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At its peak, the Belfast Jewish Community had about 1,500 members, but these days, the community's membership has fallen to fewer than 80 people. The community celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The Belfast Jewish community was established by German linen merchants, principally the Jaffe family and Eastern European families who were fleeing to escape persecution from the Russian Tsars. Linen merchant Daniel Jaffe moved to Belfast in 1845, and was behind the first synagogue at Great Victoria Street in the early 1870s. He is commemorated by an ornamental drinking fountain that still stands beside the Victoria Square shopping centre. The experience of his son Otto, who moved to the city from Hamburg at the age of six, suggests that attitudes to the Jewish community were not always healthy, according to Rabbi David Singer of the Belfast Synagogue. One of the city's most prominent citizens at the turn of the last century, Sir Otto Jaffe became Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1899 and was the German consul in the city. Known for his philanthropy, he helped to pay for Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital and assisted the setting up of the city's first free library. Although he had denaturalised as a German citizen to become British many years before, at the outbreak of World War One he became the target of suspicion and intimidation, and his family moved to London for good. Rabbi Singer says: "I'm not sure if he left because he was Jewish and advised to go, or German and advised to go, but the combination of two is eyebrow-raising." Rabbi David Singer of the Belfast Synagogue says Northern Ireland does not have a history of virulent anti-semitism. "Certainly in the 1920s and 1930s, for example when you see the rise of the fascist Oswald Mosley in England, there was nothing like that here," he says. One incident in 1926 when some Jewish children were refused membership of a local tennis club, led to the formation of the Belfast Jewish Institute social club in north Belfast. Arising out of this, a building was constructed as a focal point for the community, housing four tennis courts, a kosher restaurant, and a ballroom catering for receptions and bar mitzvah celebrations. "It was a very common attitude around the UK that lots of sports clubs would have membership for anybody apart from Jewish people," says Rabbi Singer, who is from Birmingham. While the anti-semitism may not have been overt, Rabbi Singer says there are certain things that suggest underlying discriminatory attitudes. "If you look in the City Cemetery in Belfast, there is an obelisk there on which it's written that this is an area where Jewish people are buried, but it was the policy of the city council that no gravestones were allowed to be put up," he says. "Up until the 1930s, it would have been unusual to have individual gravestones for Jewish people." As the Nazis began rounding up Jewish people in the late 1930s, a small group of Jewish
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Seventy-five years ago, a large structure ran aground in a storm on a shore of the Western Isles. The cargo ship SS Politician was headed for Jamaica with 28,000 cases of whisky when it got into difficulty and eventually sank off Eriskay in 1941. Islanders recovered hundreds of cases of whisky from the wreck and some of the bottles were buried to keep them hidden from customs officers. The grounding, and hoarding of the spirits, inspired Scottish author Compton Mackenzie to write his 1947 novel Whisky Galore. The story was adapted for the cinema in a 1949 Ealing comedy starring Basil Radford. Since 1949, Whisky Galore has been turned into a musical and a remake of the classic film has been made. In the 1950s, there was the comedy Rockets Galore which was inspired by establishment of a massive military missile test range on the Uists in the Western Isles. And then, 36 years ago, there was another large arrival on the Western Isles that got creative juices flowing. Tame grizzly bear Hercules had been brought to Benbecula for the filming of an advert in the summer of 1980. He escaped and was on the loose for 24 days before he was safely captured. Author Bella Pollen was a teenager on a family holiday on Benbecula when the bear went on the run. The incident inspired Pollen to later write a fictional story, Summer of the Bear. Lewis-based artist Alex Boyd believes the grounded hulk of Transocean Winner could have a similar effect on the arts. "From my home in the village of Bragar, only a few miles from where the Transocean Winner unceremoniously crashed ashore, I can see the towering derrick of the rig looming over the horizon like a particularly bad piece of public sculpture," he says. "The rig joins the ever growing wreckage of industry which litters the peripheries of Hebridean villages, from farm machinery to broken down buses on an island that the writer Jonathan Meades once re-christened 'Rust'. "Less than a day after her arrival, several artists from our village had already walked along the headland to see the new arrival, documenting the unwelcome addition to one of our most loved beaches and sharing the images on social media." Boyd, who is an arts officer at An Lanntair arts centre in Stornoway, Lewis, has also been inspired to explore the potential of the rig's grounding. He, along with another artist, were able to get close to the site of the grounding before an exclusion zone was put in place. "I let curiosity get the better of me and, along with artist Jon Macleod, we made our way along the cliff path to view the rig, a walk of several miles due to the closing of access routes to the beach by police and the coastguard," says Boyd. "Following the coast south, we watched as the rig grew larger on the horizon, and the smell of diesel oil grew stronger. "On a cliff top overlooking the
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I'm at a funeral; one I always hoped I'd attend sooner rather than later. That might sound perverse but what's even more perverse is that I wasn't sure this day would ever come; because how can you hold a funeral if you haven't got a body? The service on a chilly spring morning marks the final chapter of one of the most compelling murder mysteries in Wales. It's a private end to a very public tragedy which left a family in limbo, wondering if they would ever be able to lay their loved one to rest. The seeds of today, the kernel of hope of a breakthrough into what happened, came with a fluke discovery just a few weeks earlier. It was February 2nd 2017 - my birthday, but otherwise a normal day in the BBC Wales newsroom. A colleague turned to me: "Have you seen this Jen? Police say they've found a body in Wentwood Reservoir. Do you think it might be Sandie Bowen?" It took a moment for the information - a few brief paragraphs from our internal news feed - to register properly, and for me to realise the possible implications. Within 24 hours, police confirmed that the human remains recovered from the reservoir were female. It would be several more weeks before we knew for sure, before relatives would finally get the call they'd been waiting so long for. Nearly 20 years on, the Wye Valley countryside had at last surrendered one of its most enduring mysteries: the whereabouts of the body of murdered Sandie Bowen. I'd been crime correspondent for The Western Mail, Wales' daily newspaper, for only a couple of months when, in early August 1997, Gwent Police announced that they were growing increasingly concerned for a woman who had gone missing from her home in Monmouthshire. The search for Sandie Bowen turned out to be one of the most extensive - and expensive - investigations ever carried out by Gwent Police. Journalists followed the story closely, jostling for the best "lines" to update every twist and turn as the weeks and then months ticked by. What began as a missing person inquiry, following 54-year-old Sandie's sudden and unexpected disappearance, had quickly turned into a murder investigation. The last reported sighting of Sandie came from her husband, Michael Bowen. He told police he had dropped her off outside Newport train station on the afternoon of 6 August 1997. She was heading to Folkestone in Kent to visit her daughter, Anita Spencer, he told officers. It was 33-year-old Anita who reported her mother missing shortly after receiving a telephone call from her stepfather that evening asking if Sandie had arrived safely in Folkestone. Anita had last spoken to her mother the previous day and there was no talk of her coming to visit. After checking train ticket sales and railway station CCTV, detectives quickly formed the view that the answer to Sandie's disappearance lay much closer to home. The countryside where police have always believed
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A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 14 and 21 October. Send your photos to [email protected] or our Instagram at #bbcscotlandpics.
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The owners of the building in Queens nicknamed "5Pointz" covered more than a decade's worth of spray-paint art in the middle of the night. Artists likened it to an act of vandalism, as they had fought to have the building designated a landmark. The area is scheduled to be developed into luxury condominiums. More than 1,500 artists reportedly used the 5Pointz warehouse as a canvas, turning the formerly derelict brick building into a tourist attraction. Even celebrated British street artist Banksy, in New York recently for a month-long residency, called for the building to be saved. The building is set for demolition by the end of the year as part of a $400m project to build more than 1,000 luxury apartments, the New York Times reports. Artists and locals appealed against the plan and tried to have the warehouse designated a landmark under the Visual Artists Rights Act. But a federal judge officially rejected the effort last week, allowing for the demolition to move forward. Supporters described their shock upon seeing the building's newly white facade, which was painted in the middle of the night. "It's cruel", local tour guide Hans Von Rittern told the New York Times. "I don't know how you can erase 12 years of spectacular art." The building's owner, Jerry Wolkoff, expressed sadness as he watched his crews paint over the building in preparation for the massive development project. "I cried this morning, I swear to you," he said.
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Murphy broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after Luke Chambers had been fouled. The striker marked his 33rd birthday by making the game safe by firing home his 10th goal of the season from 18 yards. Mid-table Blackburn had started brightly and Simeon Jackson and Shane Duffy both forced Town goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski into early saves. The victory, Ipswich's third in five games, leaves Mick McCarthy's side level on points with seventh-placed Cardiff and both sides are hot on the heels of Sheffield Wednesday with nine games remaining. Blackburn remain 16th - seven points above revitalised Rotherham - after their third defeat in four matches. Despite Rovers' bright start, they could not build on it and once they fell behind they never looked like getting back into the match. Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele denied Brett Pitman in the first half and went the right way for Murphy's penalty but had no chance of saving his second. Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy: "I thought it was a great victory. It was a tough, hard-fought match which I thought they had the better of at the start. "But we slowly got into the match and we were deserved winners in the end. "We have been here before - sometimes you have to stick with it, win the scrap, make sure you don't concede and then you always have a chance." "Murph has had it tough this year with a few knocks and niggles. But I thought his performance tonight was excellent and his second goal was outstanding." Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Lambert: "We have played well of late so I am disappointed with tonight. "That was our 10th match in 30-odd days so I had to make changes as some of the lads were running on empty. "A lot of our fans came to watch and they deserved better than what we showed in the second half - we were rotten. "I have no complaints about the penalty, it was a stone-waller, but I expected better when we went a goal behind." Match ends, Ipswich Town 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Second Half ends, Ipswich Town 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Substitution, Ipswich Town. Paul Digby replaces Luke Varney because of an injury. Attempt missed. Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Thomas Spurr. Goal! Ipswich Town 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke Varney. Attempt missed. Tony Watt (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Henley. Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Luke Varney. Luke Hyam (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers). Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Christophe Berra. Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Jonathan Douglas (Ipswich Town). Hope
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Last season's beaten finalists lost to Saracens on Sunday, and have one losing bonus point from their first two games. "We're going to have to man up and be tough on ourselves," said Baxter. "I've actually always said that the biggest test that we would ever have as a Premiership side would be if we don't pick up points early in the season." He added to BBC Radio Devon: "Well now at least we can see how we're going to react to it." Exeter are in their seventh season in the top tier, yet this is the first time they have lost their first two games of a campaign. Last season's runners-up have not finished lower than eighth in the Premiership since gaining promotion in 2010. "It's going to be a great test for us," Baxter said. "The top of the table looks a little way off now, but the reality is you've got to stay strong and keep working on the important elements."
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First overboard was Kenneth C. Frazier, the chief executive of drugmaker Merck who resigned from the manufacturing council on Monday. Later that day two more - the bosses of Under Armour and Intel followed suit. It then became a stampede. When the formerly loyal GE boss Jeff Immelt bailed out it was becoming clear the ship was sinking. Stephen Schwarzman, the boss of Blackstone and the head of the President's Strategic Policy Forum, hosted a conference call with the rest to discuss the growing crisis and then it became a race between the president and the ones left who would announce its termination. Trump has claimed he won - no one buys it. The truth is these groups haven't done much apart from sit awkwardly around the president for the cameras while suffering occasional missile attacks via Twitter on their own businesses. But they went along with the performance. JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon spoke for many when he said recently: "Do I agree with every policy or everything he says? No - But he is steering the plane we are on and so I'm going to support him." This was all before the president's failure to condemn the actions of white supremacist groups at a far-right rally over the weekend with sufficient consistency and conviction. His equivocation on such a charged issue proved too much for Ken Frazier of Merck - an African American - and prompted him to lead the mutiny - or desertion. The focus will now switch to the former corporate titans with real administrative power and influence. Rex Tillerson, former boss of Exxon and now Secretary of State, and Gary Cohn, former president of Goldman Sachs and Trump's chief economic adviser, must be feeling a bit uncomfortable as they see their corporate kin turn tail. The president has always had a strange relationship with big business. His attacks on corporate America for exporting US jobs were at the heart of his appeal for many. He blasted Wall Street for helping destroy Main Street to wild applause. As soon as he was in office he offered jobs in the administration to the top brass of those very companies. He has already reverted to the rhetoric of the campaign trail by implying many of these companies were not really friends of the American worker. What is most damaging, perhaps, is the fact that they are no longer seen as friends of the president. Losing the support and loyalty of the great and the good of US business will surely damage people's belief in his ability to lead the economy to prosperity. The markets seem unruffled. That in itself is damaging to him. It is evidence of the reduced importance of a figure who has already been defied by Congress and now looks friendless in the world of business.
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Services will be hit from Tuesday in long-running disputes over issues that include staffing and safety. Southern said the action was a "co-ordinated and cynical manoeuvre by the unions". The RMT union said "gross mismanagement of this basket case franchise" was to blame. Southern warned passengers to expect "severe and significant" disruption each day from Tuesday. It said Aslef's continuous drivers' overtime ban would severely affect services every day. On RMT strike days around 50% of the full timetable will operate but if the Aslef strikes go ahead, no Southern services will run. Its owner, Govia Thameslink Railway, is taking legal action to try to stop the strikes. Southern director Alex Foulds said the action was "wholly unnecessary and unjustified". He added: "Customers are advised that stations will be incredibly busy. "If passengers can make alternative travel arrangements they should, and if they don't have to travel they shouldn't." 00:01 Tuesday 6 December to 23:59 Thursday 8 December (RMT) 00:01: Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef) 00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef) 00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT) 00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT) 00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef) Thameslink is not directly affected by the strike action, although its services are expected to be extremely busy. London Underground said passengers should plan for no Piccadilly line service and a significantly reduced service on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines from Tuesday evening until the end of Wednesday. Steve Griffiths, LU chief operating officer, urged the RMT to "work with us constructively on the issues it has raised rather than disrupt our customers with strikes." Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: "Members have been warning for years of deep-seated problems on the Piccadilly line... Our driver members are forced to strike as they are at the end of their tether." TSSA staff working on the Tube will refuse to work overtime from Thursday in a separate dispute over jobs and ticket office closures.
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But the battle for second place seems to be hotting up, with opinion polls suggesting that Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives are currently neck and neck. Here, John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University and the chief commentator at whatscotlandthinks.org.uk, looks at what the polls have been saying, and what we should be reading into them. One of the first rules in the reporting of opinion polls is that those that purport to show a change in who is ahead and who is behind secure much more publicity than do those that suggest that little, if anything has changed. The exceptional is more interesting than the mundane. However, the exceptional may be just that - unrepresentative of the real picture, a "rogue" poll that misleads rather than informs. So what should we make of the poll from YouGov in Thursday's edition of the Times that has been widely reported as showing that the Conservatives have, for the first time since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, overtaken Labour in voting intentions for this coming May's Holyrood election? Such an outcome would constitute an earthquake in Scottish politics. Not since 1959 have the Tories managed to outpoll Labour in a national election north of the border. Well, first of all, the YouGov poll does not constitute clear evidence that the Tories have overtaken Labour. True, with 20% of the vote to Labour's 19%, the party is put slightly ahead in the battle for constituency votes. But given the random variation to which all polls are subject, this statistically is simply a dead heat. We just cannot be sure which of the two parties is ahead. Meanwhile on the second of the two votes that voters will be invited to cast in May, that is, for a regional list, the poll did actually put the two parties neck and neck in 20% each. At the same time, no other poll has suggested the two parties are even equal with each other. Perhaps then it is but no more than a "rogue". That said, YouGov is not alone in one respect. In recent weeks every single poll has identified a modest but noticeable increase in Conservative support. Since the beginning of the year four companies have conducted polls of vote intentions for May's election. On average they have put the Conservatives on 17.5% (on both ballots). But when those same four companies polled back at the beginning of September they credited the Conservatives on average with just over 14%. While the result of one poll might be dismissed as an aberration, when four polls all point in the same direction we can be pretty sure that something really has happened. Meanwhile, Labour's support, already much diminished, has ebbed away yet further over the same period. Back in September Labour was averaging between 21% and 22%. Now the party stands between 19% and 20%. The party has apparently slipped by another couple of points. Between them the three point increase
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In December, five ex-FA bosses asked the government to intervene and change an organisation they described as being held back by "elderly white men". In February, MPs with "no confidence" the FA would reform itself warned they could legislate to force it to. Only one woman sits on the current 12-member FA board - Heather Rabbatts. The FA's proposed reforms seek to: The reforms still have to be approved by the FA Council, which will debate and vote on the recommendations on Monday, 3 April. If they receive majority approval they will be taken forward to a vote of the shareholders at the FA's Annual General Meeting on 18 May. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has said the FA could lose £30m-£40m of public funding if it does not modernise. FA chairman Greg Clarke reiterated that he will quit if the plans for reform do not win government support. "This is a transformational leap forward and if the government don't accept this, I'm not sure what else we can do," he told BBC Sport on Monday. "If government don't want to accept it, who am I to argue but, of course, I will resign." BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent Richard Conway asked Clarke why there were no plans for dedicated black, Asian and minority ethnic background representation on the proposed new 10-member board. Clarke replied: "What I would like to see is a path to make sure that not only are we gender diverse but ethnically diverse. What I don't want this to be is empty words. "I want to find a way to achieve it and be accountable. I just need a bit more time to get there. "It's really important that the FA is representative to society. Throughout the business world, diverse boards make better decisions. I think that's true in football too." The FA is effectively run by its own parliament, the FA Council, which has 122 members. Just eight are women and only four are from ethnic minorities. More than 90 of the 122 members are aged over 60.
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Corramore Construction Ltd was fined £750 for causing pollution on the Altagoan River near Draperstown. Inspectors found silage effluent being piped into the river from a site where an anaerobic digestion plant was being built. The company pleaded guilty to the offence from March 2016. Officers went to the Gortnaskey Road near Draperstown after a pollution report. They found fungal growth in the river and recorded a strong agricultural odour from the water. A pipe was discovered that was discharging a dark coloured liquid to the river. Further examination found two other pipes also discharging effluent. It had gathered at a construction site where the anaerobic digester plant was being built. Samples of discharge were collected from three different points. All were found to contain poisonous, noxious or polluting matter that was potentially harmful to fish. Anaerobic digesters use organic material like slurry or silage, which are broken down in the sealed units to produce a biogas. It can be burned to generate heat and power.
