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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."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-14424814

Scottish first-time buyer numbers fall, says report - 6 August 2011 - From the section Scotland business The number of first-time house buyers has fallen over the past year despite an improvement in affordability, according to a Bank of Scotland report. The bank estimated there were about 7,500 first-time buyers in Scotland in the first half of 2011 - a fall of 15% from the same period in 2010. This was despite an increase in the number of towns and cities across Scotland it calculated as affordable. The report said challenges in raising a deposit were one reason for the fall. Based on Bank of Scotland's own data, the average price paid by someone looking to get on to the property ladder was affordable for someone on average earnings in 77% of local authority areas. This compared with 38% at the peak of the housing market in 2007. The proportion of affordable areas in Scotland was significantly above the UK average of 48%. First-time buyers in Scotland put down an average deposit of £19,429 in the first half of 2011, equivalent to 18% of the property price. Across the UK, the average deposit was £27,219, equivalent to 21% of the property price. Bank of Scotland housing economist Suren Thiru said: "It is encouraging that housing affordability for first-time buyers in general has improved significantly over recent years as a consequence of the marked falls in both house prices and interest rates since 2007. "Despite the marked improvement in affordability, conditions in the housing market for those looking to take their first step on to the property ladder remain difficult." She added: "The significant challenges in raising a deposit and widespread pessimism about the chances of being accepted for a mortgage are stopping many prospective first-time buyers from entering the market." The Bank of Scotland first-time buyer review tracks housing affordability in nearly 250 local authority areas across the UK, including 26 in Scotland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/3685809.stm

Herefordshire is leading the way with a new system of protecting vulnerable children. The model offers early support to those working with children The Child Concern Model aims to aid early detection of children at risk. Police, social services and county health chiefs are among those who will sign the model on Wednesday. It will offer help to professionals from childminders to school teachers who may have concerns about the welfare of children they are working with. The model has taken 18 months to develop and is the county's response to the Laming report on the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie. A spokeswoman for Herefordshire Council said it is one of the few counties in the country that has an agreed approach. The model has been developed by Herefordshire's Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC), its chairman Henry Lewis said: "Many people who work with children, including professionals, can feel alone when they have worries about a child or young person. "The concern may not be serious but talking to someone who has more experience about a particular concern can be very helpful." Chief officers from the Primary Care Trust, Herefordshire Hospital, police, the National Probation Service, Herefordshire Council and the Herefordshire Alliance for Voluntary Sector Organisations, will sign the first edition of the model. Consultants will be chosen from all of the agencies involved in Herefordshire's ACPC to offer guidance to those working with children and families. Leader of Herefordshire Council, Councillor Roger Phillips said: "The Child Concern Model shows that in Herefordshire we are responding to Lord Laming's comments in his report on the tragic death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie when the concern for children should be from 'the top to the bottom'. "The presence of chief officers, councillors, board and committee members from all the main agencies is a positive indication of Herefordshire's response to this challenge. We all share responsibility in safeguarding our vulnerable children."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4386003.stm

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou says she is eager to compete again after being cleared of missing a drugs test by an independent Greek tribunal. Thanou: "I cannot deny we made a lot of mistakes" Thanou, 30, was provisionally suspended for missing a test before the Olympics, but the decision was overturned. "The IAAF will decide if we can compete again in Greece and abroad," Thanou told To Vima newspaper in her first interview since the Athens Olympics. "If given the green light I will run again - that's the only thing I want." Thanou, 30, and her compatriot Kostas Kenteris were provisionally suspended by the IAAF in December for missing three drugs tests. The third was alleged to have been on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics. But an independent tribunal of the Greek Athletics Federation overturned the provisional ban on 18 March. The IAAF - which said it was "very surprised" by the decision of the Greek tribunal - is deciding whether to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, Dick Pound, the chairman of the World Anti-Doping Authority, has said he will appeal against the decision if the IAAF does not. And Thanou and Kenteris face a criminal trial later this year for allegedly avoiding the test and then faking a motorcycle accident. Thanou said: "I can see how people can think the accident seemed like a childish excuse. "I cannot deny that we made a lot of mistakes during that time. I always said we needed a PR person. "An athlete would have to be very stupid to take illegal substances when he or she knows that they will undergo tests at any given moment. "I am a champion. I cannot risk everything I've achieved in such a silly way."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24011795

UK economy is turning corner, George Osborne says The UK economy is "turning a corner", Chancellor George Osborne has said in a speech in London. Mr Osborne cited "tentative signs of a balanced, broad based and sustainable recovery", but stressed it was still the "early stages" and "plenty of risks" remained. Mr Osborne said that recent months - which have seen more upbeat reports on the economy - had "decisively ended" questions about his economic policy. Labour has dismissed the comments. The speech comes ahead of the Conservative Party conference later this month, and after a number of forecasts and surveys pointed to an acceleration in the UK's economic recovery. Revised gross domestic product figures showed the UK economy grew by 0.7% in the second quarter of the year, with predictions it could reach 1% for the third quarter. And last week the OECD economic agency sharply increased its growth forecast for the UK economy this year to 1.5% from an earlier estimate of 0.8%. Mr Osborne said: "The economic collapse was even worse than we thought. Repairing it will take even longer than we hoped. "But we held our nerve when many told us to abandon our plan. And as a result, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the British people, Britain is turning a corner. "Of course, many risks remain. These are still the early stages of recovery. But we mustn't go back to square one. We mustn't lose what the British people have achieved. "This is a hard, difficult road we have been following. But it is the only way to deliver a sustained, lasting improvement in the living standards of the British people." The government's "economic plan is the right response to Britain's macroeconomic imbalances and the evidence shows that it is working", he said, in his address to an audience of academics, think tanks and businesses. Mr Osborne said that those who advocated an alternative economic path could not explain recent improvements in the economic data. And "the last few months have decisively ended" the idea that the scale and pace of his measures were to blame for much slower than projected growth over recent years, he added. "Those in favour of a Plan B have lost the argument," he said. Heeding calls to abandon the government's economic plan in order to spend and borrow more would have undermined the recovery and "would be disastrous" now, Mr Osborne said. He pledged to remain "vigilant" to threats from abroad - including growing instability in the Middle East pushing up the oil price and a fresh eurozone crisis - as well as at home. John Cridland, director-general of business lobby group CBI, said the economy was gathering some momentum, business confidence was rising and he expected growth to continue into next year. "We have always said that deficit reduction should be at the top of the government's 'to-do list', but it must be coupled with an unrelenting focus on growth-boosting measures like infrastructure projects," he said. And he dismissed claims he was encouraging "the wrong sort of growth" - led by debt-fuelled consumer spending - insisting the evidence suggested "tentative signs of a balanced, broad based and sustainable recovery". He said there were many tough decisions still to be taken and that "the only sustainable path to prosperity is to reject the old quick fixes and stick to the course we have set". Labour accused Mr Osborne of "extraordinary complacency". Opposition leader Ed Miliband told the BBC that the chancellor was "saying to people that he has saved the British economy at a time when, for ordinary families, life is getting worse". "If ever you wanted proof that the government is out of touch with most people, that it is on the side of the few, George Osborne has provided it today," he added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4583233.stm

US rock group Motley Crue are taking TV network NBC to court for banning them from their programmes after singer Vince Neil swore live on air. The TV network said singer Vince Neil "violated NBC's standards" Neil made the offending remark on the New Year's Eve edition of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. The band say they have been victimised and NBC made the ban to ingratiate itself with regulators, who have been cracking down on indecency. NBC has dismissed the legal action, filed in Los Angeles, as "meritless". The group claim the ban has deprived them of exposure and they have been "singled out". NBC did not ban U2 when Bono used the same swearword on their coverage of the Golden Globe Awards in 2003, they argue. "The conclusion is inescapable - that NBC is scapegoating Motley Crue to protect itself and head off punitive action from the Federal Communications Commission," their lawsuit said. "Censorship... is an evil outlawed by the United States Constitution for over 200 years. It is an affront to our society." NBC responded by saying Neil had "violated NBC's standards". The company said it "has the right to decide not to invite back guests who violate those standards and use an expletive during a live entertainment programme". Motley Crue, best known for their hedonistic lifestyle and 1980s hits including Girls, Girls, Girls, got back together in December for a reunion tour after five years apart.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/3919219.stm

There are worries that a flight path to test pilotless spy planes could be created across mid Wales. The RQ-1 Predator spy plane was developed in the 1990s In May it was confirmed that a £21m centre for developing the 'flying robots' would be established in Aberporth, Ceredigion. Those living there and in Sennybridge in Powys are concerned a corridor could be created between the two towns to test the planes - known as unmanned aerial vehicles - posing a danger. But a spokesperson for the cross governmental group behind the project said safety would be the "priority". As many as 230 jobs have been promised in the short term as a result of the project, with the Welsh Development Agency saying 1,000 jobs could be created in 20 years. It aims to turn Parc Aberporth into a centre of excellence for developing the planes - which are part of an industry already estimated to be worth £1bn. But those living near and around the new project are worried about the UAV's being allowed to travel to Sennybridge for more rigorous testing. One man from Lampeter said he thought living in the flight path could be "dangerous". "They are unmanned and in their experimental stage as well, god knows what's going to go on. They may crash anytime." Another woman said there were a number of farmers in the area and livestock could be at risk. "It's quite frightening and I would worry but if this is what the future holds maybe we just have to put up with it." Roger Williams, the Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said that although he welcomed the investment in the area, he was concerned. "I'm certainly upset that this is the first I've heard of it, and as I understand, none of the local authorities have been consulted either," he said. "It seems to me that some of the preliminary work could be done over the sea rather than over the land, which it seems to me would be safer. "I would have to know what the risks are, the size of the planes, and past history of any accident that has occurred." The planes cameras and radar are used to gather intelligence during warfare or routine espionage without risking the lives of pilots. Nato has also used them recently in Kosovo as tank-busters. Donald Booth, from the Defence Diversification Agency, said the air corridor was a "long term aspiration", but said safety would be a priority. "Any proposals to use them in civilian air space have to meet very stringent safety regulations," he said. "There would be huge amounts of safety work done on how safe these things would be, what they would do etc. "They are very safe by design and mostly very small. And they are operated by ground controllers," he added. The Ministry of Defence was unavailable for comment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7138353.stm

By Noel Mwakugu BBC News, Nairobi Samuel Kivuitu, the man in charge of ensuring that Kenya's 27 December election is free and fair is a blunt-speaking man, not afraid of challenging his political leaders. Samuel Kivuitu is a devout Christian But in the run-up to what looks set up be an extremely tight race, both government and opposition supporters have voiced their concerns about him and the Electoral Commission of Kenya he leads. Mr Kivuitu was due to step down this month, but his term was only extended in November, under pressure from foreign diplomats. Kenya has a long history of complaints about poll-rigging but the outcome of the 2002 poll, organised by Mr Kivuitu, was widely accepted. The question is what will Mr Kivuitu do if there are, as predicted, attempts to rig the poll. Latest opinion polls suggest President Mwai Kibaki is on course to lose out to opposition candidate Raila Odinga. So the rumour mill is already grinding out theories about just how the Kibaki campaign might contrive to turn things around. Already the political parties have expressed concerns over the revelation of numerous faults in the electoral register, suggesting thousands of voters could be disenfranchised. Mr Kivuitu was first recognised as someone not afraid to speak his mind as a student leader at the University of Dar es Salaam. He reportedly berated former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere at a public forum, over plans to make the country a one-party state. "If you want to be a dictator then come and address us," he told East Africa's most revered president, in an act of defiance rarely - if ever - imitated by others. After President Kibaki announced last month that he was renewing Mr Kivuitu's five-year term at the helm of the ECK, he was equally outspoken. "Too long," he said, adding that he would rather be allowed to retire and study theology. Very few Kenyan public servants are inclined to speak in such a way to their head of state. But to those familiar with Mr Kivuitu, this is nothing new. He also has a sense of humour which his confidants say is fuelled by an unexpected penchant for reading comics. They say he is a humble man who takes the time to chat with street hawkers and who will do his own shopping, alone, at his local supermarket. Mr Kivuitu is a staunch Christian and says: "I have learnt a lot from the Bible, it is so enriching and rewarding in its messages." Some of those connected to the Kibaki re-election campaign were less than happy with news of Mr Kivuitu's reappointment, branding him "an opposition sympathiser". This is partly because during the 2005 constitutional referendum campaign, Mr Kivuitu openly criticised President Kibaki's government for using public resources for their "Vote Yes" campaign. Some doubt the neutrality of the commissioners In the event, the majority of the electorate rejected the proposed constitutional reforms - a victory for the "No Vote" campaign led by Mr Odinga, who now is challenging Mr Kibaki for the top job. While the Kibaki camp worries about the ECK chairman's independent streak, others are concerned about the neutrality of some of Mr Kivuitu's commissioners. The opposition say nearly half of them are new-comers, appointed without cross-party consultation, who have no experience of handling elections. They suggest individual commissioners may be vulnerable to manipulation by the executive and question whether the chairman can ensure non-partisanship. Mr Kivuitu is on record as admitting that the composition of his team plays a major role in the quest for a free and fair election. "When people are appointed without statutory guidelines, we can have thieves and people without integrity at the commission," Mr Kivuitu said. The chairman, who was first appointed to the electoral commission in 1992, is banking on his experience at home and abroad, such as when he served on the observer mission for South Africa's elections, to forestall anything underhand. But Mr Kivuitu underlines that it is not only the ECK's role to ensure the poll is not rigged - all players in the elections need to be vigilant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-14506724

East Sussex trading standards in roof cleaning warning A surge of complaints about roof cleaning firms in East Sussex has led to a trading standards warning. Trading standards officers said residents had complained about being conned by "dubious sales techniques". People have also reported possible damage to roof tiles after high pressure hoses were used, East Sussex County Council said. The council said use of high-pressure hoses could damage tiles and force water into the roof space. Residents have complained about firms that cold-call and make claims that moss has to be cleaned from roofs and gutters to prevent damage. Other tactics have seen roof cleaning companies quote a highly-inflated price and then significantly reduce it after a call to "head office", in an attempt to make residents think they are getting a bargain, the council added. Councillor Carl Maynard, cabinet spokesman for economy, transport and environment, said: "We are very concerned about the sales tactics of some companies, especially when they are dealing with elderly or vulnerable people in our communities." He said consumers had a right to cancel contracts within seven days if they were worth more than £35. Residents were also urged not to be forced into making a quick decision, to get at least three quotes from reputable companies, use the council's list of approved traders, and seek recommendations if possible.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-39706523

Warrington boy, 4, dies in 'tragic accident' on Egypt holiday A four-year-old boy has died in a "tragic accident" while on holiday in Egypt, according to a football club raising funds for his funeral. Andy Webster, from Warrington, Cheshire, broke the news of his son Isaac Webster's death on Friday. He said on his Facebook page: "Our little adventure boy sadly passed away this morning at 10.15 UK time." The Foreign Office said it was "supporting the family of a British child who sadly died in Hurghada". 'Loving and fun' How the accident in the Red Sea resort happened is not yet known. A crowdfunding page has been set up by Sankey Strikers Football Club, where his brother plays, to help raise funds to bring Isaac's body home and cover funeral costs. It has so far raised more than £8,500. The club said it was "devastated to lose such a lively, loving and fun member of our family". The Foreign Office said it was liaising with the Egyptian authorities.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27101228

Ukraine crisis: Russia plans Crimea casino boom Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented a draft law to create a gambling zone in Crimea, now that the Kremlin has declared the Ukrainian territory part of Russia. By law casinos are restricted to four special areas in Russia, all a long way from Moscow. Now Crimea will become the fifth area, under Mr Putin's plan. So far only Azov City, a coastal area east of Crimea, has opened casinos. Kiev accuses Russia of fomenting the current unrest in eastern Ukraine. Pro-Russian militants occupying official buildings in Ukraine's Donetsk region refuse to recognise the Kiev authorities. Their actions have fuelled fears that more regions could break away and join Russia. Crimea is not only the base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet - it also has a special place in Russian history as a holiday destination. Crimea was part of Russia until 1954, when the Soviet authorities transferred it to Soviet Ukraine. Mr Putin has announced ambitious plans to develop the Crimean economy. It will be up to the new authorities in Crimea to decide the location and extent of the planned casino zone. The new Crimean leaders loyal to Mr Putin do not have international recognition. In 2009 Russia decided to ban casinos from Moscow, where they proliferated after the collapse of communism. At the time Mr Putin said it was necessary to halt the growth of gambling addictions in Russia. The other officially designated gambling zones in Russia are Primorye, in the far east, Sibirskaya Moneta, in central Siberia, and Yantarnaya in Kaliningrad, by the Baltic Sea. During Ukraine's difficult transition from Soviet Communism the Crimean economy has suffered from corruption and neglect, which also remain rife in other parts of Ukraine. Crimea's many military staff and pensioners rely on payments from the state. In a separate move on Monday, Mr Putin signed legal amendments to make it simpler for Russian speakers in the former Soviet Union to acquire Russian citizenship. Russian speakers make up the majority in Crimea and the Donetsk region, as well as neighbouring Luhansk region. Embracing Crimean Tatars Mr Putin also signed a decree on Monday to rehabilitate Crimea's Muslim Tatars and other ethnic minorities who suffered during the rule of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. The 300,000-strong Tatar community - which makes up 15% of Crimea's population - opposed the peninsula's incorporation into Russia last month. In a televised statement, Mr Putin said "I have signed a decree to rehabilitate Crimean Tatars in Crimea, its Armenian population, Germans, Greeks - all those who suffered during Stalin's repressions". He said the decree would lead to economic development measures, though he did not specify what help for ethnic minorities was envisaged. Stalin accused the Tatars of collaborating with Nazi Germany during World War Two and deported them en masse to Central Asia and Siberia in 1944. Many did not survive.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4870556.stm

A plan to support a moon mission using a giant slingshot is to be studied by researchers at Glasgow University. A graphic of the giant slingshot The three-month study will look at the feasibility of propelling food and equipment from earth to the moon. The theory is that cargo could be transferred using giant cables and the power of the moon and earth's orbits. The scientists, who have won funding from the European Space Agency, said the system could replace rockets and would be cheaper in the long-term. The study, by Dr Gianmarco Radice and Prof Matthew Cartmell, will look at the maths surrounding the system, rather than creating a physical model. The cables used to propel items would be many kilometres long and could be made of Kevlar, tungsten or graphite. The idea is that another set of long cables could be built on the moon to pull the items towards it. The scientists said there was renewed interest in lunar exploration, with the possibility of building bases on the moon in the next 25 years, so such a system could become a useful reality. Dr Radice said: "Tether systems are an extremely attractive possibility for space transportation as they do not require any fuel. "The cargo is transferred from one orbit to the other using the orbital velocity of the system. "There are a number of practical issues that have to be addressed, as the cables are kilometres long and have to be extremely resistant, but this could provide an efficient method of transporting goods between the earth and moon". The research is a joint project between the university's department of aerospace engineering and school of mechanical engineering. The study was considered alongside 50 other application by the European Space Agency before being awarded 10,000 euros of funding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/education/05/school_tables/primary_schools/html/va_826.stm

Schools are ranked on their "value added" measures, which give some guide to how their pupils' attainments have improved. Scores above 100 show pupils made more progress than similar pupils nationally; scores below 100 indicate less progress. Nationally the range was 106 to 94.9 and the average was 100.2. The ranking needs treating with care. Official statisticians say small differences may not be significant: - for schools with 30 or more pupils covered by the measure, scores of 99.4 to 101.2 are broadly average - for 50 pupils or more, scores of 99.6 to 101.0 are broadly average. Click the name of a school for a page giving more information. VA = the value added measure AGG = the total or "aggregate" score across all three subjects Eng, Math, Sci = the percentage of pupils achieving the expected level in each subject tested: English, mathematics and science. Click the Sort by name or AGG column headers to sort the schools alphabetically or on their aggregate scores. Click here for a fuller explanation of the figures.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-32602923

US approves ferry service between Cuba and Florida Passenger ferries could be set to run between Florida and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years after the US government approved new services. Services between the two countries stopped when the US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in 1960. But Washington announced the restoration of diplomatic ties in December last year. The US government has now lifted the ban and a number of ferry companies say they have been given licences. The BBC's Will Grant in Havana says the latest announcement does not necessarily mean that boats will start launching for Cuban shores straight away, as there are bureaucratic hurdles to overcome in both countries. However, it is another indication of Washington's desire to put the policies of isolating Cuba in the past and begin a new era of co-operation, he says. President of the Miami-based United Americas Shipping Services Joseph Hinson called the move "a great step forward". He said that "if all goes smoothly we could have things up and running by September". Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said it also had a licence. "This is a historical event. Thanks to President Barack Obama, to whom we are very grateful, for his leadership," the firm wrote on its Facebook page. Ferries will also be allowed to transport cargo to Cuba, which sits 150km (90 miles) from southern Florida. A new charter flight service from New York City, operated by JetBlue, had already been announced. The service was agreed during a recent trade delegation of New York-based companies to Cuba, led by state governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite the new flights and ferry services, a travel ban on Cuba is still in place for US citizens. Only those who have the right paperwork in 12 different categories are permitted to visit the island.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54387856

