure he didn't say something wrong."
Earlier on Saturday, Romania took the lead when Halep won 26 of the last 33 points on her way to comfortably beating Heather Watson 6-4 6-1.
World number five Halep increased her intensity at 4-4 and broke Watson to love before serving out to take the opening set for the hosts.
Watson, ranked 113, struggled to cope with her rival as she lost her serve twice to love in the second set.
This was a very decorated player, but an increasingly isolated man, losing his cool on a spectacular scale.
Nastase appears to have no concept of why I, and my three British colleagues here in Constanta, felt his slurs and actions of Friday needed highlighting.
Having targeted one of the journalists in the morning, he turned his ire on his opposite number and her star player when battle was joined on the court.
ITF president Dave Haggerty says Nastase's conduct is "unacceptable". They have issued more than one stern statement this weekend, but will be judged on their deeds, rather than their words.
If the ITF do not act, then the Romanian Federation clearly will not either. Their president cannot understand why we do not appreciate Nastase's sense of humour.
Why can't we see that his captain is more than entitled to make derogatory comments about Serena Williams - because many of his best friends are black?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39677397
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Target Somalia: The new scramble for Africa? - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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Many different countries are trying to get a toehold in Somalia as it slowly emerges from chaos.
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Africa
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I know some rather annoying crows in the Somali port town of Berbera. Every morning, as I eat my breakfast by the beach, they swoop down and steal my bread, my jam, even my butter.
Then they fly back up to their perches on a tall metal fence. They look like sentries, their black feathers gleaming, beaks curved and sharp.
"The Russians brought those birds," an elderly Somali tells me. He shows me the giant site of the old Soviet military base, the still-functioning runway they built during the Cold War to counter US influence in the Horn of Africa.
At more than 4km (2.5 miles) in length, it's one of the longest on the continent.
Fast-forward nearly half a century and, once again, Berbera, now part of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, is full of chatter about military bases.
That is because a deal has just been struck for the United Arab Emirates to build a facility there. There is talk of MPs being bribed handsomely to accept it.
Some Somalis feel this is part of yet another effort to colonise their country. They have even started a social media campaign - #UAEHandsOffSomalia.
The Emirates already have a base in Eritrea, just up the coast, which is used to conduct war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a short way across the sea.
Travel in the other direction and you hit a huge Turkish base stretching along the beach south of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Engineers working on its final touches tell me it's going to be Turkey's largest overseas military training camp.
The base is just a small part of Turkey's massive involvement in the country, which started in 2011 during the first famine of the 21st Century. Somalia is an eccentric choice for a gateway into Africa but, like other foreign powers, Turkey wants influence, prestige and economic gain.
It sometimes feels like Mogadishu is a Turkish colony. As soon as you land at the airport, red and white Turkish flags seem to outnumber the sky blue Somali ones.
Many of the staff at the glistening new Turkish-built terminal come from Turkey. They tell me they do not like living in Somalia - it is too hot and there are too many explosions.
Talk to the United Nations and to what, in development jargon, are called Somalia's "traditional donors" - in other words, the US and Europe - and they say, fairly diplomatically, that although they appreciate the efforts of the "newcomers", there is a lack of co-ordination.
Too many countries are training too many different sections of the Somali security forces, which are already fractured and have a tendency to fight each other almost as much as they fight the local partners of al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State.
I also get the sense that they are a tiny bit envious of all the kudos countries such as Turkey, Qatar and the UAE get for rebuilding Mogadishu and flying in supplies for people affected by the current drought.
"They are small fry doing highly visible projects," one Western diplomat tells me in his base inside the heavily protected international airport. "We do far more but we prefer not to shout about it."
America in particular has good reason not to show off about its activities in Somalia, which include drone attacks and vast amounts of financial assistance.
The 1993 helicopter downings in Mogadishu shocked and angered the US
It cannot forget Black Hawk Down, when its troops withdrew in humiliation after a Somali militia shot down two of its helicopters in Mogadishu in 1993, dragging naked bodies of US servicemen through jeering crowds.
At times, Somalia seems like a vast international marketplace with foreign diplomats, private security companies and a few bold businessmen coming to ply their wares.
There is vast profit to be made in securing and rebuilding a broken country that has come top of the "failed states" list for several years in a row. Plus there's oil, minerals, fish, livestock and a fabulously strategic location.
The regional powerhouse, Ethiopia, is not at all happy about Somalia's new friends, especially those from the Gulf. It sees Egypt behind all of this, plotting reprisals for the giant dams Ethiopia is building, which Egypt fears may starve it of waters from the Nile.
Pessimists see real danger in this geopolitical realignment. They fear a war, with Somalia and Eritrea, emboldened by their new Gulf allies, taking on Ethiopia. More conflict in an already volatile region would threaten the global economy. Most of Europe and Asia's maritime trade, worth about $700bn (£550bn) a year, goes through the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Eritrea and Yemen.
The optimists see opportunity, with a thriving Red Sea zone opening up new economic partnerships and giving landlocked Ethiopia increased access to desperately needed ports.
Somalis are worried about unintended consequences. Just like the US, which in 1993 saw a well-meaning humanitarian effort turn into a humiliating nightmare, they say all this friendship from the Gulf is going to end in trouble.
"Look at the Taliban of tomorrow," says a Somali friend, pointing towards neatly dressed children in the playground of a Saudi-funded school. "A new Cold War is being fought on our land, and one side, the West, doesn't even know it."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39654795
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General election 2017: UKIP manifesto to pledge a burka ban - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The party could also undertake not to stand against pro-Brexit MPs, its leader Paul Nuttall says.
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UK
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UKIP is to include a ban on the full veils worn by some Muslim women as part of its general election manifesto, its leader Paul Nuttall has said.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show Mr Nuttall said wearing a burka or niqab in public was a barrier to integration and a security risk.
He also said UKIP could undertake not to stand against Brexit-supporting MPs.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said the country would not take advice from "hate peddlers" at UKIP on integration.
The UKIP leader suggested that the party would not stand against MPs in marginal seats who supported Brexit, if local parties agreed.
He cited the example of David Nuttall, Conservative MP for Bury North, who is defending a majority of 400.
"What I don't want to see happen is good Brexiteers - not fly-by-night or five-to-midnight Brexiteers, people who've campaigned for years for Brexit - I don't want to see them lose their seats and a Remainer be there in their place," he said.
However, Mr Nuttall refused to confirm his own plans to stand as candidate in the June 8 election.
"I will make a decision in the coming week about where to stand, obviously I'll be having conversations with local branches," he said. "Nothing is decided."
In February, he failed to win in Stoke-on-Trent Central, after Labour held the seat.
Speaking about full face-veils, Mr Nuttall told the programme: "We have a heightened security risk at the moment and for CCTV to be effective you need to see people's faces.
"Secondly, there's the issue of integration. I don't believe you can integrate fully and enjoy the fruits of British society if you can't see people's faces.
"I can't walk into a bank with a balaclava on or a crash helmet, if I can't do it and other people can't do it, I don't see why there are special interests for certain people."
Muslim women who defied the ban could face a fine, he suggested.
He said that being "hidden behind the veil" contributed to 58% of Muslim women being economically inactive.
Mr Nuttall said: "We'll come in line with other European countries such as Belgium, Bulgaria - there's a ban for example in the city of Barcelona, some places in Italy and, indeed, Angela Merkel is talking about this in Germany at the moment.
"Manfred Weber, who's the leader of the biggest group in the European Parliament, is now talking about an EU-wide ban. We can either be on the curve on this or behind the curve."
Labour's Mr Umunna tweeted his opposition to the measure after the interview.
"Sorry," he wrote. "Britain won't be taking any lessons on integration from the hate peddlers at UKIP."
UKIP member and former donor, Arron Banks - who has publically called Mr Nuttall "weak" - also disagreed with the policy.
Mr Banks, who is hoping to run as a candidate for UKIP in Clacton, told the BBC's Sunday Politics Show: "I'm not personally in favour of that. I think people have a right to their religious beliefs.
"I think there are certain circumstances where if it's a security issue - maybe the airports, or public transport - it's acceptable, but I'm not in favour of curtailing people's [freedoms]."
However, he stood by the previous he call made on Twitter for a ban on Muslim immigration into the UK.
"I've said that - I'm not disputing that," added Mr Banks. "My answer is you can't possibly curtail someone's religious freedoms but what you can do is stop adding to the problem."
Mr Nuttall also told the programme that he wanted to prevent Islamic sharia law becoming "a parallel legal system in this country".
"It cannot be right that we have court or councils in this country where the word of a woman is only worth half that of a man. That has no place in a liberal, democratic, functioning Western democracy," he said.
But he said that Beth Din, Jewish rabbinical courts, would not be affected, because they had been established for centuries and the Orthodox Jewish population was falling.
The party's manifesto is also expected to suggest that anyone with evidence of female genital mutilation taking place will be bound by law to inform police.
And it will also call for postal voting to be largely abolished, because of concerns over electoral fraud.
The former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, proposed a burka ban in 2010.
But the party later dropped the policy, and it did not appear in its 2015 manifesto.
Full-face veils are already banned in public in some European countries, including France.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39682939
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Was ITV's The Nightly Show a success? - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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The eight-week entertainment show didn't get off to the strongest start but after ending more positively does it just need a second chance?
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Entertainment & Arts
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Dermot O'Leary and Davina McCall were among the hosts
ITV's The Nightly Show didn't get off to the strongest start - but its fortunes improved over its eight-week run.
The first series of the new entertainment show drew to a close on Friday after 40 episodes.
It was broadcast every weeknight in the 10pm slot normally occupied by the news, and saw a different celebrity take over presenting duties each week.
The show struggled at the beginning - viewing figures quickly dropped after the first episode hosted by David Walliams and critics weren't too keen on it either.
But things improved as the series progressed, with the show gradually building an online audience and some presenters proving particularly popular with viewers.
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV is doing better than any other terrestrial channel this year in terms of year-on-year performance, we've had a really strong start to the year.
"We're in a strong position to try some new things and experiment, it is imperative we try new things, which have the potential to enhance our entertainment offering."
Let's take look back over The Nightly Show's first season.
David Walliams was the first of The Nightly Show's guest presenters
David Walliams was on hosting duties for The Nightly Show's first week - and helped the series start strongly with an average of 2.9 million live viewers tuning in for its opening episode.
But his performance received negative reviews from critics and the audience dropped to 1.2 million by Friday's programme.
"I think David Walliams just isn't a natural presenter, and it really came across," says Frances Taylor, TV critic for the Radio Times.
"He's a great actor and comedian but we'd never seen him at the helm of a programme, and if you're going to have revolving hosts you've got to have someone strong to kick it off.
"If you don't, viewers will lose interest, and once they've gone, it's difficult to get them back."
Dermot O'Leary was one of the most popular presenters with viewers
Walliams put the viewing figures and poor reviews down to people being annoyed about the News at Ten being moved back by half an hour in the schedules.
After his stint, John Bishop, Davina McCall, Dermot O'Leary, Gordon Ramsay, Bradley Walsh and Jason Manford all had a turn.
Some presenters were more popular with viewers and critics - particularly O'Leary, who was booked for a second week later in the run.
Ramsay proved a successful booking too, and he helped the show build a stronger online following, partly due to the star guests he drew to the show.
Several of Gordon Ramsay's segments went viral, such as musician John Legend's comic take on Ramsay's sweary language
UK chat show hosts such as Graham Norton, Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross regularly attract high-profile guests, but their shows only air once a week.
When you've got five nights of shows to fill, talent booking is a greater challenge, especially outside the US, says author, lecturer and television executive Lyndsay Duthie.
"In the US, you've got A-list guests night after night because there's a bigger talent pool to draw from," she says.
"James Corden has Madonna and Michelle Obama taking part in Carpool Karaoke, which makes it not only entertaining, you can't believe the talent they've got on there."
The Nightly Show struggled a little on this front - but it did manage to attract some big names as it went on, particularly the week Ramsay was in charge.
"The stuff Gordon Ramsay did with John Legend has got such global appeal because they're such big stars in America," says Frances Taylor.
In one segment, which was a hit, Legend was seen at a piano, singing some of the foul-mouthed chef's most famous TV insults.
"If you've got names like that then people all round the world will recognise them, and that means that it probably will go viral, and that's the whole point of shows like this," Taylor adds.
"Bradley Walsh interviewing Louise Redknapp didn't have quite the same worldwide appeal."
The Oscars mix-up occurred the evening before The Nightly Show launched
One of the benefits of producing a show which is recorded on the same day it's broadcast is the writers' ability to put in jokes about the day's news events.
Taylor says: "A show like this lives and dies by the writing, and The Nightly Show was billed as a topical programme, but there was hardly any topicality in it."
"The Oscars gaffe, which happened the day before their first show, was such a gift as a topic, but David Walliams could only come up with a couple of poor envelope swapping gags."