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The Kiwi, who led the All Blacks to the World Cup in 2011, will assist head coach Leo Cullen for several weeks. Cullen said it was important for Leinster's coaching staff and players "to look at different ways of challenging ourselves". "Everyone in the organisation will benefit from his expertise," he added. Having led the Auckland Blues to two Super Rugby titles, Henry was appointed head coach of Wales in 1998 before leading the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia in 2001. He was appointed New Zealand head coach in 2004, leading them at two World Cups, winning the trophy in 2011. Henry will join Leinster, who he described as "a club with such a rich and proud history", for a few weeks before the 2016-17 season begins. "Undoubtedly the coaches and the players will benefit from having a coach of his stature in and amongst us as we build towards the new season," said Leinster coach Cullen.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The 29-year-old hopes to win another gold medal, which would make her Britain's most successful female Olympic sailor. Mills won gold in Rio and silver in London alongside partner Saskia Clark in the 470 dinghy. With Clark retiring after Rio, Wales' Mills has decided it's time to take on a new class - the 49er FX. "The FX to me just presents such a new and exciting shift. Every day I go sailing I'm scared, I'm excited, I'm laughing so much," said Mills. "For me it was about finding the love of sailing again. It's an amazing sport, I love the 470 and the racing is awesome," she added. "But having done something for ten years, at some point in time I think you have to step away. And I didn't want to step away and not sail." The 49er FX is the new Olympic skiff and made its Games debut in Rio. "It's a big challenge, that's for sure. I'm not deluded that I'm going to step into the FX and everything will be rosy. But I think that challenge is really positive for me," she said. "Obviously it is all about winning a gold medal in Tokyo and I have to be realistic if that's in an FX or a 470. "To me right now I'm fully committed to the FX and I'm going to be giving that as good a shot as I can."
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Matthew Brian Gillen from Kennedy Place in the Fountain area of the city appeared at Londonderry Magistrate's Court on Friday. Mr McCauley died nine years after he was attacked at a barbecue in the city in 2006. Mr Gillen is also charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and attempted GBH. He was released on bail. Opposing bail, a detective told the court: "We believe Mr Gillen is still linked with loyalist paramilitarism and, at the very least, he is a supporter of it. "This is based on a number of items found during a house search." He said if released on bail, Mr Gillen could pose a significant risk to witnesses or prevent others from coming forward. He cautioned that the defendant's personal safety would also be endangered as he had been threatened before. The senior officer also warned there was a risk of the suspect fleeing, as he worked across the UK and Europe. Mr Gillen's solicitor said the evidence upon which his client was charged was based on audio recordings of the defendant. "If he is granted bail there are no steps that he can take that would interfere with the integrity of that evidence," he told the court. "The evidence comes from his own mouth." The solicitor said Mr Gillen had no previous convictions and there was a presumption of innocence. The magistrate released the accused on bail of £2,000. He was ordered not to leave Northern Ireland and to report regularly to a police station near his home. He is due to appear again at the same court on 21 April. A 61-year-old man, arrested in England on Wednesday, has been charged with withholding information. He will appear in court on 4 May. A third man arrested this week, aged 27, has been released on bail. At the time, police believed up to 15 people were involved in the attack. Paul McCauley suffered serious head injuries in the attack near Chapel Road. He died in a care facility in June 2015. The following month, Piper John McClements, previously known as Daryl Proctor, was charged with Paul McCauley's murder. So far 17 arrests have been made by detectives investigating the attack.
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University of Leicester academics said it was likely only a few servants and medical staff within the royal household were aware of his scoliosis. Dr Mary Ann Lund said it was only after his death he earned his reputation as "Crookback Richard" and was portrayed with a withered arm. The research has been published in the Medical Humanities journal. Shakespeare depicted Richard as physically and mentally grotesque, an image of the king which has stuck. His name was blackened by the new Tudor dynasty, Dr Lund said. However, she said it was "highly likely Richard took care to control his public image" during his reign. "Tailoring probably kept the signs of his scoliosis hidden to spectators outside the royal household of attendants, servants and medical staff who dressed, bathed and tended to the monarch's body. "The body of a mediaeval monarch was always under scrutiny, and Richard III's was no exception," she said. Dr Lund said it was the stripping of Richard's corpse at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 that first made his physical shape noticeable to many hundreds of witnesses. She added there was "no mention" of Richard's scoliosis from during his lifetime, "perhaps out of respect to a reigning monarch", and that one account described him as "slim and lean, with fine boned limbs". • Richard III was the last Yorkist King of England, this means he was the last member of the House of York family to be made king • Richard had one of the shortest reigns in British history - just over 2 years, and he was the last English king to die in battle • He was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, which led to the end of the War of the Roses. This was fighting between the houses of Lancaster and York that lasted 30 years • Richard III has been painted as a villain. It is said he killed his two nephews so he could take the throne and William Shakespeare wrote a play about him but some historians say this was propaganda and might have been unfair
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It had been on a list of banned flags, along with ISIS, despite the UK entry featuring a Welsh singer. Previously only flags of contest members and UN states were allowed due to the event's non-political nature. Organisers have now agreed to allow the national, regional and local flags of the participants. The Eurovision Song Contest announced that it had held "constructive talks" and that its proposal had been approved by its governing body, the Reference Group. This means the Welsh flag can fly at the Stockholm final on 14 May in support of the UK entry, which features Joe Woolford from Ruthin, Denbighshire. He will performing You're Not Alone with Jake Shakeshaft from Stoke-on-Trent. Both singers were former contestants on The Voice UK.
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Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel was left on 49 not out when England spinner Adil Rashid (2-7) bowled Oliver Hannon-Dalby through his legs to seal the win. Resuming on 85-9, Warwickshire's last-wicket pair managed to add 30 to the total, keeping Ben Coad at bay. But the in-form paceman finished with 5-50 for final match figures of 10-102. I watched him in the winter and he has really come on. At the moment it's fair to say he's the first name on the team sheet. This is good for the club when a youngster breaks through and there's now a healthy competition for places in that area. The 23-year-old from Harrogate has now taken 18 wickets in two County Championship matches this summer and his efforts went a long way to enabling Yorkshire to wipe out the memory of last week's defeat by Hampshire. Victory put the 2014 and 2015 champions third in the formative Division One table, with Warwickshire at the bottom having mustered only three points from back-to-back defeats. After Patel survived a confident lbw appeal in Rashid's opening over, he at least gave them the consolation of reaching three figures with a lofted off-drive down the ground off Coad. And the New Zealander, who has two first-class centuries to his credit, also lifted Rashid for six before the end finally came. Warwickshire sport director Ashley Giles: "The first two games have been really disappointing after such high hopes during the winter. "We've done a lot of good preparation, but just not put it into practice. It's certainly hit the dressing room hard but all we can do is try to turn it around. After results like that you are always looking for a reaction and that's what we will look for (in next weekend's return game) against Surrey. "A lot of these guys have done a lot for this club in the past and now we are asking them to go again. Surrey will be a tough challenge but we just need to play better cricket all round." Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale: "It was a big week for us having played so well last week when we didn't get anything out of the game. We showed a lot of character. "After last week's game we spoke a lot about wining key passages of play. In the third innings we let Hampshire back in the game, but in this game we got an opportunity to get ourselves in front and get away from them and we took it. "If I was being ultra-critical I would have liked one of our top six to go on and get a hundred after they all got starts. But, on the whole, winning those key sessions was the difference."
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Both sides looked out of sorts as passes repeatedly went astray in the opening exchanges. Pompey eventually had the first effort on goal, Eoin Doyle heading wide from eight yards, while Curtis Weston met Mauro Vilhete's cross just after the half-hour mark to force David Forde into a sharp save at the other end. Portsmouth boss Paul Cook brought on Chaplin and Danny Rose at the break but the Bees almost went ahead after an hour as Ruben Bover's free-kick clipped the side-netting. The Spaniard had gone off when Barnet won another set-piece in a similar position but Vilhete deputised brilliantly, bending the ball over the wall to give the Bees an 82nd-minute lead. However, the home side could not hang on as Chaplin fired a dramatic equaliser into the top corner from 20 yards in the 89th minute. Match report supplied by the Press Association Match ends, Barnet 1, Portsmouth 1. Second Half ends, Barnet 1, Portsmouth 1. Attempt missed. Justin Amaluzor (Barnet) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Dan Sweeney (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Carl Baker (Portsmouth). Goal! Barnet 1, Portsmouth 1. Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Amine Linganzi. Michael Nelson (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Matthew Clarke (Portsmouth). Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Elliot Johnson. Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Enda Stevens (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing. Goal! Barnet 1, Portsmouth 0. Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top left corner. Justin Amaluzor (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Christian Burgess (Portsmouth). Substitution, Portsmouth. Carl Baker replaces Gary Roberts. Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Elliot Johnson. Substitution, Barnet. Justin Amaluzor replaces Simeon Akinola. Tom Champion (Barnet) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Enda Stevens (Portsmouth). Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Michael Doyle (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Barnet. Dan Sweeney replaces Ruben Bover. Gary Roberts (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Gary Roberts (Portsmouth). Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Christian Burgess (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half. John Akinde (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Gareth Evans (Portsmouth). Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth). Tom Champion (Barnet) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Gary Roberts (Portsmouth). Foul by Gary Roberts (Portsmouth). Ricardo Santos (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. Tom Champion (Barnet) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Amine Linganzi (Portsmouth). Foul by Tom Champion (Barnet). Michael Doyle (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Barnet.
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Media playback is not supported on this device There have also been reports that X-ray machines were turned off to speed up waiting times for spectators. But organisers said they have increased security staff at checkpoints and the lines were back to normal. "We apologise to all spectators who have had to queue on the first day of competition," read a statement. "We requested that the relevant authorities increase the speed and effectiveness that people can enter the park by requesting that more employees are working on the X-ray machines."
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The former Celtic boss, 44, has been out of a job since parting company with Bolton Wanderers in March. It is believed Lennon is open to the possibility of succeeding Alan Stubbs, who left for Rotherham this week. Hibs missed out on promotion from the Scottish Championship but ended the season as Scottish Cup winners. Former Northern Ireland midfielder Lennon, who won the League Cup twice as a player with Leicester City, served Celtic as a player for six-and-a-half years, winning five Scottish titles and six domestic cups. After a spell back in English football, Lennon rejoined Celtic as a coach in 2008 and eventually became manager in 2010. He enjoyed further success in the dugout at Celtic Park with three successive top-flight titles and two Scottish Cup triumphs before leaving in 2014. A move to Bolton followed later that year and, although Wanderers initially improved under Lennon, they were bottom of the Championship by the time he left, with the side eventually relegated. Hibs have spent the last two seasons in Scotland's second tier having lost out in the promotion play-offs to Rangers and then Falkirk.
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Leading human rights campaigners and intellectuals have questioned the safety of such a process, saying it represents a failure of civilian government and is fraught with risks. The move is the latest in a range of measures announced following the 16 December Taliban attack. Militants killed at least 152 people, most of them children, at the Army Public School - the nation watched the slaughter unfold live on its television screens. A country that had grown accustomed to violence was shaken like never before during years of insurgent attacks. Pakistan has lost about 56,000 lives in terrorism-related incidents over the past decade, according to the South Asia terrorism portal. Within hours of the massacre, the army was stepping up its offensives against the militants and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had lifted an eight-year moratorium on the death penalty. A number of people convicted of terrorism have since been executed, despite appeals by human rights groups concerned at the safety of convictions. Pakistan's parliament is expected to approve the military courts for two years, as part of an unprecedented response by the authorities. The military have long denied nurturing some militant groups on the country's soil, particularly in the loosely-controlled tribal areas in the north-west of the country. Political parties have consistently failed to agree in recent years on how to deal with the insurgents. Democracy and human rights campaigners have been demanding stern action against extremism and militancy for years, but they have deep reservations about what they are calling a "knee jerk" reaction by the military. At the top of the list of campaigners' concerns are the military courts which are to try terror suspects in the future. "The military courts are being created because the army chief of staff is angry that an army school has been attacked," constitutional expert Abid Hassan Minto said. "We understand his anger but then the question arises that why didn't we see that anger when more than 100 minority Shia Hazaras were killed in Quetta or when 127 Christian men, women and children were killed in a church in Peshawar last year?" He was among about 80 activists who gathered at the South Asian Free Media Association's office in Lahore at the weekend to voice their concerns at recent developments, including a 20-point National Action Plan against terrorism announced by the government at the behest of the military. Journalist and writer Ahmed Rashid said the issue was transparency. "How secret are these courts going to be?" he asked. "The evidence which will be presented by the prosecution, will that be available to everybody attending the court and to the lawyers on both sides? "If the evidence is just going to come from the intelligence agencies, can anyone stand up and question it? We need more clarity on these issues." The government has sought to assuage such concerns. "Pakistani soldiers are also tried in these courts, they are not only for foreigners," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a recent press conference.
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Since April this year officers have had to record a series of details every time they use handcuffs, CS spray or draw a baton. As Home Secretary, Theresa May promised to get rid of what she described as "grinding" bureaucracy in policing. One Police Federation official said the new process was "very bureaucratic". The new rules were announced in March by Mrs May's successor as Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, with the aim of ensuring that police record every encounter involving force. Ms Rudd said that "when police take the difficult decision to deploy force, it is also vital that the people they serve can scrutinise it. "These new rules will introduce unprecedented transparency to this important subject and reinforce the proud British model of policing by consent." But John Apter, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said filling out the 10-page form had proved to be like "writing an exam essay". Mr Apter said he understood the need to capture data about the use of force, but thought the process was too complex and took too long, especially at a time when police were already over-stretched. It is "over-engineered", he said. "I know officers who haven't got the time to fill in the form," he said, adding that in some city forces, such as London's Metropolitan Police, officers might have to fill in six forms on each shift. He believes a better approach would be to scan officers' pocketbooks and use samples of these to provide and analyse data. Police forces will begin publishing data from the forms over the next couple of weeks. The rules require a "use of force monitoring form", administered by the National Police Chiefs' Council, to be completed "as soon as practicable" after any incident involving force. A separate form must be completed for each person on whom force is used and officers are expected to complete forms for their own constabulary, even if the incident took place in another police force's area. The forms require full details of the incident, including location, whether officers were themselves threatened or assaulted and what sort of force they used. Officers are expected to mark a diagram showing what areas of the person's body the force was used on, whether the person was injured and whether medical assistance was offered or provided. Previously each force was required to provide details of the use of Tasers and firearms, but the new rules also ask for details of the use of batons, spit-guards, dogs, shields, handcuffs and unarmed restraint, as well as irritant sprays such as CS. Speaking in May 2011, during her six years as Home Secretary, Mrs May promised that her policies would "do away with the bureaucratic accountability of the past. So we will free the police to do their job". "I have said loud and clear that the days of the bureaucrats controlling and managing the police from Whitehall are over. "The Home Office will no longer scrutinise and supervise police performance
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The report reveals many hospitals force drivers to pay as soon as they arrive - so some patients may overestimate and overpay for their stay. And a third of hospital trusts only offer car park payments in cash - with no credit or debit card options. Health officials said patients should not have to deal with the added stress. Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy added: "NHS organisations are locally responsible for the methods used to charge, and we want to see them coming up with flexible options that put patients and their families first." While car parking is largely free at hospitals in Scotland and Wales, many hospitals in England charge visitors, patients and staff, as do some in Northern Ireland. The RAC asked all 206 hospital trusts in England questions under a freedom of information request in 2016. More than 160 responded and the majority - 125 - charged for car parking. Forty trusts said they do not allow drivers to pay for parking when they exit the car park - leaving people to guess how long they would need to be in hospital and making some rush back to their car to avoid penalties. A similar number of trusts said that they offered pay-on-exit parking at some but not all hospital sites. Meanwhile 36 trusts said they allowed people to pay when their visit was over at all hospitals while the rest could not provide any data. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said anyone arriving at hospital - either as a patient or a visitor - had far more important things to worry about than paying for parking. He added: "In the 21st Century we also think it is unreasonable to expect drivers to have to estimate how long their visit to hospital might take." At the same time RAC data suggests only 41 trusts allowed patients and visitors to pay by credit or debit card at all hospitals. And 31 provided card payment options at only some of their sites. The RAC urged more hospitals to put credit, debit card, mobile phone and contactless payment facilities in place so fewer drivers would be "expected to carry pocketfuls of change in order to park legally". Mr Williams said: "Things should be made as stress-free as possible and that includes taking the pain out of paying to park." Commenting on the report, Dr Mike Smith, of the Patients Association, said the report showed the ongoing issues of using outdated payment machines and forcing customers to overpay for parking had yet to be sufficiently addressed. He added: "Our helpline has received calls regarding this unacceptable overcharge, which we regard as simply a tax on ill health." Meanwhile the report suggests the arrival of the new one pound coin will mean many machines will have to be upgraded. The motoring organisation is calling on hospitals to work with car park operators to improve their systems as they upgrade and to publically announce an estimate of when patients and visitors can expect the changes
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Here are some of the key revelations from the US indictment against them. They are more reminiscent of a mob film rather than the beautiful game: wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges. If convicted the defendants could face 20 years in prison. The indictment alleges that Jack Warner, who was president of the federation that represents Central, North American and Caribbean football, Concacaf, accepted a $10m bribe from the South African government and Fifa officials to provide votes for the 2010 World Cup bid. South America's regional football competition appears to have been the real money cow, with the US Department of Justice alleging that over a third of media rights were lost in bribes. Jack Warner allegedly tried to buy votes for the 2011 Fifa presidential election for a member of the Asian Football Federation. The report says that he invited voting members to a hotel room: "Inside the room, Caribbean Football Union staff handed each official an envelope bearing the name of the member association that he represented. Inside each envelope was $40,000 in United States currency." One alleged conspirator was reportedly bought an "expensive painting from an art gallery in New York" by one of the defendants, Costas Takkas. Pretty much any international tournament that was played in Latin America, the Caribbean and North America is said to have been affected. The Gold Cup, which features the United States and Mexico amongst others, is also named, along with Fifa World Cup qualifying matches. In 164 pages, the Fifa president's name is not mentioned once. The indictment includes allegations of bribery involving the sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team and a "multinational sportswear company headquartered in the United States". The company is not named, but there is widespread speculation it is Nike, who signed a deal with the Brazilian team in 1996 - the same year mentioned in the indictment. Nike has not confirmed it was involved, but said it opposed bribery and was co-operating with the authorities. One of the highest-profile indictments is former Concacaf president Jack Warner. Mr Warner, who allegedly built a condominium in Florida for a family member using Concacaf funds, was one of the most powerful men in football until he resigned amidst a fraud inquiry. Two of his sons, Daryll and Daryan, pleaded guilty two years ago under indictments that have not been released until now. It has been speculated that the justice department has used informants as part of its case, with the Reuters news agency reporting in 2013 that Daryll had become a co-operative witness.
