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Mastermind: Wales rugby legend Adam Jones appears on BBC quiz show - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Watch Wales rugby legend Adam Jones take his place in the famous black chair as he appears on the classic BBC quiz show, Mastermind.

Watch Wales rugby legend Adam Jones take his place in the famous black chair as he appears on the classic BBC quiz show, Mastermind.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38625711

Entertainment Week in Pictures: 8-14 January - BBC News

2017-01-15

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A look at some of the events in the world of entertainment and arts over the past week, including the Golden Globes, London Fashion Week Men's and Amy Adams's Hollywood Star.

Entertainment & Arts

Moonlight triumphed in the closely-fought battle for best film drama at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles. It held off competition from the critically-lauded Manchester By The Sea. Both films were put in the shade, however, by La La Land - which won all seven of the awards it was nominated for.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38595531

US troops welcomed by Poland - BBC News

2017-01-15

A deployment of 3,000 US soldiers is welcomed by Poland's prime minister and local residents.

A deployment of 3,000 US soldiers has been welcomed by Poland's prime minister and local residents. The move was a response to concerns over a more aggressive Russia, but Moscow said the troops would destabilise Europe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38624809

Australian Open: Johanna Konta plays down expectations despite Sydney win - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Johanna Konta says it is "not a given" she will go all the way at the Australian Open, despite winning the warm-up tournament.

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra plus TV highlights on BBC Two from 21 Jan; live text on selected matches on BBC Sport website British number one Johanna Konta says it is "not a given" that she will be a contender for the Australian Open title despite winning the warm-up tournament. Konta, who broke into the world's top 10 last year, beat Agnieszka Radwanska to win her second WTA trophy at the Sydney International on Friday. The 25-year-old begins her campaign against Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens on Tuesday (midnight on Monday in the UK). "I'm very pleased with the level I played," said Konta of her Sydney win. "But we all know that it's not a given. It doesn't decide how you will do in the next event. "I'm taking it as a positive from the week itself, but I'm looking to again work hard here and really try to do the best that I can." Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide. Sydney-born Konta reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open last year - the furthest she has ever progressed in a Grand Slam. And despite enjoying her most successful season to date, she chose to split with coach Esteban Carril in December after two-and-a-half years together. Konta is now working under Belgian Wim Fissette, who has previously coached former world number one Kim Clijsters and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka. "My previous situation came to a natural end so I was in the market. It came together nicely for us," Konta told BBC Radio 5 live. "We're doing some great work together. I'm really enjoying learning from him. He's a coach who's been on tour for some time and has worked with some of the best players. "I'm trying to be a sponge and trying to absorb all the information he's passing on." Sue Barker, who reached the semi-finals of the women's singles at the Australian Open in 1975 and 1977, believes Johanna Konta is good enough to win this year's competition. "Last year's Australian Open was her big breakthrough tournament," Barker told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "We had been seeing her get better and better but at the Australian Open she started to believe in herself. She has not sat back and has improved week after week. "I watched her final against Radwanska in Sydney last week and it was the best I've seen her play. She looked incredible and doesn't have a weakness. "She is hitting the ball so hard and she is not just a top-10 player, she is a Grand Slam contender." Konta will return to ninth in the world rankings on Monday following her win in Sydney and Barker thinks Konta can beat the best players. "Johanna is seeded ninth so has not got the protection of being in the top eight but there is not one person that's just so outstanding in the women's game," added Barker. "Angelique Kerber is a solid world number one but she is beatable and Johanna has the game to beat her. She certainly has a chance to win it."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38628097

Conversations with a hacker: What Guccifer 2.0 told me - BBC News

2017-01-15

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Who is behind the persona that US spy chiefs say is at the heart of the Russian hacking allegations?

BBC Trending

US intelligence agencies dispute that Guccifer 2.0 is just one individual Who or what is Guccifer 2.0? US intelligence agencies believe the mysterious hacker persona was central to efforts to interfere with last year's American election and responsible for distributing hacked documents that embarrassed the Democratic Party. But now Guccifer 2.0 has broken a two-month silence to deny any connection to Russia. In the run up to Donald Trump's victory, BBC Trending's Mike Wendling struck up an online dialogue with Guccifer 2.0 to try to probe the hacker's motives. It turned out that talking to one of the world's most notorious hackers was easier than you might think. Just send him a tweet. In the summer of 2016 the hacker, going by the name Guccifer 2.0, leaked a trove of documents from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to Wikileaks, which then made the material public. The revelations were embarrassing for the Democrats and the Hillary Clinton campaign, and resulted in the resignation of party chair Debbie Wasserman-Shultz. Although Guccifer 2.0 took his name from a Romanian hacker - the original Guccifer hacked emails belonging to American and Romanian officials, and is currently in prison - suspicion immediately fell on Russia. Metadata attached to the leaked documents was in Russian not Romanian. Analysts determined that Guccifer 2.0 had used a Russian server. A host of security experts traced the leak to Russian intelligence. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, a journalist with Vice's Motherboard, chatted with the hacker in Romanian in the days after the DNC hack. The problem was, Guccifer didn't seem to speak the language very well. "He did answer some questions in Romanian," but the answers were very basic, Franceschi-Bicchierai told BBC Trending. "I showed those answers to people who did speak Romanian and they all agreed he wasn't a Romanian speaker," Franceschi-Bicchierai says. "We later put the conversation to linguists and not everyone agreed that he was a Russian speaker but he was definitely not a native Romanian speaker." Listen to more on this story on BBC Trending radio on the BBC World Service. During our exchanges in October - and until the present day - Guccifer 2.0 continued to deny having anything to do with Russia. He also claimed to have more incriminating documents on Hillary Clinton - documents which he urged me to publish. The information was sent to me via encrypted email. But despite the cloak-and-dagger presentation, the material was ultimately disappointing - a mishmash of old stories, publically available documents which were rather dull, and others which were obvious forgeries. I asked him about his motivations. He said he believed that people have the right to know what's going on in the election process. Trying to get friendly journalists to write sympathetic stories is a common tactic of Russia's online intelligence operations, says Lee Foster of FireEye, one of the big computer security firms which has been looking into the Guccifer 2.0 hacks. "This is actually something that we've coined 'direct advocacy'," Foster says. "These false hactivists reach out to journalists but also other individuals, security blogs, and so on to get them to publicise the activity that they've been engaged in and sometimes even to spin particular narratives around those leaks as well." Foster says he's highly confident that the Russian authorities are behind the Guccifer persona. For its part, Moscow denies being behind the leaks, and Julian Assange of Wikileaks says Russia wasn't the source of the leaked DNC emails. After that, he stopped responding to my messages. In the run-up to the US election in November, Guccifer warned that the Democrats would attempt to rig the vote. But after Donald Trump's victory, he went silent. Last week US intelligence chiefs released a declassified version of a report which has been presented to President Obama and President-Elect Trump. One of the report's key judgements read: "We assess with high confidence that Russian military intelligence (General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate or GRU) used the Guccifer 2.0 persona and DCLeaks.com to release US victim data obtained in cyber operations publicly and in exclusives to media outlets and relayed material to WikiLeaks." It added: "Guccifer 2.0, who claimed to be an independent Romanian hacker, made multiple contradictory statements and false claims about his likely Russian identity throughout the election. Press reporting suggests more than one person claiming to be Guccifer 2.0 interacted with journalists." So could there be several people involved in operating the Guccifer 2.0 persona? Lee Foster from FireEye believes so. "It may be one person who actually looks after the twitter account or it may be part of a team," he told Trending. "But what we certainly can say based on the scale of the activity that we're seeing - that encompasses everything from this initial breach all the way through to the creation of these fake personas to push the information through to the trolling activity trying to push narratives around these leaks - this is not a one person effort. There's quite clearly a concerted and very well resourced and frankly sophisticated operation that is making all of this stuff come together." Late on Thursday, Guccifer broke his two-month silence to respond to the US intelligence agencies report. "Here I am again, my friends!" he announced on his blog. "I'd like to make it clear enough that these accusations are unfounded," the hacker wrote. "I have totally no relation to the Russian government. I'd like to tell you once again I was acting in accordance with my personal political views and beliefs." Several observers noted that Guccifer's English had markedly improved. Donald Trump has promised a full report on hacking within 90 days of taking office. Lee Foster from FireEye says we shouldn't get too hung up on the Guccifer 2.0 brand. "What doesn't really matter here is the personas themselves. What matters is to what extent does type of activity continue and potentially expand as well. We're already on the trolling side seeing a redirection towards European elections coming up, particularly France and Germany in 2017," he says. After the report, and his blog re-emergence, I tried once more to contact Guccifer 2.0 on Twitter. Next story: 'Why I dropped the case against the man who groped me' Samya Gupta, a 21-year-old law student from the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, was napping on a seat near the back of a bus when she felt something on her breasts. READ MORE You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-38610402

Jeremy Bowen: A walk through Aleppo - BBC News

2017-01-15

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The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen shares his images - and thoughts - from a journey through ruins of Syria's Aleppo.

Middle East

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen walked through the streets of Aleppo from the Umayyad Mosque to city's 13th century Citadel. He said: "Before the war it was a favourite outing for Aleppo's people and their many visitors. On a cold day in winter, in the sixth year of the war, it was bleak and sad." These images were originally posted by Jeremy on Twitter @BowenBBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38624237

A big stop for America's big top - BBC News

2017-01-15

The "Greatest Show on Earth", the Ringling Bros circus, will cease to be in May.

The "Greatest Show on Earth", the Ringling Bros circus, will cease to be in May.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38628964

Morse code torch signal helps man who broke his leg - BBC News

2017-01-15

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The army reservist used his torch to signal for help to his wife.

Dorset

Army reservist Tim Robinson used a miniature torch to signal to his wife An army reservist who broke his leg on a Dorset beach used Morse code with his torch to signal for help. Sgt Tim Robinson was walking under Golden Cap, east of Lyme Regis, when he slipped on some seaweed. As it was getting dark, Sgt Robinson, who was visiting from Derbyshire, used his torch to signal "SOS" in Morse code to his wife, more than a mile away. The 54-year-old reservist, who has done three tours in the Middle East was taken to Dorset County Hospital. Sgt Robinson was walking on his own on the Jurassic Coast when he slipped, fell and broke his leg on Saturday 7 January. He was two miles away from the nearest town and did not have a mobile phone on him. He said: "I stepped on some seaweed and slipped, then my leg snapped. "I fell backwards and I heard it go with a large crack, my foot was at a 45 degree angle. Sgt Robinson was walking near Seatown in Dorset when he broke his leg "[There's a] moment of disbelief and denial, and then you pull yourself together and think, 'what have I got with me and what am I going to do?'." He staggered and crawled for about two hours before he took out his miniature torch and began signalling towards his hotel, where he hoped his wife would be looking for him. The reservist regimentally signalled the SOS Morse code and then swung the torch over his head - a technique army officers use to signal helicopters. He then crawled 50 yards. He repeated the process three times before his wife found him by following the signals. She then called the emergency services. He was taken by lifeboat to Lyme Regis before being transferred by ambulance to hospital. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-38629170

Oxford University rejection letter turned into art - BBC News

2017-01-15

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A student who was rejected from Oxford University turns her letter into a piece of abstract art.

Oxford

Claudia Vulliamy had applied to Wadham College at Oxford University to study Classics; upon receiving her rejection letter she turned it into a piece of art A piece of abstract art made from a student's rejection letter from Oxford University has gone viral on Twitter. Claudia Vulliamy, from London, applied to study classics in September at Wadham College. But when the 18-year-old received her rejection letter, she "thought it would be funny" to use it to create a piece of artwork. A picture of the piece published on Twitter has been retweeted 48,000 times. Her mother Louisa Saunders said: "Between that time [she told me she had been rejected] and when I got back from work, she had made this artwork. "I thought it was very funny and very spirited, and obviously I was glad she wasn't feeling to sad about it." The picture has been liked on Twitter 153,000 times and has sparked a lot of reactions from students who were rejected from Oxbridge. Miss Vulliamy said there wasn't a message behind the artwork initially. She added: "I just thought I had this letter, it's not often that you get a letter dedicated to you from Oxford. "It's very meaningful, so I thought it would be funny if I made it into something." Louisa Saunders, left, said she was amazed by the response to her daughter's artwork on social media Ms Saunders said some people on social media were comparing the painting to works by Piet Mondrian. The student, who has been accepted to Durham University, said: "In retrospect I quite like how it is interpreted as Oxbridge doesn't determine everything, I like that it's cheered people up. "I hadn't set my heart on Oxford I'm happy I got an offer from Durham." • None Will more schools select by ability? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-38629172

The NHS is making people sick, GP tells BBC - BBC News

2017-01-15

Doctors tell of their "guilt" and "distress" over the care they can provide amid pressures on the NHS.

Doctors have told BBC Newsnight that the NHS "is making people sick". It comes after the prime minister said she wanted to help reduce pressures on hospitals by extending GP surgeries' hours.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38622003

Man Utd v Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp expects Old Trafford 'fight' - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expects a "fight" in Sunday's "special" Premier League trip to rivals Manchester United.

Last updated on .From the section Football Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, text commentary on the BBC Sport website, highlights on MOTD 2 at 22:00 on BBC Two (22:30 in Northern Ireland) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his team are preparing for a "fight" in Sunday's "special" Premier League game at rivals Manchester United. The Reds go to Old Trafford fourth in the table and without a win in three matches, while Jose Mourinho's sixth-placed United side are unbeaten in 15. Asked about the game's significance, Klopp said: "I hear it when I talk to different people. "It's very, very big - but my players know their responsibilities." Liverpool are eight points behind leaders Chelsea after Saturday's fixtures and their most recent match was a 1-0 defeat by Southampton in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg, which Klopp said they should have lost by more. "Because of our last game it is like, 'oh my God, and now it's Manchester United' - but we will be competitive," added the 49-year-old German. "There is a moment when you realise this is really different, but we will realise too that we are Liverpool, so let's show this. "Everyone who wants to see a real fight for a result, yeah, watch it. It is a special game." • None 'A strut and a swagger' - why Pogba is looking like the real deal In-form United are five points behind Liverpool and last time out beat Hull 2-0 - their ninth victory in a row - in the other EFL Cup semi-final first leg. "Nobody is nervous, everybody wants to play," said Mourinho. "I am sure Jurgen is the same and Liverpool's players are the same, so let's make a big match. It is three points, plus the emotional side of it." The 53-year-old Portuguese recently asked United fans to be more vocal at Old Trafford, and he repeated the sentiment when explaining his take on one of British football's most iconic fixtures. "The fans understand the feeling better than I do - but I've been here for a few months and I understand the dimension of this rivalry," he said. "Now it is just a question of them trying to give us extra in a match that for them means a little bit more. They have to make us feel that feeling." Manchester United and Liverpool will be looking to their game-changing players to shape the latest episode of this fierce rivalry. United manager Mourinho will want Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to demonstrate once more the partnership - helped by the stabilising midfield influence of Michael Carrick - that they have shown so far this season while Liverpool counterpart Klopp will hope fit-again Phillipe Coutinho can give side his that extra dimension. Two players who will also have a significant influence on who comes out on top will be United's Carrick and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who Klopp will hope is available to start after a heel injury. Liverpool look more vulnerable without Henderson, who has grown into a mature and outstanding midfield anchor this season. The likes of Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Coutinho will splash colours on the canvas - but the importance of more understated players like Carrick and Henderson cannot be underestimated on Sunday. Manchester United got a 0-0 draw at Anfield in October in a game that was basically a Jose Mourinho masterpiece. His gameplan was to restrict Liverpool to relatively few chances - and it worked. United will be far more ambitious in attack at Old Trafford, however, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has some big decisions to make over the fitness of some of his players. This is a massive game for both teams and I think it will end up with a point apiece. Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38624179

Newspaper headlines: Trump to 'make Brexit great' with trade deal - BBC News

2017-01-15

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Donald Trump's first UK interview is one of many stories featured on Monday's front pages.

The Papers

President-elect Donald Trump is making the headlines on several of Monday's front pages. His pledge to offer Britain a "quick" trade deal dominates the front page of the Times. The president-elect tells the paper that Brexit will be a "great thing" and predicts that other countries will follow Britain's lead in leaving the EU, which he says has been "deeply damaged" by the migration crisis. Mr Trump's interview is also the lead story for the Daily Telegraph which sees his remarks as a "boost" for Theresa May, ahead of her speech on Tuesday about the government's plans for Brexit. The Guardian says Mr Trump has been warned that his "careless" use of Twitter could cause a security risk. The outgoing director of the CIA, John Brennan, is quoted as saying the president-elect has a "tremendous responsibility" to protect the US and its interests. The Daily Telegraph says Mr Brennan has cautioned Mr Trump against forging closer ties with Russia, arguing against the lifting of sanctions. But the Daily Mail suggests the next US leader is planning a summit with Vladimir Putin "weeks" after becoming president, "as he seeks to improve relations with the Kremlin". Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is set to pocket £15m from the sale of an education website, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper's headline describes the deal as a "payday sickener" as the NHS is "cut to the bone" while its editorial accuses Mr Hunt of being "born with a silver thermometer in his mouth" and calls on him to "study his conscience". The Times agrees that the windfall is "politically embarrassing" following the government's disputes with junior doctors and GPs. The Daily Telegraph claims the deal will make Mr Hunt "the richest member of the cabinet". Jeremy Hunt set to receive a £15m windfall is "politcally embarrassing" says the Times Meanwhile the Daily Mail's lead story highlights what it calls "the scale of abuse of the crumbling NHS by health tourists". It claims a hospital in Luton is attempting to recoup £350,000 from a Nigerian woman, who is said to have flown to Britain to give birth to twins. The cancer specialist, Professor Meirion Thomas, tells the paper that similar, "staggering" debts should be investigated by NHS fraud officers, as "patients don't arrive at specialist hospitals with serious illnesses by chance". The Sun says the half-brother of Prince Harry's American girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has apologised after he was arrested for alleged gun offences in the US. Thomas Markle Jr blamed the incident on a drunken argument, prompting the headline "Soz Sis! I was so sozzled". The Daily Mail says other members of the family have insisted the arrest will not cause problems for Ms Markle's relationship with Prince Harry, but the Daily Express claims there is "some concern" in royal circles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-38632547

The yoga classes helping prisoners in South Africa - BBC News

2017-01-15

Why the South African jail where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned is holding yoga classes for inmates.

How yoga is helping prisoners tackle stress at one of the most notorious prisons in South Africa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38607987

Australian Open 2017: Andy Murray & Johanna Konta lead British challenge - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Andy Murray and Johanna Konta could both win the Australian Open, but the British supporting cast is not here to make up the numbers.

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra plus TV highlights on BBC Two from 21 Jan; live text on selected matches on BBC Sport website. Andy Murray says it feels no different to enter the Australian Open as the world number one. A few players do now address him as 'Sir' - but that, he says, is with tongue firmly in cheek. The challenge, though, remains as tough as ever. Murray has lost five finals in Melbourne in the past seven years, while Novak Djokovic - now the number two - has won the title six times in all. Murray struck an important blow by beating his lifelong rival at the World Tour Finals to end 2016 at the top of the rankings; but earlier this month, the Serb hit back to win the Qatar Open in Doha and halt Murray's winning streak at 28 in a match of nearly three hours. Murray is expecting another gruelling clash should they meet in the final here in Melbourne on 29 January. "The way that we both play, we can't just hit through each other in one shot," the Scot said. • None How to follow the Australian Open on the BBC "It takes a few big shots to win points, so if we're playing well they tend to be long, physical matches. "Doha was good because I was able to see how well I recovered from it: first week of the year, you can be a bit stiff and sore. I pulled up pretty well, so it was positive." Much may depend on the energy they expend in the early rounds of the competition. The draw does not appear to leave either at a significant advantage, so at 29, Murray has as good a chance as ever of winning his first Australian Open title. In the women's draw, there is a real opportunity for a top-20 player without a Grand Slam title to break their duck at this Australian Open. Britain's Johanna Konta is as well equipped as any. The 25-year-old, who will be ninth in Monday's world rankings, is on a high after winning her second WTA title in Sydney on Friday, but it does mean she has had little time to rest before a challenging first week. Her draw appears brutal (although she will not thank you for telling her, as she prefers not to look beyond the first match). If Konta can beat 2013 Wimbledon semi-finalist Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in the first round, she might then have to face the aggressive talent of Japanese 19-year-old Naomi Osaka in the second round and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third. Konta's decision at the end of last season to part company with coach Esteban Carril, so soon after the sudden death of her mental coach Juan Coto, was a big surprise. The WTA's most improved player of 2016 was 150 in the world when she started working with Carril, but my understanding is the two were unable to agree financial terms for the year ahead. It is a sign of Konta's standing in the game that she has been able to attract one of the best in the business as a replacement. Wim Fissette is just 36 - but already has a sparkling CV. The Belgian was coach to Kim Clijsters when she won three of her Grand Slam titles, and has also coached Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep to Grand Slam finals. A flourishing partnership with Victoria Azarenka only ended when the Belarusian announced she was taking a break from the sport because she was pregnant. Konta and Fissette agreed to work together after a trial week at Patrick Mouratoglou's Academy in Nice in the week before Christmas. Mouratoglou, the coach of Serena Williams, rates Fissette highly. "He's worked with some of the best players on tour so he has the experience and I think he's still fresh," he said. "He's young, so he still has the motivation which is something very important because when you get older, a lot of guys don't want to travel that much. He's one of the best on tour, so I think it's a good pick." Supporting cast no longer just make up the numbers At last year's US Open, Dan Evans made the third round, and fellow Briton Kyle Edmund the fourth. Edmund, 22, is now a top-50 player, and Evans just a single place adrift after he appeared in his maiden ATP final in Sydney on Saturday. Evans' creative talents have long been on show, but his consistency is now far greater and even in the defeat by Luxembourg's Gilles Muller the 5ft 9in player showed his serve can still pack a punch. All of the 26-year-old's matches bar the final in Sydney went to three sets, so sustaining his form in the opening week in Melbourne will be tough - especially with a Monday start. Evans, who faces Argentina's Facundo Bagnis in the first round, says it is positive that the matches are coming thick and fast and he was grateful for the private jet laid on by Tennis Australia for the journey to Melbourne on Saturday night. Edmund, meanwhile, has developed the useful knack of halving his world ranking on an annual basis. Every year, the challenge gets tougher, but he now stands at 46 in the world and in Brisbane earlier this month featured in his fifth ATP quarter-final since the start of last year. His forehand is one of the most powerful in the world, his net game much improved, and the physical problems which have undermined him in five-set matches hopefully now a thing of the past. Cramp proved his undoing in the first round of last year's Australian Open, and Edmund will once again have to deal with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius for his first-round match against Colombia's Santiago Giraldo on Tuesday. It was not a year to remember in 2016 for Aljaz Bedene, who nearly decided to walk away from the sport last summer. His love of tennis deserted him - something he relates directly to the International Tennis Federation's rejection of his appeal against his ineligibility to play Davis Cup for Great Britain. "I honestly didn't want to play tennis, I didn't want to think about tennis," Slovenian-born Bedene, 27, said. With his love of the game seemingly restored, Bedene faces Victor Estrella Burgos in the opening round. There is no finer example of the perils of retiring too young than the man from the Dominican Republic, who cracked the top 100 for the first time at the age of 33. Watson and Broady hope to upset their hosts The other two British players in the draw face seeded Australians in the opening round. Heather Watson, 24, has fallen to 75 in the world after a promising start to last year, but will be in the Margaret Court Arena for her match against Sam Stosur. Australia's highest women's seed is the 2011 US Open champion, but has a poor record in Melbourne where in 15 years she has reached the fourth round just twice. Naomi Broady, 26, takes on an Australian who made a name for herself here last year. Daria Gavrilova beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova en route to the fourth round in the first Australian Open she had contested since switching nationalities from Russia. Broady, at 95 in the world, is competing in her first main draw in Melbourne and can never be discounted given the potency of her serve. The one high profile name missing from the main draw is Laura Robson, whose defeat in the first round of qualifying was her seventh in a row. In truth, it was a hugely erratic performance undermined by a chronic loss of confidence. Robson is still only 22, though, and working seriously for the first time with a sports psychologist. A run of Challenger tournaments in France and Germany will provide a better clue to what 2017 holds in store - and whether she will be part of the debate once the French Open rolls around in four months' time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38615193

10 things we didn't know last week - BBC News

2017-01-15

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Holding your baby on your left side may help you bond, and more news nuggets.

Magazine

1. Holding your baby on your left side might help you bond. 2. You can't block Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook. 3. In 2022, you'll be able to look to the sky and watch two stars colliding 1,800 years ago. 4. For some years before he died, David Bowie had been working on a musical about aliens, mariachi bands and an imaginary collection of unreleased Bob Dylan songs. 5. White rhinos return to the same communal spot to poo - allowing them to pick up information about each other from the dung. 6. All electric trains in the Netherlands are powered entirely by wind energy. 7. About 70,000 retired Britons use Spain's health system, while only 81 Spanish pensioners are registered as covered by the NHS. 8. A Trump-branded apartment block in New Jersey was marketed to Chinese investors with the theme from The Sopranos. 9. Fund managers from poor backgrounds deliver better investment returns than those born rich. 10. Local anaesthetic has no effect on some people - and no-one knows why. Seen a thing? Tell the Magazine on Twitter using the hashtag #thingididntknowlastweek Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38594859

Aston Martin DB4 GT production to resume at Newport Pagnell - BBC News

2017-01-15

Production of the iconic model is to begin again after a decade-long gap.

Production of the Aston Martin DB4 GT is to resume at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, after a decade-long gap. BBC reporter Mike Cartwright went along to see the plant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38618338

India v England: Beating India is not impossible - Morgan - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

England captain Eoin Morgan says their near-win in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 is a "great confidence booster" for the upcoming one-day series in India.

Last updated on .From the section Cricket England captain Eoin Morgan says their experience at the 2016 World Twenty20 is a "great confidence booster" for the upcoming one-day series in India. The hosts have won 12 of their last 14 home ODI series' but Morgan says England remain "very optimistic" they can compete on Indian pitches. Morgan led England to the final of the World T20 in similar conditions. "The challenge of winning in India is huge but not impossible," he said ahead of Sunday's first ODI (08:00 GMT). "There's a fine balance between playing positive cricket and playing smart cricket and we don't want to fall short. "We want to fall on the brave side of things as we have done in the last couple of years." The tourists were were beaten 4-0 in the recent Test series. The batting line-up for Sunday's ODI in Pune is expected to include Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Morgan and Jos Buttler. Root has joined up with the squad in India having missed the two warm-up matches to be present at the birth of his first child. Morgan has already declared that the new father will play in the first game, saying he looks in good enough form, despite a lack of preparation. "Joe could be out for three or four months and it wouldn't bother me throwing him back into the side," said the captain. "He has been an integral part of our success over the last couple of years and to have him back so soon after the great news that he has become a father, I think is great news for the team." New India ODI captain Virat Kohli, who took over from MS Dhoni after resigning his captaincy, believes that England's commitment to attack could be their downfall. In his first pre-match news conference, he suggested the visitors may have accelerated their tactics too much to have sustainable success. "They seem to be quite fearless, which is always a good thing in the shorter format of the game, but I've always felt that to be a consistent performer in the ODI format, you need to understand strike rotation as well," he said. "We already have plans in place in terms of how we counter what they're going to come up with."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38621634

SpaceX rocket successfully lifts off - BBC News

2017-01-15

SpaceX successfully launches a rocket, its first mission since an explosion in September.