She compares it to the pastiche The Late Late Show did in the US, where Corden dressed up as Emma Stone and sang a parody song about the Oscars mix-up, which Taylor says was a stronger treatment.
"If The Nightly Show comes back it needs to play on the topicality. The fact this is filmed a couple of hours before transmission, they're not maximising that opportunity."
But Duthie says: "In the US you have teams and teams of people writing the opening monologues, which is a luxury that most British shows don't have."
Jason Manford hosted the show in its penultimate week
ITV pushed the News at Ten back by half an hour to make room for The Nightly Show as part of the broadcaster's initiative to try out what it calls "Five Nights of New" schedule.
But, says Duthie, where The Nightly Show was concerned, it may have suffered due to its chosen timeslot. The most successful chat shows in the US start much later in the evening.
"In the UK we're much more conservative," she says. "By 10:30pm, peak time is over. But if a show is on later, you're catching people coming home from the pub late at night, and a lot of younger viewers."
She adds that part of the problem facing any new nightly entertainment show is the difference in audience expectation between the UK and the US.
"We've gotten so used to watching light-hearted entertainment shows on Friday and Saturdays that a lot of British viewers aren't used to upbeat, happy content on a Monday evening," Duthie says.
"Also, perhaps the networks wouldn't pay for original programming at 11:30pm in the UK - budgets are usually spent by about 10:30."
But she praised ITV for being willing to try something new in the first place: "As much as I love the News at Ten, it wasn't performing very well for ITV, so commercially it was a good decision to look at that 10 o'clock slot."
ITV pushed its evening news bulletin, fronted by Tom Bradby, back in the schedule
ITV's director of TV Kevin Lygo told Broadcast: "In terms of The Nightly Show, this eight-week run is about extending the 10pm hour, extending the primetime feel of ITV, and seeing how that looks and feels during this period and how viewers respond to something other than repeats, alongside the News.
"The intention was to make that hour feel a bit fresh and different with some stunt scheduling and I think we've done that.
"After the run has finished we'll obviously look at the shows and all the data and discuss what next.
"The broader point is - TV is a risk business, you need to try new things, and launch them with confidence and visibility to give them the best chance of success.
"And you've got keep doing that, and we will."
John Bishop and Bradley Walsh presented The Nightly Show during its run
US chat show hosts - from Ellen DeGeneres to Jimmy Fallon - now depend heavily on building a strong online following to match their viewing figures.
The Nightly Show had mixed fortunes on this front, with some segments not attracting many views, but others going viral worldwide.
At the time of writing, a compilation of Ramsay's best pranks during his week on the show has attracted 3.4 million views.
Fay Ripley giving parenting tips to John Bishop, in contrast, has had just a couple of hundred.
But while social media success can give a show a huge boost, it can also cause the problem of shows being judged too quickly.
Fleabag's strong online following helped it build an audience
"Now you get such a snap decision with everything," says Taylor. "If something isn't immediately funny, you see people all over Twitter saying 'this is rubbish'.
"Social media can be great because you can build an audience for a show and make it an underground hit, like Fleabag.
"But conversely, when you've got something high profile that people don't enjoy, the knives are out.
"To some extent, all publicity is good publicity, but if a show can't breathe, it will put people off. Once that dies down, more people are likely to come to it naturally."
The ITV spokesman said the show's online clip performance had been "impressive, amassing more than 40 million views in total for its online content across various platforms, and more than 50,000 subscribers and followers".
Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon's US shows have a strong online presence
"The figures reflected the viral nature of the content. The John Legend/Gordon Ramsay sketch accrued more than 16.5 million views on Facebook. It was shared more than 310,000 times.
"The Gordon Ramsay Blender clip accrued over 4.3 million views on Facebook. It also trended at number one worldwide on YouTube for three days as well as accruing over 3.5 million views on YouTube."
The clip saw Ramsay pretend to cut his hand in a food blender, to the horror of the audience and guest Frank Skinner.
"It was the most talked about video on the Internet for the weekend of 1-2 April," ITV said.
As for The Nightly Show's future, ITV will now take some time to examine how the first series performed in more detail, before deciding whether to commission another.
ITV said: "We don't normally make decisions on recommissions until after a series has ended."
Whether it comes back in its current form or returns with a few tweaks, we could well be seeing much more of The Nightly Show in the future.
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Reality Check: How many children are in classes of more than 30? - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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Labour alleges that pupils in England's primary schools "are packed like sardines" in classrooms.
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Education & Family
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The claim: Speaking in Swindon, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Half a million children are now being taught in super-size classes of over 36."
Reality Check verdict: This is incorrect. Actually about 42,000 pupils are in classes of 36 or more - about 1% of children. Mr Corbyn appears to be confusing statistics. It is right, as the earlier Labour press release said, to say about half a million pupils in state-funded primary schools in England are in classes of between 31 and 35.
Labour claims that pupils in England's primary schools "are packed like sardines" in classrooms.
Jeremy Corbyn said in a speech in Swindon on Friday: "Half a million children are now being taught in super-size classes of over 36."
This is at odds with what his party's press release said, which was that half a million children in state-funded primary schools are in classes between 31 and 35 pupils. That's about 12% of primary school pupils.
That figure is confirmed by government figures from the school census (see tables 6a and 6b), which also says that about 42,000 pupils are in classes of 36 pupils or more, which is about 1% of primary school pupils.
Government rules say no infant school child should be taught in a class size greater than 30 - that's children in Key Stage 1 who are aged five to seven.
That rule can be waived in exceptional circumstances - usually if twins or siblings are admitted to the school, or a child in care has to be given a place.
The official school census for 2016 shows that more than half of Key Stage 1 classes with one teacher have either 29 or 30 pupils in them. Of the infant classes with more than 30 pupils, roughly 95% have 31 or 32 pupils. Classes with more than 32 children in them are uncommon.
Rules on classes sizes do not apply to children in Key Stage 2, which is ages seven to 11.
Between 2006 and 2016, the average Key Stage 1 class grew from 25.6 to 27.4 but at Key Stage 2, where there is no cap on numbers, it has remained stable at around 27 pupils in a class on average.
While numbers of pupils in oversized classes has increased, the number of primary school aged children has increased by about half a million over that period.
Since 2010, the proportion of children in classes of 31 to 35 pupils has risen from 10.6% to 11.9%.
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FA Cup: Alexis Sanchez pounces to put Arsenal ahead - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Alexis Sanchez pounces on a loose ball to put Arsenal 2-1 up in extra-time against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Alexis Sanchez pounces on a loose ball to put Arsenal 2-1 up in extra-time against Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39687193
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European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Munster 26-10 to reach final - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Defending champions Saracens survive a first-half Munster examination to reach a third Champions Cup final in four years.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Defending champions Saracens survived a first-half examination from Munster before taking control to reach a third Champions Cup final in four years.
Munster dominated the first half but somehow trailed 6-3 at the break, Tyler Bleyendaal landing one penalty to two from Owen Farrell.
A converted Mako Vunipola try saw Saracens start to pull away.
And, with Farrell landing his shots at goal for a 100% record, a Chris Wyles try saw them home with some ease.
Saracens will face the winner of Sunday's Clermont Auvergne v Leinster match in the final in Edinburgh on Saturday, 13 May.
The scoreline might suggest it was yet another ruthless performance from Saracens, who did the English and European double last year, but for the first 40 minutes it looked as though it might be two-time former winners Munster heading to Murrayfield.
Their run to the last four has been hugely emotional, with head coach Anthony Foley dying the night before they were due to face Racing 92 in their opening match in this season's European Champions Cup.
Determined to honour the memory of a true Munster man, they had rekindled memories of their European reign a decade ago and their passionate supporters filled nine-tenths of the 51,300 seats in the Aviva Stadium.
Roared on by their fans they had two-thirds of the territory and three-quarters of the possession in the opening half, but superb defence from Saracens kept them at bay and ensured that the romantics hoping for a Munster victory were denied by the pragmatists from north London.
Saracens are renowned for the ruthless efficiency of their game, content to kick for territory before launching attacks, and happy to use their 'Wolfpack' defence to not only keep the opposition at bay but drive them back behind the gainline.
And it was their defence that kept them in it during an opening 40 minutes that saw them pinned inside their own half by the accurate boots of Munster half-backs Duncan Williams and Bleyendaal.
Indiscipline prevented Saracens from building any momentum of their own.
But no matter how hard Munster pressed they could not break down the Londoners' defensive wall, and so obdurate were they that, despite being under the cosh for long periods, the champions turned round three points to the good.
After the restart it was the most workmanlike part of the game that saw them wrest the upper hand, with their front row increasingly dominant in the scrums as tight-head Vincent Koch turned on the power.
A trickle of penalties enabled England sharp-shooter Farrell to edge them further into the lead and after cutting out the silly penalties of the first half they assumed total control.
They were still far from perfect and added two more bad misses to one in the first half, when Richard Wigglesworth had dropped the ball with a clear run to the line.
First Alex Goode passed behind Chris Ashton with a try begging, before George Kruis showed his rugby intelligence to pick and drive from a ruck, only to drop the ball as he reached to score.
But England prop Vunipola rumbled over to give them a 10-point lead and with their big carriers - brother Billy prominent among them - now smashing over the gainline, the momentum had swung entirely.
Replacement Wyles latched on to a Farrell grubber kick to put them out of sight and although Lions tourist Stander scored a late consolation, it was long since clear that it was the businesslike Londoners who were headed to the final.
'Our togetherness shone through' - what the managers said
"I thought our defence was extraordinary. We soaked up a lot of pressure and coped with their attack really well.
"The game started exactly as they would have wanted. We couldn't really escape our half in the first half but our defence remained good.
"It was a brilliant occasion. Munster's supporters are as good as any in the world. In the face of that, the fight and the togetherness we had to show, to win the game was brilliant."
"We played against a team that were better than us. That's a reality.
"Even though there were stages that were close and we had a few opportunities, I thought the scoreboard was a true reflection of the game."
Replacements: Saili for Taute (55), Sweetnam for Earls (63), Keatley for Bleyendaal (71), Cronin for Kilcoyne (56), Marshall for N Scannell (60), Archer for J Ryan (63), D. O'Callaghan for P O'Mahony (52), Deysel for O'Donnell (50).
Replacements: Lozowski for Bosch (74), Wyles for Maitland (62), Spencer for Wigglesworth (71), Lamositele for M Vunipola (71), Brits for George (50), du Plessis for Koch (71), Hamilton for Itoje (74), S Burger for Wray (55).
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39635185
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To Ray Davies, America is a 'beautiful but dangerous' place - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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America is "a beautiful but dangerous place," says Ray Davies, as he discusses his new album.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Ray Davies' new album contrasts the America of his childhood dreams to the reality he discovered while living in New Orleans
"Sorry, I'm chewing gum," says Ray Davies five minutes into our interview, before extracting the offending substance from his mouth.
It's a fitting interruption. We're here to talk about his latest album, Americana, which charts his love-hate relationship with the US - and there's nothing more American than chomping on a stick of Wrigley's.
Of course, our most recently-ennobled rock star is best known for his writing about England on songs like Waterloo Sunset, Muswell Hillbilly, Sunny Afternoon, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, but his obsession with the States started early.
As a schoolboy, he was captivated by black and white cowboy movies and the be-bop records his older sisters would bring home.
After receiving a guitar for his 13th birthday, he devoured records by Muddy Waters and Slim Harpo. His love affair with the blues was so strong that when he wrote The Kinks' first hit single, You Really Got Me he intended it to be "a blues song".
"Then it turned out to be a pop hit."
Somewhat disingenuously, he tells the BBC You Really Got Me was supposed to be The Kinks' only song (even though it was their third single).
"I wanted that to be a hit and then I was going to get out of town," he says.
"Unfortunately they asked me to write another one, and another one."
The star recently received a knighthood for services to music
The Kinks' success meant Ray and his younger brother Dave could finally visit the Land of the Free - but things didn't go entirely to plan, as he describes on the new album.
"They called us The Invaders, as though we came from another world," he sings. "And the man from immigration shouted out, 'Hey punk, are you a boy or a girl?'"
The band could have overcome the prejudice if they weren't already in disarray - prone to fighting on stage, and let down by a promoter who refused to pay them in cash.
Things came to a head while taping Dick Clark's TV show Where The Action Is in 1965.
"Some guy who said he worked for the TV company walked up and accused us of being late," Davies wrote in his autobiography X-Ray.
"Then he started making anti-British comments. Things like 'Just because the Beatles did it, every mop-topped, spotty-faced limey juvenile thinks he can come over here and make a career for himself.'"
A punch was thrown, and the American Federation of Musicians refused to issue the Kinks permits to perform in the US for the next four years.
