Category: news

The US state of Minnesota has shut down all non-essential public services because of a row over the state budget.

The Democratic governor, Mark Dayton, wants spending cuts and tax increases, but the Republican-led legislature rejects higher taxes.

On one of the busiest holidays of the year – 4 July weekend – parks and campsites will be closed.

The impasse has parallels with the budget dispute between President Barack Obama and the US Congress.

State agencies began winding down at midday local time on Friday. Roughly 23,000 state workers out of 36,000 are expected to be off work.

Services deemed critical will be unaffected. They include prison staffing, state police patrols and carers at nursing and veterans homes.

Payments to schools will also continue during the shutdown, as well as food stamps, Medicaid and temporary assistance to needy families.

This is 4 July weekend, the holiday celebrating American independence, when people like to enjoy the great outdoors.

So the closure of leisure facilities is likely to have the most immediate impact. Parks, campsites, the state zoo and the landmark Capitol building in state capital St Pauls will all be shut.

Republican leaders asked Governor Dayton to call a special session to approve a 10-day funding extension, saying they believed they were close to a budget deal.

But the governor dismissed the offer as “a publicity stunt”.

Minnesota Republican Chairman, Tony Sutton, called Gov Dayton a “piece of work”, and accused him of inflicting “maximum pain” for political reasons.

One of the senior local Democrats, Ken Martin, laid the blame on Republicans, saying they drove the state to a shutdown to protect millionaires from the tax increases proposed by Gov Dayton.

“Shame on you for putting the interests of your rich campaign donors ahead of the well-being of the constituents you are supposed to represent,” said Mr Martin.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

A roadside bomb has killed at least 11 members of a family of Afghan refugees returning home from Pakistan through Zabul province.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Final rallies are held as Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva takes on the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in Sunday’s election.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

University leaders in Wales have signalled they will cooperate with proposals to halve the number of Welsh institutions.

Higher Education Wales (HEW), which represents 12 universities, has agreed they need “fewer but stronger”.

But HEW said any mergers should be for the particular university governing bodies to decide.

The Welsh Government has welcomed HEW’s “positive statement”.

Professor Noel Lloyd, chair of Higher Education Wales and vice chancellor of Aberystwyth University, told BBC Wales HE institutions had to become as efficient as possible.

“We have this hugely competitive environment and we have to be as a sector as strong as possible to deliver to our utmost abilility in Wales,” he said.

“That means taking a strongly strategic approach to future development.”

Last December Education Minister Leighton Andrews warned universities that they must “adapt or die”.

His comments came after an assembly government sponsored body, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), said the number of institutions should be reduced to make the sector sustainable.

HEFCW, which is responsible for administering funds from the Welsh Government for higher education institutions, said by 2013 distribution should reflect regional needs with no more than two institutions in each region.

Wales had 15 higher education institutions in 2000, including the Open University in Wales.

Following an alliance between the University of Glamorgan and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the merger of the Wales College of Medicine and Cardiff University, and the merger between Trinity University College, Carmarthen and University of Wales, Lampeter, it currently has 12.

On Friday, HEW committee members agreed the “challenges facing higher education are of an unprecedented nature” and said “we have to move fast in order to meet these challenges”.

They said: “In this changed environment we are working with the approach of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Government on the size and shape of the university sector.”

Universities UK, the representative body for universities across the UK, welcomed “the leadership being shown by colleagues in Wales”.

President Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “The direction of travel set out in this statement is unmistakable.

“This is clearly a significant statement of intent from the body representing Wales’ university leaders.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We welcome HEW’s positive statement, their recognition of the need for fewer, stronger and more successful universities and their commitment to reconfiguration for the benefit of the Welsh higher education sector.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

University leaders in Wales have signalled they will cooperate with proposals to halve the number of Welsh institutions.

Higher Education Wales (HEW), which represents 12 universities, has agreed they need “fewer but stronger”.

But HEW said any mergers should be for the particular university governing bodies to decide.

The Welsh Government has welcomed HEW’s “positive statement”.

Professor Noel Lloyd, chair of Higher Education Wales and vice chancellor of Aberystwyth University, told BBC Wales HE institutions had to become as efficient as possible.

“We have this hugely competitive environment and we have to be as a sector as strong as possible to deliver to our utmost abilility in Wales,” he said.

“That means taking a strongly strategic approach to future development.”

Last December Education Minister Leighton Andrews warned universities that they must “adapt or die”.

His comments came after an assembly government sponsored body, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), said the number of institutions should be reduced to make the sector sustainable.

