Cumberbatch calls for gay pardons

31 January 2015 Last updated at 10:42

Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry are among signatories of an open letter asking the government to pardon 49,000 men who were prosecuted for being gay.

Members of World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing's family have also signed.

Turing, played by Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game, was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 and killed himself in 1954. He was pardoned in 2013.

The signatories have asked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other "young leaders" to help with their campaign.

Continue reading the main story

The UK's homophobic laws made the lives of generations of gay and bisexual men intolerable"

End Quote Open letter calling for a pardon for thousands of gay men

Turing was granted a posthumous pardon by the Queen in 2013, four years after then Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered an "unequivocal apology" for the way he was treated.

Now campaigners want pardons for all of those who were convicted of similar offences.

The letter, printed in the Guardian, states: "The UK's homophobic laws made the lives of generations of gay and bisexual men intolerable.

"It is up to young leaders of today including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to acknowledge this mark on our history and not allow it to stand."

It describes Turing as "one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century" for helping to crack the Enigma code and says he was "pivotal in the development of modern computers".

The letter continues: "The apology and pardon of Alan Turing are to be welcomed but ignores over 49,000 men who were convicted under the same law, many of whom took their own lives.

"An estimated 15,000 men are believed to still be alive."

'Totally unjust'

Cumberbatch, who has been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Turing, and The Imitation Game's director Morten Tyldum are also joined as signatories by Turing's great niece Rachel Barnes and Matthew Todd, editor of Attitude Magazine.

Ms Barnes told BBC News the royal pardon given to Turing was "fantastic for all of us because he was such a great man and did so much for this country."

"But we've always considered that it is totally unjust that only Alan was given a pardon," she said. "There were 50,000 other homosexuals who were convicted and not given a pardon. We would really like this to be put right now."

An estimated 15,000 of them are still alive, she added.

An online petition has also been launched at www.Pardon49k.org, with more than 60,000 having signed it so far.

Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information.

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Merkel rules out Greek debt relief

31 January 2015 Last updated at 10:22

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out cancelling any of Greece's debt, saying banks and creditors have already made substantial cuts.

But Mrs Merkel told the Die Welt newspaper she still wanted Greece to stay in the eurozone.

Greece's left-wing Syriza party won last weekend's election with a pledge to have half the debt written off.

Its finance minister said the "troika" of global institutions overseeing Greek debt was a "rotten committee".

The troika - the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund - had agreed a €240bn (£179bn; $270bn) bailout with the previous Greek government.

But new Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has refused to work with the troika to renegotiate the bailout terms and has already begun to roll back the austerity measures the creditors had demanded of the previous government.

Meanwhile, EU economic and financial affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici told the BBC's Hardtalk that Greece had to honour its previous commitments, although he said he wanted Greece to remain in the eurozone.

'Blackmail'

Mrs Merkel told the Hamburger Abendblatt: "I do not envisage fresh debt cancellation."

She said: "There has already been voluntary debt forgiveness by private creditors, banks have already slashed billions from Greece's debt."

Greece still has a debt of €315bn - about 175% of gross domestic product - despite some creditors writing down debts in a renegotiation in 2012.

Greek economy in numbers

• Average wage is €600 (£450: $690) a month
• Unemployment is at 25%, with youth unemployment almost 50%
• Economy has shrunk by 25% since the start of the eurozone crisis
• Country's debt is 175% of GDP
• Borrowed €240bn (£188bn) from the EU, the ECB and the IMF

Mrs Merkel insisted she did not want Greece to leave the eurozone.

She said: "The aim of our policy was and is that Greece remains permanently part of the euro community. Europe will continue to show its solidarity with Greece, as with other countries hard hit by the crisis, if these countries carry out reforms and cost-saving measures."

On Friday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned Greece about its negotiation tactics on writing off debt.

"There's no arguing with us about this, and what's more we are difficult to blackmail," he said.

Finance Minister Varoufakis on Friday refused to work with the troika, saying he would instead talk to individual organisations and EU member states.

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Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis: "We are not prepared to carry on pretending and trying to enforce an unenforceable programme"

He has brought forward to Saturday his planned trip to Paris, where he will meet French counterpart Michel Sapin.

"We are not prepared to carry on pretending and extending, trying to enforce an unenforceable programme which for five years now has steadfastly refused to produce any tangible benefits," Mr Varoufakis told the BBC's Newsnight.

"The disease that we're facing in Greece at the moment is that a problem of insolvency for five years has been dealt with as a problem of liquidity."

Greece's current programme of loans ends on 28 February. A final bailout tranche of €7.2bn still has to be negotiated.

New Greek PM Alexis Tsipras will visit Cyprus, Italy and France next week but has no plans to visit Germany as yet.

Mr Moscovici meanwhile told the BBC the Greek government had to respect previous commitments.

But he added: "We believe that the place of Greece is in the eurozone, the euro needs Greece and that Greece needs and wants to be in the eurozone.

"We feel that it's very important for the stability of the eurozone and for the credibility of the euro that there is no 'Grexit'. This is why we will do everything that is needed to avoid it."

The full interview with Mr Moscovici can be seen on BBC World News on Monday 2 February at 0430, 0930, 1630 and 2130 GMT.

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IS 'chemical weapons expert killed'

30 January 2015 Last updated at 23:50

A chemical weapons expert with the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Iraq has been killed in a coalition airstrike, the US military has said.

Abu Malik's training provided IS with "expertise to pursue a chemical weapons capability", a statement said.

He served as a chemical weapons engineer under former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, before joining al-Qaeda in Iraq and then IS, the US said.

The US-led coalition has carried out nearly 2,000 strikes against IS.

Mr Malik was killed in a raid near Mosul on 24 January, according to the US.

His death is expected to "degrade and disrupt" IS and weaken their ability to produce and use chemical weapons, the US military said.

There have been frequent reports of IS using chlorine gas, but no evidence the group has accumulated a significant chemical weapons cache.

Last year, Iraqi police officers suffered from dizziness and vomiting after clashing with jihadist fighters north of Baghdad. It was thought chlorine gas may have been to blame.

Chlorine gas is classified as a "choking agent", burning the lungs when inhaled in large quantities. But it is nowhere near as dangerous as nerve gases.

Islamic State controls large areas of Syria, where the government has been destroying its chemical weapons, but not all the stockpiles have been accounted for.

The US and its allies has been targeting IS positions in Iraq and Syria since last August, destroying military equipment and killing the group's fighters.

Military chiefs are hoping they can re-take the key city of Mosul with the help of Iraqi forces this spring.

But there are concerns that Iraqi troops are not yet ready to do the fighting needed on the ground.

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Williams wins sixth Australian Open

By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova to win her sixth Australian Open and 19th Grand Slam title.

