Softbank buys robot-maker Boston Dynamics from Alphabet

Shares of Japan's Softbank have surged to their highest in nearly two decades after the firm bought robot-maker Boston Dynamics from Google's Alphabet.

Boston Dynamics, known for its robots such as Atlas and BigDog, has struggled to commercialise its inventions and was put up for sale more than a year ago.

Softbank also announced it is buying robotics group Schaft.

The terms of the deals were not disclosed. Softbank shares rose by more than 7% in Tokyo.

Softbank began as a Japanese telecoms company but moved into robotics and developed the human-like Pepper in 2014.

Founder Masayoshi Son has since built the Japanese firm into a massive technology conglomerate through some big deals.

BBC NEWS

General election 2017: Why did Theresa May call an election?

When Theresa May announced on 18 April that she planned to call a "snap" general election, it surprised almost everyone.

It had been only two years since the last UK-wide poll, won by Mrs May's predecessor, David Cameron. And under the relatively recent Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, another general election had not been due until 2020.

On top of that, when she had been asked whether she was tempted to capitalise on her healthy poll ratings and go to the country, Mrs May had given an emphatic "no".

"I think the next election will be in 2020... I'm not going to be calling a snap election" she told the BBC's Andrew Marr in September 2016 .

But that all seemed to change over the course of the Easter break.

As Britain went back to work on the day after Easter Monday, Mrs May stood on the steps of Downing Street to deliver her surprise call for an election.

Her stated reason was to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations. With official Brexit talks with the EU due to start in mid-June, Mrs May claimed Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems would try to destabilise and frustrate the process in Parliament.

• Full UK results breakdown
• Latest updates on our live coverage page
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  "If we do not hold a general election now, their political game-playing will continue," Mrs May said in her address to the country, "and the negotiations with the European Union will reach their most difficult stage in the run-up to the next scheduled election."
  The timing was important in Mrs May's mind. Unless all sides agree to extend Brexit talks, the UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March, 2019.
  As things stood, that would have given the government little more than a year to show the deal it had achieved was working before the next scheduled general election.
  By gaining a fresh five-year term in 2017, Mrs May could look forward to a longer bedding-in period for the fruits of her negotiations. The extra time could be used to negotiate free trade agreements that are seen as critical to the UK's post-Brexit future.
  But while navigating Brexit was her declared reason, many political commentators believed Mrs May couldn't resist the opportunity presented by the opinion polls. A flurry of polls around the middle of April showed the Conservatives about 20 points ahead of Labour.

  A poor decision?

  And if her poll ratings were to be believed, she could have expected to be returned as prime minister with a greatly strengthened majority in the House of Commons. There was even talk of a Tory landslide victory when some polls early in the campaign showed a 20-percentage point gap between the Conservatives and Labour.
  A beefed-up majority would have made her less vulnerable to the whims and demands of her own backbenchers if they didn't like the way the government's negotiations were shaping up.
  Such division in Parliament would "risk our ability to make a success of Brexit and it will cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country", she said.
  "Every vote for the Conservatives means we can stick to our plan for a stronger Britain and take the right long-term decisions for a more secure future."
  However, that hope looks to have been dashed. A BBC forecast of election results says the Conservatives are at risk of losing their overall majority, while remaining the largest party in Westminster. If that were to happen, Mrs May's gamble on a snap election will be seen as a very poor decision.
  
  
  BBC NEWS

These ancient underground dwellings provide shelter for villagers – and their livestock – during Maymand’s biting winters.

An ancient cave village

Iran's ancient village of Maymand, located around 900km south of the capital Tehran, is littered with troglodytic dwellings ‒ cavernous, underground homes carved out of soft rock. Stone engravings found at the site are estimated to be more than 10,000 years old.

A Unesco World Heritage Site, Maymand is said to have been inhabited continuously for more than 2,000 years, which makes it one of Iran's oldest surviving villages. (Credit: Rodolfo 

Contreras)

Seasonal housing

Tucked away in a valley within the arid mountains of central Iran, Maymand experiences extremely hot summers and severely cold winters. To adapt to these harsh conditions, villagers switch homes according to the season.

In the summer and early autumn, they live in homes with grass thatch roofs which help protect them from the oppressive heat. When temperatures plummet and bone-chilling winds sweep the valley, Maymand residents move underground. (Credit: Rodolfo Contreras)

Modern living

Residents have updated the caves to suit their lifestyle: they have electricity, which allows for refrigeration, and even televisions. However, there is no running water, and ventilation is minimal. The dark film that covers some of the walls is a result of the soot from the fires used to cook or heat the rooms. (Credit: Rodolfo Contreras)

America's Cup 2017: Great Britain eliminated by New Zealand

35th America's Cup in Bermuda

Play-offs: 4-8 June & 10-12 June. America's Cup: 17-18 & 24-27 June.
Race coverage: Watch highlights on BBC Two, Red Button, Connected TVs, online and BBC Sport app from 11 June.

Ben Ainslie's Great Britain were eliminated from the America's Cup as New Zealand secured a 5-2 win in the best-of-nine semi-final.

