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Carl Forster: Whitehaven coach, 24, plotting Challenge Cup upset against Halifax - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Whitehaven's Carl Forster, one of British sport's youngest professional head coaches, hopes to make his mark in the Challenge Cup.
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One of British sport's youngest professional head coaches is hoping to make his mark in rugby league's oldest cup competition.
At 24, Carl Forster has only been playing as a professional for seven years, but he was given the job as head coach when Whitehaven were relegated to England's third tier in 2016.
And now he is hoping to draw on the fountain of youth when his League 1 side aim to cause an upset against Championship team Halifax in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.
The tie, to be played at Whitehaven's Recreation Ground, has been chosen to be streamed live on the BBC Sport website on Sunday, 23 April (15:00 BST).
It is part of a commitment by BBC Get Inspired to, in the early rounds, put the focus on clubs who do not often get the chance to share the limelight with some of the game's giants.
"We can't wait for this tie," said former Salford and St Helens prop Forster. "It'll be a real chance to see how far we have come in the last few months."
Whitehaven turned heads when they appointed Forster as player-coach after last season's relegation campaign.
He is one of the youngest players in his own squad.
But the Cumbrian side have a strong start in 2017, beating Oxford in round four and South Wales in the league, while they also pushed high-flying Toronto Wolfpack close in their most recent league outing.
Forster continued: "My age has created a bit of publicity. There are a lot of people talking about it. But for me it's not an issue. Nobody within our group talks about it.
"The job has been good. It's come with its struggles, especially in pre-season. But as soon as the competitive games have started, it's been going well."
Now Forster's aim is to add to the collection of magical Challenge Cup memories that began with the 2002 final when he was just nine years old.
"My first memory was, as a St Helens fan, watching us in the final at Murrayfield when we got beaten by Wigan," he said.
"Then I was at the first game back at the new Wembley in 2007 when James Roby scored the first try there.
"Later I was in a St Helens squad that had a good cup run, playing in the early rounds. But now I'm just concentrating on doing a good job here."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39519133
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Agents' fees paid by English clubs up by 38% for 2016-17 - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Agents' fees paid by English clubs rise 38% - up from £160m to £220m - according to figures released by the Football Association.
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The amount paid by English clubs to agents has risen by 38% in a year - up from £160m to £220m.
The Premier League paid £174m to agents, up from £130m, with Manchester City being the biggest spenders (£26.3m) ahead of Chelsea (£25.1m) and Manchester United (£19m).
England's second tier, the Championship, spent £42.4m on agents, an increase of 62%.
The Football Association figures cover from February 2016 to January 2017.
They come two years after the last full-year results (2014-15).
• None How much did your club spend on agents?
Premier League teams spent a record £1.38bn on transfers in the 2016-17 season - a 43% increase on transfer spending from the 2014-15 season.
In both League One and League Two the total spending on agents and intermediaries decreased from the 2014-15 figures.
League One sides spent £3,098,508, down from £3,167,964, while League Two teams spent £821,450, down from £1,007,920.
Liverpool led the Premier League in agents' fees when the last full-year results were published for the period 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015, but the Reds' spending has decreased from £14.3m to £13.8 for the 2016-17 period.
Manchester City now top the Premier League list with £26.3m, up from £12.4m, followed by Chelsea, who have also more than doubled their spending on agents' fees, up from £12m to £25.1m.
Manchester United (£19m) and Arsenal (£10.2m) complete the top five, while Tottenham's outlay has risen from £6m to £7.2m.
Yet despite being considered part of the Premier League's 'big six' clubs, Spurs trail behind West Ham (£9.5m) and Bournemouth (£7.4m) in agents' fees paid for 2016-17.
I was very fortunate. I met a good agent quite early on in my career after some bad experiences. He took care of negotiations, which is standard, made sure I was pitching myself at the right amount of money to be earning weekly, monthly, annually.
On top of that he helped me with financial advice, he helped me with marketing, exit strategies when I finished football, and also just day-to-day things. He was always preaching to do your best and try to look after yourself.
The influence that agents have got now in the game is unbelievable. You look at some of the biggest clubs in the UK and Europe, and there are certain super agents who, for me, have too much power.
In relation to deals, I think the money should be capped in some way. If you're doing a deal for a player moving for £1m, why would there be another £1m going missing to agents' fees? It's unacceptable, for me, that kind of money going out of the game, when that could be easily used for grassroots football.
Agents have a bad reputation because nobody really understands what an agent does and that includes, probably, the FA. It's not deserved. More MPs have committed illegal acts than agents. I think it's unjust, a very unjust one.
People get confused when they hear of an agent. They think it's somebody that does transfers, runs around from one club to another trying to sell players. They are more traders and brokers. There are very few of those agents and very few that really matter.
However, what we are as an agency and what other reputable companies are, are people who look after players. We don't look after clubs. We don't look after anybody else, we look after the player. And by that, we make sure their life is properly run, any problems are taken care of and their life is made very easy so that all they can do is concentrate on playing football.
We get paid for what we're worth. If we do a good job for our player then we get paid. If we do a bad job, we don't. There are plenty of agents who don't earn a living. You've got to be good at what you do and then you get paid rightly.
Football clubs, especially top clubs, are getting more and more income, so what happens? Players get bigger and bigger wages, and agents therefore get bigger and bigger fees. It's a product of the marketplace we're in, so I'm not surprised.
I wish it were less, but we're in a marketplace that is highly competitive. We've never been able to get any traction and get an agreement to say we'll all dock pay more than X, whether it's 5%, 10% or whatever the figure could be. There seems a reluctance to go down that route. There's no other way we could perhaps rein in what agents get.
There are good agents, less good agents and they can earn huge amounts of money. That sometimes can attract the wrong sort of person because the prize is so high. It's one of those facts of life. We wish it was different, but we seem incapable of controlling it. All clubs do their best, obviously we don't want to pay any more than we have to. But it's a tough market. They play the field, which they're entitled to, and it's not easy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39526917
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Six Nations: Condensed tournament would 'meddle with players' health' - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies says condensing the Six Nations would "meddle with players' health".
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Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
Condensing the Six Nations Championship by a week would "meddle with players' health", says Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chairman Gareth Davies.
Plans by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) would remove one of the two weeks when games are not played to create space for a new global international season.
If agreed, a six-week tournament would start after the 2019 World Cup.
"To squeeze it into a shorter period is potentially damaging," Davies told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
"Yes they are professional and very well paid but the nature of rugby being such a physical game, I think we are meddling with players' health."
Last week Scottish Rugby Union chief Mark Dodson told BBC Sport that reducing the tournament from seven weeks to six would be a threat to player safety.
The plans for a condensed tournament will be discussed at April's Six Nations review meeting where Ian Ritchie, chief executive of England's RFU, will be lobbying for its implementation.
However, speaking to the BBC earlier this week England fly-half George Ford voiced concerns over a shorter Six Nations, saying it was "important" to have rest weekends.
"If we are looking at the intensity at which these guys play at international level these days, and the way they train in between, it's not just the playing of course," Davies added.
"It's the fact you're condensing the training into a far shorter period and I just can't see any argument for shortening it."
Meanwhile, Davies welcomed the news that an independent review will take place into Wales' controversial 20-18 defeat by France in the Six Nations - a game which lasted for 100 minutes.
France brought Rabah Slimani back on for fellow prop forward Uini Atonio in the 81st minute against Wales.
Wayne Barnes allowed Slimani to return to the field after France's team doctor said Atonio needed a head injury assessment.
Slimani's reappearance, which is to be investigated further, coincided with a series of scrums on the Wales line and France finally won in the 100th minute.
"There were some people who thought this could possibly be brushed under the carpet. To be fair to the executives at the Six Nations and the people who have led on the inquiry, they have come to the conclusion that it should go to a totally independent inquiry to really get to the bottom of what has happened," Davies added.
"Obviously the result of that can't be changed, we understand that but it is important because once we start manipulating the rules as it were, that is a dangerous road to go down.
"Rugby does pride itself on its level of integrity and honesty and I think this was obviously something that has threatened that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39520704
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Jemima Sumgong: 2016 Olympic marathon champion fails drugs test - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Reigning Olympic and London marathon champion Jemima Sumgong is the latest high-profile Kenyan athlete to fail a drugs test.
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Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Reigning Olympic and London marathon champion Jemima Sumgong is the latest Kenyan athlete to fail a drugs test.
The 32-year-old tested positive for banned substance EPO in an out of competition test carried out by athletics' governing body the IAAF.
Sumgong - the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic marathon gold - was due to defend her London title on 23 April.
Kenya was last year declared in breach of anti-doping rules, and athletes underwent special testing for Rio 2016.
The East African country was deemed "non-compliant" by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but was reinstated before last summer's Games.
Between 2011 and 2016, more than 40 Kenyan track-and-field athletes failed doping tests.
Among those sanctioned was female marathon runner Rita Jeptoo, 36, who was banned for four years following a positive test for performance-enhancing drug EPO in 2014.
Sumgong is provisionally suspended, and she will face sanctions if her B-sample also tests positive.
Eunice Kirwa of Bahrain took silver behind Sumgong in Rio, with Ethiopia's world champion Mare Dibaba claiming bronze and another Ethiopian, Tirfi Tsegaye, fourth.
"We can confirm that an anti-doping rule violation case concerning Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) has commenced this week," the IAAF said in a statement.
"The athlete tested positive for EPO (Erythropoietin) following a no-notice test conducted in Kenya.
"This was part of an enhanced IAAF out-of-competition testing programme dedicated to elite marathon runners which is supported by the Abbott World Marathon Majors group."
London Marathon organisers said they were "extremely disappointed" by Sumgong's positive test, adding: "We are determined to make marathon running a safe haven from doping."
In 2015, the Sunday Times claimed the London Marathon had been won seven times in 12 years by athletes who had recorded suspicious blood scores.
That followed details of 12,000 blood test results from 5,000 athletes published by the newspaper, in partnership with German broadcaster ARD.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39522434
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Davis Cup, France v Great Britain: Kyle Edmund & Dan Evans lose singles matches - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans both lose their singles matches on the first day of the Davis Cup quarter-final against France in Rouen.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Watch live coverage of Saturday's doubles from 13:10 BST on BBC One, with extra coverage on BBC Red Button and online, connected TVs, the BBC Sport website and app
Great Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans lost their singles matches on the first day of the Davis Cup quarter-final against France in Rouen.
Evans, ranked three places above Edmund at 44, also lost in three sets - 6-2 6-3 6-3 to world number 68 Jeremy Chardy.
Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot will play Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau in Saturday's doubles, before the reverse singles on Sunday.
Britain, without injured world number one Andy Murray, failed to win a set on the opening day of a Davis Cup tie for the first time since 2008 against Argentina.
In front of a raucous crowd, Edmund battled hard for the first two sets against Pouille, the highest-ranked player in the tie.
And the Briton had a good opportunity to level the scores when he was 5-2 up in the second-set tie-break - but could not take advantage as the Frenchman's backhand proved too strong.
"It was competitive. It's obviously annoying - you want to be taking one of them (set points)," Edmund, 22, told BBC Sport.
"It just felt like I came off the match and said: 'You gave it your best effort, it just wasn't good enough today.'
"There were some points I could have made better choices and better execution, but when it counted I just didn't get it done."
Great Britain captain Leon Smith said: "We probably needed the win from Kyle to get us started this weekend - and we will now have to do it the extremely difficult way."
The visitors must now win the remaining three ties to progress to the semi-finals - where they would face Serbia or Spain in September.
"There's no hiding. We need more players, and we need different sorts of players that we can call in if Andy's not playing," Smith added.
"If Kyle can't play because he has an injury - if that happened this week, we were going to have to pull in someone ranked about 240 in the world.
"So, as much as there's lots of good things happening, there's still that conversation about strength in depth."
With Great Britain already 1-0 down, 26-year-old Evans - whose record on clay was a talking point in the build-up to tie - was tasked with turning things around.
However, he was completely outplayed by late call-up Chardy, who only replaced Giles Simon in the France team on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old had made just three previous Davis Cup appearances, and none for six years - but Evans' lack of match practice on the clay, having not played on the surface for two years, told.
The Briton's forehand, so dominant on the hard court, was completely nullified as he struggled to adjust to the bounce of the ball on the unfamiliar surface.
"Dan fights with everything he's got," said Smith. "He loves playing for his country, but he needs more time on the clay. Jeremy Chardy was too good for him today."
"I was really happy. For me it's an amazing moment. Last year was really difficult so I'm just enjoying it," said Chardy.
"It was a surprise for me to come into the team but I was practising really well.
"This tie is not over. The doubles will be a difficult match and we will stay focused for Sunday just in case."
An unlikely, but not implausible, route to the semi-finals hinged on Kyle Edmund winning the opening singles against Lucas Pouille.
He had opportunities in both of the first two sets and should have levelled the match by closing out the second set tie-break from 5-2 up - but Pouille simply played better when the chips were down.
Dan Evans was playing only his third tour level match on clay, and it showed as he was outclassed by Jeremy Chardy.
Even if Britain can win Saturday's doubles, back-to-back victories in Sunday's singles seem very far fetched indeed.
It was a masterclass from Jeremy Chardy.
Evans is used to the faster courts where he has the pace. Here on clay, his shots just sit up and Chardy had plenty of time.
Chardy's level never dropped at all from the moment he came out on the court. He was aggressive and there was no lapse in concentration. I thought he played a tremendous match.
It was a brave decision by [France captain] Yannick Noah. He knew something about Chardy - he liked his attitude, his confidence, his game.
It was difficult to see how Dan could hurt him, even if they'd been out there all day.
In Belgrade, world number two Novak Djokovic helped Serbia to a 2-0 lead in their last-eight tie against Spain.
Djokovic, who missed the Miami Masters because of an elbow injury, beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Five-time winners Spain are without Rafael Nadal for the tie after the 14-time Grand Slam champion opted to prepare for the clay court season.
Serbia's Viktor Troicki then saw off Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4 6-3 as the teams head into Saturday's doubles.
Elsewhere, Australia lead USA 2-0 in their quarter-final in Brisbane.
Jordan Thompson, ranked 79 in the world, pulled off a huge shock beating world number 15 Jack Sock 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-4.
Nick Kyrgios then gave Australia a 2-0 lead with a 7-5 7-6 7-6 victory over John Isner.
And in Charleroi, Belgium lead Italy 2-0 following Steve Darcis' 6-7 6-1 6-1 7-6 victory over Paolo Lorenzi and David Goffin's victory in straight sets over Andreas Seppi.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39529874
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Masters 2017: BBC Two coverage - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Watch live BBC Two coverage from the final day of The Masters.
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Watch live BBC Two coverage from the final day of The Masters.
This is a live BBC Two stream, due to start at 1830 BST.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39454150
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Masters 2017: Final round tee times, groupings and schedule - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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The tee times, groupings and schedule for the final round at the 2017 Masters at Augusta.
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Coverage: Watch live and uninterrupted coverage of the weekend's action on BBC Two and up to four live streams available online. Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and sport app.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39497126
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England women 1-1 Italy women - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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England are held to a frustrating draw despite dominating against Italy at Vale Park.
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Last updated on .From the section Women's Football
England were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy at Vale Park in a game marred by a serious injury.
After a goalless first half in which the Lionesses dominated, striker Jodie Taylor's fine first-time lob gave England a deserved lead.
Striker Toni Duggan could have won it, but drilled wide for the hosts in their first match since Mark Sampson named his squad for Euro 2017.
The result was harsh on England, after one of their best displays in the past 12 months, but visiting keeper Katja Schroffenegger denied Taylor superbly in each half.
Left-back Alex Greenwood also wasted a great chance to win the game in stoppage time when she headed wastefully wide.
For Italy, who are also preparing for this summer's tournament in the Netherlands, the match was soured by a serious injury to playmaker Alice Parisi, who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after an unfortunate collision with England's Millie Bright.
The Azzurri, ranked 19th in the world - 15 places below England - improved going forward in the second half after the introduction of substitute Melania Gabbiadini - sister of Southampton forward Manola - but rarely threatened Siobhan Chamberlain's goal aside from Cernoia's fierce equaliser.
One win in six
The draw left England with just one win from their six games in 2017 so far, although those fixtures have included meetings with the world's top three sides.
In front of 7,181 fans, Sampson's side created enough chances to beat Italy by a big margin, but despite having 23 efforts, they were wasteful in front of goal.
The England boss was accused on Monday of "sending out a dangerous message" through not picking players based on form, by out-of-favour Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko.
Aluko - who has 100 England caps - was the top scorer in Women's Super League One in 2016 but was one of a number of forwards who were arguably unfortunate to miss out on Sampson's Euros squad.
England carved out several openings, although Taylor broke the deadlock from one of the most difficult, lobbing the keeper with a first-time effort from 25 yards to net her seventh international goal.
The 30-year-old Arsenal forward would have had a hat-trick but for Schroffenegger's reflexes.
Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs was at the heart of almost everything that England did well, putting in a fine display and demonstrating her pace, vision and industrious energy down the hosts' right.
With England's squad for the Euros not including any players under the age of 23, it was one of the younger members - 24-year-old Nobbs - who entertained the home crowd at Vale Park.
Italy took their moment - What they said
England women boss Mark Sampson: "It was a big pitch. It was a good opportunity for us to show our physical fitness tonight. We only made three subs because we wanted to replicate the European Championships.
"We didn't expect so many people - we expected a low crowd - so to see that many people was a huge boost to this group of players."
England captain Steph Houghton: "We did everything but put the ball in the back of the net to get that winning goal.
"But it is about the performance. It is very positive when we are creating those chances. Going to the Euros, potentially teams are going to bank up and not give us much space.
"When we play these sorts of teams, it is important for us to know they are always going to have 'a moment'. Italy took their moment.
"Our quality and our athleticism did shine above Italy as a team."
England host Austria at Milton Keynes Dons' Stadium MK on Monday, 10 April, before the WSL 1 Spring Series then takes centre-stage until 3 June.
Sampson's side then face Switzerland in Biel on 10 June, before their opening match of the tournament against Group D opponents Scotland in Utrecht on 19 July.
• None Attempt blocked. Jill Scott (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
• None Substitution, England. Nikita Parris replaces Toni Duggan because of an injury.
• None Attempt blocked. Daniela Stracchi (Italy Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Attempt missed. Alex Greenwood (England) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
• None Offside, Italy Women. Lisa Boattin tries a through ball, but Daniela Sabatino is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Lucy Bronze (England) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left.
• None Attempt missed. Toni Duggan (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
• None Attempt saved. Fara Williams (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jill Scott.
• None Attempt missed. Karen Carney (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Greenwood with a cross following a corner.
• None Attempt saved. Jodie Taylor (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Karen Carney.
• None Attempt missed. Aurora Galli (Italy Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sara Gama. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39526189
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Brendan Rodgers: Celtic manager signs new four-year deal - BBC Sport
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2017-04-07
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers "couldn't be happier" after signing a new contract with the Premiership champions until 2021.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has signed a new four-year deal with the Scottish Premiership champions.
Rodgers, 44, has guided Celtic to the league title and the League Cup in his debut season since succeeding Ronny Deila.
The former Liverpool, Swansea City, Reading and Watford boss had signed a 12-month rolling contract last May.
"It just felt right," said Rodgers. "I couldn't be happier. I'm in the best place I could possibly be."
'It's the beginning of the journey'
The Northern Irishman, whose deal will run until 2021, is chasing a potential domestic treble with Celtic facing Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final later this month.
Rodgers thanked the club's board for their commitment since appointing him in the summer.
"Professionally and personally I'm in a good place," he added. "A few years ago I might have been in a rush. But I have learnt to cherish what you have.
"It's the beginning of the journey, but there's a lot more to achieve."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell described Rodgers as "one of the best coaches in Europe".
Lawwell added: "Brendan has made a huge impact at Celtic already.
"He's an outstanding manager and we believe he is one of the best coaches in Europe, if not world football. We're delighted that he has committed his future to Celtic."
Celtic are unbeaten domestically this season, having dropped points in the league against Rangers, Partick Thistle and Inverness CT.
Rodgers left Anfield after more than three years in charge.
The appointment of Brendan Rodgers last year was viewed as something of a footballing coup for Celtic. A big name with a big reputation.
After almost 12 months in charge, the title and League Cup have been secured, Celtic remain favourites for the Scottish Cup and with just seven game to go, they could finish the season unbeaten. It's safe to say he has lived up to his billing.
With each passing success though, there have been questions about how long he'll hang around in the Scottish game. This contract extension doesn't necessarily mean he will stay in Glasgow until 2021 but it's evidence of real ambition from the club and an indication from the manager that when he said recently he's never been happier, he meant it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39526811
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Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Champions Celtic survive a brief second-half scare before cruising to a comfortable Scottish Premiership victory over Kilmarnock.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Champions Celtic survived a brief second-half scare before cruising to a comfortable victory over Kilmarnock.
Stuart Armstrong gave the hosts the lead with a 25-yard drive that flew in through a crowd of players.
Jordan Jones drew Killie level against the run of play after the break but Scott Sinclair soon made it 2-1.
James Forrest nodded home the third to confirm Celtic's win and put an end to Killie's hopes of securing a top-six finish this season.
With Partick Thistle beating Motherwell 1-0 at Firhill, they cannot be caught in the race for a top-six berth.
Lee McCulloch's side gave the champions a guard of honour as they took to the field and the interim boss showed Celtic further respect by deploying a five-man defence.
Gary Dicker, Iain Wilson and Scott Boyd filled the central roles with Luke Hendrie and Greg Taylor occupying the full-back berths. The formation restricted Celtic early on but the problem for Killie was that every one of their clearances dropped to players in green and white.
Chances eventually came for the hosts, with Sinclair firing wide from Forrest's cross before Callum McGregor's deflected effort was tipped over by keeper Freddie Woodman.
The breakthrough arrived midway through the first half and it was the player of the month for March who did the damage. Armstrong decided to try his luck from distance and his shot appeared to take a slight touch as it flew past Woodman for the midfielder's 14th goal of the season.
Last ditch tackles from Wilson and Boyd denied McGregor and Armstrong before Kieran Tierney sent a left foot volley wide of the target as the home side were unable to increase their lead before the interval.
At times it was like a training game for Celtic as they maximised possession and Killie sat back and hoped to hit them on the break.
The tactic paid off, though, as the Rugby Park men squared it against the run of play. Conor Sammon played in Jones and his effort from 16 yards took a deflection to beat Craig Gordon.
That goal spurred Celtic into action and from a free kick delivered by Armstrong, Dedryck Boyata's headed knockdown was turned across the face of goal by McGregor for Sinclair to net with a close range tap in.
Moussa Dembele made an immediate impact as a substitute, contributing to Celtic's third goal. His deflected shot came back off the Killie keeper's left hand post and winger Forrest headed the rebound into the net from two yards out.
The result extends Celtic's unbeaten domestic run to 39 games as Killie experienced their first defeat away from home in their last seven games.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought it was an outstanding team performance. We played our shape very very well, the quality of the movement, the speed. It was difficult in the beginning because Lee (McCulloch) obviously set his team out very tight in their organisation in a real low position and that's always difficult to break down.
"But we showed quality and great patience and I must say big applause as well to the crowd because they're now seeing what we're trying to do - they're not getting frustrated, they're understanding at times they're going to have to be patient.
"Our only mistake was for the goal which was the counter attack but every other element we showed a lovely charisma in the game today. We got three goals and with a bit more luck we could have had another one or two."
Interim Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch: "I thought first half we were too deep, stood off the game too much and allowed Celtic a little bit too much respect. Second half we changed the system and decided to go a little bit higher up the pitch.
"I'm delighted with the way the boys played and the character and concentration they showed for most of the game.
"We get back in the game and gather a little bit of momentum then we just switch off for a set play as we have done a couple of times this season - that's the most disappointing part of the day.
"Did we deserve to win then game - absolutely not. But I'm proud of the way the boys showed character and passed the ball, especially in the second half at times and maybe on another day we could have stolen a point."
• None Attempt missed. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the right.
• None Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
• None Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Goal! Celtic 3, Kilmarnock 1. James Forrest (Celtic) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39463978
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The race to destroy space garbage - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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Millions of pieces of human-made trash are orbiting the Earth. Some are tiny, but all pose a risk.
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US & Canada
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A visualisation of the satellites and other debris around earth
Millions of pieces of human-made trash are now orbiting the Earth. Some are tiny, others are large enough to be seen with a telescope, but all pose a risk to space craft and satellites.
And according to experts the threat is growing as space becomes more and more crowded.
Some 23,000 pieces of space junk are large enough to be tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network. But most objects are under 10cm (4in) in diameter and can't be monitored. Even something the size of a paper clip can cause catastrophic damage.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch space debris grow from 1950s to now
"At the moment we're not tracking stuff that small," says Brian Weeden of the Secure World Foundation, a Washington based organisation dedicated to the sustainable use of space.
"And that's important because something as small as a centimetre can cause problems if it runs into a satellite."
Collisions are rare, but half of all near-misses today are caused by debris from just two incidents. In 2007, China destroyed one of its own satellites with a ballistic missile. In 2009 an American commercial communications satellite collided with a defunct Russian weather satellite.
As recently as 2015, the debris from that collision forced the crew of the International Space Station to evacuate to the Soyuz capsule. No-one was harmed, but the debris will likely remain in the Earth's orbit for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Scientists are experimenting with ways to clean up space. So far, there is no space vacuum cleaner. And debris have a nasty habit of creating more debris that get exponentially smaller and harder to spot.
More than 7,000 satellites have been put into space but only 1,500 are currently functioning. And within the next decade the number could increase to 18,000 with the planned launch of mega-constellations - large groups of satellites aimed at improving global internet coverage.
"That's going to amplify the problems we have with tracking objects, predicting close approaches and preventing collisions," says Weeden. "The problem is going to become much, much harder in the next several years."
Everything travels at the same speed relative to its altitude in space. That's not a problem if everything moves in the same direction, says Weeden, but objects often follow different orbits and can cross paths - a situation known as a conjunction.
"Think of it like all the cars on a highway are doing a hundred miles an hour. If the car next to you is doing that speed you don't really notice it. But if the car coming at you is doing that speed - you'll collide at 200 miles an hour."
An impact crater in a window of the International Space Station from debris
Lauri Newman is NASA's traffic cop at Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland. She is responsible for using military data to decide whether the space agency's unmanned craft such as satellites need to be moved to prevent a collision with debris.
"Satellites can protect themselves from things that are smaller than a centimetre by putting up extra shielding," she says. "But the things between one and 10cm - if you can't track it there's nothing you can do."
Satellite technology is essential to almost every modern convenience - from communications to GPS navigation and downloading movies on demand. It's also vital to national security.
"It affects everything," says Lt Col Jeremy Raley a program manager at Darpa, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. "So I need to be able to see everything (in space) all the time and know what it is when I see it."
That's why Darpa is leading military efforts to find better ways of tracking space debris. In October last year it delivered a massive 90-ton telescope to the US Air Force at White Sands, New Mexico.
The Space Surveillance Telescope is designed to penetrate Geosynchronous orbit (GEO) which is becoming increasingly important. Communications and television satellites in GEO can remain in a fixed position above the Earth, offering uninterrupted service.
"The telescope is a big deal because it can see more objects and smaller objects. And rather than having to take time to look at an object and then look at something else, it can keep track of things on a more persistent basis," says Lt Col Raley.
But that level of scrutiny costs money and also raises the question of whether the US should share its data to improve space safety overall.
That was one of the issues discussed at a recent symposium in Washington organised by the Universities Space Research Association and the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University. Experts discussed who should manage space, who should be responsible for debris and whether there should be an agreed set of international guidelines for the sustainable use of space.
"There's a classic public policy, economic question here," says Weeden. "It's like pollution. It might not be worth it for you to pick up your garbage and avoid polluting the river, but there are costs to society if you don't. How do you get people to be responsible when the costs may not be borne by them?"
No single nation or entity is responsible for space although in 1959 the UN set up a Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
"There are currently 85 countries that are members of this committee and they range from space powers such as the US, Russia and China to countries like Costa Rica that don't even have a satellite in orbit but are an end user of satellite functions," says Weeden. "Getting all of those countries to agree on this stuff is a really difficult challenge."
But with more nations and commercial organisations operating in Earth's orbit and many looking beyond, such issues are becoming increasingly urgent.
Do nothing is no longer an option.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39521406
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Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Brighton beat QPR to return to the top of the Championship with their third win in the space of six days.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Brighton beat QPR to return to the top of the Championship with their third win in the space of six days.
Glenn Murray's 21st goal of the season broke the deadlock in the second half after he and Tomer Hemed saw first-half finishes disallowed for offside.
Sebastien Pocognoli doubled the Seagulls' lead soon after with a spectacular free-kick.
Matt Smith's header from a corner pulled one back for QPR but Brighton held on to go two points clear.
• None Brighton's win at QPR as it happened
Victory for Brighton - their fifth in their past six games - stretched their advantage over third-placed Huddersfield to 12 points with five games remaining.
The Terriers, who still have seven games to play, are in action at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while second-placed Newcastle travel to Sheffield Wednesday.
Brighton's first win at Loftus Road in almost 60 years came after a dour first half of few chances.
But, approaching the hour mark, Murray broke the Rangers' offside trap to latch on to Hemed's neat through ball and finish past Alex Smithies.
Left-back Pocognoli, whose last goal was in 2011, then executed a pinpoint free-kick with his left foot which flew in off the crossbar for an unstoppable second.
QPR striker Smith flicked in a header at the near post to make it a nervous last 15 minutes for the visitors.
David Stockdale had parried an earlier effort by Smith from close range and the Brighton goalkeeper had to be alert to prevent his team-mate Steve Sidwell accidentally diverting a Ryan Manning cross into his own net.
"If the league are looking at us wondering if we had a go, then boy oh boy did we have a go. We were absolutely terrific.
"I'm in total admiration. We did everyone else in the league proud by giving everything."
"It's a big win and at this moment every win feels like the biggest one.
"I thought we deserved it, we rode our luck near the end but over the 90 minutes I felt we were the better side.
"It became an old-fashioned game at the end, when you are 2-0 down you are going to go direct. They were difficult to handle but we showed great character and determination."
• None Attempt missed. Yeni N'Gbakoto (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
• None Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• None Attempt blocked. Idrissa Sylla (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Massimo Luongo.
• None Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. David Stockdale tries a through ball, but Glenn Murray is caught offside.
• None Steve Sidwell (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• None Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Massimo Luongo tries a through ball, but Matt Smith is caught offside.
• None Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Bruno tries a through ball, but Glenn Murray is caught offside.
• None Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• None Attempt blocked. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Glenn Murray with a headed pass.
• None Sébastien Pocognoli (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39451431
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Davis Cup: Great Britain out after loss to France in Rouen - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Great Britain are out of the Davis Cup after a 3-0 quarter-final loss to France as Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot lose in the doubles.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Great Britain are out of the Davis Cup after a 3-0 quarter-final defeat by France, as Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot lost in the doubles.
Murray and Inglot were beaten 7-6 (9-7) 5-7 7-5 7-5 by Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau on day two in Rouen.
On Friday, Kyle Edmund lost the first singles match 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 to world number 17 Lucas Pouille.
And Dan Evans was also beaten in three sets in his singles match - 6-2 6-3 6-3 by world number 68 Jeremy Chardy.
It is the first time GB have failed to make the semi-finals in three years.
"It was a good match, it was an exciting match, a lot of good tennis, we just didn't get it done when it mattered," said Jamie Murray.
"Obviously it was a really close match all the way through.
"We probably did enough to win the first set, we won the second set and then we were up a break in the third set, so realistically we could potentially have won the first three sets."
With GB trailing 2-0 after the first day, Murray and Inglot knew they had to win the doubles rubber to keep the tie alive.
Britain had only lost two previous Davis Cup doubles matches under Leon Smith but his team got off to a bad start, losing the first-set tie-break.
Murray and Inglot recovered to level the match at 1-1 and earn GB their first - and only - set of the weekend.
But Mahut and Benneteau, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, were relentless and sealed an inspired victory for France in four sets.
The pair, who are not regular playing partners, first won major silverware together back in 1999 in the US Open juniors and were victorious at the ATP Tour event in Marseille in February.
France will now face Serbia - who beat Spain 3-0 in Belgrade with the help of world number two Novak Djokovic - in the semi-finals in September.
"We are a great nation, who have not won this competition since 2001. There is great expectation around the team and we are a good group," Mahut told BBC Sport.
"It was the first time I have played at home. Hopefully we can play the semi-final at home and ultimately we want to bring back the trophy to France."
• None Extra reading: 90 years of the BBC at Wimbledon
Britain, without injured world number one Andy Murray, failed to win a set on the opening day of a Davis Cup tie for the first time since 2008 against Argentina.
Kyle Edmund battled hard against Lucas Pouille - the highest-ranked player in the tie - in the first of the singles on Friday but the Frenchman's backhand proved too strong.
With Great Britain already 1-0 down, 26-year-old Evans - whose indifferent record on clay was a talking point in the build-up to tie - was tasked with turning things around.
However, he was completely outplayed by late call-up Jeremy Chardy.
The 30-year-old had made just three previous Davis Cup appearances, and none for six years - but Evans' lack of match practice on the clay, having not played on the surface for two years, told.
And Jamie Murray, who finished 2016 as the number one-ranked doubles player along with partner Bruno Soares, was unable to bring GB back into the tie on Saturday.
France fielded their third- and ninth-highest-ranked singles players, but were still comfortably able to see off a British team lacking Andy Murray.
There were fleeting opportunities for the visitors: for Kyle Edmund in the opening singles, and for Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot in the doubles when they went a break up in the third set.
But France have astonishing strength in depth and the fact they have not won the Davis Cup since 2001 is one of the most painful subjects in French sport.
Leon Smith's team are assured of a place in the 2018 World Group. And despite this weekend's gloom, the next three seasons should present them with a reasonable chance of repeating that historic triumph of 2015.
Great Britain had their chances. It was a fantastic doubles match but the French team played best on the big points,
Nicolas Mahut in particular was absolutely magnificent today.
He had that air about him that he was going to win the match at whatever cost.
Jamie Murray was superb throughout today and hardly missed a volley. He was the best player on the court for long periods of the match.
GB played against a world-class team today and they could have won the match.
In Belgrade, world number two Novak Djokovic helped Serbia to victory in their last-eight tie against Spain.
Djokovic, who missed the Miami Masters because of an elbow injury, beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas in Friday's singles before Viktor Troicki saw off Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4 6-3.
Troicki then teamed up with Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles as they finally overcame Carenno Busta and Marc Lopez in a five-set thriller to reach the semi-finals.
Elsewhere Italy kept their semi-final hopes alive with victory in the doubles over Belgium in Charleroi.
Italy now trail 2-1 going into Sunday's reverse singles.
USA also turned the momentum in their quarter-final clash with Australia in Brisbane.
Steve Johnson and Jack Sock beat Sam Groth and John Peers in the doubles to keep their tie alive going into the third day.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39539889
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Chinese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton beats Sebastian Vettel to pole - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton wins a tight fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won a tight fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton beat Vettel by 0.186 seconds for his second pole in two races, while the German edged the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas by 0.001secs.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen made it the same top four on the grid as at the season-opening race in Australia.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fifth but 1.355secs off the pace.
The Australian's team-mate Max Verstappen was 19th after an engine problem.
• None Sunday's race is live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live at 07:00 BST
Mercedes and Ferrari going toe to toe
China has underlined the impression created at the Australian Grand Prix that Mercedes and Ferrari are incredibly closely matched at the start of a season where huge regulation change has produced faster and more demanding cars.
And as in Melbourne, it was Briton Hamilton who made the difference, pulling out the stops when it mattered in the final qualifying session as it appeared Ferrari might have the edge.
Vettel was fastest in final practice and in the first part of qualifying, and Raikkonen of Finland topped the second session.
But 32-year-old Hamilton produced the first lap under one minute 32 seconds all weekend at the start of the top 10 shootout, beating Vettel by 0.184secs despite a slide at Turn 11.
Hamilton and Vettel both lowered their times by a little over 0.2secs on their final runs and the Mercedes man kept the advantage.
It was Hamilton's sixth pole in a row - dating back to last year's US Grand Prix - and his sixth in China, where his record of four wins is better than any other driver.
However, he will surely know he has his work cut out to beat Ferrari in the race after Vettel's impressive victory in Australia two weeks ago.
The race could well be wet, with overnight rain predicted and cooler temperatures than qualifying, which was dry and bright.
Governing body the FIA has taken steps to ensure the cars can run after farcical scenes on Friday, when practice was badly disrupted because the medical helicopter could not operate.
A wet race would be a complete unknown for the drivers - not only did they get hardly any running on Friday but they have not driven these new cars in the wet before this weekend, and Pirelli has designed new wet tyres for this season after complaints the previous ones were not effective enough.
Proof the cars are harder to drive this year
The first session of qualifying ended with a heavy crash for Sauber driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
The Italian lost control coming out of the last corner in the closing minutes of the session, dashing the hopes of Force India's Esteban Ocon, Haas' Romain Grosjean and Renault's Jolyon Palmer of improving and getting into the second session.
Giovinazzi, ironically, qualified 15th - fast enough to get into Q2, but was unable to take part because of the damage to his car.
He was on a lap that was on target to beat team-mate Marcus Ericsson, but even so ended up less than 0.1secs behind the Swede.
After qualifying Englishman Palmer and Grosjean of Switzerland were each handed five-place grid penalties by race stewards for not slowing sufficiently under the waved yellows for the crash.
Palmer's team-mate Nico Hulkenberg was an impressive seventh, and just 0.5secs behind the Red Bull, which uses the same engine, underlining the progress Renault have made over the winter. The German was just pipped for sixth by Williams' Brazilian driver Felipe Massa.
'A very perfect lap' - what they said
"The Ferrari looked so fast and we knew it was going to be close, and we knew we had to pull out all the stops and I managed to do a very, very perfect lap," Hamilton said.
"It started off not as good as the first lap, maybe because of tyre temperature, but it got better and better. It felt strong.
"Coming into the last corner knowing I was up a couple of tenths is always nervous because you want to gain some - but you don't want to lose everything you've gained.
"It's exciting for me because we're really fighting with the guys and that is what racing is all about. It pushes you to raise the bar every time you go out, which I love."
Vettel said: "It was a nice session. I enjoyed it a lot. I was very happy with the lap I had. Last corner I lost a little bit, maybe chickened on to the brakes a bit too soon - but we just had enough margin to make it on to the front row."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39537606
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Chinese Grand Prix: Hamilton calls for race weekend changes after Shanghai cancellation - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton calls for a rethink of procedures in bad weather following a farcical day of practice at the Chinese Grand Prix.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Coverage: Practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app
Lewis Hamilton has called for a rethink of Formula 1's procedures in bad weather following a farcical day of practice at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Cars ran for just 15 minutes of three hours' scheduled practice because the medical helicopter could not operate.
Hamilton, who crossed the track to sign caps for fans in the grandstands, wrote on Twitter: "So sorry for all you watching on TV or at the track.
"We must find a solution to deal with the weather issue."
The three-time champion has proposed running practice on Saturday in Shanghai and switching qualifying to Sunday morning before the race in the afternoon.
And the Mercedes driver added that the problems could become an opportunity for F1's new owners, an American media conglomerate which bought the sport in January and removed long-time boss Bernie Ecclestone as chief executive.
"Seriously, though, this could actually be a blessing in disguise. A chance for new bosses to be proactive and creative," he wrote.
Of the two remaining days of the meeting, Saturday is forecast to have the best weather, with rain due overnight before Sunday.
The idea of moving the race to Saturday was discussed briefly by teams with Charlie Whiting, the F1 director of governing body the FIA, after second practice but was quickly dismissed.
Insiders said the weather forecast for Sunday "looks significantly better" than Friday's.
The issue on Friday was that the medical helicopter could not land at the designated hospital, which is more than 30 miles away from the Shanghai International Circuit.
Conditions at the track were poor, with low cloud, smog and mist, but helicopters could fly in its vicinity.
It is a fundamental safety requirement in F1 that the medical helicopter must be able to operate before cars are allowed to take to the track.
Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, who is leading the championship after winning the first race of the season in Australia two weeks ago, said: "It was boring. It was a shame, especially of the people who came to watch. But what can we do?"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39526963
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Bournemouth 1-3 Chelsea - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Chelsea maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory over spirited Bournemouth.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory over spirited Bournemouth.
Pressured by Tottenham's earlier thrashing of Watford, the visitors looked to be cruising after two goals in three first-half minutes.
But Bournemouth, who had already hit the post, got back into the contest through Joshua King's long-range deflected effort.
The Cherries continued to press after half-time, only for Chelsea to gradually regain control and secure the points through Marcos Alonso's impeccable free-kick.
The Blues next travel to Manchester United, their sternest of seven league fixtures between now and the end of the season.
If they return from Old Trafford with their seven-point advantage still intact, they will be a huge step closer to a sixth title and fifth in the Premier League era.
A week ago, Chelsea's seemingly unstoppable march to glory was disrupted by a shock home defeat by Crystal Palace, giving hope to second-placed Tottenham.
However, they got back on track by beating Manchester City and seemed unaffected by Spurs' earlier victory in producing an emphatic start in the south-coast sun.
If the Chelsea first goal was bizarre - Diego Costa's scuffed shot went in off the head of grounded home defender Adam Smith - the second was sublime.
N'Golo Kante, excellent in both winning the ball and moving the visitors forward, found the equally impressive Eden Hazard with a precision long pass, allowing the galloping Belgian to round home keeper Artur Boruc.
The away side were pegged back either side of half-time, but gradually reasserted themselves as the second period progressed and Alonso's curling, dipping free-kick killed the contest.
At the beginning of March, Bournemouth were winless in eight league games, only five points above the relegation zone and being dragged into a fight for survival.
However, some whole-hearted displays, including coming from behind to earn a point at Liverpool in midweek, meant this was their first defeat in six.
It could have been different with a change of fortune, too.
There was a huge slice of luck involved in Chelsea's first and Benik Afobe was unfortunate to hit the woodwork when arriving late to meet Charlie Daniels' cross.
With Afobe, King and Ryan Fraser all lively, the Cherries were willing to test Chelsea through the middle and got their reward when King lashed in his 13th of the season from outside the box, via a touch off David Luiz - even if Chelsea complained of a Smith handball in the build-up.
Ultimately, though, coming from two behind was too much to ask for the home side and it was Boruc who was the much busier keeper in the second period.
If there is one, incredibly slight, concern for Chelsea in the run-in, it may be the form of Costa, who has now gone five domestic games without a goal.
The Spain international's afternoon was one of frustration, mis-kicks and miscues, albeit plenty of endeavour to create goalscoring opportunities.
His attempt for Chelsea's first was a comical slice, only saved from going well wide by the intervention of Smith.
But that was not the only time that Costa struggled in front of goal, with the man who has netted 18 times this season often lacking sharpness when presented with an opportunity.
Still, that is no comfort for the chasing pack, who probably already have too much to do.
'Chelsea were too strong' - what they said
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "I thought it was a tight game and we were well in it. It doesn't help going 2-0 down and it took a worldie free-kick to win the game.
"I have to compliment Chelsea, they're an outstanding team and their system works very well for them. But I compliment my boys as well because they played very well. In the end Chelsea were too strong.
"I'm not feeling anything other than we need to win some more games. What we've historically done is always try to win and that's the same aim no matter how many points you have and how many games are left."
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "It's normal to have a pressure. We started the game very well with great attention and focus. Then we conceded the goal and we lost a bit of confidence. In the second half we managed the game and scored another goal, then the free-kick from Marcos Alonso.
"When you have this type of opponent, Tottenham, who is in good form and wants to catch you, it is important to have a good answer. This is a good answer. There are seven games to go and in England it is not easy, there is a lot of pressure."
• None Eden Hazard has scored four times in his last three Premier League appearances against Bournemouth.
• None Hazard's haul of 14 Premier League goals this season is his joint-best-ever return in a season in the competition (also 14 in 13-14 and 14-15).
• None N'Golo Kante has provided his first ever Premier League assist for Chelsea in what is his 30th appearance.
• None Joshua King has scored 10 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, after netting just three in the 20 before that this season.
• None Indeed, only Romelu Lukaku (11) and Harry Kane (11) have scored more Premier League goals in 2017 than Josh King (10 - level with Dele Alli).
• None Marcos Alonso has netted five PL goals this season. Among defenders, only James Milner (7) and Gareth McAuley (6) have more.
Bournemouth complete a back-to-back double of the Premier League's top two with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur at 12:30 next Saturday, while Chelsea are reunited with former manager Jose Mourinho against Manchester United at 16:00 on Sunday, 16 April.
• None Max Gradel (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt saved. Diego Costa (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Attempt saved. Victor Moses (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lys Mousset.
• None Attempt missed. Adam Smith (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left following a corner.
• None Attempt missed. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.
• None Pedro (Chelsea) 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/39464042
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Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Watford - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Tottenham keep up the pressure on Chelsea with an impressive victory over Watford, their sixth consecutive Premier League win.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Tottenham kept up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with an impressive home victory over Watford, their sixth consecutive Premier League win.
Watford had started brightly, but Dele Alli's sumptuous strike - curled into the top corner after Son Heung-min's pass - signalled their quick decline.
Within just 11 more minutes they were three behind as Eric Dier smashed in from Son's deflected cross, before the South Korea forward added a third just before the break, firing in a rasping drive following Christian Eriksen's pass.
After half-time it was much the same story, with Watford only threatening in isolated moments, and Son further confirmed Spurs' dominance by meeting Kieran Trippier's perfect cross with a lovely half-volley at the far post.
Harry Kane, returning as a second-half substitute, struck the bar with an injury-time free-kick - the last kick of the game - and Son might have sealed his hat-trick from his earlier pass.
Mauricio Pochettino's side remain seven points adrift of Chelsea, who beat Bournemouth 3-1 later on Saturday.
But they are 14 points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, who have two games in hand and play at Crystal Palace on Monday (20:00). Spurs have not finished above their north London rivals since 1995.
It was Vincent Janssen who led the line in Kane's absence from the starting line-up - and the Netherlands international missed another easy chance for the game's opening goal.
Trippier - one of the standout performers, his delivery was brilliant throughout - crossed low from the right flank, taking out goalkeeper and defence, but Janssen could only awkwardly divert the ball onto the bar via the top of his thigh with the goal at his mercy.
His only goal in 23 Premier League games, since a £17m summer arrival from AZ Alkmaar, remains a penalty against Leicester in October - and he was once again overshadowed by the dynamic and far more clinical Son.
Son's second goal was particularly admirable, diverting another superb Trippier ball into the back of the net with a deftly controlled finish.
But the pick of the bunch was undoubtedly Alli's. The England midfielder's excellent season continued with a 13th goal from his past 15 league games. You will struggle to see a better one this weekend.
Hornets have an off day
Watford beat Arsenal 2-1 away in late January, but this performance was a world away.
They might claim mitigating circumstances - it was something of a makeshift defence with Miguel Britos suspended and Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Prodl both injured - but once their positive start had faded, Spurs picked them off with ease.
Walter Mazzarri's side had moved up to 10th in the league with two wins in a row, easing pressure on their manager, but the Italian will still be concerned by the possibility of a slide down the table in their remaining seven games.
Mazzarri has said he wants to stay, but the fate of Quique Sanchez Flores, who was fired at the end of last season with the club in 13th, will surely be at the forefront of his mind.
The race for the title
Tottenham, whose last league title came in 1961, need Chelsea to drop points if they are to overtake the Blues at the top of the league.
But even if they do not, a second-placed finish - which would be their highest in the Premier League - is looking likely.
*Chelsea also play Watford at home in a match to be rescheduled **Spurs also play away to Leicester in a match to be rescheduled
• None Tottenham have won 11 Premier League home games in a row, their best winning streak at White Hart Lane since 1987 (14)
• None Watford have won just once in their past 11 away league games (D2 L8)
• None Dele Alli has been directly involved in 14 goals in 13 Premier League games for Tottenham in 2017 (10 goals, 4 assists)
• None Alli (40) has had a hand in as many Premier League goals before turning 21 as Frank Lampard (15), Steven Gerrard (13) & David Beckham (12) combined
• None Son Heung-min has had a hand in five goals in his last three Premier League games (4 goals, 1 assist), after none in the five before that
"I would use the word sensational for Son. Every time he had the ball, other than his miss from that Harry Kane pass, he's been really, really good. A top class player and he got a big bear hug from his manager."
What they said
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "Many things impressed me, we played really well. It is a massive result for us. We will keep pushing and keep believing.
"The team deserve full credit because the energy was fantastic. It was 4-0 but we deserved more goals. The players spoke for me on the pitch and I am very proud of that performance.
"We're second and the gap now is four but Chelsea have one game more to play. We will try to be there if Chelsea fail."
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri: "We started really well and were playing at the same level as Tottenham, who are a phenomenal side. But it was really difficult after the three goals, that cut our legs.
