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Thousands of women are expected to take part in marches in cities across Italy to protest against the country’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Gelman was described by police as an unemployed drug user A man fatally stabbed his step-father, ex-girlfriend and her mother, before running over a pedestrian, in a 28-hour rampage in New York City, police said.
The man, alleged to be Ukrainian-born Maksim Gelman, 23, was armed with five knives when he went on a stabbing spree early Friday, officials said.
Four other people were also knifed but survived the attacks.
Mr Gelman was finally arrested on a train on Saturday morning after a all-night manhunt, police said.
Charges against him are pending.
“It’s so horrendous and bizarre. We have no reason to know why he did this,” said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
He said had not recalled seeing “anything like this” in the decades he had worked for the New York police department.
Police said the suspect had stabbed three people to death, hijacked two cars, ran over a pedestrian, and attacked several others in the violent spree which covered three New York City boroughs.
The attacks are said to have begun after 0500 local time (1000 GMT) on Friday when Mr Gelman allegedly killed his step-father, Aleksandr Kuznetsov, in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood.
The suspect had had a fight with his mother after she refused to allow him to use her car, a Lexus, and 54-year-old Mr Kuznetsov had intervened, police said.
The attacks began after an argument between the suspect and his mother Less than six hours later, at about 1030 local time, Mr Gelman then went to his ex-girlfriend’s home, where he killed her 56-year-old mother, Anna Bulchenko, according to Commissioner Kelly.
Returning home, Yelena Bulchenko, 20, is said to have discovered her mother and called police.
The attacker, who was still in the house, then chased her outside and stabbed her 11 times, police said.
Police said he then drove away in the Lexus, hitting another car in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighbourhood.
When the driver confronted him, Mr Gelman allegedly stabbed him three times in the chest. The victim survived and is in a stable condition.
The suspect then allegedly hit a pedestrian, 62-year-old Stephen Tanenbaum, who died of his injuries.
At about 0100 local time on Saturday, the suspect then confronted a cab driver in the Crown Heights area, stabbing him. He then approached a couple in a Nissan and knifed the man in the hand several times before taking their car. Both men survived.
Later that morning, according to Commissioner Kelly’s account, a passengers on an upper Manhattan train got off and told police officers a man fitting Mr Gelman’s description had knocked a newspaper out of her hand and said: “Do you believe what they’re writing about me?”
Police say Mr Gelman then got off the train, crossed the tracks and boarded a different train, where he then stabbed a passenger.
Mr Gelman made his way up to the driver’s compartment and knocked on it, claiming to be police, Commissioner Kelly said.
A police officer in the driver’s cab opened the door and wrestled Mr Gelman to the ground, knocking a knife from his hand, police said, before he was taken into custody.
Police described the suspect as an unemployed drug user with 10 previous arrests, mostly linked to graffiti and drugs.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The NHS vaccine does not guard against the genital wart virus The NHS vaccinates teenage girls against cervical cancer with the Cervarix vaccine. It offers good protection, but does not also protect against genital warts.
In this week’s Scrubbing Up, two sexual health experts argue that if the vaccine used was changed to Gardisal, teenagers would also get protection from genital warts.
Genital warts are just a cosmetic nuisance, right?
You try telling that to somebody who has just discovered a load of unpleasant ‘mini-cauliflowers’ in the genital area.
In our long careers as sexual health consultants we can safely say that the patients who discover genital warts are some of the most distressed and upset patients we have ever met. At 135,000 new and recurrent cases per year, it is the commonest sexually transmitted infection dealt with in our clinics.
Imagine our delight then when in 2007 it was announced that there was a vaccine available for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – the virus responsible for genital warts and the government was considering a national vaccination programme.
“It is sad that a golden opportunity to eradicate the commonest sexually transmitted infection in the UK, has been ignored.”
By Dr Colm O’Mahony and Dr Steve Taylor Sexual Health Experts
Unfortunately, there were two vaccines, one which did not cover the genital warts virus at all – Cervarix – and a second vaccine – Gardasil – which covered the viruses that cause cervical cancer, HPV 16 and 18, but also types six and 11 which cause almost 100% of all genital warts in the UK.
We naively thought at the time this was no contest, genital warts cost millions of pounds, as not only do types six and 11 cause warts but they also cause thousands of cervical smears to be classified as abnormal resulting in thousands of visits to GPs, gynaecology departments and sexual health clinics for wart treatments.
