'Good chance' of Iran nuclear deal

The representatives of world powers have been meeting for many months to secure a deal

Russia's foreign minister has said prospects of a preliminary agreement on Iran's nuclear programme are "very good" on the final day of negotiations.

Sergei Lavrov said he was rejoining the talks in Switzerland on Tuesday, suggesting they were close to a deal.

Marathon negotiations between Iran and foreign ministers from six world powers are nearing a self-imposed deadline.

Ministers want to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crippling sanctions.

Correspondents say difficulties remain, despite statements from officials saying definite progress had been made.

Mr Lavrov announcement that he was rejoining negotiations followed a statement, as he left the talks on Monday, that he would only return if there was a realistic chance of securing an agreement.

"I believe that the prospects are very good and promising," he told a news conference on Tuesday.

Mr Lavrov said on Monday that he would only return to the talks if a deal was likely

US Secretary of State John Kerry said talks on Monday had produced "a little more light".

But he said: "There are still some tricky issues. Everyone knows the meaning of tomorrow."

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but world powers are worried about the country developing nuclear weapons.

They want to keep Iran at least one year away from being able to produce enough fuel for a single weapon.

The final hours of negotiation in Lausanne are taking place between foreign ministers from the so-called P5+1 - comprising the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is also present.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he was "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a deal

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the "marathon-like" negotiations had entered the final stage and that he was "cautiously optimistic".

The differences between the parties were narrowing, he said.

At the scene: Barbara Plett, BBC News, Lausanne

Negotiators worked late into the night and are continuing talks this morning in an all-out effort to meet the deadline.

The six global powers are closer than they have ever been to resolving the longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear programme. Progress has been made on steps to curb and monitor Iran's production of enriched uranium, which can be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.

But substantive differences remain. These include the pace of sanctions relief and the nature of restrictions on Iran's nuclear research and development.

If a broad framework agreement is reached by the end of the day, it would be used as the basis of a final accord. No-one here has given a clear answer as to what would happen if it is not.

Sense of history at Iran talks

Six key points in the nuclear crisis

How do Iranians see the nuclear talks?

Ministers are aiming to agree on a political framework agreement by Tuesday night that would lead to a final and comprehensive accord by 30 June.

Senior Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi told Iranian TV that he was "hopeful" about a deal, but that ministers were not in a position to say whether they were close to resolving all the issues.

Iranian and Western officials have said that a deal is possible, but after almost 18 months of negotiations several sticking points remain.

Three of the major outstanding issues are:

• Length of restrictions - Iran's nuclear activities would be strictly limited for at least 10 years. After that, Iran wants all limits to be lifted. The P5+1 says they should be removed progressively over the following five years
• Sanctions relief - Iran wants the UN sanctions suspended soon after an agreement. The P5+1 says they should be eased in a phased manner, with restrictions on imports of nuclear-related technology remaining for years
• Non-compliance - The US and its European allies want a mechanism that would allow suspended UN sanctions to be put back into effect rapidly if Iran reneges on a deal. Russia reportedly accepts this, but wants to ensure its Security Council veto rights are protected

Another point of contention is Iran's desire to be able to develop advanced centrifuges, which could enrich uranium faster and in greater quantities. While enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, it can also be used to make nuclear bombs.

Adding to the list of issues to be resolved, Iran's lead negotiator has ruled out sending its existing stockpile of nuclear fuel abroad, one of the steps demanded by the P5+1.

Meanwhile, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a deal, saying it would send the message "that Iran stands to gain by its aggression".

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Turkey hit by massive power cut

The power cut led to queues at some petrol stations in Istanbul

A massive power cut has hit dozens of provinces across Turkey, with officials saying a break in connections with mainland Europe could be to blame.

The cuts affected power stations and public transport, including Istanbul's tram and metro systems.

A crisis centre has been set up at the energy ministry.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said all possible causes are being examined, including terrorism. The cut hit at 10:36 (07:36 GMT) on Tuesday morning.

By early afternoon the Turkish Electricity Transmission company said only 15% of Istanbul and Ankara had power. Istanbul's transport company said all of its lines were back up and running.