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Just over a month ago, Fayz Mohammad and his neighbour Zarin were two ordinary young Afghan men. They held down good jobs as drivers for a local transport company and were happy to be able to feed their families. Now both are in hospital in Herat, recovering from an ordeal which has left them traumatised and worried for their future. In mid-March, 25-year-old Fayz and his younger colleague were enjoying time off duty in their home village in Rabat Sangi district while their trucks were being loaded. On the second night of their stay, Taliban fighters arrived at 03:00 in the morning and abducted them. The men were taken more than 100 miles away to Torghundi, a town on the border with Turkmenistan. "They kept us for 27 days," Fayz told the BBC. "On the 28th day, at 10 in the morning, they cut off our hand and foot." Resting on a simple bed in Herat's regional hospital, his right arm and left leg heavily bandaged, Fayz recounted his harrowing experience. "They injected us with a fake anaesthetic from an ampoule," he says. "It didn't have any effect at all." Fayz says he doesn't know what instrument the men used. "I just saw a guy with white gloves. I don't know if he was a medic or not. I don't think he was because it took a very long time to cut off my hand. I suffered a lot, it was extremely painful." Fayz says that he and his colleague were blindfolded during the procedure and that several men held their limbs and sat on their chests to keep them still. There is confusion over what the two drivers were actually accused of. Some reports suggest the two men were suspected of stealing, others say that they were targeted because their company worked for the Western troops in the country. Fayz says that he and Zarin never did anything wrong and that they were used to set an example and send a warning to others. He says there was no kind of trial. "There was no mullah, no judge, nobody," he says. "There were only Taliban. They were all laughing and making fun while they did this. They never listened to what we had to say." Fayz also says that the insurgents offered to set them free if they agreed to plant explosives on one of the company trucks, but they refused. A spokesman at the hospital told the BBC that the men had been found next to a main road and were brought to the clinic by drivers who spotted them. The hospital says that Fayz and Zarin arrived around three hours after they lost their limbs and needed blood transfusions. Their wounds needed surgery to help them heal properly and avoid infection. Doctors say that the amputation appeared to have been conducted by someone with medical knowledge as no bones had been broken. Fayz says he is worried about how he will work in future and hopes he
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The 17-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances, nine of them this season. His only goal so far came on his debut last term, when he scored against Sheffield Wednesday when aged just 16 years 11 months and 15 days. "I've been in and around the first-team this season and that's my goal, to play regularly for the team," midfielder Dozzell told the club website. "It was hard when I wasn't involved over the first half of the season but I can see why I wasn't. "The Championship is a tough league and it's difficult to throw someone of my age into those types of games but I've been working hard in the gym to become bigger and stronger," the England Under-17 international added. He is the son of former Ipswich forward Jason Dozzell, who remains the youngest goalscorer in the top-flight of English football, having netted on his debut in 1984 aged just 16 years and 57 days.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Two goals from Harry Martin and one from David Ames gave the hosts a 3-0 lead at half-time. Malaysia pulled one back through Faizal Saari's strike but Phil Roper's drilled shot secured the win for the hosts. Victory books England's place at December's World League Final in India, having already qualified for the 2018 World Cup by reaching the last four. Martin put England in front after five minutes. Malaysia goalkeeper Kumar Subramaniam had initially made a good save from the first penalty corner of the game, but Martin was quick to react to convert the rebound. Ames, on his 28th birthday, doubled England's lead with a fierce shot after some good build-up play from the hosts. Martin scored his second of the game after a well worked routine from a penalty corner. Saari did well to deflect a shot into the goal to give Malaysia some hope in the final quarter, before Roper's late goal completed the win. England finish third in the tournament, having lost 2-0 to Netherlands in the semi-finals on Saturday. Speaking to BT Sport, Martin said: "It feels good, we wanted to come here and the aim was to qualify for the World Cup. "The semi-final loss was disappointing but we came back and showed some character." The Netherlands dominated Argentina 6-1 in the final on Sunday to win gold.
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Wales hopeful Matthew Morgan started at number 15 against his old club while No 8 Nick Williams also made his debut despite joining from Ulster in December 2015 after shoulder surgery. Wales international Tom James and Steven Shingler both scored tries for the hosts, as did Aled Summerhill. Gavin Henson kicked two conversions and a penalty for Bristol. Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan (Dan Fish 55); Alex Cuthbert (Aled Summerhill 37), Cory Allen, Rey Lee Lo (Garyn Smith 68), Tom James (Blaine Scully 62); Steve Shingler (Jarrod Evans 69), Tomos Williams (Tavis Knoyle 62); Rhys Gill (Brad Thyer 58), Kirby Myhill (Kristian Dacey 40), Taufa'ao Filise (Dillon Lewis 40), George Earle (James Down 58), Cam Dolan (Seb Davies 69), Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins (Shane Lewis-Hughes 75), Nick Williams (Josh Navidi 60)
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The teenager was pronounced dead by the side of a railway line in Wrenthorpe, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Saturday. A 16-year-old boy and a woman aged 18 were also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries at 18:40 BST. British Transport Police (BTP) said the death was not thought to be suspicious. A spokesman said all three were from the local area. "At this stage it would appear that the two boys and the female were on the railway line and the 15-year-old boy had climbed on to a freight train at the location," he said. The Office of Rail Regulation has been informed of the death and a file will be prepared for the coroner, he added.
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Lynwen Brennan, who has become a CBE for her services to supporting the UK's visual effects industry, was speaking after her investiture ceremony. Mrs Brennan has been involved in films including Star Wars and Iron Man. Originally from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, she is now based in San Francisco. The general manager of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound said: "In some ways film hasn't changed - the medium itself - you go to a theatre and you get entertained. "The technology behind it has changed significantly - there is nothing we can't do now. "I think that entertainment in general is on a cusp of another revolution. I think that with the advent of what we can do in real time now, means we can make the visuals interactive, immersive. "In a few years time you'll be able to go to the cinema and have images going behind you, around you. With the advent of virtual reality and augmented reality you'll be able to interact with and really step inside those stories." On the imminent release of the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the use of digital innovation within it, she said "it crosses a bar" which has not been able to be achieved before. "It's a beautiful film which touches you in the heart, the visuals are stunning." Quizzed about her experiences of working in a male-dominated industry, she said her "crusade" is to "change the gender imbalance". She said that coming from a Welsh matriarchal family it never occurred to her to think about whether she was a woman or a man, and that it was not until she was in higher industry positions she realised "there is a major gender imbalance in the industry - especially within visual effects". "Now I'm using my position," she said. "We have got a long way to go - we are about 17% in the industry that are in visual effects that are women. But in ILM, in our entry level departments for the past few years, we have been at least 50/50. "I've got hope for the future."
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Media playback is not supported on this device Story of the match: The striker responded to the responsibility of being his country's poster boy by finding the net either side of half-time after Marcelo had scored an early own goal. Oscar cemented the result with a wonderful individual goal late on but the adulation at the Arena de Sao Paulo went to Barcelona's Neymar. His first goal was a low, sweeping effort that crept into the net from 25 yards. His second, 19 minutes before the end, was altogether more controversial. Media playback is not supported on this device Dejan Lovren was judged to have fouled Fred in the box. Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the spot, despite replays showing little contact had been made. Neymar converted, the ball deflecting in off the out-stretched arm of goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, to spark scenes of celebration. It ensured a 10th consecutive win for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side but Brazil demonstrated flaws and fragilities. They did not play with the fluency or flamboyance that saw them swat aside Spain to win the Confederations Cup so emphatically last year. The moments before kick-off had been typically rousing. A passionate Brazilian crowd delivered another fervent rendition of the national anthem. Croatia were no more than an afterthought to most outside the thousand travelling fans. That soon changed. From the off, Ivica Olic worked tirelessly, chasing lost causes, committing Brazilian defenders. He might have scored after seven minutes only to head Ivan Perisic's right-wing cross narrowly wide at the back post. Four minutes later he was at the heart of the move that stunned the home crowd into silence. With Dani Alves committed upfield, Olic found space wide on the left. His low, teasing cross found Nikica Jelavic who made glancing contact. It was enough to catch Marcelo off balance. The Real Madrid defender watched on as the ball deflected off his ankle and rolled into the net beyond goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Brazil were struggling for rhythm; insipid not inventive. Neymar was fortunate to escape a nasty first-half incident - when he caught Luka Modric in the face with a swinging forearm - with only a booking. But when they needed a moment of magic, the man whose image had been splashed across every newspaper and TV station in Brazil provided it. Chelsea midfielder Oscar fought through two challenges and found Neymar. "Unfortunately the referee probably made the headlines when we wanted to be talking about Neymar or Luka Modric instead. "Croatia have been hard done by. The referee has cost them a point that they thoroughly deserved. I don't think Brazil have been that convincing. They are a good side but have had a little bit of good fortune." When the striker turned for goal, moving the ball on to his left foot, he had one thing in mind. The contact was not pure but the shot was unerringly accurate, creeping in from 25 yards, glancing the right post on its way. On the
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The money from the Constitutional Research Council was spent on pro-Brexit advertising throughout the UK, said DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. The CRC is chaired by Richard Cook, a former vice chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Mr Donaldson said about £425,000 was spent on the Brexit campaign. The DUP said they were given more money than they spent and the remainder of the donation, around £9,000 was transferred to the party's funds with the agreement of the Constitutional Research Council. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Mr Donaldson stressed it was "not a Northern Ireland referendum, but a UK-wide referendum". The revelation came as the spending returns of the Stronger In and Vote Leave campaigns in last year's EU referendum are under investigation, the Electoral Commission has announced. A total of more than £32m was spent on the campaign - with the Leave side funded by donations totalling £16.4m, outgunning the Remain side's £15.1m. During the referendum campaign, the DUP took out a four-page "Vote To Leave EU" advertisement in the Metro newspaper - which is available in London and other cities but not in Northern Ireland. Earlier this month, DUP leader Arlene Foster declined to reveal the identity of the donor or donors but said the money was properly accounted for "under the rules as they currently stand". While political donations in Northern Ireland are kept confidential for fear of identifying donors, other parties had called on the DUP to clarify who funded its "lavish" pro-Brexit advertising campaign. Mr Donaldson said his party had "reached millions" by spending the money on media outside of Northern Ireland. He denied the DUP had broken the spirit of electoral law. "Absolutely not, the DUP registered as a national campaign organisation for the referendum," he said. "The law is very clear, the political parties and referendums act allows any political organisation to register nationally to participate in a campaign. "We recognised that this referendum was going to be won or lost on a national basis. That's why we spent money advertising in the Metro free sheet because it would reach far more people. "This way we reached millions of people and the feedback we got back from our campaign was very, very positive."
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At the height of Ireland's Great Famine, Choctaws in southern states of the USA sent a donation of $170 (£111). An extraordinary whip-round, that would be tens of thousands of dollars today. The sculpture Kindred Spirits stands in a park in the small town of Midleton, in east Cork. Cork-based artist Alex Pentek told the BBC that the 6m tall feathers, all unique "as a sign of respect" signify the feathers used in Choctaw ceremonies. They are arranged in a circle, making the shape of an empty bowl that symbolises the hunger suffered by Irish people in the famine. A million people died in Ireland and another two million left the country when the potato crop failed for successive years, removing a vegetable that poor people ate every day. The British government, which ruled the whole island at the time, did not offer comprehensive relief help, partly due to an economic doctrine of laissez-faire and partly due to a belief that the famine had been sent from God to improve Ireland, according to Charles Trevelyan, the British administrator in charge of relief. The Choctaw people empathised with Ireland's famine victims. Just 16 years before, the American government had forcibly removed them from their land, moving them to designated parts of south-east Oklahoma. In what became known as the Trail of Tears, thousands of people walked more than 1,000 miles (1,600km), having been forced to leave without gathering their possessions. Four thousand people died of hunger, cold and disease. Historian Julie Allen told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme: "We had been through so much, losing so many of our people through death because of the weather, starvation and disease that 16 years later we heard about the Famine and the horrible situation that they were going through, we felt such empathy that we wanted to help. "The memory of that has been passed down through oral history and written history to both the Choctaw and the Irish people. "This is just such a blessing to us, that the links between our nations can be strengthened with this sculpture." Mr Pentek said: "While I was trying to put myself in the shoes of the people suffering I realised that some things are just unimaginable, that the level and scale of suffering that both nations had endured was really beyond being able to think about, beyond our grasp." Joe McCarthy of Cork County Council said there was no specific link between Midleton and the donation, but the story had "relevance to every single Irish person born since the famine". The sculpture is made of stainless steel and includes more than 20,000 welds.
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Lucic-Baroni, 34, won 6-4 6-2 to reach the last eight of a major for the first time since Wimbledon in 1999, when she lost to Steffi Graf in the semi-finals. The Croat will next play fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, who beat 22nd seed Daria Gavrilova 6-3 6-3. "I am a tough little cookie and really stubborn," said Lucic-Baroni. "When I want something I will work hard and do anything I need to get it. What a satisfaction." Lucic-Baroni did not play at the Grand Slams between 2003 and 2010 because of a series of personal issues, which led to her fleeing Croatia along with her mother Andelka and four siblings in the dead of night and heading to the United States. "I had a rough patch in my life early on but I am really blessed with the family I have," she said. She had been a tennis prodigy, winning junior titles at the Australian and US Opens, making her Grand Slam debut as a 15-year-old at the US Open and going on to win the Australian Open doubles title with Martina Hingis in 1998. Financial problems resulting from the move to America meant she played just three matches between 2004 and 2006, but she returned to the sport and has finished in the world's top 100 for the past six seasons, reaching the last 16 at the US Open in 2016. Now ranked 79th, her first-round win over Qiang Wang was her first Australian Open main-draw win since 1998. If Lucic-Baroni wins her quarter-final, and Serena Williams beats Johanna Konta, the pair will meet for the first time since Wimbledon 1998. "I always said I have the game. But to work so hard and make so many sacrifices, I hope no-one is going to pinch me and wake me up because this is just incredible," said Lucic-Baroni.
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He won the world flyweight title in 1935 at the age of 21 but died, aged 33, following a battle with alcoholism. The Remember Benny Lynch Campaign, which counts actor Robert Carlyle as patron, is raising funds for a permanent memorial in his home city. The reception was held at the City Chambers on Monday night. Carlyle, who has expressed an interest in making a film about Lynch, said: " I've been an admirer of Benny Lynch for more years than I care to remember. "He was a great hero of my father. My grandfather saw him fight on several occasions and the stories of his matches were passed on to my father, who passed them down to me. "I've always loved the idea of a statue for Benny. I cannot think of anyone, past or present from the city of Glasgow who deserves it more." Benny Lynch's son, Bobby, and his granddaughter, Sharon, who both live in Canada, made the trip to Glasgow for the civic reception. Mr Lynch said: "My father was loved and admired by the citizens of this city and it means a lot to me and his legacy that the city is recognising his achievements after all these years. "The level of support that this campaign has gained has been wonderful and to finally see a statue of my father in the city that he loved so much would be such an honour." The campaign is being supported by Glasgow Lord Provost Sadie Doherty, former world champion boxer Jim Watt and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Charlie Flynn. Provost Doherty said: "Like Benny Lynch, I grew up in the Gorbals where he's a local hero. So naturally, I'm delighted to lend my support to the Remembering Benny Lynch campaign." An exhibition showcasing Lynch's 1937 World and European championship trophies, boxing gloves, a painting of the boxer by Glasgow artist Robert Millar and associated memorabilia were brought to the City Chambers for the event. The exhibition was unveiled by Jim Watt at the Gorbals Library earlier this year, just streets from where Benny Lynch was born. It was the first time both trophies have been on public show since the boxer's death in 1946. Jim Watt said: "Benny is an inspiration to every sportsman who wore boxing gloves. "He is a true Scottish hero and was our first world champion, proving to everyone that it could be done. "A statue for Benny is long overdue and I will do everything I can to make it happen."
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Winner: Birdman American Sniper Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash Winner: Alejandro G Inarritu, Birdman Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel Richard Linklater, Boyhood Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game Winner: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything Steve Carell, Foxcatcher Bradley Cooper, American Sniper Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game Michael Keaton, Birdman Winner: Julianne Moore, Still Alice Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl Reese Witherspoon, Wild Winner: JK Simmons, Whiplash Robert Duvall, The Judge Ethan Hawke, Boyhood Edward Norton, Birdman Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher Winner: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood Laura Dern, Wild Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game Emma Stone, Birdman Meryl Streep, Into the Woods Winner: The Imitation Game American Sniper Inherent Vice The Theory of Everything Whiplash Winner: Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Nightcrawler Winner: Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How to Train Your Dragon 2 Song of the Sea The Tale of Princess Kaguya Winner: Feast The Bigger Picture The Dam Keeper Me and My Moulton A Single Life Winner: Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Ida Mr Turner Unbroken Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel Inherent Vice Into the Woods Maleficent Mr Turner Winner: CitizenFour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam The Salt of the Earth Virunga Winner: Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 Joanna Our Curse The Reaper White Earth Winner: Whiplash American Sniper Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Winner: Ida (Poland) Leviathan (Russia) Tangerines (Estonia) Timbuktu (Mauritania) Wild Tales (Argentina) Winner: The Phone Call Aya Boogaloo and Graham Butter Lamp (La Lampe Au Beurre De Yak) Parvaneh Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel Foxcatcher Guardians of the Galaxy Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Mr Turner The Theory of Everything Winner: The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Into the Woods Mr Turner Winner: Glory, Selma Everything is Awesome, The Lego Movie Grateful, Beyond the Lights I'm Not Gonna Miss You, Glen Campbell… I'll Be Me Lost Stars, Begin Again Winner: American Sniper Birdman The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Interstellar Unbroken Winner: Whiplash American Sniper Birdman Interstellar Unbroken Winner: Interstellar Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Guardians of the Galaxy X-Men: Days of Future Past
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The ex-Welsh national champion beat Stuart Hardy in the singles final before also winning the doubles. Le Tocq, 33, has not been beaten at the Senior Closed championships since 2002. "I've got a decision to make as to whether it's good for me to play until someone beats me or if it's someone else's turn," he told BBC Guernsey. Despite his long winning record, Le Tocq said he was still nervous when it came to the final. "For the last four years I've really been working towards 10, and I almost don't know what to do now, it's everything I've wanted," he said. "I was more nervous than I have been for half of them, it almost felt like the first one again, where I was really worried about getting over the line."
