Category: news

England captain Alastair Cook hits a century but Sri Lanka ease to victory at Lord’s for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

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Mr Lukashenko said he would not allow his government to be overthrown

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says recent protests against his rule are an attempt to foment revolution in the former Soviet republic.

Speaking at a military parade in Minsk, President Lukashenko said their goal was to reduce Belarus’s independence “to zero” and bring it “to its knees.”

His speech came after weeks of unprecedented protests.

Activists say an opposition group’s page on a Russian social media site has been blocked to stop further protests.

Mr Lukashenko was addressing a large crowd during independence day celebrations marking the end of Nazi occupation in 1944.

He said he viewed public protests as part of a plot to overthrow him.

“(Somebody) is trying to copy a ‘coloured revolution’ scenario here,” he said, referring to protest movements in ex-Soviet republics such as Georgia and Ukraine in 2003-2004.

“We understand that the goal of these attacks is to impose uncertainty and turbulence, to destroy public consent and in the end to put us on our knees and to bring all the achievements of our independence down to zero. This is not going to happen.”

Protests are rare in Belarus where the authoritarian rule of Mr Lukashenko has led to sanctions by Western governments.

Demonstrators had been urged to attend the celebrations and start clapping as soon as Mr Lukashenko began his speech.

At least one person who began clapping was quickly led away by plain-clothes police, Reuters news agency reported.

The opposition has held a series of internet-organised marches known as “Revolution by Social Networks”, in which protesters do not carry signs but instead walk through the streets clapping in unison.

The group’s main page on a Russian social media site was blocked on Sunday, with activists saying it was a deliberate attempt to stifle their efforts.

“The authorities are making a titanic effort to break the wave of civil protests,” wrote opposition website Charter 97.

Valentin Stefanovich, from rights group Vesna, said the government had detained dozens of activists while others had been called in by the security forces and warned not to protest.

The day was also marked by a military parade in the capital

Those arrested included Stanislav Shushkevich, the first post-Soviet leader of Belarus and a strong opposition supporter, but he was later released.

“These are clearly illegal actions undertaken to prevent the protest actions called for on the internet,” Mr Shushkevich told AFP news agency.

Last month, about 1,000 people gathered in Minsk to take part in a “silent protest” over the economic crisis organised via social networking sites.

In December 2010, authorities cracked down on protests against alleged vote-rigging in the general election.

International monitors said the contest, in which Mr Lukashenko officially won 80% of the vote, was deeply flawed.

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The stadium also hosted the 2012 Olympic qualifiers, which took place last month

The Palestinian national football team are due to play its first World Cup qualifier on home soil.

The team are playing against Afghanistan in the second leg of a qualifying match for the Brazil World Cup in 2014.

Thousands are expected to pack the al-Ram stadium in Ramallah to witness a piece of Palestinian football history.

In the past, the team has had to play its home games in Jordan because of security concerns in the West Bank.

Palestinians do not have a state but they do have a football team.

They won the first leg 2-0 so barring a collapse should advance to the next stage.

The first match had to be played in Tajikistan because of security concerns in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

It is a problem the Palestinians can relate to.

Political leaders say the fact that a World Cup game can at last be played on home soil is a sign how much security has improved in the West Bank.

But the road to Brazil 2014 will be long – the Palestinian team are ranked 167th in the football world rankings and have never qualified for the World Cup finals.

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A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of an 18-year-old man who was attacked in a flat in Llanidloes in Powys.

The teenager died after in hospital after the assault in a flat in Plynlimon House in Long Bridge street on Saturday morning.

He was flown to hospital in Shrewsbury by air ambulance.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the 20-year-old man is under arrest and in custody. They are appealing for witnesses.

Officers were called to the flat at 1155 BST on Saturday after reports of an assault.

A police spokesperson said the man’s next-of-kin have been advised and are being supported by police family liaison officers.

The coroner has also been informed.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or may have information which could help the investigation, is asked to contact police on 101(01267 222020 from outside the force area) or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Abhisit Vejjajiva accuses Yingluck Shinawatra of being a proxy for her brother

People are set to vote in a general election in Thailand, billed as a test of the nation’s fragile democracy.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Democrats face a tough battle against the Pheu Thai party, which is allied to ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and led by his sister, Yingluck.

Thailand has endured six years of often bloody political protests and there is tight security for the vote nationwide.