Turkish TV reported that power had been re-established in the cities of Edirne, Tekirdag, Erzurum and Trabzon.

"Our main target right now is to restore the network. This is not an incident that we see frequently," Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Turkish media.

Turkey suffers from sporadic electricity cuts but locals say they cannot remember such a nationwide cut for a generation, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul.

One of the few cities unaffected by the power cut was Van in the east of the country, where electricity is supplied from Iran.

Are you in Istanbul? Have you been affected by the power cuts? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist please include a telephone number.

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'Slave contract' teacher struck off

Kelvin Loraine was a maths teacher at Hetton School

A teacher who admitted having sex with a teenage girl and asking her to sign a "slave contract" with him, has been banned from the classroom.

Kelvin Loraine, from Durham, began an online relationship with the girl when she was 15, a disciplinary panel heard.

He encouraged her to send him explicit photos of herself, the National College for Teaching and Leadership was told.

The 31-year-old worked at Hetton School, near Sunderland, but the girl was not a pupil.

The panel concluded Mr Loraine, who received a caution from Durham Police in July 2014 for possessing an indecent photograph of a child, should never work in a classroom again.

He met the girl, who cannot be named, on an online chatroom in March 2013 when she was 15 years old.

He encouraged her to send him between 30 and 40 sexually explicit pictures of herself, but claimed they did not have sex until after her 16th birthday at a hotel in Plymouth.

The panel said the pair entered into the "slave contract" shortly after she turned 16.

It said Mr Loraine's behaviour amounted to serious sexual misconduct.

In its conclusion, the panel said: "The panel have judged the facts to amount to both unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute.

"The panel are satisfied that Mr Loraine's behaviour is incompatible with being a teacher.

"Despite his previous good history as a teacher and his expressions of regret, the panel have recommended that it is both appropriate and proportionate to impose a prohibition order."

Hetton School said Mr Loraine, who taught maths, was suspended when his police caution came to light. He resigned shortly afterwards.

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Children fear 'addiction to porn'

A tenth of 12 to 13-year-olds fear they are "addicted" to pornography, an NSPCC ChildLine survey has concluded.

One in five of nearly 700 youngsters surveyed said they had seen pornographic images that had shocked or upset them, researchers found.

The charity also says that 12% of those surveyed said they had taken part in, or had made, a sexually explicit video.

It says that viewing porn is "a part of everyday life" for many of the children who contact its helpline.

ChildLine has launched a campaign to raise awareness and provide advice to young people about the harmful implications of an over exposure to porn following the survey results.

'Aggressive'

One boy under the age of 15 told ChildLine that he was "always watching porn, and some of it is quite aggressive".

He said: "I didn't think it was affecting me at first but I've started to view girls a bit differently recently and it's making me worried.

"I would like to get married in the future but I'm scared it might never happen if I carry on thinking about girls the way I do."

A girl, who is now 17, told the BBC that she was sexually assaulted by her boyfriend when they were both 12 years old.

"He thought it was OK on some level," she said.

"I felt dirty, confused, shocked.

"Pornography isn't just a 10-minute video - it has consequences."

The ChildLine Fight Against Porn Zombies (FAPZ) campaign uses a series of animations looking at the implications of overexposure to porn for boys and girls.

The animations link to a range of information and advice to help young people understand the effects of replicating pornographic content in real life and to protect them from putting themselves at risk.

We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent as soon as we feel they are ready

Dame Esther Rantzen, ChildLine founder

'Easy access'

Peter Liver, director of ChildLine, said that it was important to talk openly about the issue.

"Children of all ages today have easy access to a wide range of pornography," he said. "If we as a society shy away from talking about this issue, we are failing the thousands of young people it is affecting.

"We know from the young people who contact ChildLine that viewing porn is a part of everyday life, and our poll shows that one in five 12 to 13-year-olds thinks that watching porn is normal behaviour.

"They tell ChildLine that watching porn is making them feel depressed, giving them body image issues, and making them feel pressured to engage in sexual acts they're not ready for."

He welcomed the announcement last week of plans to teach children from the age of 11 about rape and sexual consent as part of personal, social and health education (PSHE) in schools.

"Our campaign clearly complements this proposal," he said.

