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At the age of 18, Cuthbert won three gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics - the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays. Known as Australia's "golden girl", she went on to win gold in the 400m at the Tokyo Olympics eight years later. She passed away in Western Australia on Sunday night after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. End of Twitter post by @AthsAust Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull led tributes on social media calling the runner an "inspiration and a champion on and off the track". Friend and former Olympic sprinter Raelene Boyle said Cuthbert had won medals with "humility and distinction". "A lot of the athletes today could take a great deal of learning out of the way she did it," Boyle told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Cuthbert, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1969, was a torchbearer at the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2000. "Athletics Australia is saddened to confirm the passing of Olympic legend Betty Cuthbert, our thoughts with her family and friends," Athletics Australia announced on Twitter. Cuthbert, who set nine world records during her career, was the first Australian to win triple gold.
Australian sprinting legend and four-time Olympic gold medallist Betty Cuthbert has died aged 79.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device 16 July 2015 Last updated at 07:09 BST Later this year, Britain's first European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake will be blasting off to the International Space Station, where he will live for six months. As part of his mission the UK Space Agency are running lots of different activities for kids to find out more about space. We caught up with some of those taking part at a special space conference to see what they love about space.
From rovers to rockets, the UK Space Agency has been showing us how the UK has helped with space exploration.
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The vessel - believed to be "The Harvester", from Milford Haven - got into trouble on rocks at St David's Head at about 14:30 BST on Thursday. The rescued man was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead, while the search for a second man was scaled back on Friday afternoon. Wreckage from the boat has been found over a four mile (6.4km) area. Dyfed-Powys Police sergeant Gareth Walters called it a "tragic incident". Alex Smith, National Maritime Operations controller for the Coastguard said: "Despite an intensive search including the helicopter, RNLI lifeboats and Coastguard rescue teams we have been unable to locate the remaining missing crew." Five lifeboats, a coastguard helicopter using thermal image cameras and cliff teams have been involved in the search. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales earlier on Friday, Jim Phillips, from the RNLI in St Davids, said a member of the public on the coastal path saw the boat smashed on a rock with two people in the water at about 14:40 BST. The vessel was about a mile (1.6km) out to sea near Abereiddi. Mr Phillips said by the time rescuers got to the scene it had sunk and all that was left on the water's surface was debris. Dyfed-Powys Police appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
A fisherman has died and another is still missing after a boat sank in Pembrokeshire, police have confirmed.
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Unite union members had warned of strikes over bonus pay, but it has now been agreed that interim bonuses will be paid out until the end of August. A long-term settlement will also be considered by union officials and EDF Energy, which is behind the scheme. Hinkley Point C is expected to be operational in 2025. Unite officer, Jerry Swain, said the interim agreement was "crucial" in providing a "breathing space" and "creating the opportunity for a long-term solution". "I am pleased that following consultation with our stewards and members that we have been able to agree a clear path forward," he said. "And that the prospect of industrial action, which is always a last resort, can be taken off the agenda in order to allow the panel to deliberate." Nigel Cann, of EDF, said it has created a "very competitive reward structure" for its workforce. "We are pleased that these interim arrangements allow constructive dialogue to continue to finalise this important agreement," he said. "Unite has been a constructive partner in the discussions to date and I look forward to this continuing throughout the construction of the Hinkley Point C power station."
The threat of industrial action by workers building the Hinkley Point nuclear power station has been averted due to an interim pay deal.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Russia, Olympic silver medallists in 2008, led 10-7 after the first half and, although France fought back to 14-14, the Russians would not be denied. Norway, gold medallists at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, beat the Netherlands 36-26 to clinch the bronze medal. There could still be Olympic glory for France as their men's side - Olympic champions in 2008 and 2012 - play Denmark for the gold medal on Sunday. Find out how to get into handball with our special guide. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
Russia beat France 22-19 to win women's handball gold at Rio 2016.
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The annual competition was expanded from two teams to six in 2015, with the top three Super League clubs facing their Southern Hemisphere counterparts. But the format may now revert to one match featuring the two champions - Cronulla Sharks and Wigan Warriors. NRL clubs completed a 3-0 whitewash over Super League teams in 2016. Reports suggest a number of other NRL clubs are set to reject any invitation to take part in the competition. Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said: "We've decided that staying in Australia will provide our team with the best possible preparation for the 2017 NRL season. "Having treasured past visits to the UK in 2008, 2010 and 2013, we thoroughly value the concept of the World Club Challenge. However, a regular NRL season is already incredibly taxing and, as a non-Sydney team, our players travel more than most. "We have committed to playing two trial matches in Australia which we believe will serve as a better lead-in for the team."
NRL runners-up Melbourne Storm have rejected the opportunity to play in the 2017 World Club Series, preferring to stay in Australia during pre-season.
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The game was originally scheduled for 14 November at Stade Yves-du-Manoir but was called off following the Paris attacks the night before. Warriors lost at home to Northampton Saints on 21 November and face Scarlets in their next pool match on Saturday. Racing 92 host pool leaders Northampton on Saturday. Warriors' home Pro12 match against Leinster last weekend was postponed because of rain and a new date has yet to be announced.
Glasgow Warriors' postponed European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3 match against Racing 92 has been rearranged for Saturday 9 January at 13:00 GMT.
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Rose, 36, has played in 21 events since the PGA Tour season began in October, including Europe's Ryder Cup defeat. The world number 11 was in discomfort because of a disc herniation at The Players Championship in May. "I have decided to take the next eight weeks off for rest and recovery. At this point in my career, it's important to invest in my body," he said. "This time off is crucial for me to return to peak performance." The Englishman's Olympic win arrived after a number of players withdrew from the Games, citing concerns over the Zika virus and congestion in their season schedule. The gold represented the only win of his season and he will now miss next week's British Masters and the European Tour's Race to Dubai finale in November. Rose is one of four players to take turns in hosting the British Masters each year, along with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and 2016 host Luke Donald.
Olympic champion Justin Rose will miss the rest of the 2015-16 season to fully recover from a back injury.
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Events company Sincura Group, which controversially removed another Banksy mural in Tottenham, said it would exhibit the work before selling it for about £500,000. Director Tony Baxter said the mural on a printing shop in Great Eastern Street would be removed by Sunday. "It's a very iconic piece," he added. A man who works in the printing shop said in 12 years he had not seen the Banksy mural because it has been covered with boards. "I've seen pictures of what this building was like with it on about 15 years ago. Everybody's curious," he said. Mr Baxter said the mural had become damaged with paint peeling away and would be restored before it was sold. An image of Girl and Balloon painted onto the cardboard backing of an Ikea frame sold for £73,250 in 2012. Last week, a developer expected to buy a block of offices from Camden Council was told it must remove a Banksy stencil of a rat and return it to the authority before the sale. In the last year, two London Banksy murals have been removed from buildings - an image of a boy hunched over a sewing machine in Wood Green and another showing two children playing with a "no ball games" sign in Tottenham. A spokesman for Banksy declined to comment.
A famed stencil image of a girl with a balloon by graffiti artist Banksy is being removed from the wall of an east London shop and sold.
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Capita shares had fallen more than 14% on Thursday after the outsourcing group issued its second profit warning in three months, and by midday on Friday they had lost a further 3%. However, overall the market was up, with the FTSE 100 index rising 18.75 points to 6,950.30. MedicClinic International was the biggest riser on the index, up 4.1%. The FTSE 100 is on track to record five consecutive days of gains. Financial stocks have helped to bolster the market this week, but there were signs that this rally was coming to and end with Prudential down 2.5% and Barclays dropping 2%. In the FTSE 250, shares in Euromoney fell 5.7% after Daily Mail and General Trust said it would cut its holding in the company to about 49% from 67%. On the currency markets, the pound edged up 0.1% against the dollar to $1.2595, and rose 0.5% against the euro to €1.1913.
The FTSE 100 remained on track for its best week since July, but shares in Capita continued to fall.
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Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels are others who could also be available. West Indies' policy has been to only select players if they feature in the same format in domestic cricket. And many have chosen not to play in West Indian one-day competitions. That is because they often clash with lucrative overseas leagues such as the Big Bash. The West Indies will travel to England next month, beginning a three-match Test series with a day-night match at Edgbaston on 17 August. The squad for that series will be missing a host of big names as it has already been selected. Following the Test series, the teams will meet in a Twenty20 match at Chester-le-Street on 16 September before the first of five one-day internationals at Old Trafford on 19 September. In a statement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the "amnesty" with the players' union was "part of a wider strategy to be more inclusive and to improve player relations". In 2014, a tour of India ended abruptly because of a dispute over pay, while the West Indies missed out on qualifying for the Champions Trophy earlier this year. "We recognise that it is highly unlikely that we will now automatically qualify for the 2019 World Cup," said CWI chief executive Johnny Grave. "So whilst the qualifying tournament has yet to be confirmed by ICC, we may only have eight ODIs against England and New Zealand in the next six months to prepare. "It is crucial that we can have our best-performing Windies players available for selection in these important games."
Chris Gayle is among the West Indies players who could now play in this year's one-day series in England after a "temporary amnesty" between their union and the team's cricket board.
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1 June 2016 Last updated at 00:03 BST Teams of riders charge together, firing their riles in unison. But now for the first time, women have been taking them on... and winning! Sahar Zand travelled to Morocco to meet the girls of Fantasia.
For centuries the Berber men of North Africa have proved their worth in the high octane, dangerous sport of Fantasia.
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The 20-year-old France international was fined and suspended until Monday for missing Thursday's training, but the ban has been extended indefinitely. Dortmund met with Barcelona's representatives but the Spanish club did not meet their valuation. The German club say that Dembele moving to Barca is "not currently likely". Dortmund director of football Michael Zorc said: "Our focus now is on preparation for the Bundesliga opening match in Wolfsburg [on 19 August]. Dembele, of course, has the opportunity to complete an individual training session outside the group." Dortmund signed Dembele on a five-year deal from Rennes in May 2016.
Borussia Dortmund have suspended forward Ousmane Dembele "until further notice", three days after the club rejected a bid from Barcelona.
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Colin Ferrie, 52, of Waters Walk, Apperley Bridge, Bradford has also been charged with possessing a class C drug. He will appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 18 August alongside Scott Pendlebury, of Daisy Fields, Bradford, who is charged with the same offences. It follows claims made by the Mail on Sunday newspaper last year about Dr Ferrie's alleged drug taking. West Yorkshire Police said a 23-year-old man, from Bradford, who was also arrested as part of the investigation, had been released from bail and would face no further action. Another man who was interviewed under caution after voluntarily attending at a police station will also face no further action. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said Dr Ferrie, a consultant paediatric neurologist specialising in epilepsy, no longer worked there.
A former children's doctor from Leeds General Infirmary has been charged with possession of cocaine.
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Blake Govers scored a hat-trick for the hosts, including a last-minute winner from a penalty corner. Two Ashley Jackson goals put Britain 2-0 ahead, but Govers scored twice and Matthew Dawson once to put Australia in front, before Sam Ward made it 3-3. Saturday's opening match ended 2-2, so the hosts hold a 1-0 series lead going into Tuesday's final Test in Perth. It was the second time in two days that GB had squandered a winning position against the world's number-one ranked team. "Our performance today was littered with inconsistency," said GB head coach Bobby Crutchley. "We had some decent spells, but suffered too many turnovers in possession. We will be looking for improvement in the third Test."
Great Britain surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Australia in a dramatic second Test in Narrogin.
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The first minister has been reflecting on Scottish government proposals for a fresh ballot on the issue in the wake of the general election result. It saw the SNP lose 21 seats at Westminster after the party's share of the vote fell from 50% to 37%. But the party's 35 seats meant it remained the largest in Scotland. The first minister called in March for a second independence referendum to be held in the autumn of next year or spring of 2019, once the results of the Brexit deal are known. She has insisted a vote was needed to give Scots an alternative to a "hard Brexit" after nearly two-thirds of voters in Scotland backed the UK remaining in the EU. But she has faced calls from opposition parties to ditch her plans - while some figures from her own party have called on her timetable to be "parked". Ms Sturgeon discussed a referendum when her cabinet team met in Edinburgh on Tuesday morning. Her spokesman said afterwards: "There was a discussion led by the first minister on an independence referendum and related issues. "That forms part of the process she laid out after the election and she will continue to consult with government and party colleagues, and will lay out her views on the way forward in due course." When asked if this would be before Holyrood breaks up for the summer recess at the close of business on Thursday of next week, he stated: "I think it is likely before then." The spokesman added there was not "an exact timetable" for when any announcement would be made. In the immediate aftermath of the general election, Ms Sturgeon conceded her plans for a second independence referendum were "undoubtedly" a factor in the results. She said at the time: 'We will reflect on these results, we will listen to voters and we will consider very carefully the best way forward for Scotland, a way forward that is in the interests of all of Scotland." Scottish Secretary David Mundell said at the weekend that he can see "no circumstances" under which an independence referendum could be held before the Holyrood elections in 2021. Responding the comments by Ms Sturgeon's spokesman, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "It's welcome that Nicola Sturgeon will set out her thinking in the next couple of weeks. "She now has to tell Scots what they want and need to hear - that plans for a second referendum on independence are unequivocally off the table." Labour and the Liberal Democrats also called on Ms Sturgeon to shelve her plans - arguing that another referendum was not wanted by most Scottish voters. And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Will Rennie said: "After a clear message from the electorate a few weeks ago the first minister must take independence off the table or be seen to be ignoring the will of the people of Scotland."
Nicola Sturgeon is "likely" to make a statement on her independence referendum plans by the end of next week, her spokesman has said.
