Dump 50p tax rate, say businesses

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 23:32 ET

The Treasury insists the 50p top rate of tax is a temporary measure

More than 500 business leaders have called for the 50p top rate of tax to be scrapped in next month's Budget.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, they said it was reducing government income and damaging the economy.

The entrepreneurs accused Chancellor George Osborne of putting "populist politics before sound economics".

Mr Osborne has said the 50p rate is a temporary measure and has asked officials to assess how much extra revenue it actually brings in.

There is speculation that wealthy tax payers find ways of avoiding it.

'Awkward position'

The letter, from the owners of 537 small and medium-sized businesses, said: "Given the current state of the UK economy, we urge the chancellor to urgently consider scrapping the top rate of tax in his forthcoming Budget.

"The tax, which is in effect a 58p tax after national insurance is taken into account, puts wealth creators like us in a very awkward position.

"We believe the richest should help the poorest in society. 1% of taxpayers are forecast to contribute nearly 28% of income taxes.

"But penalising high earners through an unfair, politically-motivated tax puts populist politics before sound economics."

The letter adds: "The result is that the 50p tax is set to reduce government income and damage the economy, the public services and charitable giving."

Tricky decision

One of the signatories, Tony Stein, director at Canterbury Care, said the rate was a disincentive to job creation.

He said: "Times are hard and reducing the resources available to entrepreneurs to reinvest in new business is the wrong outcome for the country."

Business leaders are funding a campaign against the tax rate of 50p in the pound.

Last September, the campaign organised a letter signed by a group of leading economists.

BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym says the decision of when to end the 50p rate will be tricky.

Some people argue that when there is a public sector pay freeze it is wrong to be helping the richest in society.

'No timetable'

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves, said now was not the time to do away with the 50p rate.

"When millions of families and pensioners on middle and low incomes are being squeezed by the VAT rise and cuts to tax credits, cutting taxes only for the richest 1% cannot be the right priority now," she said.

"But these business owners are right to call on the government to take action to stimulate growth and jobs in our economy.

"That's why Labour is calling on the chancellor to use the almost £1bn unspent from his failed national insurance holiday to give a tax break to all small firms taking on extra workers."

The rate, introduced by Labour, is levied on earnings above £150,000 a year.

A Treasury spokesman said: "We have said we regard 50p as temporary and have asked HMRC to report on its effectiveness. We have not set out a timetable for any change in policy."

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-17216337
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Stricken ship due in Seychelles

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1 March 2012 Last updated at 00:08 ET

Passengers on the Costa Allegra have spent three days without power

The stricken Italian cruise vessel Costa Allegra is due to reach land in the Seychelles.

The ship is being towed into the islands' main port, Victoria, by a French fishing boat.

More than 1,000 passengers are on board and the evacuation is expected to take several hours.

The ship, which lost power on Monday, is from the same fleet as the Costa Concordia, which capsized off the Italian coast in January, killing 32.

As the Costa Allegra has no power, bringing the ship alongside the dock so that passengers can be disembarked is expected to take at least two hours.

Passengers who are in the weakest medical condition will be brought off first.

Those on board have spent three days without power or hot food, with supplies flown in by helicopter.

Accommodation is being arranged, but with hotels already busy, most are expected to fly straight to Italy.

Planes are being lined up in the Seychelles to fly home passengers from the vessel as soon as possible.

The company which owns the Costa Allegra says it received its regularly scheduled maintenance in dry dock in October 2011.

Families of British passengers can call the company's emergency line on 020 7940 3300.

01 Mar, 2012

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Nato 'can overcome Koran setback'

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 22:13 ET

General John Allen and US ambassador Ryan Crocker on the burning of Korans in Afghanistan

Continue reading the main story

• Tipping point?
• Taliban strength
• Taliban profile
• 'Taliban' villages

Recent protests sparked by the burning of the Koran by US soldiers were a "setback", Nato's commander in Afghanistan has told the BBC.

However, Gen Allen said Nato's co-operation with Afghan security services would continue.

At least 30 people died in the protests, including four US soldiers.

Gen Allen said he would be willing to walk unarmed into the Afghan interior ministry, where two Nato military advisors were shot dead on Saturday.

Their killer is believed to have been an Afghan police intelligence officer.

Gen Allen's comments were echoed by the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, who told the BBC that there had been no "permanent rupture" in relations with Afghanistan.

