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Khodorkovsky to stay in prison

Mikhail Khodorkovsky (right) and Platon Lebedev in court in Moscow, 17 MayMikhail Khodorkovsky (right) and Platon Lebedev were convicted together
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A Moscow court is hearing former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s appeal against his second fraud conviction.

Khodorkovsky was convicted in December of embezzling nearly $30bn (£19bn, 21bn euros) worth of his own company’s oil and laundering the proceeds.

Speaking in court, he described the conviction, which extended his existing jail term by six years, as “absurd”.

If it is quashed, he is due for release this year, upon the expiry of his first prison sentence from 2005.

Otherwise, he will not be eligible for release until 2017.

The prosecution and imprisonment of Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man, have been widely criticised outside Russia.

His fate has been seen by some as punishment for seeking to support a liberal opposition in Russian politics, and thereby challenging Vladimir Putin, the former president and current prime minister.

Questions over his conviction gathered new force in February, when the sentencing judge was accused of having changed his verdict, under external pressure.

Judge Viktor Danilkin denied the accusation, levelled by his court aide, Natalya Vasilyeva.

In a speech to the court on Tuesday, Khodorkovsky said “it was clear” the accusations against him and the sentence which had been handed down were “absurd”.

He called on the three appeal court judges to throw out the case.

“Either overturn the sentence and put at end to this disgrace or you will join those criminals who spit on the law,” Khodorkovsky said.

He said he was certain his fate was being decided outside the court and added that he would not seek clemency.

Appealing along with him is his business partner, Platon Lebedev.

Arrested in 2003, the two men were eventually sentenced to nine years’ prison in 2005 for fraud and tax evasion, a term later reduced by one year.

The new, 14-year prison sentence handed down in December is running concurrently with the first term.

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S Korea police end Hyundai strike

Police break up protest at a Hyundai parts factory in Asan, South Korea (24 May 2011)Officials said the strikers had illegally blocked others from entering the factory

South Korean police have broken up a strike at a car parts factory which was threatening the country’s car industry.

More than 3,000 riot police moved in to disperse protesters at the Yoosung Enterprise factory in Asan, south of Seoul, Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.

About 500 workers had been staging a sit-in at the factory since last week after wage negotiations broke down.

Hyundai, South Korea’s top carmaker, had warned it was facing severe disruption to production.

Yoosung manufactures piston rings, which are key components in car engines.

Hyundai had already suspended production of diesel engines at its Ulsan plant and warned earlier on Tuesday it could also have to stop production of petrol or gasoline engines.

Supply disruption was also expected to hit its subsidiary car manufacturer Kia Motors.

Yoosung also supplies parts to the Korean units of General Motors and Renault.

In a statement issued before the raid, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association said the industry could lose up to five trillion won (£2.8bn: $4.57bn) if the stoppage ran into June, and urged the union to consider the “negative impact” of the strike.

Officials at the plant said the strike was illegal because those taking part were occupying the production line and blocking non-strikers from entering the building.

“Police have marched into the plant… so far without any violent clashes,” a police spokeswoman in Asan told the AFP news agency.

Yonhap said police had secured warrants for the arrest of two union leaders involved.

The majority of strikers occupying the plant were detained while others were dispersed, a police statement said, adding that most of those in detention would be released later.

It remains unclear when production might resume at the plant.

The disruption comes as South Korean carmakers are poised to take market share from their Japanese rivals, which are suffering from parts shortages of their own.

Hyundai reported record profits in the final three months of last year, due in part to strong overseas sales in China and the US.

Analysts had been expecting the carmaker, the fifth-biggest in the world, to continue to perform well in 2011.

There were concerns that serious disruption to production lines could have affected those forecasts.

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Obama to visit tornado-hit state

Barack Obama

Barack Obama told the people of Missouri “the American people are by your side”

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US President Barack Obama says he will visit the tornado-hit state of Missouri on Sunday, straight after returning from a six-day tour of Europe.

