Lionel Messi joins Paris Saint-Germain on two-year contract after leaving Barcelona

 Lionel Messi signs two-year deal - with option for a third - worth £25m per year after tax; the 34-year-old was set to sign a new five-year contract at Barcelona but arrived in Paris on Tuesday to complete PSG deal; Messi: "Everything about the club matches my football ambitions"

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner arrived in Paris on Tuesday afternoon to complete a medical and seal his move to the French club on a two-year deal - with an option for a third - worth £25m per year after tax, plus bonuses.

Messi will receive a £25m signing-on fee as part of the move and will wear the No 30 shirt for PSG, which was the number he wore on his Barcelona debut in 2003.

The 34-year-old was set to extend his 21-year stay at Barcelona by signing a new five-year deal this summer, but the club announced on Thursday that "financial and structural obstacles" meant the contract could not be fulfilled.

On signing for PSG, Messi said: "I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions.

"I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes."

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: "I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris.

"He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the very highest level and winning trophies, and naturally our ambition as a club is to do the same.

"The addition of Leo to our world-class squad continues a very strategic and successful transfer window for the club.

"Led by our outstanding coach and his staff, I look forward to the team making history together for our fans all around the world."

Messi will give his first press conference as a PSG player at 10am (BST) on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes.

He had said he wanted to stay at Barcelona and "did everything" he could to remain at the club, including agreeing to a 50-per-cent wage cut.

However, Barcelona are hamstrung by La Liga's rules on club spending and even halving Messi's pay was not enough to ensure he remained at the Nou Camp.

Messi had two other options after leaving Barcelona last week but has now joined PSG, with their potential to compete for major trophies - including the Champions League - understood to be a key factor in his decision to move to France.

Messi is also believed to have been keen to reunite with Neymar, with whom he won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Reys and the Champions League during their time together at Barcelona.

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Entire Kardashian klan UNFOLLOW Tristan Thompson on social media in ultimate celeb snub amid cheating claims

2 hours ago

The entire Kardashian klan has given Tristan Thompson the ultimate celeb snub amid claims he cheated on girlfriend Khloe.

Every member of the family, from his pregnant girlfriend and momager Kris Jenner down to youngest sibling Kylie Jenner, have unfollowed the basketball player on Instagram

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We want seamless e trade' BMW chief issues STERN Brexit demand for Angela Merkel

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Munich-based BMW has previously voiced concerns that failure to secure a Brexit deal with Britain could affect its £2.4bn annual exports from the UK.

The motor trade has been a significant part of Germany’s better-than-expected GDP growth that rose to 2.5 percent last week.

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Reed leads McIlroy by three at Masters - report & highlights 

an hour ago

2018 Masters Venue: Augusta NationalDates: 5-8 April Coverage: Watch highlights of the first two days before live and uninterrupted coverage of the weekend's action on BBC Two and up to four live streams online. Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Read live text commentary, analysis and social media on the BBC Sport website and the sport app. Full detailsMasters third-round leaderboard-14

P Reed (US); -11 R McIlroy (NI); -9 R Fowler (US); -8

Irish novelist warns of Brexit-style revolt against elite on abortion vote

25 minutes ago 

One of Ireland’s most critically acclaimed novelists has warned that the country’s referendum on abortion in May could be a “Brexit/Trump” moment for Ireland, exposing similar divisions between rural voters and city-dwellers.

Patrick McCabe, the author of bestsellersThe Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto, both made into feature films, said there was a danger that sections of the “metropolitan media in Dublin” could alienate voters in rural constituencies and help usher in a no vote against abortion reform.

Suspended Welsh Labour minister Carl Sargeant found dead after 'personal misconduct claims' was 'thrown to the wolves'

Mr Sargeant, 49, is understood to have taken his own life just four days after he was removed from his role


Former Welsh government minister Carl Sargeant was "thrown to the wolves" after he was sacked and suspended from the Labour Party over allegations about his personal conduct, a colleague has reportedly said.

Mr Sargeant, 49, is understood to have taken his own life just four days after he was removed from his role as secretary for communities and children.
There is growing criticism from within his own party over how the situation was handled by First Minister Carwyn Jones after the allegations surfaced last week.
One Welsh Labour Assembly Member has told of "deep unease" within the party after Mr Sargeant was "humiliated" and "isolated".

Another has said that Mr Sargeant "wasn't dealt with fairly" because details of the allegations weren't revealed to him.

An anonymous Labour AM who raised concerns told the BBC that there is a suspicion that it was a political decision to remove Mr Sargeant from cabinet.
The AM said First Secretary of State Damian Green was allowed to remain in his post while under investigation over claims that he made inappropriate advances towards a woman.
The AM said Mr Sargeant had been "humiliated" and "isolated without any decision being made that he's guilty", adding: "It's hard to understand why Carl was thrown to the wolves.
"There's deep unease in the group about the way this has been handled."