The SpaceX company has successfully launched a rocket, its first mission since one of its vehicles exploded in September. The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38624812

Beijing: The city where you can't escape smog - BBC News

2017-01-15

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China's capital is notorious for its chronic pollution. Even indoors it's a struggle to find clean air, says John Sudworth.

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China's capital is notorious for its chronic pollution. Even indoors it's a struggle to find clean air, says John Sudworth. Having already taped most of my windows shut, I have now started on the air conditioning vents. The aim is simple - to close off every access point through which the toxic outside air leaks into our Beijing home. Even our double-glazing doesn't keep out the smog. The most dangerous constituent, particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter - or PM2.5 as it's known - finds a way through the tiniest of gaps where the windows close. So the only solution there is duct tape. It's like a re-enactment of a 1970s government information film on surviving a nuclear holocaust. Only it's not radiation we're trying to keep at bay, but the fallout from fossil fuels. The most useful device in our armoury is our PM2.5 monitor. We have two, one upstairs and one downstairs, which we glance at frequently, and it was their arrival that prompted the frenzy of taping and draught-excluding that continues to this day. When I first arrived in China, five years ago, there was no way of monitoring the quality of air in our home. Like everyone else, we left it to blind faith that our air purifiers were doing the trick. It now transpires they weren't. Even now on highly polluted days, we struggle to get our PM2.5 count much below 25 micrograms per cubic meter, the World Health Organization's maximum standard for safe air. And that's with multiple purifiers running at full tilt, large box-like machines that sit in the corner of every room - two in some - the combined noise output of which is akin to living in the engine room of an aircraft carrier. Shoppers look at air purifiers in Beijing China's air pollution problem is now so bad that its effects are measured in more than a million premature deaths a year and markedly reduced life expectancy - an average of more than five years or so - in the worst-affected regions. Over the past few weeks, a period of particularly acute and prolonged air pollution, the average air quality in Beijing has been well above 200 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic metre - many times the maximum safe limit. During the worst of it, it's been like living under house arrest, our children confined to the small, deafening but breathable indoor space of our home for days on end. And across China, the smog becomes a dominant topic on social media, with the population tracking the foulness of the air via mobile phone apps. One group of Beijing mothers, armed with their own PM2.5 counters, have even been roaming the city in search of shopping malls or cafes with filtered air - and then sharing their discoveries online. Of course, humanity's dependence on oil and coal long predate China's economic rise. But China offers a vision of environmental degradation far in excess of the pea-souper fogs of 1950s London or Manchester. For much of the past month the cloud of toxic air hanging over this country has extended for thousands of miles, a giant, continent-sized cocktail of soot from coal fired power stations and car exhausts, smothering the lives and filling the lungs of hundreds of millions of people. While growing awareness means that more of them are now taking action to protect their health, many others are either not fully informed about the danger or don't have the means to do much about it. A set of new filters for a single air purifier can cost £100 ($120) or more and needs changing every six months or so. It is, of course, not a problem only of China's making. The smartphones, computers, TV screens, jeans and shoes that have been pouring out of its factories over the past few decades are cheap, in part at least, precisely because they're made without environmental safeguards. The interests of the rich world and an unaccountable Chinese Communist elite have neatly dovetailed. The West gets its cheap consumer desirables and China gets rich without the inconvenience of the independent scrutiny, regulation or democratic oversight of other markets. The true cost is measured by the numbers on my pollution monitors, and it is one being borne disproportionately by ordinary Chinese people. Following a crackdown on a rare protest against pollution in the central city of Chengdu recently, one blogger dared to speak out in favour of the protesters. The police, he suggested, should bear in mind that the elites, whose interests they protect, have sent their families to breathe clean air overseas. Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38587580

Is it OK to watch porn in public? - BBC News

2017-01-15

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How would you feel if the person sitting next to you on the bus was watching porn - and what would you do about it?

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It's no secret that lots of people watch pornography on the internet. It's usually something done behind closed doors - but how would you feel about someone watching porn in public? The BBC's Siobhann Tighe describes a troubling experience on a London bus. It had been a long day at work. I got on the bus at 7.30 in the evening and it was cold and drizzly. All the passengers were wrapped up in thick coats, hoods and hats. Inside, the bus was softly lit and I was expecting to zone out on my way back home: just let the day go and switch off. I sat on the lower deck beside a complete stranger and didn't give it a second thought. I was just relieved to get a seat. As we meandered through the London traffic, my gaze was drawn to my neighbour's phone. I wasn't being nosy but in the dim light of the bus, the brightness of his mobile caught my attention even though he was slanting it slightly away from me. Although I didn't mean to or want to, I found myself looking over towards his mobile a few times and then it suddenly occurred to me what was going on. The man beside me was watching porn. Once I realised, although I genuinely didn't mean to, my eyes kept on being pulled back to it. I couldn't quite believe it. First he was watching animated porn, with the two naked characters in lurid colours repeating their movements over and over again. Then he started watching a film, which seemed to begin in a petrol station with a large woman in a low-cut yellow top and blonde hair peering into the driver's window. I didn't hear any sound, apart from a brief few seconds when my fellow passenger pulled the headphone jack out of his mobile, and then reinserted it. The man didn't seem to notice my glances towards his phone, maybe because his hood was hampering his peripheral vision. He seemed oblivious to me and others around him, who admittedly wouldn't have been able to see what I saw. We eventually arrived at his bus stop and because he had the window seat and I had the aisle, he made a motion that he needed to get out, and he muttered a "thank you" as he squeezed past me. I watched him get off and walk down the street. I felt uncomfortable and annoyed, but I didn't do anything about it. I didn't say anything to him and neither did he pick up on any of my glances or quizzical looks. His eyes didn't meet mine so I couldn't even communicate my feelings non-verbally and it didn't occur to me to tell the driver. Even if I wanted to, it would have been difficult to get to the front of the bus because it was packed. But when I got off, questions flooded into my mind about what I had just experienced. What if a child saw that? Are there any laws about looking at porn in public spaces? If there are laws, how easy are they to enforce? Why did this passenger feel public transport was an appropriate place to watch porn, and should I be worried from a safety point of view? As a journalist, I also looked at it from his point of view, even though he made me feel uncomfortable. I asked myself: is he within his rights to look at porn on his private device wherever he is? Do civil liberties in our society grant him that freedom? But in my heart, I was offended. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. From disgust to it's ok, Woman's Hour took to the streets to find out what you think of it. When I mentioned it to friends, everyone seemed to have a story of their own, or an opinion. "It happened to me when I was with my son having a coffee at a Swiss airport," one said. "Two Italian guys were sitting next to me. I said something because I felt safe and I sensed there'd be support if an argument ensued." It worked, and they politely switched the laptop off. It certainly got everyone talking, but like me, no-one was sure where the law stood. According to Prof Clare McGlynn from Durham University who specialises in the law around porn, there's little to stop someone viewing pornographic material in public - on public transport, in a library, in a park or a cafe, for example. "It's like reading a book," she says. "They are viewing lawful material which is freely available, and restricting people's access to it presents other challenges." In Prof McGlynn's view, the law would only prevent it if the porn viewer is harassing someone or causing a disturbance. So, what do you do? Prof McGlynn describes it as a dilemma. "It's like someone shouting at you, calling to you to 'Cheer up, love!'" says Prof McGlynn. "Do you confront it, or do you put your head down and walk along?" But when I contacted Transport for London, they appeared to take the case very seriously. "If someone has made you feel uncomfortable, for example by viewing pornographic material, please tell the police or a member of our staff," I was told. A member of staff said passengers should report incidents like to this to the bus driver, who would tell the control centre, and the information would then be passed to the police for them to investigate. In Prof McGlynn's view, there is not much the police could do. On the other hand, James Turner QC contacted the BBC to say that there is a law - the Indecent Displays (Control) Act - which might form the basis for a prosecution. Five years ago, in the US, the executive director of a group called Morality in the Media had an experience similar to mine on an aeroplane. As a result, the group - now called the National Center On Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) - campaigned to get the major US airlines to stop passengers watching porn. "All of them except for one agreed to improve their policies to prohibit passengers from viewing this material during flights and agreed to better train their flight attendants on what to do," Haley Halverson of NCOSE told me. Buses don't have flight attendants, though. Nor do trains. And even if police wanted to investigate incidents of porn-watching on public transport, passengers can get off whenever they like. How would officers catch them and question them then? Siobhann Tighe and Prof Clare McGlynn spoke to Jenni Murray on Woman's Hour, on BBC Radio 4. Listen to the discussion here. Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38611265

Women's March on Washington: The 'pussyhats' explained - BBC News

2017-01-15

A group of LA knitters is helping prepare for a demonstration in Washington next week, triggered by language used in the US election campaign.

A group of LA knitters is helping prepare for a demonstration in Washington next week, triggered by language used in the US election campaign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38625901

Winter freeze claiming lives across Europe - BBC News

2017-01-15

Dozens of migrants die in the extreme cold weather sweeping across Europe.

Dozens of migrants have died in the extreme cold weather across Europe, with many said to be refusing shelter due to the risk of deportation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38627667

Nottingham Forest sack manager Philippe Montanier - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Championship side Nottingham Forest, who had a takeover fall though, sack manager Philippe Montanier.

Struggling Championship side Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Philippe Montanier after less than seven months in charge. The 52-year-old leaves after the proposed sale of the club from Fawaz Al Hasawi to a United States-based consortium collapsed on Friday. Forest are three points above the relegation zone in 20th after Saturday's goalless draw at Birmingham. The Reds have taken just two points from a possible 21 since 11 December. Frenchman Montanier, who took over at the City Ground in June, having left his job as boss of Rennes in January 2016, is the seventh permanent manager to depart the City Ground since the Al Hasawi family's takeover in July 2012. His exit comes three months after Forest's director of football Pedro Pereira left his role at the club - a post the Portuguese held for four months. Montanier's position had been under scrutiny for a number of weeks with the prospective takeover of the two-time former European Cup holders seemingly nearing a conclusion and expected to prompt changes. The collapse of the takeover and the Reds' first point away from home for six weeks, ending a five-game losing run in all competitions, was not enough to save his job. The goalless draw at St Andrew's was just the second clean sheet in 30 matches in all competitions this season, as the Reds have the worst defensive record of any Championship club apart from bottom side Rotherham. However, only five teams, including the league's top two sides, have scored more goals in 25 league games this term. Montanier, who previously managed Real Sociedad, Boulogne and Valenciennes, was unable to strengthen his squad in January with the Championship club only coming out of their transfer embargo on Friday, following a delay in submitting audited accounts. Captain Henri Lansbury has also been absent from the side recently through injury and while there is uncertainly about his future, with Derby County, Aston Villa and Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic having all been linked with a move for the midfielder. Following Saturday's draw at Birmingham, in what was his last news conference as boss, Montanier remained focused on trying to build the squad, while admitting he was also under pressure. "The role of the head coach or manager is always in danger. It is part of my job," he said. "I have told the owners that the most important thing is the team and the club, not my position. I am not selfish, I am always focused on the team. "We now have to plan quickly to strengthen the squad. Decisions have to be taken now, instead of two or three days before the deadline. "It is difficult because we do not have any money but I need to know exactly what I can plan and decide. I have targets but I do not know my budget. I need to have a meeting with the chairman for some advice on what we can do together." Gary Brazil, Forest's academy manager, has been put in temporary charge while the East Midlands club looks for a new boss. Forest are fourth from bottom, he hasn't been great, there have been too many defeats and too many goals against - it hasn't been a good season. This team today against Birmingham got a decent point, but would you bank on it saving Forest? You probably wouldn't and it is a squad that isn't particularly united. It has been a mish-mash of a season so far. Next week it's at home to Bristol City, who have lost again today and are on a real downward curve at the moment. It is a real winnable game, but likewise they will be thinking 'we need a result and where better to go is Forest who can't win a game?' It is a huge game for both clubs - next week is vital.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38585962

VW papers shed light on emissions scandal - BBC News

2017-01-15

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VW has been fined $4.3bn by US authorities and agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges, so just what do documents released this week reveal about the emissions rigging scandal?

Business

US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch said VW denied and then lied in a bid to cover up its actions "Volkswagen obfuscated, they denied, and they ultimately lied." These were the words of the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, as she set out how the German carmaker would be punished for attempting to hoodwink the US authorities over the emissions produced by its diesel cars. It has been a tough week for Volkswagen. It has been fined $4.3bn, agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges - and six executives are facing charges. One of them, Oliver Schmidt, has spent the past few days in a Miami jail. Others may yet find themselves in the firing line. But because of this, we now have a very clear idea not only of what Volkswagen was doing wrong, and how it went about it, but also the measures that were taken to conceal that wrongdoing. As part of its plea bargain with the US authorities Volkswagen signed up to an agreed "Statement of Facts". It draws heavily on the results of an investigation by the law firm Jones Day, commissioned by VW itself. The FBI makes further detailed allegations in its criminal complaint against Oliver Schmidt. These have not yet been tested or admitted. According to these documents, the seeds of the scandal were sown in 2006, when VW were designing a new diesel engine for the US market. Supervisors in the engine department realised they had a problem. They could not design an engine that would meet tough emissions standards due to enter into force in 2007, and at the same time give customers the performance that they wanted. Their solution was to ask their engineers to design engine management software which would turn on emissions controls when the car was being tested, and turn them off when it was being driven on the road. This 'defeat device' software was able to recognise the standard testing procedure. It was based on a program developed by VW's subsidiary Audi, which engineers had specifically stated should "absolutely not be used" in the US. Not everyone was happy about this, it seems. Engineers "raised objections to the propriety of the defeat device" in late 2006. In response, a manager decided that production should continue, still using the device. He also "instructed those in attendance, in sum and substance, not to get caught". A similar row broke out the following year, and again, the decision was taken to press on regardless. Subsequently, the use of the defeat device appears to have become routine. The Statement of Facts describes how the software was refined and improved over time. A spate of breakdowns was blamed on the cars remaining in 'test' mode while being driven on the road. Supervisors worked with engineers to solve the problem, and "encouraged the further concealment of the software". The engineers were also told to destroy documents relating to the issue. The deception came to a head when, in 2014, the California Air Resources Board approached the company to find out why tests had shown that its cars were emitting up to 40 times the permissible amount of nitrogen oxides when driven on the road. VW supervisors "determined not to disclose to US regulators that the tested vehicle models operated with a defeat device". Instead they "decided to pursue a strategy of concealing the defeat device… while appearing to cooperate". The FBI claims in its criminal complaint against Mr Schmidt - who was a head of compliance at VW's US division from 2012 to 2015 - that the deception eventually went to the very top of the company. Citing "co-operative witnesses" and allegedly corroborating documentation, it claims that the company's executive management in Wolfsburg were briefed on the issue in July 2015. Rather than tell its staff to come clean about the defeat device, it says, "VW executive management authorized its continued concealment". There is, however, no mention of this meeting in the statement agreed by Volkswagen. Ultimately, Volkswagen's wrongdoing was confirmed to the authorities by a single employee acting "in direct contravention of instructions from supervisors at VW". But the deception did not end there. The Statement of Facts explains how VW staff were warned by an in-house lawyer that the authorities were about to circulate a so-called "hold notice", obliging them to retain and preserve documents under their control. Engineers were told to "check their documents", which several of those present "understood to mean that they should delete their documents". The message was repeated at a number of subsequent meetings, one of them attended by 30-40 people and ultimately thousands of documents were deleted. When the scandal at Volkswagen first came to light, the company's former US chief executive, Michael Horn blamed "a couple of software engineers". It is now clear that many more people were involved, at least some of them in positions of authority, and deliberate attempts were made to cover up wrongdoing. It is not hard, then, to see why the US authorities have taken such a tough line with the company. But some questions remain unanswered. We still don't know for certain, for example, whether people at board level knew what was going on. It's also unclear why the same software that was fitted illegally to 600,000 US vehicles was also present on millions of others sold around the world, including eight million in Europe. VW continues to maintain that the systems didn't actually break European law - though it is in the process of repairing those vehicles all the same.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38603723

Everton 4-0 Manchester City - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Everton stun Manchester City with a superb performance at Goodison Park to leave Pep Guardiola's side 10 points off top spot.

Last updated on .From the section Football Everton produced a brilliant performance to stun Manchester City, whose Premier League title hopes are now over according to manager Pep Guardiola. The Toffees willingly soaked up 71% of City possession but restricted Guardiola's side to few chances and scored with four of just six attempts at goal. Romelu Lukaku coolly side-footed in a Kevin Mirallas cut-back and the Belgium internationals combined again after the break, Mirallas drilling Lukaku's through-ball across the keeper. Tom Davies sent Goodison Park into raptures on just his second league start by dinking a third over Claudio Bravo and £11m debutant Ademola Lookman fired between the legs of the keeper in injury time. Goals from the two teenagers left Everton boss Ronald Koeman visibly elated, while Guardiola cut a frustrated figure, remonstrating with the fourth official late on in what is his heaviest ever league defeat as a manager. City lacked cutting edge throughout, though had Davies not headed a looping Bacary Sagna header off the line before half-time, they may not have gone on to suffer a fifth league defeat of the season. They stay fifth, 10 points off leaders Chelsea, while Everton remain seventh. • None Analysis: Why defending is not Pep's only problem Brilliant Everton - Koeman gets it right What a difference a week makes. After FA Cup defeat to Leicester last weekend an angry Koeman demanded the club's hierarchy "opened its eyes". The £24m signing of Morgan Schneiderlin lifted some gloom but the roars for his 65th-minute appearance from the bench were dwarfed by the noise in injury time when Lookman, newly arrived from Charlton, made his mark. Koeman was bold in starting with Davies and 20-year-old defender Mason Holgate, but pragmatic in his game plan. City have had over 50% of the ball in every league outing this season but Everton sat and soaked up possession comfortably. Leighton Baines slid in to deny Raheem Sterling an opening early on and, Davies' header off the line apart, the home goal never looked under serious threat. The Toffees ran further and produced more sprints than the visitors, while with the ball they were direct, springing attacks through Lukaku, who proved a handful for City's ragged back four. Davies ran further than anyone on the pitch and released Mirallas in the build-up to the opening goal, before being involved in the second and cleverly chipping in the third after a driving run from his own half. Schneiderlin could threaten the 18-year-old's place but Koeman will welcome such a selection dilemma. The Dutchman knows his team are far from a finished article but this win showed all they could be. • None Listen: 'City don't have an outstanding goalkeeper at the moment' "It looks like the title challenge is beyond City," BBC Radio 5 live pundit Kevin Kilbane said at the end of match where the visitors' soft centre was all too apparent and clinically exploited. After 10 games of the season Guardiola's side topped the table on 23 points, but 11 matches later he now says they are too far adrift. The warning signs were there in those opening 10 games, where City kept two only clean sheets. Their defensive predicament has continued and at Goodison Everton's direct balls repeatedly took the City midfield out of the game, exposing a back four which seemed to have little understanding as a unit. Vincent Kompany's persistent injuries have created a hole in the heart of defence that John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have been unable to fill with authority, while in central midfield, Pablo Zabaleta's performance was robust but his quality on the ball is no substitute for the silky Ilkay Gundogan. Zabaleta had played 30 passes by the time he went off on the hour, 40 fewer than Yaya Toure. Individual mistakes also proved costly. Toure took a heavy touch for Everton's killer second goal, while Gael Clichy sloppily lost possession for the first. City have now conceded more goals than any other in the top seven, while goalkeeper Bravo has been beaten by 14 of the last 22 shots on target. 'Perfect Everton' - What the managers said Everton boss Ronald Koeman: "We scored at the right time in the first half and then to score straight after half-time made it very difficult for them. "I think it is a big compliment to Everton today - the organisation defensively. It makes the final result and the way we played perfect. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "In so many games we create enough chances to but when they arrive they score and the second time they arrive they score. "That for the mind of the players is tough, mentally tough and that is why we have to keep going be strong and work harder." Lookman follows Eto'o at Everton - the key stats • None This was Everton's biggest ever Premier League win over Man City. • None Everton scored with all four of their shots on target. • None In four of their last seven Premier League games, Manchester City have conceded with the first shot they've faced. • None Romelu Lukaku has been involved in eight goals in his last nine home Premier League games (five goals, three assists). • None The first shot of the game came in the 25th minute, the second-longest wait for the opening shot of a Premier League game this season after Watford versus Middlesbrough on January 14th (26th minute). • None Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman became the 16th and 17th different teenagers to score a Premier League goal for Everton; the joint-most in the competition with Arsenal. • None Lookman was the first Toffees player to score on their Premier League debut since Samuel Eto'o in August 2014 against Chelsea. Manchester City host second-placed Tottenham in a 17:30 GMT kick-off on Saturday, shortly after Everton seek just a second away win in eight matches when they play at Crystal Palace at 15:00 GMT. • None Goal! Everton 4, Manchester City 0. Ademola Lookman (Everton) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Seamus Coleman. • None Attempt blocked. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Silva. • None Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing. • None Attempt blocked. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross Barkley. • None Offside, Everton. Ashley Williams tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside. • None Offside, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne tries a through ball, but Kelechi Iheanacho is caught offside. • None Attempt missed. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right. Assisted by Ross Barkley. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38545988

Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores a late equaliser as Manchester United earn a draw against rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Last updated on .From the section Football Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late equaliser earned Manchester United a point they fully deserved after a typically thunderous encounter with Liverpool at Old Trafford. Liverpool led through James Milner's 27th-minute penalty, awarded after Paul Pogba inexplicably handled a corner as he went up to challenge Dejan Lovren. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was Liverpool's hero with superb first-half saves from Ibrahimovic's free-kick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as Jurgen Klopp's side put up stern resistance and threatened on the break. It looked like the visitors were going to hold on and move back to second in the Premier League, but United finally forced the goal they merited when Antonio Valencia reacted first when substitute Marouane Fellaini's header came back off the post, crossing for Ibrahimovic to head home off the bar. Liverpool are now in third place, seven points adrift of top-flight leaders Chelsea, while United - whose nine-match winning run in all competitions came to an end - are now 12 points off the top. Reds boss Klopp had no hesitation in restoring Mignolet in goal, despite the midweek heroics of Loris Karius in defeat in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton. Klopp has decided, for now at least, that the Belgium international is his first choice - and Mignolet demonstrated exactly why on Sunday. Mignolet's decision-making has often been questioned, but he has always been capable of making outstanding saves. And so it proved in this draw. He rescued Liverpool twice in the first half with a brilliant reflex save from Ibrahimovic's fierce free-kick and a decisive advance from goal to make a one-handed block from Mkhitaryan. Klopp has had to make big decisions with his keepers this season - and this one was fully justified by Mignolet. Ibrahimovic may be 35 and in the twilight of a wonderful career - but he is the new talisman of Manchester United and the leader of Mourinho's team. This may not have been the former Sweden striker's best performance of the season but he was still the man who made the difference and produced the decisive contribution when United needed him. Ibrahimovic brings a winner's mentality to Old Trafford and it showed when he raced back to the centre circle after his 19th goal of a stellar season, finger pointing to the skies before whirling his arms around demanding more noise and support from United's fans in the closing moments. He has now scored 14 goals in his first 20 Premier League games since joining last summer - the same total as Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, former Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, and ex-Coventry City forward Micky Quinn. Pogba's Manchester United career has been a slow-burner - but he has come into his own throughout United's recent run of victories. This, however, will be a game he will surely want to forget as quickly as possible as the £89m man endured a nightmare from first to last. Pogba revealed his own emoji before the game, but he will have wanted to keep his profile as low as possible after needlessly conceding a penalty and missing a clear chance when he raced through earlier in the first half. The 23-year-old France midfielder is a player of undoubted quality but this was not his finest 90 minutes. This was a match short on high quality but one that still had plenty of action and incident to keep the capacity Old Trafford crowd occupied to the final whistle. Liverpool - who, despite keeper Mignolet's fine work, had opportunities themselves in the second half, especially when Roberto Firmino forced a save from David de Gea - even had a chance to win the game after Ibrahimovic's late leveller. Georginio Wijnaldum missed that good chance, so honours were even in a game that had plenty of talking points. Referee Michael Oliver was a central figure in two second-half incidents that could have brought red cards from the official. United substitute Wayne Rooney was lucky to escape serious punishment for an ugly challenge on James Milner that left his former England team-mate requiring lengthy treatment. And Firmino was also arguably fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a two-handed shove on Ander Herrera, referee Oliver perhaps taking his frustration into account because he was reacting to being crudely dragged back by the shirt by the United midfield man as he tried to break free. Oliver will also have noted the extremely theatrical reaction from Herrera as he fell to the ground, an incident which brought the two managers together on the touchline. This may well have helped him come to his decision. Some will accuse Oliver of leniency but both Jose Mourinho and Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp appeared to feel he had handled the incidents sensibly - other officials may not have reacted in the same fashion. What they said: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "I didn't think the game had super quality. We didn't reflect the qualities we have and Liverpool have - but it was very emotional, intense, aggressive. We fought until the last second. "They were clever. They took their time, they know how to play football and control the emotions of the game. They knew they would be in trouble in the final few minutes. "We were the team that attacked and Liverpool were the team that defended - let's see if the critics are fair. I enjoyed it but I will obviously be disappointed we didn't get the three points." Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "In the end period of the game when United started playing long balls after 80 minutes of high intense football it is really hard. "I hoped we would have a bit of luck, unfortunately not but all good. Tomorrow I can enjoy the result, but tonight only the performance. "It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action in the last few minutes. We were here to win the game, which is why we we are not 100% satisfied." • None Only Dwight Yorke and Ruud van Nistelrooy (15) scored more goals for Manchester United in their first 20 Premier League games than Ibrahimovic's 14. • None Liverpool have scored six penalties at Old Trafford - the most by a team on an opposition ground in the Premier League. • None Milner has scored his past 10 penalties in the Premier League, including all seven for Liverpool. • None The former England international has lost none of the 46 top-flight games in which he has scored (37 wins), equalling the record held by ex-Aston Villa forward Darius Vassell. • None Wayne Rooney became the 17th outfield player to play 450 Premier League games. • None Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has lost just one of his seven matches against a side managed by Jose Mourinho, winning three. • None This is the first time since the 1987-88 season that both league games between these sides ended as a draw. Liverpool are in FA Cup action when they travel to League Two side Plymouth Argyle for a third-round replay at 19:45 GMT on Wednesday. Their next league game is at home against Swansea at 12:30 on Saturday, with Manchester United visiting Stoke City at 15:00 on the same day. • None Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. • None Attempt saved. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emre Can. • None Ander Herrera (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. • None Offside, Manchester United. Paul Pogba tries a through ball, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is caught offside. • None Emre Can (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. • None Attempt blocked. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. • None Goal! Manchester United 1, Liverpool 1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Antonio Valencia. • None Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) hits the right post with a header from very close range. Assisted by Wayne Rooney with a cross. • None Offside, Manchester United. Juan Mata tries a through ball, but Wayne Rooney is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38545987

James DeGale v Badou Jack unification title fight ends in a majority draw in New York - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

The super-middleweight unification fight between Great Britain's James DeGale and Sweden's Badou Jack ends in a majority draw.

