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Australian Open 2017: Johanna Konta 'prepared' for Serena Williams quarter-final - BBC Sport | 2017-01-23 | null | British number one Johanna Konta believes she has done everything she can to be ready for her first meeting with Serena Williams. | null | Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Williams v Konta coverage: Wednesday, 02:00 GMT: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. Wednesday, 16:45 GMT: TV highlights on BBC Two.
British number one Johanna Konta believes she has done everything she can to be ready for her first meeting with 22-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams at the Australian Open.
Konta, 25, will face second seed Williams in the quarter-finals at around 02:00 GMT on Wednesday.
"I've played quite a few Grand Slam champions and former world number ones," said world number nine Konta.
"So I've prepared myself as much as possible for a competitor like Serena."
• None Confident Konta 'can improve in every aspect'
Konta beat Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-4 to reach the last eight without dropping a set.
She has a 2-1 winning record over Serena's sister Venus - a seven-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one - including a first-round victory at last year's Australian Open.
It will be Konta's second quarter-final at a Grand Slam, after reaching the semi-final in Melbourne last year, compared to 35-year-old Serena's 47th.
"I've been fortunate enough that I've played her sister a few times and I think she's just as incredible," said Konta.
"I was thinking I'd love the opportunity to be on court with her before she retires. But I doubt she's talking retirement.
"She will be playing until the very last ball she can physically hit. Hopefully it won't be the last time I play her before she retires."
Serena, in pursuit of her seventh Australian Open title, had only played two matches between the end of the US Open in August and her first-round victory in Melbourne.
Konta, meanwhile, remained busy on tour and took her world ranking from 49 at the end of 2015 to a career-high of nine.
"I watch her game a lot. She's been doing really, really well, She has a very attacking game and I look forward to it," said Serena.
"I have absolutely nothing to lose in this tournament. Everything here is a bonus for me. Obviously I am here to win, and hopefully I can play better."
"The game is there for Konta. It's all about the head now.
Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.
"It's a big ask when you've never played Serena Williams to beat her at a Grand Slam quarter-final but you never know. She's got the game to beat anyone.
"She needs to follow her game plan, believe in it and commit on every shot. If you have doubts then Serena eats you alive."
"I think Serena's looked great. There can't be any of these second-gear starts she had a few years ago.
"The match against Konta is another level. It will help Konta that she hasn't played her - there is no scar tissue.
"Serena wins her matches often in the first 15 seconds she strolls on to the court, but that's not going to happen with Jo." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38716313 | |
Family of Brighton cancer vlogger Charlotte Eades finds unseen videos - BBC News | 2017-01-23 | null | The family of a teenager who died from a brain tumour has discovered dozens of previously unseen videos she made. | null | The family of a teenager who died from a brain tumour has discovered dozens of previously unseen videos she made.
Charlotte Eades, who died last February at the age of 19, was diagnosed with glioblastoma when she was 16.
On her YouTube channel the teenager from Brighton shared more than 100 inspirational videos about her battle with the disease.
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-sussex-38697237 | |
Rangers 1-2 Celtic - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Celtic come from behind to beat Rangers and move 19 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Celtic came from behind to beat Old Firm rivals Rangers and move 19 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Kenny Miller slid in to convert James Tavernier's cross and put the home side ahead early on.
Moussa Dembele's powerful shot from a Scott Sinclair corner flashed high into the net to bring Celtic level, and Dembele later fired against the bar.
The visitors dominated the second half, and Sinclair touched home Stuart Armstrong's low cross for the winner.
Mark Warburton's hosts showed from the outset their intention was to press their opponents in wide areas, and it paid dividends when Josh Windass released Tavernier to set up Miller's close-range finish.
Celtic continued to concede too much space in the full-back areas, and further deliveries troubled goalkeeper Craig Gordon and his defence.
However, Dembele's leveller put Celtic into the ascendancy and Rangers then struggled to get Barrie McKay and Tavernier on the ball, though McKay did draw a save from Gordon after the break.
Having struggled to get a telling delivery at set-pieces, Rangers may have gone ahead just before Celtic's second as Danny Wilson met Tavernier's corner, Gordon making the save.
Celtic duo to the fore again
Summer signings Dembele and Sinclair had run the Rangers defence ragged in September's 5-1 win at Celtic Park, and the duo's link-up play was again the catalyst as the visitors recovered from their early setback.
Sinclair's set-piece was controlled and rattled into the top-right corner by Celtic's top scorer Dembele - a fifth goal against Rangers for the Frenchman this season.
And he should have taken that tally to six after Mikael Lustig squared the ball to the striker early in the second period, a miskick allowing Wes Foderingham to save.
Foderingham came to Rangers' rescue when James Forrest was played in on goal by Stuart Armstrong but Sinclair would ensure a happy end to 2016 for his team, applying the finish to Armstrong's piercing ball across the face of goal.
Armstrong, Sinclair and substitute Nir Bitton forced further saves from Foderingham as Rangers continued to struggle in defence.
In a match of so many chances, it was a surprise there were only three goals.
Sinclair fired against the right-hand post as Celtic trailed, and Dembele's downward volley bounced up on to the crossbar at 1-1, with Sinclair firing the rebound wide.
And, after Sinclair had netted, Rangers were also left frustrated by the goal frame as Miller's shot came back off the same post Sinclair had hit in the opening half.
The Scottish Premiership enters its winter break for the early part of January and Celtic can extend their advantage at the top to 22 points if they win their game in hand against St Johnstone near the end of next month.
The league leaders, who have won 15 Premiership matches in a row and have only dropped two points all season, are targeting a sixth straight top-flight title win and a first under manager Brendan Rodgers.
For Rangers, they suffer their first competitive home defeat since September 2015 and face a battle to hold on to second place with Aberdeen, who have a game in hand, two points behind them.
• None Attempt saved. Andy Halliday (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
• None Danny Wilson (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Moussa Dembele (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None James Tavernier (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38424555 | |
Arsene Wenger: Olivier Giroud scorpion goal one of Arsenal manager's top five - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Olivier Giroud's 'scorpion' goal in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace is one of "the top five" strikes of Arsene Wenger's 21-year reign. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Olivier Giroud's 'scorpion' goal in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace is one of "the top five" strikes of manager Arsene Wenger's 21-year reign.
Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp goals are among Wenger's favourites but he said "this will be the Giroud goal".
He added: "Technically it's not impossible but you must have that reflex. The cross didn't come ideally and Olivier did something special."
French forward Giroud said his strike owed much to "maximum luck".
A swift counter-attack ended with Giroud flicking an Alexis Sanchez cross from behind him over his shoulder and into the goal, via the crossbar, with his left heel.
The goal broke the deadlock as Arsenal moved into the top three with a comfortable home win.
Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp showed excellent touch to pluck a lofted ball from the air with his left foot, take it round a dumbfounded Matt Elliott with his right, then kept his composure to place the ball high past Kasey Keller.
Perhaps Bergkamp's most famous of his 120 Arsenal goals came against Newcastle, when he flicked the ball around his marker Nikos Dabizas with the instep of his left foot, before slotting past goalkeeper Shay Given with his right.
Henry made a reputation for scoring spectacular goals during his time at Arsenal, but his winner against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 2006 is the first of Wenger's favourites.
The France striker picked the ball up with back-to-goal on the halfway line, turned, accelerated away from three defenders, beat another, then slotted home with him weaker left foot.
Two years earlier, Henry had set the template for his wonder-goal in Madrid.
Receiving the ball close to the halfway line with Liverpool's defence assembled in front of him, the Frenchman danced past defenders before opening up his body and stroking the ball past Reds keeper Jerzy Dudek.
Giroud was quick to put the goal down to luck after the game.
"It's not difficult to say that's the best one," he said.
"I needed God's help to score that goal. It was a bit lucky but it was the only thing I could do.
"The ball was behind me and I tried to hit it with the backheel. I tried to deflect it. In that position you can't do anything else."
Arsenal right-back Bellerin: I couldn't believe it. It's a great goal. I've seen him do stuff like that in training and we know what he's capable of.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey: There seem to be a lot of wonder goals recently. I haven't seen it again but it was a fantastic strike for him.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce: It was an outstanding, brilliant finish. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38486130 | |
Newspaper headlines: IS 'plotting UK chemical attack' and education reforms 'revolt' - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The Sunday newspapers report on warnings that so-called IS is plotting a UK chemical attack, and cross-party attempts to delay higher education reforms. | The Papers | Events in Turkey came too late for the early editions of the morning papers.
The Sunday Times leads with a warning from Home Office minister Ben Wallace that the self-styled Islamic State group could be planning a chemical weapons attack on the UK.
In an interview, Mr Wallace - who is responsible for security - says that while no specific plot has been identified, mass casualty attacks are an ambition for IS, which has reportedly used poison gas in Syria and Iraq.
The newspaper says that the risk of such an attack in Britain was noted last month by Europol, but this is the first time that a minister has highlighted the threat.
The main story for the Sunday Telegraph is the threat of extremists taking over charities to pursue violence.
It says the number of times the Charity Commission has referred concerns to the police and other agencies has almost trebled in three years to 630 - a record figure.
The Commission's chairman, William Shawcross, is calling for Muslim charities to help tackle threats of infiltration.
The Observer is predicting cross-party opposition in the Lords next week to the government's plans for higher education.
It says Labour, the Liberal Democrats and independent cross-bench peers have joined forces to scupper legislation that would make it easier for new colleges to award degrees, become universities and make profits from teaching.
Critics fear the reforms would lower standards, but ministers argue that they will widen access.
The Mail on Sunday keeps up its attack on foreign aid spending, reporting that more than £2m has been used to improve working conditions for farmers and factory workers in poorer countries.
The paper is outraged that grants were given to supermarkets, "which make huge profits each year", to provide training and healthcare to their overseas suppliers.
"Are they off their trolleys?" asks the headline. The Department for International Development says the projects help developing countries' efforts to trade their way out of poverty.
The Sunday Express agrees with Theresa May that 2017 is a time for opportunity, not fear.
It talks of relishing the chance to change the country.
The Sun on Sunday applauds the prime minister's call for unity, but says wishing for it won't make it so.
It calls on those it says are "still in denial about Brexit" to "stop and wake up".
The Sunday Telegraph tells Mrs May she must start making choices and set out a clear case for the kind of Britain that will result from Brexit.
It argues that the British people will respond positively if she is "direct and courageous".
The papers mark the New Year in traditional fashion, with spectacular photographs of firework displays around the world.
The Sunday Mirror says the Australian city of Sydney put on a "Purple Rainbow" as a tribute to the late music star, Prince.
The Mail on Sunday has a photo of armed police in London - part of a big security operation which it says "didn't spoil the 2017 party".
Among the predictions, both the Sun on Sunday and the Mail on Sunday are tipping marriage for Prince Harry.
The Sunday People has its tongue firmly in its cheek with its forecasts, however: apocalypse; Nigel Farage as the new face of Eurovision; and Boris Johnson being knocked out in the first round of Strictly. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-38481409 | |
Drone photography: on top of the world - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Amazing drone photography captures extraordinary views around the globe. | In Pictures | Sighisoara, Transylvania, is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler - otherwise known as Dracula - and this shot imagines what he might have seen on his nocturnal flights. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-38390897 | |
Manu Tuilagi out of England training camp after injury in Leicester defeat - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Manu Tuilagi is withdrawn from England's two-day training camp after suffering a knee injury playing for Leicester Tigers. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Manu Tuilagi has withdrawn from England's two-day training camp after suffering a knee injury playing for Leicester Tigers.
The 25-year-old centre was forced off inside the opening eight minutes of Sunday's 16-12 defeat by Saracens.
Tigers expect to find out the full extent of the injury by Tuesday.
Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni will replace Tuilagi when the 33-man squad meets in Brighton on Monday, with the start of the Six Nations a month away.
"It looks like a knock and a bit of swelling, but it is too early to say," Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill told BBC Radio 5 live.
Tuilagi, who has won 26 caps for England, has been beset by injuries in the last couple of years and only recently returned to action after two months out with a groin problem.
England head coach Eddie Jones was in the crowd at Welford Road on New Year's Day to see Tuilagi replaced after he damaged his knee while being tackled by three Sarries players.
"He's [Tuilagi] a bit cheesed off as you can imagine," Cockerill added. "He has hurt the outside of his right knee.
"His groin is good, his knee is a bit sore. We will assess it over the next 48 hours and we will deal with whatever comes."
Meanwhile, Saracens boss Mark McCall says England lock George Kruis will return to action "in plenty of time for the Six Nations" ahead of the first game against France on 4 February.
The 26-year-old sustained a fractured cheekbone in Sarries win over Newcastle on Christmas Eve but McCall told BBC Radio 5 live the injury was "not too serious".
England duo Chris Robshaw (arm) and Jack Clifford (concussion) were also injured and replaced before the second half of Harlequins' defeat at Worcester.
"Chris should have come off when he had the bang but bravery kept him out there as we were in a mess. Our medics will report to England, they are due down there at noon tomorrow, so he'll probably go regardless," said Quins director of rugby John Kingston. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38485970 | |
Gareth Southgate: England manager fears for young, wealthy players - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | England boss Gareth Southgate is concerned by how much young players are paid, but excited about the national team's future. | null | England manager Gareth Southgate fears young players are not reaching their potential because they get "big money for achieving nothing".
Former England Under-21 boss Southgate, 46, says youngsters thinking they have "already made it" is a "concern".
However, he believes "top" players will still come through - because they have drive and determination.
"If you don't have that inner drive there's a danger you'll never be a top professional," he told the BBC.
• Listen to the full interview on
The 2016 Global Sports Salaries Survey found the average basic wage of a Premier League player was £2.4m a year, or £48,766 a week.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has spoken in the past of young players being made "rich before they have played one Premier League game".
And Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham are among the clubs to have capped the earnings of young players in an attempt to make them focus on their football.
Southgate, who played 57 times for England, also told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme:
• None England need to show more humility
• None He wants to take pressure off captain Wayne Rooney by finding more "leaders"
• None He wants to help his players become mentally stronger
• None He wants to excite England fans - and make them proud of their team
Southgate, who took charge after Sam Allardyce's departure in September, is concerned by the amount of money paid to young players before they become first-team regulars.
He cited Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi as the type of players who are "not distracted" by money as "their desire is to win trophies and be the best player they can be".
He said: "The very best players have that drive and that's why they get to the top. The concern is for any young player at an academy, who's not quite made it in the first team, but thinks they have because you get big money for having achieved nothing.
"If you don't have that inner drive, there's a danger you'll never actually get to be a top professional or be a first-team player.
"For a short period of time that won't have any impact on them financially, but in years to come they could look back and have huge regrets."
'Rooney responsibilities have to be shared'
Southgate has said Wayne Rooney will remain as England captain, though the Manchester United forward, 31, was only a substitute for the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in October.
Southgate, who captained Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough during his playing career, wants Rooney's team-mates to "step forward".
He added: "In the team I played in at Euro '96, there were probably seven of us who were captains of our clubs. You need strong characters, not only to make decisions but when the game's going against you.
"At different moments you've got to have different people take that lead, whether that's being brave enough to take the ball or talking to the others, getting them mentally back on course.
"A lot of that responsibility over the last few years has fallen on Wayne Rooney's shoulders; that's got to be shared, that's got to be developed and that's not just on the field but off the field in particular."
Southgate added he had already seen "potential leaders" in his four matches in charge.
'I can discipline people but that has a short-term effect'
England players have been banned by the Football Association from having nights out while on international duty.
It came after newspaper reports several players were at a nightclub in the early hours of the morning after the 3-0 win over Scotland in November. Rooney, meanwhile, was pictured with members of a wedding party at the team's hotel.
Southgate said players are "far more dedicated" than during his career - and he should not have to control them.
"We live in a world where everyone has a camera phone, everybody has access to social media and anything you do is out in a very public manner very quickly so players have to recognise that," he said.
"You set a culture, an environment and the players have to be involved in that. I can discipline people, but that has a short-term effect.
"A disciplined life in sport is when an athlete or a player decides how they're going to commit themselves to their training, commits themselves to living their life, and you're letting your team-mates down if you don't adhere to that. For me, it's not controlling the players - the environment should create that."
Southgate, who played for England at three major tournaments, says one of his priorities is to develop the mental strength of his players.
The Three Lions, then under Roy Hodgson, went out of Euro 2016 at the last-16 stage with a 2-1 defeat by Iceland.
"When I was playing, we went into tournaments as one of the favourites, and over the last few years we've been going in hope rather than as one of the top-ranked teams," said Southgate.
"Tournaments will always be at the end of the season so we have to get the physical load right in the way we train, maintain fitness levels at the highest possible but also maintain freshness.
"The mental peaking is key and there are things we can work on to help that develop. Mental resilience is generally a product of the experiences you have been through in your life and some of those will be on the sports field and some outside of sport.
"We cannot just rely on the 10 or 12 fixtures a year, we have to develop that."
Southgate signed a four-year contract in November after four matches in interim charge.
The deal will take him through the 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championship, the final of which will be at Wembley.
England have not reached the quarter-finals of a major competition since Euro 2012, and Southgate wants to make fans of the national side proud.
"People will judge our success on the outcome of European Championships and the World Cup," he said.
"But, for me, every time we get together we have to get better. If in two years' time we've got a team that excites the supporters and they are proud of, we're heading in the right direction."
Southgate said the style of play his players adopted was "important" but acknowledged "ultimately we have to win".
"There is a desire to play a possession-based game. I think our top teams are playing in a fashion with a high-pressing game, so when players come with England why would we ask them to do something completely different?" he said.
"There's also a desire to excite the public - we are in a sport where people pay a lot of money to come and watch and they want an England team that excites them.
"We've got some really exciting potential - we've got some very exciting players to come through."
England are 13th in the Fifa rankings, and have not been in the top five since March 2013.
Southgate says some "humility" would "not be a bad thing".
"We're 13th in the world rankings and at the last two tournaments we haven't got through a knockout game," he added.
"There are some obstacles we have to overcome but for me that's a great opportunity and the potential is huge.
"I don't have any fear in what lies ahead because I'm just seeing what's possible. How do we go to being the number one team in the world?
"We've got to deliver, we've got to work hard, we've got to work intelligently. I'm looking at what's achievable, I'm not thinking about anything else."
Hodgson, who resigned following the shock defeat by Iceland in June, last month told Sportsweek the England job had left him scarred.
"I can understand that because I had that when I lost my job at Middlesbrough as a young coach," Southgate said.
"The things that don't go right will always be there as part of your life but it's how you respond that determines what you're going to be as a person and coach. We would ask our players to rebound from those moments and to be stronger for them - that applies to coaches as well."
Southgate says he had no reservations about taking the job, and his family are "fully supportive".
"My wife's lived through my playing career so she's suffered enough over the years - so what's to fear?" he said.
"One of the outcomes of the playing career I had is that I was disappointed not to win the things I wanted to. I won a few trophies, I won some caps, but not as many as I wanted to.
"You always want to prove people wrong, you want the opportunity to show people you have the resilience to bounce back from those things.
"It's about what's possible, what's achievable - otherwise why would you take on any role? There's a moment where you feel all the experiences in life you've had, now's the moment to step forward and lead." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38460221 | |
Premier League in 2016: Alternative league tables for the calendar year - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | What if the Premier League was played over a calendar year? We take a look at who performed best - and worst - in 2016. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
What if the Premier League was played over a calendar year?
Who would be champions of 2016, which uncapped Englishman would finish above Jamie Vardy in the scoring charts, and which players would be in the running for individual awards?
We take a look at who performed best - and worst - in 2016.
It would have been almost impossible to believe 12 months ago when Jose Mourinho had been sacked after the then champions lost nine times in their opening 16 Premier League games - but the Stamford Bridge club's transformation in 2016 has been dramatic.
Stabilised by Guus Hiddink and streaking clear at the top of the 2016-17 table under Antonio Conte, Chelsea edge out Liverpool and Manchester United to top spot in 2016. Tottenham may feel aggrieved their New Year fixture falls on New Year's Day, as had it been 24 hours earlier and they won, they would be second.
Manchester City miss out on the top four, while 2015-16 title winners Leicester are eighth after a difficult run between August and December.
At the other end - excluding the promoted and relegated teams - Crystal Palace, Watford and Swansea make up the bottom three, with Palace 11 points behind their closest rivals.
Jurgen Klopp has made a big impact since arriving at Liverpool in October 2015 - and that impact is becoming clearer with every passing month.
In 2016, his team have scored the most goals...
...had the second-highest number of shots (659), more than 60 ahead of Man City (596), West Ham (574) and well clear of Chelsea (552).
...and they are up there in terms of highest average possession...
So what more do Liverpool have to do to end what may soon be a 27-year wait for a title?
Which players topped the stats for 2016?
Quiz question for you: which three English players outscored Leicester striker Jamie Vardy in the Premier League in 2016?
The other one? West Ham's Michail Antonio! Top marks if you got that one.
And here's a tip for Fantasy Football players. Get Cesar Azpilicueta in your team.
For starters, the Chelsea defender has played the most minutes in the Premier League in 2016 (tied with Leicester's Wes Morgan, Bournemouth's Steve Cook and Manchester United's David de Gea). Southampton's Virgil van Dijk was also level with that bunch until he was sent off late in their final fixture of the year on Saturday.
Spaniard Azpilicueta has also had more touches than any other player...
...and is second on the list for completed passes, behind only Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. He also features in the top 10 for tackles made and successful passes in the opposition half.
Away from the teams occupying the top six in the Premier League, there have also been plenty of stellar performances. West Ham's Dimitri Payet - one of the stars of 2015-16 - created the most scoring opportunities, 28 more than his closest rival - Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.
Along with Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (111), they were the only three players to create more than 100 chances in 2016.
At the other end, the two keepers with the best shots-to-saves record do not belong to top-six clubs.
And finally, a few names for Fantasy Football devotees to avoid. These players repeatedly found themselves in trouble with referees in 2016, with Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye the most-booked Premier League player of 2016.
Despite that poor disciplinary record, he was not one of the 47 players sent off during the calendar year. Forty-six of those were dismissed once, while Vardy and Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama hold the dubious honour of being the most-dismissed players of the year - both were sent off twice. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38467274 | |
Love Island’s Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen get engaged - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The couple, who met on the reality show this summer, announced the big news on social media | Newsbeat | The couple, who're in New York to celebrate New Year, broke the news on Twitter and Instagram.
Olivia posted a picture of her new ring, saying she was "speechless". Alex summed things up by simply saying: "She said yes."
The two got together on the ITV2 reality dating show earlier this summer and came second to winning couple Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey.
And for a less blurry view of Olivia's new rock, here's how Alex went public with the news on Instagram...
Caroline Flack, who presents the show was quick to leap in to celebrate the news...
Alex caused controversy on Love Island after scenes showed him getting intimate with Zara Holland. She was then stripped of her Miss GB crown.
But that's now very much in the past. And it looks like there's going to be a serious party when the couple get back from America.
Olivia had been paired with Daniel Lukakis, Rykard Jenkins and Adam Maxted before getting together with Alex.
The couple already live together and for the moment, there's no news on when the wedding will be.
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat | http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articles/38477751 | |
National Archives: Thatcher's poll tax miscalculation - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Newly released cabinet papers shed light on Margaret Thatcher and the poll tax controversy | UK | It was Margaret Thatcher's biggest political misjudgement - and brought her career as prime minister to an ignominious end.
The poll tax (or community charge) was supposed to make local council finance fairer and more accountable. Instead it triggered civil disobedience and riots and a rebellion in the Conservative Party.
Cabinet papers for 1989 and 1990, released today at the National Archives in Kew, reveal the reaction to the crisis at the heart of government. They show how involved the prime minister herself was.
And they pinpoint the moment it dawned on her that her flagship policy had turned into a political disaster which was hitting, not Labour local councils, but her natural supporters.
The size of the files alone - there are nine thick manila folders compiled over 18 months - are evidence of how far the poll tax dominated government thinking. Mark Dunton, a specialist in modern records at the National Archives, calls it a "juggernaut".
Though simple in principle the tax proved to be immensely complex in practice. The files are full of highly technical papers - many of them annotated by Mrs Thatcher.
One of the National Archives' specialists says the poll tax files are a "juggernaut"
They also include a warning from April 1989 that she risked a fine if she didn't complete her own registration form on time.
But the technical challenges of introducing the tax paled beside the political problems it threw up.
The government had expected opposition to a measure specifically targeted at high-spending, mainly Labour-controlled, councils. What they hadn't expected was the reaction from their own supporters, as the April 1990 date for its introduction in England and Wales drew near.
In September the previous year her environment secretary, Chris Patten noted "a good deal of pressure developing" and Nigel Lawson, who was to resign as chancellor the following month, told Mrs Thatcher: "We are faced with a potentially difficult Parliamentary situation."
By January, Patten was telling her there could be as many as 83 rebel MPs on the Tory benches. And she got a powerful sense of the anger among formerly loyal Conservative voters in March when a constituent of the Norfolk MP Ralph Howell wrote to her.
Mr WE Jones and his wife were in their 70s, living on modest pensions, and under the poll tax would be paying more than twice what they paid under the old system of rates, while better-off people in large houses would be paying less. He accused the prime minister of being uncaring.
A major poll tax demonstration in London in March 1990 ended in violence
"You have taken advantage of your position to impose your will upon us to the point where you are now virtually a Dictator riding roughshod over anyone who opposes you," he wrote on 3 March.
In the files released today the couple's address has been redacted, though a later memo reveals they lived in a house called Dream of Delight in the village of Great Snoring.
Howell asked for a meeting. The prime minister's adviser Mark Lennox-Boyd suggested he should be granted an audience: "The meeting will be a waste of time, but I am afraid she will have to do it to keep his frustration at bay."
Yet the files suggest it may not have been a waste of time, for this was the point when Mrs Thatcher finally realised that something must be done.
She turned not to her environment secretary Chris Patten, who had the job of bringing in the new tax, but to her recently-appointed chancellor, John Major. On 25 March (six days before an enormous demonstration against the poll tax in London which developed into serious rioting) the files contain a "note for the record" of a phone conversation between the two.
Environment secretary Chris Patten (r) was charged with introducing the poll tax
Instead of the tax shining a spotlight on spendthrift local councils, she said, the government was getting the blame for high charges, and the impact was falling on those in middle income groups, what she called the "conscientious middle".
Major agreed with the need for what he called a "radical review" to find a way to cap charges and give local authorities more money, but without increasing overall public expenditure.
Over the next two months the files reveal a succession of crisis meetings as ministers desperately tried to find a way out of their predicament, including the perceived unfairness of a system in which "Dukes and dustmen" both paid the same.
One idea was to raise more money. Should councils be allowed to use cash from the sale of council houses to subsidise the poll tax? Or should people on higher incomes pay more? That idea was floated by the prime minister herself in an unusual signed "personal minute" to Major on 9 April.
And she had another idea: putting an extra penny on a gallon of petrol and distributing the proceeds to councils. She wrote in the suggestion by hand three times on a memo of 10 April listing options. But none of her colleagues seems to have paid any attention and the idea went nowhere.
Michael Portillo says he and Chris Patten wanted to "take the guts out" of the poll tax
Meanwhile there was a growing split. Patten and the local government minister Michael Portillo wanted to increase central government grants to local authorities. Mrs Thatcher wasn't having it. "No," she wrote firmly in the margin on one occasion.
Then she and Major, without apparently consulting Patten, came up with an idea for allowing local councils to levy a higher poll tax than stipulated by central government, provided they first put it to a local referendum (a "poll tax poll").
Patten was opposed, believing the necessary legislation would be "massive in its political significance" and difficult to get through Parliament. One of Mrs Thatcher's private secretaries, Barry Potter, suggested that Patten was feeling "bruised" at being ignored.
By the end of June Potter told the prime minister that Patten and Portillo, still arguing for more government funds, were now "isolated".
Today Michael Portillo says he and Chris Patten really wanted to find a way effectively to abolish the poll tax: "We wanted to take the guts out of it, take the bits that were hurting out of it… but we recognised for her sensitivity that it would still have to be called the poll tax."
They also believed the problem would take central government money to resolve. "It's worth remembering that when the poll tax was eventually replaced by the council tax, it cost about £6bn in money of the day - an enormous amount. And I'm pretty sure that Chris Patten and I were asking for only a fraction of that," says Mr Portillo.
As to the lessons to be learnt from the debacle, he draws a parallel between the decision to introduce the poll tax "without thinking it through" and David Cameron's decision to hold a referendum on Europe without thinking through the consequences.
"The lesson ought to be, think carefully before you do things. But the chances of prime ministers learning that are, I think, slim."
But nothing worked. The practical difficulties and the political pressures were too great and Mrs Thatcher's career was foundering. In November Michael Heseltine, an outspoken critic of the poll tax, triggered a leadership contest from which John Major emerged the winner.
He appointed Heseltine as environment secretary, increased VAT to generate extra cash for councils and announced the abolition of the community charge, and its replacement by council tax, in March 1991.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38382416 | |
Watford 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Tottenham outclass Watford at Vicarage Road as two goals apiece for Harry Kane and Dele Alli take them into the top four. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Harry Kane and Dele Alli scored two goals apiece as Tottenham thrashed lacklustre Watford to move into the Premier League's top four for the first time since October.