Sunday’s huge tornado cut a path some six miles (10km) long and at least half a mile wide through the city of Joplin, killing at least 116 people.

President Obama said the tornado was “devastating and heartbreaking”.

He vowed the US government would “do absolutely everything we can” to help victims recover and rebuild.

Meanwhile, the US National Weather Service warned of more storms on Tuesday, with the risk for severe weather increasing later in the day.

South-east Kansas and Missouri are set to be battered by 70mph winds, hail “the size of baseballs” and possible tornadoes, said the agency.

Mr Obama was speaking from London before meeting Queen Elizabeth II at the beginning of his stay in the UK.

Boat in a tree in Joplin

Resident Dominic Puller filmed the destruction caused by the tornado

It is the second stop on a four-country tour of Europe, and Mr Obama is due back in Washington on Saturday night.

Deadly US tornadoes

Blocks of homes lie in total destruction after a tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, 23 May, 2011

March 1925: Deadliest twister in US history as so-called Tri-State Tornado kills 695 in Missouri, southern Illinois and south-west IndianaMarch 1932: Deep South tornado outbreak kills 332 people from Texas to South Carolina, with 270 dying in Alabama aloneMay 1840: The Great Natchez Tornado kills 317 people in Mississippi town, most living on flatboats on the riverApril 1974: 310 killed in 24-hour “super outbreak” of 148 tornadoes across 13 states.May 1896: Two weeks of storms kill 305 people in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky

“I want everybody in Joplin, everybody in Missouri, everybody in Minnesota, everybody across the Midwest to know that we are here for you,” said Mr Obama.

“The American people are by your side. We’re going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every neighbourhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet.”

The damage wrought in Missouri could, Mr Obama said, end up exceeding the destruction of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by tornadoes in April.

Federal disaster and homeland security officials have travelled to the affected areas, said the US president.

Much of the south side of Joplin is reported to have been levelled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to rubble.

On Monday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said storms had caused extensive damage across the state.

“As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover,” he said.

He warned that the storms were not finished and urged Missourians to keep a close eye on the latest weather information.

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Disruption continues after storms

A fallen tree causes damage to Bridge of Allan Police Station, as high winds brought chaos to some of Scotland"s roads today as falling trees blocked main routesFallen trees brought down power lines across the country
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Thousands of homes and businesses have been left without power overnight after storms brought down electricity cables.

Scottish Hydro Electric said about 20,000 of its customers were yet to be reconnected.

Scottish Power said 5,000 customers were still without electricity.

The high winds across the country had eased on Tuesday but there was still some disruption on the road and rail networks.

The power companies said extra engineers working to restore supplies overnight had been hampered by the continued bad weather.

Scottish Hydro said the bulk of their customers still without power were in Tayside and Argyll area.

The worst affected areas for Scottish Power were Fife and Central Scotland.

Paul Ferguson, a spokesman for Scottish Power, told BBC Scotland: “We have extra resources and engineers out this morning.

“We may see some customers, unfortunately, going without power into this evening due to the high number of faults we have to fix.

“But we can reassure customers that we will direct our resources where they are needed.”

Most of the damage to power lines was caused by trees or branches falling after the winds reached speeds of 100mph.

For about half-an-hour on Monday evening, shops, offices and householders in Inverness had no electricity.

Ross Easton, a spokesman for Scottish Hydro Electric, which covers most of Scotland’s northern regions, said: “Our worst hit area was in Inverness, as a high number of people were without power.

“This is now back up and running.

“This is exceptional weather, which has created problems on the roads and the rail network, and for the ferries as well”

Keith Brown MSP Transport minister

“We are well versed in this type of event, storms are not new to us but the weather conditions were very severe.

“We have engineers out and we will try to reconnect customers as quickly as we can.”

One man died on Monday when a tree fell and crushed his car in Balloch, West Dunbartonshire.

In Edinburgh, cladding blew off the airport’s roof in the stormy weather.

Some schools across the country remained closed on Tuesday due to storm damage.

