16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53

Tunisia: Ben Ali's security chief is arrested

PM Ghannouchi has been discussing a possible unity cabinet with opposition leaders

Deposed Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali 's head of security has been arrested.

State media said Ali Seriati, who led Mr Ben Ali's presidential security force, is accused of threatening state security by fomenting violence.

Meanwhile, there are reports of exchanges of fire between gunmen and security forces in the capital Tunis.

Political leaders have started efforts to fill the power vacuum created by the fall of President Ben Ali.

Interim leader Foued Mebazaa, who until Saturday was the speaker of parliament, has asked Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi to form a national unity government.

Under the present Tunisian constitution, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Mr Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years, fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday after a month of mounting protests across the country over unemployment, food price rises and corruption.

Dozens of people were killed as police opened fired on demonstrators.

The announcement of Mr Seriati's arrest on Sunday came after the previous day saw widespread violence across Tunisia, including looting, arson and deadly jail riots.

Some residents have formed impromptu militias to protect their homes

The BBC's Wyre Davies, in Tunis, reports that the sound of sporadic gunfire has been heard in and around the city centre throughout Sunday.

Several reports describe a gun battle outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Our correspondent says there appears to be a residual base of people loyal to former regime and opposed to moves towards democratisation who are holding out against the new order.

Photographer dies

Other attacks appear to have targeted businesses and buildings connected with the former president and his family.

A hospital source in Tunis told AFP news agency that Imed Trabelsi, the nephew of Mr Ben Ali's powerful wife, had been stabbed to death on Saturday.

Residents in some areas have armed themselves with sticks and clubs, forming impromptu militias to protect their homes.

Despite this, the interim government has shortened the overnight curfew by four hours.

Curfew hours - which ran from 1700 (1600 GMT) to 0700 (0600 GMT) for two nights - will now be between 1800 and 0500.

A state of emergency remains in force and there is very little economic activity. Schools, government offices and most shops are closed.

A French photographer covering events in Tunisia has died from head injuries sustained on Friday when he was hit by a tear-gas canister fired at close range, his employer says.

Lucas Mebrouk Dolega, 32, was in Tunis for the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), covering a large protest that immediately preceded the fall from power of President Ben Ali.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:40

Man sentenced to death in Egypt over Copt killings

Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was found guilty of pre-mediated murder

Egypt has sentenced a man to death for killing six Coptic Christians and a Muslim policeman in January 2010.

Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was found guilty of shooting the group outside a midnight Mass for Coptic Christmas in Naga Hamady, southern Egypt.

The attack was thought to be revenge for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man.

The court ruling comes two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 23 people at a Coptic church in Alexandria.

Hussein, also known as Hamam Kamouni, was found guilty of "pre-meditated murder" of the seven dead and with "intimidating citizens", AFP news agency reports.

Two other men are also on trial for the shooting. The court said the verdict against them would be announced next month. All three pleaded not guilty.

Anba Kirolos, the Coptic bishop of Naga Hammady, said his congregation were "satisfied" with the ruling, AFP reports.

But defence lawyer Alaa Abu Zeid said the trial had been influenced by the Alexandria attack.

Little progress

Coptic Christians make up 10% of Egypt's 80 million population.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the case has caused continued bitterness in the community, partly because of the delay in bringing the men to justice but also because of Hussein's alleged links to a senior MP in the ruling party.

Egypt's Copts have often complained of harassment and discrimination, and argue that attacks on them go unpunished or result in light sentences.

Coptic churches in Egypt have been on high alert since the 6 January bombing.

Twenty-three people were killed and 70 injured as worshippers were leaving midnight Mass at al-Qiddissin church to bring in the New Year.

The attack was condemned in Egypt and abroad - President Hosni Mubarak said it bore the hallmark of "foreign hands" seeking to destabilise Egypt.

No group has said it carried out the attack and there has been little progress in the investigation, says our correspondent.

The government denies descriminating against Copts but the head of the Church, Pope Shenouda III, has urged officials to do more to address their concerns.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:59

France's National Front picks Marine Le Pen as new head

Ms Le Pen looks set to be a genuine contender in the 2012 presidential elections

France's far-right National Front has named Marine Le Pen as its new leader at a party conference.

She is succeeding her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the FN in 1972.

On Saturday party sources reported that she had secured two-thirds of votes against rival Bruno Gollnisch in a recent referendum of members.

The anti-immigrant FN has been shunned by France's main parties, but Ms Le Pen has said she wants to break with the party's xenophobic image.

In a combative farewell speech on Saturday Mr Le Pen, 82, insisted that "unceasing immigration" posed a threat to France.

"All my comments were distorted from their true meaning... because I refused to submit to the dictatorship of the thought police," he told cheering supporters at the conference in the central city of Tours.

He added that it was up to FN members to ensure the party's future success under a new leader.

"I entrust you with the destiny of our movement... its unity, its pugnacity," he said.

French TV footage showed Marine Le Pen, 42, crying as she applauded her father.

Although Mr Le Pen's five presidential bids have failed, the FN has steadily grown under his leadership.

In recent elections the party has been able to garner about 15% of the vote.

In 2002 he came a shock second in the first round of presidential elections, but lost the second round to then-incumbent Jacques Chirac.

A recent poll suggested the party could come third in presidential elections to be held in 2012.

The French lobby group SOS Racisme said Ms Le Pen's election at the head of the National Front would not change the nature of the party, and that its "hate speech" would continue.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:14

Afghanistan: Bomb kills nine wedding guests in Baghlan

At least nine Afghans have been killed by a roadside bomb in the northern province of Baghlan, officials say.

Police said all were wedding guests and their car was destroyed in the blast.

The news came as officials said six civilians were killed in a roadside blast in the south on Saturday.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in fighting between Taliban and Nato-led forces in recent years. Violence is at levels not seen since the militants were driven from power in 2001.

The Taliban and other militants routinely use roadside bombings against Nato and Afghan forces. Civilians are often killed.

Police in Baghlan said the wedding guests had been travelling from Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital, to a village in the same province when their car hit the bomb.

"Nine civilians - six women, a child and two men - have been killed," provincial governor Abdul Majeed said. "All the casualties are civilians."

He said the road was frequently used by foreign forces.

Baghlan used to be among a number of relatively peaceful northern provinces which have become steadily more violent in recent months as the insurgency has spread.

Sangin attack

In Saturday's attack in Helmand province, a minibus hit a bomb on a dirt road in Sangin district - six people were killed and three injured.

A police vehicle is believed to have been the intended target.

Sangin is one of the main battlefields in the fight between Nato-led forces and Taliban insurgents in the strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar.

Fourteen civilians, including women and children, were killed when their minibus hit a roadside bomb in Helmand in December.

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says roads are increasingly in the frontline of the war in Afghanistan.

Civilian and military casualties are at levels not seen for a decade - last year more than 2,400 civilians died, with roadside bombs the biggest source of casualties, our correspondent says.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:32

Sudan referendum: early results show vote for split

International observers say the ballot has been free and fair

Early results from Southern Sudan's referendum indicate the region has voted overwhelmingly to split from the north and form a new country.

Full results of the poll are not due until next month, but the region is widely expected to choose to secede.

Southern Sudanese people living in Europe have already voted 97% in favour of a new state.

The historic referendum was part of a peace agreement signed with north Sudan in 2005, ending decades of war.

Polling stations opened on 9 January and were officially closed on Saturday evening.

A minimum 60% turnout was required for the vote to be considered valid, a target which had easily been passed by the middle of the week.

The chairman of the Southern Sudanese Referendum Commission, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, has said more than 80% of eligible voters in the south had cast their ballots, along with 53% in the north and 91% of voters living in the eight other countries hosting polling stations.

He said the referendum would be considered "a good result by any international standard".

The Associated Press reported a 95% turnout at 10 sites in Juba, which would be the capital of a future Southern Sudan. A sample suggested that 96% had voted in favour of secession.

Southern Sudanese people living in Australia have been given extra time to cast their votes where severe flooding has hampered the process.

'Peaceful determination'

International observers in Southern Sudan have been almost universally optimistic, saying the balloting process has been free and fair.

The BBC's Peter Martell in Juba says that has come as massive relief to the south, for whom this vote means so much.

The process was marred, however, by a deadly attack on a convoy of south Sudanese civilians earlier this week.

The group were returning home to vote when they were ambushed near the north-south border in the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei.

The UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised "all the people of Sudan for the display of wisdom, patience, and peaceful determination that has characterised the voting over the last week".

But he warned that Southern Sudanese must continue to "exercise patience and restraint" while the count is carried out.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has promised to accept the results of the poll either way, even if it meant the partition of Africa's largest nation.

"The referendum took place in an atmosphere of calm with a great degree of freedom and fairness," Rabie Abdul Ati, a senior official in Mr Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP), told the AFP news agency.

"It is very clear that the party will accept the result whether it be for unity or secession."

The referendum was agreed as part of the 2005 deal to end the two-decade civil war between Southern and north Sudan.

Correspondents say there has been little doubt that the largely Christian Southern Sudan would opt for secession from the mainly Muslim north.

Sudan: A country divided

- Geography

- Ethnic groups

- Infant mortality

- Water & sanitation

- Education

- Food insecurity

- Oil fields

Show regions

The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.

Sudan's arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.

The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In Southern Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.

The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.

Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.

Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and Southern Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.

Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue, exacerbating tensions with the north. The oil-rich border region of Abyei is to hold a separate vote on whether to join the north or the south.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:18

Three dead in Budapest West Balkan nightclub stampede

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the club after the incident

Three women have been killed in a stampede at a nightclub in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

Police said the women had been caught in a crush after mass panic broke out among the thousands of people in the three-storey West Balkan club.

The cause of the stampede is not yet clear, but officials have ruled out earlier reports that it was sparked by a knife attack in the club.

Witnesses said the club, in an old shopping centre, had been very crowded.

Medical officials are working to establish the cause of the women's deaths.

A spokeswoman for city's rescue services, Pal Gyorfi, told the Associated Press it was too early to say how the women died.

But police spokeswoman Katalin Fanni Horvath told AFP the women may have been trampled on by others trying to escape.

The building was evacuated after the incident and sealed off for investigations.

Hungarian media said police were looking into reports of overcrowding and whether there were enough suitable emergency exits.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 00:07

Smoking 'causes damage in minutes', US experts claim

There may be genetic damage just moments after smoking

Smoking damages the body in minutes rather than years, according to research in the US.

The report, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, shows that chemicals which cause cancer form rapidly after smoking.

Scientists involved in the small-scale study described the results as a stark warning to people considering smoking.

Anti-smoking charity Ash described the research as "chilling" and as a warning that it is never too early to quit.

The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. This study suggests the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked.

Faster than you might think

The researchers looked at the level of chemicals linked with cancer, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), in 12 patients after smoking.

A PAH was added to the subject's cigarettes, which was then modified by the body and turned into another chemical which damages DNA and has been linked with cancer.

The research shows this process only took between 15 and 30 minutes to take place.

Professor Stephen Hecht, from the University of Minnesota, said: "This study is unique, it is the first to investigate human metabolism of a PAH specifically delivered by inhalation in cigarette smoke, without interference by other sources of exposure such as air pollution or the diet.

The results reported here should serve as a stark warning to those who are considering starting to smoke cigarettes."

Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at Ash (Action on Smoking and Health), said: "Almost everybody knows that smoking can cause lung cancer.

"The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early the very first stages of that process begin - not in 30 years but within 30 minutes of a single cigarette for every subject in the study.

"The process starts early but it is never too late to quit and the sooner you quit the sooner you start to reduce the harm."

The research was funded by the US National Cancer Institute.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:56

Irish PM Brian Cowen to stay as party leader

Brian Cowen will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands

The Irish prime minister will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands.

Brian Cowen is due to make a statement to the press at 1700 GMT.

He has faced recent scrutiny about a meeting with the head of Anglo Irish Bank shortly before he announced a multi-billion euro bank guarantee.

On Thursday, he said he would take 48 hours to consult with his parliamentary colleagues on whether he should continue in his post.

Several Fianna Fail backbenchers have called for Mr Cowen to resign.

On Saturday, one Fianna Fail member of parliament called for the party to unite behind the foreign minister, Micheal Martin.

Noel O'Flynn said he had been contacted by the prime minister on Saturday afternoon and had told him that his leadership had not worked.

However, deputy prime minister Mary Coughlan said she believed in Mr Cowen's leadership.

She added: I believe that he has been the only man over the last two and half years to make the difficult decisions and give the leadership to the cabinet.

"And I would say that if others were in that place, I would question their ability and their acumen to do what had to be done."

Pressure

Former Anglo Irish chairman Sean Fitpatrick, who Mr Cowen met at a golf course in 2008, is still subject to official scrutiny over his role in the collapse of the bank and has previously been questioned by police.

The Taoiseach (prime minister) has denied that he discussed bank matters with Mr Fitzpatrick at the golf course and insisted that he had not done political favours for any financial institution.

On Thursday, Mr Cowen made clear that he did not intend to resign and said the process of talking to his parliamentary party should take about 48 hours.

He is also facing a motion of no confidence, tabled by the opposition Labour Party, in parliament next week.

Mr Cowen, who took power in 2008, has been under pressure since Ireland was forced to seek an international financial bail-out late last year.

Following the intervention by the EU and the IMF, there were rumours of an internal push against him but his critics pulled back at the last moment.

His coalition government has only a slim minority in parliament and a general election is expected in the spring.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:25

Australia: Thousands leave homes as floods hit Victoria

Thousands of people are involved in the clean-up operation in Brisbane

Thousands of people have fled their homes in Victoria as major flooding hits the southern Australian state.

The floods have already swamped some of the state's northern towns and are threatening 1,400 homes in 43 others.

At least 18 people have lost their lives in Australia's flood disaster so far. Dozens are still missing.

All the deaths were in the northern state of Queensland, where water levels have now largely receded and a major clean-up operation is now underway.

Victoria state officials said the flood is set to be one of the worst ever seen in the state.

Around 3,500 people have left their homes so far.

''The message to Victorians is that we are not out of the woods yet as far as this flood crisis is concerned," said Trevor White of the State Emergency Service.

"We still have four river systems in major flood, being the Wimmera, the Avoca, the Loddon and the Campaspe rivers.

"And of course we are seeing unprecedented stream rises not witnessed for decades, and in fact that's leading to widespread flooding over vast areas of Victoria that haven't been seen for decades," he said.

The towns of Echuca and Horsham are expected to be the worst hit.

'Heartwrenching'

Paula Ryan in Echuca told Reuters news agency the military had been laying sandbags in the town to try protect it from the Campaspe River.

Echuca's mayor, Nigel Pankhurst, said he believed the town's levee, designed to withstand once-in-a-century flood levels, would hold.

"Some properties will have water on them but we're not expecting any homes to be inundated or have water above floor level," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Some towns in northern Victoria have also ready been inundated, including Charlton, in the south-west, where locals said three-quarters of the town was underwater after the Avoca river burst its banks.

"The force of the water was just unbelievable. Every street that the river was running down was just like a torrent," said resident Gary Tonkin.

"It has uprooted fences and a lot of people's house fences are washed away. The power came back on half an hour ago. The water is just brown and stinks."

Charlton resident Peter Gretgrix said the scale of the damage was "heartwrenching".

"It's just total devastation, some of the shops in the lowish area are just a mess, windows smashed out, it's terrible," he told AFP news agency.

Residents of the southern town of Rochester were attempting to clear their homes of mud and debris as the Wimmera river continued to rise.

"I've never seen it this high ever, so this is the worst," said Noel Mitchell.

"But I think it probably did peak at probably a little bit lower than they thought, so we're pretty thankful for that."

The premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, said 18 people are now known to have died in the state, after the bodies of an elderly man and woman were discovered in Lockyer Valley.

A massive clean-up operation is taking place in the state capital Brisbane and surrounding areas.

At least 30,000 properties in the Queensland city have been swamped and many areas remain without power. Officials say the clean-up could take months.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 07:44

China toll dodger Shi Jianfeng 'took blame for brother'

Many in China complain that road tolls are too high for ordinary people

The younger brother of a Chinese man sentenced to life in prison for dodging road tolls has turned himself into police, state media reports.

Shi Junfeng said he - and not his elder brother - had put military number plates on the vehicles to evade tolls of 3.7m yuan (£350,000;$560,000).

The case caused an outcry in China, with many questioning the harsh sentence given to Shi Jianfeng.

The court in Henan province had already ordered a retrial.

Shi Jianfeng had been found guilty last week of evading the fees over a nine-month period while delivering sand and gravel in two trucks. The court ruled he had used military number plates, meaning the vehicles could avoid paying road tolls.

He was sentenced to life in prison, a fine of 2m yuan and the loss of his political rights. He also had his illegal earnings confiscated.

'Manipulated'

But last Friday, the court in Pingdingshan ordered a retrial of the case, ruling that other people may have been involved.

Court official Liu Penghua said the convicted man had claimed he was "manipulated by a relative," the Xinhua news agency reported.

On Saturday night, Shi Junfeng turned himself in to police in Yuzhou City, saying his brother, a farmer, had taken the blame for him.

It appears he had not thought his older brother would be sentenced so severely, telling police he had offered bribes to officials and had been assured he would be released quickly.

Senior police officer Wang Xucan told Xinhua that Shi Junfeng was now being questioned and would soon be transferred to Pingdingshan.

The case had generated a furious reaction online in China.

Many argued that far more lenient sentences are usually given for more serious crimes. There were also complaints that road tolls, required on most major highways, are too high for ordinary people to be able to afford.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:45

Golden Globes to kick off race for Oscars

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

Signs promoting the Golden Globe awards can be seen on the streets of Los Angeles

The Hollywood awards season kicks off later with the Golden Globes, where British film The King's Speech leads the pack with seven nominations.

The Social Network and The Fighter follow with six nominations apiece.

Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes are first major film awards of the year.

Comedian Ricky Gervais is to host the ceremony, beginning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 1700 LA time (0100GMT).

Television shows are also celebrated at the gala, where the prizes are divided between dramas and comedies or musicals.

High school comedy Glee has the most nominations for a TV show, having been shortlisted in five categories.

Colin Firth, who plays a monarch battling a stammer in The King's Speech, is widely expected to win the best actor in a drama prize.

The 50-year-old is one of four actors in his category nominated for playing real people.

Jesse Eisenberg is also in contention for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as is James Franco for playing climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours.

Wahlberg completes the quartet for his performance in The Fighter, a film about US boxer Micky Ward.

The biopic has additional acting nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, while its director David O Russell is also up for a prize.

In the best actress in a drama category, Natalie Portman has received a nod for her role in Darren Aronofsky's ballet-based Black Swan.

Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Williams are also in contention for that award.

Films up for best musical or comedy include Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids are All Right and The Tourist.

Johnny Depp has landed two nominations in the best actor in a comedy or musical category, for Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist.

Glee's competition for the best TV comedy or musical prize includes 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory amd Modern Family.

Ricky Gervais returns to host the ceremony for a second consecutive year

Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Good Wife and Mad Men vie for the best TV drama series award with zombie thriller The Walking Dead.

The Globes have traditionally been solid indicator as to which films and stars will be recognised at the Academy Awards.

Yet in the last six years, the only winner of a Globe for best drama that went on to Oscar success was 2008's Slumdog Millionaire.

Last year Avatar was feted at the Globes, only to be beaten at the Oscars by Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.

However, all four of last year's Oscar-winning actors - Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique - were also successful at the Globes.

Gervais's first stint as host in 2010 saw the British comedian take gentle jabs at the Hollywood glitterati.

Earlier this week, though, the Office and Extras star said he didn't think he "went far enough".

"So I'm going to do it again [and] do a proper job," he continued. "And I guarantee they will not invite me back."

This year's Bafta nominations are announced on Tuesday, with Oscar nominations to follow on 25 January.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 10:56

Venezuela anger at 'mocking' Colombia soap opera

Mr Chavez's critics say he is trying to muzzle the media to prevent criticism

Venezuela has told a private TV company to stop showing a Colombian soap opera it says is insulting to the country.

Chepe Fortuna stars a character called Colombia and her sister Venezuela, who owns a dog called Little Hugo, the same name as Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

In one episode Venezuela loses Little Hugo, prompting Colombia to tell her she is better off without him.

The spat comes as the countries are making efforts to improve their historically strained relationship.

They restored relations last August, shortly after President Juan Manuel Santos took office in Colombia.

Venezuela's telecommunications regulator Conatel said the secretary character named Venezuela was "repeatedly characterised as associated with crime, interference and vulgarity".

Her gossipy and unscrupulous manner, it said, showed "the shameless manipulation of the plot to demoralise the Venezuelan people".

Conatel ordered the Televen channel to take the programme off air on Thursday night. The channel has not yet commented on the demands.

But the show's producer, Miguel Angel Baquero, denied the programme was promoting political intolerance.

"It is a folkloric tradition with the sole intention of entertaining the people and showing how the humour of the people of Colombia's coast lets two sisters be called Colombia and Venezuela," he said in a statement.

It is not the first time Televen has come under fire from the authorities.

In 2009 it was one of several channels ordered to stop showing episodes of the US cartoon Family Guy, over its apparent endorsement of the use of marijuana.

And in 2008, the channel was forced to broadcast public service films as a punishment after it broadcast episodes of The Simpsons - a cartoon the authorities consider inappropriate for children - in the morning.

Mr Chavez maintains tight control over the media in Venezuela - opposition groups accuse him of trying prevent coverage of political discontent.

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

To get involved use Twitter, 606 or SMS via 81111 with FOOTBALL before your message. (Not all contributions can be used. Messages will be charged at your standard operator rate.)

By Jonathan Stevenson

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "I've enjoyed the first half, but it definitely needs a goal. The second period of the first half fell away in terms of quality but it's still a very very interesting game for me."

1659: Half-time Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at White Hart Lane: "Spurs just shading it but as tight as it gets. Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson will demand greater quality in attacking positions after the break."

1657: Darren Fletcher lets the ball run too far away from him and Gareth Bale is in as quick as a flash, nipping the ball away from Fletcher and drawing the foul for which the Scot is booked. The ball in is punched away by Edwin van der Sar.

1656: Peter Crouch slides in on Ryan Giggs and it's a free-kick to United as we move into first-half stoppage time - two minutes of it.

From English-Players-Dont-Dive on 606: "How the hell can Vidic out-jump Crouch, Crouch has four inches on him. GRRR."

1654: Class from Gareth Bale, who produces a really good burst to beat Rafael on the inside and then again on the outside before flinging in a quality cross, but Rafael van der Vaart can only head wide at the near post, about a yard off target.

1652: Two balls pumped into the United box and twice Nemanja Vidic gets up superbly to head the ball away from danger. Masterclass defending from the Serbian.

1651: The Spurs players seem to have taken to going down a touch easily at the moment, which is a bit of a shame. Rafael goes on a marauding run down the United right and gets into the box, but his pass to Wayne Rooney lacks power and Tottenham manage to clear.

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "The game has lost some quality in the last 10 minutes. It's a bit rushed at the moment, they're not wanting to hold on to the ball, the players are not controlling it and having those passing movements they did in the first few minutes."

1647: Rafael's turn to be fouled and it's a lunging tackle on him from Wilson Palacios - Rafael goes up to the referee and waves an imaginary yellow card, and Palacios is promptly booked.

1646: Rafael goes in hard but fair on Gareth Bale - he's got to be so careful now, the Brazilian full-back. Spurs are still enjoying most of the possession, but they haven't created any chances for a while.

Everton boss David Moyes on Steven Pienaar: "We've had one offer from Chelsea which has been accepted. The offer we have had from Tottenham hasn't been accepted. He spoke to me yesterday and said he didn't feel his head was right to play in the game."

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at White Hart Lane: "After an opening 10 minutes that hinted at a classic ahead it has all gone off the boil a bit at White Hart Lane. Spurs, understandably, are probing down the flanks but Manchester United holding firm. Wayne Rooney not able to stamp his authority on proceedings yet."

1642: Gareth Bale's 30-yard free-kick bounces gently into the arms of Edwin van der Sar and I'm not going to see a good free-kick all weekend, I fear.

1641: Half an hour gone at White Hart Lane and somehow it's still Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United. Nemanja Vidic fouls Peter Crouch 30 yards out and Gareth Bale wants this one.

1640: Transfer news: Everton have accepted a bid for South Africa winger Steven Pienaar from Chelsea but rebuffed interest from Tottenham, manager David Moyes has confirmed.

1638: Rafael goes sliding in on Wilson Palacios and it's a bit reckless from the Brazilian, who just pushed the ball a little too far ahead of him. Rafael is booked and Gareth Bale might just want the ball now, with his marker one bad foul away from an early bath.

1636: Tottenham play a corner short again on the right and Rafael van der Vaart has a left-foot shot blocked by Dimitar Berbatov, before Spurs skipper Michael Dawson slams a right-foot shot wide from the edge of the box.

From DashingDuane on Twitter: "Re: 1603, it's Giggs' 600th league appearance not EPL, he's played 560 EPL games, 13 short of equalling David James' record!"

1633: Fine one-two between United's two strikers and after Dimitar Berbatov picks out a pass back to Wayne Rooney, the England man's right-foot shot from 20 yards is well saved with his right hand by Heurelho Gomes, low down.

1632: United are trying to take the sting out of Spurs' fine start, knocking the ball around the pitch and having some possession of their own. Wayne Rooney goes down under a challenge from Rafael van der Vaart and the Dutchman is annoyed, kicking the ball away and picking up a needless booking.

1630: Brilliant stuff from Gareth Bale, who has a little run on Rafael and shows great pace to get around the outside of the Brazilian, who is no slouch, but the Welshman's excellent cross flies beyond Peter Crouch. Didn't seem to me like the striker was really prepared to throw himself at that one, oddly.

From Rachel Tyrrell, Lincoln, on text: "Beckham has had a massive effect. The Spurs players look VERY well groomed."

1627: Gareth Bale picks up the ball on the Spurs left and Rafael is in quick as a flash, winning the ball and almost knocking Bale off his feet. There are so many interesting battles all over the pitch, it's like a footballing banquet at White Hart Lane. Super atmosphere too.

From 4-5-none on 606: "Massive difference in quality already in this game compared to the earlier fare..."

1624: Spurs are having a good spell, getting crosses into the United box from the left and the right - and they've barely even got Gareth Bale into the game as of yet.

1622: Man United defender Rio Ferdinand might be struggling - Chris Smalling is warming up on the touchline. Luka Modric fools Darren Fletcher from a corner and sneaks into the United box, but Ferdinand is fine enough to get in a fabulous clearance.

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "This has the makings of an exciting game, it is going end to end and both teams are looking positive and going onto the attack."

1620: What a move, champagne football from Spurs. Luka Modric finds Alan Hutton down the right and his fine cross sees Peter Crouch get in front of Rio Ferdinand, diverting the ball inches wide of Edwin van der Sar's left-hand post. So close.

1619: It's real end-to-end stuff and this time United get forward, first Alan Hutton preventing Dimitar Berbatov from getting in a header at the back stick from Nani's cross before Wayne Rooney's 20-yard strike is well saved by Heurelho Gomes.

1618: Rafael van der Vaart curls the free-kick into the arms of Edwin van der Sar.

1617: Spurs are quite obviously going to pose a significant aerial threat today but they are also hugely dangerous running at the United defence with pace - and Wilson Palacios is fouled 22 yards out by Michael Carrick. Decent opportunity, this, right of centre.

From rebeccaabbott93 on Twitter: "Fear for Man Utd unbeaten record today. Tottenham's team top class this season. Possible revenge for earlier in season?"

1613: Dangerous. United send Spurs a warning as Dimitar Berbatov peels off the defence to play a pass in for Wayne Rooney and he goes round William Gallas before lashing a right-foot shot wide of the far post from a tight angle on the right of the area.

1612: Boo update: Many, many more for Dimitar Berbatov than Michael Carrick.

1611: Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney get us under way and within seconds United give the ball away and Gareth Bale sprints down the left, the Welshman's cross-shot collected by Edwin van der Sar.

1609: The players are led out by Tottenham captain Michael Dawson and Man United skipper Nemanja Vidic and we're not far off getting under way at White Hart Lane. Up in the stand, England manager Fabio Capello is sharing a lovely big hug with David Beckham.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson: ""Spurs have been been fantastic this season and the boy Rafael van der Vaart has been fantastic and Luka Modric too. They've got a good team but we've got the experience to deal with it. In this game you usually get more goals here than at Old Trafford and I hope we get more this afternoon, hopefully for us!"

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "We haven't got a great record against Manchester United but this looks like a more even-matched game and we're playing with lots of confidence, so it should be a cracking game for sure."

1603: Congratulations to Ryan Giggs, too, as the Manchester United legend plays his 600th Premier League game this afternoon in north London.

Tottenham v Manchester United team news:
Phil McNulty reports: "Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson field two line-ups filled with the sort of quality that only adds to the anticipation ahead of this eagerly-awaited encounter. Spurs have plumped for Peter Crouch ahead of Jermain Defoe as support for Rafael van der Vaart up front while Wayne Rooney has recovered from his ankle injury to partner Dimitar Berbatov in attack for Manchester United."

1600: Reaction to come from Anfield, but no time to breath - we're on the move to White Hart Lane as Tottenham prepare to entertain Manchester United.

1559: Full-time Liverpool 2-2 Everton
Not the victory Kenny Dalglish would have wanted, but at least he's stopped the run of defeats. Everton were very, very impressive in the second half, and probably a point apiece is the fairest result.

1558: Marouane Fellaini heads away and Glen Johnson hits it straight to Tim Howard. That might just be that.

1557: One minute left. I fear I'm flogging a dead horse, but it's never stopped me before so I'll continue. Pepe Reina's going to boot this one long...

1556: It comes to nothing.

1555: Is there one last chance left? Everton are about to pump it long.

1554: Into injury time at Anfield and the electronic board goes up showing four minutes.

1553: Gosh, Pepe Reina knows where his off stump is. An Everton corner is half-cleared to Seamus Coleman and his right-foot shot takes a deflection, with Reina and Martin Kelly both confidently letting it go behind as the ball bounces about a yard wide.

1551: You could give a football fan the moon and the stars, and still they'd wonder what happened to the sun. Signs that the teams are both settling for a draw at Anfield as we approach injury time.

From LEGIN99M on 606: "Moyes looks like he wants to win this whereas Dalglish seems to want to survive 90 minutes and not lose. Very, very disappointed with Kenny so far."

1548: Six minutes to go at Anfield and it's still Liverpool 2-2 Everton. Are we going to have some late drama, like we did at the Stadium of Light earlier? A place in derby folklore awaits.

1545: Everton send on the Russian flier Diniyar Bilyaletdinov for Victor Anichebe.

1544: Kenny Dalglish seems to quite like this boy - he brings on young Jonjo Shelvey for the last 10 minutes, with Raul Meireles replaced.

From jackhyom on Twitter: "Re: Matt, Essex, hasn't Crouch set up most of RVDV's goals? I'm backing the rampaging super spider to be a match winner!"

1541: Fernando Torres latches on to a Martin Kelly pass towards the right of the Everton penalty box, but instead of putting his foot through the ball he tries a delicate chip and it flies behind. Used a nine-iron when a wedge would have done. Everton bring on Jack Rodwell for Leon Osman.

1539: It's gone a bit scrappy at Anfield for the moment, presumably both teams saving themselves for one last almighty go at winning all three points.

1537: A change for Everton, with James Vaughan coming on for Jermaine Beckford.

From Matt, Essex, on text: "Crouch? CROUCH? You'd better tell me Defoe's got man-flu, Stevo, otherwise there'll be some serious toys coming out of the collective Spurs pram."

1535: Twenty minutes left in a Merseyside derby, both teams going for the win and still Spurs v Man United to come. Life does not get any better than this.

1533: This game is anyone's now. Leighton Baines swings in a free-kick from the right and Victor Anichebe gets his header all wrong, nodding it further away from goal. Still dangerous from set-pieces though, Everton.

Reds goal: Crikey did they need that. It's a sloppy goal for Everton to concede as, after some pinball inside the visitors box, Tim Howard dives in on Maxi and brings him down, it's a definite spot-kick, no arguments. Dirk Kuyt takes penalty duties in the absence of Steven Gerrard and coolly slots low into the corner.

1532: GOAL Liverpool 2-2 Everton (Kuyt)

1531: PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL

1530: Two very, very strong teams picked there at White Hart Lane, and a return for Man United striker Wayne Rooney. Kick-off there at 1610 GMT.

1529: Tottenham v Man United line-ups:
Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch.
Subs: Cudicini, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Anderson, Smalling, Hernandez, Scholes, Evans.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

1527: First yellow of the game and that's a telling sign of Fernando Torres' frustration, the striker petulantly clipping the heels of Johnny Heitinga after the ball had run away from him.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce on the Steve Harper incident: "I saw Steve lying down, but thankfully he's not bad. A big well done to the Sunderland fans who gave up the supporter to the police. When I saw the age of him it looked like he's still in school. Unfortunately it's the society we live in at the moment."

1525: Liverpool work it into the box from the right and there's a half-chance at best for Maxi, the Argentine having to get all the power on the ball himself as he heads goalwards, with Tim Howard catching above his head.

1523: Bit of pressure from Liverpool but they cannot get the ball to Fernando Torres and Everton look quite comfortable, hitting their hosts on the break when it suits them to do so. Can't remember the last time a game changed course quite so quickly.

From iverkleiven on Twitter: "Messi-esque from Osman in the build-up to Beckford's goal. Brilliant footwork."

1519: Decent hit from Raul Meireles on the left of the Everton box, hitting a left-foot shot that forces Tim Howard to save low down to his left. There's plenty of juice left in this one.

1518: There you go - the curse of the 1-1 banished. Everton are flying - Liverpool need to show some character if they are going to get a foothold in the game.

Everton goal: Quite brittle, you'd have to say. Everton lead, and that has put the cat amongst the pigeons. A ball down the left is headed on by Victor Anichebe to Leon Osman - the midfielder does really well to find Jermaine Beckford inside the box and he holds off Raul Meireles before slamming past Pepe Reina's left hand into the net. What a turnaround.

1516: GOAL Liverpool 1-2 Everton (Beckford)

1513: That goal was absolutely not Sotiros Kyrgiakos's fault, poor lad. But it has changed the atmosphere at Anfield and Everton are playing like a dog with a bone at the moment. Kenny Dalglish has talked a lot about confidence, but we might be about to see how brittle Liverpool's is.

Everton goal: Credit to David Moyes? What a half-time teamtalk that must have been as it takes Everton 43 seconds to get level. Mikel Arteta floats over a corner from the left and with Pepe Reina missing it there is Sylvain Distin at the back stick to nod into the ground and in, despite Glen Johnson's best attempts to head it off the line.

1510: GOAL Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Distin)

1509: Back under way at Anfield and there is a change at the break as the big Greek Sotiros Kyrgiakos comes on to replace the ill Daniel Agger.

From Ed Gutteridge, on text: "With all of the goings on at Anfield this season nobody seems to have noticed the rather worrying situation that Everton are in. Defeat today would put them just three points off relegation and in desperate need of some inspiration in the transfer/loan market. Anichebe and Beckford would struggle to frighten many Championship defences."

1506: Line-ups and team news to come from White Hart Lane, but there's the Demolition Derby part of the day to finish before we move on to the White-Hot White Hart Lane bit. Partly I'm hoping today's football doesn't ever end - anyone fancy a bit of La Liga straight after the Premier League?

From Medieval-Evil on 606: "That goal seems to have knocked the stuffing out of Everton. Torres is the difference at the moment - by contrast, Fellaini has looked Everton's best attacking threat."

1458: Still Tottenham v Manchester United to come, as if you'd forgotten. That gets under way at 1610 GMT, a couple of minutes after this one is due to finish. Surely we aren't going to get four 1-1s?

From mdriver11 on Twitter: "Thank the lord Everton have Tim Howard. It could be 4-0 without him."

Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Marc Vesty reports: "Whether whipped up by Kenny Dalglish's return to Anfield, the fact it's a local derby or just the desperate need for three points, Liverpool have edged out Everton with a show of steely determination. Raul Meireles may have scored the goal but it's the return to form of Fernando Torres which means Liverpool look likely to push for more in the second half."

1451: Fernando Torres is seriously up for this. He causes Johnny Heitinga all sorts of problems down the right and clips a cross to the back post that Seamus Coleman manages to head behind, with Maxi lurking. A magnificent striker's display so far from the Spaniard.

1451: Into first-half stoppage time at Anfield and we'll have a minute of it. Marouane Fellaini gifts possession away on the edge of his own area and Maxi's shot flies low into the arms of Tim Howard.

1448: Lovely stuff from Liverpool as Dirk Kuyt plays a super pass on the inside right channel to Raul Meireles, the Portuguese with a taste for goals firing in a shot from an angle that Tim Howard saves. Liverpool are well on top right now, they won't want the half to end.

1446: The Liverpool fans are furious as they think Johnny Heitinga has fouled Fernando Torres 22 yards out. No free-kick given and then a moment later the Dutchman executes a brilliant tackle on Dirk Kuyt, as if to rub it in. Torres and Heitinga have some afters, moments later. Good derby day battle.

From marktear on Twitter: "Tell Kate the match is live on Setanta in Canada."

1442: Liverpool are countering Everton very well at the moment, soaking up their pressure and hitting them on the break with pace. Fernando Torres has a chance to play Dirk Kuyt through, but when the Dutchman eventually gets himself onside the pass is too far ahead of him.

1440: Liverpool might be leading, but Everton are still very much in this game. Jermaine Beckford and Victor Anichebe are both quiet, though - David Moyes will want much more from his front two.

From Kate, on text: "Greetings from Whistler, Canada! Jet lagged so wide awake since 4am waiting for the Merseyside derby... Unbelievably no EPL live footy on any of the numerous TV channels so am relying totally on you for regular updates on a fantastic win for the Reds!"

1437: Could have been 2-0 to Liverpool there as Fernando Torres forces another save from Tim Howard and then Maxi heads over the Everton bar. Howard is apoplectic - he wants more help from his defenders, who have gone missing in recent minutes.

Reds goal: Kenny Dalglish has just gone crazy because Liverpool lead in the derby. A Glen Johnson cross from the left is headed goalwards by Dirk Kuyt and after Tim Howard saves his effort and then blocks the Dutchman's follow-up shot, the ball falls to Raul Meireles 18 yards out, the Portuguese rifling his first Reds goal into the net.

1435: GOAL Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Meireles)

1434: Everton's set-pieces do look dangerous today and there's another one as a corner from their right is allowed to travel through the Liverpool box, with only Martin Skrtel getting anything like a proper touch on it.

1431: There's that aerial threat for Everton, even without the absent Tim Cahill. A free-kick pumped into the Liverpool box is headed towards goal by Marouane Fellaini, and Jermaine Beckford is only centimetres away from getting a potentially decisive touch.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew: "It was brilliant, passionate - the noise levels were fantastic. We just slipped up at the end but four points from two derbies is good for us. We played really well, had a good gameplan and made it difficult for Sunderland. We looked comfortable and could have got second goal but there were lots of injury time and we just switched off a bit and they got a break - perhaps one they didn't deserve."

1428: A corner from the Liverpool left is flicked on by Maxi, but it's just a few inches too high for a leaping Dirk Kuyt at the far post. Decent start to the 215th Merseyside derby, about halfway through the first half.

From east-coast-wolves on 606: "Torres looking as though he has decided to play football with everyone else for a change. Ominous for Everton."

1425: The Press Association are reporting that a fan was arrested on the pitch after a confrontation with Newcastle keeper Steve Harper late in the game at the Stadium of Light. More on that as and when we get it.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier: "If there's got to be a winner it has to be Aston Villa today. We created a lot of chances and hit the bar four times. The minimum the players deserve is a draw. Some time ago we would probably have lost that game. But the character of the players was good, to come back from 1-0 down in a derby. We've got a difficult January in terms of fixtures, but we will be up for it."

1423: Wow. There's the real Fernando Torres. He shows great power and pace to shrug off the not inconsiderable challenge of Sylvain Distin on the right and he surges into the box, cutting on to his left foot and slamming a sweetly struck shot against the far post, with a sliding Dirk Kuyt only able to blaze the rebound over.

1421: There's a late challenge from Phil Neville on Fernando Torres, but David Moyes is furious about a foul that wasn't given when it looked like Victor Anichebe was brought down just outside the Liverpool box. Don't worry Dave, the free-kick would only have been ballooned over anyway.

From Tim in Marlow, on text: "Furtively checking footie scores via live text, on BlackBerry while should be doing family duties. Reminds me of listening to Liverpool v St. Etienne in bed in the 70s on a crystal earpiece and a cheap radio when I should have been asleep. Guilty pleasures!"

1417: That's got the crowd going at Anfield - Martin Kelly goes on a super run down the right, taking Leighton Baines on on the outside and beating him for pace, his cross well defended by Sylvain Distin. Soon after Glen Johnson's fine pass finds Fernando Torres just inside the box, but his snap-volley flies over.

1415: Some early news from Spurs, not of the team variety. Tottenham High Road has been shut off for an hour with 500 Spurs fans protesting about the proposed move to Stratford. They want the stadium redeveloped in north London. Police have arrived and there's major disruption, with directors getting there late and players using a different entrance.

1414: Fernando Torres is hanging on the last defender, but he goes a little too early and is flagged offside. Today's crucial battle will be in the midfield - can Liverpool gain control over what is a more experienced Everton line-up?

From DanielCurry14 on Twitter: "More flags on the Kop than I've seen for a while. Less quality on the pitch, too. Money needs to be spent on this team."

1410: Jay Spearing gives the ball away in the Liverpool midfield and Jermaine Beckford, from 40 yards, tries an ultra-ambitious chip over Pepe Reina, getting his shot hopelessly wrong. Full marks for confidence, though.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "I think it was an open game. There was some excellent football at times. We started shabbily with six or seven poor pass-backs in the opening 10 minutes. We came back strong and claimed a deserved lead but it was a bit of stupidity again from us which gave the goal away. We know we have dropped another two points at home."

1408: First sighter from the visitors at Anfield as Everton's Seamus Coleman bundles his way through a couple of tackles and punts a shot wide from 20 yards.

1407: Looks like it's a bit edgy in the stands at Sunderland, with Newcastle and Sunderland fans goading each other. Let's hope it doesn't turn into anything worse.

1406: Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles get us under way at Anfield and within nine seconds Torres has fired in a shot from an angle on the right that Tim Howard saves.

From Jamie, Crawley, on text: "Has there ever been a season where so many derby rivals are neck and neck in the table?"
Not in the Championship, though...

1403: Great ovation for the legendary Kenny Dalglish, back in the dugout at Anfield. With You'll Never Walk Alone blaring out for the Scot, it's like travelling back in time. Very close to kick-off on Merseyside.

Everton boss David Moyes: "Our focus has been on the game, that's all. The media focus has been on Kenny and rightly so, but not ours. We'll try and play as well as we did against Tottenham a few days ago."

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish: "It's going to be an emotional day, but it's more important that the players give us effort and commitment and it's not about me. I'm encouraged by the first two games, but they need some confidence."

1358: You just knew today wouldn't be dull, didn't you? Seven minutes before we get started in Liverpool v Everton, then. Magic.

1356: Full-time Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle
Asamoah Gyan did absolutely nothing for 93 minutes today, but when his team needed him most he was in the right place at the right time. Sunderland didn't deserve that equaliser, but they won't care.

Sunderland goal: Now that is drama of the very latest variety. The Stadium of Light goes mental as their boys get a last-gasp equaliser - Phil Bardsley's shot from 20 yards is parried by Steve Harper into the path of Asamoah Gyan and the ball hits the striker before ricocheting into the Newcastle net. Heartbreak for the visitors, jubilation for the hosts.

1354: GOAL Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle (Gyan)

1352: Full-time Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa
Probably not what either manager wanted at the start, but a point apiece is the fairest result from a game that kept threatening to but never quite burst fully into life.

1351: Dan Gosling comes on for his Newcastle debut and there's a few minutes of injury time left in the north-east yet. Can Sunderland salvage something?

1350: I do not know how that didn't go in. A long ball pumped into the Villa box is headed on by Birmingham's Nikola Zigic with Brad Friedel flapping and the ball sails about six inches wide of the post. The place would have erupted.

1349: Into injury time at St Andrew's, where it looks like we are heading for a share of the spoils. They're a couple of minutes behind at Sunderland.

1347: There's a Mackem and a Magpie in the office, and they both reckon Sunderland might have played worse today than when they were drubbed 5-1 at Newcastle in October. Crikey.

BBC Sport's Guy Mowbray at Sunderland: "Two midfield dogs of war - Barton and Nolan - have been instrumental for Newcastle, while not much has got past Coloccini."

1344: I'm surprised the crossbar didn't break, my word Nathan Delfouneso must have something against it. The Villa striker lets fly from 25 yards and it's a screamer of a hit, Ben Foster getting the slightest of touches as the ball thumps against the woodwork. Stunning.

1343: Sunderland are still really struggling, their passes in the final third are being easily cut by Newcastle, who are hanging on quite comfortably right now.

1341: A Villa corner is half-cleared, but when Barry Bannan tees up Marc Albrighton to cross, he's got team-mates queuing up at the back post. Richard Dunne gets there first and has a header nodded off the line by Liam Ridgewell, before James Collins boots the rebound wide. All from inside the Blues' six-yard box.

From Tiirshak on Twitter: "Been really impressed with Ferguson today. He never gets the credit he deserves."

1339: ... About two yards over the bar. Sighs.

1339: Free-kick to Birmingham, 22 yards out, left of centre. David Bentley territory...

Liverpool v Everton team news:
Marc Vesty reports: "For the 215th Merseyside derby, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish makes two changes to the side which lost to Blackpool in the week. Local boy Jay Spearing makes only his second league start for the Reds, while Maxi Rodriguez also comes in. Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic miss out. After beating Tottenham in their last league outing, Everton also make two changes with want-away midfielder Steven Pienaar and striker Louis Saha replaced by Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe."

1336: Matt Derbyshire and Craig Gardner are denied by fabulous blocks by Villa players - the first from Richard Dunne, the second from James Collins. It's a really, really good game now in the Midlands.

1334: My goodness, Villa are nearly in front. Gabby Agbonlahor's pace gets him away down the right and after his cross and Nathan Delfouneso's lay-off, Stewart Downing sees his well-struck left-foot shot superbly saved by Ben Foster. Birmingham respond by bringing Nikola Zigic on.

1332: Newcastle striker Leon Best turns Titus Bramble in the area and fires a low shot a foot wide as the Magpies go close to doubling their lead.

Villa goal: Inspired substitution? We're level at St Andrew's. Kyle Walker lays the ball back to Marc Albrighton on the right and his cross is touched on by Gabby Agbonlahor, with James Collins catching a right-foot shot sweet as you like, the ball taking a deflection off Liam Ridgewell on its way in, though it would have gone in anyway.

1331: GOAL Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa (Collins)

1330: Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez gives the Sunderland fans a heart-in-mouth moment, cutting into the box from the left and blasting a right-foot shot wide of the far post.

1329: Aston Villa make a double substitution, with Barry Bannan and Nathan Delfouneso on for John Carew and Nigel Reo-Coker. There's enough time in the game, that's for sure.

From Robo, in Hartlepool, on text: "The Mackems will be accusing us of playing 12 men if that magpie doesn't get off the pitch."

1326: Closest Sunderland have come to an equaliser, though that's not saying a great deal. A ball from the left finds its way outside the area to Ahmed Elmohamady, but he drags his shot wide and even a touch off Kieran Richardson cannot divert it on target.

1325: Barry Ferguson shows his class, playing a gorgeous ball over the top down the Birmingham right for Roger Johnson, but the big defender can only spoon his attempted cross into the crowd.

From kaufman39 on 606: "Sunderland must be the most frustratingly inconsistent team in the league this season. Some brilliant performances mixed with some woeful ones."

1322: Villa are stepping up their efforts to find a leveller and Marc Albrighton's fizzing cross from the left is fingertipped over the bar by Ben Foster. Soon after Stewart Downing cuts in from the right and his low shot forces a decent save from a diving Foster.

1320: Liverpool v Everton line-ups:
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Meireles, Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Maxi.
Subs: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Cole, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Shelvey.
Everton: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman, Beckford, Anichebe.
Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gueye, Rodwell, Baxter.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

1319: Sunderland are struggling to get it together on Wearside, they aren't testing the Newcastle defence often enough. Asamoah Gyan has been very quiet today and there's much for Steve Bruce to ponder on the touchline.

1317: Matt Derbyshire is released down the right of the Birmingham box and his right-foot shot forces a fine low save from Brad Friedel. Moments later Craig Gardner's left-foot volley from 15 yards flies wide. It's lively again.

1316: The magpie is back on the pitch at Sunderland. Now if that isn't pouring salt into an open wound...

1314: Villa almost level immediately after going behind. Ciaran Clark's cross deflects off Roger Johnson, but the ball bobbles narrowly wide of the far post.

Magpies goal: Game on in the Midlands, game on on Wearside. Joey Barton floats over a corner from the right, Shola Ameobi, in amongst a pile of bodies, gets his head on it and there, three yards out, is Kevin Nolan to backheel the ball into the Sunderland net.

1312: GOAL Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle (Nolan)

1310: Chance for Sunderland now. Phil Bardsley plays a pass forward to the inside left channel, where Darren Bent has got ahead of his marker, and with Steve Harper racing off his line, Bent lobs the keeper with the outside of his right foot, the ball landing about a yard wide of Harper's right-hand post.

From AdamRhysConnah on Twitter: "Can we count that as a goal from a free-kick? Loving being a neutral on a day like this."

Blues goal: Now we've got a game on our hands in the Midlands Clasico. David Bentley tees up Craig Gardner with a free-kick from 30 yards - he strikes it well but it's flying wide until David Murphy clips it into the mixer and from 12 yards Roger Johnson does superbly to direct a volley into the bottom right-hand corner of Brad Friedel's net.

1307: GOAL Birmingham 1-0 Aston Villa (Johnson)

1306: And they're up and running in the second half at the Stadium of Light as well, where it's Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle.

1305: Gabby Agbonlahor fires in a cross from the Villa left and John Carew gets there first, the Norwegian met at the near post by Liam Ridgewell, good defending from the Birmingham man.

1303: Gabby Agbonlahor and Stewart Downing get us back under way at St Andrew's, where it's Birmingham 0-0 Aston Villa.

From Ruairi, on text: "It's just not fair. I'm in the library writing a criminal law essay while my mate Mickey drinks merrily away in the Canterbury sunshine watching his beloved Sunderland. Up the Toon!"

1259: Either someone's kidnapped our usual audience, or you lot are awful quiet today. Hangover, is it? Look, I've just seen pictures of Kenny Dalglish walking into Anfield. He's the Liverpool manager, and his team are playing against Everton in a little over one of your Merseyside hours.

1256: If you can find the time, get stuck into this lot: Alan Hansen talks about the Merseyside derby; Sam Sheringham ponders whether Chelsea's title challenge is back up and running; Paul Fletcher wonders what on Earth has happened to Bristol City and Middlesbrough; and Alistair Magowan and Lee Dixon talk tactics ahead of Spurs v Man United. Top stuff.

From alexedwards07 on Twitter: "If we get 4 0-0's today, Stevo, you're sacked."

Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Derbies are usually scrappy and this one is no exception, although it hasn't been aided by the swirling wind. Both sides have had a good chance each, but the first half will be remembered for misplaced passes and biting tackles."

Birmingham 0-0 Aston Villa
Phil Dawkes reports: "A goalless, but thoroughly engrossing half of football at St Andrew's. Villa have struck the bar three times, while Birmingham have attacked the other end with gusto. Surely, there can't be another 45 score-free minutes like this?"

1247: Better from Sunderland as they put some pressure on the Newcastle defence, but Jordan Henderson's shot is blocked by Kevin Nolan.

1245: ... Joey Barton curls it about five yards over the bar. I officially give up. Into injury time at the Stadium of Light and St Andrew's now.

1244: Now here's a chance. Or it would be, if anyone in the Premier League could take free-kicks these days. Steed Malbranque fouls Shola Ameobi and Newcastle have a set-piece 20 yards out, right of centre...

1242: Better from Birmingham, and a shot to end the move with. Steven Carr's low cross from the right it met first-time by Alex Hleb, with his effort kicked away by a Villa defender. At Sunderland, Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi heads a Joey Barton corner over the crossbar.

1241: At the moment, the ball is just bouncing off John Carew at Birmingham - the Villa hitman cannot hold the ball up for love or money. Both games need a goal, to be fair to them.

From Ross, London, on text: "Yet more proof (if it were required) that Dave Bentley shouldn't play for London clubs. Fantastic so far - Blackburn have missed a trick here."

1237: David Murphy goes down inside the Aston Villa box under a challenge from Marc Albrighton and Mark Clattenburg gives a corner. Some of the Birmingham players were convinced that was a penalty.

1236: Alan Smith limps off with an injury at Sunderland and Danny Guthrie comes on in his place. Soon after, Joey Barton is booked, either for handball of back-chat, take your pick.

1234: Alex Hleb's English is probably pretty good, but he obviously hasn't learned the word 'shoot'. With most of St Andrew's and some of his team-mates egging him on, 18 yards out with a clear sight of goal, he passes sideways and Birmingham don't get an effort in.

1233: The wind is a factor at Birmingham too, where Villa are still going in hard on David Bentley when they get the chance. At Sunderland, a ball into the hosts' box sees Kevin Nolan go to ground, but the free-kick is given to the Black Cats by referee Howard Webb.

From notmyipod on Twitter: "Bentley always played well in derby games for Spurs, it was the other games he wasn't so good in."

1229: Not a great deal going on in the feisty atmosphere of the Stadium of Light at the moment. Ahmed Elmohamady is having some joy down the Sunderland right, but his low cross is well gathered in by Steve Harper. The wind, which almost knocked me off my bike this morning, is playing havoc.

1227: Just showing signs of slowing down a little in both games. Nothing more than a lull though, I'd have thought. Birmingham play it neatly from their right and pull the ball back to Keith Fahey 22 yards out, but his side-foot effort lacks power and it's an easy save for Brad Friedel.

From Timmythebluekangaroo on 606: "That Kyle Walker looks like a cracking player, Hleb looks so unfit he should be on a Sunday league pitch."

1222: The woodwork graphic's certainly earning its keep today. Ciaran Clark swings over a cross from the Aston Villa left... and he's over-hit it... and it cannons back off the Birmingham crossbar yet again! Goodness me.

1222: Seriously, how have we not had a goal? Craig Gardner crosses from the Birmingham left and if Matt Derbyshire gets a touch it's a goal - but the former Blackburn and Olympiakos man cannot quite do so.

1220: Villa look unplayable in the air, but John Carew is penalised for a foul on Roger Johnson after manhandling the defender out of the way and thumping another header against the Birmingham crossbar.

1219: And still no goal... Sunderland play a corner from the left short to Steed Malbranque and he hits a right-foot shot through a pile of bodies, Steve Harper getting down well to his right to push the ball away from danger.

Fraser from Birmingham, on text: "Birmingham need to do more than our usual boot the ball up the field and make the striker chase it; whoever our lone striker is."

From Will, London, on text: "Newcastle playing well and creating chances. Should have been ahead with Ameobi's chance. This can only mean one thing; defensive error coming up..."

1215: There's a nice amount of aggro bubbling under, especially in the north-east. Alan Smith grapples with Titus Bramble, the Newcastle midfielder leaving the incident with a beaming smile on his face.

1214: Cracking one-two at Birmingham, with Alex Hleb playing the fine return pass to Keith Fahey and the midfielder skewing his right-foot 22-yard shot off target. Cannot believe we haven't had a goal anywhere yet.

1212: Great chance for Newcastle and they nearly go ahead. A Joey Barton corner isn't cleared and Fabricio Coloccini fires it goalwards, with Kieran Richardson booting it off the Sunderland line.

1211: We've had claret in both derby games so far, probably to no-one's surprise. Birmingham's Craig Gardner is bleeding from a facial wound and needs some treatment, while Ahmed Elmohamady similarly required some early attention at Sunderland.

From Football_UK on 606: "Birmingham will improve in the second half of the season. Bentley was frustrated at Spurs, but he can shine again at Birmingham. He could improve their game, moving forward, massively."

1208: Drama. Kyle Walker sends over a fine cross from the Villa right and Gabby Agbonlahor heads it goalwards - John Carew gets a flick on it too and the ball bounces off the top of Ben Foster's crossbar and away to safety.

1207: It's chance o'clock. At Birmingham, Roger Johnson and then Richard Dunne head wide at either end, before, at Sunderland, Steed Malbranque's pass finds Darren Bent in the Newcastle box on the right and he cuts inside and shoots goalwards, Steve Harper making a fine save with his legs.

BBC Sport's Guy Mowbray at Sunderland: "It's a horrendous error by Titus Bramble and Shola Ameobi really should have done better. He's scored in his last four Tyne and Wear derbies and should have made it five."

1204: Fabulous pass from Joey Barton at Sunderland, the Newcastle midfield carving the home defence open with a ball through to Shola Ameobi, but the big striker, clean through, can only slot inches wide of Craig Gordon's left-hand post.

1203: Welcome to the Midlands, sunshine. Richard Dunne gets there a little late on Blues new boy David Bentley and takes him out completely, giving the ref no choice but to flash an early yellow card. From the free-kick, the ball falls for Craig Gardner 20 yards out, but he slams just over.

1202: What a start for Villa. John Carew holds the ball up neatly on the edge of the Birmingham box and tees up Stewart Downing, linked with a £10m move to Liverpool. The winger slams a low right-foot shot just wide.

1201: Madness. Ben Foster dallies and ends up giving the ball away, Gabby Agbonlahor nips in and drives into the Blues box, rifling a right-foot shot over the fortuitous keeper's crossbar. Villa nearly ahead in 30 seconds.

1200: It's high noon, which means we've kicked off in the Premier League in the Midlands Clasico between Birmingham and Aston Villa and the Tyne-Wear Clasico between Sunderland and Newcastle. Demolition Derby Day is very much under way, folks.

From olliescrim on Twitter: "Extremely nervous about Villa today. Don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this is in our top five biggest games this decade."

1156: The players are out at St Andrew's... and moments later they appear from the tunnel at the Stadium of Light. Good grief, I can hardly contain myself.

From Dave from Kent, on text: "I am on a train from London, one of only two Evertonians on a train full of Liverpool fans heading to the derby... And it is so quiet, I can smell the fear!!! 2-1 the Blues."

1151: It's all kicking off at the Stadium of Light right now. Sunderland mascot Samson the cat is currently chasing a... duh duh duh... MAGPIE around the pitch. The pesky little bird isn't going anywhere, though. Great drama.

From marcflannery on Twitter: "Make or break for Houllier with the fans. Win, we reclaim the city, jump the Blues and leave the relegation zone. If not..."

1146: If you get chance, check out our gossip column today. Will Spurs spend £30m on Andy Carroll? Do Bolton really want £20m for Gary Cahill? Has Steven Pienaar chosen Spurs over Chelsea? Are Liverpool keen on Stewart Downing and Mark van Bommel? Can Sunderland sign Michael Owen? And are the Qatari royal family really ready to make a £1.3bn offer for Manchester United?

1143: Lively stuff already - keep 'em coming. Birmingham v Aston Villa and Sunderland v Newcastle get under way in just over 15 minutes. Nervous? Good.

From John Kennedy on 606: "Three home wins and a scoring draw at the Lane? Stevo's predications are far too safe. I think he'd do a better job in picking numbers out from the sky."
Uh-oh, I've been rumbled...

Birmingham v Aston Villa team news:
Phil Dawkes reports: "On-loan Tottenham midfielder David Bentley makes his Birmingham debut in place of Sebastian Larsson, who is on the verge of a move to Newcastle. This is one of three changes, with David Murphy coming into their defence for the injured Scott Dann and Matt Derbyshire starting as lone striker in place of Cameron Jerome. Aston Villa make four changes to the side that beat Sheffield United 3-1 in the FA Cup. With winger Ashley Young suspended there is a slight change of tactic, with John Carew coming in to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack. Stewart Downing and Stiliyan Petrov come into midfield in place of Robert Pires and Barry Bannan, while James Collins takes Carlos Cuellar's place in defence."

Sunderland v Newcastle team news:
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Sunderland defender Nedum Onuoha returns to the starting XI after recovering from a hamstring injury. However, Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck fail to make the line-up. Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi has overcome an ankle problem to start alongside Leon Best in attack. Left-sided players Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez also return."

From caeathro1978 on Twitter: "Alex Ferguson is set to rest Howard Webb for today's trip to Spurs."
Please laugh. It's just a joke.
PS FA - Ryan Babel made me do it...

From Chris, Leeds, on text: "If there's one thing that'll stop me from doing my media law revision it's a line up like this. Curse you fixture computer why not next weekend! On the plus side, I'll happily point out any defamatory statements you make Stevo."
Haha. In which case we're both in for a busy day...

1130: Stevo's Demolition Derby and White-Hot White Hart Lane Day Predos:
Birmingham 2-1 Aston Villa
Sunderland 3-2 Newcastle
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United
Lawro and Simon Mayo's Premier League predictions

1127: Sunderland v Newcastle line-ups:
Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Richardson, Malbranque, Gyan, Bent.
Subs: Mignolet, Zenden, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros, Reid, Colback.
Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez, Best, Ameobi.
Subs: Krul, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Gosling, Ranger.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

1125: Birmingham v Aston Villa line-ups:
Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy, Bentley, Ferguson, Hleb, Gardner, Fahey, Derbyshire.
Subs: Taylor, Bowyer, Phillips, Zigic, Beausejour, Mutch, Jiranek.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Clark, Dunne, Collins, Walker, Albrighton, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Marshall, Pires, Delfouneso, Cuellar, Bannan, Hogg, Baker.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

From GraymeadYNWA on 606: "If Man United play like they have been since Christmas, then I think Spurs will win comfortably. That is a big if though."

Tottenham v Manchester United scene-setter:
Phil McNulty reports: "Harry Redknapp's bold claim that Tottenham can be serious title contenders faces its sternest test today when Manchester United visit White Hart Lane. Victory and the doubters may just start to share Redknapp's confidence in his talented and maturing squad. United, for all the accusations that they have not hit top form, remain unbeaten in the league, but this may also represent their closest examination. If Sir Alex Ferguson's side emerge unscathed, it will only increase the belief that a record 19th title is on the way to Old Trafford."

Liverpool v Everton scene-setter:
Marc Vesty reports: "If Kenny Dalglish had written a script prior to his return as Liverpool boss, it has quickly been binned in favour of improv. The Kop King heads into his Anfield return off the back of two defeats out of two and without suspended talisman Steven Gerrard. As if the game wasn't big enough for the struggling Reds, fixture fate throws up Everton, on the hunt for a first league double over their Merseyside rivals since 1984/85. With key midfielder Tim Cahill missing for the Blues, the two could not be more evenly matched. A quick glance at the league table confirms this.

Sunderland v Newcastle scene-setter:
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Sunderland fans have had this date in their diaries since Halloween 2010 when they witnessed their side suffer a 5-1 horror show at St James' Park. Some of that pain has been eased by the fact they are five points ahead of their north-east rivals while a win today could see them leapfrog Spurs into fifth spot. Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from their FA Cup humiliation at Stevenage - is there any better place for them to do that?"

Birmingham v Aston Villa scene-setter:
Phil Dawkes reports: "New Birmingham signing David Bentley has heard second-city derbies are "quite a passionate affair". Unless his cheek contained a significant amount of tongue, the on-loan Tottenham man could just have hit upon understatement of the season. His new club may have beaten Villa in the Carling Cup last month, but they've not recorded a league victory over their fierce local rivals in six years. Throw into the mix that this is your archetypal relegation six-pointer and St Andrews is clearly the only place to be today... I mean, it's not like there are any other big derbies or key title clashes going on."

1118: So, on Demolition Derby and White-Hot White Hart Lane Day (as it has been dubbed), here's what our awesome foursome of match report writers make of today's action...

From SuperJayEffect on Twitter: "I hope Alan Pardew is in Churchillian mode this morning... Up The Mags!! Also, RIP Nat Lofthouse."

From Nick, Surrey, on text: "Villa fan waiting nervously in the away end at St Andrews. Dare I say this a more important derby than it usually is? Heart says 2-1 Villa , head says 2-1 Blues. Come on Villa!"