Odeon is cutting the opening hours for some of its cinemas in the UK and Ireland to weekends only because of delays to new film releases. The chain, which operates 120 theatres, said it will affect a quarter of its cinemas, which will now open between Friday and Sunday. Odeon, which employs 5,500 people, declined to comment on job cuts. It comes as Cineworld said it will temporarily close its UK and US venues, affecting 45,000 jobs. According to movie magazine Film Stories, Odeon emailed customers to tell them that from Friday 9 October it was temporarily reducing hours at some cinemas "in light of the ongoing delays to the release of many new films". The changes announced by Odeon and Cineworld come after the release of the new James Bond film was delayed again. On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to return to cinemas. He said would "encourage people to go out to the cinema, enjoy themselves and support" movie theatres. However, the cinema industry has been hit by an absence of blockbuster movie to lure in customers. Cineworld employs around 5,500 people in the UK and its chief executive Mooky Greidinger, said: "We did everything in our power to support safe and sustainable reopenings in all of our markets." The company did not give a date for reopening its 663 cinemas, which include 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse theatres in the UK. Mr Greidinger said the company "cannot underscore enough how difficult this decision was" to close the sites. "Cineworld will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate any future plans to resume operations in these markets at the appropriate time, when key markets have more concrete guidance on their reopening status and, in turn, studios are able to bring their pipeline of major releases back to the big screen," he said. 'One woman was crying' Rosalyn Lloyd, 30, found out that her job at a Cineworld theatre in Wolverhampton was under threat from social media at the weekend. And she still doesn't know if she'll get a wage this month. "We've been told nothing at all," Ms Lloyd told the BBC. "When I went to work yesterday, everyone had seen it on social media [and] everyone was down in the dumps which is understandable. "One woman was crying because she'd been there for nine years." Ms Lloyd has worked at Cineworld for nearly two years and was placed on furlough earlier this year, though she says because she is on a zero-hour contract the pay was "very low". Her immediate problem is a lack of information from Cineworld. "Are they still going to pay us at the end of October? We just haven't heard anything at the moment. We all are waiting for a call - it is a waiting game." Bond delay 'final straw' "No Time to Die", which is reportedly actor Daniel Craig's final outing as 007, is a key movie release that had been due in cinemas in April this year, but was then postponed until November because of the coronavirus pandemic. The release date has now been moved to April next year. "I think the Bond movie is the straw that broke the camel's back to be honest," said Robert Mitchell, director of theatrical insights at Gower Street Analytics. "A lot of films have been moving for some time now and ultimately the cinemas need a pipeline of regular content to draw cinema goers in," he told the BBC's Today programme. Operates in 11 countries: US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia 2ndbiggest cinema chain in the world 663cinemas closing in the US (536) and the UK (127) 45,000jobs at risk, 5,500 in the UK 27%fall in share price at London stock market opening 007The delay of the new Bond film release triggered decision While Christopher Nolan's film Tenet opened at the end of August, Mr Mitchell said there had not been a major release since. "Bond was really the one that UK exhibitors were really relying on more than any," he said. Shares in Cineworld plunged in early trading, down 27% at 28.74p each. 'We have no movies' Tim Richards, founder and chief executive of the Vue cinema chain, said the company had put safety measures in place at its theatres and noted there was "pent up demand like we haven't seen ever before" among customers to go out. However, he added: "Our problem right now is we have no movies and this [the delay to the Bond film] was a big blow for us." "We are likely going to make it through," Mr Richards said, adding that Vue's goal is to try to keep as many of its 5,500 workers as possible. Mr Mitchell said he had forecast previously that UK box office takings would reach £500m this year. "The Bond move obviously shaves a lot off that," he said. "And now that Cineworld is closing and we don't know when it will be reopening, it might be a struggle to get over £400m." Mr Richards said that outside the US, many cinemas had now re-opened. "Looking globally right now, 75% of screens, maybe as high as 80% of screens are open. "Even if you look at the numbers that Tenet generated in the UK it is going to get very close to Christopher Nolan's previous film Interstellar, maybe 80-90% of what it did. "The audience is there and I think what we are seeing is the US studios in particular are taking a very US-centric view and forgetting that 80% of global box office comes offshore from North America."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45746012

To say Fernando Haddad has had a busy few months is an understatement. Mr Haddad replaced former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as the presidential candidate for the Workers' Party less than a month before the first round of the election. After he made it into the run-off which took place 28 October, his life got even busier as he tried - and ultimately failed - to win over voters to beat his right-wing rival Jair Bolsonaro. When Fernando Haddad stood in for Lula on 11 September after electoral authorities banned the former leader from running for president because of his conviction for corruption and money laundering, he was relatively unknown. The 55-year-old had served as mayor of São Paulo and also as education minister but had little name recognition outside São Paulo. Lula's wholehearted endorsement was therefore key for Mr Haddad. As Lula is serving a 12-year prison sentence, that endorsement came in the form of a letter written from his cell: "From now on, Haddad will be Lula for millions of Brazilians," it read. - Born in São Paulo on 25 January 1963, the second son of a family of Lebanese immigrants - Has a bachelor's degree from the University of Sao Paulo with a specialisation in civil law, later earned a master's degree in economics and a doctorate in philosophy - His first political post was as sub-secretary of finance and economic development of São Paulo in 2001 - Was education minister under President Lula from 2005 to 2012 - Mayor of São Paulo from 2013 to 2017 A lot of voters who had backed Lula switched allegiances from Lula to Mr Haddad - he rose from 4% to 23% in the pre-election opinion polls - but he was not able to reach the almost 40% who had said they intended to vote for Lula. There is little doubt that Lula is a political godfather to Mr Haddad but despite the close links between the two men, Mr Haddad sought to project a slightly different image to that of the 72-year-old former president. Above all, Mr Haddad tried to portray himself as more of a moderate than the firebrand, working-class Lula. Part of Mr Haddad's campaign strategy was to try to woo the wider electorate with promises of gradual reforms. These promises came after turbulent years in which Brazil was rocked by an increase in violent crime and a huge political bribery scandal that has tainted the entire political class, ensnaring not only Lula but several other senior figures in the Workers' Party. In politically polarised Brazil, Lula's mantle proved as much a liability as a boost to Mr Haddad, and it was difficult for him to find the right balance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4674120.stm

By Jane Elliott BBC News health reporter When writer Andrew Don's much longed for daughter died in the womb, he felt like his world had collapsed. Fighting for a father's role to be acknowledged For five months he had sung songs to the unborn child, who had been named Lara Jean and imagined what it would be like to hold her, watch her go to school and simply be her father. But, at five months gestation, the baby died after his wife Liz's blood pressure soared and she developed pre-eclampsia. A few weeks after the death of Lara Jean in 1997, Liz received a letter of condolence from the consultant. Andrew, 43, from London, was not mentioned. The lack of compassion, and a feeling of being excluded from the grieving process, made a deep mark on Andrew. He decided to turn his experiences into a book telling the stories of 10 men, including himself, who had lost babies. He said he hoped the book would help change the way men are treated. "It is all about how men are perceived in the whole process. It is not appreciated," Andrew said. In his book, he describes how frustrated he felt at being excluded from the medic's condolences. "I flipped. What was I - a non-person? Lara Jean was my baby, too. I'd read the books and seen the movie. I was prepared for fully-fledged fatherhood. I had signed up for the full deal. "Even the extended family did not have a clue. My sister's in-laws wrote a letter of commiseration to Liz. What did they think my role was in all this - merely a detached penis that did the dastardly deed? "For five months I had dreamed of what it would be like to be Lara Jean's dad. "Now in cold impersonal letters, the hospital, and even some family, did not acknowledge me or my grief. "We wanted the baby more than anything in the world." He said the book was also intended to show men going through the same experience that things would get better. "What I wanted to do was to create a book where men who were several years down the line could talk about their experiences. "You can either curl up and die or get on with it. It is the most awful thing, but you deal with it and find laughter and happiness. "But it is always there as a dull ache." Andrew and his wife, who had suffered years of fertility problems and knew Lara Jean was their last chance at having their own child, say they now have created a family with their two adopted daughters. Andrew told the BBC News website he and his wife were on holiday in Malaysia when they saw children they felt they could help and when they came home they decided to adopt. Their daughters are 15 and nine. "We have got the family we wanted." Elaine Thorp, midwife bereavement counsellor at the Birmingham Women's Hospital and member of Sands (the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society), said men were often left out of the grieving process. "Men put their feelings on the back burner to concentrate on their partners, and society does that as well." Elaine, who has worked with bereaved parents for the last 14 years, said books like Andrew's could help change opinions. "I had noticed that there was a gap in provisions," she said. "But I think things are changing. "As well as informing, books like this are also cathartic. Men can identify and see this is how these men felt and acknowledge their feelings - it can also help them talk more openly about it."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7299212.stm

At least 80 people have been killed in unrest following protests by Tibetans against Chinese rule, the Tibetan government in exile says. Chinese troops were out in force in Lhasa on Sunday Indian-based officials said the figure was confirmed by several sources, even though China put the death toll at 10. The Dalai Lama called for an international inquiry into China's crackdown, accusing it of a "rule of terror" and "cultural genocide". Chinese troops were out in force in Lhasa, Tibet's main city, on Sunday. Hong Kong Cable TV reported that about 200 military vehicles, each carrying 40 to 60 armed soldiers, had driven into the city. Loudspeakers broadcast messages, such as: "Discern between enemies and friends, maintain order." China tightly restricts Western journalists' access to Tibet and it is sometimes extremely difficult to verify what is going on. The BBC has learned that troops in neighbouring Sichuan province have been recalled from leave and put on standby. China says Tibet always part of its territory Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century 1950: China launched a military assault Opposition to Chinese rule led to bloody uprising in 1959 Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India A 23-year-old Canadian student in Lhasa told AP: "The entire city is basically closed down." The Chinese crackdown followed rioting on Friday, that erupted after a week of mainly peaceful protests. The Chinese official news agency Xinhua says 10 people died on Friday, including business people it said were "burnt to death". But the Tibetan government in exile later said at least 80 corpses had been counted, including those of 26 people killed on Saturday next to the Dratchi prison in Lhasa. Other bodies were spotted near the Ramoche Buddhist temple, and near a Muslim mosque and a cathedral in Lhasa, said Tenzin Taklha, a senior aide to the Dalai Lama. "These reports come from relatives, from our people inside and from contacts of our department of security. They have all been confirmed multiple times," he said. Deadline to surrender The demonstrators, who on Friday set fire to Chinese-owed shops and hurled rocks at local police, have been penned into an area of the old town by government forces. The authorities in Tibet have urged the protesters to hand themselves in by midnight on Monday, promising leniency to those who surrender. Meanwhile, there were reports of protests by Tibetans in other parts of China. About 200 protesters threw petrol bombs and burned down a police station in Sichuan province, a police officer told Reuters. There were reports that officers opened fire on the protesters. In an interview with the BBC, the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, said he feared there would be more deaths unless Beijing changed its policies towards Tibet, which it has ruled since invading in 1950. "It has become really very, very tense. Now today and yesterday, the Tibetan side is determined. The Chinese side also equally determined. So that means, the result: killing, more suffering," he said. "Ultimately, the Chinese government is clinging of policy, not looking at the reality. They simply feel they have gun - so they can control. Obviously they can control. But they cannot control human mind," he warned. The unrest erupted a fortnight before China's Olympic celebrations kick off with the start of the torch relay, which is scheduled to pass through Tibet. But the Dalai Lama emphasised that he still supported Beijing's staging of the Olympic Games this summer, saying it was an opportunity for the Chinese to show their support for the principle of freedom. The International Olympic Committee said it hoped to see the Tibetan unrest resolved peacefully, but its president Jacques Rogge rejected any boycott, saying it "doesn't solve anything". US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Saturday urged China to "exercise restraint" in dealing with the protests. She spoke as pro-Tibet demonstrations were held in Nepal, New York, Australia and several European cities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7798681.stm

Many Vietnamese use blogs as a way to find out the latest news Vietnam has tightened restrictions on internet blogs, banning bloggers from raising subjects the government deems inappropriate. Blogs should follow Vietnamese law, and be written in "clean and wholesome" language, according to a government document seen by local media. Internet service providers will be held accountable for the content of blogs they host. More than 20 million Vietnamese use the internet - a quarter of the population. Source of news Vietnam's burgeoning blogging community has become an important source of news for many people in the country, where the national media is still tightly controlled by the state. The new rules, drawn up by the Ministry of Information and Communications, require internet service providers to report to the government every six months and provide information about bloggers on request. The rules ban posts that undermine national security, incite violence or disclose state secrets. It is unclear whether the new regulations will apply to international companies such as Google or Yahoo; currently the most popular blogging host in Vietnam is Yahoo!360.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/squash/9434484.stm

Laura Massaro became British national champion for the first time in 2011 British squash champion Laura Massaro says it is a massive disappointment that her sport will not be involved in the next two Olympic Games. Despite being a Commonwealth Games event, squash will not be played at London 2012 or Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Massaro told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We've tried numerous times to get in. "All of the racquet sports are in. Tennis, badminton and table tennis. But we've lost out for 2016 to rugby sevens and golf. It's tough," she added. "They've got the names, the players, the publicity and the sponsorship. "They've got everything and maybe that is what squash is lacking at the minute. "It's disappointing to see sports where it's not the biggest thing they can win. "For squash it would be. We'll carry on trying and hopefully get in one day." The 27-year-old ranked number seven in the world has had a fine start to 2011 winning a tour event in Cleveland, Ohio as well as the clinching the British Championships in Manchester.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-24758166

David Cameron: Unite leveraging allegations 'shocking' - 31 October 2013 - From the section Scotland The prime minister has described allegations that Unite union members targeted the homes of Grangemouth refinery managers as "quite shocking". The row follows claims by an Ineos director that a "mob" was sent by Unite to his home to intimidate him during the recent dispute. David Cameron called on the Labour Party to investigate the claims about the union, which is its largest donor. Unite insisted all its activities have been legal and legitimate. The union defended its use of so-called leverage tactics, where managers are directly targeted as part of a protest, and argued that bad employers should have "nowhere to hide". It comes after an Ineos director, who is believed to live in Dunfermline, told the Daily Mail how he feared for the safety of his wife and his two young children after 30 Unite protesters turned up at his home during the school holidays. Police Scotland confirmed officers were called to an address in Dunfermline on Friday 18 October following reports of a protest. A spokesman said: "The occupants were not present during the protest and demonstrators had dispersed prior to their return to the property. Inquiries into this matter are ongoing." BBC Scotland understands several other Ineos executives, including chairman and founder Jim Ratcliffe, were targeted by Unite. It is understood from police sources that there were four Unite actions against Ineos staff in Hampshire in October. One was at a hotel in Beaulieu; another at a yacht club in Lymington. Ineos's headquarters is at Lyndhurst, in Hampshire, and senior staff are thought to live in the area. Speaking at a Cameron Direct event in Wolverhampton, the prime minister said the claims should be properly investigated by the Labour Party. Mr Cameron said people had a right to protest, and trade unions had a right to represent their members and take industrial action. But he said: "No-one has a right to intimidate. Nobody has a right to bully. Nobody has a right to threatened people's families. No-one has a right to threaten people in their homes. If these things have happened, it is very serious. It needs to be properly examined. "We shouldn't forget that the union action at Grangemouth was in danger of killing off an absolutely vital industry for Scotland and for the UK. "So, I think we need to have these actions properly investigated and I think the Labour Party does also need to investigate what has been happening in the Unite union, not least because the person in question (Unite official Stephen Deans, whose treatment by Ineos sparked the dispute) is still chairman of the Falkirk Labour Party. "So these actions need to be taken. It's not acceptable to intimidate people." Labour leader Ed Miliband told BBC Radio Bristol he was "against any intimidatory tactics in any situation and I think that's the most important thing". He added: "Let me be clear about this. I don't know the truth of these allegations but I condemn intimidatory tactics from either unions or management in any dispute. "I think what David Cameron should be doing though is making sure is that in this dispute we've now got people back to work, and that is really important because we need to protect that national asset of Grangemouth and need to protect those jobs and we do that by both sides working together." The Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps had earlier called on Mr Miliband to condemn Unite's tactics during the Grangemouth dispute. In his letter to Mr Miliband, Mr Shapps described the strategy as "thuggish". He urged Mr Miliband to condemn the approach, to refuse money from Unite until those responsible were disciplined, and again called on Labour to investigate allegations of vote rigging in the Falkirk constituency. He claimed Unite sent a group called the Leverage Team to "threaten senior Ineos executives at home, and to seriously intimidate their families". He said it was "clear from Unite's website" that the tactics were "not an isolated incident" but a "consistent strategy that they have used across the country". Unite claims on its website that leveraging tactics have secured "landmark victories" in the past against employers such as Honda, London Buses and Mayr Melnhof Packaging. A spokesman for the union defended its targeting of Ineos managers during the Grangemouth dispute. The spokesman added: "All the activities referred to are both legal and legitimate in the context of an industrial dispute. Bad employers should have nowhere to hide. "Of course all campaigning in the context of the Ineos dispute has now ended with the agreement made with the company. "However, for the workers and their union to be described as 'bullies' is beyond satire." Unite also said Mr Shapps' letter showed how "our basic liberties - including the right to protest - are not safe with the Tories" and accused him of "standing up for the powerful against the weak". The Grangemouth dispute began over the treatment of Unite union official, Stephen Deans, over allegations he was involved in attempting to rig the selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk. It escalated to the threat of strike action but despite this being dropped, the operator shut down the plant and issued a "survival plan", which was rejected by union members. Ineos then announced the closure of the petrochemical plant at the site with the loss of 800 jobs. After crisis talks, the union accepted the revised terms and conditions, allowing the plant to stay open. On Wednesday, the prime minister blamed a "rogue" union official for the Grangemouth dispute. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Cameron said the dispute had nearly brought the industry "to its knees". Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has since challenged Mr Cameron to repeat his "rogue official" allegation outside of the Commons, "to see what the courts make of them."