The Scottish government’s resilience team was continuing to monitor the weather situation. It met twice on Monday and is due to reconvene later.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said the country had taken “a battering” and he praised workers who have been out for much of the night clearing fallen trees from roads and rail lines.

He said: “This is exceptional weather, which has created problems on the roads and the rail network, and for the ferries as well.”

“The railways are more difficult because they have to approve the lines. They have to go along and inspect them and make sure there is no debris on the track itself, and that’s been difficult.

“One way they normally do that, of course, is by helicopter, which, in itself, has presented some problems, but a lot of work has gone on and most of the lines have now reopened.”

Some rail services remained cancelled or suspended on Tuesday.

A Scotrail spokesman said: “The Scottish rail network is experiencing disruption due to severe winds damaging overhead power lines and depositing debris on the tracks.

“It is expected that a number of routes will be restored throughout today.”

High wind warnings remain in place on the Skye, Kessock and Friarton bridges, with a 40mph speed restriction on the Forth Road Bridge.

Some roads remain closed due to fallen trees and unsafe roofs.

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English Bacc music GCSE warning

ViolinMusicians warn that GCSE music will suffer from its exclusion from the English Bacc
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It could become “impossible” for young people in England to study music GCSE, if the English Baccalaureate is kept in its current form, a professional body for musicians says.

Music is not included in the proposed English Bacc list of GCSE subjects.

And the Incorporated Society of Musicians is writing to the schools minister to say teachers are reporting the subject is being “squeezed out”.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb says the new measure is “having a positive effect”.

A final decision on the shape of the English Bacc, for the 2012 league tables, is expected from ministers in the next few weeks.

But Incorporated Society of Musicians chief executive Deborah Annetts said teachers had already reported a drop in pupils taking music GCSE and one school where it was no longer on the curriculum.

The English Bacc sets out the subjects on which league tables will be based showing how many pupils achieve at least a C grade.

The subjects proposed by the government are English, maths, two sciences, an ancient or modern language and either history or geography.

But critics say this will undermine the teaching of other subjects and limit the choices for GCSE.

“It is a concern to the government that children, particularly in deprived areas, are not being offered that combination of choices”

Nick Gibb Schools minister

“Without music GCSE being given the weighting it deserves, our cultural and creative economy will be put at risk, and young people who want to be involved in the music sector will have their efforts hampered,” said Ms Annetts.

“The government is setting England up for an almighty shock in the future if they continue this policy – let alone the impact it is already having on young people who want to study music.”

There have also been protests about the absence of religious education and economics from the list and concerns schools will prevent pupils taking both history and geography, when only one will appear in the league-table results.

On Monday Schools Minister Nick Gibb told the House of Commons the English Bacc would add to the quality of information available and help ensure more children take core academic subjects.

“The English Baccalaureate is not prescriptive. It is just a measure, one of many measures, that this government are putting forward as part of the transparency agenda,” he said.

“It is the next stage in that school’s improved performance. It is a concern to the government that children, particularly in deprived areas, are not being offered that combination of choices.”

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Smallpox decision deferred again

Smallpox infectionThe viral disease was eradicated over 30 years ago
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A decision on when to destroy the last known stocks of live smallpox virus has been put off for another three years.

The World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to resume the discussion in 2014, following debate this week at its annual meeting.

Countries were divided on the issue at the 64th World Health Assembly.

Iran led opposition to a plan backed by the US and Russia to set a date for destruction in 2016.

Smallpox factsCaused by the variola virusThe virus originated over 3,000 years ago in India or EgyptSymptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, tiredness and the distinctive rashIt killed 30% of those infectedMore than 300 million people were thought to have died from smallpox in the 20th century aloneUp to 80% of survivors were marked with deep pitted scars, mostly on the face

There has been a lot of discussion around the smallpox issue,” Pierre Formenty of the WHO told a news briefing in Geneva.

“Three years from now, we will resume the discussion.”

The issue was first discussed at the Assembly in 1986 and has been the source of debate ever since.