Spurs dominated from the off at Vicarage Road - having 13 shots in the first half alone - and seconds after Alli struck the bar, Kane coolly finished a well-weighted Kieran Trippier pass.
The same duo combined for the second, Kane stealing between two static defenders to prod home Trippier's fine cross from six yards.
It was the England striker's 59th goal in his first 100 Premier League appearances, matching Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Alli made it 3-0 by passing low into the net after Younes Kaboul skewed the ball into his path, then arrived unmarked to finish Kane's cross for his fifth goal in three matches.
Watford, who did not have a shot on target until Kaboul bundled home a late consolation, drop to 13th having won just once in seven matches.
Spurs' fourth successive win briefly took them third, before Arsenal moved back ahead of them with victory over Crystal Palace.
Having won at Southampton by the same scoreline on Wednesday, Tottenham have scored four goals in consecutive away games for the first time since October 1960 - the season they did the Double.
Their 10-point deficit on leaders Chelsea, whom they host on Wednesday, will temper any title talk, but there can be no doubt Spurs are in menacing mood.
Trippier, in for the suspended Kyle Walker, impressed on just his third league appearance of the season and underlined the strength in depth at White Hart Lane.
The former Burnley player was a constant outlet - having more than 100 touches - and his early assists allowed Kane to show the ruthlessness of his finishing.
Had Son Heung-Min been more clinical with any of his five shots, the damage could have been worse.
But boss Mauricio Pochettino will be thrilled with a 100% record over a busy festive period in which his side secured their first league away wins since September.
It is easy to praise Tottenham, but Watford's early defensive offering was non-existent.
Manager Walter Mazzarri has stressed he will use the transfer window to find cover for as many as eight first-teamers out injured.
But his side can have no excuse for their dire defensive work against Spurs - the third time this season they have been three goals down at half-time.
With 34 goals conceded, 14 more than at this stage last season, holes at the back need plugging urgently, but there are also problems at the other end of the pitch.
Odion Ighalo, drafted in after Camilo Zuniga limped out of the warm-up, was peripheral, with just 23 touches, only two more than 68th-minute Spurs substitute Ben Davies. He and Troy Deeney have contributed 10 goals between them this season, 14 fewer than at the same stage in 2015-16.
The Hornets next face Stoke and Middlesbrough. Their fans could be looking over their shoulders at the bottom three by mid-January, unless they can find some form.
• None No player has been involved in more Premier League goals on New Year's Day than Harry Kane's six ( four goals and two assists) - level with Andrew Cole and Steven Gerrard (both five goals and one assist)
• None Spurs were three goals up at half-time for the first time in a Premier League away game since March 1997 v Sunderland
• None This was the first time the Hornets had let in four goals in a Premier League game at Vicarage Road
• None Watford have never beaten Tottenham in a Premier League match, drawing twice and losing five
'One of the best this season' - manager quotes
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri: "Zuniga was the 10th player to get injured, five or six are starting 11, we had four under-23s in the 18 players that we brought today. Unfortunately this is the situation."
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "We played very good, to a very high standard. The first half was one of the best we've played this season. I'm very happy because it was a difficult game, and the team responded."
Tottenham will try to end Chelsea's 13-game winning streak when they host Antonio Conte's side in a 20:00 GMT kick-off on Wednesday. Watford have a day less to recover as they travel to Stoke for a 20:00 GMT kick-off on Tuesday.
• None Attempt blocked. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jerome Sinclair.
• None Goal! Watford 1, Tottenham Hotspur 4. Younes Kaboul (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.
• None Attempt saved. Younes Kaboul (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.
• None Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Vincent Janssen is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
• None Craig Cathcart (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38429666 | |
Losing the most precious thing I own, 7,000km from home - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Eloise Dicker lost her late mother's treasured gold bracelet. Then a Facebook message changed everything. | Magazine | While travelling through Kyrgyzstan, Eloise Dicker lost her late mother's treasured gold bracelet. Then a Facebook message changed everything.
It was on the second day of our five-day trek that I realised it was missing.
We had packed up the tents and loaded the horses. I reached up to the horse's mane to pull myself up and saw that my wrist was bare.
"My mum's bracelet! It's gone," I thought, and immediately burst into tears.
Made from melted-down rings she inherited from her own mother, the bracelet had always been worn by my mum for almost as long as I could remember.
Eloise Dicker's wrist with and without the bracelet
Her wrist was very slender even towards the end of her life, with steroids puffing her up like a blowfish. There came a point, however, when she couldn't wear it any more.
She had taken it off and placed it on her bedside table. While clearing up the cups and tissues, tablets and tinctures, I had picked the bracelet up and put it on.
She'd smiled, put her hand on my wrist and said how lovely it was to see me wearing it and that one day I would pass it on to my children.
She died a couple of months later, and I had never taken the bracelet off.
Rosemary Dicker, wearing the bracelet six months before her death on Mother's Day 2015
Now I felt pain in my throat and a sinking feeling in my stomach. It could be anywhere in this vast landscape - the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.
There was a silence as we all realised there was no point in even trying to find it. We were two days up into the mountains and surrounded by grass.
I had one last look around our camp. It was no use. I couldn't re-trace my steps, we were in the middle of nowhere. I climbed back on the horse.
I walked behind the others, crying and thinking. All the memories of her passing away came back to me, bit by bit.
My naked wrist still made me feel incomplete. I wanted to go back in time to the moment I decided to bring it with me. Why hadn't I left it at home?
But maybe it was meant to be here, I thought to myself. Mum was born in Hong Kong and grew up in the UK, and this was half way.
An endless lush landscape with wild horses, snowy peaks, birds of prey and the sound of the river. Maybe it should be lost here.
That night I looked in the tents with a bit of hope left that it might be in some corner. Nothing.
I crawled into my sleeping bag feeling deeply sad, and accepted it was gone for good.
Later, in the city of Karakol, recovering from our trek, I visited the Russian Orthodox church.
I was just about to leave, having lit a candle in remembrance of my mother, when the Russian nun took my arm and walked me to a painting of the Virgin Mary.
She kissed the glass frame of the picture and gestured that I do the same. I'm not a believer, and was not brought up religious in any way, but I followed her invitation.
When I kissed the glass I looked up at the picture. I started crying. The picture was adorned with gold necklaces and rings.
It was feeling just how jewellery was so significant to humans that made me cry. As a student of anthropology, I have always been interested in the meaning we humans ascribe to objects.
Jewellery by its very nature says: Look at me, see what I can afford, observe what I was given, admire how significant I am.
When inherited from a beloved, it also brings people into relationship, solidifying a kinship or affection, creating a sense of connectedness and of presence.
That bracelet was a physical part of my mother who is no longer physically in the world. It became part of me, and now was gone.
I had already made peace with the loss of the bracelet when, some weeks after I had returned to Europe, I received a Facebook message from Elaman Asanbaev, one of the guides from the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) office in Karakol.
There was a picture attached. "This is it or not, I don't know," he asked.
It was it. It was the bracelet.
It was suddenly back in existence, but what should I do? Should I get Elaman to send it? Should I leave it there? Ask him to throw it in the river?
When I looked into secure courier services, they advised against sending precious stones or metals. I was also reluctant to trust the postal system, it being so far away.
It did occur to me that I could find someone who would be travelling there, but when I saw that flights were cheap in November I decided I would go and get it myself.
London-Moscow-Bishkek. Then a six-hour drive from the capital Bishkek to Karakol with Azamat Asanov, the CBT manager. It was 05:00 and -11C in the capital, the roads icy with thick snow.
As we drove, I watched the country waking up. Children in their winter clothes walking to school, horses with snow on their backs, men in the traditional pointed Kyrgyz hats known as kalpaks.
The next morning we picked up Elaman. "This is for you," he said as he jumped in the car.
There it was. This slim piece of gold that I have known all my life.
This part of mum, here in this car 7,000km (4,350 miles) from home in the freezing mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
Elaman described to Azamat where he found it. I didn't understand anything except a word that sounded like "toilet".
Azamat translated - it was in our first campsite, a yurt camp, lying on a path towards the toilets (or, more accurately, a shed with a hole in the ground).
We laughed. Not the most romantic of places.
I felt its weight and its shape. Mum held this. Putting it back on I felt complete again, and I couldn't stop looking at it.
I gave Elaman a designer flask and wrapped some money around it as a reward for handing in the bracelet.
There was another day in the snow on horseback before I turned round and made the long 21-hour journey back home.
We took the horses up the Bos Uchuk valley, which means "colourful point". This was where we had camped on our last day of the summer trek. I could recognise the shape of the mountains and the river.
On my way back to the town I sprinkled some of mum's ashes in the river - something to exchange for the bracelet in the ground, something to put her between home and where she was born, Hong Kong.
At this point I felt that these rituals were almost too much.
Yet back home, looking at photographs of mum, I notice the bracelet in every picture. I think how strange it is to know that it had a story waiting of being lost and found far away in a wonderful place.
Is this still the most precious thing that I own? Yes. Would I take it again on an adventure? Probably.
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38385480 | |
One man's surprising defiance on Chinese legal rights - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | BBC China editor Carrie Gracie witnesses one well-to-do man's surprising battle for legal rights. | China | In a one-party state, principles for citizens often seem like a dangerous and expensive luxury
The year 2016 has been another grim year for those campaigning for human rights in China.
On freedom of speech, religious expression, trades unions and a host of other issues, China's one-party state continues to punish those who try to insist on their constitutional rights.
Meanwhile, through propaganda and censorship it works hard to nurture an unquestioning herd mentality and to discourage any exploration of individual values. But even in this unpromising landscape, defiance takes root in unlikely corners.
We were in the private dining room of a showy restaurant and the boss was already slurring his words. A large man with a level gaze, he'd finished one bottle of fine French wine and was moving on to a second.
As he lit a cigarette, two glasses went over like nine pins, one splashing red wine across the table and the other smashing on to the floor.
If influential people join the fight for legal rights - in between trips to London's casinos - then perhaps progress really is coming
But he barely seemed to notice and went on telling me how he'd loved London's casinos when he stopped off on the way back from visiting his daughter's British boarding school.
Imagine my surprise, then, when across the dishes stacked with roast duck and dumplings, this local Mr Big suddenly thrust at me a brown file full of well-thumbed papers.
"Fifteen years I've been fighting this miscarriage of justice," he declared. A handbrake turn from talk of boarding schools and casinos.
He told me he'd got embroiled in a factional power battle. One local Communist Party boss wanted him to dish the dirt on a rival.
Nine members of his family had been detained and interrogated and when he wouldn't sign statements incriminating the political target, he himself was jailed on charges of tax evasion.
Even worse, a cousin had died mysteriously in police custody. By the time he'd got to the end of this grimly familiar story of crime and injustice, the second bottle of red wine was empty and we'd long run out of things to toast.
Now I don't usually see it as my job to deliver unpalatable truths to provincial restaurant bosses. The private dining rooms of China have seen more coldblooded politics than I will ever conceive.
But I had eaten his dinner and the least I could do in return was point out that he would not win his battle for justice and instead would waste a lot of money and a lot of political capital in the process of losing.
"I don't care about the money!" he replied. "The innocent must never give up on justice. I'll campaign for this wrong to be righted till the day I die."
Well that brought me up short. I'm not used to private citizens standing on principle in China, especially not rich people. After all, this is a huge, homogenising society under an authoritarian one-party state.
Principles often seem like a dangerous and expensive luxury. Yes, Communist Party leaders make speeches about principles, but for the public that's even more reason to regard such talk as arrant hypocrisy.
I'd even go so far as to say that many Chinese people today are actively intolerant or suspicious of those who stand up for values.
George Bernard Shaw may have written, "the reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man".
But you don't hear people quoting that in China. Instead there are plenty of proverbs telling people to keep their heads down or they'll get them lopped off.
George Bernard Shaw's unreasonable man is plain crazy in this worldview. Not someone heroic and brave, but a loser who will go down and probably take his family and friends with him.
It's not so surprising given that people with convictions are the enemy to a paranoid political class which regards alternative values as an existential challenge.
But at this dining table I was now rethinking my assumptions about the people standing up to the system and shrugging off the crazy tag.
I'd recently met a renegade bishop who was defying both the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party.
And when I noted that many Roman Catholics were calling him crazy, he observed that people had called Jesus Christ crazy too.
I'd observed brave human rights lawyers standing up for imprisoned colleagues. And young politicians in Hong Kong resisting Beijing's surreal version of democracy.
But the story that made me stop and think was this one among the wine stains and the scallops sprinkled with cigarette ash… a well-fed restaurant boss with so much to lose from upsetting local party bosses determined to join the ranks of George Bernard Shaw's unreasonable men and women.
If people like this join the fight for legal rights - in between their trips to London's casinos - then perhaps progress really is coming. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-38395706 | |
Five issues which shaped the Middle East in 2016 - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Jeremy Bowen highlights five issues which shaped the Middle East in 2016 | Middle East | The past 12 months have marked another restive year for the Middle East, with wars raging, populations suffering and militancy on the rampage. Here the BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, highlights five issues which helped shaped the region in 2016.
Some hoped that 2016 would be the beginning of the end for the jihadists of so-called Islamic State (IS). That might become one of the stories of 2017. But those who predicted that IS would fall easily were optimistic.
The Iraqi government offensive to re-capture Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, has stalled. In house-to-house fighting, the Golden Brigade, which was trained by the US military, has suffered a 50% casualty rate, according to the Americans, though this figure is denied by Iraqi military personnel in Baghdad.
The Golden Brigade is part of the Iraqi government's elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), which has been bearing the brunt of the fight against IS.
In early December combat operations in Mosul were slowed down, because the level of casualties meant that the CTS risked running out of trained men.
The Iraqi Security Forces have said they will concentrate more on artillery and air operations but that will kill more civilians, which could play into the hands of IS.
By the end of the year the battle for Aleppo had been won decisively by a coalition made up of the Syrian state, Russia, Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah and a variety of other militias.
It did not mean the end of the war but it was another sign that the war in Syria was entering a new phase.
More than ever, it was much more than a fight between the government and those who wanted to destroy it.
Increasingly the war is dominated by the agendas of the major powers that have intervened in the Syrian war. One example that affected matters in Aleppo was Turkey's decision to make a priority of its fight with the Kurds.
That meant it needed better relations with the Russians, which meant looking away in Aleppo as Russia led the charge against its erstwhile clients, in return for Russian acquiescence in Turkey's actions in northern Syria.
In 2017, unless the new ceasefire holds and gives way to meaningful peace talks, more Syrians will die and the war will continue to export crisis, violence and uncertainty.
Years of war, corruption and under-development weakened Yemen before the war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition pushed it into catastrophe.
Figures are not precise but one estimate is that 10,000 have been killed in the war and 37,000 wounded. Many are civilians.
According to the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, 19 million people in Yemen need urgent assistance. More than half the population has no healthcare.
Large numbers of Yemenis have been displaced by the war and are destitute.
Every war is brutal but the one in Yemen also features the grotesque sight of the region's wealthiest countries bombing the poorest, helped by the US and Britain who sell vast amounts of weaponry to the Saudis and other coalition allies.
Despite all that firepower, the Saudis have not crushed the Houthis, which means that misery and death will be the fate of many Yemenis in 2017.
All that is good news for the jihadists of al-Qaeda and Islamic State who have a haven, and a source of recruits, in Yemen.
The Middle East has one of the youngest populations in the world. Around 60% are under the age of 30. Their sense of hopelessness and anger drove the uprisings of 2011.
Five years on, the grievances that sent them out on to the streets in 2011 still exist. Unemployment is still rampant. So is corruption.
Egypt has the makings of another perfect storm of repression, discontent, sectarian conflict and economic failure. Syria, Libya and Yemen are gripped by war.
Saudi Arabia's leaders have realised that buying off discontent is not a long-term strategy in a world of lower oil prices. There are ambitious plans to transform the economy but there is also the old Saudi problem, that reform is a suspicious idea because change could risk the power of the ruling family and the religious establishment.
Their conflict has been largely out of the headlines, drowned out by the tumult coming from the rest of the region.
But just because it has been noticed less does not mean that it has gone away. The fundamental causes of all the mutual hatred are present and correct, festering noxiously as they have done for generations.
The conflict retains its power to cause rage in people who have never even visited Jerusalem. One Middle Eastern certainty is that it will reignite.
Update 6 January 2017: This report has been updated to include an Iraqi response to claims of high casualties among special forces in the fight for Mosul. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/38342793 | |
The psychological secrets to successful resolutions - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | There are psychological tricks which can help people achieve and stick to their new year goals. | Health | It's important to have achievable goals
After the excesses of the festive season, the thoughts of many turn to making resolutions to stop bad habits and take up healthier ones.
Unfortunately, quite a few fail.
But there are some psychological tactics which can be employed to increase the chances of success.
Psychologist Prof Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, has carried out research into the key to sticking to resolutions.
In a study of 5,000 people who made resolutions, it was those with a "fatalistic attitude" who were less likely to succeed.
He advises it's more than likely old habits will creep back in sometimes, so see those occasions as temporary set-backs and not a reason to give up altogether.
"Failure is the main thing that stops people If, on day one of their diet, they raid the biscuit tin, they think 'that's it' and give up. But persistence is the key. Start again the next day."
Support from friends and family can help people stick to their goals.
But Prof Wiseman says women might be more likely to benefit. "They are generally better at offering moral support. Men tend to try and encourage you to have more dessert."
Noting down progress can help
This can be something public like a blog - or the fridge door - or more privately, in a spreadsheet or a journal.
It might help to note down each gym visit, or decision not to have cake.
Prof Wiseman also advises having a checklist to show how life will be better once your goals are achieved - and allow small rewards throughout the process to keep up motivation levels.
It has to be something specific that can be realistically achieved.
Running a marathon, say, would be too much for a non-runner to aim for, while a vague desire to 'get fit' is hard to measure.
"Maybe start by saying you'll go to the gym once a week, then you can look at moving up to two," advises Prof Wiseman.
And be realistic - it's best to choose one thing to focus on rather than having a raft of goals to increase the chances of success.
This is important in terms of knowing what prompts behaviour you want to avoid - and to help encourage healthier habits.
"It could be as simple as not having biscuits in the house so you're not tempted - or understanding the stress triggers that make you reach for a cigarette," Prof Wiseman says.
And he says it's possible to create new triggers to prompt you in your new, healthier habits.
"You can decide that when the news starts, that's the time when you set off for the gym". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38470263 | |
In pictures: Secrets of French diplomacy - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | War gets plenty of artistic representation - but what about the art of peace? An exhibition at the Petit Palais in Paris explores the imagery of peace-making over the centuries. For history-lovers, it is a rare chance to see the originals of scores of treaties, concordats and other diplomatic treasures preserved in the French national archives. Hugh Schofield takes a closer look. | Europe | Officially this document is a memorandum of understanding between France and the UK over fishing rights in Newfoundland, some islands off Guinea, and zones of influence in Madagascar and Egypt. In fact, it is the physical embodiment of the entente cordiale - the friendly compact agreed in 1904 between the two countries that lasted through two world wars and down to this day. The silver case contains the seal of King Edward VII. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38320567 | |
Darlington manager Martin Gray misses game to get married - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Darlington boss Martin Gray missed his side's National League North game at Halifax on Sunday - because he was getting married. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Darlington boss Martin Gray missed his side's game at Halifax on New Year's Day - because he was getting married.
His assistant Brian Atkinson wasn't there either because he was best man.
It may look like poor planning from the Quakers manager, but the date of the wedding was arranged two years ago, when his team were in a different division.
Gray, 45, said the club asked Halifax to reschedule the game "but with all due respect, they refused".
"As I am sure everyone can appreciate, moving the wedding at that stage was not an option," he said.
Former Sunderland and Oxford midfielder Gray gave the players a team talk on Sunday morning, before heading off to marry partner Jill.
That left coach Sean Gregan and chief scout Harry Dunn to take charge of the National League North fixture, which finished 2-2.
The result meant one wedding present Gray had hoped for didn't materialise.
Speaking before the game, he said: "I am confident we can get a win, and after becoming a married man, I look forward to hearing we have won three points."
Take part in our new Premier League Predictor game, which allows you to create leagues with friends. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38485008 | |
Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Olivier Giroud's incredible scorpion kick sets Arsenal on the way to a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace which moves them up to third. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Olivier Giroud's incredible scorpion kick set Arsenal on the way to a victory over Crystal Palace which moved them up to third in the Premier League.
With a cross from Alexis Sanchez delivered behind him, Frenchman Giroud elastically reached the ball with his left foot, looping it over his head and in off the underside of the bar.
An Alex Iwobi header gave Arsenal a scrappy second before Palace briefly rallied to force saves from home goalkeeper Petr Cech.
The win moves the Gunners back to within nine points of leaders Chelsea, while Palace stay 17th, two points above the relegation zone.
The visitors have won only once in 13 league games, with manager Sam Allardyce awaiting his first victory since taking over from Alan Pardew.
Giroud marked his return to the Arsenal starting line-up on Boxing Day by scoring the only goal in the win over West Bromwich Albion, and followed up here by pulling off one of the most memorable moments of this or any other season.
Indeed, it was made all the more remarkable for its echoes of a similarly breathtaking goal scored by Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the defeat of Sunderland on Monday.
If anything, Giroud's was even more impressive, an acrobatic finish to a head-high cross delivered from the left by Sanchez at the end of a pacy Arsenal counter-attack.
As the ball arrived, a sprinting Giroud turned to stick out his left foot, flicked the ball over his head and saw it arc over the leap of Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, off the woodwork and into the net.
"It was an unbelievable finish," said former Arsenal defender Martin Keown on BBC Radio 5 live. "It has to be up there with the goal of the season already.
"He's hooked that with a gadget foot - the ball is behind him and he has no right to get his foot to it."
'The best goal I've scored' - what they said
Olivier Giroud told BBC Sport: "It is not difficult to say it is the best one. I was a bit lucky but it was the only thing I could do, the ball was behind me and I tried to hit it with a backheel.
"Maybe Henrikh Mkhitaryan's goal inspired me, it's the only thing you can do in that position. It is nice for me and the team because we start the year with a win."
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey on Sky Sports: "It was a wonder goal - there seems to be a lot going in recently. It's a fantastic strike."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "It was a great counter-attack at great speed, his reflex surprised everybody who knows football and that's what makes the goal great.
"I have been a bit spoiled over the years by the exceptional quality of the players I've had, but it will be remembered as an exceptional goal.
"Olly is very good in front of goal, but I've never seen this kind of goal from him."
Arsenal lost ground in the title race with defeats by Everton and Manchester City, and began this game in fifth place following Tottenham's win at Watford.
Giroud's goal was the highlight of an otherwise lacklustre first half in which the only other moment of note was the Frenchman missing his kick attempting to meet a cross inside the six-yard box.
Still, the Gunners' threat was always apparent, particularly in the shape of the forward running of full-backs Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal, who tormented the Palace defence throughout.
Monreal was involved in the second goal, providing a cross that was not dealt with, Iwobi heading in despite the efforts of Palace defender Joel Ward on the line.
Palace had the chance to win Allardyce's first match in charge, only for Christian Benteke to have a penalty saved in the 1-1 draw with Watford.
At Arsenal, a team Allardyce has never beaten away in 13 Premier League attempts, what he already knew was reinforced - his new team are a threat going forward but need to improve at the back.
The 35 goals Palace have conceded is the most by any team outside the relegation zone. Though they were often organised, an inability to deal with Arsenal's movement ensured Hennessey was kept busy and the defending for the home side's second goal was shambolic.
After that, Palace had their best spell of pressure. Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend provided the drive, with Townsend, Benteke and Yohan Cabaye all calling Cech into action.
There is plenty to suggest Palace can move clear of trouble if Allardyce can add his trademark tightness to their backline.
"Our season won't be defined by results against the top six," he said. "What we do when we play the teams in the bottom half of the league will be the defining reason of whether or not we get out of the bottom half.
"I have every confidence in the players that it will turn around and hopefully as quick as possible."
• None Olivier Giroud has scored eight goals in his past six starts for Arsenal in all competitions.
• None Sam Allardyce has never won at Arsenal as a manager in all competitions, drawing four and losing 12 of his 16 visits.
• None Since joining the club, Alexis Sanchez has had a hand in 88 goals for Arsenal in all competitions (56 goals, 32 assists) - 26 more than any other Gunner.
• None Arsenal have won 130 of their 200 Premier League games at the Emirates under Arsene Wenger (65%) - they won 72% of their league games at Highbury under the Frenchman (134/186).
• None The Gunners have kept consecutive Premier League clean sheets at home for the first time this season, last doing so in their final three games of 2015-16.
• None Crystal Palace have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 20 Premier League away games, since a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in December 2015.
• None Allardyce has failed to win either of his first two Premier League games in charge of a club for the first time in his career.
Both teams are in action on Tuesday. Arsenal make the trip to Bournemouth (19:45 GMT), while Palace host bottom club Swansea (20:00).
• None Attempt saved. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
• None Attempt blocked. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
• None James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
• None Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38429686 | |
Second calling: New lives for red telephone boxes - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The weird and wonderful street lives of decommissioned red telephone kiosks. | England | Most of the red phone boxes seen on the streets are the K6 model, known as the Jubilee Kiosk because it was designed in honour of the Silver Jubilee of King George V
The red telephone box was once a common sight across the land, a design so associated with Britishness that tourists would be as likely to pose beside one for a photo than to step inside to make a call. But with the rise of the mobile phone, the redundant kiosks are increasingly being put to inventive uses, from miniature art galleries to pint-sized pubs.
A decline in payphone usage has drastically reduced the number of phone boxes across the UK - according to BT there were 92,000 in 2002, and there are currently 46,000, including 8,000 traditional red ones.
While this is a far cry from their 73,000-strong heyday in 1980, fans will be glad to know many redundant red boxes have taken on an afterlife, ranging from the sensibly practical to the downright peculiar.
Dial S for snack: Sample a salad in central London, or quaff a coffee in Birmingham
End of the pier: Selling souvenirs in Brighton
As part of BT's "adopt a kiosk" scheme, communities are able to take over a decommissioned telephone kiosk for £1.
Although new users are not allowed to install "electronic communications apparatus", 3,500 have been snapped up and put to a variety of uses.
One of the most common, especially in rural areas, is as a lending library or book exchange.
This red box in Loweswater, Cumbria, was the 3,000th to be taken over under BTs "adopt a kiosk" scheme, and now houses a defibrillator
Some have become art galleries, including a rare green kiosk in Barningham, Teesdale.
John Hay, from the village, said that when Barningham was offered the kiosk four years ago, nobody knew what to do with it.
"All that was inside it was a beer glass, a crate, half a dozen spiders and a lot of water," he said.
"I cleared it out - though I left the spiders, which I suspect are still there - and put in a Christmas tree, which must have convinced villagers I was well and truly mad."
The green kiosk in Barningham has featured in an Italian travel company's brochure
It was the first of a series of regular displays, including local artworks, seasonal celebrations and a display marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Mr Hay said: "There has been a lot of interest with passing walkers, and an Italian travel company actually put us in their brochure.
"It mentioned Buckingham Palace, and Barningham and its phone box."
In the Cambridgeshire village of Shepreth, the redundant kiosk briefly became a pub, as part of a protest at plans to turn the closed local into housing.
For one night only villagers were able to enjoy a pint at the Dog and Bone.
Want to withdraw a few pounds or pull a pint or two? Why not pop along to a phone box
Tinsel time: The kiosk in Prickwillow, Cambridgeshire - a miniature art gallery - takes on a Christmas theme at this time of year
On the commercial front, The Red Kiosk Company leases out decommissioned phone boxes, offering the chance to "run your own business out of an iconic red kiosk".
Edward Ottewell, one of the founders, said: "One advantage of regenerating them is that they are refurbished to their original state, and their use prevents vandalism - all of our tenanted sites have had zero damage."
He said coffee shops were a popular choice, and there were now office "pods", offering access to facilities such as the internet.
One of the most recent lets was to a mobile phone repair shop business in Greenwich, south-east London.
Lessee Rob Kerr, from Lovefone, said: "We've had a great response from the community, and the technician has kept his sanity working in a one-square-metre shop."
Community lending libraries are relatively common, but the mobile phone repair shop is the first of its kind
But as yet, no company seems to have taken up an idea put forward by a resident of the Northumberland village of Ovington.
When its kiosk was adopted by the parish council locals were invited to come up with suggestions as to its future use.
Among them was the world's smallest lap-dancing bar, although this was rejected in favour of a container for a defibrillator.
Designer Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was also responsible for Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
It is not the only one - defibrillators are now housed in more than 3,000 kiosks, due to the efforts of the Community Heartbeat Trust.
Martin Fagan, from the trust, said: "With something as serious as a cardiac arrest, time is of the essence, and, unfortunately, ambulance services often can't reach country villages in time.
"To install defibrillators in disused phone boxes is ideal, as they're often in the centre of the village, and it means the iconic red kiosk can remain a lifeline for the community."
• None The yard for red phone boxes that ring no more
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36148287 | |
The lifeline for dads coping with the loss of a child - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | How one parent's experience is helping dads cope with the loss of a child. | Northampton | When toddler TJ Scully-Sloan died suddenly, his mum and siblings were offered support and a shoulder to cry on. But his dad was asked how he was feeling just once, by an undertaker. The experience led to him setting up a group to help fathers address a question no-one wants to have to answer - how do you cope after the death of a child?