About 170,000 police officers have been deployed outside polling stations.

Last year, protesters shut down parts of Bangkok for two months in a bid to force the government to resign. When the army stepped in to clear the capital’s streets it degenerated into violence, leaving 91 people dead.

Many of the red-shirted demonstrators were supporters of Mr Thaksin, whose government was toppled in a military coup in 2006.

The BBC’s Karishma Vaswani in Bangkok says Sunday’s election is a chance for Thais to end years of political uncertainty.

The last few years have seen street protests, airport closures, and violent clashes between the supporters of the two main factions of Thai politics, our correspondent says.

The country’s image and economy have both suffered, its reputation for being a bastion of democracy in south-east Asia has been severely tarnished, she adds.

More than 40 parties are fielding 3,832 candidates for the 500-seat lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives.

In a two-tier system of voting, 375 legislators will be elected by constituency, while 125 candidates will be chosen from lists according to the proportion of votes each party receives nationwide on a separate ballot. There are some 47 million eligible voters.

Despite the wide variety of parties, only the Democrats and Pheu Thai are believed to have a realistic chance of capturing an outright majority. Opinion polls point to a win by Pheu Thai.

Our correspondent says Yingluck Shinawatra is a political novice, and her popularity seems to rest on the fact she is campaigning on the policies of her brother, who many believe is Pheu Thai’s real leader.

He is living in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid corruption conviction, and has made it clear that he is keen to return to his homeland.

At a rally in Bangkok late on Friday Ms Yingluck said: “Please give a chance to this woman to serve the country. Please give a chance to this woman to bring reconciliation back to this country.”

She urged a “free and fair election” and said she was confident of winning an outright majority.

Mr Abhisit has said a vote for Pheu Thai is a vote for Mr Thaksin, and pointed out the party’s own slogan was “Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does”.

At his final campaign rally, he said the country must “get rid of the poison of Thaksin”.

“As long as Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai has to do it – to find ways to give Thaksin back his seized 46bn baht ($1.5bn),” he added.

Our correspondent says there is a lot at stake.

Whoever wins will have to bring a divided nation back together again, and try to heal Thailand’s wounded democracy, she adds.

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The man was attacked by a group of youths who had been damaging cars

A man from Monmouth, who tried to stop a neighbour’s car being vandalised, was beaten with a metal pole by drunken youths.

The man, who did not want to be not named for fear of reprisals, was with his girlfriend on Saturday night.

Witness Alan Hope said: “The gentleman was an innocent party. He was walking away. It was like a riot out here.”

Gwent Police said a number of arrests have been made. They are appealing for witnesses.

Residents say anti-social behaviour by drunken youths is rife in the Somerset Road area, especially at the weekend.

Mr Hope said: “The same thing happens every Saturday, regular as clockwork. The drunks come out the pub, they walk up the street and they start damaging the vehicles.

‘All hell broke loose’

Residents say the area is plagued at weekends by drunken youths causing damage

“We heard somebody having a go at a car. I’m presuming he had seen what they’d done and just had a quite word with them, and he walked off. He walked across the road.

“I heard them say words to the effect ‘come on, the three of us can have him’ and I see the lad smash the bottle on the pavement.”

“All hell broke loose then. And the gentleman was getting beaten around the head with an iron bar.

“They were just drunk and abusive. And they threatened me, and all. They told me to watch my back and one thing and another. It was very scary.”

The man is now recovering at home.

Local people are urging the police to step up patrols.

A police spokesperson said: “Gwent Police can confirm a disturbance took place late on Saturday 2 July in the Monmouth area and a number of arrests have been made.

“They are continuing with their enquires and would welcome any witnesses to contact them.”

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Forget the Beckhams and even the Obamas, the new A-listers dominating the headlines are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

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David Haye tells the BBC he will make a decision on his future “pretty soon” after his defeat by Wladimir Klitschko.

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Rafael Nadal hits a backhand long to hand Novak Djokovic his first Wimbledon title. The Serb wins 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 against the defending champion. (UK users only)

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The deaths of two men may be linked to the tablets

Ecstasy tablets six times stronger than normal have been sold in the west of Scotland, according to police.

Detectives issued the warning after the deaths of two men in Ayrshire, which they believe are linked to the drug.

Strathclyde Police have made contact with health and social workers, as well as alcohol and drug action teams.

