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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4427388.stm

By Tom Bishop BBC News entertainment reporter Madonna has headed back to the disco for her new album, Confessions on a Dancefloor, which is released in the UK on Monday. It has earned her some of the best reviews of her 22-year career. In stark contrast to 2003's introspective American Life album, she has dusted off her glitterball, strapped on her pink stilettos and sampled Abba on latest hit single Hung Up. Has Madonna reinvigorated her music career, or is she merely throwing one final dance party for her long-term fans before settling down to record more sedate material? Madonna embraced New York club culture in the early 1980s "Dance music fans may be unconvinced by Madonna's new image as it no longer reflects her real life," says DJ magazine's features editor Carl Loben. "Madonna embraced the early stages of New York club culture in the 1980s but I doubt she has been into a club for years." However, Mr Loben says Madonna was very astute to work on her new album with Stuart Price, the respected producer and remixer behind dance acts Les Rythmes Digitales and Zoot Woman. The fact that Madonna is releasing a second continuous DJ mix version of Confessions on a Dancefloor will also appeal to dance music fans, Mr Loben says. "Clubbers are generally open to any music as long as it sounds good on the dancefloor." While clubbers are relatively unconcerned by the age of an artist, Madonna has been permanently ousted from the cover of Smash Hits magazine by acts such as teen stars McFly and Son of Dork. Staff writer Ian Eddy says teenage music fans judge Madonna on a song-by-song basis. "Pop fans are a bit fickle," he says. "If her next single is a bit of a dud they won't bother with it." Smash Hits readers were divided in their opinion of Madonna's promo video for her single Hung Up, in which the 47-year-old contorts herself in a pink leotard and flirts with young dancers. "A lot of our readers are saying Madonna has still got it, that she is still youthful," says Mr Eddy, "but some say she should grow old a bit more gracefully." Young pop stars may cite Madonna as a music or fashion influence, but teenage music fans "just don't have the same affection for her as people in their 30s do". Madonna's most loyal fan group has been gay men, which gay magazine Axm attributes to her eye for fashion and music trends, and her ever-changing image. "Many gay people want to break away from their past, and every six months Madonna goes into a cocoon then emerges as a new butterfly," says Axm editor Matt Miles. She strengthened her gay and lesbian fanbase by challenging sexual and religious convention in promo videos such as Like A Prayer and Justify My Love, suggestive live performances and 1992's explicit Sex photo book. "Madonna's gay audience has always been very forgiving, perhaps too forgiving," says Mr Miles. "It would take an awful lot to put gay men off her." Mr Miles says it is understandable why Madonna would want to "throw herself back into the gay bosom" with a new hi-energy album, after the relative failure of American Life. "Why not? It doesn't seem too cynical, and it worked for Kylie Minogue. It is as if Madonna is sampling the 1980s but making it better." Gay fans believe Madonna's career will match the longevity of that other iconic US singer, Cher. If her songs match her ambition, she may also retain her revived mainstream audience. When not making dance records, Madonna is a children's author Mr Eddy says: "Madonna really thinks of herself as young. I can't see her sticking to dance music but she could easily come back in a few years with something fresh." "Madonna may return to the slower beats of her Ray of Light album or move into torch songs," adds Mr Miles. "She would probably like to turn herself into a cartoon, and is kicking herself that Gorillaz got there first." He concludes: "She is pushing 50 and still looks great. I wouldn't put it past her to be swinging off a trapeze at the age of 60."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/431311.stm

Friday, August 27, 1999 Published at 05:52 GMT 06:52 UK Koresh and the Waco siege The Waco compound: Home of the Branch Davidians By BBC News Online's Kevin Anderson in Washington David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, thought he was an angel and an agent of God. The government thought he was a gun-hoarding criminal who physically and sexually abused the several children he fathered with his followers. And although he died with almost 80 of his followers in a fire during an FBI assault on their compound six years ago, ongoing questions about the raid have given the charismatic religious leader immortality in the press. The prophet king Koresh was born Vernon Wayne Howell in Houston Texas in 1959. He suffered from dyslexia and the taunts of his schoolmates, and by the ninth grade, he dropped out of school. Despite being a poor student, he was keenly interested in the Bible, and by the age of 12 had memorised large parts of it. After travelling to Hollywood in a failed attempt to become a rock star, he joined the Branch Davidians in 1981. Koresh became involved in a power struggle for leadership of the group. He left with a group of followers, but in 1987, he returned with seven of his disciples. They were armed with five .223 calibre semi-automatic assault rifles, two .22 calibre rifles, two 12-gauge shotguns and 400 rounds of ammunition. The leader of the group, George Roden, was wounded in the attack, and Koresh and the seven followers were tried on charges of attempted murder. The seven followers were acquitted, and in the case of Koresh, a mistrial was declared. By 1990, he had become the head of the Branch Davidians. The history of the Davidians The Branch Davidians descend from a schism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Koresh's mother was a member of the church, and he was a member for a short time as well. The schism in the Seventh-Day Adventists began in the 1930s when Victor Houteff, a prominent Adventist in Los Angeles, wrote a book saying the church had become lax. Mr Houteff's Davidian Seventh-day Adventists began to fall apart after his death in 1955. His widow Florence took over the group, but when Christ did not return as she predicted on Easter Day of 1959, most of the followers left. A core group remained, a power struggle ensued, and a man named Ben Roden declared himself the leader of a new group, the Branch Davidians. Preparing for the end After Koresh took control of the group, he annulled the marriages of his followers, according to former members of the cult. He said that only he could be married. Several members left. The former followers told authorities that Koresh would beat the children until they were bruised and bleeding. Social workers investigated but could never confirm the charges. For the remaining followers, they prepared for the end of the world. Koresh said that the Apocalypse would begin when the American army attacked Mount Carmel, their compound outside of Waco. They buried a school bus to serve as a bunker and stockpiled food and ammunition. Chronology of a showdown The showdown between the government and the cult began on Sunday, 28 February, 1993, when agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to arrest Koresh on charges of illegal firearms and explosives charges. Four ATF agents were killed, another 16 were wounded and an undetermined number of Davidians were killed and wounded. Koresh later disclosed that he had been wounded. The FBI took control of the situation, and President Clinton endorsed a negotiated settlement. Negotiations began the next day, and 10 children were released. The FBI moved armoured vehicles to the compound's perimeter. The armoured vehicles and their movements would anger Koresh throughout the siege. The tape was broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network, but Koresh said that God had told him to wait. Negotiations continued over the next several days, but Koresh refused to surrender. He made rambling religious statements interspersed with threats of violence. The FBI became concerned that the Davidians would commit mass suicide. Over the next 51 days, negotiations went back and forth. On the same day, the FBI decided to cut off electricity to the compound until the stand off ended. On 9 April, Koresh sent a letter to the FBI saying that the "heavens are calling you to judgement." The FBI enlisted experts to analyse the letter. They concluded Koresh had no intention of leaving voluntarily. The FBI finalised plans to use tear gas against the Davidians and sought the approval of Janet Reno. After consulting army anti-terrorism experts, she approved the plan on 17 April. Ms Reno briefed President Clinton the next day, and he concurred but also expressed concerns about the children's safety. On Sunday 18 April, as armoured vehicles cleared cars from the front of the compound, the Davidians held children up in the windows of a tower on the compound and a sign saying: "Flames Await." On Monday 19 April, the FBI notified the Davidians of the imminent tear gas assault. The Davidians begin shooting shortly after the gas attack began shortly after 6 a.m. The gas attack continued for several hours, and the armoured vehicles begin smashing holes in the buildings. At noon, several fires started within the compound. Shortly thereafter, nine Davidians fled the compound. The FBI continues to maintain that members of the cult started the fires. Fire-fighting efforts began, but the wooden structures quickly became engulfed. Koresh and 76 followers, including more than 20 children, died.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18791922