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-21782675

'Millions of cars' damaged by potholes as crisis deepens 14 March 2013 Last updated at 14:08 GMT A third of drivers have suffered damage to their vehicles from potholes over the last two years, a survey suggests. A third also rated the condition of their local roads as poor, very poor or "terrible", according to the AA/Populus survey of nearly 23,000 drivers. Meanwhile, the Asphalt Industry Alliance says councils may need as much as £10.5bn to bring the country's "crumbling roads" into good condition. Judith Moritz reports.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/220868.stm

Tuesday, November 24, 1998 Published at 11:44 GMT Business: The Economy Bosses set to reject peace plan The project has been dogged by technical problems and disputes A return-to-work proposal put forward by electricians who have gone on strike on the Jubilee Line extension in London is likely to be rejected by employers. The week-long action by hundreds of workers will now continue while new moves are made to resolve the dispute. Leaders of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union met officials from contractors Drake & Scull on Monday night to put forward fresh proposals aimed at securing a return to work. But Project Director Chris Raven dashed hopes of a deal on Tuesday, saying the proposals did not provide a way forward. "The shop stewards have not moved on any of the key issues," he said. They were still insisting that 12 workers should not be transferred from the London Bridge site to Green Park, the issue which caused the strike last week. "We will continue to hold discussions with the union, which has tried hard to get the men to return to work, but unfortunately it has not succeeded," he said. The strike was a "concern", but Mr Raven said he believed the work could be recovered quickly if the men return to work and to full productivity quickly. The electricians have raised safety fears and have picketed stations on the line in recent days, displaying banners reading: "Fast track to the grave." The strike is causing further delays to the troubled 10-mile extension, which has been hit by a series of technical problems and disputes. Last week it was alleged that cables had been cut in an act of industrial vandalism. The tube line, which is being extended to carry more than half a million people from central London to the Millennium Dome, is already several months behind schedule. It is now due to be completed in autumn 1999. The Economy Contents

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Like many constituencies, this one covers much more territory than the town after which it is named. Aside from Yeovil, it takes in Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster as well as many picturesque villages. Yeovil itself is not only a thriving market town, but also a growing industrial and commercial town with light industry and hi-tech engineering for aerospace production. Westland Helicopters is the largest employer here, with a workforce of about 5,000. Cabinet disagreements over the future of Westland caused the resignations of Michael Heseltine and Leon Brittan in 1986. Yeovil was represented by the Tories from 1918 to 1983, but was then won by Sir Paddy Ashdown, who consolidated his lead at the ensuing elections, being the Lib Dem leader at the contests in 1992 and 1997. Recently it has been regarded as a safe Lib Dem seat with a majority of over 11,000, although the party's vote share actually dropped in 1997. Sir Paddy is standing down at this election; his successor as Lib Dem candidate is the party's former director of policy and research, David Laws.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22750937

US Vodafone deal 'could be biggest ever' 3 June 2013 Last updated at 08:41 BST Vodafone could be about to do one of the biggest deals ever in the United States which could give a major boost to the whole London stock market. If Vodafone sells a key stake in its American mobile business - tens of billions of pounds would come back across the Atlantic, much of which would end up in the hands of shareholders. The BBC's chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym reports. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday 3 June 2013.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20222752

German childcare plan sparks debate on stay-at-home mums - 7 November 2012 - From the section Europe Is it a "stay-at-home premium" that will stop mothers from looking for work, or is it fair compensation for parents who choose to look after their young children without the state's help? The German government's plan for a childcare allowance payable to parents who do not use state-subsidised nurseries has sparked fierce debate. Recently Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition reached agreement on the measure, under which eligible parents of infants aged between 13 and 36 months would receive 150 euros (£120) a month. 'Kinder, Kueche, Kirche'? The plan has been pushed through by Mrs Merkel's conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union allies against critics in the coalition's own ranks. And the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) have threatened to lodge a complaint with the constitutional court to stop it. Sunday's agreement has not silenced everybody in the governing camp. Cornelia Pieper, a leading member of the pro-business Liberals (FDP), says money allocated to the measure should instead be ploughed into formal education. The childcare allowance is "a return to the old concept of the family based on Kinder, Kueche, Kirche (children, kitchen, church)", Ms Pieper, minister of state at the foreign ministry, told the regional daily Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. Others have rejected this argument, pointing out that parents who receive the allowance can still both go to work if they make other childcare arrangements, such as relying on relatives or privately-run nurseries. That is why the "stay-at-home premium" label used by critics of the scheme is "deeply wrong", Georg Meck said in the right-leaning Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily. However, now that the measure has been agreed, a commentary by Berthold Kohler in the same paper concedes that supporters of the traditional family model have been put "on the defensive" by this debate. Among those leading the attack on the measure is the popular women's magazine Brigitte. It carried a commentary by Julia Karnick arguing that it does not make any sense to reward parents for choosing not to take up a service offered to them by the state. "It stuns me when politicians keep doing the opposite of what has to be done," Ms Karnick says. Picking up on the fact that the allowance has been championed by a Bavarian party, Nadja Erb in the Berliner Zeitung says that "outside Bavaria practically nobody believes that it is a good idea". The paper says that this is why it is unlikely to stay in place after the September 2013 parliamentary election. Against the backdrop of the childcare controversy, the current edition of the weekly Die Zeit runs a series of articles on whether it is still acceptable to be a stay-at-home mother in modern-day Germany. One article makes the case for the choice of being a "Hausfrau". Sabine Rueckert says a "self-aware housewife" is a "rebel against the constraints of the market". "She does not take part in the big rat race. She is not always mobile and contactable. She sits by the sandpit and watches her toddlers shovel. She has what children need to grow up: time." Ms Rueckert acknowledges that "being a housewife is not necessarily good fun" because "her work is not valued". Nevertheless, housewives quietly "hold things together and provide an atmosphere which is good to come home to". Another article argues that for a mother to stay at home indefinitely is not fair on the father, who finds himself condemned to be the sole breadwinner in uncertain economic times. Christoph Droesser says such men miss out on valuable family time. "A woman who expects me to provide for her and our children 'until death do us part' puts a burden on my shoulders of which even the strongest can no longer say today whether they can bear it, even if they want to," he adds. An article in Die Zeit's magazine supplement makes a different point: choosing to give up one's career to stay at home with the children can result in poverty if the breadwinner ends the relationship. Julia Friedrichs, whose article is about a mother who faces this predicament, says the possibility of resuming work and sharing childcare with her partner had not even entered the woman's mind. "Contrary to Scandinavia and France, where the state sponsors childcare, or Britain, where many women have no choice but to take up work again soon, Germany is still a conservative country in which the state chiefly supports the mother who stays at home rather than childcare facilities," she says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4662168.stm

Two weeks ago my wife gave birth to a little boy. We have been groping our way through a world of sleeplessness and dirty nappies ever since. Ranulph, or Rafe for short, is a quiet and biddable baby, but sometimes the only way to get him to sleep is to hold him. Now is one of those times; so I am typing this with my right forefinger, while cradling him in my increasingly numb left arm. The clicking of the keys seems to soothe him. He is too young to smile, or even to focus properly, but looking at his pink little face and tiny fingers, it's impossible not to wonder what sort of world we have brought him into. Rafe is very much a child of the 21st Century, but since the number of centenarians doubles every decade, he must have a good chance of living to see the 22nd Century. A re-enactment of a WWII battle , but what relevance for future generations? I was born in 1944, a couple of weeks after my parents' street was bombed by a German rocket, so my birth and his last years may well be a century-and-a-half apart. By then, World War II will be as distant as the Charge of the Light Brigade is from us. The changes I have seen in my time are nothing to those Rafe will see. Europe is more closely linked today than any group of nations in history. Real success, as America, Canada, Britain and Australia have all found, comes from drawing in new people, new ideas, new traditions Another war like the one which nearly killed my mother and my unborn self is unthinkable. The great empires are all gone. Even the United States, once unassailably rich and powerful, is visibly declining. The wealthy white nations have had to shift aside a little. India and China are on the rise. But real success, as America, Canada, Britain and Australia have all found, comes from drawing in new people, new ideas, new traditions. Japan, France and Germany, which have tried to stay the same, have suffered accordingly. Change has been fatal to the old elites. Britain, so class-conscious for much of my life, so white, so male-dominated, is changing utterly. The fact that David Cameron, the new British Conservative leader, had been to Eton, the school of so many Tory leaders, was regarded as his biggest drawback. A brighter future? In 1900, the main question that worried thinking people in Britain was the condition of the poor. A century later, 70% of people own their own homes. Reading, theatre-going, listening to classical music - all the things that gloomy traditionalists assumed over the years would die out - are at an all-time high. But now all this theorising has upset little Rafe. He has gone bright red and is starting to yell. I will have to pause while I prepare a feed for him, then hold the bottle in one hand while I carry on typing. A journalist's son must learn to share his father's attention. When I was the age he is now, the United Nations Charter was being drafted. It was based on the notion that a few countries, the five permanent members of the Security Council, should direct the affairs of the world. The way the UN tackles global issues could change Disagreements over the 2003 invasion of Iraq highlighted the growing irrelevance of that approach. And any future US president will think carefully before attacking another country without full international backing, and no future British prime minister will dream of lending his or her support without it. But what if our ignorant selfishness causes some catastrophic ecological disaster? What if our grotesque population explosion leads to some terrible new Black Death? Could Rafe's world, instead of growing richer and better governed, become more savage? Quite possibly. But all we can really do is extrapolate from our past. And anyone who has had a front-row seat at the main events of the past four decades must be cautiously hopeful. Reasons for optimism During my lifetime, you were more likely to be right by being optimistic than pessimistic. For most of it, there seemed a good chance that the nuclear powers would blow themselves and everyone else into oblivion. It has not happened - so far. There were many more wars. Only a handful of states were democratic. Latin America, Africa and Asia were mostly run by despots, often propped up by the US and its allies. The Kremlin, geriatric but brutal, kept its boot on half of Europe. The Vietnam War pitted the most ferocious modern weapons against peasant societies. We have the Iraq war now, but it is not on the same scale. The current clash of cultures is likely to fade The supposed clash of cultures between Islam and the West is no such thing. Fundamentalism, Christian as well as Muslim, is merely a response to the suddenness of change, and it will fade. One major theme of the past 40 years has been the fading of unacceptable power. Anyone who has seen the crumbling of the Soviet system and the peaceful ending of apartheid must expect that some way will be found for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace. If Rafe is lucky, his world will be one where common humanity means much more than the waving of our little coloured flags. And his elderly father's time will seem as unimaginable as Dickensian England. But now, if I am any judge, he needs a nappy change. Nothing, I assure you, puts a quicker end to high-flown contemplation than having a two-week-old baby. Do you agree with John Simpson's views? Send us your comments.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/7533920.stm

More than 50 skeletons have been found at the site Archaeologists in Perth have uncovered more than 50 skeletons at the site of a medieval friary. The team is excavating land at the corner of Riggs Road and Jeanfield Road before retail units are built. As well as the bones, the team has discovered pieces of grave slabs, window glass and further evidence of the 13th century Carmelite friary. It is hoped that once the finds have been processed and catalogued they can be displayed in Perth Museum. During a previous excavation in 1982 about 20 skeletons were found at the site. Archaeologist Derek Hall said: "Perth had four friaries - Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan and Carthusian. "They were taking advantage of the fact that Perth in the medieval period was a very rich Scottish burgh. "So, they were able to exist outside the town limits and people used to pay the friars to pray for their souls and if they wanted they could also get buried in the friary burial grounds." The Carmelite friary which is being excavated was called Tullilum, it was founded in 1262 and stood until the Reformation in 1559. Mr Hall was also involved in the 1982 excavations when they discovered the eastern end of the friary church and the east range. However, it was the skeletons which intrigued him. The team are due to spend the next three weeks at the friary He said: "Probably the most unexpected thing is the amount of burials that we found that are all post-Reformation - that means they're all after the friary's gone - because there was no record of this site being used for burials that late on. "So, I've no idea what they're doing here, but there's certainly quite a few of them and they seem to be buried in family groups." This time around the team uncovered even more remains of people and the buildings. Mr Hall said: "We have good evidence of the rest of the friary church - I think we have all of it in our main trench. "We have the cloister, which is the covered walkway, part of the west range and the very edge of the east range, so we've got a pretty good feel for the layout of the friary complex. "With regards to the finds, we're getting painted window glass from the church, occasional shards of pottery, iron nails, but most of the finds so far have been the human burials." The archaeologists will be working at the site for about three more weeks - lifting the skeletons - before the site is covered over for building work to begin.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-25520151

Car crashes into the side of a pub in Much Marcle - 26 December 2013 - From the section Hereford & Worcester A car has crashed into the side of a pub in Herefordshire. Firefighters were called to The Royal Oak in Much Marcle around 09:30 GMT and found the vehicle had smashed through the pub's porch area Pub manager Liza McBain said the driver of the car hurt her arm in the crash and was taken to hospital but no-one else was injured. "I heard a loud noise and it sounded as though a load of barrels were being dropped," she said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9737000/9737141.stm

Details of an additional 3,500 troops expected to be provided to help with 2012 London Olympics security are set to be announced by ministers later. UK armed forces are on stand-by to provide more troops than the 13,500 already agreed, amid fears contractor G4S may not have enough trained staff. James Brokenshire, Minister for Crime and Security at the Home Office, explains how they hope to deal with the security gap. Get in touch with Today via or text us on 84844.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6162946.stm

The attorney general says he is not convinced the government should extend the detention of terror suspects without charge beyond 28 days. Lord Goldsmith says he has not seen evidence to support extension Lord Goldsmith said he had seen no evidence to support such an extension. He spoke after Tony Blair said he still backed plans for an extension to 90 days, despite its defeat by MPs. Tory shadow home secretary David Davis said Lord Goldsmith's comments showed "unequivocally" that the Tories had been right to oppose the 90-day plans. A Downing Street spokeswoman refused to say anything about Lord Goldsmith's comments. Lord Goldsmith said: "The recent investigations demonstrate that it was right to extend the period to 28 days, but on extending it any further we need evidence to demonstrate that that is needed." Last year, the Commons voted down the government's plans to bring in a 90-day limit on detentions, with MPs and peers eventually settling on 28 days. Previously, the limit had been 14 days. The prime minister has said he remains in favour of a longer detention period, as asked for by police, but wants to proceed by consensus. And on Sunday, Home Secretary John Reid said he would consider extending the time limit if police presented enough evidence to support it. Mr Davis told BBC News: "What the attorney general is saying is, what we thought all along, that there's no evidence there to argue for more and that 28 days, as it stands, is sufficient." Ministers were seeking the extension "for party-political advantage rather than making the public safer", he added. The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti said that, if the issue returned to Parliament, the words of the attorney general would make it much more difficult for Mr Blair to change the minds of MPs who were already sceptical. But Lord Goldsmith did raise the prospect of the questioning of suspects after charge. He said that, if post-charge interviews were introduced, there would be safeguards to ensure suspects were not "browbeaten time and time again" by police interviewers. Such interviews would not be restricted to terror suspects, but people suspected of other crimes as well. "While terrorism is top of the agenda I don't think that it needs to be restricted to that," he said. Lord Goldsmith also said work was continuing to find a way in which telephone intercept evidence could be used in court without compromising the sources of the material and the methods used. Earlier, Mr Reid said he had yet to see any evidence to support the introduction of phone-tap evidence in court cases Lord Carlile, the government appointed expert who oversees terrorism laws, has said he expects new anti-terror measures, possibly including an extension of detention to 90 days, to be published early next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16392609

Oscars: Best picture nominees - 24 January 2012 - From the section Entertainment & Arts The films competing for best picture at the 84th Academy Awards have been announced. We take a look at nine hopefuls and what's being said about them. What's the story? Silent film star George Valentin's career nosedives with the advent of "talkies". Meanwhile Peppy Miller, the girl he loves, sees her star ascend in the era of sound. Who stars: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell (and a scene-stealing turn from Uggie the Jack Russell terrier). Director: Michel Hazanavicius What the critics say: "The Artist is the wonder of the age, as much a miracle as Avatar, though it comes at things from the totally opposite direction" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times . "The Artist encapsulates everything we go to movies for: action, laughs, tears and a chance to get lost in another world. How can Oscar resist?" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone. Why it might win: This black-and-white, silent movie harking back to a golden age of Hollywood has enjoyed months of Oscar buzz. And it has a scene-stealing dog. See also: Hugo. What's the story? Set in Hawaii, The Descendants stars George Clooney as Matt King, a husband and father of two daughters, who is forced to re-examine his life and relationships when his wife suffers a boating accident. Who stars: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer Director: Alexander Payne What the critics say: "Ostensibly a study of loss and coping with a tragic situation, this wonderfully nuanced look at a father and two daughters dealing with the imminent death of his wife and their mother turns the miraculous trick of possibly being even funnier than it is moving" - Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter. "The Descendants, if not quite the Oscar sucker-punch many anticipated, is a drama of unusual nuance. It lingers, spawns thoughts, connections, as a great film ought" - Catherine Shoard, the Guardian. Why it might win: The combination of Clooney (playing against type) and Sideways director Payne could make this a hard one to beat. EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE What's the story? After 10-year-old Oskar Schell loses his father in the 9/11 terror attacks, he goes on a search across New York to uncover the secret behind a key his father had hidden away. Who stars: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright Director: Stephen Daldry What the critics say: "There are certainly big, capital-letter themes explored here: Death. Sorrow. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. But through the boy, Daldry brings it all down to a human level" - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times "Director Stephen Daldry has crafted an adroitly involving, emotionally intense experience" - Kate Stables, Total Film Why it might win: There's a stellar cast, and Daldry has a strong Oscars record with Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader. What's the story? A heart-tugging drama in which Skeeter, a young white woman, decides to write a collective memoir about the racism and hardships encountered by black maids who work for white families in 1960s Mississippi. Who stars: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek Director: Tate Taylor What the critics say: "This is as brazen an Oscar-baiter as we're likely to see this year... Yes, it gets a bit sentimental. Yes, some 'Ya-Ya Sisterhood' friendship cliches creep in. Yes, it glosses history. But it's also heartfelt, hilarious and the cast is a dream-team topped by Viola Davis" - Cath Clarke, Time Out . "I was drawn into the characters and quite moved, even though all the while I was aware it was a feel-good fable, a story that deals with pain but doesn't care to be that painful" - Robert Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times. Why it might win: The ensemble cast offers sparkling performances and the subject matter has Academy appeal. The Help's wide broad audience appeal helped make it a surprise summer hit in the US. What's the story? A love letter to the pioneering days of cinema, set in 1930s Paris. Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a train station and becomes involved in a mystery involving an automaton that belonged to his late father. Who stars: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee Director: Martin Scorsese What the critics say: "Scorsese is film historian enough to recreate early cinema in perfect detail, but Hugo's plot is set in motion by a heart-shaped key. This is a great director's greatest love story" - Kim Newman, Empire. "As $150m public service announcements about the importance of the film preservation movement go, this is one of the best" - UltraCulture. Why it might win: It's a love letter to cinema. And the Oscar voters love cinema. See also: The Artist. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS What's the story? Hollywood screenwriter Gil, in Paris with his fiancee Inez, discovers a whole new side to the city when he takes a late-night walk and finds himself in the company of his literary heroes of the 1920s. Who stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni Director: Woody Allen What the critics say: "Here's a sentence I never thought I'd write again: Woody Allen has made a wonderful new picture, and it's his best, most enjoyable work in years" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times. "Woody's in good form and Paris looks glorious in this droll time-traveling fantasy" - Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter. Why it might win: Woody Allen hasn't had such good reviews for years. Hollywood does seem to like all things French this year - see also The Artist and Hugo. What's the story? Oakland A's manager Billy Beane attempts to put together a baseball club on a budget, by using statistics and spreadsheets. Who stars: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour Hoffman Director: Bennett Miller What the critics say: "The picture has drive and humor, but there's an inescapable oddity at its center; Beane and Brand are possessed by a passion that's almost religious in its strength, but it's a religion devoted not to spirit or character but to hard, cold numbers" - David Denby, The New Yorker . "As sporting dramas go, Moneyball is as unconventional as its protagonist, which in this arena counts as a good thing" - Jason Best, What's On TV. Why it might win: It's a classic underdog story with the magical writing touch of Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. And it's not really about baseball, is it? THE TREE OF LIFE What's the story? Director Terrence Malick also takes his audience on a trip to the birth of the universe and back. Grown-up Jack reflects on his childhood in 1950s Texas, with his loving, disciplinarian father, his serene mother and his brothers. Who stars: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain Director: Terrence Malick What the critics say: "There is simply nothing like it out there: profound, idiosyncratic, complex, sincere and magical; a confirmation that cinema can aspire to art" - Ian Nathan, Empire. "Malick's film has its moments and certainly creates an impression visually, but you could say the same thing about Transformers: Dark Of The Moon" - Catherine Bray, Film4. Why it might win: It charmed the Cannes film festival, so it could work the same spell at the Academy. What's the story? Based on the Michael Morpurgo novel, this is a tale of friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert. But at the outbreak of World War I, Joey is sold to the British cavalry and dispatched to the front lines. Who stars: Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch Director: Steven Spielberg What the critics say: "Sweeping in its style and old-fashioned in its narrative structure, War Horse will likely take its place alongside beloved family films" - Claudia Puig, USA Today. "Darn you, Steven Spielberg! You made me cry again - and I hate to do that in a movie. War Horse had me blubbering like a baby. Yes, it's a wonderful film, but I wish you had toned things down a bit" - Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews. Why it might win: Spielberg's three Oscar statuettes have all been for war movies. There's also a fine cast of Brits - and a tear-jerking animal at its heart.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7002950.stm

Two children's charities have cast doubt on the Scottish Government's free school meals pilot programme. Free meals will be given to children in P1 to P3 classes They said free meals for children in the first three years of primary school may not be the best way of improving diet or tackling poverty. The £5m, six-month pilot scheme is being trialled in five local authority areas from October. Ministers said it was about addressing a gap between the number of children in poverty and those who get free meals. The pilot scheme will run in the Borders, East Ayrshire, Fife, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire to gauge its popularity among 35,000 pupils. Representatives from Barnardo's and the Aberlour Trust told the Scottish Parliament's education committee that the pilot was too short a time to change cultural habits. Tam Baillie, of Barnardo's, said confining free school meals just to pupils in the first three years of primary school would not help pre-school children and older children, adding that targeting help would be a better use of resources. "We have 25% of children living in poverty in Scotland, yet only 19% qualify for free school meals," he said. "That's a gap that has to be addressed. That will remain outstanding regardless what happens with the free school meal pilot." However, children's charity Children in Scotland gave strong support to the pilot for P1 to P3 pupils. Paula Evans, the charity's policy and parliamentary officer, told the committee: "It is right for Scotland to test the benefits of an inclusive free school meals policy that will encourage healthier eating habits, combat childhood obesity and improve the social development of school children at the P1-P3 level. "We look forward to the outcomes of this pilot. "If proven successful, then Children in Scotland hopes to see it universally expanded beyond the current six month time span to all P1 to P3s in Scotland - and indeed to young children in pre-schools." The results of the trial will be evaluated next year and the SNP administration will then have to decide whether to roll it out across the country or whether, as the opposition parties believe, it is better to extend the eligibility for free school meals to more families living near the poverty line.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-17981616