Continue reading the main story

Timeline: Koran anger

• 20 Feb: Korans found by labourers on Bagram air base amid piles of rubbish reportedly sent to be burned
• 21 Feb: Nato and the US apologise and officials say it was not intentional, but anger escalates
• 22 Feb: Six killed in protests around the country
• 23 Feb: US President Barack Obama apologises; two US soldiers are among eight people killed in violent protests
• 24 Feb: Deadliest single day of protests as 12 people are killed
• 25 Feb: Two Nato officers shot dead by a policeman in the interior ministry; US withdraws staff from ministries
• 26 Feb: Other Nato nations withdraw staff from ministries
• 27 Feb: Nine killed in a car bomb attack at Jalalabad airport

'Reverence'

Gen Allen said he was "not surprised in the least" at the reaction to the Koran burning.

US personnel apparently inadvertently put the books, which reports say had been confiscated from terror suspects, into a rubbish incinerator at Bagram air base, near Kabul.

Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each copy with the utmost respect.

"We have to understand the significance of the great faith of Islam to these people and we have to account for that," he said.

"But it doesn't push the relationship back," he said.

Gen Allen emphasised that over the 10 years of Nato's presence in Afghanistan, "thousands and thousands" of troops had shown "reverence" for the Islamic faith.

Asked whether those responsible for the Koran burning would be punished, Gen Allen replied: "Let's finish the investigation first."

"Should I deem it appropriate I'll recommend the appropriate disciplinary action but I'm not going to prejudge the investigation," he added.

Meanwhile, Afghan authorities are still hunting a 25-year-old Afghan policeman believed to have shot dead two senior Nato officers at the interior ministry in Kabul on Saturday.

Afghan officials named the suspect as a police intelligence officer, Abdul Saboor, from Parwan province.

The US, Britain, France and Germany have now withdrawn civilian staff from Afghan institutions. It is unclear how long the withdrawal will last.

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17216173
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Google implements privacy policy

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 21:27 ET

The new privacy policy is rolling out around the world on 1 March

Internet company Google has gone ahead with its new privacy policy despite warnings from the EU that it might violate European law.

The change means private data collected by one Google service can be shared with its other platforms including YouTube, Gmail and Blogger.

Google said the new set up will enable it to tailor search results better.

But data regulators in France have cast doubt on the legality of move and have launched a Europe-wide investigation.

Google has merged 60 guidelines for its individual sites into a single policy for all of its services.

France's privacy watchdog CNIL wrote to Google earlier this week, urging for a "pause" in rolling out the revised policy.

"The CNIL and EU data authorities are deeply concerned about the combination of personal data across services," the regulator wrote.

"They have strong doubts about the lawfulness and fairness of such processing, and its compliance with European data protection legislation."

The regulator said it would send Google questions on the changes by mid-March.

'Strong as ever'

In response, Google's global privacy counsel Peter Fleischer said he was happy to answer any concerns CNIL had.

"As we've said several times over the past week, while our privacy policies will change on 1st March, our commitment to our privacy principles is as strong as ever," Mr Fleischer wrote in a blog post.

The company rejected the regulator's request to hold off on making the changes. Users are being moved onto the new single policy shortly after midnight on 1 March, local time.

Google's business model - the selling of ads targeted around individual user behaviour - relies on collecting browsing information from its visitors.

Until today, this information was kept apart between services.

This meant a search on, for example, YouTube, would have no significance on what results or advertising you would encounter on another Google site like Gmail.

The new agreement, which users cannot opt out of unless they stop using Google's services, will mean activity on all of the company's sites will be linked.

Many websites and blogs in the technology community have given guidance for users concerned about how their browsing history will be used.

They suggest users can access, and delete, their browsing and search history on the site by logging in to google.com/history.

A similar page for YouTube viewing and search history can also be accessed.

Users can see which of Google services hold data about them by viewing their dashboard.

'Advertiser interests'

In preparation for the policy change, Google displayed prominent messages notifying visitors about the plans. A dedicated section was set up to provide more details.

Google argued that combining the policies will make it simpler for users

However, campaign group Big Brother Watch has argued that not enough has been done to ensure people are fully aware of the alterations.

A poll of over 2,000 people conducted by the group in conjunction with YouGov suggested 47% of Google users in the UK were not aware policy changes were taking place.

Only 12% of British Google users, Big Brother Watch said, had read the new agreement.

The group's director Nick Pickles said: "If people don't understand what is happening to their personal information, how can they make an informed choice about using a service?

"Google is putting advertisers' interests before user privacy and should not be rushing ahead before the public understand what the changes will mean."

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/technology-17205754
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PC shot by gunman Moat found dead

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 20:53 ET

The police officer shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat has been found dead at his home in Northumberland.

Northumbria Police force said PC Rathband had been discovered at his house in Blyth.

Moat shot his former girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown in Birtley, in July 2010.

The next day he shot and blinded traffic officer PC Rathband, leaving him for dead on a roundabout.