1114: Before I go any further, a moment of your time, please. English football lost one of its greatest ever figures when Nat Lofthouse sadly passed away last night at the age of 85. If you, like me, used to drown in copious amounts of footballing trivia when you were younger, you'll have learned enough about The Lion of Vienna to know we've lost a true superstar of the game. An amazing 285 goals in more than 500 games for Bolton and 30 goals in 33 caps for England. Please pay your tributes here. RIP legend.

1111: There just isn't any time to waste today. Two titanic local tussles get under way in less than one of your Premier League hours, and I'm going to need some chat:
Heard of Twitter? Good. Hit me @Stevo_football;
Get launching those texts over on 81111;
The 606 page is waiting for your joy/woe/introspection.

1108: God bless you, Fixture Computer, and all those matches that sail out of you. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, a very warm welcome to each and every one of you to our coverage of the Premier League on Sunday, 16 January 2011. On paper, it looks like a bona fide classic.

1610 GMT: Tottenham v Manchester United

1405 GMT: Liverpool v Everton

1200 GMT: Sunderland v Newcastle

1200 GMT: Birmingham v Aston Villa

1105: I can hear the Fixture Computer spluttering into life. I imagine it looks a bit like Bertha, for those of you of a certain age. Hang on, what's this...

1100 Greenwich Mean Time, London:
Dear Fixture Computer,
On a shatteringly dreary Sunday in January in England, can you please find it in your motherboard to give us, the loyal football folk of Blighty, three deliciously drool-inducing derbies and a white-hot humdinger from White Hart Lane to finish?
Yours hopefully,
Stevo

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First one-day international, Melbourne:
Australia 297-4 (49.1 ovs) beat England 294 (49.4 ovs) by six wickets
Match scorecard

Watson's innings was one of the very best in ODI cricket

By Oliver Brett

Shane Watson hit a majestic century for Australia as they won the opening one-day international against England with five balls to spare in Melbourne.

Kevin Pietersen struck 78 in a total of 294 as England were bowled out with two balls of their innings remaining.

It was their highest total against Australia on their turf, but Watson got the hosts home on 161 not out from 150 balls, as they won by six wickets.

It was the highest successful run chase ever witnessed at the iconic MCG.

And, exactly 40 years after the first one-day international was played on the same ground, Watson appropriately produced the winning hit, smashing the first ball of the final over for six over long-on.

Australia were some way short of their best in the field, their bowlers sending down 12 wides, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin missed three stumpings.

But when it came to chasing down the runs, Haddin (39 in an opening stand of 110 with Watson) and Michael Clarke, who made a boundary-free 36 in another big stand worth 107, could afford to take a back seat as Watson coped with tiredness and cramp to smash 12 fours and four sixes under the floodlights.

It was a brilliant display of ball-striking by the big hitting Queenslander.

Pietersen's 78 from 75 balls was a welcome sight for England fans

Five of Watson's boundaries came in each of the first five overs as Australia got on top of the required run rate. It took a long time for England, whose attack lacked the rested James Anderson and injured Stuart Broad, to gain a foothold.

In the 20th over, Haddin attempted to launch Swann for six but could only give Ajmal Shahzad a simple catch at deep square-leg.

Watson, dropped by Jonathan Trott at mid-on off Chris Tremlett at 48, continued to play the aggressor when out-of-form captain Michael Clarke came to the crease.

Clarke was shockingly booed by his home supporters when playing out dot balls, but with the required run-rate approaching eight an over, Watson smashed Yardy for consecutive leg-side sixes en route to his highest ODI score to relieve the pressure.

Wickets eventually came England's way at the other end, Clarke and Steve Smith hitting catches into the off-side, before Mike Hussey became the third Australian to fall in the batting powerplay.

Just as England threatened to take the game to the wire, Trott dropped his second catch - Cameron White the man missed at deep square-leg.

Watson, whose innings was the fifth highest by an Australian in one-day internationals, brought up his 150 with his 12th four, reducing the equation to 17 runs needed from 20 balls.

And he continued to run England's fielders ragged, until Shahzad was lined up to bowl the final over with just four wanted for Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the series. By then, the result was inevitable, though Watson was able to finish it off in emphatic style.

If there was one crumb of comfort for England to take to the second match of seven in Hobart on Friday, it was the innings of Pietersen produced in registering his first half-century in international 50-over cricket since 2008.

Australia celebrate as Michael Yardy is dismissed in the 40th over

Having been dropped for the summer series against Pakistan to rediscover a bit of form at domestic level, he was unsurprisingly named in England's side after the tourists had won the toss.

What did come as something of a shock, however, was the exclusion of Paul Collingwood, despite the poor batting form of England's Twenty20 captain.

Collingwood's vast experience, plus his expertise in bowling and fielding was overlooked in favour of a straightforward six batsmen, five bowler policy - Trott and Ian Bell both appearing in the middle order either side of Pietersen at four.

Andrew Strauss hit 63 in a bright stand of 90 from 12 overs with fellow left-hander Steve Davies (42) for the first wicket.

Davies played some lovely shots, but had plenty of luck as Australia produced a sloppy fielding performance, in which Haddin was the worst offender.

The home team's wicketkeeper, who was unhappy to have been overlooked in favour of Tim Paine for the Twenty20 matches, had ample time to complete any one of the three stumpings he was presented with.

Haddin's most serious error came with England on 186-5 and Pietersen on 37. David Hussey, who had surprisingly removed both Davies and Trott (6), was the unfortunate bowler - all the more so as Pietersen decided to make Australia pay immediately.

In the same over he should have been stumped, Pietersen advanced down the track to launch consecutive straight sixes off Hussey, and England seemed to be set fair for a score in excess of 300.

That was despite Bell (23) having played a loose cover-drive to be caught off the leg-spin of Smith, and Eoin Morgan (8) also hitting a catch into the infield off Smith.

606: DEBATE

Well played Watson. Rode his luck against an England bowling attack that was indisciplined and missing Jimmy Anderson

jonnyb192

With 11 overs to go England were 232-5, but Australia finally woke from their slumber. Yardy pulled Doug Bollinger to deep square-leg, and Pietersen was run out by Mitchell Johnson's kick on to the stumps in the first over of the batting power-play.

That dismissal instantly put a score of 300-plus out of range, though Tim Bresnan (28 from 27 balls) did his bit, while Shahzad and Tremlett each hit a six.

Later, all three would be put to the sword by Watson, whose innings was later described by Strauss as "one of the great one-day innings."

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Liverpool   2 - 2   Everton

Kuyt levelled for Liverpool from the penalty spot in the second half

By Marc Vesty

Dirk Kuyt's penalty earned Liverpool a draw in the Merseyside derby with Everton, leaving both sides only four points above the relegation zone.

Raul Meireles opened the scoring with an 18-yard drive after Tim Howard made a double save from Kuyt.

The visitors equalised when Sylvain Distin headed in at the back post before Jermaine Beckford lashed them ahead from close range minutes later.

But when Howard tripped Maxi Rodriguez in the box, Kuyt fired in to level.

With Kenny Dalglish returning to the Anfield dug-out as Liverpool manager for the first time in 20 years, there was an air of expectation ahead of the derby clash, heightened by a rousing rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone before kick-off.

However, having replaced Roy Hodgson, Dalglish's return has not exactly gone according to plan so far, with an FA Cup defeat by Manchester United and a humbling at the hands of Blackpool in the week.

606: DEBATE

Liverpool didn't pass the ball as well in the second half as they did in the first and there wasn't the same intensity either

Psychopath

Everton, meanwhile, have struggled at Anfield in the past, winning only twice in 18 Premier League visits. But the Toffees' form of late suggested this could change, having beaten Manchester City and Tottenham in their last six games.

Without local boys Steven Gerrard (suspended) and Jamie Carragher (injured) for the 215th Merseyside derby, Dalglish sprung a surprise by including Wirral-born Jay Spearing for his second league start in a Liverpool shirt.

And the 22-year-old injected energy into Liverpool, playing in a combative central midfield trio along with Leiva Lucas and Meireles, which allowed the latter to maraud forward and assist Fernando Torres.

Torres, making his 100th league appearance for Liverpool, almost gave the home side a dream start but he fired his angled drive into the arms of Howard after only nine seconds.

The Spaniard was evidently in the mood and after 16 minutes only the width of the post stopped him opening the scoring following a fine solo effort where he rolled Distin, burst into the area and cut onto his left foot but his curling effort struck the post and Kuyt blazed the rebound over the bar.

With little between the two sides, Liverpool took the lead after 28 minutes when Glen Johnson's cross from the left was headed goalwards by Kuyt.

The Dutchman's header was saved low by Howard, who followed that by blocking Kuyt's follow-up shot with his legs but he could do little as Meireles smashed his first goal for Liverpool from 18 yards out.

Seconds later, with Everton reeling, Torres almost doubled the lead when he lashed an effort goalbound but Howard again palmed away and Maxi headed his follow-up over the bar.

However, it only took Everton 43 seconds of the second half to equalise when Mikel Arteta's corner was met by Distin at the back post and the Frenchman out-jumped Martin Skrtel to power his header past Pepe Reina.

Dalglish had talked about Liverpool lacking belief prior to the game and that fragile confidence was again on show as Everton's equaliser immediately knocked the stuffing out of the Reds.

After 51 minutes the turnaround was complete when Leon Osman latched onto Victor Anichebe's flick on and slipped his pass through to Beckford, who was goal-side of Meireles and did not hesitate as he slammed his close-range effort past Reina.

With 20 minutes to play and his side in control, David Moyes might have been forgiven for entertaining the idea of presiding over a first win at Anfield but the derby was to throw up another twist.

Howard, the hero having already made several key saves, turned villain when he clipped the legs of Maxi as he touched the ball away from goal and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Kuyt showed his composure to step up and drive his penalty into the right corner and set up a tense finale as both sides threw men forward.

Despite plenty of endeavour, quality and clear-cut chances were in short supply and the two sides, inseparable in terms of league points, ended the game with a point each, which does little to allay fears of being dragged into a relegation tussle.

Live text and stats

Sunday, 16 January 2011

Barclays Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time

Liverpool 2-2 Everton FT

(HT 1-0)

- Meireles 29

- Kuyt (pen) 68

- Distin 46

- Beckford 52

Liverpool

- 25 Reina yellow card

- 02 G Johnson

- 05 Agger (Kyrgiakos 46)

- 34 Kelly

- 37 Skrtel

- 04 Meireles (Shelvey 80)

- 17 Maxi

- 21 Lucas

- 26 Spearing

- 09 Torres yellow card

- 18 Kuyt yellow card

Substitutes

- 42 Gulacsi,

- 06 Aurelio,

- 16 Kyrgiakos,

- 10 Cole,

- 33 Shelvey,

- 12 Pacheco,

- 19 Babel

Everton

- 24 Howard

- 03 Baines

- 05 Heitinga

- 15 Distin

- 18 Neville

- 23 Coleman

- 10 Arteta

- 21 Osman (Rodwell 77)

- 25 Fellaini

- 16 Beckford (Vaughan 73)

- 28 Anichebe (Bilyaletdinov 81)

Substitutes

- 01 Mucha,

- 02 Hibbert,

- 07 Bilyaletdinov,

- 26 Rodwell,

- 14 Vaughan,

- 19 Magaye Gueye,

- 37 Baxter

Ref: DowdAtt: 44,795

LIVERPOOL

EVERTON

Possession

- Liverpool 51%

- Everton 49%

Attempts on target

- Liverpool 14

- Everton 5

Attempts off target

- Liverpool 5

- Everton 5

Corners

- Liverpool 10

- Everton 6

Fouls

- Liverpool 16

- Everton 17

- Final Result

- Full Time

- 90:00+4:22 The referee ends the match.

- 90:00+2:55 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov challenges Martin Kelly unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 90:00+2:15 James Vaughan concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Skrtel. Free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 90:00+1:26 Seamus Coleman sends in a cross, clearance made by Leiva Lucas.

- 90:00+0:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dirk Kuyt on Marouane Fellaini. Sylvain Distin takes the direct free kick.

- 88:52 Foul by Dirk Kuyt on Seamus Coleman, free kick awarded. Johnny Heitinga crosses the ball in from the free kick, Sotirios Kyrgiakos fouled by Marouane Fellaini, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 88:52 Booking The referee books Dirk Kuyt for unsporting behaviour.

- 88:25 Seamus Coleman has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.

- 87:51 Corner taken by Marouane Fellaini, Jose Reina makes a save.

- 85:21 Pass corner from left by-line crossed in by Jonjo Shelvey, clearance made by Phil Neville.

- 85:10 A cross is delivered by Jonjo Shelvey, clearance by Phil Neville.

- 83:30 The assistant referee signals for offside against Rodriguez Maxi. Indirect free kick taken by Tim Howard.

- 81:38 Jonjo Shelvey delivers the ball, clearance by Leighton Baines.

- 80:48 The offside flag is raised against Dirk Kuyt. Tim Howard restarts play with the free kick.

- 80:48 Substitution Diniyar Bilyaletdinov replaces Victor Anichebe.

- 79:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Martin Skrtel by Marouane Fellaini. Free kick taken by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

- 79:59 Substitution Raul Meireles leaves the field to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey.

- 77:50 Martin Kelly produces a cross, Sylvain Distin manages to make a clearance.

- 76:55 Substitution (Everton) makes a substitution, with Jack Rodwell coming on for Leon Osman.

- 76:44 Shot from deep inside the area by Fernando Torres goes over the bar.

- 74:20 Unfair challenge on Sotirios Kyrgiakos by James Vaughan results in a free kick. Jose Reina takes the free kick.

- 72:39 Substitution James Vaughan replaces Jermaine Beckford.

- 72:27 A cross is delivered by Glen Johnson.

- 71:44 Outswinging corner taken by Raul Meireles from the right by-line, Fernando Torres takes a shot. Blocked by Johnny Heitinga.

- 70:45 The ball is sent over by Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres takes a shot. Comfortable save by Tim Howard.

- 68:31 Rodriguez Maxi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Seamus Coleman. Centre by Leighton Baines, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Victor Anichebe misses to the left of the goal.

- 67:41 Penalty awarded for a foul by Tim Howard on Rodriguez Maxi. Assist on the goal came from Rodriguez Maxi.

- 67:41 GOAL - Dirk Kuyt:Liverpool 2 - 2 Everton Dirk Kuyt scores a penalty. Liverpool 2-2 Everton.

- 65:55 Leon Osman concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Kelly. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Raul Meireles, clearance made by Phil Neville.

- 64:47 Leiva Lucas challenges Victor Anichebe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sylvain Distin restarts play with the free kick.

- 63:34 Foul by Jermaine Beckford on Martin Skrtel, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 62:15 Foul by Fernando Torres on Phil Neville, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tim Howard.

- 62:15 Booking Fernando Torres is shown a yellow card.

- 61:44 Victor Anichebe takes a shot. Save by Jose Reina.

- 60:58 Leighton Baines produces a cross, Martin Skrtel manages to make a clearance.

- 60:26 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Tim Howard makes a comfortable save.

- 60:17 Raul Meireles produces a cross, Victor Anichebe manages to make a clearance.

- 60:00 Corner taken right-footed by Raul Meireles to the near post, clearance by Phil Neville.

- 59:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sotirios Kyrgiakos by Jermaine Beckford. Jose Reina takes the direct free kick.

- 59:10 The ball is delivered by Victor Anichebe, Rodriguez Maxi makes a clearance.

- 58:53 The ball is sent over by Marouane Fellaini, Sotirios Kyrgiakos manages to make a clearance.

- 58:06 Raul Meireles decides to take a short corner. The ball is swung over by Glen Johnson, Leon Osman makes a clearance.

- 54:59 Shot by Raul Meireles. Tim Howard makes a comfortable save.

- 53:28 The assistant referee signals for offside against Fernando Torres. Indirect free kick taken by Tim Howard.

- 52:29 Booking Jose Reina is cautioned.

- 51:32 Leon Osman provided the assist for the goal.

- 51:32 GOAL - Jermaine Beckford:Liverpool 1 - 2 Everton Jermaine Beckford finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-2 Everton.

- 51:01 Dirk Kuyt concedes a free kick for a foul on Leighton Baines. Direct free kick taken by Tim Howard.

- 50:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Marouane Fellaini on Fernando Torres. Martin Skrtel restarts play with the free kick.

- 49:52 Marouane Fellaini delivers the ball, Glen Johnson makes a clearance.

- 48:57 Marouane Fellaini challenges Leiva Lucas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 48:21 Fernando Torres challenges Mikel Arteta unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

- 46:50 Leiva Lucas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marouane Fellaini. Sylvain Distin takes the direct free kick.

- 45:38 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Mikel Arteta, assist on the goal came from Mikel Arteta.

- 45:38 GOAL - Sylvain Distin:Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton Sylvain Distin scores a goal from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-1 Everton.

- 45:01 The second half kicks off.

- 45:01 Substitution Sotirios Kyrgiakos joins the action as a substitute, replacing Daniel Agger.

- Half Time

- 45:00+1:07 The ref blows to signal half-time.

- 45:00+0:29 Corner taken short by Leiva Lucas.

- 45:00+0:22 The ball is sent over by Fernando Torres, clearance made by Seamus Coleman.

- 45:00+0:01 Victor Anichebe takes a shot. Jose Reina makes a comfortable save.

- 44:48 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Save made by Tim Howard.

- 44:21 Centre by Jay Spearing, Johnny Heitinga manages to make a clearance.

- 44:05 The ball is delivered by Phil Neville, clearance by Martin Skrtel.

- 41:30 Raul Meireles takes a shot. Tim Howard makes a save.

- 40:58 Centre by Jermaine Beckford, Daniel Agger manages to make a clearance.

- 40:08 Corner taken by Raul Meireles from the right by-line, Sylvain Distin manages to make a clearance.

- 40:01 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Blocked by Marouane Fellaini.

- 39:22 Raul Meireles crosses the ball, Seamus Coleman makes a clearance. Raul Meireles delivers the ball, clearance by Sylvain Distin.

- 38:52 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Raul Meireles played to the near post, clearance made by Leon Osman.

- 38:42 A cross is delivered by Glen Johnson, Johnny Heitinga manages to make a clearance.

- 37:41 Fernando Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Johnny Heitinga. Tim Howard takes the direct free kick.

- 36:56 Victor Anichebe challenges Leiva Lucas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Raul Meireles, clearance by Marouane Fellaini.

- 36:19 Jay Spearing sends in a cross, Marouane Fellaini makes a clearance.

- 35:39 Corner taken by Leighton Baines, clearance by Dirk Kuyt.

- 35:33 The ball is delivered by Leighton Baines, clearance by Raul Meireles.

- 33:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Martin Skrtel on Jermaine Beckford. Mikel Arteta crosses the ball in from the free kick.

- 30:26 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Save made by Tim Howard. Shot by Rodriguez Maxi from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

- 28:33 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Save made by Tim Howard.

- 28:24 The assist for the goal came from Dirk Kuyt.

- 28:24 GOAL - Raul Meireles:Liverpool 1 - 0 Everton Raul Meireles scores a goal from just outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-0 Everton.

- 28:19 Glen Johnson delivers the ball, Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Save by Tim Howard.

- 27:11 Inswinging corner taken by Leighton Baines from the right by-line, save made by Jose Reina.

- 27:05 The ball is swung over by Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson makes a clearance.

- 25:51 Raul Meireles gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mikel Arteta. Sylvain Distin restarts play with the free kick.

- 24:51 Leon Osman is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Martin Skrtel.

- 24:37 Marouane Fellaini takes a shot. Save made by Jose Reina.

- 24:08 Foul by Raul Meireles on Mikel Arteta, free kick awarded. Johnny Heitinga takes the direct free kick.

- 23:20 Seamus Coleman challenges Glen Johnson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.

- 23:02 Leiva Lucas is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

- 21:54 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Raul Meireles from the left by-line to the near post, Close range headed effort by Daniel Agger misses to the right of the target.

- 21:47 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Blocked by Marouane Fellaini.

- 20:40 Corner taken right-footed by Mikel Arteta to the near post, clearance by Fernando Torres.

- 20:01 Leiva Lucas challenges Seamus Coleman unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Johnny Heitinga, Martin Kelly manages to make a clearance.

- 19:30 Johnny Heitinga gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Torres. Free kick taken by Glen Johnson.

- 18:21 Daniel Agger challenges Leon Osman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Johnny Heitinga restarts play with the free kick.

- 17:57 Raul Meireles sends in a cross, save by Tim Howard.

- 16:41 Corner taken by Raul Meireles, Marouane Fellaini manages to make a clearance.

- 16:36 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Phil Neville gets a block in.

- 16:31 Fernando Torres has an effort at goal from deep inside the box hitting the post.

- 14:32 Unfair challenge on Fernando Torres by Phil Neville results in a free kick. Daniel Agger restarts play with the free kick.

- 12:39 Corner taken by Mikel Arteta, clearance made by Leiva Lucas. Leon Osman takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

- 12:23 Leon Osman crosses the ball, Glen Johnson manages to make a clearance.

- 10:59 Shot from just outside the box by Fernando Torres goes over the bar.

- 10:38 Corner taken short by Raul Meireles. Jay Spearing sends in a cross, Leon Osman makes a clearance.

- 10:29 Martin Kelly sends in a cross, clearance made by Sylvain Distin.

- 9:12 Sylvain Distin fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tim Howard.

- 8:43 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Agger by Victor Anichebe. Jose Reina takes the direct free kick.

- 7:15 The official flags Fernando Torres offside. Tim Howard takes the free kick.

- 5:35 Unfair challenge on Jermaine Beckford by Glen Johnson results in a free kick. Johnny Heitinga takes the direct free kick.

- 5:06 Centre by Raul Meireles, clearance by Sylvain Distin.

- 3:23 Jermaine Beckford takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

- 2:15 The offside flag is raised against Dirk Kuyt. Indirect free kick taken by Sylvain Distin.

- 1:53 Shot from outside the penalty box by Seamus Coleman goes wide right of the goal.

- 0:54 Sylvain Distin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Torres. Free kick taken by Martin Skrtel.

- 0:13 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Tim Howard makes a comfortable save.

- 0:00 The match has kicked off.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:29

Ex-undercover Pc Mark Kennedy 'living in fear'

Mark Kennedy says he left the police force in 2009

Ex-undercover officer Pc Mark Kennedy has said his "world has been destroyed" after his covert work was exposed.

The case against six green activists accused of conspiring to shut down a power station collapsed after he said he would testify for the defence.

Mr Kennedy told the Mail on Sunday his secret work had "jeopardised" his life.

And he claimed he was now being made a scapegoat for the failure of the trial when, in fact, "a lot of mistakes" were made in the operation's handling.

The former Pc led a double life, serving as a Metropolitan Police officer while posing as an activist known as Mark "Flash" Stone, involved in the green movement since 2000.

On Monday, the trial of six men allegedly involved in a protest at Nottingham's Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in 2009 was stopped after their defence team asked prosecutors to disclose full details of the officer's activities.

This reportedly prompted the Crown Prosecution Service to drop their case, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is now examining whether Nottinghamshire Police properly disclosed all relevant material in advance of the trial date.

Mr Kennedy told the Mail on Sunday he believed tape recordings secretly made by him were withheld for fear they would destroy the prosecution's case.

Sexual relationships

The former Pc was involved in a number of protests during his time undercover, including at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire - where he claims he was hit by some of his fellow officers.

He also picketed arms fairs in London and the construction of the Karahnjukar Dam in Iceland.

He said he was particularly useful because he owned a van and could drive people to demonstrations, and was also a skilled climber who could scale buildings.

Mr Kennedy admitted having two sexual relationships with female activists and said it was "a wrong thing to do".

"The circumstances I was involved in led to that to happen and I can assure you that I am not the only person who has been involved in sexual relationships as an undercover officer."

But he denied "going native" despite getting very close to his targets.

"As the years went on, I did get a sort of Stockholm Syndrome [where kidnap victims come to love their captors], but I never lost sight of my work. I texted and informed on a daily basis."

Mr Kennedy was unmasked in September by some of the activists and subsequently told them he had been a police officer, but had left in 2009.

He said he had recently fled abroad and had sought help from a psychiatrist after having suicidal thoughts.

"My world has been destroyed. I don't have any friends - they were all in the activist movement.

"I can't sleep. I have lost weight and am constantly on edge.

"I barricade the door with chairs at night. I am in genuine fear for my life. I have been told that my former bosses from the force are out here in America looking for me. I have been told by activists to watch my back as people are out to get me."

"Grey and murky"

Mr Kennedy criticised police procedures for dealing with him.

"There have been a lot of mistakes made, a lot of operational decisions have been wrong... and I think I am being made a scapegoat."

He described the "world of undercover policing" as "grey and murky" and said there was "some bad stuff going on" within it.

"The extraction policies for taking an undercover officer out of the activist scene after their deployment has finished is appalling. I had no confidence at all that my safety was ever going to be regarded."

He added: "I want to tell my story and tell how there is a huge mismanagement of staff for the sake of gathering intelligence.

"It has jeopardised my life and it could jeopardise the lives of other officers."

But Peter Bleksley, who was a founder member of Scotland Yard's undercover unit, said all those taking part in such work had chosen to do so.

"Nobody can put your arm up your back and force you into going undercover," he told the BBC.

"So consequently, as a volunteer, that means you've got the ultimate power of veto. If you're not happy with how an operation's being run, if you're not happy with what you're being asked to do, it's very simple, you just say, 'Nope, I'm not doing it.'"

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:40

Chief medical officer urges swine flu virus calm

The Public Health Agency has urged people to take sensible precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus

The NI chief medical officer has sought to reassure parents of healthy children that there is no need for alarm over the swine flu outbreak.

Dr Michael McBride was speaking after two children, who had been suffering from the H1N1 virus, died.

The death of a 10-month-old baby boy, who had an underlying health condition, was announced just hours after it was revealed a two-year-old boy had died.

It is not known if the two-year-old had any other health issues.

Active review

Nineteen people have now died in NI after suffering from the virus.

Two of those have now been confirmed to have had no underlying condition.

Vaccines against the virus are currently only available to people in certain at risk groups.

Dr McBride passed on his sympathies to the families of those who died.

He added that anyone in an at risk group who has not been vaccinated should take the opportunity as soon as possible.

"We continue to offer vaccinations to any child under five in an at risk group as advised by the joint committee.

"The question has been posed if we should extend to healthy under-5s.

"I know the JCVI is keeping this under close and active review and we will continue to be guided by their expert advice."

BBC NI health correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly, said no reason had been provided about why the two-year-old child was being treated in Northern Ireland.

"One explanation is that if the child lived in a border area close to Newry or Londonderry, for example, there may have been more intensive care beds available here," she said.

"The republic is coming under increasing pressure as the number of swine flu cases there doubled last week, while those admitted to intensive care units also increased."

Anxiety heightened

The health minister, Michael McGimpsey, said he understood the news might heighten public anxiety particularly among parents of young children.

He added: "I have recently spoken to other UK health ministers about Northern Ireland's current flu picture. I have also spoken to Mary Harney, the Republic of Ireland's health minister.

"In addition, I have consulted with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about the particular circumstances here.

"They do not recommend extending the vaccination programme beyond the current at risk groups."

During the pandemic last year, 19 people died from the H1N1 virus, all but one of whom had an underlying condition.

The authorities were unable to establish whether the other victim, a pregnant woman, had an unknown underlying health problem which may have contributed to her death.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:00

Miliband 'appalled' by Royal Wedding strikes threat

The Labour leader Ed Miliband has told Andrew Marr he doesn't like the idea of a coordinated strike

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he is "appalled" by the idea of trade unions planning strikes to disrupt Royal Wedding celebrations.

He told the BBC such a plan of action would be "absolutely the wrong thing to do" and a "sign of failure".

There have been reports of transport and public sector strikes on 29 April, but unions have played down the idea in recent days.

David Cameron has suggested changing the law to make it harder to strike.

London Underground drivers in the Aslef union had been considering walking out on the day of Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, but the threat has been removed as talks with Transport for London officials take place.

'Heroic failures'

British Airways cabin crew have also talked of striking on the same day and over the Easter period. But, last week, Len McCluskey, the general secretary-elect of the Unite union, said there was "no likelihood" of such action.

There are, however, suggestions that public sector workers may protest on the day against the effects of government cuts, including pay freezes and job losses.

Mr Miliband told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I'm appalled by the idea that there are going to be strikes to disrupt the Royal Wedding. That's absolutely the wrong thing for the trade unions to do.

"I would totally condemn that and similarly in relation to the Olympics...

"Strikes are a last resort and a sign of failure on both sides... They are not the way you change a government. The way you change a government is through the ballot box."

He added: "What we are not going to do under my leadership is go back to the heroic failures of the 1980s."

The prime minister has suggested he could look at the law on industrial action, amid calls for strike ballots to be unlawful if under half of a union's membership takes part.

In his BBC interview, Mr Miliband said he had been talking to Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes about the coalition's scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for teenagers in England.

He added that he hope disaffected Lib Dems would "join" Labour in opposing the change, as the EMA had "created educational opportunity in this country".

Mr Hughes told Sky News he had held talks with Mr Miliband "at my instigation", but added that, in his job as "access advocate" for the prime minister, it was important to speak to all parties.

He said he wanted to find "common ground" on the EMA.

MPs are set to vote on Wednesday on a Labour motion calling for the allowance to be retained.

On other matters, Mr Miliband said Labour had got "a job to do to win back economic credibility" following the financial crisis.

But he insisted that the annual state borrowing of 2% of national income prior to the crisis had been "manageable". It was only the reduction in tax revenue caused by the banking crash which had driven the deficit up beyond 10% and made it a problem, he added.

Mr Miliband also admitted that Gordon Brown had been wrong to claim the Labour government had ended the economic cycle of rapid growth and recession, saying: "Clearly, we should not have said there would be no boom and bust. That was clearly a mistake."

However, Conservative deputy chairman Michael Fallon said: "Ed Miliband is treating people like fools. Labour's reckless overspending left Britain with the largest structural deficit in the G7 when the financial crisis hit.

"Ed Miliband still won't admit Labour maxed out the nation's credit card. In fact he says he'd do it all again. How can anyone trust Labour with the economy when its leader is still in denial about his party's mistakes?"

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:14

Tories avoided nastiness in Oldham , says Eric Pickles

Eric Pickles said his party had wanted to avoid the "nastiness" shown by Labour last year

The Conservatives fought a "gentle" campaign for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.

The Tories came third behind Labour and the Lib Dems, with some critics saying they had not tried hard enough to win.

But Mr Pickles said his party had wanted to avoid the "nastiness" shown by Labour at the general election.

The by-election was called after sitting Labour MP Phil Woolas was removed for lying about an opponent.

Lib Dem Elwyn Watkins lost by just 103 votes at last May's general election.

'We were trying'

He complained about the actions of Mr Woolas, the former immigration minister, towards him, which prompted a court to invalidate the result, leading to the by-election.

But, in last Thursday's vote, Labour took the seat with an increased majority of 3,558, with its candidate Debbie Abrahams beating Mr Watkins by 14,718 to 11,160.

Conservative Kashif Ali was third with 4,481 votes, as support for the party fell away. Some commentators complained that the Tories had held back in order to give the Lib Dems - their partners in the coalition government - a better chance of defeating Labour.

But Mr Pickles told Sky News: "We were third [at the general election in the constituency] and we came third again. But by and large it's very unusual for a governing party to win a by-election at a time of austerity."

He added: "We started third and of course we fought a very gentle campaign because that particular campaign was about the nastiness of previous Labour leaflets.

"The Liberals did, I think, pretty good. They increased their poll position. But it would have been a disaster for the Labour Party had they lost."

Asked whether the Conservatives had mounted a serious campaign, Mr Pickles, a former party chairman, said "Of course we were trying. We had the prime minister up there, first prime minister to, I think, canvass in a by-election for years."

He insisted that, at the next general election, he would be urging people to vote Conservatives, even in seats where the contest was primarily between Labour and the Lib Dems.

Mr Pickles said: "I think that when that occurs in 2015 you will have two political parties defending a government, a coalition's record.

"But we are two distinct political parties and I certainly will be urging everyone at that election to vote Conservative."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:04

Police chief wants DNA database of prostitute clients

Peter Sutcliffe was jailed for a life after murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others

A chief superintendent at West Yorkshire Police has called for a DNA database of men who use prostitutes.

Ch Supt Alison Rose, who works in Bradford South, said if DNA was taken men might "think again" about committing crimes against women.

The police force was involved in investigations into Peter Sutcliffe and Stephen Griffiths.

But Guy Herbert from the No2ID campaign said DNA samples could lead to false accusations.

'Police diversion'

Supt Rose said: "I think there's a real gap in the law around taking DNA from men that use women for sex.

"If you know that in paying a woman for sex, your DNA was going to be taken you might think again."

Stephen Griffiths admitted murdering three women in Bradford

But Guy Herbert, from the No2ID campaign, said: "By the very nature of the work that they do, prostitutes are going to end up with traces of all sorts of DNA so this just creating a route for information to be collected which leads to accusations.

"This is a diversion of police resources from doing something sensible about the real problem."

West Yorkshire Police were involved in the investigations surrounding Sutcliffe who was sentenced to 20 life sentences in 1981 for murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven. On Friday he lost an appeal over a ruling that he should never be released.

They were also involved in the case against Stephen Griffiths who admitted murdering three women in Bradford and was sentenced to life in prison last year.

Sali Harwood, from Sheffield Working Women's Opportunities Project, supports the call for a DNA database.

"If there was anything dodgy about those men and things had happened in the future, or things had happened in the past, it would probably be quicker for the police to track them down," she said.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:33

Clare Short 'interested in becoming Birmingham mayor'

Clare Short resigned from Tony Blair's cabinet following the invasion of Iraq

Former Labour minister Clare Short has told the BBC she is interested in becoming Birmingham's first directly elected mayor.

But the former Birmingham Ladywood MP said it would not be "a happy job" if the mayor was required to implement swingeing cuts imposed by "a slash and burn government".

A referendum on creating an elected mayor will be held in the city in 2012.

Ms Short also said Ed Miliband had been "the best option" for Labour leader.

If Birmingham votes in favour of an elected mayor in May 2012, elections for the post would be held in May 2013 and successful candidates would serve four-year terms.

Ms Short was asked in an interview with BBC WM whether she would like to run for the post.

She said: "I am interested possibly, but, of course, one of the problems might be that if we get a slash and burn government cutting everything all over the place, and then we get an elected mayor who's got to implement the cuts, that wouldn't be a happy job."

'Bruising'

The former international development secretary also told the BBC she thought Mr Miliband' was a "good young man".

"I think Ed Miliband was the best option for leader.

"The fact that he apologised over Iraq, said we should do more about the siege of Gaza, too much loss of civil liberties, too much bureaucracy in public sector reform... All of these are good things, but it's early days.

"He's a young man, we will see."

Ms Short quit Tony Blair's cabinet two months after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, in protest at planning for the war's aftermath.

She subsequently resigned from the Labour Party, becoming an independent MP.

"For me, the Labour Party is almost like my second church... and the bruising and dishonesty of Iraq still keep me away from it," she added.

Ken Livingstone became London's first directly elected mayor in 2000 and was succeeded by Boris Johnson in 2008.

As well as Birmingham, Coventry, Bradford, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield will all be able to hold referendums on mayors in 2012.

David Cameron said last week that directly elected mayors "with clout and passion to make change happen" would help regional cities compete more successfully with London.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:30

Salmond notes female influence on Desert Island Discs

Alex Salmond described his mother Mary as an incredible woman

First Minister Alex Salmond has spoken of the influence of women in his life on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

The politician told presenter Kirsty Young how his mother surreptitiously ensured her son did not leave school and work in the local brickworks.

The 56-year-old also paid tribute to his wife Moira, with whom he has been married for 30 years this year.

He also talked of his time as a boy soprano and described how he missed out on a tour because his voice had broken.

Mr Salmond, who has been Scottish First Minister since the SNP won power in Holyrood in 2007, picked Robert Burns' Ae Fond Kiss as the first of eight tracks that would join him on a desert island.

He said his singing coach was a Burns fanatic, and had introduced his young student to the Scots bard.

"I had a good voice, and could sing four octaves," he said.

The soprano had just turned 13 when the opportunity arose to go on tour in Australia, but fears over his voice breaking scuppered the trip.

"Instead of finding a soaring soprano they had a half-broken tenor so I never got to go," he said.

However, he said the confidence he gained by performing in front of an audience stood him in good stead for his political career.

"If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you're 10 or 11, then speaking in the Westminster parliament is nothing, being a Scottish first minister is nothing in comparison to that."

Salmond spoke of the influence of his mother Mary on his path in life.

"I'd this notion when I was 15 that I wanted to go and work in Steins brickworks and earn some money like so many of my pals were doing," he said.

"So I announced this to my startled parents and my mum never said anything.

"My uncle was a foreman there, I wasn't looking for any great preference but I got the dirtiest, smelliest, most ridiculous back-breaking job in the entire brickworks.

"After about three or four weeks I was really in a bad way and I said to my mum I've had a think about things and after the holidays I'm going back to school after all. She said that's fine.

Alex Salmond and wife Moira have been married for 30 years

"Of course it was years later I finally found out she'd told my uncle, you make absolutely sure that he doesn't want to stay at the brickworks. That's why I'd got the worst jobs."

He described his mother, who died seven years ago, as "an incredible woman".

"When you lose your mother, nothing in life ever prepares you for that," he said.

The first minister also spoke about his wife Moira, who has stayed behind the scenes for the duration of the couple's 30-year marriage.

He said the role of political spouses was the "most thankless task in the world".

"They have all the down sides," he said.

"Moira and I have been married for 30 years, she has done it with such grace, patience and helpful - I've been so lucky.

"Of course Moira, because she comes from a background outside politics, she always says she's zoomed past me in the political spectrum, she's much more radical than I am now in all sorts of things."

'Keep you going'

He said his other half often kept him right about the presentational issues facing politicians.

"Years ago, before I was in politics, I was a Royal Bank economist," he said.

"I was doing a interview for television and had some hair out of place. My granny turned to Moira and said see that hair, that reflects on you.

"And Moira, every time she asks me to get the shoes polished, she says mind what your granny said."

The politician selected the Complete Works of Robert Burns as the book he would take onto the island, because "there's enough in there to keep you going for years".

And his only luxury item would be a sand wedge, a golf club designed to use in sand bunkers.

"If I get a sand wedge on this desert island, when I'm rescued I'll be Gary Player," he laughed.

Unsurprisingly, many of the tracks selected by the first minister have a distinctly Scottish theme, and include The Proclaimers' 500 Miles and Caledonia, Dougie MacLean's anthem about Scots returning home.

Alex Salmond features on Desert Island Discs on Sunday 16 January at 1115 GMT on BBC Radio 4.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:00

Rain causes rise in flood risk in Scotland

Roads across Scotland have been affected by flooding

Flood watches and warnings have been put in place on most of Scotland's rivers.

According to the Sepa website, 26 flood watches and warnings were in place, five of them classified as severe.

Central Scotland Police said flooding was affecting many roads and urged drivers to take care.

Tayside Fire and Rescue said it had dealt with dozens of calls about flooding in Perthshire - with Bridge of Earn one of the worst affected areas.

Sepa's said waters were rising at the rivers Tay, Earn, Tummel and Isla, and advised: "This means that severe flooding is expected for the area, affecting many homes and businesses, main roads and large areas of land.

"There is a serious danger to life and property. Act now to protect yourself, your family and your home or business."

Perth and Kinross Council said properties were affected by water in areas including Aberuthven, Bankfoot, Glenfarg and Perth.

The council advised householders to place sandbags or earth-filled pillowcases across doorways.

The authority added: "A number of sandbags and aqua sacks have also been provided, however supplies are limited and resources are currently stretched as there has been a very high demand yesterday and overnight.

"In addition, a wide range of equipment is being used to pump water, unblock pipes and to remove water from properties."

The council advised against travel unless the journey was "absolutely necessary".

A number of roads were badly affected including sections of the A81.

The A9 between Greencornhill roundabout and Plean was only passable with care.

The A84 between Callander and Lochearnhead was flooding at the south end of Loch Luibnaig, and drivers were advised to avoid the route.

'Fantastic resilience'

The Scottish government said its resilience room was active and was monitoring the situation.

A spokesman said they were liaising closely with Sepa, the Met Office, Transport Scotland, emergency services and relevant local authorities.

Finance Secretary John Swinney tweeted late on Saturday evening saying: "Just had flood update from police. All agencies working together in Perth to address problems. Need to monitor situation overnight."

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham praised the efforts of the agencies involved in tackling the flooding during a visit to Perth and Bridge of Earn.

She said: "We are all aware of the serious impact that flooding can have on homes, communities and businesses.

"For the past two months communities across Scotland have shown fantastic resilience in the face of one of the most severe winters in living memory, but it is a reality that after so much snowfall we were likely to face flooding issues as the icy conditions turn to thaw and rainfall."

She said the Floodline Service on Sepa's website was available 24 hours a day to provide information and advice.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 14:55

Hundreds of mourners pay their respects to Michaela at Harte home

Michaela McAreavey's body was returned to Northern Ireland on Friday

Hundreds of mourners are filling the village of Ballygawley in County Tyrone to pay their respects at the family home of Michaela McAreavey.

Mrs McAreavey, 27, daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, was found murdered in her honeymoon hotel room in Mauritius on Monday.

Her body was returned to the home of her parents on Friday evening.

Friends and neighbours lined the route close to the Harte home as the hearse carrying the body passed.

Members of the Tyrone GAA club formed a guard of honour.

Several minibuses have been ferrying large numbers of mourners from designated carparks to the Harte family home and to the local church.

Mrs McAreavey's funeral will be held next Monday at 1230 GMT at St Malachy's Church, Ballymacilroy - the same County Tyrone church where she was married.

The plane carrying the 27-year-old's remains touched down at Belfast City Airport at lunchtime on Friday.

Her husband, John, was on the flight that brought his wife of just 12 days back to her home.

He was accompanied on the flight by his father, Brendan, his brother, Brian, and Mrs McAreavey's brother, Mark.

There to meet them at the airport was the Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, uncle of the groom, who married them on 30 December.

The bride's three brothers were also present to escort her body home.

The coffin was covered with a purple drape as the hearse drove from the airport. The family followed in cars behind.

She was found murdered in her room at the Legends Hotel on Monday. Three men have been charged in connection with her killing.

It is thought that she interrupted thieves in her room taking money from a purse.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:49

Three Orange Halls are attacked in Tyrone

Dergina Orange Hall was attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning

The PSNI are investigating four attacks on three Orange halls in County Tyrone.

Windows at Strawletterdallon Orange Hall outside Newtownstewart were smashed on Friday.

Early on Sunday, it was reported that an oil drum had been placed against a door of the same hall and set alight causing damage to the door and wall.

Dergina Orange Hall outside Aughnacloy had its windows smashed early on Saturday.

Paint was also thrown over the door of the hall, which was built in 2009.

A few miles away, graffiti was painted on Mullnahunch Orange Hall.

The secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Drew Nelson, said it was very fortunate the hall in Strawletterdallon was not destroyed.

"A passing motorist saw smoke coming from the hall around 9.00am and raised the alarm. Without his quick thinking, the hall would probably have been burned to the ground," he said.

'Mindless'

"A tyre was placed at the emergency exit at the rear of the building and set on fire. Oil had been poured over the tyre to accelerate the fire. We are very fortunate the hall was not destroyed."

Mr Nelson said the order was "very concerned" about the apparent upsurge in attacks in Tyrone.

"It seems too much of a coincidence that we have had three halls attacked in the county over the weekend.

"We would also appeal to the police to devote more resources to the detection of those responsible for these attacks."

Ulster Unionist leader and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott said that "mindless thugs intent on creating community division" were responsible for the attack on Dergina Orange Hall.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:13

River warning after canoeist dies in Gwynedd

Inspector Manon Owen said people should think carefully with such treacherous conditions on rivers.

Police have warned about the dangers of swollen rivers after a canoeist died after capsizing.

The 57-year-old man died in hospital shortly after being airlifted after capsizing with a friend in the River Ogwen in Gwynedd on Saturday.

A passerby had spotted two empty canoes on the river between Bangor and Bethesda.

North Wales Police said conditions had been treacherous and river-users should think carefully before venturing out.

Emergency services were alerted at 1225 GMT Saturday and an RAF helicopter crew joined the search.

Police confirmed the 57-year-old man died shortly after being flown to Glan Clwyd hospital. Another canoeist, who had been with him, managed to make his own way to safety.

He had been located at 1328 GMT by a passerby near a caravan park at Braichmelyn and did not need hospital treatment.

The other canoeist was found near Penrhyn Castle at 1415 but died after being airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley 22 squadron, coastguard, the fire service and ambulance were involved in the search.

The search happened after the canoes were found at Pant y Ddolen

The canoes had been spotted at Pant y Ddolen, near Halfway Bridge, between Bangor and Bethesda.

The dead man has not yet been named.

A force spokesman said: "The 57-year old man was canoeing with another man when their canoes capsized."

He added: "A lady had seen two unattended canoes in the river being swept down stream.

"Police responded and initiatied a search with the help of 22 Squadron and ourselves.

"A member of the public located one of the males and he identified to us as being one of the parties. He's not injured at all."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:57

Flooding closes roads in Conwy and Powys

Environment Agency staff have been out in Conwy during the weekend

The Environment Agency has urged households to continue to remain vigilant against flooding as heavy rain continues in parts of Wales.

A number of roads are reported as closed or "hazardous" in Conwy and Powys on Sunday.

Up to 50mm of rain fell in Conwy and Gwynedd with the worst weather expected to move south during Sunday.

By 15.55 GMT, there were four flood warnings and six flood alerts.

In north Wales, the Met Office said there would be early heavy bursts before the rain eases and moves southwards.

The heaviest bursts are expected in the hills of mid and south Wales, especially the Brecon and Cambrian mountains.

Environment Agency flood warnings were still in place in the Conwy valley around isolated properties and the Gwydir Road.

Flood alerts were also upgraded to warnings on the A487 at Dyfi Bridge, Pennal and parts of Machynlleth, on the lower Dee from Llangollen to Chester and in and around Dolgellau in Gwynedd.

A flood warning on the River Ritec in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, was stood down.

The Environment Agency said its recently completed flood defence work had helped protect 90 homes in Llanrwst, which would have been at risk from flooding after a "very wet weekend".

Alan Winstone, of the agency, said: "We are very relieved to report that there has been no significant flooding in households in the communities of Llanrwst and Trefriw."

North Wales Fire and Rescue were called to flooding at properties in Bala and Pentrefoelas, including a cafe, on Saturday.

BBC Wales weather forecaster, Derek Brockway said Sunday would see more heavy rain, with the risk of flooding.

"Spring is a long way off but next week will be much drier with some frost and fog patches," he added.

Flooded land in Llanrwst in Conwy on Saturday

"With strong winds and further heavy rain expected we are continuing to monitor flood risk across Wales," warned Jeremy Parr, from Environment Agency Wales.

"Further flood alerts and flood warnings may be issued and these could remain in place over the weekend and into next week in some places."

He said it was important that people remained vigilant throughout the weekend.

He added: "People should stay away from rivers as they can be very high and fast flowing and avoid trying to drive or walk through any flooding.

"We urge those in coastal areas to be on their guard from big waves caused by very strong winds.

"Our officers on the ground will continue to check flood defences, clear river blockages and install flood barriers where necessary."

The latest flood advice and updates are available on Environment Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk. There is also a 24-hour information service Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:41

Shot US Congresswoman Giffords taken off ventilator

Mrs Giffords, aged 40, remains in critical condition

US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords - who was shot in the head by a gunman last week - has been taken off a ventilator, hospital officials say.

They say they now inserted a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe to protect her airways, freeing her from the breathing tube.

Mrs Giffords had been breathing on her own since the shooting in Tucson, Arizona, but the breathing tube had been left until now as a precaution.

Six people died in the shooting.

The gunman, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, opened fire as Mrs Giffords was holding a constituency meeting on 8 January. More than a dozen people were also injured before the gunman was overpowered.

Mrs Giffords - who has since had brain surgery - remains in critical condition but appears to be recovering, the doctors say.

On Saturday, the doctors also inserted a feeding tube to provide nutrition.

Mr Loughner has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

The shooting sent shockwaves across the United States.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:51

Reince Priebus wins Republican Party chairman post

Reince Priebus surpassed the 85 votes necessary to win the post during the seventh round of voting

Reince Priebus, from the US state of Wisconsin, has been voted in as the new chairman of the Republican National Committee.

He received more than the 85 necessary votes in the seventh round of balloting and will hold the post for two years.

Michael Steele, the Republican Party's previous head and first black chairman, withdrew his bid for re-election after failing to win votes in earlier rounds.

Mr Steele was criticised for gaffes and mismanagement of party finances.

Four other Republicans had also sought the chance to lead the party into the 2012 presidential election.

The chairman of the Republican National Committee is the party's spokesman and chief fundraiser, who helps candidates running for re-election.

'We must win'

"I will step aside because I think the party is ready for something different," Mr Steele told the 168 members of the committee after withdrawing his bid.

"We must go forward, and we must win. We fired [Nancy] Pelosi," Mr Steele said, referring to the Republicans' victory in the House in November's mid-term elections.

"Let's take the Senate. Let's take the White House."

Mr Priebus will head the party for two years and lead it into the next presidential election, when defeating Mr Obama will be the Republican Party's primary objective.

"I am here to earn the trust and support of each and every one of you," Mr Priebus said.

"We all recognize that there's a steep hill here ahead of us, and the only way that we'll be able to move forward is if we're all together," he added.

Mr Priebus said his top priority was "making sure he has the organisation in place to beat Barack Obama" in the next presidential election.

But Mr Priebus will more urgently be in charge of raising the $22m (£14m) owed to vendors and banks on behalf of the party, which only had $1m at the end of 2010.

He also faces an increasingly divided Republican Party, where Tea Party members are battling long-time party leaders by attempting to pull the group further to the political right.

Before Wisconsin native was voted in, Mr Steele urged his supporters to back Maria Cino, a Republican operative who worked in George W Bush's administration. She also had the endorsement of Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Former Michigan party chairman Saul Anuzis and Ann Wagner, former ambassador to Luxembourg under Mr Bush, also lost out to Mr Priebus on Friday.

Mr Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, was elected in January 2009 to the party's top post, two months after President Barack Obama became the first African-American to win the White House.

The Republican National Committee, under Mr Steele, led the party to sweeping gains in the mid-term elections, but amassed sizeable debts.

Mr Priebus managed Mr Steele's campaign in 2009 and served as Republican General Counsel before resigning the position last month to begin his own bid for the chairmanship.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 21:36

Brazil floods: Army deployed in Rio de Janeiro state

More than 600 people have been killed in the worst natural disaster in at least 40 years

Brazilian soldiers have arrived in Teresopolis, one of the towns worst affected by deadly mudslides in the state of Rio de Janeiro, to assist with the rescue efforts.

Officials say at least 600 people are known to have died in the floods.

In the town of Nova Friburgo, officials are burying unidentified bodies because of a lack of mortuary space.

State governor Sergio Cabral has declared seven days of mourning for the victims of the disaster.

Major Alexandre Aragon, who commands the troops in Teresopolis, said he had been given a threefold mission: to support the rescue efforts, to help recover and identify bodies, and to guard against looting.

The military will also try to clear some of the blocked roads which have forced rescuers to reach some of the worst-hit areas on foot.

About 100 soldiers have also been deployed to the Cuiaba valley, which has been cut off since the heaviest downpours in 44 years tore through the mountainous area near Rio de Janeiro.

Rescue workers fear the number of dead will continue to rise as they reach areas which have been without communication since the rains started at the beginning of the week.

They say that with phone lines and the internet down, it is hard to tell what awaits them in the more remote mountain communities.

Civil defence forces in Nova Friburgo praised the efforts of a local group of amateur radio enthusiasts who had helped them co-ordinate the rescue efforts in the first hours after the landslides.

"Without their help, we couldn't have done anything in those first two days," Lt Col Roberto Robadey said of the group, which took their radio equipment to key points across the town to provide a communication link between rescue groups.

The Brazilian Air Force said it was installing a communication centre in Itaipava, so people could make phone calls and access data in their attempts to track down missing relatives.

Continuing danger

Heavy rains resumed in Nova Friburgo on Saturday afternoon, further hampering the efforts of emergency workers.

Some of the town's neighbourhoods still do not have electricity. Town officials have asked for candles to be donated so residents are not left in total darkness.

Forecasters have warned that the steady rainfall in the area will continue into next week.

The BBC's Paulo Cabral, who is in the area, says the soil on the hillsides is still extremely wet and unstable, so even a small quantity of water could be enough to cause new disasters.

The death toll has now surpassed the devastating 1967 mudslides in Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo state, in which about 430 people died.

Politicians including President Dilma Rousseff have highlighted the practice of people illegally building homes on the sides of mountains.

She has vowed to stop such a disaster happening again, and has earmarked 780m reais ($480m; £296m) in emergency funding for the affected areas.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:27

Mexico police commander abducted in Veracruz

Officials in Mexico say gunmen have kidnapped a police commander in the eastern state of Veracruz.

Raul Espinoza and his bodyguard were abducted while on patrol in the port city of Boca del Rio.

The kidnapping comes just a day after 14 people were killed in a shoot-out between security forces and alleged gang members in the state.

Veracruz had so far been spared much of the drug-related violence other Mexican states have suffered.

Local media report that the kidnappers posed as federal police agents and managed to fool local police, who stopped them twice.

The motive for the kidnapping is unknown, but it follows a stand-off between the security forces and gunmen in the state capital, Xalapa, on Friday.

According to Mexican government figures, more than 34,000 people have died in drug-related violence over the past four years.

But officials say more than half of the murders occurred in three northern states, with some regions of Mexico almost untouched by the violence.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53

South Africa to declare flood disaster

The government of South Africa is set to declare parts of the country disaster areas, after 40 people died in floods in a month.

The Minister for Co-operative Government, Sicelo Shiceka, told the BBC the move would happen this weekend.

Rains have hit the country from Kwa-Zulu Natal in the east to the Northern Cape in the west over the last month.

Thousands of homes have been flooded and people living along the Orange River have been evacuated.

Some bridges over the river have been closed, and the South African airforce have been helping in the evacuation.

Police divers are searching for the bodies of people who drowned.

President Jacob Zuma has formed a ministerial task force to tackle the issue, led by Mr Shiceka.

Mr Schiceka told the BBC his team would also look at long-term issues.

"Among other things we are looking at, is that people must not build in flood plains."

"People who have been displaced must not go back," said the minister.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:09

Greek search for migrants after boat sinks off Corfu

Greek coastguards said all the rescued migrants were safe and well

Greek coastguards are searching for 22 people missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the island of Corfu.

The wooden vessel was carrying more than 260 passengers when it ran into trouble in rough seas.

Most of the passengers, who said they were from Afghanistan, were rescued by a Dutch cargo ship that was nearby.

Greece has become the main gateway for illegal migrants hoping to reach Europe, although most cross over the country's border with Turkey.

The passengers on the ship called for help late on Saturday night, but coastguards were unable to reach them immediately because of the weather.

Greek officials said that 241 people, including women and children, were safely rescued but that 22 others appeared to have fallen overboard.

A search of the area is being carried out by boats and aircraft, but rescue workers said they had seen no trace of the missing people.

The survivors were met by authorities and medical workers when they arrived in Corfu.

The AFP news agency quoted port officials as saying the migrants had been heading for Italy when the ship sank.

Frontex, the EU's border agency, says there has been an overall decline in the number of people detected trying to enter the EU illegally.

But in the early part of last year crossings at Greece's land border with Turkey intensified.

Last year the European Union, at Greece's request, sent border guards to help patrol the frontier. Greece has also announced plans to build a fence along one section of the border.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:15

Fiat: Turin plant workers accept new conditions

The unions had been divided over the deal at the Mirafiori plant

Workers at a Fiat car plant in Italy have voted to accept changes to working conditions, in a deal that could have widespread implications for industrial relations in the country.

The changes at the Mirafiori factory in Turin include longer hours, cuts in benefits, and limits on strikes.

Fiat's management described them as essential and had threatened to invest abroad if the deal was rejected.

Unions have called the deal "shameful", saying it takes away workers' rights.

Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne has said the new conditions are crucial to reforming the ailing car maker.

He also said the firm would perform better without its loss-making Italian plants.

The changes were accepted by 54% of those who voted in the referendum at the Mirafiori factory.

The left-wing Fiom, which opposed the deal, said a deciding factor was support from white-collar workers.

The BBC Duncan Kennedy in Rome says that by forging an agreement for an individual plant, Fiat has broken Italy's tradition of national negotiations.

The changes also brings Italy closer to other countries like the UK and Germany, where more flexible deals have been in place for many years, our correspondent adds.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:07

Iraqi soldier guns down two US troops in Mosul drill

The US officially ended combat operations in Iraq last August

Two US soldiers have been killed when an Iraqi soldier opened fire on them during a training exercise in northern Iraq, US and Iraqi officials say.

The officials - speaking on condition of anonymity - said the incident happened at al-Ghazlani training camp in the city of Mosul.

It was the final drill to showcase US efforts in training Iraqis before next week's visit by US and Iraqi generals.

The Iraqi soldier who opened fire was arrested, US military officials said.

Separately, a US soldier was killed in central Iraq.

The US military gave no further details of the circumstances of that incident.

Motive unclear

"According to available information, two American soldiers were killed today (Saturday) during a training session inside al-Ghazlani," an Iraqi colonel in Mosul was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Another US soldier was injured in the incident.

This was confirmed by a US military official in the city.

In a statement later on Saturday, the US military said that two US soldiers were killed and one was wounded while conducting operations in northern Iraq, without providing further details.

The US soldiers were from the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Ft Hood, Texas, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Attacks by Iraqi soldiers or police against US troops in northern Iraq are rare but not unprecedented.

In 2009, two Iraqi police officers opened fire on US soldiers and Iraqi police in Mosul. One US soldier was killed in the attack.

An Iraqi army soldier shot dead two US troops and injured another six in the city.

Washington officially ended combat operations in Iraq last August, leaving fewer than 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

The soldiers' role is to advise and assist Iraq's security forces in fighting insurgents.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 19:15

Foreign diplomats tour Iran nuclear sites

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes

A group of foreign diplomats is touring some of Iran's nuclear sites, as Tehran seeks to build support for its controversial nuclear programme.

Iran said it was a gesture of goodwill and transparency, but the US was not invited - while China, Russia and the EU refused the invitation.

Tehran said its uranium enrichment programme was progressing "strongly".

It was responding to US claims that the programme was being hit by international sanctions.

On Saturday, ambassadors from Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, Oman, Syria, Venezuela and the Arab League visited an unfinished heavy water reactor at Arak.

On Sunday, the diplomats are expected to tour an enrichment facility at Natanz.

"No country in the world will show its nuclear installations to others, and this is a sign that Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful," said Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation.

But Mr Salehi also stressed that "the recent sanctions did not create any problems for our nuclear activities".

"Our activities, especially in (uranium) enrichment, are also continuing very strongly. The production of enriched uranium is growing," he said.

Mr Salehi was responding to a recent comment by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Iran's nuclear programme was being hampered by the international sanctions.

'Ploy' claim

The tour of Iran's nuclear sites comes ahead of the resumption of UN talks about Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

But the EU earlier said the tour could not replace visits by nuclear inspectors.

Russia and China indicated their diplomats would not be taking part while the EU said it was up to officials from the International Atomic Energy Organisation Agency (IAEA) to inspect the facilities.

The US called the tour a ploy.

The BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds says it is unlikely that the event will change many people's minds about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme.

Western nations suspect that Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Diplomats who are not nuclear scientists or weapons inspectors will be unable to give a definitive answer one way or the other, our correspondent adds.

Tendulkar hurt his hamstring during Saturday's second ODI with South Africa

India have been handed a major World Cup worry after Sachin Tendulkar was forced to fly home from their tour of South Africa with a hamstring injury.

The iconic batsman strained his right hamstring in Saturday's one-run victory over South Africa in the second match of their one-day series.

India will announce their 15-man squad for the World Cup, which begins on 19 February, on Monday.

Tendulkar, 37, is the all-time leading run scorer in ODIs with 17,629 runs.

He has over 4,000 more runs than his nearest challenger, Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya.

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Tendulkar equalled Jayasuriya's record of 444 ODI appearances on Saturday as India won at the Wanderers to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Tendulkar made 24 but required treatment while batting and did not field.

He had been set to break the one-day international appearance record in Tuesday's third ODI at Newlands in Cape Town.

India will not call for a replacement for Tendulkar, leaving them with only one recognised opening batsman, Murali Vijay, for the final three games of the series.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Praveen Kumar were ruled out with injury before the series began.

India will co-host the World Cup with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the final in Mumbai on 2 April .

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 14:58

Sri Lanka floods: UN calls for emergency aid

Some people have now begun returning from to their homes

The UN is to launch an appeal for emergency flood aid for Sri Lanka, where at least 32 people have died and more than 300,000 have been displaced.

"I urge donors to generously support priority needs such as mosquito nets, clean water and food," UN humanitarian co-ordinator Neil Buhne said.

Flood waters are now receding in the worst-hit areas in eastern and central Sri Lanka.

But aid agencies are warning of the danger of water-borne diseases.

Mr Buhne said in a statement that the UN's aid appeal would be issued in the coming days.

He said that funds were urgently needed to help replant flooded rice fields and also compensate people affected.

The floods have inflicted terrible destruction on the rice crop which was soon to be harvested, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Sri Lanka reports.

Much of the land in the worst-affected areas is still flooded, with crops and vegetation just peeping out, our correspondent says.

But he adds that the weather is getting warmer and dryer, bringing water levels down after weeks of heavy rain.

Some people have now begun returning from specially set-up displacement centres to their homes.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:34

Miliband environmental worries over BP Arctic oil deal

The Deepwater Horizon blast cost BP billions during 2010

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has voiced concern over BP's deal with Russian energy firm Rosneft.

A deal was signed on Friday to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

Environmental campaigners have criticised the plans, with Greenpeace saying BP had learned nothing from its failures in last year's Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr Miliband said finding alternative forms of energy was the way ahead.

'Clean way'

The former climate change secretary was speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

"I'd be pretty worried about this," Mr Miliband said.

"I think that the lesson of the Deepwater Horizon, the Gulf oil spill, should be that... the task for all of us, private companies, government and so on, is not to just keep digging and digging deeper and deeper for oil.

"It is actually to find those alternative forms of energy that can help us move forward in a clean way."

Continental shelf

The "strategic global alliance" between BP and Rosneft will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring Russia's Arctic region.

The firms will explore in three areas - known as EPNZ 1,2,3 - on the Russian Arctic continental shelf.

The areas covers 125,000 square kilometres in an area of the South Kara Sea.

As part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.

'Back door'

But environmental group Greenpeace criticised the deal.

"BP has done little to address the issues raised by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, while last year the Greenland government refused to grant drilling concessions to the company because it wasn't convinced BP has rigorous enough safety protocols," said Charlie Kronick of Greenpeace.

"Now BP has bought its way into the Arctic by the back door.

"It seems the company learned nothing last year in the Gulf of Mexico."

'Lessons learned'

The Rosneft tie-up is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill last year, which cost it billions.

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has hailed the agreement as a groundbreaking development.

And, referring to the Deepwater Horizon blast BP boss Bob Dudley has said that the firm "learned many lessons over the past year".

BP had a terrible 2010 with the Gulf of Mexico spill costing them at least $40bn.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:24

More farms closed in Germany as dioxin scare continues

Excessive levels of dioxin were found in pork, eggs and chicken

Germany has closed 934 more poultry and pig farms as fears over the contamination of dioxin in animal feed continue.

The move came after a manufacturer in Lower Saxony was found to have hidden some of the outlets it sold produce to.

Farms were closed in Lower Saxony as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Brandenburg.

The scandal began last week after high levels of dioxin, known to cause cancer, were found in eggs and pork.

As a result, 100,000 eggs were destroyed and thousands of farms were closed, although most have since been allowed to resume operations.

'Scandal within scandal'

Officials in Lower Saxony say they have opened an investigation after they discovered that the manufacturer had not revealed a full list of all of the companies it had made deliveries to.

