thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Champion Chase on the cards after Defi Du Seuil eases down at Ascot

Defi Du Seuil , Philip Hobbs ’ s improving seven-year-old , put in his strongest claim yet for Champion Chase honours when he showed an electric turn of foot to beat Un De Sceaux by an eased-down 2¾ lengths in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot .
If Un De Sceaux did not quite fire as jockey Paul Townend maintained , it might mark the winner ’ s performance down a little but if that was anything near the real Un De Sceaux , in his perfect conditions , then the eye told a different story .
For most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , jumping from fence to fence , with Defi du Seuil sitting on his tail and when they turned for home , the Irish challenger a length up , it looked momentarily like we were in for a Grundy v Bustino duel up the straight .
But Defi Du Seuil jumped past his rival at the second last and his momentum soon carried him five lengths clear .
He was athletically spring-heeled at the last and on this occasion 2¾ lengths flattered the ever-popular Un De Sceaux because the winner was eased down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for which race to run the winner in at Cheltenham , this race screamed Champion Chase .
“ It certainly makes it a bit more likely , ” said the trainer who also has the Ryanair Chase option .
“ I couldn ’ t imagine he ’ d win that easily .
It wasn ’ t the plan to hit the front that far out , it was to hit the front after the last but he didn ’ t have much option .
”

Defi Du Seuil, Philip Hobbs’s improving seven-year-old, put in his strongest claim yet for Champion Chase honours when he showed an electric turn of foot to beat Un De Sceaux by an eased-down 2¾ lengths in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
If Un De Sceaux did not quite fire as jockey Paul Townend maintained, it might mark the winner’s performance down a little but if that was anything near the real Un De Sceaux, in his perfect conditions, then the eye told a different story.
For most of the journey Un De Sceaux led, jumping from fence to fence, with Defi du Seuil sitting on his tail and when they turned for home, the Irish challenger a length up, it looked momentarily like we were in for a Grundy v Bustino duel up the straight.
But Defi Du Seuil jumped past his rival at the second last and his momentum soon carried him five lengths clear. He was athletically spring-heeled at the last and on this occasion 2¾ lengths flattered the ever-popular Un De Sceaux because the winner was eased down.
If Hobbs was looking for guidance for which race to run the winner in at Cheltenham, this race screamed Champion Chase. “It certainly makes it a bit more likely,” said the trainer who also has the Ryanair Chase option. “I couldn’t imagine he’d win that easily. It wasn’t the plan to hit the front that far out, it was to hit the front after the last but he didn’t have much option.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Brighton throw away crucial points as Jack Grealish's superb strike secures draw for Aston Villa

Brighton threw away two points in a vital relegation battle by committing the cardinal footballing sin of leaving the opposition ’ s best player unmarked in front of goal .
Leading through Leandro Trossard ’ s first-half goal , they allowed Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish the freedom of the Amex Stadium to take a cross field pass 15 minutes from time and smack home the equaliser .
In truth , neither team deserved to win a poor game , but Brighton will be kicking themselves after failing such an elementary test of defending .
“ We made a positional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brighton head coach Graham Potter said .
“ With some players you can get away with it but not Grealish .
We will dust ourselves down , take the point and prepare to play against Bournemouth.
” That is the second of four matches against teams below Brighton in the table but they will have to show more resilience than they did here , allowing a Villa side beaten 6-1 at home by Manchester City a week ago to regroup and edge the second half .
“ I thought it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Villa head coach Dean Smith said .
“ It was a game of two halves .
We weren ’ t aggressive enough in the first half .
In the second half we made the pressure tell .
We showed a lot more composure on the ball .
”

Brighton threw away two points in a vital relegation battle by committing the cardinal footballing sin of leaving the opposition’s best player unmarked in front of goal.
Leading through Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal, they allowed Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish the freedom of the Amex Stadium to take a cross field pass 15 minutes from time and smack home the equaliser.
In truth, neither team deserved to win a poor game, but Brighton will be kicking themselves after failing such an elementary test of defending.
“We made a positional error and Jack Grealish punished us,” Brighton head coach Graham Potter said. “With some players you can get away with it but not Grealish. We will dust ourselves down, take the point and prepare to play against Bournemouth.”
That is the second of four matches against teams below Brighton in the table but they will have to show more resilience than they did here, allowing a Villa side beaten 6-1 at home by Manchester City a week ago to regroup and edge the second half.
“I thought it was a good point and a deserved point,” Villa head coach Dean Smith said. “It was a game of two halves. We weren’t aggressive enough in the first half. In the second half we made the pressure tell. We showed a lot more composure on the ball.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Dominic Calvert-Lewin on target as West Ham and Everton share points

It wasn ’ t much of a game .
After 90 attritional minutes , Everton , the team to which David Moyes almost returned , prised a point from West Ham United , the team to which he actually did return .
For all the effort and endeavour on display , it wasn ’ t pretty .
Despite both being under new management , these are unhappy clubs .
On Merseyside , some fans visited Everton ’ s training ground to discuss their recent FA Cup exit to the bulk of Liverpool ’ s youth team .
On Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of fans chanting “ we want our club back ” might be the nascent stirrings of regime change at West Ham after a decade of Davids Gold and Sullivan and Baroness Brady .
“ If I give them a team to be proud of , I can ease the burden on the owners , ” mused Moyes afterwards .
“ I ’ m happy to do that , but I need time.
” Without the injured Gylfi Sigurdsson , Richarlison and Michael Keane , Everton were missing both their maverick tendency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , they were firefighting from the off .
West Ham ’ s Sebastien Haller fluffed a sprinkling of first-half chances , first heading Mark Noble ’ s cross just wide and then shooting at Jordan Pickford from a too-tight angle , much to the frustration of the better-placed Noble .

It wasn’t much of a game. After 90 attritional minutes, Everton, the team to which David Moyes almost returned, prised a point from West Ham United, the team to which he actually did return. For all the effort and endeavour on display, it wasn’t pretty.
Despite both being under new management, these are unhappy clubs. On Merseyside, some fans visited Everton’s training ground to discuss their recent FA Cup exit to the bulk of Liverpool’s youth team. On Saturday, a pre-match Hammers United protest attended by hundreds of fans chanting “we want our club back” might be the nascent stirrings of regime change at West Ham after a decade of Davids Gold and Sullivan and Baroness Brady. “If I give them a team to be proud of, I can ease the burden on the owners,” mused Moyes afterwards. “I’m happy to do that, but I need time.”
Without the injured Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison and Michael Keane, Everton were missing both their maverick tendency and their most robust defender. As a result, they were firefighting from the off. West Ham’s Sebastien Haller fluffed a sprinkling of first-half chances, first heading Mark Noble’s cross just wide and then shooting at Jordan Pickford from a too-tight angle, much to the frustration of the better-placed Noble.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Bournemouth suffer damaging defeat to fellow relegation battlers Norwich after Steve Cook's first-ha

Bournemouth suffer damaging defeat to fellow relegation battlers Norwich after Steve Cook's first-half red card

Eddie Howe suffered a damaging defeat in the battle of the Premier League ’ s bottom two but refused to blame captain Steve Cook ’ s extraordinary red card - even though the Bournemouth manager feels it cost them the game .
There was disbelief around Carrow Road at the manner of Cook ’ s 31st-minute sending off , as he produced a scarcely-believable handball while it was 0-0 , stretching out his right arm like a goalkeeper to keep out an Ondrej Duda strike , leading to a penalty that Teemu Pukki scored from .
The chaos did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced to ten men , for the final 15 minutes , when the referee used the pitchside monitor to reach his decision of dismissing Ben Godfrey , amid heated scenes that involved opposing players having to be separated .
“ The red card has decided the game , ” Howe said .
“ I thought it was Aaron [ Ramsdale , the Bournemouth goalkeeper ] that had saved it initially .
“ It was pure instinct from Steve .
Of course , if he had thought about it , I think he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have to support him .
A feeling of blame isn ’ t going to help us as a group.
” Howe admitted it was “ not ideal ” that the referee was pressurised while the Godfrey decision was made and said “ it is something that needs to be thought about ” .

Eddie Howe suffered a damaging defeat in the battle of the Premier League’s bottom two but refused to blame captain Steve Cook’s extraordinary red card - even though the Bournemouth manager feels it cost them the game.
There was disbelief around Carrow Road at the manner of Cook’s 31st-minute sending off, as he produced a scarcely-believable handball while it was 0-0, stretching out his right arm like a goalkeeper to keep out an Ondrej Duda strike, leading to a penalty that Teemu Pukki scored from.
The chaos did not end there as Norwich were also eventually reduced to ten men, for the final 15 minutes, when the referee used the pitchside monitor to reach his decision of dismissing Ben Godfrey, amid heated scenes that involved opposing players having to be separated.
“The red card has decided the game,” Howe said. “I thought it was Aaron [Ramsdale, the Bournemouth goalkeeper] that had saved it initially.
“It was pure instinct from Steve. Of course, if he had thought about it, I think he would have let it go by.
“You have to support him. A feeling of blame isn’t going to help us as a group.”
Howe admitted it was “not ideal” that the referee was pressurised while the Godfrey decision was made and said “it is something that needs to be thought about”.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Wolves pull off stunning comeback victory over Southampton thanks to Raul Jimenez double

Wolves have already played more than a season ’ s worth of games but are showing no signs of slowing down .
In their 39th game in all competitions , they clutched victory from the jaws of defeat against a resurgent Southampton thanks to a brilliant second-half performance , capped by two goals from Raul Jimenez who now has eight in the Premier League .
“ We said a lot of things [ at half-time ] , ” said Nuno Espirito Santo .
“ We were aware of the situation in the first half , Southampton was much better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half .
We didn ’ t abandon our tasks – the boys did amazing so I ’ m very proud of them .
We enjoy the challenge because we love to compete.
” Everything was pointing towards a Saints victory after a dominant first-half display which saw them lead 2-0 at the interval .
It had been the happiest of new years for Ralph Hasenhuttl who described the last four weeks as “ almost perfect ” and praised his team ’ s “ unbelievable mentality ” but , uncharacteristically for the Austrian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolves ’ second and third goals .
“ I am a big fan of the VAR as everyone knows but I think the final decision has to go with the referee , ” said Hasenhuttl , speaking of the award of Wolves ’ second-half penalty .
“ I asked him why he didn ’ t look on the screen and he said he can not do it unless it ’ s a red card or something like that .