Ecuador seeks answer to riddle of Inca emperor's tomb - 12 May 2012 - From the section Latin America & Caribbean The mystery surrounding the tomb of the last Inca emperor - and its reputed treasure - might be closer to being solved. If Ecuadorean historian Tamara Estupinan is right, Emperor Atahualpa's mummified body was kept in the lush, hilly lowlands, a six-hour drive south-west of Ecuador's capital city, Quito. While it is still too early to confirm Ms Estupinan's theory, this discovery could shed light on a tumultuous historical period that marked the beginning of the Spanish colonial era in the Americas. At its height, in the early 1500s, the Inca empire covered most of the Andes, from southern Colombia to central Chile as well as some parts of Argentina. Inca emperors were mummified because it was believed that their powers remained within their bodies, which were guarded by guards and family members. Atahualpa governed out of Quito during a civil war against his brother, who was based in Cusco, the seat of the Inca empire. Shortly after defeating his brother, Atahualpa was captured by Spanish troops under Francisco Pizarro. It is believed that Atahualpa offered to fill a large room with gold and silver in exchange for his life. The offer did not work - he was executed in 1533. End of an era The Inca empire began to fall apart after his death, leaving only pockets of resistance against the Spanish conquerors. Archaeologists and historians have questioned whether his body remained in Cajamarca, the city in northern Peru where he died. No tomb was ever found. But Ms Estupinan, a researcher at the French Institute for Andean Studies (IFEA), says historical texts contain clues that indicate that the Inca emperor's final resting place was in what is now Ecuadorean territory. The historian's work focused on Ruminahui, one of Atahualpa's most loyal generals who led a revolt against the Spanish conquerors after the emperor's death. During her research, which lasted more than a decade, Ms Estupinan came across evidence that suggested that the Sigchos area in Ecuador's Andes became a base for Ruminahui and his men. She started looking for locations whose names were connected to sacred rituals. In 2004 she came across a small farm named Malqui - a word that means "mummy" in Quechua, the language spoken by the Incas. Polished stone walls and a subterranean water canal indicated the Inca origin of the site. Six years later, Ms Estupinan led a new expedition some 4km (2.5 miles) from Malqui. "When we arrived here, I could not believe it," said Ms Estupinan during a recent visit to the site, known as Machay (a Quechua word meaning burial). A trapezoidal enclosure leading to rectangular rooms that were built with cut polished stone led Ms Estupinan to think that she had reached an Inca monument. The presence of trapezoidal underground water canals served as confirmation. "I started running around," she says. "It was extremely exciting." Ms Estupinan believes Malqui and Machay were part of an Inca settlement set up to hide Atahualpa's mummy and his possessions, which were traditionally buried with the emperor, from the Spanish conquistadors. Machay is aligned with other sacred Inca sites, such as the Quilotoa lagoon, and is surrounded by the Machay River. Running water was important in sacred Inca places. The site is 1km (3,280ft) above sea level, in the sub-tropical lowlands on the western slopes of the Andes. Given the humidity, it is unlikely that remains of the mummy could be found intact almost 500 years later. Excavation works are expected to start in June, partly financed by Ecuador's government, which plans to invest $97,500 (£60,000) in marking and protecting the site. "For now the government cannot yet say whether this is Atahualpa's grave," said Joaquin Moscoso, of the Heritage Ministry. "If the historian's hypothesis is confirmed, we would be facing one of the largest and most unusual discoveries of the past decades." Treasure trove 'unlikely' Unlike in Peru, where much attention goes to Inca sites, such as world renowned Machu Picchu, Ecuador's archaeological ruins attract a limited number of tourists, and government spending is limited. So far a police officer has been deployed to protect Machay from possible looters attracted by the legend of Atahualpa's treasure. According to Ms Estupinan, it is unlikely that riches would be found. "For the Incas, the real treasure was the mummy itself," she says. Ms Estupinan also stresses that more attention should be placed on the site's conservation. Pictures of Machay from the 1960s show clear deterioration of several walls. The site was used to raise fighting cocks and to farm fish. This year's heavy rains have taken their toll, with the destruction of a large portion of a wall, says Ms Estupinan. Francisco Moncayo, who owns the Machay site, says he is waiting for money from the municipality to help him keep the place in order. He says the cost of maintaining the site runs to $3,000 (£1,800) a year. Jorge Yarad, one of two owners at Malqui, says he feels honoured to be in an Inca site, but he is worried about looters. "It is a great responsibility," he says. Mr Yarad hopes the government will be able to buy the land to build an archaeological site that would become world renowned. "We have been sleeping with history," says Mr Yarad. "And only now are we waking up."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8042543.stm

France's Gasquet is ranked 23rd in the world rankings France's Richard Gasquet has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine. The 22-year-old, who could face a two-year ban from the sport, failed the test at the Miami Masters in March. "His provisional suspension begins today (Monday)," said Dr Stuart Miller, the head of the International Tennis Federation's anti-doping commission. Gasquet said: "I want to prove my innocence and will explain myself at an appropriate time." Gasquet, who reached the last four at Wimbledon in 2007 and has a career-high ranking of seventh, said he had submitted himself to an independent test and that a hair analysis "showed no trace of cocaine". But traces of the drug were found in his urine sample. He said: "The test of the B sample submitted at the end of March 2009, confirmed the positive result of the A sample taken on the same day. "Given the complexity of the case, I am gathering the evidence of my innocence and will later set a date to make further comments." ITF spokesman Neil Robinson said an anti-doping tribunal should be assembled within 60 days to hear the case. "He's suspended until the end of the hearing," said Robinson. "The ideal timeframe is within 60 days, but people have to fly in from all over the world for the tribunal." In a statement released on Sunday, the French Tennis Federation said it was "very surprised" by the news. "If confirmed according to official proceedings, it would be very sad for Richard Gasquet, for tennis in general and for French tennis in particular, whose image would be tarnished," read the FFT statement. The FFT will follow with great attention the developments of this case, avoiding making hasty judgements and is anxious to leave the player to organise his defence for the international tennis bodie "At this stage, the FFT does not wish to make further comments because it is down to the anti-doping authorities, within the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to assess such a case and it is not for the FFT to intervene. "The FFT will follow with great attention the developments of this case, avoiding making hasty judgements and is anxious to leave the player to organise his defence for the international tennis bodies. "If the facts are correct, however, this would be particularly unfortunate in light of all the efforts of the FFT in terms of deterring athletes [from using banned substances]." Gasquet has been regarded as the brightest young talent in French tennis since turning professional in 2002. He ended his debut season as the youngest player to finish in the top 200 in the world rankings, and was also the youngest to qualify for an ATP Masters at Monte Carlo. Gasquet has won five singles titles and more than US$4m (£2.7m) in prize money during his career.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-18968804

Mulkerrin backs Guernsey education changes - 24 July 2012 - From the section Guernsey Moves to improve secondary education in Guernsey have the backing of the author of a critical review into the system. The Education Department has announced it has achieved 22 of the 49 recommendations set out in the review carried out by Denis Mulkerrin. Mr Mulkerrin said the changes meant the department was moving in the right direction. However, he said the challenge would be implementing further changes while dealing with the need to make savings. Among the recommendations put in place are the completion of a public consultation into the secondary school selection system and the introduction of regular visits by political board members to schools. The department has put work on two of the recommendations on hold for the time being. These are, looking at setting up eight-year housing licences for teachers, which has been delayed until the resolution of debate on the Housing Control Law, and training for school governors, which has been put off until the structure of the governing bodies has been agreed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2777173.stm

The humidity reading was lower than the hottest desert A Highland village has not set a new UK record for low humidity despite weather reading equipment indicating it had, according to the Met Office. The reading showed that Altnaharra in north west Scotland was drier than the hottest desert on Tuesday. However, the Met Office has said that equipment, which showed humidity at 1.6%, was incorrect. Met Office meteorologist Andy Yeatman said the humidity was still exceptionally low, at about 8% it was lower than most deserts. Mr Yeatman said that all observations were verified the following day. Most scientists have now acknowledged that recording figures this low are very, very difficult and it's still difficult to put an exact figure on it He said: "It now looks as though the humidity at Altnaharra wasn't quite as low as we first thought but in any case it was exceptionally low, somewhere around 8%, still lower than most deserts. "I think the essence is here that when you get to these exceptionally low humidities it's difficult to nail the exact figure." He said the problem came down to how humidities were measured. "We use two different thermometers, one with the bulb coated in water, when that water freezes there can be complications with the actual humidity figure. "I don't think it is embarrassing. Most scientists have now acknowledged that recording figures this low are very, very difficult and it's still difficult to put an exact figure on it."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/volleyball/venues_guide/default.stm

Situated 10km from central Athens, the Faliro Coastal Zone will be the scene of competition for four sports. Events: Beach volleyball, volleyball, taekwondo, handball Spectators: Beach volleyball centre 10,000, Peace and Friendship Stadium 14,000, Sports Pavillion 8,019 14-25 Aug (Beach Volleyball) 14-29 Aug (Volleyball) 14-24 Aug (Handball) 26-29 Aug (Taekwondo) Goalball (20-26 Sept) Beach volleyball will take place in South Attica, Faliro, while the nearby sports pavilion will host taekwondo and handball preliminary games. The Peace and Friendship Stadium will be home to the volleyball competition. The whole area, including the marina and the esplanade, is part of a major urban redevelopment project of the coastal zone. A beach volleyball test event was successfully conducted in August 2003 at the newly-constructed court, which also has six training and two warm-up courts. During the Games, matches will be floodlit and continue until late in the evening. The Sports Pavilion is another new venue and opened with a four-nation handball tournament featuring Greece, Germany, Hungary and Egypt at the end of March. It will also host 12 men's and eight women's goalball teams during the Paralympics. The Peace and Friendship Stadium was originally completed in 1981 but has been renovated for the Olympics and will have a total capacity of 14,000 seats.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/somerset/hi/tv_and_radio/tv_and_radio/newsid_8116000/8116999.stm

The BBC Somerset Bus is your voice to the rest of the county. Emma and Matt present from the bus Our mobile studio travels around Somerset, visiting various towns, villages, and events. We want to meet you and find out what stories you want us to be talking about on the radio. Every week, we broadcast live radio programmes from the bus, featuring the people, issues, and events that make Somerset so special. We also bring the bus to high streets, shows, festivals, and businesses, so we can meet listeners, find news stories and show people around our mobile studio. Why not come down and see the bus next time it's out? You'll have the chance to meet our presenters, see a radio programme being produced, and pick up some BBC Somerset freebies! The aim of the bus is to bring your local radio station closer to you. So, if you'd like the bus to come along to an event you're involved with, get in touch with the BBC Somerset bus team and if you have any stories or events that you would like us to know about, then click Then wait for the call - and we could be seeing you soon! BBC Somerset bus locations 5 January: Taunton 12 January: Bridgwater 19 January: Cheddar 27 January: Chard / Ilminster 3 February: Williton / Watchet 23 February: Street / Glastonbury 2 March: Yeovil 16 March: Wellington 23 March: Taunton 30 March: Highbridge / Burnham on Sea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7167866.stm

A mysterious case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has raised fears more people than thought could be at risk. Prion diseases like CJD affect the brain New Scientist magazine reports the genetic make-up of a 40-year-old woman who may have died from variant CJD was different from all previous patients. But the University College London study's lead researcher said it was too early to say for sure. And a government advisor on CJD said many cases needed to emerge to confirm a new wave and people should not panic. CJD is a fatal brain condition, with dozens of cases every year. However, the BSE crisis in cattle in the 1980s and 1990s coincided with the emergence of a new form of the disease, variant CJD. It is thought that this new form - which has so far been confirmed in only a relatively small number of humans - may have been linked to eating meat infected with BSE, although the human illness often did not emerge until years later. After a slaughtering programme removed infected cattle from the food chain, deaths from variant CJD were thought to have peaked in the first half of this decade, falling steadily since 2003. However, the latest find opens a small possibility that the "incubation period" for some people may be longer, and that there could be a second upsurge in deaths to come. Every person who has died from variant CJD before this point has one thing in common - they carry a gene variant called MM. About four in 10 people have this variant, and some experts believed it was possible that in humans, only these people may ever have been vulnerable to variant CJD. The latest death is the first recorded involving a different variant - VV - found in approximately one in 10 Britons. Lead researcher Dr Simon Mead, from the Prion Unit at University College London, whose work was originally published in the journal Archives of Neurology, said that at the moment it was too early to say whether this signalled the beginning of a rise in cases among other VV carriers exposed to BSE-infected meat. He said: "We can't say for sure whether this is actually variant CJD, or simply a case of "sporadic" CJD in a younger-than-expected patient - it does not have all the features of either. "It could be a new type of variant CJD affecting VV people, but we would need to see a lot more cases than at present to confirm this. "What we are doing at the moment is asking people to stay alert and look out for other cases." Professor Chris Higgins, the Chair of the government's Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), which advises on variant CJD, played down fears that cases could rise again. He said: "There's certainly no need to panic. This could simply be a case of sporadic CJD, in which case the genetic makeup is irrelevant, as this is found in MM and VV people. "At the moment there isn't enough evidence to conclude one way or the other. "We know that it is possible to infect VV mice with variant CJD, but it is actually much harder than infecting MM mice, so even if there were to be a rise, it would not a big rise." To date there have been 114 deaths from variant CJD in the UK, with another 47 deaths thought likely to be due to the disease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8092182.stm

By David Shukman Environment correspondent, BBC News Pollution 'higher risk' to children Children may be at greater risk from the microscopic particles in traffic pollution than was previously thought. Early findings from a major study in London seen by the BBC show that the lung capacity of 8- and 9-year-olds is 5% lower than the national average. And 7% of the children - surveyed in the Tower Hamlets area - have lung function reduced to a level internationally regarded as hazardous. The London study is being led by Professor Jonathan Grigg. He works out of the Centre for Paediatrics at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. The particles - so-called "particulates" - are produced in vehicle exhaust and are far smaller than the width of a human hair. Less than 10 microns across, they are often referred to as PM10. The results come as researchers at Lancaster University warn that levels of particulates are often higher than shown by official monitoring devices. Analysing the particulates collected on roadside leaves, the research shows that the pollution can be most intense at the height of many children. Britain already faces penalties from the European Union for multiple breaches of standards for particulate pollution. Professor Grigg told BBC News: "Our findings in the East End of London are that children living here have slightly lower lung function than what we'd expect from the national average. "Now, if that's due to air pollution, as we suspect, they're going to be at increased risk from a range of respiratory disorders such as asthma and infection, and may be at risk in adulthood." A total of 203 children at 10 different schools are taking part in regular tests over several years. Interim findings from 149 children show that 11 of them have lung capacity that is 80% or lower than the national average - a threshold regarded by researchers as vulnerable to a range of breathing conditions. One test involves encouraging the children to cough - so the carbon content of their sputum can be analysed. Microscope analysis shows how particulates are reaching deep into the lungs. These results will add pressure on the government over Britain's failure to meet European Union air quality standards. The EU requirement is for average PM10 concentrations to stay below 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air - but most of the country's major conurbations record higher levels. And the new research by Lancaster University shows that the particulate levels may be even worse than official figures show. The official data is gathered at automatic monitoring stations which typically sample air at a height of three metres - mainly to avoid the risk of vandalism. But Professor Barbara Maher and her team have devised a new technique for measuring the magnetic response of particulates on roadside leaves - many of the particles contain fragments of metal. Barbara Maher from Lancaster University offers her tips on avoiding traffic pollution And the readings show higher concentrations of particulates at lower levels. Interviewed beside a busy road in Lancaster, Professor Maher said: "We're surrounded by this invisible mist of these millions of toxic particles - you can't see them but we know, we've measured them, they're here. "When we do our leaf magnetic measurements, our research shows that down at small child height the concentrations - the number - of these very fine particles is sometimes twice the current EU regulation standard." One set of measurements, outside the Cathedral School in Lancaster, revealed particulate levels that were above the EU standard. The school's head, Anne Goddard, said the findings were "quite worrying". "It's the only playground we have at the school and it's right next to the road. The levels are high so obviously the effect on the children, especially those with asthma, is a concern." The Environment Secretary Hilary Benn admits there is a problem but says 24 out of 27 members of the European Union are in breach of the standards and that most of the landmass of Britain does meet the requirements. He also said that "huge progress" had been made in the last few decades with the Clean Air Act and changes in vehicles standards. "But we need to do more and principally that will be about cars and lorries and buses," he said. "And we've been working with other countries in Europe to improve the standards to get these PM10 particles down because we know it has an effect on our health." 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://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8610000/newsid_8619500/8619514.stm

A six-week-old squirrel had a lucky landing when his nest was blown out of a tree and fell to the floor. Nicknamed Charles, the squirrel kitten was spotted by a passer-by in Cumbria who saved him from predators by taking him to a local squirrel group. He's now being hand-reared by Sarah McNeil, who runs the charitable group. There are only 150,000 red squirrels left in Britain, so Charles is being well looked after until he's strong enough to be released into the wild. Sarah said: "Orphan Charles is fine. He's pretty strong. He's cosy and warm and his eyes have recently opened. I'm hand-rearing him on a puppy or kitten's milk."

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-27414609

#BBCtrending: Is the 'world's luckiest man' being exploited? Why is the man from Croatia who cheated death seven times, then won the lottery, upset? Because of a cartoon about him going viral on YouTube. Frano Selak has the kind of life story which is just begging to be made into a film. But now that it has, he's apparently unhappy with the way he has been portrayed. Selak is an octogenarian music teacher from Croatia. His run of near escapes began back, he says, in 1957, when he plunged into the river on a bus. According to interviews he has given, six more brushes with death followed. His train derailed and hurtled into a river, he walked away from not one but two exploding cars, and survived a plane crash by landing on a haystack after being thrown clear. A protruding tree saved him when he drove off a cliff - and he bounced back from being hit by a bus. Then, as if to prove that he was the luckiest - rather than unluckiest - man in the world, Selak won around $1m (£600,000) in a lottery, giving most of it away to friends and family. His story is not independently verified but it has popped up on various news sites over the years, and provided inspiration to David Ransom, an animator in New York whose company is called This & That Visuals. "I was struggling to think of a new topic to do a video on and Frano's story came to me," he told the BBC. He uploaded the three-minute cartoon to YouTube at the start of May. It has been watched more than 1.2 million times. But, according to reports in Croatia, the subject of the film is not impressed. The Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji List asked for his reaction - and Selak did not sound like "the happiest man in the world" of legend. "The Americans have no idea," he complained. "They drew a moustache on me and mixed up all my accidents. Maybe they will earn big money, while I live on a pension. At least send me a thousand dollars." The BBC has not managed to reach Selak for comment. Newspaper reports suggest he is contemplating taking legal action, but David Ransom hopes it will not go that far. "I am very sorry that he was upset by his depiction," he says. "If he would like to set the record straight I would be more than happy to amend the video to more accurately represent his image, and add or remove any details he wants." Reporting by Guy Delauney All our stories are at BBC.com/trending

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-28897211

Cardiff Airport chief executive Jon Horne to stand down Cardiff Airport chief executive Jon Horne will stand down from the role on 1 September, it has been announced. Mr Horne was appointed a week after the airport was bought for £52m by the Welsh government in March 2013. He had been the airport's managing director previously, between 2001-2007, before moving to other senior posts in the aviation industry. Debra Barber, who joined in May 2012 as operations director, has been appointed interim managing director. In March this year, the airport saw a 9% increase in the number of its passengers since it was taken over by the Welsh government. It bought the facility amid concerns about investment by its then Spanish owners. Cardiff International Airport Ltd chairman Lord Rowe-Beddoe said Mr Horne had "very successfully steered the airport through the first phase of our path to re-establishing its fortunes". He added: "This includes halting the decline in passenger numbers, establishing good and improving customer service and overseeing the physical transformation of the terminal as well as securing CityJet and the return of Ryanair to the airport." He added that Mr Horne will be available to advise the board. In the same statement, Mr Horne said the "positive and significant" changes at the airport were a "great credit" to his team of colleagues. He said: "There is still much work to be done, but I have agreed with the chairman that a new perspective will be beneficial for the next stage of development and as such I have concluded my executive involvement." Ms Barber is a former RAF group captain. She joined the air force in 1984, with 10 years experience as an air traffic controller before retiring as air traffic management force commander, responsible for all RAF air traffic units in the UK and around the world. Lord Rowe Beddoe said: "Ms Barber played a leading role in the commercial development and expansion of Basrah International Airport in Iraq. "She also had command responsibilities for the military element of the en route air traffic control centre at Swanwick in Hampshire, was directly involved in the UK response to the volcanic ash crisis in 2010, and represented the military air traffic management organisation during preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games." Ms Barber said: "Our priority is to return the business to its previous level of success and beyond, focusing on increasing passenger numbers and enhancing the number of destinations on offer. "Having received great feedback on the improvements we've made so far, I am pleased to have this opportunity to lead the airport through its continuing transformation."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-27027325