Leading 3-1 overnight, New Zealand won the first of Thursday's three scheduled races to take them to the brink.

Britain delivered under intense pressure in the next race before New Zealand sealed a play-off final spot.

It was a victory to savour for New Zealand after their catamaran capsized during racing in high winds on Tuesday.

"I was really proud of the way the team sailed today," said Ainslie afterwards.

"Three and a half years ago a few of us were sitting around a table in London - what we have we have achieved is incredible.

"We will be back next time and we will be stronger."

After Wednesday's races were postponed because of high winds, New Zealand made a strong comeback to go 4-1 up on Thursday.

Great Britain had a 26-second lead at the first mark before their opponents came back to secure a 31-second victory.

Britain managed to hang on with a near-perfect win in the next race after getting off to a strong start and, this time, maintaining their lead and matching their opponents for speed.

However, New Zealand's class shone through as they put Tuesday's troubles behind them.

"We struggled coming into this with a lack of speed but everyone has dug so deep to get us more competitive," added Ainslie.

The Kiwis will take on Sweden or Japan in the play-off final. Sweden need just one more win after a dramatic comeback.

They trailed Japan 3-1 at the start of the day but won all three races on Thursday to take a 4-3 lead.

'Hugs, tears and cheers'

Analysis: BBC Sport's Tony Husband in Bermuda

There were hugs, tears and cheers as Great Britain sailed back into the dockyard for the final time. They were facing up to the realisation that this 21st British challenge for the 'Auld Mug' had gone the same way as the others.

Britain's wait to bring sport's oldest trophy home goes on for at least another two years. Amid the despondency, there was a positive message from Ben Ainslie.

The man on whom so much rested certainly isn't the type to hide. He strode up to BBC Sport to give his first interview, despite the obvious pain that this deeply personal challenge had failed only minutes before.

"We will be back," was the emphatic message. In reality, he had probably known this moment was coming for a while.

Since the high of winning the World Series pre-qualifying event, it's been evident that the British bid was behind its rivals. Boat speed and control was often cited as an issue; practice races hadn't been encouraging.

They were also inconsistent throughout this regatta. Ainslie had proved almost unbeatable in the starts, but too often their rivals would reel them in.

The Kiwis are the strongest challenger, and despite dropping one race to Great Britain on Thursday, they showed no outward scars after Tuesday's dramatic capsize.

The inquest will be thorough and probably painful for Britain, but Ainslie seems far from done with the America's Cup.

What happens next?

Holders Oracle Team USA await the winners of the challenger final in the America's Cup.

The first to seven points wins the America's Cup, or the Auld Mug as the trophy is known, with a possible 13 races to be sailed on 17-18 and 24-27 June.

The America's Cup, the oldest competition in international sport, was first raced in 1851 around the Isle of Wight and has only been won by four nations.

BBC NEWS

Champions Trophy: Sri Lanka stun India to throw Group B wide open

Champions Trophy, Group B, The Oval

1. India 321-6 (50 overs): Dhawan 125, Rohit 78, Dhoni 63

   Sri Lanka 322-3 (48.4 overs): Mendis 89, Gunathilaka 76, Mathews 52*

   Sri Lanka won by seven wickets

   Scorecard; Standings

Sri Lanka executed a masterful run-chase to stun holders India with a seven-wicket Champions Trophy win at The Oval and throw Group B wide open.
Set 322 for victory after Shikhar Dhawan's century, Danushka Gunathilaka (76) and Kusal Mendis (89) shared a stand of 159 before both were run out.
Kusal Perera's 47 off 44 balls put Sri Lanka on top until he retired injured.
But Angelo Matthews (52 not out) and Asela Gunaratne (34 not out) saw their side home with eight balls to spare.
It is Sri Lanka's joint-highest successful run chase in one-day internationals, having also surpassed 322 to beat England at Headingley in 2006.
Every side in Group B can still qualify for the semi-finals, with each team having taken one win and one defeat from their first two games.
India face South Africa at The Oval on Sunday, and Sri Lanka take on Pakistan in Cardiff the following day.

 
Watch all the highlights as they happened
Watch highlights of India v Sri Lanka at The Oval from 23:15-00:05 (not in Wales or NI)

 

Having posted more than 300 for the second straight game, India were firm favourites at the halfway point against an inexperienced Sri Lanka batting line-up who subsided to a 96-run defeat by South Africa in their opening game.

Opener Niroshan Dickwella did little to dispel that notion as his jittery innings was quickly ended for seven, top-edging Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ravindra Jadeja to leave Sri Lanka on 11-1.

Having consolidated to reach 44-1 off 10 overs, Gunathilaka counter-attacked, slugging Hardik Pandya for six to bring up a 47-ball fifty before Mendis followed suit, targeting Jadeja to also bring up his half-century by clearing the ropes.

The chase threatened to stutter when Gunathilaka failed to make his ground attempting an ill-advised second run, before Kumar reacted superbly off his own bowling to throw down the stumps with a hesitant Mendis stranded.

Kusal Perera ensured Sri Lanka stayed up with the required run rate, bravely labouring on after pulling his hamstring before he was finally forced from the field at the end of the 43rd over, with 51 needed off 42 balls.