Labour AM Jenny Rathbone told BBC Radio Wales that Mr Sargeant "wasn't dealt with fairly in the most basic sense".
She told how he was "devastated" after being sacked and suspended, and she wasn't aware of him receiving any form of formal pastoral care.
She added: "If allegations are made against you, you must know what they are so that you can respond to them."

There have been calls for an independent review into how the situation was handled.
Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has suggested a review be carried out by a senior lawyer.

A spokesperson for Welsh Labour said the party would not comment in response to the criticism. Mirror Online has contacted the Welsh government for comment.
Before he died, Mr Sargeant had written on Twitter on November 3 that he had been told that allegations had been made about his personal conduct.

The married father-of-two wrote that it was "shocking and distressing to him" but the details of the allegations had not yet been disclosed at that time.
He added that he had resigned from his cabinet position so he could focus on efforts to "clear" his name, but Labour said he had been sacked.
Mr Sargeant wrote on November 3: "I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.

"Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from cabinet today. I look forward to returning to Government once my name has been cleared."

The nature of the allegations has not been made public.
Mr Sargeant's family announced on Tuesday that the Alyn and Deeside AM had died, with police confirming they were called to a home in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, at 11.30am after a man's body was found.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
A family statement said: "Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend. He wasn't simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much."
In a statement, Mr Jones said: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a Minister and as a local Assembly Member.
“He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd. My heartfelt sympathies are with his family at this difficult time."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the death was "terrible and deeply shocking news".
Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: “My thoughts are with the friends and family of Carl Sargeant following his tragic death.”


SUSPENDED WELSH LABOUR MINISTER CARL SARGEANT FOUND DEAD
Former Welsh government minister Carl Sargeant was trying to clear his name (Image: South Wales Echo) LOADING
PIERS MORGAN ACCUSED OF MAKING INSENSITIVE REMARKS OVER LABOUR MP CARL SARGEANT'S SUICIDE
READ MORE
Carl Sargeant dead at 49: An industry man who forged a political career promoting social justice. 

ONE MONTH TO PAY: Ultimatum on Brexit bill hangs over UK to move to trade talks

THE UK government has just one month to make offers on the Brexit divorce settlement if they want European Union trade talks to begin in December.

The EU has warned the UK it must make a financial offer within the next month
Despite EU members beginning to prepare for trade talks with the UK, talks have stalled since Theresa May’s Florence speech, with EU chiefs saying her offer of €20billion was not good enough.

And EU chiefs refuse to move to phase two of negotiations until “sufficient progress” is made on the divorce terms – largely surrounding the exit bill.
Senior officials in Brussels say the EU will not agree to trade talks at its December summit if more is not offered.

Fri, October 20, 2017
The EU is expected to say that they will start internal preparatory work on a post-Brexit transition period and a future trade deal with Britain
PLAY
Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference on the second day of European Council meetings
Italy’s Europe minister, Sandro Gozi, said there remains “a lot to do on financial obligations”.
The other main divorce issues are EU nationals’ rights in the UK, the status of the Ireland-Northern Ireland border.

Brexit breakthrough? Britain unveils new citizens rights plan to sm...
Professor SAVAGES Brussels and claims they are out to PUNISH Britain RELATED ARTICLES

During Mrs May’s Florence speech, she pledged the UK will “honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership”.
Brussels have demanded as much as £53 billion, which Mrs May could be willing to accept so talks can progress to Britain’s relationship with the bloc in December.
However, if the money is paid, Mrs May could face criticism in the UK for bowing down to the EU’s demands.

Barnier has said not enough progress has been made to move to the next stage of talks
An EU official said: “Some believe that the worse it gets for the British, the better for us, that maybe we could delay it all until for instance March, increasing the uncertainty and triggering the contingency plans in the corporate sector.

“That would be ruthless and risky, but people have different views on what is risky.”
May could face criticism if she gives the EU all the cash they want
After the fifth round of talks ended in October, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said there was “deadlock” over the UK’s Brexit bill.
Mr Barnier said not enough progress has been made to move to the next stage of Brexit trade talks.

Coronation Street spoilers: Cancer torment for Robert Preston

Coronation Street look set to be lining up a traumatic new storyline for Robert Preston as he tries his best to hide some troubling symptoms. Could he be set to be diagnosed with a serious illness as he buries his head in the sand.?

Michelle Connor is thrilled as Robert arrives home after being released from prison and the pair are loved up following their reunion with Robert making Michelle a partner in the bistro.
However, Michelle soon notices that Robert is in pain as he sits down and questions him but he plays it down, insisting that he has suffered a strain to his groin.