"We had players who were tired from playing many games, it was a pity. But taking everything into consideration we are happy, and we have to look forward.
"We now have seven finals to play, and we are looking forward to building on this next year."
Tottenham play Bournemouth at home in the Premier League next Saturday, when Watford host relegation-threatened Swansea City.
• None Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
• None Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Trippier.
• None Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Kieran Trippier.
• None Attempt missed. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Harry Kane.
• None M'Baye Niang (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Troy Deeney (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by José Holebas with a cross following a corner. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39463992
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Grand National 2017: One For Arthur, ridden by Derek Fox, wins - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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The 14-1 shot One For Arthur, ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell, wins the 2017 Grand National at Aintree.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
One For Arthur became only the second Scottish-trained winner of the Grand National after a four-and-a-half-length victory at Aintree.
The 14-1 shot, ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell, charged clear to finish ahead of Cause Of Causes (16-1) and Saint Are (25-1).
Jockey Fox only returned to riding this week having broken a wrist and a collarbone in March.
The 8-1 favourite Blaklion, who led for much of the contest, was fourth.
Gas Line Boy - a 50-1 outsider - was fifth with Becher Chase and Grand National Trial winner Vieux Lion Rouge (12-1) sixth.
• None 'One For Arthur's National win a triumph to treasure'
The win was just the second by a Scottish-trained horse since Rubstic's victory in 1979.
In sunny conditions in Liverpool, 19 of the 40 horses finished the race, with Aintree reporting afterwards that all runners came back safely.
Fox, who broke his wrist and dislocated a collarbone just over a month ago, told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's the best feeling I've ever had. He's just such a brave horse. It's a sign of a true racehorse to win the Grand National. It's unbelievable.
"I was injured on 9 March, I got a heavy fall on the novice chase and that was four weeks ago on Thursday.
"This is the best feeling I have ever had or probably ever will have and I want to take most of it in. I don't often get a chance to ride a horse as good as that."
Russell, whose partner and assistant is former champion jockey Peter Scudamore, is the fourth woman to train a Grand National winner after Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith.
"He's amazing," she said. "He's improved every time. I kept thinking barring accidents, he would win the National and he has.
"Together [Peter and I] we have had good and bad times but the horses are all back in form now.
"He's done us proud, he's done Scotland proud and he's done everyone at the yard proud."
The winning owners are Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung, who go under the name 'The Two Golf Widows'.
Thomson said: "I just can't believe it. It's been an absolutely amazing day. Arthur just cruised that race, Derek rode so well and I'm just a bit lost for words really.
McClung added: "I thought this morning, it's baking hot so there's no pressure now, he's not going to win on that ground but I have to say he's just shown his class today.
"He's amazing and he got a great ride."
Aintree stewards referred 31 of the 40 Grand National jockeys, including winner Fox, to the British Horseracing Authority after it took three attempts to get the race started.
Runners and riders were twice called back after some set off before the starter was happy an orderly line had formed.
Nine jockeys were exonerated, but the starter reported the rest to the stewards, saying they approached the tape before the flag was raised.
The BHA will consider whether to take further action.
After the false starts, the race eventually got under way but began with exits at the first fence for Vicente (16-1) and Cocktails At Dawn (33-1).
Definitly Red (10-1), who was an impressive winner at Doncaster last month for Brian Ellison, was pulled up at the Canal Turn, with jockey Danny Cook revealing that an awkward landing sent his saddle slipping round and the pair out of the race.
The ending was equally eventful as a collision coming over the last saw Blaklion overtaken before One For Arthur showed greater speed to hold off the valiant Cause Of Causes.
Jamie Codd, rider of the Gordon Elliott-trained Cause Of Causes, said: "He's a fantastic little horse. I thought I had half a chance at the back of the last, but the winner has won quite well on the day.
"My horse has galloped all the way to the line. He's an incredible little horse. I'm disappointed I didn't win, but he's run a great race."
The cheers may have been loudest for this emphatic winner around Lucinda Russell's base near Kinross, but they will echo across jump racing's north of England and Scottish circuit.
Jumping in the north is regularly - and correctly - portrayed as the poor relation to its cousins in the south. The bigger investors tend to stay away.
However, three Grand National runners - also Definitly Red and Highland Lodge - boded well, and One For Arthur, who's done a majority of his racing at places like Kelso, Carlisle and Ayr, has been invaluable to show it can be done perfectly well north of the Trent as well; will those biggest investors take notice?
Meanwhile, talk will turn to Aintree 2018 and a possible repeat; he'll have more weight, but as an eight-year-old can he be expected to improve again?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39540944
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Premiership: Saracens 40-19 Harlequins - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Chris Ashton scores his fifth try in three games as Saracens confirm a Premiership play-off spot by beating Harlequins at Wembley.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Chris Ashton scored his fifth try in three games as Saracens confirmed a Premiership play-off spot by beating London rivals Harlequins at Wembley.
Quins' Nick Evans opened the scoring with the first of four penalties, but Ashton's try and Schalk Brits' score put Sarries 17-9 up at the break.
Michael Rhodes and Alex Goode tries ensured victory in front of a crowd of 71,324 at the home of English football.
James Horwill's try in response was of little consequence in a costly defeat.
Defeat for Quins means they remain five points adrift of the play-off spots in sixth, with fourth-placed Leicester and Bath equal on points after 19 games following the West Country side's victory over Tigers at Twickenham in the early kick-off.
Goode's try to secure a bonus-point win for Sarries means there is just one top-four place still available after second-placed Exeter beat Bristol on Saturday.
In a game which took the combined attendances for the two showpiece fixtures in London on Saturday to more than 130,000, the boot of England international Owen Farrell was instrumental, as he kicked 20 points to grind down a Quins side that dominated possession at times.
Evans' penalties kept Harlequins in the hunt, with his fourth one reducing the arrears to eight points after 49 minutes.
But, two Farrell penalties in three minutes and Rhodes' dashing finish down the left, after Maro Itoje managed to steal the ball from a line-out with eight minutes remaining, put the result beyond doubt.
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall: "This was a hugely pleasing performance because we're going big game after big game after big game.
"Sunday's game against Glasgow was big for us, so to show the qualities that we did was superb, although not everything we did was perfect.
"The first seven months of the season are about getting into strong positions in the competition we're interested in and now there are a lot of things to be excited about."
Harlequins boss John Kingston: "Once Saracens get ahead on the scoreboard it becomes very difficult and they're very good at taking advantages of your mistakes. They deserved it.
"They're difficult to break down and they take the laws to the limit, but they're an incredibly physical side and we ran into a brick wall. They're a great side at the moment.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39491020
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Masters 2017: Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters & Charley Hoffman share Augusta lead - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Charley Hoffman's overnight advantage is wiped out as Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Thomas Pieters join him in the lead at the halfway stage at Augusta.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
Charley Hoffman's overnight advantage was wiped out as Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Thomas Pieters pegged him back for a four-way tie at the halfway stage of the Masters at Augusta.
American Hoffman, 40, carded a three-over 75 to drop to four under overall, before Spain's Garcia, 37, shot a 69.
Rory McIlroy (73) is one over as he seeks a career Grand Slam but defending champion Danny Willett missed the cut.
Englishman Willett ended one over the cut line on seven over after shooting 78 in blustery winds that made conditions tricky at the Georgia course, although most players did find scoring easier than on the opening day.
Only two players - Hoffman and compatriot William McGirt - shot under 70 on Thursday, but seven men managed the same feat in the second round - including Garcia, Fowler and Pieters.
"I felt like I played great, I felt like I hit the ball better than the first day," said Garcia, the world number 11.
"The course is still very difficult, and I made a couple of stupid mistakes but I can be happy because of the way the course is playing," he added.
• None How day two unfolded at Augusta
• None How to follow the Masters on the BBC
Garcia has been one of the game's leading players since bursting onto the European Tour scene as a teenager, consistently hovering in and around the world's top 10 and challenging for leading honours.
But his failure to win one of the four majors, after several near misses in 22 top-10 finishes, is a blemish on an otherwise stellar career.
Two impressive rounds at a blustery Augusta have left him well-placed to shake off the unwanted tag of being one of golf's most famous 'nearly men'.
Garcia made a flying start to his second round with birdies on the first three holes before dropping his first shot of the tournament on the fourth.
Then came total confusion after a mistake on the Masters scoring system.
Garcia scored a bogey on the par-four 10th, but it was changed on the scoring system to a triple-bogey seven - dropping him down the leaderboard.
The mistake was eventually rectified by tournament officials about an hour later, moving him back into tied second and two behind Hoffman.
Two more birdies at the 15th and 17th wiped out Hoffman's lead, although the Ryder Cup stalwart missed a six-foot birdie putt on the last to take the outright clubhouse lead.
"I've shown myself many times that I can contend and I truly feel I can not only win one major, but more than one," said Garcia.
On the scorecard mix-up, he added: "I saw it on the leaderboard on the 13th but the main thing was I knew where I stood."
Hoffman, 40, caused a shock when he shot a stunning seven-under 65 to lead on Thursday but, unsurprisingly, the Californian was unable to replicate this remarkable feat.
His round was ruined by five bogeys in six holes around the turn, although he recovered to birdie the 13th and stay in the hunt.
"Any time this place firms up, it plays its hardest just because it's hard to control your golf ball," said Hoffman, who has only previously claimed one top-25 finish at a major.
Belgium's Pieters - considered one of the rising stars on the European Tour - moved into contention with another impressive showing on his Augusta debut.
The 25-year-old began the day level and, after bogeying the first, stormed back with three birdies and an eagle on the 15th.
Fowler, two groups behind Pieters, set the tone by holing his bunker shot for an eagle on the par-five second and adding a birdie on the next. He rolled in three more birdies to record the day's lowest round.
Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth birdied three of his last six holes to finish level par alongside two other former Masters champions, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson.
In three appearances at the Masters, American Spieth has finished second, first, tied for second.
World number two McIlroy, 27, is aiming to become only the sixth man to win all four majors - at his third time of trying at Augusta.
McIlroy, who has three consecutive top-10 finishes in Georgia, is seeking a first Masters title following victories at the US Open and the Open Championship and two US PGA Championship titles.
He shot a scrappy level-par 72 on Thursday and followed up with a similarly-scruffy round on Friday.
He struggled to find rhythm in a card littered with five bogeys, salvaging four birdies to keep him within touching distance.
However, McIlroy felt aggrieved to walk off the 18th with a bogey after his approach shot hit the flagstick and bounced off the green.
"The shot at the last looked like a tap-in birdie and I made five. I got two bad breaks with hitting the pin and the wind then caught me out on the putt as well," he said.
"It was another day where you had to battle, make a lot of pars and pick off the odd birdie here and there.
"I feel I can put a 31 or 32 together a couple of times over the weekend and get closer to the leaders.
"Hopefully these are the toughest conditions we have played in and hopefully I can go a lot lower over the weekend."
England's Danny Willett became the first Briton to win the Masters in 20 years when he claimed his first major 12 months ago - this time there was no cause to celebrate ending another barren run.
The Yorkshireman, 29, is the first defending champion to miss the cut since Canada's Mike Weir in 2004.
Willett began the day at one over par, but his second round got off to a shocking start when he recorded a quadruple-bogey eight on the first.
Two more bogeys arrived at the fourth and 11th holes, in addition to a solitary birdie at the 10th, leaving him perilously close to missing the projected cut of six over.
And a bogey on the 18th pushed him to seven over par.
"We've had two fabulous years and then you have a little bit of a downturn and it feels like the world is coming to an end," Willett said.
"Playing Augusta at the weekend would be nice with the good weather coming in, but we had that in our own hands and unfortunately we let that slip."
Other big names who missed the cut include reigning Open champion Henrik Stenson, plus former Masters winners Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson.
Seven other Britons - Chris Wood, Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Knox, Ian Woosnam, Tyrrell Hatton, Sandy Lyle and amateur Scott Gregory, plus Ireland's Shane Lowry - also failed to make the weekend.
Twelve months after Bernhard Langer rolled back the years at Augusta, another veteran former champion is dreaming of a fairytale finish.
Fred Couples, who won the Masters in 1992, is three shots behind the leading group after shooting a two-under-par 70.
The 57-year-old former world number one is now ranked 1,893, but showed that experience counts for everything at Augusta.
The American carded six birdies during a round punctured by a double bogey and two bogeys, and almost holed his approach on the 18th but walked off with a tap-in birdie.
Find out how to get into golf with our special guide.
"I feel like I can play the course well but in conditions like this I feel I have a better chance than if it was sunny and less windy," he said.
"It would be hard for me to shoot a 68 like some of the better players. In bad weather I feel I could battle.
"The only real disappointment was my second on 17 which led to a bad bogey."
Another former winner, 58-year-old Larry Mize, became the oldest player to make the cut at six over par on the 30th anniversary of his 1987 victory.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39535566
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The 7 most controversial dance fads in music - BBC Music
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2017-04-08
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From the waltz to twerking, nothing manages to appal parents more than a new move for the dancefloor
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Friday 31 March saw the Ballet Final of BBC Young Dancer 2017 on BBC Four, and while we might not think of ballet as being a controversial dance form, it's caused its fair share of scandals - not least when Vaslav Nijinsky's choreography combined with Igor Stravinsky's score to cause a near-riot at the premiere of The Rite of Spring in Paris, 1913. The truth is that there's barely been a moment in history when a new dance hasn't appalled parents, dramatically widened the generation gap and shocked newspaper editors. Here are seven crazes that caused a genuine fuss, beginning with...
The Oxford English Dictionary defines twerk as a "dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance." As an example of how the word is used, it suggests: "Just wait till they catch their daughters twerking to this song." Well, quite! The word itself is thought to come from New Orleans bounce music culture (its use in songs has been traced back to 1993), and became a well-known dance in hop hop videos towards the end of the 2000s. After Miley Cyrus twerked with Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV VMA Awards, it went viral, causing outrage and not just because of the sexual nature of the dance. She was accused, including by the Guardian, of cultural appropriation. There was a near-frenzy of interest in what twerking was. As the Guardian also reported, the search term "what is twerking?" shot to the top of one of Google's annual Zeitgeist lists in 2013, and researchers managed to trace the word's origins back to 1820. And then Planet Earth II filmmakers found out that bears have been twerking away - sort of - in the woods, possibly for centuries.
Another consequence of twerkgate was that it caused much discussion about other dance scandals of yore, particularly the controversy surrounding the Charleston, a 1920s jazz age dance named after the city in South Carolina where it originated. In a BBC News article titled, What do twerking and the Charleston have in common?, choreographer Jreena Green says, "Twerking [is] nothing new, it's from the Charleston," and likened the freewheeling moves of 'flappers' - female hipsters of the time, essentially - to those of twerkers today. And it wasn't just in the US that the Charleston became a sensation. It made it to our shores in 1925, and as historian Lucy Worsley says, "It took the dance floor by storm. It allowed women to break free from a man's embrace and dance on their own."
[LISTEN] BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service: Whatever Happened to the Watlz?
It's fascinating that the Charleston could cause outrage by separating the sexes on the dancefloor, because nearly every dance craze that caused contention before the jazz age did so by bringing young folk close enough together to terrify older members of society. In the above episode of Radio 3's The Listening Service, presenter Tom Service explains how the waltz caused a scandal in the early 19th century because of "the shameless physical closeness of the dancing couples". And it had been preceded by even more racy renaissance-era dances like the volta, which Service suggests would "make any of today's waltzers blush since it required the swain - the bloke - to physically lift his lady into the air and then turn her about. The technique involved lifting her up with one of his hands on her busk... and turning her using the torsion of his thigh between her buttocks". Do the volta today, in other words, and you'd likely be thrown out of every nightclub in the land. Dances that followed it, like the minuet, were tamer and easier, as indeed the waltz is - with one main difference. As dance historian Darren Royston explains: "It was two people face-to-face. Earlier court dances, such as the minuet, were really done with dancers side-by-side... It was a 'turning' dance, and this is where the scandal of the waltz is made - not necessarily because you can face your partner, but because no one else can really see what's going on."
[WATCH] BBC Archive - Doing the twist in the 1960s
You can't mention a turning dance without remembering the twist, the worldwide dance craze spawned from Chubby Checker's 1960 cover of the Hank Ballard and The Midnighters song The Twist. A year later a spin-off film, Twist Around the Clock, was released starring TV host Clay Cole, who sings the title track in the above clip of cool kids doing the dance. The twist is all in the hips, and that's what made it controversial. It was considered sexually provocative, vulgar and, as BBC iWonder reported in 2014, "Medical concerns were raised. An orthopaedic surgeon reported a rise in knee injuries and the Society of New Jersey Chiropractors said it could cause 'strains in the lumbar and sacroiliac areas'." Other famous 60s dances like jerk, the pony, the mashed potato and the funky chicken were all inspired by the twist.
Moshing to punk band Fear at the Country Club, Reseda, California, 1982
Like the Charleston, the twist is performed without a partner but in a group, and the same applies to moshing - a combination of punk pogo dancing, heavy metal headbanging and slamdancing. And, as all rock fans know, although moshing seems to be an incitement to chaos, mosh pits are usually organised affairs with sets of rules to ensure people don't get hurt. Moshing endures, but it became a fad in the early-80s punk scene in the US before spreading to other forms of rock and also into raves. And although moshing is regarded by many as harmless fun, on occasion it can be overtly violent and dangerous. To protect their fans, Washington DC punk band Fugazi took a stand against moshing at their gigs in the 1980s and a small number of people have died as a consequence of being crushed or fighting in mosh pits, including at two Smashing Pumpkins' shows (in 1996 and 2007) and at a Korn performance in 2006.
BBC Radio 4 - Rave: The Beat Goes On
For those who didn't want to rock in the 1980s and 1990s, there was raving - not necessarily a specific dance style, although all ravers (and Bob the Builder fans) will remember Big Fish, Little Fish, Cardboard Box, but a movement that caused a scandal largely because of its close association with illegal drugs and trespassing. The above documentary is about Spiral Tribe, the free-party sound system that was established in 1990 by a group of young people who thought they'd found an entire new way of living, powered by music, dancing, love, and, yes, drugs. No dance fad in the UK managed to get caught up in politics more than rave and, as the Guardian reported in 2010, one rave in particular - the Castlemorton Common festival in 1992 - "set in train the moral panic that led to the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act". Dancing was forced back indoors again, discotheque-style; superclubs like Cream in Liverpool and Fabric in London emerged; and the rave sound, acid house, splintered into an incalculable number of new styles.
We'll finish with the lambada, a Brazilian dance that can be traced back to the 1930s when it caused almost as much outrage as the tango had 50 years earlier. The issue, as BBC iWonder reported, was how close it brought dancers together, "with hips pressed together as they performed a series of spinning steps". Allegedly, the Brazilian president of the time, Getulio Varga, was horrified by the dance's "immorality" and banned it, but the lambada got its revenge when it became a craze again in 1989 after French-Brazilian pop group Kaoma had a hit with a song named after it. Naturally, the BBC brought in an expert to teach the steps (see above).
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/774cb619-5082-4da9-8990-e3903f283522?intc_type=promo&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=dancefad&intc_linkname=bbcmusic_ent_article1
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Scotland could leave the UK, and join Canada instead, says author - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Canadian writer Ken McGoogan thinks Canada should invite Scotland to become its 11th province.
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US & Canada
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As Scotland pushes for a second referendum on independence, one man is asking the previously unthinkable - if you're going to quit the UK, why not join Canada?
"I think it would be terrific for both Scotland and Canada," he says.
McGoogan first laid out his proposal in an opinion piece published in Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail, where he argued that advancements in telecommunication technology and transatlantic travel have rendered pesky things like geographical boundaries "irrelevant".
Besides, he points out, Scotland is closer to Newfoundland than Hawaii is to California.
Last week, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of asking the UK government to allow a legally-binding referendum on independence.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said the vote should wait until after Brexit.
It's not clear what Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes of the idea
Mr McGoogan says he sympathises with the angst that many Scots are feeling over Britain's decision to leave the EU.
"The Scots aren't happy right now, and I don't think they're being treated especially well."
Mr McGoogan says that if Scotland were to join Canada, it would enjoy a lot more independence and hold a lot more power than it currently does with Great Britain.
Scotland would be Canada's third largest province, with 5.3 million people, which would give it significant political sway. Add to that the millions of Canadians who, like Mr McGoogan, have Scottish ancestry, and you'd have a national-ethnic bloc about 10m strong, he reasons.
More importantly, Canadian provinces are in charge of more aspects of governance than Scotland has been afforded as part of the UK.
Canadian provinces are in charge of their own courts, health-care, systems and educational institutions. Some provinces also have their own immigration programmes, a fact that has already piqued the interest of a number of British and Scottish MPs.
Brexit "would never happen in Canada," Mr McGoogan argues, without the permission of all the provinces.
But the arrangement wouldn't only benefit Scotland, he argues. By making Scotland Canada's 11th province, Canada would gain a foothold in Europe. Far from abandoning any future Scottish bid for the EU, Mr McGoogan argues that Scotland could apply to join with Canada.
Mr McGoogan's ideas may shock some, and would certainly require years of back-and-forth negotiations with both Scotland and the UK, he readily admits.
"This is a flight of fancy," he said. "In an ideal world, this might work really well."
As the author of How the Scots Invented Canada and Celtic Lightning, Mr McGoogan has made a career of understanding the historic ties that bind Scotland and Canada.
Scotland had a "major, major hand" in creating the political culture in Canada, he says, as well as its educational and banking institutions.
More than half of Canada's prime ministers have claimed Scottish heritage, as did many other prominent figures such as Simon Fraser and James McGill.
"The Scots have left their fingerprints all over this country," he says.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39510351
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One For Arthur wins the Grand National for Scotland, injured jockeys and 'golf widows' - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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One For Arthur's victory is one for Scotland, one for injured jockeys and one for 'two golf widows'.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
One For Arthur. One for Scotland, one for a jockey back from injury and two golf 'widows' on the weekend of the Masters.
In the great tradition of the famous race, the 170th edition of the Grand National at Aintree delivered a story with many strands.
The 14-1 winner One For Arthur, thought to be named after the famous Irish brewer Arthur Guinness, held off the challenge of Cause Of Causes to triumph, with Saint Are third and favourite Blaklion fourth.
It was only a second Scottish-trained winner of the National, with Lucinda Russell the fourth woman to saddle the victor.
Jockey Derek Fox was having his first ride in the marathon contest over 30 fences and four-and-a-quarter miles, and just his sixth since breaking his left wrist and right collarbone in a fall last month.
Owners Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson bought the horse and gave their syndicate a cheeky name as their partners were often away playing golf.
The feel-good story was capped with all 40 runners returning safely for the fifth year running.
• None Where did your horse finish?
Russell wore a wide grin as she received widespread congratulations and declared: "He's done us proud and he's done Scotland proud."
After a 38-year wait since Rubstic's triumph, she had helped deliver another victory for her homeland and a third in nine years for female trainers.
"It means everything, of course it does," said the 50-year-old, who is based at Kinross, Tayside, north of Edinburgh, and follows Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith as National winners.
Russell is assisted by her partner Peter Scudamore, the eight-time champion jockey who missed out on National success as a rider - coming closest to winning from 12 rides when third on Corbiere in 1985.
"I don't like the word 'small' but we are not one of the more fashionable places and, from about Christmas-time, I felt confident things were going well," he said.
Scudamore advised Fox to steer clear of taking an inside track so he could avoid trouble and the race plan worked to perfection.
Fox did not sit on a horse for three-and-a-half weeks after being injured in a fall at Carlisle on 9 March.
Following intensive rehabilitation at the Injured Jockeys Fund's Jack Berry House in Malton, North Yorkshire, he returned to action three days before the National.
"Winning is the best feeling I've ever had, and probably ever will have. He's such a brave horse," said the 24-year-old Irish rider.
"For the first two weeks after I was injured I was very hot and cold. I was very low some days and thought I wouldn't make it."
His jubilant mother Jackie, from Sligo, watched from the winner's enclosure and said he had always been destined for this moment.
"At every parent teacher evening I went to, they were giving out, but I knew he was going to be a jockey," she said.
She said Derek had dressed as a cowboy riding a pony called Reggie in a St Patrick's Day parade when he was four years old.
"Aged nine, he went to riding school. The instructor said: 'You'll never make it as a showjumper, but I can see you going over the fences at Aintree'," added his mother.
With their partners spending weekends on the golf course, friends Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson wanted to get their own sporting interest.
"We had a lot of gin and decided to get a horse together. We went to Cheltenham sales and got One For Arthur," said Belinda.
After forking out £60,000 for the horse in December 2013, the pair registered their ownership as 'The Two Golf Widows".
Their silks contain a Scottish flag and the purchase has paid off - with the owners earning about £500,000 in prize money from the £1m contest.
Deborah, close to tears, said: "We always hoped he'd be a National horse in the making.
"Our dream was to get him here but to actually win, well I'm lost for words.
"The syndicate name is slightly tongue-in-cheek as my partner Colin is on the golf course every single weekend. There's probably two weekends when he's not."
This, perhaps not surprisingly, was one of those two weekends.
"They are both here today, of course," she said. "They weren't going to miss out."
Fraser, the husband of Belinda, confirmed: "This is miles better than golfing."
What's in a name? - the horse
Two false starts in warm sunshine led to 31 of the 40 jockeys, including Fox, being referred to the British Horseracing Authority for approaching the starting tape before the flag was raised.
Fox went on to give One For Arthur an impeccable ride, sending his mount to the front approaching the last and winning by four-and-a-half lengths.
Russell had been unsure he would appreciate the drying ground, but there was no stopping the Irish-bred gelding, who was following up his win in the Classic Chase at Warwick.
So where does the name One For Arthur come from?
"We're not totally sure. We think he was named after Arthur Guinness," said the trainer.
"His name is still on the Guinness cans and people say I'll have 'One For Arthur' or one for the road."
Victory in the world's most famous steeplechase was one for the almanac. One brewed in Ireland and toasted in Scotland.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39541910
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Grand National 2017: The Last Samuri heads 40-horse line-up at Aintree - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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A field of 40 horses headed by The Last Samuri is set to contest the 170th running of the Grand National on Saturday.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
Coverage: Build-up and live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live from 13:00, with text updates and pinstickers' guide on the BBC Sport website and app.
A field of 40 horses headed by The Last Samuri is set to contest the 170th running of the Grand National on Saturday.
Last year's runner-up will bid to become the first top weight to triumph since Red Rum in 1974.
A sell-out crowd of 70,000 is expected at Aintree Racecourse on Merseyside.
Vieux Lion Rouge and Definitly Red are among the favourites with bookmakers expecting up to £300m to be wagered on the race.
Travel for racegoers was expected to be disrupted as workers at three rail companies carried out a a 24-hour strike on the day of the Grand National.
The official going at the track is described as Good, Good to Soft in places and a dry, sunny day is forecast with temperatures reaching 16C.
Jockey Liam Treadwell will miss the big race after a fall at Aintree on Friday, although Katie Walsh has been passed fit to ride Wonderful Charm despite an arm injury.
Treadwell, who won the National in 2009 on 100-1 shot Mon Mome, will be replaced on 40-1 chance Tenor Nivernais by Aidan Coleman.
Who are the favourites?
Vieux Lion Rouge, which translates from French to Old Red Lion, is a leading fancy after winning the Becher Chase over the National fences in December and February's Grand National Trial at Haydock.
Seventh in the National last year, he is one of four runners trained by David Pipe, and is about a 10-1 chance along with Definitly Red, an impressive winner at Doncaster last month for Brian Ellison.
The National is a handicap chase, with each runner allotted a different weight to carry by the official handicapper Phil Smith.
With 11st 10lb, The Last Samuri will be carrying more than a stone more than last year.
Other contenders near the top of the betting include the JP McManus-owned pair More Of That and Cause Of Causes, Haydock runner-up Blaklion, and the Scottish-trained One For Arthur.
However, the National has a habit of throwing up surprise results, as evidenced by recent years.
The past five winners have started at odds of 33-1, 25-1, 25-1, 66-1 and 33-1.
Irish trainer Mouse Morris scored an emotional victory last year with the now-retired Rule The World - 10 months after the death of his son Christopher.
Morris, who runs Irish National winners Rogue Angel and Thunder and Roses this time, said: "We're going there with no pressure as the likelihood of winning it two years in a row is probably non-existent."
14-1 Cause Of Causes, More Of That, Blaklion, One For Arthur
Coverage of the National, over 30 fences and more than four and a quarter miles, is said to be followed by 600 million people worldwide.
The marathon test see runners negotiate iconic obstacles such as Becher's Brook and The Chair.
Terminally ill five-year-old boy Bradley Lowery is to be given honorary 41st place in the National racecard.
The race is again due to start at 17:15 BST, having been put back an hour by organisers last year in an effort to further increase the audience.
Armed police have been in attendance at the course during the three-day meeting which started on Thursday.
This year's race comes in the wake of the Westminster terror attack and marks the 20th anniversary of the National being delayed by an IRA bomb scare.
Katie Walsh will seek to become the first female jockey to win the National after overcoming a late injury scare.
Walsh was initially reported to be ruled out with a broken arm following a fall in the Foxhunters' Chase over the big fences on Thursday, but escaped with bruising.
"I feel fine, a bit sore but I'm 100%," said 32-year-old Walsh, who will ride 33-1 chance Wonderful Charm, with opponents including brother Ruby on Pleasant Company.
"There is only one Grand National and to get the opportunity to ride in the race again is brilliant."
Wonderful Charm is one of five runners for Paul Nicholls - along with Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth Saphir Du Rheu, Scottish National winner Vicente, Le Mercurey and Just A Par.
Known as a unique challenge for horse and rider, the race draws criticism from opponents, including animal welfare groups.
Officials believe amendments to the fences, and other alterations, introduced four years ago have helped improve safety.
The course spent £1.5m on changes after two horses were fatally injured in each of the Grand Nationals of 2011 and 2012.
Since then there have been no fatalities in the National itself, although in the same period there have been six in the four other races staged over the track during the year.
Pleasant Company is my selection to win for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh. The team triumphed with Hedgehunter in 2005 and Walsh was also successful on Papillon, trained by his father Ted, five years earlier.
Pleasant Company put in a most encouraging performance to win at Fairyhouse. He'll keep out of trouble, before - hopefully - gradually picking off rivals and arriving late on the scene.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained More Of That was a champion over hurdles, and a respectable sixth in this season's Cheltenham Gold Cup, giving the impression he's coming to the boil.
Scotland's One For Arthur is another gradually building his reputation, while Lord Windermere - who's not won since the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup - had top weight two years ago, but much less this time, and will have his favoured drier ground conditions. I can see him going well at big odds.
Cornelius' 1-2-3-4: 1 Pleasant Company 2 More Of That 3 One For Arthur 4 Lord Windermere
What's it like to ride in the National?
"It's still a great test of skill. You need some luck and your horse to take to the fences.
"There's 40 runners, when most races wouldn't be near half that size, so you're hoping for a clear passage.
"It's wide open this year. Definitly Red is likely to be popular on Merseyside with supporters of Liverpool FC.
"I like Blaklion. The better ground will suit him, his jockey's in red-hot form and his trainer has won the race twice before."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39530709
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Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Liverpool come from behind to beat Stoke City in a dramatic game and stay on course for a top-four Premier League finish.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Liverpool came from behind to beat Stoke City and stay on course for a top-four finish thanks to goals by substitutes Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Unmarked Jon Walters headed the hosts into the lead after meeting Xherdan Shaqiri's cross, as the Reds failed to register a first-half effort on target.
Coutinho levelled with a first-time shot before Firmino smashed the bouncing ball beyond keeper Lee Grant after Georginio Wijnaldum's pass.
Liverpool remain third in the Premier League table.
• None Relive the action between Stoke and Liverpool
Much has been made of Liverpool's inability to beat teams in the bottom half of the table and for 45 minutes it looked like they were heading for defeat against a team that started the day 12th.
Klopp started with 17-year-old Ben Woodburn and 18-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold, while opting to keep Coutinho, who was ill during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, and Firmino on the bench.
It looked like his plan to give youth a chance had backfired as Walters was left totally unmarked to bury Shaqiri's inch-perfect cross past Simon Mignolet.
It was only after the introduction of Brazilian duo Coutinho and Firmino at the start of the second half - in place of Woodburn and Alexander-Arnold - that Liverpool played like a team chasing a Champions League spot.
Dejan Lovren headed against the bar before Coutinho swept home the equaliser from 12 yards out.
Liverpool fans were still celebrating when Firmino lashed a dipping shot over Grant from 22 yards, a sublime goal worthy of winning any match.
Mignolet still had to produce a fine save to deny Saido Berahino, but Liverpool hung on to move nine points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal, although the Reds have played three games more.
Stoke slipped to 13th in the table after a fourth successive league defeat.
They were the better team in the first half but Mark Hughes' side remain without a win against a team currently in the top six - eight defeats in 11 games.
At 1-0 they wasted a great chance to double the lead when Charlie Adam was denied at close range by Mignolet after a terrible mistake by Wijnaldum.
Had that gone it, it could have been a different story.
The Potters still need another four points to reach 40 with six fixtures left, including a home match against Arsenal.
They ought do it with games to spare - but they need to escape this losing run before it causes serious damage.
'I couldn't feel any better' - what the managers said
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes: "We needed to take our chances and capitalise when we were on top. I was happy, we were good value at 1-0 and restricted them to very little.
"Second half they brought their big hitters on, which made an impact, but it took a mistake from us.
"It was a long ball down the middle and we should have dealt with it. When those are the things that are happening you think maybe it's not your day."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "Philippe Coutinho lost three kilos in the past three days, which some people wish - but for a professional footballer it's not too cool.
"Simon Mignolet saved our life. Job done, feels good. Nice weather, 63 points and I couldn't feel any better.
"Now we have a long week. No team in the world wins only the very, very good games. You need to win games like this."
• None Liverpool have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League team this season (18).
• None There were just 126 seconds between Liverpool's first and second goals.
• None Walters has scored seven times against Liverpool in the Premier League, more than he has against any other side.
• None Wijnaldum has provided six Premier League assists this season, one more than he registered for Newcastle in 2015-16.
• None Klopp's side won their first away Premier League game of 2017.
Stoke can end a four-match losing run at home to Hull City on Saturday, 15 April (15:00 BST), while Liverpool are away at West Brom the following day (13:30).
• None Offside, Stoke City. Marko Arnautovic tries a through ball, but Ramadan Sobhi is caught offside.
• None Attempt blocked. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.
• None Offside, Stoke City. Erik Pieters tries a through ball, but Ramadan Sobhi is caught offside.
• None Substitution, Stoke City. Ramadan Sobhi replaces Charlie Adam because of an injury.
• None Attempt blocked. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Attempt saved. Saido Berahino (Stoke City) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.
• None Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
• None Goal! Stoke City 1, Liverpool 2. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Georginio Wijnaldum.
• None Attempt missed. Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left.
• None Goal! Stoke City 1, Liverpool 1. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39463995
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Chinese GP: Sebastian Vettel on top in final practice as Ferraris outshine Mercedes - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Sebastian Vettel is fastest in final practice in China as the Ferraris outshine their rivals Mercedes going into qualifying.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Coverage: Qualifying on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Sebastian Vettel led a Ferrari one-two in final practice at the Chinese Grand Prix as Mercedes appeared to struggle to keep up.
Vettel and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen were separated by just 0.053 seconds, with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas in third, 0.371secs adrift.
Lewis Hamilton was fourth, 0.172secs behind his Mercedes team-mate, but made a mistake on his fastest lap.
Hamilton ran wide at the hairpin, losing a few tenths of a second.
However, Hamilton was also 0.3secs slower than Vettel in the middle sector of the lap, where most of the demanding corners on the Shanghai International Circuit are situated.
Williams driver Felipe Massa was fifth, a second behind Hamilton, just ahead of the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. The Red Bulls were 1.6secs off the pace.
Jolyon Palmer was an encouraging ninth fastest for Renault, two places clear of his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg.
It was a dispiriting session for McLaren-Honda, with two-time champion Fernando Alonso only 17th fastest as the team battle with the poor performance, reliability and fuel consumption of the Honda engine.
There was no repeat of the damp weather on Friday that had prevented any meaningful running because the medical helicopter could not operate.
The session took place in dry weather and almost-sunshine in perpetually smog-grey Shanghai.
However, further rain is predicted overnight ahead of the race on Sunday.
Even if it remains damp and cloudy at the time of the race, governing body the FIA has taken action to avoid the problems of Friday, when three hours of practice sessions were reduced to only about 15 minutes of running.
If the medical helicopter cannot fly, organisers have arranged for a police escort so, in the event of a driver being hospitalised, he can be transported quickly by road to the main hospital which is more than 30km away.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39537316
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Davis Cup, France v Great Britain: Kyle Edmund & Dan Evans lose singles matches - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans both lose their singles matches on the first day of the Davis Cup quarter-final against France in Rouen.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Watch live coverage of Saturday's doubles from 13:10 BST on BBC One, with extra coverage on BBC Red Button and online, connected TVs, the BBC Sport website and app
Great Britain's Kyle Edmund and Dan Evans lost their singles matches on the first day of the Davis Cup quarter-final against France in Rouen.
Evans, ranked three places above Edmund at 44, also lost in three sets - 6-2 6-3 6-3 to world number 68 Jeremy Chardy.
Jamie Murray and Dom Inglot will play Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau in Saturday's doubles, before the reverse singles on Sunday.
Britain, without injured world number one Andy Murray, failed to win a set on the opening day of a Davis Cup tie for the first time since 2008 against Argentina.
In front of a raucous crowd, Edmund battled hard for the first two sets against Pouille, the highest-ranked player in the tie.
And the Briton had a good opportunity to level the scores when he was 5-2 up in the second-set tie-break - but could not take advantage as the Frenchman's backhand proved too strong.
"It was competitive. It's obviously annoying - you want to be taking one of them (set points)," Edmund, 22, told BBC Sport.
"It just felt like I came off the match and said: 'You gave it your best effort, it just wasn't good enough today.'
"There were some points I could have made better choices and better execution, but when it counted I just didn't get it done."
Great Britain captain Leon Smith said: "We probably needed the win from Kyle to get us started this weekend - and we will now have to do it the extremely difficult way."
The visitors must now win the remaining three ties to progress to the semi-finals - where they would face Serbia or Spain in September.
"There's no hiding. We need more players, and we need different sorts of players that we can call in if Andy's not playing," Smith added.
"If Kyle can't play because he has an injury - if that happened this week, we were going to have to pull in someone ranked about 240 in the world.
"So, as much as there's lots of good things happening, there's still that conversation about strength in depth."
With Great Britain already 1-0 down, 26-year-old Evans - whose record on clay was a talking point in the build-up to tie - was tasked with turning things around.
However, he was completely outplayed by late call-up Chardy, who only replaced Giles Simon in the France team on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old had made just three previous Davis Cup appearances, and none for six years - but Evans' lack of match practice on the clay, having not played on the surface for two years, told.
The Briton's forehand, so dominant on the hard court, was completely nullified as he struggled to adjust to the bounce of the ball on the unfamiliar surface.
"Dan fights with everything he's got," said Smith. "He loves playing for his country, but he needs more time on the clay. Jeremy Chardy was too good for him today."
"I was really happy. For me it's an amazing moment. Last year was really difficult so I'm just enjoying it," said Chardy.
"It was a surprise for me to come into the team but I was practising really well.
"This tie is not over. The doubles will be a difficult match and we will stay focused for Sunday just in case."
An unlikely, but not implausible, route to the semi-finals hinged on Kyle Edmund winning the opening singles against Lucas Pouille.
He had opportunities in both of the first two sets and should have levelled the match by closing out the second set tie-break from 5-2 up - but Pouille simply played better when the chips were down.
Dan Evans was playing only his third tour level match on clay, and it showed as he was outclassed by Jeremy Chardy.
Even if Britain can win Saturday's doubles, back-to-back victories in Sunday's singles seem very far fetched indeed.
It was a masterclass from Jeremy Chardy.
Evans is used to the faster courts where he has the pace. Here on clay, his shots just sit up and Chardy had plenty of time.
Chardy's level never dropped at all from the moment he came out on the court. He was aggressive and there was no lapse in concentration. I thought he played a tremendous match.
It was a brave decision by [France captain] Yannick Noah. He knew something about Chardy - he liked his attitude, his confidence, his game.
It was difficult to see how Dan could hurt him, even if they'd been out there all day.
In Belgrade, world number two Novak Djokovic helped Serbia to a 2-0 lead in their last-eight tie against Spain.
Djokovic, who missed the Miami Masters because of an elbow injury, beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Five-time winners Spain are without Rafael Nadal for the tie after the 14-time Grand Slam champion opted to prepare for the clay court season.
Serbia's Viktor Troicki then saw off Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4 6-3 as the teams head into Saturday's doubles.
Elsewhere, Australia lead USA 2-0 in their quarter-final in Brisbane.
Jordan Thompson, ranked 79 in the world, pulled off a huge shock beating world number 15 Jack Sock 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-4.
Nick Kyrgios then gave Australia a 2-0 lead with a 7-5 7-6 7-6 victory over John Isner.
And in Charleroi, Belgium lead Italy 2-0 following Steve Darcis' 6-7 6-1 6-1 7-6 victory over Paolo Lorenzi and David Goffin's victory in straight sets over Andreas Seppi.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39529874
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Masters 2017: BBC Two coverage - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Watch live BBC Two coverage from the final day of The Masters.
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Watch live BBC Two coverage from the final day of The Masters.
This is a live BBC Two stream, due to start at 1830 BST.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39454150
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Beaten to death for being a dairy farmer - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The BBC speaks to the survivors of a brutal attack on cattle traders by a "cow vigilante group".
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India
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Cows are considered sacred by the country's majority Hindu population
An Indian Muslim died of his injuries after a group of men transporting cattle were attacked by members of a suspected cow protection vigilante group. BBC Hindi's Nitin Srivastava travelled to the victim's village in the northern Indian state of Haryana.
Villagers jostle to get a glimpse of the injured young boy who has just returned from the hospital.
Azmat, who only uses one name, is lying on a cot inside a small courtyard. He has a fractured rib, multiple clots in the left eye and several lacerations on his arms and stomach. But by all accounts, he is lucky to be alive.
Azmat, along with four others, was attacked by suspected cow protection vigilantes as they were transporting cattle they had purchased from Jaipur in the northern state of Rajasthan back to their dairy farm in neighbouring Haryana.
"Despite having legal documents we were pulled out on the streets, beaten by sticks and the crowd was shouting for us to be burned alive. If the police had not come and rescued us, all of us would have been dead," he told BBC Hindi.
Azmat has multiple clots in the left eye and several lacerations on his arms and stomach
The cow is considered sacred by India's Hindu majority, and killing cows is illegal in many states. Last month, the state of Gujarat passed a law making the slaughter of cows punishable with life imprisonment.
In 2015 a Muslim man was beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh after reports that he had beef in his fridge. Since then, there have been regular reports of cow protection vigilante groups attacking people transporting cattle across the country.
In this case, the men say that the cows they had bought were not for slaughter, and were for dairy purposes instead.
All five men were rushed to a nearby hospital, but one man, Pehlu Khan, did not survive. He succumbed to his injuries three days later in hospital.
At his home, we met his family who had just returned from his funeral.
"As buffalos on sale in Jaipur were beyond our budget my father advised us to buy five cows and four calves. Ramadan is near and he thought this would enhance milk production as it is our only source of income. Who knew he had made the biggest mistake of his life," a sobbing Irshad Khan, Pehlu Khan's 20-year old son, said.
He was also helping transport the animals when the attack took place.
"Who will return our father to us? I couldn't meet him after the attack and could only see his dead body. My mother and grandmother haven't eaten for the last four days. Who will compensate for their loss?" he asked angrily.
Many states have banned the slaughter of cows and bulls
Police have arrested three men on the basis of a mobile phone recording of the incident that has gone viral on Indian social media.
"No one will be spared and we are in process of identifying the attackers," Ramesh Chand, a senior police official, told BBC Hindi.
However, they have also registered a case against the survivors of the attack for "illegally transporting cows".
"We had all the documents and there was nothing to hide. Police can verify the sale from the government facility," said Irshad Khan.
Vigilante groups who portray themselves as protectors of cows have been active in several states. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year criticised the vigilantes, saying such people made him "angry". But this has not stopped attacks against cattle traders.
Meanwhile almost 80 miles (128km) from the village, where the men were attacked, not many were willing to speak about what happened.
Some said they were "unaware" of the incident, while others said they wanted "the police to investigate".
But amid considerable tension in the area after the deadly attack, some fear more incidents cannot be ruled out.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39511556
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'My fertility app made me too stressed to conceive' - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The "femtech" market is booming, but are apps aimed at women effective and reliable?
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Business
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Kathy Beaumont and her partner Chris decided fertility apps weren't for them
When Kathy Beaumont started trying for a baby two years ago, she turned to the many fertility apps on the market to discover when would be the best time of the month to conceive.
She took her temperature every day and logged it in an app called Fertility Friend, but soon found herself succumbing to a fertility-obsessed frenzy.
"I constantly analysed the analytics section of the app to see how my month looked and whether there was a temperature spike that indicated I was ovulating," says Kathy, 32, a freelance travel copywriter.
"I based when we actively tried for a baby solely on when the app and ovulation kits told me I was ovulating."
But after six months of "trying", Kathy still hadn't fallen pregnant.
"Some months I think we must have missed the window of opportunity entirely," she explains, "either because I'd built up to it so much that the pressure made me too stressed to conceive, or because the app wasn't accurate."
She decided to quit using the apps "for the sake of my sanity" and became pregnant the following month.
"They definitely serve a purpose," she concedes, "but they aren't the be-all and end-all."
But for some women, they are.
Sara Flyckt says she tried the Natural Cycles app after the pill turned her into "a nasty person"
Londoner Sara Flyckt, 35, started using an app called Natural Cycles four years ago after hearing about it in a Swedish podcast.
It analyses the body's temperature to determine whether or not the user is fertile and needs to use contraception.
"I was on the pill before and the hormones made me into quite a nasty person, so when I heard about this natural option it felt like a no-brainer to try it," says Swedish-born Ms Flyckt.
And, after initially using it as a contraceptive, last year she used it to plan a pregnancy.
"It certainly helped me find my fertile days. It's very easy to use, and it's especially helpful as both my partner and I worked full time within hospitality and sometimes we wouldn't see each other for a few days.
"With this app you know when to try and make time to see each other."
Technology targeted at women - or femtech as it's been coined - covers everything from birth control and period tracker apps to sex toys and breast pumps.
And the market has been booming in recent years.
"We're seeing really significant growth in funding to femtech start-ups," says Zoe Leavitt, tech analyst at CB Insights.
"The number of deals shot up from 20 in 2014, to 40 in 2015, and in 2016 deals and dollars set a record high, with $540.5m (£433m) across 52 deals.
"Overall, we've tracked $1.26bn in investment since 2009 across 173 deals."
But there are concerns that some women might become enslaved to such apps.
Lea von Bidder is co-founder of Ava, a firm that has developed a wearable bracelet and app for tracking a woman's fertile window in real time.
"When it comes to fertility tracking, the current options require women to make it almost a part-time job to track their fertility," she says.
Clue co-founder Ida Tin says her app has attracted more than five million users
"They have to pee on sticks multiple times per day, wake up early to take their temperature at exactly the same time each morning, or examine their cervical mucus every time they go to the bathroom.
"By creating a bracelet that is only worn at night and does away with all this work, we firmly believe we are helping women to be less stressed and neurotic about fertility tracking."
Many of the apps in this space aren't just targeted at those trying for a baby.
Ida Tin, co-founder of Berlin-based start-up Clue, describes the firm's menstrual cycle tracker as being "empowering for women".
She adds: "For some, it's the first time they've really been able to get insight into their bodies. People use these apps because they want to understand their body better.
"The app is helpful whether you're trying for a baby or want to know when your next period is."
Many women seem to agree - Clue has about five million active users globally.
The Natural Cycles fertility app has been shown to be as effective as some other contraceptives
But the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) advises users to treat fertility apps with a degree of caution.
"There are probably many examples of new tech companies and technologies in the fertility space that bring the promise of benefits to patients and users, but they must be properly assessed before they are used in a healthcare setting," says Alexia Tonnel, director of evidence resources at Nice.
"Where possible, users should look for an independent review of the claimed benefits."
Some sexual health charities, organisations and experts have also expressed concerns over the efficacy of such apps.
But for millions of women worldwide, they have proved essential as a contraceptive, an aid to pregnancy, and as a way of understanding more about their monthly cycles.
Gemma Moore turned to ClearBlue when she was trying for her second child.
"I used the ClearBlue Fertility Monitor to measure my hormone levels and find out the four days I was most likely to conceive.
"By knowing what was going on with my hormones and realising I ovulate far later than the average woman, I was able to pinpoint when I was most likely to conceive."