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The 23-year-old scored 11 goals in 50 matches in all competitions last season as his side won the Ligue 1 title. United have so far added defender Victor Lindelof to their squad as they attempt to improve on last year's sixth place in the Premier League. "Manchester United is a great team and I would think about it," Fabinho said. "If [Manchester United manager Jose] Mourinho invites me it would be very tempting," he told Brazilian television channel Esporte Interativo. "But I would have to talk with my agent and Monaco to make the things right." Fabinho joined Monaco in 2013 on loan from Portuguese side Rio Ave and made his move permanent in 2015, when he also won the first of four caps for Brazil. But having claimed the Europa League, Mourinho is being linked with several players in order to build a squad capable of dealing with the added fixtures. Tottenham's Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic at Chelsea have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, as has Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. United have strengthened their backroom staff in hiring Juventus scouting manager Javier Ribalta, who was at the Italian club with Morata. Ribalta worked on deals for Dani Alves and Sami Khedira while at Juventus, who have secured six straight league titles.
A move to Manchester United "would be very tempting", says Monaco midfielder Fabinho, who has been linked with the Old Trafford club.
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Kellingley Colliery is set to close in 2015 with the loss of about 700 jobs. Workers, MPs, and union leaders marched through Knottingley and held a rally at Kellingley Social Club. In August, Business Secretary Vince Cable said giving government funds to keep the mine open "wouldn't be good value for money". UK Coal announced plans in April for a managed closure of the colliery due to "extremely difficult trading conditions" and in September secured £4m from government to support the plan. Chris Kitchen, from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said: "Kellingley has about 30 years worth of coal and we know that we're going to be burning coal in this country to generate electricity... the majority of that now is imported. "It's not that we're trying to keep Kellingley open for some kind of historic reason, there's a use for the fuel and there's a use for the fuel going forward that's mined at Kellingley." A report prepared for the NUM said the mine could remain open until 2018 with help additional from the government. Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford Yvette Cooper said: "If the government doesn't act fast it will be too late. "The cost of keeping Kellingley open is going up week after week because there's been no investment in new faces. Yet the government is just dragging its feet trying to kill off the pit by stealth." A government spokesman said: "We have now received a plan from the company and will look carefully at their proposal, bearing in mind that we must make sure that taxpayers receive value for money."
Miners at a North Yorkshire coal mine set to close this year have staged a rally to call on the government to provide funds to keep it open.
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Mason has joined Championship rivals Wolves on a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Hudson played alongside Mason, who scored 22 goals in 60 league starts since joining Cardiff from Plymouth in 2011 "I wouldn't want to see him leave my squad," Huddersfield's Hudson said. Former Republic of Ireland Under-21 forward Mason had been a target for Wolves in the summer. "For me it's a strange one why they would need to sell to a rival club, especially another team looking to push into the play-offs," Hudson added. "I think he's a great player, his movement and the way he ghosts in and out of games. He always hits the target when he gets a chance. "If he's playing week in, week out I think he's probably going to be one of the top-scorers in the league." Wolves' Wales midfielder Dave Edwards, who will be out for 12 weeks after having surgery on a foot injury, says Mason would be a "much needed addition" to the squad. "We're a bit low on numbers at the moment, especially in the forward areas," Edwards told BBC Wales Sport. "I've always been impressed every time I've seen him. "I thought he played very well at Molineux a few weeks ago when we were beaten 3-1 [by Cardiff]. "He works hard for the team and hasn't got a bad goalscoring record either. He'll be great for us."
Former Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson does not understand why striker Joe Mason has been sold to Wolves.
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The suspended Uefa president, 60, was banned by the world governing body's ethics committee in December, along with its president Sepp Blatter. Both were found guilty of breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) "disloyal payment" to Platini. Blatter's appeal against his own ban is due to be heard on Tuesday. The former France international and the Swiss have both denied any wrongdoing. Platini was also fined £54,000 ($80,000) after being found guilty of breaching Fifa's code of ethics. Both Platini and Blatter said the payment was made following a verbal agreement between the pair when the Frenchman worked for Blatter from 1998 to 2002, though it was not paid until nine years later. The Fifa appeals committee, which is chaired by president of the Bermuda Football Association Larry Mussenden, has the power to reduce, increase or overturn the ban. The ethics committee's investigatory chamber has confirmed it is appealing against the sanctions imposed on Platini and Blatter on the grounds that they are too lenient. Uefa said last month that it will not hold an election for its presidency until Platini's appeals process has been concluded. Platini had at one stage been favourite to succeed Blatter as Fifa president, but the opening of ethics proceedings against him and subsequent ban ended any chance of that happening. Fifa's presidential election is due to take place on 26 February. On Friday, the committee banned the governing body's former secretary general Jerome Valcke for 12 years for multiple breaches of the code of ethics.
Michel Platini's appeal against his eight-year ban from all football-related activity will be heard by Fifa's appeals committee on Monday.
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Residents will be moved from their homes in the south-western province of Guizhou to prevent interference with the telescope's electromagnetism. The project's lead scientists told China's state news agency that the telescope would further the search for intelligent life in the universe. It will dwarf the world's current largest such telescope in Puerto Rico. The 500m-wide Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) is due to be operational this year. Provincial officials have vowed to relocate 9,110 residents living within five kilometres of the listening device by September, the official Xinhua news agency said. The relocations will "create a sound electromagnetic wave environment", the news agency cited regional official Li Yuecheng as saying. Residents will reportedly receive 12,000 yuan (£1,280; $1,800) in subsidies for their troubles, with some getting extra support for housing, it said. FAST, built at a cost of 1.2bn yuan, will dwarf the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico as the world's largest radio telescope, which is about 300m in diameter. Wu Xiangping, director-general of the Chinese Astronomical Society, said the telescope's high level of sensitivity "will help us to search for intelligent life outside of the galaxy", Xinhua reported. In the past China has relocated hundreds of thousands of people to make way for large infrastructure projects such as dams and canals. Many have complained of poor compensation. As well as upping investment in astronomy, Beijing is accelerating its multi-billion-dollar space exploration programme, with plans for a permanent orbiting station by 2020.
China is preparing to relocate nearly 10,000 people to make way for the world's largest radio telescope.
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The club said the 25-year-old would be out for "a number of weeks". Forrester sustained the injury in the Scottish Challenge Cup final win over Peterhead on Sunday. Earlier this week, he signed a new contract to stay at Ibrox until 2019 after helping Rangers win the Championship.
Rangers winger Harry Forrester will miss Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic after a scan revealed he has a hairline fracture of the leg.
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The festival showcases films on climbing, mountain biking, skiing, kayaking and adventure travel. The tour's Scottish destinations are Edinburgh on Saturday, Inverness on 12 and 13 February, Pitlochry on 14 February and Glasgow on 10 May. The films include The Ridge - featuring Skye-born cyclist Danny MacAskill - Sun Dog, Touch, All My Own Stunts, Arctic Swell and Wild Women: Faith Dickey and Into the Empty Quarter.
Canada's Banff Mountain Film Festival is about to begin its latest world tour, which includes dates and venues in the UK and Ireland.
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Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes said the Ms Pinkney was "an incredibly strong candidate". If she is approved, Pinkney will take over from Andy Marsh. Ms Pinkney is currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police. Hampshire is currently being run by acting chief constable Graham McNulty. She said: "I am delighted to have been selected as the preferred candidate, and it will be an honour to have the opportunity of serving alongside them." She received the Queen's Police Medal in the 2016 New Year's Honours List. Mr Hayes added: "Olivia was an incredibly strong candidate and will bring a wealth of operational experience and strategic leadership to the chief constable role."
Hampshire could have its first female Chief Constable by 11 March after Olivia Pinkney has been named the force's preferred candidate.
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It was a repeat of the Lingfield Oaks Trial 1-2 as the 14-1 winner beat Architecture, ridden by Frankie Dettori for Hugo Palmer. Harlequeen was third, with Turret Rocks in fourth place. Earlier, the £1,000 purchase Mrs Danvers scooped a first prize of nearly £123,000 by winning the Super Sprint at Newbury. Seventh Heaven, a daughter of prolific stallion Galileo, put behind her a below-par display at Epsom to give O'Brien his fifth success in the fillies' Classic. However, his main hope - the Ribblesdale Stakes winner Even Song - was well-beaten despite being sent off the 4-5 favourite. Mrs Danvers retained her unbeaten record when defeating 22 rivals at Newbury. Jockey Luke Morris pushed the Jonathan Portman-trained filly to the front two furlongs out and the 9-2 joint-favourite won by one and a quarter lengths, with Stormy Clouds second and Clem Fandango third.
Seventh Heaven, ridden by Seamie Heffernan, sprang a surprise to win the Irish Oaks for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
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It has been reported that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor will also have a brief cameo in the first film, a spin-off from the Harry Potter Franchise. It is not yet known what role Depp will play in the fantasy series, which will revolve around a fictional author mentioned in the Harry Potter stories. The first Fantastic Beasts film opens in the UK and US on 18 November. Depp is known for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which will continue next year with a fifth instalment. The 53-year-old was seen earlier this year reprising his role as The Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass, a sequel to 2010's Alice in Wonderland. Last month Harry Potter creator JK Rowling revealed she had planned scripts for a total of five Fantastic Beasts films. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Holliday Grainger has joined the cast of a TV series based on Rowling's Robert Galbraith crime novels. The British actress will play Robin, the assistant to private detective Cormoran Strike, in the BBC One adaptation, which is set to begin shooting this month. Rowling, who has written three novels under her Robert Galbraith pseudonym, said she "couldn't be more delighted" about Grainger's casting. Grainger, who appeared earlier this year in Coast Guard drama The Finest Hours, said her character's "strength and intelligence" would be "a joy to explore". War and Peace actor Tom Burke will play Strike in the seven hour-long dramas to be drawn from Rowling's Career of Evil, The Silkworm and The Cuckoo's Calling books. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
Johnny Depp is set to have a role in the second Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film, due out in 2018.
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The adult male rhino was shot dead and its horn was cut off. Just hours earlier, the royal couple came within 50 yards (metres) of a rare one-horned rhino during their safari. The 430 sq km (166 sq mile) park, in the north-eastern state of Assam, is home to the world's largest concentration of one-horned rhinos. Wildlife poachers pose the biggest threat to the animals, killing them for their horns. The animal is currently listed as "vulnerable" by conservation groups. Seven rhinos have already been killed in 2016, while 20 were poached in 2015. Kaziranga is estimated to be home to 2,400 one-horned rhinos out of a global population of 3,300. The national park is also home to elephants, water buffalo, the endangered swamp deer and tigers.
A rhino was killed by poachers in India's Kaziranga national park on the same day the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured the sanctuary.
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More than £100m is being spent on redeveloping Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland and creating an open-air historical show called Kynren. The Ernst & Young report, commissioned by the Auckland Castle Trust, suggests the projects will attract 430,000 visitors a year by 2020. Kynren is due to open on 2 July. Report author David Smith, said: "The potential economic output for the town, County Durham, and the wider North East is considerable. "It is refreshing that this regeneration of a historically important market town will be based on predominantly private sector funding. "The figures in the report are prudent. But we took the view of what could be the optimum outcome, and we said up to £20m a year for the expected total economic impact of all the planned projects. "However, if they get the support from visitors, retailers and other businesses, then it could be far more." David Ronn, managing director of the Auckland Castle Trust, said: "This is the first time we've had hard economic data on what the advantages will be. "The vision since the trust took over Auckland Castle in 2012 has always been to create job and business opportunities for this area. "The purpose of the independent report is to be clear about what those benefits will be, and to encourage support from those who have an interest in the county and the town."
The redevelopment of a County Durham town could generate £20m a year for the region's economy and create more than 400 jobs, a report says.
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Crafted in the shape of the letter Y for Yorkshire, the trophy will be handed to the winner of the inaugural event, which runs from 1 to 3 May. It has been designed and made by Thomas Fattorini Ltd - a company originally founded in Yorkshire in 1827. Earlier this month, Sir Bradley Wiggins confirmed his intention to ride in the race. The trophy was unveiled at Brudenell Primary School in Leeds earlier. Tom Fattorini, director of sales and marketing, said: "We do business internationally, supplying trophies to the likes of FIFA, and when we were invited to support the production of the Tour de Yorkshire trophy and medals we felt it was a perfect fit given our Yorkshire history." The Tour will begin on 1 May with a stage from Bridlington to Scarborough, followed by Selby to York on 2 May, and Wakefield to Leeds on 3 May. There will be more than 500km (310 miles) of racing through Yorkshire over the three days.
The trophy to be presented to the winner of the Tour de Yorkshire has been unveiled.
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Ecologists from the National Trust plan to release the new colony into Malham Tarn, England's highest freshwater lake. It will be the first time voles have been in high Yorkshire Dales in 50 years. Vole numbers have dropped by almost 90% in recent decades, and they have become one of the UK's most threatened mammals. The animals being released have been bred in captivity and will be introduced in batches over five days. They will spend two days in cages along the banks of the lake, before the cage doors are opened on the third day. Ecologists will place apples and carrots on floating rafts near the cages to tempt the voles out into their new environment. Once fully introduced into the wild, they will largely eat grass, reeds and roots. Roisin Black, a National Trust ranger at Malham Tarn, said: "In the rest of Europe, water voles are common. In Britain, the creatures are incredibly rare. "We know water voles have thrived at Malham Tarn in the past and thanks to work by the National Trust, the habitat here is perfect for water voles again." The UK's water vole population was decimated in the 1960s, largely by American mink that had escaped from fur farms. Water voles live in burrows dug into banks along slow-moving rivers, streams or ditches. The population has been unable to recover, largely due its natural habitat being destroyed by intensive farming, pollution and flood plains being concreted over. Mink have not been seen in the region of Malham Tarn for 10 years. Rangers say they will closely monitor the area for any signs of the predators by setting devices that can capture their footprints. Ecologists hope the voles being released at Malham Tarn will improve the local ecosystem, saying their burrowing should provide the space for rare species of moss and liverwort to thrive. They will also be food for struggling predators such as barn owls and otters. National Trust rangers will monitor the colony over the coming year. They should produce between two and five litters every year, with up to eight pups in each litter. If the water voles in the reintroduction project flourish, ecologists say they plan to breed and release another 100 next year.