"It was a terrible blow to our career," says Davies. "We couldn't tour. We couldn't play Woodstock.
"Being a bolshie 21-year-old, I said, 'Let's make records and tour the rest of the world'.
"But deep down I was really hurt, because America was the inspiration for much of our music."
The Kinks' hits included Sunny Afternoon, All Day and All of the Night and Set Me Free
When the band were finally allowed back, in 1970, they had to start from scratch, plying their trade in tiny clubs and high school gymnasiums.
"It was quite a humbling experience after being really successful before," Davies recalls.
Yet the US became the band's lifeline in the 1970s, providing adulation, success and financial reward as interest dwindled at home.
"We ended up playing Madison Square Garden in 1980, which is a sign you've made it back. So it was a 10-year programme. It was hard work but, in a strange way, we built a loyal fanbase in that time."
So perhaps it's no surprise that Davies sings "I want to make my home/Where the buffalo roam" on the title track of his new album.
Indeed, he moved to the US for several years, finding his spiritual home - and sanctuary - in New Orleans.
"I'm just another person there, which is really nice," he says. "And I fitted in with the music scene."
Living across the road from a church, he would frequently witness the city's brass band funerals, which stretch through the streets in celebration of local musicians and dignitaries at the end of their life.
But his sojourn in the city ended badly one Sunday evening in January 2004.
Davies was strolling along an unusually deserted Burgundy Street with his girlfriend Suzanne Despies.
A car pulled up alongside them, a young man got out, and demanded Despies' purse. She handed it over without any resistance, but Davies suddenly decided to give chase.
His assailant was armed, and shot Davies in the leg, breaking his femur.
"Why did I do it? That's the unanswerable question," he says.
"I've never really been the sort of person who would chase a man with a loaded gun. But I did. Foolishly, perhaps, and irresponsibly. But I did it.
"It was one of those heat of the moment situations, and I have no explanation other than that."
Americana, is based on Davies' 2013 memoir of the same name
He ended up in hospital, heavily drugged and, for the first 24 hours, an anonymous "John Doe".
The experience informed a song - Mystery Room - in which the star faces his mortality for the first time: "My brain's hit a brick wall / My body's in free-fall."
It's partnered with another track, Rock 'N' Roll Cowboys, which equates ageing rock stars with gunslingers about to hang up their holsters.
"Rock and roll cowboys, where do you go now?" asks Davies. "Do you give up the chase like an old retiree? Or do you stare in the face of new adversaries?"
It's a question that's flummoxed many of his 60s contemporaries. Has he ever contemplated giving up?
"Every writer who's written and toured for more than five years reaches a point where they think, 'Do I keep going?' or, 'Where do I go next?'" he says.
"Every day I wake up and say, 'I love writing songs but do I want to do this?' and the answer is I do.
For the new record, he sought the help of alt-country stalwarts The Jayhawks, whose deft arrangements provide a rich backdrop to Davies' wry and incisive lyrics.
Was it challenging, I wonder, for him to walk in and take charge of an already-established band?
"It was a diplomatic situation," he says... well, diplomatically.
"At first, they were trying to sound English in their backing vocals, but I deterred them from that.
"The reason I picked them is because they just play the songs. They don't embellish too much unless I ask them to, which is great."
The star hopes to tour with the Jayhawks later this year. 'If the diaries coincided, it would be wonderful.'
The Americana sessions went so well that there are "another 20" songs waiting to be finished and released, all derived from Davies's 2013 book of the same name.
"It's a big work, but I hope it'll be put together for a deluxe record later on."
Is he tempted to write something more topical for that record, given the ongoing political turmoil in the US?
"Everyone who knows my work comes up to me and says: 'It's time to revive Preservation,'" he says, referring to The Kinks' 1973 concept album and tour, in which a comedian becomes a dictator, funded by big business and using the media as a tool of control.
"It was a fun show but it had quite serious undertones," says Davies, "and I think that sums up America at the moment: it's a fun show with very serious undertones.
"I do hope America balances itself out. It's slightly off-kilter at the moment.
"He [Trump] has still got to face Congress, and it's still a democratic country. I think the will of the people will be heard, and America's constitution is strong.
"It's a difficult time of re-adjustment for them - but I think in time it'll balance itself out.
"It's a beautiful place but a dangerous place, as I found out."
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FGM: The mother trying to protect her daughters - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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One FGM survivor explains her struggle to protect her daughters from the practice.
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Wales
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FGM is illegal in the UK but campaigners warn children are still taken abroad to have it done
A case of female genital mutilation was discovered every three days, on average, by maternity staff in Wales last year, according to new figures. One victim - an asylum seeker mother-of-three living in Swansea - describes her struggle to protect her two daughters from the practice. Names have been withheld to protect her children.
I was cut when I was two days old. I didn't know anything about it until years later my mum told me I had it done.
For me, growing up in Benin City in Nigeria, it was normal. Everyone had it done. The eldest of five daughters I was aware of my younger sisters having it done when I was growing up.
But I would just go off to play when the cutter came, I didn't really realise what was going on.
It wasn't until the cutter came to see my youngest sister I realised what was happening. By then she was seven and I was 12, so I was a bit more aware.
My mother told my sister in the weeks before: "Someone is coming to cut you, like I cut your sisters, my mum cut me and my great-grandmother cut her. It is nothing."
Then I asked her about it. She said it was a man who cut me, I bled for an hour and nearly died. After that they didn't cut my sisters until they were a bit older as they were scared they would die.
Even though I knew this, I couldn't tell my sister because if she didn't have it done or tried to run away people would have told her she was unclean, the community would have despised her and she would have been told she didn't belong.
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That day, the cutter had already been to see other girls. The cutter lay a small mat down in the back yard of our house and had pieces of broken bottles, razor blades to do the cutting. They were not clean, they had blood on them already.
She had a big lady with her, she forced my sister onto the ground and sat on her chest to hold her still. My sister could hardly breathe and couldn't move her arms or legs. The cutter was behind the lady and got to work.
My sister was fighting, she was screaming, but there was nothing she could do. I was screaming "stop this".
By the end there was blood everywhere and my sister was unconscious. She had cried so much she didn't have anything left to give.
They said to give her water and tried to clean her up. That was all she had to make her feel better - water.
I just thought it was something that had to happen or you wouldn't be accepted by the community. I didn't know any different.
My mum told you: "If you don't do it your husband in future will not like you, will not respect you, will not appreciate that you are a proper woman. You will be cast out by the community".
They want the man to enjoy sex with you, it is all for the man, but why go through pain for just the man to enjoy sex with you when you don't enjoy it? It does not make sense to me.
When I came to England in 2007 I started to realise it was not necessarily the natural thing I had been brought up to believe. When I had my first boyfriend it was painful both during sex and after sex, I couldn't understand it. But I had no-one to talk to about it. I just assumed it was normal.
When I fell pregnant they told me I couldn't give birth naturally, so I had to have a Caesarean with both my girls and my little boy.
My daughter will soon turn seven - the age when my sister had it done - and I am so scared that someone will try to do it to her.
For links to organisations offering support on FGM visit BBC Action Line
I'm so happy my girls weren't born in Nigeria - if they had been my mum would have quietly come to my house, even if I said no, when I was at the market she would have come and had them cut.
I'm no longer in touch with family back in Nigeria, and thank god for that at the moment because of the risk of FGM. I'm just trying to bring my girls up, to teach them about my country and gradually teach them about FGM. But how do you explain FGM to a seven-year-old child?
I'm afraid to take them back to Nigeria to visit, I would really love to, but how safe is it? Even though it is banned there now it is still a way of life, because their foremothers have been doing it for a long time they continue to do it.
If I saw my mum, my sister or my grandmother there would be a very-massive risk for my girls.
Campaigners believe young girls are targeted for FGM in the summer holidays - when there is time for them to recover
No way will I let someone do that to my girls, no way. They are happy, they are free, they are so blessed.
But even though we are in Wales now I'm so worried about someone seeing them and thinking they must have it done, and taking an opportunity to do it.
I know people might think "why would they cut my daughters if they don't know them?" but they are from a community that practises it. They might think this is a young girl, she needs to have it done.
I can never leave them anywhere, I can never leave them with anyone.
Survivors like me need to talk about being cut so that people know about it, so we are empowered to protect our children from it. If everyone keeps quiet, how are we going to stop it?
I want my daughters to know I stood up to speak against it, that is what I think my mum should have done for me and I want to do it for them.
Just as generations have been doing it, maybe my generation will be the one that stops it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39282927
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The 13 MPs who opposed snap general election - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A total of 13 MPs voted against an early general election. We look at who they are and why they said no.
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UK Politics
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Parliament voted for an early general election on Wednesday, with 522 MPs in favour. However, 13 voted no. But who are the 13 and why are they against the poll?
When did he first win his seat? 1987
What positions has he held? Parliamentary commissioner for administration (June 1987 - March 1997), Health Committee member (October 2005 - November 2007), Public Administration Committee member (July 1997 - May 2001).
Why did he vote no? Mr Campbell is 73 and has been treated for stomach cancer. However, he is on the road to recovery after an operation and chemotherapy. He announced earlier on Wednesday he would stand again for election as it would be the party's national executive committee who would choose his replacement rather than the local party - not something he was keen on.
When did she first win her seat? 1984
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow secretary of state for international development (January 1989 - January 1992), shadow secretary of state for Wales (July 1992 - November 1992), shadow minister for culture, media and sport (November 1992 - January 1993), chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (May 2005 - December 2006).
Why did she vote no? The Welsh MP said the only reason the prime minister called the election was a "cut and run tactic" because of how difficult Brexit negotiations will be. As a former MEP, she said members of the European Parliament were "not going to roll over with a handshake and a smile, they are going to talk tough and be tough". Ms Clwyd added: "Nobody is ready for this general election. I do think this is an irrelevance considering what is happening in the world at the moment."
When did he first win his seat? 2001
What positions has he held in the party? Member of multiple committees, including the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (July 2015 - present), the Privacy and Injunctions Committee (July 2011 - March 2012) and the Consolidation Bills Committee (December 2010 - March 2015).
Why did he vote no? Mr Farrelly has one of the smallest majorities in the UK, with only 650, so it may be understandable why he was not keen for an election. But he told a local newspaper reporter for the Stoke Sentinel that he voted against it because he believes it will be "bad for the country" and the unity of the UK.
When did he first win his seat? 1997 (the seat changed from Poplar and Canning Town to Poplar and Limehouse in 2010)
What positions has he held in the party? Minister of state for environment, food and rural affairs (June 2009 - May 2010), shadow minister for environment, food and rural affairs (May 2010 - October 2010), shadow minister for transport (October 2010 - August 2013).
Why did he vote no? Mr Fitzpatrick was planning to retire in 2020, but he will be standing for re-election. He said he voted no because he thought the prime minister was "taking advantage of a lead in the opinion polls for purely party political advantage, not in the national interest." He added that Mrs May's "misleading [of] the public... ought to have been objected to and opposed."
When did he first win his seat? 2015
What positions has he held in the party? Shadow secretary of state for defence (June 2016 - Oct 2016) and shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy (October 2016 - February 2017).
Why did he vote no? It may be for personal reasons as he is due to get married on 6 May. He told the Daily Telegraph: "Theresa May kind of has thrown a clanger into my life. We've had to cancel the honeymoon and we don't even know if we're getting married now, so I don't know. It's a bit of a disaster personally." But he has also said it was down to the way the government had gone about turning over the Fixed Term Parliament Act. "At this critical time, it isn't the time for Theresa May to simply call an election when it is convenient," he said. "Had a motion of no confidence in the government been on the table I would have voted for it."
When did she win her seat? 1997
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow minister for the equalities office (October 2010 - April 2011) and shadow minister for equalities (April 2011 - October 2011).
Why did she vote no? The former Labour minister has announced she is not going to stand for re-election, saying she is "bored by political squabbles over personalities". Of the election she said: "I can't believe that spending eight weeks of a time-limited negotiation period campaigning in an election rather than talking to our EU partners will strengthen her hand in negotiations with anyone outside her own Conservative Party."
When did she first win her seat? 2014
What positions has she held in the party? Shadow minister for communities and local government (September 2015 - June 2016) and shadow minister for foreign and Commonwealth affairs (October 2016 - present).
Why did she vote no? The Greater Manchester MP said she voted against the election because of "voter fatigue". She told Buzzfeed that after a by-election that saw her become an MP, the 2015 general election, the referendum, and the mayoral race in 2017, there was the potential for low turnout. Ms McInnes added: "I haven't met anyone who welcomes it, people just go 'oh no, not again'."
When did he first win his seat? 1970
What positions has he held in the party? Member of the National Executive Committee (July 1979 - July 1992, July 1994 - July 1998, July 1999 - May 2010), vice-chair of the Labour Party (July 1987 - July 1988) and Party Chair (July 1988 - July 1989).
