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Evan Gershkovich: US says journalist is wrongfully detained in Russia - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Russia accuses Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal of spying, but the publication denies this. | Europe | The United States has designated journalist Evan Gershkovich as being "wrongfully detained" by Russia and called for his immediate release.
Mr Gershkovich, an experienced Russia reporter, was arrested last month in the city of Yekaterinburg while working for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
He has since been formally charged with spying, but the WSJ denies this.
It is the first time Moscow has accused a US journalist of espionage since the Soviet era.
The "wrongfully detained" designation in the US means the case will now be transferred to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs. This will raise the profile of the case and allow the government to allocate more resources to securing his release.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken "made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia", state department spokesman Vedant Patel said.
He called for the "immediate release" of Mr Gershkovich and condemned "the Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."
The WSJ said: "The distinction will unlock additional resources and attention at the highest levels of the US government in securing his release."
"We are doing everything in our power to support Evan and his family," it added.
Russia has not granted US consular officials access to Mr Gershkovich, which is in violation of international law, Mr Patel told reporters earlier on Monday.
Last week the Russian foreign ministry said the issue of consular access was being resolved but added that the "fuss in the US about this case, which was aimed at pressurising the Russian authorities... was hopeless and senseless".
Mr Gershkovich, 31, is well known among foreign correspondents in Moscow. BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg describes him as an excellent reporter and a highly principled journalist.
The WSJ said its reporter had dropped out of contact with his editors on 28 March while in Yekaterinberg.
Russia's FSB security service said it had halted "illegal activities" by detaining the journalist.
Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders said he had gone to Yekaterinburg to cover Russian mercenary group Wagner, which has taken part in some of the heaviest fighting in eastern Ukraine.
According to a report by the James Foley Legacy Foundation, which advocates for the freedom of Americans being held hostage abroad, at least 65 Americans were being unfairly detained abroad in 2022.
The foundation is named after a US journalist abducted in Syria and killed by the Islamic State group in 2014. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65234451 |
On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A global scam network is preying on investors. We identified the businessmen who appear to be behind it. | World | A global scamming network has robbed ordinary investors of more than a billion dollars. BBC Eye identified a shadowy network of businessmen who appear to be behind it.
First, you hear a phone ringing. An elderly man answers.
The caller introduces himself as "William Grant", from the trading firm Solo Capitals. He says he has a "great promotion" to offer.
The elderly man sounds vulnerable and confused. "I'm not interested, I'm not interested," he says.
But William Grant is persistent. "I only have one question," he tells the old man.
"Are you interested in making money?"
Jan Erik, a 75-year-old pensioner in Sweden, is about to get scammed, again. The call was made from the offices of Solo Capitals, a purported cryptocurrency trading firm based in Georgia. The recording is hard to listen to, because not only does the elderly man, Jan Erik, sound muddled, he tells the caller he has already lost one million Swedish Krona (about £80,000) in trading scams.
But the caller already knows this. And he knows it makes the pensioner a good target for a follow-up "recovery scam". He tells Jan Erik that if he hands over his card details and pays a €250 deposit, Solo Capitals will use special software to track his lost investments and get his money back.
"We will be able to recover the whole amount," William Grant says.
It takes him a while to wear Jan Erik down. But after about 30 minutes on the phone, the pensioner begins reading out his credit card details.
The audio recording was saved by the company under the file name "William Sweden scammed". The BBC obtained the file from a former employee, but the company had not tried hard to hide it. In fact, it had handed it out to new recruits as part of the company training package.
This was a lesson in how to scam.
For more than a year, BBC Eye has been investigating a global fraudulent trading network of hundreds of different investment brands that has scammed unwitting customers like Jan Erik out of more than a billion dollars.
Our investigation reveals for the first time the sheer scale of the fraud, as well as the identities of a shadowy network of individuals who appear to be behind it.
The network is known to police as the Milton group, a name originally used by the scammers themselves but abandoned in 2020. We identified 152 brands, including Solo Capitals, that appear to be part of the network. It operates by targeting investors and scamming them out of thousands - or in some cases hundreds of thousands - of pounds.
One Milton group investment brand even sponsored a top-flight Spanish football club, and advertised in major newspapers, lending it credibility with potential investors.
In November, BBC Eye accompanied German and Georgian police on call-centre raids in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. On the computer screens, we saw row after row of British phone numbers. We phoned several and spoke to British citizens who told us they had just invested money. On one desk, there was a handwritten note with a list of names and useful details for the scammers: "Homeowner, no responsibilities"; "50k in savings"; "From Poland, British citizen"; "50k in stocks."
Next to the name of one British man, a note said: "Savings less than 10K, very pussy, should scam soon".
Milton group brands had office space in this downtown Kyiv office building. (Alexander Mahmoud/DG)
The majority of victims sign up after seeing an ad on social media. Within 48 hours typically they receive a phone call from someone who tells them they could make returns of up to 90% per day. On the other end of the phone there is usually a call centre with many of the trappings of a legitimate business - a smart, modern office with an HR department, monthly targets and bonuses, awaydays and competitions for best salesperson. Some call centres play pumping music in the background. But there are also elements you won't find in a legitimate business - written guidance on how to identify a potential investor's weaknesses and turn those weaknesses against them.
From their first phone call, victims can be directed into regulated companies or sometimes unregulated, offshore entities. Some victims who signed up to regulated brands within the Milton group are directed by their broker to place high-risk trades likely to lose the customer money and make money for the broker. Some victims are instructed to download software that allows the scammer to remotely control their PC and place trades for them. And according to former employees of Milton group brands, some customers think they are making real trades, but their money is simply being siphoned away.
"The victims think they have a real account with the company, but there isn't really any trading, it's just a simulation," said Alex, a former employee who worked in a Milton group office in Kyiv, Ukraine.
In order to better understand how the scam works, the BBC posed as an aspiring trader and contacted Coinevo, one of the Milton group's trading platforms. We were connected to an adviser who gave the name Patrick, and told us we could make "70% or 80% or 90% as a return in one single day". He told us to send $500 worth of Bitcoin as a deposit to begin trading with.
Patrick pressed our undercover trader to provide a copy of their passport, and after providing a fake copy we were able to continue to operate the account for about two months before Coinevo appeared to detect the fake. At that point, Patrick wrote to us by email, swearing at us and cutting off contact.
But the BBC's deposit money was already in the system. We were able to track it as it was divided up into small fractions and moved through many different Bitcoin wallets, all seemingly associated with the Milton group. Experts told the BBC that genuine financial institutions do not funnel money in this way. Louise Abbott, a lawyer who specialises in cryptocurrency and fraud, examined the flow of the money and said it suggested "large-scale organised crime". The reason the money was spread over various different bitcoin wallets, Abbott said, was to "make it as complicated as possible and as difficult as possible for either you, or the victim, or us as lawyers to find".
The victims of these telephone trading scams often have their financial and social circumstances used against them. People who reveal large savings pots are pushed to make large investments. People who are lonely are befriended by the scammers. As a recent retiree, Jane (whose name we have changed for this story) was a perfect target. She had just taken voluntary redundancy and had a lump sum of nearly £20,000 that she thought, invested wisely, could supplement her pension in the years to come. In June 2020, during the first lockdown, she saw an ad online for a company called EverFX.
At that time, EverFX was one of the main sponsors of the top-flight Spanish football team Sevilla FC. The club's stars had advertised the trading platform on social media and - Jane checked - it was regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority.
Jane sent EverFX a message through their website and was called back and connected to someone she was told was a senior trader. He told her he was calling from Odessa, in Ukraine, and his name was David Hunt. His accent sounded Eastern European, Jane said, but she couldn't place it. She liked him instantly.
"He really knew his stuff, he knew how all the markets worked," she said. "I really got into it."
Jane lost her retirement fund. "I felt so humiliated," she said. "I didn't want to be on the planet anymore." (Joel Gunter/BBC)
Soon they were speaking nearly every morning, and Jane was revealing specific things she needed money for - expensive repairs to her roof, a buffer for her pension. Hunt used them against her, she said, telling her certain trades would "get her that roof" and "help her future".
Over the next few months, Jane invested about £15,000. But her trades weren't doing well. Hunt advised her to withdraw her money and invest with a different trading platform, BproFX, where she could get better returns.
By that point, Jane fully trusted David Hunt. "I felt like I knew him well and I thought he had my interests at heart," she said, welling up. "So I agreed to move with him."
What she didn't know was that BproFX was an unregulated, offshore entity based in Dominica. In reality, EverFX's UK regulatory status did not stop it from scamming British citizens, but the move over to BproFX would strip Jane of even the scant protections she might be afforded under UK law. The BBC found several victims who were moved to unregulated companies in this way.
In September 2020, Jane agreed to put £20,000 into BProFX, and Hunt coached her through various trades over the next few months. But somehow she kept losing money.
Other victims told the BBC they were scammed this way. Londoner Barry Burnett said he started investing after seeing an ad for EverFX, but after a few early wins, he suddenly lost more than £10,000 in 24 hours. The adviser pressured him to put in another £25,000 to trade himself out of his black hole.
"I must have got at least half a dozen calls in the space of about two hours," Barry said. "People begging me to put more money in."
Jane faced similar pressures from David Hunt. "He kept telling me that the more I put in the more I can recover," she said.
Instead, both finally decided to call it quits. Barry had lost £12,000, Jane £27,000.
"I'm horrified, numb," Barry said. Both made dozens of phone calls, chasing their losses, but with no results. David Hunt stopped answering Jane's calls. She knew she had lost everything.
"The day I realised was my birthday," she said. "It was the pandemic, and my family had organised a little outdoor get together and brought me a cake, and I was trying to be happy but I just felt so humiliated. I felt like I didn't want to be on the planet anymore."
It would be months before she could muster the courage to tell anyone what she'd done.
The operations of the Milton group have been investigated before, by the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter and others, but the BBC set out to identify the senior figures behind the global scam.
We began by combing through publicly available corporate documents to map the connections between companies in the Milton group. Five names appeared again and again, listed as directors of the Milton trading platforms or supporting tech companies - David Todua, Rati Tchelidze, Guram Gogeshvili, Joseph Mgeladze, and Michael Benimini.
We plugged the five names into the Panama Papers, a massive 2016 leak detailing offshore companies, and discovered that four of them - Tchelidze, Gogeshvili, Mgeladze and Benimini - were listed as directors or senior figures within a group of linked offshore companies or subsidiary companies that pre-dated the Milton group.
Many of these non-Milton companies led back in some way to one figure: David Kezerashvili, a former Georgian government official who served for two years as the country's defence minister.
David Kezerashvili, a former defence minister of Georgia, appears to be connected to the Milton network. (Alamy/BBC)
Kezerashvili was dismissed as defence minister and later convicted in absentia for embezzling more than €5m of government funds. By the time of his conviction, he was living in London and the UK turned down a request from Georgia for his extradition.
There were no publicly available documents linking Kezerashvili to this pre-Milton network, but when we looked at the Panama Papers, his name came up again and again, identifying him as either the founder of the parent companies in the network or as one of their initial shareholders. Behind the scenes, Kezerashvili appeared to be at the centre of that network.
When it came to the Milton group, there was similarly no publicly available documentation linking Kezerashvili to the scam companies, and there was no evidence that he had any direct financial interest in the Milton brands.
But several former employees of Milton-linked companies told us confidentially that they had had direct dealings with Kezerashvili and knew him to be involved in the Milton group.
Kezerashvili has frequently promoted the scam trading platforms on his personal social media accounts. On the business networking site LinkedIn, he has used his account almost exclusively to promote jobs and share posts about Milton-linked companies.
The BBC was able to find a number of other pieces of evidence linking the former defence minister to Milton brands. Several companies owned by Kezerashvili used a private email server on which the only other users were Milton group companies. His venture capital firm, Infinity VC, owned the branding and web domains for companies that provided trading platform technology to the scammers.
Kezerashvili also owns a Kyiv office building that was home to both the scam call centre selling EverFX and the tech firms that provided the software - offices which were raided by police in November. He also owns a Tbilisi office block that contained some of the same tech firms.
When the BBC examined social media profiles belonging to the four senior Milton group men, it became clear from pictures posted of wedding parties and other social events that they all had close social ties to Kezerashvili. Kezerashvili is Facebook friends with at least 45 people linked to the Milton group scams, and one of the four senior figures identified by the BBC is his cousin.
The BBC tracked Kezerashvili to his £18m London mansion and asked to speak to him, but we were told he wasn't available. He told the BBC via his lawyers that he strongly denied any involvement with the Milton group, or that he gained financially from scams. He said that EverFX was to his knowledge a legitimate business and his lawyers argued other connections we have found to the people and IT behind it "proved nothing".
Scam victims download a trading platform, but some are never placing real trades at all. (Joel Gunter/BBC)
Mr Chelidze and Mr Gogeshvili also strongly denied our accusations, saying that EverFX was a legitimate, regulated platform. They denied knowledge of Milton or any connection between EverFX and the brands we identified, which they suggested had misused EverFX's source code and brand to confuse users. They said EverFX had never had a crypto wallet and had no control over how its third-party payment processors directed funds.
Mr Mgeladze also denied our accusations, telling us that he has never owned any call centres fraudulently mis-selling investments and has no knowledge of the Milton group.
Mr Benimini did not respond to our questions.
EverFX denied our allegations, saying that they were a legitimate and regulated platform where risks were fully explained. They said that they had investigated Barry Burnett's case and found that he was responsible for his losses.
In Jane's case, they told us her losses were as a result of her moving to an unconnected company. They said that they had fully cooperated with the FCA and there were no outstanding UK regulatory complaints.
The FCA said EverFX was banned by the agency in 2021, along with other similar trading brands.
Sevilla FC told the BBC only that once their contract with EverFX ended, they had no more contact with the company.
Fraud accounted for more than £4bn worth of crime in the UK last year, and online investment scams are thought to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds per year. But British police have faced criticism from victims over what they see as a lack of action against scammers on behalf of British nationals.
Jane went down various routes, at home and abroad, in pursuit of her lost retirement funds, but got nowhere. The UK's City of London Police took a report from her but "nothing came of it", she said. Her bank was not able to help either, "apart from writing a few letters".
"And why should they, really?" she said, with a sad shrug.
So she did the only thing she could think of. She went to a dozen online review websites and wrote reviews of the trading brands that had scammed her.
"I just wanted to warn anyone else who might fall for it," she said.
"I put a lot of effort into that. I hope someone sees it."
You can watch the documentary, The Billion-Dollar Scam, on BBC iPlayer, and listen to a radio version on BBC Sounds. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65038949 |
Consultants want up to £262 an hour to cover strike days for junior doctors - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | NHS bosses criticise pay demand for consultants to provide emergency care during junior doctors' walkout. | Health | Consultants in England want at least three times their basic pay to provide emergency cover for junior doctors during this month's three-day walkout.
The demands have been described as unreasonable by NHS bosses as they try to plug the gaps in emergency care.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is recommending its members ask for £158 an hour to work during the day, rising to £262 for night shifts.
It said it was right to be paid more for work outside the normal contract.
Consultants earn between £88,000 and £119,000 a year in basic pay - that works out at the equivalent of about £42 to £57 an hour in a 40-hour week.
Although average pay is £20,000 higher once extra payments for performance, night shifts and being on call is included.
But during the strike the BMA has advised doctors to ask for:
The BMA said the pay rates should be used by any consultant who is asked to move from their normal speciality or by emergency care consultants who are asked to do extra shifts or fulfil roles normally done by junior doctors.
About 40% of the medical workforce is classed as a junior doctor and two-thirds are thought to be BMA members who will be asked to walk out between 06:00 GMT on 13 and 06:00 on 16 March across both planned and emergency care in their pay dispute.
Junior doctors are calling for pay rises to make up for cuts of 26% since 2008.
Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, said health bosses had sympathy for the plight of doctors, but that was being "eroded" by the unilateral demands being made for premium pay.
He said NHS bosses had not been consulted on the rates, which are included in the BMA official rate card used for extra hours beyond contracted work.
"If their dispute is with the government with regards to both pay and pensions, it seems unreasonable to act without first seeking any kind of agreement with employers," he added.
The rate card was first introduced last year, the BMA said, after some NHS trusts tried to cap the amount they were willing to pay for overtime.
BMA consultants leader Dr Vishal Sharma said it was right the rate card was used for the strikes.
"We wholeheartedly support and stand in solidarity with our junior doctor colleagues in their industrial action and pursuit of full pay restoration.
"Consultants, having themselves experienced real-terms pay cuts, know all too well the damaging impact pay erosion has on morale and staff retention.
"On strike days it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that services are staffed safely, and they have been given adequate notice of when the action is set to take place.
"The BMA rate card rates are recommended for all work undertaken outside of the normal contract, and they are therefore appropriate to use for covering absent junior doctors as this work is quite clearly extra-contractual.
"These rates therefore reflect the market value of doctors' work." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64827246 |
Mother of 6-year-old who shot Virginia teacher is charged - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The boy shot his first-grade teacher at a Virginia school in January - with his mother's gun. | US & Canada | A six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia shot his first-grade teacher during class in January
The mother of a six-year-old child who shot his teacher at a school in Virginia has been criminally charged.
Deja Taylor, 25, has been indicted by a grand jury with a felony child neglect charge and a misdemeanour charge.
Police had previously said that the gun used in the shooting belonged to Ms Taylor.
The child brought the gun in his backpack to Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News on 6 January.
He then shot Abigail Zwerner, a 25-year-old teacher, in the hand and chest during a lesson. Ms Zwerner was seriously injured but survived the shooting.
On Monday, prosecutors said in a statement that Ms Taylor had been charged with one count of felony child neglect and one count of misdemeanour for "recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child."
They added the charges stemmed from a "thorough investigation" into the shooting.
"Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues," said Howard Gwynn, the attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The family had previously said in a statement after the shooting that the gun was secured.
James Elleson, a lawyer for the family, told the Associated Press that the gun had been in the mother's closet on a top shelf and that it had had a trigger lock.
Authorities said other charges could be announced as a special grand jury looked into security issues at the school that may have allowed the shooting to take place.
"If the Special Grand Jury determines that additional persons are criminally responsible under the law, it can return additional indictments," Mr Gwynn said.
The teacher has accused school officials of ignoring multiple warnings that the boy had a gun the day of the shooting, and has sued them for gross negligence.
School officials had previously confirmed that the child's backpack had been searched by a staff member at the school on the day of the shooting, after it had been reported that the student may have a weapon.
Prosecutors have previously said that the child was unlikely to be charged in connection to the shooting.
Mr Gwynn told NBC News in March that the "prospect that a six-year-old can stand trial is problematic" because the child is too young to understand the legal system.
"Once we analyse all the facts, we will charge any person or persons that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime," Mr Gwynn said at the time. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65202976 |
Referee and wife received 'death threats' after Old Firm match - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Kevin Clancy's contact details were published online after the Celtic v Rangers game on Saturday. | Scotland | Kevin Clancy disallowed a goal by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos after ruling the Colombian fouled Celtic defender Alistair Johnston
A referee and his wife have received death threats after Saturday's Old Firm match, the BBC understands.
The Scottish Football Association said Kevin Clancy was targeted after his contact details were published online following the Celtic v Rangers game.
Abusive messages sent to Mr Clancy were also directed at his children.
The SFA has referred the matter to Police Scotland, but a force spokesman said it had yet to receive the correspondence.
During the Scottish Premiership match, which Celtic won 3-2, the referee disallowed a first half goal by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.
A spokesperson for the Ibrox club said: "Rangers condemns in the strongest terms any abuse of match officials.
"We are all passionate about our game, but targeted, personal abuse of referees cannot be tolerated."
The statement went on to say that Rangers were "astonished" by the decision to chalk off Morelos' goal.
Former top flight referee Steve Conroy said the abuse directed at Mr Clancy was "absolutely appalling".
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is disgusting that anybody personally and anybody's family can be targeted over the course of a game of football.
Mr Conroy said the abuse of match officials was not new but added the problem had intensified since he retired due to social media.
He also said anyone convicted of sending death threats should be banned from attending football grounds for life.
On Monday the SFA confirmed Mr Clancy had received a series of "unacceptable" messages via email and phone.
Chief executive Ian Maxwell said some of the contact was "potentially criminal in nature".
The SFA said a "significant volume of threatening and abusive emails" had been referred to Police Scotland, but the force said it had not received the complaint.
As a result, officers have yet to launch a formal investigation.
The SFA is based at Hampden in Glasgow
The SFA confirmed the association's security and integrity manager had been liaising with Mr Clancy and the force following the messages over the Easter weekend.
Mr Maxwell said: "The nature of the messages goes way beyond criticism of performance and perceived decision-making - some are potentially criminal in nature and include threats and abuse towards Kevin and his family.
"We have referred the correspondence to the police and condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms, as well as the posting of a referee's personal details online with the sole purpose of causing distress.
"Football is our national game. It improves and saves lives. Without referees, there is no game, and while decisions will always be debated with or without the use of VAR, we cannot allow a situation to develop where a referee's privacy and safety, and those of his family, are compromised."
He added everyone had a responsibility to "protect our game and those essential to it".
Meanwhile, the SFA also confirmed the referee operations team had responded to Rangers' request for an explanation for the decision to rule out Morelos' goal, which they believe should have stood.
Rangers later said it had been told by the SFA that the goal by the Colombian striker was rightly disallowed.
The statement continued: "The club is astonished by this, especially given most observers, including former referees and former players, could see no issue with the goal standing."
Rangers also highlighted a case in England where Brighton and Hove Albion received an apology for not being awarded a penalty in a match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The spokesperson said: "While an apology does not alter the outcome of a match, such responsibility and openness would be welcome in Scotland."
In February a former top Scottish referee warned match officials were being subjected to an unacceptable level of verbal and physical abuse.
Kenny Clark spoke out after hundreds of grassroots referees in England told the BBC they fear for their safety when refereeing.
Some respondents described being punched, headbutted and spat at.
The Referees' Association in England has even warned an official will one day "lose his or her life". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65234008 |
Ex-SNP chief will not be suspended from party - FM - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Humza Yousaf says Peter Murrell is "innocent until proven guilty" but the SNP will not pay his legal fees. | Scotland | Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was questioned by police but released without charge last week
Humza Yousaf has said the former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell will not be suspended from the party because he is "innocent until proven guilty".
But the SNP leader confirmed the party would not be paying Mr Murrell's legal fees.
Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was arrested last week amid a police probe into the SNP's finances but was released without charge.
Mr Yousaf also confirmed the party's auditors resigned six months ago.
The BBC revealed last week that the SNP's accountants Johnston Carmichael, who had worked with the party for more than a decade, had resigned.
The SNP has told the Electoral Commission it is having difficulty identifying a replacement.
During an event in Leith, Mr Yousaf faced questions from reporters about when exactly they had quit, and what he had known about it.
Mr Yousaf said the auditors had resigned "round about October of last year" but he only found out when he became first minister.
It was later clarified that Johnston Carmichael told the party in September that it would not be able to conduct the audit due in 2023.
He was also pressed on whether Mr Murrell, 58, should have his membership suspended while the police investigation was continuing.
The first minister said while it was "undoubtedly serious" that the former chief executive had been interviewed under caution, he did not think he should be suspended from the party.
"I tend to work on the premise that somebody is innocent until proven guilty," Mr Yousaf stated.
In response SNP MP Joanna Cherry wrote on Twitter: "Of course Murrell is innocent until proven guilty but the decision not to suspend his party membership given the whole circumstances is remarkable."
Humza Yousaf was interviewed by journalists during a visit to a tidal energy company in Edinburgh
The party's interim chief executive Michael Russell has described recent developments as the biggest crisis for the SNP in 50 years.
Mr Yousaf acknowledged that it was a "difficult" period for his party.
"It has got the potential to damage the party, we know that," he said.
But he insisted the SNP was still in a "position of strength" as the largest political party in Scotland and there was an "opportunity to rebuild".
Mr Yousaf insisted that appointing new auditors was currently one of the "major priorities" for the party
He said he hoped to have the accounts prepared in time to be submitted to watchdogs at the Electoral Commission in July, although he accepted this was "problematic".
"We're going to try to work to the premise that we can get them ready by July. It will be a challenging task," he said.
It is understood that the SNP has approached a number of firms about auditing their accounts but have not yet found one with the capacity to take them on.
A spokesperson for the party said: "We have informed the Electoral Commission of the difficulty in identifying replacement auditors and the national treasurer has made the party's finance and audit committee aware."
The home Peter Murrell shares with Nicola Sturgeon was searched by police last week
In July 2021 Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP's finances after receiving complaints about how donations made for a fresh independence campaign had been used.
Nearly £667,000 is believed to have been raised through referendum-related appeals, but questions were raised after accounts showed the SNP had just under £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, and total net assets of about £272,000.
Last year it emerged Mr Murrell gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election.
Mr Murrell resigned as SNP chief executive last month after taking responsibility for misleading statements about a fall in party membership.
The number of members had fallen from the 104,000 it had two years ago to just over 72,000.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy called for the SNP to "give a full account of what has been going on in the management of their party".
"It is an extraordinary revelation that the SNP's auditors resigned as far back as October, when senior figures have spent months maintaining that there were no questions over the party's finances," he said.
Meanwhile Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie raised concerns that the SNP "did not come clean" about losing their auditors for several months.
"It is deeply worrying if they have been unable to replace the auditors in all this time," she said in a post on Twitter. "It is time for the secrecy to end." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65242685 |
What the leaked Pentagon documents reveal - 8 key takeaways - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Ukraine's spring offensive and Chinese hypersonic weapons are among the issues highlighted in the leaks. | US & Canada | A cache of classified US documents leaked online sheds new light on American intelligence gathered about other countries.
Images of the covert files have appeared on messaging app Discord since early March.
Complete with timelines and dozens of military acronyms, the documents, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine and also offer information on China and allies.
Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real.
BBC News and other news organisations have reviewed the documents and these are some of the key findings.
The US believed the UN secretary general's stance on a key grain deal was undermining attempts to hold Russia accountable for the war in Ukraine.
Antonio Guterres was too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to files which suggest Washington has been closely monitoring him.
Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy.
One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis.
It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to give in to Russia's demands - a stance which was "undermining broader efforts to hold Russia accountable".
While the bulk of the leaked documents concern, in one way or another, the war in Ukraine, there are others that touch on a huge range of unrelated issues. Many of them shed light on some of Washington's global preoccupations.
Like the spread and purpose of Chinese technology.
The documents appear to have been printed out and folded before being photographed and posted online
Three documents based on intelligence from late February detail discussions among senior Jordanian officials over whether or not to shut the Chinese firm Huawei out of its 5G rollout plans.
Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, in charge of the rollout, is said in the document to be worried about retaliation from China if they keep Huawei out.
Nor is this the only place where fears about Chinese technology are revealed
Another document marked top secret addresses China's "developing cyber-attack capabilities." It says these are designed "to deny, exploit, and hijack satellite links and networks as part of its strategy to control information, which it considers to be a key warfighting domain."
Newly discovered documents suggest Russian officials are at loggerheads over the reporting of casualties.
The main intelligence agency, the FSB, has "accused" the country's defence ministry of playing down the human impact of the war, the files show.
These findings show the extent to which the US agencies have penetrated the Russian intelligence and military.
One document, dated 23 March, refers to the presence of a small number of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine, without specifying their activities or location. The UK has the largest contingent (50), followed by Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1).
Western governments typically refrain from commenting on such sensitive matters, but this detail is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well.
Other documents say when a dozen new Ukrainian brigades - being prepared for an offensive that could begin within weeks - will be ready. They list, in great detail, the tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces that are being provided by Ukraine's Western allies.
One map includes a timeline that assesses ground conditions across eastern Ukraine as spring progresses.
According to the Washington Post newspaper, one document from early February expresses misgivings about Ukraine's chances of success in its forthcoming counteroffensive, saying that problems with generating and sustaining sufficient forces could result in "modest territorial gains".
Ukraine's difficulties in maintaining its vital air defences are also analysed, with warnings from late February that Kyiv might run out of critical missiles.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds.
Casualty figures are also listed. One slide refers to as many as 223,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, and as many as 131,000 Ukrainians.
Some Ukrainian officials have dismissed the leaks, suggesting they might constitute a Russian disinformation campaign. But there are signs of frustration and anger too.
One presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted: "We need less contemplation on 'leaks' and more long-range weapons in order to properly end the war."
President al-Sisi is said to have told officials to keep production of rockets for Russia secret - but an Egyptian official says the allegation is baseless
The Washington Post obtained access to another document from mid-February, where they found that Egypt had plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret.
The Post said President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi told officials to keep production and shipment secret "to avoid problems with the West".
An official is quoted as saying he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier".
It is unclear what the earlier help refers to. In January, Reuters reported that Russia's share of Egyptian wheat imports had risen in 2022, offering one possible explanation.
There is no indication that Egypt - a recipient of US security assistance, worth around $1bn a year - went ahead with the proposed sale to Russia.
An unnamed official quoted on Egyptian news channels described the allegation as "utterly baseless" and said Cairo did not take sides in the war.
The Kremlin called it "just another canard" and the White House said there was "no indication" Egypt was providing lethal weapons to Russia.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Expert: US and Egypt ready to move forward after leak
A classified document, seen by the BBC, reveals that South Korea was torn about selling weapons for use in Ukraine.
The report, based on signals intelligence, details a sensitive conversation between national security advisers.
They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.
One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.
As part of a resupply deal last year, Seoul insisted that the US could not pass the shells on to Ukraine. Seoul has been reluctant to arm Ukraine, for fear of antagonising Russia.
The leak has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with opposition politicians questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation.
The Post also found that Beijing tested one of its experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on 25 February.
The missile flew for 12 minutes over a distance of 2,100km (1,300 miles), according to the documents. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65238951 |
The Ritz London applicant told 'Afro-style' hair was banned - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Jerelle Jules says the five-star London hotel issued a "disingenuous and lacklustre" apology. | London | Jerelle Jules dropped out of the recruitment process after receiving the hotel's staff grooming policy document
A job applicant said he received a "disingenuous and lacklustre" apology from The Ritz after he was told that "Afro-style" hair was banned among staff at the exclusive London hotel.
Jerelle Jules had reached the final interview stage with the hotel when he was sent its employee grooming policy.
The 30-year-old said he was later told that a black hair stylist from The Ritz had approved the policy phrasing.
Mr Jules said the document indicated "institutional racism".
The Ritz says it "does not condone discrimination of any form".
Mr Jules, from Hammersmith in west London, applied for a dining reservations supervisor job two weeks ago and was due to attend the final interview when he was sent the policy document.
It stated that staff could not have "unusual hairstyles such as spiky or Afro-style".
Mr Jules, who works in corporate housing, said it was the first time he had been told he could not have Afro hair for a job, and he declined the final interview.
He said the personal grooming policy, dated to 2021, was an example of "corporate ignorance".
Mr Jules said he had invited The Ritz to talk about diversity
"I want to make sure that things like this don't happen again," he said. "It's about inclusivity and black professionalism."
Mr Jules said he had invited The Ritz to talk about diversity and being "open to all candidates".
A spokesperson for the five-star hotel said: "The Ritz London does not condone discrimination of any form and we are genuinely committed to fostering an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for all of our colleagues and guests.
"An out-of-date and incorrect Grooming Policy was regrettably sent to Mr Jules. We would also like to reiterate that these are not The Ritz London's rules."
Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, told the BBC that the hair policy was "blatant discrimination".
"The response by The Ritz on being challenged is wholly inadequate," he said. "They have not explained how this racist and demeaning policy came about or what they now intend to do to address its legacy.
"Mr Jules has offered to help them improve their recruitment process, which is a generous offer and one they should take up. There is no room for this type of attitude from employers."
Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65242398 |
Ukraine war: Leak shows Western special forces on the ground - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The UK has the largest contingent of military special forces in Ukraine, according to a leaked file. | Europe | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds.
The UK is among a number of countries with military special forces operating inside Ukraine, according to one of dozens of documents leaked online.
It confirms what has been the subject of quiet speculation for over a year.
The leaked files, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine, including sensitive details of Ukraine's preparations for a spring counter-offensive.
The US government says it is investigating the source of the leak.
According to the document, dated 23 March, the UK has the largest contingent of special forces in Ukraine (50), followed by fellow Nato states Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1).
The document does not say where the forces are located or what they are doing.
The numbers of personnel may be small, and will doubtless fluctuate. But special forces are by their very nature highly effective. Their presence in Ukraine is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well.
In line with its standard policy on such matters, the UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented, but in a tweet on Tuesday said the leak of alleged classified information had demonstrated what it called a "serious level of inaccuracy".
"Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread misinformation," it said.
It did not elaborate or suggest which specific documents it was referring to. However, Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real.
One document, which detailed the number of casualties suffered in Ukraine on both sides, did appear to have been doctored.
UK special forces are made up of several elite military units with distinct areas of expertise, and are regarded to be among the most capable in the world.
The British government has a policy of not commenting on its special forces, in contrast to other countries including the US.
The UK has been vociferous in its support of Ukraine, and is the second largest donor after the US of military aid to Kyiv.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation and he was determined to find the source of the leak.
"We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it," he said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Expert says US and Egypt ready to move forward after leak | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65245065 |
UK weather: Rain and 60mph gusts to replace Easter sunshine - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The Met Office issues two weather warnings for wind as blustery weather moves into the UK. | UK | People braving the rain in Battersea Park on Easter Monday
Heavy downpours and gusts of more than 60mph are due to hit large parts of the UK this week, forecasters have warned.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering parts of Northern Ireland, the south of Scotland, the west coast of England and most of Wales on Tuesday.
Another yellow wind warning is in place for south-west England and south Wales for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, flooding is possible in parts of England on Tuesday.
The Environment Agency has issued eight flood alerts in areas including Surrey, Bristol and the Tyne and Wear coast.
There were heavy thundery showers across parts of the UK on Monday, with the most active storms in place in the Midlands and parts of northern England.
The first of the Met Office's weather warnings for wind will come into effect from 15:00 BST on Tuesday and will last until 03:00 on Wednesday, with the second warning in place from 06:00 on Wednesday until the end of the day.
Delays to road, rail and flights are expected while there could also be a short-term loss of power in some of the areas covered by the warnings, the Met Office said.
The forecast for this week marks a stark contrast to the warm sunshine much of the country experienced over the first three days of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Temperatures reached 17.3C (63.14F) at Kinlochewe in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday and 17.1C (62.78F) in London on Sunday.
People enjoying the Easter Sunday sunshine in Greenwich Park in the capital
An estimated two million British holidaymakers headed overseas during the Bank Holiday period, according to travel trade organisation ABTA.
