HS2 costs could mean rail nightmare, says "Darling"

Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling has warned of a potential "nightmare" on England's existing railways if the multibillion-pound HS2 line is built.

He told the BBC the rise in projected costs from £32bn to £42.6bn would drain cash from other lines.

Labour's front bench backs the high-speed rail project but some senior figures have questioned it.

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"Gaza": Hamas urges Egypt to reopen Rafah crossing

Officials from the Islamist group Hamas are urging Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian authorities closed the crossing point this week after more than 20 Egyptian policemen were killed near the border by suspected militants.

Thousands of Palestinians, including students and medical patients, wanting to leave or enter Gaza have been stuck.

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"Russia" backs Syria chemical weapons attack probe

Russia has urged Syria to allow a United Nations team to investigate allegations that chemical weapons were used in a recent attack.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry agreed that an objective investigation was needed, Russia's foreign ministry said.

It said rebel forces must give UN inspectors already in Syria safe passage to the site.

Activists say hundreds died in Wednesday's attack near Damascus.

Meanwhile UN agencies now say the number of children forced to flee Syria has reached one million.

The UN's refugee agency and Unicef describe the figure as "a shameful milestone", and say a further two million children are displaced within the country.
'No delay'

Russia is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main ally.

The foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement on Friday: "The Russian side called on the Syrian government to cooperate with the UN chemical experts.

"It is now up to the opposition, which should guarantee safe access for the mission to the alleged place of the incident."

There is no sign yet that Damascus will allow the UN inspection team to visit the site of the alleged chemical weapons attack.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has already called for an investigation "without delay".

"I can think of no good reason why any party - either government or opposition forces - would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," Mr Ban said from the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Mr Ban said: "Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anybody, under any circumstances, would violate international law. Such a crime against humanity should result in serious consequences for the perpetrator."

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Marian McPartland, jazz pianist and radio host, "dies"

British-born pianist Marian McPartland, who became a fixture on the US jazz scene, has died aged 95.

For more than 40 years, the musician also hosted a US radio show, giving listeners an insight into the elusive topic of jazz improvisation.

Born Margaret Marian Turner in Windsor, she started out entertaining troops during WWII and married US soldier and cornetist Jimmy McPartland in 1946.

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"Prison Break" star slams Russia's 'anti-gay' bill

Prison Break star Wentworth Miller has refused an invitation to a film festival in St Petersburg in protest over Russia's new anti-gay laws.

"It would make me happy to say yes," he wrote in a letter to festival director Maria Averbakh. "However, as a gay man, I must decline."

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" Jennifer Lopez" intruder 'living in pool house'

A man found in the pool house at Jennifer Lopez's mansion in the exclusive Hamptons area of New York has been charged with stalking.

According to police, the singer had a restraining order against John Dubis, a retired firefighter, before he was found by workers at her home.

He had been living at the property for a week while Lopez was away, they said.

Dubis, 49, from Rhode Island, was also charged with burglary, criminal contempt and possessing burglary tools.

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China's arsenic contamination risk is "assessed"

Nearly 20 million people in China could be exposed to water contaminated with arsenic, a study suggests.

Scientists used information about the geology of the country to predict the areas most likely to be affected by the poison.

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China web users arrested over posts on "Sina Weibo"

Four people have been arrested in China over posts made on Twitter-like website Sina Weibo, state media has reported.

The users are said to have "incited dissatisfaction with the government" by spreading rumours about a "hero" used in various propaganda posters.

Prosecutors said the group had been profiting from the activity.

The arrests come at a time when the Chinese authorities are seeking to reassert strict rules around public discourse.

"On one hand they know how popular this platform is, but they are also aware it can be a disruptive force," said BBCChinese.com editor Zhuang Chen.

"This is one of the main campaigns that the Chinese public security ministry is carrying out - to send out a clear message."

The arrested users were said to have spread rumours about Lei Feng, a deceased soldier who is often used as an example of the model Chinese citizen, a Communist Party devotee.

"Information that seriously harmed the image of Lei Feng was rapidly transmitted across the internet," the People's Daily reported, "and Lei Feng's glorious image was quickly brought into question."
Power users

With almost 300 million users in the country, the social network is booming - even attracting famous names from outside of the country.

The likes of Robert Downey Jr, Paris Hilton and basketball star Kobe Bryant all have a presence on the site - although they are mostly there for marketing purposes rather than the more general discussion often found on Twitter.

Earlier this month, the government brought together some of Sina Weibo's most popular users to discuss their use of the platform.

The meeting, held at the headquarters of China's state TV network, set out seven key "minimums" for behaviour.

They included vaguely set standards for upholding the national interest, keeping with socialist values and maintaining public order.

Technology blog TechInAsia.com noted that the seven minimums appeared to be widely supported by the Sina Weibo community, but that some of the comments supporting them may have been posted by paid "opinion managers".

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"Dancing and reading" 'good for health' of Scots

Activities such as dancing, reading and going to the theatre have a "positive impact" on the health of Scots, new research has suggested.

The Scottish government-commissioned study was based on data from the Scottish Household Survey 2011.

It found that people who take part in or attend culture events are more likely to report "good health and life satisfaction" than those who do not.

The report comes on the day Commonwealth Games tickets go on sale.

Glasgow will host the event in the summer next year.

The research found that regardless of factors such as age, economic status, income, education and disability, cultural participation was positive for health and wellbeing.

Its key findings included:

    Those who attended a cultural place or event in the previous 12 months were almost 60% more likely to report good health than those who did not
    Those who participated in a creative or cultural activity in the previous 12 months were 38% more likely to report good health than those who did not
    Those who visited a library or a museum were almost 20% more likely to report good health than those who had not
    Those who visited a theatre were almost 25% more likely to report good health than those who did not
    Those who participated in dance were 62% more likely to report good health than those who did not
    And those who read for pleasure were 33% more likely to report good health than those who did not

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said in response to the report, titled The Impact of Cultural Engagement and Sports Participation on Health and Satisfaction with Life in Scotland 2013, said: "Starting young, and being encouraged to take part in culture as a child, makes it more likely that the benefits of taking part will be experienced as an adult.

"That's why this government has funded activities like Bookbug, Scottish Book Trust's Early Years programme, which encourages parents and children to read together from birth, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra's Astar CD, which is helping parents in Scotland to introduce their babies to the joy of music."
Latest research

The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is a continuous survey based on a sample of the general population in Scotland.

Its aim is to provide representative information about the composition, characteristics and behaviours of Scottish households, both at national and local authority level.

The data used in the latest research study was from the 2010/11 fieldwork of the SHS.

A total of 14,358 households were interviewed in the 2010/11 survey with the questions on culture being put to about 75% of the total sample, giving a sample size of 9,683 adults.

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"Ducks" were bird flu 'melting pot'

Ducks were the melting pot of viruses that led to the new bird flu emerging in China early this year, according to Chinese scientists tracking the evolution of the virus.

Ducks picked up viruses from migrating birds and passed them onto chickens.

The study, published in the journal Nature, showed humans were probably then infected with H7N9 due to contact with chickens at live poultry markets.

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'Spider style' blood "vessel building"

A way of building body parts similar to the way a spider spins its web has been demonstrated by researchers in the UK.

The team at University College London used a constant stream of cells mixed with a polymer to weave the new tissues.

They think the technique could produce better results than other ways of building body parts for transplant.

The team of researchers tested the technique by constructing blood vessels in mice.

There are many methods being used to grow organs in the laboratory.

Some start with a synthetic scaffold which is then seeded with a patient's own cells and implanted. There are some patients who have had new bladders built in this way.

Another technique has been to take a body part from a dead body, just like an organ transplant, and use a detergent to strip out the native cells leaving a protein scaffold behind. This is then seeded with the target patient's cells. New windpipes have been made through this process.
Spinning

The team at the University College London are using "electrospinning" technology to produce organs. They think it will overcome some of the challenges of seeding a scaffold by building the cells into the transplant in the first place.

It starts with a broth of cells and polymer. A 10,000 volt electric needle is then used to draw out a fibre.

Dr Suwan Jayasinghe told the BBC: "Like a spider weaves its web we are able to draw out this continuous fibre of polymer and cells and weave a web.

"We could make one as thick as a mattress and the cells will be embedded right through it."

The electrospinning technology has been used to create blood vessels by cross-stitching the fibres on to a rotating cylinder which is half submerged in a liquid to nourish the living cells.