Why did he vote no? No official word from Mr Skinner, but during PMQs he asked for a guarantee that those Tory MPs under investigation for election expenses would not stand. For him, failure to do that would make the whole campaign "the most squalid in my life time". Perhaps not a surprise he voted against it then.
When did he first win his seat? 1997
What positions has he held in the party? Parliamentary secretary at the cabinet office (November 1999 - June 2001) and Lord Commissioner at the Treasury (June 2001 - May 2002).
Why did he vote no? Mr Stringer condemned his own party for not opposing the snap election and "falling into Theresa May's trap" to boost the Tories. He added: "The opinion polls might be a few points out but they're not telling a complete lie. We have got to spend the next seven weeks getting our policy issues over, they appear to be popular with the public when tested. But I wasn't going to vote to support Theresa May's cynical move to try and increase the Conservatives' majority."
When did she first win her seat? 2001
What positions has she held? Shadow spokesperson for trade and industry, home affairs, women and culture, media and sport (May 2001 - May 2005, when she was an Ulster Unionist MP).
Why did she vote no? There has not been a public statement on her reasons.
When did she first win her seat? 2015
What positions has she held in the party? SNP Westminster spokeswoman for disabilities (May 2015 - November 2015).
Why did she vote no? It was an eventful day for Ms McGarry, who confirmed she was pregnant after she fainted in the Houses of Parliament. An ambulance was called, but just as a precaution. The politician, who lost the SNP whip and now sits as an independent after allegations of fraud were made against her, hasn't explained why she voted as she did.
When did she first win her seat? 2015
What positions has she held in the party? SNP Westminster group leader for business, innovation and skills (May 2015 - October 2015).
Why did she vote no? She is currently sitting as an independent after withdrawing the SNP whip last year. Ms Thomson took to Twitter to say she voted against the early election, unlike many of her SNP colleagues. She said: "This is a time for leadership from the opposition, not abstention."
When did he first win his seat? 2005
What positions has he held in the party? Leader from 2011 to 2015.
Why did he vote no? He said Theresa May's call for an election was a "cynical exercise" aimed at "gathering up muscle to confront Europe and go for a hard Brexit".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39644981
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The seats that could decide the election - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Where do the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems have to fight hardest to win the general election?
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UK Politics
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Note: Battleground seats are defined as those where the winning party had a majority of less than 10%
There are 650 constituencies in the United Kingdom. But the election campaign over the coming weeks will be concentrated in the marginal battleground seats - the ones with small majorities that are most likely to change hands.
There's no official definition of a marginal seat but people often look at constituencies where the majority - the gap between the first and second placed parties - is under 10%.
For politicians it's obviously a good idea to focus on these battleground seats. There's not much point in spending lots of time and money in constituencies that they already hold comfortably, or where they're so far behind they have no realistic chance of winning.
There are exceptions to this. In 2015 the SNP surge in Scotland was so powerful that apparently "safe" seats fell. And the collapse of the Lib Dems saw them lose some seats they'd held with sizeable majorities.
Such large swings are rare though. And even in 2015 the Conservative/Labour fight took place almost exclusively in the battleground seats.
Eighteen seats changed hands between the two biggest parties. Only one of those, Ilford North, had a majority above 10%.
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Seats the Conservatives will be gunning for include Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East, Birmingham Edgbaston and Wirral West.
Recent elections have seen poor returns for the Conservatives in the north-east of England but it's a part of the country that voted strongly for Brexit and Prime Minister Theresa May hopes her focus on the issue will help them gain seats.
Labour-held Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East is a good example. Its voters backed Brexit and there's a considerable pool of almost 7,000 voters who went for UKIP last time.
That's one group the Conservatives will target. If they trust Theresa May to deliver Brexit, the Conservatives will argue, why vote UKIP? Picking up a decent chunk of them would be enough to overturn Labour's majority of 2,268.
Other pro-Brexit Conservative targets in the north of England and the Midlands include Halifax, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Derbyshire North East and Walsall North. In all of them there's a sizeable number of people who voted UKIP in 2015 and a small Labour majority.
Birmingham Edgbaston is a different sort of target. Its voters were fairly evenly split on Brexit. But it's a relatively prosperous part of the city which used to be a Conservative stronghold.
An increase in the number of ethnic minority voters helped Labour last time round but it's always remained in the Conservatives' sights. With Gisela Stuart standing down after 20 years as the MP, they'll see an opportunity.
Wirral West is one of 10 seats lost by the Conservatives to Labour in 2015 - Esther McVey was ousted as the MP after just one term.
With their current lead in the opinion polls, they'll be highly optimistic they can take it back - along with other seats lost in 2015 such as City of Chester, Dewsbury and Lancaster and Fleetwood.
Labour start the election as the clear underdogs compared to the Conservatives. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hopes to win over voters during the campaign.
Gower, in South Wales, has the smallest majority of any seat in the country - a mere 27 votes. If just 14 voters switched from the Conservatives, Labour would take it so they will be campaigning for every vote. Before 2015 they'd held it for more than 100 years and it had been considered a Labour heartland seat.
Other losses from 2015 they'll want to reverse include Morley and Outwood, former Labour shadow chancellor Ed Balls's old seat, and Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
In recent years London has been Labour's strongest region. They made seven gains here in 2015 and Sadiq Khan went on to win the 2016 mayoral election comfortably.
Croydon Central was a seat they narrowly missed out on last time but they reduced the Conservative majority to just 165 votes. In a sign of their intentions, Jeremy Corbyn went to the constituency on the very afternoon that MPs voted to allow the early election.
Hendon and Harrow East are other London targets
Labour lost 40 Scottish seats to the SNP in 2015. In many cases the swing was so massive that they now look beyond reach.
But they'll be looking for any signs of the beginning of a fight back. RenfrewshireEast, which used to be Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy's seat, is their top target. Next down the list is Edinburgh North and Leith.
The Lib Dems are starting from a low base. They lost 49 seats in 2015, holding on to just eight, and are looking for a recovery this time.
As the most pro-EU of the national parties, the Lib Dems will particularly target seats like Conservative-held Twickenham in London, which voted heavily for Remain in last year's referendum and where Sir Vince Cable is returning to refight his old seat.
The December 2016 by-election in neighbouring Richmond Park, where they overturned Conservative Zac Goldsmith's 23,000 majority, showed their strategy could work.
Other pro-Remain constituencies in their sights include Kingston and Surbiton and, outside of London, Bath and Cambridge - the latter held by Labour.
Dunbartonshire East also voted for Remain but here they must challenge the SNP, another strongly pro-EU party. Nevertheless, the Lib Dems will think they have a chance.
Jo Swinson was ousted there in 2015 when the SNP's vote surged by 30%. She's standing again and won't need much of that back to recapture the seat.
The pro-EU message probably won't go down so well in Yeovil, which backed Leave in the referendum. But it's a constituency that the Lib Dems held for more than 30 years before it went Conservative in 2015 - Paddy Ashdown used to be the MP - and the broader south-west region used to be a stronghold for the party.
Other targets here include Thornbury and Yate, on the outskirts of Bristol, and St Ives in Cornwall - a county where the Lib Dems used to dominate.
With the SNP already holding 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland it's clearly impossible for them to make significant gains. But they'll be gunning for Labour's only Scottish constituency, Edinburgh South, and they're not far behind in Lib Dem-held Orkney and Shetland.
Plaid Cymru are just 229 votes behind Labour in Ynys Mon (Anglesey). But there could also be an intriguing battle in Rhondda if party leader Leanne Wood decides to stand, even though mathematically it's a lot further down the target list. She achieved a tremendous 24% swing there in the Welsh Assembly election last year, so a gain is not out of the question.
UKIP's results in 2015 demonstrated again how parties can suffer under the first-past-the-post electoral system.
They received 3.9 million votes but won just one seat, Clacton, and even there the victor was Douglas Carswell, who had defected from the Conservatives.
The problem UKIP have is that their vote is very evenly distributed compared to the other main parties - in fact, so much so that they're not even a close second in many places.
Former leader Nigel Farage fell 3,000 votes short in Thanet South last time. They're also close in Hartlepool where the Labour MP is standing down so that may be their best chance.
The Green Party are also badly served by first past the post. The only seat where they start in second place within 10% of the winner is Labour-held Bristol West. The Lib Dems are also a significant presence in that constituency and even the fourth-placed Conservatives got nearly 10,000 votes in 2015 so there a lot of possible outcomes.
It may be only two years since the last general election. But in Northern Ireland it's less than two months since voters last went to the polls. The Assembly election held on 2 March saw gains for Sinn Fein and losses for the main unionist parties (UUP and DUP). It would be wrong to assume the general election will automatically follow the same pattern but it will certainly have an impact on the campaign.
Sinn Fein will be eager to recapture Fermanagh and South Tyrone - reversing the loss they suffered in 2015. The swing they achieved in March would be enough to get them over the line.
Belfast South is a rare three-way marginal. Both the DUP and the Alliance Party (APNI) are within 10% of the incumbent SDLP. In fact Sinn Fein is less than 11% behind as well so there are lots of possible outcomes. Perhaps the most important factor, here and elsewhere, will be whether all the parties stand. In 2015 the DUP and UUP agreed to co-operate by standing aside for each other in four constituencies. That certainly helped and the UUP have already announced they'll do the same again. Previously the SDLP have refused to enter any deal with Sinn Fein but they are thinking of doing so this time as part of a broader anti-Brexit alliance. That could change the complexion of a number of battleground seats.
The contest in South Antrim is different. It has an overwhelming majority of unionist voters. The question is whether they'll back the UUP or DUP. The seat has switched between the two parties four times this century. It wouldn't take much of a shift for it to switch again.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39655379
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The couple who want to rebuild their shattered city - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
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Magazine
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Someday, what seems like Syria's forever war will end. Then the focus will shift to rebuilding a country shredded and scarred by conflict. A husband and wife, both architects, who witnessed their city's devastation are already thinking about how to restore it.
"It's not easy to rise from the ruins, it's not easy," reflects Marwa al-Sabouni.
We're standing in the cool dark depths of a hammam - a public bath dating back to Roman times in the old quarter of Homs. Its thick stone walls are now rough blotches of black and brown, dappled by shafts of light streaming through holes in a domed ceiling designed to draw light into this ancient warren.
The history within these walls is even darker.
"This was a major battleground," Sabouni explains as we walk through the hammam's main chamber, with what remains of a water fountain at its centre.
The debris of recent battles has been slowly cleared since two years of fierce clashes in the Old City area ended in 2014 when the government took back what had been a rebel-held enclave of Syria's third city.
"So many of us didn't even know this beautiful hammam, and so many other parts of our heritage, existed before the war," Sabouni says.
"It was neglected and then destroyed before we had to chance to know it."
Sabouni has taken me on a walk to illustrate some of the main ideas in her acclaimed book, The Battle for Home. An evocative memoir of her family's experience of living through a punishing war in their city, it's also an architect's vision of how to rebuild Syria to help mend its wounds and avoid errors of the past.
One of her biggest allies is fellow architect Ghassan Jansiz - who happens to be her husband. Their ideas about architecture brought them together as students.
They remained with their two young children in a city which saw some of the first protests and the most vicious fighting of the war.
This 2,000-year-old hammam is our first stop on Sabouni's itinerary as we set out to explore the souk, a sprawling market that was once the vibrant heart of the Old City.
Its labyrinth of alleyways is still largely deserted with most shops shuttered, or shattered by the gunfire and explosions.
Syria's destructive conflict has been fuelled by many faultlines. Sabouni says architecture is one of them.
"Of course, I'm not saying that architecture is the only reason for the war, but in a very real way it accelerated and perpetuated the conflict," she explains.
Her book chronicles the rise, over the past century, of soulless tower blocks and urban sprawls that effectively created sectarian ghettos and eroded shared public spaces which had long shaped Syrian society. Sabouni sees the built environment as a crucible for the frictions that led to civil war.
A meander through Homs's old market is also a journey further back in time, through thousands of years of Syrian history and successive empires that left their mark. In this rich story, Sabouni finds lessons for a more inspired and inclusive way of living.
"Certain architectural elements from different eras are all incorporated within the same structures and they don't cancel each other out," she explains as she leads me to what she calls a "hidden house."
A long dimly lit corridor leads into an exquisite courtyard with leafy fruit trees dotted with oranges. A sudden burst of bright colour surprises, as a small symbol of renewal.
"You see, this is what I talk about in the book," Sabouni exclaims.
"We had something very beautiful, very ancient and very harmonious interwoven in our lives, in our daily lives," she says, making her point that Syria's precious world heritage lies not only in famed sites such as the Roman ruins of Palmyra, but in its everyday social fabric.
"We vandalised a lot of it, and we mistreated a lot of it, so maybe we have the chance to start over now."
