Republicans voted on Tuesday in five primaries: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Who turned out and what motivated their votes?

The ABC News Analysis Desk has analysis of the exit polls.

Donald Trump dominated against opponents who never had much of a chance in tonight’s Northeastern primaries: A large share of voters made up their minds long ago for Trump, and his opponents struggled to gain votes even in their top support groups – who were thin on the ground.

Who decides? Talk of a contested convention is all the buzz in this year’s GOP contest, and it sharply divides Republican primary voters in preliminary exit poll results in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut. Donald Trump’s supporters almost unanimously say the candidate with the most votes should win the nomination, even if he lacks a majority of delegates. Among those who back Ted Cruz and or John Kasich, by contrast, nearly six in 10 say the delegates – not the vote totals – should call the tune.

Anti-Trump vote? In a sign of his appeal within the GOP, Trump has particularly high affirmative support in preliminary exit poll results. More than eight in 10 Trump voters say their vote was “mainly for your candidate” rather than against his opponents. Fewer Cruz and Kasich supporters say so, albeit still majorities - three-quarters and nearly two-thirds, respectively. A quarter of Cruz’s voters and third of Kasich’s are negatively motivated, voting mainly not for their guy but “against his opponents.”

Vote in November: Eclipsing previous contests, nearly six in 10 in these preliminary results said they’d definitely vote for Trump as the GOP nominee in November. About a quarter flatly rule him out – rising to four in 10 Cruz supporters and more than six in 10 among Kasich voters, another sign of the party’s deep divisions. That leaves Trump’s “definitely support” numbers more than twice as high as the number who rule him out, while Kasich is slightly in the positive direction and Cruz winds up on the negative side.

Early deciders: Nearly six in 10 GOP primary voters in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland (there were no exit polls conducted in Rhode Island or Delaware) made up their minds more than a month ago, on track for a record this season. Trump won two-thirds of their votes, even better than his customary share of early deciders, about half.

His backers, moreover, were fired up. In Pennsylvania, for instance, six in 10 said they were excited about the things he’d do in office, far better than Ted Cruz and John Kasich’s comparable scores. Indeed one in three Kasich supporters and one in four of Cruz’s said they weren’t voting for their candidate so much as against his opponents. Barely more than one in 10 Trump voters said that about their guy.

Evangelicals: Kasich – and particularly Cruz – had difficulty finding and even holding on to their core constituencies. Barely more than four in 10 voters in the three states with exit polls were evangelical, 14 points off the average in primaries to date. And, remarkably, Trump beat Cruz by more than 25 points in this group, among his best performances among evangelicals. They split their votes between Trump and Cruz, on average, in previous contests.

Wall St.: Substantively, as in New York a week ago and throughout the primaries to date, Trump’s victories were built on economic discontent, his populist outsider image and pushback against other groups:

Economically, more than four in 10 of voters in the three states said that Wall Street hurts the economy more than it helps, ranging as high as nearly half in Pennsylvania. Across states, Trump won two-thirds of the anti-Wall Street vote, peaking at seven in 10 percent in Pennsylvania. Combined, his two opponents got a majority of the pro-Wall Street group – but divided them about evenly.

Attributes: About three in 10 voters in the three largest states voting today say they’re primarily looking for someone who “shares my values,” less prevalent than in previous states, and he attribute on which Trump has done very poorly to date. What’s chiefly boosted him are those looking for a candidate who “tells it like it is” or “can bring needed change” – adding well over half of Republican voters in today’s preliminary exit poll results.

Strong conservatives have been another typically strong Cruz group, but tonight Trump beat him by more than 10 points among very conservative voters in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut, again among Trump’s best in this group to date. Kasich, for his part, ran 20 points behind Trump among moderates, and their share of the electorate was no bigger in the I-95 states than elsewhere.

Party Unity: The difference between Republicans and Democrats in their view of their respective campaigns’ impact on party unity is striking. In the Pennsylvania GOP primary, just four in 10 say the campaign has energized the party, while nearly six in 10 say it’s divided it. (In the Democratic race, by contrast, seven in 10 say their race has energized the party.)

Even among frontrunner Trump’s supporters, barely more than half say the campaign has energized the party, and that drops sharply among Cruz and Kasich voters.

Unfair: For the first time this election cycle, in Pennsylvania, more GOP voters say Cruz ran the most unfair campaign. In every other state where it’s been asked, win or lose, Trump’s been seen as more unfair.

Fear and excitement: Further showing GOP divisions, half of Cruz and Kasich supporters in Pennsylvania say they’d be scared it Trump won the presidency. On the flipside, excitement for a Trump presidency is much higher among Trump supporters (six in 10), than it is among Cruz’s and Kasich’s.

Trump also won two-thirds of voters who are angry about how the federal government is working. And in Pennsylvania he pulled in eight in 10 of those who want an outsider rather than a candidate with political experience, near the record set last week in New York.

Trump’s issues: As elsewhere, GOP primary voters in Pennsylvania express broad interest on some of Trump’s main issues – electing someone from “outside the political establishment (more than six in 10) and banning non-U.S. Muslims from entering the country (seven in 10). Fewer, but more than four in 10, also support deporting undocumented immigrants.

Support for an outsider, Trump’s signature calling card, is higher than the average across primaries this year, while support for his two policy positions is near average.

Economic issues: GOP voters’ economic concerns also continue to work to Trump’s advantage. In Pennsylvania, nearly six in 10 are very worried about the direction of the economy and, by a 10-point margin, more say international trade takes away U.S. jobs than say it creates them. Worried and anti-trade voters have been strong groups for Trump in previous contests.

Muslim/Immigration:Trump also posted huge margins in the Pennsylvania results among those who support temporarily banning Muslims from entering the country and deporting undocumented immigrants.

Summary: Republicans voted on Tuesday in five primaries: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.Who turned out and what motivated their votes?The ABC News Analysis Desk has analysis of the exit polls.Donald Trump dominated against opponents who never had much of a chance in...


When you think about the brainiacs of the animal world, chances are birds aren’t your first thought. They may be finely honed killing machines, epic world travelers, or beautiful singers. But clever? Not so much, right?

Wrong. Some species of birds, especially in the crow family, are eerily good at logic puzzles involving tools, and this week, a new study in PLOS One from the University of Auckland reveals more about that those remarkable skills. Researchers tested New Caledonian crows with a series of trials inspired by Aesop’s fable “The Crow and the Pitcher,” involving dropping stones into a partly filled pitcher to raise its water level. The birds, it turned out, are as good at some of the tasks as 5-7 year-old children.

New Caledonian crows were already known to be a particularly gifted species when it comes to tools, suggesting an ability to plan ahead and think critically about new situations. They can use a stick to reach a treat that’s out of their reach, for example, something that never seems to occur to most non-human animals. And they don’t just use tools, they create them. In a landmark 2002 experiment, investigators watched as a crow called Betty spontaneously bent a piece of wire into a hook to snag some food. (It was the first time she’d ever encountered wire, but that wasn’t going to keep her from lunch.) For researchers looking to understand how and why tool use evolves, New Caledonian crows are rock stars.

In the new study, the investigators used a set of tasks in which six wild crows had to drop different objects into water-filled tubes to make a floating treat—a cube of meat—rise within reach. The question: Did they understand the principles of water displacement well enough to get the treat?

The first five tasks tested the crows’ understanding that dropping objects into a sand-filled tube doesn’t bring the treat within reach, while dropping them in water does; whether, given the choice between dropping objects that sank or floated, or were solid or porous, they’d figure out which got them the treats fastest; and whether they could recognize that different water levels and tube widths presented better or worse options for getting what they were after.

The final task involved a bit of trickery that even young children don’t always understand. Three water-filled tubes protrude from a table top, but under the table’s surface, two of them are connected by a pipe. A treat in the central tube—which is too narrow for the displacement objects—can be reached only by dropping objects into the tube that’s connected. In one prior study using this task, most eight-year-old children succeeded, but not, in most cases, because they inferred the existence of the secret connector. Rather, they simply learned through experimentation that dropping objects in the connected tube got them to their goal. Eurasian jays given the same task fail, even though they succeed at other tasks involving volume.

The crows flew through the first few tasks easily. They grasped the sand task and the floating versus sinking principles as quickly as 5-7 year-old children do, and, notably, seemed to realize that not all sinking objects are equal; in the porous versus solid task, they favored the solid objects, which displaced more water. Confronted with narrow and wide tubes with more water in the wide tube, they used the one with more water to achieve their goal. But when both had the same amount of water, they usually just kept dropping objects into a given tube until they got a snack, showing no sense that one might get them the treat faster. In the central tube conundrum, they never figured out how to get the treat to come into reach.

These are tantalizing signs that the crows do understand how volume displacement works, but that their understanding is fairly rigid. It may be that the crows focus on the properties of the objects they’re dropping in the water, while tube width and how that affects water level is Greek to them. Their response to the central tube task, in turn, reveals that as with jays, their understanding of the basics of how the world should work, quite useful in more straightforward situations, might fail them when things take an unexpected turn. The study used only a few crows, so there’s plenty more work to be done to confirm and expand on these results. But it’s an interesting glimpse of where the limits of New Caledonian crows’ understanding lies, and is another step along our exploration of the largely unmapped world of the animal mind.