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A single electricity market operates across the island of Ireland. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee says Brexit "potentially challenges the future viability" of that arrangement. The all-island market is possible because the UK and Ireland are both members of the Internal Energy Market (IEM). All EU members participate in the IEM along with Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. Participation requires alignment with EU rules including industrial emissions regulations and restrictions on state aid. The UK government will have to decide whether to remain in the IEM, withdraw entirely or negotiate a new bilateral relationship. The NIAC says the government "should give particular consideration" to how any changes to the UK's relationship with the IEM will affect Northern Ireland. It says withdrawal would be significant for Northern Ireland as a smaller, less efficient market would likely mean higher electricity costs. It adds that the government "may wish to seek a special status or derogation" for Northern Ireland. It calls for long-term policy clarity as soon as possible. The NIAC inquiry heard there is "a clear desire from electricity market stakeholders in Northern Ireland to retain the existing market arrangements".
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The company's strategy of buying smaller firms to grow its market-share left it with large amounts of debt. SunEdison is also facing investigations by US regulators. "Our decision to initiate a court-supervised restructuring was a difficult but important step to address our immediate liquidity issues," said chief executive Ahmad Chatila. "The court process will allow us to right-size our balance sheet and reduce our debt, providing the opportunity to support the business going forward while focusing on our core strengths," he said. The company had $18bn (£12.6bn) in liabilities on 31 December according to papers it filed with the US bankruptcy court. It said it has secured $300m of new financing to use during the bankruptcy process. Meanwhile, renewable energy firm Ecotricity said it had bought SunEdison's UK rooftop solar business. Investors have filed legal claims alleging SunEdison misled them about its financial viability. The company has delayed releasing its annual reports twice. SunEdison is also facing investigations by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its failed deal to buy Vivint Solar. The $2.2bn cash-and-stock deal fell through in March, after SunEdison failed to close on the acquisition.
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In January, the Home Office awarded thousands of posthumous pardons to men who have since died. But people still living must apply to have their convictions deleted. Stonewall Cymru said the men had been "unjustly persecuted" and many did not know they could apply to be cleared. Wednesday marks 50 years since The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 decriminalised sex between two men aged over 21 in England and Wales. About 65,000 men were convicted under the old law, of which 15,000 are still alive. Mabli Jones, campaign, policy and research manager at Stonewall Cymru, said men should not have to live with convictions no longer considered valid following the change in the law in 2012. She said: "The change in the law was obviously a big step forward and we welcomed that and we were part of campaigning. "But there were so many men unjustly persecuted by these laws and they deserve to get them removed." She said some people were still unaware they could apply for a pardon and the charity "would welcome" them being automatic removed from people's records. A Home Office spokesman said: "Convictions are not automatically deleted because the government needs to ensure that disregards are only granted to those who were convicted of offences that involved consensual behaviour and with persons over 16 years of age." He added: "We are proud of the government's record in improving equality." The latest ONS figures from 2015 show 1.6% of people in Wales identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual, compared to 1.8% in the UK. Ms Jones said while attitudes towards LGBT people had improved in Wales, many - especially young people - still faced discrimination. Stonewall Cymru's School Report 2017 showed anti-LGBT bullying and language had decreased across Britain's schools since 2012, but the survey of 3,700 LGBT pupils found 45% still faced bullying for being LGBT. Ms Jones said the charity wanted to see the teaching of all types of relationships become mandatory in schools, along with information on safe sex within same-sex relationships. She said it was working with Education Secretary Kirsty Williams, who has set up an expert panel to advise the Welsh Government on how to address the issue, and make schools "more inclusive". She added: "Hopefully, we are going to see big strides forward in that. We know it's a huge priority for young people."
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The 20-year-old McMullan will spend a season on loan at East End Park. He also spent last season in the Scottish Championship, first with St Mirren then Greenock Morton. The 17-year-old Crossan had only made two first-team appearances for the Pars but was out of contract and rejected the offer of a new deal. He has signed a three-year contract with the Scottish champions. Dunfermline chairman Ross McArthur, whose side won League One last season, said: "I would like to wish PJ well in his future career at Celtic, which is naturally a fantastic opportunity for him. "I would also like to thank Celtic for their assistance in this matter to ensure the matter could be resolved amicably. "However, the only disappointing aspect is the wholly inaccurate reporting in recent days relating to the agreed compensation figure, which will remain confidential." It will be the fourth loan spell for Scotland Under-19 international McMullan, who is a product of the Celtic youth system. He scored three goals in 19 games for Stenhousemuir in League One at the start of 2015. McMullan only found the net once each for St Mirren and Morton in 22 games for the Paisley outfit and nine outings for the Greenock side but hopes to shine with the Pars. "I knew, having played here before with Stenhousemuir, how big a club it is and I'm looking forward to be part of it," he told Dunfermline's website. "It's a hard league, I played in it last year, it was tricky, but it's one I hope I can do well in."
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Ministers want to establish the UK spaceport by 2018 - the first of its kind outside of the US. An official announcement is expected on preferred locations later in the week. However, the Mail on Sunday newspaper plumps for Llanbedr airfield near Harlech as a potential site. For ministers and the space industry, the major interest in a UK spaceport is as a facility to enable satellite launches, but hopefully it would also become a centre for the new tourism initiatives from specialist operators such as Virgin Galactic and XCor. The announcement on the likely options is expected to be made at the Farnborough Airshow. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Our world-leading and ambitious space sector is thriving. "This week we will announce the next steps for this country's space race, outlining how we will take one giant leap towards establishing the first British spaceport by 2018 - making the UK the place for space." A spokesperson for the UK's Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said it could not comment on press speculation ahead of Tuesday's official announcement.
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That meant 2.5% of the employed UK workforce was on such a contract. The 801,000 figure is the highest since the ONS began monitoring the number of zero-hours contracts. ONS statistician Nick Palmer said some of the rise could reflect greater recognition of "zero-hours" contracts. However, he added: "There's also nothing to suggest this form of employment is in decline." In its report, the ONS said there were about 1.7 million contracts that did not guarantee a minimum number of hours in November, meaning that many workers had more than one zero-hours contract. The previous estimate, for May 2015, was 2.1 million, but the ONS said that the estimates could be affected by seasonal factors and should not be directly compared. The ONS data on zero-hours contracts is not as clear as it could be. As the ONS points out, "at least some of this increase may be due to greater public recognition of the term 'zero-hours contract'". That means that many people do not know that they are on a zero-hours contract, or what the term means. Therefore much of this increase may be down to media coverage - or even the fact that the statisticians are explaining the term to people when they gather the data. The ONS itself does not know how much of this increase is down to an increasing use of these contracts and how much is down to such factors. What we do know is that the proportion of businesses using such contracts varies considerably. In the hotel and catering industries more than a quarter of employers use them, but in the construction sector only one in 20 companies do so. These figures may also be affected by seasonal factors, given that many industries employ more people in the summer. However, the ONS says that "there's also nothing to suggest this form of employment is in decline". That means the controversy is unlikely to decline either. Those on zero-hours contracts were more likely to be young people, part-time workers, women, or those in full-time education when compared with other people in employment. Someone on a zero-hours contract worked an average of 26 hours a week. About a third of those on a zero-hours contract wanted to work longer, with most wanting more hours in their current job, as opposed to a different job that offered more hours. In comparison, only 10% of other people in other types of employment wanted more hours, the ONS said. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said zero-hours contracts could be "a nightmare for workers". "The so-called flexibility these contracts offer is far too one-sided," she said. "Staff without guaranteed pay have much less power to stand up for their rights and often feel afraid to turn down shifts in case they fall out of favour with their boss." TUC research found that average weekly earnings for zero-hours workers were £188, compared with £479 for permanent employees. Laura Gardiner, of the Resolution Foundation, said some workers on zero-hours contracts struggled
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Artists are taking part in the painted doors Aberdeen Inspired initiative with the aim of brightening up the city. Painter and glassmaker Shelagh Swanson opened the project in Windmill Brae. Langstane Place, The Green and Correction Wynd will also feature. Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watson said: "Our Summer of Art campaign is about making art and culture accessible to all."
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Mars Food said it would distinguish between "everyday" and "occasional" items on packs and on its website. The company said some foods were higher in salt, sugar or fat to maintain the "authentic" taste of products. The advice is part of its Health and Wellbeing Ambition to "create and promote healthier food choices". Mars told the BBC that just 5% of its products would be labelled "occasional". These include Dolmio lasagne sauces, pesto, and carbonara and macaroni oven kits. Mars said its website would be updated over the next few months with a list of "occasional" products to be eaten not more than once a week, and "everyday" ones. Those products, including Uncle Ben's oriental sauces, are to be reformulated over the next five years to cut salt, sugar or fat. Shoppers will see the new guidance appearing on websites in the coming months. Mars said its "nutrition criteria" has been developed based on recommendations from leading public health authorities such as the World Health Organization. It supports the salt-reduction strategies of bodies such as the UK Food Standards Agency, Department of Health and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it added. Fiona Dawson, a global president of Mars, said: "Our nutrition criteria sets a very high standard for our products, and we also want to help our consumers understand the difference between 'everyday' and 'occasional' products within a balanced diet. "The food industry has already made great strides in reducing sodium, but we have more work to do to help consumers reduce sodium intake. "We support release of the US FDA's draft sodium reduction guidance, because we believe it's important to begin a stakeholder dialogue about the role industry can play in this critical part of consumers' diets." The move comes after Chancellor George Osborne announced a sugar tax, with the aim of tackling childhood obesity, in his recent Budget.
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Last month, Australian media found some of the firm's franchisees had been paying workers around the country about half the minimum wage. Chairman Russ Withers and chief executive Warren Wilmot will leave their posts immediately, the firm said. 7-Eleven is Australia's biggest petrol and convenience retailer with some 620 stores, including 450 franchises. In their joint investigation, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners programme and Fairfax Media said they had "uncovered evidence of collusion between some of the owners at hundreds of (7-Eleven Stores) across multiple states". Some 7-Eleven workers told how they had been made to work at half the minimum wage and for longer-than expected hours. Mr Wilmot said in a statement that he had offered his resignation "following the recent realisation of the extent to which 7-Eleven franchisees had underpaid workers". He said it would be difficult for him to lead the company amid the scandal and that a new independent chief executive was appropriate given the circumstances. Chairman and founder of the Australian business, Mr Withers, said he was bringing forward by 18 months an existing succession plan to pass the reins to Michael Smith - a non-executive director and deputy chair of the retail giant. But Mr Withers said he would stay on as head of the group holding company which has investments in real estate and Starbucks stores among other areas. "Naturally this is a major decision for me to stand aside as chairman," he said, "however I will continue to be a shareholder and I am determined to make sure the company is in the right hands to move forward". The company said it was investigating all allegations of franchisees underpaying workers with the help of Australia's workplace rights ombudsman as well as accounting firm Ernst & Young. 7-Eleven is a private company with a license to operate in Australia from the US-based 7-Eleven Inc and has been in operation in the country for 38 years.
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The once reclusive head of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force has emerged from a lifetime in the shadows directing covert operations abroad, to achieve almost celebrity status in Iran. The man who, until a couple of years ago most Iranians would not have recognised on the street, is now the subject of documentaries, news reports and even pop songs. One music video widely shared in Iran was made by Shia militia fighters in Iraq. It shows soldiers spray-painting the general's portrait on a wall and parading in front of it while stirring music plays in the background. The general himself is currently in Salahuddin province in northern Iraq, commanding Iraqi and Shia militias as they try to recapture the city of Tikrit from Islamic State (IS). Iran's Fars News agency has published photographs of him with the troops, and militia sources in Iraq have told BBC Persian he has been there for some time helping the Iraqis prepare for the mission. It is not the first time Gen Soleimani has faced the jihadists. In neighbouring Syria he is widely credited with delivering the strategy that has helped President Bashar al-Assad turn the tide against rebel forces and recapture key cities and towns. Iran has always denied deploying boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq, but every now and then holds public funerals for security forces and "military advisers" who were killed in these two countries. Qasem Soleimani has made a point of attending some of these ceremonies. Iran and the United States may be arch-enemies on the ideological front, but the IS offensive in Iraq has led to indirect co-operation between the two. It's a path Gen Soleimani has trodden before. In 2001, Iran provided military intelligence to the US to support its invasion to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan, and in 2007 Washington and Tehran sent representatives to Baghdad for face-to-face talks over the deteriorating security situation there. Back then former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was battling spiralling sectarian violence. In an interview for a BBC Persian documentary two years ago, former US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker recalled the crucial behind-the-scenes role played by Gen Soleimani in the Baghdad talks. "[Iran's ambassador to Iraq] called repeatedly for breaks," he said. "I couldn't quite figure out why, and then later discovered that whenever I said something that he didn't have covered in his points, he would need to call back to Tehran for guidance - he was that tightly controlled. On the other end of the phone was Qasem Soleimani." Mr Crocker also felt Gen Soleimani's influence when he served as US ambassador to Afghanistan. "My Iranian interlocutors on Afghanistan made clear that while they kept the foreign ministry informed, ultimately it was Gen Soleimani that would make the decisions," he told the BBC. Over the last few years, Gen Soleimani's role in Iran's foreign affairs has become more public. He is no longer the hidden figure at the end of the phone line. These days
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The scheme revolves around a website that connects victims and police, gives advice and helps with data recovery. The number of ransomware victims tripled in the first three months of 2016, according to one estimate. Ransomware is malware that typically demands a fee to unscramble important data on a compromised device. The No More Ransom site will be updated as ransomware gangs are tackled, one of the project's partners said. Co-ordinated by Europol, the initiative also involves the Dutch national police, Intel Security and Kaspersky Labs. "For a few years now ransomware has become a dominant concern for EU law enforcement," said Wil van Gemert, Europol's deputy director of operations. "We expect to help many people to recover control over their files, while raising awareness and educating the population on how to maintain their devices clean from malware." No More Ransom brings together information about what ransomware is, how to avoid falling victim and what to do if a person or company is caught out. "Right now the only option victims have is to pay the ransom or not," said Raj Samani, European head of Intel Security. "This gives people another option." Often, people struggle to find out what they can do when they are hit. With this website, victims will be able to upload scrambled files to identify which strain of ransomware has locked up their data, he said. "We've seen a threefold increase in infected victims from January to March this year," he added. "And we're seeing a rise in new families of ransomware coming up all the time." In June, one site that tracks ransomware logged more than 120 separate families of the malicious code being used in different campaigns. "It's becoming a hugely profitable economy for the criminals," said Mr Samani. "They know there's real money to be made here. "What's particularly telling is that historically ransomware victims have been consumers and small businesses," he said. "But we are now seeing bigger institutions, hospitals and universities, getting hit." The site will be kept up to date with information gleaned from international action against gangs that run ransomware campaigns, Mr Samani said. Other police forces, security companies and researchers will be encouraged to contribute to the site and add advice or tools to help victims. At present, the site links to decryption software for four well-known families of ransomware - Coinvault, Shade, Rannoh and Rakhni.
