text
stringlengths
0
479k
summary
stringlengths
1
35.4k
provenance
stringlengths
41
999
t5_text_token_count
int64
1
124k
t5_summary_token_count
int64
2
10.2k
contriever_cos
float64
0.03
1
contriever_dot
float64
0.1
4.89
reward
float64
-2.28
2.43
density
float64
0
1.15k
compression
float64
0
16.3k
coverage
float64
0
1
11 December 2013 Last updated at 06:22 GMT So where do you start with the baubles and tinsel? How do you put the lights in the right place? And should you make your own decorations? Fear not, Nel and decorating expert Kat Croxford have got all the answers.
Creating the perfect Christmas tree is no easy task, but getting it right adds extra sparkle to the festive fun!
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "25321239"}
64
25
0.497066
1.023584
0.258238
0.181818
2.545455
0.181818
Humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said thousands more were likely to flee if the fighting continued to spread and intensify in the coming days. He expressed concern about their fate, calling the situation deeply alarming. Troops and militiamen have retaken more than a third of the rebel-held eastern half of Aleppo since the weekend. Overnight, at least 18 people were killed in government air strikes on the remaining rebel-held areas, including 12 in the Shaar district near the new northern frontline, according to a UK-based monitoring group. Another 10 died in an air strike in the Bab al-Nairab area on Tuesday morning, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added. An opposition activist network said a group of displaced civilians had been targeted and it put the death toll at 25. Aleppo was Syria's largest city and its commercial and industrial hub before the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011. It has been divided in roughly two for the past four years, with the government controlling the west and rebels the east. But in the past year, Syrian troops have broken the deadlock with the help of Iranian-backed Shia Muslim militias and Russian air strikes. In early September they reinstated a siege of the east, trapping the 275,000 people living there, and launched an all-out assault later that month. Government forces stepped up their offensive two weeks ago and broke through the rebel lines on Saturday. By Monday, they had recaptured the entire northern half of the rebel enclave. "It's something that can't be imagined," Ahmad Aziz, a resident of a rebel-held area told the BBC. "We are witnessing the worst days ever. We can't move and see each other because of crazy shelling." Mr O'Brien said he was "extremely concerned about the fate of civilians as a result of the deeply alarming and chilling situation unfolding in Aleppo". "Intensified ground fighting and indiscriminate aerial bombardment over the past few days in eastern Aleppo city has reportedly killed and injured scores of civilians," he added. "There are no functioning hospitals left, and official food stocks are practically finished." At the same time, Mr O'Brien noted, indiscriminate rebel shelling of civilian areas of government-controlled western Aleppo had killed civilians and displaced more than 20,000 in recent weeks. Mr O'Brien said initial reports indicated that up to 16,000 people had fled their homes in eastern Aleppo in the past few days for government- and Kurdish-controlled districts, or other rebel-held areas. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent and local non-governmental organisations were helping the displaced, and the UN was ready to deliver aid to rebel-held Aleppo, he added. A spokeswoman for the UN high commissioner for human rights separately expressed concern that displaced people perceived to have links or connections to rebel groups might be detained by government or Kurdish forces. Peaceful activists and relatives of rebels have been punished in the past for their provision of support to what the government considers terrorists, she added. The parties to the conflict in Syria, Mr O'Brien said, had "shown time and again" that they were "willing to take any action to secure military advantage even if it means killing, maiming or starving civilians into submission in the process". Now at last, he pleaded, it was time to "restore basic humanity in Syria".
Up to 16,000 civilians have been displaced by the Syrian government's advance into besieged rebel-held areas of the city of Aleppo, the UN says.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38143187"}
771
38
0.508031
1.184156
-0.031482
1.862069
22.862069
0.896552
Philip Temple, 66, admitted seven charges committed in the 1970s when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court. He pleaded to 20 similar charges and two of perjury at Croydon Crown Court in April. In all, he admitted abusing 12 boys and one girl while working in south London care homes and a north London church. He also admitted lying on oath in the 1990s when he was cleared of child sex abuse charges following accusations by a teenage boy from his church. A spokesperson for the Catholic Church in England and Wales said that when concerns were raised it was limited in the measures it could take because as a monk he was answerable to the head of his order in Italy rather than the archdiocese here. But the church said it believes he worked in Christ the King parish between 1999 and 2002 while the commission of inquiry was ongoing, meaning he would have had continued access to children. The BBC has been told that in recent years Temple spent time at monasteries in Italy and France. Raymond Stephenson of the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association said: "If Temple had been caught at Shirley Oaks he would not have been able to abuse anyone else." The BBC is still awaiting comment from Lambeth Council which had responsibility for Shirley Oaks. The BBC understands the Temple case will now be investigated by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, currently without a chair after the resignation of Dame Lowell Goddard.
A former children's home worker and Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to a string of historical child sex abuse charges.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37027260"}
319
29
0.459136
1.01118
-0.289402
1.181818
12.545455
0.636364
Maj Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has risen rapidly within the military, fuelling speculation that he is being groomed to become president one day. Analysts say his new role, working more closely with state house, will broaden his remit and experience. Mr Museveni, 72, is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. He came to power in 1986 after winning a five-year guerrilla war - and last year won his fifth term in office with more than 60% of the vote. Gen Kainerugaba, 42, had been in charge of the Special Forces in charge of his father's security since 2008. He graduated from the UK's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2000 and last year was promoted from brigadier to major general. "Muhoozi... is going to play a significant role in a post-Museveni Uganda, there's no doubt about it," political commentator and rights activist Nicholas Opiyo told the Reuters news agency. "He is just giving the boy a hand in experiencing how government works on the side of politics." In the reshuffle Brigadier Peter Elwelu, who oversaw a deadly raid in November on the palace of a regional king accused of launching a secessionist movement, was promoted to army chief. The BBC's Patience Atuhaire in Kampala says the promotion is being seen as a reward for the operation, in which more than 60 people were killed. Meanwhile the previous army chief General Katumba Wamala has been made a junior Minister for Works in the government after serving as the top army official since 2013, a departure seen as a demotion, our correspondent says. Military spokesman Paddy Ankunda said the moves were part of normal changes within the institution.
Uganda's leader Yoweri Museveni has promoted his eldest son to become a special presidential adviser in a reshuffle of army commanders.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38568629"}
400
37
0.566319
1.458665
0.26833
0.869565
14.217391
0.695652
Media playback is not supported on this device Last week Newport appointed ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder John Sheridan as manager following the departure of Terry Butcher. Feeney, 34, had been in charge of the Belfast club since April 2014. They finished runners-up to Crusaders last season and currently lead the Irish Premiership by two points. "I have fond memories of playing in this part of the world, my family home is still in Langstone and I have undertaken my coaching qualifications through the FA of Wales," said Feeney. "It is also a bonus to be reunited with John Sheridan." Linfield offered Feeney improved terms on Tuesday evening in a last-ditch attempt to keep him at Windsor Park. The Belfast club, which had been negotiating compensation for the loss of their manager, now face a task of quickly finding a replacement as they try to regain the league title they last won in 2012. Newport are currently bottom of League Two having won just one match this season. Feeney's wife and four children live close to Newport and his new role will result in a significant salary increase. He played under Sheridan for a period with Plymouth Argyle, and also had spells with Welsh clubs Cardiff City and Swansea. Sheridan left his role as Plymouth boss last season where he worked with current County chief executive Jason Turner. Feeney added: "I saw this as the perfect club to return to the Football League with and I look forward to be involved with the first-team on a day-to-day basis. "The season is still in the early stages and looking at the players the club have at their disposal I am confident that we can negotiate our way off the bottom of the table."
Former Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney has resigned as manager of Linfield to become assistant boss at League Two strugglers Newport County.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "34457765"}
375
31
0.511954
1.354935
0.701797
0.782609
15
0.608696
Cleaning up after the attack could cost millions of euros and involve replacing or wiping computers, said Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Federal investigators are looking into the scope of the attack to see how much data has been taken. It is still not clear who carried out the cyber-attack. The attack on the lower house of the German parliament came to light in May. It involved attackers using malicious programs to infect many of the 20,000 machines used by politicians, support staff and civil servants that sit on the Parlakom network. German newspaper Der Spiegel quoted a parliamentary source who said the malware was still "active" and stealing data from infected machines. A Russian intelligence agency has been blamed for the attack, but Moscow has not commented on the allegations. One report suggested that the federal office for computer security (BSI) had said that cleaning up the infection could cost millions of euros and involve replacing all the computers. However, a later report said no decision had yet been taken on how many machines needed to be replaced or whether they could be disinfected another way. And an investigation was looking into whether the attack could be removed by simply replacing servers taken over by attackers. Conclusions from a secret report into the attack and its scope is expected to be delivered to politicians on 11 June. "This is the biggest cyber-attack on the Bund, on the German parliament," Bernhard Kaster, secretary of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union political bloc, told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
A cyber attack on the German parliament uncovered a month ago is still stealing data from Bundestag computers, report German media.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33093895"}
312
28
0.579955
1.348732
0.24149
1.565217
12.826087
0.782609
13 January 2017 Last updated at 09:22 GMT The format of the tournament will now also change and instead of going into groups of four the 48 teams will be placed in groups of three with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the next round of knock-out games. FIFA have said that the tournament will still be only be 32 days long and the eventual winner will still only have to play 7 games to be crowned champions. There have been many people for and against these changes but it is hoped that adding more teams will give England, Northern Island, Scotland and Wales a better chance of qualifying.
From 2026 the number of teams competing at the world cup will rise from 32 to 48 after a vote by FIFA, the body in charge of world football.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38607330"}
126
34
0.515443
1.084991
-0.053866
0.516129
3.935484
0.516129
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) closed 10 sheriff courts across Scotland between November 2013 and January 2015. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the service said the former Dornoch Sheriff Court had been sold. However, the service said it had "disposed" of three other courts. Haddington Sheriff Court has been given free to East Lothian Council. In exchange, the SCTS said it would receive rent-free office accommodation from the council. It is understood the rooms would be made available to the courts when a vulnerable witness needed to give evidence by video-link. Peebles and Rothesay courts operated in buildings which were leased from local authorities. Those agreements have been terminated. The SCTS said it paid a total of £20,198 in annual maintenance costs on the six former courthouses that remain in its ownership Plans to close 10 sheriff courts and nine justice of the peace courts were drawn up by the SCTS and approved by the Scottish government in April 2013. It was estimated that the changes could save the courts service about £1.3m annually and a one-off initial saving of £3m. Court chiefs said they hoped to complete a "free transfer" of the former Cupar Sheriff Court to Fife Council in the new year. Like Haddington, the SCTS would be entitled to rent-free office accommodation under the agreement. The court service said it was also in talks with Scottish Borders Council about a similar arrangement of the old Duns Sheriff Court building. However a spokeswoman for the local authority has ruled it out. She said: "As this would have incurred additional pressures on the maintenance budget, we are no longer in talks with them [SCTS] about taking on the former court building." The SCTS also revealed that local community groups have expressed interests in acquiring their properties in Arbroath and Stonehaven. Dingwall Sheriff Court building is on the market and the former Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court is in the process of being sold. A spokesman for the court service said their Shaping Scotland's Court Service report, which was published in 2013, identified significant benefits from reorganising the courts estate. He added: "The report also confirmed that disposing of former court buildings would take a number of years to complete, but we are in fact ahead of our expected disposal schedule. "Through a combination of lease termination, open market sale, public owner transfer and potential transfer to community ownership the disposal of these buildings is benefiting local communities."
Scotland's court service has sold just one of its former courthouses since a series of closures began more than two years ago, BBC Scotland has learned.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35159455"}
534
35
0.534988
1.410177
0.16946
1.103448
16.827586
0.62069
Mold Crown Court heard Gordon Anglesea was trying to "wriggle out" of the fact he "said two vastly different things" during a High Court libel action in 1994, and the current trial. Mr Anglesea, 79, of Old Colwyn, Conwy, denies abusing two boys in the 1980s. The court has previously heard one complainant claim sexual abuse by Mr Anglesea in a shower block. Last week, during questioning by his own barrister, Mr Anglesea told the court he visited a shower area of an attendance centre he used to run for naughty boys "once or twice". Cross-examining Mr Anglesea on Monday, Eleanor Laws QC, referred to evidence he gave in the 1994 libel case, which resulted in Mr Anglesea being awarded nearly £400,000 in damages. In 1994, under oath, he was asked: "Did you stand in the showers watching the boys regularly?" He had answered: "I went to the showers on every occasion the attendance centre was open." Mr Anglesea confirmed to the court he had been given the chance to read through the libel transcript over the weekend. He said: "I read it and I realised there was an interpretation on there which to me was incorrect." He said his libel evidence could have been "misconstrued" and he did not go into the shower area every time. Ms Laws accused him of lying under oath, either during the libel action, or to the present jury. She said he was trying to "wriggle out of the fact you said two vastly different things". She accused him of making things up, to which he replied: "I have made nothing up at all." Gordon Anglesea denies one charge of indecent assault against one boy, and two charges of indecent assault and one serious sexual assault against another. The trial continues.
A former police superintendent accused of historical sexual abuse has been accused of deliberately lying on oath.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37609266"}
451
22
0.384158
0.956991
0.166157
0.833333
20.333333
0.722222
Beijing's chief negotiator in the years before handover, Lu was known for his hard-line stance. He notoriously called Hong Kong's last British Governor Chris Patten a "sinner for a thousand years" for making the territory's elections more democratic. Lu also helped draft Hong Kong's mini constitution, the Basic Law. Lu was appointed director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) in 1990 and retired in 1997, just days after the handover. He continued to comment on Hong Kong's future saying in a 2009 interview that the city should stop relying on favours from Beijing and improve its competitiveness, according to the South China Morning Post. The interpretation of the Basic Law has been widely debated in recent months with some arguing it allows for Hong Kong to eventually have its leaders nominated by the general public. However, China decided last year that candidates in the 2017 election must first be approved by a pro-Beijing committee, sparking more than two months of street protests by pro-democracy activists.
Lu Ping, the Chinese official who oversaw Hong Kong's transition from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, has died at the age of 87.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32579597"}
237
33
0.575982
1.237668
-0.784454
1.071429
7.214286
0.571429
She will be the first UK prime minister and female politician to attend the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council. Mrs May said some would argue the UK should not seek to strengthen ties with the states because of their controversial human rights records. "But we don't uphold our values and human rights by turning our back on this issue," she insisted. The prime minister will attend a dinner with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman on Tuesday evening, before addressing the plenary session on Wednesday morning. She will announce a space technology tie-up with Abu Dhabi and a new multiple five-year visa entry system for UK firms doing business in Saudi Arabia. "There is so much we can do together - whether it is helping one another to prevent terrorist attacks, Gulf investment regenerating cities across the UK or British businesses helping Gulf countries to achieve their long-term vision of reform," Mrs May said. "So I hope my visit will herald the start of a new chapter in relations between the United Kingdom and the Gulf." During a series of bilateral meetings, Downing Street said it expected the situations in Syria and Yemen and relations with Iran to be discussed. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Sunday he had repeatedly expressed concerns to his Saudi Arabian counterpart about its involvement in the Yemeni civil war amid allegations that civilians had been targeted during bombing campaigns against Houthi rebels fighting the government. But he said he did not believe a "threshold has been crossed" requiring the suspension of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Mrs May will meet young people in Bahrain to discuss progress on political and social reforms since the widespread unrest in the Gulf nation in 2011, which prompted a much-criticised crackdown by the authorities. "No doubt there will be some people in the UK who say we shouldn't seek stronger trade and security ties with these countries because of their record on human rights," she said. "[But] we achieve far more by stepping up, engaging with these countries and working with them to encourage and support their plans for reform. "That is how Britain can be a force for good in the world as well as helping to keep our people safe and create new opportunities for business." The government says it has identified £30bn of high-value opportunities for British businesses across 15 different sectors in the region over the next five years.
Developing post-Brexit trade with the Gulf region will be the focus of a two-day trip to Bahrain by Theresa May.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38202808"}
520
33
0.465583
1.266049
-0.577304
1.08
19.44
0.68
Eyewitnesses have reported seeing "thick black smoke" billowing from the hangar understood to be at the far end of the runway at Southend Airport. Six fire crews tackled the blaze after it was reported at about 10:40 BST on Wednesday. It is understood aircraft have continued to land and take off despite the fire, though the airport itself is yet to comment. Eyewitness Jade Hodges said: "The fire is still ongoing and there is still smoking coming from there." She said contrary to some reports, she had not heard an explosion. An investigation into the cause is under way, though it is thought it was started accidentally, the fire service said. No planes were inside the hangar at the time, it added. An Essex Fire Service spokesman said: "When firefighters arrived at the scene they reported the large hangar, which is used to livery aeroplanes, was on fire. "Firefighters are using a aerial ladder platform to pour water on the large building from above. "The officer in charge at the incident reports crews are making good progress."
A fire has broken out in a hangar by an airport runway.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40946850"}
237
16
0.568405
1.252311
-1.167315
0.692308
16.384615
0.692308
Officials first thought the sea lion, named Holly, died in an accident. But police are now investigating foul play after an autopsy revealed signs of a blow to the skull and missing teeth. Zoo staff found a hole in the fence near the sea lion enclosure, suggesting a break-in. The autopsy suggests the 21-year-old sea lion may have died from stress caused by the attack. "The employees who worked directly with her are very sad, and the zoo as well," zoo director Frank Brandstaetter told local media. The sea lion was "very sweet and sporty", he added. She had a young pup and other grown children. It is still unclear who carried out the attack, but Mr Brandstaetter stressed he did not believe zoo staff were responsible.
A sea lion found dead in her pen in Dortmund Zoo on Friday may have been killed, a spokeswoman for the city said.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "34771531"}
178
30
0.624629
1.318419
-0.875523
0.72
6.32
0.56
Pre-tax profits for the year to 31 March fell 5% to £394.8m as it was hit by weak wholesale trading in the US. However, tourists attracted by the low pound helped to drive an "exceptional" performance in the UK. The results are the last before Christopher Bailey stands down as the company's chief executive. Mr Bailey will continue in his role as chief creative officer, but Marco Gobbetti will take over as chief executive in July. "2017 was a year of transition for Burberry in a fast changing luxury market," Mr Bailey said. "The actions we have taken to lay the foundations for future growth are yielding early benefits and I remain confident that these will build over time." Burberry - best known for its trench coats and distinctive check pattern - has been revamping its product line and online store, as well as cutting costs. In addition, it said earlier this year that it was going to stop developing its fragrance and beauty products in-house and franchise the business to US cosmetics group Coty. Burberry said it had cut costs by £20m in the past year, and was on target to achieve a further £50m of savings in 2018 and at least £100m by 2019. Earlier this month, it announced it was relocating 300 jobs from its London offices to West Yorkshire as part of the cost-saving measures. Revenues for the past year were £2.8bn, down 2% when adjusted for currency fluctuations. Burberry said a key revenue driver was its new DK88 handbag, which was attracting younger buyers. Steve Clayton, manager of the HL Select UK Shares fund, which holds shares in Burberry said: "Despite all the difficulties of the last few years, cash flow has held up throughout, underlining the attractions of the stock. "Cash flow was strong, with Burberry generating £465m of free cash flow during the year, allowing it to buy back £100m of shares and still see net cash balances rise £149m to £809m."
British fashion brand Burberry has reported a fall in annual profits amid a "challenging" trading environment, particularly in the US and Hong Kong.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39958629"}
437
34
0.487183
1.15339
-0.01349
0.777778
15
0.555556
A 26-year-old man from Burnley was struck by a Ford Fiesta on Trafalgar Street at 22:40 BST on Saturday. He is being treated for leg injuries, a broken arm and swelling to the brain. A woman from Accrington, aged 44, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
A pedestrian is in a critical condition in hospital after he was hit by a car in Lancashire, police said.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36758492"}
86
28
0.659269
1.139102
-1.363089
0.5
3.181818
0.409091
Afghans have become Germany's second largest group of asylum seekers, after Syrians, with 154,000 arriving in 2015. Those arriving in Kabul all left voluntarily, German officials said. Hope of securing asylum in Europe has become increasingly difficult for Afghans in recent days. Macedonia has stopped allowing Afghans across its border with Greece, giving access to only Syrians and Iraqis, leaving thousands of people stranded since Monday. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the return of Afghans was part of its commitment to help rebuild their country. "This is also key to a successful fight against the root cause of people fleeing," he said. Almost 102,000 people have arrived on the Greek islands from Turkey since the start of 2016. According to the UN: Macedonia insists its decision to exclude Afghans was a response to actions taken by other countries. "Decisions have been made in Croatia and Serbia to let no more Afghans over their borders who cannot prove they come from conflict areas," Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki told Germany's Bild newspaper. That move appears to have followed a daily limit imposed by Austria last Friday of 80 asylum applications for people arriving on its southern borders. It said it would allow a maximum of 3,200 migrants and refugees to continue their journey across the country. Greece has complained that the latest measures have sparked a "mini humanitarian crisis". The Austrian move was condemned by the European Commission as incompatible with human rights conventions. Some 12,000 migrants and refugees are now stuck in Greece and busloads of people are now being sent to a camp outside the northern city of Thessaloniki. The government in Vienna hosted a meeting of interior ministers from the region on Wednesday, angering the Greeks who were not invited and complained of an "unfriendly action".