As Robert determines to avoid the repeated instances of pain he is experiencing, he draws up a training and exercise plan but Michelle is worried both that he is pushing himself too far and that he isn’t taking his symptoms seriously.
Robert later lies and tells her that the doctor confirmed he has aggravated his groin strain but will Michelle accept this?

Or is this the start of the rumoured storyline that will see Robert diagnosed with testicular cancer?
One to watch: Monday 13th November at 8:30pm on ITV.

Chinese exports slow, as US banks voice Brexit fears - business live

All the day’s economic and financial news, including the latest trade figures from China and a Bank of England Agents report

Wall Street banks: Brexit ‘point of no return’ looms
Chinese exports fell last month
US trade gap still wide as Trump arrives
Graeme Wearden
Wednesday 8 November 2017 08.28 GMT


Topics FT: Wall St warns Trump team of Brexit fears
Brexit continues to loom over the City of London, as the clock ticks towards 31 March 2019 when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.

The Financial Times reports that major banks warned the US commerce secretary last week that they will soon start shifting jobs out of London, unless there is more clarity.
The Wall Street titans, including JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, reportedly cited Britain’s unstable government and the lack of progress in planning Britain’s future.
Collectively they employ tens of thousands of people in the City.
Crucially, they warned Wilbur Ross that they are approaching the “point of no return” -- where they have to trigger their Hard Brexit contingency plans and begin shifting jobs, capital and infrastructure overseas.

As the FT puts it :
Those briefed on the talks, which were held over lunch at Wilton’s restaurant in London’s exclusive St James’s district, said the banks were particularly concerned by the failure of Britain to provide clarity over whether it will secure a transition deal to smooth the changing regulatory regime after the UK leaves the EU.

They warned they had even less clarity over what a final Brexit deal will look like.
Absent clarity from the government about post-Brexit plans, the executives said jobs would move back to the US or to other European capitals as banks begin to enact their worst-case contingency plans, the sources said.

”There was broad discussion around the lack of progress in the Brexit talks and some discussion around various political scenarios,” one person briefed on the talks said.
UK business chiefs have also been urging Theresa May’s government to nail a transition deal by the end of this year. So, with Wall Street’s major players getting nervous, the pressure is growing.

The City of London Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo
(@JolyonMaugham)
Donald Trump warned of our chaos.
Just let that sink in. pic.twitter.com/Y5dAbCiJtw
November 7, 2017 Jo Maugham QC
Updated at 8.28am GMT
China’s trade figures landed shortly before Donald Trump touched down in Beijing for a state visit.

And I’m sure the president will want to know that China posted a trade surplus of $26.6bn with the US in October. That’s $1.5bn less than in September, but 12% higher than in October 2016.
It means that China has racked up a trade surplus with the US of $223 billion so far this year, on track to match 2016’s total, despite Trump’s promises to trim it.
US and Chinese companies are expected to sign several commercial deals during Trump’s visit (these agreements are typically lined up to give politicians some good news to share).
The South China Posts says Beijing has four key goals :


President Donald Trump and Melania Trump arriving in Beijing today for a state visit. Photograph: Xinhua / Barcroft Images
1 Persuade Washington to lift export restrictions on hi-tech products, so US firms could sell more to China
2 Create more cooperation between the US and China in research and development in fields such as space and aviation
3 Boost US participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative - a massive economic expansion drive - and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
4 Press the US to tone down its probe into alleged Chinese IP violation
Updated at 8.25am GMT
The agenda: Chinese trade data disappoints
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business.
New trade figures from China have missed expectations, which may be a sign that global growth isn’t as punchy as we hoped.
Chinese export growth slowed to 6.9% in October, below expectations of 7.2% growth, and down on September’s robust 8.1%.
Import growth also slower, rising by 17.2% last month after a blistering 18.7% in September.
The figures could signal that China’s economy, after a solid year, is flagging a little this autumn -- as Beijing cracks down on pollution and tries to shift from manufacturing to services.
Capital Economics China economist Julian Evans-Pritchard says:
“The big picture is that both outbound and inbound shipments have softened recently, a trend that continued last month.
“We suspect that this reflects a slight easing of growth in other emerging markets along with weaker domestic demand as a result of slower infrastructure spending.”
Mubina Kapasi , analyst at ET Now , points out that China imported less iron ore than usual, and also shipped out less steel.
Given China’s key role in the world economy, these trade figures may weigh on European stock markets today.
David Madden of CMC Markets says:
China is making a concerted effort to move towards a more service focused economy. That being said, their demand for minerals is still a major driver of commodity prices and mining companies.
The agenda:
High street retailer Marks & Spencer, housebuilder Persimmon , energy group SSE and pub chain JD Wetherspoons are all reporting results.