Summary: High order ideas like water displacement and tool manufacturing aren't beyond the reach of one very smart bird. The skills of the New Caledonian crow reveal just how complex animal brains can be.


Jul 8, 2016 7:50 AM EDT World

President Obama called the attack on police officers in Dallas Thursday night a "vicious, calculated and despicable" attack on law enforcement.

Twelve officers patrolling a protest against police killings were shot by snipers, five of them fatally, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said. Several suspects were in custody. Two civilians were also shot, one of them in the leg.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland, Mr. Obama said he had spoken with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to convey the "deepest condolences" of the American people and offer Dallas any assistance it needs in the wake of the attack.

The president said he told Rawlings he was "horrified" at what had happened and called the motivations of the snipers "twisted."

"There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks or any violence against law enforcement," Mr. Obama added.

The president observed that the attack was a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel.

He said the FBI is in touch with Dallas authorities to help in the investigation.

The attack came at the end of a peaceful demonstration -- one of several in cities nationwide -- that followed fatal police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota earlier this week, the latest sparking outrage about police violence against civilians.

© 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Summary: President says he's "horrified" about what happened; calls the killers' motivations "twisted"


When faced with a tricky automotive repair, Jamie Ludolph used to turn to a tome-like service manual. Today at the Atlanta car dealership where Ludolph is a master guild technician, he can turn to a robot.

The Audi Robotic Telepresence, or ART, is a remote-controlled robot on wheels. Outfitted with cameras and a screen, it lets mechanics at Audi of America dealerships talk to experts at the company’s technical center in Auburn Hills, Mich.

For more on automobile industry, watch this video:

“At the beginning I wasn’t really sure how helpful it would be or if there were any advantages to it,” says Ludolph, who has been a mechanic for more than two decades. “The first time I used it, though, I realized how much time it cut off of what my normal routine would be.”

ART isn’t used for every problem, and today’s mechanics have several high-tech diagnostic tools at their disposal. But the robot is the latest example of how dealership repair shops have transformed from grease pits into high-tech service centers loaded with computers.

“In the last 10 years the technology has gotten a lot more advanced, a lot quicker,” says Ludolph.

Despite that pace, Ludolph isn’t nostalgic for the old days. The job “is a little bit cleaner than it used to be,” he says, “although sometimes you still have to get in there and get dirty.”

This article is part of the Future of Work article from Fortune’s July 1, 2016 issue. Click here to see the entire package.

Summary: Mechanics increasingly share garage space with robotic helpers.


07/19/2016 AT 01:45 PM EDT

wants to bring the magic of movies to those who need it most.

star has been a working as a volunteer with the

for the past four years, which organizes the screenings of movies currently in theaters for children confined to hospitals due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

"Movies provide very wonderful ways to escape while you watch them, and these kids need that more than anyone," Lowes tells PEOPLE. "They need to be able to laugh and go on a journey.

Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro

But it wouldn't be a true movie screening without the full Hollywood treatment – which Lowes says they are happy to provide.

"We roll out the red carpet, we do popcorn and sometimes we even help them get ready with hair and makeup. We want to make it feel like a real premiere. It's all about making the kids feel good," she says.

Along with helping to facilitate the screening, Lowes also goes into the hospitals to attend the premieres and meet with kids and their families. She has even been able to enlist a few of her A-list pals to get in on the fun, including NYU classmate

, recently participated in a hospital visit.

"The kids really respond to it. It's just really fun when actors come in and give them a real boost of energy and a real change of pace. It's not only helpful for the children but for the parents and siblings going through very hard times," says Lowes, 34.

Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro

The actress shares that connecting with kids on a personal level was one of her reasons for getting involved with the organization.

"I was a nanny for six years before I started working on

, and I've always felt a major connection to kids and I've always been able to make them laugh," she says. "To me, this is the perfect combination of two things I really love."

So what does she talk to the kids about? All the best Hollywood gossip, of course.

"When I go into a teenager's room, they may be sick, but they are still into very normal teenage stuff – like who is

dating and If I've ever met

or what celebrities are like in real life," she says. "And I'm more than happy to comply! That to me is the most fun because we all just end up laughing."

On Wednesday, the Lollipop Theater is asking existing and new supporters to post a picture of themselves in their specially designed lollipop T-shirts on social media. To purchase a shirt, click

– all proceeds go to Lollipopâs programming.

Summary: The Lollipop Theater Network provides screenings of first-run movies to children confined to hospitals


âKinda neutral,â DâAntoni said. âI wasnât excited.â

It is hard to conceive of it now, but there was a time when Jeremy Linâs name was spoken without exclamation points, when he was fourth on the Knicksâ depth chart at point guard, when the word âLinsanityâ had not entered the N.B.A. lexicon and Knicks fans were praying for Baron Davisâs herniated disk to heal quickly.

It was another time, another era. Seventeen days ago, to be precise.

The Knicks were in Houston and struggling against the Rockets. Carmelo Anthony was out. DâAntoni needed a spark, and he turned to Lin in the third quarter â the earliest Lin had appeared with a game on the line. He played 20 minutes and produced a solid 9 points and 6 assists.

Teammates quietly marveled at how Lin was able to penetrate and make timely passes, unlike the Knicksâ other guards. But the offense never quite sparked that night, and the Knicks lost their third game in a row.

âI just thought that he has a point-guard mentality,â DâAntoni said, looking back. âHe can get to the basket. He didnât finish well. But you could see the pick-and-roll, or at least penetration, getting the ball into the paint. It was kind of like, âWeâll see.âÂ â

Lin played in two of the next three games, sparingly and without fanfare. No one anointed him a savior, or made T-shirts with entertaining puns.

No one could see what was coming next: three straight games of at least 20 points and 7 assists, a winning streak, a dunk, a national phenomenon. And no one can blame the Knicks for a lack of foresight. If you gathered everyone who overlooked or underestimated Lin over the last several years, you could fill Times Square.

Hundreds of Division I coaches declined to offer Lin a scholarship. All 30 N.B.A. teams passed on him in the draft â some of them twice. And two teams cut him, albeit reluctantly, in December.

The Golden State Warriors waived Lin because they were clearing payroll room to chase DeAndre Jordan, a budding center. The Rockets waived Lin because they were clearing payroll room to sign Samuel Dalembert.

Both teams liked Lin, for his skills, his smarts and his work ethic. Both hoped to re-sign Lin, if he cleared waivers. Neither one realized what it was giving up.

âWe always felt there would be some chance heâd be a backup point guard,â said Larry Riley, the Warriorsâ general manager. âI have egg on my face in telling you that I did not think he was going to become a starting point guard with a good team. Heâs doing that right now.â

The Rocketsâ general manager, Daryl Morey, was even more blunt, declaring on Twitter: âWe should have kept @JLin7. Did not know he was this good. Anyone who says they knew misleading U.â

The Rockets are known for identifying and developing hidden talent, from Chuck Hayes to Aaron Brooks to Chandler Parsons. But Lin slipped away.

âThis is not a science,â Morey said in an interview. âWe try to make it as scientific as possible, but itâs not.â

The challenge is harder when a prospect is playing outside the major conferences, as Lin did at Harvard. He produced solid statistics â 16.4 points and 4.5 assists per game as a senior â but scouts had few chances to see Lin play against elite competition.

One personnel director said that Linâs talent was not evident until his postseason workouts. Even then, Lin did not make a lasting impression until he outplayed John Wall â the No. 1 pick in 2010 out of Kentucky â in the fourth quarter of a summer league game.

The Warriors signed Lin based largely on that game, and they had him for a full season. But they had two dominant ball-handling guards, Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, and little playing time to offer.

The Rockets were similarly well stocked at point guard, with Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. Had Lin stuck, he probably would not have gotten the playing time that allowed him to blossom.

Then again, had either team realized that Lin was capable of 20-point, 10-assist games, they would have found a way to keep him. That kind of foresight requires more than scouting â it requires a time machine.

âTo see him at these heights is something that is nearly impossible,â Morey said.

This is the part of the Lin story where luck, opportunity and circumstances take over.

The Knicks liked Lin when he worked out for them in 2010. They called the Warriors about him last year. But when they claimed him off waivers, on Dec. 27, it was largely because Iman Shumpert, their prized rookie guard, had been injured. They grabbed Lin as a low-risk, low-cost emergency player, to provide insurance behind Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby.

Lin arrived with the same question marks that hovered over him coming out of Harvard.

âWe didnât know if he could defend well enough,â DâAntoni said. âWe didnât know whether he could finish well enough. And we didnât know if he could shoot outside well enough. We did like his playmaking ability. We liked his ability to get in the paint. We liked that he was unselfish. We liked that he was smart. We liked that he had all the intangibles of being a point guard.â

Because of the compressed season, there were few practices to evaluate a newcomer. When they did practice, the Knicks gave most of the repetitions to Douglas, who showed promise last season; to Bibby, who was their only established veteran; and to Shumpert, a talented rookie. Lin was an afterthought.

But Douglas regressed. Shumpert surged, then faltered. Bibby looked older than his age (33).

In a burst of desperation and faith, DâAntoni turned to Lin on Feb. 4. Linsanity was born.

