Month: November 2018

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European Space Agency

Britain is planning to build its own space satellite-navigation system after pulling out of the EU’s Galileo project, the prime minister has said.

The UK had wanted to stay part of Galileo after Brexit, but the EU said it would be banned from the extra-secure elements of the programme.

UK science minister Sam Gyimah has quit over the row, saying it exposed the flaws with Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

“Galileo is a clarion call that it will be ‘EU first’,” he said.

The UK’s interests “will be repeatedly and permanently hammered by the EU27 for many years to come”, he added in a Facebook post setting out his reasons for resigning. He also said he would be voting against Mrs May’s deal.

Former Tory cabinet minister and campaigner for the People’s Vote, Justine Greening, said Mr Gyimah was a “highly respected and capable minister” and praised him for not ruling out a second vote.

And the Lib Dem’s education spokeswoman, Layla Moran, said Mr Gyimah’s exit showed the government was “falling apart”, and that he had “seen at close quarters the devastating effect this botched Brexit will have on these important sectors”.

Galileo is the EU’s upcoming version of the US’s GPS, which is used by millions of people around the world.

The UK invested €1.4bn into the project and has estimated returns to UK industry of €1.15bn.

But when the BBC asked if any more of the money would be given back, a government spokesman said the project was “part of the withdrawal agreement” and the UK had reached “a fair financial settlement with the EU”.

Mrs May said the British army – which had been planning to use Galileo along with the US GPS – will no longer use it.

The UK will instead explore options to build its own satellite navigation system. The government has already set aside £92m to look at how it can be done.

“I cannot let our armed services depend on a system we cannot be sure of,” Mrs May said. “That would not be in our national interest.

“And as a global player with world-class engineers and steadfast allies around the world we are not short of options.”

What is Galileo?

Many people’s sat-navs and mobile location services currently run on a US military-based system called GPS – global positioning system – which uses satellites to pinpoint our locations. China and Russia also have satellite-navigation positioning systems.

In 1999, the European Union embarked on a plan to put together its own network of satellites, called Galileo, so it was not reliant on the US, Russian and Chinese systems.

The first satellites were put into orbit in 2013 and it is planned to be fully operational in 2020 with 30 satellites orbiting earth. The technology will be used by EU governments, citizens, military and industry.

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European Space Agency

All EU member states will be allowed access to it – including the “public regulated service” (PRS) part of Galileo, which is the secret inner workings and is due to be completed in the mid-2020s.

This can only be used by government-authorised users like police and only during emergencies or crisis situations.

While GPS is accurate to within about 20 metres, Galileo is designed to improve that, to around one metre.

The government said there should be no noticeable impact for the public from withdrawing from the project, as devices that already use Galileo, such as smartphones, will carry on doing so.

• Read more: Galileo and how it will work

Why did the UK and EU disagree over it?

The UK has been a key player in the Galileo project. The UK has spent 1.4bn euros (£1.2bn) on the project, according to a report in April.

UK companies have built components for Galileo and one of the project’s two Galileo Security Monitoring Centres was based in the UK, in Swanwick. The site is now being relocated to Spain.

In May 2018, the UK’s Department for Exiting the European Union said it wanted to continue participating in Galileo.

But the EU said that the restricted and security-related part of the system – PRS, which is of particular interest for the military – is only for EU members and, after Brexit, the UK will not be allowed access.

The EU said the UK would not be allowed to be trusted with the EU’s most sensitive security information after Brexit.

In June 2018, UK companies were excluded from bidding for contracts on the satellite system.

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What has the UK government announced?

On Friday evening, Downing Street said the UK will no longer seek access to secure aspects of Galileo for defence or critical infrastructure after Brexit.

Instead, the UK Space Agency is looking into creating Britain’s own system that can be used to guide military drones, run energy networks and be used on people’s smartphones. Contracts are being tendered.

Any system will provide both open and encrypted signals and must be compatible with the US GPS system in case one is attacked.

“I have been clear from the outset that the UK will remain firmly committed to Europe’s collective security after Brexit,” the PM said.

“But given the Commission’s decision to bar the UK from being fully involved in developing all aspects of Galileo it is only right that we find alternatives.