Wolves have already played more than a season’s worth of games but are showing no signs of slowing down.
In their 39th game in all competitions, they clutched victory from the jaws of defeat against a resurgent Southampton thanks to a brilliant second-half performance, capped by two goals from Raul Jimenez who now has eight in the Premier League.
“We said a lot of things [at half-time],” said Nuno Espirito Santo. “We were aware of the situation in the first half, Southampton was much better than us. We adjusted in the second half. We didn’t abandon our tasks – the boys did amazing so I’m very proud of them. We enjoy the challenge because we love to compete.”
Everything was pointing towards a Saints victory after a dominant first-half display which saw them lead 2-0 at the interval.
It had been the happiest of new years for Ralph Hasenhuttl who described the last four weeks as “almost perfect” and praised his team’s “unbelievable mentality” but, uncharacteristically for the Austrian, he was angry at the circumstances of Wolves’ second and third goals.
“I am a big fan of the VAR as everyone knows but I think the final decision has to go with the referee,” said Hasenhuttl, speaking of the award of Wolves’ second-half penalty. “I asked him why he didn’t look on the screen and he said he cannot do it unless it’s a red card or something like that.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Fernandinho's late own goal hands Crystal Palace a point as Man City concede further ground to Liver

Fernandinho's late own goal hands Crystal Palace a point as Man City concede further ground to Liverpool

Twenty-four hours after Pep Guardiola had joked that septuagenarian Roy Hodgson must have been compelled by boredom to continue coaching into his advanced age , Wilfried Zaha popped up in the dying seconds of this entertaining fist fight to remind the Catalan of the addictive and heart-stopping emotions thrown up by managing in the Premier League .
A weakened Palace line-up had won and lost the game already by the time James McCarthy played Zaha upfield , with City pressing unnecessarily for a third goal , and the winger ’ s cross was turned into his own net by Fernandinho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a stunning end to a pulsating final eight minutes in which Sergio Aguero had scored twice , continuing to write his name large in City ’ s record books and demonstrate why he has , arguably , been the central talisman of his club ’ s phenomenal decade .
But it was also a goal that showed , in microcosm , where City ’ s title defence has floundered this season , undermined by a defence sorely weakened , since the end of August , by the absence of the injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shot count of 25-5 in City ’ s favour , a corner count of 14-2 , possession at 72 per cent to Guardiola ’ s team , but goals column reading all square .

Twenty-four hours after Pep Guardiola had joked that septuagenarian Roy Hodgson must have been compelled by boredom to continue coaching into his advanced age, Wilfried Zaha popped up in the dying seconds of this entertaining fist fight to remind the Catalan of the addictive and heart-stopping emotions thrown up by managing in the Premier League.
A weakened Palace line-up had won and lost the game already by the time James McCarthy played Zaha upfield, with City pressing unnecessarily for a third goal, and the winger’s cross was turned into his own net by Fernandinho, under pressure from Connor Wickham.
It was a stunning end to a pulsating final eight minutes in which Sergio Aguero had scored twice, continuing to write his name large in City’s record books and demonstrate why he has, arguably, been the central talisman of his club’s phenomenal decade.
But it was also a goal that showed, in microcosm, where City’s title defence has floundered this season, undermined by a defence sorely weakened, since the end of August, by the absence of the injured Aymeric Laporte.
The net result was a shot count of 25-5 in City’s favour, a corner count of 14-2, possession at 72 per cent to Guardiola’s team, but goals column reading all square.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Marching band sues council for throwing away precious gold-adorned uniforms

A marching band is suing a council for throwing away its gold-adorned uniforms , complaining it has scuppered their chances of reviving the group .
Glynneath and District Silver Band , based in Neath Port Talbot , Wales , have brought the compensation claim against Glynneath Town Council in the hope of winning £14,000 to replace the `` dumped '' clothing .
The council allegedly threw out 27 waistcoats , bowties and hand-stitched , gold-braided jackets with epaulettes belonging to the brass band , which formed in 1888 and won numerous championships before going their separate ways in 2005 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reform , but discovered in November 2018 that their precious uniforms had disappeared from Bethania Community Centre , a former Methodist chapel where they had been stashed away with instruments for safekeeping .
They claim they were told the uniforms had got `` rotten '' over the years , but believe all they needed was a spruce up at the dry cleaners .
John Evans , an independent town councillor and the former band manager , realised they were gone when he went to the chapel to collect some instruments for local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property - they had no right to throw them away whatsoever , '' he said .
`` We had a letter saying they would be safe in the chapel .
The uniforms were dusty but they could have been dry-cleaned . ''
Glynneath Town Council did not respond to requests for comment .

A marching band is suing a council for throwing away its gold-adorned uniforms, complaining it has scuppered their chances of reviving the group.
Glynneath and District Silver Band, based in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, have brought the compensation claim against Glynneath Town Council in the hope of winning £14,000 to replace the "dumped" clothing.
The council allegedly threw out 27 waistcoats, bowties and hand-stitched, gold-braided jackets with epaulettes belonging to the brass band, which formed in 1888 and won numerous championships before going their separate ways in 2005.
Its trustees said the group had planned to reform, but discovered in November 2018 that their precious uniforms had disappeared from Bethania Community Centre, a former Methodist chapel where they had been stashed away with instruments for safekeeping.
They claim they were told the uniforms had got "rotten" over the years, but believe all they needed was a spruce up at the dry cleaners.
John Evans, an independent town councillor and the former band manager, realised they were gone when he went to the chapel to collect some instruments for local schools.
"It wasn't their property - they had no right to throw them away whatsoever," he said.
"We had a letter saying they would be safe in the chapel. The uniforms were dusty but they could have been dry-cleaned."


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Dom Bess bowls England into a strong position but chances go begging as South Africa resist

• Scyld Berry 's verdict : Cause for optimism for England but these are worrying times for South Africa 's Test team Dominic Bess became the latest player of the new generation to grab his chance in this match when he became the youngest England spinner to take a five wicket haul for 52 years .
Bess has claimed five of the six wickets to fall but with the weather forecast worsening for the final two days of the match , South Africa remain hopeful of saving this game .
The fact they have much chance at all is down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and two half chances at short leg .
They are 92 short of the follow on target of 300 with Quinton de Kock 63 not out after a wonderfully well paced innings but also the outrageous fortune of being dropped three times at slip by Ben Stokes , owner of the safest pair of hands in England .
De Kock built on the resistance shown by nightwatchman Anrich Nortje who ate up 136 balls over three and a quarter hours , which could turn out to be a crucial stop on England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa remain alive in this Test .
The new ball is only three deliveries old but the rain reduces England ’ s chances in two ways .
Firstly it takes time out of the game and secondly , it dampens the outfield making reverse swing for Mark Wood and Stokes harder to generate .
Root has only once before enforced the follow on as England captain but it remains the most likely route to a 2-1 series lead otherwise the good work by Bess and Ollie Pope could all end up being washed @ @

Dominic Bess became the latest player of the new generation to grab his chance in this match when he became the youngest England spinner to take a five wicket haul for 52 years.
Bess has claimed five of the six wickets to fall but with the weather forecast worsening for the final two days of the match, South Africa remain hopeful of saving this game. The fact they have much chance at all is down to England missing four catches at slip, and two half chances at short leg.
They are 92 short of the follow on target of 300 with Quinton de Kock 63 not out after a wonderfully well paced innings but also the outrageous fortune of being dropped three times at slip by Ben Stokes, owner of the safest pair of hands in England.
De Kock built on the resistance shown by nightwatchman Anrich Nortje who ate up 136 balls over three and a quarter hours, which could turn out to be a crucial stop on England’s progress. At 208-6 South Africa remain alive in this Test.
The new ball is only three deliveries old but the rain reduces England’s chances in two ways. Firstly it takes time out of the game and secondly, it dampens the outfield making reverse swing for Mark Wood and Stokes harder to generate.
Root has only once before enforced the follow on as England captain but it remains the most likely route to a 2-1 series lead otherwise the good work by Bess and Ollie Pope could all end up being washed away.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Jewish family accuses Amsterdam museum of 'bias' over Kandinsky ownership

Members of a Dutch body advising on Nazi looted art claims have been accused of bias in a case involving a €20 million Kandinsky painting in Amsterdam ’ s Stedelijk Museum .
Heirs of the Lewenstein family are challenging a ruling saying that Amsterdam 's modern art museum run by the city council is not obliged to return the colourful 1909 masterpiece , ‘ Painting with Houses ’ .
The family claim four of the seven members of the Netherlands ’ restitutions committee that made the ruling are in fact also have connections with the Stedelijk Museum in a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The submission is part of a court case pitting Americans Robert Lewenstein and Francesca Davis and Amsterdammer Elsa Guidotti against Amsterdam city council and its prestigious Stedelijk Museum and foundation .
The Lewenstein family painting was sold for a song in Amsterdam on October 9 , 1940 , almost five months after the Dutch state surrendered to Nazi Germany .
This was a time when the Dutch restitution committee itself recommends “ all sales of works of art by Jewish private persons…be treated as forced sales , unless there is express evidence to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 – after five years of investigation – the committee ruled this sale was `` caused to an extent by the deteriorating financial circumstance '' of the family .

