question stringlengths 15 2.26k | answer stringlengths 1 373 |
|---|---|
Text: Holyrood's Justice Committee will start taking evidence on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the autumn.
It will examine how efficient the organisation is, and whether it has the resources it needs.
It will also look at how it supports witnesses and crime victims.
The probe comes after mem... | The effectiveness of Scotland's prosecution service is to come under scrutiny following concerns about workload and budget pressures. |
Text: It is one of eight projects aiming to develop driverless-car technologies that will receive a share of £20m, from the government's £100m Intelligent Mobility Fund.
Another will focus on driverless shuttles for the visually impaired.
Autonomous vehicles are already being tested, including in Milton Keynes.
Speak... | More than 40 miles of roads in Coventry will be equipped with technologies to aid autonomous vehicles, the government has announced. |
Text: The company said there were almost 200 applications for every vacancy following the biggest recruitment campaign on the East Coast route since the 1980s.
The 78 new drivers will work from depots between Edinburgh and London.
They will work on new Azuma trains, built in the UK by Hitachi, which are to be launched ... | More than 15,000 people have applied for 78 jobs driving new trains being launched by Virgin. |
Text: David Anderson strangled 36-year-old Louise O'Brien in Perth's Dunkeld Road, following a row over making some food.
The High Court in Glasgow heard Ms O'Brien was found dead in her bed with a heart-shaped chocolate beside her.
Anderson - who had faced a murder charge - was jailed for six years after admitting the... | A man who choked his partner to death before texting her young son to pretend she was still alive has been jailed. |
Text: In many of the cases the drivers were prevented from using their vehicles because the condition was so poor.
The night-time operation focused on vehicles taking people in and out of the city centre.
Four were seized for serious defects, three for no insurance and 11 fines were handed out for minor offences.
The o... | More than half of minibuses, taxis and private hire vehicles checked during a two-day clampdown in Swansea were found to be unsafe. |
Text: Lewis Dunne, 16, was found on a towpath near Burrows Court in Vauxhall, Liverpool, on Sunday evening and died later in hospital.
He died from a single shotgun wound to the back, a post-mortem examination found.
A 20-year-old from Everton is being held at a Merseyside police station for questioning.
Updates on thi... | A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the fatal shooting of a teenage boy. |
Text: Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is cutting some non-urgent treatments to tackle its £12m deficit.
Dr Paula Cowan said: "We need to do what's best for our 300,000 patients and not just a small group."
Fertility campaigners said cutting IVF cycles from three to two was "shattering" for any couples affect... | A decision to reduce the number of IVF cycles available on the NHS in part of Merseyside has been described by campaigners as "cruel". |
Text: Rouse, 24, has helped Kent win all three of their County Championship games this season, scoring 95 not out in their crushing win over Derbyshire.
However, he says he nearly quit the game two years ago after being released by Hampshire and Gloucestershire.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about other option... | Kent wicketkeeper Adam Rouse says becoming a personal trainer has given him a plan B and allowed him to play cricket with greater freedom. |
Text: Cornwall Fire and Rescue said the fire at St Erth, near Hayle in Cornwall, started at about 20:15 BST and more than 70 firefighters are still fighting it.
Devon and Cornwall Police are also in attendance. There are no reports of any injuries.
A large diesel and oil tank was caught up in the fire, firefighters sai... | A "significant fire" which broke out at a recycling centre has continued to blaze throughout the night. |
Text: UK Anti-Doping ensures sports bodies comply with international anti-doping regulations.
It now offers accreditation to sports played in schools and universities.
The head of sport at Millfield, the first school to join the scheme, said it would support the "right choices".
A spokeswoman for the anti-doping agency... | A school in Somerset has signed up for an anti-sports-doping accreditation scheme, the first time a school in the UK has sought this official "clean sport" status. |
Text: A High Court ruling in December over the wording of documents sent out by the bank meant £261m would have been paid in refunded interest.
But the decision has now been reversed by the Court of Appeal.
The case related to Northern Rock's "Together Mortgage", and questioned the wording in past loan documents.
The T... | A court has reversed a decision that would have led to compensation being paid to 43,000 borrowers with the former bank Northern Rock. |
Text: Producer Naughty Boy posted a link to the track early on Tuesday, with the words "let the music do the talking".
It came less than a week after Zayn confirmed he was quitting 1D.
Earlier on, the band's Louis Tomlinson accused Naughty Boy of being "inconsiderate" to fans after he retweeted a video about Zayn.
The ... | A song featuring Zayn Malik without the rest of One Direction has been taken down, less than a day after it was shared on Twitter. |
Text: One of the youngsters hit by the Toyota in Silverdale Road in Earley, Berkshire, suffered serious leg injuries.