About 100 water voles are to be released in the Yorkshire Dales.
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They say diesel emissions have been poorly controlled. And indoor air pollution has been overlooked. Tobacco still poses the biggest indoor threat, but wood-burning stoves, cleaning products and air fresheners can contribute. Mould and mildew in poorly ventilated rooms can also cause illness. "Being indoors can offer some protection against outdoor air pollution, but it can also expose us to other air pollution sources," the report says. "There is now good awareness of the risks from badly maintained gas appliances, radioactive radon gas and second-hand tobacco smoke, but indoors we can also be exposed to NO2 [nitrogen dioxide] from gas cooking and solvents that slowly seep from plastics, paints and furnishings. "The lemon-and-pine scents that we use to make our homes smell fresh can react chemically to generate air pollutants, and ozone-based air fresheners can also cause indoor air pollution." Co-author Prof Jonathan Grigg said there was now clear evidence that air pollution - largely from factories and traffic - was linked to heart disease and lung problems, including asthma. "As NHS costs continue to escalate due to poor public health - asthma alone costs the NHS an estimated £1bn a year - it is essential that policy makers consider the effects of long-term exposure on our children and the public purse," he said. Prof Grigg said the public could also help by: Drivers 'exposed to highest levels of pollution' Prof Stephen Holgate, asthma expert at Southampton University and chairman of the reporting group, warned against complacency. "We all have a part to play to cut environmental pollution. We can't see it, smell it or taste it, which is why people do not necessarily think we have a problem," he said. Is there a danger from scented products? "When you see cars piling up on the way to school taking their children, the fumes directly from the vehicle in front are being vented straight into the car behind, and exposing their child - and yet we are ignoring this," he added. Prof Holgate called for authorities to monitor pollution levels more closely, build new homes away from busy roads and consider closing particularly polluted roads at certain times. He also advised people to open and close windows in the home several times a day. "It's amazing that we are now living in these tight, sealed homes that we are frightened of opening the window and letting a bit of fresh air in," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. A spokesman from the Chemical Industries Association said: "This report should be seen as a significant contribution to an important debate. Chemical and pharmaceutical businesses take their responsibilities extremely seriously in both the production and use of their products, with due regard to the health of their employees and the public at large. "Improving air quality is central to that responsibility and we will continue to be proactive in meeting our regulatory requirements and delivering innovative solutions that seek to minimise the risks of exposure."
Outdoor air pollution is contributing to about 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK, say the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health.
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Alistair Darby, who is currently chief operating officer at Marston's, will take up the top job at M&B in October. He will become M&B's first permanent chief executive since Adam Fowle resigned back in March 2011. M&G owns the All Bar One, Harvester, Toby Carvery and O'Neills chains, with more than 1,500 outlets overall. Mr Alistair Darby will take over the chief executive role from Bob Ivell who has been combining it with his position as chairman on a stand-in basis since October of last year. Mr Ivell said the appointment of Mr Darby had followed an "extensive and rigorous" search process. He added: "I am confident that we have secured the right person for the role and that drawing on his wealth of operational and brand experience."
Pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has appointed the director of a rival company as its new chief executive.
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The Spanish midfielder, 30, joined Watford from Fiorentina on a four-and-a-half-year deal in January 2016. He played 17 times in all competitions during his first season. But in August 2016 he moved to Valencia on a season-long loan, returning to Spain where he had previously played for Atletico Madrid, Valladolid, Mallorca and Celta Vigo. Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng currently sit 11th of the 16 teams in the Chinese Super League after 16 games of the season. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Mario Suarez has left Watford to join Chinese side Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC for an undisclosed fee.
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The 5m (16ft) wide, 3m (10ft) deep crater appeared on Saturday night under the northbound carriageway near the Gateshead MetroCentre. The road, which carries about 90,000 vehicles a day, was immediately closed between junctions 67 and 68. Highways England said repairs had been completed and the road had reopened. The hole was thought to be related to former mine workings. Tyne Tunnel tolls on the nearby A19, which were suspended during the repair process, are now back in force. The latest travel news can be found here.
A sinkhole which opened up on the A1 on Tyneside and brought delays to tens of thousands of motorists has been repaired, highways officials have said.
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The 19-year-old son of Saints director of rugby Jim scored a try in his first two matches for Saints and has made a total of nine appearances. Fellow backs Tom Collins, George Furbank, Rory Hutchinson, Sam Olver and Howard Packman have also signed deals. As have forwards Will Allman, Sion Bennett, James Fish, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Moon, Jordan Onojaife and Josh Peters. Of the group, England Under-20 wing Collins, 21, is the most experienced in a Saints shirt, having made 27 first-team appearances. Scotland Under-20 centre Hutchinson, 20; England Under-20s 21-year-old fly-half Olver; England Under-20 wing Packman, 20 and England Under-20 second row Onojaife, 20, are the others in the group to have played for Northampton's first team. "The Saints academy is doing its job, identifying and bringing through local talent. "There are some highly-rated players in that group - some who've already made an impact in the first team such as Tom Collins and Harry Mallinder. "The challenge for the club and the players is for more of them to make the step up now and break into the match-day 23 - something which has been difficult this season without an Anglo-Welsh Cup."
Northampton Saints centre Harry Mallinder is among 13 youngsters to sign new deals with the club.
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The 35-year-old, who missed the second half of last season with a knee injury, has committed to Swiss Indoors until 2019. Federer, who returned to action in January, won his first Grand Slam title since 2012 and his 18th in total with victory in the Australian Open. "Playing in Basel is always a highlight of the year," he said. He has won Swiss Indoors seven times since making his debut in the tournament in 1998. He is scheduled to return to action next week at the Dubai Duty Free Championships. "If I am spared again by the injuries, I am convinced that I am still capable of beating the best players in the world in the big tournaments," he said in January. Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller Federer's first appearance in his home tournament was in 1998, where as a 17-year-old he was beaten in straight sets by Andre Agassi. There is, of course, no guarantee Federer will be on the Order of Play in 2019, but this is another reminder of his long-term thinking. He missed the last six months of 2016, not just to allow his knee to recover, but also with preservation of his body in mind. At one stage, the conversation revolved around whether Federer would make it to the Rio Olympics. It is time to start the debate about Tokyo. Media playback is not supported on this device
Roger Federer has signed a three-year deal to play at his hometown event in Basel until the age of 38.
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The former first lady and widow of former President Hafez al-Assad died in hospital, the presidency tweeted. Reports say she was ill for many years and travelled frequently to Germany for treatment before 2012, when she was blacklisted by the EU. Marrying Hafez in 1957, she had five children, three of them still alive. The rise of the Assads She was born into a wealthy family from Syria's Alawite minority from Latakia and rarely appeared in public after her marriage. However, she is believed to have stayed close to Bashar and the other children. She was later reported to have left Syria to join her daughter Bushra in the United Arab Emirates. Bushra moved there after a bomb killed her husband, Deputy Defence Minister Assef Shawkat, in 2012. Mrs Assad is survived by Bashar, Bushra and Bashar's younger brother Maher, a general in the Syrian army. Bashar's older brother Bassel, who had been groomed to take over the presidency, died in a car accident in 1994. The other brother, Majd, died of an unspecified illness in 2009, according to state media.
The mother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Anisa, has died at the age of 86 in the capital Damascus, his office announced.
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It will determine whether irregularities were committed and the election should be held again. Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer narrowly lost to the former leader of the Greens, Alexander Van der Bellen, by less than a percentage point. The court heard from about 90 witnesses during two weeks of public hearings. The Freedom Party argues that the way postal votes were handled was among numerous irregularities that culminated in its defeat to the Greens by just under 31,000 votes. It says that postal ballots were illegally handled in 94 out of 117 districts. Austrian far right challenges presidential poll result Is Europe lurching to the far right? Europe's nationalist surge, country by country Is populism a threat to Europe's economies? If elected Mr Hofer would have been the first far-right head of state of an EU country, Preliminary results in the vote count suggested he had a narrow lead but that disappeared after about 700,000 postal votes were counted. The party also claims it has evidence that under-16s and foreigners were allowed to vote. Mr Van der Bellen was eventually declared the winner of the largely ceremonial post with 50.3% of the vote against Mr Hofer's 49.7%. The president elect is due to be sworn in on 8 July. His lawyer insisted that any irregularities that did exist had a negligible impact on the ballot. Correspondents say that if the Constitutional Court disagrees with him, the election would be invalidated - a move that would send shockwaves throughout the country. Such a ruling would also mean that Austria would be compelled to hold another vote in the coming months. If a new election is ordered, departing President Heinz Fischer will be replaced on a temporary basis by three parliamentary officials, including Mr Hofer.
Austria's Constitutional Court is due to rule on the far-right Freedom Party's challenge to the result of last month's presidential run-off vote.
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Both panellists wrote articles attacking the other in the aftermath of the BBC show. On his blog, comedian and campaigner Brand called the UKIP leader an "an end of the pier, end of the road, end of days politician". Mr Farage wrote on the Independent website that Brand had been exposed as a "messiah with feet of clay". The two men were joined on Thursday night's show by Conservative Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt, shadow international development secretary Mary Creagh, and Times columnist Camilla Cavendish. In an often heated debate, with members of the audience yelling at each other and the panel, Brand called Mr Farage a "pound shop Enoch Powell" during a section on immigration, with the UKIP leader responding by saying he believed the UK was "overcrowded". The barbs did not stop when filming ended, as Mr Farage said the performance of the "sometime comedian turned banker-basher" had been "limp". He wrote: "Mr Brand will swan around and tout long-discredited, even conspiratorial, theories about the City of London, and 'who owns politicians' - but actually he had very little to give." For his part, Brand said Mr Farage was "worse than stagnant, he is a tribute act, he is a nostalgic spasm for a Britain that never was; an infinite cricket green with no-one from the colonies to raise the game, grammar schools on every corner and shamed women breastfeeding under giant parasols". The breastfeeding reference followed a row over Mr Farage's suggestion that some venues might ask mothers to "perhaps sit in a corner" to feed their babies. Both men praised the audience of Question Time, which was filmed in Canterbury. Brand, who was urged to stand for Parliament by one man in the crowd. added: "The only worthwhile sentiments, be they raging or insightful, come from the audience". Other questions focused on the NHS, grammar schools and trust in politicians. The programme was watched by an average of 3.5 million viewers, with the audience peaking at 4.6 million at the start. This was nearly a million higher than the previous week's episode, but well below the 7.9 million viewers who watched ex-BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on the show in 2009. The encounter also triggered plenty of debate on social media, with 106,000 tweets during the show - compared with 22,000 the week before.
Russell Brand and Nigel Farage have continued to trade insults following their Question Time clash.
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Bale, 26, has not played since injuring his calf in Real Madrid's 5-1 win against Sporting Gijon on 17 January. Liverpool expect Allen, 25, to be out "for a while" with a hamstring injury. Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts is "hopeful" Bale will be fit but said: "The most important thing is the injury clears up because it can re-occur." Bale is expected to miss Real's Champions League game against Roma on Wednesday after suffering a minor setback in his recovery. "Time will tell over the next two or three weeks how that develops as Gareth steps up his rehab, and we'll take it from there," added Roberts. "He's got some key games coming up for Real Madrid and it's important for us that he's fully fit for such an important tournament in the summer. "Both ourselves and his club will have Gareth's best interests at heart. It's important that the injury fully heals and he doesn't come back too early." Wales host Northern Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday 24 March before facing Ukraine in Kiev four days later as part of their preparations for Euro 2016. Allen is likely to miss Liverpool's League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday 28 February after his penalty against Stoke in the semi-final shootout secured their place at Wembley. "Joe has been unlucky with injuries. As far as the friendlies are concerned it's going to be tight. Time will tell," said Roberts. "There's no need to rush him back. We know what Joe can do. "The important thing is that the injury is fully healed and he can have a run of games before the end of the season." Roberts was speaking at a Football Association of Wales grassroots coaching conference at Dragon Park in Newport.
Wales are unsure if forward Gareth Bale and midfielder Joe Allen will be fit for their friendly matches against Northern Ireland and Ukraine in March.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device 19 June 2015 Last updated at 12:11 BST Drone footage produced by Chester Unlocked has revealed hidden craftsmanship such as the Chester Imp carving high up in one of its windows. Other iconic landmarks in the city will be filmed throughout the year.
A history project has given a glimpse of Chester cathedral which has not been seen for centuries.