Members of a Dutch body advising on Nazi looted art claims have been accused of bias in a case involving a €20 million Kandinsky painting in Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum.
Heirs of the Lewenstein family are challenging a ruling saying that Amsterdam's modern art museum run by the city council is not obliged to return the colourful 1909 masterpiece, ‘Painting with Houses’.
The family claim four of the seven members of the Netherlands’ restitutions committee that made the ruling are in fact also have connections with the Stedelijk Museum in a "flagrant violation" of legal principles.
The submission is part of a court case pitting Americans Robert Lewenstein and Francesca Davis and Amsterdammer Elsa Guidotti against Amsterdam city council and its prestigious Stedelijk Museum and foundation.
The Lewenstein family painting was sold for a song in Amsterdam on October 9, 1940, almost five months after the Dutch state surrendered to Nazi Germany. This was a time when the Dutch restitution committee itself recommends “all sales of works of art by Jewish private persons…be treated as forced sales, unless there is express evidence to the contrary”.
However, in 2018 – after five years of investigation – the committee ruled this sale was "caused to an extent by the deteriorating financial circumstance" of the family.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Harry Dunn: Footage of vehicle on wrong side of road near RAF base where he died prompts police disc

Harry Dunn: Footage of vehicle on wrong side of road near RAF base where he died prompts police discussions at 'highest level'

Dramatic footage of a vehicle on the wrong side of the road near an RAF base has prompted police discussions at the `` highest level '' in light of the death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn in a separate incident nearby .
The video , reported to Northamptonshire Police on Saturday , shows a blue BMW having to brake sharply on a country road near RAF Croughton .
A force spokesman said Chief Constable Nick Adderley had personally taken control of the incident `` in light of the ongoing investigation in Northamptonshire '' .
RAF Croughton became the focus of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a head-on collision with a car yards away on August 27 last year .
Anne Sacoolas , 42 , the wife of a US intelligence official , claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country .
The US State Department said a UK extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas was highly inappropriate and would be an abuse .
Before reports of the latest incident surfaced , Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom , the constituency MP for Mr Dunn 's family , wrote to the commander of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit .
Mr Dunn 's mother Charlotte Charles and father Tim Dunn are looking for assurances that safety measures are in place to make sure there are no similar incidents in the future .

Dramatic footage of a vehicle on the wrong side of the road near an RAF base has prompted police discussions at the "highest level" in light of the death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn in a separate incident nearby.
The video, reported to Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, shows a blue BMW having to brake sharply on a country road near RAF Croughton.
A force spokesman said Chief Constable Nick Adderley had personally taken control of the incident "in light of the ongoing investigation in Northamptonshire".
RAF Croughton became the focus of an international controversy after Mr Dunn was killed in a head-on collision with a car yards away on August 27 last year.
Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country.
The US State Department said a UK extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas was highly inappropriate and would be an abuse.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman fell from seventh floor of flat

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman fell seven storeys to her death .
The woman , believed to be in hear early 30s , plummeted from a flat shortly before 6am this morning .
She was tragically confirmed dead at the scene in Hove , East Sussex .
A 52-year-old man , known to the victim , has been arrested on suspicion of her murder .
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as the pair had been in recent contact with officers .
A Sussex Police spokesperson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were called to Clarendon House , Clarendon Road , Hove , after a woman believed to be in her early thirties was reported to have fallen to the ground from the 7th floor of the flats .
`` She was sadly confirmed dead at the scene .
The death is being investigated by detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team and a 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder .
`` This incident is also being notified to the IOPC for their consideration in view of recent police contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man and woman were known to each other . ''

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman fell seven storeys to her death.
The woman, believed to be in hear early 30s, plummeted from a flat shortly before 6am this morning.
She was tragically confirmed dead at the scene in Hove, East Sussex.
A 52-year-old man, known to the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as the pair had been in recent contact with officers.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "At 5.53am on Saturday police were called to Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Hove, after a woman believed to be in her early thirties was reported to have fallen to the ground from the 7th floor of the flats.
"She was sadly confirmed dead at the scene. The death is being investigated by detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team and a 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
"This incident is also being notified to the IOPC for their consideration in view of recent police contact with the two people involved.
"The man and woman were known to each other."


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Lee Westwood takes one-shot lead into final round of Abu Dhabi Championship as he chases 44th title

Just to be leading going into the final round of one of the European Tour ’ s most lucrative events in your 28th year on the circuit is surely achievement enough .
Yet such are the standards Lee Westwood has set himself in his remarkable stint at the top end of the game that he will only be satisfied with victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday .
On 14-under , the 46-year-old is one clear of Austria ’ s Bernd Wiesberger and Italian Francesco Laporta , with Matt Fitzpatrick on 12-under and Spain ’ s Sergio Garcia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To put Westwood ’ s longevity into perspective , Fitzpatrick and Kitayama were not even born when the Worksop man first got on Tour as a teenager in 1993 , an incredible feat in itself considering he only took up the game five years before .
“ If you ’ d asked that 19-year-old at Q-school in Montpelier , what will you be doing at start of 2020 , I doubt he ’ d have given the answer that he ’ d be leading a $ 7m Rolex Series Event , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s just fun , isn ’ t it ?
Playing the game that I love.
” There is no question that Westwood adores his profession , but perhaps his enduring ability to mix it with the best can be put down to the fact that he has never been obsessed by it .
And in the twilight of his career , the former world No 1 is finding it easier than ever to leave his clubs in the boot .

Just to be leading going into the final round of one of the European Tour’s most lucrative events in your 28th year on the circuit is surely achievement enough. Yet such are the standards Lee Westwood has set himself in his remarkable stint at the top end of the game that he will only be satisfied with victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday.
On 14-under, the 46-year-old is one clear of Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger and Italian Francesco Laporta, with Matt Fitzpatrick on 12-under and Spain’s Sergio Garcia and the American Kurt Kitayama one further back. To put Westwood’s longevity into perspective, Fitzpatrick and Kitayama were not even born when the Worksop man first got on Tour as a teenager in 1993, an incredible feat in itself considering he only took up the game five years before.
“If you’d asked that 19-year-old at Q-school in Montpelier, what will you be doing at start of 2020, I doubt he’d have given the answer that he’d be leading a $7m Rolex Series Event,” Westwood said with a smirk. “It’s just fun, isn’t it? Playing the game that I love.”
There is no question that Westwood adores his profession, but perhaps his enduring ability to mix it with the best can be put down to the fact that he has never been obsessed by it. And in the twilight of his career, the former world No 1 is finding it easier than ever to leave his clubs in the boot.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Jack Reacher author Lee Child 'to step aside and let his brother take over'

The author of the best-selling Jack Reacher novels is reportedly stepping aside and letting his brother take over .
In @ @ @ @ @ a literary first , Lee Child is handing over control of the acclaimed series of @ @ @ @ @ , according to The Times .
Child – whose real name is James Grant – @ @ @ @ @ his sibling Andrew Grant that the only condition for the handover is he writes under @ @ @ @ @ told the newspaper he had thought of ways to kill off Reacher – a bruising @ @ @ @ @ and originally considered having him go out in a hail of bullets .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ bring him down , '' the 65-year-old Coventry-born writer said .
However , he eventually @ @ @ @ @ retiring him would do his fans a disservice .
`` Reacher had to have an @ @ @ @ @ , '' Child said .

The author of the best-selling Jack Reacher novels is reportedly stepping aside and letting his brother take over. In what is thought to be a literary first, Lee Child is handing over control of the acclaimed series of books to his younger brother, according to The Times.
Child – whose real name is James Grant – is said to have told his sibling Andrew Grant that the only condition for the handover is he writes under the name Child.
He told the newspaper he had thought of ways to kill off Reacher – a bruising 6ft 5ins vigilante hero – and originally considered having him go out in a hail of bullets.
"It would take an army to bring him down," the 65-year-old Coventry-born writer said.
However, he eventually decided killing him off or retiring him would do his fans a disservice.
"Reacher had to have an afterlife after I was done," Child said.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Northampton battle back to clinch crucial bonus-point win over Lyon in race for Champions Cup quarte

Northampton battle back to clinch crucial bonus-point win over Lyon in race for Champions Cup quarter-finals

Trailing by 12 points away in France where Northampton had lost in their previous 11 matches , Dan Biggar masterminded a stirring comeback that puts Saints in pole position to qualify for the Champions Cup knockout stages .
Should Gloucester or Saracens fail to extract maximum points from their fixtures against Toulouse or Racing on Sunday then Northampton will seize one of the three best runners-up places .
They did it the hard way .
Thrashed home and away by Leinster in Pool 1 , they only just snatched a bonus-point victory against Benetton Treviso in a performance labelled “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The director of rugby upgraded his assessment here to a “ good response ” as Northampton racked up 31 points in the second half against a Lyon side , who are somehow second in the Top 14 , and faded quicker than a winter sunset .
“ This year it was the most pleasing 40 minutes ( second-half ) in terms of having a clear plan and realising what we had to do , ” Boyd said .
“ To hold our nerve and come through was pleasing .
It showed a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a young group.
” Central to that response was Biggar .
The Wales fly half contributed 11 points with the boot and created tries for half-back partner Cobus Reinach and full back George Furbank .
“ He ’ s a very seasoned professional and is still trying-to grow his game , ” Boyd said .
“ That is a mark of a world-class player for me .
He ’ s the guardian of standards here and gives the boys a spray when things get sloppy .
What he brings in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try came straight off the training ground as Lyon overloaded one side of the ruck , Biggar called for a switch of direction from Reinach and released Furbank who ran a sumptuous outside break to register Northampton ’ s bonus-point score .
With England announcing their Six Nations squad on Monday , it was not a bad time for Furbank to score in front of the new attack coach Simon Amor , particularly after a shaky first half .