The other was taken to hospital with an arm injury, the ambulance service said.
Thames Valley Police said no arrests have been made following the incident, which happened at about 15:30 GMT on Tuesday.
... | Two five-year-old children were pinned against a telephone box after a car left the road and reversed into them. |
Text: John Spincken died after leaping off the 100-foot high (30m) bridge into a wooded area, state police said.
His sons, who are aged one and three years old, were found conscious nearby and are expected to make a full recovery.
Local police called it "nothing short of a miracle".
The children are being treated in ho... | Two young children have survived after their father jumped off a motorway bridge in the US state of New Jersey with them in his arms. |
Text: Palma-Newport has made 30 top-flight appearances for Bath, having come through the club's academy system.
The 25-year-old has also had loan spells with Championship sides London Welsh and Yorkshire Carnegie.
"Kane's developing into a very good player who has benefited from some invaluable experience," said Bath f... | Bath tight-head prop Kane Palma-Newport has signed a two-year contract extension with the Premiership club. |
Text: Sean and Mary Lawson were found in Rugby at the weekend. Their deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
The Right Reverend Martyn Snow said Mrs Lawson worked for the diocese and was also a canon of Leicester Cathedral. She had been ill after a stroke.
As diocesan director of education she made a "very signific... | The Bishop of Leicester has paid tribute to a woman found dead at her home along with her husband. |
Text: Harry Clarke, 58, was due to attend a disciplinary hearing on Friday but the council received his resignation letter earlier in the day.
The hearing was called after it emerged at the inquiry into the crash that Mr Clarke failed to tell his employers and the DVLA of his history of blackouts.
He was unconscious wh... | The driver of a bin lorry which crashed in Glasgow, killing six people, has resigned from his council job. |
Text: Energise Galashiels commissioned artist Chris Rutterford to complete a design for wall space at Douglas Bridge.
It was unveiled by Lord Steel of Aikwood amid celebrations during the Creative Coathanger arts festival.
Nobody had applied for planning permission for the mural but a retrospective application has now ... | A mural to celebrate the return of trains to Galashiels has been granted permission to remain in place. |
Text: Andrew Stringer, from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said it has the "perfect habitat" for the mammals, which could be "beneficial" in reducing grey squirrel numbers.
A feasibility study is being carried out by trust and Forestry Commission.
If the reintroduction goes ahead, 60 pine martens would be released ove... | Pine martens could be reintroduced into the Forest of Dean after an absence of 200 years. |
Text: The group of four men and two women were charged over their dancing and not adhering to the hijab dress code.
Instructors allegedly "attracted boys and girls, taught them Western dances", and posted videos to social media.
The Latin American fitness routine has proved controversial in Iran, which has laws restric... | Iranian officials have arrested six people accused of teaching Zumba dancing and trying to "change lifestyles", media reports say. |
Text: The Foxes secured their place in Europe's top competition for the first time at the weekend and need three more wins to guarantee the Premier League title.
Leicester, who this time last season were fighting relegation from England's top flight, are seven points ahead of second-placed Tottenham.
"Leicester is no m... | Italy and Juventus goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon has welcomed Leicester City and his former manager Claudio Ranieri to the Champions League. |
Text: The governor of North Kivu province said the attackers had used heavy weapons in the raid on the jail in Beni.
At least eight of the dead are prison guards, Julien Paluku added. A curfew has been declared.
The identity of the attackers is not yet clear.
Local activist Teddy Kataliko said many self-defence militia... | Eleven people were killed when militants attacked a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo and freed more than 900 inmates, officials say. |
Text: Bulgaria midfielder Slavchev, 23, has returned to Sporting Lisbon, while defender Afonso, 23, has rejoined Angolan side Recreativo do Libolo.
Blues manager Harry Redknapp has made clear his desire to bolster his squad ahead of the new season on Saturday.
But both players failed to secure contracts following pre-s... | Birmingham City have decided against signing trialists Simeon Slavchev and Eddie Afonso. |
Text: Palmer, 25, has five goals from 23 games this term, scoring against Luton in his side's 2-1 defeat in October.
Arsenal keeper Macey, 22, made four appearances for Accrington Stanley on loan last season.
Moore, 22, has joined from Reading, where he has yet to play for the first team since coming through the ranks.... | Luton Town have signed Leyton Orient striker Ollie Palmer and goalkeepers Stuart Moore and Matt Macey on loan until the end of the season. |
Text: The 22-year-old came on with 16 seconds remaining in the Kings' 116-111 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 7ft 5in Canada-born centre signed a 10-day contract to join the Kings' roster and said he hoped he could help grow the game in India.
"It was a great feeling and I'm happy to be kind of an ambassad... | Sim Bhullar has become the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA after making his debut for Sacramento Kings. |
Text: The experienced trio have stepped down from inter-county hurling, with Kevin Hinphey bringing his Derry career to an end after 14 years.