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Following a judicial review, Lord Jones said ministers reached their decision on SSE's Stronelairg project "in breach of environmental obligations". Landscape charity the John Muir Trust sought the review after the wind farm was given planning consent last year. The trust said the turbines would "destroy the character" of wild land. Stuart Brooks, the John Muir Trust's chief executive, said the charity was "delighted" with the review's result. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland and National Trust for Scotland have also welcomed the judicial review. SSE said it was "disappointed". The court heard that Scottish Natural Heritage had objected in principle to the wind farm's proposed site. Lord Jones said: "If the ministers did take into consideration SNH's objection in principle to any wind farm development at Stronelairg, they have given no reason for rejecting it, and the decision is defective on that account." The public was also denied an opportunity to comment on a revised planning application for the proposed wind farm, the judge said. He said the government's decision to give consent should be set aside. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing granted permission for SSE Renewables' project in July last year. It was said at that time the wind farm could generate enough electricity to power 114,000 homes. The operators also said it would bring £30m-worth of benefits to the region. However, the John Muir Trust said the development would "destroy the character" of an area of wild land in the Monadhliath Mountains. It lodged a petition to the Court of Session asking for a judicial review of his decision. SSE had sought permission for up to 83 turbines at Stronelairg near its Glendoe hydro electric scheme above Fort Augustus. However, in April 2013, Highland councillors voted 11 to three in favour of raising no objection on the understanding the project was reduced to 67 turbines. Following the judicial review, Mr Brooks said: "This is great news for all those who love Scotland's wild land and wish to see it protected. "A financial appeal brought a tremendous level of support from over a thousand well-wishers, allowing the trust to proceed. "Lord Jones has now decided the trust's court action was well-founded." A spokesperson for SSE said: "We are disappointed with the result of the judicial review of the consent decision for Stronelairg wind farm. "We will now review the judgement in detail and consider our options accordingly."
A judge at the Court of Session has said the Scottish government's decision to approve a 67-turbine wind farm near Fort Augustus was "defective".
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Chris Sane left South Gloucestershire Council days before it emerged the cost of building the North Fringe to Hengrove route had risen £4.6m since November. Amid months of traffic delays, the construction bill is now £16m higher than forecast two years ago. Mr Sane resigned on 30 June for "personal reasons", the council said. "We can confirm that Chris Sane has now left South Gloucestershire Council, with effect from 30 June," a spokeswoman said. "Alternative arrangements have been put in place to cover this role in the interim." Earlier this week, a report to the council's cabinet authored by the now former head of transport revealed construction delays were behind the rising costs of the MetroBus route, which runs from Cribbs Causeway to the north of Bristol, through the city centre to Hengrove in south Bristol. South Gloucestershire will need to spend an extra £9.8m above its original £30.5m contribution to the scheme to cover the increased costs. The report recommended the extra cash is taken from the highways maintenance budget over the next 10 years. Commuters have been enduring roadworks associated with the scheme in the city centre, on the M32 and various other locations in South Gloucestershire.
The man in charge of delivering a major part of Bristol's MetroBus network has resigned from his role.
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Martina Zupan, a fourth-year product design student, designed and produced the product called "Colleggtion". The process to make the disposable circular plate with tearaway cutlery currently has a patent pending. Ms Zupan, 26, hopes to develop her idea into a business when she finishes her studies. The product is one of hundreds of exhibits at Edinburgh Napier's More Than A Degree Show. The student believes her tableware could help highlight the opportunities that upcycling waste eggshells can bring. Ms Zupan said: "The idea literally came to me one day as I was making scrambled eggs in the house and after some extensive research I found that despite eggshells carrying a range of beneficial components, very little was actually being done to upcycle waste product. "I tested eggshell powder in a range of formats - including adding it to muffins, into plaster for egg cups and even cement and other resins but it was the tableware idea that really caught my imagination." She added: "I think I've managed to produce a sophisticated product that has the potential to highlight a new method of producing sustainable tableware and cutlery - it's been really exciting to work on." Richard Firth, programme leader for the product design course, said: "Martina's commitment, determination and drive to try and try again has been rewarded in a design project that is truly unique with the potential to achieve real change with regard to how we think about materials, design our products and how we engage with producing our products within the 21st Century." Edinburgh Napier's More Than A Degree Show is an annual showcase of creative talent from its School of Arts and Creative Industries and School of Computing. The exhibition runs at the university's Merchiston campus and is open to the public from 19-28 May.
An Edinburgh Napier University student has created a range of tableware made from upcycled eggshells.
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In an unexpected decision, the BOJ eased monetary policy on worries that lower oil prices would affect consumer prices. The central bank will increase the pace at which it expands base money to 80 trillion yen ($726bn; £454bn) a year, instead of 60-70 trillion yen. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed up 4.8% at 16,413.76 after the news. It had hit a seven-year high of 16,455.84 in mid-afternoon trade after rising by more than 5%. The dollar rose 1.2% to 110.68 yen, the highest since January 2008. Several pieces of data out of Japan in the morning showing a weaker economy also failed to dent investor sentiment. The country's annual core consumer inflation eased for a second straight month in September, while its jobless rate rose in the same period. Household spending also fell more than expected last month, adding to evidence that the central bank would probably maintain its massive stimulus programme. Asian shares, meanwhile, were already up after positive economic data from the US showed strength in the world's largest economy. Data showed the US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in the third quarter. The news came a day after the Federal Reserve announced the end of its monetary stimulus programme. Greater China shares followed the uptrend, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closing up 1.25% at 23,998.06 points. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite closed up 1.3% at 2,420.9 points. In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.9% at 5,526.60 points, following Wall Street's gains overnight. Shares in heavyweight miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto rose 0.8% and 1.8% respectively. In South Korea, the Kospi was up 0.3% at 1,964.43 points.
Japan led Asian shares higher after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) surprised markets by announcing more stimulus measures.
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Manager Archibald has guided the Jags to finishes of 10th, ninth and eighth over the last three campaigns. "On and off the pitch, he's had a big influence," striker Doolan told BBC Scotland. "It's no surprise that people are taking notice of that and hopefully we can keep hold of him." Archibald is no longer on the short-list for the managerial vacancy at English League One outfit Shrewsbury and Doolan is pleased the 38-year-old decided he had "unfinished business" at Firhill. "Alan is a massive figure round the club and he symbolises all that's good about Partick Thistle," he said. "He's built something here that's long-lasting." Doolan is unconcerned about his own lack of league goals so far this season. The 29-year-old scored against Airdrieonians in the Scottish League Cup in August, but none have followed in the Premiership. "I'm there to score goals and that's what I've done year in, year out," said Doolan. "You pull on your experience from years gone past and there have always been times when you haven't scored - it's nothing to panic about." Doolan's strike-rate has reached double figures in each of his last six years at Firhill. The former Auchinleck Talbot man had only scored twice at this stage last season but went on to net another 12 before the end of the 2015-16 campaign. Thistle are still waiting on their first Premiership win since beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the opening day of the league season. In what is their fourth consecutive season in the top flight, the Maryhill men are 11th in the Premiership - level on six points with bottom club Dundee - but Doolan feels it is far too early to read anything into that position. "Look at the league table; it's so tight," he said ahead of the weekend game with Ross County. "One win and the full outlook of the season can change, so we're going into Saturday with high hopes. "We've set standards across the years that we've been in the Premier League and it's up to us to maintain those standards and surpass them. "It's testament to the club that now we're not considered the yo-yo team."
Kris Doolan has stressed the importance to Partick Thistle of holding on to Alan Archibald after a failed approach from English club Shrewsbury Town.
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This year's winner will be announced in December, but all four nominated works will be on display until January. In its four-star review, London's Evening Standard said: "The display of work by the four contenders efficiently captures art's current mood." Mark Hudson in The Telegraph also gave the nominees four stars, but added: "Michelangelo it certainly isn't." "There's plenty to exasperate the sceptic and give even the most receptive gallery-goer a headache," he added. "None the less, this is one of the strongest Turner Prize shows in ages." The Guardian's Adrian Searle said the show was "perhaps the most peculiar and baffling Turner prize show I can remember". "I haven't enjoyed being so confounded and perplexed in a long time," he added. But Rachel Campbell-Johnston from The Times gave the nominated works two stars, commenting: "This year's Turner display is nothing if not idiosyncratic." She added the meaning of some of the artworks is not immediately clear when looking at them. "You have to start with the written explanation and then work out how their objects illustrate their ideas. "That's why I would like Helen Marten to win, she produces the most visually intriguing pieces of the four candidates." The Guardian also tips "the inscrutable, endlessly inventive" Marten to win, saying she "makes life feel less bare, more rich, more absorbing". The BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz said the same, adding that her artworks are "sort of time capsule stories containing an arrangement of clues that help the viewer solve a riddle". The Turner Prize exhibition is at Tate Britain from 27 September until 8 January 2017. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
Art critics have given broadly positive reviews to this year's Turner Prize exhibition at Tate Britain.
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The bank, which is owned by the Swiss federal government, said the loss could affect its ability to pay a dividend this year. Those dividends are traditionally used to pay for public services. Switzerland shocked markets in January when it abandoned its four-year currency peg to the euro. The move saw the Swiss franc skyrocket in value as investors piled into the currency over fears of a renewed eurozone debt crisis despite the imminent onset of quantitative easing by the European Central Bank (ECB). The continued strength of the Swiss franc is hurting exports from the country which are down 2.6% this year. The tourism industry has also reported fewer visitors and retailers are also struggling. The first-half loss was almost entirely - 47.2bn francs - the result of losses on foreign exchange positions, which occurred in the weeks that immediately follow the bank's decision to remove the currency peg against the euro. Since ending the 1.20 francs per euro cap, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) has intervened in the currency market by buying euros to weaken the franc, which currently hovers at around 1.06 francs per euro. The bank, which also has several private shareholders, warned that its full-year results would rely heavily on developments in the gold, foreign exchange and broader financial markets. "Strong fluctuations are therefore to be expected, and only provisional conclusions are possible as regards the annual result," the central bank said in a statement. The SNB said euro-denominated assets made up 42% of its investment portfolio at the end of June, unchanged from the end of March, and 32% was held in US dollars, also unchanged. Peter Hegglin, the head of Switzerland's 26 canton finance directors, said he was "not going to assume" that the first half loss would mean the SNB would not be paying a full year dividend, suggesting the bank could still reverse its fortunes.
The soaring value of the Swiss franc against the euro has led Switzerland's central bank to report a first half loss of 50bn francs (£33bn).
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The 36-year-old was due to captain the county in their final four Division One fixtures, but has been asked to rest a hamstring injury by Cricket Australia. "We are naturally disappointed that Adam cannot return," said managing director of cricket Angus Fraser. "He is a fine player and a highly respected member of our squad. His presence will be missed." Voges has played 18 Tests for Australia and featured in all three games of their recent series defeat by Sri Lanka. He had made six Championship appearances for Middlesex before that tour, scoring 388 runs.
Championship leaders Middlesex will be without Australia batsman Adam Voges for the remainder of the 2016 season.
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The Elephants have a friendly this weekend's against the Netherlands and a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at home to Guinea a week later. Gervinho, who plays for Chinese side Hebei Fortune, missed January's Nations Cup with a knee injury. Coach Marc Wilmots has also had to replace Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha with Fulham's Gohi Bi Cyriac. The two-time African champions are rebuilding after an embarrassing group stage exit in Gabon early this year. The friendly against the Netherlands is Wilmots' first game in charge of the Elephants.‬ ‪In August, they resume their World Cup qualifying campaign away in Gabon. The Ivory Coast head Group C with four points from their first two matches.‬
China-based Gervinho has been recalled to the Ivory Coast squad as late replacement for injured Salomon Kalou.
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The 21-year-old scored 23 goals in 39 appearances last season to help Hibs to the Scottish Championship title. Former Scotland Under-21 international Cummings moved to Easter Road in 2013 and in total struck 69 times in 148 matches in all competitions. He also helped Hibs lift the Scottish Cup in 2016 and moves to a side managed by former Rangers boss Mark Warburton. "It is a massive club and I played against the manager's team a couple of years ago and I like the way they played," Cummings told the Forest website. "I had a couple of mates in his team then and they only said good things about him so I am looking forward to playing under him. "I want to play football and score goals and the way that the manager's teams play, they normally create a lot of chances so I feel that I am in the right team to create chances and hopefully I can get a few goals." Cummings signed a four-year contract at Hibs last July following the Edinburgh club's first Scottish Cup win in 114 years. "Jason goes with our very best wishes," said chief executive Leeann Dempster. "He made a major contribution to our season in gaining us promotion back to the Premiership." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Nottingham Forest have signed striker Jason Cummings from Hibernian for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
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The 25-year-old, who is yet to play in a competitive international, has won two caps, both in friendly matches against the Netherlands. "He doesn't want to play international football, which is a disappointment from our point of view," said Wales manager Chris Coleman. "But he's made that decision, and we have to abide by that." Media playback is not supported on this device Wales are third in World Cup qualifying group D, four points behind leaders Serbia. They travel to Serbia for their next qualifier on Sunday, 11 June after naming a youthful pre-match training camp that included Exeter's 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu. Coleman added: "We'll get on with the squad of players, the squad who want to play and represent Wales. "There's nothing we can do with Paul, who's decided that international football is not the path he wants to go down." Newcastle-born Dummett was included in a pre-Euro 2016 training camp but was not selected in the squad for the tournament in France. He has not featured at all during the current World Cup qualifying campaign. "Sometimes you have to be patient especially because the team we have at the moment has been hugely successful," Coleman added. "It's a shame because he's a good player. I haven't spoken to Paul. His agent rang me up to give me the news. "I was disappointed, but if he doesn't want to persevere with it then that's his choice. We've got to look after the players who want to play for us."
Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett has made himself unavailable to play for Wales.
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After starting eighth on the grid, Rea led by lap three following a stunning couple of opening circuits as he moved ahead of Kawasaki team-mate Tom Sykes. Northern Irishman Rea was 2.88 seconds clear of England's Sykes at the finish with Welshman Chaz Davies in third. The success was defending champion Rea's ninth win of the season. Despite being eighth and seventh on the grid, Kawasaki rider Rea and Sykes were able to produce pace which none of the other competitors could live with. Rea's ride maintained his sequence of podium finishes at the American venue going back to 2014 as he extended his championship lead over Sykes. The championship now takes a five-week break until the next round in Germany and Rea said he was "going to enjoy the flight home now". "What a way to go into the summer break and what a day for Kawasaki. A one-two again," added Rea, 30. Davies, who finished 4.847 seconds behind Rea in Sunday's race, is 115 points adrift of Rea - champion for each of the last two years - with Marco Melandri a further 37 points back. The winner's fellow Northern Irishman Eugene Laverty earned a creditable sixth place on his Milwaukee Aprilia after crashing out of Saturday's race one, while England's Alex Lowes finished in ninth spot. Ducati rider Davies won race one on Saturday in front of Rea and Sykes.