Last updated on .From the section Boxing The super-middleweight unification fight between Great Britain's James DeGale and Sweden's Badou Jack ended in a controversial majority draw. Jack was knocked down in the first round but ended strongly and floored DeGale in the last round in New York. One of the judges gave the decision to DeGale by 114-112, but the other two scored it 113-113, meaning both fighters retain their world titles. Floyd Mayweather, who promotes Jack, called the decision "bad for boxing". DeGale, 30, suffered damage to his ear drum and teeth during the contest but wanted a rematch with the 33-year-old. "I thought I'd done enough but it was the knockdown," DeGale told Sky Sports. "I've had 25 fights, I'm going to get better and I want the rematch. "I'm glad I'm still the champion and I'm coming home with the title but I'm so upset that I didn't come with the WBC belt. The main thing is I didn't lose, I'm still the champion and I can move forward." DeGale has now won 23 times, drawn once and lost once as a professional, while Jack failed to win for only the fourth time in his 24-fight career. The British fighter was making the third defence of his IBF belt and made a bright start, knocking Jack down with a straight left inside the opening three minutes. But Jack got back into the contest and had success with a number of body shots in the sixth round, and dislodged DeGale's gumshield with an uppercut in the eighth round, which later led to DeGale losing one of his front teeth. DeGale landed some punches in the 10th, but was floored by a short uppercut in the final round, which ultimately cost him the victory. Former five-weight world champion Mayweather said Jack would not fight DeGale again and would move up a weight instead. "We don't need to figure it out, I'm the promoter this is my fighter," Mayweather said. "Badou Jack has got too big for 168lbs. We have plans after this fight to move up to light-heavyweight. "This [result] is bad for boxing when it's all said and done, this is really bad for boxing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/38627317

Oxford Castle mugshots show 'victims of their time' - BBC News

2017-01-15

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The National Archives has made available early photos of Oxford Castle's inmates, many of whom were children.

Oxford

"You’d think she was just playing with the pram," says Becky Attrill, duty manager at the castle. "They say she tried to deny her crime but she was probably terrified. She was sentenced to seven day’s hard labour in 1870 and is our youngest prisoner [on record]. She probably worked in the prison's laundry, and when she was released the judge said her father had to start sending her to school, so it was probably the best thing that ever happened to her." Julie-Ann is pictured here with 12-year-old Sarah Church who was jailed for stealing a sable muff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-38281339

Sherlock series finale leaked online - BBC News

2017-01-15

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The show's creators have urged fans not to share the episode ahead of it airing on TV on Sunday.

Entertainment & Arts

The current series of Sherlock has had an estimated 11m viewers per episode The final episode of the current series of Sherlock has been leaked online. A Russian version of the last instalment of series four - titled The Final Problem - has been illegally uploaded to the internet prior to it airing on television. The creators of Sherlock have urged fans not to spoil the episode by sharing it online. A post on the programme's official Twitter page said it was aware the episode had been uploaded illegally. "If you come across it, please do not share it. #KeepMeSpoilerFree," it urged fans. Sherlock producer Sue Vertue also tweeted: "Russian version of #Sherlock TFP has been illegally uploaded. Please don't share it. You've done so well keeping it spoiler free. Nearly there." A preview screening of the series finale was held on Thursday in London for journalist and television critics. Creator Steven Moffat has suggested another series of the detective drama "was possible" and he and fellow creator Mark Gatiss were not planning for the latest episode to be the final ever instalment. Fans of the show will be able to watch The Final Problem at more than 300 cinemas as it is shown alongside its TV broadcast. Audiences will have to pay for the cinema experience but will be treated to extra footage. The series finale will air on BBC One at 21:00 on Sunday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38627347

Sydney International: Dan Evans loses singles final and Jamie Murray beaten in doubles - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Dan Evans loses his first ATP Tour final as fellow Briton Jamie Murray and partner Bruno Soares are beaten in the doubles in Sydney.

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Dan Evans lost in his first ATP Tour final, while fellow Briton Jamie Murray and partner Bruno Soares were beaten in the doubles in Sydney. Evans, 26, led 4-2 in the first-set tie-break but eventually lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller. However, he is already guaranteed to climb to a new career-high ranking just outside the top 50. Murray and Brazilian Soares were beaten 6-3 7-5 by Dutch duo Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop. World number 34 Muller was the highest-ranked player on the tour to have never won a singles title, and the 33-year-old was visibly emotional after beating Evans and ending his 16-year wait for a trophy. "It just means so much to win for the first time in front of my boys and my wife," he said. "It's been a great ride so far. What a night." Elsewhere, American world number 23 Jack Sock won the Auckland Classic with a 6-3 5-7 6-3 victory over Portugal's Joao Sousa. Sock's success comes after he was forced to retire because of illness in last year's final against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut. Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens beat Romanian third seed Monica Niculescu to win the Hobart International for her first WTA title. The 21-year-old, ranked 127 in the world, lost nine of her first 10 points before taking control to beat world number 40 Niculescu 6-3 6-1. The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open in Melbourne, begins on Monday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38621421

Diego Costa: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte unsure when striker will return - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says he is unsure when Diego Costa will return from injury after he was left out of the squad that beat Leicester.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he is unsure when Diego Costa will return from injury after leaving him out for Saturday's 3-0 win at Leicester. Costa had a dispute with a coach over his fitness and Conte said the 28-year-old Spain striker complained of a back problem on Tuesday. There were also reports he is the subject of an offer to move to China. "I don't know how long it will take, I don't have his pain," said Conte. "We'll see about this next week." Costa has been integral to the Premier League leaders this season, having scored 14 goals and provided five assists. BBC Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright said: "For Costa to come out at this stage when they need him so much feels very strange. He's scored 14 goals this season - you need someone like that in this team. It seems like it's derailed what's going on." When asked if a move to China would surprise him, Wright said: "Absolutely not. Costa doesn't seem like the sort of person who cares what people think. Whatever happens - if it's his back it's very hard to detect - something has turned him." Italian Conte, 47, was repeatedly questioned about the rumours surrounding the player after watching his side move seven points clear at the top of the table. Asked whether Costa has a future at Stamford Bridge, he said: "I can't be concerned about this because today my players produced a great performance and showed spirit. I can't be concerned with nothing." The former Juventus and Italy boss was then asked once more whether the Brazil-born forward would feature again for the Blues and responded with: "Why not?" He added: "There are lot of 'if' questions - I don't like to answer these types of questions." On reports of interest from China, Conte told BBC Sport: "I don't know and the club doesn't know anything about the reports of Costa to China. The truth is what I told you before." Left-back Marcos Alonso, who scored twice against Leicester, said: "You guys [journalists] made up the story. Diego wasn't feeling well because of his back. He's very happy and will have a great season at Chelsea." Analysis: 'If you get £60m, then let him go' Why shouldn't Diego Costa go to China? There is no loyalty from clubs in football. He's already defected from Brazil, his native country, to play for Spain and has no real affinity with England and the Premier League. I'm sure he likes London but he doesn't have any real affinity here. Brazilians move around all the time; they will go wherever the money is. • None Hear more from Mills on BBC Radio 5 live Well done Conte. If you get £60m, then let him go. He's at his peak, the team is built around him totally. He is a top, top player, but if he wants to go to China and be bored 18 hours a day, good luck to him. If he went - and I don't think he will - they don't win the league. Conte is reasserting himself. Costa has football utopia at the moment - top of the league, top of the scoring charts, what is wrong in his life? He will come back quietly with an apology. I don't think it will derail Chelsea. He is a quality player who they can't do without, People tell me he goes off on one like this, but he will see sense. It is a very difficult dressing room at Chelsea and the manager has done very well this season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38625228

James DeGale v Badou Jack unification title fight ends in a majority draw - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Britain's James DeGale believes he showed "heart and grit" in his super-middleweight unification fight with Sweden's Badou Jack that ended in a controversial majority draw.

Britain's James DeGale believes he showed "heart and grit" in his super-middleweight unification fight with Sweden's Badou Jack that ended in a controversial majority draw.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/38628818

Sports hall roof collapses during match in Czech Republic - BBC News

2017-01-15

A sports hall roof collapses during a floorball game in the Czech Republic city of Ceska Trebova.

A sports hall roof collapsed on Saturday evening during a floorball game in the Czech Republic city of Ceska Trebova. No one was injured by the failure, though two people were hurt escaping the collapsing building.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38632441

Corbyn: 'Chancellor's threats risk trade war with Europe' - BBC News

2017-01-15

Jeremy Corbyn says that comments by the chancellor that corporation tax could be cut could be a "recipe for a trade war with Europe."

Jeremy Corbyn has said comments by the Chancellor Philip Hammond on Brexit were the wrong approach, and suggestions that corporation tax could be cut could be a "recipe for some kind of trade war with Europe".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38627671

European Champions Cup: Racing 92 34-3 Leicester - BBC Sport

2017-01-15

Leicester's hopes of reaching the Champions Cup quarter-finals end with an error-strewn loss at Racing 92.

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union Leicester's hopes of reaching the Champions Cup quarter-finals ended with an error-strewn loss at Racing 92. Racing, the 2016 runners-up, had been winless in this year's campaign but led through tries from Xavier Chauveau, Marc Andreu and Gerbrandt Grobler. A penalty try and Andreu's second after the break, along with nine points from the boot of Dan Carter, consigned the Tigers to a fourth consecutive defeat. Leicester's European season will conclude against Glasgow on Saturday. The Scottish club could still progress from Pool 1 should they win at Welford Road, with Munster already assured of their place in the last eight. Aaron Mauger has now lost both of his games in charge of Tigers since becoming interim director of rugby following Richard Cockerill's sacking. And there were few positives to take from a careless performance against a team that are struggling in the bottom half of the French league. Chauveau set Racing on their way with a finish after the hosts' pack had pinned Leicester on their own line and Andreu ran in under the posts when he picked up Matt Smith's stray pass. Freddie Burns' penalty gave Tigers their only points of the match but the visitors' night was summed up when Mathew Tait fumbled Carter's missed penalty and knocked on behind his own posts - handing Racing a penalty scrum that allowed Grobler to sneak over. Tigers continued to wither under the power of the Parisian club's pack and Will Evans conceded a penalty try when he tackled a driving maul - the flanker was sin-binned for his contribution. With Racing losing Antonie Claassen to a yellow card, Dan Cole thought he had scored for Leicester, but the television match official was unable to determine if the ball had been touched down. And the Premiership side's misery was compounded late on when Andreu finished a slick move in the corner. Leicester director of rugby Aaron Mauger: "It was frustrating and disappointing. We just didn't front up. "Everything we talked about in the week in terms of preparation we just didn't do. "We talked about winning the collisions and getting quick ball but I thought Racing were very good in that area. We weren't very good there and in defence we let them open up channels. "With guys like Dan Carter in the team, they're too good." Replacements: Afatia for Ben Arous (62), Chat for Lacombe (56), Tameifuna for Ducalcon (62), Williams for Van Der Merwe (54), Missoup for Fa'aso'o (71). Replacements: Roberts for Smith (62), Kitto for Burns (72), Harrison for B. Youngs (72), Bateman for Genge (77), Cilliers for Cole (66), Fitzgerald for Slater (41), Hamilton for Evans (55). For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38577186

Our cat in Havana - BBC News

2017-01-23

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In Havana, stray cats and dogs prowl the streets. Responsibility for looking after them lies with the public - as Will Grant found when he befriended a ginger tomcat.

Magazine

In Cuba's capital, armies of stray cats and dogs prowl the streets. The state does little to look after them, so responsibility lies with the public - as Will Grant found when he befriended a ginger tomcat. My younger sister sometimes reminds me of the apparent indifference I showed when our family cat, Pippit, died in 1991. A slender tabby who lived well beyond her expected years, Pippit enjoyed a long and happy life with us. Finally, at the impressive age of 21, she died just as we returned from a family holiday. Waking up to find that Pippit hadn't lasted the night, I took it upon myself to break the news to my sister. Sensitivity and tact weren't exactly high in my repertoire when I was 15 - I simply crashed into her room with the line: "Helen, the cat's dead!" I don't know if you've ever seen anyone wake up and immediately burst into tears, but I should take this opportunity to apologise to Helen for what was probably the meanest thing I did to her when we were growing up. So, given she has this image of me as callous when it comes to pets - unfair, I hasten to add - she was surprised, when she visited Havana recently, to find just how much Cuba has influenced my attitude towards animals. There are no state-funded pet rescue organisations on this communist island, so caring for neighbourhood strays is down to local businesses or residents. Around a dozen state institutions, from the Central Bank to the Museum of Metalwork, have adopted their own stray dogs. Under the scheme, the homeless hounds are named and duly issued with ID cards, which are placed on their collars to save them from the dog-catcher. Vladimir, a former street dog, with his ID collar in Havana The adoption system operates under the premise that they are now officially considered the government buildings' guard dogs, although the ones I've seen are docile street mutts rather than fierce Rottweilers. The city government does operate a programme for neutering and spaying strays in Old Havana, but the handful of voluntary animal protection organisations that exist simply can't deal with the sheer numbers across the island. Cubans are by and large dog people. There is a pretty significant culture of dog ownership, even among those who are barely scraping by. Cats, on the other hand get a raw deal. Especially stray ones. So, since we arrived in Cuba, we've tried to do our bit. We've already taken in two kittens we found lost and half-drowned during a torrential downpour one night. My girlfriend's mother is now the proud owner of the uniquely named Honorato and Carilda. But for my sister, on her recent visit, it was my relationship with Django which really stood out. A ginger-and-white tomcat, he started life inside our building's parking garage. We would often hear a faint mewing after we parked the car. As a kitten, Django would hide deep inside the motor of some diplomat's SUV, seeking refuge by nestling near the carburettor. Once he grew a bit and emerged from the darkness of the car park, he was almost instantly adopted by the building. We would leave food out for him. As would some Russian neighbours. So, apparently, did Sindi, one of the doormen. He looks like he could find a second job as a nightclub bouncer, but fell for the scruffy, soot-stained Django as much as we did. Django was the name my Mum gave the kitten when she came to Havana and it stuck. We were smitten. Evenings would be interrupted and conversations broken off mid-flow so we could go out and feed him a mixture of leftovers and expensive kibble specially brought in from Mexico. The treatment Django received in our building was well above the experience of most alley cats in Cuba with food regularly provided - if not by one neighbour, then another. Sometimes, both. That brought with it the inevitable interest of other local waifs and strays. At one time there were three or four more trying to get in on the act. Fair enough - it's a dog-eat-dog world out there for a Cuban cat. Still, we began to worry. There is a nasty habit in Cuba of angry neighbours removing a constantly barking dog or an unsightly stray cat by feeding it mince laced with rat-poison. Alternatively - almost as cruelly - the witless pet might be shoved into the back of the car, driven out to the countryside and let out on the roadside, far from home. Noisy neighbourhood dog dealt with, even if the owners are now frantic with worry. In the end, nothing like that befell poor Django. It was a far more inevitable fate, under the wheels of a car thundering down 70th Street. The headlines of 2016 were full of high-profile deaths. But spare a thought for one of the year's final victims, taken on New Year's Eve in Havana - a much loved, slightly grubby, ginger-and-white street cat called Django. Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38609794

Leicester defeat shows when a diamond does not work - Danny Murphy - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Leicester's latest away defeat came because they got their tactics wrong, says Match of the Day 2 pundit Danny Murphy

Leicester's defeat at Southampton was a great example of how tactics, rather than players, are hugely important in deciding football matches. You still need a talented, intelligent team with the ability to carry those tactics out for you, of course, but your system can win or lose a game for you - just the same as an amazing bit of skill will. That is what happened as St Mary's when Leicester lined up in a diamond shape in midfield. They played it really poorly, because it looked to me as if they had not worked on it very much. Southampton quickly worked out how to capitalise on their weaknesses and, by the time Leicester changed their shape at half-time, they were 2-0 down and as good as out of the game. That tactical effect is not always so obvious when I watch Premier League matches. A lot of the time both teams are playing a similar way, or both are well organised and working hard - and it is a moment of quality that wins the game. On Sunday, Saints were much better tactically and they won the match because of it. 'A difficult system to master, without the ball' I never played regularly in a diamond at any of my clubs, but we used it at certain times when I was at Liverpool and it worked quite nicely for us. In particular, we did it a few times when we played Manchester United at home because we felt their strength was in central areas, trying to play through us. Using the diamond forced them wide and they put crosses in, which was what we wanted them to do. It also meant we could press them higher up the pitch because the two strikers would be backed up by the man at the point of the diamond. It tends to suit teams who have the majority of possession and play a lot of football because you have got four men in the centre of midfield and, although you are lacking in the wide areas, you should have at least one extra man in the middle. That is the theory anyway. What actually happened with Leicester was they did not try to play out from the back and keep hold of the ball to use that extra man. And, when they lost the ball, the guys who were in the diamond were crossing positions too much because they were not sure when to look for the ball in middle or when to go and try to win it out wide. 'One of the hardest jobs a player can be asked to do' It is a difficult system to master, especially when you have not got possession. I am not against it, because I have played in it when it has worked, but it does not stretch the pitch as much as other formations and you do feel like you are doing extra work. I played as the wide man in a diamond a few times in my career and it is one of the hardest jobs a player can be asked to do. It involves a heck of a lot of running, because you are kind of playing in centre midfield, then you are playing right midfield - then right-back and on the right wing. You have to know when to go and chase the ball and when to sit and, on Sunday, Leicester's Danny Drinkwater, for example, struggled to get that right. We know Danny is a very good central midfielder - he was one of the best in the Premier League last season. However, he was on the right of the diamond against Saints and was not used to that position, which let Saints left-back Ryan Bertrand really enjoy himself in the first half. Sometimes Drinkwater was reacting to Saints attacks down his wing too late because he was too narrow and he could not get out to Bertrand in time, or he went out wide too early and left a gap inside. He was not the only Leicester player to be caught between two places where they were meant to be and Saints utilised all this space really well because they kept switching play. That left the two Leicester full-backs isolated a lot of the time and Southampton were getting a lot of crosses into their box - they scored their first goal from one of them. Leicester need to find a settled formation again I saw a lot of the Leicester players question each other during that first half and get angry about who was marking who and where they were supposed to be. So Ranieri was right to come out afterwards and acknowledge the way they started the game was his fault because he had tried something new. The players will always take some of the responsibility because they are out on the pitch, but asking them to work on a system for a few days then go away to a good side like Southampton is a bit too much to ask. Compare that performance to the way Leicester were playing last season when all their players looked so comfortable playing 4-4-1-1 because they all knew their jobs. They had little partnerships all over the pitch, and it was perfect in so many ways. Things are different now. They have brought in some new players and are trying to adapt a little bit and they also have to deal with teams raising their game against them because they are the champions. The expectancy level has gone up and, maybe because they have had a bad run, they have changed things too much instead of sticking to what they know. That is not a criticism of Leicester, because every club wants to evolve and improve their squad with better players . When you do that, you want to keep the ball a bit more and play in different ways. But it did not work out for them last week when they switched to play with three at the back in their defeat by Chelsea either. The sooner they get back to a settled formation, the sooner their results will pick up. I don't think we will see that diamond again any time soon, though. What next for the Foxes? Sometimes it is not the fact you lose a game that hurts you, it is the way you lose it. Leicester's players will watch a recording of that Southampton game at some point this week and there are not many positives for them to take from it, even in the second half. The league table does not look too good for the Foxes either - and their away form has been terrible all season. They need to pick themselves up quickly, but I still look at the attacking quality they have in their squad compared to the other teams down at the bottom and think they can go on a run and climb the table. Will they go down? You can never say never, but I would be shocked if they got sucked into the bottom three.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38713714

Jetpack firefighting system showcased in Dubai - BBC News

2017-01-23

A firefighting system involving a jet ski and water-powered jetpack has been showcased in Dubai.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38711494

Ten seconds to demolish 19 buildings - BBC News

2017-01-23

Five tonnes of explosives are used to demolish a series of tower blocks in Wuhan, China.

In just ten seconds, 19 buildings were demolished in Wuhan, China, in an operation using five tonnes of explosives.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38714059

Eurovision 2017: Which former X Factor contestant will represent the UK? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Every one of this year's UK Eurovision hopefuls is a former X Factor contestant.

Entertainment & Arts

Lucie Jones and Danyl Johnson both competed on X Factor in 2009 This year's UK Eurovision hopefuls have been revealed - and every one of them is a former X Factor contestant. Among the more recognisable names are Lucie Jones and Danyl Johnson, who both featured in the 2009 series, which was eventually won by Joe McElderry. Jones's song has the best pedigree: Never Give Up On You is written by 2013 Eurovision winner, Emmelie de Forest. TV talent has good form at Eurovision, with two previous winners graduating from singing contests like X Factor. Mel Giedroyc will host Eurovision: You Decide on Friday Swedish singer Loreen, who won the competition in 2012, was previously a runner-up on Swedish Idol, where she performed under the name Loren Talhaoui. More recently, Mans Zelmerlow triumphed at the 2015 contest - having earned his stripes on Swedish Idol and Let's Dance, which is his home country's version of Strictly. This year's UK's entry will be selected on Friday, 27 January, in a live BBC Two show hosted by Mel Giedroyc. A combination of viewer and jury votes will decide the winning song - with Bruno Tonioli and Sophie Ellis-Bextor forming part of the eight-person jury. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Former schoolteacher Danyl Johnson was, at one point, the bookies' favourite to win X Factor 2009. He eventually came fourth - losing out to Joe McElderry and runner-up Olly Murs - and earned brief notoriety after being (sort-of) outed by Danni Minogue. The singer, who currently works as an ambassador for the People's Postcode Lottery, enters Eurovision with a empowering dance track about "shining a light in the darkness" - harking back to Katrina and the Waves' Eurovision-winning song in 1997. It aims for anthemic but ends up sounding anaemic. Key lyric: "We couldn't see, yeah, standing in the dark." Holly Brewer - I Wish I Loved You More This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Holly Brewer - I Wish I Loved You More Holly has previously sung at the wedding of Mark Wright (The Only Way is Essex) and Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street) - and received four "yeses" from the X Factor judges in 2015. However, producers axed her from the programme by phone in a pre-bootcamp contestant cull - Cowell and co presumably underestimated the cost of accommodation in Wembley. Never fear, for now Holly is returning with a power ballad co-written by Courtney Harrell, a former contestant on The Voice US. A decent effort which sounds like it could have been found on Kelly Clarkson's studio floor. Key lyric: "You're the sunlight the the preacher talks about. Ooh-ooh, Amen." Lucie Jones - Never Give Up on You This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Lucie Jones - Never Give Up On You Lucie Jones will be remembered by the die-hard X Factor enthusiasts for coming eighth in the 2009 series - finishing behind fellow Eurovision hopeful Danyl Johnson and, er, Jedward. While she might have crashed out of the live finals fairly early, she should be more confident of winning the UK Eurovision race - as her song is co-written by Emmelie de Forest - the Danish singer-songwriter who won the song contest in 2013. Her vocals have improved remarkably since 2009, but the song is untroubled by percussion and ends up a slightly dreary piano ballad (not necessarily an obstacle to Eurovision victory). Key lyric: "Together we'll dance through this storm." Nate Simpson - What Are We Made Of? This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nate Simpson - What Are We Made Of? "You opened your mouth and Jesus came out," said Nicole Scherzinger when Slough-born Nate Simpson auditioned for the X Factor last year. That didn't stop her kicking him out at the judges's houses round, though. Maybe if he'd kept Jesus in there for a little longer... The 23-year-old is hoping to go to Eurovision with the piano ballad What Are We Made Of?. It has a key change before the first chorus, which gives you an indication of what you're in for. Key lyric: "We're breathing underwater and the struggle makes us stronger." This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Canadian singer Laurell Barker has been busy on the songwriting front this year because, as well as penning Holly's song, she has writing credits on Olivia Garcia's. Olivia is fresh from the most recent series of X Factor. She made it as far as judges houses, but Simon Cowell sadly didn't take her through to the live shows. She's now joined the Eurovision race with a propulsive ballad that could lend itself to a dramatic staging (we're thinking acrobats and a tug of war). Garcia's vocal acrobatics, meanwhile, do a good job of showing Cowell what he missed. Key lyric: "Shiny hair and shoes, how about me and you?" This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A distant relative of the Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni (La Dolce Vita; Divorce, Italian Style) Salena has a degree in fashion, but ditched the runway to pursue a career in music. After working as a wedding singer for four years, she auditioned for X Factor in 2012 but failed to progress beyond the initial stages. Instantly catchy, her song I Don't Wanna Fight is the most contemporary of this year's Eurovision entries, with a trance-house beat that's proved successful for other countries in recent years. Although the lyrics appear to carry an anti-war sentiment, Mastroianni says the song is about a relationship. Key lyric: "Why can't we put our weapons down?" Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38718362

Lagos living: Solving Nigeria's megacity housing crisis - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Nigeria's largest city Lagos is facing a housing crisis. The BBC's Nancy Kacungira looks at how entrepreneurs are trying to solve the crisis.

Africa

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. New Nigerian homes are being built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean Nigeria's largest city Lagos is facing a housing crisis. The BBC's Nancy Kacungira looks at how entrepreneurs are trying to solve the crisis. Affordable housing is a considerable challenge for urban areas with large populations, and this is particularly prevalent in the Nigeria's city of Lagos. More than 500,000 people move to the city every year, and across Nigeria, there is already a housing deficit of more than 17 million units. There are on-going projects of varying scale trying to address the shortage; one is reclaiming land from the Atlantic Ocean to build a new city suburb called Eko Atlantic on the shores of Victoria Island. Tonnes of sand and heavy rock were poured into the ocean to provide 10 sq km (3.8 sq miles) of land for shops, offices and homes. Protected by an 8km long sea wall, the city will have its own power and water supply, and even an independent road network. Developers say Eko Atlantic is aimed at those on a middle income Eko Atlantic will be able to accommodate more than 500,000 people, but the multibillion dollar project has been perceived as being "only for the rich". Ronald Chagoury Jr, one of the developers, says it is a perception they have been trying to shake off. "From the beginning we always thought that this would be a city for the middle income. "We know that the middle income has grown significantly in the past 15 years and we know that it is going to grow even more." Still, some residents of Lagos feel that there are already many housing options - they just cannot afford them. Properties are pricey and landlords typically require annual, not monthly rent payments. Banking consultant Abimbola Agbalu tells me that he has to live at his grandmother's house, because renting his own place would be too expensive. Some housing projects remain unoccupied because they are pricey "If I wanted to rent a house where I would prefer in Lagos I would be spending at least 80% of my pay cheque to move in because I would have to pay two years' rent upfront, agency fees and maintenance fees. "And from then on I would have to spend another 60-70% of my pay cheque every year on rent, which doesn't make sense. "The problem is not that there are no houses. If you look around, there are empty houses all over Lagos; some can even go a year without being rented out. "The problem is that people can't afford them. We need better alternatives." One Nigerian company is thinking inside the box in order to provide a cheaper housing option - by making homes out of cargo containers. Dele Ijaiya-Oladipo says he co-founded Tempohousing Nigeria to provide a creative solution in a city that desperately needs low-cost housing. Shipping containers are modified to make houses but Nigerians are not keen on them "The only way we can get the housing deficit sorted is by providing good quality houses at affordable rates. "You can't build a million homes at a price that no-one will ever afford - that doesn't achieve anything." Mr Ijaiya-Oladipo's container homes are 25% cheaper than traditional housing, and can be built in as little as two weeks. "But the concept is still foreign to many Nigerians; so most of his clients tend to use the containers to build office spaces, not homes," he says. "Until a potential client actually sees our past work, they can't really picture how a shipping container can be used as a finished house or office. "We have to encourage people to visit our office which is made out of containers, so they can see what we are talking about." From a self-sustaining city to refurbished-shipping containers, private sector real-estate developers are offering both big and small solutions - and Lagos needs them all. The city is Africa's largest, and its population is expected to double by 2050; putting even more pressure on already limited housing options.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38688796

The dental nurse who became an alligator catcher - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Texan Christy Kroboth used to have a quiet job in a dentist's surgery. Now she spends her time jumping on animals many times her size - and taping their jaws tightly shut.