Those returning this week will be greeted to wind and rain - and even possibly some snow on higher ground.
BBC Weather forecaster Chris Fawkes said this week would be wet and windy as a strong jet stream from the Atlantic develops an area of low pressure, with temperatures dropping from the highs seen over the weekend.
"It will become very windy on Tuesday night for parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and western England with gusts of wind reaching 50mph to 60mph - strong enough to bring down some tree branches and cause some localised disruption," he said.
"There is a chance that a stronger low pressure could develop bringing a few gusts as high as 70mph or even 80mph to areas adjoining the Irish Sea, but there is a degree of uncertainty due to the fact that the area of low pressure hasn't even started to develop just yet."
He added: "The weather will stay blustery on Wednesday with outbreaks of rain and some heavy, thundery showers. It will feel a lot colder, especially in the strong winds, with temperatures reaching between 6C and 12C.
"It will even be cold enough to see a little snow on some of the mountains in northern areas - a reminder that spring can be a fickle season."
• None 2022 will be warmest year ever for UK - Met Office | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65233359 |
Stakeknife: Alleged Army agent in IRA Freddie Scappaticci dies - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Freddie Scappaticci denied he was the Army's most high-ranking agent in the IRA during the Troubles. | Northern Ireland | Freddie Scappaticci always denied he was an Army agent within the IRA
Freddie Scappaticci, the man suspected of being Stakeknife, the Army's top agent within the IRA, has died.
Mr Scappaticci, who was in his 70s, always denied he was Stakeknife.
He left Northern Ireland in 2003 after media organisations alleged he had been working for the Army while head of the IRA's internal security unit.
Jon Boutcher, who is heading an investigation into Stakeknife's activities, said Mr Scappaticci died last week.
The IRA's internal security unit - known as "the nutting squad" - identified suspected informers, many of whom were murdered by the group after being kidnapped and tortured.
Mr Scappaticci, who formerly lived in west Belfast, was the grandson of an Italian immigrant who came to Northern Ireland in search of work.
In 2016, the Police Service of Northern Ireland commissioned an investigation into Stakeknife's activities led by Mr Boutcher, the former head of Bedfordshire police.
Mr Boutcher was in the process of preparing a report on his investigation, Operation Kenova.
The Operation Kenova team has investigated historical crimes, covering murder and torture, and the role of the state, including MI5.
Mr Boutcher said his team was "working through the implications" of Mr Scappaticci's death in consultation with stakeholders, including victims and bereaved families.
"The very nature of historical investigations will mean a higher likelihood that old age may catch up with those affected, be they perpetrators, witnesses, victims, family members or those who simply lived through those times, before matters are concluded," Mr Boucher said.
Mr Scappaticci left Northern Ireland when identified by the media as Stakeknife in 2003
He added that his team remained committed to "providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones" and pursuing criminal charges against several individuals.
The Operation Kenova report was due to be published earlier this year but has been delayed.
KRW Law, which represents some victims of the IRA's internal security unit, said the news of Mr Scappaticci's death would "frustrate many families" who had been waiting for the publication of the Operation Kenova report.
"Clearly the death will have an impact on both the content of the report and whether or not criminal prosecutions go ahead," they said.
Last week, Mr Boutcher said a key stage of the report had "taken longer than I had hoped".
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) had about 30 files related to the Stakeknife investigation, awaiting decisions.
Mr Boutcher expressed hope that Mr Scappaticci's death would make more people comfortable to come forward and speak to his investigators. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65244928 |
Millie Bobby Brown announces her engagement to Jake Bongiovi - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The 19-year-old confirms on Instagram she will marry Jake Bongiovi, the son of singer Jon Bon Jovi. | Entertainment & Arts | The couple were pictured together at the premiere of the fourth season of Stranger Things last year
Actress Millie Bobby Brown has announced she is engaged to Jake Bongiovi, her boyfriend of two-and-a-half years.
Posting a picture of herself with Bongiovi, the 19-year-old Stranger Things star said: "I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all."
An engagement ring could be seen on her finger, and Brown added a white love heart emoji to the end of her post.
Bongiovi, 20, is an actor and the son of legendary singer Jon Bon Jovi.
This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Instagram The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip instagram post by milliebobbybrown This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Singer Pixie Lott was among the stars commenting on Brown's post, writing: "Omg!!!! Congratulations you two so happy for you eeeee."
Bongiovi also shared the news on his own page, simply writing "forever" alongside two photos of the couple.
Brown's statement referenced the lyrics from Taylor Swift track Lover, taken from her seventh studio album of the same name.
The announcement follows weeks of social media speculation that the couple had become engaged.
The pair were seen together at the Bafta Film Awards in London in March 2022
The couple posed for photos with stormtroopers at at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, last year
Bongiovi attended the premiere of Brown's film Enola Holmes 2 in September
Brown introduced Bongiovi to her followers in June 2021 with a photo of him posted to Instagram. The pair later confirmed they were a couple.
In another Instagram post in January, Brown called Bongiovi her "partner for life" and posted a string of pictures of the couple together.
The English actress rose to fame as a child star on the smash hit Netflix series Stranger Things, the forthcoming fifth season of which is set to be the show's last.
Bongiovi recently landed his second major acting role in a new coming-of-age film Rockbottom. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65240158 |
CBI postpones all public events after new sexual misconduct claims - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The business lobby group is facing a number of allegations and is conducting an investigation. | Business | The CBI has temporarily postponed all its public engagements and events after fresh sexual misconduct claims against the business lobby group emerged.
Its annual dinner, at which the chancellor is usually the keynote speaker, will now not go ahead.
The CBI is facing a number of claims, including sexual assault, and has hired a law firm to investigate.
It said it "has treated and continues to treat all matters of workplace conduct with the utmost seriousness".
Sources said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was not due to attend this year's dinner, which had been scheduled for 11 May, because he will be out of the country, but the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, had been set to go.
The BBC also understands that a guest speaker had pulled out of a CBI event in Northern Ireland.
The Guardian recently published several allegations, the most serious is from a woman who claims she was raped by a senior colleague at a CBI summer boat party in 2019.
The woman told the newspaper she felt let down by a CBI manager who, she claims, advised her to seek out counselling rather than pursue the matter further.
A CBI spokesperson said: "We have found no evidence or record of this matter. Given the seriousness of the issue, it is part of the independent investigation being conducted by Fox Williams."
The organisation's director general, Tony Danker, recently stepped aside pending an investigation into separate alleged incidents, for which he has "apologised profusely" and claimed "was completely unintentional".
The BBC understands that these new allegations published by the Guardian do not relate to Mr Danker.
In a statement on Tuesday, a CBI spokesperson said: "In light of the very serious allegations that are currently subject to independent investigation, the CBI has decided to temporarily pause its external programme of events, including the annual dinner on 11 May.
"After Easter, the board hopes to have preliminary findings and actions from the first phase of the investigation and, among other steps, will review this pause in event activity at that point."
Some company executives who are members of the CBI have described this as an existential crisis for an organisation that describes itself as the "most effective and influential" business organisation representing 190,000 businesses across the UK.
If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, help and support can be found at BBC Action Line.
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If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65176751 |
President Joe Biden says he plans to run for second term in 2024 - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The US president told NBC News he plans to run but was not ready to announce the bid yet. | US & Canada | US President Joe Biden has dropped yet another hint that he will seek re-election in 2024.
Mr Biden said on Monday that he "plans" on running again but added that he is "not prepared to announce it yet".
The comments came during a casual interview with US broadcaster NBC prior to the annual White House Easter children's party.
Mr Biden has previously said it was his "intention" to run for another four-year term.
During a press conference last November, the president spoke of his desire to seek another term but said he would discuss it with his family over the year-end holidays.
In February, First Lady Jill Biden said that the timing of the formal announcement was "pretty much" all that was left to be decided.
"How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it?" she told the Associated Press during a visit to Africa.
White House staff had suggested that an announcement could come as early as February but then pushed the possible date to April.
The latest reports are that Mr Biden may wait until the new campaign fundraising quarter begins in July in order to maximise the amount of time he can gather donations before having to disclose them publicly.
Quarterly fundraising totals are frequently viewed as an important indication of the strength of a campaign.
There are currently two announced candidates for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination - best-selling self-help author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr.
No prominent Democratic officeholders appear to be considering a challenge to the incumbent, however.
The lack of any formidable rivals in his party has given Mr Biden the ability to set the timing of any formal announcement without significant external pressure.
His advisers have said he sees an advantage in drawing a contrast between his role governing the nation while his potential Republican opponents engage in partisan campaigning or - in Donald Trump's case - deal with the fallout from a criminal indictment.
Last week, the former president pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court to falsifying business records.
Behind the scenes, however, Mr Biden and his advisers are quietly assembling a campaign team and staffing the independent political action committee, Future Forward, that will provide financial support for the president's re-election effort.
At 80, Mr Biden is already the oldest president in US history. If he wins re-election, he will be 86 at the end of his second term.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Biden chuckles at thought of Trump running again | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65208051 |
Parkinson's disease device trial at Addenbrooke's Hospital - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | It is testing a device aimed at improving patient mobility. | Cambridgeshire | It is hoped the device could help mobility and reduce falls
A device that could potentially improve the mobility of people with Parkinson's disease is being trialled on inpatients at a Cambridge hospital.
The CUE1, worn on the sternum of the chest, delivers vibration and pulses intended to improve motor skills and alleviate stiffness.
It is hoped the device, being trialled at Addenbrooke's Hospital, will also reduce falls.
Parkinson's disease can cause tremors, balance problems and slow movement.
Addenbrooke's Hospital has bought 10 devices with the help of its charitable trust.
They were developed by Cambridge company Charco Neurotech.
Lucy Jung, its chief executive officer, said: "The CUE1 has been developed by designers, engineers and clinicians, and offers a novel, non-invasive approach to minimising the symptoms of Parkinson's."
She said it was now "being trialled in a hospital setting for the very first time".
Dr Alistair Mackett, who specialises in Parkinson's disease at Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, said: "I felt that it was exciting to trial the CUE1 devices as they have been shown to be safe with almost no side-effects, yet potentially helpful with mobility and a reduction in falls.
"In the UK almost 1,000 people already use the device. We are the first hospital in the world to use them with inpatients.
"The pilot will allow us to collect data and understand how best to use the CUE1 device in people with Parkinson's who have been admitted to hospital."
Dr Alistair Mackett is a specialist in Parkinson's disease at the Cambridge hospital
He said Addenbrooke's Hospital usually had between 20 and 30 inpatients with the disease at any one time.
"My hypothesis is that we might be able to see an improvement in mobility, allowing patients to better participate in therapy and hopefully go home quicker," he added.
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• None 'I thought Parkinson's had taken control of my life'
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-65239564 |
Striking junior doctors' pay demand unreasonable - No 10 - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The government digs in and says there will be no talks with unions until they abandon their demand for a 35% pay rise. | Health | 'Here's my number, so call me, Barclay'
We're now hearing speeches at the BMA rally in Trafalgar Square with plenty of interjections and responses from the noisy crowd. Union officials are on a big stage speaking to what is now hundreds of junior doctors in Trafalgar Square. "Full pay restoration," the crowd chants when there is a gap in speaking. "What choice do you have other than to do what you are doing [striking]... Continue with this level of determination and unity and we will win this dispute," another speaker says to applause. The mood is also light at times. Because the BMA says that it has yet to receive any pay offer from the government, we're now hearing a parody version of Carly Rae Jepsen hit Call Me Maybe - with BMA reps on the stage adapting the lyrics to implore Health Secretary Steve Barclay to call them. "Here's our number, so call us, Barclay." It's met with laughs as the crowd sings along. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/health-65211952 |
Joe Biden's blink-and-you'll-miss-it visit to Northern Ireland - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Despite months of diplomatic chatter, the US president's Northern Ireland trip does not amount to much. | UK Politics | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
For the best part of a year at least, the prospect of this presidential visit has been discussed among diplomats.
Washington's deep pride, seeing itself as a midwife to the 1998 Belfast Good Friday Agreement, ensured this date was pencilled in to the White House diary - and those of British and American diplomats - long ago.
But amid the reminiscing about 1998, the politics of 2023 swirls; stirring a loose idea into an actual visit and then moulding its scale, or lack of it.
The prime minister's diplomatic triumph in re-casting the Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has not - yet at least - delivered its most sought after domestic prize - the restoration of power-sharing devolved government in Belfast, that cornerstone of the peace deal 25 years ago.
The Democratic Unionist Party are not happy with what is known as the Windsor Framework and are not willing to go back to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont - and so there can be no moment with a grandiose backdrop and smiles of success.
And so an awkward, if frequent political impasse here hangs over this blink and you'll miss it visit from both the president and prime minister.
Because yes, after months of diplomatic chatter about it, it doesn't actually add up to much.
There has been a smidgen of tension between the White House and Downing Street about the timetabling of the leaders' itineraries which probably hasn't helped.
It would have been odd if President Biden had come here and not been met by the prime minister.
But we won't see very much of them together beyond a handshake at the airport and a meeting on Wednesday morning.
And the president will be in Northern Ireland for only around 15 hours, for around half of which he'll be in bed.
After that, Joe Biden's much talked about Irish heritage will draw him to the Republic.
A mix of family history and made-for-television imagery the year before a presidential election.
As my colleague Sarah Smith writes here, with 30 million Americans claiming Irish roots, the personal and the political will overlap for him rather neatly in the next few days.
For the prime minister, it'll be straight back to London on Wednesday afternoon.
The rationale of those around Mr Sunak is that overt cajoling of the DUP now could prove counter-productive.
No 10 is seeking to emphasise a more prominent role for the prime minister at Good Friday Agreement commemorations here next week. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65246488 |
WATCH: Entire building collapses onto road in Mexico - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | Authorities in Tijuana say the building is the second to collapse in the area following a landslide. | null | Authorities in Tijuana say the building is the second to collapse in the area following a landslide.
Emergency workers appeared to already be on the scene, and it's not yet clear if there were any casualties in the fall. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65234499 |
Australia: Watch moment police on dirt bikes raid illegal tobacco farm - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | When police raided an illegal tobacco farm, they needed the right vehicles for rural Australia. | null | Australian police raided an illegal tobacco plantation on a rural property at Murga, in central west New South Wales. They found about 16 tonnes of illicit tobacco, estimated to be worth more than A$28 million. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-65236902 |
Kentucky bank shooting: Bodycam video shows police under fire - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | One officer was hit in the head, while the other suffered a graze wound before killing the suspect. | US & Canada | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Police in Louisville, Kentucky, have released bodycam footage of the fatal shootout between police and a banker who gunned down five colleagues.
The video shows two officers getting shot as they advanced towards the lurking gunman during Monday's attack.
One officer was hit in the head, while the other suffered a graze wound before killing the suspect.
Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the videos show the officers heroically intervening to save lives.
Four people - including the police officer who was shot in the head - remain in hospital.
Police say the 25-year-old suspect used a legally purchased AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the attack, which he was live-streaming.
Officers arrived three minutes after the first emergency call was placed at 08:38 local time.
Officer Cory Galloway and rookie Officer Nickolas Wilt charged toward the building after their patrol car came under fire, according to the video.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Two men recall the terrifying moments at the Louisville bank
The clip shows that as they moved up the stairs to the building entrance, a barrage of shots were fired. Officer Wilt was hit, although the video does not show this.
A bullet also grazed Officer Galloway's shoulder, sending him diving to the bottom of the steps for cover behind a concrete planter.
"The shooter has an angle on that officer," he says to other police as they arrive. "We need to get up there. I don't know where he's at, the glass is blocking him."
The gunman was at an elevated position to the officers, and was able to see outside through glass windows of the Old National Bank that officers could not see into.
After he fired again at the officers, breaking the glass, Officer Galloway was able to spot the suspect and fired at him until he collapsed in the building's lobby area.
"I think I got him down. I think he's down," he is heard shouting. "Suspect down. Get the officer."
A memorial outside the Old National Bank in Louisville
Deputy Chief Humphrey says the officers' actions saved lives, both by stopping the gunman from killing more employees and by giving first aid to the victims.
Officer Wilt, 26, who had been sworn in to the force 10 days earlier, was taken to hospital in a police car. He remains in a critical condition.
Another officer drove an ambulance to hospital so medical workers could remain in the back of the vehicle with a victim.
The family of the gunman, Connor Sturgeon, released a statement late on Tuesday saying they had been addressing his mental health challenges, but there were no warning signs he could commit such an act.
"No words can express our sorrow, anguish, and horror at the unthinkable harm our son Connor inflicted on innocent people, their families, and the entire Louisville community," the statement said.
"We mourn their loss and that of our son, Connor. We pray for everyone traumatised by his senseless acts of violence and are deeply grateful for the bravery and heroism of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department."
Meanwhile, the legally purchased AR-15-style rifle used by the gunman will probably be auctioned to the public, officials say.
Under current state law, guns confiscated by local police - including those used in homicides - are returned to state police and then made available for purchase at auction.
In February, the Louisville mayor ordered local police to temporarily disable seized weapons before handing them over to state police for resale.
Mayor Craig Greenberg told a news conference on Tuesday: "Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbours and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off.
"Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65234314 |
Poultry to be allowed outside as bird flu eases - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The mandatory housing order for England and Wales will lift on April 18 | Science & Environment | Poultry and captive birds can be kept outside again starting next week as the risk from bird flu eases, the government said on Tuesday.
The Chief Veterinary Officer said the "mandatory housing order" for England and Wales would lift at 00:01 on Tuesday, April 18.
The measures were introduced during the world's biggest ever bird flu outbreak.
The UK has seen more than 330 cases confirmed and 4 million birds culled over the past year.
The decision means that eggs laid by hens with access to outdoor areas can be marketed as "free-range" again.
The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss, still warned that "scrupulous standards" of biosecurity will need to be maintained as avian flu is expected to still be circulating in the environment for several weeks.
Ms Middlemiss said: "Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news... the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proved it's more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant."
Figures released to the BBC showed that 208 million birds around the world have died from this latest outbreak and there have been 200 recorded cases of the flu spilling over into mammals.
But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that the risk to the public is very low.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (Bfrepa) chief executive Robert Gooch said: "Free-range egg producers will be relieved to see their hens outside again.
"While on the range, hens like to scratch, dust bathe and forage for additional food, displaying the natural behaviours that consumers associated with free-range and organic egg production."
Birds in Northern Ireland remain under lockdown but in Scotland the housing order was never implemented after the country's chief vet said the evidence did not justify such a move.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65244151 |
UK to be one of worst performing economies this year, predicts IMF - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | It is predicted to be the worst performing out of the G20 nations in 2023, including Russia. | Business | The UK is set to be one of the worst performing major economies in the world this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It says the UK economy's performance in 2023 will be the worst among the 20 biggest economies, known as the G20, which includes sanctions-hit Russia.
The IMF predicts the UK economy will shrink this year, although this is a small upgrade from its last forecast.
It also warned of a "rocky road" for the global financial system.
It follows the collapse of two US banks last month, closely followed by a rushed takeover of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse by its rival UBS, which sparked fears of another financial crisis.
The IMF had already forecast that the UK would experience a downturn this year and be bottom of the pile of the G7 - a group of the world's seven largest so-called "advanced" economies, which dominate global trade and the international financial system. The UK topped the group in 2022 during the pandemic rebound.
It now expects the UK economy to shrink by 0.3% in 2023 and then grow by 1% next year.
Although the UK is forecast to have the worst economic performance this year, the IMF's latest prediction is slightly better than its previous expectation of a 0.6% contraction, made in January.
IMF researchers have previously pointed to Britain's exposure to high gas prices, rising interest rates and a sluggish trade performance as reasons for its weak economic performance.
Forecasts are made to give a guide to what is most likely to happen in the future, but they are not always right. For example, previous IMF forecasts picked up fewer than 10% of recessions a year ahead of time, according to an analysis it conducted of recessions around the world between 1992 and 2014.
Responding to the latest IMF's predictions, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "Our IMF growth forecasts have been upgraded by more than any other G7 country.
"The IMF now say we are on the right track for economic growth. By sticking to the plan we will more than halve inflation this year, easing the pressure on everyone."
But Rachel Reeves, Labour's shadow chancellor, said the estimates showed "just how far we continue to lag behind on the global stage".
"This matters not just because 13 years of low growth under the Tories are weakening our economy, but because it's why families are worse off, facing a Tory mortgage penalty and seeing living standards falling at their fastest rate since records began," she added.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said the forecast was "another damning indictment of this Conservative government's record on the economy".
A number of forecasters think the chances of a recession in the UK this year are declining. An economy is usually said to be in recession if it shrinks for two consecutive three-month periods.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility now expects the economy to contract by 0.2% this year but avoid a recession.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey also said recently that he was "much more hopeful" for the economy, and it was no longer heading into an immediate recession.
The new forecasts come against the backdrop of a world economy that continues to recover from both the pandemic and the Ukraine war energy shock.
But the IMF said there were concerns about the wider impact of recent fragility in global banking markets.
The IMF now expects global growth to fall from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.8% in 2023, before rising slowly and settling at 3% in five years' time.
But it warned that if there is more stress in the financial sector, global growth could weaken further this year.
Separately, the IMF said it expects real interest rates - which take into account inflation - in major economies to fall to pre-pandemic levels because of low productivity and ageing populations.
Central banks in the UK, the US, Europe and other nations have been increasing interest rates to combat the rate of price rises, otherwise known as inflation.
In the UK, inflation is at its highest for nearly 40 years because of rising energy prices and soaring food costs. In response, the Bank of England has been raising interest rates, and last month increased them to 4.25%.
However, in a blog the IMF said that "recent increases in real interest rates are likely to be temporary". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65240749 |
Pentagon leak shows S Korea torn on sending Ukraine weapons - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The document, seen by the BBC, reveals a conversation between high-level South Korean officials. | Asia | The US has been pushing Seoul to arm Ukraine
A leaked Pentagon document seen by the BBC reveals a sensitive conversation between high-level South Korean officials on whether to sell weapons that could be used in Ukraine.
The intercept targeted two of President Yoon Suk Yeol's senior advisors.
They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.
One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.
Washington has been scrambling to trace the source of the leaks, which the Pentagon says are a serious risk to national security.
Last year, South Korea agreed it would sell artillery shells to the US to replenish its stocks, but insisted the US had to keep the shells for itself and not send them on to Kyiv.
In their conversation on 1 March, President Yoon's foreign affairs secretary Yi Mun-hui reportedly told the then National Security Advisor Kim Sung-han that the government was "mired in concerns that the US would not be the end user" of the ammunition.
They also worried that President Biden could call President Yoon directly about the issue, and that if South Korea were to change its policy on providing weapons to Ukraine, it could look as if it had been pressured by the US.
According to the document, South Korea's national security advisor, Mr Kim, then suggested they could sell shells to Poland instead, given that "getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the ultimate goal of the United States".
South Korea says it is investigating the leak but has insisted that it is impossible to intercept private conversations inside its presidential office, and that this discussion could not have taken place in its private underground bunker.
The US has made no secret of the fact that it wants Seoul to arm Ukraine. It believes South Korea, with its ability to build advanced weapons at a breakneck speed, could make a significant contribution to the outcome of the war.
But Seoul has been reluctant to do so, repeatedly citing its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, while privately worrying about burning bridges with Russia.
This leak suggests that the South Koreans not only understood that their shells could end up in Ukraine, but that they were open to this happening. This could strain its relationship with Moscow.
"South Korea always plays this delicate balancing act, with the US on one side, and Russia and China on the other," said Jenny Town, a Korea analyst from the think tank 38 North. "This leak shows it is the optics they are most concerned about. They're trying to balance what they're willing to do to support Ukraine with how it will be perceived."
The leak comes weeks ahead of a visit by President Yoon to Washington
This report, seemingly based on signals intelligence, also has the potential to upset US-South Korea relations, as it suggests the US has been spying on its decades-long ally.
Although not a surprise that the US spies on its friends and enemies alike, the timing of this disclosure is unfortunate.
In a fortnight President Yoon will travel to the White House on a state visit to celebrate 70 years of the alliance between the two countries - an alliance the US is at pains to point out is still "iron-clad".
The report has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with the opposition party questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation. "This is a clear violation of our sovereignty by the United States and a super-scale security breach on the South Korean part," it said in a statement on Monday.
Kim Jong-dae, an advisor for the former liberal government, describes this as an "intelligence disaster" for the South Koreans. "This is the tip of the iceberg. There is no way in hell this is it," he said.
South Korea's government is trying to downplay the leak. It says it agrees with a US assessment that some of the documents may have been distorted.
Meanwhile a government source warned that any attempt to "exaggerate or distort this incident, to shake the alliance ahead of the summit, will be resisted".
The US was expected to use the upcoming summit to further press Mr Yoon to send weapons to Ukraine. That matter is suddenly more delicate. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65236991 |
Junior doctors' strike puts patients at more risk - Barclay - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The four-day walkout in England over pay comes after the Easter break when the NHS is already busy. | Health | A four-day walkout by junior doctors across England straight after the Easter break is putting patients at "greater risk", says Health Secretary Steve Barclay.
More than a quarter of a million appointments and operations could be cancelled in the strike that began this morning.
The British Medical Association is asking for a 35% pay rise.
But the government says that is an unreasonable request.
Mr Barclay accused organisers of timing the strike just after the Bank Holiday Easter weekend - a period when the NHS already faces increased demand and greater staff absence - "to maximise disruption".
The BMA said there were plans to pull doctors off picket lines if lives were in immediate danger. Under trade union laws, life-and-limb cover must be provided.
The junior doctors' approach contrasts with recent strikes by nurses and ambulance workers, which saw unions agree to exempt certain emergency services.
But doctors say they are striking for patient safety as much as about pay, saying that current pay levels are affecting recruitment and leading to many doctors leaving the profession.
Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chairwoman of the BMA, said they are hoping this round of industrial action will be the last - but "we will continue" if the government does not move.
She told BBC One's Breakfast. "This is not a situation where we are fixed in our position. We are looking for negotiations and Steve Barclay isn't even willing to talk to us.
"He hasn't put any offer at all on the table. If we want to start a negotiation there has to be two sides in the discussion."
Mr Barclay said he had hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but said its demand for a 35% pay rise was unfair and would result in some junior doctors "receiving a pay rise of over £20,000".
Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing [email protected].
Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, said it would be "the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history".
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme as the walkout began on Tuesday morning, Mr Powis warned it "will take weeks" to recover from the strikes as "services will undoubtedly be affected".
During last month's three-day walkout by junior doctors, more than 175,000 treatments and appointments were cancelled.
But Prof Sir Stephen added the expectation is to see "considerably more" cancellations this time around due to the strike lasting four days. Estimates from other senior NHS figures have suggested between 250,000 and 350,000 appointments and operations could be cancelled.
Mental health services and some GP surgeries are also expected to be impacted, while the NHS said it will prioritise keeping critical care, maternity, neonatal care, and trauma operations running.
Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors' committee, advised people to still ring 999 if they have a life-threatening illness as "the service is working as normal and we have prioritised emergencies".
Dr Paul Turnbull, 61, from Hampshire, who is an occupational health doctor, needs a prosthetic femur bone implanted in his leg.
His operation has been cancelled twice - once in December, because he developed deep vein thrombosis, and the second time because of the first junior doctors' strike. The operation is now due to take place on 18 April, after the four-day strike.
He has limited mobility and is unable to work.
"As a doctor, I don't believe doctors should strike. I think our first responsibility is to our patients and I think using patients as pawns in a dispute with the government is not something we should be doing."
Neuroscientist Dr Camilla Hill, 42, from Nottingham, has also been affected. She has had two knee operations cancelled because of the junior doctors' strikes - one this week and one back in March. She now has a third date scheduled for 25 April.
She has been unable to do some of her favourite hobbies, which include hiking and sailing, in part because of the pain in her knees.
"I feel really frustrated. It's messed me about, it's messed about my employer, it's messed about my husband - and it's messed about his employer as well. It's not just the patient whose operation is cancelled that's impacted, it's everybody around them."
Junior doctors say their demanding for a 35% increase in pay is to compensate for 15 years of below-inflation wage increases.
But the government has said the pay demand is unrealistic, pointing to the deal other health unions - representing nurses and other workers - have recommended to their members, which includes a 5% pay rise and one-off payment of at least £1,655.
More than 40% of the medical workforce are classed as junior doctors, with two-thirds of them members of the BMA.
The term junior doctors covers those who are fresh out of medical school through to others who have a decade of experience behind them.
Rabiat is in her third year of junior training, working in a hospital in the south east of England.
She is planning on striking this week, saying it is as much about safety as it is pay.
"It's quite a common thing that junior doctors are left alone with wards of patients to look after, with their seniors having gone down to A&E or an acute assessment area, for example.
"We feel really left out and unsupported. Not because our seniors don't want to support us, but because we are all stretched to our limits.
"I really hope that the strikes will make the government realise that this is really having a big impact on junior doctors - and the whole of the NHS - and more actually needs to be done."
Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65204548 |
More people entertaining at home as cost of living bites - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Sales of home accessories and furniture rose in March as people ate out less to save money. | Business | Sales of home accessories and furniture rose sharply in March, as people ate out less to save money and entertained at home instead, new figures suggest.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this helped total retail sales increase by 5.1% last month compared with a year earlier.
It comes as the cost of living remains high, putting pressure on households.
Inflation - the rate at which prices are rising - rose 10.4% in the year to February.
According to the BRC, Mother's Day "brightened up" sales in March, with people buying jewellery, flowers and fragrances.
But the wettest March in over 40 years held back demand for fashion items, as well as gardening and DIY products.
Sales of home accessories and furniture jumped during the month, however, seeing the strongest growth of any category, according to the BRC and accountancy firm KPMG.
Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said people were choosing to entertain at home to cut costs. He added that the trend was likely to continue in April as council tax, mobile and utility bills rose and personal tax allowances were frozen.
"We will see consumers having to further cut back on discretionary spending," he said. "Consumers will continue to take steps to reduce spend where they can - switching where they shop, what they buy, and spending on fewer items."
A separate report by Barclays on Tuesday also showed people cutting back on eating out in March, but spending on streaming services revived as people spent more time at home.
Overall spending on consumer cards rose by 4% in March compared with a year earlier, the bank said.
Spending on digital content and subscriptions saw its highest growth since last October, helped by new seasons of TV shows such as Succession and Ted Lasso.
Meanwhile, retail research firm IGD said that as food prices continued to rise, grocers would look for other ways to satisfy customers.
"They are striving to deliver value with loyalty schemes, quality private label products and meal solutions that enable consumers to recreate restaurant experiences at home," said boss Susan Barrett.
Despite the challenges, the BRC said consumer confidence was "edging up", while big events such as the King's coronation in May were likely to boost retailers.
However, boss Helen Dickinson warned that businesses continue to face "extensive" cost pressures such as rising wholesale costs and wages.
"Unless these future costs are brought to a heel, we will likely see high inflation continue for UK consumers who already face rising household bills from this month," she said.
The Bank of England predicts inflation will fall later this year as food and energy costs come down. However, Bank governor Andrew Bailey has warned businesses not to put up prices too sharply after a surprise jump in the UK inflation rate in February.
How are you coping with the rising cost of living? Share your experiences by emailing [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65232173 |
Kentucky bank shooting: What we know about the victims - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | An "incredible friend" of the governor, a beloved grandmother and a respected boss are among the dead. | US & Canada | An "incredible friend" of the state governor, a beloved grandmother and a respected boss were among the victims of a mass shooting at a bank in Kentucky on Monday.
Friends and family have been sharing tributes online about the four people killed in the shooting.
Governor Andy Beshear said the community will mourn and miss the "amazing people" lost.
Thomas Elliott was senior vice president at Old National Bank and well connected in the Louisville community.
"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," Mr Beshear said.
"One of the people I talk to most in the world and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."
On Facebook, Mr Elliott Facebook shared a post in support of then-gubernatorial candidate Mr Beshear in 2019.
Louisville's former mayor, Greg Fischer, said he knew Mr Elliott for 40 years. He described Mr Elliott as someone who got "great joy out of helping people and seeing people succeed".
The two became close during Mr Fischer's first run for mayor when Mr Elliott signed on to be his campaign finance manager.
Mr Elliott was a family man devoted to his wife, two daughters and two stepdaughters, Mr Fischer said.
Florida Senator Rick Scott said Mr Elliott was his friend and banker for many years, writing on Twitter that the news "is very shocking and sad".
Mr Elliott was involved with the Muhammad Ali Center and was a close friend of Lonnie Ali, wife of the late boxer Muhammad Ali.
She told the Associated Press, "Tommy was such a warm, wonderful, funny, kind guy."
Mr Elliott was previously the chairman of the board at a hospital, Baptist Health Louisville.
Baptist Health's president, Larry Gray, said: "he was a friend to many who believed in making our community a better place to live and thrive."
Ms Farmer worked as an analyst for Old National Bank, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was a mother and grandmother.
She posted on Facebook the morning she died, announcing a fifth grandchild would be born in September.
After her death, her son, J'yeon Christopher Chambers, wrote on Facebook. "Like what am I supposed to do now," he said. "They took my [expletive] mommmmm!!!!!!!!!!!"
Her daughter, A'lia Chambers, also shared her grief on Facebook, writing, "I can't live without you mama 💔💔💔 I'm your only daughter what am I supposed to do without you mama."
"My beautiful, sweet niece", wrote Farmer's uncle Michael Williams. "My heart is broken."
One friend, Brentney Owsley, wrote on Facebook: "You were just starting to live …. The best mom, the best friend, the best grandma the best listener."
Joshua Barrick was the senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National Bank, according to his LinkedIn page. He was a father of two as well as a parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish.
"Our hearts are heavy, they are broken, and we are searching for answers," read a Facebook post from the Parish.
The church gathered on Monday evening to hold a service honouring Mr Barrick's life, where pastor Shayne Duval said the family was in shock.
"I've been with his wife. I've been with his children. I've been with his brother and members of this community," he said. "Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, 'Did this just really happen?'"
Mr Duvall said Mr Barrick was a charismatic and charming man who volunteered to coach basketball for elementary school students.
A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, James Tutt was the market executive for the southern region of Old National Bank, according to his LinkedIn page. He attended the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, according to his social media accounts.
"Heartbroken is the only word I can use to describe how I feel," wrote former colleague Laura Dement on Facebook. "I really don't have words to describe the depth of the feelings."
She said she had worked with Mr Tutt for three years.
Another former colleague, Mike Balog, wrote a tribute to Mr Tutt on Facebook: "You were a good man. A good father. A good boss.
"Thank you for giving me an internship at Bank One and introducing me to the world of banking. You are already missed."