01 Mar, 2012

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Council tax freeze plan 'flouted'

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 20:50 ET

The government has provided funding for local councils to freeze tax demands

More than 40% of households in England are facing a council tax rise from April despite the government funding a freeze on bills, a survey suggests.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy figures show of an average increase of £4.39 a year.

The rise is because police and fire authority precepts which form part of the total tax demand are going up.

There is a bigger average increase in Wales of £25 a year, but bills are expected to be the same in Scotland.

Principal authorities

Last year, every council in England agreed to freeze council tax in return for a share of hundreds of millions of pounds from central government.

However 15% of English councils, including 8% of "principal" local authorities (county councils, London boroughs and metropolitan and unitary authorities), are increasing council tax.

According to the survey 43% of households will see their annual bills go up, often by a few pounds.

That is because the requirement of local police and fire authorities - called the precept - is added to the bill.

The survey shows that 85% of councils in England are freezing council tax.

Of those authorities increasing tax, none are raising it by more than 4%.

Across England, the average Band D council tax bill will increased by £4.39 (0.3%), compared with last year's average which was a decrease of 35p.

'Kick in teeth'

The survey also showed that there are disparities between regions.

The largest average increase for a Band D bill is in the North East where it will rise by or £13.43 (0.3%) while London will see a decrease of £4.19 (0.3%).

Last month, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said raising council tax would be a "kick in the teeth" for hard-working households.

He blamed Labour-controlled local authorities for increasing bills despite the money on offer to councils that promised a freeze.

But several Conservative councils also said they would put up council tax to avoid an even bigger increase next year.

A Labour spokesman said: "Eric Pickles' plans actually mean that council tax will increase for low-paid workers next year.

"And this year Tory citadels like Surrey, Peterborough and Chelmsford are already putting up their council tax."

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-17215873
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US welcomes N Korea nuclear move

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 20:06 ET

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said North Korea's move was a "step in the right direction"

The US has welcomed North Korea's pledge to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests.

The White House spokesman Jay Carney said the move was a "positive first step" toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The move follows talks between US and North Korean diplomats in Beijing last week.

In return, the US has announced 240,000 tonnes of new food aid for the North.

North Korea confirmed the suspension in a foreign ministry statement released in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

It said they were "aimed at building confidence for the improvement of relations" between the two countries, and said talks would continue.

The US State Department said Pyongyang had also agreed to allow UN inspectors to monitor its reactor in Yongbyon to verify compliance with the measures.

"These are concrete measures that we consider a positive first step toward complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner," Mr Carney said.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Adam Brookes BBC News, Washington

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In Washington, the feeling among officials and analysts is that this is a useful but limited step forward.

Having inspectors on the ground in North Korea will, they believe, be very useful, but the optimism is coloured by a sense that promises like these have bloomed and withered many times in the past.

For Mr Obama, the agreement reduces the chances of a serious North Korean nuclear crisis during his re-election year.

And what do the North Koreans get? They will receive shipments of "nutritional assistance" for a hungry population weeks before a politically important celebration - the anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth.

One crucial area not addressed, we're told: uranium enrichment facilities which may exist outside Yongbyon. US analysts remain worried that North Korea possesses as yet undiscovered centrifuges.

In all, the agreement - if it sticks - may help the chances of a resumption of comprehensive denuclearisation talk.

"But obviously they need to be followed up by actions. So, we will pursue this policy area with that approach in mind," he added.

The move comes two months after Kim Jong-un came to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

Correspondents say it could pave the way for the resumption of six-party disarmament negotiations with Pyongyang, which last broke down in 2009.

'First step'

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US still had "profound concerns" over North Korea, but hailed the development as a "first step".

Yukiya Amano, director general of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the announcement was "an important step forward" and that inspectors stood ready to return to North Korea, Reuters reports.

Earlier, a senior US military official had said the issue of food aid for North Korea was now linked to political progress - contradicting earlier policy.

The North has suffered persistent food shortages since a famine in the 1990s, and relies on foreign aid to feed its people.

North Korea agreed in 2005 to give up its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and political concessions, as part of a six-nation dialogue process involving the two Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan.

But progress on the deal was stop-start, and the agreement broke down in 2009.

Contact between the US and North Korea aimed at restarting the talks began in July 2011.

Last week's meeting between US and North Korean officials in Beijing was the third round of talks aimed at exploring how to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-pacific-17215805
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Syria forces attack besieged Homs

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 08:10 ET

Homs has been subjected to heavy shelling for nearly a month

Continue reading the main story

• Referendum in media spotlight
• Syrians flee
• Tribute to Colvin
• Guide to opposition

The Syrian army is advancing on opposition positions in Homs, which has been under artillery bombardment for nearly a month, reports say.