Lords: Lib Dems warn of 'chain reaction' Tonight the Lib Dems are refusing to accept defeat and insisting that Lords reform is not dead. In an interview with me, Lib Dem MP David Laws made clear that the Tories would pay a heavy price for a failure to deliver. He told me that the failure of one party to honour the coalition agreement could result in a "chain reaction" and could jeopardise agreement on other areas of policy. He said: "My colleagues in the Lib Dem party will say, 'Look if the Conservatives are not keeping their promises to us why should we keep our promises to them.' So that's very dangerous." And he added: "If you start having parties pick and choosing what they're going to support and what they're not going to support from the coalition agreement, very rapidly you could run the risk of finding it difficult to agree and take forward policies in all of the other areas. "So it's in the interests not just for the coalition but the whole country that both coalition partners honour the pledges that they made in all sincerity to each other two years ago." "I can't speculate on the consequences of the Conservatives or the Lib Dems voting down a particular part of the coalition agreement but what I can say is it doesn't require much imagination to realise that you can set off a chain reaction... and that's why Nick Clegg and David Cameron are absolutely passionate about honouring the pledges they made to each other."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-21192574

Plan to stop sale of Sir Edward Heath's Salisbury home A new plan to keep the Wiltshire home of Sir Edward Heath open to the public has been put forward by the former prime minister's political assistant. In October, the foundation which owns Arundells in Salisbury reapplied to the Charity Commission to sell the property due to "disappointing" visitor numbers. Trustees had applied to sell it in 2010 but the commission blocked the sale. Friends of Arundells said Peter Batey's plan could turn "deficit to surplus in a relatively short period of time". The historic house in Cathedral Close, where Sir Edward lived for the last 20 years of his life, was left to the nation and opened to the public in 2008. Since then it has attracted more than 45,000 visitors but, despite these numbers, trustees of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation say it is not financially viable. At the end of October, after a reported loss of £97,000 in just eight months, the foundation announced it was applying to the Charity Commission again to put the house and its contents on the market.'Serious business plan' Now, Mr Batey, a China-based business consultant, has stepped in with an offer to cover the "operating deficit of Arundells" while a "serious business plan is prepared and a major fund-raising campaign launched". Mr Batey, who worked as the parliamentary private secretary to Sir Edward Heath in the 1980s, remained in close contact with him after working and travelling with him on international visits, according to the Friends of Arundells. Mr Batey said: "I am delighted that the trustees are now looking actively at my proposals. "With goodwill on all sides, I am confident that we will be able to turn around the finances of Arundells and put the property on a secure long-term footing. "Arundells is a remarkable place and it is important that it is not simply closed and sold off to some Russian oligarch." The trustees are now considering the business and fund-raising plan and are due to give their views to the Charity Commission "relatively soon", a commission spokeswoman said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7174189.stm

Derby have completed the signing of former Newcastle winger Laurent Robert. Robert last played in the Premiership with Portsmouth The 32-year-old Frenchman has impressed boss Paul Jewell while on trial at Pride Park and accepted a deal that runs until the end of the season. "I am very happy because I signed this morning and for my head that is fantastic," said Robert. And the flamboyant forward could make an immediate debut at home against Wigan on Saturday after receiving international clearance on Friday. "The Derby manager called my agent to say he wanted me and I came quickly because the quality and the atmosphere in the Premier League is the best in the world," said Robert. "Everything you see here at the training ground is professional. "I don't know the city but my family are coming over this Friday and I'm very happy to be back in England with Derby. "The club's position here is a bit difficult but I'm here to put my experience in and work hard - that's it." Robert joins the Rams with the team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League having earned just seven points from 21 games. They are ten points from safety. Jewell said: "His ability is unquestioned and this could be a good piece of business for us. "I'm convinced we'll get the best out of him here and if we do, we'll have quite a player on our hands." The ex-Newcastle and Portsmouth winger returns to England after having his contract cancelled by Spanish side Levante. The Frenchman joined Newcastle for £10.5m in 2001 and made 139 Premier League appearances in four years on Tyneside. After a half-season loan at Portsmouth, he moved to Benfica in January 2006, before joining Levante later that year. Jewell added: "Laurent's key quality is what he can do with the ball - he can unlock the door, make things happen and produce a bit of magic. "He hasn't cost us anything in terms of a transfer fee and we had the chance to have a good look at him in training before making a decision." Argentine striker Emanuel Villa and Danny Mills have already signed for the Rams with Robbie Savage also set to join from Blackburn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8201647.stm

