Motorists will get new ‘mini-motorways’ as part of a £15billion overhaul of the nation’s highways. Busy A-roads will be revamped – with roundabouts and traffic lights stripped out – to cut delays and transform them into ‘mile-a-minute expressways’. Details, included in a strategy by the Highways Agency presented to Parliament, also include new slip roads to make the roads flow and banning slow moving vehicles such as tractors and bicycles. New roads: Busy A-roads will be revamped – with roundabouts and traffic lights stripped out – to cut delays and transform them into ‘mile-a-minute expressways’ Up to 18 A-roads are likely to be transformed in the first tranche with seven more to follow. The strategy document says: ‘Our ambition for the next 25 years is to revolutionise our roads. ’Our busiest A-Roads will become expressways, providing improved standards of performance, with technology to manage traffic and mile-a-minute speeds. ‘Users of motorways know they can expect a broadly consistent standard from the whole of their road, and that this ensures they have a safe, free-moving journey.’ But it notes: ‘The same is not true of A-roads, where piecemeal upgrades have often resulted in inconsistency and substandard stretches of the road that are often less safe and a regular cause of congestion. ‘By 2040, we want to have transformed the most important of these routes into expressways: A-roads that can be relied upon to be as well-designed as motorways and which are able to offer the same standard of journey to users.’ 'Vital part of the long-term economic plan': Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin (pictured) said the Government is 'investing £15billion in the biggest upgrade to England’s strategic roads in a generation' These will be ‘largely or entirely dual carriageway roads’ that are ‘safe, well-built and resilient to delay. The first group of nine expressways is expected to include the A303 and A30 from the junction with the M3 in Hampshire to Exeter. The A1 north of Newcastle, which motorists have long campaigned to be made into a motorway, is another, as is the A14 from Huntingdon to Cambridgeshire. These will also link with up to 400 miles of ‘smart motorways’ where hard shoulders are used at peak times to reduce jams. A dual carriageway is planned for ‘the entire A303 from the M3 to the M5 at Taunton’, as well as building a tunnel as the road passes Stonehenge. There will also be a new bypass on the A27 at Arundel together with improvements at Worthing and Lancing in West Sussex. Also featuring will be construction of the Mottram Moor link road together with overtaking and safety improvements and duelling the A61 to improve Trans-Pennine connectivity. A range of duelling and junction improvement schemes on the A47/A12 corridor supporting growth at Peterborough, Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft is also planned. They will be built so that ‘traffic on the main road can pass over or under roundabouts without stopping’. The strategy document seen by the Daily Mail says: ‘An expressway will be able to provide a high-quality journey to its users. ‘Most expressways should be able to offer mile a minute journeys throughout the day, particularly outside of urban areas.’ The Highways Agency has presented the Road Investment Strategy to Parliament ahead of it being transformed on April 1 into the new private sector roads operator called Highways England. Ministers say the new government-owned company marks ‘a step change’ in how England’s roads are maintained and managed and will be responsible for delivering more than £15billion of investment by 2021. It will have longer-term funding to be able to plan ahead and invest in skills and equipment to speed up essential work. A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘The move is part of a radical package of road reform that is expected to save the taxpayer at least £2.6billion over the next ten years.’ Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin added: ‘Infrastructure is a vital part of this government’s long term economic plan to secure a better future for this country, that is why we are investing £15billion in the biggest upgrade to England’s strategic roads in a generation.’ ‘The creation of Highways England will mean better value for money, improved customer satisfaction, more road capacity, improved safety and a better quality of service for millions of people who use the strategic road network every day.’

Revamp of A-roads to transform them into 'mile-a-minute expressways' Slip roads will make roads flow and slow moving vehicles will be banned . 18 A-roads likely to be transformed in first tranche, with seven more after . DfT says road reform will 'save the taxpayer £2.6bn over next ten years'

 improve driving conditions.
Experts say the move will be a step change to the highway infrastructure which will improve traffic flow and lead to lower car emissions. The plans include a £3billion Highways England project in the south-east to deliver a more reliable and resilient network, including the A13 between London and the Newhaven container port.
The A13 is often a source of congestion because its route is heavily trafficked and there are just two main roads in and out. It is being upgraded and widened, with new junctions and traffic lights removed. The work will create more room for cars and cut journey times.
Another big project will see one of the most congested sections of the M1 upgraded. A £1.9billion scheme will upgrade the A5 corridor between Leicester and Leicestershire, with new smart motorway features to cut congestion and improve safety.
The upgrade will mean the removal of the traffic lights at junction 18, including a new ‘smart junction’ with active signs and sensors. Other features include:
- 20m2 solar panel surface area on traffic gantries to generate electricity and power the monitoring equipment.
- 3km of smart motorway on the A5, which will include hard shoulder running and hard shoulder safety refuge area to increase capacity and improve journey times.
- Dedicated emergency refuge areas at eight locations.
The work is part of the £15 billion government-approved road investment strategy – the ‘Road to 2030’ – which aims to double the number of four-lane motorways to 1,000km by 2030.
Other road improvements include the £3.2 billion M6 upgrade, 3,000km of resurfacing and maintenance works across the nation and £50billion over 30 years to improve more than 1,000 bridges.
The Road to 2030 also calls for the creation of 12 test sites to help develop advanced solutions and test them in real life conditions. Highways England is looking to partner with businesses to develop new technology to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Highways England chairman Jim O’Sullivan said: “We have launched our Road to 2030, a plan to modernise the roads people use every day, helping to connect communities, grow the economy and create better opportunities for all.
“We want to build a road network fit for the future by partnering with businesses to create a more innovative industry and better roads. We need new and emerging technology


Dining in a social setting can be one of life's finest pleasures, where the wine flows as freely as the conversation. However, certain foods can leave you on a collision course with culinary faux pas where, at best, you're left feeling awkward and, at worst, said dish ends up covering you or your companions. Just ask Ed Miliband, who probably never wants to see a bacon sandwich again after photos of the Labour leader doing battle with a particularly gristly rasher were widely ridiculed. Scroll down for video . Gurning for change: Labour leader Ed Miliband was caught out by a bacon sandwich earlier this year . How not to do it: Nigel Farage, left, and Boris Johnson, right,  have both come unstuck while sampling foods on the political trail . With an election on the way and plenty of opportunities for the nation's politicians to make fools of themselves eating in public, William Hanson, a leading expert and consultant in etiquette and protocol tells FEMAIL everything you need to know about how to eat some of the trickiest foods without rendering yourself a culinary fool. William says: 'Nothing can put one off a fellow dining companion more than seeing them messily tackle what’s on their plate. 'We now see politicians, TV masterchefs and competing dinner guests badly eat their victuals so perhaps now, if it is not too late, I give them (and you) my guide on how to best tuck in to some of the trickiest foods to tackle.' ASPARAGUS . If served as a first course, rather than an accompaniment vegetable, these are eaten with the hands and dipped into the hollandaise sauce. Rules of etiquette: Never double-dip asparagus...unless you have your own personal pot of sauce . Brits will eat these with the left hand (leaving the right hand free of grease, ready to shake hands or pick up a wine glass, for example); there are some cultures where eating with the left hand is not the done thing, in this case, they may eat the asparagus with the right hand. (Not many know the left-hand rule today.) You may double-dip in the sauce so long as it is your own portion. BANANA . If in doubt, go for the banana, says William: the fruit is easy to unwrap with a knife and fork . Fruit is served as part of the dessert course (dessert was traditionally the fruit course at the end of the meal, whereas today people confuse it with the sweet course). At state banquets, such as the recent one for Mexico at Buckingham Palace, fruit is still served as a palate cleanser. A banana is always the easiest fruit to pick. Cut both ends off with dessert cutlery (very sharp), slice down the skin to unwrap, and then cut off slices and eat with a fork and knife. CAVIAR . The Russians tend to consume caviar from the small pad of flesh between the thumb and the forefinger (again, on the left hand). This, however, looks beyond pretentious in a social setting and is thus best avoided. Instead, scoop a small bit on to your plate and use a thin piece of toast or a blini to consume. One-way ticket to inelegance: If corn on the cob is offered, say no...if it's served, then just chow down . CORN ON THE COB . The little prongs you often get given are naff – especially the solid silver ones (a rare instance where plastic would be preferably, but not by much). Hosts really shouldn’t serve corn this way unless it’s a barbecue (and a pretty feral one at that). If you get offered it, politely decline. If you get served it, with naff prongs, then pick it up and gnaw away. Everyone else will be in the same inelegant boat as you. ESCARGOT (OR SNAILS) Special clamps are often used to hold the shell in place whilst a small, two-pronged fork is held in the right hand and used to pierce and scoop the fleshy meat from within. Tricky little fellas! William insists you use a fork to tackle a langoustine and advises against sucking... LANGOUSTINE . Using a small fork upturned in the right hand, scoop out the white fleshy meat from the tail. Your left hand can be used to secure the shell as you daintily perform your excavation (a finger bowl should be provided). You may see some people pick up the animal to suckle the head – these people are to be treated with the greatest of social caution. Moules be sorry: Use empty shells as would-be tweezers to help you pluck the flesh from other mussels, says William...and always make use of the finger bowl . MUSSELS . The most elegant method is to use a fork to loosen and consume the first mollusc within, before using the empty shell to tweeze out the other mussels, discarding redundant shells on a nearby plate. A finger bowl should also be present, to the left of the setting. Dip one hand in at a time to wash away the grease. OYSTERS . A skilled high-society habitué will know that these are really only eaten in months containing the letter R. The upmarket way to eat is to simply tip the contents into the mouth from the shell, having loosened the contents beforehand with a fork. An oyster fork is a Victorian middle-class invention and does nothing a normal fork cannot do. If an oyster fork is set, use it. If not, just use a normal small fork. Peas release me: Scooping is a no-no, spearing is really the only way to go with the little green spheres . PEAS . Good hosts will never serve these at a formal dinner party, but if you find yourself confronted by petit pois or the like resist the urge to turn your fork over and scoop. Instead, use the tines of the fork to spear a collection and transfer to the mouth. If mashed potato has been served, or something similar, use that as a ‘glue’. Eaten, never drunk: Soup should be pushed away from the diner and then gently tipped into the mouth . SOUP WITH BREAD . Soup is always ‘eaten’, never drunk. The soup spoon is held in the right hand and scoops away from you on one side, skimming the surface. Then sip from the nearside of the spoon. Tipping the bowl away from you at the end to help you catch the last few mouthfuls is perfectly fine. If bread is served with the soup (let’s hope not a slice of bread – a bit ‘try-hard gastropub’) never cut the roll. Break a bite-sized chunk off, butter if desired, and eat. It is not the done thing to divide the bread into two, slather with butter and gnaw away. Don’t be caught out as an air-butterer, either – apply the butter to the roll on the plate, not in the air. SPAGHETTI . Spaghetti can be a nightmare for diners and is best avoided in formal social situations...the one golden rule with pasta is never to cut it, an act of culinary terrorism in Italy, no less, according to William (right) This is eaten with a fork alone and never cut with a knife. The idea of using a spoon as well comes from the USA but is not practised in authentic Italian homes or upmarket British ones. Spaghetti can be messy, so avoid ordering this on a date or when dining with clients. The good news is, at a formal dinner (or even a semi-formal soiree) spaghetti will not be served. When in Italy, never cut your pasta – doing so is considered an act of culinary terrorism and insult to the cook. My thanks to one of London’s leading restaurants, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, for their delicious food which, with the above tips, is very easy to eat. Etiquette comes first...but if you get really stuck, then just bluff your way through, says William . Dietary requirements . It is the guests’ responsibility upon accepting an invitation to alert their hosts as to their dietary requirements. Experienced hosts may just wish to check with those who haven’t been invited to their 'casa' before that the guest doesn’t have any life-threatening allergies just to be on the safe side and to stop the impending drama that comes with a guest who suddenly says they are a vegan, rendering your osso bucco (braised veal) useless. If dining in a restaurant, staff should be well versed in what dishes are suitable for your individual needs. Funny food . Occasionally, we get served something that is so tasteless, bland or inedible that persevering is just not an option. In which case, your strategy is to eat as much of it as you can muster, push it to one side and devour everything else. Hosts should not then question you as to whether you liked it or not. If they do, reply, smiling, with ‘I enjoyed what I had, thank you’. What to do when this guide fails you . There may very well be an occasion where a food that is not on my guide is set down before you and you are flummoxed as to how best to tackle the tricky food. Your plan should be to watch what method your host, or the most learned guest, is using to eat the food and copy. Even if it is not technically correct, they will think it is and so you can bluff your way through the meal… and then get home and research the proper way to eat it so you aren’t caught out again!

