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Ten-man Swansea City bravely held dominant Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Four devices were sent to Mr Lennon, his lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman Two men have been detained by police investigating parcel bombs sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Strathclyde Police said raids were taking place in the town of Kilwinning in Ayrshire, where one suspect package was discovered in a postbox.
Devices were also sent to two prominent Celtic supporters, as well as a Republican supporters group.
The men, aged 41 and 43, were held under the explosive substances act after raids on Thursday morning.
Four devices, which had been sent to Mr Lennon, his lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman, were discovered in March and April
Another was sent to Glasgow-based Irish republican group Cairde Na h’Éireann.
Strathclyde Police said their operation in Kilwinning began at 0600 BST, when officers armed with warrants entered a number of properties.
Ch Supt Ruaraidh Nicolson said: “I would expect that there will continue to be a fair amount of activity in this area throughout the day.
“I appreciate that this may be inconvenient to people who want to go about their daily business.
Devices were sent to Neil Lennon (L), Trish Godman and Paul McBride QC “I can assure you that we will be doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and to get the local area back to normal as quickly as possible.
“I would say, though, that if anyone has any concerns, please speak to one of the officers at the scene or call your local police station.”
The raids come the morning after a man was detained in connection with an attempted assault on Neil Lennon on the pitch at Tynecastle, in the game between Hearts and Celtic.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The talks are expected to focus on SNP calls for Holyrood to be given more ”economic teeth” Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is set to meet Alex Salmond to discuss SNP demands for more economic powers after last week’s Scottish election.
It will be their first face-to-face discussion since the SNP secured a majority in the Scottish Parliament.
The talks are expected to focus on SNP calls for Holyrood to be given more ”economic teeth” in the Scotland Bill currently going through Westminster.
These include greater borrowing powers and control over corporation tax.
The SNP has already urged Prime Minister David Cameron to improve plans on increasing Scotland’s financial powers, after the party’s landslide victory in the election.
The Nationalists took 69 of the 129 seats to give them the parliament’s first working majority.
In his first post-election speech on Friday, Mr Salmond said his priorities included reinforcing the powers of the Scotland Bill, which is designed to create greater financial accountability at Holyrood.
Under the Bill as it stands, the Scottish Parliament will take charge of more of the income tax raised in Scotland.
The new powers would be combined with a cut in the block grant, currently about £31bn, which Scotland receives from the UK government.
The SNP has also indicated it wants devolution of the Crown Estate.
Mr Moore, who is a Lib Dem MP, has said he intends to “engage constructively” with the new SNP government in the weeks ahead.
But earlier this week he appeared to pour cold water on SNP demands for control over corporation tax to be devolved.
He told BBC Scotland’s Newsnight programme: “If you recall, when the parties came together in the Calman Commission to consider what the appropriate powers were to devolve to Scotland to give it more economic teeth and more financial accountability, they looked hard at corporation tax and decided it wasn’t right either for Scotland or the rest of the United Kingdom.
“When we were developing the (Scotland) Bill over the course of the last year, we took the same view and, as things stand, that remains my view.”
He added: “But we have heard that the first minister wants to explore this option so when I meet him on Thursday I am sure we will be discussing that and I will be interested to hear about his plans to consult on that within Scotland.”
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Mark Zuckerberg has faced criticism over Facebook’s own privacy policies It has been revealed that Facebook embarked on a smear campaign against rival Google.
The social network has admitted that it hired a PR firm to plant anti-Google stories related to user privacy.
The details came to light when one blogger approached by PR firm Burson-Marsteller published the e-mail exchange.
Burson had been touting stories on behalf of an unnamed client about the Google service Social Circle.
Blogger Chris Soghain did not want to pursue the story and later released the e-mails he had exchanged with Burson.
When the e-mails were published there was a mass of rumours about who the client could be, with Microsoft and Apple in the frame.
“Let’s not forget we are talking about two companies that have spent billions in positioning themselves as ‘nice, cuddly, sandal-wearing, Californian surfer dudes’”
Richard Merrin Manging director, Spreckley PR
It was down to US-based news website, the Daily Beast to uncover that the client was in fact Facebook.
