18+ min ago (703+ words) Jacob Bethell averages 38.71 in four Tests Tour match, Manuka Oval, Canberra (day two of two) Prime Minister's XI 308-8d: Kellaway 82, McSweeney 63, Peake 54; Potts 2-40 England Lions won by eight wickets Jacob Bethell failed to push his claim for a place in England's Test team as he fell cheaply in England Lions' eight-wicket win over a Prime Minister's XI. Bethell, 22, is the spare batter in England's squad and one of three players - alongside bowlers Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts - released to play in the two-day pink-ball warm-up match in Canberra. He made just 16 before he was tamely caught behind off left-armer Campbell Thompson. It was agreed on day two to turn the game into a one-innings affair, meaning the Lions needed 309 to win at Manuka Oval. They resumed on 30-0 and Tom Haines (77) and Emilio Gay (56) pushed that to 114-0 before the latter retired hurt after…...

25+ min ago (374+ words) Plans to convert a hospital site and Grade II listed building into residential housing have been approved. On Thursday, South Kesteven District Council granted planning permission for 10 apartments and 17 houses at Stamford Hospital. The scheme includes preservation of the Greyfriar Gatehouse which was built in the 14th century and alterations to the original infirmary and casualty ward buildings. Councillor Charmaine Morgan, who chairs the authority's planning committee, said: "This seems to be a very exciting opportunity for Stamford. It's a very high-profile and important site." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Chris Hunt, chairman of Stamford Local History Society, was concerned the heritage of the site would be lost. He said his group supported the "principle of converting historic buildings for residential use and the preservation of key structures" but expressed "deep concern" for the "potential loss of archaeological heritage…...

25+ min ago (445+ words) Rescuers in Indonesia are searching for at least 400 people who have been reported missing, many believed to be buried under landslides, after cyclonic rains caused disastrous flooding nearly a week ago. The death toll on the island of Sumatra has risen to more than 440, the government says. Aid has been sent into affected areas by air and by sea, but some villages have yet to receive anything, and there are reports of people stealing food and water to survive. Some foreign aid has arrived, with Malaysia sending medical supplies to Aceh, one of the worst-hit provinces. Millions have been affected by heavy rains across South-East Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. An exceptionally rare tropical storm, named Cyclone Senyar, caused catastrophic landslides and flooding in Indonesia, with homes swept away and thousands of buildings submerged. People are missing in…...

31+ min ago (206+ words) A man has died following a road traffic collision in east Belfast. Police received a report at about 22:40 GMT on Saturday evening of a collision involving a pedestrian and a Mercedes Vito on the Upper Newtownards Road. Emergency services attended the scene but the man was pronounced deceased at hospital a short time later. The Upper Newtownards Road was closed but has since reopened. Chief Inspector Simpson, of the PSNI Collision Investigation Unit said that police are investigating the circumstances of the collision. Ch Insp Simpson said police "would like to hear from witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam or other footage which may assist with our enquiries". The Marsh Fritillary is known for its stained glass effect wings, but numbers have been in decline. Ulster Scots Language event traces Ulster's heritage through the poetry of the "Rhyming…...

35+ min ago (395+ words) Iran have qualified for a seventh World Cup Iran say they plan to boycott the 2026 World Cup draw in the United States next week because of the limited number of visas for their delegation. According to the Tehran Times, the US has issued four visas to Iran's delegation, but they do not include one for Mehdi Taj, the president of the country's football federation. Taj said he had spoken to Fifa president Gianni Infantino about the issue. "We are evaluating our options, which will depend on timing and circumstances," Taj said in an interview with Iranian television on Thursday. "We remain in close communication with the Iranian foreign ministry and other authorities, and we will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time. "The current position of the Iran Football Federation executive committee is that no one will attend the…...