Now Lin is darting in and out of the lane like a young Steve Nash, flinging perfectly timed passes to Tyson Chandler and Steve Novak and making a lineup of misfits look cohesive.

Some reasonable doubts persist. Lin has mostly thrived against poor teams. His jump shot remains spotty. An Eastern Conference scout, who considers himself a fan of Linâs, predicted, âHe will come back to earth quickly as teams game-plan for himâ and once Amarâe Stoudemire and Anthony return to the lineup and âtake the ball out of his hands.â

But the statistics cannot be denied or diminished. Lin has thrived against two elite guards, Deron Williams and Wall. DâAntoniâs offense looks fluid and graceful again. Role players like Shumpert, Novak and Landry Fields are suddenly thriving.

âHeâs what we needed, the whole time,â Jared Jeffries said.

Linâs production will inevitably dip, but as DâAntoni has noted, his intelligence, court vision and athleticism are not going to disappear. Morey said it was wrong to dismiss Linâs three-game breakout as a fluke.

âI donât agree with that,â he said. âItâs just not easy to do what heâs done. Heâs made a significant impact on the outcome of N.B.A. games.â

Morey concluded, âThe reality is he has done more than all 30 teams thought he would do.â

Summary: All 30 N.B.A. teams passed on point guard Jeremy Lin in the draft, some of them twice, and now heâs leading the Knicks.


David Cameron began to form his first government comprised solely of Conservative cabinet members on Friday after being delivered an overall Commons majority by a tumultuous election.

The result claimed the scalps of an unprecedented three party leaders in one day as Labour’s Ed Miliband, the Liberal Democrats’ Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage of Ukip announced their resignations.

Cameron and his wife, Samantha, travelled to Buckingham Palace where he accepted the invitation of the Queen to form a government. He later reappointed George Osborne as chancellor, Theresa May as home secretary, Philip Hammond as foreign secretary and Michael Fallon as defence secertary.

Related: What will the new Tory government do?

In an election suffused with historical and political significance, the Tories won 330 seats, four more than the 326 required for an overall majority, while Labour collapsed to 232, worse than its dismal 2010 performance. The result confounded a string of opinion polls that suggested Labour and the Conservatives were neck and neck, and that Britain was heading for a constitutional stalemate.

Cameron’s position means, paradoxically, that he is more reliant on the support of his backbenchers than in the last government, when the combined strength of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition meant he enjoyed a stronger majority in the Commons.

In Scotland, Labour found its citadel sacked, securing only one seat – Edinburgh South – in what had once been its heartland. The SNP took 56 of the 59 seats north of the border.

The Liberal Democrats were devastated across Britain, collapsing from 57 seats to eight. Its most senior ministerial figures, including Ed Davey, Danny Alexander, Simon Hughes, Vince Cable and David Laws were ejected by an electorate that had lost trust in Clegg’s party.

Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Cameron promised to restore the Conservative party’s one-nation credentials and recommitted himself to holding an in-out European Union referendum by 2017. He has also promised to try to reach out to backbenchers, ending the sense of cliquishness around the leadership.

The prime minister said: “ I want my party, and I hope a government I would like to lead, to reclaim a mantle that we should never have lost – the mantle of one nation, one United Kingdom.”

He paid tribute to Miliband and Clegg, and adopted a more emollient tone than in the wake of the Scottish referendum last September, saying he wanted to bring together the nations of the United Kingdom.

“I have always believed in governing with respect.” This was why, he said, he had offered devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland his plan was “to create the strongest devolved government anywhere in the world with important powers over taxation”. Rather than dwelling on the rights of the English, he said: “No constitutional settlement will be complete if it did not also offer fairness to England.”

Cameron promised to rebalance the economic recovery and give the poorest people the chance of training for a job and hope for the future.

His triumph was largely built on a barrage of warnings that a minority Labour government propped up by the Scottish National party would threaten the economic recovery, and leave Miliband as prey to the demands of the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon.

In a day of often dignified and thoughtful concession speeches, Farage, thwarted in his attempt to become MP for Thanet South, said he was personally relieved by his defeat. He claimed his party, which finished second in a swath of constituencies in the north of England held by Labour, had become the party of young, working women.

Although Farage offered his resignation, asking Suzanne Evans to become temporary leader, he said he would take a holiday and see if his party wanted him to return to the leadership in the autumn.

“There hasn’t been a single day since 1994 that hasn’t been dominated by Ukip,” he said. “I have tried to mix that with family, I tried for nine years to mix it with running my own business.

“It really has been seven days a week, totally unrelenting, and occasionally let down by people who perhaps haven’t always said and done the right things. So I feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Within 30 minutes of Farage’s resignation, Clegg, red-eyed and crushed, ended his eight-year period as party leader, describing the election results as “one of the most crushing blows to the Liberal Democrats since our party was founded”.

He defended his decision to join the coalition in 2010, saying it had been right to save the country at a time of national economic crisis.

“It’s easy to imagine that there is no road back, but there is because there is no path to a fairer, greener, freer Britain without British liberalism showing the way,” he said.

Clegg conceded that the result marked a historic low. “This is a very dark hour for our party but we cannot and will not allow decent liberal values to be extinguished overnight. Fear and grievance have won, liberalism has lost, but it is more precious than ever and we must keep fighting for it,” he said.

The two obvious frontrunners to succeed him are Norman Lamb, who is close to Clegg politically, and Tim Farron, the darling of the party conference but less experienced in office. An angry leftwing contingent in the party are bound to demand a shift away from the centre, saying they had warned Clegg repeatedly he was marching the party towards annihilation.

The third of the vanquished leaders, Miliband, received a rapturous reception from Labour party workers before announcing he was resigning on Friday afternoon and asking Harriet Harman to take over as caretaker leader while the party elected a replacement.

He said: “ I take absolute and total responsibility for the result and our defeat at this election.”

Of those Labour candidates who lost their seats or failed to win, he said: “They’re friends, colleagues and standard bearers for our party, they always have been and they always will be.”

He added: “We have come back before and this party will come back again.”

The Labour leadership election will be held under a near one-person-one-vote system that abolishes the old electoral college that gave the unions a third of the vote. Potential candidates include Yvette Cooper, Chuka Umunna, Andy Burnham, Dan Jarvis and Liz Kendall.

Related: The Tories’ £12bn of welfare cuts could come back to haunt them | Patrick Butler

Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour party leader who lost his seat, vowed to stay on to fight the SNP in 2016 Scottish parliamentary elections, saying that five months as leader was not enough time to turn around the party’s fortunes. “We have been overwhelmed by history and by circumstance. We make no excuses – a party can never blame the electorate – but we found ourselves hit by the perfect storm.”

He added: “We were hit by two nationalisms. A Scottish nationalism reassuring people that they could vote SNP and get Labour. And an English nationalism stoked up by David Cameron: warning vote Labour and get SNP.

“Unsurprisingly, forced into an artificial contest between English nationalism and Scottish nationalism, many Scots, including many no-voting Scots, chose the SNP. And let’s be clear: it wasn’t just in Scotland that the SNP cost Labour votes.”

Summary: Unexpected results deliver Tories overall Commons majority and claim leadership scalps of Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage


The ECJ's decision applies not only to Google but to other search engines operating in Europe, including Yahoo and Bing. However, Google is the only one to notify website administrators when a link to one of their web pages is removed from search results.

Some websites, including The Telegraph, have maintained a list of links that have been removed from Google.

Web pages that are removed by Google and other search engines are still available in their original forms online but are no longer available in search results, making them more difficult to find.

Users searching for the related topic on Google.co.uk will see a message that says: “Some results may have been removed under data protection law in Europe” at the bottom of the page.

While Google does not disclose the identity of the complainant, applications must supply identity verification to prove the links relate either to themselves, or that they have the legal authority to act on the claimant’s behalf.

Examples of removal requests include:

In Britain, 183 people have reportedly complained to the UK's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), after Google denied their requests to remove links.

The ICO has agreed with Google's conclusions in around three quarters of these cases, but there are 48 cases where the ICO believes Google "hasn’t got it quite right".

Google has been asked to review these cases, and in many cases has reversed its decision, according to the ICO. However, the search company faces possible legal action from the ICO if the remaining cases are not resolved.

"We’ll be looking to resolve the remaining cases through discussion and negotiation with Google, though we have enforcement powers available to us if required," said ICO deputy commissioner and director of data protection, David Smith.

“The European ruling is about providing individuals with a suitable mechanism for getting information which is no longer accurate or relevant to be removed from a search engine’s results page. If there is a clear public interest in the information remaining available then it will stay there as many complainants to our office have discovered.”

The legislation has received heavy criticism from a number of parties, including the House of Lords EU Committee, which described it as “unworkable and wrong”, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, who described it as "deeply immoral".

However, the ICO has defended the legislation, claiming that it has "raised awareness of people’s data protection rights" and that removal of links from search results "can have a real benefit".

According to Dina Shiloh, a solicitor at Mishcon de Reya who specialises in media law, the decision last May demonstrated that Europeans have the right to control their own data and how it is processed.

"The decision showed that in Europe, privacy is not dead. Google can no longer argue that it is a neutral 'wall' with no responsibility to the content it links to," she said.