Etiquette expert William Hanson explains the proper way to eat . Pick up asparagus in your fingers and use a mussel shell to eat mussels . Always scoop soup away from you and never 'air butter' your bread .

 feeling hungry, and at worst you'll leave a fine meal feeling embarrassed and full of gas.
That's why you're here, right? Here's our handy guide for avoiding the dining etiquette do's and don'ts.
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1. DON'T Drink Wine Too Cold
Some people swear by a glass of wine that's straight from the fridge, but we're sure their parents never taught them about how to properly serve chilled wine.
It's important to chill your wine to an optimal temperature (40-45 degrees Fahrenheit) before serving, so that you have the proper temperature when you first start eating to help with digestion and so the flavors of the wine are not masked by the temperature.
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2. DON'T Bring Your Dog
Just like bringing your little one to a restaurant -- it's not something we condone. It's simply not fair for the pup, and the restaurant owner.
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3. DON'T Split the Bill
Sure, this is just good old common sense, but we feel like this is more of a reminder to make sure the host of the night picks up the bill (for all of the reasons listed above). The last thing you want is to be scrambling for cash when your friends are trying to get home.
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4. DON'T Ask the Waiter to Open the Bottle
This goes for any bottle of wine, but especially when you're drinking red wine. Wine isn't just meant for drinking, but also for aerating -- not by just pouring it into a glass and swigging -- but by removing some of the sediment from the bottle by opening it. Just tell the server that you'll be opening your own bottle of wine for your table, and when they're about to put it in your glass, give it a gentle swirl and ask that they serve the bottle.
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5. DO Wear Gloves
This can be tricky if you're not one to wear gloves on the regular, but just like how you might wear a suit to a fancy dinner, we strongly recommend it when you're holding a glass of red wine. There are two reasons. First, you'll be able to enjoy the wine longer without worrying that you're touching the glass that's holding the drink. Second, you'll be able to have a better grip, and you'll be able to enjoy the


He bought four houses surrounding his multi-million dollar home after discovering that a developer planned to turn one of them into a huge estate that would have 'a direct view into his bedroom'. Now, it has emerged that Mark Zuckerberg is locked in a legal battle with his backdoor neighbor, Mircea Voskerician, who sold the Facebook CEO the property in 2013 instead of fulfilling his plans. Voskerician has claimed Zuckerberg promised him entree into the Silicon Valley elite in exchange for the  house in Palo Alto, California, which the developer then sold the rights to  at a 'discount rate'. He is now suing the 30-year-old billionaire, who lives in his adjacent mansion with his wife, Priscilla Chan, based on allegations including fraud and misrepresentation. Zuckerberg denies the claims. And in new court papers, Voskerician's realtor openly mocks the Facebook founder, who her refers to as 'just a kid.' Scroll down for video . Lawsuit: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (left) is locked in a legal battle with developer, Mircea Voskerician (right), who sold him the contractual rights to a property in Palo Alto, California, for $1.7million in 2013 . Next-door neighbors: In November 2012, Voskerician reportedly sent Zuckerberg a letter saying he planned to tear down the property behind his home and replace it with a 9,600sq-ft mansion. Above, the two properties . In November 2012, Voskerician reportedly sent Zuckerberg a letter saying he planned to tear down the property behind his home and replace it with a 9,600sq-ft mansion, which he would then sell. 'The real estate developer was going to build a huge house and market the property as being next door to Mark Zuckerberg,' a source told The San Jose Mercury News at the time. In the letter, Voskerician apparently told the tech executive, who is worth an estimated $33billion, that the mansion would have a direct view of his home, including his 'yard and master bedroom'. If 'Mark plans to live there long term, he has 'one shot to ensure his privacy is where it needs to be,' the developer wrote in an email to once of Zuckerberg's people, according to Bloomberg. However, he then made Zuckerberg an unusual offer. Deeming himself a 'good neighbor', he proposed to sell  a slice of the property at '100 per cent premium' to grant him more privacy. Two weeks later, the pair came to the agreement that Zucerkberg would buy Voskerician's contractual rights to the entire house for $1.7million, which the latter described as a 'steep discount'. Billionaire's mansion: In the letter, Voskerician apparently told the tech executive, who is worth an estimated $33billion, that the mansion would have a direct view of his home (pictured), including his 'master bedroom' Disputed properly: If 'Mark plans to live there long term, he has 'one shot to ensure his privacy is where it needs to be,' the developer  told Zuckerberg's people. Above, the property Voskerician sold the rights to . The billionaire subsequently snapped up a further three homes nearby to guarantee his privacy. In a  lawsuit, which is ongoing, Voskerician claims that Zuckerberg promised to introduce him to valuable contacts in Silicon Valley in exchange for the sale of the property, it is reported. In an April 13, 2013, email, the developer, who lives in Palo Alto with his wife, Eva, told Zuckerberg: 'First I am happy that I could maintain your privacy by selling you the Hamilton property. 'Second, I wanted to meet and shake hands for the transaction and discuss your offering of working with you in the future as you stated you have built Facebook on connections that you have with others in Silicon Valley.' He also told Zuckerberg one of the reasons he  sold him the house, aside from privacy, was 'your offering to help me get my homes, development projects, in front of your Facebook employees'. Voskerician says that although both he and Zuckerberg agreed on the deal, nothing was put into writing. However, the Facebook founder's lawyers have strongly denied the claims. Email exchanges suggest that Zuckerberg and his inner circle had no intention of helping Voskerician in anything other than a 'light' way. But the developer's lawyer has disputed this. Unless both parties reach a deal, the case will go to trial. If Voskerician wins, he may be awarded back the property, situated in Hamilton Avenue in the once-ordinary California area. Couple: After paying Voskerician $1.7million for the rights to the property, Zuckerberg reportedly bought the lot from its owners for a total of $4.8million. Above, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, in November . In emails, Makan described Voskerician's offer to maintain Zuckerberg's privacy on his conditions as an 'obscene proposal', while the CEO's wife  said it made her 'sad and angry'. Over several months, Voskerician allegedly kept sending emails to Zuckerg's team, prompting them to worry that he could cause problems from 'either a security or PR standpoint'. In an email, Zuckerberg's assistant, Andrea Besmehn, reportedly told the firm's head of executive protection that the billionaire 'does remember saying that he would help this guy in a "light" way.' After paying Voskerician $1.7million for the rights to the disputed property in 2013, Zuckerberg reportedly bought the lot from its owners for a total of $4.8million. Voskerician claims his interest in the property was worth far more than $1.7million, saying the discount was based on the prestigious contacts Zuckeberg had allegedly promised him. Makan's firm later bought  three other homes surrounding Zuckerberg's house - which is less than a 10-minute drive away from Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park - to secure his privacy. The houses in Palo Alto, situated 35 miles south of San Francisco and 14 miles north of San Jose, were reportedly snapped up for $10.5million, $14million, and $14.5million. In addition to claims of fraud and misrpresentation, the lawsuit also accuses Zuckerberg of breach of contract. Voskerician's and Zuckerberg's lawyers declined to comment on the article.

