European Wheelchair Basketball: GB teams chase success
Great Britain start their campaign against Germany, and the two nations will be expecting to feature in the medal shake-up, along with the likes of Spain, Turkey and Sweden. A top-five finish will secure qualification for next year’s World Championships in Korea. “The games we played over the last few weeks were good to see […]
China’s Xi Jinping consolidates power with new ideology
AFP/Getty Images Some say Mr Xi (R) is creating a Mao-like cult of personality China’s President Xi Jinping has created his own political ideology, in a step towards entrenching his position at the top of the Communist Party. Top officials have made multiple mentions of “Xi Jinping Thought” at the Communist Party Congress. The party […]
The polio survivor who says she ‘was one of the lucky ones’
Simplyhealth Romana Abdin started her working life as a lawyer The BBC’s weekly The Boss series profiles a different business leader from around the world. This week we spoke to Romana Abdin, chief executive of private healthcare provider Simplyhealth. Romana Abdin was just three when she contracted polio, but she says she “was one of […]
Rio to host ‘biggest’ Paralympic Games in 2016, says IPC
Those male athletes who find their event dropped from the Games schedule will be encouraged to retrain in other sports or focus on another event. While some men are set to miss out in Rio, there will be an increased number of female competitors and more events for track and field athletes with severe cerebral […]
Labour MP Harriet Harman to stand down at next election
PA Media Harriet Harman entered the House of Commons in 1982 and served two brief stints as Labour leader Veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman has announced she will stand down at the next general election. She revealed her decision in an email to her local party in Camberwell and Peckham on Tuesday morning after almost […]
PimEyes facial recognition website ‘could be used by stalkers’
PimEyes Users upload a photo and will be given matches from public websites A free facial recognition tool that allows people to find pictures of themselves or others from around the internet has drawn criticism from privacy campaigners. PimEyes describes itself as a privacy tool to help prevent misuse of images. But Big Brother Watch […]
Paralympics 2012: Esther Vergeer wins 470th match in a row for gold
“A lot of people sometimes forget about that but I worked hard and it has finally happened. This is what I have dreamed about, thought about and did everything for and it is amazing to win.” Vergeer, who was left paralysed after an operation on her spinal cord when she was just eight, could win […]
Mary Lou McDonald set to be new Sinn Féin president
BBC Mary Lou McDonald was confirmed as the nominee for Sinn Féin president on Saturday Mary Lou McDonald has been confirmed as the only candidate nominated to replace Gerry Adams as Sinn Féin president. Mr Adams has led the party since 1983. He announced his intention to stand down in November 2017. Sinn Féin’s ard […]
Dame Stephanie Shirley: Oswestry blue plaque unveiled
Sue Austin Dame Stephanie was at the ceremony to unveil the plaque A blue plaque has been unveiled to mark a town’s links to entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley. The 87-year-old went to boarding school in Oswestry, Shropshire, and credits the area with helping her learn mathematics at a time when the subject was […]
Chloe McCarron: Northern Ireland midfielder leaves Birmingham City for personal reasons
Northern Ireland international Chloe McCarron has ended her stint at Birmingham City. A club statement said the midfielder, 23, “is remaining in her home country for personal reasons” with her contract being “mutually terminated”. McCarron, who recently helped Northern Ireland qualify for Euro 2022, joined Birmingham from Linfield last August. “Everyone at Birmingham City would […]