Kenya Airways employs nearly 3,000 workers Many flights from Kenya's main airport have been grounded as workers from the national airline go on strike, leaving passengers stranded in Nairobi. The main aviation union called the industrial action after talks with the management of Kenya Airways failed to resolve a dispute over pay. A BBC reporter says police have released four top union members who were arrested when the strike began. The strike ended on 16 August, after workers agreed a 20% pay rise. The BBC's Wazir Khamsin says the airline's workers, who are members of the Aviation and Allied Workers Union, initially wanted a rise of 130%. Kenya Airways says it would have to close if it agreed to the demands. The company first offered a 13% increase. The union members say their salaries have not increased to the same extent as those of senior managers and pilots. Kenya Airways, which employs nearly 3,000 workers, says its offer will push the company's annual wage bill to about $10m (£6m). If it complied with the union's demands the amount would rise to $110m a year. "We'll just have to fold up, there are no two ways about it," Kenyan Airways Chief Executive Titus Naikuni is quoted as saying by Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper. "I can't give you what I don't have." Our reporter says the union officials who were detained by police on Friday morning, went on to address the defiant strikers after their release. Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in East Africa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4338665.stm

Manchester City have confirmed that manager Kevin Keegan has left the club 15 months ahead of his expected departure date by mutual consent. CITY UNDER KEEGAN May 02: Win old Div One title with 108 goals May 03: Finish ninth in Premiership Nov 03: Knocked out of Uefa Cup by Polish minnows Groclin Feb 04: 10-man City beat Spurs 4-3 in FA Cup having trailed 3-0 Mar 04: Beat Man Utd 4-1 at Eastlands Jan 05: Knocked out of FA Cup by Oldham Mar 05: Parts company with club The 54-year-old goes after just over three-and-a-half years in charge. "Kevin stated he was finishing at the end of next season - that was a talking point in the media that would not go away," said club chairman John Wardle. "We discussed the rest of this season and felt it was in the best interests of the club that Kevin move on." He added: "Myself and Kevin have had a great working relationship. As well as chairman and manager I would say we are friends and will remain friends." News of Keegan's exit broke late on Thursday night, but despite his premature departure, Keegan's stint in charge - three years and 10 months - makes him City's longest-serving manager for 26 years. And while the club begins the search for its 10th manager in just 12 years, coach Stuart Pearce will be responsible for first-team affairs until the end of the season, with Tottenham away his first game on 19 March. Keegan, who had previously managed Newcastle, Fulham and England, took over as City manager on 24 May 2001 and guided them to the old Division One title in his first full season. For the return to the Premiership he put together a squad including Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler, and achieved a finishing position of ninth while qualifying for the Uefa Cup through the Fair Play League. But the following season, 2003-2004, saw them knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Polish minnows Groclin Dyskobolia and also finish fifth from bottom in the Premiership. That campaign did include a memorable FA Cup victory at Tottenham, when they went 3-0 behind but won 4-3, but it was to be a rare highlight. The current season has not been much better, with an FA Cup exit to Oldham and a Carling Cup defeat to an Arsenal reserve team. Goalkeeper David James admitted he was relieved the uncertainty over Keegan's position had been cleared up. He told BBC Radio Five Live: "There was a lack of specific goal-setting. I like to know where I'm going, but it would be wrong of me to criticise what's been going on because I have never worked on that side of the profession." Keegan made it clear he would not be staying beyond next season but when City lost at home to Bolton on Monday, and slipped to 12th in the table, Keegan sounded at the end of his tether. "We've got a history of not building on good situations," he admitted. "We could have jumped into the European shake-up, again we couldn't make that leap. "That's seven or eight times in a year we could have jumped into something good for this club and we've failed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16218112

Uzbekistan profile - Overview - 24 February 2015 - From the section Asia In 1991 Uzbekistan emerged as a sovereign country after more than a century of Russian rule - first as part of the Russian Empire and then as a component of the Soviet Union. Positioned on the ancient Great Silk Road between Europe and Asia, the majestic cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, famed for their architectural opulence, once flourished as trade and cultural centres. Uzbekistan is the most populous Central Asian country and has the largest armed forces. The country's political system is highly authoritarian, and its human rights record widely decried. There is no legal political opposition and the media is tightly controlled by the state. A UN report has described the use of torture as "systematic". The country is one of the world's biggest producers of cotton and is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas and gold. However, economic reform has been slow and poverty and unemployment are widespread. Following the 11 September attacks on the US, Uzbekistan won favour with Washington by allowing its forces a base in Uzbekistan, affording ready access across the Afghan border. Human rights groups accused the international community of ignoring the many reported cases of abuse and torture. Since independence, the country has faced sporadic bombings and shootings, which the authorities have been quick to blame on Islamic extremists. In May 2005, troops in the eastern city of Andijan opened fire on protesters demonstrating against the imprisonment of people charged with Islamic extremism. Witnesses reported a bloodbath with several hundred civilian deaths. The Uzbek authorities say fewer than 190 died. Opponents of President Karimov blamed the authorities' brutal determination to crush all dissent. The president blamed fundamentalists seeking to overthrow the government and establish a Muslim caliphate in Central Asia. The government's reaction to the Andijan unrest prompted strong criticism from the West, and relations cooled. In response, Uzbekistan expelled US forces from their base and moved closer to Russia, with Mr Karimov at one point describing it as Tashkent's "most reliable partner and ally". From 2008 onwards, ties with the West began improving again, spurred on by Europeans' search for alternative energy sources in Central Asia and Uzbekistan's strategic importance for the anti-Taliban operation in Afghanistan. The EU eased sanctions imposed after the Andijan killings, and the World Bank reversed a decision to suspend loans to Uzbekistan. In 2009 the EU lifted its arms embargo. At the same time, relations with Moscow became less warm, with Uzbekistan in 2009 criticising plans for a Russian base in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. President Karimov's uncompromising policies have also at times created friction between Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, and Uzbekistan has been wary of moves towards closer political integration.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9259000/9259585.stm

A Second World War child-evacuee from Guernsey, Paulette Le Mescam, had Eleanor Roosevelt as her pen friend. She shares her memories of writing to the then-wife of the US president. You can hear Paulette Le Mescam's story on Inside Out in the North West and South West 6 December on BBC1 at 7.30 Get in touch with Today via or text us on 84844.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25497127