Mark Zuckerberg locked in legal battle with developer Mircea Voskerician . In 2012, Voskerician declared his intention to turn one of the houses surrounding the Facebook CEO's California home into massive estate . He told Zuckerberg it would have 'a direct view into his master bedroom' and the billionaire then bought rights to the property for $1.7m, a 'discount rate' In return for sale, developer says he was promised Silicon Valley contacts which Zuckerberg denies as he is accused of fraud and breaching a contract . In new court documents, the Facebook founder is referred to as 'just a kid' by Voskerician's realtor .

 legal battle with a neighbour who has accused the Facebook founder of using underhand tactics to try to destroy his privacy.
Zuckerberg is locked in a legal battle with the neighbour who has accused him of using underhand tactics to try to destroy his privacy
His latest legal tussle comes two years after he was sued by another man, who accused him of using underhand tactics to try to destroy his privacy.
Mark Andressen claims Zuckerberg had hired an architect to build him a two-storey extension at his property in Palo Alto, California, after buying a house next door to his own multi-million dollar home, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Mr Andressen told the newspaper that he had found a note in his garage which read: 'The architect says your house is too close to mine.'
The note claimed that because the homes were so close to each other it would be impossible for Zuckerberg to renovate his house without making Mr Andressen's property appear out of proportion.
In May 2011, Mr Andressen, 60, told the paper: 'If I had known there was going to be a mansion next door it would have been $75million less for Mark Zuckerberg.
'That’s the whole reason I bought my house next door to him. Because it’s a one-of-a-kind house.'
Mr Zuckerberg bought four houses surrounding his multi-million dollar home after discovering that a developer planned to turn one of them into a huge estate that would have 'a direct view into his bedroom'. Pictured, The 33-year-old's house in Palo Alto
The Facebook chief responded to Mr Andressen's claims by telling reporters on Tuesday that it would have been 'ridiculous' for him to attempt to build a bigger house to match his own.
He added that Mr Andressen had taken a look at his own garage in August and realised the architect was not going to build the garage any bigger than the two-car garage his neighbour currently had.
It is not the first time that Zuckerberg has been involved in a legal dispute related to his house.
In 2014, a man named Charles Komanoff sued the Facebook founder for $10million over alleged noise and light pollution.
Zuckerberg responded by hiring a team of architects and experts to conduct a four-month evaluation of the noise at his home, according to The New York Post.
The paper said that Zuckerberg's


Nigel Farage yesterday accused anti-Ukip protesters of chasing his terrified family out of a country pub – and branded them ‘scum’. He said his two daughters ran away in fear after being targeted by an 80-strong fancy dress ‘mob’ who described themselves as ‘migrants, HIV activists, gay people, disabled people and breastfeeding mums’. The bizarre protest featured several women and men clutching dolls to their chests in an apparent reference to the Ukip leader’s comments that nursing mothers should ‘sit in the corner’. Scroll down for videos . Nigel Farage has branded anti-Ukip protesters 'scum' after they stormed a pub where he was having a family lunch and 'chased his car down the road' The party leader was dining with his wife and two younger children at the Queen's Head in Downe, Kent, when the incident took place. He claimed his two youngest children were so scared by the protesters that they ran away and hid . Mr Farage said his daughters, Victoria, 15, and ten-year-old Isabelle were missing for a short time yesterday afternoon before the police returned them to the family home. After hounding him out of the Queen’s Head in Downe, Kent, protesters surrounded his car, kicking it and jumping on his bonnet as his wife, Kirsten, tried to drive him away. The Ukip leader later told the Mail: ‘We were having a pleasant Sunday and then suddenly the mob descended. There was various screaming, shouting and intimidation. ‘My children ran away and hid. The landlord called the police who came quickly and later brought them back to my home. They also attacked my car as my wife drove me off.’ He added: ‘I’m used to this – it happens every day. But I am utterly appalled by these disgusting people for bringing my family into it. It was an unpleasant ordeal for them.These people are scum.’ The protest’s organisers denied Mr Farage’s children were scared and ran away. Pictures posted on Twitter as Mrs Farage tried to drive off showed a woman lying on the car bonnet as others banged the roof and windows. Neighbour Sheila Jenkins, 76, said she heard ‘chanting’ outside her house and looked out of the window to see demonstrators in fancy dress. Demonstrators had previously descended on the George & Dragon, where Mr Farage has previously been pictured having a drink, before realising he was in the other pub nearby . The group was in fancy dress and included migrants, HIV activists, gay people, disabled people and breastfeeding mothers . She said: ‘There were lots of them and I saw a big placard saying “Ukip not in my backyard”. There was a man dressed as an Arab, with big dark glasses and a turban, and one with a big beard in a blonde lady’s wig. I don’t know what they were trying to prove.’ Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he stepped out to see what the commotion was. ‘They were singing “We are family” and then I saw someone trying to stop a car getting through,’ he said. ‘Someone kicked the back of the car as it went past. I think they went a bit too far.’ Photos taken in the pub showed demonstrators apparently holding a ‘Muslim call to prayer’ and organising ‘Polish language lessons’. Protester Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, boasted on Twitter: ‘I just chased Farage from his local, few others with us & very funny. Solidarity.’ Customer James Beer, owner of a web design company, tweeted: ‘Just saw Nigel Farage being hounded out of a pub I was in by fancy dressed protesters harassing him and kicking his car in. Priceless.’ Staff at the Queen's Head refused to comment on the episode, while the George & Dragon said protesters had initially claimed they were there for a birthday party . The party leader was dining with his wife and two younger children at the Queen's Head in Downe, Kent, when the incident took place. He is pictured at the pub last June . But many were shocked, even those who oppose Ukip. Kevin Maguire, a left-wing columnist, tweeted: ‘No fan of Ukip and also no fan of hounding people out of pubs, frightening kids and jumping on cars.’ Dan Glass, another of the protest leaders, denied Mr Farage’s children had been scared off, saying: ‘He was sitting on his own and left on his own. We didn’t see any kids.’ The organisers later released a statement attributed to ‘photographer’ Mike Kear. It said: ‘As some protesters and the press entered the rear of the pub, I saw a blonde haired woman leaving with two children. At no time were any children seen to be scared or running away. Could this be that Farage is manipulating the truth for his own ends?’ Ukip is understood to have requested taxpayer-funded security for Mr Farage during the election campaign amid fears that he is regularly being targeted by protesters.

Party leader was with wife and two children at Queen's Head in Downe . The pub was stormed by a group in fancy dress which included migrants, HIV activists, gay people, disabled people and breastfeeding mothers . They are said to have gone into the Queen's Head, chased the Farages out and then jumped on the Ukip leader's car bonnet as he drove away . He said two youngest children so scared by the protesters they ran away .

 mob.
Mr Farage, who claimed he had been intimidated for years, said police did not intervene at the incident in Wiltshire. He said he was threatened with ‘violent abuse’ by the protesters who accused him of lying about immigration.
The mob surrounded his car outside the Red Lion in Cricklade yesterday morning, screaming: ‘Go home, scum’. The Brexit leader said: ‘We were chased out of a pub. It is the first time I have been chased out of a pub.’
Mr Farage was with his daughters Lily and Grace at the pub in the village, near Cricklade, Wiltshire.
He said: ‘I got out to talk to a photographer and my daughters were screaming, ‘Get in the car’. My daughters had never seen the way people behave, never mind my kids. They were all cowering on the floor behind the table.’
The protest happened just a day after a 40-year-old man was stabbed to death in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘The UK has close links with the Republic of Ireland. We will continue to seek to work constructively with the Irish Government to progress the negotiations.’ The spokesman added that the UK was ready to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019, and to ‘protect’ the rights of Irish nationals living in the UK.
Labour yesterday revealed that its candidate to become MP for the constituency of the murdered councillor is a long-time sympathiser of the far-right UK Independence Party.
The party was plunged into further crisis after it confirmed that Paul Nuttall’s campaign to take John Hemming’s Birmingham Hodge Hill seat in May will be run by its former vice-chair, Steve Uncles.
Mr Uncles said he has ‘never felt the desire to be an elected politician’ when asked about his lack of experience in the run-up to his selection by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).
He said: ‘As a man of my age I am not that bothered about being an MP and to be honest I don’t really see it as an attractive career. It is only a job and one I don’t feel the need to do. I am not looking for something to pay my bills, but for something with purpose in it that means something to me.’
The MP told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I