Friday 19 November 2010 was like any other night in the Scully-Sloan household. After a normal, busy, bedtime routine, TJ was tucked into bed by his mum, Helen. It was like any other night, except the little boy didn't wake up.
Six years on, Paul Scully-Sloan, 49, still struggles with the words.
"At a quarter-past five the next morning, his two-year-old sister Miya-May was up shouting, running round, banging doors. His four year-old brother Calum was standing in the middle of the floor, like a rabbit in the headlights.
"Helen looked at TJ who wasn't moving with all this noise. She shouts for me and I can tell there's something wrong.
"I said 'give me your phone - take the kids downstairs - turn on the television, stand by the front door'. I picked TJ up from the bed, he's cold and he's blue, put him on the floor, started to try to resuscitate him and at the same time ringing the ambulance.
Paul Scully-Sloan set up Daddys with Angels to support other fathers facing the loss of a child
"What seemed like forever, but it was like 20 minutes, a paramedic came in and told me there was nothing I could do."
TJ - whose full name was Travers James - had died in his sleep of natural causes. Tests found he'd had inflamed tonsils and a severe flu-like virus.
In a period of indescribable grief, Mr Scully-Sloan felt alone.
He "didn't fit the criteria" for many established child loss charities. His son was too old for Mr Scully-Sloan to benefit from the help of miscarriage or stillbirth organisations. He felt fathers needed somewhere to unload.
In the front room of a house in Northampton, Daddys With Angels (DWA) was born.
"There wasn't a place for dads where they felt welcome," he said. "There wasn't a place to say what they needed or what they wanted to say, to be honest about it, without the fear of being judged. There were groups for men - but run by women.
"You're supposed to be strong, to crack on with it.
"I had some understanding of child loss through my work, but not of the impact. Everything changes," he said.
"We talk about the 'new normal'. Waking up knowing your child is not there. But life is not going to go back to the way it was, things are going to change and you're going to view things differently."
Increasingly, bereaved fathers are turning to groups such as Mr Scully-Sloan's.
The Lullaby Trust, which supports families after a sudden infant death, offers a befriending service to extended family members, which has seen great demand from dads.
"We have a policy here that we always ask about the other parent after a child's death, and our befriender scheme is well used by dads," said director of services, Jenny Ward.
"Different groups need different means to reach that support and the way people access it is changing all the time."
Mr Scully-Sloan, who is separated from TJ's mother, says the stress of losing a child can have a devastating effect on the family unit.
"In order to be good for your partner you need to be in a good place yourself. The biggest problem with child loss and couples is that they don't tell each other how they're feeling. They fear they'll upset them even more. What they really want to say is: 'I hurt too'.
"As soon as they can say that - it's almost like a relief. The other person in that relationship is feeling the same."
At the time of his son's death, Mr Scully-Sloan was also desperately ill with liver disease and awaiting a transplant.
"We had his funeral four days before Christmas," he said.
Knitted cots have been donated from across the country
"People were coming to the door - people we hadn't seen for ages - bringing flowers and saying 'how's Helen?' - telling me I looked yellow. People were phoning up to speak to Helen, even when we were at the hospital, people were asking 'how's Helen, how's the kids?'
"The only person who asked me, between TJ dying and the funeral, was the undertaker. She looked after TJ so well, asking what I wanted him to wear - he had his ear pierced - she even managed to put his little earring back in for him. She did that for us - the little things.
"At the funeral I said I wanted to carry his coffin. It was cornflower blue. When I had to take it out of the hearse I couldn't pick it up - nobody said 'how are you - do you need any help?' - I had to put it down and admit I wasn't strong enough."
This, said Mr Scully-Sloan, is why he wants to help other bereaved dads.
"Fathers need to know someone has walked in their shoes," he said.
"I know what it's like to sit alone with the TV off and the lights off, just sitting there thinking.
"Men want to fix things; they can't fix child loss. The next best thing is to talk about it."
Knitted bootees donated to Daddys With Angels for stillborn babies
Daddys With Angels now has almost 1,000 members, six trustees and four support workers, helping anyone who has lost a child at any age.
Mr Scully-Sloan describes it as a "safe place" for fathers to "rant or chat" or get support and advice.
DWA has twice won Best UK Support Organisation at the Butterfly Awards, which celebrates the work of parents and professionals at the front line of bereavement.
The aim now is to establish a DWA helpline and set up group meetings around the country.
An appeal for volunteers to knit cots, wraps and hats for still-born babies saw a big response and items now fill Mr Scully-Sloan's living room.
He has already delivered dozens to bereavement midwives at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, his local unit at Northampton General and to funeral homes.
Rachael Moss, a bereavement support midwife at Northampton General Hospital, said the little cots are a lifeline.
"The items brought in are so individual and so appreciated, you can see how much care and compassion has gone into making them - it's amazing.
"Families know they are not on their own. To know that there is someone else out there, another means of support, means everything." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-38061338 | |
Premiership: Leicester Tigers 12-16 Saracens - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Owen Farrell scores all of Saracens' points against Leicester, but victory is not enough to send the Londoners top. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Owen Farrell scored all of Saracens' points against Leicester, but victory was not enough to return the London club to the top of the Premiership.
In a tense first half, during which Leicester's injury-plagued England winger Manu Tuilagi limped off, the scores were locked at 6-6 as Farrell traded penalties with Owen Williams.
Farrell scored and converted the only try after adding a further penalty.
Williams kicked two penalties to ensure Leicester took a losing bonus point.
Leicester pressed until the final moments as they looked to avoid just their second defeat in 15 home games in all competitions, but two missed penalties from Williams proved costly.
In a game England boss Eddie Jones watched from the stand, much attention was focused on centre Tuilagi, who was called up on Saturday for a national team training camp.
But it proved little more than a cameo showing by the 25-year-old as he was forced off with an apparent right knee injury, suffered as he came down in a tackle.
Saracens were dealt a setback of their own as winger Chris Ashton - making his first start in 15 weeks after serving a suspension for biting - was forced off after a clash of heads with Jack Roberts.
However, despite losing the prolific Ashton, Saracens came up with the game's only try soon after - Brad Barritt collecting the ball from Williams after a poor Ben Youngs pass before Farrell threw a dummy to race clear.
Saracens did enough to hold on for the win, moving them to within one point of Wasps at the summit.
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill:"It was tight, we played very well, they played well. We defended outstandingly well and our set-piece was dominant.
"Saracens' pack don't get dominated very often but we dominated their pack today. Our boys were fantastic.
"There are a lot of positives. I know we are five points from the top four but we were playing the best side in Europe last season.
"If we can play like that away we will win more than we lose and we will keep in the mix."
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall: "We are chuffed to bits to come here and win where they have not lost this season.
"Not everything in our game was perfect, far from it. But what was tremendous was the fight we had and the effort we showed all the way through the game.
"We had to win without a platform because our scrum today was poor. To get a result without a scrum is tough."
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38445575 | |
Ambassador's wife accused of murder plot with lover - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | The wife of the Greek ambassador to Brazil is accused of colluding with her lover in his murder . | null | Police in Brazil have accused the Greek ambassador's wife of colluding with her lover in the murder of her husband, Kyriakos Amiridis.
An investigator said Francoise Amiridis had admitted having an affair with a policeman, whom she blamed for the killing. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-38476907 | |
Belfast chip shop goes viral after delivery order for cold and flu tablets - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A Belfast chip shop goes viral after receiving an order for cold medicine from a customer. | Northern Ireland | The unusual chip shop order has attracted more than 8,000 likes on Facebook
Takeaway chip shops are used to getting orders for burgers, fish and sausages - but one in Belfast has gone viral after a flu-stricken customer asked them to deliver medicine.
Feeley's Fish and Chip Shop revealed the unusual request on its Facebook page on Friday.
The online order asked the driver to stop and get cold and flu tablets.
"I'll give you the money, only ordering food so I can get the tablets Im dying sick," it added.
The chip shop posted the note online and said: "Good to see customers making use of the 'add comments' section!"
The post has attracted more than 8,000 likes on Facebook and more than 1,000 comments.
It later posted a picture of the medicine and added a message of "get well soon" to the customer.
The shop also said on Facebook that they would send a free meal if the woman let them know when she is better.
She replied: "Yous are real angels will do." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38485402 | |
100 things we didn't know last year - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Each week we publish a list of 10 things we didn't know the week before. Here are 100 of our favourites from 2016. | Magazine | Interesting and unexpected facts from daily news stories are collected in the BBC's regular feature, 10 things we didn't know last week. Here is a selection of the best from 2016.
1. You could probably outrun a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
2. Ronald Reagan suggested that Margaret Thatcher read Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy in order to understand Soviet thinking.
3. German tourists can travel to more countries without a visa than any other nationality.
4. People played with a fifth suit of cards in the 1930s.
5. There are about three million shipwrecks lying on the ocean floor.
6. YouTube was originally meant to be an online dating site.
7. Parents are worse at telling if their child is lying than complete strangers.
8. London Underground journeys take more than four times longer for disabled people.
9. Air rage is more common on flights with a first-class cabin.
10. Boris Johnson knows how to sing Ode to Joy in German.
11. The spice turmeric may help stave off dementia
12. The world's most dangerous school run may be in south-western China, where children have to climb down an 800m cliff.
13. The oldest world title in sport is for real tennis and it dates back to 1740.
14. Male sparrows retaliate when females are unfaithful by providing less food.
16. Sadness causes more road accidents than tiredness.
17. The tattoo policy of the US Marine Corps is 32 pages long.
18. Exercising four hours after learning can help you remember information.
19. The speed Batman reaches while gliding through the air would probably kill him on landing.
22. Trevor Nunn has directed every one of Shakespeare's plays.
23. Prime Minister Theresa May owns more than 100 cookbooks - but none by Delia Smith.
24. The fertility drug Pergonal was developed using gallons of nuns' urine.
25. Even in the early 1970s, women in the UK frequently had to get a male relative's signature to get a loan.
26. Every winter, great white sharks swim for 30 to 40 days to congregate at a particular spot halfway between Mexico and Hawaii. No-one knows why.
27. Fewer than one in five listed statues in the UK are of women.
28. Every English elm is descended from a single tree imported by the Romans.
29. The "Arsenal" letters outside the football club's stadium are an anti-attack measure.
30. "Burn" is the most heavy metal word in the English language, and "particularly" is the least.
32. There are at least 42 different fares for rail travel between London Euston and Birmingham, ranging from £6 to £119.
34. One female Greenland shark is around 400 years of age, making the species the longest-living vertebrate known on Earth.
35. Only about half of perceived friendships are mutual.
36. Holding your coffee cup from above in a claw-like grip is the best way to prevent it from spilling.
37. A hot bath could be better than cycling at lowering the blood sugar levels of type-2 diabetics
38. Being the sole breadwinner is bad for men's health but good for women's.
40. A fifth of UK parents regret the names they gave their children.
41. New Yorkers would pay $56 a month to trim a minute off their commute.
42. Georgetown University in Washington sold 272 slaves in 1838 to help pay off the institution's debts.
43. Mayors in Pakistan can run cities from jail.
44. It would take 112,000 years to fly to the nearest Earth-like world travelling at 25,000mph.
46. In the Grand Canyon, the US postal service delivers mail by mule.
47. It's possible to be arrested for being drunk while riding a mobility scooter.
48. Intelligent people tend to be messier and swear more than others.
49. Protesters at a Republican party convention are banned from carrying tennis balls but are allowed to carry guns.
50. Bees spit water at each other in hot weather.
51. In some remote areas of Malawi, parents pay a man to have sex with their daughters at the age of 12 or 13.
53. At US airports, the usual limits on taking liquids through security do not apply if the liquid is holding live fish.
54. There is a scientific reason why some people have "uncombable" hair.
55. Some porn sites have a voiceover function for blind people that explains what's going on.
56. So many Ford Sierra Cosworths were stolen or written off that surviving models have become very valuable.
57. The son of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar works as an architect in Argentina.
58. There is a way to get people with strong views to consider alternative arguments (that doesn't involve shouting or violence).
59. Doctors estimate dying patients will live twice as long as they actually do.
60. How drunk you think you are depends on how drunk your friends are.
61. A pack of Smarties is more likely to be missing red than any other colour.
62. Dating app Tinder has 37 options for defining gender, beyond male or female.
63. Three British and three Dutch World War Two ships have vanished from the bottom of the Java Sea.
64. Someone has a job making wooden tanks for Islamic State.
65. You can get pregnant while already being pregnant.
66. Industrial spills may be more dangerous in cold weather.
67. London's benchmark interest rate, Libor, was invented by a Greek banker arranging a loan for Iran.
68. The most historically accurate recent Oscar contender is Selma and the least is The Imitation Game.
69. The new Bank of England £5 note is not suitable for vegetarians...
70. ...But you can use it to play vinyl records.
71. Fidel Castro's obituary cost the New York Times more man and woman hours over the years than any other article in the newspaper's history.
73. Under triathlon rules, competitors are allowed to help each other.
74. There are only 28 websites on the internet in North Korea.
75. A litre of cow urine is more valuable to an Indian farmer than a litre of milk.
76. More than 200 UK drivers are at least 100 years old.
77. Giraffes are four species, not one.
78. Most British tourists in the Spanish resort of Magaluf are on their first holiday without their families.
79. People spend 1.3 years of their life on average deciding what to watch on television.
80. Heading a football can reduce your memory for 24 hours.
82. The world's top institution for undergraduates, measured by Nobel prize winners per 10,000 students, is the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris.
83. Your doctor's political preferences can influence the treatment they recommend.
84. Close-protection security consultants work on the principle that a client should never be more than eight seconds from rescue.
85. Teenage acne is not all bad news: Unblemished skin ages faster.
86. The mammal that kills the most members of its own species is not the human, the bear or the wolf, but the meerkat.
87. Putting an image of a flat screen TV on a box containing a bicycle reduces the chance of damage during delivery by up to 80%.
88. Riding a rollercoaster can help you pass kidney stones.
89. You can run over a golf ball with a steamroller and still not damage it.
90. About 1.7% of the UK population identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
91. Replacing the artificial colouring in blue M&Ms would require twice the current global supply of the natural alternative.
93. Rainbows can also occur at night.
94. You can't return or rescind a Nobel prize.
95. Drivers in China who dazzle other road users with full-beam headlights are made to stare into the lights for a minute as punishment.
96. The UK's National Sperm Bank has taken on only seven men.
97. Chimpanzees are as good at recognising each other's bottoms as humans are at recognising faces.
98. Trees on city streets may worsen rather than reduce air pollution.
99. Women can improve their chances of winning board games against men by playing rock music in the background.
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Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38315407 | |
Anthony Martial: Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho tells forward to listen to him - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Manchester United forward Anthony Martial should "listen to me and not his agent", says manager Jose Mourinho. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial should "listen to me and not his agent", says manager Jose Mourinho.
The Frenchman's agent was reported to have said he is "studying" an option for his client to move to Sevilla.
Martial, 21, was United's top scorer last season with 17 goals, but his equaliser in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League home win over Middlesbrough was just his fifth strike of this season.
"He is a player with amazing conditions to be a top player," said Mourinho.
"Martial played, he created, he scored. He fought. He was very positive. I know he is a top talent."
• None What if 2016 was a Premier League season?
Martial, who joined the Red Devils from Monaco for £36m in 2015, played a crucial role as his side came from behind to beat Boro on Saturday.
He drilled in a finish on 85 minutes before Paul Pogba headed in the winner a minute later.
Afterwards, Mourinho suggested Martial should follow the example of team-mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was told to "do more" by his manager and has scored three goals in his past four games.
The former Chelsea boss said : "I knew Mkhitaryan is a top talent but I was not playing him. At this moment he even plays left-back when the team is winning and we need to defend and need more balance.
"Martial has to listen to me and not his agent. He has to listen to me in training every day and in every feedback I give to try and improve him.
"The Mkhitaryan process I was having almost every day. His agent was calling me saying, 'Mkhitaryan with you will be a better player, keep going.'
"With Martial every day I read the newspaper, 'Anthony Martial goes to Sevilla, Anthony Martial goes on loan, Anthony Martial is not happy'. Anthony Martial has to listen to me."
Former United defender Phil Neville: "I think it's pretty simple. He needs to play like that consistently. He has to ask his agent why he's linking him to Sevilla and say, 'I'm at one of the biggest clubs in the world, I want to stay here'."
Ex-England captain Alan Shearer: "Martial was the best player on the park. He played a big part in getting United back into the game. He was positive from the start.
"He went at defenders, got into the box and created chances. The effort from 30 to 35 yards out was a brilliant strike. He should take huge confidence from that display." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38480502 | |
Wayde van Niekerk relives Rio Olympics 400m gold - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk relives his historic 400m gold at the Rio Olympics, when he smashed Michael Johnson's 17-year-old world record. | null | South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk relives his historic 400m gold at the Rio Olympics, when he smashed Michael Johnson's 17-year-old world record. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/38418992 | |
Roger Federer can win another Grand Slam, says former coach Paul Annacone - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Roger Federer can return from a six-month injury absence and win another Grand Slam aged 35, says his former coach Paul Annacone. | null | Roger Federer can return from six months out and win another Grand Slam, says his former coach Paul Annacone.
The 35-year-old, who has won 17 majors, is due to make his comeback from a knee injury against Britain's Dan Evans in the Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday.
Annacone, who coached the Swiss from 2010 to 2013, told BBC Sport: "Last year was a very tough year for him and he still got to the semis of Wimbledon.
"There is no reason why he can't play at that level again."
Annacone believes Federer's best chance of another major title will come at SW19, where he has triumphed seven times.
The American added: "When you look at his track record, particularly on grass, if he's healthy, it's going to be very difficult not to put him in the sentence as one of the favourites.
"Again, it's about staying healthy, but I absolutely think he can contend for a major title."
Federer has not played since hurting his left knee as he lost in the Wimbledon semi-finals to Milos Raonic in July.
He is competing in the Hopman Cup team event with compatriot Belinda Bencic.
Federer said he took six months off "so I would be playing for hopefully another two to three years, not just another six months or so".
Having had knee surgery in February 2016, he missed the French Open with a back problem and played only 28 matches in the year.
He last won a tournament in November 2015 - the Swiss Indoors - and has not won a Slam since Wimbledon 2012.
Annacone, who also coached 14-time major winner Pete Sampras and Britain's Tim Henman, believes Federer's extended absence "could be a positive".
He added: "It's given him time to refresh and really get his body healthy.
"Six months isn't critical - it's not what I would call lethal. I know how hard Roger's worked and how professional and meticulous he is about his preparations.
"It is a challenge, but great players love challenges. I expect great things because he's a great player."
Federer, who has spent 302 weeks as world number one, has fallen to 16th in the rankings, his lowest position since May 2001.
That means he could face Britain's world number one Sir Andy Murray or defending champion Novak Djokovic as early as the fourth round of the Australian Open, which starts on 16 January.
Having reached the semi-finals in Melbourne last year, an early exit would further impact on his ranking.
Annacone feels that will not matter to Federer at this stage of his career, citing the example of Sampras, who won the US Open in 2002 as the 17th seed.
"It's not ideal but I'm a glass half-full guy," said the 53-year-old. "I would imagine if you talked to Andy or Novak they're not going to want to be playing Roger in the round of 16 or third round either.
"I was with Pete Sampras when he won his 2002 US Open. He hadn't won an event for 26 months. With these great players, you just don't know what they're capable of. The rules don't apply - they're merely suggestions.
"I remember it with Pete. He said: 'I really don't care what my ranking is, it doesn't matter any more. It's about can I put myself in position to win tournaments, and in particular major tournaments.' I'm sure Roger's approaching it the same way."
As if to underline that, Federer said on Friday: "Winning titles is a beautiful feeling; rankings at the moment... completely secondary. As long as I'm healthy, I think I can really do some damage."
Can he make more history?
Federer, who has won more Grand Slams than any other male player, will be 36 in August, and Annacone says he does not need to chase history for motivation.
"I just think the sheer joy of competing and the challenge of testing himself against the others will be enough for Roger," he said. "He's so at peace with what he's done and where he is that he'll do it organically by himself.
"If he stays healthy and is able to train and compete as often as he's planning to then I would consider that a success.
"If he does that, his average level, for how talented he is, is going to be somewhere in the top 10 anyway. If that's the case, that average level will create opportunities where he is playing at the end of events."
Annacone, who keeps in touch with Federer "via texts and instant messaging", says the Swiss has been "in good spirits".
"A couple of weeks ago he was doing great, he was really happy in his training in Dubai," he said. "His body felt good and he was really excited about 2017."
But Annacone, who will be commentating on the Australian Open for Tennis Channel, says Federer must "stay patient" in the early stages of his comeback.
"He is so meticulous in his preparation that I expect him to play pretty terrific tennis pretty quickly," he added.
"Now can he do it second event in, the Australian Open, for seven matches? That's a big challenge but he's done it so many times in the past." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38390891 | |
TV and radio stars we lost in 2016 - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A look back at some of the faces and voices from TV and radio we lost in 2016. | Entertainment & Arts | Magician Paul Daniels died in March aged 77, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He was at his Berkshire home with wife Debbie McGee when he died. Daniels presented a variety of game shows in the 1980s and 1990s, including Wipeout, Every Second Counts and Odd One Out and took over the primetime Saturday night slot with his own BBC show, which started in 1979. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37975077 | |
New Year Honours 2017: Andy Murray 'honoured' by knighthood - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Tennis star Sir Andy Murray says he still feels "like Andy" after being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours list. | null | Tennis star Sir Andy Murray said he still feels "like Andy" after being given a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.
He ended 2016 with a win over Milos Raonic at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38481089 | |
360 video: London New Year's Eve fireworks - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | 360 video | UK | If you couldn't get to the New Year's Eve fireworks in London, you can still get a 360-degree experience of the celebrations.
Clicking on the image below will play the 360 video on the BBC News YouTube channel.
Tap here to see the 360 video
To watch 360 video you will need the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox or Internet Explorer on your computer. On mobile - you will need to open the video in the latest version of the YouTube app for Android or iOS.
You can view this 360 experience in several ways
1. On desktop once you have pressed play, use your mouse to move up, down or sideways.
2. On your mobile via the YouTube app. You can move your device to control your view.
3. On your mobile via the YouTube app using Google Cardboard or similar headset. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38463678 | |
Istanbul nightclub attack: Gunman 'caught on camera' - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Footage from the Dogan News Agency shows a gunman shooting outside Istanbul's Reina nightclub. | null | Footage from the Dogan News Agency shows a gunman shooting outside Istanbul's Reina nightclub.
At least 39 people, including at least 15 foreigners, were killed in an attack inside the club, as revellers marked the new year. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38483230 | |
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Georginio Wijnaldum's header ensures Liverpool beat Manchester City and move clear in the pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Liverpool maintained their pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea as they moved to within six points of the pacesetters with victory over Manchester City at Anfield.
Georginio Wijnaldum's soaring eighth-minute header from Adam Lallana's cross was enough to put Liverpool in second place and put a serious dent in City's own title challenge.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp led the celebrations at the end of a game that was high on energy but sadly lacking in any moments of genuine quality.
City, who laboured throughout, improved in the second half but never seriously threatened Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and this loss leaves them 10 points adrift of Chelsea.
Klopp gets better of Pep
This was the first Premier League meeting between two huge personalities straight from the top tier of management - and it brought a victory for Jurgen Klopp to cherish at Pep Guardiola's expense.
The head-to-head was locked at 4-4 after their meetings in Germany with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. This was a different stage with different prizes on offer - but it was an occasion that was just as charged.
Klopp, in 15 months, has revitalised Liverpool and given hope to supporters longing to end the wait for a first title since 1990. And as they continue their pursuit of relentless Chelsea, belief continues to grow that the charismatic German can still haul in Antonio Conte's side.
Liverpool's manager was, as usual, celebrating with his players after the final whistle before pumping his chest in mock relief in front of Anfield's huge new Main Stand.
And, when City fleetingly threatened a second-half comeback, he turned cheerleader in front of those same fans with a demand to lift the noise levels that was met instantly.
Klopp has become the new Anfield talisman. Under him, the transformation of his team and the mood around the club continues.
Something else that will give Liverpool's fans great heart is the way in which Klopp is getting results against his closest rivals.
Since his appointment in October 2015, Klopp has faced a total of 13 Premier League games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. He has lost only one - a single goal defeat by United last season.
He has also enjoyed a Europa League win over two legs against United, although the balance is redressed slightly by a loss on penalties against Manchester City in last season's Capital One Cup final.
Liverpool - and indeed Manchester City - are having to run to stand still in the Premier League title race, with Chelsea stretching their winning run to 13 games as they beat Stoke City earlier on Saturday.
It meant this was a game both sides needed to win - hence the contrasting emotions of Klopp and Guardiola at the final whistle.
Liverpool are underdogs but six points is still a gap that can be closed and Chelsea have to visit Anfield on 31 January.
Klopp's players have shown strength of character with their response to setbacks earlier this month, when they lost 4-3 at Bournemouth and drew 2-2 at home to West Ham.
They have also shown they can win in different ways. Recent victories over Middlesbrough and Stoke showcased a free-flowing style. At Everton and against City, they toughed it out - and answered questions about a supposedly vulnerable defence. It is evidence that Liverpool must be taken very seriously as title challengers.
It is far too early to dismiss a manager of Guardiola's ability - and a team of City's talents - in terms of the Premier League title race. However, the 10-point gap between themselves and Chelsea is starting to look as if it will only be overturned by extraordinary events.
City were too timid for too long here at Anfield. Sergio Aguero - returning after a four-match ban - was starved of service, while Kevin de Bruyne was marginalised and largely snuffed out by Liverpool's intense pressing style.
It was still David Silva who called the shots when they did put some moves together after the break but Yaya Toure could not exert serious influence.
Guardiola's task should at least be put in context. City were a team short on inspiration and spark for much of last season under Manuel Pellegrini. Perhaps it was too much to expect even a manager of Guardiola's pedigree to apply an instant fix.
City should never be ruled out. But on the evidence of this flat performance - and the growing sense that significant renewal of the squad is still needed - dragging back Chelsea may be beyond them for this season.
'I don't care about criticism' - what they said
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "I know everyone talks about our defence. It's not about avoiding goals - that's the end product - it's about how we work together.
"I think we have the smallest number of shots on our goal in the league. Tonight the concentration level was outstanding.
"I don't care about criticism of our defence. You always pick out things that aren't right but that's how goals are."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "It was an equal game. The goal made it difficult against a team who use the counter-attack like a master. The second half was much better.
"We have to wake up for another game. We need to focus and work - we can't think about the big goals."
Former England defender Phil Neville: "It was a poor game. I was so disappointed by how poorly Manchester City passed the ball. They didn't get back into shape quick enough.
"Aleksandar Kolarov should have been winning that header against Georginio Wijnaldum. They were really poor in possession and well off the pace. Full credit to Liverpool, they set up deeper and didn't let City have possession."
• None Liverpool have won four consecutive league games against Manchester City for the first time since 1981 (when they managed a run of seven).
• None Pep Guardiola has now suffered twice as many league defeats this season (four) as he did in the entire 2015-16 Bundesliga campaign with Bayern Munich (two).
• None Manchester City have kept just four clean sheets in their 19 Premier League games under Guardiola.
• None Liverpool have scored 87 league goals in 2016; their most in a calendar year since 1985 (also 87).
• None Adam Lallana has made seven assists in the Premier League this season (in 17 appearances); his most in a single campaign.
• None Lallana also ends 2016 having been involved in 21 goals in the Premier League (11 goals, 10 assists); no midfielder in the competition has had a hand in more.
A swift turnaround. City host Burnley at 15:00 GMT on Monday, while at the same time Liverpool are at struggling Sunderland.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Roberto Firmino. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38424665 | |
Istanbul attack: Footage shows lone 'gunman' in nightclub - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Unverified video footage on Turkish media apparently shows a gunman in a nightclub in Istanbul. | null | Police in Istanbul are hunting for a gunman who opened fire at a night club, killing at least 39 people.
The attack happened at Reina nightclub early on Sunday, as hundreds of revellers marked the new year.
Unverified video footage on Turkish media apparently shows the killer in the club. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38483233 | |
Entertainer Ken Dodd reacts to receiving a New Year Honour - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Comedian Ken Dodd has been made a knight in the Queen's New Year Honours. | null | Comedian Ken Dodd has been made a knight in the Queen's New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
The Liverpool star, 89, was made an OBE in 1982 spoke of his pride after being named in the honours list and said he would "wear it in bed". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38472743 | |
The women who invented the Brazilian wax - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Waxing pubic hair has become increasingly common, but how did the trend for the "Brazilian" wax begin? | Magazine | Waxing pubic hair has become increasingly common, but how did the trend for the "Brazilian" wax begin?
In an office toilet in London, young women discuss their grooming regimes. Jennifer, 19, waxes off all her pubic hair every month. "The pain is the worst thing I've ever been through, but I'm kind of used to it now," she says.
"I prefer the underneath being gone," says Lisa, 27. "Some people wax for the beach and other people wax for boys, and people who wax for boys wax the underneath."
Ever since Sex and the City tackled the subject, what women do with their pubic hair - trim, shave, pluck, wax or let it all hang out - has become a topic for discussion. And scientific research.