Destroying the remaining stocks of variola, or small pox virus, is seen by some countries as the final chapter in eradicating the disease to prevent the risk of accidental release.

Others, including the US and Russia, argue for more research in case smallpox returns, possibly as a biological weapon.

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Sudan minister quits over Abyei

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A southern minister in Sudan’s national government has resigned, saying “war crimes” had been committed in the disputed Abyei region.

Luka Biong Deng said he could no longer work with the party of President Omar al-Bashir in the unity government.

He is a senior official in the south’s ruling party, which is set to lead South Sudan to independence in July.

The two sides fought for decades before agreeing to share power and hold a referendum on southern independence.

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Energy plan protesters at Senedd

Some of the protesters in WelshpoolThe four protesters in Welshpool before the walk started last Thursday
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Up to 1,500 people objecting to controversial power and wind energy plans in mid Wales are expected at a protest in Cardiff Bay.

Four campaigners against a network of pylons will end a six-day walk from Welshpool, Powys, and be joined by opponents of wind farms at the Senedd.

Dozens of pylons, some measuring 154ft (47m), and a substation are earmarked to connect with about 10 wind farms.

The Welsh Government said it was determined to cut carbon emissions.

Politicians from the four main parties in mid and west Wales, including Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, who called for the protest, will address the crowd in Cardiff Bay, and three petitions will be handed to the Welsh Government.

Campaign bannerThere have been a series of public meetings across mid Wales

Organiser Richard Bonfield said: “We are expecting about 1,500 people from Powys, Shropshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire at the protest. There will be between 20 and 25 buses making the journey to Cardiff.”

In 2005 the Welsh Government unveiled seven areas across mid and south Wales, known as Tan 8, which had been chosen for wind farm development.

Tan 8 was part of the UK Government’s energy policy to increase the amount of electricity from renewable sources to 10% by 2010, but Wales has exceeded this and produces about 13%.

“We are calling on the Welsh Government to review the Tan 8 policy and impose a moratorium on wind farm development while the review takes place,” said Mr Bonfield.

Ahead of the demonstration, the former Liberal Democrat Montgomeryshire MP Lord Carlile of Berriew, called the power plans “an unnecessary and an economic error of high magnitude”, and also urged the Welsh Government to review Tan 8.

Lord Carlile, a deputy high court judge and QC, said: “From the time I was MP for Montgomeryshire, I have been opposed to the ruination of the Montgomeryshire landscape by extensive wind farms and their infrastructure.

“We believe a small number of wind farms clustered in strategic areas is better than a large number of smaller wind farms across Wales”

Welsh Government spokesman

“Tan 8 fails utterly to take these important issues into account.

“The contribution of onshore wind, and such value as it presents economically, have been exaggerated in order to give the impression that there is a more mixed energy policy than is revealed by true examination of the underlying policy.”

The Welsh Government said it was “determined to see Wales cut its carbon emissions and use more renewable energy”.

A spokesman added: “As well as wind – biomass, marine and micro generation sources, all have their part to play.

“Our planning policy, informed by independent research, identifies seven areas for the development of wind farms to minimise the proliferation of large scale wind farms. We believe a small number of wind farms clustered in strategic areas is better than a large number of smaller wind farms across Wales.”

He said all planning applications for wind farms were subject to a strict planning process which considered “their impact on the environment, and local community”.

The National Grid urged people to take part in the public consultation process which has been extended until 20 June.

Wind turbines have long faced criticism from some local people, but complaints have grown since plans were unveiled for a 19-acre substation in Powys, and dozens of pylons.

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George Davis wins conviction appeal

George Davis being helped into a waiting car in May 1976George Davis’s case attracted widespread attention
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A man who continually denied his involvement in an armed robbery in the 1970s has won an appeal against his conviction.

George Davis was jailed for 20 years for armed robbery and wounding, after a raid in April 1974 at the then London Electricity Board, in Essex.