His brother Liam Og made his Oak Leaf debut in 2003 followed by Banagher player McCloskey three years later.
"They have been a pleasure to work - these men gave great service to... | Derry have been hit by the retirement of brothers Kevin and Liam Og Hinphey along with Ruairi McCloskey. |
Text: The European Commission says coal-fired Aberthaw, near Barry, has been pumping out more than double the legal amount of nitrogen oxides for seven years.
Nitrogen oxides can cause problems for people with respiratory illness.
A UK government spokesman said: "Air quality has improved significantly - we have investe... | The UK government is being taken to court over claims pollution levels emitted by a power station in the Vale of Glamorgan are above legal limits. |
Text: Former House of Commons speaker Andrew Scheer, 38, beat 12 other contestants in a razor-thin victory.
He emerged as the winner on the thirteenth ballot in the leadership contest, narrowly defeating his primary rival, former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier, with 51% of the vote.
Mr Scheer will lead the par... | Canada's Conservatives have chosen a youthful new leader to take them into the next federal election. |
Text: Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given the go-ahead for the construction work.
The 21-mile scheme will include a new bypass for Huntingdon, the widening of a section of the A1, and improvements to five junctions.
Highways England said work will start in late 2016 and motorists will be able to use the wi... | Work will begin on a £1.5bn upgrade of the A14 in Cambridgeshire by the end of the year, the government has said. |
Text: It's because there are worries that some of the hoverboards on sale could have parts which catch fire.
The National Trading Standards is an organisation that makes sure that products that are bought are safe for people to use.
They have looked at thousands of hoverboards since October.
They found that 88 per cent... | They're likely to be one of the must-have presents this Christmas but warnings have been given out about hoverboards. |
Text: Pre-tax profits fell to $1.82bn (£1.17bn) in the first half of the year as "adverse loan impairment trends continued to impact performance".
Revenue for the first half of 2015 was $8.5bn, down 8% from the previous year.
The UK-listed bank halved its dividend to 14.4 cents per share, and did not rule out the poss... | Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered has reported a 44% drop in half-year profits. |
Text: The attacks escalated during school holidays.
Every day about eight post men and woman are attacked by a dog in the UK, the company said.
Royal Mail has launched its annual Dog Awareness Week running from Monday 29 June, in an effort to curb such attacks.
The company said dog attacks were "a significant hazard" f... | About 64 postmen and women were attacked by dogs across Northern Ireland in the past year, Royal Mail has said. |
Text: Geoff Corkish confirmed the members of office staff at postal headquarters in Douglas have been given notice.
It comes after a decline in business from one of the organisation's main clients, Vivat Direct, formerly known as Reader's Digest.
Mr Corkish said: "We will try and find alternative jobs where possible."
... | Fifteen jobs are to be axed at Isle of Man Post Office because of a decline in business from a key client, according to the chairman. |
Text: No-one was injured in the blaze above the M&Co shop in the city's Academy Street.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at about 22:00 on Wednesday.
Huge plumes of smoke could be seen for miles around. Nine fire vehicles were at the scene including two height appliances.
It took crews three hours to prevent... | An investigation is under way following a major fire which closed the centre of Inverness until the early hours of the morning. |
Text: The LW252 signal, which brings programmes to listeners across the UK, including parts of Northern Ireland that cannot access an FM service, was due to stop in January.
It will operate a full service in 2015, reduced hours in 2016 before working towards a full shutdown in 2017.
RTÉ said that it had made the decisi... | Irish state broadcaster RTÉ is to extend its long wave radio service for listeners outside the country. |
Text: "I hope we will be very competitive with Nigeria. We will give them a game," Baxter told a press conference after his unveiling in Johannesburg on Monday.
The Englishman was appointed earlier this month as a replacement for Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba who was given the boot in December last year.
He will start his s... | New South Africa coach Stuart Baxter has vowed to give Nigeria "a game" when the two teams clash early next month. |
Text: Police were called to the prison in Redditch, Worcestershire, at about 16:30 GMT on Thursday.
West Mercia Police said: "Two prisoners were subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening."
An investigation is underway and police inquiries are ongoing.
Read more news for ... | An investigation has been launched after two prisoners were taken to hospital following an alleged assault at HMP Hewell. |
Text: The Chairboys won for only the third time in the league this campaign to move up to 19th in the table.
"We've had some tough times lately. We're at the wrong end of the table, I know that," said Ainsworth.
"I'll be doing everything I possibly can to build on this. One result doesn't make a season."
Sam Wood and P... | Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth said there will be "no way we'll be resting" after Tuesday's 5-1 thrashing of Crewe in League Two. |
Text: High waves lashed the north-east coast of England on Friday and overtopped sea walls.
