Donald Trump In War Of Words With Mexico Over 'The Wall'

Donald Trump has dismissed the Mexican President's warning that his country will not pay for a wall along the US border to clamp down on illegal immigration, saying: "They don't know it yet, but they're going to pay for it."

Hours after the Republican nominee made a surprise visit to Mexico, and appeared uncharacteristically toned down as he shared a stage with President Enrique Pena Nieto, Mr Trump was in bombastic form as he unveiled a hard-hitting plan to curb illegal immigration from the Americas.

Back on home soil in Arizona, he told cheering crowds of his plan to fit the wall along the US southern border with sensors to detect tunnels used for trafficking people and drugs - vowing to significantly increase patrol staff along the border.

His 10-point plan includes an end to "catch and release" - the practice of letting illegal immigrants go immediately after they are detained. 

Instead, Mr Trump pledged to "take them great distances" in their home country to deter them from attempting to cross into the US again.

The candidate also devoted considerable time in his landmark speech to the millions of illegal immigrants already in the US.

Mr Trump poured scorn on Barack Obama's amnesty for law-abiding illegal immigrants who live and work in the US, and said those who have overstayed their visas will be returned back to their home country and made to re-apply for citizenship.

biometric visa system would also be reintroduced to end visa overstays for good - and he said two of the attackers on 9/11 could have been thwarted if such a system had been introduced sooner.

He pledged there would be a "zero tolerance" for migrants who commit crime in the US - and he would force their home countries to take them back, even if they didn't want to.

Criminals who attempted to re-enter the US would then be given "strong" sentences.

Visas for countries where adequate screening cannot occur would also be suspended, Mr Trump said.

He warned it was dangerous to offer an open door to refugees from the likes of Syria and Libya where there was no paperwork and little detail on their background. 

Even though Mr Trump and Mexico's President appeared to end their meeting on good terms, Mr Pena Nieto later said some of the policies detailed in the Republican's speech represented a threat to Mexico.

May's Crusade To Help Britons 'Who Just About Manage'

The Prime Minister is to launch her social reform crusade with a pledge to make life easier for people "who just about manage".
Theresa May will chair the first meeting of a new cabinet committee which she says will focus on making the UK better for everyone, not just the privileged few.

According to Number 10, she will highlight the progress made in recent years on issues such as school choice and employment, but make clear her new government plans to go much further.
Mrs May said: "At the same time as helping the most vulnerable, we must pursue social reform in a much broader sense to help make life easier for the majority of people in this country who just about manage.

"You might have a job but you don't always have job security. You may have your own home, but you worry about paying a mortgage.

"You can just about manage but you worry about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school.

"So while we continue to help the worst off, we will also be focused on the millions of people for whom life is a struggle and who work all hours to keep their heads above water."

The Prime Minister has already set out her determination to tackle social injustices - and last week, ordered the first-ever audit of racial disparities in public service outcomes.

The Government says the results of this audit will give every person the ability to check how their race affects the way they are treated by public services, and the information will also help government and the public force poor-performing services to improve.

The Social Reform Committee will meet regularly and will bring together cabinet ministers from nine government departments.

Downing Street says it will oversee and agree social policy reforms and lead the government's work to increase social mobility, deliver social justice and make Britain a country that works for everyone.

Owner Gives Car Restorer Business To Workers

The owner of a classic car restorer has handed over the company to its employees.

Peter Neumark, 67, said he and co-founder Nick Goldthorp felt they had a "duty to oversee a passing of responsibility" at the company, Classic Motor Cars Ltd, that they started in 1993.

Mr Neumark has transferred his majority stake in the company to an employee shareholder trust.

The trust will own and run the business for the benefit of its staff, who number more than 60.

Based in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, the company had a turnover of £5.2m last year.

It restores classic cars such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lancia models.

Mr Neumark said an ownership structure similar to that of the John Lewis Partnership was the best home for the company to ensure its future.

He said it was seen as "safeguarding the jobs of its highly-skilled workforce and providing stability for future jobs and prospects".

Deb Oxley, chief executive of the Employee Ownership Association (EOA), said it was the "perfect example" to other company owners thinking about retirement.

She said these types of businesses "demonstrate their commitment to rewarding the contribution staff make to a company's success by offering all employees a real stake in the company's future".

Britain's 50 largest employee-owned businesses have about 175,000 staff.

The John Lewis Partnership, which owns the John Lewis department stores as well as Waitrose, is by far the largest with more than 90,000.

Donald Trump’s high-risk, low-reward trip to Mexico is sort of baffling

It is barely worth pointing out that Donald Trump's surprise visit to Mexico on Wednesday won't do President Enrique Peña Nieto much good. Peña Nieto is deeply unpopular in his home country, with a quarterly survey from the newspaper Reforma putting his favorability at 23 percent — a figure so low that it makes Trump himself, at 35 percent, seems positively embraced.

That 35 percent is in the United States, of course. In Mexico, Trump's a lot less popular. A June survey showed Trump at 75 percent unfavorability in the country — compared with Hillary Clinton's 6 percent. When Ipsos asked people around the world in June who they'd pick in the American presidential contest, no country saw a wider gap than Mexico. Mexico preferred Clinton to Trump by an 88-to-1 margin — an 87-point spread. (The only countries that preferred Trump were China and Russia.) The next-closest countries were Belgium and Sweden, where Clinton was preferred by 66 points. There's a correlation between Trump's poll numbers and the Mexican economy: When he does better, the value of the peso has dropped.

Less than 12 hours after the news of Trump's visit broke, other Mexican politicians had already weighed in to oppose welcoming Trump to the country. Politico collected some examples. "We are threatened with war and walls, but we open the National Palace," the president of the Mexican Senate wrote, adding that the invitation approved of Trump's "proposal of demagogy and hate." A former diplomat tweeted, "I feel embarrassed as a Mexican thanks to my president." On CNN on Wednesday morning, former president Vicente Fox (who has been outspoken about Trump) disparaged Peña Nieto's decision.

This response is not surprising. From the first moments of his candidacy, Trump railed against Mexico. Even before that, he complained about Mexico on Twitter, in part because he won a lawsuit in the country but hasn't been able to collect.

From our standpoint, though, the bigger question is how this benefits Trump.