However, she admitted that the situation is far from simple. Even if removal requests are granted, those same articles are still available online, on the sites where they were originally published.

Furthermore, articles that have been 'forgotten' by Google in Europe can still be found by searching Google.com – where the US version of Google is hosted.

"The 'right to be forgotten' is not absolute," said Ms Shiloh. "It has to be balanced against other fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and of the media."

European regulators are calling for the 'right to be forgotten' ruling to apply to search engines worldwide, not just in Europe. However, this proposal has been met with fierce opposition.

Meanwhile, Ms Shiloh pointed out that the ECJ's decision that Google should not link to "inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant or excessive" material is incredibly broad.

"We are still struggling to define those terms," she said. "In addition,anyone in the public eye may find it difficult to argue information about them is irrelevant – again, 'the public eye' is not an easy thing to define."

Over half of people use a search engine to research a new contact before meeting them for the first time, according to research by online reputation management firm Digitalis, and 92 per cent said discovering something negative online would impact their perception of that contact.

Digitalis has developed a proprietary technology called RedBox, which raises the prominence of "accurate, current information," thereby pushing "negative historic articles" down in search results and presenting "a more balanced profile".

The company claims that the EU right to be forgotten has provided an unexpected business boost, helping FTSE companies and high-net-worth individuals to improve their online image.

“This research highlights how important search engines have become as a tool for researching an individual before meeting them in person," said Dr Laura Toogood, MD of private clients at Digitalis.

"Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of your online identity and information trail. In today’s world, if you don’t manage your reputation, then a search engine like Google will do it automatically for you."

Summary: Over the last 12 months, Google has processed 253,617 data removal requests,   and approved just over 40 per cent of those


Last year Tom Cumberland of Hamptons estate agency sold a one-bedroom cottage on the High Street in Broadway to a couple who were buying specifically because of the town’s Christmas festivities. Broadway certainly gets into the Christmas spirit, with hundreds of lights, horse and carriage rides, a Christmas Tree Festival and ice skating on the village green from 8 December. Perhaps this couple should upgrade this year to a four-bedroom Grade II Listed village house, on the market for £1.1 million? It’s built of local stone and has inglenook fireplaces and exposed beams. Hamptons International: 01386 852205.

Summary: Whether you're in the market for a new home, or looking to get away this year,   we’ve selected the best towns to spend Christmas


If you’re interested in purchasing an electric car, you might want to consider moving to Colorado.

That’s because the Rocky Mountain State gives every electric vehicle purchaser a $5,000 credit, the largest in the country, the Washington Post reported. It’s followed by Connecticut, which promises all electric vehicle drivers a maximum $3,000 credit. Close behind are Maryland, Louisiana and Utah, whose tax credits max out at an average of $2,000.

Other states have more complicated rules. California promises middle-class households up to $2,500 for purchasing a new plug-in electric vehicle, and that figure rises to $4,000 for households whose incomes fall below a certain threshold. The Golden State also provides a steeper rebate, of $6,500, for low-income consumers who buy a hydrogen-powered vehicle.

Delaware and Massachusetts also provide rebates with smaller caps. By April 2017, New York state is expected to create an electric vehicle rebate program of up to $2,000 per car.

However, the news isn’t all good for drivers who hope to reduce the carbon footprint of their vehicles. The benefits for electric car users in some states are weakening: In Colorado, for instance, an updated bill reduced the maximum possible amount of the subsidy by $1,000. But the bill also got rid of a complicated formula that taxpayers had to use to calculate their specific credit amount, and allows it to be applied at the point of sale, rather than forcing buyers to wait until tax time.

Additionally, in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, there are only a handful of subsidies left in their respective state funds, so those interested in buying an electric car may want to act soon. Tennessee’s rebate fund has dried up, while Illinois’ rebate program was suspended last summer.

To see the benefits that your state offers, check out the Department of Energy’s searchable database.

The U.S. lags far behind other countries in terms of incentivizing drivers to buy electric cars. While there’s no data available on how many electric cars were purchased in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2016, Norway registered 11,124 pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which accounts for 24.4% of all new vehicles, CNBC reported. The popularity of electric cars is likely a result of the extensive benefits that Norwegian drivers receive for buying them, including exemptions from expensive purchasing taxes, no charges on toll roads, free parking and access to public bus lanes.

Summary: But you'd save even more if you lived in Norway.


A curious photo of Mark Zuckerberg has been making the rounds this week. It in, the Facebook CEO is seen with his laptop, which appears to have its camera and microphone covered in tape. Look closely at the photo, first circulated by Twitter user Chris Olson:

Some have suggested the photo is evidence that Zuckerberg suffers from an outsized sense of paranoia. But that’s far from the case.

Laptop and smartphone cameras and microphones are a prime target for hackers, particularly when they belong to as high-profile a target as the chief executive of one of the most powerful companies in Silicon Valley. Hackers have been known to tap into a target’s camera to secretly record a victim during compromising moments, then later demand a blackmail payment while threatening to post the footage publicly. There’s even an entire website, which I won’t link to here, that lets users browse feeds from unsecured webcams around the world.

And Zuckerberg himself is no stranger to hacking incidents. Just a few weeks ago, hackers were able to access some of his social media accounts — though not his Facebook account, which I’m betting is extraordinarily well-protected.

Should you follow Zuckerberg’s lead and tape up your laptop’s camera? That’s your decision. Almost every cybersecurity expert I’ve ever interviewed had done so, which is a pretty good sign that it’s not as nuts as it might sound. Even the head of the FBI says he’s a taper. At the same time, few of us are as prime hacking targets as Zuckerberg. My advice: It certainly couldn’t hurt.

Summary: He's actually doing something pretty smart


After Velma Thomas, from Nitro, West Virginia, went into cardiac arrest at home, medics managed to establish a faint pulse after eight minutes of CPR. But at hospital, her heart stopped twice more and she was placed on life support.

For more than 17 hours doctors failed to detect any brain activity, despite extensive attempts to revive her, including pioneering treatment to lower her body's temperature in a bid to stimulate the brain.

Family members braced themselves for the worst. Tim Thomas, Velma's son, said he and two dozen relatives and friends gathered at the hospital and “prayed and prayed and prayed” before starting to accept Mrs Thomas would not survive.

”I came to the conclusion she wasn't going to make it,” Mr Thomas, 36, told the Charleston Daily Mail. “Her skin had already started hardening, her hands and toes were curling up, they were already drawn. There was no life there.”

Doctors told him there was no pulse, blood pressure or measurable brain activity. “There were really no signs she had neurological functions,” Kevin Eggleston, a internal medicine specialist, told ABC News. The family decided to turn off life support and say their goodbyes.

But as they began making funeral arrangements, Mr Thomas was contacted by the hospital and told that soon after being taken off life support, his mother had come back to life. Mrs Thomas had begun moving her limbs when suddenly her heart re-started, a nurse said.

By the time Mr Thomas got back to the hospital, “She had already asked, 'Where's my son?' “ he told the Charleston Daily Mail.

A shocked Dr. Eggleston told the paper the chances of surviving three such long periods without a heart rate were less than 10 percent. “It's a miracle. The odds were certainly against her.”

Summary: A 59-year-old American woman who was presumed dead after her heart stopped and   she was taken off life support came back to life, stunning her doctors and   family.


Spoiler Alert: Don't read further if you don't want to know about a key addition to Suicide Squad ...

How’s this for a news Flash: Due to a last-minute bout of filming, The Flash will be making an appearance in Suicide Squad, Warner Bros.’ heavily-hyped DC superhero movie that opens in one week, according to several sources.

Ezra Miller, who plays the hero, recently wrapped shooting a scene that will be inserted into the movie, which bows Aug. 5. It is unclear whether the scene was shot in April, when the movie underwent over a week of reshoots, or more recently.

The scene, according to sources, will not be an end credit insert but in the movie itself.

Justice League': 5 Key Moments from the Comic-Con Trailer

Suicide Squad, which counts Will Smith, Jared Leto and Margot Robbie amongst its ensemble cast, already has enormous audience interest and is tracking to debut to a $125 million opening weekend, if not significantly higher.

But the fact that Warner Bros. added The Flash late in the process is a testament to how it sees the character as being integral to the DC Extended Universe and as a character who can tie many threads together.

Fans seem to be embracing Miller as that character, who is younger and less serious in tone than Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill) or Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). It also highlights the studio's desire to cement an interlocking series of films to rival Marvel Studios' successful Avengers movies.

After the disappointing audience reaction to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Warners sought to reshape the tone of Justice League, which began shooting just weeks after BvS opened and is set for a Nov. 17, 2017, release. The footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con included one-liners and a snappy tone lacking from BvS (and present in most of the Marvel Studios movies). And the key scene presented was Bruce Wayne recruiting Barry Allen, aka The Flash.

Before 'Batman Begins': Secret History of the Movies That Almost Got Made

As opposed to the usual take on The Flash, who in comic book lore is generally portrayed as a forensic police officer, Justice League seems to be casting the character as a weird but funny loner who knows he needs friends and is in awe of the other superheroes. He seems to be acting as the audience’s eyes in the story, the human amongst the titans (even though he can stop time).

The scene shown to the Comic-Con faithful was funny and fresh, and the slow, crackling lightning around Allen received an enthusiastic response. Warners was taking notes.