Redcar RNLI said the dunes at Coatham in Redcar had "taken a battering" and rescuing people in sinking sand could be "very, very difficult".
The warning comes following previous incidents further up the coast at Druridge Bay and... | Coastal sand dunes have been left unstable by tidal surges, leading to fears people may become trapped. |
Text: The shadow mental health minister and MP for Liverpool Wavertree said she was "flattered" that people had asked her to stand for the "metro mayor" role.
Another Liverpool MP, Steve Rotheram, is also considering seeking Labour's nomination, the BBC's Arif Ansari said.
Elections for mayor of the Liverpool City Regi... | Labour frontbencher Luciana Berger says she is considering running for a new mayoral role covering Liverpool and surrounding areas. |
Text: Katie was found with serious injuries to her neck and upper body on a playing field in Woodthorpe, York, on 9 January and died later in hospital.
The 15-year-old, who cannot be named, appeared before Leeds Crown Court via video-link as her solicitor confirmed the not guilty plea.
She also denies a second charge o... | A teenage girl has denied the murder of seven-year-old Katie Rough. |
Text: The mining and trading firm had one-off charges including a $792m cost after it pared back oil operations in Chad.
Glencore said investment spending next year was expected to be lower than this year.
Chief executive Ivan Glasenberg said the firm was "well positioned" to take advantage of any rise in prices.
"We r... | Commodities giant Glencore has reported a first half loss of $676m (£431m) after being hit by falling oil and metal prices. |
Text: Karl Smith was just 12 when he drowned on a scouting trip in 1947. He was buried at St Mary's Church in Prestbury near Cheltenham.
For the last 20 years flowers and poems have been appearing on his grave, according to his sister Ann Kear.
She said: "They're never signed, so someone wishes to remain incognito but ... | A mystery person who has been tending a boy's grave in Gloucestershire is being sought by his sister. |
Text: The first minister said people had a responsibility "not to let extremists divide us".
She was speaking at a tea party at Glasgow Women's Library.
The "legacy" event was one of more than 120,000 taking place across the UK as part of the Great Get Together campaign.
It was organised by Mrs Cox's husband Brendan on... | Nicola Sturgeon has urged people to unite in the face of terrorism at an event marking the anniversary of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. |
Text: David Ball missed from close range for the hosts, while a strike from team-mate Ashley Hunter forced a good save.
Hunter then set up Devante Cole who shot over, while Shaun Whalley wasted a one-on-one for the visitors.
Abu Ogogo missed the chance to win it late on for Shrewsbury as they remain a point above Fleet... | League One strugglers Fleetwood and Shrewsbury played out a goalless draw at Highbury Stadium. |
Text: A new holiday and caravan park will be be opened at the attraction, that will include timber lodges, safari tents and showmen's wagons for visitors to stay in.
The safari enclosure will be extended in the development which is set to create up to 30 new jobs at the site.
Pembrokeshire Council has given its approva... | Final approval has been given to plans for a £10m holiday village at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire. |
Text: 56 year old Dussuyer has signed a two-year deal with the option to extend the contract.
He was on a final shortlist of two names along with compatriot Frederic Antonetti, after a third shortlisted candidate - Poland's Henry Kasperczak - withdrew to take over the vacant Tunisia coaching position.
Dussuyer replace... | Frenchman Michel Dussuyer has been appointed as the new coach of African champions Ivory Coast, according to the country's football federation (FIF). |
Text: Melanie Woolcock was sentenced to 81 days in prison by Bridgend magistrates in July 2016 for failing to pay £10 a week towards her debt.
She spent 40 days behind bars before being released on bail.
In a decision on Wednesday, Mr Justice Lewis ruled she should never have been imprisoned.
London's High Court heard ... | A Porthcawl woman was unlawfully jailed for not paying council tax, a High Court judge has ruled. |
Text: Charlie's parents want a private medical team to care for their son in a hospice so they can have days with him before his life support ends.
But Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) said it was not in his interests to spend a long period in a hospice.
If no plan is agreed, the 11-month-old will be moved to a hosp... | The deadline for reaching an agreement over the end-of-life care for terminally-ill Charlie Gard has passed. |
Text: Police said they were called to a disturbance in Carolside Drive, Drumchapel, at about 10:30.
The man had been stabbed and was taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.
Officers said their inquiry into the attack was ongoing and appealed for witnesse... | A 30-year-old man is in a serious condition after being attacked in the north of Glasgow. |
Text: The 24-year-old victim was approached by the group on the path between Whitecrook and Linnvale, in Clydebank, at about 11:45 on Sunday 30 October.
One of the youths assaulted him with a weapon before making off from the area.