Studies show that pubic hair grooming is becoming increasingly common. Earlier this year researchers reported in JAMA Dermatology that 84% of the American women who took part in their survey had done some grooming, with 62% removing all of their pubic hair. Younger women were much more likely to groom than the over-40s.
An earlier study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine linked the phenomenon to the availability of pornography. This same study suggested that the trend originated in South America - "hence the term Brazilian as slang for complete pubic hair removal".
But that is not the whole story.
"The Brazilian bikini wax was born here in New York, not Brazil," says Jonice Padilha, of the J Sisters salon in Manhattan, which pioneered the treatment in the early 1990s.
A Brazilian wax involves removing all the pubic hair from underneath and leaving some hair at the front for decorative purposes - perhaps a triangle, a thin "landing strip" or a heart-shape, that's up to the customer. "It's a freedom for you to have whatever you want," she says.
Jonice is the youngest of seven Brazilian sisters whose names all begin with J - the others are Jocely, Janea, Joyce, Juracy, Jussara and Judseia. They became known collectively as the J Sisters because nobody could get all the names right. Today the salon is popular with the rich and famous, and they make up to $6m a year on waxing, hair and nail treatments. But it had humble beginnings.
"It's an inspirational story of self-made women who came from nothing, illegal immigrants who made it in America," says Laura Malin, author of Wax and the City, a forthcoming book about the J Sisters. "It's the American dream."
The sisters come from the small coastal town of Vitoria, which lies between Rio and Bahia. They grew up in a large family - seven sisters and seven brothers - and in a traditional, macho culture. Their father forbade them from going out unchaperoned, and was afraid it wasn't safe for them to work for other people, Jocely says.
But when he went bankrupt, his daughters began to bring in money by offering beauty treatments in their back yard. Eventually they became the main breadwinners, and ran three salons in the town. "After school I used to hang out in the salon, instead of going to friends' houses," says Jonice.
In such a traditional household, it seemed that the only way to leave home was to get married, but Jocely, the fourth sister, dreamed of seeing the world. She saved up and in 1982 went to New York to visit an old neighbour from Vitoria. She planned to stay for a month, but the few hundred dollars she had brought ran out in a matter of days. She faced a choice: fly home or start earning.
She could have been in trouble. "New York was a lot more violent then and many Brazilian women were prostitutes, so there was this prejudice," says Malin. Luckily, Jocely had skills.
Street art by Sandrine Boulet shows a female contour drawn around grass on a pavement
She spoke no English, but found a job at a nail salon run by a Portuguese woman. At the time the fashion was for stick-on acrylic nails which would be removed weeks later, leaving quite a bit of damage. Jocely's focus was on restoring the nail's natural health and lustre. Her reputation for manicures spread and she attracted a powerful customer - Adnan Khashoggi. The arms-trade magnate would book her for the entire day, at a rate of $100 an hour, so he could have manicures between meetings. Through him she met many influential people, from stars such as Brooke Shields and Rod Stewart to the editors of fashion magazines like Elle and Marie Claire.
Soon she was earning well and, one by one, her sisters came over to join her. Jonice was the second to come to New York. She was dazzled. "It was when I arrived here that I realised Brazil was Third World," she says. "We knew nothing."
In 1987 the sisters opened their first nail salon on 57th St between 5th and 6th Avenue, then considered a fairly undesirable location. People thought they were crazy, says Jonice. At the time you didn't need a licence to run a nail salon so it was the obvious place to start, but they had other beauty secrets to impart. A few years later, at the start of the '90s, they began offering their - as yet unnamed - extreme bikini wax. It removed all pubic hair from below, not just at the sides.
Their signature wax had been invented by their sister Janea. "It's a funny story actually," says Malin. Back in the late '70s Janea was in Bahia with her husband, having a beer and some fried fish on the beach. She was admiring a beautiful girl, but as she walked past Janea was horrified by the pubic hair protruding from the back of her tiny bikini. "The image - it was like a mirror that shattered," says Malin.
Janea's next thought was: "Wow, do we have hair there?"
At home her suspicion was confirmed. But when she went to a salon to have it removed, she met with resistance: "Are you crazy? I'm not touching you there," was the response.
So Janea decided to do it herself. She locked herself in the waxing booth with a mirror and after about three hours of painful experimentation came out feeling fabulous. Then she convinced her co-workers to do the same. "They were like: 'Oh my god I don't feel ashamed when I'm in bed with men, I don't feel shame when I go to the doctor, I feel cleaner,'" explains Malin.
When they introduced it in New York, their bikini wax became wildly popular. It helped that they still counted the editors of fashion magazines among their customers. "Our only error was not to call it the J Sisters wax," says Jonice.
But there was a problem - they were coming under pressure from rivals. The early '90s had seen a boom in online porn, which increasingly featured hairless actors and models. "It's very practical for pornography but it's just very practical for sex," adult film-maker Anna Span told the BBC. Adult magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse also showed little or no pubic hair.
Jonice says Playboy called the salon, claiming they had come up with the idea first. "They said: 'This is ours, we do this for the porno site,'" she says. Jonice's defence was to say that it was just what everyone in Brazil did. "I said we were introducing our culture," she says.
"That's why all over the world it's known as a Brazilian. I played it that way so they would leave me alone. But it started here, not there."
People haven't forgotten that the J Sisters were the real pioneers. They were consulted for shows like Gossip Girl and Sex And the City.
"Sarah Jessica Parker came here all the time," says Jocely.
They count many celebrities as close friends.
"They have very intimate relationships with people," says Malin.
"If you spread your legs to a woman then you don't have anything else to hide. I've been there so many times and you end up talking about everything: depression, kids, anal sex... It's crazy and a little bit therapeutic."
As well as Malin's book, a biopic about the sisters is in production in Brazil - a "dramedy", or comic drama, say the producers. "They were very brave to leave this small town in Brazil and go to New York with no money and no English," says Karen Castanho, one of the producers. "They have such energy, I've never met anyone like them."
Female body hair is a recurring theme in the work of French street artist Sandrine Boulet
So what does the future hold for the Brazilian wax?
The trend could be on its way out. A recent study has linked pubic grooming to an increase in sexually transmitted infections. The GB cycling team banned bikini waxes during the Olympics because the hair protects against chafing. Even Tatler magazine recently announced the return of the natural look.
Back in the London office toilet this, too, has been noticed. "Boys are saying: 'Don't do it, if you shave it all off you look like a baby," says Alex, 23. Her friend Cameron, 21, agrees. "Yes, my friends say they like bush because they feel more mature being with that person."
But the J Sisters always move with the times. For the past 10 years they've been waxing men. And since Jocely discovered her first grey hair down there, the salon can also dye pubic hair, to prevent the kind of home-dying mishaps featured in Sex and the City. One thing's for sure, thanks to their influence this part of the body will never again be neglected.
Some names have been changed.
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• None BBC - Future - Why do we have pubic hair-
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37896963 | |
Usain Bolt calls Manchester United phone-in show - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Usain Bolt calls a Manchester United TV phone-in show to say how Saturday's 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough was like watching the Red Devils "of old". | null | Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt calls a Manchester United TV phone-in show to say how Saturday's 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough was like watching the Red Devils "of old". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38480275 | |
Acton pub gutted in New Year's Eve fire - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Footage shows a fire blazing in the Aeronaut pub in Acton, west London. | null | New Year revellers had to flee from a pub before it was gutted by a fire that started just 30 minutes into 2017.
Partygoers had to be evacuated from the Aeronaut in Acton, west London, when the fire broke out.
London Fire Brigade said it rescued six people from a first-floor flat above the pub. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38483228 | |
Reflections on Africa - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent looks back on nearly 12 years of reporting from the continent. | Africa | As she moves on from her posting, the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen looks back on nearly 12 years of reporting from the continent.
Africa is not a country. It is a continent that feels like it has come of age. Despite the very real problems of poverty, corruption and the sense you sometimes get in some quarters, that no-one is held to account, business types hail Africa as the "final frontier". After nearly 12 years reporting this region, for me it feels like a place where one grows up.
I have met priests and politicians, warlords and entrepreneurs, gangsters and teachers. Ordinary mums and dads. Each of them has helped to shape my impressions and many have become firm friends.
One of the first lessons I learnt in Kenya was survival. There is no safety net here when times get tough.
In the early days on a visit to the slum known as Kibera, an elderly lady called me over as she stirred her supper in a thick, black, cast-iron pot. "Hey sister, where are you from?" she asked. "London," I replied. "Yes, but where in London?" I was rather puzzled as she pressed me further. "I know London," she nodded, sagely. "In fact, I know Paris and Berlin, too."
It emerged that this friendly stranger had once been a glamorous stewardess for an international airline. She had drunk the best champagne and visited the fanciest European hotels but when times got hard in the 1980s and the airline folded, she lost her job.
She was now selling samosas in the slum to survive. From that day onwards I learnt never to make any assumptions about Africa: a jet-setter one day, a slum dweller the next. It is the drumbeat of so many who take the knocks, but reclaim their dignity and survive.
Yet, in absolute terms, people are getting poorer in Africa because the population continues to grow. During my time on this continent I witnessed a colleague of mine - away from the BBC - lose two of his three young children. That is never OK.
When I arrived in Africa more than a decade ago, Boko Haram in Nigeria did not exist, Somalia's al-Shabab insurgency group had yet to be formed - not to mention so-called Islamic State - and Sudan was one vast, sprawling country emerging from more than two decades of civil war.
I arrived to a continent of 53 states. I now leave behind 54. South Sudan's independence in 2011 marked the newest addition to the globe. The birth pains are still being felt.
When I arrived, George W Bush was beginning his second term as US president, oil and gas had yet to be discovered in many parts of Africa and mobile phones were just beginning to open up a world of possibilities from e-commerce to telemedicine.
Mobile phones have transformed the lives of millions of Africans
Now, two US presidents later (give or take a week or two), China has become the second-biggest investor in Africa, with India hard on its heels. The brain-drain is beginning to slow down as African talent is being retained, especially in the technology sector.
And there is more money flowing back into Africa from remittances, than the entire aid budget for the continent.
With this growing economic confidence, powered by a rising middle class, has come a new political assertiveness. And, with growing insecurity, the West knows it needs Africa more than ever before.
You see it in the UN Security Council. South Africa has held its ground on issues such as Libya during the fall of Gaddafi. The African Union is pushing for permanent seats and a greater say in world affairs as the continent now contributes more troops to peacekeeping operations than anywhere else on earth.
You see this assertiveness in matters of international justice. Countries like South Africa and Burundi have turned their backs on the International Criminal Court.
And you see this push back on matters of wider society and the tussle between the old way of doing things and what some see as imported Western ideas.
Gay rights remain a controversial subject in many parts of the continent
A rapidly growing young urban class, more connected with the world through mobile phones, is making new demands, touching on everything from gender equality to gay rights.
A young female couple I met in Kenya back in 2006 had been forced out of their business as florists because word had got out that they happened to be gay.
In Uganda, activists like David Kato would be murdered a few years later, for the simple fact that he was gay. Yet slowly, very slowly, there has been a perceptible shift. Constitutions are being shaken up.
But there is still a tangible sense of mistrust between many African nations. Principles of sovereignty and non-interference, just like in many other parts of the world, are jealously guarded.
And the settling of old scores between neighbouring continues to be played out in places such as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and its newer neighbour South Sudan.
In many places, the slow roll-out of infrastructure is blamed for underscoring this continued sense of separation and investors say corruption continues to frighten off potential investors.
Karen Allen reporting from an internally displaced persons' camp in Chad
Yet 2016 saw the creation of the first continent-wide trading bloc. At the moment only 10% of the continent's trade is conducted between African nations. But the potential is huge - 620 million consumers.
The political landscape is also being redrawn. Regrettably, I have been banned from working inside Zimbabwe, where Robert Mugabe's leadership persists. And, as I write, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Gambia are resisting pressure to stand down.
But transfers of power are happening more peacefully. We have seen it, for instance, in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, and maybe also in Angola, where President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has ruled supreme for the past 37 years but has indicated that he will not stand again for re-election.
I never really understood that institutions mattered until I moved to South Africa but, oh, how they do. The country's history may set it apart from other African states but South Africa's constitutional court, its free press and parliament have all challenged the legitimacy of President Jacob Zuma.
And no-one has been killed for speaking out. It is a template other nations are keen to follow and I predict that, for many, it will soon come. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-38393661 | |
How a dead gorilla became the meme of 2016 - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | After Harambe was shot in a sad incident in Cincinnati, he lived on in a million memes online. Why? | BBC Trending | His was the face which launched a thousand memes - so why did Harambe the gorilla capture 2016's collective online psyche?
It was a sad story that could have been even sadder. In May, a three-year-old child fell into an enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo. One of the Western lowland gorillas inside started dragging the boy around.
"Mommy's right here! Mommy loves you!" the boy's mother shouted, as bystanders became increasingly panicked.
Finally, fearing that the boy's life was in danger, a zoo worker killed Harambe with a single shot. The boy escaped without serious injury.
The events were captured on a YouTube video which has been watched millions of times.
Harambe's death touched off a heated - if predictable - debate about zoo welfare standards and whether lethal force was necessary.
But what wasn't expected was what came next. Harambe became memeified. His image was spread far and wide throughout the internet. He became the subject of serious and unserious campaigns. And he was even memorialised in song.
Join the conversation on this and other stories here.
It started as a spontaneous and very real outpouring of shock and grief over the killing.
"Had I been there, I would have gone into the enclosure myself," says Frank Paris, one of the people who used the hashtag #RIPHarambe to express his sadness. It quickly began to spread hours after the gorilla's death.
Although he lived a few states away in Los Angeles, Paris, along with many others, was upset at Cincinnati Zoo's decision to kill the animal.
"That day was a very sad day for me," he tells BBC Trending. "I absolutely would have risked my own life to save the boy. That's how sure I am that the boy was fine and that Harambe had no intention of hurting anybody."
Of course, that's just one reaction from someone thousands of miles away, whereas zoo officials say they were right to take action to stop any potential serious injury to the boy.
But Paris was not alone in his grief and anger.
Aside from his canonisation on social media, there were candlelit vigils for Harambe. There were also campaigns targeted the boy's parents. Some online called for them to be prosecuted for negligence. The boy's mother was cleared of any wrongdoing.
"There was definitely a sincere element of outrage over this," says Aja Romano, who writes about web culture for news site Vox.
"It just spiralled out of control and was immediately a giant social trend, because it involved an element of supposed animal cruelty. You could argue that by keeping Harambe in the zoo to begin with, the zoo was fostering this unfair environment where the gorilla didn't really have a chance."
That wave of emotion was in turn hijacked by comedians, pranksters and trolls who mocked those who were making so much of the story.
"People online kind of get off on being mad about things that they don't actually care about," says Brandon Wardell, a stand-up comedian and one of those who poked fun at the Harambe mourners. "You didn't know Harambe, your life wasn't really affected by this."
Wardell coined a jokey phrase that - to put it one way - sarcastically encouraged people to expose themselves in tribute to the dead gorilla.
"I think I was probably drunk when I tweeted it and then it just got out of control," he tells Trending.
It got him branded the "voice of a generation" by Rolling Stone magazine.
Then things took a dark turn when the memes were picked up by the alt-right, an amorphous but internet savvy white nationalist movement.
The gorilla's image was used in racist messages.
"I feel like it was driven to the ground so quickly," Wardell recalls. "It stopped being funny to me two days after.
"I didn't love that there were Nazis that were all of a sudden into a meme that I created."
But the Harambe phenomenon was also too large to be totally owned by one fringe group. The Cincinnati zoo declared itself unimpressed with all the riffs on its dead animal - but that certainly didn't put an end to the jokes. Memes comparing Harambe to David Bowie, Prince and Muhammad Ali have since gone viral. He's been the subject of fake news stories, books, comics - and a parody of the Book of Genesis.
Hear more on this story and others on the BBC World Service.
"If you were really tired of seeing media hysteria dominate news cycles and dominate conversations, the sheer absurdity of Harambe as a social issue was a really easy thing to mock," says Romano, the Vox writer.
"I think it spoke to a level of outrage fatigue. If you're seeing people freaking out about a dead gorilla, over say thousands of people dying in the Syrian refugee crisis, then what do you do with that anger?
"The only way to sort of express your anger was to just turn this sort of worship of Harambe and turn this deep cultural grief over Harambe's death into a meme."
Indeed, not just any meme, but the meme of 2016.
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-38383126 | |
How are Australia's Syrian refugees coping? - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Australia has so far resettled about half of the 12,000 Syrian refugees it agreed to take last year. | Australia | Australia has resettled about half of the 12,000 refugees it agreed to take in over the past 13 months from the conflict in Syria, but how are they adapting to life in their new country?
It is a year since Iymen Baerli, a refugee from Syria, arrived in Sydney with his wife and three young children.
Within days, the skies above the harbour of Australia's biggest city sparkled and glowed as arguably the world's finest fireworks display ushered in another new year.
The newcomers shared their adopted homeland's optimism about the journey ahead. Iymen, a 52-year old former pharmaceutical sales rep, had ambitions to open up a catering business, helped by his brother, who ran a well-established cake shop in suburban Sydney.
But 12 months later much of that hope has withered and the Baerli family are living at their modest apartment in Guildford, a multicultural district 25km (15 miles) from Sydney Opera House.
War had forced them out of their home in Homs, Syria's third largest city, and they sought safety in Egypt. Resettlement down under would eventually follow.
"It was very hard moving from Syria to Australia. There are huge differences in the culture and tradition," he told me through a translator. "I have been struggling and it is not easy but I am hoping that in the future it is going to be easier for me."
Iymen's English is rudimentary and, although he is receiving tuition, his lack of language skills has been a major hindrance, as has a chronic back injury.
Most of the new arrivals have been staying with relatives in Sydney, but community workers believe that, for many, the transition has been hard.
Ahmad Hemmed, a migration agent, who has helped many Syrian families in Sydney, told the BBC that the majority of the refugees have been unable to adapt.
"There are people that after I meet them here after even a year, they do not like the country and they are scared to mix with the Australian community," Mr Hemmed explained.
"They are still isolating themselves with similar cultural background people and I think they are raising their kids in the same way, which for me it is really concerning. They live in Australia but they are not actually carrying Australian values."
The city of Homs, dubbed "the capital of the revolution" suffered widespread destruction
It is a harsh assessment, but officials have conceded that many of those fleeing the Syrian conflict have found life tough in Australia and that finding jobs in particular has not been easy.
"It is that extraordinary mixed feeling," said Prof Peter Shergold, the New South Wales co-ordinator general for refugee resettlement.
"At one level I think their first feeling as they get out of the airport is just sheer relief, expectations that they can build a new life, but of course absolute fear of what they have left behind, is this the right decision?"
He believes it is crucial the migrants mix with the broader community.
"They are coming to a society in which 27% of Australians were born overseas and a similar number had a parent born overseas.
"They are coming to a society which is used to diversity and that helps integrate into society and, yes, initially you'll tend to live in areas where other people from your ethnicity or religion live, [but] they need to get outside that if they are going to get employment," Prof Shergold added.
The remaining 6,000 refugees from the Syrian crisis are expected to arrive in Australia within a year.
Immigration minister Peter Dutton has said the refugee resettlement programme might expand
But Alex Greenwich, an independent MP in the New South Wales state parliament, believes the humanitarian programme needs to move faster.
"The refugee and asylum seeker immigration process is intensely bureaucratic," he said.
"It is much better for a refugee to spend less time in a camp and get into being welcomed into a community. It is better for their health, their mental health. It is obviously something that we should be prioritising and fast-tracking."
In Canberra, the government has indicated it could resettle more of those displaced by atrocities and fighting in Syria.
"If we get this programme right, [it allows us] to say to the Australian people that we may want to expand this programme," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told local media.
"If people have faith in the integrity of the process, then it does give the government the ability to expand beyond the 12,000."
As the conflict grinds on in Syria, 14,000km away in Sydney, Iymen's wife Abir Baerli closely follows developments on Arabic TV channels and online. With relatives and friends still in harm's way in Syria, or seeking sanctuary in neighbouring countries, these are frightening times.
"I am scared and I wish that the war would end," she told me with the help of a translator.
While her three children - a 10-year old daughter and two younger boys - are at school in Sydney, making friends, playing football and gradually conquering English, Abir and her husband yearn for just one thing - to one day be able to peacefully return home to their beloved Syria. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38301489 | |
'Hollywood' sign changed to 'Hollyweed' in new year prank - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A prankster changes the world-famous Hollywood sign to read "Hollyweed" on New Year's Day. | US & Canada | The iconic sign was changed overnight on New Year's Eve
Residents of Los Angeles' most famous neighbourhood woke up on New Year's Day to find the world-famous Hollywood sign had been changed to read "Hollyweed".
Local media reported that police were treating the incident as minor trespass and were investigating.
The sign on Mount Lee is made of 45-foot (13.7m) tall letters.
Voters in California approved the legalisation of marijuana in a ballot held at the same time as the presidential election - on 8 November.
The prank has not caused lasting damage to the sign, however, as parts of both "O" letters were covered by tarpaulins to make them look like a lower-case letter "E".
The Los Angeles Times reports that a single person was recorded on security cameras climbing the sign to hang the materials.
A similar prank took place in 1976, to mark a relaxation in the state's marijuana laws. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38484733 | |
Billions of pounds that you fail to claim - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Huge payouts - from benefits and compensation to pensions and lottery wins - go unclaimed. Why do you not receive what you are entitled to? | Business | A bumper lottery draw was organised following Team GB's success in the Rio Olympics
A glorious summer of sunshine and sporting success should have been even better for more than a dozen lottery players.
Thirteen winning tickets in the National Lottery draw of 27 August remain unclaimed - five of them are £1m wins.
It was a bumper draw that day. There were 67 extra winners in addition to the normal 21 prizes owing to a raffle draw celebrating Team GB's success at the Rio Olympics.
It may have been that players failed to check those extra draw details. It may have been that they were away from home as it was a Bank Holiday weekend in much of the UK. Either way £5.6m is going to lottery good causes if those winners do not make a claim in the next couple of months.
Overall, only 3% of National Lottery prizes go unclaimed. That is a fraction of the sum that people miss out on through unclaimed benefits or compensation.
In today's automated world, why do many of these payouts still require people to make a complaint and a claim?
Nearly £2bn in redress was paid to consumers of financial services in the first half of the year.
While the industry watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, holds data on the success of compensation schemes in reaching those entitled to payouts, it does not publish all of it.
One of the biggest unknowns is the number of people affected by mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI), and the amount they should receive. This loan insurance was sold on an industrial scale to people who did not want or need it, or who could not claim.
As a result banks have paid out £25bn in compensation in the past few years. Estimates suggest the total bill, were all sales paid back, could be £100bn. An estimated nine million people in the UK could still make a complaint.
So why not simply pay everyone back?
The reason is clear from consultation into a proposed deadline for PPI compensation claims.
"We remain of the view that not all PPI was mis-sold and that, properly sold, PPI could meet some consumers' genuine credit protection needs," the FCA says during the consultation.
So, the FCA says that, in effect, every case must be taken on its merits, and that requires people to make a complaint, despite consumer groups claiming that a huge number of mis-selling victims are missing out.
"We do not consider that there are strong grounds to significantly depart from this complaints-led approach now," the FCA adds.
One of the most controversial compensation cases was the payouts for those mis-sold credit card and identity theft protection by insurer CPP.
Seven million people were eligible for compensation and received letters inviting them to make a claim for compensation. Some consumer groups argued that the letters looked like junk mail.
By the time the claims window expired, more than four million people had missed out. Only a third of those eligible received compensation, averaging £190 each. Just one submitted claim was rejected.
Any kind of dispute that puts the onus on individuals making an initial complaint can be "incredibly stressful" says James Walker, founder of consumer website Resolver.
"Lots of the people I speak to tell me they have simply given up. What is frustrating is people don't realise that the rights they have when it comes to taking things further are actually quite strong," he says.
"You don't have to suffer in silence for long periods of time if you want to escalate your complaint and there are lots of free ombudsman schemes that can help you."
He points to cases such as a pensioner who parked his car to go to the doctors, oblivious of a parking restriction notice that was obscured by a fence. He received a ticket, followed by debt collection notices, but after more than a year in dispute received £350 in refunds and compensation.
Despite these cases, there is a move in some industries for compensation to be paid automatically more often.
In October last year, Virgin became the first train company to automatically compensate some passengers if they are delayed. Travellers using its services on the West Coast mainline - and who book their tickets via the company app or website - receive automatic repayments.
Research has shown that most rail passengers do not bother to claim compensation, even when it is due - a situation that led to a so-called super-complaint by consumers' association Which?.
In the airline industry, where passengers must make a claim for compensation following delays, an estimated 70% of those who have a right to a payout do not claim, according to a comparison website.
Communications regulator Ofcom is also investigating the use of automatic compensation when phone or internet services fail. At present, customers tend to go through one of two ombudsman services.
Proposals to be published by the regulator in the new year are aimed at providing "easier redress" when something goes wrong.
Arguably, the most significant change in redress for consumers may result from the 2015 Consumer Rights Act.
UK consumers may be included automatically in a legal claim for damages in a US-style class action and so receive automatic compensation if the case succeeds. A £14bn legal claim filed against Mastercard seeking damages for anti-competitive card fees is the first significant test of these new rules.
Unclaimed payments are not always in the form of compensation.
Billions of pounds in benefits is unclaimed every year by those entitled to the money.
Up to £4.6bn of Housing Benefit went unclaimed in 2014-15, according to the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Families entitled to the benefit but not claiming it missed out on an average of £3,000 per year.
Some 1.4 million households failing to receive Pension Credit are missing out on £2,000 a year, the figures show. Entitlements worth thousands of pounds a year were also going unclaimed for employment and support allowance (available to those who are unable to work owing to illness) and jobseekers' allowance.
The DWP says that a lack of awareness of these entitlements and the "perceived stigma" of claiming benefits were thought to be among the reasons that people failed to make a claim.
Some of these payouts will become automatic under the new Universal Credit benefit, which is being gradually introduced across the UK.
Later in life, many people could miss out on retirement income, with millions of pension savings pots lying dormant. These are often small pots of savings from workplace pensions when employees spent a short period of time in jobs and have moved home since.
All this amounts to billions of pounds available to claim - and claim legitimately - without the need for a lucky lottery win. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38318435 | |
Chris Coleman revealed as Nos Galan mystery runner - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | null | Wales football manager Chris Coleman is revealed as the mystery runner in the annual Nos Galan race. | null | Wales football manager Chris Coleman has been revealed as the mystery runner in the annual Nos Galan race.
Fresh from getting an OBE in the New Year Honours, Coleman joined more than 1,000 other runners in the race in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff.
The race is held every New Year's Eve.
Coleman, 46, told BBC Wales it was a "fantastic tradition" and he was "very excited" to take part.
Nos Galan, founded in 1958, celebrates the life of Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran, who died in 1737, aged 37. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38478492 | |
Premiership: Sale Sharks 23-24 Bristol - BBC Sport | 2017-01-01 | null | Tom Varndell becomes the Premiership's joint top try scorer of all time to help bottom side Bristol overcome Sale. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Tom Varndell became the Premiership's joint top try scorer of all time to help bottom side Bristol overcome Sale for a second straight league win.
Varndell equalled Mark Cueto's record of 90 tries to edge Bristol back into the contest at half-time, after a penalty try and a Denny Solomona score helped put Sale 15-10 up at the break.
However, tries from Rhodri Williams and Max Crumpton won it for Bristol.
Crumpton's effort to seal Bristol's first away win since earning promotion back to the Premiership in May came moments after Rob Webber's sin-binning as Sale finished the match with 14 men.
A penalty-riddled start from Bristol allowed Sale to take early control with a penalty try quickly following Ryan Bevington's sin-binning.
Solomona, a try-scoring record breaker in Super League before controversially switching rugby codes last month, grabbed his second try in as many Premiership matches to compound Bristol's woes while down a man, getting on the end of a neat chip kick from Mike Haley.
James Woodward converted Varndell's milestone try after kicking a penalty to boost Bristol's hopes after being 15-0 down.
Leota's score again saw Sale go 13 points up after 55 minutes, but Mitchell's missed conversion proved costly as Varndell set Williams up before Crumpton went over.
Woodward converted both scores to ensure back-to-back Premiership wins for Bristol for the first time since March 2008, while Sale lost for the eighth time in succession in all competitions.
Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond told BBC Radio Manchester: "I think we have to give credit to Bristol for responding every time we got in front of the game with their never-say-die attitude.
"We didn't control the game well at all, we managed to score and play some good rugby but we didn't have the confidence to back it up.
"There are a lot of good sides in the competition and anyone can beat anyone on the day, as was shown today.
"We should have controlled the game better in the second half and we didn't, and Bristol took their opportunities."
Bristol wing Tom Varndell told BBC Radio Bristol: "It's great to get the win and keep the winning mentality up, that changing room is buzzing.
"I'm definitely confident and enjoying my rugby again, the last six to eight weeks have been good for me.
"Obviously I love scoring tries and it is what I'm in the team to do. To do it at Cueto's home is a bit bad, but oh well."