Facebook has confirmed that it used Burson-Marsteller to expose things which Google was doing that “raised privacy concerns”.
Burson told Mr Soghain, among others, that “the American people must be made aware of the now immediate intrusions into their deeply personal lives Google is cataloguing and broadcasting every minute of every day – without their permission.”
A Facebook spokesman later told the Daily Beast that it resented Google’s attempts to use Facebook data in its own social networking service.
It is a very public play-out of two net giants who have become bitter rivals as they fail to agree on ways to share data.
Both have faced scrutiny over their privacy policies.
Tactics like this are never a good idea, said managing director of Spreckley PR, Richard Merrin.
“I am just trying to imagine the conversation that took place between someone at Facebook and the PR agency in question. I always advise clients that the one thing they must not do is attack the competition,” he said.
“This alleged PR smear campaign is the latest highly public example of what many in the industry believe to be the biggest grudge match going in corporate America,” he added.
While the revelations will be highly damaging for Burson-Marseller, they will do little for Facebook’s image either.
“Let’s not forget we are talking about two companies that have spent billions in positioning themselves as ‘nice, cuddly, sandal-wearing, Californian surfer dudes.’ This has in fact resulted in blowing that carefully constructed image out of the water,” said Mr Merrin.
Both Facebook and Google declined to comment further on the story.
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Princess Beatrice (r) turned heads with her striking choice of hat for the royal wedding The elaborate hat worn by Princess Beatrice at Prince William’s wedding has gone on sale on eBay to raise money for charity.
The Philip Treacy design is billed as a “unique sculptural celebratory headpiece”.
The starting bid was £5,000 from entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne of Dragon’s Den fame who said that, for once, he wouldn’t mind losing.
Proceeds from the sale will be shared between Unicef and Children in Crisis.
After the wedding, the hat was compared to a pretzel and a lavatory seat.
A Facebook page set up in its honour attracted a following of more than 5,000 people.
Princess Beatrice defended her choice of hat in a recent magazine interview, saying it was “wonderful that it’s had such a reaction”.
In a statement announcing the online auction she said: “I’ve been amazed by the amount of attention the hat has attracted. It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities.”
“I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have.”
“Princess Beatrice is a tremendous ambassador for the charity and we are extremely grateful for her support”
Koy Thompson Children in Crisis
Philip Treacy, whose creations often sell for thousands of pounds, said he was flattered she had chosen his hat, and that she had decided to sell it for charity.
Unicef UK will get half of the proceeds. Its director of fundraising Julie Weston said she was delighted the princess was “putting all the publicity around her hat to the best possible use”.
She added: “We take our hat off to her for helping to change children’s lives.”
Koy Thomson, chief executive of Children in Crisis, said: “Princess Beatrice is a tremendous ambassador for the charity and we are extremely grateful for her support with this great initiative.”
The eBay auction will last for 10 days. The hat is listed under Women’s Accessories, and is described as Used.
Duncan Bannatyne, who is a Unicef UK ambassador said: “Whatever anyone thinks of the hat it’s fantastic that Princess Beatrice is doing this for Unicef and Children in Crisis. Good for her!”
“I’d encourage everyone to get bidding to raise as much money as possible. For once I don’t mind if I don’t walk away with the deal.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Finance minister Samir Radwan explains why Egypt has turned to the IMF.
Egypt has officially asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan, the Fund has confirmed.
The IMF will send a team next week to Cairo to discuss the terms with the country’s post-revolution government.
Finance Minister Samir Radwan told the BBC the situation was “very difficult”, and he expected the deficit to reach 9-10% of economic output next year.
He said the country needed $2bn the rest of this financial year, and $10bn for the 2011-12 year.
Loan deals have already been agreed with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Elevated demands of the people after the revolution were adding to pressure on the budget, he said.