The Joint Vaccination Committee recommended HPV vaccination and said that if the vaccines were the same price, Gardasil should be chosen but if Cervarix was considerably cheaper then it might be the option.
The reduction in cervical cancers wouldn’t be seen until 2025 whereas in a year of the vaccine programme with Gardasil we would have started to see a reduction in genital warts and started saving millions of pounds not to mention reduction in workload and distressed patients.
“In private we have all purchased Gardasil for our own children and advised colleagues to do the same.”
Dr Colm O’Mahony and Dr Steve Taylor Sexual Health Experts
It’s extraordinary that we are the only developed country in the world, apart from Holland, to have chosen Cervarix for the national programme. The Republic of Ireland did the maths and chose Gardasil.
Australia, which was first country out of the blocks, had a vaccination programme for young women between the ages of 12-26 and within the year of their Gardasil vaccine programme finishing, were already seeing a 47% reduction in genital wart presentation in young women with a corresponding 17% reduction in young men from herd immunity.
A recent Australian study calculated that the only ‘danger to Australia in the future would be unvaccinated backpackers’ – Brits.
We, as consultants in sexual health, have been told to say nothing publicly that would damage the current vaccine programme as the Cervarix vaccine has already been purchased. We have had to be circumspect in public but in private we have all purchased Gardasil for our own children and advised colleagues to do the same.
It is sad that a golden opportunity to eradicate the commonest sexually transmitted infection in the UK, has been ignored. This decision will be regretted for many years to come. A small chink of light is the fact that the contract is up for renewal this year.
However, this will only now involve 13-year-olds as the horse has already bolted, with all 13 to 18-year-old girls already vaccinated with Cervarix.
Common sense and economics dictate that the decision to change and use Gardasil needs to be made sooner rather than later.
There are those that say ‘So what, genital warts are a punishment for promiscuous behaviour’ – that is callous and unfair – even skin contact is enough to transmit HPV; condoms do not prevent transmission or acquisition of HPV so even young women who try to be careful are at risk from this virus.
In our clinics we can only apologise to any young women we see who has had her full three doses of Cervarix and yet presents in great distress with genital warts. This was a bad decision, let’s hope the new government will make a re-assessment, taking all the economic and social factors into consideration and reverse this decision.
Neither author has any financial interest in either Cervarix or Gardasil
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
An unofficial starting gun for the race to become the Republican Party’s candidate to run against Barack Obama in 2012 has been fired this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.
Mike Bayham is a New Orleans-based political consultant – a social and fiscal conservative, who has been a delegate at each Republican National Convention since 1996.Charlotte Evans is a Republican student activist in Wisconsin, with a strong interest in energy policy. She describes herself as a fiscal, pro-life, and federalist conservative.
All the main contenders apart from Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee appeared at the conference to deliver speeches designed to test the water and raise their public profile.
None have yet officially declared their candidacy.
Here, two of the 11,000 Republicans attending the conference rate the speeches given by eight of the potential 2012 candidates: Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Mitch Daniels, John Thune, Haley Barbour and Rick Santorum.
The BBC’s Katie Connolly, meanwhile, assesses the chances each has of winning the nomination.
The contest will step up a gear with the Iowa straw poll in August, while the first state-by-state primary elections and caucuses are due in February 2012.
Mitt Romney
Massachusetts governor 2003-7. Age: 63.
Mike: 3 out of 5
Mitt Romney tells CPAC:”I will never apologise for America.”
A scripted address heavy with applause lines. Mostly partisan rhetoric, it was devoid of actual proposals. The most glaring omission was any reference to ObamaCare, a sign that Romney has not figured out how to deal with the fact that Obama’s healthcare bill bears a strong resemblance to the policy Romney himself implemented in Massachusetts. The upside – he read his speech from the teleprompter very well.
Charlotte: 4 out of 5
The crowd continuously erupted in applause. It was a good speech, which is why I’m giving it four marks out of five. But while Romney has many strengths, such as his strategies for encouraging entrepreneurship, I’m not backing him. I don’t like his attempted overhaul of healthcare in Massachusetts – an issue that he completely avoided, by the way, in this speech.
Katie Connolly: The clear frontrunner at this stage, Romney nonetheless has serious hurdles to overcome. He earned a reputation for flip-flopping during his presidential run in 2008, and the healthcare reform package he passed in Massachusetts is a veritable albatross in a Republican primary.
Ron Paul
Veteran US Congressman from Texas. Age: 75.