"Across society, we need to remove the embarrassment and shame that exists around talking about porn - which is why we are launching this activity and helping young people to make more informed choices."

'Damaging and upsetting'

Dame Esther Rantzen, ChildLine's founder, said it was shocking that children as young as 11 are approaching the helpline with concerns about pornography.

"Young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships," she said.

"We know they are frequently stumbling across porn, often unintentionally, and they are telling us very clearly that this is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them.

"Girls in particular have said they feel like they have to look and behave like porn stars to be liked by boys."

Dame Esther said that improved education was vital.

"We absolutely have to talk to young people about sex, love, respect and consent as soon as we feel they are ready, to ensure that they gain a proper perspective between real-life relationships and the fantasy world of porn," she said.

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Borneo man guilty of Britons' murder

Aidan Brunger, left, and Neil Dalton were in the last few days of a six-week medical placement

A Malaysian court has found a local man guilty of murdering two British medical students in Borneo.

Newcastle University students Aidan Brunger and Neil Dalton, both 22, were stabbed in a bar in Kuching, Sarawak, in August 2014.

Fishmonger Zulkipli Abdullah, 23, had denied their murder but admitted being involved in a street fight with them along with two other men.

The penalty for murder in Malaysia is a mandatory sentence of death by hanging.

In a joint statement, the parents of Mr Dalton, from Ambergate, Derbyshire, and Mr Brunger, from Hempstead, Kent, paid tribute to their sons.

Phil and Jan Dalton and Paul Brunger and Sue Hidson spoke of the devastation their deaths had caused.

"They were two exceptional young men with such promise - kind, funny and full of life. Their deaths have left their families and many good friends utterly devastated," it read.

"Our sons would soon have qualified as doctors. Their unprovoked and senseless murders as they were walking home after a night out with other medical students mean that Aidan and Neil will never have the chance to spend their lives caring for and helping others.

"They would have given so much to the world. We are so very proud of both of them and in what they achieved in their all too short lives.

"Although we are pleased that the man responsible for their murders has been held accountable, the guilty verdict does not bring our sons back."

Paul Brunger was in court and said the loss of his son was "devastating"

Jennifer Pak, BBC News, Kuching

The case itself has been very shocking to people here. Many have told us that this is a peaceful place, a tourist town where foreigners are welcome.

People said such violent incidents are rare, and they hope it will not tarnish their image and prevent tourists from coming here in the future.

We spoke to officials at the Sarawak General Hospital and they did not say any students were scared of attending the programme since these murders. They did, however, say they have warned the students to be careful about staying out too late in the bar district.

They have not added any extra security protection for them. They see this as a one-off incident, that it is not common.

Mr Dalton and Mr Brunger had almost completed a work placement at a hospital in Kuching.

They were found sprawled in the road by cafe workers in the Jalan Padungan area of the city, in the early hours of 6 August, last year.

The trial heard Zulkipli Abdullah admitting being involved in a fight with the two students and punched one of them.

But he denied stabbing them or carrying a knife.

He is expected to appeal against the judgement.

Zulkipli Abdullah admitted he had been in a fight with the students

Newcastle University has awarded the two students honorary medical degrees.

Medical School Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Jane Calvert, said the student community was "shattered and shocked" by their deaths.

"They were very bright boys who had a great career ahead of them and this was just such a tragedy," she said.

Dean of Undergraduate Studies Jane Calvert said the student community had been "shattered" by the deaths

"What we have to recognise is that this was the sort of incident that is very difficult to guard against and it's the sort of thing that could happen anywhere."

Students going on placements abroad were briefed by the university on health and safety and every student completed a risk assessment form, Professor Calvert said.

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UK's growth for 2014 revised up

The UK's economy grew at a faster pace than initially estimated last year, revised official figures show.

The economy grew by 0.6% in the final three months of 2014, up from the previous estimate of 0.5%, the Office for National Statistics said.

The unexpected increase meant growth for the year was 2.8%, higher than the earlier estimate of 2.6%.

The revised rate marks the highest pace of annual growth since 2006, when the economy grew by 3%.

An expansion in both production and services as well as household spending helped to drive the increase, the official data suggested.