In another corner of the market, Jansiz shows me another hammam dating from the days of the Ottoman empire.
Its vaulted ceilings with intricate patterns of holes creates a dance of circles of light on the stone walls and floor.
But it's a pattern of light caused by damage rather than design which provides a small example of how to build from the ruins. The market's metal roofs - punctured by bullets and shrapnel - inspired Jansiz's work on the first rebuilding project in the Old City funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
On the day we visit, the project is a hive of activity. Workmen in blue overalls are putting the finishing touches on the new patterned screen now arching over the alleyway at one of the market's main entrances.
"Rebuilding is not just about stones," explains Jansiz, who was the lead architect on the first phase of the project.
"This market wasn't just a place to sell and buy stuff. It was also a social hub where people from all social and religious groups would spend time with each other."
Both Jansiz and Sabouni underline how the damage to Syria's social fabric is far deeper even than the endless ruins in pulverised neighbourhoods.
"All the workers you see around you are from Homs," Jansiz adds. "They understand this city and understand its pain."
The long arcades of shuttered shops bear silent testimony to this aching sense of loss. Only about 30 out of nearly 5,000 have reopened.
Some shopkeepers can't afford to rebuild, or await electricity and other services. Some sided with the rebels and were forced to flee, and are now unable or unwilling to return.
With still no end in sight to this war, major Western donors still resist putting money for reconstruction into areas now back in government hands.
"So far we're only focusing on limited rebuilding to provide some support and a bit of hope," UNDP Country Director Samuel Rizk tells me.
But the EU recently began to carefully raise the prospect of reconstruction funds, if and when a hesitant process of political talks with the opposition makes significant progress.
And a Chinese delegation was in Damascus this week to discuss future investments in industries and infrastructure.
There are already hints of conflicts to come over contracts and concepts for a post-war Syria.
Even the first phase of this small project to rebuild a roof in the Old City ended up being clouded by disagreements.
Sabouni believes Syrians must begin to imagine a different future.
"It may sound so sophisticated or a luxury to talk about architecture," she says. "But if we don't think about it, I think we will miss the chance to rebuild it in the right way."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39671004
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General election: Tory victory 'will not strengthen May's Brexit hand' - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Guy Verhofstadt says the PM's decision to hold an election is "political opportunism".
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UK Politics
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Theresa May has said the election is needed because Westminster is divided over Brexit
Theresa May's claims that a general election victory will strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations have been called "nonsensical" by the European Parliament's chief Brexit co-ordinator.
Guy Verhofstadt, a long-standing critic of Brexit, wrote in The Observer that it was "irrelevant" whether the Conservatives increased their majority.
Instead, Mrs May appeared to be driven by "political opportunism", he said.
Mrs May says the poll is needed because Westminster is divided over Brexit.
The decision to hold the election on 8 June - three years earlier than scheduled - was approved on Wednesday, with 522 MPs in favour and 13 against.
Mr Verhofstadt wrote: "The theory espoused by some, that Theresa May is calling a general election on Brexit in order to secure a better deal with the EU, is nonsensical.
"Will the election of more Tory MPs give Theresa May a greater chance of securing a better Brexit deal?
"For those sitting around the table in Brussels, this is an irrelevance."
Mr Verhofstadt added that many in Brussels believed the chances of a deal were being eroded by Mrs May's "tough negotiating red lines" and a lack of "political room for manoeuvre" domestically.
He said there was no guarantee "a sprinkling of additional Conservative MPs on the backbenches" would change this.
"Indeed, it appears this election is being driven by the political opportunism of the party in government, rather than by the people they represent," he added.
Guy Verhofstadt accused Mrs May of being motivated by "political opportunism"
Mrs May has argued that an increased Commons majority would strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations, making it more difficult for the opposition parties at home to obstruct her plans.
In her speech on 18 April, announcing the decision to call an election, she said: "Division in Westminster will risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country.
"So we need a general election and we need one now, because we have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39681186
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Celtic 2-0 Rangers - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Celtic beat Rangers to set up a Scottish Cup final meeting with Aberdeen and the chance to complete a domestic treble.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Celtic beat Rangers at Hampden to set up a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen and the chance to complete a domestic treble.
Callum McGregor's superbly placed finish put the Premiership champions ahead during a dominant first half from Brendan Rodgers' side.
Scott Sinclair squeezed in a penalty after Rangers' James Tavernier had fouled Leigh Griffiths.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon twice denied Kenny Miller in Rangers' best attacks.
But the Ibrox side could not prevent the first defeat of Pedro Caixinha's reign as manager and must now focus on securing European qualification through the league.
Celtic have already won that tournament and the League Cup and will face the Dons back at the national stadium on 27 May - the second Aberdeen-Celtic cup final this season - hoping to complete the domestic clean sweep for the first time since 2001.
This was a difficult day for Rangers, but one can only speculate as to how much sorer it might have been had Andy Halliday been sent off after lunging in on Patrick Roberts early on. The Rangers midfielder took Roberts out and was fortunate to see yellow instead of red.
Quickly, Celtic took hold of things and their greater intensity, accuracy and quality paid off with the opener. Mikael Lustig hit a long ball over Danny Wilson's head and into Moussa Dembele, who took it down, looked around him and saw McGregor steaming forward untracked.
The Frenchman played it to McGregor, who stroked it coolly into the corner of Wes Foderingham's net.
Celtic were dominant but their mission was not helped when they lost Dembele to a hamstring injury just before the half-hour. Griffiths came on.
Rangers had been fortunate to escape a dismissal earlier with Halliday and were lucky again when Myles Beerman, already on a yellow for fouling Roberts, impeded him again a minute later.
Beerman survived, but it was not long before Rangers' hopes of a cup final appearance were extinguished.
Caixinha made two substitutions at the break - Joe Dodoo coming on for the peripheral Joe Garner and Barrie McKay replacing Halliday - but no sooner had those changes bedded in than Celtic hit their opponents on the counter-attack and smoothed their passage to the final.
It was Dedryck Boyata who broke up a Rangers attack and got his team on the front foot. Roberts took it on and put Griffiths into the box, where he was taken down by Tavernier. The spot-kick from Sinclair found the target via Foderingham's diving hands and then the inside of his right-hand post.
There could have been more. Foderingham tipped over Griffiths' shot, Boyata headed over and Roberts had one saved. Celtic then lost their edge and Rangers got on top and started creating chances - good ones.
Just after the hour, Miller had a close-range header saved by Gordon. The striker might have done a whole lot better.
Then, with 10 minutes left, he had another opportunity - a point-blank shot kicked away by Gordon. Again, it was the type of opening that Rangers had to convert.
Martyn Waghorn headed over from a good position, Dodoo forced a diving save from Gordon and, at the other end, McGregor's replacement Tom Rogic hit a post for Celtic.
Those late chances will give Rangers hope for their Old Firm league meeting at Ibrox on Saturday - but Celtic's victory was well earned and their treble dream remains very firmly on track.
• None Attempt saved. Joseph Dodoo (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
• None Tomas Rogic (Celtic) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
• None Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Tomas Rogic (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Martyn Waghorn (Rangers) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
• None Attempt saved. Kenny Miller (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
• None Jozo Simunovic (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39612250
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UK music industry braced for Brexit - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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Whether you consume music digitally or collect vinyl records, Brexit has the potential to affect you.
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Business
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Whether you consume music digitally or collect vinyl records, Brexit has the potential to affect you.
The UK music industry, like its counterparts in other countries, has had a tough time adapting to the technological shake-ups of recent years.
But now it also has to plan for the changes that will be ushered in by the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Obviously there is still huge uncertainty about what the country's future relationship with the EU will be like, since its expected departure in the spring of 2019 is still subject to lengthy negotiations.
However, it is already possible to identify areas of the music business that may feel the effects.
With the industry's annual Record Store Day falling this year on Saturday, 22 April, record shops are enjoying a boom in sales of old-fashioned vinyl releases.
The format was widely expected to die a slow death with the advent of the CD, but in recent times, vinyl records have managed to outsell downloads.
However, when Record Store Day 2020 rolls around, there is a risk that those singles and albums could cost significantly more.
Will these records cost more post-Brexit?
If the UK does not manage to conclude a favourable trade deal with the EU, then tariffs may be applied on goods coming into the UK.
There are now only a couple of vinyl pressing plants left on British soil, so the majority of records sold in the UK are manufactured in factories based in other EU countries. The same goes for CDs.
If tariffs on goods return, record labels will face increased costs, which they will have to pass on to consumers.
So why buy music on physical formats anyway? This is the 21st Century, so go for streaming or downloads.
Well, even there, Brexit is likely to have consequences.
The pound has fallen in value in the wake of last June's referendum outcome. The leading music streaming services, from Sweden's Spotify to US-based Apple Music, are all multinational firms whose pricing policies are decided elsewhere.
Apple has already increased the price of its apps this year, in a move widely attributed to the Brexit vote. Apple Music subscriptions could follow suit if the pound falls any further.
In other ways, however, Brexit will have no effect at all. Many politicians and business leaders have called for the UK to preserve its access to the European single market, but in digital terms, things are more complicated.
The vast majority of Spotify's catalogue is available all over the world
While goods are covered by the single market in Europe, the market for services is still very much a work in progress.
And when it comes to the distribution of digital products, including music and e-books, consumers will still find that borders get in the way.
If you have an account with Amazon UK, you can buy a CD from Amazon's French website, but it won't allow you to buy the same music on download.
That said, streaming services are more unified. Spotify, for instance, makes practically all its catalogue accessible everywhere in the world, with some minor variations in local-language music.
But although Brussels has failed to create a digital single market for music consumers, it has done a lot for music producers.
People who make music can make money from it in various ways. As well as selling digital or physical copies of it, they are also paid royalties every time it is played in public.
There are two kinds of these:
Mechanical royalties date back to the days of piano rolls
And although there is no EU single market for digital music purchases, there is now a thriving single market for licensing music and collecting royalties on it.
In the UK, the main royalty collection society is PRS for Music. Its chief executive, Robert Ashcroft, says that the European Commission made a big difference with its Collective Rights Management Directive, which came into force in the UK in April last year.
As a result, it is now much easier to license music in many territories at once, rather than having to authorise it country by country, as was formerly the case.
PRS, for example, works in a joint venture with its counterparts in Sweden and Germany, STIM and GEMA, to operate a pan-European online music rights licensing service.
This means that songwriters and music publishing companies can get paid more quickly and accurately.
"We have already been licensing our rights on a pan-European basis," says Mr Ashcroft. "Brexit won't stop that and it's not in our business interest to stop it either."
The UK's law on music copyright has changed in recent years because of Brussels.
In November 2013, UK copyright protection on sound recordings increased from 50 years to 70 years, in line with an EU directive approved in 2011.
However, recordings that had already slipped into the public domain, such as the Beatles' first single, stayed there.
The Beatles' earliest recordings are now out of copyright
And there is a "use it or lose it" provision for hitherto unreleased recordings from 50 years ago. If record companies have ageing tracks in the vaults that they have never issued, then they have no comeback if other people get hold of them and release them.
Will all this change when the UK "takes back control"? PRS's Mr Ashcroft thinks not.
"I expect it to continue unless and until someone presents an argument that it's damaging to the economy," he says.
One area where Brexit could have a negative impact is on touring musicians. There are fears that music groups might have to scale back European tours after Brexit and fewer European acts could travel to the UK.
"We have a very healthy business in royalties that are earned when our members' works are performed overseas," says PRS's Mr Ashcroft. "If there were obstacles to British bands touring, that would be a potential challenge."
At the same time, however, he is concerned about Brexit's potential impact on his own organisation's staffing levels. "Eleven per cent of our employees come from countries other than the UK. We operate daily in 13 languages. We need the prime minister to give assurances that the people resident and working here can stay."
On that basis, he feels that the UK's music business is well integrated with the rest of Europe and hopes it will stay that way, despite Brexit: "We are so international that we think our business transcends that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39418829
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Thunderous Matic strike sends Chelsea to brink of victory - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Nemnaja Matic strikes from distance to put Chelsea 4-2 up and seal thei victory over Tottenham in the 2017 FA Cup semi-finals.
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Nemnaja Matic strikes from distance to put Chelsea 4-2 up and seal thei victory over Tottenham in the 2017 FA Cup semi-finals.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681516
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General election 2017: Women's Equality Party leader to challenge MP Philip Davies - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Sophie Walker accuses Philip Davies of misogyny but he calls her plans "extreme political correctness".
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UK Politics
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The Women's Equality Party leader says many women are being shut out of the political debate
The leader of the Women's Equality Party, Sophie Walker, is to stand against Tory MP and male rights advocate Philip Davies in the election.
If elected in the West Yorkshire seat of Shipley, she said she would be a "voice for all women" in Westminster.