In the second month she got pregnant and gave birth to her son, Oscar, last September.
As for the future, it's expected that the femtech sector will continue to thrive.
"We are not only seeing successful innovation in women's health, but also in areas such as personal hygiene, baby care and breast pumps," says Lea von Bidder from Ava.
"This is critical as most of those companies are just catching up with the technological and innovative changes we are already used to in all other aspects of our lives."
Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39503947
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Masters 2017: Sergio Garcia sinks a monster putt for birdie - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Sergio Garcia makes a monster 40 foot putt on the fifth hole to take him to five under par, one shot off the lead during his third round at the Augusta National
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Sergio Garcia makes a monster 40-foot putt on the fifth hole to take him to five under par, one shot off the lead during his third round at the Augusta National.
WATCH MORE: 'Is it something remarkable?' Couples goes so close
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39542666
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China laps up glossy TV corruption drama - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A TV drama about corruption has become a hit in China, with some comparing it to House of Cards.
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China blog
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Weibo/In the Name of the People The TV show stars Chinese heart-throb Lu Yi (second from left)
A dashing detective bursts into a secret villa and uncovers huge stacks of cash stuffed in fridges, closets and beds. Meanwhile, the villa's owner - a government official - crawls on the floor and begs for his life.
This is the dramatic opening scene in China's latest hit TV show, In the Name of the People, which made its high-profile debut last month.
The series, about China's anti-corruption campaign, has gripped millions of viewers across the country. Some have compared it to the American political drama House of Cards, which has a huge Chinese following.
In The Name of the People chronicles the internal power struggle of the Chinese Communist Party in the fictional city of Jingzhou, featuring stories about Chinese politics that are often talked about but never seen on mainstream television.
In the show, local government leaders try to sabotage a top justice's arrest order; laid-off workers hold violent protests against a corrupt deal between the government and a corporation; and fake police drive bulldozers into forced eviction sites.
Viewers have been lapping it up. "This TV drama feels so real. It really cheers people up," one viewer wrote on social media network Weibo.
"I shed tears after watching this drama. This is the tumour of corruption that has been harming the people," said another Weibo commenter.
Weibo / In the Name of the People The show, which features a sprawling cast, chronicles the power struggle in a fictional Chinese city government
What makes In The Name of the People remarkable is not just how frankly it depicts the ugly side of Chinese politics, but that it also has the blessing of the country's powerful top prosecutors' office.
More than a decade ago, anti-corruption dramas suddenly disappeared from Chinese primetime television. Authorities in 2004 had decided to restrict the production of such dramas as too many were of poor quality.
But when Chinese President Xi Jinping took power in 2012 and launched a sweeping campaign against graft, anti-corruption got back in vogue.
Chinese state media has extensively covered crackdowns on corrupt officials, and TV networks have rolled out documentaries showing officials confessing on camera and sobbing with remorse - even China's anti-corruption agency did a show about corruption within its ranks.
In The Name of The People is thus the latest piece of propaganda aimed at portraying the government's victory in its anti-corruption campaign.
At least it does a decent job in entertaining viewers, building suspense and intrigue. In one episode an investigator gets hit by a truck just as he is about to brief Beijing on key evidence, while in another the deputy mayor flees the country with the help of a mysterious government mole.
Weibo / In the Name of the People
The tall and handsome chief investigator and hero of the show. He is played by Chinese heartthrob Lu Yi, whom netizens have criticised for his awkward acting, particularly in scenes with his screen wife. "Are they a model couple or a fake couple?" complained one Weibo commenter.
Weibo / In the Name of the People
The crafty and calculating public security chief and villain of the show, played by veteran actor Xu Yajun. He appears decent but turns out to be a sycophant, always thinking about his next move to advance his political career.
Weibo / In the Name of the People
The blunt party chief obsessed with GDP growth and rising political star who likes to chastise his subordinates. Actor Wu Gang rose to fame with this role - viewers now regularly make online memes featuring his character.
The show's screenwriter, Zhou Meisen, is a seasoned writer of anti-corruption fiction and no stranger to censorship by the Chinese government.
He declined to speak to the BBC, saying he "received instruction not to speak to any foreign media".
But in interviews with Chinese media, he expressed surprise that officials approved all 55 episodes of his show - the review team reportedly even called the series "earth-shattering".
"For a long time, many people thought that if we kept our eyes closed, there wouldn't be any corruption," Mr Zhou said. "Many government officials in charge of culture have become security hawks blocking the public from seeing artistic works on anti-corruption."
He said he aimed to show that corrupt officials were not all "monsters" and were real people - but at the end of the day, the good people always win.
He made sure that Hou Liangping - the hero of In The Name Of the People - did not come from a privileged background with a lot of political connections, so that the character would be more "idealised".
"We all badly need heroes, upright law-enforcing heroes like Hou Liangping."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-39524084
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England women 1-1 Italy women - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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England are held to a frustrating draw despite dominating against Italy at Vale Park.
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Last updated on .From the section Women's Football
England were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy at Vale Park in a game marred by a serious injury.
After a goalless first half in which the Lionesses dominated, striker Jodie Taylor's fine first-time lob gave England a deserved lead.
Striker Toni Duggan could have won it, but drilled wide for the hosts in their first match since Mark Sampson named his squad for Euro 2017.
The result was harsh on England, after one of their best displays in the past 12 months, but visiting keeper Katja Schroffenegger denied Taylor superbly in each half.
Left-back Alex Greenwood also wasted a great chance to win the game in stoppage time when she headed wastefully wide.
For Italy, who are also preparing for this summer's tournament in the Netherlands, the match was soured by a serious injury to playmaker Alice Parisi, who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after an unfortunate collision with England's Millie Bright.
The Azzurri, ranked 19th in the world - 15 places below England - improved going forward in the second half after the introduction of substitute Melania Gabbiadini - sister of Southampton forward Manola - but rarely threatened Siobhan Chamberlain's goal aside from Cernoia's fierce equaliser.
One win in six
The draw left England with just one win from their six games in 2017 so far, although those fixtures have included meetings with the world's top three sides.
In front of 7,181 fans, Sampson's side created enough chances to beat Italy by a big margin, but despite having 23 efforts, they were wasteful in front of goal.
The England boss was accused on Monday of "sending out a dangerous message" through not picking players based on form, by out-of-favour Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko.
Aluko - who has 100 England caps - was the top scorer in Women's Super League One in 2016 but was one of a number of forwards who were arguably unfortunate to miss out on Sampson's Euros squad.
England carved out several openings, although Taylor broke the deadlock from one of the most difficult, lobbing the keeper with a first-time effort from 25 yards to net her seventh international goal.
The 30-year-old Arsenal forward would have had a hat-trick but for Schroffenegger's reflexes.
Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs was at the heart of almost everything that England did well, putting in a fine display and demonstrating her pace, vision and industrious energy down the hosts' right.
With England's squad for the Euros not including any players under the age of 23, it was one of the younger members - 24-year-old Nobbs - who entertained the home crowd at Vale Park.
Italy took their moment - What they said
England women boss Mark Sampson: "It was a big pitch. It was a good opportunity for us to show our physical fitness tonight. We only made three subs because we wanted to replicate the European Championships.
"We didn't expect so many people - we expected a low crowd - so to see that many people was a huge boost to this group of players."
England captain Steph Houghton: "We did everything but put the ball in the back of the net to get that winning goal.
"But it is about the performance. It is very positive when we are creating those chances. Going to the Euros, potentially teams are going to bank up and not give us much space.
"When we play these sorts of teams, it is important for us to know they are always going to have 'a moment'. Italy took their moment.
"Our quality and our athleticism did shine above Italy as a team."
England host Austria at Milton Keynes Dons' Stadium MK on Monday, 10 April, before the WSL 1 Spring Series then takes centre-stage until 3 June.
Sampson's side then face Switzerland in Biel on 10 June, before their opening match of the tournament against Group D opponents Scotland in Utrecht on 19 July.
• None Attempt blocked. Jill Scott (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
• None Substitution, England. Nikita Parris replaces Toni Duggan because of an injury.
• None Attempt blocked. Daniela Stracchi (Italy Women) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Attempt missed. Alex Greenwood (England) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Karen Carney with a cross.
• None Offside, Italy Women. Lisa Boattin tries a through ball, but Daniela Sabatino is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Lucy Bronze (England) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left.
• None Attempt missed. Toni Duggan (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
• None Attempt saved. Fara Williams (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jill Scott.
• None Attempt missed. Karen Carney (England) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Greenwood with a cross following a corner.
• None Attempt saved. Jodie Taylor (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Karen Carney.
• None Attempt missed. Aurora Galli (Italy Women) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sara Gama. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39526189
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Is it time to scrap gender specific awards? - BBC News
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2017-04-08
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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As Emma Watson wins the first gender-neutral MTV acting award, is it time to get rid of separate male and female award categories?
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Entertainment & Arts
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Watson said winning the prize was "very meaningful"
Emma Watson has won the MTV Movie and TV award for best big-screen actor - the first gender-neutral prize the ceremony has given out.
In her acceptance speech, the actress said winning the prize for her role in Beauty and the Beast was "very meaningful".
"To me, it indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and that doesn't need to be separated into two different categories."
MTV announced the change to the categories earlier this year after Billions star Asia Kate Dillon raised the issue with the Emmys.
When organisers asked the female-born star how they wanted to be considered, it proved a struggle because the performer identifies as gender non-binary.
What to go for - best actor or best actress?
The dilemma opened up a dialogue with Emmy organisers after Dillon wrote a letter to the Academy.
The star asked: "I'd like to know if in your eyes 'actor' and 'actress' denote anatomy or identity and why it is necessary to denote either in the first place?"
The Emmys explained that "anyone can submit under either category for any reason. The Academy supports anyone's choice to do that, and the Academy is not going to do any sort of check", Dillon told Variety.
"I found them to be 100% supportive," Dillon says of the Academy. "I really couldn't have been happier."
The performer chose to enter the best supporting actor category in the end, explaining "actor" is generally regarded as a non-gendered word.
But is it time to drop the gender tag altogether?
While most of the big hitters including the Oscars and Baftas still have best actor and best actress categories, there are some organisations that are pushing the envelope.
The National Television Awards (NTAs) first changed its best actor and actress categories to simply best drama performance and best serial drama performance back in 2008.
Are gender specific categories becoming outdated? Viola Davis and Jon Hamm are previous Emmy acting recipients
And bar two years when they reverted back to best male and best female in 2012 and 2013, it's been the same ever since.
Usually the serial and drama vote has been split between a male and female winner, but this year Sarah Lancashire won best drama performance for her role in Happy Valley and Lacey Turner won best serial drama performance for EastEnders.
"It felt right for the National Television Awards to make the change," says Kim Turberville, executive producer and founder of the NTAs.
"A great performance is great regardless of gender and we think that dropping the male/female division has made the drama performance category more exciting.
"It may surprise viewers one year if all four short-listed nominees voted for by the public happen to be female or male, but if that is the case it will be because of their brilliant performances and will be an interesting outcome in itself."
It was a female double win for Lacey Turner and Sarah Lancashire in the gender neutral categories at the National Television Awards
In the music world, while the Brit Awards offer the more traditional best male and best female prizes for both British and international artists, across the pond at the Grammys, no such thing exists.
Although the Grammys feature a huge 80-plus list of categories, including everything from best Latin rock album to best new age record, there is no sign of any male or female awards. The big awards are considered to be album of the year, song of the year and record of the year.
So it's not just an issue of gender identity - it's about having no distinction between female and male talent. Put simply, which performance is the best overall?
But there could be other implications for awards organisers if they changed their rules.
Having only one overall best actor category - if you agree with Dillon that the word actor is a non-gendered word - could give the winner more kudos in the acting community having beaten both male and female competition.
On the other hand, with just one category, fewer performers may get short-listed and worthy nominees may miss out.
For example, the Oscars currently have five nominees in each best actor and best actress categories. They may well increase the number of nominees if there was to be only one best performance award, but that's not a given.
It could also potentially mean fewer actresses are nominated overall. If, in any given year, there are more male performances nominated but only one category for them to be recognised in, they could effectively take the places of what would've been female nominees.
Colman and Laurie were both recognised at the Golden Globes for The Night Manager
Perhaps one way to solve this would be to be more genre specific in each category - so rather than best actress or best actor, how about best drama performance or best comedy performance?
Of course the Golden Globes already do this, although they still split the awards down gender lines.
Olivia Colman and Hugh Laurie were both beneficiaries of this system earlier in the year, when they won best performances by an actor and an actress in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or TV movie in The Night Manager.
And you could argue that having more gender split categories might boost the profiles of women film-makers, who historically struggle to gain recognition in areas such as directing, which is gender neutral.
There have only ever been four female nominees for the best director Oscar and only one winner - Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker in 2010.
Who might have made a best female director nominee at this year's Oscars? Perhaps Andrea Arnold (American Honey), Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe) or Jodie Foster (Money Monster)?
Dillon's hope is that the Emmys conversation opens the debate further, saying: "I can only speak to the world in which I wish to live.
"I think this is a really good place to start a larger conversation about the categories themselves, and what changes are possible and what may or may not be coming.
"I'm excited to see what other people think, and what they want to say once they become aware of this."
And who knows - could a change happen at the Baftas? We've asked them if they can see a rule change on the horizon, but they have yet to respond.
A version of this story was originally published on 7 April 2017.
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-39513543
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Chinese Grand Prix: Who will win the race? - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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Hamilton? Vettel? Or Giovinazzi? Choose your winner and overall top 10 race result for the Chinese Grand Prix.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Coverage: Practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix looking for his fifth win in Shanghai.
No driver has won more races there than the Briton, and he will no doubt be more determined than ever to take victory and get his season up and running.
With Mercedes having been on pole in 58 of the last 61 races, Hamilton will be the man to beat, but how do you see the top 10 shaping up in the race?
Who will finish in the top 10 at the Chinese Grand Prix?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39498065
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Nicola Adams has belief in trainer Virgil Hunter - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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GB's double gold medallist Nicola Adams believes new trainer Virgil Hunter will play a key part in her success as a professional.
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Last updated on .From the section Boxing
Coverage: Live text commentary and analysis on BBC Sport website and app
Great Britain's double gold medallist Nicola Adams believes new trainer Virgil Hunter will play a key part in success as a professional.
Adams will make her professional debut in Manchester on Saturday when she fights Argentina's Virginia Carcamo.
"Virgil has a lot of knowledge and one thing I like about him is he knows how to take an Olympic champion and turn them into a pro," said Adams, 34.
"He did it with Andre [Ward] and he's capable of doing the same with me."
American Ward, 33, has gone from winning gold at the 2004 Olympics to becoming a two-weight world champion and being unbeaten in 31 fights.
Adams has been training alongside the likes of IBF, WBA and WBO light-heavyweight champion Ward as she prepares for her fight, and says doing so "has left me a bit in awe, to be honest".
She added: "Like every fighter, my ultimate goal is to headline a show in Las Vegas and with the way the sport is building at the moment I see no reason why I can't get there.
"Other female boxers like Claressa Shields and Katie Taylor have been putting women's professional boxing on the map and now that I've joined them it can only raise the bar again."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39537604
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Masters 2017: Justin Rose & Sergio Garcia share lead after day three - BBC Sport
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2017-04-08
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England's Justin Rose climbs into a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia of Spain as the battle for the Masters intensifies on day three at Augusta.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
-6 -5-4 Spieth (US), Moore (US), Hoffman (US); -3-2-1
England's Justin Rose jumped into a share of the lead with Spain's Sergio Garcia as the battle for the Masters intensified on day three at Augusta.
Rose, 36, sunk five birdies in the last seven holes in his five-under-par 67 to join Garcia, who hit 70, on six under.
Rickie Fowler finished a shot back, while Jordan Spieth carded a 68 to move level with fellow Americans Charley Hoffman and Ryan Moore on four under.
Lee Westwood (68) moved to one under while Rory McIlroy (71) is level par.
Rose is one of four previous major winners in the top 10 going into Sunday's final round, which will be live and uninterrupted on BBC Two from 18:30 BST.
Garcia, Fowler and England's Westwood are all hoping to finally land one of golf's four most prestigious tournaments.
• None How the drama unfolded on day three of the Masters
• None How to follow the Masters on the BBC
Olympic champion Rose, 36, has not claimed a major since his maiden triumph at the 2013 US Open, but lifted himself into contention for a first Masters title with a stunning finish on Saturday.
The Englishman, who has four previous top-10 finishes at the Augusta National, was level par for the round after 11, only to blitz the final seven holes.
He rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th, then a 10-footer at the last, to join Hoffman in the lead.
Garcia, playing alongside the 40-year-old Californian, birdied the 15th to briefly make it a three-way tie at the top.
But Hoffman, one of four to share the overnight lead after the second round, slipped behind Rose and Garcia after finding water on the par-three 16th and ending with a double bogey.
"The key for me was staying patient early in my round. For me the test was around six when I made bogey, I stayed with it and played well on the back nine. Everything clicked into gear," said Rose.
"Patience is the key on Sunday. This is a golf course where you have to pick your moments. That will be the game plan."
Two-time major winner Spieth is hoping to banish memories of last year's spectacular final-day collapse by winning his second Masters.
And the 23-year-old Texan, who has finished second, first and tied second in his three Augusta appearances, put himself in the frame again with a nerveless third-round display.
After an opening-round 75 which featured a quadruple-bogey nine on the 15th, Spieth was 10 shots adrift of leader Hoffman.
No previous Masters winner has trailed by more than seven shots after 18 holes.
Spieth, who recovered with a three-under 69 on Friday, started his third round with five pars, but three birdies in four holes before the turn catapulted him into contention.
Further birdies at 13 and 15 moved him into outright second, only for a bogey on 16 - his first in 30 holes - to drop him back into a share for fourth.
"We wanted to shoot four under and thought if we did the lead would move to six or seven and I'd creep on it," said the 2015 champion, who is bidding to become the youngest two-time Masters winner.
"Moments present themselves on Sunday here - it is about being patient.
"I know better than anyone what can happen on a Sunday."
World number eight Fowler putted solidly on his way to a hard-fought one-under-par 71, while Moore responded to the grief of losing his grandmother earlier this week with six birdies in a three-under 69.
Like Garcia, Worksop's Westwood has long been considered one of Europe's finest players, only to have an excellent career somewhat tarnished by the absence of a major title.
And the 43-year-old, who was third after an opening-round 70, appeared to have scuppered his chances of ending that long wait following a five-over 77 on Friday.
However, he is back with an outside chance after converting six birdies in a four-under-par 68.
"Obviously I would like to be deep in the red, but one under is pretty good," said Westwood, who finished tied second with Spieth last year.
"I've got half a chance if I can get a roll going on the front nine."
World number two McIlroy's hopes of becoming only the sixth man to win all four majors look slim.
The Northern Irishman, 27, made a strong start with birdies on the second and third, only to be set back by three-putts on the fifth and seventh which cost him a bogey and double bogey.
Further birdies on the eighth and 12th provided hope, but he could not add any more to close the gap on the leaders.
"I had some chances on the back nine that I could have converted," said the four-time major winner.
"I think I probably could have shot a 67 or 68, but I had just a few too many wasted opportunities.
"I'm going to need my best score around here, 65, to have a chance."
Find out how to get into golf with our special guide.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39543008
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Lewis Hamilton: The 2017 Formula 1 season could be most of exciting of my career - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Chinese Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton believes 2017 could go down to the wire between Mercedes and Ferrari.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton believes the 2017 Formula 1 season could be "the most exciting" of his career.
The Mercedes driver is tied on points with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel after his victory in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton predicted the initiative would swing back and forth between the two teams throughout the season.
"It is close," he said. "I am down for it. I am looking forward to the fight with Sebastian and the other guys are going to be in amongst it."
Hamilton's win in Shanghai means he and Vettel have a victory and a second place apiece after the first two races.
Hamilton gained the advantage in China through early strategy calls in a chaotic opening few laps but the race eventually distilled to a battle between him and Vettel in the closing laps, the two cars separated by about eight seconds.
Hamilton said: "We are both pushing. It's great, last 20 laps, exchanging times, he was closing the gap a little bit, but I managed to stay ahead."
The 32-year-old won two of his three titles in last-race showdowns, beating Ferrari's Felipe Massa in 2008 only when he passed a car on the last corner of the final lap of the last race.
Hamilton also tied on points with then-McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso in 2007, the pair finishing one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.
But Hamilton said he believed this year's battle could be the toughest he has yet had.
"It is going to be one of the closest ones - if not the closest - I have ever experienced," he said.
• None Listen: Vettel out of position at the start
Vettel told his team over the radio on the slowing-down lap the he believed they again had the fastest car, two weeks after winning in Australia by pressuring Mercedes into an early pit stop.
The four-time champion said: "It felt like we were the quickest, man. We couldn't prove that, but next time we will."
But the German, whose team failed to win a race in 2016, played down talk of a season-long fight between Ferrari and Mercedes.
"It would be great news for us," Vettel said. "They are the ones to beat, they have a very strong team, doing very well the last three years being flawless and smashing a lot of records.
"So for us it is really good news we had another race where we were really close and were able to put some pressure on.
"It is just race two. I really enjoyed it and at this point I don't care about the rest of the year."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39545971
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Yorkshire v Hampshire: Hants complete remarkable run-chase to win - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Hampshire successfully chase 320 to complete a remarkable comeback win over Yorkshire at Headingley.
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Hampshire chased a target of 320 on day three to complete a remarkable County Championship win at Yorkshire.
Resuming on 10-0, the away side began well, Michael Carberry (41), Jimmy Adams (72) and James Vince (44) all contributing to take them to 176-3.
Further runs from Rilee Rossouw (47) and Liam Dawson (37) edged them closer to their target.
Tim Bresnan (3-73) struck to give hope, but Lewis McManus (30 not out) and Gareth Berg (33 not out) saw them home.
Having collapsed to 75-8 in the first innings, a target of 320 - the largest total of the match - appeared a difficult ask, but Hampshire's openers made the most of some fortune to give their side a strong start.
Adams was dropped by Adam Lyth at second slip on 11, while Peter Handscomb was guilty of spilling Carberry in the gully when the opener had scored just six runs.
Carberry was eventually caught at long leg by Steven Patterson off Ben Coad's bowling and Adams was trapped lbw by Azeem Rafiq's first ball before Vince became Coad's second victim, offering a low return catch.
Bresnan had Sean Ervine caught behind, and while Rossouw and Dawson put on a partnership of 57, both were dismissed by the Yorkshire seamer - Rossouw caught by Andrew Hodd and Dawson by a diving Bresnan.
Hampshire rallied with a crucial stand of 58 between 22-year-old McManus and Berg, whose six off Coad assured victory for former Yorkshire and England all-rounder Craig White's side against his old club.
It is a fine start to the 2017 campaign for Hampshire, who finished eighth last season and only avoided relegation from Division One due to Durham's demotion for financial troubles.
"It was a good game of cricket for the neutral, wasn't it? But it's disappointing to be on the wrong end of it because I felt we had opportunities to win.
"We could have put the game to bed on Saturday afternoon. I didn't think it was a 180-odd all out pitch. We could have applied ourselves a little bit better.
"If we'd have got 220-250 and they'd have been chasing 400, it's a different game. Also, a couple of catches went down, and it's a different game at 20-2. But fair play to Hampshire, it was a good chase. Not many teams come here and chase over 300 in the fourth innings."
"That was a great win. You don't win many games being 58-5 in the first innings. To claw it back and come out of that situation with a victory is pretty special, so I'm proud of the lads.
"Every win's special, but this one perhaps a little more so. Everyone was so determined. It wasn't an easy pitch. There was a little bit in it. So the way the boys worked hard and got stuck in was outstanding.
"We've had a great start, but we know in two weeks when Yorkshire come down to Hampshire, they will be like wounded animals. They will come at us hard. So we need to prepare ourselves for that."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39542066
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Masters 2017: Sergio Garcia pips Justin Rose to win at Augusta - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Spain's Sergio Garcia ends his long wait for a first major title with a thrilling play-off win over England's Justin Rose at the Masters.
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Spain's Sergio Garcia ends his long wait for a first major title with a thrilling play-off win over England's Justin Rose at the Masters.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39550387
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Masters 2017: Matt Kuchar bags stunning hole-in-one on 16th - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Matt Kuchar shoots the first hole-in-one of the 2017 Masters on the 16th hole during the final round at Augusta.
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Matt Kuchar shoots the first hole-in-one of the 2017 Masters on the 16th hole during the final round at Augusta.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39549157
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Chinese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton beats Sebastian Vettel to pole - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton wins a tight fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won a tight fight with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to take pole position for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton beat Vettel by 0.186 seconds for his second pole in two races, while the German edged the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas by 0.001secs.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen made it the same top four on the grid as at the season-opening race in Australia.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fifth but 1.355secs off the pace.
The Australian's team-mate Max Verstappen was 19th after an engine problem.
• None Sunday's race is live on the BBC Sport website and radio 5 live at 07:00 BST
Mercedes and Ferrari going toe to toe
China has underlined the impression created at the Australian Grand Prix that Mercedes and Ferrari are incredibly closely matched at the start of a season where huge regulation change has produced faster and more demanding cars.
And as in Melbourne, it was Briton Hamilton who made the difference, pulling out the stops when it mattered in the final qualifying session as it appeared Ferrari might have the edge.
Vettel was fastest in final practice and in the first part of qualifying, and Raikkonen of Finland topped the second session.
But 32-year-old Hamilton produced the first lap under one minute 32 seconds all weekend at the start of the top 10 shootout, beating Vettel by 0.184secs despite a slide at Turn 11.
Hamilton and Vettel both lowered their times by a little over 0.2secs on their final runs and the Mercedes man kept the advantage.
It was Hamilton's sixth pole in a row - dating back to last year's US Grand Prix - and his sixth in China, where his record of four wins is better than any other driver.
However, he will surely know he has his work cut out to beat Ferrari in the race after Vettel's impressive victory in Australia two weeks ago.
The race could well be wet, with overnight rain predicted and cooler temperatures than qualifying, which was dry and bright.
Governing body the FIA has taken steps to ensure the cars can run after farcical scenes on Friday, when practice was badly disrupted because the medical helicopter could not operate.
A wet race would be a complete unknown for the drivers - not only did they get hardly any running on Friday but they have not driven these new cars in the wet before this weekend, and Pirelli has designed new wet tyres for this season after complaints the previous ones were not effective enough.
Proof the cars are harder to drive this year
The first session of qualifying ended with a heavy crash for Sauber driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
The Italian lost control coming out of the last corner in the closing minutes of the session, dashing the hopes of Force India's Esteban Ocon, Haas' Romain Grosjean and Renault's Jolyon Palmer of improving and getting into the second session.
Giovinazzi, ironically, qualified 15th - fast enough to get into Q2, but was unable to take part because of the damage to his car.
He was on a lap that was on target to beat team-mate Marcus Ericsson, but even so ended up less than 0.1secs behind the Swede.
After qualifying Englishman Palmer and Grosjean of Switzerland were each handed five-place grid penalties by race stewards for not slowing sufficiently under the waved yellows for the crash.
Palmer's team-mate Nico Hulkenberg was an impressive seventh, and just 0.5secs behind the Red Bull, which uses the same engine, underlining the progress Renault have made over the winter. The German was just pipped for sixth by Williams' Brazilian driver Felipe Massa.
'A very perfect lap' - what they said
"The Ferrari looked so fast and we knew it was going to be close, and we knew we had to pull out all the stops and I managed to do a very, very perfect lap," Hamilton said.
"It started off not as good as the first lap, maybe because of tyre temperature, but it got better and better. It felt strong.
"Coming into the last corner knowing I was up a couple of tenths is always nervous because you want to gain some - but you don't want to lose everything you've gained.
"It's exciting for me because we're really fighting with the guys and that is what racing is all about. It pushes you to raise the bar every time you go out, which I love."
Vettel said: "It was a nice session. I enjoyed it a lot. I was very happy with the lap I had. Last corner I lost a little bit, maybe chickened on to the brakes a bit too soon - but we just had enough margin to make it on to the front row."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39537606
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Bournemouth 1-3 Chelsea - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Chelsea maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory over spirited Bournemouth.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory over spirited Bournemouth.
Pressured by Tottenham's earlier thrashing of Watford, the visitors looked to be cruising after two goals in three first-half minutes.
But Bournemouth, who had already hit the post, got back into the contest through Joshua King's long-range deflected effort.
The Cherries continued to press after half-time, only for Chelsea to gradually regain control and secure the points through Marcos Alonso's impeccable free-kick.
The Blues next travel to Manchester United, their sternest of seven league fixtures between now and the end of the season.
If they return from Old Trafford with their seven-point advantage still intact, they will be a huge step closer to a sixth title and fifth in the Premier League era.
A week ago, Chelsea's seemingly unstoppable march to glory was disrupted by a shock home defeat by Crystal Palace, giving hope to second-placed Tottenham.
However, they got back on track by beating Manchester City and seemed unaffected by Spurs' earlier victory in producing an emphatic start in the south-coast sun.
If the Chelsea first goal was bizarre - Diego Costa's scuffed shot went in off the head of grounded home defender Adam Smith - the second was sublime.
N'Golo Kante, excellent in both winning the ball and moving the visitors forward, found the equally impressive Eden Hazard with a precision long pass, allowing the galloping Belgian to round home keeper Artur Boruc.
The away side were pegged back either side of half-time, but gradually reasserted themselves as the second period progressed and Alonso's curling, dipping free-kick killed the contest.
At the beginning of March, Bournemouth were winless in eight league games, only five points above the relegation zone and being dragged into a fight for survival.
However, some whole-hearted displays, including coming from behind to earn a point at Liverpool in midweek, meant this was their first defeat in six.
It could have been different with a change of fortune, too.
There was a huge slice of luck involved in Chelsea's first and Benik Afobe was unfortunate to hit the woodwork when arriving late to meet Charlie Daniels' cross.
With Afobe, King and Ryan Fraser all lively, the Cherries were willing to test Chelsea through the middle and got their reward when King lashed in his 13th of the season from outside the box, via a touch off David Luiz - even if Chelsea complained of a Smith handball in the build-up.
Ultimately, though, coming from two behind was too much to ask for the home side and it was Boruc who was the much busier keeper in the second period.
If there is one, incredibly slight, concern for Chelsea in the run-in, it may be the form of Costa, who has now gone five domestic games without a goal.
The Spain international's afternoon was one of frustration, mis-kicks and miscues, albeit plenty of endeavour to create goalscoring opportunities.
His attempt for Chelsea's first was a comical slice, only saved from going well wide by the intervention of Smith.
But that was not the only time that Costa struggled in front of goal, with the man who has netted 18 times this season often lacking sharpness when presented with an opportunity.
Still, that is no comfort for the chasing pack, who probably already have too much to do.
'Chelsea were too strong' - what they said
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "I thought it was a tight game and we were well in it. It doesn't help going 2-0 down and it took a worldie free-kick to win the game.
"I have to compliment Chelsea, they're an outstanding team and their system works very well for them. But I compliment my boys as well because they played very well. In the end Chelsea were too strong.
"I'm not feeling anything other than we need to win some more games. What we've historically done is always try to win and that's the same aim no matter how many points you have and how many games are left."
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte: "It's normal to have a pressure. We started the game very well with great attention and focus. Then we conceded the goal and we lost a bit of confidence. In the second half we managed the game and scored another goal, then the free-kick from Marcos Alonso.
"When you have this type of opponent, Tottenham, who is in good form and wants to catch you, it is important to have a good answer. This is a good answer. There are seven games to go and in England it is not easy, there is a lot of pressure."
• None Eden Hazard has scored four times in his last three Premier League appearances against Bournemouth.
• None Hazard's haul of 14 Premier League goals this season is his joint-best-ever return in a season in the competition (also 14 in 13-14 and 14-15).
• None N'Golo Kante has provided his first ever Premier League assist for Chelsea in what is his 30th appearance.
• None Joshua King has scored 10 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, after netting just three in the 20 before that this season.
• None Indeed, only Romelu Lukaku (11) and Harry Kane (11) have scored more Premier League goals in 2017 than Josh King (10 - level with Dele Alli).
• None Marcos Alonso has netted five PL goals this season. Among defenders, only James Milner (7) and Gareth McAuley (6) have more.
Bournemouth complete a back-to-back double of the Premier League's top two with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur at 12:30 next Saturday, while Chelsea are reunited with former manager Jose Mourinho against Manchester United at 16:00 on Sunday, 16 April.
• None Max Gradel (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt saved. Diego Costa (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Attempt saved. Victor Moses (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Attempt blocked. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lys Mousset.
• None Attempt missed. Adam Smith (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left following a corner.
• None Attempt missed. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.
• None Pedro (Chelsea) 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/39464042
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Aberdeen 0-3 Rangers - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Two goals by Kenny Miller and one by substitute Joe Dodoo help Rangers cut the gap on second-place Aberdeen to nine points.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Rangers scored three times in five late second-half minutes to end second-place Aberdeen's run of 10 consecutive home wins and cut the gap to nine points.
In a scrappy first half, Joe Garner drew a save from Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis and crossed for Martyn Waghorn to volley over.
Aberdeen dominated after the break as Wes Foderingham saved from Kenny McLean and twice from striker Adam Rooney.
But Kenny Miller's brace and Joe Dodoo's third earned Rangers the win.
• None Dons will still finish second - McInnes
Aberdeen are still well placed to finish runners-up to Premiership champions Celtic, with nine points and a far superior goal difference separating them from Rangers with only six games remaining.
Derek McInnes's men started the match as favourites and the early signs suggested they would live up to their billing as they pressed, fought and chased Rangers across every inch of the pitch.
It was more a bruising battle than a beautiful game, though, and referee Kevin Clancy was flashing cards early, with Garner and Ryan Jack the first to be booked as they squared up to each other.
For all its lack of free-flowing football, it was a very watchable spectacle. Jonny Hayes forced a low save from Foderingham at one end and Waghorn should have burst the net rather than volleying over after a sumptuous cross from Garner on the right.
The visitors actually enjoyed the best chances in the early stages despite their lack of fluidity in midfield.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha said beforehand that his players were entering hell with this trip but it looked more like limbo as both sides continued to cancel each other out. The Portuguese was also well aware that anything other than victory would see his side consigned to third at best.
The Ibrox side have obvious frailties at the moment, especially in defence where youngsters are deputising for more experienced injured regulars, but they showed fight and spirit that would be rewarded later in the match.
Young David Bates looked slow and ponderous at times although Myles Beerman at left-back was composed and calm when needed.
When Aberdeen click, it is mostly down to the hard work of their impressive wide men and so it was in the second half as Niall McGinn and Hayes terrorised the Rangers full-backs.
Hayes skipped past two on his way to the box but Graeme Shinnie's hooked shot was blocked by Foderingham. McGinn was at it on the other side and his trickery was feeding Rooney but his fellow Irishman could not convert despite several gilt-edged invitations.
You could sense the tide turning though and Rangers were struggling to contain the waves of red battering their defences.
For all their efforts though, few chances were seriously testing Foderingham.
With 11 minutes remaining, veteran striker Miller scored his 10th goal in 40 appearances this season. Against the run of play, Waghorn created space for himself in the box and when his shot was saved, 37-year-old Miller lashed a fabulous effort high into the back of the net.
Aberdeen had no time to compose themselves before Miller made it two when he skipped through a defence in disarray to slide neatly past Lewis and send the small band of Rangers fans wild.
Substitute Dodoo played his part in that second goal and he slammed home a third to complete an incredible five minute turnaround that sent the Dons fans scurrying for the exits in disbelief.
Those who remained in defiance almost witnessed a Miller hat-trick as he followed up on Dodoo's shot that came back off the crossbar but defender Andrew Considine spared further blushes as he cleared off the line.
• None Attempt blocked. Kenny Miller (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
• None Joseph Dodoo (Rangers) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
• None Kenny McLean (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
• None Goal! Aberdeen 0, Rangers 3. Joseph Dodoo (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner.
• None Goal! Aberdeen 0, Rangers 2. Kenny Miller (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joseph Dodoo.
• None Goal! Aberdeen 0, Rangers 1. Kenny Miller (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39470435
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Masters 2017: Sergio Garcia pips Justin Rose to win at Augusta - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Spain's Sergio Garcia ends his long wait for a first major title with a thrilling play-off win over England's Justin Rose at the Masters.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
Spain's Sergio Garcia won his first major title at his 74th attempt with a thrilling play-off victory over England's Justin Rose at the Masters.
Both players finished on nine under par after 72 holes at Augusta, setting up a sudden-death play-off on the 18th.
Garcia, 37, holed a birdie putt for victory after his European Ryder Cup team-mate could only manage a bogey.
Charl Schwartzel was third on six under with England's Paul Casey and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in the top 10.
Jordan Spieth, one of the pre-tournament favourites, and fellow American Rickie Fowler both fell away badly on the final day.
Spieth, champion in 2015, signed for a three-over-par 75, while playing partner Fowler carded a 76 to finish tied in 11th on one under.
Garcia finally won one of golf's four majors - the Open Championship, the US Open and the US PGA Championship are the other three - after 22 previous top-10 finishes.
He became the third Spaniard to win the Masters - after Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal - on what would have been the 60th birthday of Ballesteros, who died in 2011.
"To join Seve and Jose - my two idols - is amazing," said Garcia.
• None I will have many more chances - Rose
• None Relive all the drama of Garcia's win at Augusta
Shot one: Rose teed off first on the 18th, pushing his drive right into the trees, only for his ball to bounce back towards play and reappear in the pine needles.
Garcia thumped his drive almost 300 yards down the fairway.
Shot two: Rose could only punch his way out of trouble onto the fairway, while Garcia landed his approach on the green, 12 feet from the hole.
Shot three: The Englishman responded by hitting his ball about 15 foot to the right of the hole - on a similar line to his putt in regulation play about 15 minutes earlier.
Rose missed his par putt to the left of the hole, leaving Garcia two shots for victory and the Spaniard rolled in his first attempt, with his ball circling the cup before dropping in.
Garcia dropped to his knees in celebration, and Rose instantly walked over to congratulate him as they shared a warm embrace on the green.
Garcia and Rose, who started playing against each other as teenagers and have become firm friends since, went out as Sunday's final pairing after sharing the overnight lead on six under.
Rose has long craved a follow-up victory to his 2013 US Open win, in order to go down in history as a multiple major champion. For Garcia, the stakes were even higher.
Not only was the Spaniard aiming to win his first major, he was also trying to prove that he had the mental resilience to triumph.
What followed was an intense battle filled with drama and tension.
Garcia started strongly with birdies on the first and third, opening up a three-shot lead on Rose after he bogeyed the fifth.
But the Englishman replied with three straight birdies to rejoin his playing partner on eight under at the turn.
Garcia bogeyed the 10th to give Rose the outright lead, then appeared to lose his composure when he pulled his tee shot into the trees on the par-five 13th. He was forced to take a one-shot penalty because of an unplayable lie, but scrambled well to save par.
This sparked his revival, A remarkable eagle on the par-five 15th - his first in 452 holes at Augusta - followed by a Rose birdie, meant the pair were tied on nine under with three to play.
Garcia pushed a short birdie putt right on the par-three 16th after Rose had holed his to open a one-shot lead, only for the Englishman to bogey the 17th.
Both players missed birdie putts on the last, Garcia from four feet, setting up the first Masters play-off between two European players, which Garcia nicked in fading light.
"It has been such a long time coming," said the world number 11, who will rise into the top 10 on Monday.
"I knew I was playing well. I felt the calmest I ever felt in a major."
While Garcia was being presented with the Green Jacket in the Augusta clubhouse, Rose was left rueing another near miss.
The Olympic champion has not claimed a major since winning the 2013 US Open, but lifted himself into contention for a first Masters title with five birdies in the final seven holes on Saturday.
But Rose, who also finished second behind Spieth in 2015, had to settle for a fifth top-10 finish at Augusta National.
"It is disappointing to come so close," said the world number 14. "I felt in control until the end.
"But I'm really happy for Sergio. I'd love to be wearing the Green Jacket but if it wasn't me then I'm glad it is him."
World number two McIlroy's ambition of becoming only the sixth man to win all four majors must wait for at least another year.
The 27-year-old, who has already won the Open, US Open and two US PGA Championship titles, battled back from three over par after eight holes on Thursday to finish three under after a closing 69.
"It wasn't quite good enough. I felt like I had an opportunity on Saturday to shoot something in the mid-60s which would have got me closer to the lead and I didn't quite do that," said McIlroy.
"I gave a decent account of myself and will come back next year and try again."
Casey, 39, carded four birdies in a bogey-free front nine to move into contention at four under, but could not improve that score as he shot 68 to earn his fourth top-10 finish at Augusta.
South Africa's Schwartzel, the 2011 champion, holed five birdies in the final 10 holes to finish with a 68, while American Matt Kuchar aced the 16th - the only hole-in-one of the week - on his way to the day's joint best round of 67.
He finished tied fourth on five under with Belgian Thomas Pieters, who impressed on his Masters debut.
Two-time major winner Spieth was hoping to banish memories of last year's spectacular final-day collapse at the 12th by winning his second Masters.
But the 23-year-old American, who was already three over for the day and well down the leaderboard, saw his challenge completely disappear on the iconic par-three when he again knocked his tee-shot into the water guarding the green.
It is the first time in his four Masters appearance the 2015 champion has not finished in the top two.
Spieth's playing partner Fowler started one shot off the lead as he targeted his first major, only to rack up seven bogeys in a disappointing round.
Fellow American Fred Couples, the 57-year-old who won the Masters in 1992, ended up tied 18th at one over.
"It was an electrifying final day. It was a duel of the highest quality, top sportsmanship and both Sergio and Justin take great credit.
"I think the golfing world thinks 'well, Justin has a major, it is time for Sergio to win one'.
"He thoroughly deserves it, he has been a champion golfer and in the top 20 of the world for virtually 20 years."
'Who writes these scripts?' - reaction to Garcia's win
Find out how to get into golf with our special guide.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39549330
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Claudio Bravo: Pep Guardiola says Man City keeper has world-class footwork - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Man City's Claudio Bravo is one of the world's top keepers when it comes to build-up play, manager Pep Guardiola said after beating Hull 3-1.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City's Claudio Bravo is one of the world's top keepers when it comes to build-up play, manager Pep Guardiola said after beating Hull 3-1.
Tigers defender Andrea Ranocchia beat him with a weak shot on Saturday - the visitors' only effort on target.
Bravo has now conceded seven goals from the past seven shots on target he has faced in the Premier League.
But Guardiola said his footwork is "the best with Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer and Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen".
• None Relive the action from Etihad Stadium as it happened
The Chile international replaced Willy Caballero for the game against Hull to make his first league appearance since 21 January.
He was involved in City's second goal, which featured an impressive series of passes from one end of the field to the other before Raheem Sterling crossed for Sergio Aguero to score his 28th goal of the season.
Guardiola added: "With his feet he helps us a lot to create good build-up and create our possession in the middle of the pitch."
Bravo conceded twice against Tottenham and four times at Everton in his previous two Premier League appearances.
The last time he saved a shot on target in the league was against Burnley on 2 January.
Top-four battle will go to the end
City's first Premier League win since a 2-0 success at Sunderland on 5 March ended a four-match run without a victory.
They are fourth in the table, two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand and seven clear of Arsenal and Manchester United, who have both played two matches fewer. City host United in the Manchester derby on 27 January.
Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola, who replaced Manuel Pellegrini at Etihad Stadium in the summer, does not feel the race to finish in the top four and secure Champions League qualification will be decided until the final game of the season on 21 May.
He said: "We do not have a big gap. We have to be aware of the situation. We have teams like Leicester, West Brom and Southampton still to play. We have suffered a lot in matches like this this season.
"I am pretty sure we are going to fight against Arsenal, United and Liverpool until the end to qualify in the third and fourth position."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39541762
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Dele Alli: Better than Lampard, Gerrard and Beckham combined? - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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The Tottenham midfielder is enjoying a remarkable season – and his stats suggest he is on course to surpass the feats of some of the Premier League's greats.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Is Dele Alli among England's greats? How good was that Manchester City team goal? Is Philippe Coutinho now Brazil's greatest export?
We try to answer those questions and take a look at some of the other interesting stats from the weekend.
Could Alli be 'The Greatest'?
The stat: Dele Alli (40) has been involved in as many Premier League goals before turning 21 as Frank Lampard (15), Steven Gerrard (13) and David Beckham (12) combined.
He floats across the pitch like a butterfly and stings like a bee, as Watford discovered during Saturday's 4-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.
Alli's stunning opener for Spurs, scored three days before his 21st birthday, further underlined the precocious talent of the youngster who, it is worth remembering, was scoring for MK Dons against Leyton Orient less than two years ago.
That is now an incredible 19 goals in all club competitions for the attacking midfielder this season, following on from the 10 he managed in his debut season for Spurs. He has now also scored more league goals (16) this season than any other under-21 player in Europe's top five leagues.
So what transfer fee would you attach to him now? £50m? £60m?
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Well, you could conceivably multiply that by two because the attacking midfielder has had a hand in as many Premier League goals before turning 21 as fellow Englishmen Frank Lampard (15), Steven Gerrard (13) and David Beckham (12) combined.
But wait, this is what former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage had to say about Alli on BBC Radio 5 live's 606:
"What is world class? I think to be world class you have to affect big games, do it on a regular basis and win games on your own. To say he is world class now is a huge statement. Name me big games he's affected, particularly in Europe and the Champions League. Potentially yes, but is he now?"
Will the table below change Robbie's thinking?
The best team goal this season?
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola must have had Barcelona flashbacks as he watched Sergio Aguero's goal during the 3-1 win over Hull on Saturday.
All 11 players touched the ball in the build-up, including keeper Claudio Bravo three times, as City put 21 passes together before the Argentine tapped in.
Painfully for Guardiola, the fact Raheem Sterling's cross was parried into Aguero's path by Eldin Jakupovic means the official statisticians class this one as having zero passes in the build-up.
It was a stunning goal but, even if this had gone down as a 21-pass move, it still would not have featured in the top-five longest build-ups of the season.
Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass etc etc etc GOAL!
What this does suggest, however, is that if you want to score a great team goal, Hull are the team to do it against.
Bravo - will he ever save a shot?
Opposition players scanning Manchester City's team-sheet before kick-off might be inclined to first check who is in goal.
"Brilliant. Claudio Bravo," could be how they react. After all, the 33-year-old Chile player has let in all the past seven shots on target on his goal.
He also has the worst save percentage in the Premier League season so far - stopping only 54.39% of the efforts he has faced. Crystal Palace's Steve Mandanda (58.54%, but has only played nine league games) and Swansea's Lukasz Fabianski (58.64%) have the second and third worst records.
Coutinho - the Premier League's best Brazilian ever?
He showed his potential at Inter Milan, but it is at Liverpool where Coutinho has blossomed.
The 24-year-old midfielder's well-taken equaliser in the Reds 2-1 win at Stoke on Saturday was his 30th in the Premier League, which saw him overtake former Middlesbrough forward Juninho as the highest scoring Brazilian in the competition's history. Parabéns!
Incidentally, former Arsenal defensive midfielder Gilberto Silva has played the most games (170) and has the best win percentage - an impressive 61.8%. Coutinho's is currently at 53.8%.
Just how boring are Middlesbrough?
Yes, some would say we are kicking a team while they are down - down, not relegated Boro fans - but this BBC weekly statistics piece takes no prisoners.
Middlesbrough - you are definitely not in the running for the Premier League 'Entertainers' award.
The Teesside club have been involved in SEVEN goalless draws in the Premier League this season - three more than any other side.
And their Riverside Stadium has also seen fewer goals than any other Premier League ground this season (29 - 12 scored and 17 conceded).
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But they do not hold the unwanted honour of the most 0-0s in a season - that goes to Sunderland (2014-15), Sheffield United (1993-94) and Leeds United (1996-97) who took part in a mind-numbing NINE goalless draws.
And the fewest goals at a ground was when Manchester City's City of Manchester stadium witnessed a paltry 26 in 19 games during the 2006-07 season. Manager Stuart Pearce was sacked at the end of that campaign.
Bournemouth's Norwegian forward Joshua King is proving to be a thorn in the sides of the Premier League elite.
In fact, the 25-year-old's strike against Chelsea in Saturday's 3-1 defeat means he has now scored eight goals against teams currently in the top 10 - the most of any player featuring in a team outside the top half.
And only Everton's Romelu Lukaku (13) and Tottenham's Harry Kane (11) have scored more Premier League goals in 2017 than King, who has 10 - level with Spurs' Alli.
Sunderland have now failed to score in seven successive Premier League games - the joint-second worst run in Premier League history.
Crystal Palace hold the record of nine games (1994-95), with Derby (2007-08) and Ipswich (1994-95) also going seven games without scoring.