Lyon 24-36 Northampton
Trailing by 12 points away in France where Northampton had lost in their previous 11 matches, Dan Biggar masterminded a stirring comeback that puts Saints in pole position to qualify for the Champions Cup knockout stages.
Should Gloucester or Saracens fail to extract maximum points from their fixtures against Toulouse or Racing on Sunday then Northampton will seize one of the three best runners-up places. They did it the hard way. Thrashed home and away by Leinster in Pool 1, they only just snatched a bonus-point victory against Benetton Treviso in a performance labelled “disgustingly dreadful” by Chris Boyd.
The director of rugby upgraded his assessment here to a “good response” as Northampton racked up 31 points in the second half against a Lyon side, who are somehow second in the Top 14, and faded quicker than a winter sunset. “This year it was the most pleasing 40 minutes (second-half) in terms of having a clear plan and realising what we had to do,” Boyd said. “To hold our nerve and come through was pleasing. It showed a good level of maturity that is slowly coming to a young group.”
Central to that response was Biggar. The Wales fly half contributed 11 points with the boot and created tries for half-back partner Cobus Reinach and full back George Furbank. “He’s a very seasoned professional and is still trying-to grow his game,” Boyd said. “That is a mark of a world-class player for me. He’s the guardian of standards here and gives the boys a spray when things get sloppy. What he brings in terms of leadership is invaluable.”
Furbank’s try came straight off the training ground as Lyon overloaded one side of the ruck, Biggar called for a switch of direction from Reinach and released Furbank who ran a sumptuous outside break to register Northampton’s bonus-point score. With England announcing their Six Nations squad on Monday, it was not a bad time for Furbank to score in front of the new attack coach Simon Amor, particularly after a shaky first half.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Troy Deeney misses penalty as Watford and Spurs draw in drab match

Jose Mourinho refused to discuss the performance of the officials , and he was equally reticent when it came to the injuries to players of his better suited to match the challenges of a tough team like Watford , but as ever the message was there if you looked hard enough .
Another result that sees Tottenham Hotspur slide further from the top four , a game that they needed to win , and yet a draw that Mourinho could just about explain away .
They were up against Nigel Pearson-era Watford , who play every minute of every game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were one Paulo Gazzaniga penalty save away from winning .
There are not the kinds of players at Mourinho ’ s disposal who might go toe-to-toe with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue and that seems to be a source of regret .
“ If you imagine our team with [ Moussa ] Sissoko and Harry Kane , you would find two physical players – one who holds the ball up front and another who is powerful from midfield , ” the Spurs manager would reflect later .
Earlier he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come here and play with a team that is not physical and a team that is just technical.
” Two wins in his last seven league games would suggest that Mourinho has not found the solution to either his team ’ s technical or physical challenges , and one assumes that he found it frustrating to pick a side that had so much possession and so little goal-threat .
There were times when you wonder whether he might rather have Watford ’ s squad profile , where the ethos of physically-imposing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove suits him much better .
Pearson ’ s side let Spurs punch themselves out in the first half , drowning in possession without ever creating the chances one might expect , before Watford came back at them after the break and won a penalty Troy Deeney failed to convert .
In the minutes added on at the end of the game , the Watford substitute Ignacio Pussetto , an Argentine winger making his debut for the club , cleared one off the line that Erik Lamela had managed to steer past Ben @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed that it was the breadth of an orange peel away from being the winner , which meant that Watford could also consider one point a good return .

Jose Mourinho refused to discuss the performance of the officials, and he was equally reticent when it came to the injuries to players of his better suited to match the challenges of a tough team like Watford, but as ever the message was there if you looked hard enough.
Another result that sees Tottenham Hotspur slide further from the top four, a game that they needed to win, and yet a draw that Mourinho could just about explain away. They were up against Nigel Pearson-era Watford, who play every minute of every game as if it were their last and were one Paulo Gazzaniga penalty save away from winning. There are not the kinds of players at Mourinho’s disposal who might go toe-to-toe with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue and that seems to be a source of regret.
“If you imagine our team with [Moussa] Sissoko and Harry Kane, you would find two physical players – one who holds the ball up front and another who is powerful from midfield,” the Spurs manager would reflect later. Earlier he had said: “It is not easy to come here and play with a team that is not physical and a team that is just technical.” Two wins in his last seven league games would suggest that Mourinho has not found the solution to either his team’s technical or physical challenges, and one assumes that he found it frustrating to pick a side that had so much possession and so little goal-threat.
There were times when you wonder whether he might rather have Watford’s squad profile, where the ethos of physically-imposing, hard-running underdog types with a point to prove suits him much better. Pearson’s side let Spurs punch themselves out in the first half, drowning in possession without ever creating the chances one might expect, before Watford came back at them after the break and won a penalty Troy Deeney failed to convert.
In the minutes added on at the end of the game, the Watford substitute Ignacio Pussetto, an Argentine winger making his debut for the club, cleared one off the line that Erik Lamela had managed to steer past Ben Foster. The goal decision system later revealed that it was the breadth of an orange peel away from being the winner, which meant that Watford could also consider one point a good return.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Man Utd’s efforts to sign Bruno Fernandes hit impasse with club refusing to meet Sporting's £68m val

Man Utd’s efforts to sign Bruno Fernandes hit impasse with club refusing to meet Sporting's £68m valuation

Manchester United ’ s efforts to sign Bruno Fernandes have hit an impasse with the club refusing to meet Sporting @ @ @ @ @ ( £68m ) valuation of the Portugal attacking midfielder .
Although United remain keen to @ @ @ @ @ is known to be desperate to secure a move to Old Trafford this month , @ @ @ @ @ they will not be held to ransom .
United have offered around £39m ( €45m @ @ @ @ @ add ons contingent on their future success but the two clubs remain about £20m apart @ @ @ @ @ 25-year-old .
With injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba heightening the need for midfield @ @ @ @ @ a will on United ’ s part to do a deal and talks are expected @ @ @ @ @ the next couple of days .
But United - who face Premier League leaders Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ are conscious that if they met Sporting ’ s enormous demands they would only be @ @ @ @ @ the line with the prices of other targets only likely to be inflated .

Manchester United’s efforts to sign Bruno Fernandes have hit an impasse with the club refusing to meet Sporting Lisbon’s €80 million (£68m) valuation of the Portugal attacking midfielder.
Although United remain keen to sign Fernandes and the player is known to be desperate to secure a move to Old Trafford this month, the Manchester giants are adamant they will not be held to ransom.
United have offered around £39m (€45m) plus a series of add ons contingent on their future success but the two clubs remain about £20m apart in their valuations of the 25-year-old.
With injuries to Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba heightening the need for midfield reinforcements, there is still a will on United’s part to do a deal and talks are expected to resume with Sporting over the next couple of days.
But United - who face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday - are conscious that if they met Sporting’s enormous demands they would only be creating problems for themselves down the line with the prices of other targets only likely to be inflated.


thetelegraph--2020-01-18--Future of  The Simpsons' Apu character uncertain after voice actor Hank Azaria steps down amid after

Future of  The Simpsons' Apu character uncertain after voice actor Hank Azaria steps down amid after racism allegations

The future of The Simpsons character Apu is in doubt after the voice actor who plays him announced he is @ @ @ @ @ row .
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon , played by Hank Azaria , is an Indian immigrant who @ @ @ @ @ store called Kwik-E-Mart and is known for his catchphrase `` thank you , come again @ @ @ @ @ character is a problematic stereotype of South Asian people , and claim his portrayal by @ @ @ @ @ , was racist because of his ethnicity .
Azaria , 55 , will continue to @ @ @ @ @ other characters in the long-running show , including Moe Szyslak , Chief Wiggum and Comic @ @ @ @ @ we know there is I wo n't be doing the voice anymore , unless there @ @ @ @ @ it or something , '' he told Slashfilm .

The future of The Simpsons character Apu is in doubt after the voice actor who plays him announced he is stepping down following a race row.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, played by Hank Azaria, is an Indian immigrant who owns and owns a convenience store called Kwik-E-Mart and is known for his catchphrase "thank you, come again".
Critics claim the character is a problematic stereotype of South Asian people, and claim his portrayal by Azaria, who is white, was racist because of his ethnicity.
Azaria, 55, will continue to lend his voice to numerous other characters in the long-running show, including Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum and Comic Book Guy.
"All we know there is I won't be doing the voice anymore, unless there's some way to transition it or something," he told Slashfilm.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Liverpool vs Manchester United, Premier League: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and

Liverpool vs Manchester United, Premier League: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

What is it ?
Why , it 's only the Premier League meeting between the European and world club champions and the most successful league team in English football .
One of the fiercest and , traditionally bitterest , rivalries and most watched game in world football : Liverpool vs Manchester United .
When is it ?
Referee Craig Pawson will get the match at Anfield under way at 4.30pm ( GMT ) .
Assistants Richard West and Scott Ledger will run the lines , while Jonathan Moss will act as fourth official .
The VAR is Paul Tierney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the assistant .
What TV channel is it on ?
The big match will be broadcast on Sky Sports , but you can follow all the action from Anfield right here in our live blog .
Simply bookmark this page and return on Sunday afternoon for all the build-up , team news , live minute-by-minute commentary , on-the-whistle quotes and post-match analysis .
Yes folks , we really do have this one covered .
What is the team news ?
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is still without James Milner , who picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup tie with Everton , while Naby Keïta is still not 100 cer cent fit .
Dejan Lovren , Joel Matip and Fabinho , however , are nearing their comebacks and are understood to be back in training .
The biggest concern for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the fitness of the in-form Marcus Rashford who managed to get injured after coming off the bench in the mid-week Cup replay against Wolves .
Rashford remains a huge doubt for the United manager who has admitted his Cup risk backfired massively just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest matches of the season for United supporters .
What are we saying about the match ?
Jamie Carragher , the former Liverpool centre-back and Telegraph Sport columnist , has likened the Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp to Sir Alex Ferguson , the great Scot that forged a dynasty while at Manchester United in the late 1990s through to his Old Trafford exit .
Jürgen Klopp has moved Liverpool so far ahead because rather than buy a team of superstars , he has made a team of superstars .
Klopp did not rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means , or because he had financial backing his predecessors or title-challenging managers at other clubs were denied .
Read the full Carragher column right here .
.
.