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38445717 | |
Have more famous people died in 2016? - BBC News | 2017-01-01 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The year 2016 been held up as a particularly gloomy year for celebrity deaths. But has the grim reaper really been working overtime? | Magazine | It's been held up as a particularly gloomy year for celebrity deaths. But has the grim reaper really claimed the souls of more notable people than usual in 2016?
For their admirers, 2016 has been a sad year.
Back in April, the BBC's Obituaries Editor Nick Serpell was tasked with checking if there was anything unusual about the number of well-known people dying, as many on social media had been claiming.
He counted the number of pre-prepared BBC obituaries that ran across radio, TV and online from January until the end of March for the years 2012-16.
And at that point he found that, yes, just looking at the first three months of the year, there had been a huge increase.
Twice as many notable people had died in this period of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, and five times as many as in 2012.
It's worth bearing in mind that this is quite a crude way of measuring celebrity deaths.
The BBC doesn't do an obituary for every celebrity that dies and, as already noted, Serpell only counted pre-prepared obituaries, rather than obituaries written after the event, or news reports that mention someone has died.
Then there's also the question of who even counts as a celebrity in the first place. US television personality David Gest, for example, did not get a BBC obituary.
Nonetheless, as the year draws to a close, it seems an appropriate time to ask - has 2016 continued to be so dangerous and fateful for famous people?
Across the whole year, there was just over a 50% increase in BBC pre-prepared obituaries used in 2016 compared with 2015.
"In 2012, we had a total of 16," says Serpell. "In 2013, it went to 24. In 2014, it rose again to 29. In 2015, it rose slightly again to 32." For 2016, as of 30 December, it stands at 49.
"Just under half those deaths occurred in the first three months of the year," says Serpell.
The rest of the year looked like it was settling back down to be on a par with 2015. However, there was yet another spike of notable deaths over the Christmas period when seven more people died within a two-week period.
So 2016 has seen the largest number of famous people die, but it was those bumps at the beginning and the end of the year that made it so unusual.
Although there does seem to have been an inexorable rise, Serpell says there hasn't been any change in the BBC's policy on what sort of person qualifies for an obituary.
He thinks that the increase isn't particularly surprising, because we're now half a century on from the flourishing of both TV and pop culture in the 1960s, which massively expanded the overall pool of public figures.
You're going to have to get used to hearing the celebrity obituary.
Pre-prepared BBC obituaries that ran on television, radio and online
This article was initially published on 16 December and had been updated to reflect subsequent deaths.
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38329740 | |
Society and the Conservative Party - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A look at how Conservative leaders have attempted to define what society should, and should not, be. | UK Politics | Theresa May has set out her vision for a "shared society" in which the state has a role in helping people who are struggling to get by. It marks the latest attempt by a Conservative leader to spell out what society should, or should not, be.
Margaret Thatcher's remark about society was one of her most famous
In a 1987 interview with Woman's Own magazine, Margaret Thatcher said there was "no such thing as society", and that line went on to become one of her most famous.
It has been much debated over the years, with critics seeing it as evidence of a heartless approach where needy individuals are left to fend for themselves.
But Thatcher's supporters complain the quote is taken out of context, and in her memoirs the former PM said it had been "distorted beyond recognition".
More recently, polling has found that while a strong majority of people disagreed with the "no such thing" line in isolation, most agreed with the longer version.
Here it is: "I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it... They're casting their problem on society.
"And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families, and no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first.
"It's our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation."
Thatcher's successor, John Major, entered Downing Street in 1990 promising to create a "classless society", which he described as a "a tapestry of talents in which everyone from child to adult respects achievement".
He was still talking about it in his party conference speech the following year: "I spoke of a classless society. I don't shrink from that phrase.
"I don't mean a society in which everyone is the same, or thinks the same, or earns the same. But a tapestry of talents in which everyone from child to adult respects achievement; where every promotion, every certificate is respected; and each person's contribution is valued. And where the greatest respect is reserved for the law."
Next up was William Hague, who called for a "responsible society", and said Thatcher's famous line had been wilfully misinterpreted and used against the Conservatives.
"A strong society rests on responsible individuals and families. They need to be able to turn to straightforward, reliable help when times are bad," the Tories' 2001 manifesto said.
"But that should not become dependence on the state when times are good."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. David Cameron: "I think we're onto a really big idea, a really exciting future for our country"
"There is such a thing as society; it's just not the same thing as the state," declared David Cameron in his 2005 victory speech after becoming Conservative leader.
Five years later, the idea of a Big Society was a key strand of the Conservatives' 2010 general election manifesto.
It involved allowing voluntary groups and charities to run public services, encouraging people to do more volunteering and giving local groups more power to take decisions affecting their area.
After becoming PM, Cameron described building the Big Society as his "great passion", hoping "people power" would help keep pubs and museums open and mean more residents getting involved with their communities.
But there were reports Conservative candidates found it a hard concept to explain on the doorstep, and the Tories' political opponents said it was simply a way of hiding cuts to local services as the new government reduced public spending.
Mentions of the Big Society became less prominent over the course of the Parliament, and the theme featured little in the 2015 general election campaign.
Having quit frontline politics after the 2016 EU referendum, Mr Cameron now works with the National Citizen Service, describing the organisation as "the Big Society in action".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to "build a better Britain"
In what has been seen as a break from David Cameron's championing of voluntary work, Theresa May has stressed the role of the state in creating "a society that works for everyone".
The so-called shared society, she says, "doesn't just value our individual rights but focuses rather more on the responsibilities we have to one another" and respects "the bonds of family, community, citizenship and strong institutions that we share as a union of people and nations".
In a speech setting out her vision, she said there was "more to life than individualism and self-interest".
"We form families, communities, towns, cities, counties and nations. And we embrace the responsibilities those institutions imply.
"And government has a clear role to play to support this conception of society." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38553797 | |
Newspaper headlines: Johnson's meeting with Trump team and 'polar blast' - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Some front pages focus on Boris Johnson's trip to the US to meet Donald Trump's team, while others warn a cold snap is on its way. | The Papers | The Daily Telegraph leads with Boris Johnson meeting Donald Trump's top advisors in what its headline calls a "Brexit boost".
It says the foreign secretary seized the opportunity to strengthen trade deals and the "special relationship".
But The Guardian says it came against a backdrop of critical remarks by Theresa May, who on Sunday declared the president-elect's remarks about women "unacceptable".
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is in New York visiting Donald Trump's advisors
The paper also highlights Mr Johnson's past comments, describing Donald Trump as "betraying a quite stupefying ignorance that makes him unfit to hold the office of president" before, after his victory, calling for an end to the "whinge-o-rama".
The past insults are remembered too by The Daily Mail, which says the trip came as ministers tried to mend fences with the incoming US president.
The Financial Times, meanwhile, says one of those Boris Johnson met - Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - has also held recent talks with a man it calls "one of China's most politically connected tycoons".
For the paper, the meeting, about a potential real estate deal, raises fresh questions about conflicts of interest in the incoming administration.
The Times leads with Theresa May calling for what its headline describes as a "revolution in child mental health care".
The paper sees it as a significant but overdue victory for its campaign and believes her determination to tackle the issue will "be a yardstick by which her social compassion is judged."
"May declares war on school cyber-bullies" is the headline for The Daily Mail, while The Financial Times focuses on Mrs May's plan to shift away from David Cameron's Big Society and use the power of government to help struggling working families.
There's much coverage too of the prime minister's hint in an interview on Sunday that Britain won't stay in the single market after Brexit.
"I'll dig my heels in" is the headline for The Sun, which believes Mrs May is instead hoping to retain tariff-free access with "a jumbo trade deal".
The Daily Express' editorial says she spoke "the words we have all been waiting to hear".
But The Daily Mirror's associate editor, Kevin Maguire, says the prime minister was "afraid to give straight answers to direct, pertinent questions about the future."
A government source is quoted by both the Daily Mail and The Telegraph as saying this week's wave of strikes has been co-ordinated by unions to inflict "maximum pain" on the public.
With the headline "Millions left stranded as strikes bring transport system to a halt", the Daily Express argues, in its editorial, that the reasons given for the Tube and rail walkouts are just a smokescreen for a crude political agenda.
But, with the headline "Army of new drivers to defeat rail strikes", The Times says a national recruitment campaign will be launched under government plans to combat the industrial action.
Snowy scenes from across Europe abound in many of the papers - with what The Daily Star's front page dubs a "killer arctic storm" set to reach Britain later this week.
But The Times reports that tens of thousands of winter holidays face ruin because of a lack of snow in the Alps.
The Times reports that there has been a lack of snow in the Alps
It says dozens of the most popular resorts could have to turn off their snow cannons, which have proved vital in creating ski runs during weeks of unseasonably dry weather.
And finally The Daily Mail reports that, while many women spend hundreds of pounds on lotions and potions, scientists in the US have found the secret to looking youthful could come from stimulating the skin's own fat cells.
The Express believes it could lead to a new generation of anti-aging treatments and scar-free healing for wounds.
The headline writers for both the Express and the i choose the same pun: "The end of the line for wrinkles". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-38550893 | |
The shared society - more than a slogan? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Theresa May believes life isn't very fair for millions of people. But can the PM's words be translated into action given the other challenges she faces? | UK Politics | When she began her leadership campaign to move into No 10, in an uncharacteristically brash statement, the then home secretary stood up and said: "I'm Theresa May and I'm the best person to be prime minister."
But in the six months since she did take charge, far, far faster than she had anticipated, politics has been dominated by the questions the prime minister doesn't want to answer yet - on how she plans to negotiate our EU exit.
And without very much evidence of a bold vision on that front in recent weeks, charges that her government is directionless, drifting, have started to gain currency.
That's why her first big speech of the year, the start of what aides describe as a "lot more activity", matters, as the prime minister seeks to try to explain to the public why she believes she is the best person to be prime minister.
After her speech on the steps of Downing Street, and the Tory party conference in October, and under the glittering chandeliers of the Mansion House before Christmas, today was one of what's still only a handful of opportunities she has taken to sketch her own image as the occupant of Downing Street.
If you were hoping for radical departures from the PM, you'd have been disappointed.
In fact it was striking how familiar today's speech was to those previous few - whole sections were more or less identical, with another strong restatement of her belief that for millions of people, life just doesn't feel very fair.
She is not a politician trying to sell a cheery vision, not a politician claiming that nirvana is around the corner. She mentioned the word injustice 17 times, what she described as "everyday" injustice that breeds resentment between young and old, London and the rest of the country, rich and poor.
Listening to her on all of those big occasions, despite having been at the top table of the government for six years, you sense that Theresa May fundamentally thinks that there is quite a lot that is wrong with Britain.
But alongside what feels by now, a familiar and rather downbeat analysis of the state we are in, for the first time came what the prime minister wants us to see as her solution to all that.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Theresa May warns about rise of 'fringe' politics
Not the Big Society of David Cameron, nor even Margaret Thatcher's much misquoted statement, "there is no such thing as society - there are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first".
But for Theresa May it is a "shared society", where we all have responsibilities to each other, and an "active" government has a responsibility to step in to help, not just the poorest, but the millions in the middle too.
After a while, every political leader finds themselves in need of a slogan, and it's certainly not the worst that's ever been dreamed up.
She wants you to see her and her party as the sensible middle, on the side of ordinary families, not veering away from the centre ground. It's about as clear an appeal to Middle England, where elections are traditionally won, as you can find. But while she gave today the skeleton of a philosophy, there was not a fully fleshed-out body of policy to accompany it.
And even before the speech was given, the policy that she did talk more about crashed into the common problem of reality versus political rhetoric. Theresa May's desire to make sure that people who need help with their mental health, particularly children, get what they need as soon as possible, and that society sheds the stigma around it, seems genuinely felt.
But she is not the first Conservative politician to have made such a promise. Her predecessor made a similar big one exactly a year ago.
And more importantly perhaps, there is deep scepticism from opposition politicians and those who work in the sector, that the system can work properly without a significant amount of extra cash.
What's happening on the ground was described to me as a "car crash" today by someone in the sector. However many times the prime minister says she wants to make sure mental health is treated just a seriously as physical health, the pressures on funding right across the NHS do matter.
Today's measures are also about where money is being allocated, not opening up the taxpayer's chequebook to top up health budgets.
But that's not the only political problem that Theresa May's vision of a "shared society" will face. Prime ministers are always defined by what they choose to pursue but also by what they can't control.
In managing our departure from the EU, she faces the biggest challenge any leader has had in decades. Preventing her government from becoming consumed by that will take more than a series of speeches and a new slogan. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38555929 | |
Pioneer Cabin Tree in California felled by storms - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Storms in California fell a popular tree with a hole cut in the trunk that cars could drive through. | US & Canada | The giant sequoia, which was carved into a living tunnel over a century ago, has fallen
Storms in California have toppled one of America's most famous trees - the Pioneer Cabin Tree.
The giant sequoia was known for having a hole cut through its trunk - big enough for a car to drive through.
The tree, estimated to be more than 1,000-years-old, was felled by the strongest storm to have hit the area in more than a decade.
California and Nevada have been hit by unusually high rainfall levels, leading to flooding and falling trees.
The Calaveras Big Trees Association first reported that the drive-through Pioneer Cabin Tree - carved 137 years ago - was no more.
The storm was "just too much for it", the group wrote in a Facebook post that has drawn nearly 2,000 comments.
"Many memories were created under this tree," one read. "They will remain good memories."
Others pointed out that the tree might have survived for longer if a tunnel had not been carved into it.
"You can't cut a hole in a tree like this and expect it to live," said one comment.
"This hole always bothered me so much. Why not just drive around it?"
Park volunteer Jim Allday said the sequoia, also known as the Tunnel Tree, shattered as it hit the ground.
"We lost an old friend today," he wrote in a social media post.
Giant sequoia are closely related to the redwood tree, which is considered the tallest tree species on earth, reaching 250ft (76 metres).
They can only grow naturally in the groves of California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
The tree fell as parts of California and Nevada were drenched by a seasonal weather system known as the Pineapple Express.
Not to be confused with the Seth Rogen movie of the same name, the Pineapple Express is an "atmospheric river" that extends across the Pacific from Hawaii to the US West Coast, meteorologists say.
"This is a serious flood situation," the National Weather Service said in a special flood statement late Sunday night after the Russian River in California and the Truckee River in Nevada burst their banks.
Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes in Northern California and Nevada as water levels rise, and avalanches and mudslides close roads. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38561877 | |
Golden Globes 2017: In pictures - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the biggest names in film and TV at the Golden Globe Awards. | Entertainment & Arts | Evan Rachel Wood broke with tradition and wore a suit on the red carpet. "I’ve been to the Globes six times, and I’ve worn a dress every time. And I love dresses, but I wanted to make sure that young girls and women knew they aren’t a requirement," she said. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38551439 | |
iPhone - a moment in history - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Rory Cellan-Jones recalls being criticised for reporting on the iPhone's unveiling a decade ago. | Technology | Not the greatest shot - but a landmark moment
Ten years ago I was running from San Francisco’s Moscone Centre to a nearby hotel to edit a piece for the Ten O’Clock News when my phone rang.
Those were the days, by the way, when phones were for making calls but all that was about to change.
“Have you got your hands on this new Apple phone for a piece to camera?” shouted a producer in London. “If not, why not?”
This appeared to be an impossible demand.
Steve Jobs had just unveiled the iPhone before an adoring crowd but it was not available for grubby hacks to manhandle.
Then I remembered that we had been offered - and turned down for lack of time - an interview with Apple’s marketing chief Phil Schiller. I turned around and headed back to the Moscone Centre. Having located Mr Schiller I asked whether before our interview I might just have a look at the iPhone.
He graciously handed his over - and rather than trying to ring Jony Ive or order 5,000 lattes as Steve Jobs had on stage, I brandished it at the camera for my Ten O’Clock News piece.
The following weekend a Sunday newspaper columnist described me as having clutched the phone as if it were “a fragment of the true cross”, and some viewers complained that the BBC had given undue prominence to a product launch.
I appeared on the Newswatch programme to defend our reporting and said that some products did merit coverage because they promised a step change in the way we lived - and I mused on whether the Model T Ford would have been a story if we’d had a TV news bulletin back then.
Afterwards, I rather regretted saying that - who knew whether the iPhone would really prove as revolutionary as the arrival of mass car ownership?
But today that comparison does not look so outlandish. The smartphone has been the key transformative technology of the last decade, putting powerful computers in the hands of more than two billion people and disrupting all sorts of industries.
We have become accustomed to having a quality camera a hand's reach away
One example is in the photograph at the top of this article. It’s not very good - but then again it was taken by me on a digital SLR camera. In difficult lighting conditions, I struggled to get Steve Jobs in focus on stage.
Compare and contrast with a photo taken 10 years later in Las Vegas last week - it was shot on an iPhone but could just as well been captured on any high-end smartphone such as a Google Pixel, and was the work of the same incompetent photographer.
This 2017 photo could be instantly shared on social media - the Steve Jobs one stayed in my SLR for days.
My point is that the iPhone radically changed the way we thought about photography and a whole range of other activities we could now do on the move.
Of course, there were cameras on phones before 2007, just as there were mobile devices that allowed you to roam the internet or send an email. But the genius of Steve Jobs was to realise that without an attractive user interface many people just couldn’t be bothered to do more with their phones than talk and text.
So, despite my rather British distaste for the hyperbole surrounding the iPhone launch - expressed at the time in a blog - I now look back and feel grateful to have witnessed a moment in history.
Other firms, notably Amazon and Google, are now taking us forward with innovative products imbued with artificial intelligence. But it was on a sunny January morning in San Francisco that the mobile connected era began. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38550016 | |
Reality Check: Was 27 December the busiest NHS day? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says 27 December was the busiest day in NHS history. Is he right? | Health | The claim: Tuesday 27 December was the busiest day in the history of the National Health Service.
Reality Check verdict: In relation to attendance at type-one accident and emergency departments (the general A&E departments at big hospitals), Mr Hunt is correct. That's a reasonable measure of how busy the NHS is, but other measures suggest different days were busier.
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt made the claim on BBC Radio 4's Today programme as he thanked staff for their work over Christmas.
NHS England publishes daily statistics during the winter for several metrics to do with NHS services, so we can look into whether it is the case.
We can assume he was talking about the NHS in England only, because health is devolved, so he is not in charge of the NHS in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
The number of people attending accident and emergency departments is an important indicator of demand for hospital services.
On 27 December, there were 60,215 attendances at A&E departments.
That is a high level, but it's not the highest for the month, which was set at 60,692 on 5 December.
But it turns out that Mr Hunt was talking about only type-one A&E departments, which is what most people would think of as an A&E department.
Type-two are specialist units, such as Moorfields Eye Unit, while type-three are GP-led walk-in centres.
There were 46,315 attendances at type-one A&E departments, which is the highest of the month. Comparisons with previous years are difficult due to changes in coverage and figures not being broken down in the same way.
Another important measure is the number of emergency admissions, which was 13,715 on 27 December.
That is a high figure, but the number was higher on each of the following three days - it was 14,649 on 28 December.
Looking at the proportion of beds occupied: on 27 December, 90.5% of the total number of available beds were occupied.
That's actually quite low by the standards of last month - there were higher figures on 24 days in December.
NHS England says that the week ending 1 January 2017 was the busiest week for the NHS 111 24-hour non-emergency service since it began in August 2010, but we do not get that figure broken down by day so cannot say whether the Tuesday was the busiest day.
We also do not have daily figures for how busy other parts of the NHS were, such as GPs.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38561247 | |
Huge rotor blade artwork installed in Hull for City of Culture 2017 - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A 250ft-long rotor blade forming a new art installation is lifted into position in Hull. | Humberside | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A 250ft-long rotor blade forming a major new art installation is lifted into position.
A 250ft-long (75m) rotor blade forming a new art installation has been lifted into position in Hull.
"The Blade" is the first in a series of temporary commissions marking Hull's year as UK City of Culture.
The 28-tonne structure will remain on display in Queen Victoria Square until 18 March.
The artwork was transported from the Siemens factory on Alexandra Dock, where it was made, through the city overnight in a complex operation.
More than 50 items of street furniture had to be removed to allow it to reach the square.
It arrived on Sunday morning and large crowds gathered to watch it slowly lifted into its final position by late-afternoon.
Large numbers of people gathered to watch the blade being lifted into place
It runs across the whole length of the square, rising to 16ft (5m) at one end allowing traffic to pass beneath it
Project director Richard Bickers said it had been a demanding effort.
"Blade is not only a dramatic artistic installation, but in terms of its transportation and exhibition, a significant engineering feat.
"A major challenge we encountered was manoeuvring the structure through Hull's narrow city centre streets."
The artwork has been designed by Nayan Kulkarni who said he was impressed by the smooth operation to install it.
"They did a study, they did a drawing, they planned the route meticulously.
"The drawings looked difficult, the movements through the city were graceful, I mean it looked effortless."
The huge structure was made by workers at Siemens' new Alexandra Dock factory
It was transported from the factory to the city centre overnight
More than 50 items of street furniture, including traffic lights and lamp posts, had to be temporarily removed
B75 rotor blades - which would normally form the top of a wind turbine - are the world's largest handmade fibreglass components to be cast as a single object, organisers said.
Martin Green, CEO and director Hull 2017, said: "It's a structure we would normally expect out at sea and in a way it might remind you of a giant sea creature, which seems appropriate with Hull's maritime history.
"It's a magnificent start to our Look Up programme, which will see artists creating site specific work throughout 2017 for locations around the city." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-38547052 | |
Unexpected things named after Barack Obama - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | US President Barack Obama adds a parasite to his presidential legacy after scientists name a newly discovered flatworm in his honour. | US & Canada | As Barack Obama closes out his final days as US president, local governments are naming the usual libraries, motorways and schools in his honour.
The Barack Obama Presidential Center library is being erected in Chicago and students across the country are already enrolled in schools named after the nation's first African-American president.
But as well as the ceremonial plaques, sculptures, and buildings there are a few other things bearing Mr Obama's name that you may not have expected.
Baracktrema obamai is the second parasite whose moniker was inspired by Mr Obama.
The flatworm species, which has a long, thread-like body, infects Malaysian freshwater turtles and can be fatal.
"This is clearly something, in my small way, done to honour our president," said Dr Thomas R Platt, an expert on turtle parasites who discovered the species.
He also said he was a distant relative of Mr Obama.
Researchers have previously named a hairworm, the Paragordius obamai, found in Kenya, after Mr Obama. The worm was discovered near where Mr Obama's father lived.
The fish is found inside the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
As part of a tribute to Mr Obama's marine conservation efforts in the Pacific, scientists named a maroon and gold fish found off Kure Atoll at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument off Hawaii.
In 2012, researchers named a vibrant blue and orange freshwater darter, Etheostoma Obama, after Mr Obama. The fish is found in the Duck and Buffalo Rivers of the Tennessee River drainage.
The Obamadon, an extinct, foot-long lizard with straight teeth, was named for the president due to his smile.
Mr Obama is among the US presidents to have the distinction of a mountain named in his honour - but in Antigua. The island nation renamed Boggy Peak, its highest mountain, for Mr Obama on his birthday in 2009.
Researchers named Caloplaca obamae in honour of Mr Obama's support for science education
In 2007, researchers named the fungus, Caloplaca obamae, after Mr Obama at the close of his first presidential campaign. Scientists made the distinction in honour of Mr Obama's support for science education.
The County Offaly village of Moneygall was the birthplace of Barack Obama's great-great-great-grandfather
An Irish countryside service station located in County Offaly, between Dublin and Limerick, was officially named for the US president.
The Barack Obama Plaza includes a petrol station, food court and visitor centre that provides information on Mr Obama's connections to Moneygall.
In 2011 Irish bakers made Brack bread in the president's honour
Ahead of Mr Obama's visit to Ireland in 2011, bakers rushed to create Irish "Brack" bread - something Americans might refer to as a fruit loaf.
No word on if Mr Obama sampled one of the Irish treats
A Western Striolated puffbird, known as Nystalus obamai, is also named in honour of the president. The bird is found in western Amazonia.
A Kenyan school in the village of Kogelo, where Mr Obama's father was born and buried, bears the name of Mr Obama.
The Senator Obama Kogelo Primary School and Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School were named in his honour while he was an Illinois politician.
Aptostichus barackobamai is one of 33 trapdoor spider species discovered in 2013
A trapdoor spider, Aptostichus barackobamai, was also named for Mr Obama, a known Spider-Man fan.
The spider species, which is found in California, is one of 40 that belong to the genus Aptostichus. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37353977 | |
Golden Globes: Meryl Streep attacks Donald Trump in speech - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Meryl Streep strongly criticises Donald Trump as she receives a Golden Globes lifetime award. | null | Actress Meryl Streep strongly criticised US President-elect Donald Trump as she received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes.
While Streep did not name Mr Trump, the three-time Oscar-winning actress used almost the entire speech to say his actions legitimised bullying.
The president-elect, who is due to be inaugurated in less than two weeks, dismissed the actress as "a Hillary lover" in a telephone interview with the New York Times. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38551963 | |
Mental health care: 'The system is broken' - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | People share their experiences of mental health problems and services. | Health | Theresa May has unveiled plans to do more to help those, particularly young people, with mental health conditions.
In her speech at the Charity Commission, the prime minister announced a number of pledges including training at every secondary school, training for employers and organisations, and the appointment of a mental health campaigner.
Here, people have been sharing their experiences of mental health services.
For the last three years, I have been saying exactly what the prime minister has announced today.
I lost my daughter Chloe Rose to suicide two and a half years ago - she was 19.
She was under the care of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) but discharged at 16.
There is a gap in care from the age of 16 to 18. After 16, you're put into the adult mental health category.
But a young person in a dark place may miss an important appointment - who follows them up to see if they're OK?
I've carried out talks to police recruits and college students, and have done many charity events.
I ran a 100km [62-mile] ultramarathon in memory of my daughter - it was for the charity Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, which is a great charity I use who support people going through suicide grief.
I'm currently serving in the Army as a sergeant, and I'm going through a transfer to become an Army welfare worker.
Also, I will soon be getting qualified as a adult and young persons' mental-health first-aid instructor and also a trainer in applied suicide-intervention skills training.
Being in the military, I'm well aware of the stigma and lack of resources that are not available to us and the community.
I run a social media page, Miles for Mental Health, to raise awareness of organisations as well as funds to help pay for people to do mental health first-aid courses.
I'm pushing for the courses to be brought into the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools, as well as in companies, communities, and the military.
I'm a firm believer that experience, education, research, intervention and preparation can potentially save a life.
The new measures have received praise from some, but others think the government has not gone far enough
Mental health services have been in crisis for the last five years.
[In my job as a community psychiatric nurse,] we have no beds or resources.
My team has over 90 people on its caseload.
We struggle to cope with 45.
We take people on to avoid admission, but we have no beds to admit to.
This year, [after 40 years,] I have had enough, it's time for me to go, I cannot cope with the strain and pressure anymore.
The government do nothing, they lie and manipulate all the time.
Trust managers know what is happening but are unable to act.
I've had experience of both NHS and private mental health facilities recently, and the NHS is far worse at dealing with mental health issues.
I had quite a bad experience with a GP who was very dismissive of these issues, so I opted to go through a Live Well facility in my local area.
This was better for me, but still has a very light touch and [is] generic, without any effort or in my view ability to deal with mental health issues.
I'm in a position where I can afford private healthcare, however many are not, so I can only imagine how widespread this issue is.
I'm glad that there will, hopefully, now be a far greater focus on mental health, but there needs to be both words and action to tackle the problem.
My daughter had anorexia last year.
She suffers from self-esteem issues and the feeling of needing to be perfect.
She was diagnosed [at] the beginning of April, but the nearest appointment to see a Camhs worker was the middle of June, which I feared would have been too late for my daughter.
I took her to the GP again due to her deteriorating health, but he told me that I had to wait for the Camhs appointment.
At this point her weight was in the danger zone, down to five stone.
In the meantime, I tried manage it all myself, using all kinds of approaches to help my daughter.
When she was eventually seen by Camhs, she was so ill she was admitted to hospital.
She had to stay in a general hospital for two weeks before there was a bed available in a specialist hospital.
But the nearest bed was over 120 miles from home in Middlesbrough, as there is no provision in the whole of Cumbria.
She stayed in Middlesbrough for seven weeks - it affected her mental health further by being so far away from home, but in the end it was the best place for her.
When she was discharged, she needed to see a dietician, but the only one in Cumbria was off sick.
My daughter didn't see a dietician for six weeks.
My main issue is that GPs didn't understand the seriousness of this mental health disorder - the system is woefully inadequate. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38561016 | |
The Canadian businessman who sponsored 200 refugees - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | One Canadian businessman decided he could do more for desperate Syrians fleeing their war-torn country, so he bankrolled an entire town's resettlement effort. | US & Canada | Danby CEO Jim Estill put up $1.5m of his own money to bring 58 Syrian families to Canada
One Canadian businessman decided he could do more for desperate Syrians fleeing their war-torn country. So he bankrolled an Ontario town's resettlement of over 200 refugees.
Over the summer of 2015, the business executive from the southwestern Ontario town of Guelph watched the Syrian refugee crisis unfold a half a world away, night after night on the evening news.
"I didn't think people were doing enough things fast enough," he says.
He would put up CA$1.5m (US$1.1m/£910,000) of his own money to bring over 50 refugee families to Canada, and co-ordinate a community-wide effort to help settle them into their new life.