With its dramatic coastline and verdant hills, Ireland’s County Cork has long been a magnet for celebrities wanting a break from the limelight. American-born Irish dancer Michael Flatley has a home there, as does London-born Hollywood star Angela Lansbury, actor Jeremy Irons and film producer Lord Puttnam. Even the hard-drinking Oliver Reed used to retreat to the area for the occasional break from hellraising. But probably the most famous star to find a hideaway in County Cork is the queen of Hollywood romance, Maureen O’Hara, who has owned a spellbinding property on the coast for more than 45 years. Spellbinding: Maureen O'Hara's house nestles in the stunning coastal scenery in County Cork, Ireland . The movie legend, 94, has taken the painful decision to put the home, called Lugdine Park, on the market . Now, at the age of 94, the movie legend has taken the painful decision to put the home, called Lugdine Park, on the market and live full-time in the States. She told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I have so many wonderful memories over these many years at Lugdine, and now it’s time to pass her on to another lucky family who will cherish her as much as I have.’ Once considered the world’s most beautiful woman, Dublin-born O’Hara is relocating to Idaho to live with her daughter Bronwyn. Lugdine Park, which was built in 1935, boasts five bedrooms, 35 acres of land and two private islands. It has wildly romantic views of the Atlantic Ocean and looks down on the harbour of the village of Glengarriff. It also has a guest cottage, outdoor changing rooms and WCs, and a private bathing beach. ‘I have the most wonderful neighbours a person can hope for in Glengarriff,’ she said. ‘We’ve been together for so long and love each other as old friends. Everybody has always been very respectful of my privacy if I want it, but I can’t wait to see everyone whenever I arrive. ‘Of course, I always get a chuckle when “lost” tourists happen to stumble upon my house in need of directions back to the village. ‘They always have their cameras with them ready to snap.’ Lugdine Park, which was built in 1935, boasts five bedrooms, 35 acres of land and two private islands . O'Hara made five movies with John Wayne, including Wings of Eagles (pictured) O’Hara’s big break came when she auditioned for a movie role in London, after she had studied at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Oscar-winning actor Charles Laughton happened upon her screen test and was captivated by her expressive eyes. He recommended her for the lead role in Alfred Hitchcock’s British-made 1939 film Jamaica Inn. O’Hara – who was born FitzSimons but changed her name to O’Hara as it was shorter – received rave reviews for her debut role, despite the fact that the film was a commercial flop. It paved her way to Hollywood, where, with her alluring mix of red hair, refulgent green eyes and fiercely passionate attitude, she earned the title the ‘Queen of Technicolor’. She starred in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, How Green Was My Valley, The Black Swan, Sinbad The Sailor and Miracle On 34th Street. She also made five movies with John Wayne, including The Quiet Man, in which Wayne played an Irish-born American returning to his homeland. She has been married three times, having her daughter with her second husband, the film director William Houston-Price. One place that has been a constant for her over the past half-century is her vast home in West Cork. She has a unbreakable connection to the people in the small community of Glengarriff and has been the honorary vice president of Glengarriff Golf Club, participating in and promoting tournaments, bringing thousands to the area and putting the small fishing village on the map. There has been many a famous visitor to her home too. ‘Ed Koch was a beloved Mayor of New York City and friend who did visit me at Lugdine,’ she said. ‘We had a wonderful time in our cosy village and he delighted everyone with his wonderful wit. He spent every morning gazing out the window at that magnificent bay, sipping his coffee. Price: €2.095million (approx £1.52million) Location: Glengarriff, Co Cork . Bedrooms: Five . Unique features: Home of Hollywood legend Maureen O'Hara, two private islands and private beach, 35 acres of land . ‘He said it was the perfect view to accompany his perfect cup of coffee. Everyone who visited, famous or not, always said it took their breath away, they loved the serenity of it.’ When asked for any advice for the next owners of her home, she said: ‘Greet everyone you meet with a smile and friendly hand and they’ll wrap their loving arms around you. It’s a lovely, lovely village filled with wonderful people who are so proud of this magical piece of heaven.’

Maureen O'Hara, 94, is selling her spellbinding property in County Cork . Movie legend's five-bedroom property has stunning views of the Atlantic . Majestic property has 35 acres of land and boasts two private islands . O'Hara made five movies with John Wayne, including The Quiet Man .

 Lansbury. As does actor Liam Neeson.
And its rugged coast is a perfect setting for the murder-mystery TV series “Riverdale.”
“Riverdale” — which airs in 190 countries and ranks as one of the top shows on Netflix — stars Kieran Culkin as Archie Andrews, a teenager who is both a student and a star athlete in the American town of Riverdale. In the show, he’s been trying to come to terms with the mysterious killing of his beloved schoolmate, the blonde, popular girl-next-door and fellow cheerleader Veronica Lodge.
It’s the fourth season of the teen-drama and Culkin’s Archie has settled into being a full-time high-schooler and is even thinking about going to college in the big city, although he hasn’t yet decided where.
While the real-life Archie Andrews didn’t quite make it to university, he did settle down and get married. Culkin is married to actress Ellen Page, and last year the couple announced their divorce.
Culkin didn’t actually go to Ireland to shoot “Riverdale.” He lives in London, but the series does film at the same Cork studio where “Game of Thrones” was once shot.
Culkin spoke with VOA's June Soh in October at the opening night of "Riverdale" in Ireland.
“It’s really just a beautiful, beautiful setting," he said. "The studio itself is about an hour outside of Cork city, so it’s a very remote part of Ireland. And the fact that it rains constantly in Ireland makes it really conducive to feeling like you’re in Britain. And that has definitely been a blessing for me.”
'Riverdale' has global appeal
“Riverdale,” which centers on a murder in the small town of Riverdale, has global appeal.
The latest season kicked off in October in 20 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East.
And while the first three seasons of “Riverdale” were filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada, the producers have said season four has taken on an Irish flavor.
The first two episodes of the latest season feature music from the Irish band Kodaline, while the entire season is being filmed at Ireland’s Ardmore Studios in Dublin.
But while the scenery is lovely — it’s not all fun and games for Cul


(CNN)"This is going to be a test for Serena Williams. We're going to find out what she's made of. How mentally tough she really is." Those were the words of tennis analyst Mary Joe Fernandez in 2001, early into Serena Williams' decider with Kim Clijsters in the final of one of tennis' most prestigious tournaments. The match was being televised on one of the biggest sports networks in the world, ESPN. The then 17-year-old Clijsters had just held to love amid vociferous cheers and -- in a breach of tennis etiquette -- a large portion of the fans on center court at the event now known as the BNP Paribas Open roared approvingly when Williams struck a double fault to begin the next game. Despite Williams growing up about 130 miles away in a suburb of Los Angeles, while Clijsters hailed from Belgium, there was clearly no home-court advantage. Williams' father, Richard, and older sister, Venus, were booed as they made their way to their seats prior to the finale, with Richard claiming in USA Today he was the victim of racial abuse. Venus Williams, meanwhile, said in a press conference at her next tournament she "heard whatever he heard." It was Richard Williams who shaped his daughters into grand slam winners from a humble background, bereft of the type of money used to help manufacture many a champion. "One guy said, 'I wish it was '75, we'd skin you alive,'" Richard Williams told USA Today. "I had trouble holding back tears. I think Indian Wells disgraced America." Charlie Pasarell, then the tournament director, said in the same story that he didn't discount Richard Williams was racially abused. CNN.com did not hear back from Pasarell when it put in an interview request for him and Clijsters declined an interview request. The fans' reaction apparently stemmed from the sisters' semifinal -- or lack of it. Venus Williams pulled out a mere minutes prior to the start, citing a knee injury. Whispers of Richard Williams pre-determining the outcome grew, no doubt aided by the comments of Elena Dementieva. After Venus Williams beat Dementieva in the quarterfinals, the Russian said the sisters' father would "decide" who won. Serena Williams, who was 19 back then, ultimately passed the 'test' that day against Clijsters, judging by the result: A three-set win. Serena Williams has certainly, too, shown her mental toughness over the years, adding 18 grand slam singles titles to the one she won prior to 2001. But what transpired tarnished the tournament, the sport and hurt one of tennis' all-time greats to such an extent that she stayed away from Indian Wells. Until now. Serena Williams plays her first match in Indian Wells in 14 years on Friday, saying she was "following her heart" in deciding to return. In the years that have passed since 2001, Williams went from teen to young adult to veteran, all the while collecting major titles elsewhere. "It has been difficult for me to forget spending hours crying in the Indian Wells locker room after winning in 2001, driving back to Los Angeles feeling as if I had lost the biggest game ever -- not a mere tennis game but a bigger fight for equality," Serena Williams told Time.com in February. "Emotionally it seemed easier to stay away. "There are some who say I should never go back. There are others who say I should've returned years ago. I understand both perspectives very well and wrestled with them for a long time. "I'm just following my heart on this one." Raymond Moore, a former owner of the tournament and now its chief executive, was "elated" to have Serena Williams back in the field. "In the past, the things that happened, there were no winners," Moore told CNN.com. "I think it was a terrible incident. Regrettable from all sides. Now, Serena has been able to change that. We're grateful, excited and happy and we're going to welcome her with open arms. "In terms of her reception, I would like her to be here feeling that her decision was received with the greatest and warmest reception possible." But Serena Williams will be the lone Grand Slam winner in her family attending. Serena speaks about nerves before 1st match back at Indian Wells . Even with the best efforts of the tournament -- now owned by billionaire Larry Ellison -- Venus Williams is continuing her boycott, as is Richard Williams, according to Moore. The siblings' mom, Oracene Price, will be alongside Serena Williams, though, added Moore. Serena Williams told reporters in Indian Wells on Thursday that her father, mother and Venus Williams gave her their blessing when she contemplated coming back to Indian Wells. "We wanted to get Venus," said Moore. "In fact we'd like to welcome the whole family. But Venus I think is not quite in the same place as Serena is. And so we've not been successful in enticing her to enter or take a wild card. "But Oracene is coming and so are some other family members." Serena Williams scoffed at suggestions that the sisters' match in Indian Wells -- or any other between them -- was fixed. "Throughout my whole career, integrity has been everything to me," she told Time. "It is also everything and more to Venus. The false allegations that our matches were fixed hurt, cut and ripped into us deeply. "The under-current of racism was painful, confusing and unfair. In a game I loved with all my heart, at one of my most cherished tournaments, I suddenly felt unwelcome, alone and afraid." Reflecting on the incident, Bart McGuire, the chief executive of the women's tour in 2001, said Venus Williams had been suffering from a genuine injury and that the notion that Richard Williams dictated the outcome of matches between his daughters was off the mark. But he admitted things could have been handled better. Venus Williams, for example, might have explained her withdrawal to fans on court and then signed autographs, he said, citing the example of last year's World Tour Finals. Roger Federer withdrew from the final in London -- but not before he addressed fans and signed autographs. What happened in the final between Serena Williams and Clijsters was awful, said McGuire. "I thought it was horrible," he told CNN.com. "I thought it was very tough on the players. "By that time I'd known enough to know that Venus had been significantly injured and that it was not a set-up of any kind. I thought it was unfair to Serena and Kim." Serena Williams is twice a champion at the tournament and winning this year would be "fantastic," said Moore. But even if not, he added: "I think it's a wonderful ending in closing an ugly chapter. We're just looking forward, we're not looking backward."