Turkey's Erdogan and year of 'foreign plot' - 27 December 2013 - From the section Europe "Since 2003, we've been trying to get Turkey into the top 10 countries in the world," declared Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 18 December. "But some people are trying to stop Turkey's fast growth and development. Some of these people are abroad." For Mr Erdogan, 2013 was the year of the foreign plot. He saw it first in May and June during a wave of street protests, and he saw it once more at the end of the year, when prosecutors detained a number of his allies on suspicion of corruption. The prime minister was unwilling to consider the alternative - that some of his fellow citizens might have real grievances against the way he governed. Mr Erdogan's opponents accuse him of losing touch with ordinary people, and even suggest that he is suffering from so-called hubris syndrome - a condition that affects leaders who have spent more than a decade in power. The first wave of opponents rose up in May against the government's plans to convert Gezi Park in Istanbul into a replica military barracks. The environmental demonstration soon became a mass protest against the prime minister's perceived authoritarian manner, and against the way in which the government was seeking to transform Istanbul without proper consultation. The prime minister was unmoved - he called the demonstrators "capulcu"(riff-raff) - and ordered the police to retake the park. Gezi Park is now open again, but its fate is unclear. Istanbul's courts are currently examining the government's redevelopment plans. During the summer, at nine o'clock every night, residents of neighbourhoods which opposed Mr Erdogan would clang their pots and pans to show their defiance. They wanted him to step down, but he saw no reason to do so. Now the nights are quiet. The protesters failed to turn their anger into a lasting, organised political movement of their own capable of challenging the government at the ballot box. But, months later, some of the same grievances that provoked the original protesters re-emerged. This time the challenge was potentially much more serious. On 17 December, prosecutors and police officers organised dawn raids against more than 50 businessmen, including the sons of three cabinet ministers - all allies of the prime minister. The prosecutors accused the businessmen of corruption. In particular, they suspected that some of the detainees gave or received bribes to let controversial building projects in Istanbul go ahead. Unhappiness with the physical transformation of Turkey's largest city was the issue that linked May's occupation of Gezi Park and December's dawn raids. Mr Erdogan stated his belief that the occupation and the raids were each orchestrated from abroad. In May and June, he or his advisers blamed a variety of forces for the occupation of Gezi Park: an international interest rate lobby; the foreign media; one adviser even suggested that the airline Lufthansa was in favour of the protests. In December, Mr Erdogan reacted to the dawn raids by blaming a movement "with branches in Turkey. I will not discuss their identity. You all know who they are". He did not need to give a name. Everyone knew who he was talking about: the Gulen movement - named after its leader, a 72-year-old Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen. From his base in Pennsylvania, US, Mr Gulen runs an Islamic social and cultural organisation with more than 1,000 schools in the Islamic world - including many in Turkey. His followers praise Mr Gulen for preaching a moderate form of Islam and suggest that he should win the Nobel Peace Prize. For years, Mr Gulen's loyalists (known here as Gulenists) broadly lined up with Mr Erdogan. They shared the prime minister's belief of a greater role for Islam in Turkey's secular state. The movement helped Mr Erdogan to win three general elections. Crucially, an undeclared Gulenist network in the judiciary and the police helped the government to remove the military from politics. "There is no Gulenometer to measure the sympathy or support of the people for Gulen's ideas," says Bulent Kenes, the editor-in-chief of Today's Zaman, a newspaper sympathetic to the Gulen movement. "In Turkey everyone knows that people who have sympathy with the ideas of Mr Gulen are everywhere - in media, in the business sector, in the police department, in the government, in parliament, in the military, in the judiciary." This summer, long-standing differences between the Gulenists and the prime minister re-emerged. The Gulen movement was unhappy with the way Mr Erdogan dealt with the Gezi Park protesters. It was angered in November when the government suggested closing down a number of private schools, including those run by Hizmet, the Gulen movement. Many here believe that the same Gulenist network that once went after the military has now gone after the prime minister's allies - a charge that the movement itself denies. "This is the clash of the egos," said one young woman at a recent anti-corruption demonstration in Istanbul's Besiktas neighbourhood. "Gulen is behind the curtain. Erdogan is in front. This is the real fight between two powers, two egos." The prime minister has responded to the detention of his allies by dismissing senior police chiefs. The power struggle between Mr Erdogan and his new Gulenist opponents has shaken the country. "In the end, neither side will win," says Ahmet Sik, who was jailed for writing a book on the Gulen movement's power within the judiciary. "This is only the beginning. Both sides will lose credibility. They'll get weaker." In 2014, each side faces judgement. In March, local elections will be held. Then, in the summer, the country will vote for a new president. Over the last year, Mr Erdogan has positioned himself as a potential candidate - hoping perhaps to take many of the executive powers of the prime minister's office with him to the presidency. But he now faces an organised opponent within the system he has dominated for a decade. Mr Erdogan's political skills will be tested - foreign plot or otherwise.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205131.stm

BBC diplomatic correspondent The mass breach of the Rafah crossing point illustrates many of the problems and pitfalls of Middle East peace-making. Thousands of Palestinians took advantage of the border breach In recent times it was hoped Rafah would become a symbol of a new beginning for the Gaza Strip. What began as a European-monitored crossing with aspirations to become a permanently open link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has in practice become, for many Palestinians, yet another symbol of their isolation and "imprisonment". The Rafah crossing point is located on the edge of the dusty town of that name on the south-western boundary of the Gaza Strip. It sits on the border between Palestinian territory and Egypt. Its operations are governed by an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority reached in November 2005, in the wake of the "disengagement" or withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the territory. Its workings were to be monitored by a European Union Assistance Mission. But this is all, in many ways, academic, since the Rafah crossing point has been closed ever since the Hamas take-over of the Gaza Strip in June of last year. The EU's involvement was critical in ensuring that the Israel-Palestinian agreement on security measures at the crossing was implemented in full. Initially open for five hours a day, the hope was that eventually this would become a 24-hour operation. In June 2006, the crossing was closed as Israeli troops mounted their first major operation into Gaza since the disengagement - a response, the Israelis said, both to the seizure of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants and rocket fire into southern Israel. It was not opened again for some two months. It remained largely shut until operations were totally suspended following the Hamas seizure of power. Initially, EU monitors sought safety as the internal Palestinian fighting erupted. They have never gone back to their posts. But an EU spokeswoman insists that its staff remain in the region ready to re-open the crossing when circumstances permit. The Rafah crossing remains a closed gate on Palestinian aspirations. Its future is mired in politics - that between Israel and the Palestinians, between the Palestinian factions themselves and between Egypt and Israel. For Israel, the crossing points are seen almost entirely through a security prism - as a means of bringing pressure to bear on the Hamas leadership (though quite how the mechanics of this pressure might work in practice is far from clear). Critics insist that the only consequence of the growing isolation of the Gaza Strip is the creation of collective suffering and a pressure cooker of discontent which, one day, may explode. That is why the Egyptians are so nervous. Indeed, Cairo has its own reasons for monitoring and controlling access to and from the Gaza Strip. Cairo is walking a fine line between maintaining a relationship with Israel - alleviating the suffering and isolation in the territory while fearful of the spread of the ideological influence of Hamas amongst closely-related movements inside Egypt itself.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25748245