In the past, Peña Nieto has criticized Trump and his proposals. In March, Peña Nieto compared Trump to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, saying thatTrump's "strident" rhetoric was of a piece with the arguments those leaders used to gain power. Peña Nieto has also flatly rejected Trump's signature policy proposal, to build a wall on the border and have Mexico pay for it. Not going to happen, Peña Nieto said to Fareed Zakaria of The Washington Post and CNN: "There is no way that Mexico can pay [for] a wall like that."

After Trump and Peña Nieto meet, that will be the first question that's asked of Trump. Did Peña Nieto agree to pay for the wall? (Unless, of course, Trump's arrival is met with the sort of demonstrations that his appearances have earned in the past in San Jose and San Diego.) Peña Nieto — unpopular! — has a clear political incentive to embarrass Trump on the issue, a sort of I-invited-him-here-to-boss-him-around sort of thing. It's perhaps Peña Nieto's only possible positive political outcome. But even if things progress quietly, it forces the issue: Trump says he'll make Mexico pay, and Mexico says it won't. Now what? Trump has never been able to answer that question.

(One deeply optimistic Trump supporter, former congressman Joe Walsh,figures that Trump obtaining a promise to pay for the wall would be "game, set, match," which is true. It is also true that if Peña Nieto gives Trump proof that Clinton was a space alien intent on destroying the globe that it would benefit Trump. Neither is likely to happen.)

What does Trump get out of it? We assume that Peña Nieto will pose for photos with the visiting dignitary (though that seems like a political miscalculation for him). Trump-as-statesman is a new one, and it will be interesting to see how it's handled. That photo itself encapsulates a lot of the risk-reward calculus for Trump: At best he gets a dull picture of himself standing next to a person with whom most Americans aren't familiar; at worst, he gets an awkward picture posing in front of the Mexican flag — something that some part of his base probably won't be thrilled about.

The trip will, at best, show that Trump can go to a foreign country and meet with leaders without incident, a fairly low item on the presidential checklist. (A subject for another time: Do voters actually care about a grip-and-greet?) At worst? Who knows.

The move feels a bit like John McCain's decision in September 2008 to suspend his campaign to deal with the economy. It felt gimmicky and didn't do much — and reinforced that McCain was in the sort of political position that necessitated gimmicks that might not do much. Barring a Joe-Walsh-esque miracle, Trump's trip to Mexico instills a lot of risk with the potential upside for Trump being that he proved he can do something fairly simple without incident. For Peña Nieto, the potential upside is that he can score points off an unpopular visitor; the downside is that he is seen as embracing someone his constituents vehemently dislike.

Given how low the reward is for Trump and how high the possibility that something might go wrong, there’s a decent chance that the politician for whom Trump’s trip is beneficial is his opponent.

Theresa May tells ministers UK must make success of Brexit

Theresa May has said the UK must focus on the "opportunities" on offer outside the EU as she reiterated there would be no second referendum on Brexit.

The prime minister is meeting cabinet colleagues at Chequers to discuss developments since June's Leave vote.

She told them that the UK would not stay in the EU "by the back door" and she was committed to making a success of Britain's "new role" in the world.

Mrs May has said talks with the rest of the EU will not begin this year.

The meeting at the PM's country residence is being billed as the most significant since the referendum vote in June and comes amid reports of tensions and diverging priorities among key figures in the Cabinet charged with implementing the UK's exit.
Brexit Watch: At-a-glance briefing
Brexit: All you need to know
The Brexit to-do list

BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman said Mrs May had asked every Cabinet minister before the summer break to identify what were described as the "opportunities" for their departments and they will now be expected to report back.

In comments made at the start of the meeting while cameras were allowed in, Mrs May told ministers that the government was clear that "Brexit means Brexit".

"We will be looking at the next steps that we need to take and we will also be looking at the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the UK in the world," she said.

"We must be clear that we are going to make a success of it - that means no second referendum, no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door. That we are actually going to deliver on it."

The prime minister has said the UK government will not trigger Article 50 - the official mechanism for beginning the process of leaving the EU - until the start of 2017 at the earliest.

From that moment, discussions over the terms of the UK's exit will conclude in two years unless all 28 members of the EU agree to extend them.

The UK voted to leave the EU, by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%, in a referendum on 23 June and Mrs May, who had backed staying in the EU, became prime minister after David Cameron resigned in its aftermath.

Two months on from the vote, the relationship the UK will have with the EU after its exit, in terms of access to the EU internal market and obligations in regard to freedom of movement, remains unclear.

Former Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said there was a "definite fault line" between ministers who believed Brexit was chiefly about ending free movement and those who wanted to see more "flexibility", meaning the UK did not yet have its "ducks in a row" for negotiations.

Mr Swire, who campaigned for Remain, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "Until we have a clear idea of what it is that we are trying to achieve... I think we should proceed with great caution."

Wednesday's meeting at the prime minister's country residence is being seen as an opportunity for Mrs May and senior colleagues to talk through many issues involved ahead of this weekend's summit of G20 leaders in China.

The talks are being billed as the most significant since the referendum result and mark an end to the relative lull in proceedings over the summer recess - which ends on Monday.

Mrs May, who has held face-to-face talks with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Slovakia since taking office, has said time is needed to determine the UK's strategy as a "sensible and orderly departure" is in the national interest.

But several senior Conservatives have warned against undue delay and said nothing should stand in the way of the UK triggering Article 50 as soon as possible next year.

Ex-Chancellor Lord Lawson, a leading Leave campaigner, said the UK should not try to negotiate a special trade deal with the EU, allowing it to remain within the single market, because it simply wasn't on offer on acceptable terms and would hold the process up.

"As soon as you stop wasting time trying to negotiate the unnegotiable - some special trade deal with the EU - it is possible to have a relatively quick exit," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.

"A prolonged period of uncertainty is bad for the economy and for British business. The sooner this is sorted out the better."

Brexit-backing backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg agreed, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One leaving the EU was "the simple bit" and that trade negotiations could take place afterwards.

Among those round the table with Mrs May are Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

Mr Johnson, Mr Fox and Mr Davis are reported to have held private talks last week amid reports of early disagreements over the shape of a future Brexit settlement and departmental responsibility for trade issues.

Former Conservative minister Anna Soubry, who backed the UK remaining in the EU, said it was now up to the "three Brexiteers" to deliver the best deal for the British people.

"Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis - these are the people that have to show us the progress they have made, what Brexit is beginning to look like, what successes, difficulties or failures they have had," she told Today.
'Nods and winks'

Although she accepted the outcome of the referendum, Ms Soubry said she did not accept the British people had voted, in and of itself, for a cut in immigration or curbs on the right of EU citizens to live and work in the UK and more debate was needed.

Labour's Jon Ashworth said what was needed was a detailed statement on the work that had been done so far rather than brainstorming meetings and "nods and winks" on issues such as immigration.

The SNP, meanwhile, has accused the government of "breathtaking complacency" over a plan for Brexit and "making it up as they go along".

Although MPs will have a say on the timing of talks there was no legal requirement to consult Parliament before Article 50 was activated, No 10 has said.

Chequers, an isolated 16th Century mansion 40 miles north-west of London, has played host to a number of historic occasions in the past 50 years and was one of Margaret Thatcher's favourite locations to conduct high-level meetings and personal diplomacy.

'Severe Turbulence' Injures 16 On Heathrow-Bound Flight

A London-bound flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Ireland after 16 people were injured during "severe and unexpected turbulence".

United Airlines flight UA-880 was diverted mid-flight and made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport at around 6am.

The Boeing 767-300 jet was flying from Houston in Texas to Heathrow.

On its arrival at Shannon Airport, 14 passengers and two crew members were taken to University Limerick Hospital with minor injuries.

In a statement, United Airlines told RTE that the aircraft "experienced severe and unexpected turbulence".

A spokesperson added: "Fourteen customers and two flight attendants have been taken to a local hospital.

"We wish these passengers and crew a quick recovery from their injuries."

The flight had 207 passengers and 13 crew members on board.

Frankfurt Airport Security Scare Causes Travel Disruption

A security scare at one of Europe's busiest airports has caused travel disruption across the continent.

Parts of Frankfurt airport's Terminal 1 were evacuated after a passenger entered the airside area without fully completing a security check, the hub's operator said.

"The federal police therefore cleared Piers A and A+ and passengers will undergo the security check again," Fraport told Reuters.

German police said it was unclear whether the person who entered the secure area did so intentionally and whether they were carrying any forbidden items.

A spokeswoman said nothing suspicious had been found after the evacuation and that officers were interrogating an individual about the security breach.

Frankfurt airport said on Twitter that it would resume operations at 11.30am (BST), while European air traffic controller Eurocontrol said there would be no arrivals before 1pm.

Passengers took to social media to express their frustration at the delays.

Esports commentator James Carrol tweeted: "Departure terminal Z completely shut down at Frankfurt Airport. Im gonna have a huge delay :'( Seems like a security reason."

Frankfurt is Europe's third busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers, behind Charles de Gaulle in Paris and Heathrow in London.

Nigerian economy slips into recession

Nigeria has slipped into recession, with the latest growth figures showing the economy contracted by 2.06% between April and June.

The country has now seen two consecutive quarters of declining growth, the usual definition of recession.

Its vital oil industry has been hit by weaker global prices, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Crude oil sales account for 70% of government income.

The price of oil has fallen from highs of about $112 a barrel in 2014 to below $50 at the moment.

Outside the oil industry, the figures show the fall in the Nigerian currency, the naira, has hurt the economy. It was allowed to float freely in June to help kick-start the economy, but critics argued it should have been done earlier.

Nigeria, which vies with South Africa for the mantle of Africa's biggest economy, is also battling an inflation rate at an 11-year high of 17.1% in July.

"A lot of Nigeria's current predicament could have been avoided," said Kevin Daly from Aberdeen Asset Management.

"The country is so reliant on oil precisely because its leaders haven't diversified the economy.

"More recently, they have tried, and failed, to prop up the naira, which has had a ruinous effect on the country's foreign exchange reserves and any reputation it might have had of being fiscally responsible."
Analysis: Martin Patience, BBC Nigeria correspondent

This economic recession comes as no surprise to millions of Nigerians. Many say they've never known it so tough.

The slump in global oil prices has hit Nigeria hard. The government depends on oil sales for about 70% of its revenues.

But critics say government policies made a bad situation even worse. The decision to delay devaluing Nigeria's currency meant many businesses struggled to get foreign currency to pay for imports, which had a cooling effect on the entire economy.

Following enormous pressure, the government changed tack this summer, allowing the naira to float.

That's led to a spike in inflation, but the hope is that it will attract foreign investors. The government also says the country needs to import less: it wants to see more products made in Nigeria.

Rapper Chris Brown Held On Suspicion Of Assault After Standoff

US singer Chris Brown has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a daylong standoff with police.

The rapper had refused to leave his LA home for several hours after a woman called 911 before dawn on Tuesday and reportedly claimed that he had pointed a gun at her face.

Baylee Curran said Brown and another man had become angry when she admired a diamond necklace - telling the LA Times she was chased out of the house and had to hide under a nearby car with a friend.

Brown had posted a series of videos on Instagram declaring his innocence - and in one clip, waved a cigarette around and declared that police would find nothing inside his home once they obtained a search warrant.

Police have since performed a lengthy search of his expansive home, and about six people have been escorted from the property for questioning.

In a statement outside the star's home, Lieutenant Chris Ramirez of the Los Angeles Police Department said: "He is being transported to robbery homicide, where he will be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon."

On Instagram, the rapper had denied reports that he had barricaded himself inside his house.

He also accused the police of "defacing my name and my character and my integrity" - and insisted he had done nothing wrong.

Brown has been in repeated legal trouble since he was convicted in 2009 for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna, which led to him spending six years on probation.

Singer Chris Brown spent six years on probation after pleading guilty to assaulting Rihanna in 2009

The Grammy-winning performer was forced to postpone a UK tour in 2010 after he was denied a visa, and was also refused entry into Canada six months ago.

In 2013, he was charged with assault after striking a man outside a hotel in Washington DC.

Brown was ordered to attend a rehabilitation centre as a result, but was then kicked out of the facility for breaking its rules.

After completing a series of court-ordered anger management classes, Brown was also accused of throwing a brick at his mother's car.

Last year, he was given 28 days to convince officials he should be given a visa for his Australian tour after the country's women's minister urged the government to refuse entry to Brown on grounds of "character".

Facebook Founder puts Nigeria on Technological Map

This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can.

Our first stop is the Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and launch their apps. I'm looking forward to meeting more people.

Facebook Founder visit Nigeria

Express Wi-Fi empowers entrepreneurs to build a business by providing their community with access to the internet. Facebook designed the technology, and local internet providers add the connectivity. Express Wi-Fi is part of our Internet.org initiative.