Mike: 3 out of 5
Ron Paul tells CPAC: “We want to protect our civil liberties as well as our economic liberties.”
Paul had the audience with him before he opened his mouth – many of the people at CPAC were his own. But while his revolutionary rhetoric might have fired up his base, it is unlikely to appeal to those outside of his circle of intense supporters. He appeared spry and passionate, but most of the speech was recycled from his 2008 presidential run.
Charlotte: 3 out of 5
Paul’s speech held the attention of the audience, but those who were not already supporters were baffled by his extreme libertarian agenda. His complete disregard for international relations and his policies based solely on philosophy makes me consider him a “novelty” candidate. His evident love for the constitution is his saving grace.
Katie Connolly: An avowed libertarian, Paul has an ardent following of like-minded ideological purists. He seemed off his game at CPAC, but that won’t stop his supporters from waving his banner. Sadly for him, there’s just not enough of them. A long shot.
Tim Pawlenty
Minnesota governor 2003-11. Age: 50.
Mike: 4 out of 5
Tim Pawlenty tells CPAC: “We need to restore American common sense.”
Pawlenty used humour to engage the audience. This may have been the best zinger at the conference: “Just because we followed Greece into democracy, does not mean we need to follow them into bankruptcy.” Some of his shots at Obama seemed a bit silly, on the other hand. Frequent references to God suggest he is making a major play for evangelicals.
Charlotte: 4 out of 5
Pawlenty made a powerful case for “commonsense spending principles” and showed a strong belief in American exceptionalism. He’s a strong candidate. I worry, however, about the energy policies he has implemented in Minnesota, which involve a lot of government intervention, and mandate the use of renewables – in my view climate change is a complete joke with no scientific backing.
Katie Connolly: Pawlenty is a likable Christian with a record as Minnesota Governor that most conservatives would be proud of, but he hasn’t yet made a splash. He and Romney appeal to the same set of Republican voters, and so far, Romney is winning them over. Still, he’s a top tier candidate, particularly if Republicans opt for electability over fiery dogma.
Newt Gingrich
Speaker of House of Representatives 1995-99. Age: 67.
Mike: 4 out of 5
“The Obama administration is wrong on terrorism, wrong on Iran, wrong on Hezbollah, wrong on the Muslim Brotherhood.” Gingrich is always an impressive speaker, and here at CPAC, he demonstrated his command of a wide range of issues. I particularly liked his aggressive challenge to Obama on energy – a winning issue for the party that other Republicans should embrace.
Charlotte: 3 out of 5
I liked his proposals on energy, but he seemed to wholly ignore issues such as social security and healthcare reform. Also, I’ve heard him make an almost identical speech before.
Katie Connolly: Gingrich is an idea machine and Republicans harbour nostalgia for his time as Speaker, but a fiery temper and messy divorces won’t help his cause. He’s flirted with running for president before but never made it official. An outside chance.
Mitch Daniels
Indiana governor since 2005. Age: 61.
“If our nation goes over a financial Niagara, we won’t have much strength and, eventually, we won’t have peace.” Mike: 4.5 out of 5
Though he was scripted, like Romney, Daniels’s speech had a more natural – dare I say Reaganesque – feel to it. He incorporated sly humour and some clever analogies into what was primarily a speech on the nation’s financial state. I was impressed with his pitch to grow the party and his command of facts and figures. Very presidential.
Charlotte: 4 out of 5
If he can cultivate a bit more charisma, My Man Mitch can truly become a competitive candidate. His track record as a fiscal conservative – balancing budgets and turning the state of Indiana around – is a great starting point for a presidential campaign.
Katie Connolly: Daniels is fast becoming the darling of the Republican Party’s fiscal conservatives but has yet to captivate social conservatives. He has trouble mustering passion for issues like abortion and gay marriage. But if the economy is still the dominant concern come primary time, Daniels will be in an enviable position.
John Thune
South Dakota senator since 2005. Age: 50.
Mike: 4 out of 5
“The closest I’ve come to being on a reality show is C-Span’s live coverage of the Senate floor.” It was primarily an autobiographical talk about how his family came over from Norway to the US and how he unseated Democratic Senate minority leader Tom Daschle in 2004. The latter was a clever hint that he is “giantslayer”, the former really didn’t resonate. Definitely has the most presidential looks of the potential Republican candidates, and he struck a chord challenging the Washington DC way of doing things.