She said Mr Davies had a "track record of misogyny", including trying to block laws on domestic violence.
Mr Davies said he welcomed his rival "parachuting herself" into the seat with a "politically correct agenda".
Mr Davies, who won the Shipley seat with a majority of more than 9,624 at the last election, is an outspoken critic of political correctness and what he has described as "zealous" feminism.
The MP, who has warned that men's voices are being "neutered" and that their rights must be more strongly defended, caused a stir when he was elected to the Commons equality and women's committee last year.
Announcing her candidacy on 8 June, Ms Walker - a former journalist - took a swipe at Mr Davies, suggesting that it was a "national embarrassment" that he was on the committee.
Mr Davies has claimed militant feminists want to have "their cake and eat it"
"Shipley deserves an MP that will represent the needs and interests of all its constituents, instead of one who spends constituency time on a self-indulgent anti-women campaign," she said.
"Right now if you live in Shipley, your MP is best known in Parliament as a sexist whose favourite pastime is inventing long speeches to prevent other MPs from passing important legislation such as the provision of free hospital parking for carers and compulsory sex and relationships education in schools."
Ms Walker also criticised the Conservatives' record on equality issues, saying public spending cuts had disproportionately affected women and Brexit would exacerbate the situation.
She said she would campaign for a fair immigration system after the UK's exit from the EU, more support for women's pensions and for social justice to be put at the heart of a "caring economy".
"Philip Davies' party's austerity policies hit women harder than men and pushed more women into poverty. His party's funding cuts shut vital services to survivors of violence, when two women a week die at the hands of abusive partners."
Mr Davies, who has represented Shipley since 2005 and strongly supported the UK leaving the EU, challenged Ms Walker to back up her claims of sexism with any evidence.
"I have consistently asked Sophie Walker to quote just one thing I have ever said which has asked for a woman to be treated less favourably than a man, and she hasn't been able to find even one quote from the 12 years I have spent in Parliament," he told the Observer.
"I would very much welcome Ms Walker parachuting herself into Shipley as a candidate with her extreme politically correct agenda of positive discrimination and quotas, and am very happy to let the good people of the Shipley constituency decide who they want to represent them."
Mr Davies has regularly called for more focus in the Commons on men's issues, including suicide rates and educational under-achievement among young men and what he says is the varying treatment of male and female prisoners.
In a speech last year he attacked "militant feminists and politically correct males", accusing them of fighting for equality while also seeking special protection when it suited them.
Earlier this year, he was accused of trying to block a Parliamentary bill that would force the UK to sign up to the international Istanbul Convention on preventing domestic violence by making a series of long speeches in the House of Commons.
The Women's Equality Party, co-founded by comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig, was founded in 2015. Ms Walker stood for London mayor in May 2016.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39683982
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FA Cup: Great Sergio Aguero finish puts Man City ahead - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Sergio Aguero races on to a Yaya Toure pass to lift it over Petr Cech and put Manchester City 1-0 up against Arsenal in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
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Sergio Aguero races on to a Yaya Toure pass to lift it over Petr Cech and put Manchester City 1-0 up against Arsenal in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup semi-finals here.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39682233
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Fed Cup: GB beaten in Romania as Johanna Konta and Heather Watson lose - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Great Britain are consigned back to the Europe/Africa Zone group after losing their Fed Cup World Group II play-off in Romania.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Great Britain have lost their Fed Cup World Cup Group II play-off in Romania, consigning them back to the Europe/Africa Zone.
It was 1-1 after Saturday's play, when host captain Ilie Nastase was banned for swearing at the umpire, Johanna Konta and her captain Anne Keothavong.
On Sunday, Simon Halep won 6-1 6-3 against Konta to put Romania in front.
Irina-Camelia Begu then beat Heather Watson 6-4 7-5 as Romania took an unassailable lead before the doubles.
Konta was left in tears after Nastase's conduct and, even though the world number seven still beat Sorana Cirstea on Saturday, she found Halep a tougher test.
Halep, ranked fifth in the world, raced into a 4-0 lead as she made the most of her clay-court knowhow and broke to love in taking the first set in 27 minutes.
Konta gave signs of a comeback by breaking Halep and taking a 3-1 lead in the second set, but the Romanian responded by impressively taking five games in a row to win the match.
After that result, world number 113 Watson knew she had to win against 33rd-ranked Begu and she was involved in a tight match with plenty of quality and drama.
There were five breaks of serve in the first set, which Begu took, but none in the second until Watson lost the seventh game.
The Briton broke back but then lost her serve again at 5-5 and Begu served out for a match that lasted two hours and two minutes to secure victory for Romania.
Britain's Laura Robson and Jocelyn Rae defeated Simona Halep and Monica Niculescu in the dead rubber.
Cirstea claimed Konta had "overreacted" by crying in their match but the British number one has defended her actions.
The incident that led to Nastase being dismissed on Saturday happened when Cirstea was 2-1 up in the second set.
After Konta and Keothavong had complained of calling out from the crowd at 1-1, former world number one Nastase was involved in a discussion with officials in which he used foul language before verbally abusing the British player and her captain.
He was sent off the court by referee Andreas Egli and, after initially taking a seat in the stands, was then escorted back to the locker room.
Konta went 3-1 down after her serve was broken in the next game and was in tears before the umpire suspended play for about 25 minutes.
"With all due respect to Sorana, she was not in my shoes at that end of the court being verbally threatened," said the Briton. "Any abuse is not all right.
"But when it's a couple of metres away from you, screaming at you, I think that's a different ball game.
"It's not something that you truly know how it affects you until you experience it, so I do believe she may have been slightly unaware of the events that happened."
Halep defended the crowd following her win on Sunday and, on Nastase - whose has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) while it investigates the incidents, said "maybe he did mistakes".
"I was not there right on the court but I heard some things so I cannot defend anything here," she added.
"I don't know exactly what happened but the people from ITF, they will know what they're going to do."
It was a classy performance from Simona Halep, who was superior in every department. She has just indicated in a TV on-court interview that she really liked her chances - as she feels she has "dominated" previous matches against Konta, despite losing both.
The last few games of the Begu-Watson match were a reminder of the drama Fed Cup and Davis Cup matches usually throw up.
It is not a weekend we will forget in a hurry, but there is no doubt the best team won.
The zonal competition of Euro Africa Zone 1 beckons once again for the British team in February next year. It is a routine they are tiring of.
The United States will take on Belarus in the Fed Cup final after overcoming defending champions Czech Republic on Sunday.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vandeweghe downed Kristyna Pliskova and Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-3 in the crucial doubles of their semi-final in Florida for a 3-2 winning margin.
The US are 17-time champions and will be facing debutants Belarus in Minsk on November 11-12.
Belarus made the final by defeating Switzerland 3-2 in their semi-final by sweeping after winning both the reverse singles on Sunday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39684043
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London Marathon 2017: Jo Pavey targets World Championships qualification - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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British five-time Olympian Jo Pavey can secure qualification for the World Championships when she races in Sunday's London Marathon.
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Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Watch: Live on BBC Two and BBC One with extra coverage of the elite races and the finish line on Red Button, online, Connected TVs and app Follow: Text updates and the best of social media on BBC Sport website and app.
British five-time Olympian Jo Pavey is aiming to secure qualification for the 2017 World Championships when she races in Sunday's London Marathon.
Pavey needs to finish as one of the top two British women and run a time of two hours and 36 minutes or better.
She will be at the Worlds in August to receive a bronze medal after her 2007 fourth place was upgraded when Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse failed a doping test.
"I've trained as hard as I could," said the 43-year-old.
"I've had a bit more illness than I would have liked but any busy parent can relate to that and I've kept training consistently."
Pavey will race her first marathon in six years on Sunday. She is up against fellow Britons Alyson Dixon, Louise Damen, Charlotte Purdue and Susan Partridge as they also compete to qualify for the World Championships, which are being held in London from 5-13 August.
With Callum Hawkins already selected, Tsegai Tewelde goes up against 10 other male runners in a bid to make the British team for the summer's event.
Meanwhile, Britain's six-time Paralympic champion David Weir says Sunday's race "could be" his last.
Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, who is the 5,000m and 10,000m track world record holder, headlines the men's elite race.
The women's elite line-up also includes Kenyan Florence Kiplagat, who won last year's Chicago Marathon, compatriot and Tokyo Marathon champion Helah Kiprop, and Olympic 5,000m champion and fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, who will make her marathon debut aged 33.
'There are still people cheating the system'
Drugs cheats like 2016 London marathon champion Jemima Sumgong are "ruining the sport", says European 10,000m champion Pavey.
Olympic gold medallist Sumgong, 32, tested positive for banned substance EPO in an out-of-competition test.
"It is a shame you have got a winner like Sumgong testing positive," Pavey told BBC Sport. "We're glad that she's been caught, that's one good thing to say.
"You want to believe in a good performance, you want to be looking at athletes winning Olympics and big events and admire their performance.
"There is still a lot more work to do to make sure others are going through the same anti-doping methods as we are in the UK - I had people on my doorstep a couple of days ago and that is what you want to see around the world.
"People like her are ruining the sport because every time you see a good performance, you're wondering is that for real or not."
'I am not getting slower'
Britain's Weir, 37, will be competing in the race for the 18th year in a row, on the back of winning the Paris Marathon men's wheelchair race earlier in April in one hour 29 minutes, 25 seconds.
He told BBC Sport: "I am just happy to be in good shape to compete. I don't put that pressure on my shoulders [to get the seventh title].
"I wait until the morning to see how I feel - I am in pretty good shape and I am happy with my performance over the past couple of weeks.
"I feel I am not getting any slower - to do that time on that course in Paris, a very rough, hard course. It just gave me a lot of confidence to perform mentally and physically in London.
Asked if it will be his last race, Weir replied: "It could be. But I have enjoyed the training and enjoyed just concentrating on the road, not thinking about being back on the track after the marathon."
In January, the six-time Paralympic champion said he will never wear a Great Britain vest again after an unsuccessful Paralympic Games in Rio last year.
Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, who won last year's Berlin Marathon in the second-quickest time ever, heads the men's elite field along with Kenya's Stanley Biwott.
"Times are very important," Bekele said. "On the track I don't see anyone out there looking like they can reach my marks at the moment. In the marathon, running two hours, 10 minutes and winning would not give you full happiness. Winning in two hours, four minutes would be a different feeling.
"But it is really challenging. It is almost 10,000 metres pace so it is difficult. I had to learn how to run differently from the track, a different foot strike. Every race, every course is different and I am learning with every one."
BBC commentator Brendan Foster is set to commentate on his last London Marathon - an event he has covered since its inception in 1981.
The 69-year-old, who will retire after the World Championships in London in August, said: "I'm looking forward to it.
"It's the 37th time I've done it, you'd think I'd be used to it by now. I've done every single one but it's as good as ever.
"The whole city comes alive and is awash with people and colour. It will be exciting at the front end, as it always is."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39669673
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Is Maria Sharapova still a box office draw for sponsors? - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova returns to action next week looking to boost her sponsor appeal.
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Business
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The player's kit suppliers Head and Nike have stood by her
Maria Sharapova faces the biggest challenge of her tennis career - namely her return to the sport after a 15-month drugs ban - and it is not just her continued sporting success that is in the spotlight.
Off the court, where she makes the bulk of her earnings, the question is - can she be as big a sponsor draw as she was before her enforced absence?
The 29-year-old will return to action on Wednesday, 26 April, in Stuttgart after being handed a wildcard.
Although some fellow players have expressed misgivings, she has the support of the WTA tour, and her fans.
And, with biggest commercial rival Serena Williams announcing she is pregnant and facing time away from the game, the Russian's return is certainly timely.
In the year from June 2015, Forbes estimates the five-time Grand Slam winner made $1.9m (£1.5m) in prize money from playing, but a whopping $20m from endorsements, a sum matched only by Williams.
And it is this primary source of earnings that Sharapova will be looking to reinvigorate.
Sharapova has participated in Evian promotional events during her ban
"During her time out there will have been some continued relationship with her sponsors," says Simon Chadwick, professor of sports enterprise at the University of Salford.
"But I am sure there will have been some sort of penalty clause in her sponsor contracts for incurring a suspension."
Following Sharapova's admission in March 2016 that she had tested positive for a banned drug at that year's Australian Open, she was initially banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years, later reduced on appeal.
But unlike golfer Tiger Woods, who haemorrhaged sponsors very quickly after his extra-marital affairs came to light, Sharapova's backers waited to see how things played out.
"That was because they had invested so much money and effort into their deals," says Prof Chadwick.
"Also, to terminate deals could have been dangerous as she might come back successfully, and if you as a sponsor have decided to cancel her contract then the door has been left wide open for a rival."
Sharapova's deal with Tag Heuer was not extended
As it was the sponsor reaction was mixed - Head and Evian were immediately supportive, Nike and Porsche put their relationships on hold but later came back on board, while Tag Heuer and Avon chose not to extend deals that had ended.