The question now is whether or not The Flash, who can travel through time, will pop up in Wonder Woman.

Summary: Spoiler alert, spoiler alert, spoiler alert. Read at your own risk.


Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday signed a law decriminalizing possession of a small amount of marijuana, making the state the 21st to do so.

Under the new law, possession of 10 grams of marijuana or less is now punishable by fines of $100 to $200, instead of jail time, the Chicago Tribune reports. Illinois law previously made possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana a class B misdemeanor that carried up to six months in jail and fines up to $1,500.

Rauner, a Republican, signed the law after using an amendatory veto on a measure last year that he said included too small a fine and allowed for the possession of too much of the drug.

Read more: A Brief History of Marijuana Law in America

In addition to Illinois, 20 states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, and similar legislation is pending in other states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Summary: Pot possession is now punishable by a citation, instead of a jail time


Perth Zoo is mourning the death of beloved Sumatran tiger Setia who had to be put down after a health check revealed she had an aggressive tumour in her abdomen.

The 16-year-old was having a health check under general anaesthetic at the zoo's veterinary hospital when the lumps were discovered and staff made the humane decision to euthanase the animal on Tuesday.

Perth Zoo said in a statement on Wednesday that it was not uncommon for older animals to develop cancer and other age-related health problems.

Setia was born at Perth Zoo on September 14, 2000 and had four cubs, contributing greatly to the global Sumatran breeding program.

One of her cubs, Jaya, is at Perth Zoo, while another cub, Melati, recently gave birth to cubs at London Zoo.

Anyone wishing to commemorate Setia's death is asked to consider donating to the zoo in lieu of flowers.

Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with only 400 believed to remain in the wild.

Summary: A 16-year-old Sumatran tiger has been put down at Perth Zoo after being diagnosed with cancer following a health check.


Suck on THIS a-one time ...

tells TMZ he's in talks with

about doing a sequel to their 1994 flick "

Dick and Shore discussed the idea on Andy's Internet show yesterday ... with Dick saying, "I've always said we should do 'In the Army Again' ... We should rescue Katy Perry from a USO show gone bad or something."

Now, Shore tells us, "Andy has wanted to do it for awhile ... if they put up the money and the studio lets us do it ... I'm down to make it happen!"

Shore tells us ... there is a treatment for the movie (a detailed summary of the story) that's being circulated in Hollywood ... but Pauly hasn't read it yet.

FYI -- the original flick grossed more than $28 mil at the box office ... Shore's 3rd highest grossing film. But despite its cult following, the flick carries a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Summary: Suck on THIS a-one time ... Pauly Shore tells TMZ he's in talks with Andy Dick about doing a sequel to their 1994 flick "In the Army Now."Dick and Shore…


Five years ago I was living in a cramped three-bedroom apartment in East L.A., trying to build two startups simultaneously with no clue what I was doing and no seed capital. I had very little income, no connections and, frankly, no friends. Nevertheless, I was determined to find a way to become successful.

I had recently attended an entrepreneurship conference and bought a DVD profiling young millionaires. One of the lessons from that DVD was to find a mentor—that is, a person who currently is where you want to be, who can take you under his or her wing and show you the ropes.

I hadn’t really made an effort to network with other entrepreneurs up until that point, so I couldn’t just call one up and ask for an intro. So, I carefully crafted a series of emails and follow-ups to all of the young millionaires profiled in the DVD I was watching!

Not only did I get responses, but I impressed one of them enough to agree to mentor me. This individual guided me when I needed it and eventually granted me access to her incredible network. I have since started, scaled and sold five companies.

The key to my success was simple. I didn’t want to blend into the crowd of others like me who I was certain were going after the very same entrepreneurs, so I set 8 simple rules for myself, as follows:

Before you seek out a mentor, know which industry you want to learn about, and in what way. Then, come up with a shortlist of people you’d like to target—and do your research on each. See if you can find their bios online; look for articles written on them; and check out their LinkedIn profiles.

When you do reach out, make sure your research is apparent. This attention to detail will show your prospective mentor that you’re not just blanket emailing a ton of people at once—that you actually want to learn from him or her specifically.

Many people seeking a mentor will resort to begging. They’ll talk about how they don’t know what they’re doing, how their company is failing, or whatever other negatives they think will demonstrate their need for a mentor.

However, just as a bank won’t loan to somebody who’s broke as they don’t want to risk not being paid back, successful people won’t mentor somebody they feel they can’t make an instant impact on as they fear wasting their time.

You need to remember that the best mentors out there will often be the toughest to get.

To give yourself the best chance of success, demonstrate that you’re not starting from complete scratch, that you’ve made it pretty far on your own already.

If you’re an entrepreneur, for example, you’ve might explain that you’ve already got a business plan or spent a significant amount of time getting to know the industry. If you’re a career changer, you might show that you’ve taken some classes on the topic. If you’re looking to climb in the field in which you currently work, you might describe what you’ve done so far.

Successful people were not always successful, but most of them were confident—even early on in their careers or entrepreneurship—in their ability to learn and become successful.

In your communications with your potential mentor, your ability and passion to make things happen needs to be apparent not just in what you say and do, but how you say and do it.

Asking a successful entrepreneur, “Will you mentor me?” is akin to a man asking a woman he’s never met to marry him. He’s much more likely to be successful if he instead has a nice conversation and asks if he can call her sometime.

Approach a prospective mentor in the same way.

Don’t flat-out ask them to be your mentor. Instead, let them know that you really respect them and have learned a lot from what they’ve done, and then start with one specific question that shows you’re actively working on building your own empire. Get your first positive response, and then go from there—slowly.

When starting to work with somebody you want to mentor you, make it known that you’re aware how busy they are and how valuable their time is. Then propose something as simple as a 15-minute call once per month when their schedule permits.

There’s nothing more encouraging—and more flattering—to a successful businessperson than someone showing them how much they’ve learned from them, how they’ve implemented it, and the conclusions and next questions they’ve come to as a result.

After you ask your first question or two, don’t even think about asking anything else until you’ve implemented the advice they’ve given you and can show it.

By and large, if you’re asking a successful person to give you their valuable time, you need to acknowledge that you understand that they are making sacrifice on your behalf.

While you likely don’t have much to offer them at this point, you can remember to thank your mentor each time you talk. But also show your appreciation in a unique way now and again, perhaps with a gift around the holidays or when they help you with a particularly challenging problem. I prefer something like Edible Arrangements as it shows how thankful you are without sending an inappropriate message.

Travis Steffen is currently the founder of UP (upshare.co) and one of the founders and VCs sharing their insight at MentorMojo, an entrepreneurial e-learning platform. Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

Summary: A little bit of flattery and a lot of research can get you everywhere, says entrepreneur Travis Steffen.


WASHINGTON — Donald J. Trump’s statements on Russia tend to follow a pattern. He will say something in support of the country, praising its leader or promising to realign some aspect of American policy to its benefit. Foreign policy experts will express outrage, and Mr. Trump, ever defiant, will refuse to budge.

But on Monday, he found a Russian policy he could not support: the country’s aggression against Ukraine, including its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

It began on Sunday, when Mr. Trump said of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, “He’s not going into Ukraine, O.K., just so you understand.”

When pressed, he added: “O.K., well, he’s there in a certain way. But I’m not there.”

The muddled comments left analysts to guess at Mr. Trump’s meaning. Given his record of defending Russia, it seemed possible he was toeing the Kremlin line on Ukraine.

But on Monday, Mr. Trump said he had meant that, if he became president, his leadership would deter Russia from further meddling, a position consistent with his past statements.

That he for once backed out of a controversy, rather than embracing it, underscores how much Russia’s actions in Ukraine outraged world leaders: Even Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly stated his desire to work with Russia, will not defend them.

Donald J. Trump and Vladimir V. Putin have exchanged many compliments over the past year. We looked at the basis of the mutual respect between the two men who have never met.

Russia’s interference in Ukraine began in February 2014, after Ukrainian protesters toppled the pro-Kremlin president.

With Ukraine in chaos, Russia deployed a small number of special forces out of uniform to the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian state news media blanketed the region with false reports that Ukrainian neo-Nazis were coming to cleanse Crimea of ethnic Russians, who are a majority there. Local pro-Kremlin groups agitated to secede to Russia.

The Russian forces, posing as local self-defense militias, seized key buildings and transit points, putting the region under an unannounced Russian occupation. A few days later, Mr. Putin sent in regular troops to restore order, as he described it. Crimea held an unmonitored referendum on leaving Ukraine to join Russia, which formally annexed the territory in March. Only a month later did Mr. Putin acknowledge that the “militias” had been Russian troops.

The annexation set the tone for Russia’s continuing intervention in Ukraine, blending 21st-century “hybrid” warfare methods — disinformation, deniable proxy forces, cyberattacks — with imperial power politics more typical of the 19th century.

It was the first successful war of territorial conquest since 1976, when Morocco annexed part of the Spanish colonial territory now known as Western Sahara, and it was the only one in Europe since World War II. Russia violated one of the most central norms of the postwar global order — that states would no longer seize one another’s territory — horrifying world leaders who see that norm as crucial for upholding peace.