The latest studies published in the journal Small showed mouse blood vessels with three distinct layers could be produced.

Dr Jayasinghe said: "At the moment no technology can make an organ, we are coming up with the process to patch up a defective organ not replace an organ."

The idea is that a patch of heart muscle could improve function after a heart attack.

However, it is early days for the field of electrospinning. In comparison, other methods for producing body parts are already being used in patients.

"There have been some successes in the field which is great, but I don't think it is as easy as some people portray and I don't think we'll have it easy either," Dr Jayasinghe said.

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Makerbot Digitizer: Desktop 3D scanner "goes on sale"

A desktop device that can quickly scan objects so they can be replicated using a 3D printer has gone on sale.

The Makerbot Digitizer, which costs $1,400 (£900), will be shipped to the first buyers in October.

Demand for the machine appeared to overload the company's store when it went on sale on Thursday evening.

The Digitizer is the latest product looking to bring 3D printing to mainstream technology users - but experts are sceptical.

The machine is designed to allow the replication of objects without any need for the user to learn any 3D modelling software or have any other special expertise.

It works by pointing several lasers at the object and detecting contours in the surface.

It also allows users to upload their 3D designs directly to Thingiverse, a website where 3D designs can be shared.
No hamburgers

The time it takes to scan an object varies, but one demonstration involving a small gnome was said to take around 12 minutes.

"The MakerBot Digitizer is for early adopters, experimenters, and visionaries who want to be pioneers in Desktop 3D Scanning," the company says.

"This includes, but is not limited to, architects, designers, creative hobbyists, educators, and artists."

However, Makerbot has made it clear that the scanner is not suitable for intricate designs and that users should not expect "too much" from the machine.

"Expectations should be realistic," the machine's FAQ page reads. "You will not be able to, for example, scan a hamburger and then eat the digital design."

It adds that objects that are shiny, reflective, and fuzzy are not well suited to scanning.

Despite the industry's hopes that 3D printing will be hugely popular in the near future, others have dismissed home 3D printing as something of a gimmick.

"Appearances have become completely unhinged from reality when it comes to the mania created in so-called '3D Printing' stocks," warned influential investment analysts Citron Research.

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"Eric Cantona" to head Dinard film festival jury

Footballer turned actor Eric Cantona is to head the jury at this year's Dinard Film Festival, an annual celebration of British film held in northern France.

The former Leeds and Manchester United striker has established himself as an actor since retiring from football in 1997, notably appearing as himself in the Ken Loach film Looking for Eric.

Cantona, 47, will head an eight-member jury at the festival in Brittany.

This year's event, the 24th, runs from 2 to 6 October.

Cantona and his fellow jurors will watch six British films during the festival, deciding at its close which one should receive the "Hitchcock d'Or", or Golden Hitchcock award.

Previous recipients of the prize, named in honour of British director Alfred Hitchcock, have included The Full Monty, Billy Elliot and, last year, the IRA thriller Shadow Dancer.

Previous jury presidents at Dinard include Sir Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Rampling and Kristin Scott-Thomas.

The role has been filled by a French man or woman since 2002.

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Amelie musical to be made for "Broadway"

The 2001 Oscar-nominated romance Amelie, which starred Audrey Tatou, is on its way to Broadway.

US composer Dan Messe will write the score for a new musical adaptation of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's movie, according to the Facebook page of his band, Hem.

Messe will collaborate with playwright Craig Lucas and composer Nathan Tysen.

Amelie tells the story of a shy waitress who sets out from Paris' Montmartre district on a mission to make others happy.

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"Omate Truesmart" watch secures Kickstarter funds

Omate Truesmart - a smartwatch with a built-in five megapixel camera - is set to go into production after hitting its crowdfunding target.

The device raised more than $100,000 (£63,760) of pledges on fundraising site Kickstarter, guaranteeing it will get the cash.

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"Wildfire" near Yosemite park sends tourists fleeing Continue reading the main story

A huge wildfire near Yosemite National Park in California has forced scores of tourists to flee during peak season and is threatening thousands of homes.

The week-old Rim Fire more than tripled in size on Thursday and now spans at least 84 square miles (217 sq km).

More than 1,300 firefighters have been tackling the blaze in difficult terrain but have contained only 1% of it.

California's governor has declared a state of emergency because of the fire, one of 50 burning in the western US.

The blaze has not reached Yosemite itself, which remains open, officials say.

But it has shut a stretch of motorway that is one of three entrances to the west side of the park, which receives up to 15,000 visitors a day in the summer.
'Busy' park

The blaze is centred on Stanislaus National Forest, west of Yosemite, and has so far destroyed two homes and seven outbuildings.

But the authorities are warning that at least 2,500 homes, hotels, businesses and several campsites are under threat.

Officials have gone door-to-door in the summer community of Pine Mountain Lake urging people to leave.

Local residents said the area, normally teeming with tourists, is now empty.

"This fire, it's killing our financial picture," restaurant owner Corinna Loh told the Associated Press. "This is our high season and it has gone to nothing, we're really hurting."

"We've got a monster on our hands," Lee Bentley of the US Forest Service told CBS News.

"This fire is making its own weather. It's going every which direction. This is one of the worst I've ever been on. I've been doing it for quite a few years."

The area's steep hills and rugged terrain are hampering firefighters' efforts, officials say. Extra firefighters are due to arrive on Friday.

Despite the fire's proximity to Yosemite, spokesman Scott Gediman says the park is clear of smoke, and all accommodation and attractions are open.

"The fire is totally outside the park," he told the AP. "The park's very busy, people are here. There's no reason that they should not come."

Meanwhile, five wildfires in Yellowstone National Park have scorched about 18 square miles of mostly remote areas.

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"Ben Affleck" to play Batman in 2015 Superman sequel

Ben Affleck has been cast as Batman in a forthcoming Superman sequel, bringing together the two superheroes in one film for the first time.

The 41-year-old will star opposite British actor Henry Cavill, who will reprise his role as Superman from the most recent film, Man of Steel.

Director Zack Snyder revealed the big screen superhero mash-up at a comic convention in San Diego last month.

Production is expected to begin next year for release in the summer of 2015.

"We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics' most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill and then some," Warner Bros President Greg Silverman said in a statement.

Mr Snyder, who also directed Man of Steel, said in a statement that Mr Affleck will provide an "interesting counter-balance" to 31-year old Cavill's Clark Kent.

"(Affleck) has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne," said Snyder. "I can't wait to work with him."

The sequel - which has yet to be given a title - will reunite Man of Steel stars Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Laurence Fishburne (Perry White) and Diane Lane (Martha Kent).

Christian Bale most recently played Batman in director Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.

Michael Keaton and George Clooney have also donned the black mask and cape in previous Batman films.

Ben Affleck's film Argo, which he starred in and directed, won an Academy Award for best picture earlier this year.

The superhero genre is not new to Mr Affleck, who previously starred as the blind hero in the 2003 Daredevil film based on the Marvel Comics.

Batman and Superman are part of DC Comics universe, which is part of the Warner Bros Entertainment division.

Revenues from the latest films featuring Superman and Batman have exceeded $1bn (£655m) in recent years.

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Workers at the Alma telescope in Chile "go on strike".

Workers at the world's biggest radio telescope in Chile have gone on strike to demand a pay rise.

They are also demanding benefits to compensate for the high altitude and isolation they endure.

The Alma (Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array) observatory is more than 5,000 metres above sea level in the Atacama desert in northern Chile.

Alma said it would be able to continue basic operations.

The union's president, Victor Gonzalez, said nearly 200 workers at the Alma observatory had gone on strike to demand a 15% pay rise after failing to reach agreement with Associated Universities Inc (AUI), their US employers.

The workers endure difficult living conditions and are exposed to strong winds, thin air and severe temperature drops.

Alma regretted not reaching an agreement with the union, but said the strike would not halt its operations completely.

"Alma has activated a contingency plan that will enable it to continue basic operations," the observatory said.

The 194 striking workers are technicians and administrators and do not include scientists.

Alma's antennas are in a remote part of the Atacama desert 5,200 metres above sea level.

The dryness and low interference from other radio signals create some of the best conditions for observing the night sky.

The observatory is funded by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Taiwan and Japan.

Its 66 huge antennae are trained on the centre of our galaxy.

It is expected to provide new information that may help explain the origins of the universe.