Jonathan Rea extended his lead at the top of the World Superbike standings to 59 points after dominating race two at Laguna Seca in California.
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Earlier this month, Songbird, which owns 69% of Canary Wharf Group, advised its investors to reject the offer. On Wednesday, it said it still believed the 350p per share offer was too low. "The offer does not reflect the full value of the business, its unique operating platform and its prospects," it said. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and US investor Brookfield Property Partners made the offer. QIA already owns 29% of Songbird, but had to persuade the next three biggest shareholders, New York-based Simon Glick, sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp and Morgan Stanley, who own more than 50% between them to accept the offer. Songbird said it was now its understanding that "each of the major shareholders intends to accept the offer". It also said the board had been in discussions with a number of parties "with a view to achieving a higher offer", but said it now believed none would be forthcoming before the 29 January offer acceptance deadline. Canary Wharf was established 25 years ago as the new financial district in London, and is home to some of the world's biggest banks including HSBC and Barclays. In the UK, Qatar owns Harrods, Chelsea Barracks and the Shard, Europe's tallest skyscraper. QIA was founded in 2005 by the state of Qatar to help its economy by investing in a diverse array of businesses, outside of the country's huge oil and gas resources.
A Qatari-led bid has won the battle to take over London's Canary Wharf complex after three of its major shareholders agreed to accept the £2.6bn offer.
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The Mesh Oversight Group report also said complications caused by the implants should be recorded so that experts fully understood the risks. Vaginal mesh implants are used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. But some women said they left them in permanent pain and unable to walk. The research - seen exclusively by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme - aims to address concerns over the use of mesh devices. What's the issue with mesh implants? Mesh implants 'as dangerous as asbestos' Faulty implants end women's sex life Prof Keith Willett, who wrote the foreword to the report, said it contained three key recommendations: The report says: "Adverse events involving mesh as a medical device must be reported and clinicians must bear this responsibility." It also says surgeons undertaking surgery for stress urinary incontinence "must be able to demonstrate they are performing these operations regularly". It says that where a mesh is being used to treat pelvic organ prolapse "this should not be offered routinely for the first surgical intervention". The plastic meshes are made of polypropylene - a material also used to make certain drinks bottles - and are manufactured by many different companies. They are used to ease incontinence and to support organs such as the vagina, uterus, bowel, bladder or urethra which have prolapsed after childbirth. The MHRA says, for the majority of women, the use of vaginal mesh implants is safe and effective. But some can cut into the vagina, causing severe discomfort. Currently in the UK, there are around 100 types of vaginal mesh implants.
An NHS England report on vaginal mesh implants has recommended better support and communication between patients and doctors over the devices.
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Ferres took over from Richard Wright in July and has cited an inability to push through initiatives as the reason for his departure. "As chief executive I believe I have a moral obligation to everyone associated to the Tigers," he said. "Since the board is not in a position to support the multitude of changes I believe must take place, I feel I have no option but to offer my resignation." We look to the future and a real opportunity now exists for somebody new to come into the chief executive's role and drive the club forward He added: "I would like to thank the fans for their fantastic support and indeed the staff for their hard work in implementing the new membership scheme. "The club requires significant investment in order to continue and I truly hope the board can secure the necessary financial support in the coming months." Castleford chairman Jack Fulton said in a statement: "I would like to thank Steve for his efforts during his time at the club and wish him well for the future. "For over 20 years I have supported this club financially to a substantial amount with the aim of keeping it going as a Super League club ready for the day when it can support itself. "While disappointed by Steve's resignation, this position remains unchanged. We look to the future and a real opportunity now exists for somebody new to come into the chief executive's role and drive the club forward." The Tigers have started the new Super League season with one win and two defeats from their opening three matches.
Castleford chief executive Steve Ferres has resigned with immediate effect.
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The party said 40,000 primary age children were taught in classes of 36 or more in England in 2016, blaming "broken promises" by the government. But the Tories said Labour's attacks were "a massive own goal". They said the Labour-led Welsh government had overseen increases in class sizes in Wales. Mr Corbyn, who insisted on Thursday that he could defy the polls and "change the direction" of the election, has used Labour analysis of Department for Education figures to focus on education. He said: "The prime minister herself has said that super-sized classes are proof of a school system in a crisis. "And that's what we've got on the Tories' watch. "School leaders and teachers have said Tory cuts to school budgets will mean class sizes will be forced to grow even larger. We cannot risk our children's education in this way." In his speech, Mr Corbyn appeared to confuse some of the statistics released earlier by his party, inadvertently overstating the number of children in large classes. He told supporters: "500,000 children in England - half a million children - are now being taught in super-sized classes of over 36". The half a million figure is for class sizes of 31 - 34. A Labour spokesman said Mr Corbyn had mixed the figures up. A Conservative spokeswoman dismissed Mr Corbyn's comments and pointed out that the number of infants in large classes had risen by 18% in three years in Wales. "Of course we are not complacent about the situation in England," she added. "There is more to do and that's why we are spending a record amount on schools - something we can afford to do because of our careful management of the nation's finances." Elsewhere on the campaign trail on Friday, Mr Farron will challenge Tory MPs who supported staying in the EU to oppose a so-called hard Brexit. He will add: "If these Tory MPs reject these principles and back a hard Brexit manifesto, then people will know that on the biggest issue of the day they went missing in action." Chalk and cheese. Black and white. Night and day. Yin and yang. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are not, repeat not, cut from the same cloth. Their fundamental beliefs differ enormously. Their solutions for society's problems are poles apart. Politicians in opposing parties are sometimes friends across the boundaries. But it is hard, extremely hard, to imagine the Labour leader and the Tory leader ever quietly enjoying a pootle round the Berkshire countryside of a weekend, or a cappuccino in Islington in a quiet moment. But right at the start of this election - whisper it - there is something significant they share. Read Laura's blog in full
Labour says children are being crammed "like sardines" into "super-sized" school classes, as it focuses its general election campaign on education.
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The country has also been subject to economic sanctions by the West over its involvement in the crisis in Ukraine. Russia will spend most of the cash on federal loans, pensions and recapitalising its banks. The country will also make public spending cuts. Over the next three years most spending, apart military and social programmes, will be hit. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund forecast that Russia's economy will contract by 3% this year and 1% in 2016. Russia's government will spend about one trillion roubles to recapitalise banks through the issue of government bonds. The plan includes a separate scheme to help recapitalise some banks with 250bn roubles, while 300bn roubles will be provided to Vnesheconombank, the state development bank. There will be an extra 200bn roubles in state guarantees to finance investment projects, and regional governments will get 160bn roubles in federal loans. Meanwhile, the government has proposed public spending cuts of 10% this year and 5% over the next two years. The cuts have yet to be approved by the Russian parliament.
The Russian government is to spend at least 2.34 trillion roubles ($35bn, £23bn) to try to stave off an economic crisis, following a collapse in oil prices and the value of the rouble.
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Ms Davies appeared as Mrs Perks in the Railway Children and as Marj in the valleys-based comedy Stella. Tony Gardner, who appeared in Stella, wrote on Twitter: "Terribly saddened to hear Deddie Davies has died. She was a truly wonderful person." Karen Paullada, who also appeared in the Sky 1 series, wrote: "Sad times in this happy Christmas period." Stella star and co-creator Ruth Jones paid tribute to her "remarkable" co-star. She said: "Deddie had been ill for a long time and I saw her about a month ago and showed her the Christmas special on my laptop. "She loved working on Stella. She said it kept her going and she was massively loved by all the cast and crew. "She was one of those rare people who didn't possess a grain of self pity and whose company always brightened your day. "A highly intelligent, joyful, talented and spectacularly spirited woman, who was an inspiration to us all." She added Ms Davies would be "unspeakably missed". Ms Davies had been a well-known face on TV screens since the 1970s, appearing in shows including The Forsyte Saga, The Bill, Upstairs, Downstairs, Grange Hill and Whitechapel. Her agents, Brown, Simcocks and Andrews, said the actress also dedicated her time working with charities safeguarding the elderly and also "going undercover" to reveal issues in care homes. Kelly Andrews, part of the team who represented Ms Davies for about 20 years, said: "She was extremely professional, but she was extraordinary fun and joyous to be around. "She saw the best in everyone. She wasn't just an actress but an activist - she really cared about it."
Tributes have been paid to Bridgend-born actress Deddie Davies, who has died at the age of 78.
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On Saturday, she became the first British woman to win a world title when she took gold in the 1500m. And on Sunday the 26-year-old added a gold in the 1000m, bronze in the 3000m and claimed the overall title. The Scot had previously won eight world championship medals but never gold. "I was mainly focused on the 1000m, so winning the 1500m was a bonus for me, as I haven't raced that distance in so long," Christie said. "I don't think my competitors would have expected that either. "This year I have really changed my mindset, it was win or lose. I risked losing to win, taking each distance one at a time this weekend. "I have been physically capable for a long time, and I have shown I am mentally ready now." The world titles represent an impressive resurgence from Christie, who said she was considering her future in the sport after being disqualified from all three of her events at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Livingston-born Christie also finished fourth in the 500m final on Saturday. She has been focusing on the shorter distance events this season and had already set a new 500m world record of 42.335 seconds. Meanwhile at the World Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships, Zoe Gillings-Brier finished ninth in the snowboard cross. She only gave birth to a daughter last August and missed out on a chunk of pre-season training. Gillings-Brier, who does not receive UK Sport funding, told BBC Sport: "I loved every minute of it. Back on a big course with all the best competitors. Hopefully I'll get some great training in the summer." American Lindsey Jacobellis landed her fifth world title in a photo finish with France's Chloe Trespeuch. On her first appearance in the competition, 19-year-old Welsh competitor Maisie Potter went out in the snowboard cross quarter-finals.
Elise Christie has become a triple world champion after victory in the 1000m, 1500m and the overall title at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam.
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The Legged Squad Support System - referred to by some as "the big dog" - is capable of carrying 400lbs (181.4kg) of equipment over rugged terrain. But the US Marines now say its petrol-powered engine is too noisy for them to use in battle. Google has long said it planned to move away from its military contracts. The LS3 was developed by Boston Dynamics - a robotics firm acquired by Google in 2013 - as part of a tie-up with the Pentagon's research arm, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa). The robot can follow troops on foot through rugged terrain, carrying their gear. It can also interpret verbal and visual commands. However, after a major field trial in 2014, flaws in the robot also became apparent, according to Kyle Olson, a spokesman for the Marines' Warfighting Lab. "There was the challenge of seeing [its] potential... because of the limitations of the robot itself," he told Military.com. "They took it as it was: a loud robot that's going to give away their position." The machine, which has a gas-powered engine, is said to emit a lawnmower-like noise that would be unviable in combat situations. It is also thought to be difficult to repair. In response, Boston Dynamics did create a quieter, electric-powered alternative, called Spot. But despite successful trials in September 2015, the Marines have decided not to take it forward either. This, they said, was because Spot is smaller, can only carry up to 40lbs, and lacks the automation capacity of the LS3. Google said as far back as 2013 that it planned to move away from its military contracts, which it inherited as part of its acquisition of the company. The tech firm has said it intends to develop robots for use in manufacturing and industry instead. Noel Sharkey, co-director of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics, told the BBC: "Spot ... lacks the autonomous operation of Big Dog, but that really is not so much of a problem and would not require a vast amount of research. "The problem is that to take the extra steps need to upgrade the battery-driven Spot to the level of Big Dog could require a couple of years development or more and thus a new Darpa contract. "So, what this looks like is a face saving statement by the Marine Corps to make it look like they are dumping Google/Boston Dynamics before they they got dumped themselves."
The US army says it has mothballed plans to deploy a robot developed in conjunction with Google because it is "too loud".
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Gwyn Llywelyn will return to read the news bulletins - as he did on the station's first morning in 1977. Hywel Gwynfryn, Dei Thomas and Richard Rees will join Aled Hughes for the morning to share anecdotes, and there will be clips from the first programme Helo Bobol. Celebrations continue all day with Bore Cothi, Tommo and Geraint Lloyd. It will also mark the end of Radio Cymru's pop-up station Mwy, which was launched in the run-up to the 40th birthday.
Some of BBC Radio Cymru's first presenters will return to the station on Tuesday for its 40th anniversary.
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West Wales and the Valleys qualify for more than £2bn in EU aid between 2014 and 2020, due to low levels of wealth. But the money - which has been paid ever since 2000 - will come to an end once the UK leaves the European Union. The Conservatives' manifesto says the party aims to create a "Shared Prosperity Fund", with Welsh ministers to be consulted on the details. The campaign document says the current EU scheme is "expensive to administer and poorly targeted", pledging its replacement will be "cheap to administer, low in bureaucracy and targeted where it is needed most". The manifesto, published on Thursday, states: "We will use the structural fund money that comes back to the UK following Brexit to create a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund, specifically designed to reduce inequalities between communities across our four nations. "The money that is spent will help deliver sustainable, inclusive growth based on our modern industrial strategy." Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mark Williams said EU aid had been essential "in creating and safeguarding jobs, bringing our infrastructure into the 21st Century in many parts of the country, and providing opportunities for new entrepreneurs". "Liberal Democrats would launch a £100bn package of additional infrastructure investment for the UK, to create jobs, build homes, and invest in the green economy to create an economy that works for everyone," he said. Plaid Cymru has promised to demand that Wales continues to receive "every single penny" of the money it currently receives from the EU, once the UK leaves the bloc.