Number 10 said the UK is a “world-leader in developing satellite technology”, adding that “Glasgow builds more satellites than any other European city”.

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Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Space poses a new and increasingly dangerous front for warfare and it is crucial to push ahead with plans for our own world-class, independent satellite system.

“This also gives us an opportunity to draw on British skills and expertise as we leave the EU as a truly leading nation in satellite technology.”

In August, UK ministers set aside £92m to scope out how feasible it would be to create an alternative to Galileo. The programme to design it, the government said, would take approximately 18 months to complete.

What have critics said?

Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, who campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU, said: “Brexit was supposed to increase our strength and influence, yet here we are pulling out of a key project of great importance to our national security.

“To compound this disaster, we will have to pay out billions to replace the project,” he said.

Tyson Fury says he has achieved one of the “best comebacks of all time” as he prepares to face Deontay Wilder in a bout labelled highly “significant” for British boxing.

The Briton, 30, says he must simply enjoy one of the “best days of my life” when he faces the WBC heavyweight champion on Saturday.

The Los Angeles bout comes less than six months after his return from a 30-month lay-off, during which he battled depression and accepted a backdated two-year ban from UK Anti-Doping.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Fury scaled 18st 4½lbs and will carry more than three stone into the ring than Wilder.

The American weighed just 15st 2½lbs. It was his lowest weight since his 2008 debut – a surprise given in recent weeks he made a point of stating his 214lbs mark in his last bout came after a dire camp during which he had been unwell.

Speaking to BBC Sport about his boxing return, Fury said: “I don’t remember a bigger comeback ever, someone coming from further away.

“I don’t believe someone has gone up to 28 stone, lost all that weight, come back. I don’t remember people suffering with all the problems I suffered with. So it ranks up there with the best comebacks of all time.

“The most important thing for me to do on Saturday is have fun. It’s a great part of my life and I’ll look back on it in time and think: do you know what, they were the best days of my life.”

The bout will take place at around 04:30 BST on Sunday morning, with commentary on BBC Radio 5 live.

But is Fury fighting fit? Has his team given away a surprise tactic? And who are the BBC pundits picking? These are the talking points.

Fit, fighting fit and ring anxiety

More than one taxi driver has told BBC Sport’s team in Los Angeles that they became aware of Fury upon reading of his 10st weight loss in around 12 months.

But his team plotted 18 months before a fight of such magnitude would be entertained, meaning he only has two routine wins to his name since June.

“You can spar or train but he hasn’t been put under pressure,” said former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who will be part of BBC Radio 5 live’s commentary team.

“He will have to deal with that internal anxiety moving around the ring, trying to slip, box and set himself. That’s the biggest doubt.”

A ketogenic diet – boasting low carbohydrate intake – and countless 250kg deadlifts were features of Fury’s transformation, but has he maintained the slick style which saw him beat Wladimir Klitschko to become a world champion in 2015?

“You only have to be half an inch wrong and the punches that were flying past your face are landing,” said BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello. “I’ve always felt there is a big difference between general fitness and boxing fitness.”

Fury’s trick to pick apart puncher

American Wilder says he will administer a “brutal knockout” of his rival at the Staples Center – home of Los Angeles’ NBA outfits the Lakers and Clippers.

With 39 knockouts from 40 bouts, the 33-year-old has power which makes him possibly the “greatest puncher of all time” according to Fury.

Abel Sanchez – trainer of Gennady Glolovkin – will also be part of Radio 5 live’s commentary team and believes “there’s not a man out there that can take a right hand from Deontay”.

But such power means Wilder’s craft and pedigree as a 2008 Olympic bronze medallist has been “all too easily dismissed” according to Costello.

There are rumours Fury will switch from his preferred right-handed orthodox stance to southpaw – as he did against Dereck Chisora in 2014 – in order to flummox Wilder.

Decorated trainer Freddie Roach, who Fury has hired as his cut man, told BBC Sport: “I’ve watched two films of Wilder facing southpaws and he had trouble with both of them.”

BBC Radio 5 live analyst Steve Bunce added: “Roach told me that when Fury switches to southpaw it’s seamless, the opponents don’t even realise.”

Beards and the ‘Roach effect’

The presence of Roach in Fury’s corner led to theories the challenger’s 26-year-old trainer Ben Davison had been found wanting.