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"El Salvador" match-fixing claims: 22 footballers suspended

El Salvador's football federation has provisionally suspended 22 players, pending an investigation into alleged match-fixing.

"The players who took part in the suspect matches will be suspended for 30 days," said the federation's president, Carlos Mendez.

He said the prosecutor's office would help with the investigation.

Only two of the banned players have not played for the national team.

Mr Mendez said football's world governing body, Fifa, had been notified so the suspensions would include players abroad.

"This is not a punishment, these are provisional, precautionary measures," said Mr Mendez.

He added that El Salvador would not play any matches until the complaints were resolved.

The matches under investigation include El Salvador's 5-0 Gold Cup loss against Mexico in July 2011; a 2-1 defeat by the United States in February 2010; a 1-0 loss to the American team DC United in July 2010; and a 4-1 defeat by Paraguay in February 2012.

Local media in El Salvador reported that the authorities had raided the homes of several of the suspended players.

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Paraguay's congress gives new president more "powers"

A week after being sworn in, President Horacio Cartes of Paraguay has won new powers from both houses of parliament to deploy the military to tackle unrest in the country.

On Thursday the senate gave its backing to the move, the day after the lower house had done so.

The move is primarily aimed at fighting armed rebels from the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP).

They have been blamed for a series of attacks in the north of the country.

The Colorado Party and its allies in congress wasted no time in agreeing to a request by President Cartes to send troops to fight the leftist rebels without first declaring a state of emergency.

The request follows an attack last Saturday blamed on the EPP in San Pedro region, north of the capital, Asuncion.

The attack involving the kidnapping of security guards took place on a cattle ranch owned by a Brazilian national.

Four bodies were found by policemen who attended the scene. The body of a fifth guard was found later.

The police officers were then ambushed, and one was reportedly injured, allegedly by the EPP.

President Cartes decided to send the army to the area, but first had to amend the law so it could reinforce the police in its fight against the EPP.

Critics said the new powers were a dangerous development for a country that spent much of the 20th Century under military dictatorship.

The EPP is believed to have killed about 30 people since 2005.

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"Sudan" deadly floods affect 300,000 people - WHO

More than 300,000 people across Sudan have been affected by floods that have killed nearly 50 people in August, the World Health Organization has said.

It said the region around the capital Khartoum had been particularly badly hit and was experiencing the worst floods in 25 years.

One of the major risks to health was the collapse of more than 53,000 latrines, the WHO added.

A UN official in Sudan described the situation as "a huge disaster".

In a report, the WHO said that 48 people had been killed and 70 injured in the floods. It warned of increasing trends of malaria cases in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, Sudan Interior Minister Mahmoud Hamed put the confirmed death toll at 53, according to the AFP news agency.

The WHO also said property had been damaged in 14 of Sudan's 18 states.

Mark Cutts, the head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, told AFP last week the world body was ready to help those affected by the disaster.

He added that this was despite the fact that UN humanitarian operations "have been severely underfunded" this year.

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Belmokhtar's militants 'merge' with Mali's Mujao.

An al-Qaeda-linked group led by Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar says it has merged with another group to take revenge against France for its military campaign in Mali.

Belmokhtar's Masked Men Brigade and the Mali-based Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao) have formed Al-Murabitoun, a statement said.

In July, the US offered a $5m (£3.2m) reward for Belmokhtar's capture.

He is accused of masterminding a deadly siege at an Algerian plant in January.

The US has charged him with hostage-taking, kidnapping and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Three US citizens were among at least 37 hostages killed when Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine plant to end the siege.

In May, Mujao and Belmokhtar's group jointly carried out twin suicide attacks in Niger on a military camp and a French-run uranium mine, killing 25 people.
'Routing France'

"Your brothers in Mujao and Al-Mulathameen [Masked Men Brigade] announce their union and fusion in one movement called Al-Murabitoun to unify the ranks of Muslims around the same goal, from the Nile to the Atlantic," the groups said in a statement published by Mauritanian news agency ANI, which is often used by the militants to communicate.

Command of Al-Murabitoun, an Arabic phrase meaning "the sentinels", has been ceded to "another personality", the statement added.

He is believed to be a non-Algerian jihadi who fought in Afghanistan, ANI reported.

The jihadist movement in the region was now "stronger than ever" and it would "rout" France and its allies, the statement said.

France led an offensive in January to recapture northern Mali from the militants, who had ruled the north for about eight months after taking advantage of the chaos caused by a coup.

They have since retreated to their desert hide-outs and towns and cities are now under the control of Malian and UN troops.

A 12,600-strong UN force is being deployed to Mali, as France begins to pull out its 3,000 troops.

Belmokhtar was a former leading figure in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) but he later formed the Masked Men Brigade, which is also known as the Signed-in-Blood Battalion and the Khaled Abu al-Abbas Brigade.

Mujao was formed in 2011 to spread jihad across West Africa and it believed to be a well-disciplined group.

It is thought to be led by a Mauritanian ethnic Tuareg Ahmed Ould Amer, who goes by the nom de guerre "Ahmed Telmissi", the AFP news agency reports.

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"Prehistoric Europeans" spiced their cooking

Europeans had a taste for spicy food at least 6,000 years ago, it seems.

Researchers found evidence for garlic mustard in the residues left on ancient pottery shards discovered in what is now Denmark and Germany.

The spice was found alongside fat residues from meat and fish.

Writing in the journal Plos One, the scientists make the case that garlic mustard contains little nutritional value and therefore must have been used to flavour the foods.

"This is the earliest evidence, as far as I know, of spice use in this region in the Western Baltic; something that has basically no nutritional value, but has this value in a taste sense," said Dr Hayley Saul, who led the study from the University of York, UK.

The researchers looked at charred deposits found on the inside of pottery shards that had been dated to between 5,800 and 6,150 years ago.

These deposits contained microscopic traces of plant-based silica, known as phytoliths, which can be used to identify the plants from which they came.

It was these phytoliths that provided the evidence of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in the carbonised scrapings.

The team found more phytoliths from residues taken from the inside of pots than from the outside, which they say shows that these were the direct result of culinary practice.

The implications from these findings challenge the previously held belief that hunter-gatherers were simply concerned with searching for calorific food. Dr Saul believes these latest results point to something much more like cuisine.

"That's quite a new idea for hunter-gatherer archaeology in Europe," she told BBC News.

The York scientist said it was likely that prehistoric chefs would have crushed the seeds: "Actually to get the flavour out you have to crush it really. I suspect that if they hadn't been crushing the seeds, we would probably find more intact seeds in residues."

Although this is the first evidence of spice use in Europe, flavouring food may have been a common practice in the Middle East much earlier. "There's a cave in Israel where coriander has been found, and that's dated to around 23,000 years ago. But it's very difficult to build up a picture of exactly how it's used. It's linking it to cooking that's quite important," explained Dr Saul.

It seems that while prehistoric cuisine was flavoursome, it was far from varied. The researchers found no evidence for other spices, with the phytoliths being quite consistent across the sites they investigated.

"I think it was just really creative, and we often don't give hunter-gatherer cultures in the past credit for exactly how inventive and creative they were with things.

"It's often seen as being a period of culinary hardship where people were really struggling, but actually, its people really knew their environments, and knew how to make the best with what they've got. I think they were very clever, really," said Dr Saul.

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German MPs warn of neo-Nazi threat after ethnic "Turk deaths"

German MPs have demanded much tighter surveillance of neo-Nazi activities, after investigating a notorious series of murders targeting ethnic Turks.

MPs said Germany's police and justice officials must exchange intelligence on neo-Nazis, improve training and recruit more ethnic minorities.

Their report condemned "major failures" by security services who had not suspected a violent neo-Nazi cell.

An alleged member of the cell, Beate Zschaepe, went on trial in May.

The cell is accused of 10 murders in Germany, spanning seven years.

The mishandling of the case triggered much criticism, focusing on the failure to explore a racist motive and the initial suspicions about the victims' relatives and friends. It also emerged that the police had used unreliable undercover informers.

The MPs in a cross-party special committee made 47 recommendations, highlighting lessons to be learnt from the blunders.

The committee chairman, Sebastian Edathy of the Social Democrats (SPD), called the blunders "a historically unprecedented disaster". He handed the 1,000-page report to Norbert Lammert, president of the Bundestag - the lower house of parliament.

"The danger of militant neo-Nazis must never again be underestimated," he said, adding that the threat from such groups had even been "trivialised" sometimes.

