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Indonesia’s president says an official protest will be lodged against the alleged use of lasers during a football game against Malaysia.
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The letter warned that the NHS could face a significant budget shortfall The Department of Health was warned by advisers that the NHS could face a budget shortfall of up to £10bn a year unless it delivers greater efficiency.
In a letter seen by the Guardian, the Independent Challenge Group also said savings for England as projected might not be achievable.
The DH said the issues in the letter dating from September had been addressed in the Spending Review.
Labour said it suggested the health secretary headed a “rogue department”.
The letter, sent to Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, questioned whether efficiency savings from quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) would be achieved.
It also raised concerns about the cost of the switchover to the government’s flagship policy of GP commissioning.
The letter said: “Taken together, the NHS could therefore face a significant budget shortfall by the end of the SP [spending] period.
“The NHS typically deals with such shortfalls by limiting treatments, leading to increased waiting times.
“The government will be faced with a choice between dealing with the fallout from increased waiting times or increasing the DH’s budget, perhaps by as much as £10bn per year.
“To avoid this unpalatable trade-off, the DH settlement needs to build in much greater non-QIPP efficiency savings from the outset.”
Shadow health secretary John Healey said the letter highlighted the risks in plans to reorganise the NHS based on GP commissioning.
He said: “This Treasury document is extra evidence that the high-risk, high-cost reorganisation [Health Secretary] Andrew Lansley is forcing on the NHS is a massive distraction from improving patient care and making the sound efficiency savings Labour previously planned.
“It also confirms concerns that the health secretary is running a rogue department and operating in isolation from his ministerial colleagues.
“For the sake of patients and the future of healthcare, David Cameron himself needs to get a grip on his government’s NHS plans.”
The Department of Health said the issues raised in the letter were not relevant any more.
A spokesman said: “This letter was part of the process of independent challenge in the Spending Review.
“The work has now concluded and the letter is therefore out of date – it has been overtaken by publication of the response to the white paper consultation and primary care trust allocations for next year.
“As a result of the government’s decision to protect the NHS it will receive increased resources next year – an extra £2.7bn.”
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“Enemies of state at work”, says information chief Gregory Yenlong
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the “deplorable acts of violence” that left 38 people dead in Nigeria over Christmas.
Mr Ban conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and backed the government’s vow to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The victims died in bomb blasts and an attack on churches in central Nigeria.
The area is a flashpoint between the mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south.
Mr Ban said he was appalled by the acts of violence, especially as they happened at “a time when millions of Nigerians are celebrating religious holidays”.
He said he “supported efforts by the Nigerian authorities to bring those responsible to justice”.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said: “I assure Nigerians that government will go to the root of this. We must unearth what caused it and those behind it must be brought to book.”
Nigerian State Information Commissioner Gregory Yenlong said that “enemies of the state were at work” in the violence.
He appealed for people to remain calm, adding: “We expect drastic measures to be put in place – you can see how charged the atmosphere is.”
African Union Commission chairman, Jean Ping, also expressed shock and sadness at the violence.
The main attacks were near the city of Jos and in the town of Maiduguri.
The unrest was triggered by explosions on Christmas Eve in villages near Jos.
The bomb attacks killed 32 people and left about 70 injured.
Reports said two bombs exploded near a large market. A third hit a mainly Christian area while the fourth was near a road leading to a mosque. No group has said it carried out the attacks.
About 30 attackers raided a church in Maiduguri, killing the pastor and others, and setting the building on fire.
Another church in the town was also attacked and a security guard killed, reports said.
Further violence between armed groups broke out in Jos on Sunday.
Witnesses said buildings were set alight and people were seen running for cover as police and soldiers arrived.
Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade with deadly riots in 2001 and 2008.
The tensions stem from decades of resentment between indigenous groups and settlers from the north.
Correspondents say that although clashes are often blamed on sectarianism, poverty and access to land and other resources are often the root causes.
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Ms Yeates was captured on CCTV while shopping shortly after leaving a pub on 17 December The results of post-mortem tests carried out on the body of Bristol landscape architect Joanna Yeates are expected to be revealed later.
The 25-year-old’s snow-covered body was found by a couple out walking their dogs in Longwood Lane, Failand, on Christmas Day.
Ms Yeates, from Clifton, had not been seen since she was filmed on CCTV at a Tesco store on 17 December.
Police said the death was being treated as suspicious.
The post-mortem examination began on Sunday, but Avon and Somerset Police warned the process could be lengthy “because of the extreme freezing conditions in which Joanna’s body was found”.
Police have appealed for information which may help them fill in the gap between Ms Yeates’ disappearance and the discovery of her body.
She is thought to have returned to the flat she shared with her boyfriend, Greg Reardon, 27, on the evening of 17 December.
Her keys, mobile phone, purse and coat had been left behind at their flat.