Mr. Trump may have been correct when he said, “The people of Crimea, from what I’ve heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were.” But the point is that such matters are, in this century, meant to be decided democratically, not by a military conquest shrouded in deception.

This may be why Mr. Trump, for all his praise of Mr. Putin, could not back him on Crimea.

The United States and the European Union placed severe sanctions on Russia to punish it for the annexation, but its meddling in Ukraine did not end.

Donald J. Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, said improved relations with Russia could help the United States defeat the Islamic State.

Within a few weeks, pro-Russian separatist rebels began seizing towns in southeastern Ukraine, which has close cultural and political ties to Russia. Mr. Putin armed the rebels, independent analysts and Western intelligence agencies concluded, setting off a full-blown war.

President Obama said if Russia was behind the hacking into emails of the Democratic National Committee, it would not “wildly swing” already tense relations between Washington and Moscow.

While it initially appeared that Mr. Putin might be tempted to repeat his Crimea strategy in eastern Ukraine, he instead demanded that the region be given special autonomy, which would preserve Russian influence there. He stationed troops along Ukraine’s borders, hinting that he might invade to “protect” the region’s Russian speakers if Ukrainian troops tried to restore order.

When Ukraine tried exactly that over the summer, the once ragtag separatist rebels were suddenly seen operating heavy weapons systems, including powerful surface-to-air missiles. On July 17, 2014, a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was shot down over rebel-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, killing all 283 people on board.

Western leaders and analysts, furious with what they saw as a reckless Russian policy of arming rebels with equipment they did not know how to use, pushed for Ukraine to retake the rebel-held territory once and for all.

Many people expected that the downing of the plane would so embarrass Moscow that it would have to drop its support for the rebels and agree to peace efforts. Instead, Russia deepened its involvement: Under the cover of an “aid convoy” into Ukraine, Russian troops, tanks and artillery streamed across the border, according to NATO officials.

Ukrainian troops captured young Russian men who said they were government troops ordered to invade, and Western intelligence agencies released satellite images showing what appeared to be a significant Russian invasion. Mr. Putin angrily denied that anything of the sort was occurring.

The Russian troops and tanks, having prevented Ukraine from retaking its territory, eventually receded. But the conflict has continued at a low boil ever since, sometimes eased temporarily by peace talks or cease-fires that never seem to go anywhere. Analysts suspect that Mr. Putin wants to maintain a “frozen conflict” to keep Ukraine, which has shifted to favor the West, weak and susceptible to Russian interference.

It shows the severity of this conflict, and the degree to which Moscow has appalled Western leaders, that Mr. Trump — for all his love of crossing the normal lines of political discourse — felt that defending it, even tacitly, would be going too far.

Follow Max Fisher on Twitter @Max_Fisher.

A version of this article appears in print on August 2, 2016, on page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: A Russian Policy Trump Won’t Defend. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

Summary: That Mr. Trump for once backed out of a controversy underscores how much Russia’s meddling in Ukraine, and its annexation of Crimea, outraged world leaders.


If you're applying to university for 2013, you'll want to know who you're up against. We count down the 10 most competitive courses, as determined by the average number of Ucas tariff points those already on the course have achieved. Each university is only allowed one course on the list.

Toughest course: Mathematics (Overall ranking: 53) Bristol's top-ranked course by entry standards is mathematics, with the average first-year student having achieved 524 Ucas tariff points. That works out as slightly higher than two A*s and two As, and makes it the 53rd most competitive course in the country.

Rankings are based on data from the Telegraph's University Course Finder.

Summary: With the university application season well under way, we look at the 10   courses with the highest average entry standards.


Hand eczema can be triggered by a combination of factors, including genetic make-up and, in particular, contact with irritant or allergenic substances at work: high-risk jobs include hairdressing, catering and dentistry. According to Ian Coulson, a consultant dermatologist at Burnley General Hospital, it is the third most common cause of people taking time off work in the UK (just behind backache and stress): an “enormous economic problem” he says.

In Denise’s case the cause of the eczema and why it affected only her right hand was a mystery.

“I had slight eczema in my ears when I was 11. I also have type 2 diabetes and there may be a link to that. One consultant said it was caused by menopause.” She is naturally right-handed, so not being able to use the hand fully made life miserable. “When the rhino skin starts you lose all flexibility,” she continues. “I couldn’t open jars, lift things into the oven or stir pans. It felt as if my hand was on fire and I couldn’t sleep at night.”

Depression is common in sufferers. “My social life died,” says Denise. “I avoided shaking hands with anyone new and wore a glove in the classroom because I was so embarrassed. I also felt embarrassed for my children [Luke, 13 and Giny, 15] when they invited friends home for dinner. I had an open wound which I had to tend day and night.”

Denise began a frantic hunt for help from skin specialists. As well as moisturisers and steroid creams – standard treatments for eczema – her doctor tried her on PUVA. This ultraviolet light treatment reduces the exaggerated immune response that can trigger certain types of eczema. He also tried two powerful drugs. Nothing worked. In desperation she visited an alternative practitioner, living in Spain. “He gave me a list of at least 50 foods to avoid,” she says. “I couldn’t keep it up.”

Denise’s story has a happy ending. She was finally prescribed alitretinoin (brand name Toctino®,) which has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical excellence (Nice) as the first treatment for chronic severe hand eczema, where topical treatments have not worked. Denise took the once-a-day tablets for four months, by which time the eczema had disappeared. Whether it will return is uncertain.

Alitretinoin can have side effects, although Denise’s only problem was a slight sensitivity under her left breast, where her bra fits. The drug is not suitable for everyone. According to Nice, its use should be monitored by a dermatologist or a doctor experienced in treating severe hand eczema and in using this type of drug.

Margaret Cox, chief executive at the Eczema Society, says many people’s lives are made impossible by hand eczema. “They often can’t work, can’t dress themselves, can’t hand over money in shops, and this drug has transformed their lives,” she says.

Denise’s main feeling is relief. “I’ve finally got my life back,” she says.

Contact the National Eczema Society; www.eczema.org; 0800 089 1122

For more on hand eczema, visit www.myhandeczema.co.uk.13

Summary: Severe eczema of her hand made Denise Hyland’s life a misery – until they   found a cure. Jane Kelly reports.


WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order barring federal contractors from hiring or firing employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, senior administration officials said Monday, in a move that could energize Democratic voters in November's midterm elections.

The White House announcement is a curtain raiser to Mr. Obama's appearance Tuesday at a Democratic fundraising gala with gay-rights...

Summary: President Obama plans to sign an executive order barring federal contractors from hiring or firing employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, senior administration officials said, in a move that could energize Democratic voters in November's midterm elections.


The announcement that Madonna would be paying tribute to Prince at the Billboard Music Awards caused no shortage of controversy -- perhaps understandably. After all, Prince was probably the greatest musical genius of his generation; while Madonna is a phenomenal talent at many things, her chops as a musician are maybe not at the top of that list.

But the tribute is much more fitting than it might seem to some. More than any other music stars, the two defined the '80s, and they enjoyed a kind of frenemy relationship that saw them collaborating several times over the years and hanging out even more -- the most recent time that we know of was a late-night private concert at Paisley Park in October that was attended by around 60 people, about half of whom were Madonna and her entourage, when she was in Minnesota on her Rebel Heart tour.

And while just one song has emerged from their brief period of collaboration around the time of Madonna's Like a Prayer album ("Love Song," although it's Prince's guitar you hear at the start of "Like a Prayer"), it wasn't for lack of trying: There's reportedly a Prince-produced version of "Like a Prayer" out there somewhere, and Madonna was originally slated to costar in Prince's ultimately disastrous 1990 feature film Graffiti Bridge.

Madonna knew enough to go to an expert for some words of praise: Questlove, drummer of the Roots, musical director of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, lifelong Prince fan, expert (he's taught a course on Prince's music at New York University) and occasional collaborator. "All of us live in the land of music, and his departure from it was an earthquake," he said, before making some comical remarks about "every time we hear a scream [he let out a squeak]... every time we see a yellow suit with the rear cut out..."

Prince's full "Let's Go Crazy" spoken intro played as the lights came up on a purple throne with its back to the audience -- it slowly turned around to reveal Madonna, wearing a flawless suit clearly in homage to the ones Prince wore on the 1984-85 Purple Rain tour, with a cross hanging from her wrist and holding a cane, which Prince did in his last few years, including his performance at the 2013 BBMAs.

PHOTOS: Madonna and Stevie Wonder pay tribute to Prince

Madonna & Stevie Wonder pay tribute to Prince at 2016 Billboard Music Awards

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artists Stevie Wonder (L) and Madonna perform a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artists Stevie Wonder (L) and Madonna perform a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artists Stevie Wonder (L) and Madonna perform a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artists Stevie Wonder (L) and Madonna perform a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artists Stevie Wonder (L) and Madonna perform onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Singer Madonna performs a tribute Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Recording artist Madonna performs a tribute to Prince onstage during the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Musician Stevie Wonder (L) and co-host Ciara attend the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 22: Singers Madonna and Stevie Wonder attend the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/BBMA2016/FilmMagic)

The music deftly shifted to "Nothing Compares 2 U," which Madonna sang in Sinead O'Connor's arrangement -- accompanied by a string quartet, two singers, two keyboardists and a vaguely trap drum machine -- playing it safe and nailing most of the notes. Tears were visible in her eyes by the end of the first verse.