Given the large amounts of money and time invested - Nike's relationship with the player dates back to when she was 11 years old - it is not surprising the major brands wanted to think hard before reaching their decisions.
"In terms of brands and reputation, what all this has highlighted is that first of all Sharapova is a major brand in her own right," says Karen Earl, chairman of the European Sponsorship Association.
"She commands a lot of media attention, as the furore about her comeback demonstrates. It also highlights that she is a huge star, and that women's tennis feels it needs her.
"That is one of the reasons why brands want to continue to associate with her. Those that stuck with her value the association of her brand with their brands."
Mrs Earl says the fact that Sharapova immediately put her hand up and admitted the drugs breach helped mitigate the damage to her brand, and those of her partners.
"Sharapova admitted she had done a wrong thing.
"She has gone out of her way to recognise what she has done and has handled that situation in a credible way. She has been contrite and said it will not happen again," says Mrs Earl.
"The fact there hasn't been a public outcry against her return will have reassured brands to stick with her.
"If there had been protests from tennis fans, then that might have influenced her sponsors' decisions."
Prof Chadwick says Sharapova's management and advisers, those who look after her profile, grabbed hold of a difficult situation very quickly.
He believes the Russian is now pushing at an open door with regards to her return to the sport, with WTA boss Steve Simon quoted as saying: "I believe that the game, the fans, the tour... everybody is going to welcome Maria back."
Even before Serena Williams' pregnancy announcement, Prof Chadwick says that the sport was struggling to find an heir apparent at the top of the women's game.
"There is not a great deal of highest-quality talent following on behind," he says.
"Nobody seems to be able to string together a consistent run of results. Women's tennis needs all the help it can get in terms of heroes, big names, elite talent to attract fans to the sport.
"As a constellation of female tennis player brands, the sport has been somewhat diminished by Sharapova's absence."
The Russian took part in an exhibition match with Monica Puig in Puerto Rico in December 2016
Mrs Earl points out that while many players have not taken too kindly to Sharapova's return, for her sponsors the important thing is the welcome she will receive from her fans, who are potential purchasers of their products.
"The sponsors are not endorsing her because she has been the most successful player, it is because of what she brings off the court," she says.
"Her persona and brand are what is most important. She knows how to market herself. She is commercially astute.
"To her credit, even after her time away, she is still probably the most marketable female tennis player."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39512639
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General Election 2017: Would you support a burka ban? - BBC News
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2017-04-23
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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UKIP's manifesto will include plans to ban the burka, sparking strong reactions on both sides of the debate.
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UK
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UKIP's manifesto will include proposals to ban full veils, the party's leader Paul Nuttall has told the BBC.
The announcement has sparked strong reaction on both sides of the debate.
Nazif, 37, is Muslim. Originally from Afghanistan, he has lived in the UK since 2002.
While his relatives do not regularly wear either the burka or the niqab, he is not in favour of an outright ban.
"If it came about voluntarily I would welcome it," he said.
"I'm not in favour of the burka.
"But if women want to wear it or they don't, it should be up to the women themselves."
Mr Nuttall has cited security concerns as one of the motivations behind the proposed ban.
But for Nazif and his family, back in Afghanistan it was the burka which offered security on otherwise dangerous journeys across the country.
Travelling to Pakistan, he says they were forced to go through checkpoints controlled by non-government forces.
"Having your face revealed was a sign that you are part of the government," he said.
"My sisters wore the veil in order not to arouse suspicion."
When they were safe, they would remove the veil again.
"If they want to ban the veil it must not be banned under the pretext of security," he said.
"Paul Nuttall sees it as an election chip but he doesn't know the full reason.
"In my own family's experience it was a way of getting from point A to point B.
"I am 100% behind a move towards phasing out the veil. But encourage those who wear it to feel safe."
Writing on Twitter, social media user Rachel Robbins was equally sceptical of the security pretext for UKIP's proposed ban.
But others disagree. Brian, from Lichfield, reflected the mood of much of the correspondence the BBC received.
"You can't go into a bank or building society wearing a crash helmet or other 'western' headgear that covers the face.
"The same should apply to the burka and the veil."
Mr Nuttall also highlighted concerns about integration as a key reason for proposing the ban.
"I don't believe you can integrate fully and enjoy the fruits of British society if you can't see people's faces," he said on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.
Jennifer, who works in Bradford, agreed that full-face veils could be a barrier to integration.
"I've worked in Bradford for a long time," she said.
"I'm increasingly seeing more women with their faces covered.
"I see the increase in women wearing it as evidence of the polarisation of these communities and the isolation of these women from mainstream society.
"It seems like a deliberate barrier to separate them."
Marwa, from London, disagrees. Two years ago she decided to start wearing a hijab - a headscarf worn by many Muslim women. The hijab would not be included in the proposed ban.
"A lot of my family don't wear the hijab," she said, "but it was my individual choice.
"I liked the way I felt when I wore it.
"I'm not sure that banning religious expressions and beliefs will help Muslims feel like they're part of Britain.
"It's this kind of barely tolerant attitude that makes Muslims feel further excluded and alienated.
"It seems to me that Mr Nuttall believes that in order to allow women to be free and to be 'integrated' they must first be told how to dress.
"The hypocrisy of his argument is baffling. What is it that he really wants?"
Others have also questioned the motivation behind Mr Nuttall's announcement.
Writing on Twitter, Brendan Cox, the activist and husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, suggested the move had more to do with UKIP's poll numbers.
Some European countries, including France, already enforce a public ban on full-face veils, while in December 2016 German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that wearing full-faced veils should be prohibited in Germany "wherever it is legally possible".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39684530
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London Marathon 2017: David Weir wins men's wheelchair race - BBC Sport
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2017-04-23
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Britain's David Weir wins a record seventh London Marathon men's wheelchair title, beating reigning champion Marcel Hug in a sprint finish.
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Last updated on .From the section Disability Sport
Britain's David Weir won a record seventh London Marathon men's wheelchair title - and afterwards called it his "best victory ever".
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist beat reigning champion Marcel Hug of Switzerland in a sprint finish to win for the first time since 2012.
The 37-year-old finished in one hour 31 minutes six seconds on Sunday.
"It's been challenging since Rio to get mentally focused and get ready for this race," he said afterwards.
"Because of the stuff that's gone on in my mind, it's definitely one of the biggest wins I've ever had in my career."
Weir's win - in this 18th London Marathon - meant he surpassed fellow Briton Baroness Grey-Thompson, who has six titles in the women's wheelchair race.
"To be honest, two or three months ago I didn't even think I'd get on the start line just because I've been struggling with a little bit of depression so to get here and to race and to win, and to beat Tanni's record, is just an honour."
In January, Weir said he would never wear a Great Britain vest again after an unsuccessful Paralympic Games in Rio last year.
A six-time world champion, he said he felt like he had been "stabbed in the back" after he crashed out of the marathon in Rio, his last ever Paralympic event, and indicated London could be his final race.
The thrilling finish on The Mall saw Weir edge out Hug and Spaniard Rafael Botello Jimenez, who was third, only three seconds behind the Briton.
Manuela Schar of Switzerland took victory in the women's wheelchair race for the first time in 1:39:57.
Schar, who won the Boston Marathon earlier this month, dominated the women's race and finished almost five minutes ahead of second-placed Amanda McGrory of the United States.
Another American, Susannah Scaroni, finished third in 1:47:37.
The event doubles as the IPC Athletics Marathon World Cup, and is the third race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
• None Get Inspired: How to get into Running
"That finish hasn't been there for the last few years. Everyone wanted him to have a good race.
"For him, as much as anyone else, that's a top win - he ran a devastating race.
"Well done, David Weir. I'm really proud of you."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/39683752
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PFA Player of the Year: Chelsea's N'Golo Kante wins top award for 2016-17 - BBC Sport
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2017-04-24
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Chelsea's N'Golo Kante is voted the PFA Player of the Year for 2016-17, with Tottenham's Dele Alli picking up the young player award.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
N'Golo Kante has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award for 2016-17.
The Chelsea midfielder, 26, beat Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez in the vote by his fellow players.
Tottenham's Dele Alli won the young player prize for the second successive year. Manchester City's Lucy Bronze won the Women's Player of the Year award.
Birmingham's Jess Carter was named Women's Young Player of the Year.
Kante said: "It's a huge honour to be chosen by the other players. It's the biggest honour to get this award."
The midfielder is on course to win the Premier League with Chelsea, having done so last season at Leicester, and added: "My first two seasons were very beautiful. Last season was very beautiful. This season so far, we have had a good season but we have to finish well."
Former England captain David Beckham received the PFA's Merit award for his contribution to the game during the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Sunday.
Former England women's captain Kelly Smith - who became England's first female professional footballer when she joined American side New Jersey in 1999 - landed the PFA Special Achievement award.
• None How do you create the next N'Golo Kante?
Kante was key to Leicester's surprise Premier League win last year and could become first player to achieve the distinction of winning successive titles with different clubs if Chelsea can stay ahead of Spurs in this season's race.
Since signing Kante in July, Chelsea have gone from a mid-table finish to the top of the pile with six games to play.
In his absence, Leicester have largely struggled to replicate their heroics of last season and are still not safe from relegation.
France international Kante has played every minute in the league this season apart from the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth, when he was suspended, and the final 11 minutes against Tottenham on 4 January.
BBC pundit Danny Murphy, speaking on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, described Kante as irreplaceable in the Chelsea line-up.
Former England midfielder Murphy said: "He's the one you can't replace. If Eden Hazard wasn't there, you could put Willian in. Kante is the best midfielder in the Premier League, if not Europe."
Matthew Upson, the former England defender, added on the same programme: "It's 100% deserved. He is the most valuable player in the Premier League with his contribution.
"He might not be the most creative player, or have the biggest sudden impact, but over the course of the season he is the most valuable player in the Premier League. He's been outstanding."
Speaking earlier this season, BBC pundit Phil Neville described Kante as "the one who has knitted this Chelsea team together".
"I thought he was a number six like former Chelsea player Claude Makelele. But he is a number six, an eight and a 10 - he plays absolutely everywhere, three different positions," he said.
"I think Kante is the most complete midfielder in the Premier League at the moment.
"He will redefine what we are looking for from a midfield player."
Kante is famously a quiet man, yet on the pitch he is a tigerish opponent.
His total of 110 tackles in the Premier League this season is second only to Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye (127), while his figure of 72 interceptions is eclipsed only by Ander Herrera of Manchester United.
Watford captain Troy Deeney recently spoke about what it is like to play against Kante - an insight that perhaps explains why his peers voted him the best of their number.
"Whenever we broke on them last season, I always had the fear factor that Kante was coming back and I knew we didn't have much time before he got there," Deeney said.
"Even if I actually did have time, I always thought he might be there, so I would rush things a bit."
Kante only third pick among BBC Sport readers
Kante might be top of the class among his fellow professionals, but he did not quite come out on top among BBC Sport readers, who were recently asked to name their Premier League team of the year.
More than 40,000 teams were selected, with the most popular XI displayed below.
Kante was named in more than 80% of users' teams, but his exploits in the middle of the park for the Premier League leaders were not enough to make him the most selected player overall.
That accolade instead went to Spurs midfielder Alli, followed by Chelsea midfielder Hazard and then Kante.
Two of the nominees for the senior PFA award failed to make the BBC Sport team of the year, with Arsenal forward Sanchez and Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic missing out.
Alli's young player prize is consolation for his omission from the six-man shortlist for the senior award, despite scoring 16 goals from midfield as Spurs have mounted a serious title bid.
The 21-year-old's importance to Tottenham's hopes is underlined by the fact they have scored a goal every 42 minutes with Alli on the field in the Premier League this season, compared to every 83 minutes without him.
He scored eight goals in six Premier League games between 18 December and 21 January, and was named the league's player of the month for January.
The England midfielder also showed his class with a brilliantly taken goal in Spurs' FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.
Alli said of his award: "It's an unbelievable feeling, especially to be voted by the other players as well.
"It's been an unbelievable season for us all. I think we've just got to keep going, keep fighting and keep improving as a team."
England full-back Bronze, 25, won the PFA Women's Player of the Year award for the second time after being part of the Manchester City squad that won the Women's Super League without losing a single game in 2016.
Bronze said: "As a defender, you don't really get a lot of accolades, but it's a great award to win.
"As a team, we've been very successful, and individuals have performed really well in the team. This award for me is all thanks to the team, because without them, I wouldn't be anywhere near this."
Birmingham midfielder Carter, 19, saw off competition from three Manchester City players to win the Women's Young Player of the Year award.
She started every game in the WSL in 2016 and completed 90 minutes in all but the season-opener at Sunderland.