US Senate panel finds Benghazi attack was 'preventable' - 15 January 2014 - From the section US & Canada The deadly September 2012 attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi could have been prevented, a US Senate committee has said. The cross-party inquiry faulted "known security shortfalls" at the time of the attack, which killed four including US Ambassador Chris Stevens. The US state department failed to heed security warnings, the report said. The incident led to Republican allegations the White House covered up information about the attack. Senate intelligence committee investigators conducted dozens of hearings, briefings and interviews to compile the 85-page report, released on Wednesday. 'Deteriorating security situation' "The committee found the attacks were preventable, based on extensive intelligence reporting on the terrorist activity in Libya - to include prior threats and attacks against Western targets - and given the known security shortfalls at the U.S. Mission," the panel said. Senator Saxby Chambliss, the senior Republican on the committee, said: "In spite of the deteriorating security situation in Benghazi and ample strategic warnings, the United States Government simply did not do enough to prevent these attacks and ensure the safety of those serving in Benghazi." Among the committee's key findings: - Intelligence officials warned numerous times of the deteriorating security situation in eastern Libya, saying US facilities and personnel were at risk in Benghazi prior to the attack - US operations continued with minimal change despite repeated warnings and security "tripwires" being crossed - US military resources were not positioned to respond to a security breach in time to save the US personnel under attack - The intelligence community took too long to correct erroneous reports of a protest at the US mission and its connection to the attack - The militants who waged the attack have not been brought to justice more than a year after the attack The committee also issued recommendations based on its findings, including security upgrades to state department facilities as well as analysing extremist-affiliated social media when appropriate. Despite ongoing embassy security concerns stemming from the Benghazi attack, the US Congress elected to slash $224m (£137m) from its 2014 budget over the previous year for international embassy security and maintenance. The attack, in which gunmen stormed the US compound and set it on fire, has become a political lightning rod. Some Republicans have accused the Obama administration of covering up the involvement of terrorist groups to protect President Barack Obama's re-election campaign. The White House initially said the attack grew out of violent protests against an anti-Islam video produced in the US. Further inquiry found that it was an organised attack planned by local militias, although an extensive New York Times investigation did indeed find some of the attackers were motivated by the film. "I hope this report will put to rest many of the conspiracy theories and political accusations about what happened in Benghazi," Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, the intelligence committee chairwoman, said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-15278713

Surrey libraries: Bid to stop staff cuts defeated - 12 October 2011 - From the section Surrey An attempt to stop staff cuts at 10 Surrey libraries has been defeated at a council meeting. Surrey County Council's proposals to have the libraries run by volunteers have proved controversial, with protests held against the cuts. At Tuesday's full council meeting, a motion from the Residents Association Group to scrap the plans was defeated. But the plans will still be discussed at a scrutiny meeting next week after being called-in. The Communities Select Committee called in the plans prior to the meeting. They will now be reviewed by the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 October. The Conservative-led council said the libraries that would be run by volunteers were Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water, and Warlingham. They will operate as a pilot in financial year 2012-13 so their success can be assessed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-24888817

Safety barriers 'needed' at Whittlesey death scene - 10 November 2013 - From the section Cambridgeshire Road safety campaigners have called for safety barriers to be installed urgently on a Cambridgeshire road after another fatal accident there. Hannah Yates, 18, died after her car left North Bank at Whittlesey, near Peterborough, and plunged into the River Nene on 3 November. Fenland Road Safety Campaign said barriers were urgently needed to prevent further deaths. Peterborough City Council said it was arranging to meet the group. Fenland Road Safety Campaign has negotiated an agreement for a 250m (820ft) length of barrier to be installed at a cost of £45,000. The group must raise £15,000 towards the cost of the barriers, with £15,000 to be sought from corporate sponsors and the remaining third from Peterborough City Council, which has responsibility for the road. Jurij Grisko, 50, died following a crash on the same stretch of road in September 2012. Graham Chappell, campaign organiser, said: "We need safety barriers on the bend where the latest tragic accident has happened." 'He's done enough' He said the group had already raised £5,000, but feared more deaths unless the work was completed soon. "If we stick to that particular plan, I'm not really sure how long it will take," he said. Martin Curtis, Conservative leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and member for Whittlesey North, said: "Graham's done his work. He's done enough. "Whittlesey Town Council is prepared to support him and it's now time for Peterborough City Council to come and do their bit." Simon Machen, director of growth and regeneration at the city council, said: "We would like to express our sincere condolences to Hannah Yates's family. "Myself and Councillor Matthew Dalton would like to meet with our colleagues at Cambridgeshire County Council and the Fenland Road Safety Campaign to discuss and review safety issues."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-20920616

Northamptonshire councils clash over Rushden plan 5 January 2013 Last updated at 17:24 GMT The deputy leader of Rushden Town Council, Richard Lewis, and Northampton Borough Council leader David Mackintosh explain why their local authorities disagree over plans for a £50m shopping and leisure complex. The Rushden Lakes development, which could create up to 2,000 jobs, has been called in by the communities secretary for further inspection. East Northamptonshire Council approved the plans in October but the government will now make a final decision. BBC Look East's Stuart Ratcliffe reports.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23881814

BBC inside Syria: 'Apprehension and anxiety in Damascus' 29 August 2013 Last updated at 11:59 BST The United Nations secretary general says he expects to receive a report from the UN inspectors investigating an apparent chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians by the weekend. Ban Ki-Moon's comments come amid expectations of Western military action against Syrian government forces. US President Barack Obama has said he has not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria. Other nations are also considering their next move - and the UK has been pushing for a UN Security Council resolution to protect civilians. The BBC's Jeremy Bowen describes a sense of apprehension and anxiety in the Syrian capital Damascus as residents await an international response.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17051910