A special flight from Germany carrying 125 deported Afghans has arrived in Kabul, in a sign that the Berlin government is taking steps to reduce the number of people seeking asylum.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35649576"}
394
39
0.56586
1.266876
-0.216609
0.818182
10.484848
0.636364
Media playback is unsupported on your device 22 March 2015 Last updated at 12:32 GMT Track cycling was one of the most popular sports at the London 2012 Olympics, with stars like Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton winning gold medals but it's one of the harder forms of cycling to get into. Since the "street velodrome" started a year ago, more than four thousand children and adults have tried out track cycling at the temporary venues. It's hoped that these free taster sessions will inspire the next generation of track cyclists to take up the sport.
A "street velodrome" is aiming to get thousands of people to try out cycling, by touring the UK with a pop up track.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32007850"}
125
34
0.496891
1.186935
0.217704
1.222222
4.074074
0.703704
Four petitioners allege Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman used "corrupt and illegal practices" in May 2014, when he was elected as mayor. Petitioner Andy Erlam said his "guesstimate" was that up to 15,000 votes were forged and that "intimidation of voters" took place at more than 40 polling stations. Mr Rahman denies any wrongdoing. The group have taken action against Mr Rahman, the independent mayor of Tower Hamlets and leader of the Tower Hamlets First (THF) party, under the 1983 Representation Of The People Act at a special High Court hearing. They want Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey to declare the May 2014 election null and void. Mr Erlam told the court that statistics showed about 240,000 people lived in the borough with 180,000 registered to vote and his "guesstimate" was that between 10,000 and 15,000 votes had been forged or affected by intimidation. He told Mr Mawrey there was evidence that police at many, if not most, of the 40 polling stations had either "refused" to intervene or taken "exceptionally ineffective measures" to stop intimidation. He claimed there were witnesses with "important evidence" who were frightened of coming forward. Mr Erlam stood for election to Tower Hamlets council on an anti-corruption ticket, but denied that the decision to launch legal action was personal. He told the court: "It's about democracy. It is to be defended and fought for and it should not be taken for granted." Mr Rahman has said there is "little if any" evidence of wrongdoing against him and his lawyers have described the group of four's claims as "invention", "exaggeration" and "in some cases downright deliberately false allegations". The hearing continues.
As many as 15,000 votes were forged or affected by intimidation at an east London election, a court has heard.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "31425046"}
404
27
0.529552
1.440522
-0.032551
1.954545
15.272727
0.863636
The footage shows about 15 Barnsley fans in flat caps sitting on the floor of Wembley Way, London, pretending to row a boat ahead of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final on Sunday. Chris Basiurski, who filmed the clip, said the fans had been in high spirits Barnsley came back from 0-1 down to win the game 3-2. Mr Basiurski, a Manchester United fan, said he had gone to the game with two friends from Barnsley. "I've been to Wembley a few times but my friends had not so I was giving them the full experience and having a drink on Wembley Way," he said. "These guys had clearly been there for a while and were in high spirits. "There was a lot of banter between both sets of fans but then one of the Barnsley fans started singing loudly 'You only sing when you're rowing'. "People started joining in and it just snowballed from there. Within a few minutes an entire row of them were sat on the ground with their flat caps and cans of lager. "It was one of the funniest build-ups to a match I've seen in a long time."
A video of Barnsley FC supporters teasing Oxford United fans by chanting "You only sing when you're rowing" has been shared by hundreds of people.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35957618"}
277
37
0.514656
1.358534
0.054121
2.068966
8.137931
0.62069
In a sit-down chat with the paper's Rebecca Black, he appeals to the public (as police do) for more help solving crimes. He refers specifically to an alleged reluctance from the public to come forward with information relating to last week's gun attack on a PSNI officer at a filling station on the Crumlin Road. "There's always a reluctance when these violent dissident groups - or indeed any paramilitary of terrorist organisation - is involved," he says. Inside, the Belfast Telegraph revisits the story of a jogger who found and rescued a student who lay injured on Cavehill for more than 24 hours. It reports David McCrum plans to climb 12 mountains across Ireland to raise money for the Air Ambulance service after seeing first hand the work they do. Elsewhere, the News Letter delves in to its own crime scoop. It reports that a previously convicted terrorist had only served a "light" jail sentence for a serious dissident offence relating to weapons when he went on the run. Damien Joseph McLaughlin was due to go on trial for aiding and abetting the murder of prison officer David Black in 2012, but has absconded. The paper says it has undertaken an examination of bail policy and the sentences applied in previous cases referring to Mr McLaughlin. In analysis on the opposite page, the paper's deputy editor Ben Lowry offers his opinion on Northern Ireland's bail policy, calling it "hopelessly lenient" with regards to serious dissident offences and makes an appeal for tougher action by the courts on terror. "Ten days ago a policeman could have been killed in a dissident attack in north Belfast," he writes. "The terrorists were clearly determined to murder an officer, so it is reasonable to fear that in the coming weeks or months another PSNI officer, or group of officers, will be killed." Sticking with the theme, the Irish News carries a story about an officer who faces prosecution for driving a police Land Rover dangerously. The paper quotes a spokesperson for the Police Ombudsman, who says there were more than 20 complaints about "different aspects of police conduct" at a march on the Ormeau Road on the Tuesday after Easter 2016. Finally, the Irish News reports Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny will raise concerns about President Trump's travel ban when he visits him in America on St. Patrick's Day. "The blanket ban on any country and bans on the basis of religion are not morally acceptable and I disagree entirely with the policy that has been laid out," says Mr Kenny.
There's a definite crime theme running through the papers this morning, led by the Belfast Telegraph's exclusive interview with Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38824678"}
604
37
0.428835
1.18953
0.304162
0.966667
16.7
0.566667
Mark Reckless said the "Cardiff Bay establishment" saw more devolution as a way to boost its power and importance. He said he did not understand why a consensus was emerging in support of income tax powers without a referendum. Labour said UKIP's values were "not shared by the vast majority in Wales". UKIP got more than 200,000 votes in Wales at the general election - more than both Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats - but did not win any seats. The party is likely to pick up several assembly seats next May as the election has an element of proportional representation. Former Tory MP Mr Reckless, now UKIP's head of policy development, said the party would campaign for directly elected health boards, the return of grammar schools, and more powers being devolved to councils. He claimed "most people in Wales" did not want to see more powers devolved along the lines of the Scottish model. "There seems to be a distance from what I describe as the Cardiff Bay establishment and just people I speak to on the doorstep in Wales," said Mr Reckless. "They're out of touch with voters. And I think part of that is the Cardiff Bay establishment sees devolution as something that's about them and about their powers and their importance." Mr Reckless said UKIP accepted devolution and wanted to "make it work", but rejected the idea of Welsh powers over income tax without public approval in a referendum. "We don't want to see taxes raised and I don't think there's any burning desire from people in Wales to be paying yet more tax than people in England," he said. "I don't understand why there's such a consensus in the Cardiff Bay establishment that that's the way to go, having promised that that wouldn't happen back in 2011," he added, referring to the last devolution referendum in Wales. Political commentator Daran Hill said UKIP's description of a "Cardiff Bay establishment" could be effective. "I think UKIP can capitalise with people who don't want the assembly at all," he said. "They can also capitalise with people who are disillusioned with the assembly. "I think there might be a market where people might just be fed up of hearing about talk of more powers, tax-raising powers, law-making powers." A spokesman for Welsh Labour said: "UKIP's values are not ones shared by the vast majority in Wales. "That they have sent a right-wing former Tory MP from Kent to Wales to tell people what they should think shows how poorly they understand Wales." The spokesman added that First Minister Carwyn Jones had never ruled out a referendum on income tax, but noted other parts of the UK were getting more powers without such a poll. The Welsh Conservatives said UKIP were "out of touch" on devolution, and said they wanted people to "have a say" on income tax powers through a referendum. Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats both said they believed income tax powers should be devolved without a referendum.
Politicians in the Welsh assembly are "out of touch" with voters, the man in charge of UKIP policy for the 2016 election campaign has claimed.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33973418"}
684
32
0.497927
1.260201
0.268028
1.758621
21.137931
0.862069
The bodies of Harry Watson and Alex Yeoman were found by officers at Huntcliff in Saltburn, at about 19:00 GMT on Friday. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances but said they were not treating the deaths as suspicious. Tributes have been left at the scene to the boys, both from the East Cleveland area. Harry's family described him as "precious" while Alex's family paid tribute to a "loving son" who will be "sadly missed". Harry's mother, Tanya, also posted on Facebook: "It is with great sadness and sorrow that last night our precious 17-year-old son Harry Watson has passed away." She said: "Please understand at this difficult time we don't have many answers but Harry is one of the gifts in life always there for everyone and anyone. "He will always live in our hearts and we will get through this as the strong family that we are because that's what Harry would have wanted." Both families are being supported by specialist officers, the force added. Police continue to appeal for witnesses who may have been in the area of the Circle Sculpture at Huntcliff on Friday to contact Det Sgt Paul Hodgson on 101.
Two 17-year-old boys found dead at the bottom of a cliff have been named by police.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39398136"}
260
24
0.442286
0.990611
-1.121361
1.904762
11.428571
0.761905
4.14 million procedures were conducted in 2015, the Home Office announced on Wednesday, compared to 4.12 million in 2013 - the most relevant comparison. Because of changes to the counting system, the total of 3.87 million recorded for 2014 was "artificially low" according to a spokesman. Around half the "procedures" were GM animals, mostly mice, being born. Thus, the total number of actual experimental procedures was 2.08 million. For only the second time, the annual Home Office report categorised those experiments into five groups: "sub-threshold" (13%), "non-recovery" (6%), "mild" (51%), "moderate" (24%) and "severe" (6%). This system is based on a 2010 European Directive, which was enshrined in UK law in 2013. Experts said the implications of Brexit for these regulations were unclear. "A lot of British scientists put a massive amount of effort into the directive," said Prof Roger Lemon, a neuroscientist at University College London. "I'm still hopeful that even after Brexit there will be a lot of interaction between ourselves and our European counterparts, as we've seen in the short time since the vote. "But obviously it does change things, in terms of the legislative dream that we had, that we would have a level playing field of procedures right across Europe. That has been dealt a very severe blow." The chief inspector of the Home Office's Animals in Science Regulations Unit, Sue Houlton, said things were unlikely to change significantly within the UK. "I think the UK public are going to be behind keeping something pretty similar to what we've got," she told the BBC. "It remains uncertain how all of the legislation that we have in this country that stems from various European directives will actually be managed, in detail, as we go forward. "[But] in the UK we hold animal welfare very dear, and I rather think that the fundamentals will not shift." In the total procedure count for 2015, some 61% involved mice, followed by 14% fish and 12% rats. Well under 1% - amounting to 3,600 procedures - involved primates. This was an increase of 380 procedures from 2013. This was decried as a "shocking" increase by the campaign group Cruelty Free International. "The UK should be leading the way in reducing animal testing, yet we remain one of the world's largest users of animals in experiments," said chief executive Michelle Thew. "We strongly urge the Government not to forget animals in laboratories, and to use Brexit as an opportunity to make a real impact in reducing the numbers of animals used in tests." In fact, Brexit may influence these numbers entirely separately from any regulatory changes. Dr Sarah Bailey is a pharmacologist at the University of Bath. Asked about the long-term trend in animal experiments, and whether the plateau seen in recent years would continue, she said: "I should think it will either stay the same or go down, depending on the economic situation and the funding available for basic science. "One of the big factors is the European Medicines Agency - whether they choose to stay in London or whether they relocate. The knock-on consequences for drug companies and drug development in the UK, as a consequence of that, could be potentially serious." Follow Jonathan on Twitter
New figures show that the usage of animals in UK labs is continuing at an almost identical rate to recent years.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36843587"}
732
24
0.374636
1.040621
0.052463
1.045455
31.272727
0.590909
Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other speakers spoke of his fight for civil rights, while a message from President Barack Obama praised his originality. The interfaith event took place hours after thousands said farewell to his coffin passing through city streets. Ali was buried in a private ceremony attended by friends and family. The ex-heavyweight champion and rights activist died last Friday aged 74. The service, attended by dignitaries and by several thousand people who acquired free tickets, was held at the KFC Yum! Centre. After a Koran reading, local Protestant minister Kevin Cosby set the tone of the event, saying that Muhammad Ali had "infused in Africans a sense of somebodiness". "Before James Brown said 'I'm black and I'm proud', Muhammad Ali said 'I'm black and I'm pretty'," he said. Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of a progressive Jewish magazine, used his speech to launch a blistering attack on injustice against black people and Muslims. "The way to honour Muhammad Ali is to be Muhammad Ali today," he said. "Speak out and refuse to follow the path of conformity." Later Valerie Jarrett, an aide to President Obama who knew the boxer personally, read a letter from the president describing Ali as "bigger, brighter and more influential than just about anyone in his era". "You couldn't have made him up, and yes, he was pretty too," Mr Obama wrote. "Muhammad Ali was America. Muhammad Ali will always be America. What a man." The president was not there, as he was attending his eldest daughter Malia's graduation. Former US President Bill Clinton described Ali as "a free man of faith". He said: "I think he decided very young to write his own life story. I think he decided that he would not be ever disempowered. Not his race, not his place, not the expectations of others whether positive or negative would strip from him the power to write his own story." Ali's wife Lonnie paid tribute to her husband. She told the crowd: "If Muhammad didn't like the rules, he rewrote them. His religion, his beliefs, his name were his to fashion, no matter what the cost. "Muhammad wants young people of every background to see his life as proof that adversity can make you stronger. It cannot rob you of the power to dream, and to reach your dreams." Latest updates Look back at the life of the ultimate fighter The comedian Billy Crystal delivered a eulogy peppered with jokes, laughing at the length of the service and saying that his beard had grown since it started. Then he said that "35 years after he stopped fighting, [Ali was] still the champion of the world". He said: "He was a tremendous bolt of lightning created by Mother Nature. Muhammad Ali struck us in the middle of America's darkest night and his intense light shone on America and we were able to see clearly." Among those attending the service is King Abdullah of Jordan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended Thursday's prayer ceremony and had been due at the service, but cut short his visit to the US. The reasons for his departure are not clear, though there are reports of differences with the funeral's organisers. The motorcade procession began at about 10:35 local time (14:35 GMT), more than an hour behind schedule, and took the coffin past Ali's childhood home, the Ali Center, the Center for African American Heritage and then down Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Onlookers lining the roadside waved, took photos and chanted "Ali, Ali" as a cortege led by the hearse carrying his coffin drove through the downtown area. The man who changed his sport and his country 'No sportsman has touched more lives' Obituary: Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali in his own words What made him so great? Fans threw flowers at the hearse and rose petals were scattered along the route. In one neighbourhood, several young men ran alongside the vehicle carrying a placard which read: "Ali is the greatest, thanks 4 all the memories." The cortege then brought the coffin to the Cave Hill cemetery, where Muhammad Ali was buried in a private ceremony. Actor Will Smith and ex-boxer Lennox Lewis were among the pallbearers. 61 fights over a professional career lasting 21 years 56 wins including 37 knockouts 3 times crowned World Heavyweight Champion 1 Light-heavyweight Olympic gold medal 31 straight wins before being beaten by Joe Frazier In 1964, Ali famously converted to Islam, changing his name from Cassius Clay, which he called his "slave name". He first joined the Nation of Islam, a controversial black separatist movement, before later converting to mainstream Islam. In his boxing career, he fought a total of 61 times as a professional, losing five times and winning 37 bouts by knockout. Soon after he retired, rumours began to circulate about the state of his health. Parkinson's Syndrome was eventually diagnosed but Ali continued to make public appearances, receiving warm welcomes wherever he travelled. He lit the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Games in London. He was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Sports Personality of the Century" by the BBC.
Rousing tributes have been paid to boxing legend Muhammad Ali at a memorial service in his home city of Louisville, Kentucky.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36496473"}
1,229
28
0.355799
0.943104
-0.087795
0.913043
47.043478
0.73913
According to documents seen by the BBC, the parliament's Budgetary Control Committee is querying allowances granted to his adviser, Markus Engels. Mr Engels was apparently allowed to claim residence in Brussels while living in Berlin in 2012. There was no immediate comment when the BBC approached Mr Schulz's SPD party. However, the party was quoted by Germany's Spiegel magazine (in English) and Stern magazine (in German) as saying travel arrangements like those for Mr Engels were "normal practice" in Brussels. The independent EU anti-fraud office Olaf - the same body which investigated French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's expenses - has told the BBC it is looking at media reports about the conditions of employment of "certain... European Parliament staff members", without naming them. It said it would analyse these reports to see if it was within its competence to act upon them and to judge whether there was "sufficient suspicion of fraud, corruption or any illegal activity affecting the EU's financial interests" for Olaf to open a case. Only when they had been analysed would Olaf decide whether or not to open an investigation, it added. Mr Schulz chaired the EP from 2012 until this year, when he stepped down to return to Germany for the general election in September. Under his new leadership, the centre-left SPD, junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition, have seen their poll ratings rise. Mr Engels now manages his election campaign. According to a letter (in French) reprinted by Germany's Spiegel magazine, in January 2012 Mr Schulz asked the European Parliament's then Director-General for Communication, Juana Lahousse-Juarez, to authorise a "long-term mission" for Mr Engels to support his activities as EP president in Berlin. In unpublished documents from the EP's Budgetary Control Committee seen by the BBC, the committee asks EP Secretary General Klaus Welle: "Why was Brussels chosen as place of employment, which entitled him to 273 daily allowances plus 16% expat allowance plus travel costs, despite the fact that no travel costs occurred? Who decided on the place of employment?" It also asks by what process Mr Engels was selected for the post. A formal response to the committee's questions is expected early next month.
Questions have been raised over spending by former European Parliament head Martin Schulz, who is challenging Angela Merkel in Germany's election.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39080163"}
500
28
0.409407
1.076689
0.039902
0.958333
18.833333
0.708333
After Hampshire won the toss, the visitors started well, left-arm paceman Keith Barker taking two of the wickets to reduce the hosts to 31-3. However, Adams (104 not out) and Ervine (160 not out) batted sensibly on a slow wicket for the day's last two sessions. Both made their 22nd first-class tons to leave Hampshire on top at stumps. Warwickshire's day started brightly, as Barker (2-62) dismissed Michael Carberry and Rilee Rossouw to go past 300 first-class wickets. But the Bears, who are still looking for their first win of the season, struggled to make further inroads, captain Ian Bell using seven bowlers to try and break up Adams and Ervine's partnership. Warwickshire's other wicket-taker was fit-again Boyd Rankin, on his first start in 11 months. Ervine brought up his first century of the season before Adams reached 13,000 first-class runs as the pair set a new Hampshire record for the fourth wicket in games against Warwickshire. Hampshire batsman Jimmy Adams told BBC Solent: "It was a big relief to get those runs as it had been a while and we were in a bit of strife at the beginning of the day. To do it at a time when it was needed means a lot. "I am just delighted to see it through as you have days where you know you're not at your best. You just stick in there and do what the team needs. To have someone like Slug going well at the other end was important. "I heard the PA over the speakers say about the record. Me and Slug had a chuckle about that. It's a nice milestone, especially when you hear it has been so long. Unfortunately, Slug got most of them." Warwickshire first team coach Jim Troughton told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire: "We knew it would be a good toss to win and get a bat out there. Then we got them 30-3 and we thought we could get into them and open the innings up. "But Adams and Sean showed their experience there and put on a great partnership for them. Whatever the ball did do it did slowly, so it was hard work for our boys. "Barks, Boyd and Clarkey all bowled exceptionally well but they got the better of us in that partnership. We stood together well. This game hasn't got away from us."
Sean Ervine and Jimmy Adams shared an unbroken 263-run stand as Hampshire made 294-3 on day one of their County Championship game against Warwickshire.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40106923"}
552
36
0.474075
1.273311
0.192644
1
16.689655
0.655172
2 May 2016 Last updated at 07:59 BST His admission ends years of speculation about who came up with the original ideas underlying the digital cash system. Mr Wright has provided technical proof to back up his claim using coins known to be owned by Bitcoin's creator. Prominent members of Bitcoin community and its core development team have also confirmed Mr Wright's claim. Read the full story: Bitcoin creator identifies himself
Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has publicly identified himself as Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36185265"}
88
20
0.62411
1.298849
-0.383042
0.714286
5.785714
0.428571
The team, which has been tasked with defining the so-called Anthropocene, says humanity's impacts on Earth will be visible in sediments and rocks millions of years into the future. The researchers are working towards a formal classification of the new epoch. An open question is the formal start date, which some panel members think could be the 1950s. This decade marks the beginning of the "Great Acceleration", when the human population and its consumption patterns suddenly speeded up. It coincides with the spread of ubiquitous "techno materials", such as aluminium, concrete and plastic. It also covers the years when thermonuclear weapons tests dispersed radioactive elements across the globe. Their long-lived activity will still be apparent to anyone who cares to look for it hundreds of millennia from now. The report by the Anthropocene Working Group, published in Science magazine, is not a full and final statement on the subject. Rather, it represents an interim position - an update on the panel's investigations. But the key finding is that humanity's impacts on Earth should now be regarded as pervasive and sufficiently distinctive to justify a separate classification. "The paper looks at the magnitude of the changes that humanity has made to the planet," explained group secretary Dr Colin Waters. "Have they been sufficient to significantly alter the nature of the sediments now being accumulated at present, and are they distinctive from the existing Holocene Epoch that started at the end of the last ice age? That case has now been made," the British Geological Survey scientist told BBC News. "Within the Working Group - and we have 37 members - I think the majority of them now agree that we are living in an interval we should call the Anthropocene. There's still some discussion as to whether it should be a formal or informal unit, but we'd like to have a specific definition. And a majority of the group are moving towards the mid-20th Century for the start of this new epoch." In due course, the group will produce some final recommendations. Ultimately it will be down to the International Commission on Stratigraphy to accept - or not - the "Anthropocene Epoch" as an additional unit in the official time scheme used to describe the planet's 4.6 billion years of history. The famous Chronostratigraphic Chart featured in textbooks and on posters in school classrooms is unlikely to undergo an immediate redesign, however. If the mid-20th Century is to be the official start date, it will have to be demonstrated with sample boreholes bearing some of the tell-tale signatures of the Anthropocene. These could include ocean or lake sediments containing markers of pollution, such as the soot particles from fossil fuel burning. Because these examples would need to reflect a global and not just a local footprint of human activity, the boreholes could take a number of years to collect. The author and journalist Gaia Vince won this year's Royal Society Winton prize for her book, Adventures In The Anthropocene. It is a kind of travelogue that tries to explain the enormous changes occurring on Earth at the level of the individual citizen. I asked her what she thought of the Working Group's latest statement. "There is a conceptual difficulty in appreciating that in just a human lifetime, our species (which has itself only existed in the briefest time) has profoundly changed this billions-years-old planet," she told me. "And yet the evidence is increasingly obvious to us all, from satellite images of global transformations to local extinctions of butterflies, to our increasing experiences of extreme weather events. Nevertheless, it's a difficult and novel task for the geologists who must try to determine a start date for an era whose palaeontology and geology are still being created - there's no handy stripe in the rock layers to mark the Anthropocene yet. "The mid-20th Century, the beginning of the global Great Acceleration (there are some great graphs for this), makes for a useful marker both scientifically and because it also represents the great social changes that have occurred. "This is important because it was an evolution in human society that created this environmental planetary change - and it is the way human society develops that will shape this new age for the decades and centuries to come."