"This is a scandal within the scandal," Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said.

The ministry says that products from these farms, mostly eggs, may have been sold since, but stressed that "consumption of these goods does not pose a health risk" due to the low contamination level.

Dioxins, which are found at low levels in many foods, do not cause immediate health problems but long-term exposure to high levels has been shown to cause a range of effects, including cancer.

The origin of the contamination has been traced to a distributor in the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, where oils intended for use in bio-fuels were accidentally distributed for animal feed.

The scandal prompted South Korea and China to ban imports of German pork and poultry.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:32

Tourists trapped in Chile due to fuel price strikes

By Gideon Long BBC News, Santiago

The protests and road blocks have brought the region to a standstill

Thousands of foreign tourists are trapped in southern Chile due to strikes and road blockades by locals protesting a rise in fuel prices.

The tourists, some of whom have been stuck for four days, had hoped to leave for neighbouring Argentina, but have reportedly been turned back.

The strike was sparked by a government plan to hike gas prices by nearly 17%.

The move has brought the region to a standstill and led to clashes with police, who responded with tear gas.

On Tuesday, two young women were killed when a truck smashed through a blockade.

'Turned back'

About 2,000 tourists are stuck in the cities of Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, in the deep south of Patagonia.

Most of the tourists, who come from more than 20 countries, had been visiting the majestic Torres del Paine national park, Chile's biggest tourist attraction and a popular destination for hikers.

The demonstrators say they have now relaxed the blockades to allow tourists to leave.

But one American tourist, speaking to the BBC from Puerto Natales, said that when the first group of foreigners had tried to leave for Argentina, they had been turned back.

The Red Cross is assisting tourists, and the Chilean military is on hand to maintain order.

Several foreign governments have advised their citizens not to travel to southern Chile, and some embassies have put pressure on the government in Santiago to resolve the issue.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:03

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

Susannah York won a Bafta and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar

British actress Susannah York has died at the age of 72 after suffering from cancer, her son has said.

She appeared in film, TV and theatre during a career which began in the 1960s.

She was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and won a Bafta for the same role.

Her son Orlando Wells told the Telegraph newspaper that she was "an absolutely fantastic mother".

"She loved nothing more than cooking a good Sunday roast and sitting around a fire of a winter's evening. In some sense, she was quite a home girl. Both Sasha [Orlando's sister] and I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a mother.''

MP and former actress Glenda Jackson, who starred with York in the 1974 production of The Maids, paid tribute, saying her death "came as a big shock".

"She seemed too young to go," she added. "We worked very well together.

"It was a very interesting production and she was very easy to work with."

British film director Richard Bracewell, who worked with York in his first film, The Gigolos, in 2006, described her as "a pussycat".

"She was an absolute pleasure, a joy to work with, to prepare the film with," he said.

"But then, like a cat, the moment the camera was on her, the moment the film was turning, she leapt into life and she absolutely grabbed the screen, absolutely electrifying the moment the camera was turning over."

Holby and Casualty

York graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1958, winning the Ronson Award for most promising student.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? followed the contestants in a gruelling dance marathon and also starred Jane Fonda.

Susannah York received an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

York was apparently angry at having been nominated for the Oscar without being asked, but did attend the ceremony.

She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Alice.

News editor at Empire Magazine, Chris Hewitt, said she "came to fame" in Tom Jones, opposite Albert Finney, in 1963, and was "amazing" in The Killing of Sister George in 1968.

More recently, she appeared in the BBC dramas Holby City and Casualty.

In later years she also featured as Superman's mother in three Superman movies, and wrote two children's books.

"She was a very versatile actress, she liked to switch roles, and never do the same thing twice," Hewitt said.

Outside her professional work, she was a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and Mordechai Vanunu, the technician imprisoned for 18 years for revealing Israel's secret nuclear programme.

BBC News website readers have been sending their memories of Susannah York:

When I was a kid (street urchin) in the 60s she used to live in the same street as me (Seaton Street, Chelsea, now demolished) and on Saturdays I would wash her car, a little Fiat. She would say to me "there are some sweets in the glove compartment" and after I had completed the job (badly) she gave me a fiver, that was a lot of money for a 10-year-old in the 60s, and she was a film star at the time. Lovely lady.

Thomas Casey, London, UK

I had the pleasure of interviewing Susannah York for local radio 96fm many years ago. She was an absolute lady and one of the most gracious guests I have ever met.

Elmarie Tallon, Cork, Ireland

During the making of the Film Gold in the 1970's I worked for Hemdale Film Distributors in London. Susannah York and Roger Moore would phone our Publicity Department from Pinewood Studios. Susannah always had time for people. An absolutely splendid actress. Sadly missed.

Sally White, Kyle Of Lochalsh, UK

I was so very fortunate to be in The Women with Susannah at The Old Vic. The first time I saw her backstage I realised what star quality was. She glowed. On stage and off, she shone like pure gold.

Calvin Dean, London, UK

I was at school with Susie (Fletcher then) at Wispers School Midhurst Sussex. Remember fondly great giggling together, parents day meeting her mum etc. also seeing her at RADA (my cousin Ken Campbell was a year behind her). Seeing her in a few early stage appearances. Also remember her taking the lead in school play before we knew she would be so famous! So sad to read of her death - when I'm in the UK I see a couple of "old" Wisperians and we often talk about Susie, she will continue to be in our minds for years to come.

Christine Cornfoot/Van Sickle, Erie, Colorado, USA

I was at school in Bedford when a lot of the Battle of Britain dog fight shots were filmed above our school playing fields. I was also in the ATC, (Air Training Corps). Us air cadets were given a free viewing of the film and I fell in love with this wonderful lady. The first time I'd realised that a young boy was close to becoming a man. Have loved her ever since. It's a sad loss.

Malcolm Woolf, Corby, UK

I met Susannah out dog walking on Clapham Common. She always asked how my fledgling acting career was going and remembered the details of what I had told her with care and interest. Whatever role she was playing she relished and respected and never took her career for granted. A lovely lady. She was so proud of her children and loved her beautiful dog, Oscar.

Andrew Macbean, London, UK

I was Susannah's stand-in pilot when Gold was being shot in South Africa and fortunately was her size to fit into her bright pink flying suit for the exciting flying sequences being filmed in the Waterberg canyon. Nick Turvey the well-known aerobatic champ did the flying sequences for Roger Moore. I'm saddened to learn of Susannah's death at so young an age.

Libby Stark, London, UK

I first Ms York when she played Joss, the young woman in 'The Greengage Summer' with Kenneth More and Jane Asher. I was very, very impressed with her. I also saw her in Oxford where she appeared in 'The Wings of a Dove'. After that, I never saw her in a bad film, play or television programme. My only regret is that she did not make more Hollywood films - she should have, and would have been a true 'star'. I thought her 'amazingly' beautiful as a young woman, always an interesting person when interviewed, and someone to be admired and charmed by as she aged. I am happy to learn that she was loved by her children - so many 'stars' are not. It is tragic that she died at such a relatively young age.

Charles Jenkins, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

I had the pleasure of bringing breakfast to Susannah on my morning shift as a young boy at Gleneagles hotel in 1969, I was only 15 and taking breakfast to her was a shy moment for me as she was so attractive. She sat up in bed and smiled. She was making a movie with Peter O' Toole and always left a tip. Rest in peace.

Marty, Liverpool, UK

15 January 2011 Last updated at 01:54

Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg

Doctors said Gabor is in "frail health" after having her right leg amputated

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg, which was infected with gangrene, has been amputated in a life-saving surgery her doctors have deemed a success.

She is in "frail health" and will be closely monitored in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr David Rigberg said.

Gabor was hospitalised on 2 January after attempts to save her leg with antibiotics proved unsuccessful.

The 93-year-old has been admitted to hospital a number of times since breaking her hip in July.

"Ms Gabor needed an amputation above her knee due to poor circulation and a large ulcerated area on her right leg," said Dr Rigberg, an associate professor of vascular surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"The surgery today went well, however, she is in frail health so we will continue to monitor her closely," he said, adding that after consulting with Ms Gabor's husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, he felt amputation was the best decision.

Multiple hospital visits

Gabor had been hospitalised several times for swelling in her legs and blood clots throughout her body, following a hip replacement surgery this summer.

She was readmitted to hospital in the new year because a wound in her right leg had grown and "wasn't healing any more", her publicist John Blanchette said earlier this month.

Gabor had reportedly been bedridden in recent months.

She was in critical condition and had asked for a priest during a trip to the hospital in August, but Gabor soon recovered and was sent home.

The veteran actress was partially paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffered a stroke in 2005, forcing her to use a wheelchair.

Gabor starred in the films Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil and Queen of Outer Space, among others.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:19

Roman rise and fall 'recorded in trees'

By Mark Kinver Science and environment reporter, BBC News

The study offers a link between changes to the climate and the rise and fall of human societies

An extensive study of tree growth rings says there could be a link between the rise and fall of past civilisations and sudden shifts in Europe's climate.

A team of researchers based their findings on data from 9,000 wooden artifacts from the past 2,500 years.

They found that periods of warm, wet summers coincided with prosperity, while political turmoil occurred during times of climate instability.

The findings have been published online by the journal Science.

"Looking back on 2,500 years, there are examples where climate change impacted human history," co-author Ulf Buntgen, a paleoclimatologist at the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape, told the Science website.

Ring record

The team capitalised on a system used to date material unearthed during excavations.

"Archaeologists have developed oak ring width chronologies from Central Europe that cover nearly the entire Holocene and have used them for the purpose of dating artefacts, historical buildings, antique artwork and furniture," they wrote.

"Chronologies of living and relict oaks may reflect distinct patterns of summer precipitation and drought."

The team looked at how weather over the past couple of centuries affected living trees' growth rings.

During good growing seasons, when water and nutrients are in plentiful supply, trees form broad rings, with their boundaries relatively far apart.

But in unfavourable conditions, such as drought, the rings grow in much tighter formation.

The researchers then used this data to reconstruct annual weather patterns from the growth rings preserved in the artefacts.

Once they had developed a chronology stretching back over the past 2,500 years, they identified a link with prosperity levels in past societies, such as the Roman Empire.

"Wet and warm summers occurred during periods of Roman and medieval prosperity. Increased climate variability from 250-600 AD coincided with the demise of the western Roman empire and the turmoil of the migration period," the team reported.

"Distinct drying in the 3rd Century paralleled a period of serious crisis in the western Roman empire marked by barbarian invasion, political turmoil and economic dislocation in several provinces of Gaul."

Dr Buntgen explained: "We were aware of these super-big data sets, and we brought them together and analyzed them in a new way to get the climate signal.

"If you have enough wood, the dating is secure. You just need a lot of material and a lot of rings."

14 January 2011 Last updated at 19:00

2011 'year of rockets' for Europe

By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News, Paris

The new Vega launcher will be the smallest of the three rockets

Twenty-eleven will be the "year of launchers", says European Space Agency director-general Jean-Jacques Dordain.

Europe expects to have three different rockets operating from its French Guiana spaceport in the coming months.

The workhorse Ariane 5 will be joined by the Russian Soyuz vehicle and a new small launcher called Vega.

At his annual Paris press conference to preview the year ahead, Mr Dordain said this represented a major change in the way Esa conducted its space activities.

And he told the BBC everyone might be surprised at how complex an undertaking this would be.

"For 30 years we have exploited one launcher, the best launcher in the world, Ariane - but it was one launcher," he explained.

"From this year, we will exploit three launchers in parallel - Ariane, Soyuz and Vega. It will introduce some constraints because the traffic will be much heavier from [the spaceport], and I'm not so sure we've yet totally understood the constraints which are linked to the exploitation of three launchers instead of one."

A completely new launch facility has been constructed for Soyuz in French Guiana, allowing the Russian-built vehicle to shift some of its operations to the European spaceport from its traditional home of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The launch complex will have its qualification review in April with the expectation that the first Soyuz lift-off occur sometime between 15 August and 15 September. The rocket will carry into orbit two spacecraft for Europe's Galileo satellite-navigation system.

Vega will use the old Ariane 1, 2 and 3 pad, which has been renovated for the purpose.

Both the pad and the rocket system itself will have to get through a review process before being cleared to launch. Only when that process is complete will a maiden flight date be set, but it should be in the second half of the year.

Because Vega is a brand new design, the payload opportunity has been given to some small, inexpensive scientific spacecraft rather than to high-value institutional or commercial ventures.

With three different rockets in its stable, the South American spaceport is going to be extremely busy. Launches could be occurring at the rate of about one a month in future.

Soyuz has had a near-copy of its Baikonur facility built in the South American jungle

The performance of the company operating these systems is a matter to be addressed by Esa member-states in the coming weeks.

Arianespace, based at Evry near Paris, sells Europe's rocket services. It is currently losing money and is looking for a cash injection from European governments.

Mr Dordain said Esa member-states wanted more information first on the financial status of the company and a clearer understanding of the costs of building the Ariane 5 before committing to an aid package.

"If needed, if needed," the director-general stressed. "The member-states are ready to make the exploitation sustainable, not because this is a commercial market. This is not the objective.

"The objective is to make sure the Ariane 5 is there for their own government needs. That should not be misunderstood. This is not a contribution of the member-states to a commercial business; this is a contribution of the member-states to the guarantee of access to space," he told BBC News.

The matter will come up at the March Council Meeting of Esa. This same meeting will also have to resolve European funding for the International Space Station (ISS).

Although philosophically committed to the extension of ISS operations from 2015 to 2020, Esa member-states have yet to put a financial framework in place to make it happen.

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:12

France pledges reform after diabetes drug scandal

By David Chazan BBC News, Paris

Mr Bertrand said it was his duty to rebuild the system to protect the public

French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has promised a complete revamp of the country's medical regulatory system.

He was speaking after an official report said a diabetes drug which caused up to 2,000 deaths should have been banned 10 years earlier.

The drug - known as Mediator - should have been banned as early as 1999, when it began to emerge that it could cause heart disease, the report said.

Several other European countries and the US then withdrew it.

'Political connections'

But Mediator remained on sale in France for another 10 years.

Between 500 and 2,000 people in France are believed to have died because of its side effects.

It was developed to treat diabetics but millions of people took it simply to lose weight.

The report by a government agency, the Social Affairs Inspectorate, said it was incomprehensible that the authorities had failed to act sooner.

Mr Bertrand said it was now his duty to rebuild the regulatory system to protect the public.

His statement is being seen as an admission that one of the biggest medical scandals in France in recent years may not be an isolated case.

The affair has become politicised as the pharmaceutical company which manufactured the drug, Servier, reportedly had high-level political connections.

The health minister himself has been implicated by French media reports alleging that two of his advisors had previously worked for the company.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 12:25

Tunisia unrest: Views from the country

Tunis' main railway station has been damaged by fire

Security has been stepped up in the centre of the Tunisian capital, a day after President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced from power by street protests.

Hundreds of troops are patrolling Tunis and a state of emergency is in force. Interim leader Mohammed Ghannouchi has said he would hold talks with opposition groups to try to form a unity government.

Here, Tunis residents describe a tense atmosphere on the streets of the city.

Tunisians react as president steps down

Reaction to violence in Tunisia and Algeria

Afef Abrougui, protester, Tunis

The neighbourhood where I live hasn't had serious acts of violence. I know that in other places the situation is truly horrible with widespread looting and damaging of properties.

There are rumours that certain gangs that are connected to the RCD (Ben Ali's party) are responsible for these attacks. Everyone here believes that.

I was among the protesters yesterday in front of the interior ministry. I was there for three hours and nothing of that sort happened. The young protesters are not criminals, they wouldn't do that.

We don't want the western world to see that now the president is gone, we can't handle things here.

There is a different kind of spirit among ordinary people. I saw a video on Facebook of young people cleaning up a street. I am shocked, how can these people do this to their country.

Our security is now the responsibility of the army. We trust the army, the have never turned on the protesters.

The president stepping down is a huge thing. I am 20 years old and he is the only president I've known. And it all happened completely unexpectedly.

The protests started with demands for more jobs. But things changed so quickly. Now we want freedom, we want to be able to assemble, to elect our government and I strongly believe that after this, Tunisian's won't accept a government that doesn't represent them.

I am hopeful about the future. Tunisians have acquired political awareness and there's no going back

Hamdi Kriaa, protester, Tunis

We are living through special days, historical days. We are moving towards a new chapter for Tunisia, towards freedom and democracy.

Yesterday I was protesting in front of the interior ministry together with some 10,000 people. The sensation was incredible.

Hamdi Kria describes the atmosphere in the capital

I thank God that I lived this moment, because we never thought we could have this situation - us protesting for freedom.

We are very proud to be Tunisian because we demonstrated to the whole world that we want to live in freedom.

We were oppressed and silent, but we are no longer silent and every next president will know that if they are not supported by their people, they'll be fired. The message is clear.

There was some confrontation with the police, but we expected it. But the military is with us, that's the important thing.

Our priority right now is security. The situation is critical. There are people who are not accepting the change, people who belong to the past. They are destroying banks, offices, cars.

They can't accept the change. They used to have a lot of power and they know that they are not going to find a position in the next government.

I am an optimist and I think that in the next few days we will have security. The current president is meeting with political parties and is trying to form a new government.

And I am confident we'll start preparing for the presidential election in a democratic environment.

Zouhair Ben Jemaa, retired consultant, Tunis

We couldn't sleep all night. We hear everything, the helicopters, the gunfire.

After some looting overnight, the streets were mostly empty on Saturday

We can go out now and I just made a small tour in our neighbourhood. We live close to the US embassy, so we have a good security free of charge.

It's quiet now. There are a few people out and about, but the troubles will probably start later.

We can't find anything in the shops, even the bare minimum. But we'll get through.

Tunisian people are very angry. We want the people to take power. We can't accept those who've been with the president for years and years and have done everything together with him. No way!

Our only chance and hope is that the army takes over and starts everything from the beginning. This is not over yet and many more people may die.

I hope the same group from yesterday will go back to the streets today. I am too old for this but I am proud of our youth. Facebook has been fantastic and we will never forget what al-Jazeera is doing.

I am not surprised about what is happening right now. Everything has limits. There was no economy, no structure, no motivation, no nothing. What can you expect then? People go out because enough is enough.

Rick Park, American teacher in Tunis

Our neighbourhood has been pretty insulated from recent events until last night. We heard shots and smelled smoke all night. When I went out this morning I discovered that our local supermarket was burnt.

I get the impression that the businesses that are being targeted are the ones owned by powerful political families. Little businesses in my neighbourhood have stayed intact.

My Tunisian friends from around town though have witnessed lots of looting. Many Tunisians think roaming gangs are part of the president's old party. Others think it's just young punks taking advantage.

Bottom line is, there does not seem to be any control of the streets now.

Yesterday, a group of Tunisians went to the port. There's an area there where new cars get delivered. The dealerships are owned by the families of political leaders.

So this group of Tunisians got hold of the cars, drove them around town and crashed them. I've seen a video on Facebook and a friend of mine told me that one of those cars was crashed in her street.

So that shows you some people's idea of fun.

None of my friends has been out protesting. People are scared and are staying at home.

I have no plans to leave, I'll go by what the US embassy says. We stay put for now and hopefully things will calm down. But it's really hard to say what will happen.

Tunisia seeks to form unity cabinet after Ben Ali fall

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:44 Help

Tunisian political leaders have started efforts to fill the power vacuum created by the fall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali amid mass protests.

Interim leader Foued Mebazaa - who was sworn in on Saturday - promised to form a unity government.

The country appears to be mostly quiet, although gunfire was heard in Tunis during a second overnight curfew.

Wyre Davies reports from Tunis.

Read more

- Fear and rejoicing in Tunis

- Turmoil in Tunisia: As it happened on Saturday

New Beatles museum opens in Argentina

16 January 2011 Last updated at 02:29 Help

The world's biggest collection of Beatles memorabilia has gone on show at a new museum in Argentina.

It is the life's work of Rodolfo Vazquez, who began collecting at the age of 10.

Anna Holligan has the story.

Parts of Australia braced for more floods

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:01 Help

Australia's flood crisis has spread south, inflicting more misery on dozens of towns in the state of Victoria.

Earlier this week parts of Brisbane were swamped after weeks of torrential rain.

Forecasters are warning there could be more rain to come.

Phil Mercer reports.

Read more

- Brisbane begins floods clean-up

- In pictures: Brisbane flood clean-up

Patriarchal Serbia faces up to domestic violence

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53 Help

A growing number of men and women are victims of domestic violence in Serbia - a reality the country is trying to overcome in what remains a largely patriarchal society.

The BBC's Belgrade correspondent Mark Lowen has been finding out what's being done to tackle the situation, including the opening of the first male safe house in the Balkans.

Brazilian military joins rescue efforts in worst hit areas

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:31 Help

At least 600 people are now known to have died in the devastating floods and mudslides in south-eastern Brazil.

Soldiers and military doctors have been sent to the worst-affected areas, such as Nova Friburgo, where field hospitals have been set up to help with the rescue efforts.

In Teresopolis, rescue teams are uncovering more bodies.

Paolo Cabral reports.

Read more

- Brazilian army in flood mission

- Brazil floods: 'Never seen anything like it'

Sudan starts counting votes after referendum

16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:40 Help

Election officials in Sudan have begun to count the votes cast in a referendum which will decide whether the country is split in two.

Voters from the south are widely expected to support the plan, which would see the creation of a new country.

Jack Izzard reports.

UN launches emergency appeal for Sri Lanka

16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:51 Help

The United Nations is launching an emergency appeal for Sri Lanka, where floods have killed at least 32 people and displaced more than 300,000 others.

Some people on the east of the island, which was worst hit, are returning home as the floods subside, but there have been warnings of water-borne diseases.

Charles Haviland reports.

Read more

- Lives in turmoil after Sri Lankan floods

Miliband 'appalled' at Royal Wedding strike plans

16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:52 Help

Ed Miliband has told Andrew Marr he "totally condemns" the strikes that have been proposed to disrupt the Royal Wedding and the Olympics.

The Labour leader said that industrial action was a "sign of failure on both sides" and political argument should be done through campaigning and voting.

Back to the Andrew Marr Show website

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:54

Southern discomfort: Seeking the truth in Louisiana

By Andy Gallacher BBC News, Ferriday, Louisiana

Frank Morris (fourth from left) was burnt alive when his shoe shop in Ferriday was torched

When Frank Morris ran out of his shop with his hair and clothes on fire, one witness recounted seeing the skin falling from the 51-year-old's body.

It was 1964 in Ferriday, Louisiana, when the Ku Klux Klan, and a violent offshoot of the movement known as the Silver Dollar Group, were active in this part of Louisiana.

The attack is widely believed to have been carried out by the Silver Dollar Group using several men that made up a "wrecking crew".

According to statements, Mr Morris was made to stay in his shop by a man with a shotgun, while others doused his business in petrol.

Despite his horrible burns, Frank Morris managed to live for four days before he died.

He never named or even described his attackers despite getting a good look at them.

Old wounds

Local reporter Stanley Nelson was just nine years old when Mr Frank - as he was known - was murdered.

"The rubble of the building was destroyed a few days after the fire and what you see here is what's left, and nothing has changed for 46 years," says the journalist from the Concordia Sentinel as he stands on the foundations of Frank Morris' business.

Stanley Nelson is now familiar with every detail of the case. He has spent four years studying Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records, talking to witnesses and ultimately trying to solve the murder.

But, in this small, tight-knit community it has opened up old wounds for some.

The rubble of the destroyed building has remained virtually untouched since the 1964 fire

"I had one lady call and she said: 'Just what do you think you're doing?'," says Mr Nelson, who has been working closely with civil rights groups.

"I said: 'What do you mean?' and she said: 'Every week you bring out these terrible stories, what do you hope to accomplish?' I said: 'I hope to find out what happened to Frank Morris and solve the murder'."

The FBI re-opened their investigation into Mr Morris's murder several years ago but it is one of dozens of so-called cold case murders carried out by the Klan that, to this day, remain unsolved.

That does not surprise 66-year-old Robert Lee III, a friend of Frank Morris and who still lives in Ferriday.

"This man was our friend and he was murdered only because he was black," says Mr Lee, who was serving in Vietnam when the killing took place.

Robert Lee says his friend was murdered only because he was black

"You got all these cases that nobody ever tried to solve and ya'll just let it go. Murder has no statute of limitations and some of those people are still alive."

Not only are some of the people still alive but Stanley Nelson believes he has tracked down one of the killers. The rest of the "wrecking crew", he believes, has now died.

Quest for understanding

He will be passing all the details of his investigation to the FBI but there is another perhaps more pressing problem.

"We just don't have time," says Stanley who is keen to start investigating other cases.

"I've seen witnesses die, I've seen suspects die just within the last four years. This is a race, it's a race to get this work done. In another year or two I'm afraid its going to be over."

For many residents of Ferriday, these cases mean facing a dark past that still lives on in the memory of many people, especially those in the African American community.

Leland Boyd, who now lives in Texas, remembers his father being an active member of the Silver Dollar Group.

"I was there for several of the cross burnings," says Mr Boyd, who has received death threats for talking about the Klan's past.

"I helped build the crosses as a young boy. We were country folks and we built stuff ourselves. The message from the burning crosses was to show a symbol of Protestant white Christianity."

Mr Boyd is now actively helping Stanley Nelson with his investigations.

He says that after his school was integrated there was a defining moment when he fell into a black student and cut himself.

"There was a moment where we just looked at each other and acknowledged that we couldn't tell our blood apart," says My Boyd.

"Then we became friends. I even invited him to my wedding but he declined because he didn't want trouble and he knew how angry it would make my father."

Stanley Nelson will continue to investigate the cases in his region and that could take years.

The FBI would not comment on his findings so far but say they are determined to solve as many cases as they can.

"Who would not want a man who was killed that way see his family get justice," says Mr Nelson.

"It's a quest for understanding. How could those type of feelings exist, where was the community when that happened?"

By Claudia Hammond
BBC News, Laos

Communist Laos is one of the world's poorest countries, but the government is now beginning to experiment with capitalism in the hope it could bring prosperity.

Asian elephants have been used as beasts of burden for centuries

It was just after dawn when I took a motorised canoe across the brown river to meet 48-year-old Mae Bounnam.

As the sun began to rise, she made her way down the path from the jungle where she had been sleeping.

Mae is an Asian elephant, who has been rescued from a working life spent logging to become part of the new spirit of private enterprise in Laos.

The communist government is now encouraging private business and this elephant village outside the pretty town of Luang Prabang, famous for its Buddhist temples and orange-clad monks, is attracting plenty of tourists, keen to have the chance to see elephants close-up.

The old name for the kingdom of Laos supposedly translates as "the land of a million elephants". But although fewer elephants than that remain now, it turns out that with the addition of an accent the name translates as "valley of the elephants", so there probably never was a million.

When charging, elephants can reach speeds of 50kph (31mph)

Mae was blinded in one eye after it was slashed by a branch during her old job, and another injury has left her with a small hole in her right ear. But she is so vast that when her keeper, or mahout, and I ride her bareback she carries us as though we are as light as babies.

Then it is time for what he tells me is her favourite part of the day, and I ride from the muddy banks straight into the deepest part of the river where she appears to take pleasure in falling to her knees to dunk me.

While her barefoot mahout, Mr Lid, sits behind me casually playing with his Blackberry, I take a scrubbing brush and clean the leaves and dirt off the surprisingly delicate skin on her head and back.

In a country where employment opportunities are still few, working in tourism is one alternative to subsistence farming.

Safety songs

A day's drive west brings me to a region once again dominated by farming, but which feels as though it is poised for something new.

The old ordnance has its uses, but the threat of unexploded bombs remains

The area surrounding the town of Phonsavan is the most bombed in the world.

During the so-called secret war between 1964 and 1973, the US spent $2m (£1.3m) a day dropping bombs on this part of Laos in a failed attempt to prevent communism from taking hold.

The equivalent of a plane-full of bombs dropped every eight minutes for nine years.

On the so-called Plain of Jars, which contains hundreds of mysterious giant stone pots made over 2,500 years ago, I saw bomb craters the size of swimming pools.

Local people make use of the old ordnance. Rocket cases are used as window boxes and defused cluster bombs serve as ashtrays in cafes - one of which is even appropriately named Craters.

Yet thousands of items of unexploded ordnance remain and from time to time children still lose limbs from explosions after picking up the old cluster bombs, which look like shiny yellow tennis balls. The first safety songs they learn at school are not about crossing the road, but about the dangers of touching any metal they might find.

More than half the farmers in the region say they would like to expand their operations if it were not for the fear that cultivating more land might disturb an unexploded bomb.

An international charity, the Mines Advisory Group, is going through the painstaking work of trying to clear the area, and their spokesman tells me one fringe benefit is that the involvement of local women in this brave and vital job is improving the status of women in the town.

Looking at the job adverts in the local papers, it is clear that there are few opportunities apart from jobs with the developmental organisations working here.

Yet in this town new infrastructure is being built.

Walking around the flat, dusty town it is clear that there are high hopes for the future.

Not far from the old market where tiny birds are spatchcocked and barbecued, ready to eat whole, there are brand new buildings housing development corporations, each set back from the road with a grand driveway.

There is a dual carriageway with new street lighting which was put in just weeks ago. Yet as I walk along the pavement in the evening, barely a car or motorbike passes me on this perfect new road.

It almost feels like a larger town that is in limbo, waiting for a bigger future. But investment into the region is coming - from China, South Korea and Thailand - and people seemed optimistic. A few days ago the Laos stock exchange opened for the first time, starting with just two companies.

There is a sense that Laos is moving on from the old battles and hoping to follow its neighbour China into times of new prosperity.

The Hmong leader Vang Pao - who died recently - will be mourned by many, but his death also breaks one of the last links with the Indo-China wars.

In recent years he called for a new era of "peace, prosperity and reconciliation to return to Laos". People here Laos are hoping that private enterprise will provide the solution.

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By Will Ross
BBC News, Southern Sudan

For many African peoples, cattle are traditionally used as a store of wealth

Over the past week, citizens of Southern Sudan have been voting in a referendum that is widely expected to result in Africa's largest country being split in two, after years of conflict between north and south.

Picking up fresh cow dung with your bare hands does not sound like a very appealing way to make a living, does it?

But for the cattle-keepers of Southern Sudan, it is a daily dawn ritual.

Elijah Garang emerged from his shelter - made from sticks and plastic sheeting - adjusted his woolly hat with "Manchester" emblazoned across it and, surrounded by his herd of white long-horned cows, started doing the housework.

I've voted for independence so that my children will have a better life than we have had

Stella, south Sudanese voter

The cattle had made quite a mess of the open-air living room but, with the whole family including the young children joining in, soon the dung had all been collected and heaped onto small fires dotted around the camp.

This was the home-grown method of warding off mosquitoes. You could call it the George Bush approach - "smoke 'em out".

I was there to gauge the appetite for independence, and Elijah became very animated when I asked how he felt about the prospect of Southern Sudan breaking away to form a new country.

Elijah Garang is looking forward to a future free from conflict

"It will be great for us because then we can be at peace. We have been suffering for so many years," he told me.

This is a common refrain here.

Decades of war between the south and the Islamic north have left people with a long list of sad memories and a great deal of bitterness.

"I used to have thousands of cattle," Elijah said, as he smothered cold ash across the hide of one of his cows (the local all-in-one sun block and insect repellent).

"But I lost so many animals in the war. I even lost my wife and other relatives."

The fact that the cattle were mentioned first before the people gives you some idea of just how loved these animals are.

Watching as they were patted and preened, the scene reminded me of that weekend ritual which is so common in Britain when men emerge from their homes to wash, polish and wax their cars proudly.

Ducking for cover

Over the last week, cattle herders across the south have been walking, often for several hours, to reach the polling stations.

The independence referendum is an event that many told me they could hardly believe they were witnessing.

A 60% turnout was required for the result to be valid

"I couldn't sleep all night I was so excited," Stella told me, as she cast her ballot in a small village in the state of Western Equatoria.

"I've voted for independence so that my children will have a better life than we have had," heavily pregnant Stella said, adding that she had spent years in exile in refugee camps after fleeing across the Ugandan border when she was 10 years old.

"Even the domestic animals have experienced today's joy," she added.

When I mentioned this remark to an old man under a towering mango tree, he said: "You have to remember that, when the northern forces sent over Antonov planes to bomb these villages, we all rushed to underground shelters.

"Even the dogs, chickens and ducks would hurry there as soon as they heard the distant hum of the plane."

Now I cannot get the image out of my mind of the ducks heading for the bunker at a speedy waddle.

I checked the voting queue and you will be glad to know there were no feathered friends there.

But from the way people were talking, the ducks would also be voting for secession if they could.

In the same village, I met John Patrick, who had just returned south after spending two decades in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

I came to vote for my freedom

John Patrick Apono

When the war had become too intense, he had moved north to try to finish his education.

"I had to walk for hours to reach the school each day. It was impossible so in the end I had to give up," John Patrick said.

In Khartoum, he said, he had been treated as a third-class citizen and had faced discrimination every day.

He learnt to repair old radios to scrape a living and today he sits on the veranda in front of a bar, right next to the reddy-brown dirt road that runs through the village.

"I came to vote for my freedom," he told me, before performing some major surgery on an ancient, battered radio that burst into life with a song by the Congolese musician Franco.

I asked what the reunion with his parents had been like.

"I hadn't seen them for 20 years. It's difficult to put in words but tears flowed that day," he told me.

Potential breadbasket

Largely because of the lengthy war, the south of Sudan is one of the very poorest places on earth.

John Patrick knows that starting a new country there is going to be tough but, for him, being back home is the most important thing and he seems ready to face the challenges.

"We used to have an orange farm here. It was burnt during the war but we'll start another," he said.

This part of the south of Sudan is extremely fertile and has the potential to become the breadbasket of the region.

But to say that farming could do with a bit of modernisation would be an understatement.

"We recently taught the farmers here a new practice," one aid worker told me. "It was the use of the ox-drawn plough." This place clearly has some catching up to do.

After a monumental struggle, the independence flag looks set to be hoisted here in July.

I hope I will be back to witness what will be a huge party for the people of Southern Sudan and, of course, for the cows, the chickens and the ducks.

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14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:55

A Point of View: Does more information mean we know less?

We pay a price for all the information we consume these days - and it's knowing less, says Alain de Botton.

One of the more embarrassing difficulties of our age is that most of us have quite lost the ability to concentrate, to sit still and do nothing other than focus on certain basic truths of the human condition.

The fault lies in part with our new gadgets. Thanks to our machines, of which we are generally so proud, the past decade has seen an unparalleled assault on our capacity to fix our minds steadily on anything. To sit still and think without succumbing to an anxious reach for a machine has become almost impossible.

But we can't just blame the machines. There is a deeper issue at stake - the feeling, so rife in modern secular culture, that we must constantly keep up with what is new.

The obsession with current events is relentless. We are made to feel that at any point, somewhere on the globe, something may occur to sweep away old certainties. Something that if we failed to learn about it instantaneously, could leave us wholly unable to comprehend ourselves or our fellow human beings.

Novelty

The news occupies in the secular sphere much the same position of authority that the liturgical calendar has in the religious one. Its main dispatches track the canonical hours with uncanny precision. Matins have here been transubstantiated into the breakfast bulletin and Vespers into the evening report.

The prestige of the news is founded on the unstated assumption that our lives are forever poised on the verge of a critical transformation, thanks to the two driving forces of modern history - politics and technology. The earth must therefore be latticed with fibre-optic cables, the waiting rooms of its airports filled with monitors, and the public squares of cities ribboned with the chase of stock prices.

Contrast this with how religions think of what is important. For the faiths there is seldom any need to alter insights or harvest them incrementally through news bulletins. The great stable truths can be written down on vellum or carved into stone rather than swilling malleably across hand-held screens.

For 1.6 billion Buddhists, there has been no news of world-altering significance to their faith since 483 BC. For their Christian counterparts, the critical events of history came to a close around Easter Sunday in 30 AD, while for the Jews the line was drawn a little after the destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman general Titus, in 70 AD.

Even if we do not concur with the specific messages that religions schedule for us, we can still concede that we pay a price for our promiscuous involvement with novelty. We occasionally sense the nature of our loss at the end of an evening, as we finally silence the TV after watching a report on the opening of a new railway or the tetchy conclusion to a debate over immigration.

It is then we might realise that - in attempting to follow the narrative of man's ambitious progress towards a state of technological and political perfection - we have sacrificed an opportunity to remind ourselves of eternal, quieter truths which we know about in theory, and forget to live by in practice.

Fasting

Rather than letting us constantly catch up on "news", religions prefer to keep reminding us of the same old things, according to strictly timetabled routines.

The Book of Common Prayer, for instance, decrees that its subscribers should always gather at 6.30pm in the evening on the 26th Sunday after Trinity, as the candlelight throws shadows against the chapel walls, to listen to a reading from the second section of the Book of Baruch. Just as on the 25th day of January they must always think of the Conversion of Saint Paul, and on the morning of the 2nd of July reflect on the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and imbibe the moral lessons of Job.

Machines dominate most homes

How free secular society leaves us by contrast. It expects that we will spontaneously find our way to the ideas that matter to us and gives us weekends off for consumption and recreation. Like science, it privileges discovery. It associates repetition with punitive shortage, presenting us with an incessant stream of novelty.

For example, we are enticed to go to the cinema to see a newly released film, which ends up moving us to an exquisite pitch of sensitivity, sorrow and excitement. We leave the theatre vowing to reconsider our entire lives in light of the values shown on screen, and to purge ourselves of our decadence and haste.

And yet by the following evening, after a day of meetings and aggravations, our cinematic experience is well on its way towards obliteration. Just like so much else which once impressed us, but which we soon enough came to discard - the majesty of the ruins of Ephesus, the view from Mount Sinai, that poetry recital in Edinburgh, the feelings we had after putting down Tolstoy's Death of Ivan Ilyich.

In the end, all modern artists share something of the bathetic condition of chefs, for whereas their works may not themselves erode, the responses of their audiences will. We honour the power of culture, but rarely admit with what scandalous ease we forget its individual monuments. Three months after we finish reading a masterpiece, we may struggle to remember a single scene or phrase from it.

Wisdom

Our favourite secular books do not alert us to how inadequate a one-off linear reading of them will prove. They do not identify the particular days of the year on which we ought to reconsider them as the holy books do, in the latter case with 200 others around us and an organ playing in the background.

The bible was one of the few books people used to have in the house

There is arguably as much wisdom to be found in the stories of Anton Chekhov as in the Gospels, but collections of the former are not bound with calendars reminding readers to schedule a regular review of their insights.

We are reluctant to admit that we are simply swamped with information and have lost the ability to make sense of it. For example, a moderately industrious undergraduate pursuing a degree in the humanities at the beginning of the 21st Century might run through 800 books before graduation day.

By comparison, a wealthy English family in 1250 would have counted itself fortunate to have three books in its possession, this modest library consisting of a Bible, a collection of prayers and a compendium of lives of the saints - these nevertheless costing as much as a cottage.

Elevate

If we lament our book-swamped age, it is because we sense that it is not by reading more, but by deepening and refreshing our understanding of a few volumes that we best develop our intelligence and our sensitivity.

We feel guilty for all that we have not yet read, but overlook how much better read we already are than St Augustine or Dante, thereby ignoring that our problem lies squarely with our manner of absorption rather than with the extent of our consumption.

We are often urged to celebrate not only that there are so many books to hand, but also that they are so inexpensive. Yet neither of these circumstances should necessarily be deemed unambiguous advantages. Consider the immensely costly and painstaking craftsmanship behind a pre-Gutenberg Bible - a product of a society which wished to elevate individual books into objects of extraordinary beauty so as to emphasise their spiritual and moral significance.

Though technology has rendered it more or less absurd to feel gratitude over owning a book, there remain psychological advantages in rarity. We can revere the care that goes into making a Jewish Sefer Torah, the sacred scroll of the book of Moses, a copy of which will take a single scribe a year and a half to write out by hand, on a parchment made from the hide of a ceremonially slaughtered goat which has been soaked for nine days.

We should stand to swap a few of our swiftly disintegrating paperbacks for volumes that would proclaim, though the weight and heft of their materials, the grace of their typography and the beauty of their illustrations, our desire for their contents to assume a permanent place in our hearts.

The need to diet, well accepted in relation to food, should be brought to bear on our relation to knowledge, people, and ideas. Our minds, no less than our bodies, require periods of fasting.

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- All Comments (111)

- 111. Jim
26 Minutes Ago
"Does more information mean we know less?"

The answer is obviously no because the question is phrased incorrectly, "we" should be "you". We as a collective we can digest a lot of information. You as an individual cannot, that's why we have machines to filter information for us.

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- 110. Permuted
33 Minutes Ago
This really does ramble to nowhere.

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- 109. Dan Moody
34 Minutes Ago
Information overload? No, we read more, we remember less of it but what we do remember tends to be more valuable, more useful and more important because it has to to stay in mind.

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- 108. Paul Stancer
40 Minutes Ago
Our world view is no longer packaged through the Sunday sermon of our village priest. A public police YouTube video; a military wikileak; even a politician’s expenses, mean that people do not feel morally obliged to follow instructions without question. Give me clutch of “swiftly disintegrating paperbacks” if that goes in hand with swiftly disintegrating prejudices.

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- 107. cadburykid
51 Minutes Ago
A very thoughtful, clearly-written and truthful article that deserves wider exposure. Modern society provides physical security and care for our basic needs and longevity but very little with respect to the quality of our lives. But all we have to do to regain some quality and clarity- is to get back to basics.

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:25

Australia floods: Brisbane calls on 'Blitz spirit'

By Phil Mercer BBC News, Brisbane

People are pulling together in adversity

An army of mud warriors has been mobilised in flood-hit parts of Brisbane as Australia's third city begins clearing up after one of the country's worst natural disasters.

The volunteers have answered a call to arms from civic leaders and have turned up in their thousands with an arsenal of spades, brooms and hoses.

"It hasn't really affected us where we live so when we came here it was beyond my imagination," said 12-year-old Tom Yarnold, his clothes smeared with dirt after a morning spent attacking the grime at a bridal studio.

His sister Hannah, 11, was there too, showing solidarity with those whose businesses and homes were defenceless against the surging brown floodwater that invaded Brisbane's low-lying areas.

"I've been helping get mud out of people's places," Hannah explained. "I knew it was bad, but I didn't think it would be this bad because it was really muddy and smelly."

Brisbane has desperately needed such goodwill, as have other waterlogged parts of Queensland.

The task ahead is gigantic. Every inundated room has to be cleared, scrubbed and redecorated, while furniture must be replaced and electrical systems repaired.

Multiply this by several thousand properties across more than 80 flood-damaged communities in Queensland, and the assignment appears overwhelming.

The cost of fixing damaged roads, wharfs and other infrastructure can only be guessed at.

Government aid, charity donations and help from the military will provide the backbone of the recovery effort, but zest from the community will be needed in the hard months ahead.

"Some of the scenes we've been seeing today were like people saw in the Blitz back in the war days in Britain - piles of furniture and everybody out on the ground helping. It is a phenomenal coming together," said Sam Yarnold, who migrated to Brisbane from Hampshire with her children five years ago.

Memories of '74

On Haig Road in the city's Auchenflower district, one of many suburbs left stained by the floods, an earth-mover dumps household debris into lorries while volunteers brush, scrape and shovel what's left into plastic bags as the fire brigade's high-pressure hoses dislodge the sludge that has carpeted entire streets.

Tennis courts nearby are immersed in thick goo as yet more rubbish, this time a sodden leather sofa, is carted from a ruined house. To keep energy and enthusiasm levels up, free food is handed out and there's live music too from the Dave Dowell Four, a local ensemble that chirps away next to a tent set up by a church group barbecuing sausages.

A short distance away, cleaning is well under way at Joe Mangano's property, which already reeks of decay, its timber bones infiltrated by contaminated silt, as they were back in 1974 during the last big flood here.

"We talk about computers and how much memory they've got but the human brain is amazing. As soon as that stench arrived it took me back to when I was seven. It will stink for months," said Mr Mangano.

He has no plans to sell-up and retreat from this saturated riverside suburb, preferring instead to take his chances against the threat of Australia's notoriously wild weather.

"You've got to move on and look forward," he told the BBC.

Australia seems to be hard-wired to cope with floods, bushfires and droughts. Alan Grieve, a Baptist Church pastor, believes that Brisbane will be strong enough to handle this disaster but will have to remain vigilant.

"This is a flood plain and it is bound to happen again sometime. Some folks will give up and move on to higher ground and others will say 'Let's start again,'" he said. "As Aussies we won't be beaten - we'll get up and go again."

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:19

Roman rise and fall 'recorded in trees'

By Mark Kinver Science and environment reporter, BBC News

The study offers a link between changes to the climate and the rise and fall of human societies

An extensive study of tree growth rings says there could be a link between the rise and fall of past civilisations and sudden shifts in Europe's climate.

A team of researchers based their findings on data from 9,000 wooden artifacts from the past 2,500 years.

They found that periods of warm, wet summers coincided with prosperity, while political turmoil occurred during times of climate instability.

The findings have been published online by the journal Science.

"Looking back on 2,500 years, there are examples where climate change impacted human history," co-author Ulf Buntgen, a paleoclimatologist at the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape, told the Science website.

Ring record

The team capitalised on a system used to date material unearthed during excavations.

"Archaeologists have developed oak ring width chronologies from Central Europe that cover nearly the entire Holocene and have used them for the purpose of dating artefacts, historical buildings, antique artwork and furniture," they wrote.

"Chronologies of living and relict oaks may reflect distinct patterns of summer precipitation and drought."

The team looked at how weather over the past couple of centuries affected living trees' growth rings.

During good growing seasons, when water and nutrients are in plentiful supply, trees form broad rings, with their boundaries relatively far apart.

But in unfavourable conditions, such as drought, the rings grow in much tighter formation.

The researchers then used this data to reconstruct annual weather patterns from the growth rings preserved in the artefacts.

Once they had developed a chronology stretching back over the past 2,500 years, they identified a link with prosperity levels in past societies, such as the Roman Empire.

"Wet and warm summers occurred during periods of Roman and medieval prosperity. Increased climate variability from 250-600 AD coincided with the demise of the western Roman empire and the turmoil of the migration period," the team reported.

"Distinct drying in the 3rd Century paralleled a period of serious crisis in the western Roman empire marked by barbarian invasion, political turmoil and economic dislocation in several provinces of Gaul."

Dr Buntgen explained: "We were aware of these super-big data sets, and we brought them together and analyzed them in a new way to get the climate signal.

"If you have enough wood, the dating is secure. You just need a lot of material and a lot of rings."

14 January 2011 Last updated at 19:00

2011 'year of rockets' for Europe

By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News, Paris

The new Vega launcher will be the smallest of the three rockets

Twenty-eleven will be the "year of launchers", says European Space Agency director-general Jean-Jacques Dordain.

Europe expects to have three different rockets operating from its French Guiana spaceport in the coming months.

The workhorse Ariane 5 will be joined by the Russian Soyuz vehicle and a new small launcher called Vega.

At his annual Paris press conference to preview the year ahead, Mr Dordain said this represented a major change in the way Esa conducted its space activities.

And he told the BBC everyone might be surprised at how complex an undertaking this would be.

"For 30 years we have exploited one launcher, the best launcher in the world, Ariane - but it was one launcher," he explained.

"From this year, we will exploit three launchers in parallel - Ariane, Soyuz and Vega. It will introduce some constraints because the traffic will be much heavier from [the spaceport], and I'm not so sure we've yet totally understood the constraints which are linked to the exploitation of three launchers instead of one."

A completely new launch facility has been constructed for Soyuz in French Guiana, allowing the Russian-built vehicle to shift some of its operations to the European spaceport from its traditional home of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The launch complex will have its qualification review in April with the expectation that the first Soyuz lift-off occur sometime between 15 August and 15 September. The rocket will carry into orbit two spacecraft for Europe's Galileo satellite-navigation system.

Vega will use the old Ariane 1, 2 and 3 pad, which has been renovated for the purpose.

Both the pad and the rocket system itself will have to get through a review process before being cleared to launch. Only when that process is complete will a maiden flight date be set, but it should be in the second half of the year.

Because Vega is a brand new design, the payload opportunity has been given to some small, inexpensive scientific spacecraft rather than to high-value institutional or commercial ventures.

With three different rockets in its stable, the South American spaceport is going to be extremely busy. Launches could be occurring at the rate of about one a month in future.

Soyuz has had a near-copy of its Baikonur facility built in the South American jungle

The performance of the company operating these systems is a matter to be addressed by Esa member-states in the coming weeks.

Arianespace, based at Evry near Paris, sells Europe's rocket services. It is currently losing money and is looking for a cash injection from European governments.

Mr Dordain said Esa member-states wanted more information first on the financial status of the company and a clearer understanding of the costs of building the Ariane 5 before committing to an aid package.

"If needed, if needed," the director-general stressed. "The member-states are ready to make the exploitation sustainable, not because this is a commercial market. This is not the objective.

"The objective is to make sure the Ariane 5 is there for their own government needs. That should not be misunderstood. This is not a contribution of the member-states to a commercial business; this is a contribution of the member-states to the guarantee of access to space," he told BBC News.

The matter will come up at the March Council Meeting of Esa. This same meeting will also have to resolve European funding for the International Space Station (ISS).

Although philosophically committed to the extension of ISS operations from 2015 to 2020, Esa member-states have yet to put a financial framework in place to make it happen.

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:02

Brazil floods: Rain hampers rescue effort

Scores of graves have been rapidly dug in Teresopolis where more than 220 people died

Emergency crews in Brazil are struggling to reach areas affected by deadly mudslides and floods because of renewed rainfall.

Officials say more than 500 people are known to have died in the floods - the country's worst in decades.

Local media reported rescuers had to reach worst-hit areas on foot because vehicles cannot cross blocked roads.

Mountainous areas north of Rio de Janeiro have been hit by the heaviest downpours in 44 years.

The rain caused rivers of mud to rush down the mountains and tear through towns, levelling houses and throwing cars over buildings.

More than 5,000 people have been left homeless, and officials said at least 511 people had died.

Forecasters have warned that the steady rainfall in the area will continue into next week.

Emergency crews say the weather is causing severe problems.

"The rain did not stop at dawn and is continuing in the morning, which is making the rescue efforts more difficult," fireman Lt Rubens Placido told Reuters news agency from the town of Nova Friburgo.

"The number of deaths is going to rise quite a bit. There are still a lot of people buried."

TV footage showed heavy equipment clearing toppled trees and rubble from streets strewn with broken asphalt.

Morgues were overflowing and had to store bodies in churches and police stations, local media reported.

In the largest cemetery in Teresopolis - where more than 220 died - rows of freshly dug graves were marked with simple wooden crosses. Other graveyards were either full or buried under mud.

The death toll has now surpassed the devastating 1967 mudslides in Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo state, in which about 430 people died.

Politicians including President Dilma Rousseff have highlighted the practice of people illegally building homes on the side of mountains.

She has vowed to stop such a disaster happening again, and has earmarked 780m reais ($480m; £296m) in emergency funding for the affected areas.

The BBC's Paulo Cabral in Teresopolis says the soil on the hillsides is still extremely wet and unstable, so even a small quantity of water could be enough to cause new disasters.

He says rescue teams are working around the clock searching for survivors, but in most cases they only find bodies under the mud.

There have also been reports of looting, and some of the worst-affected districts have now been abandoned.

The Brazilian military have brought in a field hospital and hundreds of people have taken refuge in the gymnasium in Teresopolis.

But the number of injured was threatening to overwhelm the medical services.

Jorge Mario, mayor of Teresopolis, said three or four neighbourhoods had been "totally destroyed".

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Astronomy professor suggests zodiac signs are wrong

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:18 Help

A Minneapolis astronomy professor has suggested that the zodiac system, based on "2,000-year-old information", is all wrong.

Parke Kunkle said the Earth's wobbly orbit means it is no longer aligned to the stars in the same way as when the signs of the zodiac were first conceived.

Professor Kunkle's explanation has become an internet sensation with people panicking on social network sites about what the changes mean for their star sign.

Shelley Ackerman, spokeswoman for American Federation of Astrologers, has been inundated with emails from concerned clients, but she advises them not to over-react.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 00:02

Profile update: Your teacher has now joined Facebook

By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter

Children use modern technology without thinking about it.

For children e-mail is "something your dad does" and their search engine of choice is as likely to be YouTube as Google.

But with many of the disruptive technologies that drip-feed children in their leisure hours banned within school buildings, what hope do teachers have of engaging their tech-savvy pupils?

At Bedford Primary School in Liverpool, social networking is embraced as part of the daily routine of school and learning.

It has joined Radiowaves, a dedicated school-based social network, which now boasts 13,000 schools in 22 countries.

For assistant head teacher Amy Barton, social media has to be part of the curriculum.

"Social media is challenging the traditional view of teaching. You can't get away from it, we've got to teach it," she said.

School websites have traditionally been set up to inform parents but tend not to be the destination of choice for pupils. It is very different at Bedford where children see their Radiowaves pages as "their website".

These days any visitor to Bedford School needs be prepared for the full multi-media onslaught of the under-11s as they interview, record and photograph every moment for inclusion on the site.

The platform allows for images, audio, video, blogs and podcasts to be uploaded and shared, either just within the school, with other schools on the Radiowaves network or with the larger world, including parents.

The site has attracted the attention of the British Council which has seen the potential for forging real and long-lasting links with schools around the world, beyond the occasional fuzzy video link-up.

Radiowaves is offering schools safe social networking

It has recently funded four pupils from Bedford Primary School to visit schools in China. Every moment was recorded in a video diary and viewed back in Liverpool via Radiowaves.

Twitcam

Chris Hague is one of the directors of Radiowaves.

"We set up at a time when schools were shutting the door on social networks, we were saying that they needed to embrace them," he said.

"Our first priority was to make sure it was safe."

All external comments are monitored by Radiowaves staff and take-down of anything considered inappropriate, such as a pupil publishing personal details about themselves is taken down immediately.

Using such technology helps children understand ICT lessons, he thinks.

"Kids get excited when they have a microphone in their hands or make a video or a blog entry. It makes sense of ICT in the school," he said.

Many schools still block access to YouTube, Facebook, instant messaging and other technologies that are the favourite haunts of young people.

But the tide could be turning, thinks Professor Stephen Heppell, a leading educationalist who has been advocating the use of radical technology in schools for years.

"Half of schools have now unblocked YouTube. Five years ago it was one in every 1,000," he said.

Twitter has been playing a valuable role in one of the projects he is currently working on - to prepare children in Year Six of primary school for the transition to secondary school.

He has linked children up with their contemporaries in Australia who are currently on summer holidays, ahead of their first term at secondary school.

The link-up has also allowed the UK pupils to get first-hand accounts of the current floods affecting Brisbane.

Twitter can be a valuable resource for teachers too and Prof Heppell has recently set up a project known as Twitcam, which allows new teachers to post videos of themselves teaching and invite comments on what they were doing right and wrong from more experienced practitioners.

He thinks that teachers should also set up Facebook profiles, an account which should be quite separate from any personal Facebook pages.

"They can call themselves something related to the subject they teach such as 'Geography Steve' or use another form of Miss such as Missy as Facebook doesn't allow Mr or Mrs titles," he said.

Although Facebook generally frowns on users creating two accounts, it has actively encouraged teachers who have wanted to do it, according to Prof Heppell.

Collaborative working

Teachers setting up Facebook accounts should not befriend pupils, rather allow the children to take the initiative, Prof Heppell advises. They should not read their pupils' Facebook pages and should never chat via instant message.

But for giving children reminders about things such as impending exams, offering a space for informal chats outside of the traditional school environment and allowing parents and children to keep up with school news at a time and place that suits them, Facebook is invaluable, thinks Prof Heppell.

That kind of scenario could alarm some teachers who do not want to blur the boundaries between school and personal life and certainly would not welcome the idea of having their teaching scrutinised on Twitter.

There is also a huge fear among teachers that children are simply far more knowledgeable when it comes to technology.

This might not necessarily be so, thinks Prof Heppell.

"Children today may be able to get around a school' s proxy servers to access the sites they want, but they lack the deeper understanding of how a computer works. They use computers but they can't often control them," he said.

He argues that programming needs to make a return to schools, in the way it did when the user-unfriendly machines of the 1980s forced users to learn some basic programming.

For Chris Baker, an ICT teacher at the John Cabot Academy, a comprehensive school in Bristol, teaching programming is likely to "alienate many of the pupils". For him ICT is all about equipping students with skills that they will use in other lessons.

"We show them show to use Google Docs and then they use them in Spanish lessons, writing in Spanish and collaborating with pupils in Spain who mark their work," he said.

And that is likely to scare the traditionalist teachers even more.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:03

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

Susannah York won a Bafta and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar

British actress Susannah York has died at the age of 72 after suffering from cancer, her son has said.

She appeared in film, TV and theatre during a career which began in the 1960s.

She was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and won a Bafta for the same role.

Her son Orlando Wells told the Telegraph newspaper that she was "an absolutely fantastic mother".

"She loved nothing more than cooking a good Sunday roast and sitting around a fire of a winter's evening. In some sense, she was quite a home girl. Both Sasha [Orlando's sister] and I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a mother.''

MP and former actress Glenda Jackson, who starred with York in the 1974 production of The Maids, paid tribute, saying her death "came as a big shock".

"She seemed too young to go," she added. "We worked very well together.

"It was a very interesting production and she was very easy to work with."

British film director Richard Bracewell, who worked with York in his first film, The Gigolos, in 2006, described her as "a pussycat".

"She was an absolute pleasure, a joy to work with, to prepare the film with," he said.

"But then, like a cat, the moment the camera was on her, the moment the film was turning, she leapt into life and she absolutely grabbed the screen, absolutely electrifying the moment the camera was turning over."

Holby and Casualty

York graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1958, winning the Ronson Award for most promising student.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? followed the contestants in a gruelling dance marathon and also starred Jane Fonda.

Susannah York received an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

York was apparently angry at having been nominated for the Oscar without being asked, but did attend the ceremony.

She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Alice.

News editor at Empire Magazine, Chris Hewitt, said she "came to fame" in Tom Jones, opposite Albert Finney, in 1963, and was "amazing" in The Killing of Sister George in 1968.

More recently, she appeared in the BBC dramas Holby City and Casualty.

In later years she also featured as Superman's mother in three Superman movies, and wrote two children's books.

"She was a very versatile actress, she liked to switch roles, and never do the same thing twice," Hewitt said.

Outside her professional work, she was a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and Mordechai Vanunu, the technician imprisoned for 18 years for revealing Israel's secret nuclear programme.

BBC News website readers have been sending their memories of Susannah York:

When I was a kid (street urchin) in the 60s she used to live in the same street as me (Seaton Street, Chelsea, now demolished) and on Saturdays I would wash her car, a little Fiat. She would say to me "there are some sweets in the glove compartment" and after I had completed the job (badly) she gave me a fiver, that was a lot of money for a 10-year-old in the 60s, and she was a film star at the time. Lovely lady.

Thomas Casey, London, UK

I had the pleasure of interviewing Susannah York for local radio 96fm many years ago. She was an absolute lady and one of the most gracious guests I have ever met.

Elmarie Tallon, Cork, Ireland

During the making of the Film Gold in the 1970's I worked for Hemdale Film Distributors in London. Susannah York and Roger Moore would phone our Publicity Department from Pinewood Studios. Susannah always had time for people. An absolutely splendid actress. Sadly missed.

Sally White, Kyle Of Lochalsh, UK

I was so very fortunate to be in The Women with Susannah at The Old Vic. The first time I saw her backstage I realised what star quality was. She glowed. On stage and off, she shone like pure gold.

Calvin Dean, London, UK

I was at school with Susie (Fletcher then) at Wispers School Midhurst Sussex. Remember fondly great giggling together, parents day meeting her mum etc. also seeing her at RADA (my cousin Ken Campbell was a year behind her). Seeing her in a few early stage appearances. Also remember her taking the lead in school play before we knew she would be so famous! So sad to read of her death - when I'm in the UK I see a couple of "old" Wisperians and we often talk about Susie, she will continue to be in our minds for years to come.

Christine Cornfoot/Van Sickle, Erie, Colorado, USA

I was at school in Bedford when a lot of the Battle of Britain dog fight shots were filmed above our school playing fields. I was also in the ATC, (Air Training Corps). Us air cadets were given a free viewing of the film and I fell in love with this wonderful lady. The first time I'd realised that a young boy was close to becoming a man. Have loved her ever since. It's a sad loss.

Malcolm Woolf, Corby, UK

I met Susannah out dog walking on Clapham Common. She always asked how my fledgling acting career was going and remembered the details of what I had told her with care and interest. Whatever role she was playing she relished and respected and never took her career for granted. A lovely lady. She was so proud of her children and loved her beautiful dog, Oscar.

Andrew Macbean, London, UK

I was Susannah's stand-in pilot when Gold was being shot in South Africa and fortunately was her size to fit into her bright pink flying suit for the exciting flying sequences being filmed in the Waterberg canyon. Nick Turvey the well-known aerobatic champ did the flying sequences for Roger Moore. I'm saddened to learn of Susannah's death at so young an age.

Libby Stark, London, UK

I first Ms York when she played Joss, the young woman in 'The Greengage Summer' with Kenneth More and Jane Asher. I was very, very impressed with her. I also saw her in Oxford where she appeared in 'The Wings of a Dove'. After that, I never saw her in a bad film, play or television programme. My only regret is that she did not make more Hollywood films - she should have, and would have been a true 'star'. I thought her 'amazingly' beautiful as a young woman, always an interesting person when interviewed, and someone to be admired and charmed by as she aged. I am happy to learn that she was loved by her children - so many 'stars' are not. It is tragic that she died at such a relatively young age.

Charles Jenkins, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

I had the pleasure of bringing breakfast to Susannah on my morning shift as a young boy at Gleneagles hotel in 1969, I was only 15 and taking breakfast to her was a shy moment for me as she was so attractive. She sat up in bed and smiled. She was making a movie with Peter O' Toole and always left a tip. Rest in peace.

Marty, Liverpool, UK

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:45

Golden Globes to kick off race for Oscars

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

Signs promoting the Golden Globe awards can be seen on the streets of Los Angeles

The Hollywood awards season kicks off later with the Golden Globes, where British film The King's Speech leads the pack with seven nominations.

The Social Network and The Fighter follow with six nominations apiece.

Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes are first major film awards of the year.

Comedian Ricky Gervais is to host the ceremony, beginning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 1700 LA time (0100GMT).

Television shows are also celebrated at the gala, where the prizes are divided between dramas and comedies or musicals.

High school comedy Glee has the most nominations for a TV show, having been shortlisted in five categories.

Colin Firth, who plays a monarch battling a stammer in The King's Speech, is widely expected to win the best actor in a drama prize.

The 50-year-old is one of four actors in his category nominated for playing real people.

Jesse Eisenberg is also in contention for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as is James Franco for playing climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours.

Wahlberg completes the quartet for his performance in The Fighter, a film about US boxer Micky Ward.

The biopic has additional acting nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, while its director David O Russell is also up for a prize.

In the best actress in a drama category, Natalie Portman has received a nod for her role in Darren Aronofsky's ballet-based Black Swan.

Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Williams are also in contention for that award.

Films up for best musical or comedy include Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids are All Right and The Tourist.

Johnny Depp has landed two nominations in the best actor in a comedy or musical category, for Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist.

Glee's competition for the best TV comedy or musical prize includes 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory amd Modern Family.

Ricky Gervais returns to host the ceremony for a second consecutive year

Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Good Wife and Mad Men vie for the best TV drama series award with zombie thriller The Walking Dead.

The Globes have traditionally been solid indicator as to which films and stars will be recognised at the Academy Awards.

Yet in the last six years, the only winner of a Globe for best drama that went on to Oscar success was 2008's Slumdog Millionaire.

Last year Avatar was feted at the Globes, only to be beaten at the Oscars by Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.

However, all four of last year's Oscar-winning actors - Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique - were also successful at the Globes.

Gervais's first stint as host in 2010 saw the British comedian take gentle jabs at the Hollywood glitterati.

Earlier this week, though, the Office and Extras star said he didn't think he "went far enough".

"So I'm going to do it again [and] do a proper job," he continued. "And I guarantee they will not invite me back."