He also emphasised that while there was no going back on Egypt’s free market economy, greater social justice was needed.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Demjanjuk denied serving as a guard in Nazi death camps A German court has found John Demjanjuk guilty of helping to murder about 28,000 Jews at a Nazi death camp in World War II.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, one year less than prosecutors had asked for.
Prosecutors said the Ukraine-born Demjanjuk, 91, was a guard at Sobibor camp in Poland in 1943.
Demjanjuk denied serving as a guard, saying that as a Soviet prisoner of war of the Nazis, he was a victim too.
Lawyers for Demjanjuk have said they will appeal the conviction.
It is not clear whether Demjanjuk, whose family says he is very ill, will get credit for time already served.
He has been in custody since being extradited from the US in 2009.
After the war Demjanjuk lived in the US, where he worked in an Ohio car factory, and became an American citizen.
Born in Ukraine in 1920, Demjanjuk grew up under Soviet rule.
He was a soldier in the Red Army in 1942 when he was captured by the Germans.
Prosecutors had argued he was recruited by the Germans to be an SS camp guard.
“The court is convinced that the defendant… served as a guard at Sobibor from 27 March 1943 to mid-September 1943,” presiding Judge Ralph Alt said.
“As guard he took part in the murder of at least 28,000 people,” he said.
An estimated 250,000 people died in the gas chambers at Sobibor.
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Ineta Dzinguviene denies murdering her son in Fraserburgh The jury in the case of a mother accused of murdering her newborn baby in Fraserburgh has retired to reach a verdict.
Ineta Dzinguviene, 26, denies murdering her son with clear plastic food wrapping on the day he was born.
The baby, later named Paulius Dzingus, was found in the Aberdeenshire fishing port’s High Street in April last year.
The jury retired after being charged by the judge at the High Court in Livingston on Thursday morning.
Advocate depute Dorothy Bain QC, in her closing prosecution speech on Wednesday, urged the jury to convict.
She said the accused was “in control of her actions”.
However, defence advocate Frances McMenamin QC claimed evidence was lacking that plastic food wrapping found in a bag containing the corpse had actually been used to smother the baby.
The trial began on 26 April.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mahmoud Jibril, the president of a Libyan opposition group, is to meet senior US officials and members of Congress, the White House says.
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Pricing and places are coming under scrutiny in the shift to a market-based university system Student leaders have warned cut-price fees to fill empty university places could turn the admissions process into a “flea market”.
It follows reports Universities Minister David Willetts had suggested some universities could reduce tuition fees in clearing.
The Office for Fair Access has warned against “unfair” late discounts.
The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills says any discount would have to be given to all students.
The department said if any last-minute tuition fee reduction were offered in clearing, it would also have to be retrospectively applied to all students with a place on the same course, to avoid a financial incentive to delay applications.
The forthcoming White Paper on higher education would “include proposals to prevent unfair discounting”, the department added.
Mr Willetts had told the Independent newspaper some universities could reduce tuition fees to attract students during clearing, when students who have missed out on A-level grades or who are making late applications are matched up with the vacancies remaining on degree courses.
Most universities in England want to charge the maximum £9,000 for some or all courses, but the minister’s comments suggest this could be revised down if there is a lack of demand for places.
The NUS president, Aaron Porter, said: “Ministers are at risk of turning the university application process into a flea market, exposing students and their families to unnecessary panic and grotesque unfairness.
“Efforts to force an unworkable market on higher education are already backfiring.”
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of new universities, said: “Ministers are giving out confusing messages that fees may change at clearing.
“Of course adjusting prices is common in a market, but universities will be very cautious about adopting this approach which is counter to the guidance issued by the the Office of Fair Access [Offa].”
Offa, the watchdog for fair access to university, has told universities “to bear in mind that discounting late in the application cycle is unfair to applicants who chose not to apply to you on the basis of the fee and support package you advertised earlier”.
It added late discounts could work against poorer applicants, who would be more likely to wait for a price cut, with the risk of limited choices and of missing out altogether.
A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said: “The government agrees with Offa that late discounting, including during clearing, must not lead to unfairness.