The American world number one served superbly to win a pulsating final 6-3 7-6 (7-5) after Sharapova fought back in the second set.

Williams, 33, moves past Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert with a 19th major singles title.

She has now beaten Russia's Sharapova, the world number two, 16 times in a row dating back to 2004.

"I have to congratulate Maria, she played a wonderful match and she really pushed me," said Williams.

"She played so well and gave me a great final not only for the fans, but for women's tennis. I'm really honoured to play her in the final."

Despite feeling so unwell during a rain delay in the first set that she left the court to vomit, Williams hit 18 aces and 38 winners as she won in one hour and 51 minutes.

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Australian Open: Rallies 'don't get better than this'

Seemingly unsure for a moment that an ace had sealed victory, she then shook hands with Sharapova and bounded over to the corner of Rod Laver Arena towards her player box.

It was a brilliant performance in a final that exceeded many expectations, bearing in mind the players' head-to-head record.

Sharapova made a nervous start, double-faulting to drop serve in game one, while Williams appeared keener than ever to shorten the points, possibly because of her ailment.

The American crushed the Russian's second serve and was not disrupted by a 12-minute rain break that led to the roof being closed.

Still feeling the effects of a heavy cold that has dogged her over the last week, Williams headed off court - in contrast to Sharapova - but the top seed returned at the potentially dangerous score of 3-2, 30-30, to calmly produce an ace and a forehand winner.

Breaks of serve were swapped before Williams took the set in 47 minutes with a backhand and a scream.

Sharapova was looking at another one-sided defeat when facing break points early in the second, but showed why she is a five-time Grand Slam champion.

She served her way out of trouble and managed to cling on in a set in which Williams hit 15 aces and won almost 90% of first-serve points.

A gripping contest developed, with Serena escaping at 3-2, 0-30 thanks to three aces and a service winner.

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Williams seals title with ace

Another game of three aces led to the American being called for hindrance after shouting "Come on" before the point had finished, and she mockingly mouthed "calm down" to herself after another winner soon after.

Sharapova would not give in, saving a match point with a screaming forehand winner to make it 5-5, and seeing off a second in the tie-break behind a bold second serve.

Williams had a third opportunity, however, and after an apparent ace was called a let - much to her disbelief - she clinched it with another unplayable serve.

"I've not beaten her for a long time, but I love every time I play her as she is the best and you want to play against the best," said Sharapova.

"I gave it everything. I love playing in the Rod Laver Arena, I've had some of my best memories and toughest losses but that is the life of a tennis player."

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Victim fund reaches £90k in two days

31 January 2015 Last updated at 12:20

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Alan Barnes has been staying with his sister since the attack

Donations to a disabled pensioner who was mugged outside his home have topped £100,000.

Alan Barnes, 67, was left too afraid to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead after the attack on Sunday.

Mr Barnes, who is visually impaired, broke his collarbone when he was pushed to the ground.

Following reports of the attack, which police described as "disgraceful", the Help Alan Barnes online donation page was created on the Go Fund Me site.

Beautician Katie Cutler, who set up the page, said it showed "there are so many lovely people out there".

"Not just people in the North East, but we've had people donating from Canada, Holland, down south, the USA, New Zealand.

"This person that hurt Alan, is just a minority."

Mr Barnes said it was "just unbelievable".

"I've heard of fundraising for charities but I've only got a fractured collarbone, I didn't expect that sort of response," he said.

"Thank you doesn't really seem to answer it, does it?"

'Restored faith'

Ms Cutler's aim was to raise £500, but that was quickly passed and, by 12:18 GMT on Saturday, it had reached exactly £100,000 with more than 7,600 people contributing.

Many had left comments wishing Mr Barnes well and praising Ms Cutler for what she had done.

One, Geoff Poole, said: "The life of Alan Barnes will be improved and he will feel safer, not only because of the extreme generosity of the people donating, but also because of the selfless act performed by Katie, who took the time to help someone she doesn't event know.

"Well done Katie, you have restored my faith in human nature."

Ms Cutler said she was "over the moon" and could not believe people's generosity.

There had also been offers of practical help from plumbers, electricians, bathroom and kitchen fitters, carpet layers and people donating furniture, she said.

Mr Barnes has lived with disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant.

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Tasers 'needed for all police'

31 January 2015 Last updated at 11:57

All front-line police in England and Wales should be offered Tasers in light of the increased terrorism threat, the head of the Police Federation says.

Steve White said the devices would help protect against "dangerous people" who could be preparing to attack officers.

"We've got to show our officers that we're taking the threat seriously," he told Radio 4's Today.

Chief Constables' lead expert on armed policing said extended use of Tasers should be linked to risk assessment.

Simon Chesterman, deputy head of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, is the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on armed policing.

"I support extended roll out of Taser if; linked to threat and risk assessment, standards not diluted, volunteers only," he tweeted.

Mr White told The Guardian that terrorists seeking to attract attention could attack at any time, anywhere in the UK.

The federation is to vote on the proposal to offer all frontline officers Taser training next month. Some officers may choose not to carry one, it says.

'Respond to threat'

Continue reading the main story

The alternative is to have officers out there without anything at all - we have to do something"

End Quote Steve White Police Federation

It has been shown that Tasers could keep officers and the public safe, Mr White told Today.

And he said police officers should be able to "respond to the current threat environment".

"We've got to make sure that we give them every opportunity to respond to the threat," he said.

"Because it's not just their personal safety, it's the safety of the public as well."

'Less than lethal'

He told the programme he was making the call after seeing the "usefulness" of Tasers.

Mr White made a similar call when vice-chair of the federation, following the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003 as a non-lethal alternative for firearms officers facing potentially dangerous suspects.

Officers are required to take a training course before being allowed to use a Taser and they are told only to deploy them when threatened with violence.

'Use sparingly'

Between January and June 2014, the weapons were fired 826 times out of the 5,107 occasions they were deployed.

There have been a number of deaths related to the use of the stun guns.

Amnesty International UK's arms programme director Oliver Sprague said: "We've always said that Tasers can have a part to play in policing operations where there's a clear risk of death or serious injury to police officers or members of the public - but Tasers should be used sparingly and only by highly-trained officers."

He also queried if there was evidence that a terrorist would be deterred by knowing police officers were armed with Tasers.

Sophie Khan, a solicitor, said the weapons are being used too often.

People who are mentally ill are being tasered, people from a certain minority background are being tasered," she said. " When there is an incident, the taser comes out and the person is tasered without really going through the motions of what it is that's happening in front of them.")

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Royal household 'like Wolf Hall'

31 January 2015 Last updated at 11:58

Clarence House's internal rivalries have led to a former staffer calling the Prince of Wales's base "Wolf Hall", says a new biography of the prince.