There is little doubt now that we have entered a new geological age, believes an international scientific panel.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35259194"}
971
23
0.39765
1.006162
-0.288452
0.95
41.75
0.75
Dylis Jones was told by Christopher Owen that fare rises meant her monthly fee had to go up from £150 to £500. Owen, 48, of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in December. Speaking after the case, Ms Jones said: "He'd even gone as far as telling me he loved me and cared for me, all the time robbing me blind. It was shameful." Owen would also withdraw money from her account after being trusted with her cash card and chequebook. The taxi driver admitted three charges of theft, 14 charges of fraud and one charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Ms Jones, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, said: "Being severely disabled I needed lifts most days to get out - I began to trust Christopher like family. "I lived in a flat with supported living and a warden but Christopher would take me shopping to Asda and when I went for hospital appointments he would even come in and see the doctors with me." Owen's deception lasted for nine months before Ms Jones wanted to move house and was told by a rent officer she was in arrears. She believed she had savings in her Nationwide account, but £43,281 had gone, leaving her with just £13. She said: "All I could do was look in horror as she showed me dozens and dozens of withdrawals from my account - £500 a time, sometimes more. "I've even had to rely on the local food bank for groceries and even a local emergency fund with the council for some cash. I feel humiliated and so stupid and I feel very, very angry." Jailing Owen and imposing a restraining order on him preventing him from contacting Ms Jones, Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees said: "What you have done to her has caused her real hardship, not only in monetary terms, but also in her feeling of self-worth." Ms Jones has since been reimbursed £31,000 by Nationwide Building Society.
A disabled woman has said she felt "humiliated and angry" after a taxi driver conned her out of £43,000.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38517927"}
466
30
0.471551
1.243888
-0.984315
1
17.695652
0.826087
Natalie Thorpe, 29, died when she was hit by a metal stabiliser protruding from the side of William Stewart's truck in Altrincham in June 2015. Stewart, 25, was "let off too lightly" with a four-and-a-half year sentence after a trial at Preston Crown Court, judges at the Court of Appeal ruled. His sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was "unduly lenient". Stewart, of Cross Heys Avenue, Birkenhead, was driving a Ford Iveco with the metal stabiliser extended at the side of his vehicle in Dunham Road on 4 June 2015. It demolished a traffic light before hitting Ms Thorpe as she stood at the pedestrian crossing. The lorry then struck a Volkswagen Golf that was waiting at the junction. The court was told an alarm system in Stewart's cab could be heard by pedestrians in the area. The alarm, intended to warn the driver about the dangerously extended outrigger, was ignored by Stewart. Ms Thorpe's 12-year-old son is now being looked after by his grandmother, and her death has had a "devastating impact" on her family, the appeal court heard. Lord Justice Davis said Stewart was guilty of "indolent indifference" for the safety of others, adding: "He just didn't care." "He simply couldn't be bothered to secure [the outrigger arms] to spare himself some time and personal inconvenience." He said: "This was a shocking case of dangerous driving, a heavy goods vehicle is in effect a very dangerous weapon." The sentence of four-and-a-half years was "far too light", he concluded, and the "least justifiable sentence, after a trial, was seven years".
A lorry driver who killed a mother by driving dangerously has had his jail sentence increased to seven years.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38345206"}
392
25
0.464005
1.229622
0.047502
0.95
17.4
0.75
It comes after copies of the original recording of White Light's Parable started changing hands for up to £650. After their 1970s heyday, the band's members became a Church of Scotland minister, a computer programmer, a property valuer and a mortgage advisor. Now all of pensionable age, the group are enjoying their new-found fame. The Reverend Doug McRoberts, who played lead guitar on the 1974 record, said he was approached about re-releasing the album after retiring as a minister in Malta. "It was a huge surprise. We never thought this would happen," he said. "Who would think that one of the first things to happen after we retire is for our music to be re-issued?" Mr McRoberts formed the band in the 1970s with his brother, Dave, a bass player, drummer Alex Smith and keyboardist David Murdoch. They toured venues across Scotland and released just 2,000 copies of the Parable LP on the Scotia Records label. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr McRoberts admitted: "A limited number were made; even less were sold." He believes there are "just a few hundred" original copies in circulation. The retired minister discovered the album had become a collectors item when he was contacted by a friend who had found it selling for "silly money" online. Now it has been reissued by Guerssen record label - and it could lead to a reunion of the band in the future They briefly reformed to perform at KeithChaosLive, a charity rock festival headlined by The Bluetones, in 2005. Mr McRoberts, who now lives in Inverness, said: "It wasn't exactly the Scottish equivalent of Status Quo launching Live Aid and it was weird to be rocking onstage with a couple of our children who are now in their own bands in the audience - but it was great to play with the guys again." "We all enjoyed coming together for that gig in Keith," he added. "If the occasion was right, we'd probably be up for it."
An album made by a Scottish Christian rock band is being re-released more than 40 years after it was recorded in a garage in Paisley.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35503520"}
475
34
0.439064
1.208401
-0.514087
0.857143
14.5
0.642857
Assombalonga's penalty settled early nerves and Chris Cohen's deflected strike made it 2-0 after the break. With relegation rivals Blackburn and Birmingham both winning, Forest's safety was still not certain. But Assombalonga then sealed victory with a fine solo strike to ensure Blackburn drop out of the Championship. The closing stages were played out in relative comfort, safe in the knowledge that Blackburn's 3-1 lead against Brentford still left Tony Mowbray's Rovers three goals shy of forcing Forest into the third tier of English football for the third time in their history. Thousands of Reds fans raced onto the pitch to celebrate their survival at the final whistle. However, despite a blistering Forest start which brought four shots on goal in the first two minutes it was a nervy first half. Both Rovers and Birmingham led early on and Forest keeper Jordan Smith had to make two magnificent saves - most notably to deny Dominic Samuel's fierce deflected shot. But Eric Lichaj, who had earlier wasted a great close-range chance, took a quick throw-in and, after the ever-alert Jamie Ward was smashed to the ground by keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, Assombalonga blasted the penalty into the top corner for a half-time lead. Forest's longest-serving player and club captain Cohen made it 2-0 and Assombalonga made amends for seeing his spot-kick brilliantly saved to add a third following a quickly taken free-kick. The relief as thousands of fans ran onto the pitch was clear, but the frustration and pain following a dreadful season was equally obvious. The bigger picture is that supporters are resentful it has come to such a desperate situation. Five years under Fawaz Al Hasawi's ownership have seen the two-time European Cup winners finish progressively lower each season. The promise was to take the club out of the division but not back down to League One. Increasing anger from fans, amid a backdrop of failed takeovers and a seemingly never-ending succession of managers culminated in this season's miserable relegation scrap. Another attempt to buy the club by Evangelos Marinakis - the owner of Greek champions Olympiakos - is well advanced. Reds fans are taking nothing for granted, but the feeling of enough is enough is palpable and a summer of stability under manager Mark Warburton and the new owners - if that deal goes through - is the clear aim. Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton: "We can never allow ourselves to be in this position again. Ever. I said to the boys we must make a vow to make sure this never happens again. "The last few weeks have hurt but we have to remember this feeling and make sure we never experience it again. It can't be allowed to happen. "A relegation dogfight is not what we are about and I am confident it won't happen next season, and I say that because I have seen the quality within the squad. "I've seen enough in the seven or eight weeks I've been here to know that with a good pre-season behind us we can put a marker down next season." Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy: "I thought the first half was pretty even, we matched them. They had the better of the second half and maybe that was because they had more to play for. "In the end it's brilliant, it's like Nottingham Forest have won the league. The scenes have been brilliant. It was either going to be a wake or a celebration and up until they scored the penalty it could have been a wake. But good for them, good for Mark Warburton. "In the end that game has probably summed our season up - some good, some bad and some indifferent." Offside, Nottingham Forest. Ben Osborn tries a through ball, but Britt Assombalonga is caught offside. David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Danny M. Rowe (Ipswich Town). Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Matthew Cash replaces Chris Cohen. Foul by Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest). Kieffer Moore (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Zach Clough (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Substitution, Ipswich Town. Adam Webster replaces Christophe Berra. Attempt missed. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Zach Clough. Offside, Nottingham Forest. Chris Cohen tries a through ball, but Eric Lichaj is caught offside. Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Ben Brereton replaces Jamie Ward. Foul by Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest). Kieffer Moore (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt saved. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Ward. Hand ball by Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest). David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Cole Skuse (Ipswich Town). Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card. Goal! Nottingham Forest 3, Ipswich Town 0. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the top left corner. Assisted by David Vaughan following a set piece situation. Zach Clough (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Emyr Huws (Ipswich Town). Attempt missed. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jamie Ward with a cross. Attempt saved. Kieffer Moore (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jordan Spence with a cross. Substitution, Ipswich Town. Kieffer Moore replaces Freddie Sears. Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Bartosz Bialkowski. Penalty saved! Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the top right corner. Joshua Emmanuel (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Penalty Nottingham Forest. Jamie Ward draws a foul in the penalty area. Penalty conceded by Joshua Emmanuel (Ipswich Town) after a foul in the penalty area. Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Freddie Sears (Ipswich Town). Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Danny M. Rowe. Zach Clough (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Joshua Emmanuel (Ipswich Town). Goal! Nottingham Forest 2, Ipswich Town 0. Chris Cohen (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by David Vaughan. Foul by Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest). Joshua Emmanuel (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Jordan Spence (Ipswich Town). Attempt missed. David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ben Osborn following a corner.
Britt Assombalonga grabbed a double as Nottingham Forest avoided relegation on goal difference with an emphatic win over Ipswich at a sell-out City Ground.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39760415"}
1,833
46
0.470515
1.243872
0.132061
0.851852
53.777778
0.62963
It was found by a member of the public, who saw it near the water bank at Redcliff Bay in Portishead on Monday evening. Avon and Somerset Police said it was "not unusual for discoveries of this kind to be made near coastal areas". The skull "cannot be aged visually", and tests would be carried out to see if further action was needed, it added. More on this and other news from Bristol and the West Local historian, Sandy Tebbutt, said speculation the skull could belong to Cdr Eric Robinson, who crashed a plane in Redcliff Bay in 1938, was likely to be wrong as the bodies of he and his co-pilot were recovered from the crash site at the time. She added it was "more likely" the skull had belonged to a sailor, as the bodies of mariners had washed up in the area over the years.
A skull, believed to belong to a human, has been found on the coast near Bristol.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39431329"}
192
21
0.532023
1.21694
-0.862554
0.842105
9.210526
0.736842
Simon Goldsmith, 41, ran 17 laps of Martlesham Heath, near Ipswich, Suffolk, on Sunday. "It was certainly repetitive, I was verging on dizziness by the end," he said. The money raised will go to the local St Elizabeth Hospice where both his parents spent their final weeks. Mr Goldsmith, who grew up in Martlesham and now lives in neighbouring Little Bealings, does a "low budget" Elvis impersonation under the name Harry Isaac Presley. In 2010, he raised money by holding a three-day Elvis singing marathon at a pub in Ufford. He was the only person to run the full 26.2 miles (42.1km), which he billed as the "world's dullest marathon", but as the day went on he was joined by a number of well-wishers who did laps with him. He completed the course, which finished with a lap around the local shopping centre, in 4 hours and 54 minutes. "I didn't do as much training as I should have done and I found myself in some dark places, particularly around the halfway mark," said Mr Goldsmith. "You passed the pub on each lap and you could smell the food and see the beer and that was tough, but there were plenty of people about and that cheered me up." Following the fundraising success, he said he planned to do a similar event next year.
A man who chose to run 26 miles around a village green dressed as Elvis after missing out on a London Marathon spot has raised £1,500 for charity.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32581628"}
315
34
0.552741
1.364524
-0.368816
0.533333
9.333333
0.466667
Legend has it the park in Mevagissey was named Hitlers Walk after a dictatorial councillor in the 1930s. Signs were taken down in 2005 by the now-defunct Restormel council after complaints the name was offensive. But the parish council decided to reinstate the nameplate; a decision described by a Jewish group as "outrageous". Kehillat Kernow, which represents the Jewish community in Cornwall, has called for a boycott of the town if the sign is reinstated. Harvey Kurzfield, from Kehillat Kernow, said: "I think it's outrageous and completely unfeeling." The parish council clerk said he had received a number of complaints about the sign. Council chairman Mike Roberts confirmed the authority would be reviewing its decision but declined to comment further. James Mustoe, Cornwall councillor for Mevagissey, said: "It's a difficult one. As a local person it has been known as Hitlers Walk. "But I would advise the parish council to put an explanation as to why it's called that."
Plans to reinstate the name Hitlers Walk at a park in Cornwall will be reconsidered after complaints.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "31092792"}
237
23
0.648189
1.70204
0.301059
1.444444
11
0.777778
The 22-year-old scored an unbeaten 140 as the Red Rose drew their opening County Championship match at Essex. He had spent 11 months out of the game with a knee problem that required an operation last season. "There were a couple of dark moments during that time," Davies told BBC Radio Lancashire. "You have to stay positive and have belief in your own ability, belief that you will get back fit and you will get back playing. "It was tough to watch Lancashire last season and see people move ahead of me, but I had that belief deep down. "This (first century) was really amazing and it's good to get it off my back really. I've had a lot of chances in the past and not quite got over the line."
Lancashire wicketkeeper Alex Davies says his maiden first-class century was reward for his hard work during the winter after a long-term injury.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39564794"}
168
33
0.51094
1.276906
0.104296
0.407407
5.925926
0.407407
Media playback is not supported on this device After newspapers carried a picture of England assistant manager Ray Lewington yesterday carrying a team sheet, Coleman did the same - but with Pele and Maradona up front for Wales.
Wales manager Chris Coleman was in a jovial mood in training on Wednesday with a cheeky jibe at Euro 2016 rivals England with a team-sheet spoof.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36481611"}
51
43
0.639797
1.300711
0.052471
0.551724
1.413793
0.482759
Just after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in March, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a review of energy policy and ordered Germany's oldest reactors to be shut down immediately, and perhaps permanently.  Only a few months earlier, she had decided to keep the reactors running past their original shutdown dates. But only now comes the hard bit. Power companies have warned of higher prices because of the shutdown; Germany has imported electricity to meet peaks in demand; analysts have warned that coal-fired power stations will be boosted - and nuclear ones in the nearby Czech Republic and France. And right in the heart of the country, protest groups are raising their voices as they realise that rejigging a country's energy industry means redirecting the transmission lines through their picturesque backyard. The difficulty is that many of the threatened nuclear power stations are in the south, situated conveniently for the big energy users like the cities of Munich and Stuttgart and manufacturers like Volkswagen. If these southern nuclear generators are decommissioned, the idea is that wind farms in the north might take up the slack. But that implies new high-voltage cables with very high pylons to match. As Johannes Teyssen, chief executive of the huge energy company E.On put it: "We lack the necessary power lines to transmit wind-generated electricity from the north. This could lead to massive problems in the grid, even power outages." To avoid that, a new grid of high-voltage cables is proposed, what has been called an "Energie Autobahn" right through the heart of Germany. The route goes through the Rennsteig, the beautiful ridge of deep-green, forested hills that stretches for more than 160km (100 miles) down the centre of the country.  It is where Germans come to hike in what they feel is the idyllic embodiment of their country, a part of the essence of Germany. So there is much opposition to the energy highway.  Different parts of the green movement pull against each other.  Activists do not want nuclear power, but nor do they want a landscape disfigured by what they call "mega masts". In the town of Schalkau, nestling quietly high in the Rennsteig, the citizens demonstrated recently. They are not naturally a demonstrative people and the protest meeting was suitably sedate. They drank beer and ate sausages at trestle tables as speaker after speaker denounced the pylons that they felt would disfigure the beloved landscape around them. Some told the BBC they were very anti-nuclear.  But they were also very anti the power cables entailed by the expansion of wind power. I asked them what the alternative was, and got various answers: "use the existing power lines" or "put them underground". The authorities say these proposals would either not do the job or would be much more expensive. On top of the objection to power lines in the region, there is also concern about animals like the black stork, the red kite and the crane, all of which nest in or migrate through areas likely to have more pylons and high-voltage cables, into which they might fly and be killed. Germany's Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said planning rules should be changed so that applications could be handled centrally. That would take decision-making further from the local opponents of particular projects and nearer to a national body, which would take into account national needs. So Germany - like other countries repelled by nuclear power - now has some tough choices. Wind is not an easy, cheap and swift alternative.  Another unpleasant fuel may be easier - but it is one which green activists hate: coal. Professor Claudia Kemfert, an energy economist at the Institute of Economic Research in Berlin, thinks the Japanese disaster will boost coal all over the world. "I think CO2 emissions will increase tremendously in the next decades because more and more countries will use more coal like Germany. And that's a sad story [for] climate change," she said. Through this morass of trade-offs, conflicts and choices, Chancellor Merkel's review is attempting to step carefully.  Its chairman, Rudolf Wieland, said it was reassessing the implications of all kinds of events in a new light, including hijacked planes being crashed into reactors. It was reviewing the effect of events only likely to occur every 10,000 years, rather than under the previous assumption of every 1,000 years. He recognised that there is much emotion surrounding nuclear power, but said it was important not to let that overrule cool judgement. "From the technical view, we always look at how high is the risk, not the emotional part." The difficulty is that emotions now run deep - emotion against nuclear power, but also emotion against coal.  And emotion against disfiguring the green hills of central Germany with pylons carrying electricity from wind farms.
Germany's dramatic rethink over nuclear power has thrown up new problems, as the consequences of a retreat from atomic technology emerge.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "13257804"}
1,060
31
0.392575
1.059173
0.410627
0.833333
39.791667
0.666667
Pendle Borough Council members voted in favour of a reshuffle of its senior staff, which will save £84,000 a year. Two new senior posts will be created under the plans that were discussed by councillors during a meeting. Chief executive Stephen Barnes was praised for his "unmatched dedication to Pendle" by all political parties. He will be made redundant in March. The deputy chief executive post and other senior council staff positions will also be axed, to make savings from April next year. A strategic director, on a salary of £90,000, and a corporate director, on a salary of £85,000, will share responsibility for leading officers roles in the council. Mr Barnes, who has worked for the authority since its inception 40 years ago, was one of three senior bosses who had their salaries slashed in 2010. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, who run the council, reduced the combined wages of Mr Barnes and executive directors Philip Mousdale and Brian Cookson by £120,000. So can our local councils manage without a chief executive? Pendle Council thinks it can, but the move has been made for financial reasons. There is no suggestion this trend will carry on. Some councils do rely on them for their expertise and at times their political acumen. Burnley Borough Council's Steve Rumbelow, for example, has played a major role in the campaign to improve the rail links with Manchester. While during his time at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Graham Burgess was not afraid to stand up to the government claiming the council had been "victimised" buy the cuts. West Lancashire have for the last three years managed without a chief executive, replacing the post with two senior officers to work side by side.
The chief executive post has been axed at a council in Lancashire as part of plans to save £4m over two years.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "29370274"}
385
31
0.543188
1.440975
0.067552
1.2
13.52
0.8
Four carriages derailed and two caught fire when a train that had broken down was hit by another train. The accident happened in freezing temperatures early on Friday, 250km (150 miles) east of the capital Tehran. The rescue effort is being hampered by the remote location, officials say. President Hassan Rouhani has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash. The crash occurred in Iran's northern province of Semnan, on the main line between Tehran and Mashhad in the north-east. State Governor Mohammad Reza Khabbaz said a mechanical failure caused by the extreme cold had forced the intercity express train to stop between stations. The head of the province's Red Crescent Hassan Shokrollahi said: "Because of the difficulty of access, only our helicopter has managed to reach the scene." More than 70 people have been taken to hospitals and the death toll is expected to rise, officials say.