No direct connection has been established between the dead men and police are looking into how widely the tablets have been distributed.

The deaths are believed to have occurred several miles apart, in Prestwick and in the village of Patna.

Det Insp Craig McArthur, of Strathclyde Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our inquiries have revealed that they are extra strong.

“If that is the case then somebody could be popping a tablet and it could have the effect of taking six tablets.

“So in effect it is a lot, lot, stronger.”

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Farming absorbs the biggest chunk of EU spending with CAP taking up 29% of the budget

The government has distanced itself from proposals to change the way the UK gets its rebate on its contributions to the European Union (EU).

Under European Commission plans, the annual rebate would be replaced by a lump sum payment of £22.8bn for the period between 2014 and 2020.

Brussels says the current rebate system is complex and distorts EU spending.

The Treasury said the rebate, agreed by Margaret Thatcher in 1984, was “justified” and it would stand firm.

The rebate – negotiated by the former prime minister at the Fontainbleau summit – has reduced the size of the UK’s contribution to the EU budget over the past 25 years by billions of pounds.

It was negotiated on the basis that although the UK was one of the largest financial contributors to the EU, it received a relatively small proportion of farm subsidies through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The size of the rebate fluctuates annually and is calculated by Brussels on the basis of UK contributions and spending it gets in return.

It is forecast to be worth about £2.7bn in 2011 and 2012, rising to £4bn in 2014 and £4.6bn in 2016.

But, as part of the EU’s proposed financial framework for 2014-2020, the Commission wants to reform the way the rebate is paid.

In return for receiving a six-year lump sum payment in 2014, the UK would be asked to accept real-terms cuts in the rebate every time there was an increase in the EU budget.

The “offer” comes at a time when the government is seeking to push through more than £80bn of public spending cuts by 2015 in order to eliminate the deficit in the public finances.

“Over the last 30 years the UK rebate has dominated EU budget negotiations,” president of the Commission – the EU’s executive arm – Jose Manuel Barroso told the Sunday Times.

“We want to go back to the original principles behind the 1984 agreement that established the rebate, which said that “any member state sustaining a budgetary burden which is excessive in relation to its relative prosperity may benefit from a correction at the appropriate time”.

While he accepted that budgetary discussions would be “particularly challenging” in the current climate of economic insecurity and belt-tightening, Mr Barroso said the plan was “balanced and forward-looking”.

Protecting the rebate has been seen as a priority for successive governments and for many eurosceptic MPs is regarded a pre-condition of the UK’s continued membership of the EU.

Critics have said the new proposal could ultimately result in the UK becoming the largest contributor, in terms of national income, to the EU of any member state as the rebate would not be linked to the size of UK contributions nor to inflation.

The rebate “offer” comes at a time of a fierce battle between Brussels and member states – led by the UK and France – over its budget.

The EU has proposed a 5% increase in its spending in 2011-2012 but opponents say this is “unrealistic” and at a time of national cutbacks the budget should be frozen.

The Treasury said the proposed budget increase was “too large”.

“It is not compatible with the tough decisions being taken in countries across Europe,” a spokesman said.

And he added: “Britain’s rebate is fully justified and we are not going to give way on it.”

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An estimated 75,000 people have gone to the Roskilde Festival

A festival-goer has died after falling from a 30m (98ft) tower at the Roskilde music event in Denmark, police said.

The woman, who was aged between 25 and 30, has yet to be identified, while another person was slightly injured in the same incident.

Danish police spokesman Carsten Andersen said the cause of the accident has yet to be determined.

In 2000, a crowd crush during a performance by US rock band Pearl Jam left nine music fans dead.

The tower was the starting point for an aerial ride run by one of the festival’s sponsors.

Roskilde organiser Mads Mikkelsen said the accident was “very tragic”, but declined to give any further comment until being informed of all the facts by police.

An estimated 75,000 people are attending the event, which began on Thursday and will reach its climax on Sunday evening.

Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey, Iron Maiden and Kings of Leon are among the acts taking part in the festival.

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Novak Djokovic wins his first Wimbledon title and proves himself the best player in the world with a stunning win over Rafael Nadal.

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Boeing’s long-delayed 787 aircraft has completed its maiden trans-Pacific journey, landing to a warm welcome in Japan.

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Heavy rains have caused flooding in the Danish capital Copenhagen, damaging homes and sparking travel chaos in parts of the city.

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