All three of those teams were relegated during those seasons.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39546664
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Masters 2017: Oosthuizen's 'fantastic' bunker shot - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen almost holes a brilliant bunker shot on the seventh green on the final day of the 2017 Masters.
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2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen almost holes a brilliant bunker shot after using the slope the seventh green to feed back to the hole on the final day of the 2017 Masters.
WATCH MORE: Rose lights up back nine
WATCH MORE: Best shots of day three
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39548165
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Nicola Adams beats Virginia Carcamo on her professional debut - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Great Britain's double gold medallist Nicola Adams marks her professional debut with a points victory over Virginia Carcamo.
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Last updated on .From the section Boxing
Great Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams marked her professional debut with a 40-36 points victory over Argentina's Virginia Carcamo in Manchester.
The 34-year-old was vastly superior in the flyweight contest, which was held over four, two-minute rounds.
"I was a bit too eager to get the stoppage as I wanted to entertain the crowd, " said Leeds-born Adams.
As an amateur, Adams won gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
She also won Commonwealth, European and World titles before switching to the professional ranks in January and signing with promoter Frank Warren.
Her next fight is scheduled for 13 May in Leeds.
• None Also on the Manchester bill: Flanagan retains WBO lightweight title
Adams was aggressive against 32-year-old Carcamo and looked quicker and faster than her opponent in a comfortable victory.
"I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it," Adams told BT Sport. "You can see a lot more without the headguard. I loved it. I'm here to stay."
Speaking to BBC Sport, she added: "I was absolutely buzzing when I went out there and with experience I will learn to settle down and get into my flow faster.
"I am happy with how my training camp is going, it is a steady learning curve and I am learning new things. As my fights progress I will get better and better in the ring."
Adams became the first woman to box for England in 2001 and joined the Great Britain squad in 2010. In beating China's Ren Cancan to win flyweight gold at London 2012, she became the first Olympic women's boxing champion.
She also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2015 European Games and 2016 World Championships, before retaining her Olympic title by beating France's Sarah Ourahmoune in Rio.
The second Olympic title made her the first British boxer to retain gold in 92 years.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39541999
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One For Arthur wins the Grand National for Scotland, injured jockeys and 'golf widows' - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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One For Arthur's victory is one for Scotland, one for injured jockeys and one for 'two golf widows'.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
One For Arthur. One for Scotland, one for a jockey back from injury and two golf 'widows' on the weekend of the Masters.
In the great tradition of the famous race, the 170th edition of the Grand National at Aintree delivered a story with many strands.
The 14-1 winner One For Arthur, thought to be named after the famous Irish brewer Arthur Guinness, held off the challenge of Cause Of Causes to triumph, with Saint Are third and favourite Blaklion fourth.
It was only a second Scottish-trained winner of the National, with Lucinda Russell the fourth woman to saddle the victor.
Jockey Derek Fox was having his first ride in the marathon contest over 30 fences and four-and-a-quarter miles, and just his sixth since breaking his left wrist and right collarbone in a fall last month.
Owners Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson bought the horse and gave their syndicate a cheeky name as their partners were often away playing golf.
The feel-good story was capped with all 40 runners returning safely for the fifth year running.
• None Where did your horse finish?
Russell wore a wide grin as she received widespread congratulations and declared: "He's done us proud and he's done Scotland proud."
After a 38-year wait since Rubstic's triumph, she had helped deliver another victory for her homeland and a third in nine years for female trainers.
"It means everything, of course it does," said the 50-year-old, who is based at Kinross, Tayside, north of Edinburgh, and follows Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith as National winners.
Russell is assisted by her partner Peter Scudamore, the eight-time champion jockey who missed out on National success as a rider - coming closest to winning from 12 rides when third on Corbiere in 1985.
"I don't like the word 'small' but we are not one of the more fashionable places and, from about Christmas-time, I felt confident things were going well," he said.
Scudamore advised Fox to steer clear of taking an inside track so he could avoid trouble and the race plan worked to perfection.
Fox did not sit on a horse for three-and-a-half weeks after being injured in a fall at Carlisle on 9 March.
Following intensive rehabilitation at the Injured Jockeys Fund's Jack Berry House in Malton, North Yorkshire, he returned to action three days before the National.
"Winning is the best feeling I've ever had, and probably ever will have. He's such a brave horse," said the 24-year-old Irish rider.
"For the first two weeks after I was injured I was very hot and cold. I was very low some days and thought I wouldn't make it."
His jubilant mother Jackie, from Sligo, watched from the winner's enclosure and said he had always been destined for this moment.
"At every parent teacher evening I went to, they were giving out, but I knew he was going to be a jockey," she said.
She said Derek had dressed as a cowboy riding a pony called Reggie in a St Patrick's Day parade when he was four years old.
"Aged nine, he went to riding school. The instructor said: 'You'll never make it as a showjumper, but I can see you going over the fences at Aintree'," added his mother.
With their partners spending weekends on the golf course, friends Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson wanted to get their own sporting interest.
"We had a lot of gin and decided to get a horse together. We went to Cheltenham sales and got One For Arthur," said Belinda.
After forking out £60,000 for the horse in December 2013, the pair registered their ownership as 'The Two Golf Widows".
Their silks contain a Scottish flag and the purchase has paid off - with the owners earning about £500,000 in prize money from the £1m contest.
Deborah, close to tears, said: "We always hoped he'd be a National horse in the making.
"Our dream was to get him here but to actually win, well I'm lost for words.
"The syndicate name is slightly tongue-in-cheek as my partner Colin is on the golf course every single weekend. There's probably two weekends when he's not."
This, perhaps not surprisingly, was one of those two weekends.
"They are both here today, of course," she said. "They weren't going to miss out."
Fraser, the husband of Belinda, confirmed: "This is miles better than golfing."
What's in a name? - the horse
Two false starts in warm sunshine led to 31 of the 40 jockeys, including Fox, being referred to the British Horseracing Authority for approaching the starting tape before the flag was raised.
Fox went on to give One For Arthur an impeccable ride, sending his mount to the front approaching the last and winning by four-and-a-half lengths.
Russell had been unsure he would appreciate the drying ground, but there was no stopping the Irish-bred gelding, who was following up his win in the Classic Chase at Warwick.
So where does the name One For Arthur come from?
"We're not totally sure. We think he was named after Arthur Guinness," said the trainer.
"His name is still on the Guinness cans and people say I'll have 'One For Arthur' or one for the road."
Victory in the world's most famous steeplechase was one for the almanac. One brewed in Ireland and toasted in Scotland.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39541910
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Sunderland 0-3 Manchester United - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Bottom club Sunderland's hopes of avoiding relegation suffer another setback as Manchester United ease to victory to climb to fifth in the table.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Bottom club Sunderland's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered another setback as Manchester United eased to victory to climb to fifth in the table.
Sunderland played with 10 men for more than 45 minutes after Sebastian Larsson's controversial red card for a challenge on Ander Herrera.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had already put United ahead with a sublime, curling 20-yard effort.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan made it 2-0 before Marcus Rashford drilled in the third.
Sunderland are 10 points from safety with just seven games left and have not scored for seven matches.
United, who move above Arsenal, are four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with one game in hand over their neighbours.
• None Analysis: Why Moyes needs to change Sunderland's mood
• None Reaction from the Stadium of Light
This was Sunderland's 21st league defeat in 31 games this season, while they have now gone 11 hours and 15 minutes without scoring in the top flight.
It is hard to see where another win is going to come from and the Black Cats' relegation to the Championship could be confirmed as soon as 26 April - with five games remaining.
Sunderland were not helped by an injury to Bryan Oviedo, which cut short the defender's afternoon, while Larsson's contentious straight red card for going over the top of the ball on Herrera ended any realistic chance of a win before the interval.
Larsson, who was furious with referee Craig Pawson's decision, now faces a suspension for his first Premier League dismissal in what was his 278th appearance in the competition.
Moments before the red card, Victor Anichebe had been denied by United's Argentina keeper Sergio Romero, who was starting in place of the injured David de Gea.
Jermain Defoe went close from 20 yards after the interval but the Black Cats have lost six of their last seven games and look drained of any confidence.
Jose Mourinho made five changes for his side's 50th competitive game of the season but while keeper De Gea's absence was down to injury, the United boss opted to rotate players ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg with Anderlecht.
Luke Shaw made a surprise return just days after Mourinho had questioned the full-back's commitment and delivered a polished performance as the Red Devils stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to 21 games.
Shaw recovered from an early booking, awarded for flying in behind on Didier Ndong, to offer width and attacking threat down the left.
In front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate, he set up a great chance for Marouane Fellaini, made captain for the day four months after being booed by his own fans.
And Shaw's lively contribution also included an attempt on goal and the pass to Mkhitaryan to make it 2-0.
It was telling when Mourinho gave the 21-year-old a deserved pat on the back when he was replaced, with United in total control, soon after Ndong accidentally stood on his ankle.
Ibrahimovic's opening goal was a delight, spinning away from Billy Jones before bending home from outside the area.
No Sunderland player had touched the ball when Mkhitaryan doubled the lead 45 seconds into the second half with a low shot, while substitute Rashford completed a fine counter-attack to slot his first league goal since 24 September.
Only days earlier, Mourinho said Rashford was suffering from a major lack of confidence caused by his lack of goals.
Sunderland boss David Moyes: "I don't want to blame referees for my position and us losing. Today the result was helped by the referee. Manchester United were playing well but the red card was a decision that went against us.
"[Before United scored] We were hanging in the game and staying in the game and trying to do our best. We gave away a poor goal and I thought we needed to get a lot closer. When we went down to 10 men it made it a lot harder.
"We keep going. We have another home game next Saturday and we have to try and win it. We do some good things but just lack a bit of quality but it's not for the want of trying. The boys are doing everything they can.
"The hardest thing as a manager is losing and we're losing a lot. The players care and want to do well and we're not doing as well as we should be."
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "We want to fight in the Premier League until it is mathematically impossible. The Premier League we cannot win, but Europa League we can.
"We had lots of players that were not here today and the most important thing after the three points was to have no more injuries.
"I took Shaw off because of the yellow card and the pressure from the crowd. It was good to protect him but was also good for him to play one hour with a good solid performance and no mistakes, so I'm really pleased for him."
• None Sunderland have now failed to score in seven successive Premier League games - the joint-second worst run in Premier League history. Crystal Palace hold the record with nine games (1994-95), with Derby (2007-08) and Ipswich (1994-95) also going seven games without scoring.
• None The Black Cats' run without scoring in the Premier League now stands at 675 minutes. In that time they have attempted 79 shots in total without netting any of them.
• None Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in his 21st different match of the season for Manchester United.
• None Ibrahimovic has now scored 10 away goals in the Premier League this season - only Sergio Aguero (11) and Alexis Sanchez (12) have more on the road.
• None Sunderland have averaged a red card every 887 minutes in Premier League history - only three teams have a worse ratio than this: Hull (720 mins), Blackburn (824 mins) and Barnsley (855).
Sunderland host West Ham United in the Premier League next Saturday (15:00 BST) by which time Manchester United will have played Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Anderlecht in Belgium (20:05 BST).
• None Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt saved. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
• None Goal! Sunderland 0, Manchester United 3. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
• None Attempt blocked. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Attempt missed. Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Victor Anichebe.
• None Offside, Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimovic tries a through ball, but Marcus Rashford is caught offside.
• None Didier Ndong (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
• None Anthony Martial (Manchester United) 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/39470442
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Everton 4-2 Leicester City - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Everton move within goal difference of Arsenal in sixth as Romelu Lukaku scores twice to check Leicester's recent renaissance.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Everton registered their seventh straight home league win as Romelu Lukaku scored twice to check Leicester's renaissance under boss Craig Shakespeare.
Tom Davies poked in for the hosts after 30 seconds, before Leicester rallied with a slick counter-attacking goal from Islam Slimani and a superb free-kick from Marc Albrighton.
But Leicester, much changed before Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final at Atletico Madrid, never looked comfortable.
Lukaku headed in a Ross Barkley cross to draw Everton level and Phil Jagielka was allowed too much space at a corner as the Toffees reached the break ahead.
Lukaku drilled in from close range after the interval and the withdrawal of the bright Demarai Gray and striker Jamie Vardy seemed to signal Leicester's attentions turning towards Europe.
• None Listen: 'In my opinion he's the best' - 5 live Football Daily
With his 22nd and 23rd Premier League goals putting him four clear of Harry Kane in the top-flight scoring charts, Lukaku will soon have to search further afield for his scoring benchmarks.
His game-sealing second - a sharp finish after cleverly lurking in the shadow of Jagielka at a corner - means that only five other men have scored more in Europe's top four leagues.
The last time that Everton had such a prolific goalscorer was Gary Lineker in the 1985-86 season. Lineker left at the end of that campaign for Barcelona and, after Lukaku turned down a £140,000-a-week contract extension last month, it seems European football is the minimum required to keep him at the club.
Victory moves Everton level with sixth-placed Arsenal, below them on goal difference, albeit having played three games more.
Seventh should be good enough for a Europa League place, however, with Manchester United winning the League Cup and the FA Cup semi-finals being contested by teams above them in the table.
One goal in 30 seconds, three inside 10 minutes and five before the half was out. An extraordinary first 45 minutes was more a product of flimsy defending rather than incisive attacking, however.
Leicester have kept clean sheets in their last two games with Yohan Benalouane filling in for Wes Morgan at the centre of defence, but the Tunisian looked out of his depth from the first minute at Goodison Park.
As Kevin Mirallas drove towards the penalty area in the match's first attack he rashly sold himself to spread panic through the visitors backline and allow Davies space to score the joint fastest Premier League goal of the season.
At the other end Everton seemed to miss the suspended Ashley Williams' authority and organisation as Gray burst forward on a swift counter to slip in Slimani but it was Benalouane's presence, rather than the Wales international's absence, that was to prove the more telling feature of the match.
First the Leicester centre-back allowed Lukaku to stroll in front of him to restore parity in the 23rd minute and then lost contact with Jagielka as the captain sent his side to the dressing room ahead at the end of a breathless first half.
Madrid on the mind for Foxes
Victory for Leicester at Goodison Park would have extended their winning streak in the league to six matches - more than they achieved at any point in last season's title-winning campaign.
However, their title defence, fatally undermined by their form under Shakespeare's predecessor Claudio Ranieri, has now been eclipsed by their run to the last eight of the Champions League.
The return of the rested Wilfred Ndidi in midfield should add much-needed steel to the side for a testing evening in the Vicente Calderon as they aim for silverware that would arguably surpass even last season's Premier League coup.
What the managers said
Everton boss Ronald Koeman: "Romelu Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the world and I think the boy is improving in different aspects.
"Everybody knows he's a key player for Everton and we will try to do everything to keep him here but the final decision is always with the player. Everyone knows he has his own ambition but we will try our best.
"After we got to 4-2 we really controlled the game and it's one of the most complete performances of the season."
Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare: "We've got a big run of games coming up. I need to use the squad. The team that was picked was good enough to come here and get the result.
"We've said before we don't dwell on results. We can't do because we're training tomorrow for a big game on Wednesday.
"We have to move on quickly and we will learn from it. You're always a bit disappointed but we will brush ourselves down and we will be ready for Wednesday."
• None Everton have now won seven successive Premier League home games - equalling their Premier League club record.
• None Everton have already scored more Premier League goals at Goodison Park in 2017 (26 in seven games) than they did in the whole of 2016 (25 in 18 games).
• None Romelu Lukaku has scored in seven successive Premier League matches at Goodison Park (12 goals) and has scored in all eight appearances there in 2017 overall (seven in league, one in FA Cup).
• None Lukaku's run is the best in Everton's Premier League history at home, beating Duncan Ferguson and Francis Jeffers's runs of scoring in six successive appearances at Goodison Park.
• None Lukaku now has 23 Premier League goals this season; one more than Middlesbrough have as a team (22).
• None This was the first Premier League game to see three goals scored by the 10th minute of the match since Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal in February 2011, when Newcastle came from 0-4 behind.
• None This was only the third Premier League match this season to see five goals scored in the first half, following Hull v Middlesbrough on 5 April and Crystal Palace v Liverpool on 29 October.
• None Phil Jagielka has scored two Premier League goals over the space of six days - his previous two Premier League goals came over a period of 897 days.
Everton will look to extend their winning streak at Goodison Park to eight matches when they take on Burnley on Saturday at 15:00 BST. Leicester take on last season's runner-ups Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday at 19:45 BST.
• None Attempt saved. Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross.
• None Attempt saved. Ross Barkley (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin Mirallas.
• None Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt blocked. Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez with a cross. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39470449
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Davis Cup: France v GB descends into farce - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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The Davis Cup dead rubber singles match between GB's Dan Evans and France's Julien Benneteau descends into farce when Nicolas Mahut and coach Yannick Noah join the action.
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The Davis Cup dead rubber singles match between Great Britain's Dan Evans and France's Julien Benneteau descends into farce when Nicolas Mahut and coach Yannick Noah join the action.
READ MORE: France knock GB out of Davis Cup quarter-finals
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39546474
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Malaga 2-0 Barcelona - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Neymar is sent off for Barcelona who lose at Malaga and fail in their bid to go level on points with La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Neymar was sent off for Barcelona as they lost at Malaga and failed in their bid to go level on points with La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
The current Spanish champions were given a boost after Real's 1-1 draw with city rivals Atletico earlier.
However, a first-half strike from ex-Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez and a late effort from Jony Rodriguez ended their hopes.
Forward Neymar was sent off in the 65th minute after receiving a second yellow.
• None Relive the action as it happened
The Brazil international - with 15 goals for Barca this season in all competitions - had brought down Diego Llorente with a late challenge, and then sarcastically applauded as he made his way off the pitch.
The 25-year-old is set to be suspended for the next league game against Real Sociedad on 15 April. But he could receive a longer ban if his reaction to the red card is deemed as contempt of the officials, which would mean he would miss the potentially season-defining El Clasico at the Bernabeu on 23 April.
Barca barely troubled Malaga keeper Carlos Kameni, although the Cameroon international did make two good saves to block two firm efforts from Luis Suarez.
Malaga, who began the match in 15th spot, looked far more threatening, especially on the counter-attack. They took the lead in the 32nd minute when Sandro - who left for Malaga this summer - fired past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
In the second half they had a goal disallowed when Adalberto Penaranda was wrongly flagged offside before they finally scored their second. Pablo Fornals' square ball found Rodriguez, who slotted in from 10 yards out.
The defeat means Barcelona remain on 69 points, three behind Real who have a game in hand.
• None Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
• None Goal! Málaga 2, Barcelona 0. Jony (Málaga) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pablo Fornals following a fast break.
• None Attempt saved. Sergi Roberto (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Javier Mascherano with a through ball.
• None Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) 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/39480892
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Masters 2017: Jon Rahm and William McGirt hole superb back-to-back shots - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Final round pairing Jon Rahm and William McGirt hole superb back-to-back shots on the 13th on the final day at Augusta National.
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Jon Rahm and William McGirt hole superb back-to-back shots on the 13th on the final day's play at Augusta National.
Available to UK users only.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39549150
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Chinese Grand Prix: Who will win the race? - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Hamilton? Vettel? Or Giovinazzi? Choose your winner and overall top 10 race result for the Chinese Grand Prix.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Coverage: Practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; race on BBC Radio 5 live. Live text commentary, leaderboard and imagery on BBC Sport website and app.
Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix looking for his fifth win in Shanghai.
No driver has won more races there than the Briton, and he will no doubt be more determined than ever to take victory and get his season up and running.
With Mercedes having been on pole in 58 of the last 61 races, Hamilton will be the man to beat, but how do you see the top 10 shaping up in the race?
Who will finish in the top 10 at the Chinese Grand Prix?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39498065
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What do Europeans really think about British culture? - BBC Three
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2017-04-09
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Queuing, tea and talking about the weather. Are us Brits really that predictable? A few UK-based Europeans who we spoke to (before the referendum) seemed to think so. What's more, they wouldn't have it any other way. We'll say 'cheers' to that.
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What do Europeans really think about British culture?
Queuing, tea and talking about the weather. Are us Brits really that predictable? A few UK-based Europeans who we spoke to (before the referendum) seemed to think so. What's more, they wouldn't have it any other way. We'll say 'cheers' to that.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/b709255f-ce11-4ccc-bd44-45f976d503c3?intc_type=promo&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=stiffupperlip&intc_linkname=bbcthree_ent_vidclip1
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Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton dominates the Chinese Grand Prix to take his first win of the year and share the championship lead.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton dominated the Chinese Grand Prix to take his first win of the year and move into a share of the championship lead.
Hamilton's victory, in a race enlivened by a wet start and some terrific wheel-to-wheel battles, ties him with first-race winner Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel was second, hardening impressions that 2017 will be a fight between the two multiple champions.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen moved up from 16th on the grid to finish third.
• None Listen: Vettel out of position at the start
Anyone's race - no matter where you start from
The grand prix could have swung in favour of either Hamilton or Vettel depending on how events had played out.
In the end, fate decided for Hamilton, who was able to control the race from the front throughout and respond to his pursuers, who were always kept well out of arm's length.
Vettel had to fight back after losing out on strategy in a chaotic opening, which kept the shape of the race in doubt through a series of incidents and accidents.
Verstappen further heightened his already burgeoning reputation as one of F1's most exciting drivers with a strong performance to challenge Hamilton early on.
The Dutchman, up from 16th to seventh on the first lap, took the final podium spot, but was under pressure in the closing laps from his more measured team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who Verstappen had overtaken impressively in the early stages.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas had a chastening day, spinning behind the safety car in the early stages and dropping back to 12th, from which he recovered to finish sixth, behind the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
And there was cruel luck for Fernando Alonso, who drove a strong opening lap to have the uncompetitive McLaren-Honda up into eighth place, ran seventh for much of the race and was on course to finish there when his driveshaft failed shortly after half distance.
The moment it fell for Hamilton
The race could have turned out very differently had it not been for a key moment on lap four.
After a wet start, Hamilton led the opening lap from Vettel and Bottas but the deployment of the virtual safety car following a crash by Williams rookie Lance Stroll, involved in a collision with Force India's Sergio Perez, prompted Vettel and most of the midfield runners to pit for dry tyres on lap two.
The decision dropped Vettel to sixth but with all the runners ahead of him still on the grooved intermediate tyres on a rapidly drying track.
The four-time champion was now in a strong position, and poised to take the lead when Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo, Raikkonen and Verstappen pitted.
But Hamilton and the others were saved by a crash by Sauber's Antonio Giovinazzi, the Italian losing it at the last corner, just as he had in qualifying on Saturday.
That brought out the safety car and Hamilton and the rest could make their own pit stops for dry tyres without losing out.
From there, Hamilton could control the race at will and was pretty much untroubled, despite a late push from Vettel.
The overtaking move of the race
As the safety car helped Hamilton, it hurt Vettel, who now had to battle past both Red Bulls and team-mate Raikkonen to retain the championship lead.
Ricciardo began to struggle and he soon had a queue behind him, with Verstappen heading Raikkonen and Vettel.
Verstappen, predictably, was the man on the move, passing his team-mate on lap 11 at the Turn Five hairpin and chasing after Hamilton.
Raikkonen spent another nine laps failing to pass Ricciardo before the Finn was overtaken by team-mate Vettel at Turn Five.
Two laps later, Vettel put perhaps the move of the race on Ricciardo, going all the way around the outside of Turn Five, the two banging wheels in a puff of blue smoke as they accelerated side-by-side towards the fast Turn Six, where the Ferrari finally claimed the place.
Vettel chased down Verstappen, who he provoked into a mistake at the Turn 14 hairpin at the end of the long straight on lap 28, exactly half distance.
A pit stop for fresh tyres from Ferrari forced Mercedes to respond but, with the two cars evenly matched, there was stalemate.
There were a number of great performances - Hamilton was sublime in the lead, Vettel excellent in attack-recovery mode, Alonso dragging his recalcitrant McLaren into the points, Carlos Sainz impressive in the Toro Rosso.
But it's hard to look beyond Verstappen - 16th to seventh on the opening lap, the usual plethora of great passes, embarrassing Ricciardo in the early laps, and holding on for a podium in a car with difficult balance because of lack of track time in qualifying.
What they said
"I think this will be one of the closest [title fights] if not the closest I have experienced," said Hamilton.
"Ferrari have done a great job and it is great that we are both pushing."
Sebastian Vettel: "The safety car came just as I was about to start to feel the dry tyres were a lot quicker but then I had a very exciting race. I was stuck in the train for a little while but then tried to chase down Lewis Hamilton. It was a good match. It was good fun."
Max Verstappen: "It was a very challenging race but I really enjoyed it. I think I overtook nine cars in the opening lap so it was a very good race for me!
"I didn't have a lot of track time this weekend because didn't do much in qualifying so I wasn't expecting to finish on the podium having started in 16th."
What happens next?
Chapter three of their promising battle takes place under the lights of Bahrain next weekend, where temperatures will be a good 20C higher than on a chilly 12C day in Shanghai.
Both Hamilton and Vettel share two victories each in the desert race.
Listen to 5 live's Chinese Grand Prix Review on Monday, 10 April at 04:30 BST.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39538689
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Masters 2017: Justin Rose & Sergio Garcia share lead after day three - BBC Sport
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2017-04-09
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England's Justin Rose climbs into a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia of Spain as the battle for the Masters intensifies on day three at Augusta.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
-6 -5-4 Spieth (US), Moore (US), Hoffman (US); -3-2-1
England's Justin Rose jumped into a share of the lead with Spain's Sergio Garcia as the battle for the Masters intensified on day three at Augusta.
Rose, 36, sunk five birdies in the last seven holes in his five-under-par 67 to join Garcia, who hit 70, on six under.
Rickie Fowler finished a shot back, while Jordan Spieth carded a 68 to move level with fellow Americans Charley Hoffman and Ryan Moore on four under.
Lee Westwood (68) moved to one under while Rory McIlroy (71) is level par.
Rose is one of four previous major winners in the top 10 going into Sunday's final round, which will be live and uninterrupted on BBC Two from 18:30 BST.
Garcia, Fowler and England's Westwood are all hoping to finally land one of golf's four most prestigious tournaments.
• None How the drama unfolded on day three of the Masters
• None How to follow the Masters on the BBC
Olympic champion Rose, 36, has not claimed a major since his maiden triumph at the 2013 US Open, but lifted himself into contention for a first Masters title with a stunning finish on Saturday.
The Englishman, who has four previous top-10 finishes at the Augusta National, was level par for the round after 11, only to blitz the final seven holes.
He rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th, then a 10-footer at the last, to join Hoffman in the lead.
Garcia, playing alongside the 40-year-old Californian, birdied the 15th to briefly make it a three-way tie at the top.
But Hoffman, one of four to share the overnight lead after the second round, slipped behind Rose and Garcia after finding water on the par-three 16th and ending with a double bogey.
"The key for me was staying patient early in my round. For me the test was around six when I made bogey, I stayed with it and played well on the back nine. Everything clicked into gear," said Rose.
"Patience is the key on Sunday. This is a golf course where you have to pick your moments. That will be the game plan."
Two-time major winner Spieth is hoping to banish memories of last year's spectacular final-day collapse by winning his second Masters.
And the 23-year-old Texan, who has finished second, first and tied second in his three Augusta appearances, put himself in the frame again with a nerveless third-round display.
After an opening-round 75 which featured a quadruple-bogey nine on the 15th, Spieth was 10 shots adrift of leader Hoffman.
No previous Masters winner has trailed by more than seven shots after 18 holes.
Spieth, who recovered with a three-under 69 on Friday, started his third round with five pars, but three birdies in four holes before the turn catapulted him into contention.
Further birdies at 13 and 15 moved him into outright second, only for a bogey on 16 - his first in 30 holes - to drop him back into a share for fourth.
"We wanted to shoot four under and thought if we did the lead would move to six or seven and I'd creep on it," said the 2015 champion, who is bidding to become the youngest two-time Masters winner.
"Moments present themselves on Sunday here - it is about being patient.
"I know better than anyone what can happen on a Sunday."
World number eight Fowler putted solidly on his way to a hard-fought one-under-par 71, while Moore responded to the grief of losing his grandmother earlier this week with six birdies in a three-under 69.
Like Garcia, Worksop's Westwood has long been considered one of Europe's finest players, only to have an excellent career somewhat tarnished by the absence of a major title.
And the 43-year-old, who was third after an opening-round 70, appeared to have scuppered his chances of ending that long wait following a five-over 77 on Friday.
However, he is back with an outside chance after converting six birdies in a four-under-par 68.
"Obviously I would like to be deep in the red, but one under is pretty good," said Westwood, who finished tied second with Spieth last year.
"I've got half a chance if I can get a roll going on the front nine."
World number two McIlroy's hopes of becoming only the sixth man to win all four majors look slim.
The Northern Irishman, 27, made a strong start with birdies on the second and third, only to be set back by three-putts on the fifth and seventh which cost him a bogey and double bogey.
Further birdies on the eighth and 12th provided hope, but he could not add any more to close the gap on the leaders.
"I had some chances on the back nine that I could have converted," said the four-time major winner.
"I think I probably could have shot a 67 or 68, but I had just a few too many wasted opportunities.
"I'm going to need my best score around here, 65, to have a chance."
Find out how to get into golf with our special guide.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39543008
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European Athletics proposes rewriting athletics world records after doping scandal - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Most of athletics world records could be rewritten under a "revolutionary" new proposal from European Athletics.
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All athletics world records set before 2005 could be rewritten under a "revolutionary" new proposal from European Athletics.
The credibility of records was examined following the sport's doping scandal.
Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who faces losing her 2003 marathon world record, called the proposals "cowardly".
"I am hurt and do feel this damages my reputation and dignity," she said, adding that the governing bodies had "again failed clean athletes".
Svein Arne Hansen, the European Athletics president, said world records "are meaningless if people don't really believe them".
However, Radcliffe said the changes were "heavy handed" and "confusing to the public".
European Athletics set up a taskforce to look into the credibility of world records in January. Its ruling council has now ratified the proposals put forward by the taskforce, and it wants the sport's world governing body, the IAAF, to adopt the changes it sets out.
How will world records be recognised?
If the proposals are accepted by the IAAF, a world record would only be recognised if it meets all three of the following criteria:
• None It was achieved at a competition on a list of approved international events where the highest standards of officiating and technical equipment can be guaranteed;
• None The athlete had been subject to an agreed number of doping control tests in the months leading up to it;
• None The doping control sample taken after the record was stored and available for re-testing for 10 years.
The IAAF has stored blood and urine samples only since 2005 and current records that do not meet the new criteria would remain on an "all-time list", but not be officially recognised as records.
This would include Jonathan Edwards' triple jump record of 18.29m - set in 1995 - and Colin Jackson's 1994 indoor 60m hurdles world record of 7.30secs, as well as Radcliffe's marathon mark of two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds, set in 2003 using two male pacemakers.
Mary Keitany of Kenya broke Radcliffe's women's-only world record to win the 2017 London Marathon in two hours 17 minutes one second, the second-fastest time in history.
The council also recommended that a performance should be wiped from record books if the athlete had committed a "doping or integrity violation, even if it does not directly impact the record performance".
Why are the changes needed?
The proposals are a response to last year's McLaren report, which uncovered widespread doping in sport - and athletics in particular. Russian athletes are currently banned from international competition unless they can satisfy strict criteria to show they are clean.
More than 100 Olympic athletes who competed at the 2008 and 2012 Games have been sanctioned for doping after the International Olympic Committee embarked on a programme of retesting old samples.
"There are records in which people in the sport, the media and the public do not have complete confidence," added taskforce chair Pierce O'Callaghan.
What has the reaction been so far?
IAAF president Lord Coe said the changes were "a step in the right direction".
"There will be athletes, current record holders, who will feel that the history we are recalibrating will take something away from them, but if organised and structured properly we have a good chance of winning back credibility in this area," he said.
European Athletics president Hansen said he would encourage the IAAF to adopt the proposal at its August council meeting.
"What we are proposing is revolutionary and not just because most world and European records will have to be replaced," Hansen added.
"We want to raise the standards for recognition to a point where everyone can be confident that everything is fair and above board."
Radcliffe has previously criticised plans to wipe records from the books and last month told BBC Sport she favoured making doping a criminal offence instead to deter cheats.
She issued a statement on Monday criticising the new proposals and athletics governing bodies.
"I worked extremely hard for my PBs and they will always be valid to me. I know they were set through hard work and best effort and abiding by all the rules and am proud of them," Radcliffe wrote.
"Governing bodies have a duty to protect every clean athlete, here they again fail those athletes. We had to compete against cheats, they couldn't provide us a level playing field, we lost out on medals, moments and earnings due to cheats, saw our sport dragged through the mud due to cheats and now, thanks to those who cheat we potentially lose our World and Area records.
"Although we are moving forward I don't believe we are yet at the point where we have a testing procedure capable of catching every cheat out there, so why reset at this point? Do we really believe a record set in 2015 is totally clean and one in 1995 not?
"I am hurt and do feel this damages my reputation and dignity. It is a heavy handed way to wipe out some really suspicious records in a cowardly way by simply sweeping all aside instead of having the guts to take the legal plunge and wipe any record that would be found in a court of law to have been illegally assisted.
"It is confusing to the public at a time when athletics already struggles to market itself. How do they explain how stadium, club and national records are better than the Area or World marks or will they force all those to be to wiped out too?"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/39774233
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Anthony Joshua: World heavyweight champion can replicate 'Tiger Woods effect' - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua can do for boxing what Tiger Woods has done for golf, says promoter Barry Hearn.
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Last updated on .From the section Boxing
World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua can do for boxing what Tiger Woods has done for golf in the past 20 years, says promoter Barry Hearn.
Briton Joshua, 27, unified the heavyweight division by stopping Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round of their fight at Wembley on Saturday.
"All sports need flag-bearers," said Hearn, whose son Eddie promotes Joshua for their Matchroom Sport agency.
"Joshua is the finest role model I have seen in sport."
Saturday's thrilling victory - in front of a post-war British record 90,000 fans - means former Olympic champion Joshua is unbeaten in 19 fights as a professional and is now the WBA and IBF world champion.
Woods, 41, won the Masters as a 21-year-old and has since added a further 13 major titles.
The American is credited with changing the face of golf.
"The Joshua effect is very similar to the Tiger Woods effect, where people who are not so interested suddenly become interested, where young people become aspirational to follow in someone's footsteps," said Hearn.
• None Read: What next for champion Joshua?
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury has claimed he could beat Joshua with "one arm tied behind my back".
Joshua called out his compatriot, who beat Klitschko on points in November 2015, after his victory on Saturday.
"Styles do make fights but I am sure I can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back," Fury said in a Sky Sports interview.
'I don't even need a warm-up if he wants this."
Fury, 28, is unbeaten as a professional, with 18 knockouts in 25 fights, but surrendered his world heavyweight titles in an effort to focus on his mental health problems and is currently without a boxing licence and out of condition.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39774164
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What has President Trump said about your country? - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Find out what President Trump has said about where you live since he became US president.
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US & Canada
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"It was a pleasure to have President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan with us this morning!" President Ghani and Mr Trump shake hands before a meeting in New York (AFP) Afghanistan has been near the top of every president's in-tray since US forces invaded the country in 2001.
On the campaign trail, Mr Trump repeatedly described the war in Afghanistan as a "disaster" and talked about pulling the remaining 10,000 or so US troops out of the country.
Back in 2013, he tweeted: "We have wasted an enormous amount of blood and treasure in Afghanistan. Their government has zero appreciation. Let's get out!"
But in September 2017, he agreed to send 3,000 extra troops to bolster the US contingent there as the Taliban gained ground and security deteriorated.
Earlier that year, the US used the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed in combat, targeting a tunnel complex near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan that was said to have been used by the so-called Islamic State group (IS).
Around 100 IS militants were thought to have been killed in the huge blast and President Trump praised his armed forces for "another successful job".
Afghan officials said the attack had been carried out in co-ordination with the government in Kabul, but former President Hamid Karzai said the country should not be used as a "testing ground for new and dangerous weapons".
Mr Trump and Mr Ghani met during the UN General Assembly in September 2017 to discuss their commitment to combating terrorism and improving economic development opportunities for American companies in Afghanistan.
"Great talk with my friend President Mauricio Macri of Argentina this week. He is doing such a good job for Argentina. I support his vision for transforming his country's economy" Argentina's President Mauricio Macri is a relative newcomer to politics, but his relationship with Donald Trump dates back decades to when he and his father were doing business in 1980s New York.
That relationship came under scrutiny when Mr Macri called the US president-elect in November 2016 to congratulate him on his victory.
According to reports in Argentina, Mr Trump asked the Argentine president for help with a stalled building project by one of his companies in Buenos Aires - a claim both men denied.
Since then the pair have spoken on the phone a few times, most recently in May, to discuss Argentina's role in the region and the political crisis in Venezuela. They've also met once at the White House.
"Spoke to PM @TurnbullMalcolm of Australia. He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship. Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don't have to impose steel or aluminum tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia!" President Trump shakes hands with Mr Turnbull in the Oval Office (Getty Images) Australia has been one of America's closest allies in recent years, with its troops fighting alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. But that relationship came under strain almost as soon as President Trump entered the White House.
Mr Trump was said to have had a "contentious" phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the end of January, reportedly over a deal agreed with President Obama that the US would take in about 1,200 refugees who had been denied entry into Australia.
A Washington Post report said Mr Trump abruptly ended the planned one-hour phone call after just 25 minutes having condemned the refugee agreement as "the worst deal ever". President Trump, who later publicly criticised the deal as "dumb", insisted the phone call had been "civil" while Mr Turnbull said it was a "very frank and forthright" conversation.
Last summer, footage leaked to the media showing Mr Turnbull poking fun at his US counterpart at a dinner for media but both US and Australia dismissed the incident as harmless fun.
The pair have held three meetings since Mr Trump came into office. During the latest, at the White House in February, Mr Trump said: "The relationship we have with Australia is a terrific relationship, and probably stronger now than ever before — maybe because of our relationship, our friendship."
President Trump and his wife Melania with Queen Mathilde and King Philippe (Getty Images) Events passed off without incident on Mr Trump's first visit to Belgium as president in May 2017, when he met King Philippe and Queen Mathilde before taking part in a Nato summit.
Mr Trump met Prime Minister Charles Michel at the summit, praising Belgian contributions the fight against the Islamic State group and noting the "critical importance of Belgian F-16s flying missions in Iraq and Syria".
He also took the chance to remind him of "the responsibility of all nations to share our common defense burden," and to meet Nato spending commitments - a topic Mr Trump raised again at the 2018 Nato summit in Brussels.
No one seems to have mentioned his campaign trail claims that Brussels was a "hellhole" or the geographically dubious "Belgium is a beautiful city".
President Trump and Mr Temer pose for photos before a dinner with Latin American leaders (AFP) Despite being South America's most influential country, Mr Trump has had little to say about Brazil so far.
The president has met Michel Temer, his Brazilian counterpart, just once - at a working dinner he hosted in New York with representatives from Colombia, Panama and Argentina to discuss the situation in Venezuela.
Vice-President Mike Pence did speak to Mr Temer on the phone in June this year but the topic of conversation was not Venezuela but rather "Brazil-US cooperation on the peaceful uses of outer space".
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" - President Trump's widely reported comments made in private during a meeting on immigration, 11 Jan 2018 Mr Trump's reported remark came as lawmakers from both parties visited him to propose a bipartisan immigration deal. Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, when Mr Trump asked, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
Mr Trump tweeted that he had used "tough" language but not that specific term. Senator Durbin responded by saying Mr Trump used "racist" language.
As the African Union expressed "shock, dismay and outrage" and demanded an apology, Botswana summoned the US ambassador and asked the envoy "to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a 'shithole' country given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the US."
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister visited him a day earlier, or Asian nations.
"PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, 'US Tariffs were kind of insulting' and he 'will not be pushed around.' Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!" President Trump and Mr Trudeau pose for photos at a G7 summit (Reuters) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the first dozen or so world leaders to visit the White House under Donald Trump and could be pleased with how it went.
Not only did he deal with President Trump's fierce handshake, he also got a guarantee that the White House would only be making "tweaks" to its relationship with Canada.
Mr Trudeau, meanwhile, admitted that the two men had several differences, most notably on accepting refugees, but said the "last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves".
The relationship between the two leaders has become strained since that first meeting though and tensions came to the surface in June at a G7 summit in Quebec.
When Mr Trudeau said he would not be pushed around by the US at a post-summit press conference, Mr Trump responded by refusing to sign the joint G7 communique on trade before tweeting that the Canadian leader "acts hurt when called out". Mr Trump's top economic aide later said Mr Trudeau had "stabbed us in the back" while another adviser said there was "a special place in Hell for any leader that engages in bad faith diplomacy" with the president.
With Mr Trump set to continue his tough stance on trade, it's unclear how US-Canada relations will develop during the rest of his term.
Mr Trump spoke to President Sebastian Pinera, a conservative like himself, in January to congratulate him on his election win. President Trump emphasised his desire to work with President Pinera on "issues of mutual interest," according to a read-out of the call.
The two billionaire presidents - Mr Pinera's estimated personal fortune is about $2.7bn (£2bn) - also discussed their "desire to see democracy restored for the Venezuelan people."
"In the coming months and years ahead I look forward to building an even STRONGER relationship between the United States and China." Mr Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony in Beijing with President Xi (Getty Images) Donald Trump mentioned China so frequently on the campaign trail it turned into a meme. He repeatedly called the Communist state a "currency manipulator" and even accused them of "raping" the US.
Since the election, however, most of the interactions between the two leaders have focused on the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Mr Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida with open arms and described the pair's relationship as "outstanding".
He decided against a round of golf with China's leader though - Mr Xi has shut down several golf courses since coming into power and banned the Communist Party's 88 million members from teeing off.
President Xi also welcomed Mr Trump to China in November last year for discussions on North Korea and international trade. The trip appeared to go well, with Mr Trump describing the Chinese leader as a "very special man".
The US president called on China to be tougher on North Korea until they agreed to come to the negotiating table - a stance that paid off when Mr Trump met Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June.
But away from North Korea, US-China relations have been more complicated with Mr Trump going on the offensive over trade and imposing tariffs on over $30bn of Chinese goods.
"When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win," he tweeted in March.
China responded by putting its own tariffs on US goods in place and at the moment, it's difficult to predict how the trade war will develop.
"A great honor to welcome President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to the White House today!" President Trump and Mr Santos hold a joint news conference at the White House (Getty Images) Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited the White House in May last year after reports of a secret meeting between Mr Trump and two former Colombian presidents.
The White House brushed off the claims, saying the two former Colombian leaders were invited to the president's Mar-a-Lago Club by one of its members and the leaders shared a handshake.
The pair also discussed the Colombian government's peace process with the Farc rebel group, which gave up its weapons in June 2017.
Mr Trump also met President Santos in New York in September, along with other South American leaders, to discuss the Venezuela crisis.
"To the Cuban government, I say: Put an end to the abuse of dissidents. Release the political prisoners. Stop jailing innocent people." Mr Trump signs into effect some policy changes towards Cuba at an event in Miami (Getty Images) Mr Trump said he was "cancelling" President Barack Obama's deal to thaw relations with Cuba, saying he was re-imposing certain travel and trade restrictions eased by his predecessor.
But the president's approach has not scrapped all of the Obama-era policy regarding the island nation.
Both countries will keep their embassies open in each other's capitals, commercial flights will continue and US tourists can still return home with Cuban goods.
During a speech in Miami's Little Havana neighbourhood, where Mr Trump signed a directive outlining his policy, he lambasted the deal with the "brutal" Castro government as "terrible" and "misguided".
He said the US would not lift sanctions on Cuba until "all political prisoners are freed" and vowed to "help the Cuban people themselves form businesses and pursue much better lives".
"This administration should be judged by its actions, and not single tweets, because it's tough to get all the nuance out in 140 characters" Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen was one of the first world leaders to meet Donald Trump at the White House.
Their talks at the end of March 2017 focused on the future of the Nato alliance and President Trump "urged" the Danish leader to commit to the target of spending 2% of his country's GDP on defence.
The meeting appeared to go well, with Mr Rasmussen saying afterwards that he was "more positive" about Denmark's relationship with the US than when he "evaluated the situation right after the [US] election."
"I just want to let everybody know in case there was any doubt that we are very much behind President Sisi" Mr Trump praised Egypt's leader after talks at the White House (Getty Images) Donald Trump first met Abdul Fattah al-Sisi - a "fantastic guy" - in September 2016 and when he won the election two months later, Mr Sisi was reportedly the first foreign leader to call him.
Their close relationship has continued since Mr Trump's inauguration and President Sisi visited the White House at the start of April for the first time since he led a military coup in Egypt in 2013.
Human rights groups, however, have criticised the US president for meeting a man who led a violent crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood group which left more than 1,000 people dead.
But officials say Mr Trump is seeking to "reboot" relations between the two countries because he sees a stable Egypt as an invaluable ally in the battle against the so-called Islamic State group.
Mr Sisi, who wants to ensure Egypt continues to receive US military aid worth about $1.3bn a year, has praised President Trump as someone who has a "deep and great understanding" of the Middle East.
The two met again during Mr Trump's first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, where the US president said he hoped to visit Cairo soon. At a summit in Riyadh, Mr Trump said Mr Sisi had "done a tremendous job under trying circumstance".
An image of Mr Trump, Mr Sisi and Saudi King Salman placing their hands on a glowing orb at the meeting also set social media abuzz.
The pair also held another meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in November last year.
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" - President Trump's widely reported comments made in private during a meeting on immigration, 11 Jan 2018 Mr Trump's reported remark came as lawmakers from both parties visited him to propose a bipartisan immigration deal. Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, when Mr Trump asked, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
Mr Trump tweeted that he had used "tough" language but not that specific term. Senator Durbin responded by saying Mr Trump used "racist" language and that the president did call some African nations "shitholes".
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister visited him a day earlier, or Asian nations.
Mr Trump's administration announced in January 2018 that it would cancel permits that allow nearly 200,000 people from El Salvador to live and work in the US.
They were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) after earthquakes rocked the Central American country in 2001.
Salvadoreans now have until 9 September 2019 to leave or face deportation, unless they find a legal way to stay.
Mr Trump met Finnish President Sauli Niinisto ahead of his meeting with Mr Putin Mr Trump met the president before his face-to-face meeting in Helsinki with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on 16 July.
"Just landed from Paris, France. It was an incredible visit with President @EmmanuelMacron. A lot discussed and accomplished in two days!" Mr Trump and Mr Macron shake hands before a meeting in Canada (AFP) President Trump accepted an invitation to attend 2017's Bastille Day celebrations in France after a somewhat rocky start with the French president .
Before Emmanuel Macron was elected in May 2017, Mr Trump suggested in a tweet that a deadly attack on a police bus in Paris would "have a big effect" on the election.
Many thought Mr Trump was referring to National Front leader Marie Le Pen, the anti-immigrant and anti-globalisation candidate who lost to Mr Macron. But Mr Trump later refused to comment on the election and congratulated Mr Macron in a tweet.
Mr Macron described his white-knuckled handshake with Mr Trump at their first meeting in May last year in Brussels as "not innocent".
But since then their relationship has warmed, with Mr Trump describing the Bastille Day parade as "one of the greatest parades I've ever seen" and saying the US relationship with France was "stronger than ever".
President Macron visited the White House in April this year and was also given the honour of making an address to the US Congress. His speech was described as a "thinly veiled rebuke" to President Trump by the BBC's North America editor, Jon Sopel.
But despite that and the various differences the two men have on policy, they appear to get on well and Mr Trump has spoken to President Macron on the phone more than any other world leader.
"Honored to welcome Georgia Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili to the @WhiteHouse today with @VP Mike Pence." President Trump has yet to formally meet with or call the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, though he did pose for a photo and tweeted a welcome message when the leader visited Washington and met with Vice-President Mike Pence.
During his White House visit, the Trump Administration thanked Mr Kvirikashvili for Georgia's sacrifices fighting with NATO forces in Afghanistan and also vowed to explore better trade relations between the two countries.
"I have a great relationship with Angela Merkel of Germany, but the Fake News Media only shows the bad photos (implying anger) of negotiating an agreement - where I am asking for things that no other American President would ask for!" Chancellor Merkel and Mr Trump exchange views at a G7 meeting in Canada (Reuters) When Donald Trump won the US election he did so with the isolationist slogan of "America First", leading many to declare German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the new leader of the free world.
Her pivotal role in global politics could be seen clearly on the White House call sheet during Mr Trump's first few months in office - she was one of the world leaders he spoke to most frequently and she also paid the new president a visit in March 2017.
President Trump's tone towards Mrs Merkel has changed significantly since he took office. In 2015, he took to Twitter to describe her as the "person who is ruining Germany" after Time magazine picked her as their person of the year.
The German leader clearly noticed Mr Trump's disparaging comments, saying at their joint press conference that she's "always said it's much, much better to talk to one another and not about one another".