This week, we're launching a satellite into space to enable more entrepreneurs across Africa to sell Express Wi-Fi and more people to access reliable internet.

Miley Cyrus 'Homeless' Man Puts VMA Award On Ebay

A "homeless" man who shared the stage with Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards is auctioning the gong he accepted for the singer.

Jesse Helt has put the Moonman statuette on ebay with an asking price of £7,600 ($10,000), describing it as: "In mint condition. Very rare one of a kind. No fingerprints."

Mr Helt, 24, made headlines around the world when he accepted the singer's video of the year award for Wrecking Ball in 2014.

He gave a short speech, telling an audience packed with celebrities in Inglewood, California: "Thank y'all. My name is Jesse and I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the US who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now.

"I know this because I am one of these people."

According to US gossip website TMZ, Mr Helt's fortunes have since improved and he is auctioning the award to raise money before his child is born.

The website said he is currently living in a studio apartment in LA.

Miley Cyrus fans can secure the award - engraved with both the singer's name and Mr Helt's - without taking part in a bidding process for £11,450 ($15,000).

MTV's distinctive Moonman statuettes have reached healthy prices at auction in the past.

Madonna's 1998 Ray Of Light trophy fetched £16,000 ($20,500), while Michael Jackson's 1984 best choreography gong for Thriller went for £46,000 ($60,000).

Protest Over Aboriginal Teen's Death Turns Ugly In Australia

A dozen police officers were injured and a courthouse had to be evacuated during a protest over the death of an Aboriginal teenager in Australia.

Riot police had to move in and several arrests were made in the town of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on Tuesday.

Protesters had tried to force their way into the courthouse, with one police officer needing stitches after being struck by a projectile.

Windows were smashed in five police cars and a local business, police said.

The crowd had been protesting outside the court before the appearance of a 55-year-old man charged with the manslaughter of Elijah Doughty, 14.

Elijah was riding a stolen motorbike on Monday before a crash involving the bike and the man's vehicle.

Police said the motorbike was linked to the charged man.

Acting police commander Darryl Gaunt said Facebook posts about the incident had been "disgusting and racist" and had "inflamed" the situation.

However, he refuted suggestions that racism played a role in Elijah's death.

"There is nothing to suggest at all that it's a racist issue," he said. "It's the death of a child who happens to be Aboriginal."

Elijah's grandfather Albert Doughty, who wants the man's charge upgraded, told the ABC: "Kids have been chased in cars for too long, and reported (but) nothing done about it."

But he condemned the violence seen during the protest, saying: "I just want people to respect police and the law and let justice take its course in the right way."

Other protesters said they were expressing frustration at what they described as ongoing, endemic racism, with one saying the violence was "200 years in the making".

A police post on Facebook said: "We understand there is significant community concern over events in the Goldfields area during the past 24 hours.

"Members of the public have a right to protest, however, we encourage them to do so peacefully, or they may be arrested."

The accused man remains in custody and is expected to appear in a Perth court via videolink on Wednesday.

He and his family have been moved away from the area for safety reasons.

Japanese Team Reveals Entry In Google Lunar XPRIZE Race To Moon

A team of engineers shooting for the moon have put the finishing touches to a lunar rover prototype.

Japanese space race team Hakuto has completed its innovative model using solar panels, 3D printed wheels and the latest carbon fibre material which keeps the unit's weight down to just 4kg.

The lunar rover will be Hakuto's entry in next year's Lunar XPRIZE competition, a Google-backed scheme to encourage entrepreneurs to pioneer affordable access to the moon.

A $20m (£15.3m) prize is up for grabs for the first team to land a privately funded rover on the moon and have it travel 500 metres.

The unit must also transmit back high-definition video and images.

To complete this feat Hakuto has fitted its rover with four cameras that will give a 360-degree view of the landscape, necessary for manoeuvring as well as capturing footage.

The unit's silvercoated Teflon cover will keep its temperatures stable, despite lunar temperatures varying between 100C and -150C.

The prototype will be tested next month at a desert in Tottori Prefecture, south Japan, where the ground closely resembles the lunar surface.

The Lunar XPRIZE has 16 entrants from across the globe.

Google says the competition's winner will prove that "cost-effective and reliable" access to the moon is possible and in the long term will "help to expand human civilisation into space".

Dubai's Ruler Finds Empty Desks In Surprise Office Spot Check

Dubai's ruler has sacked nine senior officials and ordered a shake-up of the city's management after a spot check revealed a significant number of absent employees.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum conducted the no-warning spot check himself - and posted a video of it on his Instagram account.

Posting the footage of the unannounced visit to a government office building on social media was intended to "send a message", according to a Dubai media official.

The action has been deemed as part of a widespread move by Gulf governments to make their bureaucracies more efficient amid low oil prices.

On Monday, Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates, fast-forwarded the retirement of nine members of the municipality's executive management.

These included directors and assistant director-generals in departments such as legal affairs and planning, the UAE's state news agency WAM reported.

He thanked them for their service, but said he wanted to allow a new generation of young leaders to take control and provide top-quality services to the public, according to WAM.

Francois Hollande Says Brexit Talks Must End By 2019

Talks on Britain leaving the European Union must be finished by 2019, French President Francois Hollande has said.

"This choice means that Britain, once it leaves, cannot take part in European decisions," Mr Hollande told an annual gathering of French ambassadors.

"It will not be able to access the single market unless it accepts the four freedoms, all its regulation and budgetary solidarity."

He said Prime Minister Theresa May had tough decisions to take and that she needed time, but that she could not wait on triggering exit talks.

"It would neither be good for Britain nor acceptable for Europe," Mr Hollande continued.

"For France, everything must be concluded by 2019."

To begin the formal process of leaving the EU, Mrs May needs to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which will start the two-year process of splitting from the bloc.

There has been constant speculation since Mrs May replaced David Cameron last month about when that will happen.

The PM is expected to ask her Cabinet ministers to set out how how their department is preparing for Brexit when they gather on Wednesday.

Her top team will meet at the PM's country retreat Chequers to discuss the next steps.

Reports in recent days have suggested Mrs May could trigger Article 50 without holding a vote in Parliament.

Workers 'Could Lose Rights' In Wake Of Brexit, Labour MP Warns

Workers could lose many of their employment rights in the wake of Brexit unless the Government passes new laws to protect them, a senior Labour MP has warned.