The moment came at 6.22pm on January 19. It was not when Mohamed Salah sent the ball low into the net to end any doubt that Liverpool would beat Manchester United or when Alisson sprinted from his goal to knee-slide into the celebrations and enjoy his rare assist.
Instead it came a few seconds later when referee Craig Pawson blew the final whistle – Salah’s strike proving to be the last kick of the game – with the Liverpool fans raucously chanting: “We’re going to win the league. We’re going to win the league. And now you are going to believe us, we’re going to win the league.” It was the first time it had been sung.
Of course they are going to win the Premier League. The wait will soon be over, the clock will soon stop, after 30 years, but this was the first time that the Liverpool supporters have allowed themselves to say that publically. The first time they could not contain themselves any more and told the rest of the world what it already knew.
Inevitably and understandably Jurgen Klopp played it down. “Everyone should celebrate the situation apart from us,” the Liverpool manager said. “Nothing has changed, we have the same situation plus three points.” But the basic mathematics reveals it all. Liverpool are 16 points clear at the top, with a game in hand, and can afford to lose six of their final 16 games which is almost unthinkable for a side who have collected their seventh successive clean sheet and are marshalled so dominantly by the peerless Virgil Van Dijk.
Liverpool are also a stunning 30 points ahead of fifth-place United who, remarkably, have lost nine of their last 16 away league games and who are going to have to cope without Marcus Rashford for up to three months after he has suffered a double stress fracture to his back - presumably from carrying the team for so long.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--South Africa vs England, third Test day four: live score and latest updates

England are on top and leading by 291 runs with four South African wickets to take this morning but it should have been even better had they held one of the four chances offered to first slip , first by Anrich Nortje and then the three , more difficult opportunities , given by Quinton de Kock yesterday .
Ben Stokes , who dropped the final three , would back himself to have taken two of them , the one dabbed off a full horizontal face found him on the move and attempting to scramble across the wrong way , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a Stokes-esque miracle had it stuck , but you ca n't give South Africa 's best batsman three lives and hope to come away unscathed .
Consequently he and Vernon Philander have put on 54 runs to back up his 45-run partnership with Nortje .
England took the new ball with three deliveries of the day left and one would expect Mark Wood to have a dart with it first thing this morning which has dawned with heavy , grey clouds but no rain so far .
England need to take 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match and their best bet surely rests on them taking the final four this morning quam celerrime and enforcing the follow-on .
The last time asked South Africa to bat back-to-back again in a Test , though , was at Lord 's in 2008 when Neil McKenzie , Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla all made hundreds and put Michael Vaughan on the road to resignation .
Little wonder England have been reluctant to do it more often and they will likely come out and have a knock for a couple of hours if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wickets for fewer than 91 runs .

England advanced towards an innings victory in the third Test against South Africa as their pacemen sent stumps flying and Joe Root played an unlikely starring role with the ball.
The tourists began day four in Port Elizabeth with a blitz of four wickets for just one run as they skittled the Proteas for 209, then reduced them to 102 for six after enforcing a rare overseas follow-on.
With a lead of 188, only further rain can realistically prevent England taking a 2-1 series lead to Johannesburg, with a three-hour delay preventing them from wrapping things up well ahead of time.
England made the best of every moment they had either side of that downpour, with seamers Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Mark Wood all toppling the timbers to hammer home the scoreboard pressure created by their first-innings 499.
Root then elbowed his way into the tale, banking career-best figures of four for 31 as he turned in a spell worthy of a Test-class off-spinner.
Play resumed at St George's Park with the hosts on 208 for six - needing 92 to make England bat again. Overnight it had looked a tight proposition but they never came close to making a fight of it, rolled in just 28 deliveries.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Saracens vs Racing 92, Champions Cup: latest score and live updates

Not a quiet weekend at Allianz Park .
In case you missed it - unlikely - Saracens will be relegated from the Gallagher Premiership at the end of the season .
They also have a Champions Cup match to play this afternoon , which , they must win , ideally with a bonus point , in order to get through to the quarter-finals .
There is plenty to read about regarding the relegation story , I would recommend the bullet points above , but , for just a brief moment , let 's focus on the game .
Racing 92 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and need a bonus-point win , and to win by 11 points , in order to overtake Exeter Chiefs and to qualify for a potential home semi-final .
Saracens , meanwhile , on 14 points , are battling to make the last eight and have named a strong side in order to attempt to pull that off .
Now , here 's the full statement from Saracens this morning .
THE BOARD OF SARACENS WISHES TO UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISE FOR THE MISTAKES MADE IN RELATION TO THE SALARY CAP REGULATIONS .
Our goal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first step was to appoint a new independent chairman to lead on governance reform ensuring errors of the past are not replicated in the future .
Furthermore , following open and frank discussions with PRL , we have accepted the unprecedented measure of automatic relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2019-2020 season .
We understand this decision will be difficult for the Saracens family to accept .
The Board must embody the values of the club , learn from its mistakes so the Club can come back stronger .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premiership and English rugby to take this decisive step , to ensure everybody is able once again to focus on the game of rugby , which we all love .
We hope that we can now start to move forward , begin to restore confidence and over time , rebuild trust with PRL , its stakeholders and the wider rugby community .

Saracens 27 Racing 24
On the darkest day in the history of Saracens came arguably the club’s greatest victory.
With the unprecedented backdrop of confirmation on Saturday night of their relegation to the Championship next season because of further salary cap breaches this season, Mark McCall’s side raged against the dying of their light, overcoming a broken arm to Billy Vunipola and a red card to Will Skelton in the first half to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup with a performance laced with resilience and heart.
Saracens even trailed Racing at half-time, following tries by Louis Dupichot and Virimi Vakatawa (2), but managed to defy the odds, with a second try by Maro Itoje and penalty by Owen Farrell sealing an emotional victory for the defending champions.
McCall’s side will not return to the top flight of European competition until 2022 at the earliest, even if they win this year’s competition, given that they will be unable to take part next season as the Championship is not regarded as a feeder league. And with relegation now a certainty, his players knew they were fighting to keep their competitive hopes alive for the final time, with the knowledge that they squad will be broken up at the end of the season.
Gloucester’s defeat by Toulouse ensured Saracens qualified as one of the three best-placed runners-up, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against last year’s finalists Leinster in Dublin in April. Racing also progress as winners of Pool Four and travel to Clermont Auvergne.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Pyrenees glaciers to disappear within 30 years, scientists warn

Glaciers will vanish from the Pyrenees mountain range within the next 30 years because of climate change and pollution , scientists have warned .
Glaciers have already shrunk by half in the past 20 years in the mountains on the border between France and Spain , according to a new report by scientists who monitor them for the local environmental group Moraine .
“ Pyrenean glaciers are doomed , ” said Pierre René , an expert on glaciers .
Mr René said it was impossible to give an exact date for their disappearance , but predicted that it would happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contribute to biodiversity .
Their ice also helps keep mountainsides stable .
The report by the group , which has measured the length , surface area and thickness of nine of the 15 glaciers in the French Pyrenees for 18 years , says they are now shrinking at an annual rate of 3.6 hectares ( nearly 8.9 acres ) .
The surface area of the nine glaciers now totals 79 hectares ( 195 acres ) compared with 140 hectares ( 346 acres ) 17 years ago .
“ We are seeing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape in the high mountains , ” Mr René said .
He said mountainsides may begin to crumble without the “ cementing effect ” of glacier ice , making climbing and hill walking more dangerous .

Glaciers will vanish from the Pyrenees mountain range within the next 30 years because of climate change and pollution, scientists have warned.
Glaciers have already shrunk by half in the past 20 years in the mountains on the border between France and Spain, according to a new report by scientists who monitor them for the local environmental group Moraine.
“Pyrenean glaciers are doomed,” said Pierre René, an expert on glaciers. Mr René said it was impossible to give an exact date for their disappearance, but predicted that it would happen by 2050.
The glaciers feed rivers and contribute to biodiversity. Their ice also helps keep mountainsides stable.
The report by the group, which has measured the length, surface area and thickness of nine of the 15 glaciers in the French Pyrenees for 18 years, says they are now shrinking at an annual rate of 3.6 hectares (nearly 8.9 acres).
The surface area of the nine glaciers now totals 79 hectares (195 acres) compared with 140 hectares (346 acres) 17 years ago.
“We are seeing the disappearance of the symbol of the Pyrenean landscape in the high mountains,” Mr René said.
He said mountainsides may begin to crumble without the “cementing effect” of glacier ice, making climbing and hill walking more dangerous.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Brilliant Conor McGregor beats Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in under 40 seconds at UFC 246

Conor McGregor answered his critics with a blistering knockout of Donald Cerrone - brushing aside 'The Cowboy ' in under @ @ @ @ @ .
In only his second bout since 2016 - a gap filled by outside-the-cage troubles @ @ @ @ @ the Octagon with a bang .
The former two-division champion busted the nose of Cerrone @ @ @ @ @ skirmish before finishing him in a first-round TKO .
McGregor had not won since November @ @ @ @ @ Alvarez , the lightweight , to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold @ @ @ @ @ same time .
McGregor then fought only his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ bout to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 .
But last night he leapt on @ @ @ @ @ to celebrate with the thousands of fans in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas .

Conor McGregor answered his critics with a blistering knockout of Donald Cerrone - brushing aside 'The Cowboy' in under 40 seconds at UFC 246.
In only his second bout since 2016 - a gap filled by outside-the-cage troubles - the Irishman returned to the Octagon with a bang.
The former two-division champion busted the nose of Cerrone in the fight's first skirmish before finishing him in a first-round TKO.
McGregor had not won since November 2016 when he stopped Eddie Alvarez, the lightweight, to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two championship belts at the same time. McGregor then fought only his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 before losing a one-sided UFC bout to lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
But last night he leapt on top of the cage wall to celebrate with the thousands of fans in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Heather Watson says relationship with Yeovil striker Courtney Duffus has been a 'big part' of her im

Heather Watson says relationship with Yeovil striker Courtney Duffus has been a 'big part' of her improved form

British No 3 Heather Watson has ascribed the recent upswing in her fortunes to her flowering relationship will Yeovil Town striker Courtney Duffus – the new boyfriend she met on the finals weekend of last year ’ s Wimbledon .
Watson , who will play world No 62 Kristyna Pliskova in her first match on Monday , has turned around a slump which was threatening to demote her to qualifier status at the grand slams .
After reaching the Hobart semi-final last week , she has won seven out of her last nine matches at tour level .
“ Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both doing a lot , lot better , ” said Watson of Duffus , who has scored 12 times in his last 24 games for National League side Yeovil Town .
“ He ’ s had a big part to play , he ’ s super positive .
I don ’ t like to let boys have too much influence over me but he has really been good .
He ’ s so calm , level-headed .
I think you all know I ’ m quite emotional .
He ’ s just really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all hours of the night , he watched all my matches in Hobart .
I just need that.
” Watson has previously said that she will never date another tennis player after things turned sour with Lloyd Glasspool – the British No 12 – towards the end of 2018 .
“ I would never mix business with pleasure again , ” she explained last summer , adding that both parties had ended up putting their careers ahead of each other .
Too much travelling turned this into a FaceTime relationship with a @ @ @ @

British No 3 Heather Watson has ascribed the recent upswing in her fortunes to her flowering relationship will Yeovil Town striker Courtney Duffus – the new boyfriend she met on the finals weekend of last year’s Wimbledon.
Watson, who will play world No 62 Kristyna Pliskova in her first match on Monday, has turned around a slump which was threatening to demote her to qualifier status at the grand slams. After reaching the Hobart semi-final last week, she has won seven out of her last nine matches at tour level.
“Since we met each other we’re both doing a lot, lot better,” said Watson of Duffus, who has scored 12 times in his last 24 games for National League side Yeovil Town.
“He’s had a big part to play, he’s super positive. I don’t like to let boys have too much influence over me but he has really been good. He’s so calm, level-headed. I think you all know I’m quite emotional. He’s just really, really supportive. He gets up at all hours of the night, he watched all my matches in Hobart. I just need that.”
Watson has previously said that she will never date another tennis player after things turned sour with Lloyd Glasspool – the British No 12 – towards the end of 2018. “I would never mix business with pleasure again,” she explained last summer, adding that both parties had ended up putting their careers ahead of each other. Too much travelling turned this into a FaceTime relationship with a surfeit of rows.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Trump's lawyers call impeachment charges 'brazen and unlawful'

President Donald Trump 's legal team issued a fiery response on Saturday ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial , while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion , saying the president betrayed public trust with behaviour that was the `` worst nightmare '' of the founding fathers .
The duelling filings previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Mr Trump 's impeachment trial begins in earnest Tuesday in the Senate .
Their challenge will be to make a case that appeals to the 100 senators who will render the verdict and for an American public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
`` President Donald J. Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain , '' the House prosecutors wrote , `` and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congress 's investigation into his misconduct . ''
Mr Trump 's legal team , responding to the Senate 's official summons for the trial , said the president `` categorically and unequivocally '' denies the charges of abuse and obstruction against him .
`` This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election , now just months away , '' the president 's filing states .
Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English , the documents underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process .

The rival strategies became clearer over a weekend in which thousands of women took to the streets to march against Mr Trump.
Donald Trump's legal team issued a six-page document describing the impeachment trial as a "dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president."
It was, the document added: "a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away."
Alan Dershowitz, a key member of Mr Trump's legal team, reinforced the point as he did a circuit of the political talk shows on Sunday morning.
Mr Dershowitz, a former Harvard law professor who describes himself as a liberal Democrat, insisted "abuse of power" – one of the articles of impeachment – did not give a legal justification for the removal of a president.
"The vote was to impeach on abuse of power which was not in the constitutional criteria for impeachment and obstruction of Congress," he said.
"The framers didn't want to have that kind of criteria in our constitution because it weaponises impeachment."


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Marcus Rashford set to miss Manchester United’s trip to Anfield

Marcus Rashford is set to miss Manchester United ’ s trip to Anfield today and has raised fears he will be out for longer .
The England striker , 22 , aggravated a back complaint during the midweek FA Cup win against Wolves and has undergone tests on his injury .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be asked about Rashford ’ s status ahead of this afternoon ’ s clash against Liverpool , with the United manager admitting earlier in the week he was preparing to face the Premier League leaders without his top goalscorer .
Focus will be on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given United ’ s important run of fixtures to the outcome of their season .
Rashford gave them a glimmer of hope in their EFL Cup semi-final when he scored in the 3-1 first-leg defeat .
United also face Club Brugge in the Europa League knockout stages in the next month .
Rashford has started every Premier League game this season but has been carrying a back injury “ for a little while ” , according to Solskjaer .
Gareth Southgate will also be sweating on Rashford ’ s fitness ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kane sidelined for three months with a ruptured hamstring and will look at an attack without his captain when England face Denmark and Italy in March friendlies .

Marcus Rashford is set to miss Manchester United’s trip to Anfield today and has raised fears he will be out for longer.
The England striker, 22, aggravated a back complaint during the midweek FA Cup win against Wolves and has undergone tests on his injury.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be asked about Rashford’s status ahead of this afternoon’s clash against Liverpool, with the United manager admitting earlier in the week he was preparing to face the Premier League leaders without his top goalscorer.
Focus will be on the length of Rashford’s absence, given United’s important run of fixtures to the outcome of their season.
Rashford gave them a glimmer of hope in their EFL Cup semi-final when he scored in the 3-1 first-leg defeat. United also face Club Brugge in the Europa League knockout stages in the next month.
Rashford has started every Premier League game this season but has been carrying a back injury “for a little while”, according to Solskjaer.
Gareth Southgate will also be sweating on Rashford’s fitness ahead of the European Championships. He already has Harry Kane sidelined for three months with a ruptured hamstring and will look at an attack without his captain when England face Denmark and Italy in March friendlies.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--What’s on TV tonight: The Trial of Christine Keeler, The New Pope, Masters snooker and more

Those who were expecting Amanda Coe ’ s account of the Profumo Affair to be similar to last year ’ s A Very English Scandal may have been disappointed .
But Coe ’ s slow-burn approach is increasingly paying dividends , and tonight ’ s penultimate episode is a genuine gut-punch as Stephen Ward ( a devastating James Norton ) finds the weight of the establishment crashing down upon him .
At the episode ’ s centre – and indeed at the centre of the series – is the complicated relationship between Ward and Christine Keeler ( the excellent Sophie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but always feels true .
Their discussions tonight , as Ward advises Christine on how to behave in court , even as his barrister plans to use her past against her , are messy and horribly plausible .
Elsewhere , Ellie Bamber has fun with Mandy Rice-Davies ’ s moment in the spotlight , delivering the scandal ’ s most famous sentence – “ Well , he would [ say that ] wouldn ’ t he ?
” – with relish .
But this is Norton ’ s episode and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bruised , beleaguered Ward finally realises that he will be punished for his “ bohemian life ” and the carelessness with which he lived it .
SH

Wednesday 16 August
Colosseum
BBC Four, 9pm & 9.50pm
All roads lead to Rome as BBC Four celebrates a series devoted to one of the most famous architectural remnants of the ancient world. If eight episodes (boxsetted on iPlayer and previously shown on Sky History) seems too much to devote to a single building, even one as spectacular as the largest amphitheatre of its age, it’s really not. As one contributor says, the Colosseum “is the Roman Empire distilled to its essence… a symbol of conquest, dominance and imperial power”. As such, it enables the producers to dig deep into Roman culture’s wider obsession with violence, and to straddle the whole of the Roman empire at its height, exploring politics, society and power at the time of Vespasian, Domitian and Trajan.
Tonight’s double bill looks first at Roman society’s obsession with gladiators (via an enduringly famous contest between fan favourite Verus and the barbarian Priscus), before tracking back to the building’s construction through the eyes of its master Haterius. For context there’s a repeat of Meet the Romans with Mary Beard, 8pm, beforehand; plus a rerun of the enduringly wonderful I, Claudius, from 10.50pm, preceded by Sir Derek Jacobi Remembers… at 10.35pm. GO
At Home with the Furys
Netflix
Another celebrity-family reality series, this one is focused on Morecambe-based boxer Tyson Fury. With the former heavyweight champion struggling with retirement, his wife Paris, their six children and his Love Island-stars brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Molly-Mae, are among those drawn into the chaos.
The Chosen One
Netflix
Adapted from Mark Millar’s comic American Jesus, a series blending superhero and Second Coming tropes. In Baja, California, 12-year-old Jodie (Bobby Luhnow) finds that he has Jesus-like powers after surviving a freak accident. He can turn water into wine and make the disabled walk – but can he help mankind defeat the antichrist?
Celebrity MasterChef
BBC One, 9pm
In the penultimate heats week, John Torode and Gregg Wallace welcome five more celebrities to the MasterChef kitchen. Putting their taste buds to the test are singers Jamelia and Sam Fox, drag artist Cheryl Hole, American rapper Locksmith and opera singer Wynne Evans.
Kate Garraway’s Life Stories
ITV1, 9pm
Concluding another short but headline-dominating run, Garraway interviews Iranian-British actor, comedian and writer Omid Djalili. During an enlightening chat she hears how his career flourished – from the Edinburgh Fringe and Hollywood films to the theatres of the West End – despite an unpromising start in life that saw him take his A-levels six times and get turned down by 16 drama schools.
The 1970s Supermarket
Channel 5, 9pm
A surprisingly engaging three-parter exploring how a revolution in how people shopped, cooked and ate transformed the British way of life in the Seventies. The entertainment factor gets ramped up through a recreation of trolley-must-haves from the past (Fray Bentos pies, Findus crispy pancakes), ready to be enjoyed (or not) by modern consumers.
Annika
Alibi, 9pm
A trip to Edinburgh beckons for DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker) and her Glasgow-based Marine Homicide Unit when a recently released prisoner is found dead in a cage in the Firth of Forth. A link to Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley holds the key to the investigation but only after Annika shares with Michael (Jamie Sives) something she’s been hiding for years.
The Godfather (1972) ★★★★★
Film4, 9pm
Endlessly quoted and copied, the first instalment of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic mob trilogy is an all-time high watermark of American cinema. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino play American-Italian mafia boss Don Vito and his son and reluctant heir, Michael Corleone, caught up in the struggle for power. The Godfather: Part II follows on Thursday at 9pm, with Part III on Friday at the same time.
Central Intelligence (2016) ★★★
ITV4, 10pm
This meat-and-potatoes buddy comedy about two estranged schoolmates who’ve ended up in jobs against their youthful type drifts into formulaic chaos. Nevertheless, there’s no denying how well the leads take to their task: Dwayne Johnson’s secret agent is ripely self-parodic, while Kevin Hart (as an accountant) makes for a surprisingly good straight man. Amy Ryan and Jason Bateman co-star.
King of New York (1990) ★★★★
Sky Cinema Greats, 10.20pm
Abel Ferrara’s neo-noir gangster film is a stone-cold classic. Ruthless mob boss Frank White (Christopher Walken) is released from prison after a long stint inside and looks to regain control of New York City by taking out rival gangs. When fellow leaders start turning up dead, however, a group of policemen headed by David Caruso’s DI Dennis decide to take the law into their own hands to bring him down.
Thursday 17 August