Security officials in Damascus said the besieged district of Baba Amr would be "cleaned" within the next few hours.

Residents of Homs have long said they believe a ground assault is imminent, but the scale of the operation remains unclear.

It comes amid reports of a new draft UN resolution on the crisis.

The draft, which is still in its early stages, focuses on humanitarian aid for Syria, in the hope both China and Russia, which have opposed previous votes, will back it.

Although diplomats said the move was in the early stage, China said it supported "creating conditions" for humanitarian aid to be sent.

A UN meeting on Tuesday was told more than 7,500 had died in the 11 months of protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

'Fierce confrontations'

Fresh shelling was reported in Homs on Wednesday morning, a day after more than 100 people were killed, rights groups said. Power to many areas of the city is said to have been cut.

Continue reading the main story

Trapped Journalists

Edith Bouvier

Thirty-one-year-old reporter for French daily Le Figaro and Radio France Internationale. Sustained a broken femur in the attack which killed US war correspondent Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik.

William Daniels

The 34-year-old Paris-based photographer specialises in documenting humanitarian crises. He is represented by the London-based Panos agency and is working with Ms Bouvier on an assignment for Le Figaro.

Javier Espinosa

Spanish daily El Mundo's Middle East correspondent. He began working for the paper in 1994, covering the Rwandan genocide. Has also reported from Mexico and Morocco for the paper. In 1999, he was kidnapped and held for 48 hours by rebels in Sierra Leone.

An unnamed security official told AFP news agency that Baba Amr was now "under control".

"The army has started combing the area building by building and house by house. Now the troops are searching every basement and tunnel for arms and terrorists," he said.

The Associated Press also quoted an official as saying the district would be "cleaned" within hours.

One activist in the city, Mohammad al-Homsi, told Reuters that infantry was moving towards the al-Bassel football stadium just north Baba Amr, and that "fierce confrontations with automatic rifles and heavy machine-guns are taking place there".

The BBC's Jim Muir, reporting from Beirut, says communications with Homs appear to have been cut.

Some activists had told the BBC on Tuesday night that government forces were only about 1km from the press centre which was shelled on 22 February and that they expected to be attacked within hours.

But our correspondent says it remains to be seen whether the latest manoeuvres are the big push into Homs that has been expected.

Two foreign journalists were killed in that blast and three other journalists caught up in it - Edith Bouvier, William Daniels and Javier Espinosa - are still believed to be trapped there.

Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy was smuggled out to Lebanon on Tuesday in an operation that left 13 Syrian opposition activists dead.

Aid push

The new draft UN Security Council resolution, being drawn up by the US and France, seeks access for humanitarian aid workers and an end to violence.

The humanitarian situation in Homs is believed to be deteriorating

One diplomat told Reuters the draft had been circulated among "a small circle of like-minded countries".

Another diplomat told AFP: "This resolution will concentrate on humanitarian access to the cities, but it will indicate that the government is the cause of the crisis."

The aim is to make it hard for Russia and China, who are opposed to what they say is forced regime change, to use their veto.

On 4 February China and Russia blocked a UN resolution backing an Arab plan condemning the crackdown and calling on Mr Assad to step down.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi indicated his country was in favour of creating the conditions for aid to be sent.

Speaking to the head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, over the phone, Mr Yang said China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," Xinhua quoted him as saying.

China's has accused the West of pursuing "hegemonistic ambitions" in Syria under the guise of "humanitarian concern", and correspondents say it remains far from clear whether Beijing will or will not veto any new Security Council resolution.

The Syrian government says at least 1,345 members of the security forces have been killed combating what it calls "armed gangs and terrorists", and puts the number of civilians killed at 2,493.

01 Mar, 2012

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Monkees' Davy Jones dies aged 65

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 13:19 ET

Davy Jones, British-born lead singer with 60s band The Monkees, has died aged 65, his publicist has confirmed.

He died in his sleep at his home in Florida. His publicist, Deborah Robicheau, said he had a massive heart attack.

The band, who included musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, were famous for hits including Daydream Believer and I'm a Believer.

The Monkees were an American pop band, assembled in 1966.

01 Mar, 2012

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Argentina confrontational - No 10

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 11:25 ET

Two cruise ships were denied mooring in Argentina, apparently because they had visited the Falklands

Continue reading the main story

• Competing claims
• Tensions alive in Buenos Aires
• Life on the islands
• Falklanders confident about future

Downing Street has accused Argentina of pursuing a "policy of confrontation" over the Falkland Islands.

It comes amid reports that top Argentine companies are being told by their government to stop importing goods from the UK.

PM David Cameron's spokesman said the move was "counterproductive" and was a misreading of British resolve over the disputed islands.