The man was treated for a serious facial injury at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospit... | Police are attempting to trace three youths after a man was attacked on a canal bank path in West Dunbartonshire. |
Text: The question: Thandi asks BBC Radio 4's PM programme "How many laws that protect us are we likely to lose?"
Reality Check verdict: We really can't answer this. If the UK left the EU, there would be a very complicated process of "divorcing" the UK and the EU laws. We may want to keep some laws the same as they are... | If the UK voted to leave the EU, the government would probably review all EU-derived laws to decide which ones to keep or get rid of. |
Text: Ex-Sale player Cotton, 69, spent time on the board in 2007 but has taken up his new position after Sale's takeover by investment company CorpArq.
Owner of CorpArq, Simon Orange, is confirmed as the Sharks co-owner along with Ged Mason who is chief executive at recruitment company Morson Group.
Director of rugby S... | Sale Sharks have appointed ex-England captain and British and Irish Lions prop Fran Cotton as their new chairman. |
Text: At 48%, it is the highest proportion to support such measures since 2004, according to the British Social Attitudes survey.
The survey also found the public were becoming more sceptical of the EU.
And social liberalism was rising on issues such as same-sex relationships, pre-marital sex and abortion.
There was a ... | Nearly half of Britons think the government should raise taxes and increase spending, an annual survey of public opinion suggests. |
Text: The trial scheme on beaches in the Newquay and Padstow areas comes as RNLI cover comes to an end after the summer season.
It follows the deaths of three people at Mawgan Porth a year ago when there were no lifeguards on duty.
RNLI cover on Cornwall beaches ends in November until spring.
Beaches involved in the tr... | The RNLI is giving off-duty lifeguards, coastguards, lifeboat crew and trained local surf school staff access to its emergency equipment over the winter. |
Text: Bristol City's Taylor, 19, is an England youth international and joins on loan until the end of the season.
Brown, 25, brother of Blackburn and former Manchester United defender Wes, spent the 2015-16 campaign on loan at the Shakers and was released by Sheffield United on Friday.
Fulham's Burgess is a 21-year-old... | Bury have signed defenders Taylor Moore, Reece Brown and Cameron Burgess. |
Text: The plan, that Mr Trump announced soon after he became President, aimed to stop people from seven mainly Muslim countries entering America.
It also put a stop to all refugees entering the US for 120 days.
Mr Trump said it was needed to keep America safe, but other people disagreed and there were lots of protests ... | The top court in America has approved part of Donald Trump's controversial travel ban. |
Text: The 33-year-old South African, who has represented the Proteas A side, has played Lancashire League cricket in England for the past three seasons and joins as a non-overseas player.
Smit has played 125 first-class matches, scoring 5,711 runs at an average of 37.32.
Director of cricket Kim Barnett said Smit was "v... | Derbyshire have signed experienced batsman Daryn Smit on a two-year deal until the end of the 2018 season. |
Text: The 18-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs in recent weeks.
"Ryan has put pen to paper on an extension to his contract that will keep him here for the foreseeable future," manager Neal Ardley told the Dons' website.
"It's great news and we want our young, talented players to be at the club for a lo... | AFC Wimbledon's teenage centre-back Ryan Sweeney has signed a new contract with the League Two club. |
Text: Jenny Palmer was replying to a Facebook comment expressing surprise she had not brought a "refugee" home from a Somme commemoration event in France.
"I have 2 dogs don't need anymore thank you," she wrote.
On Tuesday, Mrs Palmer said the comments "do not reflect my own views" and apologised for any hurt her "care... | An Ulster Unionist MLA has apologised for appearing to compare migrants trying to cross the Channel with dogs. |
Text: Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said Claire Darbyshire admitted killing her father Brian, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, in their home in Wykeham, Dagenham, on 2 September.
After his death, Mr Rees said, the 36-year-old went to throw herself off a Dover cliff but said she was unable to.
She denies murder.
Ms Darb... | A carer who suffocated her 67-year-old father with a plastic bag said she killed him as part of a failed suicide pact, a court has heard. |
Text: Heavy rain was blamed for preventing concrete used during overnight repairs to the carriageway, from setting.
Thousands of motorists were held up for hours with tailbacks at one stage said to be stretching 16 miles.
AA president Edmund King has called for an inquiry into what went wrong.
Describing the M25 as the... | A section of the M25 in Surrey has reopened to traffic after it was closed throughout Friday when a pothole the width of an entire lane appeared at junction nine. |
Text: Dosho, 21, drew with Russia's Vorobyova in the final, but won on countback.
That wrapped up a fantastic night for Japan, after Kaori Icho became the first woman to win individual gold medals at four consecutive Olympics.
Elmira Syzdykova of Kazakhstan and Swede Jenny Fransson won -69kg bronzes.