Charlotte: 4 out of 5
Thune came across as an agreeable candidate. He gave careful attention to balanced budgets, the constitution, and international relations. His rhetoric at times seemed familiar, but he received a warm reception.
Katie Connolly: The chiselled South Dakotan could be cast as president in a film, but in the real world he lacks a national profile – he’s unknown. Republican bigwigs have high hopes for him, but his vote for President George W Bush’s economic bailout package may prove toxic for Republican primary voters. A serious contender – but with a long road to the top of the pack, he may have a better chance in 2016.
Haley Barbour
Mississippi governor since 2003. Aged: 63.
Mike: 2.5 out of 5
I liked Barbour’s argument that fighting entitlement fraud is a means of saving money and that this could save billions at a national level. He spoke slowly, in his thick southern drawl, and seemed to be running out of steam towards the end of his speech. Overall, at CPAC he was a bit flat and did little to help his presidential chances.
“Every dollar of tax taken by government is a dollar that can’t be invested.” Charlotte: 2 out of 5
Barbour’s deserves great respect for carrying out “dangerous” spending cuts (as opponents describe them) and ensuring that government benefits only are received by those who are genuinely eligible. But this speech was long and drawn out, and many struggled to pay attention.
Katie Connolly: The brash and popular Barbour ticks a lot of boxes: conservative economic management of Mississippi, reform of medical malpractice laws, a catchy turn of phrase and southern credentials. But his past as a political lobbyist in an era where Washington is widely derided as a corrupted den of “politics as usual” is a disadvantage. Only a real chance if the frontrunners crash and burn.
Rick Santorum
Pennsylvania senator 1995-2007. Age: 52.
“President Obama has refused to look at the situation in Iran and Egypt and… to call evil, evil. To identify the enemy.” Mike: 2.5 out of 5
Santorum is so strongly identified with opposition to abortion and gay marriage that there’s hardly any need for him to mention those subjects, but he didn’t talk about much else. He had nothing to say on priority issues for voters, such as the economy and high gas prices. More of a niche candidate than a genuine contender.
Charlotte: 2 out of 5
An uninspiring speech – rather vague, familiar rhetoric, hardly anything new. Not surprisingly, he didn’t get a particularly enthusiastic reception.
Katie Connolly: A prickly ideologue, Santorum’s staunch social conservatism has strong appeal on the fringes, but he isn’t considered a viable candidate by mainstream Republicans. An unlikely choice.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Hector Maseda’s wife Laura Pollan (centre) is the leader of the Ladies in White group The prominent Cuban political prisoner Hector Maseda has been released.
He is the latest dissident to be freed by the communist government under a deal brokered by the Roman Catholic church.
Mr Maseda was among 52 dissidents Cuba’s communist government agreed to free last July, but his release was delayed until now because he refused to go into exile in Spain.
He has now been allowed to return to his home in Havana.
Mr Maseda, 68, is journalist and former nuclear engineer who founded the banned Liberal Democratic Party.
He is the husband of Laura Pollan, the leader of the Ladies in White group that has been campaigning for the release of all political prisoners.
The church announced he would be freed on Friday, But he initially refused to leave jail unless he was given a full pardon instead of a conditional release.
Mr Maseda was one of 75 people arrested in 2003 in a government crackdown on dissidents.
He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against the state.
In July 2010 the government agreed to release 52 of the dissidents.
Most of the group were released in the weeks after last year’s agreement and went into exile in Spain.
But 11, including Mr Maseda, remained in jail because they refused to go into exile.
Last week the church said the government had agreed that some could stay in Cuba, and two others – Eduardo Diaz and Guido Sigler – were subsequently released.
The Cuban authorities generally refer to the detained dissidents as common criminals or mercenaries paid by Washington to destabilise the communist system.
The release of political prisoners has been a key demand of the US and EU if economic ties are to be improved.
Opposition groups say there are still around 100 political prisoners in Cuban jails.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Innocent people are gunned down in the street every day by drugs gangs
Daily gang-related shootings in Guatemala mean paramedics face a constant battle to save as many lives as they can, as a British paramedic discovered on a two-week working visit to the country’s capital.
On Angie Dymott’s second day on the job in Guatemala City, five students were shot as they walked down a street in an unprovoked gang hit.
Her new colleagues, the Bomberos Voluntarios, were mostly volunteers, trained as both firemen and paramedics.
They received a call to help move the injured into hospital, but two of the university students were already dead.