Tension has been rising ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.

According to the state news agency Telam, industry minister Debora Giorgi called the bosses of at least 20 firms to urge them to replace imports from Britain with goods produced elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Associated Press news agency is reporting that Argentina's top diplomat in the UK - Osvaldo Marsico - was summoned to the Foreign Office on Wednesday to explain the import ban.

Officials are also said to be planning to discuss Argentina's decision to turn back two cruise ships from the Argentine port of Ushuaia on Monday, apparently because they had visited the Falklands.

Mr Cameron's spokesman told reporters at a regular briefing in Westminster: "It is clearly very sad that Argentina continues with their policy of confrontation instead of co-operation.

"We think that is counterproductive and also a complete misreading of Britain's resolve on this issue.

"The UK is also a major investor in Argentina and we import goods from Argentina. It is not in Argentina's economic interest to put up barriers of this sort.

"The right approach here is one of co-operation, not confrontation," he added.

Buenos Aries has complained to the United Nations of British "militarisation" of the south Atlantic after the deployment of a new Royal Navy warship to the Falklands and Prince William's tour of duty on the islands.

The UK, which has controlled the Falklands since 1833, says there can be no negotiations on sovereignty as long as the 3,000 Islanders wish to remain British.

On 2 April, both nations will mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, which began with an Argentine invasion of the islands and ended in victory for a British task force sent to recover them.

01 Mar, 2012

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US Midwest storm leaves 13 dead

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 11:59 ET

A mobile home park and a church were among the property damaged by the storm and apparent tornadoes

At least 10 people have been killed as a storm hit the US Midwest, bringing devastation to parts of Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.

At least three of the dead were killed in Harrisburg, Illinois, and another died near Buffalo, Missouri. More than 30 others were hurt.

Rescue workers are searching for any people trapped in wrecked homes, including a trailer park near Buffalo.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has declared a state of emergency.

In downtown Branson, Missouri, a country music hub, debris and scattered road signs littered the streets.

One witness, John Moore, who owns a diner that was damaged in the storm, said a twister rampaged down the main street, appearing to "jump side to side".

"The theatre next to me kind of exploded. It went everywhere. The hotels on the two sides of me lost their roofs. Power lines are down. Windows are blown out," he added.

"There's major, major destruction. There has to be millions dollars of damage all down the strip."

The tornadoes are said to have been generated by a cold storm moving down from the Rocky mountains that hit a warm front as it moved east, said Corey Mead, lead forecaster at the US Storm Prediction Center, Oklahoma.

Sixteen twisters were sighted in the US states of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky.

Tornado season begins in March, but correspondents say twisters are not unusual earlier in the year.

In May 2011 a deadly tornado ripped through the nearby town of Joplin, Missouri, killing 142 people.

01 Mar, 2012

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'7/7 widow' link to terror probe

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 11:16 ET By Dominic Casciani Home affairs correspondent

The unidentified woman bears a likeness to the widow of a 7/7 bomber

Kenyan police are seeking a terrorism suspect who has used identities including, it is believed, a widow of one of the 7/7 London suicide bombers.

The investigation is focused on a woman whose passport picture bears a strong likeness to Samantha Lewthwaite, widow of Germaine Lindsay.

The Metropolitan Police in London and the Foreign Office are not commenting.

But officials in both countries have not yet been able to rule out that the suspect and Ms Lewthwaite are the same.

Kenya's police commissioner, Matthew Iteere, told the BBC that police investigating alleged terror plots raided a home in Mombasa in late December, looking for a woman called Natalie Faye Webb. The name is thought to belong to another woman who was the victim of an identity theft.

The woman was not in the house, but officers recovered property and placed her on a watch list.

According to the Kenyan police, the white woman has three children and entered the country on a South African passport in January 2011 and may have already left.

However, there are questions about the woman's true identity because of her remarkably strong likeness to Ms Lewthwaite and the fact that she has three children.

Mr Iteere said the police were not aware if Natalie Faye Webb was Samantha Lewthwaite, but were co-operating with the Metropolitan Police.

Germaine Lindsay killed 26 people when his bomb exploded on a Tube train in July 2005

Samantha Lewthwaite was married to Lindsay, one of the four British men who detonated home-made bombs in London on 7 July 2005. He killed half of the 52 victims on the day, when his device exploded on a packed London Underground train. Both were converts to Islam in their teens but apparently had received no formally recognised education in the religion.

Lindsay was indoctrinated into hating non-Muslims by a preacher who was jailed two years before the attacks. Ms Lewthwaite, originally from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, has never been accused of involvement in the attacks.

The pair married in 2002, having first met over the internet and then in person at a rally against the impending Iraq War.