But the biggest contribution to the revised figure was a strong performance of exports, the ONS said.

'Vulnerable'

The revised figure was revealed alongside data showing that the UK's current account deficit - the gap between the income paid to, and received from, the rest of the world - narrowed in the final quarter of last year.

The deficit in the three months to December was £25.3bn, down from the record-high of £27.7bn recorded in the previous quarter.

But for the year as a whole, the deficit widened to 5.5% of GDP, marking the largest annual deficit since records began in 1948.

UBS economist David Tinsley said the large deficit largely reflected weakness in UK overseas earnings "which may turn around if the eurozone recovery heats up".

"Still, regardless of the cause, funding a deficit of this size makes the UK vulnerable in a year when political uncertainty is relatively high," he added.

'Touch pessimistic'

Separately, UK consumer confidence rose to its highest level in more than 12 years in March, a survey from researchers GfK showed.

And separate figures from the ONS showed that the financial well-being of UK households improved last year.

Overall, economists suggested the figures boded well for the UK economy this year.

Analysis by Robert Peston, BBC Economics editor:

The UK's economic performance, in the round and as it touches people, is definitely improving - and looks good compared with competitor nations, especially those across the Channel.

GDP or national income per capita is 4.8% above where it was at the election - although it is still 1.2% below its peak at the start of 2008, before the Great Recession and financial crisis.

And if we measure our well-being by how much we spend, then things are definitely better - since household consumption per head is 3% higher than it was in the middle of 2010.

That said, many would argue that our recovery remains unbalanced and far too dependent on consumer spending: that we are experiencing "same-as-it-ever-was" growth, of the boom-and-bust variety.

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"Given the outlook for consumer spending, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility's forecast of 2.5% for 2015 looks a touch pessimistic, and could come under some upward pressure in the coming months," said Ben Brettell, senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Martin Beck, senior economic advisor to the Ernst & Young economic forecaster ITEM Club, said he remained confident about its prediction that GDP would expand by close to 3% in 2015.

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Election fight over living standards

David Cameron said the Conservatives were running on a "record of economic success"

The Conservatives and Lib Dems have heralded pre-election figures showing rising household incomes as proof that their economic strategy is working.

Disposable incomes per head were up 1.9% at the end of 2014 against a year earlier and 0.2% higher than when the government came to power in May 2010.

Chancellor George Osborne said it was part of a "hat-trick" of good economic news, allied to stronger GDP growth.

But Labour said working families were "struggling" as incomes were squeezed.

The latest bulletin on the state of the UK economy from the Office for National Statistics is the last to be published before the general election on 7 May, in which economic management and living standards will be crucial issues.

In the other main developments on day two of the official election campaign:

• Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called for £1.2bn in extra annual funding to "unleash the economic potential of Wales" as it published its manifesto
• The Lib Dems promised to spend an extra £3.5bn on mental health while Labour said it would cut corporation tax for small business in its first Budget
• David Cameron defended plans to cut a further £12bn from the welfare bill and refused to rule out taxing disability benefits after Chancellor George Osborne said there would no further details before the election
• The Conservative leader also defended the number of personal attacks on Ed Miliband, saying he "makes no apology for putting Labour on the table"
• UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused David Cameron of making a "sham promise" on immigration at the last election

Official figures published on Tuesday showed British households were slightly better off in the fourth quarter of 2014 than they were when the coalition came to power.

The government's preferred measure - real household disposable incomes per head - was 0.2% higher in the final quarter of 2014 than in the second quarter of 2010.

It came as figures for economic growth in 2014 were revised upwards to 2.8% and separate indicators suggested economic confidence was at a 12-year high.

In response. Mr Osborne tweeted: "Hat trick of good news just out from ONS: GDP revised up, consumer confidence up, living standards up."

'Hard-earned'

And Lib Dem Treasury Minister Danny Alexander said it was a vindication of the party's influence on their Conservative coalition partners.

"Handing back control of our economy to either Labour or the Tories in government on their own in this election will put all this hard earned progress at risk," he said.

But shadow chancellor Ed Balls, speaking at a campaign event in Swindon, said Conservatives were "telling people you have never had it so good" despite it being the "slowest recovery for 100 years".