This year's Bafta nominations are announced on Tuesday, with Oscar nominations to follow on 25 January.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 01:54

Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg

Doctors said Gabor is in "frail health" after having her right leg amputated

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg, which was infected with gangrene, has been amputated in a life-saving surgery her doctors have deemed a success.

She is in "frail health" and will be closely monitored in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr David Rigberg said.

Gabor was hospitalised on 2 January after attempts to save her leg with antibiotics proved unsuccessful.

The 93-year-old has been admitted to hospital a number of times since breaking her hip in July.

"Ms Gabor needed an amputation above her knee due to poor circulation and a large ulcerated area on her right leg," said Dr Rigberg, an associate professor of vascular surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"The surgery today went well, however, she is in frail health so we will continue to monitor her closely," he said, adding that after consulting with Ms Gabor's husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, he felt amputation was the best decision.

Multiple hospital visits

Gabor had been hospitalised several times for swelling in her legs and blood clots throughout her body, following a hip replacement surgery this summer.

She was readmitted to hospital in the new year because a wound in her right leg had grown and "wasn't healing any more", her publicist John Blanchette said earlier this month.

Gabor had reportedly been bedridden in recent months.

She was in critical condition and had asked for a priest during a trip to the hospital in August, but Gabor soon recovered and was sent home.

The veteran actress was partially paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffered a stroke in 2005, forcing her to use a wheelchair.

Gabor starred in the films Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil and Queen of Outer Space, among others.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:58

Meat Loaf and La Toya set for US Celebrity Apprentice

La Toya Jackson and Meat Loaf will compete in business-oriented tasks to raise money for charity

Singers Meat Loaf and La Toya Jackson are among the stars vying to become Donald Trump's latest Celebrity Apprentice.

Contenders for the US charity version of the show, hosted by the business tycoon, also include former teen idol David Cassidy and actor Gary Busey.

Deaf Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin and singer Dionne Warwick have also signed up to appear.

Poison singer Bret Michaels won the show last year.

Retired baseball player Jose Canseco and US TV personality Star Jones will be others hoping to hear "You're Hired!" while raising money for their chosen charity.

So will NeNe Leakes and Richard Hatch, from reality shows Survivor and The Real Housewives of Atlanta respectively.

Soap actress Lisa Rinna, supermodel Niki Taylor, rapper Lil Jon, country singer John Rich and model Hope Dworaczyk complete the line-up.

Previous winners of the show include comedienne Joan Rivers and former Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan.

The show - which sees its participants compete in business-oriented tasks - begins on 6 March on US network NBC.

New Beatles museum opens in Argentina

16 January 2011 Last updated at 02:29 Help

The world's biggest collection of Beatles memorabilia has gone on show at a new museum in Argentina.

It is the life's work of Rodolfo Vazquez, who began collecting at the age of 10.

Anna Holligan has the story.

King's Speech actor, Colin Firth's parents on the star

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:04 Help

The King's Speech is nominated for a raft of Golden Globe Awards this weekend. Jonathan Maitland profiles one of its stars, Colin Firth who has just been given a much-coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The actor came to prominence playing Darcy in the BBC adaption of Pride & Prejudice.

His career has been one of the most successful and eclectic of recent years. It has mixed serious roles in Tom Ford's A Single Man and Michael Winterbottom's Genoa with Phyllida Lloyd's Mamma Mia and the reprisal of Mr Darcy in the Bridget Jones films.

Shirley and David Firth talk about their son's early promise.

This edition of BBC Radio 4's Profile was first broadcast on Saturday 15 January 2011. You can also subscribe to the podcast.

Read more

- King's Speech tops UK box office

Dench: 'You get to boss James Bond'

16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:46 Help

In a rare interview with the Oscar winning actress, Dame Judi Dench talks to Andrew Marr about playing M in the James Bond films.

She told him it was "pretty cool".

Back to the Andrew Marr Show website

Actress Susannah York dies

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:05 Help

The actress Susannnah York has died aged 72, after suffering from cancer.

She was best known for her work in the 1960s, and won an Oscar nomination for her role in 'They Shoot Horses Don't They'.

In recent years she'd concentrated on theatre, but also took a leading role in the BBC drama Holby City.

David Sillito reports.

Read more

- Actress Susannah York dies at 72

- In pictures: Susannah York

Actor Keanu Reeves discusses guns in movies

15 January 2011 Last updated at 10:53 Help

Actor Keanu Reeves says he believes it is difficult to link gun violence in movies to violence in society.

The American actor was speaking to the BBC on the release of his new film, 'Henry's Crime' in which he plays a bank robber who pointedly does not use any guns for his heists.

When if comes to violence in his own movies, the star of the Matrix films says "I'm not going to be frivolous with it, I'm not going to be pornographic with it" but also said he doesn't think a film can be linked to violent crimes committed.

Read more

- Keanu Reeves: Not so ordinary a career

- Stars pay tribute to actor Swayze

Meet the author: Kishwar Desa

14 January 2011 Last updated at 21:41 Help

In the last of his interviews with the authors shortlisted for this year's Costa book of the year award, Nick Higham meets Kishwar Desai.

She won the Costa first novel award for the first in a planned series of books about an unconventional part-time investigator, Simran Singh, a 40-something, unmarried social worker.

Magazine

BBC News Magazine: in-depth features on topical issues plus a round-up of UK newspapers, your letters and a daily mini-quiz.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:34

Miliband environmental worries over BP Arctic oil deal

The Deepwater Horizon blast cost BP billions during 2010

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, has voiced concern over BP's deal with Russian energy firm Rosneft.

A deal was signed on Friday to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

Environmental campaigners have criticised the plans, with Greenpeace saying BP had learned nothing from its failures in last year's Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mr Miliband said finding alternative forms of energy was the way ahead.

'Clean way'

The former climate change secretary was speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

"I'd be pretty worried about this," Mr Miliband said.

"I think that the lesson of the Deepwater Horizon, the Gulf oil spill, should be that... the task for all of us, private companies, government and so on, is not to just keep digging and digging deeper and deeper for oil.

"It is actually to find those alternative forms of energy that can help us move forward in a clean way."

Continental shelf

The "strategic global alliance" between BP and Rosneft will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring Russia's Arctic region.

The firms will explore in three areas - known as EPNZ 1,2,3 - on the Russian Arctic continental shelf.

The areas covers 125,000 square kilometres in an area of the South Kara Sea.

As part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.

'Back door'

But environmental group Greenpeace criticised the deal.

"BP has done little to address the issues raised by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, while last year the Greenland government refused to grant drilling concessions to the company because it wasn't convinced BP has rigorous enough safety protocols," said Charlie Kronick of Greenpeace.

"Now BP has bought its way into the Arctic by the back door.

"It seems the company learned nothing last year in the Gulf of Mexico."

'Lessons learned'

The Rosneft tie-up is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill last year, which cost it billions.

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has hailed the agreement as a groundbreaking development.

And, referring to the Deepwater Horizon blast BP boss Bob Dudley has said that the firm "learned many lessons over the past year".

BP had a terrible 2010 with the Gulf of Mexico spill costing them at least $40bn.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:15

Fiat: Turin plant workers accept new conditions

The unions had been divided over the deal at the Mirafiori plant

Workers at a Fiat car plant in Italy have voted to accept changes to working conditions, in a deal that could have widespread implications for industrial relations in the country.

The changes at the Mirafiori factory in Turin include longer hours, cuts in benefits, and limits on strikes.

Fiat's management described them as essential and had threatened to invest abroad if the deal was rejected.

Unions have called the deal "shameful", saying it takes away workers' rights.

Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne has said the new conditions are crucial to reforming the ailing car maker.

He also said the firm would perform better without its loss-making Italian plants.

The changes were accepted by 54% of those who voted in the referendum at the Mirafiori factory.

The left-wing Fiom, which opposed the deal, said a deciding factor was support from white-collar workers.

The BBC Duncan Kennedy in Rome says that by forging an agreement for an individual plant, Fiat has broken Italy's tradition of national negotiations.

The changes also brings Italy closer to other countries like the UK and Germany, where more flexible deals have been in place for many years, our correspondent adds.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:24

More farms closed in Germany as dioxin scare continues

Excessive levels of dioxin were found in pork, eggs and chicken

Germany has closed 934 more poultry and pig farms as fears over the contamination of dioxin in animal feed continue.

The move came after a manufacturer in Lower Saxony was found to have hidden some of the outlets it sold produce to.

Farms were closed in Lower Saxony as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Brandenburg.

The scandal began last week after high levels of dioxin, known to cause cancer, were found in eggs and pork.

As a result, 100,000 eggs were destroyed and thousands of farms were closed, although most have since been allowed to resume operations.

'Scandal within scandal'

Officials in Lower Saxony say they have opened an investigation after they discovered that the manufacturer had not revealed a full list of all of the companies it had made deliveries to.

"This is a scandal within the scandal," Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said.

The ministry says that products from these farms, mostly eggs, may have been sold since, but stressed that "consumption of these goods does not pose a health risk" due to the low contamination level.

Dioxins, which are found at low levels in many foods, do not cause immediate health problems but long-term exposure to high levels has been shown to cause a range of effects, including cancer.

The origin of the contamination has been traced to a distributor in the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, where oils intended for use in bio-fuels were accidentally distributed for animal feed.

The scandal prompted South Korea and China to ban imports of German pork and poultry.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:32

Tourists trapped in Chile due to fuel price strikes

By Gideon Long BBC News, Santiago

The protests and road blocks have brought the region to a standstill

Thousands of foreign tourists are trapped in southern Chile due to strikes and road blockades by locals protesting a rise in fuel prices.

The tourists, some of whom have been stuck for four days, had hoped to leave for neighbouring Argentina, but have reportedly been turned back.

The strike was sparked by a government plan to hike gas prices by nearly 17%.

The move has brought the region to a standstill and led to clashes with police, who responded with tear gas.

On Tuesday, two young women were killed when a truck smashed through a blockade.

'Turned back'

About 2,000 tourists are stuck in the cities of Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, in the deep south of Patagonia.

Most of the tourists, who come from more than 20 countries, had been visiting the majestic Torres del Paine national park, Chile's biggest tourist attraction and a popular destination for hikers.

The demonstrators say they have now relaxed the blockades to allow tourists to leave.

But one American tourist, speaking to the BBC from Puerto Natales, said that when the first group of foreigners had tried to leave for Argentina, they had been turned back.

The Red Cross is assisting tourists, and the Chilean military is on hand to maintain order.

Several foreign governments have advised their citizens not to travel to southern Chile, and some embassies have put pressure on the government in Santiago to resolve the issue.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:29

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

BP's chief executive Bob Dudley: ''This is a historic moment for BP''

BP has signed a joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

The "strategic global alliance" will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring the region.

As part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.

It is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill last year, which cost it billions.

The BP shares stake is worth just under $8bn (£5bn).

"BP executives see this as the first piece of good news since that disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last April," said the BBC's business editor Robert Peston.

But he said the deal was a controversial one, with Russia not seen as an entirely transparent society nor as as a stable place to do business.

'Historic'

"This unique agreement underlines our long-term, strategic and deepening links with the world's largest hydrocarbon-producing nation," said BP's chief executive Bob Dudley.

He said the "historic" deal would "create value, deliver growth, and meet the world's demand for energy".

Mr Dudley said the agreement would meet the needs of consumers, shareholders and governments.

The firms will explore in three areas - known as EPNZ 1,2,3 - on the Russian Arctic continental shelf.

The areas covers 125,000 square kilometres in an area of the South Kara Sea.

"Our future joint venture will utilize the experience and expertise of BP, one of the leaders in the global oil and gas industry," said Rosneft's President, Eduard Khudainatov.

"This project is unique in its complexity and scale both for Russia and the global oil and gas industry. We see it as the next step in developing our relations with BP."

'Unexplored'

Referring to the Deepwater Horizon blast Mr Dudley said that the firm had "learned many lessons over the past year".

He also said the Russian deal had not been precipitated by the backlash it had experienced in the US because of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Since the rig disaster in the US Gulf of Mexico BP has been disposing of assets.

Mr Dudley is the former chief executive of Russian joint venture TNK-BP, and was forced out of the country in 2008 after falling out with other shareholders.

But he said he was pleased to now be working with Rosneft in "one of the world's last remaining unexplored basins".

"We are today building a relationship between BP and Rosneft that has been forged over 12 years but going far beyond anything that has gone before," he said.

"We are creating an entirely new strategic alliance between what I know are two great companies."

Joint research

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne: ''It's a ground-breaking deal''

BP and Rosneft have also agreed to set-up an Arctic technology centre in Russia which will work with Russian and international research institutes to develop technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbon resources from the Arctic shelf.

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne hailed the agreement as a groundbreaking development.

"From what we know, it sounds like it's potentially good for BP," said Phil Weiss, analyst at New York equities firm Argus Research.

"BP gets access to resources, Rosneft gets access to expertise and knowledge."

However in the US Congressman Edward Markey, who is leading Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called for a review of the deal by US regulators.

Return to profit

BP had a terrible 2010 with the Gulf of Mexico spill, which is going to cost them at least $40bn.

But in November BP announced it was back in profit in the three months to September after last quarter' s record loss.

The firm said its replacement cost profit for the period was $1.85bn (£1.15bn), as against the $17bn loss recorded from April to June.

The previous loss reflected the massive costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:43

Landsbanki executives arrested in Iceland

Mr Arnason has been detained until 25 January

Police in Iceland have arrested the former boss of failed bank Landsbanki and another senior executive.

Former chief executive Sigurjon Arnason and Ivar Gudjonsson, ex-head of the bank's investments arm, were held on allegations of market manipulation.

Prosecutor Olafur Thor Hauksson has been investigating alleged crimes in the lead-up to Iceland's bank collapse in 2008.

He has also been probing insider trading allegations at the bank.

No cases have yet been brought to trial.

Widespread probe

A municipal court judge has remanded Mr Arnason and Mr Gudjonsson in custody until 25 January and 21 January respectively.

Landsbanki and Iceland's other main commercial banks collapsed under the weight of huge debts amassed over years of aggressive overseas expansion, bringing the country's economy to its knees.

This week Mr Hauksson said he was questioning seven former Landsbanki executives after searches were carried out at three buildings in Reykjavik.

In 2009 the ex-boss of collapsed bank Kaupthing became the first high-profile banker to be detained in connection with the investigation.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:06

Thomson ordered to pay damages to sick Spain tourists

The Thomson tourists fell ill at a resort in Majorca in 2003

A judge has ruled that one of the UK's largest tour operators should have warned holidaymakers about an outbreak of illness at a Spanish resort.

The judge said that Thomson, which is now part of the larger European Tui group, was liable for damages.

The case involved claims of personal injury by holidaymakers who stayed at the Son Baulo Hotel in Majorca in 2003.

Thomson said it had been "criticised for not meeting a standard that was impossible to meet".

The claimants contracted either salmonella or cryptosporidium during their stays at the hotel between 7 June and 19 September 2003.

Some of them have suffered long-term health problems as a result.

The cryptosporidium bug was caught from water in the swimming pool and the salmonella from poorly prepared food.

Judge Worster at Birmingham County Court ruled that Thomson ought to have warned its guests about the outbreak at the hotel before they travelled, in order to give them an opportunity to either rebook or cancel, but had failed to do so.

The law firm representing the 49 Thomson customers, Irwin Mitchell, said that this would set an important legal precedent recognising a tour operator's duty to warn potential guests.

Faeces

Among those affected was Carrie Dickens, from East Sussex, whose 13-year-old son George was taken seriously ill during their stay at the Son Baulo and was finally diagnosed with cryptosporidium and salmonella at their local hospital in Brighton.

Ms Dickens said: "The conditions at the hotel were appalling. The toilets were filthy, the swimming pools had faeces floating in them and meat and egg dishes were undercooked."

The group came from different areas of the UK, with the majority, 20, from Cambridgeshire. Eight were from the South East, six from London, six from the West Midlands, five from the South West and four from Wales.

Thomson accepted its liability in the salmonella cases in September of last year, but argued that in the cases of cryptosporidium, it could not have done more to get rid of the illness from the resort.

'Commercial considerations'

"There are obvious and foreseeable risks for guests, particularly for children," Judge Worster said in his ruling.

"The attitude that the travel company knows best is (as this case demonstrates) misconceived.

"I formed the view that the decision was probably largely motivated by commercial considerations," he said.

Clive Garner, head of the travel law team at Irwin Mitchell, said: "What truly beggars belief is that, as the trial judge himself found, Tui knew there was an issue, knew people were falling very seriously ill, but chose to carry on sending people there knowing that there was a risk they too would end up very ill indeed."

Those affected will be told how much compensation they will be offered next month.

Thomson said: "We are very disappointed with the decision as we sincerely believe that we did everything in our power to safeguard our customers' wellbeing at the time."

The company said the real winners would be "the no-win-no-fee solicitors involved".

Clive Garner said a court case could have been avoided: "Many of our clients question why Tui UK did not agree to pay compensation years earlier, avoiding the need for legal action.

"The total sums payable would have been significantly lower had Tui accepted our repeated requests for them to admit liability and negotiate settlement of our clients cases with us. We hope that they have learned a valuable lesson. "

Tui said: "We would like to reassure all customers that their health and safety is our primary concern when travelling with us."

The company said it was considering its options for an appeal.

It went on to say that if no appeal was made it would move quickly to resolve the claims from its customers.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 20:44

London 2012 Olympic tickets on sale 15 March

Organisers said the application process for a ticket was not on a first come, first served process

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games will go on sale on 15 March, organisers have announced.

Sports fans will have six weeks to decide which event they want to attend before making a final submission.

There are 6.6m tickets available and applications will close on 26 April, with all oversubscribed sessions being allocated via a ballot.

Tickets for the Paralymic Games will go on sale on 9 September, with prices announced in May.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) made the announcement on the National Lottery programme on BBC One.

'Greatest show'

Spectators can make applications at any point during the six-week period as it will not be a first come, first served process, the committee said.

Full details of the purchasing process and the finalised schedule for all 650 sport sessions will be announced in February.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "On 15 March, the application process opens to be part of the greatest show on earth.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world's greatest athletes going for gold in the UK - a chance for people to see their favourite sport and perhaps try a new one," he said.

Tickets are available at a wide range of prices starting at £20.

Special prices are also available for young people and seniors across all Olympic sports.

The two million people already signed up to the London 2012 ticketing database will receive information about how to apply, with registered users being able to use their existing log-in details.

Further details of the application process for Paralympic tickets will be announced later in the year, with prices announced in May.

Tickets for the London 2012 Festival events will go on sale in the autumn.

Eden Gardens will host four matches

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has revealed that preparations at five of the host stadiums for the cricket World Cup are behind schedule.

However, Lorgat is confident all venues for the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be ready on time.

"I'm sure they will be ready," said Lorgat. "All of our reports do not indicate anything like what transpired during the Commonwealth Games."

The opening match between India and Bangladesh takes place on 19 February.

Of most concern is the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which is to host the final on April 2, but which is still undergoing major renovations.

The stadiums are slightly behind, but they'll be done before the start of the World Cup

Haroon Lorgat
ICC chief executive

There are similar problems at the 80,000-seat Eden Gardens in Mumbai.

Indian sport is still smarting from the debacle of last year's Commonwealth Games, when several teams threatened to pull out because of unfinished or substandard facilities.

However, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council is playing down any concerns.

"The stadiums are slightly behind," he said. "There are four in particular, but they'll be done before the start of the World Cup."

Lorgat also denied suggestions that the outcome of the spot-fixing hearings against three Pakistan players, due to be announced on 5 February, could tarnish the ICC's showpiece event.

"There is some time between the verdict and the start of the tournament," Lorgat added. "It is one of the reasons why we were keen to have it well before the start of the World Cup."

Lorgat would not discuss details of the case against Salman Butt, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif, but expressed himself happy at the way the matter had been dealt with.

606: DEBATE

I'll stick my neck out and say South Africa are gonna win the World Cup this time around. South Africa and Australia would be the finalists

charmingmuppet

"I believe we have done very well to get to this position with a six-day tribunal that has sat and now we await a judgement," he said.

Lorgat also confirmed that the ICC would consider whether to introduce the Umpire Decision Review System in one-day internationals after it is trialled at the World Cup.

"We will be using it during the World Cup and post the World Cup we will consider it at the next committee meeting," he stated.

England and Australia will become the first sides to use the review system in one-day internationals in their seven-match series which starts on in Melbourne on Sunday.

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 00:03

Herbal remedies face licence rule

By Nigel Cassidy Business reporter

Some stores say their business will be affected by the change

Hundreds of traditional and imported remedies on the shelves of health food shops and herbalists are set to be banned under new licensing rules.

The EU directive aims to protect users from any damaging side-effects that can arise from taking unsuitable medicines.

Only high quality, long-established and scientifically safe herbal medicines will be sold over the counter.

Some traders who sell products imported from outside the EU say their business will be hit.

Popular

Herbal medicines - with names such as Cascara Bark and Horny Goat Weed - have become popular.

But from the first of May an EU directive will be enforced, under which all such products must be licensed, following fears that some products could cause harm.

Producers and independent health store owners say the directive, passed in 2004, is draconian and skewed in favour of the largest European manufacturers.

Selwyn Soe runs The Herbal Factory, a contract manufacturer of herbal remedies in Croydon, south London. He believes smaller firms like his own will be squeezed out altogether.

"Unfortunately it looks as if we will have to close down because of this legislation," he said.

"The problem for us is that although we would have to pay many thousands of pounds for a licence to keep making each product, unlike a drug company we would not have a licence to make that product exclusively. It just will not be worth paying out the money."

Vanish

The Maple Leaf Pharmacy in Twickenham, west London, specialises in alternative and holistic medicine alongside its conventional chemist business.

Professor David Colquhoun says that consumers might still be in the dark

Owner Galen Rosenberg estimates that about 20% of the health products sold in his pharmacy will simply vanish off the shelves. In some health food shops a far larger percentage of existing lines are likely to be outlawed.

Mr Rosenberg said he welcomed improved labelling, indicating side-effects, but said the rest of the directive was over the top.

"For instance, we have something which we recommend for hot flushes during menopause. The results have been excellent, but from April I will not be able to order these products in, because the producing company is not large and will not be able to afford the hundreds of thousands of pounds needed to invest for the new regulations," he said.

"The new rules are very much in favour of large companies. It is the loss of freedom of choice which worries me. We also expect massive price increases because of the cost of compliance."

Regulation

However, the regulator of all these pills and potions says the aim is to protect consumers, not to pick off small suppliers.

Richard Woodfield, of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, also rejects any suggestions that the legislation is draconian.

"What regulation does is to ensure products meet assured standards. Although the standards are challenging, they are achievable and manageable," he said.

"We already have 24 different companies regulating under the scheme and they are certainly not all large companies."

Yet a leading medicines specialist says he fears the consumer may not be much wiser come May this year.

Professor David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at University College London, said the changes were of limited value because the rules did not require makers to show any evidence of whether the newly licensed products were effective.

There are fears that people determined to keep taking their favourite herbs may go online and choose to buy them from merchants who may be careless about quality or potency.

The EU insists that in future, only high quality, long established and scientifically safe herbal medicines can be sold over the counter. But the label still will not be able to tell customers if they can be shown to work.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:09

Inflexible and stressful work 'harming families'

Fathers are working longer hours and becoming "disengaged" from their children, the report says

Inflexible and stressful jobs are leaving parents racked with guilt and increasingly distant from their children, according to a Demos report.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has promised to do more for hard-pressed working families, will launch the think tank's study on Monday.

It wants the government to do more to encourage flexible working practices.

And it says more action is needed at a community level to give struggling and isolated parents greater support.

Long hours

Demos polled 1,017 parents for the Home Front report. It found:

- a third of fathers in the UK work more than 48 hours a week, compared with a quarter of men without children

- one-in-eight fathers work more than 60 hours a week, and typically, fathers increase their hours after their youngest child reaches the age of six

- the number of working mothers has tripled from one in six in 1951 to two in three now, with 6% working more than 48 hours and 3% more than 60

Many parents surveyed said they felt guilty about working so much, a feeling that got worse as children got older, and felt they were less effective parents to their second or third child than their first.

Demos said its study showed those negative feelings were felt equally by parents in well-paid, but stressful middle-class jobs and those in lower-paid, lower-skill occupations.

Author Jen Lexmond said: "The right kind of work that is flexible and stimulating can improve parenting, but these kinds of jobs often come hand-in-hand with high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion which can be a toxic mix for parental confidence.

"What's clear is that our jobs make it difficult to share parenting responsibilities - the result too often being a double shift for mothers and a lack of engagement from fathers."

The report also said parenting was becoming "a more isolated and anxious task" because traditional extended families and strong local communities were increasingly rare.

As a result, parents were forced to rely more and more on friends for help.

The report's recommendations for ministers include:

- Using the recession and rise in unemployment as an opportunity to encourage businesses to experiment with flexible working

- Introducing an equal system of parental leave for mothers and fathers with an element of transferability

- Keeping Sure Start centres open to all, regardless of income, to provide a vital way for new parents to form friendships

- Directing money to train community organisers to help parents set up new neighbourhood groups

- Creating parenting refresher classes to boost confidence when children reach primary school age

Children's Commissioner for England Maggie Atkinson, whose office funded the research, said: "The lesson from this is that we have to look at ways of working that allow parents to share responsibility and provide children with the support parents want to give."

Mr Clegg said last week he wanted to stand up for "alarm clock Britain" - basic rate taxpayers who get up in the dark, get their children ready for school and then go out to work, often for long or anti-social shifts.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 21:13

Consumers count the cost of poor exchange rates

By Ben Carter Reporter, Money Box

Poor exchange rates can add 5% to the cost of flights

Customers of some low budget airlines are paying more for their flights because of the poor exchange rates applied to their transactions.

Some credit card providers have also stopped using standard Visa and Mastercard rates and introduced their own poorer rates.

The difference in exchange rates can add between 2 and 6% to the cost of a transaction.

The airlines and the banks insist their rates are fair.

Dynamic currency conversion

A number of airlines, including Ryanair and Easyjet, price single flights from European destinations to UK airports in Euros rather than sterling.

But when it comes to making a payment, the companies convert the transaction into sterling at their own rates, unless the customer chooses to opt out.

Most banks use either the daily Visa or Mastercard rate when converting a payment in currency. The rate is competitive because of the number of people using it, but is only applied when the transaction is processed, which may not be the day a purchase was made.

Ryanair and Easyjet apply a dynamic currency conversion which guarantees a rate at the time of booking. Unfortunately that rate can be much worse than the Visa rate. Yesterday a flight costing 100 euros would cost £89 using Ryanair's rate but only £84 using Visa's rate.

Opting-out

Ryanair allows customers to opt out of using its rate and to use their own bank's rate instead. However it advises customers that "the rate you receive from your bank is not guaranteed, and is subject to daily fluctuations, which could result in a significantly higher cost to you."

When asked how many days its exchange rate was better than the VISA and Mastercard rate in 2010, Ryanair said it did not keep track of rates.

"Obviously the golden rule is never to accept the rate and to always pay in the local currency because you'll be better off," said Bob Atkinson, travel expert from Moneysupermarket.com told BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme.

Inferior rate

Easyjet also initially prices flights from European destinations in Euros, but customers can choose an alternative price in sterling.

However, the price in sterling is calculated at a lower rate. Customers benefit if they pay in Euros and allow their bank to convert the currency at a better rate.

Like Ryanair, the rate used is guaranteed, but using yesterday's rate, customers were losing out by roughly £5 on a flight costing 100 Euros.

Easyjet did not provide comment on why the rates it used were significantly lower than those of VISA or Mastercard, but said that its rates were updated on a daily basis.

Bank rates

Some banks have also started using their own exchange rates. Royal Bank of Scotland, Natwest and Tesco credit cards use RBS treasury rates, despite the fact the cards carrying the Mastercard logo.

Visa and Mastercard rates can be checked online but RBS customers can only establish what exchange rate they are receiving by ringing a call centre.

Yesterday, Money Box found the rates being offered were around 3% worse than those being offered by Visa and Mastercard.

In a statement, RBS said:

"It is important to look at credit cards in a broader context to understand their true value to a customer."

It also pointed out that its loading fee of 2.75% is lower than some rivals but Bob Atkinson said there are a range of cards that do not charge transaction fees on European purchases."

BBC Radio 4's Money Box is broadcast on Saturdays at 1200 GMT, and repeated on Sundays at 2100 GMT.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:00

Miliband 'appalled' by Royal Wedding strikes threat

The Labour leader Ed Miliband has told Andrew Marr he doesn't like the idea of a coordinated strike

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he is "appalled" by the idea of trade unions planning strikes to disrupt Royal Wedding celebrations.

He told the BBC such a plan of action would be "absolutely the wrong thing to do" and a "sign of failure".

There have been reports of transport and public sector strikes on 29 April, but unions have played down the idea in recent days.

David Cameron has suggested changing the law to make it harder to strike.

London Underground drivers in the Aslef union had been considering walking out on the day of Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, but the threat has been removed as talks with Transport for London officials take place.

'Heroic failures'

British Airways cabin crew have also talked of striking on the same day and over the Easter period. But, last week, Len McCluskey, the general secretary-elect of the Unite union, said there was "no likelihood" of such action.

There are, however, suggestions that public sector workers may protest on the day against the effects of government cuts, including pay freezes and job losses.

Mr Miliband told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I'm appalled by the idea that there are going to be strikes to disrupt the Royal Wedding. That's absolutely the wrong thing for the trade unions to do.

"I would totally condemn that and similarly in relation to the Olympics...

"Strikes are a last resort and a sign of failure on both sides... They are not the way you change a government. The way you change a government is through the ballot box."

He added: "What we are not going to do under my leadership is go back to the heroic failures of the 1980s."

The prime minister has suggested he could look at the law on industrial action, amid calls for strike ballots to be unlawful if under half of a union's membership takes part.

In his BBC interview, Mr Miliband said he had been talking to Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes about the coalition's scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for teenagers in England.

He added that he hope disaffected Lib Dems would "join" Labour in opposing the change, as the EMA had "created educational opportunity in this country".

Mr Hughes told Sky News he had held talks with Mr Miliband "at my instigation", but added that, in his job as "access advocate" for the prime minister, it was important to speak to all parties.

He said he wanted to find "common ground" on the EMA.

MPs are set to vote on Wednesday on a Labour motion calling for the allowance to be retained.

On other matters, Mr Miliband said Labour had got "a job to do to win back economic credibility" following the financial crisis.

But he insisted that the annual state borrowing of 2% of national income prior to the crisis had been "manageable". It was only the reduction in tax revenue caused by the banking crash which had driven the deficit up beyond 10% and made it a problem, he added.

Mr Miliband also admitted that Gordon Brown had been wrong to claim the Labour government had ended the economic cycle of rapid growth and recession, saying: "Clearly, we should not have said there would be no boom and bust. That was clearly a mistake."

However, Conservative deputy chairman Michael Fallon said: "Ed Miliband is treating people like fools. Labour's reckless overspending left Britain with the largest structural deficit in the G7 when the financial crisis hit.

"Ed Miliband still won't admit Labour maxed out the nation's credit card. In fact he says he'd do it all again. How can anyone trust Labour with the economy when its leader is still in denial about his party's mistakes?"

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:35 Help

BP has signed a joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit five billion tonnes of oil and 10 trillion cubic metres of gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

The "strategic global alliance" will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring the region.

As part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.

Daniel Sandford reports.

Read more

- Russia's year of economic uncertainty

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:28

Lotus positioned for Formula 1 racing row

By Theo Leggett Business reporter, BBC News

The Lotus name returned to F1 racing in 2010

The return of a once-great name to Formula 1 motor racing ought to be something to celebrate.

Instead, it's turning into an embarrassment, thanks to conflicting commercial interests.

Last year, a team called Lotus took to the starting grid for the first time in 16 years. Yet this season, two teams are laying claim to the name.

That's triggered a bitter row between one of Malaysia's leading businessmen and Group Lotus, the Malaysian-owned sportscar and engineering business based in Britain.

The original Team Lotus was the brainchild of the charismatic English engineer Colin Chapman, who also founded the Lotus car company.

In its heyday in the 1960s and the 1970s, the team won the World Drivers Championship six times, with legends such as Jim Clark and Mario Andretti at the wheel.

After Colin Chapman's sudden death in the 1980s, the team struggled, but still picked up victories in the hands of a young Ayrton Senna.

In 1994, after years of decline, the team finally closed its doors. And that, it seemed, was that.

But in 2009, a new team calling itself Lotus began racing in Formula 1.

Malaysian mishaps

However, the new Lotus team was a very different entity from its predecessor.

The squad was owned by a company called 1Malaysia F1 Team, a consortium of Malaysian interests assembled by the entrepreneur Tony Fernandes.

Tony Fernandes first revived the Lotus brand in F1 racing

Best known as the founder of budget airline Air Asia, he was a charismatic leader for what was initially conceived as something close to a Malaysian national team.

In what was seen as a coup for the new squad shortly before the 2010 season, he obtained a licence from Group Lotus to race under the Lotus brand name.

It made sense. To use a name so redolent of sporting history guaranteed media attention for the team and its sponsors - and arguably benefited the sport as a whole.

Meanwhile, Lotus, owned since the mid-1990s by the Malaysian manufacturer Proton, seemed like a natural partner.

Yet after just one season, the relationship has collapsed.

Group Lotus has removed permission for 1Malaysia to use the Lotus name, citing "flagrant and persistent breaches of the licence by the team".

Instead, it has bought into the Renault Formula 1 team, which will now be known as Lotus-Renault.

But Tony Fernandes hasn't admitted defeat either. He has bought the naming rights to the original Formula 1 team and plans to call his own squad Team Lotus.

These rights had been held since the mid 1990s by British businessman David Hunt, who bought them after the team collapsed.

Now, the affair is in the hands of the lawyers, while F1 fans could be forgiven for feeling a little bewildered. So what's gone wrong?

New management

Central to the whole affair has been Dany Bahar, the ambitious chief executive of Group Lotus. He joined the company in September 2009, after the original naming deal with 1Malaysia had been done.

He is overseeing a major expansion of the company's output, including the launch of five new car models over the next few years, and sees motorsport as an essential part of its strategy.

"In this industry, you have a choice," he says. "You can use conventional marketing methods, by investing in classical advertising channels like TV and print.

Group Lotus is backing the new Lotus-Renault team

"Or - and this is what I prefer - you could invest in activities that reflect your products, in our case motor racing. This way, customers can experience the technologies that we develop in racing."

Formula 1 forms a key part of that strategy. But for Mr Bahar, the link with 1Malaysia was far from ideal.

"When I arrived with a new management team, we had our own ideas and plans and that's nobody's fault, not the shareholders' and not Mr Fernandes' fault," he says.

"We have a crystal clear vision of where we want to go in future."

Even so, the link-up could have survived, says Mr Bahar.

"I think with any business relationship, you start on good terms and if it turns out to be beneficial for both parties, you continue.

"If not, you just stop - it's like in a marriage. And this one turned out to be an unsuccessful relationship."

Branding 'disaster'

Mr Bahar insists that communications with Tony Fernandes have been professional and transparent all along, but there are signs this has not necessarily been the case.

Speaking to BBC Sport in December, the entrepreneur railed against what he called the "bully boy tactics" of the Lotus Formula 1 hierarchy. He also described the linkup with Renault as a "branding disaster".

A logical solution to the dispute might have seen Group Lotus take control of the 1Malaysia team, and Mr Bahar confirms that an offer was made.

"Absolutely, we did. We offered many things, but it doesn't always have to turn out positively. In this case, it didn't," he says.

Now the case is heading for the courts. Last year, 1Malaysia lodged a case in the British High Court seeking confirmation of its right to use the Team Lotus brand.

Mr Bahar insists the matter will not get that far.

"I don't think it will be a matter solved by English courts. I think it will be solved before that. But if we have to go the legal way, we will - and our shareholders will support that," he says.

But for the moment, the matter remains unresolved. And unless a solution is found soon, there remains the prospect of two Lotus teams taking to the track at the Bahrain Grand Prix in March.

That would arguably be confusing for spectators and do little for the image of the sport.

But as seasoned observers might point out, only in the intensely political, marketing-driven world of Formula 1 could the return of a historic brand become the subject of a legal brawl.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:36

Virtual job-hunting: Technology fills situations vacant

By Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent, BBC News

Ready for your close-up? Graeme Anthony's video CV got him the job he was looking for

Looking for a job - or trying to find a new employee? Then prepare for a technological revolution.

New tools, many of them related to the explosion in use of social media, are transforming the recruitment world.

Until recently, the process of seeking a job followed a familiar routine - scan the newspaper recruitment pages, or visit an agency, then despatch your carefully prepared CV (or resume if you're American) in all directions.

Now though, those who want to stand out in a crowded job market are resorting to more sophisticated approaches.

A search on YouTube throws up plenty of examples of the new breed of job-seeker, promoting themselves with video offerings.

Among them is Graeme Anthony, who needed to get a new job in PR in a hurry when he moved from Manchester to London. His YouTube C.V.I.V. - curriculum vitae interactive video - is simple but effective.

He sits behind a table pitching his skills, and then links appear to more videos giving greater detail.

"It brings me to life in a completely new way," he explains, "It shows off my personality in a way a paper CV can't. It's got the wow factor."

Graham Goodkind on the video CV: "This really opened up our eyes to how it really could be done"

It worked. When London's Frank PR agency saw the video, Graeme was quickly invited for an interview, and got the job.

Graham Goodkind, chairman and founder of Frank PR, says he's surprised that so few candidates resort to hi-tech tricks.

"It's always amazed me in this day and age, that when things are moving so quickly from a technological point of view, CVs and resumes are really the same as they were 10, 15 or even 20 years ago.

"So this really opened up our eyes to how it really could be done and we wanted to meet the guy straight away."

The social job network

The other major innovation is the way social networking is becoming integrated into the recruitment process.

Unsure about privacy settings? Posting drunken pictures on Facebook may not be wise

We've heard the horror stories of people being refused jobs after potential employers spot drunken pictures on Facebook, but there is a more positive aspect to the use of social media.

One network, LinkedIn, is all about professional rather than personal lives.

It has become the place where jobseekers come to display their wares, and employers check out their credentials. There are rumours that it could soon float, taking advantage of the hype swirling around that other social network, Facebook.

LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, who was also an early investor in Facebook, says companies are learning that social networks can help them find better job candidates.

"I think that the way you both find the right talent and opportunities is through trusted networks," he says, going on to point to studies showing that employees recommended through networks tend to be of a higher quality.

And Reid Hoffman says that for new entrants to the job market, getting your social networking profile in order is vital.

"When you don't have a whole lot of experience it's the right way that you can actually demonstrate that... someone should take a chance on you."

Cutting out the middle-man?

But if job hunters and employers are now speaking directly through social networks, where does that leave the employment agencies and other specialist recruitment businesses?

Isabelle Ratinaub, at Monster.co.uk, a major online recruitment firm, denies that they will become redundant.

"There is no threat from social networks. The only threat is that if we did not know how to use it or how to embrace it and that could become a threat.

"But any company that uses it within their values, within the business that they have, will benefit from social networking."

Some new entrants to the recruitment business are finding they can reach customers with modern techniques. Innovate CV allows job seekers to create multimedia sales pitches for their skills and employers to browse through candidates relevant to their business.

Job seekers can use the Innovate CV service to create multimedia sales pitches

One customer, Jeff Levitansky, has used it while seeking staff for his Chicago-based construction business Keystone Developers. He says he found it more cost-effective than some other recruitment services.

"Traditionally we would be running ads in the newspapers and trade magazines, or going to Craig's List.

"Running an ad involves spending money, involves time writing the ad, waiting for it to go out, fielding phone calls when they decide to call you. With I this can go online when I have the time, when I can concentrate on it and spend the time researching and finding the right guys."

In hard times, selling yourself to potential employers is all the more challenging - but from the other side of the fence it is just as important for businesses to find the right people in a timely and cost-effective way.

So technological change is likely to accelerate - and that means we all may have to learn to wield a video camera and polish up our social networking skills.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:12

France pledges reform after diabetes drug scandal

By David Chazan BBC News, Paris

Mr Bertrand said it was his duty to rebuild the system to protect the public

French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has promised a complete revamp of the country's medical regulatory system.

He was speaking after an official report said a diabetes drug which caused up to 2,000 deaths should have been banned 10 years earlier.

The drug - known as Mediator - should have been banned as early as 1999, when it began to emerge that it could cause heart disease, the report said.

Several other European countries and the US then withdrew it.

'Political connections'

But Mediator remained on sale in France for another 10 years.

Between 500 and 2,000 people in France are believed to have died because of its side effects.

It was developed to treat diabetics but millions of people took it simply to lose weight.

The report by a government agency, the Social Affairs Inspectorate, said it was incomprehensible that the authorities had failed to act sooner.

Mr Bertrand said it was now his duty to rebuild the regulatory system to protect the public.

His statement is being seen as an admission that one of the biggest medical scandals in France in recent years may not be an isolated case.

The affair has become politicised as the pharmaceutical company which manufactured the drug, Servier, reportedly had high-level political connections.

The health minister himself has been implicated by French media reports alleging that two of his advisors had previously worked for the company.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 00:07

Smoking 'causes damage in minutes', US experts claim

There may be genetic damage just moments after smoking

Smoking damages the body in minutes rather than years, according to research in the US.

The report, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, shows that chemicals which cause cancer form rapidly after smoking.

Scientists involved in the small-scale study described the results as a stark warning to people considering smoking.

Anti-smoking charity Ash described the research as "chilling" and as a warning that it is never too early to quit.

The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. This study suggests the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked.

Faster than you might think

The researchers looked at the level of chemicals linked with cancer, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), in 12 patients after smoking.

A PAH was added to the subject's cigarettes, which was then modified by the body and turned into another chemical which damages DNA and has been linked with cancer.

The research shows this process only took between 15 and 30 minutes to take place.

Professor Stephen Hecht, from the University of Minnesota, said: "This study is unique, it is the first to investigate human metabolism of a PAH specifically delivered by inhalation in cigarette smoke, without interference by other sources of exposure such as air pollution or the diet.

The results reported here should serve as a stark warning to those who are considering starting to smoke cigarettes."

Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at Ash (Action on Smoking and Health), said: "Almost everybody knows that smoking can cause lung cancer.

"The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early the very first stages of that process begin - not in 30 years but within 30 minutes of a single cigarette for every subject in the study.

"The process starts early but it is never too late to quit and the sooner you quit the sooner you start to reduce the harm."

The research was funded by the US National Cancer Institute.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:41

Shot US Congresswoman Giffords taken off ventilator

Mrs Giffords, aged 40, remains in critical condition

US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords - who was shot in the head by a gunman last week - has been taken off a ventilator, hospital officials say.

They say they now inserted a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe to protect her airways, freeing her from the breathing tube.

Mrs Giffords had been breathing on her own since the shooting in Tucson, Arizona, but the breathing tube had been left until now as a precaution.

Six people died in the shooting.

The gunman, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, opened fire as Mrs Giffords was holding a constituency meeting on 8 January. More than a dozen people were also injured before the gunman was overpowered.

Mrs Giffords - who has since had brain surgery - remains in critical condition but appears to be recovering, the doctors say.

On Saturday, the doctors also inserted a feeding tube to provide nutrition.

Mr Loughner has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

The shooting sent shockwaves across the United States.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:45

Golden Globes to kick off race for Oscars

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

Signs promoting the Golden Globe awards can be seen on the streets of Los Angeles

The Hollywood awards season kicks off later with the Golden Globes, where British film The King's Speech leads the pack with seven nominations.

The Social Network and The Fighter follow with six nominations apiece.

Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes are first major film awards of the year.

Comedian Ricky Gervais is to host the ceremony, beginning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 1700 LA time (0100GMT).

Television shows are also celebrated at the gala, where the prizes are divided between dramas and comedies or musicals.

High school comedy Glee has the most nominations for a TV show, having been shortlisted in five categories.

Colin Firth, who plays a monarch battling a stammer in The King's Speech, is widely expected to win the best actor in a drama prize.

The 50-year-old is one of four actors in his category nominated for playing real people.

Jesse Eisenberg is also in contention for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as is James Franco for playing climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours.

Wahlberg completes the quartet for his performance in The Fighter, a film about US boxer Micky Ward.

The biopic has additional acting nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, while its director David O Russell is also up for a prize.

In the best actress in a drama category, Natalie Portman has received a nod for her role in Darren Aronofsky's ballet-based Black Swan.

Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Williams are also in contention for that award.

Films up for best musical or comedy include Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids are All Right and The Tourist.

Johnny Depp has landed two nominations in the best actor in a comedy or musical category, for Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist.

Glee's competition for the best TV comedy or musical prize includes 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory amd Modern Family.

Ricky Gervais returns to host the ceremony for a second consecutive year

Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Good Wife and Mad Men vie for the best TV drama series award with zombie thriller The Walking Dead.

The Globes have traditionally been solid indicator as to which films and stars will be recognised at the Academy Awards.

Yet in the last six years, the only winner of a Globe for best drama that went on to Oscar success was 2008's Slumdog Millionaire.

Last year Avatar was feted at the Globes, only to be beaten at the Oscars by Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.

However, all four of last year's Oscar-winning actors - Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique - were also successful at the Globes.

Gervais's first stint as host in 2010 saw the British comedian take gentle jabs at the Hollywood glitterati.

Earlier this week, though, the Office and Extras star said he didn't think he "went far enough".

"So I'm going to do it again [and] do a proper job," he continued. "And I guarantee they will not invite me back."

This year's Bafta nominations are announced on Tuesday, with Oscar nominations to follow on 25 January.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:51

Reince Priebus wins Republican Party chairman post

Reince Priebus surpassed the 85 votes necessary to win the post during the seventh round of voting

Reince Priebus, from the US state of Wisconsin, has been voted in as the new chairman of the Republican National Committee.

He received more than the 85 necessary votes in the seventh round of balloting and will hold the post for two years.

Michael Steele, the Republican Party's previous head and first black chairman, withdrew his bid for re-election after failing to win votes in earlier rounds.

Mr Steele was criticised for gaffes and mismanagement of party finances.

Four other Republicans had also sought the chance to lead the party into the 2012 presidential election.

The chairman of the Republican National Committee is the party's spokesman and chief fundraiser, who helps candidates running for re-election.

'We must win'

"I will step aside because I think the party is ready for something different," Mr Steele told the 168 members of the committee after withdrawing his bid.

"We must go forward, and we must win. We fired [Nancy] Pelosi," Mr Steele said, referring to the Republicans' victory in the House in November's mid-term elections.

"Let's take the Senate. Let's take the White House."

Mr Priebus will head the party for two years and lead it into the next presidential election, when defeating Mr Obama will be the Republican Party's primary objective.

"I am here to earn the trust and support of each and every one of you," Mr Priebus said.

"We all recognize that there's a steep hill here ahead of us, and the only way that we'll be able to move forward is if we're all together," he added.

Mr Priebus said his top priority was "making sure he has the organisation in place to beat Barack Obama" in the next presidential election.

But Mr Priebus will more urgently be in charge of raising the $22m (£14m) owed to vendors and banks on behalf of the party, which only had $1m at the end of 2010.

He also faces an increasingly divided Republican Party, where Tea Party members are battling long-time party leaders by attempting to pull the group further to the political right.

Before Wisconsin native was voted in, Mr Steele urged his supporters to back Maria Cino, a Republican operative who worked in George W Bush's administration. She also had the endorsement of Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Former Michigan party chairman Saul Anuzis and Ann Wagner, former ambassador to Luxembourg under Mr Bush, also lost out to Mr Priebus on Friday.

Mr Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, was elected in January 2009 to the party's top post, two months after President Barack Obama became the first African-American to win the White House.

The Republican National Committee, under Mr Steele, led the party to sweeping gains in the mid-term elections, but amassed sizeable debts.

Mr Priebus managed Mr Steele's campaign in 2009 and served as Republican General Counsel before resigning the position last month to begin his own bid for the chairmanship.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:07

Iraqi soldier guns down two US troops in Mosul drill

The US officially ended combat operations in Iraq last August

Two US soldiers have been killed when an Iraqi soldier opened fire on them during a training exercise in northern Iraq, US and Iraqi officials say.

The officials - speaking on condition of anonymity - said the incident happened at al-Ghazlani training camp in the city of Mosul.

It was the final drill to showcase US efforts in training Iraqis before next week's visit by US and Iraqi generals.

The Iraqi soldier who opened fire was arrested, US military officials said.

Separately, a US soldier was killed in central Iraq.

The US military gave no further details of the circumstances of that incident.

Motive unclear

"According to available information, two American soldiers were killed today (Saturday) during a training session inside al-Ghazlani," an Iraqi colonel in Mosul was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Another US soldier was injured in the incident.

This was confirmed by a US military official in the city.

In a statement later on Saturday, the US military said that two US soldiers were killed and one was wounded while conducting operations in northern Iraq, without providing further details.

The US soldiers were from the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Ft Hood, Texas, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Attacks by Iraqi soldiers or police against US troops in northern Iraq are rare but not unprecedented.

In 2009, two Iraqi police officers opened fire on US soldiers and Iraqi police in Mosul. One US soldier was killed in the attack.

An Iraqi army soldier shot dead two US troops and injured another six in the city.

Washington officially ended combat operations in Iraq last August, leaving fewer than 50,000 US troops in Iraq.

The soldiers' role is to advise and assist Iraq's security forces in fighting insurgents.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:58

Barack Obama eases rules on US travel to Cuba

There has been an easing of tension between the US and Cuba since Mr Obama came to power.

US President Barack Obama has said he will ease restrictions on US citizens travelling to Cuba.

The president said he had instructed the relevant government departments to allow religious groups and students to travel to the communist-run island.

President Obama said he believed the new, more relaxed, rules which also make it easier to send remittances to Cuba will support civil society there.

The changes will not end the decades-old US trade embargo.

The rules will be modified to, among other things:

- Allow religious organisation to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a general licence

- Allow accredited institutions of higher education to sponsor travel to Cuba

- Allow any US person to send remittances (up to $500 per quarter) to non-family members in Cuba to support private economic activity

- Allow remittances to be sent to religious institutions in Cuba in support of religious activities

- Allow US airports to apply to provide services to licensed charters

'Improved contact'

In a statement, President Obama said the changes were aimed at developing "people-to-people" contacts through more academic, cultural and religious exchanges.

The moves follows an easing of the trade embargo in April 2009, when the president ordered curbs on remittances and travel by Cuban-Americans visiting family members on the island to be relaxed.

But Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said the changes would not help improve the situation in Cuba.

"They will not make the Castro regime show respect for human rights, and they certainly won't help the Cuban people free themselves from the despotic tyranny which oppresses them," she said.

The changes are expected to come into force in approximately three weeks.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 01:54

Doctors amputate actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg

Doctors said Gabor is in "frail health" after having her right leg amputated

Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's right leg, which was infected with gangrene, has been amputated in a life-saving surgery her doctors have deemed a success.

She is in "frail health" and will be closely monitored in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr David Rigberg said.

Gabor was hospitalised on 2 January after attempts to save her leg with antibiotics proved unsuccessful.

The 93-year-old has been admitted to hospital a number of times since breaking her hip in July.

"Ms Gabor needed an amputation above her knee due to poor circulation and a large ulcerated area on her right leg," said Dr Rigberg, an associate professor of vascular surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"The surgery today went well, however, she is in frail health so we will continue to monitor her closely," he said, adding that after consulting with Ms Gabor's husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, he felt amputation was the best decision.

Multiple hospital visits

Gabor had been hospitalised several times for swelling in her legs and blood clots throughout her body, following a hip replacement surgery this summer.

She was readmitted to hospital in the new year because a wound in her right leg had grown and "wasn't healing any more", her publicist John Blanchette said earlier this month.

Gabor had reportedly been bedridden in recent months.

She was in critical condition and had asked for a priest during a trip to the hospital in August, but Gabor soon recovered and was sent home.

The veteran actress was partially paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffered a stroke in 2005, forcing her to use a wheelchair.

Gabor starred in the films Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil and Queen of Outer Space, among others.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 10:05

Blue Valentine film 'opened censorship debate'

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

The film shows a couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) at the start and end of their relationship

The director of Blue Valentine has said the recent battle over its certificate in the US has helped open a debate over cinema sex and violence.

The film won an appeal over its adults-only NC-17 rating and was released with an R rating instead.

The marital film drama, which opens in the UK this weekend rated 15, is in the running for two Golden Globe awards.

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are nominated for best actor and actress in a film drama.

US ratings are set by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which originally awarded the NC-17 rating for a "scene of explicit sexual content".

"I think the MPAA made a mistake," director Derek Cianfrance told the BBC this week.

'Sex taboo'

"They were humble and generous to reverse their decision and I have a lot of respect for them for that.

"It's started a big discussion in America about why is sex taboo and why is violence okay. I think the MPAA has to re-evaluate its stance on things.

"I feel like my kids will see far worse things during commercials on football games - violence and guns. Blue Valentine is just about intimacy and emotion. There's very little nudity in the film. It's more about naked emotions."

Derek Cianfrance (left, with Michelle Williams) conceived the film in 1998

The film's new R rating means those younger than 17 can see the film if they are accompanied by an adult.

Blue Valentine is the story of the dying relationship between couple Dean and Cindy (played by Gosling and Williams).

It juxtaposes scenes of their courtship, set several years earlier, with painful scenes of marital breakdown in the present.

The filming required Gosling and Williams to undergo hours of demanding sex scenes.

"Michelle and Ryan gave such brave and emotionally naked performances," said Cianfrance.

"I'm so proud of them. I really admire actors that are willing to be vulnerable and willing to take big risks on the screen. They deserve any accolade that comes their way."

He added: "We tried to treat the sexuality in Blue Valentine with responsibility. There are consequences to the sex in the film. We treated the sex as we treated every other scene - with a certain kind of honesty and raw integrity."

The film has been a 12-year journey for Cianfrance. He had re-drafted the script 66 times since 1998. Both Gosling and Williams were attached to the project for several years before it finally started shooting.

'Out of my hands'

"I felt like the movie was cursed, but once it started shooting we were blessed because all these magic moments started happening in front of the camera," said Cianfrance.

Whatever happens at the Golden Globes, the director is keeping an open mind about its Oscar chances.

"Those things are so out of my hands. For the last year I've been on the road supporting the movie. There's nothing else Michelle and Ryan can do.

"The business and the critical acclaim has been amazing and it's heartening to know that something that was so personal to me is now becoming personal to other people."

14 January 2011 Last updated at 21:09

US police chief cleared in Bizilj Uzi shooting death

Prosecutors said the Uzi, like the one shown here, is too unstable for a boy to handle safely

A Massachusetts jury has acquitted a man who organised a gun fair where a boy accidentally shot himself dead with an Uzi sub-machine gun.

Prosecutors said Edward Fleury, a former police chief, should have foreseen the risk in providing Christopher Bizilj, 8, with the gun.

He was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter after showing the boy's father allowed him to fire the weapon.

The boy lost control of the weapon, which flipped and shot him in the head.

Mr Fleury was also acquitted on Friday on three charges of furnishing machine guns to minors.

At the trial in Springfield, in the state of Massachusetts, jurors viewed a gruesome video clip of the accident, filmed by the boy's father, Dr Charles Bizilj.

Christopher was aiming at pumpkins at the annual Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club in October 2008.

Prosecutors argued Mr Fleury was criminally reckless in allowing the boy to shoot the high-powered weapon, which was developed by the Israeli military. Christopher's 11-year-old brother Colin shot it without incident.

Dr Bizilj signed a waiver allowing the boys to shoot the guns but was not charged in the accident because prosecutors said that, as a layman, he had reason to trust the fair organisers' word that the activity was safe.

After the verdict, Mr Fleury said he regretted holding the machine gun event and would never do it again.

Also charged were two men who brought the weapon to the fair. They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 20:50

Arizona shooting: Judge John Roll's funeral held

Judge John Roll's funeral was held amid heavy security

Mourners in Arizona have paid tribute to a US judge killed in Saturday's shooting in Tucson.

Judge John Roll had stopped to see Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a constituency meeting when a gunman opened fire on the crowd, killing six.

His funeral was held the day after that of a nine-year-old girl killed in the attack, at the same Catholic church.

Ms Giffords, shot through the head, remains in critical condition but appears to be recovering, doctors said.

Jared Loughner, 22, is being held pending trial over the shooting, in which more than a dozen people were injured.

Mourners arrived at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Tucson, the city where the shooting occurred, amid heavy security on Friday.

A programme for the funeral listed the judge's three sons as pallbearers in the service, and family members and two federal judges were to give readings.

Dozens of Mr Roll's colleagues on the bench attended the funeral, as well as dignitaries including Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl and former Vice-President Dan Quayle, who brought a handwritten note from Former President George Bush Sr.

Mr Roll was appointed to the US District Court for Arizona by Mr Bush in 1991 on Mr McCain's recommendation, and was described as a devoted, talented and gentle man.

Mr McCain and Mr Kyl announced on Friday that they would introduce legislation to name a soon-to-be constructed federal courthouse in the town of Yuma the John M Roll United States Courthouse in honour of the judge.

"As chief judge, he was a tireless advocate for all Arizonans, working to guarantee the federal courts in our state were capable of handling the growing caseload while ensuring swift justice for all," the two senators said in a joint statement.

President Barack Obama also praised the judge at a memorial service on Wednesday in Tucson, saying his colleagues described him as "the hardest-working judge within the ninth circuit".

'Not the target'

Mr Roll was a graduate of the University of Arizona, and attended Mass every day, including the morning before the shooting.

Mr Roll was appointed by President George Bush Sr in 1991

He reportedly received death threats in 2009 when he allowed a $32m (£21m) lawsuit filed by illegal immigrants against an Arizona rancher to proceed. More than 200 threatening phone calls were made to his office on one day.

Officials at the time said many of the threats were stirred up by right-wing talk radio. He received police protection for a month as a result.

Authorities have said Mr Roll was not the target of the attack - Ms Giffords was - but have said he stopped by the store after Mass to say hello to Ms Giffords and possibly to talk to her about overcrowding on the court docket.

His funeral comes a day after 2,000 mourners packed into that church for the funeral of nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, also killed in the shooting.

Meanwhile, Ms Giffords's doctors said on Friday morning that she has begun more frequently to open her eyes and was able to carry out increasingly complex actions on command.

"We're very encouraged that she's continuing to make all the right moves in the right direction," Dr Michael Lemole told reporters. "We couldn't have hoped for any better improvement than we're seeing now, given the severity of her injury."

In another development, the Pima County Police Department in Arizona released information on Friday detailing the items found in Mr Loughner's pockets when he was taken into custody.

They included two 15-round magazines, a knife and a plastic bag containing money, his bank card and his driver's licence.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 00:45

World leaders gather for Richard Holbrooke memorial

President Obama said Mr Holbrooke liked to make a difference

US and world leaders have honoured Richard Holbrooke, the US diplomat who died last month at 69, praising him as a giant in foreign policy.

Mr Holbrooke, a diplomatic veteran, was President Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mourners included Mr Obama, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton.

Mr Holbrooke was credited in part with ending war in the Balkans in the 1990s.

The ceremony took place on Friday afternoon at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Mr Obama, who had previously hailed Mr Holbrooke as a "true giant of American foreign policy", addressed the memorial service.

"Richard is gone now, but we carry with us his thirst to know, to grasp and heal the world around us," Mr Obama said during a speech at the centre.

The president said Holbrooke, whose diplomatic service reached back to the Vietnam War era, understood the need for "realism and idealism" in foreign policy, adding that young US diplomats should be encouraged to "stay in public service" and continue serving their country.

Mr Obama then announced the creation of an annual award in Mr Holbrooke's name to honour excellence in foreign diplomacy.

Mrs Clinton spoke last, calling Mr Holbrooke "her inspiration, greatest headache, always a friend".

In a career alternating between financial executive and diplomat, Mr Holbrooke was perhaps best known as the architect of the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended three years of war in Bosnia.

After Mr Obama took office in 2009, Mr Holbrooke's skills and temperament were tested in his efforts to get Kabul and Islamabad effectively to fight the region's resurgent Taliban and al-Qaeda militant groups.

Mr Holbrooke was meeting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US state department in December when he collapsed.

He was rushed to the US capital's George Washington University Hospital, where he later died.

Earlier, Mr Obama and Mr Zardari met in the White House to discuss the crucial relationship between their two countries.

Holbrooke had served under Democratic presidents since the Vietnam War era

Mr Obama pledged continued support for Pakistan, and said he would visit the country later this year, the White House said.

Senior state department adviser Vali Nasr has told the BBC the US challenge is to convince Pakistanis that the relationship is beneficial for both countries, and not just in Washington's interest.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet in Washington says worries about Pakistan's weak government have been heightened by the troubling show of support for the killer of one of Pakistan's leading liberal voices, Salman Taseer.

The shooting revealed a growing militancy and a polarisation across the country, our correspondent says.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:58

Meat Loaf and La Toya set for US Celebrity Apprentice

La Toya Jackson and Meat Loaf will compete in business-oriented tasks to raise money for charity

Singers Meat Loaf and La Toya Jackson are among the stars vying to become Donald Trump's latest Celebrity Apprentice.

Contenders for the US charity version of the show, hosted by the business tycoon, also include former teen idol David Cassidy and actor Gary Busey.

Deaf Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin and singer Dionne Warwick have also signed up to appear.

Poison singer Bret Michaels won the show last year.

Retired baseball player Jose Canseco and US TV personality Star Jones will be others hoping to hear "You're Hired!" while raising money for their chosen charity.

So will NeNe Leakes and Richard Hatch, from reality shows Survivor and The Real Housewives of Atlanta respectively.

Soap actress Lisa Rinna, supermodel Niki Taylor, rapper Lil Jon, country singer John Rich and model Hope Dworaczyk complete the line-up.

Previous winners of the show include comedienne Joan Rivers and former Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan.

The show - which sees its participants compete in business-oriented tasks - begins on 6 March on US network NBC.

Major Dick Winters, one of the soldier on whom the TV series Band of Brothers was based, died this week aged 92. Colonel Cole C Kingseed, former chief of Military History at the US Military Academy at West Point talked through some of his stories.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:54

Southern discomfort: Seeking the truth in Louisiana

By Andy Gallacher BBC News, Ferriday, Louisiana

Frank Morris (fourth from left) was burnt alive when his shoe shop in Ferriday was torched

When Frank Morris ran out of his shop with his hair and clothes on fire, one witness recounted seeing the skin falling from the 51-year-old's body.

It was 1964 in Ferriday, Louisiana, when the Ku Klux Klan, and a violent offshoot of the movement known as the Silver Dollar Group, were active in this part of Louisiana.

The attack is widely believed to have been carried out by the Silver Dollar Group using several men that made up a "wrecking crew".

According to statements, Mr Morris was made to stay in his shop by a man with a shotgun, while others doused his business in petrol.

Despite his horrible burns, Frank Morris managed to live for four days before he died.

He never named or even described his attackers despite getting a good look at them.

Old wounds

Local reporter Stanley Nelson was just nine years old when Mr Frank - as he was known - was murdered.

"The rubble of the building was destroyed a few days after the fire and what you see here is what's left, and nothing has changed for 46 years," says the journalist from the Concordia Sentinel as he stands on the foundations of Frank Morris' business.

Stanley Nelson is now familiar with every detail of the case. He has spent four years studying Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records, talking to witnesses and ultimately trying to solve the murder.

But, in this small, tight-knit community it has opened up old wounds for some.

The rubble of the destroyed building has remained virtually untouched since the 1964 fire

"I had one lady call and she said: 'Just what do you think you're doing?'," says Mr Nelson, who has been working closely with civil rights groups.

"I said: 'What do you mean?' and she said: 'Every week you bring out these terrible stories, what do you hope to accomplish?' I said: 'I hope to find out what happened to Frank Morris and solve the murder'."

The FBI re-opened their investigation into Mr Morris's murder several years ago but it is one of dozens of so-called cold case murders carried out by the Klan that, to this day, remain unsolved.

That does not surprise 66-year-old Robert Lee III, a friend of Frank Morris and who still lives in Ferriday.

"This man was our friend and he was murdered only because he was black," says Mr Lee, who was serving in Vietnam when the killing took place.