Prominent backers of leaving the European Union rubbished claims during the campaign that leaving the bloc could result in the loss of workers' rights.

But former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has commissioned research by the House of Commons library highlighting the EU laws that enshrine employment rights.

Mr Umunna, chairman of Vote Leave Watch - which scrutinises claims made by Brexit campaigners - has written to the Prime Minister, warning her that a failure to protect these rights would amount to "a betrayal of British workers".

He is calling on Theresa May to confirm the Government will make sure all employment rights currently dependent on EU law remain in place by passing new legislation if required.

Mr Umunna also wants a full audit of all instances where decisions by the European Court of Justice have delivered rights for British workers, and a commitment to ensure these judgments are kept post-Brexit.

Finally, he wants Mrs May to make clear Britain's full support for the Equality Act 2010.

He told Sky News the PM's oft-repeated mantra that "Brexit means Brexit" is a "completely meaningless phrase" that "doesn't tell you anything about what life will really be like once we leave".

Mr Umunna added: "They (the House of Commons library) have told me there is a whole swathe of your rights at work, employment law, that will fall away.

"For example, your right to annual paid leave is one of the rights that will fall away.

"Your right to daily rest of at least 11 hours so you're not working 24 hours a day, that type of thing could fall away.

"Your right to not be dismissed if your employer is bought by another company.

"Those are the kinds of rights we're talking about.

"The government must not allow people to be left in the lurch."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Britain voted decisively to leave the EU - and this Government will deliver the people's verdict. In every step we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

"We don't need to be part of the EU to have strong protections for workers' rights."

State Funeral For 37 Victims Of Italy Earthquake

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will attend a service for 37 earthquake victims on Monday after agreeing to change the venue following fury from relatives.

The second state funeral since last Wednesday's quake - which killed a total of 292 people - will mark the passing of victims from in and around the town of Amatrice

The town has suffered 2,500 aftershocks and has just one access road - and safety concerns prompted the government to arrange a service in an airport hangar 40 miles away.

The residents of Amatrice were told they would be bussed to the ceremony or could watch it on TV.

But an outcry forced the government to rethink and the service will now be staged in a large tent on the outskirts of the town's destroyed medieval centre.

It will begin at 5pm UK time.

Among those attending is Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, as 11 of the dead were Romanians.

So far, 231 bodies have been found in Amatrice and 11 more in nearby Accumoli. The bodies of at least 10 more people are still believed to be under rubble.

There were 50 people killed in Le Marche.

Meanwhile, Italy is investigating possible responsibility for the buildings that collapsed, as many had been recently renovated using public funds meant for anti-seismic improvements.

These buildings include a school and church tower.

Giuseppe Saieva, a prosecutor from the city of Rieti, told the Il Messaggero newspaper: "First we must obtain all the documents from the contract and bidding processes, through to the inspections.

"Only then can we know what the responsibilities were of all those involved."

John Lennon's Killer Mark Chapman Denied Parole Again

John Lennon's killer Mark Chapman has been denied parole for the ninth time since the former Beatle's murder stunned the world in 1980.

The New York state Board of Parole announced its decision in relation to Chapman, 61, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving a sentence of 20 years to life in western New York's Wende Correctional Facility.

The parole board noted that Chapman - who shot and killed the star outside New York's Dakota building - has described the murder as "selfish and evil".

But it concluded that his contrition and other factors supporting his release were outweighed by the premeditated and "celebrity-seeking" nature of the crime.

Former Beatle John Lennon was gunned down outside his luxury apartment block

The board said: "Your release would be incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate that seriousness of the crime as to undermine respect for the law."

Chapman will be eligible to seek parole again in 2018.

He was last denied parole in 2014, when he said he still received letters about the pain he caused in his pursuit of notoriety.

"I am sorry for causing that type of pain," he said.

"I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory."

In a 1992 interview Chapman told of the moment when Lennon got out of a limousine and approached him after he asked for an autograph.

Chapman said: "I heard this voice - not an audible voice, an inaudible voice - saying over and over, 'Do it, do it, do it'.

"I thought that by killing him I would acquire his fame."

At a 2010 hearing, Chapman said he had considered shooting Johnny Carson or Elizabeth Taylor instead, but settled on Lennon because the ex-Beatle was more accessible as his century-old apartment building by Central Park "wasn't quite as cloistered".

'Funny Doing Something And Nothing': Gene Wilder Celebrated

Co-stars, directors and admirers have been remembering Gene Wilder, the beloved actor who has died at the age of 83 after suffering complications linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Among those mourning the comedy legend's passing are the actors who played the five lucky Golden Ticket winners in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

Julie Dawn Cole, who was just 12 years old when she played spoilt Veruca Salt in the 1971 film, described him as a "father figure" to the cast who was "quiet, gently, funny and patient".

Cole said her four child co-stars in the movie, who she continues to see once every year, were "very, very sad" to hear of his death. They had last heard from Wilder in 2015, when he sent them "lots of love".

Wilder was also celebrated for his collaborations with director Mel Brooks, who said: "He blessed every film we did together with his special magic and he blessed my life with friendship."

The daughter of the late Richard Pryor, with whom Gene Wilder created several box office hits, said "nothing could beat their magic on screen nor ever will".

Countless household names in TV and film have also described how they were inspired to pursue comedy after seeing Wilder on the stage and screen.

Actor Rob Lowe said: "Gene Wilder was one of my earliest heroes. Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka, are CLINICS on comic acting. Sad to hear of his passing."

"Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to take a human form. If there's a heaven, he has a Golden Ticket," Jim Carrey wrote.

Russell Crowe tweeted: "I saw Blazing Saddles seven times at the cinema with my school friends. George St. Cows outside. Gene Wilder you were a genius."

The director Edgar Wright asked for a moment of silence for Wilder, describing him as the master of the comedic pause.

"Gene Wilder: funny doing something and funny doing nothing," Wright added.

Eric McCormack, who played Will Truman in the long-running sitcom Will And Grace, said Wilder was "a genius I stole from constantly".

In 1997, Wilder won an Emmy for his guest appearance in the show - and McCormack added that he was "humbled and thrilled" to have worked with him.

Josh Gad, known appearing in Book Of Mormon and Frozen, described Wilder as "a supernova of unmatched energy on screen" - adding: "He dared you to take your eyes off him and we the audience always lost the bet."