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While it's a scenario most would dismiss out of hand, Prof Tony Travers of the London School of Economics argues that although such an outcome might seem fanciful, in the longer term at least, it is far from impossible. It was the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 that contributed to what he describes as a wave of "London nationalism", with an opinion poll at the time showing 20% of Londoners backed breaking away from the rest of the UK. To Londoners, as well as many other people in Britain, the capital has always felt separate, and Prof Travers says that sense of separation will only grow if the UK backs Brexit on Thursday. "If Britain votes to leave the EU it will almost certainly be the case that London and Scotland - and possibly Wales and Northern Ireland - will have voted to stay. All the polls suggest that," he says. He adds that under those circumstances, the logic would be as follows: "The Scots can do it and the Welsh can do it. They have much smaller economies than we [London] do. Like us, they voted not to leave the EU. We [Londoners] feel this is a totem, a measure, of how different London is from the rest of England. And therefore that needs to be recognised in local powers and local taxation." In this scenario, Prof Travers argues, new London mayor Sadiq Khan would be "well within his rights to tell the government London didn't vote for Brexit and that City Hall now viewed the government as dysfunctional". Moreover, Prof Travers argues, a Leave vote could provide such a "systemic, existential jolt" that the mayor and others might decide London required radical change. He adds: "If we vote to leave the EU it will be an event, in the scale of things, a bit like executing Charles I. It would be something so profound to the British understanding of themselves and their capacity to understand how they want to govern themselves. "It will be an incredible moment in the country's history and at such a moment, why should we only do one thing?" The professor is not the only person to make the argument. There are those like Kevin Doran, head of strategy and research at KBL European Private Bankers, who see London becoming an independent city state as inevitable, suggesting it could happen as early as 2035. "Within 20 to 30 years' time... they [London] will hold a referendum on taking themselves out of the UK, and away they go," Mr Doran told the Yorkshire Post in 2014. And it's not hard to see why London might argue it would be better off striking out on its own. With a population of 8.7m - and forecast to grow to 10m by 2020 - the capital is already larger than Scotland and Wales combined. Londoners contribute 70% more of the UK's national income than people in the rest of the country each year - a difference of £16,000
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Not much to see here, you might think, time to move along. And yet what we saw today at Westminster was fascinating, the growing pains of a new parliament on show for all to see. You had a prime minister, flush with victory, insisting he should have the freedom to campaign in the referendum on the EU in a way that he did not have in last year's vote on Scottish independence. Even loyal Tory MPs told me that Mr Cameron should have realised that scrapping purdah outright would provoke opposition and an unnecessary battle with his backbenches. Those MPs claimed it showed a rather clumsy approach by Downing Street that a more sophisticated operation would have avoided. The PM might have his first genuine mandate but it only goes so far in parliament. You also heard along the corridors of Westminster the sound of a very large penny dropping, namely that the government no longer has the majority of 80-odd that the Tories enjoyed with the Lib Dems. With just 12 extra votes to play with, the government has begun walking a narrow path where every division is tight. MPs and ministers are realising that this will be their lot for the next five years. The trips will be curtailed; the flexibility the whips once offered long gone. As for the whips, this was their first outing of the parliament. The Conservative whips are quite a new team with not much depth of experience. They are happy they got their business through. But they might have expended too much personal capital too early. And they will be well aware they won only because Labour abstained. This was just an early skirmish. There will be many other battles to be had when new MPs will be more willing to defy their government. And as for Labour, we learned perhaps how they will approach opposition, at least until their new leader is elected. They had the chance to defeat a newly elected government on a matter of defendable principle. But they chose not to. Some suggested it was because they could not guarantee getting enough Labour MPs in to defeat the government. There is nothing worse for an opposition than trying to defeat the government and failing. But senior Labour sources insisted this was a deliberate choice to oppose responsibly and reasonably and not duff up the government just because it can. This may be true but there was clearly a healthy debate within the PLP's upper echelons about whether this was the right choice to make. And as for the rebels, they insisted they would have had more on their side if there had been a chance of defeating the government. They spoke of the concessions given and the promises of more to come. But perhaps we learned that they too can be guilty of exaggerating numbers and may have something more to learn about the best way of using parliamentary procedures to best their government. What impressed me most,
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The Irish News front page has a photograph of the scene following the gun attack at a house in Norglen Parade in the Turf Lodge area on Thursday evening. The Belfast Telegraph says the couple are in a stable condition in hospital after two men forced their way into the property and shot them in the legs. Its main story is a report that the PSNI have launched an investigation after Arlene Foster said she had received several threats against her life on social media. Mrs Foster said the threats included one that "wanted to see me beheaded". In The Irish News, Sinn Fein dismisses as "too little, too late" Communities Minister Paul Givan's revelation that an Irish language bursary scheme could have its funding restored. Mr Givan said he made the U-turn on the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme to prevent Sinn Féin from using it as a "political weapon". The newspaper also reports on the protest outside the headquarters of the Department for Communities demanding an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland. The News Letter has its own take on the subject, with a Fermanagh Church of Ireland cleric, Rev Alan Irwin, claiming Irish speakers he knows in the Republic of Ireland cannot understand Sinn Féin members when they use the language. However, Linda Ervine believes "gaelic is a language of the British Isles that unites us". Its front page focuses on a fraudster from Toome in County Antrim who has been jailed for a year for selling fake fire safety glass that was later installed at schools, universities and hospitals. Seamus James Laverty, 58, sold ordinary glass as fire safety glass between 2010 and 2013 when he worked on the factory floor of Glassworks Ireland. A judge said it was "by the grace of God" that the fake glass had not been put to the test. The Daily Mirror's front page reports on a five-year-old boy being taken to hospital after he was knocked down by a car in the County Down village of Magheralin on Thursday. The boy is said to be in a "critical but stable" condition. Meanwhile, a nine-year-old-boy is said to be in intensive care in hospital after he was hit by a car near Ballymoney, County Antrim, on Tuesday. There are plenty of pictures of snow in the newspapers and on a warmer note, the Mirror also carries the story of the diner who surprised staff at an Indian restaurant in Portadown by leaving a £1,000 tip on a £79 bill.
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The council urged all sides to "immediately and comprehensively" implement the peace plan for Syria. Syrian officials say "foreign-backed terrorists" carried out a twin suicide car-bomb attack in Damascus. The bombs exploded near a military intelligence building during the morning rush hour. The 15-member of the Security Council members "condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks", a statement said. The council also called on all sides to comply with the six-point peace plan of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, "in particular to cease all armed violence." By Barbara PlettBBC UN correspondent There is growing international concern that jihadi fighters linked to Al Qaeda may be behind some of the bombings in Syria. If so they would represent a third force not party to Kofi Annan's peace plan, which is aimed at creating the conditions for a political settlement between the government and the opposition. UN Security Council members acknowledge the plan is under strain but say they don't see any alternative to it. Syria's ambassador to the UN accused Arab and other foreign powers of supplying and supporting armed groups. He urged the UN to take steps to stop such activity. The Syrian government and rebel forces are supposed to observe a ceasefire monitored by a UN team. However violence has continued unabated across the country. Central Damascus is under the firm control of government forces, but the city has been hit by several bombings in recent months, often targeting security buildings or military convoys. Thursday's attacks were the deadliest in the capital since the start of Syria's uprising 14 months ago. The interior ministry said the attackers used two cars "loaded with more than 1,000kg of explosives and driven by suicide bombers". The explosions damaged the facade of a 10-storey military intelligence building involved in the crackdown on the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule. By Lyse DoucetBBC News, Damascus At one of the main Damascus hospitals, a doctor says it is the worst emergency he has seen, the injuries are severe. We see more than body bags at the morgue - the corpses are charred sticks, with limbs torn off. Whoever did this wanted to cause the most damage possible because the blast took place during early morning rush hour. Every time something happens in Syria, there are two narratives. We have spoken to angry people who blame Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey - countries which have come out in support of the Syrian opposition. Grieving families cursed the opposition. The opposition alleges as always that this was the cynical work of the government itself to try to discredit the opposition. It is part of a broader military compound of the Palestine Branch, one of the most feared among the more than 20 secret police organisations in the country, correspondents say. The unit was originally set up in the 1950s to interrogate suspected Israeli spies. But it has evolved into the country's counter-terrorism unit, and is infamous for interrogations and torture, they say. Large crowds gathered despite
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Ian Edwards said it was possible Ian Glover, 20, had some signs of life as he was being given CPR on the gymnasium floor following the 1989 terrace crush. He agreed it was difficult to find medical assistance at the time. The inquests also heard about the final movements of Christopher Edwards, 29. Ninety-six fans were fatally injured during the Liverpool versus Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final held in Sheffield on 15 April 1989. Mr Glover, from Walton in Liverpool, went to the match with his brother Joseph and two other friends, the court heard. In a witness statement given in 1989, Joseph - who died 10 years later - described how he and his brother were thrown forward by a crowd surge on the Leppings Lane terrace. He managed to escape through a gate in the perimeter fence, but could only watch from the other side as his brother's face turned blue. In the statement, he said: "While I was shouting, his voice was getting quieter and quieter." When his body was brought on to the pitch, Joseph said he tried giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Ian Edwards, a Liverpool supporter who had been in the North Stand, told the court he helped to carry Mr Glover on a makeshift stretcher across the pitch to a nearby gymnasium where casualties had been taken. He carried out CPR with the help of a police officer. For the coroner, Christina Lambert QC asked him whether there was any change in Mr Glover's condition. He replied: "Momentarily I thought there was a flicker of the eyes, but I wasn't a 100% sure. "I don't know whether that was because I was kneeling over and it was just so quick. We continued to give breaths and compressions but there were no signs of life." Mr Edwards told the court at that point he realised Mr Glover was dead. The jury also heard about Christopher Edwards, from South Wirral, who travelled to the game with a friend, Malcolm Ramsey, and his son. The court was shown video footage of fans and police trying to carry Mr Edwards out of pen three on the Leppings Lane terrace at 15:27 BST - more than 20 minutes after the game had been stopped. Former police sergeant Martin Hemingway, who was treating another victim in the central pens, said his attention was attracted to Mr Edwards when he heard someone shout: "He's alive!" Mr Hemingway said he thought Mr Edwards was still breathing at that point. He said he did not fully assess his condition because he wanted to get him out of the terrace as soon as possible. When they reached the pitch, he said there were no signs of life. Mr Edwards was pronounced dead by a doctor in the gymnasium at 15:50. The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, are due to resume on Wednesday. BBC News: Profiles of all those who died
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Steven Brazier had lost 11 stone in two years on a weight-loss programme he joined when he weighed 19 stone. Mr Brazier, of Minster, Kent, had lost his teeth and could barely walk, before he had a fatal cardiac arrest, in 2014. Kent and Medway NHS Trust admitted the 20-year-old's care was not of the standard he should have expected. His mother Melanie said he might have lived if he had the mental health help he needed. "He was left with no care at all. Nobody seemed to know who was looking after him," she said. "He would say 'I can't go on like this mum, I just want to die'." Mr Brazier was described by his grandmother Pauline as a "skeleton with a bit of skin stretched over him" while under the care of the Social Care Partnership Trust, a body within the NHS trust. A spokeswoman said: "Communications between the services providing care for Mr Brazier was not adequate. "Patients should expect a standard of service which was not provided on this occasion." The trust added it made improvements "as a result of learning from the failings in Steven's case". Mr Brazier was assessed by the trust's eating disorders unit in December 2011. But, it took months to admit him, but he was then repeatedly discharged from care and allowed to self-discharge. It led to him becoming withdrawn and isolated, and he began to self-harm as his condition became increasingly life-threatening. His mother caught him standing in the middle of a busy dual carriageway and pleaded unsuccessfully with hospital staff to detain him for his own safety under the Mental Health Act. In June 2012 he was transferred to a mental health treatment centre for more than a year. The trust discharged him, despite the Community Mental Health Team refusing to accept his case, and he died soon after in February 2014.
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Raheem Kassam said some people wished the Clacton MP would play a bigger role within UKIP, "rather than being the Douglas Carswell party". Mr Kassam left UKIP amid internal friction within the party following the election - which saw it win one seat. He said Mr Farage also needs to help lead the EU referendum "no" campaign. Speaking to BBC's Newsnight, Mr Kassam said Mr Carswell could fit in with UKIP if he wanted to, but said: "I'm just not getting the sense that he wants to at the moment." He said: "I think he sees UKIP as a way of being an independent, whereas actually the way of being an independent is to sit as an independent MP. "When he talks about his priorities for the parliament, he's not talking about UKIP's priorities, he's talking about his priorities for this parliament." He said there was no doubt Mr Carswell - who resigned as a Conservative MP to join UKIP - was a "very intelligent man" but he "doesn't necessarily fit into a political party". Mr Kassam left UKIP after a bitter internal row developed within the party following Mr Farage's post-election resignation - which was rejected by the party. At the time, Mr Carswell told Mr Farage to take a break "as leader", having failed to win election in Thanet South. Asked about the future referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, Mr Kassam said there needed to be "two or three" leaders in the "no" campaign to leave the EU - saying Mr Farage "needs to be one of them". He said Eurosceptic Tories needed a "big player on board" for the campaign, but added that Mr Farage would also have to be "a big player in this as well". "He appeals to working class voters all across the country like no Tory can and no Tory does," Mr Kassam told the programme. In a separate interview with the Guardian newspaper, Mr Kassam also said he was so embarrassed of some people working for the party during the election he had to lock them behind closed doors when showing journalists around UKIP headquarters. He told Newsnight that he would not "name names" but said: "There are people who are embarrassing." He said they were not part of the senior "team Nigel" but were "on the fringes".
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The blaze broke out at Rosamond Street in the Daubhill area of the town just after 09:00 BST. A man managed to jump from a first floor window but two boys and a girl - all under the age of 13 - and a woman were still inside. One of the children was pronounced dead at the scene and the woman and two other children died later in hospital, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. The force said it was currently not treating the fire as suspicious. One resident said: "It's terrible, absolutely terrible. I saw them bringing people out. They were doing chest compressions. "I saw them bring two out and then they put a green sheet up." She said she was first alerted to a "commotion" when she heard a man "banging on a door" of one of the terraced houses. "There was just a load of hammering... I went to the window and saw smoke billowing. "When I saw him after, he had his hands bandaged up and his head." Assistant fire officer Tony Hunter said the man, believed to be the children's father, had jumped from the first floor window and tried to get back into the property to rescue them and their mother. He is currently being treated in hospital. Mr Hunter added firefighters had to use a specialist tool to break the front door down. They found the heat had been so "intense" it had burnt off plaster on the walls to reveal the brick underneath, he said. Police have launched a joint investigation with Manchester Fire and Rescue into the cause of the blaze. Det Ch Insp Chris Bridge, from GMP, said: "These are utterly heartbreaking circumstances and our thoughts go out to anyone affected by this tragic incident. "This happened on a Saturday morning when many people would be up and about and I would appeal to anyone with any information about this incident to please call us." The fire, which has now been extinguished, led to the temporary closure of nearby roads. Manchester Fire and Rescue tweeted: "Our deepest condolences go to the family and the community. We will be in the local area in the coming days reassuring residents." Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham posted on Twitter: "Dreadful news coming out of Bolton today. My thoughts are with the family, their friends and the whole community."
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The workers are long gone but the debate about the pension mess that was left behind and the corporate culture which let it all happen has carried on. Sir Philip was vilified by public and politicians alike as a mascot for corporate greed and he featured as a bogeyman in speeches by the prime minister. Throughout, Sir Philip promised to "sort", in his words, the pension problem. Those close to him were confident he would make good on that and today he did improve the lot of the pensioners. Although this settlement was described as voluntary, he was being vigorously pursued by the Pensions Regulator and faced months or even years more in dispute. The regulator will see this as establishing an important precedent for getting former owners to pay up when pension schemes go bad. He has not enjoyed the last three years one bit and has not said anything publicly today. Privately he says he wants to return to being a private businessman. In truth, he was never really that, he was not shy about living the high life quite publicly. According to the Sunday Times Rich List this sum represents just over 10% of his net worth. His reputation and his knighthood were probably worth that to him. Whether he can hang on to either is still not - in his words - "sorted".
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A survey of 15,046 UK students found they have just 10 minutes extra with university lecturers despite the rise - for the majority - in fees since 2012. The findings are revealed by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and the Higher Education Academy (HEA). The government said students, "quite rightly", had higher expectations. Higher tuition fees in England mean undergraduates currently in the first or second year of university study are paying up to £9,000 a year. The Hepi and HEA research found today's students in England were more likely to say their course was poor value compared to 2012 - before the fee hike. One third of current first- and second-year students (33%) said they were receiving poor or very poor value for money, compared with 18% in 2012. And just 36% of these students thought their course represented good value for money, compared with 52% in 2012. But the study found students in Scotland were more likely to say their course was worth the money, with 70% of those at Scottish universities rating their course as good or very value. However, Scottish students pay no tuition fees, if they study at a university in Scotland. The Hepi/HEA report says regional differences in perceptions of value for money are "not unexpected given that Scottish and other EU-domiciled students from outside the UK, who constitute the vast majority of students at Scottish institutions, effectively pay no fees". When asked what their top three priorities would be for institutional expenditure, 48% of UK students polled said "reducing fee levels", followed by having more teaching hours and reducing the size of teaching groups (both 35%). The survey also found 31% said they would definitely or maybe have chosen another course if they were to have their time again. The survey found that in the first and second years of their degree, undergraduates have an average of 14.2 hours of "contact" time - for example time spent in lectures and seminars, and spend another 14.3 hours on average in private study. This is much less than the 40 hours a week of study suggested in the Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA) guidelines, the report said. The findings show students do not attend about 9% of lectures and seminars laid on by their university, with the most common reasons for absence being that undergraduates did not find the lectures very useful and that the notes were available online. Universities minister David Willetts said: "Young people are more serious about their education than ever before. Universities need to raise their game [...] I don't think universities are worse, but students have higher expectations, quite rightly." Mr Willetts said institutions would now have to do "far better" than simply offering lectures with 500 students sitting in a room taking notes from slides on a screen. He added: "The days where the academic experience is simply sitting in rows with 500 other people taking notes from slides on a screen that you can access online on your
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Hundreds of people lined up in sub-zero temperatures for the grand opening of the famous Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee's first Canadian location. The Winnipeggers were anxious for a chance to bite into the signature fried chicken or sweet-style spaghetti mixed with ham, ground meat, and hot dog. Ron Cantiveros, publisher of the Manitoba Filipino Journal, says that for those who grew up with Jollibee's, the brand's expansion to Winnipeg brings with it a dose of nostalgia. "It's the food, it's the memories we might have had from home, it's the commercials they saw on TV growing up in the Philippines. It's all that." On the streets of the Philippines, Jollibee has a bigger presence than McDonalds or KFC. Globally, the restaurant brand has over 3,000 stores. Jefferson Cortez arrived at 6:00 local time on Thursday to get his spot in the queue, but many had arrived hours earlier, so he didn't expect to be served until lunch time. With temperatures hovering around -25C (-13F), Jollibee set up heated trailers outside of the restaurant so that hungry patrons wouldn't freeze. Winnipeg is home to over 60,000 Filipinos, and Cortez says they all have memories of Jollibee. "Jollibee is so exciting for us because it's part of growing up," he says. Founded in 1975 as a burger shack and ice cream parlour in downtown Manila, Jollibee grew from one store to the ninth-biggest fast-food chain in the world. It has become a point of pride for the large Filipino diaspora. "It's our own, we're proud about it," Cortez said. The company says it chose Winnipeg as its inaugural Canadian location because it has the largest density of Filipinos among any Canadian city. The Filipino language of Tagalog is the second-most common mother tongue spoken here. Jose Minana, who heads up the company's North American operation, said the Canadian expansion plans had been a long time in the works. Jollibee managed to gain a foothold, Minana says, because they make fast-food favourites with the Filipino palate in mind, from the crispiness of the chicken to the sweetness of the spaghetti. But beyond that is the "family values" Jollibee has built into the brand, he adds. "It really has become an icon of hope, an icon of joy in the Philippines. When things don't look too well, it's Jollibee where they go to, to celebrate or feel better," he said, comparing its cultural impact to that of Tim Horton's, a coffee and doughnut chain that has become iconically Canadian. Like Tim Horton's, not everyone agrees the food is worth waiting queuing for. "Is it good? Depends on who you ask," Cantiveros says. "But for those waiting six hours to be one of the first people, I mean, there's a certain nostalgia and craving." Jollibee has further "aggressive" North American expansion plans between now and the end of 2018, including another Winnipeg location, two in the Toronto area, and an Edmonton spot. There are also two US locations planned, one in Jacksonville, FL, and one
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Sarah Khatri was targeted by two men after parking outside St Columba Church in Chantry Road, Moseley, Birmingham at about 09:45 GMT on 27 March. The men tried to pull her out of the car before she was threatened with the blade and her Kia was stolen, police said. West Midlands Police said an investigation has been launched. See more stories from across Birmingham and the Black Country here It is the lastest attack following a spate of car-jackings in the city. Mrs Khatri said: "I had got the engine running because it was quite chilly outside and then I noticed a shadow blocking out the light next to my side of the car. "Next thing I know, I felt a jolt on the car and then I felt somebody opening the door." While one of the attackers attempted to get in via the driver's door, a second man sat in the passenger seat. Mrs Khatri, 37, initially fought back and managed to scream for help, until one of the men brandished a knife. She said: "All I remember is him bringing it to my neck in slow mention, he looked me in my eye and just went 'get out the car'. "I just thought enough, it's not worth it." A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Officers were at the scene within minutes and we continue to make enquiries into the theft."