Magazine

Christy Kroboth gave up her career as a dental nurse to focus on animals with a lot more teeth - alligators. When she started training as an alligator catcher she was the only woman in her class, but - as she describes here - that made her even more determined to show she could jump on an animal many times her size, and tape its jaws tightly shut. When I first got my licence I was only doing this as a hobby, I'd go to work as a dental assistant and catch my alligators on the side. But I got well known for taking the alligators alive, and I'm now doing this as my full time job. I've been a true animal lover all my life. I blame it on my mom. When we were little she was the one that would stop the car, pull over, and help turtles and ducks cross the road. We took in all the strays - cats, dogs, whatever needed a home. Where I live in the south part of Texas we have a lot of alligators and there are these big master-plan communities that have manmade ponds and these ponds have alligators in them. The homeowners are so afraid that they're going to eat their kids and that they're going to eat their dogs, but in the past 100 years we've only had one person killed by an alligator, so it's all just superstition. These alligators have been around since the dinosaurs. They're great for the ecosystem, they keep all the aquatic life in check. They're actually really shy animals and they don't want to hurt anybody. But people think of these guys as monsters. They have this vision in their head, and when I noticed this I thought, "What can I do to help change people's mindset?" After reports that golfers were being mean to this giant alligator, Kroboth was called in to safely remove it from a Texan golf course You can't just go out and catch an alligator because alligators are protected by the state here in Texas. You have to have a special licence and a permit. I registered to be an alligator hunter with Texas Parks and Wildlife and we had to go through a whole training course. I was the only girl in the class and also the youngest. We had to go through the rules, laws and regulations, and then the trainer told us: "OK, you've all passed the paperwork, now let's go do this hands-on." I'd never even touched an alligator before and for a split second I thought, "I can't do this." I called my mom and I said, "Mom, I can't do this!" And, of course, mom is like, "Come home right now, don't do it!" But something told me: "I have to do this - not only for the alligators, but to prove to these big ol' country boys that I can." I ran out to the pond, got the alligator, taped him up and ended up passing the test. It was one of the happiest moments of my life and that adrenaline rush lasted the whole day. The biggest alligator I've ever caught was a 13ft (4m) male weighing more than 900lb (408kg). I'm 120lb (54kg), so he outweighed me by a good amount. He was blind and lost in a parking lot and could not find his way back to the water. Usually we catch alligators by grabbing their jaws with both hands. Once you feel comfortable enough you let go with one hand and you reach the other hand into your pocket, grab your electrical [insulating] tape and tape his mouth shut. You've got to move fast. Well, this alligator was so big that my hands would not fit around his jaws. I was trying to call my buddies to help, but it was six o'clock in the morning and none of my volunteers were answering. I was able to sucker one of the local cops into trying to help me, but he didn't want to put his hands around the alligator's mouth, which is understandable. Another way to catch an alligator is to try to outweigh them by jumping on their back, so I talked this poor cop into jumping on to the back of this alligator with me. The trick is you put all your weight down and sit completely down on the alligator. Well, the officer didn't and he kind of just danced around the alligator which any untrained person probably would. The alligator didn't like that, so he started wiggling around, trying to get away. I knew instantly this was not going to work, so I stood up to back off and the alligator swatted me with his tail and made me fall on my bottom right there beside his un-taped mouth. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Christy Kroboth and police officer in action in the car park We were all worn out from trying to catch this alligator for four hours, the parking lot was getting busy and stores were starting to open so I had to make the decision to call in a game warden. I got very sad because game wardens usually don't come out and catch alligators, game wardens usually come out and kill alligators. I went to my car and I started crying because I'd been defeated by this animal. I called the game warden and he said, "Christy, stop crying. I am going to come help you. Do not touch that alligator until I get there." Well, when he said that I just got so much energy, I was so happy. I got out of my car like I could just conquer the world because somebody was coming to help me. Somehow I was able to go up to the alligator and hold his jaws in my arm and tape his mouth shut with my right hand. We ran to Home Depot and got zip ties to tie the alligator's hands behind his back like he was in handcuffs so he couldn't walk off. Then the game warden showed up and he said, "I told you not to catch him!" I said, "I'm sorry, I just had all this confidence and I was able to do it!" We had to borrow a forklift to pick the alligator up and load him in to my buddy's truck, because he was so big. Potentially dangerous alligators that cannot be released back into the wild are taken to a farm with tons of acreage and tons of ponds. But if the alligator can be released in the wild we have certain release sites where we can drop them off. I have an SUV and sometimes the smaller alligators will want to climb over the seats and try to make their way to the front to help me drive, so it's me and the alligator waving at people going down the freeways. I've found out if you make it freezing cold in your car the alligators are calmer. So although it's the middle of summertime here in Houston - 97F (36C), humidity - I'm on the freeway in a jacket with gloves and a scarf and a blanket wrapped around me because my car is freezing cold. But the alligator is behaving, so that's all that matters. Sometimes they go to the bathroom, and alligator poo is not that great, so we'll have to roll down the windows and travel on down the road. Being the animal lover I am I think it's very important that we educate everybody on the animals that are living in their backyards and help them understand that we can all live together. I have three educational alligators, their names are Cam, Taylor and Halo. We call them our "edugators" because we take them to schools and we teach people alligator safety and alligator education. I work with these alligators every single day, they're used to being handled so they don't see us as a threat. They'll even sit on the couch and watch TV with me when they're not in their enclosures. When I go out on a catch sometimes there's a very afraid person there whose mindset is changed. They may say, "Oh, I understand his importance now, I like him, let's name him." When I see that change in people that's what really drives me to do what I do. That's why I wake up and why I do my job every single day. Listen to Christy Kroboth speaking to Outlook on the BBC World Service Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38641709

Ryan Mason: Hull City midfielder talking again after fracturing skull - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Hull midfielder Ryan Mason is conscious and has been speaking about the incident in which he fractured his skull during Sunday's game at Chelsea.

Last updated on .From the section Football Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason is conscious and has been speaking about the incident in which he fractured his skull during Sunday's game at Chelsea, the club said in a statement. Mason, 25, clashed heads with Blues defender Gary Cahill 13 minutes into the Premier League match. He was taken to St Mary's Hospital in London, where he had surgery. "Ryan and his family have been extremely touched by the overwhelming support," added the statement. "They would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours." Hull added Mason would continue to be monitored at the hospital "over the coming days". Tigers captain Michael Dawson, club doctor Mark Waller, head of medical Rob Price and club secretary Matt Wild visited Mason in hospital on Monday. Cahill, Chelsea captain John Terry and assistant manager Steve Holland had visited on Sunday to check on Mason's well-being, and spent time with his family. Mason, Hull's record signing, fractured his skull as he attempted to head the ball clear of his own box following a cross from Pedro. He got to the ball a split second before Cahill, who was already committed to his attempted header, and the pair collided. Both players spent a lengthy period receiving treatment, though Cahill was able to continue. Mason joined Hull from Tottenham last August for a club-record undisclosed fee. He has scored one goal in 16 Premier League appearances for the Tigers. Prior to his move, he made 53 top-flight appearances for Tottenham, and had loan spells at Yeovil, Doncaster, Millwall, Lorient and Swindon. Hull lost Sunday's game 2-0 as goals from Diego Costa and Cahill gave Chelsea a victory that took them eight points clear at the top. Head traumas and the damage they can cause When head trauma happens, doctors are obviously concerned about how much damage there might be to the brain. Some skull fractures need little or no treatment and will heal by themselves with time. Others need urgent treatment. Any bits of bone that have been pressed inwards can be removed and returned to their correct position. If necessary, metal wire or mesh may be used to reconnect the pieces. Once the bone is back in place, it should heal. 'Lessons appear to have been learned' Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury association Headway, said the reaction of the medical teams was "exemplary". McCabe, who was at Stamford Bridge, added: "Headway has been critical of the way in which head injuries have been treated in many high-profile football incidents in recent years, but it is positive to see that lessons appear to have been learned."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38718324

Garth Crooks' team of the week: Sanchez, Rooney, Brunt, Cahill - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Who is Southampton's "new Morgan Schneiderlin"? Who is the "best team player of his generation"? Find out in Garth Crooks' team of the week.

Chelsea beat struggling Hull 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points. Arsenal were the only other team in the top six to win, beating Burnley 2-1. Manchester City and Tottenham drew 2-2 on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney scored a record 250th Manchester United goal as they rescued a point at Stoke. Elsewhere, there were wins for Southampton against Leicester, Swansea against Liverpool, Everton at Crystal Palace, West Ham at Middlesbrough and West Brom against Sunderland. Bournemouth and Watford drew. Do you agree with my team of the week or would you go for a different team? Why not pick your very own team of the week from the shortlist selected by BBC Sport journalists and share it with your friends? Pick your Team of the Week Pick your XI from our list and share with your friends. I was tempted to go for Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois for another clean sheet. His save from Hull's Oumar Niasse in the closing minutes nearly clinched it, but I have gone for Petr Cech. The former Chelsea keeper was first class throughout the messy affair. He took a blow to the head that caused a moment's concern but recovered to put in a solid performance against a very dangerous Burnley. You can count on Cech to be professional in a crisis and there were times in this match when Arsenal seemed to be out of control. The behaviour of Arsene Wenger was jaw-dropping. To push the fourth official, who was well within his rights to ask Wenger to leave the area having been dismissed, was appalling. It's just as well the Arsenal manager has apologised to him, it's the least he could do. Now he will have to wait to hear what the FA thought about this unseemly affair. I suspect it won't be good. What a finish by Seamus Coleman. If there is one full-back you want the ball to drop to in the opposition's penalty area minutes from time then Coleman's the man. Palace can moan all they want about Jeffrey Schlupp requiring treatment for cramp. The referee is under no obligation to stop the match unless he considers the matter serious. For Everton - and Coleman in particular - to take advantage of Palace's misfortune is precisely what the game is all about. To be perfectly honest, Coleman was superb all afternoon. He was a constant menace down Crystal Palace's left side and caused all sorts of problems for the Eagles. Time is running out for Sam Allardyce. Having suffered that earth-shattering experience of losing the England job in such an undignified fashion, I wondered if it has destroyed what has hitherto been an impregnable confidence? I hope not because Palace are going to need it. Trying to win a football match with 10 men is one thing - but it becomes considerably more difficult when your manager and team-mates seem to have lost the plot while you are trying to do it. That's what appeared to be the situation facing Shkodran Mustafi in a mad spell at Emirates Stadium. It all started when Granit Xhaka made a totally outrageous tackle on Steven Defour, followed by an equally needless challenge by Francis Coquelin that resulted in a penalty. The madness didn't stop there either; Arsene Wenger was then removed from the dugout for remonstrating about a decision the referee Jon Moss got absolutely right. Fortunately, Mustafi kept his cool at a time when all around him were losing theirs. This was not an easy game for Chelsea or Gary Cahill but they both got through it. The Chelsea captain suffered a nasty bang on the head having clashed with Ryan Mason. Mason never recovered and went straight to hospital, while Cahill went on to score the goal that sealed a difficult victory. The Blues have now stretched their lead at the top of the table, having kept their discipline and their composure. Notably, we saw the return of Diego Costa from the naughty corner, adding his goalscoring talents to the side. No doubt Cahill read Costa the riot act on behalf of the players and dressing room order seems to have been restored. Now they go to Liverpool in two weeks' time with an opportunity to put this title race beyond the Merseysiders. It's amazing what a team can achieve with discipline, talent and composure. What a strike by Chris Brunt. We know the Northern Irishman can whack a ball, but his goal against Sunderland was so sweetly struck that it was an object of sheer beauty. What was not so pretty was the altercation between Darren Fletcher and Papy Djilobodji when the Senegal defender appeared to shove the West Brom captain in the face. Based on the evidence, no punches were thrown - but hands were certainly raised. Why West Brom manager Tony Pulis, in his post-match interview, devolved his 'opinion' to the MOTD studio on this specific matter I don't really understand. Managers can seriously defend a player's actions or condemn them - Pulis elected to do neither. I hope we are not coming into a period in the game where managers (Pep Guardiola included) no longer think it their job to express an opinion. However, there was one thing we all agreed on: Brunt's goal was a cracker. The penalty that settled this fixture was controversial but it took a big man to convert it. Once I saw Alexis Sanchez step up to the spot I knew the game was over. The fact Jon Moss got the decision wrong in my view is immaterial now, but what did the referee think Ben Mee was going to do, let Laurent Koscielny head the ball into the back of the net? The defender is entitled to clear the ball regardless of where the opposing player is prepared to stick his head. Nevertheless, the penalty was awarded and Sanchez showed his class with a coolly taken spot-kick in a white hot atmosphere. It's just as well Arsenal have a player who in this sort of situation can cope with the pressure. The former Tottenham midfielder gave Liverpool fair warning early in the first half when he hit the woodwork. However, it was the way this young talent seemed to run the show that impressed me. He spent long periods dictating the play - irrespective of the presence of Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum - and did so with real purpose. Swansea's first league win at Anfield was masterminded by a 24-year-old who did not have much Premier League experience. Last week, we saw Liverpool defend heroically at Old Trafford - but courage alone is not enough. Liverpool need know-how and a central defender who can organise and marshal his defensive colleagues in isolation and one that doesn't need the assistance of the cavalry every time there is a set-piece or counter-attack. The Reds now have to face Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal at Anfield in a matter of weeks. I keep saying that Liverpool can't win the title with this defence, but it's obvious Jurgen Klopp disagrees. He's only gone and done it. Wayne Rooney has broken Sir Bobby Charlton's record and Bobby was there to see it. 250 not out. It was a landmark goal by the best team player of his generation. Rooney was so consumed in his post-match interview by the fact that Manchester United had salvaged a point in such difficult circumstances that his record-breaking exploit had become secondary. This typified a player who I have grown to greatly respect over the years. He never misses an England match if called upon and plays for his club in any position when required. Rooney stood up to Sir Alex Ferguson (and quite rightly) when he felt his manager wasn't buying the players befitting of Manchester United, prolonged David Moyes' tenure at the club with virtuoso performances having been told he was surplus to requirements - and now sits on the bench without a moment's fuss or hesitation under Jose Mourinho, waiting to come to the rescue if needed. This is a player who deserves all the plaudits. After all, he's earned them. This was a game in which Leicester City were unrecognisable from the side who won the Premier League title. Admittedly, Southampton and James Ward-Prowse in particular contributed to their demise, but I must say the Foxes are playing with fire. Better teams than them have gone down and Claudio Ranieri had better pull his finger out. In the meantime, Southampton have worked their way through a very difficult period and as a result unearthed a new Morgan Schneiderlin. Every time I see Ward-Prowse play, he gets better and better and he was the architect of Leicester's downfall. That said, if Leicester are serious about staying in the Premier League, they should seriously consider how they manage their Champions League fixtures because they can't succeed in both. Crisis, what crisis? I said last week if Andy Carroll can stay fit between now and the end of the season, Dimitri Payet can take a running jump. In fact, I will drive him to Marseille myself. The former Liverpool and Newcastle striker looks in great form at the moment and destroyed Middlesbrough, who seem to be punching above their weight. I have an enormous amount of time for manager Aitor Karanka's team, who remind me a bit of Jack Charlton's Boro in the 70s. There wasn't a great deal of stardom in that side either but tremendous endeavour. Unfortunately, against a rampant West Ham led by Carroll, effort wasn't enough. I just didn't see this result coming and that's why you can't take your eyes off the Premier League for a moment. Swansea may have the worst defensive record in the division but that didn't mean a row of beans to the Swans on the day. Llorente's first goal was an opportunist's toe-poke, but his second was superb. The way he attacked the ball was brave and full of intent and gave Swansea what they deserved. Liverpool still find themselves in a fantastic position regardless of this result - but a wonderful opportunity will soon evaporate if they don't fix what has been glaringly obvious to me all season. Liverpool need a central defensive general.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38711481

Golf must speed up to attract new fans - and a 54-hole cut can help - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Golf needs to reach out to new audiences - and a second cut after 54 holes is one way of speeding up the game, argues Iain Carter.

Watching Tommy Fleetwood smashing a three-wood to the home green, imploring it to reach its distant target to help him clinch a prestigious title, was outstanding sporting theatre. Here was a 26-year-old English star confirming his golfing renaissance by seizing the moment in champion style. He held off major winners Dustin Johnson and Martin Kaymer and it was stirring stuff. Fleetwood's victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship also emphasised his place among the burgeoning talent pool populating the British golfing scene. It came seven days after Graeme Storm had beaten Rory McIlroy to the South African Open title. But it was a long time in coming and with football, cricket, tennis, snooker and skiing all competing for your sporting attention on Sunday, you could be forgiven for switching away long before this exciting conclusion occurred. The golfers were not especially slow but grouping them in three-balls, rather than the usual pairings of two, meant the weekend's twists and turns took an age to develop. Sunday's champion chipped in for eagle on the 10th hole to leap into what should have been an absorbing title battle. However it was more than two full hours, during which the Southport star hit only 28 more shots, before the killer blow was administered. And even then we had to wait for the final trio, Dustin Johnson, Pablo Larrazabal and Tyrrell Hatton, to complete their rounds - another quarter of an hour or so - before Fleetwood could, at last, be crowned champion. All week in Abu Dhabi, the talk was of growing the game and attracting more fans. We had music on the range and on the final day more tunes were played to accompany the players' walk to the first tee. Stewards clapped together their wooden "quiet please" signs (oh, the irony) to try to generate more atmosphere, but with limited success. It wasn't, thankfully, the sort of entrance you would see at the Lakeside darts. Nevertheless it was a refreshing start and the organisers should be applauded for making the effort to give the pro game a bit of a showbiz feel, make it less stuffy and more welcoming. After all, we have been calling for such thinking for long enough. Then, however, it all reverted to type. Spectators were put in their place with a warning, announced from the first tee, to put away cameras and phones before the formal introduction of the players. All these announcements were made in English, which does little for game growing in Abu Dhabi. Let's not kid ourselves, these desert tournaments are purely the preserve of the ex-pat communities in the Middle East. And for the worldwide television audience, there was then a five-hour wait from the moment the final group teed off until the tournament was decided. That's a sizeable chunk of anyone's weekend. The decision to play in threes was made because 73 players made the cut and this was the only way to get them all round in the available daylight with a one-tee start. Logistics determined the timetable, but when so many players make the cut (the leading 65 and ties qualify for the third round) it becomes too unwieldy. Secondary cuts at the 54-hole stage are employed in some events but they should become standard practice whenever the only alternative is playing three-balls on the marquee final day. As all of the other modernising initiatives try to demonstrate, pro golf is showbiz. The sport itself, surely, has to reflect the fact by being engaging and watchable. So there should be a second cut on a Saturday evening. It would inject more interest to the penultimate day and would leave only genuine contenders competing in the closing round. It is unlikely to happen though. The golfers are likely to object to anything that makes tournaments more cut-throat and, don't forget, the tours are run for the benefit of the players, their members. But the bigger picture - which is the small one that fills television screens - suggests there should be no room for petty self-interest and that something needs to happen. After all, what should have been a thrilling weekend was slow and stodgy and not the spectacle it deserved to be. Only the die-hards, who stuck with it all the way, could genuinely appreciate Fleetwood's brilliant win and that cannot be right when trying to popularise golf is such a priority.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/38713186

'New town' Milton Keynes celebrates 50th anniversary - BBC News

2017-01-23

In January 1967 a new town was born, in what had been a cluster of sleepy Buckinghamshire villages.

Conceived as a new town to ease the London housing shortage, Milton Keynes is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Love it or loathe it, Milton Keynes has successfully attracted families and businesses and is used as a model for new towns across the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38716423

US storms: Tornadoes wreak havoc in Mississippi - BBC News

2017-01-23

Aerial footage shows the extent of devastation caused by tornadoes in Mississippi in the US, which claimed the lives of four people

Aerial footage shows the extent of devastation caused by tornadoes in Mississippi in the US, which claimed the lives of four people And a state of emergency has been declared in seven counties in south-central Georgia, where 14 people were killed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38715832

Australian Open: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga shares heartfelt letter from ball girl - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga shares a thank you note from a ball girl named Giuliana, whom he helped at the 2016 Australian Open.

Australia

It was the gesture at last year's Australian Open tennis tournament that made headlines around the world. During his second-round match, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga noticed a ball girl was fighting back tears after being struck by a ball. The Frenchman stopped play to check on the girl before looping his arm through hers and escorting her off the court. Twelve months on, Tsonga has revealed the girl, Giuliana, sent him a heartfelt message of thanks. "I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for helping me out on court during your round 2 match. I'm not sure if you remember me but I was the ball girl you escorted off court. "I would also like to take the opportunity to apologise for the times when you asked for the ball but I did not service it to you or acknowledge you. "I had picked up a virus which I was unaware of and it caused me to become dizzy and lightheaded. This also affected my vision and hearing. "I apologise for not being able to perform my duties as a ball kid to the high standards that are expected. "Thank you so much for the kindness that you showed me. I really appreciate that you were able to see that I needed some help and were kind enough to escort me off court." The letter finishes by wishing Tsonga "all the best" for his remaining games, before signing off: "Giuliana, AO Ballkid no. 180." Tsonga made the letter public in a tweet thanking Giuliana, which has been widely shared. The world number 12 will play 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals after beating Britain's Dan Evans on Sunday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38713952

Sam Warburton: Wales flanker reflects on losing captaincy - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Sam Warburton says he is "more hungry" after losing the Wales captaincy and backs Alun Wyn Jones as a capable successor.

Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby Sam Warburton says he remains as hungry as ever to play for Wales despite losing the captaincy to Alun Wyn Jones. Wales start their Six Nations campaign in Italy on 5 February with Warburton endorsing interim head coach Rob Howley's decision to appoint Jones. Warburton, 28, has led Wales a record 49 times since being handed the captaincy by Warren Gatland in 2011. "It's been lovely while I've done it but I can enjoy my rugby without it," said Warburton. "It allows me to have a little bit more freedom. "There comes a time in your career you need to focus on yourself. Even though you are in a team sport, you do still need to be selfish." Speaking for the first time since the decision was announced, Warburton said: "It's something I've known about for a while and spoken about it to Rob. "There wasn't a definitive moment. This has been happening over the past few months. "It probably came to our attention during the autumn, when we started talking about it, and through December and January. "It was a decision we both agreed on and thought was best for myself individually and the team. "You know it is a big call for a coach to drop his captain." Was it hard to take? Warburton insists he is not disappointed and is free to concentrate on securing his position in the Wales back row. "I found it to be a relatively easy decision because captaincy has never been the motivation for me," said the Cardiff Blues flanker, who said he was unsure whether he would lead Wales again. "Playing number seven for Wales and the Lions has always been the target. "It's not something I've been bitterly disappointed about or something I've always desperately wanted to do. It's an honour. "There also comes a time in your career you need to focus on yourself. "That's why this is the best thing for me. It will probably make me more hungry not to have the captaincy. "There are so many good sixes and sevens in the squad, that you have got to bring your A-game just to get in the 23." What are his captaincy highlights? Since 2011, when he took the job aged 22, Warburton has led Wales more times than anybody else and captained his country at two World Cups and to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2012. "People expect the Grand Slam to be my highlight, but I only played three games," he said. "My highlight might be the win against South Africa in 2014 because that was a big moment. "Players are always getting the question about [beating] southern hemisphere sides. To finally get that win was satisfying. "When I look back to 2011 when I nearly didn't take it, that would have been the biggest mistake of my rugby career. "Back then I was completely out of my comfort zone and didn't want to do it. "But it has helped me develop as a person and a player." Warburton is replaced by Ospreys skipper Jones who has captained Wales five times and led the Lions to match and series victory in the final Test against Australia in 2013. "Alun Wyn is a vastly experienced player and has more experience than me at international level," said Warburton. "He's seen pretty much everything in this game. That's what makes him such a great candidate to be captain. "Alun Wyn is the stand-out candidate. It will be a nice smooth transition and he will be able to cope fine with things." What about the Lions? Warburton said he was unsure whether his chances of leading the Lions again in New Zealand this summer after captaining the tourists in Australia in 2013 would be affected. "I haven't spoken to Warren [Gatland] since he was announced as Lions coach," said Warburton. "He popped in and observed some training sessions, which I imagine he did across the home nations. "He was informed about the decision by the WRU and Rob spoke to him. "One of my concerns was Warren, because he has invested a lot of time in me, especially when I was so young. "But he knew exactly what was going on which was great."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38724392

Trump inauguration: Two Americas in 24 hours - BBC News

2017-01-23

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In the space of 24 hours, events in Washington showed two Americas, poles apart.

US & Canada

In the space of 24 hours, Washington was the scene of two Americas. President Trump's supporters came feeling they've just taken their country back. The protesters on the women's march feel they have just lost theirs. It is that stark. The mood at the march was determinedly cheerful, there were men, children and lots and lots of women. Grandmothers teaching their granddaughters the political ropes. But the underlying message was clear - liberal America has just been shoved out of power. These marches were enormous and they came out in cities across the country to repudiate not just Donald Trump, but his whole world view. They didn't just protest about women's issues, there were also signs addressing his positions on climate change, healthcare and Muslims. Can they change President Trump's agenda? Probably not. But approval ratings matter - they are a form of political capital and when this many people really dislike the new president, that makes it harder for him to persuade members of Congress to support him on difficult issues. The polls show us that Mr Trump is the most unpopular new president in American history. Those are the facts. These marches put faces to those numbers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38707721

Andy Murray: How much should be read into Australian Open exit? - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

After early Australian Open exits for the world's top two players, Russell Fuller assesses whether more should be read into the upsets.

Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online from 21 January. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have so much shared history. And now, in the space of just four days in Melbourne, the world's top two players have both been on the receiving end of upsets almost without parallel in the past 10 years. Former players were cheering Mischa Zverev on from the locker room - not because of any antipathy towards Murray, but because his opponent was playing the style of tennis many of them used to play to great effect. Serving and volleying against the Briton seems counter-intuitive. Along with Djokovic, he is the best returner in the world - and if he does not manage to pass you, then he is more than likely to send a top spin lob fizzing over your head to within inches of the baseline. But Zverev served superbly, and volleyed even better, again and again and again. The German hit some astonishing returns and made short shrift of Murray's second serve. And when the pressure started to rise, his level did not start to fall. Pinned behind the baseline too frequently for comfort, Murray started missing more regularly. The Scot was unable to turn the tide or summon up the aggression that served him so well in the second half of last season. • None Has Djokovic's obsession burnt itself out? Andre Agassi addressed this subject before the match. The four-time Australian Open champion was very complimentary about Murray in a video link to Melbourne Park on Saturday, as he explained how the 29-year-old could improve still further. "I have always sort of talked about Andy as a person that has never really utilised his game to his maximum potential. He's so good at certain things that it almost makes him a bit indecisive," Agassi said. "If you actually minimised his defensive skills just 5%, he might even actually be a better player. "He puts himself through unnecessary wear and tear on a court, because his offensive upside is, I think, still more than he shows." Murray says he will now reflect on whether he could have done anything differently to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year. He only had time for two weeks off after a frenetic end to last season, and must now balance the need for rest with his instinctive desire to play in Great Britain's Davis Cup first-round tie in Canada the week after next. Murray suggested in the immediate aftermath of defeat that he intends to play in Ottawa, but his coaching team may well argue he should take a longer break before heading to Dubai in late February. The first two Masters events of the year follow in Indian Wells and Miami. There is no immediate threat to Murray's world number one ranking - he will be 1,715 points ahead of Serb Djokovic when the list is refreshed at the end of the Australian Open. He is certain to be number one until at least May because he has just a handful of ranking points to defend between now and the start of the clay court season. Can anything further be read into the early exits of both Murray and Djokovic, who will both have turned 30 by the time the next Grand Slam is staged at Roland Garros in four months? Ageing players are once again doing very well at this Australian Open, with half of the 12 men left in the draw on Sunday night older than the pair of them. And yet in the modern era, men have found it tricky to win Grand Slam titles in their thirties. Stan Wawrinka and Agassi have each done it twice, but even Roger Federer has managed it only once. Mats Wilander, who won the last of his seven Grand Slam titles at the age of 24, explains why it can become harder to find the consistency required over seven rounds. "You have good days and you have bad days when you get older," Wilander told BBC Sport. "You don't have to call on anything when you are younger - it's just there naturally. You don't worry about the consequences, you just play and you fight until the bitter end. I think the mind gets in your way when you get older." There are still three Grand Slam champions left in the draw, with Federer, Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal all now over 30. The younger challenge is led by Milos Raonic, Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov. Along with Federer - who will not now have to face Murray in the quarter-finals - it may be Raonic who takes most heart from Sunday's events. You will not find him at the net as often as Zverev, but he did add the 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to his team in December with the explicit intention of trying to move forward on a more regular basis. We are a long way from declaring a new serve-and-volley era, but Melbourne Park's quicker courts have contributed to an enthralling first week - unless, that is, you happen to be ranked number one or two in the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38711323

Samsung reveals cause of Galaxy Note 7 phone fires - BBC News

2017-01-23

Samsung reveals what caused the overheating and burning of some of its Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones.