Find out how to ge... | Sara Dosho made it three Olympic women's freestyle wrestling golds from three for Japan at Rio 2016 as she beat defending champion Nataliya Vorobyova in the -69kg final. |
Text: James Morton, of Pierson Street in Newark, took Hannah Pearson back to his house after meeting her for the first time in Lincoln on 23 July 2016.
Ms Pearson was found dead by police officers at about 00:10 GMT the following day.
Mr Morton, 24, denied one count of murder at Nottingham Crown Court.
Live updates fro... | A man who "increasingly enjoyed the sensation of strangling women" killed a 16-year-old girl in his bedroom, a court has heard. |
Text: Montreal announced that Drogba would join their pre-season training camp.
And the 37-year-old tweeted: "On way to Qatar to do some preparation work for pre-season."
Drogba held talks with Chelsea in December amid rumours he could join the club's coaching staff.
At the time, Montreal admitted that Drogba had expre... | Didier Drogba is to remain with Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, ending speculation the striker could return to former club Chelsea. |
Text: Naidoo, of Indian and African heritage, has sold millions of albums in Germany, but songs such as 2012's Wo Sind (Where Are) have been widely criticised.
Anti-racism groups complained after his selection, on Thursday, for the Stockholm contest.
Public broadcaster ARD denied the "brilliant" singer was racist.
Exec... | Germany has withdrawn its act for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, following criticism singer Xavier Naidoo's lyrics are anti-Semitic and homophobic. |
Text: A 44-year-old woman reported that she had been attacked in Whitehaven on 23 December.
Cumbria Police charged a 28-year-old Workington man with rape and sexual assault.
He appeared before magistrates in Carlisle, where he was remanded in custody and ordered to appear at Carlisle Crown Court on 23 January.
Summary: | A man has been charged with raping a woman in a Cumbrian town the day before Christmas Eve. |
Text: Aquatic health and safety consultant Allen Wilson tested water in a garden where raw sewage has been released by a flooded sewer.
He said the levels suggested there was a risk of water-borne diseases like Weil's disease or typhoid fever.
But Public Health England said the levels were not unusual after flooding.
M... | Contaminated water in an area of Worcester affected by flooding contains bacteria levels nearly 60 times what is considered safe, an expert says. |
Text: In February's first round, reformists made substantial gains but need to win 40 more seats to control the 290-member parliament.
Friday's elections take place in 68 constituencies where no candidate won the minimum 25% of the vote.
Polls are open until 13:30 GMT and results are expected on Sunday.
February's vote... | Iranians are voting in the second round of elections which will decide the balance of power between moderates and conservatives in parliament. |
Text: Some 50 firefighters were sent to Llancoed Court in D'Arcy Business Park, Llandarcy, near Neath, at 10:10 BST on Friday.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MWWFRS) said the fire broke through the roof of a warehouse with dark smoke billowing into the air.
Three units are also at risk of collapse, the ser... | Fire crews are battling a large blaze at a business park in Neath Port Talbot. |
Text: The project in the Greater Manchester town will feature a 1,200-seat performance venue, new homes, shops, gardens and facilities for boats.
Known as Wigan Pier Quarter, the 10-year scheme will go ahead after Wigan Council signed a deal with developers.
The aim is to transform a run-down area close to the town cen... | Plans have been revealed for a new canal-side leisure and entertainment complex in Wigan. |
Text: Emily Gardner, 14, from the Gloucester area, was out on the water with two friends, both girls aged 15, and a 50-year-old man when the boat capsized.
The teenager became trapped underneath the 16ft speedboat when it overturned off Brixham on Saturday morning.
The group were on holiday in Devon at the time of the ... | A girl who was killed in a speedboat accident in Devon has been named by police. |
Text: In a report looking at offensive language, participants said children stayed up later at weekends and were "more likely" to hear bad language.
Some thought extending the watershed to 10pm or 11pm would be a solution.
But Ofcom said it was not planning to make any policy changes as a result of the report.
The surv... | Some television viewers believe the watershed should be moved to 11pm at weekends, according to a survey for media watchdog Ofcom. |
Text: The Northern Ireland defender, 27, has joined the Baggies for an undisclosed fee, with reports suggesting it is £6m plus £2m in add-ons.
"This is a great signing for the club," said Albion boss Tony Pulis, whose side won 1-0 at Stoke on Saturday.
"Jonny brings a lot of experience and will be a big player for us -... | Jonny Evans has completed his move to West Brom from Manchester United. |
Text: Frenchman Nade, 31, scored a hat-trick in the Sons' 3-1 win over Alloa Athletic on 8 March.
He moved to Dumbarton in February after leaving Hamilton Academical and has scored four goals for Stevie Aitken's side.