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Teenager Kundai Benyu lit the blue touch paper on 19 minutes for Gary Waddock's men, netting with a fabulous free-kick that whipped past the wall. Jay Saunders' strugglers belied their status in the relegation zone and pressed Aldershot back for long spells after the break. However, the Hampshire side put matters beyond doubt late on when Jonny Giles swung in a terrific cross from the left and Jake Gallagher volleyed the ball into the net. Alex Flisher crashed a shot against the bar for Maidstone in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for the hosts. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 2. Second Half ends, Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 2. Callum Reynolds (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Idris Kanu (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Goal! Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 2. Jake Gallagher (Aldershot Town). Substitution, Maidstone United. Vas Karagiannis replaces Jamar Loza. Substitution, Maidstone United. Alex Flisher replaces Jack Paxman. Substitution, Aldershot Town. Jonny Giles replaces Kundai Benyu. Substitution, Maidstone United. Delano Sam-Yorke replaces Bobby-Joe Taylor. Reece Prestedge (Maidstone United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, Aldershot Town. Idris Kanu replaces Shamir Fenelon. Substitution, Aldershot Town. Scott Rendell replaces Bernard Mensah. Jim Kellerman (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Second Half begins Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 1. First Half ends, Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 1. Jake Gallagher (Aldershot Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Goal! Maidstone United 0, Aldershot Town 1. Kundai Benyu (Aldershot Town). First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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The advice will go beyond the idea of "no means no" to indentify when possible victims may have been unable to give consent. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said this will include situations where someone is drunk or has taken drugs. New guidance will also assess if "a suspect held a position of power over the potential victim." This aspect of the new guidance will take in account whether someone who claims to have been raped knew any potential suspects "as a teacher, an employer, a doctor or a fellow gang member". If you've been sexually assaulted and want help or have any questions, visit BBC Advice: Rape There'll also be clearer advice on complainants with mental health problems, learning difficulties and those who were asleep or unconscious at the time of the alleged attack. New guidance also covers domestic violence situations and those where "the complainant may be financially or otherwise dependent on their alleged rapist". The toolkit also advises officers and lawyers to ask how the suspect knew that the complainant had consented "with full capacity and freedom to do so". Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "For too long society has blamed rape victims for confusing the issue of consent - by drinking or dressing provocatively for example - but it is not they who are confused, it is society itself and we must challenge that. "Consent to sexual activity is not a grey area - in law it is clearly defined and must be given fully and freely. "It is not a crime to drink, but it is a crime for a rapist to target someone who is no longer capable of consenting to sex though drink. The current legal definition of rape is: The definition of consent and the law surrounding consent: This means a key point for the jury was whether the victim had capacity to make a choice - and whether the accused reasonably believed he or she had consented. Mrs Saunders added: "We want police and prosecutors to make sure they ask in every case where consent is the issue - how did the suspect know the complainant was saying yes and doing so freely and knowingly?" Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt said: "As report after report has shown, there is still far too much variation in the way that forces move a complaint of rape through the system. "Reporting of sexual offences is up 22% in the latest statistics because of increased confidence in our service and recording but we have further to go." Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube
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The proponents say the law would reduce prices and give farmers more incentive to grow other crops. The bill will be debated by the lower house of Congress in the coming days. But Colombia's justice minister has said introducing such a law would violate Colombia's commitments to international narcotics treaties. Colombia is one of several South and Central American countries facing widespread drugs-related violence, with much of the product destined for users in the US. The measure was proposed by Liberal Party Congressman Hugo Velasquez and signed by seven other lawmakers. It would eliminate prison terms for growing coca leaf, the main ingredient for cocaine. "We have to tell the United States and other consumers, Colombia has already paid enough, mostly in blood", said Mr Velasquez, who represents the coca-growing province of Meta. "It hasn't worked. It's time to change the strategy." The proponents say the law would lead to the market being flooded with cocaine, lowering its price and reducing the incentive for farmers to grow coca for cartels and rebel groups. "Let's see how well the laws of the market work," Mr Velasquez said. "If there's excessive production due to the lack of criminal penalties surely the market will depress the price." The government in Bogota has signalled its opposition to the law. Justice minister Juan Carlos Esguerra said Colombia had to respect its commitments to international treaties. "We have to be particularly prudent and careful," he told the Reuters news agency. Correspondents say the bill is likely to fail, but is intended to focus the attention of leaders meeting next month in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas on how to combat illegal drug production. The US has previously made clear its continued opposition to legalisation of drugs, while acknowledging it as a legitimate subject for debate.
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Frances Cappuccini, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, died at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in 2012. Dr Errol Cornish, 67, of Bromley, south-east London, pleaded not guilty to a charge of gross negligence manslaughter at the Old Bailey. Representatives of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust denied corporate manslaughter. It is the first time an NHS Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter since the offence was introduced in 2008. A trial date of 11 January 2016 was set. It is not yet known where the trial will be held. Dr Cornish, who is a consultant anaesthetist, was released on bail. An international arrest warrant remains in place for Dr Nadeem Azeez formerly of Chestnut Avenue, Tunbridge Wells. He is believed to have left the country and returned to Pakistan. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of gross negligence manslaughter against Dr Azeez.
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The ceremony at the Monastery of St Mina took place under heavy security. At least 45 people were killed in the bombings targeting St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria and St George's Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta on Sunday. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency across Egypt in response. He ordered troops to be deployed to protect "vital infrastructure" and warned of a "long and painful" war against jihadists, who have killed hundreds of people in the country in the past four years. Hundreds attended the funeral of some of the 17 people who died when a bomber blew himself up after being stopped by police at the gates of St Mark's Cathedral, where Pope Tawadros II led a Palm Sunday service. Priests in flowing, dark robes stood before a line of coffins marked with the word "martyr", and the building was filled with the prayers and chanting. Many of the mourners expressed outrage at the state's failure to protect Copts from attacks by IS, which threatened in February to escalate its campaign against them. "Where should we go pray? They are attacking us in our churches. They don't want us to pray but we will pray," Samira Adly, whose neighbours died in the attack, told Reuters news agency. "Everyone is falling short... the government, the people... nothing is good." Youths who gathered outside the monastery during the funeral shouted "Down with any president as long as Egyptian blood is cheap" and "Down with military rule", according to Reuters. A cousin of one of the 28 people killed in the attack in Tanta, where the suicide bomber managed to get inside St George's Church, also expressed anger at the failure to keep the congregation safe on an important day in the Christian calendar. "How did the bomb enter when there's security outside the church? They're saying now the metal detector wasn't working," said Beshoy Asham. The attacks raised security fears ahead of a visit to Cairo by Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. But Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the Vatican's deputy secretary of state, insisted on Monday that there was "no doubt" that the trip would go ahead on 28 and 29 April. "What happened caused disorder and tremendous suffering, but it cannot stop the pope's mission of peace," he told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper. Egypt's cabinet meanwhile gave its backing to President Sisi's declaration of a nationwide state of emergency, saying the security forces would "do what is necessary to confront the threats of terrorism and its financing". The cabinet said the state of emergency came into effect at 13:00 (11:00 GMT), but the decision must still be approved by parliament within seven days. Analysts said the decision was a political one because the security forces already enjoy wide-ranging powers that they have used to crush dissent since Mr Sisi led the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected president in 2013. More than 1,000 people, most of them supporters
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Hundreds of trains have been cancelled on one of the busiest routes in the UK, causing travel chaos for passengers. The walkout by union members started just after midnight and is part of a dispute over the role of guards. The RMT opposes a new on-board supervisor role and plans for drivers to operate doors. Govia Thameslink said the action was "totally unnecessary". The operator has insisted there will be no job losses or pay cuts, and the proposals would be implemented. Live updates on the rail strike The rail company said it was "evolving" the role of conductors so on-board staff would no longer be responsible for closing doors but would have a more visible presence on trains. Govia Thameslink Railway warned there would be no service on many routes and only a limited service between 07:30 and 1800 BST on others. However, by 13:00 BST it said the service was operating well with about two thirds of services running. Chief executive officer, Charles Horton, said: "This pointless and unnecessary action by the RMT causes enormous disruption for the 300,000 people we carry on their commute every day. "The railway men and women of Britain are overwhelmingly diligent and hard-working, and they care deeply about the rail service they provide. "But they are being led astray, and misled repeatedly, by trade unions acting in their own narrow, selfish interests and ignoring the interests of either commuters or railway workers themselves." RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our members have been backed into a corner by this aggressive and unpopular company and have had no option whatsoever but to fight to defend the safety-critical role of the guard on these rammed-out and unreliable Southern routes". Union members, who staged their first strike action on 26 April, held a protest outside the Department for Transport Rail Industry Day conference in London earlier. The RMT claims train companies nationally are "hell-bent" on removing train and station staff accusing them of putting profits before safety. Press Association industrial correspondent Alan Jones said the situation was "properly deadlocked". "The rhetoric is getting angrier by the day," he said. "Southern says all they are doing is changing the role of the conductor or guard. "But the unions are very suspicious that this is part of a wider attempt to get rid of guards altogether, which has happened on a lot of trains. "And with station staff, there is a separate dispute which may well end up in a strike soon about closure of ticket offices across Southern," he added. Govia Thameslink's chief operating officer, Dyan Crowther told BBC Surrey the company would now be implementing its proposals. "Our staff are starting to make preferences on the type of roles they want to do. We will be retaining some conductors on some coastal services. "Some staff have already opted to do those roles and some have opted to do the onboard supervisor roles," she said. Southern warned passengers that queuing systems would be in place at
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The three-year-old was hit by a Land Rover pulling a trailer on Hastings Road at about 10:00 GMT, police said. He was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Part of Parsons Street has been closed while investigations are carried out and police have appealed for witnesses.
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The World Cup match will decide who tops Pool A with both teams unbeaten. The 27-year-old Ospreys hooker has played in only one of those defeats, which stretch back to 2009. "I think with some of the boys it might be in their minds they want to get that burden off their shoulders," said Baldwin. "It's only one defeat for me and it hasn't been spoken about in the forwards. "But again it's not so big a burden this weekend, there's excitement going in to it. "The match gives us the opportunity to finish top of the group and the knowledge that we've already qualified so we can play a bit more, and that's what the coaches have emphasised." Wales' last success against the Wallabies came in 2008 when they emerged 21-18 winners at the Millennium Stadium. Since then, Australia have won 10 on the bounce, with seven of those by a margin of seven points or fewer. Australia's dominant scrummage in their 33-13 win over England was one of the surprises of the tournament. Traditionally the Wallabies scrum has been considered a weak point to attack by their opponents, with the English in particular profiting prior to last weekend's events at Twickenham. The Welsh scrum, but contrast, struggled against England and Fiji in this tournament when Wales won 28-25 and 23-13. Baldwin says it is an area Wales have been working on. "It's about collective effort," he said. "I think the front row has had issues the last couple of games, but I think we showed in the Six Nations that we can we put that right. "So it's just getting everyone in cohesion. Hopefully we can get all the cogs working this weekend and we can get parity for our backs."
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Sir Peter Mansfield led a team in the 1970s that developed Magnetic Resonance Imaging, one of the most important breakthroughs in modern medicine. The son of a gas fitter, he left school at the age of 15 before embarking on a career at the University of Nottingham. Vice-chancellor Professor Sir David Greenaway said his work "changed our world for the better". MRI scans generate 3D images of the body's internal organs without potentially harmful X-rays by utilising strong magnetic fields and radio waves. Sir Peter shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003 with the inventor of the technique, US chemist Professor Paul Lauterbur. He is credited with further developing the technology, showing it can be mathematically analysed and interpreted, creating scans that take seconds rather than hours and generating much clearer images. In his own biography on the Nobel Prize website, Sir Peter recalls growing up in Lambeth, south London, and being evacuated during World War Two. He failed his 11-plus exam and attended a central school and a secondary modern school. Sir Peter then worked as a printer's assistant until an interest in rocketry helped him secure a job at the government's rocket propulsion department in Westcott, Buckinghamshire. He completed national service and at the age of 21, studied for A-levels part time and obtained a degree in physics at Queen Mary College, University of London. He joined the University of Nottingham as a physics lecturer in 1964 and remained there until his retirement 30 years later. In a statement issued through the university, Sir Peter's family said: "As well as being an eminent scientist and pioneer in his field, he was also a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be hugely missed." In 1978, Sir Peter ignored warnings he could be putting himself in danger and became the first person to step inside a whole-body MRI scanner so that it could be tested on a human subject. And only last month, he joined former colleagues to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre at the University of Nottingham. Sir David said: "Few people can look back on a career and conclude that they have changed the world. In pioneering MRI, that is exactly what Sir Peter Mansfield has done." There was also a tribute from Sir Peter's friend, Prof Peter Morris, who was a young PhD student when he first worked with Sir Peter in the 1970s. Prof Morris, who still works at the university's school of physics and astronomy, said: "MRI has lost the rock on which it was founded. "Sir Peter's pioneering research has revolutionised diagnostic medicine and all of us have felt its benefits. "He has been the defining influence on my life as supervisor, colleague and friend. We will not see his like again." The university said Sir Peter's invention of the fast scanning technique, known as echo-planar imaging, underpins the most sophisticated MRI applications in clinical use. It said Sir
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Rovers signed the experienced former Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion player last September on a deal until the end of the 2015-16 season following his release by Northampton. The 32-year-old made 39 appearances as Rovers just missed out on promotion. One of Carter's former clubs Cheltenham lifted the title before Rovers lost to Grimsby in the promotion final. Forest Green won their first nine league games in 2015-16, a fifth-tier record, prior to free agent Carter's arrival. but he still ended up on the winning side for the Nailsworth club on 18 separate occasions. As well as tying up defender Dale Bennett on a new deal, new Rovers boss Mark Cooper has also made nine new signings since becoming Forest Green manager in May. Boyhood Birmingham City fan Carter, who scored the penalty shootout winner at the Millennium Stadium which took Blues to the Premier League for the first time in 2002, has made 392 league and cup appearances in his career. Carter, who also had four seasons at Preston and has also spent time on loan at Sunderland and Millwall, has played in four of English football's top five tiers. He played for Birmingham and Albion in both the Premier League and in the Championship, where he also played for Sunderland, Preston and Millwall. He has been in League Two with Cheltenham and Northampton and in the National League with Forest Green, but he has never played in League One.
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The 28-year-old, who has won 17 caps, returned to the national squad in March after missing the entire Euro 2016 qualifying campaign through injury. "It is a dream to play for your country first and foremost. It is even bigger to try to captain the side," he said. "I will throw my name in the hat, definitely. It is a massive honour." Scotland manager Gordon Strachan will name his squad on Monday, 22 August, for the opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Malta on Sunday, 4 September. In-form Celtic trio Leigh Griffiths, Kieran Tierney and James Forrest are among the players likely to be recalled after Strachan left out players from the Scottish champions and Aberdeen for the end-of-season friendlies against Italy and France. West Brom midfielder Darren Fletcher, 32, took the captain's armband for those matches, and will also be in contention to retain the role for the forthcoming campaign. Snodgrass admits Brown's decision to retire from international football, having won 50 caps over the past decade, came as a surprise. "I didn't see it coming to be honest," he told BBC Scotland's Sportsound programme. "Scott is still young, he is only 31, and he has so much to give in terms of his enthusiasm and character around the squad. "He has been a terrific captain, he has been superb to work with and I wish him all the best with his club career and taking that forward." Snodgrass, meanwhile, has played a key role in two successive victories for Hull City, the Premier League relegation favourites. Tigers caretaker manager Mike Phelan has been relying on just 13 players after suffering a string of injuries - including to Scotland keeper Allan McGregor, who could be out until 2017 - and signing no players since their promotion in May. "It was 11 and a substitute keeper, and now Shaun Maloney is fit again and Harry Maguire is getting fit, so we could get to 14, but that is it," Snodgrass joked. "We just have to focus on each game and do the best we can at the moment with what we have. "There is a good core of lads in the team who have all stuck together, and you don't want to let any of your team-mates down."
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Kent Police confirmed officers had sent the file to its lawyers following an investigation. Mr Mackinlay beat Nigel Farage in the seat of South Thanet two years ago. The CPS will decide whether any charges should be brought against either Mr Mackinlay or his agent. Mr Mackinlay said he had done nothing wrong. In a statement, the MP added: "I have... acted honestly and properly throughout." Mr Mackinlay has said he plans to stand again in the seat in this year's general election. Police said officers investigating offences under the Representation of the People's Act 1983 submitted the file to the CPS earlier this month. The CPS confirmed it had received a file but did not comment further.