Robert Lee says his friend was murdered only because he was black

"You got all these cases that nobody ever tried to solve and ya'll just let it go. Murder has no statute of limitations and some of those people are still alive."

Not only are some of the people still alive but Stanley Nelson believes he has tracked down one of the killers. The rest of the "wrecking crew", he believes, has now died.

Quest for understanding

He will be passing all the details of his investigation to the FBI but there is another perhaps more pressing problem.

"We just don't have time," says Stanley who is keen to start investigating other cases.

"I've seen witnesses die, I've seen suspects die just within the last four years. This is a race, it's a race to get this work done. In another year or two I'm afraid its going to be over."

For many residents of Ferriday, these cases mean facing a dark past that still lives on in the memory of many people, especially those in the African American community.

Leland Boyd, who now lives in Texas, remembers his father being an active member of the Silver Dollar Group.

"I was there for several of the cross burnings," says Mr Boyd, who has received death threats for talking about the Klan's past.

"I helped build the crosses as a young boy. We were country folks and we built stuff ourselves. The message from the burning crosses was to show a symbol of Protestant white Christianity."

Mr Boyd is now actively helping Stanley Nelson with his investigations.

He says that after his school was integrated there was a defining moment when he fell into a black student and cut himself.

"There was a moment where we just looked at each other and acknowledged that we couldn't tell our blood apart," says My Boyd.

"Then we became friends. I even invited him to my wedding but he declined because he didn't want trouble and he knew how angry it would make my father."

Stanley Nelson will continue to investigate the cases in his region and that could take years.

The FBI would not comment on his findings so far but say they are determined to solve as many cases as they can.

"Who would not want a man who was killed that way see his family get justice," says Mr Nelson.

"It's a quest for understanding. How could those type of feelings exist, where was the community when that happened?"

16 January 2011 Last updated at 05:13

How does the US view Tunisia's revolt?

By Kim Ghattas BBC News, Washington

Ms Clinton criticised Arab rulers for a lack of reform during a visit to Doha on Thursday

When 26-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi lost hope in the future and set himself on fire on 17 December, no-one expected it would be the undoing of the 23-year-long rule of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali - including Washington.

In fact when reporters asked for a comment about the growing unrest in Tunisia on 4 January, two weeks after the self-immolation, State Department officials seemed to be caught unaware and said they had not been briefed about Tunisia recently.

The following day, American officials offered a bit more, but focused mostly on the advisory issued to American citizens in Tunisia.

By the end of the week, the Tunisian ambassador in Washington had been summoned for an explanation about the use of violence by the authorities against protestors and the US was urging Tunisia to respect the freedom of assembly.

But despite its slow response, described by critics as neglect, the US can probably still turn to other Arab rulers now and say "I told you so".

'Sinking into the sand'

On Thursday, while the popular demonstrations were growing in size in Tunisia, Hillary Clinton was speaking in Doha, at the Forum for the Future, unleashing a scathing attack on Arab rulers for the lack of reform, corruption and repression that plague the region.

It was a familiar litany but this time it was delivered with unusual vehemence.

"In too many places, in too many ways, the region's foundations are sinking into the sand," she said.

Weeks of anti-government protests resulted in the departure of Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali

"The new and dynamic Middle East that I have seen needs firmer ground if it is to take root and grow everywhere."

A senior US official said Ms Clinton had grown frustrated and tired of speaking about the need for reform and opportunities for young people for two years with no real response from Arab leaders. Her speech was intended as a wake-up call, a warning that their attitude to ruling was dangerous and untenable.

"Those who cling to the status quo may be able to hold back the full impact of their countries' problems for a little while, but not forever," she said, a warning which seems prescient in the wake of Tunisian events.

"If leaders don't offer a positive vision and give young people meaningful ways to contribute, others will fill the vacuum."

The aim was to press Arab leaders to undertake their own reforms and offer a better future for their people as a real guarantee against extremism and perhaps even a guarantee for their own survival.

Washington has often worried about what the alternative to allied regimes in the Arab world would look like, and the fear of Islamist groups taking over in the region has stopped the US from pushing harder for change in the region.

Tunisia co-operated closely with Washington on counter terrorism and shared information about radical groups in North Africa. When the protests spread, Mr Ben Ali claimed the protesters were extremists, perhaps in the hope it would get him Western support.

Ms Clinton's speech in Doha showed a new level of sophistication in understanding what ailed the Arab world and how best to best to address it.

Applause from Obama

Washington's handling of the Tunisia developments was careful.

Asked about the protests at the beginning of the week, Ms Clinton emphasised the need for reform and respect for the protesters' rights to assemble, but also stressed that Washington was not taking sides - perhaps for fear the US would be accused of stoking the unrest.

Some accuse the US of paying lip service to democracy while supporting autocratic Arab leaders, such as Hosni Mubarak

The aggressive approach of the Bush administration as it tried to implement its "freedom agenda" in the Arab world often ended up alienating not just leaders but also those who were meant to be "freed".

Ms Clinton's comments about Tunisia and her speech in Doha were meant to strike a balance between that and the more subtle, hands-off approach of the Obama administration over the last two years which wasn't seen to be delivering results.

By Friday, President Obama issued a statement on Saturday applauding the "courage" of Tunisians protestors and their "brave" struggle.

Washington has often been accused of paying lip service to human rights and democracy, calling for greater freedoms while supporting autocratic rulers around the Arab world, from Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to Jordan's King Abdullah and the Saudi King Abdullah.

But the senior official said US foreign policy could not be about overthrowing those regimes, even if Washington wanted them to be and act different.

The official acknowledged that the US looked after its interests first and supported someone like Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, because it was in America's national security interest.

But he insisted that Washington also wanted those countries to clean up their act, because this served everybody's interest.

Engagement

A diplomatic cable dated July 2009 from the US embassy in Tunisia, published by Wikileaks and sent by then ambassador in Tunis Robert Godec, shows him sounding the alarm about the internal situation.

"Anger is growing at Tunisia's high unemployment and regional inequities. As a consequence, the risks to the regime's long-term stability are increasing," wrote Mr Godec, as he deplored Tunisia's reluctance to engage with the US in a meaningful way.

"The (Government of Tunisia) declined to engage on the Millennium Challenge Account; declined USAID regional programs to assist young people; reduced the number of Fulbright scholarship students (…),"he added.

In his cable, Mr Godec recommended continuing to press the government on its democracy and human rights practices, but not in public, while trying to intensify engagement with opposition parties and civil society, and offering more educational services to Tunisian youth.

The ambassador also urged Washington to persuade European countries to step up their efforts to convince Tunisia to accelerate political reform, pointing out that France and Italy were reluctant to do so.

Events are still unfolding in Tunisia, but asked whether Washington was heartened or worried by events so far, the senior American official said no one was fretting at the thought that more popular revolts could take place in the region.

But he indicated that what the US really wanted was to see other countries take note and accelerate reforms.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 15:12

The last baby boom story ever - I hope

By Michael Goldfarb Writer and broadcaster

Talkin' 'bout my generation? From left: John Boehner, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Clinton and Karl Rove

Here we go again. Another round of articles about baby boomers, this one triggered by the fact that in 2011 the first of that post-war demographic bulge hit retirement age. There's even a highly-publicised novel about baby boomers, We Never Had It So Good, by Orange Prize-winner Linda Grant coming out this month.

The rush of wind you just felt going past your ear is my scream. There is only so much of this someone born in the middle of the boom can take.

We journalists can be awfully lazy and enjoy re-hashing a cliche, but this is too much. A Google search of "Boomers 65" this past week brought more than five million items.

I trace the origins of the boomer boom to the launch of USA Today in 1982. USAT's revolutionary short, pithy writing style and colourful visual lay-out was made for two things: pie chart graphs and catchwords.

The catchiest word they came up with was "boomer".

Irresistible cliche

Combine the catchword with a multi-coloured pie chart showing just how big a slice of everything people born in this 15-year cohort were consuming, and you had the beginning of an irresistible cliche.

Who is to blame for getting the boomer ball rolling?

The idea of a baby boom had been around for a long while, and The Who - with the song My Generation - had planted the notion of being part of a "generation" in the culture, but USA Today injected it with a pop culture/marketing hook that has proved irresistible to US editors for almost 30 years.

A whole realm of cultural stereotyping has been built on the notion of being part of a "generation".

Without this idea of a "Boomer Generation", it's hard to imagine the idea of the "Greatest Generation" or "Generation X" spawning their own set of cliches.

To my horror, the generation cliche has taken root in Britain. The quality papers here have taken full advantage of the boomer retirement age. During the holiday period, when staff was short and news was slow, they filled up their pages with boomer horror stories.

My confession

A member of the British Cabinet, David Willetts, nicknamed Two Brains, has even written a book that distils the essence of the cliche into its title: The Pinch: How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future - And Why They Should Give It Back.

Now, I have a confession to make. I was a single guy in New York when USA Today was launched and I quickly figured out their boomer thing.

I was unemployed at the time and used to chat young ladies up in bars by telling them I was the baby boomer correspondent of USA Today, and that I had retired because they had paid me to write all the articles in advance about how the progress of the population bulge through time would affect US society.

It was all so predictable. Boomers get married, boomers are re-shaping the housing market, boomers are having children, boomers are taking control of boardrooms, the White House etc, right up to the present storyline of boomers retiring.

You will not be surprised to hear that line of chat didn't work all that well. But you may be surprised to find out that the number of women who actually believed what I was telling them was true - for a while.

But why anyone would believe it or buy the cliche is beyond me.

Different strokes

The idea that people have something in common because they are born in the same approximate time period is akin to newspaper theories of astrology.

My wife is a Virgo. She is extraordinarily neat, well-organised and critical, just like the star-sign literature says she should be. I am also a Virgo, but I'm a slob and hopelessly disorganised, just like the star sign literature says I shouldn't be.

You can see that the same kind of mismatching when you start thinking about baby boomers and the very different lives they lead.

Here are two boomers born less than year apart - but what do Ronald Reagan's would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr and Goldman Sachs chairman Lloyd Blankfein have in common? Or Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to knock off President Gerald Ford, and former Vice President Dan Quayle, similarly close in age?

Perhaps the most apposite comparison would be between Speaker of the House John Boehner and Bruce Springsteen. The speaker and the Boss were born six weeks apart, into the same social class.

Could two men have come out of that experience with more widely differing world views and ways of conducting themselves?

For an American, there is something quite dangerous in lumping everyone born between 1946 and 1960 together - and it is not just evidenced by the maniacal, anonymous postings on newspaper comment threads.

The boomer obsession takes away from accurate historical knowledge of a remarkably turbulent period in American history, one that is not focused on a single clarifying event, such as World War II, the great Depression or the Civil War.

American society is still living in the aftershocks of the social changes of the 1960s.

Our politics are sundered by arguments that can be traced back to those times.

We wilfully avoid discussing the impact that the decade of assassination, inner city rioting and dramatic social progress had on the body politic. Instead, this cliche of some unified entity called the baby boom becomes a way of avoiding memory.

Sheer coincidence

Boomers are the "Me Generation" - selfish, self-important, self-dramatising, hoovering up all available resources - to paraphrase from some of the comments in British papers in the past two weeks.

Baby boomers: Sharing nothing except an era

To all those anony-mice who post those thoughtless comments and to all those editors and reporters who perpetuate the cliche, let me close on a personal note: I started college in Ohio in the autumn of 1968.

That same fall Republican media-master Karl Rove, conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide Scooter Libby also entered university.

I'm sorry, I cannot see what our lives and world views have in common beside coincidence of birth year.

And coincidence is all those of us born after the war have in common. It's the same kind of coincidence that saw Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini born in the same 14-year period as Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill - and my impoverished, immigrant great-grandparents. What would you call that generation?

Editors, I'm begging you. Make this your New Year's Resolution: no more stories containing the word "boomer".

michael-goldfarb.com

15 January 2011 Last updated at 03:34

Republican officials reflect after Arizona shooting

By Katie Connolly BBC News, Washington

Some have called for a change in Washington following the shooting in the city of Tucson in Arizona

Republican members of the US House of Representatives, dressed casually in jeans and sweaters, have been meeting this weekend in Baltimore for their annual policy retreat.

Topics under discussion include the budget, the deficit and their plans to repeal President Obama's health care package.

But after suspending Congress for a week in the wake of the tragic shootings in Tucson in Arizona, they are also using the opportunity to reflect on the state of politics in Washington.

The shooting of their colleague, Democrat Gabrielle Giffords has cast a long shadow. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Whip, expressed the sentiments of many.

"We value life and we saw a friend get terribly injured in this process. People are going to look to one another very differently," he told reporters.

"It doesn't matter what we debate on the floor, I think the floor will change. The tone will be different, but the challenges will be greater. We still have philosophical differences."

But those philosophical differences seem deeper than ever in Washington these days. The ideological divide between the parties is substantial, and it has been expressed at times in inflammatory language.

Cry for unity

Following the events in Arizona, left-wing commentators have demanded more civility from their counterparts on the right. They have accused conservatives of irresponsibly using violent imagery, including gun targets, in their criticism of Democrats.

President Obama, in his speech at a memorial service for the victims of the Arizona shooting, asked Americans to use words that heal not wound at this time when "our discourse has become so sharply polarized."

He challenged America be as good as its children - like 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green who was killed in the shootings - imagine it to be.

"A more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make [the Arizona victims] proud," he said.

All of this has put Republicans on the defensive. Many outright disagree that divisive rhetoric is the pervasive problem that political analysts on cable news channels claim it to be.

Haley Barbour, the Republican Governor of Mississippi who is considering running for president in 2012 is one of them. He was a guest speaker at the retreat.

Mississippi Republican Governor Haley Barbour is considering running for president in 2012

I asked him if he felt the tone at the retreat had changed - been elevated perhaps - in light of the shootings.

The question clearly aggravated him.

"I've been to a lot of these over the years, I never been to one that didn't have an elevated tone," he replied, with a stony face and a cold demeanour.

But will the calls to alter the discourse will impact the Republican caucus in the lead up to 2012?

"In what way? I mean to do you think it will make us all be for different policy. No Ma'am. I don't think so," Mr Barbour said.

But what about the rhetoric that was accused of being heated and inflammatory?

"There's certainly not any of that here," he replied.

'Real' party differences

Perhaps not - the sessions were closed to the press, so it's difficult to know how the discussion is progressing behind closed doors.

Regardless, the political differences between Democrats and Republicans here are very real and very deep.

The bitterness of the last Congress - when members sparred over "death panels" and "job-killing" bills - is not going to simply evaporate.

And members like Michigan's Candace Miller won't change their opinion of the Obama administration overnight.

Moments after reflecting on the awful tragedy that befell her colleague, she shifted to criticism.

"The debt has been driven up by President Obama and the Democrat majority," she told reporters at the retreat.

"As a mother and a grandmother, I've watched for the last four years and said how dare the elected leaders of this country restrict the opportunities for the next generation by being incredibly selfish with all this out of control spending."

The shooting of Gabby Giffords has certainly put American politicians in a reflective mood. But that brief moment of bipartisan grief has done, it seems, little to bridge America's political chasm.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:59

France's National Front picks Marine Le Pen as new head

Ms Le Pen looks set to be a genuine contender in the 2012 presidential elections

France's far-right National Front has named Marine Le Pen as its new leader at a party conference.

She is succeeding her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded the FN in 1972.

On Saturday party sources reported that she had secured two-thirds of votes against rival Bruno Gollnisch in a recent referendum of members.

The anti-immigrant FN has been shunned by France's main parties, but Ms Le Pen has said she wants to break with the party's xenophobic image.

In a combative farewell speech on Saturday Mr Le Pen, 82, insisted that "unceasing immigration" posed a threat to France.

"All my comments were distorted from their true meaning... because I refused to submit to the dictatorship of the thought police," he told cheering supporters at the conference in the central city of Tours.

He added that it was up to FN members to ensure the party's future success under a new leader.

"I entrust you with the destiny of our movement... its unity, its pugnacity," he said.

French TV footage showed Marine Le Pen, 42, crying as she applauded her father.

Although Mr Le Pen's five presidential bids have failed, the FN has steadily grown under his leadership.

In recent elections the party has been able to garner about 15% of the vote.

In 2002 he came a shock second in the first round of presidential elections, but lost the second round to then-incumbent Jacques Chirac.

A recent poll suggested the party could come third in presidential elections to be held in 2012.

The French lobby group SOS Racisme said Ms Le Pen's election at the head of the National Front would not change the nature of the party, and that its "hate speech" would continue.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:18

Three dead in Budapest West Balkan nightclub stampede

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the club after the incident

Three women have been killed in a stampede at a nightclub in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

Police said the women had been caught in a crush after mass panic broke out among the thousands of people in the three-storey West Balkan club.

The cause of the stampede is not yet clear, but officials have ruled out earlier reports that it was sparked by a knife attack in the club.

Witnesses said the club, in an old shopping centre, had been very crowded.

Medical officials are working to establish the cause of the women's deaths.

A spokeswoman for city's rescue services, Pal Gyorfi, told the Associated Press it was too early to say how the women died.

But police spokeswoman Katalin Fanni Horvath told AFP the women may have been trampled on by others trying to escape.

The building was evacuated after the incident and sealed off for investigations.

Hungarian media said police were looking into reports of overcrowding and whether there were enough suitable emergency exits.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:09

Greek search for migrants after boat sinks off Corfu

Greek coastguards said all the rescued migrants were safe and well

Greek coastguards are searching for 22 people missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the island of Corfu.

The wooden vessel was carrying more than 260 passengers when it ran into trouble in rough seas.

Most of the passengers, who said they were from Afghanistan, were rescued by a Dutch cargo ship that was nearby.

Greece has become the main gateway for illegal migrants hoping to reach Europe, although most cross over the country's border with Turkey.

The passengers on the ship called for help late on Saturday night, but coastguards were unable to reach them immediately because of the weather.

Greek officials said that 241 people, including women and children, were safely rescued but that 22 others appeared to have fallen overboard.

A search of the area is being carried out by boats and aircraft, but rescue workers said they had seen no trace of the missing people.

The survivors were met by authorities and medical workers when they arrived in Corfu.

The AFP news agency quoted port officials as saying the migrants had been heading for Italy when the ship sank.

Frontex, the EU's border agency, says there has been an overall decline in the number of people detected trying to enter the EU illegally.

But in the early part of last year crossings at Greece's land border with Turkey intensified.

Last year the European Union, at Greece's request, sent border guards to help patrol the frontier. Greece has also announced plans to build a fence along one section of the border.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:56

Irish PM Brian Cowen to stay as party leader

Brian Cowen will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands

The Irish prime minister will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands.

Brian Cowen is due to make a statement to the press at 1700 GMT.

He has faced recent scrutiny about a meeting with the head of Anglo Irish Bank shortly before he announced a multi-billion euro bank guarantee.

On Thursday, he said he would take 48 hours to consult with his parliamentary colleagues on whether he should continue in his post.

Several Fianna Fail backbenchers have called for Mr Cowen to resign.

On Saturday, one Fianna Fail member of parliament called for the party to unite behind the foreign minister, Micheal Martin.

Noel O'Flynn said he had been contacted by the prime minister on Saturday afternoon and had told him that his leadership had not worked.

However, deputy prime minister Mary Coughlan said she believed in Mr Cowen's leadership.

She added: I believe that he has been the only man over the last two and half years to make the difficult decisions and give the leadership to the cabinet.

"And I would say that if others were in that place, I would question their ability and their acumen to do what had to be done."

Pressure

Former Anglo Irish chairman Sean Fitpatrick, who Mr Cowen met at a golf course in 2008, is still subject to official scrutiny over his role in the collapse of the bank and has previously been questioned by police.

The Taoiseach (prime minister) has denied that he discussed bank matters with Mr Fitzpatrick at the golf course and insisted that he had not done political favours for any financial institution.

On Thursday, Mr Cowen made clear that he did not intend to resign and said the process of talking to his parliamentary party should take about 48 hours.

He is also facing a motion of no confidence, tabled by the opposition Labour Party, in parliament next week.

Mr Cowen, who took power in 2008, has been under pressure since Ireland was forced to seek an international financial bail-out late last year.

Following the intervention by the EU and the IMF, there were rumours of an internal push against him but his critics pulled back at the last moment.

His coalition government has only a slim minority in parliament and a general election is expected in the spring.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:15

Fiat: Turin plant workers accept new conditions

The unions had been divided over the deal at the Mirafiori plant

Workers at a Fiat car plant in Italy have voted to accept changes to working conditions, in a deal that could have widespread implications for industrial relations in the country.

The changes at the Mirafiori factory in Turin include longer hours, cuts in benefits, and limits on strikes.

Fiat's management described them as essential and had threatened to invest abroad if the deal was rejected.

Unions have called the deal "shameful", saying it takes away workers' rights.

Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne has said the new conditions are crucial to reforming the ailing car maker.

He also said the firm would perform better without its loss-making Italian plants.

The changes were accepted by 54% of those who voted in the referendum at the Mirafiori factory.

The left-wing Fiom, which opposed the deal, said a deciding factor was support from white-collar workers.

The BBC Duncan Kennedy in Rome says that by forging an agreement for an individual plant, Fiat has broken Italy's tradition of national negotiations.

The changes also brings Italy closer to other countries like the UK and Germany, where more flexible deals have been in place for many years, our correspondent adds.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:12

France pledges reform after diabetes drug scandal

By David Chazan BBC News, Paris

Mr Bertrand said it was his duty to rebuild the system to protect the public

French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand has promised a complete revamp of the country's medical regulatory system.

He was speaking after an official report said a diabetes drug which caused up to 2,000 deaths should have been banned 10 years earlier.

The drug - known as Mediator - should have been banned as early as 1999, when it began to emerge that it could cause heart disease, the report said.

Several other European countries and the US then withdrew it.

'Political connections'

But Mediator remained on sale in France for another 10 years.

Between 500 and 2,000 people in France are believed to have died because of its side effects.

It was developed to treat diabetics but millions of people took it simply to lose weight.

The report by a government agency, the Social Affairs Inspectorate, said it was incomprehensible that the authorities had failed to act sooner.

Mr Bertrand said it was now his duty to rebuild the regulatory system to protect the public.

His statement is being seen as an admission that one of the biggest medical scandals in France in recent years may not be an isolated case.

The affair has become politicised as the pharmaceutical company which manufactured the drug, Servier, reportedly had high-level political connections.

The health minister himself has been implicated by French media reports alleging that two of his advisors had previously worked for the company.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 22:24

More farms closed in Germany as dioxin scare continues

Excessive levels of dioxin were found in pork, eggs and chicken

Germany has closed 934 more poultry and pig farms as fears over the contamination of dioxin in animal feed continue.

The move came after a manufacturer in Lower Saxony was found to have hidden some of the outlets it sold produce to.

Farms were closed in Lower Saxony as well as in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Brandenburg.

The scandal began last week after high levels of dioxin, known to cause cancer, were found in eggs and pork.

As a result, 100,000 eggs were destroyed and thousands of farms were closed, although most have since been allowed to resume operations.

'Scandal within scandal'

Officials in Lower Saxony say they have opened an investigation after they discovered that the manufacturer had not revealed a full list of all of the companies it had made deliveries to.

"This is a scandal within the scandal," Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said.

The ministry says that products from these farms, mostly eggs, may have been sold since, but stressed that "consumption of these goods does not pose a health risk" due to the low contamination level.

Dioxins, which are found at low levels in many foods, do not cause immediate health problems but long-term exposure to high levels has been shown to cause a range of effects, including cancer.

The origin of the contamination has been traced to a distributor in the northern state of Schleswig Holstein, where oils intended for use in bio-fuels were accidentally distributed for animal feed.

The scandal prompted South Korea and China to ban imports of German pork and poultry.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 23:29

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

BP's chief executive Bob Dudley: ''This is a historic moment for BP''

BP has signed a joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

The "strategic global alliance" will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring the region.

As part of the deal Rosneft will take 5% of BP's shares in exchange for approximately 9.5% of Rosneft's shares.

It is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill last year, which cost it billions.

The BP shares stake is worth just under $8bn (£5bn).

"BP executives see this as the first piece of good news since that disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last April," said the BBC's business editor Robert Peston.

But he said the deal was a controversial one, with Russia not seen as an entirely transparent society nor as as a stable place to do business.

'Historic'

"This unique agreement underlines our long-term, strategic and deepening links with the world's largest hydrocarbon-producing nation," said BP's chief executive Bob Dudley.

He said the "historic" deal would "create value, deliver growth, and meet the world's demand for energy".

Mr Dudley said the agreement would meet the needs of consumers, shareholders and governments.

The firms will explore in three areas - known as EPNZ 1,2,3 - on the Russian Arctic continental shelf.

The areas covers 125,000 square kilometres in an area of the South Kara Sea.

"Our future joint venture will utilize the experience and expertise of BP, one of the leaders in the global oil and gas industry," said Rosneft's President, Eduard Khudainatov.

"This project is unique in its complexity and scale both for Russia and the global oil and gas industry. We see it as the next step in developing our relations with BP."

'Unexplored'

Referring to the Deepwater Horizon blast Mr Dudley said that the firm had "learned many lessons over the past year".

He also said the Russian deal had not been precipitated by the backlash it had experienced in the US because of the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Since the rig disaster in the US Gulf of Mexico BP has been disposing of assets.

Mr Dudley is the former chief executive of Russian joint venture TNK-BP, and was forced out of the country in 2008 after falling out with other shareholders.

But he said he was pleased to now be working with Rosneft in "one of the world's last remaining unexplored basins".

"We are today building a relationship between BP and Rosneft that has been forged over 12 years but going far beyond anything that has gone before," he said.

"We are creating an entirely new strategic alliance between what I know are two great companies."

Joint research

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne: ''It's a ground-breaking deal''

BP and Rosneft have also agreed to set-up an Arctic technology centre in Russia which will work with Russian and international research institutes to develop technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbon resources from the Arctic shelf.

UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne hailed the agreement as a groundbreaking development.

"From what we know, it sounds like it's potentially good for BP," said Phil Weiss, analyst at New York equities firm Argus Research.

"BP gets access to resources, Rosneft gets access to expertise and knowledge."

However in the US Congressman Edward Markey, who is leading Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called for a review of the deal by US regulators.

Return to profit

BP had a terrible 2010 with the Gulf of Mexico spill, which is going to cost them at least $40bn.

But in November BP announced it was back in profit in the three months to September after last quarter' s record loss.

The firm said its replacement cost profit for the period was $1.85bn (£1.15bn), as against the $17bn loss recorded from April to June.

The previous loss reflected the massive costs of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis.

Australian Open, Melbourne
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Watch on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details

Murray has slipped to fifth in the world rankings this week

Andy Murray will play Karol Beck in the Australian Open first round and has avoided being drawn in the same quarter as Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer.

The 23-year-old Scot, seeded fifth, will begin his campaign on Tuesday in the same half of the draw as world number one Nadal.

Fellow British number one Elena Baltacha takes on a qualifier in her opening match in Melbourne.

Briton Anne Keothavong is still trying to qualify for the Grand Slam.

Murray will play Beck for the first time, with the 28-year-old Slovakian currently ranked 104 in the world.

MURRAY'S POSSIBLE ROUTE

R1: Karol Beck (Ranked 104)

R2: Illya Marchenko (78)

R3: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (33)

R4: Jurgen Melzer (11)

Q/F: Robin Soderling (4)

S/F: Rafael Nadal (1)

F: Roger Federer (2)

Looking ahead, the Briton would play either Illya Marchenko or Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the second round and he could meet world number four Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals.

Argentina's former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, making his way back after a serious wrist injury, takes on Israel's Dudi Sela in round one and could play Murray in the fourth round.

Nadal, who will hold all four Grand Slam titles if he wins the tournament, will first play Brazilian world number 96 Marcos Daniel no Tuesday, with Feliciano Lopez or John Isner possibly waiting in round three and last year's semi-finalist Marin Cilic in the last 16.

Defending champion Roger Federer, bidding for a record fifth Australian Open title, opens on Monday against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia and could meet 12th seed Gael Monfils in the fourth round.

The tie of the first round pits home favourite Lleyton Hewitt against Argentina's 27th seed David Nalbandian in a repeat of the 2002 Wimbledon final, which the Australian won.

JONATHAN OVEREND BLOG

All eyes in the men's singles will be on Rafael Nadal to see whether he can win a fourth consecutive major and complete the "Rafa Slam"

In the women's event, Denmark's world number one Caroline Wozniacki will begin on Monday against doubles number one Gisela Dulko from Argentina, while in the same half of the draw Justine Henin faces a qualifier, with Baltacha potentially waiting in round two.

Venus Williams faces Sara Eranni and Russia's Maria Sharapova, the champion in 2008, has been drawn to face Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

In the bottom half of the draw, US Open champion Kim Clijsters will play former world number one Dinara Safina, now ranked 65, in the first round and second seed Vera Zvonareva meets Sybille Bammer.

Defending champion Serena Williams will be absent as she continues to recover from a foot injury.

Highlights - Federer triumphs at Aussie Open

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Patriarchal Serbia faces up to domestic violence

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53 Help

A growing number of men and women are victims of domestic violence in Serbia - a reality the country is trying to overcome in what remains a largely patriarchal society.

The BBC's Belgrade correspondent Mark Lowen has been finding out what's being done to tackle the situation, including the opening of the first male safe house in the Balkans.

BP and Russia's Rosneft sign Arctic oil deal

15 January 2011 Last updated at 02:42 Help

BP has signed a joint venture with Russian energy firm Rosneft to exploit potentially huge deposits of oil and gas in Russia's Arctic shelf.

The agreement will see the firms exchange expertise in exploring the region.

It is BP's first deal since the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, which cost it billions.

Daniel Sandford reports.

Read more

- BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

Italy's Berlusconi in prostitution probe

15 January 2011 Last updated at 03:24 Help

Prosecutors are investigating Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, over allegations that he paid to have sex with a teenage nightclub dancer.

The girl, known by her stage name Ruby, said she attended parties at Mr Berlusconi's villa when she was 17, and received money - but denied they had sex.

Mr Berlusconi has admitted intervening to have her released when she had been arrested on suspicion of theft. But he has denied doing anything wrong.

From Rome, Duncan Kennedy reports.

Read more

- Italy PM in teenage dancer probe

- Timeline: Berlusconi in politics

- In pictures: 'Berlusconi's women'

15 January 2011 Last updated at 01:04

Italian wine a life-saver in fight against HIV/Aids

By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Tuscany

The natural treasures of Italy are being harnessed to help pay for anti-retroviral drugs for people with HIV/Aids in Africa

"Your very good health" is a popular toast often exchanged between people pinging two glasses of wine together.

Usually it is a gesture that is meant to be more friendly than literal.

But now in Italy, its meaning may, indeed, be taken at face value.

That is not because of the contents of the glass, but because of the bottle.

Italy's quality wine producers are selling some of their finest vintages with special labels on the bottle to help in the fight against HIV/Aids in Africa.

On the grapevine

The tiny red labels have been put on around two million bottles so far, each bearing the words 'Wine For Life'.

For every bottle sold, 50 cents (42p) goes to buy anti-retroviral drugs for people in Africa.

"This is about life, it is not about business", says Luca Sanjust, the owner of the Petrolo winery in Tuscany and one of the producers signed up to the scheme.

Luca led me through the idyllic rolling hills of his vineyards to his production line.

There, workers were putting the red labels on bottles of his delicious Galatrona.

"Wine to us is sacred. Life is sacred, " Luca says.

"It's about taking the love that we receive from nature, in the form of wine, and giving it back to the earth, in the form of helping our needy brothers and sisters in Africa."

This almost spiritual reasoning for supporting the project is shared by many of the 120 wine producers who are now a part of the 'Wine For Life' programme.

Luca happens to be a good friend of Jamie Oliver, the British chef who regularly visits Luca's villa to try out new recipes and buy his olive oil there.

120 wine producers are now part of the scheme in Italy

His is a medium-sized winery, with the vineyards producing about 70,000 bottles of wine a year.

So, with each bottle making 50 cents, Luca is able to contribute around 35,000 euros (£29,500) a year to the scheme.

African dream

The 'Wine for Life' idea did not come from the wine makers, but from the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome.

Founded by students in 1968, Sant'Egidio has grown into a unique mix of Christian charity, social communicator and diplomatic facilitator.

In its long history, it has done everything from providing Christmas lunches for the homeless, to acting as mediator in the Mozambique civil war, leading to the Rome Peace Accord of 1992.

Mario Marrazitti, its ebullient leader, was part of that peace process and is also behind 'Wine For Life'.

"We were doing work in ten African countries in what we call our 'Dream' project and we needed to sustain it, financially", he tells me amid the tropical plants of Sant'Egidio's glorious garden in Rome.

"We thought that wine producers were a natural partner in this private/ public arrangement, as they represent a connection with nature, whilst also having the ability to raise money.

I ask Mario if the project has worked.

"It's been incredible," he says.

"We believe that about 20,000 children and 2,000 adults have been saved by getting access to the drugs paid for by the wine scheme".

Natural treasures

The charity behind the wine project believes 20,000 children have been saved as a result

Mario now wants to expand it, by getting supermarket chains like Tesco and Carrefour to set up special corners in their stores, where customers can buy a wider range of products with the red labels on.

"Everyone wins," says Mario.

"The supermarkets will attract a select, socially-conscious, clientele, the producers costs are all covered and the people of Africa get access to the drugs they need, but which governments and other non-governmental organisations can't always provide," he says.

In Tuscany and other areas of Italy, soil, weather and care blend to produce some of the world's finest wines.

Now, those natural treasures are being harnessed for people in a continent hundreds of miles away.

For Luca Sanjust, the link between his land and their life has become sacrosanct, a mission that goes beyond commercialism.

He knows that customers all over Italy are now helping uncork a different kind of revenue stream to fight HIV/Aids and where one of the pleasures of life is now helping to save it.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:19

Roman rise and fall 'recorded in trees'

By Mark Kinver Science and environment reporter, BBC News

The study offers a link between changes to the climate and the rise and fall of human societies

An extensive study of tree growth rings says there could be a link between the rise and fall of past civilisations and sudden shifts in Europe's climate.

A team of researchers based their findings on data from 9,000 wooden artifacts from the past 2,500 years.

They found that periods of warm, wet summers coincided with prosperity, while political turmoil occurred during times of climate instability.

The findings have been published online by the journal Science.

"Looking back on 2,500 years, there are examples where climate change impacted human history," co-author Ulf Buntgen, a paleoclimatologist at the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape, told the Science website.

Ring record

The team capitalised on a system used to date material unearthed during excavations.

"Archaeologists have developed oak ring width chronologies from Central Europe that cover nearly the entire Holocene and have used them for the purpose of dating artefacts, historical buildings, antique artwork and furniture," they wrote.

"Chronologies of living and relict oaks may reflect distinct patterns of summer precipitation and drought."

The team looked at how weather over the past couple of centuries affected living trees' growth rings.

During good growing seasons, when water and nutrients are in plentiful supply, trees form broad rings, with their boundaries relatively far apart.

But in unfavourable conditions, such as drought, the rings grow in much tighter formation.

The researchers then used this data to reconstruct annual weather patterns from the growth rings preserved in the artefacts.

Once they had developed a chronology stretching back over the past 2,500 years, they identified a link with prosperity levels in past societies, such as the Roman Empire.

"Wet and warm summers occurred during periods of Roman and medieval prosperity. Increased climate variability from 250-600 AD coincided with the demise of the western Roman empire and the turmoil of the migration period," the team reported.

"Distinct drying in the 3rd Century paralleled a period of serious crisis in the western Roman empire marked by barbarian invasion, political turmoil and economic dislocation in several provinces of Gaul."

Dr Buntgen explained: "We were aware of these super-big data sets, and we brought them together and analyzed them in a new way to get the climate signal.

"If you have enough wood, the dating is secure. You just need a lot of material and a lot of rings."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:14

Afghanistan: Bomb kills nine wedding guests in Baghlan

At least nine Afghans have been killed by a roadside bomb in the northern province of Baghlan, officials say.

Police said all were wedding guests and their car was destroyed in the blast.

The news came as officials said six civilians were killed in a roadside blast in the south on Saturday.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in fighting between Taliban and Nato-led forces in recent years. Violence is at levels not seen since the militants were driven from power in 2001.

The Taliban and other militants routinely use roadside bombings against Nato and Afghan forces. Civilians are often killed.

Police in Baghlan said the wedding guests had been travelling from Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital, to a village in the same province when their car hit the bomb.

"Nine civilians - six women, a child and two men - have been killed," provincial governor Abdul Majeed said. "All the casualties are civilians."

He said the road was frequently used by foreign forces.

Baghlan used to be among a number of relatively peaceful northern provinces which have become steadily more violent in recent months as the insurgency has spread.

Sangin attack

In Saturday's attack in Helmand province, a minibus hit a bomb on a dirt road in Sangin district - six people were killed and three injured.

A police vehicle is believed to have been the intended target.

Sangin is one of the main battlefields in the fight between Nato-led forces and Taliban insurgents in the strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar.

Fourteen civilians, including women and children, were killed when their minibus hit a roadside bomb in Helmand in December.

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says roads are increasingly in the frontline of the war in Afghanistan.

Civilian and military casualties are at levels not seen for a decade - last year more than 2,400 civilians died, with roadside bombs the biggest source of casualties, our correspondent says.

Tendulkar hurt his hamstring during Saturday's second ODI with South Africa

India have been handed a major World Cup worry after Sachin Tendulkar was forced to fly home from their tour of South Africa with a hamstring injury.

The iconic batsman strained his right hamstring in Saturday's one-run victory over South Africa in the second match of their one-day series.

India will announce their 15-man squad for the World Cup, which begins on 19 February, on Monday.

Tendulkar, 37, is the all-time leading run scorer in ODIs with 17,629 runs.

He has over 4,000 more runs than his nearest challenger, Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya.

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Tendulkar equalled Jayasuriya's record of 444 ODI appearances on Saturday as India won at the Wanderers to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Tendulkar made 24 but required treatment while batting and did not field.

He had been set to break the one-day international appearance record in Tuesday's third ODI at Newlands in Cape Town.

India will not call for a replacement for Tendulkar, leaving them with only one recognised opening batsman, Murali Vijay, for the final three games of the series.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Praveen Kumar were ruled out with injury before the series began.

India will co-host the World Cup with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the final in Mumbai on 2 April .

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 14:58

Sri Lanka floods: UN calls for emergency aid

Some people have now begun returning from to their homes

The UN is to launch an appeal for emergency flood aid for Sri Lanka, where at least 32 people have died and more than 300,000 have been displaced.

"I urge donors to generously support priority needs such as mosquito nets, clean water and food," UN humanitarian co-ordinator Neil Buhne said.

Flood waters are now receding in the worst-hit areas in eastern and central Sri Lanka.

But aid agencies are warning of the danger of water-borne diseases.

Mr Buhne said in a statement that the UN's aid appeal would be issued in the coming days.

He said that funds were urgently needed to help replant flooded rice fields and also compensate people affected.

The floods have inflicted terrible destruction on the rice crop which was soon to be harvested, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Sri Lanka reports.

Much of the land in the worst-affected areas is still flooded, with crops and vegetation just peeping out, our correspondent says.

But he adds that the weather is getting warmer and dryer, bringing water levels down after weeks of heavy rain.

Some people have now begun returning from specially set-up displacement centres to their homes.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:09

Greek search for migrants after boat sinks off Corfu

Greek coastguards said all the rescued migrants were safe and well

Greek coastguards are searching for 22 people missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the island of Corfu.

The wooden vessel was carrying more than 260 passengers when it ran into trouble in rough seas.

Most of the passengers, who said they were from Afghanistan, were rescued by a Dutch cargo ship that was nearby.

Greece has become the main gateway for illegal migrants hoping to reach Europe, although most cross over the country's border with Turkey.

The passengers on the ship called for help late on Saturday night, but coastguards were unable to reach them immediately because of the weather.

Greek officials said that 241 people, including women and children, were safely rescued but that 22 others appeared to have fallen overboard.

A search of the area is being carried out by boats and aircraft, but rescue workers said they had seen no trace of the missing people.

The survivors were met by authorities and medical workers when they arrived in Corfu.

The AFP news agency quoted port officials as saying the migrants had been heading for Italy when the ship sank.

Frontex, the EU's border agency, says there has been an overall decline in the number of people detected trying to enter the EU illegally.

But in the early part of last year crossings at Greece's land border with Turkey intensified.

Last year the European Union, at Greece's request, sent border guards to help patrol the frontier. Greece has also announced plans to build a fence along one section of the border.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 05:44

Pilgrims killed in stampede at Indian festival

The annual festival attracts millions of visitors to the Sabarimala temple

Officials say 102 pilgrims have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

At least 44 more have been injured in the crush, which was reportedly triggered by a road accident.

The pilgrims were returning from the Hindu shrine of Sabarimala, which is in a remote, mountainous, densely-forested area.

Kerala Governor R S Gavai has said he is "deeply shocked and saddened".

"We have recovered 102 bodies. The rescue work is almost over," local police official Sanjay Kumar told the Associated Press news agency.

The stampede happened at Pulmedu, near the town of Vandiperiyar in Idukki district, Indian media reported.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had gathered at the hill shrine on Friday, the last day of an annual festival.

The festival runs for two months and attracts millions of visitors every year.

Reports differed as to exactly how the deadly crush was triggered.

A number of injured were treated at local hospitals

The Indian PTI news agency said a jeep carrying pilgrims had driven into a crowd returning from the shrine, starting a panic.

However, the Times of India reported that the incident happened when the jeep broke down and overturned as pilgrims tried to move it.

It crushed a number of people and caused others to stumble, which then triggered the stampede, the report said.

Correspondents say deadly stampedes are not unusual at Indian temples, where huge crowds gather in small areas with few safety measures or crowd controls.

A similar tragedy happened at Sabaramila in 1999, when more than 50 people died in a stampede after a landslide on a crowded hillside.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 18:46

Pakistan blasphemy law reformers' death threats

Orla Guerin: "To people here, Mumtaz Qadri has become a hero"

Pakistan's minorities minister and an MP have told the BBC they will defy death threats they have received for their efforts to reform blasphemy laws.

Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti said he had been threatened with beheading, but he would not be intimidated.

Sherry Rehman, a woman MP who has put forward an amendment in parliament, says she receives death threats every half hour by e-mail and telephone.

The blasphemy law holds a death sentence for anyone who insults Islam.

Critics, including Mr Bhatti, say it has been used to persecute minority faiths in Pakistan.

Climate of fear

A Christian mother-of-five, Asia Bibi, is on death row after being found guilty of blaspheming in her Punjab village in June 2009. She denies the charge.

The issue has been thrust further into the spotlight since the 4 January assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who had backed proposed reforms to the law.

The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says there is now a climate of fear in the country, with few people daring to even mention the legislation.

Mr Bhatti said: "I was told that if I was to continue the campaign against the blasphemy law, I will be assassinated. I will be beheaded. But forces of violence, forces of extremism cannot harass me, cannot threaten me."

Our correspondent says that in the face of strident popular opposition, Mr Bhatti's own government has said the law will not be changed.

Ms Rehman introduced a private member's bill in parliament to ditch the blasphemy law's death penalty and amend clauses to make miscarriages of justice less likely.

From her home in Karachi, where she is under tight private security, she told the BBC that Pakistan was facing an existential threat from extremism.

"There's a very clear and present danger to the fabric and soul of Pakistan," she said.

"The kind of country we want to live in, if we are not up to strategise and face up to this very existential threat, I think that that will swallow us whole eventually."

'Battle of nerves'

Ms Rehman said she was not fazed by the threats she says she receives.

"You get the feeling that this is a fairly orchestrated campaign to shake me or rattle me," she said.

"It's a battle of nerves to make me run away - I don't mean physically, but from standing up for what I believe in."

There were further street demonstrations on Friday demanding the release of Governor Taseer's self-confessed assassin - his own bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri.

Hundreds gathered after Friday prayers near Qadri's home in the Punjab city of Rawalpindi demanding the 26-year-old be freed and that blasphemers be beheaded.

Although no-one convicted under the blasphemy law has ever been executed, more than 30 accused have been killed by lynch mobs.

Earlier this week, a Muslim father and son were handed a life prison sentence in Punjab province after they were convicted under the blasphemy law.

They denied tearing down a poster about a celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday outside their grocery shop.

The allegations were said to stem from a sectarian row with a rival Sunni group.

Eden Gardens will host four matches

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has revealed that preparations at five of the host stadiums for the cricket World Cup are behind schedule.

However, Lorgat is confident all venues for the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be ready on time.

"I'm sure they will be ready," said Lorgat. "All of our reports do not indicate anything like what transpired during the Commonwealth Games."

The opening match between India and Bangladesh takes place on 19 February.

Of most concern is the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which is to host the final on April 2, but which is still undergoing major renovations.

The stadiums are slightly behind, but they'll be done before the start of the World Cup

Haroon Lorgat
ICC chief executive

There are similar problems at the 80,000-seat Eden Gardens in Mumbai.

Indian sport is still smarting from the debacle of last year's Commonwealth Games, when several teams threatened to pull out because of unfinished or substandard facilities.

However, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council is playing down any concerns.

"The stadiums are slightly behind," he said. "There are four in particular, but they'll be done before the start of the World Cup."

Lorgat also denied suggestions that the outcome of the spot-fixing hearings against three Pakistan players, due to be announced on 5 February, could tarnish the ICC's showpiece event.

"There is some time between the verdict and the start of the tournament," Lorgat added. "It is one of the reasons why we were keen to have it well before the start of the World Cup."

Lorgat would not discuss details of the case against Salman Butt, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif, but expressed himself happy at the way the matter had been dealt with.

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I'll stick my neck out and say South Africa are gonna win the World Cup this time around. South Africa and Australia would be the finalists

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"I believe we have done very well to get to this position with a six-day tribunal that has sat and now we await a judgement," he said.

Lorgat also confirmed that the ICC would consider whether to introduce the Umpire Decision Review System in one-day internationals after it is trialled at the World Cup.

"We will be using it during the World Cup and post the World Cup we will consider it at the next committee meeting," he stated.

England and Australia will become the first sides to use the review system in one-day internationals in their seven-match series which starts on in Melbourne on Sunday.

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Second one-day international, Johannesburg:
India 190 (47.2 overs) bt South Africa 189 (43 overs) by 1 run
Match scorecard

India celebrate an unlikely win in Johannesburg

India beat South Africa by one run to tie the series as the hosts collapsed in the second one-day international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Graeme Smith's 77 left the hosts needing 39 runs with five wickets left but Wayne Parnell was caught by Yuvraj Singh, one run short of India's 190.

South Africa had seven overs from which to find the two runs they needed.

"Our game in the back end wasn't good enough," said captain Smith. "We have to regroup."

Smith, who became his nation's most capped one-day skipper, added: "The pitch was slow and stopped a bit so shot-making was difficult. But credit to India, [Lonwabo] Tsotsobe bowled incredibly well."

The bowling of Tsotsobe stole the show with a career-best four for 22 in a devastating spell of limited-overs bowling earlier in the day, but Munaf Patel rivalled Tsotsobe with four wickets at the expense of just 29 runs.

Smith, who went past 6,000 runs in ODIs, eventually departed for 77 - leaving the hosts needing just 39 runs with five wickets remaining.

But South Africa struggled as David Miller top-edged a pull shot straight to fine leg for 27 off 28 balls before Johan Botha was controversially adjudged lbw to Zaheer Khan, even though the ball never touched his pad.

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Dale Steyn was then run out, leaving the hosts requiring 14 runs with two wickets remaining.

But Patel removed Morne Morkel and then Parnell, who could only stare in disbelief after slashing the ball straight to Yuvraj at backward point.

The series continues in Cape Town on Tuesday.

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Sri Lanka floods leave 'over 300,000' homeless

15 January 2011 Last updated at 11:34 Help

Severe flooding in eastern Sri Lanka have left 32 people dead and over 300,000 people homeless.

The United Nations said it will launch an emergency appeal for aid to help victims of the floods.

More than 30,000 army, navy, police and air force personnel are currently battling to provide urgent aid to people hit by the disaster.

Nearly one fifth of rice fields have been inundated, disrupting the livelihoods of farmers and causing an immediate price increase in markets across the country.

Charles Haviland reports.

Read more

- Lives in turmoil after Sri Lankan floods

15 January 2011 Last updated at 07:22

Lives in turmoil after Sri Lankan floods

By Charles Haviland BBC News, Kalmunai, Sri Lanka

Over a million Sri Lankans have been affected by days of flooding

Driving into Kalmunai we saw choppy waters on both sides of the road, something like an inland sea.

The water gave way to flooded coconut plantations.

On Friday, as the Muslim faithful went to midday prayers, the rain was starting up again in this mixed Muslim-Tamil town on Sri Lanka's isolated south-eastern seaboard.

Life here has been turned upside down.

In normal times this is a land peppered with lagoons but now it is as if they have taken over the land.

Huge expanses of agricultural land have been swamped

Makeshift camps

By a small Hindu temple, its bell tolling, the road simply petered out, giving way to a huge expanse of water.

There was merely a line of poles indicating where the road should be.

In places like this, local people are now getting around by boat. Motorboats and simple wooden catamarans sailed past.

Not far away a few men, women and boys were peering gingerly round the houses they abandoned six days ago. The water level has gone down but not enough for them to move back in.

Youths were trying to throw out the aquatic plants that have been swept into the buildings. One picked up two snakes that ended up on top of the compound fence.

About half a dozen tortoises of various sizes had also been brought in by the waters.

Much worse, the floodwaters have spilled into the freshwater wells - the UN children's agency Unicef believes 66,000 wells have suffered this fate.

Navamani Ravichand is just one of nearly 400,000 Sri Lankans now living in makeshift camps that have sprung up in schools.

She, her husband and four children are crammed with about 400 other families into a school that now accommodates those who fled their homes.

A team of local volunteers helped by inmates cooks lunch.

There is improvised cricket while the younger children have taken over the playground - but Ms Ravichand just wonders when they will all be able to go home. Her husband, a farm labourer, has no work at the moment.

Navamani Ravichan (middle) now lives in a makeshift camp with thousands of others

On the way inland are huge expanses of crushed paddy crops - fields destroyed by the rain and by water gushing out of burst irrigation reservoirs.

'Nothing to harvest'

Ahmed Lebbe, a 50-year-old farmer, faces ruin. "There was no rain for months," he says.

"Then it started raining and it's gone on for a month and a half without stopping. Then the reservoir burst and everything was destroyed. We can't salvage any crops."

Another farmer who also works as a teacher, Suleiman, is equally desolate.

"Now, nothing to harvest. Everything under water," he laments in English. "Other people are also like this. So many farmers are very lost. To recover this it will take five years, I think."

They cannot farm - so many local men see little option other than to try fishing in the floodwaters.

Everywhere, nets are being cast - but little substantial is being caught.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 04:54

Uncertainty in Nepal as UN mission ends

By Joanna Jolly BBC News, Kathmandu

More than 19,000 former Maoist fighters remain in cantons around the country

The United Nations mission established to monitor Nepal's peace process, Unmin, is scheduled to leave the country on Saturday amid uncertainty about its future.

The mission is closing after Nepal's warring political parties agreed not to extend its mandate last September.

In a last-minute compromise deal, the government and the Maoists have agreed to take over the UN's monitoring duties.

But there is still some uncertainty over how the peace process will continue.

Unmin was established under a peace deal following a 10-year conflict between the Maoists and the army

Established in 2007, Unmin monitored the arms and personnel of the Maoist army and the Nepalese Army under a peace deal that brought 10 years of conflict between the Maoists and the state to an end.

It also helped conduct elections to a Constituent Assembly in 2008, in which the Maoists won most seats but fell short of an outright majority.

But despite these successes, Nepal is still a long way from concluding its peace process and writing a new democratic constitution.

"I believe we could have done more given a different mandate," says Ms Landgren.

"It's been frustrating having the monitoring end of things without being able to influence the decision making."

Many of the conditions of the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement have yet to be fulfilled.

The Nepalese Army has not been restructured. More than 19,000 former Maoist fighters remain in cantons around the country, their weapons under UN supervision.

A deal to either integrate them into the security forces or rehabilitate them into civilian life has stalled because of distrust between the Maoists and an alliance of the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist).

Nepali MPs could not be persuaded to back Ram Chandra Poudel for the premiership

The peace process in Nepal has been deadlocked since the collapse of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML coalition government in June.

Since then, the country's parliament has held 16 unsuccessful votes to chose a new prime minister.

A 17th vote was cancelled this week after the only candidate standing, the Nepali Congress MP Ram Chandra Poudel, withdrew.

It is hoped that this will pave the way for a new power-sharing government, which will move the peace process forward.

All the parties agree there is no alternative to consensus. But there remains deep division between them.

Political divisions

The Maoists had wanted the UN to stay.

"Unmin has been a psychological deterrent on both sides not to break the peace process," says Maoist Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai. "Without it there could be trouble."

More than 19,000 former Maoist fighters remain in camps around the country

But the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML disagreed.

Some in these parties feel the mission has always been too close to the Maoists, and resent its equal treatment of the former rebels and the state security forces.

In this respect they are backed by India, Nepal's large and powerful southern neighbour.

India, who is fighting a war with Maoist rebels within its own borders, has played a key role in trying to exclude the Nepali Maoists from power.

'Special relationship'

It has also had a behind-the-scenes hand in advising members of the UN Security Council that keeping Unmin in Nepal would only slow down the peace process.

"India sees any foreign presence in the territory of Nepal as a possible challenge to its hegemony," says political commentator, C K Lal.

"This is because India interprets the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship as a special relationship between the two countries - and thinks that India has special rights over foreign policy in Nepal."

As Unmin prepares to withdraw its staff, it has said it will maintain a close relationship with Nepal.

The country is set to write a new constitution by the 28 May but with political attention focused on who is going to be the next prime minister, it is looking increasingly unlikely that this deadline will be met.

But Ms Landgren says she believes that the gains made during the last four years will not be reversed.

"It's up to Nepalis to pull up their boot straps because time is very short."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:29

Ex-undercover Pc Mark Kennedy 'living in fear'

Mark Kennedy says he left the police force in 2009

Ex-undercover officer Pc Mark Kennedy has said his "world has been destroyed" after his covert work was exposed.

The case against six green activists accused of conspiring to shut down a power station collapsed after he said he would testify for the defence.

Mr Kennedy told the Mail on Sunday his secret work had "jeopardised" his life.

And he claimed he was now being made a scapegoat for the failure of the trial when, in fact, "a lot of mistakes" were made in the operation's handling.

The former Pc led a double life, serving as a Metropolitan Police officer while posing as an activist known as Mark "Flash" Stone, involved in the green movement since 2000.

On Monday, the trial of six men allegedly involved in a protest at Nottingham's Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in 2009 was stopped after their defence team asked prosecutors to disclose full details of the officer's activities.

This reportedly prompted the Crown Prosecution Service to drop their case, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is now examining whether Nottinghamshire Police properly disclosed all relevant material in advance of the trial date.

Mr Kennedy told the Mail on Sunday he believed tape recordings secretly made by him were withheld for fear they would destroy the prosecution's case.

Sexual relationships

The former Pc was involved in a number of protests during his time undercover, including at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire - where he claims he was hit by some of his fellow officers.

He also picketed arms fairs in London and the construction of the Karahnjukar Dam in Iceland.

He said he was particularly useful because he owned a van and could drive people to demonstrations, and was also a skilled climber who could scale buildings.

Mr Kennedy admitted having two sexual relationships with female activists and said it was "a wrong thing to do".

"The circumstances I was involved in led to that to happen and I can assure you that I am not the only person who has been involved in sexual relationships as an undercover officer."

But he denied "going native" despite getting very close to his targets.

"As the years went on, I did get a sort of Stockholm Syndrome [where kidnap victims come to love their captors], but I never lost sight of my work. I texted and informed on a daily basis."

Mr Kennedy was unmasked in September by some of the activists and subsequently told them he had been a police officer, but had left in 2009.

He said he had recently fled abroad and had sought help from a psychiatrist after having suicidal thoughts.

"My world has been destroyed. I don't have any friends - they were all in the activist movement.

"I can't sleep. I have lost weight and am constantly on edge.

"I barricade the door with chairs at night. I am in genuine fear for my life. I have been told that my former bosses from the force are out here in America looking for me. I have been told by activists to watch my back as people are out to get me."

"Grey and murky"

Mr Kennedy criticised police procedures for dealing with him.

"There have been a lot of mistakes made, a lot of operational decisions have been wrong... and I think I am being made a scapegoat."

He described the "world of undercover policing" as "grey and murky" and said there was "some bad stuff going on" within it.

"The extraction policies for taking an undercover officer out of the activist scene after their deployment has finished is appalling. I had no confidence at all that my safety was ever going to be regarded."

He added: "I want to tell my story and tell how there is a huge mismanagement of staff for the sake of gathering intelligence.

"It has jeopardised my life and it could jeopardise the lives of other officers."

But Peter Bleksley, who was a founder member of Scotland Yard's undercover unit, said all those taking part in such work had chosen to do so.

"Nobody can put your arm up your back and force you into going undercover," he told the BBC.

"So consequently, as a volunteer, that means you've got the ultimate power of veto. If you're not happy with how an operation's being run, if you're not happy with what you're being asked to do, it's very simple, you just say, 'Nope, I'm not doing it.'"

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:40

Chief medical officer urges swine flu virus calm

The Public Health Agency has urged people to take sensible precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus

The NI chief medical officer has sought to reassure parents of healthy children that there is no need for alarm over the swine flu outbreak.

Dr Michael McBride was speaking after two children, who had been suffering from the H1N1 virus, died.

The death of a 10-month-old baby boy, who had an underlying health condition, was announced just hours after it was revealed a two-year-old boy had died.

It is not known if the two-year-old had any other health issues.

Active review

Nineteen people have now died in NI after suffering from the virus.

Two of those have now been confirmed to have had no underlying condition.

Vaccines against the virus are currently only available to people in certain at risk groups.

Dr McBride passed on his sympathies to the families of those who died.

He added that anyone in an at risk group who has not been vaccinated should take the opportunity as soon as possible.

"We continue to offer vaccinations to any child under five in an at risk group as advised by the joint committee.

"The question has been posed if we should extend to healthy under-5s.

"I know the JCVI is keeping this under close and active review and we will continue to be guided by their expert advice."

BBC NI health correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly, said no reason had been provided about why the two-year-old child was being treated in Northern Ireland.

"One explanation is that if the child lived in a border area close to Newry or Londonderry, for example, there may have been more intensive care beds available here," she said.

"The republic is coming under increasing pressure as the number of swine flu cases there doubled last week, while those admitted to intensive care units also increased."

Anxiety heightened

The health minister, Michael McGimpsey, said he understood the news might heighten public anxiety particularly among parents of young children.

He added: "I have recently spoken to other UK health ministers about Northern Ireland's current flu picture. I have also spoken to Mary Harney, the Republic of Ireland's health minister.

"In addition, I have consulted with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about the particular circumstances here.

"They do not recommend extending the vaccination programme beyond the current at risk groups."

During the pandemic last year, 19 people died from the H1N1 virus, all but one of whom had an underlying condition.

The authorities were unable to establish whether the other victim, a pregnant woman, had an unknown underlying health problem which may have contributed to her death.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:00

Miliband 'appalled' by Royal Wedding strikes threat

The Labour leader Ed Miliband has told Andrew Marr he doesn't like the idea of a coordinated strike

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he is "appalled" by the idea of trade unions planning strikes to disrupt Royal Wedding celebrations.

He told the BBC such a plan of action would be "absolutely the wrong thing to do" and a "sign of failure".

There have been reports of transport and public sector strikes on 29 April, but unions have played down the idea in recent days.

David Cameron has suggested changing the law to make it harder to strike.

London Underground drivers in the Aslef union had been considering walking out on the day of Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, but the threat has been removed as talks with Transport for London officials take place.

'Heroic failures'

British Airways cabin crew have also talked of striking on the same day and over the Easter period. But, last week, Len McCluskey, the general secretary-elect of the Unite union, said there was "no likelihood" of such action.

There are, however, suggestions that public sector workers may protest on the day against the effects of government cuts, including pay freezes and job losses.

Mr Miliband told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I'm appalled by the idea that there are going to be strikes to disrupt the Royal Wedding. That's absolutely the wrong thing for the trade unions to do.

"I would totally condemn that and similarly in relation to the Olympics...

"Strikes are a last resort and a sign of failure on both sides... They are not the way you change a government. The way you change a government is through the ballot box."

He added: "What we are not going to do under my leadership is go back to the heroic failures of the 1980s."

The prime minister has suggested he could look at the law on industrial action, amid calls for strike ballots to be unlawful if under half of a union's membership takes part.

In his BBC interview, Mr Miliband said he had been talking to Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes about the coalition's scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for teenagers in England.

He added that he hope disaffected Lib Dems would "join" Labour in opposing the change, as the EMA had "created educational opportunity in this country".

Mr Hughes told Sky News he had held talks with Mr Miliband "at my instigation", but added that, in his job as "access advocate" for the prime minister, it was important to speak to all parties.

He said he wanted to find "common ground" on the EMA.

MPs are set to vote on Wednesday on a Labour motion calling for the allowance to be retained.

On other matters, Mr Miliband said Labour had got "a job to do to win back economic credibility" following the financial crisis.

But he insisted that the annual state borrowing of 2% of national income prior to the crisis had been "manageable". It was only the reduction in tax revenue caused by the banking crash which had driven the deficit up beyond 10% and made it a problem, he added.

Mr Miliband also admitted that Gordon Brown had been wrong to claim the Labour government had ended the economic cycle of rapid growth and recession, saying: "Clearly, we should not have said there would be no boom and bust. That was clearly a mistake."

However, Conservative deputy chairman Michael Fallon said: "Ed Miliband is treating people like fools. Labour's reckless overspending left Britain with the largest structural deficit in the G7 when the financial crisis hit.

"Ed Miliband still won't admit Labour maxed out the nation's credit card. In fact he says he'd do it all again. How can anyone trust Labour with the economy when its leader is still in denial about his party's mistakes?"

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:14

Tories avoided nastiness in Oldham , says Eric Pickles

Eric Pickles said his party had wanted to avoid the "nastiness" shown by Labour last year

The Conservatives fought a "gentle" campaign for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has said.

The Tories came third behind Labour and the Lib Dems, with some critics saying they had not tried hard enough to win.

But Mr Pickles said his party had wanted to avoid the "nastiness" shown by Labour at the general election.

The by-election was called after sitting Labour MP Phil Woolas was removed for lying about an opponent.

Lib Dem Elwyn Watkins lost by just 103 votes at last May's general election.

'We were trying'

He complained about the actions of Mr Woolas, the former immigration minister, towards him, which prompted a court to invalidate the result, leading to the by-election.

But, in last Thursday's vote, Labour took the seat with an increased majority of 3,558, with its candidate Debbie Abrahams beating Mr Watkins by 14,718 to 11,160.

Conservative Kashif Ali was third with 4,481 votes, as support for the party fell away. Some commentators complained that the Tories had held back in order to give the Lib Dems - their partners in the coalition government - a better chance of defeating Labour.

But Mr Pickles told Sky News: "We were third [at the general election in the constituency] and we came third again. But by and large it's very unusual for a governing party to win a by-election at a time of austerity."

He added: "We started third and of course we fought a very gentle campaign because that particular campaign was about the nastiness of previous Labour leaflets.

"The Liberals did, I think, pretty good. They increased their poll position. But it would have been a disaster for the Labour Party had they lost."

Asked whether the Conservatives had mounted a serious campaign, Mr Pickles, a former party chairman, said "Of course we were trying. We had the prime minister up there, first prime minister to, I think, canvass in a by-election for years."

He insisted that, at the next general election, he would be urging people to vote Conservatives, even in seats where the contest was primarily between Labour and the Lib Dems.

Mr Pickles said: "I think that when that occurs in 2015 you will have two political parties defending a government, a coalition's record.

"But we are two distinct political parties and I certainly will be urging everyone at that election to vote Conservative."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:21

British tourists back from Tunisia, Foreign Office says

Thousands of British tourists are heading back to the UK to escape the violence in Tunisia

All British tourists booked on big tour operator holidays in Tunisia have been helped on to flights back to the UK, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

A number "in the low hundreds" remain who are either independent travellers or customers of small travel companies.