"This is a government which has presided over five years when wages have not kept pace with rising prices and family bills," he said.

Labour's Ed Balls said it had been the slowest recovery for 100 years

Plaid want to use their influence in a hung Parliament to get more funding for Wales

"George Osborne and David Cameron want to spend the next six weeks going round the country saying you are better off.

"I say 'bring it on' because working people are really struggling in our country and we can do better than this."

Policy guide: Economy

This issue includes the wider economy and deficit reduction but also employment and the role of business.

The second day of official campaigning has seen a flurry of pledges on jobs, tax and health, with the Lib Dems saying their manifesto would commit them to increasing total spend on mental healthcare to £3.5bn over the next six years.

This would include £250m over five years for new services for mothers suffering from depression and to help reduce waiting times.

Full BBC Election 2015 coverage

Equality for people with mental health issues is a "liberal mission", leader Nick Clegg said, adding the party would "make sure mental health is treated with the same urgency as physical health, with money to back that up, and challenge the stigma every day".

Pollwatch

David Cowling, editor, BBC Political Research

Following the flurry caused by YouGov's 4% Labour lead this Sunday, we had three polls on Monday telling a different story. Populus had Conservative and Labour tied on 34%; Ashcroft had a 2% Conservative lead (36% versus 34%) and ComRes had a 4% Conservative lead (36% versus 32%).

Among all four polls, the average Lib Dem rating was 8%, UKIP's was 13% and the Greens at around 6%. We've barely started our long road to 7 May but perhaps this campaign will develop into a battle of methodologies - telephone versus internet polls.

The two telephone polls (Ashcroft and ComRes) had the highest Conservative ratings - 36% each; and the two internet polls (YouGov and Populus) had the lowest - 34% and 32%. YouGov represented a 5.5% swing from Conservative to Labour, enough to give Labour a majority: ComRes suggested a 1.5% swing to Labour, barely a ripple on the election pond.

BBC Poll tracker

Conservative leader David Cameron said the party was focusing on their "positive vision" for the country amid criticism about the frequency of his attacks on the Labour leader Ed Miliband in recent days.

He said the UK could create two million more jobs by 2020 - similar to the 1.9 million created in the last Parliament under the coalition - exceeding independent forecasts.

"We have kept tax low for business, we have encouraged people to invest in our country, we have invested in skills, we have trained two million apprentices in this Parliament," he told BBC Breakfast.

However, Mr Cameron said he would not stop making Labour's tax and spending plans an issue, saying the opposition had "not even reached base camp" in terms of setting out their deficit reduction plans.

Labour has been highlighting its existing plan to cut business rates for small business properties and then freeze them by promising to take action in his first Budget.

The party says the measure would save businesses an average of £400 and would be funded by cancelling a planned cut in corporation tax for large companies planned by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition.

"This is the right priority when money is tight," Mr Balls said. "And it will mean that the tax burden on small businesses will be lower with Labour than under the Tories."

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Senior nurse admits raping patients

Andrew Hutchinson is due to be sentenced on 27 April

A former senior hospital nurse has admitted raping, sexually assaulting and spying on female patients including some who were unconscious.

Andrew Hutchinson, who worked at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, pleaded guilty to 27 counts including rape, voyeurism and sexual assault.

The 29-year-old also admitted spying on women at a leisure centre and sexually assaulting women at a music festival.

His victims were aged between 10 and 35, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Hutchinson, from Abingdon, sexually assaulted four unconscious patients in curtained areas in the hospital's A&E department and others were abused at Wilderness music festival.

He also used a camera to spy on women and children at the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon.

The offences took place between 2011 and 2013.

Hutchinson was sacked by the hospital after he was arrested.

He was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of voyeurism offences at the leisure centre in November 2013 and charged in December last year.

Police later charged him with a further 30 offences on 30 January after images on devices seized from him, including a mobile phone, computer equipment, memory stick and camera revealed other incidents.

He has been remanded for sentencing on 27 April.

Det Ch Insp Mark Johns said described the case as "complicated and unusual case" as some patients were not conscious.

"I have no doubt that Hutchinson would have continued to offend had he not been arrested," he said.