Samsung reveals what caused the overheating and burning of some of its Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones. The recall is thought to have cost $5.3bn (£4.3bn) and was hugely damaging for the South Korean firm's reputation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38715836

Bernie Ecclestone removed as Liberty Media completes $8bn takeover - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Bernie Ecclestone is removed from his position running F1 as US giant Liberty Media completes its $8bn (£6.4bn) takeover of the sport.

Bernie Ecclestone has been removed from his position running Formula 1 as US giant Liberty Media completed its $8bn (£6.4bn) takeover of the sport. Ecclestone, 86, who has been in charge for nearly 40 years, has been appointed chairman emeritus and will act as an adviser to the board. Chase Carey has had Ecclestone's former role of chief executive officer added to his existing position of chairman. Liberty has also brought ex-Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn back to F1. The former Ferrari technical director, who had been acting as a consultant to Liberty, has been appointed to lead the sporting and technical side of F1. Ecclestone said earlier on Monday he had been "forced out". He told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "I was dismissed. This is official. I no longer run the company. My position has been taken by Chase Carey." • None Why F1's titanic leader was loved and loathed Ecclestone, who added he did not know what his new job title meant, declined to comment when approached by BBC Sport, who revealed on Sunday he would leave his job this week. Liberty began its takeover of the sport in September and earlier in January cleared the last two regulatory hurdles. The deal was completed on Monday and Liberty Media is to be renamed the Formula 1 Group following the takeover. As well as Brawn's return, former ESPN executive Sean Bratches has been hired to run the commercial side of the sport. Brawn, 62, masterminded all seven of Michael Schumacher's world titles at Benetton and Ferrari and also won the championship with Jenson Button with his own team in 2009. He then moved to Mercedes, where he laid the foundations for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's title wins. Both he and Bratches will report to Carey, a former long-time lieutenant of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and chairman of his 21st Century Fox company. What they said Bernie Ecclestone: "I'm proud of the business that I built over the past 40 years and all that I have achieved with Formula 1. I would like to thank all of the promoters, teams, sponsors and television companies that I have worked with. "I'm very pleased that the business has been acquired by Liberty and that it intends to invest in the future of F1. I am sure that Chase will execute his role in a way that will benefit the sport." Chase Carey: "I am excited to be taking on the additional role of CEO. F1 has huge potential with multiple untapped opportunities. I have enjoyed hearing from the fans, teams, [governing body] FIA, promoters and sponsors on their ideas and hopes for the sport. "I would like to recognise and thank Bernie for his leadership over the decades. The sport is what it is today because of him and the talented team of executives he has led, and he will always be part of the F1 family. "Bernie's role as chairman emeritus befits his tremendous contribution to the sport and I am grateful for his continued insight and guidance as we build F1 for long-term success and the enjoyment of all those involved." Greg Maffei, president and CEO of Liberty Media Corporation: "We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of F1 and that Chase will lead this business as CEO. I'd like to thank Bernie Ecclestone for his tremendous success in building this remarkable global sport." Zak Brown, executive director, McLaren Technology Group: "Formula 1 wouldn't be the international sporting powerhouse that it is today without the truly enormous contribution made over the past half-century by Bernie Ecclestone. Indeed, I can't think of a single other person who has had anything like as much influence on building a global sport as he has. "Today is a day on which we should all pay tribute to a remarkable visionary entrepreneur called Bernie Ecclestone, and to say thank you to him too." Murray Walker, F1 commentator, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "Formula 1 owes him an immeasurable debt. He is a very tough businessman but if he shakes your hand you don't need a contract. He's as good as his word. "The most important thing under Bernie's rule was the safety aspect. Formula 1 has been absolutely transformed. There was a time when four or five people were being killed every year but Bernie, with the help of Professor Sid Watkins, transformed that situation." What did Ecclestone do for F1? Ecclestone, the former team boss of Brabham, began in the 1970s as a representative of his colleagues in negotiations with circuits, television and authorities and slowly moved into a position of almost absolute power. He was central in turning F1 from a relatively minority activity into one of the biggest television sports in the world outside the Olympics and the football World Cup. After selling Brabham in the late 1980s, he moved full-time into administration. He took over the ownership of the commercial rights of F1 from the teams in the mid-1990s. He then struck a deal in 2000 with his long-time ally Max Mosley, then president of the FIA, to lease them for 110 years at what critics said was an absurdly low price of $360m (£287m). That set in motion a series of sales where the rights were passed from one entity to another, a process that led Ecclestone to stand trial for bribery in Germany in 2014. The case was dropped after a payment of $100m (£79m) without presumption of guilt or innocence. Subsequently Liberty took over from previous owner CVC Capital Partners. Ecclestone built F1 into a sport that could be valued by one of the world's biggest media groups at $8bn. He did this by building up F1's exposure on television, forcing companies to transmit the whole championship rather than cherry-picking the odd race here and there as had been normal until the early 1980s. But he has been criticised for his authoritarian grip on the sport and his controversial approach. In recent years, his demands for ever-higher fees from race tracks led to several European races struggling to make ends meet. His decision-making was also questioned, particularly over issues such as the introduction of double points for the final race of the 2014 season, and the quickly abandoned change of the qualifying format in 2016. A prize-money structure he created in the early years of this decade is believed by many insiders to be unfairly skewed in favour of the bigger and richer teams, and the governance system he set up at the same time has led to a log-jam when it comes to decision-making. Equally, his public utterances were sometimes ill-advised, such as praising Adolf Hitler for "being able to get things done" and calling women "domestic appliances". And some of his choices of locations for new races were also controversial - in countries such as Bahrain, Russia and Azerbaijan which secured huge fees for CVC but were criticised because of the regimes' records on human rights. What changes does Liberty plan? Liberty has not publicly revealed what changes it will make to F1 but insiders say it plans to act on many of the areas that were considered a weakness under Ecclestone. In particular, it wants to exploit digital media, an area with which Ecclestone refused to engage, and it intends to invest in securing the futures of certain races which it considers valuable. It also wants to grow the sport in the USA, where F1 has long struggled to gain a sure foothold and promote it much more extensively, talking of creating "20 Super Bowls", in terms of making much more of the build-up to each race.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38723001

10 things we didn't know last week - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Cambridge University has a professor of play, and more news nuggets.

Magazine

3. Some drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease have had the side-effect of turning patients into gambling addicts. 4. Vladimir Putin thinks Russian prostitutes are "undoubtedly the best in the world". 5. The expression to "shed crocodile tears" exists in 45 European languages as well as Arabic, Swahili, Persian, Indian languages, Chinese and Mongolian. 6. Legal marijuana businesses have created 123,000 jobs in the United States. 7. BMW exports more vehicles from the United States than any other manufacturer. 8. There are six men still alive who walked on the moon. 9. Native Americans are issued with cards by the federal government, certifying their "degree of Indian blood". 10. Getting trolled by Donald Trump can be good (as well as bad) for your business. Seen a thing? Tell the Magazine on Twitter using the hashtag #thingididntknowlastweek Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38662601

Australian Open 2017: Rafael Nadal, Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin in last eight - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Rafael Nadal reaches the Australian Open quarter-finals with a hard-fought four-set victory over Gael Monfils.

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online from 21 January. Rafael Nadal reached the Australian Open quarter-finals with a hard-fought four-set victory over Gael Monfils. The 30-year-old Spaniard, who is seeded ninth and won the tournament in 2009, beat the Frenchman 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-4. Nadal will face third seed Milos Raonic - who beat Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut - in the last eight on Wednesday. Canadian Raonic, the highest seed left in the men's singles, came through 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 6-4 6-1 against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut. Grigor Dimitrov beat injury-hit Denis Istomin to progress, and will face David Goffin, who overcame eighth seed Dominic Thiem. Watch highlights of day eight on BBC Two from 16:45 GMT on Monday Nadal, who has struggled with injuries, is seeking his first major since claiming his 14th Grand Slam at the 2014 French Open. He had difficulty converting break points - six of 17 - but clinched victory over Monfils with his second match point, on the sixth seed's serve. The Spaniard had cruised through the first two sets, but lost the third and was a break down in the fourth before sealing victory in two hours and 56 minutes. "Now I feel a little bit tired. But probably tomorrow [Tuesday] a bit better and hopefully after tomorrow perfect," said Nadal, who is in his 30th major quarter-final, but first since Paris in 2015. "Against Milos Raonic I just need to play very, very well. He is the third player in the world, he beat me a couple of weeks ago in Brisbane and is a top player with an amazing serve." I was very fortunate to get through - Raonic Wimbledon finalist Raonic, 26, has reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the third consecutive year. Playing with a high fever, he rallied from 5-1 down in the first-set tie-breaker to win the opening set, but was then broken twice in the second. The 13th seed Bautista Agut then began to falter in the third set, when the roof at Hisense Arena was closed because of rain, and he later had to call for a trainer for a leg problem. Raonic duly took the third set and needed only 26 minutes to see out the fourth to win the match. "I was very fortunate to get through," said Raonic, who hit 75 winners but also 55 unforced errors, including nine double faults. "There were moments where it wasn't looking so good." Bulgarian 15th seed Dimitrov, 25, came from behind to win 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-1 as Novak Djokovic's conqueror Istomin struggled with a leg problem. Istomin, the bespectacled world number 117 from Uzbekistan, showed the effects of a demanding tournament. "Denis deserves all the credit for an unbelievable tournament, he has been on fire and he was striking the ball so well early in the match," said Dimitrov. Goffin had earlier become the first Belgian man to reach the Melbourne last eight by beating Austrian Thiem.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38715060

James Haskell: There were times when I thought I was never going to recover - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

England flanker James Haskell admits there were times he feared his career might be over as he tried to regain fitness after a toe operation.

England flanker James Haskell admits he doubted whether he would ever return from the foot injury which kept him out of action for six months. After his long-awaited comeback a fortnight ago was curtailed because of concussion, he played for almost an hour in Wasps' win at Zebre on Sunday. "It's been the hardest six months of my professional career," he told BBC 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "There was a time when I thought I was never going to make it back." Haskell had been nursing a long-standing problem with his toe before it finally gave way completely late on in the second Test in Australia in June 2016. • None Podcast: Listen to the first Rugby Union Weekly "There were a lot of sessions where I would take three steps forward and two steps back, but we got there in the end," added Haskell. "I tried to do the basics well [against Zebre], I've obviously got a bit of discomfort in the foot, but you are always going to have that." Wasps' victory in Parma secured a place in the last eight of the Champions Cup, and set up a meeting with Leinster in Dublin. "They have got better from where they were last season, they have keep improving, and they've got such a legacy in European rugby," Haskell added. "Irish rugby is in a really good place from the national side downwards. "It's going to be a challenging place to go and play, but it's why we are so desperate to be in the top tier of Europe, to go to places like Leinster and have a big European tear-up." However, an officiating blunder in the narrow defeat by Connacht - who were incorrectly allowed to kick a penalty to touch after the final whistle and then scored the winning try from the subsequent line-out - means Dai Young's men missed out on a home draw. "These things happen - there is nothing you can do about it," Haskell said. "It is what it is, and we now have to go to a tough place to get a win, but if you want to be the best in Europe you have to go away and get these results." Haskell and his Wasps team-mates will join up with the England squad in Portugal on Monday as they prepare for the upcoming Six Nations. The 31-year-old was a key part of England's Grand Slam and unbeaten tour of Australia in 2016, but having missed the autumn internationals, he faces a battle to wrestle back the open-side flanker shirt from Tom Wood, who was singled out for praise this week by England boss Eddie Jones. "There is so much competition there, it's very exciting. To get an opportunity to be involved with Eddie Jones' coaching staff is a very special place to be," Haskell added. "If I can get through the training week and head towards bigger things then that would be amazing." The new 5 live Rugby Union Weekly podcast launches on Monday - click here for more information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38720899

Freezing fog covers London landmarks - BBC News

2017-01-23

Freezing fog has covered most of southern England, cancelling flights at London airports and raising pollution levels.

Freezing fog has covered most of southern England, cancelling flights at London airports and raising pollution levels.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38723923

2,000 guitars in mini scale - BBC News

2017-01-23

A musician from Opole in Poland has made 2,000 mini guitars.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38712423

'Allo 'Allo! star Gorden Kaye dies at 75 - BBC News

2017-01-23

Gorden Kaye, best known for playing Rene Artois in the long-running BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!, has died aged 75.

Gorden Kaye, best known for playing Rene Artois in the long-running BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!, has died aged 75. The star's former agency confirmed to BBC News he died at a care home on Monday morning. David Sillito looks back at his career.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38724051

Your pictures: My diet - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Each week, we publish a gallery of readers' pictures on a set theme. This week it is "My diet".

In Pictures

And finally Teddy Everett sent in an image titled Fruit ninja. The next theme is "Winter views" and the deadline for your entries is 24 January. If you would like to enter, send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Further details and terms can be found by following the link to "We set the theme; you take the pictures," at the bottom of the page.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-38676099

Michelle O'Neill: The Sinn Féin Northern leader's political career - BBC News

2017-01-23

As Michelle O'Neill becomes the new Sinn Féin leader north of the border, BBC News NI looks at her career to date.

As Michelle O'Neill becomes the new Sinn Féin leader north of the border, BBC News NI looks at her career to date.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38716818

Is Saatchi Gallery selfie exhibition just self-promotion? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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What happens when an art gallery gets together with a PR company and a smartphone manufacturer?

Entertainment & Arts

Taj Mahal Self-Portrait, a 1966 photograph by George Harrison that features in the exhibition I have never taken a selfie. I'm far too ugly. That said, I have ruined other people's, on those occasions when asked by a friend or arts fan to join them in a smartphone photo. I'm happy to say yes - it's not as if I'm ever going to have to look back at the image. I'd be horrified if I did, and mortified if it appeared in some public context like an art exhibition. I don't like causing offence. Fortunately for us, such an occurrence is highly unlikely but it is possible, and increasingly so. Selfie-themed exhibitions are to museums and galleries what dancefloors are to dads: a tempting opportunity to show how young and trendy they are while in reality communicating the exact opposite. They all seem to be at it, from the venerable Mauritshuis in The Hague to the yoof-loving Tate Modern. The Saatchi Gallery is the latest to jump aboard the selfie bandwagon with a show it says "will be the world's first exhibition exploring the history of the selfie from old masters to the present day, and will celebrate the truly creative potential of a form of expression often derided for its inanity". I'm not sure if the "world's first" claim is valid, but I'm absolutely certain that the long history of the self-portrait has not been "derided for its inanity". Some of the greatest works of art ever produced are self-portraits. We know that. It has long been a respected genre used by artists to demonstrate their virtuosity, while having the added advantage of the sitter/model being free. Anyway, to compare a painstakingly painted Rembrandt self-portrait with an opportunist snap taken by Helle Thorning-Schmidt flanked by David Cameron and Barak Obama at Nelson Mandela's funeral is silly. It's like equating the diary entry of a lovelorn teenager with a novel by Alice Munro - they don't stand comparison. Both have their place, both can be art, but they are quite different. When I first heard about the show, it sounded like the sort of idea the gallery's communications department might come up with to attract "new audiences". And then I read the press release and discovered it WAS the communications department that came up with the concept. It had help from a PR company called H+K Strategies, part of the globe-spanning WPP Group, which counts Huawei, a Chinese smartphone brand, among its clients. This is not an unconnected fact. Huawei are the sponsors of the Saatchi Gallery show. In fact, according to the press release, they are its co-authors: "Saatchi Gallery and Huawei, the world's number three smartphone brand, announce they have teamed up to present From Selfie to Self-Expression." One of the team from H+K Strategies to whom I spoke talked of brainstorming sessions between the parties. She made no mention of breakout groups and brightly coloured pens - but I'd hazard a guess they were present. Selfie to Self-Expression feels like a show that started life writ large in pink letters (with yellow asterisk to the side) on front of a flip-chart. Huawei's involvement explains the comment in the press release about the self-portrait genre being "derided for its inanity". I don't think it meant self-portraiture, but selfie-portraiture. This is a show designed to elevate the status of the selfie from what they say can be viewed as an inane activity to an artform. Hence the stated aim to "celebrate the creative potential of a form of expression…". Add to this its commitment to "highlight the emerging role of the smartphone as an artistic medium for self-expression", and I think we know the corporate tail is wagging the art gallery dog. I'm not saying this to criticise - needs must and all that. It might be a great show, and even if it isn't there is something marvellously Warholian about an art gallery founded by an ad man conceiving an exhibition with the world's largest ad agency network. As Warhol once said: "Good business is the best art." No, the reason I mention the corporate sponsor is because I think its collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery is potentially more interesting than the show itself. The whole project would appear to be rooted in the notion of a new "purposeful age" in public relations as spelt out by H+K Strategies. They say: "In the Purposeful Age companies and institutions have the opportunity to join a meaningful conversation around things that matter, take their place in culture and demonstrate their responsibility to society. "At H+K our purpose in this new age is to inspire creative and curious conversations that help brands and the public communicate to build better outcomes for everyone." Okay, it's a tad hyperbolic, but you've got to hand it to them - the Saatchi show is a good example of them practising what they preach. It also helps makes sense of the whole enterprise, unifying the subject matter and the sponsor, which can be captured by simply adding three words to the current exhibition title: Selfie to Self-Expression - to Self-Promotion. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38724303

Why Bill Clinton helped a 33-year-old build a $1bn firm - BBC News

2017-01-23

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How Andy Kuper built investment firm Leapfrog, which aims to help pull people out of poverty in the developing world by investing in insurance and healthcare firms.

Business

It took Andy Kuper a year and a half before he secured any investment for his company If you are going to get someone famous to launch your global business officially, it is hard to do better than President Bill Clinton. Yet as Andy Kuper will attest, it can be a nerve-racking experience. Back in September 2008, President Clinton was so impressed with Andy's new company, Leapfrog Investments, that he decided he would unveil it during his keynote speech at the annual meeting of his Clinton Global Initiative foundation. It meant that President Clinton would invite the then 33-year-old Andy on to the stage to speak to the few hundred attendees at the event in New York. Andy says: "I had done a lot of public speaking before, but this was a rock 'n' roll thing. I was worried about stumbling on the stairs and falling on the president." Thankfully for Andy, he managed to stay on his feet and give a speech that wasn't too overshadowed by President Clinton's well-known oratorical talents. Andy says: "President Clinton was amazing, he is an incredible public speaker, I owe him a great deal." But why was President Clinton so impressed with a South African businessman he had only recently met? Andy had ambitious plans to help transform the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the developing world, to help pull them out of poverty. Instead of giving them aid, his plan was to invest in, help run and expand indigenous companies, mostly insurance and healthcare funds, so that populations would not be blighted by ill-health. And instead of being a charity or non-profit organisation, Leapfrog planned to be very much profit-making and offer its investors a decent rate of return. The idea was to make globalisation and capitalism work for the world's poorest people. After a very slow start, the business today has more than $1bn (£800m) of funds on its books. It currently invests in 16 companies across 22 countries in Africa and Asia that have a combined 100,000 employees and serve 91 million people. The son of anti-apartheid campaigners and brought up on a farm outside of Johannesburg, Andy doesn't seem qualified to run a global investment firm on first glance at his CV. He has no business qualifications and instead studied philosophy at university, before going on to lecture in the subject. Leapfrog typically invests in insurance and healthcare firms across Africa and Asia Yet he started investing in the stock market aged 10, using money he made from selling the family's crops on the side of the road. By aged 13, he was making money for clients. After attending the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Andy went to Cambridge University. It was while at Cambridge that Andy spent a summer working for a non-government organisation in India, which he said was "one of his most formative experiences" and is the genesis of his future idea for Leapfrog. "We were trying to get Indian farmers to adopt drip irrigation, which could triple their production and lift them out of poverty," says Andy, now 41. "But they just wouldn't do it. At the time, I thought they were being so irrational, but they weren't - they weren't prepared to take the risk of doing something new and seeing their crops fail as a result. Why? Because this would have meant that their children starved. "So I thought, why don't we give these people a safety net to enable them to take a chance on bettering themselves, such as insurance cover." After spending his 20s lecturing and heading up an organisation that supports social entrepreneurs, Andy started work on Leapfrog. Initially, he got nowhere fast, because, he says, the idea was so new. Most Leapfrog firms, such as insurer Bima, utilise mobile technology He says: "It seemed close to impossible to begin with, but I just believed so fundamentally in the idea, which I call profit with purpose, of investing in companies that serve the other half of humanity - the four billion people that conventionally have not been served." With no money coming in, Andy had to live off his and his wife's savings until Leapfrog got its first small investment after a year and a half. The Clinton connection then followed, thanks to Andy knowing someone who worked for the organisation. However, the president's September 2008 speech failed to immediately open the investment floodgates, because it was quickly overshadowed by global events. A week later, investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed and the world was plunged into the global financial crisis. Yet despite this backdrop, Leapfrog was able to secure $135m of investment by late 2009. Today its institutional investors include Goldman Sachs, Axa, JP Morgan, AIG, Swiss Re and the European Investment Bank. Companies that Leapfrog invests in and helps run include All Life, a South African insurance firm that gives low cost cover to people with HIV, Kenyan pharmacy chain Goodlife, and India's Mahindra Insurance Brokers. Andy says that Leapfrog helps the firms see revenues grow by an average 43% per year. Robert van Zwieten, president of Emerging Market Private Equity Association, the trade group for firms that invest in the developing world, says that Andy and Leapfrog have been "trailblazers" in helping to create a new industry known as "impact investing". These are firms that invest both to make money and to achieve a positive social impact. He adds: "The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) event at Davos has for several years been struggling to work out how to make globalisation and capitalism work for the many and not just the few, but Andy and his team at Leapfrog are already doing just that." Now based in Sydney, Australia, after previously being in New York, Andy says: "You can do more good if you are profitable, and make more profit because you are good [doing virtuous things]." Follow The Boss series editor Will Smale on Twitter @WillSmale1 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38650096

Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Joe Perry to win record seventh Masters title - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Ronnie O'Sullivan fights back to beat Joe Perry 10-7 and secure a record seventh Masters title.

Last updated on .From the section Snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan won a record seventh Masters title by coming from behind to beat Joe Perry 10-7 in the final at London's Alexandra Palace. Perry, in his first Triple Crown final at the age of 42, led 4-1 but missed a straightforward red for a 5-1 lead. O'Sullivan won seven frames in a row to move 8-4 ahead before Perry, helped by breaks of 117 and 92, fought back. But O'Sullivan, 41, sealed victory to defend his title and move ahead of Stephen Hendry's six Masters wins. Victory means O'Sullivan claimed the newly named Paul Hunter trophy - in honour of the three-time champion who died of cancer aged 27 in 2006 - as well as the £200,000 winners' prize money. It also ensured the world number 13 ended a run of three defeats in finals this season and defended the title he won last year by thrashing Barry Hawkins 10-1. "Joe played a brilliant tournament, a really good match and he should've beaten me. I got lucky - I stole it," said O'Sullivan. "Joe will come again and he is a tough competitor. I'm just relieved to have got over the line. The fans have been unbelievable and I really enjoyed this week." On winning seven Masters titles, O'Sullivan added: "It is great to get some records, I still have the World Championship one to get. "When I was younger I was just happy to win one, so to win seven, someone up there is looking after me." 'The Rocket' had to deal with a virus in his first-round final-frame victory over Liang Wenbo and needed to repair a broken cue tip in the semi-final against Marco Fu, which he said was the "best match he has ever won". In the final, O'Sullivan seemed unsettled by noise coming from a backstage table early on, but pulled himself together to level the match 4-4 at the interval. He claimed a 32-minute ninth frame to move into the lead for the first time, and then knocked in breaks of 85 and 68 to take control. At 8-6 and with Perry fighting back, O'Sullivan made his first century of the match - a break of 112 - and 859th of his career. The Englishman then held his nerve to win a 20-minute tactical frame and claim his 17th Triple Crown title. Along with seven Masters - the first of which he won in 1995 - he has also claimed five World and five UK Championship crowns, and is now just one behind Hendry's record of 18. 'At 4-1 up I got a bit carried away' Perry has only won one ranking title - the 2015 Players Championship - but seemed to take to the occasion well, with breaks of 72, 74 and 115 giving him a surprise lead. But rattling the final red in the jaws of the pocket when presented with the opportunity to go 5-1 up seemed to dent his confidence. Fair play to Ronnie, even when he is not at his best he is still amazing Although he rallied by clawing back three frames late on, O'Sullivan's substantial advantage was too great to overturn. "I've proved a lot, that there is still some life left in me and it has given me the belief to go on and win a big one," said Perry. "At 4-1 up I got a bit carried away and it was not until I was 8-4 down I thought, 'I'm going for it'. "It's given me the taste to go for more finals, it's a great feeling to be involved and you take snooker up for nights like this. "Fair play to Ronnie, even when he is not at his best he is still amazing." Three-time Masters champion Steve Davis: "To win seven Masters, he has made this event his own, and in such an entertaining way as well." Former world champion John Parrott: "Ronnie's application and attitude has been spot on today. He was not at his best but was able to grind out the result." Find out how to get into snooker, pool and billiards with our fully inclusive guide.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/38710379

Stars appear at Trainspotting sequel premiere - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Ewan McGregor leads the cast of the Trainspotting sequel at the film's world premiere in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, Fife & East Scotland

T2 stars Kelly Macdonald and Ewan McGregor at the Edinburgh premiere The cast of the Trainspotting sequel have gathered in Edinburgh for the film's world premiere. Original cast members Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner all feature in T2 Trainspotting. The sequel has been made 21 years after the first film, which followed the lives of a group of heroin addicts. The original was based on a novel by Irvine Welsh, and the sequel is based on his book Porno. Ewen Bremner is back as Spud in T2 Trainspotting The new film sees the central characters in the present day, now middle-aged. Ewan McGregor and Kelly Macdonald were among the stars at the premiere at Cineworld in Edinburgh's Fountain Park. McGregor described how his initial reservations about making a sequel were soon dispelled. He said: "I think we were all a little nervous about making a sequel to Trainspotting and not pulling it off, damaging the reputation or leaving a stale taste in people's mouths about the original film. "But we only felt like that until we read John Hodge's script. "We all feel like these are people we know - Renton and Spud and Begbie. It's amazing to step back into their shoes, and to hear their voices again is very special." The trailer for the sequel was released in November. It opened with Ewan McGregor's character Renton returning to Edinburgh. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Director Danny Boyle: "It felt like we should make it in Edinburgh ... these stories belong here." He revives his bitter "choose life" motto which has been updated to: "Choose Facebook, choose Twitter, choose Instagram and hope that someone, somewhere, cares". It also mentions choosing "reality TV, slut-shaming, revenge porn and zero-hour contracts" before saying: "Choose to smother the pain with an unknown dose of an unknown drug." Danny Boyle on set with Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner Much of the filming for the sequel, with director Danny Boyle, took place in Edinburgh and other Scottish locations in 2016. Boyle was a young aspiring film maker when he made the original Trainspotting. He has since won an Oscar and worked on the Olympic opening ceremony in London. He said: "For all of us this town, these stories have been fundamental in shaping our careers. If you are seriously trying to do it again, you have to do it really properly at the beginning and at the end. Robert Carlyle on the orange carpet with author Irvine Welsh in the foreground "At the beginning it was to come to Edinburgh - the last one was made in Glasgow mostly for financial reasons - we didn't have any money then and now we've got a bit more we thought we should make it in Edinburgh. "And then we thought we should end it by having the premiere here as well." T2 Trainspotting will be released in UK cinemas on 27 January. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. T2 Trainspotting: What would you choose? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-38710168

How the barcode changed retailing and manufacturing - BBC News

2017-01-23

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How a design originally drawn in the sand led to the growth of giant supermarkets.