At least 35 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a train collision in northern Iran.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38105651"}
206
22
0.602443
1.245198
-0.468666
1.052632
9.421053
0.631579
Media playback is unsupported on your device 14 July 2015 Last updated at 15:34 BST At least, that's what the team hopes happened. Confirmation of the flyby won't be received until about 02:00 BST on Wednesday. Until then, the craft will be too busy taking pictures and measurements - and it also takes more than four hours for the signals to beam back to Earth. Rebecca Morelle reports from the operations centre at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US.
After nine-and-a-half years in space, this was the moment Nasa's spacecraft New Horizons soared past Pluto at 31,000mph (50,000km/h).
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33526617"}
106
41
0.361415
0.878098
-0.702523
0.375
2.90625
0.3125
Dr Mark Porter hit out at the government at the start of the union's annual conference. He accused ministers of putting patients at risk and "picking the pockets" of NHS staff because of the squeeze on wages. But ministers rejected the criticisms, saying they were putting more money into the health service. Dr Porter launched the attack as doctors gathered in Bournemouth. He said: "We have a government trying to keep the health service running on nothing but fumes. A health service at breaking point. "Run by ministers who wilfully ignore the pleas of the profession and the impact on patients. "It doesn't have to be this way. It is the result of an explicit political choice." Since 2010, the budget has been increasing by 1% a year on average, compared to 4% before then. Mr Porter went on to point out that compared to other developed economies, less was being spent on the NHS than other health systems. And he said this was having a direct impact on patients, pointing to the rise in the numbers of patients facing long waits for a bed following an emergency admission - up four-fold in five years - as proof. "The government wants a world-class NHS with a third class settlement," he said. It comes as the BMA unveiled the results of a poll of more than 1,000 adults on the state of the NHS. It found: The concerns were echoed in a poll of 422 doctors, in which 71% said it has become more difficult for patients trying to access NHS care over the past year. But a Department of Health spokesman said: "This does a disservice to the achievements of NHS staff." He said the NHS was seeing the "highest cancer survival rates ever", improving mental health services and better access to GPs. He also added independent polling showed public satisfaction rates were also high in contrast to the BMA poll.
The NHS in England is "running on fumes", the leader of the British Medical Association is warning.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40401311"}
419
23
0.455678
1.12066
-0.953689
1.095238
18.47619
0.714286
The 62-year-old leaves Links Park with the team just two points off the bottom of League Two. Former Dundee United and Livingston boss Hegarty joined Montrose in February 2014. He kept the club up via the play-off final, while last season they finished in eighth spot. "Paul arrived at a real low point in our history and was instrumental in building enough confidence back into the team to get them over the line in the play-off final," said chairman John Crawford. "We came perilously close and as East Stirlingshire found to their cost last season, you can't take anything for granted anymore in this league. We will always be indebted to Paul for keeping us up. "He is a true professional, a real gentleman and it has been a pleasure to work with him. We wish him all the best and every success for the future."
Montrose have sacked manager Paul Hegarty, with assistant John Holt taking charge for Saturday's game against Forfar.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38010178"}
190
30
0.524217
1.155369
-0.108395
0.4
8.85
0.4
Parry, 35, threw two Commonwealth Games A standards with efforts of 65.25m and 65.32m to put her in contention for a place at the Gold Coast next April. The Rhondda athlete is looking to add the silver won in Delhi in 2010. "I am looking to get a medal next year and won't go if I didn't think I was capable," said Parry. Parry was the only Welsh athlete to achieve a Commonwealth Games A standard at the Welsh Championships. It was her 12th successive Welsh title and 13th overall. Parry joined Melissa Courtney (1500m), Sally Peake (pole vault), Dewi Grffiths (10,000m), Ieuan Thomas (3,000m steeplechase), Josh Griffiths (marathon), Andrew Davies (marathon) David Omoregie (110m hurdles), Bethan Davies (20km walk), Jon Hopkins (3,000m steeplechase in achieving an A standard for the Gold Coast in 2018. Brett Morse (discus), Ben Gregory (decathlon), Jennifer Nesbitt (10,000m), Heather Lewis (20km walk), Adele Nicoll (shot putt), Tom Marshall (1500m) have recorded B standards. "I am absolutely delighted," Parry added. "I had a bit of difficult winter and this is only my second competition back so I am pleased. "I was walking my dog in November and I slipped down a bank and snapped my ankle and have had pins and plates put in there. "I would hope two A standards would get me selected but you have to wait for the letter or phone call. "It would be my fourth Commonwealth Games. "I started in Australia in Melbourne in 2006 and maybe this would be full circle." Find out how to get into athletics with our special guide. Sprinter Mica Moore, who is hoping to compete at both the Commonwealth Games and Winter Olympics in the bobsleigh next year, won the 100m in a time of 11.69 seconds. Sam Gordon ran a new personal best to win the men's event in 10.32secs. Other winners included Bethan Davies (3km walk), Brett Morse (discus), Adele Nicoll (shot putt), Dewi Griffiths (5,000m) and Thomas Williams (200m). Paralympic champion Aled Sion Davies, who was this week named in the Great Britain squad for the World Championships in London 2017, competed in the discus and shot putt. Leading Welsh athletes David Omoregie, Sally Peake, Hannah Brier, Rhys Williams and Seren Bundy-Davies were not competing. The 100th Welsh Championship was marked by a parade of more than 100 former winners, including 1964 Olympic long jump gold medallist Lynn Davies, ex-world marathon record holder Steve Jones and Merthyr Tydfil's Venissa Head who won a record 25 Welsh titles in discus and shot.
Welsh hammer thrower Carys Parry is targeting a fourth Commonwealth Games after success at the 100th Welsh Championships in Cardiff.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40235695"}
646
31
0.457465
1.198479
0.285271
1.238095
26.714286
0.666667
The Scottish Sun pledged the cash to Gorgie City Farm after holding a competition to name the miniature pair. The Edinburgh venue was the scene of a campaign howler in which Mr Rennie was speaking on camera with amorous pigs in the background. The Sun's winner was Agnes Martin who picked the names Kama and Sutra. She told the newspaper: "I don't think anyone will forget those pigs. I won't, as I'll be keeping them on my mantelpiece." At last week's Holyrood election, Mr Rennie won the Fife North East seat, beating SNP candidate Roderick Campbell by 3,465 votes. Ahead of taking to the stage at the count in Glenrothes, the politician was handed the two pigs by BBC reporter Ken Macdonald. Mr Rennie later thanked the journalist for the gift which ended up raising money for the city farm which is under threat of closure.
Two plastic pigs which Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie was seen clutching on the night of his election win have helped raise £250 for charity.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36255394"}
211
36
0.605317
1.602975
0.120855
0.5
6.142857
0.428571
It was probably left behind or traded in the town of Tulln following the Ottoman siege of nearby Vienna in 1683. DNA analysis shows that the beast - the first intact camel skeleton found in central Europe - was a Bactrian-dromedary hybrid, popular in the army. It also has bone defects that suggest it wore a harness and was ridden. The find is reported in the journal PLOS One and emerged from an archaeological dig that took place amid preparations for a new shopping centre in the town. Researchers discovered the completely preserved skeleton amongst ancient household rubbish, flagons, plates and pans that had been dumped into a filled-in cellar. First author Alfred Galik said it took a few guesses before he realised his team had stumbled upon something quite unusual. "First I saw the mandible, which looked a bit like a strange-shaped cattle; then I saw the cervical vertebrae, which looked like horse," Dr Galik told the BBC. "Finally, the long bones and metapodials [foot bones] identified the skeleton as a camel." Although other partial skeletons have been reported, including several dating from the Roman era, finding an entire camel was a first for central Europe. The shape of its skull - alongside subsequent genetic tests - confirmed the animal was born to a one-humped, dromedary mother and a two-humped, Bactrian father. "Such cross-breeding was not unusual at the time," said Dr Galik. "Hybrids were easier to handle, more enduring, and larger than their parents. These animals were especially suited for military use." The 1683 Battle of Vienna is perhaps better known for the massive, 20,000-strong cavalry charge led by the Austrians' Polish allies. But the invading Ottoman forces also used both horses and camels for transport and fighting purposes. The Tulln skeleton shows symmetrical wear-and-tear consistent with being ridden, but not the evidence of strain expected for a beast of burden, Dr Galik said. This was a well cared-for, valuable animal. It is also interesting because it was found inside the town, which was surrounded but never captured by the Ottomans. The researchers suggest it may have been traded or left behind by the invaders, after they lost the battle for Vienna. The townsfolk may then have kept it as a curiosity. Crucially, this would explain why it was not butchered and eaten, as the army probably would have done. This practice is probably responsible for the scarcity of intact specimens like this one. The only other intact camel found across the Ottoman Empire's former European territories was a dromedary, recovered from sediments in the ancient harbour of Yenikapi in Istanbul - much closer to the animals' traditional heartland in the Middle East and Africa. Dr Galik said the surprising discovery was a highlight in his scientific career, describing it as "an archaeozoological treasure". Follow Jonathan on Twitter
A complete camel skeleton dug up from a 17th-century Austrian cellar shows tell-tale signs that it was a valuable riding animal in the Ottoman army.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32145248"}
698
41
0.474668
1.417181
0.464694
0.933333
19.066667
0.666667
He rebuked the stance of some Republicans in the US Congress. But one of those criticised by the president - Senator John McCain - said that there were discrepancies between US and Iranian versions of the deal. An outline agreement on the future shape of Iran's nuclear programme was reached after marathon talks with six major powers earlier in April. Some Republicans have argued against the deal, saying that Iran has received too many concessions. Mr McCain suggested last week that Secretary of State John Kerry's explanations of the framework agreement were "somehow less trustworthy" than those of Iran's supreme leader. And he argued on Saturday that discrepancies between US and Iranian versions of the deal extended to inspections, sanctions relief and other key issues. "It is undeniable that the version of the nuclear agreement outlined by the Obama administration is far different from the one described by Iran's supreme leader,'' Mr McCain said in a statement. "I strongly agree with two of America's most eminent statesmen, former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, who last week laid out the serious consequences of this deal for our nation's security." Partisan wrangling The deal aims to prevent Tehran making a nuclear weapon in exchange for phased sanction relief. A deadline has been set for 30 June to reach a comprehensive pact. Tough negotiations still lie ahead. President Obama, speaking after a regional conference in Panama, said he remained "absolutely positive'' that the deal was the surest way to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear arms, Earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that a final agreement must result in an immediate end to all sanctions. President Obama said on Saturday that Mr Khamenei was simply addressing his own country's internal politics. "Even a guy with the title 'Supreme Leader' has to be concerned about his own constituencies," he said. Mr Obama went on to criticise the attitudes of some Republican senators who have been highly sceptical about the emerging agreement with Iran. Mr Obama said that entrenched partisanship was no way to run foreign policy. The framework agreement was announced by the European Union and Iran after eight days of negotiations in Switzerland. The talks at Lausanne's Beau-Rivage Palace hotel between Iran and the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - continued beyond the original, self-imposed deadline of 31 March. The outline agreement has also been criticised by members of Congress who want US lawmakers to have the right to review any final deal.
US President Barack Obama has said that partisanship over the Iran nuclear deal has gone too far.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32273754"}
587
21
0.456406
1.104741
0.280992
0.944444
27.888889
0.833333
The North West's organised anti-crime unit, Titan, believes the haul may be the largest in its history. A total of 160kg (352lb) of drugs were discovered on Monday at a house in Stradbroke Road, Wavertree, a van parked nearby and a city-centre flat. Two men, aged 31 and 32, have been charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. Stephen James Hussey, of Gentwood Road, Huyton and Stephen Brown, of Abbey Close, Kirkby, will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The drugs are thought to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Police said a number of vehicles were removed from outside the house in Wavertree, including a van.
Drugs with an estimated street value of £16m have been seized in Liverpool, police said.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36311759"}
166
22
0.62249
1.283483
-0.443268
0.789474
7.473684
0.578947
The attack on a guesthouse in the Zari district of Balkh province is the latest of several on aid workers in Afghanistan recently. The charity - People in Need (PIN) - said the victims were "killed in their beds while they were sleeping". The attack has not yet been claimed by any group or individual. PIN condemned the attack, saying in a statement published on its website that it was "unprecedented in its brutality". "Those killed include two drivers, two guards and five project staff, which included a woman," PIN country director Ross Hollister told reporters. PIN said it had suspended all of its work in Afghanistan and was adopting measures to strengthen the security of its employees in the country. The charity has been working in Afghanistan since 2002, delivering aid to remote communities in the east and north of the country. Balkh police chief Abdul Razaq Qaderi told AFP news agency that police had launched a search operation for the gunmen, who are believed to be Taliban militants. Tuesday's attack comes just weeks after 14 people were killed in a Taliban attack on a guesthouse popular with international aid workers in the capital, Kabul.
Nine Afghan employees of a Czech charity have been killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in northern Afghanistan, officials say.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32970671"}
260
26
0.595395
1.244935
0.351768
0.695652
9.956522
0.608696
They are bound by a shared passion to bring out Balaknama (Voice of Children), an eight-page quarterly newspaper which focuses on children living and working on the streets. It proudly calls itself the "world's unique newspaper for and by street and working children". Eighteen-year-old Chandni, the newspaper's editor, joins the animated discussion over the content of the next edition of the paper whose circulation has gone up from 4,000 to 5,500 copies since she took over a year ago. The reporters have either been street children or have worked as child labourers in Delhi and neighbouring states. They were rescued by Chetna, an NGO that works for the rehabilitation of street children. By one estimate, more than 10 million children live on the streets and are forced into work in India. From working as a street performer with her father to rag picking to support the family, Chandni's life has been a tale of grinding poverty. The NGO's outreach programme enthused her to join a school and also gave her a modest stipend to keep her from going back to rag picking. It also trained her as a reporter. "I am very proud of editing this paper because it's one of its kind in India. Children whose childhood have been robbed, have gone hungry, begged, been abused and forced to work write about other children who are going through similar tribulations," says Chandni. "It's not only cathartic but also gives each one of us a sense of purpose. We can only become better from here." She manages a bureau of 14 reporters who cover Delhi and neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Most reporters narrate their copies to colleagues in the Delhi office on the phone because they often have no access to e-mail or fax. Chandni conducts two editorial meets every month to keep a sharp eye on the content. The broadsheet is priced at two rupees (30 cents) and is financed and published by Chetna. But it has been struggling to find advertisers and has not received any funding from the government. Shanno, 19, is a fifth-grade school dropout. Working long hours and putting up with a "drunk father" was Shanno's life story. Today she is studying for a degree in social work and hopes to have a career as a social activist. She also trains other reporters at the newspaper. "We did a sample survey of street and working children in Delhi in November and managed to track down 1,320 children living on the streets and working as labourers," she says. "We wanted to tell the police and the government that a proper count of street children was possible. If we can do it with limited resources, so can they when they have all the manpower and resources available to them." "There's been talk of a survey of street children to be conducted by the Delhi government and also the police but nothing has come of it so far," she adds. Shambhu, who also works at the newspaper, says he faced a lot of opposition and endured threats while doing the survey. "We had to face a lot of opposition and even threats when we went to talk to children working in restaurants and hotels because their employers were belligerent. But we firmly told them that we will call the child helpline number if they did not allow us talk to the children," he says. Reaching out to children stuck in private homes, restaurants and factories gave a sense of purpose to 15-year-old Chandni (junior). She echoes the pain and horror of many nameless children in the stories that she files for the paper. Chandni (junior) is slated to take over as the next editor of the newspaper. "I want to increase the reach of our newspaper and make it a profit making venture. It's the voice of all of us who have survived hardships on the streets, in other people's homes and sweat shops and can now speak for many others who continue to struggle. Their silence must be heard," she says.
A group of street children are busy in an unusual editorial meeting in a house in the Indian capital, Delhi.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35118791"}
919
24
0.379771
1.084045
-0.402839
1.045455
36.727273
0.681818
The 27-year-old Spaniard played just eight times after joining the Premier League champions on a free transfer from Sporting Gijon in July. He has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Malaga, who are 14th in the Spanish top flight. His last appearance was in a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on 13 December.
Leicester have sold Luis Hernandez to Malaga for an undisclosed fee, six months after signing the defender.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38737510"}
84
26
0.593185
1.029937
-0.933827
0.263158
3.842105
0.263158
Media playback is not supported on this device Chasing 229, India looked set for victory at 191-3, but Anya Shrubsole pinned Punam Raut lbw for 86 to spark a collapse of seven wickets for 28 runs. The seamer finished with 6-46 - the best figures in a World Cup final - as India were bowled out for 219 with eight balls unused. Even as Shrubsole was in the middle of a stunning spell of 5-11 in 19 deliveries, India were within touching distance of the highest successful chase in a World Cup final and a first major trophy. Fears that England may have missed their chance were raised when Jenny Gunn dropped a sitter at mid-off to reprieve Poonam Yadav. But Shrubsole bowled Rajeshwari Gayakwad next ball to spark joyous scenes on the pitch and among the majority of fans in a sell-out crowd. Natalie Sciver made 51 and Sarah Taylor 45 in England's 228-7, which proved enough for a fourth World Cup crown. It ended a wait for a global trophy that went back to 2009 and vindicated the approach of coach Mark Robinson, who dispensed with former captain Charlotte Edwards after defeat in the semi-finals of the 2016 World Twenty20. Media playback is not supported on this device After losing the World T20 semi to Australia in India last year, Robinson criticised his team's fitness and set about making changes. Edwards was replaced as captain and retired, with new skipper Heather Knight leading a team of players that established themselves in the international arena. Batters Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfeld and Fran Wilson have all been integrated into the top order, Alex Hartley's left-arm spin has become integral to the attack and Sarah Taylor has returned from an anxiety-related issue. Knight's side were beaten by India in the first game of the tournament, but steadily improved to top the eight-team group, including beating defending champions Australia. Their thrilling semi-final victory over South Africa was front-page news, but it was nothing compared to the drama of the final in the rain at a packed, partisan and raucous Lord's. Before the final, Shrubsole's father shared a picture on Twitter of his daughter as a nine-year-old, who said she wanted to play in a World Cup final at Lord's. The vice-captain had already hit the winning runs in the semi-final, and, in the final, lifted England when the World Cup looked to be slipping away. "It worked wonders for my dad's media profile," Shrubsole told BBC Sport. "He's not always the most sentimental. "You maybe have a dream, but you never actually think these things are going to happen. For that dream to be a reality is just amazing." Raut, who should have been stumped by Taylor on 64, was trapped lbw before Sushma Verma was bowled by Hartley without scoring. India needed only 33 from 39 balls with five wickets in hand, but Shrubsole, charging in from the Pavilion End, was irresistible. She removed the dangerous Veda Krishnamurthy, who top-edged a swipe to Sciver, bowled Jhulan Goswami and ran out Shikha Pandey from point. Deepti Sharma spooned to Sciver at mid-wicket as Shrubsole completed the first five-wicket haul in a World Cup final and, after Gunn's error, Shrubsole cleaned up Gayakwad to seal victory in style. Media playback is not supported on this device England opted to make first use of a used wicket, with openers Winfield and Beaumont sharing nine fours in the first 15 overs. However, England managed only the same number in the next 35. India took pace off the ball - leg-spinner Yadav managed to bowl as slowly as 33mph - but Sciver and Taylor manouvered the ball well in a fourth-wicket partnership of 83. When the time came to accelerate, seamer Goswami returned to have Taylor caught down the leg side and both Wilson and Sciver lbw. England were squeezed, but the late impetus of Katherine Brunt, Gunn and Laura Marsh ensured they just about had enough. Media playback is not supported on this device England captain Heather Knight: "I can't stop smiling. I am so proud of this group of girls. We made it hard for ourselves but I couldn't care less. "India were batting brilliantly and put good partnerships together. We knew if we hung in and kept the rate at five or six then we would always be in the game. "We held our nerve. Anya Shrubsole - what a hero." Anya Shrubsole, who took 6-46: "I am lost for words. It is a dream. I never thought it would come true. To be back here as a World Cup winner is amazing. "It is a fitting final of what was a brilliant World Cup. There was a huge amount of pressure. "One of the great things about this team is we never give up. One defeat was never going to put us out of the World Cup but we showed a huge amount of fight and that was epitomised by today." India skipper Mithali Raj: "It wasn't easy for England but credit to them - they kept their nerve. "There was a time when the match was in the balance. We panicked and they came out victorious."
England completed a stunning fightback to beat India by nine runs and win the Women's World Cup at an ecstatic Lord's.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40698974"}
1,259
32
0.459918
1.181275
-0.009503
1.208333
44.041667
0.791667
The Gateway2Medicine (G2M) programme is aimed at giving students both the experience and qualifications needed to study medicine at university. It is being jointly run by the University of Aberdeen and North East Scotland College. It is hoped it could help meet targets to widen access to higher education. The initial 20 students will be taught science and laboratory skills, and will also get work experience with NHS Grampian. School pupil Emma Bowden, 17, from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, has just been accepted onto the programme. She told BBC Scotland: "I got in, I cannot believe it. "Growing up somewhere rural, it's really hard to get work experience and the opportunities you need to get into medicine. "This is a new route. "I am so excited - my family are ecstatic. It's going to make a big difference." Prof Steve Heys, head of the University of Aberdeen's school of medicine, medical sciences and nutrition, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young people who had never thought of pursuing a career in medicine to do so. "We believe widening participation in medicine is key, both to address inequality for those from social and geographically disadvantaged situations and to create a diverse environment that benefits all our students and medical practice in Scotland. "Our nationally-acclaimed research in this area shows that highly-achieving school pupils at schools in deprived areas are less likely than those from other school backgrounds to ever consider medicine as an option. "When they do, the practical support available is often limited or even discourages medicine as a career." Susan Grant, director of curriculum at North East Scotland College, added: "Although we have been delivering science in the curriculum for many years, this is an exciting new avenue for us and we are delighted to be part of this innovative opportunity for students who may not have traditionally considered medicine as a career."