The Times reports that the book documents "common and bloody" turf wars between Prince Charles' staff.

Author Catherine Mayer claims in Charles: Heart of a King that in-fighting thwarted a deal to streamline his charity operations.

Clarence House told the BBC the biography was not authorised.

"One former householder refers to Clarence House as Wolf Hall, in reference to the treacherous and opportunistic world depicted by Hilary Mantel in her fictionalised account of the rise of Thomas Cromwell under Henry VIII," Ms Mayer writes in her book, according to the paper which is serialising it.

Ms Mayer's account says that his staff call him "the Boss" but the Queen's eldest son identifies with the hapless Blackadder character Baldrick.

She writes about the future king's "native insecurity", and states: "He doesn't always believe he's earned the praise that comes his way, while criticism has the power to cast him into despair."

She also claims that the Prince often changes his aides' job descriptions, leading to some feeling "threatened as colleagues are instructed to undertake work on turf they consider their own".

'Anxiety'

She writes of Charles: "Apart from his time in the Navy, he has never held a paying job and doesn't understand the anxiety such moves can create.

"No student of management theory, he believes rivalries promote better performance, rather than recognising the glitches and strains which territorial disputes can cause."

The reputed organisational problems led to the collapse of a plan to make the Prince's charity operations more efficient, according to Ms Mayer.

Several thousand pounds was allegedly spent on drawing up plans for housing 15 of his charities in the same building, in order to concentrate resources and make a bigger impact.

Ms Mayer writes: "Sources say internal conflicts scuppered the scheme after it was already significantly advanced, wasting money instead of saving it."

Clarence House pointed out the biography, contrary to some reports, was not authorised and the author did not have any exclusive access to the prince or his staff.

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Sydney inquest hears of siege deaths

29 January 2015 Last updated at 08:25

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The inquest is upsetting for the victims' families, reports Jon Donnison from Sydney

The start of an inquest into the Sydney cafe siege has heard that hostage Katrina Dawson was killed by fragments from a police bullet or bullets.

Another hostage, cafe manager Tori Johnson, was killed by a bullet to the head from gunman Man Haron Monis. His death prompted police to storm the Lindt Chocolate Cafe and kill Monis.

The inquest aims to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.

Eighteen people were taken hostage.

The stand-off at the cafe in Martin Place in Sydney's business district on 15 December led to a massive police operation and the shutdown of a large part of the city centre.

At the opening of the coroner's inquest in Sydney, Jeremy Gormly, the lawyer assisting the state coroner, said Ms Dawson was "struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets which ricocheted from hard surfaces into her body".

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Lawyer Jeremy Gormly: "Ms Dawson was struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets"

"I will not detail the damage done to Ms Dawson other than to say that one fragment struck a major blood vessel. She lost consciousness quickly and died shortly afterwards."

Australian media reports earlier this month had indicated that Ms Dawson, a 38-year-old barrister and mother of three young children, had died after being hit in the heart and shoulder by fragments from a police bullet.

Bomb claim

The inquest heard that Monis entered the cafe on the morning of 15 December with a sawn-off shotgun hidden in a plastic bag.

He ordered chocolate cake and tea, and asked to speak to the manager, Mr Johnson. After ordering Mr Johnson to lock the cafe, he announced: "This is an attack. I have a bomb."

Later that morning, Monis ordered Mr Johnson to phone Australia's emergency number.

He ordered the cafe manager to say that Australia was under attack from Islamic State militants and that Monis had planted radio-controlled bombs around the busy Sydney tourist precinct, Circular Quay, and Martin Place - none of which was true.

What the inquest wants to know

• How Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson were killed
• How police managed the siege, and what protocols they used, and how they managed hostages and the families during and after the siege
• Details of Monis's political associations and public activity, his religious claims, his criminal history, his media profile and his personal relationships
• How Monis was out on bail, particularly over the charges concerning the murder of his ex-wife.

Siege inquest: Key transcript extracts

A number of hostages managed to escape as the siege went on, then at 02:00 local time on 16 December, special police stormed the cafe after a police marksman saw Monis shoot the kneeling Mr Johnson in the back of the head.

Earlier unconfirmed reports in the Australian press had said Mr Johnson was shot while trying to disarm Monis, but this was not mentioned by the coronial report.

The inquest heard that Monis was killed instantly when police entered the cafe. At least two police bullets hit him in the head and 11 other bullets or fragments struck his body. The police used stun grenades, known as flash bangs, as they went in.

Monis fired five shots during the entire siege, the inquest heard.

The first shot was directed at hostages as they fled the scene. He then shot Mr Johnson. The other bullets were fired when police stormed the cafe. Monis was later found to have had 21 more cartridges in his pocket.

'Horrifying events'

Monis, who came to Australia as a refugee from Iran, had a history of religious activism and was on bail at the time of the siege for dozens of sexual assault charges and for being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.

He claimed to be a cleric and asked his hostages to display an Islamic flag during the siege. However, questions remain about whether he had any links to international militant networks.

His partner Amirah Droudis, who is also facing murder charges over his ex-wife, will be represented at the inquest.

"Rarely have such horrifying events unfolded so publicly," New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes told the court. "These events have precipitated an outpouring of emotion, anguish, anger, resentment and despair."

Outside court, one of the surviving hostages, 82-year-old John O'Brien said: "It's been very upsetting for Tori Johnson's family."

Six of Mr Johnson's family members attended the session. None of Ms Dawson's family were present.

The inquest has now adjourned. A date has yet to be announced for the next hearing. All the surviving hostages are expected to give evidence.

Meanwhile other investigations into the siege are continuing, including a joint federal and New South Wales state government review of why Monis was given asylum and eventually citizenship in Australia and why he was granted bail in 2013.

How the 16-hour Sydney siege unfolded

• 1. At 09:45 on Monday local time (22:45 GMT Sunday) police are called to the Lindt Chocolat Cafe in Sydney following reports of an armed robbery. It soon emerges a gunman is holding a number of people hostage.
• 2. Between 16:00-17:00, three men, then two women, sprint to safety from the cafe's side door - a fire exit.
• 3. Just after 02:00 on Tuesday, a loud bang is heard from the cafe and special operations officers advance towards the side door.
• 4. More hostages escape, running to safety on Elizabeth Street.
• 5. Moments later, commandos storm the cafe via a number of entrances. The remaining hostages escape.
• 6. Police officially confirm the end of the siege at 02:45 local time. They later report the deaths of three people, including the gunman.

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Malaysia declares MH370 an accident

29 January 2015 Last updated at 11:19

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Azharuddin Abdul Rahman: "We have reviewed all available data"

The Malaysian government has officially declared the disappearance of Malaysian Airline flight MH370 an accident and has said that there were no survivors.