Business

In 1948, N Joseph Woodland - a graduate student at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia - was pondering a challenge from a local retailer: how to speed up the tedious process of checking out in his stores by automating transactions. A smart young man, Woodland - known as Joseph - had worked on the Manhattan Project during the War, and had designed a better system for playing elevator music. But he was stumped. Then, sitting on Miami Beach while visiting his grandparents, his fingertips idly combing through the sand, a thought struck him. Just like Morse code used dots and dashes to convey a message, he could use thin lines and thick lines to encode information. A zebra-striped bull's-eye could describe a product and its price in a code that a machine could read. The idea was workable, but with the technology of the time it was costly. But as computers advanced and lasers were invented, it became more realistic. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped create the economic world we live in. The striped-scan system was independently rediscovered and refined several times over the years. In the 1950s, an engineer, David Collins, put thin and thick lines on railway cars so they could be read automatically by a trackside scanner. In the early 1970s, IBM engineer George Laurer figured out that a rectangle would be more compact than Woodland's bull's-eye. He developed a system that used lasers and computers that were so quick they could process labelled beanbags hurled over the scanner. Meanwhile American's grocers were also pondering the benefits of a pan-industry product code. In September 1969, members of the administrative systems committee of the Grocery Manufacturers of America met their opposite numbers from the National Association of Food Chains. Could the retailers and the producers agree? Wrigley's chewing gum would be the first product sold via a barcode in 1974 The GMA wanted an 11-digit code, which would encompass various labelling schemes they were already using. The NAFC wanted a shorter, seven-digit code, which could be read by simpler and cheaper checkout systems. The meeting broke up in frustration. Years of careful diplomacy - and innumerable committees, subcommittees and ad hoc committees were required before, finally, the US grocery industry agreed upon a standard for the universal product code, or UPC. It all came to fruition in June 1974 at the checkout counter of Marsh's Supermarket in the town of Troy, Ohio, when a 31-year-old checkout assistant named Sharon Buchanan scanned a 10-pack of 50 sticks of Wrigley's juicy fruit chewing gum across a laser scanner, automatically registering the price of $0.67 (£0.55). The gum was sold. The barcode had been born. We tend to think of the barcode as a simple piece of cost-cutting technology: it helps supermarkets do their business more efficiently, and so it helps us to enjoy lower prices. But the barcode does more than that. It changes the balance of power in the grocery industry. That is why all those committee meetings were necessary, and it is why the food retailing industry was able to reach agreement only when the technical geeks on the committees were replaced by their bosses' bosses, the chief executives. Part of the difficulty was getting everyone to move forward on a system that did not really work without a critical mass of adopters. It was expensive to install scanners. It was expensive to redesign packaging with barcodes - bear in mind the Miller Brewing Company was still printing labels for its bottles on a 1908 printing press. The retailers did not want to install scanners until the manufacturers had put barcodes on their products. The manufacturers did not want to put barcodes on their products until the retailers had installed enough scanners. But it also became apparent over time that the barcode was changing the tilt of the playing field in favour of a certain kind of retailer. For a small, family-run convenience store, the barcode scanner was an expensive solution to problems they did not really have. But big supermarkets could spread the cost of the scanners across many more sales. They valued shorter lines at the checkout. They needed to keep track of inventory. With a manual checkout, a shop assistant might charge a customer for a product, then slip the cash into a pocket without registering the sale. With a barcode and scanner system, such behaviour would become conspicuous. And in the 1970s, a time of high inflation in America, barcodes let supermarkets change the price of products by sticking a new price tag on the shelf rather than on each item. It is hardly surprising that as the barcode spread in the 1970s and 1980s, large retailers also expanded. The scanner data underpinned customer databases and loyalty cards. By tracking and automating inventory, it made just-in-time deliveries more attractive, and lowered the cost of having a wide variety of products. Shops in general - and supermarkets in particular - started to generalise, selling flowers, clothes, and electronic products. Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton was able to exploit the possibilities barcodes offered Running a huge, diversified, logistically complex operation was all so much easier in the world of the barcode. Perhaps the ultimate expression of that fact came in 1988 when the discount department store Wal-Mart decided to start selling food. It is now the largest grocery chain in America - and by far the largest general retailer on the planet, about as large as its five closest rivals combined. Wal-Mart was an early adopter of the barcode and has continued to invest in cutting-edge computer-driven logistics and inventory management. The company is now a major gateway between Chinese manufacturers and American consumers. Its embrace of technology helped it grow to a vast scale, meaning it can send buyers to China and commission cheap products in bulk. From a Chinese manufacturer's perspective, you can justify setting up an entire production line for just one customer - as long as that customer is Wal-Mart. The cost of adopting barcodes initially put off some manufacturers such as Miller Geeks rightly celebrate the moment of inspiration as Joseph Woodland languidly pulled his fingers through the sands of Miami Beach - or the perspiration of George Laurer as he perfected the barcode as we know it. But it is not just a way to do business more efficiently. It also changes what kind of business can be efficient. The barcode is now such a symbol of the forces of impersonal global capitalism that it has spawned its own ironic protest. Since the 1980s, people have been registering their opposition to "The Man" by getting themselves tattooed with a barcode. Yes, those distinctive black and white stripes are a neat little piece of engineering. But that neat little piece of engineering has changed how the world economy fits together.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38498700

Cambridge scientists consider fake news 'vaccine' - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Concern at fabricated stories on websites prompts a psychological study to help people spot fake news.

UK

The appearance of fake news on websites and social media has inspired scientists to develop a "vaccine" to immunise people against the problem. Researchers suggest "pre-emptively exposing" readers to a small "dose" of the misinformation can help organisations cancel out bogus claims. Stories on the US election and Syria are among those to have caused concern. "Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus," said the University of Cambridge study's lead author Dr Sander van der Linden. "The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible." The study, published in the journal Global Challenges, was conducted as a disguised experiment. More than 2,000 US residents were presented with two claims about global warming. The researchers say when presented consecutively, the influence well-established facts had on people were cancelled out by bogus claims made by campaigners. But when information was combined with misinformation, in the form of a warning, the fake news had less resonance. Fabricated stories alleging the Pope was backing Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton sold weapons to the so-called Islamic State group were read and shared by millions of Facebook users during the US election campaign. The world's largest social network later announced new features to help combat fabricated news stories, and there is pressure on Google and Twitter to do more to tackle the issue. Meanwhile, German officials have reportedly proposed creating a special government unit to combat fake news in the run-up to this year's general election, while a senior Labour MP only last week warned that British politics risks being "infected by the contagion". The deliberate making up of news stories to fool or entertain is nothing new. But the arrival of social media has meant real and fictional stories are now presented in such a similar way that it can sometimes be difficult to tell the two apart. There are hundreds of fake news websites out there, from those which deliberately imitate real life newspapers, to government propaganda sites, and even those which tread the line between satire and plain misinformation, sometimes employed to suit political ends.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38714404

Milton Keynes: The middle-aged new town - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Milton Keynes is perhaps the best known of the 20th Century's "new towns", but how has it changed over the past 50 years?

Beds, Herts & Bucks

The rhythm of the tree planting and its relationship to the columns of the buildings they stand near are "not accidental", says Mr Shostak Most towns grow and evolve over hundreds if not thousands of years. Not so Milton Keynes, which is 50 years old. Perhaps the best known of the 20th Century "new towns", it has its detractors but is also much loved by its residents. The town was born with an Act of Parliament in 1967 which approved the building of a new community of 250,000 people covering 8,850 hectares (21,869 acres) of Buckinghamshire farmland and villages. Built to ease the housing shortages in overcrowded London, its founding principles were for an "attractive" town that enshrined "opportunity and freedom of choice". App users should tap here to fully explore the interactive images, showing archive and current photographs The media has not always been kind to Milton Keynes: it has mocked its concrete cows (now housed in a museum), accused it of blandness and told of the "new city blues" suffered by early residents. Those who have grown up there tell of a very different Milton Keynes. Simon Clawson arrived in MK aged four. He now lives there with his two children and wife Hannah. "It was fantastic," he says of his childhood. "I remember summer days were always outside. "Somebody once told me that with all the lakes we have here, we have more waterline than Brighton." His youth in the town was marked by a series of exciting arrivals - the first cinema called The Point, the football stadium and the Snowdome building. "We had to wait for a lot of things here but when they came they tend to be more modern and spectacular than anywhere else. "We are adaptable here because everything is always changing." Former Team GB Olympic badminton player Gail Emms has also made Milton Keynes her home, having first moved there to train. "Milton Keynes is one of the best places for families - I am spoilt for choice here," she says. "So many of my friends take the Mickey about where I live. "But then I tell them we have a great school a short walk away and about the facilities we have. "It is so family-centred now. My kids are going to grow up in Milton Keynes, so it is now about what they need and want." Not everybody feels that way. Theo Chalmers, of the campaign group Urban Eden, claims recent development in the town has "betrayed" its founding principles. "The principles of the original master plan were brilliant," he says. "But those who have been in charge have bit by bit, like a death by a thousand cuts, destroyed the very things that made Milton Keynes extremely special and a user-friendly community." He cites the narrowing of boulevards around The Hub leisure quarter and the filling in of underpasses as examples. The Snowdome building created a great deal of excitement in Milton Keynes when it was built Some claim the closing of some of the town's network of underpasses goes against its founding principles So how will Milton Keynes look in 100 years' time? It will be bigger, with greater architectural diversity and more homes, says Lee Shostak, one of the town's early planners. He arrived in 1971 as a PhD student from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) intent on studying the new development. "Very little had actually been built," he says, "and trying to understand what was going on from outside the (Milton Keynes) Development Corporation was going to be impossible." So, in 1972, the American research student joined the development corporation as a planner. "People came to Milton Keynes to be part of something new where everyone could shape their place called home," says the council leader Peter Marland The colourful weather boarded homes of Far Holme in Milton Keynes Village are one of the town's newer developments Mr Shostak, who made Milton Keynes his home from 1972 until 1995, said the town had been an "outstanding success". As the years pass the "city's parks and trees will be even bigger and more luxurious". "The achievements of making the landscape in Milton Keynes rivals that of Capability Brown," he added. "In garden city terms Milton Keynes is a grown up. But by real city standards, Milton Keynes is at best an adolescent." "By real city standards, it is at best an adolescent," says former planner Lee Shostak The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38594140

'How we built India's biggest robot company' - BBC News

2017-01-23

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GreyOrange is India's biggest robotics company, making machines which support the country's booming online retail industry.

Business

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. How GreyOrange is becoming India's home-grown robotics giant In 2008, engineering student Samay Kohli wanted to build a humanoid robot, but his professor told him it would not be possible. Along with his fellow student Akash Gupta, not only did they achieve that task, but they have also built GreyOrange, a multi-national robotics company based in India and operating across Asia. "We've done some stuff that India was not supposed to do," Mr Kohli told the BBC. "People are not supposed to build hardware, robot products, out of India and we've been able to do that." Acyut was India's first home-grown humanoid robot and the first robot the team behind GreyOrange built So how did GreyOrange grow from an engineering classroom to an international robotics player? Mr Kohli and Mr Gupta proved their teacher wrong, building India's first humanoid robot, which they called Acyut. They then entered their creation in kung fu competitions and international robot football championships. The team also won several robotic competitions around the world. But it was a different passion that has seen GreyOrange grow - not for sport, but for online shopping. India's online shopping boom is driving massive international investment in the country's e-commerce sector The e-commerce sector in India has seen unprecedented growth in the last few years. Roughly 350 million Indian citizens are online and according to international payment company Worldpay, that will nearly double by 2020, when they will spend $63.7bn (£51.8bn) online. Despite companies often making a loss as they offer deeper and deeper discounts to attract customers, investors have flooded into the sector. More than $5bn (£4bn) of private investment was ploughed into the sector in 2015, according to global consultancy PwC. Amazon recently announced it would invest an additional $3bn in India, on top of the $2bn it announced in 2014. While online retailing is only a part of e-commerce, it is the area that many see as the one with the biggest growth potential. Those retailers servicing millions of consumers will need to keep their goods in warehouses, and those warehouses need to be efficient. That's where GreyOrange has positioned itself. In India, GreyOrange says it has 90% of the warehouse automation market and it has worked with leading e-commerce and logistics firms in the country. They also run eight offices in five countries and employ more than 650 people. GreyOrange claims AI robot Butler can make a warehouse up to five times more efficient "Warehouses are everywhere and they are supposed to become more and more intelligent as consumer demand increases.'' says Mr Kohli. GreyOrange has two different robots to help warehouses become more productive. Butler, an artificial intelligence-powered robotic system, helps pick products from shelves in the warehouse. ''A single person would pick about 100 to 120 items in one hour. With our Butler robot, he is able to pick 400 to 500 items every hour." Mr Kohli says. The second robot, Sorter, automates the sorting of outgoing packages in a distribution centre. They say that the robots they already have installed can potentially sort three million packages every day. Samay Kohli (left) and Akash Gupta are the founders of GreyOrange One of the biggest challenges to the company's success has been sourcing parts. ''India does not have a very strong hardware ecosystem." explains Paula Mariwala, who invests in technology based start-ups for SeedFund. "So to source the right products and to get manufacturing going at a large scale in the early stages is particularly difficult. You would not be able to try out different components to have different versions of the product very easily - your time cycles will be longer. '' The size of the potential prize is what has helped the founders overcome these problems. ''We were looking at how robots are going to be the next revolution that is coming right, the next decade is going to be all about making humans more efficient by using robots more and that's essentially how we got started.'' Mr Kohli says. ''Robots are needed to work with humans and not to replace them. Humans will always be there in the workplace, but robots make a very important part of the ecosystem they work with. "Ten years ago, every person did not have a computer, today every person has one computer. We look at robots in that sense: as everyone has one computer, in the future they will have one robot with them to help them do their work better. "It's a trillion-dollar opportunity, that's the space we're fighting in. ''

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38664034

What will happen in Donald Trump's first 100 days? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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A new BBC News series will analyse the all-important first weeks of Donald Trump's presidency

US & Canada

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Can Trump accomplish what he wants? Donald Trump has promised to take Washington by storm. There is almost nothing the new American president does not want to change - policy, tone, foreign relations, the press pool. Mr Trump has told his cabinet nominees to be bold and be bold now. He wants a shake-up of US government and he wants it soon. That is why his first 100 days will be so definitive. He has set the timetable for an ambitious agenda and in the next three months we will find out how much he can really shift. There is a lot happening in Europe also during this 100 days. Britain is beginning the formal process of Brexit and the Dutch will hold elections which could herald the next step in the transatlantic populist march. And of course, the French will gear up for their own election in which the National Front will be the focus of much attention. It is an extraordinary time on both sides of the Atlantic. Former President Obama has sent veiled warnings about the consequences of bold action This exceptional moment demands examination and analysis. So the BBC is launching 100 Days, a daily programme that gives us the chance to look at these global shifts. In many ways, the inauguration of Donald Trump marks the beginning of the test of the populist experiment. Now he owns the problems he campaigned against. Can his bold approach work, who will benefit and who won't and how will he engage with the rest of the world? Every day for the next 100 days, with Christian Fraser in London and me in Washington, we will try to answer those questions. As he left office, President Obama had a veiled warning for his successor - if you're going to try to change things and bring in bold ideas, make sure you're aware of the consequences. He also suggested that the weight of office would soon settle on Mr Trump's shoulders and cause him to look carefully and humbly at what he has taken on. Katty Kay and Christian Fraser will present 100 Days from Washington and London Mr Trump goes into the White House as the least popular incoming president on record. He won't like that. We know from his election campaign that he watches polls closely and however hard he tries to dismiss them as "phony" or "lying," they matter to him. His low ratings today give him a powerful incentive to do better. That could mean a combination of both working on his tone (something which appears to be unpopular with large sections of the American public) and pushing hard with his agenda (much of which also seems to be popular with many Americans). That too, will make this a fascinating time. Some of this is under Mr Trump's control, but some of it is not. The Republican Party will have a big impact in making his first 100 days successful - they can boost his legislative agenda or kill it. The party owes Mr Trump a lot, he has just handed them Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court, that will win him a lot of favours. But many Conservatives do not agree with everything he wants to do and, if his poll numbers stay low, they will have less incentive to help him out. So we have a busy, fascinating few months ahead of us. This populist trend is global and the test starts now. Mr Trump wants to change the look, feel and smell of Washington. Funny that, so did Mr Obama eight years ago. 100 Days, presented by Katty Kay and Christian Fraser, Monday - Thursday at 19:00 GMT on BBC News Channel and BBC Four and BBC World News at 19:00 GMT.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38720658

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal manager is charged with misconduct by FA - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is charged by the Football Association for verbally abusing and pushing a fourth official.

Last updated on .From the section Football Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged by the Football Association with verbal abusing and pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor during Sunday's Premier League game against Burnley. Wenger, 67, pushed Taylor after being sent off in the closing stages of the Gunners' 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium. He had been dismissed for reacting angrily to a 93rd-minute penalty given to Burnley, who trailed 1-0. Wenger, who later apologised, has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond. An FA statement read: "It is alleged that in or around the 92nd minute, Wenger used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official. "It is further alleged that following his dismissal from the technical area, his behaviour in remaining in the tunnel area and making physical contact with the fourth official amounted to improper conduct." After being sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss, Wenger moved away from the pitch but stood at the tunnel entrance and refused to move as he tried to watch the remaining few minutes of Sunday's match. As Taylor encouraged him to move away, Wenger was seen to push back against him. When asked about what had led to his dismissal, Wenger said: "Look, it was nothing bad. I said something that you hear every day in football. Overall, nine times out of 10, you are not sent to the stand for that." He added: "But if I am, I am, and I should have shut up completely. I was quite calm for the whole game, more than usual." In 2012, then-Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was fined £20,000 and given a two-match touchline ban for pushing an assistant referee during a game against Tottenham.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38722906

Dairy farmers launch powdery protest - BBC News

2017-01-23

Dairy farmers launch a protest at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday.

Dairy farmers launched a protest at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday. It follows a decision by the EU to put some powdered milk stocks back on sale, following "encouraging signals about a pickup in the milk market,"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38726055

Ryan Mason: Hull midfielder fractures skull in clash of heads at Chelsea - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has surgery after fracturing his skull during Sunday's Premier League game at Chelsea.

Last updated on .From the section Football Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has had surgery after fracturing his skull during Sunday's game at Chelsea. Mason, 25, clashed heads with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill 13 minutes into the Premier League match. After eight minutes of treatment on the pitch, he wore an oxygen mask as he was carried off on a stretcher, and taken to St Mary's Hospital in London. "Ryan is in a stable condition and expected to remain in hospital for the next few days," said a Hull statement. "Everyone at the club would like to express their sincere thanks for the excellent and swift care given to Ryan by both the accident and emergency department and neurosurgery unit at St Mary's Hospital." Hull added they would issue a further update on Monday. The incident happened as Hull's record signing attempted to head the ball clear of his own box following a cross from Pedro from the right wing. Mason got to the ball a split second before Cahill, who was already committed to his attempted header, and the pair collided. Cahill, who continued playing, said: "I tried to get on the end of the cross. We smashed heads. I wish him all the very best." Mason joined Hull from Tottenham last August for a club-record undisclosed fee. He has scored one goal in 16 Premier League appearances for the Tigers. Prior to his move, he made 53 top-flight appearances for Tottenham, and had loan spells at Yeovil, Doncaster, Millwall, Lorient and Swindon. Hull lost Sunday's game 2-0 as goals from Diego Costa and Cahill gave Chelsea a victory that took them eight points clear at the top.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38713311

Nicola Adams: Two-time Olympic champion turns professional - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams turns professional and will make her debut in Manchester on 8 April.

Last updated on .From the section Boxing The 34-year-old from Leeds will not be part of the Great Britain squad in the build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but could still compete at the Games. "I can still go back and do Tokyo as well - I wouldn't like to rule anything out. Never say never," she said. Adams has signed with promoter Frank Warren and will make her professional debut on 8 April in Manchester before a bout in her home city on 13 May. Adams said: "My hero was Muhammad Ali. I said after watching him I wanted to box at the Olympics and turn pro." In signing with Warren, Adams said she had found "a team that believes in my dream". She added: "Together we can help take women's boxing to new levels and I can't wait to get to get in the ring in April and start working towards becoming a world champion." The Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) approved changes in June permitting professionals to compete at the Olympics. Warren's association with Adams comes three months after Ireland's London 2012 Olympic lightweight champion Katie Taylor began fighting professionally under Eddie Hearn's promotion. Warren, 64, had previously said he was not an advocate of female professional boxing. "I am eating humble pie," said Warren. "My head has been turned by the fantastic achievements of this young lady. "Of all of all the signings I have made in my 35 years in the sport of boxing, this is among the most I have been excited about. "I think Nicola will be challenging for world titles within a year. We intend to lead her to become a multiple world champion." Adams told BBC Radio 5 live she was delighted to be the fighter who convinced Warren to alter his opinion. "He said to me that I was the person who changed his mind," she said. "I opened up his eyes to the opportunity of wanting a female boxer." In November, Adams was a guest on the BBC's Desert Island Discs when she spoke of wanting to be the first female boxer to headline at Las Vegas and how the professional game was "waiting for a big name to step in there and open up the doors". Adams became the first woman to box for England in 2001 and joined the Great Britain squad in 2010. In beating China's Ren Cancan to win flyweight gold at London 2012, she became the first Olympic women's boxing champion. She also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2015 European Games and 2016 World Championships, before retaining her Olympic title by beating France's Sarah Ourahmoune in Rio. The second Olympic title made her the first British boxer to retain gold in 92 years. GB Boxing performance director Rob McCracken said: "Nicola has won everything there is to win and her place in history is secured as the first woman to ever win a gold medal for boxing and then top it by winning a second one in Rio." GB Boxing said it was open to Adams competing as a professional in 2020 but wanted "to continue to encourage young boxers to come through the system so selection for major tournaments will be based on picking boxers that are part of the world class performance programme". Adams, who was appointed an MBE in 2013 and an OBE in 2016, will continue to compete at flyweight. But in leaving the GB Boxing training centre in Sheffield, she will have to find her own training venue and support staff, as well as adjusting to competing without a headguard. "I think it's going to be quite different," added Adams. "I'm excited about that, to have my own team and know that we all have the same goal." Adams is the third high-profile woman to turn professional in the past six months, following Taylor and American fighter Claressa Shields, who won Olympic middleweight gold at London 2012 aged 17 and retained her title in Rio.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/38717913

Newmarket organ donor baby, Hope Lee, was UK's youngest - BBC News

2017-01-23

The parents of the UK's youngest organ donor want to meet the woman whose life their baby daughter saved.

The parents of the UK's youngest organ donor want to meet the woman whose life their baby daughter saved. Her parents Andrew and Emma Lee have received a letter from the 26-year-old woman, who received liver cells from their baby, saying how "thankful" she is. Mr Lee said they "would love" to meet her. For more on this, and other stories visit BBC Local Live: Suffolk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-38716199

Land Rover thefts 'rise after Defender production ends' - BBC News

2017-01-23

Thieves are using tracking devices to steal Land Rovers which are then broken down and exported.

Thieves are using tracking devices to steal Land Rovers which are then broken down and exported. The final Land Rover Defender rolled off the production line in January 2016 - the NFU Mutual insurance company says since then there has been a surge in theft claims. Some Land Rover owners are now fighting back by using social media to track down their vehicles. You can see more on this story on Inside Out South East on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on Monday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-38697243

Chapecoense: Brazilian team play first game since plane crash - BBC News

2017-01-23

Chapecoense football team has played its first match since the plane crash that killed most of its athletes.

Chapecoense football team has played its first match since the plane crash that killed most of its players. Before the game’s start, the three players who survived the accident and families of the victims received medals and the Copa Sudamericana trophy. The team was heading to Colombia to play in the first leg of the championship final when the accident happened.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38710231

What executive actions has Trump taken? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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President Trump signs a flurry of orders as he lays out his presidential agenda.