Mr Reardon was in Sheffield visiting family for the weekend and reported her missing to police when he returned home two days later.
Ch Supt Jon Stratford, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “We have not stopped working hard throughout the Christmas period to find their daughter after she was reported missing.
“Now we will work just as hard to discover exactly what happened to her and how she came to be in Longwood Lane on Christmas morning.
“I would appeal to anyone with any information whatsoever that can help this investigation to please come forward and help us provide Joanna’s parents with the answers they so desperately want and need.”
Police said she had been to the Ram pub in Bristol’s Park Street the night she disappeared, but left there at about 2000 GMT.
CCTV images showed Ms Yeates visiting a Waitrose store on The Triangle and then the Tesco Express store, where she bought a pizza.
A receipt for the food was found at her address, but no trace has been found of the pizza or its wrapping and detectives believe its whereabouts could hold a vital clue in the case.
Officers are also keen to hear from people who may have seen anything or anyone acting suspiciously over the past week in the Longwood Lane area.
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Teena Marie reportedly died in her sleep The Grammy-nominated American soul singer Teena Marie has been found dead at her California home at the age of 54, her manager has said.
Teena Marie often worked with funk legend Rick James with hits such as Lovergirl and Fire and Desire.
Teena Marie, who was born Mary Christine Brockert and also used the moniker Lady T, was a rare white artist on the Motown label when she signed in the late 1970s.
She won four Grammy nominations.
Publicist Jasmine Vega and manager Mike Gardner confirmed her death.
Mr Gardner said Teena Marie had apparently died in her sleep at her home and was found by her daughter.
When she signed to Motown, it was reportedly worried of a fan backlash to the white star and her image did not appear on her first album for the label, Wild and Peaceful.
But she became hugely respected by the black audience.
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The government says “abroad fraud” costs the taxpayer £66m last year A crackdown has been launched by the government on UK benefit cheats who live abroad.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has joined forces with overseas counterparts to target the countries where the most cases take place.
The DWP said the highest instances of fraud was recorded by people living in Spain, Pakistan, the US and Bangladesh.
Scams include people not declaring they have moved abroad or claiming for relatives who have died.
Others examples are working while abroad, having unreported assets such as property, savings or even yachts, or exaggerating a level of disability.
Claimants are told to notify the DWP if they go abroad as it could affect entitlement to benefits.
UK fraud investigators work with overseas organisations such as land registries, as well as the Foreign Office and British banks, to track down the cheats.
Welfare reform minister Lord Freud said: “Abroad fraud cost the taxpayer around £66m last year.
“This money should be going to the people who need it most and not lining the pockets of criminals sunning themselves overseas.
“We are determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer and recently launched our hotline in Portugal to make it even easier to report benefit crime.”
The Portuguese hotline adds to an existing service available in Spain.
One benefit cheat living in Granada, Spain, was recently caught after a hotline call.
She had claimed more than £10,000 income support and child tax credits since 2006 despite living with a partner abroad.
She later pleaded guilty in court was ordered to undertake community service work and repay the money.
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The money will be spent to improve access to Scottish culture A £220,000 funding package will boost access to Scotland’s museum collections, the culture minister has said.
Fiona Hyslop said the cash would be shared by attractions in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow.
A £115,000 storage area will be created at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow to house 500,000 zoological specimens.
In Aberdeen, A-listed Provost Skene’s House will receive £64,651 to establish a new “interactive” exhibition space.
Discovery Point in Dundee will also get £44,350 for plans which include building automated entrance gates and improving disabled access.
Ms Hyslop said: “This funding will help increase access to some of the attractions which collectively tell Scotland’s story to an estimated 25.3 million visitors every year, contributing more that £800m to the economy.”
Joanne Orr, chief executive officer of Museums Galleries Scotland, said the money was “great news”.
She added: “Our museums and galleries are a huge asset to Scotland’s tourism and education offer.”
The organisation manages the government’s “recognition scheme” for museums and galleries housing collections of national significance.
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Motorists have been urged to drive with caution because of the threat of black ice Motorists have been advised to drive carefully after a warning of black ice on roads across Scotland.
The alert came after drivers were told to limit their speed to 30mph on Scotland’s motorway network over the weekend.
The Met Office issued a severe weather warning on Sunday, predicting widespread icy roads until Monday.
It also said there was a risk of snow in Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Fife, Lothians and southern Scotland.
The Met Office predicted that a few centimetres could fall at lower levels, with 10cm over the Southern Uplands, Perthshire and Stirlingshire hills.
Police forces across the country said on Sunday that the freezing conditions had led to hazardous driving conditions on many routes.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said that roads remained “unpredictable” despite a widespread gritting operation.
He has urged people to plan journeys before setting out.
All main trunk roads remained open over the weekend but advisory 30mph speed limits were in operation on several routes, including all motorways.