In an interview after the 7 July attacks, Ms Lewthwaite said she had no idea what her husband had been planning.

Her father told the Times newspaper on Wednesday he had not been in contact with Ms Lewthwaite and did not know where she was, but said he did not think she could be involved in events in Kenya.

Extremism concerns

Authorities in Kenya have been tracking alleged extremists from Western Europe suspected of having joined up with al-Shabaab, the mujahideen group based in neighbouring Somalia.

Scotland Yard detectives have been assisting the Kenyan authorities amid increasing concerns about the activities of alleged British suspects in the region.

One 28-year-old Briton, Jermaine Grant, has been charged in Kenya with possessing illegal explosive-making material and plotting to explode a bomb. Mr Grant, originally from Newham in east London, was arrested in Mombassa in December but denies the charges.

01 Mar, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-17209899
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NK agrees to 'nuclear moratorium'

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 09:32 ET

North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, says the US state department.

State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland also said Pyongyang had consented to a moratorium on nuclear, and long-range missile tests.

She added the North said it would allow UN nuclear inspectors to verify compliance with the measures at its reactor in Yongbyon.

In return, the US is expected to approve a proposed food aid package.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-pacific-17208755
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James Murdoch quits UK newspapers

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 09:39 ET

James Murdoch remains in his job at parent company News Corporation

James Murdoch has stepped down as executive chairman of News International, the UK newspaper business that owns the Sun and the Times titles.

The newspaper publisher has been tainted by phone-hacking allegations.

The scandal led the company to close its former News of the World title in July last year.

Mr Murdoch will remain as deputy chief operating officer of parent group News Corporation.

He said: "I deeply appreciate the dedication of my many talented colleagues at News International who work tirelessly to inform the public."

Mr Murdoch, 39, added that the launch of a new Sunday edition of the Sun and "new business practices" put the company in a "strong position" for the future.

James' father Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive at News Corporation, said: "We are all grateful for James' leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the group's strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programs."

Rupert Murdoch added that James would now "continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on pay-TV businesses and broader international operations".

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-17209375
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Family not told of riot shooting

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 08:17 ET

The police watchdog has upheld a complaint by the family of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in London in August.

Mr Duggan's family complained the Metropolitan Police did not formally inform them of his death.

Anger over the shooting sparked riots in Tottenham which spread across the capital and to other parts of England.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said a probe into the full circumstances of his death was ongoing.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-17208397
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Top al-Qaeda commander 'arrested'

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 06:31 ET

Senior al-Qaeda leader, Saif al-Adel, has been arrested at Cairo airport, Egyptian security officials say.

He had arrived in the Egyptian capital on a flight from Pakistan, which had stopped in Dubai, an airport official told the AFP news agency.

The Egyptian, whose real name is Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi, was once Osama Bin Laden's security chief and oversaw its military operations.

He is wanted by the US for the 1998 embassy bombings in East Africa.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17204128
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Raspberry Pi goes on general sale

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 01:17 ET

The Pi has two USB slots, 256MB of RAM, an HDMI slot, SD memory card slot and an Ethernet port.

A credit-card sized computer designed to help teach children to code goes on general sale for the first time today.

The Raspberry Pi is a bare-bones, low-cost computer created by volunteers mostly drawn from academia and the UK tech industry.

Sold uncased without keyboard or monitor, the Pi has drawn interest from educators and enthusiasts.

Supporters hope the machines could help reverse a lack of programming skills in the UK.

"It has been six years in the making; the number of things that had to go right for this to happen is enormous. I couldn't be more pleased," said Eben Upton of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

School tools

The device's launch comes as the Department for Education mulls changes to the teaching of computing in schools with the aim of placing greater emphasis on skills like programming.

In a speech outlining those changes Michael Gove mentioned the Pi, suggesting devices like it could play an important role in the kind of computer class the government envisages:

"Initiatives like the Raspberry Pi scheme will give children the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of programming." he said.

"This is a great example of the cutting edge of education technology happening right here in the UK. "

Initially the £22 model of the Pi, which includes wifi, will be offered for sale. A cheaper £16 version will go on sale later in the year.

Supporters hope the thousands-strong community of people that has grown up around the Pi will help develop additional software and suggest uses for the device.

The Pi going on general sale is likely to add to the buzz around the machine, however, there are already a number of similar stripped-down computers on the market.

These include devices such as the Beagleboard and the Omnima MiniEMBWiFi.

Bottle-necks banished

The Raspberry Pi Foundation say they have already produced thousands of the machines using a Chinese manufacturer.

They had originally hoped to produce the devices in the UK - "we want to help bootstrap the UK electronics industry" they wrote in a blog post - but that turned out not to be possible at the right price.