Some of the 1,000 expats known to be living in Tunisia have also left, following the fall of the country's president amid mass protests.

A "rapid deployment team" is due to travel to the capital Tunis on Sunday.

The consular officials were dispatched by the Foreign Office to assist embassy staff.

'Rapidly changing'

The Foreign Office has advised against all non-essential travel to Tunisia, and outbound flights have been cancelled.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said British people currently in Tunisia without a pressing need to be there should leave.

"Airspace is currently open over Tunisia, but this situation is moving rapidly and may change," he said.

"We urge any British nationals in Tunisia to observe the curfews in place and to stay indoors wherever possible."

Thomson and First Choice organised seven repatriation flights on Saturday - four to Manchester, one to Glasgow, one to Birmingham, one to Gatwick and one to East Midlands.

Both travel companies have now completed the repatriation of their package holiday customers, they said.

A Monarch plane left the UK on Sunday morning for Tunis and will pick up about 200 people. It is due to arrive back at Gatwick Airport after 1300 GMT.

British Airways is to make a decision later on whether it will operate flights to bring back stranded passengers from Tunis.

Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice have all cancelled flights to Tunisia on Sunday, and Thomson and First Choice have also cancelled those on Wednesday.

All departures beyond these dates are currently still going ahead, but customers are advised to monitor tour operators' websites in the coming days.

Tourists returning to UK airports have described scenes of violence in the north African country amid a state of emergency.

After landing at Birmingham Airport on Saturday, Johnny Davis, 23, a student at Birmingham University, said: "On Thursday evening there was a rolling protest with cars and about 500 people hanging out and beeping the horns.

"But last night it seemed to escalate and we heard what we think was gunfire throughout the city and that was going on all the way through to the early hours of the morning.

"When we woke up this morning we were told a state of emergency had been called and a curfew put in place and our airline recommended we leave."

John Plummer, 37, from Norwich, was on holiday with his wife and two daughters in Skanes, between Sousse and Monastir.

He saw smoke coming from buildings and a petrol station that had been looted.

'Intimidating'

However, some other passengers did not witness any violence and would happily have stayed.

Jo Coxon, 59, from Trowell, Nottingham, was staying in Port el Kantoaui and said: "There's troops on the streets and tanks but it's absolutely fine.

"I didn't want to come back."

Some passengers were met by tearful relatives when they landed

Ross Wiseman, from Sunderland, was less than 36 hours into his holiday when he and his family were brought home.

"In the complex we didn't see much except on the balconies you could see in the distance fire and smoke covering the towns," he said.

"On the journey to the airport there were armed soldiers on the streets and that was intimidating, you could see the snipers on the top of buildings with their guns pointing down on us."

"But even though this has happened I would definitely go back, it was one of the nicest and most friendly places I have ever been to."

Another Briton, Sarah, from Manchester, travelled to Tunisia independently and is staying with friends in Sousse.

She told the BBC she was hoping to come home soon, but was more worried about a lack of food in the shops than the security situation.

"I am amongst the community and have no fear for my safety," she said.

"The embassy has told me there is no problem to stay and said that they were not on high alert to evacuate."

There have been weeks of demonstrations in Tunisia over corruption, unemployment and high food prices.

The country's president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, was forced from power on Friday and fled the country for Saudi Arabia.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:38

Rider and horse die in Essex road accident

A woman died and a man was injured when a van hit the two horses they were riding in Essex.

The accident happened in Pilgrims Hatch near Brentwood on Sunday morning.

The man was treated by ambulance crews before being taken to Queens Hospital, Romford. One horse died in the crash and the other had to be put to sleep.

A 51-year-old man was arrested for causing death by careless driving. Road closures were in place as officers investigated the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash can contact police.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:45

Arrest made in De Montfort Hall fraud investigation

The venue was originally built in 1913 but has been refurbished.

A woman has been arrested as part of an investigation into fraud at a Leicester entertainment venue.

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police confirmed the 58-year-old was arrested on Friday as part of its inquiry into De Montfort Hall.

The force is investigating fresh allegations in connection with the running of the music and entertainment venue.

The woman has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for Leicester City Council, which runs the venue, said it was aware of the arrest.

"We are co-operating fully with the police over the investigation and Leicestershire Police is keeping the authority informed of any developments."

De Montfort Hall, Leicester's largest entertainment venue, was built in 1913 and has hosted acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Kasabian.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:04

Police chief wants DNA database of prostitute clients

Peter Sutcliffe was jailed for a life after murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others

A chief superintendent at West Yorkshire Police has called for a DNA database of men who use prostitutes.

Ch Supt Alison Rose, who works in Bradford South, said if DNA was taken men might "think again" about committing crimes against women.

The police force was involved in investigations into Peter Sutcliffe and Stephen Griffiths.

But Guy Herbert from the No2ID campaign said DNA samples could lead to false accusations.

'Police diversion'

Supt Rose said: "I think there's a real gap in the law around taking DNA from men that use women for sex.

"If you know that in paying a woman for sex, your DNA was going to be taken you might think again."

Stephen Griffiths admitted murdering three women in Bradford

But Guy Herbert, from the No2ID campaign, said: "By the very nature of the work that they do, prostitutes are going to end up with traces of all sorts of DNA so this just creating a route for information to be collected which leads to accusations.

"This is a diversion of police resources from doing something sensible about the real problem."

West Yorkshire Police were involved in the investigations surrounding Sutcliffe who was sentenced to 20 life sentences in 1981 for murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven. On Friday he lost an appeal over a ruling that he should never be released.

They were also involved in the case against Stephen Griffiths who admitted murdering three women in Bradford and was sentenced to life in prison last year.

Sali Harwood, from Sheffield Working Women's Opportunities Project, supports the call for a DNA database.

"If there was anything dodgy about those men and things had happened in the future, or things had happened in the past, it would probably be quicker for the police to track them down," she said.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:09

Inflexible and stressful work 'harming families'

Fathers are working longer hours and becoming "disengaged" from their children, the report says

Inflexible and stressful jobs are leaving parents racked with guilt and increasingly distant from their children, according to a Demos report.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has promised to do more for hard-pressed working families, will launch the think tank's study on Monday.

It wants the government to do more to encourage flexible working practices.

And it says more action is needed at a community level to give struggling and isolated parents greater support.

Long hours

Demos polled 1,017 parents for the Home Front report. It found:

- a third of fathers in the UK work more than 48 hours a week, compared with a quarter of men without children

- one-in-eight fathers work more than 60 hours a week, and typically, fathers increase their hours after their youngest child reaches the age of six

- the number of working mothers has tripled from one in six in 1951 to two in three now, with 6% working more than 48 hours and 3% more than 60

Many parents surveyed said they felt guilty about working so much, a feeling that got worse as children got older, and felt they were less effective parents to their second or third child than their first.

Demos said its study showed those negative feelings were felt equally by parents in well-paid, but stressful middle-class jobs and those in lower-paid, lower-skill occupations.

Author Jen Lexmond said: "The right kind of work that is flexible and stimulating can improve parenting, but these kinds of jobs often come hand-in-hand with high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion which can be a toxic mix for parental confidence.

"What's clear is that our jobs make it difficult to share parenting responsibilities - the result too often being a double shift for mothers and a lack of engagement from fathers."

The report also said parenting was becoming "a more isolated and anxious task" because traditional extended families and strong local communities were increasingly rare.

As a result, parents were forced to rely more and more on friends for help.

The report's recommendations for ministers include:

- Using the recession and rise in unemployment as an opportunity to encourage businesses to experiment with flexible working

- Introducing an equal system of parental leave for mothers and fathers with an element of transferability

- Keeping Sure Start centres open to all, regardless of income, to provide a vital way for new parents to form friendships

- Directing money to train community organisers to help parents set up new neighbourhood groups

- Creating parenting refresher classes to boost confidence when children reach primary school age

Children's Commissioner for England Maggie Atkinson, whose office funded the research, said: "The lesson from this is that we have to look at ways of working that allow parents to share responsibility and provide children with the support parents want to give."

Mr Clegg said last week he wanted to stand up for "alarm clock Britain" - basic rate taxpayers who get up in the dark, get their children ready for school and then go out to work, often for long or anti-social shifts.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:59

George Galloway launches Holyrood election campaign

George Galloway will stand for Holyrood in the May Scottish elections

Veteran politician George Galloway has launched his bid to become an MSP, despite having to go up against Gail Sheridan in the fight for votes.

The former Respect MP is hoping to win a seat on the Glasgow list in May, after saying Holyrood needed "heavy hitters".

Mrs Sheridan, wife of disgraced politician Tommy, will also stand.

Mr Galloway, a long-time friend of the Sheridans, has said he was "surprised and hurt" at the move.

Dundee-born Mr Galloway said he had not yet decided whether to stand as a candidate for his Respect party or as an independent, in his bid to win a Holyrood seat.

The 56-year-old author, columnist and radio broadcaster launched his campaign in Glasgow saying it would be based on "real Labour values".

He said he wanted the Scottish Parliament to use all the powers available to it, and said the country should raise all of the revenue that it spends.

And he backed an independence referendum, saying a No vote would "kill this argument for a generation at least".

'More interesting'

Mr Galloway said the parliament suffered from a lack of "heavyweight" political figures.

"I think these people are nonentities for a reason - they don't stand for anything, they don't believe in anything," he said.

"They have no concept of how life-changing politics can be.

"People would be more interested in what was happening in Holyrood if I was there, because more interesting things would be happening."

Meanwhile, Tommy Sheridan, who is awaiting sentence for perjury, said his left-wing Solidarity party may still fight alongside Mr Galloway during the election campaign.

Patch up relations

In attempt to patch up relations with his old friend, Mr Sheridan added: "Should a link up with George and Respect not prove possible, we would obviously urge Glasgow citizens to back the Solidarity list with their second vote.

"But, should they not be convinced to do so, would also welcome the election of George to represent Glasgow."

Mr Sheridan is expected to be jailed at the High Court in Glasgow later this month over his high-profile battle with the Sunday tabloid News of the World, which printed a series of allegations about his private life.

His wife is expected to replace him as Solidarity's top list candidate in Glasgow.

Mr Galloway, a founder member of the anti-war Respect party, was a Labour MP until he was expelled in 2003 over his opposition to the party's actions on Iraq.

He was elected MP in the Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in 2005 but failed to win a seat in May's general election.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:52

Tories whispering against Bercow, says wife

John Bercow was elected Speaker mainly because of Labour and Lib Dem backing

The wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow has accused Conservative MPs of running a "whispering campaign" against him.

Sally Bercow said many in the party could not accept he had been elected to the role "fair and square".

Mr Bercow, himself an ex-Tory MP, has had several run-ins with former colleagues unhappy at their treatment.

But Mrs Bercow told Sky News such rows were "ridiculous" and that her husband was not biased towards Labour but "on the side of backbenchers".

In the latest confrontation, senior Conservative backbencher Mark Pritchard swore at the Speaker in a behind-the-scenes confrontation in the Commons, accusing him of behaving like "royalty".

Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin and health minister Simon Burns have also clashed with Mr Bercow, while Tory MP Nadine Dorries has been highly critical.

Mr Bercow - who had long been seen as a maverick by many in the Conservative Party - won the Speakership in 2009, mainly because of the backing of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs.

His wife, who ran unsuccessfully to be a Labour councillor last year, said: "The bottom line is a lot of Tories, I'm afraid, still can't accept that my husband won the speakership fair and square and is doing a very good job and he did it without Tory support.

"He only had 20-odd Tory MPs backing him and as a result they have got no hold over him and they don't like it.

"There will always be a whispering campaign but if you look at John and what he has done in the job, he has introduced a lot of urgent questions. Basically he is on the side of backbenchers.

"He is not on the side of Labour MPs. He is not on the side of Tory MPs. He is on the side of backbenchers and that is what he is trying to do."

Mr Bercow was elected Speaker after predecessor Michael Martin resigned following criticism of his handling of the MPs' expenses scandal.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53

London Mayor Boris Johnson 'opposing airport policy'

Plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport were scrapped in May

London mayor Boris Johnson is on a "collision course" with the government over airport expansion, a Heathrow anti-expansion campaigner has said.

The government scrapped plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow when it took office in May.

But John Stewart, of Hacan ClearSkies, claims the mayor is to argue for a new hub airport in the South East.

The mayor's office denied Mr Johnson was at odds with ministers and said he was speaking up for London.

Mr Stewart said he was told about the plans, due to be released in a report on Tuesday, by the mayor's aviation adviser.

The report comes as Mr Johnson joins business leaders in London to discuss the need for increased aviation capacity in the capital and south-east England.

Mr Stewart said: "Boris Johnson is on a collision course with the government over basic airport policy."

Increase capacity

Denying this, a spokesperson for the mayor said: "The government has announced that it is developing a new sustainable aviation policy and wants to hear people's views.

"That includes the mayor speaking up for London.

"No. 10 and the DfT are aware of the seminar."

In October the government also ruled out proposals to build a major airport in the Thames Estuary or Kent to increase flight capacity for London.

But Mr Stewart claims the report will make the case for a hub airport, most likely on the Kent coast or offshore from Kent and Essex.

He said the mayor will argue that without such expansion London will lose out to other cities and businesses will relocate to other cities.

He added: "I don't think there is an economic case for expansion at London airports.

"If you put all London's airports together - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City and Luton - you have more airport capacity than any other city in the world."

As chairman of Hacan ClearSkies, Mr Stewart said the group neither supported nor opposed the plan at this stage.

He said: "Our feeling right now is it's better for us to look at capacity that's already in London before embarking on a hugely expensive project which in recessionary times may never see the light of day."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:28

Girl, 17, raped in attack by two men in St Leonards

A 17-year-old girl has been raped in Sussex in an attack in which one man held her while the other attacked her.

Police said the teenager had gone for a walk alone in St Leonards after 2300 GMT on Friday and was approached in Harrow Lane, near playing fields.

Both men shouted at her before the rape took place. They both ran off towards The Ridge after the assault.

Det Insp Rob Morland said a team of officers were trawling through CCTV and forensic experts had been to the scene.

'Do the right thing'

The Sussex Police officer said: "The victim is being supported by officers who are specially trained to assist her at this difficult time.

"She bravely told her mother about the attack and has given us good descriptions of the two suspects."

He added: "We are actively pursuing the suspects, but I would ask anyone who recognises their descriptions or who may have seen them late on Friday night to help us.

"Men like this deserve no kind of respect, so if you've overheard someone talking about this, do the right thing."

One man was described as black, with a large build, about 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall and in his late 20s. He wore a grey tracksuit with white trainers and had a London accent.

The other was white, with a small build, about 5ft 5in (1.6m) tall and in his early 20s. He wore a black tracksuit with white trainers.

Ch Insp Mark Ling said officers would be patrolling the area in East Sussex "intensively" over the next few days.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:00

Rain causes rise in flood risk in Scotland

Roads across Scotland have been affected by flooding

Flood watches and warnings have been put in place on most of Scotland's rivers.

According to the Sepa website, 26 flood watches and warnings were in place, five of them classified as severe.

Central Scotland Police said flooding was affecting many roads and urged drivers to take care.

Tayside Fire and Rescue said it had dealt with dozens of calls about flooding in Perthshire - with Bridge of Earn one of the worst affected areas.

Sepa's said waters were rising at the rivers Tay, Earn, Tummel and Isla, and advised: "This means that severe flooding is expected for the area, affecting many homes and businesses, main roads and large areas of land.

"There is a serious danger to life and property. Act now to protect yourself, your family and your home or business."

Perth and Kinross Council said properties were affected by water in areas including Aberuthven, Bankfoot, Glenfarg and Perth.

The council advised householders to place sandbags or earth-filled pillowcases across doorways.

The authority added: "A number of sandbags and aqua sacks have also been provided, however supplies are limited and resources are currently stretched as there has been a very high demand yesterday and overnight.

"In addition, a wide range of equipment is being used to pump water, unblock pipes and to remove water from properties."

The council advised against travel unless the journey was "absolutely necessary".

A number of roads were badly affected including sections of the A81.

The A9 between Greencornhill roundabout and Plean was only passable with care.

The A84 between Callander and Lochearnhead was flooding at the south end of Loch Luibnaig, and drivers were advised to avoid the route.

'Fantastic resilience'

The Scottish government said its resilience room was active and was monitoring the situation.

A spokesman said they were liaising closely with Sepa, the Met Office, Transport Scotland, emergency services and relevant local authorities.

Finance Secretary John Swinney tweeted late on Saturday evening saying: "Just had flood update from police. All agencies working together in Perth to address problems. Need to monitor situation overnight."

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham praised the efforts of the agencies involved in tackling the flooding during a visit to Perth and Bridge of Earn.

She said: "We are all aware of the serious impact that flooding can have on homes, communities and businesses.

"For the past two months communities across Scotland have shown fantastic resilience in the face of one of the most severe winters in living memory, but it is a reality that after so much snowfall we were likely to face flooding issues as the icy conditions turn to thaw and rainfall."

She said the Floodline Service on Sepa's website was available 24 hours a day to provide information and advice.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:11

Escaped pot-bellied pigs on the loose in Southampton

The pigs are believed to be of the Vietnamese pot-bellied variety

At least two pigs are on the loose in Southampton after escaping from a farm.

Police said they had received a number of sightings of the animals since Saturday afternoon, thought to be pot-bellied Vietnamese pigs.

Officers said the RSPCA was dealing with the incident and have advised people to contact them if they see the animals, which should not be dangerous.

Police said the incident may be linked to a "breakdown in the relationship" between the couple which own the farm.

One of the pigs is white while the other is black and white.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "We have a number of sightings but they are still on the loose.

"It is a bit unusual but we have passed the case to the RSPCA.

"It appears there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the couple at the farm and somehow the pigs got loose."

A woman who contacted the BBC said she had spotted the pair behind Coxford Community Centre on Saturday.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:03

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

Susannah York won a Bafta and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar

British actress Susannah York has died at the age of 72 after suffering from cancer, her son has said.

She appeared in film, TV and theatre during a career which began in the 1960s.

She was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and won a Bafta for the same role.

Her son Orlando Wells told the Telegraph newspaper that she was "an absolutely fantastic mother".

"She loved nothing more than cooking a good Sunday roast and sitting around a fire of a winter's evening. In some sense, she was quite a home girl. Both Sasha [Orlando's sister] and I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a mother.''

MP and former actress Glenda Jackson, who starred with York in the 1974 production of The Maids, paid tribute, saying her death "came as a big shock".

"She seemed too young to go," she added. "We worked very well together.

"It was a very interesting production and she was very easy to work with."

British film director Richard Bracewell, who worked with York in his first film, The Gigolos, in 2006, described her as "a pussycat".

"She was an absolute pleasure, a joy to work with, to prepare the film with," he said.

"But then, like a cat, the moment the camera was on her, the moment the film was turning, she leapt into life and she absolutely grabbed the screen, absolutely electrifying the moment the camera was turning over."

Holby and Casualty

York graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1958, winning the Ronson Award for most promising student.

Directed by Sydney Pollack, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? followed the contestants in a gruelling dance marathon and also starred Jane Fonda.

Susannah York received an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

York was apparently angry at having been nominated for the Oscar without being asked, but did attend the ceremony.

She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Alice.

News editor at Empire Magazine, Chris Hewitt, said she "came to fame" in Tom Jones, opposite Albert Finney, in 1963, and was "amazing" in The Killing of Sister George in 1968.

More recently, she appeared in the BBC dramas Holby City and Casualty.

In later years she also featured as Superman's mother in three Superman movies, and wrote two children's books.

"She was a very versatile actress, she liked to switch roles, and never do the same thing twice," Hewitt said.

Outside her professional work, she was a supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and Mordechai Vanunu, the technician imprisoned for 18 years for revealing Israel's secret nuclear programme.

BBC News website readers have been sending their memories of Susannah York:

When I was a kid (street urchin) in the 60s she used to live in the same street as me (Seaton Street, Chelsea, now demolished) and on Saturdays I would wash her car, a little Fiat. She would say to me "there are some sweets in the glove compartment" and after I had completed the job (badly) she gave me a fiver, that was a lot of money for a 10-year-old in the 60s, and she was a film star at the time. Lovely lady.

Thomas Casey, London, UK

I had the pleasure of interviewing Susannah York for local radio 96fm many years ago. She was an absolute lady and one of the most gracious guests I have ever met.

Elmarie Tallon, Cork, Ireland

During the making of the Film Gold in the 1970's I worked for Hemdale Film Distributors in London. Susannah York and Roger Moore would phone our Publicity Department from Pinewood Studios. Susannah always had time for people. An absolutely splendid actress. Sadly missed.

Sally White, Kyle Of Lochalsh, UK

I was so very fortunate to be in The Women with Susannah at The Old Vic. The first time I saw her backstage I realised what star quality was. She glowed. On stage and off, she shone like pure gold.

Calvin Dean, London, UK

I was at school with Susie (Fletcher then) at Wispers School Midhurst Sussex. Remember fondly great giggling together, parents day meeting her mum etc. also seeing her at RADA (my cousin Ken Campbell was a year behind her). Seeing her in a few early stage appearances. Also remember her taking the lead in school play before we knew she would be so famous! So sad to read of her death - when I'm in the UK I see a couple of "old" Wisperians and we often talk about Susie, she will continue to be in our minds for years to come.

Christine Cornfoot/Van Sickle, Erie, Colorado, USA

I was at school in Bedford when a lot of the Battle of Britain dog fight shots were filmed above our school playing fields. I was also in the ATC, (Air Training Corps). Us air cadets were given a free viewing of the film and I fell in love with this wonderful lady. The first time I'd realised that a young boy was close to becoming a man. Have loved her ever since. It's a sad loss.

Malcolm Woolf, Corby, UK

I met Susannah out dog walking on Clapham Common. She always asked how my fledgling acting career was going and remembered the details of what I had told her with care and interest. Whatever role she was playing she relished and respected and never took her career for granted. A lovely lady. She was so proud of her children and loved her beautiful dog, Oscar.

Andrew Macbean, London, UK

I was Susannah's stand-in pilot when Gold was being shot in South Africa and fortunately was her size to fit into her bright pink flying suit for the exciting flying sequences being filmed in the Waterberg canyon. Nick Turvey the well-known aerobatic champ did the flying sequences for Roger Moore. I'm saddened to learn of Susannah's death at so young an age.

Libby Stark, London, UK

I first Ms York when she played Joss, the young woman in 'The Greengage Summer' with Kenneth More and Jane Asher. I was very, very impressed with her. I also saw her in Oxford where she appeared in 'The Wings of a Dove'. After that, I never saw her in a bad film, play or television programme. My only regret is that she did not make more Hollywood films - she should have, and would have been a true 'star'. I thought her 'amazingly' beautiful as a young woman, always an interesting person when interviewed, and someone to be admired and charmed by as she aged. I am happy to learn that she was loved by her children - so many 'stars' are not. It is tragic that she died at such a relatively young age.

Charles Jenkins, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

I had the pleasure of bringing breakfast to Susannah on my morning shift as a young boy at Gleneagles hotel in 1969, I was only 15 and taking breakfast to her was a shy moment for me as she was so attractive. She sat up in bed and smiled. She was making a movie with Peter O' Toole and always left a tip. Rest in peace.

Marty, Liverpool, UK

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:45

Golden Globes to kick off race for Oscars

By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News

Signs promoting the Golden Globe awards can be seen on the streets of Los Angeles

The Hollywood awards season kicks off later with the Golden Globes, where British film The King's Speech leads the pack with seven nominations.

The Social Network and The Fighter follow with six nominations apiece.

Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Globes are first major film awards of the year.

Comedian Ricky Gervais is to host the ceremony, beginning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at 1700 LA time (0100GMT).

Television shows are also celebrated at the gala, where the prizes are divided between dramas and comedies or musicals.

High school comedy Glee has the most nominations for a TV show, having been shortlisted in five categories.

Colin Firth, who plays a monarch battling a stammer in The King's Speech, is widely expected to win the best actor in a drama prize.

The 50-year-old is one of four actors in his category nominated for playing real people.

Jesse Eisenberg is also in contention for his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, as is James Franco for playing climber Aron Ralston in 127 Hours.

Wahlberg completes the quartet for his performance in The Fighter, a film about US boxer Micky Ward.

The biopic has additional acting nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, while its director David O Russell is also up for a prize.

In the best actress in a drama category, Natalie Portman has received a nod for her role in Darren Aronofsky's ballet-based Black Swan.

Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence and Michelle Williams are also in contention for that award.

Films up for best musical or comedy include Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids are All Right and The Tourist.

Johnny Depp has landed two nominations in the best actor in a comedy or musical category, for Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist.

Glee's competition for the best TV comedy or musical prize includes 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory amd Modern Family.

Ricky Gervais returns to host the ceremony for a second consecutive year

Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Good Wife and Mad Men vie for the best TV drama series award with zombie thriller The Walking Dead.

The Globes have traditionally been solid indicator as to which films and stars will be recognised at the Academy Awards.

Yet in the last six years, the only winner of a Globe for best drama that went on to Oscar success was 2008's Slumdog Millionaire.

Last year Avatar was feted at the Globes, only to be beaten at the Oscars by Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker.

However, all four of last year's Oscar-winning actors - Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique - were also successful at the Globes.

Gervais's first stint as host in 2010 saw the British comedian take gentle jabs at the Hollywood glitterati.

Earlier this week, though, the Office and Extras star said he didn't think he "went far enough".

"So I'm going to do it again [and] do a proper job," he continued. "And I guarantee they will not invite me back."

This year's Bafta nominations are announced on Tuesday, with Oscar nominations to follow on 25 January.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:30

Salmond notes female influence on Desert Island Discs

Alex Salmond described his mother Mary as an incredible woman

First Minister Alex Salmond has spoken of the influence of women in his life on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

The politician told presenter Kirsty Young how his mother surreptitiously ensured her son did not leave school and work in the local brickworks.

The 56-year-old also paid tribute to his wife Moira, with whom he has been married for 30 years this year.

He also talked of his time as a boy soprano and described how he missed out on a tour because his voice had broken.

Mr Salmond, who has been Scottish First Minister since the SNP won power in Holyrood in 2007, picked Robert Burns' Ae Fond Kiss as the first of eight tracks that would join him on a desert island.

He said his singing coach was a Burns fanatic, and had introduced his young student to the Scots bard.

"I had a good voice, and could sing four octaves," he said.

The soprano had just turned 13 when the opportunity arose to go on tour in Australia, but fears over his voice breaking scuppered the trip.

"Instead of finding a soaring soprano they had a half-broken tenor so I never got to go," he said.

However, he said the confidence he gained by performing in front of an audience stood him in good stead for his political career.

"If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you're 10 or 11, then speaking in the Westminster parliament is nothing, being a Scottish first minister is nothing in comparison to that."

Salmond spoke of the influence of his mother Mary on his path in life.

"I'd this notion when I was 15 that I wanted to go and work in Steins brickworks and earn some money like so many of my pals were doing," he said.

"So I announced this to my startled parents and my mum never said anything.

"My uncle was a foreman there, I wasn't looking for any great preference but I got the dirtiest, smelliest, most ridiculous back-breaking job in the entire brickworks.

"After about three or four weeks I was really in a bad way and I said to my mum I've had a think about things and after the holidays I'm going back to school after all. She said that's fine.

Alex Salmond and wife Moira have been married for 30 years

"Of course it was years later I finally found out she'd told my uncle, you make absolutely sure that he doesn't want to stay at the brickworks. That's why I'd got the worst jobs."

He described his mother, who died seven years ago, as "an incredible woman".

"When you lose your mother, nothing in life ever prepares you for that," he said.

The first minister also spoke about his wife Moira, who has stayed behind the scenes for the duration of the couple's 30-year marriage.

He said the role of political spouses was the "most thankless task in the world".

"They have all the down sides," he said.

"Moira and I have been married for 30 years, she has done it with such grace, patience and helpful - I've been so lucky.

"Of course Moira, because she comes from a background outside politics, she always says she's zoomed past me in the political spectrum, she's much more radical than I am now in all sorts of things."

'Keep you going'

He said his other half often kept him right about the presentational issues facing politicians.

"Years ago, before I was in politics, I was a Royal Bank economist," he said.

"I was doing a interview for television and had some hair out of place. My granny turned to Moira and said see that hair, that reflects on you.

"And Moira, every time she asks me to get the shoes polished, she says mind what your granny said."

The politician selected the Complete Works of Robert Burns as the book he would take onto the island, because "there's enough in there to keep you going for years".

And his only luxury item would be a sand wedge, a golf club designed to use in sand bunkers.

"If I get a sand wedge on this desert island, when I'm rescued I'll be Gary Player," he laughed.

Unsurprisingly, many of the tracks selected by the first minister have a distinctly Scottish theme, and include The Proclaimers' 500 Miles and Caledonia, Dougie MacLean's anthem about Scots returning home.

Alex Salmond features on Desert Island Discs on Sunday 16 January at 1115 GMT on BBC Radio 4.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:56

Irish PM Brian Cowen to stay as party leader

Brian Cowen will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands

The Irish prime minister will not be standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, the BBC understands.

Brian Cowen is due to make a statement to the press at 1700 GMT.

He has faced recent scrutiny about a meeting with the head of Anglo Irish Bank shortly before he announced a multi-billion euro bank guarantee.

On Thursday, he said he would take 48 hours to consult with his parliamentary colleagues on whether he should continue in his post.

Several Fianna Fail backbenchers have called for Mr Cowen to resign.

On Saturday, one Fianna Fail member of parliament called for the party to unite behind the foreign minister, Micheal Martin.

Noel O'Flynn said he had been contacted by the prime minister on Saturday afternoon and had told him that his leadership had not worked.

However, deputy prime minister Mary Coughlan said she believed in Mr Cowen's leadership.

She added: I believe that he has been the only man over the last two and half years to make the difficult decisions and give the leadership to the cabinet.

"And I would say that if others were in that place, I would question their ability and their acumen to do what had to be done."

Pressure

Former Anglo Irish chairman Sean Fitpatrick, who Mr Cowen met at a golf course in 2008, is still subject to official scrutiny over his role in the collapse of the bank and has previously been questioned by police.

The Taoiseach (prime minister) has denied that he discussed bank matters with Mr Fitzpatrick at the golf course and insisted that he had not done political favours for any financial institution.

On Thursday, Mr Cowen made clear that he did not intend to resign and said the process of talking to his parliamentary party should take about 48 hours.

He is also facing a motion of no confidence, tabled by the opposition Labour Party, in parliament next week.

Mr Cowen, who took power in 2008, has been under pressure since Ireland was forced to seek an international financial bail-out late last year.

Following the intervention by the EU and the IMF, there were rumours of an internal push against him but his critics pulled back at the last moment.

His coalition government has only a slim minority in parliament and a general election is expected in the spring.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 14:55

Hundreds of mourners pay their respects to Michaela at Harte home

Michaela McAreavey's body was returned to Northern Ireland on Friday

Hundreds of mourners are filling the village of Ballygawley in County Tyrone to pay their respects at the family home of Michaela McAreavey.

Mrs McAreavey, 27, daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, was found murdered in her honeymoon hotel room in Mauritius on Monday.

Her body was returned to the home of her parents on Friday evening.

Friends and neighbours lined the route close to the Harte home as the hearse carrying the body passed.

Members of the Tyrone GAA club formed a guard of honour.

Several minibuses have been ferrying large numbers of mourners from designated carparks to the Harte family home and to the local church.

Mrs McAreavey's funeral will be held next Monday at 1230 GMT at St Malachy's Church, Ballymacilroy - the same County Tyrone church where she was married.

The plane carrying the 27-year-old's remains touched down at Belfast City Airport at lunchtime on Friday.

Her husband, John, was on the flight that brought his wife of just 12 days back to her home.

He was accompanied on the flight by his father, Brendan, his brother, Brian, and Mrs McAreavey's brother, Mark.

There to meet them at the airport was the Bishop of Dromore, John McAreavey, uncle of the groom, who married them on 30 December.

The bride's three brothers were also present to escort her body home.

The coffin was covered with a purple drape as the hearse drove from the airport. The family followed in cars behind.

She was found murdered in her room at the Legends Hotel on Monday. Three men have been charged in connection with her killing.

It is thought that she interrupted thieves in her room taking money from a purse.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:13

River warning after canoeist dies in Gwynedd

Inspector Manon Owen said people should think carefully with such treacherous conditions on rivers.

Police have warned about the dangers of swollen rivers after a canoeist died after capsizing.

The 57-year-old man died in hospital shortly after being airlifted after capsizing with a friend in the River Ogwen in Gwynedd on Saturday.

A passerby had spotted two empty canoes on the river between Bangor and Bethesda.

North Wales Police said conditions had been treacherous and river-users should think carefully before venturing out.

Emergency services were alerted at 1225 GMT Saturday and an RAF helicopter crew joined the search.

Police confirmed the 57-year-old man died shortly after being flown to Glan Clwyd hospital. Another canoeist, who had been with him, managed to make his own way to safety.

He had been located at 1328 GMT by a passerby near a caravan park at Braichmelyn and did not need hospital treatment.

The other canoeist was found near Penrhyn Castle at 1415 but died after being airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley 22 squadron, coastguard, the fire service and ambulance were involved in the search.

The search happened after the canoes were found at Pant y Ddolen

The canoes had been spotted at Pant y Ddolen, near Halfway Bridge, between Bangor and Bethesda.

The dead man has not yet been named.

A force spokesman said: "The 57-year old man was canoeing with another man when their canoes capsized."

He added: "A lady had seen two unattended canoes in the river being swept down stream.

"Police responded and initiatied a search with the help of 22 Squadron and ourselves.

"A member of the public located one of the males and he identified to us as being one of the parties. He's not injured at all."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 15:57

Flooding closes roads in Conwy and Powys

Environment Agency staff have been out in Conwy during the weekend

The Environment Agency has urged households to continue to remain vigilant against flooding as heavy rain continues in parts of Wales.

A number of roads are reported as closed or "hazardous" in Conwy and Powys on Sunday.

Up to 50mm of rain fell in Conwy and Gwynedd with the worst weather expected to move south during Sunday.

By 15.55 GMT, there were four flood warnings and six flood alerts.

In north Wales, the Met Office said there would be early heavy bursts before the rain eases and moves southwards.

The heaviest bursts are expected in the hills of mid and south Wales, especially the Brecon and Cambrian mountains.

Environment Agency flood warnings were still in place in the Conwy valley around isolated properties and the Gwydir Road.

Flood alerts were also upgraded to warnings on the A487 at Dyfi Bridge, Pennal and parts of Machynlleth, on the lower Dee from Llangollen to Chester and in and around Dolgellau in Gwynedd.

A flood warning on the River Ritec in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, was stood down.

The Environment Agency said its recently completed flood defence work had helped protect 90 homes in Llanrwst, which would have been at risk from flooding after a "very wet weekend".

Alan Winstone, of the agency, said: "We are very relieved to report that there has been no significant flooding in households in the communities of Llanrwst and Trefriw."

North Wales Fire and Rescue were called to flooding at properties in Bala and Pentrefoelas, including a cafe, on Saturday.

BBC Wales weather forecaster, Derek Brockway said Sunday would see more heavy rain, with the risk of flooding.

"Spring is a long way off but next week will be much drier with some frost and fog patches," he added.

Flooded land in Llanrwst in Conwy on Saturday

"With strong winds and further heavy rain expected we are continuing to monitor flood risk across Wales," warned Jeremy Parr, from Environment Agency Wales.

"Further flood alerts and flood warnings may be issued and these could remain in place over the weekend and into next week in some places."

He said it was important that people remained vigilant throughout the weekend.

He added: "People should stay away from rivers as they can be very high and fast flowing and avoid trying to drive or walk through any flooding.

"We urge those in coastal areas to be on their guard from big waves caused by very strong winds.

"Our officers on the ground will continue to check flood defences, clear river blockages and install flood barriers where necessary."

The latest flood advice and updates are available on Environment Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk. There is also a 24-hour information service Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:27

Woman dies after driving in wrong direction on A90

Police said other drivers had to take action to avoid being hit by Mrs Greig's car

A 54-year-old woman has died after driving down a main road the wrong way and crashing into four cars.

Police received a number of calls from drivers about a silver Nissan Micra shortly before the collision on the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen road, near Forfar, at about 1055 GMT on Saturday.

The Micra collided with four vehicles: a Vauxhall Zafira, a Peugeot 107, a Toyota Rav 4 and a Citroen Berlingo.

The driver, Carol Ann Greig from Angus, was declared dead at the scene.

The 49-year-old male driver of the Toyota was trapped in his vehicle for a short time but was freed by fire crews and taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Police said the other drivers, all females aged 39, 48 and 67, sustained slight or no injuries.

It is understood a number of vehicles, which had been travelling northwards on the A90, also had to take evasive action to avoid the Micra.

Meanwhile, another driver was injured on the same road in the early hours of the morning.

A black Volvo left the carriageway on the A90 Perth to Dundee road, mid-way between the Inchture and Longforgan junctions, at about 0110 GMT.

The 60-year-old male driver suffered head and internal injuries, and was taken to Ninewells Hospital where his condition was described as critical.

Police said he is not local, and his family have been informed.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 00:46

Fish discard issue 'over-simplified'

The SFF says a "catch quota" system would only provide part of the solution to the fish discard issue

Scottish fishing industry leaders have warned that recent media coverage highlighting the problem of fish discards could over-simplify the issue.

Trawlermen have to discard fish if they have already met their EU quota.

Recent publicity, including Channel 4's Fish Fight featuring chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, has brought the issue to the fore.

However, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation warned proposed solutions were "defective or overly simple".

Chief executive Bertie Armstrong said as a result of TV coverage there "could not be a single person in the UK who did not now know that the rules governing fisheries were the cause of discarding".

He added: "You would, however, be harder pushed to find anyone with practical proposals that will actually work."

Following the recent publicity, Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead called for the discards issue to be an agenda item at the January EU Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels.

He said Scotland had been leading the way on campaigning for change and on developing innovative measures to reduce discards, by moving towards a "land-all-you-catch" system.

But Mr Lochhead said the government's hands were tied by an "ineffective and broken CFP" (Common Fisheries Policy) which "failed to recognise the realities of mixed fisheries".

Mixed fisheries

However, Mr Armstrong said the Scottish government's solution did not address the whole issue.

"At the moment all the Scottish government eggs are in the one basket - the use of CCTV to limit fishing," he said.

"This may indeed be part of a future solution, but as many problems are initially created as are solved.

"We are listening with great frustration to the discard problem being described in ever more strident terms, followed only by a single proposal for a defective and overly simple fix.

"The underlying problem is how can the system be changed to manage the complexities of mixed fisheries, so that when the quota for one species is taken up, fishermen can still catch the other species that swims with it so as to enable fishing to continue throughout the year."

'Take note'

The government is pressing the EU to move towards a "catch quota" system and is currently carrying out trials using CCTV to monitor the catch.

The aim is to enforce a quota based on the number of fish caught rather than a "landing quota" (based on the number of fish brought back into harbour) so that the fishermen have no incentive to throw smaller, less valuable fish back in to the sea.

In addition, the Scottish Conservation Credits scheme uses more selective fishing gear to avoid catching undersized and unwanted fish in the first place.

Fishermen taking part are rewarded by being able to spend more days fishing at sea for other species.

However, Mr Armstrong warned there was "no magic wand solution to this complex and many-faceted problem".

He said the federation would produce a fishing manifesto ahead of the Scottish election, and he urged politicians hoping for fisheries votes to "take note".

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:33

Clare Short 'interested in becoming Birmingham mayor'

Clare Short resigned from Tony Blair's cabinet following the invasion of Iraq

Former Labour minister Clare Short has told the BBC she is interested in becoming Birmingham's first directly elected mayor.

But the former Birmingham Ladywood MP said it would not be "a happy job" if the mayor was required to implement swingeing cuts imposed by "a slash and burn government".

A referendum on creating an elected mayor will be held in the city in 2012.

Ms Short also said Ed Miliband had been "the best option" for Labour leader.

If Birmingham votes in favour of an elected mayor in May 2012, elections for the post would be held in May 2013 and successful candidates would serve four-year terms.

Ms Short was asked in an interview with BBC WM whether she would like to run for the post.

She said: "I am interested possibly, but, of course, one of the problems might be that if we get a slash and burn government cutting everything all over the place, and then we get an elected mayor who's got to implement the cuts, that wouldn't be a happy job."

'Bruising'

The former international development secretary also told the BBC she thought Mr Miliband' was a "good young man".

"I think Ed Miliband was the best option for leader.

"The fact that he apologised over Iraq, said we should do more about the siege of Gaza, too much loss of civil liberties, too much bureaucracy in public sector reform... All of these are good things, but it's early days.

"He's a young man, we will see."

Ms Short quit Tony Blair's cabinet two months after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, in protest at planning for the war's aftermath.

She subsequently resigned from the Labour Party, becoming an independent MP.

"For me, the Labour Party is almost like my second church... and the bruising and dishonesty of Iraq still keep me away from it," she added.

Ken Livingstone became London's first directly elected mayor in 2000 and was succeeded by Boris Johnson in 2008.

As well as Birmingham, Coventry, Bradford, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield will all be able to hold referendums on mayors in 2012.

David Cameron said last week that directly elected mayors "with clout and passion to make change happen" would help regional cities compete more successfully with London.

Bolton great Lofthouse dies at 85

Bolton Wanderers and England legend Nat Lofthouse has died at the age of 85.

The striker, who played more than 500 games and scored 285 times for the Trotters between 1946 and 1960, died in his sleep at a nursing home in Bolton.

"He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us," said chairman Phil Gartside.

Lofthouse OBE, who worked for Bolton in a number of roles after he hung up his boots, also scored 30 goals in 33 matches for England.

Those roles included chief coach, chief scout, caretaker and club president, with Lofthouse holding the last position until his death.

606: DEBATE

Leave your Lofthouse tributes

"I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Nat's family, who are very much in our thoughts at this time," added Gartside in a statement on the Bolton website.

"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton."

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton led the tributes to one of the sport's true greats.

"The first time I saw a professional game was at Newcastle and Nat Lofthouse was playing," Charlton told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "They were talking about him as this youngster that had just burst on to the scene and he was fantastic.

"He was a leader, he had fantastic ability in the air and he was strong. He was a talisman.

"I played about four of five games with him with England at the end of his career and I felt that he was the one that was in charge.

"I know a lot of people in the game of football will be very, very sad today about Nat Lofthouse, who was a great player without any question.

"You just put the ball in there at any height and he was so brave. He scored phenomenal goals in the air.

"In those days, if you were a centre forward, you had to do more than score goals. You had to lead. You had to be tough.

"It was a hard game then. It wasn't like today, it was so tough. The pitches were bad, the ball was heavy, the equipment was awful but Nat Lofthouse loved the game of football. He was ever so proud to be a part of it."

Ex-West Brom and Arsenal player Don Howe, who was an England team-mate of Lofthouse, also told Sportsweek: "He was not only a great player, he was a great character.

"On the pitch - wonderful, powerful, put the ball in the box and he will do the job for you.

"Off the pitch, I was one of the young caps then, he would come up to you and say 'hello son, how are you doing?' He would give you a real gee up, that's how he was.

"I was one of the young lads of the group then and wherever he was in the hotel, he would be around everybody picking people up. He spent his time geeing up some of the players."

Lofthouse captained Bolton in two FA Cup finals, the first time in 1953 when he came up against Sir Stanley Matthews, when the Trotters were memorably beaten 4-3 by Lancashire rivals Blackpool at Wembley.

Five years later, Lofthouse won a winner's medal after scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over Manchester United, only three months after the Old Trafford club had been involved in the Munich air disaster.

Lofthouse, who was footballer of the year in 1953, scored a total of 255 league goals as well as 30 goals in domestic cup competition.

"He went on to become the definite one-club man and epitomised the traditional English centre-forward," said BBC Radio 5 live chief football correspondent Mike Ingham. "He was the Alan Shearer of his day."

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GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

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By Jonathan Stevenson

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "I've enjoyed the first half, but it definitely needs a goal. The second period of the first half fell away in terms of quality but it's still a very very interesting game for me."

1659: Half-time Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at White Hart Lane: "Spurs just shading it but as tight as it gets. Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson will demand greater quality in attacking positions after the break."

1657: Darren Fletcher lets the ball run too far away from him and Gareth Bale is in as quick as a flash, nipping the ball away from Fletcher and drawing the foul for which the Scot is booked. The ball in is punched away by Edwin van der Sar.

1656: Peter Crouch slides in on Ryan Giggs and it's a free-kick to United as we move into first-half stoppage time - two minutes of it.

From English-Players-Dont-Dive on 606: "How the hell can Vidic out-jump Crouch, Crouch has four inches on him. GRRR."

1654: Class from Gareth Bale, who produces a really good burst to beat Rafael on the inside and then again on the outside before flinging in a quality cross, but Rafael van der Vaart can only head wide at the near post, about a yard off target.

1652: Two balls pumped into the United box and twice Nemanja Vidic gets up superbly to head the ball away from danger. Masterclass defending from the Serbian.

1651: The Spurs players seem to have taken to going down a touch easily at the moment, which is a bit of a shame. Rafael goes on a marauding run down the United right and gets into the box, but his pass to Wayne Rooney lacks power and Tottenham manage to clear.

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "The game has lost some quality in the last 10 minutes. It's a bit rushed at the moment, they're not wanting to hold on to the ball, the players are not controlling it and having those passing movements they did in the first few minutes."

1647: Rafael's turn to be fouled and it's a lunging tackle on him from Wilson Palacios - Rafael goes up to the referee and waves an imaginary yellow card, and Palacios is promptly booked.

1646: Rafael goes in hard but fair on Gareth Bale - he's got to be so careful now, the Brazilian full-back. Spurs are still enjoying most of the possession, but they haven't created any chances for a while.

Everton boss David Moyes on Steven Pienaar: "We've had one offer from Chelsea which has been accepted. The offer we have had from Tottenham hasn't been accepted. He spoke to me yesterday and said he didn't feel his head was right to play in the game."

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at White Hart Lane: "After an opening 10 minutes that hinted at a classic ahead it has all gone off the boil a bit at White Hart Lane. Spurs, understandably, are probing down the flanks but Manchester United holding firm. Wayne Rooney not able to stamp his authority on proceedings yet."

1642: Gareth Bale's 30-yard free-kick bounces gently into the arms of Edwin van der Sar and I'm not going to see a good free-kick all weekend, I fear.

1641: Half an hour gone at White Hart Lane and somehow it's still Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United. Nemanja Vidic fouls Peter Crouch 30 yards out and Gareth Bale wants this one.

1640: Transfer news: Everton have accepted a bid for South Africa winger Steven Pienaar from Chelsea but rebuffed interest from Tottenham, manager David Moyes has confirmed.

1638: Rafael goes sliding in on Wilson Palacios and it's a bit reckless from the Brazilian, who just pushed the ball a little too far ahead of him. Rafael is booked and Gareth Bale might just want the ball now, with his marker one bad foul away from an early bath.

1636: Tottenham play a corner short again on the right and Rafael van der Vaart has a left-foot shot blocked by Dimitar Berbatov, before Spurs skipper Michael Dawson slams a right-foot shot wide from the edge of the box.

From DashingDuane on Twitter: "Re: 1603, it's Giggs' 600th league appearance not EPL, he's played 560 EPL games, 13 short of equalling David James' record!"

1633: Fine one-two between United's two strikers and after Dimitar Berbatov picks out a pass back to Wayne Rooney, the England man's right-foot shot from 20 yards is well saved with his right hand by Heurelho Gomes, low down.

1632: United are trying to take the sting out of Spurs' fine start, knocking the ball around the pitch and having some possession of their own. Wayne Rooney goes down under a challenge from Rafael van der Vaart and the Dutchman is annoyed, kicking the ball away and picking up a needless booking.

1630: Brilliant stuff from Gareth Bale, who has a little run on Rafael and shows great pace to get around the outside of the Brazilian, who is no slouch, but the Welshman's excellent cross flies beyond Peter Crouch. Didn't seem to me like the striker was really prepared to throw himself at that one, oddly.

From Rachel Tyrrell, Lincoln, on text: "Beckham has had a massive effect. The Spurs players look VERY well groomed."

1627: Gareth Bale picks up the ball on the Spurs left and Rafael is in quick as a flash, winning the ball and almost knocking Bale off his feet. There are so many interesting battles all over the pitch, it's like a footballing banquet at White Hart Lane. Super atmosphere too.

From 4-5-none on 606: "Massive difference in quality already in this game compared to the earlier fare..."

1624: Spurs are having a good spell, getting crosses into the United box from the left and the right - and they've barely even got Gareth Bale into the game as of yet.

1622: Man United defender Rio Ferdinand might be struggling - Chris Smalling is warming up on the touchline. Luka Modric fools Darren Fletcher from a corner and sneaks into the United box, but Ferdinand is fine enough to get in a fabulous clearance.

Graham Taylor on BBC Radio Five Live: "This has the makings of an exciting game, it is going end to end and both teams are looking positive and going onto the attack."

1620: What a move, champagne football from Spurs. Luka Modric finds Alan Hutton down the right and his fine cross sees Peter Crouch get in front of Rio Ferdinand, diverting the ball inches wide of Edwin van der Sar's left-hand post. So close.

1619: It's real end-to-end stuff and this time United get forward, first Alan Hutton preventing Dimitar Berbatov from getting in a header at the back stick from Nani's cross before Wayne Rooney's 20-yard strike is well saved by Heurelho Gomes.

1618: Rafael van der Vaart curls the free-kick into the arms of Edwin van der Sar.

1617: Spurs are quite obviously going to pose a significant aerial threat today but they are also hugely dangerous running at the United defence with pace - and Wilson Palacios is fouled 22 yards out by Michael Carrick. Decent opportunity, this, right of centre.

From rebeccaabbott93 on Twitter: "Fear for Man Utd unbeaten record today. Tottenham's team top class this season. Possible revenge for earlier in season?"

1613: Dangerous. United send Spurs a warning as Dimitar Berbatov peels off the defence to play a pass in for Wayne Rooney and he goes round William Gallas before lashing a right-foot shot wide of the far post from a tight angle on the right of the area.

1612: Boo update: Many, many more for Dimitar Berbatov than Michael Carrick.

1611: Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney get us under way and within seconds United give the ball away and Gareth Bale sprints down the left, the Welshman's cross-shot collected by Edwin van der Sar.

1609: The players are led out by Tottenham captain Michael Dawson and Man United skipper Nemanja Vidic and we're not far off getting under way at White Hart Lane. Up in the stand, England manager Fabio Capello is sharing a lovely big hug with David Beckham.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson: ""Spurs have been been fantastic this season and the boy Rafael van der Vaart has been fantastic and Luka Modric too. They've got a good team but we've got the experience to deal with it. In this game you usually get more goals here than at Old Trafford and I hope we get more this afternoon, hopefully for us!"

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "We haven't got a great record against Manchester United but this looks like a more even-matched game and we're playing with lots of confidence, so it should be a cracking game for sure."

1603: Congratulations to Ryan Giggs, too, as the Manchester United legend plays his 600th Premier League game this afternoon in north London.

Tottenham v Manchester United team news:
Phil McNulty reports: "Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson field two line-ups filled with the sort of quality that only adds to the anticipation ahead of this eagerly-awaited encounter. Spurs have plumped for Peter Crouch ahead of Jermain Defoe as support for Rafael van der Vaart up front while Wayne Rooney has recovered from his ankle injury to partner Dimitar Berbatov in attack for Manchester United."

1600: Reaction to come from Anfield, but no time to breath - we're on the move to White Hart Lane as Tottenham prepare to entertain Manchester United.

1559: Full-time Liverpool 2-2 Everton
Not the victory Kenny Dalglish would have wanted, but at least he's stopped the run of defeats. Everton were very, very impressive in the second half, and probably a point apiece is the fairest result.

1558: Marouane Fellaini heads away and Glen Johnson hits it straight to Tim Howard. That might just be that.

1557: One minute left. I fear I'm flogging a dead horse, but it's never stopped me before so I'll continue. Pepe Reina's going to boot this one long...

1556: It comes to nothing.

1555: Is there one last chance left? Everton are about to pump it long.

1554: Into injury time at Anfield and the electronic board goes up showing four minutes.

1553: Gosh, Pepe Reina knows where his off stump is. An Everton corner is half-cleared to Seamus Coleman and his right-foot shot takes a deflection, with Reina and Martin Kelly both confidently letting it go behind as the ball bounces about a yard wide.

1551: You could give a football fan the moon and the stars, and still they'd wonder what happened to the sun. Signs that the teams are both settling for a draw at Anfield as we approach injury time.

From LEGIN99M on 606: "Moyes looks like he wants to win this whereas Dalglish seems to want to survive 90 minutes and not lose. Very, very disappointed with Kenny so far."

1548: Six minutes to go at Anfield and it's still Liverpool 2-2 Everton. Are we going to have some late drama, like we did at the Stadium of Light earlier? A place in derby folklore awaits.

1545: Everton send on the Russian flier Diniyar Bilyaletdinov for Victor Anichebe.

1544: Kenny Dalglish seems to quite like this boy - he brings on young Jonjo Shelvey for the last 10 minutes, with Raul Meireles replaced.

From jackhyom on Twitter: "Re: Matt, Essex, hasn't Crouch set up most of RVDV's goals? I'm backing the rampaging super spider to be a match winner!"

1541: Fernando Torres latches on to a Martin Kelly pass towards the right of the Everton penalty box, but instead of putting his foot through the ball he tries a delicate chip and it flies behind. Used a nine-iron when a wedge would have done. Everton bring on Jack Rodwell for Leon Osman.

1539: It's gone a bit scrappy at Anfield for the moment, presumably both teams saving themselves for one last almighty go at winning all three points.

1537: A change for Everton, with James Vaughan coming on for Jermaine Beckford.

From Matt, Essex, on text: "Crouch? CROUCH? You'd better tell me Defoe's got man-flu, Stevo, otherwise there'll be some serious toys coming out of the collective Spurs pram."

1535: Twenty minutes left in a Merseyside derby, both teams going for the win and still Spurs v Man United to come. Life does not get any better than this.

1533: This game is anyone's now. Leighton Baines swings in a free-kick from the right and Victor Anichebe gets his header all wrong, nodding it further away from goal. Still dangerous from set-pieces though, Everton.

Reds goal: Crikey did they need that. It's a sloppy goal for Everton to concede as, after some pinball inside the visitors box, Tim Howard dives in on Maxi and brings him down, it's a definite spot-kick, no arguments. Dirk Kuyt takes penalty duties in the absence of Steven Gerrard and coolly slots low into the corner.

1532: GOAL Liverpool 2-2 Everton (Kuyt)

1531: PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL

1530: Two very, very strong teams picked there at White Hart Lane, and a return for Man United striker Wayne Rooney. Kick-off there at 1610 GMT.

1529: Tottenham v Man United line-ups:
Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch.
Subs: Cudicini, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Anderson, Smalling, Hernandez, Scholes, Evans.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

1527: First yellow of the game and that's a telling sign of Fernando Torres' frustration, the striker petulantly clipping the heels of Johnny Heitinga after the ball had run away from him.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce on the Steve Harper incident: "I saw Steve lying down, but thankfully he's not bad. A big well done to the Sunderland fans who gave up the supporter to the police. When I saw the age of him it looked like he's still in school. Unfortunately it's the society we live in at the moment."

1525: Liverpool work it into the box from the right and there's a half-chance at best for Maxi, the Argentine having to get all the power on the ball himself as he heads goalwards, with Tim Howard catching above his head.

1523: Bit of pressure from Liverpool but they cannot get the ball to Fernando Torres and Everton look quite comfortable, hitting their hosts on the break when it suits them to do so. Can't remember the last time a game changed course quite so quickly.

From iverkleiven on Twitter: "Messi-esque from Osman in the build-up to Beckford's goal. Brilliant footwork."

1519: Decent hit from Raul Meireles on the left of the Everton box, hitting a left-foot shot that forces Tim Howard to save low down to his left. There's plenty of juice left in this one.

1518: There you go - the curse of the 1-1 banished. Everton are flying - Liverpool need to show some character if they are going to get a foothold in the game.

Everton goal: Quite brittle, you'd have to say. Everton lead, and that has put the cat amongst the pigeons. A ball down the left is headed on by Victor Anichebe to Leon Osman - the midfielder does really well to find Jermaine Beckford inside the box and he holds off Raul Meireles before slamming past Pepe Reina's left hand into the net. What a turnaround.

1516: GOAL Liverpool 1-2 Everton (Beckford)

1513: That goal was absolutely not Sotiros Kyrgiakos's fault, poor lad. But it has changed the atmosphere at Anfield and Everton are playing like a dog with a bone at the moment. Kenny Dalglish has talked a lot about confidence, but we might be about to see how brittle Liverpool's is.

Everton goal: Credit to David Moyes? What a half-time teamtalk that must have been as it takes Everton 43 seconds to get level. Mikel Arteta floats over a corner from the left and with Pepe Reina missing it there is Sylvain Distin at the back stick to nod into the ground and in, despite Glen Johnson's best attempts to head it off the line.

1510: GOAL Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Distin)

1509: Back under way at Anfield and there is a change at the break as the big Greek Sotiros Kyrgiakos comes on to replace the ill Daniel Agger.

From Ed Gutteridge, on text: "With all of the goings on at Anfield this season nobody seems to have noticed the rather worrying situation that Everton are in. Defeat today would put them just three points off relegation and in desperate need of some inspiration in the transfer/loan market. Anichebe and Beckford would struggle to frighten many Championship defences."

1506: Line-ups and team news to come from White Hart Lane, but there's the Demolition Derby part of the day to finish before we move on to the White-Hot White Hart Lane bit. Partly I'm hoping today's football doesn't ever end - anyone fancy a bit of La Liga straight after the Premier League?

From Medieval-Evil on 606: "That goal seems to have knocked the stuffing out of Everton. Torres is the difference at the moment - by contrast, Fellaini has looked Everton's best attacking threat."

1458: Still Tottenham v Manchester United to come, as if you'd forgotten. That gets under way at 1610 GMT, a couple of minutes after this one is due to finish. Surely we aren't going to get four 1-1s?

From mdriver11 on Twitter: "Thank the lord Everton have Tim Howard. It could be 4-0 without him."

Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Marc Vesty reports: "Whether whipped up by Kenny Dalglish's return to Anfield, the fact it's a local derby or just the desperate need for three points, Liverpool have edged out Everton with a show of steely determination. Raul Meireles may have scored the goal but it's the return to form of Fernando Torres which means Liverpool look likely to push for more in the second half."

1451: Fernando Torres is seriously up for this. He causes Johnny Heitinga all sorts of problems down the right and clips a cross to the back post that Seamus Coleman manages to head behind, with Maxi lurking. A magnificent striker's display so far from the Spaniard.

1451: Into first-half stoppage time at Anfield and we'll have a minute of it. Marouane Fellaini gifts possession away on the edge of his own area and Maxi's shot flies low into the arms of Tim Howard.

1448: Lovely stuff from Liverpool as Dirk Kuyt plays a super pass on the inside right channel to Raul Meireles, the Portuguese with a taste for goals firing in a shot from an angle that Tim Howard saves. Liverpool are well on top right now, they won't want the half to end.

1446: The Liverpool fans are furious as they think Johnny Heitinga has fouled Fernando Torres 22 yards out. No free-kick given and then a moment later the Dutchman executes a brilliant tackle on Dirk Kuyt, as if to rub it in. Torres and Heitinga have some afters, moments later. Good derby day battle.

From marktear on Twitter: "Tell Kate the match is live on Setanta in Canada."

1442: Liverpool are countering Everton very well at the moment, soaking up their pressure and hitting them on the break with pace. Fernando Torres has a chance to play Dirk Kuyt through, but when the Dutchman eventually gets himself onside the pass is too far ahead of him.

1440: Liverpool might be leading, but Everton are still very much in this game. Jermaine Beckford and Victor Anichebe are both quiet, though - David Moyes will want much more from his front two.

From Kate, on text: "Greetings from Whistler, Canada! Jet lagged so wide awake since 4am waiting for the Merseyside derby... Unbelievably no EPL live footy on any of the numerous TV channels so am relying totally on you for regular updates on a fantastic win for the Reds!"

1437: Could have been 2-0 to Liverpool there as Fernando Torres forces another save from Tim Howard and then Maxi heads over the Everton bar. Howard is apoplectic - he wants more help from his defenders, who have gone missing in recent minutes.

Reds goal: Kenny Dalglish has just gone crazy because Liverpool lead in the derby. A Glen Johnson cross from the left is headed goalwards by Dirk Kuyt and after Tim Howard saves his effort and then blocks the Dutchman's follow-up shot, the ball falls to Raul Meireles 18 yards out, the Portuguese rifling his first Reds goal into the net.

1435: GOAL Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Meireles)

1434: Everton's set-pieces do look dangerous today and there's another one as a corner from their right is allowed to travel through the Liverpool box, with only Martin Skrtel getting anything like a proper touch on it.

1431: There's that aerial threat for Everton, even without the absent Tim Cahill. A free-kick pumped into the Liverpool box is headed towards goal by Marouane Fellaini, and Jermaine Beckford is only centimetres away from getting a potentially decisive touch.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew: "It was brilliant, passionate - the noise levels were fantastic. We just slipped up at the end but four points from two derbies is good for us. We played really well, had a good gameplan and made it difficult for Sunderland. We looked comfortable and could have got second goal but there were lots of injury time and we just switched off a bit and they got a break - perhaps one they didn't deserve."

1428: A corner from the Liverpool left is flicked on by Maxi, but it's just a few inches too high for a leaping Dirk Kuyt at the far post. Decent start to the 215th Merseyside derby, about halfway through the first half.

From east-coast-wolves on 606: "Torres looking as though he has decided to play football with everyone else for a change. Ominous for Everton."

1425: The Press Association are reporting that a fan was arrested on the pitch after a confrontation with Newcastle keeper Steve Harper late in the game at the Stadium of Light. More on that as and when we get it.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier: "If there's got to be a winner it has to be Aston Villa today. We created a lot of chances and hit the bar four times. The minimum the players deserve is a draw. Some time ago we would probably have lost that game. But the character of the players was good, to come back from 1-0 down in a derby. We've got a difficult January in terms of fixtures, but we will be up for it."

1423: Wow. There's the real Fernando Torres. He shows great power and pace to shrug off the not inconsiderable challenge of Sylvain Distin on the right and he surges into the box, cutting on to his left foot and slamming a sweetly struck shot against the far post, with a sliding Dirk Kuyt only able to blaze the rebound over.

1421: There's a late challenge from Phil Neville on Fernando Torres, but David Moyes is furious about a foul that wasn't given when it looked like Victor Anichebe was brought down just outside the Liverpool box. Don't worry Dave, the free-kick would only have been ballooned over anyway.

From Tim in Marlow, on text: "Furtively checking footie scores via live text, on BlackBerry while should be doing family duties. Reminds me of listening to Liverpool v St. Etienne in bed in the 70s on a crystal earpiece and a cheap radio when I should have been asleep. Guilty pleasures!"

1417: That's got the crowd going at Anfield - Martin Kelly goes on a super run down the right, taking Leighton Baines on on the outside and beating him for pace, his cross well defended by Sylvain Distin. Soon after Glen Johnson's fine pass finds Fernando Torres just inside the box, but his snap-volley flies over.

1415: Some early news from Spurs, not of the team variety. Tottenham High Road has been shut off for an hour with 500 Spurs fans protesting about the proposed move to Stratford. They want the stadium redeveloped in north London. Police have arrived and there's major disruption, with directors getting there late and players using a different entrance.

1414: Fernando Torres is hanging on the last defender, but he goes a little too early and is flagged offside. Today's crucial battle will be in the midfield - can Liverpool gain control over what is a more experienced Everton line-up?

From DanielCurry14 on Twitter: "More flags on the Kop than I've seen for a while. Less quality on the pitch, too. Money needs to be spent on this team."