Angie Dymott’s visit to Guatemala was filmed for a BBC TV documentary seriesToughest place to be a… paramedic is on BBC Two at 2100GMT on Sunday 13 February 2011Toughest place to be a .. paramedic
“I knew it was a violent city, but not until you’re there do you realise the enormity of it – how many shootings the guys have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, in their stride,” she said.
Guatemala has one of the highest annual murder rates in the world, with 52 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Many of the killings are blamed on gangs known as Maras. And many gangs are linked to Mexico’s violent drug cartels who ship billions of dollars of cocaine through the country.
Shootings on buses in Guatemala City are a daily occurrence, as gangs demand payments from those driving through their areas and kill those who refuse to pay.
Between January and November 2010, 119 bus drivers and 51 other transport workers were murdered in the city, according to local human rights groups.
With 75% of the country living below the poverty line there is no shortage of recruits to the gangs.
The police and government are accused of widespread corruption – siphoning money from the lucrative cocaine trade.
“The greatest gift you can have here is to wake up alive the next day”
Wilfredo Ponce Bombero
For Angie, the shootings were a far cry from the call-outs back home in the Welsh capital Cardiff, mostly dealing with minor injuries and drunk youths. In Guatemala City, she had to wear a bulletproof vest.
She was working in a “red zone”, which the bomberos would not enter unless they were wearing uniform and vest, for fear of being killed or kidnapped. Despite the danger, it was a challenge she relished.
“I think every paramedic looks for what is called a real job or a job that is interesting, a job that is exciting, a job where you can use your skills and use what you’ve been trained for.
“The best moments (in Guatemala), were every time that bell rang and I could race and jump in that ambulance and go on that job.”
While there, Angie Dymott lived with two of the bomberos and their families.
Of all the countries in Latin America, Guatemala is probably the one most often described as being on the brink of becoming a “failed state”. The painful legacy of more than 30 years of civil war, high rates of violence and widespread corruption combine to create one of the region’s most pressing challenges.
Gangs terrorise parts of the country, a phenomenon imported from the US by deported Central American migrants in the 80s and attract hundreds of poor young men and women into their ranks.
Their offensives, like the spate of bus attacks, contribute to one of the highest murder rates in the world: 52 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with 14 in Mexico and 5.4 in the US.
According to UN figures, more than 95% of murders remain unsolved.
In pictures: Charting Guatemala’s violence Could Guatemala become a failed state?
Luis Archila, known as Archie, is a volunteer. He estimated that every day the bomberos in Guatemala are called out following 15-20 murders.
He and his family live in a guarded compound, but every time they venture out, they feel anything could happen. His wife takes off her jewellery and only takes cash when shopping.
“My parents-in-law, they were driving with my two sons and they almost get robbed,” said Archie.
“They point the gun to my mother-in-law and they showed the gun to my kid and my kid, my kid started screaming, but to avoid that, that’s why we live (here).”
Full-time bombero, Wilfredo Ponce lives 20 miles out of the city, in a less wealthy area, in a smaller house without high security.
At night, Angie saw groups of men wearing balaclavas and some carrying arms outside his house.
“They are the guardians of the neighbourhood,” explained Wilfredo.
“From 11pm, they watch the neighbourhood, just in case anything happens. Since this system was set up, nothing serious has happened.”
Angie found it hard to accept that they had to form a vigilante group to keep themselves and their families safe.
“I was quite shocked by the level of violence, and also the way people live, or have to live, or feel it’s necessary to live.”
The bomberos race to save a bus shooting victim with limited equipment
The Guatemalan government has begun to negotiate with some of the gangs to try to bring the killings under control.
The Ministry of Culture invited Angie to visit a gang-controlled area called Peronia that it claimed had been made safe.
Former gang member Gustavo, who works for the ministry, managed to help negotiate a ceasefire between the Los Metales and Los Caballos gangs in the area. Before the truce, they were killing up to 10 people a day.
It is the only ceasefire to have held in Guatemala’s gang-related wars.
“We come from the street,” said Gustavo. “We have credibility with the gangs, they trust us. This allows us to be a bridge to help them change.
“I still feel part of the street. But the part of the street that tries to help people.”
Angie loved her time in the country and has been fundraising to help the bomberos, who have limited resources.
“I cannot praise them enough, from the way they work, their attitude, their professionalism, the way they deal with the situations they have with the equipment they’ve got.”
Wilfredo Ponce said: “Sometimes you expect people to thank you for what you do, maybe the families or something.