A new programme to get pupils from remote or deprived backgrounds on the path to a medical career has recruited its first students.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39926335"}
409
27
0.527299
1.324298
0.440652
0.916667
16.041667
0.75
On the 10th hole at Silver Lakes in Glencoe, Alabama, Clifton McDonald began badly with a double bogey seven. Things got significantly worse, and he was 14 over par after six holes by the time he stepped on to the 16th tee. Fourteen furious swipes later, he had completed the par five. Most people would have walked off. But not Clifton. He forged on regardless to make what the Alabama Golf Association says is without doubt "the highest score we've had in any qualifying event". "The guy was really nice. It's just you could tell he was in over his head," executive director Andy Priest told BBC Sport. "It was a beautiful sunny day, it wasn't breezy at all. It's just a tough golf course. "The feedback we got from other players was that it was firm and fast. Honestly it's good qualifying for the Open at Erin Hills. "We got his scorecard and he confirmed what he had shot, but we didn't speak to him for very long. You could tell he had had a long day. "But it I will say one thing, the gentleman played it out." Lee McCoy, who finished second on Wednesday to take one of five qualifying spots, tweeted the picture above, adding: "The scorecard of the guy that played in front of me at US Open qualifying today. Shot 68 on his front 9 and decided to finish #NeverGiveUp." McDonald was, perhaps not surprisingly, bottom of the pack in 67th. This year's US Open takes place between 15-18 June in Erin Hills, Wisconsin. About half of the field is made up of players who are exempt from qualifying - such as the defending champion, Dustin Johnson. But any professional golfer, or an amateur with a handicap of 1.4 or lower, is eligible to enter local qualifying, which is played at 114 courses around the US and Canada. Those who are successful advance to sectional qualifying, which takes place at 10 sites in the US as well as in Japan and at Walton Heath in Surrey.
Next time you're hacking your way around the golf course, summon the spirit of the player who not only failed to card a single par but only managed two bogeys on his way to an eye-watering 127 in US Open local qualifying - finishing 55 shots over par.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39892101"}
469
64
0.345521
0.968009
0.40881
0.830189
7.90566
0.566038
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere also announced plans to speed up the deportation of foreign criminals. He announced extra personnel, equipment and surveillance powers for the police. But he rejected banning the public wearing of the burka (the Islamic full veil). And he resisted pressure to ease medical confidentiality. Some of his conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) colleagues have urged a burka ban but Mr de Maiziere said it would be "problematic" and "you cannot ban everything that you reject". Mr de Maiziere was responding to recent attacks linked to militant Islamists. Two terror attacks by Islamist migrants shocked Germany last month - in Wuerzburg and Ansbach. "I propose that German citizens who are fighting with terror militias in other countries, and take part in combat operations there, if they have a second nationality - and only then - they would lose German citizenship," he told a news conference. There was a move in France recently to deprive jihadists of their French citizenship, but it did not get through parliament. German media report that the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) - the CDU's coalition partners - strongly oppose any general ban on dual citizenship. The Greens are also against the idea. "My proposals are limited to the points that can lead to more security rapidly," Mr de Maiziere said. One of the new measures is to make "promoting terrorism" a criminal offence. On deportation, Mr de Maiziere said there would be no tolerance of foreign offenders who used false identities in order to stay in Germany. Key election issue - the BBC's Jenny Hill in Berlin writes: Germany hasn't experienced a major coordinated terror attack on the scale of Paris or Brussels - yet. A senior intelligence source has told the BBC that his agents are investigating hundreds of reports that Islamic State (IS) has sent so-called hit squads into the country, disguised as refugees, and that the risk of such an attack is very high. Political reaction to that threat will dominate campaigning ahead of next year's general election. Already it has ignited a fierce debate, which extends well beyond domestic security. Some of Mr de Maiziere's fellow conservatives - who are losing votes to right-wing populists - want him to ban burkas and outlaw dual citizenship altogether. The duty of doctors to respect patient confidentiality is enshrined in the German constitution. And German privacy laws are very strict. But Mr de Maiziere said he would meet senior doctors to discuss how they could more easily tip off police when they suspected a patient was a terror risk. In three major cases the perpetrators were found to have been mentally unstable: German doctors who breach patient confidentiality can face up to a year in prison or be forced to pay a fine. Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the head of the German Medical Association, said: "Patient confidentiality protects patients' privacy and is a basic right under the constitution." What is going on in Germany? German press concern at spate of violence What drives individuals to commit mass killings? Mr de Maiziere is expected to attract broad support for creating 4,600 new national security jobs, including 3,250 more police, and for improving police equipment. Germany is also likely to introduce more video surveillance in urban areas, a special police cyber defence unit and powers to investigate suspects as young as 14. There will be a big push to intercept terror networks that use the "darknet" to plan attacks or obtain weapons, the minister said. It is an area of cyberspace invisible to ordinary internet users.
Germans with dual nationality will lose their German citizenship if they fight for militant Islamist groups abroad under new anti-terror proposals.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37044519"}
785
30
0.487051
1.320745
0.78797
0.958333
29.208333
0.791667
Sheffield City Region (SCR) signed a deal in 2015 paving the way for a mayor with certain devolved powers. However, SCR chair Sir Steve Houghton said it wanted clarity on whether installing a mayor was necessary. Former chancellor George Osborne, who signed the deal, had previously said elected mayors were key to devolution. Under the proposed SCR devolution deal the mayor would take responsibility for major roads, public transport, skills for employment and major planning and investment projects. Speaking after the SCR agreed to submit its consultation responses to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid, Sir Steve said: "The elected mayor is not yet a done deal. "We are seeking clarity from government on whether this is still needed as there are still significant concerns around the mayoral model amongst a number of city region authorities. "We won't make the final decision to go ahead unless we are absolutely sure that this is best possible outcome for our residents and that there are no other options open to us. "Any decision on the mayor and any election timetable is therefore subject to these considerations." He also said that, following consultation, there was public support for Chesterfield and Bassetlaw, two of the nine local authorities which make up the SCR, becoming "constituent members" alongside Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham. If the two authorities do become constituent members they would take part in any future mayoral elections. Last month Derbyshire County Council said it was seeking a judicial review of the consultation. The SCR said however the legal action would not impact on the devolution timetable.
Plans for a directly elected mayor in South Yorkshire are "not a done deal" and could be dropped from the regions proposed devolution agreement.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37347120"}
355
31
0.562127
1.47566
0.039828
1.037037
11.62963
0.666667
The boat was carrying between 450 and 600 migrants when it capsized eight miles (12km) off the coast, they say. The numbers have not been confirmed. Authorities say they have rescued 163 people and recovered 51 bodies so far off the port city of Rosetta. Four crew members have been arrested, Egyptian officials said. They are suspected of involuntary manslaughter and human trafficking, judicial officials were reported as saying. The incident came after the EU's border agency warned that increasing numbers of Europe-bound migrants are using Egypt as a departure point. The UN says that more than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean towards Europe since 2014. The boat was kept off the coast for five days as more and more migrants were brought on board, survivors told the BBC's Orla Guerin in Rosetta. The boat is said to have capsized after a final group of some 150 people were crammed on board. Authorities have been accused of failing to send help fast enough. "Anyone who was saved here, was saved by the local fishing boats," fisherman Abdelrahman Al-Mohamady told the Reuters news agency. The International Organization for Migration said those rescued included 111 Egyptians, 26 Sudanese, 13 Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian. Many survivors are now being held in police custody. Rescuers are focusing their efforts on the boat's cold storage room, where it is believed around 100 people took refuge during the capsize. There is still uncertainty over the exact number of migrants who were on board the vessel before it capsized, with estimates between 450 and 600. The number of deaths is expected to rise. Some teenage Egyptian survivors, huddled together in the basement of a police station, told the BBC they were trying to reach Italy to find work. The Egypt office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) say high birth rates and few job opportunities are pushing young Egyptians into taking the risk of a dangerous sea voyage. Authorities say Egyptians in police custody will soon be released but foreign nationals will be held for a few days for questioning as to how they entered the country. Human rights researchers warned last month of a "devastating" lack of information for families of migrants thought to have drowned in the Mediterranean, IOM figures, released in July, suggest 2016 could become the worst year to date for migrant deaths. It said about 3,000 migrants and refugees had lost their lives so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean. EU border agency Frontex says more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared with 7,000 over the same period in 2015. It says Egypt is the "new hotspot" for people smugglers, with concerns that its population of about 80 million people may pose a major problem should it descend into chaos. Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri said that work was being done to determine whether there was a link between the drop in numbers departing from Turkey - where only about 50 people a day are trying to make the journey to reach Greece compared to thousands this time last year - and the increase in numbers from Egypt. However, officials say Libya still remains the biggest departure point with flows at around the same level this year as last year. A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.
Survivors from a boat which capsized off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday have told the BBC that hundreds of people may have drowned.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37439294"}
790
31
0.504256
1.166465
0.089478
1.375
29.708333
0.875
Gordon Strachan's side host a Group F qualifier on 10 June. Absent from the squad are Matt Ritchie and Grant Hanley, who have been promoted with Newcastle United. Also dropping out from the squad that defeated Slovenia are Leipzig's Oliver Burke, West Brom's Matt Phillips and Middlesbrough's Jordan Rhodes. Winger Phillips and central defender Hanley pulled out of that squad through injury and have not played since April. Ritchie scored in the 4-1 win over Preston North End that secured Newcastle promotion to England's top flight but missed the last two games of the season through suspension. Fellow winger Burke started Saturday's 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany's Bundesliga. But Strachan said that the 20-year-old had been left out his squad because he thought it unfair to put so much pressure on a young player who has lacked first-team starts. Rhodes, who had been on loan from Middlesbrough, lost his first-team place at Sheffield Wednesday to Scotland colleague Steven Fletcher, who does make Strachan's 27-man squad. And Rhodes' place goes to Murphy, who has been in previous squads without winning a senior a cap but has earned a recall after helping Brighton finish runners-up in England's Championship. "We thought about that the last game, people who were feeling good about themselves," said Strachan. "They bring that positivity to the squad." Scotland beat Slovenia 1-0 and lie fourth in the Group F table, two points behind second-top Slovakia, with England a further four points ahead. Midfielder McLean, whose one cap came in a March 2016 friendly against Czech Republic, and uncapped defender Reynolds finished runners-up in the Scottish Premiership with the Dons. "I've seen Kenny recently in a wonderful game, the Aberdeen-Celtic match, the best 45 minutes of football I have seen this season," said Strachan. "And the 90 minutes were terrific and throughout that Kenny had an excellent game. "And the results at Aberdeen have been fantastic. They have had a good, strong finish to the season." Swansea left-back Stephen Kingsley does return to Strachan's squad after Rangers' Lee Wallace was ruled out following stomach surgery. However, there is no space in the squad for Callum McGregor, despite the in-form Celtic midfielder being tipped for a call-up for the match at Hampden Park. "I think everyone knows that's where we are strong, and that's where you need to be strong these days. "There is a lot of other midfield players that I have seen recently that you would think, if it wasn't so strong, they would be in the squad as well," added Strachan. "Kevin McDonald at Fulham has had an excellent season. "A lot of lads in that area are just unfortunate we are very, very strong in that area, which showed in the last game against Slovenia, we were strong and full of enthusiasm and know-how in there." Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Celtic), Jack Hamilton (Hearts), David Marshall (Hull City) Defenders: Ikechi Anya (Derby County), Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Stephen Kingsley (Swansea City), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Scott Brown (Celtic), Tom Cairney (Fulham), Darren Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Hibernian), Kenny McLean (Aberdeen), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United) Forwards: Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County), Jamie Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Steven Naismith (Norwich City)
Brighton's Jamie Murphy and Aberdeen duo Kenny McLean and Mark Reynolds have been called up to the Scotland squad for their World Cup match with England.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39998863"}
955
35
0.417611
1.137523
-0.062367
1.321429
28.25
0.821429
The move won the backing of Perth and Kinross Council's development management committee last month, and has now also been given the green light by the licensing committee. The event is due to take place on the weekend of 10 to 12 July. Aspects of the move have proved controversial with some residents. Following a drawn-out planning process which included two public consultations, planning permission was given to stage the festival at Strathallan for the next three years, so its impact could be assessed. Concerns raised among the 1,600 letters of objection sent to the council included traffic management and the potential impact on wildlife, including ospreys which nest near the site. However, the planning application was unanimously backed by councillors after no attempt to block it was made. Licensing committee members were warned that, as many of the same issues were likely to come up in the public entertainment licence debate, they should not move to refuse the application on a previously-heard objection unless they could show that the development management committee's "reasoning was flawed". The committee unanimously agreed to grant a licence for this year's event, although not for the full three years approved by the planning board.
Plans to move T in the Park festival to Strathallan Castle have crossed another major hurdle with the award of a public entertainment licence.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33150260"}
258
29
0.583369
1.451625
0.213469
0.96
9.28
0.64
The major study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) compared the health of children in 42 European and North American countries. The research suggested Scotland had a significantly greater proportion of 15-year-old girls in poor health. The Scottish government said income equality was at the root of the issue. The WHO analysis of the health of 11-15 year olds suggested that, while 11-year-old Scottish children have healthier habits than children in many other countries, there is a marked decline by the time they reach 15. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study has been carried out in 42 countries every 4 years for the last 30 years and provides a valuable indication of the wellbeing of the next generation of adults. The latest survey suggested that Scotland has a significantly greater proportion of 15-year-old girls in poor health. Teenagers were asked to pick from a list of symptoms which included headaches, nervousness, stomach ache and sleeping problems. The health of girls in low-income households was particularly bad. The proportion of 15-year-olds reporting "some" or "a lot" of schoolwork pressure has also been increasing since 2006, with girls reporting a lot more pressure than boys. However, 11-year-old Scottish schoolchildren fare much better. They have healthier habits than children in many other countries, including eating breakfast every day, teeth brushing and spending time with friends outside school. Dr Joanna Inchley, deputy director of the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, based at the University of St Andrews, said: "It is encouraging that 11-year-olds in Scotland are doing well compared with many of their European counterparts, but we see a clear worsening of health and wellbeing during the adolescent years. "Particularly concerning is the increase in school-related stress which may be contributing to poorer mental wellbeing especially among 15-year-old girls. It is essential that we look at ways of providing support to young people to help them navigate the challenges they face during adolescence." A positive finding was that the level of reported alcohol consumption among Scottish 15-year-olds continued to fall. Dr Fergus Neville, a research fellow at the University of St Andrews, told Good Morning Scotland: "This is a good news story. "I think there's a perception that alcohol is becoming an every increasing problem for our young people but since 1998 every time we've done the survey, every four years, we've seen a steady decrease in the proportion of 15-year-olds who've reported to have been drunk two or more times in their lifetime. "The problem isn't solved however. We still have one of the highest proportions of 15-year-olds who say they've been drunk - about a third - so there's still some work to be done." The report revealed that the gap between the health of the richest and poorest children was having an impact. It was widest among boys in all the 42 countries studied. Scottish Health Improvement Minister Jamie Hepburn said: "We recognise that there are deeply ingrained health inequalities in Scotland - something which has existed for generations and which will not be solved overnight. "At its root this is an issue of income inequality - and we need a shift in emphasis from dealing with the consequences to tackling the underlying causes, such as ending poverty, fair wages, supporting families and improving our physical and social environments. "The Scottish government is already doing as much as we can.... However, we want to do more and will use the new powers coming to Scotland to help create a fairer and more equal society." Gerry McCartney, head of the public health observatory at NHS Health Scotland said the study allowed the examination of the factors that lead young people to be healthy or unhealthy. "The report highlights the progress we have made in many aspects of health amongst young people in Scotland over time, such as the decrease in consumption of high sugar drinks, but it also highlights the stark inequalities in how healthy children feel themselves to be," he said.
Fifteen-year-old girls in Scotland face more pressure from schoolwork and report poorer health than others around the globe, according to research.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35806893"}
892
32
0.499227
1.206377
0.666158
2
30.111111
0.814815
In May 2013 police revealed an investigation had begun into alleged abuse at the St Francis Boys Home in Shefford, in the 1950s and 1960s. Ex-residents have been told there will be an evidence review under the command of senior investigator Mark Ross. Bedfordshire Police said all previous investigations would be looked at. The BBC has talked to former residents of the home who allege they were physically and/or sexually abused at the orphanage, run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton. Many have said they were abused by priest Father John Ryan, who ran the home in the 1960s and died in 2008. Others say they were abused by Fr Wilfred Johnson, who ran the home between 1945 and 1954 and died in 1994. Mr Ross, a retired senior police officer, said: "The investigation has evolved due to the large number of victims and witnesses. "We are now in a very different era and social attitudes and the criminal justice system have changed significantly in the last 50 years. I aim to provide all of the victims involved with an outcome. "Many of the suspects have since died but police forces still have the responsibility to investigate these crimes and consider organisational responsibility at the time of the abuse." Gordon McIntosh, a spokesman for ex-residents, welcomed the news. "It's a very positive development and it has come out of the blue. I am hoping at the end of the day we can see some progress in this investigation," Mr McIntosh told the BBC. The Diocese of Northampton has said it "deeply regrets" any hurt caused, but has stressed the "claims are not proven".
Ex-residents of a Catholic orphanage in Bedfordshire are to be re-interviewed by police in a new review into claims of physical and sexual abuse.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "29094848"}
358
38
0.560215
1.403592
0.316166
1.172414
11.206897
0.827586
Lawyers for Cecilia Gimenez, who is in her 80s, say any "economic compensation" would go to charities. She made headlines after her do-it-yourself restoration in a church left the 19th Century fresco of Christ resembling a hairy monkey. But thousands of people have since visited the church near Zaragoza. The airline Ryanair is now even offering deals to the north-eastern Spanish city, encouraging tourists to see the fresco in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church in Borja. "She just wants (the church) to conform with the law," said Enrigue Trebolle, Ms Gimenez's lawyer. "If this implies an economic compensation, she wants it to be for charitable purposes." The lawyer added that Ms Gimenez was favouring charities helping patients with muscular atrophy, because her son suffered from the condition. Ms Gimenez earlier said she had decided to restore the work by Elias Garcia Martinez because of its deterioration due to moisture. She claimed to have had the permission of the parish priest to carry out the job. "How could you do something like that without permission? He knew it!" she was quoted as saying. But during the restoration, the delicate brush strokes of Elias Garcia Martinez were buried under a haphazard splattering of paint. The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic. Ms Gimenez appears to have realised she was out of her depth and contacted the city councillor in charge of cultural affairs. Cultural officials said she had the best intentions and hoped the piece could be properly restored.
The woman who ruined a prized Jesus Christ fresco in Spain is now demanding royalties after her botched restoration became a hit with tourists.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "19674622"}
375
34
0.526546
1.427439
0.351223
0.84
12.6
0.6
David Murdoch's rink won four and lost five of their first nine games and still have matches against Germany and Russia to complete. However, after results on Thursday, the Scots cannot catch any of the top four sides - Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The host nation lead the standings on 10 wins. Sweden and Switzerland have eight victories and the United States have seven wins.