1410: Jay Spearing gives the ball away in the Liverpool midfield and Jermaine Beckford, from 40 yards, tries an ultra-ambitious chip over Pepe Reina, getting his shot hopelessly wrong. Full marks for confidence, though.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "I think it was an open game. There was some excellent football at times. We started shabbily with six or seven poor pass-backs in the opening 10 minutes. We came back strong and claimed a deserved lead but it was a bit of stupidity again from us which gave the goal away. We know we have dropped another two points at home."

1408: First sighter from the visitors at Anfield as Everton's Seamus Coleman bundles his way through a couple of tackles and punts a shot wide from 20 yards.

1407: Looks like it's a bit edgy in the stands at Sunderland, with Newcastle and Sunderland fans goading each other. Let's hope it doesn't turn into anything worse.

1406: Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles get us under way at Anfield and within nine seconds Torres has fired in a shot from an angle on the right that Tim Howard saves.

From Jamie, Crawley, on text: "Has there ever been a season where so many derby rivals are neck and neck in the table?"
Not in the Championship, though...

1403: Great ovation for the legendary Kenny Dalglish, back in the dugout at Anfield. With You'll Never Walk Alone blaring out for the Scot, it's like travelling back in time. Very close to kick-off on Merseyside.

Everton boss David Moyes: "Our focus has been on the game, that's all. The media focus has been on Kenny and rightly so, but not ours. We'll try and play as well as we did against Tottenham a few days ago."

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish: "It's going to be an emotional day, but it's more important that the players give us effort and commitment and it's not about me. I'm encouraged by the first two games, but they need some confidence."

1358: You just knew today wouldn't be dull, didn't you? Seven minutes before we get started in Liverpool v Everton, then. Magic.

1356: Full-time Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle
Asamoah Gyan did absolutely nothing for 93 minutes today, but when his team needed him most he was in the right place at the right time. Sunderland didn't deserve that equaliser, but they won't care.

Sunderland goal: Now that is drama of the very latest variety. The Stadium of Light goes mental as their boys get a last-gasp equaliser - Phil Bardsley's shot from 20 yards is parried by Steve Harper into the path of Asamoah Gyan and the ball hits the striker before ricocheting into the Newcastle net. Heartbreak for the visitors, jubilation for the hosts.

1354: GOAL Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle (Gyan)

1352: Full-time Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa
Probably not what either manager wanted at the start, but a point apiece is the fairest result from a game that kept threatening to but never quite burst fully into life.

1351: Dan Gosling comes on for his Newcastle debut and there's a few minutes of injury time left in the north-east yet. Can Sunderland salvage something?

1350: I do not know how that didn't go in. A long ball pumped into the Villa box is headed on by Birmingham's Nikola Zigic with Brad Friedel flapping and the ball sails about six inches wide of the post. The place would have erupted.

1349: Into injury time at St Andrew's, where it looks like we are heading for a share of the spoils. They're a couple of minutes behind at Sunderland.

1347: There's a Mackem and a Magpie in the office, and they both reckon Sunderland might have played worse today than when they were drubbed 5-1 at Newcastle in October. Crikey.

BBC Sport's Guy Mowbray at Sunderland: "Two midfield dogs of war - Barton and Nolan - have been instrumental for Newcastle, while not much has got past Coloccini."

1344: I'm surprised the crossbar didn't break, my word Nathan Delfouneso must have something against it. The Villa striker lets fly from 25 yards and it's a screamer of a hit, Ben Foster getting the slightest of touches as the ball thumps against the woodwork. Stunning.

1343: Sunderland are still really struggling, their passes in the final third are being easily cut by Newcastle, who are hanging on quite comfortably right now.

1341: A Villa corner is half-cleared, but when Barry Bannan tees up Marc Albrighton to cross, he's got team-mates queuing up at the back post. Richard Dunne gets there first and has a header nodded off the line by Liam Ridgewell, before James Collins boots the rebound wide. All from inside the Blues' six-yard box.

From Tiirshak on Twitter: "Been really impressed with Ferguson today. He never gets the credit he deserves."

1339: ... About two yards over the bar. Sighs.

1339: Free-kick to Birmingham, 22 yards out, left of centre. David Bentley territory...

Liverpool v Everton team news:
Marc Vesty reports: "For the 215th Merseyside derby, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish makes two changes to the side which lost to Blackpool in the week. Local boy Jay Spearing makes only his second league start for the Reds, while Maxi Rodriguez also comes in. Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic miss out. After beating Tottenham in their last league outing, Everton also make two changes with want-away midfielder Steven Pienaar and striker Louis Saha replaced by Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe."

1336: Matt Derbyshire and Craig Gardner are denied by fabulous blocks by Villa players - the first from Richard Dunne, the second from James Collins. It's a really, really good game now in the Midlands.

1334: My goodness, Villa are nearly in front. Gabby Agbonlahor's pace gets him away down the right and after his cross and Nathan Delfouneso's lay-off, Stewart Downing sees his well-struck left-foot shot superbly saved by Ben Foster. Birmingham respond by bringing Nikola Zigic on.

1332: Newcastle striker Leon Best turns Titus Bramble in the area and fires a low shot a foot wide as the Magpies go close to doubling their lead.

Villa goal: Inspired substitution? We're level at St Andrew's. Kyle Walker lays the ball back to Marc Albrighton on the right and his cross is touched on by Gabby Agbonlahor, with James Collins catching a right-foot shot sweet as you like, the ball taking a deflection off Liam Ridgewell on its way in, though it would have gone in anyway.

1331: GOAL Birmingham 1-1 Aston Villa (Collins)

1330: Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez gives the Sunderland fans a heart-in-mouth moment, cutting into the box from the left and blasting a right-foot shot wide of the far post.

1329: Aston Villa make a double substitution, with Barry Bannan and Nathan Delfouneso on for John Carew and Nigel Reo-Coker. There's enough time in the game, that's for sure.

From Robo, in Hartlepool, on text: "The Mackems will be accusing us of playing 12 men if that magpie doesn't get off the pitch."

1326: Closest Sunderland have come to an equaliser, though that's not saying a great deal. A ball from the left finds its way outside the area to Ahmed Elmohamady, but he drags his shot wide and even a touch off Kieran Richardson cannot divert it on target.

1325: Barry Ferguson shows his class, playing a gorgeous ball over the top down the Birmingham right for Roger Johnson, but the big defender can only spoon his attempted cross into the crowd.

From kaufman39 on 606: "Sunderland must be the most frustratingly inconsistent team in the league this season. Some brilliant performances mixed with some woeful ones."

1322: Villa are stepping up their efforts to find a leveller and Marc Albrighton's fizzing cross from the left is fingertipped over the bar by Ben Foster. Soon after Stewart Downing cuts in from the right and his low shot forces a decent save from a diving Foster.

1320: Liverpool v Everton line-ups:
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Meireles, Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Maxi.
Subs: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Cole, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Shelvey.
Everton: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman, Beckford, Anichebe.
Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gueye, Rodwell, Baxter.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

1319: Sunderland are struggling to get it together on Wearside, they aren't testing the Newcastle defence often enough. Asamoah Gyan has been very quiet today and there's much for Steve Bruce to ponder on the touchline.

1317: Matt Derbyshire is released down the right of the Birmingham box and his right-foot shot forces a fine low save from Brad Friedel. Moments later Craig Gardner's left-foot volley from 15 yards flies wide. It's lively again.

1316: The magpie is back on the pitch at Sunderland. Now if that isn't pouring salt into an open wound...

1314: Villa almost level immediately after going behind. Ciaran Clark's cross deflects off Roger Johnson, but the ball bobbles narrowly wide of the far post.

Magpies goal: Game on in the Midlands, game on on Wearside. Joey Barton floats over a corner from the right, Shola Ameobi, in amongst a pile of bodies, gets his head on it and there, three yards out, is Kevin Nolan to backheel the ball into the Sunderland net.

1312: GOAL Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle (Nolan)

1310: Chance for Sunderland now. Phil Bardsley plays a pass forward to the inside left channel, where Darren Bent has got ahead of his marker, and with Steve Harper racing off his line, Bent lobs the keeper with the outside of his right foot, the ball landing about a yard wide of Harper's right-hand post.

From AdamRhysConnah on Twitter: "Can we count that as a goal from a free-kick? Loving being a neutral on a day like this."

Blues goal: Now we've got a game on our hands in the Midlands Clasico. David Bentley tees up Craig Gardner with a free-kick from 30 yards - he strikes it well but it's flying wide until David Murphy clips it into the mixer and from 12 yards Roger Johnson does superbly to direct a volley into the bottom right-hand corner of Brad Friedel's net.

1307: GOAL Birmingham 1-0 Aston Villa (Johnson)

1306: And they're up and running in the second half at the Stadium of Light as well, where it's Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle.

1305: Gabby Agbonlahor fires in a cross from the Villa left and John Carew gets there first, the Norwegian met at the near post by Liam Ridgewell, good defending from the Birmingham man.

1303: Gabby Agbonlahor and Stewart Downing get us back under way at St Andrew's, where it's Birmingham 0-0 Aston Villa.

From Ruairi, on text: "It's just not fair. I'm in the library writing a criminal law essay while my mate Mickey drinks merrily away in the Canterbury sunshine watching his beloved Sunderland. Up the Toon!"

1259: Either someone's kidnapped our usual audience, or you lot are awful quiet today. Hangover, is it? Look, I've just seen pictures of Kenny Dalglish walking into Anfield. He's the Liverpool manager, and his team are playing against Everton in a little over one of your Merseyside hours.

1256: If you can find the time, get stuck into this lot: Alan Hansen talks about the Merseyside derby; Sam Sheringham ponders whether Chelsea's title challenge is back up and running; Paul Fletcher wonders what on Earth has happened to Bristol City and Middlesbrough; and Alistair Magowan and Lee Dixon talk tactics ahead of Spurs v Man United. Top stuff.

From alexedwards07 on Twitter: "If we get 4 0-0's today, Stevo, you're sacked."

Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Derbies are usually scrappy and this one is no exception, although it hasn't been aided by the swirling wind. Both sides have had a good chance each, but the first half will be remembered for misplaced passes and biting tackles."

Birmingham 0-0 Aston Villa
Phil Dawkes reports: "A goalless, but thoroughly engrossing half of football at St Andrew's. Villa have struck the bar three times, while Birmingham have attacked the other end with gusto. Surely, there can't be another 45 score-free minutes like this?"

1247: Better from Sunderland as they put some pressure on the Newcastle defence, but Jordan Henderson's shot is blocked by Kevin Nolan.

1245: ... Joey Barton curls it about five yards over the bar. I officially give up. Into injury time at the Stadium of Light and St Andrew's now.

1244: Now here's a chance. Or it would be, if anyone in the Premier League could take free-kicks these days. Steed Malbranque fouls Shola Ameobi and Newcastle have a set-piece 20 yards out, right of centre...

1242: Better from Birmingham, and a shot to end the move with. Steven Carr's low cross from the right it met first-time by Alex Hleb, with his effort kicked away by a Villa defender. At Sunderland, Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi heads a Joey Barton corner over the crossbar.

1241: At the moment, the ball is just bouncing off John Carew at Birmingham - the Villa hitman cannot hold the ball up for love or money. Both games need a goal, to be fair to them.

From Ross, London, on text: "Yet more proof (if it were required) that Dave Bentley shouldn't play for London clubs. Fantastic so far - Blackburn have missed a trick here."

1237: David Murphy goes down inside the Aston Villa box under a challenge from Marc Albrighton and Mark Clattenburg gives a corner. Some of the Birmingham players were convinced that was a penalty.

1236: Alan Smith limps off with an injury at Sunderland and Danny Guthrie comes on in his place. Soon after, Joey Barton is booked, either for handball of back-chat, take your pick.

1234: Alex Hleb's English is probably pretty good, but he obviously hasn't learned the word 'shoot'. With most of St Andrew's and some of his team-mates egging him on, 18 yards out with a clear sight of goal, he passes sideways and Birmingham don't get an effort in.

1233: The wind is a factor at Birmingham too, where Villa are still going in hard on David Bentley when they get the chance. At Sunderland, a ball into the hosts' box sees Kevin Nolan go to ground, but the free-kick is given to the Black Cats by referee Howard Webb.

From notmyipod on Twitter: "Bentley always played well in derby games for Spurs, it was the other games he wasn't so good in."

1229: Not a great deal going on in the feisty atmosphere of the Stadium of Light at the moment. Ahmed Elmohamady is having some joy down the Sunderland right, but his low cross is well gathered in by Steve Harper. The wind, which almost knocked me off my bike this morning, is playing havoc.

1227: Just showing signs of slowing down a little in both games. Nothing more than a lull though, I'd have thought. Birmingham play it neatly from their right and pull the ball back to Keith Fahey 22 yards out, but his side-foot effort lacks power and it's an easy save for Brad Friedel.

From Timmythebluekangaroo on 606: "That Kyle Walker looks like a cracking player, Hleb looks so unfit he should be on a Sunday league pitch."

1222: The woodwork graphic's certainly earning its keep today. Ciaran Clark swings over a cross from the Aston Villa left... and he's over-hit it... and it cannons back off the Birmingham crossbar yet again! Goodness me.

1222: Seriously, how have we not had a goal? Craig Gardner crosses from the Birmingham left and if Matt Derbyshire gets a touch it's a goal - but the former Blackburn and Olympiakos man cannot quite do so.

1220: Villa look unplayable in the air, but John Carew is penalised for a foul on Roger Johnson after manhandling the defender out of the way and thumping another header against the Birmingham crossbar.

1219: And still no goal... Sunderland play a corner from the left short to Steed Malbranque and he hits a right-foot shot through a pile of bodies, Steve Harper getting down well to his right to push the ball away from danger.

Fraser from Birmingham, on text: "Birmingham need to do more than our usual boot the ball up the field and make the striker chase it; whoever our lone striker is."

From Will, London, on text: "Newcastle playing well and creating chances. Should have been ahead with Ameobi's chance. This can only mean one thing; defensive error coming up..."

1215: There's a nice amount of aggro bubbling under, especially in the north-east. Alan Smith grapples with Titus Bramble, the Newcastle midfielder leaving the incident with a beaming smile on his face.

1214: Cracking one-two at Birmingham, with Alex Hleb playing the fine return pass to Keith Fahey and the midfielder skewing his right-foot 22-yard shot off target. Cannot believe we haven't had a goal anywhere yet.

1212: Great chance for Newcastle and they nearly go ahead. A Joey Barton corner isn't cleared and Fabricio Coloccini fires it goalwards, with Kieran Richardson booting it off the Sunderland line.

1211: We've had claret in both derby games so far, probably to no-one's surprise. Birmingham's Craig Gardner is bleeding from a facial wound and needs some treatment, while Ahmed Elmohamady similarly required some early attention at Sunderland.

From Football_UK on 606: "Birmingham will improve in the second half of the season. Bentley was frustrated at Spurs, but he can shine again at Birmingham. He could improve their game, moving forward, massively."

1208: Drama. Kyle Walker sends over a fine cross from the Villa right and Gabby Agbonlahor heads it goalwards - John Carew gets a flick on it too and the ball bounces off the top of Ben Foster's crossbar and away to safety.

1207: It's chance o'clock. At Birmingham, Roger Johnson and then Richard Dunne head wide at either end, before, at Sunderland, Steed Malbranque's pass finds Darren Bent in the Newcastle box on the right and he cuts inside and shoots goalwards, Steve Harper making a fine save with his legs.

BBC Sport's Guy Mowbray at Sunderland: "It's a horrendous error by Titus Bramble and Shola Ameobi really should have done better. He's scored in his last four Tyne and Wear derbies and should have made it five."

1204: Fabulous pass from Joey Barton at Sunderland, the Newcastle midfield carving the home defence open with a ball through to Shola Ameobi, but the big striker, clean through, can only slot inches wide of Craig Gordon's left-hand post.

1203: Welcome to the Midlands, sunshine. Richard Dunne gets there a little late on Blues new boy David Bentley and takes him out completely, giving the ref no choice but to flash an early yellow card. From the free-kick, the ball falls for Craig Gardner 20 yards out, but he slams just over.

1202: What a start for Villa. John Carew holds the ball up neatly on the edge of the Birmingham box and tees up Stewart Downing, linked with a £10m move to Liverpool. The winger slams a low right-foot shot just wide.

1201: Madness. Ben Foster dallies and ends up giving the ball away, Gabby Agbonlahor nips in and drives into the Blues box, rifling a right-foot shot over the fortuitous keeper's crossbar. Villa nearly ahead in 30 seconds.

1200: It's high noon, which means we've kicked off in the Premier League in the Midlands Clasico between Birmingham and Aston Villa and the Tyne-Wear Clasico between Sunderland and Newcastle. Demolition Derby Day is very much under way, folks.

From olliescrim on Twitter: "Extremely nervous about Villa today. Don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this is in our top five biggest games this decade."

1156: The players are out at St Andrew's... and moments later they appear from the tunnel at the Stadium of Light. Good grief, I can hardly contain myself.

From Dave from Kent, on text: "I am on a train from London, one of only two Evertonians on a train full of Liverpool fans heading to the derby... And it is so quiet, I can smell the fear!!! 2-1 the Blues."

1151: It's all kicking off at the Stadium of Light right now. Sunderland mascot Samson the cat is currently chasing a... duh duh duh... MAGPIE around the pitch. The pesky little bird isn't going anywhere, though. Great drama.

From marcflannery on Twitter: "Make or break for Houllier with the fans. Win, we reclaim the city, jump the Blues and leave the relegation zone. If not..."

1146: If you get chance, check out our gossip column today. Will Spurs spend £30m on Andy Carroll? Do Bolton really want £20m for Gary Cahill? Has Steven Pienaar chosen Spurs over Chelsea? Are Liverpool keen on Stewart Downing and Mark van Bommel? Can Sunderland sign Michael Owen? And are the Qatari royal family really ready to make a £1.3bn offer for Manchester United?

1143: Lively stuff already - keep 'em coming. Birmingham v Aston Villa and Sunderland v Newcastle get under way in just over 15 minutes. Nervous? Good.

From John Kennedy on 606: "Three home wins and a scoring draw at the Lane? Stevo's predications are far too safe. I think he'd do a better job in picking numbers out from the sky."
Uh-oh, I've been rumbled...

Birmingham v Aston Villa team news:
Phil Dawkes reports: "On-loan Tottenham midfielder David Bentley makes his Birmingham debut in place of Sebastian Larsson, who is on the verge of a move to Newcastle. This is one of three changes, with David Murphy coming into their defence for the injured Scott Dann and Matt Derbyshire starting as lone striker in place of Cameron Jerome. Aston Villa make four changes to the side that beat Sheffield United 3-1 in the FA Cup. With winger Ashley Young suspended there is a slight change of tactic, with John Carew coming in to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack. Stewart Downing and Stiliyan Petrov come into midfield in place of Robert Pires and Barry Bannan, while James Collins takes Carlos Cuellar's place in defence."

Sunderland v Newcastle team news:
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Sunderland defender Nedum Onuoha returns to the starting XI after recovering from a hamstring injury. However, Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck fail to make the line-up. Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi has overcome an ankle problem to start alongside Leon Best in attack. Left-sided players Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez also return."

From caeathro1978 on Twitter: "Alex Ferguson is set to rest Howard Webb for today's trip to Spurs."
Please laugh. It's just a joke.
PS FA - Ryan Babel made me do it...

From Chris, Leeds, on text: "If there's one thing that'll stop me from doing my media law revision it's a line up like this. Curse you fixture computer why not next weekend! On the plus side, I'll happily point out any defamatory statements you make Stevo."
Haha. In which case we're both in for a busy day...

1130: Stevo's Demolition Derby and White-Hot White Hart Lane Day Predos:
Birmingham 2-1 Aston Villa
Sunderland 3-2 Newcastle
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United
Lawro and Simon Mayo's Premier League predictions

1127: Sunderland v Newcastle line-ups:
Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Bramble, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Richardson, Malbranque, Gyan, Bent.
Subs: Mignolet, Zenden, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros, Reid, Colback.
Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez, Best, Ameobi.
Subs: Krul, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Gosling, Ranger.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

1125: Birmingham v Aston Villa line-ups:
Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy, Bentley, Ferguson, Hleb, Gardner, Fahey, Derbyshire.
Subs: Taylor, Bowyer, Phillips, Zigic, Beausejour, Mutch, Jiranek.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Clark, Dunne, Collins, Walker, Albrighton, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Marshall, Pires, Delfouneso, Cuellar, Bannan, Hogg, Baker.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

From GraymeadYNWA on 606: "If Man United play like they have been since Christmas, then I think Spurs will win comfortably. That is a big if though."

Tottenham v Manchester United scene-setter:
Phil McNulty reports: "Harry Redknapp's bold claim that Tottenham can be serious title contenders faces its sternest test today when Manchester United visit White Hart Lane. Victory and the doubters may just start to share Redknapp's confidence in his talented and maturing squad. United, for all the accusations that they have not hit top form, remain unbeaten in the league, but this may also represent their closest examination. If Sir Alex Ferguson's side emerge unscathed, it will only increase the belief that a record 19th title is on the way to Old Trafford."

Liverpool v Everton scene-setter:
Marc Vesty reports: "If Kenny Dalglish had written a script prior to his return as Liverpool boss, it has quickly been binned in favour of improv. The Kop King heads into his Anfield return off the back of two defeats out of two and without suspended talisman Steven Gerrard. As if the game wasn't big enough for the struggling Reds, fixture fate throws up Everton, on the hunt for a first league double over their Merseyside rivals since 1984/85. With key midfielder Tim Cahill missing for the Blues, the two could not be more evenly matched. A quick glance at the league table confirms this.

Sunderland v Newcastle scene-setter:
Saj Chowdhury reports: "Sunderland fans have had this date in their diaries since Halloween 2010 when they witnessed their side suffer a 5-1 horror show at St James' Park. Some of that pain has been eased by the fact they are five points ahead of their north-east rivals while a win today could see them leapfrog Spurs into fifth spot. Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from their FA Cup humiliation at Stevenage - is there any better place for them to do that?"

Birmingham v Aston Villa scene-setter:
Phil Dawkes reports: "New Birmingham signing David Bentley has heard second-city derbies are "quite a passionate affair". Unless his cheek contained a significant amount of tongue, the on-loan Tottenham man could just have hit upon understatement of the season. His new club may have beaten Villa in the Carling Cup last month, but they've not recorded a league victory over their fierce local rivals in six years. Throw into the mix that this is your archetypal relegation six-pointer and St Andrews is clearly the only place to be today... I mean, it's not like there are any other big derbies or key title clashes going on."

1118: So, on Demolition Derby and White-Hot White Hart Lane Day (as it has been dubbed), here's what our awesome foursome of match report writers make of today's action...

From SuperJayEffect on Twitter: "I hope Alan Pardew is in Churchillian mode this morning... Up The Mags!! Also, RIP Nat Lofthouse."

From Nick, Surrey, on text: "Villa fan waiting nervously in the away end at St Andrews. Dare I say this a more important derby than it usually is? Heart says 2-1 Villa , head says 2-1 Blues. Come on Villa!"

1114: Before I go any further, a moment of your time, please. English football lost one of its greatest ever figures when Nat Lofthouse sadly passed away last night at the age of 85. If you, like me, used to drown in copious amounts of footballing trivia when you were younger, you'll have learned enough about The Lion of Vienna to know we've lost a true superstar of the game. An amazing 285 goals in more than 500 games for Bolton and 30 goals in 33 caps for England. Please pay your tributes here. RIP legend.

1111: There just isn't any time to waste today. Two titanic local tussles get under way in less than one of your Premier League hours, and I'm going to need some chat:
Heard of Twitter? Good. Hit me @Stevo_football;
Get launching those texts over on 81111;
The 606 page is waiting for your joy/woe/introspection.

1108: God bless you, Fixture Computer, and all those matches that sail out of you. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, a very warm welcome to each and every one of you to our coverage of the Premier League on Sunday, 16 January 2011. On paper, it looks like a bona fide classic.

1610 GMT: Tottenham v Manchester United

1405 GMT: Liverpool v Everton

1200 GMT: Sunderland v Newcastle

1200 GMT: Birmingham v Aston Villa

1105: I can hear the Fixture Computer spluttering into life. I imagine it looks a bit like Bertha, for those of you of a certain age. Hang on, what's this...

1100 Greenwich Mean Time, London:
Dear Fixture Computer,
On a shatteringly dreary Sunday in January in England, can you please find it in your motherboard to give us, the loyal football folk of Blighty, three deliciously drool-inducing derbies and a white-hot humdinger from White Hart Lane to finish?
Yours hopefully,
Stevo

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First one-day international, Melbourne:
Australia 297-4 (49.1 ovs) beat England 294 (49.4 ovs) by six wickets
Match scorecard

Watson's innings was one of the very best in ODI cricket

By Oliver Brett

Shane Watson hit a majestic century for Australia as they won the opening one-day international against England with five balls to spare in Melbourne.

Kevin Pietersen struck 78 in a total of 294 as England were bowled out with two balls of their innings remaining.

It was their highest total against Australia on their turf, but Watson got the hosts home on 161 not out from 150 balls, as they won by six wickets.

It was the highest successful run chase ever witnessed at the iconic MCG.

And, exactly 40 years after the first one-day international was played on the same ground, Watson appropriately produced the winning hit, smashing the first ball of the final over for six over long-on.

Australia were some way short of their best in the field, their bowlers sending down 12 wides, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin missed three stumpings.

But when it came to chasing down the runs, Haddin (39 in an opening stand of 110 with Watson) and Michael Clarke, who made a boundary-free 36 in another big stand worth 107, could afford to take a back seat as Watson coped with tiredness and cramp to smash 12 fours and four sixes under the floodlights.

It was a brilliant display of ball-striking by the big hitting Queenslander.

Pietersen's 78 from 75 balls was a welcome sight for England fans

Five of Watson's boundaries came in each of the first five overs as Australia got on top of the required run rate. It took a long time for England, whose attack lacked the rested James Anderson and injured Stuart Broad, to gain a foothold.

In the 20th over, Haddin attempted to launch Swann for six but could only give Ajmal Shahzad a simple catch at deep square-leg.

Watson, dropped by Jonathan Trott at mid-on off Chris Tremlett at 48, continued to play the aggressor when out-of-form captain Michael Clarke came to the crease.

Clarke was shockingly booed by his home supporters when playing out dot balls, but with the required run-rate approaching eight an over, Watson smashed Yardy for consecutive leg-side sixes en route to his highest ODI score to relieve the pressure.

Wickets eventually came England's way at the other end, Clarke and Steve Smith hitting catches into the off-side, before Mike Hussey became the third Australian to fall in the batting powerplay.

Just as England threatened to take the game to the wire, Trott dropped his second catch - Cameron White the man missed at deep square-leg.

Watson, whose innings was the fifth highest by an Australian in one-day internationals, brought up his 150 with his 12th four, reducing the equation to 17 runs needed from 20 balls.

And he continued to run England's fielders ragged, until Shahzad was lined up to bowl the final over with just four wanted for Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the series. By then, the result was inevitable, though Watson was able to finish it off in emphatic style.

If there was one crumb of comfort for England to take to the second match of seven in Hobart on Friday, it was the innings of Pietersen produced in registering his first half-century in international 50-over cricket since 2008.

Australia celebrate as Michael Yardy is dismissed in the 40th over

Having been dropped for the summer series against Pakistan to rediscover a bit of form at domestic level, he was unsurprisingly named in England's side after the tourists had won the toss.

What did come as something of a shock, however, was the exclusion of Paul Collingwood, despite the poor batting form of England's Twenty20 captain.

Collingwood's vast experience, plus his expertise in bowling and fielding was overlooked in favour of a straightforward six batsmen, five bowler policy - Trott and Ian Bell both appearing in the middle order either side of Pietersen at four.

Andrew Strauss hit 63 in a bright stand of 90 from 12 overs with fellow left-hander Steve Davies (42) for the first wicket.

Davies played some lovely shots, but had plenty of luck as Australia produced a sloppy fielding performance, in which Haddin was the worst offender.

The home team's wicketkeeper, who was unhappy to have been overlooked in favour of Tim Paine for the Twenty20 matches, had ample time to complete any one of the three stumpings he was presented with.

Haddin's most serious error came with England on 186-5 and Pietersen on 37. David Hussey, who had surprisingly removed both Davies and Trott (6), was the unfortunate bowler - all the more so as Pietersen decided to make Australia pay immediately.

In the same over he should have been stumped, Pietersen advanced down the track to launch consecutive straight sixes off Hussey, and England seemed to be set fair for a score in excess of 300.

That was despite Bell (23) having played a loose cover-drive to be caught off the leg-spin of Smith, and Eoin Morgan (8) also hitting a catch into the infield off Smith.

606: DEBATE

Well played Watson. Rode his luck against an England bowling attack that was indisciplined and missing Jimmy Anderson

jonnyb192

With 11 overs to go England were 232-5, but Australia finally woke from their slumber. Yardy pulled Doug Bollinger to deep square-leg, and Pietersen was run out by Mitchell Johnson's kick on to the stumps in the first over of the batting power-play.

That dismissal instantly put a score of 300-plus out of range, though Tim Bresnan (28 from 27 balls) did his bit, while Shahzad and Tremlett each hit a six.

Later, all three would be put to the sword by Watson, whose innings was later described by Strauss as "one of the great one-day innings."

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Sunderland   1 - 1   Newcastle

Nolan scores his 10th league goal of the season

By Saj Chowdhury

Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan scored deep into injury-time to deny local rivals Newcastle victory in a scrappy encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Kevin Nolan gave the Magpies the lead in the second half when he back-heeled Shola Ameobi's goal-bound header.

Sunderland then created little, with Ahmed Elmohamady's deflected 20-yard strike a rare effort on goal.

But with time almost up, Gyan equalised when Steve Harper's save from a Phil Bardsley shot hit him and rebounded in.

Both Ameobi and Sunderland forward Darren Bent had gone close in the early exchanges but chances were at a premium thereafter.

That was partly because of a swirling wind that made precision passing difficult and also a derby atmosphere where the emphasis seemed to be on passion rather than football.

Bruce wants to finish above Newcastle

Understandably the teams were hyped for their 132nd league meeting, but Steve Bruce's Black Cats were also looking to settle a score having been humiliated 5-1 at St James' Park at the end of October.

Ameobi, who scored twice in Newcastle's win, came close to adding to the pain in the third minute when he placed his shot less that a foot wide of Sunderland's left-hand post after he was fed in by a glorious 40-yard ball from Barton.

Moments later the home side should have scored themselves, but Bent fired his close-range angled effort straight at Harper's legs.

Volleys were exchanged again when first Sunderland's Kieran Richardson cleared Fabricio Coloccini's shot off the line before Steed Malbranque, who had earlier played in Bent, tested the Newcastle number one with a fierce shot that had to be pushed away.

There were more mistimed tackles in the half than chances and Newcastle's Alan Smith limped off in the opening half as a result of Richardson's illegal attempt to win the ball.

The second half was an improvement on what had preceded it and should have begun with a Sunderland goal, had their leading goalscorer Bent not spurned another chance when he clipped Bardsley's ball over Harper and past the keeper's right-hand upright.

Newcastle switched off for equaliser - Pardew

That chance came four minutes after the restart - three minutes later, Newcastle took the lead.

Regular supplier Barton played in another teasing corner, which was headed on towards goal by the impressive Ameobi and flicked in by expert poacher Nolan.

The Magpies deserved the lead and their resolute defence had quelled the threat of Sunderland's attack for much of the match.

Apart from Bent's effort, the Black Cats' only other attempt on goal before the equaliser came from Elmohamady, whose 20-yard strike took a deflection off Richardson and flew a foot wide.

But Sunderland fans fearing the worst finally had something to cheer when in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time Gyan stood at the right place at the right time.

Live text and stats

Sunday, 16 January 2011

Barclays Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle FT

(HT 0-0)

- Gyan 90+4

- Nolan 52

Sunderland

- 01 Gordon

- 02 Bardsley

- 03 Richardson yellow card

- 15 Onuoha (Zenden 75)

- 19 Bramble

- 29 Ferdinand

- 08 Malbranque

- 10 Henderson

- 27 Elmohamady (Colback 88)

- 11 Bent

- 33 Gyan

Substitutes

- 22 Mignolet,

- 12 Angeleri,

- 14 Da Silva,

- 07 Zenden,

- 16 Riveros,

- 20 Reid,

- 25 Colback

Newcastle

- 01 Harper

- 02 Coloccini

- 03 Jose Enrique

- 06 Williamson

- 12 Simpson

- 04 Nolan

- 07 Barton yellow card

- 17 Smith (Guthrie 37)

- 18 Gutierrez (Gosling 90)

- 20 Best (Lovenkrands 88)

- 23 Ameobi

Substitutes

- 26 Krul,

- 14 Perch,

- 08 Guthrie,

- 10 Routledge,

- 15 Gosling,

- 11 Lovenkrands,

- 30 Ranger

Ref: H WebbAtt: 47,864

SUNDERLAND

NEWCASTLE

Possession

- Sunderland 42%

- Newcastle 58%

Attempts on target

- Sunderland 7

- Newcastle 2

Attempts off target

- Sunderland 3

- Newcastle 7

Corners

- Sunderland 5

- Newcastle 6

Fouls

- Sunderland 17

- Newcastle 5

- Final Result

- Full Time

- 90:00+5:44 The referee ends the match.

- 90:00+3:32 Phillip Bardsley provided the assist for the goal.

- 90:00+3:32 GOAL - Asamoah Gyan:Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle Asamoah Gyan finds the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle.

- 90:00+2:02 Effort from inside the area by Asamoah Gyan misses to the right of the goal.

- 89:52 Substitution (Newcastle) makes a substitution, with Dan Gosling coming on for Jonas Gutierrez.

- 89:18 Jack Colback challenges Peter Lovenkrands unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fabricio Coloccini takes the direct free kick.

- 87:50 The assistant referee signals for offside against Leon Best. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 87:50 Substitution Peter Lovenkrands on for Leon Best.

- 87:50 Substitution (Sunderland) makes a substitution, with Jack Colback coming on for Ahmed Elmohamady.

- 87:00 Sanchez Jose Enrique delivers the ball, save by Craig Gordon.

- 85:54 Leon Best crosses the ball, clearance made by Anton Ferdinand. Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton.

- 84:10 Darren Bent is caught offside. Steve Harper takes the indirect free kick.

- 82:11 Phillip Bardsley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joey Barton. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 80:51 Effort from deep inside the area by Sanchez Jose Enrique clears the bar.

- 76:55 The ball is delivered by Leon Best, Anton Ferdinand makes a clearance.

- 76:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Phillip Bardsley by Joey Barton. Phillip Bardsley takes the free kick.

- 74:46 Phillip Bardsley fouled by Shola Ameobi, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Gordon takes the indirect free kick.

- 74:46 Substitution Boudewijn Zenden joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nedum Onuoha.

- 73:14 Joey Barton crosses the ball.

- 72:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Asamoah Gyan. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 70:55 Leon Best has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

- 69:25 Asamoah Gyan takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Simpson. Free kick awarded for a foul by Steed Malbranque on Joey Barton. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 68:54 Effort from deep inside the area by Jonas Gutierrez misses to the right of the target.

- 66:22 Ahmed Elmohamady sends in a cross.

- 65:08 Shot from outside the box by Ahmed Elmohamady misses to the left of the target.

- 64:20 Ahmed Elmohamady gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton, save made by Craig Gordon.

- 63:25 Jordan Henderson sends in a cross, clearance made by Sanchez Jose Enrique. Corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the right by-line to the near post, Joey Barton manages to make a clearance.

- 61:33 A cross is delivered by Joey Barton.

- 60:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steed Malbranque on Danny Guthrie. Joey Barton restarts play with the free kick.

- 59:16 Unfair challenge on Fabricio Coloccini by Asamoah Gyan results in a free kick. Steve Harper takes the indirect free kick.

- 58:48 Asamoah Gyan concedes a free kick for a foul on Sanchez Jose Enrique. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.

- 57:30 A cross is delivered by Asamoah Gyan.

- 54:25 A cross is delivered by Sanchez Jose Enrique.

- 51:25 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joey Barton, the assist for the goal came from Shola Ameobi.

- 51:25 GOAL - Kevin Nolan:Sunderland 0 - 1 Newcastle Kevin Nolan gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle.

- 50:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joey Barton by Anton Ferdinand. Danny Guthrie takes the direct free kick.

- 48:48 Darren Bent has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

- 47:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton, save by Craig Gordon.

- 47:10 The ball is delivered by Jonas Gutierrez, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

- 46:29 The assistant referee signals for offside against Shola Ameobi. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

- 45:01 The second half begins.

- Half Time

- 45:00+3:05 It is the end of the first-half.

- 45:00+1:52 Danny Simpson crosses the ball, Titus Bramble manages to make a clearance.

- 45:00+0:50 Jordan Henderson has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

- 43:22 Shola Ameobi fouled by Steed Malbranque, the ref awards a free kick. Joey Barton produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

- 42:45 Steed Malbranque gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Nolan. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.

- 41:46 Unfair challenge on Mike Williamson by Darren Bent results in a free kick. Sanchez Jose Enrique restarts play with the free kick.

- 40:44 Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton, Shola Ameobi produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

- 36:59 Mike Williamson fouled by Darren Bent, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Harper.

- 35:20 Joey Barton is adjudged to have handled the ball. Anton Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.

- 35:20 Substitution Alan Smith leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Guthrie.

- 35:20 Booking Joey Barton goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

- 35:08 Booking Kieran Richardson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

- 32:45 Foul by Kieran Richardson on Alan Smith, free kick awarded. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 32:33 A cross is delivered by Ahmed Elmohamady, Fabricio Coloccini makes a clearance.

- 31:52 The ball is delivered by Jonas Gutierrez.

- 31:08 Anton Ferdinand gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leon Best. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 29:24 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Gordon.

- 28:54 Shola Ameobi produces a cross, Craig Gordon makes a save.

- 28:16 The ball is delivered by Nedum Onuoha.

- 27:23 The ball is crossed by Ahmed Elmohamady, save by Steve Harper.

- 26:25 The ball is crossed by Shola Ameobi, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

- 25:45 Ahmed Elmohamady delivers the ball.

- 25:23 The ball is crossed by Ahmed Elmohamady, Fabricio Coloccini makes a clearance.

- 22:11 The offside flag is raised against Leon Best. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 21:21 Jordan Henderson challenges Jonas Gutierrez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sanchez Jose Enrique takes the direct free kick.

- 19:41 The ball is swung over by Jordan Henderson.

- 18:07 Foul by Shola Ameobi on Ahmed Elmohamady, free kick awarded. Jordan Henderson restarts play with the free kick. Darren Bent takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan. Short corner worked by Jordan Henderson.

- 17:04 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Save made by Steve Harper. Corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the left by-line, Ahmed Elmohamady takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

- 16:40 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the left by-line.

- 14:55 Jordan Henderson takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

- 13:32 Alan Smith challenges Titus Bramble unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

- 12:26 Effort from outside the penalty box by Jonas Gutierrez goes wide left of the goal.

- 11:28 Corner taken by Joey Barton from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jordan Henderson.

- 10:14 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joey Barton, Fabricio Coloccini takes a shot. Blocked by Kieran Richardson.

- 9:25 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Harper.

- 6:37 Titus Bramble challenges Shola Ameobi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fabricio Coloccini takes the direct free kick.

- 5:46 Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Steve Harper.

- 4:43 Nedum Onuoha gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shola Ameobi. Free kick crossed by Joey Barton, Phillip Bardsley manages to make a clearance.

- 3:43 Leon Best gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Titus Bramble. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 2:55 Effort on goal by Shola Ameobi from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

- 0:58 The assistant referee signals for offside against Darren Bent. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 0:00 The game kicks-off.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:51

Former Speaker Betty Boothroyd annoyed by 'greedy' MPs

Baroness Boothroyd said MPs disgraced themselves and Parliament

Baroness Boothroyd, former speaker of the Commons, says that MPs who abused the expenses system "disgraced" Parliament.

In a rare comment by an ex-speaker, she told the BBC that she found the scandal about allowances "very distressing".

She said some MPs had abused a system that had been very generous to them, bringing Parliament into disrepute.

One MP has been jailed and one has pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming expenses.

Baroness Boothroyd told BBC Radio Four's The World This Weekend: "There's no question about it, there's no answer to it other than people were greedy and they took advantage of a system.

"That is what happened. And they disgraced themselves.

"What annoys me is that they disgraced the Parliament that I have tried all my life to cherish and fought hard for."

Expenses system

The latest MP to fall foul of the law - Labour member Eric Illsley - is to quit his constituency after pleading guilty last week to dishonestly claiming parliamentary expenses.

The MP for Barnsley Central had come under pressure to step down after admitting £14,000 of expenses fraud.

Mr Illsley's case followed the imprisonment of David Chaytor for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming expenses.

Lady Boothroyd also said it was disgraceful that the expenses system had been allowed to evolve in the way it did after she left the speaker's chair in 2000.

The expenses scandal erupted in 2009 when claims for expensive TVs and furniture emerged alongside stories about MPs who claimed for more than one property by "flipping" their designated second home, or did not pay capital gains tax on sales of second homes or over-claimed for mortgages.

The government has since reformed the system.

Meanwhile, a serving Labour MP has reported six parliamentary colleagues - including two former cabinet ministers - to police over alleged abuse of expenses, according to the Sunday Times.

The newspaper says the politicians against whom the complaints have been made include two Labour MPs, two Conservatives and two Liberal Democrats.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:44

Lord Owen 'could vote for Labour' under Miliband

Lord Owen says he is considering voting for Labour but is not aiming to hold a post in the party

Lord Owen, a founder of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), says he could rejoin Labour after being impressed by Ed Miliband's leadership.

The former foreign secretary, who left Labour to help form the breakaway SDP 30 years ago, said he would "certainly consider voting" for his old party.

He also said that he has been in contact with Mr Miliband.

He told BBC1's Politics Show Mr Miliband had performed "extremely well" since becoming Labour leader.

Lord Owen joined with Roy Jenkins, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, becoming known as the "gang of four", when they formed the SDP in 1981 after splitting from the Labour Party.

'Good opposition'

He resigned as SDP leader over the merger with the Liberal Party, a move which eventually led to the formation of the Liberal Democrats.

He now sits as a crossbench peer in the Lords.

Lord Owen said: "I'm old enough to remember Labour when it was, in my view, a genuine social democratic party... and I think it's come back again to that."

When asked if he could see himself rejoining Labour, he said: "I suppose I could. I could certainly consider voting for them, and I hope I will. I want to see social democracy thrive in this country, and that's what I've always wanted."

He went on to say that he could envisage being back in Labour "but I'd prefer, I think, at my old, grand old age of 72, to just consider voting for them.

'Sensible shadow cabinet'

"That's because I don't want to go back in the structure of it all. I wish them well, I always want a good opposition."

He said he had spoken to Mr Miliband, although not about him rejoining the party.

"He knows that I'm going to look very hard at what he does with the Labour Party. I think he's started extremely well.

"He's claimed back the ground of civil liberties which Tony Blair lost for the Labour Party, in many good decisions.

"But I think he made some very sensible shadow cabinet decisions and I think that he's rooted the party by his choice of shadow chancellor [Alan Johnson] who's a trade unionist... a decent man."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 12:34

Lord Elystan-Morgan criticises bill to reduce MPs

Lord Elystan-Morgan says "arithmetical consistency" between constituencies was different from "equality"

Cross bench peer Lord Elystan-Morgan has criticised plans to reduce the number of MPs in parliament.

The former Cardigan MP, Labour minister and judge described the idea as "utterly superficial".

A bill could see the number of MPs in the Commons cut from 650 to 600 - 40 to 30 in Wales - to "reduce the cost of politics", according to ministers.

But the peer says "ancient communities hammered out on the anvil of the centuries" would be lost.

The bill, which also includes the trigger for a referendum on changing the voting system, was raised last year but has now moved to the Lords.

Lord Elystan-Morgan said "arithmetical consistency" was different from "equality", explaining that two constituencies weren't the same just because they had the same number of constituents.

He said one could be a city constituency which could be cycled across in 15 minutes whereas the other could be a huge rural community such as Brecon and Radnorshire taking "hours and hours" by public transport.

"There is no equality," he told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement.

"People have a cultural identity, there is a historical consistency, there are ancient boundaries that have been respected for centuries and yet all of this, in regards to at least two thirds of them, will be brought to an end.

"And that link between a member of parliament and his constituents will be broken," he said.

The proposals were announced by the UK government, shortly after the general election, saying they would bring fairness and "reduce the cost of politics".

Last July, Wales Office Minister David Jones told the Welsh Grand Committee that it was "worrying" that a vote in parts of Wales was worth, in some cases, double that of a vote in the south of England.

"That needs to be addressed," he said, adding that it was "wrong in principle" that votes should carry different weight.

"It is also a matter of concern that the Welsh vote has not been looked at again at a time when we have the National Assembly, and Wales has representation in another legislature," he added.

Girl gang victim Naomi Morrison: 'I was punched, kicked, stamped on'

14 January 2011 Last updated at 21:37 Help

The leader of a girl gang in Plymouth has been jailed after a judge described photographs of her victim as the worst he had ever seen.

Naomi Morrison, 17, was out with friends in 2009 when she was attacked for an hour-and-a-half.

She described how she was ''punched, kicked and stamped on'' and how the attack has left her too afraid to go out alone at night.

Sabrina Barber - who was high on drugs at the time - has been jailed for five years.

Read more

- 'Evil' girl gang leader detained

- Are our girls getting more violent?

Tourists return from Tunisia: 'It was like the Blitz again'

15 January 2011 Last updated at 17:58 Help

Holiday-makers in Tunisia have had their vacations cut short following Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to the North African country.

A state of emergency has been declared after the President fled the country, and a dusk to dawn curfew is in place.

The BBC's Lorna Gordon spoke to British tourists at Manchester Airport who have escaped the violence.

Read more

- In pictures: Tunisia tensions

- Tunisia unrest: Views from the country

- Empty planes sent out to Tunisia

Bolton great Nat Lofthouse dies at 85

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:36 Help

The former Bolton and England centre-forward, Nat Lofthouse, has died. He was 85.

He scored more than 250 times for Bolton Wanderers, his home town club, including the goals which won the FA Cup final in 1958.

Nat Lofthouse put his success down to playing to his strengths, which he said were running, shooting and heading.

Richard Askam reports.

Parents with stressful jobs 'can do harm to children'

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:53 Help

Parents who work long hours in high pressure jobs could be harming their children's development, according to research from a leading think tank.

The organisation Demos claims inflexible, stressful and emotionally demanding jobs can affect the way parents raise their families.

Philippa Young reports.

Read more

- Free schools not wanted, NUT says

- Benefits move 'hits lone parents'

Dench: 'You get to boss James Bond'

16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:46 Help

In a rare interview with the Oscar winning actress, Dame Judi Dench talks to Andrew Marr about playing M in the James Bond films.

She told him it was "pretty cool".

Back to the Andrew Marr Show website

King's Speech actor, Colin Firth's parents on the star

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:04 Help

The King's Speech is nominated for a raft of Golden Globe Awards this weekend. Jonathan Maitland profiles one of its stars, Colin Firth who has just been given a much-coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The actor came to prominence playing Darcy in the BBC adaption of Pride & Prejudice.

His career has been one of the most successful and eclectic of recent years. It has mixed serious roles in Tom Ford's A Single Man and Michael Winterbottom's Genoa with Phyllida Lloyd's Mamma Mia and the reprisal of Mr Darcy in the Bridget Jones films.

Shirley and David Firth talk about their son's early promise.

This edition of BBC Radio 4's Profile was first broadcast on Saturday 15 January 2011. You can also subscribe to the podcast.

Read more

- King's Speech tops UK box office

Gulf War veteran: 'Better to be killed in action'

16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:19 Help

Twenty years ago this weekend, coalition forces began the air campaign to force Saddam Hussein's Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.

As Operation Desert Storm got underway, Kerry Fuller was a Senior Aircraftman with the RAF Support Helicopter Force stationed at Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia.

As part of his deployment he was given multiple vaccinations to protect him in the event that Saddam Hussein's forces used chemical or biological weapons

Kerry Fuller believes these caused him to develop what has come to be known as "Gulf War Syndrome."

An MoD spokeswoman told BBC News: "We have long accepted that some veterans of the Gulf Conflict are ill and that some of this ill health may be related to their Gulf service.

"The UK and the US have undertaken a substantial amount of research into Gulf veterans' illness. The research has indicated that there is no illness which is specific to Gulf veterans."

Kerry Fuller talks to Caroline Hawley about how he lives with his condition, and what he wants the government to do for people like him.

Alex Salmond on how his mother saved him from the press

16 January 2011 Last updated at 00:36 Help

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond speaks of the devastation he felt after his mother's death and fondly recalls how she came to his rescue when the press were pursuing a story that could have embarrassed him during an election campaign.

Alex Salmond was talking to Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs broadcast on Sunday 16 January at 1115 GMT on BBC Radio 4, repeated 0900 GMT on Friday 21 January or online via BBC iPlayer.

Read more

- Salmond talks of female influence

16 January 2011 Last updated at 06:13

Two decades on, battle goes on over 'Gulf War Syndrome'

By Caroline Hawley and Stuart Hughes BBC News

Veteran Kerry Fuller: "It would have been far better to be killed in action"

Every week, Kerry Fuller counts out his medication into a plastic pill box.

He fills the compartments with the 20-30 tablets he takes each day for heart problems and severe pain in his muscles and joints.

Formerly a keen hill walker, Kerry now struggles to walk more than a few dozen metres from his home at Dudley in the West Midlands without stopping for breath. Some days, particularly in cold weather, he is forced to stay indoors because of crippling pain.

Twenty years ago this weekend, coalition forces began the air campaign to force Saddam Hussein's Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.

As Operation Desert Storm got under way, Kerry Fuller was a senior aircraftman with the RAF Support Helicopter Force stationed at Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia.

As part of his pre-war preparations he was given around a dozen vaccinations to protect him in the event that Saddam Hussein's forces used chemical or biological weapons. Within a week Kerry was taken to hospital with chronic fatigue.

He returned to active service a few days later but the bouts of ill-health recurred. He was in hospital again with chronic fatigue within a year of returning from the Gulf.

At the age of 40 he suffered a stroke, which has left him with a mild stammer.

Kerry Fuller believes his deployment to the Gulf caused what has come to be known as "Gulf War Syndrome".

"We were used as guinea-pigs, knowingly or unknowingly," he says.

"Going to war didn't bother me but I didn't bank on being poisoned by my own side.

"Now, a lot of us feel it would have been much better if we had been killed in action and hadn't come back at all."

Unexplained illnesses

There is little doubt that some veterans developed unexplained illnesses following their service in the Gulf two decades ago.

Reported symptoms range from chronic fatigue, headaches and sleep disturbances to joint pains, irritable bowel, stomach and respiratory disorders and psychological problems.

Since his deployment to the Gulf ahead of the war, Kerry has suffered recurring ill health

Twenty years on, though, there is still disagreement over why rates of ill health are twice as high among Gulf War veterans than troops deployed elsewhere.

Campaigners and doctors also continue to disagree over whether Gulf War Syndrome actually exists as a medical condition unique to Operation Desert Storm.

Even estimates of the number of people made ill by their service in the Gulf vary widely. Official figures show that more than 1,500 people in the UK have claimed war pensions due to Gulf War illnesses but campaigners insist the true number of sufferers is many times higher.

In the years since Operation Desert Storm, theories over possible causes of ill health have ranged from vaccinations, depleted uranium used in armour-piercing weapons, organophosphate pesticides, exposure to nerve agents and the effects of inhaling toxic smoke from burning oil wells.

Psychological factors and battlefield stress have also been cited as possible factors.

Professor Simon Wessely is director of the King's Centre for Military Health Research in London and an adviser to the Ministry of Defence. He does not believe Gulf War Syndrome exists as a distinct illness.

Even so, he has no doubt that a significant number of Gulf veterans became ill as a direct result of their military service.

"The evidence is incontrovertible that there is a Gulf War health effect," he says.

"Something to do with the Gulf has affected health and no-one serious has ever disputed that.

"Is there a problem? Yes there is. Is it Gulf War Syndrome or isn't it? I think that's a statistical and technical question that's of minor interest."

The Ministry of Defence echoes Professor Wessely's view.

An MoD spokeswoman told BBC News: "We have long accepted that some veterans of the Gulf conflict are ill and that some of this ill health may be related to their Gulf service.

"The UK and the US have undertaken a substantial amount of research into Gulf veterans' illness. The research has indicated that there is no illness which is specific to Gulf veterans."

But some ex-servicemen regard this position as cowardly.

'Left behind'

"The MoD is afraid of being accountable," says Shaun Rusling from the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association.

"If they admitted there was such a thing as Gulf War Syndrome they could be open to compensation claims for medical negligence.

"I would like the present government to apologise to the servicemen and give them proper care and pensions."

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of veterans have suffered poor health since the 1991 war

Sue Freeth, director of welfare at the Royal British Legion, fears that with the passage of time, ex-servicemen who served in the Gulf in 1990 and 1991 are in danger of being forgotten.

"A lot of veterans, because they haven't been able to find treatment, have decided to stop looking because they think nobody cares any more," she says.

"Some of them are getting support from their GPs or their Primary Care Trusts but certainly some veterans we talk to are not getting any support unless they can pay for it privately.

"With the kind of injuries that are coming out of the current campaign in Afghanistan, the Gulf War veteran is very much being left behind and resources - tight as they are - are not now being directed at them."

As veterans remember the 20th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, it seems increasingly unlikely that sufferers like Kerry Fuller will ever receive a definitive explanation for their ill health.

"I don't think we're ever going to be able to take it any further now," says Professor Simon Wessely.

"Even if you gave me £10m [for research], I wouldn't know what to do with it.

"I think the only thing worth spending money on is trying to help those who are ill."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 10:07

Inside the Lancashire house factory

By Mark McGregor BBC News Online

Houses were built on an industrial scale in factories after World War II to meet demand for returning troops

In a cavernous factory once occupied by Blackburn steel magnate Jack Walker, one company is hoping to write a new chapter in Lancashire's industrial history.

Small groups of staff busy themselves in pockets of the 20,000 sq m space, which sits overlooking the Darwen hills. But aside from one cutting machine there is little sign of heavy industry.

Instead, teams of engineers work quietly and efficiently creating huge wooden panels for their products - 10 new houses destined for a plot 240 miles away in Surrey.

This is house building on an industrial scale, using manufacturing processes which the company behind it, Pretek Precision Homes, says can deliver up to 3,500 homes a year.

A row of show homes have been built in the far corner of the Pretek factory

Given that Pretek's main customers will be housing associations, chief executive Peter Marshall admits the economic climate has given his new company "an even bigger challenge".

But he told the BBC: "For us the opportunity has got to be that we say to our customers: 'Fine, if you've now got even less money, if you work with us on testing and developing the product and then we can then roll it out in significant numbers, we will hit your target price.'

"Because this is the platform that can do that."

Of course, Britain has been here before. Faced with a chronic shortage of housing - and money - after World War II, the government turned to factories to build homes for returning troops.

The cheap, pre-fabricated housing that followed was not a popular addition to architectural landscape and casts a long shadow over modern attempts to factory-build homes.

Can companies like Pretek escape the stigma?

"It's quite easy for all of us to say 'there was an experiment and it didn't work, which means nothing is going to work'," said Mr Marshall.

"That's not the case. Henry Ford's first car was quite basic but how many cars are on the planet now?

"Post-World War II housing - "homes for heroes" - were prepared on an extremely limited budget, and extremely limited raw materials... It was primitive, the range of components they had was limited and the supply to money restricted and those houses were basic.

"There really is no comparison now in terms of the range of components and materials we have access to, half a century later."

So with the country once again facing huge financial pressures and a shortage of housing, could an updated form of prefab housing offer a solution?

Housing associations are under pressure to help build 150,000 new affordable homes over the next four years, but after a budget cut of 63% it seems they will have to find ways of building them for less money.

There are 237,847 households on waiting lists for social housing in the north west of England alone, according to the National Housing Federation (NHF).

The government believes increasing rents on some existing social housing up to to 80% of the local market level will help housing associations meet the cost of building more.

However, the NHF believes the plan will actually lead to a net loss in social housing.

Communications manager Malcolm Struthers told the BBC that housing associations were having to look at "flexible, innovative ways to deliver the massive number of homes required".

"Housing associations for many years have been leading the way in finding new ways to deliver housing and certainly they would be very keen to look at anything that represents value for money, primarily," he said.

"But also housing associations are required by law to provide homes of a very high standard… the requirements and regulations mean that housing associations provide homes of a much higher standard environmentally than private developers.

"So I think if those [Pretek] homes met those needs that will be something they would be very interested in."

Using a model of £870,000 as the average cost of building 10 typical two-bedroom homes, Pretek estimates its methods could save housing associations about £134,000 - or about £13,500 per home.

The NHF said the average build costs paid by its members for social housing units was £110,000 in 2009-10.

One of Pretek's first customers is A2 Dominion, a London-based housing group which has ordered a row of 10 homes for a development in Surrey, due for delivery in the next few weeks.

After spending large parts of his career in countries in Asia and northern Europe where factory-built homes are the norm, Mr Marshall, unsurprisingly, hopes it could start a trend.

"If somebody is passionate about being a traditionalist, good luck to them," he added. "We are passionate about modern manufacturing, delivering a fantastic house.

"I'm convinced this is a fantastic platform to make houses. No question. Now, the mission is showing it to others who are sceptical."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 07:43

Obituary: Nat Lofthouse

In 1952 Nat Lofthouse scored twice against Austria before being knocked unconscious - he later returned to the pitch

Nat Lofthouse OBE, who has died aged 85, was one of the post-war giants of football.

He made more than 450 appearances for Bolton Wanderers, and earned 33 caps for England.

He was a one-club man to his boots. A local Bolton lad, he was signed as a 14-year-old schoolboy by then-manager Charles Foweraker.

He played football during wartime while working as a "Bevin Boy" coal miner, and became professional in 1946.

But on the day he put pen to the paper, on 4 September 1939, he watched in bemusement as the whole Bolton team boarded military transport to join the war which had been declared the previous day.

By today's standards, the players of this era received what seems like a pittance for their efforts.

Lofthouse was given £10 as his signing-on fee. However, he said "I know £10 doesn't seem much these days but it was four times more than my Dad was getting per week as a coal bagger for the Co-Op."

Lofthouse scored 255 goals for Bolton between 1946 and 1960, being prodigious with both feet and a brilliant header of the ball.

He captained Bolton twice at Wembley, the first time in the memorable so-called Matthews Cup Final of 1953, when Bolton were beaten 4-3 by Blackpool.

Then, five years later, he won a winner's medal after scoring the only two goals in the Cup Final against Manchester United.

Foul play

The second, controversially, resulted in United keeper Harry Gregg being knocked out as he ended up in the back of the net along with the ball, following Lofthouse's shoulder charge.

He later admitted it was a foul.

Lofthouse scored twice in an FA Cup final victory over Manchester United

His international record was equally impressive. He struck up a great understanding with wingers Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney, and scored 30 goals in 33 games.

None was better than the the winning goal in 1952 against Austria following a run from the halfway line. It earned him the nickname "The Lion of Vienna".

Lofthouse's talent as a goalscorer was amply illustrated the same year, when he netted six for the Football League in a 7-1 victory over the Irish League at Wolverhampton.

Lofthouse retired in 1960 after a serious knee injury but his association with Bolton Wanderers continued for more than half a century as player, trainer, coach, manager, chief scout, and president. He received an OBE in 1994.

"The game's changed out of all recognition to my day," he once said. "The strip's changed, the ball's changed and the money has changed.

"But I still believe footballers take great pride in the game. I don't know about me but people like Matthews and Finney would be seen as very good players, I've no doubt about that."

Few, even outside Bolton, would dispute the same opinion of Nat Lofthouse.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 08:04

Disputes cast clouds over idyllic park life

By Mukul Devichand Reporter, 5 live Investigates

Park homes are becoming an increasingly popular retirement location in the UK

An estimated 220,000 Britons now live in mobile "park homes," but there is growing concern that the way they are regulated can lead to cases of intimidation and harassment of residents, many of whom are elderly.

If you want to live in a picturesque rural location or by one of the UK's most desirable coastal towns, buying a "park home" often presents an affordable alternative to a traditional bricks and mortar house.

Often popular with retirees, there is a genial, rural feel to these tight-knit communities. There are neat gardens in front of each home and they are often set on hillsides with spectacular views.

They look like luxury bungalows set in a parkland site, but technically they are mobile homes. Usually far bigger than caravans, they are made of wood or metal, and underneath the foundations are wheels so they can be moved.

Hi-tech insulation and materials have made them a 21st century affordable housing solution that the coalition government has praised.

Families do sometimes live in these homes, but in an ageing country where pensions are increasingly frugal, moving to sites like this makes financial sense for older people in particular.

It is a simple formula: sell the main family home, and downsize to a park home for anywhere from £40,000 to £200,000 at the luxury end, enabling homeowners to live off the money they pocket from the sale.

There are now an estimated 1,800 park home sites across the UK, but the way they are regulated under the Mobile Homes Act has led to a nationwide call for reform from residents who say they are being left open to intimidation and harassment by a minority of unscrupulous site owners.

'Bill', a man in his 80s, describes how the owner of the site he lives on entered his home without permission after he decided to put his home on the market.

"He didn't knock on the door, he just walked in and sat down," he says.

"He was trying to turn me over."

Bill told the 5 live Investigates programme how the site owner told him his home was too old and small to sell.

Bill's identity has been changed because people involved with the case are worried about provoking the site owner.

"When he eventually went out of the door, he said: 'You've got to think: you've got to get past me.'"

Legal obligation

Bill needed to move because he suffers from a chest condition and his doctors had arranged for him to live in sheltered accommodation.

However, he needed to sell his park home to finance the switch.

Campaigners say that the current law governing mobile home leaves residents vulnerable to abuse

Although residents like Bill legally own their homes outright, they normally have a "mobile home agreement" with the owners of the park home site, and pay a monthly ground rent in return for maintenance and services, like water and electricity.

The law allows site owners to take up to 10% of the sale price of homes sold on their site.

They also have the right to vet prospective owners and block the sale of a home - as long as it is not done in an unreasonable way, such as by claiming the home is too old, as in Bill's case.

Bill says his site's owner was using his legal power and position to try to force the price down and buy it for himself.

The story is typical of complaints from park home owners from across the country.

The owner of the site Bill lives on telephoned him and said he would pay £5,000 for the home, even though local estate agents had valued it at around £50,000.

The estate agent who made the valuation told the BBC that the site owner had told them not to put the home up for sale. In an earlier incident, over another property, the site owner told the same agent he would break the agent's windows if he marketed the home.

The site owner admits paying a visit to Bill but has denied he made any threats to block the sale.

Allegations of abuse like this have been made by residents living on a number of park home sites across the UK, and such stories now date back many years.

Sheila Austin and her fellow residents of Ladycroft Park in Oxfordshire took the then site owner, Mr Maurice Sines, to court in 2005, accusing him of nuisance and harassment.

"He was in your face all the time, threatening that he will move your home and saying that it will be moved at any time," recalls Ms Austin.

"He threatened to turn the park into a doss hole, so we wouldn't want to live there any more," she says.

Compensation

They argued that letters he wrote to them about remodelling the park and moving their homes, as well as his behaviour on the site, amounted to an abuse of his legal powers.

Mr Sines paid the residents a total of £75,000 in compensation and signed a County Court Consent Order in October 2005. He has since sold the site.

Mr Sines told the BBC that he paid the compensation only for the nuisance caused by building works.

But the residents said Mr Sines had repeatedly offered to buy their homes from them and he eventually gave a formal undertaking promising "not to threaten, abuse or harass members of their families or visitors and prospective purchasers."

Sonia McColl, who is leading a national Park Home Owners Justice Campaign to get the law changed, says these cases have been going on for too long.

"You are dealing with people who are in their late 70s, or 80s, or older," she says.

"They don't think clearly and they are taken absolute advantage of."

The Coalition government has promised that park home owners will soon have access to a fuller residential tribunal service, but campaigners maintain that even more change is needed.

Ministers have pledged to consider further "targeted changes" early in 2011.

You can hear the full report on 5 live Investigates on Sunday, 16 January at 2100 GMT on BBC Radio 5 live.