Social apps 'harvest smartphone contacts' - 8 March 2012 - From the section Technology Twitter has admitted copying entire address books from smartphones and storing the data on its servers, often without customers' knowledge. Access to the address book is enabled when users click on the "Find Friends" feature on smartphone apps. Two US congressmenhave written to Appleasking why the firm allows the practice on its iPhone, as it contravenes app developer guidelines. The practice came to light when an app developer in Singapore, Arun Thampi,noticed that his contacts had been copiedfrom his iPhone address book without his consent by a social network called Path. Dave Morin, CEO of Path, apologised andsaid Path would ask usersto opt in to share their contact information. However, he noted separately that it was an "industry best practice" to upload or import address book information. iPhone apps by social sites including Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Foodspotting and Yelp arealso reportedto access the address book. However, Facebook has told the BBC that its app will only upload address information if the user opts to sync their contacts with the website. Permission not granted Critics have noted that these apps are all available for download from Apple's iTunes store, even though the practice of copying address book contacts without prior consent appears to violate its user guidelines. The Apple guidelines say: "Apps that read or write data outside its designated container area will be rejected." They add: "Apps cannot transmit data about a user without obtaining the user's prior permission." Social networks have said that data taken from smartphones - which includes names, phone numbers and email addresses - is used only to identify friends who used the same service, and notify the user. But sometimes the data appears to be taken without first informing the user, or indicating how long the information will be saved for. "We want to be clear and transparent in our communications with users. Along those lines, in our next app updates, which are coming soon, we are updating the language associated with Find Friends - to be more explicit," Twitter spokeswoman Carolyn Penner said. Currently, Twitter tells users that it "may customize your account with information such as a cellphone number for the delivery of SMS messages or your address book so that we can help you find Twitter users you know". Twitter informs iPhone users that it will "scan your contacts for people you already know on Twitter". However, the Los Angeles Times reported that the app in fact uploads every address book contact and stores it for 18 months - something not made clear by the app.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3527221.stm

Iraq is observing three days of mourning for scores of people killed in Iraq's bloodiest day since the war. Mourners blame the US for failing to protect them Tuesday's blasts in Baghdad and Karbala - at the climax of a Shia festival - killed 271 people, Iraqi officials say. The US had earlier put the toll at 117. The US has evidence linking Jordanian al-Qaeda suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to the attacks, a top commander says. But a letter purporting to be from al-Qaeda sent to a London-based Arabic newspaper has denied any involvement. Journalists at the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, which received a letter signed by a group said to be linked to al-Qaeda - the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades - said they believed the document was genuine. Fifteen people were arrested in Karbala after the blasts, including five people believed to be Iranians. One day after the attacks, the death toll was rising sharply, though there is a discrepancy between figures given by Iraqis and US officials. "The number of martyrs from the two cities as of this afternoon is 271," Iraqi Governing Council President Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum told a news conference in Baghdad on Wednesday. "We have clear intelligence that ties Zarqawi to this attack," the commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen John Abizaid said on Wednesday. "We also have intelligence that shows there are some linkages between Zarqawi and former regime elements, particularly the Iraqi intelligence services," he told the House Armed Services Committee. US officials say a letter from Mr Zarqawi urging attacks on Shia Muslims was intercepted last month. In Baghdad, dozens of trucks and buses packed with people dressed in mourning black arrived at Kadhimiya mosque, where scores were killed when thousands of pilgrims were massed around the shrine. About 110 kilometres (70 miles) south in the city of Karbala, the first funerals took place a day after the devastating explosions around the Imam Hussein mosque. MAJOR ATTACKS SINCE 1 MAY 2 Mar 2004: Up to 271 Shias killed in Baghdad and Karbala during the Ashura religious festival 1 Feb 2004: At least 101 killed by twin suicide bombings during celebrations in Kurdish city of Irbil 18 Jan 2004: 18 reported killed outside coalition HQ, Baghdad 14 Dec 2003: Car bomb at police station kills 17 in Khalidiya, west of Baghdad 12 Nov: 26 die in suicide attack on Italian base in Nasiriya 2 Nov: 16 US soldiers die as Chinook helicopter downed 27 Oct: Red Cross and other buildings in Baghdad bombed, more than 30 killed 29 Aug: Mosque near Najaf bombed, at least 80 dead including top Shia cleric 19 Aug: UN headquarters in Baghdad bombed, 23 killed including head of mission List covers attacks since US declared war effectively over Huge crowds chanting "God is greatest" gathered, as coffins draped with palm leaves and Iraqi flags were carried aloft through the streets. Mourners were mostly calm, but some were angry at extremist Sunni Muslims whom they blamed for the attacks. A top Shia cleric, Ayatollah al-Sistani, criticised the US for inadequately securing the country's borders from foreign attackers. A US official said terrorists were believed to have crossed into Iraq with Iranian pilgrims planning to celebrate Ashura - a commemoration of the death of Imam Hussein in 680. The White House has said the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis will go ahead at the end of June, as planned, although the signing of the new Iraqi interim constitution agreed earlier this week has been delayed until Friday because of the period of mourning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4726421.stm

Human rights activists have told the BBC that officials have raided the home of a lawyer representing Iran's best-known political prisoner. Ganji was jailed for linking senior officials to the murder of dissidents His client, journalist Akbar Ganji, is reported to be gravely ill after 48 days on hunger strike. Mr Ganji was jailed five years ago for linking senior Iranian officials to the murders of prominent intellectuals. His hunger strike is aimed at achieving his unconditional release. His wife says he is "fighting with death". Lawyer Abdul Fatah Soltani telephoned a colleague to say officials from the hardline Tehran prosecutor's office had arrived at his home bearing a search warrant. Mr Soltani was out of the house at the time. The colleague, Mohammad Saifzadeh, says he does not know his current whereabouts. It is unusual for officials to raid the homes of prominent lawyers in Iran. But this is an unusual case. Mr Ganji, whose family say has lost more than 25kg (55lb) in weight during his hunger strike, has become a rallying point for reformist politicians, students and human rights activists. He remains defiant. On Thursday, in an open letter, he called on Iran's powerful Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to step down. Ayatollah Khamenei, he said, should answer this question - how could this be done in a peaceful way? There have been calls for Mr Ganji's release from around the world, including from US President George W Bush. Iran's outgoing President, Mohammad Khatami, has called for him to be given parole. Iran's hardline judiciary has denied that Mr Ganji is on hunger strike, saying he has been hospitalised for a knee injury and is in good condition. Officials said his friends were welcome to visit him in hospital. But a delegation of students and political activists who made a determined effort to do so told the BBC that they were turned away by security officials at the hospital.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27543054