No trace of the Beijing-bound aircraft has been found since it disappeared on 8 March 2014.

Officials said that the recovery operation is ongoing but that the 239 people onboard are now presumed dead.

The plane's whereabouts are still unknown despite a massive international search in the southern Indian Ocean.

The declaration on Thursday should allow compensation payments to relatives of the victims.

Malaysian officials added that the recovery of the missing aircraft remained a priority and that they have pursued "every credible lead".

Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Director-General Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said that it was "with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that we officially declare Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident.''

"All 239 of the passengers and crew onboard MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives," he said.

He added that Malaysia, China and Australia have spared no expense in the hunt for the plane.

Four vessels are currently searching the sea floor with specialised sonar technology in a remote stretch of ocean where the plane is believed to have ended its flight.

'No evidence'

Based on analysis of satellite and aircraft performance data, MH370 is thought to be in seas far west of the Australian city of Perth.

The vessels have so far searched an area of over 18,000 km sq (11,185 sq miles), according to officials.

The search area involved also has known depths of up to 6,000 m (19 685 ft).

Mr Azharuddin said that the progress of the safety investigation into the accident would be released soon, but that "at this juncture, there is no evidence to substantiate any speculations as to the cause of the accident".

The DCA said on Wednesday said that it planned to release an interim report on the investigation on 7 March, a day before the first anniversary of the disappearance.

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Murray in Australian Open final

Andy Murray came storming back after a poor start to beat Tomas Berdych and reach his fourth Australian Open final.

The British number one lost a tense first set but recovered to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 7-5.

It will be his eighth Grand Slam final and first working with Amelie Mauresmo, with ex-coach Dani Vallverdu now in Berdych's corner.

Murray, 27, will play the winner of Friday's semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.

More to follow

Also related to this story

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'No interest' in care insurance

29 January 2015 Last updated at 06:00 By Nick Triggle and Sophie Woodcock BBC News

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Alex Adamou on his mother's care: "You have to make cold-hearted calculations"

There are no plans for any insurance products to help people plan ahead for their care needs in old age, leading companies have told the BBC.

Creating such a market was one of the key aims underpinning the government's decision to introduce a cap on care costs from next year.

Two years ago Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped the plans would "open up an enormous market".

But 17 major companies said there was not enough interest in such policies.

Care experts said the revelation was a blow.

About 60% of people are expected to need care in their old age - with one in 10 facing costs in excess of £100,000.

From April 2016, the government is setting the cap on care at £72,000 from the age of 65. Currently people face unlimited costs - although those with little wealth get help towards their costs.

Under the change, once an individual has spent that sum, the state will pick up the bill for care - although people will still be liable for £230 weekly living costs if they are in a care home.

How does the care system for the over-65s work?

Care refers to everything from support provided in people's homes to round-the-clock help in care homes.

Unlike with the NHS, people have to pay towards these services.

Some get help from their local authorities, but others pay the full cost of their care. One in 10 people faces lifetime costs of more than £100,000.

About 420,000 people are currently living in care and nursing homes across the UK, while about one million receive help in their own home.

There are another 1.5 million people who rely on friends and family for support.

By covering the catastrophic costs, ministers hoped insurance policies would be offered to people so they could make small payments in the decades before they reached the age when they needed care.

The only products currently on the market are immediate needs annuities, which involve people paying a one-off lump sum - often about £100,000 - when they start needing care.

The idea is that they will then be paid an income over the rest of their life to cover the costs of care.

However, some people have reported the policies have failed to keep pace with the rising costs of care - and, because of the upfront money involved, they are out of the reach of many people.

Difficulties

The BBC approached 20 companies and received 17 responses as part of its Cost of Care project, which includes an online guide to how care works and what it costs.

The companies participated on the basis they would remain anonymous. One said a key problem was that people tended not to plan for retirement and the government's proposals had not "fundamentally changed that picture".

Another reported that few people were prepared to "defer consumption today to pay for an event which may not occur".

BBC Cost of Care project

Care Minister Norman Lamb said: "I do challenge the insurance industry - don't be conservative on this. Step up to the plate. They have a responsibility in my view too. We need to do this collaboratively.

"We've taken the steps that they wanted us to take to enable them to do these reforms. And I think they need to be ambitious and to recognise the importance of providing products so that people can plan for old age."

But Yvonne Braun, of the Association of British Insurers, said the industry was ultimately responding to the "law of supply and demand".

"If you wanted to sell to somebody in their 30s, 40s and 50s, or even 60s, I think you would find it very very difficult. Younger people... have other financial priorities - specifically paying off their mortgage and supporting their children."

She said it was more likely that other insurance products, such as critical illness cover and life insurance, would be adapted to cover care costs.

James Lloyd, director of the Strategic Society think tank, said there were always doubts the insurance industry would develop products.

"The government could lower the cap to try to encourage more interest, it could just accept that people will have to pay the £72,000 in costs or develop its own state insurance model - that has happened in Germany. But there really isn't an easy answer."

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Earthquake recorded in East Midlands

29 January 2015 Last updated at 10:51

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Yeshe Chodom in Rutland said the earthquake felt like "a massive explosion"

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 has been recorded in the East Midlands, the British Geological Survey has confirmed.

The epicentre was near the town of Oakham, in Rutland, at 22:25 GMT on Wednesday.

People reported feeling buildings shake and vibrations lasting as long as 10 seconds.

It comes after an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 was recorded in Hampshire on Tuesday.

The British Geological Survey (BGS), based in Edinburgh, said it had received 1,400 reports so far from people who felt the Oakham earthquake, including residents from as far away as Dudley and Huddersfield.

One person in Rutland told the survey it "sounded like a really large bomb had just gone off" and there was a "build up of rumbling and the house shook really violently".

Another said it was "like a loud explosion" and they looked for cracks in their house.

'Like Jurassic Park'

Other people reported books moving on shelves, dogs growling uneasily and "significant vibration" lasting for about 10 seconds.

One person in Grantham, Lincolnshire, reported: "I could see rings in my glass of wine! A bit like in Jurassic Park when the T Rex chases the car!"

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew was among those who tweeted about the tremor, saying: "The earth just moved in the Vale. I mean seriously. Anyone else feel it?"

The tremor comes after two earthquakes were recorded near Oakham in April last year.

The first, on 17 April, 2014, measured 3.2 in magnitude, followed by a second tremor the following day, which measured 3.5 in magnitude.

On Tuesday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 was recorded in Hampshire.

The British Geological Survey reported a tremor at a depth of 3km (1.9 miles) at Headbourne Worthy, just north east of Winchester.