Three appeal court judges allowed the conviction challenge brought by Davis, who is now 69, and lives in London.

Davis was at the Court of Appeal when the announcement was made.

Evidence to show the convictions were unsafe “had been in the hands of the authorities since 1977”, lawyers said.

The convictions were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

Davis was tried, along with three other defendants, in 1975 but was the only one found guilty.

He was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison but released the following year after Home Secretary Roy Jenkins said there was serious doubt about his identification.

During the 1970s his case attracted widespread attention with punk band Sham 69 writing a song about him.

His campaigners insisted he was the victim of mistaken identity and had not taken part in the robbery in which a police officer was shot in the leg and injured.

Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who, wore a T-shirt proclaiming Davis’s innocence, with the convicted man’s name daubed across railway and road bridges.

When referring the case last year, the CCRC said evidence not disclosed at the original trial, and uncovered in later investigations, meant there was a real possibility the conviction could be quashed.

The appeal was heard in February before Lord Justice Hughes, Mr Justice Henriques and Mrs Justice Macur.

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US moves closer to Libya rebels

Rebel fighters in Benghazi - 23 MayThe EU has already established ties with the rebels

US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman has said Libya’s rebels have accepted an invitation to open a representative office in Washington.

Mr Feltman is the most senior US diplomat to visit the rebels in their de facto capital Benghazi.

The US has insisted that Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi step down, but has not given the rebels full recognition.

The visit came as Nato planes launched a series of air attacks on Libya’s capital, Tripoli, the heaviest so far.

Libyan officials say three people were killed and dozens injured in an attack on the barracks of the popular guard.

Nato says it bombed a vehicle depot next to Col Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound which had been used by his forces in attacks on civilians. However, the Libyan government described it as a reserve military base and said the casualties were civilians.

On Monday, France announced it and the UK would also deploy attack helicopters to escalate strike power.

Nato is enforcing a UN resolution to protect Libyan civilians, following the uprising against Col Gaddafi’s rule.

Mr Feltman said the US was not negotiating with Col Gaddafi, and that the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) was the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

A Nato air strike hits Tripoli

The BBC’s Andrew North says a large plume of smoke rose from near Col Gaddafi’s compound

“I delivered a formal invitation to the council for the opening of a representation in Washington,” Mr Feltman said at a news conference. “We are happy they accepted it.”

“We have no office in Tripoli now. And we asked the Gaddafi people to close their embassy in Washington. Our officials see members of the council, the council sees us,” he added.

“There is an ongoing diplomatic, political relationship and dialogue with members of the council who are considered by our fellows credible and legitimate representatives of the Libyan people.”

But Mr Feltman said there was no point in formally recognising the council as “its job is to go out of business” – it plans to wind itself up in the event of the country being reunited and Col Gaddafi overthrown.

He said the US had already contributed $53.5m (£33.1m) in humanitarian aid and $25m in non-lethal military supplies.

Mr Feltman also expected the US Congress to release frozen Libyan government assets to be used for purely humanitarian purposes, he added.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton opened an office in Benghazi on Sunday. Germany has also announced the establishment a liaison office there.

AFP news agency reported that the rebels would shortly nominate someone to represent them in Paris.

Only a handful of countries, including France and Italy, have recognised the TNC as Libya’s legitimate government.

File photo of HMS Ocean - Royal Navy handout - 19 April 2010UK Apache attack helicopters would deploy from HMS Ocean

On Monday, French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet confirmed media reports France was deploying attack helicopters to Nato’s Libya mission.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said 12 Tiger- and Gazelle-type helicopters were being despatched to Libya.

He also said Britain would send helicopters. But in Parliament on Tuesday UK Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said “no decision” had been taken to send attack helicopters although it was being considered.

Nato jets have been targeting Col Gaddafi’s military infrastructure, but have been unable to stop the fighting.

Rebels control much of Libya’s east, while Col Gaddafi’s forces control most of the west of the country.

The rebellion against his rule began in February, spurred on by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that saw the presidents of those countries overthrown.