Scotland cannot reach the medal matches at the World Men's Curling Championship in Canada.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39476944"}
86
19
0.668682
1.226644
-0.481743
0.588235
4.764706
0.470588
Swiss second seed Federer beat Australia's Sam Groth 6-4 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round, Russia's fifth seed Sharapova also progressed, reaching the fourth round with a 6-2 6-4 win over Sabine Lisicki. Two-time champion Venus Williams and second seed Simona Halep were knocked out in their third round matches. Home favourite Venus Williams lost 6-0 0-6 7-6 (7-5) to Italy's Sara Errani. Errani will play Mirjana Lucic-Baroni next after the Croatian qualifier beat Romania's Halep 7-6 (8-6) 6-2. Germany's sixth seed Angelique Kerber was also beaten 6-1 7-5 by Switzerland's Belinda Bencic. Federer, a five-time US Open champion, will play Spain's Marcel Granollers in the third round, while 2006 champion Sharapova faces Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round. Having twice come back from being down a break in the third set, Williams had a chance to serve out the match. But Errani, who had not won more than three games in a set against Williams in three previous meetings, showed great fighting spirit to force a tie-break. Ultimately Williams was undone by too many unforced errors - she had 52 in all - although with seeds tumbling all around her, Errani will like her chances of going far in the tournament. Lucic-Baroni, 32, reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 1999 but had not reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament since. Off-court problems derailed her career but she returned to the Grand Slam stage in 2010 after a gap of eight years and beat future Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli at SW12 in 2012. Jelena Jankovic (Ser) (9) beat Johanna Larsson (Swe) 6-1 6-0 "I feel hungry, I want to do well again," said Jankovic, a former world number one who reached the US Open final in 2008. "I love playing in the US Open. I had a lot of deep rounds here. It's my favourite Grand Slam." Sara Errani (Ita) (13) beat Venus Williams (US) (19) 6-0 0-6 7-6 (7-5) "I've never heard the crowd that strong, I was shaking," said 27-year-old Errani, who put her finger to her lips after her victory as if to silence the crowd. "It was unbelievably good. I will remember forever that moment. I don't know why I did that. I was not angry. It was the adrenaline in my body." David Ferrer (Spa) (4) beat Bernard Tomic (Aus) walkover "I can't afford to get on court and play against David and cause much more pain to myself," said world number 67 Tomic, who had surgery on both hips in January. "I can potentially make it 10 times worse. It's a very difficult decision for me, but I have to do this." Tomas Berdych (Cze) (6) beat Martin Klizan (Svk) 6-3 4-6 6-2 3-6 6-3 "It's a good challenge. The conditions were tough again," said Berdych, 28, who avoided becoming the first top-10 seed to go out of the men's tournament. "You go from day till early evening. You start with the sun, then you end up with the lights. It was quite windy, as well. He played good, so I'm happy to have that on my belt, to win another five-setter, and just go forward." Roger Federer (Sui) (2) beat Sam Groth (Aus) 6-4 6-4 6-4 "I thought I did pretty well from the start, I created quite a few opportunities. I'm really happy how I played on the return," said Federer. "I could maybe have done a bit better on my serve but I thought it was an exciting match. I thought Sam played well and it was tough until the end. He's got unbelievable power. My arm's still shaking a little bit." Maria Sharapova (Rus) (5) beat Sabine Lisicki (Ger) 6-2 6-4 "She was a really tough opponent, a very aggressive big server. I just tried to concentrate on my return," said Sharapova. "I wasn't serving as well as I wanted to. In the end it was a few points. I was happy I was able to break her." Shuai Peng (Chn) beat Roberta Vinci (Ita) (28) 6-4 6-3 Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) (7) beat Dudi Sela (Isr) 6-1 6-1 6-2 Lucie Safarova (Cze) (14) beat Alize Cornet (Fra) (22) 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 Gael Monfils (Fra) (20) beat Alejandro Gonzalez (Col) 7-5 6-3 6-2 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (Cro) beat Simona Halep (Rom) (2) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 "After so many years, to be here again, it's incredible," said Lucic-Baroni, who contested only two professional matches between 2004 and 2006. "I wanted this so bad. So many times I would get to a place where I thought I could do it. Then I wanted it so bad that I kind of burned out. I'm so happy." Caroline Wozniacki (Den) (10) beat Andrea Petkovic (Ger) (18) 6-3 6-2 "I love this court. You know, the atmosphere's really great there," said Wozniacki. "The crowd sits really close to you. I think it's an amazing court to play on. When I saw the schedule, I was really happy with getting another match there." Venus Williams is not about to be hurried into retirement at the age of 34. "Time is continuous. No matter what age you are, I think in your mind you still feel quite young. I think that's everyone. In your head you're still very young. I'm still young. For tennis perhaps I'm older, but in life I'm a young person." "I was trying not to get caught up in the whole Roger act out there. You walk out, you get a few cheers. He walks out and the crowd goes ballistic." Sam Groth on facing five-time champion Roger Federer. Dominic Thiem did not relish having to play good friend Ernests Gulbis. "I hated the situation. It's a really great win for me - I would prefer it against everybody else, but not him." Gulbis is asked what positives he takes from defeat. "What is positive for me? I lost. I'm going home. Nothing positive for me." "I feel goofy right now. I feel like I'm 15." Mirjan Lucic-Barino is ready to party like it's 1999 - the last time she reached a Grand Slam fourth round. France's 20th seed Gael Monfils served four double faults in his first service game on Friday - before questioning the height of the net after falling 2-0 behind in the opening set. Monfils walked up and held his hand on the white tape at the top of the net, while wondering aloud whether it was set up properly, drawing a laugh from umpire Gianluca Moscarella. "I asked him, 'Are you sure?'" Monfils said later. And Moscarella's response? "He said: 'You should kiss the net and it should be better after,'" Monfils recalled with a smile. "I trust him, because I know they measure it before and between the sets,'' the Frenchman said. Monfils ended up with 10 double faults in all, but that did not prevent him from beating Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since a quarter-final run in 2010.
Former US Open champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova enjoyed straight sets wins at Flushing Meadows on a day that brought some notable exits.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "28992008"}
1,830
34
0.377444
0.95657
0.466342
1.16
66.4
0.68
Rights activists have criticised the arrests of more than 700 suspected illegal migrants following recent deadly xenophobic violence. Police say they made the arrests during crime prevention operations. The authorities have been under pressure to both bring an end to the attacks on foreigners and to introduce tighter immigration controls. The African migrants detained at the Lindela repatriation centre, 25km (15 miles) west of Johannesburg, were due to be deported on Wednesday, reports the BBC's Nomsa Maseko. They had been arrested over the past few weeks during night time raids in and around Johannesburg. But their deportation has been halted for at least two weeks after the organisation Lawyers for Human Rights went to the Johannesburg High Court to prevent it from taking place. Latest African news updates The lawyers have also been given permission to consult with their clients after being barred from doing so by the government. This will give the lawyers time to get a list of names of those who have been arrested, and check if they are in the country as asylum seekers. The raids come after a wave of xenophobic attacks in April which affected major cities in South Africa. At least seven people were killed, 5,000 left homeless and many foreign-owned shops were looted in the attacks. Campaign group Right to Know called the mass arrests of suspected illegal migrants "state-funded xenophobia". "The raids were a heavy-handed response that have seen families being separated," the group's spokesman Murray Hunter told the AFP news agency. Steve Faulkner, from the Coalition of Movements Against Xenophobia, described a recent raid on Johannesburg's Central Methodist Church, where many refugees seek shelter, as a "military operation in the middle of the night... People were herded together and taken to the police station", AFP reports. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has condemned the violence against foreigners and the army was deployed in some areas to prevent further attacks. But in a speech to mark the anniversary of country's first democratic elections he also talked about concern around the "number of illegal and undocumented migrants" and promised to do something about it.
South Africa's high court has temporarily prevented the deportation of more than 300 undocumented migrants.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32712125"}
477
24
0.461695
1.145867
0.516282
1.764706
24.470588
0.823529
He was speaking at the Irish Open golf tournament in Newcastle, County Down, a day after he was discharged from hospital. Mr Robinson said he was "feeling fine" after having stents inserted following his heart attack last Monday. He said his health issues were nothing to do with the stress of his job, but blamed his diet and lack of exercise. "I blame myself and nobody else but myself. The last emails that I was sending were at about four minutes to four in the morning and my men were timed to come at 7.30 to pick me up on that Monday morning, even though it was a bank holiday," he said. "If you looked at my diet you would cringe - it's all around snacking and fast foods and all the things that you shouldn't do. "Exercise? You're picked up from the door and dropped at the door, so it's all the worst lifestyle things." The 66-year-old paid tribute to the health professionals who treated him during his stay in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. "It's been a difficult time obviously, but it really is tremendous what they're capable of doing now in the RVH," he said. "I really am thankful, right from the ambulance staff who had to work on [me] probably for about an hour before I was taken to Dundonald hospital, they tried to stabilise me and send me on to the Royal Victoria. "I was given three stents that helped the flow of blood around the heart and had a further procedure on Thursday." He said he would accept the secretary of state's invitation for talks at Stormont on Tuesday on the welfare reform crisis. "I'll take it easy for the next couple of weeks. I've got a good team around me," he said. "But I want to concentrate on the crisis issues. The secretary of state has asked party leaders to meet her. With respect to her I will go, but I do make it clear that we will not be renegotiating [the Stormont House Agreement]."
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has blamed his lifestyle for the heart attack he suffered last week.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32942494"}
452
22
0.482971
1.232648
-0.12687
0.947368
21.947368
0.631579
The Spanish giants have made a world-record £86m bid for Bale but Spurs, who have been linked with Roma's Erik Lamela, say no deal has been agreed. Spurs missed out on Brazil midfielder Willian, who joined Chelsea. And they are happy to wait over Bale's sale as it may trigger a series of deals which end up boosting rivals. Arsenal, for instance, have been linked with Real pair Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria, and any potential deals for them may be affected by what happens with Bale. The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on 2 September. Spurs have already missed out on former Anzhi Makhachkala attacker Willian, who joined Chelsea for £30m after he had already completed a medical at Tottenham. Andre Villas-Boas's side have been linked with Argentine forward Lamela, 21, and Chelsea's Juan Mata, although Blues boss Jose Mourinho says the Spanish playmaker is not for sale, despite leaving him out of the side that drew 0-0 with Manchester United on Monday. In addition to Real's offer for Bale, Tottenham have also received a separate bid for the Welshman. The identity of that club is not known but Manchester United have been linked with the player this summer. Meanwhile, Bale failed to report for training on Tuesday following a club-authorised break in Marbella. No reason has been given for his no-show. Real Madrid have made two different offers for Bale and are waiting to see whether Tottenham accept either one. It is believed that a stage, nicknamed the "Bale Box", has been erected at their Bernabeu ground to unveil Bale to the Spanish club's fans. Real Madrid's next home game will be on Sunday against Athletic Bilbao, the day before the end of the transfer window. Bale, who joined Spurs in a £10m deal from Southampton in 2007, was named player of the year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers last season after scoring 26 goals for the White Hart Lane side. Madrid have already spent in excess of £50m this summer, bringing in Spanish midfielders Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad and Malaga's Isco for £34m and £23m respectively.
Tottenham are reluctant to sell Gareth Bale to Real Madrid until they have signed a replacement for the 24-year-old Wales forward.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "23851612"}
522
30
0.539133
1.204236
-0.550818
0.884615
16.807692
0.653846
They will head up the UK Dementias Research Platform (UKDP), a public-private partnership to speed up research into the condition. The funding is being announced at an international summit about the illness in London on Thursday. About 45,000 people suffer from the condition in Wales and about 800,000 in the UK. The UKDP brings together industry expertise and investigating teams from eight UK universities. Their work will create one of the world's largest ever study groups for research into dementia, with more than two million people said to be taking part. The research will investigate the causes of dementia across a range of different neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease. Dr John Gallacher, from Cardiff University's School of Medicine and director of UKDP, said: "We now know that neurodegeneration can be linked to changes taking place in parts of the body seemingly unrelated to the brain and many years before dementia is diagnosed. "For example, inflammation or infection in a completely different organ may be related to the development of dementia or to accelerating the onset in people with the disease. "So it's imperative that we look at the different stages of disease development: people who are yet to develop dementia, those who are known to be at risk of developing it, and those who are already in the early stages of the disease. "By looking at the links between development of the disease and other factors - such as diet or illness - we hope to unearth targets for new drugs or new uses for existing drugs." Hosting the London dementia summit, Prime Minister David Cameron will call for a "big, bold global push" on dementia. Experts and health officials from other G7 countries are expected to attend. Thursday's event in London comes six months after the UK hosted a summit where leading nations committed to developing a cure or treatment for dementia by 2025. The UK government's Science Minister David Willetts said: "This new £16m UK Dementia Platform will create the world's largest ever study group for research into dementia, ensuring that data is freely available to support the work of international scientists in this very important area."
Scientists at Cardiff University are to lead a £16m project to detect, treat and prevent dementia.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "27918761"}
464
23
0.523968
1.271839
0.10467
1.25
21.45
0.75
The defence ministry launched a three-month trial on Wednesday morning, but within hours Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "unacceptable". Groups representing Jewish settlers have been campaigning for segregated travel on security grounds. But human rights groups described the measures as shameful and racist. About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. The travel rules put in place by the Israeli defence ministry for a trial period on Wednesday would have applied to the tens of thousands of Palestinian workers who legally travel through checkpoints to work in Israel every day. Instead of being free to travel home from Israel on any bus heading to the West Bank, the workers would have been required to return only on buses which went back to the checkpoint where they entered Israel - thus denying them access to shared buses which do not go to the checkpoints. The effect would have been to segregate Jewish and Palestinian passengers onto different buses, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem. The leader of Israel's opposition, Yitzhak Herzog of the Zionist Union, wrote on his Facebook page that the move was "a needless humiliation, a stain on the country's face and citizens", and had nothing to do with security. Yariv Oppenheimer, from the campaign group Peace Now, said: "When something looks like apartheid and smells like apartheid, then it's apartheid." Within hours on the trial beginning, Mr Netanyahu had informed Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon that it was "unacceptable" and should be suspended, a senior official in the prime minister's office told the BBC. Our correspondent says it appears Mr Netanyahu over-ruled Mr Yaalon after detecting the danger of damage to Israel's international reputation. It is hard to see how it could be reinstated in its current form, he adds. Many Jewish settlers who use the same buses to travel back to their own communities argue that allowing Palestinian passengers onto the buses creates a security risk. Mr Yaalon has previously said: "Twenty Arabs on a bus with a Jewish driver, two or three passengers and one soldier with a gun is a set-up for an attack." However, the former head of the Israeli military's Central Command, Maj Gen Nitzan Alon, said that he did not consider Palestinian workers to be a threat. In a separate development on Wednesday, Israeli police said they had shot dead a Palestinian man in East Jerusalem after he swerved his vehicle towards a group of police officers. Two officers were slightly injured, and taken to hospital. Following the shooting in the al-Tur district, Palestinians threw rocks at police. One eyewitness said the driver had tried to swerve to avoid hitting pedestrians.
Israel has suspended new rules that would have had the effect of separating Palestinian and Jewish passengers on buses travelling to the West Bank.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32807783"}
639
27
0.497685
1.234455
0.424201
1.6
22.04
0.88
The girl, temporarily named Jade, is thought to be about 19-months-old and is of Afro-Caribbean appearance. Sussex Police said she was taken into care in March although may have been separated from her family before then. Officers said her surname may be Alma or Nakabugo and she could have connections to Crawley or Tooting. The toddler, who is being looked after by children's services, has been described as "affectionate, sociable, bright and happy". The appeal has been jointly launched by Sussex Police, West Sussex Social Services, and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Officers said they were particularly appealing to the Ugandan community for help and stressed the parents were not in any trouble. Det Sgt Alexis Witek said: "At this point we really need to find out who this little girl's parents are. "She may have connections to Crawley and West Sussex as well as Tooting or south London more generally." Sussex Police said publicity for the case was ordered by Mr Justice Hayden sitting at the Family Court in Brighton on 20 June.
An appeal to trace the birth parents of a young girl taken into care in West Sussex has started.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "36730653"}
243
22
0.599571
1.427241
0.025301
1.4
10.85
0.7
Gabe Newell, head of the game studio, made the statement in an interview with news site Polygon. Valve is co-developer of the Vive VR headset with phone firm HTC. Mr Newell said, so far, interest in the technology was in line with its expectations and that some VR games had already sold well. In the rare and wide-ranging interview, Mr Newell said the advent of VR had much in common with the development of PCs in the 1980s. In both cases, he said, people bought technology without knowing why and discovered afterwards what they were good for. For the PC, he said, it was spreadsheets and businesses that drove the initial success. With VR, people were only starting to discover compelling uses as they experimented and took risks with the technology. Mr Newell said there were now about 1,300 VR-based applications on its Steam gaming service and about 30 of those had made more than $250,000 (£200,000) in revenue. "We're optimistic," he told Polygon. "We think VR is going great. It's going in a way that's consistent with our expectations." He added: "We're also pretty comfortable with the idea that it will turn out to be a complete failure." Gauging the success or failure of VR has proved hard because neither Valve nor rival headset maker Oculus have released sales figures. Leaked figures late last year suggested 140,000 Vive headsets had been sold. Sony has said only that orders for its PlayStation-based VR headset have been "massive". It has also been difficult to obtain information about users of phone-based headsets from Samsung and Google. Last year, analyst firm IDC said it expected consumers to spend about $2.6bn in 2016 buying 9.6 million headsets.
VR headset developer Valve is "comfortable" with the idea that the technology could turn out to be a complete failure.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38992294"}
379
28
0.532398
1.320419
0.316923
4.173913
15.26087
0.956522
Another 40 were injured in the attack on a crowd of people protesting outside the office of the provincial governor. Protesters have been demanding that acting Governor Jabar Naemi resign over corruption allegations. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, which left an MP injured. The Taliban who are active in the province said they did not do it. Khost borders Pakistan and is one of Afghanistan's most volatile provinces. Thousands of people fleeing a Pakistan army offensive against the Taliban have arrived in the province in recent months.
At least 16 people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the eastern Afghan city of Khost, officials say.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32159911"}
117
26
0.610344
1.209743
-0.542937
0.681818
4.681818
0.5
Prosecutors said the 25-year-old suffocated Caylee in 2008 because she kept her back from a life of partying. At first she said the girl was kidnapped by a nanny, then at trial said she drowned in a swimming pool. But a jury cleared her of the most serious charges. The case gripped the US since Caylee, from Orlando, Florida, vanished. Casey Anthony was found guilty of four counts of lying to law enforcement officers and is to be sentenced on Thursday. Anthony, wearing a pink button-down shirt and her hair tied back in a pony-tail, wept when the not guilty verdict was read. Later, Anthony hugged supporters and managed a smile as she waited in the courtroom to be fingerprinted. Caylee's skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area about one-quarter of a mile from the family home, six months after she was last seen. But a doctor called to give evidence was unable to give an exact cause of death, and prosecutors were unable to provide evidence linking Ms Anthony to the body. Prosecutors called witnesses who said forensic evidence showed Anthony had carried the child's dead body in the boot of her car, and said examinations of her computer showed she had searched the internet for information about chloroform. Defence lawyers managed to instil in the jury a sense they could not find Anthony guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt" - the standard for criminal convictions in the US, analysts said. In a news conference after the verdict was read, members of Anthony's legal team praised prosecutors as worthy and dedicated adversaries and criticised the death penalty - which could have been imposed if the most serious charge was proved. He also attacked news media outlets and figures they said had found Anthony guilty before the case was heard. Cheney Mason condemned "those of you who have indulged in media assassination", and attacked lawyers who appear on TV chat shows to discuss cases they "don't know a damned thing about". "Now you've learned your lesson," he said. Lead defence lawyer Jose Baez said the US should "take this as an opportunity to learn and to realise that you cannot convict someone until they have had their day in court."
A court in Florida has found US single mother Casey Anthony not guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "14036316"}
520
26
0.402391
1.105304
-0.772741
1.434783
19.130435
0.73913
Bailey, 16, was stabbed during a fight with a fellow pupil at Cults Academy. The schoolboy's killer is serving nine years for culpable homicide. A review in October found his death was "potentially avoidable". The full report was kept private. A heavily-redacted document is expected to be released. Aberdeen City Council said the report was being finalised and would be published as soon as possible. The full report was kept private because of legal and data protection issues. The review, conducted by child welfare professional Andrew Lowe, made 21 recommendations. A strategy aimed at preventing knives and weapons getting into Aberdeen schools was approved last month. Staff will be provided with clarity on the recording of incidents in schools, pupil searches and when and how to confiscate weapons, including knives. Other actions approved by the council include providing professional learning opportunities to teachers in order that they can deliver anti-weapon and knife crime lessons.
A report into the killing of Aberdeen schoolboy Bailey Gwynne will be published next week, BBC Scotland understands.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38342592"}
202
26
0.585135
1.336082
-0.376292
0.75
9.3
0.65
The 28-year old signed a short term deal as a free agent that will keep him in Helsinki until the end of August, with an option to extend the deal. "I had a lot of demands from other clubs but the love I have for the HJK brought me to the club again," Kamara told the club's website. "I wanted to wear blue and white colours on me again" he added. Kamara joins former Nigeria international Taye Taiwa at HJK. The move is seen as Kamara's bid to resurrect his career after he spent the whole of the first half of the English season without playing a game for Bolton. The midfielder enjoyed his first spell with HJK Helsinki, helping the club to win the 2009 and 2010 Finnish league. Kamara was voted the club's MVP in 2007 and the best player in the Finnish top tier league in 2010 before he departed for Serbia to join Partizan Belgrade where he also won league titles and subsequently played in the Uefa Champions League. He joined Bolton in 2013 and was able to make 52 appearances before he was loaned to Isreaeli club Maccabi Haifa. Kamara returned to Bolton but was never again picked to play and had his contract terminated by mutual consent in January. His move came a day after struggling Sierra Leone international striker Ibrahim Teteh Bangura was able to secure a short term contract with Swedish second tier league club GAIS.