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More school grades dip amid changes

29 January 2015 Last updated at 11:37 By Hannah Richardson and Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporters

The number of state secondaries in England said to be underperforming has more than doubled amid exam changes.

Some 330 schools failed to get 40% of pupils gaining five good GCSEs including English and maths, and making the expected progress.

This rise, from 154 last year, comes after ministers toughened exams and banned re-sits and some vocational qualifications from school tables.

Meanwhile scores of top private schools have ended up bottom of the tables.

These include renowned schools such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester and St Paul's Boys'.

This is due to the fact that, in some independent schools, pupils have continued to be entered for unregulated versions of qualifications, such as IGCSEs.

The changes have prompted claims from state and private school heads alike that the league tables are a "nonsense" and the results therein are not comparable with previous years.

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Users of the BBC News app click here to search for a school by postcode.

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School performance data released by the Department for Education - based on last summer's exam results - shows that on average 56.6% of pupils in state schools in England achieved the benchmark of five good GCSEs including maths and English.

Continue reading the main story

This is a decline of four percentage points on 2013, when 60.6% of pupils in state schools reached this benchmark.

The dip in the overall performance of schools comes in the wake of government changes designed to make exams more academically rigorous.

From this year, only a pupil's first attempt at a qualification is included for league table purposes. This was aimed at ending the practice of schools entering pupils for re-sits to boost their ranking.

The list of qualifications included has also been restricted to those the government says are of the highest academic quality, and the number of non-GCSEs counting has been capped at two.

The school with the best GCSE results was Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

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Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says league tables show "a period of transition"

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "For too long pupils were offered courses of no value to them and schools felt pressured to enter young people for exams before they were ready.

"By stripping out thousands of poor quality qualifications and removing re-sits from tables, some schools have seen changes in their standings.

"But fundamentally young people's achievement matters more than being able to trumpet ever higher grades."

IGCSE confusion

But for some schools, the confusion over which IGCSEs count towards the league tables has cast a cloud over this year's rankings.

The IGCSE - or international GCSE - is sat by candidates overseas, but has long been favoured by many private schools and some leading state schools as a more rigorous assessment.

They were once heavily promoted by the coalition government as a way of increasing rigour in the exams system, but now it wants pupils to take the new "more ambitious" GCSEs currently being phased into schools.

Many leading schools - such as Cheltenham Ladies' College, Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Oundle and Marlborough - are now reported as having 0% of pupils attaining the government's benchmark of five GCSEs at grades A*-C including maths and English.

Richard Harman, chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), which represents many leading independent schools, said the decision to drop IGCSEs made a "nonsense" of the tables.

"Several of the UK's most highly performing independent schools and others offering this excellent qualification will now appear to be bottom of the class in the government's rankings," he said.

"This obviously absurd situation creates further confusion for parents as they cannot compare schools' performance accurately and transparently.

"Many HMC schools will continue to offer the IGCSE, as experience tells us it is rigorous and offers a good basis for sixth-form study."

'Caught unawares'

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said "quite a few schools have fallen foul" of the various changes to school league tables "by continuing with exams that don't count".

"In spite of this, the children themselves have received a good set of qualifications," he added.

"This calls into question the validity of the performance tables.

"The government has promoted these qualifications [IGCSEs] heavily in the early years of the coalition, but now they have decided that they want everyone to do the new GCSEs.

"Lots of independent schools are carrying on with IGCSEs and have no intention of stopping - their reputation goes beyond the league tables."

He said some state schools had been "caught unawares", adding many were already unhappy with the way their results had been presented in government data. Now his association has launched alternative performance tables aimed at giving a more complete picture.

'Ambitious'

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "As part of our plan for education, we are making GCSEs more ambitious and putting them on a par with the best in the world, to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

"We have made important changes to a system that rewarded the wrong outcomes.

"We have stripped out qualifications that were of little value and are making sure pupils take exams when they are ready, not before."

The DfE added that in some independent schools, pupils had continued to be entered for unregulated qualifications that did not count in performance measures, such as IGCSEs, and not been moved across to the regulated certificate versions.

"The effect of this has been enhanced in 2013-14 by the final group of unregulated IGCSEs reaching the end of their grace period and not being included in results."

Head of the Nasuwt union, Chris Keates, said: "Every year the coalition government has changed the basis on which school performance is measured.

"It's unacceptable that schools, teachers, parents and children are subjected to this negative annual ritual."

And the National Union of Teachers argued that frequent changes to the league table measures meant that "yesterday's success story becomes today's failure - even though a school's quality will not have changed".

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Airport suspends flights due to snow

29 January 2015 Last updated at 11:59

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Flights are suspended at Manchester Airport as Joanna Gosling reports

Heavy snowfall has forced flights at Manchester Airport to be suspended as wintry weather disrupts travel across northern England.

The airport said it hoped to resume services later and advised passengers to arrive as normal.

Elsewhere, hazardous driving conditions have been reported and hundreds of schools have been closed across the North.

Parts of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the North East are the worst affected.

Click here for the latest on the Manchester Airport disruption

A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: "We have currently suspended all departures and arrivals for a short period of time, whilst we are in the process of clearing both runways of snow so we can resume operations as quickly as possible.

"The safety and security of all of our passengers is of paramount importance and we ask for them to come to the airport as normal but to check with their airline for any further update."

Passenger Charlotte Eames, who is travelling to Egypt from the airport, said she was sat on the plane for one hour before being told the plane would not leave.

"We have been told that earliest flight will be at 13:00 GMT. Snow ploughs are working and cleaning the runway. For now we are just waiting and have been given meal vouchers."

Sallie George, BBC News producer at Manchester Airport

"We got on our flight this morning, which was due to set off to Newark at 09:15 GMT and we sat here for about half an hour and then were told both runways were closed for about an hour.

"Since then, the weather has got much worse. It's like a blizzard outside at the moment.

"They're keeping us well informed and we've had a few announcements, but the latest we were told was 11:30 before the runways reopen.

"The de-icing vehicles have been out this morning but I think they're really fighting a bit of a losing battle and the snow has settled.

"We have a nice selection of films, but most people are keeping an eye on the weather really, looking through the windows and chatting about what their arrangements will be if they are not able to make their destination or their connecting flights."

Several road accidents have closed main routes and snow and ice have disrupted bus and train services.

Some flights have been delayed and cancelled at Newcastle International Airport.

In Hunwick, County Durham, resident David Parry said a lorry caught on fire after sliding backwards down a hill.

"In trying to drive out of the position he had got stuck in, two tyres set on fire and the fire then spread to the truck itself," he said.

Schools across northern England have been closed, with 150 in West Yorkshire, about 80 in the Bradford area, 45 in east Lancashire, 40 in South Yorkshire, 34 in Cumbria and 20 in Manchester.

