WEASTAR TIMES::: ENGLAND EDITION: 09/18/18

Tuesday 18 September 2018

ECB confirms disrepute charges for Ben Stokes and Alex Hales

Sports reporter(wp):

Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have been charged by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) with bringing the game into disrepute for their parts in the brawl that took place outside a Bristol nightclub last September.

They will attend a private hearing in front of a three-man CDC panel, chaired by former Derbyshire batsman Tim O'Gorman, on December 5 and 7. The other members of the panel are Chris Tickle, a former employment tribunal judge, and Mike Smith.

Each player has been charged with two counts of breaching ECB directive 3.3 which states: "No Participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute."

The CDC has the remit to impose penalties ranging from an unlimited fine or suspension and termination of registration.

The hearing has been scheduled between England's two overseas tours - Sri Lanka and West Indies - which means that Stokes and Hales remain available for the Sri Lanka tour. However, the panel could hand down bans to either or both players so it remains to be seen what their availability will be beyond that.

Stokes was found not guilty of affray at Bristol Crown Court last month following a week-long trial. Having missed the Lord's Test against India he was then immediately made available for England again and played in the remaining three matches. Following the brawl he missed the end of last year's ODI series against West Indies and the full tour of Australia before returning against New Zealand.

Hales, who only missed two ODIs against West Indies, was not arrested at the time of the incident outside Mbargo nightclub and was not on trial, although his name came up regularly during the trial. His role in the events was brought into question by Stokes' lawyer who raised the possibility that the injuries sustained by Ryan Ali could have been caused by Hales.

There was also police bodycam footage shown to the jury in which Hales claimed he had only arrived on the scene after the fight.

Stokes and Hales were referred to the CDC shortly after the incident last September but the hearing was put on hold while criminal proceedings were active. The hearing will come four months after Stokes' trial finished but the complexity of the case has meant all sides have needed time to prepare evidence.
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man fights for life and second man injured

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A man is fighting for life in hospital after a double stabbing in south east London.

The victim, in his 30s, was one of two men found suffering stab wounds in a street in Greenwich at around 6.10pm yesterday.

Police and paramedics were called to Hevelius Close following reports of a stabbing and found two men suffering from knife wounds.

Both were taken to an east London hospital. One victim has undergone surgery and is said to be in a critical condition.

The second is described as stable and his life is not at risk.

There have been no arrests.

BMW to shut UK Mini factory for one month immediately after Brexit amid 'no-deal' fears

Business reporter(wp/es):
BMW has said it will temporarily halt production at its British Mini plant immediately after Brexit day as part of contingency plans for a “no-deal” divorce.

The car giant is bringing forward the annual shutdown period at its Oxford plant amid rising fears the UK could crash out of the EUwithout securing a deal.

Carmakers generally close their factories over the summer for a few weeks to allow for retooling and repair work as many staff take holidays and sales are at their lowest level.

"We have scheduled next year’s annual maintenance period at MINI Plant Oxford to start on 1 April, when the UK exits the EU, to minimise the risk of any possible short-term parts-supply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit," BMW said.

"While we believe this worst case scenario is an unlikely outcome, we have to plan for it."

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29 next year, but Theresa May faces a battle to agree a deal with Brussels before that date.

BMW’s announcement shows the firm is concerned about how disruptive a “no-deal” Brexit could be, and its lack of confidence that a deal will be reached.

Carmakers are worried that Brexit may impose customs checks on parts and finished models, adding costly delays to the manufacturing process.

The automotive sector, which employs more than 850,000 people in Britain, has warned that extra costs risk the viability of production sites.

Britain's biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said on Monday that it would go down to a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich plant from October until the beginning of December, after warning about the impact of Brexit and diesel policy.

BMW said it was sticking by its British production sites, which also include a Rolls-Royce car facility, an engine facility and a fourth site which houses a press shop and sub assembly.

"We remain committed to our operations in Britain, which is the only country in the world where we manufacture for all three of our automotive brands," BMW said.
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