The meeting appeared amicable enough - albeit with one eye-catching moment of awkwardness - but some reports suggested Mrs Merkel was unimpressed with Mr Trump's command of policy details.
The pair have met several times and spoken on the phone regularly since that first meeting, but there has been a more adversarial tone to Mr Trump's comments on Germany recently.
On immigration, Mr Trump tweeted: "The people of Germany are turning against their leadership as migration is rocking the already tenuous Berlin coalition."
On Nato and trade, he tweeted: "Presidents have been trying unsuccessfully for years to get Germany and other rich Nato Nations to pay more toward their protection from Russia. They pay only a fraction of their cost. The U.S. pays tens of Billions of Dollars too much to subsidize Europe, and loses Big on Trade!"
At the latest Nato summit in July, Mr Trump accused Germany of being "totally controlled by Russia" because it imports "so much of its energy" from the country and has a new pipeline planned. Mrs Merkel responded by saying Germany "can make our own policies and make our own decisions".
While Mr Trump was right that Germany imports most of its gas from Russia, gas makes up less than 20% of its overall energy mix, according to BBC Reality Check.
The visit of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the White House in October could have been awkward, after he openly criticized Mr Trump during the campaign and even called him "evil".
But the two held a cordial joint press conference and Trump joked about the Greek leader's past remarks: "I wish I knew before my speech".
He added: "The American people stand with the Greek people as they recover from the economic crisis that recently afflicted their nation."
The Greek leader said the two had a productive exchange and he shared common values with the US.
"Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out." - President Trump's widely reported comments made in private during a meeting on immigration, 11 Jan 2018 Mr Trump's reported remark came as lawmakers from both parties visited him to propose a bipartisan immigration deal. He tweeted that he had "never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said 'take them out.'"
Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, when Mr Trump reportedly asked, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
Mr Trump tweeted that he had used "tough" language but not that specific term. Senator Durbin responded by saying Mr Trump used "racist" language.
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister visited him a day earlier, or Asian nations.
In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, granted to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, would end in July 2019.
Haiti's US Ambassador Paul Altidor told the BBC the idea that "we're simply immigrants who come here to take advantage of the US" is wrong.
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" - President Trump's widely reported comments made in private during a meeting on immigration, 11 Jan 2018 Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, when Mr Trump asked "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
Mr Trump tweeted that he had used "tough" language but not that specific term. Senator Durbin said Mr Trump used "racist" language and that the president did call some African nations "shitholes".
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister visited him a day earlier, or Asian nations.
In June of this year, the Trump administration announced that it was ending the temporary protection status that had granted nearly 60,000 Hondurans the right to live in the US, meaning they could be forced to leave the the country by 5 January 2020.
Hondurans were granted this status after Hurricane Mitch hit the Central American country in 1998, but the Department of Homeland Security said conditions in the country had "notably improved" since the disaster.
The move came a couple of months after Mr Trump has complained that a "caravan" of migrants from Honduras were making their way towards the US, tweeting: "Honduras, Mexico and many other countries that the US is very generous to, sends many of their people to our country through our WEAK IMMIGRATION POLICIES. Caravans are heading here. Must pass tough laws and build the WALL."
Mr Modi visited the White House in June last year (Getty Images) President Trump has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice, once at the White House and once at the Association of South East Nations summit in the Philippines last November.
At the White House, the two leaders shared a warm embrace in front of reporters before vowing to fight terrorism together and praising US-India relations.
"The relationship between India and the United States has never been stronger, never been better," said Mr Trump, who describes himself and Mr Modi as "world leaders in social media".
President Trump has yet to visit India himself, but he dispatched his daughter, Ivanka, there last November for what was described by local media as a "royal visit".
She was given the red-carpet treatment in Hyderabad, one of India's tech hubs, with local authorities reported to have removed beggars from the streets before her arrival as well as rushing through repairs to roads.
"Donald Trump said 'my friends are many in Indonesia and I have businesses in Indonesia.' He said this" Donald Trump's election win was the top story in Indonesia in November 2016 (Getty Images) Mr Trump has held one meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo so far, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg in July 2017.
The two leaders also attended the Riyadh Summit in Saudi Arabia in May 2017, but they did not have a one-on-one meeting.
Mr Widodo didn't get an invitation to Mr Trump's inauguration, but Indonesian businessman Hary Tanoesoedibjo reportedly did and the president's relationship with him has raised eyebrows in the US.
Mr Tanoesoedibjo is overseeing the development of a Trump Hotel in West Java and another resort in Bali and recently told an Indonesian magazine that he has "close access" to the US president.
"To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!" While Donald Trump hasn't spoken to Iran's leader since coming to power, he has spent a lot of his time talking about the country.
One of his administration's first moves was to impose new sanctions against the country in response to a ballistic missile test, which Tehran said had not violated a UN resolution on its nuclear activities.
The US confirmed that Tehran was continuing to comply with the UN agreement but Mr Trump labelled it a "terrible deal" and ordered a review into it nonetheless.
During a trip to Israel in 2017, Mr Trump said Iran "must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon - never, ever - and must cease its deadly funding, training and equipping of terrorists and militias."
He later claimed in a tweet that Iran was working with North Korea to develop nuclear weapons.
Then in May this year, President Trump finally decided to pull out of the UN agreement with Iran, saying: "It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of this deal."
Going against advice from European allies, he said he would reimpose economic sanctions that were waived when the deal was signed in 2015.
Continuing his hardline stance, in June the US threatened to enforce sanctions on countries that have not stopped importing Iranian oil by November 2018.
"I want to thank you very much for being here, great respect for you. I know you're working very hard, [my staff] have all been telling me that you're doing a job - it's not an easy job, it's a very tough job" - President Trump to Prime Minister Abadi at the White House, 20 Mar 2017 President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Abadi to the White House in March last year (Getty Images) Donald Trump made defeating the so-called Islamic State group (IS) the focus of much of his campaign, so Iraq is central to his foreign policy objectives.
However, his relationship with Iraq's leaders got off to a bumpy start when he called for a ban on the travel of people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq.
The ban was eventually blocked by US judges, and when the Trump administration tried to implement a similar order a few weeks later, Iraq was left off the list - and judges blocked it again anyway.
That omission came after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi spoke to President Trump over the phone on 10 February amid a large-scale offensive by his army to retake the city of Mosul from IS fighters.
Mr Abadi travelled to the US a few weeks later for a meeting at the White House, when President Trump told reporters: "Our main thrust is we have to get rid of [IS]. We're going to get rid of [IS]. It will happen. It's happening right now."
In July last year, Mr Abadi formally declared victory over IS in Mosul and Mr Trump congratulated his Iraqi counterpart, saying the city had been "liberated from its long nightmare" under the rule of IS.
"It was my honor to welcome Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland to the @WhiteHouse!" The Trump administration's plans to toughen America's immigration laws have been focused on Mexico and the Middle East, but they could also affect thousands of unregistered Irish immigrants in the US.
Former Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny raised this issue with President Trump when he visited the White House in March last year, saying there were "millions out there who want to... make America great."
The taoiseach traditionally presents the new US president with a bowl of shamrocks and Mr Kenny did so while making his views on President Trump's immigration policies clear.
Mr Trump avoided mentioning immigration during the pair's joint remarks, but he did tell reporters: "We love Ireland and we love the people of Ireland."
Mr Trump met the new taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, at the White House's St Patrick's Day celebrations in March, saying the two had "become friends — fast friends — over a short period of time."
Mr Varadkar was confirmed as Ireland's youngest and first openly gay leader in June 2017.
After the meeting at the White House, Mr Varadkar said there was "enthusiasm from the administration to work on a solution" for the thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants that are in the US.
Mr Trump has business interests in Ireland in the form of a golf course and resort in Doonbeg, County Clare.
"I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem…" Mike Pence watches as Mr Trump signs his Jerusalem policy into effect (EPA) President Trump looked set to follow a fairly traditional path in his relationship with America's closest ally, Israel.
He was quick to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and during a visit to Tel Aviv in May 2017, he said he came to "reaffirm the unbreakable bond" between the US and Israel and that there was a "rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace" to the region.
At the UN General Assembly in September, Mr Trump stressed America's commitment to Israel's security and fair treatment at the United Nations. The two leaders also discussed their continuing efforts to achieve an enduring Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
In August, Mr Trump tweeted that "Peace in the Middle East would be a truly great legacy for ALL people!"
But by December he had chosen a new path, recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, to the amazement of much of the international community.
The UN General Assembly backed a resolution calling on the US to withdraw the decision, leading to Trump threatening to cut financial aid to those who backed the resolution.
"Just met the new Prime Minister of Italy, @GiuseppeConteIT, a really great guy. He will be honored in Washington, at the @WhiteHouse, shortly. He will do a great job - the people of Italy got it right!" In a sign of how fast politics moves in the country, President Trump has already met two Italian prime ministers.
The first, Paolo Gentiloni, was welcomed to the White House in April last year and his relationship with Mr Trump appeared amicable enough.
But the president was clearly more excited when he met Giuseppe Conte, the leader of a populist coalition who became Italy's 58th prime minister in June.
After the brief meeting at the G7 summit in Canada, during which Mr Conte backed Mr Trump's call for Russia to be readmitted to the group, the US president called Mr Conte a "great guy" and announced he would be visiting the White House in July.
"Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem!" Amid the NFL national anthem controversy, President Trump singled out Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt as an example for other sportspeople to follow.
He tweeted: "Even Usain Bolt from Jamaica, one of the greatest runners and athletes of all time, showed RESPECT for our National Anthem!"
Mr Trump had criticised NFL players who kneel during the national anthem as a protest, to highlight the treatment of black Americans.
"My visit to Japan and friendship with PM Abe will yield many benefits, for our great Country. Massive military & energy orders happening+++!" Shinzo Abe was invited out for golf by President Trump while visiting Florida (AFP) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has developed a strong relationship with President Trump, with the pair having met several times both in the US and in Japan.
Mr Abe has visited Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida twice so far, playing golf with the president on both occasions.
The pair also found time for a round of golf when President Trump visited Japan in November last year - although Mr Abe may want to forget about that after he took a tumble into a bunker on the course.
Mr Trump has described US-Japan relations as a "very crucial alliance" and it has proved to be just that as the president has embarked on negotiations with neighbouring North Korea.
Mr Abe will be hoping that his relationship with the president will keep Japan at the front of his mind as he pursues a diplomatic solution to the North Korean crisis.
Away from North Korea, Mr Trump has also been talking to Mr Abe about trade between the two countries but the tone appears more amicable than it is with others - for now.
In June, he tweeted: "PM Abe and I are also working to improve the trading relationship between the US and Japan, something we have to do. The US seeks a bilateral deal with Japan that is based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity."
"I am deeply committed to preserving our strong relationship & to strengthening America's long-standing support for Jordan" King Abdullah has met with Donald Trump several times since he became president (Getty Images) Jordan's King Abdullah was the first Arab leader to meet President Trump and has had three further meetings since.
The first occasion came in February on the sidelines of the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event held in Washington DC, and appeared to be little more than a brief conversation.
King Abdullah was invited back to the capital in April last year for an official meeting with President Trump at the White House and he was back in Washington DC in June this year as well.
Jordan is a key member of the US-led coalition in the fight against the so-called Islamic State group (IS) in Iraq and Syria and Mr Trump has praised the king and his armed forces for their help.
"Jordanian service members have made tremendous sacrifices in this battle against the enemies of civilisation, and I want to thank all of them for their, really, just incredible courage," Mr Trump said.
US relations with Kenya are likely to be very different under Donald Trump to how they were under Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan.
Mr Trump's decision to speak to the leaders of three African nations - Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa - before speaking to Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta was taken as a snub by some in the country.
The two leaders discussed security in the region and President Trump praised Kenya's "significant contributions" to the African Union force fighting against the al-Shabaab group in neighbouring Somalia.
The US in May suspended $21m of funding to Kenya's ministry of health over corruption allegations and weak account procedures, according to the state department. Kenya has said it would strengthen its accounting.
President Trump met the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, during his May visit to Saudi Arabia.
During his visit, he called the leader a "special person" and said Kuwait's purchasing of "tremendous amounts of our military equipment" means "jobs, jobs, jobs" for Americans.
The emir then visited the White House in September 2017 and held a joint press conference, during which Mr Trump claimed the relationship between the US and Kuwait "has never been stronger - never, ever".
President Trump also referenced the "tremendous investments" that Kuwait has made in the US, especially in plane sales. Mr Trump lamented to New York and New Jersey politicians after the press conference that his plane was not as big as the emir's, according to Politico.
"We would be so much better off if Gaddafi would be in charge right now" Mr Trump cited Libya as an example of the failure of Western military intervention regularly on his way to winning the US election, but the record shows he backed it at the time.
The country has been beset by chaos since Nato-backed forces helped rebel fighters overthrow long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011. Fighters aligned to the so-called Islamic State group (IS) have threatened to cause further chaos in recent years.
President Trump held a meeting with Libya's prime minister, Fayez Al-Sarraj, at the White House in December last year during which they discussed political reconciliation in the country and the threat from IS.
But the US leader is keen to take a less engaged approach to the country, telling reporters he did not "see a role" there for the US.
"With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other." Donald Trump's harsh rhetoric towards Mexico during the US election campaign turned him into a pantomime villain south of the border (Getty Images) No Donald Trump rally during the presidential campaign was complete without the crowd chanting "Build the wall, build the wall!"
It was the policy that defined Mr Trump's insurgent run for office, so it was little surprise that who would pay for the wall caused a diplomatic dispute just days into his presidency.
Mr Trump, who has said repeatedly that Mexico will pay it, officially announced his intention to build the wall in an executive order signed on 25 January 2017.
Two days later, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto used a televised address to tell Mr Trump: "I've said time and again: Mexico won't pay for any wall."
More than a year later, Mr Trump is still tweeting about it: "Our Southern Border is under siege. Congress must act now to change our weak and ineffective immigration laws. Must build a Wall."
Construction on the wall is yet to start because Mr Trump needs Congress to pass the funding for it, but there is evidence that law enforcement agencies on the border have been given more power.
Mr Pena Nieto, who has now been replaced, met Mr Trump once on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany last July. He was due to visit the White House but twice cancelled planned trips because of disagreements with the US president.
The most recent one came in February when Mr Trump is said to have lost his temper during a phone call with Mr Pena Nieto when he refused to change his position on the wall.
Mr Trump appears to have changed tack with Mexico's new leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. They spoke for the first time at the beginning of July and, according to Mr López Obrador, the wall was not brought up by Mr Trump.
How long the cordial tone lasts is unclear, but Mr Trump is sending a delegation to meet the new leader, including his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump at the APEC summit (Getty Images) Did Mr Trump mistake New Zealand's prime minister for the wife of Canadian leader Justin Trudeau at November's APEC meeting in Vietnam?
PM Jacinda Ardern denied Mr Trump had made that error, telling TVNZ that "Someone observed that they thought that it happened, but in all my interactions, certainly President Trump didn't seem to have confused me when I interacted with him. But someone else observed this."
Mr Trump certainly seems to have recognised her when he patted her on the shoulder at a gala dinner during the summit and declared "This lady caused a lot of upset in her country".
"I said, 'You know', laughing, 'no-one marched when I was elected'," she told the website newsroom.co.nz.
"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" - President Trump's widely reported comments made in private during a meeting on immigration, 11 Jan 2018 Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics, when Mr Trump asked "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
Mr Trump tweeted that he had used "tough" language but not that specific term. Senator Durbin said Mr Trump used "racist" language and that the president did call some African nations "shitholes".
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, whose prime minister visited him a day earlier, or Asian nations.
Mr Trump's administration announced in November 2017 that it would remove the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua, introduced in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch devastated Central America.
Thousands of Nicaraguans living in the US will now have until 5 January 2019 to seek "an alternative lawful immigration status" or leave.
"President Trump assured the Nigerian president of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism" - A statement from the Nigerian presidency after a phone call with President Trump, 13 Feb 2017 President Trump caused some controversy when he first spoke to Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari over the phone in February last year.
During the call, Mr Trump signalled his intention to renew a deal to sell military aircraft put on hold by the Obama administration after Nigerian forces mistakenly bombed a refugee camp in the country's north-east, killing more than 100 people.
The deal needs to be approved by the US Congress, but if it goes ahead it will raise questions over how important human rights concerns are to President Trump when it comes to trade.
Meeting President Buhari for the first time at the White House in April, Mr Trump said the pair were working on a "very big trade deal" that included "helicopters and the like".
"Many good conversations with North Korea-it is going well! In the meantime, no Rocket Launches or Nuclear Testing in 8 months. All of Asia is thrilled. Only the Opposition Party, which includes the Fake News, is complaining. If not for me, we would now be at War with North Korea!" Kim Jong-un shakes hands with President Trump during their historic US-North Korea summit in Singapore (Getty Images) President Trump made history in June when he became the first sitting US president to meet with a North Korean leader.
It was an event few could have imagined just a few months after Mr Trump had threatened to unleash "fire and fury" against North Korea if it endangered the US.
The heated rhetoric from Mr Trump was in response to North Korea's repeated testing of long-range missiles in its pursuit to establish itself as a nuclear power. North Korea responded by vowing to launch a "nuclear pre-emptive strike" if it felt at risk.
President Trump and Kim Jong-un then traded insults for a few months as military conflict began to look inevitable. But then all of a sudden, the tone changed.
In January, Mr Trump signalled that he would be willing to sit down and talk with Mr Kim and a couple of months later the two sides said they had agreed to a meeting.
"Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!" Mr Trump tweeted in March.
Although the mooted summit was briefly cancelled by Mr Trump, it did eventually happen in Singapore in June, with the US president describing it as a "tremendous success".
The pair signed an agreement that while historic, was a little short on details. It commits North Korea to work towards "the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" and promises "new relations" between Washington and Pyongyang.
In a sign of possible trouble ahead though, North Korea accused the US of using "gangster-like" tactics to push it towards nuclear disarmament after a fresh round of high-level talks in July.
But this was followed by a letter sent to Mr Trump by Mr Kim, which the US president tweeted. Part of it read: "I firmly believe that the strong will, sincere efforts and unique approach of myself and Your Excellency Mr President aimed at opening up a new future between the DPRK and the US will surely come to fruition."
When Prime Minister Solberg met Mr Trump in Washington he may have been surprised to be told Norway had bought a fighter jet only available in Call of Duty, a computer game.
A day later Norway was reportedly mentioned by Mr Trump as an example of the sort of country the US should be taking migrants from in a meeting with lawmakers from both parties to propose a bipartisan immigration deal.
Democratic Senator Richard Durbin had just been discussing US temporary residency permits granted to citizens of countries hit by natural disasters, war or epidemics.
According to the Washington Post, Mr Trump told the lawmakers the US should instead be taking in migrants from countries like Norway, or Asian nations.
"The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" Tensions between the US and its historical ally have been strained for years, but they reached a new low in January 2018, when Mr Trump threatened to withdraw US assistance. Previously he had put Pakistan on notice as he unveiled his new Afghan strategy in August 2017.
"We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order and peace."
But he had warmer words when Islamabad helped secure the release of an American-Canadian couple held hostage in the country for five years.
But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?" The tone has changed between Mr Trump and President Abbas since they met in New York last September (Getty Images) Mr Trump first met President Mahmoud Abbas during the Palestinian Authority leader's White House visit at the beginning of May 2017.
He said there was a "very good chance" of a Middle East peace deal, telling Mr Abbas during a joint news conference: "We will get this done".
During a visit to Bethlehem to meet Mr Abbas again in May last year, Mr Trump said he would "do everything" to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.
In September, Mr Trump and Mr Abbas met in New York during the UN General Assembly. Mr Trump noted his personal commitment to "improving the economic opportunities available to the Palestinian people".
But Mr Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital led to a sharp deterioration in relations as did his threats to withdraw financial support.
The move led to a draft UN Security Council resolution being put forward by Egypt, which called on all states to "comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem".
The US vetoed the resolution, but in a sign of its isolation on the issue, the four other permanent members of the Security Council - China, France, Russia and the UK - and 10 non-permanent members voted in favour of it.
President Trump met President Juan Carlos Varela of Panama in June, discussing illegal immigration, organised crime and drug gangs.
But perhaps the strangest part of the visit was Mr Trump's focus on the Panama Canal, which was opened by the US in 1914.
"The Panama Canal is doing quite well," he said at the White House meeting. "I think we did a good job building it."
Mr Trump also praised US-Panama relations, saying "things are going well" and "the relationship has been very strong".
During a working dinner in New York with leaders from Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Panama, the group reaffirmed the principles of the Lima Declaration from August 2017 and their commitment to the priority of restoring democracy to Venezuela.
Mr Varela met the US president again in September last year, at a working dinner in New York with South American leaders to discuss the "importance of working together to help restore democracy to Venezuela".
"We're interested in the free movement of people. I emphasised that to President Trump and we prefer bridges to walls" - President Kuczynski after a meeting at the White House, 24 Feb 2017 Mr Trump met with President Kuczynski in the Oval Office in February 2017 (AFP) Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has already had a substantial amount of contact with President Trump. The two men have spoken several times over the phone and Mr Kuczynski has also visited the White House.
As well as discussing regional security and trade between the two countries, the Peruvian president is particularly interested in persuading the US to deport its fugitive ex-leader Alejandro Toledo.
Mr Toledo, who is believed to be in San Francisco, is accused of taking $20m (£16m) in bribes. He denies that and says he is the victim of a witch-hunt. Mr Kuczynski is understood to have asked Mr Trump to "evaluate" the situation.
In March, Mr Kuczynski spoke to Mr Trump about tackling the economic and political crisis in Venezuela.
"He was wishing me success in my campaign against the drug problem... He understood the way we are handling it and he said there is nothing wrong with protecting your country." President Duterte after an April phone call with Mr Trump President Duterte toasts Mr Trump during his visit to the Philippines (AFP) President Trump's has only had a couple of interactions with President Rodrigo Duterte, but they have caused much controversy in the US.
Mr Trump first spoke to Mr Duterte over the phone in April 2017, in what was a "very friendly conversation" about North Korea and "the fact that the Philippine government is fighting very hard to rid its country of drugs, a scourge that affects many countries throughout the world."
Mr Duterte has been widely criticised for human rights violations in the Philippines, after he authorised police and vigilantes to maim and kill drug users on the streets of Manila.
His relationship with the US had been rocky in the past, in part because former President Barack Obama criticised the extrajudicial executions. Mr Obama cancelled a trip to the Philippines in September 2016 after Mr Duterte called him a "son of a whore".
Mr Trump, however, has had a warmer relationship with his Philippine counterpart so far.
After meeting Mr Duterte during a visit to the Philippines in November 2017, Mr Trump hailed their "great relationship" and their joint statement pledged to "further deepen the extensive United States-Philippine economic relationship".
Mr Trump was understood to have invited Mr Duterte to the White House but that meeting has yet to take place.
Mr Trump gave a speech in front of the Warsaw Uprising monument (Getty Images) Donald Trump is a big fan of Poland and its people.
During a visit there in July last year, he described Poland as an example of a country ready to defend Western freedoms, warning against the threats of "terrorism and extremism".
Mr Trump spoke of "the triumph of the Polish spirit over centuries of hardship" as an inspiration "for a future in which good conquers evil, and peace achieves victor over war" during his speech in Warsaw.
He also thanked the country for buying Patriot missile defence systems from the US in a multi-billion dollar contract as well as its investments in the Nato alliance.
"America loves Poland, and America loves the Polish people," he declared.
The first phone call with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, came in February 2017 amid an attempted travel ban by Mr Trump that affected several Middle Eastern countries, but not Qatar itself.
The two men are said to have discussed the fight against the so-called Islamic State group, with Qatar being a prominent member of the US-led coalition.
Earlier this year, several Gulf countries cut travel and embassy links with Qatar over its alleged support for militants. Qatar strongly denies supporting radical Islamism.
Mr Trump took initial credit for applying pressure on Qatar in the longstanding Arab-world rift, saying it could mark "the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism".
In June last year, he again accused Qatar of funding terrorism, tweeting:"During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!"
But Washington would stand to benefit most from a resolution with Qatar as the US ally is home to the largest American military facility in the Middle East. Mr Trump's strategy on Qatar lies in encouraging Qatar's neighbours to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, as well as implementing the United States-Qatar bilateral memorandum of understanding on counterterrorism cooperation.
"Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!" President Trump chats with Mr Putin at the APEC summit in Vietnam (AFP) No US relationship with a country has been more scrutinised than Donald Trump's ties to Russia.
At a summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Mr Trump defended Russia over claims of interference in the 2016 US election.
Speaking with the Mr Putin at his side, Mr Trump was asked if he believed his own intelligence agencies or the Russian president when it came to allegations of meddling in the election.
"President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," he replied.
But a day later, Mr Trump said he had misspoke.
"The sentence should have been: 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't' or 'why it wouldn't be Russia'. Sort of a double negative," he explained to reporters when he arrived back in the US.
The US intelligence agencies have accused Russia of being behind the hacking of the Democratic Party's email server. A dossier has also emerged containing unsubstantiated claims about Mr Trump's ties to Russia.
A special counsel was set up in May 2017 to investigate whether there was any collusion between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign and whether the president unlawfully tried to obstruct the inquiry after the election.
President Trump has dismissed the entire Russia scandal as "fake news" and accused Democrats of launching a political witch-hunt against him because they are angry he defeated Hillary Clinton.
Mr Trump has tweeted more and more about Russia and the investigation in recent months - a sign that the allegations have got under his skin.
Since becoming president in January 2017, he has sought to improve relations with Russia.
In March, he tweeted: "I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing…"
In June, he alarmed allies by saying Russia should be readmitted to the G7 group of industrialised nations. Russia was suspended from what was then the G8 after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing... Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years!" Saudi Arabia has had a close relationship with the US for decades and that appears to be continuing under President Trump.
Mr Trump made his first foreign trip as president to meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, where the White House said it signed deals worth more than $350bn (£270bn) with Saudi Arabia.
Mr Trump appeared a little out of his comfort zone when he took part in a ceremonial sword dance during the trip.
Relations had soured somewhat under President Obama after his administration's nuclear deal with Iran, but Mr Trump appeared to restore the partnership after he sided with Saudi Arabia in a diplomatic standoff with Qatar.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations cut off ties with Qatar over allegations that it funds terror groups. But Mr Trump told King Salman that it was "important that the Gulf be united for peace and security in the region".
When Saudi Arabia's leaders launched a purge of allegedly corrupt officials last November, Mr Trump tweeted: "I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing... Some of those they are harshly treating have been "milking" their country for years!"
More recently, Mr Trump has called on the king to increase the kingdom's oil production, complaining that the price of a barrel of oil had risen too high.
President Trump has met Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong three times so far, the most recent time being during his visit to the country in June.
Last year, Mr Trump said of Singapore: "We're very close, the relationship is very close, and we expect to do some excellent things together in many ways. And we have a very big relationship now. It will probably get much bigger."
After Mr Trump's first meeting with Mr Lee, his social media team posted a photo of the two leaders on Instagram and mistakenly identified the prime minister as Indonesian President Joko Widodo, but later corrected the blunder.
Singapore and the US have had a friendly relationship in the past, though some Singapore officials have criticized the rising sentiment of economic protectionism in America.
Mr Lee was welcomed to the White House in October last year during a visit in which Singapore Airlines signed a deal with Boeing for new aircraft worth more than $13.8 billion.
Reacting to the deal, Mr Trump said: "I want to thank the Singaporean people for their faith in the American engineering and American workers."
While President Trump has not spoken to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, he has tried to ban Somalis from entering the US.
The proposed ban has been partly reinstated by the Supreme Court after it was twice by rejected judges in the US, allowing Mr Trump to bar visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
He has described the affected nations as "terror-prone countries".
In May last year, a member of the US military was killed in Somalia, the first confirmed combat death there since the 1993 disastrous Black Hawk Down incident. There was another fatality in June this year.
The deaths came after the US announced in April 2017 that it was sending dozens of troops to Somalia to train forces fighting Islamist group al-Shabab.
"I really like Nelson Mandela but South Africa is a crime ridden mess that is just waiting to explode-not a good situation for the people!" Donald Trump the businessman didn't have much positive to say about South Africa, tweeting that the country was a "mess".
He took a slightly different approach as president though, telling President Jacob Zuma that he hopes to "expand cooperation and trade" between the two countries.
The two leaders spoken once on the phone, mainly to discuss new opportunities to boost trade. According to the President Zuma's government, there are 600 US companies operating in South Africa.
Mr Zuma also met President Trump once, before he was forced to resign in February. Mr Trump held a working lunch for African leaders, including Mr Zuma, in New York in September. During the meeting, Mr Trump reportedly said: "Africa has tremendous business potential. I have so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich."
South Africa's new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is yet to meet Mr Trump.
"With all of the failed 'experts' weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn't firm, strong and willing to commit our total 'might' against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing!" Mr Trump walks alongside President Moon at a welcoming ceremony for him in Seoul (Getty Images) President Trump's tough rhetoric towards North Korea had many in the South feeling worried for much of 2017. But there is hope that tensions on the peninsular have been diffused since the US president brought Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table.
After President Moon Jae-in's historic meeting with Mr Kim in April, Mr Trump tweeted: "After a furious year of missile launches and Nuclear testing, a historic meeting between North and South Korea is now taking place. Good things are happening, but only time will tell!"
Mr Moon, for his part, said Mr Trump "deserves big credit" for getting North Korea to agree to talks.
Away from the issue of North Korea, there have been lots of talks on trade between the two countries as well.
Donald Trump had long wanted to renegotiate the "horrible" free trade agreement the US struck with South Korea in 2012, claiming it had "destroyed" the US.
In March, the two sides reached an agreement on changes to that deal, allowing US carmakers greater access to the South Korean market while protecting Seoul from some of the tariffs that the US introduced on steel.
South Korea is a major US trade partner, with the US exchanging about $144.6bn (£112bn) in goods and services with the country last year.
Mr Trump visited the country in November last year and his daughter, Ivanka, also made the trip to South Korea for the Winter Olympics there in February.
President Trump with King Felipe outside the Oval Office (Getty Images) Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy held one face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump before he was ousted by a vote of no confidence in June this year.
At the White House meeting, Mr Trump said he thought Spain was "a great country" and that he hoped it would remain "united" despite a push from people in the Catalonia region for independence.
Mr Trump was also ridiculed for referring to Mr Rajoy as "president" twice during their joint press conference. But it turns out Mr Trump may not have made an error as Mr Rajoy's official title in Spain is "president of the government" despite the role being known internationally as prime minister.
In June, Mr Trump and his wife Melania welcomed Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the White House to celebrate "over 300 years of historic and cultural ties between our two great countries".
Pedro Sánchez, Spain's new prime minister, met Donald Trump for the first time at the Nato summit in Brussels in July, but there was no one-on-one meeting this time.
Sudan is another of the predominantly Muslim countries that Donald Trump has included on his travel ban list.
The Supreme Court partly reinstated the ban after it was twice rejected by judges in the US.
It means people without "close" family or business relationships in the US could be denied visas and barred entry.
More recently, Mr Trump postponed a deadline on whether to permanently lift US sanctions against Sudan so he could have more time to "establish that the government of Sudan has demonstrated sufficient positive action" on counter-terrorism efforts, providing humanitarian relief and securing a ceasefire in conflict areas.
The US has issued sanctions against Sudan since the 1990s, when it was accused of state-sponsored terrorism.
Mr Trump has yet to appoint a special envoy for Sudan.
"Give the public a break - The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!" President Trump caused a bit of a stir about Sweden during one of his regular attacks on the media at a rally in February.
"Look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this. Sweden. They took in large numbers [of migrants]. They're having problems like they never thought possible," the new US president told the crowd in Florida.
The only problem was that no-one seemed to know what incident Mr Trump was referring to - not least lots of baffled Swedes.
It later emerged that Mr Trump had been referring to a report on Fox News about gun violence and rape in Sweden since it opened its doors to large numbers of asylum-seekers in 2013.
But police officers interviewed for the feature said their comments had been taken out of context and data didn't appear to back up claims that there had been a surge in gun crimes or rape.
Although Mr Trump did not speak to Prime Minister Stefan Lofven during this saga, he did phone the Swedish leader in April to express condolences over an attack in Stockholm.
"Don't attack Syria - an attack that will bring nothing but trouble for the U.S. Focus on making our country strong and great again!" The US fired 59 cruise missiles at the Shayrat airbase in Syria in April 2017 (Getty Images) Syria is another country that Donald Trump has changed his views on quite substantially since becoming the US president.
When his predecessor was considering military action in Syria back in 2013, Mr Trump was a vocal critic against intervention.
"Again, to our very foolish leader, do not attack Syria - if you do many very bad things will happen & from that fight the US gets nothing," Mr Trump tweeted in September 2013.
But just over two months into his presidency, President Trump said he was so moved by images of children in the aftermath of a chemical attack by Syrian forces that he was taking military action.
"Using a deadly nerve agent, [Syrian President] Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children," Mr Trump said. "No child of God should ever suffer such horror."
Two US Navy ships fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base from their positions in the Mediterranean. It was the first direct US military action against the Syrian president's forces.
Mr Trump deployed his military again in April this year, with 100 missiles targeting suspected government chemical weapons facilities in response to a suspected deadly chemical attack on the town of Douma.
After the strikes, Mr Trump tweeted: "A perfectly executed strike last night. Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"
President Donald Trump called Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, who took control of the country in a 2014 coup, to state his commitment to the US alliance with the country.
Thailand's relationship with the US had been somewhat strained in the past because of human rights complaints. Former President Barack Obama did not invite Mr Chan-ocha to visit Washington.
Mr Trump seems to have warmer feelings toward Thailand's prime minister. According to a White House statement, the two leaders discussed "a strong shared interest in strengthening the trade and economic ties between the two countries." Mr Trump also invited Mr Chan-ocha to visit the White House for the first time since Mr Chan-ocha assumed power.
In September, Mr Chan-ocha visited the White House for the first time. During the visit, the two leaders released a joint statement that outlined "their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond".
Perhaps the unlikeliest country to have made our list, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley spoke to Donald Trump on the phone in February 2017 to discuss "shared priorities".
One of those priorities is terrorism, with some US officials worried that the small Caribbean island could become a "breeding ground for extremists", according to the New York Times.
The island's former US ambassador John Estrada told the newspaper that more than 100 people have travelled from there to fight with the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
When Donald Trump announced a ban on people entering the US from several predominantly Muslim countries, some analysts were surprised not to see Tunisia on the list.
The Arab Spring began there in 2010, but it has become a breeding ground for the so-called Islamic State group (IS) in recent years - more Tunisians have joined them to fight in Iraq and Syria than any other nationality.
President Trump appears to have decided that a close relationship with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi is important in the fight against IS and he praised the country's "stability and security" in a phone call with its leader in February.
"I am in Istanbul, Turkey. Just opened magnificent #TrumpTowers - a big hit" Mr Trump met with President Erdogan in the Oval Office in May 2017 (Getty Images) Donald Trump's relationship with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is one that his critics will be keeping a close eye on.
Mr Trump had business links to Turkey before he was elected president, licensing his name to a Turkish businessman in 2008 who opened a Trump Tower complex in Istanbul in 2012.
Mr Trump was at the launch of the property, as was Mr Erdogan (who was prime minister at that point).
But tensions were high after Mr Erdogan's White House visit in May last year, when clashes broke out between protesters and the Turkish president's supporters and members of security personnel.
US Congress has called for criminal charges against those involved in the brawl outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington DC.
Relations have also been strained with the Nato ally by Mr Trump's decision to arm the Syrian Kurds in the battle against the so-called Islamic State.
Turkey views the YPG (Popular Protection Units) as a terrorist group linked to the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group.
While at the United Nations General Assembly in September, together, Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan reaffirmed their rejection of the planned Kurdistan referendum planned for later that month.
"Crimea was TAKEN by Russia during the Obama Administration. Was Obama too soft on Russia?" Donald Trump said he had "very, very good discussions" with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko during the foreign leader's White House visit in June 2017.
The pair discussed "support for the peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine", where government forces have been fighting Russian-backed rebels since 2014.
In July last year, Mr Trump called on Russia to stop "destabilising" Ukraine and "join the community of responsible nations". The Kremlin brushed off the comments.
Mr Trump has previously accused Barack Obama of having been weak on Russia and allowing them to "pick off" the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.
The US president's calls for better ties to Russia have worried Ukrainian authorities, observers say.
But Mr Trump announced sanctions against Russia for its role in the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria would remain even after his meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Hamburg.
The president said he would work "constructively" with Russia, but to lift the sanctions would be premature.
At the United Nations General Assembly in September, Mr Trump met with Mr Poroshenko and encouraged the European leader to improve his nation's business and political climates. Mr Trump also reiterated his support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with Donald Trump on the phone just a few days after the former businessman became the new US president.
The two leaders spoke about the fight against international terrorism and according to the White House, the crown prince backed Mr Trump's idea of safe zones for refugees in the Middle East.
The UAE was not one of the countries that Mr Trump tried to ban people travelling to the US from, and the state's foreign minister was one of the few Middle East officials to defend the move.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan described Mr Trump's proposed ban as a "sovereign decision" and said some of the countries on the list "face structural problems" that need to be dealt with.
In May last year, Mr Trump met the Crown Prince at the White House, where the two leaders discussed "bilateral defense cooperation, counterterrorism, resolving the conflicts in Yemen and Syria, and the threat to regional stability posed by Iran."
"I would have done [Brexit] much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it but she didn't agree, she didn't listen to me. She wanted to go a different route. I would actually say that she probably went the opposite way. And that is fine." - Donald Trump in an interview with The Sun newspaper, 13 Jul 2018 President Trump and Mrs May with their partners outside Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire (PA) Mr Trump arrived for his first visit to the UK as president on 12 July.
His first event was a black-tie dinner with Mrs May and British business leaders, but it was overshadowed by the publication of an interview the US president gave to The Sun newspaper.
In it, he said the UK would "probably not" get a trade deal with the US if the prime minister's Brexit plan goes ahead.
"If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal," he told the paper, adding that Mrs May's plan "will definitely affect trade with the United States, unfortunately in a negative way."
He also said Mrs May's blueprint for its post-Brexit relations with the EU was "a much different deal than the people voted on".
But at a joint news conference on the second day of his visit, he changed his tone and said a trade deal "will absolutely be possible" after the UK leaves the EU. He also said Brexit was an "incredible opportunity".
Mr Trump also met the Queen, although there was no open carriage ride with her through the streets of the capital as the trip was designated a "working visit" rather than an official state visit.
He had been expected to visit in February to open the new $1bn (£738m) embassy but, having voiced his displeasure, that trip was cancelled.
Asked about the protests that greeted his arrival in the UK, he insisted many people were "delighted" he was visiting, adding: "I get thousands of notifications from people in the UK that they love the President of the United States."
Mr Trump spoke to Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in December 2017 to discuss "discuss regional security and to explore opportunities for improved cooperation."
That came after Mr Mirziyoyev told Mr Trump his country was ready to "use all forces and resources" to help investigate the New York truck attack, in which eight people were killed, and where the suspect arrested by police was an Uzbek immigrant.
The two leaders met for the first time in May at the White House.
Human rights have not been at the top of President Trump's agenda so far, but he has called for the release of a political prisoner in Venezuela.
"Venezuela should allow Leopoldo Lopez, a political prisoner & husband of @liliantintori out of prison immediately," he tweeted in mid-February.
Venezuela is in the middle of an economic and political crisis, with the country deeply divided between those who support the government of the socialist President Nicolas Maduro and those who blame him.
Mr Trump has discussed the situation in Venezuela on the phone with leaders of neighbouring countries, including Brazil and Colombia, but he has not spoken directly to President Maduro.
In an October tweet, Mr Trump called "for the full restoration of democracy and political freedoms in Venezuela." The tweet reflected statements made by Mr Trump at a dinner with Latin American leaders in which he thanked them for supporting the Venezuelan people and condemning the Maduro "dictatorship".
Mr Maduro, however, has sent a word of warning to President Trump, saying in a televised speech: "Don't repeat the errors of Obama and Bush when it comes to Venezuela and Latin America."
In April 2017 it emerged that Citgo Petroleum, the state oil company, gave half a million dollars to Trump's inaugural committee and a General Motors plant in the country was seized by the state.
Mr Trump celebrated the release of an American man in Venezuela in May this year, tweeting: "Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela." The man, a Mormon missionary from Utah, had been held without trial on weapons charges since 2016.
Vietnam played host to Trump with a lavish two-day state visit around the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in November 2017.
Mr Trump tweeted his thanks for "a wonderful visit".
Mr Trump was keen to highlight a $12bn (£9bn) purchase of Boeing aircraft in a joint statement after the visit.
"[Navy Seal] Ryan died on a winning mission (according to General Mattis), not a "failure". Time for the US to get smart and start winning again!" President Trump's main focus in Yemen has been his ban on its citizens from travelling to America.
In December 2017, the US Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump's travel ban on six mainly Muslim countries could go into full effect, pending legal challenges.
Mr Trump has also called on Saudi Arabia to "allow food, fuel, water, and medicine to reach the Yemeni people who desperately need it," in response to the humanitarian crisis linked to the ongoing Saudi campaign and blockade against Houthi rebels.
Yemen was the site of the first military operation authorised by Mr Trump, in which a special forces team raided the compound of a suspected terrorist leader.
The mission didn't go to plan. The US Navy Seals came under fire from fighters belonging to the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula group (AQAP) and one member of the elite team was killed.
It later emerged that a number of civilians were also killed in the operation, which had been drawn up in November 2016 but approved by Mr Trump.
In an interview with Fox News, Mr Trump appeared to lay blame for the death of Navy Seal William "Ryan" Owens on military leaders.
"This was a mission that was started before I got here," Mr Trump said. "They came to see me and they explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected... And they lost Ryan."
A New York Times article claimed the Navy Seals found out their mission had been compromised after intercepting AQAP communications but they "pressed on toward their target" nonetheless.
Mr Trump responded to criticism by tweeting that it had been "a winning mission... not a failure". A White House statement said it was a "successful raid" that yielded "important intelligence".
Carryn Owens, the widow of the Navy Seal, was invited to Mr Trump's joint address to Congress. She got a standing ovation and as the room applauded, the president said her husband's legacy was "etched into eternity".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39732845
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Ayrton Senna: Keeping his brand and legacy alive - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Twenty-three years after his tragic death, legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna is still one of the most valuable brands in sport.
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Business
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Ayrton Senna Foundation is helping millions of students in Brazil
Twenty-three years after his death, former Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna's name is almost as valuable as when he was alive - and it is making a difference in his home country of Brazil.
It is Friday afternoon and children around the age of 12 are gathered in the computer lab of a public school in Itatiba, a small town an hour away from Sao Paulo.
Class time is already over for the week, but these students have chosen to stay in school for extracurricular activities.
They are learning Scratch, a piece of software developed by MIT experts that aims to teach kids how to code.
Most public schools in Brazil don't have computer coding in their curriculum. In fact, most schools are struggling to get kids to learn the basics, such as maths and Portuguese, as Brazil ranks among the worst countries in the world in school exams.
The coding class is courtesy of the Ayrton Senna Foundation
Students and staff in Itatiba have little interest in Formula 1. But much of what is going on in the classroom is part of the legacy of legendary driver Ayrton Senna, killed in a tragic accident during the San Marino Grand Prix on 1 May 1994.
The coding class is a project run by the Ayrton Senna Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was founded by Ayrton's sister Viviane a few months after his death.
Most of the money for the Foundation comes from managing Senna's brand and legacy.
Ayrton Senna is still one of the most valuable sporting brands in the world.
Senna is still a beloved figure in Brazil
In the past five years, the foundation drew in about 1bn Brazilian reais (£250m; $320m) for the NGO.
And it's all a family affair. While Viviane is the CEO of the foundation, her daughter Bianca is head of branding.
The foundation uses the money it raises to fund ambitious educational projects, which are today its core business.
"Usually companies have a philanthropic arm that helps society with social projects. We are the other way around. We are the only NGO I know that has a sports branding company inside it," says Bianca.
Ayrton Senna is still a goldmine in terms of marketing.
"We're an NGO with a sports branding company inside it," says Ayrton's niece Bianca Senna
The strongest markets for Senna products are Brazil, the UK and Italy.
Research conducted in 2015 by the Boston Consulting Group suggests Senna is in the same league as tennis superstar Roger Federer and basketball legend Michael Jordan in terms of product endorsement potential.
Another survey of Brazilian athletes who competed in last year's Rio Olympics - many of them too young to have seen Senna race - ranked him as their biggest source of inspiration, above past and present idols such as Neymar and Pele.
The foundation does its best to fully explore the marketing potential, licensing hundreds of products with Senna's face and name on it.
It caters for two groups of consumers. The first are Formula 1 fans who buy products such as books, DVDs, helmets and collectible souvenirs.
The foundation licenses hundreds of Ayrton Senna-themed items, like these action figures
And then there are products for the general public who may not necessarily enjoy racing, but like Senna for his charisma and values. These include toys and comic books for children and a food line of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.
Marketing specialist Marcos Machado, from TopBrands Consultancy, says Senna's tragic death while at the top of his game crystallised his image in the eyes of the public as a winner.
Most sports stars eventually lose their appeal when they get older and retire. Some devalue their own brands by getting involved in scandals - think Ryan Lochte and Tiger Woods.
"If you consider Senna as a brand, I don't think he has many competitors," says Machado.
One of the brand's strengths is that virtually all money from licensing goes to charity, not profit.
Education is the foundation's core business. Over the past two decades, it has become one of the biggest NGOs in Brazil, helping 1.9 million children and training 60,000 teachers per year.
Senna's name is also used for a range of foodstuffs including mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup
It invests heavily in research to come up with what Viviane Senna calls "vaccines" - smart solutions that can be applied to many schools with low costs.
Last year it achieved one of its greatest successes in Colegio Chico Anysio, a public school in Rio de Janeiro with students from low-income families.
The institute revamped the curriculum, training students in social and emotional skills such as resilience, discipline and determination, instead of focusing solely on traditional subjects, such as maths and languages. It even came up with special metrics to identify these skills.
And in the national students' exam, Colegio Chico Anysio was ranked the fifth best school for its income level.
The foundation aims for low-cost solutions that can work in many schools, says Viviane Senna
This year the institute is applying its "vaccine" to 20 other schools in the south of Brazil.
Its work does not come without criticism, though.
Teachers' unions complain that social and emotional skills are personal traits - not skills to be measured - and that the foundation sees schools and teachers too much as enterprises.
"If someone from the 19th Century travelled to our time, he wouldn't see any difference in classrooms. But the rest of the world has been through a technological and scientific revolution.
"And it's not just about bringing tablets and mobiles into students' hands. It's about giving them social and emotional skills to face our world."
Despite some successes, Brazil's level of education has been slipping recently in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) global rankings.
Brazil has 50 million children in school, aged between six and 16. Only one in five end up graduating from high school. All others are lost along the way.
Keeping interest in Ayrton Senna's name is likely to get harder as the years go by
The future is fraught with challenges for the foundation. All the work it does with schools needs to be approved by state and city governments, but public finances are collapsing in Brazil thanks to the recession.
On the branding front, it must keep the interest in Senna's name alive, a task that is likely to get harder as years go by.
"The foundation has done outstanding work. And interest in Senna can be sustained, but not forever," says Mr Machado.
"We have to be realistic. One day, Senna is going to be more of a distant memory than a real idol for young generations. You can keep his name alive, but not forever."
On the racetrack, Ayrton Senna made a name for himself as a driver who could do things that seemed impossible. The foundation that now carries his name is trying to live up to that legacy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39640707
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Valtteri Bottas: Is Russia Grand Prix win start of things to come? - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Bottas' win in Russia means the Formula 1 championship is nicely poised for the start of the European phase of the season, writes Andrew Benson.
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First grand prix victories do not come much better than this. Valtteri Bottas was imperious at the Russian Grand Prix as he took his maiden win in his 81st start and confirmed himself as a major player in this fascinating Formula 1 season.
There were so many impressive aspects of the Finn's weekend that it is hard to know where to start. Crushing team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a manner rarely seen, and then soaking up intense pressure in the race from four-time champion Sebastian Vettel despite a damaged front tyre are definite highlights.
Hamilton was anonymous around the former Olympic buildings on the Black Sea coast, slipping into one of those bizarrely off-form weekends he has from time to time.
But Bottas' win depended on so much more than beating Hamilton. He saw off the threat from the Ferraris, who had been strong favourites for victory before the start, in a manner that suggests this will not be the last time this quiet, low-key and likeable man will stand atop a podium this season.
The Finn is the third winner in four races this year and the championship is nicely poised for the start of the European phase of the season in Spain in two weeks' time. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is leading the standings by 13 points from Hamilton, and Bottas is only 10 points behind his team-mate.