“But the greatest gift you can have here is to wake up alive the next day.”
Toughest place to be a paramedic is on BBC Two at 2100 GMT on Sunday 13 February.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A nursing bank has already saved millions of pounds in agency costs A system of doctor banks is to be introduced in Scotland in an effort to cut the amount spent on agency staff.
Guidance has been sent to Scotland’s health boards detailing the steps they need to take to cut down on the level of agencies covering doctors’ shifts.
Under the plans, NHS-recruited doctors would be used to supplement staffing rotas where needed.
A similar scheme for nurses cut spending on agency staff from £30m in 2003-04 to £8.2m in 2009-10.
The NHS nursing banks provide an internal pool of staff who can be called on at short notice to cover both planned and unplanned absences.
Spending on agency locum doctors increased in Scotland from about £18m in 2006-07 to £36m in 2009-10.
A spokesman for NHS Scotland said agency doctors could cost up to £104 an hour, compared with £11 an hour for internal staff.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Using agency locums is extremely expensive with health boards currently spending up to £36m a year on locum staff.
“We have already seen this cost reduce by £3m in the last quarter alone through use of the national supplier contract, service redesign and planning by boards.
“We need to ensure that where it is necessary to use temporary medical staff, that they are of the highest quality, so that patients get the best possible care. They must also represent good value for money.”
An Audit Scotland report, published in June 2010, said using agency doctors brought a potential risk to patient safety and claimed that reducing spending on locums would lead to improved standards for patients.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The work on supplementary medical staff and the introduction of NHS doctor banks mean that health boards can be confident in the skills and ability of the doctors they hire and help to bring down costs.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The fund will be used for humanitarian projects in Iraq and Afghanistan Cash confiscated from one of Scotland’s largest companies after it admitted breaching UN sanctions in Iraq is being sent back to the country.
The Scottish government said £1.5m taken from the Glasgow-based Weir Group would go to fund humanitarian projects.
A £13.9m confiscation order was made against the engineering firm after it admitting paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime for contracts.
The remaining £12.4m will be used to fund community projects in Scotland.
The £13.9m was seized from Weir Group under the Proceeds of Crime Act for breaching the Oil for Food programme between 2000 and 2002.
The programme was introduced by the UN to enable exports of Iraqi oil to take place, provided the cash was used for food, medicine and other humanitarian needs.
Scotland’s Culture and External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said the confiscated money would be spent on various projects including human rights work, water development, and bringing the country’s youth orchestra to the Edinburgh Festival.
The minister said a donation of £100,000 was also being made to the Linda Norgrove Foundation in Afghanistan to support women and children rural areas.
Ms Hyslop said: “The confiscation of cash from the Weir Group sent the clear message that illegal activity by Scottish firms will not be tolerated here or abroad.
“It is entirely appropriate that some of those funds are now channelled back to help improve the lives of Iraqi people.”
Mark Chadwick, of Edinburgh-based Mercy Corps (part of the UK NGO Iraq Advocacy Group), said the money was particularly welcome as the humanitarian needs of Iraqis seemed to be slipping off the international agenda.
He added: “We know from our work on the ground that the people of Iraq still need a great deal of help and there’s a lot yet to be done to improve their government’s ability to deliver essential public services in an efficient and transparent way.
“This decision from the Scottish government will help to address these needs through building the capacity of local people to tackle the many challenges they face.”
Since its creation following the death of the aid worker, the Linda Norgrove Foundation has raised £270,000.
Ms Norgrove’s parents John and Lorna Norgrove said the money would be used to help the people of Afghanistan, now considered among the poorest in the world.
They added: “We are determined to put this money to good use and to ensure that our costs are kept to a bare minimum so that funds get through to the people on the ground.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Firth’s performance in The King’s Speech has won him a slew of awards Colin Firth will learn if he has won a second consecutive best actor Bafta when this year’s awards are held later.
The 50-year-old won the prize for his role in A Single Man last year and is in the running again for playing George VI in The King’s Speech.
The late Rod Steiger was the last actor to achieve this feat, winning back-to-back Baftas for The Pawnbroker in 1967 and In the Heat of the Night in 1968.
Firth’s drama is up for 14 awards in all, including best film and director.
The Pride and Prejudice star has already won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for his performance, for which he has also received an Oscar nomination.
The actor was recognised again on Thursday at the London Film Critics’ Circle awards.
Ballet thriller Black Swan has 12 Bafta nominations, including one for its lead actress Natalie Portman.