A new fund to replace EU economic aid will be created by the Conservatives if they win the general election.
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People living in and around Aviemore in the Cairngorms say the water tastes bad and some have blamed it for aggravating skin conditions such as eczema. Councillor Bill Lobban wants an investigation to check for a link between the water and skin complaints. Scottish Water said it would look at enhancements to the treatment process. There have been complaints about the water's taste since the supply came on stream four years ago. A public meeting in Kincraig, near Aviemore, on Tuesday, which representatives from Scottish Water attended, heard from consumers who believe the water has aggravated skin conditions. After the meeting, Highland councillor Mr Lobban said skin complaints did appear to be on the rise in the area. He told BBC Radio Scotland: "I am not a doctor or a scientist so I cannot tell if it is directly attributable to the water or not, but it is something that requires serious investigating. "It should not be a question of Scottish Water saying basically 'this is a medical problem, go to your doctor'. "This should be more about Scottish Water liaising with NHS Highland to find out if there potentially is a problem or not." Scottish Water said it already worked closely with health authorities, including NHS Highland. A spokesman said: "If a health authority has any concerns over the safety of a water supply, it can impose restrictions on water use, until such times as the matter is investigated and dealt with. "No restrictions have been imposed in this area and we can reassure customers the water is absolutely safe to use." The spokesman said the company recognised that "a small number of customers in the Aviemore area" have found the water is not to their taste. He said: "We want everyone to enjoy the look and taste of their water and continue to liaise closely with the local community, as we work to resolve their concerns. "That's why we are proposing further enhancements to the treatment processes we use, and are proposing switching to a process called chloramination. "This is a very well established process and one in four Scottish Water customers currently receive chloraminated water - including those in Inverness, Aberdeen, much of Edinburgh and some other parts of the Highlands and Islands."
Scottish Water has said a water supply which has prompted complaints about its quality is safe and "complies 100%" with standards.
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The incident happened at about 15:30 BST on Friday on the Albertbridge Road. The man who died was Patrick McDermott from east Belfast. Police have appealed for information in relation to the incident.
A 79-year-old man has died after being struck by a lorry in east Belfast.
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The investors, Filmyard, includes construction magnate Ron Tutor and investment firm Colony Capital. Disney has been negotiating with potential buyers for months to sell the division, which has made films such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love. Earlier this week, Disney bought the social gaming developer Playdom. "Although we are very proud of Miramax's many accomplishments, our current strategy for Walt Disney Studios is to focus on the development of great motion pictures under the Disney, Pixar and Marvel brands," Disney's chief executive Robert Iger said. Disney wants to concentrate on these family-orientated divisions, which produce popular films such as Toy Story, that also come with highly profitable merchandising opportunities. "Disney has been very smart with its film strategy," media analyst Theresa Wise told BBC World Business Report. "One of the big issues with movies is very few films break even... so they need other revenues. Disney has the fantastic ability to sell family films and all the merchandise that goes with it. Disney has owned Miramax since 1993 when it bought the firm from Hollywood heavyweights Harvey and Bob Weinstein. The Weinstein brothers, who recently attempted to buy it back from Disney, named the film company after their parents Miriam and Max.
Entertainment giant Walt Disney has announced the sale of its Miramax film division for about $660m to a group of private equity investors.
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Some £85,000 was spent by the council to improve a nine mile (14.5km) section of the A4059, between Aberdare and Abercynon, which is prone to flooding. It was part of a £23m scheme to improve roads in the area. Council leader Andrew Morgan said road improvements "continue to be a key priority when it comes to allocating our financial resources". The road, known locally as the "Letty Turner's bends" has also had its drainage system improved. Councillor Morgan said: "We will be investing over £23m in highways improvements, infrastructure and strategic projects over the next three years - this is on top of the £53m we have already invested since 2011 meaning that by 2018/19 we will have invested over £76m in these key areas in recent years."
Work to help prevent flooding on a main road in Rhondda Cynon Taff has been completed.
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A selection of photos from across the African continent this week:
Images courtesy of AFP, AP, EPA and Reuters
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Irfan Rabbani will join the SNP opposition group on the council, which Labour controls with a majority of 15. The 49-year-old said he would not be standing in the local elections in May although he would be campaigning for other SNP candidates. Mr Rabbani has represented Glasgow's Pollokshields ward since 2007. He had been a Labour member for 20 years.
A Labour councillor in Glasgow who had been de-selected by the party has defected to the SNP.
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Gabriel, 25, injured an ankle against Manchester City, leaving them short of defenders for their Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday. Per Mertesacker is out for five months with knee trouble and Laurent Koscielny only returned to training on Monday. The Gunners are working on a deal to sign Mustafi, 24. Mustafi, part of the Germany squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, began his career at Everton but made only one senior appearance for the Toffees, as a substitute in a Europa League match in December 2009. He joined Sampdoria in 2012 and played 44 league matches for the Italians before moving to Valencia two years later. Arsenal have made just the one defensive signing this summer - England Under-21 international Rob Holding from Bolton for a fee believed to be about £2m. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.
Arsenal defender Gabriel has been ruled out for six to eight weeks, increasing the likelihood of a bid for Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi.
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The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has joined the Premiership leaders on a four-year deal after a £2.8m fee was agreed with Russian club Krasnodar. "All I'm interested in at the moment is really progressing," Kouassi said. "I really feel this is the best place for me at the moment to progress, to become better." Captain Scott Brown played his 400th game for Celtic in Wednesday's 1-0 league win over St Johnstone and Nir Bitton, Callum McGregor and Liam Henderson have also played in central midfield areas this season, with Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic tending to play further forward. "I'm not getting worried about it," Ivorian Kouassi said through an interpreter. Media playback is not supported on this device "At the moment, since I haven't played for a wee while, I need to get back to full fitness then after that the coach is going to decide. "When you play alongside players with such experience, you learn a lot. I expect players such as Scott Brown to really help me and maybe guide me. "There's lots of great players that have come to Celtic before. It's got a great, great coach at the moment." Uncapped at senior level, Kouassi played in the Europa League with Krasnodar and has watched Celtic playing in the Champions League, including this season's matches in Group C, which also contained Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City. "It's something that I'm really, really happy about because it's the top," Kouassi said on the prospect of playing in next season's tournament. "It's the best you can get in European football. "This is going to have an impact. Celtic is not a small club so hopefully, this will have an impact on my international career with Ivory Coast."
New Celtic midfielder Eboue Kouassi is "not getting worried" about the competition he faces for a place in Brendan Rodgers' team.
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Real manager Zinedine Zidane has said he cannot guarantee Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema will stay at the Bernabeu this summer. That has prompted reports Manchester United could rekindle their long-standing interest in the 28-year-old. "It's a ridiculous, stupid story," agent Jonathan Barnett told BBC Sport. Bale was hampered by injury last season and lost his place to Isco, but previously flourished under Zidane and was rewarded with a place on the 30-man shortlist for the 2016 Ballon d'Or. However, with Real linked with a 180m euros (£160m) move for 18-year-old Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe, there have been reports that they will look to move on one of Bale, Ronaldo or Benzema. Asked about the trio on Thursday, Zidane said: "I want everyone who is here now to stay but anything can happen right up until 31 August." United first tried to sign Bale before he joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2007 and reignited their interest before his move to Spain four years ago. Instead, though, the Welshman joined Real from Tottenham for a then world record fee of £85m. He extended his contract in October 2016, committing him to the Bernabeu club until 2022 and on improved terms reportedly worth £600,000 per week, £350,000 after tax. Despite helping Real win three Champions League titles in four years - scoring in the 2014 final win over rivals Atletico Madrid - Bale's time in Spain has been mixed. During his second season, he struggled with calf injuries, was jeered by some Real supporters and faced criticism from sections of the Spanish media as Carlo Ancelotti's side failed to win a trophy.
Speculation linking Gareth Bale with a move away from Real Madrid is "ridiculous" and "stupid", according to the Wales forward's agent.
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More than two-thirds of those who took part in the poll opposed replacing the current method for electing MPs with the alternative vote (AV) system. Mr Clegg told the BBC the result was "very clear" and promised to "move on". The No to AV campaign said voters had safeguarded first-past-the-post "for the next generation". More than 19 million people took part in the referendum on whether to keep first-past-the-post, where voters put a cross next to their preferred candidate, with AV, which sees candidates ranked in order of preference. These preferences could have been used to decide the outcome in constituencies where no candidate wins more than 50% of votes cast. The Conservatives backed keeping the existing system, while Mr Clegg's Liberal Democrats urged change and Labour was split on the issue. Overall turnout for Thursday's referendum was 42%, with 6,152,607 voters backing the proposal and 13,013,123 rejecting it Mr Clegg said: "I wish I could say this is a photo finish but it isn't and the result is very clear. "I'm a passionate supporter of electoral reform but we've got to accept this. If, in a democracy, you ask someone a question and get an overwhelming answer, you just have to move on." He added: "This is a bitter blow for all those people like me who believe in the need for political reform." Prime Minister David Cameron said the referendum was always going to be a "difficult moment" for the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, but added that the result had been "clear". He added that the government would continue to deal with the problems facing the UK in a "decisive" way. Labour leader Ed Miliband, who supported a move to AV, said the public had "delivered a clear verdict which I accept". But he said elections still had to change in a way which made "people feel more included in our politics". The AV referendum campaign has been marked by strong words of criticism between the two camps. In a speech accepting his side's victory, No to AV campaign chairman Matthew Elliott said the result was "clear signal from every part of the country that people want to keep our simple, fair and effective system for electing MPs". He added: "I personally believe this result will settle the debate about changing our electoral system for the next generation." However, Katie Ghose, who ran the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign, which called for AV, said: "The referendum hasn't been the debate on issues of democracy that people would have hoped for. "Too often the debate has been about party politics and the public has been shut out of discussing how we choose our MPs." She added: "Over five million people voted for change - a tribute to our campaigners."
The public's overwhelming rejection of a change in the voting system is a "bitter blow", Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said.
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Pupils at The Joseph Whitaker School in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire, broke the record at their first attempt with a speed of 478.1mph (769.4km/h). However, later, a different car they had built went even faster and hit an average speed of 533.1mph (857.9km/h). The footage from the Rolls-Royce runway in Hucknall will now be sent to Guinness for verification. If the speed is verified, it will have smashed the existing record held by Samvir Thandi and the Heathland School in Middlesex, whose car reached 287.6mph (462.84 km/h) in March. The Young Engineers tweeted: "We have a confirmed 478.1mph average by Red Shift! Well done to all the young engineers - world record holders!!" However, after a further attempt with a car they had nicknamed Insanity, the team went on to set an even bigger record. Phil Worsley, the teacher in charge of the Young Engineers club, said: "When people watch our rockets they don't anticipate the speed, their heads lag behind the car. "[The pupils] are absolutely amazing. The most amazing bunch of people I've ever worked with." The cars, which are about 45cm (17in) long and constructed from carbon fibre, run on titanium wheels and are guided by a 250m (820ft) steel cable. All parts have been stuck together with strong glue and at the end of each run, the cars come to a stop using small parachutes. The pupils have been working on the project for about a year.
A team of schoolchildren's rocket-powered model car has broken the world speed record, it is claimed.
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Both teams have to play inter-county matches six days after the Ulster final at Owenbeg and Armagh were reported to want a new date set for the decider. However, the Orchard county have said the fixture will be fulfilled. On Saturday, Armagh play Donegal in the Nicky Rackard series and Antrim take on Carlow in the Christy Ring Cup. "It is not ideal and we do not have the depth of squad that Antrim have," said Armagh hurling manager Sylvester McConnell. "It presents us with a dilemma - which competition to prioritise. "We did not formally request that the provincial hurling decider be deferred, and we will definitely play this Sunday's match." Antrim have been Ulster champions for 15 years in a row.
Sunday's Ulster Hurling Championship final between Antrim and Armagh will go ahead as scheduled despite concerns over fixture scheduling.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Fox initially showed neat footwork to avoid a challenge from Alfredo Morelos. But he then delayed making the clearance, allowing the striker to steal the ball from his toes and roll it into an empty net for 2-0. "He feels low enough about it. He's a great professional and will bounce back," McIntyre told BBC Scotland. "He's made a glaring mistake today, he knows that and doesn't need me to tell him. "The mistake is what it is - Scott knows he has to do better there - and the other two goals were preventable. He doesn't need to say anything. "He's been fantastic in my time here and produced save after save that's won us points." Morelos had already powered a header beyond Fox before the goalkeeper's error of judgement, with Rangers dominating the first half in Dingwall. The hosts improved after the interval, with Thomas Mikkelsen reducing the deficit with a header before Eduardo Herrera made the points safe for the visitors with a late finish. Media playback is not supported on this device "I don't think we were brave enough in possession of the ball," said McIntyre. "We took too long to make our passes and we didn't get enough pressure on Rangers. "We've had a lot of plaudits in my time here when we've come up against the big boys, but today I felt we went into our shells in that first half and that's the first time I have had to say that to the team as a group. "The second half was a lot better and it had to be. We made the system change, but it's nothing to do with systems, it's about being brave, taking the ball in tight situations. "I felt we fed their support the way we gave the ball away in areas of the pitch and that just gathers momentum for Rangers." County have gone three games without a win, but McIntyre had still been pleased with aspects of their previous play. "I described our first-half performance against Motherwell last week as one of our best in my time here, that's probably the worst," he added. "There was a lack of belief there and, when you give the ball away as much as we did, a few players went into their shells, it's as simple as that. I can't hide from that. "It's not good enough and I won't accept that type of first-half performance. The players are fully aware of that. "They show a reaction by getting a goal back and being better, but it's a long way back when you concede the kind of goals we conceded."