Serena Williams makes her return to Indian Wells on Friday . She hasn't played at the tournament since 2001 . Her dad said he was racially abused at the tournament in 2001 . Venus Williams still has not returned to the California event .

 just days before Williams came within a hair of losing in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament. At the Australian Open, this was all talk, no show. She won her first four matches and her quarterfinal match with Monica Seles was stopped for bad weather. Read MoreA look back at history-making moments at the Australian Open
A year later, though, she did come back to beat 17-year-old Maria Sharapova -- then only the second Russian woman to reach the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam event. It took her four years to reach the 2003 final, and she did it with perhaps her most impressive achievement. That year, she came into the Open on a 37-match winning streak that lasted for a record six straight Grand Slams. Read MoreSerena Williams on motherhood: 'I want to be remembered for my tennis, for winning'
It's Serena's record seven -- all the more impressive, given she was in the midst of what would be a 50-week, 36-match winning streak that year and, as many players said, was running on fumes in 2002.But it's also the fact that, despite the fact that Williams is a five-time Open champion and one of the greatest players ever, she's only won four U.S. Opens and has lost six final appearances (including one when she was sidelined with injury) and been the loser in a U.S. Open final four times. Read More'Serena's comeback story: From the hospital bed to victory in the Open final'
The U.S. Open is the hardest slam for her -- at 31, the oldest of the four Grand Slam events, it puts the most wear and tear on a player. But, for that very reason, the U.S. Open -- the only major tournament still played on a hard court -- seems tailor-made for her to add another -- or perhaps even her fifth -- Open crown to her name. But it has also been her most problematic event in recent years. Read MoreSerena Williams wins US Open, the first Black woman to repeat the feat
It was when she was ranked number one in the world in 2002 and 2003 that she first arrived in New York. The first time was a crash-and-burn experience, one that resulted in an ankle injury that ended her chances of winning the event.


(CNN)Once again the global community waits to see if the United States and its partners can really halt Iran's quest for nuclear power through a verifiable accord or if Tehran is trying to buy more time for a clandestine nuclear weapons program it is suspected of having. True, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently denied it seeks anything more than nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's repeated claims in public forums that "We do not have nuclear weapons, and we do not intend to produce them," have failed to convince the United States, European Union and Israel. Suspicion is well-warranted.  Iran reluctantly disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA — only after U.S.-led detection — its clandestine enrichment of uranium at an underground facility near Qum, testing of bridge wires to explode the detonators of atom bombs at the Parchin military facility near Tehran, and development of an advanced multipoint trigger system for nuclear warheads. Even the IAEA director noted on March 2 that the agency still could not "provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities." As a result, the chief ayatollah's words seem more intended for defusing the international storm rather than changing domestic policy. Moreover, Khamenei has made it amply clear to Iran's citizens in the text of an infographic on his website, also reproduced by the state-controlled news media, that "Iran must not cease or slow down" but should "continue nuclear research, expansion, and progress." He has threatened as well, repeatedly, that Iran will unleash a "crushing response" against any nation with which it clashes, making his stated intent to continue nuclear activities more ominous. However, economically strapped and internationally isolated, Iran's citizens are putting pronounced pressure on President Hassan Rouhani and Khamenei. A November 2014 Gallup Poll indicates 70% of Iranians hope their leaders will accept an agreement. They expect the country's economy will jump-start through reduction or elimination of sanctions. So Iranian politicians and clerics, even those on the National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Committee, have gradually begun acknowledging that sooner or later "some sort of a result [i.e., nuclear deal]" will have to be accepted by Tehran. Ordinary Iranians' desire to reach a pact with the West is understandable. Iran's economy ranks only 32nd  in the world, according to data from the World Bank, despite its vast energy resources and well-educated public. Consequently its people's prosperity has fallen to a lowly 107th among the world's societies, according to the Legatum Institute. Plunging oil prices have recently added to domestic woes, with that country facing deeper deficit in revenues much needed for development projects. Iranian leaders realize their regime remains vulnerable not only to externally imposed sanctions, but more so to internally generated widespread discontent, which erupted and was violently repressed in 2009. Regime preservation has multiple facets, however. It's not just about keeping citizens fiscally happy. Nuclear weapons work well in deterring external adversaries. Processing such technology generates much pride at home, too. Fifty-six percent of Iranians responded favorably to its continued development when polled in January. Consequently there will be countervailing internal pressure on Iran's leaders to withstand fully meeting obligations under the Nonproliferation Treaty, irrespective of whether a deal is reached, even if the socioeconomic cost to their citizens and fever-pitch global consternation continue to rise. But Iran's leaders also know full well that agreeing to a pact that lifts most or all sanctions will boost the economy and thereby generate additional resources to enhance the regime's popularity at home and influence abroad. This central goal of Iran's presence at the negotiating table was made crystal clear during the Supreme Leader's Nav Roz, or New Year, public address on March 21: "Removal of sanctions is part of the subject of negotiations, not of the results ... removal of sanctions should occur without any deal when an agreement is reached." "We can see a path forward here to get to an agreement ... [and] very much believe we can get this done by [the deadline of] March 31," stressed a senior State Department official traveling with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Lausanne on March 25. Negotiators have even added three more months to resolve the technical details of the overall agreement. Diplomacy may, as the Obama administration has stressed repeatedly, indeed be the most efficient and least dangerous way to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Certainly neither the American nor the European publics want another drawn-out war in the Middle East. But as the United States and other world powers work fervently toward clinching the long-awaited nuclear agreement with the Islamic republic, it is important for Western negotiators and politicians to bear two central considerations in mind: (1) Irrespective of mechanisms written into the deal, will verification actually be possible on the ground to ensure Iran both limits and becomes fully transparent about its nuclear program? (2) Would the world collectively or the United States independently be able to enforce punitive actions, such as re-establishing sanctions, if Iran fails to comply fully and in a timely manner? Iran's President continues to suggest that his country seeks a "win-win deal which would serve the interests of all the parties," as does his negotiating team. But many Western and Middle Eastern leaders fear the United States and its allies will not be able to truly enforce nuclear limits upon Iran through any treaty. Certainly not only many Asian and African nations, but even two of the superpowers, Russia and China, see little if any threat from Tehran and would much prefer to reopen large-scale trade with Iranians than argue about atomic fission. Last November, Russia even entered into an agreement to build at least two nuclear reactors in Iran. Once sanctions are lifted, multinational corporations will likely invest heavily in Iran and resist having to pull out subsequently. Not surprisingly, influential hard-line Iranian leaders including Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, who heads Iran's judiciary, trumpet: "Our country and our negotiating officials ... are the real winners in these talks." Four years ago Iran's Revolutionary Guards declared: "The day after Iran's first nuclear test is a normal day ... but for some of us there will be a new sparkle in our eyes." Even if a deal is done, will Iran gamble that with the exception of the United States and Israel, nations can come to live with it eventually reaching the threshold of nuclear breakout or wielding nuclear weapons?

Authors: Iran's people want a deal in hopes of a better economy . They say Iran's leaders recognize that having a nuclear program can elevate its international clout .