Also paying tribute was the actor and writer Stephen Fry, who thanked Gene Wilder for "all those happy happy hours" in a tweet accompanied by a picture of Wilder as Willy Wonka.

Twin Girls Who Were Conjoined At Birth To Start School In Kent

Twins girls who were given a slim chance of survival after being born conjoined are preparing for their first day at school.

Rosie and Ruby Formosa, aged four, were joined at the abdomen and shared part of the intestine when they were born in 2012.

Parents Angela and Daniel Formosa, from Bexleyheath in Kent, could only wait and hope as their daughters underwent a five-hour operation at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

Thankfully it was successful - and Mrs Formosa said the girls had now met their teacher and were "very excited" to be following big sister Lily, who is nine, to school.

The girls were born joined at the abdomen and shared part of the intestine

She said: "Four years ago it wasn't in my mind that this would ever happen.

"When I was pregnant I didn't think I'd ever see their first day at school so it is really amazing and all thanks to GOSH really."

Mrs Formosa said it was "heartbreaking" when she discovered the girls had the rare medical condition - it accounts for one in every 200,000 live births.

She went on: "At 16 weeks they sent me to King's College Hospital and it was there that they discovered the connection between the girls.

"It was heartbreaking, really - I was already worried that they were monoamniotic (where twins share an amniotic sac), and conjoined was the worst-case scenario.

"I was really, really, really scared and really upset because at that point I was told that there was a high possibility that the girls wouldn't survive the pregnancy.

"And if they did survive the pregnancy they might not survive the birth, then they might not survive surgery.

"They couldn't tell what was connecting them.

"I didn't prepare to bring them home. It wasn't until they were in hospital and they'd had their operation that my husband started painting the bedroom and getting everything ready for them."

Mrs Formosa, 35, said it felt like "a million years" ago since she was waiting for the girls to come out of their surgery.

"The time has just flown by, I can't believe how fast it has gone."

GOSH's Professor Paolo De Coppi said: "Over the last 30 years we have treated 27 sets of conjoined twins.

"It's always a joy to witness patients' progress and to hear that they are reaching new milestones - this makes the job we do all the more rewarding."

The Formosa family are supporting GOSH's Back To School Campaign - which raises funds to support the hospital.

Anyone want to support the campaign can donate £3 by texting SCHOOL to 70020.

Apple Ordered To Pay €13bn In Irish Taxes

US technology giant Apple has been ordered to pay up to €13bn (£11bn) in back taxes to Ireland after a European probe.

Apple faces the record bill after the European Commission (EC) ruled that a special scheme to route profits through Ireland was illegal state aid.

The tech giant's tax arrangements enabled it to pay a tax rate of as little as 0.005% on its European profits in 2014, according to the probe.

That is just €50 (£43) in taxes on every €1m (£850m) of profit.

Ireland's finance minister Michael Noonan said he disagreed "profoundly" with the decision and would seek Cabinet approval for an appeal.

The sum to be paid by Apple is 40 times bigger than any previous demand by the EC in such a case.

It could be reduced if other countries seek more taxes themselves from the US tech giant.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: "Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies - this is illegal under EU state aid rules..

"The Commission's investigation concluded that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years."

Apple said it was confident of winning an appeal and that the ruling would have a "profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe".

The EC's tax crackdown on multinationals has prompted criticism in Washington, which accuses it of targeting US companies.

Online retailer Amazon and fast food giant McDonald's face probes over their tax arrangements in Luxembourg while coffee chain Starbucks has been ordered to pay up to €30m (£26m) in the Netherlands.

Calls To Improve Diabetes Care As Amputations Hit Record High

The number of diabetes-related amputations in England has reached an all-time high of 20 a day, according to new analysis.

Diabetes UK says there is an alarming difference in quality of care seen across the country and while the best-performing areas have consistently reduced their amputation rates, the worst-performing areas have made no improvements.

Experts estimate that up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations are preventable. Most are caused by foot ulcers, which are avoidable and easy to treat if detected early.

Using Public Health England figures, the charity discovered there are now 7,370 amputations a year - considerably more than the earlier figure of 7,042.

Diabetes UK wants the Government and the NHS to improve diabetes foot care, especially in areas where amputation rates are stagnant or getting worse.

Data suggests some NHS trusts are 10 times more likely than others to resort to an amputation than others.

Apple May Be Fined Billions In Europe's Largest Tax Penalty

American tech firm Apple is expected to be hit with Europe's largest tax penalty later following claims it received preferential treatment from Ireland.

The company could be forced to pay back billions of euros to Dublin as state tax aid is illegal under European Union rules.

Last week the US Treasury attacked Europe's tax avoidance crackdown - which also includes firms such as Amazon and Fiat Chrysler.

It said the probe by the European Commission (EC) undermines the international tax system, while the companies under investigation say their arrangements are legal.

If Europe recovers billions in taxes from US firms it could mean less revenues collected by Washington.

Robert Stack, the US Treasury's deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs, said: "US taxpayers could wind up eventually footing the bill."

The US acknowledged the problem of alleged state aid being given by countries such as Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg in the form of lucrative tax breaks.

But it criticised the EC's approach in planning to apply new rules to companies retroactively, and also accused it of overstepping its powers.

The EC denied it was targeting US companies and said it was a "standard feature" of European rules that companies would have to pay any benefits from tax breaks found to be illegal.

Ireland has stood by its actions.

Junior finance minister Eoghan Murphy said on Sunday: "We don't believe we gave any state aid to Apple."

He reiterated the government's stance that it would appeal any decision that found against Ireland in the matter.

Explosion reported near Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan

An explosion has occurred around the Chinese embassy in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, reports Interfax news agency citing a local emergency ministry's representative.

There are no confirmed casualty figures yet.

"The exact number is being verified," the representative said.

AFP news gency reports that a car exploded after ramming into gate at the embassy, according to local police.

Local medics said the driver of the car was killed while two embassy staff and a woman were injured in the blast.

Home Secretary Rejects Calls To Scrap Calais Border Deal

The Home Secretary will bluntly reject calls to scrap the border deal between Britain and France when she meets her French counterpart in Paris later.

Amber Rudd is meeting interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve for scheduled talks on co-operation on counter-terrorism and security following the spate of terror attacks in France.

But border security has been propelled to the top of the agenda following calls by senior French politicians, led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, to move checks on migrants from Calais to the UK.