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G20 death Pc will be prosecuted

Ian Tomlinson on 1 April 2009 Ian Tomlinson collapsed at the G20 protests in London two years ago

A police officer is to be charged with manslaughter over the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson during the 2009 G20 protests.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, said there was now a “realistic prospect” of convicting Pc Simon Harwood.

An inquest earlier this month returned a verdict of unlawful death on the 47-year-old.

Mr Tomlinson’s family said they were “more than happy” about the decision.

The officer is due to appear before magistrates on 20 June.

The inquest heard Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died after he was hit by a baton and pushed to the ground by Pc Simon Harwood in central London on 1 April 2009.

The officer said after the inquest he had not intended to push him over.

Mr Starmer said: “The difficulty facing any prosecution in relation to the death of Mr Tomlinson lies in the conflicting medical evidence about the cause of death. That difficulty remains.”

But he said new medical evidence had been presented at the inquest, and the medical opinion of pathologist Freddy Patel had been tested in extensive questioning at the inquest.

He said this had allowed “a degree of clarity to emerge”.

Mr Starmer said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had taken the legal opinion of a senior barrister, Tim Owen, QC.

He said: “Taking the evidence as it now stands, we have concluded that, even with those remaining difficulties, there is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson.”

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Poor teachers ‘sacked in a term’

classroomThe education departments says research shows the difference made by good quality teachers

Poor teachers could be ousted from England’s schools within a term, under government plans to make it easier for heads to get rid of under-performing staff.

Currently it can take more than a year to remove struggling teachers, because of lengthy bureaucratic processes.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said schools had been “trapped in complex red tape” for far too long.

But a teachers’ union labelled the plans “unfair, unjust and unworkable”.

“The proposals turn performance management on its head. Instead of helping teachers become even better at teaching it will give heads an easy way to get rid of teachers that they dislike,” said Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers’ union.

“Heads and teachers also want a simpler and faster system to deal with teachers who are struggling”

Michael Gove Education Secretary

But the Department for Education argues that high quality teachers are key to pupils’ performance.

It cites US research which suggests pupils taught for three consecutive years by a top-performing teacher can make more progress than those taught for the same period by a low-performing teacher.

Currently, the system for managing teachers’ performance is set out in the Education (School Teachers Performance Management) Regulations 2006.

The DfE argues these regulations are complex and overlap with procedures looking at how good they are in the classroom.

It has therefore published plans to radically reduce these rules to make it easier for schools to deal effectively with what it says are a “small number of poorly performing teachers”.

It also wants to make it easier for schools to manage teachers in the way they see fit.

Mr Gove said England’s schools had a great generation of teachers.

He added: “Heads and teachers also want a simpler and faster system to deal with teachers who are struggling.

“For far too long schools have been trapped in complex red tape. We must deal with this problem in order to protect the interests of children who suffer when struggling teachers are neither helped nor removed.

“Schools must be given the responsibility to deal with this fairly and quickly.”

The proposals will go out to a 12-week consultation and are likely to be in place by September 2011.

Brian Lightman, Association of School and College Leaders, said: “In the relatively small number of cases where performance is unsatisfactory in spite of the formal and informal support that has been provided, it is essential for the benefit of the students that capability procedures can be implemented swiftly without the current constraints over time scales.”

National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby said heads needed the ability to move on the relatively few weak teachers in schools.

“They want to be able to do this fairly and without delay, to the benefit of pupils and, ultimately, staff. Both bureaucracy and delays are unfair to all involved.”

He added that managing performance was an essential part of development for school staff as it ensured training needs and areas of attention were identified.

“If, despite that support, the level of performance is still not satisfactory, then it is essential that this is dealt with quickly and fairly,” he added.

The National Union of Teachers general secretary Christine Blower said: “Procedures to deal with any concerns about performance must be fair and not offer a bully’s charter.

“Many teachers already feel overburdened and under-supported in school.

“These proposals are about removing protections, not about cutting down on unnecessary red tape.”

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