Former Manchester United midfielder Beckham was honoured by his peers in recognition of his stellar career at club and international level.
Beckham, 41, won 115 England caps - captaining his country on 59 occasions - and played for some of the most famous clubs sides in the world.
He scored 85 goals during his time at United, where he also won six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He also won Spain's La Liga during a four seasons at Real Madrid.
Beckham follows former United team-mate Ryan Giggs in winning the Merit prize. He also received the award alongside his 'Class of 92' United team-mates in 2013.
"I dreamed of playing for Manchester United and England my whole young life," Beckham said. "To have represented my country the number of times that I did, and to have been captain as well, that is my proudest thing as a footballer.
"I had 22 years of playing the sport that I never saw as a job. I always saw it as a hobby because I would have done it whether I'd be paid or not. I lived my dream and I had a lot of people to support me."
England's record goalscorer and former Arsenal forward Smith retired from football at the age of 38 in January.
She scored 46 goals for her country, earned 117 England caps, played in six major tournaments and represented Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.
"When I started out playing football as a little girl I never imagined me reaching the heights that I have, in my 20-odd-year career," she said.
"It's been a phenomenal journey: lots of highs, lots of lows, but I've really enjoyed every moment of it, and I feel very privileged to be here tonight to pick this up."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39686272
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Kent 'anxiety' over new T20 tournament leads to vote abstention - BBC Sport
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2017-04-24
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A city-based Twenty20 tournament could have "far-reaching consequences" for counties who play at non-Test match grounds, says Kent chief Jamie Clifford.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
A city-based Twenty20 tournament could have "far-reaching consequences" for counties who play at non-Test match grounds, says Kent's Jamie Clifford.
Kent have abstained in a vote on a change in rules which would allow the competition to take place.
"Our stance reflects the anxiety among non-Test match grounds. Their role as active players in the game's future is at risk," said Kent chief Clifford.
Middlesex and Essex are the only two to say they will vote against the changes.
The proposed changes to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) articles of associations require the support of 31 of 41 voting members, with the new tournament scheduled to start in 2020.
Clifford added: "While Kent Cricket does not wish to be at odds with the ECB, the proposals for the future direction of the game as they stand are such that the club cannot actively endorse them."
However, while he also accepted it was "inevitable that the proposals will receive the support that they need to be enacted", he wants Kent to "act as a 'critical friend' in their further development".
"Part of the evolution must be to ensure that county cricket is at the game's heart long into the future.
"To see first-class counties reduced to bit-part players will not be an acceptable outcome - no matter how high the profile of the new Twenty20 competition."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39693866
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Guardiola must improve Man City's mood quickly after Arsenal defeat - Jermaine Jenas - BBC Sport
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2017-04-24
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Pep Guardiola must lift his players quickly to ensure they qualify for next season's Champions League, argues Jermaine Jenas,
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I don't see Manchester City's failure to win a trophy as a disaster for Pep Guardiola, but finishing outside the Premier League's top four would be unacceptable.
Expectations were so high when Guardiola arrived in England because he had won silverware in each of his previous seasons as a manager, dating back to 2008.
So a trophy in his first year in charge at City was seen by many people as the benchmark for success, but it was never a given and I don't think he ever thought it would be that easy either.
By now, he knows how gruelling a Premier League season really is, and has probably changed some of his plans for new signings accordingly.
Sunday's defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final underlined exactly how much there is for him to work on, and I am sure he will embrace that challenge.
But to carry out those plans, and get the new players he wants and needs, City simply have to be in the Champions League next season.
'Guardiola must pick up his players quickly'
This is Guardiola's biggest moment as City manager, because has to make sure his players are ready to perform in the Manchester derby on Thursday.
They will be very disappointed because they put a lot into the semi-final, and the game going to extra time will not help their preparation either.
Guardiola has to pick them up and turn the mood around. It is all about him now, and what he can do about the situation City are in.
United reduced the gap between themselves and City to a point by beating Burnley on Sunday and they are in the ascendancy right now after making it to the semi-finals of the Europa League as well.
I don't think City need to beat them, because just avoiding defeat would be a huge psychological boost.
'City will make top four - but it will be tough'
The United game is not make or break but, after being knocked out of the FA Cup, City definitely need a lift to set themselves up for the run-in.
If you look at their remaining games after they play Jose Mourinho's side, they might appear simple when compared with United's run-in.
But, apart from their win over Hull at the start of April, I don't remember City having a really comfortable game at Etihad Stadium for some time, regardless of the opposition.
Teams have sat back against them and been hard to break down, a bit like Arsenal did in the first half at Wembley.
Losing David Silva so early on against the Gunners was a big blow, and it will hurt City's chances if his injury turns out to be a serious one.
I still think City will make the top four, but it is going to be tough.
'City were too predictable going forward'
In the next month, City will need their star attacking players to perform better than they did against Arsenal.
The Gunners looked far more dangerous when they attacked. When Danny Welbeck came on late in normal time, I felt the tide turn in their favour because his pace gave City's defence a different test.
Arsene Wenger's gameplan was very good, of course, but City just seemed to lack something going forward and their build-up play was too slow and too predictable.
I could see Guardiola on the sidelines screaming at Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane to run in behind the Arsenal defence. They did not really test the Gunners' back three - as good as those defenders were.
Don't get me wrong, City's players did not let him down - they gave everything they had, but it was not good enough.
Probably the biggest positive for Guardiola was Yaya Toure, because I thought he was absolutely sensational - the best player on the pitch.
Toure did everything he could to pick City up and drag them into the final on his own. It wasn't enough but if he can maintain that kind of form, then he could make the difference to City's top-four prospects.
When Guardiola is making plans for next season, I think 100% that Toure should be part of them.
He turns 34 in May and is out of contract in the summer but he showed against the Gunners how much he still has to offer.
Toure's problem is that he is entering the stage of his career where you have to adjust the team to suit his game - he is at his best when he is going forward but, when he does that, other people need to provide some protection.
That is why there could be a split. I don't think Guardiola wants to build his side around any individuals, because his vision is always a complete team.
If Toure is prepared to sit on the bench then he could still have a part to play at City next season. If he's not, I can see him leaving, although he clearly still has so much class.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39688387
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Happy hiring: The firm that recruits Mr Men characters - BBC News
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2017-04-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A profile of John Timpson, the boss of family-owned shoe repair firm Timpson, which has a very unusual recruitment policy.
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Business
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If you had to pick a Mr Men character that you thought was most like yourself, which would you choose?
With global sales of more than 120 million, many of us remember the much-loved Roger Hargreaves books from our childhood.
But as enjoyable as the tales are to read, few of us would have thought that they had a practical application in the world of business.
Well that's the case at UK shoe repair and key-cutting business Timpson, which recruits new staff solely according to which Mr Men characters their personalities resemble.
You can turn up for your Timpson interview with the world's finest CV or resume, and all the interviewer will do is work out whether you are a Mr Lazy (you don't have a hope), or a Mr Cheerful (you have a very good chance).
"We purely interview for personality," says Mr Timpson, who has been leading his family's firm for the past 42 years.
John Timpson came up with the Mr Men recruitment policy
"We're not bothered by qualifications or CVs. We just look at the candidate and work out who they are, are they Mr Grumpy, Mr Slow, Mr Happy?
"If they tick all the right boxes then we put them in the shop for half the day. That's it, I dreamt that up years ago."
In explaining the thinking behind this rather novel approach to recruitment, Mr Timpson, 74, says that while you can train someone to do a job, you cannot train their personality.
And if you look at the continuing performance of the business, the Mr Men method appears to work rather well.
Timpson, a household name in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, saw sales rise 8% to £130m in the year to September 2015, with pre-tax profits up 65% to £10.3m.
As you have no doubt already gathered, Mr Timpson doesn't like to run his company - which was set up by his great-grandfather in 1865 - according to business convention.
Another factor that he says has been integral to its success is what he calls an "upside-down management approach", which gives the 1,325 Timpson branches a vast amount of autonomy.
The firm has 1,325 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland
Mr Timpson, who has the chairman role, says: "You can't train for great service, it's not by issuing rules or notices in the back of the staffroom.
"You only get great people when you give them the freedom, so we let them [staff] charge what they want. Here you can't tell people [the workers] what to do.
"So very often if a customer doesn't have the money, they can say 'don't worry, give us the money next time'."
Timpson employees can also spend up to £500 to settle a customer complaint, without having to check first with head office or a senior manager.
But how does Mr Timpson ensure that workers are running a business and not a charity? He returns to the hiring process.
"When store managers pick people, they get good people," he says.
"And the staff get a weekly bonus depending on how the shop is doing. They're not giving the business away, we're trusting them to be commercial."
Another key policy at Timpson is to hire people who have a criminal record, with 10% of its 4,700 employees having served time in prison.
The first Timpson shop opened in Oldham, now part of Greater Manchester, in 1865
Giving former criminals a second chance was the brainchild of Mr Timpson's son James, who since 2011 has been the firm's chief executive.
Mr Timpson senior says: "I was a little apprehensive at what other people would think, but I was proved wrong.
"Our colleagues take great pride it in, and our customers like it too."
John Timpson first joined the Manchester-based family firm as a teenager, working in a number of stores. At the time the company didn't just repair shoes, but also made and sold them.
After university he joined shoemaking rival Clarks on a graduate scheme, before moving back to the family firm, and working his way up to buying director by the age of 27.
Mr Timpson had to regain control of the business in the 1970s
However, in 1973 Mr Timpson and his father were forced out of the business after a boardroom bust up that saw his uncle take control.
The business did not fare too well without them though, and in 1975 Mr Timpson returned as managing director, and it was the uncle's turn to depart.
Eight years later Mr Timpson led a £42m management buy-out from the firm's then parent group, returning it to family ownership.
It was during this time that he made the decision to sell the shoe shops "because they were heading nowhere", and instead focus on shoe repairs.
The firm has since gone on to diversify into key cutting, watch repairs and selling house signs. It has also bought photography businesses Max Spielmann and Snappy Snaps, and the dry cleaning division of Johnson Services.
Retail analyst Richard Hyman says other store chains could learn a lot from Timpson.
"Timpson couldn't be a more unglamorous or unexciting business to be in, yet they manage to be dynamic and innovative," says Mr Hyman. "They are a breath of fresh air.
"Timpson as a group is alive and kicking, and that's more than can be said for a lot more mainstream retailers."
While Mr Timpson has no plans to retire, it is his son James who now looks after the day-to-day running of the company.
This has enabled Mr Timpson senior to write a newspaper column and release a number of business books, including his latest entitled Keys To Success.
In addition to his career in business Mr Timpson has had a very busy family life. In addition to five kids of their own, he and his late wife Alex - who died last year aged 69 - fostered no less than 90 children throughout their marriage.
Mr Timpson says that fostering "taught me a lot about people".
Timpson staff are given a lot of autonomy
"I still try to help children in schools, and educate teachers on why children in the care system often behave the way they do."
Often travelling around the UK to visit stores, Mr Timpson says "it's really nice going to a shop that's well run".
"It's bloody nice when a customer says how nice that guy was. It's also nice to have a company that has values based on kindness and generosity.
"You can do good and make money at the same time."
Follow The Boss series editor Will Smale on Twitter @WillSmale1
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39653431
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Maria Sharapova: Stuttgart opponent Roberta Vinci questions wildcard - BBC Sport
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2017-04-24
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Maria Sharapova's first opponent following her 15-month doping ban questions the decision to give the Russian wildcards on the WTA Tour.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Coverage: Live commentary from 17:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Sport website and mobile app.
Maria Sharapova's first opponent following her 15-month doping ban has questioned the decision to give the Russian wildcards on the WTA Tour.
Sharapova plays Italy's Roberta Vinci in the first round of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old's wildcard entry has already been called "disrespectful" by ex-world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
"I don't agree about the wildcard here and about the wildcard in Rome and the other tournaments," said Vinci, 34.
Sharapova was given a two-year ban last year, backdated to 26 January 2016, after testing positive for heart disease drug meldonium at the Australian Open.
Her suspension was reduced to 15 months in October, following her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Sharapova will also receive wildcards for upcoming tournaments in Madrid and Rome.
World number 36 Vinci added: "She made her mistakes for sure, but she paid and I think she can return to play - but without any wildcards."
Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who could meet Sharapova in the second round in Stuttgart, has also been among those to question the treatment of the former world number one, saying she should not be invited to Grand Slams.
Those views were met with a scathing response by Sharapova's agent Max Eisenbud, who labelled Radwanska, 28, and 26-year-old Wozniacki of Denmark "journeyman" rivals who wanted to prevent the Russian playing at next month's French Open because it is their "last chance to win a Slam".
Sharapova, twice a winner at the French Open, is unranked and will require a wildcard to compete at Roland Garros when the tournament starts next month, with France's tennis federation yet to announce its decision.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39699807
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