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Parents rarely spot child obesity

Parents hardly ever spot obesity in their children, resulting in damaging consequences for health, doctors warn.

In a study of 2,976 families in the UK, only four parents thought their child was very overweight. Medical assessments put the figure at 369.

The researchers, writing in the British Journal of General Practice, said obesity had become the new normal in society.

Experts said the study showed the "enormity" of the obesity epidemic.

Around one in five children in Year 6 is obese and a further 14% are overweight, the National Child Measurement Programme shows.

Blind spot

The team, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the UCL Institute of Child Health, gave questionnaires to nearly 3,000 families asking if their child was obese, overweight, underweight or a healthy weight.

The results showed that nearly a third, 31%, of parents underestimated the weight of their child.

An accurate diagnosis kicked in only at the very high end of the scales.

Prof Russell Viner, from the Institute of Child Health, told the BBC News website: "Modern parents don't recognise children as obese.

"If parents don't recognise a child is obese then they're very unlikely to do anything to help their child move to a more healthy weight.

"Then it's a potential major public health crisis being stored up."

The main explanation for parents not identifying their child's weight problem is that society as a whole has become so fat we have collectively lost our sense of a healthy weight.

The chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, raised this issue of overweight becoming the new norm in her annual report last year.

"We need to find some tool to educate parents, when their child is born, what they should expect a child's size to be and not to be afraid of talking to parents over fears they, or the child, will react badly," Prof Viner said.

'Role models'

Commenting on the findings, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, Shirley Cramer, said: "School education from a young age should focus on the importance of active lifestyles and healthy diets to ensure our society is one that understands the relationship between diet and good health.

"Parents are key role models for their children and it is imperative they are aware of all the factors that can influence health.

"However, it is not just the role of the parents, society as a whole needs to help enforce messages about eating well."

She said restricting junk food advertising would help as would better calorie labelling on food.

Tam Fry, from the Child Growth Foundation, told the BBC: "To the obesity specialist it is incomprehensible that parents cannot tell if their children are overweight.

"You sometimes have to wonder if they are in total denial, but when you realise that even health professionals may often have difficulty in recognising obesity in their patients, the enormity of our obesity epidemic sinks in.

"The knock-on risk of extreme overweight to the individual's and country's health cannot be emphasised enough."

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Iran nuclear talks near key deadline

Talks have resumed in Switzerland ahead of Tuesday's deadline for a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran.

Foreign ministers from six world powers are meeting their Iranian counterpart, amid hopes of a breakthrough after almost 18 months of negotiations.

They want to impose limits that would prevent Iran from producing enough fuel for a nuclear weapon within a year.

Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, wants to see crippling sanctions lifted in return.

Iranian and Western officials have said that a deal is possible, but that some issues are still to be resolved.

The negotiations in Lausanne were expected to intensify on Monday, with foreign ministers from the so-called P5+1 - comprising the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - meeting Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif. The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is also there.

Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier (centre) said the "endgame" of the negotiations had begun

They are aiming to agree on a political framework by Tuesday night that would set the stage for talks on the technical details of a comprehensive accord, due by 30 June.

"We are here because we believe a deal can be done," UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told reporters as he arrived in Lausanne on Sunday night.

"But it has to be a deal which puts the bomb beyond Iran's reach," he added. "There can't be any compromise about that."

At the scene: Lyse Doucet, BBC News, Lausanne

It's going down to the proverbial wire in this crucial round of nuclear talks. One Western diplomat spoke of "some quite important gaps".

Two main disputes continue to be which sanctions will be lifted and when, and what kind of nuclear research and development Iran can still pursue.

As Iran's team sits with all six foreign ministers, observers say it's still not clear if they're engaging in high stakes bargaining or have no more political space to move forward.

For Iran, elements like ending sanctions tied to UN Security Council resolutions matter in financial and political terms. For world powers, "putting the bomb beyond Iran's reach" is the main imperative.

All sides indicate talks could slip past Tuesday's self-imposed deadline, into the early hours of Wednesday. All sides use the word "tough" to describe this historic endgame. Even if they agree a framework, there's still a huge amount of work ahead to draft a final deal by the end of June.