Mr Sarkozy, who hopes to make a comeback in the French presidential election next year, said the controversial "Jungle" migrant camp should be shut down and moved to Britain.

But Ms Rudd, who succeeded Theresa May in July, will tell the President that Britain will not agree to renegotiating the border agreement between the two countries.

A Home Office spokesperson told Sky News: "We remain committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and to maintain the juxtaposed controls. 

"The French government have repeatedly made it clear that removing the juxtaposed controls would not be in the interests of France. 

"The French President reiterated this again at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister on 21 July.

"We firmly believe in the established principle, enshrined in the Dublin Regulation, that those in need of protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter."

At their meeting in Paris back in July, Mrs May said she had won a pledge from the President on the existing deal despite the UK's vote to leave the EU.

President Francois Hollande agreed, and said the agreement was useful to both countries. 

"We consider it as our duty ... to apply it and also to improve it," he added.

Under the Treaty of Le Touquet, British immigration officials check passports in Calais and their French counterparts do the same in Dover.

A source close to Mrs Rudd told The Daily Telegraph that discussing an end to this agreement was a "complete non-starter". 

The problem for the British government is that if President Hollande loses the presidential election next year, the existing treaties and agreements could be in jeopardy.

Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, said: "Axing the treaty altogether would be a disaster for France and Britain. 

"It would simply force the ferries and Tunnel to become border guards - meaning higher ticket prices and longer queues."

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, added that the crisis in Calais was due to the failure of successive French presidents to deal with the issue of illegal migration - and branded Mr Sarkozy's proposal "irresponsible".

The former president's controversial call has also provoked a furious attack from Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats.

He claimed Mr Sarkozy was "trying to grub around the gutter for votes to win his presidential primary", adding: "It won't work and trying to mimic the nasty rhetoric of Marine Le Pen is not a recipe for success. He just looks like a hypocrite."

British Backpacker Tom Jackson Stabbed In Australia Dies From His Injuries

A British man who was stabbed in Australia as he tried to save another backpacker has died from his injuries, police have said.

Tom Jackson sustained critical head injuries when he intervened as fellow Briton Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death in north Queensland last Tuesday.

Queensland Police confirmed the 30-year-old passed away in Townsville Hospital.

His father, who had flown from the UK to be by his bedside last week, said in a statement before his son's death: "There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom.

"His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride."

Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death at a hostel in north Queensland

Detectives plan to upgrade a charge of attempted murder against suspect Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, when he next appears in court at the end of October.

Ayad also faces another count of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault. He remains in custody.

The alleged knifeman is said to have shouted the Arabic phrase for "God is greatest" - both during the attack and while being arrested - but police said there was no evidence he had been radicalised or was motivated by politics.

Reports Ayad was "obsessed" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung, a 21-year-old from Derbyshire, are being investigated.

Flowers have been left at the scene of the attack

Ms Ayliffe-Chung was only a few days into a three-month trip working on a farm when she was attacked, according to social media.

Her boyfriend, Jamison Stead, said she was a "beautiful soul" who had "fallen in love with the country and its people".

Writing in a blog on Monday for The Independent, her mother, Rosie Aycliffe, said: "At the moment the only way I can really cope with our loss is to think Mia's time had come and what happened in that hostel on Tuesday was her fate."

She revealed her plans to scatter her daughter's ashes around the world in places she will never discover.

British Backpacker Tom Jackson Stabbed In Australia Dies From His Injuries

A British man who was stabbed in Australia as he tried to save another backpacker has died from his injuries, police have said.

Tom Jackson sustained critical head injuries when he intervened as fellow Briton Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death in north Queensland last Tuesday.

Queensland Police confirmed the 30-year-old passed away in Townsville Hospital.

His father, who had flown from the UK to be by his bedside last week, said in a statement before his son's death: "There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom.

"His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride."

Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death at a hostel in north Queensland

Detectives plan to upgrade a charge of attempted murder against suspect Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, when he next appears in court at the end of October.

Ayad also faces another count of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault. He remains in custody.

The alleged knifeman is said to have shouted the Arabic phrase for "God is greatest" - both during the attack and while being arrested - but police said there was no evidence he had been radicalised or was motivated by politics.

Reports Ayad was "obsessed" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung, a 21-year-old from Derbyshire, are being investigated.

Flowers have been left at the scene of the attack

Ms Ayliffe-Chung was only a few days into a three-month trip working on a farm when she was attacked, according to social media.

Her boyfriend, Jamison Stead, said she was a "beautiful soul" who had "fallen in love with the country and its people".

Writing in a blog on Monday for The Independent, her mother, Rosie Aycliffe, said: "At the moment the only way I can really cope with our loss is to think Mia's time had come and what happened in that hostel on Tuesday was her fate."

She revealed her plans to scatter her daughter's ashes around the world in places she will never discover.

Ice Road Truckers' Star Darrell Ward Dies In Plane Crash

One of the stars of reality TV show "Ice Road Truckers" has been killed in a plane crash in Montana.

Darrell Ward, 52, died after the four-seater plane he was travelling in crashed southeast of the city of Missoula.

Local sheriff Captain Bill Burt said it appeared the pilot had been trying to land at a small airstrip but "something went drastically wrong".

The plane went through some trees, witnesses said, hitting some of them as it did so. 

Captain Burt said the pilot had bought the Cessna 182 on Friday.

A statement on Darrell Ward's Facebook page said he had been attending The Great American Truck Show in Dallas before flying to Montana.

It said Ward had been due to begin filming "a pilot for his new documentary style show involving the recovery of plane wrecks".

"An investigation is ongoing and more information will be made available at a later time."

Paying tribute, the statement added: "The things Darrell loved most were his family, including his kids and grand-kids & trucking." 

Ice Road Truckers, which is made by the History Channel, features lorry drivers battling freezing conditions to deliver supplies to remote areas of Canada and Alaska. 

The show - which has attracted around 900,000 viewers per episode on Channel 5 in the UK - has run for 10 seasons.

Ward was told over the weekend that he had a part in season 11, which is due to begin filming next winter.

Lightning Strike Kills More Than 300 Wild Reindeer In Norway

A lightning strike has killed more than 300 wild reindeer in Norway, in what officials described as an unusually large natural disaster.

Aerial footage shows reindeer carcasses scattered across a small area on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.

The footage was released by the Norwegian Environment Agency, which said 323 animals were killed, including 70 calves.