Drug warning after Renfrew woman's death Police have issued a drugs warning to the public after the death of a 19-year-old woman in Renfrew. The teenager took ill at about 22:15 on Sunday at a house on Paisley Road and died in hospital a short time later. Police said the death was "unexplained" but one line of inquiry was that she may have taken an illegal substance. Ch Insp Arlene Smith said it was thought that the drug involved was M-Cat although witnesses believed the woman could also have taken ketamine. Four other people - two men and two women - who were in the house at the time were also taken to the Southern General and Royal Alexandra Hospitals and are being treated after showing symptoms consistent with drug misuse. Ch Insp Smith said: "Extensive inquiries are continuing into the circumstances of the woman's death, and although unconfirmed, one of the lines of inquiry is that prior to her taking unwell she may have taken an illegal substance." "Given that other people have also fallen ill and are currently in hospital Police Scotland has taken the decision to issue a warning." Police Scotland is also appealing for information from anyone who may have attended a party in the Renfrew area over the weekend and has any information which can help officers progress their inquiry.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-37858622

Lifejacket law 'should be prioritised' after four deaths New legislation to make it compulsory for fishermen to wear lifejackets should be prioritised, marine accident investigators have said. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) made the recommendation following the deaths of four men. The deaths include two Scots fishermen, Craig Reid, 25, from Inverness, and Gerard Gillies, 42, from Vatersay. The other two men - Gareth and Daniel Willington - died when their boat sank off the Pembrokeshire coast. It is known that three of the four men involved in the incident were not wearing lifejackets. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has already made a recommendation calling for the wearing of lifejackets to be made compulsory. However, the MAIB said the agency should make arrangements to prioritise the introduction of legislation requiring the compulsory wearing of constant wear lifejackets, or personal flotation devices (PDFs), on the exposed decks of all commercial fishing vessels. Mr Reid was lost overboard from the Apollo off Orkney in April this year. Mr Gillies died after falling overboard from the creel boat Annie T in the Sound of Mingulay in the Western Isles in October last year. Father and son Gareth Willington, 59, and Daniel, 32, from Carew in Pembrokeshire, died after their boat The Harvester sank off St David's Head in April this year. The body of Daniel Willington has not been found. Derek Cardno, safety officer for the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said his organisation was "not convinced" that making the wearing of lifejackets a mandatory requirement would improve safety. He said: "We are tremendously saddened by these recent deaths and we, as an industry, are working on a number of initiatives to enhance fishermen's safety. "This includes an industry-led a scheme to supply free personal flotation devices (PFD) to every fisherman in Scotland, which has had a strong uptake. "We are not convinced that making the wearing of a PFD a mandatory requirement will make the sole difference that is required. "We believe it is much better to focus on education and creating a new mind-set among fishermen."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36248334

At least 53 people have been killed by landslides caused by heavy rains over the weekend in Rwanda, officials say. Most of the victims are believed to have been children, reports say. The downpours have also destroyed more than 500 homes and damaged infrastructure across the country, especially in the north. There have been a number of deadly mudslides this year in Rwanda, and up to 70 people have been killed, including in the capital, Kigali. The densely populated country is made up of hills and valleys, and erosion is a problem. The northern Gakenke district has been the hardest hit, with at least 34 deaths, officials say. In recent years, the government has moved some people out of areas designated as high risk. Authorities in some East African countries have blamed the El Nino weather phenomenon for a much heavier rainy season in the region.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29151280

Rather like the Queen, the Governor of the Bank of England does not want to stray into the debate over whether Scotland should opt for independence. But Mark Carney is not doing quite as good a job of by-standing as Her Majesty. On Wednesday, when talking to MPs on the Treasury Committee, he weighed into the costs for Scotland of keeping its currency tied to sterling, in the absence of monetary union - which is what many expect would be the monetary arrangements for an independent Scotland, given that the Westminster government and Labour have said no, nay, never to a formal eurozone-style currency union. What Carney said was a unilateral decision to, in effect, keep the pound - which could be done in a number of ways, including issuing a new currency but fixing its value as equivalent to the pound sterling - would force a Scottish government to accumulate substantial financial reserves. These would be needed largely so that lenders to Scottish banks could be confident that those banks could be bailed out in a crisis, and creditors would not be at serious risk. How large would these reserves have to be? Well, he signalled they would run to tens of billions of pounds, and only a small proportion would be obtained from the rest of the UK, in the break-up negotiations. Or, to put it another way, building up the needed reserves would reduce the resources of the Scottish government for other things, such as funding public services. Mr Carney was asked by Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Committee, whether these reserves would have to come from tax rises or public spending cuts - and Mr Carney agreed that was likely. He was therefore suggesting that keeping the pound in this manner would be expensive for Scots. Mr Carney also said something else that was unlikely to warm the cockles of Mr Salmond and his fellow campaigners for independence - which is that a number of financial firms domiciled in Scotland may migrate south of the border. This was an unsurprising statement on the day that David Nish, chief executive of the Scottish money manager Standard Life, confirmed plans to establish England-based companies, into which it would inject clients' pension and investment assets. Mr Nish has written to customers saying that they will be protected from the risk that the value of their savings could be impaired if an independent Scotland were to impose higher taxes, or adopt a weak currency, or fail to have adequate regulation and compensation schemes. This protection would be provided by the transfer of the assets to the new English companies so that clients would continue to be subject to the same currency, fiscal and regulatory conditions as at present. Nish says it would make these transfers for customers who reside outside Scotland. What it will do to protect Scottish clients is a bit more vague - and Nish says the company will "consider what additional measures we may need to take on their behalf as a consequence of constitutional change once further clarity and certainty is received". And there is the rub. There is a good deal the banks and money managers can do to reassure customers who do not live in Scotland - but perhaps less for those who reside north of the border. So, as I have been saying for some time, on the day after a vote for independence Royal Bank of Scotland would move its headquarters and legal home - its registered office - to London. And Lloyds would relocate its registered office to where it currently has its head office - which is also London (naturally). In relocating in this way, RBS and Lloyds would be reassuring their creditors that they would be protected from the risk that the banks would no longer be protected and regulated by the Bank of England. But RBS and Lloyds cannot give reassurance to Scottish-based savers that their deposits would not fall in value - in the event that Scotland was unable either to keep sterling or link a new currency to the value of sterling. The risk is that Scotland would ultimately adopt a new currency, which would fall in price relative to the pound. Here is the one reason why this matters. 'Cheap and easy' A number of bank bosses have told me they expect significant flight of savings out of Scotland in the event of a vote for independence, because, in the words of a senior bank executive, "the devaluation risk is real". He added: "It is cheap and easy to move money to English banks so why wouldn't you do it? The lesson of what has happened in countries where there is a risk of devaluation is that savers move their cash". Although he is not seeing a "momentous" outflow of cash at the moment, he fears this would change the day after a vote for independence. And as of earlier this week, he has been keeping an eye on balances in his Scottish businesses on a daily basis. There could, of course, also be flight out of money management groups such as Standard Life - which is why on Wednesday it said it will do the fleeing for its customers, as it were. This risk of capital flight from an independent Scotland was what the Bank of England governor Mark Carney was describing in his inflation press conference in August, when he said: "uncertainty about the currency arrangements could raise financial stability issues". On Wednesday, Mr Carney re-confirmed that in the 18 months or so between Scots voting for independence and Scotland actually becoming an independent nation, the Bank will not let any bank get into trouble if they were to suffer a massive outflow of deposits and demands for loans to be repaid. The Bank would, in its time-honoured fashion, fill any funding gap by providing emergency loans, in its role as lender of last resort. But then the question arises of how the Bank of England would get its money back as and when Scotland became independent and it was no longer the official central bank for banks in Scotland. Mr Tyrie told me on Wednesday that arrangements for repaying the Bank of England would have to be negotiated right at the start of formal talks on separating Scotland between the Westminster government and Alex Salmond. But there would very likely be a curious state of affairs for some months or even years, whereby Scotland would be a separate nation, but the taxpayers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland would in effect be lending to banks in Scotland to the tune potentially of many billions of pounds. So, taxpayers south of the border would have a considerable sum at risk. In the event that Scotland were to adopt a weak currency, banks with significant loans in Scotland would probably be repaid in that weak and falling currency. Which means that if they had borrowed from the Bank of England in harder sterling, a gap might arise between the resources they had available to repay the Bank of England. These potential risks for the Bank of England represent one of the reasons why Alex Salmond and his colleagues still feel that if the penny were to drop for independence on 18 September, the government in Westminster might then have to re-evaluate the costs and benefits of their seemingly implacable opposition to monetary union. Though, for what it's worth, I do not see any sign of government, civil service, Labour or Bank of England lessening their opposition to currency union by even a scintilla.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-11994354

A Cardiff Crown Court jury has cleared a campaigning father of all charges relating to possessing gunpowder and bullets. Matthew Starmore, 31, of Newport, said he knew the materials were in the house but denied they were his. Mr Starmore, ex-branch secretary of New Fathers 4 Justice, said he was shown the items by another man, David Hodge, who lived in the shared property. Hodge had already pleaded guilty to possessing the material. The court previously heard that police searched the house in Newport in October last year and discovered bottles of gunpowder, 24 rounds of ammunition and 108 bullet heads. The jury was told that when police arrived, Mr Starmore asked if they had come about the bullets. He said he had been shown the items by Hodge and had advised him to go to the police. The police had not been contacted by Hodge and officers discovered the gunpowder and bullets when searching the house for another reason. Mr Starmore was cleared of all charges: Possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or property, two counts of possessing prohibited ammunition and one count of handling stolen goods.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37743411

Multiple blasts in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya have killed one person and injured three, emergency services say. Police believe the blasts may be linked to an apparent suicide. The explosions took place almost simultaneously at about 11:30 local time (02:30 GMT) in the city in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo. Two cars in a nearby parking area also caught fire at the same time, police said. The Japanese broadcaster NHK says police found a suicide note at the scene, and one of the damaged vehicles was owned by a 72-year-old man, believed to be a former member of the Self-Defence Forces. His house in the city of Utsunomiya had been destroyed in a fire shortly before the explosions, the broadcaster said. The blast in the nearby park seriously injured two men, and a 14-year-old boy suffered minor leg injuries. No-one was injured in the car parking area. A festival celebrating traditional culture had been taking place in the park. A man who was there at the time told NHK that he heard "a big sound" and smelled gunpowder. The broadcaster also reported that a video camera at nearby Utsunomiya station recorded the sound of three explosions in quick succession - at 11:31, 11:32, and a third "bigger sound" 15 seconds later. Photographs showed a splintered and broken bench in the area of one of the blasts, while other images posted to social media appeared to show a column of black smoke. Police have cordoned off the area.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20024686

Indian rickshaw-puller's baby Damini in hospital A month-old baby girl in India, who following her mother's death was being carried around in a sling by her rickshaw-puller father as he worked, has been admitted to hospital. Damini was taken to the Fortis hospital in Jaipur city on Sunday night after her condition turned "critical". Doctors say she is underweight, weak, and suffering from septicaemia. Meanwhile, numerous offers of help for the rickshaw-puller Bablu Jatav and Damini have come into the BBC. Mr Jatav's wife, Shanti, died on 20 September, soon after giving birth to their first child in Bharatpur town in Rajasthan state. As there was nobody to look after the baby, Mr Jatav had to take her to work with him every day. After reading about the family's plight, the district administration is now helping Mr Jatav. "We consulted all senior doctors in Bharatpur and Jaipur and decided to shift Damini to Jaipur for better treatment," local government official GP Shukla told the BBC. The Jatavs were sent in an ambulance, arranged by Mr Shukla's office and accompanied by a doctor and a nurse, to Jaipur. The authorities have also promised to help Mr Jatav so that he can take better care of his daughter and a state-owned bank has given him a rickshaw and 11,000 rupees ($205; £128). Mr Jatav's heart-rending story has moved people around the world and the BBC office has been receiving calls to help the family from India and abroad. On Monday morning, the BBC received a call from an Indian taxi driver in the US city of San Francisco who said he had collected $300 for Mr Jatav and his daughter. He said most of the contributors had been Pakistanis living in the US. Another Indian living in the US has offered to donate 100,000 rupees ($1,863; £1,162) to help the family.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10850402

Taliban suicide attack on Nato's Kandahar airbase fails A Taliban attack on an airbase in southern Afghanistan led by a suicide bomber riding a tractor has been repelled by Nato forces. The man riding the machine blew himself up at the perimeter of the base near Kandahar city in an attempt to clear the way for other fighters. The other Taliban fighters who advanced on the base under cover of rocket fire were killed or turned back. A spokeswoman for Nato forces said the hour-long attack had been unsuccessful. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said they had been responsible for the assault.New offensive Some reports said that a foreign soldier had been wounded, but this has not been confirmed by Nato or US officials. The Kandahar airfield, 15 miles (25km) outside Kandahar city, is one of the largest Nato military bases in Afghanistan. It frequently comes under rocket attack, but Taliban ground assaults on the base are relatively rare, reports say. This is the first concerted attack on the base since May, coming at a time when there is much speculation about a new Nato offensive to take control of Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban, says the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/this_week/5019398.stm

To celebrate this week's publication of the 25,000th crossword, their top setter Val Gilbert has made a special topical cryptic for This Week. Alan and Michael were too slow to get through all the clues, so you can complete the puzzle at your leisure. Click on the image top right to get the grid - and here are the clues! 1. Second-rate liar spinning for the PM (5) 3. We hear Omaar's forebear chasing an early hoodie founded this dangerous 6. Clinton's daughter rose for a ballet dancer (6,7) 7. Wrong outer road left Gordon Brown adrift in Abuja with fellow povery 8. Laura's partner/husband confused and lost (4) 2. This David sees ET claim as our new Goliath (12) 4. Camera endlessly on for World Cup partygoer (7) 5. Country that is bare, rough and now suffering terminal coastal erosion! (6) Once you've given it your best shot, the answers are here. Get in touch To say hello, do feel free to email us at [email protected] or using the form below. Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12433758

Iran 'arrests activists' ahead of planned march Reports from Iran say several opposition activists have been arrested and international broadcasters are being jammed. The moves come after the opposition called for a march in Tehran next week in support of the protests in Egypt. Opposition websites say at least eight people close to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have been detained. They include his brother-in-law, former minister Mohammad Hossein Sharifzadegan. On Thursday, another opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, was placed under house arrest. His website, Sahamnews.org, said security officials had told him that the restrictions would remain in place until after 14 February - the day of the proposed march. The website Kaleme said Mr Sharifzadegan had been arrested at his home. Meanwhile, the BBC Persian TV network has been jammed inside Iran. Analysts say Tehran is trying to stop opposition groups from seizing the moment with rallies linked to the Egyptian crisis. However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has described the Egyptian protests as "a tide of awakening" and declared that the Middle East will soon be free of the US and Israel. He was addressing a rally to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Iranian revolution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7210597.stm

Emanuel Villa's last-gasp header earned Derby a point they barely deserved and put Birmingham in the relegation zone. Garry O'Connor (right) was a constant threat down the wing Sebastian Larsson had seemingly won the match when he fired in from six yards after good work by David Murphy. But Villa converted Derby's one genuine clear-cut chance, heading Dean Leacock's cross past Maik Taylor. The result, which was harsh on a Birmingham side that created numerous chances, extends their winless run to seven matches, Derby's standing at 22. However, Alex McLeish's side will only have themselves to blame having dominated possession throughout. Their first sniff of the Derby goal came inside 20 seconds, Fabrice Muamba inches away from converting Garry O'Connor's low right wing cross. Setting the pattern for the whole match, the home side made all the early chances but Olivier Kapo, the main beneficiary, left plenty to be desired with his finishing. A free-kick was deflected wide, a header from O'Connor's cross directed over and a third effort at the end of a run past half-hearted Robbie Savage and Leacock challenges easily saved. James McFadden then had a chance of his own, but headed over from five yards after more great wing play by O'Connor. For all the home side's half-chances, the biggest cheer of the half came when Savage blasted high and wide from 20 yards. The chorus of boos greeting the former Birmingham midfielder's every touch changed temporarily to ironic applause. No doubt sent out with a few choice words from manager Paul Jewell, Derby showed renewed purpose after the break and came within inches of taking the lead on 52 minutes. Kenny Miller showed great composure in the box to pick his spot, but his low shot came back off the inside of the post with Taylor well beaten. Normal service was resumed moments later when Birmingham broke down the right wing, but again the finish was lacking as Muamba fluffed his kick from eight yards with just keeper Roy Carroll to beat. Jewell sent on Villa and Giles Barnes for the ineffective Lauren Robert and Robert Earnshaw on the hour, but the pattern remained unchanged. McFadden wasted another chance, his poor touch allowing Carroll, making his debut after signing from Rangers, to make a save, before Larsson finally gave the home side the lead. Debutant Murphy won the ball with a strong challenge, then exchanged passes with Kapo before firing a deep cross that Larsson converted from 10 yards after his initial header had deflected back to him off Marc Edworthy. With Derby having offered precious little, Birmingham might have thought that one goal would be good enough. But with just a minute remaining, substitute Villa rose the highest to send Birmingham spiralling into the relegation zone. Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "I watched Derby in midweek against Manchester City but they did not reach the heights they did in that game. "This is a match that we totally dominated but they fought back from a goal down and got a point. "We worked hard to get our noses in front but it was not enough for the win. We were a bit wasteful with the chances we had in front of goal." Derby manager Paul Jewell: "It wasn't a great performance but at least we showed some character to come from a goal behind. "Emanuel (Villa) is one of those players who, if you put quality balls into the box, will score goals. It was a terrific header for the goal. "He has just come here from Mexico so it will take him time to settle down, especially for a team at the bottom of the league but I am confident Emanuel will score a few goals." Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson (Zarate 76), Johnson, Muamba, Kapo, O'Connor, McFadden. Subs Not Used: Doyle, Forssell, Jerome, Parnaby. Goals: Larsson 68. Derby: Carroll, Leacock, Moore (Todd 67), Stubbs, Edworthy, Fagan, Ghaly, Savage, Robert (Barnes 60), Earnshaw (Villa 61), Miller. Subs Not Used: Price, Teale. Booked: Robert, Edworthy, Leacock, Miller, Savage. Goals: Villa 89. Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Derby's Emanuel Villa 8.30 (on 90 minutes). Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3062475.stm

Coldplay brought the curtain down on Scotland's biggest music festival, which was this weekend celebrating its 10th birthday. More than 55,000 people enjoyed the music and sunshine in Balado The Grammy award winners delighted 55,000 fans at T in the Park on a disused air field in Balado, near Kinross, on Sunday. Singer Chris Martin raised cheers when he changed the final lines to the group's new single God Put A Smile Upon Your Face to: "God gave you light and gave you dark/God gave you tickets for T in the Park". Speculation had been mounting all day about whether the singer's fiancée Gwyneth Paltrow would attend the festival but there was no sign of the actress as the band took to the stage. It was a second day of sunshine for the festival and by mid afternoon Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust stall ran out of sun cream as temperatures soared to 21C. US supergroup REM were the main attraction on Saturday. Singer Michael Stipe told the crowd: "We are REM. This is what we do," before launching into Finest Work Song, from one of their early albums, Document. The group then played another two songs from their back catalogue, Get Up and Begin The Begin, before playing Imitation of Life from their most recent album Reveal. The revellers gave the band a rousing reception and waved saltire flags and a variety of inflatables during the performance. More than 120 acts performed across nine stages over the weekend. Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell visited T in the Park for the first time. First Minister Jack McConnell takes time out from running Scotland He said: "I am here because this is one of the biggest and best events taking place in Scotland. "Its great to see so many young people enjoying themselves and the festival is very valuable to both the local and the national economy. "It also offers a great opportunity to showcase the Scottish music industry and symbolises the modern Scotland that we want to portray." Mr McConnell watched some new bands in one of the festival tents and then took in the Sugababes on the main stage. Pop favourites the Sugababes, Liverpudlian newcomers The Coral, Welsh band Feeder and indie veterans The Charlatans were also appearing on the main stage on Sunday. Tayside Police have praised the crowd for their good behaviour and said there had only been 24 arrests for minor offences since fans started arriving at the campsite on Friday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-19806498

Housing plan for Winchester's Barton Farm given go-ahead A property development company has been given the go-ahead to build 2,000 homes near Winchester. Cala Homes has wanted to build the homes on the 230-acre site at Barton Farm for 14 years. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles approved the plans. He had turned them down but reconsidered when the firm took its case to the Appeal Court. Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine described the decision as "bitterly disappointing". "Cala Homes have very deep pockets and have relentlessly pursued Winchester over many years until they got what they wanted," the Conservative MP said. Mr Brine said the development would make the city a "less comfortable place" to live.'Overtaken by events' "We will get used to it, and not too many years from now we'll no doubt struggle to remember how it looked before, but a special piece of the landscape setting of Winchester will be gone forever." Robert Millar, group land director of Cala, said: "Local people will benefit greatly from this decision. "It will be a major contributor to stimulating the local economy and creating long-term jobs." Residents have always objected to the plans, saying the city's roads, schools and services could not cope with so many new homes. Keith Wood, leader of Winchester City Council, said said: "We argued strongly about the application, but we have been overtaken by events. "The council now needs to ensure that the development of this site generates all the promised benefits to the community." Of the 2,000 homes, some 800 will be social housing for people on the city council waiting list.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/herefordandworcester/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8569000/8569824.stm