Currently eighth in the league - two points above the relegation zone - Dumbarton host Morton on Satur... | Dumbarton forward Christian Nade has won the Scottish Championship player of the month award for March. |
Text: Broos, who led the team to the trophy in Gabon in February, said he is "seriously considering whether I should continue or not".
He also said his players and staff have to work in "poor conditions" while Cameron Football Federation officials "sit in their chairs doing nothing".
"I cannot accept this," he added.
B... | Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Hugo Broos has threatened to quit over management and funding problems in the national team set-up. |
Text: The club currently plays at Blundell Park and has previously said its preferred site was Peaks Parkway.
North East Lincolnshire councillors are to assess the suitability of the sites in more detail.
The locations are: Europarc business park, Peaks Parkway, land next to Morrison's supermarket in Laceby, Great Coat... | Six potential sites for a new Grimsby Town football stadium and leisure complex have been named by the council. |
Text: Payne, who became the first female rider to win the Melbourne Cup in November, is recovering in hospital after abdomen surgery.
The 30-year-old had already been ruled out of a Royal Ascot debut in May.
Des O'Keeffe, general manager of the Australian Jockeys' Association, said Payne "had her heart set" on riding a... | Jockey Michelle Payne has been ruled out of the Shergar Cup team event at Ascot on 6 August after a serious fall. |
Text: The £212m category C "super-prison" HMP Berwyn can house 2,106 offenders, making it the largest in the UK.
Work began on the site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate in May 2015 and recruitment has been under way for just over a year.
The Ministry of Justice said the prison would open "at the end of February" but w... | Wrexham's new prison will accept its first inmates on 27 February, the BBC understands. |
Text: In a statement, the department confirmed an Associated Press report it was looking into "possible unlawful co-ordination by some airlines".
AP reported that it had seen a document revealing that the Justice Department had requested information from airlines as part of a competition probe.
It follows years of rest... | The Justice Department is investigating whether US airlines have colluded to keep prices high. |
Text: Computer salesman Gary Tweddle, 23, originally from Reading, was last seen at a business conference in Leura, west of Sydney, in July.
New South Wales Police said his body was recovered after it was spotted this week on a cliff edge by an ambulance helicopter on a training mission.
Mr Tweddle's family positively ... | A body found in bushland in Australia's Blue Mountains has been confirmed as that of a missing British man. |
Text: Barry Dodson, 67, of Cranworth Road, Rotherham, has been released on bail and is due before magistrates in Sheffield, on 18 December.
He allegedly carried out the attack in 1987, South Yorkshire Police said.
Mr Dodson stood down as mayor in June and also resigned from the Labour Party. He remains an independent c... | The former Mayor of Rotherham has been charged with indecent assault against a 13-year-old girl. |
Text: The Ukrainian state energy company, Naftogaz, said it would continue transporting Russian gas supplies to other European customers.
It will be the second time in less than a year that Russian fuel supplies have stopped running to Ukraine.
Russian energy minister Alexander Novak called the decision "unfortunate".
... | Russian gas purchases have been suspended by Ukraine after a breakdown in talks aimed at keeping supplies running for three to six months. |
Text: Angela Hamilton is alleged to have disfigured Riggi for life by cutting her face with the blade.
She allegedly pulled the child killer's hair and repeatedly struck her face and head with the razor.
The alleged attack took place in Riggi's cell, at Cornton Vale Prison, near Stirling, on 19 November 2011.
Riggi, 49... | A woman is to stand trial accused of slashing child-killer Theresa Riggi with a razor blade in Scotland's only all-female prison. |
Text: Aber Stars was set up a few months after the 2012 Games, but its coach said membership waned and if more left, it would not be able to continue.
Steven Brookes said when Aber Stars launched it had a team in three different over-16 leagues.
Now, there are sometimes fewer than five players at training.
Mr Brookes s... | A disability football team from Aberystwyth has said if the Paralympic Games do not inspire new members to join, it may have to shut. |
Text: The move follows a Police Scotland investigation into poisoning and the illegal use of traps at the properties in Stirlingshire and the Borders.
General licences allow land managers to carry out actions which would otherwise be illegal.
These include controlling some wild birds to protect crops or livestock.
The ... | Scottish Natural Heritage has placed licence restrictions on four properties over "clear evidence" of wildlife crime against birds of prey. |
Text: The Orkney and Shetland MP has been under pressure after admitting the leak of a memo during the election campaign.
The memo had suggested First Minister Nicola Sturgeon would prefer David Cameron as prime minister.
The watchdog will consider Mr Carmichael's actions under the MPs' code of conduct.
The confidentia... | The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has launched a formal inquiry into the conduct of former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael. |
Text: The Wisconsin family posted the update on a fundraising website, which raised about $22,000 (£13,000) in less than a day for her legal and medical bills.