You can also listen again on the BBC iPlayer or by downloading the 5 live Investigates podcast.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 05:44

UK newspapers: Tunisia unrest still the focus

Tunisia's unrest continues to occupy the UK newspapers.

Every revolution must have a name, it seems, and the Sunday Telegraph says this one is the Jasmine Revolution because it is the national flower.

But the question for many is, as the Observer puts it, will the Jasmine Revolution bloom?

Does it mark the flowering of Arab democracy, the Mail asks. Will it now be a fuse for other countries in the region, the Independent wonders.

For the Sunday Times, the crowned heads and presidents-for-life across the deserts and cities between Casablanca and the Gulf are shifting uneasily in their palaces.

They will look on in fear, the Observer says, as it is something many may face themselves in the near future.

The reason, according to the Mail, is that the grievances in Tunisia are similar to those elsewhere.

And they are rising prices, repression, grotesque corruption and unemployment.

Camp beds for lords

The Telegraph reports that camp beds are being set up in the Lords so that peers can remain in Parliament for a marathon run of three successive all-day and all-night sittings this week.

It says ministers are determined to push through the bill paving the way for a referendum on voting system.

Warnings about the impact of high fuel prices come from two papers.

"We're all being driven to ruin", the News of the World says, adding the rises threaten Britain's way of life.

Cuts all round

It savages the recovery of small businesses and siphons off the money needed for food, says the paper.

The Express says transport costs are now eating up some people's salary to the extent that some find it more profitable not to work and exist on benefits instead.

The paper reports that nearly half of the police forces have cut their fleets of squad cars because of soaring fuel costs.

The Sunday Times reports that cuts threaten municipal gardening, as councils plan to grass over flower beds, shut greenhouses and let lawns grow longer to reduce budgets.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 14:25

Australia: Thousands leave homes as floods hit Victoria

Thousands of people are involved in the clean-up operation in Brisbane

Thousands of people have fled their homes in Victoria as major flooding hits the southern Australian state.

The floods have already swamped some of the state's northern towns and are threatening 1,400 homes in 43 others.

At least 18 people have lost their lives in Australia's flood disaster so far. Dozens are still missing.

All the deaths were in the northern state of Queensland, where water levels have now largely receded and a major clean-up operation is now underway.

Victoria state officials said the flood is set to be one of the worst ever seen in the state.

Around 3,500 people have left their homes so far.

''The message to Victorians is that we are not out of the woods yet as far as this flood crisis is concerned," said Trevor White of the State Emergency Service.

"We still have four river systems in major flood, being the Wimmera, the Avoca, the Loddon and the Campaspe rivers.

"And of course we are seeing unprecedented stream rises not witnessed for decades, and in fact that's leading to widespread flooding over vast areas of Victoria that haven't been seen for decades," he said.

The towns of Echuca and Horsham are expected to be the worst hit.

'Heartwrenching'

Paula Ryan in Echuca told Reuters news agency the military had been laying sandbags in the town to try protect it from the Campaspe River.

Echuca's mayor, Nigel Pankhurst, said he believed the town's levee, designed to withstand once-in-a-century flood levels, would hold.

"Some properties will have water on them but we're not expecting any homes to be inundated or have water above floor level," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Some towns in northern Victoria have also ready been inundated, including Charlton, in the south-west, where locals said three-quarters of the town was underwater after the Avoca river burst its banks.

"The force of the water was just unbelievable. Every street that the river was running down was just like a torrent," said resident Gary Tonkin.

"It has uprooted fences and a lot of people's house fences are washed away. The power came back on half an hour ago. The water is just brown and stinks."

Charlton resident Peter Gretgrix said the scale of the damage was "heartwrenching".

"It's just total devastation, some of the shops in the lowish area are just a mess, windows smashed out, it's terrible," he told AFP news agency.

Residents of the southern town of Rochester were attempting to clear their homes of mud and debris as the Wimmera river continued to rise.

"I've never seen it this high ever, so this is the worst," said Noel Mitchell.

"But I think it probably did peak at probably a little bit lower than they thought, so we're pretty thankful for that."

The premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, said 18 people are now known to have died in the state, after the bodies of an elderly man and woman were discovered in Lockyer Valley.

A massive clean-up operation is taking place in the state capital Brisbane and surrounding areas.

At least 30,000 properties in the Queensland city have been swamped and many areas remain without power. Officials say the clean-up could take months.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 07:44

China toll dodger Shi Jianfeng 'took blame for brother'

Many in China complain that road tolls are too high for ordinary people

The younger brother of a Chinese man sentenced to life in prison for dodging road tolls has turned himself into police, state media reports.

Shi Junfeng said he - and not his elder brother - had put military number plates on the vehicles to evade tolls of 3.7m yuan (£350,000;$560,000).

The case caused an outcry in China, with many questioning the harsh sentence given to Shi Jianfeng.

The court in Henan province had already ordered a retrial.

Shi Jianfeng had been found guilty last week of evading the fees over a nine-month period while delivering sand and gravel in two trucks. The court ruled he had used military number plates, meaning the vehicles could avoid paying road tolls.

He was sentenced to life in prison, a fine of 2m yuan and the loss of his political rights. He also had his illegal earnings confiscated.

'Manipulated'

But last Friday, the court in Pingdingshan ordered a retrial of the case, ruling that other people may have been involved.

Court official Liu Penghua said the convicted man had claimed he was "manipulated by a relative," the Xinhua news agency reported.

On Saturday night, Shi Junfeng turned himself in to police in Yuzhou City, saying his brother, a farmer, had taken the blame for him.

It appears he had not thought his older brother would be sentenced so severely, telling police he had offered bribes to officials and had been assured he would be released quickly.

Senior police officer Wang Xucan told Xinhua that Shi Junfeng was now being questioned and would soon be transferred to Pingdingshan.

The case had generated a furious reaction online in China.

Many argued that far more lenient sentences are usually given for more serious crimes. There were also complaints that road tolls, required on most major highways, are too high for ordinary people to be able to afford.

First one-day international, Melbourne:
Australia 297-4 (49.1 ovs) beat England 294 (49.4 ovs) by six wickets
Match scorecard

Watson's innings was one of the very best in ODI cricket

By Oliver Brett

Shane Watson hit a majestic century for Australia as they won the opening one-day international against England with five balls to spare in Melbourne.

Kevin Pietersen struck 78 in a total of 294 as England were bowled out with two balls of their innings remaining.

It was their highest total against Australia on their turf, but Watson got the hosts home on 161 not out from 150 balls, as they won by six wickets.

It was the highest successful run chase ever witnessed at the iconic MCG.

And, exactly 40 years after the first one-day international was played on the same ground, Watson appropriately produced the winning hit, smashing the first ball of the final over for six over long-on.

Australia were some way short of their best in the field, their bowlers sending down 12 wides, while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin missed three stumpings.

But when it came to chasing down the runs, Haddin (39 in an opening stand of 110 with Watson) and Michael Clarke, who made a boundary-free 36 in another big stand worth 107, could afford to take a back seat as Watson coped with tiredness and cramp to smash 12 fours and four sixes under the floodlights.

It was a brilliant display of ball-striking by the big hitting Queenslander.

Pietersen's 78 from 75 balls was a welcome sight for England fans

Five of Watson's boundaries came in each of the first five overs as Australia got on top of the required run rate. It took a long time for England, whose attack lacked the rested James Anderson and injured Stuart Broad, to gain a foothold.

In the 20th over, Haddin attempted to launch Swann for six but could only give Ajmal Shahzad a simple catch at deep square-leg.

Watson, dropped by Jonathan Trott at mid-on off Chris Tremlett at 48, continued to play the aggressor when out-of-form captain Michael Clarke came to the crease.

Clarke was shockingly booed by his home supporters when playing out dot balls, but with the required run-rate approaching eight an over, Watson smashed Yardy for consecutive leg-side sixes en route to his highest ODI score to relieve the pressure.

Wickets eventually came England's way at the other end, Clarke and Steve Smith hitting catches into the off-side, before Mike Hussey became the third Australian to fall in the batting powerplay.

Just as England threatened to take the game to the wire, Trott dropped his second catch - Cameron White the man missed at deep square-leg.

Watson, whose innings was the fifth highest by an Australian in one-day internationals, brought up his 150 with his 12th four, reducing the equation to 17 runs needed from 20 balls.

And he continued to run England's fielders ragged, until Shahzad was lined up to bowl the final over with just four wanted for Australia to take a 1-0 lead in the series. By then, the result was inevitable, though Watson was able to finish it off in emphatic style.

If there was one crumb of comfort for England to take to the second match of seven in Hobart on Friday, it was the innings of Pietersen produced in registering his first half-century in international 50-over cricket since 2008.

Australia celebrate as Michael Yardy is dismissed in the 40th over

Having been dropped for the summer series against Pakistan to rediscover a bit of form at domestic level, he was unsurprisingly named in England's side after the tourists had won the toss.

What did come as something of a shock, however, was the exclusion of Paul Collingwood, despite the poor batting form of England's Twenty20 captain.

Collingwood's vast experience, plus his expertise in bowling and fielding was overlooked in favour of a straightforward six batsmen, five bowler policy - Trott and Ian Bell both appearing in the middle order either side of Pietersen at four.

Andrew Strauss hit 63 in a bright stand of 90 from 12 overs with fellow left-hander Steve Davies (42) for the first wicket.

Davies played some lovely shots, but had plenty of luck as Australia produced a sloppy fielding performance, in which Haddin was the worst offender.

The home team's wicketkeeper, who was unhappy to have been overlooked in favour of Tim Paine for the Twenty20 matches, had ample time to complete any one of the three stumpings he was presented with.

Haddin's most serious error came with England on 186-5 and Pietersen on 37. David Hussey, who had surprisingly removed both Davies and Trott (6), was the unfortunate bowler - all the more so as Pietersen decided to make Australia pay immediately.

In the same over he should have been stumped, Pietersen advanced down the track to launch consecutive straight sixes off Hussey, and England seemed to be set fair for a score in excess of 300.

That was despite Bell (23) having played a loose cover-drive to be caught off the leg-spin of Smith, and Eoin Morgan (8) also hitting a catch into the infield off Smith.

606: DEBATE

Well played Watson. Rode his luck against an England bowling attack that was indisciplined and missing Jimmy Anderson

jonnyb192

With 11 overs to go England were 232-5, but Australia finally woke from their slumber. Yardy pulled Doug Bollinger to deep square-leg, and Pietersen was run out by Mitchell Johnson's kick on to the stumps in the first over of the batting power-play.

That dismissal instantly put a score of 300-plus out of range, though Tim Bresnan (28 from 27 balls) did his bit, while Shahzad and Tremlett each hit a six.

Later, all three would be put to the sword by Watson, whose innings was later described by Strauss as "one of the great one-day innings."

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THE MASTERS
Venue: Wembley Arena Date: 9-16 January Coverage: Live action & highlights on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website; updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live and online; watch again on iPlayer; full details of BBC coverage

Australian Open, Melbourne
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Watch on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details

Murray has slipped to fifth in the world rankings this week

Andy Murray will play Karol Beck in the Australian Open first round and has avoided being drawn in the same quarter as Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer.

The 23-year-old Scot, seeded fifth, will begin his campaign on Tuesday in the same half of the draw as world number one Nadal.

Fellow British number one Elena Baltacha takes on a qualifier in her opening match in Melbourne.

Briton Anne Keothavong is still trying to qualify for the Grand Slam.

Murray will play Beck for the first time, with the 28-year-old Slovakian currently ranked 104 in the world.

MURRAY'S POSSIBLE ROUTE

R1: Karol Beck (Ranked 104)

R2: Illya Marchenko (78)

R3: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (33)

R4: Jurgen Melzer (11)

Q/F: Robin Soderling (4)

S/F: Rafael Nadal (1)

F: Roger Federer (2)

Looking ahead, the Briton would play either Illya Marchenko or Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the second round and he could meet world number four Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals.

Argentina's former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, making his way back after a serious wrist injury, takes on Israel's Dudi Sela in round one and could play Murray in the fourth round.

Nadal, who will hold all four Grand Slam titles if he wins the tournament, will first play Brazilian world number 96 Marcos Daniel no Tuesday, with Feliciano Lopez or John Isner possibly waiting in round three and last year's semi-finalist Marin Cilic in the last 16.

Defending champion Roger Federer, bidding for a record fifth Australian Open title, opens on Monday against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia and could meet 12th seed Gael Monfils in the fourth round.

The tie of the first round pits home favourite Lleyton Hewitt against Argentina's 27th seed David Nalbandian in a repeat of the 2002 Wimbledon final, which the Australian won.

JONATHAN OVEREND BLOG

All eyes in the men's singles will be on Rafael Nadal to see whether he can win a fourth consecutive major and complete the "Rafa Slam"

In the women's event, Denmark's world number one Caroline Wozniacki will begin on Monday against doubles number one Gisela Dulko from Argentina, while in the same half of the draw Justine Henin faces a qualifier, with Baltacha potentially waiting in round two.

Venus Williams faces Sara Eranni and Russia's Maria Sharapova, the champion in 2008, has been drawn to face Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

In the bottom half of the draw, US Open champion Kim Clijsters will play former world number one Dinara Safina, now ranked 65, in the first round and second seed Vera Zvonareva meets Sybille Bammer.

Defending champion Serena Williams will be absent as she continues to recover from a foot injury.

Highlights - Federer triumphs at Aussie Open

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Parts of Australia braced for more floods

16 January 2011 Last updated at 13:01 Help

Australia's flood crisis has spread south, inflicting more misery on dozens of towns in the state of Victoria.

Earlier this week parts of Brisbane were swamped after weeks of torrential rain.

Forecasters are warning there could be more rain to come.

Phil Mercer reports.

Read more

- Brisbane begins floods clean-up

- In pictures: Brisbane flood clean-up

By Claudia Hammond
BBC News, Laos

Communist Laos is one of the world's poorest countries, but the government is now beginning to experiment with capitalism in the hope it could bring prosperity.

Asian elephants have been used as beasts of burden for centuries

It was just after dawn when I took a motorised canoe across the brown river to meet 48-year-old Mae Bounnam.

As the sun began to rise, she made her way down the path from the jungle where she had been sleeping.

Mae is an Asian elephant, who has been rescued from a working life spent logging to become part of the new spirit of private enterprise in Laos.

The communist government is now encouraging private business and this elephant village outside the pretty town of Luang Prabang, famous for its Buddhist temples and orange-clad monks, is attracting plenty of tourists, keen to have the chance to see elephants close-up.

The old name for the kingdom of Laos supposedly translates as "the land of a million elephants". But although fewer elephants than that remain now, it turns out that with the addition of an accent the name translates as "valley of the elephants", so there probably never was a million.

When charging, elephants can reach speeds of 50kph (31mph)

Mae was blinded in one eye after it was slashed by a branch during her old job, and another injury has left her with a small hole in her right ear. But she is so vast that when her keeper, or mahout, and I ride her bareback she carries us as though we are as light as babies.

Then it is time for what he tells me is her favourite part of the day, and I ride from the muddy banks straight into the deepest part of the river where she appears to take pleasure in falling to her knees to dunk me.

While her barefoot mahout, Mr Lid, sits behind me casually playing with his Blackberry, I take a scrubbing brush and clean the leaves and dirt off the surprisingly delicate skin on her head and back.

In a country where employment opportunities are still few, working in tourism is one alternative to subsistence farming.

Safety songs

A day's drive west brings me to a region once again dominated by farming, but which feels as though it is poised for something new.

The old ordnance has its uses, but the threat of unexploded bombs remains

The area surrounding the town of Phonsavan is the most bombed in the world.

During the so-called secret war between 1964 and 1973, the US spent $2m (£1.3m) a day dropping bombs on this part of Laos in a failed attempt to prevent communism from taking hold.

The equivalent of a plane-full of bombs dropped every eight minutes for nine years.

On the so-called Plain of Jars, which contains hundreds of mysterious giant stone pots made over 2,500 years ago, I saw bomb craters the size of swimming pools.

Local people make use of the old ordnance. Rocket cases are used as window boxes and defused cluster bombs serve as ashtrays in cafes - one of which is even appropriately named Craters.

Yet thousands of items of unexploded ordnance remain and from time to time children still lose limbs from explosions after picking up the old cluster bombs, which look like shiny yellow tennis balls. The first safety songs they learn at school are not about crossing the road, but about the dangers of touching any metal they might find.

More than half the farmers in the region say they would like to expand their operations if it were not for the fear that cultivating more land might disturb an unexploded bomb.

An international charity, the Mines Advisory Group, is going through the painstaking work of trying to clear the area, and their spokesman tells me one fringe benefit is that the involvement of local women in this brave and vital job is improving the status of women in the town.

Looking at the job adverts in the local papers, it is clear that there are few opportunities apart from jobs with the developmental organisations working here.

Yet in this town new infrastructure is being built.

Walking around the flat, dusty town it is clear that there are high hopes for the future.

Not far from the old market where tiny birds are spatchcocked and barbecued, ready to eat whole, there are brand new buildings housing development corporations, each set back from the road with a grand driveway.

There is a dual carriageway with new street lighting which was put in just weeks ago. Yet as I walk along the pavement in the evening, barely a car or motorbike passes me on this perfect new road.

It almost feels like a larger town that is in limbo, waiting for a bigger future. But investment into the region is coming - from China, South Korea and Thailand - and people seemed optimistic. A few days ago the Laos stock exchange opened for the first time, starting with just two companies.

There is a sense that Laos is moving on from the old battles and hoping to follow its neighbour China into times of new prosperity.

The Hmong leader Vang Pao - who died recently - will be mourned by many, but his death also breaks one of the last links with the Indo-China wars.

In recent years he called for a new era of "peace, prosperity and reconciliation to return to Laos". People here Laos are hoping that private enterprise will provide the solution.

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:25

Australia floods: Brisbane calls on 'Blitz spirit'

By Phil Mercer BBC News, Brisbane

People are pulling together in adversity

An army of mud warriors has been mobilised in flood-hit parts of Brisbane as Australia's third city begins clearing up after one of the country's worst natural disasters.

The volunteers have answered a call to arms from civic leaders and have turned up in their thousands with an arsenal of spades, brooms and hoses.

"It hasn't really affected us where we live so when we came here it was beyond my imagination," said 12-year-old Tom Yarnold, his clothes smeared with dirt after a morning spent attacking the grime at a bridal studio.

His sister Hannah, 11, was there too, showing solidarity with those whose businesses and homes were defenceless against the surging brown floodwater that invaded Brisbane's low-lying areas.

"I've been helping get mud out of people's places," Hannah explained. "I knew it was bad, but I didn't think it would be this bad because it was really muddy and smelly."

Brisbane has desperately needed such goodwill, as have other waterlogged parts of Queensland.

The task ahead is gigantic. Every inundated room has to be cleared, scrubbed and redecorated, while furniture must be replaced and electrical systems repaired.

Multiply this by several thousand properties across more than 80 flood-damaged communities in Queensland, and the assignment appears overwhelming.

The cost of fixing damaged roads, wharfs and other infrastructure can only be guessed at.

Government aid, charity donations and help from the military will provide the backbone of the recovery effort, but zest from the community will be needed in the hard months ahead.

"Some of the scenes we've been seeing today were like people saw in the Blitz back in the war days in Britain - piles of furniture and everybody out on the ground helping. It is a phenomenal coming together," said Sam Yarnold, who migrated to Brisbane from Hampshire with her children five years ago.

Memories of '74

On Haig Road in the city's Auchenflower district, one of many suburbs left stained by the floods, an earth-mover dumps household debris into lorries while volunteers brush, scrape and shovel what's left into plastic bags as the fire brigade's high-pressure hoses dislodge the sludge that has carpeted entire streets.

Tennis courts nearby are immersed in thick goo as yet more rubbish, this time a sodden leather sofa, is carted from a ruined house. To keep energy and enthusiasm levels up, free food is handed out and there's live music too from the Dave Dowell Four, a local ensemble that chirps away next to a tent set up by a church group barbecuing sausages.

A short distance away, cleaning is well under way at Joe Mangano's property, which already reeks of decay, its timber bones infiltrated by contaminated silt, as they were back in 1974 during the last big flood here.

"We talk about computers and how much memory they've got but the human brain is amazing. As soon as that stench arrived it took me back to when I was seven. It will stink for months," said Mr Mangano.

He has no plans to sell-up and retreat from this saturated riverside suburb, preferring instead to take his chances against the threat of Australia's notoriously wild weather.

"You've got to move on and look forward," he told the BBC.

Australia seems to be hard-wired to cope with floods, bushfires and droughts. Alan Grieve, a Baptist Church pastor, believes that Brisbane will be strong enough to handle this disaster but will have to remain vigilant.

"This is a flood plain and it is bound to happen again sometime. Some folks will give up and move on to higher ground and others will say 'Let's start again,'" he said. "As Aussies we won't be beaten - we'll get up and go again."

16 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53

Tunisia: Ben Ali's security chief is arrested

PM Ghannouchi has been discussing a possible unity cabinet with opposition leaders

Deposed Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali 's head of security has been arrested.

State media said Ali Seriati, who led Mr Ben Ali's presidential security force, is accused of threatening state security by fomenting violence.

Meanwhile, there are reports of exchanges of fire between gunmen and security forces in the capital Tunis.

Political leaders have started efforts to fill the power vacuum created by the fall of President Ben Ali.

Interim leader Foued Mebazaa, who until Saturday was the speaker of parliament, has asked Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi to form a national unity government.

Under the present Tunisian constitution, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Mr Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years, fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday after a month of mounting protests across the country over unemployment, food price rises and corruption.

Dozens of people were killed as police opened fired on demonstrators.

The announcement of Mr Seriati's arrest on Sunday came after the previous day saw widespread violence across Tunisia, including looting, arson and deadly jail riots.

Some residents have formed impromptu militias to protect their homes

The BBC's Wyre Davies, in Tunis, reports that the sound of sporadic gunfire has been heard in and around the city centre throughout Sunday.

Several reports describe a gun battle outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party.

Our correspondent says there appears to be a residual base of people loyal to former regime and opposed to moves towards democratisation who are holding out against the new order.

Photographer dies

Other attacks appear to have targeted businesses and buildings connected with the former president and his family.

A hospital source in Tunis told AFP news agency that Imed Trabelsi, the nephew of Mr Ben Ali's powerful wife, had been stabbed to death on Saturday.

Residents in some areas have armed themselves with sticks and clubs, forming impromptu militias to protect their homes.

Despite this, the interim government has shortened the overnight curfew by four hours.

Curfew hours - which ran from 1700 (1600 GMT) to 0700 (0600 GMT) for two nights - will now be between 1800 and 0500.

A state of emergency remains in force and there is very little economic activity. Schools, government offices and most shops are closed.

A French photographer covering events in Tunisia has died from head injuries sustained on Friday when he was hit by a tear-gas canister fired at close range, his employer says.

Lucas Mebrouk Dolega, 32, was in Tunis for the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), covering a large protest that immediately preceded the fall from power of President Ben Ali.

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16 January 2011 Last updated at 09:32

Sudan referendum: early results show vote for split

International observers say the ballot has been free and fair

Early results from Southern Sudan's referendum indicate the region has voted overwhelmingly to split from the north and form a new country.

Full results of the poll are not due until next month, but the region is widely expected to choose to secede.

Southern Sudanese people living in Europe have already voted 97% in favour of a new state.

The historic referendum was part of a peace agreement signed with north Sudan in 2005, ending decades of war.

Polling stations opened on 9 January and were officially closed on Saturday evening.

A minimum 60% turnout was required for the vote to be considered valid, a target which had easily been passed by the middle of the week.

The chairman of the Southern Sudanese Referendum Commission, Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil, has said more than 80% of eligible voters in the south had cast their ballots, along with 53% in the north and 91% of voters living in the eight other countries hosting polling stations.

He said the referendum would be considered "a good result by any international standard".

The Associated Press reported a 95% turnout at 10 sites in Juba, which would be the capital of a future Southern Sudan. A sample suggested that 96% had voted in favour of secession.

Southern Sudanese people living in Australia have been given extra time to cast their votes where severe flooding has hampered the process.

'Peaceful determination'

International observers in Southern Sudan have been almost universally optimistic, saying the balloting process has been free and fair.

The BBC's Peter Martell in Juba says that has come as massive relief to the south, for whom this vote means so much.

The process was marred, however, by a deadly attack on a convoy of south Sudanese civilians earlier this week.

The group were returning home to vote when they were ambushed near the north-south border in the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei.

The UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has praised "all the people of Sudan for the display of wisdom, patience, and peaceful determination that has characterised the voting over the last week".

But he warned that Southern Sudanese must continue to "exercise patience and restraint" while the count is carried out.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has promised to accept the results of the poll either way, even if it meant the partition of Africa's largest nation.

"The referendum took place in an atmosphere of calm with a great degree of freedom and fairness," Rabie Abdul Ati, a senior official in Mr Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP), told the AFP news agency.

"It is very clear that the party will accept the result whether it be for unity or secession."

The referendum was agreed as part of the 2005 deal to end the two-decade civil war between Southern and north Sudan.

Correspondents say there has been little doubt that the largely Christian Southern Sudan would opt for secession from the mainly Muslim north.

Sudan: A country divided

- Geography

- Ethnic groups

- Infant mortality

- Water & sanitation

- Education

- Food insecurity

- Oil fields

Show regions

The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space, as this Nasa satellite image shows. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest.

Sudan's arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.

The health inequalities in Sudan are illustrated by infant mortality rates. In Southern Sudan, one in 10 children die before their first birthday. Whereas in the more developed northern states, such as Gezira and White Nile, half of those children would be expected to survive.

The gulf in water resources between north and south is stark. In Khartoum, River Nile, and Gezira states, two-thirds of people have access to piped drinking water and pit latrines. In the south, boreholes and unprotected wells are the main drinking sources. More than 80% of southerners have no toilet facilities whatsoever.

Throughout Sudan, access to primary school education is strongly linked to household earnings. In the poorest parts of the south, less than 1% of children finish primary school. Whereas in the wealthier north, up to 50% of children complete primary level education.

Conflict and poverty are the main causes of food insecurity in Sudan. The residents of war-affected Darfur and Southern Sudan are still greatly dependent on food aid. Far more than in northern states, which tend to be wealthier, more urbanised and less reliant on agriculture.

Sudan exports billions of dollars of oil per year. Southern states produce more than 80% of it, but receive only 50% of the revenue, exacerbating tensions with the north. The oil-rich border region of Abyei is to hold a separate vote on whether to join the north or the south.

16 January 2011 Last updated at 11:40

Man sentenced to death in Egypt over Copt killings

Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was found guilty of pre-mediated murder

Egypt has sentenced a man to death for killing six Coptic Christians and a Muslim policeman in January 2010.

Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was found guilty of shooting the group outside a midnight Mass for Coptic Christmas in Naga Hamady, southern Egypt.

The attack was thought to be revenge for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man.

The court ruling comes two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 23 people at a Coptic church in Alexandria.

Hussein, also known as Hamam Kamouni, was found guilty of "pre-meditated murder" of the seven dead and with "intimidating citizens", AFP news agency reports.

Two other men are also on trial for the shooting. The court said the verdict against them would be announced next month. All three pleaded not guilty.

Anba Kirolos, the Coptic bishop of Naga Hammady, said his congregation were "satisfied" with the ruling, AFP reports.

But defence lawyer Alaa Abu Zeid said the trial had been influenced by the Alexandria attack.

Little progress

Coptic Christians make up 10% of Egypt's 80 million population.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says the case has caused continued bitterness in the community, partly because of the delay in bringing the men to justice but also because of Hussein's alleged links to a senior MP in the ruling party.

Egypt's Copts have often complained of harassment and discrimination, and argue that attacks on them go unpunished or result in light sentences.

Coptic churches in Egypt have been on high alert since the 6 January bombing.

Twenty-three people were killed and 70 injured as worshippers were leaving midnight Mass at al-Qiddissin church to bring in the New Year.

The attack was condemned in Egypt and abroad - President Hosni Mubarak said it bore the hallmark of "foreign hands" seeking to destabilise Egypt.

No group has said it carried out the attack and there has been little progress in the investigation, says our correspondent.

The government denies descriminating against Copts but the head of the Church, Pope Shenouda III, has urged officials to do more to address their concerns.

15 January 2011 Last updated at 16:53

South Africa to declare flood disaster

The government of South Africa is set to declare parts of the country disaster areas, after 40 people died in floods in a month.

The Minister for Co-operative Government, Sicelo Shiceka, told the BBC the move would happen this weekend.

Rains have hit the country from Kwa-Zulu Natal in the east to the Northern Cape in the west over the last month.

Thousands of homes have been flooded and people living along the Orange River have been evacuated.

Some bridges over the river have been closed, and the South African airforce have been helping in the evacuation.

Police divers are searching for the bodies of people who drowned.

President Jacob Zuma has formed a ministerial task force to tackle the issue, led by Mr Shiceka.

Mr Schiceka told the BBC his team would also look at long-term issues.

"Among other things we are looking at, is that people must not build in flood plains."

"People who have been displaced must not go back," said the minister.

14 January 2011 Last updated at 17:47

Nuhu Ribadu chosen as Action Congress Nigeria candidate

His critics say Nuhu Ribadu is not quite the new broom he likes to present himself as

Nigeria's former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu has been chosen as the opposition Action Congress candidate for April's presidential polls.

Two other contenders stepped aside to allow Mr Ribadu to win unchallenged.

His entry into the presidential race come after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan won the ruling People's Democratic Party primary.

The PDP candidate has won every poll since the end of military rule in 1999, despite allegations of fraud.

The other main challenger for the presidency is former military ruler Gen Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change.

"I humbly accept the task," Reuters news agency quotes Mr Ribadu saying at the Action Congress convention on Friday afternoon in the commercial capital, Lagos.

He came to prominence as head of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

While in office Mr Ribadu prosecuted several high-profile politicians, before being sidelined after the elections in 2007.

His critics accused him of only pursuing rivals to then President Olusegun Obasanjo - accusations he always denied

He returned from exile in June 2010, after saying he had fled because attempts had been made on his life.

Tradition broken

Earlier, Mr Jonathan - a southerner from the oil-rich Niger Delta - defeated northern political heavyweight former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the PDP primary.

It is the first election Mr Jonathan has won, as he became national leader after the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua in May last year.

Mr Abubakar's camp has complained of irregularities in the vote - and his agents have refused to sign the final results "on account of lapses observed during the Thursday primaries".

The statement from his office reiterated that the former vice-president was "committed to the democratic process".

Correspondents say the outcome of the PDP primary was historic as the party has a tradition of alternating power between north and south after two terms of office.

This was interrupted when Mr Jonathan succeeded Mr Yar'Adua when he died before his first term had ended.

Before the vote, Mr Atiku appealed to the party to retain that tradition.

But the president won 2,736 votes compared to Mr Abubakar's 805.

There has been speculation that if defeated, Mr Abubakar may leave the PDP, as he did before the 2007 vote, which he lost to Mr Yar'Adua.

Sulley Muntari has made only 12 appearances for Inter this season

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari is looking to end his spell at Italian giants Inter Milan.

The Italian club's technical director Marco Branca revealed on Italian television that the 26-year-old had put in a transfer request.

Muntari was a near automatic first choice under Jose Mourinho in his first season at Inter.

However, Muntari lost his place in the team last season and has featured even less this term.

The former Portsmouth player has made just 12 appearances in all competitions, mostly as a substitute.

"He has made himself available to leave as long as a team wants him and is interested in him," Branca said on Italian television.

"He's a lad who is close to us, he's a good person even though sometimes he expresses opinions typical of someone who wants to play."

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Sunderland   1 - 1   Newcastle

Nolan scores his 10th league goal of the season

By Saj Chowdhury

Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan scored deep into injury-time to deny local rivals Newcastle victory in a scrappy encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Kevin Nolan gave the Magpies the lead in the second half when he back-heeled Shola Ameobi's goal-bound header.

Sunderland then created little, with Ahmed Elmohamady's deflected 20-yard strike a rare effort on goal.

But with time almost up, Gyan equalised when Steve Harper's save from a Phil Bardsley shot hit him and rebounded in.

Both Ameobi and Sunderland forward Darren Bent had gone close in the early exchanges but chances were at a premium thereafter.

That was partly because of a swirling wind that made precision passing difficult and also a derby atmosphere where the emphasis seemed to be on passion rather than football.

Bruce wants to finish above Newcastle

Understandably the teams were hyped for their 132nd league meeting, but Steve Bruce's Black Cats were also looking to settle a score having been humiliated 5-1 at St James' Park at the end of October.

Ameobi, who scored twice in Newcastle's win, came close to adding to the pain in the third minute when he placed his shot less that a foot wide of Sunderland's left-hand post after he was fed in by a glorious 40-yard ball from Barton.

Moments later the home side should have scored themselves, but Bent fired his close-range angled effort straight at Harper's legs.

Volleys were exchanged again when first Sunderland's Kieran Richardson cleared Fabricio Coloccini's shot off the line before Steed Malbranque, who had earlier played in Bent, tested the Newcastle number one with a fierce shot that had to be pushed away.

There were more mistimed tackles in the half than chances and Newcastle's Alan Smith limped off in the opening half as a result of Richardson's illegal attempt to win the ball.

The second half was an improvement on what had preceded it and should have begun with a Sunderland goal, had their leading goalscorer Bent not spurned another chance when he clipped Bardsley's ball over Harper and past the keeper's right-hand upright.

Newcastle switched off for equaliser - Pardew

That chance came four minutes after the restart - three minutes later, Newcastle took the lead.

Regular supplier Barton played in another teasing corner, which was headed on towards goal by the impressive Ameobi and flicked in by expert poacher Nolan.

The Magpies deserved the lead and their resolute defence had quelled the threat of Sunderland's attack for much of the match.

Apart from Bent's effort, the Black Cats' only other attempt on goal before the equaliser came from Elmohamady, whose 20-yard strike took a deflection off Richardson and flew a foot wide.

But Sunderland fans fearing the worst finally had something to cheer when in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time Gyan stood at the right place at the right time.

Live text and stats

Sunday, 16 January 2011

Barclays Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle FT

(HT 0-0)

- Gyan 90+4

- Nolan 52

Sunderland

- 01 Gordon

- 02 Bardsley

- 03 Richardson yellow card

- 15 Onuoha (Zenden 75)

- 19 Bramble

- 29 Ferdinand

- 08 Malbranque

- 10 Henderson

- 27 Elmohamady (Colback 88)

- 11 Bent

- 33 Gyan

Substitutes

- 22 Mignolet,

- 12 Angeleri,

- 14 Da Silva,

- 07 Zenden,

- 16 Riveros,

- 20 Reid,

- 25 Colback

Newcastle

- 01 Harper

- 02 Coloccini

- 03 Jose Enrique

- 06 Williamson

- 12 Simpson

- 04 Nolan

- 07 Barton yellow card

- 17 Smith (Guthrie 37)

- 18 Gutierrez (Gosling 90)

- 20 Best (Lovenkrands 88)

- 23 Ameobi

Substitutes

- 26 Krul,

- 14 Perch,

- 08 Guthrie,

- 10 Routledge,

- 15 Gosling,

- 11 Lovenkrands,

- 30 Ranger

Ref: H WebbAtt: 47,864

SUNDERLAND

NEWCASTLE

Possession

- Sunderland 42%

- Newcastle 58%

Attempts on target

- Sunderland 7

- Newcastle 2

Attempts off target

- Sunderland 3

- Newcastle 7

Corners

- Sunderland 5

- Newcastle 6

Fouls

- Sunderland 17

- Newcastle 5

- Final Result

- Full Time

- 90:00+5:44 The referee ends the match.

- 90:00+3:32 Phillip Bardsley provided the assist for the goal.

- 90:00+3:32 GOAL - Asamoah Gyan:Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle Asamoah Gyan finds the net with a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle.

- 90:00+2:02 Effort from inside the area by Asamoah Gyan misses to the right of the goal.

- 89:52 Substitution (Newcastle) makes a substitution, with Dan Gosling coming on for Jonas Gutierrez.

- 89:18 Jack Colback challenges Peter Lovenkrands unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fabricio Coloccini takes the direct free kick.

- 87:50 The assistant referee signals for offside against Leon Best. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 87:50 Substitution Peter Lovenkrands on for Leon Best.

- 87:50 Substitution (Sunderland) makes a substitution, with Jack Colback coming on for Ahmed Elmohamady.

- 87:00 Sanchez Jose Enrique delivers the ball, save by Craig Gordon.

- 85:54 Leon Best crosses the ball, clearance made by Anton Ferdinand. Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton.

- 84:10 Darren Bent is caught offside. Steve Harper takes the indirect free kick.

- 82:11 Phillip Bardsley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joey Barton. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 80:51 Effort from deep inside the area by Sanchez Jose Enrique clears the bar.

- 76:55 The ball is delivered by Leon Best, Anton Ferdinand makes a clearance.

- 76:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Phillip Bardsley by Joey Barton. Phillip Bardsley takes the free kick.

- 74:46 Phillip Bardsley fouled by Shola Ameobi, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Gordon takes the indirect free kick.

- 74:46 Substitution Boudewijn Zenden joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nedum Onuoha.

- 73:14 Joey Barton crosses the ball.

- 72:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Asamoah Gyan. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 70:55 Leon Best has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

- 69:25 Asamoah Gyan takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Simpson. Free kick awarded for a foul by Steed Malbranque on Joey Barton. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 68:54 Effort from deep inside the area by Jonas Gutierrez misses to the right of the target.

- 66:22 Ahmed Elmohamady sends in a cross.

- 65:08 Shot from outside the box by Ahmed Elmohamady misses to the left of the target.

- 64:20 Ahmed Elmohamady gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton, save made by Craig Gordon.

- 63:25 Jordan Henderson sends in a cross, clearance made by Sanchez Jose Enrique. Corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the right by-line to the near post, Joey Barton manages to make a clearance.

- 61:33 A cross is delivered by Joey Barton.

- 60:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steed Malbranque on Danny Guthrie. Joey Barton restarts play with the free kick.

- 59:16 Unfair challenge on Fabricio Coloccini by Asamoah Gyan results in a free kick. Steve Harper takes the indirect free kick.

- 58:48 Asamoah Gyan concedes a free kick for a foul on Sanchez Jose Enrique. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.

- 57:30 A cross is delivered by Asamoah Gyan.

- 54:25 A cross is delivered by Sanchez Jose Enrique.

- 51:25 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joey Barton, the assist for the goal came from Shola Ameobi.

- 51:25 GOAL - Kevin Nolan:Sunderland 0 - 1 Newcastle Kevin Nolan gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle.

- 50:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joey Barton by Anton Ferdinand. Danny Guthrie takes the direct free kick.

- 48:48 Darren Bent has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

- 47:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton, save by Craig Gordon.

- 47:10 The ball is delivered by Jonas Gutierrez, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

- 46:29 The assistant referee signals for offside against Shola Ameobi. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

- 45:01 The second half begins.

- Half Time

- 45:00+3:05 It is the end of the first-half.

- 45:00+1:52 Danny Simpson crosses the ball, Titus Bramble manages to make a clearance.

- 45:00+0:50 Jordan Henderson has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

- 43:22 Shola Ameobi fouled by Steed Malbranque, the ref awards a free kick. Joey Barton produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

- 42:45 Steed Malbranque gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Nolan. Steve Harper takes the direct free kick.

- 41:46 Unfair challenge on Mike Williamson by Darren Bent results in a free kick. Sanchez Jose Enrique restarts play with the free kick.

- 40:44 Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton, Shola Ameobi produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

- 36:59 Mike Williamson fouled by Darren Bent, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Harper.

- 35:20 Joey Barton is adjudged to have handled the ball. Anton Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.

- 35:20 Substitution Alan Smith leaves the field to be replaced by Danny Guthrie.

- 35:20 Booking Joey Barton goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

- 35:08 Booking Kieran Richardson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

- 32:45 Foul by Kieran Richardson on Alan Smith, free kick awarded. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 32:33 A cross is delivered by Ahmed Elmohamady, Fabricio Coloccini makes a clearance.

- 31:52 The ball is delivered by Jonas Gutierrez.

- 31:08 Anton Ferdinand gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leon Best. Mike Williamson takes the direct free kick.

- 29:24 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Gordon.

- 28:54 Shola Ameobi produces a cross, Craig Gordon makes a save.

- 28:16 The ball is delivered by Nedum Onuoha.

- 27:23 The ball is crossed by Ahmed Elmohamady, save by Steve Harper.

- 26:25 The ball is crossed by Shola Ameobi, Titus Bramble makes a clearance.

- 25:45 Ahmed Elmohamady delivers the ball.

- 25:23 The ball is crossed by Ahmed Elmohamady, Fabricio Coloccini makes a clearance.

- 22:11 The offside flag is raised against Leon Best. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 21:21 Jordan Henderson challenges Jonas Gutierrez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sanchez Jose Enrique takes the direct free kick.

- 19:41 The ball is swung over by Jordan Henderson.

- 18:07 Foul by Shola Ameobi on Ahmed Elmohamady, free kick awarded. Jordan Henderson restarts play with the free kick. Darren Bent takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan. Short corner worked by Jordan Henderson.

- 17:04 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Save made by Steve Harper. Corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the left by-line, Ahmed Elmohamady takes a shot. Blocked by Kevin Nolan.

- 16:40 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordan Henderson from the left by-line.

- 14:55 Jordan Henderson takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

- 13:32 Alan Smith challenges Titus Bramble unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

- 12:26 Effort from outside the penalty box by Jonas Gutierrez goes wide left of the goal.

- 11:28 Corner taken by Joey Barton from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jordan Henderson.

- 10:14 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joey Barton, Fabricio Coloccini takes a shot. Blocked by Kieran Richardson.

- 9:25 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Steve Harper.

- 6:37 Titus Bramble challenges Shola Ameobi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fabricio Coloccini takes the direct free kick.

- 5:46 Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Steve Harper.

- 4:43 Nedum Onuoha gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shola Ameobi. Free kick crossed by Joey Barton, Phillip Bardsley manages to make a clearance.

- 3:43 Leon Best gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Titus Bramble. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

- 2:55 Effort on goal by Shola Ameobi from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

- 0:58 The assistant referee signals for offside against Darren Bent. Steve Harper restarts play with the free kick.

- 0:00 The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

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Second one-day international, Johannesburg:
India 190 (47.2 overs) bt South Africa 189 (43 overs) by 1 run
Match scorecard

India celebrate an unlikely win in Johannesburg

India beat South Africa by one run to tie the series as the hosts collapsed in the second one-day international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Graeme Smith's 77 left the hosts needing 39 runs with five wickets left but Wayne Parnell was caught by Yuvraj Singh, one run short of India's 190.

South Africa had seven overs from which to find the two runs they needed.

"Our game in the back end wasn't good enough," said captain Smith. "We have to regroup."

Smith, who became his nation's most capped one-day skipper, added: "The pitch was slow and stopped a bit so shot-making was difficult. But credit to India, [Lonwabo] Tsotsobe bowled incredibly well."

The bowling of Tsotsobe stole the show with a career-best four for 22 in a devastating spell of limited-overs bowling earlier in the day, but Munaf Patel rivalled Tsotsobe with four wickets at the expense of just 29 runs.

Smith, who went past 6,000 runs in ODIs, eventually departed for 77 - leaving the hosts needing just 39 runs with five wickets remaining.

But South Africa struggled as David Miller top-edged a pull shot straight to fine leg for 27 off 28 balls before Johan Botha was controversially adjudged lbw to Zaheer Khan, even though the ball never touched his pad.

606: DEBATE

Did South Africa 'choke'?

Dale Steyn was then run out, leaving the hosts requiring 14 runs with two wickets remaining.

But Patel removed Morne Morkel and then Parnell, who could only stare in disbelief after slashing the ball straight to Yuvraj at backward point.

The series continues in Cape Town on Tuesday.

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Home of the ancient city of Carthage, Tunisia has long been an important player in the Mediterranean, placed as it is in the centre of North Africa, close to vital shipping routes.

In their time, the Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and French realised its strategic significance, making it a hub for control over the region.

Overview

- Overview

- Facts

- Leaders

- Media

French colonial rule ended in 1956, and Tunisia was led for three decades by Habib Bourguiba, who advanced secular ideas. These included emancipation for women - women's rights in Tunisia are among the most advanced in the Arab world - the abolition of polygamy and compulsory free education.

AT-A-GLANCE

Politics: Tunisia has been relatively stable and prosperous under the leadership of President Ben Ali since 1987. He stepped aside in January 2011 following widespread unrest

Economy: The diverse economy has grown steadily and the slum population has halved, but the world recession has pushed unemployment up in recent years

International: Tunisia has strong ties with the European Union; its peacekeepers have served in several conflict areas

Timeline

Mr Bourguiba insisted on an anti-Islamic fundamentalist line, while increasing his own powers to become a virtual dictator.

In 1987 he was dismissed on grounds of senility and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali became president. He continued with a hard line against Islamic extremists, but inherited an economically-stable country.

Although Tunisia has introduced some press freedoms and has freed a number of political prisoners, human rights groups say the authorities tolerate no dissent, harassing government critics and rights activists.

Mr Ben Ali faced reproach at home and abroad for his party's three "99.9%" election wins. The opposition condemned changes to the constitution which allowed him to run for re-election in 2004, and in 2009.

Tunisia is more prosperous than its neighbours and has strong trade links with Europe. Agriculture employs a large part of the workforce, and dates and olives are cultivated in the drier regions. Millions of European tourists flock to Tunisian resorts every year.

Political violence was rare until recently, but militant Islamists have become an issue of concern for the authorities. A suicide bomb attack on an historic synagogue in the resort of Djerba in 2002 killed 21 people and led to a dramatic drop in tourist numbers.

A dozen suspected Islamists were killed in shoot-outs with security forces in and around Tunis at the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. Lawyers say hundreds of people were arrested on suspicion of links with terrorist groups since 2003, when the authorities gained new powers of arrest.

Violent repression of protests over unemployment and lack of political freedom in the winter of 2010-2011 left tens of people dead. But popular street protests continued and President Ben Ali went into exile in January 2011, his prime minister taking charge.

Facts

- Overview

- Facts

- Leaders

- Media

- Full name: Tunisian Republic

- Population: 10.4 million (UN, 2010)

- Capital: Tunis

- Area: 164,150 sq km (63,378 sq miles)

- Major languages: Arabic (official); French

- Major religion: Islam

- Life expectancy: 73 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)

- Monetary unit: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

- Main exports: Agricultural products, textiles, oil

- GNI per capita: US $3,720 (World Bank, 2009)

- Internet domain: .tn

- International dialling code: +216

Leaders

- Overview

- Facts

- Leaders

- Media

Interim President: Fouad Mebazaa

Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power since 1987, went into exile in January 2011 following weeks of street protests.

Ben Ali has been president since 1987

His prime minister, Mohammed Ghannouchi, briefly stepped into his shoes, before the speaker of parliament Fouad Mebazaa took the oath of office, pledging to form a unity government.

Mr Ben Ali, from the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), had been due to retire in 2004 but changes to the constitution allowed him to run for two more terms.

Born in 1936 in Hammam Sousse, Mr Ben Ali was Tunisia's ambassador in Warsaw in 1980 and became prime minister in October 1987.

He was sworn in as the new president in 1987, after doctors declared President Habib Bourguiba unfit to govern because of senility. The takeover is sometimes described as a palace coup.

Rights groups and some political opponents said Tunisia's government was authoritarian with a veneer of pluralism. They said it stifled free speech and beat and jailed opponents, something the government denied.

Media

- Overview

- Facts

- Leaders

- Media

Although freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Tunisian constitution, the government tightly controls the press and broadcasting.

The state-run Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) operates two national TV channels and several radio networks.

Egyptian and pan-Arab satellite TV stations command large audiences. Two London-based opposition TV channels can be received via satellite; Al Mustaqillah TV and Zeitouna TV.

Press codes shape coverage and stipulate large fines and prison sentences for violators. Journals are screened by the authorities before publication and the government encourages a high degree of self-censorship. Media rights organisations say the intimidation of journalists is widespread.

Discussion of corruption and human rights in the media is taboo. Editions of foreign newspapers, including French and pan-Arab publications, are regularly seized. There are several privately-run newspapers and magazines, including two opposition party journals.

Internet monitoring is omnipresent. Websites which criticise the government are often blocked. There were around 3.5 million internet users by December 2009 - more than 30% of the population (Internetworldstats.com).

The press

- La Presse - owned by ruling RCD party

- Al-Horria - owned by ruling RCD party

- Nouvelles de Tunisie - daily

- Assabah - daily

- Le Quotidien - daily

Television

- Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment (ERTT) - state-run, operates Tunis 7, Canal 21

- Hannibal TV - country's first private TV, via satellite and terrestrially

Radio

- Tunisian Radio - state-run

- Radio Mosaique FM - first private radio

- Jawhara FM - private

- Zitouna FM - Islamic

News agency

- Agence Tunis Afrique Presse - state-run, English-language pages

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Sudan starts counting votes after referendum

16 January 2011 Last updated at 01:40 Help

Election officials in Sudan have begun to count the votes cast in a referendum which will decide whether the country is split in two.

Voters from the south are widely expected to support the plan, which would see the creation of a new country.

Jack Izzard reports.

Tunisia sees bloodiest day since protests began

15 January 2011 Last updated at 23:22 Help

The capital of Tunisia remains under curfew a day after its president fled, with troops trying to keep control following widespread looting, arson and violence.

It has also been the bloodiest day yet since the protests began, with dozens of inmates killed in an overnight prison fire.

The BBC's World Affairs correspondent Adam Mynott reports.

Read more

- Fear and rejoicing in Tunis

- Turmoil in Tunisia: As it happened on Saturday

By Will Ross
BBC News, Southern Sudan

For many African peoples, cattle are traditionally used as a store of wealth

Over the past week, citizens of Southern Sudan have been voting in a referendum that is widely expected to result in Africa's largest country being split in two, after years of conflict between north and south.

Picking up fresh cow dung with your bare hands does not sound like a very appealing way to make a living, does it?

But for the cattle-keepers of Southern Sudan, it is a daily dawn ritual.

Elijah Garang emerged from his shelter - made from sticks and plastic sheeting - adjusted his woolly hat with "Manchester" emblazoned across it and, surrounded by his herd of white long-horned cows, started doing the housework.

I've voted for independence so that my children will have a better life than we have had

Stella, south Sudanese voter

The cattle had made quite a mess of the open-air living room but, with the whole family including the young children joining in, soon the dung had all been collected and heaped onto small fires dotted around the camp.

This was the home-grown method of warding off mosquitoes. You could call it the George Bush approach - "smoke 'em out".

I was there to gauge the appetite for independence, and Elijah became very animated when I asked how he felt about the prospect of Southern Sudan breaking away to form a new country.

Elijah Garang is looking forward to a future free from conflict

"It will be great for us because then we can be at peace. We have been suffering for so many years," he told me.

This is a common refrain here.

Decades of war between the south and the Islamic north have left people with a long list of sad memories and a great deal of bitterness.

"I used to have thousands of cattle," Elijah said, as he smothered cold ash across the hide of one of his cows (the local all-in-one sun block and insect repellent).

"But I lost so many animals in the war. I even lost my wife and other relatives."

The fact that the cattle were mentioned first before the people gives you some idea of just how loved these animals are.

Watching as they were patted and preened, the scene reminded me of that weekend ritual which is so common in Britain when men emerge from their homes to wash, polish and wax their cars proudly.

Ducking for cover

Over the last week, cattle herders across the south have been walking, often for several hours, to reach the polling stations.

The independence referendum is an event that many told me they could hardly believe they were witnessing.

A 60% turnout was required for the result to be valid

"I couldn't sleep all night I was so excited," Stella told me, as she cast her ballot in a small village in the state of Western Equatoria.

"I've voted for independence so that my children will have a better life than we have had," heavily pregnant Stella said, adding that she had spent years in exile in refugee camps after fleeing across the Ugandan border when she was 10 years old.

"Even the domestic animals have experienced today's joy," she added.

When I mentioned this remark to an old man under a towering mango tree, he said: "You have to remember that, when the northern forces sent over Antonov planes to bomb these villages, we all rushed to underground shelters.

"Even the dogs, chickens and ducks would hurry there as soon as they heard the distant hum of the plane."

Now I cannot get the image out of my mind of the ducks heading for the bunker at a speedy waddle.

I checked the voting queue and you will be glad to know there were no feathered friends there.

But from the way people were talking, the ducks would also be voting for secession if they could.

In the same village, I met John Patrick, who had just returned south after spending two decades in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

I came to vote for my freedom

John Patrick Apono

When the war had become too intense, he had moved north to try to finish his education.

"I had to walk for hours to reach the school each day. It was impossible so in the end I had to give up," John Patrick said.

In Khartoum, he said, he had been treated as a third-class citizen and had faced discrimination every day.

He learnt to repair old radios to scrape a living and today he sits on the veranda in front of a bar, right next to the reddy-brown dirt road that runs through the village.

"I came to vote for my freedom," he told me, before performing some major surgery on an ancient, battered radio that burst into life with a song by the Congolese musician Franco.

I asked what the reunion with his parents had been like.

"I hadn't seen them for 20 years. It's difficult to put in words but tears flowed that day," he told me.

Potential breadbasket

Largely because of the lengthy war, the south of Sudan is one of the very poorest places on earth.

John Patrick knows that starting a new country there is going to be tough but, for him, being back home is the most important thing and he seems ready to face the challenges.

"We used to have an orange farm here. It was burnt during the war but we'll start another," he said.

This part of the south of Sudan is extremely fertile and has the potential to become the breadbasket of the region.

But to say that farming could do with a bit of modernisation would be an understatement.

"We recently taught the farmers here a new practice," one aid worker told me. "It was the use of the ox-drawn plough." This place clearly has some catching up to do.

After a monumental struggle, the independence flag looks set to be hoisted here in July.

I hope I will be back to witness what will be a huge party for the people of Southern Sudan and, of course, for the cows, the chickens and the ducks.

How to listen to: From Our Own Correspondent

Radio 4: Saturdays, 1130. Second weekly edition on Thursdays, 1100 (some weeks only)

World Service: See programme schedules

Download the podcast

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15 January 2011 Last updated at 01:04

Italian wine a life-saver in fight against HIV/Aids

By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Tuscany

The natural treasures of Italy are being harnessed to help pay for anti-retroviral drugs for people with HIV/Aids in Africa

"Your very good health" is a popular toast often exchanged between people pinging two glasses of wine together.

Usually it is a gesture that is meant to be more friendly than literal.

But now in Italy, its meaning may, indeed, be taken at face value.

That is not because of the contents of the glass, but because of the bottle.

Italy's quality wine producers are selling some of their finest vintages with special labels on the bottle to help in the fight against HIV/Aids in Africa.

On the grapevine

The tiny red labels have been put on around two million bottles so far, each bearing the words 'Wine For Life'.

For every bottle sold, 50 cents (42p) goes to buy anti-retroviral drugs for people in Africa.

"This is about life, it is not about business", says Luca Sanjust, the owner of the Petrolo winery in Tuscany and one of the producers signed up to the scheme.

Luca led me through the idyllic rolling hills of his vineyards to his production line.

There, workers were putting the red labels on bottles of his delicious Galatrona.

"Wine to us is sacred. Life is sacred, " Luca says.

"It's about taking the love that we receive from nature, in the form of wine, and giving it back to the earth, in the form of helping our needy brothers and sisters in Africa."

This almost spiritual reasoning for supporting the project is shared by many of the 120 wine producers who are now a part of the 'Wine For Life' programme.

Luca happens to be a good friend of Jamie Oliver, the British chef who regularly visits Luca's villa to try out new recipes and buy his olive oil there.

120 wine producers are now part of the scheme in Italy

His is a medium-sized winery, with the vineyards producing about 70,000 bottles of wine a year.

So, with each bottle making 50 cents, Luca is able to contribute around 35,000 euros (£29,500) a year to the scheme.

African dream

The 'Wine for Life' idea did not come from the wine makers, but from the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome.

Founded by students in 1968, Sant'Egidio has grown into a unique mix of Christian charity, social communicator and diplomatic facilitator.

In its long history, it has done everything from providing Christmas lunches for the homeless, to acting as mediator in the Mozambique civil war, leading to the Rome Peace Accord of 1992.

Mario Marrazitti, its ebullient leader, was part of that peace process and is also behind 'Wine For Life'.

"We were doing work in ten African countries in what we call our 'Dream' project and we needed to sustain it, financially", he tells me amid the tropical plants of Sant'Egidio's glorious garden in Rome.

"We thought that wine producers were a natural partner in this private/ public arrangement, as they represent a connection with nature, whilst also having the ability to raise money.

I ask Mario if the project has worked.

"It's been incredible," he says.

"We believe that about 20,000 children and 2,000 adults have been saved by getting access to the drugs paid for by the wine scheme".

Natural treasures

The charity behind the wine project believes 20,000 children have been saved as a result

Mario now wants to expand it, by getting supermarket chains like Tesco and Carrefour to set up special corners in their stores, where customers can buy a wider range of products with the red labels on.

"Everyone wins," says Mario.

"The supermarkets will attract a select, socially-conscious, clientele, the producers costs are all covered and the people of Africa get access to the drugs they need, but which governments and other non-governmental organisations can't always provide," he says.

In Tuscany and other areas of Italy, soil, weather and care blend to produce some of the world's finest wines.

Now, those natural treasures are being harnessed for people in a continent hundreds of miles away.

For Luca Sanjust, the link between his land and their life has become sacrosanct, a mission that goes beyond commercialism.

He knows that customers all over Italy are now helping uncork a different kind of revenue stream to fight HIV/Aids and where one of the pleasures of life is now helping to save it.

Table of Contents

News Front Page

Tunisia ex-security boss arrested

Egyptian to die for Copt murders

Far right anoints Marine Le Pen

Bomb kills Afghan wedding guests

South Sudan votes indicate split

Three dead in Budapest stampede

Smoking damages body 'in minutes'

Cowen to make statement on future

Victoria towns brace for flooding

China toll dodger took 'blame for brother'

Golden Globes kick off Oscar race

Venezuela fury at 'Little Hugo' dog slur in TV soap

Live - Sunday football

Watson ton too good for England

Liverpool 2-2 Everton

Ex-undercover Pc 'living in fear'

Chief medic urges swine flu calm

Labour: Wedding day strikes wrong

Tories 'gentle' over by-election

DNA call over prostitute clients

Short 'could be Birmingham mayor'

Salmond talks of female influence

Rain causes increasing flood risk

Mourners pay respects to Michaela

Orange Halls attacked in Tyrone

River plea after canoeist's death

Flood warnings as more rain falls

Giffords is taken off ventilator

Priebus to head Republican Party

Brazilian army in flood mission

Mexico police commander abducted

SA set to declare flood disaster

Migrants' boat sinks off Greece

Fiat workers accept key changes

US soldiers killed in Mosul drill

Diplomats tour Iran nuclear sites

India sweat on injured Tendulkar

UN calls for Sri Lanka flood aid

Miliband fears on BP Arctic deal

More farms shut in dioxin scare

Chile fuel strike traps tourists

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

Zsa Zsa Gabor has leg amputated

Fall of Rome 'recorded in trees'

2011 'year of rockets' for Europe

France pledges drug system reform

Tunisia unrest: Views from the country

Uncertainty continues in Tunisia

New Beatles museum opens in Argentina

Australia braced for more floods

Serbia faces up to domestic violence

Brazilian military joins rescue efforts

Sudan starts counting votes after referendum

UN's emergency appeal for Sri Lanka

Miliband 'appalled' at wedding strike plans

Southern discomfort

Laos Ltd

In pictures

One voice in south Sudan

Info addicts

'Blitz spirit'

Science/Nature

Fall of Rome 'recorded in trees'

2011 'year of rockets' for Europe

Rain hampers Brazil flood rescue

Professor: 'Zodiac signs are wrong'

Technology

Facebook teaching

Entertainment

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

Golden Globes kick off Oscar race

Zsa Zsa Gabor has leg amputated

Meat Loaf set for US Apprentice

New Beatles museum opens in Argentina

Colin Firth's parents on his rise

Dench: 'You get to boss James Bond'

Actress Susannah York dies

Keanu Reeves on guns in movies

Meet the author: Kishwar Desa

Magazine

Business

Miliband fears on BP Arctic deal

Fiat workers accept key changes

More farms shut in dioxin scare

Chile fuel strike traps tourists

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

Arrest of Landsbanki executives

Sick holidaymakers to get damages

Olympic tickets on sale 15 March

World Cup venues behind schedule

Herbal remedies face licence rule

Work pressures 'harming families'

Poor exchange rates inflate cost

Labour: Wedding day strikes wrong

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

Racing rivals

Situations vacant

Health

France pledges drug system reform

Smoking damages body 'in minutes'

Americas

Giffords is taken off ventilator

Golden Globes kick off Oscar race

Priebus to head Republican Party

US soldiers killed in Mosul drill

Obama eases US Cuba travel rules

Zsa Zsa Gabor has leg amputated

Film 'sparked censorship debate'

US jury acquits in boy Uzi death

Funeral for judge shot in Tucson

Leaders honour diplomat Holbrooke

Meat Loaf set for US Apprentice

Remembering 'selfless' Dick Winters

Southern discomfort

No love lost?

Boom, boom!

Party peace

Europe

Far right anoints Marine Le Pen

Three dead in Budapest stampede

Search for migrants lost off Greece

Cowen to make statement on future

Fiat workers accept key changes

France pledges drug system reform

More farms shut in dioxin scare

BP and Russia in Arctic oil deal

Murray faces Beck at Aussie Open

Serbia faces up to domestic violence

BP and Russia sign Arctic oil deal

Italy's Berlusconi in prostitution probe

Your good health!

Secrets of the trees

South Asia

Bomb kills Afghan wedding guests

India sweat on injured Tendulkar

UN calls for Sri Lanka flood aid

Search for migrants lost off Greece

Pilgrims killed in India stampede

Blasphemy reformers' death threats

World Cup venues behind schedule

India defeat South Africa in ODI

Sri Lanka floods leave 'over 300,000' homeless

Washed away

Himalayan descent?

UK

Ex-undercover Pc 'living in fear'

Chief medic urges swine flu calm

Labour: Wedding day strikes wrong

Tories 'gentle' over by-election

Tunisia holidaymakers back in UK

Rider and horse die in accident

Arrest in music venue fraud probe

DNA call over prostitute clients

Work pressures 'harming families'

Galloway launches election drive

MPs 'whispering against Bercow'

Mayor 'opposing aviation policy'

Girl raped in attack by two men

Rain causes increasing flood risk

Escaped pigs on the loose in city

Actress Susannah York dies at 72

The King's Speech in with a shout at Golden Globes

Alex Salmond on women in his life, singing and golf

Cowen to make statement on future

Mourners pay respects to Michaela

River plea after canoeist's death

Flood warnings as more rain falls

Woman dies in 'wrong way crash'

Fish discards 'over-simplified'

Short 'could be Birmingham mayor'

Bolton great Lofthouse dies at 85

Live - Sunday football

Watson ton too good for England

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle

Boothroyd annoyed by 'greedy' MPs

Lord Owen 'could vote for Labour'

Peer criticises reduction in MPs

Girl gang victim talks of ordeal

Tunisia tourists: 'It was like the Blitz'

Bolton great Lofthouse dies at 85

Parents' jobs 'can do harm to children'

Dench: 'You get to boss James Bond'

Colin Firth's parents on his rise

'Better to be killed in action'

Salmond speaks of 'incredible' Mum

Still suffering

House factory

Giant of football

In pictures

Park life

Paper review

Asia-Pacific

Victoria towns brace for flooding

Toll dodger 'took blame for brother'

Watson ton too good for England

Fu reaches snooker's Masters final

Murray faces Beck at Aussie Open

Parts of Australia braced for more floods

Laos Ltd

'Blitz spirit'

Africa

Tunisia ex-security boss arrested

South Sudan votes indicate split

Egyptian to die for Copt murders

SA set to declare flood disaster

Ribadu chosen for Nigeria's poll

Muntari wants to leave Inter Milan

Gyan salvages Sunderland draw

India defeat South Africa in ODI

Tunisia

Sudan starts counting votes after referendum

Tunisia sees bloodiest day

One voice in south Sudan

Your good health!

In pictures