Ross County manager Jim McIntyre is backing goalkeeper Scott Fox to recover from the error that gifted Rangers a goal in Sunday's 3-1 defeat.
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The Northern Irishman edged ahead of Welsh rival Chaz Davies on the last of the 22 laps to clinch his third successive win in Australia. Rea's British and Kawasaki team-mate, Englishman Tom Sykes, was third. "It was a little bit like a bicycle race and no-one wanted to put their nose in front," Rea, 30, said. The champion's victory - his 39th in WSB - ended Davies' six-race winning streak from 2016. Rea is one of four riders to clinch back-to-back Superbike titles but is aiming to become the first to win three in a row. He still lies two titles behind Carl Fogarty's record of four championship successes. Toomebridge man Eugene Laverty, who is back in the series after two campaigns in the MotoGP paddock, finished eighth on his Milwaukee Aprilia. There will be a second Superbike race at Phillip Island on Sunday.
Defending world champion Jonathan Rea has won the opening race of the 2017 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.
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A major crossing point is the Oresund strait bridge between Malmo in Sweden and the Danish capital Copenhagen, made famous by TV series The Bridge. The checks have irritated commuters who travel daily between the two cities. More than 163,000 asylum seekers arrived in Sweden in 2015 but that number fell to 29,000 last year. The falling number of arrivals means the checks on buses, trains and ferries are no longer necessary, the government says. But while ID checks at border points with Denmark are being scrapped, border controls elsewhere will continue to be tightened, it says. Interior Minister Anders Ygeman also said more surveillance cameras would be used on the Oresund bridge, in addition to vehicle x-rays. Meanwhile, the European Commission recommended that temporary border controls introduced in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway during the migrant crisis be phased out in the next six months. "The time has come to take the last concrete steps to gradually return to a normal functioning of the Schengen Area," EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told journalists, referring to the passport-free zone. In November 2015, Sweden began allowing police to check people entering Sweden from other states in Schengen. "The government's conclusion is that border controls are still needed and need to be strengthened," Mr Ygeman was quoted as saying by The Local news website, hours before the EU Commission's announcement. The real story of 'The Bridge' The measure mandating identity checks on passengers travelling between Denmark and Sweden by bus, train and ferry was last extended in February and expires on 4 May, with the government to let it lapse, Swedish media report. An estimated 20,000 commuters daily cross the Oresund bridge.
Sweden is ending identity checks on border crossings with Denmark that were instituted early last year as thousands of migrants arrived seeking asylum.
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Yvonne Kershaw, a 64-year-old grandmother from Petworth in West Sussex, landed the Virgin Atlantic flight from Cancun in Mexico. Mrs Kershaw joined the airline in 1990 and was granted command of the Boeing 747 aircraft three years later. She said it had taken passengers a few years to get used to seeing a woman coming out of the flight deck. "I suppose normally they would expect to see a silver-haired fox flying the aeroplane in command," she added. "Breaking down those barriers wasn't easy but nobody ever said it would be. "What you need is passion about your job, determination and skill." Mrs Kershaw learned to fly at the age of 19 and after flying small aircraft around Europe and north Africa she gained her commercial pilot's licence and flew executive jets. When she joined Virgin Atlantic its fleet included only four 747s. "It's such an iconic aeroplane and it's what I wanted to fly. For decades it was the largest aircraft in the world and the most loved by everybody," she said. Mrs Kershaw has captained more than 2,000 flights with more than 18,000 flying hours in the jumbos. She said she was "slightly tearful" after landing her final flight and would miss the role "enormously". "With long-haul it's not a job, it's a way of life, because you spend so much time away from home with crew. They become part of your extended family."
The UK's first woman jumbo jet pilot has retired after landing at Gatwick Airport for the last time.
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World number 10 Walden, 33, will meet England's Judd Trump in Sunday's final at Beijing University over 19 frames. It will be a second final in a week for Walden, who lost 10-6 to Mark Allen in the Players Championship on Sunday. World number seven Trump whitewashed Scotland's Stephen Maguire 6-0 in the second semi-final to reach his second ranking final of the season. Trump, 26, who was beaten 10-9 by Kyren Wilson in the final of the Shanghai Masters in September, won the opening frame with a 100 break and then raced to a 4-0 interval lead as Maguire, 35, struggled with his potting. Trump then cleared with 31 in frame five to move to the brink of victory, before completing the victory with a break of 46 in the final frame. Earlier, Walden edged a tight match against four-time world champion Higgins with a 131 break in the decider. Walden is aiming for the fourth ranking title of his career and a fourth tournament victory in China, following his wins at the 2008 Shanghai Masters, the 2012 Wuxi Classic and the 2014 International Championship. The China Open is the final ranking event before the World Championship, which begins in Sheffield on 16 April.
Ricky Walden is through to the China Open final after a 6-5 semi-final victory over Scotland's John Higgins.
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The Lynx UK Trust wants to import up to six of the cats from Sweden to Kielder Forest in Northumberland. With a public consultation over, the trust said the five year trial plan would go to Natural England by September. It has been criticised by some residents and sheep farmers. The scheme would see four to six lynx wearing radio tracking devices with Kielder chosen due to its dense woodland and low number of roads. The trust said the animals would help control deer numbers as well provide a tourism boost. Dr Paul O'Donoghue from the trust told the Guardian the lynx "belongs here" and is an "intrinsic part of the the UK environment". He also told the paper he hoped the lynx could be in the forest by the end of the year. Sheep farmers fear the animals could target their livestock although the trust said the cats would hunt in woods rather than fields. The trust did admit, however, that some sheep could be killed but farmers would be "generously compensated" for any losses. Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said there were several hundred sheep farmers around Kielder, any one of whom could be affected by the lynx. He said valuing a sheep was complex and, money aside, there were major welfare concerns. Mr Stocker said people would not accept animals facing "unnecessary pain" and one sheep being attacked by a lynx could cause major stress and possible damage to others in the flock. He said the UK no longer had the "landscape" for the lynx to be "genetically sustainable" and it would not be in the cat's interest to be reintroduced into an environment that, thanks to roads and industry, has changed so much since the cat existed here.
Plans to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx 1,300 years after it became extinct in the UK will be submitted soon, campaigners have said.
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The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that six women and a child were among those who died in the raids on al-Heisha overnight. The IS-held village has been the target of a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters seeking to capture Raqqa. A coalition spokesman confirmed that it had conducted strikes in the area. But Col John Dorrian told the AFP news agency that "more specific information is needed to conclusively determine responsibility" for any civilian casualties. A coalition statement said seven strikes near the town of Ain Issa, about 14km (9 miles) west of al-Heisha, on Tuesday had engaged six IS tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions, a vehicle, and a car bomb facility. A spokeswoman for the Kurdish-Arab alliance, the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), dismissed the reports of civilian casualties as "IS news". On Sunday, the SDF announced that it had begun a campaign to isolate and ultimately take control of Raqqa, which IS has controlled for almost three years. The initial report of the air strike on al-Heisha, about 40km (25 miles) north of Raqqa, came from the anti-IS activist group, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently. It said 23 people had been killed and identified all but four of them. On Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory said 20 had been killed and about 30 others wounded in the attack. The SDF said some 200 families had fled al-Heisha. One of the residents who escaped, Saada al-Aboud, told AFP: "[IS] fighters brought heavy weapons to our village and stayed among us so that if there were strikes they would hit us." "They wouldn't let us leave. We had to escape by running out into the fields, with our children and old people. What else could we do? We left everything behind." The Syrian Observatory says at least 680 civilians, including 169 children, have been killed since coalition air strikes began in Syria two years ago. However, the coalition has admitted responsibility for only 55 civilian deaths in both Syria and neighbouring Iraq between August 2014 and July 2016. Last month, Amnesty International said some 100 civilians appeared to have been killed in three coalition air strikes in June and July 2016 around Manbij, north-west of Raqqa, during an SDF operation to drive IS militants out of the town.
A US-led coalition air strike killed at least 20 civilians in a village north of so-called Islamic State's Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, activists say.
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The man, in his 50s, is believed to be from the Maidstone area of Kent. The clockwise carriageway leading to the Dartford crossing will remain shut until further notice following the crash between junction 30 and junction 31, police said. The arrested female driver, aged in her 30s and from Romania, remains in custody and is being interviewed. Paramedics attended and both carriageways were shut to allow an air ambulance to land. Police said they were now carrying out an investigation. The slip road from Grays on to the clockwise carriageway is also closed. Motorists are advised to seek an alternative route, although the anti-clockwise carriageway has now reopened. Traffic congestion is very heavy but vehicles initially caught at the scene of the collision have been released, police said.
A lorry driver from Romania has been arrested after a motorcyclist died in a collision on the M25 in Essex.
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The three-day tie begins on 7 April, five days after the Miami Open, which is played outdoors on a hard court. World number one Andy Murray, who sat out Britain's 3-2 victory over Canada in the Davis Cup World Group first round, is expected to play in Miami. Britain beat France in the quarter-finals in 2015, when they won the title for the first time in 79 years. Murray, 29, said earlier this month he expected to return against France after a break following his fourth-round exit from the Australian Open. Rouen's Palais des Sports can accommodate 5,200 spectators.
Great Britain's Davis Cup quarter-final against France in April will be played on an indoor clay court in Rouen.
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2 December 2015 Last updated at 09:51 GMT One in 10 engineers are in South Africa are women - but Ms Moosajee wants that proportion to be much higher. Thousands of girls are going through the organisation's fellowship programme, which includes practical workshops in skills development, training and networking. She says: "It's such a proud moment for me to have these girls come up to me and say: "Naadiya, you have changed my life. I'm an engineer because of you." WomEng is currently working across South Africa and Kenya, with the aim of replicating its programmes across Africa and the globe. Women of Africa is a BBC season recognising inspiring women across the African continent. The first series, Africa's Unsung Heroes, introduces eight women who are making a difference in their country - and beyond. Read more here
South African civil engineer Naadiya Moosajee co-founded non-profit organisation WomEng to help develop the next generation of female engineers in Africa.
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Flintshire factory cleaner Trevor Fletcher, 60, fell unconscious at work in Deeside's Toyota Manufacturing UK. Prompt life-saving action from colleagues kept him alive until the air ambulance team arrived from Welshpool. Dr John Glen, an anaesthetist on board, said teamwork at all stages had helped to save Mr Fletcher. He works at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire and also with the Emergency Medical Retrival and Transfer Service Cymru. He said: "The patient was given first aid and CPR by a colleague, a defibrillator was on hand, paramedics arrived to give more intensive resuscitation and insert a tube to help him breathe. "The helicopter was able to reach him quickly and had an expert on board, and finally he was flown directly a specialist cardiac centre. "Without all these stages, he probably won't have made it - if he had, he would be in a bad way, and certainly not up and about in a few weeks, cracking jokes." Once Mr Fletcher was stabilised, he was flown to the North Wales Cardiac Centre at Glan Clwyd where he was treated at a specialist laboratory, and then transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral to be closer to his family. Once he recovered, Mr Fletcher, who lives in Birkenhead, travelled to Welshpool where the air ambulance is based, to meet Dr Glen and the team to say thank you. "I hadn't been feeling well for a while, with a cough, and finally went to see my GP, who gave me antibiotics and said there was a problem with my chest," he said. "I didn't realise it at the time, but it was actually pneumonia, which was only confirmed when I was at Glan Clwyd. "I was at work and said to my colleagues I felt unwell and was going out for some fresh air. "When I didn't come back they went to find me and a security guard found me unconscious. "Really, the first I knew was waking up in Arrowe Park hospital. "It's thanks to the doctors on the helicopter, and all the medical staff in the two hospitals, that I am alive now and I am able to go back to work, plus spend time with my family."
A man who was "dead" for almost an hour after suffering a cardiac arrest has visited the flying doctors who saved him to say thank you.
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Film studio Warner Bros is looking for a girl between the ages of eight and 12 to play the character of Modesty. "Modesty is a haunted young girl with an inner strength and stillness," the studio said. "She has an ability to see deep into people and understand them." The casting call will take place at the Excel Centre in London on Saturday. The chosen youngster will star opposite Eddie Redmayne in what is bound to be one of the biggest film releases of next year. Rowling has written the screenplay for the film, which is based on a Harry Potter spin-off book she published in 2001. Redmayne will play "magizoologist" Newt Scamander, who writes a Hogwarts School textbook about the weird and wonderful fictional creatures he encounters. Hopeful actresses have been invited to start queuing from 09:00 BST on Saturday. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is expected to be released on 18 November 2016. Writing on her Facebook page in 2013, JK Rowling said: "Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. "The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry's gets under way."
An open casting call is to be held to find a girl to star in JK Rowling's Harry Potter spin-off film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
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28 September 2012 Last updated at 08:44 BST From stranded sailing boats to drifting dinghys - it's estimated they've saved more than 130,000 lives. But they now have a new 1.5 million pound tool to tackle even the toughest rescues. And Joe couldn't wait to try it out!
For almost 200 years a group of volunteers called the RNLI have been taking the plunge into the seas around the UK.
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The existing Langlands School building, which is based at Loreburn Park, is in a poor condition, according to the education department. They have proposed moving it to a new joint campus serving the north-west of the town. It is part of a wider scheme known as a the Dumfries Learning Town project. According to a report to Dumfries and Galloway Council's education committee, the school for secondary age pupils would be known as New Langlands School. It would be part of a campus at Alloway Road which would also incorporate Maxwelltown High School, and Lochside and St Ninian's primaries. Officers have recommended a formal consultation on the plan. They said parents and staff have reacted positively to the proposal during initial informal discussions.