It would be a volunteer-driven project, but organised like a business. Volunteer directors led multiple teams, each in charge of a different aspect of settling newcomers.
Canada allows private citizens, along with authorised sponsorship groups, to directly sponsor refugees by providing newcomers with basic material needs like food, clothing, housing, and support integrating into Canadian society. But Estill was looking to make a big impact, quickly.
"I know how to scale things," says Estill, who made his fortune as an entrepreneur, and previously worked as a director at Research in Motion, best known for producing the BlackBerry mobile phone.
Jelil Alou, a Syrian refugee sponsored by the Canadian government, stands with Muhamad Abdo and Ibrahim Halil Dudu, who were sponsored by Jim Estill and the Muslim Society of Guelph
Estill would be the money man, but he needed partners.
So he brought together 10 different faith-based organisations that were already looking at ways to help those affected by the Syrian civil war.
Sara Sayyed remembers the night her husband, president of the Muslim Society of Guelph, came back from that meeting and told her about Estill's plan.
"I was completely floored. I said: 'Let's get involved in this.'"
In November 2015, the local Guelph paper published an article about the plan. It was translated into Arabic and spread around the Middle East.
"People started emailing us directly from Turkey, from Lebanon, from within Syria, saying: 'Can you help us? Can you do something?'" says Sayyed.
Ibrahim Halil Dudu, who was sponsored by Jim Estill and the Muslim Society of Guelph, made international headlines when his skills as a tailor were called on to save a bride's wedding day
As Estill recalls it: "At first you get one email. You get one or two and say: 'Let's see what I can do.' Then it turns into a hundred. And then it's very difficult."
Sayyed's dining room table disappeared under a pile of sponsorship applications. Fifty-eight families were eventually selected.
But that was just the first challenge.
The sponsored families arrived at a trickle. Long delays in government processing came at a cost. Hard to find housing sat vacant. Donations languished in warehouses.
"I was completely taken by surprise it would take so long for the Canadian government to let people in," says Estill. "That cost us a lot."
By December 2016, 47 of 58 families had arrived in Guelph.
But Estill realised that many newcomers were having difficulty finding work because they lacked experience or English language skills.
So he launched a program that provides Syrian refugees with jobs at Danby, along with regular English lessons. He has also assisted others in establishing their own business.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Daad reflects on her previous life in a Syrian war zone
"I don't want to bring people in and put them on welfare," he says, adding if that happens, "I've failed."
Sayyed says that Estill does not come across as a typical big business executive.
"You think: CEO of a company, this image based on what you see on TV and stuff right? And he is the most down to earth guy dressed in regular jeans and a shirt driving a really old car, nothing fancy or flashy about him," she says.
She sees no reason other business people cannot copy his effort.
"The biggest thing is just to have that financial backing. If more people from our business communities just stepped forward and said: 'We'll do this,' it can be done."
Jaya James (left) with Gaziye Fettah and Rojin Haci, who were sponsored by Jim Estill and the Muslim Society of Guelph
Jaya James, who worked worked closely with Sayyed and Estill, took a six-month leave from her job as a civil servant to work as a full-time volunteer director of the Guelph Refugee Sponsorship Forum.
Estill contributed the big vision and the contacts, she says, while she and Sayyed took care of the details. They screened, trained and mentored 800 volunteers, co-ordinated the organisations involved in the effort, and tackled emergencies, including fielding late night calls about bug-infested donated furniture.
James says Estill, who she describes as "a little bristly" but "with a really big heart", has challenged people to ask: "What can I give? What can I do?"
Estill says he reads and replies to all the emails he receives from people seeking to come to Canada and is looking to sponsor more, though the focus will be on bringing in relatives of the newcomers who have already arrived.
Still, the businessman remains perplexed by the praise the effort has gotten worldwide. Estill says he simply had the means to help and a vision of how to implement the plan.
And he says his parents, who sponsored two Ugandan refugees when he was a child, instilled humanitarian values in him.
"I guess I was raised right. That's what I tell my mom," he says with a laugh. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38473532 | |
Hope for a fresh settlement in Cyprus - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Cars, streets and a plane crumble in Cyprus's hastily established 'buffer zone' between Turkish and Greek territory - but there is fresh hope for a deal. | Europe | There is small corner of Europe where time has stood still since 1974. Whole neighbourhoods lie deserted. Houses crumble gently into empty streets.
Cars that were once new and shiny sit enshrouded in dust in garages. Debris litters the runway of a former international airport, the solitary abandoned passenger jet a ghostly reminder of the tourists who used to arrive here daily.
Welcome to the "buffer zone" in Cyprus.
More than 40 years ago, this thin strip of land more than 100 miles (160km) long was hastily established after a coup inspired by Greece failed and Turkish forces invaded.
Since then, UN peacekeepers have patrolled the empty streets and manned the distant watchtowers that separate the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish Cypriot north in this former British colony.
The buffer zone divides the Greek south of Cyprus from the Turkish north
For more than 40 years, this is how Cyprus has remained - a divided island in the eastern Mediterranean where no plan to end the conflict has ever quite overcome the status quo.
For politicians and diplomats are yet again heading for Geneva hoping that a solution might be in sight. After visiting Athens and Ankara last week, the UK's foreign office minister, Sir Alan Duncan, tweeted he was "hopeful" that a settlement may be in reach.
The aim is some kind of united but federal Cyprus where power is shared between the two communities.
How this might work in practice has defeated all previous diplomatic efforts.
Next week the two sides will meet for a fresh round of talks. If they make progress, then ministers from the three countries that currently guarantee Cyprus's security - Britain, Greece and Turkey - will join.
The two British military bases on the island will be unaffected by the negotiations.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will represent the UK. New UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will be there.
If a deal looks likely, then it is even possible that British Prime Minister Theresa May might attend, along with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.
Mrs May spoke to Mr Erdogan this weekend and they agreed that these talks were "a real opportunity to secure a better future for Cyprus and to guarantee stability in the wider region", according to the Mrs May's office.
But - and it is a big but - we have been here before. Previous attempts at a deal have been defeated by the complexities of the island's politics and tensions between Greece and Turkey. So no-one is guaranteeing success next week.
Cars from the 1970s are gathering dust in a show room in the buffer zone
And yet there are signs that this time there could be some progress. Diplomats say that both the Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mustafa Akinci, appear genuinely committed to achieving a deal.
For both of them failure is an unattractive option.
Turkey appears willing to see if progress can be made. Supporting northern Cyprus is expensive and President Erdogan has more room to manoeuvre than his predecessors.
A lot of progress has been made already in talks that have been going on for 19 months. But the sticking points that remain are significant.
And then there is the really hard question - what kind of a deal would be acceptable to the peoples of Cyprus?
Any agreement hammered out in Geneva would not just have to be acceptable to both sides' negotiators and the governments of Greece and Turkey. It would also have to backed by the people in both north and south Cyprus in two referendums later this year. The last time there was a putative deal in 2004 it was overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.
So there are hurdles ahead and no guarantees of success. But some diplomats are expectant. "I don't imagine we could be in a better place," said one. "But everything is very fluid and nothing will be easy."
Even the chance of a deal is quickening pulses in UK government circles. Good news is scarce on the international stage at the moment, and a settlement in Cyprus would be a small beacon of hope.
It would be reaffirmation that talking and co-operating can produce results at a time when many countries seem to prefer using force.
It would allow Mrs May to show the world that - despite Brexit - Britain is still engaged in the world. And above all it would solve a problem that has bedevilled Greek-Turkish relations for so long and given headaches to both the EU and Nato
That is the prize up for grabs over the negotiating tables in Geneva next week. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38544859 | |
Amazon Echos activated by TV comment - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A comment on a US TV news show activates Amazon Echo gadgets in viewers' homes. | Technology | An on-air comment by a US TV presenter activated Amazon Echo gadgets in viewers' homes across San Diego.
The comment was made by presenter Jim Patton after a news item on a child who accidentally ordered a doll's house via the voice-activated gadget.
Reacting to the report, Mr Patton said: "I love the little girl saying 'Alexa ordered me a dollhouse'."
This reportedly prompted Echo devices in some homes to wake up and try to order some of the toys.
The original CW6 TV report Mr Patton reacted to was about six-year-old Brooke Neitzel from Dallas who had been talking to her family's Echo Dot while playing.
Brooke asked Alexa to get her a doll's house and cookies and, because the family had not turned on any buying controls, the Echo responded by placing an order for both.
The doll's house and a large tin of cookies arrived the next morning, prompting mother Megan to investigate their arrival.
Soon after the news item about the accidental purchase aired on San Diego's CW6 morning show, Mr Patton mentioned Alexa and that woke up other Echos in viewers' homes, leading to complaints from their owners.
Security expert Graham Cluley said owners of the Echo needed to be aware that voice-driven buying was enabled by default.
"Consider disabling voice purchasing or enabling a four-digit confirmation code to prevent accidental purchases," he wrote.
"There is the potential for mischief-makers to abuse the system in other ways if it can't tell the difference between the voices of authorised and unauthorised users," he warned.
The Alexa incident is not the first time that TV comments have forced a reaction by voice-driven gadgets.
In 2014, a TV advert for the Xbox console featuring actor Aaron Paul during which he said "Xbox On" woke up many consoles fitted with the Kinect sensor. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38553643 | |
Peter Sarstedt's most famous song - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Peter Sarstedt, who took Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? to the UK number one spot in February 1969, has died aged 75. | null | Peter Sarstedt, who took Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? (Ray Singer: United Artists) to the UK number one spot in February 1969, has died aged 75.
His family said he had been battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for six years. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38549476 | |
Kirsty Gilmour: Funding cut threatens future of badminton - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/BBCSport/ | Badminton may struggle to attract young players after funding cut, worries Scottish Olympian Kirsty Gilmour. | Badminton | Commonwealth Games and European silver medallist Kirsty Gilmour is worried badminton will no longer be able to attract future stars if proposed funding cuts go ahead. An appeal against UK Sport's decision to end all backing ahead of the 2020 Olympics will be submitted this month. "It's hard to motivate kids and tell them they'll be OK if they really want to go for it without that top tier to aim for," Gilmour told BBC Scotland. "If I ever do school talks I can't go in there and say 'if badminton is your dream and if you reach a certain level you are going to be funded'. "I can no longer preach that message." Glasgow-based Gilmour, 23, made her second Olympic appearance in Rio last summer and is determined to keep going towards Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
And her plans for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast 2018 are unaffected by UK Sport policy, with funding coming from Badminton Scotland, who are supported by Sportscotland. "For the most part, GB and UK sport took care of most of my tournaments, so that's a full programme, as well as expenses while away, plus the coaching input from GB," said the Scot, who is recovering from knee surgery in October. "Going forward, I will have to rely solely on Badminton Scotland to provide that same level of care and support but that link I had with the GB system and the next Olympic cycle goes away. "It makes things tougher and more uncertain. If you are worrying about anything other than performance then it's a bad sign. You want everything settled in the background, no stresses. "After [the 2018 Games] we will have to regroup and reassess where we go from there. "I will do everything in my power possible to keep going. I'm hoping to continue for many, many years. It will just be a lot more difficult getting to all of these tournaments around the world." UK Sport made its announcement in December despite Great Britain winning its first Olympic badminton medal since 2004 in Rio.
English pair Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis celebrate winning men's doubles bronze for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics
"Seeing the boys [Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge] get that men's doubles bronze medal, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps," recalls Gilmour, who exited the singles in the group stage as the 11th seed. "Everyone was thinking 'yes, we've done it, medal - check. This is amazing'. We showed we could compete on the world stage. "I don't think any other sport has overachieved on their set target and then had their funding withdrawn. It's still a shock." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/badminton/38547499 | |
Mrs Brown star set to front new Saturday night BBC show - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Comedy star Mrs Brown is to front a new Saturday night TV show on BBC One. | Entertainment & Arts | Brendan O'Carroll's alter-ego Mrs Brown will welcome celebrity guests as part of the show
Comedy star Mrs Brown is to front a new Saturday night TV show on BBC One.
All Round to Mrs Brown's will be hosted by Agnes Brown, the female alter-ego played by Brendan O'Carroll in the sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys.
O'Carroll said: "The entire cast is excited by this. I think Agnes may be worried that she'll need a bigger kettle to make tea for everyone that's coming round!"
The series will be shown later this year.
The BBC said the show would feature "celebrity guests, surprise audience shenanigans and outrageous stunts" in front of a live studio audience.
Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content, said: "Bringing one of our biggest comedy stars, Mrs Brown, to Saturday nights in 2017 with a new entertainment show is going to be full of fun and mischief and totally unpredictable."
Mrs Brown's Boys became a hit when the BBC sitcom first aired in 2011.
Mrs Brown first appeared on Irish radio station RTE 2fm in 1992 and has been the focal point of a series of books and a long-running stage show.
But it was not until O'Carroll's matriarch hit the small screen that he became an international star.
A Saturday night live episode of Mrs Brown's Boys was watched by more than 11 million viewers last year. The sitcom was also voted the most popular of the 21st Century in a Radio Times poll.
In 2014, the spin-off film Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie topped the UK and Ireland box office.
All Round to Mrs Brown's is to be produced by Hungry Bear Media in conjunction with O'Carroll's production company BocPix.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38563190 | |
The simple steel box that transformed global trade - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | By slashing international transportation costs, the shipping container stimulated a global trade boom. | Business | Perhaps the defining feature of the global economy is precisely that it is global.
Toys from China, copper from Chile, T-shirts from Bangladesh, wine from New Zealand, coffee from Ethiopia, and tomatoes from Spain.
Like it or not, globalisation is a fundamental feature of the modern economy.
In the early 1960s, world trade in merchandise was less than 20% of world economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP).
Now, it is around 50% but not everyone is happy about it.
There is probably no other issue where the anxieties of ordinary people are so in conflict with the near-unanimous approval of economists.
Arguments over trade tend to frame globalisation as a policy - maybe even an ideology - fuelled by acronymic trade deals like TRIPS and TTIP.
But perhaps the biggest enabler of globalisation has not been a free trade agreement, but a simple invention: the shipping container.
It is just a corrugated steel box, 8ft (2.4m) wide, 8ft 6in (2.6m) high, and 40ft (12m) long but its impact has been huge.
BBC World Service's 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations that helped create the global economy.
You can find more information about its sources and listen online or download the programme podcast.
Consider how a typical trade journey looked before its invention.
In 1954, an unremarkable cargo ship, the SS Warrior, carried merchandise from New York to Bremerhaven in Germany.
It held just over 5,000 tonnes of cargo - including food, household goods, letters and vehicles - which were carried as 194,582 separate items in 1,156 different shipments.
Just keeping track of the consignments as they moved around the dockside warehouses was a nightmare.
But the real challenge was physically loading such ships.
Longshoremen would pile the cargo onto a wooden pallet on the dock.
The pallet would be hoisted in a sling and deposited in the hold.
More longshoremen carted each item into a snug corner of the ship, poking the merchandise with steel hooks until it settled into place against the curves and bulkheads of the hold, skilfully packed so that it would not shift on the high seas.
There were cranes and forklifts but much of the merchandise, from bags of sugar heavier than a man to metal bars the weight of a small car, was shifted with muscle power.
In a large port, someone would be killed every few weeks.
In 1950, New York averaged half a dozen serious incidents every day, and its port was safer than many.
Researchers studying the SS Warrior's trip to Bremerhaven concluded the ship had taken ten days to load and unload, as much time as it had spent crossing the Atlantic.
In today's money, the cargo cost around $420 (£335) a tonne to move.
Given typical delays in sorting and distributing the cargo by land, the whole journey might take three months.
Sixty years ago, then, shipping goods internationally was costly, chancy, and immensely time-consuming.
Surely there had to be a better way?
Indeed there was: put all the cargo into big standard boxes, and move those.
But inventing the box was the easy bit - the shipping container had already been tried in various forms for decades.
The real challenge was overcoming the social obstacles.
To begin with, the trucking companies, shipping companies, and ports could not agree on a standard size.
Some wanted large containers while others wanted smaller versions; perhaps because they specialised in heavy goods or trucked on narrow mountain roads.
Then there were the powerful dockworkers' unions, who resisted the idea.
Yes the containers would make the job of loading ships safer but it would also mean fewer jobs.
Malcom McLean understood how revolutionary containerisation could be for shipping
US regulators also preferred the status quo.
The sector was tightly bound with red tape, with separate sets of regulations determining how much that shipping and trucking companies could charge.
Why not simply let companies charge whatever the market would bear - or even allow shipping and trucking companies to merge, and put together an integrated service?
Perhaps the bureaucrats too were simply keen to preserve their jobs.
Such bold ideas would have left them with less to do.
The man who navigated this maze of hazards, and who can fairly be described as the inventor of the modern shipping container system, was called Malcom McLean.
McLean did not know anything about shipping but he was a trucking entrepreneur.
He knew plenty about trucks, plenty about playing the system, and all there was to know about saving money.
As Marc Levinson explains in his book, The Box, McLean not only saw the potential of a shipping container that would fit neatly onto a flat bed truck, he also had the skills and the risk-taking attitude needed to make it happen.
First, McLean cheekily exploited a legal loophole to gain control of both a shipping company and a trucking company.
Then, when dockers went on strike, he used the idle time to refit old ships to new container specifications.
He took on "fat cat" incumbents in Puerto Rico, revitalising the island's economy by slashing shipping rates to the United States.
He cannily encouraged New York's Port Authority to make the New Jersey side of the harbour a centre for container shipping.
But probably the most striking coup took place in the late 1960s, when Malcom McLean sold the idea of container shipping to perhaps the world's most powerful customer: the US Military.
Faced with an unholy logistical nightmare in trying to ship equipment to Vietnam, the military turned to McLean's container ships.
Containers work much better when they are part of an integrated logistical system, and the US military was perfectly placed to implement that.
Even better, McLean realised that on the way back from Vietnam, his empty container ships could collect payloads from the world's fastest growing economy, Japan.
And so trans-Pacific trading began in earnest.
A modern shipping port would be unrecognisable to a hardworking longshoreman of the 1950s.
Even a modest container ship might carry 20 times as much cargo as the SS Warrior did, yet disgorge its cargo in hours rather than days.
Gigantic cranes weighing 1,000 tonnes apiece lock onto containers which themselves weigh upwards of 30 tonnes, and swing them up and over on to a waiting transporter.
The colossal ballet of engineering is choreographed by computers, which track every container as it moves through a global logistical system.
The refrigerated containers are put in a hull section with power and temperature monitors.
The heavier containers are placed at the bottom to keep the ship's centre of gravity low.
The entire process is scheduled to keep the ship balanced.
And after the crane has released one container onto a waiting transporter, it will grasp another before swinging back over the ship, which is being simultaneously emptied and refilled.
Not everywhere enjoys the benefits of the containerisation revolution.
Many ports in poorer countries still look like New York in the 1950s.
Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, remains largely cut off from the world economy because of poor infrastructure.
But for an ever-growing number of destinations, goods can now be shipped reliably, swiftly and cheaply.
Rather than the $420 (£335) that a customer would have paid to get the SS Warrior to ship a tonne of goods across the Atlantic in 1954, you might now pay less than $50 (£39).
Indeed, economists who study international trade often assume that transport costs are zero.
It keeps the mathematics simpler, they say, and thanks to the shipping container, it is nearly true.
Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. The 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme was broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about its sources and listen online or download the programme podcast. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38305512 | |
Snow covers Greek beach as Europe freezes - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Icy temperatures across southern and eastern Europe have left more than 20 people dead and blanketed the Greek islands and southern Italy in snow. | null | Icy temperatures across southern and eastern Europe have left more than 20 people dead and blanketed even the Greek islands and southern Italy in snow. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38550369 | |
Why addicts take drugs in 'fix rooms' - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Britain could soon see its first "fix room" for drug users. But who uses such places and how do they work? | Magazine | Angelea Let works as a prostitute to fund her drug addiction
Britain could soon see its first "fix room" for drug users - a safe space where addicts can take illegal narcotics under medical supervision. But who uses such places and how do they work?
On a cold and wet Thursday morning, there are already users inside Skyen, one of Copenhagen's fix rooms.
Angelea Let, 49, sits in one of the cubicles in the smoking room to take crack cocaine.
"I get a good feeling from my legs to my head, it has already taken away 50% of my pain," she says as she smokes.
Angelea told the Victoria Derbyshire programme she can spend around £600 a week on crack.
She is one of hundreds of users who visit Skyen each day. The irony of the situation is not hard to see.
The fix room has an area where people can inject themselves with drugs
While the hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are illegal, in a fix room they can be taken under the watchful gaze of medical supervisors. The equipment they are given, including needles for injecting, is clean and supplied by the shelter.
Everything is laid on - bar the drugs, which users must bring with them.
Injecting rooms have been around for more than 30 years. Drug rooms exist officially in several European countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Spain, as well as in Canada and Australia.
There are six fix rooms in Denmark, and many others around Europe
And Britain could be next in line. Glasgow is planning to open the UK's first drugs consumption room and those behind it have been looking to countries like Denmark for inspiration.
Denmark opened its first fix room in 2012 and Skyen, which started three years ago, is one of six now running in the country. Funded by public money, it costs about £1m a year to run.
The set-up is organised and managed. There are two separate areas for people to take drugs - the injecting room, which seats up to nine people, and another room with eight seats, for those who want to smoke hard drugs.
But don't such facilities encourage illegal drug use?
"The situation in the area before we had the drug consumption room was that we had all the drug users sitting around in the streets, shooting drugs in public," says Christiansen. "After we opened this place, about 90% of the outdoor drugs use is gone.
"We have had hundreds of overdose situations, not a single one has been fatal.
Rasmus Koberg Christiansen says it is better to take people's drug use away from the streets
"Our purpose is harm reduction, however, if or when a user expresses a wish to stop or cut down on their drug use, we react immediately and help the person to make contact to a relevant facility."
Located in the heart of the Danish capital's red light district, Skyen is conveniently situated for Angelea, who volunteers in a soup kitchen by day and works as prostitute by night.
It was the effects of a car accident almost 20 years ago that led to her drug habit, she says.
"After I was in the accident, there was no feeling in my left leg and arm for about six years. I have the feeling back now, but I'm in constant pain."
To take the edge off, Angelea smokes mostly crack cocaine, and occasionally heroin.
She feels safe in the fix room, knowing that the staff and one of the nurses constantly on duty will watch over her. They are there to prevent people from dying from overdosing.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. 'Could you live my life for one week?'
There is a constant flow of people in an out of the Skyen rooms throughout the day. Some of them are new faces to the staff, but many are regular users and can come multiple times in a few hours.
Angelea is back later in the afternoon to smoke crack again.
"I'm here again because I'm in so much pain," she says as she rushes into the smoking room.
The drugs room stays open through the night, closing only for an hour each morning for cleaning.
It is not a treatment facility to get addicts off drugs, and many people will use it before going back to their difficult and sometimes dangerous lifestyles.
Late in the evening, only a few streets away, Angelea is out working, trying to find customers to pay for her next fix.
"I'm going to work, make some money and then smoke cocaine, then go back to work, make more money and smoke more cocaine again in the fix room. This is my lovely life," she says, laughing bitterly.
Another room in Skyen is set up for those who smoke hard drugs
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38531307 | |
CES 2017: Roam-E drone takes flying selfies - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | A new type of fold-up drone that follows its owner taking selfies is previewed at the CES tech show. | null | A new type of fold-up drone that follows its owner about taking selfies is being previewed at the CES tech show in Las Vegas.
Roam-E uses facial recognition software to keep on course and stays airborne with just two rotors.
But could it pose a safety risk? Chris Foxx reports.
Follow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38541534 | |
McGuinness - 'No return to status quo' - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Martin McGuinness says there will be "no return to the status quo" as he quits as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister over the handling of a botched heating scheme. | null | Martin McGuinness has resigned as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister in protest against the handling of a botched heating scheme that could cost taxpayers £490m.
He spoke to reporters at Stormont Castle on Monday afternoon. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38564067 | |
CES 2017: Clothes-folding Laundroid robot readies for launch - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | A clothes-folding robot that has been in development for more than a decade is at the CES tech show to promote its imminent launch. | null | A clothes-folding robot that has been in development for more than a decade is about to go on sale.
Chris Foxx caught up with the project's founder at the CES tech show in Las Vegas.
Follow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38541533 | |
FA Cup: Cambridge Utd 1-2 Leeds Utd highlights - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Championship side Leeds United avoid an FA Cup third-round upset as they fight back to win 2-1 at League Two opponents Cambridge United. | null | Championship side Leeds United avoid an FA Cup third-round upset as they fight back to win 2-1 at League Two opponents Cambridge United.
Watch all the best action from the FA Cup third round here.
Available to UK users only. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38564153 | |
Joint bank accounts: For better or worse? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The convenience of a joint bank account is popular among couples with shared household bills - but there are pitfalls too. | Business | A barnacle removal bill is an unlikely inspiration to set up a joint bank account. Yet, for two keen sailors, opening an account together was the most efficient way to organise the costs of running their boat.
Fees for maintenance, mooring, and fuel all needed to be paid, so the yacht-owning duo stepped into their local bank branch on the south coast of England and signed up.
The manager that day was Eric Leenders, now the managing director of retail banking at the British Bankers' Association.
"Typically joint accounts are used by couples for pooled income and expenditure, the trigger is often when they move in together and start paying the bills," he says.
"But, on occasions, they are used to share funding for a particular project."
It is the mundane reality of keeping heads above water financially - rather than keeping a vessel shipshape - that prompts most people to open a joint bank account.
Any couple or group of people can open an account together, generally a regular current account with some added terms and conditions. Yet, experts stress there are benefits and pitfalls to sharing a bank account with anyone - even within an intimate relationship.
Today, couples are living together and marrying later in life. Having increasingly led independent financial lives, the relevance of joint accounts may be questioned.
While the vast majority of banks and building societies offer them, they do not collect and share any data so we can only speculate that the popularity of these accounts is fading.
Fiona Cullinan, a 48-year-old digital editor, says she never had a joint bank account, even during more than two years of marriage - until last month.
"This is probably a legacy of not wanting to argue about money and also being independent, as once bills and standing orders are set up, it is hard to shift everything over - or so I thought," she says.
"In September I lost one of my jobs and so a joint account started to make more sense to help with cash flow. It was really simple and took about 30 minutes at the bank to set up.
"Now that everything doesn't go out from my account, it is a lot less stressful. A secondary bonus is that the burden feels more shared as my husband is now more involved in household finances - he set up a household budget spreadsheet to check things are on track each month. I now feel we are more of a team."
Applying for a joint account is much the same as opening a current account individually. Applicants often tick a box to make the account a joint version, then fill in their individual section of the form and provide the normal proof of address and identity.
Many banks allow customers to add a second name to an existing account, following the normal checks.
Convenience is generally the main benefit, with the account used to pay household bills, although wages are often still paid into an individual's own current account.
"Two people with two accounts often become two people with three accounts," says Eric Leenders, of the BBA.
There is no limit on the number of people who can sign up, but primarily they are used by couples who are married, in civil partnerships or who live together, or by friends who share a home. Banks says that couples separated by work postings are also among those who are keen.
Mr Leenders says that reward or packaged current accounts can lend themselves to joint opening owing to household benefits, such as insurance, that may be included. He stressed that anyone signing up should read the terms and conditions to check the extent of this cover.
The Money Advice Service, a government-funded, independent organisation, points out there are limitations for anyone who needs longer term access to someone else's finances.
"If, for example, you have an elderly relative who is having trouble keeping on top of their money - a joint account is not your best bet," it says.
Couples' finances have been used in comedy turns such as the Joint Account TV series
The key decision when setting up the account is whether one individual can withdraw money, sign cheques and make payments or whether both, or all, need to sign.
This is made official under what is known as the mandate. This should also cover the rules over who must give permission for changes in the terms of the account or close it.
Whatever the decision, all parties usually get a payment card and a cheque book, if it is available with the account.
Digitally, each person will have their own log-in details, with their own password, so this needs to be set up individually. In reality, this means each remembering another password, although mobile banking now uses encrypted password saving and fingerprint logins.
Joint accounts allow people to share the rewards and convenience, but they also share the risk.
Opening a joint account means a couple will be co-scored by credit reference agencies, so if one has a poor credit history it can affect the other.
Getting out of debt also falls to both, or all, of those signed up - as a group and individually. Typically, each account holder is responsible for paying back all the money owed, so one could become liable for repaying the other person's debt.
A bank might take money from that person's sole account to cover the overdraft in the joint account - but only if both accounts are with the same bank.
"Banks are not in the business of making good customers bad customers," says Mr Leenders, pointing out that banks' lending code requires them to treat customers sympathetically.
He stresses that people should inform their bank about a relationship breakdown, or any sign of transactions that have not been agreed, to freeze the account - otherwise it can be difficult to retrieve this money.
Cases that have gone to the financial ombudsman include:
At its worst, extravagant spending by one partner from the joint account, or sole control of a joint account can be a sign of financial abuse.
Spending jointly earned money, taking out loans in a partner's name, demanding payment for utility bills from their own savings, or scrutinising every penny that a partner spends are all signs of such bullying, charities and the TUC say.
Worse, it can be the forerunner of even more serious emotional, or physical, abuse.
Women are often the victims, but men - particularly those with disabilities - can also be vulnerable.