Mr Zarif, who has been holding talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry since Thursday, said he believed they could "make the necessary progress to be able to resolve all the issues and start writing them down".

The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Lausanne says the essence of the emerging deal is to keep Iran at least one year away from being able to produce enough nuclear fuel for a single weapon.

Iran's representatives at the talks want a "precise framework" for the lifting of sanctions

Those restrictions would last at least a decade, and include rigorous inspections of its nuclear facilities, in exchange for an end to crippling sanctions, our correspondent adds.

On Monday, a Western diplomat told reporters there were three major outstanding issues:

• Length of restrictions - Iran's nuclear activities would be strictly limited for at least 10 years. After that, Iran wants all limits to be lifted. The P5+1 says they should be removed progressively over the following five years
• Sanctions relief - Iran wants the UN sanctions suspended soon after an agreement. The P5+1 says they should be eased in a phased manner, with restrictions on imports of nuclear-related technology remaining for years
• Non-compliance - The US and its European allies want a mechanism that would allow suspended UN sanctions to be put back into effect rapidly if Iran reneges on a deal. Russia reportedly accepts this, but wants to ensure its Security Council veto rights are protected

"There cannot be an agreement if we do not have answers to these questions," the diplomat was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.

"The feeling is that if things are to happen, it's now that the pieces will fit together. There's a moment when you have to say 'yes' or 'no'."

Iran says it needs to be able to enrich uranium to produce fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant

Adding to the sense of brinkmanship, on Sunday night Iran's lead negotiator said it was no longer willing to ship its existing stockpile of nuclear fuel outside the country, something until now seen as an important part of a deal, our correspondent says.

Another point of contention is Iran's desire to be able to develop advanced centrifuges, which could enrich uranium faster and in greater quantities. While enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, it can also be used to make nuclear bombs.

On Sunday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the proposed deal, saying it "bears out all of our fears, and even more than that".

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Pension data 'sales' investigated

An investigation has been launched into claims the details of millions of people's pensions are being sold to fraudsters and cold-calling firms.

Firms are selling data about people's salaries, investment values and pension size for as little as 5p without their knowledge, the Daily Mail said.

It is feared it will be used to scam pensioners who can access their full pension pots under new rules in April.

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said he was investigating.

He told the BBC that the claims were "very serious" and said he was in touch with the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority and the police.

"There are lots of people out there who are trying to take advantage of leads that they get to sell you stuff," he said.

However, at least one of the firms accused of selling data has denied doing anything illegal.

Pension changes 2015

• People aged 55 and over can withdraw any amount from a Defined Contribution (DC) scheme, subject to income tax
• Tax changes make it easier to pass pension savings on to descendants
• Many people with Defined Benefits (DB) schemes will be allowed to transfer to DC plans
• All retirees will have access to free guidance from the government's Pension Wise service
• Existing annuity holders unaffected for the time being

Savings details

The Daily Mail said its undercover reporters were able to buy pension details by claiming they were from a cold-calling company.

However, one of the companies that offered information to the reporters - B2C Data - denied selling "highly sensitive details of salaries, investments and pensions".

Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner, said firms could face fines of up to £500,000

It said its data business was "entirely legitimate and legally compliant".

"Importantly, it does not receive or process information other than in respect of those customers of its members who have opted in," said a B2C spokesperson.

Previously B2C told the paper that it gathered some details from mortgage application forms.

Mortgage applicants have to give details of their savings, and may not always tick a box to stop their data being passed on.

Another suggestion being made is that people give away information unwittingly when filling in forms for savings products such as Individual Savings Accounts (Isas).

Analysis: Brian Milligan, personal finance reporter

About 300,000 people are expected to be able to take immediate advantage of changes in pension rules on 6 April, and the industry has repeatedly warned about the dangers of scams.

The Association of British Insurers, which represents many of the big pension companies, is among those who have already called for a tightening of the rules.

But the real question is: How are these data firms obtaining personal details of salaries and pensions in the first place? Pension companies themselves naturally deny selling information.

However, it is not necessarily illegal to sell data lists, when people have given away information freely.