Deana Eckert was an executive administrative officer at Old National Bank. In 2019, she won Old National Bank's ONe Vision Annual Award, nominated by colleagues as someone who outperformed expectations and modelled the bank's values.
Ms Eckert's family also shared news of her death: "she underwent multiple surgeries today but did not survive", local journalist Shay McAlister reported.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg described Ms Eckert as "a very kind and a very thoughtful person".
"She was a wonderful woman who will be missed," he said.
Her Facebook says she was originally from Harrodsburg, Kentucky. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65235861 |
Iceland Food Club: Demand grows for loan help, Fair For You says - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | One parent will visit up to four supermarkets before deciding where she can buy food cheapest. | Wales | Lisa-Marie Morris: "I often don't have £100 spare to go and do a food shop for half-term"
A financial scheme which helps feed families in the school holidays gives parents hope, one mother has said.
Lisa-Marie Morris from Port Talbot is among thousands in Wales using an interest-free micro-loan providing up to £100 in credit for food.
Lender Fair For You said it has seen demand rise since the Iceland Food Club was set up with the supermarket chain.
With money tight, Ms Morris visits a number of supermarkets and works out where she can buy food the cheapest.
"It's quite difficult when you find that you can't work... and having bare minimum money," she said.
The mother-of-three, who worked as a tennis coach but had to quit because of health problems, said it means she struggles to fund extra meals needed for her children during the school holidays.
In order to keep costs low, she can visit three or four supermarkets looking to spend "the lowest amount of money possible while getting the most amount of food".
She has even done practice runs, putting everything needed in a shopping basket to work out the cost before shopping at "the cheapest one".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. "I pay £10 a week, so it's very manageable for me"
"If I'm doing a bulk shop, or I'm trying to save money, I will spend quite a few days and I'll go on Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Aldi - all the supermarkets," she added.
"I'll put everything I want in the basket and then I'll go through each one and find out where the cheapest one is."
Chris Bennett, from Fair For You, said it was approached by the supermarket giant because it noticed it was "losing a lot of customers during school holidays"
Ms Morris said it has helped since using the food club set up by Fair For You, an ethical finance company, alongside Iceland, the Deeside-based supermarket chain.
"I often don't have £100 spare to go and do a food shop for half-term but with this I pay £10 a week so it's very manageable for me," she said.
Chris Bennett, from Fair For You, said it was approached by the supermarket giant because it noticed it was "losing a lot of customers during school holidays", largely because people were unable to "access funds to purchase food".
Fair For You researched possible solutions and the Iceland Food Club was launched last year.
"We're seeing a significant reduction, 92% either stopped or reduced their usage of food banks and a significant drop in the usage of loan sharks by about 80%," said Mr Bennett.
Meanwhile, demand for help is rising.
"We're seeing more people wanting to access our services than ever before," he added.
"These are people who haven't needed to access our services previously so we're definitely seeing a shift in the type of customers that are needing our sort of support - and we do see that trend continuing." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65230563 |
US and Philippines begin largest-ever drills after China exercises - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The scheduled exercise comes after China ended three days of large-scale drills around Taiwan. | Asia | The biggest version of a joint exercise between the US and the Philippines will involve more than 17,600 troops
The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China concluded large-scale exercises around Taiwan.
Over three days, China's military rehearsed blockades of Taiwan in response to the island's leader meeting the US House Speaker last week.
Washington criticised China's display of firepower as disproportionate, while Taiwan President Tsai said it was "irresponsible" and she had the right to make visits to the US.
The US drills had been earlier planned.
Filipino and US officials say the drills show their commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region that is open and free.
Washington announced last month that their annual Balikatan exercise with the Philippines would be their largest ever - involving more than 17,000 troops, including 12,000 from the US.
The two-week Balikatan operation will also see the militaries execute a drill to blow up a mock target warship in the South China Sea - a move that could incur China's wrath.
The exercises, however, should not be viewed as a response to developments in Taiwan, US and Filipino military officials said.
In February, Washington secured a new defence deal with Manila where four new naval bases will be established on Philippine islands close to contested waters.
Three of these bases are to the north of Luzon Island, the nearest bit of land to Taiwan besides China.
The waterways around the Philippines and in the South China Sea contain some of the world's most valuable trade routes, and have been the subject of disputed territorial claims by China in recent years.
On Monday, as China was concluding its own drills where it deployed fighter jets and an aircraft carrier around Taiwan, the US sent a naval destroyer through the South China Sea in what it called a freedom of navigation mission.
The US sent the USS Milius past the Spratly Islands, which lie in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but are claimed by Beijing.
That angered Beijing. China on Monday also warned that US-Philippines military cooperation should not interfere with disputes in the hotly contested waters.
"[It] must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.
Beijing's drills concluded on Monday. Afterwards, Taiwan's defence ministry said it would keep strengthening its "combat preparedness".
President Tsai in a Facebook post on Monday night also stated she had the right to represent her island on the world stage, and condemned China's military response to her US stopovers as "irresponsible actions of a regional power".
A dozen countries in the region will also participate in the Balikatan exercises, set to run until 26 April. Australia has sent 100 troops.
The focus of the Balikatan drills have evolved in recent years reflecting a shift in geo-security concerns in the region. In the 2000s, it centred on counter terrorism drills after extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda carried out bomb attacks in southern Philippines.
However, China's rapid military expansion and claims on territory in the disputed South China Sea, particularly on several Philippine islands, has prompted a wider response.
The Philippines' role in security in the region has grown. Many believe increased US access to Philippine bases could provide launchpads for combat operations in the event of armed clashes over flashpoints like Taiwan or the South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr reiterated on Monday that the US would not be able to access military sites for offensive moves.
"China's reaction [around Taiwan] is not surprising, since it has its own concerns. But the Philippines will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only meant to help the Philippines should the need arise," he said.
The US is seeking access to places where "light and flexible" operations involving supplies and surveillance can be run as and when needed, rather than bases where large numbers of troops will be stationed.
In February, Washington secured access to four additional military bases in the Philippines - a deal that helped the US stitch the gap in the arc of alliances stretching from South Korea and Japan in the north to Australia in the south.
The missing link had been the Philippines, which borders two of the biggest potential flashpoints - Taiwan and the South China Sea.
One of the bases they now have access to faces Taiwan, the second the Scarborough shoal, and the third the Spratly Islands. US troops will come in small groups and on rotation.
The aim, analysts say, will be to deter further territorial expansion by China in the South China Sea, while also providing a place for the US to watch Chinese military movements around Taiwan.
With increasing concern about a conflict over Taiwan, the Philippines could offer a "rear access area" for US military operations, or even a place to evacuate refugees.
Read more from our correspondent on the significance of the US-Philippine alliance here | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65236459 |
Nicola Bulley: Police divers carry out work for coroner in River Wyre - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Police carry out work for the coroner close to the spot where the missing mother's body was found. | Lancashire | Nicola Bulley's body was found in the River Wyre about a mile away from where she was last seen
Police divers have returned to the River Wyre to carry out work close to where Nicola Bulley's body was found.
Ms Bulley, 45, went missing while walking her dog by the river in St Michael's on Wyre after dropping off her daughters at school on 27 January.
Following a major search operation, her body was found 23 days later in the river about a mile away from where she was last seen.
Lancashire Police said it was doing work "on the direction of HM Coroner".
The coroner's office has been asked for comment about the work at the river.
A large police operation was launched to search for Ms Bulley, which attracted worldwide attention.
Her dog was found shortly after she disappeared, along with her phone, which was discovered on a bench by a steep riverbank still connected to a work conference call.
Her body was found three weeks later.
Ms Bulley's phone was found on a bench close to River Wyre and was still connected to a work conference call
Her family said at the time that she was the "centre of their world" and they would never be able to understand what she went through in her final moments.
The conduct of Lancashire Police and sections of the media in relation to the case was later criticised.
Lancashire's police and crime commissioner said the county's force would be the subject of an independent review after the Independent Office for Police Conduct launched its own investigation, while broadcasting regulator Ofcom said it was "extremely concerned" to hear complaints made by Ms Bulley's family about ITV and Sky News.
An inquest into Ms Bulley's death was opened and adjourned in February, ahead of a full hearing in June.
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-65238743 |
Anne Keast-Butler to be first female director at GCHQ - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Anne Keast-Butler, who is currently serving as deputy director general at MI5, starts the role in May. | UK | GCHQ has appointed a female director for the first time in its 104-year history.
Anne Keast-Butler, who is currently serving as deputy director general at MI5, will take up the post running the UK's intelligence service next month.
She will succeed Sir Jeremy Fleming who announced in January he would be stepping down after six years.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described Ms Keast-Butler as the "ideal candidate to lead GCHQ".
Ms Keast-Butler, who had previously worked for GCHQ as the head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, said she was "delighted" to become the organisation's 17th director.
Mr Cleverly said Ms Keast-Butler "has an impressive track record at the heart of the UK's national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers".
The recruitment process was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and has been made in agreement with the prime minister.
The intelligence service's mission to keep the UK safe "is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded more than 100 years ago", Ms Keast-Butler said.
"In just the last year GCHQ has contributed vital intelligence to shape the West's response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine; helped disrupt terrorist plots; and worked tirelessly to tackle the ongoing threat of ransomware, the impact of which costs the UK dearly," she added.
Ms Keast-Butler, who has had a 30-year career in the national security field, also spent part of the last decade working in Whitehall where she helped to launch the national cyber security programme.
She thanked outgoing director Sir Jeremy for his "vision and dedication" and in return he said: "I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in today's technology-driven world."
Ms Keast-Butler, who is married with three children, grew up in Cambridge and studied maths at the University of Oxford.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and walking her dogs, according to GCHQ. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65240759 |
Wrexham: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney awarded freedom of city - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The honour was conferred upon them just hours before the Dragons' 3-2 victory over Notts County. | Wales | Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds was "so touched" to be part of Wrexham's story
Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been awarded the Freedom of Wrexham.
The honour was conferred upon them just hours before the Dragons' 3-2 victory over Notts County at The Racecourse.
Wrexham AFC's owners attended the ceremony at the city's Guildhall on Monday.
The pair, who have made a documentary about the club, were awarded the county's top civic honour by the council in December.
Deadpool star Mr Reynolds said at the event: "I think back to that first moment. We were on Zoom speaking to the Wrexham Supporters' Trust and I don't think I have ever been as nervy as I was in that exact moment."
That was the point he began to understand something "truly great" could be achieved.
The pair were honoured at a ceremony at Wrexham's Guildhall
"I'm so touched I get to be a part of this story," he said.
"I know that we are here so that you guys can thank us for some reason, but I feel like it is the other way around.
"We want to thank you for what you have given us. Words are too clumsy to quantify what it means to me."
Forging connections between people who live on different sides of the world had been "the greatest honour" of Rob McElhenney's life.
The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor said: "I firmly contend that connection of the people of Philadelphia, the people of Wrexham, I think you can find that in the middle of the United States, in the middle of Saskatchewan (in Canada), in Brazil, in China, I believe we are all the same.
"Very specifically working class people. If you saw in the show someone who looked like you or sounded like you, it's because they are you."
After the victory over Notts County Mr McElhenney wrote on Twitter: "I can't believe there was a time when I thought football was boring."
In December, council leader Mark Pritchard said: "These two Hollywood stars have had an incredible impact on both the football club and the community, and have helped catapult Wrexham onto the world stage." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65233729 |
Joe Biden aims to 'keep the peace' as he flies to Belfast - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | He wants to ensure the Good Friday Agreement and post-Brexit deals stay in place as he visits NI. | Northern Ireland | Joe Biden boarded Air Force One with his sister Valerie and his son Hunter (left) for their flight to Belfast
US President Joe Biden said his priority was to "keep the peace" in Northern Ireland as he set off on Air Force One for a visit to Belfast.
He will arrive in the city tonight to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement.
The 1998 deal brought an end to the Troubles - the decades-long violent conflict in Northern Ireland in which thousands of people were killed.
A huge security operation is already in place in Belfast for Mr Biden's visit.
While he has praised what politicians did to secure peace in 1998, his visit is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not functioning.
It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Joe Biden said his trip would focus on keeping the peace as he departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for Belfast
Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said: "I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity."
His visit to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives.
Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans.
During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later.
On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade.
The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" despite the terrorism threat.
On Monday the 80-year-old dropped another hint that he would seek re-election in 2024, saying he planned to run again but was "not prepared to announce it yet".
The president left Washington DC on Air Force One at about 10:00 EDT (15:00 BST) and will be met by PM Rishi Sunak when he lands at Belfast International Airport later.
Police have warned of traffic delays around the airport as officers facilitate the presidential motorcade.
Mr Biden will arrive as strong winds and heavy rain are sweeping across Northern Ireland, with a weather warning having been issued by forecasters.
Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted into Belfast ahead of Joe Biden's arrival
He is expected to stay at a Belfast city centre hotel and, while his visit to Northern Ireland is much shorter than originally expected, Downing Street has dismissed suggestions it will be a "low-key" event.
The main event will be a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast.
It is understood that he will use that to underscore the willingness of the US to help to preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement.
The president is also expected to talk about how the US administration can support Northern Ireland's economy.
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And he is expected to meet the leaders of Stormont's five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city.
There has been a huge police presence in the centre of Belfast since Monday afternoon and that will continue all through Tuesday and into Wednesday.
On Bedford Street police officers are patrolling at barricades close to the Grand Central Hotel but pedestrians can pass through and businesses in the area are operating as usual.
There has been some tension behind the scenes about the details of this visit.
Things have been strained between Downing Street and the White House in terms of what the president will do in Northern Ireland and the fact that he will not go to Stormont.
Rishi Sunak was keen to have his moment - this is, after all, a US presidential visit to the UK on his watch.
He will greet the president at the bottom of the steps of Air Force One tonight and there's a half-hour set aside for a one-to-one meeting on Wednesday - but not much more beyond that.
The PM will be not be at Ulster University with other politicians during the president's only public engagement in Belfast.
The fact that he will be doing other things elsewhere in Northern Ireland at the time is telling considering how important this visit is.
Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said Mr Biden's visit would be a special moment that "cements our close bonds of friendship".
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said Mr Biden's visit could have a positive effect on restoring power-sharing at Stormont, but warned American influence on Northern Ireland should be handled with care.
"There's a difference between influencing and pressurising - one tends to be positive and the other can be negative," said Mr Blair.
"One thing I learned about the unionists is if you try to pressurise them to do something they are fundamentally in disagreement with it's usually futile pressure."
Newry man John Owen Finegan - a fourth cousin of Joe Biden - is hoping to meet him this week
Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, but said the message of the president's visit to Northern Ireland was essentially that America is here to help."
While Mr Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland's political leaders while he is in Belfast, Downing Street said this did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing.
Mr Biden will leave Belfast on Wednesday afternoon to travel to the Republic of Ireland for three days of events in counties Louth and Mayo - where he has relatives - as well as Dublin.
He regularly speaks of his Irish heritage and had promised to visit the country during his presidency.
A US genealogist who researched his lineage had estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish.
Among his great-grandparents was Edward Blewitt, an engineer and brickmaker who left the west coast town of Ballina in County Mayo in 1850.
He settled in Scranton in Pennsylvania as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.
President Biden's maternal great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan departed Carlingford in County Louth in the late 1840s to travel to America.
Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.
Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65234789 |
World Surf League: Ethan Ewing wins Rip Curl Pro men's title - BBC Sport | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | Australian surfer Ethan Ewing wins the Rip Curl Pro men's title in Victoria 40 years after his late mother Helen's triumph in the women's event. | null | Last updated on .From the section Surfing
Australian surfer Ethan Ewing won the Rip Curl Pro men's title at Bells Beach 40 years after his late mother Helen won the women's trophy.
The World Surf League competition in Victoria, Australia, is the longest-running event in competitive surfing.
Ewing was six when his mother Helen died in 2005 of breast cancer, aged 39.
"I've been thinking about her since I have been on the tour and it's been a huge goal of mine. I want to do her proud" said Ewing, 24.
In 1983, Helen Lambert won the women's title to confirm her status as a major talent in the sport at the age of just 18.
Decades later, on matching his mother's achievement, Ewing added: "I've had her trophy next to my bed pretty much my whole life and looked at that and dreamt of it. Seeing her name on the stairs [on the walk towards Bells Beach] and now having my name there is so, so special.
"It's been my biggest goal in my career to win this. All my heroes have won this - Joel [Parkinson], Mick [Fanning], Kelly [Slater], the girls - Steph [Gilmore], Carissa [Moore], and then my mum back in '83. It is an honour to compete here. To put my name up there with her - it's really special."
Ewing, 24, beat Brazilian three-time WSL champion Gabriel Medina in the last 16 before dominating in the all-Australian final against Ryan Callinan for his second WSL title.
He is the first Australian male to win the title since Matt Wilkinson in 2016.
Surfing made its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and will be held in Tahiti, French Polynesia at the Paris 2024 Games. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/surfing/65239698 |
Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise? - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | How junior medics have reached the brink of their biggest walkout, in a fight for a 35% hike. | Health | On Monday, thousands of junior doctors in England will start a 72-hour strike. They want a 35% pay rise. Yet doctors are among the highest paid in the public sector. So why do they have the biggest pay claim?
The origins of the walkout by British Medical Association members - the biggest by doctors in the history of the NHS - can be found in a series of discussions on social media platform Reddit in late 2021.
A collection of junior doctors were expressing their dissatisfaction about pay.
The numbers chatting online grew quickly and by January 2022 it had led to the formation of the campaign group Doctors Vote, with the aim of restoring pay to the pre-austerity days of 2008.
The group began spreading its message via social media - and, within months, its supporters had won 26 of the 69 voting seats on the BMA ruling council, and 38 of the 68 on its junior doctor committee.
Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Rob Laurenson stood for BMA election on a Doctors Vote platform
Two of those who stood on the Doctors Vote platform - Dr Rob Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi - became co-chairs of the committee.
"It was simply a group of doctors connecting up the dots," Dr Laurenson says. "We reflect the vast majority of doctors," he adds, pointing to the mandate from the wider BMA junior doctor membership - 77% voted and of those, 98% backed strike action.
Among some of the older BMA heads, though, there is a sense of disquiet at the new guard. One senior doctor who has now stood down from a leadership role says: "They're undoubtedly much more radical than we have seen before. But they haven't read the room - the pay claim makes them look silly."
Publicly, the BMA prefers not to talk about wanting a pay rise. Instead, it uses the term "pay restoration" - to reverse cuts of 26% since 2008. This is the amount pay has fallen once inflation is taken into account.
To rectify a cut of 26% requires a bigger percentage increase because the amount is lower. This is why the BMA is actually after a 35% increase - and it is a rise it is calling for to be paid immediately.
The argument is more complicated than the ones put forward by most other unions - and because of that it has raised eyebrows.
Firstly, no junior doctor has seen pay cut by 26% in that period. There are five core pay points in the junior doctor contract with each a springboard to the next. It means they move up the pay scale over time until they finish their training.
A junior doctor in 2008 may well be a consultant now, perhaps earning four times in cash terms what they were then.
Secondly, the 26% figure uses the retail price index (RPI) measure of inflation, which the Office for National Statistics says is a poor way to look at rising prices. Using the more favoured consumer price index measure, the cut is 16% - although the BMA defends its use of RPI as it takes into account housing costs.
"The drop in pay is also affected by the start-year chosen," Lucina Rolewicz, of the Nuffield Trust think tank, says. A more recent start date will show a smaller decline, as would going further back in the 2000s.
Another way of looking at pay is comparing it with wages across the economy by looking at where a job sits in terms of the lowest to highest earners.
The past decade has not been a boom time for wage growth in many fields, as austerity and the lack of economic growth has held back incomes.
Last year, the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Body looked at this. It found junior doctors had seen their pay, relative to others, fall slightly during the 2010s, but were still among the highest earners, with doctors fresh out of university immediately finding themselves in the top half of earners, while those at the end of training were just outside the top 10%.
Then, of course, career prospects have to be considered. Consultants earn well more than £100,000 on average, putting them in the top 2%. GP partners earn even more.
A pension of more than £60,000 a year in today's prices also awaits those reaching such positions.
But while the scale of the pay claim is new, dissatisfaction with working conditions and pay pre-date the rise of the Doctors Vote movement.
Studying medicine at university takes five years, meaning big debts for most. Dr Trivedi says £80,000 of student loans are often topped up by private debt.
On top of that, doctors have to pay for ongoing exams and professional membership fees. Their junior doctor training can see them having to make several moves across the country and with little control over the hours they work. Their contract means they are required to work a minimum of 40 hours and up to 48 on average - additional payments are made to reflect this.
This lasts many years - junior doctors can commonly spend close to a decade in training.
It is clearly hard work. And with services getting increasingly stretched, it is a job that doctors say is leaving them "demoralised, angry and exhausted", Dr Trivedi says, adding: "Patient care is being compromised."
But while medicine is undoubtedly tough, it remains hugely attractive.
Junior doctor posts in the early years are nearly always filled - it is not until doctors begin to specialise later in their training that significant gaps emerge in some specialities such as end-of-life care and sexual health.
Looking at all doctor vacancy rates across the NHS around 6% of posts are unfilled - for nurses it is nearly twice that level.
Many argue there is still a shortage - with not enough training places or funded doctor posts in the NHS in the first place.
But the fact the problems appear more severe in other NHS roles is a key reason why the government does not seem to be in a hurry to prioritise doctors - formal pay talks to avert strikes have begun with unions representing the rest of the workforce
"If we have some money to give a pay rise to NHS staff," a source close to the negotiations says, "doctors are not at the front of the queue."
Update: This article was updated on 18 May 2023 to make it clear doctors can be required to work up to 48 hours and the footnote on the first chart has changed 'overtim' to 'additional hours'.
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Louisville, Kentucky: Gunman kills five in bank shooting - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The former intern opened fire on staff in a conference room at the bank, livestreaming the attack. | US & Canada | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Two men recall the terrifying moments at the Louisville bank
Five people died when an employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, and livestreamed the attack on Instagram, police say.
The victims were aged between 40 and 64. Among nine others injured was a rookie police officer who had graduated to the force just two weeks ago.
The officer was shot in the head and is still critical after brain surgery.
Police responded within three minutes, and fatally shot the attacker in an exchange of gunfire.
The shooting took place at the Old National Bank in the city centre at about 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).
Caleb Goodlett told local media that his wife, an employee at the bank, locked herself inside the vault when the attack began.
Other witnesses described seeing the shootout between police officers and the lone attacker.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said an "incredible friend" of his, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank, was among the victims.
"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Mr Beshear.
The victims have all been identified:
The policeman who was shot in the head was identified as Louisville Metro officer Nickolas Wilt, 26.
Officer Wilt (centre) was sworn in by the mayor and police chief two weeks ago
City Councilman Anthony Piagentini told the Courier-Journal newspaper that Mr Wilt graduated from the academy on 31 March, and that his brother is enrolled in the police academy.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the attack "an evil act of targeted violence". The mayor noted that he himself was the victim of a recent gun attack.
Last year he was shot at by a man with mental illness who burst into his campaign office.
Two survivors told WHAS-TV that Monday's gunshots first broke out in a ground-floor conference room at the bank.
"Whoever was next to me got shot - blood is on me from it," said one man, pointing to his shirt.
The suspect was named as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who police said used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online.
"That's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," said Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
Instagram's owner Meta said it had "quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning".
The attacker is described in an online profile as being a syndications associate and portfolio banker at Old National Bank. He had joined the company as a full-time employee last year after spending three summers as an intern there.
Officials say he had no previous contact with law enforcement.
According to US media, he had recently been told by the bank that he was going to be fired and had written a note describing his plans for the mass shooting before going to work on Monday.
Within hours of that shooting, police were called to a second, unrelated one at a community college elsewhere in Louisville where one person was killed and another injured.
Data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive shows that there have been at least 146 mass shootings - defined as those in which at least four people were shot - so far in 2023, including at least 15 since the start of April.
President Joe Biden demanded Congress pass gun control measures as he tweeted on Monday: "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives."
Kentucky is one of 26 states that allow most adults over 21 years old to purchase and carry a firearm without a licence.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65233350 |
CBI boss Tony Danker 'shocked' at firing over misconduct claims - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Tony Danker is dismissed by the business group following complaints about his conduct towards several employees. | Business | The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has been fired over complaints about his behaviour at work.
Tony Danker, who will leave the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) following an investigation over his conduct towards several employees, said he was "shocked" by the sacking.
Three other CBI employees have also been suspended pending a probe into other allegations, the group said.
It is also liaising with the police who are looking into the claims.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight of the City of London Police said: "We approached the CBI following media reports and our investigations are at a very early stage. It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time."
Mr Danker stepped aside in March after the CBI hired law firm Fox Williams to investigate several complaints about him. These included a complaint from a female employee in January and complaints from other members of staff which surfaced in March.
The 51-year-old, who was paid £376,000 by the CBI in 2021, has now been dismissed with immediate effect with no severance pay. He is being replaced by Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's former chief economist.
Mr Danker tweeted on Tuesday: "I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.
"I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that. I want to wish my former CBI colleagues every success."
The findings of the investigation into him for now remain unpublished.
Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019.
Many of the most serious allegations predate Mr Danker's time as director-general.
Belfast-born Mr Danker took over as head of the CBI in November 2020. He had previously spent 10 years as a consultant with McKinsey, and worked as a special adviser to the Treasury under Gordon Brown's government. He has also been international director then chief strategy officer at Guardian News and Media.
In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: "Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.
"The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general."
The scandals have left the CBI facing its biggest crisis since it was founded in 1965.
Some company executives who are members of the group have described it as an existential crisis for an organisation that represents the interests of some 190,000 businesses across the UK.
The lobby group has already postponed its public events and asked Fox Williams to conduct a separate investigation to the one into Mr Danker.
A Downing Street spokesman said the government would keep its engagement with the CBI on hold while the group continued its investigation, adding: "We continue to expect any allegations to be taken seriously and for appropriate action to be taken in response."
Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour had also cut ties with the CBI for now, calling the allegations "incredibly concerning".
In its statement, the lobby group said the allegations made in recent weeks had been "devastating" and that there had been "serious failings" in how it had handled sexual misconduct complaints. It said it would now begin a "root-and-branch review" of its culture and governance.
This will look at issues such as how employees raise concerns and processes for escalating complaints.
"It is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better," it said.
Mr Danker's replacement, Rain Newton-Smith, becomes the second woman to lead the group in its history.
Ms Newton-Smith, who spent her early career as an economist at the Bank of England, left the CBI in March to join Barclays bank as managing director for strategy and policy, sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance).
She is well known to CBI staff and members but will face a tough job in reassuring members that the lobby group can effectively represent their interests.
Jürgen Maier, the former UK boss of engineering giant Siemens, said Mr Danker's sacking should be a "wake up moment" for all business leaders.
Mr Maier, who served on the CBI's president's committee until 2019, told Radio 4's World at One programme: "For any leader this is a wake up moment to make sure that we do root and branch reviews of our organisation and make sure that we've got the cultures in place that don't allow these sorts of behaviours to happen."
Last week the boss of brewing company Adnams said his firm had considered leaving the CBI following the scandals.
On Tuesday, chief executive Andy Wood said a decision would not be made until the full investigation was complete, but added he was encouraged by the action taken.
"The allegations were very serious and there's clearly no room for that type of behaviour in any workplace," he told the BBC.
"So it was right that we reviewed [our membership], but it's also right we give the organisation a chance to put its house back in order."
The CBI lobbies politicians on firms' behalf to make policies that benefit UK businesses. It also hosts regular networking events for business leaders, with the UK chancellor typically giving the keynote speech at its annual dinner.
According its most recently published accounts, £22m of its £25m income in 2021 came from membership fees. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65238672 |
Al Jaffee: Record-breaking US cartoonist dies at 102 - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Best known for his work on Mad magazine, Jaffee was still working up until 2020. | Entertainment & Arts | Al Jaffee's parents were Lithuanian and he spent part of his childhood there
Award-winning American cartoonist Al Jaffee, renowned for his work on satirical magazine Mad, has died at the age of 102.
Jaffee, who was still working up until three years ago, set a Guinness World Record for his 77-year career.
He died in hospital on Monday of multi-system organ failure, his granddaughter told the New York Times.
Mad magazine was aimed at pre-teens and teens, with Jaffee famed for his fold-ins on the inside back cover.
Jaffee's famous fans included Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz and his work was referenced in The Simpsons.
His trademark fold-ins were a spoof on the likes of Playboy and Sports Illustrated fold-out inserts.
They featured an image with a question above and a caption below. When the page was folded vertically into thirds, the two outer sections joined to form a new picture and caption which answered the question.
The fold-ins included one Jaffee created in 1968 during the Vietnam war, which showed students outside a job centre accompanied by the question: "What is the one thing most school dropouts are sure to become?"
When folded, the image changed to a young person in a cannon with the caption: "Cannon fodder."
A box-set of his fold-ins was published in 2011.
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Jaffee was also known for a regular segment called Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, which included sarcastic ripostes to silly questions.
A comic from 1980 showed a man on a fishing boat with a bent reel. "Are you going to reel in the fish?" his wife asks. "No," he says, "I'm going to jump into the water and marry the gorgeous thing."
Al Jaffee's Mad Inventions were also popular, including items such as a smokeless ashtray.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2016 at the age of 95, Jaffee said he believed satire was becoming harder because of lying politicians.
"I think they're defeating Mad, because they're going beyond anything we can think of doing to show the clownish nature of their claims," he said. "It used to be that politicians claimed that they would make jobs for everybody in the country within two years or something like that; now they claim that they're going to make jobs for everybody on Mars."
Jaffee's famous fans included Far Side creator Gary Larson and TV host Stephen Colbert, who marked Jaffee's 85th birthday by featuring a fold-in cake on his show The Colbert Report.
Matt Groening's The Simpsons made references to Mad magazine and the fold-in in several episodes over the years.
Mad Magazine paid tribute to its long-time collaborator in an Instagram post, which described Jaffee as "a humble and kind creator.
"Al's presence, his astute social commentary, and his endless amusement at life's ups and downs shaped the fabric of the magazine."
DC tweeted: "His signature style and wit will be MADly missed."
Satirical singer Weird Al Yankovic described Jaffee as one of his "all-time heroes".
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"Al was, at heart, a rascal," said John Ficarra, former Mad editor-in-chief who worked with Jaffee for over 35 years. "He always had a playful twinkle in his eye and brought that sensibility to everything he created."
The cartoonist was born Abraham Jaffee (he later legally changed his name to Allan) in 1921, in Savannah, Georgia. His parents were Jewish Lithuanians but his mother never really settled in the US and she took Al and his three younger brothers back to Lithuania for six years.
His father brought him back to America when he was 12 and he began to attend the High School of Music and Art in New York.
He went on to work for Stan Lee and the New York Herald Tribune before enjoying a long career at Mad, although he always remained a freelancer.
His awards included the Reuben Awards' Cartoonist of the Year in 2008. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career in cartooning.
To mark his retirement in 2020, Mad issued a Special "All Jaffee" issue - a play on the word Al - featuring a selection of his work over the years. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65238630 |
Backlog of longest-wait patients slashed in England - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Thousands waiting more than two years for scans, checks and surgery have finally been treated. | Health | People waiting longer than two years were offered treatment further from home to speed up their care
The number of people waiting longer than two years for routine operations in England has fallen from 22,500 at the start of the year, to fewer than 200, according to NHS figures.
This excludes more than 2,500 who are complex cases or chose not to travel for speedier treatment.
NHS England said it had achieved the first milestone in its plan to eliminate backlogs caused by Covid.
But a record 6.6 million people are still waiting for hospital treatment.
Health experts say there is still a mountain to climb to reduce the number - currently about 400,000 - waiting more than a year. And winter will probably bring more delays and pressure.
Eliminating 18-month waits - currently affecting about 50,000 - by April 2023 is next on the government's agenda.
The numbers of people waiting a long time for routine hospital treatment have soared during the past two years throughout the UK, as operations were cancelled to free up beds for Covid patients.
The situation pushed people into borrowing thousands of pounds for private treatment.
To reduce the backlog, patients have been offered travel and accommodation costs to be treated in an alternative part of the country.
In England, large numbers have been sent to private hospitals for surgical procedures, while community diagnostic centres have been set up to deliver thousands of checks and scans.
NHS England promised to "virtually eradicate" the list of people waiting more than two years for treatment, by the end of July.
It has now shrunk to 168 patients, who mostly live in the South West - the area worst affected by Covid staff absences and pressure on the health service.
Consultant Gavin Jennings says his hospital has been innovative in the way it has treated extra patients to bring down waiting lists
Sulis Hospital Bath has been treating patients from seven local hospitals in the region - more than 1,100 extra patients since September.
Extended theatre times, an temporary operating theatre and close relationships with the local trust have all helped to increase the numbers.
And the private hospital, now owned by a local NHS trust, plans to take more people from greater distances, for a wide variety of orthopaedic surgery and eye procedures.
"It's been a lot of hard work," clinical director and consultant Gavin Jennings said.
The Omicron Covid variant, first identified in South Africa, had hit the hospital quite hard, he said, affecting staffing levels and causing operations to be cancelled.
"As a result of people waiting longer than usual, some of those cases are now more complex and symptoms may have become worse," Mr Jennings said.
"That's why there's a need to recover from Covid quickly."
In addition to the 22,500 people waiting two years or more at the start of the year, a further 43,500 who would have waited more than two years by the end of July had also been treated, NHS England said.
More than 6.6 million people are still waiting for scans, procedures or operations
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the health service had continued to reform the way it delivered care, "using innovate techniques and adopting pioneering technology, like robot surgery".
But there are now warnings of high demand on other services.
Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers which represents hospital trusts, told the BBC: "There is a long way to go with mental health, community and hospital care backlogs, and to relieve pressure on ambulance services."
Cutting cancer diagnosis waiting times and eliminating 78-week waits was now a priority, she said, adding that progress could be "put at risk" if the government did not increase investment in the NHS.
Regarding potential strikes by nurses over pay, Ms Cordery said: "Nobody wants to see industrial action, but what we have to remember is that we have a workforce that has been working flat-out for the past two-and-a-half years, and is now being asked to go the extra mile again to get these waiting lists down."
Nigel Edwards, chief executive of The Nuffield Trust independent health think tank, said: "This is a good achievement - but like getting to base camp, there's quite a mountain to climb in terms of people waiting over a year... and over 78 weeks, which are much bigger numbers than the figure for two-year waits."
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "We are working hard with the NHS to get our health system back to peak performance, by growing the healthcare workforce, opening new community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs across the country, and investing in innovative technology to ensure patients can access the treatment they need while saving staff time."