Roach, who has trained the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, welcomed Team Fury to his Wildcard Boxing Gym when they turned their backs on a camp at altitude after four weeks.

Costello believes Roach’s greatest impact will be felt way before the ring walks given his experience of fight night protocols in the US. Roach had even inquired as to what length Fury’s beard could be before rules were broken, only for the fighter to shave it off.

“The Wilder camp see Roach as an act of desperation,” said Costello.

“The most important role he could play is what happens at rules meetings, bandage wraps, those things. He is so familiar with what goes on in America.

“Officials may have made it difficult for a young British trainer like Davison but they will be unlikely to do so with Roach stood before them.”

Lee, a former WBO world middleweight champion, added: “The Roach thing is a very wise move. There’s training and build-up but when it comes down to it and you’re in the trenches you want to know you trust the man 100% beside you. So it’s a huge night for Davison.”

Predictions

Costello: Wilder. I just think the champion will find Fury in the second half of the fight.

Lee: This is one that can go any way but I will never doubt Fury and I am going for him on points.

Bunce: We will have a much better fight than anyone thinks. I can see Tyson in front and getting hurt. I arrived in LA thinking Tyson on points, now I have a dreadful feeling Wilder will find him, it may be late.

Sanchez: I’ve swayed both ways. It’s 50-50. As long as Tyson can avoid that right hand. If he doesn’t, he’s asleep for a couple of weeks. If that doesn’t happen I can see a decision, maybe even a draw.

AJ and the biggest rivalry in a generation

Wilder raged at Wednesday’s news conference, where an on-stage fracas between the pair and their teams broke out.

Consensus among media was that the emotions were genuine and there is indeed much riding on this for Wilder as a win would offer a colossal boost to his profile and perhaps enhance hopes of a shot at Anthony Joshua, who holds the three other belts at heavyweight.

Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “This is a big, significant moment in British boxing. We could end up with two Brits holding all four titles.”

Costello added: “There is potentially a three-way rivalry building here. That would produce the best heavyweight rivalry for a quarter of a century when Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe were around.

“It is highly likely that the winner of this fight will – maybe after a rematch – be facing Anthony Joshua at some stage in 2019.”

By around 06:00 GMT on Sunday morning the UK will know if Fury’s incredible return includes a fairytale moment. Wilder can perhaps – after 41 fights – land a win which would deliver the recognition he craves.

Join BBC Sport for a live text service and Radio 5 live for commentary. There is much to fight for.

Junior Hoilett scored a spectacular late winner as Cardiff City staged a stirring second-half fightback to beat Wolves and climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Despite a barrage of set-pieces from the hosts in a first half low on quality from both sides, Wolves took the lead as Matt Doherty seized on a rebound to score on his 200th appearance for the club.

Cardiff hauled themselves back into the contest by sheer force of will, with Harry Arter twice close to scoring before playing a role in the equaliser which summed up this frantic encounter.

After a corner was half-cleared, Arter hoisted the ball back into the box and, with Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio seemingly blocked by Cardiff’s Callum Paterson, Sean Morrison was able to nod the ball down to Aron Gunnarsson, who struck from close range.

If that goal was a microcosm of the match, the winner was a total outlier, as Hoilett whipped in a fabulous first-time effort from 25 yards, clipping the crossbar on its way into the net.

That clinched just a third win of the season for Cardiff – lifting them up to 15th place in the table – and gave manager Neil Warnock a welcome birthday present before he turns 70 on Saturday.

For Wolves, a fifth defeat from six matches leaves them winless since 6 October and still 11th in the Premier League.

Goalscorer Doherty said his side’s form was a concern.

“That’s the nature of the Premier League, you have to be ruthless in both boxes,” he said. “Once you start losing games, it’s a slippery slope.

“We are worried. Coming into the season we had high hopes and we are a good team. We should be winning here, we should be beating Huddersfield at home. We need to look at ourselves.

“We are not used to losing games since the manager came in. The run we are on is uncharted territory for us.”

A tale of two promoted sides

Both sides won automatic promotion from the Championship last season, though they had adjusted to life in the Premier League with rather differing fortunes.

Wolves’ intricate playing style – and their spending power in the transfer market – helped them take to the top flight with a flourish, initially.