Sierra Leone international Mohamed Kamara has reunited with former Finnish champions HJK Helsinki, two months after his contract with English Championship side Bolton Wanderers was terminated.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35737587"}
337
39
0.561118
1.438151
0.880472
1.214286
9.821429
0.714286
The royal couple were among the guests invited to attend the global financial firm ICAP's 23rd annual charity day. Traders in London taught them how to close deals at the Central European interest rates desk. ICAP gives away one day's revenue and commissions every year, which enables them to fund philanthropic projects and research around the world. The event raises millions each year for charities that the duke and duchess are patrons of such as SkillForce, Place2Be and Sports Aid. Since ICAP's fundraising day was started in 1993, nearly £120m has been raised for charity. The duchess danced in celebration after the couple closed deals worth millions of euros over the phone. The duke later joked about the "dodgy" outfits worn by some of the staff, which ranged from gangsters and molls to belly dancers and comic book characters such as Batman and Iron Man. He was guided through the trade by broker Dan Lebeau, who was wearing three-inch heels. Mr Lebeau said: "He was saying to me, basically 'where did you get them from?' "It was very difficult to find size 10 high heels in a normal shop." Also at the event were the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, actor Jeremy Irons and broadcaster Jeremy Paxman.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined City brokers in fancy dress on the trading floor at a charity event.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35057072"}
302
26
0.547436
1.36692
-0.137745
1.090909
11.409091
0.545455
"It was a night of horror," he told me, struggling to find words to describe what happened. Gunmen in military uniform in a convoy of two vehicles and motorcycles stormed the college at about 01:00 - a time when students are asleep in their hostels, surrounded by complete darkness. Yobe State College of Agriculture is down the road from Gujba village. The entrance is fenced but the rest of the campus merges with the bush that stretches from Yobe state into the deep forests of neighbouring Borno state - the stronghold of the Islamist group Boko Haram. Its fighters regard schools as a symbol of Western culture. The group's name translates as "Western education is forbidden". Despite the attack, and others like it, Mr Adam wants to go back to the college and continue with his studies as he believes an education will help him find a job. But he is now back in his home town of Nguru - a four-and-a-half-hour bus journey from Gujba - and his parents will never let him go back to any school as long as the danger of Boko Haram exists. His father has told him that his priority is to stay alive. Yobe state is one of the poorest and educationally disadvantaged states of Nigeria - it is certainly the least developed state in the north-east. Sharing a border with Niger to the north, it is arid and its inhabitants are largely farmers. But farming is becoming more difficult or impossible as a result of growing desert encroachment. Many tertiary students I have spoken to in Yobe's major towns - Damaturu, Geidam, Nguru, Gashua and Potiskum - say their parents have asked them to return home for security reasons. Three states in north-eastern Nigeria have been under a state of emergency since May when a security operation was launched against Boko Haram. Many of the militants left their bases and violence initially fell, but revenge attacks quickly followed - several on schools in Yobe. Who are Boko Haram? Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram "I always live imagining I can be killed. No-one is sure of what will happen," Potiskum resident Kadai Musa, who has three wives and 15 children, told the BBC about life under the state of emergency. He says none of his children have gone to school in the last six months because of fears of further attacks. "We no longer care about anything else except to live and see the next day," he says. Agricultural lecturer Bukar Mustapha can testify to shrinking class sizes. He says the weekend attack may mean teaching unions will refuse to allow staff to go back into classrooms until security can be guaranteed. But there is no security in the remote area around Gujba, a village along a major road linking Yobe with Adamawa state. Apart from some mud houses sparsely strewn over an area the size of two football pitches, Yobe State College of Agriculture is the only prominent feature of Gujba. At the gate of the college there is a security guard, who is usually untrained and armed with a torch light and a bow and arrows. In the early hours of Sunday when the gunmen arrived, they demanded that the night guard show them the hostels for male and female students. He prevaricated, saying that most of the students had gone home for the weekend - only pointing out one dormitory. Other students awoke when they heard the shooting - the sleeping students were killed with guns and a hand-held saw. Some students died running, while others were killed after being mistaken for bandits by villagers as they fled. The gunfire lasted for four hours. Hostels were burnt, the college's shops ransacked. No security agents intervened during this time and the militants eventually left with the college ambulance. When dawn broke, dead bodies could be seen dotted around the hostel area. All day, wailing and tearful relatives hung around the morgue in the state capital Damaturu, 30km (18 miles) north of Gujba, where the dead bodies had been conveyed. The two sons of Ishaku Lawan, a 60-year-old driver, survived the dorm attack. "I am grateful to Allah my sons survived," he told the BBC. "After previous school attacks in Yobe state, we have been asking government to provide security in other schools but nothing has been done. Now the worst has happened." Most Yobe residents bemoan this precarious security situation. They have been living with on-and-off curfews for more than a year. Motorcycles were banned because of the many drive-by shootings - a trademark of Boko Haram killings. Thousands of young men who earned their living running motorbike taxis are out of work. But now life is more risky than ever. Muhammed Abba, a civil servant in Damaturu, has visited his mother in Maiduguri, in Borno state, every weekend for more than a decade. But in the last two months he has been unable to make the journey, which takes about an hour. "In recent days, gunmen of Boko Haram have been blocking the road and slaughtering commuters. They killed over 100 recently," he said. "They normally operate in the evenings and early mornings. My mum begged me not to come and see her because of the risk involved. "Going to Maiduguri now by road is like a suicide mission." For now schools will officially remain open in Yobe, but they are likely to be abandoned as Boko Haram increasingly targets them. But Mr Lawan is desperate for his sons - Muhammed, 23, and Fusami, 25 - to get an education. "I want my sons to be educated. I am 60 and a driver - I don't want my sons to be like me. I will look for a school in a state where there is security," he said. His meagre driver's salary means he will struggle financially, but he says it will be worth it to send his sons to any school outside Yobe state.
Sagir Adam, 21, survived the weekend attack on his agricultural college in north-eastern Nigeria when suspected Islamist militants killed about 50 students sleeping in their dormitory.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "24353555"}
1,419
37
0.413355
1.142838
0.455997
1.903226
38.741935
0.870968
In Beijing, protesters threw stones and bottles and tried to breach a barricade manned by riot police. There were reports of protests in at least 11 other cities. Passions have been inflamed by the purchase of some of the islands this week by the Japanese government. China briefly sent six surveillance ships into waters around the islands on Friday. It was responding to Tokyo's announcement that it had bought three of the islands from their private Japanese owners. BBC Asia-Pacific analyst Charles Scanlon describes the purchase as an attempt at damage limitation following a much more provocative purchase plan by the nationalistic governor of Tokyo, who wanted to develop the islands. Japan controls the resource-rich islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and which are also claimed by Taiwan. In Beijing, hundreds of protesters tried to storm a barricade but were pushed back by riot police with batons and shields. "Return our islands! Japanese devils get out!" some shouted in Beijing, reported Reuters news agency. In Shanghai, the scene of recurrent anti-Japanese protests, the police allowed only small groups of protesters to approach the Japanese consulate. Protesters elsewhere attacked Japanese restaurants and in one place overturned a Japanese-made car, said reports. The dispute has been ratcheted up by the media in both countries - in China, where a leadership change looms and in Japan, in the run-up to an election. Diplomats on both sides recognise that they have much to lose, but nationalistic passions are hard to contain, says the BBC's Asia-Pacific analyst Charles Scanlon. "I think the government is encouraging this," one protester in Beijing, who gave his name as Uda Chen, told Reuters. "They could have stopped all of us approaching when we were at the subway station. The government has taught us to be anti-Japanese at school, so if they want us to stop it would be like slapping their own mouths," he added.
Angry protesters have staged sometimes violent anti-Japanese demonstrations in cities across China, amid escalating tensions over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "19609945"}
458
41
0.505881
1.241164
0.855561
0.888889
14.518519
0.518519
The star needed surgery to insert a pin in his finger, following an off-set accident in early March. Producers initially said the injury would cause "minimal" delays, but that has now extended to several weeks. Around 200 crew have been temporarily stood down until filming resumes. It is not the first delay to the shoot, which is taking place on Australia's Gold Coast. Tropical cyclone Nathan disrupted second unit photography shortly after filming began in February. Subtitled Dead Men Tell No Tales, the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film sees Depp reprise his role as the swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow. Javier Bardem plays Captain Brand, a villain described as "a ghost bent on revenge" who holds Sparrow responsible for the death of his brother. A spokesman for the film told the Hollywood Reporter that resumption of filming depended on Depp's recuperation. Filming continued on scenes without Depp after his departure on 10 March, but he is now required on set. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, "about half of the film's estimated 400 crew were told last Thursday there would be no more work for at least two weeks". Mal Tulloch, from entertainment trade union the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said his members were not concerned "at this stage" that the production would come to a halt. "They've tried to keep it going in his absence... but they've reached the pinch point," he is quoted as saying. Although the production still has around 14 weeks of filming left to complete, Disney says the film is still on target to meet its scheduled release date, 7 July 2017.
Filming on the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film has been delayed until 15 April, after Johnny Depp's hand injury was found to be more serious than first thought.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "32127182"}
360
37
0.588203
1.547566
0.240281
2.0625
10.125
0.6875
An ash cloud from Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull led to airlines cancelling flights in 2010. Aviation authorities and the Met Office were accused by some airlines and politicians of overestimating the threat to aircraft. At that time, aircraft could not fly if there was any ash in the atmosphere. All of this prompted an international effort to improve forecast capability and the aviation authorities to change their flight safety rules. The cost of closing the airspace cost airlines more than £1bn. "We've got three bands of ash - low, medium and high, which is defined by the amount of ash in the air - that defines where airlines can fly," said Jonathan Nicholson of the Civil Aviation Authority. "If the airline has arranged with us that they can fly in the low and medium bands, then they're free to make their own choices. So we should see much less disruption with the same amount of ash as we saw during the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud." Working out whether an ash cloud is low, medium or high is where the new government-funded network comes in. It will be made up of 10 instruments called Light Detection and Ranging Systems, or Lidar. The equipment uses lasers to work out how dense a layer of ash cloud is and that data can be used to work out if that cloud is safe to fly through. Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill said: "This new equipment will allow the UK's Met Office to track ash clouds more easily and predict how they might spread more accurately. "That could play a big part in minimising disruption to flights during any future incident." The ground-based network will be used in conjunction with the world's only plane specifically kitted out to detect volcanic ash particles. The Met Office Civil Contingency Aircraft, or MOCCA, has its own Lidar and so that data will be added to that collected from the ground network to help formulate the ash cloud forecasts. Met Office scientist Joss Kent has been one of the driving forces behind MOCCA. "The Lidar has a laser that reflects off clouds and goes into a telescope, within the instrument, which detects the reflected laser light," he said. "If particles in the cloud are volcanic ash they will reflect in a different direction compared to other particles due to its shape - and the Lidar can measure that change in direction. "If a cloud's not too thick the laser is powerful enough to fire all the way through that layer and we can see out the other side, which is useful for us as we know it will be safe the other side to fly." Mr Kent added that the data is transmitted in real time from the aircraft to Exeter, where it is examined to determine how to adapt the forecasts. The added of advantage of the MOCCA being used with the new network is that the aircraft will be able to get more targeted measurements of ash in areas that the ground-based network cannot see. Airlines have also been taking the initiative. Easyjet has been testing an ash detector, which they hope to fit to some of their aircraft in future to give early warning of any ash in the flight path ahead. Meanwhile, British Airways have flown an experimental instrument on one of their jumbo jets, which measures the static electricity generated by the friction of an aircraft flying through ash to try and assess the concentration. However, the Civil Aviation Authority will need to approve these instruments before they can be brought into use. Mr Nicholson said the technology the airlines are working on fitting to their aircraft would be to enable them to see what ash was in front of them. "That will be a big help, especially when you combine it with other things like the new radar, satellites, ground based detection system and the test aircraft." The active volcanoes of Iceland will continue to present a risk to air travel in future, but the combination of improved detection, better forecast capability and more flexible safety regulations will minimise disruption next time around.
A network of ash detectors is to be installed across the United Kingdom to help prevent volcanic ash cloud shutting down European airspace.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33497169"}
859
30
0.461199
1.171143
0.271954
1.041667
32.958333
0.625
Welsh students also did worse than their counterparts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Pisa tests are taken by 15-year-olds every three years. This is the fourth time Wales has done worse than the other UK nations. The latest results show: First Minister Carwyn Jones admitted in a heated session of the assembly on Tuesday that the results make for "uncomfortable reading". Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said Wales could do better. "We can all agree we are not yet where we want to be," she said. "While we have seen a 10 point lift in our maths score, the results for science are disappointing. "Last month I invited the OECD to look at how we are doing in Wales; their advice to me was unambiguous: Stay the course, be brave, you are doing the right things." Ms Williams added that plans were in place, including a new curriculum. "The easy thing to do would be rip up the plan and start again. But we owe it to our pupils, parents and the profession to do what is right." Reaction to the Pisa results in Wales Each time the Pisa study is carried out, the OECD places a particular emphasis on one subject. This time it was science. Singapore pupils topped the rankings in the science test with an average score of 556, closely followed by Japan with 538 and Estonia, a newcomer to the top ranking countries with 534. Although 12% of England's students were classed as top performers in science, only 5% of Wales' students were placed in the same bracket. Of the 3,451 Welsh pupils who took part, 22% were classed as low performing, which is roughly the OECD average but higher than in England, where 17% were in that category. The report also notes that only 6% of the variation in how Welsh students are performing can be put down to their socio-economic background - in the rest of the UK, 11% of the variation can be explained by it. Officials also say there is no difference in results between pupils in Welsh medium schools and those in English language schools - 24 of the 140 schools taking part in Wales were Welsh medium. Wales' science performance is roughly the same as that of Spain's Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza), while its performance in reading is similar to that of pupils in Dubai or Buenos Aires in Argentina. In maths, Welsh pupils' score is closest to that of their Lithuanian contemporaries. What are Pisa tests? What can Wales learn from Poland? UK lags behind in latest Pisa results Analysis: 'Little will be learned' What the ministers said Singapore - a winning combination? These results have been eagerly awaited by politicians, pundits and parents keen to see if Wales' results had finally turned a corner. The scores will come as a huge disappointment to all those involved in education in Wales and there will be searching questions asked about the way forward now. Plans are in place for a new curriculum which should be taught by 2021 and plenty will argue that major reforms made by Leighton Andrews in 2011 when he was education minister still need time to have an impact on teaching and learning. The literacy and numeracy frameworks, national tests and school banding were all part of a raft of reforms brought in following the 2010 Pisa results. His successor Huw Lewis said everyone involved in education "needed to take a long hard look in the mirror" after the results of 2013. He pledged Wales would be in the top 20 best performing countries by the 2015 round of testing - a pledge which was later quietly dropped. Today will be uncomfortable and difficult for Education Secretary Kirsty Williams. The Liberal Democrat was among the first to criticise the Labour Government's handling of education in Wales when the last round of results were published three years ago. Now in the cabinet and in charge she will have to chart the way forward and face the critics in the assembly and further afield. Teaching unions have in the past urged the Welsh Government not to turn to yet more initiatives, complaining that hard-pressed teachers were straining under the weight of ministerial directives designed to try to drive up standards.
Scores of Welsh students in science, reading and maths were below the average of 72 countries and economies taking part in a major study of educational performance.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38208738"}
932
33
0.503422
1.319499
0.160201
1.344828
29.068966
0.862069
In a speech to an education charity, Mr Miliband said he will work with universities and employers to create such high-status qualifications. Labour has called for more options for what it calls the "forgotten 50%" who do not go to university. The Conservatives said his speech contained "no new ideas". Technical degrees will help to drive a "high-wage, high-skill, high-quality economy," said Mr Miliband. The proposals from the Labour leader set out an education pathway for vocational rather than academic subjects. It suggests that under Labour, university expansion would be focused on vocational training. "For too long, governments have believed there is only one way to success through education which is to follow the conventional academic route - to do GCSEs, A-levels, a traditional academic subject at university and then on to a career," Mr Miliband said at the Higher Ambitions Summit in London, organised by the Sutton Trust and Pearson. Such an academic route is not appropriate for all young people, he argued. The proposals, announced on Tuesday, outline a way for talented vocational students to progress into higher education, with the creation of "technical degrees". Mr Miliband pointed towards Germany as an example of how vocational qualifications can be given a high status. Students would be able to continue working while studying for such qualifications, he suggested. "This is a new direction for our country, equal status for vocational qualifications from school to university and beyond, equipping our young people with the skills they need and providing our country with a reason to be confident for the future so we can compete with the very best economies in the world in a race to the top," he said. He said that there is a "real danger of our children doing worse than their parents" and that the economy needs to make better use of young people's talents. Head teachers' leader Brian Lightman said: "High-status, high-level vocational qualifications have been something of a holy grail in the UK. "We do need clear pathways for both academic and vocational routes that are equally accepted by employers and offer good job prospects. Having progression routes for vocational careers that start at GCSE level and go up to a degree equivalent is key." The proposals were welcomed by the EEF manufacturers' organisation as a way of helping to "plug the skills gap and fill the pipeline of talent urgently needed by UK manufacturers". "While our industry needs graduates, it also needs more talented young people to see vocational-based training as an attractive alternative to academic study," said Tim Thomas, the EEF's head of employment policy. Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said: "With more than one in five students already going to university with a BTEC, a move to a clearer, technical path into and through higher education - as offered through the Higher National Diploma - is welcome and is what students will increasingly demand." The emphasis on high-level vocational training marks a dividing line in higher education policy between Labour and the government. There are plans from the government to expand the number of university places - with an initial 30,000 student places to be funded this autumn and a further 60,000 the following year. Universities minister David Willetts has said: "Graduates are the engines of our future growth." Ahead of Mr Miliband's speech to the Sutton Trust, Conservative skills and enterprise minister Matthew Hancock said youth unemployment had risen under Labour and "far too many of our children didn't get the training they needed to succeed". He said the current government was "leading a skills revolution" with 1.8 million new apprenticeships.
Labour leader Ed Miliband has proposed "technical degrees" - putting vocational subjects on an equal footing with traditional academic degrees.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "28197128"}
787
31
0.575042
1.532633
0.848749
1.521739
31.782609
0.826087
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked Vincent Uzomah, 50 at Dixons Kings Academy on 11 June. Mr Uzomah, who was stabbed in the stomach with a knife, is stable in hospital. The boy denied attempted murder but admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court. His plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service and Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said the boy would be sentenced at a later date. The teenager attacked Mr Uzomah in front of a number of other students at the start of a science class. It is understood it happened following a disagreement over a mobile phone. Mr Uzomah was stabbed with a kitchen knife the boy had brought from home. After the attack the teenager ran off and was arrested by police in Bradford city centre following a six-hour search. Judge Durham Hall said: "This is a very troubling case." He said the boy was "undoubtedly a very troubled young man" and said Mr Uzomah was "a very brave and compassionate victim". The teenager was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this year. The school, formerly called the King's Science Academy, opened in 2011 and was one of the first free schools to open. It has about 700 pupils and has since become part of the Dixons academy group.
A fourteen-year-old boy has admitted stabbing a supply teacher in a classroom in Bradford.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33313434"}
315
23
0.513001
1.221262
-1.121202
0.789474
14.210526
0.684211
He wants tax cuts and increased spending on infrastructure. In other words more stimulus to the economy from the government budget. Could that mean less for the Federal Reserve to do in supporting the recovery? That in turn could mean a more rapid return to normal interest rates. The aftermath of the financial crisis was an important part of the background to Mr Trump's election success. The subsequent recovery has not been particularly strong. Many Americans, especially in former industrial areas, have felt that it has passed them by. Most of the work in terms of economic policy to support that recovery has been done by the US Federal Reserve, the country's central bank. The Fed has maintained a policy of ultra-low interest rates, keeping a key rate for lending between banks rates practically zero until a year ago. That tends to keep rates low across the economy. Even now that interest rate which the Fed targets has been raised only once since the crisis and is just a little above zero. The Fed also ran a programme of "quantitative easing", buying financial assets with newly-created money. That may have helped add to the downward pressure on interest rates paid by businesses and households. But what about support from the government budget, or fiscal policy? Tax cuts and spending can be used to provide economic stimulus. It has often been done in the past in the US and many other countries. President Obama did do that in his first term, with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, a programme worth $800bn. Trump victory – markets spy an upside Trump's economic promises Who will be on Trump's economic team? There is a great deal of dispute about how much benefit there was from it. Some say it simply increased government debt. But others say it helped prevent another depression. Certainly, some economists in the Obama administration would have liked to do more but felt that they would not be able to get the support of Congress. It's also the case that, more recently, Fed officials are thought to have believed that more stimulus from fiscal policy (taxes and government spending) would have been useful. The Fed Chair Janet Yellen didn't say that explicitly when she gave testimony to a Senate committee in June, but there was certainly a hint of that view. The fact that there has not been as much stimulus from the government budget as Ms Yellen would probably like, is one reason why she and her Federal Reserve colleagues have kept rates so low. But perhaps Donald Trump's election signals a new direction. Infrastructure spending is something to which he is committed and so are tax cuts. That means more borrowing by government - unless he really does manage to double the rate of economic growth, as he said he would, presumably on the strength of his plans to reduce business regulation. He will be working with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress. There is likely to be real enthusiasm for cutting taxes. But allowing borrowing to rise will be harder for some Republicans in Congress to swallow. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, is seen by many as a "deficit hawk", someone who wants to bring government borrowing down sharply. He has critics who say that's not true - but that is how he is seen by many. Still, on the face of it, Mr Trump's plans so far suggest a stimulus to the US economy from the Federal government budget. That means the Federal Reserve is likely to feel less need to continue providing its own stimulus in the form of its exceptionally low interest rates. In addition, this stimulus could give inflation a boost, and the Fed will want to ensure that any acceleration in price rises is not too sharp. That's another factor that would tend to make the Fed more inclined to raise interest rates. The next opportunity for the Fed to take a step, on what is likely to be a long road towards more normal interest rates, is a policy meeting next month. In the aftermath of the election the view in the markets is that the likelihood of a rate rise has increased since before the election. Indeed, before the vote, when markets thought Mr Trump would probably lose, the view was that if he did confound expectations and win, the Fed would be more likely to hold back due to financial market volatility. In the event, that didn't materialise and so now the Fed is seen as likely to be back on its original course for a rate increase at the next meeting. And because of Mr Trump's budget plans, the odds of that have increased. In short it might be that Mr Trump has begun the process of taking away from the Fed the job of stimulating the recovery. It's unlikely that Ms Yellen would mind all that much. Apart from anything else, higher Fed rates would give the central bank more ammunition - more scope to cut rates later - when the US economy has another downturn, as it surely will sooner or later.