Under the Serious Crime Act - implemented in 2015 - coercive and controlling behaviour between partners, which could include financial abuse, became illegal for the first time.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38508810 | |
Your pictures: My own bed - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Each week, we publish a gallery of readers' pictures on a set theme. This week it is "My own bed". | In Pictures | Anna Grayson: "This is a scene I had been thinking of shooting anyway, in honour of Tracey Emin. The aftermath of the Christmas hols seems to have given my bed the right feel. I bumped into Tracey Emin a few years ago, and she kindly agreed to let me photograph her (it is in the frame on the right above the bed). She was very encouraging about the importance of doing art, and not long after that I chucked in work and went to art college. One of the things I enjoy doing is recreating famous works of art as photographs. So this is an homage and thank you to Tracey." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-38510863 | |
Pakistan test launches submarine cruise missile - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Pakistan's military says it has test launched a submarine cruise missile from the Indian Ocean. | null | Pakistan's military says it has test launched a submarine cruise missile from the Indian Ocean.
The nuclear-capable missile is seen flying over the coast and hitting its flag target. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38561939 | |
India v England: Eoin Morgan's family affected by criticism - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | England one-day captain Eoin Morgan says his family were affected by the criticism he received for missing the Bangladesh tour. | null | Last updated on .From the section Cricket
England one-day captain Eoin Morgan says his family were affected by the criticism he received for missing the tour of Bangladesh over security fears.
The 30-year-old has returned to lead England in three one-day internationals in India, starting in Pune on Sunday.
"My way of dealing with it was to get away from things, which I did," Morgan told BBC Sport.
"My family saw a lot of it and were very offended, but that is part and parcel of being in the limelight."
Morgan and fellow batsman Alex Hales made themselves unavailable for the trip to Bangladesh in October, the first tour by an international side since 20 people were killed in a siege at a cafe in Dhaka in July.
Before confirming his decision not to travel, Morgan said he would never again take part in a tour where security concerns may affect his game.
"I don't have any regrets," the Middlesex man said on Monday. "When I made the decision I considered all consequences. I felt very comfortable with the decision."
In his absence, a side led by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler won a three-match series 2-1, with Morgan and Hales now returning as England seek a first ODI series win in India since 1984-85.
Ireland-born Morgan, though, drew optimism from England's excellent recent ODI form and their run to the final of the World Twenty20 in India last year.
"The side that we'd had over the past two years have done some very special things and they have not played ODI cricket in India together," said the left-hander.
"Beating India would be a great achievement and it's a huge challenge, but I wouldn't write us off.
"They are not unbeatable, but we will have to play very, very well in order to beat them."
Batsman Joe Root will join up with the rest of the squad on Thursday following the birth of his first child and will be available for the first ODI. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38557963 | |
Brazil prison riots: What's the cause? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A spike in violence violence in Brazil's prisons has cast a spotlight on failures its penal system. | Latin America & Caribbean | A spate of violence in Brazil's prisons has cast a spotlight on a system which appears to be near a state of collapse.
Almost 100 inmates lost their lives in the first week of January alone - brutally murdered, the guards apparently unable to stop the bloodshed.
But how has it come to this?
A crackdown on violent and drug-related offences in recent years has seen Brazil's prison population soar since the turn of the century.
The prison in Roraima state where 33 inmates were killed on 6 January held 1,400 inmates when a deadly riot started. That is double its capacity.
Overcrowding makes it hard for prison authorities to keep rival factions separate. It also raises tensions inside the cells, with inmates competing for limited resources such as mattresses and food.
In the relatively wealthy state of Sao Paulo, a single guard oversees 300 to 400 prisoners in some prisons, Camila Dias, a sociologist at the Federal University of ABC in Sao Paulo and expert on Brazil's prison system, told Reuters.
That means it is relatively easy for prisoners - and gangs - to take control of the facilities. As a result, "when the prisoners want to have an uprising, they have an uprising," Ms Dias said.
Killings are already common within the walls of Brazil's prisons - 372 inmates lost their lives in this way in 2016, according to Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper - but this recent surge has been linked to the breakdown in a two-decade truce of sorts between the country's two most powerful gangs.
A lack of guards means prisoners can take control, experts say. Pictured: A riot in 2014
Up until recently, the Sao Paulo-based First Capital Command (PCC) drug gang and Rio de Janeiro's Red Command had a working relationship, supposedly to ensure the flow of marijuana, cocaine and guns over Brazil's porous borders and into its cities.
But recently they have fallen out - although the exact reasons why remain unclear.
And following the government crackdown on criminal gangs, there are thousands of members of both gangs locked up inside Brazilian prisons.
Rafael Alcadipani, a public security expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank in Sao Paulo, told Reuters it means any feud between the two sides on the streets will almost certainly spill over into the largely "self-regulated" jails.
"We see that as soon as we have a gang war, these killings are inevitably going to happen because the state has no control over the prisons," he said.
The army patrols outside a prison in northern Brazil where more than 30 inmates died
Following the deadly riots in Amazonas, state governor Jose Melo asked the federal government for equipment such as scanners, electronic tags and devices which block mobile phone signals inside prisons.
His request illustrates the lack of basic equipment in prisons which house large numbers of prisoners.
He also said that the state police force was struggling to cope and requested that federal forces be sent.
Poorly-trained and badly-paid prison guards often face inmates who not only outnumber them but who also feel they have little to lose as they face long sentences already.
Following the 1 January riot, which left 56 inmates dead in a prison in Manaus, the Brazilian government announced a plan to modernise the prison system.
But with Brazil going through its worst recession in two decades and a 20-year cap on public spending in place, it is hard to see how the government plans to fund it. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38534769 | |
My fear of dating as someone with dwarfism - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Paralympic hopeful Pani has never had a girlfriend and faces his fear of dating by appearing on The Undateables. | Disability | Athlete and law student Pani Mamuneas has never had a girlfriend and says he suspects the only women who approach him want to tick "dwarf" off their bucket list. The 19-year-old decided to do something about it and applied for a TV dating show.
You always hear girls say 'ooh what's your type? Oh tall, you know tall and handsome' and I'm the total opposite of that.
At 4ft 7in people have always asked me 'would you have wanted to be born taller?' But now, I can't imagine life any other way.
When I was younger I never saw myself as having a disability. I wasn't even aware of it until my teenage years when growth spurts happened to others and I started to see that I was different and school became very difficult.
My fellow students at school in Leicester would ask 'Pani why are you so small? Were you born the size of a pea?' Thinking back, all those things that hurt me could have easily been avoided by realising people were just curious - they were kids asking silly questions.
I have what's known as Achondroplasia - a form of dwarfism. Apparently I'm taller than average for my condition but still quite tiny and it definitely affected potential relationships and how I have viewed myself over the years.
My male friends and I would always talk about girls and celebrities, the ones we would dream of marrying and how we would ask them out. But this is when things went very wrong for me.
At the age of 12 I asked a girl out. We went to the cinema and seemed to have a good time, but the next day the gossip began.
I secretly told a friend in the school library that I liked her but he wrote it in big letters on the whiteboard for everyone to see - when I saw it I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth.
Myself and the girl both ended up in tears and she felt too embarrassed to talk to me again.
That was when I lost all of my confidence and thought I was not good enough because of my height.
I stopped talking to girls and I certainly wouldn't reveal if I fancied someone.
I was afraid of what girls would think of me, always worrying they might ignore or tease me, or treat me like a nobody, because I was different.
It was a very difficult time of my life.
When I reached college, however, things started to look up. Everyone seemed to have matured and the general bullying stopped. It became a time for me to discover who I was, and what I wanted to do with my future.
Sadly, this new way of thinking didn't mean my love life improved and I had other challenges to overcome including going to nightclubs with friends.
I wouldn't have the confidence to go up to girls, chat to them or ask them to dance. I always felt that because I was different if a woman approached me it was so she could tick it off her bucket list.
It was at this point, having never had a girlfriend, I decided to contact Channel 4's The Undateables - a reality show which tries to match disabled people with a partner - and so face my fear of dating with the hope of potentially finding somebody.
It was a drastic thing to do but I thought if I could successfully go on a date on a television show I wouldn't have any confidence problems in the future.
Facing my fears worked and I now feel able to approach a woman and have a conversation with her because I have learned there isn't anything to be afraid of. If the girl doesn't like me fair enough, but some open-minded people will like me.
I had been competing internationally in shot put and javelin and hoped to compete in the Paralympic Games in Rio last year but injury forced me to take time out.
Participating in The Undateables helped me to focus on a different aspect of life and took my mind off the injury although I've now returned to training with my sights set on the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo as well as taking a degree in law.
This process has further boosted my confidence and I've realised that being short isn't a barrier it's a feature. All this time I shouldn't have thought of myself as less of a person.
Being me is the best thing I can do better than anyone else.
The Undateables transmits on Monday nights at 21:00 GMT on Channel 4 and is also available on All 4.
For more Disability News, follow on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to the weekly podcast. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-38528816 | |
Fort Lauderdale airport shooting: Shooter on CCTV - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | CCTV has revealed the moment a man opened fire at Fort Lauderdale airport on Friday, as a suspect appears in court charged with killing five people and injuring six others. | null | CCTV has revealed the moment a man opened fire at Fort Lauderdale airport on Friday.
Suspect Esteban Santiago, 26, is appearing in court charged with killing five people and injuring six others. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38564017 | |
George North: Northampton Saints' treatment of wing 'disappoints' World Rugby - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | World Rugby says it is "disappointed" by Northampton's treatment of George North's most recent head injury. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
World Rugby says it is "disappointed" by Northampton Saints' "failure to identify and manage" George North's recent head injury "appropriately".
The Wales wing, 24, appeared motionless after a mid-air tackle in the loss to Leicester on 3 December, but played on.
A concussion panel review last month concluded North should not have played on, but did not sanction Saints.
The BBC contacted Saints, who referred back to previous statements when they "accepted" the panel's decision.
Saints had also previously said the club was "encouraged to see that the CMRG (panel review) has found that the medics had nothing other than player welfare in mind during this incident".
After the panel's findings, World Rugby wanted more information and has since held "highly constructive" talks with governing bodies.
Following these discussions with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby, a World Rugby statement reiterated head injury protocols were "not fully adhered to", with the main reason given that Saints medical staff were evaluating a potential spinal injury.
North's later resumption in play was caused by the "non-application" of these protocols, according to the statement, but World Rugby now says it is "satisfied" the club's medical staff have been educated on the permanent removal process.
The statement continued: "While it is impossible to completely remove the risk of error, World Rugby remains disappointed that there was a failure in this case to identify and manage the injury appropriately, in particular considering North's medical history."
North previously suffered four head blows in five months between November 2014 and March 2015, leading to a spell on the sidelines that lasted from 27 March until 29 August.
Premiership Rugby welcomed the support for their strategy to deal with head injuries.
"Within the English game - and in collaboration with the RFU and RPA (Rugby Players' Association) - we are setting new standards in dealing with concussion risk in education, prevention and treatment, and driving a change of culture in the game," said a spokesman.
"We are 100% behind our clubs in the way they have tackled concussion - player welfare is theirs and our number one priority."
• None Complete compliance with the mandatory six-point head injury education, prevention, and management programme as outlined within the conditions of use of the HIA (Head Injury Assessment) tool.
• None Any clear or suspected symptom of concussion results in immediate and permanent removal of the player from the match or training session. The HIA is not applicable where a symptom of suspected concussion is observed - Recognise and Remove.
• None Individual risk stratification of players as outlined in the conditions of HIA adoption is a priority and all management should undertake concussion education as outlined on World Rugby's player welfare website.
• None Unions and competition owners are aware of their obligation under the conditions of HIA adoption that untoward incident reviews should operate where there are cases of apparent non-compliance with rugby's head injury protocols.
• None They prioritise Recognise and Remove education via social and digital platforms to educate the entire rugby community in the importance of recognising symptoms and immediately permanently removing any players with clear or suspected symptoms from playing or training.
After the report of the concussion panel review was published last month, Northampton said in a statement that they "accept the conclusion that George should not have been allowed to return to the field of play, but are pleased that the CMRG has reflected our concerns about the current technologies and processes available to medical teams when assessing concussion".
The statement added: "The club believes that this is now an opportunity for the whole rugby community to reflect on the CMRG's recommendations to ensure the highest levels of player safety and well-being." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38560206 | |
CES 2017: Searching for the sounds of tech - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | CES is an overwhelming visual feast - but can this year's gadgets delight the ear as well as the eye? | Technology | Can CES delight the ear as well as the eye?
CES is a visual feast of lights, colour, people, costumes - and of course endless gadgets.
There are plenty of striking pictures from the show floor.
But are any of the exhibitors interested in delighting your ears?
Rather like the city of Las Vegas itself, it has its own distinctive beat.
There's the hubbub of chatter. The hiss of vending cart coffee machines. The thumping bass and discord of various sound systems vying for attention. The amplified echo of a hundred demonstrations. The ringtones and message alerts from thousands of mobile phones.
And also - this being a tech fair - the whizzes and ticks and buzzes and bings of robots and drones.
Robots make quite a racket - just what you'd expect at a football match
After hours of stalking the vast halls of CES besieged by visuals, I decided to try and find beguiling sounds instead.
Things did not get off to a good start.
The first robot I encountered - a service machine designed to guide people around museums - responded to my greeting by asking me whether I was "fickle after kissing".
Its mortified owner told me it was confused. It wasn't the only one.
Next, I asked one of the show guides where I could find some interesting noises, and was promptly escorted to a section of the show floor dedicated to in-car speakers.
I had to explain that as much as I admire Lady Gaga, the strains of her hit Bad Romance blasting out of the back of a Jeep rammed floor-to-ceiling with sub woofers wasn't what I had in mind either.
It was in a start-up zone called Eureka Park that I struck audio gold.
Some gadgets, like the cuddly Talkies, can't wait to speak up
I was drawn in by the sound of crickets - very incongruous in a giant exhibition hall with no natural light, let alone greenery. It was coming from an air purifier called Clair with a built-in Bluetooth speaker nestling at a tiny stand towards the back.
"When people sleep they need fresh air and also this kind of sound can help people sleep better," said a spokesman who introduced himself as Bono from South Korea.
"So, we put them both together."
It's the sort of stuff that's perfect for radio, in fact. After that, I captured the warm American male tones of a virtual assistant designed for cars and the staccato gunfire of a man who was evidently immersed in a VR game of mortal combat that only he could see.
Next came machine-like marching sounds from a team of forearm-sized Aelos robots playing miniature football, and a delegate attempting to play Let It Be by The Beatles on a Magic Instruments digital guitar. It's supposed to be easy to learn. Perhaps he tried the wrong tune.
The Emys robot has a natural sounding voice - and looks like a cross between ET and a Ninja Turtle
I bonded with natural-voiced Emys, a Kickstarter-funded desktop robot that looked like a cross between ET and a Ninja Turtle. It has been designed to teach young children foreign languages (did you know that castle in Spanish is castillo?).
I also hugged a gurgling Talkie - a cuddly little monster with wi-fi that you can use to exchange voice messages with your children.
Olly, a robot that claims to adapt to the personality of its owner, told me about feeling both happy and sad in a mournfully child-like voice.
"By the end of the day I'll be dead," complained an uncomfortable promotions girl, fidgeting in a pair of towering stilettos.
"And if I'm not - just kill me."
Meanwhile, a little bat-shaped speaker chimed like a casino slot machine, as it tried to re-establish a connection with the smartphone it was supposed to be streaming music from.
What's the sound of CES? It's all of those things. All at the same time. All day long. And it's music to my ears.
Listen to Zoe's radio report on The World This Weekend, on Radio 4 at 13:00 GMT | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38540739 | |
Tube strike: Aerial pictures of morning rush hour - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Aerial footage shows heavy traffic and large queues for buses during Monday morning rush hour in London as commuters try to get to work despite a 24-hour Tube strike. | null | Aerial footage shows heavy traffic and long queues for buses during Monday morning's rush hour in London, as commuters try to get to work despite a 24-hour Tube strike.
This video has no sound. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38552768 | |
James Haskell: Wasps boss jokes about 35-second return by England flanker - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Wasps boss Dai Young jokes about James Haskell's "outstanding" contribution after he lasts less than a minute on his return. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young joked about James Haskell's "outstanding" contribution after he lasted just 35 seconds on his return from injury.
Haskell, 31, made his first appearance since playing for England against Australia last summer as a replacement in Wasps' 22-16 win over Leicester.
He appeared to be knocked out after tackling Freddie Burns but was then able to walk off the pitch.
"The most important thing is that he is fine," said Young after the match.
Speaking to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, he added: "He would have obviously have wanted a lot more, but thankfully he is OK.
"Everybody was concerned initially but once they seen he was OK, he is getting a little bit of stick in the dressing room.
"It was an outstanding 35 seconds, wasn't it?"
• None Match report: Wasps return to the top after holding off Leicester fightback
Asked about Haskell's chances of playing against Toulouse in the European Champions Cup next week, Young said: "It all depends on what the medical team say now and after looking at him.
"It will be tight and fingers crossed he will be available, but obviously player welfare is the most important thing."
Young said that Haskell would have to "go through the protocols" introduced around concussion, adding: "It's a six-day protocol, so he has got to tick all the boxes."
England head coach Eddie Jones will surely be relieved that Haskell's latest setback appears not to be serious, as he has several injury problems among his forwards in the build-up to the Six Nations.
Billy and Mako Vunipola have already been ruled out of the tournament and former skipper Chris Robshaw is to see a specialist about a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Joe Launchbury has a calf problem and George Kruis is out of action with a fractured cheekbone. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38550179 | |
U2 to tour The Joshua Tree this summer for 30th anniversary - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Rock band U2 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal Joshua Tree album by playing the album in full. | Entertainment & Arts | The band recreated Anton Corbijn's famous cover shoot to announce the tour
Rock band U2 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal Joshua Tree album this summer by playing the album in full around the world.
The 25 shows include dates in London and at Dublin's Croke Park, where the band played a triumphant homecoming show on the original Joshua Tree tour.
Released in 1987, the album included hits such as Where the Streets Have No Name and With or Without You.
It sold 25 million copies, turning the band into stadium-filling superstars.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, U2 guitarist The Edge said the band had not yet decided how to structure the concerts.
"The show might not necessarily start with track one, side one - Where the Streets Have No Name - because we feel like maybe we need to build up to that moment," he said.
"So we're still in the middle of figuring out exactly how the running order will go."
Alongside the hits, fans will be looking forward to hearing some rarely-performed album tracks, including Trip Through Your Wires and In God's Country.
The Joshua Tree tour began in arenas but had to upgrade to stadiums to meet demand
The band will perform throughout Europe and North America
The song Red Hill Mining Town, a response to the 1980s miners' strike, will also receive its first live performance, having never featured in the band's setlists - although they rehearsed it during soundchecks in 1987.
"Recently I listened back to The Joshua Tree for the first time in nearly 30 years," said U2 frontman Bono, "It's quite an opera.
"A lot of emotions which feel strangely current, love, loss, broken dreams, seeking oblivion, polarisation… all the greats.
"I've sung some of these songs a lot but never all of them. I'm up for it, if our audience is as excited as we are… it's gonna be a great night."
"It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk," added guitarist The Edge.
"To celebrate the album - as the songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We're looking forward to it."
Support acts confirmed for the tour include OneRepublic, The Lumineers and, in the UK and Europe, Noel Gallagher.
"It will be both a pleasure and an honour to play my part in what still remains the greatest show on earth," said Gallagher.
U2 also plan to release a new album, Songs of Experience, later this year.
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-38554035 | |
The Black Dahlia: Los Angeles' most famous unsolved murder - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | As the 70th anniversary of the Black Dahlia murder approaches, the public fascination with Elizabeth Short and her grisly death hasn't dimmed. | US & Canada | As the 70th anniversary of the Black Dahlia murder approaches the public fascination with Elizabeth Short and her grisly unsolved death hasn't dimmed. James Bartlett takes a look at how Los Angeles remembers the famous murder.
Few people noticed the dark-haired woman when she was dropped off at the swanky Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, but when her torso was found nearly a week later, Elizabeth Short became a household name.
On the morning of 15 January 1947, Betty Bersinger was walking with her young daughter along a barely developed street in the planned neighbourhood of Leimert Park when she saw what she thought was two halves of a tailor's mannequin.
Short had been cut in two, neatly at the waist, and drained of blood. She had been mutilated, her intestines removed, and her mouth slashed from ear to ear - a gruesome cut known as a Glasgow Smile. Her body had then been washed clean before being dumped in an empty field.
An ensuing media frenzy followed, thanks to the "brutal, misogynistic and ritual nature" of the killing, says Glynn Martin, former Los Angeles police sergeant and historian. More than 50 suspects were interviewed, both male and female - some of whom confessed to the crime. But the murder was never solved, only adding to the crime's mystique.
There was also the connection to the glamour of the area.
"She lived in Hollywood, had aspirations to be an actress," Martin says.
The murder became "a sad cliche - the ultimate warning tale".
"A starry-eyed young girl comes to Hollywood, and things go very bad for her," he says.
Then, of course, there was the memorable nickname, a twist on the previous year's Veronica Lake-Alan Ladd film The Blue Dahlia, and reference to Short's striking dark hair.
In the decades since, the Black Dahlia case has inspired university theses, art projects and the name of a death metal band, as well as references in video games and television shows. In 2006, it even got the major motion picture treatment, an adaptation of James Ellroy's best-selling novel inspired by the case.
Ellroy himself says he doesn't have any hope the culprit will be found.
"It's never going to be solved because it was not meant to be solved," he says.
Kim Cooper and her husband Richard Schave run Esotouric's literary, crime and culture bus tours of Los Angeles, and Cooper says that many people who come on their Black Dahlia tour "have their heads full of misinformation".
"While we debunk the many theories about possible killers, we try to focus on the story of Elizabeth Short as a person."
But even the tour operators can be surprised, like when an older man joined one of their true crime tours, claiming a connection to the Black Dahlia.
"He told us that he had been a paper boy at the time, and had rushed to be one of the first at the crime scene. It was the first naked woman he ever saw," Cooper says.
"I think it affected the rest of his life."
Like the 19th Century killings by Jack the Ripper in London, Short's murder continues to bring forth new theories.
Most recently, Steve Hodel, a former homicide detective, claimed his physician father George was the killer, and also responsible for other notable murders.
A cadaver dog searched Hodel's former home in 2013 and seemingly "alerted" for human remains - though, of course, Short's body had long been found.
During my research for Gourmet Ghosts, a series of true crime books, I found that many talkative Los Angeles bartenders claim their joint was actually the last place Short was seen alive, not the Biltmore.
Some theorised her murder was the result of a date turned violent, or that the perennially-broke Short left to hitchhike home, a common practice at the time, and got into the wrong car.
"I was regularly asked about the Black Dahlia on the reference desk," says Christina Rice, senior librarian of the photo collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. One woman came in looking for maps from 1947 because "she was going to use her psychic abilities to solve the murder".
The only copy of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner's microfiche for the second half of January was stolen years ago, Rice says, adding Short was just one of many women brutally killed in the post-war years in California.
The Biltmore, where you can buy a Black Dahlia cocktail
As soon as the corpse was discovered, the Los Angeles Herald-Express and the sensationalist Los Angeles Examiner made full use of the cosy relationship that all newspapers had with the Los Angeles police department.
At the time it was common to see suicide notes and bloodstained bodies - albeit sometimes airbrushed or altered, like Short's naked body, onto which photo editors superimposed a blanket - on the front page. Suicide photographs even added arrows showing how victims had taken their final fall.
The Examiner also added complete fabrications to the Black Dahlia story, exchanging in their reporting the suit Short had been seen wearing for a tight skirt and blouse and implying sexual misadventures.
The newspaper also deceived Short's mother about her daughter's death, using a ruse about "Beth" winning a beauty contest, then flying her to Los Angeles before telling her the real news - ensuring the scoop of a mother responding to the tragedy.
Officially the case remains open, and today, the Biltmore Hotel serves a Black Dahlia cocktail of vodka, Chambord black raspberry liqueur and Kahlua. The drink, perhaps appropriately, tastes bitter.
James Bartlett is a writer and author of Gourmet Ghosts. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38513320 | |
Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool manager defends team selection for Plymouth FA Cup tie - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defends playing the club's youngest ever starting line-up after a 0-0 draw with Plymouth in the FA Cup. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended selecting the youngest starting XI in the club's history for the 0-0 FA Cup draw against Plymouth.
The Reds - with an average age of of 21 years and 296 days - went close through Sheyi Ojo and Daniel Sturridge but the League Two side held out at Anfield.
Yippee. I don't know if at home they can play the same defensive style
Liverpool now face a trip to Devon for the third-round replay and have six remaining games in January.
The German boss said: "I don't think the line-up was a mistake."
Klopp's side also face Southampton in a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final and Premier League games against Manchester United, Swansea and Chelsea this month.
• None Watch all of the latest FA Cup highlights and reaction here
• None All the FA Cup third-round reports in one place
Asked about the long midweek trip for the FA Cup replay, which is set to be played on 17 January, Klopp added: "Yippee. I don't know if at home they can play the same defensive style. We are looking forward to it."
Forward Ben Woodburn, 17, is the club's youngest goalscorer after his strike against Leeds in the EFL Cup earlier this season and he was given his first start.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 18, and 19-year-olds Joe Gomez - making his first appearance since suffering a knee ligament injury in October 2015 - Ovie Ejaria and Ojo were also in the side.
At 29, Lucas was the oldest Liverpool player.
"I am responsible if you want to see it in a bad way," added Klopp.
"I always choose line-ups to win the game. We didn't think about the age. They are important players in our squad."
First-team regulars Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino were brought on during the second half, but the hosts - who had enjoyed 80.3% possession in the first period - continued to be frustrated.
"We could have done better, 100%," said the Reds boss. "In the first half we lost patience too early - crossing at the wrong moment, making the wrong pass.
"We had the ball all the time. It was boring, not the most exciting game."
'Welcome to the real world'
Plymouth, who are second and challenging for promotion from League Two, limited Liverpool to four shots on target.
"It is probably one of the best defensive performances Anfield has seen," said Plymouth boss Derek Adams. "We allowed them time but didn't allow them space.
"This was about a team performance. We had 13 players and they all deserve a huge amount of credit."
Asked what Liverpool could expect in the replay at Home Park, he added: "Welcome to the real world."
• None READ MORE: Liverpool replay worth £1m to Plymouth, says chairman | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38549885 | |
CES 2017: Nokia Android phone spurns the West - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The first Android smartphone to carry Nokia's brand is announced as a China exclusive. | Technology | The Nokia 6 is the first Android smartphone to bear the brand under a deal with HMD Global
The first in a series of Nokia-branded Android phones is to be released exclusively in China.
The device will be marketed in partnership with the local internet retail giant JD.com.
The team behind the Nokia 6 phone said the handset's "premium design" would appeal to the local market.
The announcement coincided with the final day of the CES tech show in Las Vegas, where other new mobile phones and gadgets have been launched.
Nokia no longer manufactures phones that carry its name but has instead licensed its brand to another Finnish company, HMD Global.
Until now, the only phones that had been released under the deal had been more basic "feature phone" models.
HMD Global may wait to unveil details of Android smartphones for other markets until next month in Barcelona
The Android device had been highly anticipated and marks Nokia's return to the smartphone market after a series of Windows Phone models. Nokia also briefly sold Android-based handsets - known as Nokia X - in 2014.
Microsoft used Nokia's brand for a short time after buying the company's mobile devices the same year, but later referred to the devices solely by their Lumia name.
Nokia once dominated the mobile phone market but struggled after the launch of the iPhone a decade ago, and the subsequent release of Google's Android operating system.
HMD Global had previously indicated it would release several Nokia-branded Android phones in 2017.
It is expected to provide details of at least some of the other launches at another trade show - Barcelona's Mobile World Congress - in February.
"The decision by HMD to launch its first Android smartphone into China is a reflection of the desire to meet the real world needs of consumers in different markets around the world," the firm said in a statement.
"With over 552 million smartphone users in China in 2016, a figure that is predicted to grow to more than 593 million users by 2017, it is a strategically important market where premium design and quality is highly valued by consumers."
HMD Gobal sells feature phones, including the Nokia 150, in other parts of the world
The Nokia 6 phone runs Android 7.0 - the latest version, also known as Nougat - and features:
The specifications are mid-range, and so is the price: 1,699 yuan ($245; £200).
That makes it slightly more expensive than Huawei's Honor 6X but cheaper than Xiaomi's Mi 5s.
"Nokia remains one of the most recognised mobile phone brands on the planet," commented Ben Wood from the CCS Insight technology consultancy.
"HMD Global will be hoping it can capitalise on this as it seeks to relaunch Nokia devices in 2017.
"It will be hoping the brand will help it stand out in the incredibly crowded Android smartphone market, which is characterised by cut-throat competition and a sea of design sameness. "
Brandon Ackroyd, Head of Customer Insight at Tiger Mobiles believes that Nokia will launch the Nokia 6 globally if the device has a successful launch in Asia.
"If the Nokia 6 performs well in China then it's highly likely we will see a new international variant of the handset sometime in 2017. We'll be keeping our eyes on the certification websites in the coming months looking for a variant with more connectivity options like GSM, LTE, and CDMA that will make the device compatible with networks worldwide."