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Hart's weakness at set-pieces aimed low to his left was exposed at Euro 2016 by Gareth Bale for Wales and Iceland's Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, the 30-year-old getting hands on both but failing to prevent goals, the second of which ended England's interest in the tournament. This time Hart was engulfed by the perfect footballing storm of a brilliant set-piece from Griffiths, a wall that did not jump and poor positioning from the goalkeeper himself, too far over to his right to be able to get near Scotland's equaliser. Griffiths repeated the treatment to Hart's right from a free-kick three minutes later and while England snatched a 2-2 draw in this World Cup qualifier, Hart's position as undisputed first-choice goalkeeper has never been under greater threat. Two great free-kicks no doubt - but opponents have sensed the soft underbelly in Hart's game and it will not go away. Joe Hart is still a good goalkeeper - but these are tough times for someone who has been regarded as a senior England figure and automatic selection for so long, He was brutally moved on by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City last summer. No-one tempting enough came forward in the Premier League and he ended up at Torino in Serie A, where Italian observers reflected on his performances this season as mixed. It remains to be seen if there are any more Premier League takers this summer than there were last, but this display will have been more of a concern as far as England are concerned. When opposition sense weakness it is probed relentlessly and ruthlessly. Think England cricketer Graeme Hick, a wonderful run-getter, tortured throughout his international career against raw pace. Bale and Sigthorsson were the most high-profile examples of Hart's main vulnerability, when in France he also cut an agitated and over-hyped figure. And Hart simply does not seem to be the goalkeeper he once was. If this is merely some elongated dip away from his highest standards then his timing is also unfortunate. Hart will still be able to operate at a high level but the very reasonable question being posed now is: "Is he still England's best option? Is there anyone else out there?" The fear for Hart is that he is providing the answers to those two key questions with his own indifferent performances. No. Yes. There has never been a more obvious time for change. Hart had a free run at the England goalkeeping position for many years when he enjoyed success at Manchester City - the latest problem he faces is that he is suddenly under pressure from a quartet of contenders. England manager Gareth Southgate will surely take the opportunity to try another option against France in Paris on Tuesday night. It will be a big night for the man who gets the first audition. Southampton's Fraser Forster, who also had his indifferent moments last season, will hope it is him after the 29-year-old giant has waited patiently on the margins while winning his six
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Diack is provisionally suspended by the IOC while he is investigated by French police over allegations he took bribes to cover up positive drugs tests when in charge of the IAAF. He had already resigned as president of the International Athletics Foundation, the charitable arm of the IAAF, which the 82-year-old headed for 16 years. On Monday, the IAAF was implicated in a World Anti-Doping Agency report that accused Russia of widespread doping. Diack's son Papa Massata, advisor Habib Cisse and the former IAAF anti-doping chief Gabriel Dolle are also being investigated by French police. Media playback is not supported on this device The French financial prosecutor said in a statement last week: "Diack is suspected of receiving money in exchange for deferring sanctions for several Russian athletes who were found guilty of doping in 2011, ahead of the Olympic Games. "Diack and Cisse were arrested on Sunday and released on Tuesday, after being interrogated by police officers and judges. "They were presented to a judge on Tuesday who informed them that they had been put under a formal investigation. The investigation also continues into whether other persons were involved in suspected corruption." The IOC said on Tuesday: "The executive board decided this afternoon to confirm the proposal of the IOC ethics commission to provisionally suspend Mr. Lamine Diack, the former president of IAAF, from his honorary membership of the IOC." The statement went on to urge the IAAF to take action against Olympic athletes accused of doping in Wada's report. Diack ended his 16-year reign as IAAF president in August, when Briton Coe, a double Olympic 1500m winner, was elected as his replacement.
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Head coach Eddie Jones wants the Northampton hooker to replace Chris Robshaw for the Six Nations campaign. Hartley, 29, has recently been sidelined with concussion and a rib injury, but will feature for Northampton against Scarlets in the European Champions Cup on Saturday. The England squad will gather for the first time under Jones at a training camp after this weekend's games. Harlequins flanker Robshaw has been captain for the past four years, but came in for heavy criticism during England's poor World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Jones has confirmed that World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson and ex-Australia flanker George Smith will carry out "informal" coaching roles with England during the Six Nations. "They will come in and help the players at various times," he said. "George will definitely come in next Wednesday to help the back rowers. But it's very informal. He's not a coach as such, he's doing it out of friendship. "He's one of the best defence breakdown forwards in the world. He will help our aspiring number sevens."
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Scott and Donna Hussey's son, Freddie, suffered fatal head injuries when he was hit as he walked with his mother. Mr Hussey said if the trailer had been tested "this might not had happened". Tony Davies, 37, from Hallen, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service for causing Freddie's death through careless driving. He was also disqualified from driving for six months by a judge at Bristol Crown Court. In court Freddie's parents called the sentence a "joke" and described Davies as "scum". But judge Geoffrey Mercer said there was "no suggestion" that Davies was driving "anything but entirely properly". "The carelessness lies between the coupling of the Land Rover and the trailer," he added. Mr Hussey said the law needed to be changed and confirmed the couple would be appealing to the Attorney General's office because of the "leniency" of the sentence. "There should be a MOT for trailers, there is in other countries and there should be here, if there were this might not have happened," he said. Mrs Hussey said there had been a similar tragedy in Derbyshire eight years ago when a four-year-old boy was hit by a runaway trailer. "His mother went to the government to try to get the law changed and introduce the safety checks but nothing ever happened. "What happened to Freddie could have been prevented if they'd listened. "Two little boy's lives have gone now, there could be more, we don't know. "It doesn't seem right that in a country which is all on health and safety, yet these trailers are being driven around dangerously."
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Manager Brendan Rodgers now has two trophies in his debut season, following League Cup success in November, and has a Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers to look forward to. Unbeaten in all domestic games, the Celtic class of 2016-17 are already in record-breaking form. Here are a few of the key numbers behind their successful league defence. No Scottish champions have gone unbeaten since the 19th Century. Celtic (1897-98) - P18 W15 D3 L0 - and Rangers (1898-99) - P18 W18 D0 L0 - both managed the feat, but those campaigns were less than half the duration of the current one. In the SPL/Premiership era, Celtic lost once in their 2013-14 and 2001-02 successes. In season 1967-68, both winners Celtic and runners-up Rangers were beaten just once. The longest unbeaten league sequence in the modern age is 32, set by Celtic in 2003-04. The current side have played 30. Celtic set a remarkable record of 62 unbeaten league games from 1915-17, although that is some way behind Steaua Bucharest's 106 (1986-89). The previous record was SEVEN set by Rangers in 1928-29 and equalled by Celtic in 2013-14, both over 38-game campaigns like this one. Paris Saint-Germain set a new European mark last season when they finished 31 points clear in Ligue 1, bettering the 29-point margin of victory Celtic managed in 2013-14. Rodgers' side are currently 25 points ahead of Aberdeen in second place. The Scottish record is 103 points, set by Celtic in 2001-02, Martin O'Neill's second season in charge, with Rangers 18 points adrift. Only Welsh side Barry Town AFC have completed a top-flight campaign with more; 105 in 1996-97 and 104 in 1997-98. Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the other European sides to have hit 100 or more in a term. If Celtic can keep on winning, there are a possible 110 up for grabs this time. Celtic will need to average three goals a game over the home stretch to reach the 105 they scored in 2003-04. The current league average is 2.7 goals per game without a single blank return. In 1966-67, under the legendary Jock Stein, Celtic netted 111 goals in 34 Division One games, returning an eye-watering 196 in all competitions on their way to a domestic treble and European Cup glory. This record can only be equalled if Craig Gordon doesn't let another goal in. Between them, Celtic pair Fraser Forster and Lukasz Zaluska kept 25 Premier League shut-outs in 2011-12. England keeper Forster established a league record of 13 consecutive clean sheets, with the run finally ending on 1,256 minutes. Celtic have conceded 18 goals in their 30 league games so far. Close but no cigar. This season's run came to an end with a 1-1 draw at home to Rangers on 12 March. The record stands at 25; set by Celtic in 2003-04. The European best belongs to Benfica, with 29 across two seasons from 1971-73, while Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb managed 28 from 2006-07. Scott Sinclair banged in a
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There are plenty of reasons to be wary of Kiryl Relikh, but Burns has never carried apprehension into any of his fights. Friday night's bout will be Scot Burns' first defence of his WBA super-lightweight belt - the third weight at which he has held a world title - and there is a stark contrast between the two boxers. Burns is experienced, a 33-year-old about to fight his 47th bout with 349 rounds behind him in his professional career, and a man at ease with his status and the demands of being a world champion. Relikh, at 26, has only fought 21 times, across 61 rounds, although there ought to be regard given to 19 of those fights ending by knockout. It is clear that the Belarus boxer, who lives and trains in Manchester, is capable of powerful punching, but also that Burns is a step up in class from his previous opponents. The Scotsman is accustomed to dealing with the high stakes involved in a world title bout. The possibility of a high-profile and lucrative fight in Las Vegas with Adrian Broner, the former four-weight world champion, has been raised, but Burns is not susceptible to losing his focus. "He is a consummate professional, he's very one-track minded and all he's thinking about is beating Kiryl Relikh and moving on," said Burns' promoter Eddie Hearns. "He's in the best shape of his career so far, he's making the weight a lot better than he did at lightweight, and he's confident. "[It is] a really tough defence. He has got a fighter here who is relatively unknown. People will look at it on paper: Ricky Burns, three-weight world champion, this is going to be a nice home-town defence. Absolutely not. "Kiryl Relikh can really punch, the first three or four rounds are going to be very dangerous for Ricky Burns. [By using] his experience, getting the jab working and tiring out Kiryl Relikh, I believe he'll stop him late in the fight, but it's a very dangerous defence." Relikh is being trained and mentored by former world champion Ricky Hatton, and even stays in one of Hatton's houses in Manchester. Relikh does not speak enough English to talk without a translator, but Hatton has been an enthusiastic advocate of his fighter's ability. The Belarusian has not fought to 12 rounds before, though, and will be fighting in a hostile environment in Glasgow. "When it comes to this stage, a few days out before the fight, a boxer and a trainer have to look in the mirror and say, is there any more that we could have done? We looked in it this morning and we know there isn't any more we could have done," Hatton said. "We're ready. "He's a nice, down-to-earth kid, but he is cold in his veins, he's a real nasty type of fighter. That's what you need in boxing. It's hard to convince a fellow who's had 19 knockouts out of 21 that you're not just
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Equipped with quad bikes and a patrol vehicle, complete with basic medical kit, they can be anywhere on the seafront in less than eight minutes - much faster than an ambulance. Roger has done the job for just a year but admits he has been "astounded" by how much of his time is spent preventing and dealing with suicides. "Seeing someone in a state of hopelessness and despair is very hard. "But, for me, it is being able to provide a service that can make a real difference to people in crisis," he says. The seafront officers, who are responsible for everyone's safety along the coastline, have been trained specifically to respond quickly in these kinds of situations. Working with a team of 30 lifeguards who are posted along the beach, they try to stop people from harming themselves in the sea, saving lives using equipment such as surfboards and tubes. Sometimes it means working closely with other emergency services such as the police, coastguard and the NHS. On other occasions it may just mean offering support and advising people where to go next for professional help. A local charity, Grassroots Suicide Prevention, trained up the seafront team on how to be alert to people at risk of suicide, how to prevent and intervene in suicide attempts and how to handle self-harm. None of it is easy to handle, Roger says, but the response is much more co-ordinated than it used to be. A&E departments can now call the seafront team direct if they are worried about someone who has just left their care. This means they will try to engage with people who seem vulnerable before they get into danger. Last year, 12 vulnerable people were rescued from the water along the seafront and many more were helped to address mental health problems. The House of Commons health committee says the current rate of suicide is unacceptable and may not be an accurate reflection of the true scale of loss of life. Suicide is the main cause of death in young people under 35 - more than 1,600 take their own lives every year, three-quarters of them young men. Councils were given the responsibility of developing local suicide action plans in 2012 and now 95% of local authorities have one. Like Brighton's seafront team, projects involving barbers in Torbay and a rural support network for farmers in Lincolnshire have been a huge success. But MPs say there is more that can be done in other areas. The health committee wants to see: Torquay barber Tom Chapman wants to let everyone know it's OK to talk to him - about anything. Since losing a good friend to suicide, he has made it his mission to help men in a similar frame of mind by encouraging them to come to his shop and open up about their emotional and mental health. "Men have a fear of being seen to be weak and that's why they don't open up but they get
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Sally Holland and three other UK commissioners have studied governments' records on children's rights in a report for the United Nations. She said it was "deeply disappointing" having to report that Wales had the highest levels of poverty in the UK. The Welsh government said it was investing £323m in anti-poverty work. Ms Holland and the commissioners for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland said in the report they were alarmed at how welfare changes had increased child poverty. They said under current policies figures were expected to rise, with 4.7 million children projected to be living in poverty by 2020. Reporting on the situation in Wales, Ms Holland said: "It is deeply disappointing that I have to present a report to the UN which shows Wales having the highest rate of child poverty in the UK. "Although the Welsh government has a clear anti-poverty strategy with some promising programmes for children, including Flying Start and Families First, these have so far failed to make an impact on overall rates of poverty. "This may be related to the problems of scale and that these programmes do not reach enough children in Wales." She said about 200,000 children in Wales lived in poverty, adding: "I remain convinced that the Welsh government and local government have some levers to change things. "The approach taken by the Welsh government places a central emphasis on securing employment as a route out of poverty but there is also an urgent need to address in-work poverty. "Many families are struggling with a combination of low wages and high childcare, housing and heating costs. Wales now has more low-income working families living in poverty than there are non-working ones." The UK-wide report identifies areas of common concern including the state of mental health services, child sexual abuse, children in the justice system, the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and repealing the Human Rights Act. The commissioners make 70 recommendations on tackling the issues. Figures released last week showed a third of children in Wales lived in poverty - households where the income is below 60% of the UK average of £453 a week. The charity Barnardo's welcomed the report, and said millions of children were being failed. Responding to the children's commissioners' report, the Welsh government said: "We are in agreement with the Children's Commissioners that the UK government's welfare reforms and austerity measures have had a hugely detrimental impact on the lives of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. "This is why we are investing over £323m in our tackling poverty programmes this year alone, while all our government departments continue to work together to focus more relentlessly on the root causes of poverty."
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Lloyd Webber said he was "devastated" to end his career as a musician. The 63-year-old said a herniated disc in his neck had reduced the power in his right arm, with which he holds his bow. Lloyd Webber's acclaimed performance of his brother's Variations album was used as the theme to The South Bank Show. He was also celebrated for his performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto and was elected president of the Elgar Society in 2009. Lloyd Webber said: "I am devastated. There were so many exciting plans that cannot now come to fruition. "I have had an immensely fulfilling career and feel privileged to have worked with so many great musicians and orchestras but now I have to move on." His last album, A Tale of Two Cellos was a compilation of more than 20 duets for two cellos and piano and featured Lloyd Webber performing with his wife, Jiaxin Cheng. His final concert as a performer is to take place at the Forum Theatre, Malvern, with the English Chamber Orchestra on 2 May. "After 2 May, my cello will fall silent," he said, adding he had "no intention of enduring a forced retirement". "I would like to use the knowledge I have gained through my life as a musician and an educator to give back as much as I can to the music profession which has given me so much over the years," he said. He added he needed "time to reflect and to consider this sudden and distressing life-changing situation". Lloyd Webber made his professional debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in 1972 when he gave the first London performance of the Cello Concerto by Sir Arthur Bliss. His Brit award-winning Elgar Cello Concerto, conducted by Yehudi Menuhin was selected by BBC Music Magazine as the finest ever version. In May 2001, he was granted the first busker's licence on the London Underground. "It is good to have variety in life," Lloyd Webber said at the time. "I like to play to people but the next stop will be the Royal Albert Hall." His older brother, musical impresario Lord Lloyd-Webber, paid tribute, saying he "had known of Julian's difficulties for some while and, like him, I was hoping this would not come to pass. "Music has lost one of its finest performers."
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About 70 firefighters were called to the grass fire at Stoney Castle Ranges near Pirbright on Saturday evening. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said 50 hectares of heathland was alight, with 200 more being affected by the blaze. The smoke can be seen for miles around. Nearby residents have been urged to keep their windows shut. The heath at Pirbright is home to species including the silver-studded blue butterfly, slow worms and lizards. A spokesman for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said: "We have been fighting the fire overnight with six fire appliances and a number of specialist wildfire vehicles, with approximately 50 firefighters. "These fire crews are using over 10km of hose." He added: "The fire is affecting 200 hectares, with 50 hectares alight, this can be seen from a considerable distance, with smoke affecting surrounding areas including Pirbright Common, Ash Ranges, Deepcut and Mytchett." People living nearby have been urged to keep their doors and windows closed due to the smoke. Surrey Police want to speak to a man wearing a camouflage top, blue jeans and black boots who was seen in the area when the fire started.
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The 31-year-old made his debut as a contributor to the nightly satirical show last December. His first appearance took aim at racial tensions in the US, saying: "I never thought I'd be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa." Stewart announced he would be stepping down in January. He has hosted the influential comedy show for 16 years. The presenter has yet to set a timetable for his departure, but the selection of a replacement should make the task easier. Producers will want to give Noah time to settle into this new role before next year's Presidential election. Speaking to the New York Times from Dubai, where he is on tour, the comedian expressed disbelief at his appointment. "You don't believe it for the first few hours," he said. "You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you're in a place where you can't really get alcohol." "I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor," said Stewart in a statement. "He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with." The star added he "may rejoin [The Daily Show] as a correspondent just to be a part of it!" Comedian Chris Rock, who had been touted as a possible replacement for Stewart, tweeted: "Thank you president Obama" Under Stewart's guidance, The Daily Show has become one of the most important political programmes on US television. Even though he insists he is a comedian, not a journalist, Stewart's passionate monologues on politics, race and social justice exert a real influence on political debate in the United States. "He essentially invented a new way to deliver the news that spoke to a younger generation less trusting of the traditional sources but still very interested in the world." said Dan Pfeiffer, an adviser to President Barack Obama, when Stewart announced he was quitting. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren added: "Washington is rigged for the big guys - and no person has more consistently called them out for it than Jon Stewart. Good luck, Jon!" As well as Stewart, the Daily Show has also nurtured the careers of comedians such as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver - all of whom started off a "reporters" in the show's fake newsroom set-up. Noah is a relative unknown in the States, but has hosted numerous television shows - including his own late night talk show - in his native country. It has garnered him an avid following on Twitter, where his two million followers will be aware of his ability to satirise the news without disengaging from the issues. One popular tweet, posted during Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013, read: "People shouldn't have booed Zuma at Mandela's memorial. But it's crazy that their anger supersedes their pain." And after the 2012 Olympic Games, he quipped: "I'll miss the Olympics. It's the one time, when a group of black people can run, with no suspicion." Noah was previously the subject of David Paul Meyer's award-winning film You Laugh But It's True, which
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Phillip Tunoi denies taking money to rule in favour of Evans Kidero, whose election as Nairobi governor was challenged in 2014. Mr Kidero, who became governor in March 2013, has also denied that he paid a bribe to influence the ruling. Both men deny meeting the person who alleges that he was their intermediary and facilitated the bribe. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said he had ordered the inquiry into Geoffrey Kiplagat's allegations because of their "gravity" and "the public interest this matter has generated". "We are committed to running a clean judiciary and any matter that is brought before us is investigated and acted on fairly without prejudice to individual rights or public interest." After chairing a special session of the Judicial Service Commission on Wednesday, Mr Mutunga said a six-member committee had been formed to investigate the allegations within seven days. Judge Tunoi says the allegations are a smear campaign ahead of a decision over who should succeed the chief justice, who plans to retire. "I would not hesitate to leave the judiciary immediately if my accuser can prove an iota of my wrongdoing," he told Kenya's NTV station.