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--'I plan to shave my London Marathon best by days' - wheelchair athlete Claire Lomas on why she will

'I plan to shave my London Marathon best by days' - wheelchair athlete Claire Lomas on why she will attempt this year's event in motorcycle gear

Worse is the fact that the damage to her spine means she has no temperature control below her chest ; she simply does not sweat .
And in 2018 , temperatures on the London course topped 24 degrees .
“ I ’ m going to be drinking loads of fluid , ” she says .
“ Which leads to another problem : I have no control over my bladder .
I have a catheter , but I won ’ t know when to use it .
I think I ’ ll be leaving a trail of wee round London.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A leading amateur horse rider , she had entered a three-day event in Leicestershire as part of her preparations for that year ’ s Burghley horse trials .
On the cross-country course her horse clipped some low-hanging branches .
She was flung from the saddle , smashing into a tree trunk .
“ I ’ d had bad falls before , I broke my pelvis about three years previously , ” she says .
“ But this time I just knew .
I was a practising chiropractor , I know how the spine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground , I thought , ‘ I ’ m buggered.
” Her fears were quickly confirmed : she was paralysed from the chest down .
Expected to be in hospital for six months , she discharged herself after eight weeks .
And she says the commitment required to be an elite sportsperson was crucial to her recovery : she had long experience of working towards a goal .
“ But I don ’ t want people to think it was easy .
Just because I ’ m in a good place now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t tough getting here .
My worst nightmare was not being able to move .
When it became my new reality , I had to struggle through really dark times .
There were many times I wished I ’ d hit that tree harder and just ended it.
” What changed for her was focusing on the positives .
“ I had to let go of the things I couldn ’ t do and start concentrating on the things I could .
That ’ s when you begin to get better.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is extensive .
She skis regularly , she rides her motorbike round tracks at over 100mph , she is in the process of gaining her pilot ’ s licence .
Plus she has two daughters , both born after her accident .
“ The biggest miracle for me was having children .
Everything down there still all works , I just can ’ t feel it .
Pain-free childbirth : result .
”

When it comes to competing in the marathon, Claire Lomas believes she has a unique distinction. “I think I must be the only person who has improved their personal best by a matter of days,” she says.
In 2012, wearing a robotic suit that enabled her to walk for the first time since she became paralysed in a riding accident five years earlier, she completed the London Marathon in 17 days. Last year, in the same suit, she finished the Manchester Marathon in nine days.
“At the rate I’m going I’m on course to overtake Mo Farah by about 2075,” she says with a smile.
Lomas is an extraordinary woman. An in-demand motivational speaker and inveterate fundraiser (her marathon efforts have accrued more than £750,000 for spinal charities), she exudes a beam of positivity. Not least about her latest challenge: taking part in this year’s London Marathon, this time in her wheelchair while wearing full motorcycle leathers and a helmet. The idea came about because she has recently gained a licence as a competitive rider and is planning soon to undertake the Isle of Man TT course.
“When you’re fundraising, you can’t keep doing the same thing, or going to the same people. You need to do something different. But why I chose this I don’t know. People who ride motorbikes know how tough leathers are to move in. Just getting into them is a nightmare for me. It would be a lot easier if I could just ride my Ducati.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Meghan faces court showdown with barrister who got Cambridge first in theoretical physics

Giving evidence can be nerve wracking at the best of times , particularly when being questioned by some of the country ’ s finest legal minds in a case already being described as the trial of the century .
Spare a thought then for Meghan , Duchess of Sussex , who faces being cross examined by a man so clever he got a first in theoretical physics at Cambridge before turning to the law and one who got a double first at the same university .
Last autumn she announced her intention to sue the Mail on Sunday over its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had sent her father Thomas Markle , accusing him of breaking her heart “ into a million pieces ” .
The Duchess claims this was in breach of copyright and an intrusion into her privacy .
But Adrian Speck , the 51-year-old QC appointed with Antony White QC to represent the paper in its defence against the Duchess , is unlikely to find himself star struck or overly impressed by either her royal status or her breezy Hollywood charm .
Indeed the comprehensive school educated barrister is expected to subject her claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copyright to meticulous , forensic scrutiny while Mr White will turn his legal brain to her claim the newspaper intruded on her privacy .
Meghan has already had a taste of what might be in store for her should the case reach the High Court without being settled beforehand .
The Mail on Sunday ’ s defence document lodged with the High Court last week mercilessly exposes the Duchess and her father Thomas ’ s deteriorating relationship while at the same time accusing the Duchess of allegedly being - in part at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of privacy .
It suggests that when she wrote the letter to her father , she was aware it would likely end up in the public domain .
Furthermore , in what made for uncomfortable reading , the 44-page defence submitted by Associated Newspapers , the owners of the Mail on Sunday , contains details of text messages and phone calls between the Duke and Duchess and Mr Markle both in the run-up to and in the aftermath of their wedding on May 19th 2018 .
The document , drafted by Mr White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Speck QC , of 8 New Square Chambers , is the sort of combative defence which suggests that their line of questioning will be far from the sort of deferential exchange to which the Duchess may have grown accustomed , both as a Hollywood celebrity and , since her marriage to Prince Harry , a senior member of the royal family .
It points out that the Royal family are public figures supported “ largely by public funds ” and that , by way of example , the security bill for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition it claims the Duchess , 38 , enjoys the lifestyle of someone with “ extreme wealth or elite connections ” flying to Ibiza , again by example , on a private jet .
Mr Speck , who was born in Brighton , was educated at Seaford Head Comprehensive School in East Sussex before going on to King 's College Cambridge .
Here he gained a first class degree in Physics and Theoretical Physics .
He then switched to the law , obtained a Distinction in the Common Professional Examination before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Wilfred Parker Prize .
Should she be in any doubt about his pedigree Mr Speck ’ s reviews across a number of legal websites will make uncomfortable reading for Meghan and her legal team .
`` Very good , clever and tenacious ; he does n't luxuriate in the law for its own sake , but takes delight in the rough and tumble of advocacy , ” says one .
Another in the legal ranking site Chambers and Partners proclaims : `` He is super clever and a real legal brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The legal background of Mr White , known for his quick thinking and clarity in court , is likely to prove just as intimidating .
He gained a double first at Cambridge and is regarded as leading silk precisely in the field of defamation and privacy on which the Duchess has chosen to pick a fight .
Chamber and Partners says of Mr White : `` He has a fantastic intellect , great advocacy skills and is perfect with clients . ''
Another review states : “ He is an absolute star , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communicator and a great advocate.
” And here is one that should really concern the Duchess ’ s advisors : “ Quietly and methodically destroys an opponent ’ s argument rather than engaging in theatrics ” Whatever Meghan is expecting it will not be an easy ride .