38+ min ago (190+ words) A key witness is sought to a crash in which a 16-year-old boy on an e-bike was killed. The collision, between an e-bike and two cars, took place in Chilwell Lane, Bramcote, at 10:10 BST on 28 September. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving remains on police bail. Nottinghamshire Police is appealing for a black male who stopped at the scene but has not been traced. They also want to hear from anyone with dashcam footage or who saw the vehicles involved in the moments before the collision. The boy's family members continue to be supported by specially-trained officers, police added. Det Sgt Charlotte Henson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We know this potentially key witness stopped at the scene but have so far been unable to trace…...

44+ min ago (646+ words) Nwada Chiamaka Iwenofu Richards b" onye na-ese ihe a na-ah" anya ma na-emet" aka a kp'r' 'visual artist' na Bekee k'r' BBC Igbo na ' b" mmas" o nwere n'ise mere o jiri ya mere aka 'r". O kwuru na njem ya malitere na mgbe ' ka b" nwata, o kwuru na o so n'"m"aka na-esekaar" ihe n'"l'akw"kw' mgbe 'b"la. "A malitere m ise ihe mgbe m b" nwata, eso m n'"m"aka na-eme a na-ak"zi ihe n'"l'akw"kw' ha were mkp"s" d" iche iche na-esekas" ihe. "D"ka oge na-aga, ach'p"tara m na ise ihe na-amas" ime, na oge 'b"la m n' m na-ese ihe. "M wee kpebie na m g"chaa "l'akw"kw' sek'nd"r" na m ga-abanye mahadum ga-ag" maka ngalaba ise ihe (art and applied science). Etu…...

45+ min ago (490+ words) Mae Clwb P'l-droed Everton wedi datgelu "mainc sgwrsio" er cof am Gary Speed tu allan i'w stadiwm. Mae meinciau sgwrsio yn llefydd i gefnogwyr siarad am iechyd meddwl gyda'r gobaith y bydden nhw'n annog pobl i sgwrsio am eu teimladau, meddai'r clwb. Daw'r cyhoeddiad 14 mlynedd ers marwolaeth Speed, gyda'i deulu yn ymweld "'r fainc cyn y g'm yn erbyn Newcastle ddydd Sadwrn. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Clwb P'l-droed Everton bod y fainc yn "deyrnged barhaol i un o gyn-chwaraewyr y clwb sydd yn cael ei edmygu fwyaf." Cafodd Gary Speed ei ddarganfod yn farw yn ei gartref ym mis Tachwedd 2011. Yn cyn-gapten Cymru, Speed oedd rheolwr y t'm cenedlaethol ar y pryd. Chwaraeodd Speed i'r Toffees am ddwy flynedd, yn sgorio 18 g'l mewn 65 g'm i'r clwb. Mae'r fainc cynnwys y neges 'Er cof am Gary Speed, Evertonian, Capten, Arweinydd. 1969-2011. Lle…...

57+ min ago (109+ words) A man has been left fighting for his life and another has suffered serious injuries in a street attack in a market town. The two men were injured in the "disturbance" just before 03:30 GMT in Railway Street, Altrincham, Greater Manchester. One man has been arrested. Greater Manchester Police described one of the men's injuries as "life-threatening" while the other's were "life-changing". A spokesperson said: "Police would like to reassure the public that this incident is believed to be isolated, and a large number of officers are in the area." "Businesses in the local area are likely to be affected whilst officers conduct inquiries," they added....

59+ min ago (339+ words) A fleet of 42 electric buses entering service in the coming weeks has been described as a "massive step up" for a county's infrastructure. Several of Stagecoach West's new buses have now arrived at depots in Gloucestershire, but are not yet in passenger service. Chris Hanson, managing director of Stagecoach West, said: "They're quieter, smoother, they have air conditioning, new seats and they've got two wheelchair bays on them, so they're a massive step up on some of the vehicles we have at the moment." Gloucestershire County Council has said, together with the government, it had contributed around "3.5m to the project, while Stagecoach West has invested "17 million pounds. Mr Hanson continued: "We're able to take out 42 of our oldest fleet, and when you compare the difference it's quite astounding. "In Gloucester, you'll see them on the 1, out to Matson, the 2 and…...