Science-fiction blockbuster Inception is up for nine awards, while Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours and Coen brothers western True Grit have eight nominations each.
Steiger, pictured in 1993, was the last actor to win consecutive Baftas Jonathan Ross will host this year’s ceremony, to be held at London’s Royal Opera House.
The event will be shown on BBC One from 2100 GMT, with red carpet coverage preceding it on BBC Three.
King’s Speech writer David Seidler told the BBC on Thursday it felt like “a dream” to be nominated for so many awards.
“I keep on looking over my shoulder to see the guy who really wrote it and waiting for the alarm clock to ring,” said the British-American playwright.
“There’s a lot of expectation and pressure but you never know – these things are unpredictable,” he continued.
A host of stars are expected at Sunday’s ceremony, which comes two weeks before the Academy Awards on 27 February.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Curtis had been a follower of the centre’s guru A former RAF officer persuaded to give his home to a spiritual healing centre has spoken out for the first time.
Richard Curtis, 53, won his house back last month after bringing a court case for undue influence against the Self-Realization Meditation Healing Centre.
The Somerset-based centre, a registered charity, is appealing against the ruling.
Mr Curtis, from Brecon, told the BBC’s Inside Out West programme he wants the law on charity donations to be changed.
He said: “I am fighting a battle not just for myself but for all the other people that have given all to god and guru and been left with nothing.”
Mr Curtis had been a follower of the centre’s guru, Rena Denton, who goes by the name Mata Yogananda Mahasaya Dharma.
A statement issued by the centre, which is run by a group of members called the Alpha-Omega family, said: “The court found only that the failure by Mr Curtis to seek independent legal advice meant that the presumption of influence could not be rebutted.
“This is a far cry from the allegations of brainwashing and cultism which Mr Curtis, and now the media, sought to portray.
A number of similar complaints about the centre have been uncovered “Since (2004) the centre has introduced a requirement that anyone wishing to donate to the centre must first seek independent legal advice.”
The centre, based in Queen Camel, near Yeovil, has lodged an appeal against the High Court judgement that its “undue influence” had been present when Mr Curtis signed a declaration of trust gifting the family home in Edwinsford near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, in 2004.
“We didn’t seek legal advice, because we were enraptured,” said Mr Curtis.
“We had a guru working with us and for us who had a direct link to god. What she said was good enough at the time.”
An investigation by Inside Out West has uncovered a number of similar complaints made against the centre by former members.
Lizzie Davies, from Bath, was given an out-of-court settlement for £690,000 by the centre in 1996 after she claimed she had handed over her savings to the centre while under undue influence.
It accepted no liability in agreeing the settlement.
She said of her decision to leave the centre in 1993: “I had nothing. I had absolutely nothing and I found the courage to leave.”
Lizzie Davies was given an out-of-court settlement for £690,000 by the centre in 1996 A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: “(In 1995/6), we identified areas of significant concern with the apparent lack of management control by the entire trustee body over the charity’s affairs.
“We advised that the trustees must ensure they have direct controls over all funds…and that the charity’s book-keeping be improved.”
The centre also has associated but independent organisations in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2003, Helen Williams left the centre in Christchurch with NZ$330 and a few personal belongings after agreeing to donate her property and savings to the centre.
She said: “I can only speak for the Christchurch centre but anyone throughout New Zealand who joined had to bring everything they owned.”
Alistair Mclean, of the Fundraising Standards Board, said: “The use of undue influence in soliciting donations from beneficiaries is quite simply unacceptable.”
The full story features on Inside Out West on BBC One in the west of England and on X-Ray on BBC1 Wales at 1930 GMT on Monday.
The programme will also be available in the UK on the BBC’s iPlayer for seven days.
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The aftermath of the rally saw chaotic rescue scenes
Eleven people have died in a stampede at an election rally in Nigeria.
The rally in the southern city of Port Harcourt was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s election campaign ahead of a poll due in April.
At least 29 others are said to have been injured at the rally, which was held in a crowded sports stadium.
President Jonathan has ordered an investigation and said the incident was “sad, unfortunate and regrettable,” adding: “I mourn with those who mourn.”
The president launched his election campaign earlier this week The crowd panicked after a policeman fired in the air to try to disperse crowds at the gates as people left the rally, according to witnesses.
“There was a huge crowd, the place was completely full,” Ken Saro-Wiwa, President Jonathan’s special assistant on international affairs, told Reuters news agency.