In the North West on the M62 several vehicles have been stuck in snow causing long delays.

In the North East between Consett and Tow Law, near Durham, driver Mark Litt said drifting snow had resulted in the road only being passable by motorists in four-wheel drive vehicles.

In Scotland, wintry weather is causing hazardous driving conditions and has led to more than 130 school closures.

In Northern Ireland, snow showers are continuing to affect the road network with motorists warned about the risk of ice on roads.

Laura Young, from the Met Office, said the deepest snow fell in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland with 9ins (23cm) falling at Tulloch Bridge in Inverness-shire, 8ins (21cm) at Glenanne in Armagh and 5ins (13cm) at Spadeadam in Cumbria.

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Bank chief warns of pandemic threat

28 January 2015 Last updated at 01:42

The world is "dangerously unprepared" for future deadly pandemics like the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the president of the World Bank has warned.

Jim Yong Kim, speaking in Washington, said it was vital that governments, corporations, aid agencies and insurance companies worked together to prepare for future outbreaks.

He said they needed to learn lessons from the Ebola crisis.

More than 8,500 people have died, most in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

"The Ebola outbreak has been devastating in terms of lives lost and the loss of economic growth," Mr Kim told an audience at Georgetown University.

"We need to make sure that we get to zero cases in this Ebola outbreak. At the same time, we need to prepare for future pandemics that could become far more deadly and infectious than what we have seen so far with Ebola. We must learn the lessons from the Ebola outbreak because there is no doubt we will be faced with other pandemics in the years to come."

'Insurance policy'

Mr Kim said the World Bank Group had been working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), other UN agencies, academics, insurance company officials and others to work on a concept of developing a financial "pandemic facility".

He said he expected a proposal for this to be presented to leaders of developed and developing countries in the coming months.

Mr Kim said the proposal would probably involve a combination of bonds and insurance plans but that, in some ways, the facility could be similar to a homeowner's insurance policy.

"This could work like insurance policies that people understand, like fire insurance," he said.

"The more that you are prepared for a fire, such as having several smoke detectors in your house, the lower the premium you pay.

"The more that countries, multi-lateral institutions, corporations and donors work together to prepare for future pandemics - by building stronger health systems, improved surveillance and chains of supply and transportation, and fast-acting medical response teams - the lower the premium as well.

"That would benefit donors and others who would pay the premium, but the greatest benefit would be that market mechanisms would help us to push improvements in our preparedness for epidemics."

He said that one possible outcome of a pandemic facility would be a stronger World Health Organisation. He said disease-control agencies in developing countries could also develop greater capacity.

Mr Kim said informal talks on the subject had also been held at last week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Slow response

His talk, "Lessons from Ebola: Toward a post-2015 strategy for pandemic response", was the inaugural Global Futures Lecture at Georgetown.

Correspondents say there is general acknowledgement among governments and global health agencies that the international response to the Ebola crisis was belated and disorganised.

The WHO recently announced a series of reforms, admitting that it had been too slow to respond to the outbreak in West Africa.

At an emergency session in Geneva, director-general Margaret Chan said Ebola had taught the world and the WHO how they must act in the future.

She said the corner had been turned on infections but warned against complacency.

Reforms announced included a dedicated contingency fund "to support rapid responses to outbreaks and emergencies".

There would also be improvements in international co-ordination and greater support for countries that needed to respond quickly to emergencies.

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Many asthma diagnoses 'may be wrong'

28 January 2015 Last updated at 00:46 By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

More than a million adults in the UK may be wrongly diagnosed as asthmatic and be receiving unnecessary medication as a result, warns an NHS watchdog.

NICE says a third of adults diagnosed with this common lung condition have no actual clinical signs of asthma.

Some may have had asthma in the past, but many have probably been given an incorrect diagnosis, says NICE, which has drafted new advice for doctors.

But people should not stop medication on their own, warn experts.

Anyone who is concerned should talk to their doctor, they stress.

And asthma charities say under-diagnosis and under-treatment is still a big problem.

Three people die every day because of asthma. Most of these deaths could have been avoided through better control of the disease, says Asthma UK.

Asthma

• 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (one in 11) and 4.3 million adults (one in 12)
• Diagnosis can be difficult as there is no absolute test
• Doctors often rely on their own expertise and the patient's symptoms to reach a diagnosis
• NICE says doctors should use clinical tests to back up their diagnoses

Source: Asthma UK and NICE

Doctors already follow guidelines to help them diagnose and treat asthma patients but, until now, these have been based largely on experience and expertise rather than clinical evidence.

The new NICE guidelines for England, which are now out for consultation before final approval, say doctors should use more clinical tests to back up their judgement and avoid the danger of wrongly labelling someone as having asthma.

Continue reading the main story

Accurate diagnosis of asthma has been a significant problem which means that people may be wrongly diagnosed or cases might be missed"

End Quote Prof Mark Baker, from NICE

The best test to start with is spirometry - a machine which measures how much and how fast a person breathes out. Further breath tests may also be needed, says the guidance.

Prof Mark Baker, director of clinical practice at NICE, said: "Accurate diagnosis of asthma has been a significant problem which means that people may be wrongly diagnosed or cases might be missed in others.

"Our aim with this guideline is to give clarity and set out the most clinical and cost-effective ways to diagnose and monitor asthma based on the best available evidence."

Over-treatment is a concern because some of the drugs used to manage asthma can have significant side-effects.

Asthma UK welcomes the new guidelines - but warns there is also evidence asthma is under-diagnosed too - and that eight out of 10 asthma sufferers are still not getting the correct basic care.

Kay Boycott, Chief Executive at Asthma UK says: "Asthma has many complex causes which is one of the reasons why it is sometimes difficult to get a definitive diagnosis.

"It is also a highly variable condition that can change throughout someone's life or even week by week, meaning treatment can change over time.

"For anyone with an asthma diagnosis, it is vital they have the right medication and a plan to better manage their condition and any asthma attacks."

Have you been diagnosed with asthma? How do you feel about the advice from NICE? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.

Have your say

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Japan condemns Goto hostage video

28 January 2015 Last updated at 10:21

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Abe: "We need to work together as one on securing the release of Kenji Goto"

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said a new Islamic State (IS) video threatening to kill hostage Kenji Goto within 24 hours is "despicable".

In the footage a voice believed to be Mr Goto says he and a Jordanian pilot will be killed unless Jordan frees an Iraqi woman held on death row.

Mr Abe said Japan was working with Jordan to secure their release.

IS said on Sunday it had killed another Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa. It had demanded a $200m (£130m) ransom.