06:00Howard Mustoe, Business Reporter Good morning everyone. According to reports, TSB may announce its stock market flotation today. Stay with us for that and much more. 06:00Russell Hotten, Business Reporter Good morning. Stay with us for all the breaking news, and please get in touch via [email protected] and on Twitter @BBCBusiness. 06:02 TSBRadio 5 live There's much speculation Lloyds Banking Group will unveil a plan to float its TSB business. Gemma Godfrey, head of investment strategy at financial consultants Brooks Macdonald, says investors' time has been stretched by the many share offerings of late. "It's a pity" this share sale didn't come a few months ago, she says. 06:08 ROTHSCHILD CONFERENCERadio 5 live Lynn Forester, Lady de Rothschild is on 5 live talking about a conference on capitalism she will be hosting today. "It's not a talking shop," she says. "The people in the room represent $30tn of investable assets." She explains this frightening statistic: various heads of pension schemes will be attending. 06:22 BIRMINGHAM CLUB BID The Hong Kong-based holding company behind Birmingham City football club says it has received an offer for a stake in the club. It comes after owner Carson Yeung was jailed for money laundering. The identity of the bidder and the offer price were not disclosed, but the news sparked a 43% jump in the company's share price on the Hong Kong stock exchange. 06:34 TSBBBC Radio 4 Gemma Godfrey, investment head at Brooks Macdonald, is now on Today, warning that a possible flotation of TSB comes at a time when the market is crowded and that the appetite from investors may not be high. She said that stock market listings are running at a seven-year high, and several flotations have been priced at the low end or been pulled altogether. The market has "gone from famine to feast and investors are feeling full", she says. 06:49 PFIZER FALL-OUTBBC Radio 4 Expect to see a lot of activity among small firms in the pharmaceutical sector over the next few years, predicts Steven Godwin, director at healthcare research agency Planning Shop International. He tells Today that a knock-on effect of the failed Pfizer-AstraZeneca bid is likely to be that drugs giants speed up takeovers and royalty deals with small firms to enrich their pipeline of medicines. 06:58 WOMEN ON BOARDSRadio 5 live More from Lynn Forester, Lady de Rothschild on 5 live. Companies that don't have a board with at least 20% women should be "named and shamed" she says. She also talks a bit about the high-frequency trading that author Michael Lewis talks about in his new book, Flash Boys. Banks and other financial companies doing this should be there to support the "real economy", she says. Lloyds Banking Group confirms the anticipated sale of TSB shares. They will also sell shares to retail investors, they say. They will publish a prospectus in mid-June and the offer will take place next month. 07:19 TSBBBC Radio 4 BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed wonders how popular the flotation will be among retail investors, telling Today that he's not sure just how many people "will be sitting around, saying to themselves, I must go and buy some bank shares". But he said that TSB, with 631 branches, could at last provide some high street competition for the traditional big-name banks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8336894.stm

Autumn Tests - Wales v New Zealand Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 7 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC TWO Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and online Warren Gatland gives his thoughts on Carter's injury Wales coach Warren Gatland says he does not expect New Zealand's Dan Carter to face his side, although the fly-half says he is "confident" of being fit. Carter has been named in the All Blacks team for Saturday's Test in Cardiff, but he has not trained this week because he is carrying a calf injury. "We don't think [Carter] will be fit to play," Gatland told BBC Sport Wales. Carter himself said on Thursday: "I'm confident I'll be able to run out there and pull on the black jersey again." The 27-year-old fly-half sustained the injury in last Saturday's win over Australia in Tokyo and coach Graham Henry conceded his fitness was "questionable" after selecting him on Wednesday for the Wales showdown. New Zealander Gatland said on Thursday: "We don't think [Carter] will be fit to play, it's one of the reasons they've named [scrum-half] Brendan Leonard, it gives them a left- and right-foot kicking option. "It's whether they go with Stephen Donald or Mike Delany at 10. Carter 'confident' over fitness "A lot's been said about the fact that when Dan Carter and Richie McCaw don't play for the All Blacks they're maybe a bit vulnerable. "We'll just take it in our stride and prepare accordingly, it doesn't matter whoever's playing for the All Blacks, they've always got quality players and strength in depth." Henry has made six changes to his side, with 20-year-old Crusaders wing Zac Guildford handed his Test debut. Leonard starts at scrum-half while prop Wyatt Crockett, lock Jason Eaton, flanker Jerome Kaino and number eight Kieran Read come into the pack. Guildford replaces the suspended Sitiveni Sivivatu, who was banned for one week after a dangerous tackle on Wallabies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper on Saturday. Crockett takes over at loose-head from Tony Woodcock, also banned after striking Australian flanker George Smith in Tokyo. "Woodcock is a big loss but Wyatt's been with us all season as well and trained really well all year," said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen. "He probably deserves a crack anyway, so it's a great opportunity for him to come out and show us what he's made of." Henry 'not disrespecting' Wales The other changes see Eaton replace Tom Donnelly in the second row, Kaino - a try-scorer against Wales last year - come in for Adam Thomson at blind-side and Read take over from Rodney So'oialo. The uncapped Ben Smith is also on the bench as back-three cover. But the fitness of 63-cap Carter has become the main talking point ahead of the Millennium Stadioum game where Wales hope to end a run of 56 years and 20 matches without a win against the All Blacks. Carter, who made his Test debut against Wales in 2003, has scored 92 points in his last five appearances against Wales, with 72 in the last four wins accounting for half of their points. "It's been a managed week in terms of not being able to train fully," Carter told BBC Sport Wales on Thursday. "Travel and long flights never help injury... [The injury has] improved every day, which is encouraging." Coach Henry said on Wednesday: "Dan Carter is okay, but I guess it is always questionable. "We've managed him though the week and we're hopeful he'll be all right for Saturday. "It is not a matter of saying 'Dan you have to train for 80 minutes or you will not play'. "We'll just see how he is and if he is not right, Steve Donald will play." Henry insists that despite the half-a-dozen changes he has selected a "strong" All Blacks side. "Our policy on this tour is to give everybody an opportunity," said Henry. Wales face down All Blacks' haka "We need to know if these players are up to international standards and they need opportunities to prove that. "We know we're in for a big game. There's no disrespect to Wales as this is a very strong side. "The World Cup is a couple of years but there are probably 10 players not available for this tour at home because of injury and maybe one or two who will come home from overseas. "So it gives these players a chance to say that I'm an international footballer of quality. You can't judge that unless they play so we must carry out the policy." New Zealand team to face Wales: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Brendan Leonard; Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Brad Thorn, Jason Eaton, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read. Replacements: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ben Smith. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23323333