A Dumfries school for children with severe and complex needs could be relocated to a new "learning campus" under new council plans.
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McLaren's engine partner Honda says the two-time champion will receive a five-place grid drop for using too many examples of a specific engine part. Honda expects further penalties when it finalises its plans for the race after Friday practice. As Alonso is likely to qualify on the cusp of the top 10, a back-row start appears inevitable. Honda, struggling with performance and reliability, is keen to try to avoid penalties at the Hungaroring in two weeks' time because it expects it to be one of the most competitive races for McLaren. "It will not change too much if we take a small penalty or a big one," Alonso said. "Maybe it is better to take the big one and arrive in Hungary with a little bit more safety." Hungary is one of the tracks where engine performance is least important in overall pace, whereas Honda will struggle at Silverstone because of the high-speed nature of the track and the fact that the lack of braking around the lap exposes the engine's relative lack of effectiveness of hybrid energy recovery and deployment. Alonso and team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne had already amassed a total of 110 grid-place penalties even before the Silverstone weekend as Honda struggles to get to grips with F1 technology. The first engine part that has been changed on Alonso's car for this weekend is the energy store - or battery - of his hybrid system, of which Alonso has already used the maximum permitted number of four this season. Media playback is not supported on this device Alonso will be using the newest-spec internal combustion engine - known as Phase Three. This new engine also included a new-spec MGU-H - the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo - aimed at solving a weakness in the bearing that has led to a series of failures this season. But this new-spec MGU-H failed on Saturday morning in Austria and Alonso had to have a Phase Two specification engine fitted for the rest of the weekend because there was not enough time to fit an old MGU-H to the new-spec engine. Alonso will start the Silverstone weekend with a Phase Three internal combustion engine fitted with a Phase Two MGU-H and Honda has yet to reveal what other changes it will make after that.
Fernando Alonso is poised to start the British Grand Prix from the back of the grid following fresh engine penalties.
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Mrs Foster said: "We would like to see the petition of concern got rid of". Any vote in the assembly can be made dependent on a petition of concern if it is supported by 30 MLAS - meaning the motion will only pass if it has cross-community support. The purpose is to protect one community from legislation that would favour another. Mrs Foster added: "I think we need to talk about, maybe after the election, getting rid of the petition of concern altogether." If a petition of concern is presented to the assembly speaker, any motion or amendment will need cross-community support. In such cases, a vote on proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority (60%) of members voting, including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting. Effectively this means that, provided enough MLAs from a particular community agree, that community can exercise a veto over the assembly's decisions. A valid petition requires the signatures of 30 MLAs. Introduced as part of the Good Friday Agreement, the procedure was originally designed as a way to safeguard minority rights in the assembly. However, its use has become controversial, and the DUP have been criticised for using the mechanism to stop votes on same-sex marriage being passed, and for preventing motions of no confidence going through. According to figures compiled by an investigative website, The Detail, over a five-year period from 2011 to 2016 the petition of concern procedure was used 115 times. The DUP was the only party with more than 30 MLAS so it presented petitions without other party support. Over the five years, they signed 86 petitions, while the SDLP and Sinn Féin signed 29. The Green Party endorsed four, Alliance three, and the Ulster Unionists two. Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster made it clear that she wanted to see change "We talk a lot about the petition of concern and our opponents talk a lot about the petition of concern," she said. "We would actually like to see the petition of concern got rid of for everything, but I think our opponents would like to keep it for the things they want to to use the petition of concern for and not allow us to use it." Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has called for reform of the petition of concern. She said the veto was the main reason developments such as same-sex marriage had not yet been introduced in Northern Ireland. "We need to get it back to its original intent and away from what it has become, which is used and abused to protect parties' selfish interests," Mrs Long said.
DUP leader Arlene Foster has told the BBC she would like to see the petition of concern scrapped at Stormont.
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At present the practice is used only in adults, but researchers say it should be applied to children too. Their paper is based on a trial of nearly 1,500 children at 14 intensive care units in England. The researchers said cutting infections would also save the NHS money. When patients are admitted to intensive care in hospital a tube, called a line or central venous catheter, is inserted into large veins in the body to deliver drugs, food or fluids. But bacteria are often attracted to these plastic tubes, making them one of the main reasons for infections in the patient's bloodstream. These infections can lead to damage to the brain and other organs, and cases of septic shock. They can also occur when blood clots form in and around the tube. In studies on adult patients, coating the catheters both inside and out with low levels of antibiotics or the blood-thinning drug heparin was found to reduce infections by 70-80%. This study, from the UCL Institute of Child Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, is the first to be carried out in children. It found that only 1% of patients using an antibiotic-coated catheter developed infections in their bloodstream, compared with 4% of patients using a standard tube. The study called this "a significant decrease" on normal levels of infection in paediatric intensive care units. Quen Mok, consultant in intensive care at Great Ormond Street Hospital and one of the study authors, said the tubes should now be used on children. "Bloodstream infections can be dangerous for children who are already very sick. "They can make conditions worse and even cause death, so ways to reduce the infection risk to our patients in intensive care would be very welcome." Although the antibiotic-coated catheter was found to reduce infection numbers in children under 16 years old, a catheter coated in a blood-thinning drug showed no signs of cutting infection rates. And death rates in intensive care were not reduced by the use of antibiotic-coated tubes. Tubes coated with antibiotic are more expensive than standard tubes but the researchers said adopting them would still prove cost effective because they would result in shorter hospital stays and reduce the costs of treating infections in intensive care.
Fewer children would develop infections in intensive care if the plastic tubes used to deliver drugs straight into their veins were coated in antibiotics, a study in The Lancet suggests.
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They are accused of conspiring together, and with others, to sell goods in 2012 that contained wholly, or in part, a mix of beef and horsemeat. Ulrik Nielsen, Alex Ostler-Beech and Andronicos Sideras will appear at City of London Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 27 September. The charges follow an investigation led by the City of London police.
Three men have been charged with fraud for allegedly conspiring to sell horsemeat as beef.
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The 22-year-old matched Gallacher's 18-under-par target by dint of an eagle on the 16th and a birdie on the last. Gonzalez almost chipped in on the 18th to win the tournament outright. But it was Fleetwood who prevailed in the play-off with the sole birdie on 18 to clinch his first European Tour win. "I loved it, it was fantastic," he told BBC Scotland. "It was a nice play-off to be part of. They are two really nice guys, Ricardo and Stevie. I hit two great golf shots and two good putts and that's all you can do. "To win my first Tour event feels absolutely amazing. It's a lifetime goal that's been taken care of and hopefully I can move on and win some more. To call yourself a European Tour winner is just awesome." I love Scotland and I love this golf course. The people carried me around today. They were absolutely brilliant Gallacher looked out of contention when he ran up a triple-bogey seven on the 11th in a rollercoaster final round, but bounced back with birdies at 14 and 16 before holing from 15ft for an eagle at the last. Gonzalez, joint leader with Southport's Fleetwood after Saturday, will be left to rue how close he came to making an eagle from the bunker to prevent the play-off, which was played on the par-five final hole. The trio found the middle of the fairway off the tee but Gonzalez over-hit his second shot, Gallacher found a bunker to the right of the green and Fleetwood found the edge of the putting surface. Bathgate's Gallacher failed to get up and down and carded a par five, while Gonzalez three-putted. Fleetwood's third shot shaved the edge of the hole but stayed within 3ft, and from there he claimed his maiden Tour victory. He said: "I love Scotland and I love this golf course. The people carried me around today. They were absolutely brilliant. It was fantastic to have the support." The victor was accompanied during his rounds, and while posing with the trophy, by his family dog. Fleetwood added: "Maisy is 14 so she is getting on. She has supported me through all my tournaments - amateur, county, England. "Scotland are nice about it. They let the dogs walk the course, most of the time. Any time we can get a tournament in Scotland, Maisy always comes. She has a great time. "She got diagnosed with cancer a couple of weeks ago and we don't know how long she's got left. This might be her last time."
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood held his nerve to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in a play-off with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina.
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The Conservative group of eight councillors has joined forces with six of the independent members. The council leader is independent George Alexander, with Conservative James Allan as convener. Nine SNP councillors were elected in Moray at the recent local elections.
Moray Council's new administration has been confirmed as a Conservative and independent coalition.
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"First you exit then you negotiate," Cecilia Malmstrom told BBC Newsnight. After Brexit, the UK would become a "third country" in EU terms, she said - meaning trade would be carried out based on World Trade Organisation rules until a new deal was complete. A recent trade deal with Canada took seven years to negotiate. The Canadian agreement will also require ratification by all EU countries, adding another one to two years before it takes effect. WTO rules restrict the circumstances in which countries discriminate in favour of each other in trade. Otherwise, they must apply to each other the tariffs they apply against the rest of the world. Ms Malmstrom, the EU Trade Commissioner, underlined that detailed talks to shape the UK's new trading relationship with the EU should not start until after the process of leaving politically, under an Article 50 process lasting up to two years. "There are actually two negotiations. First you exit, and then you negotiate the new relationship, whatever that is," she said. "The referendum - which of course we take note of and respect - has no legal effect. First there has to be notification, which the next prime minister will do, I hope swiftly. And then that process can start." There is concern in the City that having to do business for years under WTO rules could be disastrous for the UK's service industries. Asked whether sticking to such a process wouldn't harm the economies of all EU members, Ms Malmstrom replied: "Yes, but the vote was very clear." She said she was "saddened" that the UK - which has traditionally defended the principle of free trade - is leaving the EU. Fearsome challenge Under EU law, the bloc cannot negotiate a separate trade deal with one of its own members, hence the commissioner's insistence that the UK must first leave. It is also against EU law for a member to negotiate its own trade deals with outsiders, which means the UK cannot start doing this until after it has left the EU. Taken at face value, these rules mean the UK cannot conduct its own trade talks for up to two years - a fearsome challenge to any prime minister trying to deliver Brexit. EU officials say the UK's options will soon refine themselves into a Norway-style package that keeps Britain within the single market - subject to EU rules and regulations - or a bespoke "third country" deal on the pattern of Canada's. They agree that because British businesses are already compliant with EU rules and regulations, choosing to remain within the single market would be "a little quicker", than negotiating a deal like Canada's. But even a Norway-style single market access deal, they caution, could take years to negotiate, leaving the UK trading on WTO terms in the meantime. Watch Mark Urban's interview in full on BBC Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two
The European Union's top trade official says the UK cannot begin negotiating terms for doing business with the bloc until after it has left.
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External overnight trips went up by 5%, reaching 2.3 million, due to a large influx of British people. However, tourism numbers from the Republic of Ireland continue on a deep downward spiral. In 2015 they slumped by 18% on the previous year, with the problem now being looked at by a "recovery task force" at Tourism Northern Ireland. Overnight trips by visitors from across the border totalled 320,000 in 2015, while in 2012 there were 430,000 overnight trips made. In 2014 a report for Stormont said an "image problem" may explain the fall, but the weakness of the Euro last year will not have helped. The Department for the Economy's new statistics show that the Giant's Causeway remains the most popular visitor attraction. In 2015 it had over 815,000 visitors.
Visitor numbers to Northern Ireland hit an all-time high in 2015, according to new tourism statistics.
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On Wednesday, the 25-year-old admitted an online banking fraud, in which a woman lost more than £2,000. However BBC Essex understands that is unrelated to his situation at Southend. "We will not allow any matter to bring the club into disrepute. We will take a balanced view and come to a decision once all of the information is understood," chairman Ron Martin said. "I have supported Nile, along with (manager) Phil Brown and the other players," Martin added. "We all would like to see him succeed on and off the pitch, both as player and person." Southend say they will consider their options, but claim they are unlikely to release any more information until next week.
Southend United say striker Nile Ranger is facing suspension by the League One club after a "breach of discipline".
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Stan Hollis was awarded the medal for his actions during the storming of the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944. A campaign to have a permanent memorial to him created in his home town saw a bar dedicated to him in February. Middlesbrough Council has now granted planning permission for a bronze statue near the cenotaph on Linthorpe Road. The statue, which will be almost 7ft (2.2m) high and cost about ??150,000, is to be funded by donations to The Stanley E. Hollis VC Memorial Fund. Brian Bage, the fund's chairman, said it was "good news" as it had "taken us two years to get this far". He said the fund needed a final ??30,000 to complete the bronze figure. Hollis was a 31-year-old sergeant major with the Green Howards when he took part in the assault on Gold Beach. As his company moved inland, he captured several gun positions and rescued two colleagues, taking more than two dozen prisoners in the process. As a result, he was the only one of almost 62,000 British troops to be awarded the Victoria Cross on the day of the World War Two landings. Three months after D-Day, Sgt Maj Hollis was wounded in the leg and returned to England, where he was decorated by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. He died in February 1972 and is buried in Acklam Cemetery in Middlesbrough.
A statue honouring the only man to win the Victoria Cross on D-Day will be built in Middlesbrough after receiving council approval.
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All-rounder Procter, 28, hit 822 runs and two centuries batting at three during 2016 and played in every County Championship game. Spin bowler Parkinson, 19, made his Red Rose debut in June against Warwickshire where he took a first innings' 5-49. "I couldn't be happier to sign a new deal. I've really enjoyed my first full season as a professional," he said. Procter added: "Playing for Lancashire is all I've ever wanted to do, so to sign a new two-year contract is fantastic. I've enjoyed the responsibility of batting at the top of the order this summer."
Lancashire pair Luke Procter and Matthew Parkinson have both signed new two-year contracts.
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