Elsewhere in the UK, work continues to try to reduce the longest waiting times.
In Wales, the number of patients waiting the longest has been reducing for the past two months, due to more staff and equipment and new facilities, the Welsh government said.
In Scotland, more than 10,000 people were waiting more than two years in June, compared with 648 the year before.
A Scottish government spokesperson said they had introduced new targets to address the backlog and "increased the flexibility health boards and clinicians have to manage waiting lists, with a focus on eliminating long waits, as well as continuing to treat the most clinically urgent patients". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62465626 |
Government shuns CBI lobby giant after rape claim - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The BBC understands the chancellor and business and trade ministers have "paused engagement" with the CBI. | Business | The government has stopped engaging with the CBI business lobby group pending the outcome of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.
The Treasury as well as ministers from the Department for business and trade have "paused engagement" with the CBI, the BBC understands.
It comes as the lobby group faces a number of claims, including rape.
The CBI said it understood the government's decision as it awaits the outcome of an investigation.
Law firm Fox Williams has been hired to look into all the allegations facing the CBI. The group said it expects to have "preliminary findings and actions" from the first stage of the investigation shortly after Easter.
The group has postponed all public events in the meantime, including the CBI's annual dinner.
The chancellor is usually the keynote speaker at the flagship event of one of Britain's largest business groups, which represents more than 190,000 companies and lobbies politicians on their behalf to make policies that benefit UK businesses.
The CBI also hosts regular events for business leaders to meet and talk about policies as well as offering research and consultancy services on the economy for its members.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was not due to attend this year's dinner, which had been scheduled for 11 May, because he will be out of the country, but the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, had been set to give a speech.
The CBI is at the centre of several misconduct allegations. The most serious is from a woman who claims she was raped by a senior colleague at a CBI summer boat party in 2019.
The woman told the Guardian newspaper, which first published the claims, that she felt let down by a CBI manager who, she said, advised her to seek out counselling rather than pursue the matter further.
The CBI said: "We have found no evidence or record of this matter. Given the seriousness of the issue, it is part of the independent investigation being conducted by [law firm] Fox Williams."
Some company executives, who are members of the CBI, have described this as an existential crisis for an organisation that describes itself as the "most effective and influential" business organisation.
Asked whether it is considering its membership of the CBI, one energy industry insider told the BBC it is speaking to the lobbyist to "understand their processes".
They said once they found out more information, they will "see if there's anything we need to do".
Marks and Spencer told the BBC it had written to the acting director-general of the group to "seek reassurances" that the allegations were being "taken seriously and fully investigated".
The High Street giant said it had also requested information on how CBI staff involved were being supported and "what is being done to give them confidence in the process".
Rolls-Royce, the engineering giant, said the recent allegations were "deeply concerning".
It said it was waiting the outcome of the investigation before considering its membership of the CBI.
Fox Williams is also conducting an investigation into separate allegations made against CBI director general Tony Danker, who joined the CBI in 2020.
Mr Danker recently stepped aside pending an investigation into separate alleged incidents, for which he has "apologised profusely" and claimed "was completely unintentional".
The BBC understands that these new allegations published by the Guardian do not relate to Mr Danker.
A spokesman for the CBI said the organisation "has treated and continues to treat all matters of workplace conduct with the utmost seriousness".
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Kuwait news outlet unveils AI-generated presenter Fedha - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The virtual female presenter, indistinguishable from a real person, speaks fluently in Arabic. | Middle East | Fedha appeared as a woman with light-coloured hair, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt
A Kuwaiti media outlet says it has created a virtual news presenter using artificial intelligence (AI).
"Fedha" made her debut on the Twitter account of Kuwait News, an affiliate of the Kuwait Times.
She appears as an image of a woman with light-coloured hair, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.
Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for Kuwait News, told AFP news agency the move tested AI's potential to offer "new and innovative content".
"I'm Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Let's hear your opinions," the AI-generated presenter said in Arabic.
Mr Boftain said Fedha may develop to have a Kuwaiti accent and read online news bulletins.
"Fedha is a popular, old Kuwaiti name that refers to silver, the metal. We always imagine robots to be silver and metallic in colour, so we combined the two," he said.
The presenter's blonde hair and light-coloured eyes reflect the country's diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, Mr Boftain said.
Kuwait is not the first country to unveil an AI-generated news presenter: in 2018, China's state news agency unveiled its own virtual newsreader sporting a sharp suit and a somewhat robotic voice.
A report last month by investment bank Goldman Sachs said AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.
The report suggested the technology could take over a quarter of work tasks in the US and Europe, but that it may also mean new jobs and a productivity boom. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-65238950 |
Petrol bombs thrown at police at Londonderry republican parade - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A police Land Rover was targeted as an Easter Monday march got under way in Londonderry. | Northern Ireland | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Police in Northern Ireland have described a petrol-bomb attack on officers in Londonderry as "senseless and reckless".
Petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at officers during an illegal republican parade on Monday.
They were in an armoured police Land Rover in the Creggan area of the city where the parade began when they were targeted shortly after 14:00 BST.
The violence comes on the eve of US President Joe Biden's visit to NI.
Mr Biden is due in Belfast on Tuesday, when he will give an address as part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement.
Monday's parade was led by more than a dozen people in paramilitary-style dress.
Young hooded men prepare to throw a petrol bomb at police vehicle in Londonderry.
"Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive," Ch Supt Nigel Goddard said.
Masked youths were observed making petrol bombs and participating in the attack.
"This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties," Ch Supt Goddard added.
He described the violence as "incredibly disheartening".
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said none of its officers had been injured and appealed for calm.
The parade ended at Derry's City Cemetery where about 300 people took part in an event to commemorate the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Youths wearing masks set fire to bins and blocked one of the main roads leading into Creggan.
"As participants at the parade made their way out of the City Cemetery, they removed their paramilitary uniforms under the cover of umbrellas and burnt them," Ch Supt Goddard said.
"As the parade was un-notified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation."
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told BBC News NI it was "very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that's not been notified to the police".
"Hopefully it will calm down very, very quickly and the police can go about their business because they're there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland," he added.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said it was "utterly tragic" to watch people born after the Good Friday Agreement attack police.
"They are being groomed by adults who have nothing to offer but misery and destruction," the former Stormont justice minister said.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell called the scenes in Creggan "deplorable" and called for action to catch those responsible.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said the disorder had no place in society and that political leaders must "stand united appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said "there are kids with no memory or experience of the violence of 25 years ago and they're being exploited and abused by people with no vision for the future".
Last week the PSNI said there was potential for public disorder over Easter, with "very strong intelligence" suggesting dissident republicans were planning attacks in Derry.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne had said the disorder could be an attempt to draw officers into gun or bomb ambushes. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65231790 |
Disruption continues after CalMac's biggest ferry hit by technical fault - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | More services linking Ullapool and Stornoway are cancelled following problems on the MV Loch Seaforth. | Highlands & Islands | Islanders are facing more ferry disruption after CalMac's biggest ship was hit by a technical fault.
CalMac said MV Loch Seaforth, the newest large ferry in its fleet, had developed problems with its engine control system.
All Tuesday sailings between Stornoway and Ullapool were cancelled as well as some journeys on Wednesday.
Three other CalMac large vessels are currently out of action after problems were discovered during overhauls.
MV Caledonian Isles, MV Hebridean Isles and MV Clansman have not been in service since the summer timetable began on 1 April.
CalMac said its engineers were investigating the fault on Loch Seaforth and hoped to resolve the issue "as soon they possibly can".
On Wednesday morning, it said contractors were "onboard the vessel working on resolving the issue".
The fault became apparent during a crossing to Ullapool late on Monday afternoon.
All sailings since then have been cancelled, including Tuesday's overnight freight services and the 07:00 and 10:30 sailings on Wednesday.
The firm said additional sailings would run between Uig and Tarbert due to a "backlog of traffic".
On Tuesday, a spokesperson said that these sailings would give priority to services such as food, medical supplies and time-sensitive loads.
They added: "We are very sorry for the disruption and inconvenience that this technical fault is causing to our customers, and we are grateful for their patience.
"We will continue to contact them directly or through updates through the usual social media channels."
An update on the 17:30 service from Ullapool is scheduled for 14:00.
Transport Minister Kevin Stewart said: "Unfortunately there have been ongoing technical issues with vessels resulting in delays to the annual overhaul programme and cancellation of sailings.
"The expertise and responsibility for operational decisions regarding the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services lies with CalMac as the operator, but we recognise this issue is not just about transport performance in itself - it's about delivering the confidence needed to sustain island populations.
"Regrettably communities have been greatly impacted and we fully recognise the need to improve reliability and confidence in services."
He said the Scottish government had invested more than £2bn it ferry services since 2007, and had outlined plans to invest about £700m in a five-year plan to improve ferry infrastructure.
Mr Stewart added: "Since May 2021, we have bought and deployed an additional vessel in MV Loch Frisa in June, chartered the MV Arrow and MV Alfred, commissioned two new vessels for Islay, progressed investment in essential harbour infrastructure, and now we are delivering a further two new Islay-class vessels."
Island communities have warned they are facing significant economic harm, with many businesses dependent on tourism.
Last month Robbie Drummond, the chief executive of the state-owned ferry operator, admitted the next two years would be "challenging" for island residents due to the age of the CalMac fleet.
A third of CalMac's ferries are more than 30 years old, and about half of its largest ships are beyond their expected service life.
The renewal of the fleet has been hit by delays with the build of two ships at Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow, but critics say a longer-term failure to invest in new ferries is also to blame.
Four other large vessels destined for the Islay and Western Isles routes have been ordered from a shipyard in Turkey, but the first will not be delivered until late 2024.
While Loch Seaforth is a modern vessel, having entered service in 2015, it suffered a major engine failure in 2021.
A report later suggested that a failure to replace piston screws during maintenance may have caused the breakdown.
There has been further ferry disruption on a route operated by Highland Council between the Ardnamurchan peninsula and Corran.
A reduced service has been in operation since January while repair work is carried out on the small ferry, MV Corran.
However after the relief vessel, the Maid of Glencoul, broke down on Friday., the council warned there could be no service for several weeks. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65237610 |
Taiwan bear badge punches back after China drills - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The badge depicts a Taiwanese black bear punching Winnie the Pooh, who often symbolises Xi Jinping. | Asia | People in Taiwan alarmed at China's latest military drills have found a symbolic way of turning a geopolitical tussle into a bear-knuckle fight.
A popular new badge depicts a Taiwanese black bear punching Winnie the Pooh, who often appears in memes representing Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The fad began among air force pilots, but has since gone viral.
Taiwan is a self-ruled island with its own government and constitution, but China sees it as a breakaway province.
On Monday, China finished three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included "sealing off" the island and simulating targeted strikes.
Beijing began the exercises on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
After the drills ended, Taiwan's defence ministry said it would not stop strengthening its combat preparedness.
Images and videos released by the ministry to back up its stance included the sight of a pilot wearing a sew-on patch of the battling bears - and social media users were quick to highlight it.
The badge, available in two versions, has the word "Scramble!" at the bottom, one of them also proclaiming "We are open 24/7".
Taiwanese people were quick to snap up the Pooh-punching patches, which retailed at 200 Taiwanese dollars (£5.30; $6.50).
They were produced by Wings Fan Goods in Taoyuan city, east of the capital, Taipei, which has now sold out of them.
Taiwan's air force told the Reuters news agency that it did not "particularly encourage" its members to wear the patch, which is not a part of their uniform.
However, it added that it would "maintain an open attitude" to anything that raised morale. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65241432 |
Biden lands in Belfast for Good Friday Agreement anniversary - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | US President Joe Biden steps off Airforce One to greet UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast. | null | US President Joe Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Airforce One in Belfast.
His visit is to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.
During his four-day visit, Mr Biden is also set to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins, and to visit County Mayo, where he has ancestral ties. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65246855 |
Joe Biden hails Northern Ireland young people on Belfast visit - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The US president says they are at the "cutting edge" of the future, 25 years on from the 1998 peace deal. | Northern Ireland | US President Joe Biden has praised Northern Ireland's young people, saying they are at the "cutting edge" of its future during his visit to Belfast.
Earlier he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before briefly speaking to some of Stormont's political party leaders.
He is on a four-day visit to Ireland to mark 25 years since the Good Friday peace agreement, which ended decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.
He hailed the "tremendous progress" since the deal was signed in 1998.
"This place is transformed by peace; made technicolour by peace; made whole by peace," he said.
He hailed Northern Ireland as a "churn of creativity", having produced some of the world's most popular films and TV series over the past decade, and said that major economic opportunities for the region were "just beginning".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: James Martin, star of Oscar-winning Northern Ireland film An Irish Goodbye, is mentioned in Joe Biden's speech
President Biden was speaking as he opened the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, his only official engagement in Northern Ireland.
His visit comes at a time when Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Stormont is not functioning.
It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
Mr Biden urged politicians to make a return to governing but praised them for their unity after the attempted murder of one of Northern Ireland's top detectives in February.
John Caldwell was shot several times by two gunmen in Omagh, County Tyrone.
During his speech, the president said: "Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]."
Mr Sunak visited Mr Caldwell and his family at a hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
Before briefly meeting the political leaders, Mr Biden was asked what he would say to them - he answered: "I'm going to listen."
After leaving Belfast early on Wednesday afternoon, he flew on Air Force One the Republic of Ireland where he is continuing his tour of the island.
He is to due to meet the Irish President Michael D Higgins and speak to politicians at the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) on Thursday and will meet some of his Irish relatives in County Mayo on Friday.
His sister Valerie and his son Hunter have joined him for the Ireland trip.
President Biden managed to deliver a speech that hit all the right notes with the invited audience.
As he left the stage he was swamped by people armed with their phones for a selfie.
His speech was pitched at reminding people what is at stake - peace, said Mr Biden, cannot be taken for granted.
He reminded those in the room about the risks taken 25 years ago by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement.
Democracy in Northern Ireland needs champions now to do the same, he added.
While he didn't namecheck the DUP it was clear to whom he was directing those comments about getting Stormont back up and running.
Before Mr Biden's address in Belfast, US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy spoke about the significance of American investment in Northern Ireland.
"Some of the biggest companies in the world have set up shop here and now entrepreneurs with dreams to outcompete them are following," he said.
"I look forward to drawing on your energy and your ideas and to making sure that we bring prosperity to all corners of Northern Ireland."
After listening to Mr Biden's speech at the university, Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said the message was "one of hope and opportunity".
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DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he did not get a sense that the president was urging his party to do more to restore power-sharing during their brief private discussion.
"Like all of us, he wants to see the political institutions up and running again but we are very clear that can only happen when we have got the solid foundations that we need," he added.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long described President Biden's speech as "positive, balanced, optimistic and hopeful for the future".
Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, said the meeting with Mr Biden was a fleeting "grip and grin" engagement.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described his conversation with the president as "positive".
Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre on Tuesday night, having been greeted by Mr Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.
Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden met on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel on Wednesday morning
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the huge security plan put in place for the presidential visit was its biggest for years.
Some 2,900 officers were deployed as part of the £7m operation.
But the PSNI is investigating a security breach after a document that appears to give details of the operation was found on a street in the city by a member of the public.
BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show was shown the document, which is marked: "PSNI and sensitive."
It names police officers who were in charge of the area around the hotel in which Mr Biden had stayed.
"We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously," said the PSNI.
Joe Biden is visiting the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.
Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65208880 |
Ukraine war: The deadly landmines killing hundreds - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | In Ukraine, thousands of landmines scattered throughout the Kharkiv region are destroying lives. | Europe | Russia has laid down mines to defend positions and slow Ukraine's counter attacks
Across Ukraine's vast expanse, there are thought to be 174,000 square kilometres which are contaminated by landmines.
It is an area of land larger than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.
In the war-scarred Kharkiv region, warning signs occasionally appear next to brown, barren fields which were once front lines.
Even more infrequent is the sight of demining teams sweeping their metal detectors across small, taped-off areas. A literal scratching of the surface.
More landmines have been found in the Kharkiv region than anywhere else in Ukraine.
This part of north-eastern Ukraine close to the Russian border has been both occupied and liberated over the past year.
In Ukraine, an area of land larger than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined is littered with mines
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched its full scale invasion and seized swathes of territory in the Kharkiv region, while also trying to capture Kharkiv city itself.
By May they would lose the battle for Ukraine's second biggest city. By September, they'd be blindsided by a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The Russians deployed landmines to both defend their positions and slow the Ukrainians. After leaving in a rush, a lethal footprint was left behind.
In the small town of Balakliya, on a patch of land next to an apartment block, Oleksandr Remenets' team have already found six anti-personnel mines. They'd earlier uncovered around 200 nearby.
"My family calls me every morning to tell me to watch where I tread," he says. "One of our guys lost his foot last year."
The day after we spoke, another member of his team was wounded by a mine.
Since September, 121 civilians have been injured in the Kharkiv region alone, according to the State Emergency Service. 29 were killed.
Anti-personnel 'butterfly' mines can look like toys to children and are banned under international law
More than 55,000 explosives have been found in the area.
Deminers like Oleksandr are called "heroes" by the regional authorities, yet there's a deep frustration with their efforts being dwarfed by the scale of the problem.
Their desired catch are so-called butterfly mines, the most common in the area. They're only three to four inches wide, propeller shaped, and are scattered from a rocket.
They're banned by international law because of the indiscriminate way they can injure and kill civilians.
That hasn't stopped them from being used in this war.
When Serhiy helped a friend load his car with a small crane, he didn't pay much attention to a nearby apricot tree.
When he stepped towards it, he found himself falling backwards from an explosion.
"I thought maybe a tire had blown up," he recalls from his hospital bed in nearby Izyum.
"Then I looked at my foot and saw I was missing toes, the sole was shattered, there was bleeding."
Serhiy says he lost everything in an instant
Serhiy tells us his home was also destroyed from the fighting.
"I used to be healthy, walk with both of my feet, do things, drive my car.
"In an instant, I had no house and no foot."
Serhiy is under the care of Yuriy Kuznetsov, an experienced trauma surgeon. A big, framed man with a tired, yet purposeful expression.
He kept working throughout Russia's occupation last year, and was the only doctor left in the Izyum hospital. He says he treats landmine casualties every week.
"Unfortunately, in most cases, an encounter with unknown explosives ends tragically," he explains.
Unfortunately, in most cases, an encounter with unknown explosives ends tragically
"Losing a limb or getting other kinds of injuries isn't the worst outcome. For instance, last week, we had two patients who discovered a mine. One is here, the other one died."
Entire wings of Yuriy's hospital are destroyed. There are windows missing along the corridor and the buildings are surrounded by mine signs.
"Before the war, just like everyone, I cared much about material things in life," says Yuriy.
"Now we understand how transient it all is. Peace and health are what matters."
Last week Ukraine's economy ministry said 724 people have been blown up by mines since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February last year, with 226 of them being killed.
Ukraine says 724 people have been blown up by Russian mines since the invasion began last year
Izyum and its surrounding area is one of the most heavily mined places, yet the picture in the city is murky.
Human Rights Watch has accused Ukraine of using illegal antipersonnel mines here. Kyiv responded by saying it followed international law while defending itself.
The organisation has previously accused Russia of using similar devices across Ukraine during its full-scale invasion.
According to the World Bank - which provides low interest loans to countries who need cash - de-mining Ukraine is going to cost $37.4bn (£30bn).
Kyiv is trying to convince as many countries as possible to help so, in its words, "it doesn't take decades".
Given how it's spent the last 70 years clearing mines from World War Two, it's an approach which will require optimism. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65204053 |
Biden begins Ireland trip after Belfast speech - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The US leader has travelled south, after visiting Northern Ireland to commemorate the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. | US & Canada | Biden spoke of threats to democracy during speech
On the motorcade route outside Ulster University earlier, a lone Trump flag waved to greet the US president. A familiar sight in America - but an unexpected one for this president who so proudly touts his Irish-American ties to this place. Another protester nearby held a sign that read "Fake Catholic. Fake president." Between folksy anecdotes designed for laugh lines about what Northern Ireland and the Republic mean to him, President Biden's remarks didn't focus solely on the international politics of this visit. “Those of you who have been to America know there is a large population that is invested in what happens here,” Biden said during his speech at Ulster University. "Supporting the people of Northern Ireland, protecting the peace, preserving the Belfast Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States, and that is unusual today because we have been very divided in our parties.” The president's oft-repeated ode to the importance of democracy here, in America, and around the world was not missing from his brief remarks. And his reference to the threats that American democracy faced during the 6 January riots at the US Capitol two years ago won’t have fallen on deaf ears for a city whose residents were once no stranger to persistent conflict and violence. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65167022 |
Manchester City 3-0 Bayern Munich: Pep Guardiola's side take control in quarter-finals - BBC Sport | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | Man City take a big step towards Champions League semi-finals with 3-0 first-leg win against Bayern Munich | null | Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester City took a giant stride towards the Champions League semi-finals with an outstanding performance to overpower Bayern Munich at Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland, inevitably, was on target with his 45th goal of the season to make him the highest scorer in all competitions in a single campaign since the Premier League began 30 years ago, surpassing Mohamed Salah and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
City, however, gave a powerful all-round team display and Bayern, under new coach Thomas Tuchel, face a mountainous task to turn this quarter-final around in the second leg at the AllianzArena.
"Emotionally I'm destroyed," said Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. "I have aged 10 more years. It was so demanding a game. It was not comfortable.
"Now I have to relax - a day off for the guys, prepare for Leicester [in the Premier League on Saturday]."
Rodri broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion with a curling left-foot drive into the top corner after 27 minutes while Bayern had chances of their own, especially former City forward Leroy Sane, who brought a vital save out of Ederson early in the second half.
City were always a threat and extended their lead with 20 minutes left, Haaland crossing perfectly for Bernardo Silva to head home after Jack Grealish stole possession off Dayot Upemecano.
Haaland was not to be denied himself and he pounced for City's third six minutes later, getting on the end of John Stones' headed knockdown to sweep a finish past Bayern keeper Yann Sommer.
"It was an incredible result but I know a little bit what can happen in Munich," added Guardiola, who managed Bayern Munich from 2013 until 2016, winning three league titles and two domestic doubles.
"If you don't perform really well they are able to score one, two, three. I know that, the players know that.
"It's an incredible result, but we have to do our game with huge, huge personality. If we don't do our game anything can happen.
"To knock out these teams you have to have two good games, not just one."
Haaland's record breaking will capture the headlines as the 22-year-old Norwegian's voracious appetite for goals shows no sign of being satisfied.
This, however, was much more than a one-man show as Guardiola's side had outstanding performers in all areas as they go in pursuit of the one major trophy that has remained tantalisingly out of reach during the manager's years of huge success at Etihad Stadium.
City have had mishaps before in the Champions League and will face either holders Real Madrid or Chelsea in a potentially hazardous last-four assignment if they complete what should be the formality of the second leg in Munich, but they look in perfect shape.
And in Haaland, they have the goal machine that gives an already outstanding side an added edge amid the fine margins of Europe's elite competition.
They also have a midfield powerhouse in Rodri, whose goal set them on their way, while they defended with real resilience, Nathan Ake continuing an outstanding season with a faultless performance.
Bernardo Silva showed all his creative powers as well as scoring the crucial second goal while Jack Grealish's tireless performance was exemplified by the manner in which he nicked the ball off Upamecano in the build-up to that goal.
Three goals and clean sheet was a fair reward for City's superiority and it will surely now take something extraordinary to stop them taking their place in another semi-final.
Thomas Tuchel declared his delight at being back in England for this Champions League quarter-final, having recently succeed Julian Naglesmann at Bayern Munich, but there was not much else for the former Chelsea manager to be happy about on this rain-sodden Manchester night.
Tuchel's task is to get Bayern back at Europe's top table and his constant agitation in the technical area was an indicator of how big his task is. The Bundesliga is almost taken for granted at Bayern but this fiercely ambitious club wants more and they were well beaten here.
This outstanding coach has proved his quality in the past but he will need to be a miracle worker to get Bayern out of the hole they fell into at Etihad Stadium.
"I try to not allow my players to focus on the result," Tuchel said. "I think it is not a deserved result, it does not tell the story of this match.
"We played with personality, courage and a lot of quality but we didn't get the rewards we deserved.
"This does not feel a 3-0 but it is a 3-0. It is a huge task to turn it around but we will not give up."
• None Follow live radio and updates as Man City host Bayern Munich in Champions League
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• None Attempt saved. Rodri (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Julián Álvarez with a cross.
• None Offside, FC Bayern München. Joshua Kimmich tries a through ball, but Leroy Sané is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
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• None Enter the world of the social media personality’s multi-level marketing scheme and webcam business
• None The rise and fall of the jeweller-turned-criminal: Listen to Gangster: The Story of John Palmer | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65233785 |
Paul Cattermole death: S Club 7's Rachel, Tina and Jo pay tribute - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Rachel Stevens remembers her late bandmate as a "wild free spirit" who would "light up any room". | Entertainment & Arts | Stevens (left), O'Meara (third left) and Barrett (right) have paid tribute to Cattermole (second left) on social media
S Club 7 members have paid tribute to their bandmate Paul Cattermole following his death at the age of 46.
Rachel Stevens described him as a "wild free spirit" who would "light up any room", while Tina Barrett said he was "a shining star, full of character".
Jo O'Meara said she was "heartbroken" after Cattermole was found dead on Thursday at his home in Dorset.
"Paul will forever be a huge part of our lives, and I will forever treasure the memories we made," she wrote.
The cause of the star's death has not been confirmed but police said there were "no suspicious circumstances".
In her tribute, Stevens said: "The outpouring of love for our Paul has been so incredibly special and has meant so much. I hope he knew how loved he was.
"Such a kind, gentle and sensitive soul with the most incredible energy and such a wild free spirit. He would light up any room. We are heartbroken but so grateful for the memories we all shared."
Her post received comments from singer Louise Redknapp, who said she was "sending love", and presenter and Girls Aloud star Kimberly Walsh, who said she was "so sorry".
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Barrett wrote a poem for Cattermole in which she described him as "a rebel without a cause, a free spirit, a true force".
"Farewell sweet Paul," she continued. "Your star shines so bright. Forever in our hearts, sleep well and goodnight."
Cattermole's death came two months after S Club 7 announced a 25th anniversary reunion tour starting in October, with all seven members due to take part.
It is not yet known whether the tour will proceed without Cattermole.
Sharing a photo of him on Instagram, O'Meara said she was "utterly devastated" at his death.
The singer wrote: "I just wanted to reach out and thank everybody from the bottom of my heart for the love and kindness you have shown over the tragic passing of our sweetest soul Paul."
Police said there were "no suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death of Cattermole (pictured in 2000)
She added: "We have lost someone so incredibly special to us all, and there is a huge sense of sadness that will never go.
"I will love you always Paul, God bless you my darling, Rest in forever Peace. Love JoJo."
O'Meara's Instagram post received comments from actress and singer Kym Marsh, who said she was sending "so much love to you all", and pop group B*Witched, who said they were "thinking of everyone".
S Club 7 were created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller in 1998, and were known for hits including Reach, Don't Stop Movin', Bring It All Back and Never Had A Dream Come True.
Cattermole was in a relationship with bandmate Hannah Spearritt for several years. He quit the group in 2002 and rejoined his former rock band Skua.
Fuller was among those who paid tribute after news of Cattermole's death broke.
"Paul was a beacon of light for a generation of pop music fans and he will be greatly missed," he said. "We're all deeply shocked and saddened by this news." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65240157 |
Vaping: Free e-cigarettes to be handed out in anti-smoking drive - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Pregnant women will also be paid to quit smoking under government plans to be set out on Tuesday. | UK | One million smokers will be given a free vaping starter kit to encourage them to give up tobacco products.
Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking as part of a package of measures in England unveiled by the government on Tuesday.
A consultation will be launched on compelling cigarette manufacturers to put advice on quitting inside packs.
But charities have warned swapping cigarettes for vapes is "nowhere near sufficient" in tackling addiction.
The government has committed to getting smoking rates in England below 5% by 2030.
The plans also include a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales.
Almost one in five smokers in England will receive a kit alongside behavioural support, the government said.
In a speech on Tuesday, health minister Neil O'Brien described the free vape policy - dubbed "swap to stop" - as the first of its kind in the world.
"Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly," he said.
Mr O'Brien also ruled out raising the minimum age for the sale of cigarettes from 18.
Instead, policies will focus on "helping people to quit" rather than imposing bans, he said.
Last year, a major review led Dr Javed Khan called for the minimum age to be increased by one year, every year "until no one can buy a tobacco product in this country".
MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on smocking and health have previously recommended hiking the age of sale to 21.
It is estimated that 9% of women still smoke during pregnancy in England, and the government says local trials indicate that financial incentives and behavioural support can be effective.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it would set out details on how this scheme will work "in due course".
Local authorities are being invited to join the first wave of areas taking part in the free vape policy, before a larger national scheme is rolled out over the next two years.
Officials estimate it will cost around £45m and is set to be funded from the health department's budget, but administered by local authorities.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, said the policy announcements are "welcome steps in the right direction".
But she warned the moves are "nowhere near sufficient" as the target date for England becoming "smoke free" by 2030 nears.
She said: "Vapes increase smokers' chances of successfully quitting, as do vouchers for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are nowhere near sufficient."
Sarah MacFadyen, from charity Asthma and Lung UK, said tackling addiction was more complex than just swapping cigarettes for vapes, saying "what smokers need is stop smoking services offering personalised support".
In 2019, ministers pledged to end smoking - defined as getting rates below 5% - by the end of the decade. As of 2021, smoking prevalence in England was 13%, the lowest on record.
But a review of the 2030 target published last year warned it will be missed by at least seven years without further action.
Its author, Dr Khan, called for a range of new measures, including a ban on smoking at outdoor spaces such as beaches and beer gardens.
The same report recommended promoting vaping as an alternative to tobacco, but said e-cigarettes are not a "silver bullet" or "totally risk free".
While the government wants to encourage adult smokers to swap cigarettes for vapes, there are concerns about the rising popularity of the products among children.
NHS figures released last year revealed 9% of secondary school pupils use a vape regularly or occasionally, including almost one in five 15 year olds.
The government announced earlier this week it is setting up a new trading standards enforcement squad to crack down on vapes being sold illegally to under-18s.
A full consultation on how young people can be discouraged from taking up the habit is also being launched on Tuesday.
Other countries are taking different approaches to e-cigarettes and smoking - with many countries banning vaping, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Iran, India and Argentina.
According to the Australian government website, it is illegal to possess or use any nicotine vaping products without a prescription from a doctor. It is also illegal to smoke cigarettes and e-cigarettes in enclosed public places such as trains, planes and buses.
Meanwhile, Turkey has banned the sales of e-cigarettes although it is not actually illegal to vape in the country. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65235343 |
Pentagon documents leak a risk to US national security, officials say - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Officials say the leaked files appear to be in a format similar to those issued to senior leaders. | US & Canada | The leaked documents appear to show highly detailed US intelligence on the state of the Ukraine-Russia war
A leak of classified US Defence Department documents is a "very serious" risk to national security, the Pentagon has said.
The documents appear to include sensitive information regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as on China and US allies.
Officials say the files are in a format similar to documents issued to senior leaders.
An investigation has been opened to determine the source of the leak.
The documents - some of which officials say may have been altered - first appeared on online platforms such as Twitter, 4chan and Telegram, as well as on a Discord server for the video game Minecraft.
In addition to highly detailed information about the war in Ukraine, some of the leaked documents are said to cast light on sensitive briefing materials relating to US allies.
A source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Ukraine has already altered some of its military plans because of the leak.
Other documents reportedly focus on defence and security issues in the Middle East as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, a high-ranking Pentagon official said the documents were "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation".
"We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," said Chris Meagher, the assistant to the secretary of defence for public affairs.
The Pentagon is reassessing their process as to who gets access to such sensitive documents.
"There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom."
Mr Meagher declined to answer when asked if the Pentagon believes the documents to be genuine, although he said that some "appear to have been altered".
The justice department is now investigating the leak, alongside officials from the Pentagon, White House and elsewhere in the US government.
The format of the documents is similar to that "used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates", Mr Meagher added.
The Pentagon first became aware of the document leak last week, with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first briefed on the matter on 6 April, he said.
Mr Meagher said that the document leak has prompted US officials to reassure its allies "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships".
At a separate briefing, national security spokesman John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden was first briefed about the leak last week.
When asked whether the leak has so far been contained and whether other documents have yet to be released, Mr Kirby said: "I don't know."
BBC News has so far reviewed more than 20 of the documents, many of which appear to detail the deployment and state of Ukrainian and Russian forces ahead of a long-awaited spring offensive by Ukrainian forces.
Some documents, for example, appear to outline US training and equipment being provided to Ukraine ahead of the offensive, as well as when various Ukrainian units will be ready and the anticipated delivery time of military supplies.
While Mr Meagher declined to comment on the potential impact that the documents could have on the front lines in Ukraine, he said that "the Ukrainians have demonstrated their capability and competence in this war".
"The president and secretary [of defence] have both made clear that the United States is going to be with them for as long as it takes," he said.
• None What does the huge leak of Ukraine war documents tell us? | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65235121 |
Police probe 'death threats' sent to Old Firm referee - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Abusive messages were also aimed at Kevin Clancy's wife and children after the Celtic v Rangers game. | Scotland | Detectives have begun an investigation into threats sent to a referee and his wife after Saturday's Old Firm match.
The Scottish Football Association said Kevin Clancy was targeted after his contact details were published online following the Celtic v Rangers game.
The BBC understands they included death threats, and some abuse was also directed at his children.
The SFA referred the matter to Police Scotland and an investigation to trace those responsible has now begun.
A force spokeswoman said: "We are investigating alleged threatening communications which were reported to us by the SFA today.
"All reports of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness and will be investigated thoroughly.
"We will provide support to those affected as our investigation progresses."
During the Scottish Premiership match, which Celtic won 3-2, the referee disallowed a first half goal by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.
A spokesperson for the Ibrox club said: "Rangers condemns in the strongest terms any abuse of match officials.
"We are all passionate about our game, but targeted, personal abuse of referees cannot be tolerated."
The statement went on to say that Rangers were "astonished" by the decision to chalk off Morelos' goal.
Former top flight referee Steve Conroy said the abuse directed at Mr Clancy was "absolutely appalling".
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is disgusting that anybody personally and anybody's family can be targeted over the course of a game of football.
Mr Conroy said the abuse of match officials was not new but added the problem had intensified since he retired due to social media.
He also said anyone convicted of sending death threats should be banned from attending football grounds for life.