HEFCW, which is responsible for administering funds from the Welsh Government for higher education institutions, said by 2013 distribution should reflect regional needs with no more than two institutions in each region.

Wales had 15 higher education institutions in 2000, including the Open University in Wales.

Following an alliance between the University of Glamorgan and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the merger of the Wales College of Medicine and Cardiff University, and the merger between Trinity University College, Carmarthen and University of Wales, Lampeter, it currently has 12.

On Friday, HEW committee members agreed the “challenges facing higher education are of an unprecedented nature” and said “we have to move fast in order to meet these challenges”.

They said: “In this changed environment we are working with the approach of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Government on the size and shape of the university sector.”

Universities UK, the representative body for universities across the UK, welcomed “the leadership being shown by colleagues in Wales”.

President Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “The direction of travel set out in this statement is unmistakable.

“This is clearly a significant statement of intent from the body representing Wales’ university leaders.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We welcome HEW’s positive statement, their recognition of the need for fewer, stronger and more successful universities and their commitment to reconfiguration for the benefit of the Welsh higher education sector.”

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 state of Minnesota has shut down all non-essential public services because of a row over the state budget.

The Democratic governor, Mark Dayton, wants spending cuts and tax increases, but the Republican-led legislature rejects higher taxes.

On one of the busiest holidays of the year – 4 July weekend – parks and campsites will be closed.

The impasse has parallels with the budget dispute between President Barack Obama and the US Congress.

State agencies began winding down at midday local time on Friday. Roughly 23,000 state workers out of 36,000 are expected to be off work.

Services deemed critical will be unaffected. They include prison staffing, state police patrols and carers at nursing and veterans homes.

Payments to schools will also continue during the shutdown, as well as food stamps, Medicaid and temporary assistance to needy families.

This is 4 July weekend, the holiday celebrating American independence, when people like to enjoy the great outdoors.

So the closure of leisure facilities is likely to have the most immediate impact. Parks, campsites, the state zoo and the landmark Capitol building in state capital St Pauls will all be shut.

Republican leaders asked Governor Dayton to call a special session to approve a 10-day funding extension, saying they believed they were close to a budget deal.

But the governor dismissed the offer as “a publicity stunt”.

Minnesota Republican Chairman, Tony Sutton, called Gov Dayton a “piece of work”, and accused him of inflicting “maximum pain” for political reasons.

One of the senior local Democrats, Ken Martin, laid the blame on Republicans, saying they drove the state to a shutdown to protect millionaires from the tax increases proposed by Gov Dayton.

“Shame on you for putting the interests of your rich campaign donors ahead of the well-being of the constituents you are supposed to represent,” said Mr Martin.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Bahraini doctor alleges physical and psychological abuse while detained by the authorities after being accused of killing and injuring patients in order to portray the Gulf state’s government in a poor light

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 state of Minnesota has shut down all non-essential public services because of a row over the state budget.

The Democratic governor, Mark Dayton, wants spending cuts and tax increases, but the Republican-led legislature rejects higher taxes.

On one of the busiest holidays of the year – 4 July weekend – parks and campsites will be closed.

The impasse has parallels with the budget dispute between President Barack Obama and the US Congress.

State agencies began winding down at midday local time on Friday. Roughly 23,000 state workers out of 36,000 are expected to be off work.

Services deemed critical will be unaffected. They include prison staffing, state police patrols and carers at nursing and veterans homes.

Payments to schools will also continue during the shutdown, as well as food stamps, Medicaid and temporary assistance to needy families.

This is 4 July weekend, the holiday celebrating American independence, when people like to enjoy the great outdoors.

So the closure of leisure facilities is likely to have the most immediate impact. Parks, campsites, the state zoo and the landmark Capitol building in state capital St Pauls will all be shut.

Republican leaders asked Governor Dayton to call a special session to approve a 10-day funding extension, saying they believed they were close to a budget deal.

But the governor dismissed the offer as “a publicity stunt”.

Minnesota Republican Chairman, Tony Sutton, called Gov Dayton a “piece of work”, and accused him of inflicting “maximum pain” for political reasons.

One of the senior local Democrats, Ken Martin, laid the blame on Republicans, saying they drove the state to a shutdown to protect millionaires from the tax increases proposed by Gov Dayton.

“Shame on you for putting the interests of your rich campaign donors ahead of the well-being of the constituents you are supposed to represent,” said Mr Martin.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Final rallies are held as Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva takes on the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in Sunday’s election.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Final rallies are held as Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva takes on the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in Sunday’s election.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

A group representing 270 disability charities is launching legal action to obtain a judicial review of the government’s plans for welfare changes.

Ministers want to replace Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payment, saving £2bn.

But Disability Alliance said ministers had not properly assessed the negative impact of the changes and that they did not comply with the Equality Act.

The government said the plans were fair and would protect those needing help.

Under the proposals, benefits such as mobility allowances for people in care homes would be stopped.

The care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the lowest rate of just under £20 a week, which is paid to 650,000 people, would also go.

Disability Alliance said despite providing the government with overwhelming evidence of the negative impact it said the measures would have there has been no significant alteration to the Welfare Reform Bill.

Neil Coyle, from Disability Alliance, said: “We feel forced into taking action now. We have asked the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] to answer our queries and concerns that we have been raising over the course of the past year.

“Disabled people are telling us what the potential impact of government cuts might be. The DWP has not answered.

“We feel we have no other option but to take action at this stage, which may end up with a judicial review of the government’s DLA cuts.

Ministers said they were listening to the concerns of the disability sector and the process was still ongoing.

Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said: “We are still only part the way through this process.

“I think some of the concerns that have been expressed are second guessing what the outcome will be and probably creating a great deal of concern where perhaps there is no necessity to have that concern.”

Disability Living Allowance is paid to 3.2 million people, including 1.8 million of working age.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Bahraini doctor alleges physical and psychological abuse while detained by the authorities after being accused of killing and injuring patients in order to portray the Gulf state’s government in a poor light

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Bahraini doctor alleges physical and psychological abuse while detained by the authorities after being accused of killing and injuring patients in order to portray the Gulf state’s government in a poor light

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

A group representing 270 disability charities is launching legal action to obtain a judicial review of the government’s plans for welfare changes.

Ministers want to replace Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payment, saving £2bn.

But Disability Alliance said ministers had not properly assessed the negative impact of the changes and that they did not comply with the Equality Act.

The government said the plans were fair and would protect those needing help.

Under the proposals, benefits such as mobility allowances for people in care homes would be stopped.

The care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the lowest rate of just under £20 a week, which is paid to 650,000 people, would also go.

Disability Alliance said despite providing the government with overwhelming evidence of the negative impact it said the measures would have there has been no significant alteration to the Welfare Reform Bill.

Neil Coyle, from Disability Alliance, said: “We feel forced into taking action now. We have asked the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] to answer our queries and concerns that we have been raising over the course of the past year.

“Disabled people are telling us what the potential impact of government cuts might be. The DWP has not answered.

“We feel we have no other option but to take action at this stage, which may end up with a judicial review of the government’s DLA cuts.

Ministers said they were listening to the concerns of the disability sector and the process was still ongoing.

Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said: “We are still only part the way through this process.

“I think some of the concerns that have been expressed are second guessing what the outcome will be and probably creating a great deal of concern where perhaps there is no necessity to have that concern.”

Disability Living Allowance is paid to 3.2 million people, including 1.8 million of working age.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will continue their official tour of Canada with a visit to the province of Quebec.

There the royal couple are expected to face protests from a small group of separatists.

They will first go to Montreal and visit both a world-renowned children’s hospital and a cookery school.

On Friday, the duke and duchess were guests of honour as they celebrated Canada Day with about 100,000 people in the capital Ottawa.

Events in Ottawa climaxed with a lavish fireworks display.

The duke and duchess were at the heart of this year’s celebrations marking the birth of Canada.

The duchess will later experience yet another aspect of her new life when she helps her husband plant a tree in the grounds of Government House in Ottawa.

The couple will then fly to the French-speaking province of Quebec where a small, radical separatist group has vowed to make their brief stay as disagreeable as possible.

With the cookery students the future king and queen will, in the words of one of their officials, put on aprons and roll their sleeves up.

On Friday, the duke and duchess attended events marking Canada Day on their second day in the country.

At a citizenship ceremony near Ottawa the royal couple presented national flags to 25 new Canadians who had come from 12 different countries.

The duchess wore a white dress and red hat – the colours of Canada’s flag – and the Queen’s maple leaf brooch.

Friday was a national holiday in Canada and marked the country’s 144th birthday.

In what is their first official overseas tour, the couple are visiting seven Canadian cities in nine days.

The cost of the visit to the Canadian government, not including security, is estimated to be 1.4 million Canadian dollars (£958,580).

The duke and duchess will travel to the US state of California for two days from 8 July, attending a black-tie Bafta reception and dinner in Los Angeles on 9 July. Prince William is Bafta’s president.

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This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.