In the latest footage, released around midday on Tuesday, the speaker says Mr Goto has "only 24 hours left to live" and Jordanian hostage Moaz al-Kasasbeh "even less" unless Jordan releases Sajida al-Rishawi.

Al-Rishawi is an al-Qaeda militant who has been sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 attack that killed 60 people.

'Ensure safety of Japanese'

Kenji Goto, 47, is a well-known freelance journalist and documentary film-maker who went to Syria in October, reportedly to try to secure the release of fellow Japanese national Haruna Yukawa.

A video appeared on Sunday apparently showing Mr Goto holding a picture of what appeared to be the body of Mr Yukawa.

Speaking to reporters at the start of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, Mr Abe said he was appalled by the "utterly despicable" videos, and that the government was asking for Jordanian co-operation.

He called on ministers to "take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals at home and abroad," the AFP news agency reports.

The mother of Mr Goto appealed publicly to the prime minister to help her son.

"Please save him," she said. "Kenji has only a little time left."

Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent

The deal being offered by IS, whether genuine or not, goes right to the heart of the universal dilemma over hostage-taking. Do you give in to demands to win the release of your loved ones?

The Jordanian authorities, who were given a final 24 hours on Tuesday to make this decision, find themselves in a dreadful position. IS want the release of a convicted al-Qaeda terrorist from Iraq. To release her could be seen as giving in to terrorism.

Yet at the same time many Jordanians don't support their country's role in US-led air strikes on IS positions. They want their captured pilot to come home alive and for Jordan to stay out of the fight against IS.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama is in Amman negotiating with the Jordanian authorities.

On Tuesday night, several hundred relatives and supporters of the Jordanian pilot held a protest outside the prime minister's office in Amman, demanding he meet the IS demands.

Mr Kasasbeh's father, Safi al-Kasasbeh, told the Associated Press news agency: "The safety of Moaz means the stability of Jordan, and the death of Moaz means chaos in Jordan."

Who are Islamic State (IS)?

• Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
• It then captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
• Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
• Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of captives and public executions
• The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria

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Apple profit 'biggest in history'

28 January 2015 Last updated at 11:22

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Apple's China sales are up 70% - and about to grow further, John Sudworth reports

US technology giant Apple has reported the biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company.

Apple reported a net profit of $18bn (£11.8bn) in its fiscal first quarter, which tops the $15.9bn made by ExxonMobil in the second quarter of 2012, according to Standard and Poor's.

Record sales of iPhones were behind the surge in profits.

Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones in the three months to 27 December - well ahead of most analysts' expectations.

In a conference call with financial analysts Apple's chief executive Tim Cook said that demand for phones was "staggering".

However, sales of the iPad continued to disappoint, falling by 22% in 2014 from a year earlier.

Continue reading the main story

The demand for Apple's larger iPhone 6 Plus model appeared to help boost profits and increase the iPhone's gross profit margin - or how much Apple makes per product - by 2% to 39.9%.

However, Apple did not give a breakdown of sales for the iPhone 6 and other models.

Apple shares rose more than 5% in trading after the US markets had closed.

Buster Hein, who edits the "Cult of Mac" website, told the BBC that iPhone sales had surpassed expectations.

"Oh my gosh, it's unbelievable," he said. "I mean, a lot of us were expecting good iPhone sales during the holidays, but I don't think anybody really thought Apple was going to blow past 70 million units sold," he said.

"Apple became the number one smartphone company in China in the last quarter, which was just huge for them," he added.

Analysis: Richard Taylor, BBC North America Technology Correspondent

Apple's impressive results represent a significant shift towards the massive untapped potential of China.

With a strong line-up of devices entering the final quarter, it was able to reap the fruits of its deal with the world's biggest mobile network, China Mobile.

However, the success of its latest big-screen iPhones may have contributed to further cannibalising sales of the iPad.

The once unstoppable tablet is being further squeezed both by a resurgence in laptop sales, as well as by competition - both in an increasingly saturated US market and in emerging markets by lower-priced, rival machines.

All eyes now are on the Apple Watch - but with a relatively high base price it is not clear whether it will be able to woo more than the Apple faithful.

BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said the iPhone had "transformed the mobile phone industry".

"Others have a bigger share of the market - Samsung, for instance, actually sells more phones than Apple - but Apple makes just an extraordinary amount of money from this one phone.

"A lot of this, at the moment, is about China, where this brand has got extraordinary cachet. They [Apple] sold more phones in China in the last quarter than they have in the United States."

He added that one possible shadow on Apple's future was the question of whether the firm could repeat the success of the iPhone.

"The next one [product] that's supposed to be coming along is the Apple Watch in April," he said. "I've got some doubts as to whether that will be the mass market success, beyond the geek population, that the iPhone has been."

Currency woes

Apple's revenue grew to $74.6bn in 2014 - a 30% increase from a year earlier.

However, on a conference call to discuss earnings, Mr Cook complained of "fierce foreign exchange volatility", which added Apple to a growing list of US firms who have been hurt by the strong dollar abroad.

Apple said that currency fluctuations shaved 4% from its first-quarter revenue.

Sales in greater China hit $16bn in 2014 - a 70% increase from a year earlier, and almost equalling the $17bn in sales the company recorded in Europe last year.

A report by research firm Canalys released on Tuesday said that Apple had overtaken competitors to become China's number one seller of smartphones by units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Apple also said that its newest product, the Apple Watch, was still on schedule and would begin shipping in April.

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Greece will not default - PM Tsipras

28 January 2015 Last updated at 11:34

New Greek PM Alexis Tsipras says his country will not default on its debts.

Addressing his first cabinet meeting since Sunday's victory, Mr Tsipras said he would negotiate with creditors over the €240bn (£179bn; $270bn) bailout.

"We won't get into a mutually destructive clash, but we will not continue a policy of subjection," said the left-wing Syriza party leader.

The EU has warned his government to stick to its commitments. A default could force Greece out of the euro.

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Mark Lowen looks at the issues around a possible debt "haircut"

As the newly elected leader of the radical left party made his inaugural cabinet speech, Greek government bond yields rose to near record levels - reflecting investors' concerns about short-term risks of a debt restructuring over the coming months. The Greek stock market fell 6.4%.

Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its 2010 bailout, negotiated with the so-called troika - the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).

The economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and increasing unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty.

Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Athens

Alexis Tsipras sought to strike a balance - defiant about negotiating debt relief from the eurozone, while reassuring his European partners.

Across the eurozone, governments oppose a debt write-off for Greece.

The Netherlands has added its voice to that of Germany and France in insisting that Greece stick to its previous commitments. The Dutch finance minister, who heads the group of those in the eurozone, will be in Athens later this week for discussions.

Both sides will try to stick to their positions - and it may come down to which will blink first.