“As the Offa guidance makes clear, any late fee discounts or improved financial support would have to be offered to all eligible applicants, including those who already have an offer, so that the system is fair.”
The White Paper setting out how this market-based university system will operate is expected next month.
Earlier this week Mr Willetts was embroiled in a row about whether the creation of extra university places, not publicly-funded, could provide a backdoor for wealthy students.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg walked into Downing Street together a year ago David Cameron and Nick Clegg will be together at an event later to launch a government drive on youth unemployment.
The prime minister and his deputy will announce a £60m package to boost work prospects and vocational education.
They will commit in their appearance in London to tackle “structural barriers” to young people starting a career.
It comes as the coalition is under more strain after the flagship policy of directly elected police commissioners was defeated in the House of Lords.
The relationship was already tense after Nick Clegg stressed how his party was influencing government policy and David Cameron told his MPs he would not allow the Lib Dems to pose as moderators to the Tories’ ambitions.
“It’s time to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment that has held back our country for far too long”
David Cameron
Then on Wednesday night the House of Lords backed a Lib Dem move to block the plans for directly elected police commissioners.
This inflicted an unexpected defeat on a key government policy, part of the coalition agreement.
Labour has suggested the legislation cannot survive in its current form but the Home Office has made it clear it will try to overturn the vote in the Commons.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says the defeat demonstrates how hard it may be to maintain discipline as the two parties in the coalition each strive to be more assertive about their own separate identities.
The launch comes a year after Mr Clegg and Mr Cameron walked into Downing Street together.
The government said it would provide funding for 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years and 100,000 work placements over the next two years.
More than 100 large companies and tens of thousands of small businesses had pledged to offer work experience places, ministers added.
Mr Cameron said: “It’s time to reverse the trend of rising youth unemployment that has held back our country for far too long and help our young people get the jobs on which their future – and ours – depends.
“But government can’t act alone. We need employers who are prepared to give young people a go.
“So I’m delighted that over 100 large companies and tens of thousands of small and medium sized enterprises have already responded to our call for work experience placements so that tens of thousands of young people can take those vital first steps in experiencing the world of work.”
Mr Clegg said: “We all have a responsibility – government, business, charities, education providers – to work together to find a solution.”
But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the proposals failed to match the guarantees given by the now cut Future Jobs Fund.
“The best thing the government could do is stop their deep rapid spending cuts that are running the whole economy into the ground, with the young as the worst victims,” he said.
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Uefa launches a disciplinary case against Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets over alledged racial abuse in the Champions League tie with Real Madrid.
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Kenny Dalglish is appointed Liverpool manager after signing a new three-year deal.
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A man is found guilty of murdering Samantha Wright in Edinburgh, and dumping her body in a wheelie bin.
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Tony Blair was among witnesses to appear before the Iraq Inquiry The Iraq Inquiry will not be published until the autumn at the earliest, it has emerged.
In February its chairman refused to set a deadline, but publication had been expected in the summer.
It was hard to say how long it would take because of the need to declassify documents and give those criticised the right to reply, Sir John Chilcot said.
The inquiry is examining events between 2001 and 2009, including the decision to go to war, and lessons learnt.
There were more than 100 public hearings between November 2009 and February 2011.
Sir John said in February the report had to “do justice” to all the evidence it had received and he would not set an “artificial deadline” but his committee hoped to publish as soon as possible.
On Thursday in a statement on the Iraq Inquiry website , he said the committee now hoped “to present our report to the prime minister later this year but not before Parliament’s summer recess”.
“Writing a report covering so wide and complex a time period necessarily takes time. Whilst writing the report, we are also simultaneously seeking the declassification of much relevant material so the public will understand why and how the inquiry has reached its conclusions.
“If the Iraq Inquiry chooses to make criticisms, as is the case with all public inquiries, this would necessarily involve further processes to give those criticised the opportunity to respond. We cannot predict now how long that would take.”
The inquiry has also published further witness statements and declassified documents on its website.
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