She finished the song -- and then, in a surprise, Stevie Wonder joined her onstage for a coda of the chorus from "Purple Rain." Purple spotlights criss-crossed the arena as the crowd waved illuminated purple wristbands in time with the song, with Wonder leading a gospel-inflected a cappella breakdown of the chorus as the cameras panned to audience members, many of them in tears.

Stevie thanked Madonna, Madonna thanked Stevie, and then said, "And most of all, thank you Prince Rogers Nelson, for all that you have given us." It was a perfect ending to a moving tribute.

PHOTOS: Billboard Music Award red carpet arrivals

Madonna & Stevie Wonder pay tribute to Prince at 2016 Billboard Music Awards

Britney Spears ditched her pants -- and flaunted her lean figure -- in a sheer lace leotard that exposed her bra and undies. A dramatic black train and thigh-high caged sandals added an avant-garde edge to her bold look.

Ciara stunned in an ultra-sexy silver gown with a side boob-revealing design and hip-high slit that left the majority of her profile exposed. Blunt bangs completed her disco era-inspiring ensemble.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Rihanna knocked it out of the park in a vintage-inspired brown minidress with accentuated soldiers and asymmetrical buttons and fun pumps with square metallic medallions. A messy bob with bangs and flawless makeup completed her incredible, totally unique look.

Keke Palmer looked killer in a sexy latex dress that hugged her fit frame. Fun sandals and a topknot completed her knockout look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Meghan Trainor rocked her signature sequins -- this time, in an on-trend ankle-length style. Funky black heels with chain straps and bombshell waves completed her glamorous look.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

The girls of Fifth Harmony -- Lauren Jauregui, Normani Hamilton, Dinah-Jane Hansen, Ally Brooke and Camila Cabello -- coordinated in glamorous black gowns all at competing levels of sexy.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Halsey rocked a funky white gown with asymmetrical straps and fun, curlicue accents. Sexy cutouts and a deep V added a touch of sex appeal to her unique gown.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Ariana Grande rocked a futuristic sriped gown with a sheer panels at the sides and blue ribbon details woven throughout. Her signature pony completed her unique look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Laverne Cox stunned in a sexy mermaid gown with a dramatic train and pronounced plunging neckline. A cat-eye and dark lips completed her fabulous ensemble.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Nick Jonas looked very stylish in plaid slacks, a white T-shirt and navy moto jacket. Bright slip-on sneakers and an even brighter smile completed his chic ensemble.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Heidi Klum wowed in a gorgeous asymmetrical creation with a sheer, checkerboard textile that flaunted her long legs. We love the mesh straps and lace hemline. A fresh blowout and whimsical bowtie sandals completed her gorgeous look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Mila Kunis looked absolutely adorable in a bulbous studded minidress that flaunted her toned gams. Flawless makeup and a chic topknot completed her delicate look.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Idina Menzel looke totally fab in a curve-hugging black minidress with a sheer panel that flaunted a touch of cleavage.

Tove Lo gave serious Joss Stone vibes in a boho-inspired orange mesh gown that exposed her naval and undies. Long, partially-dreaded locks completed her New Age-esque look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Singer Z LaLa continued her tradition of rocking over-the-top, head-turning looks at awards shows in an outrageous caged hoop skirt and sky-high, architectural headpiece.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Kathryn Hahn stunned in a super-fun black, white and red midi dress with intricate and modern sequined detailing.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Jessica Alba looked a bit costume-ish in a lace turtleneck skater dress, thigh-high boots, thick eyeliner and a harsh topknot.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Singer Rachel Platten looked killer in a striped pantsuit and a cropped black bra top that flashed her abs. Sexy waves and pointy black stilettos completed her cool look.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Zendaya looked nearly naked but totally sexy in a nude high-waisted skirt and tiny bra top. Shiny, pin-straight locks completed her knockout look.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

TV personality Keltie Knight rocked a sheer nude long-sleeved romper with a plunging neckline, romantic blouson sleeves and fun beaded details.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Singer Troye Sivan looked alternative-chic in pleated white slacks, white shoes and a printed short-sleeved buttondown. His signature tousled coif also made an appearance.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Demi Lovato rocked a sheer lace tank tucked into wide-legged slacks and topped with a tweed blazer. Fingerless gloves and a Chanel clutch completed her edgy ensemble.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Lucy Hale looked cute in a turtleneck plum lace shirt and sheer black lace that exposed her undies. Sexy sandals and a sleek updo completed her ensemble.

Wiz Khalifa looked amazing in velvet slim-cut slacks. A white double-breasted shirt and Chuck Taylors. A gold watch and sunnies completed his effortless look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Kesha channeled Liberace and a bullfighter in an ornate purple suit with silver floral embroidery. Tassled shoes and a black bowtie confused the dizzying look even more, not to mention her wild, '70s-inspired coif.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Actress Laura Marano donned a one-sleeved white and blue minidress with a wild striped pattern and architectural accent panel.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

"Empire" star Serayah McNeill threw it back to pop stars of years past in high-waisted silk pants and a sexy bandeau top.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

DNCE members Jack Lawless, Joe Jonas, JinJoo Lee and Cole Whittle coordinated their outfits -- each rocking artistically painted pieces that align with their cool, funky sound.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Actress Liz Hernandez rocked a sexy blush midi dress with a bustier bodice and ruffled skirt.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Internet personality Josh 'The Fat Jewish' Ostrovsky rocked a super-fun matching sweatsuit in a bandana print.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

AJ Gibson looked ultra-sleek in an olive suit with a chicblack lapel that matches his skinny tie and shoes.

Steven Tyler went with a pinstriped suit and sequined vest.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

TV personality Renee Bargh rocked an itty-bitty minidress lamé minidress with a contrasting silver ruffle.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Recording artist Heather Russell donned a berry jumpsuit with dramatic wide legs. Peeptoe black booties and undone hair completed her effortless look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Lindsey Vonn's long locks and even longer legs stole the show, but we could have done without the loincloth-esque panel on her dress.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Seal looked ultra cool in a crisp, unbuttoned white shirt and sharp gray topcoat. Metallic sunnies completed his suave look.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Anthony Quintal aka lohanthony kept it casual in simple denim, a "Fresh!" T-shirt and gray sneakers.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Kristen Bell looked amazing in a whimsical jumpsuit with zig-zag accents. A flirty 'do perfectly complemented the fun look.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Kate Beckinsale stunned in a white gown with a plunging neckline and sexy straps at the shoulders.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Kelly Rowland wowed in a figure-hugging white sheer gown with stunning curlicue embroidery.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Recording artist ZMNY opted for a head-to-toe white ensemble, down to his bright, white sneakers.

Shawn Mendes went all-black in a shiny black buttondown, black suit jacket and slacks.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Radio personality Ted Stryker rocked a sleak gray suit with a navy shirt and pocket square.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Model Meredith Mickelson donned a Elvis-esque jumpsuit with ruffled sleeves and flared pant legs.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Internet personality Ricky Dillon looked like he spilled a drink donw his shirt in a white buttondown with a blue stripe down the middle.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

TV personality Sibley Scoles donned a sheer black dress with shiny gold beading that mimicked the look of lingerie. Her white furry clutch matched her frosty 'do.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Singers Liam Attridge, Emery Kelly and Ricky Garcia of Forever In Your Mind let their personalities shine in varying -- yet totally cool -- ensembles.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

TV personality Lauren Elizabeth rocked an easy, breezy white wrap dress with a plunging neckline, butterfly sleeves and leg-exposing slit. Strappy sandals and a flirty ponytail completed her pretty ensemble.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

The Go-Go's strike a pose!

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Priyanka Chopra rocked a gorgeous blue gown with a flattering, gathered waist.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Comedian Kingsley kept it simple in skinny jeans and a crisp buttondown. Bold booties added a touch of edge.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Internet personalities Jeremiah Hall (L) and Kevin Vincent looked dapper in super-fun looks. Hall rocked a black and yellow theme with yellow accents on his shoes, pocket square and bowtie. Vincent looked adorable in blue slacks, and red bowtie.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Singer Nick Hissom stunned in a plaid gray slim-cut suit.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Internet personalities Jack Baran (L) and Trevor Moran rocked avant-garde ensembles. Baran's snakeskin booties were rivaled by Moran's deconstructed shirt and cape-like suit jacket.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Internet personality Lauren Giraldo showed some leg in a sheer gown and edgy knee-high black sandals.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Rebecca Romijn wowed in a tiny lace minidress and bombshell waves. Sexy lace-up sandals completed her stunning look.

Pete Wentz rocked white skinnies, old Converses, a graphic tee and distressed denim jacket ... Fun!

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Actress Jenn McAllister kept it simple in a black, plunging romper and black stilettos. Red lips and tousled locks completed her sexy looks.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Internet personality Gabriel Conte looked ultra dapper in a navy jacket and slick 'do.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

JoJo Fletcher wowed in a sparkler of a halter minidress and sexy sandals.

Lindsey Stirling looked washed out in a nude gown with exposed boning and a tulle skirt that cut her off.