.
The big test comes next Monday, when Iran and the P5+1 -- China, France, Russia, Britain and the U.S. plus Germany -- are expected to resume talks on a six-month agreement that world powers would like to see finalized before a November 24 deadline set by U.S. sanctions.
It is not that simple.
The United States and its partners believe they have negotiated a good deal, and they are not anxious to compromise their leverage, including the possibility of reimposing sanctions.
They may be tempted to offer more carrots, such as easing sanctions, but any easing would come with a strong "snap back" provision that allows the U.S. Congress to re-impose sanctions if Iran cheats on the deal.
A final agreement would have to be approved by the U.N. Security Council, which has supported sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
But the P5+1 do not know for sure if the council would vote to end the sanctions -- which Iran desperately needs to help rebuild its economy -- in exchange for a deal that keeps its nuclear program intact.
So, Iran is taking its time, as it has from the start. It can make the nuclear issue a dragout battle, and by the time the international pressure to agree to a nuclear deal finally wears down the West, the deadline to avoid more sanctions will have long passed. Iran knows this, and its negotiators are playing for time.
The negotiators have been able to stall long enough for the U.S. presidential campaign to begin in earnest, and with Donald Trump as its probable winner, it could be a long winter in Tehran.
Trump campaigned to halt the Obama administration's nuclear accord with Iran, and his Iran policy is likely to follow the "maximum pressure" strategy devised by his campaign.
And Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, facing growing domestic pressure to stand up to the U.S., will be loath to give in, at least temporarily.
A political victory by Rouhani will be crucial to his own re-election prospects next year. So even after the deal is signed, he will have to make sure he can still sell it to his people in Tehran as a victory.
His supporters have already made it clear that he will be held accountable, if he capitulates.
The president might want to stay around in 2021 for the sake of history, but he might not if


A garage owner who helped to smuggle £37 million worth of heroin into the country in a specially adapted X-type Jaguar has been jailed. A quarter of a ton of the drug had been hidden in a series of secret compartments inside the battered old car - which had no ignition or electrics and couldn't be driven - as it arrived at the port of Felixstowe on a container ship from Pakistan. Attique Sami, 44, was the third member of a drug smuggling crime gang to be jailed over the plot when he received a sentence of 19 years yesterday. A garage owner who helped to smuggle £37 million worth of heroin into the country in a specially adapted X-type Jaguar has been jailed . Scans revealed that a quarter of a ton of the drug had been hidden in a series of secret compartments inside the battered old car - which had no ignition or electrics and couldn't be driven - as it arrived at the port of Felixstowe on a container ship from Pakistan . Heroin was concealed in the bumpers, wheel arches, dashboard, central console, spare wheel compartment, engine and rear seating of the vehicle. Paperwork with the vehicle made out it had been shipped to the UK to be repaired. But investigators were able to find the drugs after the Jaguar was scanned with X-ray equipment, and its secret cargo was revealed. Attique Sami, 44, was the third member of a drug smuggling crime gang to be jailed over the plot when he received a sentence of 19 years yesterday . Sami of Ilford was found guilty of conspiring to import and supply heroin following a trial at Luton Crown Court. His conviction follows the sentencing of two other men, Noman Qureshi, 32, from Bradford, and Israr Khan, 35, from Luton, in October last year. They were sentenced to 21 and 18 years respectively. The smugglers did not realise they were already under surveillance by a crack team from the National crime Agency soon after the container ship arrived at the port in Suffolk in December 2013 . On the evening of Friday 6 December 2013, Qureshi drove from his home in Bradford, picked up Khan in Luton, and drove to a hotel in Ilford. Sami arrived in his Porsche 911 to meet with them to discuss where to unload the heroin from the car. The Jaguar, which had been shipped to the UK from Pakistan, was driven on the back of a low-loader to an address in Dagenham during the early hours of 7 December . Qureshi and Khan met it, but shortly after left the scene. They were arrested later that morning in Luton. The Jaguar was seized and examined by specialist Border Force search officers. They recovered 316 separate packages of heroin totalling 230 kilos. If cut and sold the drugs would have had a likely potential street value of £37.2 million. Sami was arrested in February 2014. NCA investigators linked him to a phone that had regularly been used to contact Qureshi prior to the heroin importation. The Class A drug was packed into the boot (pictured), dashboard, central console and spare wheel compartment. Even the car's engine had been removed to make room for the lucrative haul . Black packages of heroin appear to be concealed inside the back seats, removed by police . Paperwork with the vehicle made out it had been shipped to the UK to be repaired. But investigators were able to find the drugs after the Jaguar was scanned with X-ray equipment, and its secret cargo was revealed . Jailed: Noman Qureshi of Bradford, West Yorkshire (right), was jailed for 21 years and Israr Khan of Luton, Bedfordshire (left) was given an 18-year sentence. Police said they were part of an international crime group . National Crime Agency Branch Commander David Norris said: 'Sami played a crucial part in this conspiracy - his role would have been to recover the drugs concealed within the car. 'This group had international contacts and planned to import hundreds of kilos of high-purity heroin to the UK in what was a quite remarkable smuggling attempt. 'The car in which the drugs were hidden had virtually every spare bit of space filled with heroin. 'But they were unaware their moves were being monitored by NCA investigators, who prevented them from putting these harmful drugs on the streets.'

Attique Sami was third member of drug smuggling crime gang to be jailed . Heroin was concealed in the bumpers, wheel arches, dashboard, central console, spare wheel compartment, engine and rear seating of the vehicle . The battered old car had no ignition or electrics and couldn't be driven . Paperwork with the vehicle said it had been shipped to UK to be repaired . Jaguar was scanned with X-ray equipment, and secret cargo was revealed .

 Jag – and in the boot.
A car dealer with a string of dodgy deals on the side who masterminded the plot was jailed for 11 years. A third, a drug dealer who collected the money, was locked up for nine years, and a fourth, a Nigerian, got five years. All four lived in Bolton.
A Manchester man who admitted he acted as middle man in the plot was caged for seven years.
The four plotters – some of whom were convicted of drug smuggling themselves in the past – were brought to justice after a year long investigation. It is understood the plot was hatched in Nigeria.
A 41-year-old who lived in the country was originally charged in a British court with smuggling the drugs. However, because of the strength of evidence against him – including police witnesses who admitted they were told to drop charges against him because “he was a Nigerian” – the man was later deported, meaning that the case could be brought before the courts.
The investigation started in February last year when a man, known only as “A”, was stopped for a minor offence near Bolton. He then led police on a high speed chase in the city. The car was pulled over and police recovered the drugs in the boot and hidden compartments.
Police then raided two more X-Types, one belonging to “B”, a car dealer who was arrested and charged with possession of the drugs. The other belonged to “C” who had bought one of the Jaguars from “A”.
B was arrested for a third time in August after police were tipped off that he was selling the car to a new buyer, who was tracked down and subsequently arrested.
The man who allegedly bought the cars said that he knew they had been imported illegally.
The investigation became increasingly complicated as the plotters tried to get rid of the drugs without the aid of the original supplier.
Officers discovered that the two Jaguars, along with a Land Rover Discovery, which was used to move the drugs, were stolen from a car dealer in Bolton.
When the car was recovered it was found to be fitted with a system which allowed the car to be remotely activated with a hand held device so that it could be driven away. This was allegedly used by the gang to move the X-Types when the original driver couldn’t.
As a result, the Land Rover was found with the same secret compartments as the Jaguar. The X-Type


(CNN)In Washington, we are seeing the re-emergence this year of a phenomenon that many Americans were afraid had gone extinct: real live no-joke bipartisanship. Heavyweights from both parties are attending the March 26 Bipartisan Summit on Criminal Justice Reform. The event is co-produced by Gingrich Productions (on the right) and by my project, #cut50 -- an initiative that aims to safely halve the number of people behind bars within 10 years. Attorney General Eric Holder will be speaking. So will Newt Gingrich, the Republican former House speaker. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, will be there. So will Democratic strategist and CNN commentator Donna Brazile, a co-host of the summit. Republican power players like former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, will address the gathering by video. So will President Obama. Progressives like myself will rub shoulders with representatives from Koch Industries. Everyone keeps asking me, "How is this possible?" I have five words for you: "Liberty and justice for all." The ever-expanding incarceration industry has begun to violate some of the deepest and most sacred principles of BOTH major political parties. Therefore, conservatives, libertarians and liberals have their own objective interests in reform -- and their own values-based incentives to make real changes. For example, the right takes very seriously the concept of "liberty." Conservatives and libertarians want to defend the rights of every individual to pursue his or her dreams. They favor limited government. They hate massive, failed, bloated government bureaucracies that suck up more and more money and get more and more power, no matter how badly they perform. In America today, we have 5% of the world's population -- but we have nearly 25% of the world's incarcerated people. Nearly 1 in 100 American adults is behind bars. One out of every four people locked up anywhere in the world is caged in America's prisons and jails. And most people come out more damaged, more hopeless and less able to thrive than when they went in. (So much for "corrections"!) That's the opposite of limited government -- and liberty. On the other hand, progressives like me care passionately about the "justice for all" part -- including racial justice and social justice. We are incensed by a system that locks up the poor and racial minorities in numbers that are massive -- and massively disproportionate. We oppose a system that forever tars people as "felons,"  deemed permanently unfit for employment or the right to vote, possibly because of one mistake, early in life. When any system violates the principles of both "liberty" AND "justice," Americans of all stripes should stand together to change it. That is exactly what is starting to happen. This year, we are seeing the birth of an honest-to-goodness "Liberty and Justice for All" coalition. Still struggling to believe me? I was on "Anderson Cooper 360" on Monday night to discuss the movement for criminal justice reform. Here is a quote: . "A lot of kids I grew up with, grammar school, middle school, high school, were in prison. They were the poor kids and they had drug addictions. They had drug problems, they didn't have any money, they got caught, and they got caught in the poverty cycle, and they are at the bottom of society and they can't get out of it. ... People with drug problems, people who have mental illnesses, they probably shouldn't be in the criminal justice system. And people who make mistakes, let's not write them off forever, let's give them a chance to reintegrate and reenter society." There is just one catch: I'm not the one who said that. That is a direct quote from Mark Holden, senior vice president of Koch Industries. On practically every other issue, the Koch brothers and I are still fierce opponents. I doubt if we will ever agree on tax policy, campaign finance reform, environmental rules or the Keystone Pipeline, to name a few. But on criminal justice reform, it's different. Mark speaks eloquently about the way the criminal justice system violates the Bill of Rights and criminalizes behaviors that should not result in prison terms. And he is not alone, on the right. Fiscal conservatives decry the money wasted on a system that is too expensive and produces poor results. That's one reason that red-state governors, like Georgia's Nathan Deal, have acted boldly. Leaders with roots on the religious right, including summit co-host Pat Nolan, insist on the Christian value of redemption and second chances for those behind bars. Our values may not always be identical, but they can find common expression in fixing this broken prison system. Progressives and conservatives don't have to trust each other -- or even like each other -- to vote together on this issue. Usually, "bipartisanship" is just another word for cheap, political gamesmanship. It is too often invoked by one side, simply to gain advantage and to cloak a more narrow set of interests. But on criminal justice reform, something different is happening. Criminal justice reform is the one place where many Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians actually agree -- and are willing to work together to get something done. Over the last 30 years, both parties helped lead us down the path to mass incarceration. It will take both political parties to reverse course. Perhaps the March 26 Bipartisan Summit will represent the first major bend in the road back toward sanity.