Mr Brown said: “Drivers should always plan their journeys in advance and should be aware of the threat from sub-zero temperatures and keep a sharp look out when travelling.
“The roads may appear clear of snow, but despite the widespread gritting taking place across the country, black ice remains a danger.
“Road conditions can be unpredictable and I’d urge drivers to continue to drive with care and not to be complacent.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpos) has also issued advice for motorists travelling in icy conditions, urging drivers to leave at least three times more space than usual between moving vehicles and to drive in as high a gear as possible.
Mr Brown also said motorists should take extra care in case pedestrians were walking on roads because pavements were affected by ice and snow.
The warning comes after a 43-year-old man was killed as he walked along the A921 in Fife on Christmas Eve.
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UK wildlife sees return of tradition in 2010
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The snow is causing travel chaos across the eastern US
A swathe of the US eastern seaboard is braced for an intensifying winter storm that is dumping heavy snow as it sweeps north.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and severe weather warnings are in place from Georgia to Vermont as temperatures continue to plummet.
Blizzards dropping up to 1ft (31cm) of snow are expected to hit New York and parts of New England.
South Carolina had its first Christmas snow since records began in 1887.
L/Cpl Bill Rhyne, of South Carolina Highway Patrol, said people were heeding warnings to stay off the roads.
“We’re urging extreme caution in travel. Try to get home early and if you don’t have to travel don’t go”
Bob McDonnell Virginia governor
Transport officials in Washington DC deployed 200 salting lorries, snow ploughs and other equipment to tackle the expected 6in of snow expected across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Blizzard warnings were in effect for Rhode Island and most of eastern Massachusetts including Boston. Forecasters predicted more than 1ft of snow from midday on Sunday until late afternoon.
Up to 18in of snow was predicted to fall on the New Jersey coast, with wind gusts of more than 40mph (64km/h).
Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina had declared states of emergency by early Sunday.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell told The Weather Channel that snow driven by strong winds would make travel conditions hazardous.
“We’re urging extreme caution in travel. Try to get home early and if you don’t have to travel don’t go,” he said.
As conditions worsened, Continental Airlines cancelled 250 flights from Newark Liberty International Airport outside New York City on Sunday.
United Airlines also cancelled dozens of Sunday flights from Newark, Philadelphia, New York’s LaGuardia and JFK, Boston and other airports.
AirTran and Southwest Airlines also cancelled flights.
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Biology teacher Ros Johnson says 3D projections of body organs have given lessons a new direction at the Abbey School in Reading.
Biology lessons are a distance memory for me but if they had been anything like the one I’ve just sat through at Abbey School in Reading, I think I may have remembered a little more.
The pupils were looking at how a chest works, via 3D glasses and a 3D-enabled projector.
The 3D thorax that caused the excitement “So cool”, “It’s huge”, “I thought the diaphragm was a flat muscle,” “I didn’t realise it wasn’t under the ribs” were just a few of the comments made when the girls put on their glasses to examine the model of the thorax in more detail.
“It is an amazing experience, so good for learning,” said Yvette.
“Much more interesting than looking at a flat text book,” added Polly.
“It is more lifelike which makes it easier to grasp the concept, ” said Rosie.
If 2009 had a buzz word it might have been 3D. But despite the hype, there are murmurings that it is a gimmick already getting past its sell-by-date.
Some reports suggest cinema audiences are starting to tire of 3D movies and, while 3D TVs are increasing sales, not everyone is impressed with the results.
According to net measurement firm Nielsen, only a tiny percentage of houses have 3D TV with many others saying they have no intention of upgrading.
Not so in education, where it seems 3D could have a real future, breathing new life into an ageing curriculum and offering a glimpse of how 21st education should be.
The girls at Abbey School enjoyed their 3D lesson “We aren’t far away from the next stage where children can hold and manipulate 3D images in their hands. This could be combined with online learning. It could be a phenomenally successful educational model that is truly visionary,” said Katheryn MacAulay, deputy head at the school.
She introduced the system to Abbey School in the spring of 2010, having discovered Texas Instrument’s (TI) system at the BETT education show.
“TI wanted to see whether it would be successful in a non-US environment and we agreed to test it,” she said.
Within four months she had interest from schools in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey and at next year’s BETT will be talking to 100 headteachers about how the system has slotted into the curriculum at Abbey School.
Ros Johnson, head of biology at the school, said she was “gobsmacked” when test results from classes using the 3D technology were compared to those without it.
“The 3D results were significantly better,” she said.
Teaching a Year 7 class about plant cells proved difficult using traditional methods
“You try to explain how cells divide and they aren’t getting it,” she said.
But with a 3D model to explore, the class had a collective light bulb moment.
There is beginning to be a backlash against 3D cinema and TV “I knew it would be useful but I didn’t expect it to have such a significant effect,” said Ms Johnson.