Warren Hill execution stayed due to lethal drug law - 15 July 2013 - From the section US & Canada A death row inmate said to be mentally disabled has won a temporary reprieve in the state of Georgia over a lethal injection state law, a judge said. Warren Hill's stay of execution was granted hours before he was due to die. Hill's lawyers challenged a law banning information about the lethal drug's manufacturer from becoming public. He was convicted of killing fellow inmate Joseph Handspike in 1990 while serving life for shooting dead his girlfriend Myra Wright, 18, in 1986. Hill's lawyers are challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that keeps secret the identities of the lethal injection drug's manufacturer and of the physician who prescribes it. Georgia has been forced to turn to an individual pharmacy for its lethal injection drug because European firms are refusing to supply their drugs to the US for use in capital punishment. The state law was passed in Georgia in March, after the state's supply of sedatives expired. This is the second time Hill's execution has been called off. He was given a temporary reprieve last year after his legal team argued he was mentally disabled. Hill's lawyers filed documents saying the three doctors who evaluated the inmate 13 years ago - deeming him mentally fit at the time - have changed their opinions. One doctor said his evaluation was very rushed, another said his earlier view was unreliable because of his lack of experience and a third doctor cited advances in the way mental handicaps are understood. Hill's lawyers have appealed to the US Supreme Court on that issue. His execution would be the 19th in the US this year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4086296.stm

An Italian referendum on relaxing strict fertility laws has failed to reach the 50% turnout figure necessary for it to be valid. Campaign posters in Italy say that abstaining is "a natural act" Interior ministry figures showed that about 24% of Italian voters cast their ballots in the two-day referendum. Turnout is thought to have been affected by both a call for abstention made by the Catholic Church - backed by the Pope, as well as voter apathy. The law stops sperm and egg donation, and bans screening embryos for disease. It limits the number of embryos created for each treatment to three, all of which have to be implanted at the same time. Many infertile couples who want children have started seeking medical assistance abroad as a result of the regulations. The legislation also forbids embryo research. Fertility experts said the referendum's failure was a "sad" day for infertile couples. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) warned that the Catholic Church was now likely to step up its stand against biomedical research and fertility treatment. Italian pollsters delivered a stinging verdict on the referendum in the country's newspapers on Monday. "The referendum is finished, over, done with," polling analyst Nicola Piepoli wrote in La Repubblica. Doctor Antinori Severino helped a 59-year-old give birth to twins Equal Opportunities Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo, the only government figure to campaign actively for the change in the law, voiced concerns that a comprehensive defeat would endanger Italy's laws on abortion as a number of the issues overlap. "The inconsistencies... are enormous. I expect in the short-to-medium term, someone will take the initiative," she told the Corriere della Serra newspaper. Italians legalised divorce and abortion in two landmark referendums held in 1974 and 1981 - decisions seen as symptomatic of the declining influence of the Catholic Church. "Yes" campaigners had hoped that opening the polls for a second day would encourage Italians to cast their vote at the start of the working week. The current law was drafted and passed amid concerns that Italy had become one of the most liberal countries in the world in the field of assisted conception. The Pope has praised bishops for their stance on the vote Before the law was passed, one fertility doctor based in Italy was able to help women in their 60s to become pregnant. But the law rapidly transformed Italy into one of the most restrictive countries for fertility treatment. Italian bishops, with the backing of the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, told people in the predominantly Catholic country to boycott the vote on moral grounds - and retain the status quo. In opposing the referendum, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, president of Italian bishops, said the Vatican was looking to "enlighten consciences" and defend life.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3632207.stm

A shortage of specialists is leading to thousands of older women missing out on screening tests for breast cancer. Mammograms can detect cancerous tissue in the breast Women aged 64 to 70 in Glasgow, Grampian and Tayside, are not getting routine mammograms because there are not enough radiographers. The Scottish Executive has raised the upper age limit for mammogram screening to 70 and women can self-refer. But these areas say they cannot extend the programme without affecting the existing service for women aged 50-64. The executive's plan to increase the age threshold to 70 should have come into force on 1 April this year. It would have meant at least an extra 37,000 women being checked for breast cancer. However, the service has not been extended in some areas due to a shortage of radiographers and radiologists. It is estimated that about 30,000 women in Glasgow alone should be screened under the extension over the next three years. A spokesman for Help the Aged in Scotland called the situation "age discrimination". Lorraine Dallas, from charity Breast Cancer Care, said: "We know that women, as they get older, are at increased risk of breast cancer. "The screening service provides an absolutely invaluable method of early detection, so it's extremely worrying that within particular areas of Scotland people are not able to access that service as the government has committed to." The Scottish Executive said it was addressing the issue. Professionals on career breaks are being encouraged to return to work, while current staff are being retrained to assess mammograms. Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said the move to raise the age threshold would produce results. Mr Chisholm said: "It is an extension of the screening service that has never existed before, the majority of Scotland has rolled it out fully. "In those parts of Scotland where it has not yet been fully rolled out all women over 65 can self-refer."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/7196104.stm

A Cornish village drama group has had to register a toy gun with the police to comply with health and safety rules. Carnon Downs drama group in Cornwall have also had to keep their plastic cutlasses and wooden swords locked up for the pantomime, Robinson Crusoe. Producers of the show called the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rules "farcical". A spokesman for the HSE said the rules were designed to make risks "sensibly managed". The climax of the show is a fight in which actors use replica 4ft long plastic cutlasses. There is also a toy gun which produces a flag saying "Bang". The directors contacted police after receiving advice from the HSE and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association. The HSE have a page on their website called Entertainment Information Sheet 20 which lays down strict rules for the handling of guns, swords and other weapons on set. Drama group co-director Linda Barker said: "The cutlasses count as weapons even though they are replicas and made of plastic and apparently they could be mistaken for real ones. "Our only gun was a panto pistol which produces a flag with the word bang on it. "Our local police at Truro were fantastic and they have registered the gun, the two plastic cutlasses and our six wooden swords." She added: "It gets a bit farcical when you are dealing with plastic swords. It is not as if anyone is likely to be scared by them." Neighbourhood beat officer Pc Nigel Hyde said: "We have been informed and made a note. "It seems a bit unusual but other forms of replica weapons have been used to carry out crimes and the consequences have been serious." A spokesman for the HSE said: "We do not want to stop people putting on pantos or having fun as long as the risks are sensibly managed."