Ex-Rangers defender and BBC pundit Richard Foster told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime that the problem had got worse in recent years and was "a sad indictment of football".
He added: "When referees and players are getting abused through social media, through emails, through text messages, it just becomes quite ridiculous."
On Monday the SFA confirmed Mr Clancy had received a series of "unacceptable" messages via email and phone.
Chief executive Ian Maxwell said some of the contact was "potentially criminal in nature".
The SFA said a "significant volume of threatening and abusive emails" had been referred to Police Scotland.
The SFA is based at Hampden in Glasgow
The SFA confirmed the association's security and integrity manager had been liaising with Mr Clancy and the force following the messages over the Easter weekend.
Mr Maxwell said: "The nature of the messages goes way beyond criticism of performance and perceived decision-making - some are potentially criminal in nature and include threats and abuse towards Kevin and his family.
"We have referred the correspondence to the police and condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms, as well as the posting of a referee's personal details online with the sole purpose of causing distress.
"Football is our national game. It improves and saves lives. Without referees, there is no game, and while decisions will always be debated with or without the use of VAR, we cannot allow a situation to develop where a referee's privacy and safety, and those of his family, are compromised."
He added everyone had a responsibility to "protect our game and those essential to it".
Mr Clancy will be on VAR duty this weekend for the league clash between Livingston v St Johnstone.
Kevin Clancy disallowed a goal by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos after ruling the Colombian fouled Celtic defender Alistair Johnston
Meanwhile, the SFA also confirmed that its referee operations team had responded to Rangers' request for an explanation for the decision to rule out Morelos' goal, which they believe should have stood.
Rangers later said it had been told by the SFA that the goal by the Colombian striker was rightly disallowed.
The statement continued: "The club is astonished by this, especially given most observers, including former referees and former players, could see no issue with the goal standing."
Rangers also highlighted a case in England where Brighton and Hove Albion received an apology for not being awarded a penalty in a match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The spokesperson said: "While an apology does not alter the outcome of a match, such responsibility and openness would be welcome in Scotland."
In February a former top Scottish referee warned match officials were being subjected to an unacceptable level of verbal and physical abuse.
Kenny Clark spoke out after hundreds of grassroots referees in England told the BBC they fear for their safety when refereeing.
Some respondents described being punched, headbutted and spat at.
The Referees' Association in England has even warned an official will one day "lose his or her life". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65241301 |
Interest rates likely to fall to pre-Covid levels, IMF predicts - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The financial body predicts borrowing costs will reduce once high inflation is brought under control. | Business | Interest rates in major economies are expected to fall in the future because of low productivity and ageing populations, according to a forecast.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says increases in borrowing costs are likely to be "temporary" once high inflation is brought under control.
The Bank of England has been raising interest rates since December 2021, taking them from 0.1% to 4.25%.
This has raised mortgage payments for many homeowners.
Central banks in the UK, the US, Europe and other nations have been lifting interest rates to combat the rate of price rises, otherwise known as inflation.
In the UK, inflation is at its highest for nearly 40 years because of rising energy prices and soaring food costs. A number of factors are fuelling inflation, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine which has helped drive up energy costs.
However, in a blog the IMF said that "recent increases in real interest rates are likely to be temporary".
It added: "When inflation is brought back under control, advanced economies' central banks are likely to ease monetary policy and bring real interest rates back towards pre-pandemic levels." Real interest rates take into account inflation.
The IMF did not say, however, exactly when interest rates were set to fall back to lower levels.
This observation from the IMF about falling interest rates is not going to offer much immediate relief to hard-pressed mortgage holders.
There is a fairly large caveat in the analysis that it applies after the current period of high inflation is over, and then only if governments keep their debts in order. The report says "post pandemic increases in interest rates could be protracted until inflation is brought back to target".
However over the coming years and decades it is making the point that what we consider as the "normal" level of interest rate has fallen in advanced economies including the UK.
After adjusting for inflation, the implication is that a more normal real rate is close to zero. So assuming inflation settles back at its target level of 2%, that is consistent with Bank of England base rates around 2-3%, rather than above 4% as now.
There are many long term factors influencing these trends, from ageing, to migration, to tax and spend policy, and growth in the economy. But it points to a world, after the shocks of the past three years, where there is a new normal for interest rates. Eventually.
The Washington-based financial institution said ageing populations would be one factor likely to lower inflation.
Explaining why older people affect inflation, George Godber, fund manager at Polar Capital, said that they tend to spend less.
"The amount that you spend relative to your income is highest when you're in your 20s, 30s and 40s - often that's maybe young families, when you've got households forming, you've got couples coming together, they tend to spend the most when they decorate and buy a car or whatever, and you as you get older in life you slow down your consumption," he told the BBC's Today programme.
"There's less heading to Glastonbury and nights out on the town, there's more sitting at home and watching the Antiques Roadshow, so therefore your spending patterns sort of reduce and you save more and so an ageing population tends to be disinflationary."
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said recently that in the UK, the share of adults aged between 20 and 59 years-old has fallen to below 65% in the past decade "and it is set to decline further in the coming years".
He said that this has been driven by a decline in birth rates as well as people living for longer.
The IMF also said low productivity - the measure of how many goods and services are produced - would bring inflation down.
In a speech last month, Mr Bailey said that prior to the financial crisis in 2008, UK productivity had been boosted by the country's manufacturing sector.
"But following the financial crisis, manufacturing productivity growth fell back sharply. This fall in manufacturing productivity is the main cause of the slowdown," he said.
Just prior to the Covid pandemic, the UK's interest rate was 0.75% but the Bank of England cut it twice in March 2020 to 0.1% as the country entered lockdown.
The rate of inflation has risen steadily over the past couple of years and hit 10.4% in February - more than five times higher than the Bank of England's 2% target.
Following the decision to raise UK interest rates again in March, the Bank of England said that it expected inflation "to fall sharply over the rest of the year".
This is due to the government's continuing help with household heating bills through the Energy Price Guarantee scheme as well as falling wholesale gas prices.
However, Mr Bailey declined to say whether he believed that interest rates had reached a peak. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65237286 |
Cardiff scientists look at honey as drug alternative - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Could the honey bee help in the fight against infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics? | Wales | Dandelions are being examined to look for compounds that "kill bacteria and viruses"
Honey has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, but scientists are now using it in a search for alternatives to antimicrobial drugs.
It follows concern about infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
"We need to do something innovative, otherwise we face the scenario where we return to the pre-antibiotic stage," said a Cardiff University expert.
Antibiotic resistance is described as a major threat to global human health.
According to the largest study to date and published in the Lancet medical magazine, more than 1.2 million people died worldwide in 2019 as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
"We're seeing bacteria that has evolved, that is resistant to almost all antibiotics, and we are reaching the stage where the cupboard is empty," said Prof Les Baillie from the university's School of Pharmacy.
"Before antibiotics we used herbal and traditional remedies to treat diseases.
"We have gone back to these traditional remedies to see if we can learn from our ancestors."
Scientists at Cardiff are looking to see if honey has a part to play.
Traditionally, it has been used for wound healing and contains compounds which are antimicrobial.
Researchers are testing various samples of honey to see which plants the bees have visited
The challenge now is to find these compounds and isolate them so that, potentially, they can lead to new remedies to deal with health problems. Researchers are currently testing various samples of honey to see which plants the bees have visited during their working lives.
Using technology, they can see if the bees went to a plant which had an antibiotic. When scientists have discovered the plant, they then analyse its compounds.
The honey, they say, works as a "drug discovery tool" in the search for new antibiotics. At the moment, they are looking closely at dandelions, as they contain compounds that "kill bacteria and viruses", according to Prof Baillie.
"They are called weeds by gardeners, but they have value, and we should be celebrating the dandelions not exterminating them," he said.
Beekeeper Gruffudd Rees: "I have been keeping bees for over 12 years and I am fully aware of how good honey is for your health"
The research at Cardiff comes as no surprise to beekeeper Gruffudd Rees, based in the Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire.
"I have been keeping bees for over 12 years and I am fully aware of how good honey is for your health," he said.
"I hear stories from people who buy from me that they use my honey to put on their wounds and sores and say that it helps to heal.
"I hear people talk about how it helps them with their hay fever as well.
"I can't prove it, but too many people tell me stories like this." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65233103 |
Chinese eagerly await return of panda from US zoo - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The treatment of Ya Ya at Memphis Zoo has often been scrutinised - but unfairly, the zoo maintains. | China | Ya Ya - pictured in 2020 - has a condition that makes her fur look thin and patchy, Memphis Zoo has said
Millions of Chinese people have a watched a US zoo say goodbye to a giant panda ahead of her much-discussed return home after 20 years.
A farewell party for 22-year-old Ya Ya at Memphis Zoo took place on Saturday.
She and her male mate Le Le, who died in February, had been monitored closely by Chinese people, after questions were raised over their treatment at the zoo.
It has previously denied such allegations and accused activists of spreading false information.
The zoo says Ya Ya has a chronic skin and fur condition, which "occasionally make her hair look thin and patchy".
Around 500 people attended the event in the Tennessee city, which featured Chinese cultural performances and goodbye letters.
Ya Ya was surrounded by bamboo and given a special ice cake made of grapes, sugar cane, and cookies, according to pictures and videos shared online. Many Chinese followed it live online.
"Safe travels Ya Ya. You will be missed by so many," a comment on the zoo's Facebook page read. "We will miss you... You have brought us so much joy," added a user on its Twitter page.
But other comments aimed at the zoo appeared more aggressive. "Stop faking your affection, you make me sick," said one comment in Chinese.
"Ya Ya [has] suffered such a hard time. Come back home - we're all waiting for you," another person wrote.
Ya Ya and Le Le arrived in the Tennessee city in 2003 on loan. China has long used so-called panda diplomacy to help foster relationships with other countries.
But in recent times, Memphis Zoo has been grilled by Chinese netizens over accusations that Ya Ya and Le Le had been mistreated during their stay.
It followed allegations - rejected by the zoo - that the pair had suffered physical and mental diseases.
A video posted by animal advocacy groups In Defense of Animals and Panda Voices last year showed the pandas pacing in circles. The groups said the animals appeared to have lost fur and weight, and called for them to be "returned to China before it's too late".
Zoo officials countered that they were "two of the most spoiled animals on the planet", according to Associated Press.
On its website, the zoo says: "Ya Ya lives with a chronic skin and fur condition. This condition does not affect her quality of life but does occasionally make her hair look thin and patchy. The condition is closely monitored by our animal care team and veterinary staff."
Chinese-Americans have been flying to Memphis to visit Ya Ya and post about her on social media
Months later, the zoo announced they the pandas would be returned to China as an agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens had come to an end. It said the decision had nothing to do with pressure from animal advocates, according to Reuters.
But there was renewed anger in China after 25-year-old Le Le's death in February. Although giant pandas usually live for 25 to 30 years in captivity, many questioned whether the animals usually seen as China's "national treasure" were being neglected by zookeepers in the US, when ties between the two countries had already worsened due to diplomatic disputes and trade barriers.
Online, people started pressing for Ya Ya to return to China earlier. Many put up slogans and pictures on various advertisement spots across China and called up relevant departments asking for updates. Some Chinese-Americans even voluntarily flew to Memphis to visit and "guard for Ya Ya".
But Chinese experts flew to the US after Le Le's death and, along with their American counterparts, drew an initial conclusion that he had died of heart disease. They also checked on Ya Ya and determined she had a good appetite and stable weight, other than suffering hair loss due to a skin issue.
Ya Ya is scheduled to return to China by the end of this month, according to Chinese media reports.
On Tuesday, spokesperson of China's ministry of foreign affairs Wang Wenbin said Ya Ya was relatively stable other than the fur loss. "China will get Ya Ya home safely at the fastest speed," he added.
But this hasn't stopped other netizens from raising more questions - including about whether China could move beyond "panda diplomacy".
"When can we be strong enough that we won't need pandas to be our ambassadors," a comment liked by more than 100 times on Chinese platform Weibo reads.
"We can't send another panda to the US ever," another reads. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-65229899 |
Tupperware warns of collapse unless it finds funds - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The 77-year-old food storage business is facing a bleak future as it races to secure new financing. | Business | Tupperware, the US maker of food storage containers, has warned that it could go bust unless it can quickly raise new financing.
The 77-year-old firm said there was "substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern".
Tupperware has been attempting to reposition itself to a younger audience but has failed to stop a slide in its sales.
Its shares plunged nearly 50% on Monday before recovering slightly on Tuesday.
The firm became well-known in the 1950s and 1960s when people held "Tupperware parties" in their homes to sell plastic containers for food storage.
Tupperware still employs a direct sales force - who earn a percentage of all the goods they sell - as well as selling goods on its website.
It recently started selling its products in US retail chain Target in an attempt to entice younger shoppers as well as to other retailers around the world.
It has also expanded its range into cooking products, such as a grill that works in a microwave.
At the time, Miguel Fernandez, Tupperware's chief executive - its third in five years - said he imagined the grill "for someone who lives in an apartment in New York City and you can't really do outdoor grilling but you can use this".
However, Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at the consultancy GlobalData, said Tupperware has "failed to change with the times in terms of its products and distribution".
He said that the method of selling direct to younger customers through Tupperware parties "was not connecting" and that even older customers who "remembered Tupperware in its heyday" have moved on - customers can now buy cheaper or more fashionable containers in shops or online.
Meanwhile, Tupperware said in March that its workforce of direct sellers had shrunk by 18% in 2022 compared to the previous year. It was also impacted by Covid lockdowns in China which hit consumer access to products.
Tupperware has been trying to change its image from house parties in years gone by to younger shoppers
Mr Saunders also said that Tupperware - while considered innovative many years ago - was perhaps not as inventive and stylish as other brands such as Joseph Joseph, the home goods design company started by twin brothers Antony and Richard Joseph.
Younger customers have also embraced more environmentally-friendly products such as beeswax paper to keep food fresh which can be used again and again, he said.
Tupperware had seen a resurgence during the Covid pandemic as people cooked for themselves at home and its share price surged, but sales have slid since then.
In a statement, Tupperware said that its shares were in danger of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange because it had not yet filed its annual report.
It also warned that it had to renegotiate its loans after already amending its loan agreements three times since August 2022.
Tupperware said it was struggling with higher interest costs on its borrowings while it attempts to turn the business around.
The company said it "currently forecasts that it may not have adequate liquidity in the near term", adding that it "has therefore concluded that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern".
Just a month ago, Tupperware's chief financial officer Mariela Matute, who joined the company in May last year, told investors: "We're confident that we will be able to operate without substantial doubt in 2023."
In addition, Tupperware said that its financial results for 2021 and 2022 as well its interim figures in 2021 and the first three months of 2022 had been "misstated" due to how the firm accounted for taxes and leases.
Tupperware's share price rose by 5.6% on Tuesday after dropping by nearly 50% on Monday.
The company said it was working with financial advisers to secure more money and investment. It is also examining whether it can sell property and cut jobs.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: How the Tupperware party became a million dollar idea
Mr Saunders said it was doubtful whether Tupperware could do enough now to turn itself around. He said that if the company had made changes 10 years ago, such as selling in shops or through wholesale, it may be in a different position now.
However, the brand name is still well-known, he said, and the company could appeal to a retail giant such as Walmart - which used to own Asda - or even Amazon.
Tupperware was founded by Earl Tupper, an American chemist, in 1946.
The polyethylene air-tight and water-tight products - with their double-sealed lid - were sold in department stores but were not immediately successful because potential customers were not sure how to use them.
People were used to glass and ceramic products and the new Tupperware container had to be "burped" to expel air when being sealed.
A saleswoman called Brownie Wise - who was already selling cleaning products door-to-door at home parties - started selling Tupperware herself.
She used home demonstrations to find customers and recruited other salespeople to sell the goods.
She was recruited as a vice president of marketing at Tupperware by Mr Tupper, helping to fuel growth at the business through parties which also allowed women to earn an income.
However, the founder and his vice president reportedly clashed over strategy and in 1958, Mr Tupper fired Mrs Wise. She sued the company and won a year's salary. Mr Tupper went on to sell the business. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65237293 |
CBI boss Tony Danker steps aside after misconduct allegations - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Tony Danker said he was "mortified" to hear that he had caused "offence or anxiety to any colleague". | Business | The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has stepped aside while an investigation takes place into complaints about his conduct at work.
The CBI said it took all matters of workplace conduct "extremely seriously", but would not comment further until the probe was complete.
In a tweet, Tony Danker said he was "mortified" to hear that he had caused "offence or anxiety to any colleague".
"It was completely unintentional, and I apologise profusely," he wrote.
The CBI said it was first made aware of an allegation regarding Mr Danker's workplace conduct involving a female employee in January. It said it had investigated this "thoroughly" at the time and "dealt with it comprehensively".
It said it decided at the time decided that the issue did not require escalation to a disciplinary process.
However, in early March, the CBI said it was made aware of new reports regarding Tony Danker's workplace conduct.
"We have now taken steps to initiate an independent investigation into these new matters," the CBI said in a statement.
"It is important to stress that until this investigation is complete, any new allegations remain unproven and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage," it added.
The investigation comes after The Guardian newspaper approached the CBI over the complaints. It said it understood the female employee claimed that Mr Danker made "unwanted contact with her and [she]considered this unwanted conduct to be sexual harassment".
Mr Danker said he supported the decision.
"We always strive for the highest standards. I therefore support the decision we've taken to review any new allegations independently."
The CBI represents 190,000 businesses across a variety of sectors from IT to retail.
Mr Danker has headed the group for just over two years.
Prior to joining the CBI, Mr Danker held a range of roles in business, media and government, including working at the Guardian newspaper and as a policy adviser for the Cabinet Office and Treasury.
He was also the first boss of not-for-profit group Be The Business aimed at improving business performance, in which former Chancellor George Osborne was also involved.
Joanna Chatterton, head of the employment law team at firm Fox Williams LLP, will lead the independent investigation into Mr Danker's workplace conduct.
Matthew Fell, the chief UK policy director at the CBI, will lead the group during the investigation. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64861370 |
Joe Biden: President to give key speech at Ulster University in GFA visit - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | US president's speech at new Belfast campus the sole NI engagement of his visit. | Northern Ireland | US President Joe Biden is expected to give an address at Ulster University's newly opened Belfast campus on Wednesday
US President Joe Biden will give a key address at Ulster University's newly opened Belfast campus next week, it has been confirmed.
He is visiting NI and the Republic of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
His speech at UU's £350m campus, understood to be his sole NI engagement, will take place on Wednesday.
He is expected to leave Northern Ireland that afternoon.
Mr Biden will also attend engagements in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo during his four-day visit.
Announcing the Belfast speech, UU vice-chancellor and president Prof Paul Bartholomew said the university was "looking forward to what will be a very special day in [its] history and to hosting President Biden on his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming president".
The university's Belfast campus, which opened last autumn, "truly reflects the hope and promise" of the Good Friday Agreement "and our aspirations for a positive, prosperous, and sustainable future for everyone", he added.
It is believed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be in Northern Ireland for Mr Biden's visit.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to be in Belfast for US President Joe Biden's visit
On Saturday Louth County Council confirmed Mr Biden will visit both Dundalk and Carlingford, close to the border with Northern Ireland.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported his visit to the Republic of Ireland may include government receptions at Farmleigh House and Dublin Castle.
It is also believed the US president will attend the Irish presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, to meet Michael D Higgins.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said Mr Biden was expected to address the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) on Thursday.
He will become the fourth US president to do so, following John F Kennedy on 28 June 1963, Ronald Reagan on 4 June 1984 and Bill Clinton on 1 December 1995.
It has also been confirmed that Mr Biden will be in County Mayo on Friday, where he will speak at an event outside St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he was "delighted" Mr Biden would be visiting Ireland.
"When we spoke recently in the White House, President Biden was clear that in celebrating the Good Friday Agreement, we should be looking ahead, not backwards," he said.
The involvement of the United States and of Mr Biden personally had been "essential to the peace process in Ireland", he added.
Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. It is understood Joe Biden will visit the Irish presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, next week
BBC News NI understands Joe Kennedy III, the US special envoy for Northern Ireland, will accompany President Biden on his visit.
It will be his first trip to Northern Ireland since taking up the post of special envoy in December.
Mr Kennedy will stay in Northern Ireland for several days after President Biden travels to the Republic of Ireland, it is understood.
On Thursday Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Asst Ch Constable Chris Todd said the visit would require a security operation on a scale not seen in Northern Ireland since the G8 summit in 2013. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65221919 |
How a deadly bank shooting erupted in Louisville - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | What we know so far about a Monday morning mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky. | null | A woman hid in a bank vault to survive a mass shooting in Kentucky, and the Kentucky governor says he was close friends with some of the victims. Here's what we know so far. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65210120 |
Pierre Lacotte: French dancer who helped Rudolf Nureyev defect dies - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Pierre Lacotte played a part in the Russian ballet star's escape from his KGB minders in Paris in 1961. | Europe | Pierre Lacotte's role in the famous defection was recounted in a 2018 biopic titled The White Crow
Pierre Lacotte, a French ballet choreographer who helped superstar Rudolf Nureyev defect from the Soviet Union, has died aged 91.
"Our Pierre left us at 4:00 am," said his wife, retired principal dancer Ghislaine Thesmar.
Lacotte helped Nureyev escape KGB agents in Paris and seek asylum at the capital's Le Bourget airport in 1961.
His role in the famous defection was recounted in a 2018 biopic titled The White Crow directed by Ralph Fiennes.
Ms Thesmar said her husband had died after a cut became septic.
Lacotte started his career at the Paris Opera Ballet as a teenager and later turned his attention to the revival of forgotten 19th Century productions.
In 1961, he became friends with Nureyev while he was on tour in Paris. Lacotte told the BBC in 2012 that he accompanied Nureyev on several tours of the city's restaurants, bars and museums.
This angered the KGB agents who were on the trip, and Nureyev was told he was to be sent home. Nureyev believed he would not be allowed to leave the country again.
Nureyev pleaded with Lacotte not to leave his side at the airport, but Nureyev was surrounded by KGB agents.
Lacotte asked the agents if he and his friend, socialite Clara Saint, could say goodbye to their friend before he left.
"I said, listen Rudolf, look behind me there is Clara Saint, and behind Clara Saint is a policeman. You just have to come to him. You kiss me, you kiss Clara and you say you want to be free. And it's done," Lacotte said.
"I said don't be afraid, stay quiet and do as I say."
Nureyev then made a dash towards two French police and declared that he wished to remain in the West.
Despite being recognised as one of the greatest dancers of his era, Nureyev and his family paid a heavy price. He was only allowed back to the USSR more than 25 years later when his mother was dying, while his Soviet friends' careers were made to suffer.
Nureyev was one of the greatest dancers of his generation
After suffering an ankle injury, Lacotte turned his attention to the archives of the Paris Opera from 1968.
They included La Sylphide, the first ballet performed completely "en pointe" - where the dancers stand on the tip of their toes - when it was first produced in 1832.
His final work in 2021 was a production of The Red and the Black based on the 1830 novel by French writer Stendhal.
Despite being 91 he was still working, his wife said.
"It's very sad. He still had so many projects and was writing a book," she added. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65234449 |
Good Friday Agreement: Is Biden Northern Ireland trip a missed opportunity? - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The visit was meant to celebrate 25 years of progress but politics at Stormont remain in limbo. | Northern Ireland | Expect to hear politicians blame Jeffrey Donaldson's DUP for a missed opportunity on Mr Biden's visit
For a place roughly the size of Connecticut, Northern Ireland has received plenty of presidential attention.
Bill Clinton visited three times during his presidency, George W Bush twice, and Barack Obama once.
It had long been expected that Joe Biden - a president who speaks of his Irish roots more than most - would visit Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal which largely ended the conflict known as the Troubles.
But the circumstances are less than ideal.
The power-sharing political institutions set up by the agreement have not been fully operating for more than a year.
The Democratic Unionist Party is vetoing the formation of a devolved government in protest against Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.
The DUP has said it will not allow a coalition to be formed until it is satisfied there are no economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The White House has welcomed the deal between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, which is designed to deal with unionists' concerns.
The British government is hoping Mr Biden's visit will promote the framework as the internationally recognised way forward.
Northern Ireland has been without a power-sharing government since February 2022
Other parties have suggested the presidential itinerary would have been more comprehensive if the Northern Ireland Assembly was up and running.
President Biden had been invited to address the assembly, at Stormont on the outskirts of Belfast.
But the invitation from the Assembly Speaker, Alex Maskey, was not accepted.
So you can expect the likes of Sinn Féin - the Irish nationalist party which is now the largest in the assembly - to blame the DUP for a "missed opportunity".
However, the DUP will point to the basis of the power-sharing settlement backed by the US - that both unionists and nationalists must have confidence in the governance arrangements for Northern Ireland in order for them to work.
Some DUP politicians have been strident in criticising President Biden for his backing of the Northern Ireland protocol - the previous deal between the UK and the EU after Brexit, which created a trade border in the Irish Sea.
Tony Blair (left) said Bill Clinton immediately understood the political situation in Northern Ireland
It is sometimes said that the United States is the "third guarantor" of the Good Friday Agreement - after Britain and Ireland, which are the two nations charged in international law with upholding the deal.
Ancestral links are the bedrock of the bonds between the US and the island of Ireland.
Over the years nationalists have been more enthusiastic about US input than unionists, who have been suspicious of influence being exerted in Washington by lobby groups and politicians who identify as Irish-American.
If previous US diplomatic tactics are anything to go by it is unlikely that President Biden's public remarks in Northern Ireland will be accusatory towards any one party or group.
Northern Ireland has been visited by three sitting US presidents since the Good Friday Agreement
He was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 1990s when Bill Clinton - another Democrat - demonstrated his commitment to the peace process by becoming the first president to visit Northern Ireland while in office.
The British prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, spoke to me about Mr Clinton's approach in an interview for the BBC iPlayer film, 'Troubles and Peace'.
He said that when he called Mr Clinton, the then president "would immediately understand the politics of the situation - who to call, what to do, what to say, how to frame it".
"It meant you had the power of the United States behind you - not just in itself, but also operating with immense sophistication and subtlety," Mr Blair said.
Bríd Rodgers said the Good Friday Agreement would not have been achieved without former US President Bill Clinton
Bríd Rodgers was a negotiator for the Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party - whose leader, John Hume, prioritised building relations with the White House.
She said: "If it hadn't been for President Clinton in the last 24 hours before the Good Friday Agreement, I don't think we would have got it.
"He was in touch, he was phoning. He recognised unionists' difficulties, he recognised republicans' difficulties - he was able to assure them that he understood their challenges, but he was behind them."
A unionist negotiator, Lord Empey, was more circumspect about Mr Clinton's role during the final hours.
The Ulster Unionist Party peer said: "I don't think it made any difference to the minutiae or the outworkings of the agreement."
He thinks Mr Clinton's most significant contribution came over a longer period of time.
"President Clinton changed the atmosphere, so that America was no longer seen as totally supportive of Irish nationalism.
"No matter what his personal opinions may have been, he made an effort to treat us equally to others - we were no longer shut out."
Lord Empey said Mr Clinton "changed the atmosphere" by treating negotiators equally
Mr Clinton was the first president to appoint a US special envoy to Northern Ireland.
The political influence of some has been obvious - notably George Mitchell, the former Senate Majority leader who was appointed chair of the Good Friday Agreement talks by the British and Irish governments.
In more recent years, envoys have been seen as having significant roles in generating investment in Northern Ireland by US business.
The present holder of the post, Joe Kennedy III, has the official title of Special Envoy for Economic Affairs.
He will be staying on in Northern Ireland for an extended visit after Mr Biden leaves, to tour various locations in the Republic of Ireland.
It is on this leg of the trip that the president will meet his cousins the Finnegans in County Louth and the Blewitts in County Mayo.
These events may be more politically valuable to him in the US than his one engagement in Northern Ireland, given the power-sharing paralysis at Stormont.
A previous US Special Envoy, one-time Democratic presidential contender Senator Gary Hart, told me in 2013 that his country remained "disproportionately interested" in Northern Ireland.
While there is some disappointment that Mr Biden won't be staying in Northern Ireland for long, most politicians, business leaders and civic groups make the point that to have a presidential visit at all is a boon.
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal's wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line.
Click here to listen on BBC Sounds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65235507 |
Shiveluch volcano: Video shows Russian village under 8.5cm of ash - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | null | Footage shows streets covered in a thick layer of dust as a 10km ash plume rises from the volcano. | null | The Shiveluch volcano on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula erupted early on Tuesday, releasing a 10km (six mile) cloud of smoke and ash into the sky, authorities said.
Nearby areas were smothered in a thick layer of volcanic ash - rising to 8.5cm (3.3in) in the village of Klyuchi. No casualties have immediately been reported. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65238816 |
Charley Bates: Man jailed for murder of Radstock teenager - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Joshua Delbono's mother called police when he got home after killing Charley Bates, 16, in a fight. | Somerset | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
A 19-year-old man has been jailed for life for murder after his mum alerted police that he had stabbed another teenager to death.
Joshua Delbono killed 16-year-old Charley Bates during a fight between two groups in Radstock, Somerset.
Delbono's mother called 999 when he returned to his home in Frome, Bristol Crown Court had heard.
He was ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years after being found guilty by the jury following a two-week trial.
Delbono had admitted stabbing Charley but had denied murder, claiming he had been defending a friend.
Passing sentence, Judge William Hart told Delbono he had "lost self-control and of his senses".
"Charley had had no intention that this should have been anything other than a punch up between two boys," he said.
"You slashed at him causing a number of injuries - one to his arm, then, when there was no reason, you stabbed him through the heart."
Charley's mother Helen Freeman said in a victim impact statement her son's death had left her "utterly heartbroken".
Fighting back tears she described running to the car park hoping to get there before Charley passed away.
"Arriving at the scene, there was a complete lack of activity. The silence told me all I needed to know. I was too late and he was gone," she said.
She continued: "I have tried hard to take some solace from 'Charley Boy's' death, by hoping that he will be the last to be taken by knife crime. But that is not so.
"It would seem that my son Charley died for nothing. So many pointless, senseless deaths. Such a tragic waste of lives."
Ms Freeman paid tribute to all of Charley's friends who tried to help him, telling them: "I promise I'll always be there for you all."
The court heard that when Delbono's mother called the police, she said: "My son's killed someone. He's in my house now, I can't let him go anywhere."
Charley died after being stabbed in a car park near the town's library.
The court heard he was with a group of six friends at about 18.30 BST on the night, when two cars - one driven by Delbono - arrived in the car park.
There was a history of bad feeling between the victim and one of Delbono's group, the jury heard.
An exchange of insults between Charley and the defendant's friend rapidly escalated into the fight between the groups.
Seconds later the defendant got out of his vehicle armed with a five-inch knife and stabbed the victim several times, the jury heard.
As Charley bled to death, Delbono shouted "don't mess with us again" as he and his friends left the scene, witnesses reported.
The whole incident lasted less than five minutes.
Following the killing, Delbono drove to Shearwater Lake near Warminster in Wiltshire where he threw away the knife and burned some of his clothes.
One of Delbono's group filmed the blaze on their phone.
Radstock is a town, nestled on the edge of the Mendips, close to beautiful countryside - a place where one local told me "stabbings just don't happen here".
Nine months on, the murder of 16-year old-Charley Bates still hurts this town and the locals are still very much grieving for him.
Charley was a former pupil at Writhlington School, had just finished his GCSEs, and was getting ready to start at college.
He was well loved and well known, often seen riding down the high street on his moped.
On 2 September 2022, what would have been his 17th birthday, hundreds came together for Charley's memorial.
And months later in the car park behind the library where Charley died, three parking spaces are still cordoned off.
The spaces have become a memorial, covered in yellow flowers and flags, the teenager's favourite colour.
The police, school and youth services are still working hard together to calm tensions and implore young people not to carry knives.
The court heard Charley had also taken a bag containing a knife and a BB gun to the car park on the night of his death.
Following the stabbing, one of his friends dumped it in nearby woodland but it was recovered by police.
Charley's friends said he was not armed during the fight, the jury heard.
Delbono initially made no comment to police questions, but later admitted stabbing someone.
In a prepared statement, he said: "I thought my friend was being stabbed - this caused me to react."
He said he knew the person he had bought his vehicle from had left a knife inside it but that he did not mean to cause Charley serious harm.
"I didn't realise he was hurt. It was a chance encounter. I'm truly devastated Charley was fatally injured, it was never my intention," he said.
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65200239 |
Patients at risk during doctor strike - NHS bosses - BBC News | 2023-04-11T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The British Medical Association is refusing to provide any exemptions for life and limb cover next week. | Health | Hospital bosses in England say they cannot guarantee patient safety during next week's four-day strike by junior doctors.
London's Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust conceded patients could be harmed as managers struggle to staff rotas.
Other hospital bosses also voiced concerns over the walkout, which will affect both emergency and planned care.
The British Medical Association has refused to exempt any services but says it has plans to protect patients.
It contrasts with the approach of the Royal College of Nursing and ambulance unions, which excluded key emergency services from strike action.
Instead, the BMA has said it will meet trade union requirements for life-and-limb cover to be provided by considering pulling junior doctors off the picket line if individual hospitals report lives are in immediate danger during the actual strike, which runs from 07:00 BST on Tuesday to 07:00 BST on Saturday.
The BMA is after a 35% pay rise to make up for 15 years of below-inflation wage rises, but the government has called the claim unrealistic.
During last month's junior doctors' strike, hospitals were able to draft in consultants to provide cover, but with an estimated quarter of them on leave next week - the four-day walkout is immediately after the Easter weekend - NHS bosses are warning this time they fear the worst.
Dr Sara Hanna, who is part of the senior management team at Guy's and St Thomas', said: "I am really worried about next week. I am particularly worried about ability to staff our rotas. I am hopeful we will have enough doctors but can't say for sure.
"It is impossible to say there won't be harm to patients. Junior doctors are an incredibly important part of the workforce."
Junior doctors represent more than 40% of the medical workforce and include those fresh out of university through to experienced medics with more than 10 years of experience. Around two-thirds are BMA members.
Dr Hanna, who is interim head of the trust's Evelina London Children's Hospital, said up to half of all planned treatments could be cancelled as the trust redeployed its senior doctors - and this is on top of the impact of postponements during previous walkouts.
She said the cumulative impact of this was particularly problematic for children who are growing and developing.
NHS Providers, which represents health managers, said such concerns were widespread.
Chief executive Sir Julian Hartley said: "It's clear from our extensive dialogue with trust leaders that we are in uncharted territory.
"We need a solution to prevent further strikes and we need it now."