US & Canada

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What exactly is an executive order, and how significant are they to a president's legacy? One of the first ways a new president is able to exercise political power is through unilateral executive orders. While legislative efforts take time, a swipe of the pen from the White House can often enact broad changes in government policy and practice. President Donald Trump has wasted little time in taking advantage of this privilege. Given his predecessor's reliance on executive orders to circumvent Congress in the later days of his presidency, he has a broad range of areas in which to flex his muscle. Here's a look at some of what Mr Trump has done so far: Mr Trump signed the order at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undoing a key part of the Obama administration's efforts to tackle global warming. The order reverses the Clean Power Plan, which had required states to regulate power plants, but had been on hold while being challenged in court. Before signing the order, a White House official told the press that Mr Trump does believe in human-caused climate change, but that the order was necessary to ensure American energy independence and jobs. Environmental groups warn that undoing those regulations will have serious consequences at home and abroad. "I think it is a climate destruction plan in place of a climate action plan," the Natural Resources Defense Council's David Doniger told the BBC, adding that they will fight the president in court. Immediate impact: A coalition of 17 states filed a legal challenge against the Trump administration's decision to roll back climate change regulations. The challenge, led by New York state, argued that the administration has a legal obligation to regulate emissions of the gases believed to cause global climate change. Mars Inc, Staples and The Gap are among US corporations who are also challenging Mr Trump's reversal on climate change policy. After an angry weekend in Florida in which he accused former-president Barack Obama of wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower, Mr Trump returned to the White House to sign a revised version of his controversial travel ban. The executive order titled "protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States" was signed out of the view of the White House press corps on 6 March. The order's new language is intended to skirt the legal pitfalls that caused his first travel ban to be halted by the court system. Immediate impact: Soon after the order was signed, it was once again blocked by a federal judge, this time in Hawaii. Surrounded by farmers and Republican lawmakers, Mr Trump signed an order on 28 February directing the EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers to reconsider a rule issued by President Obama. The 2015 regulation - known as the Waters of the United States rule - gave authority to the federal government over small waterways, including wetlands, headwaters and small ponds. The rule required Clean Water Act permits for any developer that wished to alter or damage these relatively small water resources, which the president described as "puddles" in his signing remarks. Opponents of Mr Obama's rule, including industry leaders, condemned it as a massive power grab by Washington. Scott Pruitt, Mr Trump's pick to lead the EPA, will now begin the task of rewriting the rule, and a new draft is not expected for several years. Immediate impact: The EPA has been ordered to rewrite, or even repeal the rule, but first it must be reviewed. Water protection laws were passed by Congress long before Mr Obama's rule was announced, so it cannot simply be undone with the stroke of a pen. Instead the EPA must re-evaluate how to interpret the 1972 Clean Water Act. A bill the president signed on 16 February put an end to an Obama-era regulation that aimed at protecting waterways from coal mining waste. Senator Mitch McConnell had called the rule an "attack on coal miners". The US Interior Department, which reportedly spent years drawing up the regulation before it was issued in December, had said it would protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests. An attempt to cut down on the burden of small businesses. Described as a "two-out, one-in" approach, the order asked government departments that request a new regulation to specify two other regulations they will drop. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will manage the regulations and is expected to be led by the Republican Mick Mulvaney. Some categories of regulation will be exempt from the "two-out, one-in" clause - such as those dealing with the military and national security and "any other category of regulations exempted by the Director". Immediate impact: Wait and see. Probably his most controversial action, so far, taken to keep the country safe from terrorists, the president said. The effect was felt at airports in the US and around the world as people were stopped boarding US-bound flights or held when they landed in the US. Immediate impact: Enacted pretty much straight away. But there are battles ahead. Federal judges brought a halt to deportations, and legal rulings appear to have put an end to the travel ban - much to the president's displeasure. A fence is already in place along much of the US-Mexico border On Mr Trump's first day as a presidential candidate in June 2015, he made securing the border with Mexico a priority. He pledged repeatedly at rallies to "build the wall" along the southern border, saying it would be "big, beautiful, and powerful". Now he has signed a pair of executive orders designed to fulfil that campaign promise. One order declares that the US will create "a contiguous, physical wall or other similarly secure, contiguous, and impassable physical barrier". The second order pledges to hire 10,000 more immigration officers, and to revoke federal grant money from so-called "sanctuary cities" which refuse to deport undocumented immigrants. It remains to be seen how Mr Trump will pay for the wall, although he has repeatedly insisted that it will be fully paid for by the Mexican government, despite their leaders saying otherwise. Immediate impact: The Department of Homeland Security has a "small" amount of money available (about $100m) to use immediately, but that won't get them very far. Construction of the wall will cost billions of dollars - money that Congress will need to approve. Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the Republican-led Congress will need to come up with $12-$15bn more, and the funding fight - and any construction - will come up against issues with harsh terrain, private land owners and opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. The department will also need additional funds from Congress to hire more immigration officers, but the order will direct the head of the agency to start changing deportation priorities. Cities targeted by the threat to remove federal grants will likely build legal challenges, but without a court injunction, the money can be removed. The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, along with Arizona Democrat Raul Graijalva, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. They argue the Department of Homeland Security is required to draft a new environmental review of the impacts of the wall and other border enforcement activities as it could damage public lands. With the stroke of a pen... On his second full working day, the president signed two orders to advance construction of two controversial pipelines - the Keystone XL and Dakota Access. Mr Trump told reporters the terms of both deals would be renegotiated, and using American steel was a requirement. Keystone, a 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline running from Canada to US refineries in the Gulf Coast, was halted by President Barack Obama in 2015 due to concerns over the message it would send about climate change. The second pipeline was halted last year as the Army looked at other routes, amid huge protests by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at a North Dakota site. Immediate impact: Mr Trump has granted a permit to TransCanada, the Keystone XL builder, to move forward with the controversial pipeline. As a result, TransCanada will drop an arbitration claim for $15bn in damages it filed under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mr Trump made no mention of an American steel requirement. Construction will not start until the company obtains a permit from Nebraska's Public Service Commission. The Dakota Access pipeline has since been filled with oil and the company is in the process of preparing to begin moving oil. In one of his first actions as president, Mr Trump issued a multi-paragraph directive to the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies involved in managing the nation's healthcare system. The order states that agencies must "waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay" any portions of the Affordable Care Act that creates financial burden on states, individuals or healthcare providers. Although the order technically does not authorise any powers the executive agencies do not already have, it's viewed as a clear signal that the Trump administration will be rolling back Obama-era healthcare regulations wherever possible. Immediate impact: Republicans failed to secure an overhaul of the US healthcare system due to a lack of support for the legislation. That means Mr Trump's executive order is one of the only remaining efforts to undermine Obamacare. Abortion activists were among the many protesters that came out against Trump's presidency one day after his inauguration What's called the Mexico City policy, first implemented in 1984 under Republican President Ronald Reagan, prevents foreign non-governmental organisations that receive any US cash from "providing counselling or referrals for abortion or advocating for access to abortion services in their country", even if they do so with other funding. The ban, derided as a "global gag rule" by its critics, has been the subject of a political tug-of-war ever since its inception, with every Democratic president rescinding the measure, and every Republican bringing it back. Anti-abortion activists expected Mr Trump to act quickly on this - and he didn't disappoint them. Immediate impact: The policy will come into force as soon as the Secretaries of State and Heath write an implementation plan and apply to both renewals and new grants. The US State Department has notified the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that US funding for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) would be withdrawn, arguing that it supports coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation. The agency has denied this, pointing to examples of its life-saving work in more than 150 countries and territories. This policy will be much broader than the last time the rule was in place - the Guttmacher Institute, Kaiser Family Foundation and Population Action International believe the order, as written, will apply to all global health funding by the US, instead of only reproductive health or family planning. The TPP pact would have affected 40% of global trade. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, once viewed as the crown jewel of Barack Obama's international trade policy, was a regular punching bag for Mr Trump on the campaign trail (although he at times seemed uncertain about what nations were actually involved). The deal was never approved by Congress so it had yet to go into effect in the US. Therefore the formal "withdrawal" is more akin to a decision on the part of the US to end ongoing international negotiations and let the deal wither and die. Immediate impact: Takes effect immediately. In the meantime, some experts are worried China will seek to replace itself in the deal or add TPP nations to its own free trade negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), excluding the US.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38695593

Danny Boyle: 'These stories belong here' - BBC News

2017-01-23

The stars of T2 Trainspotting have gathered in Edinburgh for the film's world premiere.

The stars of T2 Trainspotting have gathered in Edinburgh for the film's world premiere. Original cast members Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly Macdonald and Ewen Bremner spoke to the BBC about working on the Trainspotting sequel.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38712425

Irish police put massive cannabis find on display - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Irish Police and the revenue service put €37.5 million worth of cannabis seized at Dublin Port on Friday on display.

Europe

Armed Gardaí (Irish police) pose with an estimated 37.5m euros worth of cannabis Police and the Republic of Ireland's revenue service have put cannabis worth 37.5m euros (£32m), seized at Dublin Port on Friday, on display. The seizure was bigger than the total quantity of the drug seized in the Republic in the past two years, according to national broadcaster RTE. A total of 1,873 kilos of herbal cannabis was discovered concealed in wide-load containers. They were labelled as containing machinery parts. The containers arrived on a ship from mainland Europe. The drugs were vacuum packed and concealed to avoid detection by X-rays and sniffer dogs. Gardaí and Irish revenue officials with almost 2,000 kilos of cannabis seized at Dublin Port Gardaí (police) said investigations are continuing both locally and internationally. Garda assistant commissioner John O'Driscoll said: "We are all about trying to achieve results and this, I believe in anyone's estimation, is a great result. "We are about trying to tackle organised crime in a significant manner. The business of organised crime will be impacted." He listed a string of recent operations including the seizure of firearms from groups "intent on killing each other" in an apparent reference to recent gangland killings in the city. Mr O'Driscoll added: "All of these actions together combine to have a significant impact on organised crime."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/38719871

Formula 1 takeover by Liberty Media: Can F1 be liberated from its 'dysfunction'? - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

From races in New York to a fairer share of the earnings for the teams, changes in Formula 1 could soon come. Big changes.

Formula 1 is about to be under new ownership - and it could lead to profound changes in the sport. US group Liberty Media is poised to complete its takeover of the commercial side of F1, possibly as early as this week, and has big plans to grow the sport in a number of areas. At the same time, it has problems to sort out. The man picked by Liberty as F1's chairman - former Rupert Murdoch lieutenant Chase Carey - has been told in meetings with senior figures over the past few months that F1 is "dysfunctional" at present. So what is around the corner in this brave new world? If they were not before the deal was made, Liberty are well aware now that the sport they are taking over could be in better condition. Carey has been publicly quiet since Liberty bought the first tranche of its shareholding in September, but he has spent the time getting to know what the company that employed him has bought. • None The revenue system is skewed in favour of the already rich and powerful, to the extent that the smallest teams are struggling to survive and money is tight for about half the grid. • None There is a lack of competition on track. • None Television audience figures are dropping in many markets - although this is largely because of a switch to pay television, to make more money from TV rights deals. • None The longest-standing races are struggling to fund themselves and risk dropping off the calendar • None The decision-making process is not working properly. • None Some significant business and sporting decisions have been made for solely financial reasons, disregarding other important factors, such as their effects on the sporting side. • None An acceptance that F1 has lost some of its appeal, particularly a sense of edge and drama and as an extreme driver challenge. Liberty has decided to change much of that. The question is how. Many of those concerns can be laid at the door of F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone - it was he who set up the governance structure, brokered all the financial deals and signed another three-year contract with Pirelli as tyre supplier against the wishes of the drivers and a number of senior figures. Liberty had asked Ecclestone to stay on as chief executive officer under Carey, but for some time now the word inside F1 has been that the 86-year-old would be gone before long and on Monday he said he had been asked to step down from his position and take on a new one as a kind of honorary president. It should be remembered that he is a fighter and a survivor and he has no desire to give up a business which he sees as his. And he has fought off at least one attempt by previous owners CVC Capital Partners to get rid of him. But, whether he likes it or not, he will be an employee and therefore subject to the whims and wishes of his bosses - now Carey and Liberty owner John Malone. Ecclestone has never really operated in such a situation before - by and large the previous owners, CVC, left him to his own devices. He likes to do things his way, and he is not one to enjoy outside interference. Ecclestone's approach to business is adversarial. His problem is that Liberty have decided that they are going to run the business in a different way from now on - a more collegiate approach. He will either accept that and operate accordingly, or he won't be working there much longer. It's hard to see how he could adapt to that way of working - or even want to. And senior sources in F1 say they believe that even if he does not go this week, they expect his departure to happen within a month. Whether he stays or not, changes will be made to the business structure. Liberty will employ two people to head up the different branches of the sport and oversee changes - commercial on the one hand; sporting and technical on the other. Ex-ESPN marketing chief Sean Bratches has been given the commercial role, and former Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn the other. The history of F1 over the last decade or so has been the decline of the number of races in Europe, and the struggles of many of those remaining to meet Ecclestone's increasingly high demands for race fees. Germany does not have a race this year, and its contract ends after next year's grand prix in Hockenheim. Italy struck a new three-year deal at the 11th hour this winter. Silverstone is reluctantly toying with the idea of ending its contract after 2019 if it cannot renegotiate terms. Through all this, Ecclestone has acted as if he does not care - if a race in Europe won't pay the fees he wants, he has usually said, he'll find one elsewhere. There's usually a controversial regime wanting to stump up a wad of cash to host an F1 race. Liberty want to end this. They see the historic European races - Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, for example - as a key aspect of F1 and one they have to nurture and cherish. They recognise that Europe is F1's core market, where most of its TV audience is, and they want the races there to be the centrepiece of the 'new F1', one that has a visible link to a heritage it treasures. Ecclestone's ethos has been to take F1 to any country that wants it and has a large enough chequebook to fund it. His eye has been on the deal itself - and not on its wider consequences on F1. This is how F1 has ended up with races in Bahrain and Azerbaijan, countries with controversial records on human rights, and how Ecclestone has found himself for the last three years sitting next to Vladimir Putin at the Russian Grand Prix. All three countries pay astronomical fees for their races - Russia $50m year; Azerbaijan a reputed $75m, for example. Liberty wants to take a different approach. For them, deals based solely on the bottom line and nothing else are not necessarily the right deals. They want to expand F1 - but they want new races to be held in the right places and for the right reasons. And they are prepared to invest to make it happen. This is a massive shift from Ecclestone's approach. The idea of spending money now to earn more later has largely been anathema to Ecclestone. Some argue it has been one of the reasons why he struggled for so long to establish a race in the USA until Austin, Texas, came along. Liberty are open about wanting races in New York and Los Angeles - or near enough to be easily identified as such - and are prepared to put down their own money to make it happen. They have also talked about more races in Latin America and Asia. Carey has been clear that he sees the opportunity to expand the business "in all areas", but the one where there is most room for improvement is in exploiting the internet. Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact that he does not really get social media, nor see any opportunity to monetise it. Younger people in F1 have grown frustrated with this, and realise that there are any number of things that could be done. But, aware that rare has been the person who has crossed Ecclestone without consequence, they have in recent years kept their counsel and waited for a change to happen. Liberty are clear that this is an area where they see vast potential, and it's quite conceivable that, over time, the entire business model of F1 will change as a result. Right now, F1 is sold as a whole package to one or sometimes two TV stations in a country. But insiders see the opportunity to sell it piecemeal through the internet, with varying degrees of access for varying amounts of money. Promotionally, too, there is a lot of room to make gains. Ecclestone is called the "promoter". But many argue that's a misnomer - in that he doesn't really do any promoting at all. Arrive in any city or country hosting a grand prix and it is often hard to tell there is an event going on. Many races are not sold out - but how are people who might have a passing interest in going expected to know when that opportunity exists without them being advertised effectively? Liberty are talking about having "20 Super Bowls". By which they don't mean an Americanisation of the event - but of making a bigger deal of the event itself wherever it is being held. Build it up in the week before the race with various promotional activities and so on. Many F1 insiders recognise that in recent years the sport has lost its way a little. It remains the arena where the best drivers in the world race in the fastest cars, but its edginess has been dulled. The risk and challenge are still there - but less apparent. Liberty are keen to get this back. This year's new rules - decided upon long before Liberty was involved - are a first step in that direction, with wider, more dramatic-looking cars expected to lap up to five seconds faster and provide a more extreme physical challenge for the drivers. But the jury is still out as to whether this will work. No-one doubts the cars will be dramatically faster. The question is whether Pirelli has managed to build the more durable tyres that have been demanded to go with them. F1 bosses have drawn up a set of requirements for Pirelli that they expect to lead to tyres on which drivers can push flat out most of the time - which has simply not been possible since 2011 because the tyres have been too fragile. If this has not happened, it will turn out to have been rather pointless to make faster cars because the drivers will not be able to use all their potential. Liberty - having taken over the contract Ecclestone struck with Pirelli - have been made aware of these issues and will be watching closely. Another area which may come under scrutiny is driver head protection. Governing body the FIA has been working hard on the 'halo' device which protects drivers from heavy flying debris. It is planned for introduction in 2018. But while the vast majority of drivers are in favour of it, the FIA has recently said its introduction depends on a philosophical discussion about aesthetics and the nature of F1. The halo could yet be abandoned if it is considered contrary to the ethos of open-wheel, open-cockpit racing - although the drivers may fight against this. Everything is up for discussion - even the format of the race weekend itself. But Liberty wants to take an inclusive approach to any change, rather than the imposition Ecclestone has tended to pursue. It is easy to see problems with some of Liberty's plans. For one thing, they - like any other business - are in this to make money. And if they are going to make the European races more affordable for promoters and spend money establishing new ones in America, they are going to affect the bottom line, at least in the short term. But they seem deadly serious about it. Equally, there are unlikely to be big changes immediately. Although Carey has been working hard for months, it will take time for Liberty to fully understand the business, and even longer to make some of the changes needed to its structures. The immediate concern will be to tie the teams down to new contracts - those of everyone bar Renault end in 2020 - and with them, presumably, a changed prize money structure. That in itself won't be easy - how will Ferrari react, for example, if they are told they cannot keep all of the $100m payment they currently receive just for being Ferrari? Change is definitely coming, though. Be in no doubt about that.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38679158

Nicola Adams: Could two-time Olympic champion headline Las Vegas? - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams has turned professional and will make her debut on 8 April, but how far could she go?

Two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams has turned professional and will make her debut on 8 April, but how far could she go?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/38721406

Austria teaches asylum seekers how to ski - BBC News

2017-01-23

Austria is working to integrate asylum seekers by teaching them how to ski.

Austria is trying to integrate asylum seekers after over 90,000 arrived in 2015 – around 1% of the country's population. In Tyrol, a ski school is providing free lessons, as Bethany Bell reports from the resort of Seefeld.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38653076

Can selfies really be art? London's Saatchi Gallery thinks so - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Ahead of a London gallery opening its first selfie exhibition, can such pictures really be considered art?

Entertainment & Arts

"Selfie" was named Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year in 2013 The next time you snap a selfie with your friends on holiday or a night out - you might just be creating the next artistic masterpiece. London's Saatchi Gallery is planning a new exhibition to explore the importance of selfies as an art form. It will feature not only self portraits by the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, but also more recent celebrity selfies. Members of the public will also be invited to submit their own photos for inclusion in the exhibition. The popularity of the selfie has rocketed since the invention of smartphones and in 2013 Oxford Dictionaries named "selfie" as their word of the year. Send us your best selfie to: Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian are prominent selfie posters Walking past someone with a phone in their outstretched arm trying to find their best angle is now a common sight - and something that has led to the invention of the selfie stick. The Saatchi Gallery said the exhibition will showcase a selection of well-known pieces as well as "selfies that have quickly become icons of the digital era". Self-portraits by artists including Van Gogh and Rembrandt will feature in From Selfie to Self Expression. More modern examples in the exhibition will include a selfie taken by Kim Kardashian and another of former US President Barack Obama with former Prime Minister David Cameron. Ellen DeGeneres's Oscars selfie is the most retweeted photo of all time. While she was hosting the ceremony in 2014, the talk show host roped in celebrity friends from the audience for the photo, which was taken by Bradley Cooper (front) British astronaut Tim Peake won the internet when he posted a selfie from space. He said he will never forget his "exhilarating" first walk in space as he posted a picture of his historic feat from the International Space Station Former Prime Minister David Cameron, Denmark's former Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt and former US President Barack Obama snapped a selfie together at Nelson Mandela's memorial service Nigel Hurst, chief executive officer at the Saatchi Gallery, described the smartphone selfie as an example of a shift in society using technology as a means of self-expression. He said: "In many ways, the selfie represents the epitome of contemporary culture's transition into a highly-digitalised and technologically-advanced age as mobile-phone technology has caught up with the camera. "The exhibition will present a compelling insight into the history and creative potential of the selfie." As part of the project, Saatchi plans to commission 10 young British photographers to make their own creative contributions. Self portraits by Van Gogh and Rembrandt will also feature in the exhibition The gallery will also include the launch of the #SaatchiSelfie competition, asking people around the world to post their most interesting selfies on social media for a chance to be featured in the exhibition. Glory Zhang, of Huawei - which is partnering with the Saatchi Gallery for the exhibition - said: "The smartphone has become a tool of artistic expression. "The selfie generation is becoming the self-expression generation as each of us seeks to explore and share our inner creativity through the one artistic tool to which we all have access: The smartphone." From Selfie To Self-Expression will open at the Saatchi Gallery on 31 March. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38716722

India v England: Ben Stokes stars at Eden Gardens - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

England hold on to win the third one-day international against India by five runs as Ben Stokes finds redemption at Eden Gardens.

Last updated on .From the section Cricket England held on to win the third one-day international against India by five runs as Ben Stokes found redemption at Eden Gardens. Stokes, hit for four successive sixes in Kolkata in the World T20 final loss, struck a 39-ball 57 in England's 321-8. He removed key man Virat Kohli and ended a 104-run stand between Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya. Jadhav remained with India needing 16 from the final over, but Chris Woakes had him caught for 90. Not only did it give England a first international win on the tour after a 4-0 defeat in the Tests, but also just a fourth success in 26 ODIs in India. India take the series 2-1, with the first of three Twenty20 internationals in Kanpur on Thursday. Stokes' previous game in Kolkata ended with him slumped on the Eden Gardens turf after being clubbed for four maximums by West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite. This return was a heroic one as he energised the end of England's innings with the bat and then took vital wickets with the ball. England looked set to fall short of a competitive total at 246-6 after 43 overs, only for left-hander Stokes, using his feet and targeting the mid-on area, to blast a 34-ball half-century. Master run-chaser Kohli was dropped at fine leg on 35 by Jake Ball and looked likely to make England pay before Stokes induced a wild drive and an edge behind. And when India looked to have reversed the momentum, Stokes returned to bowl the 46th and 48th overs, conceding only seven runs, bowling Pandya and having Ravichandran Ashwin caught at mid-on. In an incredible chase of 351 to win the first one-day international, right-hander Jadhav destroyed England with 120 from 76 balls. Whereas then he was guided by captain Kohli, here he was forced to do the bulk of the work, first in the company of Pandya, who rode his luck for 56 in a century partnership that came in less than 14 overs. Short of stature, Jadhav played cuts and pulls, and although wickets fell around him he looked on course to seal a remarkable victory as England's bowling got ragged, perhaps because of a dew-affected, slippery ball. In the World T20 final, England were defending 19 off the final over. Here, Jadhav threatened to pull off something equally astounding: • None 49.1 overs - Six - Full ball from Woakes, Jadhav goes deep in his crease and launches over extra cover. • None 49.2 overs - Four - Similar delivery, similar stroke, this time a one-bounce four. Six needed from four balls. • None 49.4 overs - Dot - Well bowled. Jadhav fails to squeeze out a yorker and calls for a change of bat. • None 49.5 overs - Out - Full and wide from Woakes, Jadhav's brilliant knock is ended when he picks out Sam Billings on the off-side rope. • None 50 overs - Dot - Woakes holds his nerve, Bhuvneshwar Kumar cannot hit the six that would have sealed an India whitewash. On placid pitches in the the first two ODIs, England made scores of 350-7 and 366-8 only to lose both. Here they were more comfortable on a surface that offered movement and bounce for the pace bowlers. Still, a weakness of losing wickets at key moments and batsmen failing to convert good starts was repeated. Jason Roy got into a tangle to be bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 65, captain Eoin Morgan helped a long hop to short fine leg for 43 and Jonny Bairstow cut to point for 56 - both men victims of the excellent Pandya's 3-49. Stokes' late hitting took England to a competitive score and their pace bowlers enjoyed the greater assistance to run through the India top order, even after David Willey was forced from the field with a shoulder injury. Then came the charge of Jadhav and Pandya, but Stokes and Woakes, who earlier added 73 with the bat in only 40 balls, had the final say. There wasn't any shame in losing those first two games. There was nothing in it for the England bowlers and they came up against some fantastic Indian batting. Here, there was more in the pitch for England and they exploited it very well. The Champions Trophy will have these kind of pitches and England look better suited when the ball does a little bit. • None 2,090 runs is a new record for a three-match ODI series, beating the 1,892 scored between Asia XI and Africa XI in 2007. • None The 7.00 runs scored per over is the second-highest for a series of any length, behind only the 7.15 of England's home series against New Zealand in 2015. • None Jason Roy's 220 runs is the second-most by an England player in an away ODI series of three matches. Only Graham Gooch, 242 v Pakistan in 1987, has more. • None England registered their first ODI win at Eden Gardens. • None Ben Stokes struck a 34-ball half-century, the second-fastest for England against India. His record 33-ball knock came in the first ODI. • None Virat Kohli reached 1,000 runs as India ODI captain in 17 innings, beating the record of 18 by South Africa's AB de Villiers. 'We deserved a win' - what they said Man of the match Ben Stokes: "It was difficult when we came here last time. I put it down to good captaincy to get my overs out of the way before the last over! "It was difficult at the start of my innings. The ball was doing a bit so I gave myself as much time as I could. Woakesy played a good part in that as well. "It has been fantastic to be a part of the series. Thankfully we got a win." England coach Trevor Bayliss: "We've been playing some good cricket, scoring a lot of runs and we felt we deserved a win. "On this ground, I'm sure there were some memories. It sums up Ben Stokes that he was able to get over it and bowl very well." England captain Eoin Morgan: "It has been hard work - a competitive series. It was tough for the bowlers. We were rewarded for our persistence and drive to get a result. We fought hard against a really good side." India captain Virat Kohli: "It's been a series of a lot of positives. We almost got over the line today and we were getting excited to see two of our younger guys showing character lower down the order. I'm very pleased."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38711556

Newspaper headlines: May's 'missile crisis' over Trident failure - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Reaction to the reported failure of a Trident missile test is widely reported, while the prime minister's upcoming meeting with Donald Trump stays in the headlines.