The new US President-elect Donald Trump could be signalling a major shift in economic policy.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37952472"}
1,046
22
0.328353
0.84635
-0.529903
1
55.388889
0.777778
A vigil of prayer, thanksgiving and reconciliation will be held on Sunday at Llandaff Cathedral, which was extensively damaged and had its roof torn off that night. The place where that bomb fell, just outside in the grounds of the cathedral, is now a garden of remembrance for those who have died, and is marked by a stone memorial. The air raid alert signal was received and almost immediately a large number of incendiary bombs were dropped on the central and western areas of Cardiff. By this time, the fire service had received 15 calls. This number of calls had increased to 170 by the end of the night. Shortly after 19:00, incendiary bombs were interspersed with high explosives and parachute mines. The bulk of these fell in the Docks area and on Great Western Railway Station. The first requests for help for casualties were received from the central and western areas of the city at 19:16 and 19:28. The first call was to a communal shelter at a bakery in Grangetown; unofficially 32 people were believed to have been killed here alone. More than 60 people lost their lives in the first half hour of the raid. Between 20:00 and 22:30, the north western and north eastern outskirts of the city were the focus of the bombing and a number of parachute mines were dropped, one of which badly damaged Llandaff Cathedral. No other historical buildings were damaged. The first notification of casualties in the eastern part of the city was received. A parachute mine fell on the Grangetown Gas Works, causing damage to three gasholders. A bomb had already fallen on the works at 19:00, but caused no damage. The supply of gas to the three holders was cut off immediately and supplies to all consumers served by them was stopped at 02:00 on 3 January. Service was not fully restored until 8 January. Firefighters had put out the bulk of the fires by this time. The initial "raiders passed" signal came almost an hour into the following morning. By this time, 32 shelter stations had been opened to accommodate the homeless and people evacuated from their houses because of unexploded bombs and mines. At its peak, nearly 6,000 people were accommodated at the shelters. A second air raid alert was received. A number of high explosive bombs were dropped in a residential area which had already been hit. The second "raiders passed" signal was received. By this time, seven mobile canteens were operating, visiting the shelters and serving tea, sandwiches and biscuits.
As Cardiff prepares to mark 75 years since the city suffered its worst night of bombing of World War Two, we take a look at how events unfolded that night and the numbers of people affected.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35153226"}
563
44
0.394205
1.017881
-0.082391
0.605263
12.842105
0.5
A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 9 and 16 June. Send your photos to [email protected] or via Instagram at #bbcscotlandpics
All pictures are copyrighted.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40301169"}
49
9
0.413246
0.677351
-1.481645
0.4
5.2
0.4
Words and pictures were painted onto the headstones at the graveyard on Nottingham Road in Chaddesden between 16:00 GMT on 9 November and Remembrance Day. Police said the damaged graves were located in the South Cemetery. The attack is not believed to be linked to Remembrance Day, even though one of the damaged graves was a war grave, police said. Sgt Nick Beeston said: "This is one of the most disrespectful acts of vandalism I have witnessed. "To commit this type of crime in such a sensitive location shows a complete lack of thought or respect for the families and friends of those whose graves have been attacked." Police are appealing for members of the community who may recognise the wording or the graffiti tag #collectiv that was sprayed on some of the graves.
Vandals have spray painted 24 graves in an attack on a Derby cemetery.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "34791245"}
180
18
0.567369
1.355812
-0.211625
0.8
10.266667
0.666667
Campaigners trying to stop the "Spy Booth" artwork from being removed say they have proof the wall it is on is owned by the government. The work depicting men "snooping" on a phone box appeared in April three miles from government listening post GCHQ. A Department of Transport spokesman said it was looking into the claims. Last month it was claimed the stencilled work had been sold by the owners of the house, on the corner of Fairview Road and Hewlett Road, and would be removed. It was covered up with panels when a team of workmen came to remove it, but earlier this month Cheltenham Borough Council issued a stop notice preventing further removal work from taking place on the Grade II* listed building. Local campaigners have been trying to raise money to buy the artwork to allow it to stay in situ. Retired chartered surveyor Phil Jones said a Land Registry title proved the wall was owned by the secretary of state for transport. He said the external wall on which the Banksy was painted used to be the internal wall of another house, the rest of which was demolished about 50 years ago. "It was a house previously acquired circa 1960, which was knocked down for road improvements," he said. "The government should acknowledge that they own it and that it's in the public realm for the benefit of the people of Cheltenham." The owner of the house, Roger Wilson, said he was taking legal advice about the ownership of the wall.
A Banksy artwork painted on a Cheltenham house belongs to the Department for Transport, a retired chartered surveyor claims.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "28449693"}
327
31
0.550579
1.449016
0.176965
1.52381
14
0.952381
Nine bodies of the people known as the Disappeared remain unfound but advances in technology alongside traditional methods means fresh hope for their families. Forensic archaeologists work alongside the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) to try and find their bodies. John McIlwaine, who is originally from Northern Ireland, but works for Bradford University, leads the forensic archaeological team that works with ICLVR. He outlined the process involved. "The information first goes to the commission (ICLVR) and they have special investigators who try to prove how accurate it is," he said. "Once it has been ground proofed through the investigators, we are then in a position to have a search area which we are deployed into, which we search for the remains. "We have worked on four cases so far and have recovered two bodies. "Once a potential site has been identified, the archaeological team can begin work. "We use LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) on planes, geographical information, classic archaeology and cadaver dogs." Many of the bodies have been buried in former cut-away peat bogs, so sites often need to be drained before an excavation can begin. "It is very difficult because some people were buried over 30 years ago, also the locations were selected specifically for body disposal," Mr McIlwaine said. "They are remote locations, designed to make it as difficult as possible for anybody to find the body again. "Then you have the problem that the information is degraded, there is also the fact that there are no obvious grave sites, a lot of them are peat bogs that went out of use years ago. "The vegetation looks similar, it's covered in heather so there's nothing very obvious, if it was obvious we could just go straight there and dig them up." In June 2010, Mr McIlwaine led the team which discovered the remains of Charlie Armstrong. Mr Armstrong, 57, from south Armagh went missing on his way to Mass in 1981, he was believed to have been kidnapped and murdered by the IRA. His body was buried in an area of peat bog land at Colgagh, County Monaghan, several miles from the border. In 2008, a team of experts concentrated on an area of bog and gorse at Inniskeen after an anonymous map was sent to the family. It was the second map the family had received, the first showed a slightly different location. Nothing was found during those searches, but remains were discovered nearby in 2010. Working within an area the size of three football pitches, the team had to painstakingly draw up the soil, three to four inches at a time, to be sifted through before the next level was taken up, eventually reaching a depth of two metres. It took about a month, often working in strong winds and torrential rain, to locate Mr Armstrong's body. It then took two months for the DNA to be fully processed. "It took a great deal of persistence and patience to recover Charlie's remains, but that is the nature of the work we do," Mr McIlwaine said. "I've got to know Charlie's widow, Kathleen, and their children very well over the years and know how much it means to them to bring Charlie home and give him a proper burial in consecrated ground. "I feel proud that the team has helped them bring their many years of waiting to an end." He said finding the Disappeared "was massively important for the friends and family" but "also very important to help the healing process in Northern Ireland". "We have another site to investigate in the north of Ireland shortly, once the clearance comes through," he added. "We will continue with the other cases as long as the commission want us to and we have intelligence to work from."
Sixteen people were murdered by republican paramilitaries and secretly buried in isolated parts of Ireland during the Troubles.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "11426538"}
864
28
0.33012
0.895044
0.028519
1.052632
40.526316
0.631579
At least 15 guns were recovered in a warehouse in the Greenogue industrial estate on Tuesday. Among them were an assault rifle, a sub-machine gun, several handguns and semi-automatic pistols. Three men in their 40s and 50s have been arrested. Meanwhile, in a separate development, a man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with the murder of Eddie Hutch Snr in Dublin. Hutch Snr, 59, was killed at his flat in Poplar Row, North Strand, in the north inner city on 8 February last year. He was the uncle of Gary Hutch who was shot dead in Spain in September 2015. He was also the brother of Gerry Hutch, a notorious criminal in Dublin in the late 1980s and 1990s, who was nicknamed the Monk.
The seizure of a number of firearms in west Dublin disrupted an imminent attack and saved lives, Irish police have said.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38737844"}
183
30
0.566555
1.201244
-0.342404
0.478261
6.695652
0.478261
Such terms will not be imposed for non-violent drug offenders with no gang or cartel ties, Attorney General Eric Holder said in a speech. The US has one of the world's biggest prison populations, despite a 40-year-low in the country's crime rates. Critics say that heavy drug sentences have hit minorities hardest. "We need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter and rehabilitate - not merely to convict, warehouse and forget," Mr Holder said in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco on Monday. Under the reforms, Mr Holder is directing US prosecutors who draft indictments for certain drug offences to omit any mention of the quantity of illegal substance involved, so as to avoid triggering a mandatory minimum sentence. Only non-violent offenders with no previous charges or ties to gangs or cartels will be affected. Source: Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons He advocated sending people convicted of low-level offences to drug treatment and community service programmes instead of prison. Mandatory minimum terms, created as part of the US "war on drugs" in the 1980s, prevent judges from applying discretion when sentencing certain drug offences. Some 47% of US prison inmates have been incarcerated for drug offences, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. "A vicious cycle of poverty, criminality and incarceration traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities," Mr Holder said on Monday. "However, many aspects of our criminal justice system may actually exacerbate this problem rather than alleviate it." By Jane LittleBBC News, Washington Eric Holder is selling his reform package to both left and right by saying it will address the "human and moral cost" of over-incarceration and that it will reduce the financial cost at a time when budgets are already under severe strain. In the short term, he doesn't need new legislation to reduce numbers of drug offenders going to prison. Instead, the justice department has come up with a way to circumvent the mandatory sentences stipulated by the "war on drugs" laws, by telling prosecutors effectively, "don't record how much drugs they had on them and we can take into account their individual circumstances rather than send them straight to prison." Critics have suggested the new policy won't reduce prison numbers enough to make a real difference. But Mr Holder - whose first term was beset by bad headlines - clearly sees this as a legacy opportunity, and one with limited political risk. Mr Holder also backed efforts by lawmakers to allow judges to use more flexibility with mandatory minimum sentences. "Such legislation will ultimately save our country billions of dollars while keeping us safe." Some states, including Texas, have already introduced programmes designed to limit incarceration of low-level offenders. Critics of the US incarceration policy were cautiously optimistic about the change. "The attorney general's remarks represent a good first step toward scaling back the failed 'war on drugs'," Tom Engell, chairman of Marijuana Majority, said. But he added the "real value of these proposals will be in the implementation, which drug policy reform advocates have good reason to be wary about". During the speech, Mr Holder also announced an expanded compassionate release for inmates facing extraordinary circumstances and who pose no threat to the public. The policy will include elderly prisoners who did not commit violent crimes and who have already served a significant portion of their sentences. Mr Holder also directed US attorneys to develop local guidelines on when to bring federal charges, and when to leave prosecution to state or local officials.
The Obama administration has unveiled major changes to the criminal justice system, dropping mandatory minimum sentences in certain drug cases.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "23671354"}
797
24
0.429324
1.105414
0.615591
1.409091
32.318182
0.681818
The private library was amassed by Mary Colette McAlister who died last year. After her death, her house was sold and her book collection was transported to Matthews Auction Rooms in County Meath. Auctioneer Damien Matthews told the Irish Times: "She didn't buy rubbish. The majority are first editions; serious books by serious authors." The late Ms McAlister, who was from Bangor in County Down, managed to fund her "extraordinary" library by living an otherwise very "frugal" life. The Irish Times reported that she was "happy to live on toast and margarine if it meant she could add to her collection of beloved books". Ms McAlister was in her 80s when she died and the auctioneer told the paper it took six men almost a week to clear the books from the vicarage she called home. Mr Matthews commissioned a carpenter to build bespoke shelves at the Duke Brothers building on Market Street, Kells, and then began the daunting task of cataloguing the many thousands of volumes. Ms McAlister's library was opened for public viewing earlier this week and are now being sold in a two-day auction which began at noon on Saturday. The lots going under the hammer include an early edition of Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' but many focus on Irish history. There is a large book detailing the opening of the Stormont parliament in 1921 and a signed copy of Seán Mac Bride's Nobel Prize speech. Mac Bride, a founding member of Amnesty International, was the son of one of the executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising and Maud Gonne - a political activist and long time muse of the poet, WB Yeats. Another lot, Mr Keeling's Five Years in Russia, once belonged to another Irish republican rebel - Constance Markievicz - and bears her signature. Other rare items include a copy of a 1777 survey of Irish road maps and a History of the Irish Parliament 1692 to 1800, which the auction house described as a "major reference resource for all aspects of 18th Century Ireland". There are also several bound volumes of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology Belfast 1895 and a first edition of James Connolly's book, Labour in Irish History. Ms McAlister had also purchased a volume on the book trade and records of Irish book auctions - suggesting that she was well aware of the value of her collection. However, many of the books have been placed for auction without a reserve price. "It's all to be cleared," Mr Matthews told the Irish Times. "It doesn't matter if it's signed by Yeats or whoever else, I'm here to sell."
A Northern Ireland woman's personal collection of more than 25,000 rare books is being sold at the biggest auction of its type in 30 years.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "40391906"}
630
30
0.479724
1.333456
-0.017256
0.851852
19.259259
0.62963
Ben Walker was playing with his Thrapston Town FC teammates when he collapsed on Friday. A statement on the club's website said: "It is with great sadness we learnt that young Ben Walker passed away Friday night whilst doing the thing he loved." Flowers and football shirts have been left outside the Chancery Lane club. The club said its "thoughts and prayers" were with Ben's family. Other youth football teams from across Northamptonshire have expressed their shock and sadness on Facebook at his death. Ben also played cricket for Thrapston Cricket Club, which described him as a "promising wicket-keeper and batsman".
A teenage boy has died after collapsing during an under-15s league match, his club has confirmed.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "39761850"}
143
25
0.452704
0.981408
-0.223438
0.277778
6.888889
0.277778
The Argentina international, 25, has been heavily linked with Arsenal this summer, but has signed a reported five-year contract with the Serie A club. A statement on Napoli's website said: "Napoli have made the signing of Gonzalo Higuain official." Liverpool's 30-year-old goalkeeper Pepe Reina has also passed a medical as he prepares to link up with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Napoli on loan. Benitez has been looking to replace Edinson Cavani, who has joined Paris St-Germain. He said: "We have signed a player who comes from Real Madrid and we have signed a striker who has scored a hatful of goals and who will adapt very well to our system - an attacking system. We needed a player like this. "We are all working together to ensure the players we want arrive. We have to sign players who will do well for Napoli for the next three or four years." Higuain joined Real from River Plate in 2006 and scored 107 league goals in his seven seasons at the Bernabeu. Napoli, last season's Serie A runners-up, have already signed Real Madrid striker Jose Callejon and defender Raul Albiol, in addition to winger Dries Mertens from PSV Eindhoven, this summer. "Players who come from clubs like Real, PSV and Liverpool can only do us good," Benitez said. "For Napoli these signings represent a quantum leap."
Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has completed his £34.5m move to Napoli.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "23442542"}
336
23
0.53667
1.237243
-0.632755
1.2
18.666667
0.666667
Sixteen out of the 17 statues currently in the city centre are of men - the exception being Queen Victoria. Others on the shortlist to join them include writer Elizabeth Gaskell and anti-racism campaigner Louise Da-Cocodia. The winner's statue is due to be unveiled in 2019. Manchester councillor Margaret Ashton, businesswomen Elizabeth Raffald - who wrote The Experienced English Housekeeper in the 18th Century - and the late Labour MP Ellen Wilkinson are also on the shortlist. People can vote online for their favourite until 31 December. The campaign, known as the WoManchester Statue Project, was started last year by Didsbury councillor Andrew Simcock.
Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst could become the first woman to be honoured with a statue in Manchester for more than 100 years.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "34594372"}
157
32
0.616551
1.268184
-0.625805
0.454545
5.590909
0.363636
The government said a non-binding ballot, or plebiscite, was the quickest way to amend the Marriage Act. Same-sex couples can have civil unions or registered relationships in most Australian states but they are not considered married under national law. Opinion polls indicate that most Australians support same-sex marriage. However opposition parties and many supporters of same-sex marriage argued a plebiscite would be expensive and could unleash a divisive campaign. Instead, they say parliament should make the decision itself. The proposal's defeat in the senate means the issue will be taken off the agenda at least until the next term of parliament. Marriage equality has proved a tricky issue for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He is personally in favour of same-sex marriage but is reluctant to allow his own MPs a free vote on the issue. Labor Senator Penny Wong told parliament that, after much soul-searching, she had decided to oppose the plebiscite. "We do not want our families and our children publicly denigrated," she said. "This hate speech is not abstract, it is real, it is part of our daily life." Greens Senator Janet Rice spoke about the challenges of her 30-year marriage to transgender woman Penny. "We know that our same-sex marriage is just as important and valid and deep and wonderful and loving as our heterosexual one was," she said. "People's human rights should not be subject to a popular vote." Attorney-General George Brandis accused the Labor Party of "playing politics with gay people's lives". "A vote against this bill is a vote against marriage equality," Senator Brandis told parliament. "Those who claim to believe in marriage equality, but nevertheless, for their own cynical, game-playing reasons, are determined to vote against it, should hang their heads in shame." Labor announced last month that it would not support the bill, condemning it to fail in the senate this week. The move was celebrated by same-sex marriage supporters who widely favour the issue being voted on by parliament, without the need to put it to the public.
The Australian government's proposal to hold a national vote on legalising same-sex marriage has been defeated in the upper house of parliament.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "37892879"}
469
31
0.527372
1.21313
0.528826
1.615385
16.5
0.769231
It was used on an unmarked police vehicle after officers attempted to stop a black Audi in Handforth, Cheshire on 14 October. Officers arrested a 27-year-old man in Preston, Lancashire on Saturday. The man, from Salford, has been charged with offences including affray and aggravated vehicle taking. He was due to appear at South and East Cheshire Magistrates' Court earlier. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit a burglary and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. Two other men have also been charged in connection with the incident and officers are searching for a third.
A man has been charged after a police car was hit with a sledgehammer.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "38057904"}
138
22
0.433708
0.919032
-1.566844
1.2
7.866667
0.8
Crooks joined in February after his release from Hartlepool and scored his second goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at Notts County. The 21-year-old, who spent time on loan at Stanley before his move, has also played has also played as a defender and a striker at the club. "I thought he had a smashing game," Coleman told BBC Radio Lancashire. "There are just a couple of things he could iron out of his game and he'd be a millionaire, because there are millionaires who haven't got his talent or his physique. "I'd like to see people like that get rewarded."
Accrington midfielder Matt Crooks could be a millionaire if he worked on his game, says Stanley boss John Coleman.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "34040310"}
150
33
0.620223
1.576968
0.09146
1
6.190476
0.619048
Rehm, 27, who lost his lower right leg in a wakeboarding accident aged 14, competes using a carbon fibre blade. The German set a T44 world record of 8.40m at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha last October. The mark is just one cm shorter than the distance Rutherford jumped to win world gold in Beijing in August. Rehm, who competed against Rutherford at the FBK Games in Hengelo in 2014, has already stated his intention to compete at the Olympic Games. But under the current rules of the sport's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), he will need to prove that he does not gain any advantage from his prosthetic blade. South African Oscar Pistorius won a similar battle to compete at the London Olympics after going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the IAAF initially ruled him ineligible. "Of course time is running out but I am a very positive person and I am hoping to get the chance to convince the IAAF that I can compete against the best in Rio," said Rehm. "I don't mind if I am not able to win an Olympic medal, but I just want to get the opportunity to compete in my sport to the best possible level. "My biggest wish is that in the future other athletes will think the same as I do, and we can all find a way to compete together and side-by-side and show we are all the same. "This is a massive year for me and I think competing against athletes such as Greg will be the perfect way for me to start my preparations," said the German, who will be one of a host of stars at the event on Saturday, 20 February. In 2014, Rehm became the first athlete with an impairment to compete in the final of an event at the able-bodied German championships, winning the long jump with a distance of 8.24m. But the German authorities opted not to send him to the European Championships in Zurich, saying they had doubts over whether jumps with a prosthetic limb could be compared to those using a natural joint.
Paralympic long jump champion Markus Rehm will take on Olympic champion Greg Rutherford at next month's Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "35350137"}
482
31
0.524259
1.274116
0.342624
0.681818
19.136364
0.5
Newcastle City Council has indicated it might sell The Valley in High West Jesmond for sheltered housing. It looked "suspicious" that it would also decide on the village green application, residents said. The authority said it was "not an unusual situation". Friends of the Valley and the Little Dene secretary John Stephenson said: "Our concern is that, where a council is the authority promoting the development, there must be a conflict of interest when it is also acts as the Commons Registration Authority." These authorities decide on village green and common land applications. It is an offence to build on land with this status. "The council will obviously ensure that it deals with the application properly and in accordance with its statutory duties," the council spokesman said. East Gosforth Liberal Democrat councillor and resident Peter Leggott said: "However well intentioned it is, it will always look a little bit suspicious if it's two branches of the council." The council, which is aiming to make £138,150 savings on legal costs this year, has paid a London barrister £1,650, including VAT, to draw up a legal argument against village green status. It was "appropriate to seek external advice" and the fees represented "value for money", the council spokesman said. In 2013 the authority identified a number of potential sites for sheltered housing. The Valley had not been marketed and there have been no discussions with developers, it said. "Should the eventual outcome be that it goes forward as a site for development, then any proposals would be subject to the statutory planning process, including local consultation with councillors and residents," a spokesman said.
Residents trying to prevent building on land near their homes by having it designated a village green have accused the council of a conflict of interest.
{"src": "xsum-1.2.1_train", "id": "33200524"}
371
30
0.495972
1.200384
0.359235
1.296296
12.148148
0.62963