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Test your news knowledge with our 12 days of Christmas news quizzes. This quiz is day 10 and asks questions about the month of October 2016. Good luck!
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Jeremy made the big reveal during his appearance this morning on BBC Radio Two's The Chris Evans Breakfast Show. Jeremy said of joining Strictly, "I love it. Things I love: 1. Len shouting SEVEN. 2. When someone suddenly pulls off an astonishing dance that makes you cry, like Natalie Gumede. 3. Watching it with my young daughters when so few programmes have family overlap these days." When asked about the judges, Jeremy commented "They are the scariest bunch of people I have ever seen assembled in one place, but I love the fact that their expertise shines through." The 13th series of Strictly will start in September. The other celebrities taking part will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. Last year's competition was won by new Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack, who beat celebrities including Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and EastEnders actor Jake Wood to win the glitterball trophy.
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He posted two messages on the microblogging site saying he would not be sending any more updates. The 19-year-old said: "The reason i don't tweet as much as i use to, is because I'm sick of all the useless opinions and hate that I get daily goodbye twitter. "Fans that have something to say can tweet me on the one direction account." Zayn Malik, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, is not the first celebrity to leave Twitter. Nicki Minaj left the site in April after a row with a fan who posted snippets of her album online. She returned to the microblogging site just over a week later. Blue Peter host Helen Skelton deleted her Twitter account earlier this month saying she could not cope with the negative comments. Miley Cyrus also deleted her Twitter account in 2009 before returning and actress Demi Lovato has not tweeted since 2009. Users have 30 days to reactivate their accounts. Zayn Malik had more than five million followers before he deleted his profile. The rest of One Direction - Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson - all still have Twitter accounts. The group finished third in the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010.
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The 11-year-old son of Montjeu won 14 of his 26 starts for Aidan O'Brien including the Irish Derby (2009) and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (2011). He was retired to Coolmore Stud at the end of the 2012 season. "Fame And Glory sadly passed away this morning after suffering a suspected heart attack when covering a mare," said Coolmore on Twitter.
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Mewn adroddiad gafodd ei gyhoeddi ym mis Rhagfyr, daeth Nick Bennett i'r casgliad y dylai Cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr dalu £3,310 i Rob Johnson erbyn Ionawr 21 ar ôl i ymchwiliad ddatgelu bod yr awdurdod heb fonitro ei gyfrif cynilo yn ddigonol. Mae Mr Bennett wedi rhybuddio'r awdurdod ei fod yn bwriadu cymryd camau pellach yn eu herbyn os nad ydyn nhw'n gwneud y taliad. Yn ôl y cyngor, maen nhw'n cymryd y cyfrifoldeb o fod yn riant corfforaethol ar gyfer plant mewn gofal yn ddifrifol iawn. Roedd Mr Johnson, sydd bellach yn 18 oed, yn ddwy oed pan gafodd ei faethu. Honnodd bod rhywfaint o'i gynilion wedi cael ei defnyddio, heb ymgynghori ag ef, i dalu am dripiau y dylai fod wedi derbyn lwfans arbennig ar eu cyfer. Wrth siarad gyda BBC Cymru, dywedodd bod y cyngor wedi ei "adael i lawr" a'i fwriad oedd defnyddio'r arian fel cronfa argyfwng personol. Dywedodd: "Byddai'r arian yn tawelu meddwl, byddai gen i rywbeth wrth gefn pe bai rhywbeth yn mynd o'i le. Fe fyddai'n gwella fy mywyd." Daeth ymchwiliad yr Ombwdsmon i'r casgliad bod prosesau'r cyngor ddim yn gyson, ac yn cyfateb i gamweinyddu. Mae'r adroddiad yn dweud bod yr awdurdod wedi methu â chadw cofnodion digonol na chadw llyfr cynilion Mr Johnson ar ddiwedd ei leoliad maethu, ac roedd hyn yn golygu ei fod yn aneglur pam fod ei gynilion mor isel. Dywedodd Mr Bennett "Dwi'n gobeithio rŵan y gallan nhw 'neud y peth iawn, y peth cyfiawn, y peth teg a thalu'r arian i'r dyn ifanc yma oherwydd ddaru ni ymchwilio yn hollol annibynnol, a 'da ni yn teimlo yr unig peth gallan nhw 'neud i sicrhau tegwch a chyfiawnder ydy sicrhau bod y taliad yma'n digwydd." Mae'n cydnabod bod ei adroddiad yn amlygu materion ehangach, systemig o ran cynilion plant mewn gofal, ond ychwanegodd ei fod "ishe gweld cyfiawnder i'r dyn ifanc yma". Bydd yr Ombwdsmon yn cyfarfod cynrychiolwyr y cyngor ddydd Mercher i drafod yr achos, ond dywedodd os nad yw'r cyngor yn newid ei safbwynt y byddai'n defnyddio ei bwerau i gyhoeddi adroddiad pellach, gan dynnu mwy o sylw i'r achos a chynyddu costau. Mewn datganiad, dywedodd Cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr y byddan nhw'n cydymffurfio â holl argymhellion yr Ombwdsmon heblaw am wneud taliad o £3,310 i Mr Johnson i "ad-dalu arbedion nad oeddent wedi'u gwneud ar ei gyfer yn ystod ei amser mewn gofal maeth". Yn ôl yr awdurdod, does dim cyfraith na pholisi cenedlaethol yn rhoi hawl i gynghorau orfodi gofalwyr i arbed arian ar ran plant mewn gofal. Maen nhw'n pwysleisio bod yr achos yn codi materion ar lefel genedlaethol, ac y byddai'n "amhriodol" felly i geisio delio â'r materion ar lefel leol. Mae'r cyngor hefyd yn codi pryderon y byddai gweithredu argymhellion yr adroddiad yn arwain at gyfrifoldebau ychwanegol i ofalwyr maeth ac fe allai hyn atal gofalwyr maeth presennol a newydd rhag gwirfoddoli. Er hynny, maen nhw'n croesawu'r ffaith y bydd y mater yn cael ei drafod yn y cyfarfod Rhwydwaith
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The restoration work will help reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by locking carbon into the environment. It is estimated there are 1.7 million hectares of peatland in Scotland, much of which is eroding. The funding will double the amount already restored from almost 10,000 hectares to 20,000. A significant increase in peatland restoration forms part of Scotland's draft Climate Plan, which is currently going through parliament. It aims to increase annual targets to 20,000 hectares, with 250,000 expected to be restored by 2032. The carbon contains greenhouse gases that are released when it is exposed due to erosion of the peatlands by the elements. Erosion is caused by the peat either being washed away by rainfall or dried out by the sun. Experts flatten the peat embankments using diggers and then cover over with vegetation. Andrew McBride, a peatland specialist with Scottish Natural Heritage, told BBC Scotland: "Scotland's peatlands actually hold the equivalent of about 140 years of our emissions from Scotland - all the industry. So it's very important that we hold the actual carbon and the peat in place. "If it goes into the atmosphere, it's actually going to exacerbate climate change and that's why we're doing this, basically to cap it and keep it in place." Work has recently begun on a 15-hectare stretch of moorland on the Auchlyne and Suie estates in Perthshire, which involves the re-profiling of 12km of peat hags. Two diggers will spend about four weeks re-sculpting the landscape 2,000ft above sea level. Landowner Emma Paterson said: "One did think, well, that sounds very odd because back in the 70s my mother got grants to do a lot of draining and this seemed to be going completely the opposite way. "Thinking on it, it's going to benefit wildlife and make the habitat better with better grazing for animals." The work on the Auchlyne and Suie estate is costing £49,000 and was organised by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The park's land manager, Harriet Donald, said: "You've got a lot of vegetation on the top (of healthy peatland) so basically at the moment you're losing any species, invertebrates, bird species that use that vegetation. "So once that comes back in, you're creating an active, healthy peatland which will benefit all manner of biodiversity." Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Restoring our peatlands and taking advantage of their value as a natural resource is crucial if we are to continue to build on our world leading low carbon ambitions, and reduce emissions by 66% by 2032. "By increasing our investment more communities will be able to transform and use peatlands as an open space, regenerating it as a habitat for wildlife and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
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At least 250,000 people have been trapped there almost continuously since pro-government forces encircled the area in July. Conditions are said to be appalling, with destruction on a massive scale. Readers told us they wanted to know why people were still living there, so we put the question to residents through Facebook and WhatsApp. Formerly Syria's economic hub, Aleppo had an estimated pre-war population of about two million. About one million people are now living in the west, in comparative safety. Those trapped in the east are living in appalling conditions. The UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien recently described the area as "the apex of horror". Food and fuel are running out and basic infrastructure and health care have been obliterated. The rebels have retaliated by shelling the west - resulting in the deaths of civilians there - but this is on a smaller scale. The main reason why people have not left is that they have become trapped, they told us. "Some people left before the siege. Now no-one can leave," says Mohammed, a 31-year-old phonetics teacher at the university in Aleppo. People have to be careful not to use up their phone batteries because there are only a few hours of electricity each day. However, they are still able to get messages to the outside world. Dr Ossama, 32, is one of only 30 doctors left treating the 250,000 population of east Aleppo. He describes the dire situation: "The city is under siege completely. "No food, no electricity, no pure water, no roads out of Aleppo. The general situation is very dangerous. Every second you can be targeted by shelling or by snipers." Fatemah, 26, who is a teacher, says she never expected the siege to happen. "All my family got out three years ago and went to Egypt and Turkey. I stayed here because I wanted to complete my studies in law at the University of Aleppo. "We couldn't imagine we'd be under siege. We didn't think that the regime would do that. Before the siege, there was food and medicine and we had got used to the bombing. The bombing is more dangerous now." The Syrian government and its Russian allies have periodically opened "humanitarian corridors" for civilians to leave through. There is a lot of scepticism from residents of east Aleppo over how safe these routes actually are. "The regime lied about making humanitarian corridors," says Abdulkafi, who teaches English at the university. "If you were with your family, and a robber came and killed your son and daughter and then, after 10 days, he says, 'Come and be a guest in my house', would you trust him? "[President] Assad and the Russians kill civilians and now they say, 'Come on in'. How can we do that? We prefer to eat the leaves from the trees than go back." Abdulkafi has lived in Aleppo for three years. Before the uprising, he was a lecturer in a different town. He attended the demonstrations against President Assad.
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Breath, bodily odours and urine are all amazingly revealing about general health. Even the humble cold can give off an odour, thanks to the thick bacteria-ridden mucus that ends up in the back of the throat. The signs are not apparent to everyone - but some super-smellers are very sensitive to the odours. Joy Milne, for example, noticed her husband's smell had changed shortly before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Humans can detect nearly 10,000 different smells. Formed by chemicals in the air, they are absorbed by little hairs, made of extremely sensitive nerve fibres, hanging from the nose's olfactory receptors. And the human sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than the sense of taste. But dogs, as the old joke might have had it, smell even better. Their ability to detect four times as many odours as humans makes them a potential early warning system for a range of diseases. Research suggesting dogs' could sniff out cancers, for example, was first published about 10 years ago. And there have been many tales of dogs repeatedly sniffing an area of their owner's body, only for it to turn out to be hiding a tumour. What they are smelling are the "volatile molecules" given off by cells when they become cancerous. Some studies suggest dogs can be 93% accurate. Others suggest they can detect very small tumours before clinical tests can. And yet more studies have produced mixed results. At Milton Keynes University Hospital, a small team has recently begun to collect human urine samples to test dogs' ability to detect the smell of prostate cancer. The patients had symptoms such as difficulty urinating or a change in flow, which could turn out to be prostate, bladder or liver cancer. Rowena Fletcher, head of research and development at the hospital, says the role of the dogs - which have been trained by Medical Detection Dogs - is to pick out samples that smell of cancer. Further down the line, a clinical test will show if the dogs' diagnosis is correct. She says the potential for using dogs in this way is far-reaching - even if it is not practical to have a dog in every surgery. "We hope one day that there could be an electronic machine on every GP's desk which could test a urine sample for diseases by smelling it," she says. "But first we need to pick up the pattern of what the dogs are smelling." And that's the key. Dogs can't tell us what their noses are detecting, but scientists believe that different cancers could produce different smells, although some might also be very similar. Lab tests to understand what these highly-trained dogs are smelling could then inform the development of 'electronic noses' to detect the same molecules. These might then give rise to better diagnostic tests in the future. The potential for using smell to test for a wide range of diseases is huge, Ms Fletcher says. Bacteria, cancers and chronic diseases could
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the BBC first broadcasting the Masters from the Augusta National in Georgia and some familiar names have shared their memories of playing in, watching and commentating on one of the world's most iconic sporting events. Peter Alliss played in the first Masters covered by the BBC in 1967, having also contested the previous year's tournament and although he was initially unimpressed as a player, he has grown fond of the place since becoming a commentator. Playing there wasn't a happy experience for me. I realised that you weren't really made to feel welcome back in the 1960s. That goes against everything they say today. You had to have a local caddie. The locals didn't want to caddie as they felt you had little chance of doing well and hence they had little chance of getting a good tip. It was very overpowering. From my point of view, I was overawed by the whole thing. But I have marvelled at the place since. It is fearless when it comes to innovation. And when you go out in front of the clubhouse where they sit under the big trees, you see the famous faces from days gone by. Some are missing, some new ones come, some never change. Two years ago I was walking and the late Arnold Palmer was there. We were great friends since the 1950s. He gave me a big hug in front of hundreds of people, they had no idea who I was. It's just people. The people for me make it. There's just a general feeling that it's just different. Media playback is not supported on this device One thing an interviewer should never be is starstruck. The other crime is failing to listen to what the interviewee is telling you. I was guilty on both counts during my first visit to Augusta in 1993. It was under the famous tree outside the clubhouse where I first interviewed my all-time golfing hero Jack Nicklaus. Among a scrum of reporters I thrust my microphone under the great man's nose and he explained that he would likely miss that year's Open because of an ongoing hip problem. Agog at being in this position I was determined not to dry up so instead of listening, my mind was on what I should ask him next. Sadly the question I chose was: "So will we see you at the Open in July?" Naturally Nicklaus replied in the most clipped terms: "I just answered that." End of interview, and very important lessons were learned via the greatest golfer of all time. Media playback is not supported on this device The year 1957 was special for golf, not because of achievements in the sport but for the golfers who came into the world. Along with Sir Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, Spaniard Seve Ballesteros made his appearance. Sixty years on we remember Seve on 9 April which would have been his 60th birthday. Seve and Augusta
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On 4 March, 1915, 246 volunteers from the island's militia marched from the barracks at Les Beaucamps to St Peter Port Harbour. About 15,000 islanders, a third of the population, waved them off as they left to join the Royal Irish Regiment. Earlier, hundreds of people lined the streets as they marched to the harbour. Bailiff Sir Richard Collas said: "This parade offers a poignant reminder that many of the island's young men marched away to defend their country in 1915." The parade left Les Beaucamps High School, the former site of the militia barracks, at 09:15 GMT and followed the route taken 100 years earlier - arriving at the harbour at about 10:30. Three personnel from the Irish Defence Force and a small contingent from the Guernsey Military History Company were also involved in the march. Up to 800 Guernsey volunteers served with Irish regiments during World War One.
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Arteta, 34, retired from playing at the end of last season after five years at Emirates Stadium. He won two FA Cups with Arsenal, making 150 appearances and scoring 17 goals. "I have always been interested in more than just the playing side," said Arteta, describing working under Guardiola as "an amazing opportunity". Arteta was seen crying after his final Arsenal match, a 4-0 win over Aston Villa on the last day of the Premier League season in May. He began his career at Spanish giants Barcelona and had spells at Paris St-Germain, Rangers and Real Sociedad before moving to Everton. Guardiola's first game since succeeding Manuel Pellegrini as City boss will be against Manchester United in a pre-season tournament in China on 25 July. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
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The body of a 56-year-old security guard was found close to his car near Piacenza, a town on the River Po. The two other men disappeared after apparently travelling on a nearby road that was hit by a flood. Flooding also affected areas along tributaries of the Po to the south of Piacenza, as well as the Mediterranean port city of Genoa further south. A motorway near Cortina, in the Veneto region, was blocked because of a 30m (98ft) landslide, Ansa news agency reports. Authorities in the province of Emilia-Romagna have announced they will release €2m (£1.5m) in emergency funding. Dozens of people have died in floods and landslides across northern and central Italy in recent years.
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The Líofa campaign, which translates as fluent in Irish, was launched by Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, in September 2011. Its initial target was to get 1,000 people to sign up and commit to learning and speaking Irish by 2015. On Saturday, Ms Chuilín said more than 13,000 people have signed up to Líofa. The campaign organisers have now set a new target to enrol 20,000 people on Irish language courses by 2020. The figures were highlighted as the minister marked the fourth anniversary of the campaign. "Irish is a language for everyone and when I launched Líofa in 2011 I never imagined that I would have to revise the target so many times," Ms Chuilín said in a statement. "People from all walks of life have availed of the opportunity to sign up to learn the language. " To celebrate the fourth anniversary, the minister announced that a series of intensive Irish language courses will be held in various venues across Northern Ireland on Saturday. "The courses are free and are accessible to all and every support will be given to participants both on this course and beyond as they endeavour to improve on their language skills," Ms Chuilín added. Last month, a report by the Republic of Ireland's Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found there was a significant difference in Irish language fluency across the island of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, 11% of 2,000 people surveyed said they could conduct most conversations in Irish, compared to 2% in Northern Ireland.
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