It was always going to be a matter of time before Bottas won his first race once he had moved to Mercedes over the winter as a replacement for Nico Rosberg, who retired five days after winning the title last year.
The question, assuming Mercedes remained competitive, was not whether he would win - the ebb and flow of a grand prix season meant that was inevitable. It was how close he could get to Hamilton on a regular basis.
Four races in, after three weekends of clear superiority for Hamilton and one in which he was off-form, it is too early to answer that question definitively.
But Russia proved that Bottas is exactly what Mercedes wanted - at the very least a like-for-like replacement for Rosberg who can push the Briton close and win races in his own right.
Bottas has always liked the Sochi track and he was by far the most convincing Mercedes driver through the weekend. The Finn qualified 0.478secs ahead of his illustrious team-mate, and his drive in the race was masterful.
A good start, a slipstream from Vettel's Ferrari down the one-kilometre run to the first corner and Bottas was far enough ahead, not only to pass into the first chicane, but be sufficiently ahead to block the red car while doing it.
Bottas' first stint was highly impressive as he set a pace too hot for Vettel to match, albeit that he lost some ground from lap 20 onwards when the German found the balance of his Ferrari coming back to him and the Finn began to encounter traffic.
The Ferrari was faster in the second stint and Vettel began to turn the screw. Bottas' one error was a lock-up into Turn 13 which damaged both front tyres and cut his lead by more than a second in one lap.
It could have proved a turning point, and although Vettel caught him up, Bottas controlled the race from the front like a veteran.
Vettel was just one of many people who were impressed, and he paid fulsome tribute afterwards.
"It's his day; he deserves to win," Vettel said. "He drove a fantastic race. I think he locked up once into Turn 13 but other than that, superb race. Great first stint. He was a lot quicker than Lewis all weekend, so you just have to give credit to him. He was just better than all the rest of us today."
Bottas himself admitted it was "going to take a while" for it to sink in.
"I have to say, normally I'm not that emotional," he said, "but hearing the Finnish national anthem is something quite special for me - it felt good. But it is a little bit surreal: first win, and hopefully first of many. It was definitely one of my best races, personally, ever. It's a good feeling."
What does it mean for Bottas?
Four years with Williams had proved Bottas to be a very solid competitor, but there are always questions over drivers before they really go up against the A-listers in a front-running car.
It has not been the easiest of starts to his Mercedes career. A solid debut in Australia was followed by an embarrassing spin behind the safety car in China followed by a fundamental lack of pace in Bahrain after a first pole the day before.
Bottas entered the Russia weekend surrounded by questions about whether Mercedes needed to designate a firm number one and two to counter the threat from Ferrari, and then heard his team say they would impose orders if one driver was slower than the other in a race and it was affecting the team's chances of victory.
But there is a quiet solidity and unflappability about Bottas and he answered the doubters in emphatic style.
"It is only the beginning of the year," he said, when asked how he had coped with China and Bahrain. "It is always difficult to draw conclusions on how the season is so that's why I wasn't too worried with the gap to the front.
"It was 30 points or something, and that sort of gap has gone in the past in just a few races so it's way too early to look at that championship in detail. We are just focusing on making the car better and that will give us more wins for both cars.
"Getting the first win is something special, for sure, even though you always believe in yourself. If you think you are not able to win you should stay home, but to get confirmation and get a good result, that matters in this world.
"How many races you can win and get on the podium is the name of the game. Getting the first win gives me a lot of confidence even though I always knew I had the ability. It is not that simple this year. It's going to always be a massive fight."
For all Bottas' impressive performance in Russia, he was made to look better by what appears to have been a difficult weekend for Hamilton in which he never got himself in the ballpark.
For all his talent, this happens to Hamilton from time to time - think back to Baku and Singapore last year.
In both cases, for very different reasons, he had poor weekends and at this early stage it appears Russia 2017 was more like Singapore, where he was never on the pace, than Baku, where he simply messed up by driving badly.
Hamilton was not comfortable with the car all weekend in Sochi.
Both Mercedes drivers were struggling on Friday, unable to get the ultra-soft tyres up to the right temperature on a flying lap. But whereas Bottas and his engineers recovered overnight into Saturday, and he missed out on pole by less than 0.1secs, Hamilton remained at sea.
"It was just pure pace based on car, tyres, tyre temperatures and being comfortable in the car," Hamilton said following his debrief with the engineers after the race.
"There were differences in car set-ups", he said, adding: "But they were not huge, quite close - a little different in low, and medium-speed corners, which is where I struggled. And then on the electronic side, the differential, those kind of things, we were a little bit different.
"I don't know the fine details. The engineers will give me a full summary. The direction he was able to go in, I wasn't able to, and I don't understand fully why. I'm not sure what else in the car was stopping me going in that direction."
Team boss Toto Wolff added: "I think there was more wrong than one topic. He [Hamilton] felt he couldn't make the car and the tyres function so we need to find out.
"We know it is very difficult to keep the tyres in the right window and it is something we have to work on because the Ferrari seems to struggle less, the window is larger [for them] and he wasn't in the window, whether it was tyre-specific or something on the car we need to find out."
Most people expect Hamilton, over the balance of the season, to remain the more consistently strong Mercedes driver. But Bottas' performance in Russia has told him, if he did not know before, that he faces a challenge at least as great as that from Rosberg over the last three years.
And a challenge is very much what Mercedes have as a team from a rejuvenated Ferrari.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39765257
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'I went to the web to find a new kidney' - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Rather than languishing on a waiting list for an organ transplant, some people are seeking help on the internet.
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Health
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Eleven-year-old Matthew Pietrzyk can now swim, run, have a bath and eat chocolate, all impossible before his kidney transplant.
But he might still be on the waiting list, enduring 12 hours of dialysis each day, if his mother, Nicola, had not run a Facebook campaign to find him a living donor.
Matthew is one of a number of UK patients who have bypassed the traditional NHS system of organ allocation, instead harnessing the power of the internet to find their own.
Transplant doctors fear this development could result in an unsavoury competition to attract donors online, in what some have called an "organ beauty pageant".
And they worry that it rips up the traditional health service ethos of equal access to treatment for all.
Consultant nephrologist Dr Adnan Sharif, from Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, says: "Somebody who is well-to-do, a professional, will be very good at promoting themselves," whereas poorer patients, perhaps from minority ethnic communities, will not have the same opportunities.
"I'm not going to lie, I think on Matthew's side was the fact he was a child," she says.
"In all walks of life, we use things to our advantage.
"If it meant that he didn't have to spend his life on dialysis, then I'd take it - I don't care."
There are 28,000 people on dialysis in the UK.
Some 5,000 patients are on the national waiting list for an organ transplant from a dead donor.
There is a permanent shortage of such kidneys.
But there is another option; they may get a kidney from a living donor, because most of us can live healthily with just one.
Alison Thornhill donated her kidney to an anonymous recipient
Living donors now make up a third of all kidney transplants in the UK.
Some are donated anonymously through a very successful NHS scheme.
But social media campaigns such as Matthew's can bring dozens of would-be donors to be tissue-tested for just one patient, squeezing resources.
Sue Moore, the lead NHS living donor coordinator in Birmingham, says: "You'd get people call out of the blue, and it was quite overwhelming really."
However, since Matthew's appeal was launched in 2013, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the biggest renal centre in Europe, has adjusted to handling such pressures.
Matthew's mother argues publicity for his campaign increased awareness of kidney donation.
And some of the people initially tested for Matthew went on to give a kidney to someone else.
One was Alison Thornhill, who was touched by his Facebook appeal.
"If one of my grandchildren was in that situation, I would want somebody to step forward and be tested to see if they were a match for him," she says.
Alison wasn't a match for Matthew, but since she "was prepared to give a kidney to a little boy who I didn't know, it made sense just to go on and give it to somebody else who I didn't know who needed it".
Eighteen months ago, she went into hospital and became an anonymous donor.
Unexpectedly, she later got letters from the recipient, and from his mother, who wrote: "I don't know anything about you apart from the fact that you are a very kind and compassionate person.
"I will be eternally grateful to you.
Gemma Coles wants to chose who to donate her kidney to
But some would-be donors want to choose precisely who receives their kidney.
Searching online, Gemma Coles identified a series of patients she wanted to donate to, though for various reasons it has not yet happened.
Asked why she wants to choose the recipient, she replies she has only one kidney to give.
"You have to be judgemental," she says.
"There's thousands of people, literally, needing a kidney, and more and more now their stories are available on social media, and it can feel you're being very critical of people's lives, trying to decide who to give and who not to."
If the transplant community was disturbed by Facebook kidney appeals, it was shocked by websites offering to match donors and patients, who can browse through profiles and photos.
Matchingdonors.com was set up in the US by businessman Paul Dooley as a non-profit venture.
It charges $595 (£464) for US patients seeking a donor.
In 2012, he brought the website to the UK, but this time, without charging any fees.
According to the regulator, the Human Tissue Authority, transplant centres must refuse operations involving a website that does charge fees.
Since Matchingdonors.com is free to use in the UK, there is no regulatory barrier to stop it brokering a transplant.
But chief executive Mr Dooley says not one such transplant has taken place in five years in the UK.
There are 73 UK patients waiting - some have found matches with potential donors, but none has had permission from their hospital to go ahead.
Prof Vassilios Papalois says doctors must be allowed to make ethical decisions
In 2015, he stopped stopped signing up British patients, because "there's no use them going to a gas station if there's no gas".
It seems the transplant community simply decided organ-matching websites were beyond the pale. But is this fair?
Prof Vassilios Papalois, who formerly chaired the British Transplantation Society's ethics committee, says the views of transplant teams must be respected.
"They have the autonomy to say that for us it's ethically objectionable," he says.
Asked if he is trying to provide the catwalk for an organ beauty pageant, Mr Dooley replies: "Every single person on our website who's an organ donor wants to choose.
"They want to say, 'I want to give to an old grandfather, 'I want to give to a single father,' and if that's what they consider a beauty contest, that's not a beauty contest, it's the choice of who you want to donate to."
The Organ Beauty Pageant is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, 2 May, at 20:00 BST, and repeated on Sunday, 7 May, at 17:00 BST.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39705234
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BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017: Melanie Behringer profile - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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BBC Sport profiles German midfielder Melanie Behringer, a nominee for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017 award.
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We are profiling each of the five nominees for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017 award. Voting has now closed but you can see all the contenders' profiles and read full terms here. The winner will be revealed on Tuesday, 30 May, during Sport Today on BBC World Service from 18:30 GMT (19:30 BST).
Winning Olympic gold in her final international match was the dream way for BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017 nominee Melanie Behringer to bring down the curtain on her Germany career.
A 2-1 victory over Sweden in last year's final at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro earned the midfielder the one piece of international silverware she was missing.
"That was a crazy, beautiful tournament. For me I think the best tournament overall," the 31-year Bayern Munich player said.
"Our goal was to win a medal and at the end we even got gold. That of course was an amazingly beautiful feeling. Indescribable."
Behringer says she realised after the Olympic semi-final victory over Canada that the next match would be her last for her country.
"I have never before made it to the finals at the Olympics," said the midfielder, who won 123 caps for Germany and was nominated for Fifa's World Player of the Year award in 2016.
"It was the right time to say I am done with playing in the national team."
As well as international success, Berhringer has enjoyed club success in her homeland, where she played for Freiburg, then Bayern Munich and then FFC Frankfurt before returning to Bayern in 2014.
She won the German Cup with Frankfurt in 2011 and 2014 before helping Bayern, to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2015 and 2016.
"[Bayern's] last championship was sometime in the '70s and because of that it was really insane for us to win the title," she said.
"We were 10 new players, as 10 players from Bayern left and therefore we were a complete new team. We had to come together very quickly and managed that in a short period of time."
Some of this recent success is down to the relationship the men's and women's teams have with each other at Bayern, she says.
"It is very, very important that the men's team stand behind the woman's team, especially names like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea, Lyon or Paris," she said.
"It helps especially when you play in other countries and they know Bayern Munich is coming. The name alone is important because of the success in the men's team.
"It is very much like being in a family here. We all get on really well with all the players. Actually it is like this at the whole club. If you see any workers from Munich, you just know each other and just talk. It's a feeling that you just belong there. It's a great feeling."
The men's game has been important to her development as a player from an early age, with her earliest footballing memories centring around playing with her brothers and in matches against boys' teams.
"I had to play with the boys, because there was no girls' teams," said Behringer, who was born in Lorrach, in south-west Germany on the border with Switzerland and France.
"I think it is important that you train and play with boys, because then you have to physically push through.
"You learn how to defend yourself and that's why I think it is good to play with boys as long as possible. Opinions are for sure either way."
Why vote for me?
"To win the Olympic gold medal, to hold it in your hands is a feeling you cannot describe. I'm very happy and proud to be nominated for this award, I never believed I would be nominated, but the year of 2016 was very successful and amazing for me."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39679929
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'Anthony Joshua's win over Wladimir Klitschko makes him part of mainstream' - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Whatever the future may bring, Anthony Joshua's victory over Wladimir Klitschko means he will never be forgotten.
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So that was the night when a talented young sportsman supersized to become part of mainstream British culture.
Nothing will ever again be the same for Anthony Joshua, a prodigiously gifted boxer who in 11 rounds of twisting drama escaped not only the fists of Wladimir Klitschko and the dislocated senses that came from them but the tight boundaries of his chosen sport.
These moments come along infrequently but unforgettably, sometimes through great triumph, sometimes through desperate failure: a performer long appreciated in their own world who through one act or display jumps the barriers into an altogether greater sphere of fame.
Barry McGuigan overcoming Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road in 1985, Paul Gascoigne being yellow-carded in Turin in 1990. Bradley Wiggins and some yellow of his own on the Champs-Elysees before a throne at Hampton Court a few weeks later. Dennis Taylor and a black-ball finger waggle; Mo Farah and a Stratford Saturday night Mobot, Jonny Wilkinson and a late drop-goal on the other side of the world.
It doesn't matter if nothing else they do ever quite matches that initial impact. Into the national consciousness they have been stamped, from playgrounds to offices, dinner parties to dinner ladies, front pages to social media memes.
Joshua's coming of age was not witnessed by 18 million people on terrestrial television like Taylor's, nor was it part of a wider festival of surreal national success like Wiggins and Farah. Its impression instead comes both from what was expected and what actually transpired, from the way it was achieved, from the distinctive emotions boxing can still illustrate and stir.
This was a heavyweight title fight that appeared predictable - the short game for Joshua, the long one for Klitschko - and behaved any way but: the 41-year-old veteran initially resurgent and fluid, the young puncher putting his man down and then being stunned himself with celebrations still rolling round the arena. A cruel, lost period when Joshua somehow held on in the darkness, the slow assertion of tactical superiority by the old stager and then, from nowhere, the final shattering denouement, an uppercut to be felt around the nation, an explosion of blows and stumbling feet and raised arms.
It was boxing with the plot twists of Test cricket, turning with the speed of the critical holes of a Ryder Cup Sunday, a callow kid becoming a true champion in 11 rounds that felt simultaneously far longer and a breathless fast-forward that pushed everything else away.
There is no hiding place for pain and pleasure in boxing, no mask to disguise what a boxer is going through when his opponent's arsenal detonates. When the skin around Klitschko's left eye was opened up by Joshua's right hand early in the fifth, the shock was as visible as the Ukrainian's blood; when Joshua was nailed with a right cross early in the sixth, his legs gave in even as he tried to smile it away, his arms groping for the ropes and missing, his knees trying to straighten but failing.
It spells it out for those watching and it sucks them in. "Boxing is about character - there is nowhere to hide," Joshua would say afterwards, and in the manner that he came through the rest of that sixth round and clung on for the next two, he gave testimony to where the hype ended and heart began.
• None Read: What next for Anthony Joshua?
• None Watch: I know I can knock anyone out - Joshua
That fifth round in isolation was enough to make it the best heavyweight fight since the first Tyson-Holyfield ding-dong. The 11th deserves to stand alone too, a brutal eruption of speed and violence from Joshua, a heroic refusal from Klitschko to let go, rising once to be put down again, rising once more to be sent crashing for the final time.
Anywhere it had been staged it would have reminded those who long ago fell out of love with heavyweight boxing why they were drawn to it in the first place. With 90,000 to witness it at Wembley came a setting to intensify the intrinsic thrills.
Boxing in Britain has always drawn crowds to garland the big showdowns, from the 35,000 at Wembley that saw Henry Cooper's first fight with Muhammad Ali and the 46,000 that saw the two meet again at Highbury three years later, to the 40,000 for Frank Bruno's world title fights with Tim Witherspoon and Oliver McCall, the 47,000 at Old Trafford for Benn-Eubank in 1993 and the 80,000 for Froch-Groves II at Wembley three years ago.
Should those numbers desensitise you to the scale of the support, it is worth reflecting that Floyd Mayweather's fight of the century against Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 drew 16,507 paying customers to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mike Tyson's meeting with Lennox Lewis in 2002 took 15,327 to the Pyramid in Memphis.
It doesn't matter that many of those in the further reaches of Wembley Stadium on Saturday night will recall the critical moments from distant screens rather than first-hand memory. If you were there, you went so you could boast of having done so. If you forked out on pay-per-view you made satellite executives rich and helped break records; if you listened on radio you were part of a collective that set even more.
If it passed you by on the night, it came to you in conversations and status updates across an otherwise slow Sunday. Replays on radio, reflections on news channels, memories received and given.
No live event this year has drawn a bigger audience to a single page on the BBC Sport website. Just as at London 2012, when Joshua won the last home gold medal of an extraordinary 17 days, Britons embraced a live sporting occasion like very few other nations.
Boxing is a niche sport in many countries and unloved or forgotten in others. With 11 current world champions, Britain is entering an unexpected golden age that may yet produce more nights like Saturday, not least should Tyson Fury shed the weight and demons to line up another upset in his sights.
For now, this is all about Joshua, the everyday kid with just enough bad in his back story, the last sporting hero of 2012 and the first of 2017.
He may never again be involved in a fight as epic as Saturday night's. He may never have to prove more. Boxing may one day even sour for him. But he is unforgettable now, whatever Fury or future may bring.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39767660
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Greater Manchester mayor could change 'insane' bus system - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Greater Manchester mayor has the power to change an 'insane' bus system and put passengers first.
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Manchester
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The bus network in the capital is regulated by Transport for London
"Insane". That's one Londoner's view of Greater Manchester's bus system. Some routes have lots of buses vying for passengers while others only have one, if that. It's a major issue for voters and one which the mayor, once elected, will have the power to change.
It's not unusual to see rows of buses in popular places such as Oxford Road, in Manchester's university district, but fewer in areas such as Monton in Salford.
The reason? Huge differences in demand and no regulation.
More than 30 years ago the then Conservative government passed a law that meant private companies could run services on previously local authority-controlled routes, which were profitable based on passenger numbers.
London was the exception. Buses were privatised but the city's service was not deregulated.
Maintaining regulation in the capital has meant passengers pay set fares, the buses look the same and changes such as passengers needing prepaid or concessionary tickets, an Oyster card or a contactless payment card to travel were introduced across the board.
Greater Manchester, like many other urban areas, has no such system.
The main three bus operators in Greater Manchester are First, Stagecoach and Arriva
But with an estimated 210 million passenger journeys taking place by bus in Greater Manchester every year - 79% of all public transport journeys, ahead of 9% by train and 12% by tram - there is a belief that something needs to change to "fulfil basic customer requirements".
This is what the transport authority - Transport for Greater Manchester - is aiming to achieve with the mayor.
Passengers across the region are using buses run by more than 20 bus operators (competing to serve 500 bus services) and are faced with 100 different ticketing types with varying prices and offers.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Gay Williams, from Monton, says bus services can be "dangerous"
Gay Williams, from Monton says four bus services from her home to the city centre have been reduced to one over the past 15 years.
"I have been stranded from 5:30pm to 7:30pm because buses have been taken off the route and it can be dangerous," she says.
"When I inquired about it I was told it was no longer a government-funded route. How does that help people get to and from work?"
Ticket prices, bus timings and the multitude of different companies were highlighted as issues by young people who took part in the BBC's Listen Up project, which canvassed opinions on what young people wanted to see from their elected mayors.
At one workshop, university student Lauren Barclay, 19, from Trafford, reveals how she gave up on buses.
"It was actually cheaper to buy a car and get insurance and drive in every day than get a bus to a tram stop and get a tram into Manchester," she says.
Others detail other problems - how they've missed buses because they didn't take cards, how seasonal tickets couldn't be used on buses run by different firms and how some annual student passes didn't include the summer holiday period at the end of the year.
Femi Oyeniran said Manchester's bus network is "counter-intuitive, unfair and inefficient"
Listening in is workshop leader and London-based actor/film producer Femi Oyeniran.
"That makes no sense," he says. "The fact that you are better off driving in the second most congested city in the country than catching public transport to university. That's insane.
"I find it really confusing to hear that there's no streamlined bus system and there's clearly no streamlined ticketing system. You have to do research before you have to catch a bus down the road, it's incredible.
"It is counter-intuitive, unfair and inefficient."
Firms are under no obligation to run services just to meet a social responsibility, says Richard Knowles, Emeritus Professor of Transport Geography at the University of Salford.
"Deregulation was a very radical experiment and it has not been replicated across the world," he adds.
"London was specifically excluded because it was seen as too risky at that moment. London would have had to have further legislation."
He says deregulation was implemented after an 18-month trial in rural areas, with the largest being in an area of 30,000 people.
As a result, passengers in Greater Manchester have seen a disparity in fares, inconsistencies in services, routes being axed and one operator's onboard ticket prices increase while those bought via its own app were frozen.
Transport for Greater Manchester hopes to create an "integrated" bus system
But the bus network is on the verge of change after Greater Manchester agreed to elect a mayor if the successful candidate could take control of local transport and implement changes, which would go out to public consultation.
So it could mean fares are set, an end to multiple bus companies competing for passengers on busy routes, and even a return to more buses on routes that are not commercially profitable.
Prof Knowles says: "The elected mayor will have the power to bring in bus franchising and put them out to tender. Fares might not go up as fast, but they might be fairer."
When local councils operated bus services, before deregulation, they "weren't terribly efficient", he adds.
If there are changes in how buses are run, he believes the mayor and the local transport authority "should use private bus companies' expertise".
"You would always maintain the expertise but have some control of the routes, frequencies and fares. But it's not a panacea," he adds.
There is a strategy for bus services in the future for a system that "fulfils basic customer requirements"
Transport for Greater Manchester, which is responsible for implementing local transport policy, says it's one that is "integrated, safe, secure, healthy, low-emission, accessible, resilient and affordable".
The Bus Services Bill was given Royal Assent making it law
Phil Medlicott, managing director at bus company First Manchester, says operators and regulators have the same aim: "To get more people out of their cars and using buses".
"We recognise that there is still much to do to make this a reality, but we are convinced that the quickest, cheapest and best way to improve bus services throughout Greater Manchester is through positive and proactive partnerships," he says.
Once a mayor is elected a new law would give them power - and enable other English local transport authorities - to introduce franchising, new partnership arrangements and to offer multi-operator ticketing services.
The Bus Services Bill was passed in April after it was given Royal Assent making it a new law.
Lianna Etkind, from the Campaign for Better Transport, says this is important for all those frustrated passengers.
"It means that cities like Manchester will be able to introduce a smart ticketing scheme, so instead of people having to work out different fares they would be able to tap in and tap out of buses," she says.
"Socially valuable services which might not be profitable... could be cross subsidised.
"It's time that other cities were able to benefit from a system that really works and links up as a whole."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39709700
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Mauricio Pochettino: 'Victory over Arsenal gives Spurs chance to pressure Chelsea' - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Tottenham's victory over Arsenal means they can "put psychological pressure" on Chelsea, says manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Tottenham's victory over Arsenal means they can put "psychological pressure" on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, says boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine said Sunday's 2-0 win was "fantastic for our fans", as Spurs confirmed they would end a 22-year wait to finish above their derby rivals.
But he added the "most important" thing was keeping up with league leaders Chelsea, who beat Everton 3-0.
"We are in the race and the gap is back to four points," said Pochettino.
"We have to be focused now. We have another big game against West Ham on Friday, another difficult derby.
"That could be a chance to put psychological pressure on Chelsea. We play before them and, if we win, we will see what happens when Chelsea play Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Monday."
Chelsea's victory at Everton earlier on Sunday had moved Antonio Conte's side seven points clear of their closest challengers.
But Dele Alli's 21st club goal of the season and a Harry Kane penalty secured Spurs a ninth successive league win, extending their best run since October 1960, when they won 13 games in a row.
Chelsea have been top of the league since 5 November, and were 10 points clear as recently as 19 March.
They have since lost twice - to Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
"I can understand our fans being excited about finishing above Arsenal, but I don't feel the same because for me it is about trying to win the title," Pochettino added.
"It is so important now to try and win trophies every season - that is our aim.
"It's true that it will be difficult but we will see what happens."
Sunday's match was the last derby to played at White Hart Lane in its current incarnation.
Tottenham will play their home games at Wembley for the 2017-18 season while construction work takes place on their new stadium.
The club's new 61,000-seater ground is being built next to the site of their current home.
'The points don't come from heaven'
The last time Tottenham finished above Arsenal was in 1995, when they came seventh and the Gunners were 12th.
Arsenal fans even came up with a name for the day on which it was confirmed Spurs would not be able to finish above them - St Totteringham's Day.
This season, it is Arsene Wenger's men faced with the insurmountable gap - they are 17 points behind Spurs with five games to play.
"They are the points," said Wenger. "They don't come from heaven. You earn them on the pitch and that's it."
Defeat at White Hart Lane left the Gunners six points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand.
Wenger said: "It will be very difficult now but we have to fight.
"We have an FA Cup final and still the chance to get into the top four but we have to recover from this and prepare for our next game."
Analysis - Has the balance of power shifted?
St Totteringham's Day is a gruesome day of celebration used by Arsenal fans to inflict annual misery on north London rivals Spurs.
It is the day in the calendar when Spurs can no longer finish above Arsenal in the Premier League, and has been a growing tradition since Arsenal last ended a season below their neighbours from White Hart Lane in 1994-95.
Spurs ensured this year's St Totteringham's Day was cancelled with a convincing win that means they cannot be overtaken by the Gunners - but does it mean the balance of power in north London has now comprehensively shifted?
Trailing 17 points behind Spurs, the evidence to suggest so is compelling, but Wenger can offer two convincing counter-arguments, despite seeing his team overpowered and outplayed.
Wenger rightly points out it will take more than one season every 22 years to mark a permanent shift, while Arsenal are the only team in north London with a realistic chance of winning a trophy this season as they prepare for an FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley on 27 May.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-1 after extra time in their semi-final, a day after Spurs lost 4-2 in theirs.
And, even in what have been regarded as Wenger's fallow years, Arsenal still claimed the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015, while Spurs' last trophy was the League Cup in 2008.
So it depends on context - and perhaps which team you favour - when deciding whether there has been a shift in power.
In tangible terms, it is still possible for Arsenal to have the more successful season - this excellent Spurs side have yet to turn glorious promise into silverware - but lose the FA Cup final and finish outside the top four with no Champions League football next season, and there is only one winner in this local rivalry.
In the short and long term, however, this Spurs team look a much better proposition than Arsenal for success.
Pochettino, at 45, is regarded as one of the game's outstanding young managers, well versed in the modern methods, put into practice by a maturing, powerful, physical, energetic side.
Wenger, 67, is still surrounded by the uncertainty over his future and if he stays at Arsenal - the most likely outcome - faces a serious rebuild of a team that looks flimsy, not mentally strong enough and too often let down by its so-called elite players such as Mesut Ozil, who did a disappearing act at White Hart Lane. All those flaws were exposed by Spurs.
Spurs must build on the undoubted supremacy of their team next season to emphasise their dominance - but for now they look a team comfortable with themselves while Arsenal and Wenger look lost.
St Totteringham's Day has been cancelled this year. If the same happens in 12 months' time then perhaps that power shift in north London will be real and long-lasting.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39762660
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Mark Selby beats John Higgins to retain his World Championship title - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Mark Selby retains his World Championship title with a stunning comeback to defeat John Higgins 18-15 in the final at the Crucible.
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Last updated on .From the section Snooker
Mark Selby defended his World Championship title with a stunning comeback to beat John Higgins 18-15 and secure his third crown in four years.
Selby, 33, had trailed 10-4 but claimed nine out of 10 frames to lead 13-11.
Higgins had a mini revival helped by a contentious refereeing decision, but Selby kept his composure to win.
The world number one is only the fourth player after Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan to claim back-to-back titles in the modern era.
The Englishman picks up a record £375,000 in prize money, retains the top ranking spot for the 116th consecutive week and gains revenge for the defeat by Higgins in the 2007 final.
No player had come back to win from a greater deficit than six frames in a World Championship final since Dennis Taylor trailed Steve Davis by 8-0 and 9-1 in their 1985 classic.
"I can't believe it, I am still pinching myself now," said Selby. "From 10-4 to get to 10-7 yesterday, I was over the moon as I had nothing left. He outplayed me yesterday. Today I came back fresh and was a lot better.
"When I was 10-4 down I was missing everything and had nothing left. I said 'pull something together'. If you lose, you want to at least go down fighting.
"To have three world titles is unbelievable and to be one of only four players to defend it is something I could only dream of."
• None How Selby turned the match around
Selby was 47-0 up in the 31st frame, and leading 16-14 on frames, when he potted a red before attempting to roll up to the black ball. It was unclear whether the balls touched and referee Jan Verhaas called a foul.
Selby questioned the decision and score marker Brendan Moore checked the incident on a TV.
The decision was reversed but Moore looked at it from another angle and said he was not sure.
Verhaas then said, "If you are not sure, I will stick to the original decision" and the foul stood.
Higgins took the frame and went just one behind at 16-15, but Selby took the last two he required.
Leicester player Selby was out of sorts during Sunday's play at the Crucible, missing straightforward opportunities in the reds to hand his opponent the initiative.
But the 33-year-old, who was named 'The Torturer' by Ronnie O'Sullivan for his gritty victory in 2014 from 10-5 behind, showed similar uncompromising characteristics with a ruthless display.
The third session was the turning point, a slow, turgid affair when he won six out of the seven frames to hold the advantage by two frames.
In the final session, the pre-match favourite made breaks of 71, 70 and a 131 clearance following the contentious call in the 31st frame.
Selby also matches the record of five ranking titles in a season, previously achieved by Hendry in 1990/91 and Ding Junhui in 2013/14, and now has 12 in total.
A dreadful collapse for Higgins means he missed out on moving into second place on his own in the list of most ranking titles won and remains one behind O'Sullivan's five world victories.
Having come through a comfortable semi-final against Barry Hawkins, he was initially at ease against Selby, stroking in a 141 break which equalled O'Sullivan's effort in 2012 as the best break recorded in a World Championship final.
I'm proud of myself but he was too good on the day
But the 41-year-old lost his way on the final day, and late breaks of 88 and 111 were not enough, as he was left frustrated by his rival's dogged performance.
The four-time champion has now lost two finals, but his run moves him up to second in the world rankings behind his opponent.
"Mark is granite, just granite," said Higgins. "In the second session I had my chances, I missed a pink into the middle and I could have gone 9-3 ahead.
"That was a big, big frame. Mark cleared up under extreme pressure. He is a fantastic champion.
"It has been an unbelievable tournament, I gave everything. I came up short to a great champion. I'm proud of myself but he was too good on the day."
When we look at the quality of players that are potential winners here, to think there is a dominant character forcing his way through is amazing.
Selby is an exceptional player and exceptional match player. It is going to take some young player coming through who takes every part of his game and becomes stronger to knock him off his perch.
We're close to the ceiling of performance now.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39773552
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BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017: Five nominees up for award - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Voting for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017 is now closed - but check out the five contenders.
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Last updated on .From the section Women's Football
Voting for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2017 has now closed.
Fans from across the world have been voting for their favourite since the five-player shortlist of Melanie Behringer, Ada Hegerberg, Hedvig Lindahl, Marta, and Christine Sinclair was revealed on 30 April.
The winner of the award will be announced on Tuesday, 30 May, during Sport Today on BBC World Service from 18:30 GMT (19:30 BST).
The BBC Sport website will also carry the announcement.
Here we look at the five contenders vying for the BBC World Service honour, which is in its third year.
Behringer won Olympic gold with Germany at Rio 2016, finishing as the tournament's leading goalscorer with five goals and completing her set of every piece of major international silverware.
She ended her 11-year Germany career with that victory, having already won the 2007 World Cup and the 2009 and 2013 European Championship.
She helped her German club Bayern Munich secure back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2016 and was nominated for the Fifa World Player of the Year award 2016.
Hegerberg was part of the Olympique Lyonnais treble-winning side in 2015-16, claiming the French Division 1 league title, Coupe de France and Champions League.
She was top scorer in the French league (33) and Women's Champions League (13) that season. She scored more goals (18) than Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo (17) in Uefa competitions in the calendar year of 2016.
Voted Uefa Best Women's Player in Europe for 2016, she also became the first woman in 20 years to win Norway's Golden Ball award for the country's best footballer.
Lindahl was the hero in two penalty shootouts for Sweden at the Rio 2016 Olympics, helping her team win the silver medal.
She joined Chelsea Ladies from Swedish side Kristianstads DFF in December 2014 and shone in her first season there, winning the Women's Super League title and the FA Women's Cup. An ever-present in the WSL in 2015, she conceded the fewest goals in the division (10).
Lindahl has been named Swedish Women's Goalkeeper of the Year on five separate occasions and played for her country at three World Cups, three Olympic Games and several European Championships.
Marta is arguably the most famous female footballer of the last 20 years, having won Fifa's World Player of the Year award five times in a row between 2006 and 2010.
For the Brazil forward, 2016 will stand out as the year she led out her country at her home Olympics in Rio. One of eight Olympic flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, she also helped her side finish fourth in the tournament.
Marta, who champions women's football across the globe through her ambassadorial work, left Swedish side FC Rosengard in April to join the recently created Orlando Pride in the United States.
Sinclair inspired Canada to a second successive Olympic bronze medal, scoring the second goal against hosts Brazil in the bronze medal match at Rio 2016.
Under her captaincy, Canada reached their highest ever Fifa ranking of fourth, while her National Women's Soccer League club side Portland Thorns topped the table after the regular season in the United States, to claim the NWSL Shield.
She is second on the all-time list of women's international goalscorers with 167 international goals, surpassing her hero and former USA forward Mia Hamm's tally of 158 last year and creeping closer to ex-USA international Abby Wambach's record of 184.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39707055
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Tony Blair's legacy 20 years on - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Tony Blair came to power 20 years ago - how did he change the UK and what is his lasting legacy?
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UK Politics
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: How the BBC covered this day 20 years ago
On Monday, it was 20 years to the day that Tony Blair won a landslide general election victory for Labour - how did he change the country and what is left of his legacy?
"A new dawn has broken, has it not?"
With these words, spoken to a cheering crowd of supporters as the sun rose over London's South Bank, Tony Blair ushered in the first Labour government in 18 years.
It was a typically snappy Blair phrase, yet also slightly hesitant, as if he could not quite believe what he had just done.
Blair was, by all accounts, a nervy companion on election night, refusing to believe he was on course to a stunning victory even as it was becoming obvious to all around him.
He did not share the euphoric mood of supporters. "I was scared," he later wrote in his memoirs.
It was a Labour landslide of historic proportions, handing Blair a Commons majority of 179, although the collapse in the Tory vote made it appear more dramatic. John Major's Conservatives had won more votes in 1992 - 14,093,007 - than Blair's 1997 total of 13,518,167.
But none of that mattered to the ecstatic crowd at the Royal Festival Hall, as Blair sketched out, in vague but confident terms, his vision of a modern, united country fit for a new millennium. A country for the "many not the few".
It is striking now to hear how much of his eight-minute speech was directed at the party's old guard.
"We have been elected as New Labour and we will govern as New Labour," he told his audience, as a warning shot across the bows of those who had opposed his "modernisation" of the party every step of the way.
Blair came to power at a time of almost giddy optimism, in contrast with what was to come. The end of the Cold War and booming economies in the West, driven by advances in technology, created a brief window where peace, stability and rising living standards looked like they might become the norm.
Britain was in the middle of a pop culture revival, built around swaggering self-confidence and semi-ironic celebrations of Britishness. The Union Jack was back - on Noel Gallagher's guitar and Geri Halliwell's mini dress at that year's Brit awards.
The Cross of St George had also been rehabilitated, as a new breed of middle class football fan cheered England to the semi-finals of the Euro 96 tournament.
Blair rode the "Cool Britannia" wave for all it was worth. At 43, the former lead singer of Ugly Rumours - his student band - badly wanted to be seen as the first rock and roll prime minister.
And for the briefest of moments, it seemed to work, as he played host to the stars of Britain's "creative industries" at a Downing Street reception weeks after taking office.
The voting public might have bought into New Labour's blend of Thatcherite free market economics and social justice, but it never had very deep roots in the Labour Party itself.
It was the product of a tight-knit group headed by Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and media chief Alastair Campbell.
Blair's first cabinet was a mix of old and new Labour figures (although the hard left was banished to the wilderness).
"Traditional values in a modern setting", as John Prescott, a man who straddled the new/old divide with more agility than he was often given credit for, would say with a knowing smirk.
They were a diverse bunch - with more women than had ever sat in a British cabinet before and the first openly gay cabinet minister, Chris Smith.
There were some big hitters, such as Robin Cook at the Foreign Office and Jack Straw at the Home Office, even though very few - including Blair himself - had ever sat behind a ministerial desk before.
And it quickly became clear that only Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown really mattered when it came to the big decisions. But rather like Oasis's Gallagher brothers, their successes were quickly followed by growing stories about their rivalry.
But despite their increasingly fractious relationship - the TBGBs as they became known - there was no official split as they dominated Britain's political landscape for the next decade.
Ministers seemed to come and go with dizzying speed, as the cabinet reshuffle became Blair's signature move, but the Blair/Brown axis somehow stayed in place.
Twenty years on and only three MPs - Harriet Harman, Margaret Beckett and Nick Brown - from that first Cabinet line-up are still in the Commons.
Mo Mowlam, Donald Dewar and Robin Cook are no longer with us. Most of the rest, including the now Lord Prescott, Alistair Darling and David Blunkett, have taken up seats in the House of Lords.
Did they achieve what they set out to do?
The Blair government came to power on the back of relatively modest proposals on a pledge card brandished relentlessly through the 1997 election campaign. They were cutting class sizes, "fast track" punishment for young offenders, cutting NHS waiting lists, getting 250,000 under-25-year-olds "off benefit and into work" and "no rise in income tax rates".
But the new government did not lack ambition.
Labour's 1997 manifesto also included a minimum wage and plans for devolved government in Scotland and Wales.
And on the day after their election victory, Gordon Brown surprised everyone by handing control of interest rates to the Bank of England - a move that would have far-reaching consequences for the economy.
Blair was also determined, like many a prime minister before and since, to fix some of the country's longstanding social problems.
One of his top priorities was reform of the UK's social security system to make work pay. He appointed Labour MP Frank Field to "think the unthinkable" on welfare and promptly sacked him when he did just that (although it was Field's falling out with his boss Harriet Harman that probably sealed his fate).
Twenty years on and welfare reform remains a work in progress.
The gap between rich and poor remained more or less the same during the Blair years, according to analysis by the Resolution Foundation, although there was a big increase in pay at the top end of the income scale.
Education was Blair's other top priority. He oversaw a big expansion in higher and further education, and poured money into early years learning, as well as pioneering academy schools.
His first term was characterised by caution on tax and public spending, thanks to Labour's commitment to stick to tight Conservative spending limits for the first two years.
That changed after the party's second landslide election victory in 2001, when billions began to pour into the health service and education, on the back of a booming economy. Outcomes improved as a result.
But perhaps the biggest change that happened to Britain during his time in power was never explicitly spelled out in a Labour manifesto.
The UK, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland were the only EU nations not to temporarily restrict the rights of people from eight new member countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, to live and work in their countries.
Blair's 2004 decision to open the door to East European migration was entirely in keeping with his values as an ardent pro-European, who had championed the eastward expansion of the EU and who believed globalisation and flexible labour markets were the answer to industrial decline.
The plentiful supply of cheap labour arguably helped the UK economy to expand without facing the issue of spiralling wages - and this in turn held inflation and interest rates down, contributing to a decade-long boom in property prices, adding to the feelgood factor among middle income home owners, even if fewer people could afford to get on the property ladder in the first place.
But it also sowed the seeds of discontent in Labour's heartlands, as growing numbers felt left behind and marginalised by the pace of change in their communities, and a growing anti-EU feeling began to take hold.
In 2003, Blair had drawn on every last ounce of his persuasive skill to make the case for joining the US-led invasion to MPs and the wider public.
He had become convinced of the value of military action in pursuit of humanitarian aims and the need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the US, in the wake of 11 September, 2001.
But the subsequent failure to find weapons of mass destruction appeared to confirm many people's worst suspicions about him - that he relied too much on spin and was not to be trusted.
It did not prevent him from winning a third term, in 2005, but he was forced to hand over to Gordon Brown earlier than he had wanted, in 2007. Like Mrs Thatcher in 1990, he had won three elections but ended up being forced out by his own side.
The years that followed were not kind, as the incoming Brown administration, and the Ed Miliband Labour team that followed seemed to do their best to talk down the Blair years - and then there was the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, as well as the ongoing consequences of the invasion, for the region and global security as a whole.
Blair's supporters point to his domestic achievements - the minimum wage and all the new schools, hospitals and Sure Start children's centres that were built during his time in power - and they insist that his reputation will one day recover.
But with Britain on its way out of the European Union, and the Labour Party back in the hands of the left, it seems like much of what Blair stood for has been swept away.
His centrist brand of politics, characterised as the Third Way, a philosophy shared by his friend and political soulmate Bill Clinton, has fallen out of fashion in many Western countries and even Blair's style of politics, with its rigid emphasis on "message discipline", looks antiquated in the more freewheeling age of social media.
And despite winning three general elections, with big majorities, making him Labour's most electorally successful leader, his name has become a dirty word among many current active party members, guaranteed to generate boos and cat calls when it comes up at meetings.
It is very far from the future he must have imagined for himself on that cloudless spring morning in May 1997.
Yet Blair's supporters claim that his vision of a self-consciously modern, multicultural, socially liberal country, has endured - and that David Cameron's six years in government were shaped by it.
It is there in the Conservatives' commitments on foreign aid and promotion of gay rights, they say, as well as Britain's continued commitment to a health service free at the point of delivery, funded by taxation.
And, at 63, the man himself is still in the game.
He has ditched his business interests - that had generated so much negative publicity for him - to work full time on promoting moderate, centrist policy solutions, fighting battles that 20 years ago he must have hoped would have been won by now.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39717751
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Mr Fixer: The man who can arrange anything for you - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Aaron Simpson and his company Quintessentially, a concierge services provider, organise many aspects of its clients' lives.
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Business
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Aaron Simpson's company helps its clients arrange many aspects of their lives
If you were ever worried that your loved one might reject your marriage proposal, spare a thought for one romantic Saudi national.
The man had hired the Egyptian pyramids, and flown in 300 friends and family members to watch while he popped the question in front of the ancient structures.
With a lavish private party then due to be held at the site, which was sealed off from locals and other visitors, the cost was an eye-watering $40m (£31m).
Thankfully for the individual, his girlfriend said "yes".
When it comes to marriage proposals, this example takes largesse to the nth degree. But even if you have the cash, how the heck would you go about organising such an event?
Other party venues are available
The answer for the Saudi man was simply to phone his concierge services provider, a UK business called Quintessentially.
"We made it happen," says Quintessentially's chief executive and co-founder Aaron Simpson.
For those of us that aren't millionaires or billionaires, the concierge services industry needs a little explaining.
Taking its name from the man or woman at posh hotels who can book guests theatre tickets and get them into top restaurants, the sector has discreetly grown up over the past 15 or so years.
Quintessentially organises luxury holidays for its clients - among many other services
And far from just securing tickets for the latest sell-out play, or a table at some hotshot chef's new venture, concierge firms are being used to organise many aspects of clients' lives.
At Quintessentially, which has 60 offices around the world, and 2,500 members of staff, it does everything from organising holidays, to advising clients about private schools, helping buy properties, arranging private concerts by pop stars, or booking a dog walker.
And then there is the weird and wonderful stuff, such as making a client a bouquet of "flowers" made from 100 folded 1,000 Hong Kong dollar notes, so he could give it to his partner on Valentine's Day.
Or covering an entire beach with carpets so a member and his girlfriend didn't have to get sand on their feet, and organising a flash mob in New York's Times Square.
The firm is one of the largest in the sector, and while Quintessentially doesn't reveal its client numbers or price details, it is estimated to have about 100,000 customers around the world, including 800 billionaires who pay up to £150,000 a year.
The company has arranged for Elton John to give private concerts
Mr Simpson, 45, says that the firm's 2,500 employees, known as "lifestyle managers", can, generally speaking, make anything happen.
"We can arrange most things - unless of course it is illegal or there is a moral objection to it, and that very rarely happens - perhaps once or twice a year," he says.
"But otherwise everything is pretty solvable."
Born and bred in Essex, after studying geography at Oxford University, Mr Simpson spent his early 20s working as a film producer.
But given the continuing weakness of the UK film industry, by age 27 he was looking for a change of career.
After brainstorming sessions with friends Ben Elliot and Paul Drummond, they came up with the idea for Quintessentially.
Securing investment from a group of private investors, the business was launched in London in 2000 with a party to which they invited more than 200 movers and shakers. Customer numbers then grew strongly thanks to positive word of mouth.
While Quintessentially won't reveal any members' details, it is widely reported that it is used by the likes of singer Madonna, Indian steel giant Lakshmi Mittal, UK entrepreneur Richard Branson, author JK Rowling and rap star P Diddy.
The company also works closely with 400 premium brands including Ferrari, Channel, Gucci and British Airways.
In addition to running "white label" concierge services for such companies, Quintessentially has expanded its operations in recent years to helping firms with their public relations and marketing, and assisting them in studying customer data to best plan new products and services.
Mr Simpson says that the company now enjoys an annual turnover of £150m, and he intends to continue to grow this. He adds that despite numerous suitors, he and his two co-founders have no plans to sell up.
The three founder are (left to right), Ben Elliot, Aaron Simpson and Paul Drummond
Alyssa Haak, a New York-based luxury lifestyle expert, says that Quintessentially and other concierge firms have grown in popularity among the world elite because the ease of having someone else book or arrange things for you is "too good to pass up".
However, she is sceptical of one forthcoming Quintessentially project; its plans to build a 250m euro ($272m; £211m) "super yacht" for members.
Due to launch in three years time, the floating private club will be 220m (722ft) long and have 100 rooms, as well as a nightclub, bars and numerous restaurants.
Quintessentially's aim is to move it around the world to places where demand for hotel rooms is likely to exceed those locally available, such as Monaco when it is hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix, or Cannes during the city's film festival.
Ms Haak says: "I'm really very sceptical of it for a few reasons... there have been a number of firms that have attempted to do yacht 'shares' that have slowly disappeared.
"Yachts are personal, even those that are built with chartering in mind block out the dates the owners want to use them.
"Finally, and I think its biggest problem is going to be dockage... a yacht this size will never be able to get 'front row seats'."
While the three co-founders still run Quintessentially together, Mr Simpson has the boss role, although he says the three men simply "play to their strengths", and he "doesn't necessarily see myself as the leader".
Quintessentially is launching a "super yacht" in three years' time
He admits, though, to always having been very driven to succeed in life, but says he hopes that he is a good boss "who puts his colleagues first".
Travelling extensively for the company over the years, overseeing the opening of new offices around the world, Mr Simpson says that since having children - he and his wife have two young daughters - he now tries to travel far less.
"I have a three-line whip to stay within shouting range," he says.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39691931
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Watford 0-1 Liverpool - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Emre Can scores one of the goals of the season as Liverpool beat Watford to capitalise on favourable results in the race for the Champions League.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Emre Can scored one of the goals of the season as Liverpool beat a poor Watford to capitalise on favourable results in the race for the Champions League.
The Reds midfielder met Lucas Leiva's delivery with a wonderful bicycle kick which flew into the top corner.
Watford rarely threatened, but almost snatched a point when Sebastian Prodl smashed against the bar in injury time.
Liverpool moved four points clear of Manchester United in fifth, while Watford remain 13th.
Jurgen Klopp's side know they will secure a top-four Premier League finish - and a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons - by winning their final three games.
The Merseyside club will host Southampton and relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at Anfield, either side of a trip to West Ham.
• None Football Daily podcast - Can keeps Reds on course for top four
Liverpool knew they would have slipped out of the top four before kick-off at Vicarage Road had their nearest challengers all won over the weekend.
But the Reds watched as Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton failed to crank up the pressure as they each dropped points.