Follow all our CES coverage at bbc.co.uk/ces2017
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38546676 | |
Swim team swaps pool for snow - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | The swim team at US university Georgia Tech couldn't make it to their event, so they did the relay in the snow outside their hotel. | null | The swim team at US university Georgia Tech couldn't make it to their event, so they did the relay in the snow outside their hotel. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38547477 | |
FA Cup: Man Utd face Wigan, Chelsea host Brentford, Derby meet Leicester - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Holders Manchester United will host 2013 winners Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Holders Manchester United will host 2013 winners Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Premier League champions Leicester City will travel to Derby County in an East Midlands derby, while Chelsea meet Brentford in a west London derby.
League One Millwall's reward for beating Bournemouth is to host another Premier League side, Watford.
Liverpool will be at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Championship.
Sutton United, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, will face Leeds United.
The fourth round represents the last-32 stage of the competition, and all ties are scheduled to be played from 27-30 January. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38564239 | |
Starving to death on NHS wards? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | How big a problem is malnutrition on hospital wards? | Health | The Sun newspaper on Monday carries the headline "Kill by mouth: Two die in NHS each day of thirst or starvation".
A shocking claim, based on figures from the Office of National Statistics.
The data for England and Wales shows that in 2015, hunger and/or dehydration were a factor in 828 patient deaths in hospitals and care homes.
But that doesn't mean all of these patients starved to death or died of thirst, experts at the ONS were quick to point out when I spoke with them about it.
Malnutrition may be recorded on the death certificate as a factor contributing directly to a death when it was a complication of a different underlying cause, such as cancer of the stomach, for example.
If you are very sick, it might not be feasible or desirable to eat and drink. Having a disease such as advanced cancer can cause malnutrition.
That's not to say that patients who are terminally ill should have fluid and nutrients withheld. On the contrary, guidelines make it clear that even if a patient can't eat or drink they should still be provided for.
They were drawn up after reports revealed some patients at the end of life were being denied this basic right when they were put on a care protocol called the Liverpool Care Pathway.
The LCP was scrapped in 2015 after relatives complained that their loved ones had been put on it without their knowledge and denied fluids, which hastened their deaths.
Another dark period in history for the NHS was the Stafford Hospital Scandal, where hundreds of patients died amid appalling levels of care between 2005 and 2009.
An inquiry identified terrible and unnecessary suffering, including examples where patients had been provided with food and drink, but it had been left out of their reach.
Joan Morris suffered a heart attack and died four weeks after being admitted to Stafford General Hospital
Joan Morris, 83, was admitted to Stafford Hospital in December 2006 with a chest infection.
Her family said that food and water had been left on a table instead of being given to her.
Another patient, Tom Wilhelms, resorted to drinking from a vase.
In response to the Francis Inquiry into the failings at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust, the government published new hospital standards including around nutritional and hydration care.
And it asked the Care Quality Commission to make sure that the hospitals and care homes it inspected were following these standards.
The CQC's first dedicated review was in 2012.
It inspected 500 care homes and 50 hospitals in England and found 83% of care homes and 88% of hospitals it inspected met people's nutritional needs, which means patients were provided a suitable choice of food and drink and given help to eat and drink when they needed it.
It says this shows things have improved.
Prof Sir Mike Richards, CQC Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: "We expect the food provided to be nutritious, to meet people's dietary requirements, and for this to be included as part of patients care planning while in hospital, and we look closely at this on our inspections. Where we find this is not happening or identify concerns that people's nutritional needs are not being met we take action and have a range of enforcement powers at our disposal where required."
Age UK agrees that there's been progress, but says malnutrition in the NHS is still a big issue.
Lesley Carter, who works of the charity and is programme manager of the Malnutrition Task Force, says a third of people going into hospitals and care homes are already malnourished or at risk of malnutrition when they are admitted.
"That means they are already vulnerable to start with."
She said that on busy wards, mealtimes might get rushed or overlooked without the right staffing.
"Older people in particular might need help to eat and drink, and they aren't always getting this. Food can still be left out of reach.
"Some hospitals have employed nutrition nurses to spot those patients that need help, and nutrition assistants to help with the feeding, which is good.
"But it is time consuming to feed someone properly."
She says friends and families have a responsibility to keep a check on elderly loved ones too.
"We all need to realise that it's not natural to lose weight as we age."
Although elderly people should be encouraged to eat a healthy diet, she says this can backfire.
A salad might be worse than cake in terms of nutrition for someone who is old and frail and has a poor appetite, for example.
"Some residents in care homes are being given low fat yoghurt and semi-skimmed milk when instead they should get full fat milk." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38554077 | |
Referee Mike Dean one of Premier League's best - Mark Halsey - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Mike Dean remains one of the Premier League's best referees despite an "indifferent" festive period, says ex-colleague Mark Halsey. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Mike Dean remains one of the Premier League's best referees despite an "indifferent" festive period, says former official Mark Halsey.
Dean has received criticism for some of his recent performances and the number of red cards he has shown - five in 15 matches this season.
Ex-Premier League referee Halsey thinks Dean can come across as "arrogant".
He also believes only a handful of referees are "trusted" for the league's most important games.
Dean, who has been a Premier League referee for 16 years, controversially sent off West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli during the Hammers' defeat by Manchester United on 2 January, while the red card was later rescinded by the Football Association.
That dismissal was the official's 26th since the start of the 2013-14 season - the highest number by any current Premier League referee in that period.
"If you look back over the December period, he has had an indifferent period," Halsey, 55, told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I have disagreed with some of his decision-making, especially the sendings-off.
"It is not an easy job to do. He is one of the most experienced and is a very good referee - one of the best of the bunch we have got.
"He does come across as a little bit arrogant. I would like to see that taken out of his game and perhaps he would get a lot more respect from the paying public and the media.
"But that is not the way he is off the pitch - if truth be told, the players like him."
• None Listen to more from Halsey on BBC Radio 5 live
Halsey, who retired in 2013, says the standard of officiating has "got steadily worse" since Keith Hackett retired as general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in 2010.
"Mark Clattenburg is by far our best referee, then there is Martin Atkinson, Michael Oliver, Andre Marriner, Anthony Taylor and Mike Dean. The top games, the big derbies, can only be refereed by four or five referees. The PGMOL do not trust the others to take control of those games," he said.
Halsey also criticised the new way referees are assessed. There is now an "evaluation system" that can take up to 10 days to issue feedback rather than an assessor at the ground.
He added: "It could be 10 days before you get closure on a game on a Saturday. You can go into your next game without any closure on a previous game.
"Look at the top referees, they are confused. There is no leadership or direction coming from within."
'Clattenburg could go to China'
Clattenburg, 41, has said he would consider officiating in the Chinese Super League.
He refereed the finals of the FA Cup, the Champions League and the European Championship in 2016.
Asked if he would be surprised if Clattenburg went to China, Halsey added: "No I wouldn't. There is no love lost between Clattenburg, the FA, and PGMOL.
"There is a lot to sort out. It needs a massive overhaul. We have got excellent referees not being coached correctly - people involved in referring who have never been involved in referring at that level."
Take part in our Premier League Predictor game, which allows you to create leagues with friends. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38549470 | |
The US Air Force's commuter drone warriors - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Once soldiers left their families and went off to war. But drone pilots commute to work - and war - each day. They speak to Vin Ray about their strange double life. | Magazine | Drone pilot Lt Col Matt Martin says his role is "surreal"
In the past, soldiers went off to war and left their families behind. But drone pilots commute to work - and to war - each day. Vin Ray was given rare access to the only US Air Force base devoted entirely to flying drones, where he discovered the pilots' strange double life.
If you're a drone pilot, there's a strong possibility you live in Las Vegas. And your commute to work is against the traffic.
We were told to drive northwest out of the city on US Route 95. The road stretches out through the barren, inhospitable scrub of the Nevada desert.
Pay attention, we were told, because the signpost is small. In fact, it's very small. But we eventually arrived at our destination: Creech US Air Force Base, a small, flat, city in the desert. And the only air base devoted to flying drones.
Inside the base, comparisons with science fiction are hard to avoid. A drone looks like a conflation of a giant insect and a light aircraft. It's unmanned.
Standing by a runway, we watch a drone land and pass right in front of us.
The camera underneath its chin, swivels quickly sideways and looks right at us - someone, somewhere on the base, is watching us.
I'm escorted through a non-descript door in the side of what looks like a beige metal shipping container. It's cramped inside. At the far end there's a pilot seated on the left, who flies the drone and fires the missiles.
The sensor operator sits on the right - they operate the camera and fix the laser on the target for the missile to hit. They're focused on a bank of screens, switches and buttons. This is today's kind of cockpit. But it doesn't feel like a battleground.
For a start, there's a sensory deficiency. From my experience on the ground, you can taste war - you can smell it and you can certainly hear it. In here there's a just a mute video.
But that's not the only difference.
Traditionally, soldiers in a war zone are based together. They have each others' camaraderie, and they're separated from their families.
But it's not the same if you're commuting to work every day.
Obviously, the drive itself is simple. But the psychological journey is altogether different. Imagine. Between six in the evening and six in the morning you might collect your kids from school, pick up some groceries on the way home and help make dinner.
But between 6am and 6pm you have a licence to kill.
This commute is familiar to Lt Col Matt Martin. He's a hugely experienced former drone pilot. He exudes a quiet strength and a ready charm.
But he talks about his schizophrenic existence, his inability to have a normal life and the strain it took on his family.
"It's a surreal enterprise," he says. "You only have the drive to work and then you're flying. So for me, I would take that drive to switch gears. I would step into my cockpit and be totally immersed in flying the drone. Then a few hours later I would step out and be back in Las Vegas, in a totally different time zone, different time of day."
Here's what the base commander Col Case Cunningham told me: "When they walk through the gate, they're in a war. Although physically they are at home, mentally they're at war. So in effect we're asking them to redeploy every single day, to go back home and be parents and be loved ones - and then come back to war again".
Such are the new frontiers of the modern battlefield.
These drone pilots can sit in Nevada and watch a potential target 8,000 miles (12,000km) away for months on end, building up what they call "patterns of life" - building what's been called a "remote intimacy" with their prey - all in the knowledge that, one day, they may kill them.
A conventional fighter pilot will fire missiles and then head back to base. But drone pilots are required to circle for some hours afterwards, to assess the damage. The picture they're looking at is extraordinarily clear - and the damage is often in the form of body parts.
Small wonder that Creech now employs a psychologist for drone pilots suffering stress. Drones are globalising the battlefield, blurring the boundaries between war and home.
As we get ready to leave the base, the moon rises over the mountains and darkness falls quickly. There's a long traffic jam as some of the 3,500 air staff wait at the gates to leave the base - a snake of red tail lights heading back to Vegas and the warmth of their families.
And when they get home? Well, friction can stem from one simple question: "How was your day?"
Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38506932 | |
Orphaned baby otter in roadside rescue - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | An "almost lifeless" baby otter is rescued from the side of a busy main road after being initially mistaken for a discarded "old mail sack". | Cambridgeshire | The baby female otter was "lifeless and unresponsive" when she was found at the side of the road
An "almost lifeless" baby otter was rescued from the side of a busy main road after being initially mistaken for a discarded "old mail sack".
Cyclist Robert Spooner spotted her in the dim light near Peterborough.
"I couldn't just leave it there," he said, so he carried the otter to his mother's house, who looked after it until rescue centre volunteers arrived.
They said the otter had made a "great recovery" but would not have survived in the wild without his help.
Mr Spooner said it took him a "few seconds" to realise what he had come across at the side of the road a few days before Christmas.
The otter responded well to treatment and was able to go for a swim at the rescue centre
A passing motorist did not have time to help, but a pedestrian offered to push his bicycle while he scooped up the otter and carried it to his mother's house.
"She was a little surprised when I arrived with it," he said.
She called Fenland Animal Rescue and kept the otter hydrated, and warm in a box.
The otter was "lifeless and unresponsive" when it was first found, but "soon responded and recovered well", Joshua Flanagan, from rescue organisation, said.
He then had to find a new home for the creature.
Otters are social creatures and ideally should be with others of a similar age
"Otter pups are entirely dependent on their mothers for the first year of their lives.
"Coupled with them being a social species, it is best that they are recovering in an environment with other otters of a similar age," he said.
After contacting sanctuaries across the country they eventually found a new home for the otter - more than 500 miles (800km) away on the Isle of Skye.
The International Otter Survival Fund has agreed to take her in.
The otter pup is being transferred to a centre where there are otters of a similar age
But transferring her there has not been simple for the volunteers.
So far they have managed to get her to a "half-way house" near Manchester.
She will then be driven to the Scottish border where she will be handed over to a member of the otter charity for the final leg to the Isle of Skye.
"When she is of age and independent, she will be released back into the wild in a suitable area," Mr Flanagan added.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-38467791 | |
Women Who Draw website reveals world's 'hidden' female illustrators - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | New website Women Who Draw has been overwhelmed by support for its bid to promote female illustrators. | US & Canada | Applicants for the Women Who Draw website were asked to submit an illustrated portrait of a woman
A website designed to showcase the work of female illustrators and promote diversity has got off to a flying start, after receiving submissions from around the world.
The Women Who Draw website, which had its "soft launch" in December, crashed under the weight of more than six million page views in its first three days, according to its US founders, Wendy MacNaughton and Julia Rothman.
"We had to close submissions because we were overwhelmed. We received 1,200 submissions in 24 hours," said Ms Rothman, citing contributions from Iran, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa, among others.
The site's mission statement is to "increase the visibility of female illustrators, female illustrators of colour, LBTQ+, and other minority groups".
On Monday, it is relaunching, backed by a new server and showcasing 700 new members, whose work organisers have collated within three weeks.
They also have more than 300 artists on the waiting list.
Ms MacNaughton and Ms Rothman, who are both successful illustrators, said they were motivated to create the project after noticing certain publications were dominated by male artists.
"We counted a certain magazine that often has illustrated covers, and noticed that in the past 55 covers, only four were by women," said Ms Rothman.
Something seemed to be amiss, considering that the arts field within education is often dominated by women.
In the UK, data from higher-education admissions service Ucas shows that in 2016 the number of women enrolled in design studies courses (including illustration) was more than double the number of men.
So, do the women behind Women Who Draw think sexism in the industry is an enduring problem?
"When I see who wins the awards, who are on the juries and who speaks at conferences, it is clear that there is a bias. Although no-one has specifically said to me that you are a woman so I am not going to hire you," said Ms Rothman.
Sabrina Scott, an artist, illustration lecturer, and PhD student at Toronto's York University, has conducted a study of seven years of images within the American Illustration (AI) annual, a collection of award-winning images, chosen by a jury.
She looked at how people - male and female - were represented in nearly 3,000 images.
Ms Scott said: "Over seven years from 2008 to 2015, white men appear in 55% of AI award-winning illustrations, on average. The representation of white women has remained fairly steady at an average of 32%, as has the representation of men and women of colour, whose seven-year averages are 8% and 4%, respectively."
She also found that while men were drawn as nude or nearly nude 3% of the time, that figure rose to 30% for female figures.
"The only dead bodies depicted during the timeframe of my analysis are those that belong to men of colour," she added.
The site allows artists to highlight different aspects of their identity. Artists can be tagged according to their sexuality, religion, and location.
Trans women are also encouraged to join, and are not differentiated from other women.
Artist Kaylani Juanita lists herself on the site under the categories African American/black, LBTQ+, west coast (US), multiracial, and native Hawaiian/Pacific islander.
Did she worry that she might get pigeonholed? "I'm far more worried about invisibility or erasure of identity rather than being pigeonholed for making my identity visible," she said.
"I joined because it's an inclusive list that's well needed within publishing and illustration," she added.
"For women artists, it provides solidarity, visibility, and community. I would have loved a list like this when I was in college and high school."
Bryan Gee, an art director at Canadian national newspaper The Globe and Mail, says he has already commissioned three artists he found on the site. One was themed on female sexuality.
He also finds the categorisation of artists based on location useful, as part of his job involves showcasing Canadian talent.
"The biggest challenge to Women Who Draw as they to continue to add to their roster will be how to balance inclusivity with the quality of the work that I currently find there," he said.
However, some of the features he is less convinced about. "It seems a bit odd, for example, to see 'atheist' pop up so frequently as a primary defining quality of some of the illustrators."
"I don't think it is about tokenism," adds Lizzy Stewart, an artist from London, who has joined the site. "I think work will still be commissioned based on talent, after all no-one wants to pay for bad work. It'd just be great if that work could come from a wider range of sources."
Women Who Draw has decided not to include tags to denote writers who are white or straight. "That was a big decision that we debated a lot," said Ms MacNaughton. "We decided we didn't want to support art directors in search of more white women."
But Ms MacNaughton adds that it is an evolving project and they are open to feedback.
"Ultimately it is the work that matters," she said. "The site creates a signpost. It is up to the art director to choose the work and the people." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38524131 | |
Up and away? Your Tube strike solutions - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Travellers in London have been hit by a Tube strike, with more than four million people affected. Some have seen the lighter side. | UK | Artist Claudine O'Sullivan offers an alternative to the Tube
Commuters and travellers in London have been hit by a Tube strike.
More than four million people could be affected, but some have taken to social media to see the lighter side.
From The Daily Grindstone, there was just a hint of sarcasm about alternative routes, such as the bus, which no-one else would have thought of:
Earlier, Clapham Junction rail station was evacuated, but commuters were appeased by a little light music, as tweeted by Alicia Harries:
It's not just commuters who were struggling. Rupert had his tongue in his cheek when he wondered how the tourists would manage with the three-minute walk between two London destinations.
The motto "Be prepared" might be well known in the Girl Guides, but these skills could also prove useful for some commuters, as Alex tweets his survival kit:
Not everyone has been having such a terrible time of it, however. Twitter user Mark was glad people could enjoy the walk:
And Sofia noted an increase in the capital's cyclists:
On a more serious note, some organisations, like the MS Society, have been using the strike as an opportunity to highlight the suffering of others: | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38554573 | |
Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi to win Fifa best player award - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Cristiano Ronaldo is named the world's best player at the inaugural Best Fifa Football Awards in Zurich. | null | Last updated on .From the section European Football
Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's best player at the inaugural Best Fifa Football Awards in Zurich.
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Ronaldo, 31, beat Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann to the prize.
Ronaldo also won the Ballon d'Or in December, with both honours recognition for success in the Champions League with Real and Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Carli Lloyd of the United States was named the world's best female player.
Leicester's Claudio Ranieri was named best men's coach, ex-Germany boss Silvia Neid won the female coach award, while Penang's Mohd Faiz Subri received the Puskas award for the best goal of 2016.
• None Quiz: World's best - but who did he vote for?
Hold on... haven't we already had the Ballon d'Or?
We have - but this is different.
For the past six years, the world's best player has received the Fifa Ballon d'Or award.
A version of that prize has been awarded by France Football magazine since 1956, but last year world football's governing body ended its association with that honour.
Instead, it introduced the Best Fifa Football Awards, with Ronaldo the first recipient of its main prize.
Voting for the player and coach categories was by national team captains and managers, selected journalists and, for the first time, an online poll of fans.
Each counted for 25% of the points.
2016 was quite a year for Ronaldo.
As well as scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout to win the Champions League, rescuing Real with a hat-trick in the final of the Club World Cup, captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and being recognised with a fourth Ballon d'Or, he now has something Messi does not - the honour of being named best Fifa men's player.
The former Manchester United forward had been the favourite for the award, following a year in which he continued to deliver remarkable statistics. These included:
• None The third best minutes-per-goal rate (83.68) of anyone scoring a minimum of 10 goals across Europe's top five leagues during 2016, behind Luis Suarez (82.57) and Radamel Falcao (59.6).
• None Finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2015-16 with 16 goals, seven more than second-placed Robert Lewandowski.
"It was my best year so far," said Ronaldo. "The trophy for Portugal was amazing. I was so happy and of course I cannot forget the Champions League and the Club World Cup. We ended the year in the best way. I'm so glad to win a lot of trophies, collective and individual. I'm so, so proud."
Ronaldo and Messi have a history of not voting for each other for major awards and they continued that habit, both filling their top three with club-mates.
Messi, the Argentina captain, went for Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta.
Despite being on the shortlist for best individual player, Griezmann did not make the best XI.
The line-up features five players from Real Madrid, four from Barcelona, one from Juventus (Dani Alves, who was at Barca for the first half of 2016) and one, Manuel Neuer, from Bayern Munich.
That means no Premier League players were included.
Despite the United States failing to finish on an Olympic podium for the first time, co-captain Carli Lloyd has continued her exceptional form both for her club, Houston Dash, and country.
The 34-year-old saw off competition from Germany's Olympic gold medallist Melanie Behringer and five-time winner Marta of Brazil.
"I honestly was not expecting this," said Lloyd. "I know Melanie did fantastic in the 2016 Olympics."
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, who has also led his side to the last 16 of the Champions League this season, won the award ahead of Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane, who lifted the Champions League in his first season in charge, and Portugal's Fernando Santos, who led his team to an unexpected success at Euro 2016.
Germany's Silvia Neid retired in 2016 after capping an 11-year spell in charge of the national team by guiding them to Olympic gold for the first time.
Success in Rio added to her extensive trophy collection, which includes the World Cup and two European Championships.
The best goal of 2016 was, officially, scored by Penang's Mohd Faiz Subri.
It came in the Malaysia Super League, the forward converting a superb, swirling free-kick from 35 yards which started out heading towards the top left corner but ended up in the top right.
The fan award went to supporters of Liverpool and German club Borussia Dortmund, who together sang a moving rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' - an anthem adopted by both teams - before their Europa League quarter-final in April. The match came the day before the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.
Liverpool went on to produce a stirring display, coming from behind to win the match 4-3 and advance to the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
Colombian side Atletico Nacional were given the fair play award for their part in the aftermath of the plane crash which killed 19 players and staff of Brazilian side Chapecoense.
Chapecoense were en route to play the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana final when the plane crashed, killing 71 people.
Atletico Nacional said the title should be awarded to Chapecoense. Fifa recognised their "spirit of peace, understanding and fair play". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38561266 | |
Iran former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani dies aged 82 - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has died at the age of 82. | null | Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has died at the age of 82.
Catriona Renton looks back at his life. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38552767 | |
Golden Globes: Musical La La Land dominates with seven awards - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Hollywood musical La La Land has broken the record for the most Golden Globe Awards, winning seven prizes. | null | Hollywood musical La La Land has broken the record for the most Golden Globe Awards, winning seven prizes.
It won every award it was nominated for - including best musical or comedy film, best director, screenplay, score and song.
Its stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling also won in the acting categories.
British actors also enjoyed a golden night in the TV categories, with prizes for The Night Manager and The Crown. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38553331 | |
Corrie Mckeague: Missing serviceman 'to become father' - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Missing RAF serviceman Corrie Mckeague is due to become a father, his girlfriend has said. | null | Missing RAF serviceman Corrie Mckeague is due to become a father, his girlfriend has said.
Mr Mckeague has been missing since 24 September after a night out in Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk.
April Oliver, 21, said she had become pregnant after a relationship with the 23-year-old who is based at RAF Honington, Suffolk.
She said their baby is due in late spring/early summer. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-38555646 | |
India divorce: How 'triple talaq' destroys lives - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | null | Opposition mounts to the practice of "triple talaq" - instant divorce - in India. | null | A practice in India that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives in an instant is facing fierce opposition.
"Triple talaq" - divorcing by saying the word talaq three times - is legal for Muslims in India but controversial. It is banned across much of the Islamic world.
India’s Supreme Court is deciding whether triple talaq is unconstitutional, a move that could help thousands of women.
Filmed and Edited by Jaltson A.C. Produced by Yogita Limaye. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-38528507 | |
Is your child a cyberbully and if so, what should you do? - BBC News | 2017-01-09 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | What should you do if you find out your child has been bullying others online? | Technology | One in five teens claims to have been cyberbullied but few admit to being the bully
Parents worry about their children being bullied online, but what if it is your child who is doing the bullying?
That was the question posed by a BBC reader, following a report on how children struggle to cope online.
There is plenty of information about how to deal with cyberbullies, but far less about what to do if you find out that your own child is the source.
The BBC took advice from experts and a mother who found out her daughter had been cyberbullying her school friends.
Nicola Jenkins found out that her 12-year-old daughter was posting unpleasant comments online from her teacher
Few parents would want to admit that their child was a bully but Nicola Jenkins has gone on record with her story. You can watch her tell it here.
"Nobody thinks that their own child is saying unkind things to other children, do they? I let them go on all the social media sites and trusted the children to use it appropriately.
"Our form tutor phoned me up during school hours one day to tell me that there'd been some messages sent between my daughter and two other friends that weren't very nice. One of the children in particular was very upset about some of the things that had been said to her.
"Her friend's mum spoke to me about it and showed me the messages that had been sent. When I approached my daughter about it, she denied that there had been anything going on. It took a while to get it out of her, but I was angry with her once I actually found out that she had been sending these messages.
"I spoke to her teacher and to the other parents, and between us we spoke to the children to let them know that they can't be saying unkind things and to just make them aware that whatever they do is recorded and can be kept. And they all did learn a lesson from it.
"I removed all the social media websites from her so she wasn't able to access them for a while and then monitored her input and what she's been saying to people.
"But it did make me feel angry and quite ashamed that my daughter could be saying things like that to her friends, but she has grown up a bit since then and she's learnt her lesson.
"You want to trust your children, but they can get themselves into situations that they can't get out of.
"And as they get older, they look at different things. I know my son looks at totally different things to what my daughter does, so it's just being aware of what they are accessing and make sure that they are happy for you to look at what they are looking at as well."
There is plenty of advice for parents on coping with cyberbullying but less on what to do if your child is the bully
According to not-for-profit organisation Internet Matters, one in five 13-18 year olds claim to have experienced cyberbullying but there are few statistics on how many children are bullying.
Carolyn Bunting, general manager of Internet Matters, offers the following advice:
"First, sit down with them and try to establish the facts around the incident with an open mind. As parents, we can sometimes have a blind spot when it comes to the behaviour of our own children - so try not to be on the defensive. Talk about areas that may be causing them distress or anger and leading them to express these feelings online.
"Make clear the distinction between uploading and sharing content because it's funny or might get lots of 'likes', versus the potential to cause offence or hurt. Tell them: this is serious. It's vital they understand that bullying others online is unacceptable behaviour. As well as potentially losing friends, it could get them into trouble with their school or the police.
"If your child was cyberbullying in retaliation, you should tell them that two wrongs cannot make a right and it will only encourage further bullying behaviour. Stay calm when discussing it with your child and try to talk with other adults to work through any emotions you have about the situation.
"Taking away devices can be counterproductive. It could make the situation worse and encourage them to find other ways to get online. Instead, think about restricting access and take away some privileges if they don't stop the behaviour.
"As a role model, show your child that taking responsibility for your own actions is the right thing to do. Above all, help your child learn from what has happened. Think about what you could do differently as a parent or as a family and share your learning with other parents and carers."
Twitter's image has been tarnished by trolls
Many critics blame social media for not doing enough to deal with cyberbullying. Abuse is prolific on Twitter and it has pledged to do more, including improving tools that allow users to mute, block and report so-called trolls.
Sinead McSweeney, vice-president of public policy at Twitter, explained why the issue is close to her heart:
"As a mother of a seven-year-old boy, I've always tried to strike the right balance between promoting internet safety and encouraging the type of exploration, learning and creativity that the internet can unlock."
She offered the following advice:
"If you find that your child is participating in this type of behaviour, a good first step is to understand the nature of the type of material they're creating, who is the target, and try to ascertain their motivations.
"If the bullying is taking place on a social media platform, make sure to explain to them why the behaviour is inappropriate and harmful, and to supervise the deletion of the bullying content they have created. If it continues, it may be worth seeking additional advice from a teacher or trusted confidant."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38529437 | |
Chris Robshaw: Harlequins flanker out of England's Six Nations campaign - BBC Sport | 2017-01-09 | null | Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw will miss England's 2017 Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury. | null | Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw will miss England's 2017 Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury.
The 30-year-old will have an operation on Monday and is expected to be sidelined for three months.
Robshaw, who has won 55 caps, aggravated a problem with his left shoulder at Worcester on 1 January.
The back row captained the national side between January 2012 and January 2016, but was replaced as skipper after Eddie Jones became England head coach.
Jones led the side to a Grand Slam in 2016 but the Australian has a number of injury worries going into this year's tournament, which England begin against France at Twickenham on 4 February.
Saracens forwards Billy and Mako Vunipola have been ruled out with knee injuries, while Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi is out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Lock George Kruis is a doubt with a fractured cheekbone, and flanker James Haskell was concussed on his return from six months out with a foot injury.
Captain Dylan Hartley, who is suspended until 23 January, will need to prove his fitness before the competition starts.
After losing the captaincy following the World Cup, Chris Robshaw was a talisman for England on the blind-side flank in 2016 - playing in all but one of the 13 straight victories.
He was also repeatedly singled out for praise by head coach Eddie Jones for his outstanding performances.
However, while Robshaw's leadership and consistency will certainly be missed in the Six Nations, it may present Jones with the opportunity to move Maro Itoje from the second row into the back row, especially if locks Joe Launchbury and George Kruis can prove their fitness over the coming weeks. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38559130 |