Captain Mathews, playing his first ODI since August 2016 following a recent calf strain, calmly took up the charge though and Gunaratne's entertaining late cameo ensured Sri Lanka eased to an upset victory that perhaps reinvigorated the tournament after several rain-affected matches.

Dhawan displayed a shrewd balance of attack and defence in reaching his 10th ODI century, accumulating sensibly and using the pull and cut shots to pounce on anything wayward from an underwhelming Sri Lanka attack.

He shared an opening stand of 138 with Rohit Sharma (78) before his partner steered Lasith Malinga straight to Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep removed Virat Kohli for a rare duck shortly after. Dhawan responded with five boundaries in quick succession.

Although Sri Lanka then stifled India for a spell, Dhawan brought up his century with a trademark late cut off Pradeep in the 40th over before finally holing out for 125 as MS Dhoni (63) and Kemar Jadhav (25) then combined to pass 300.

Despite having drifted in and out of the India side during his career, Dhawan, 31, is now the third-fastest batsman to reach 10 one-day centuries, taking 77 innings, behind South Africa pair Quinton de Kock (55) and Hashim Amla (57).

He is also the epitome of consistency in the Champions Trophy, becoming only the fourth player in the history of the tournament to hit three centuries, after Chris Gayle, Herschelle Gibbs and Sourav Ganguly, and also averages 79 in one-day games in England.

 

Japan passes landmark bill for Emperor Akihito to abdicate

Japan's parliament has cleared the way for Emperor Akihito to abdicate by passing a landmark one-off bill.

The 83-year-old said last year that his age and health were making it hard for him to fulfil his official duties.

But there was no provision under existing law for him to stand down.

He is now expected to abdicate in 2018, the first Japanese emperor to do so since 1817, and will be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito.

The bill passed its first hurdle in May, when it was approved by the cabinet.

The new law says that on abdication, the emperor's 57-year old son Naruhito will immediately take the Chrysanthemum Throne, but that neither he nor his successors would be allowed to abdicate under the same rule.

The government is yet to set a date for the abdication, but the bill says it must take place within three years of the law coming into effect.

The handover is widely expected take place in December 2018.

• Ten things you may not know about the emperor
• In pictures: Japan's Emperor Akihito
• The princess, the palace and the shrinking royal line
• Japanese Emperor Akihito's 2016 address in full

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What does the emperor do? The emperor has no political powers but several official duties, such as greeting foreign dignitaries. Japan's monarchy is entwined in the Shinto religion and the emperor still performs religious ceremonies.

What do the public think? Most support the emperor's desire to abdicate - a survey by the Kyodo news agency after Akihito suggested he wanted to step down found more than 85% saying abdication should be legalised.

Are there more debates revision of the law of royal succession? A discussion about whether or not a woman would be able to ascend the throne was triggered in 2006 when the emperor had no grandsons, but was postponed after a boy was born to the imperial family. 

BBC NEWS

Yemen cholera cases pass 100,000 amid 'unprecedented' epidemic

The number of suspected cases of cholera resulting from a severe outbreak in Yemen has passed 100,000, the World Health Organization says.

A total of 798 deaths associated with the disease have been recorded in 19 out of 22 provinces since 27 April.

The charity Oxfam said the epidemic was killing one person almost every hour.

Yemen's health, water and sanitation systems are collapsing after two years of war between government forces and the rebel Houthi movement.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.

Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms but, in severe cases, the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.

• Yemen’s professionals drawn into war
• How bad is the humanitarian crisis?
• Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom?

On Wednesday, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the epidemic in Yemen was "of an unprecedented scale".

In the past four weeks, it added, the number of deaths had been three times higher than that reported between October 2016 - when Yemen's government first announced an outbreak - and March 2017.

The authorities in the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa, which has recorded the highest number of cases, declared a state of emergency on 14 May.

More than half of the country's health facilities are no longer functioning, with almost 300 having been damaged or destroyed in the fighting.

Health and sanitation workers have not been paid for eight months; only 30% of required medical supplies are being imported into the country; rubbish collection in the cities is irregular; and more than 8 million people lack access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.

The OCHA said the risk of the epidemic spreading further was compounded by the rainy season, widespread food insecurity and malnutrition.

Image copyright EPA

 

 

The war has left 18.8 million of Yemen's 28 million people needing humanitarian assistance and almost 7 million on the brink of famine.

Oxfam's Yemen country director, Sajjad Mohammed Sajid, meanwhile warned that the outbreak was set to be one of the worst this century if there was not a massive and immediate effort to bring it under control.

"Cholera is simple to treat and prevent but while the fighting continues the task is made doubly difficult. A massive aid effort is needed now," he said.

"Those backers of this war in Western and Middle Eastern capitals need to put pressure on parties to the fighting to agree a ceasefire to allow public health and aid workers to get on with the task."

A Saudi-led multinational coalition - backed by the US and UK - launched a military campaign in support of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in March 2015. Since then, at least 8,050 people have been killed and 45,100 others injured.

 

 BBC NEWS