It meant Liverpool's slender advantage remained intact - which even Klopp admitted he was surprised about before kick-off.
The German manager also stressed their rivals slipping up meant nothing if his side did not win their own games.
That they did, despite lacking fluency in a scrappy performance.
For much of a drab first half, during which forward Philippe Coutinho went off injured and was replaced by the returning Adam Lallana, the Reds rarely looked like threatening an organised Watford side.
Lallana, who had missed the previous five matches with a thigh injury, did clatter the crossbar with a wonderful volley after Hornets keeper Heurelho Gomes' poor punch.
However, that was soon surpassed by fellow midfielder Can.
"It was a massive win," said England international Lallana. "We have three games left now and it is in our hands. We must stay focused."
'You bet he Can!'
Reds midfielder Can illuminated what had been an insipid opening 45 minutes with a moment of inspiration shortly before the break.
The Germany international, 23, carefully eyeballed Lucas' pinpoint diagonal pass into the Watford area, showing extraordinary athleticism to meet the delivery with a perfectly executed bicycle kick which left Gomes stranded.
Can immediately raced towards the away dugout where he was mobbed by ecstatic team-mates and manager Klopp.
"That is the best goal I've ever scored," he said.
"I saw the space and I ran behind and my first thought was I wanted to head it, then I didn't think too much."
Team-mate Lallana added: "It was a worldy goal and worthy of winning any game."
Hornets lack sting as they aim to better last season
Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley warned Liverpool before kick-off that his side would still have "a big say" in the battle at the top of the table, with Walter Mazzarri's team rounding off their season with games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton.
Their priority is eclipsing the 13th-place finish and total of 45 points they secured in their top-flight return last year.
And Hornets skipper Troy Deeney said he "expected a reaction" after a tame defeat at Hull in their previous game. However, that failed to materialise.
Watford, for all their defensive resilience and organisation, offered little attacking spark as Liverpool controlled possession and territory before half-time.
The home side improved after the break as Etienne Capoue and Daryl Janmaat finally forced Reds keeper Mignolet into serious saves, before their best chance arrived in the final few seconds.
Liverpool, as they have done often this season, failed to deal with a set-piece into their box as Prodl met a flick-on with a fierce strike that cannoned back off the bar.
Despite their limp performance and daunting run-in, Watford are unlikely to be dragged into the relegation battle.
Mazzarri's side remain on 40 points - usually considered the benchmark for survival - eight above third-bottom Swansea who only have three games left.
Man of the match - Emre Can (Liverpool)
Watford go to defending champions Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST) as their tough run-in continues, while Liverpool host ninth-placed Southampton on Sunday (13:30).
• None Emre Can has scored five Premier League goals this season, more than twice as many as in his previous two campaigns combined.
• None Lucas Leiva has three assists in his past five Premier League appearances, as many as in his previous 163 top-flight games.
• None Liverpool have won three consecutive Premier League away games under Jurgen Klopp for only the second time.
• None Liverpool skipper James Milner made his 450th Premier League appearance in this game, the 22nd player to reach this mark.
• None Klopp named the same Liverpool starting XI for the third consecutive Premier League game, something he had only done once before, in December.
• None Liverpool have scored 16 goals in the 15 minutes before half-time in league games this season, more than any other side, while Watford have shipped the most in this period (17).
• None Watford conceded for the first time in four Premier League home games.
• None Watford's opponents have hit the woodwork 20 times in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.
"I think that if you look at all of the Liverpool games that they play, they usually create five or six clear chances.
"We didn't concede them almost anything and had a couple of chances so overall it was a good performance.
"Usually I don't like to speak about luck but today we were completely unlucky.
"We have pressure and it means you fight for something that is good. It is positive pressure. We want to stay focused.
"We don't expect for a second it will be easy to reach the Champions League. If people think we have the three points against Southampton they can not have seen Southampton this season.
"We didn't play perfect against Watford and a draw would have been hard to accept, but we got the three points and that is all that the lads deserved."
• None Isaac Success (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Sebastian Prödl (Watford) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Stefano Okaka with a headed pass.
• None Attempt missed. Daryl Janmaat (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Cleverley with a cross.
• None Offside, Watford. Daryl Janmaat tries a through ball, but Stefano Okaka is caught offside.
• None Attempt saved. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
• None Attempt saved. Joel Matip (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Georginio Wijnaldum.
• None Offside, Watford. Tom Cleverley tries a through ball, but Troy Deeney is caught offside.
• None Offside, Watford. Tom Cleverley tries a through ball, but Adrian Mariappa is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39689205
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What will happen next in Trump presidency? Reply hazy - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Given what we've seen over the past 100 days, it feels like a Magic 8-ball would be a good predictor.
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US & Canada
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What will happen for the rest of Trump's presidency? You might as well ask a Magic Eight ball
The first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency are now behind him. Time for a deep breath, a quick review and then a look ahead.
As I explained last week, the results so far are decidedly mixed. While there has been a paucity of legislative achievements, Mr Trump has notched some successes through executive action, particularly in the realm of immigration enforcement and regulatory rollback.
He's also already made his mark on the Supreme Court, although that's more a reflection of the circumstances of inheriting an open seat (thanks to Republican intransigence last year) rather than any particular accomplishment on the part of the president.
While the 100-day mark has garnered a significant amount of attention from the media and the White House itself, it represents just a fraction of his first term.
Mr Trump still has more than 1,350 days ahead of him. The story of roughly 90% of his presidency has yet to be written. Whether Mr Trump is deemed a success or failure as president, and if he has hopes of winning a second term in office, will be determined over the coming months and years.
But what happens next? Given what we've seen over the past 100 days, anything could be possible. Sometimes it feels like a Magic 8-ball would be just as good at making predictions.
When asked about the White House's tax cut plan, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said it "is all about jobs, jobs, jobs". When it comes right down to it, jobs - and the economy writ large - will be the defining issue of the Trump presidency.
With the 2008 Great Recession still casting a long shadow over the American conscience, Mr Trump's voters flocked to him in large part because he promised economic growth and financial security, particularly for many of the white working class voters who are still recovering from the last downturn.
As with many of his campaign promises, Mr Trump has set a very high bar for his administration to meet, repeatedly pledging an annual 4% economic growth rate that is well above current trend lines.
Mr Trump inherited an economy that was stable, with low unemployment and steady if unspectacular growth. Over the course of his first 100 days in office, the US stock market has flourished and consumer confidence increased, but the recently announced economic growth rate - 0.7% for the first quarter of 2017 - may signal an uncertain future.
In the end, Mr Trump's presidency, and all his trade, tax and regulatory policies, will be judged on what it does for the nation's bottom line - not just for Wall Street, but for average Americans as well.
Can he win? Presidents invariable get more credit, and blame, for the nation's financial health than they deserve, given that policy decisions can be greatly outweighed by macroeconomic factors beyond their control. Four years is a long time, but Mr Trump is starting from a solid position, tilting the odds in his favour.
Presidents have broad authority over immigration policy, and Mr Trump hasn't shied away from using it. Two of his most high-profile moves, however, have been stalled in the courts. His second effort to impose a temporary moratorium on refugee resettlement and a ban on entry into the US for citizens of six predominantly Muslim nations is set to be heard by the Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals later this month.
In addition, his executive order instructing the federal government to withhold funds from municipalities that do not fully co-operate with immigration officials - so-called "sanctuary cities" - was derailed by a district court judge in California last week.
There's also the continuing battle over how to construct Mr Trump's promised wall along the US-Mexico border. It looked like the administration would make appropriating funds a condition of recently concluded budget negotiations, but the White House has since retreated from that position and appears willing to fight that particular battle in the autumn budget discussions, instead.
As a candidate Mr Trump also pledged to reform legal immigration, reducing the number of new arrivals, changing the types of individuals who are granted priority and restructuring the work visa programme, which could affect visas for high-skilled workers.
Can he win? The president has the power and the obvious desire to exercise it - and a conservative-dominated Supreme Court will be the final arbiter of the legality of his actions.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the Trump presidency has been how slowly the White House is filling out its administration.
While Mr Trump relentlessly bashed Senate Democrats for what he (mistakenly) perceived as unprecedented foot-dragging in confirming his cabinet picks, he has been even tardier in appointing lower-level positions. Under secretaries, deputies and ambassadors may not get much national attention, but they are largely responsible for the day-to-day grind of running agencies and departments and representing the US in embassies abroad.
Some of this may be by intent. An understaffed bureaucracy is less able to defend itself against proposed budget cuts, and the Trump administration appears set on diminishing the influence of career employees at the State Department. In other areas, such as economic, social and trade policy, however, the lack of staffing has limited the administration's ability to move toward its goals.
Can he win? Sure he can - it's just a matter of giving a list of names to Congress. Sometimes, however, it seems like he'd rather have chaos.
Mr Trump campaigned on making a significant shift in US foreign policy - putting "America first". Now, however, his administration faces two potential international flashpoints that could challenge the president's stated desire to avoid global entanglements.
As a result of the US missile strike on a Syrian government airfield, the US has committed itself to punishing violations of international law - particularly the use of chemical weapons - in that nation's civil war. If Syrian President Basahr al-Assad decides to act against his civilian population again, Mr Trump will face pressure for a military response that goes beyond a ship-based missile strike.
Meanwhile, the situation over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes continues to grow tense. "The era of 'strategic patience' is over," Vice-President Mike Pence recently said, referencing the stated policy of the Obama administration. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, however, seems undeterred - and could respond to a US strike with a massive attack on South Korea, whose capital, Seoul, lies 55km from the demilitarised zone.
In both Syria and North Korea, the president could be faced with the choice of either escalation to back up his sharpening rhetoric or the perception that his threats are hollow.
Then there are the foreign policy crises we don't see coming. Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan and the South China Sea ... there's no telling where Mr Trump could face his most daunting challenge.
Can he win? Mr Trump has been all over the map so far as president, sabre-rattling at some nations and shrugging at others.
Mr Trump talked a tough game on trade issues as a candidate, and he'll have opportunities in the coming days to back that up.
Recent disputes with Canada over soft lumber and dairy products appear to be a prelude to contentious Nafta renegotiations. On Thursday Mr Trump told reporters had been days away from ordering a withdrawal from the "horrible" trade deal, but changed his mind after conversations with leaders of Mexico and Canada.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Dairy wars: Why is Trump threatening Canada over milk?
In an ironic twist, some of Mr Trump's trade concerns - such as dairy exports to Canada - would have been addressed by the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement he abandoned early in his presidency.
China was another punching bag for Mr Trump during campaign, but the president has considerably softened his tone. There's certainly no indication of an impending economic showdown with the US's largest trading partner at this point.
Can he win? With China apparently off the table, he'll have to find a way to get his "better deal" through Nafta renegotiations - which will be long and complex.
There's at least a glimmer of hope that a deal on repealing and replacing Obamacare could be reached in the House of Representatives soon. Whatever they come up with, however, will face an even bigger hurdle in the Senate, where numerous Republicans are opposed to portions of the House proposal.
Tax reform - Mr Trump's next big legislative priority - is in its early stages, and given the vagueness of the administration's proposal so far, it appears congressional Republicans will once again have to do the heavy lifting on policy. That didn't work out too well with healthcare.
Then there are the Trump campaign promises on infrastructure spending and new childcare benefits. Both areas could prove fertile ground for bipartisan co-operation - at least, if Democrats can be coaxed to the negotiating table after the president has spent his first 100 days relentlessly bashing them.
In some alternate universe, Mr Trump led with an infrastructure plan instead of healthcare repeal, fracturing the Democratic resistance instead of his own party. That ship, however, has sailed. He still has a Republican majority, however, and the closer it gets to the congressional elections next year, the more pressure the party will be under to come together and post some accomplishments on the board.
Can he win? Republicans hold the White House and both chambers of Congress. Surely they will stumble into a legislative accomplishment at some point.
Ah, yes, the midterm elections. Looming on the horizon for Mr Trump and the Republican Party is voting that will take place in November 2018, with a third of the Senate seats, all of the House of Representatives and 36 governorships (Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California, to name a few) on the ballot.
Traditionally the party controlling the presidency is at a disadvantage during these elections, as the out-of-power partisans tend to be more motivated to vote and the political pendulum that brought a president to office swings the other direction. Barack Obama and the Democrats suffered significant defeats in 2010 and 2014, for instance, as did Republican George W Bush in 2006.
Mr Trump is at least somewhat fortunate, however, in that the Senate seats in play in 2018 largely come from states he carried handily - places like Indiana, West Virginia, Montana and Missouri. Although Republicans have a narrow, two-seat Senate majority right now, Democrats will be forced to defend many more at-risk incumbents than the Republicans.
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The House of Representatives could be another matter, however. While demographics and the way in which congressional districts have been drawn favour Republicans, if Mr Trump is unpopular come 2018 and Democrats turn out in high numbers, they could pick up the 24 seats necessary to win back the lower chamber of Congress for the first time since 2010.
All this is important not only because Democratic control of even half of Congress would significantly impede Mr Trump's ability to notch any legislative accomplishments, but also because it would give Democrats a platform for more vigorous oversight of the president's actions.
Recall the litany of hearings and investigations conducted by Republicans in Congress during the Obama administration. Now imagine how Democrats would gleefully sink their teeth into issues like Mr Trump's tax returns, alleged ties to Russia and possible conflicts of interest within his business empire.
For a preview of how things may turn out next year, keep an eye on gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey this November, as well as upcoming House special elections in Montana and Georgia later this spring.
Can he win? History is not on the president's side. The question is likely how big a bloodbath it will be.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39750173
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World Championship 2017: John Higgins leads Mark Selby in Crucible final - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Four-time winner John Higgins leads 2016 champion Mark Selby 10-7 after the first day of the World Championship final.
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Last updated on .From the section Snooker
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, online and BBC Sport app.
John Higgins secured a 10-7 lead over defending champion Mark Selby on day one of the World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre.
Scotland's four-time champion made a superb 141 clearance - the joint-highest break in a world final - on his way to taking a commanding 10-4 lead.
World number one Selby finally found his form and breaks of 121 and 81 helped him win the last three frames.
The best-of-35 final resumes on Monday at 14:00 BST and is live on BBC Two.
The 41-year-old Higgins, who beat Selby in the 2007 final, is aiming to become the oldest winner since 45-year-old Welshman Ray Reardon triumphed in 1978.
Two-time champion Selby, 33, is bidding to become only the fourth player - after Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan - to win consecutive world titles in the modern era.
The two players had contrasting semi-final victories as Selby edged through with a thrilling 17-15 victory over Ding Junhui, while Higgins enjoyed a comfortable 17-8 win over Barry Hawkins.
There were expectations beforehand that the match would be a battle between two players who specialise in tenacious, matchplay snooker, but it featured nine breaks over 50, plus two centuries.
Despite opening the final with breaks of 76 and 62, Selby looked weary following his semi-final exertions, missing straightforward pots when presented with opportunities in the reds.
A missed red in the seventh frame will have been of particular concern, as the Englishman was 54-1 ahead but instead allowed Higgins to clear up with a composed break of 58.
Higgins claimed five frames in a row, knocking in contributions of 63, 95 and 58, as well as his superb 141 ,which equalled O'Sullivan's effort in 2012 as the best break recorded in a World Championship final.
Selby looked to be on his way to a crushing first-day deficit, but in typical fashion managed to fight back to stay in the contest.
He had runs of 86 and 81 in the second session, but Higgins took a tactical exchange to go five frames ahead. However, he did miss a pink to the middle pocket with the reds open, as Selby responded to obtain some much-needed joy.
Higgins guaranteed himself an overnight lead by pinching the 13th and followed up with 76 to further extend his advantage.
But Selby somehow produced a late revival to keep himself in touch.
For the next few hours John will be very disappointed because he's so experienced and knows frames can make a difference come tomorrow night.
Once he's got over that initial disappointment, 10-7 is a nice lead to have.
There will be loads of adrenaline pumping for both players, each for different reasons. It's been a fascinating second session. I think by the end of the night they'll have cleared their minds of all of that.
It was just an astonishing standard by the world champion and world number one in those final three frames. He's superb. You'd expect it, but for a minute there it didn't look like it was going to happen because John Higgins had him on the ropes.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39759950
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Everton 0-3 Chelsea - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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Premier League leaders Chelsea take a big step towards clinching the title as three second-half goals see off Everton.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Premier League leaders Chelsea took a big step towards clinching the title as three second-half goals saw them overcome Everton at Goodison Park.
Pedro's 25-yard stunner, Gary Cahill's close-range finish and Willian's tap-in kept Antonio Conte's side four points clear of second-placed Tottenham, who beat Arsenal 2-0 later on Sunday.
It means the Blues could drop three points in their remaining four games and still claim a second title in three years, even if Spurs win all of their remaining fixtures.
Chelsea had to be patient, with Pedro's left-footed, long-range strike not coming until the 66th minute.
Cahill sealed the win when Maarten Stekelenburg parried Eden Hazard's free-kick onto the onrushing defender, before Willian slotted home from Cesc Fabregas' cutback.
• None I know I am an animal - Conte
Everton had started brightly in a game that opened at breakneck speed, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin going closest to scoring when he struck the post from a tight angle.
Manchester City's draw at Middlesbrough means Ronald Koeman's side, in seventh, are eight points adrift of the top four with three games left.
The day the title was won?
This may have been Tottenham's strongest hope of Chelsea surrendering points in their run-in, with Everton placed higher than any of their four remaining opponents, and three home games on the horizon for the Blues.
It could prove to be the killer blow to Spurs' spirited challenge, and seems to answer the question of whether Chelsea can handle the growing pressure applied by their London rivals' nine-game winning run in the league.
The maths are simple for Chelsea - win three more games and they will be Premier League champions for the sixth time.
And the celebrations from Conte and his players at the final whistle suggested the Blues feel they can get over the line in games against Middlesbrough, West Brom, Watford and Sunderland.
Add an FA Cup final win against Arsenal on 27 May and Conte would have had a remarkable first season in English football.
Chelsea's hosts were lacking in creativity, but provided a stubborn and organised test that required the Blues to call on persistence and perseverance - attributes any title-winning side must have.
Results on Saturday mean Everton will not finish lower than seventh this season, securing a best finish in three years and a spot in next season's Europa League.
But Koeman's men faced the league leaders with an outside chance of still creeping into the top four and sneaking a Champions League spot.
It will therefore be even more frustrating that they failed to make inroads against Chelsea and capitalise on Manchester City dropping two points.
Calvert-Lewin's strike against the woodwork aside, there was little guile from the Toffees.
And any chance they had of getting back into the game was squandered by clumsy defending for Chelsea's second goal, with Idrissa Gueye weak in the wall and Stekelenburg failing to get a stronger hand to the cross.
The game featured two of the Premier League's most prized poachers, with Everton's Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea's Diego Costa having scored 43 times between them this season.
Asked this week which of the two he would prefer in his side, Chelsea boss Conte unsurprisingly backed his man, claiming 28-year-old Costa was the best striker in the world.
The Spain international may be five goals shy of Lukaku's 24 in the league, but the weight of the Blues forward's goals have been far more hefty - Chelsea would be 15 points worse off this season without his tally of 19.
So there was understandable concern from the bench when Costa stayed down holding his leg in the first half after a strong, but fair, tackle from Tom Davies.
He was fine to continue and, while he was not presented with a host of chances, the former Atletico Madrid man was a consistent influence, being shown a yellow card for a tackle on Stekelenburg after tireless closing down and being involved in the build-up to the final goal.
Lukaku, who continues to be linked with a return to Chelsea - whom he left in 2014 for a £28m fee, was an energetic nuisance for the visiting defence but, aside from fizzing wide from 20 yards, looked unlikely to score for the first time in six appearances against his former club.
'It's important to celebrate' - what the managers said
Everton boss Ronald Koeman on Sky Sports: "We did well, until 1-0 maybe. After that we had more problems but that was all about their quality, before that we played well and made it tough for them.
"Maybe we didn't create a lot of chances, but I was happy. Idrissa Gueye played a fantastic game, Hazard was not the player he can be because of the man-marking.
"It is really tough to beat Chelsea. They showed their belief and their quality. They will be champions. We need to find the motivation to finish the season strongly."
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte speaking to Match of the Day: "I must be relaxed when we win but I think it is very important to celebrate this win with the players and fans.
"I think we must continue this way - to play game by game and take three points in every game. We know every win in this part of the season is very important.
"The road is long so we need to rest and prepare in the right way."
Both sides come up against relegation-threatened clubs next, with Everton at Swansea on Saturday, 6 May and Chelsea hosting Middlesbrough on Monday, 8 May.
• None Chelsea have taken 81 points from 34 Premier League games this season; their most at this stage of a campaign since 2005-06 (85) when they won the title
• None Koeman's two heaviest league defeats in charge of Everton have both come against Chelsea this term (5-0 and 3-0)
• None The Toffees failed to score in a Premier League game at Goodison Park for the first time in 2017, having averaged 3.7 goals per game prior to this defeat
• None Chelsea kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League since January (v Hull), ending an 11-game run without one
• None Cahill has scored more Premier League goals against Everton than against any other opponent (four)
• None Goal! Everton 0, Chelsea 3. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.
• None Substitution, Chelsea. Nathan Aké replaces David Luiz because of an injury.
• None Attempt missed. Kevin Mirallas (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
• None Goal! Everton 0, Chelsea 2. Gary Cahill (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a set piece situation.
• None Idrissa Gueye (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
• None Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 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/39682871
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The horse that saved his own life by painting - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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He was once a champion, but it looked as if ill health would soon mean the end for Metro. Then his owner had an unusual idea.
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Magazine
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He was once a well-known racehorse, but it looked as though ill health would soon mean the end for Metro. Then his artist owner, Ron, had an unusual idea.
It's said that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. So when Ron Krajewski first introduced his horse, Metro, to an easel there was no guarantee he would paint.
After all, this horse had been struggling with health problems since he was adopted by Ron and his wife in 2009. Metro had once been a successful racehorse - as Metro Meteor, he won eight races and $300,000 (£234,000) prize money at the prestigious Belmont Park. However, he was retired by his stable after bone chips in his knees caused permanent damage.
"We were looking for a horse Wendy could ride and were probably quite naive," Ron says. "We soon discovered Metro had worse race injuries than we had bargained for."
Metro Meteor won eight races in his career, but it took a toll on his knees
Metro had months of rehab and medication. Special horse shoes helped for a time, but in 2012 X-rays revealed his knee joints were closing up. A vet said they would lock up within two years, at which point Ron and Wendy would have to put their horse down.
"I didn't just want to put him out to pasture and forget about him. I was thinking about how we could spend time together," Ron says.
He had noticed that his spirited horse liked to bob his head to get attention and pick things up in his mouth. A professional artist himself, Ron wondered if he could convince Metro to hold a paintbrush.
"I taught him to touch his nose to the canvas for horse treats, then to hold a paint brush," Ron says.
Metro tackles the canvas assisted by Ron - he paints from left to right
"He could have just touched the paint brush to the canvas and then dropped it and that would have been the end of it. Luckily for us he started making up and down strokes and seemed to enjoy it."
Metro was soon creating works that Ron judged were good enough to put on sale at a local gallery. The first four paintings sold out the week they were put on display.
Metro's unbridled style has been compared to Jackson Pollock, a painter famous for his splatter and drip technique.
"Metro's brush strokes are nothing a human can make, because he doesn't think about what he will do before he does it. His strokes are thick, random and sometimes broken, which lets other colours show through. It all just vibrates on the canvas," Ron says.
Metro's unusual ability caught the attention of local TV news in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and his story was picked up nationwide. By 2014, there were 150 people on a waiting list for his works.
Ron sometimes set up an easel for Metro to paint outside
Sales of the paintings helped fund a new experimental treatment for Metro. His vet created a technique to apply a drug called Tildren directly to his knees.
"Within a few months X-rays showed the bone growth had receded. It has added years to his life," Ron says.
Ron and Wendy keep Metro and their other horse, Pork Chop, at a stable four miles from their home. They visit them about five days a week and on two of those Ron and Metro have a painting session.
"Metro has got a little section in the barn that we call his studio. It's all set up ready for him to paint," Ron says.
"I did try to get Pork Chop to paint once, but he just wasn't interested."
Ron acts as both art director and assistant. He picks the colour and loads the paintbrush before handing it over. Metro then makes the strokes.
"I always stand on his left so he paints from left to right. If I hand him the brush in the upper right hand corner, that's where he will go."
Ron and Metro will work on three or four canvases at once during a 20-minute session.
"We'll spend two minutes on one canvas and then swap it for another. He tends to smear things together so we'll do some blues and then let it dry, then let's say some orange. This builds up the layers."
Metro, who Ron says has an "A-list extroverted personality", is in his element at the easel.
"I can put out the easel in the field and he will stop eating grass and stand right in front of it.
"He loves to paint. I'm not sure how much he can see as horses have a blind spot right in front of their noses. I think he likes the feel of running a brush over the canvas."
Like Metro, art wasn't Ron's first vocation. Raised in a fishing family that caught salmon in Alaska he went on to serve in the US Air Force. He became a professional artist at the age of 40.
"I mainly do pet portraits, which are very lifelike and controlled. When I paint with Metro it's the opposite. You can't predict what he's going to do when he gets the brush in his mouth. It's controlled chaos."
"We have different sizes that vary in price from $50 to $500. We're selling one or two a week," Ron says.
Ron and Wendy donate half of Metro's earnings to a charity called New Vocations, which retrains and rehomes former race horses. So far they have donated $80,000 (£62,000), which will have helped 50 to 60 other horses.
And now aged 14, it seems Metro has no inclination to slow down.
"There's something about painting which really interests Metro," Ron says.
"I don't think he'll ever get tired of it."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39628629
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Six child actors who retired from showbiz - BBC News
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2017-05-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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From Shirley Temple to Mara Wilson, six actors who took their careers in different directions in adulthood.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most successful shows
Child stars have been a crucial part of Hollywood for generations, but many of them choose totally different careers in adulthood.
The second season of Netflix's hugely popular drama Stranger Things will premiere on Halloween 2017, the streaming service confirmed earlier this year.
The show stars Winona Ryder and David Harbour but also relies heavily on its cast of child actors, who play some of the main characters.
The young stars have been praised for their performances in the show, and could well have bright futures in Hollywood ahead of them.
But the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry isn't for everyone.
For every Drew Barrymore or Jodie Foster, there are plenty of child actors who chose to go in totally different directions in their adult years.
Here are six child stars who left acting behind to pursue new careers.
You might not recognise the name, but Ostrum played Charlie in the big-screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The 1971 film saw Ostrum appear alongside four other child actors as one of Willy Wonka's five golden ticket winners.
"Everybody thinks that acting is such a glamorous profession, but it's a difficult profession," he said after starring in the film.
That may explain why he quit acting and became a vet as an adult instead.
Some of the other young actors in the film picked up a few more big screen roles in the years after the film, but nearly all drifted away from Hollywood.
Michael Bollner, who played Augustus Gloop, for example, now works as an accountant in Munich.
In the 1990s, it was difficult to go to the cinema without seeing a film with Mara Wilson in it.
She starred in Miracle on 34th Street, Mrs Doubtfire, A Simple Wish and Matilda.
But then, as she entered her teenage years, the former child actress retreated from the limelight.
"I was 13 and I was awkward, and I was gawky, and I was not a very cute kid anymore," Wilson told The Huffington Post in 2013.
"So, Hollywood didn't really want me at that point, and I was kind of over it too. So, after a while, it feels like a mutual breakup. That's the way that I'd describe it."
Wilson is now a writer and released a book last year called Where Am I Now?
She also came out as bisexual in support of the victims of the attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando.
Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird was an instant literary phenomenon when it was first released in 1960, and is still considered a classic.
When the inevitable big-screen adaptation was made, Mary Badham was hired to play the role of Scout, the young girl who serves as the book's narrator.
Badham became the youngest actress ever nominated for the best supporting actress category at the Oscars after her appearance in the film (although the record was broken a decade later by the marginally younger Tatum O'Neal).
She went on to act in a few other films released in the 1960s, but then gave up on the profession for the rest of her life - with one exception.
Badham was coaxed out of retirement for a minor role in one film - 2005's Our Very Own - after its director, Cameron Watson, said he wouldn't accept any other actress for the part.
She now works an art restorer and a college testing coordinator, but often writes about her experiences on Mockingbird and attended a special screening of the film with President Obama in 2012.
"When I retired, I was at an in-between age. I wasn't a child anymore, I wasn't really a woman yet and they weren't really writing scripts for that age," she said later that year.
Not many of us can claim to have started our career at the age of three - but that's exactly what Shirley Temple did.
As a child actress, she starred in a whole host of films, including Bright Eyes, The Little Princess, Heidi and Captain January.
But in her adult years, she entered politics and public affairs, becoming a Republican fundraiser and serving three years as the United States Ambassador to (what was then known as) Czechoslovakia.
She also had a mocktail named after her - which, thank you for asking, consists of ginger ale (or lemonade) and a splash of grenadine, garnished with a maraschino cherry.
When Temple died in 2014 at the age of 85, she left behind a remarkable legacy - no child star since has ever come close to equalling her record of being Hollywood's top box office star for four years in a row.
Mark Lester was just 10 years old when he was cast as Oliver in, er, Oliver.
The film adaptation of the stage musical was released in 1968 - more than 130 years after Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist was first published.
Lester took various roles over the following decade but decided to give up acting at the age of 19 and became an osteopath.
"Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception," he told The Independent.
He and Michael Jackson - who was born in the same year - were close friends, and Lester became godfather to the singer's three children.
Richards took on a few small acting jobs throughout her childhood, but shot to fame playing Lex Murphy in 1993's Jurassic Park - a role she filmed when she was just 12 years old.
She briefly reprised the role for The Lost World: Jurassic Park four years later, but then took a step back from acting to focus on her art career.
Richards graduated in 2001 with a degree in fine art and drama and went on to become a successful painter.
But, in 2011, she said: "Being interested in acting never changes. Acting is in your blood, and of course I'll always be interested in it."
Which explains why she was briefly tempted back in 2013 for a role in TV movie Battledogs.
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-39705259
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Anthony Joshua: What next for the world heavyweight champion? - BBC Sport
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2017-05-01
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A rematch with Wladimir Klitschko? An all-British fight with Tyson Fury? Or a unification bout with American Deontay Wilder? BBC Sport examines Anthony Joshua's options.
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Anthony Joshua is the real deal. Wladimir Klitschko is far from done. Heavyweight boxing can prosper through brilliance. There was no need for insults here.
Yet there will be no pause for breath after a breathless Joshua stoppage win. The questions simply evolve.
Tyson Fury took mere moments to stir the pot, Deontay Wilder likewise. Will they get their shot at a man now hailed as "the biggest sports star in Britain" and tipped to become boxing's richest ever fighter?
Who next? 'Fury believes he beats AJ'
In stopping the most dominant heavyweight of this century in front of a record post-war UK boxing crowd - in a fight which had everything - Joshua has everywhere to go and yet nowhere to go.
Matching an event as iconic as this - delivering a pay day to beat the £15m he was expected to earn and finding an opponent capable of competing - looks a tall order in the short-term. Yet the big names will champion their cause.
"Fury, where you at baby?" Joshua said. The Gypsy King was busy tweeting: "You had life and death with Klitschko, I played with the guy. Let's dance."
Joshua did hit the canvas hard before toppling Klitschko. Fury ducked, weaved and earned a comfortable points win by comparison in 2015.
"Tyson Fury will be watching that and thinking I haven't even got to lose six stone to beat AJ," said 5 live boxing analyst Steve Bunce.
"Could Fury have beaten AJ when he beat Klitschko? The answer is yes."
Substantially overweight and devoid of a boxing licence, former world champion Fury will likely need time and a warm-up bout before meeting the IBF and WBA champion.
WBC champion Deontay Wilder warned Joshua not to get "comfortable", while Klitschko confirmed he holds a rematch option, adding that he believes the champion is "vulnerable" at times.
"I could have done more to finish him off," said the 41-year-old.
The options are plentiful on paper but timing is the crucial factor. Fury will surely happen one day but not soon, meeting Klitschko swiftly before age robs him of further edge is a challenge and Wilder's lack of appeal in the UK also presents difficulty.
Bunce added: "Wilder needs at least one more fight - he is not at the pay-per-view stature yet."
Joshua's rise, after being all-but beaten in the sixth round, to administer a devastating uppercut and finish in the 11th, wowed the world of boxing. American viewers tuned in and lapped up the destruction.
Legendary boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield were just some of those tweeting praise, while promoter Eddie Hearn believes his fighter's profile is now "stratospheric", adding: "He is unquestionably world boxing's biggest star."
Hearn is just a piece in the jigsaw of a team which has made Joshua a juggernaut in world sport. His standing as a marketable asset for more than a dozen global brands brings closer his ambition to become boxing's first billionaire, while it also heaps pressure on his broad shoulders.
"The win accelerates him to be one of the world's most sought-after major properties," said sports marketing expert Alun James, UK chief executive at Four Sports and Sponsorships.
"A YouGov survey showed 20% of the UK population have a favourable view of him. That is a very good number for boxing, which is not a mainstream sport.
"Because he's a young black man, he also allows brands to extend into demographics they haven't worked in before. He's already working with brands from Asia to the US, the UK and Dubai.
"I think he will certainly be the richest boxer ever and probably surpass Floyd Mayweather, who set the benchmark."
Klitschko is no stranger to being knocked down - he hit the deck three times in beating Samuel Peter on points in 2005 and such resistance subsequently spawned an 11-year unbeaten run until 2015.
The fact Joshua has now tasted being decked and briefly humbled may well be viewed as a positive behind closed doors. No longer will doubters wonder about his heart. The world now knows what will is hidden beneath those pectorals.
"There comes a time where it comes from within," said BBC Radio 5 live pundit Richie Woodhall. "It is DNA or whatever you want to call it. Those punches came from the depths of his soul. That is what being a world champion is all about."
This great British hope showed transitions, boxing admirably early on, taking punishment in the middle rounds, and then switching things up to power punching, seizing his moment with killer instinct.
"There were times where he showed his inexperience but he learned and showed he isn't just a prospect," said Joshua's trainer Rob McCracken. "He can turn around fights and that will help him so much in his career."
Just 19 fights and now 55 rounds into his career, Joshua has every right to remain green in parts. Smiles at his opponent and celebrations after knockdowns will perhaps be stamped out. Indeed Klitschko said afterwards he felt his rival "lost focus" at times.
In truth, the grand surroundings of Wembley are fit for a fully developed fighter. Joshua beat one, though both he and his team will admit he is not himself one yet, even if he did answer questions.
"He was raw at times which he is, and at times he was probably exposed but to get exposed in front of 90,000 people, to bite down on your gum shield, and to knock out Klitschko in the 11th round, you can't buy that heart," added Hearn.
The chin has been tested, as has Joshua's heart, but what about the mind?
Celebrities fell over themselves to engage with him within minutes of his win, A-list names on Twitter jumping on the expanding AJ bandwagon.
He handled an expectant 90,000 crowd and surely no fight to come can be bigger from a stadium perspective?
Yet heavyweight boxing can provide a slap of reality. Mike Tyson ran into Buster Douglas, Lennox Lewis fell to Hasim Rahman.
But the focus and creative nature of his training drills - visible in their droves on Instagram - seem to showcase a desire to keep striving and try different things in pursuit of excellence.
Away from the ring, Joshua talks about different cultures in a studious way. He has a mind which seems unlikely to fall lazy and such drive will be critical.
There were moments where he visibly took deep breaths when under fire from Klitschko, and expect him to find solutions in the gym. As hype and distractions mount, it is reassuring to know he finds comfort there.
The champion said: "I showed that fights are won in the gym. It gets tough and boxing isn't easy. You have to have the whole package."
With every passing punch, he looks just that.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39761212
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Harry Redknapp: Birmingham manager to sign one-year contract - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Harry Redknapp agrees to stay as Birmingham City manager and is expected to sign a one-year contract later this week.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Harry Redknapp has agreed to stay as manager of Championship side Birmingham City and is expected to sign a one-year contract later this week.
The 70-year-old guided Blues to Championship safety at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Bristol City.
Redknapp took over on 18 April after Gianfranco Zola's departure.
The ex-West Ham, Tottenham and QPR boss led Birmingham to two wins in the final three matches as they avoided relegation to League One by two points.
Redknapp's first game in charge of Birmingham was a 1-0 defeat by West Midlands rivals Aston Villa - a result which left his team just one place above the relegation zone.
But successive wins to end the season over Huddersfield - where they played for more than an hour with 10 men - and Bristol City on the final day ensured their survival.
Meanwhile, Blues have appointed Jeff Vetere as director of football to "organise the recruitment strategy and offer support to the manager in identifying and signing players".
Vetere has held posts at several clubs, including Real Madrid, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa.
Harry Redknapp's confirmed that he's agreed to manage Birmingham City on a one-year contract. He will review the situation with the club at the end of next season after signing the contract later this week.
Redknapp has been assured by the Chinese owners that sufficient funds will be available to strengthen a squad that nearly got Blues relegated.
Steve Cotterill and Paul Groves will continue assisting Redknapp. He's been locked in talks with the board since Sunday night.
Birmingham will be the furthest north that Redknapp's ever managed in his long career. Before that, it was Tottenham.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39878418
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Chibok girls: What fate awaits the ones set free? - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Twenty-one Chibok girls released in October 2016 have not been reunited with their families.
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Africa
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The Chibok girls who have been released will have to take part in a government rehabilitation programme
There was huge relief when 82 of the girls kidnapped by Islamist militants Boko Haram in Chibok, north-east Nigeria, in 2014 were freed on Saturday. But, as the BBC's Alastair Leithead has been finding out, they may still not be able to go back home.
The ordeal of being kidnapped by Boko Haram does not end with the release of the captives. In fact, it is just the start of a long struggle back into family and community life.
Captured as children, the Chibok girls, as they have come to be known, are being freed as young women. An already fraught transition from adolescence to womanhood complicated by their captivity.
The 82 will, albeit briefly, be reunited with their families over the coming days.
Some families are frustrated that their daughters have not been allowed to go home
A representative from the group of Chibok parents has visited them, to check their identities against the list of those freed, and to tell those waiting for confirmation either the good or the bad news.
Most relatives are still living in the remote town of Chibok, 900km (600 miles) north-east of the capital, Abuja. And it will be a long but joyous journey for those told to come.
There will be tearful reunions and a mixture of emotions as both parents and daughters will have changed a great deal over the past three years.
If the treatment of the 21 girls released last October, and the few who escaped, is a guide, the young women will go through a process of re-integration or rehabilitation.
This is either government care or government custody depending on the point of view.
Some families support the process, others are angry that more than six months after being released from Boko Haram, they still do not have their children back.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Mother of escaped Chibok schoolgirl: "She said, 'mama, you should be happy that I came out alive'."
One of the parents who visited a secure government facility in the capital, Abuja, last week said they are being treated well and are living comfortably.
"I was happy with the conditions the girls are staying in. They are doing fine," said Ali Maiyanga Askira who went to see his daughter Maryam.
"I wish she was with us, but I couldn't take care of her as well as the government is.
"They are teaching vocational work like tailoring and knitting, and they are also taking lessons.
"The minister of education told us in the next four months they would go back to school.
"I am happy with whatever decision the government takes," he said.
But some other families just want their girls back.
Office of the First Lady The abduction of the Chibok girls received global attention through a social media campaign
There was anger at Christmas when they were brought to Chibok to meet relatives, but were not allowed home.
They were taken to a local politician's house and their families were only allowed to visit them for a short time.
"I can't believe my daughter has come this close to home, but can't come home," said one father at the time.
But the chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea, said parents were being invited to visit Abuja in small groups.
"They are in a rehabilitation centre. The government says it is giving them some instruction so they will be ready to go to school," he said.
As to whether they are allowed to go home or not, the community doesn't care that they are being held by the government.
"We know they are in the hands of people we know, that we can call, to answer at any moment. It's different from when they were in the hands of the terrorists."
Psychologists who have worked with those previously released from the Islamist group said family therapy rather than isolation would be a better way of reintegrating them.
But there is also the suspicion that the former captives are not being allowed home because the huge publicity around the case could make them targets for kidnapping again.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Zara John: "They gave us a choice to be married or to be a slave - I decided to marry"
There have been times when those, not from the Chibok group, who were allowed home without proper psychological support have been alienated by their communities or even parts of their own families.
Some converted from Christianity to Islam, and some were married to Boko Haram fighters and had children with them, leading them to be shunned.
It is clear that once the violence is over the militant's impact in the region will remain for a generation, unless those abducted can be quickly and effectively re-integrated in society.
At the moment though, those recently released will have to contemplate a future still far away from their families.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39855519
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Inside the Corbynista Facebook 'army' - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The inside story of how a legion of hard-core Jeremy Corbyn fans are spreading his message online.
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BBC Trending
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The polls and recent local election results may paint a different picture, but on Facebook, Jeremy Corbyn dwarfs his political rivals.
His official page has more than twice as many likes as Theresa May (860,000, compared with 360,000), and nearly 30 times as many as Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron.
But the scale of Facebook operations mounted by pro-Corbyn supporters is what really stands out. They organise to hit out at the Conservatives and Tony Blair, game online opinion polls to bolster the apparent popularity of the Labour leader, and remain relentlessly positive about his chances on 8 June.
As part of our mission to examine the impact of social media, the BBC Trending team will be delving inside "Filter Bubble Britain", looking into groups from across the political spectrum over the coming weeks.
Much has been made of political news sites and blogs set up by the pro-Corbyn movement, but there's also an entire eco-system of Facebook groups run by individuals - so we are kicking off our series by looking at those.
Many political journalists are obsessed with Twitter, but in fact Facebook is the key organising platform for the group dubbed (often by their opponents) "Corbynistas" - those dedicated Labour campaigners led by the Momentum group. One of their key tools has been these groups, which share positive news stories about Corbyn and co-ordinate online campaigns.
Over the course of the 2017 General Election campaign, BBC Trending will be delving inside "filter bubbles" - tight online communities created by algorithms and the way we all use social media.
If you'd like to help report on online communities, email the BBC Trending team to express interest. We have a number of tools which will allow us to examine your own "filter bubble" on social media - but there's no commitment, all information will be anonymised, and we'll keep all of your personal information private.
Read more: What pro-Tory Facebook really wants
They are sizeable communities - and there are many of them. One of the largest groups, "We support Jeremy Corbyn", has nearly 40,000 members, and several others boast more than 10,000. In total, there are hundreds of thousands of likes for these pages.
The "We support" group's stated purpose is "to share ideas and fight back against media lies" - and a feeling that the mainstream media is stacked against their leader is a common perception within these groups.
It is difficult to keep up with the sheer number of posts in the pro-Corbyn communities, as heavily-engaged members provide a minute-by-minute commentary on British politics.
Many of the posts attempt to channel members towards online polls and Facebook surveys. They encourage Corbynistas to vote en masse to inflate the perceived popularity of their leader.
This tactic even extends to relatively obscure corners of Facebook. For example, when the community page of New Newbury and Thatcham Berkshire asked who locals would like as prime minister, "We support Jeremy Corbyn" mobilised behind the Labour leader. Less than three hours after the poll had been launched, Corbyn had received 13,000 votes, compared with 4,000 for May and 109 for Farron. The New Newbury and Thatcham Facebook page has only about 5,000 members.
In these cliques, the Conservative Party is the primary enemy. One of the most popular recent posts in "We support Jeremy Corbyn" highlighted a joke by Andy Hamilton, who implied that Theresa May suffers from dementia on an episode of Have I Got News For You. One of the most liked comments on the post said the prime minister "should stop acting weird".
BBC Trending spoke to Caroline Tipler, who founded the group "Jeremy Corbyn leads us to 2017 victory", which has more than 11,000 members (and in the wake of the snap election surprise announcement was swiftly renamed from "Jeremy Corbyn leads us to 2020 victory").
Tipler said she established the group to allow Corbyn supporters to connect with each other, to provide information on Corbyn's policies and to counter what she calls the "appalling, destructive" actions of "plotters" who want to remove Corbyn as Labour leader.
Tipler feels that Corbyn has reinvigorated politics, and denies the main criticism of these groups - that they have turned into self-perpetuating echo chambers.
"Members seek to share values and to have their values of honesty and decency reinforced and placed into political life," she says. "Debate and a broad church approach is encouraged. No one is 'right' or 'more right', we are all learning."
Another main theme of the groups is that Corbyn's political allies must be defended against attacks. Following interviews from Diane Abbott, during which she made some widely covered mathematical slip-ups, one Jeremy Corbyn fan defended the shadow Home Secretary with heavy sarcasm: "Shock, horror! Diane Abbott doesn't have a chip in her brain relaying the live election results, which are actually coming in WHILST she's being interviewed!"
In these groups, many of the articles posted originate from a crop of pro-Corbyn political bloggers and writers, perhaps the biggest of which is a popular political blog called The Canary.
These blogs are media success stories in their own right. They often publish pieces that spread more widely than mainstream media reports and, in the case of The Canary, pay writers in part based on their click numbers. Kerry-Anne Mendoza, editor of The Canary, is unsurprisingly a big supporter of the active pro-Corbyn Facebook wave.
"I love that the pro-Corbyn groups are out there," she told BBC Trending. "They will be able to amplify Corbyn's messages all the way up to the election."
In the early weeks of the election campaign, The Canary has been one of the most popular news sources on Facebook, at times drawing in numbers comparable to the BBC and national newspapers to some of its stories.
But are the people in these groups confident that their man can win the general election? Most are, but some still question why the Labour Party is not performing better, and put the blame on party rebels:
Others reserve criticism for Tony Blair, who is frequently accused on these groups of being a Conservative sympathiser.
There's also a mischievous approach to news circulating in some of these groups. Here's an example: in the wake of the local council elections on 6 May, several links were posted to an Independent article from the 2016 local elections. The headline was: "Not that you'd know it, but the Tories lost far more seats in the election than Labour". The article was 100% correct - but it referred to an election a year ago.
However, on many of the posts there was no acknowledgement of those inconvenient facts. That said, it was illustrated with a picture of the former Conservative leader David Cameron, which may have been a giveaway to those who looked carefully:
Labour's losses in the most recent local elections - 382 seats and the control of seven councils - has not quelled the expectations of many Corbynistas:
You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39856464
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Rugby World Cup 2019: Draw for tournament to take place in Japan - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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The draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan will be made on Wednesday at 09:00 BST, with England and holders New Zealand among top seeds.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
The draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be made on Wednesday at 09:00 BST in host country Japan.
Twenty nations will take part in the tournament and will be drawn into four groups of five.
The 12 teams, including holders New Zealand, who finished in the top three of their groups at the last World Cup automatically qualified for the event.
They have been split into three bands based on their ranking, with eight more teams yet to be decided.
The All Blacks, England, Australia and Ireland are in band one, France, Scotland, South Africa and Wales make up band two and Argentina, Georgia, Italy and Japan are in band three.
The teams yet to qualify are in the two remaining pots.
One team from each band will be drawn into each World Cup group and England will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the their "group of hell" from the 2015 tournament when they were drawn with Australia and Wales, as well as Fiji and Uruguay.
England failed to progress beyond the group stages in what was the first time the hosts have exited the World Cup before the knockout phase.
The World Cup in Japan runs from 20 September to 2 November 2019.
Band Five: Oceania 2, Americas 2, play-off winner (between Europe 2 and Oceania 3), repechage winner
• None Get all the latest rugby union news by adding
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39854555
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Juventus 2-1 Monaco (4-1 agg) - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Juventus reach a second Champions League final in three seasons with a comfortable aggregate victory over Monaco.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Juventus reached their second Champions League final in three seasons with a comfortable aggregate victory over Monaco.
Already leading 2-0 from the first leg, the Italian side extended their advantage when Mario Mandzukic stabbed in after his initial header was saved.
Dani Alves doubled their lead on the night with an instinctive volley from goalkeeper Danijel Subasic's punched clearance.
Kylian Mbappe turned in Joao Moutinho's low cross to pull one back in the second half, but the Ligue 1 side could not pull off an unlikely comeback.
Juventus, who have not won this competition since 1996 and lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the 2015 final, will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in Cardiff on 3 June.
Atletico host Real on Wednesday looking to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.
• None Reaction: You have to believe in your dreams - Buffon
• None Analysis: How the Old Lady rose from the ashes
Juventus have endured a turbulent time since beating Ajax in the Champions League final 21 years ago.
They were demoted to Serie B in 2006 for their part in a match-fixing scandal, and were stripped of two of their Serie A titles.
But they have risen to become the most dominant team in Italy, winning the league for each of the past five seasons.
Their focus now is Champions League success - and they look well placed to achieve it.
No side has scored more than a single goal against them in a Champions League game this season, while Mbappe's goal was the first they have conceded in the knockout stage.
That is down to the excellent form of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defensive trio Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
Against a free-scoring Monaco side intent on attacking, lesser sides may have relented, but Juve stood firm.