But while production remains overseas, deals with two distributors, Element 14 and RS Components, mean that production volumes will be able to grow much faster than previously thought.

Rather than the foundation having to fund production, distributors have agreed to handle orders and deal with manufacturers paying the foundation a royalty on sales.

Mr Upton says that will help the project grow much more quickly then previously thought:

"We didn't realise how successful this was going to be," he said.

"This means we can scale to volume. Now we can concentrate on teaching people to programme."

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/technology-17190918
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ECB provides 530bn euros of loans

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 05:53 ET

The ECB hopes the loans will ease the eurozone debt crisis

Continue reading the main story

• Greece debt cut: Who loses out?
• Europe struck by growth slowdown
• Germany: Reasons to be cheerful
• Q&A: Greek debt crisis

The European Central Bank (ECB) has provided a further 530bn euros ($713bn; £448m) of low-interest loans to 800 banks across the European Union.

It is the second time the ECB has offered such three-year loans and comes after 489bn euros was lent in December.

The loans are aimed to help continue to ease the eurozone debt crisis, and help banks improve their liquidity.

They have also helped such countries as Italy, as some banks have used the bonds to buy government bonds.

The markets appear to have welcomed the announcement, with banking shares rising strongly.

In Germany, Commerzbank was the biggest riser, up 3.6%, followed by Deutsche Bank, ahead by 1.7%.

Credit Agricole saw the biggest gains in France, adding 4.5%, followed by Societe Generale, which rose 2.3%.

Commentators said that the amount of money lent, and the number of banks which had taken part, was in line with expectations.

Banking analyst Luca Cazzulani of Unicredit said: "This will increase the level of excess liquidity pretty sharply, which is ultimately positive or very positive for risk trades.

"Italian and Spanish bonds are likely to benefit from this and equity markets as well."

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-17203134
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Syria 'humanitarian' vote pressed

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28 February 2012 Last updated at 22:13 ET

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has been speaking to his Arab nation counterparts on Syria

Continue reading the main story

• Referendum in media spotlight
• Syrians flee
• Tribute to Colvin
• Guide to opposition

China backs international efforts to send humanitarian aid to Syria, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has said.

He was speaking to the head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, over the phone.

Mr Yang said China was willing to work with the Arab nations for ''a peaceful and proper settlement of the Syria issue'', the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The comments came after France said the UN Security Council would work on a draft resolution on aid for Syria.

The United States has drafted an outline for a new resolution seeking access for humanitarian aid workers and an end to violence, United Nations envoys said on Tuesday.

The Chinese state media report on Wednesday did not mention the announcement made in Paris.

It said Mr Yang spoke to Mr Elaraby on Tuesday and had also had conversations with counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria early this week.

Mr Yang said that it was ''an urgent task'' for opposing sides in Syria to halt violence in order to begin ''an inclusive political dialogue''.

"The international community should create favourable conditions in this regard and provide humanitarian aid to Syria," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

On 4 February China and Russia blocked a UN resolution backing an Arab plan condemning the crackdown and calling on Mr Assad to step down.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week called that veto "despicable" - comments the Chinese foreign ministry said were not acceptable.

More than 7,500 people have died in Syria since security forces launched a crackdown on dissent last March, a senior UN official said on Tuesday.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-china-17200733
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UK call for European Court change

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29 February 2012 Last updated at 00:03 ET By James Landale Deputy Political Editor, BBC News

There is much caution towards the idea of curbing the powers of the Strasbourg judges

The government is calling for the European Convention on Human Rights to be substantially rewritten so national courts have a much greater say.

Ministers have long promised to use the six-month presidency of the Council of Europe for reform in Strasbourg.

They have now circulated a detailed position paper with plans for the human rights court, the BBC has learned.

The document is the basis for negotiations with other countries ahead of a summit in Brighton in April.

Fewer cases

The draft that I have seen says the European Court should not be able to examine cases that are "identical in substance to a claim that has been considered by a national court".

The exception would be when "a national court has manifestly made an error in its interpretation of the convention", or if the case "raises a serious question about the way the convention is interpreted or applied".

This would mean far fewer cases would ever reach Strasbourg.

The government also calls for people to have much less time to apply to the European Court - just two, three or four months, not six months as now, after a national court makes its final judgement.

Massive backlog

The position paper - known as the draft Brighton Declaration - says the European Convention should be rewritten so that it includes two key principles.

One of "subsidiarity", namely that decisions should be taken at the lowest levels possible, and the "margin of appreciation", namely that national governments should have greater leeway in applying the judgements of the court.

The government calls for a new procedure so the Strasbourg court can offer advisory opinions that would not be binding on national courts.