Mr Tsipras's speech is, perhaps, an olive branch extended from Athens after hardline pre-election rhetoric, but there is no sign that the new government will back down on its opposition to austerity.

Five things Syriza wants to change

Tsipras faces great expectations

Unbowed? Continue reading the main story

Vowing to defend Greek dignity, Mr Tsipras said a renegotiation of the Greek debts would be in search of "a viable, fair, mutually beneficial solution". He did not give any details.

Mr Tsipras promised "realistic proposals" for an economic recovery and vowed to fight corruption and tax evasion.

His recovery plan was aimed at preventing deficits in the future.

Mr Tsipras's new coalition government - with the right-wing Greek Independents - was sworn into office on Tuesday, after sweeping to power on the pledge of ending years of austerity.

The Greek government's chief economics spokesman, Euclid Tsakalotos, has argued that it is unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full.

The current bailout programme of loans to Greece ends on 28 February. There are still 1.8bn euros of loans that could be disbursed to Greece if it meets the conditions imposed by the troika.

Economists estimate that Greece needs to raise about 4.3bn euros in the first quarter of 2015 to help pay its way, with Athens possibly having to ask the IMF and eurozone countries.

The new government, however, has announced that it is putting on hold major privatisation projects, including the port of Piraeus and the main power company, the Public Power Corporation of Greece.

Greek economy in numbers

• Average wage is €600 (£450: $690) a month
• Unemployment is at 25%, with youth unemployment almost 50%
• Economy has shrunk by 25% since the start of the eurozone crisis
• Country's debt is 175% of GDP
• Borrowed €240bn (£188bn) from the EU, the ECB and the IMF

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Glitter sobs over child porn images

28 January 2015 Last updated at 12:19

Gary Glitter broke down in tears as he explained to jurors why he had been in possession of child pornography images.

Sobbing uncontrollably, the 70-year-old said he had been in a bad place in his life, and was struggling financially, with alcohol and with drugs.

He issued a tearful apology to his fans saying: "I lost my own dignity, and I am so sorry. I am very sorry."

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, denies 10 charges relating to three girls between 1975 and 1980.

In November 1997, when Glitter went to pick up a Toshiba laptop he had handed to a PC World branch in Bristol, he was arrested, Southwark Crown Court in London heard.

The engineer who examined the machine had discovered images on it related to child pornography.

Glitter subsequently admitted responsibility for a "large number" of images - depicting a full range of sexual activity taking place between men and very young children - being on his computer.

He was jailed for four months in 1999 for the collection of 4,000 images.

In cross-examination, prosecutor John Price QC, asked the singer: "Why were you looking at pictures of men having sex with young children?"

Immediately breaking into sobs and reaching for a tissue, Glitter replied: "I was in a very bad place in my life at that time and I had a lot of very serious decisions to make about my future."

He added that he had invested £200,000 in his own career, and that his record company and fans were demanding a lot from him.

'I was abused'

Mr Gadd said that at that stage in his life he was not able to empathise with the child victims of the indecent images that were found on his computer, but added that he now recognised the damage caused to the vulnerable youngsters.

He said: "I was abused as a child so maybe I was trying to work my own feelings out.

"Today it would not happen, I have no interest in looking at that awful porn now.

"[I have] absolutely no interest at all, it has destroyed my life, it has destroyed my family's life and it has most likely destroyed all those poor victims' lives. I have total empathy for those poor children."

In this trial, Mr Gadd is accused of attempting to rape and indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in 1975.

Glitter was quizzed about this accusation where it is alleged that the youngster was lying in bed with a friend when he is said to have attacked her.

'Racked my brains'

But Glitter said he had no recollection of the girl, asserting that he did not try to rape her and that he had no clue why she had made up the allegations.

"I can't say why anybody would dislike me," Glitter told jurors. "I did not try to rape her or any other child."

"I have absolutely racked my brains to wonder why she could say such a terrible thing."

He is also charged with four counts of indecent assault on a fan in 1977 at hotels in Leicester and Birmingham when she was aged 12 and 13; plying the same girl with alcohol, and having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

Two further charges allege he indecently assaulted a girl of 13 on a date between October 1979 and December 1980, in his dressing room at a venue in Watford where he was performing.

The trial continues.

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Murder negligence claim rejected

28 January 2015 Last updated at 11:54

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Joanna's mother, Angela: "I've lost a wonderful daughter"

The family of a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend after a 999 delay have been told they cannot sue two police forces for negligence.

Joanna Michael, 25, from St Mellons, Cardiff, rang 999 twice before Cyron Williams stabbed her to death in 2009.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) ruled she was failed by South Wales and Gwent Police.

The Supreme Court said Ms Michael's family would not be able to proceed with claims against the two forces.

Ms Michael's parents and children won the right to try to bring a claim for damages against both police forces in 2011, but it was thrown out by the Court of Appeal because police officers have immunity from negligence claims.

'Wonderful daughter'

The family had hoped the Supreme Court would overrule the ruling, but were left disappointed on Wednesday when the justices sitting decided by a 5-2 majority to dismiss the family's appeal.

Speaking on the steps of the court Ms Michael's mother Angela said: "I have lost a wonderful daughter. The children have lost a loving mother and provider.

"I brought this case to secure damages for the children and also to make the police answerable for their failures to deal effectively with serious domestic violence cases.

She added: "I take some comfort that the appeal may bring this problem to the attention of the nation. It is unacceptable in modern Britain that a doctor can kill a patient through a negligent act or omission and be liable to pay compensation, but where the police fail and someone dies they are immune in negligence."

The seven justices also unanimously dismissed a cross-appeal by the chief constables of South Wales and Gwent Police.

The forces wanted to block the appeal court judges' linked ruling that the family should be allowed to go ahead with a claim that their Article 2 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights were breached by a police failure to protect Joanna's life.

Reading out the judgement Lord Neuberger passed on his "considerable sympathy" for Ms Michael's family.

Jailed for life

On the night of the murder on 5 August 2009, Williams, 19 at the time, broke into Ms Michael's home and found her with another man.

She called 999 at 02:29 BST and told the Gwent Police operator Williams was at the house and had threatened to kill her.

The call went through to Gwent Police but was passed to South Wales, the force covering the area of Ms Michael's address.

Once transferred, the call should have been graded as requiring an immediate response, but was instead graded at a lower level.

When officers had still not arrived, Ms Michael called 999 again at 02:43 BST and was heard screaming before the line went dead.

Police arrived at 02:51 BST but in the 22 minutes it took them to respond to her first call the mother of two had been stabbed 72 times. Her children were in the house at the time.

Williams was jailed for life in March 2010 after admitting murder at Cardiff Crown Court.

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