Her two alleged attackers, classmates Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, have been charged with attempted murder.
They told police they were trying to impress a f... | The family of a 12-year-old stabbed 19 times says she is able to walk in hospital and making a steady recovery. |
Text: In an emotional speech after his side's final league game against Leicester on Sunday, the 35-year-old, who was out of contract in the summer, said he wanted to remain at the club.
"Everyone knows I'm Chelsea through and through," said the ex-England skipper.
"I am looking forward to next season under the new man... | Veteran Chelsea defender John Terry has signed a new one-year deal with the Premier League club. |
Text: He said he had "never believed that the UK should be subsumed into an undemocratic bureaucracy".
Mr Davies said he would not campaign for Brexit, saying the opinions of all UK citizens were of "equal value".
The last of the 11 Welsh Conservative MPs to reveal his opinion, Mr Davies is the fifth wanting to leave t... | Montgomeryshire Tory MP Glyn Davies has said he will vote for the UK to leave the European Union in the referendum. |
Text: It follows an incident outside the County Bar on the High Street in Peebles at about 01:40 on Sunday.
A 49-year-old man challenged three other men about their behaviour towards his wife while they were in the bar, at which point the group attacked him.
He was injured and taken to Borders General Hospital where he... | A man is in hospital with serious facial injuries following an assault outside a pub in the Borders. |
Text: 20 June 2014 Last updated at 08:11 BST
Why? To make a flat spot to build the world's biggest ever telescope, which will have a mirror that's half the size of a football pitch!
It's called - wait for it - the European Extremely Large Telescope, and Nel has been finding out why it's an Extremely Large deal.
Summary... | One million tonnes of rock have been blasted from the top of a mountain in Chile, in South America. |
Text: But the sides meet for the first time at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday.
The League One leadership is at stake, with Smith's second-placed Saddlers three points behind Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's pacesetters.
Smith told BBC WM: "Nobody would have predicted that would be a top of the table clash on international we... | Walsall manager Dean Smith admits that at the start of this season few would have expected Burton Albion's short trip to Bescot to get star billing. |
Text: In all, 82.3% were treated, admitted or discharged in four hours. The target is 95%. The figure was 83.8% in February.
The number of people who waited more than 12 hours was up from 2,201 in February to 2,443 in March.
The Welsh government said A&E units dealt with 169 more patients a day than in February. Politi... | Waiting times at A&E units across Wales were slightly worse in March than the previous month, new figures show. |
Text: It is understood the car was being driven by an elderly man. The emergency services have been attending the scene.
Police said the crash happened at about 17:00 BST near the junction with Osborne Park.
No-one is thought to have been seriously injured and it is understood the crash has not caused any major traffic... | A car has crashed into a shop window in south Belfast. |
Text: The 35-year-old has left his assistant coach role at NRL side Gold Coast Titans to join the club his father Brian coached between 1995 and 1996.
He has worked at a number of clubs including Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors, as well as being head coach of Tonga.
Smith replaces James Lowes... | Championship side Bradford Bulls have appointed Rohan Smith as their new head coach on a three-year deal. |
Text: The Welsh Government ditched the idea last month after a feasibility study revealed costs of between £1.3bn and £1.5bn.
The Welshman told BBC Radio Wales it would have been a "magical" experience.
"It's a big loss for the nation, I truly believe that," he said.
Plaid Cymru and Tory politicians have attacked the d... | Former world hurdles record holder Colin Jackson has expressed disappointment that Wales will not bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. |
Text: It followed criticism from Euan Blockley, who had expected to top one of the UKIP regional lists for Holyrood in May.
Mr Blockley has alleged that the process was "stitched up" by the party leadership to favour their friends.
He told BBC Scotland that he has left the party as a result.
At 18 years old, Mr Blockle... | UKIP in Scotland has defended its procedures for selecting Scottish parliamentary candidates as being "democratically accountable". |
Text: The Highland side face the potential of relegation from the Premiership or a play-off final against Dundee United or Falkirk depending on results.
In an effort to rally as much support as possible, the club has said that under-16s can watch for free.
Season ticket holders will be able to bring a friend for free.
... | Inverness Caledonian Thistle has offered free tickets in a bid to boost support for its game against Motherwell in Inverness on Saturday. |
Text: Relatives and friends had reacted angrily after the families were told ribbons tied to a bridge near the crash scene would have to be removed.
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) agreed plans with families on Friday.
Gina Chirico, victim Mark Trussler's fiancee, said: "We're more than happy."
Shelley Spooner, a fri... | The families of the 11 men killed in the Shoreham air crash have been given a site to create a temporary steel arch memorial where ribbons can be tied while a permanent one is planned. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.