Gypsies first came to this country in the 16th century There has been a large travelling community in Herefordshire and Worcestershire for hundreds of years. Councils across Worcestershire are now working to avoid the possibility of homelessness in the Gypsy, Traveller and travelling show people communities. The total number of pitches in Worcestershire is expected to be increased by 50% by 2017. Race relations case law recognises English Romany Gypsies, and Irish Travellers as ethnic minorities. Worcestershire County Council's Residential Caravan Sites Red spots show Worcestershire County Council sites Worcestershire County Council manages sites for Gypsies and Travellers at: - Lower Heath, Stouport-on-Severn: 22 plots. - Broach Road, Stouport-on-Severn: 9 plots. - Hipton Hill, near Evesham: 24 plots. - Cleve Prior, near Evesham: 8 plots. - Hinton-on-the-green, near Evesham: 5 plots. - Pinvin, near Pershore: 15 plots. - Smite: 16 plots. - Waterside Park, Worcester: 20 plots. - Malvern Meadows: 5 plots. There are more details on this Worcestershire County Council website. Residential sites in Herefordshire Red spots show sites run by Herefordshire Council Herefordshire Council currently has seven Local Authority run sites: - Romany Close, Grafton, Hereford: 9 pitches. - Croft Lane, Luston, Leominster: 10 pitches. - Open Fields, Linton, Bromyard: 14 pitches. - Watery Lane, Lower Bullingham, Hereford: 11 pitches. - Tinkers Corner, Near Bosbury: 7 pitches. - Turnpike, near Pembridge/Shobdon: 6 pitches. - Stoney Street, Madley: 17 pitches. English Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers have the same rights to race relations protection as other recognised ethnic minority groups, under the Race Relations Act 1976. This protection does not apply to New Age Travellers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4152433.stm

The BBC has received more than 15,000 complaints about its decision to air the musical Jerry Springer - The Opera. David Soul plays talk show host Jerry Springer Campaigners Mediawatch UK have railed against the show going out on BBC Two on Saturday because of the high level of swearing. There have also been thousands of complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom but it cannot respond ahead of the broadcast. But the BBC has vowed to press ahead with the uncut broadcast, filmed at the Cambridge Theatre, London. The BBC has admitted the show is "boundary-breaking" and that it will not appeal to some tastes. But strenuous warnings about the language will be given before it goes out. Church officials and groups have also called on people to join the protest because of what it sees as blasphemous scenes such as Jesus wearing a nappy. The Right Reverend David Parsons of Highfield Road Baptist Church, Dartford, has been urging people to e-mail and call the BBC in an effort to change its mind about screening it. Other Christian websites have been urging similar action through message boards, including contact details for the BBC. But the National Secular Society defended the BBC's right to screen it, urging the BBC not to give in to "religious bullies". Vice president Terry Sanderson said: "This organised attack is the latest of a series of attempts by religious interests to control what we can see or say in this country. "Jerry Springer - The Opera is an award-winning show, and the fact it has run for two years in theatres demonstrates its popularity. "It is the BBC's formal duty to reflect society and bring such plays to a wider audience who might not otherwise be able to see them at a theatre. "Viewers have a right to see it. Those who are likely to be offended have a similar right to turn it off." There have been exaggerations that the show contains more than 8,000 instances of swearing, although there is no doubting it does contain a large amount of swear words. Mediawatch-UK director John Beyer has written to BBC chairman Michael Grade to complain about its decision to show it. Christ film complaints The BBC responded by saying: "As a public service broadcaster, it is the BBC's role to broadcast a range of programmes that will appeal to all audiences - with very differing tastes and interests - present in the UK today." The number of comments to the BBC swamps the previous record holder for the most complaints - Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. The film about the life of Jesus Christ drew 1,554 complaints, according to the ITC. Brass Eye's spoof on media coverage of paedophilia drew an equal number of complaints and compliments - 992 each.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/chat/hotseat/newsid_1777000/1777895.stm

Author Philip Pullman joined us here live to answer YOUR questions, after winning the prestigious Whitbread Book of the Year award. If you missed the live version, you can still catch up on his chat by clicking on the link below: Katy, 13, London How did you feel when you won the Whitbread Award? Philip: Well I felt very surprised and very thrilled, very excited, it is a nerve wrecking thing because you don't know in advance whether you have won or not. So you sit there with everybody else watching them bring the envelope in and fumbling and pretending to open it and then, and then suddenly you know - but it is nerve wracking. Will you be writing any more books with the same characters in? Please say yes! Philip: I will be writing another book later on when I am finished the book I am doing now. I will be writing another book set in the same world and dealing with some of the same characters, it won't be a continuation of the story, this particular story, but it will be set in the same world and dealing with the same sort of things. Where do you get the ideas from your books from? They're brilliant! Philip: Well the question where do you get your ideas from is always a difficult one for a writer to answer but I think the best way to get ideas is just by wandering about in a day dream. Sit on your chair and swing back on it with your mouth open and your eyes closed and eventually ideas will come. And if you can't get any of your own then steal somebody else's! Elsa, 12, Nottingham What made you choose writing as a career? Philip: Well I don't think you choose it as a career so much as you find it's something you have just got to do. I have always told stories when I was young, I was telling stories to my friends and to my brother and when I got old enough to write them down I started doing that, and it is just something that I have always done and never wanted to do anything other than that. So you don't calmly look around and think now shall I be, shall I be a window cleaner? No I don't think so - you are out in the cold and the rain. Shall I be a stock broker? No it doesn't happen like that. Jasmine, 10, Bristol What was your favourite book as a child? Philip: One of them was a book called the Magic Pudding which is an Australian comic children's book, a funny book about a magic pudding by a writer called Norman Lyndsey and it has got very funny pictures in it which he drew himself. It is quite an old book, it was published in about 1916 and so it is almost a 100 years old, but it is still as funny and as fresh and as delightful as the day it was written. I also love the books about the wonderful Moomin family who live in Finland. If you had a daemon, what animal would it be? Philip: Well you see the thing about your daemon, as Lyra discovers in the course of the first book is that you can't choose what your daemon is going to be. You might want it to be a lion and he turns out to be a poodle so you can't choose. If I could choose I would like my daemon to be something attractive and beautiful and photogenic and things, all the things that I am not typically. But you can't choose and it might turn out to be something like a slug that didn't look very nice at all. But what I think my daemon probably is if I could guess would be one of those birds like a Jackdaw or a Magpie, nothing spectacular to look at but they steal bright things, whether it is a diamond ring or a bit of aluminium foil or whatever it is, an old tin can, if it is bright and shiny they go and pick it up. That is what story tellers do - we look for bright shiny interesting bits of gossip or bits of news or bits of information that reveal a character or something. And we collect them all and take them back to our nest, so that is what I think my daemon probably would be, but I can't choose and I don't know. Felix, 12, London Is it essential to read the first two books to understand The Amber Spyglass? Philip: I think it probably is. The chairman of the judges of the Whitbread Award hadn't read the first two books and he still thought it was OK so obviously it is possible, but to make full sense of the story you really do need to start with Northern Lights because it is all one story and it continues in the second book The Subtle Knife and it comes to a conclusion in the third book. Just beginning with The Amber Spyglass would be like starting with the end of a film. You can sort of get a sense of it but you get a much better sense of it if you have read the first two first. Cameron, 12, Upper Largo Will a movie be made of your books? Philip: There are plans to make a film - yes. The company that has bought the rights is called Scholastic Films Incorporated and they are based in New York and they are talking very actively at the moment to screen writers and to directors and producers and people like that. They are gradually putting the thing together but it does take a lot of time because films, as I am sure you know, are very very expensive things to make. It is quite common these days to have films that cost a hundred million dollars and you don't get that sort of money hanging on trees, so you have got to do a lot of talking and a lot of persuading and a lot of thinking about it and how it can raise the money and so on and so forth. So it will take a long time to get it together but I think there might well be a film one day. Why do you hate God so much as it appears in your books? Philip: Well, it is not that I hate God, it is just because I don't believe in God, it is just that I think the people who do believe in God and persecute the people who don't believe in God are thoroughly dangerous, that is the way I would put it. People who have got an idea of God that makes them want to persecute other people for not believing their idea of God, they are the dangerous ones, people who say we have got the truth and the truth is in the Bible or the Koran or the whatever it is and we know the truth, and we are going to kill everybody who doesn't believe things that we believe, that is a dreadful state of affairs and it is an unfortunate part of human nature that it seems to be attracted to this sort of extreme certainty and arrogance and so much so that they want to make everybody else believe the way they do and kill everybody who believes different. And I think that is the dangerous thing and those are the people I mistrust and fear and would fight against willingly. Thomas, 14, Sheffield What is your next book coming out going to be about? Philip: Well the book I am writing now is a shorter book. The working title is The Scarecrow and his Servant and it is one of the books I call my fairy tales. But it won't be out for a year or so because I haven't finished it yet. Patrick, 16, Birmingham Will the fact that you have won this top Whitbread Award change the way you write books in the future? Philip: It is an interesting question but no it won't because if you were to let it change the way you write books you would very quickly start writing rotten books. You would sit there thinking gosh I am so important, oh I am clever, oh everybody thinks I am wonderful and you wouldn't be able to put one word in front of another without thinking how wonderful you were. Sean, 16, Romsey Why did The Amber Spyglass have such a sad ending? Philip: Well I know what you mean, I felt it was a sad ending, I felt sad about it too. But there was nothing I could do about it, that was implicit in it from the very beginning and if you look at the book carefully you will see a lot of little patterns throughout that you might not have noticed, all of which have to do with two things or two people or a person and a place that were very close to each other are split apart. Now that happens a great deal in the book and if you notice that pattern you will see it turning up all the way through and I had to be true to that pattern because that is the basic pattern of the whole story. Selina, 14, Essex Your books have been compared to Tolkien who wrote Lord of the Rings. What do you think of that? Philip: Well I'm flattered I suppose because people who say that don't usually say these books are just like the Lord of the Rings, a load of rubbish that was too, they generally say it because they are intending to say it is a good story or something and so I am flattered by that. I don't think that I was doing the same sort of thing that Tolkien was doing, he started by inventing the language the Elves speak, he invented a world in which that language could naturally come about and then found himself writing stories about that world. So he began in a different way and I think he had a different sort of purpose too. I didn't begin like that, I didn't invent a whole language or all the different history of the different places or anything like that, I just wanted to tell a story about a girl and a boy who were both growing up and I found myself writing a sort of fantasy about different worlds because that seemed to be the best and most vivid way I could tell that story. So they began in different ways and they had different purposes. On the other hand I live in Oxford as Tolkien did, I have written a big book in three volumes as he did and there are sort of fantastical elements in both of them, so I can see similarities but there are other ways in which we are very different I think.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27417484

Assessing the threat of Boko Haram in Nigeria 14 May 2014 Last updated at 23:35 BST Nigeria's president has said there is no question of swapping any of the girls kidnapped by the violent Islamist group, Boko Haram, for prisoners of the insurgency held by the government. It is now a month since Boko Haram militants abducted more than 200 girls in the northern state of Borno. Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, is notorious for raiding towns and villages, burning homes, looting banks and police stations, and killing people. John Simpson reports.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-23416932

Royal baby: London landmarks turn blue for birth 23 July 2013 Last updated at 09:54 BST Landmarks around London have been lit up to mark the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby boy. The BT Tower was emblazoned with the words "it's a boy" while the fountains in Trafalgar Square turned blue. On the Southbank, the London Eye became red, white and blue to mark the occasion, while nearby Hungerford Bridge was lit up blue. Earlier, a town crier took the steps to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, where the duchess gave birth, to proclaim the news.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23778782

Bradley Manning Wikileaks sentence expected - 21 August 2013 - From the section US & Canada The US soldier convicted of leaking masses of secret files to the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks is to learn his fate later on Wednesday. Pte First Class Bradley Manning will be sentenced at his court martial at 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at Fort Meade. The prosecution have asked for a 60-year term, arguing a long sentence would deter others from leaking. Last week the 25-year-old apologised for hurting the US and for "the unexpected results" of his actions. Pte Manning told the court martial at Fort Meade, Maryland that "the last three years have been a learning experience for me". The soldier was convicted last month of 20 charges including espionage, theft and violating computer regulations. While stationed in Iraq in 2010, he passed hundreds of thousands of battlefield reports and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks, the pro-transparency group headed by Julian Assange. Pte Manning said in a pre-trial hearing that his motivation for leaking the secret files was to spark a public debate about US foreign policy and the military. The judge at his court martial, Col Denise Lind, found him not guilty of the most serious charge he faced, aiding the enemy, which would have brought a possible sentence of life without parole. As an intelligence analyst in the US Army, Pte Manning had access to a large amount of very sensitive information, despite his junior rank. The young soldier grew up in Oklahoma, and in Wales, where his mother is from, and reportedly joined the US Army to help pay for college. A military psychiatrist has told the court that Pte Manning had struggled with his gender identity and wanted to become a woman at the time of the leak. Navy Capt David Moulton testified that the intelligence analyst had felt abandoned by friends and family during his time in Iraq and that his relationship with his boyfriend was in difficulties. According to evidence presented by the defence at his trial, military supervisors ignored erratic behaviour from Pte Manning, which included trying to grab a gun during a counselling session. His lawyers said such actions had shown that Pte Manning had not been fit for duty overseas. He became increasingly isolated while deployed to Iraq, the court heard. Defence lawyers said Pte Manning spent weeks in a cell at Camp Arifjan, a US Army installation in Kuwait. Pte Manning told the court he remembered thinking: "I'm going to die, I'm stuck inside this cage." A noose was found by guards in his cell. Pte Manning said he could not even remember having made it because he was so confused. "My nights were my days and my days were my nights," he told the court. "It all blended together after a couple of days." Defence lawyers said Pte Manning was treated unfairly in solitary confinement in Quantico, Virginia. Pte Manning's leaks enabled Wikileaks to publish sensitive messages between US diplomats and records of military incidents in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a cockpit video showing a US Apache helicopter killing 12 people in the Iraqi capital in 2007. The revelations caused significant embarrassment to the US government. Responding to Pte Manning's statement of apology to the court last week, Wikileaks said the soldier's "forced decision to apologise to the US government in the hope of shaving a decade or more off his sentence must be regarded with compassion and understanding".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/298407.stm

Wednesday, March 17, 1999 Published at 15:55 GMT Kazan objectors urge Oscars protest Marlon Brando and Elia Kazan discuss On the Waterfront Oscar-goers are being urged to hold a sit-down protest when controversial director Elia Kazan receives his Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday night. Kazan's refusal to apologise for that testimony or for the hardships it caused his friends has made him an outcast in many Hollywood circles. Hollywood is already plastered with leaflets encouraging people to join a major demonstration on Oscar night. The Committee Against Silence speak out Screenwriter Bernard Gordon, who was blacklisted in the 1950s, said he wanted the audience to remain seated when Kazan receives his award and "sit on their hands". Gordon and others from the industry have formed the Committee Against Silence to express their disapproval at the Academy decision to honour Kazan. But a rival group in support of Kazan has asked for supporters to demonstrate outside of the awards ceremony to show their backing for the director and opposition to communism. Support from Speilberg According to reports, director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert de Niro will present the award to Kazan, who cast De Niro in his last film The Last Tycoon in 1976. While many in Hollywood have refused to comment on the affair Steven Spielberg has spoken up for Kazan. "You have to look at his body of work," he said. "I may not agree with the decision Kazan made - what he did was wrong. But it didn't make his films wrong for me." TV and Radio

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25106544

Housing market: Are novelty homes tough to sell? - 30 November 2013 - From the section Business The striking thing about the downstairs toilet at the Richards' family home is that it is much bigger on the inside than you might expect. Yet it should be no great surprise as father-of-two Max Richards has built an impressively accurate replica of the Tardis to serve as a door. The Police Box convenience is by far the most unusual aspect of the family's picturesque converted barn in the Devon countryside. Now the property is on the market, is the Tardis a distraction for potential buyers, or an idiosyncrasy that lodges it in their memory? "People like it, they laugh a bit, but they like the look of it," says Dr Richards, who really is a doctor, although not a Time Lord. "Some people have walked past it and not even noticed it which I find quite hard to believe, but generally viewers see it as a positive." The four-bedroom home has been for sale since June. With many house hunters now conducting the searches on property websites, the Doctor Who loo has certainly attracted interest. Their estate agents have told Dr Richards, 43, and his wife Jacqui, that their listing is attracting the highest number of click-throughs of any of their current stock of properties. Yet compared with some entries on these internet portals, this unusual feature is somewhat subtle. Property website Rightmove has listed a home complete with stairs in the style of MC Escher, a house with life-sized Blues Brothers figures and a flat fitted in nightclub decor. Meanwhile, rival Zoopla features a converted church complete with stained glass windows and a spire. So are unique features or a wildly wacky home a help or a hindrance when it comes to selling a property? Miles Shipside, a founding director of Rightmove, says that sellers need to be aware that their tastes might not always be matched by those coming to have a look around. Another fear is that sellers find they are often showing around the curious. "What a seller needs is a genuine buyer who is interested in the property rather than the extreme features. There is a danger that if you make your property attractive to voyeurs then they might view it for the wrong reasons," he says. "You might not be able to spot the genuine buyer among those who are just interested in the attractive features." Yet, he points out that tastes do change. In history, bay windows and turrets were unusual, but now they have become accepted. "Ultimately, if a house has quality as well as more extreme features, then the quality will win out," he says. That said, a valuer, or a potential buyer making an offer, may factor in the cost of stripping out any unusual decor when it comes to estimating how much the property is worth. Sellers are in relatively short supply in the UK housing market at present, but those who are looking to put their property on the market must not be lazy, according to Alison Cork, founder of online homeware business alisonathome.com. "Even if the market is frothy, you want to create as many people around the honey pot as you can, because it is just going to increase the price that they are going to offer," she says. She believes that viewers form an impression of the property in the first 30 seconds, so it must be "neutral, clean, light and bright" as they step through the door. The National Association of Estate Agents suggests that sellers show off the best bit of the home and refresh, review and repair key rooms before putting it on the market. Then, according to Ms Cork, the seller needs to appeal to viewers' senses. So it must look good, not full of clutter. It is best to switch off any loud music when viewers arrive, and then there is the smell. "It doesn't have to be coffee and fresh bread, but it must smell clean," she says. Time and space Back in Devon, there is little doubt that the Tardis leaves an impression. It is not every day that you can spend a penny somewhere in time and space. The two children, Mimi, 11, and Theo, eight, think that it makes their house a home. Dr Richards says his work is a celebration of his favourite piece of British architecture. But ultimately it is the architecture in which it is housed that will be judged by viewers who may or may not become buyers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6171503.stm

WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... Orthodox Jews at the controversial Tehran debate Why are Jews attending a conference on the Holocaust in Tehran at which star guests include deniers of the genocide? Clue: they also want an end to the Israeli state. A handful of Orthodox Jews have attended Iran's controversial conference questioning the Nazi genocide of the Jews - not because they deny the Holocaust but because they object to using it as justification for the existence of Israel. With their distinctive hats, beards and side locks, these men may, to the untrained eye, look like any other Orthodox believers in Jerusalem or New York. But the Jews who went to Tehran are different. Some of them belong to Neturei Karta (Guardians of the City), a Hasidic sect of a few thousand people which views Zionism - the movement to establish a Jewish national home or state in what was Palestine - as a "poison" threatening "true Jews". WHO, WHAT, WHY? A feature to the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines A representative, UK-based Rabbi Aharon Cohen, told the conference he prayed "that the underlying cause of strife and bloodshed in the Middle East, namely the state known as Israel, be totally and peacefully dissolved". In its place, Rabbi Cohen said, should be "a regime fully in accordance with the aspirations of the Palestinians when Arab and Jew will be able to live peacefully together as they did for centuries". Neturei Karta believes the very idea of an Israeli state goes against the Jewish religion. The book of Jewish law or Talmud, they say, teaches that believers may not use human force to create a Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah. But how do Neturei Karta and other Orthodox Jews such as Austria-based Rabbi Moishe Ayre Friedman justify attending such a controversial conference? Rabbi Friedman told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that he was not in Tehran to debate whether the Holocaust happened or not, but to look at its lessons. He says the Holocaust was being used to legitimise the suffering of other peoples and he wanted to break what he called a taboo on discussing it. The main thing, he argued, was not Jewish suffering in the past but the use of the Holocaust as a "tool of commercial, military and media power". In what many other Jews would consider the height of naivety, he commended Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for wanting "a secured future for innocent Jewish people in Europe and elsewhere". In his speech to the conference, Neturei Karta's Rabbi Cohen said there was no doubt about the Holocaust and it would be "a terrible affront to the memory of those who perished to belittle the guilt of the crime in any way". However, he also argued that the genocide had been divine will. "The Zionists, with their secular pompous approach behave in complete opposition to this philosophy and dare to say 'Never Again'. "They have the audacity to think that they can prevent the Almighty from repeating a Holocaust. This is heresy." Neturei Karta's views are regarded with abhorrence by most other Orthodox Jews, according to Rabbi Jeremy Rosen of the Yakar centre in London. "And I think, frankly, even among the Hasidic world, by and large Neturei Karta are regarded as freaks," the Orthodox rabbi told the BBC News website. I don't understand. The western world accuses multiple countries in the Middle East of lacking democracy and free speech, which many of them do. Yet when Iran holds a conference, not to deny the holocaust ever happened, but to investigate whether all we know of the Holocaust was true, we are up in arms. What happened to the concept of free speech we were thinking is the best thing in the world? Does that only apply on all things except when it comes to criticizing Israel? Any criticism of the conference is sheer and utter hypocrisy. Omar Yassin, St. Paul, MO, USA Neturei Karta have been given tremendous undue publicity by this obscene conference in Tehran. The truth about Neturei Karta is that they have been virtually ex-communicated by world Jewry, and especially by the much larger ultra-orthodox non and anti-zionist hassidic groups such as the Satmar. Rysk, Tel Aviv These people do not represent anyone but themselves, and they certainly do not have the mandate to speak for religious Jews in particular. It is unfortunate that a handful of people give the world a distorted view of the jewish people, of Judaism and of religious Jews. Michael Spielmann, Bnei Brak, Israel To say the Holocaust didn't happen is like saying the earth is not round. I understand that these rabbis believe Israel shouldn't exist. Maybe it shouldn't - we all have the right to our opinions. HOWEVER, to attend a conference such as this is akin to treason. Hate is by far the stupidest thing we can do with our time, and these Iranians HATE those jews but they both hate Israel more so lets have a conference? Further proof that we as a species are doomed to self destruct. D Watson, Rockland County, NY there might be pros and cons to this. first off if there was an open dialog about the holocaust not many people would doubt it, silence the deniers i say!!! this thing of not discussing it totally is giving credibility to the deniers, who are primarily racist. This is the first great story on the topic of Israel that I have come across in my life. It is impossible for me to imagine that war will bring peace, especially when it forces so many to live impovished lives. The fact that Jewish religious leaders are recognizing that coexistence is possible in a peaceful way is the only first step towards peace in the region. Building a wall will never protect Israelis, it will only make them feel safe. But humans are creative, determined and see challenges as obstacles to overcome. A wall will only encourage those who are fanaticised to be more desperate and creative in their attacks on Israel. If there is co-existence allowed; to build a nation where Jews and Arabs can live together cooperatively then peace will come to the banks of the Mediterranean. Sean Magee, Burnaby BC Iran and I guess by association Muslims want the world to respect them and their beliefs. How on Earth can something as aborhant as a Holocaust Denial meeting help that? No-one with an ounce of common sense and a rudimentary knowledge of history could possibly deny that the Jews were persecuted by the Nazis. It is true to say that Israel is not exactly a model of restraint but regardless of modern strife, it cannot be used as an excuse to deny a massacre that was perpetrated by the Germans in WW2. Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK if Jews and Moslems with extreme views can sit together at a ridiculous conference, why can they not sit together to decide to be tolerant of each others beliefs and live and let live. that this conference was called, is the lowest political game thought in the minds of nasty people with sinister motives. leon solomon, sun city west,az. usa Neturei Karta have an interesting argument, however as a member of a non-Jewish group of people who were sterilized and murdered by eugenicists acting in collaboration with the Nazis, I find their presence at the Teheran Conference extremely misguided as this merely gives the Iranian regime's denial of the Holocaust credibility. Andrew Little, Gloucester If the Holocaust was "divine will", what does that say of the god these men worship? Bill terKuile, Monroe, WA USA I don't understand. The western world accuses multiple countries in the Middle East of lacking democracy and free speech, which many of them do. The West uses the motive that they want to bring "democracy" to other countries as a means for attacking them, and forming new governments (see Iraq). Yet when Iran holds a conference, not to deny the holocaust ever happened, but to investigate whether all we know of the Holocaust was true, we are up in arms. What happened to the concept of free speech we were thinking is the best thing in the world? Does that only apply on ALL THINGS EXCEPT when it comes to criticizing Israel? Any criticism of the conference is sheer and utter hypocrisy. Omar Yassin, St. Paul, MO, USA In a democracy any views should be open to debate. The majority then decides on which of these views to progress. I'm not in anyway religious or a supporter of any faith as I consider all churches to be a step back towards herd behaviour. However, Rabbi Cohen's views as outlined in this article don't really sound that outrages to me and I think the fact that he sits down with his arch enemies to debate at such a conference portrays him as a pretty courageous man. Alex, Athens, Greece Every nation has its lunatic fringe, who use their PERVERSION of religious belief as justification for the most obscene behaviour. The Jewish nation and people (especially the secular) treat them with the pity one reserves for mentally unstable... All they are doing is further increasing the move to more secularisation... thank goodness. At least something positive is derived from their idiocy It's their right to deny, if they wish, the idea that the existence of Israel may prevent another holocaust. However, their punishment for attending this conference is to sit for three days and listen to neo-Nazis defaming the memory of their murdered relatives. Amos Shapir, Kiryat Ono, Israel People will continue to kill each other for whatever reason, some are more devious and imaginative than others. The Holocaust is abhorrent but not totally unique, should everyone who is not Jewish pay for this mistake? Who is compensating the genocide that has occurred in Rwanda, the Native Americans and the Albanians in Turkey to name but a few?? The formation of Israel has caused more problems that it has solved but it is there and more steps to working together must be taken. I see these people are working to that goal, good luck to them. If Neturei Karta believes that the removal of Israel is the answer to the containing blood shed in the Middle East then let him do it in a more ideally place i.e. at home in Israel or at the U.N. Tehran is not the right place! Iran is not interested in a pace which includes Jews and Arab living next together! They what the total destruction of Israel and all Jews! John, Salibury, England I am a Muslim living in Britain and this is my home, why must some Jews insist on having Israel as their home when it belonged to more than just one religion for so long in peace? Mohammed Quisar Anwar, Manchester UK I think it should be mandatory for anyone who does not believe that the Holocaust took place to visit Auschwitz. My partner and I visited in November 2005 and it was an experience that left us both without words to describe just how we felt. I returned home with intense feelings of remorse and sorrow and I am not Jewish. Trish Fuller, UK This is what blindly applied dogma (religion) can do to a person's mind! Sam Butler, Anchorage The holocaust was a reality. The only regret i have is that the Zionist state should have used that as a fundament corner stone to know how the palestians are suffering. you don't suffer to let other people suffer too. If so, then the world would be a messy place to live. john junisa kamara, Freetown Sierra Leone I am afraid that once again the BBC display their anti Israeli colours by giving disproportionate column inches to a very small and rarefied group of people. They deserved a line or a foot note. I would have really liked to know more about the conference. Was it about denial or more as I suspect trying to uncover truths about numbers and events? I am an ardent supporter of Israel but do not believe that the stifling of debate on this issue is in their interests. Shame the BBC has self censured itself and focused on the trivia. Jack Kilms, Turin, Italy Add your comments on this story, using the form below. The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4476077.stm

Tottenham boosted their Uefa Cup qualifying hopes with a stylish win. Frederic Kanoute gave Spurs an early lead with a low shot past Stefan Postma, though Villa were livid they were denied a penalty just beforehand. Villa's failure to deal with a couple of corners led to Ledley King firing in and then Kanoute claiming a second with a shot into the roof of the net. Gareth Barry's penalty reduced the deficit but Andy Reid's rising shot and a Stephen Kelly goal capped a fine win. The result pushed Spurs into seventh place above Middlesbrough on goal difference. The victory was deserved but Spurs owed a huge debt to some excellent goalkeeping from Paul Robinson, who midway through the second half had to go off with a shin injury after bravely denying Darius Vassell. Villa thought they should have had a penalty early on when Mark Delaney tumbled under pressure from Erik Edman. But referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on and with a huge swathe of Villa players stranded in and around the Spurs box Robinson launched a huge kick down the pitch. Kanoute managed to get himself in front of Liam Ridgewell and after controlling Robinson's punt on his chest drilled the ball past Stefan Postma. Some indecisive Villa defending enabled Spurs to further extend their lead with barely a third of the game played. First Villa failed to clear a Reid effort that rebounded off the upright, allowing King to thump a shot into the net. Nolberto Solano also failed to clear his lines after another Spurs corner and Kanoute gleefully scooped the ball home. Villa were struggling, with Reid pulling the strings for the hosts in midfield, but the visitors were given a glimmer of hope when Dawson raised his arms to a Juan Pablo Angel shot to concede the spotkick. Barry drilled the penalty into the centre of the goal as Robinson dived to his left. Five minutes after the restart Robinson produced a superb reaction save to tip over Vassell's rising volley after Barry's clever lob sent the England international clear. Robinson got the better of Vassell just before the hour when he raced out to dive at the Villa striker's feet, but the England goalkeeper injured himself in making the challenge and he soon had to be replaced by Radek Cerny. Given the agility and bravery of his goalkeeping Robinson's departure might have unsettled Spurs. Instead minutes later Martin Jol's side restored their three-goal advantage, Simon Davies and Sean Davis combining to feed the ball to Reid, who hit a superb rising shot from outside the box that fizzed into the net. Jol introduced Jermain Defoe who immediately threatened more goals. Defoe rattled the crossbar and his low shot also tested Postma. But the fifth Spurs goal came from an unlikely source - right-back Kelly. Released by a Davis' backheel, Kelly finished with some style, flicking the ball past Postma.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21338888

Kashmir girl band Pragaash gives up after threats 5 February 2013 Last updated at 16:18 GMT Three female high-school students in India have had to disband a rock group they formed after only one concert - this after receiving threats. Three teenagers founded Pragaash, the first all-girl rock band in Indian-administered Kashmir, in December. It caused a backlash from internet users, who said it was inappropriate for them to front a rock band. Since then, a government-backed cleric has issued a fatwa against the girls. Kashmiri author Waheed Mirza, told the BBC's Mishal Husain the teenagers were "being used".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3195040.stm

MP Michael Portillo swapped his wealthy lifestyle to live for a week as a single mother of four in Merseyside for a TV experiment. Portillo had four children to look after In When Michael Portillo Became a Single Mum, he had to balance the household budget of £80 as well as take on Jenny Miner's two jobs as a classroom assistant and supermarket cashier. How did Mr Portillo cope with the challenge? Did the show work as a social experiment and could it open the eyes of those in power to the difficulties of being a single parent? Send us your views. This debate has now closed. A selection of your views is below. I thought Michael was great. When one remembers his past political views, I think Portillo has undergone a massive transformation as a man and as a politician. It's a shame that he isn't the Leader of the conservative party. Chikere Ezeh, UK I thought Michael Portillo did a very hard job with a very good heart. He was very self effacing with the things he wasn't able to handle and in no way tried to make himself out to be a hero. I also think he showed great respect for Jenny Miner's position and also great respect for her kids. WELL DONE MICHAEL. Rachel Molina, London, England It's only a shame that he is a conservative. I find it extremely hard not to like the man as he came across very well. Interesting timing though, with this program coming out with IDS's current problems and his one-off pilgramage to his home country of Spain being aired at the time of IDS's election to Leader. A pity that the programme was a one-off! I thought it was an excellent programme and I think he did very well indeed. Having been thrust into an unknown child-care scenario in the past as part of a personal development programme myself, I know how scary it must have seemed. I only wish more of our MPs would take up the challenge and take the trouble to understand more about the real life of those they purport to lead. Philip Devin, UK I have always disliked Michael Portillo so was tuning in last night to see some cringe TV. But at the end of the programme I actually found myself warming to him. I know he's a politician so would not do anything to incriminate himself, but he came across as a natural, warm human being who did not alienate or talk down to people. He was also very good with children. I was surprised to say the very least. I though he was quite sweet actually. A lot of people are understandably cynical about publicity, but hey, he gave it a go and seemed genuinely happy during the party. I think the week being a single mum did Mr Portillo good. He learnt how the other half have to suvive, he coped very well. The problem is he will not realise that after a few weeks it can get you depressed and tired. Perhaps he should have stayed longer!! Not sure how the children would have coped, perhaps it is not such a good idea after all. This project placed Portillo in a very vulnerable position, let's face it, he would be criticised whichever way he jumped. It would have been very easy for him to refuse this project but credit to him - he had a go and I thought he did very well all things considered. Well done for giving it a go and well done to the Miner family who invited him in to their home and lives. I thought he did really well, considering he was totally outside his realm of experience. I used to despise Portillo, when he was a government minister, and I remember cheering when he lost his seat in 1997. However in recent years, I've warmed to him considerably, watching his appearances on This Week, and now taking part in this experiment, with considerable humility and an open mind. Ben Neale, UK I thought the programme was really good, prior to the programme I saw Portillo as a jumped up prat, now I have much more respect for him, I could not see Ian Duncan Smith doing the same, pehaps Portillo is now the man for that job. Graham Wood, UK I must admit I was very impressed with the way Michael coped with the challenge of caring for 4 young children, without any first hand experience of his own! He was very fair and straight forward with the children at home and in his part time teaching assistant job. I really have changed my opinion of him after watching the programme, after giving his views on Jenny's life and jobs, and considering he is a tory I must admit he has a pretty good sense of humour and quite in touch with real life. I thought Michael Portillo coped well particularly as he had no or little experience of running a home or coping with children. A week is not long enough to really experience the true difficulties of coping on a low wage or as a single parent. It's when items need replacing or fixed, the cost of clothing etc. But fair dos to him for volunteering in the first place, it could have gone very pear-shaped and he came across a quite a nice person, sincere and certainly didn't look down his nose at his surroundings. Well done to him. Julie Field, England What was the point of this silly production?? To show that Mr. Portillo is a nice chap? To emphasise the growing gap between the haves and the have nots in this society? Thousands of single mothers have to struggle like this everyday, but they don't end up with their own TV programme! Andrew Davis, UK I thought Michael was brilliant considering what a completely different life he is used to leading. He tried his hardest and I'm sure the experience will have opened his eyes to how the other half lives. However, I thought Jenny's criticism of his comments at the end of the show were slightly unfair - he ws only giving his opinion. Shelley Potter, UK I think that Michael Portillo came across as a suprisingly pleasant man who tried his best with four (absolute tearaway) children. I thought that Jenny was totally negative towards him as they had their final chat, he had tried really hard and remained calm and composed throughout the children's misbehaviour. While we were not initially Portillo supporters - either politically or personally - we found ourselves warming to him as he came to grips with being both a single parent and having to manage a family on a limited budget. Let us hope that he takes some valuable lessons back to his party and to MPs in general. Welcome to the real world Michael! P.S. The Miner kids were great! Mark Le Surf-Hall, England The Michael Portillo programme was a blatent publicity stunt which not only patronised the single mum (1 week is not testing enough - try a year Michael), but also showed how a potential leader of a major party (and possibly prime minister) was comprehensively manipulated by an 11 year old girl. Chettan Karsan, England I thought that Michael did superbly. Despite the fact that he does not have kids of his own, I thought that he showed parenting skills that are better than a lot of people who do have children. The main difficulty for Michael, though, was that they are not his kids and therefore the disciplining side was always going to be a problem. Also, the kids have a history with their mother - they know what will be going too far. With Michael, they were constanyly trying to find the boundaries which probably meant that they went further than they normally do. I am a huge fan of Portillo but I wondered at the motivation for this show. I don't know if it highlights the difficulties of being a single mother because clearly he wasn't related to these children - and that makes all the difference. Being a single mum is a 24/7 job and this was a week of moonlighting. Clearly a stunt to endear himself to voters outside the bounds of traditional conservative support. Three of the children were not taken in by him and neither should the British public. I think he did extremely well. Having watched the whole show I think the mother was very hard on Mr Portillo. With no previous experience and somewhat hyperactive children, he coped marvellously. It obviously brought the problems with coping on a budget to light but then most of us have to do this irrespective of the amount we have to do it with. Not everyone has 4 children admittedly but then isn't that someone's individual choice? An excellent programme and a big hand for Mr Portillo for coping so well. Sian Phillips, England I thought Michael Portillo did a fantastic job of coping with a (for him)totally alien way of life. I'd be interested to know if the programme editors influenced our opinion - it seemed Mr Portillo "picked on" one of the children, but is this a reflection of the balance of his behaviour off-screen? I thought it was great that he did it, and the green shopworker's hat was priceless - as was the "Mike, happy to help" badge. If only he'd rounded it off with a pat on his loose change! I have mortgage and work full time. After all my bills are paid I have £55 per week. Why did the show make out that single mothers struggle? It's alot of other people as well. The single mum had a computer so she cant be that poor. I thought it was sensational and ought to be mandatory for any politician tasked with policy formation. It raised two questions for me (and all the conspiracy theorists out there): Whose idea was it and why? Why did it appear this week of all weeks? In principal it was a very good idea, however he was apparently paid £15,000 to carry out the "challenge". It would have impressed me more to hear that he had given the money to the family. What did he really learn from his experience?? Interesting programme - but I had hoped Michael Portillo would comment on the very low wages Jenny earns for both her demanding jobs. This woman does 2 jobs and yet is still reliant on benefits - something isn't right, despite the Minimum wage legislation. Cara, London, UK I thought he came across quite sympathetically, doing fairly well with the kids, seemingly enjoying the 2 jobs, and successfully running the household. However, the main element he failed to grasp was the relentless nature of living on such a tight budget: he could walk away after a week and return to his normal life of expensive meals and exotic holidays, which isn't an option for Jenny and her family. The programme did not devote enough time to analysing the experiences of both Michael Portillo and Jenny Miner. The clash of cultures at times seemed insurmountable and this was reflected in Michael's paltry conclusions and Jenny's aggressive response to Michael's inevitable mistakes. The programme makers should have devoted much more energy to structuring a proper breakdown and discussion of both their experiences, so that a level of mutual understanding (and learning) could have been achieved. I believe that for a man of 50 with no children, Michael Portillo really did very well in the house for a week, managing the budget and work with very few complaints. By his own admission, it was an eye opener that will hopefully make him more compassionate in future. I believe that this should be made compulsory for all MPs who are out of touch with real life and real issues. Edwin Thomas, England Even if you don't agree with his politics, at least the guy was genuine, a word that doesn't exist in New Labour's vocabulary. For me, a week wasn't long enough. A month would have been a more interesting and relevant experiment; Portillo would have had to try a little harder with the three kids he didn't bond with , rather than just toughing it all out. I'm not a great fan of his, but I have to say that Mr Portillo came over quite well; he was personable and genuinely appeared to give the two part time jobs a go. In the end I was left wondering if Mr Portillo were leader of the Tories, Mr Blair might be less confident of winning the next election. Michael Portillo came across in this programme as resourceful, intelligent, thoughtful, patient, kind and open-minded. He handled the situation very well and with great good humour. I'm not a Tory but this programme has changed my opinion of this man - I hope he goes for the leadership and gives Blair a run for his money. Linda West, England Good on Mr Portillo, I think he did a really good job. I am, at present carrying out an investigation into societies views on Lone parents as a college project and this programme really aided me with this. As a single parent myself I believe we should have more of politicians carrying out these types of expermints then maybe we can open the eyes of our goverment to show the difficulties we face. Diane Mcgraw, Scotland I thoroughly enjoyed the programme but fail to see why all sympathy goes out to the single mother of four trying to manage on her income plus benefits. After all, it was her choice to have the four children. She should have thought whether she could afford them first. I noticed that she still had a computer. Let's stop feeling sorry for all of these people that have children and rely on benefits to keep them. I chose to have only two because that's all we could afford and then went back to work full time. It's true that Michael only had to endure it for one week but then it wasn't his choice in the first place to have four children. That was hers so she must live with it a little longer. If Michael Portillo goes back to Westminster and stands up to tell his colleagues on both sides of the fence about his experiences, and the people that have to try to survive on the minimum wage (which his party opposed, presumably thinking that people should work for even less), then this programme will have been worth it. It's a shame more politicians don't get to know the faces and experiences behind the statistics. Mr Portillo did amazingly well considering he has no children. For me the stark message is that the professional politicians seem to be out of touch with the way the majority of us live our lives. The ideas of budgets at home etc seems to be an alien concept. With this in mind does this then mean that they (professional politicians) should not be placed in positions of power without insight and understanding and experience of real life? Why is this only done for a week? To get the full impact of how people live, it should be a month or more. What will happen now? Is he going to make changes or just forget the experience and go back to his cushioned life? Wife swap Westminster style. Portillo struggled as a parent especially with the younger children, though perhaps this is unsurprising with someone with no childcare experience. His rather stern manner belied his attempt do the right thing and he seemed crestfallen when Jenny pointed out his shortcomings. He has demonstrated he has very human qualities- I wonder if the Conservative party fully understand what they have lost by not choosing him as their leader. Bobby, London, UK I thought he did very well considering he did not have kids himself and did not cook at home very often. Don't think I could of done it and too keep his cool when the children were playing up - brill. Pat yourself on the back Michael! I watched this programme with the expectation that Portillo would be a pompous toff with no idea of the real world (ie. a Tory). He managed to shatter that view however, and I think he did a superb job given the circumstances. Darren Share, UK I felt he handled a difficult situation with tact and diplomacy and tolerance. He showed us all that the old values of eating together and asking permission to leave the table still count and that discipline and respect to elders and each other are important. I think both he and the family will have gained something for the exercise. Michael Portillo is no longer one of the faceless politicians and should run for the leadership. I have not voted tory since Margaret Thatcher but he would definitely get my vote. Lynda Johnson, England I thoroughly enjoyed the Michael Portillo documentary last night. It clearly showed the UK class divide and to his credit Michael did achieve some success despite not being a parent. The mother also deserves praise for bringing up 4 children and still working and it would be interesting to see her try to live and work Michael's lifestyle for a week as well. Steve Edwards, England So the rehabilitation of El Portillo is complete! From tub-thumping Thatcherite to Merseyside single mum in, well, several fell swoops. And at a time when the Tories are perhaps looking for a new leader? The cynics amongst us would say that he has a close personal relationship with someone high-up in BBC scheduling. Having said all that, while at times he acted clumsily and with hindsight probably should have divided his attention and loyalties more equally amongst the kids, he at least rolled up his sleeves and got on with it. Perhaps if he had have cried, as the eldest child was obviously hoping, it would have made better telly. But if, at the very least, a leading politician has learnt a thing or two about life on the other side of the tracks then it was probably worthwhile. Wesley Moody, Belfast I think Mr Portillo did an excellent job, I doubt my husband, who has 2 teenagers, would have manged as well especially on the cooking front. All things considered would I manage any better? I was annoyed that he had to be "mum"! I know that single parent families, tend to be more often than not headed by a mum, but what about us single parent fathers? We do exsist you know, even if we are a minority. We face the same or similar discrimination and problems too! Dave Wilson, England