Agency spokesman Kjartan Knutsen said it is not uncommon for reindeer or other wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes, "but we have not heard about such numbers before."

Aerial footage shows the scale of the destruction

He said reindeer tend to stay very close to each other in bad weather, which could explain how so many were killed at once during Friday's storm.

Thousands of reindeer migrate across the barren Hardangervidda plateau as the seasons change.

It is the second time this month that a large group of animals has been killed by lightning.

On 25 August, 38 sheep died after they were hit by lightning in the Indian district of Kanchipuram.

Lightning Strike Kills More Than 300 Wild Reindeer In Norway

A lightning strike has killed more than 300 wild reindeer in Norway, in what officials described as an unusually large natural disaster.

Aerial footage shows reindeer carcasses scattered across a small area on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.

The footage was released by the Norwegian Environment Agency, which said 323 animals were killed, including 70 calves.

Agency spokesman Kjartan Knutsen said it is not uncommon for reindeer or other wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes, "but we have not heard about such numbers before."

Aerial footage shows the scale of the destruction

He said reindeer tend to stay very close to each other in bad weather, which could explain how so many were killed at once during Friday's storm.

Thousands of reindeer migrate across the barren Hardangervidda plateau as the seasons change.

It is the second time this month that a large group of animals has been killed by lightning.

On 25 August, 38 sheep died after they were hit by lightning in the Indian district of Kanchipuram.

50Naira Help Initiative: Lunches Social Enterprise

50Naira Help Initiative is an NGO created with the sole intension of improving the lives of Africans, using education, health and sanitation related projects of which an example is the WATER UP AFRICA project.

The WATER UP AFRICA project was born out of deep concern that over 600,000 Africans die annually from water related diseases, of which over 160,000 are Nigerians. This project seeks to stop the increase of such statistics by providing access to clean water across various communities in Africa.

Using Nigeria as a pilot country, WATER UP AFRICA aims to create access to drinkable water for about 1.2 Million Nigerians over the next 18 months. In the past four weeks, WATER UP AFRICA has visited 7 communities across various states in Nigeria namely; Goningora, Kakuri, Rigasa in Kaduna State, Madalla and Suleja in Niger State, Akwanga and Chun-Jah in Nassarawa State. According to Mr Andrew Lamai the pioneer of the project, so far in some of these communities we have been able to sink new boreholes, repair damaged ones and also train the locals on how to maintain and repair these boreholes, while work is still ongoing in other communities.


To ensure the sustainability of Water Up Africa, a social enterprise was launched on the 26th of August, 2016: WATER UP AFRICA TABLE WATER. To be part of the solution to the water epidemic in Africa, Water Up Africa calls upon Africans and our partners to be part of this social enterprise. Mr Andrew Lamai in a press briefing said “The social enterprise gives Africans the privilege to help give 10 children access to clean water just by purchasing one of the table water as the proceeds will be used to finance the project.''

Test For Parkinson's Disease Moves Step Closer

Scientists say they have identified a molecule in the spinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients which may open the door to an early-stage test.

They say that if the disease is spotted early enough, people with the molecule could take part in trials to test new medicines that could slow or even stop the disease.

There is currently no definitive test that allows doctors to determine if someone has Parkinson's, especially at the early stage.

GPs and consultants tend to rely on medical history, the symptoms that someone is exhibiting and a neurological and physical examination.

The newly discovered molecule is a protein which forms sticky clumps known as Lewy bodies within the brain cells of people with Parkinson's and some types of dementia.

Studies found spotting the difference between healthy and harmful forms of the protein - called alpha-synuclein - led them to accurately identify 19 out of 20 samples from Parkinson's patients, as well as three samples from people thought to be at risk of the condition.

People with Parkinson's suffer movement problems, which can lead to uncontrollable tremors, rigid muscles and poor balance.

They may also suffer depression and anxiety, a loss of the sense of smell, and problems with sleeping and memory.

An estimated 127,000 people in the UK have the disease, with the majority of them aged over 50.

Dr Alison Green, from the National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit at the University of Edinburgh, said: "We have already used this technique to develop an accurate test for Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (CJD), another neurodegenerative condition.

"We hope that with further refinement, our approach will help to improve diagnosis for Parkinson's patients.

"We are also interested in whether it could be used to identify people with Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia in the early stages of their illness. These people could then be given the opportunity to take part in trials of new medicines that may slow, or stop, the progression of disease."

Dr Beckie Port, from the charity Parkinson's UK, said: "Although early days, the fact that researchers have developed a new test that is able to detect abnormal alpha-synuclein in the spinal fluid of people with Parkinson's with remarkable specificity and sensitivity, is hugely promising. Further research is needed."

Beyonce dominates the MTV Video Music Awards 2016

Beyonce was the big winner at last night's MTV VMAs in New York.

The singer scooped seven awards in total including the prestigious prize for video of the year for the track Formation.

"First of all I'd like to thank my beautiful daughter and my incredible husband for all of their support," she said during one acceptance speech.

Held annually, the VMAs, rewards musicians for their visual efforts.

This year's ceremony was held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Beyonce, who was nominated for eight awards, also went home with the prize for Best Female Video, Best Direction and Best Cinematography.

She was presented with one of her awards by four members of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team.

The 34-year-old rounded off an impressive night with a 16 minute medley of songs taken from her latest album, Lemonade.

Other winners included Calvin Harris, Fifth Harmony and Drake.

David Bowie meanwhile was posthumously rewarded, the late singer's album Blackstar won the Best Art Direction accolade.

Rihanna was honoured on the night with the, Michael Jackson Vanguard Award, which recognizes an artist's entire catalogue of work.

Canadian rapper Drake presented Rihanna with her trophy.

The singer smiled nervously when he declared; "She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old. She's one of my best friends in the world.

"All of my adult life I've looked up to her even though she's younger than me."

The pair have collaborated on numerous occasions and there have been suggestions that their relationship hasn't always been purely business-related.

Drake was so proud of Rihanna that he decided it was worthy of a billboard advert.

Completing a star-studded night of music were performances from Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears.

Organisers of this year's event will be thankful it was largely uneventful.

The VMAs have a history of throwing up some controversial moments.

It was the scene of Kanye West's now infamous rant where he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech in 2009.

In 2010, Lady Gaga wore a dress made entirely of raw beef.

She later explained; "If we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones."