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Colombia sends alleged top cocaine trafficker Walid Makled back to Venezuela rather than the US, where he is also wanted.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ian Tomlinson collapsed at the G20 protests in London two years ago The police watchdog says it will investigate claims the City of London force failed to pass on key evidence in the days after Ian Tomlinson’s death.
Within 48 hours of the incident at the G20 protests, three Met officers told their bosses they saw an officer push the newspaper seller to the ground.
The IPCC, which has released a report on the death, is to examine why it was allegedly not given that information.
City of London Police say they will co-operate with any new investigation.
Last week an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing of Mr Tomlinson, 47, by Met Police officer Simon Harwood at the protests in London on 1 April 2009.
Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died after he was hit by a baton and pushed to the ground.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it expects the Tomlinson family to make a formal complaint “shortly” about the alleged withdrawal of information.
It said it would then investigate the claims that neither the coroner, pathologist, Tomlinson family, nor its investigators were told about the information reported by Met Pcs Andrew Moore, Kerry Smith and Nicholas Jackson.
The Met Police said in a statement it took “prompt and proper” action to inform the City of London force of potential witness evidence.
City of London Police – the force which patrols the Square Mile – was initially responsible for investigating Mr Tomlinson’s death.
The first public admission that officers may have seen the attack by Pc Harwood was on 8 April, the day after video footage was released of the incident.
Mr Tomlinson’s family said the inquest verdict of unlawful killing was a “huge relief” An IPCC spokesman said: “We are aware of a further allegation, arising from evidence disclosed for the inquest, that on 3 April 2009 some MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] officers were aware of physical contact between police and Ian Tomlinson, but that this information was not passed on to the family, coroner or IPCC.
“We understand this will be the subject of a complaint from the Tomlinson family shortly. When the matter is referred to the IPCC we intend to conduct an investigation into it and report on it separately.”
A Met Police statement said: “On 3 April 2009 a Pc came forward with information concerning Mr Tomlinson.
“The officer’s supervisor that day escalated the information to the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards who immediately passed the information to City of London Police investigators.”
A City of London Police spokesman said any complaint against any of its officers would be recorded and directly passed to the IPCC.
“The City of London Police will fully co-operate with and support any subsequent IPCC investigation,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the IPCC has published three separate reports into the death of Mr Tomlinson – one into the death, one on whether a Met officer misled pathologists, and one into claims the media were misled.
The reports concluded that:
There was no evidence of any misconduct on the part of officers who came into contact with Mr Tomlinson on at least three occasions as he sought to pass through police cordonsThe police plan to disperse crowds from the Royal Exchange Buildings was “proportionate and necessary”There was no evidence of misconduct in relation to police dog handlersThe process by which police officers are held to account for their actions was “complicated and confusing”There was no evidence anyone involved in the police media handling set out to deliberately misleadA police officer incorrectly told a pathologist Mr Tomlinson fell in front of a police van, but there was no evidence he intended to mislead
Mr Tomlinson’s family has welcomed the verdict of the inquest jury which decided Pc Harwood acted illegally, recklessly and dangerously and had used “excessive and unreasonable” force.
Pc Harwood had denied deliberately and intentionally shoving Mr Tomlinson to the ground.
After the verdict, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Met Police said they would review the case.
1. 1855: Mr Tomlinson leaves Monument station to head home
2. 1859: He walks north along King William Street, but is turned back by police
3. 1902: The newspaper seller sits on a wall before cutting through onto Lombard Street
4. 1906: A few minutes later, he comes into contact with police again on Lombard Street
5. 1915: Mr Tomlinson then passes through Change Alley and is diverted again by more police officers
6. 1918: He crosses Cornhill towards Royal Exchange Buildings
7. 1920: As police sweep down Royal Exchange, Mr Tomlinson is hit by a baton and pushed to the ground. A bystander helps him to his feet
8. 1921: The newspaper vendor walks along Cornhill before collapsing and dying
Source: Inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson. Note: Parts of route and some timings are approximate
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Gilani is expected to speak in detail about the operation Pakistani PM Yusuf Raza Gilani is to make a statement in parliament about the US special forces raid which led to the death of Osama Bin Laden last week.
The address comes amid questions about how the al-Qaeda leader was able to live apparently undetected in the town of Abbottabad near the capital.
On Sunday, US President Barack Obama called on Pakistan to investigate the network that sustained Bin Laden.
Mr Obama said it had to find out if any officials knew of his whereabouts.
Pakistan has denied knowing Bin Laden was holed up in Abbottabad.
But there have been suspicions that someone in Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, which has a long history of contacts with militant groups, may have known where Bin Laden was hiding.
Mr Gilani is expected to “take the nation into confidence” about the raid, AFP news agency quoted a senior official as saying.
Pakistanis want to hear some sense of accountability among the leadership but also quite a tough stance against unilateral action by the US here in Pakistan.
Pakistanis in general feel pretty brow-beaten after the past week. They feel embarrassed and humiliated. Given the statements their politicians and military leaders have given over the last 10 years or so, saying Osama Bin Laden wasn’t here, or that he was dead, there is a feeling that either their leadership is grossly incompetent or deceptive in the extreme.
They want to hear from them, but as yet, we haven’t had an address by the president. Nobody here really feels that they are going to get accountability.
“[Mr] Gilani will speak in detail on various aspects of the operation, Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and its future strategy to deal with the menace,” the official said.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday, President Obama told CBS’s 60 Minutes show that the al-Qaeda leader must have had “some sort of support network” in Pakistan, but he did not know whether it included government officials.
“We don’t know whether there might have been some people inside of [Pakistan’s] government, people outside of government, and that’s something that we have to investigate and, more importantly, the Pakistani government has to investigate,” the US president said in the interview, which was conducted on Wednesday.
The BBC’s Natalia Antelava, in Washington, says Mr Obama’s message was even-handed and diplomatic, and he was careful not to accuse Pakistan of harbouring Bin Laden.
Pakistan plays a crucial role in America’s war efforts in Afghanistan, and too much public pressure on Pakistan could jeopardise the relationship, she adds.
US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon meanwhile told NBC talk show Meet the Press that Islamabad needed to establish how Bin Laden lived for six years a short drive from the capital and beside a military academy.
Many in Abbottabad say they do not believe the videos are real
He said the Pakistani authorities needed to provide the US with access to Bin Laden’s three widows, who were taken into custody after last week’s US commando raid.
American officials have meanwhile been poring over computer files seized by US special forces from the hideout.
“It’s [the intelligence cache] about the size, the CIA tells us, of a small college library,” said Mr Donilon.
On Saturday, the Pentagon released from the material five home videos featuring Bin Laden, with the audio removed.
They included a message by the al-Qaeda leader to the US and footage of Bin Laden watching an item about himself on TV.
US officials said the Abbottabad compound was a command and control centre from where Bin Laden had actively led al-Qaeda.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Lady with an Ermine depicts the mistress of da Vinci’s patron London’s National Gallery is to limit visitor numbers to a major exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci works in an attempt to prevent large crowds detracting from the viewing experience.
Admissions will be fixed at 180 every half hour – 50 fewer people than the gallery is legally allowed to let in.
“We’ve looked hard at the problems caused by very popular exhibitions… and decided to take action,” gallery director Nicholas Penny told The Times.
Advance booking opens on Tuesday.
In a statement, the gallery said it expected there to be “unprecedented demand” for tickets and advised patrons to book in advance.
Its decision to reduce the number of admissions, it added, had been “in response to visitors’ comments regarding overcrowding in exhibitions”.
Longer opening hours and the decision to open the exhibition on 1 January 2012 will add 20% to normal capacity, it said.
“The message from the National Gallery is to book early… and to come prepared,” its statement reads.
Masterpiece
According to the gallery, Leonardo Da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan will bring together “the largest ever number of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings”.
The “landmark” exhibition, which includes works never shown in the UK before, runs from 9 November 2011 to 5 February 2012.
Concentrating on da Vinci’s career as a court painter in Milan in the 1480s and 1490s, it will display more than 60 paintings and drawings by the artist.
These include his acknowledged masterpiece The Lady with an Ermine, the Belle Ferronniere and the National Gallery’s own recently restored Virgin of the Rocks.
A full-scale copy of his famous Last Supper, on loan from the Royal Academy, will also be included.
But speculation that the exhibition might feature the Mona Lisa proved to be unfounded.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The cases of 20 people accused of staging a sit-in at London’s luxury food store Fortnum and Mason have been delayed.
District Judge Daphne Wickham described the delay as a “screening-out process” to find any defendants who should not have been charged.
Twenty people charged with aggravated trespass over the March protest have had their cases put back until June.
A selection of cases are expected to be sent to trial at the next hearing.
Campaign group UK Uncut organised a sit-in at Fortnum & Mason, in Piccadilly, on 26 March in protest over alleged tax avoidance by the business’s part-owners.
Police arrested 145 people and a total of 138 of those were charged with aggravated trespass.
Meanwhile thousands of people took part in an anti-spending cuts demonstration in the city on the same day.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Twitter user claimed to ‘out’ a number of celebrities but some appeared to contain errors A Twitter user has tried to unmask some celebrities who have obtained super-injunctions to prevent publication of details of their private lives.
The Twitter user claimed to “out” a number of public figures, though the tweets appeared to contain errors.
Jemima Khan tweeted: “Rumour that I have a super injunction preventing publication of “intimate” photos of me and Jeremy Clarkson. NOT TRUE!”
The tweets will add to concerns over injunctions and non-mainstream media.
Some newspapers – and MPs – have attempted to challenge the court orders, suggesting it should be Parliament and not the courts which decide on the introduction of any privacy law.
Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron said the increasing use of such strict gagging orders made him feel uneasy.
A report by a committee set up by the Master of the Rolls will report on their use later this month.
BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said it will have to grapple with the issue of publication online.
“If it doesn’t the super or secret-injunction may no longer be an effective tool in the administration of justice,” he said.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The US has said it will press China again on its currency policy
US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has called on China to rely more on its own spending and less on exports.
“The challenge is to lay the foundation for a new growth model, driven more by domestic demand,” he advised his Chinese counterparts.
His comments came at the start of a two-day bilateral trade meeting in Washington.
US officials and many economists say Beijing depends unfairly on a cheap currency to boost exports and growth.
The heads of 16 US government agencies and representatives of 20 Chinese government departments will discuss the most difficult issues in a complex, interdependent relationship.
“China makes its own claims of discrimination”
Caroline Hepker BBC World Business Report, New YorkUS-China to tackle thorny issues
The annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue comes just four months after bilateral discussions between President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao.
Mr Geithner also said that China should develop “a more market-based economy and a more sophisticated financial system”.
In a largely upbeat opening address, he claimed that the two countries’ reform needs were “not in conflict”.
It is not thought any concrete results will emerge from this meeting, according to the BBC’s Caroline Hepker in New York. Rather, each side is hoping to influence the other’s point of view.
“That has meant a string of statements and briefings on issues from the yuan exchange rate to protectionism, America’s budget deficit and China’s human rights record from leaders on both sides,” she said.
“But China makes its own claims of discrimination. Beijing argues the US imposes restrictions on Chinese investment in the US using the cloak of national security concerns.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said it was time for people to decide to move forward Thailand will hold a general election on 3 July, the government has said.
The king has approved a bill to dissolve parliament and this will take effect on Tuesday, a spokesman said.
The poll will be the first electoral test for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, whose coalition government came to power in 2008 after a court dissolved the then governing party.
It comes a year after violent anti-government protests in Bangkok which left more than 90 people dead.
Thailand remains deeply divided and, says the BBC’s South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey, all signs point to a very close race.
In a recorded television message, Mr Abhisit said the election would mark a new beginning for Thailand.
He is seeking the direct popular mandate his critics say he currently lacks.
The polls will be the second held since the military ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup in 2006.
Mr Thaksin’s allies won the first post-coup polls in 2007 but the governing party and many of its lawmakers were subsequently banned from politics by court rulings.
Mr Abhisit’s coalition came to power in December 2008 via a parliamentary vote.
Anti-government protesters then paralysed parts of Bangkok last year, accusing Mr Abhisit’s administration of a lack of legitimacy and demanding fresh elections.
More than 90 people were killed during the 10-week stand-off, which ended on 19 May when troops cleared the “red-shirt” protesters from the streets.
Analysts fear the poll could reignite tensions in the politically divided nation.
Mr Abhisit’s Democrat Party is pitted against an opposition still effectively controlled by Mr Thaksin, our correspondent adds.
In his televised address, Mr Abhisit said it was now time for the Thai people to decide: did people want to move forward, he asked, backward or in circles.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Tottenham winger Gareth Bale ruptures ankle ligaments but the club hope he will be fit for pre-season.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Financial Services Authority believes the PPI compensation bill could be £4.5bn The banking industry has abandoned a legal fight over the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI).
The British Bankers’ Association, which fought the case, said it would not appeal after losing a court challenge against new rules on mis-selling.
Barclays Bank said it had set aside £1bn to pay compensation, HSBC £269m, while RBS said it too would not contest the court ruling.
Last week, Lloyds Banking Group made a £3.2bn provision for possible claims.
The decisions mean that several milion people may now be eligible for a compensation payment.
PPI policies are supposed to cover loan repayments if someone falls ill, has an accident or loses their job.
But many of the policies were mis-sold.
In some cases they were sold to self-employed people who would not have been able to claim, to borrowers who were wrongly told that taking PPI was a condition for being granted their loan, and even to consumers who did not realise they were taking out a policy.
Last month the High Court ruled that the banks had to obey the new rules of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which require them to go back over all their past sales to see if the customers have a claim for mis-selling.
In a statement the BBA said: “In the interest of providing certainty for their customers, the banks and the British Bankers’ Association have decided that they do not intend to appeal.”
“We don’t always get things right: when we get them wrong, we apologise and put them right”
Bob Diamond Chief executive, Barclays BankQ&A: What now for PPI? One family’s PPI mis-selling tale
Royal Bank of Scotland confirmed on Monday that it would also be addressing customers’ complaints, but said it had yet to decide how much to set aside for possible claims.
RBS said in a statement: “We are already in discussions with the FSA to clarify its requirements and the implications for our customers and shareholders.
“This is an important step for all UK banks in our efforts to restore the confidence and trust of consumers,” it said.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond said the bank would now begin the process of compensating customers.
“We don’t always get things right: when we get them wrong, we apologise and put them right.
“We have taken this decision because it is in the best interests of our customers, as well as for Barclays and its shareholders. Creating certainty, particularly regarding past issues, is of benefit to all parties,” Mr Diamond said.
The Financial Ombudsman Service welcomed the banks’ decision to deal with the mis-selling.
“It’s very good news that the banks will not be appealing the High Court’s clear-cut judgment, which endorsed the ombudsman and FSA’s approach to PPI complaints,” said chief ombudsman Natalie Ceeney.
“Consumers should come to us at the ombudsman if they’re unsure about what to do next. Meanwhile we will be working with the banks, over the coming weeks, to ensure that consumers’ complaints are dealt with fairly and promptly.”
The Financial Services Authority has estimated that banks will have to pay up to £4.5bn to settle the thousands of claims.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ibru was found guilty of harassing the England star and his family A woman who stalked footballer Rio Ferdinand and his family has been jailed for 10 weeks and given a 10-year restraining order.
Susanne Ibru, 38, was convicted of harassment of the Manchester United and England star last month.
She was living in Peckham, south London, when she made a number of 400-mile round trips to the defender’s home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, in 2010.
Ibru was sentenced at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
District Judge Nicholas Sanders, sentencing, said he was “concerned” by Ibru’s behaviour during her time in custody.
He said: “The pre-sentence report describes you as living in a fantasy world, unable to interpret social situations and boundaries.
“You display a predatory and manipulative lifestyle and try to deliberately mislead interviewers.”
The defendant said she would be appealing against her sentence and, as she was led away, added: “I stick two fingers up at you.”
During the trial, Ferdinand, 32, told the court how Ibru left him angry and fearing for his family’s safety.
The court was told that she appeared outside his home on three occasions and demanded to speak with him.
Rio Ferdinand said he was left angry by Ibru’s appearances at his home Ibru, who denied harassment charges, represented herself during the trial and cross-examined Mr Ferdinand.
She told the footballer she had been to his home about four or five times over the past four years.
Ibru was convicted at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court in her absence last month after fleeing during the lunch break.
She was arrested the following day at an address in Warrington and brought back to court, where she was remanded in custody on 20 April.
The court heard that Ibru spat in the face of the arresting officer when she was detained.
On Monday, she pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer.
Judge Sanders said police officers “did not deserve to be spat on” while carrying out their duties.
Simon Leech, defending Ibru, described his client as an “accomplished athlete”.
The court heard she harboured ambitions of becoming a sports agent.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A decision on RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars is expected from the MoD The SNP is calling for urgent talks with UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox over RAF base closures in Scotland.
A decision on RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Leuchars in Fife is expected from the MoD now that the Holyrood elections have been held.
The SNP’s Westminster leader and defence spokesman Angus Robertson, who represents the bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss, has written to Dr Fox.
He said: “We reject the continuing disproportionate defence cuts.”
Mr Robertson added: “Given that there are ongoing meetings with the Ministry of Defence about the basing review I would be grateful for the earliest meeting.”
The MoD previously announced that RAF Lossiemouth’s 14 Squadron, and XIII Squadron from Marham in Norfolk, are being disbanded.
The Lossiemouth personnel have been involved in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya.
The airfield at RAF Kinloss will cease to operate after 31 July.
The armed forces are looking to shed 17,000 posts over the next four years as defence spending is cut.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Greece is struggling with the terms of its bail-out package European stock markets have fallen on continuing concerns that Greece may require a new financial bail-out deal.
The falls follow comments on Friday by Jean Claude-Juncker, chairman of the eurozone finance ministers, that Greece may need a “further adjustment plan”.
Germany’s Dax index and France’s Cac were both down 1%, with banking shares leading the declines. The UK’s FTSE index was 0.6% lower.
Greece received a 110bn euro ($136bn; £94bn) bail-out last year.
Germany’s Commerzbank was 2.1% lower, while France’s BNP Paribas declined 2.2% and Societe Generale by 2%.
There are also concerns about whether the other two nations that have received European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bail-outs – the Republic of Ireland and Portugal – are also struggling with the cost of paying back their rescue deals.
However, some analysts say the EU and IMF could simply reduce the interest rates that the three countries have to pay.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Turnbull won three league titles as a player with Hibs The funeral of Hibernian legend and former Aberdeen and Queen’s Park manager Eddie Turnbull is set to take place later on Monday.
Many former and current players are expected to pay their respects to the prolific striker, who died last month at the age of 88.
Turnbull was a key player in the Hibs “Famous Five” forward line.
The funeral service will take place in Edinburgh before the cortage heads past Easter Road.
Falkirk-born Turnbull, who died on 30 April, played for Hibs and later took up the mantle as manager.
It had already been announced that Hibs’ home match against Aberdeen on 14 May, the last of the season for both sides, is to be played in tribute to him.
Supporters will also be able to acknowledge the funeral cortege on Monday as it travels up the walkway behind Easter Road’s East Stand, where various tributes have been left by supporters.
During his career, Turnbull guided Aberdeen to the Scottish Cup in 1970 and won the League Cup with Hibs in 1972.
As a player, he made nine Scotland appearances and was part of the “Famous Five” Hibs forward line that won three Scottish League titles.
His daughter, Valerie Low, said: “The whole family has been humbled and very touched by the messages of condolence and support we have received from Hibernian supporters and supporters of other clubs since my father passed away.
“It is fitting that the next game at Easter Road is versus Aberdeen and we hope to see as many of dad’s friends and fans on the day as possible.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
About 3,000 people marched in the first “SlutWalk” last month in Toronto A protest movement sparked by a Canadian police officer’s advice to women to “avoid dressing like sluts” is coming to England.
The SlutWalk march in London, starting in Trafalgar Square, is being planned for 4 June.
Thousands of people have taken part in such marches across the US and Canada.
Organisers say the aim is to highlight a culture in which the victim, rather than rapist or abuser, is blamed.
The Facebook page for SlutWalk London already has more than 3,500 people registered to take part.
Student Anastasia Richardson, 17, who is organising the SlutWalk in London, said that the movement clearly relates to people in Britain.
She said: “I think the reaction shows how relevant it is, especially in Britain where only 6.5% of rape cases end in convictions – and that’s the ones we know about.”
About 3,000 people took part in the first SlutWalk in Toronto last month and 2,000 people took part in a SlutWalk in Boston on Saturday.
The movement started after police constable Michael Sanguinetti, who had been giving a talk to a group of students in Toronto, made his remarks.
“You know, I think we’re beating around the bush here,” he reportedly told them.
“I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.”
He has since apologised and has been disciplined by the Toronto police. He is still on duty.
The SlutWalk London website said it wants to end a culture of fear and victimisation.
“Let’s raise our voices and tell the world that rape is never, ever OK,” the website says.
“Not if she was wearing a miniskirt. Not if she was naked. Not if she was your wife, girlfriend or friend. Not if she was a prostitute. Not if she was drunk. Not if you thought she wanted to.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.