Steve Webb - pensions minister in the coalition government - has already admitted there will be a lot of crooks wanting to take advantage of the pension reforms, and has advised people to take professional advice.

A second company - Targeted Response Direct (TRD) - denied the Mail's accusations of selling unregulated high-risk investments to pensioners.

"For the record, we don't sell pension details," said David Billington of TRD.

"We do not target pensioners for any investment product or service," he said.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) advised people to be on their guard against unsolicited approaches from financial companies.

The ICO has the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches and can pursue criminal prosecutions around unlawfully obtaining or accessing personal data.

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Damage fears for Alps crash recorder

A route to enable all-terrain vehicles to reach the scene may open by the end of Monday

A top Lufthansa official has warned that the missing flight data recorder may have been too badly damaged when Germanwings flight 4U 9525 crashed in the French Alps.

Lufthansa Board Chairman Kay Kratky said it might not be sending signals.

So far only the cockpit voice recorder has been found at the crash scene, where 150 people lost their lives.

Bad weather has halted helicopter flights to the site, forcing investigators to get there on foot.

An access road to the remote site is being dug by a bulldozer to provide all-terrain vehicles with access to the area and could be completed by Monday evening.

An improved route will help investigators bring heavier recovery equipment to the scene.

French prosecutor Brice Robin has made recovery of the victims a priority. DNA of 80 of the victims has so far been found.

A support centre for victims' families has been opened at a hotel in Marseille, from where Germanwings plans to provide counselling and visits to the crash site.

Access to the crash site is very difficult for the recovery teams

Analysis of the voice recorder has suggested co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 27, crashed the plane deliberately, after locking the pilot out of the cockpit.

A transcript leaked to German media on Sunday revealed how the pilot Patrick Sondenheimer banged on the door, screaming, "Open the damn door!"

While the voice recorder details the pilots' conversations as well as other sounds from the cockpit, the data recorder includes the plane's altitude, speed and direction, including the position of the plane's rudder and flaps.

Appearing on a talk show on German TV on Sunday night, Kay Kratky suggested that a full picture of the accident might never be known as the plane had flown at a speed of 800km/h (500mph) into a vertical rock face and had been pulverised. Mr Kratky's company Lufthansa fully owns Germanwings.

"It's possible that the impact was too great for the flight recorder and it doesn't send signals. However it would still be very helpful to fill out the picture of what happened," he told the Guenther Jauch show.

There has been criticism of the French prosecutor for releasing details from the voice recorder before a full investigation is complete.

The European Cockpit Association said the release of voice recorder data was a "serious breach" of globally accepted rules. It said many questions remained unanswered.

Andreas Lubitz was a keen runner who kept himself very fit

Investigator searched the house of Mr Lubitz's parents as well as his flat in Duesseldorf

Revelations have emerged in recent days surrounding the co-pilot's physical and mental health.

Investigators found anti-depressants at Andreas Lubitz's house along with evidence of treatment by various doctors, including a torn-up sick note for the day he flew the plane.

There have also been reports that he had problems with his eyesight - possibly a detached retina.

German media reported on Monday that recent medical records had been handed over to investigators by the University hospital in Duesseldorf, relating to three visits made by the co-pilot in February and March. However, details of the visits have not been made public.

Doubs about his fitness to fly have prompted a leading politician from the ruling CDU party, Dirk Fischer, to call for a relaxation of data protection rules governing sensitive jobs such as pilots.

There has also been widespread speculation about Lubitz's romantic life.

While one unconfirmed report has suggested his long-term girlfriend was pregnant, an ex-girlfriend has revealed that he vowed last year to do something memorable.

"One day I'm going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember," she quoted him as saying.

An official memorial service for those onboard flight 4U 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf will be held on 17 April in Germany's most famous church - Cologne Cathedral - in the presence of President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Unanswered questions

What drives people to murder-suicide?

Who was Andreas Lubitz?

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Two Britons found dead in Spain

Two Britons have been found dead near Alicante in Spain, the Foreign Office has said.

A spokesman added that the Foreign Office was "ready to provide consular assistance".

Alicante is on Spain's south-eastern coast and is part of the Costa Blanca, a popular tourist destination.

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