"I'm pretty sure that, if a leading police investigator had had a Turkish background, investigating authorities would not have taken six years before seriously considering the possibility that racism was the motive," he said.
Official delays

The case only came to light in November 2011, when Ms Zschaepe handed herself in to police.

Police had found the bodies of two of her alleged accomplices in the National Socialist Underground (NSU). They had apparently shot themselves after a botched bank robbery.

Ms Zschaepe shared a flat in Zwickau, in the old East Germany, with the two men.

After their deaths, the gun used in the murders of the 10 people was discovered.

In their investigation the panel of MPs met 75 times, heard from 107 witnesses and experts, and looked at thousands of files.

But they were hampered by officials who delayed handing over information and in some cases important information was missing, German media say.

A left-wing MP on the panel, Petra Pau, spoke of "files that were missing, shredded or delayed, or incompetent witnesses", the German broadcaster ARD reports.

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Mumbai photojournalist gang-raped on "assignment"

A 23-year-old photojournalist has been gang-raped by five men in the Indian city of Mumbai, police say.

The woman, who was on assignment on Thursday evening in the Lower Parel area when she was attacked, is in hospital with multiple injuries.

She was accompanied by a male friend who was beaten by her attackers. Police say 35 people have been detained.

In a similar case last December, a 23-year-old student was gang-raped on a bus in the capital, Delhi.

The woman and her male friend were brutally assaulted and she later died in hospital from her injuries.

The attack sparked nationwide protests and forced the authorities to introduce tougher laws for crimes against women.
'Deeply disturbing'

The victim of Thursday's attack worked with a Mumbai-based English magazine and had gone to the Shakti Mills - a former textile mill that now lies abandoned and in ruins - for a photo shoot, police said.

She has been admitted to Jaslok hospital in Mumbai.

Police say they are questioning the detained men and have released the sketches of five men they are seeking.

"This is a very serious matter. The accused will be arrested soon," Maharashtra state Home Minister RR Patil told reporters late on Thursday night after visiting the woman in hospital.

"The patient has been with us since the unfortunate incident. As of now, she is stable," the hospital said in a statement on Friday morning.

The attack has led to outrage in India with many taking to social media to express their anger.

"Sick and deeply disturbing," tweeted musician Shekhar Ravjiani. "My heart goes out to the victim and I hope and pray that God gives her the strength to make it through this ordeal."

Nirmala Sitharaman of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party wrote: "Despicable! We are shamed! How long and God forbid, how many more before the criminals are punished? Wake up, India!"

"Sad validation of the fact that NO city in India is safe for women. It is after all the same prevention/enforcement mechanism in use all over," tweeted actress Gul Panag.

"Helpless to say the least... words like "devastated", disgusted" mean nothing at a time like this!!!! #gangrape in my city... I feel ashamed," director Karan Johar wrote.

"Mumbai's women should come out for a Delhi-like response. 'Work to do' is no excuse," tweeted senior journalist Bachi Karkaria.

Women's safety has been the focus of attention in India since the fatal Delhi gang rape.

Six people, including a juvenile suspect, were arrested for the crime.

One of the men was found dead in his prison cell in March. The other five are on trial and verdicts are due over the next few weeks.

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"North and South Korea" hold talks on family reunions

North and South Korea have begun talks on resuming the reunions of families separated by the Korean War in 1950-53.

Korean Red Cross officials met at the border village of Panmunjom in an attempt to restart the reunions last held in October 2010.

The two sides remain technically at war because the conflict ended in an armistice and not a peace deal.

The talks come as the two countries last week reached a deal on a joint industrial zone.
'Never been picked'

Many families were separated at the end of the war by the dividing of the peninsula.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye last week called for the resumption of the reunions, urging North Korea to "open its heart".

The aim is for some of them to meet during a festival holiday in September.

However, the two sides have yet to agree on the venue, size and date of the possible reunions.

In South Korea, than 70,000 people have registered for the reunions.

Kim Kyung-ryun said that she had been trying for decades to reunite with her parents and siblings in the North.

"So many reunions have passed, and I've never been picked," she said.

"So I wonder whether my chance will ever come, and I'm just a bit too tired to worry about it now."

The current talks are the latest signs of tensions easing on the peninsula.

In April, North Korea withdrew its workers from the Kaesong joint industrial zone, angered by the expansion of UN sanctions after its 12 February nuclear test and annual US-South Korea military drills.

The deal reached last week came after six rounds of talks ended unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a North Korean man apparently defected after he was found on South Korea's Gyodong Island.

It was not immediately known how he had crossed the border in stormy weather. South Korean officials said he was now being questioned.

Defections by crossing the border via land and sea is said to be rare, and most are made by North Koreans entering another country before going to South Korea.

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"China police officer" who threw infant sacked

A Chinese policeman who grabbed an infant from the arms of her father and threw her to the ground has been sacked from the force and formally arrested.

The man, who is in his 50s and a police veteran of about 30 years, has been in detention since earlier this week.

The seven-month-old infant suffered a fractured skull but is now said to be out of danger.

The officer, who was drunk at the time of the incident, made a bet with friends that the girl was only a doll.

The incident was covered up by the local police for almost a month, and the officer was only punished with 15 days of confinement by his superiors.

When outraged local officials broke the story to news media, it caused a nationwide uproar.

The local police chief has now been suspended. In his own defence he said he was waiting for forensic results before taking legal action against the officer, but the father of the young victim refused to have her examined by police doctors.

The police chief explained that he did not want to make the incident public before legal procedures could take place as he was concerned about protecting the image of the police.

He also said the police department had given 20,000 yuan ($3,266, £2,095) to the victim's family.

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"Malaysia" court overturns Mongolia model murder convictions

A Malaysian court has overturned the convictions of two police officers for the murder of a Mongolian woman linked to a senior political aide.

The woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, a model, was shot dead and her body blown up with explosives in 2006.

The two policemen, who were members of a high-security detail for leading Malaysians, were subsequently sentenced to death in 2009.

The Attorney General's office said it would appeal against the ruling.

Correspondents say the acquittals are likely to revive allegations of a political conspiracy.

A former associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged in connection with the murder but later acquitted. The associate, defence analyst Abdul Razak, had admitted to an affair with the victim.

Malaysia's opposition had repeatedly sought to link Mr Najib to the case but in 2007 he denied any connection, saying he had never met Ms Shaariibuu.

The two policemen, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, had been acquitted and discharged, their lawyer said.

"They are free men now," defence lawyer Hazman Ahmad told AFP news agency.

Ordering the two men to be released, the Court of Appeals ruled that gaps in the evidence had been overlooked in their trial.

These included whether the officers had access to explosives, whether they intended to kill her and whether they were even present at the murder site, Associated Press reports.

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Nicolas Anelka: "West Brom striker" given compassionate leave

 Striker Nicolas Anelka has been given indefinite compassionate leave by West Bromwich Albion following the death of his agent Eric Manasse.

Anelka, who joined the Baggies in the summer, made his competitive debut in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Southampton.

 But the 34-year-old Frenchman will sit out Saturday's game at Everton, with reports he is considering retirement described as premature.

He said on his Facebook page:  "I cannot find the words to express my sadness."

The much-travelled Anelka, capped 69 times, joined his sixth Premier League club when signing a one-year deal with West Brom in July.

He claimed Premier League titles with Arsenal and Chelsea and has also played for Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton.

The striker also won the Champions League in 2000 with Spanish giants Real Madrid.

He added: "I am shocked by this news that has affected his friends and family. Eric will leave a huge hole in our lives.

"I send my condolences to the Manasse family after his tragic death."

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Manchester City youngster Denis Suarez joins "Barcelona"

Manchester City youngster Denis Suarez joins Barcelona

Barcelona have signed Manchester City youngster Denis Suarez for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old, who helped Spain reach the quarter-finals of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup this summer, will join Barcelona's B team.

Suarez made two appearances for City during his time in England, both in the League Cup.

Meanwhile, Barcelona striker Lionel Messi suffered bruising to his thigh in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.

Messi, 26, was substituted at half-time of Wednesday's first leg of the Spanish Super Cup as a precaution after he felt pain in his leg.

Barcelona visit Malaga in the second round of the Spanish league on Sunday but it is not known if their record goalscorer will be able to play.