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/8128534.stm

Starbucks opened without planning permission more than a year ago Starbucks has won its battle to stay open in a conservation area in Brighton in the face of local opposition. The chain has been operating in St James's Street for more than a year despite being refused planning permission by the city council. But after a three-day public inquiry, a government inspector has given consent. Campaigners said the decision was a slap in the face, but Starbucks said it was delighted to be able to continue to provide its experience to customers. One of the organisers of the protest, Green councillor Rachel Fryer, said objectors organised weekly protests. Diversity and vitality More than 3,000 signatures were collected on a petition, a Facebook group with nearly 2,000 members was formed and hundreds of people protested to Brighton and Hove City Council. "There are already 12 coffee outlets on St James's Street and traders are rightly worried that the new Starbucks will take business away from independent stores and eventually push many of them out of business," she said. "Local planning officers feel a new Starbucks will not add to the diversity and vitality of the area or encourage people to the street." The shop opened in St James's Street in May 2008 without permission to use the former bookshop as a cafe or restaurant. The council served an enforcement notice which allowed it to sell takeaway coffee and sandwiches, but they could not be consumed inside. A spokesman for Starbucks said: "We believe that Starbucks St James's Street coffee house makes a positive contribution to the local area. "We want to continue to play our part in the local community to ensure that the district continues to be the vibrant and attractive shopping centre that consumers and tourists enjoy."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3202267.stm

Many popular British garden birds have seen their fortunes improve over the last few years, a survey reveals. By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent The 2002 breeding bird survey collected information on birds throughout the UK. Cuckoo: Sound of spring less heard Of the 105 species monitored across the country, 29 had declined significantly since 1994, but 52 had registered significant increases. The government uses changes in breeding birds' status as an indicator of the UK's sustainable development. The survey, which began in 1994, is carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Volunteer birdwatchers are given randomly-selected one-kilometre squares to visit three times in the season. Each of them spends about two hours early in the day counting all the birds they see and hear. In 2002, a total of 2,136 sites were surveyed across the UK by more than 1,700 volunteers. Blue tit: On the up Of the 18 most commonly-encountered birds across the whole of the UK, 14 showed an increase in numbers between 1994 and 2002. They are (in descending order of frequency) the woodpigeon, chaffinch, blackbird, wren, robin, crow, blue tit, great tit, dunnock, swallow, magpie, song thrush, greenfinch and pheasant. The four which declined were the starling, skylark, house sparrow and willow warbler. Other less common species showed mixed fortunes, with both kingfishers and great spotted woodpeckers, for example, increasing by more than 50%, but wood warblers and willow tits decreasing by the same amount. Three "red-listed" species, targeted for conservation action, have increased significantly: the song thrush, marsh tit and tree sparrow. London sparrows have plummeted But 16 species described as widespread have been placed on the red list because of long-term population trends. The survey organisers say their most worrying finding is probably the decline of the willow tit, whose numbers fell by 72%. They are also concerned about the large decline in south-east England of the house sparrow, down by 28% across the region and by 71% in London. Yet in some other parts of England sparrow numbers are stable or even increasing, while in Scotland the species increased by 29% and in Wales by 63%. Better news for kingfishers Another worrying trend is the decline since 1970 of 83% in the spotted flycatcher, once relatively common in woodland and large gardens. The organisers say the increase in numbers of blackbirds and song thrushes represents apparent reversals of long-term trends, and may be linked to climate patterns. A familiar springtime visitor to much of the UK, the cuckoo, showed a 25% decline since 1994. The organisers have now made the survey partly web-based: BBS Online will allow volunteers to enter bird (and mammal and habitat) data collected from their squares into a new survey database. They are keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to take part in future surveys.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7827732.stm

By Christine McGourty Science correspondent, BBC News Experts hope the maps will give Thomas Harriot the credit he deserves "Moon maps" created by a little-known Englishman 400 years ago are to go on display to mark the launch of the International Year of Astronomy. Experts say they prove their creator - Thomas Harriot - beat Galileo to become the first man to view the Moon through a telescope. The Italian philosopher is credited with the feat in December 1609. But papers at the West Sussex Record Office show that Harriot drew images of the Moon several months earlier. And Dr Allan Chapman, a science historian at Oxford University, said Harriot's composite drawing of the Moon - produced in 1612 or 1613 - marked "the birth of modern cartography". "Thomas Harriot was not only the first person ever to draw an astronomical body with a telescope on 26 July 1609, he rapidly developed to become an absolutely superb lunar cartographer," he said "There weren't equivalent lunar drawings to be done for another 30 years. Sir Patrick Moore on British stargazer Thomas Harriot "Tragically, no-one knew of it until relatively recent times, so Galileo gets all the credit." Harriot was a wealthy gentleman with no desire for fame and fortune, unlike Galileo, said Dr Chapman. "He was comfortably off and had two friends in the Tower of London for political crimes and had no wish to raise his profile. "Galileo in Italy on the other hand was relatively hard-up, mid-40s and wanted fame and distinction. Galileo goes for publication. Harriot stays nice and quiet; and it wasn't until modern times that Harriott's achievements get noticed." The first Moon map he drew - on 26 July 1609 - will be on display in Florence, Italy, this summer as part of an exhibition on Galileo. A selection of other images will go on display at the Science Museum in London from 23 July at an exhibition, Cosmos and Culture, to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. International Year of Astronomy marks 400 years since Galileo's work Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore said: "I'm sorry Harriot isn't better known over here... after all, we all know Galileo. "But Harriot was first... and his map of the Moon is better than Galileo's." "Looking at Harriot's map, it really is a work of art. He saw the mountains, craters and the so-called seas. It really is a wonderful thing and it's British." "Harriot was first, no question about it, and his map of the Moon was good. Galileo came after, but went much further. "Harriot never took things as far as he might have done. We've got to give Galileo pride of place but don't forget Harriot." The general public can see copies of the priceless originals - privately owned by Lord Egremont - at the West Sussex Record Office in Chichester. There will also be a month-long exhibition at the Record Office, from 24 July, featuring Harriot's images of Jupiter's satellites, sunspots and Halley's comet. A range of events across the UK and internationally are being staged to celebrate the IYA, which is being officially launched in Paris on Thursday. British astronomers hope that, 400 years on, Harriot will finally get some of the wider recognition that he deserves. Astronomers in Wales also played a role. Dr Chapman said letters to Harriot from Sir William Lower in Carmarthenshire prove that astronomers there were also making observations on the Moon. The early telescopes utterly changed our view of the heavens 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://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7252923.stm

By Mark Kinver Science and nature reporter, BBC News A detailed map highlighting the world's hotspots for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) has been released. It uses data spanning 65 years and shows the majority of these new diseases come from wildlife. Scientists say conservation efforts that reduce conflicts between humans and animals could play a key role in limiting future outbreaks. Writing in Nature, they said their map revealed that global anti-EID resources had been poorly allocated in the past. Researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and the US-based University of Georgia and Columbia University's Earth Institute analysed 335 emerging diseases from 1940 to 2004. They then used computer models to see if the outbreaks correlated with human population density or changes, latitude, rainfall or wildlife biodiversity. Finally, the data was plotted on to maps to reveal the "hotspots" around the globe. "Our analysis highlights the critical importance of conservation work," said co-author Dr Kate Jones, a research fellow for ZSL. "Conserving areas rich in biodiversity from development may be an important means of preventing the emergence of new diseases." The researchers found that 60% of EID events were caused by "non-human animal" sources. They add that 71% of these outbreaks were "caused by pathogens with a wildlife source". Among the examples listed by the team was the emergence of Nipah virus in Malaysia and the Sars outbreak in China. Others included the H5N1 strain of bird flu, Ebola and West Nile virus. The number of events that originated from wild animals had increased significantly over time, they warned. "This supports the suggestion that zoonotic EIDs represents an increasing and very significant threat to global health," the paper's authors wrote. They added that it also highlighted the need to understand the factors that lead to increased contact between wildlife and humans. "We are crowding wildlife into ever smaller areas, and human population is increasing," explained Dr Marc Levy, a global change expert at Columbia University's Earth Institute. "Where those two things meet, that is the recipe for something crossing over." He added that the main sources were mammals that were most closely related to humans. 'Missing the point' While some pathogens may be picked up while hunting or by accident, others - such as Nipah virus - are transmitted to humans from wild animals via livestock. Because humans had not evolved resistance to these EIDS, the scientists said that the results could be "extraordinarily lethal". The main hotspots were located in low latitude regions, like South Asia and South-East Asia, which were not the financial focus of global funds to prevent the spread of EIDs. "The world's public health resources are misallocated," opined co-author Peter Daszak, executive director of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine at the US-based Wildlife Trust. "Most are focused on richer countries that can afford surveillance, but most of the hotspots are in developing countries. "If you look at the high-impact diseases of the future, we're missing the point." However, Dr Daszak said that the maps were the first to offer a prediction of where the next new disease could emerge. His colleague, Dr John Gittleman from the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, described the data-set as a "seminal moment in how we study emerging diseases". "Our study has shown that bringing ecological sciences and public health together can advance the field in a dramatic ways," he observed. The researchers said that the priority should be to set up "smart surveillance" measures in the hotspots identified on the map. Dr Daszak explained that logistically straightforward bio-security measures, such as screening people who come into contact with wild birds and mammals in the hotspot areas, could halt the "next Aids or Sars before it happened". "It simply follows the old adage that prevention is better, and cheaper, than finding a cure. "If we continue to ignore this important preventative measure, then human populations will continue to be at risk from pandemic diseases," Dr Daszak warned.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32717321

Pakistan gunmen kill 45 on Karachi Ismaili Shia bus - 13 May 2015 - From the section Asia At least 45 people have been killed and 13 injured in a gun attack on a bus carrying Ismaili Shia Muslims in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. Police said six gunmen on motorcycles had stopped the bus and fired indiscriminately at passengers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack and ordered an investigation. Pakistani Taliban splinter group Jundullah and Islamic State (IS) both said they had carried out the attack. Later, the militant group Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also said it was behind the shooting. Analysts say Pakistan's fragmented militant movements have previously competed to claim responsibility for attacks. Wednesday's attack was the second deadliest in Pakistan this year after 62 Shia Muslims were killed in a suicide bombing in January. Analysis: M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad This is the first such attack on the Ismaili community in Pakistan, and it is shocking even by the standards of Karachi. The sheer numbers of casualties and the manner in which they were killed provide an uneasy contrast with the peaceful image of this Shia sect, which makes up a tiny proportion of Pakistan's mostly Sunni Muslim population. We are not likely to find out for sure who did it because Karachi is in the throes of an armed struggle between the military and a confusing array of political, religious and sectarian militants. Ismailis consider the Aga Khan their hereditary spiritual guide. They mostly inhabit the Himalayan region of northern Pakistan, but also have a significant presence in Karachi where they run businesses and charities, and tend to use community-built accommodation and transport. The attack is likely to cause some diplomatic tensions for Islamabad as the Aga Khan has been a major source of development funds. This may be one reason why both the prime minister and the army chief have set aside other engagements to head for Karachi. About 60 people were on the bus when it was stopped in the Safoora Chowk area on its way to the Ayesha Manzil Ismaili centre, police said. Relatives of some survivors said the gunmen were dressed as policemen. "As the gunmen climbed on to the bus, one of them shouted, 'kill them all!'," a survivor told Pakistani TV. "Then they started indiscriminately firing." They said the bus driver was killed and an injured passenger drove the bus to Memon Hospital Institute. BBC Urdu service editor Aamer Ahmed Khan in Karachi said the bus was making one of five daily scheduled trips between a gated community housing mainly Ismailis on the north-eastern outskirts and the main city. - Ismaili Shias, in common with other Shia Muslims, revere Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, but they also revere the Imam Ismail who died in 765 AD - They interpret the Koran symbolically and allegorically - There about 15 million Ismailis in more than 25 countries, including 500,000 in Pakistan - Spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan is a philanthropist and business magnate. He gives his name to bodies including a university, a foundation, and the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - He has encouraged Ismailis settled in the industrialised world to contribute to those communities One man at the hospital told AFP news agency: "I have come to collect the body of my young son. He was a student preparing for his first year exams at college." Ismaili spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan said in a statement the "attack represented a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community". Amnesty International said the attack marked "a new low in a campaign of sectarian violence that has left Pakistan's religious minorities fearing for their lives". It said extremists in the country were operating with impunity. Mr Sharif described the killings as "a deplorable attempt to spread chaos". A Jundullah spokesman said the group had carried out the attack because it considered the victims to be infidels. He threatened more attacks against Ismailis, Shias and Christians. A statement purportedly from IS posted on jihadist Twitter accounts also claimed the attack. Pakistan's army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has cancelled a trip to Sri Lanka and is leading the investigation, the BBC's Urdu editor said. Pakistan is about 20% Shia and 70% Sunni, with the remainder made up by other minorities. Karachi, Pakistan's commercial capital, has long had a reputation for sectarian violence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14488482

Are markets bonkers? Are lenders to government, creditors of banks and investors in shares behaving in the kind of way that would guarantee them the kind of losses that presumably they would wish to avoid? Are they completely bonkers, in other words? I ask this question, because there is something of a paradox about investors' and creditors' current obsession with whether huge economies - the US, Italy, Spain and latterly France - will be able to repay all their debts. The natural reaction of the governments of these countries, when they fear that it will become harder and more expensive for them to borrow, is to do what they think their creditors want - which is to introduce austerity measures, to reduce their respective deficits, the gap between what they spend and their tax revenues. So Italy is accelerating plans to cut its deficit, the US is initiating a deficit-reduction plan for the first time since the crash of 2007-8 (albeit something of a messy one) and France is trying to make its deficit-cutting promises more credible (President Sarkozy last night gave his ministers a week to formulate new deficit-reduction measures). Now here's the thing. With economic growth in the developed Western economies so weak, these austerity measures are convincing investors and creditors (the same ones who don't want to lend to Italy and Spain, or different ones?) that the risk of a slide back into recession has become larger. So guess what? They sell shares in companies that would be hurt most by recession, especially banks. And some of them also start to wonder whether it's credible that Italy, Spain and so on will really be able to reduce their deficits, if an economic slowdown reduces what they receive in tax revenues. It is highly relevant in that context that the price which investors have to pay to insure their loans to Spain and Italy through the credit default swap market rose back to the kind of levels we saw before the European Central Bank started buying up Spanish and Italian government bonds. And the cost to insure French government debt also rose sharply yesterday. What that means is that creditors see the intrinsic risks of lending to these countries as elevated - and they fear the ECB buying of Italian and Spanish sovereign debt is an artificial and possibly unsustainable measure to reduce these countries' borrowing costs. Against this backdrop, George Osborne is bound to argue today that the growing doubts about whether the US, Spain, Italy and latterly France can repay all their debts - which has been the backdrop to the rout on stock markets over the past 10 days - shows it is important that he should not waver from his deficit reduction measures, his austerity plan. The chancellor will say that the UK has benefited greatly from lower borrowing costs as a result of the cuts, because it has retained its triple-A credit rating. The problem for him - and the paradox of the current crisis, as I've pointed out - is that the austerity that is now being forced on other countries, like Italy, the US and France, means that the probability of the world sliding back into recession has increased. So the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, will argue that the chancellor's alleged inflexible determination to cut UK public spending increases the risk of a return to recession here. This argument - whether the greater risk is countries unable to repay their debts or recession - is causing intense debate in politics and mayhem on markets. Belief in banks Where it becomes a matter of life and death, in financial and economic terms, is in respect of its impact on banks and the banking system. Because there is an inextricable link between creditors' confidence in big banks and creditors' confidence in the public finances of their respective home countries (see my post of last night for more on this). The transmission mechanism between the perceived quality of sovereign debt and the perceived quality of bank debt goes like this. First, all big banks benefit from an implicit guarantee from the governments of their domicile that they'll be bailed out in a crisis: it is the too-big-to-fail guarantee that George Osborne has asked the Independent Commission on Banking to find some way of weaning banks off (to an extent). So the weaker the public finances of the government standing behind a bank, the less valuable is that too-big-to-fail guarantee - and the harder and more expensive it therefore becomes for that bank to borrow. Given that the UK's banks are bigger relative to the size of the economy than those of any other country (except Switzerland), this link between a government's credit rating and the perceived strength of banks is one reason why the chancellor is so keen for the UK to keep its AAA rating. Second, banks are encouraged by regulators to hold large stocks of government bonds, because these are seen as easily convertible into cash in a crisis. But what is a safety buffer when public finances are in good shape becomes a source of serious weakness as and when the credit-worthiness of the issuers of those bonds, the borrowing governments, is challenged. If in a worst case, as has happened for Greece, there is an agreement that the sovereign borrower won't pay back all it owes, there is a double whammy for banks. They incur a loss that disproportionately reduces the capital they hold as a protection against losses on other loans, because under international banking rules they don't have to hold any capital in relation to their loans to alleged stronger economies. Or to put it another way, if you are an investor who thinks that over the longer term there's a fair chance that a number of sovereign borrowers will fail to repay all they owe, then you would argue that the balance sheets of every big bank in Europe and the US are significantly weaker than the published figures show. That is the background for the rout in Italian shares a week ago - and for the plunge in the shares of French banks yesterday. There has, inevitably, been contagion to UK bank shares. Here's a chilling statistic: the share prices of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are more than 50% below what taxpayers paid for their huge stakes in these banks at the height of the banking crisis at the end of 2008. PS. There has been a bounce in European shares this morning, following last night's slide on Wall Street. But given the volatility of the past fortnight, anyone who tells you they know where the market will close tonight is a fool or a knave.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21256429

Gillard sets Australia poll date of 14 September Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a general election for 14 September. Ms Gillard said that she would ask Governor-General Quentin Bryce to order that parliament be dissolved on 12 August. She said the announcement, eight months in advance, was "not to start the nation's longest election campaign" but to give "shape and order" to the year. Ms Gillard leads a minority government that relies on independents. In a lunchtime speech before the National Press Club in Canberra, the prime minister said the rare long run-up to the election would allow individuals, businesses and investors to plan ahead. "It gives shape and order to the year, and enables it to be one not of fevered campaigning, but of cool and reasoned deliberation," she said. "I can create an environment in which the nation's eyes are more easily focused on the policies, not the petty politics. I can act so Australia's parliament and government serves their full three-year-term." The deadline for the election to be held was 30 November. In determining which Saturday to choose in September, Ms Gillard also admitted that avoiding a clash with the Aussie rules grand final in Melbourne, one of the biggest sporting events of the year, was a major consideration, reports the BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney. The date clashes, though, with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The previous election was held in August 2010, two months after Ms Gillard ousted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a leadership challenge, becoming Australia's first female leader. The election left both main parties short of a parliamentary majority. Ms Gillard, who leads the Labor Party, formed a government with the support of the Greens and independent legislators. But she has struggled to win public support from an electorate with whom Kevin Rudd remains popular. When he launched a leadership challenge early in 2012, however, she secured a convincing win. Opinion polls suggest that the opposition, led by Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott, would win an election if the polls were held now. Ms Gillard said that with the poll date fixed, the opposition would be able to release full costings of its campaign pledges. Mr Abbott, meanwhile, said the election "will be about trust". "Who do you trust to reduce cost-of-living pressures? Who do you trust to boost small businesses and to boost job security? And who do you trust to secure our borders?" he said