3D in the classroom isn’t gimmicky said Ms Johnson, instead it is very much just a part of the lesson, rarely on for more than 10 minutes.
The fact that it can be projected over the whiteboard means that it is easy to switch between 3D and 2D teaching.
It is early days for 3D technology in schools. 3D-ready projectors are no more expensive than normal ones but a class set of glasses currently costs around £1,500.
This seems even more expensive when the technology is so new and therefore prone to glitches.
The class set at Abbey School had to be replaced because of synching issues as pupils moved their heads around in very different ways to how someone simply viewing a movie would do.
There is also more to do to develop software for the system. According to Ms Johnson some of resources she has used have been factually inaccurate.
“The software developers must work with teachers in future,” said Ms MacAulay.
Despite the issues, the school is already building up an impressive library of 3D resources in a wide array of subjects from maths to geography and history.
3D in the classroom could be here to stay.
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Buildings have been set ablaze in the latest clashes in Jos Further violence between armed groups has broken out in the city of Jos in central Nigeria following bombings that killed 32 people.
Witnesses said buildings were set alight and people were seen running for cover as police and soldiers arrived.
Previous violence between Christian and Muslim ethnic groups in the region has killed hundreds.
The latest unrest was triggered by explosions on Christmas Eve in villages near Jos.
Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo is reported to be on his way to the area.
Details of the latest violence were unclear,but one witness quoted by Reuters news agency reported dozens of buildings on fire and bloodied people being carried to hospital.
Police commissioner Abdulrahman Akano told AFP news agency that one person had been killed.
“There were some skirmishes between the two groups and it is under control now,” he said.
Mr Sambo’s spokesman said that the vice-president was travelling to Jos on Sunday “to make an effort to quell this crisis”.
Friday’s bomb attacks near Jos also left more than 70 people injured.
Reports said two bombs exploded near a large market. A third hit a mainly Christian area while the fourth was near a road leading to a mosque. No group has claimed responsibility.
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to bring those responsible to justice.
Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade with deadly riots in 2001 and 2008.
The city is in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt – between the mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south.
The tensions stem from decades of resentment between indigenous groups and settlers from the north.
Correspondents say that although clashes are often blamed on sectarianism, poverty and access to land and other resources are often the root causes.
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Domodedovo airport remained shut for most of Sunday Freezing rain has badly disrupted air traffic at Moscow’s airports and left more than 400,000 people in and around Russia’s capital without electricity.
Rain that immediately turned into ice on the ground caused power failures, shutting Domodedovo airport for hours and stranding thousands of people. The power was later restored.
Dozens of flights to and from other Moscow airports were cancelled.
Bad weather also turned many streets in the city into ice rinks.
Domodedovo airport remained shut for more than 10 hours on Sunday, after the power supply was cut off, officials said.
The outage was caused by tree branches touching power lines loaded down with ice.
The power was only restored late in the evening.
More than 60 flights were also cancelled at other Moscow airports because of bad weather.
In the city itself, freezing rain damaged power supplies to trams and trolley buses and caused huge traffic jams.
Health officials urged residents not to risk walking on the icy streets and stay indoors.
At an emergency meeting, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered ministers to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
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Khodorkovsky has said he is prepared to spend the rest of his life in jail A court in Moscow is due to begin reading the verdict in the second trial of former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky, who is already serving an eight-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion, is facing fresh charges of money laundering and embezzlement.
If found guilty the former head of the now defunct Yukos oil company could be behind bars for several more years.
His supporters maintain the case is politically motivated.
Khodorkovsky, 47, is due to be released next year, but the second trial could see him jailed until 2017.
In the latest trial, Khodorkovsky is accused of stealing hundreds of millions of tonnes of oil from his Yukos oil company and laundering the proceeds between 1998-2003.
Khodorkovsky lawyers say Vladimir Putin is applying pressure to courts He has denounced the charges as rubbish.
Khodorkovsky has said that a state that destroys its best companies and trusts only the bureaucracy and the special services is a sick state.
Many critics believe the government wants the former tycoon kept behind bars for as long as possible because he challenged former President Vladimir Putin by financing the opposition.
In a televised question-and-answer session last week, Mr Putin – who is Russia’s current prime minister – referred to Khodorkovsky when he said he believed “a thief belongs in prison”.
Khodorkovsky’s lawyers said Mr Putin’s comments “removed all doubt about who puts pressure on the court”, adding that his comments would assist in an appeal against the verdict, should Khodorkovsky be found guilty.
On Saturday, Germany said it was following the trial very closely.
“This trial is considered a test of the rule of law in Russia,” German Ambassador to Russia Ulrich Brandenburg told Russia’s Interfax news agency.
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A round up of 2010’s arts and entertainment stories
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