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Gareth Bale: "Real Madrid" and Spurs talks at advanced stage

Gareth Bale: Real Madrid and Spurs talks at advanced stage
By David Ornstein and Ben Smith BBC Sport

Tottenham and Real Madrid are in advanced talks over a deal to take winger Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu.

The transfer has yet to be agreed, but it could happen in the coming days and is set to eclipse the £80m world record fee Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Wales international Bale, 24, is determined to join the Spanish club

 He did not travel for Thursday's Europa League tie with Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia because of a foot problem.

It is an injury that kept Bale out of most of Tottenham's pre-season programme and their Premier League opener at Crystal Palace.

"On Gareth I am not able to comment on anything, that has been my tone since the start of the season and I will not come out of it," said boss Andre Villas-Boas after his team's 5-0 win in Georgia.

Any deal will not be announced before Real's friendly with Qatar side Al Sadd on Thursday. The match will mark the return of Real legend and leading scorer Raul, who now plays for Al Sadd.

The number 11 shirt, which Bale wears at White Hart Lane, has been left vacant at Real Madrid in the expectation their new record signing will take it on his arrival.

And there were reports on Thursday that the Spanish club were selling a Bale replica shirt, although shortly after screen grabs appeared on the internet the site was taken down for maintenance.

To help compensate for his possible departure, Spurs have twice broken their previous transfer record this summer, recruiting Paulinho from Corinthians for about £17m and Roberto Soldado from Valencia for £26m.

The additional purchases of Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue have taken their total outlay to about £60m, while Anzhi Makhachkala attacker Willian is in talks over a £30m move and Roma playmaker Erik Lamela is also rumoured to be part of Spurs' plans.

Bale joined Tottenham for £10m from Southampton in 2007 and scored 26 goals for the north London side last season.

 His impressive displays led to him being named player of the year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers.

Bale's camp told Spurs at the end of July that he wanted to speak to Real.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti's subsequent claim that they were "in talks to find a solution" to the transfer angered his Tottenham counterpart Villas-Boas.

But it looks increasingly likely that Bale will become Real's fifth summer signing.

Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi and Malaga playmaker Isco have arrived for reported fees of £34m and £23m respectively while Dani Carvajal has signed from Bayer Leverkusen and Casemiro has been given a permanent deal after a loan spell from Sao Paulo.

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Woman RAF officer joins top "military brass"

The RAF has promoted a female officer to the most senior position ever held by a woman in the UK armed forces.

The air force has appointed its first female two-star officer, Air Vice-Marshal Elaine West, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

AVM West, 51, joined the RAF straight from school and is married with a teenage son.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said it showed there was no "glass ceiling" for female officers.

The position is equivalent in rank to a major general in the Army or a rear admiral in the Royal Navy.

The new air vice marshal will be director of projects and programme delivery at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

She will lead on multi-million pound infrastructure projects to support military training, and oversee the drawdown of army units from Germany.
'Privileged'

The Army has had a female brigadier, while the Royal Navy has appointed a female commodore, but both of those are one-star ranks, whereas air vice marshal is a more senior two-star role.

AVM West said she takes up her new appointment with "enormous pride".

"I am privileged to have served in the RAF and to have enjoyed so many challenging roles over the years."

She has served in 18 different roles on bases across the world, since joining the RAF as an aircraftswoman aged 17.

She managed the final stage of the RAF's downsizing across north-west Europe, and oversaw the delivery of military accommodation in the UK.

Married to a retired Tornado navigator, she has one son, who is 14 years old, the MoD said.

She said: "To now be the first female military two-star is a truly unexpected bonus.

"I know so many inspirational women across all three services who continue to make a substantial contribution to operations and our armed forces more widely.

"This is a terrific opportunity and one that I'm looking forward to immensely."
'Well deserved'

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford said her promotion was "thoroughly well deserved".

Wishing her "every success in her challenging role", he added: "The vast majority of roles in the armed forces are open to women and I would encourage everyone, regardless of gender, to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them within the military."

Mr Hammond said building the Future Force 2020 meant selecting the best and brightest talent from across the armed forces "irrespective of gender".

He added: "I am pleased that we are demonstrating in defence that there are no 'glass ceilings' for female officers who have the necessary abilities to rise to the senior ranks."

Women make up about 10% of armed forces personnel, or 14% of the air force, 9% of the navy and 8% of the army.

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Online football abuse targeted by "police"

Football supporters are being warned that abuse of players or fellow fans on online social media is being targeted this season by police and prosecutors.

New guidelines for tackling hooligans in England and Wales also address homophobic chanting for the first time.

Match-related incidents have been falling but there will continue to be a "robust prosecution policy".

Police say troublemakers given banning orders will find they are unable to attend the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

The orders prevent supporters from travelling to matches for a minimum of three years and any imposed this season would also affect supporters hoping to attend Euro 2016 in France, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Association of Chief Police Officers added in a statement setting out the policy guidance.

The joint policy outlines the way violence, disorder, criminal damage and abuse in and around football matches will be approached.

Other "emerging challenges" for police and prosecutors highlighted include the assault of players by fans and the use of flares or fireworks within grounds.

Nick Hawkins, lead sports prosecutor at the CPS, said most football fans were well behaved and there had been a rise in the numbers of families at matches because of "friendlier atmospheres".
'Culture change'

Earlier this year, the CPS unveiled guidance specifying when communications on social media such as Twitter or Facebook - that included threats of violence or damage to property, targeted individuals, or appeared to breach a court order - should be prosecuted.

The CPS said there was a "place for humour in football but where the line between humour and offensive behaviour is crossed then positive action will be taken".

Mr Hawkins said: "It's not just criminality in the stands that will be taken on. Our legal guidance on communications sent by social media clearly sets out how we will approach the abuse of players or fellow supporters online."

He said the "worst examples" of "vile abuse or threatening tweets" would be prosecuted.

Prosecutions following online racist abuse of Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch last year, and Northampton Town players Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clarke Carlisle showed the CPS took such incidents "seriously", he said.

"Decent, law-abiding football fans deserve to be reassured that the criminal justice system is better equipped than ever before to protect their right to follow their teams in safety, while players, referees and supporters should know that harassment and abuse against them will not be tolerated," he added.

"In years gone by, racist and homophobic chanting in the stands was an ugly feature of football matches across the country, but I believe we are beginning to see a shift in culture... but hate crime legislation has a large part to play in this ongoing culture change.

Mr Hawkins said research showed Brighton and Hove Albion fans were subjected to homophobic abuse at more than 70% of away games last season, showing such incidents were still happening "frighteningly" often.

Alice Ashworth, from gay rights charity Stonewall, said its research showed homophobic abuse "continues to be all too common in football and deters gay fans, as well as many families, from attending matches".

Darren Bailey, director of governance and regulation for the Football Association, said: "The FA welcomes the CPS' policy and wholeheartedly supports its ambitions in continuing to make football a safe environment for everyone."

The latest available figures on offences at football matches are for 2011-12 and show the number of arrests at international and domestic games fell by nearly 24%, to 2,363. There were 2,750 banning orders in existence, down from 3,173.

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Israeli jets bomb "Lebanon" target after rocket strike

They targeted a "terror site" near the coastal town of Naameh, between Beirut and Sidon, the Israeli military said.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) said one of its bases had been hit.

But the group denied any involvement in Thursday's rocket attack into Israel. Neither incident caused casualties or much damage.
Iron dome

The Israeli military, in a statement, said its air force "targeted a terror site located between Beirut and Sidon in response to a barrage of four rockets launched at northern Israel yesterday".

"The pilots reported direct hits to the target," the statement said, according to AFP news agency.

PFLP-GC spokesman Ramez Mustapha confirmed the group's base at Naameh was targeted by Israeli war planes at around 04:00 local time (01:00 GMT) "without causing any victims or damage".

The PFLP-GC, a Palestinian group known to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, denied it fired any rockets into Israel.

Al-Qaeda linked militant group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, said it carried out the attack.

The four rockets were fired from the Tyre region of southern Lebanon.

They caused some minor damage at a kibbutz near the Israeli coastal town of Nahariya.

An Israeli military spokesman said one of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.

Rockets have been fired into Israel intermittently by militant groups since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006.

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Egyptian ex-President Hosni Mubarak "released" from jail

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison after appealing against his detention.

He was taken by helicopter from Cairo's Tora prison to a hospital and is later expected to be put under house arrest.

Mr Mubarak, 85, still faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that toppled him in 2011.