The Papers

The revelation of a reported malfunction during the test firing of a Trident missile in June is widely covered in Monday's press. The Daily Mail says it is likely the unarmed missile was made to crash harmlessly into the sea but the "fiasco" caused major panic in Downing Street. Prime Minister Theresa May, reports the Times, will face intense pressure to answer charges of a cover-up after she refused to say whether she knew about the incident when questioned on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. The Daily Mirror describes it as "May's Missile crisis", saying in a leading article the "official news blackout only fans suspicions this was a serious failure". The Guardian, which leads with the story, says critics of Trident may now seize on the failure to argue that the debate about renewing the system should be reopened. Several papers report international trade will be one of the big issues when Theresa May meets Donald Trump on Friday. The Times thinks it is a historic chance to make the case for genuine free trade, and an advantageous deal with Britain. The Daily Telegraph says Mrs May and Mr Trump will hold talks over a deal that slashes tariffs and makes it easier for hundreds of thousands of workers to move between the two countries. Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror thinks Mrs May is "a fool" for flitting over to America "to be photographic cover for a divisive, lying, racist, sexual predator". But Trevor Kavanagh of the Sun says the "world is a reality show... and Britain has woken up as one of the biggest stars". He sees opportunities, and dangers, and has this advice: "Hold tight... We are in for the ride of our lives." Elsewhere, Mrs May has penned an article for the i explaining her new industrial strategy. She refers to seeking a brighter future after Brexit, and making Britain a country that works for everyone. And she invites "the industries of the future" to tell the government what they need in order to grow and prosper. The lead story in the Sun refers to a Food Standards Agency warning of a link between burned starchy foods and cancer - that pizza, chips and toast "are killers". The headline on the front of paper is stark: "You've had your chips." But not everyone is willing to agree. The Daily Express asks: "Do scientists actually want us to lead miserable lives?" Alcohol, then sugar, fat, and now crispy roast potatoes. "Why can't people be left to lead their own lives without others meddling?" Few things, says the Daily Telegraph, bring families together on a cold winter's day like a Sunday roast. And the paper cannot be enthusiastic about boiled beef, with steamed vegetables but no Yorkshire pudding or wine. A cartoon in the Daily Mail shows an insolent boy smoking. His concerned mother says: "And remember, if anyone offers you a crunchy roast potato at the party - you know what to say." Meanwhile, the Guardian has reassurance for shoppers who have been unable to find lettuce, spinach, or courgettes on their supermarket shelves. Vast amounts of rain in south-eastern Spain, then heavy snow, wiped out much of their crops. But now, the farmers of Murcia believe the worst is over, and normal production looks set to resume, it reports. Finally, the Daily Express says advisors to Margaret Thatcher were alarmed 30 years ago when she was asked to test drive a new Rover saloon outside Downing Street. Papers, made public from her archive, reveal their concern that, as the Daily Telegraph reports, she might crash in front of the cameras. Those fears proved groundless - she was allowed a practice at Chequers first. But the Sun cannot resist summing up their worries in a headline: "The lady's not for three-point turning".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-38714029

The NHS mental health chief who had a nervous breakdown - BBC News

2017-01-23

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A social media post written by a former NHS director of mental health about her own depression has gone viral

BBC Trending

"Perhaps not the most flattering photo of me, but I'm sharing this awful picture and my story to help increase understanding of the impact of mental illness and to celebrate my recovery." "As I have worked in mental health services for 29 years, one would think I would be immune to mental illness." In a LinkedIn post that has been shared more than 5,000 times, Mandy Stevens shared a photo of herself, red-eyed with matted hair, in the midst of a depressive episode that resulted in her being hospitalised. She wrote the post on the day she was discharged from a 12 week stay on the inpatient ward at the City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health in London. One thing that struck many people who read Stevens' post on the online professional network was her unique vantage point - she has been both an employee and patient of the UK's National Health Service mental health programme. Stevens began her career in the NHS as a mental health nurse. After 15 years she became a hospital manager, and then a director. Although she has suffered episodes of "mild to moderate" depression, she managed it through counselling and very few of her family and friends knew about it. "There is a huge amount of stigma around mental illness," Stevens told BBC Trending, "and for the past 29 years I have worked in Mental Health Services and seen the negative effect this stigma has on people who use our services. From personal embarrassment, family embarrassment, not accepting diagnoses or treatment, not wanting to attend mental health community services in case they are recognised. There is also stigma amongst family, friends and colleagues, including whispered rumours and avoidance." Then in November, things changed, and her depression became serious enough to warrant hospitalisation. "When I was very, very depressed, anxious and suicidal I was so ill I was almost monosyllabic, I could hardy walk properly, I couldn't shower or dress properly. Eating and all the things that we take for granted were a huge struggle. I spent most of every day in bed, crying and wanting to be dead. I was absolutely terrible. So frightening and awful." "The absolutely wonderful nurses on Gardner ward at City & Hackney Centre for Mental Health were amazing," Stevens says. "They would come and see me very regularly throughout the day, spend time with me, encourage and support me, listen to me crying and talking and throwing up a huge amount of emotion. The staff nurses and the healthcare assistants were wonderful, accessible and compassionate 24/7. I am so proud of my profession." Whilst in hospital and after she was over the worst Stevens says she felt a bit like an "undercover cop" as she observed how the ward was run. "Without exception the staff treated all of the patients with dignity and respect." When asked what she thinks of the state of the NHS right now, Stevens says, "Very difficult for me to answer this question now… I can only talk about my particular experience as a patient in an 'Outstanding Trust' - which has been a great experience." "I am, of course, aware that not everyone is as lucky as me to receive this type of care. Unfortunately, mental health services are always seen as the 'Cinderella services' with lower levels of funding and cuts." Analysis by the King's Fund think tank says 40% of the 58 mental health trusts in the UK saw budgets cut in 2015-16. It found six of them had seen budgets cut three years in a row. An NHS spokeswoman told the BBC that mental health services were "wider" than trusts, and care was funded in other ways. Steven adds that help is there. "There is a huge range of accessible services across the country. Your GP is usually the best place to start as they can signpost you to local services and, if necessary, they can refer you to formal mental health services, but there are also a wide variety of other services around run by volunteers," she says. "My first message is to reach out to people. Speak to your close family and friends about your mental health, and start opening conversations about it. Don't say 'I'm okay' when you're not okay" Next story: Trolls try to trigger seizures - is it assault? Can sending a flashing animated picture constitute a physical assault against someone with epilepsy? READ MORE You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-38720826

The English vet saving Sri Lanka’s street dogs - BBC News

2017-01-23

The vet who left behind her home in England to care for Sri Lanka’s street dogs.

A vet has left behind her home in England to care for Sri Lanka’s street dogs. Janey Lowes from Barnard Castle, County Durham, has spent the past two years caring for the neglected animals. There are about three million street dogs on the island – about 60% of puppies born on the street do not survive to adulthood. The 28-year-old set up charity WECare Worldwide to raise money to buy the equipment needed to treat the animals and to set up her own clinic in Talalla. You can see more on this story on Inside Out on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on Monday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38691375

Sean Spicer: Who is President Trump's spin doctor? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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New White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has warned that the media will be held "accountable".

US & Canada

In a 2014 lecture to students at his former high school, Sean Spicer outlined a set of 17 "rules for life" that they would be wise to follow. Rule number 16, he told the students at Portsmouth Abbey in Rhode Island: "Follow your mom's advice: It's not what you say, but how you say it. The tone and tenor of your words count." The now White House press secretary also told students that they should be true to themselves. Rule number eight, was relevant here, he said. "Trust your gut. If it does not feel right, use caution." With that guidance in mind, Mr Spicer's bellicose press conference with the White House press corps on Saturday suggests that the new presidential spokesman will not sugar-coat his words over the next four years. While the press secretary-journalist relationship is naturally an adversarial one, Mr Spicer has, in his first few days in the role, already cast himself as being in open conflict with much of the mainstream media, pledging to "hold the press accountable". This, it appears, is the frontline of a strategy that White House Chief of Staff Reince Preibus described as a will to "fight back tooth and nail every day" at supposed media efforts to "delegitimise" the president. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Sean Spicer, White House press secretary said "no-one had numbers" for the inauguration Mr Spicer, 45, is not a new hand at managing negative press coverage. He previously served as spokesman and chief strategist for the Republican National Committee (RNC) and has long criticised coverage of his party and Mr Trump. He took the post of communications director at the RNC in 2011, a time when it "was deep in debt and had a badly tarnished brand", according to the Republican Party website. He is said to have helped turn around its fortunes by boosting the social media team, leading rapid response efforts to combat attacks, setting up an in-house video and production team and expanding the use of surrogates - people who can publicly appear on behalf of candidates, defend them and boost their appeal. Mr Spicer has not shied away from criticising Mr Trump in the past. In July 2015, speaking on behalf of the RNC after Mr Trump questioned Republican Senator John McCain's status as a war hero, he said that there was "no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honourably". Mr Spicer claimed President Trump's inauguration was the "largest inaugural crowd ever" He also described Mr Trump's June 2015 comments about Mexican immigrants being rapists and criminals as not being "helpful to the cause". Before joining the RNC, he worked as Assistant US Trade Representative for Media and Public Affairs in the George W. Bush administration: a role that involved promoting the kind of free trade that his boss now fiercely criticises as being unfair for the American worker. Still, Mr Spicer was loyal to Mr Trump on the campaign trail even as the path-breaking candidate split the party and many Republican luminaries distanced themselves from him. The broad-shouldered, compulsively gum-chewing Republican ("Two and a half packs by noon," he told the Washington Post) is a long-time member of the US Navy Reserve. He received a Masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport in 2012 and is known to be fierce, and deeply competitive. One editor who has been blasted many times by Mr Spicer told the Post that her young child recognises his voice on the phone and bursts into tears. His wife Rebecca is the chief of communications at the National Beer Wholesalers Association and previously worked in the Bush White House after a career in television news. As press secretary, Mr Spicer will serve as President Trump's most visible spokesman, and is expected to hold daily televised media briefings, though he has spoken of his desire to shake up the way White House media is managed. While he has said that Mr Trump will do press conferences, he also wants to utilise technology to "have a conversation with the American people and not just limit it through the filter of the mainstream media". He has also described White House press briefings as having become "somewhat of a spectacle". Many would use that word to describe the first under the Trump administration.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38711850

The Gambia: 'Concern' over missing state millions - BBC News

2017-01-23

More than $11m (£8.8m) is missing from The Gambia's state coffers after its leader's departure.

More than $11m (£8.8m) is missing from The Gambia's state coffers following the departure of long-time leader Yahya Jammeh. Mr Jammeh flew into exile on Saturday, ending his 22 years in power.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38715834

Anti-Trump rant woman removed from Alaska Airlines plane - BBC News

2017-01-23

A passenger is removed from an Alaska Airlines flight for berating the President Trump supporter seated next to her.

A woman has been removed from an Alaska Airlines flight after berating the President Trump supporter seated next to her. Scott Koteskey - the man she confronted - filmed the incident and uploaded it to Facebook. The airline told the BBC the woman had insulted other passengers before boarding the plane, and that it stood by the employee who decided to remove her.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38723929

Thomas Friedman, NYT: 'I fear a 'chaos presidency' - BBC News

2017-01-23

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman says he fears there will be a 'chaos presidency'

"I think they're going to pay a big price" - that's what Donald Trump said about journalists whom he described as "the most dishonest human beings on earth". Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist and three times Pulitzer-prize winner, tells the Today programme that President Trump was a "chaos candidate" and he now fears a "chaos presidency".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38718266

UK-EU trade deal: Another WTO issue - BBC News

2017-01-23

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If the UK and the EU are going to have a trade agreement, it is best to get as many sectors covered as possible to reduce the chances of a WTO challenge.

Business

The UK is set for a hard Brexit from the EU So the UK, it seems, is headed out of the European Union's single market, perhaps also out of the customs union. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants to preserve barrier-free trade between the UK and the EU as far as possible. One option that has been floated, if the two sides can't agree a comprehensive free trade agreement, is sectoral deals. They might cover cars, for example, or perhaps financial services. But there is a problem with this approach: World Trade Organization rules. Perhaps the most fundamental idea behind the WTO's rule book is non-discrimination. It goes by the rather confusing name of "most favoured nation". It is Article 1 of the WTO's main legal agreement. It means that you must give the same degree of access to your home market that you give to the most favoured nation to all WTO members. A favour for one should be given to all. You should not discriminate for or against any WTO member. There are a few situations where the rules allow countries to depart from this principle - the one that is relevant here is for free-trade areas and customs unions (the two have important similarities, but are not the same). The World Trade Organization is based in Geneva and came into being in 1995 The WTO's rule book says the member countries "recognise the desirability of increasing freedom of trade by the development, through voluntary agreements, of closer integration between the economies of countries parties to such agreements". So a trade agreement between the UK and the EU would be allowed under WTO rules, in fact welcomed, even though it is something that is intrinsically discriminatory. It would involve the EU and the UK discriminating in favour of each other against outside countries. Of course, the EU itself has the same effect, offering EU members better access to each other's markets than is available to either China or the United States, for example. But there is a catch. The WTO rules say such agreements should cover "substantially all the trade" between the members of the customs union or free-trade area. What does "substantially all" mean? There is some case law which touched on this. A dispute between Turkey (which has a customs union agreement with the EU) and India went to the WTO's appeals body, which said in its report: "It is clear, though, that 'substantially all the trade' is not the same as all the trade, and also that 'substantially all the trade' is something considerably more than merely some of the trade." Not as cut and dried as you might hope, but all the trade experts I have spoken to say that a deal covering just a few sectors wouldn't qualify. That seems to be reinforced by what a WTO dispute panel said in another case. This one, as it happens was about cars, an agreement between the US and Canada in the 1960s known as the Auto Pact. There is one line in the panel's ruling that is particularly relevant here: "The Auto Pact, nevertheless, is a purely sectoral agreement which does not meet the requirements of Article XXIV:8" - that is the provision that sets out the "substantially all the trade" requirement. So such a narrow sectoral deal might well be vulnerable to challenge in the WTO. But would it actually happen? There seems to be a great deal of reluctance to challenge these agreements. (The India v Turkey and Auto Pact disputes were not fundamentally about the wider trade agreements, but about very specific restrictions that the complaining country thought were against the rules.) More than 600 of them have been notified to the WTO or its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Many are thought to stretch the credibility of "substantially all trade", by having various sectors uncovered. But that makes countries reluctant to challenge others, for fear of shining an unwelcome light on their own agreements. As one senior trade official put it to me: "It's a glass houses kind of thing." So a sectoral agreement between the UK and the EU might be challenged, but it would depend on whether any country wanted to do so. Think of cars. There is another factor that might make a challenge less likely. Japan and the United States have car industries that have a presence in Europe and might well benefit from a deal between the EU and UK. So perhaps we might get away with a narrow trade agreement. Even so, the uncertainty would be unwelcome to the industry concerned. There is also the possibility of simply ignoring any unwelcome WTO ruling. The WTO has no real powers of enforcement. It can allow the other side to retaliate, but it can't arrest the trade minister. On the other hand, the British government appears to be keen on the rules-based system of international trade and would probably be very uncomfortable about defying a ruling. All the more reason, if the UK and the EU are going to have a trade agreement, to get as many sectors covered as possible, to reduce the chances of a WTO challenge. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38658025

Thatcher secret test drive revealed in newly released files - BBC News

2017-01-23

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Newly released personal files shed new light on the ex-PM's time at Number 10.

UK Politics

Margaret Thatcher test-drove the new Rover outside 10 Downing Street - but not before a practice session Officials feared Margaret Thatcher could crash Rover's new car when she test-drove it for a photocall, newly released papers suggest. A secret rehearsal was arranged at Chequers for the then PM to "familiarise" herself with the vehicle. Her newly released personal files cover 1986, when Michael Heseltine quit over the so-called Westland affair and the US launched bombing raids in Libya. They have been published by the Thatcher Foundation. The documents reveal careful planning behind the scenes to avoid anything going wrong with the Rover 800 photoshoot at Downing Street. The PM's private secretary Mark Addison wrote to her: "You are test driving the new Rover on Thursday. "The most straightforward way of arranging this would probably be for you to drive the car from the front door towards the bottom of Downing Street, reversing into the side road, and then driving back up the street to the front door. "If you would like to handle the test drive in this way, you would need to feel fully confident about manoeuvring the car into the side road and back out again. "The alternative would be to walk down to the car at the bottom of Downing Street and drive it back to the front door. "Agree to the first option? Or prefer to keep it simple." In another memo, Mr Addison told her the car was being towed, under cover, to Chequers for her to rehearse beforehand. Chris Collins, from the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust, said he believed Mrs Thatcher had seldom driven since 1975, leading to concern from officials. "I think I'm reading between the lines but I'm reasonably confident that there was that worry, that there was this dark fear that she would crash into something, that it would all go horribly wrong, and after all she hadn't driven for many many years," he said. The trust is overseeing the release of Mrs Thatcher's private files through the Churchill Archive Centre in Cambridge. The files also reveal concerns that a blue, not a red, car should be supplied, but in the end the stunt passed without a hitch. Things went less smoothly for the prime minister when she tripped over a manhole at the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth. In a letter to the mayor apologising for pulling out of a civic ball that evening, she said: "As you may have heard I tripped over one of Bournemouth's manholes this afternoon and my ankle didn't like it very much. Neither did the manhole!" Other papers in the newly released batch include a letter - written but never sent - from Mrs Thatcher to the then defence secretary Michael Heseltine warning him to toe the line or give up office over the Westland affair. The battle for control of British helicopter manufacturer Westland was one of the most divisive political rows of Mrs Thatcher's second term in office. Former Defence Secretary Lord Heseltine stormed out of cabinet over the Westland affair The letter, drafted three weeks before Mr Heseltine resigned over the row, tells him the government's view of the future of British helicopter manufacturer Westland is that it is "a matter for the company to decide", adding: "In this situation no minister should use his position to promote one commercial option in preference to another - so long as he remains in government." A more minor helicopter-related exchange involved a request for Mrs Thatcher to use one to travel the short distance from Downing Street to the opening of the Broadgate development in the City of London. In a hand-written note, the PM dismissed the "ridiculous" suggestion, saying it would be an "unwarrantable extravagance and I should be criticised severely". The documents also cover the fallout from the US air strikes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, for which Mrs Thatcher allowed the use of British airbases. One note, before the PM was due to speak on the subject, said an "unusually large number of calls" had been received by Conservative Central Office expressing concern about the raids. Another revealed a warning from a senior civil servant that Conservative Party chairman Norman Tebbit's "obsession" with attacking the BBC's coverage of the military strikes risked a repeat of the "Westland troubles".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38717028

Who will succeed Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness? - BBC News

2017-01-23

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As Martin McGuinness steps down, who will take over as Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin's successor as Northern Ireland leader of the party will be announced next week Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has confirmed he will not stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election. His successor as Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland will be announced next week. So who will replace him? Three names are tipped as the most likely contenders - Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Health Minister Michelle O'Neill and MLA and former MP Conor Murphy. Conor Murphy is a key member of the Sinn Féin negotiating team who has represented the party at the Hillsborough, Leeds Castle and St Andrew's negotiations as well as playing a key role in the Fresh Start agreement negotiated at Stormont House. Conor Murphy has represented the party at the Hillsborough, Leeds Castle and St Andrew's negotiations After his election to the assembly in 1998, he was the party's chief whip. In 2005, he became the first Sinn Féin member to be elected as MP for Newry and Armagh. Following Mr Murphy's re-election to the assembly in 2007, he was appointed minister for regional development, a position that he held until 2011. He was criticised for the NI Water crisis as minister during the winter of 2010/11. In 2012, ahead of a ban on double-jobbing, he left the assembly to concentrate on his role as an MP. He returned to the Assembly in 2015 when Mickey Brady was elected MP for the constituency. Since re-entering the assembly he has been a member of both the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. Health Minister Michelle O'Neill has held various senior positions within Sinn Féin. She has worked in the Assembly since 1998, initially as political adviser to MP and former MLA Francie Molloy, before being elected to Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council in 2005. As health minister since May 2016, tackling mounting hospital waiting lists has been a huge task for Mrs O'Neill Mrs O'Neill was elected to the assembly for the Mid Ulster constituency in 2007, sitting on the education committee and serving as Sinn Féin's health spokesperson. In 2011, she was appointed as minister for agriculture and rural development. The following year, she announced that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) would move to a former British army barracks in Ballykelly, County Londonderry. Following the announcement, it came to light that Strabane had been chosen as a more suitable location by an internal DARD assessment, a decision that Mrs O'Neill then overruled. In February 2013, it was also revealed that the decision had been questioned by the Finance Minister Sammy Wilson. As health minister since 2016, tackling mounting hospital waiting lists have been a huge task for Mrs O'Neill. In October, she launched a 10-year plan to transform health service, saying it would improve a system that was at "breaking point". Opposition politicians questioned the lack of details in the plan, which was not costed. But it set out a range of priorities, including a new model of care involving a team of professionals based around GP surgeries. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has previously been a writer, journalist and publisher of the Belfast Media Group newspapers and the Irish Echo in New York. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir became finance minister in May 2016 The former west Belfast councillor served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from June 2013-June 2014 and was broadly praised for reaching out to unionists, despite attacks by loyalist protestors. Mr Ó Muilleoir subsequently stood unsuccessfully as Sinn Féin's candidate for South Belfast in the 2015 Westminster election, but was returned in the Stormont Assembly election of May 2016. As finance minister, he was the first Sinn Féin minister to hold a major economic brief in the Northern Ireland Assembly. His role has included leading the implementation of the devolution of corporation tax, due to happen in 2018. However, he became embroiled in controversy in 2016 when news emerged about a back channel of communication between a Stormont committee chairman and a witness who was giving evidence on the Nama property loan sale. Mr Ó Muilleoir denied knowledge of alleged coaching of loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson by finance committee chair Daithí McKay before his appearance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38684941

Australian Open: Johanna Konta beats Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Britain's Johanna Konta beats Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-4 to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Serena Williams.

Britain's Johanna Konta produces a terrific performance to beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-4 and set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Serena Williams.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38725228

Australian Open 2017: Johanna Konta beats Ekaterina Makarova, Serena Williams next - BBC Sport

2017-01-23

Britain's Johanna Konta beats Ekaterina Makarova to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Serena Williams.

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online from 21 January. Britain's Johanna Konta produced another terrific performance to beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova and set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Serena Williams. Konta, seeded ninth, saw off 30th seed Makarova 6-1 6-4 to reach the last eight without dropping a set. The Briton, 25, reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in Melbourne last year. Second seed Williams overcame stern resistance from Czech 16th seed Barbora Strycova to win 7-5 6-4. • Watch highlights of day eight on BBC Two from 16:45 GMT on Monday Asked about facing the 22-time Grand Slam champion for the first time, Konta said: "Believe it or not that's an incredible experience for me. "She's one of the few players still playing who I watched growing up. As a young girl wanting to be a professional tennis player, it's an incredible honour and I can't wait to play on court with her. "Once out on court, against anyone, anyone is out there to compete. Hopefully I'll come off as the winner. "In terms of enjoying the opportunity and the competition, I will cherish every minute out there." Konta arrived in Melbourne having won her second WTA title in Sydney, the city in which she was born, and Monday's victory over Makarova made it nine matches and 18 sets in a row. She had needed three hours to beat Makarova at the same stage of the 2016 tournament, but 12 months on the Briton has established herself as a true Grand Slam contender. Dominant in every aspect of the game, she raced through the first set in just 24 minutes, winning 78% of points on her serve and, more impressively, 62% on the Makarova serve. Her constant aggression left the flat-hitting Makarova struggling to get a racquet on the ball much of the time. Konta's level dropped in the second set as her first serve deserted her briefly, allowing Makarova to build a 4-1 lead, but the Briton came storming back with five games in a row - closing out the match superbly from 0-40 with two aces along the way. "I think I came out definitely playing at a higher level than she did but she really put herself back into that match and made it difficult for me," said Konta. "The way she pulled away in the second set, I don't feel like I did much wrong, she started playing some incredible tennis." Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, picked Konta earlier in the week as a leading threat to his player, and the theory will now be tested when they meet for the first time. Williams was not at her best in the opening match of day eight on Rod Laver Arena but did enough to see off a feisty opponent in Strycova. The American six-time champion, 35, fell a break of serve down three times in the first set, but fought back to eventually win 7-5 6-4. "She's a really smart player - she can do pretty much everything," Williams said of Strycova. "It was a really good match for me and I'm glad I came through it." Williams was under pressure on serve more than usual with a first-serve percentage of just 45%. "It's good to know I have an plan B or option two," she added. "I wasn't serving my greatest but she was also putting a lot of returns in there."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38714633

Is burnt toast a health risk? - BBC News

2017-01-23

Experts say bread should be cooked to a golden yellow colour to reduce our intake of a chemical which could cause cancer.

Experts say bread, chips and potatoes should be cooked to a golden yellow colour, rather than brown, to reduce our intake of a chemical which could cause cancer. Acrylamide is produced when starchy foods are roasted, fried or grilled for too long at high temperatures.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38713959

Brexit: Berlin business leaders unimpressed with UK's message - BBC News

2017-01-23

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An appeal over a post-Brexit trade deal was met with sniggers in Berlin, Damien McGuinness writes.

Business

Two British officials failed to win favour from German business leaders in Berlin The distinguished audience members were too polite to heckle. But the eye rolling, frowns and audible tutting made it quite clear how the Brexiteers' message was going down with German business leaders. Owen Paterson, a former minister and Conservative MP, and John Longworth, co-chair of Leave Means Leave, came to Berlin on Saturday with a clear mission - to persuade German business leaders to lobby Chancellor Angela Merkel to give Britain a good trade deal. They should have been on safe territory. The two men are confident, witty speakers with impressive business and free-trade credentials. Mr Longworth is a former head of the British Chamber of Commerce. Mr Paterson's years spent trading in Germany meant he could open his address with a few remarks in German - which drew an appreciative round of applause - and a well-judged joke about multilingual trade. But it turned out they had entered the lion's den. The laughter from the audience quickly turned to sniggers as they heard the UK described as "a beacon of open, free trade around the world". Westminster's decision to leave the world's largest free trade area does not look like that to Germany. When Europe was blamed for spending cuts and a lack of British health care provision, there were audible mutters of irritation from the audience. The occasional light-hearted attempts at EU-bashing - usually guaranteed to get a cheap laugh with some British audiences - was met with stony silence. Brexiteers argue German manufacturers will want to still sell to UK customers In another setting - at another time - this gathering of the elite of Germany's powerful business community would have lapped up the British wit. Every ironic quip would ordinarily have had them rolling in the aisles. But British charm does not travel well these days. Rattled by the economic havoc Brexit could unleash, Germans are not in the mood for gags. Britain used to be seen by continentals as quirky and occasionally awkward - but reliably pragmatic on the economy. However, since the Brexit vote, Europeans suspect endearing eccentricity has morphed into unpredictable irrationality. The UK has become the tipsy, tweedy uncle, who after too much Christmas sherry has tipped over into drunkenly abusive bore. When the audience was asked how many of them welcomed Brexit, only one hand went up - and it turned out that belonged to a businessman who wanted more EU reform and was fed up with Britain slowing things down. Brexiteer rhetoric over the past year has often focused on the size of Britain's market and how keen German manufacturers are to sell to British customers. Many leave campaigners remain convinced that German business leaders will force Mrs Merkel to grant the UK a special free trade deal in order not to lose British trade. But that's not what's happening. Angela Merkel has said Britain will not be able to cherry-pick the best bits of the single market Instead German firms are remarkably united in their support of the chancellor in her rejection of British "cherry-picking" - even if it means losing business in the short-term. When you talk to German bosses they say their top priority is in fact the integrity of the single market, rather than hanging on to British customers. That's because their supply chains span across the EU. A German car might be designed in Germany, manufactured in Britain, with components made in various parts of eastern Europe, to be sold in France. This only works if there are no cross-border tariffs, paperwork or red tape. German companies - more often family-owned and with deeper connections to their regional heartlands - tend to look at the wider picture, sometimes thinking more long-term. They supported Mrs Merkel on sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, even though that meant a blow to trade. The financial hit was deemed less bad for business than worsening unrest in nearby Ukraine. The same calculations are being made over Brexit. Theresa May's speech on Brexit last week made front page news in Germany This doesn't mean German business is thinking politically, and not economically. But rather, it indicates a wider attitude towards how business can thrive long-term. German business leaders tell you that the British market may be important. But it is only one market, compared to 27 markets in the rest of the EU. Leave campaigners also still underestimate the political and historical significance of the EU for Germany, where it is seen as the guarantor of peace after centuries of warfare. It is tempting to see the clashes between Westminster and the EU27 as one big decades-long misunderstanding of what the EU is. An idealistic peace-project versus a pragmatic free-trade zone. This makes it even more ironic that London may reject the free-trade area it spent so much time creating. Germany was shocked and saddened by the UK's vote to leave the EU. But the decision was quickly accepted in Berlin. "The Brits never really wanted to be members of the European Union anyway," is something you often hear these days. Many Germans now want to just work out a solution that does the least amount of harm to the European economy. Hence the irritation in Germany when British politicians keep rehashing the pre-referendum debate. "It was frustrating to hear the same old arguments from the referendum campaign," one business leader told me when I asked him what he had thought about Saturday's discussion. Germany has moved on, he said. Maybe Britain should too. The Brexiteers might not have persuaded their audience in Berlin. But if they return to London with a better idea of the mood in Germany's business community, then the trip may well have been worthwhile.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38707997

Virtually cycling the length of Britain - BBC News

2017-01-23

A digital games programmer from Angus is thought to be the first person to cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats in virtual reality (VR).

A digital games programmer from Angus is thought to be the first person to cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats in virtual reality (VR). Aaron Puzey did it without leaving home. He used an exercise bike, publicly available images and a smartphone app he wrote himself. He rode more than 900 miles, burning 50,000 calories in the process. Now he's hoping his creation - called CycleVR - will become a commercial proposition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38688618