Recording artist Trevor Jackson rocked black skinnies and an exaggerated white shirt.

Chester See donned a simple blue suit and printed tie.

Musicians Magnus Larsson, Mark Falgren, Lukas Graham Forchhammer, and Kasper Daugaard of the band Lukas Graham all kept it casual in skinny jeans and sunnies.

(Photo by Lester Cohen/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Ty Dolla Sign slipped into a black and red plaid buttondown, skinny jeans and sleek boots.

Thomas Rhett killed it in a light gray suit, white polka dot shirt and contrasting black polka dot tie.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Grace Helbig put her long legs on display in a tuxedo jacket-inspired minidress, edgy necklace and simple black flats.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Aidan Alexander looked dapper in a simple black suit with a textured jacket.

Eudoxie Mbouguiengue and Ludacris each kept it simple in a sexy LBD and simple gray suit, respectively.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Daymond John kept it casual in jeans, sneakers and a leather jacket.

Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart of The Chainsmokers contrasted each other perfectly -- Pall in a simple black suit and Taggart in a daring light blue creation.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Michael Strahan went with jeans and a leather jacket.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/BBMA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

Kerri Kasem rocked a sexy red lace gown with cascading ruffles down the front.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell sparkled in a gray sequined halter gown with sexy cutouts.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Ashton Kutcher looked wild in a slouchy, soft linen suit tucked into combat boots.

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

"Empire" actor Bryshere Y. Gray classed it up with a baroque suit jacket and smoking loafers.

Mark Cuban went with a gray tee, jeans and sneakers.

Summary: The dynamic duo brought down the house and closed the show with their emotional tribute to the late singer.


Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, said the Commons session had been "part debate and part group therapy" as she recounted her experience of post-natal depression.

"It is unbelievable how awful you feel when you are sitting with your tiny baby in your arms, and your baby cries and so do you," she said.

"You can't even make yourself a cup of tea, you just feel so utterly useless.”

Fellow post-natal depression sufferer Dr Sarah Wollaston, the Tory MP for Totnes, said she had suicidal feelings and suffered panic attacks on the Tube at what should have been the happiest time of her life.

Charles Walker, the Conservative MP for Broxbourne, told the Commons he had suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for the last 31 years, meaning he has to do everything in sets of four.

He said: "My wife and children often say I resemble an extra from Riverdance as I bounce in and out of a room switching lights off."

Summary: A former defence minister was close to tears yesterday as he revealed his   battle against depression, saying that other people did not understand the   huge stresses that go with being an MP.


An 18-year-old man has faced a Brisbane court accused of raping a woman and later sending her apologetic text messages asking her not to press charges.

The teenager, who can't be named for legal reasons, was refused bail in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday after he was arrested earlier that morning.

He's facing two counts of rape, assault occasioning bodily harm and deprivation of liberty over the incident on Russell Island.

Police allege he raped the woman over a period of 20 minutes and threatened her with violence.

Prosecutor Sergeant Scott Pearson told the court a forensic examination of the teenager's phone uncovered apologetic text messages sent to the woman that asked her not to press charges.

However the teen's lawyer, Alan Phillips, said his client would be contesting the charges and argued bail should be granted with appropriate conditions.

Magistrate John Costello refused to to grant the teen bail, saying he was troubled by the prosecution's objection.

The case will return to court on September 12.

Summary: An 18-year-old accused of raping a woman and later sending her apologetic text messages has been refused bail.


Coca-Cola Co. said Thursday it reached a definitive agreement to divest its bottling stakes in China for roughly $1 billion, part of broader strategy to focus on its more profitable concentrate-making business.

The beverage giant currently owns roughly a third of its bottling in China, with the rest split roughly between Swire Beverage Holdings Ltd. and China Foods Ltd. China Foods is part of state-owned COFCO Ltd.

Coca-Cola Co. said Thursday it reached a definitive agreement to divest its bottling stakes in China for roughly $1 billion, part of broader strategy to focus on its more profitable concentrate-making business.

The beverage giant currently owns roughly a third of its bottling in China, with the rest split roughly between Swire Beverage Holdings Ltd. and China Foods Ltd. China Foods is part of state-owned COFCO Ltd.

Under the agreement, Swire and China Foods each will own roughly half of Coke’s bottling operations in the Asian country. Atlanta-based Coke announced a tentative agreement in February to divest to the two partners.

Coke is in the midst of a global divestment drive and has been selling plants, warehouses and delivery trucks to bottling partners in a bid to cut costs amid slowing soda sales. The biggest divestment is in the U.S., where it has struck agreements to divest more than half of its bottling and plans to sell the remainder by the end of 2017.

Coke estimated earlier this year that its direct employees will shrink to 39,000 from 123,000 after it completes divesting bottling in North America, China, Germany and South Africa. Net revenue will drop to $28.5 billion from $44.3 billion but capital expenditures will be halved to $1.3 billion, based on 2015 figures.

China is Coke’s third-largest market by volume. The company and its bottling partners recently opened their 45th plant in the country and are in the midst of a $4 billion investment push.

The divestment in China remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Write to Mike Esterl at mike.esterl@wsj.com

Summary: Coca-Cola reached a definitive agreement to divest its bottling stakes in China for roughly $1 billion, part of broader strategy to focus on its more profitable concentrate-making business.


Caroline von Kuhn, who until recently served as managing director of Maine’s Camden International Film Festival, spent the past four years producing “Burn Country,” which she calls “a small but mighty film and a timely, non-cliche immigrant story.”

“Burn Country” is the first fiction feature from directer-co-writer Ian Olds, who followed up his acclaimed first documentary, “Occupation: Dreamland” (2005), with the Emmy-nominated HBO film “Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi” (2009), which Olds shot in Afghanistan. The story of local guides, known as “fixers,” who work for Western journalists continued to intrigue him. He turned the idea into a different immigrant story for “Burn Country,” with a foreigner reporting on American crime as he searches for purpose in a strange new land.

In “Burn Country,” journalist Osman (Dominic Rains, from “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”) arrives from his native Afghanistan to the backwoods of Northern California, crashing with a friend’s mother (Melissa Leo) who also happens to be the county sheriff. After getting a job as a police reporter at the local paper, Osman gets ensnared in escalating danger when he befriends an unstable hot tub craftsman (James Franco, in another unrecognizable role) who later goes missing under strange circumstances. Rains earned best actor honors at the recent Tribeca Film Festival for this role. “Burn Country” is playing through Dec. 15 at Apple Cinemas in Fresh Pond.

For more information go to www.applecinemas.com.

Calling all young and aspiring film critics. Elizabeth (Betsy) Kim, a 17-year-old high school senior and film enthusiast at the Winsor School in Boston, cofounded the GenZ Critics Club with New York Film Critics Series producer Mark Ehrenkranz. “It’s an organization that aims to make more young people interested in film criticism and amplify the voices of existing young critics,” says Kim in an e-mail. “Mark and I founded it because we felt there was a lack of emphasis on youths’ opinions in the world of film criticism.” To that end, GenZ has launched a contest for films critics 24 years old and under. The deadline for submitting reviews, which do not have to be previously published or of a certain length, has been extended to Dec. 16. All entrants are automatically given membership in the club. Five winners will be selected and their reviews published on the group’s website www.genzcritics.com. Several professional critics, including the Globe’s Ty Burr, will judge the entries.

For more information go to www.genzcritics.com.

Get The Weekender in your inbox:

The Globe's top picks for what to see and do each weekend, in Boston and beyond.

Grrl Haus Cinema, an ongoing program of short films and video art by women working in a variety of genres with an emphasis on DIY and low budget, hosts a screening of shorts by nearly two dozen local filmmakers Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brattle Theatre. The program is curated by Under the Underground, a series that showcases the often experimental work of New England filmmakers and artists.

For more information, go to www.brattlefilm.org.

The Bolshoi Ballet’s performance of the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” screens Dec. 18 at 12:55 p.m. at Boston’s Regal Fenway Stadium 13. There’s also a one-night, sensory-friendly screening Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Fathom Events, partnering with the Autism Society of America, hosts this novel screening with lights raised and the audio lowered to make it more inviting to children and adults with autism. The audience is welcome to sing, yell, dance, and move about during this screening.

For more information, go to www.fathomevents.com.

Summary: A look at local films, festivals, and faces.


The Victorian government is fighting allegations it acted unlawfully and breached human rights when it transferred teenagers to an adult prison after riots at two youth detention centres.

Lawyers for 12 youth offenders are returning to the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday to challenge the government's decision to transfer them to Barwon maximum security prison.

The teens were among a group of young offenders transferred to the Grevillea unit within Barwon prison in November after riots damaged the Malmsbury and Parkville youth detention facilities.

The Grevillea unit is being operated as a youth remand centre and youth justice custodial centre, and is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services with the help of Corrections Victoria.

The Human Rights Law Centre and the Fitzroy Legal Service say Barwon prison is no place for children.

They say teenagers at Barwon cannot access the educational or rehabilitation programs usually provided in youth detention.

The children's lawyers are also worried teens as young as 16 could linger in the maximum security prison for up to a year if their legal challenge fails.

Summary: Lawyers for juvenile offenders are challenging the Victorian government's decision to move teenagers to a maximum security adult prison.