His release is seen by many as a sign that the military is rolling back the changes that flowed from the uprising.

Egypt is currently under a state of emergency amid the bloodshed which has accompanied the military-backed interim government's crackdown on Islamists opposed to the army's ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on 3 July.

Hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mr Morsi belongs, have been detained, including its most senior leader Mohammed Badie, who was wanted over alleged incitement to violence and murder.

Tensions remain high across Egypt, and the US embassy has warned American nationals in Cairo to stay in their homes or nearby from 13:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Friday - in anticipation of fresh street protests after traditional prayers, according to the Associated Press.
'Good man'

On Thursday, the medical helicopter arrived at Tora, as dozens of Mubarak supporters - some waving flags - gathered outside the prison.

Egyptian TV then showed the helicopter transferring Mr Mubarak to a military hospital in the capital. The ex-leader was seen being transferred from the aircraft into an ambulance outside the hospital, amid heavy security.

This comes after a court ruled on Wednesday that the former leader must be released in a corruption case.

The verdict came during the hearing on charges that the former president had accepted gifts from state-run publisher al-Ahram. The value of the gifts has since been repaid.

The court said its decision was final and no appeal would be allowed.

Prosecutors have previously brought new charges when courts have ordered Mr Mubarak's release - a move intended to keep the ailing ex-leader in detention.

But shortly after the court ruling, the office of Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said Mr Mubarak would be placed under house arrest after his release.

"In the context of the emergency law, the deputy military commander issued an order that Hosni Mubarak should be put under house arrest," the office said in a statement.

"He protected the country," Lobna Mohamed, a housewife in the crowd of Mubarak supporters outside the prison was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"He is a good man, but we want (Abdul Fattah) Sisi now," she said, referring to the head of the armed forces, who overthrew Mr Morsi.

But many Mubarak opponents were dismayed by his release.

"It's the return of the figure that Egyptian people revolted against," Muslim Brotherhood member Mona al-Qazzaz told the BBC.
EU response

Mr Mubarak was sentenced to life in jail last year for complicity in the killing of demonstrators, but a retrial was later ordered after his appeal was upheld.

That retrial opened in May but Mr Mubarak has now served the maximum amount of pre-trial detention permitted in the case.

European Union foreign ministers on Wednesday agreed to stop export licences on military equipment to Egypt and to reassess security co-operation in response to the clampdown.

Arms are provided by individual countries rather than the EU as a whole, mostly by Germany, France and Spain. The UK has already suspended some of its military help.

But the 28-member bloc's humanitarian aid to Egypt remains unaffected, despite calls from some EU politicians to cut the assistance after more than 900 people were killed in clashes last week.

The violence erupted as security forces cleared two sit-ins in Cairo by people demanding the reinstatement of Mr Morsi.

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"Syria crisis": Child refugees reach 'one million'

UN agencies say the number of children forced to flee Syria has reached one million, describing the figure as "a shameful milestone".

The UN's refugee agency and Unicef say a further two million children are displaced within the country.

More than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

He has also called for an investigation "without delay" into the recent alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Activists say hundreds were killed in Wednesday's attack, and Mr Ban is sending disarmament chief Angela Kane to Damascus to press for an investigation, his spokesman Eduardo del Buey said on Thursday.

Bridget Kendall investigates how we can interpret the alleged chemical attacks footage
'Traumatised'

The UN says children now make up half of all refugees fleeing Syria. About three-quarters of those children are under 11.

"The youth of Syria are losing their homes, their family members and their futures," said UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres.

"Even after they have crossed a border to safety, they are traumatised, depressed and in need of a reason for hope," he said.

Most of the children have arrived in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, the UN says, and increasingly Syrians are fleeing to North Africa and Europe.

But with its appeal for Syria less than 40% funded, the two UN agencies say they are struggling to meet the needs of the refugees.

Just 118,000 of the refugee children have been able to continue in some sort of education, and a fifth have received psychosocial counselling.

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the agencies are now warning of a lost generation that are ill-equipped to bring peace and stability to their country in the future.

"We must all share the shame," said Unicef executive director Anthony Lake, "because while we work to alleviate the suffering of those affected by this crisis, the global community has failed in its responsibility to this child.

"We should stop and ask ourselves how, in all conscience, we can continue to fail the children of Syria."

The UN says the conflict in Syria has caused the world's worst refugee crisis for 20 years, with numbers not seen since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

It says more than 1.7million people have registered as refugees since the uprising against the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

More than 40,000 Syrians have poured over the border of Iraqi Kurdistan since a new wave of arrivals began in the region a week ago.
Shocking footage

Speaking of the alleged chemical attack, Mr Ban said: "Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anybody, under any circumstances, would violate international law. Such a crime against humanity should result in serious consequences for the perpetrator."

Mr Ban has asked the Syrian government to let UN weapons inspectors, who are already in the country, investigate the allegations.

"I can think of no good reason why any party - either government or opposition forces - would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," Mr Ban said from the South Korean capital, Seoul.

The inspection team currently only has a mandate to visit three previously agreed sites, including the northern town of Khan al-Assal, where some 26 people were killed in an alleged chemical attack in March.

But there is no sign as yet that Damascus will allow them to extend their mission.

The Syrian government has described the allegations that it sanctioned the use of chemical weapons as "illogical and fabricated".

But unverified footage shows civilians - many of them children - apparently suffering horrific symptoms, as well as rows of shrouded bodies.

Chemical weapons experts have told the BBC that footage appears genuine and that the injuries shown are consistent with nerve agents.

International clamour over the alleged chemical attacks has continued to grow.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned that France must react "with force" if the use of chemical weapons was confirmed.

The US state department said it was urgently gathering information to try to determine what had taken place in Damascus.

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Syria 'chemical' attack: "Ban Ki-moon urges" swift probe

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the alleged chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital "needs to be investigated without delay".

He is sending disarmament chief Angela Kane to Damascus to press for an investigation, his spokesman Eduardo del Buey said on Thursday.

Earlier, France said a "reaction with force" might be needed.

Meanwhile, UN agencies say the number of children forced to flee Syria has reached one million.

The UN's refugee agency and Unicef described the figure as "a shameful milestone", saying a further two million children are displaced within the country.

Activists say hundreds were killed in Wednesday's attack on the Ghouta area of Damascus.

The Syrian government has described the allegations of chemical weapons' use as "illogical and fabricated". The Syrian army said opposition forces had made up the claims to divert attention from their recent huge losses.

"I can think of no good reason why any party - either government or opposition forces - would decline this opportunity to get to the truth of the matter," said Ban Ki-moon, speaking the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Friday.

"Any use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anybody, under any circumstances, would violate international law," he went on. "Such a crime against humanity should result in serious consequences for the perpetrator."

The UN has asked the Syrian government to allow a team of UN weapons inspectors already in the country to investigate the latest incident.

But the government, which denied the allegations, has given no indication that it will allow this.

The investigators, who arrived in the city on Sunday and are staying about 15km (10 miles) from the site of the recent attacks, only have a mandate to visit three other sites of alleged chemical weapons use.

These include the northern town of Khan al-Assal, where some 26 people were killed in an alleged chemical attack in March.
'Flagrant escalation'

Meanwhile, international clamour over the alleged attacks on Wednesday has continued to grow.

Speaking on French BFM TV, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned that France must react "with force" if the use of chemical weapons was confirmed.

While he did not elaborate on whether that meant backing military action, he did rule out the idea of deploying troops inside Syria.

The US state department said it was urgently gathering information to try to determine what had taken place in Damascus.

President Barack Obama warned last year that the use of such weapons would cross a "red line".

The UK and 36 other countries have formally referred the latest allegations to Mr Ban, and called for inspectors "to be granted the necessary access to enable their investigation into these latest allegations as a matter of urgency".

Despite blocking a UN Security Council statement condemning the attack at an emergency meeting on Wednesday, Russia is supporting calls for an investigation.

The Kremlin suggested the attack could have been "premeditated provocation" by opposition forces in an attempt to win the backing of the UN.
Disturbing footage

Opposition activists said that more than 1,000 people were killed after government forces launched rockets with toxic agents into the Damascus suburbs in the Ghouta region early on Wednesday.

The BBC has been unable to independently confirm the death toll.

Activists said Wednesday's attack took place as part of heavy government bombardment in the region surrounding Damascus, with government forces trying to drive out rebel forces. The areas affected included Irbin, Duma and Muadhamiya.