By contrast, Cardiff’s more direct, often limited approach – and modest financial resources – contributed to a difficult start to the campaign which saw them enter this fixture second from bottom of the table.

Warnock’s men launched long throws into the Wolves penalty area in the early stages, hoping to feed off the scraps of possession which came their way.

The visitors also struggled to play with much fluency under the steady, pouring rain, though their first counter-attack of note led to a goal.

From a resulting Joao Moutinho corner, Raul Jimenez’s flicked header was superbly saved by Neil Etheridge and Doherty was the quickest to react at the back post, slamming the ball into the roof of the net.

Despite the pace they boasted in wide positions, Wolves did not threaten much from that point, although they defended stoutly in the face of determined Cardiff pressure.

Arter was an improbable candidate to bring them level, but twice he was inches away from doing so – once with a powerful half-volley which hit the post and again with a sweetly struck volley which whistled just wide.

It was fitting that the attack dog of the Cardiff midfield was a key part of the equaliser, looping the ball back into the penalty area before it made its way to Gunnarsson.

That goal lit the fuse for a rousing end to the game from Cardiff, who secured victory in stunning fashion as Bobby Reid’s shot was blocked, with the ball rolling invitingly for Hoilett to smash his curling strike into the top corner.

Rivalries renewed

There was an edge to this game, not least because last season’s corresponding fixture in the Championship had ended in such chaotic fashion.

Ruben Neves’ free-kick gave Wolves a precious 1-0 win – but only because Cardiff managed to miss two penalties in added time to spark ecstatic celebrations for their opponents.

As Wolves’ coaches and players ran on to the pitch at the final whistle, manager Nuno Espirito Santo forgot to shake hands with Warnock, who reacted furiously and refused to accept the Portuguese’s subsequent apology.

There was a more conciliatory tone in the build-up to this rematch, with both men saying they had moved on from that incident.

And while there was certainly a raw physicality to some of the collisions – with both sets of centre-backs commanding in the air – tempers did not boil over.

There was no shortage of passion, though, with the guttural roar from the home crowd at the final whistle demonstrating how much this rare victory meant to Cardiff.

This time, it was Warnock, rather than Nuno, who was on the pitch, albeit in a calmer fashion, striding towards his eighth decade with a beaming smile.

Man of the match – Sean Morrison (Cardiff)

Cardiff, the comeback kings? – the stats

• Cardiff have won consecutive home games in the same top-flight season for the first time since 1961-62.
• This was the first time Wolves have lost a league game that they opened the scoring in since February 2017 (2-1 v Burton Albion), ending a run of 44 such games without defeat.
• Cardiff have won three of the past four Premier League home games in which they have conceded the first goal – coming back to beat Fulham (4-2), Brighton (2-1) and Wolves (2-1).
• Cardiff have picked up nine of their 11 Premier League points this season from trailing positions, the joint-most in the division alongside Arsenal.
• After losing just one of their first eight games in the Premier League this season (W4 D3), Wolves have since lost five of their past six (D1).
• 91% of Cardiff’s points in the Premier League this season have been won at home (10/11); the highest ratio in the competition.
• Since the start of last season, Hoilett has been directly involved in more league goals (21 – 10 goals, 11 assists) than any other Cardiff player.
• Gunnarsson scored his first Premier League goal since August 2013, when he netted the Bluebirds’ first goal in the competition (v Manchester City).

What’s next?

Cardiff are at West Ham on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) and Wolves are at home to Chelsea on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Great Britain claimed gold in the women’s team pursuit final at the UCI Track World Cup in Berlin.

Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald, Emily Nelson and Emily Kay rallied superbly to overcome Australia and finish in four minutes 16.153 seconds.

“We were behind with half a lap to go so to pull it out at the end we are super happy to win gold,” Nelson said.

Britain added men’s team sprint silver as Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Ryan Owens finished behind the Netherlands.

The British trio edged ahead in the early stages, but the powerful Dutch line-up of Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie Lavreysen and Nils van ‘t Hoenderdaal wrestled the gold medal.

The men’s team pursuit quartet of Ed Clancy, Charlie Tanfield, Kian Emadi and Ollie Wood were beaten in the quarter-finals by Australia.