Van Jones: America locks up far too many of its citizens, and there's a bipartisan effort to change that . He says President Obama, the Koch brothers, Newt Gingrich, Cory Booker and others agree on it .

 White House summit on college costs, the first since 2006.
In the Senate, the Bipartisan Budget Act passed late last year over loud Republican criticism (and with almost no Democratic opposition) has been largely accepted by Democrats and Republicans alike. Last week, the 115th Congress was joined for the first time ever — by a vote of 83 — in raising the debt ceiling.
And that’s just for starters. Other items currently getting traction in both parties:
1. $1 trillion tax cut
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) have both come out in support of the $1 trillion tax cut plan that President Donald Trump has proposed — even though Ryan had said, as recently as last December, that the size of the tax cut would be too high. Ryan has also said that a border adjustment tax — which could be used to fund some or all of the tax cut — could work in the House Republican plan to overhaul the tax code, but will not work in the Senate.
2. The opioid crisis
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), who chairs the Finance Committee, said in a CNN op-ed Wednesday that he’s working with the president to address the opioid crisis. And after months of silence, the White House has finally announced a $1 billion anti-opioid funding plan — but Senate Democrats have demanded more specifics about how the administration will spend that money.
Trump is also reportedly considering ways to get at pharmaceutical companies that contribute to the crisis. The industry spends “no capital, no payroll, no sales — except in the United States, by far — and yet they are taking drugs all over the world,” Hatch told CNN this week.
“This is something that can be addressed quickly,” Trump told a group of governors this week, saying he planned to ask Congress for at least $1 billion to fight the problem in his budget proposal.
3. Guns
House Republicans have finally agreed on a gun policy proposal, and they’ve scheduled a floor vote on the bill for Wednesday.
The 42-page package of bills would allow the National Rifle Association and the Department of Justice to work more closely together — including requiring both to use more discretion in how they handle background checks. It also would provide $450 million in grants for mental health treatment — a major priority of gun control


There seemed to be a medal on every uniform – be it military or school. Three Victoria Crosses, four George Crosses, 1,650 gallantry decorations and tens of thousands of campaign medals were awarded during Britain’s 13-year action in Afghanistan. Yesterday, as the country gathered to honour that campaign at St Paul’s Cathedral, several children were wearing the medals of fathers who never returned from the war against the Taliban. Scroll down for video . Gallant: Prince Philip, 93, guides the Queen down the steps of St Paul's Cathedral after Friday's service . It was the Queen who led the nation’s tribute, supported by the 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh (literally so when it came to negotiating the steps of St Paul’s). In pride of place behind her were the holders of another decoration. The Elizabeth Cross is the medal no one wants. Yet no decoration, surely, is worn with greater pride. Devised by the sovereign at the height of the Afghan conflict in 2009, it is a silver brooch presented to the next of kin of every member of the Armed Forces killed in the line of duty – and there were 453 of those in Afghanistan. Yesterday, the families of every single one had been invited to join the Queen at St Paul’s. Historians and politicians will still be debating the merits of the Afghan project years from now. But the bravery and determination of those called upon to serve there has never been in question. Hence the decision to recognise their collective efforts with a formal act of worship and a parade through the City of London. Entitled ‘A Service of Commemoration, Reflection and Remembrance’ (‘thanksgiving’ might have been triumphal), this was a state occasion of the highest order. All the senior members of the Royal Family – including Afghan veteran Prince Harry – and all the Service chiefs were present, along with the three main party leaders plus representatives of our Nato allies and all the main faiths. For dad: Charlton Taylor, five, son of Royal Marine Michael Taylor who was killed in Afghanistan in June 2010 . Remembered: Charlton (left) wore the medals awarded to his father (right) who was just 30 when he died . Past prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were also present. They had front row seats in the South Transept, flanked by senior Forces personnel rather than grieving families. In the run-up to this service some had questioned the presence of the leaders who took Britain into this conflict. There would, of course, have been louder criticism had the two men stayed away. Even so, great delicacy was required. At the close, the ex-PMs were out of a side door and off the premises before the royal chauffeurs had even started their engines. By far the largest section of the 2,600-strong congregation – more numerous, even, than the veterans themselves – were the bereaved. For each holder of the Elizabeth Cross had been granted two invitations – and quite right, too. There were some desperately poignant sights; a schoolboy with Dad’s medals sitting alongside Mum, in black, with her Elizabeth Cross on her lapel and tissues clasped tightly in her hand; a middle-aged couple blinking back tears; a young mother, dressed in black, dashing for the door with a small, screaming boy in her arms during the opening prayers. It’s rare to see a toddler at a state occasion. Presumably, the little chap was there to honour a gallant father or uncle. Touching moment: Prince Charles with Forces families at the reception at the Guildhall after the service . I hope they were both allowed back in. Because this was a magnificent service, a finely judged blend of tradition, innovation, stirring but non-martial music and audience participation. Among half a dozen worshippers chosen to read the prayers of intercession were a senior RAF officer, former Corporal Sarah Bushbye MC, who won her Military Cross dashing through a maelstrom of gunfire to treat four wounded soldiers, and Kerry Ashworth, mother of Lance Corporal James Ashworth of the Grenadier Guards. He won a posthumous VC for his attack on Taliban positions in 2012. ‘For peacemakers and peacekeepers who seek to keep this world secure and free, may God give peace,’ declared Mrs Ashworth faultlessly, her son’s VC pinned alongside her EC. Seats were left empty at the service as family members of the 453 who died chose not to attend. Relatives travelled to London to watch the service on a screen outside St Paul’s Cathedral – even though more than 40 seats were left unoccupied inside. Graham Knight, whose son Sergeant Ben Knight, 25, was killed in an explosion in 2006, was one who declined the invitation. Mr Knight, from John O’ Groats, said: ‘It is more of a public relations exercise, with the good and the great at the front and all the relatives at the back. We don’t need to go to a service like that to remember our son, we remember him every day.’ Around 20 bereaved family members and veterans were either unwell or unable to travel at the last minute and did not attend the service. Another 15 to 20 bereaved family members and veterans unexpectedly did not turn up. A Ministry of Defence source said: ‘It’s understandable that on such an emotional day for so many people there were some who felt they couldn’t attend today’s service.’ After a lesson from Prime Minister David Cameron (‘Blessed are the peacemakers…’), the Bishop of London shared his readings with 13-year-old Tyler Barrow from Hampshire. Tyler still remembers the day in 2007 when his father, Captain Gary Barrow of the King’s Royal Hussars, was so badly wounded he had to be evacuated back to Britain. But Captain Barrow made a full recovery and went on to complete a further two tours of duty. It was hard to tell who was proudest of whom when I met them yesterday. ‘I’m more nervous than he is,’ Captain Barrow admitted before the service. In another emotionally charged moment, the Bastion Cross was carried the full length of the cathedral in a procession of its own. Originally knocked together from old shell cases at Camp Bastion, this brass crucifix became a shrine for troops in the field. Yesterday, before the Head of the Armed Forces herself, it was formally rededicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby. The Archbishop based his short sermon on the words of the prophet, Jeremiah: ‘Great is your faithfulness.’ Thanking all the troops, he also lauded the vast support network behind them. ‘I’m told that each wounded person was supported by up to 80 others by the time they got home.’ And he had stirring words for the home front. ‘We also thank those of you who stayed behind, who let your loved ones go; you who worried for their safety each day, took your phone to your bedside each night. Great is your faithfulness.’ Departing to Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B Minor, the Queen was introduced to another cross-section of those whose lives were turned upside down by this conflict. Corporal Matthew Webb of the Royal Marines is now a triple amputee. Sally Thorneloe lost her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe of the Welsh Guards, the most senior officer killed in the conflict. Yesterday, she was accompanied by her daughters, Hannah, nine, and Sophie, seven, who presented flowers to the Queen. Respects: The Queen  receives flowers from sisters Sophie (right) and Hannah Thorneloe (second right), whose father Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was the most senior officer to be killed in Afghanistan . In front of the cathedral, the parade was forming up. Detachments from all the Services marched the short distance to a Guildhall reception while an RAF flypast – including that great Afghan warhorse, the Chinook – flew overhead. Thousands of onlookers, many of them City workers, had turned out to clap them all. I am glad to report that I neither saw nor heard a single protester, just lots of polite, heartfelt applause. Some of the loudest was for those bringing up the rear – the families. For many, the last experience of something like this was the raw agony of the homecoming parade at Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. Yesterday should leave them with a sunnier memory. ‘No tears today. That was beautiful and we are smiling,’ said Elizabeth Daniels of Hyde, Lancashire, beneath a glorious lime green hat. She was here to remember her beloved brother, Corporal Harvey Holmes, and to support her mother Beverley Mayall. Parents-to-be: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge also attended the moving service . At Guildhall I met Brenda Wilson and her daughter Rachel Stanley, 27. Her Elizabeth Cross pinned proudly to her coat, Brenda had bumped into some old comrades of her son, Corporal Jack Stanley of the Queen’s Royal Hussars, who died on Easter Sunday 2012. ‘I cannot fault anything about today. It’s been wonderful,’ she said. ‘Coming here, you realise you’re not on your own. You’re part of an enormous family.’ It may be a family that has known great pain. But yesterday will undoubtedly have left it stronger. As peek-a-boo Ed nods off... his two predecessors sneak out the back door . Tony and Gordon Brown attended the service but left out of a back entrance of St Paul’s to avoid coming face to face with the families of those who died in Afghanistan. Mr Blair, the prime minister who took Britain to war, and his successor left several minutes before the other guests, escorted by bodyguards to separate BMW saloons. Relatives had reacted with fury last week when told Mr Blair and Mr Brown would be among the congregation, with one saying Mr Blair has ‘got blood on his hands’. A spokesman for Mr Blair said he had to leave quickly to fly to an economic conference in Egypt. Out of line: Ed Miliband seems to duck down as he stands with Prime Minister David Cameron and Nick Clegg . Feeling tired? Mr Miliband rubs his eyes, cups his head in his hand and then appears to drop off . Quick exit: Former prime ministers Gordon Brown (left) and Tony Blair at Friday's commemoration .