Video footage shows dozens of bodies with no visible signs of injuries, including small children, and survivors being treated in makeshift hospitals, with victims, including many children, having convulsions.

Chemical weapons experts have told the BBC that footage appears genuine and that the injuries shown are consistent with nerve agents.

While it is not clear how many died in the bombardment of the sites and how many deaths were due to any exposure to toxic substances, experts say it would be almost impossible to fake so many dead and injured including children and babies.

Both the rebels and government forces have accused each other of using chemical weapons throughout the 28-month conflict.

Syria is believed to have large undeclared stockpiles of mustard gas and sarin nerve agent.

The government has implied it has chemical weapons, but said they would not be used against civilians.

More than 100,000 people are believed to have been killed during the 28-months of conflict Syria.

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Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe sworn in as "president"

Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a seventh term in office as Zimbabwe's leader.

Thursday has been declared a public holiday to allow supporters of the 89-year-old to attend the inauguration.

The ceremony had been delayed by a court petition filed by his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, over allegations of widespread electoral fraud.

But the Constitutional Court dismissed the case, declaring Mr Mugabe's re-election "free, fair and credible".

Mr Mugabe won with 61% of the presidential vote against 34% for Mr Tsvangirai on 31 July.

The elections ended a fragile power-sharing government formed by the two men in 2009 under pressure from regional leaders following elections the year before marred by violence and allegations of electoral fraud.

Outgoing Prime Minister and opposition leader Mr Tsvangirai said he would not be attending the inauguration ceremony.

"Expecting Tsvangirai to attend the inauguration is like expecting a victim of robbery to attend a party hosted by the robber," his spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka, told AFP.
'Fearless revolutionary'

The BBC's Brian Hungwe in the capital, Harare, says there was an air of excitement at the national sports stadium ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

Free fizzy drinks and T-shirts reading "Mugabe fearless revolutionary" were being given to the arriving crowds, he says.

One of the banners in the stadium reads: "It's Africa versus Europe with Zimbabwe as the new battlefront", our reporter says.

The US and UK have expressed concern over the official results granting victory to Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party.

But the African Union has said that any irregularities were not enough to overturn the margin of victory.

"I have grave concerns over the conduct of the election, and the flaws highlighted in the South African Development Community (Sadc) and African Union observation missions' initial assessments," UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement on Thursday.

"There is strong evidence that these elections fell short of Sadc's own guidelines and the Zimbabwean electoral law. As such, we are concerned about the potential implications for the region."

It was critical that reforms advanced under the power-sharing government were not lost, he added.

Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) lost two court cases related to fraud claims in last month's disputed elections. Rulings were issued despite the MDC withdrawing its case saying it would not get a fair hearing.

The party alleged that more than a million voters were prevented from casting their ballots in polling stations, mostly in the capital and urban areas considered to be MDC strongholds.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which placed 7,000 observers around the country, has also judged the election flawed.

MDC officials have indicated they are unwilling to continue their partnership government with Zanu-PF.

Meanwhile, the US said recently that sanctions imposed on Mr Mugabe and some 119 other Zimbabwean individuals would remain in place until there were further political reforms.

Some 40 heads of state and government have been invited to attend the high-profile inauguration ceremony.

Once inaugurated, Mr Mugabe will serve another five-year term. Under the new constitution approved in a referendum earlier this year he will be able to serve another term after this.

Mr Mugabe served as Zimbabwe's first post-independence prime minister between 1980 and 1987, and has held office as president ever since.

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"Thailand" court jails Iranians over bomb plot

A court in Thailand has jailed two Iranian men for their roles in an attempted bomb plot in the capital, Bangkok, in February 2012.

The two men said they were innocent, but the court found them guilty of charges that included illegal possession of explosives.

The men were detained after a huge explosion accidentally damaged the house they were staying at.

One man had his legs blown off after he tried to throw a bomb at police.

The two were among six suspected of involvement in the bomb plot after the accidental blasts in the Ekamai area in central Bangkok.

The two defendants were part of what Thai officials believe was a team sent to Thailand to target Israeli diplomats in Bangkok.

The blasts came a day after two bomb attacks targeted Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia.

Israel has accused Iran of orchestrating the attacks, a charge which Iran denies.

Another suspect was arrested in Malaysia and is fighting extradition to Thailand.

Saeid Moradi, 29, who lost his legs in one of the explosions, was given a life term for charges that included attempted murder.

He was also found guilty of carrying and using explosives which caused the destruction of property, the court said.

Moradi said he was carrying the explosives to dispose of them.

Mohammad Khazaei, 43, who was detained at the airport in Bangkok, was given 15 years for possession of explosives.

He said he was not a militant and only met Moradi at an airport in Tehran, Iran.

The lawyer of the two men said he would consult with their families to work out whether they would appeal against the court's decision.

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"Planned" homes remaining unbuilt, say local councils

Almost 400,000 homes in England have been given planning permission but have yet to be built, research suggests.

The Local Government Association (LGA) study found that little progress had been made in reducing the backlog over the past year.

The LGA called on the government to remove restrictions on how much councils could spend on housing.

But Housing Minister Mark Prisk said the figures were "out of date and therefore misleading".
Boosting growth

The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England, said it was time to fund the construction of new homes rather than making more changes to the planning system.

Councils said there were still thousands of "shovel-ready" sites where work had not begun because of a cap on the amount local authorities could invest in new housing.

The report, put together by building industry analysts Glenigan for the LGA, said the backlog was reduced by just 6,000 to 381,000 homes.

Housing has been identified in Whitehall as one of the quickest routes to boosting growth but the LGA said government schemes to help buyers access finance risked creating a bubble if there was not an increase in house building to match it.

Mike Jones, chairman of the LGA's environment and housing board, said: "The bumper backlog of unbuilt homes and drop in the number of planning applications submitted to councils last year is a worrying sign that the housing market is not yet on the road to long-term recovery.

"While there has been progress made, this risks being undermined if we do not find a way to ensure developers keep up with demand.

"These figures conclusively show that it is not the planning system holding back the building of much-needed new homes.

He added: "Government has an unrivalled opportunity to create jobs, provide tens of thousands of homes and help the economy without having to find a single extra penny.

"New homes are badly-needed and councils want to get on with building them. The common sense answer is for the Treasury to remove its house-building block and let us get on with it."

In a subsequent interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he also accused banks of charging "extortionate" mortgage rates to those without large deposits.

"I think the banks are really ripping off the people who want to borrow money to buy homes," he said.
'Unlock sites'

But Mr Prisk said: "Mortgage rates now are at the lowest they've been for certainly the last four or five years, and that's encouraging."

He also argued that the LGA figures were from December 2011 and failed to show the progress of construction on new developments.

"What the current figures show is that of 496,000 sites that have got planning permission, just 60,000 - so about 12%-13% - are actually stalled. So I don't buy the councils' argument," he told the Today programme.

"We've already delivered over 330,000 new homes over the past three years and starts on new homes are up by a third compared to last year, with major developers pledging to use this momentum to increase output and get Britain building again," Mr Prisk had said earlier.

The government claims the housing market has now "turned a corner" - partly because of its Help to Buy scheme.

The scheme, available to both first-time buyers and people moving into a newly built home worth up to £600,000, offers a government-backed loan of up to 20% of the price of the property and aims to make it easier to buy property with a deposit of just 5%.

From January next year, it will be extended to cover existing housing.

Critics claim the scheme is artificially inflating house prices, leading to future problems when the support is withdrawn.

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"Children" need more exercise - especially girls, study says

Half of all UK seven-year-olds do not do enough exercise, with girls far less active than boys, a study suggests.

University College London researchers found just 51% of the 6,500 children they monitored achieved the recommended hour of physical activity each day.

For girls, the figure was just 38%, compared with 63% for boys.

Half of the group also spent more than six hours being sedentary each day, although some of this would be spent in class, the researchers acknowledged.

The study, published in the online journal BMJ Open, found levels of activity varied among groups.

For example, children of Indian origin and those living in Northern Ireland were among the least physically active with 43% achieving the recommended levels, compared to 53% in Scotland.
'Worrying'

But the most marked difference was between girls and boys.

Researchers said this suggested there needed to be a focus on making sport and other activities more attractive to girls.

Prof Carol Dezateux, one of the lead authors, said: "There is a big yawning gap between girls and boys. We need to really think about how we are reaching out to girls.

"The school playground is an important starting point. Often you will find it dominated by boys playing football."