And it demands that more judges are appointed to deal with the court's massive backlog of cases.

The document also sets out the government's call for a new commission to rethink the whole future of the court and the convention.

The government is under substantial pressure to act to curb the powers of the Strasbourg court.

Many MPs - and many voters - oppose its recent decisions to prevent the deportation of the radical cleric Abu Qatada and allow prisoners the vote.

Water down

But the government's proposed reforms are controversial - and they'll need the unanimous agreement of 46 other countries in Brighton if they are to come into force.

It is likely that some countries will seek to water down the impact of these reforms.

The Strasbourg judges themselves openly oppose many of the UK government's proposals, such as incorporating subsidiarity and the margin of appreciation, onto the face of the convention.

There is a broad consensus within the Council of Europe that the court needs to change, above all that its backlog is too large and it needs to focus more on cases dealing with fundamental rights.

But there is much caution towards the idea of curbing the powers of the Strasbourg judges.

There is also the question of the Liberal Democrats. Many are very reluctant to question the role of the Strasbourg court and some may find these proposals hard to stomach.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-17201024
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Strike threat to London Olympics

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28 February 2012 Last updated at 23:08 ET

Union boss Len McCluskey said workers "should look at the opportunities" of the Olympic Games

Industrial action against government cuts could be timed to disrupt the London 2102 Olympics, the leader of Britain's largest union has said.

Len McCluskey, of the Unite union, also called for civil disobedience during the Games to defend public services.

In an interview with the Guardian, Mr McCluskey said his union had discussed the possibility of strike action but there were currently no plans in place.

Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi said she was "shocked" by his comments.

Mr McCluskey said: "If the Olympics provide us with an opportunity, then that's exactly one that we should be looking at."

The union boss added: "The attacks that are being launched on public sector workers at the moment are so deep and ideological that the idea the world should arrive in London and have these wonderful Olympic Games as though everything is nice and rosy in the garden is unthinkable.

'Right to protest'

"Our very way of life is being attacked. By then this crazy Health and Social Care Bill may have been passed, so we are looking at the privatisation of our National Health Service.

"I believe the unions, and the general community, have got every right to be out protesting."

Mr McCluskey said the purpose of protest was "to bring your grievances to the attention of as many people as possible".

Baroness Warsi said it was "an appalling display of naked self-interest" - and called on the Labour leader to intervene.

"The London Olympics will be a great occasion for this country. It is disgraceful for a trade union boss to be calling for mass disruption when the eyes of the world will be on Britain," she said.

"I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics."

Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said no athlete or visitor would understand or sympathise with any disruption.

She said: "If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics."

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17200835
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Bid to ease work scheme concerns

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28 February 2012 Last updated at 22:52 ET

Several companies have withdrawn from the scheme amid concerns over benefit payments

The government will attempt to draw a line under the controversy surrounding its work experience initiatives later.

Representatives of dozens of companies are due to meet Employment Minister Chris Grayling to discuss the schemes.

Firms including Sainsbury's, Burger King and Matalan have quit the scheme, citing concern among the public.

Critics have described the initiatives as "slave labour" but the government insists the schemes can help prepare jobless young people for employment.

Job guarantees

Several of the government's work experience schemes have come under fire in recent weeks.

There are accusations that they are not entirely voluntary and concerns that participants can lose benefits if they leave the placements early.

Campaigners have targeted several firms, and Tesco changed its policy within days of a protest at one of its stores.

The supermarket giant said it would start to pay those on work experience, and guarantee a job when placements went well.

Representatives from a number of major UK firms will attend the meeting on Wednesday.

Benefits continue

Some of the companies have stated they want ministers to remove any threat that those who fail to complete a period of work experience would lose their benefit payments.

Fast-food chain Burger King became the latest firm to pull out of the schemes.

It said it had registered to take on youngsters at its Slough headquarters but withdrew due to "public concerns".

Burger King said it registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working programme six weeks ago but had not recruited anyone so far.

Participants continue to receive jobseeker's allowance and may receive a contribution to travel or childcare costs.

But anyone who cuts a placement short after more than a week may have their benefits stopped for two weeks.

Unpaid placement

Supermarket Sainsbury's said the small number of its stores that took part in the scheme had since ceased participation, as it was not company policy.

Fashion chain Matalan said it had suspended its involvement pending a review and book seller Waterstones and electrical retailer Maplin have already left.

Mr Grayling has defended the scheme, saying half of those who joined had found a job, often with the company that placed them on work experience.

The programme is aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than three months but less than nine months.

Participants have an unpaid placement for two to eight weeks, working 25 to 30 hours a week.

29 Feb, 2012

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-17200688
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