Country gathered to honour Afghanistan campaign at St Paul's Cathedral . Queen led the nation's tribute, supported by her husband, Prince Philip . All the senior members of the Royal Family and political leaders attended . Several children were wearing medals of fathers who never returned .

year engagement with the Second World War.
As part of the UK’s national commemorations of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Imperial War Museum (IWM) has now given its military medal collection a home for public display.
In London’s South Bank, a gallery is being created in the iconic former Bankside Power Station to hold 350 military and civilian medals awarded to members of the armed forces, police, fire, ambulance and coast guard services, the Territorials, civil defence and others during Britain’s time at war.
Over in Duxford, the site of the Imperial War Museum’s East Anglian Air Museum, a collection of Second World War medals has been lent for inclusion in the museum’s current exhibition, ‘War Heroes of the RAF.’
The Imperial War Museum (IWM) opened its doors in 1920 after the Imperial War Graves Commission decided that all of its exhibits had to be housed in one place. It had already collected some of the war dead in an album which included signatures from soldiers that survived.
IWM’s collection grew as the conflict went on, and it also bought the private collection of medals of Lord Dudley Davis, an MP who had served in the Boer War. This collection was officially launched by HM The Queen in 1936.
Today, IWM’s collection represents the story of 8 million people who served in the Second World War, including over 6,200 medal groups belonging to those killed and over 3 million who earned medals but did not die.
The IWM medal collection comprises over 45,000 medals, ribbons and badges. It is believed to be the world’s largest collection of military medals with some coming with their original ‘wound badges’ or ‘scar badges’ which were worn on uniforms by soldiers in the days before the introduction of universal arm bands.
More than 50,000 medals, ribbons and badges were lent to the IWM’s ‘War Heroes of the RAF’ exhibition with many from the Imperial War Graves Commission, the Victoria Crosses Association, the Victoria Cross Trust and other private owners.
In addition, thousands of medals were given to IWM directly. One of the rarest is a 10th Hussars Volunteer Corps Badge made from melted-down medals. The medals used were from the battle of Waterloo when the British army was routed and 3,000 men were killed in one minute.
Med


Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is promising an exciting summer of recruitment at Selhurst Park after the club effectively guaranteed their Premier League survival with a comeback victory at Stoke City. Palace are now 11 points clear of the drop zone and Pardew can think about building for next season, buoyed by the new Sky Sports TV deal and a possible takeover from American businessman Josh Harris. Recruitment is now uppermost in Pardew’s mind and he revealed: ‘We are getting calls regarding players from Inter Milan and Benfica because they are our market now. Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium . Pardew (left) congratulates wing wizard Yannick Bolasie at full-time after Palace's impressive victory . Wilfried Zaha has scored in his last two games against QPR and Stoke, the first time he’s netted consecutively since October 2012 in his first spell with Palace . ‘Palace now come into the same group as everybody below the likes of Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool, and the most important thing is to try to trade well. ‘It’s important to preserve your Premier League status early. If you leave it late, it is very difficult to get players. You don’t want other teams putting packages together and working on players before you can. ‘We are pretty secure in approaching clubs and players now as a Premier League side for next season and that’s what we will do. We have the finance to do what we say we are going to do. So it does give us a slight advantage.’ One player who will remain is reborn winger Wilfried Zaha who scored the winner at The Britannia for his first back-to-back goals since 2012. In February, Wilfried Zaha (right) was sad, but according to Alan Pardew he is now playing with a smile . Zaha signed for Manchester United after Palace's promotion, but his career nosedived at Old Trafford . Zaha’s career nosedived after a £15million move to Manchester United went sour and he has gone from being capped by England to not even making the Under 21 squad. He was ordered to smile more and sulk less by Pardew last week and celebrated his goal at Stoke by playfully sticking out his tongue. ‘He looked a sad player when I arrived (from Newcastle in January),’ said Pardew. ‘You are never going to play your best football when you're sad and sometimes good management is not about tactics but inspiring players. He was down in the dumps for whatever reason. ‘Young players need that exuberance, particularly with the way he plays. And smiling and being happy is part of that exuberance.’ Nonetheless, 22-year-old Zaha doesn’t plan on transforming himself into a cartoon clown. ‘I do smile when I need to!,’ he stressed. Crystal Palace players celebrate with Glenn Murray after he scored a penalty to draw Palace level . Stoke manager Mark Hughes was distraught with two key decisions by referee Andre Marriner . ‘When it is time to be serious, I’m serious. When it is time to play around I will play around. ‘We’ve got the points we’ve needed to now so we can play without pressure and enjoy the rest of the season.’ There wasn’t much hilarity from beaten Stoke manager Mark Hughes who felt his side were robbed by two key decisions from referee Andre Marriner after taking a 14th-minute lead from Mame Diouf. Hughes has joined West Brom manager Tony Pulis in saying technology should be brought in immediately to stop the wrong decisions being made. The Stoke boss was furious that Mr Marriner awarded Palace a penalty when Asmir Begovic and Yannick Bolasie collided and Glenn Murray levelled from the spot. And after Zaha had put Palace ahead, the official waved away a strong appeal for handball against Palace defender Joel Ward. Hughes believes that Palace defender Joel Ward (right) was guilty of handball in the penalty area . Hughes slammed the standard of refereeing in the Premier League this season . Hughes said: ‘It was clear to everybody that he has thrown his body, his arms to stop the ball going goalwards. It was a shot on target, he was not close to the ball, he was about five yards away so it was a clear penalty. ‘I don’t think the standard of refereeing this year has been as good as it needs to be. They need a little bit of help and I’m an advocate of TV replays. ‘I think it is quite simple. If a big decision is made, he needs to ask the question: is there any reason why I should not give a penalty, or why I should not give a goal. Within 10 or 15 seconds they can give the referee an answer and there will be more correct decisions. They need to be given that option because at the moment they need a lot more help. ‘I think we have reached a tipping point. Before there were debates one way or the other but now I think it needs to come in.’

Crystal Palace came from a goal behind to beat Stoke 2-1 on Saturday . Palace are now 11 points clear of the drop zone in the Premier League . Alan Pardew says they are getting calls regarding players from Inter Milan and Benfica because 'they are our market now' The Palace boss says Wilfried Zaha was down in the dumps when he arrived but is now playing with a smile on his face .

ew has told the board to 'get me a couple of good players' and then 'it's up to you'.
Pardew is well aware that his side's performances in the 2015/16 campaign were not good enough to justify their current position and is keen to move on from what he described as 'the worst season of my management'.
The Eagles boss has already promised to bring a number of new signings to the club over the summer, even if their Premier League future has not yet been confirmed.
And the manager believes that his team can go all out for trophies next season as they look to build a new squad with greater Championship pedigree.
"If I'm given the resources to do that - a couple of good players - then great. I'll do that." Pardew told reporters.
"I'll do my best to push myself up the league and I've always said I want to be in the top two at the end of every season.
"I'll get my board involved in all that. I'm not putting a limit on it in terms of cost, but I think everyone can see I'm not saying this because we are 11 points clear with one game to go. If we were two points off it, you wouldn't say you wouldn't get me a couple of good players. So it's about building for the future, not just the short term."
"I've been involved with this game for a long time and there are a lot of good young players in this league. It's going to be very hard. But you can be sure that I will be having a go. We are going to give it everything we have got, and we are going to do what we can to build on our achievements next season."
The former Newcastle United and West Ham United manager has taken a bit of a gamble on the Premier League survival with Palace, as the club currently looks set to be relegated, but insists that the players and everyone behind the scenes has come out fighting in the last week.
"We have got the players we have got, they have got to give me everything they've got and we'll see what happens. That's what it is about - you have got to give it everything you've got, and it might not be enough." Pardew said.
"We are not in charge of the rest of the league,