Chiellini, in particular, was outstanding - in the right place to clear a dangerous Benjamin Mendy cross at 0-0 before hooking away from Radamel Falcao at 1-0.
They were two key moments, allowing Juve's forward players to attack with patience and potency.
When Barcelona dismantled Juventus in the Champions League final two years ago, Alves was a key part of the Spanish side.
The full-back, who won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with Barcelona, left under acrimonious circumstances last summer and joined Juventus on a free transfer.
There is no doubt Barca's loss has been Juve's gain.
After a slow start, the Brazilian has developed into one of the club's most influential players, and his Champions League experience has been pivotal to Juventus' run to the final.
Having assisted both of Gonzalo Higuain's goals in the first leg he produced a brilliant strike here, calmly guiding Subasic's looped clearance through a crowded box and into the net.
Alves, whose cross also led to Mandzukic's opener, has now been involved in every goal Juve have scored in their last two Champions League games.
• None No team has reached the Champions League final on more occasions than Juventus (six - level with AC Milan).
• None Juve have scored 30 goals in the Champions League semi-finals; no team has scored more (level with Bayern and Real Madrid).
• None The Turin club are unbeaten in 12 Champions League/European Cup games for the first time in their history (W9 D3).
• None Mandzukic ended his longest run without a Champions League goal (six games) and is now on 15 in 45 appearances.
• None Mbappe's goal was Monaco's 150th this season in all competitions; only Real Madrid (158) and Barcelona (160) have scored more from the big five European leagues.
• None Mbappe became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final (18 years & 140 days).
• None Thierry Henry (five games) is the only French player to have reached six Champions League goals quicker than Kylian Mbappe (nine).
Juventus have three games remaining in Serie A, starting with a trip to Roma on Sunday, 14 May. A draw will seal a sixth consecutive league title.
Monaco, meanwhile, switch their focus to domestic matters as they look to win Ligue 1. They are three points clear of Paris St-Germain with three games left and host Lille on Sunday.
• None Attempt blocked. Andrea Raggi (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Valère Germain.
• None Attempt blocked. Miralem Pjanic (Juventus) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
• None Substitution, Juventus. Medhi Benatia replaces Andrea Barzagli because of an injury.
• None Attempt missed. João Moutinho (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
• None Offside, Juventus. Dani Alves tries a through ball, but Gonzalo Higuaín is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39848536
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Newcastle United: Rafael Benitez 'can have every last penny' to build - Mike Ashley - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez can expect up to £100m to spend on players after "positive" talks with owner Mike Ashley.
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Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez can expect up to £100m to spend on new players following "positive" discussions with owner Mike Ashley.
Benitez guided the Magpies back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
However, he was seeking assurances that he would be able to strengthen his squad again after the club's promotion.
In a club statement, Ashley said Benitez and managing director Lee Charnley can have "every last penny the club generates" to build for next term.
Benitez added: "I'm pleased with how the meeting went and the positive approach we are all taking together to build on what we have started this season.
"There will be challenges ahead of course, the summer will not be easy, but the hard work has been going on for some time and we can now continue positively with the development of the squad ahead of the start of the new season."
Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Benitez signed a three-year contract to remain at Newcastle in May 2016, despite the club dropping into the second tier, and the Spaniard led them to the Championship title on Sunday.
More than £50m was spent on new players last summer as Newcastle assembled one of the most expensive squads in Championship history, although almost £70m was recouped from player sales.
However, Benitez did not make any further additions to his squad in January and there were reports that the 57-year-old was considering his future at the club.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39878063
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Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt stands by Premier League criticism - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Accrington Stanley's Andy Holt refuses to back down despite what he considers a threat from the Premier League after his criticism of spending.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt has refused to back down despite what he considers a threat from the Premier League after his criticism of spending.
Holt had said Football League clubs were like "a starving peasant begging for scraps" from the top flight.
The Premier League responded: "We will be writing to Mr Holt to ask him if he wishes the Premier League to continue the support we currently provide for his and other clubs in the EFL."
Holt said other chairmen supported him.
On Tuesday, Holt accused the Premier League of "destroying" the game and tweeted: "Hang your heads in shame. @premierleague you're an absolute disgrace to English football."
He posted a series of messages on Twitter after the Daily Mail revealed reported figures of wages and agent fees paid by Manchester United.
A book published in Germany this week - The Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football - includes what it says is a breakdown of the fee for Paul Pogba's move to United last summer, and alleges his agent Mino Raiola earned £41m from the deal.
Raiola has declined to comment and said the matter was in the hands of his lawyers.
In an interview with BBC Sport on Wednesday, Holt said lower-league clubs needed more financial help.
"Football is in crisis. The lower league is really struggling, and I'm not the only chairman who feels like this," he said.
He accused the Premier League of "losing all sense of scale" in what he called a "threatening, dark" response to his original comments.
"What they're saying is not only are they not bothered about it, anybody who complains about it, we'll take your money away and shut you down," he said.
"Other EFL clubs share my views, not all of them. I'm not trying to lead a rabble, I'm expressing an opinion but I'm not alone."
What does the Premier League provide?
The Premier League says it intends to write to Holt and "to explain the many ways it has supported Accrington Stanley FC and all EFL clubs this season".
Holt said the club had an annual turnover of about £2.2m and any withdrawal of Premier League funding would threaten its future.
"They can do what they want," he added. "It would be a quarter of our revenue, and it would close Accrington down.
"I can't do anything about it. I don't like the agent's fee, I don't like the largesse of the Premier League and I won't like it in five years' time and I won't like it in 10 years' time. My opinion's the same, whatever they do."
The Premier League has provided £200m in "solidarity funding" to EFL clubs this season. Additional parachute payments to relegated clubs take its contribution to more than £400m.
It is understood the Premier League made a £430,000 payment to Accrington this season, in addition to a £340,000 grant towards its youth development programme
Accrington finished 13th in League Two this season with an average gate of 1,699 - the smallest in the Football League.
"I accept they do a bit for the community," said Holt. "I don't really have a problem with the Premier League, I have a problem with it being unsustainable."
Holt's views were supported by Darragh MacAnthony, chairman of League One side Peterborough United, who tweeted: "Andy is 100% correct in his comments & 99% of Football League owners would agree I'd think."
MacAnthony later told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "Andy has gone to the extreme; I'm not disagreeing with what he's saying. He's a frustrated man. I wouldn't have said starving peasant, I would compare it to being like a family member.
"We're meant to all be part of one family, the Premier League and the Football League. It's a bit like the poor member of the family that every time they go for a handout they're made to feel guilty instead of being family where they help you out."
The Premier League has previously said it is the only top-flight league in world football which funds the fourth tier of its football pyramid.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39874533
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Comey sacking doesn't rise to Watergate levels - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Trump may have sacked Comey out of pique and spite, but he didn't act above the law.
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US & Canada
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The New York Times called for the president to leave office immediately, describing it as "the last great service" he could perform for the country.
The Washington Post demanded impeachment, followed by a Senate trial. Time magazine, deeming it necessary to publish its first-ever editorial, thundered: "The president should resign."
Outside the White House, protesters waved placards at passing motorists: "Honk for Impeachment." Even Washington's most influential columnist, Stewart Alsop, who was normally supportive of the president, called him an "ass." The president had lost his moral authority, argued his critics, and with it, his ability to govern. The country faced a constitutional crisis. The republic was imperilled.
Such was the feverish reaction to the events of 20 October, 1973, a date remembered in the national memory as the "Saturday Night Massacre" - a pivotal moment in the unfolding Watergate controversy.
With scandal engulfing the White House, Richard Nixon decided to fire Archibald Cox, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate "all offenses arising out of the 1972 election… involving the president, the White House staff or presidential appointments".
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Nixon's Attorney General, Elliot Richardson, and his Deputy Attorney General, William Ruckelshaus, resigned rather than carry out the president's order. Eventually, the Solicitor General Robert Bork, who was third in command at the justice department, was prepared to fire Cox.
The White House announced the news at 20:22 that Saturday evening.
On Wednesday, almost as quickly as the news that he had been sacked as head of the FBI reached James Comey in Los Angeles, these two dramatic episodes were being described as historically analogous.
The president had fired the lead figure in an investigation into alleged wrongdoing by members of his own team.
Roger Stone, a Trump associate who also worked in 1972 for the notorious Committee to Re-elect the President, told the New York Times: "Somewhere Dick Nixon is smiling."
The Nixon presidential library even trolled the White House on Twitter: "FUN FACT: President Nixon never fired the Director of the FBI #FBIDirector #notNixonian."
Democrats insinuated that Comey was fired for similar reasons to Cox, because he was closing in on the truth.
There were other resemblances, too. In the lead-up to the Saturday Night Massacre, the Nixon White House was still reeling from the resignation of the president's chief of staff, Bob Haldeman, a central figure in the Watergate scandal, just as the Trump administration continues to be buffeted by the swirl of controversy surrounding the forced departure of Gen Michael Flynn, his former National Security Adviser.
There's the suspicion now, as there was four decades ago, that an embattled White House has something to hide.
So is this truly a re-run of the events of 1973? Is the past repeating itself?
Even by the standards of the Nixon presidency, the autumn of 1973 was unusually chaotic.
Flynn before his departure from the White House
It saw the resignation of Vice-President Spiro Agnew because of fraud, tax evasion, bribery and extortion allegations.
The Middle East was in the grip of the Yom Kippur war, a conflict between US-backed Israel and Arab forces armed by the Soviets that threatened to blow-up into a broader conflagration between Washington and Moscow.
In Washington, Nixon was fighting a pitched battle with Archibald Cox and the courts.
Cox, a Harvard professor who had been appointed as special prosecutor in May that year, had issued a subpoena ordering the White House to hand over nine tapes of phone calls and West Wing conversations in connection with the Watergate break-in. Nixon's legal team argued the principle of executive privilege should apply, and the tapes should remain private.
On 12 October, however, the Court of Appeals in Washington upheld a lower court's ruling granting Cox's request. Rather than comply, Nixon decided to fire the special prosecutor, something his Attorney General Elliot Richardson had promised Congress would never happen.
A president stood in defiance of the courts, putting himself above the law of the land. It was a textbook constitutional crisis.
Donald Trump's sacking of his FBI director, while highly unusual and deeply controversial, is constitutionally permissible. No court orders have been flouted. The president, while breaking with the norm of allowing FBI directors to serve out their 10-year terms unimpeded, is not putting himself above the law.
Trump's motivations may also be different. Nixon sacked Cox through fear his criminality was about to exposed.
Within the FBI, agents believe that Trump sacked Comey primarily out of pique and spite because of his refusal to publicly exonerate Trump against allegations of collusion with the Kremlin, and also because Comey refused to back up Trump's unsubstantiated claims that Barack Obama ordered the wire-tapping of Trump Tower.
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Unlike the Saturday Night Massacre, the president is at one with the most high-ranking figures in the justice department rather than at odds with them. The president, the attorney general and the deputy attorney general together they made the case that Comey should go - not purportedly because of his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, but because of the former director's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.
The politics is also very different. Back in 1973, the Democrats controlled both the Senate and House of Representatives. That put the investigative machinery of Congress in their hands. Senate hearings were already under way, and the Saturday Night Massacre gave them fresh impetus.
Nixon also faced an acid shower of criticism from Republicans on Capitol Hill and around the country. "Clearly we face a constitutional crisis," lamented the Republican governor of Michigan.
Literally Nixonian: Trump and Nixon Secretary of State Henry Kissinger talking in the Oval Office the day after Comey's firing
There have been Republican critics of Trump's decision to fire Comey. But so far they haven't been so vehement. Crucially, the Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell is resisting demands from the Democrats, and some in his own party, to back calls for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the 2016 election.
Politically, Donald Trump remains strong, because of the support of the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill and his grassroots supporters in the American heartland.
Nixon, by contrast, was politically weak. This became apparent only a few days later when the White House indicated it would hand over the tapes, which included a recording of the infamous conversation between the president and Haldeman, eighteen and half minutes of which were missing.
Nixon was also forced to appoint a new special prosecutor. And eventually, of course, the push for impeachment gathered unstoppable momentum, and he was forced to resign as president.
In 1973, Democrats were hollering impeachment. In 2017, the party's congressional leadership has not publicly uttered that explosive word.
What may be similar between now and then is the intemperate mood of the president. As demonstrated by his Twitter tirades, Donald Trump is lashing out publicly against his critics, much as Nixon did privately in his final months in office.
Senator Marco Rubio being interviewed by reporters about Comey firing
Politico is reporting that Trump shouted at the television over the Russian investigation, which again has echoes of Nixon's executive mansion tantrums.
Curiously, both presidents also saw Florida as a bolt-hole from the pressures of Washington, Nixon opting for Key Biscayne, Trump regularly visiting Mar-a-Lago - although a key difference is that Nixon medicated himself with alcohol, while Trump is famously teetotal.
But the Saturday Night Massacre and the Tuesday Night 'You're fired" are not directly comparable.
The sacking of Archibald Cox contributed heavily to Nixon's forced departure from the White House. It was widely seen as an impeachable offence.
The removal of James Comey, in and of itself, does not pose such an existential threat to the Trump administration.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39875134
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The problem with corporation tax - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Will Labour’s plans to increase the key business tax really bring in £20bn?
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Business
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The Labour party has said it will raise corporation tax to spend £4.8bn on improving education
Announce more money for a public policy initiative and say you will pay for it with an increase in taxes.
On Wednesday the Labour Party said that it plans to spend more than £5bn improving education in England.
To fund the initiative, the party also announced the details of its proposals to increase corporation tax from its present rate of 19% to 26% by 2020-21.
A move described by Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies as one of the most significant tax increases for 30 years.
Smaller firms with profits below £300,000 a year will see more modest rises - up to 21% by 2020-21.
Labour, using figures from the government's official economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, says the increases in corporation tax will raise £20bn by 2022.
The Liberal Democrats have also pledged more money for education (£7bn) paid for by a slightly lower increase in the business tax and the scrapping of tax allowances for married couples.
As both Labour and the Liberal Democrats will know, income from corporation tax (a tax on profits made by firms), is notoriously difficult to forecast.
In 2010, corporation tax raised just over £43bn in revenue for the government.
Since then it has been cut from 28% (interestingly, above the level announced today by Labour) to 19%.
One would suppose that would reduce the tax take for the government.
Former chancellor George Osborne cut the headline rate of corporation tax
In 2016, corporation tax raised £49.7bn, an increase of £6.7bn.
That is due to a number of interrelated issues.
First, economic growth has returned, leading to higher profits for firms.
Now, supporters of corporation tax cuts argue that the very act of reducing the rate increases firms' propensity to invest and increases confidence that Britain is a "business friendly" economy.
Second, although George Osborne reduced the headline rate (some joke it is called that for a reason as cutting it produces some nice headlines), he also announced a series of other, more Delphic, measures that actually increased business taxes.
The amount of tax that can be offset against capital investment in new buildings and machinery (called capital allowances) has been reduced.
Taxes on foreign income has also been reformed and rules over the shifting of profits between different tax jurisdictions have been tightened under the "base erosion" changes agreed with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Alongside these changes, the government has also introduced the banking levy, an extra tax on the City which brought in £1.6bn in 2012 - a figure that rose to just under £3bn by 2016.
Many businesses would argue that, yes, the corporation tax cut is welcome but business taxes are already bringing in significantly more money.
And increasing the rate to 26% will simply reduce Britain's attractiveness to business investors and lose Britain vital places in the competitiveness league tables - given that the headline rate is low by G7 standards but other business taxes are relatively high.
Further, any change would come just at the time that Brexit has left a number of firms with their fingers hovering over the "relocate" button.
The new president of France, Emmanuel Macron, says he wants to see the French corporation tax rate cut to 25% from the present 33.3%.
As Mr Johnson said on the Today programme: "The risk is, that while this [Labour plan] would raise knocking on for £20bn in the short run, it is probably going to raise rather less than that in the long run as companies invest less and take other opportunities to reduce the amount of tax that they pay.
"So, the long run behavioural result of this tax would result in revenues being less than the immediate headline increase."
Corporation tax is what is known as "dynamic" - that is, changes to it result in rapid changes in behaviour as sophisticated firms manage their balance sheet in such a way as to minimise any effects and support profits and returns to shareholders (which of course, don't forget, include our pension funds).
This leads to substantial levels of forecast error.
In 2013, the OBR forecast that corporation tax receipts for 2016-17 would fall to £38.2bn.
That suggests that Labour and the Liberal Democrats' plans could raise more than the forecast £20bn.
Or - given the possible economic effect on business investment - far less.
That is the problem with pledges on tax - they are predicated on a forecast about an uncertain future.
That does not mean that political parties should avoid making policy funding announcements based on best revenue estimates by official bodies.
But it does mean that voters should be aware - forecasts can be wrong.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39869118
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The slimming pills that put me in hospital - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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How fake drugs have grown to become a multibillion dollar global industry.
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Business
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Fake drugs are now a multibillion dollar international industry, but for those who have ended up inadvertently taking them the personal consequences can be life-changing.
Natalie-Jade from Manchester was 18 when she decided she wanted to lose weight. The British teenager did a quick Google search, and the pills she found promised instant results.
"The pictures [of the people] looked great," she says. "Photoshop does wonders for the internet."
She didn't think too much about any side effects. "I just thought I was a bit invincible."
But when she first took them she started sweating more and her heart was racing. She hardly ate, and had to drink lots of water.
After eight weeks she stopped taking them, but the symptoms continued, and two years later she collapsed and ended up in hospital.
The doctors who examined her said her heart rate was so fast it was as though she'd had 30 cups of coffee. They were surprised she hadn't had a heart attack.
Now aged 26, Natalie-Jade still has occasional heart murmurs.
Last year the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) shut down more than 4,000 websites selling fake medicines
Websites offering fake medicines such as the ones that she bought are increasing rapidly.
"A big problem is that many of the websites are hosted in jurisdictions which may not be receptive to takedown requests from a UK government agency," says Lynda Scammell.
Ms Scammell is senior policy adviser to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates medicines in the UK.
Last year the MHRA took down more than 4,000 websites selling fake medicines, up from just under 1,400 websites in 2015.
In 2016, more than £13.6m worth of fake medicines and medical devices were seized in the annual operation organised by Interpol, including three million doses of erectile dysfunction pills and more than 300,000 doses of slimming pills.
Fake medicines for life-threatening conditions, including breast cancer, bone cancer and leprosy were also taken.
Ms Scammell says "an embarrassment factor" is contributing to the problem, with people wanting to buy slimming or erectile dysfunction drugs online instead of in person.
But there is also a convenience factor.
"People get used to 'I want it, I want it now'," she says.
The end result is that fake drugs are now a multibillion dollar industry, according to the World Health Organization.
Big seizures of fake drugs only scratch the surface of the illegal trade
But it is not only a problem outside of official channels. Fake drugs can also make their way into legitimate supply chains.
The global nature and complexity of the supply chain increases the risks of that chain being infiltrated.
For example, one dose of a pneumococcal vaccine made by a large drug firm involves 1,700 people and more than 400 raw materials. From start to finish, this process takes more than two-and-a-half years.
"It is one of the most technically complex vaccines to manufacture and we produce it in many parts of the world," the firm says.
In 2007 fake medicines got into the NHS, with the MHRA forced to issue four emergency recall notices in a matter of days. More recently in 2011, fake versions of Roche's multibillion-dollar cancer drug Avastin made their way into the US healthcare system.
The big drugs firms say they have cleaned up their act since then and that their supply chains are safe.
They are reluctant to discuss the security measures they've taken for fear of revealing their methods to the very counterfeiters they are trying to prevent. But processes can include having dedicated testing laboratories using packaging and printing that make counterfeits more easy to spot.
But the problem is that in some countries, manufacturers "will buy from sources they can't trust", says Michael Deats, World Health Organization group lead on substandard and falsified medical products.
"That's dangerous," he says.
An outbreak of meningitis in Niger led to a proliferation of fake drugs
West and Central Africa and South East Asian countries in particular have problems with criminals being able to sell fake drugs to licensed distributors, who then sell them on to places people trust, such as hospitals and pharmacies.
The criminals behind the fake drugs increase the supply when there's a big demand. An outbreak of meningitis in Niger, for example, led to a shortage of vaccines, which was responded to quickly by the fakers, Mr Deats says.
"Natural disaster, war, civil unrest - it's a business opportunity," he says.
The criminals behind many fake medicine operations can be highly organised, but are probably not what everyone thinks of as being part of "organised crime" - gangsters with interests in narcotics and guns, says Mr Deats.
The people behind fake drugs have often built sophisticated networks
He says they are more likely to be rogue businessmen, who may have worked in legitimate pharmaceutical supplies, and who know the systems.
They'll often deal through offshore companies locked up in tax havens, and have the wherewithal to produce millions of doses of a particular fake medicine.
"These are very sophisticated networks," he says. "You see a fair bit of investment in some cases... industrial-scale production."
It's not in their interests to be discovered, so rather than obviously poisoning people, which would attract attention, it's far better to make medicines with ineffective ingredients.
"These are tough to identify. These medicines visually look like the real thing," he says.
"But they just don't work."
So if someone then dies of a disease like malaria, it's assumed that they didn't respond to the treatment, rather than the treatment being fake, he says.
"It is a low-risk activity, and it's lucrative. Of course that's going to attract the wrong sort of people," he says.
"The risks of capture are low, and the profits are high."
But for those who have taken fake drugs, such as Natalie-Jade, the consequences can be life changing.
Natalie-Jade's advice to people like her who are trying to slim is to go through the proper channels rather than trying to find a quick fix online.
"Don't believe that you're invincible," she says.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39723333
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General election 2017: Who is the most searched-for party leader? - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Redrawing the political map of the UK based around Google searches for the names of party leaders.
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UK Politics
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Nicola Sturgeon, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May - but who came top?
Internet searches are the main source of information for many voters at a general election.
So what happens if you redraw the political map of the UK based around Google searches for the names of party leaders over the six months before the election was called?
At first glance, it looks a lot like the actual political map, with the SNP dominant in Scotland and Conservative blue covering large swathes of England.
But there are some interesting differences.
Conservative leader Theresa May topped the search rankings in 444 constituencies, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn coming top in 97 constituencies.
However, this is not an indication of support for Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn - we don't know the reason why people are searching for their names or whether they view the leaders positively or negatively.
The prime minister tends to get more media coverage in a non-election period, so this may account for the greater levels of interest. She was the most searched-for party leader in most of Labour-held inner London, while Mr Corbyn topped the rankings in quite a few Conservative strongholds in the south of England.
Sorry, your browser cannot display this map
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon came top in 75 constituencies - many of them in England, from Labour-held Workington, in Cumbria, to Conservative strongholds like Folkestone and Hythe and Dorset South, on the south coast.
Paul Nuttall - who replaced Nigel Farage as UKIP leader in October last year - topped the rankings in 17 constituencies, generating interest in Wales and Northern England in particular.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron came top in eight constituencies - a fairly random selection geographically, none of which are currently held by the party or on their likely target list.
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas topped the rankings in just one constituency - Newbury, in Berkshire, where her party is involved in anti-fracking campaigns. Voters in her own Brighton Pavilion seat searched for Theresa May the most, according to the data.
In Northern Ireland searches were analysed for the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and the UUP, of them DUP leader Arlene Foster had the most interest in eight seats.
Google Trends collected search results for 1,876 cities, and then allocated those locations to the relevant constituencies.
The internet company collected search results for six months, ending 17 April 2017. Data was analysed by Alasdair Rae of Sheffield University. Map built with Carto.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39804973
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Juventus: From Serie B to another Champions League final - the Old Lady's rise - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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From demotion to Serie B in 2006 to their second Champions League final in three seasons, Juventus' rise has been remarkable.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so the saying goes, and it certainly appears to be the case with Juventus.
Ten years ago, Juve were dragging themselves out of the second tier of Italian football following a tumultuous sequence of events that saw them demoted from Serie A.
Now, after beating Monaco 4-1 on aggregate, the Old Lady will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Cardiff on 3 June.
"Magic Dani Alves, fantastic Juventus," read the headline on Italian newspaper Tuttosport. Gazzetta dello Sport, meanwhile, went with: "Great Juve!"
The media are gushing, and who can blame them?
Two Champions League finals in three years, on the cusp of winning a sixth successive Serie A title and 23 games unbeaten in Europe.
Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, speaking on BT Sport, described Juve's performance on Tuesday as a "masterclass".
"Attack and defence everywhere," he said.
After a rollercoaster decade, Juve may have put together the perfectly balanced side.
The rise from the ashes
Just five days after lifting the World Cup trophy in 2006, Juve team-mates Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi were faced with the prospect of preparing for life in the second tier of Italian football.
Juve, along with Lazio and Fiorentina, were implicated in a match-fixing scandal that resulted in the three teams being demoted to Serie B for 2006-07, though the latter two had their sentences reduced to points deductions on appeal.
Juve were also given a 30-point deduction, later reduced to nine, and their hopes of an immediate return to the top flight were further hampered by the departures of several key players, including Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro.
The club's trio of World Cup winners stayed, though, and were instrumental as Juve bounced back at the first attempt - winning Serie B by six points, losing just four of their 42 league games.
Didier Deschamps, a Champions League winner with Juventus in 1996, returned to coach his former club following their demotion but left two games before the end of their title-winning season after a disagreement with the club's hierarchy.
Claudio Ranieri was the man brought in to lead Juve in their first season back in Serie A, and he led them into the Champions League with a third-place finish.
But the Italian was unable to build on that, with Juve knocked out of Europe by Chelsea and finishing 10 points adrift of Inter Milan in the league.
Ranieri was sacked, but the next three managers - Ciro Ferrara, Alberto Zaccheroni and Luigi Delneri - made little impact in short spells in charge.
Though the team appeared to be regressing, a significant appointment had been made by club owner Andrea Agnelli.
He made former Sampdoria chief executive Giuseppe Marotta Juve's sporting director, and he brought about significant changes in the playing and coaching staff.
Marotta oversaw the arrivals of Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli - two players who would become key parts of Juve's near-impenetrable defence - before appointing Antonio Conte as coach in the summer of 2011.
Just as he has at Chelsea, Conte implemented a gameplan founded on a three-man defence, turning Juve into a side that dominated possession and was tough to break down.
The results were immediate - the club's first Scudetto in nine years in his first season followed by another two just for good measure.
Also significant in Juve's revival was their move to the Juventus Stadium - built on the site of their former home the Stadio delle Alpi - during Conte's first season.
Though capacity is significantly reduced - from 69,000 to 41,254 - the atmosphere in the arena has improved dramatically.
"The Delle Alpi was hugely unpopular with fans, who were stationed far away from the pitch because of a running track, and sightlines were almost universally poor," says European football expert Andy Brassell.
"It was rarely filled. In their last Champions League campaign at the old stadium, the Delle Alpi had an average attendance of just 12,285 in the group stage. Even the visit of Bayern Munich attracted only 16,076. The only way was to rip it up and start again."
In the six seasons since opening their new home, Juve have lost just three Serie A games there.
While Conte brought back domestic glory, European success continued to elude Juve. They were beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 Champions League and failed to even get out of their group the following season.
When Conte left in July 2014 to become Italy boss, he suggested he had not had the financial clout to compete with Europe's top clubs, saying: "When you sit in a restaurant where a meal costs 100 euros, you can't think about eating with just 10 euros."
That was, perhaps, a final gift from Conte.
With Juve's players determined to prove themselves to new boss Massimiliano Allegri - and perhaps show Conte was wrong - they reached the Champions League final in 2015, losing 3-1 to Barcelona.
"The change of coach gave Juventus something more, because in the first two months of the season we wanted to prove that we were still the best," defender Giorgio Chiellini said in March 2015.
"We want to prove to everyone and, above all, to ourselves that we are a great team."
Defeat by Barcelona prompted wholesale changes to the playing squad as Allegri looked to move them to the next level.
Juve's formidable defence was largely unaltered, but more flair and bite has been added in attack.
Former Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, for example, has proven a more-than-able replacement for Paul Pogba, who made a world-record £89m move to Manchester United last summer.
Up front, the exciting Paulo Dybala, signed from Palermo in 2015, has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi while ex-Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has scored 32 goals in 49 appearances this season.
As Conte said, eating a 10 euro meal at a 100 euro restaurant is not really the done thing - and Juve paid Napoli £75.3m to sign Higuain last summer.
But the manner of their victories over Barcelona and Monaco suggests they are now dining at the top table alongside Europe's elite.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39862110
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Giro d'Italia: Geraint Thomas moves to second overall after stage four - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Team Sky's Geraint Thomas moves into second place in the Giro d'Italia by finishing third on stage four.
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Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas moved into second place in the Giro d'Italia by finishing third on stage four.
The Welshman is six seconds behind Quick-Step's Bob Jungels, the fourth man to lead the race, and four seconds ahead of fellow Briton Adam Yates.
Orica rider Yates was eighth on Tuesday's 181km stage, which finished on Mount Etna.
Slovenia's Jan Polanc, who rides for UAE Team Emirates, won the stage having broken away after just 2km.
Katusha's Ilnur Zakarin was second, 19 seconds back, before Thomas outsprinted FDJ's Thibaut Pinot.
Wednesday's stage takes the riders from Pedara to Messina, with the three-week race concluding in Milan on 28 May.
"There was a bit of a headwind in the last 2km so everyone was a bit of apprehensive. I felt good and obviously it was nice to win the sprint for the third [place] and get a few seconds as well.
"I felt pretty good on the climb but, with it being a headwind, everyone like myself didn't really want to go too early.
"I think everyone's still finding their legs and sussing each other out but a good start.
"It's a nice sort of psychological boost winning the sprint but there's still a long way to go until Milan [the final stage], and we'll know a lot more on Sunday."
Overall classification after stage four
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39859647
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Robert Miles' Children - the hit written to save clubbers' lives - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The late dance DJ hoped his biggest track would help stop Italy's "Saturday night slaughter".
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Entertainment & Arts
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Miles wanted his biggest hit to help stop Italy's "Saturday night slaughter"
DJ Robert Miles has died at the age of 47. The track that defined his career, Children, was one of the biggest-selling instrumentals in Europe and inspired a whole new genre. But Miles had an unusual motivation for it - helping to tackle "Saturday night slaughter" on Italy's roads.
Children is one of the most iconic tracks in the history of dance music.
It launched a new genre - "dream house" - and although that did not last long, the more melancholy, cerebral sound opened the door for trance music, which would come to dominate clubs in the late 1990s, going fully mainstream into the new millennium.
That sound was a very deliberate choice by Miles, whose real name was Roberto Concina.
Although Children was initially written in response to images of the child victims of the Balkans war as Yugoslavia tore itself apart, the track then took on a different life - and a different motivation. Miles wanted to make it big to help save the lives of clubbers.
The sound of Europe's clubs in the mid-1990s - in particular in Italy, where Miles lived - was amped-up tracks and hard beats.
But the high this music induced in clubbers - plus any substances they may have taken to enhance their experience - meant that when the night was over, they were still feeling the full effects of drugs and adrenaline.
This was blamed for a rise in car crashes at the weekends. Having danced all night and often driven many miles to get to the clubs, young drivers were losing control and ending up in appalling accidents.
In fact, so bad was the problem that it had its own term in Italy - "stragi del sabato sera" - Saturday night slaughter.
Children, therefore, was an option for DJs to put on as the last track of the night.
It had a soft beat, slower and far less frenetic than the music that would have preceded it. The full-length version started without any instruments at all - it began with the natural sound of a thunderstorm.
But it was the piano riff that really made Children different.
Miles was named Best international newcomer at the 1997 Brit Awards
It was mournful, a sound that triggered deep emotions. To listeners, the children of the title were not literally the world's under-16s but their own younger selves.
To those in the right frame of mind, the track brought feelings of nostalgia, calm and longing, like the regret of remembering a beautiful dream. Not for nothing was the track's parent album called Dreamland.
Miles once described the reaction the first time he played the track: "I lifted my gaze and saw a sea of hands reaching up high and a smile stamped on every face," he said.
"A girl approached me in tears. 'What music is this?' she asked me. I don't think I shall ever forget that moment, when I realised that my feelings had been conveyed through my music. My dream turned into reality."
The video for Children played on these themes, shot in moody black and white, with a child looking out of a car window at a rainy world.
Italian authorities and parents welcomed the release of the track. And before long, so did Europe's record-buying public.
In the UK, BBC Radio 1's Pete Tong named it Essential Tune of The Week three weeks in a row. It was the eighth best-selling single of 1996.
In Europe - doubtless aided by its lack of vocals, giving it a more universal appeal - Children did even better. It was number one in France for 11 weeks, Germany and Spain for seven, and - crucially - Italy for five. In Miles's home country of Switzerland, it lasted at the top for an extraordinary 13 weeks.
Ultimately, it went top five in every European country that counted record sales.
Miles followed Children's success with another couple of hits from Dreamland - Fable and One & One - and briefly revived the career of Sister Sledge's Kathy Sledge with their collaboration Freedom.
He then devoted his musical career to experimentation, taking his sound in a dramatically different direction that no longer had the commercial appeal that made him a star name.
But his track had changed dance music forever - and perhaps also changed the lives of certain clubbers who thought twice about exhaustedly staggering into their cars on hot nights in mid-90s Italy.
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-39871459
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Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid (agg 2-4) - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Real Madrid hold off a spirited Atletico Madrid to set up a meeting with Juventus in next month's Champions League final in Cardiff.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Defending champions Real Madrid held off a spirited Atletico Madrid to set up a meeting with Juventus in next month's Champions League final in Cardiff.
Atletico, trailing 3-0 from the first leg, stormed into an early 2-0 lead on the night through Saul Niguez's header and Antoine Griezmann's cheeky penalty.
But Real grabbed a vital away goal when Isco poked in a rebound after Toni Kroos' fierce shot - following a brilliant run by Karim Benzema - was saved.
It checked Atletico's momentum and left them needing three more goals to reach a third Champions League final in four seasons.
Chances were scarcer for both teams after the break, although home substitute Kevin Gameiro missed two presentable chances to give Atletico a glimmer of hope.
Ultimately, the damage from the first leg was irreversible as Real beat their neighbours in the competition for the fourth successive season.
Zinedine Zidane's team, attempting to become the first team to win the Champions League twice in a row, will meet Juventus at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 3 June.
Too little, too late for Atletico
Most people thought this tie was a foregone conclusion after Atletico were outclassed at the Bernabeu eight days ago.
Los Rojiblancos, who managed just one shot on target in a limp away performance, had other ideas.
Knowing they needed at least three goals to stand any chance of progressing, Diego Simeone's side tore out of the blocks in the opening 20 minutes.
Atletico hassled and harried the visitors, creating gaps in a panicky away defence.
Real keeper Keylor Navas had already saved from Koke inside the opening five minutes before the Atletico midfielder swung in a right-wing corner which Saul met at the near post to powerfully head in.
The visitors had not conceded twice inside the opening 20 minutes of a Champions League match since 2004 - but Griezmann ended that record after Fernando Torres was bundled over by Raphael Varane's clumsy tackle.
Griezmann missed a penalty against Real in last year's Champions League final, as well as two more spot-kicks in La Liga this season, but his Paneka-style chip sneaked past the diving Navas.
La Liga leaders Real looked flustered as the noise was ramped up by the home supporters.
However, they knew one away goal would completely change the complexion of a compelling match - and Isco's opportunist strike did exactly that.
While the chances of Atletico thrashing their illustrious neighbours appeared slim, there was a recent precedent to which Simeone and his players looked for inspiration.
Simeone's side, then the defending La Liga champions, inflicted Real's heaviest league defeat in over four years when they produced a scintillating 4-0 home win in February 2015.
Their fans hoped they could replicate that score and provide what they thought would be a fitting farewell to the Calderon as it hosted a Champions League game for the final time.
Atletico moved into the bowl-like stadium in 1966, but will leave this summer for a state-of-the-art 76,000-seat stadium on the eastern outskirts of the Spanish capital.
The Calderon, famed for its atmosphere, was a cauldron of noise as the home supporters urged their team on.
For many years, the stadium hosted Atletico sides - including the one relegated in 2000 - who struggled to emerge from their shadows of their illustrious neighbours.
So, despite Atletico changing the dynamic in recent years under Simeone, it was perhaps quite apt their final meeting with Real there ended in pride but, ultimately, disappointment.
Eleven-time winners Real Madrid have been crowned European champions more than any other club, so it is perhaps not surprising it is they who are one match away from becoming the first team to retain the Champions League.
Real's progress to their second successive final has been relatively smooth, though they did need two controversial goals to overcome quarter-final opponents Bayern Munich in extra time.
That victory was sealed by a hat-trick from Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who then put Zidane's side on the verge of the final with another treble against Atletico.
The three-goal cushion gave a margin of error to Real and, after a wobbly opening 20 minutes, they regained control of the semi-final after Isco's strike.
Another giant of the European game stands in their way.
Italian champions Juventus, who progressed with a 4-1 aggregate win over Monaco, are attempting to win their first Champions League title in 21 years.
The final will be a replay of the 1998 showpiece, when Real were crowned European champions for the seventh time - after a 32-year wait - thanks to Predrag Mijatovic's goal.
And it means a reunion for Madrid manager Zidane, who played in that final for the Italian side, with his former club.
"It has been a very important club for me in my career and I keep it as a club that has given me everything. It is going to be something special," said the Frenchman, who played for Juve between 1996 and 2001.
• None Read more: From despair to a 'masterclass' - how Juventus rose again
• None Real Madrid have reached the European Cup/Champions League final for a record 15th time, ahead of AC Milan (11)
• None Real have reached two successive finals for the first time since they won the trophy five times in a row between 1956 and 1960
• None The Spanish club need just one more goal to become the first team to score 500 in the Champions League
• None Real have won 11 of their 14 European Cup finals
• None Juventus have won the trophy twice, losing a record six finals
• None Both Real and Juventus join AC Milan on a record six final appearances in the Champions League
• None Atletico became the first team to be eliminated by the same opponents four times in a row
'Cardiff here we come!' - post-media reaction
"We are very happy, happy to reach the final again. It is all merited, especially for the players who have worked so far. It's deserved.
"We had difficulties at the beginning, we got two goals, but we did not have to worry. We knew we were going to have chances.
"We knew they would come out strong, with pressure. But after 25 minutes it changed completely. In the second part, we found our game."
Atletico Madrid captain Gabi: "The performance was the least we could do. I thought we were excellent in the first half. A moment of genius from Benzema took away from the dream but we never stopped fighting and I'm proud of everyone."
• None Attempt missed. Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
• None Attempt saved. Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Yannick Carrasco.
• None Attempt blocked. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
• None Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Gabi tries a through ball, but Diego Godín is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Gabi (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Diego Godín.
• None Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
• None Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) 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/39851733
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Southampton 0-2 Arsenal - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Arsenal stay in the hunt for a top-four finish as second-half goals from Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud earn victory at Southampton.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Arsenal kept alive their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as second-half goals from Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud earned victory at Southampton.
After a dull first half, Sanchez produced a moment of magic to open the scoring when the Chilean wrong-footed two defenders in the box before calmly slotting home.
Substitute Giroud then made the win safe by nodding in from close range minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Mid-table Southampton rarely threatened. Their best chance came in the first half when Manolo Gabbiadini forced a fine save out of Petr Cech from close range, and they stay 10th.
The win means Arsenal move above Manchester United into fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
An awful run of form from January until early April had seriously threatened to end Arsene Wenger's record of securing a top four finish in every season he has had at Arsenal.
However, four wins in their six games prior to the trip to St Mary's had given hope that the season would not peter out.
In what was a must-win game, Arsenal's players initially failed to rise to the challenge.
They were ponderous in possession and lacked bite in attack. Too often they played passes square just inside the Southampton half before gifting possession back to the hosts when they approached the final third.
But in Sanchez they possess a player capable of producing something from nothing and that is exactly what he did midway through the second half.
His goal, which came after he sold two Southampton players a dummy to give himself a clear shot on goal, visibly relaxed Arsenal and from then on they played with confidence and freedom, allowing them to open up the hosts for a second time when Giroud headed in Aaron Ramsey's cross.
The only negative for Arsenal was the loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to injury in the second half, although Wenger suggested it was not serious.
Sanchez has now scored 20 goals this season, making him only the fifth Arsenal player to reach that mark, after Ian Wright, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
It was also his 14th away from home - more than another Premier League player has managed this campaign.
Victory not only moves Arsenal, who face Chelsea in the FA Cup final later this month, to within one win of Manchester City, but also four points behind Liverpool, who have played a game more.
In a season that has seen protests against Wenger and some fans calling for the Frenchman to leave, the possibility they could finish with FA Cup success and a place in the top four is a very real one.
Southampton boss Claude Puel's long-term future is reportedly uncertain, with the Frenchman yet to show signs of taking the club forward since replacing Ronald Koeman last summer.
Saints did reach the final of the League Cup but have been firmly ensconced in mid-table in the Premier League this season, a disappointment having finished sixth last year.
The Gunners brushed aside Southampton 5-0 in the FA Cup in January and the hosts never looked like gaining revenge in this fixture.
Once again, Southampton were weak in attack. They had two shots on target in this game and have now managed just 12 shots on target across their last six Premier League games.
With Saints struggling for goals and key players like defender Virgil van Dijk said to be attracting interest from other clubs, Puel - if he is still at the club - faces a challenging summer of improving the squad to get them moving in the right direction once again.
We stuck together - what they said
Southampton manager Claude Puel speaking to Match of the Day: "It's often the same against the big six. We cannot find a win. Every time we play good quality football with chances but without the clinical edge and it's harsh on the players.
"For me, we deserved at minimum a draw and maybe a win. For them, in one situation, they scored. It's difficult to accept."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "We were focused and I felt that when we suffered we stuck together.
"We have another clean sheet and I know we can go forward and score goals. The whole team was dynamic, focused and showed a convincing desire to win the game."
• None Arsenal ended a run of five winless Premier League games at St Mary's, claiming their first win there since December 2003.
• None This is Sanchez's best ever league goal return in the top five European leagues, beating his previous best of 19 in 2013-14 with Barcelona.
• None The Gunners have won four of their past five Premier League games (L1) since adopting a three-man defence.
• None Southampton have had 29 shots in their last three Premier League games without scoring.
• None Olivier Giroud has six Premier League substitute goals this season - only Adam Le Fondre (eight in 2012-13) has more in a single campaign than the Frenchman.
• None Giroud's goal was his 100th in the top-flight of European football (33 in Ligue 1, 67 in the Premier League).
Southampton, who cannot finish higher than eighth, travel to already-relegated Middlesbrough on Saturday, 13 May (15:00 BST).
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue their bid to break into the top four with a trip to Stoke in Saturday's evening kick-of (17:30).
• None Attempt blocked. Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jay Rodriguez.
• None Attempt missed. Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Oriol Romeu.
• None Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Goal! Southampton 0, Arsenal 2. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey with a headed pass.
• None Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39012178
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Women's Equality Party proposes free childcare - BBC News
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2017-05-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It would transform lives, increase tax take and cut welfare, the Women's Equality Party leader says.
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Election 2017
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
A policy of offering free childcare would get the economy moving for the benefit of all, the leader of the Women's Equality Party has said.
Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics programme, Sophie Walker said her party would prioritise investment in the "social infrastructure" of the UK.
She said free childcare would transform lives, increase the tax base and mean fewer people on out-of-work benefits.
The party is fielding seven candidates in the general election.
Ms Walker told the programme the party was offering voters a "better option" than other parties, with candidates from diverse backgrounds bringing "new and fresh" voices.
She said policies designed to work for women would result in a political system that worked better for everyone.
Investing in free childcare in the same way previous governments had invested in physical infrastructure, for example, would "have a positive knock-on for everyone in a very, very positive way".
She added that women in the UK still did not have the same options as men, with men still outnumbering women in Parliament, the continued existence of a pay gap between men and women and women suffering disproportionately from austerity measures.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39875570
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Madrid Open: Andy Murray beats Marius Copil to reach third round - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Andy Murray is through to the third round of the Madrid Open with a straight-set victory over Romanian Marius Copil.
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
World number one Andy Murray progressed to the third round of the Madrid Open with a straight-set victory over Romanian Marius Copil.
The 29-year-old Briton, who had a first-round bye, won 6-4 6-3.
Murray was not at his best early on but broke world number 104 Copil at 5-4 to take the first set and pounced again at 3-2 in the second.
He will face Croat Borna Coric or Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the last 16.
Following his victory, Murray told BBC Sport: "The last few weeks my serve hasn't gone particularly well.
"Obviously when I was coming back from my elbow injury that was the one thing that I wasn't able to practise in my time off and that showed a bit in my matches.
"I was broken six times in one match, seven in another. I wanted to come here, serve a little bit better and I did that today.
"Today was the start and I have to get better, but at least I gave myself the chance to play another match in a couple of days. It is a very, very important period of the year."
It was a solid display from Murray against a potentially dangerous opponent as he prepares for the French Open, which starts on 28 May.
Copil will move into the world's top 100 next week, and the 6ft 4in Romanian was the more aggressive player in the first set.
It took Murray until the 10th game to break his serve, and he finally prevailed through attacking Copil's shaky backhand.
The Briton looked far more focused in the second set as he wrapped up victory in one hour and 23 minutes - with just nine unforced errors and without facing a break point.
Murray reached the final in Madrid last year, losing to Novak Djokovic, and took the title in 2015, but has so far had a mixed clay-court season.
After taking a month out due to the elbow injury and withdrawing from Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final defeat by France, he lost in the Monte Carlo Masters last 16 on his return.
The Scot was beaten by Austrian Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open last month.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39861629
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Manchester United: Jose Mourinho says Europa League focus is not a gamble - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho does not believe it is a gamble to prioritise the Europa League over a top-four finish in the Premier League.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho does not believe it is a gamble to prioritise the Europa League over a top-four finish in the Premier League, saying it is "common sense".
United hold a 1-0 lead over Celta Vigo heading into Thursday's semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.
Mourinho says a busy fixture schedule made it necessary to prioritise.
"Seventeen matches in seven weeks is impossible. It's not a gamble, just a consequence of our situation," he said.
"It was a simple decision, based on common sense."
• None Listen: Rooney 'the most under-appreciated player in Britain'
The Europa League champions are guaranteed Champions League football for next season, as are the top four finishers in the Premier League.
The Red Devils are currently fifth in the league, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with three games remaining.
Mourinho made eight changes as United's 25-match unbeaten run in the league was ended by Arsenal on Sunday.
The Portuguese coach is confident the Europa League remains United's best chance of securing Champions League football and insists he will have "no regrets" if his side ultimately fail to win the competition.
"Let's see if we can do it," he added.
"It doesn't matter what happens. No regrets, we are giving everything we can, the players and myself."
"This club belongs in the Champions League," he said.
"Realistically, it's going to be difficult to do it through the league. We have to concentrate on winning the trophy."
Rooney continues to be linked with a big-money move to China, while Everton and the United States have been suggested as other potential destinations.
However, when asked if he wanted to stay at Old Trafford, the England forward said: "Would I like to stay? I've been at this club 13 years.
"Of course, I want to play football."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39877009
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Danny Willett and caddie Jonathan Smart part before Players Championship - BBC Sport
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2017-05-10
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Danny Willett will use a new caddie at the Players Championship as Jonathan Smart has left the role after a disagreement.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website on Saturday and Sunday
Danny Willett has split with caddie Jonathan Smart just over a year after winning the Masters at Augusta.
The pair have been friends since their teens but had a disagreement during April's RBC Heritage event, with Willett eventually missing the cut.
Smart felt mistreated and left his role, "effectively sacking" Willett, 29, mid-tournament, according to BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.
"Things are a bit stale and kind of fizzled out," Willett told BBC Sport.
"It is a shame. But things happen and change, everything happens for a reason.
"We are still working hard to get the game in shape to get back playing the golf we know we can play."
• None Should the Players Championship be a major?
Willett did not rule out the prospect of his childhood friend one day returning to his bag but he was forced to use a member of his management team in the second round at the RBC Heritage.
He will use Sam Haywood at this week's Players Championship in Florida. Haywood was best man at Willett's wedding and has recently been on the bag of American player David Lipsky.
"Sam knows my game really well," Willett added. "We've played a lot of golf together over the last 10 or 15 years. It's nice having someone who you can speak frankly with. He knows where my game is and when it's good. I think it's going to be good."
Smart and Willett memorably embraced in the recorders' room at last year's Masters when it became clear the Englishman had won a first major.
But he has not won a tournament since, placing outside the top-25 in the three other majors in 2016 before missing the cut on his return to Augusta in April.
The dip in form has seen him fall 10 places to 21 in the world since the turn of the year.
It's been a struggle to adjust to the status of a major champion for Willett. Results haven't been good for a year.
Recently he's missed three of the last four cuts, so these are trying times.
It came home for me today as I remember this day last year I approached him at his first tournament since winning the Masters. Now, the mood music could not be any different.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39865291
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