Giving evidence can be nerve wracking at the best of times, particularly when being questioned by some of the country’s finest legal minds in a case already being described as the trial of the century.
Spare a thought then for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who faces being cross examined by a man so clever he got a first in theoretical physics at Cambridge before turning to the law and one who got a double first at the same university.
Last autumn she announced her intention to sue the Mail on Sunday over its publication of excerpts of a letter she had sent her father Thomas Markle, accusing him of breaking her heart “into a million pieces”.
The Duchess claims this was in breach of copyright and an intrusion into her privacy.
But Adrian Speck, the 51-year-old QC appointed with Antony White QC to represent the paper in its defence against the Duchess, is unlikely to find himself star struck or overly impressed by either her royal status or her breezy Hollywood charm.
Indeed the comprehensive school educated barrister is expected to subject her claim that publishing the letter was a breach of copyright to meticulous, forensic scrutiny while Mr White will turn his legal brain to her claim the newspaper intruded on her privacy.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--'We knew the house would be a money pit and nearly walked away'

Restoring a ruined Grade A listed Highland mansion was always going to take nerve .
But Wendy Matheson , the owner of Boath House , near Nairn , showed mettle greater than that of the most ardent renovator .
Pregnant with her third child , she was halfway through laying a concrete floor when her waters broke .
“ We were on a tight budget , and my husband , Don , and I realised that if we went to hospital right away , we would need to reset the whole thing , ” Matheson , 59 , says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor first .
I think the midwife was a bit shocked when we finally turned up.
” Such commitment characterises the relationship the Mathesons have had with exquisitely pretty Boath – the 1830 property has been described as Scotland ’ s most perfect Regency home – since they first viewed it in the early Nineties .
Today , its polished ashlar facade , with its quartet of fluted ionic columns , and 10,800 sq ft of flowing , antique-filled living space , appears insouciantly pristine , but the couple ’ s restoration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buckinghamshire-raised Matheson still wonders at the chance encounter that set them upon it .
“ We were based in Aberdeen , where Don , who was born in the Black Isle , was working with an engineering firm .
We were living in a Victorian townhouse , ” she says .
“ On our way out west to visit Don ’ s parents one day , we saw a huge hand-painted sign advertising a mansion house for sale , with 20 acres .
Of course , we just couldn ’ t resist taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long , densely overgrown driveway led them to what Matheson describes as a breathtakingly beautiful , almost luminous pale-stone building .
“ It was especially striking for an area filled with baronial hunting lodges , ” she says .
“ The proportions were stunning , and we could see how the light would pour in through those huge sash windows .
We immediately fell in love with it .
”

Restoring a ruined Grade A listed Highland mansion was always going to take nerve. But Wendy Matheson, the owner of Boath House, near Nairn, showed mettle greater than that of the most ardent renovator. Pregnant with her third child, she was halfway through laying a concrete floor when her waters broke.
“We were on a tight budget, and my husband, Don, and I realised that if we went to hospital right away, we would need to reset the whole thing,” Matheson, 59, says. “So we decided to finish off the floor first. I think the midwife was a bit shocked when we finally turned up.”
Such commitment characterises the relationship the Mathesons have had with exquisitely pretty Boath – the 1830 property has been described as Scotland’s most perfect Regency home – since they first viewed it in the early Nineties. Today, its polished ashlar facade, with its quartet of fluted ionic columns, and 10,800 sq ft of flowing, antique-filled living space, appears insouciantly pristine, but the couple’s restoration journey has been an arduous one.
Buckinghamshire-raised Matheson still wonders at the chance encounter that set them upon it. “We were based in Aberdeen, where Don, who was born in the Black Isle, was working with an engineering firm. We were living in a Victorian townhouse,” she says.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--'It's not just the physical after-effects of childhood leukaemia I have to live with, I missed out o

'It's not just the physical after-effects of childhood leukaemia I have to live with, I missed out on growing up'

When I contact 24-year-old Ellen Bisci via email to arrange for an interview , she asks if her mother and aunt might join us .
“ I have trouble remembering things after my stroke , ” she explains .
Memory loss is just one in the daunting list of after-effects Ellen has suffered as a result of the leukaemia she was diagnosed with in 2005 , aged nine .
She now wants to raise awareness of the late effects of cancer , and so through Leukaemia Care ( one of the charities supported by the Telegraph ’ s Christmas appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s North Harrow kitchen table along with her mother Tina , aunt Kay , and “ chug ” – chihuahua pug cross – Bella , to sip mugs of tea and piece together the intricate tapestry of Ellen ’ s life in and out of hospital .
“ We first noticed Ellen was bruising everywhere , so took her to the local hospital to have blood tests , ” Tina remembers .
“ Ellen was due to go on her first trip away from home on the following Saturday , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her going , and that he would give us a call if they found anything.
” But on the very first night , Ellen ’ s mother and grandfather went to pick her up .
They had just received her test results , diagnosing her with acute promyelocytic leukaemia ( APL ) .
This form of leukaemia is one of the rarest and most aggressive : about 200 people are diagnosed with it each year in Britain .
If untreated , it can be fatal just 14 days after the presentation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while she underwent chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital , Ellen developed mouth ulcers , burns through her digestive system , pulmonary edema ( in which her lungs began to fill with fluid ) , and , most terrifying , an allergic reaction to the blood platelets she was receiving .
“ That was when we thought this might be it , ” says her aunt .
“ Platelets are the clotting agent , so they ’ re the bit that saves your life .
Thank God they were able to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the time as though she were describing what she had for lunch that day : “ Oh , we sailed through the first round – that was simple in comparison to the relapse.
” She went into remission in June 2005 .
By October , while she felt tired , she was allowed to go to school for half-days and quickly caught up .
“ Despite everything , she managed to get 99 per cent in her maths Sats , ” her mother notes .
Nearly three years passed , during which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promise of attending Oxford or Cambridge to study maths .
Although APL is one of the most malignant forms of leukaemia , relapse is uncommon .
After three years , the family was confident that Ellen was well .
“ But then I started getting really bad pains in my legs , so bad that I couldn ’ t exercise any more.
” Tina and Kay took Ellen to A & E , little suspecting that it would be related to her cancer .
“ We ’ d been told to look out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said anything about leg pain , ” her mother says .
It was then , at 11pm one night in Northwick Park hospital , that Ellen had a stroke , aged 12 .
She doesn ’ t remember much about the event , but it remains clear in the minds of her family .
“ She lost the ability to walk , to talk .
She didn ’ t regain consciousness by herself , so we were sent back to the ICU at Great Ormond Street , ” recalls her aunt .

This form of leukaemia is one of the rarest and most aggressive: about 200 people are diagnosed with it each year in Britain. If untreated, it can be fatal just 14 days after the presentation of symptoms.
Over the following six months, while she underwent chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Ellen developed mouth ulcers, burns through her digestive system, pulmonary edema (in which her lungs began to fill with fluid), and, most terrifying, an allergic reaction to the blood platelets she was receiving. “That was when we thought this might be it,” says her aunt. “Platelets are the clotting agent, so they’re the bit that saves your life. Thank God they were able to deal with it.”
Surprisingly, Ellen talks about the time as though she were describing what she had for lunch that day: “Oh, we sailed through the first round – that was simple in comparison to the relapse.” She went into remission in June 2005. By October, while she felt tired, she was allowed to go to school for half-days and quickly caught up. “Despite everything, she managed to get 99 per cent in her maths Sats,” her mother notes.
Nearly three years passed, during which she achieved straight As, with the promise of attending Oxford or Cambridge to study maths. Although APL is one of the most malignant forms of leukaemia, relapse is uncommon. After three years, the family was confident that Ellen was well. “But then I started getting really bad pains in my legs, so bad that I couldn’t exercise any more.” Tina and Kay took Ellen to A&E, little suspecting that it would be related to her cancer. “We’d been told to look out for bruising, but no one had said anything about leg pain,” her mother says.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Queen bees more likely to be executed by their workers if they mate with multiple males, research sh

Queen bees more likely to be executed by their workers if they mate with multiple males, research shows

Queen bees are at a greater risk of execution from their workers if they mate with more than one male , new research has found .
Queen stingless bees normally only mate with one male , who is the father of the colony 's workers , in order to lower the effect of producing infertile offspring , known as 'diploid males ' .
Diploid males share one of the queen 's two alleles- different versions of the same gene .
They emerge from their cells around a month after the eggs have hatched .
It is at this stage that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they sense that her offspring are defective and serve no useful reproductive function .
For every diploid male produced , it means there is one less worker bee in the colony .
The experiment , carried out by the University of Sussex and the University of Sao Paulo , compared the fate of queens in different hives in Brazil .
Scientists monitored colonies which produced 50 % diploid males- when the queen mated with one male who shared a sex allele with her .
They also monitored other colonies which produced 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two males , but only shared a sex allele with one .

Queen bees are at a greater risk of execution from their workers if they mate with more than one male, new research has found.
Queen stingless bees normally only mate with one male, who is the father of the colony's workers, in order to lower the effect of producing infertile offspring, known as 'diploid males'.
Diploid males share one of the queen's two alleles- different versions of the same gene. They emerge from their cells around a month after the eggs have hatched.
It is at this stage that worker bees can execute a queen, as they sense that her offspring are defective and serve no useful reproductive function.
For every diploid male produced, it means there is one less worker bee in the colony.
The experiment, carried out by the University of Sussex and the University of Sao Paulo, compared the fate of queens in different hives in Brazil.
Scientists monitored colonies which produced 50% diploid males- when the queen mated with one male who shared a sex allele with her.
They also monitored other colonies which produced 25% diploid males- when the queen mated with two males, but only shared a sex allele with one.


thetelegraph--2020-01-19--Roast potatoes with rosemary recipe

Roast potatoes with rosemary recipe

Everyone loves a roast potato : the process of roasting gives any vegetable dish or meat a beautiful caramelisation and crispiness .
• 1kg potatoes , such as King Edwards or Desiree • Peel the potatoes .
Leave any small ones whole and cut the larger ones in half or quarters , making sure they are all even in size .
You are aiming for pieces about the size of an electrical plug .
• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water .
Add half a teaspoon of salt and bring to the boil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the potatoes are just cooked and the tip of your knife can go through them easily – about 20 minutes .
• Meanwhile , put the lard or dripping in a large roasting tray and place in the hot oven to preheat .
• Drain the potatoes well and add them back to the pan .
Put the lid on and give the pan a shake .
This will properly fluff up the potatoes and roughen their edges – it ’ s this that gives them the crusty bits we love to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tray of hot fat from the oven and , with a slotted spoon , carefully add the fluffed potatoes into the fat .
• Once all have been added , turn each one over to make sure they are all coated in fat .
• Immediately place the tray back in the oven , on the top shelf ideally , and roast for 45 to 60 minutes until they have turned crispy and golden brown .
You should be able to cook them through without having to turn them , but if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quick turn halfway through cooking .
• When ready , serve with a touch of rock salt and some chopped rosemary .

Everyone loves a roast potato: the process of roasting gives any vegetable dish or meat a beautiful caramelisation and crispiness.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes
SERVES
four
INGREDIENTS
1kg potatoes, such as King Edwards or Desiree
100g lard or dripping
2 tsp finely chopped rosemary
METHOD