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.

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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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Man fighting for his life and six others injured following 'street fight'

Crime reporter,Luton(wp/es):

A man is fighting for his life and six others are in hospital following a street brawl in Luton. 

Bedfordshire Police were called to Saxon Road in Luton on Sunday after receiving reports of a large number of individuals fighting.

Scene guards remain in place on Saxon Road, Biscott Road and Blenheim Crescent.

Police wrote on Twitter: “Emergency services are at the scene and some people have been taken to hospital after reports of stab wounds.”

Witnesses with any information have been asked to come forward.
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Brexit 'will have negative impact on UK' say half of voters in poll

Pic:Hardline Brexiteers have held a meeting to discuss unseating Theresa May as Prime Minister ( EPA )

Political reporter(wp/es):

Half the public believe Brexit will have a negative impact on the country, a new poll shows today.

The data also indicates an overwhelming majority of people are critical of the Government's handling of the exit talks.

Just a third of voters think they will be better off in five years as a result of Britain quitting the European Union, the ComRes survey for BBC Radio 5 Live found.

Some eight out of 10 voters, 79%, think the  Brexit negotiations have been handled badly by the Government.

Prime Minister Theresa Mayhas faced intense criticism from within Tory ranks about her Brexit blueprint and around 50 Brexiteers met to war-game ways to oust her last Tuesday evening.

Extracts released over the weekend of an interview that will air on Monday evening revealed the PM is irked by the talk surrounding her future as leader.

She told BBC Panorama's Inside No 10: Deal Or No Deal?: "I get a little bit irritated but this debate is not about my future, this debate is about the future of the people of the UK and the future of the United Kingdom."

The interview was carried out at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country retreat.

Photographs show Mrs May later sipping tea with husband Philip while watching an episode of ITV's The Chase with her official red box of Government documents at her side.

As the six-month countdown to exit day approaches, the ComRes survey shows 41% of voters think quitting the bloc will have a positive impact compared to 50%.

Some 32% think their household will be better off in 2023 but 54% disagree

The EU faced criticism with 63% saying it had handled the talks badly.

- ComRes interviewed 1,002 GB adults via telephone between September 6 and 9 2018. Data was weighted to be demographically representative of all British adults aged 18+.
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Three teens arrested after mass brawl breaks out between up to 70 youths outside Clarks shoe store

Crime reporter,London(wp/es):

Three teenagers have been arrested after a mass brawl involving up to 70 youths broke out outside a Clarks shoe store in a town centre in west London.

Police were forced to set up a “dispersal zone” in Uxbridge after a fight between a swarm of schoolchildren erupted on Monday. The order means that anyone who refuses to leave the area or returns after being moved on can be arrested. 

Video footage of the fight shows several teenagers girls punching and kicking each other, with one ending up on the floor.

It also appears to show adults attempting to break up the brawl as punches are thrown. Many of the youngsters in the video are wearing their school uniform. 

A security guard was eventually able to detain one of the teenage girls who appeared to be involved from the beginning of the fight.

Met Police said on Saturday that three people had been arrested in connection with the disorder.

A 17-year-old boy has been detained on suspicion of GBH, affray and handling stolen goods, while another boy, aged 14, was arrested for affray.

A 16-year-old girl was arrested for affray and ABH. Police said enquiries were ongoing. 

Police were called to the scene at about 5.30pm on Monday.

Riding rollercoasters an effective way of removing kidney stones, research finds

Pic:Roller coasters are an effective way of removing kidney stones, research has found ( PA )
Health reporter(wp/es):

Taking a ride on certain types of rollercoasters can successfully remove kidney stones, new research has found. 

Scientists who suggested rollercoasters could be used to remove kidney stones are among those to be recognised with a coveted Ig Nobel prize.

The spoof awards, held at Harvard University and organised by US magazine Annals of Improbable Research, celebrate unusual, funny but practical scientific work.

Inspiration behind the work came from a patient of Professor David Wartinger at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine who had visited Florida’s Disney World. 

After returning, the man said a ride on the Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster had managed to dislodge one of his kidney stones.

He went on the rollercoaster again to see if it was the ride which helped remove the stone or whether it was just a coincidence, only for another one to dislodge shortly after.  

Big Thunder Mountain was particularly effective in comparison to other adrenaline-filled rides such as Space Mountain because of the way it moves the rider around, Professor Wartinger found.

The research is one of 10 awards given out at the Ig Nobels ceremony this year, which commemorate scientific discoveries and research deemed funny or unusual. 

Other prizes won this year include the biology award which was taken by Swedish researchers who demonstrated that, by using their sense of smell, wine experts can reliably identify a fly in a glass of wine. 

A researcher from Britain took home the Nutrition Prize for establishing that pound per pound it is not worth consuming human flesh in comparison with other meats.