The organisation also released a series of statements provided by hospital chief executives.
One warned: "This is less about what planned routine work gets pulled down and everything about maintenance of safety in emergency departments, acute medicine and surgery. Concerned doesn't begin to describe it."
Another said: "I am not confident this time that we can maintain patient safety, as we will not be able to provide the cover."
How are your local NHS services coping this winter? Data for England is shown by NHS trust, where the trust includes at least one hospital with a Type 1 A&E department. Type 1 means a consultant-led 24 hour A&E service with full resuscitation facilities. Data for Wales and Scotland is shown by Health Board and in Northern Ireland by Health and Social Care Trust. When you enter a postcode for a location in England you will be shown a list of NHS trusts in your area. They will not necessarily be in order of your closest hospital as some trusts have more than one hospital. Data for Wales and Scotland are shown by NHS board and by Health and Social Care trust in Northern Ireland. Comparative data is shown for a previous year where available. However, where trusts have merged there is no like-for-like comparison to show. Earlier data is not available for all measures, so comparisons between years are not always possible. A&E attendances include all emergency departments in that trust or health board, not just major A&E departments, for example, those who attend minor injury units. Each nation has different target times for some of the measures shown, therefore comparisons between them may not be possible. A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection are required to view this interactive.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the government was also concerned that safety was at risk.
"We are working with NHS England to put in place contingency plans to protect patient safety. The NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, maternity and neonatal care, and trauma," he added.
But BMA workforce lead Dr Latifa Patel said there was a jointly agreed system in place with the NHS to ensure patient safety in the event of "extreme or unforeseen circumstances".
"We met with NHS England four times per day during the last strikes to monitor the situation, but there were no requests for a temporary stoppage of the industrial action to be made. The same proven arrangements will be in place this time."
And she added: "No-one understands better than us - the doctors who care for them - that patients are getting a sub-standard experience 365 days a year from an overstretched and understaffed NHS.
"In this brutal work environment, patient care is at risk every day."
Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65195104 |
Watch: Elon Musk's unexpected BBC interview... in 90 seconds - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | Musk talks about the "pain" of owning Twitter and the BBC's objection to being labelled "government funded". | null | Elon Musk has spoken to the BBC in a hastily arranged, unexpected interview.
Speaking with James Clayton, Mr Musk talked about things from the pain of owning Twitter to not tweeting after 3am. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65249138 |
Ukraine war: President Zelensky condemns beheading video - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A video emerges online that appears to show a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded. | Europe | Ukraine's president has condemned the video saying "we must defeat the terror"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on world leaders to respond after a video emerged apparently showing a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded by a Russian serviceman.
"Everyone must react. Every leader. Do not wait for this to be forgotten," he said in a video address.
Ukraine's SBU security service said it was investigating the "war crime".
The Kremlin said the video was "awful" but its authenticity had to be checked as well as who was behind it.
The grainy and extremely graphic video appears to have been filmed on a mobile phone, and possibly during the summer months. It shows a man in military uniform wearing a yellow armband - frequently worn as identifying symbols by Ukrainian soldiers.
The perpetrator and other men visible in the clip have white bands on their legs, which Russian soldiers are known to wear as a means of identification.
They can also be heard to speak Russian, although that is not conclusive as many Ukrainians speak Russian too.
During the short video, the victim with the yellow armband is beheaded by a man with a large knife who is wearing a white band around his leg.
At one point, one of the men holds up body armour with a trident mark - the state symbol of Ukraine.
The colours and shape of the trident badge are similar to the insignia of the Ukrainian ground forces.
The body armour also features what looks like the Punisher skull symbol (a comic-book character), which in the current conflict has been spotted being worn by fighters on both sides.
A green passport-like booklet is also visible on the ground.
It's upside down in the video (highlighted below) but its appearance matches that of the standard-issue Ukrainian military ID in its colour, the presence of a Ukrainian trident symbol and the layout of the writing.
There has been speculation online that the video was filmed near the city of Kreminna in eastern Ukraine.
The BBC has been unable to verify these claims as the video's surrounding features offer too few visual clues to identify its location, such as buildings or specific landscape points.
It also remains unclear when the footage was filmed. It looks as if it's from the current conflict, where white and yellow armbands have been used by opposing sides as identification.
The leaves in the video are bright green which suggests that it may have been from late spring or summer last year.
Some social media users have suggested it may have been filmed in July but we cannot verify this.
The footage began circulating on Telegram late on Tuesday, after a popular pro-Kremlin blogger shared it with his nearly 300,000 followers.
He later claimed he was not the original source of the video and that the footage had been on Telegram before he posted it. We have been unable to find any earlier versions.
The video has since spread to Twitter.
Exiled Russian journalist Vladimir Osechkin says Andrey Medvedev, a former Wagner Group commander who sought asylum in Norway, told him after watching the video that he could recognise the perpetrators as Wagner fighters.
"He says he can unambiguously identify his former Wagner colleagues by their characteristic call-signs, by how they talk," Mr Osechkin told the YouTube channel of exiled ex-oligarch and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "in the world of fakes that we inhabit, we need to check the veracity of this footage".
Another video purporting to show the bodies of two beheaded soldiers has also been circulating on social media in recent days.
The video shows what appears to be a destroyed M113 armoured personnel carrier, mainly used by Ukrainian forces. A man filming the scene says in Russian that it had driven over a mine. At least two bodies without heads and hands can be seen lying on the ground nearby.
A yellow armband is visible on the right arm of one of the bodies, suggesting the victims had been fighting on the Ukrainian side. At least three other soldiers can be seen standing over the two bodies.
Social media comments have suggested the video was filmed near Bakhmut, where Russian forces - including the Wagner private military company - have been battling Ukrainian troops for control of the city.
However, the BBC has been unable to verify the location of the video.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has put out a statement saying that he has "not found" any evidence that the events in the video had happened near Bakhmut or involved Wagner fighters.
Many gruesome videos have been posted online since the war began.
Last month President Zelensky promised to find the Russian soldiers who apparently shot dead an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war named Oleksandr Matsiyevskiy.
EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali reminded Russia it had to abide by humanitarian law and added that the EU was committed to holding to account all perpetrators of war crimes committed during the war. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65251204 |
Poultry to be allowed outside as bird flu eases - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The mandatory housing order for England and Wales will lift on April 18 | Science & Environment | Poultry and captive birds can be kept outside again starting next week as the risk from bird flu eases, the government said on Tuesday.
The Chief Veterinary Officer said the "mandatory housing order" for England and Wales would lift at 00:01 on Tuesday, April 18.
The measures were introduced during the world's biggest ever bird flu outbreak.
The UK has seen more than 330 cases confirmed and 4 million birds culled over the past year.
The decision means that eggs laid by hens with access to outdoor areas can be marketed as "free-range" again.
The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss, still warned that "scrupulous standards" of biosecurity will need to be maintained as avian flu is expected to still be circulating in the environment for several weeks.
Ms Middlemiss said: "Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news... the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proved it's more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant."
Figures released to the BBC showed that 208 million birds around the world have died from this latest outbreak and there have been 200 recorded cases of the flu spilling over into mammals.
But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that the risk to the public is very low.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (Bfrepa) chief executive Robert Gooch said: "Free-range egg producers will be relieved to see their hens outside again.
"While on the range, hens like to scratch, dust bathe and forage for additional food, displaying the natural behaviours that consumers associated with free-range and organic egg production."
Birds in Northern Ireland remain under lockdown but in Scotland the housing order was never implemented after the country's chief vet said the evidence did not justify such a move.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65244151 |
Bear hunt after jogger killed in Italian Alps - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The death of Andrea Papi is linked to a bear called JJ4, which attacked a father and son in 2020. | Europe | The bear attack on Andrea Papi has prompted fear among residents in Trentino
Italian authorities are on the hunt for a bear which killed a 26-year-old jogger in the north-eastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige last week.
Andrea Papi's funeral took place on Wednesday. The 17-year-old female bear that killed him has been identified, through genetic testing, as JJ4.
JJ4 also attacked a father and son in the area in June 2020.
The provincial government had issued an order for the bear to be killed at the time, but it was overturned by a court.
This time authorities have opted to euthanise the bear. "We are doing everything we can to locate the bear and ensure the safety of local residents," said Maurizio Fugatti, the president of Trentino province.
Mr Papi, who was attacked and killed while jogging in the countryside, has sparked fear among local residents.
Many have called for the bear to be captured, as well as demanding changes are made to a European plan called "Life Ursus" which proposes reintroducing brown bears in the Alps.
People in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige have been expressing condolences with Mr Papi's family. Candles have been placed outside windows as a symbol of mourning, and local municipalities have lowered flags to half-mast.
In the village of Caldes, a large crowd of mourners filled a church to pay their respects and offer support to Mr Papi's family at his funeral.
Bears, a protected species in Italy, were reintroduced into Trentino-Alto Adige two decades ago (file pic)
"The village is upset, angry," Antonio Maini, mayor of Caldes, told reporters outside the church. "One of our boys has died, we are in mourning, but we are also angry because he died from a bear attack. An event that should not have happened."
The incident has reignited the debate about the co-existence of humans and wildlife in the area, and raised questions about how best to balance the need to protect endangered species with the safety of residents.
Bears are a protected species in Italy, and their population has been increasing in recent years due to conservation efforts.
However, their presence in residential areas can pose a risk to human safety, as highlighted by the recent attacks.
"A conscientious administration should act in compliance with the rules for the protection of biodiversity and should not be moved by a spirit of retaliation, a spirit of revenge," the international Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) wrote in a note.
Bears were reintroduced in the region about two decades ago. Since then, the bear population in Trentino has surged from three to approximately 100, according to data provided by the province.
Despite hopes that the bears would spread across the Alps, they have largely remained concentrated in Trentino.
JJ4, the bear responsible for the recent fatal attack on Mr Papi, was born in Trentino. Her parents were brought to the area from Slovenia.
Italy's environment minister, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, suggested the bears may be relocated to other parts of the country, if not abroad, and locals could be equipped with anti-aggression spray.
"Bears and wolves have become a problem, for farmers, breeders, inhabitants, tourists," Reinhold Messner, an Italian mountaineer and explorer, told Italian newspaper La Stampa.
"We need a precise regulatory framework, so it is clear how to deal with situations of this kind." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65249457 |
Gerard Depardieu: French actor faces new sexual assault allegations - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The actor is accused of sexual assault or harassment by 13 women, a French news website reports. | Entertainment & Arts | Gerard Depardieu has been nominated for one Oscar and two Bafta Awards
Actor Gerard Depardieu has been accused of sexual assault or harassment by 13 women, according to an investigation by French news website Mediapart.
The women claim the star groped them, put his hands in their underwear and made obscene remarks, the site said.
The incidents are alleged to have happened over the past two decades on film and TV sets or in public places.
A lawyer for Mr Depardieu, 74, said he "formally denies all the charges which may fall under criminal law".
The Oscar- and Bafta-nominated actor is known for films including Jean de Florette, Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac.
The allegations come two years after he was placed under criminal investigation for rape, which he has denied.
In the Mediapart investigation, one extra on a film set said he put his hand under her dress before trying to "slip in to get to my knickers". When she pushed his hand away, he became aggressive and tried again, the woman claimed.
Another described how the actor "grabbed [me] by the waist" between takes, had a "wandering hand" and "ended up putting his hand on my bum in an insistent way".
One woman said he tried to "put his hand on my genitals" during a crowd scene. On another occasion, accompanied by a man he introduced as the producer, the actor allegedly grabbed her from behind and "rubbed my hips, stomach and breasts".
Many of the women told Mediapart they were shocked that no action was taken on the film sets, with his alleged behaviour being tolerated or even met with laughter.
"Adults let an actor fondle my breasts in front of everyone," said one actress, who was 17 at the time.
The Paris prosecutor's office told the AFP news agency on Wednesday it had "not received any new complaint to date".
Mr Depardieu remains under investigation for allegedly raping an actress in 2018. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65251058 |
Chichen Itza: Archaeologists discover scoreboard for ancient Maya ball game - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The carved stone with hieroglyphs was found at the Chichen Itza archaeological site in Mexico. | Latin America & Caribbean | The stone has a diameter of 32.5cm (12.8in)
Archaeologists in Mexico have uncovered an intricately carved stone they believe was used as a scoreboard for pelota, a ball game played by the Maya hundreds of years ago.
The circular stone was found at the Chichen Itza archaeological site and is thought to be around 1,200 years old.
At its centre are two players in elaborate headgear surrounded by hieroglyphic writing.
Experts are now analysing the writing to decipher its possible meaning.
The 40kg-stone (88lb) was found by archaeologist Lizbeth Beatriz Mendicut Pérez in an architectonic compound known as Casa Colorada (Red House).
The stone was discovered in the Casa Colorada complex, also known as Chinchanchob
Casa Colorada is the best preserved of the buildings surrounding the main plaza in the pre-Columbian city of Chichen Itza.
Experts believe the stone would have adorned an archway at the entrance to the compound during the late 800s or early 900s.
It was found face down half a metre underground, where it is thought to have fallen when the archway collapsed.
Archaeologists say the stone will give them clues about the life of the Maya
Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said the 40kg-stone (88lb) constituted a precious and unusual find.
"It is rare to find hieroglyphic writing at this Maya site, and even rarer to find a complete text. This hasn't happened in 11 years," archaeologist Francisco Pérez Ruiz explained.
A team of experts in iconography, led by Santiago Sobrino Fernández, has identified the two central figures as pelota players, one of whom wears a feather headdress and the other - presumed to be his opponent - wears what is known as a "snake turban".
The man with the snakes slithering around his head also appears to be wearing the protective gear typical of pelota players.
Pelota is a team game played with a heavy ball made from rubber in a ballcourt. It is thought to be 3,000 years old and was played across Mesoamerica. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-65250018 |
Joe Biden aims to 'keep the peace' as he flies to Belfast - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | He wants to ensure the Good Friday Agreement and post-Brexit deals stay in place as he visits NI. | Northern Ireland | Joe Biden boarded Air Force One with his sister Valerie and his son Hunter (left) for their flight to Belfast
US President Joe Biden said his priority was to "keep the peace" in Northern Ireland as he set off on Air Force One for a visit to Belfast.
He will arrive in the city tonight to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement.
The 1998 deal brought an end to the Troubles - the decades-long violent conflict in Northern Ireland in which thousands of people were killed.
A huge security operation is already in place in Belfast for Mr Biden's visit.
While he has praised what politicians did to secure peace in 1998, his visit is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland's power-sharing government is not functioning.
It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Joe Biden said his trip would focus on keeping the peace as he departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for Belfast
Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said: "I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity."
His visit to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives.
Mr Biden's trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans.
During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later.
On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday's parade.
The president's spokesman said Mr Biden was "more than comfortable making this trip" despite the terrorism threat.
On Monday the 80-year-old dropped another hint that he would seek re-election in 2024, saying he planned to run again but was "not prepared to announce it yet".
The president left Washington DC on Air Force One at about 10:00 EDT (15:00 BST) and will be met by PM Rishi Sunak when he lands at Belfast International Airport later.
Police have warned of traffic delays around the airport as officers facilitate the presidential motorcade.
Mr Biden will arrive as strong winds and heavy rain are sweeping across Northern Ireland, with a weather warning having been issued by forecasters.
Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted into Belfast ahead of Joe Biden's arrival
He is expected to stay at a Belfast city centre hotel and, while his visit to Northern Ireland is much shorter than originally expected, Downing Street has dismissed suggestions it will be a "low-key" event.
The main event will be a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast.
It is understood that he will use that to underscore the willingness of the US to help to preserve what he sees as the peace and prosperity gained since the Good Friday Agreement.
The president is also expected to talk about how the US administration can support Northern Ireland's economy.
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And he is expected to meet the leaders of Stormont's five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city.
There has been a huge police presence in the centre of Belfast since Monday afternoon and that will continue all through Tuesday and into Wednesday.
On Bedford Street police officers are patrolling at barricades close to the Grand Central Hotel but pedestrians can pass through and businesses in the area are operating as usual.
There has been some tension behind the scenes about the details of this visit.
Things have been strained between Downing Street and the White House in terms of what the president will do in Northern Ireland and the fact that he will not go to Stormont.
Rishi Sunak was keen to have his moment - this is, after all, a US presidential visit to the UK on his watch.
He will greet the president at the bottom of the steps of Air Force One tonight and there's a half-hour set aside for a one-to-one meeting on Wednesday - but not much more beyond that.
The PM will be not be at Ulster University with other politicians during the president's only public engagement in Belfast.
The fact that he will be doing other things elsewhere in Northern Ireland at the time is telling considering how important this visit is.
Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Féin, the largest party at Stormont, said Mr Biden's visit would be a special moment that "cements our close bonds of friendship".
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said Mr Biden's visit could have a positive effect on restoring power-sharing at Stormont, but warned American influence on Northern Ireland should be handled with care.
"There's a difference between influencing and pressurising - one tends to be positive and the other can be negative," said Mr Blair.
"One thing I learned about the unionists is if you try to pressurise them to do something they are fundamentally in disagreement with it's usually futile pressure."
Newry man John Owen Finegan - a fourth cousin of Joe Biden - is hoping to meet him this week
Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, but said the message of the president's visit to Northern Ireland was essentially that America is here to help."
While Mr Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland's political leaders while he is in Belfast, Downing Street said this did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing.
Mr Biden will leave Belfast on Wednesday afternoon to travel to the Republic of Ireland for three days of events in counties Louth and Mayo - where he has relatives - as well as Dublin.
He regularly speaks of his Irish heritage and had promised to visit the country during his presidency.
A US genealogist who researched his lineage had estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish.
Among his great-grandparents was Edward Blewitt, an engineer and brickmaker who left the west coast town of Ballina in County Mayo in 1850.
He settled in Scranton in Pennsylvania as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.
President Biden's maternal great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan departed Carlingford in County Louth in the late 1840s to travel to America.
Joe Biden will visit the locations marked on this map during his four days in Ireland
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
They look at what the agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line.
Listen to all episodes of Year '98: The Making of the Good Friday Agreement on BBC Sounds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65234789 |
Man City 3-0 Bayern Munich: Pep Guardiola's side deliver statement Champions League win - BBC Sport | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | Manchester City look a side ready to finally claim the Champions League after dismantling Bayern Munich, writes BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty. | null | Last updated on .From the section Man City
Thomas Tuchel became just the third manager to lose his first Champions League game in charge of Bayern Munich, after Giovanni Trapattoni (September 1994) and Ottmar Hitzfeld (September 1998) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed he was "emotionally destroyed" after seeing his side overwhelm Bayern Munich to place one foot in the Champions League semi-finals. You can only imagine how their opponents felt. City have delivered statement Champions League performances under Guardiola before only for it all to end in tears. For all their domestic brilliance, Guardiola's outstanding work at Etihad Stadium will be judged - rightly or wrongly - through the prism of whether or not he wins Europe's elite club competition, a crown he claimed twice at Barcelona. City have found a variety of ways to exit the Champions League when it looked to be their year, from defeat in the final against Chelsea in 2021 to when they were hit by football's version of a bolt of lightning against Real Madrid in the semi-final 12 months ago, conceding two goals in stoppage time when victory looked assured. But this season feels different. Bayern are dangerous, quality opponents, yet they were simply overpowered by City's force of will and all-round quality. The visitors threatened of course - Guardiola said he felt like he had aged a decade come the final whistle - but ultimately they just could not cope. In the end Bayern seemed happy to stop any further damage, rather than try to pinch the goal that would give them a lifeline for the second leg in Munich.
• None Man City take control of Champions League quarter-final against Bayern This was not the stroll that the final scoreline might suggest. Bayern actually played very well until, like so many before them, they found City simply irresistible. City had to scrap this out for an hour, former forward Leroy Sane in particular testing his old team-mates, but once they hit their stride they looked every inch a side capable of finally winning the Champions League. There is many a slip, as they say, and they could yet face last year's nemesis Real Madrid in the last four if they overcome Chelsea, while runaway Serie A leaders Napoli will test anyone. City, however, will take huge confidence from the manner in which they defended with such fierce determination, while the striker signed to make the difference did exactly that once again. Erling Haaland's arrival was designed to ensure City got on the right side of the fine margins that have often thwarted them in the Champions League, and he did the job as creator and scorer as they opened up what is surely an unassailable advantage. He crossed perfectly for Bernardo Silva to head the vital second goal with 20 minutes left then swooped on John Stones' header in trademark fashion for his 45th goal of a remarkable season, a record in all competitions since the Premier League began, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mohamed Salah. Haaland might have been the headline act but plenty of other shared top billing with him on this rain-sodden, windswept Manchester night. Ruben Dias was back to his outstanding best in defence, Nathan Ake continued his stellar season while Rodri controlled the engine room, aided by Stones in his role stepping out into midfield. Silva was his waspish self in the forward areas while Jack Grealish's lung-busting effort was personified by the way he pinched possession from Dayot Upamecano in the build-up to the second goal. Eight of Bernardo Silva's 10 Champions League goals for Manchester City have come in the knockout stage of the competition, including each of the last seven The fact that City had to fight this fine Bayern side for supremacy for so long and did so successfully will surely only add to the team's belief that their time has finally come. City look the complete package, the fear Haaland strikes into opposition defences and his own insatiable appetite for goals giving them an extra cutting edge that may just prove vital. Guardiola cut an agitated figure throughout, often striding yards outside his technical area to make a point. And while he claimed that these were 90 minutes that had added years to his age, he must surely have come away highly satisfied. It was night that had its tough times but ultimately turned out pretty much perfectly for Guardiola and City. City have been favourites for the Champions League before. After this, they will be again.
• None Our coverage of Manchester City is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
• None Everything City - go straight to all the best content | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65247087 |
Biden begins Ireland trip after Belfast speech - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The US leader has travelled south, after visiting Northern Ireland to commemorate the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. | US & Canada | Biden spoke of threats to democracy during speech
On the motorcade route outside Ulster University earlier, a lone Trump flag waved to greet the US president. A familiar sight in America - but an unexpected one for this president who so proudly touts his Irish-American ties to this place. Another protester nearby held a sign that read "Fake Catholic. Fake president." Between folksy anecdotes designed for laugh lines about what Northern Ireland and the Republic mean to him, President Biden's remarks didn't focus solely on the international politics of this visit. “Those of you who have been to America know there is a large population that is invested in what happens here,” Biden said during his speech at Ulster University. "Supporting the people of Northern Ireland, protecting the peace, preserving the Belfast Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States, and that is unusual today because we have been very divided in our parties.” The president's oft-repeated ode to the importance of democracy here, in America, and around the world was not missing from his brief remarks. And his reference to the threats that American democracy faced during the 6 January riots at the US Capitol two years ago won’t have fallen on deaf ears for a city whose residents were once no stranger to persistent conflict and violence. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65167022 |
De La Rue says demand for banknotes at its lowest in 20 years - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Banknote-maker De La Rue says demand for banknotes has fallen globally since the pandemic. | Business | Banknote maker De La Rue has said that demand for banknotes around the world is at its lowest level in 20 years.
The company, which designs a third of banknotes globally, said demand for cash had fallen since the pandemic when central banks stocked up on currency.
It said the downturn would hit its full-year profits, which are set to fall short of expectations.
The firm is having to renegotiate its loan agreements with its banks due to the tougher trading conditions.
"The demand for banknotes has been at the lowest levels for over 20 years, resulting in a low order book going into fiscal year 2024," De La Rue said in a trading update.
Its boss, Clive Vacher, told the BBC that central banks had stepped up orders for bank notes during Covid as they always did in economic crises. But they were now delaying new orders as they ran through their stock.
"They always do that when there are crises, because of the security that having cash around them has," he said.
"So we expected a downturn, which has indeed happened, but that downturn is probably extending deeper and probably for an extra 9-12 months than we'd normally expect in the normal cycle of things," he said.
It comes as consumer use of cash is in decline in many countries as more transactions are made online or with cards, and particularly contactless payments.
De La Rue said there are signs of recovery but is not sure when that will happen. Shares in De la Rue fell by as much as 30% on Wednesday, before regaining some ground, after it published its trading update.
The 200 year-old firm said it was in talks with its banks over its loan agreements because of lower profits and higher interest rates, following a succession of rises by the Bank of England.
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De La Rue now expects its full-year profit to be in the "low £20m range" while the interest costs on its loans has risen.
It said it is "in discussions with its lending banks in relation to seeking an amendment to its banking covenants, reflecting the revised outlook and also reflecting the increase in the company's funding costs resulting from higher Bank of England base rates".
All current Bank of England banknotes are printed by the firm at a site in Debden, Essex.
The scene inside the De La Rue banknote printing hall is a mixture of the mundane and the surreal.
The factory floor feels very familiar with hi-tech machinery, pallet carriers and staff that appear typical of many production centres.
But the "product", as it is called, turns your head. Millions of banknotes, in various stages of production, are here. Obviously, the security is extremely tight.
So many banknotes printed every day feels at odds with our everyday lives - when, for many people, cash use is a rarity as we pay for goods and services with cards and smartphones.
De La Rue is also printing the new banknotes featuring the image of King Charles, although those will not enter circulation until the middle of next year.
The company, which is headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire, has contracts with central banks around the world.
For some of those banks, it prints money, while for others, it provides polymer for banknotes well as other services. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65249034 |
Prince Harry to attend coronation without Meghan - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Prince Harry will travel to the UK but Meghan will stay in California with their children. | UK | Harry will attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey, but Meghan will stay in the US with their children
The Duke of Sussex will be present at the King's coronation, but his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, will not be attending, Buckingham Palace has said.
There had been speculation about whether the couple would travel to the coronation but it has now emerged that Prince Harry will attend alone.
The prince will join more than 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
It will be the first time he has been seen with the Royal Family since his bombshell memoir Spare was published.
Prince Harry's book vividly revealed the depth of his disagreements with other members of the Royal Family, and he has since spoken of feeling "different" from the rest of his family.
King Charles and the Queen Consort will be crowned next month, in front of more than 2,000 guests
The decision for Meghan to reject the invitation will be seen as part of these continuing, unresolved family tensions.
Prince Harry's book - and an earlier Netflix series - had highlighted his anxiety about negative media coverage, particularly towards his wife, amid suggestions of a lack of support from his family.
It had been unclear whether Prince Harry would attend his father's coronation, but it is now confirmed that he will be at the Abbey, meaning King Charles will have both his sons present for the ceremony.
The date is also the fourth birthday of Prince Harry and Meghan's son, Prince Archie, who will remain in the US with his mother.
The couple issued a statement along the same lines as the palace: "The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet."
Neither the couple's spokeswoman nor Buckingham Palace commented on the decision, but there were strongly divided opinions on social media, with supporters praising Meghan for standing up for herself while opponents criticised her for "snubbing" her royal in-laws.
Prince Harry made a surprise appearance for a court hearing in London last month
Prince Harry and Meghan had been contacted more than a month ago about attending the coronation, prompting weeks of speculation about whether they would go.
The announcement means that Prince Harry will be part of the historic ceremony, joining other members of the Royal Family, public figures, world leaders and 450 representatives of charities and community groups.
As he is no longer a "working royal", it remains to be seen what part Prince Harry will play in the ceremony. For the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince Harry and Meghan were not allowed to take part in the traditional appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony.
It is expected that the Prince of Wales will have a prominent role in the coronation - and after Prince Harry's dramatic account of their falling out there will be attention on the two brothers being seen together again.
Prince Harry's memoir described a physical altercation between the brothers and arguments about their father marrying Camilla.
The Queen Consort's grandchildren will be among the children with roles at the coronation, and Buckingham Palace has said that after that event will be an "appropriate time" for her to become known as Queen Camilla.
As well as the coronation service, there is a long weekend of public events and concerts which the Royal Family will be expected to attend. However, it is not known how long Prince Harry will be in the UK.
Prince Harry made an unexpected appearance in London in March, when he attended a court hearing in a case against Associated Newspapers about allegations of privacy breaches, but he was not thought to have met his brother, Prince William, or the King during the visit.
Read the latest from our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan - sign up here. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65255135 |
Tupperware: Why the household name could soon be history - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The name is so familiar many do not even realise it is a brand - but the firm may be in deep trouble. | Business | The brand Tupperware has become so synonymous with food storage that many people use its name when referring to any old plastic container.
But the 77-year-old US company is seeing cracks form in the once revolutionary air-tight sealing business that made it famous, with rising debts and falling sales prompting a warning it could go bust without investment.
Despite attempts to freshen up its products in recent years and reposition itself to a younger audience, it has failed to stop a slide in its sales.
The firm's 'Tupperware parties' made it an icon during the 1950s and 1960s consumer revolution, and its air-tight and water-tight containers took the market by storm.
But its core business model of using self-employed salespeople who sell primarily from their own homes has been going out of fashion for a while, and was retired altogether in the UK in 2003.
Now company bosses have admitted that, without new funding, a brand name which has passed into common parlance could vanish from the market.
"We use it (Tupperware) as a noun, which is quite unusual for a brand," said Catherine Shuttleworth, founder of retail analysis firm Savvy Marketing.
"I think a lot of younger people will be surprised it is a brand in itself."
While Tupperware was a "miracle product" when first sold decades ago, Ms Shuttleworth added, the market has been flooded by companies offering cheaper alternatives in recent years.
A resurgence during the Covid-19 pandemic, buoyed by people taking up baking and cooking more at home, reversed sharp falls in Tupperware's share price.
But the rise turned out to be temporary.
Sales have slid again since then, largely because the firm has not been "innovative enough" over the past 10 to 20 years to keep up with its rivals, according to Ms Shuttleworth.
A lack of innovation is a far-cry from its early days.
The company was founded in 1946 by a man, the inventor Earl Tupper, but its public face was a woman: Brownie Wise.
Tupper's product was a big deal - it utilised new plastics to keep food fresh for longer - invaluable when refrigerators were still too expensive for many - but until Wise came along, it was not selling.
She had already started organising events to sell the containers, meeting directly with the housewives and mothers the company wanted to reach, at gatherings which were as much about socialising as they were about business.
Her innovative style - and her sales figures - caught the eye of Tupper, and she was promoted to executive level at a time when women were largely excluded from the boardroom.
Wise's and Tupperware's impact is still debated by academics, but many say it played an important role in bringing women into the workforce in post-war America, and provided a source of income to other women around the world.
Tupperware has been trying to change its image from house parties in years gone by to younger shoppers
One of them is Alison Clarke, professor of design history and theory at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, and author of Tupperware: The Promise of Plastic in 1950s America.
"I think its legacy is the way in which it has provided a source of employment to women who don't always have access to flexible labour," she told the BBC.
"At the time it was first being sold at parties in the US, lots of women were isolated in new post-war suburban towns away from their families.
"The Tupperware parties glamourised dull housework, and you could only buy it if you knew someone who sold it, so it was exclusive, and social, and about relationships with other women.
"I started off thinking it was an exploitative capitalist conspiracy against women, and then I met all of these women who had a fantastic life because of it and saw how it was empowering for them."
While the company has always been woman-led on the ground, that has not necessarily been the case in the boardroom - and Prof Clarke says it has struggled to tell its own positive story, or keep up with the times.
"It was a brilliantly designed product that was made magical by the way it was sold," she added, "but in this digital world, that face-to-face model is no longer as relevant".
That is an analysis shared by Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at the consultancy GlobalData,
He said Tupperware had "failed to change with the times" in terms of its products and distribution, highlighting that the method of selling direct through its parties "was not connecting" with either young or older customers.
Younger consumers have also embraced more environmentally-friendly products such as beeswax paper to keep food fresh, he added.
Richard Hyman, another retail analyst, said the basic principles of Tupperware's products were "not difficult to copy" by other firms. Given that fierce competition, he said the company had "had a good run".
The company has made some efforts to diversify its strategy, including by selling in US retail chain Target and others around the world, and expanding its range to include other cooking products.
Had Tupperware made bigger changes 10 years ago, Mr Saunders added, the firm might be in a different position now.
But now there is no time for Tupperware bosses to wonder what might have been. The company could go bust without a rapid cash injection - and with such a well-known brand name, the prospect of a retail giant like Walmart or even Amazon swooping in cannot be ruled out, Mr Saunders says.
Shares in Tupperware plummeted on Monday and, despite a small recovery on Tuesday, fears are growing that without significant fresh financial backing, the lights on Tupperware's party could go out for good.
• None More people entertain at home as living costs rise | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65243711 |
On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A global scam network is preying on investors. We identified the businessmen who appear to be behind it. | World | A global scamming network has robbed ordinary investors of more than a billion dollars. BBC Eye identified a shadowy network of businessmen who appear to be behind it.
First, you hear a phone ringing. An elderly man answers.
The caller introduces himself as "William Grant", from the trading firm Solo Capitals. He says he has a "great promotion" to offer.
The elderly man sounds vulnerable and confused. "I'm not interested, I'm not interested," he says.
But William Grant is persistent. "I only have one question," he tells the old man.
"Are you interested in making money?"
Jan Erik, a 75-year-old pensioner in Sweden, is about to get scammed, again. The call was made from the offices of Solo Capitals, a purported cryptocurrency trading firm based in Georgia. The recording is hard to listen to, because not only does the elderly man, Jan Erik, sound muddled, he tells the caller he has already lost one million Swedish Krona (about £80,000) in trading scams.
But the caller already knows this. And he knows it makes the pensioner a good target for a follow-up "recovery scam". He tells Jan Erik that if he hands over his card details and pays a €250 deposit, Solo Capitals will use special software to track his lost investments and get his money back.
"We will be able to recover the whole amount," William Grant says.
It takes him a while to wear Jan Erik down. But after about 30 minutes on the phone, the pensioner begins reading out his credit card details.
The audio recording was saved by the company under the file name "William Sweden scammed". The BBC obtained the file from a former employee, but the company had not tried hard to hide it. In fact, it had handed it out to new recruits as part of the company training package.
This was a lesson in how to scam.
For more than a year, BBC Eye has been investigating a global fraudulent trading network of hundreds of different investment brands that has scammed unwitting customers like Jan Erik out of more than a billion dollars.
Our investigation reveals for the first time the sheer scale of the fraud, as well as the identities of a shadowy network of individuals who appear to be behind it.
The network is known to police as the Milton group, a name originally used by the scammers themselves but abandoned in 2020. We identified 152 brands, including Solo Capitals, that appear to be part of the network. It operates by targeting investors and scamming them out of thousands - or in some cases hundreds of thousands - of pounds.
One Milton group investment brand even sponsored a top-flight Spanish football club, and advertised in major newspapers, lending it credibility with potential investors.
In November, BBC Eye accompanied German and Georgian police on call-centre raids in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. On the computer screens, we saw row after row of British phone numbers. We phoned several and spoke to British citizens who told us they had just invested money. On one desk, there was a handwritten note with a list of names and useful details for the scammers: "Homeowner, no responsibilities"; "50k in savings"; "From Poland, British citizen"; "50k in stocks."
Next to the name of one British man, a note said: "Savings less than 10K, very pussy, should scam soon".
Milton group brands had office space in this downtown Kyiv office building. (Alexander Mahmoud/DG)
The majority of victims sign up after seeing an ad on social media. Within 48 hours typically they receive a phone call from someone who tells them they could make returns of up to 90% per day. On the other end of the phone there is usually a call centre with many of the trappings of a legitimate business - a smart, modern office with an HR department, monthly targets and bonuses, awaydays and competitions for best salesperson. Some call centres play pumping music in the background. But there are also elements you won't find in a legitimate business - written guidance on how to identify a potential investor's weaknesses and turn those weaknesses against them.
From their first phone call, victims can be directed into regulated companies or sometimes unregulated, offshore entities. Some victims who signed up to regulated brands within the Milton group are directed by their broker to place high-risk trades likely to lose the customer money and make money for the broker. Some victims are instructed to download software that allows the scammer to remotely control their PC and place trades for them. And according to former employees of Milton group brands, some customers think they are making real trades, but their money is simply being siphoned away.
"The victims think they have a real account with the company, but there isn't really any trading, it's just a simulation," said Alex, a former employee who worked in a Milton group office in Kyiv, Ukraine.
In order to better understand how the scam works, the BBC posed as an aspiring trader and contacted Coinevo, one of the Milton group's trading platforms. We were connected to an adviser who gave the name Patrick, and told us we could make "70% or 80% or 90% as a return in one single day". He told us to send $500 worth of Bitcoin as a deposit to begin trading with.
Patrick pressed our undercover trader to provide a copy of their passport, and after providing a fake copy we were able to continue to operate the account for about two months before Coinevo appeared to detect the fake. At that point, Patrick wrote to us by email, swearing at us and cutting off contact.
But the BBC's deposit money was already in the system. We were able to track it as it was divided up into small fractions and moved through many different Bitcoin wallets, all seemingly associated with the Milton group. Experts told the BBC that genuine financial institutions do not funnel money in this way. Louise Abbott, a lawyer who specialises in cryptocurrency and fraud, examined the flow of the money and said it suggested "large-scale organised crime". The reason the money was spread over various different bitcoin wallets, Abbott said, was to "make it as complicated as possible and as difficult as possible for either you, or the victim, or us as lawyers to find".
The victims of these telephone trading scams often have their financial and social circumstances used against them. People who reveal large savings pots are pushed to make large investments. People who are lonely are befriended by the scammers. As a recent retiree, Jane (whose name we have changed for this story) was a perfect target. She had just taken voluntary redundancy and had a lump sum of nearly £20,000 that she thought, invested wisely, could supplement her pension in the years to come. In June 2020, during the first lockdown, she saw an ad online for a company called EverFX.
At that time, EverFX was one of the main sponsors of the top-flight Spanish football team Sevilla FC. The club's stars had advertised the trading platform on social media and - Jane checked - it was regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority.
Jane sent EverFX a message through their website and was called back and connected to someone she was told was a senior trader. He told her he was calling from Odessa, in Ukraine, and his name was David Hunt. His accent sounded Eastern European, Jane said, but she couldn't place it. She liked him instantly.
"He really knew his stuff, he knew how all the markets worked," she said. "I really got into it."
Jane lost her retirement fund. "I felt so humiliated," she said. "I didn't want to be on the planet anymore." (Joel Gunter/BBC)
Soon they were speaking nearly every morning, and Jane was revealing specific things she needed money for - expensive repairs to her roof, a buffer for her pension. Hunt used them against her, she said, telling her certain trades would "get her that roof" and "help her future".
Over the next few months, Jane invested about £15,000. But her trades weren't doing well. Hunt advised her to withdraw her money and invest with a different trading platform, BproFX, where she could get better returns.
By that point, Jane fully trusted David Hunt. "I felt like I knew him well and I thought he had my interests at heart," she said, welling up. "So I agreed to move with him."
What she didn't know was that BproFX was an unregulated, offshore entity based in Dominica. In reality, EverFX's UK regulatory status did not stop it from scamming British citizens, but the move over to BproFX would strip Jane of even the scant protections she might be afforded under UK law. The BBC found several victims who were moved to unregulated companies in this way.
In September 2020, Jane agreed to put £20,000 into BProFX, and Hunt coached her through various trades over the next few months. But somehow she kept losing money.
Other victims told the BBC they were scammed this way. Londoner Barry Burnett said he started investing after seeing an ad for EverFX, but after a few early wins, he suddenly lost more than £10,000 in 24 hours. The adviser pressured him to put in another £25,000 to trade himself out of his black hole.
"I must have got at least half a dozen calls in the space of about two hours," Barry said. "People begging me to put more money in."
Jane faced similar pressures from David Hunt. "He kept telling me that the more I put in the more I can recover," she said.
Instead, both finally decided to call it quits. Barry had lost £12,000, Jane £27,000.
"I'm horrified, numb," Barry said. Both made dozens of phone calls, chasing their losses, but with no results. David Hunt stopped answering Jane's calls. She knew she had lost everything.
"The day I realised was my birthday," she said. "It was the pandemic, and my family had organised a little outdoor get together and brought me a cake, and I was trying to be happy but I just felt so humiliated. I felt like I didn't want to be on the planet anymore."
It would be months before she could muster the courage to tell anyone what she'd done.
The operations of the Milton group have been investigated before, by the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter and others, but the BBC set out to identify the senior figures behind the global scam.
We began by combing through publicly available corporate documents to map the connections between companies in the Milton group. Five names appeared again and again, listed as directors of the Milton trading platforms or supporting tech companies - David Todua, Rati Tchelidze, Guram Gogeshvili, Joseph Mgeladze, and Michael Benimini.
We plugged the five names into the Panama Papers, a massive 2016 leak detailing offshore companies, and discovered that four of them - Tchelidze, Gogeshvili, Mgeladze and Benimini - were listed as directors or senior figures within a group of linked offshore companies or subsidiary companies that pre-dated the Milton group.
Many of these non-Milton companies led back in some way to one figure: David Kezerashvili, a former Georgian government official who served for two years as the country's defence minister.
David Kezerashvili, a former defence minister of Georgia, appears to be connected to the Milton network. (Alamy/BBC)
Kezerashvili was dismissed as defence minister and later convicted in absentia for embezzling more than €5m of government funds. By the time of his conviction, he was living in London and the UK turned down a request from Georgia for his extradition.
There were no publicly available documents linking Kezerashvili to this pre-Milton network, but when we looked at the Panama Papers, his name came up again and again, identifying him as either the founder of the parent companies in the network or as one of their initial shareholders. Behind the scenes, Kezerashvili appeared to be at the centre of that network.
When it came to the Milton group, there was similarly no publicly available documentation linking Kezerashvili to the scam companies, and there was no evidence that he had any direct financial interest in the Milton brands.
But several former employees of Milton-linked companies told us confidentially that they had had direct dealings with Kezerashvili and knew him to be involved in the Milton group.
Kezerashvili has frequently promoted the scam trading platforms on his personal social media accounts. On the business networking site LinkedIn, he has used his account almost exclusively to promote jobs and share posts about Milton-linked companies.
The BBC was able to find a number of other pieces of evidence linking the former defence minister to Milton brands. Several companies owned by Kezerashvili used a private email server on which the only other users were Milton group companies. His venture capital firm, Infinity VC, owned the branding and web domains for companies that provided trading platform technology to the scammers.
Kezerashvili also owns a Kyiv office building that was home to both the scam call centre selling EverFX and the tech firms that provided the software - offices which were raided by police in November. He also owns a Tbilisi office block that contained some of the same tech firms.
When the BBC examined social media profiles belonging to the four senior Milton group men, it became clear from pictures posted of wedding parties and other social events that they all had close social ties to Kezerashvili. Kezerashvili is Facebook friends with at least 45 people linked to the Milton group scams, and one of the four senior figures identified by the BBC is his cousin.
The BBC tracked Kezerashvili to his £18m London mansion and asked to speak to him, but we were told he wasn't available. He told the BBC via his lawyers that he strongly denied any involvement with the Milton group, or that he gained financially from scams. He said that EverFX was to his knowledge a legitimate business and his lawyers argued other connections we have found to the people and IT behind it "proved nothing".
Scam victims download a trading platform, but some are never placing real trades at all. (Joel Gunter/BBC)
Mr Chelidze and Mr Gogeshvili also strongly denied our accusations, saying that EverFX was a legitimate, regulated platform. They denied knowledge of Milton or any connection between EverFX and the brands we identified, which they suggested had misused EverFX's source code and brand to confuse users. They said EverFX had never had a crypto wallet and had no control over how its third-party payment processors directed funds.
Mr Mgeladze also denied our accusations, telling us that he has never owned any call centres fraudulently mis-selling investments and has no knowledge of the Milton group.
Mr Benimini did not respond to our questions.
EverFX denied our allegations, saying that they were a legitimate and regulated platform where risks were fully explained. They said that they had investigated Barry Burnett's case and found that he was responsible for his losses.
In Jane's case, they told us her losses were as a result of her moving to an unconnected company. They said that they had fully cooperated with the FCA and there were no outstanding UK regulatory complaints.
The FCA said EverFX was banned by the agency in 2021, along with other similar trading brands.
Sevilla FC told the BBC only that once their contract with EverFX ended, they had no more contact with the company.
Fraud accounted for more than £4bn worth of crime in the UK last year, and online investment scams are thought to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds per year. But British police have faced criticism from victims over what they see as a lack of action against scammers on behalf of British nationals.
Jane went down various routes, at home and abroad, in pursuit of her lost retirement funds, but got nowhere. The UK's City of London Police took a report from her but "nothing came of it", she said. Her bank was not able to help either, "apart from writing a few letters".
"And why should they, really?" she said, with a sad shrug.
So she did the only thing she could think of. She went to a dozen online review websites and wrote reviews of the trading brands that had scammed her.
"I just wanted to warn anyone else who might fall for it," she said.
"I put a lot of effort into that. I hope someone sees it."
You can watch the documentary, The Billion-Dollar Scam, on BBC iPlayer, and listen to a radio version on BBC Sounds. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65038949 |
Ukraine war: Leak shows Western special forces on the ground - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The UK has the largest contingent of military special forces in Ukraine, according to a leaked file. | Europe | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds.
The UK is among a number of countries with military special forces operating inside Ukraine, according to one of dozens of documents leaked online.
It confirms what has been the subject of quiet speculation for over a year.
The leaked files, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine, including sensitive details of Ukraine's preparations for a spring counter-offensive.
The US government says it is investigating the source of the leak.
According to the document, dated 23 March, the UK has the largest contingent of special forces in Ukraine (50), followed by fellow Nato states Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1).
The document does not say where the forces are located or what they are doing.
The numbers of personnel may be small, and will doubtless fluctuate. But special forces are by their very nature highly effective. Their presence in Ukraine is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well.
In line with its standard policy on such matters, the UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented, but in a tweet on Tuesday said the leak of alleged classified information had demonstrated what it called a "serious level of inaccuracy".
"Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread misinformation," it said.
It did not elaborate or suggest which specific documents it was referring to. However, Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real.
One document, which detailed the number of casualties suffered in Ukraine on both sides, did appear to have been doctored.
UK special forces are made up of several elite military units with distinct areas of expertise, and are regarded to be among the most capable in the world.
The British government has a policy of not commenting on its special forces, in contrast to other countries including the US.
The UK has been vociferous in its support of Ukraine, and is the second largest donor after the US of military aid to Kyiv.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation and he was determined to find the source of the leak.
"We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it," he said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Expert says US and Egypt ready to move forward after leak | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65245065 |
Euro 2028: Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock among 10 stadiums for UK & Ireland bid - BBC Sport | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | Belfast's Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock, two unbuilt stadiums, are part of the UK and Republic of Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
Belfast's Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock, two unbuilt stadiums, are in the UK and Republic of Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2028.
The 10 grounds also include Glasgow's Hampden Park, Cardiff's Principality Stadium, plus English venues Wembley, St James' Park, Villa Park, the Etihad Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Dublin's Aviva Stadium has also made the final shortlist.
Turkey is the other candidate to host the men's tournament in June and July.
Fourteen stadiums were originally on the shortlist submitted to Uefa by the five football associations from the UK and the Republic last year.
Old Trafford - which has the highest capacity in England after Wembley - the Stadium of Light, the London Stadium and Dublin's Croke Park are the four to be dropped from the list.
"High-capacity, world-famous football grounds and state-of-the-art new venues will provide the platform for the biggest and most commercially successful Euros ever - making us a low risk, high reward host," a Football Association statement read.
The bid has been backed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf and Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, who said it would be the "biggest sporting event our islands have ever jointly staged".
Work has not yet started on a 34,500-capacity stadium planned for the Casement Park site, which has not been in use since 2013.
The stadium has primarily been a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) venue and redevelopment has been subject to a legal challenge.
Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland play their home matches, does not meet minimum capacity requirements.
Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock, expected to host around 53,000 spectators, is under construction and expected to be built by 2024.
Earlier this year, Everton owner Farhad Moshiri revealed that costs for the club's new Bramley Moore Dock stadium could amount to £760m - a £260m increase on figures quoted by the club last year.
A decision on who will host the 2028 Euro finals is expected to be made by Uefa's executive committee in September, with work on all potential host stadiums to begin by at least the summer of 2024, four years before the tournament.
The UK and the Republic say in their bid a record three million tickets will be made available while "sustainability and good governance practice" are "top priorities".
They say more than 80% of ticket holders will be able to travel to matches by public transport and claim it will generate £2.6bn combined for the nations' economies
A review into disorder at the Euro 2020 final, held in London at Wembley, found "ticketless, drunken and drugged-up thugs" could have caused death as they stormed the stadium.
Turkey's bid is also for 2032. Italy has also submitted a bid to host that edition.
• None It's sink or swim for rookie police officers in Belfast:
• None Four movies that predicted the future incorrectly: Are practical hoverboards and flying cars just a distant dream? | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65245224 |
NPR quits Twitter over 'government-funded' label - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The not-for-profit news outlet says the description is misleading and undermines its credibility. | US & Canada | NPR is the first major US news outlet to quit using Twitter
National Public Radio (NPR) in the US has announced it will stop using Twitter in a row over how its account is described.
The US not-for-profit news organisation clashed with the social media platform over its decision to describe the outlet as "government-funded media".
NPR says it undermines its credibility, as US government funding accounts for less than 1% of its budget.
Twitter owner Elon Musk agreed to change the label on the BBC's account.
In an interview with BBC News on Tuesday evening, Mr Musk said he wanted labels to be truthful and accurate, but did not refer to NPR.
NPR said in a statement on Wednesday that Twitter was "taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent".
"We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public's understanding of our editorial independence," the statement said.
The decision makes NPR the first major US news outlet to suspend its use of Twitter, despite the organisation having 8.8m followers on the platform.
The outlet encouraged people to instead subscribe to its newsletters and follow NPR on other social media.
Mr Musk later reacted to the decision in a series of tweets criticising NPR and accusing the outlet of inconsistency in how it had previously described its funding model.
In one tweet on Wednesday night, Mr Musk tweeted a link to an NPR website in which it said that federal funding is "essential" to public radio in the US.
"What have you got against the truth NPR?" he wrote.
On its website, NPR defines itself as "an independent, non-profit media organisation".
It operates on a mixed-funding model that it says mostly includes corporate sponsorships, fees paid by NPR member organisations and donations.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Its decision to quit Twitter comes after the BBC disputed the same "government-funded media" label added to its @BBC account, which has now been removed.
The BBC operates through a Royal Charter agreed with the UK government, which states the corporation "must be independent".
Its public-service output is funded by UK households via a TV licence fee, as well as income from commercial operations.
On Wednesday, the tag on the BBC's account had been changed to "publicly-funded media".
Twitter has defined government-funded media as "outlets where the government provides some or all of the outlet's funding and may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content".
It added that it may use "external sources" like Wikipedia to determine which outlets fall under the label.
Stephanie Edgerly, a journalism professor and researcher on audience insight at Northwestern University, said NPR's decision to quit Twitter was a "bold move".
Twitter has a younger user base that is educated and interested in paying for news, Prof Edgerly said, or in other words, "an audience that news organisations want to engage with".
On the flip side, she said that Twitter accounts for only a small percentage of where Americans get their news.
A 2021 study by Pew Research Center suggested about 23% of Americans use Twitter, with seven-in-10 of those users regularly consuming news on the platform. That is smaller than the percentage of those who use and get their news from Facebook, Prof Edgerly noted.
The academic added that news outlets have grappled for some time with how to use social media, especially when news articles can appear side-by-side with misinformation and unmoderated content.
Working with social media platforms collaboratively over the years has been beneficial, but Prof Edgerly said these partnerships at Twitter "have been crumbling" over the last few months.
As for whether other news organisations may follow NPR in pausing their activity on Twitter, Prof Edgerly believes NPR's not-for-profit status may have made it easier for it to quit the platform.
"It'll be interesting to see if anyone follows," Prof Edgerly said. "It is a different calculus for other organisations."
In a staff meeting on Wednesday morning, NPR's CEO John Lansing said the company was looking to "de-emphasise Twitter", according to a tweet by NPR presenter Steve Inskeep.
"NPR says Twitter isn't used by most Americans; drives little traffic to NPR; and 'no longer has the public service relevance that it once had,'" Mr Inskeep tweeted, citing the CEO's comments. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65202978 |
Union 'misled' over Weston General Hospital junior doctor shortage - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The British Medical Association says doctors granted exemption from strike action were not needed. | Somerset | The BMA says Weston General Hospital did not need the extra staff it requested
A trade union has accused a hospital's managers of "misleading" it in order to get junior doctors on strike to return to work.
The British Medical Association (BMA) enabled seven junior doctors to leave the picket line at the request of Weston General Hospital on Tuesday.
But the BMA now claims the hospital already had sufficient cover.
The Somerset hospital's trust said its request for the doctors "accurately reflected" concerns for patient safety.
It said that in making the request it had been responding to unplanned absences - but then other staff stepped in to provide cover, meaning ultimately it did not need the seven junior doctors.
Junior doctors are two days into a four-day strike until Friday in a row over pay and conditions.
Thousands of junior doctors led by the British Medical Association will strike over four days
The BMA is seeking a 35% pay rise, which it terms a "pay restoration" because junior doctors have had 15 years of below-inflation wage rises.
The government has said the increase is unaffordable.
More than a quarter of a million appointments and operations could be cancelled, and some hospitals say up to half of planned treatment is affected.
The request from Weston General Hospital managers - known as a derogation - for doctors to leave the picket line is permitted under strike contingency plans.
Hospital leaders had requested the seven doctors to work in A&E in order to maintain safe staffing levels.
The BMA revealed that on Tuesday it agreed to the derogation but criticised the way hospital bosses had dealt with the issues.
In a statement, it said: "Protecting patient safety during strikes has always been a priority to the BMA.
"However, poor planning by local management has left the emergency department and acute medicine at Weston General Hospital exposed."
In a series of tweets 24 hours later however, the union said it had "revoked the derogation" granted to the hospital.
"It has become apparent that both the BMA and NHS England were misled over the level of staffing cover," the BMA said.
"Either local management were unaware they had sufficient senior cover, or they deliberately misled us.
It continued: "We will be asking NHSE (NHS England) to explore any potential probity issues.
"We granted a derogation in good faith and it is incredibly disappointing to see this abused in this way.
"We are grateful to our consultant and SAS (speciality) colleagues for their hard work providing cover during the strikes."
Prof Eugine Yafele, chief executive of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, said patient safety "is our top priority".
"When applying for the derogation, we provided information requested by the BMA that accurately reflected our concerns about risk to patient safety, during what is a fast-moving situation," he said.
"These concerns were supported by consultants providing cover.
"As part of our established operational planning for periods of industrial action we've been exploring all avenues for ensuring sufficient cover for key services over the course of the week, as well as each day responding to unplanned absences.
"In doing so, we are very grateful to colleagues who have stepped in to provide medical cover, which has made the difference in ensuring we have sufficient staffing without ultimately having had to draw on the derogations."
Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected] | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65254966 |
PC Sharon Beshenivsky death: Man extradited and charged with murder - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Piran Ditta Khan will appear in court later over the 2005 shooting in Bradford. | Leeds & West Yorkshire | PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead while responding to reports of a robbery in Bradford in 2005
A 74-year-old man is due to appear in court later charged with the 2005 murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky after being extradited from Pakistan.
Piran Ditta Khan was brought back to the UK and taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
PC Beshenivsky, 38, had been an officer for nine months when she was fatally shot in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Mr Khan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
West Yorkshire Police said he has been charged with murder, robbery, two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.
The CPS said the charges were authorised in 2006, leading to the issuing of the extradition warrant.
"Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago," a spokesperson added.
PC Beshenivsky, a mother of three and stepmother of two children, was shot as she responded with colleague PC Teresa Milburn to an alarm at a travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford, on 18 November 2005.
PC Milburn was also shot but survived.
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-65258849 |
Ex-CBI boss not shown report that led to dismissal - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Tony Danker was dismissed immediately following a report into allegations of misconduct. | Business | The sacked boss of the CBI was not shown a copy of the report that led to his immediate dismissal from the business lobby group.
Tony Danker was fired following allegations of workplace misconduct at the lobby group.
The BBC understands Mr Danker was interviewed and submitted written evidence as part of an independent investigation but was not given a chance to respond to the final report.
Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that a major FTSE 100 company has suspended all engagement with the CBI following separate allegations of serious sexual misconduct at the group. Mr Danker is not the subject of these allegations.
Another large blue chip UK company - which wished to remain anonymous - said it was "deeply concerned" about the claims facing the lobby group.
Law firm Fox Williams conducted an investigation which found that Mr Danker's conduct had fallen short of that expected of the director general.
This included a complaint from a female employee in January and complaints from other members of staff which surfaced last month.
Mr Danker wrote on social media: "Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that".
Mr Danker was appointed as director general of the CBI in 2020, replacing Dame Carolyn Fairbairn who had held the job for five years.
He is being replaced by Rain Newton-Smith who is returning to the CBI. She was chief economist at the lobby group between 2014 and March this year and was also a member of its executive committee. She left to join Barclays.
Fox Williams is also investigating sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019.
Three CBI employees have been suspended and the City of London police are investigating the claims.
Many companies contacted by the BBC who are members of the CBI have expressed deep concerns over the allegations and are reviewing their membership of the business lobby group, pending the outcome of the investigations.
The government has said it will extend the pause it has placed on engagement with the CBI until Fox Williams' investigation has concluded.
It is not clear whether the involvement of the police will alter the timetable of the report and the CBI could not estimate when it might be published.
It leaves the CBI in limbo for the time being, unable to effectively engage with either government or its own members.
A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce, the aerospace giant, said the allegations were "deeply concerning".
"We note the actions that the CBI has announced and that investigations are continuing. We will await the completion of these investigations before considering our membership," they spokesperson added. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65251668 |
Government rejects call to ban smacking in England - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Children's charities says the government should make physical punishment of children illegal. | UK Politics | The government has rejected calls to ban physical punishment of children in England, saying they are already protected in law.
In Wales, Scotland and Jersey any type of corporal punishment, including smacking, hitting, slapping, and shaking is illegal.
The NSPCC and Barnardo's say England must follow suit.
The government has argued parents should be trusted to discipline their children.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "The government does not condone any violence towards children and has clear laws in place to prevent it."
The children's charities are calling for an end to the legal defence of "reasonable chastisement" that allows parents or carers to hit their children.
In England and Northern Ireland it is legal for a carer or parent to discipline their child physically if it is a "reasonable" punishment.
However, any punishment over what is considered "reasonable" is illegal. The Children Act 2004 says it is unlawful to assault a child causing actual or grievous bodily harm, or with child cruelty.
NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: "It cannot be right that in this country it is illegal to hit an adult, but equal protection is not given to a child.
"We need put the wellbeing of children first and bring an end to this legal anomaly."
A YouGov poll of almost 3,500 adults suggested two thirds of people (67%) across England think physically disciplining a child is not acceptable.
Close to 300 million (three in four) children aged between two and four worldwide experience violent discipline and 250 million (around six in 10) are punished by physical means according to Unicef.
Last year, Childline delivered almost 900 counselling sessions to children with concerns about physical punishment.
A 12-year-old girl who contacted Childline said: "My mum heard me swearing from the other room today. I know I shouldn't swear, it always gets me in trouble and makes mum act scary. Mum hit me so hard this time, harder than usual.
"She was screaming and hit me in the head so hard I fell into the wall. I still feel a bit dizzy now and there's a lump. I don't know how to make it stop."
Lynn Perry MBE, chief executive of Barnardo's, said: "At Barnardo's we know that eliminating physical punishment brings significant benefits to families, and our frontline workers tell us it helps to create a safe and nurturing environment for children.
"For all these reasons we support the call to make physical punishment of children illegal across the UK to ensure children in England and Northern Ireland have the same protection as those in Scotland and Wales."
The government says it is supporting teachers, social workers and all safeguarding professionals to spot the signs of abuse or neglect more quickly.
A statutory framework sets out what organisations should do to keep children safe from abuse. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65243518 |
Grenfell Tower fire: Civil settlement reached over claims - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Cladding giant Arconic is among the companies to agree a civil settlement with more than 900 people. | London | The settlement is separate from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which started in September 2017
Hundreds of bereaved family members, survivors and residents have agreed a settlement of civil claims arising from the Grenfell Tower fire.
The devastating fire at the west London building killed 72 people in June 2017.
Cladding giant Arconic confirmed it was among the companies involved in the High Court case and had agreed to a settlement with more than 900 people.
It has also "agreed to contribute to a restorative justice project to benefit the community affected by the fire".
The settlement is separate from the long-running inquiry, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, which is examining the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the blaze. That report is due to be published later this year.
Those who took part in the claim were represented by 14 legal firms who stressed the agreement does not impact the potential for any criminal charges to be brought in the future.
The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation was the organisation appointed by the local council to run its entire housing stock.
A spokesman said "a monetary settlement won't mitigate for the loss and trauma", but welcomed it as a step towards justice for those involved.
The settlement does not include all victims of the fire.
A memorial to the victims of the tower has attracted hundreds of tributes
The amount of compensation the 900 claimants are to receive will be shared out "according to their own specific circumstances", the lawyers representing the families said.
"It should be recognised that no amount of damages could ever be sufficient to properly compensate those affected," it said in a statement.
In closing submissions to the inquiry in November, lead counsel Richard Millett KC accused firms of a "merry-go-round of buck-passing" in order to protect their own interests.
The "spider's web of blame" created by the refusal of core participants to accept responsibility will make the task of the panel - which must examine the circumstances that led to the deaths - even harder, Mr Millett said.
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65248544 |
Trump sues former lawyer Michael Cohen for $500m - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The lawsuit accuses Mr Cohen of "improper, self-serving, and malicious statements" about Mr Trump. | US & Canada | Ex-US President Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer for $500m (£400m), alleging breach of contract.
He says Michael Cohen breached his duty as attorney to act in his client's best interests.
The lawsuit comes amid escalating attacks from Trump allies on Mr Cohen, who is a key witness in a New York investigation into the ex-president.
A Manhattan prosecutor last week charged Mr Trump with fraud in relation to hush-money payments to a porn star.
Mr Cohen's spokesman and lawyer, Lanny Davis, told the BBC he was confident the lawsuit against his client would fail.
The legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, also accuses Mr Cohen of making "improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family members, and his business".
Mr Cohen worked as Mr Trump's attorney for more than a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization and was often described as Mr Trump's fixer.
But the two had a significant falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trump's aides.
In 2018, Mr Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine, after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations.
Now out of prison, Mr Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump and a frequent guest on news programmes.
He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Mr Trump cites in the lawsuit, which claims Mr Cohen fabricated conversations and wrongfully called Mr Trump a "racist" in his 2020 book Disloyal.
In a statement to the BBC, Mr Davis said: "Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen.
"It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are co-operating with prosecutors against him."
New York prosecutors have charged Mr Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in what they say was an effort to cover up payments intended to keep former porn star Stormy Daniels, quiet about her alleged affair with the ex-president.
On 4 April, Mr Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court - the first former US president ever indicted on criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty.
Mr Cohen has admitted, while acting as Trump's fixer, he facilitated a $130,000 (£104,000) pay-out to Ms Daniels.
As Mr Trump's court date approached, Mr Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes and criticised his former boss.
"He's not thick-skinned," Cohen told CNN, speaking after Mr Trump's indictment. "He's actually very thin-skinned, and he has a very fragile ego."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Law expert says Carlson appeared to apologise to Trump | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65256568 |
Watch: Elon Musk on the BBC row - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | In a last-minute interview with the BBC's James Clayton, Mr Musk was asked about the "government funded" Twitter label. | null | Elon Musk has spoken to the BBC's James Clayton, in a last-minute interview at the Twitter HQ.
The BBC was labelled "government funded" on its Twitter page, something the corporation objected to. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65248354 |
President Biden: Irish relatives eagerly awaiting 'cousin Joe' - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Excitement is building among President Biden's distant Irish relations in counties Louth and Mayo. | Northern Ireland | Distant relatives of US President Joe Biden are looking forward to seeing him back on home soil
"You'd know there's Irish roots in him because he's good craic like."
That's one Irishman's take on US President Joe Biden, and he would know, being related to him.
Back in 2016, the White House called the Irish Family History Centre, asking it to trace Mr Biden's ancestry ahead of an upcoming visit.
After weeks of searching parish records and land registers it compiled a list of his closest living relatives - many of who knew nothing of the connection.
Enter the Blewitts of Ballina, County Mayo, and the Finnegans of Carlingford, County Louth.
Trips to both counties feature on the US presidents whistle-stop itinerary of Ireland and his cousins cannot wait to see him back to cement the connections made during his visit in 2016.
US President Joe Biden is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage
Proud of his Irish heritage, President Biden said he was brought up on stories of the "faith and fortitude" of his relatives that left Ireland.
"I grew up in a household where my grandfather and grandmother Finnegan, all my mother's brothers and my father told us about the courage and commitment it took for our relatives to emigrate from Ireland - in the midst of tragedy - to distant shores where they didn't know what awaited them," he told RTÉ in 2016.
The Blewitt family are linked to president Biden through his great-great-grandfather Patrick.
The family were aware of their connection to the US politician for decades, and met Mr Biden in 2016.
He made a second visit to Mayo at their invitation in 2017.
According to Joe Blewitt, it was during this trip that he told his Irish cousins he would one day return to Ballina "as president".
"Of course I knew it was true.
"He's been in politics all his life - that man was bound to be president so I'm absolutely delighted," Mr Blewitt told BBC News NI.
The Blewitts have visited the White House several times, most recently last month for St Patrick's Day.
"It was a surreal, very special day for us... It's just one of those days when [it] goes too fast," Mr Blewitt said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Celebrations broke out across Ballina when Biden's presidential victory was declared
He speaks fondly of the president, describing his distant cousin as a down-to-earth, genuine character with a quick wit.
"He loves jokes... You'd know there's Irish roots in him because he's good craic like."
True to his word, Mr Biden is set deliver a speech to the people of Ballina on Friday.
"We're all happy to see him... It's great for the country, it really just tightens the close bond between America and Ireland," Mr Blewitt added.
Mr Biden's public address will take place outside St Muredach's Cathedral which was constructed using bricks sold by Edward Blewitt in 1828 - 27,000 of them earned him £21 and 12 shillings.
It was this money that afforded the family of 10 to eventually set sail to New York on the SS Excelsior in 1851.
Mr Biden's great-great-great grandfather sold bricks used to build St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina
About 250km (155 miles) to the east of Ballina in County Louth, the president will link up with the Finnegan side of the family tree.
Owen Finnegan emigrated to the US in 1849.
His family followed a year later and settled in Seneca, New York, with their namesake eventually being passed on to the president's own descendants - one of his grand-daughters is named Finnegan Biden.
Fianna Fáil councillor for the area Andrea McKevitt told BBC News NI that "the atmosphere is electric" across the Cooley peninsula as residents prepare to welcome Mr Biden with a sea of stars and stripes.
Ms McKevitt is a distant cousin, related through the president's great-great-grandfather Owen.
Andrea McKevitt said her distant cousin's visit sends a strong message during peace deal anniversary
Andrea McKevitt's family were oblivious to the connection until 2016 when White House officials contacted her uncle to break the news.
"I think at the beginning he thought somebody was joking but then when we had paperwork and started looking into it, it proved to be true indeed," she said.
Ms McKevitt was also in attendance at this year's St Patrick's Day celebration at the White House, something she described as a "pinch-me moment".
"It was a family event," she joked.
"It wasn't until it was over I thought: 'Oh my God, I can't believe that's just happened'
"You're living in a dream nearly for the whole day waiting to go in and when you finally got there it was just amazing."
An advertisement for passage to new York appears on the front page of the Newry Commercial Telegraph newspaper on 10 April 1849
And through the Finnegans there's a Kearney connection with President Biden's fifth cousin once removed getting an invitation to the White House last month.
Former Ireland international rugby player Rob Kearney was singled out of the crowd, just a day before Ireland beat England to win the Six Nation's Grand Slam, with the president nailing his colours to the mast.
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It's expected Mr Biden's engagements in Louth will be on a smaller scale than those on the opposite side of the country in Mayo, but Ms McKevitt insists there is no rivalry between the two counties.
"We're happy to let Mayo run with the big public address. Here in Dundalk we had President Clinton address us in 1998, so we can't get all the limelight," she said.
With the president's visit timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Ms McKevitt said it sends a "really strong, important message" to the people of Ireland.
"There was a deal made 25 years ago. It's time for us to keep moving and getting on to the next stage of the peace process," she said.
"Hopefully his hand of wisdom and hand of friendship can ensure that more work continues to be done so peace remains on this island." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65219409 |
Block on Scottish gender reforms to be challenged in court - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The Scottish government is to launch a legal bid to overturn Westminster's veto on the controversial plans. | Scotland politics | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Scotland's social justice secretary says the government must stand up for the will of the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish government is to launch a legal challenge to Westminster's block on its controversial gender reforms.
The proposals, which would allow people in Scotland to self-identify their sex, were passed by the Scottish Parliament in December last year.
But they were blocked by the UK government over their potential impact on UK-wide equality laws.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has previously described that move as an "undemocratic veto".