“It is a sad end to what had been a great day,” said Mr Saro-Wiwa.
President Jonathan, whose People’s Democratic Party have won every presidential vote since the return to civilian rule in 1999, is favourite to win April’s election.
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Ron Paul tells CPAC: “We want to protect our civil liberties as well as our economic liberties.”
Texas Congressman Ron Paul has won the straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.
Mr Paul, who won last year, came ahead of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who finished second.
The Texas lawmaker received 30% of votes cast by those attending, compared to Mr Romney’s 23%. Others were grouped far behind.
CPAC is the Republican party’s biggest annual convention.
The summit is an opportunity for possible candidates in the 2012 presidential election to test the waters and attract funding and support.
Although it is less than a year before the first voting in primaries for the 2012 race, no Republican has formally announced his or her candidacy. Correspondents say it is an unusually slow start to the campaign.
Mr Paul, a libertarian with a loyal following, ran in GOP primaries in 2008.
As the results were announced in the hotel ballroom, cheers and boos broke out simultaneously, Reuters news agency reported.
The next highest contenders were former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who both received 6%, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won 5%.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin finished a distant 9th place, garnering only 3% of the vote.
Ms Palin did not attend the summit, citing a scheduling conflict.
Straw polls are an indicator of the political temperature of those at the conference, but do not always match the outcome of presidential primaries.
Earlier in the conference, celebrity mogul Donald Trump told the gathering he would decide by June if he was running for president.
In the 2010 straw poll, Mr Paul won 31%, Mr Romney 22% and Ms Palin came third with 7%.
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Demonstrators clean-up Egypt’s streets in the aftermath of 18 days of protest which led to Hosni Mubarak’s resignation.
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Nikitta Grender was found dead a week ago A 26-year-old man has been charged with the murder of pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
Carl Whant will also face a charge of child destruction and will appear at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Ms Grender, 19, was found dead in her burning flat in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, Newport on 5 February.
She was heavily pregnant with a girl, named Kelsey-May by her family.
Ms Grender, who was two weeks away from giving birth, was stabbed twice and her flat set on fire.
Gwent Police arrested the 26-year-old from Newport on Wednesday.
He is the second cousin of the victim’s boyfriend Ryan Mayes, 18, who is the father of her baby.
Stacey Turner, district crown prosecutor for CPS Gwent, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely alongside Gwent police as the investigation into Nikitta Grender’s murder progressed.
“We can now confirm that, having carefully examined a file of evidence provided by Gwent police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Carl Whant with the murder of Nikitta Grender and that it is in the public interest to do so. Accordingly, we have advised Gwent police to charge him.
“This remains a very difficult time for Nikitta’s family. They have been informed of our decision by the police and we hope to be able to meet with them soon to explain the trial process and answer any questions they may have.”
Det Sup Geoff Ronayne said: “Following the discovery of Nikitta Grender’s body at her address last Saturday morning in Broadmead Park, Gwent Police began an investigation into her murder and a 26-year-old man from the Newport area was arrested.
“A file of evidence has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. Our thoughts and condolences remain with Nikitta and Kelsey-May’s family at this time and we will continue to provide them with support for the foreseeable future.”
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A recent increase in violence has shocked people in Guadalajara An attack on a crowded night club in the Mexican city of Guadalajara has left six people dead, police say.
Unidentified gunmen sprayed the city centre bar with bullets and threw a hand grenade before driving away.
Police said the attackers were customers who returned to exact revenge after a late-night dispute with other drinkers.
Guadalajara – Mexico’s second city – has seen a sharp rise in drug-related violence in recent months.
The Butter Club, in a wealthy neighbourhood near the centre of Guadalajara, was packed with customers when the attack happened in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Among the dead are a Colombian and a Venezuelan citizen.
At least 20 people were wounded in the shooting and grenade explosion, and some are reported to be in a serious condition.
Guadalajara, in the western state of Jalisco, had for a long time been spared the worst of the drug-related violence afflicting some other states.
But killings have escalated over the past year, as rival cartels fight for supremacy.
Earlier this month gunmen with automatic weapons blocked main roads in the city with burning vehicles in a replica of scenes that have become frequent in some cities in northern Mexico.
On 3 February the US consulate in Guadalajara warned of a “marked escalation of criminal activity” and banned US officials from travelling on the main road to the airport after dark.
The increase in violence comes as Guadalajara prepares to host the Pan American Games in October.
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