But she said there should still be concern about the activity levels across the board.

"The findings are particularly worrying because seven-year-olds are likely to become less active as they get older, not more."

To achieve the one hour recommendation children have to take part in moderate or vigorous activity, which includes everything from brisk walking and cycling to playing football and running.

The UCL research is not the first to suggest children are not active enough, but most previous studies have relied on self-reporting by children or parents estimating levels of exercise, whereas the latest one involved real-time monitoring.

During the study, which took place during 2008 and 2009, youngsters wore an accelerometer to measure exercise levels which was attached to an elastic belt around their waist. It was removed only when bathing or when the children went to bed.

In total, the experts were able to record more than 36,000 days of data based on the children wearing the accelerometer for at least 10 hours a day over the course of a week.

Dr John Middleton, of the Faculty of Public Health, said more research was needed into why certain groups were less active.

"We need our children to grow up to be fit and healthy adults, not just because it's what any civilised society would want for its children, but it's also best for our economy too," he added.

Dr Ann Hoskins, of Public Health England, agreed.

She said: "This study highlights that there is still much to do to keep children and young people active as they grow older, especially girls.

"The new school year is the perfect time to make healthy changes, swapping short car or bus journeys with walking or scooting to school."

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"MSP Bill Walker" guilty of domestic abuse

A member of the Scottish Parliament has been found guilty of a string of domestic abuse charges.

Bill Walker, the Independent member for Dunfermline, attacked three former wives and a step-daughter between 1967 and 1995.

The 71-year-old, from Alloa, had denied 23 charges of assault and one breach of the peace, but was found guilty of all charges at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Kathrine Mackie did not accept that his evidence had been "credible".

The MSP will be sentenced on 20 September.

The verdict had been delayed while Walker was on holiday.
Emotional abuse

Sheriff Mackie said: "There was evidence showing the accused to be controlling, domineering, demeaning and belittling towards the three complainers, his former wives.

"The evidence also showed him to be untrustworthy, disloyal and unfaithful towards others including his present wife."

She said that however unacceptable that behaviour was, it did not amount to a criminal offence.

Bur she added that the complaint against the accused was not that he behaved abusively but that he committed criminal offences of assault on 23 occasions.

Sheriff Mackie said she found all the Crown witnesses, particular the three principal complainers (the ex-wives), to be credible and reliable.

Walker was found guilty of assault at addresses in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa, and one charge of breaching the peace.
Air rifle

Sheriff Mackie, who heard the case without a jury, found Walker guilty of assaulting his first wife Maureen Traquair on three separate occasions in the 1960s and 1980s.

On one occasion, he punched her in the face in the run-up to their wedding day in January 1967, giving her a black eye.

The MSP was further found to have assaulted his second wife Anne Gruber 15 times at various addresses in Edinburgh and Midlothian between 1978 and 1984.

He also brandished an air rifle at her house, committing a breach of the peace, the court found.

The politician was convicted of four assaults on his third wife Diana Walker, three of which involved slapping or punching her on the face. The attacks happened between June 1988 and January 1995.

Walker was also found guilty of assaulting Mrs Gruber's daughter Anne Louise Paterson by repeatedly striking her on the head with a saucepan in 1978, injuring her.

He claimed he acted in self-defence after being assaulted by his stepdaughter, who was then 16.

The MSP's behaviour was described by the prosecution as being "violent, domineering, controlling and relentless" over decades.

He engaged in "systematic physical and emotional abuse" towards the women over a prolonged period of time, they said.
Sunday newspaper

Walker was elected as an SNP MSP for Dunfermline but had more recently been serving as an Independent member for the constituency.

The politician maintained his innocence and alleged he was the victim of a smear campaign and that his ex-wives colluded to accuse him of domestic violence.

He told the court he felt hurt and betrayed after allegations against him emerged in a Sunday newspaper in March last year, and said his second and third wives had been "trying to score some points".

He suggested his third wife was motivated by jealousy after being "a bit miffed" that he had won an election.

But, in the words of prosecutor Les Brown, Walker's "violent and abusive" past "finally caught up" with him in court.

His conduct towards all three ex-wives had four similarities, the Crown said - controlling behaviour, uncontrollable bursts of temper, violent conduct and unprovoked and inexplicable assaults.

The first witness, Ms Traquair, 66, told court she had to wear concealer on their wedding day to hide the black eye Walker had given her two weeks before.

The MSP's first wife said he punched her in the eye during an argument a few weeks before their big day in Edinburgh in January 1967. A wedding photograph was said to have shown the black eye he had given her.

Russel McPhate, Walker's solicitor said: "Mr Walker is obviously disappointed to be convicted of all the charges today.

"The verdicts, in particularly the comments of the sheriff, will be very carefully considered.

"In the meantime, he'd like to thank his wife, his family, his colleagues, his staff and his friends, who have supported him throughout this ordeal, which of course has lasted since March last year and is not over yet."

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"David Miranda" detention 'unlawful', argues lawyer

Lawyers seeking an injunction to stop access to material seized from a Brazilian man held at Heathrow airport have argued his detention was unlawful.

David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was stopped on Sunday in connection with classified data leaked to the newspaper.

The judicial review proceedings involve the Home Office and the police.

A lawyer for the police said they were launching a criminal investigation after examining some of the material.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC did not give any details about the investigation but said the material "contains in the view of the police highly sensitive material, the disclosure of which would be gravely injurious to public safety".

He said the police are "partway" through examining "tens of thousands of pages" of digital material.

"There is an absolutely compelling reason to permit this investigation to continue," he added.
'Careful consideration'

Mr Miranda, 28, was detained for nine hours at the airport under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Brazilian national, who was travelling from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro where he lives with Mr Greenwald, said his interrogators threatened that he could go to prison if he did not co-operate.

The law allows police to hold someone for up to nine hours for questioning about whether they have been involved with acts of terrorism.

Prior to the court hearing, Mr Miranda's lawyers said he had had nine items, including his laptop, mobile phone and DVDs, seized during the detention.

By law, the police would have to hand back Mr Miranda's possessions within seven days.

Matthew Ryder QC, who is representing Mr Miranda, told the High Court on Thursday they were seeking a 14-day freeze on the inspection of Mr Miranda's phone and computer.

He also called for police to reveal with whom they may have shared information taken from Mr Miranda.

Mr Ryder told Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Kenneth Parker that Mr Miranda was questioned and property in his possession was seized "under threat of criminal prosecution in a coercive use of schedule 7 which was unlawful".

Gwendolen Morgan, of Bindman Partners, argued in a statement that the decision to use the law "amounted to a grave and manifestly disproportionate interference" with Mr Miranda's human rights, and was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ms Morgan said: "The purpose of these proceedings is to protect the confidentiality of the sensitive journalistic material that was seized from the claimant.

"Confidentiality, once lost, can clearly never be restored."

She also urged the judges to order a full judicial review to take place within two weeks, and for the injunction to run for the interim period.

But the court heard Home Secretary Theresa May believed it was necessary to examine the documents "without delay in the interests of national security".

Steven Kovats QC said Mrs May had given "careful consideration" to Mr Miranda's requests and had offered "more narrowly defined" undertakings which the court should accept.

But he said: "Material taken from the claimant includes material the unauthorised disclosure of which would endanger national security of the UK and put lives at risk."

It was "necessary for the national security of the UK" for the government and its agencies "to be free to have access to that data and examine it without delay", Mr Kovats said.

Mr Kovats said it was clearly not the copies of the data obtained from Mr Miranda that the secretary of state was worried about but the possession by others of the same information.
'Isolated incident'

Meanwhile, the secretary general of the European human rights watchdog the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, warned the Home Office the detention of Mr Miranda "may have a potentially chilling effect on journalists' freedom of expression".

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding tweeted: "I fully share Mr Jagland's concerns."

Brazil's Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said his country was waiting for an explanation from Britain, but believed "this was an isolated incident and won't happen again".

On Wednesday, Mrs May defended the police's use of anti-terrorism laws, insisting such action "was right" if police thought Mr Miranda was holding information useful to terrorists.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was dealing with 45 other separate complaints about cases involving the anti-terror legislation used to detain Mr Miranda.

Mr Greenwald has been reporting on American and British surveillance programmes for the Guardian, based on leaks from whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

Mr Snowden, a former contractor with the National Security Agency in the US, has been granted temporary asylum in Russia.

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