He was the only one of the three candidates in the SNP leadership contest who backed taking legal action in an attempt to overturn the block.
His predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, had described the block as a "full-frontal attack on our democratically-elected Scottish Parliament" and said that legal action was inevitable.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's social justice secretary, said the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill had been passed by an "overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament, with support from members of all parties".
She said the block by the UK government was an "unprecedented challenge to the Scottish Parliament's ability to legislate on clearly devolved matters".
Ms Somerville added: "To uphold the democratic decision of the parliament, and ensure proper protection of devolution, Scottish ministers will now lodge a petition for judicial review of the secretary of state's decision.
She is expected to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament after the Easter break setting out details of her plans for a court challenge.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has described the block as undemocratic
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the UK government's decision to block the gender recognition reforms, saying it had been based on "very careful and considered advice".
He added: "We had concerns about how Scotland's gender recognition act would interact with reserved powers, about the operation of the Equalities Act, the protection of women elsewhere in the UK as well.
"Obviously there's a court process, we will follow that through."
The gender reforms have been divisive within the SNP, with another of the leadership candidates, Ash Regan, resigning from the government last year over her fears about their impact on safeguards for women and girls.
A recent opinion poll by Panelbase for the Sunday Times suggested that 18% of Scottish voters think Mr Yousaf should launch a legal challenge, while 44% said that he should abandon the reforms and 24% believed a compromise should be found with the UK government.
Shortly after the reforms were passed, double rapist Isla Bryson - who changed gender after being arrested for attacking two women - was remanded to a women's jail.
Bryson was subsequently moved to a male prison after the case sparked widespread anger. Ministers insisted the new legislation had no impact on the decision about where Bryson was held.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher claimed that the legal challenge was a "painfully transparent attempt by Humza Yousaf to divert attention from the civil war engulfing the SNP and the huge question marks over the party's finances".
But the Scottish Greens, who have a power sharing agreement with the SNP, said the move was "vital for equality and democracy".
He's barely got his feet under the table at Bute House, but Humza Yousaf has already been pitched into a constitutional showdown with the UK government.
There is an extent to which the new first minister has been painted into a corner here. He only had until Monday to decide whether to challenge the UK government's unprecedented veto of Holyrood's gender reforms.
His SNP leadership campaign also promised to maintain the partnership with the Greens - and anything short of a full-throated defence of the reforms would have seen them walk.
But Mr Yousaf has also signed up to this fight completely voluntarily.
He deliberately founded much of his leadership platform on social justice issues, and said he would continue the agenda started by Nicola Sturgeon.
And while crafting his own identity as first minister, he will not want to start by shying away from a confrontation with UK ministers on the topic of Holyrood's powers.
It is a risky strategy given how this issue has divided his party. But this is a battle Mr Yousaf is now fully committed to.
Mr Yousaf has previously said he would only launch a court challenge to the UK government's block if he was given legal advice that it stood a chance of succeeding.
But former Supreme Court judge Lord Hope has said the Scottish government's chances of winning a court case are "very low".
The former deputy president of the Supreme Court said the Scottish legislation "most certainly does" impact on the Equality Act 2010 and the existing Gender Recognition Act 2004, which currently apply across Great Britain.
And he said it was difficult to see how a court would not agree that Scottish Secretary Alister Jack had "acted reasonably" in blocking the reforms through the use of a Section 35 order.
The Scottish secretary is able to use a Section 35 to block legislation passed by Holyrood if he believes it would have a detrimental impact on areas that are reserved to Westminster.
It is the first time a Section 35 has been used since the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999.
Former SNP minister Alex Neil told BBC Scotland earlier on Wednesday that "every lawyer I have spoken to has told me we don't have a cat in hell's chance of winning" a legal battle.
He said Mr Yousaf should instead focus on reintroducing the legislation after its "deficiencies" had been addressed.
Opponents of the gender reforms are concerned about their potential impact on single-sex spaces and other protections for women and girls
Susan Smith, co-director of the For Women Scotland group - which opposes the gender self-identification reforms - said Mr Yousaf was "remarkably foolish" to take legal action over legislation that is "wildly unpopular".
She added: "It is widely predicted that they will lose, so it seems like an incredible waste of everybody's time and money to go through this when there are other really pressing matters".
However, the announcement of a legal challenge was welcomed by Vic Valentine, the manager of Scottish Trans, who said the UK government's block was "unacceptable".
They added: "Other countries all over the world have introduced similar laws, with the only impact being a positive one."
Colin Macfarlane, the director of nations at Stonewall, said the UK government's "unprecedented" block had "made clear that they see trans people as a threat to be contained rather than people to be treated with dignity and respect".
The reforms are intended to make it easier for people to change their legally-recognised sex by doing away with the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria - a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.
Applicants for a gender recognition certificate would need to have lived in their acquired gender for three months rather than the current two years.
And the minimum age that someone can apply to change their sex will be cut from 18 to 16 - although 16 and 17-year-olds would need to have lived as their acquired gender for six months rather than three. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65249431 |
Holyhead: Video shows suspected gun discharge - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | Three people have been arrested after a firearm is believed to have been discharged in north Wales. | null | Footage shows the moment a firearm is believed to have been discharged on a residential street in north Wales.
Three men were arrested following the incident in Holyhead, Anglesey, which occurred at about 08:30 BST on Monday, 10 April.
One man was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a firearm with intent and later released on condition bail. Two other men were arrested on suspicion of affray and later released under investigation.
North Wales Police has said no injuries were reported. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65249896 |
NHS drop-out rate an accident waiting to happen, says surgeon - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | One of the UK's leading surgeons is worried about an exodus of newly-trained doctors from the NHS. | Bristol | Bristol surgeon Nigel Mercer said he is concerned about doctors coming through to replace his generation
A leading surgeon says a major drop-out rate of trainee doctors is "an accident waiting to happen" for the NHS.
Nigel Mercer was tasked with prioritising surgery across the NHS during the pandemic when services were under intense pressure.
His biggest fear with what he sees as an up to 40% drop-out rate is whether there will be enough doctors to replace his generation of medics.
The government said the majority of trainees go on to work in the NHS.
"[But] at the moment everyone is so fed up with the system," Mr Mercer said
His comments come as thousands of junior doctors take part in the second day of a national four-day walkout over pay.
Members of British Medical Association (BMA) are asking for a pay rise of 35%.
A government spokesperson said the demands were "out of step with pay settlements in other parts of the public sector" and would cost about £2bn.
Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strikes? Or are you a patient whose treatment has been disrupted? Get in touch and share your views and experiences.
Mr Mercer said concerns over pay and conditions are leading many trainees to consider moving to other countries.
"You can get much more pay over in Australia and New Zealand and we reckon it's now 40% of medical graduates who are going to leave after their training and that's criminal," he continued.
"That's an accident waiting to happen, but if we don't produce high-quality paramedical staff there won't be the ability to train anybody.
"We can't just go and rip health professionals out of other healthcare systems, that's not appropriate."
Better pay and conditions are leading junior doctors to look to move to other countries, said one medic
A junior doctor from Southmead, who is leaving for New Zealand, told the BBC his pay would be £10,000 a year more than it is in England.
"Talking to people who have been out there, they feel so much more valued. They actually have a level of education when they are on the wards," he said.
"I know for my two years of experience as a doctor in the NHS it's meant to be a training programme. It's not a training programme.
"We are covering wards looking after really sick patients, because we are so stretched, because the system is so stretched and badly paid that we are not actually becoming the doctors that we should be."
Mr Mercer's work for the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations has given him insight into how NHS operating theatres are underused due to short-staffing.
He said surgeons are going to the gym as theatres are unstaffed.
The 66-year-old said: "If you find they can only put one patient on the list because they have not got the staff, the surgeon used to say, 'This is not appropriate', but people have had the stuffing knocked out of them.
"Now they say, 'Well, if I can't do my list I will go the the gym', and we get paid whatever we do on that particular day if we do one or four cases.
"It's not your fault you haven't got four cases on this list it's the system and the problem now is the system is so creaking at every seam a lot of people have given up."
Mr Mercer said "the system is so creaking at every seam"
As reported in the British Medical Journal, England has the second-lowest doctor-to-population ratio in Europe, with a deficit of almost 50,000 doctors compared with the average.
The journal also stated loss of junior doctors was playing a major role in the workforce crisis, with 2019 data showing that only 35% of foundation doctors choosing to immediately begin an NHS training post.
Mr Mercer is calling for a royal commission inquiry to look at what the NHS can realistically offer, as well as opening the NHS to full capacity seven days a week.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the "vast majority" of doctors trained in the UK go on to work in the NHS.
"We are focussed on boosting staff numbers and ensuring the NHS remains a great place to work and there are record numbers of staff including over 5,100 more doctors compared to last year," they said.
"The NHS will publish a long term strategy this year to help ensure the NHS has the workforce it needs for the future, backed by record funding to cut waiting lists and improve patient care."
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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-65167520 |
Good Friday Agreement: Is Biden Northern Ireland trip a missed opportunity? - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The visit was meant to celebrate 25 years of progress but politics at Stormont remain in limbo. | Northern Ireland | Expect to hear politicians blame Jeffrey Donaldson's DUP for a missed opportunity on Mr Biden's visit
For a place roughly the size of Connecticut, Northern Ireland has received plenty of presidential attention.
Bill Clinton visited three times during his presidency, George W Bush twice, and Barack Obama once.
It had long been expected that Joe Biden - a president who speaks of his Irish roots more than most - would visit Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal which largely ended the conflict known as the Troubles.
But the circumstances are less than ideal.
The power-sharing political institutions set up by the agreement have not been fully operating for more than a year.
The Democratic Unionist Party is vetoing the formation of a devolved government in protest against Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.
The DUP has said it will not allow a coalition to be formed until it is satisfied there are no economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The White House has welcomed the deal between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, which is designed to deal with unionists' concerns.
The British government is hoping Mr Biden's visit will promote the framework as the internationally recognised way forward.
Northern Ireland has been without a power-sharing government since February 2022
Other parties have suggested the presidential itinerary would have been more comprehensive if the Northern Ireland Assembly was up and running.
President Biden had been invited to address the assembly, at Stormont on the outskirts of Belfast.
But the invitation from the Assembly Speaker, Alex Maskey, was not accepted.
So you can expect the likes of Sinn Féin - the Irish nationalist party which is now the largest in the assembly - to blame the DUP for a "missed opportunity".
However, the DUP will point to the basis of the power-sharing settlement backed by the US - that both unionists and nationalists must have confidence in the governance arrangements for Northern Ireland in order for them to work.
Some DUP politicians have been strident in criticising President Biden for his backing of the Northern Ireland protocol - the previous deal between the UK and the EU after Brexit, which created a trade border in the Irish Sea.
Tony Blair (left) said Bill Clinton immediately understood the political situation in Northern Ireland
It is sometimes said that the United States is the "third guarantor" of the Good Friday Agreement - after Britain and Ireland, which are the two nations charged in international law with upholding the deal.
Ancestral links are the bedrock of the bonds between the US and the island of Ireland.
Over the years nationalists have been more enthusiastic about US input than unionists, who have been suspicious of influence being exerted in Washington by lobby groups and politicians who identify as Irish-American.
If previous US diplomatic tactics are anything to go by it is unlikely that President Biden's public remarks in Northern Ireland will be accusatory towards any one party or group.
Northern Ireland has been visited by three sitting US presidents since the Good Friday Agreement
He was on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 1990s when Bill Clinton - another Democrat - demonstrated his commitment to the peace process by becoming the first president to visit Northern Ireland while in office.
The British prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, spoke to me about Mr Clinton's approach in an interview for the BBC iPlayer film, 'Troubles and Peace'.
He said that when he called Mr Clinton, the then president "would immediately understand the politics of the situation - who to call, what to do, what to say, how to frame it".
"It meant you had the power of the United States behind you - not just in itself, but also operating with immense sophistication and subtlety," Mr Blair said.
Bríd Rodgers said the Good Friday Agreement would not have been achieved without former US President Bill Clinton
Bríd Rodgers was a negotiator for the Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party - whose leader, John Hume, prioritised building relations with the White House.
She said: "If it hadn't been for President Clinton in the last 24 hours before the Good Friday Agreement, I don't think we would have got it.
"He was in touch, he was phoning. He recognised unionists' difficulties, he recognised republicans' difficulties - he was able to assure them that he understood their challenges, but he was behind them."
A unionist negotiator, Lord Empey, was more circumspect about Mr Clinton's role during the final hours.
The Ulster Unionist Party peer said: "I don't think it made any difference to the minutiae or the outworkings of the agreement."
He thinks Mr Clinton's most significant contribution came over a longer period of time.
"President Clinton changed the atmosphere, so that America was no longer seen as totally supportive of Irish nationalism.
"No matter what his personal opinions may have been, he made an effort to treat us equally to others - we were no longer shut out."
Lord Empey said Mr Clinton "changed the atmosphere" by treating negotiators equally
Mr Clinton was the first president to appoint a US special envoy to Northern Ireland.
The political influence of some has been obvious - notably George Mitchell, the former Senate Majority leader who was appointed chair of the Good Friday Agreement talks by the British and Irish governments.
In more recent years, envoys have been seen as having significant roles in generating investment in Northern Ireland by US business.
The present holder of the post, Joe Kennedy III, has the official title of Special Envoy for Economic Affairs.
He will be staying on in Northern Ireland for an extended visit after Mr Biden leaves, to tour various locations in the Republic of Ireland.
It is on this leg of the trip that the president will meet his cousins the Finnegans in County Louth and the Blewitts in County Mayo.
These events may be more politically valuable to him in the US than his one engagement in Northern Ireland, given the power-sharing paralysis at Stormont.
A previous US Special Envoy, one-time Democratic presidential contender Senator Gary Hart, told me in 2013 that his country remained "disproportionately interested" in Northern Ireland.
While there is some disappointment that Mr Biden won't be staying in Northern Ireland for long, most politicians, business leaders and civic groups make the point that to have a presidential visit at all is a boon.
Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement, scrutinising the deal's wording and hearing from some of the people who helped get it across the line.
Click here to listen on BBC Sounds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65235507 |
Elon Musk BBC interview: Twitter boss on layoffs, misinfo and sleeping in the office - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The Twitter boss defends his running of the firm in a hastily-arranged BBC interview. | Business | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Running Twitter has been "quite painful" and "a rollercoaster", Elon Musk has said, in a hastily arranged live interview with the BBC.
The multi-billionaire entrepreneur also said he would sell the company if the right person came along.
Mr Musk, who also runs car maker Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX, bought Twitter for $44bn (£35.4bn) in October.
The interview from the firm's HQ in San Francisco covered the mass lay-offs, misinformation and his work habits.
But he admitted he only went through with the takeover because a judge was about to force him to make the purchase.
And he confirmed Twitter will change its newly added label for the BBC's account from "government funded media" to say it is "publicly funded" instead.
During the conversation - in which Mr Musk tried to do the interviewing as much as the other way around - he defended his running of the company.
Asked whether he had any regrets about buying Twitter, the world's second richest man said the "pain level has been extremely high, this hasn't been some kind of party".
Talking about his time at the helm so far, Mr Musk said: "It's not been boring. It's been quite a rollercoaster."
It has been "really quite a stressful situation over the last several months", he added, but said he still felt that buying the company was the right thing to do.
After building a stake in Twitter at the start of 2022, Mr Musk made a takeover offer. But Twitter later sued him after he tried to back out of the deal.
Things are going "reasonably well", Mr Musk told the BBC, stating that usage of the site is up and "the site works".
The workload means that "I sometimes sleep in the office", he said, adding that he has a spot on a couch in a library "that nobody goes to".
And he also addressed his sometimes controversial tweets saying: "Have I shot myself in the foot with tweets multiple times? Yes."
"I think I should not tweet after 3am," he added.
Asked about the decision to add a label to the BBC's main Twitter account describing it as "government funded media", Mr Musk said: "I know the BBC is generally not thrilled about being labelled state media."
Earlier this week, the corporation contacted the social media giant over the designation on the @BBC account to resolve the issue "as soon as possible".
"The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee," it said.
Mr Musk said Twitter was adjusting the label for the BBC to "publicly-funded". The change was made several hours later, but the new label was still linking through to a page with information about government and state-affiliated media.
"We're trying to be accurate," he said.
"I actually do have a lot of respect for the BBC," he added, stating that the interview was "a good opportunity to ask some questions" and "to get some feedback on what we should be doing different".
The BBC is the UK's national broadcaster and operates through a Royal Charter agreed with the government. It is funded by a licence fee paid by UK households - accounting for £3.8bn ($4.7bn) in 2022, about 71% of the BBC's total income of £5.3bn.
The rest of the funding comes from its commercial and other activities like grants, royalties and rental income. The BBC also receives more than £90m per year from the government to support the BBC World Service, which predominantly serves non-UK audiences.
Discussing Twitter's finances, Mr Musk said the company is now "roughly breaking even", as most of its advertisers have returned.
He also said that cutting the workforce from just under 8,000 at the time he bought the firm to about 1,500 had not been easy.
He admitted he did not fire everybody in person, saying: "It's not possible to talk with that many people face to face."
The exit of many of Twitter's engineers since Mr Musk bought the company has raised concerns about the stability of the platform.
He acknowledged some glitches, including outages on the site but he said the outages have not been for very long and the site was currently working fine.
On buying Twitter: "It's not been boring. It has been quite a rollercoaster... It's been really quite a stressful situation."
On laying off staff: "I wouldn't say it was uncaring... If the whole ship sinks, then nobody's got a job."
On profits: "We could be profitable, or to be more precise, cash flow positive this quarter if things keep going well. I think almost all advertisers have come back or said they are going to come back."
On his controversial tweets: "Have I shot myself in the foot with tweets multiple times? Yes."
On labelling the BBC as "Government-funded media": "We're adjusting the label to... publicly funded... If we use the same words that the BBC uses to describes itself, then presumably that would be OK."
In the interview - which was broadcast live via the Twitter Spaces service - Mr Musk was also challenged over misinformation and hate speech on the platform.
He claimed that there was less misinformation on Twitter since the takeover, and that his efforts to delete bots - automated accounts - will decrease fake news.
But many outside experts disagree. One study - and there are quite a few others along the same lines - found engagement with popular misinformation-spreading accounts spiked after Mr Musk's takeover.
He repeatedly questioned whether journalists were fair arbiters of truth and said he had more trust in "ordinary people".
On the issue of legacy-verified blue ticks on the platform, Mr Musk said they would be removed from accounts by the end of next week.
Former Twitter executive Bruce Daisley - who ran the business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for eight years - said the interview "gave us some insight into the strange life of this billionaire".
"He confessed today that the only reason he went through with buying Twitter was because he believed a judge would force him to go through with the transaction. He's never admitted that till now, so it was a very whimsical interview."
Mr Daisley also suggested the interview showed Mr Musk was not always consistent in what he says.
Elon Musk has an estimated personal fortune of almost $190bn, making him the world's second richest person, according to the Forbes billionaires list. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65248196 |
Conwy: Search for missing dog walker Ausra Plungiene - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A multi-agency search in bad weather conditions is under way for 56-year-old Ausra Plungiene. | Wales | A major multi-agency search is under way for Ausra Plungiene
A major search is under way for a missing woman who was last seen walking her dog.
Ausra Plungiene, 56, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, is believed to have left home to walk her dog at about 10:30 BST on Tuesday.
The alarm was raised shortly before 22:00 when police began a search across Eryri, also known as Snowdonia.
North Wales Police said Ms Plungiene's car was found in Rowen, Conwy, early on Wednesday.
It is believed to still be parked in the same place, in a car park at Bwlch y ddeufaen.
A car believed to be that of Ausra Plungiene was found in a car park near Rowen, Conwy
Officers said she may have been wearing a dark pink or purple padded jacket, black leggings and blue shoes.
Ms Plungiene left home to walk her dog at about 10:30 BST on Tuesday
Supt Owain Llewellyn said: "We are extremely concerned for Ausra's safety and I am appealing to anyone who may have seen her or has any information on her whereabouts to get in touch.
"A number of resources were deployed throughout the night to try and find her. Her vehicle was located in a remote car park in Rowen shortly after midnight so we are working to establish which route she may have taken."
"Searches are continuing across the area this morning - involving a number of resources including air support."
A BBC reporter at the scene said a police helicopter had been circling the area.
Supt Llewellyn asked people not to conduct their own searches due to the poor weather conditions. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65253110 |
What the leaked Pentagon documents reveal - 8 key takeaways - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Ukraine's spring offensive and Chinese hypersonic weapons are among the issues highlighted in the leaks. | US & Canada | A cache of classified US documents leaked online sheds new light on American intelligence gathered about other countries.
Images of the covert files have appeared on messaging app Discord since early March.
Complete with timelines and dozens of military acronyms, the documents, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine and also offer information on China and allies.
Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real.
BBC News and other news organisations have reviewed the documents and these are some of the key findings.
The US believed the UN secretary general's stance on a key grain deal was undermining attempts to hold Russia accountable for the war in Ukraine.
Antonio Guterres was too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to files which suggest Washington has been closely monitoring him.
Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy.
One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis.
It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to give in to Russia's demands - a stance which was "undermining broader efforts to hold Russia accountable".
While the bulk of the leaked documents concern, in one way or another, the war in Ukraine, there are others that touch on a huge range of unrelated issues. Many of them shed light on some of Washington's global preoccupations.
Like the spread and purpose of Chinese technology.
The documents appear to have been printed out and folded before being photographed and posted online
Three documents based on intelligence from late February detail discussions among senior Jordanian officials over whether or not to shut the Chinese firm Huawei out of its 5G rollout plans.
Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, in charge of the rollout, is said in the document to be worried about retaliation from China if they keep Huawei out.
Nor is this the only place where fears about Chinese technology are revealed
Another document marked top secret addresses China's "developing cyber-attack capabilities." It says these are designed "to deny, exploit, and hijack satellite links and networks as part of its strategy to control information, which it considers to be a key warfighting domain."
Newly discovered documents suggest Russian officials are at loggerheads over the reporting of casualties.
The main intelligence agency, the FSB, has "accused" the country's defence ministry of playing down the human impact of the war, the files show.
These findings show the extent to which the US agencies have penetrated the Russian intelligence and military.
One document, dated 23 March, refers to the presence of a small number of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine, without specifying their activities or location. The UK has the largest contingent (50), followed by Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1).
Western governments typically refrain from commenting on such sensitive matters, but this detail is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well.
Other documents say when a dozen new Ukrainian brigades - being prepared for an offensive that could begin within weeks - will be ready. They list, in great detail, the tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces that are being provided by Ukraine's Western allies.
One map includes a timeline that assesses ground conditions across eastern Ukraine as spring progresses.
According to the Washington Post newspaper, one document from early February expresses misgivings about Ukraine's chances of success in its forthcoming counteroffensive, saying that problems with generating and sustaining sufficient forces could result in "modest territorial gains".
Ukraine's difficulties in maintaining its vital air defences are also analysed, with warnings from late February that Kyiv might run out of critical missiles.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds.
Casualty figures are also listed. One slide refers to as many as 223,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, and as many as 131,000 Ukrainians.
Some Ukrainian officials have dismissed the leaks, suggesting they might constitute a Russian disinformation campaign. But there are signs of frustration and anger too.
One presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted: "We need less contemplation on 'leaks' and more long-range weapons in order to properly end the war."
President al-Sisi is said to have told officials to keep production of rockets for Russia secret - but an Egyptian official says the allegation is baseless
The Washington Post obtained access to another document from mid-February, where they found that Egypt had plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret.
The Post said President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi told officials to keep production and shipment secret "to avoid problems with the West".
An official is quoted as saying he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier".
It is unclear what the earlier help refers to. In January, Reuters reported that Russia's share of Egyptian wheat imports had risen in 2022, offering one possible explanation.
There is no indication that Egypt - a recipient of US security assistance, worth around $1bn a year - went ahead with the proposed sale to Russia.
An unnamed official quoted on Egyptian news channels described the allegation as "utterly baseless" and said Cairo did not take sides in the war.
The Kremlin called it "just another canard" and the White House said there was "no indication" Egypt was providing lethal weapons to Russia.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Expert: US and Egypt ready to move forward after leak
A classified document, seen by the BBC, reveals that South Korea was torn about selling weapons for use in Ukraine.
The report, based on signals intelligence, details a sensitive conversation between national security advisers.
They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.
One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.
As part of a resupply deal last year, Seoul insisted that the US could not pass the shells on to Ukraine. Seoul has been reluctant to arm Ukraine, for fear of antagonising Russia.
The leak has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with opposition politicians questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation.
The Post also found that Beijing tested one of its experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on 25 February.
The missile flew for 12 minutes over a distance of 2,100km (1,300 miles), according to the documents. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65238951 |
The Ritz London applicant told 'Afro-style' hair was banned - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Jerelle Jules says the five-star London hotel issued a "disingenuous and lacklustre" apology. | London | Jerelle Jules dropped out of the recruitment process after receiving the hotel's staff grooming policy document
A job applicant said he received a "disingenuous and lacklustre" apology from The Ritz after he was told that "Afro-style" hair was banned among staff at the exclusive London hotel.
Jerelle Jules had reached the final interview stage with the hotel when he was sent its employee grooming policy.
The 30-year-old said he was later told that a black hair stylist from The Ritz had approved the policy phrasing.
Mr Jules said the document indicated "institutional racism".
The Ritz says it "does not condone discrimination of any form".
Mr Jules, from Hammersmith in west London, applied for a dining reservations supervisor job two weeks ago and was due to attend the final interview when he was sent the policy document.
It stated that staff could not have "unusual hairstyles such as spiky or Afro-style".
Mr Jules, who works in corporate housing, said it was the first time he had been told he could not have Afro hair for a job, and he declined the final interview.
He said the personal grooming policy, dated to 2021, was an example of "corporate ignorance".
Mr Jules said he had invited The Ritz to talk about diversity
"I want to make sure that things like this don't happen again," he said. "It's about inclusivity and black professionalism."
Mr Jules said he had invited The Ritz to talk about diversity and being "open to all candidates".
A spokesperson for the five-star hotel said: "The Ritz London does not condone discrimination of any form and we are genuinely committed to fostering an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for all of our colleagues and guests.
"An out-of-date and incorrect Grooming Policy was regrettably sent to Mr Jules. We would also like to reiterate that these are not The Ritz London's rules."
Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, told the BBC that the hair policy was "blatant discrimination".
"The response by The Ritz on being challenged is wholly inadequate," he said. "They have not explained how this racist and demeaning policy came about or what they now intend to do to address its legacy.
"Mr Jules has offered to help them improve their recruitment process, which is a generous offer and one they should take up. There is no room for this type of attitude from employers."
Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65242398 |
Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea: Blues' Champions League ambitions dented by the holders - BBC Sport | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | null | Chelsea have it all to do if they are to advance to the Champions League semi-finals as they lose to holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. | null | Last updated on .From the section European Football
Chelsea have it all to do if they are to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after losing to holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Karim Benzema's tap-in - his 90th goal in the competition - gave Real boss Carlo Ancelotti the perfect start against his former club.
Real Madrid struggled to add to their lead before Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for fouling Rodrygo as the Brazil forward threatened to go clean through on goal.
Chelsea produced a battling performance but Real scored what could be a decisive second goal when substitute Marco Asensio finished well after the visitors were caught out following a short corner.
Chelsea carried more of an attacking threat after the tepid performance against Wolves in Frank Lampard's first game back as interim manager, and had chances of their own.
Joao Felix forced Thibaut Courtois into a smart save when the game was goalless before the former Chelsea keeper produced a fine diving stop to deny Raheem Sterling an equaliser.
• None Check out all the latest Chelsea news in one place
Chelsea must score at least twice in next Tuesday's quarter-final return leg at Stamford Bridge, but they are now without a goal in their past four matches.
They were denied a late strike when former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger produced a superb block to deny substitute Mason Mount a goal that would have sent the Blues into the second leg in high spirits.
The Champions League is their last hope of a trophy in this most chaotic of seasons and Felix almost gave the Blues a dream start in the second minute, only to be denied by Courtois.
While Real struggled at times for rhythm in midfield, the return of N'Golo Kante improved Chelsea's engine room, while Felix continued to keep Courtois on his toes before he was replaced after Chilwell was sent off in the 59th minute.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly said in an interview with Sky Sports before the game that "we're excited about the future" while also predicting his club would win 3-0 against Real Madrid.
It is hard to see where the excitement is coming from after a fifth game without a win and the team drifting in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
This was Chelsea's ninth Champions League game of the season with their third different manager.
Since Ancelotti was sacked by the Blues in May 2011 after finishing second in the table, Chelsea have gone through 10 permanent managers - sacking seven, including Lampard in January 2021.
Lampard had been due to work at this game as a television pundit until he answered Chelsea's call to take charge until the end of the season.
The club legend, however, has now suffered 13 defeats in his past 16 matches in all competitions across spells with Everton and Chelsea this season.
Ancelotti said on the eve of this tie that he was "sad" about Chelsea's poor form yet his Real Madrid side added to his former club's problems.
Real were far from their fluid best but did enough to establish a healthy advantage as they look to win the competition for a record 15th time.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo were a handful as Real registered 18 attempts, while Courtois was a solid last line of defence.
Rudiger's block to deny Mount at the end was crucial. Having helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021, the German showed what a shrewd addition he is after moving to Real on a free transfer last June.
• None Attempt missed. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
• None Attempt blocked. Mason Mount (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
• None Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is too high.
• None Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Alaba.
• None Éder Militão (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Toni Kroos following a set piece situation.
• None Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65243061 |
Millie Bobby Brown announces her engagement to Jake Bongiovi - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The 19-year-old confirms on Instagram she will marry Jake Bongiovi, the son of singer Jon Bon Jovi. | Entertainment & Arts | The couple were pictured together at the premiere of the fourth season of Stranger Things last year
Actress Millie Bobby Brown has announced she is engaged to Jake Bongiovi, her boyfriend of two-and-a-half years.
Posting a picture of herself with Bongiovi, the 19-year-old Stranger Things star said: "I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all."
An engagement ring could be seen on her finger, and Brown added a white love heart emoji to the end of her post.
Bongiovi, 20, is an actor and the son of legendary singer Jon Bon Jovi.
This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Instagram The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip instagram post by milliebobbybrown This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Singer Pixie Lott was among the stars commenting on Brown's post, writing: "Omg!!!! Congratulations you two so happy for you eeeee."
Bongiovi also shared the news on his own page, simply writing "forever" alongside two photos of the couple.
Brown's statement referenced the lyrics from Taylor Swift track Lover, taken from her seventh studio album of the same name.
The announcement follows weeks of social media speculation that the couple had become engaged.
The pair were seen together at the Bafta Film Awards in London in March 2022
The couple posed for photos with stormtroopers at at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, last year
Bongiovi attended the premiere of Brown's film Enola Holmes 2 in September
Brown introduced Bongiovi to her followers in June 2021 with a photo of him posted to Instagram. The pair later confirmed they were a couple.
In another Instagram post in January, Brown called Bongiovi her "partner for life" and posted a string of pictures of the couple together.
The English actress rose to fame as a child star on the smash hit Netflix series Stranger Things, the forthcoming fifth season of which is set to be the show's last.
Bongiovi recently landed his second major acting role in a new coming-of-age film Rockbottom. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65240158 |
Tesco cuts milk prices after wholesale costs fall - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The supermarket says it is passing on savings to customers after seeing its own costs fall for milk. | Business | Tesco has cut the price of its milk for the first time since May 2020, in a possible sign that price rises for a weekly shop could be starting to ease.
Britain's largest supermarket said it would reduce its four pint bottle from £1.65 to £1.55 from Wednesday.
Two pints will be cut by 5p to £1.25 and a single pint will also drop by the same amount to 90p.
Tesco said its costs for buying in milk had fallen so it had decided to "pass that reduction on to customers".
The price of a weekly shop for households has been rising in recent months and latest official figures show that food inflation in particular was up by 18.2% in the year to February - the highest since 1978.
Milk itself has risen by 43% in price on average from February 2022 to February this year. It is one of many staples, including cheese and eggs, which have surged in cost and squeezed household budgets.
Jason Tarry, Tesco's UK and Ireland boss, said the supermarket's cuts to milk prices would "not affect" the price it pays to its farmers.
"We've seen some cost price deflation for milk across the market in recent times, and we want to take this opportunity to pass that reduction on to customers," he said.
Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, said while the cut in price was only to a single product, the decision by Tesco was "some light at the end of the inflationary tunnel for consumers".
"It also suggests that the UK's fiercely competitive supermarket sector isn't simply going to cash in on profits as wholesale costs fall, because there's always a competitor waiting in the wings to do some undercutting," he added.
Bigger supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are having to constantly monitor their prices amid stiff competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl.
Mr Khalaf said that some "good financial news is long overdue" following a year of price rises and interest rate hikes which had hit household finances.
As well as reducing milk prices, Tesco said it was "locking in" prices on over 1,000 everyday products until 5 July, including Yorkshire Tea, chips, and Shredded Wheat.
Sainsbury's announced on Monday that it was introducing lower prices on hundreds of products for members of its loyalty Nectar card.
The loyalty programme rivals Tesco's Clubcard which rewards members with deals when they shop.
The shake-up by the rival supermarkets comes as new figures revealed people had cut back on groceries and eating out in March, with nine out of 10 shoppers reporting feeling concerned about rising food prices, according to Barclays.
Around 62% said they were finding ways to reduce the cost of their weekly shop, a report showed. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65255643 |
Ex-BBC and Capital DJ Tim Westwood interviewed under caution - BBC News | 2023-04-12T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The former BBC Radio 1 DJ has been questioned on two occasions by the Metropolitan Police. | UK | Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has been questioned twice under police caution over five alleged sex offences.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are now investigating five accusations of offences alleged to have happened between 1982 and 2016.
Detectives say they interviewed a 65-year-old man under caution on 15 March and 4 April. There has been no arrest.
It comes after BBC News and the Guardian uncovered allegations from 18 women. He denied those allegations.
In April last year, a number of women accused the former Radio 1 DJ of predatory and unwanted sexual behaviour and touching, in incidents between 1992 and 2017.
They also accused him of abusing his position in the music industry. Some of the women told us they encountered Mr Westwood when they were under 18. One says that she was only 14 when Mr Westwood first had sex with her.
The DJ stepped down from his Capital Xtra radio show after the allegations emerged.
Last August the BBC launched an external inquiry into what the corporation did and did not know about Tim Westwood's conduct during his nearly 20 years working there. That inquiry is still ongoing.
BBC News has attempted to contact Mr Westwood for comment.
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experiences anonymously by emailing [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65254814 |
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