Category: news

The Republican nominee for US Vice President in 2008, Sarah Palin, is now the star of her own reality TV show.

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Potash is the name given to types of salts mined and manufactured for fertiliser

Mining giant BHP Billiton has abandoned its takeover bid for fertiliser group Potash Corporation after it was blocked by the Canadian government.

BHP said it had been unable to convince the government of the deal’s merits despite “unparalleled” pledges on jobs and investment.

Canada rejected the offer on 3 November, saying it was not convinced that it was in Canadian interests.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant had been given 30 days to appeal.

Saskatchewan-based Potash said BHP had “substantially undervalued” the group’s potential.

BHP made a $38.6bn (£23.7bn) bid for the company in August.

“Unfortunately, despite having received all required anti-trust clearances for the offer, we have not been able to obtain clearance under the Investment Canada Act and have accordingly decided to withdraw the offer,” BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers said.

In a statement, Potash said the bid “failed to reflect both the value of our premier position in a strategically vital industry and our future growth prospects”.

BHP Billiton is the world’s largest mining company, while Potash Corporation controls more than 25% of the world’s supply of potash fertiliser.

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Staff at a Merseyside rail company are to be balloted for strikes in a row over pay, the RMT union announces.

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Young people in Wales are urged to become entrepreneurs in a campaign to inspire “the next Sir Terry Matthews”.

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Papers cheer Chandlers’ release by Somali pirates

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Justice Minister David Ford expresses regret at the death of a prisoner who took his own life at Maghaberry prison last year.

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Rachel and Paul Chandler speak to the BBC’s Andrew Harding in Nairobi

The British couple freed in Somalia 13 months after being kidnapped by pirates are preparing to fly home to the UK.

Paul, 60, and Rachel Chandler, 56, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, enjoyed their first night of freedom at the British High Commission in Nairobi.

The couple, whose yacht was boarded off the Seychelles in October 2009, have spoken of their fear after being beaten when they refused to be separated.

Their ordeal was reportedly ended by the payment of a ransom.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the sum paid for their eventual release had been “the best part of $1m” (£620,000), although there has been no official confirmation of this.

The Chandlers were taken to the British High Commission in Nairobi

Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted the UK government had not been involved in paying ransoms to the kidnappers.

He said: “We have used our contacts in the region to try to gain information and to influence the hostage-takers, but no British government is going to start paying ransoms for hostages.”

The Chandlers, who spent 13 months held hostage in harsh conditions and intense heat in rural Somalia, said they had been beaten when they refused to be separated during their time in captivity.

“We were really distraught, we were very frightened at that point,” Mrs Chandler said after arriving safely in Kenya.

Both Mr and Mrs Chandler, who are experienced sailors, said the worst time had been leaving their yacht in the first place.

They had been sailing from the Seychelles towards Tanzania as part of a longer voyage.

“We had to abandon our home and boat… in the ocean,” Mr Chandler said.

The couple said they had only the vaguest idea of how the rescue had come about having had no communication since the middle of June with the outside world.

Mr Chandler said they had been driven across Somalia to Adado and were later transferred to Mogadishu and then on to Kenya. The couple have undergone medical checks in Nairobi.

Details of the release were not given by the Chandler family in the UK, who issued a statement saying: “The family believes it would be irresponsible to discuss any aspect of the release process as this could encourage others to capture private individuals and demand large ransom payments, something that we are sure none of us wants.”

Earlier this year their captors threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) were not met.

A payment of about $430,000 (£267,000) was made to the pirates in June, but did not result in the release of the Chandlers.

Media speculation was thought to have influenced the pirates, and so the family opted for a super-injunction banning media coverage of the kidnap.

Our correspondent said it was thought unlikely any of those responsible would be brought to justice in Somalia, a country without an effective government since 1991.

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Should the UK follow the example of Denmark?

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The referendum is due to take place on 5 May.

Government plans for a referendum in May on changing the voting system could be at risk if peers vote later to refer them to a Lords committee.

Peers, led by ex-Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, claim the bill covering the move has not been properly drawn up.

The bill also paves the way for a reduction in the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and the re-drawing of boundaries to create similar-sized constituencies.

Labour says the reforms are designed to rig the electoral system against them.

Electoral reform was a key demand of the Liberal Democrats before they agreed to join the coalition with the Conservatives.

Ministers are determined to push through their planned electoral reforms quickly, with a referendum on the alternative vote system pencilled in for 5 May and planned boundary changes due to be completed by 2013.

Both dates could now be in jeopardy because of claims the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill is technically flawed and is “hybrid legislation”, which should be referred to a House of Lords committee so interested parties can lodge appeals.

Labour is expected to table a motion later to refer the bill to a parliamentary select committee local appeals process.

Such a move would severely delay the legislation by months and throw the coalition’s plans for electoral reform into turmoil, BBC political correspondent Norman Smith says.

Ministers are already facing a daunting timetable since they have only until 24 February to get the referendum legislation on the statute book in order to comply with an Electoral Commission ruling, our correspondent adds.

If the Labour motion goes through, the government may be forced to split the legislation into two bills in order to save the referendum.

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A £110m plan was announced recently to improve beaches along the Yorkshire coast

A record number of beaches in England and Wales have met the highest European standards for bathing water quality this year, the Environment Agency says.

It said 86% of beaches and bathing spots reached the European Commission standard, compared with 80% in 2009.

Ten of the 493 sites monitored failed to meet even minimum standards.

The Marine Conservation Society welcomed the figures but said it remained concerned about pollution from sewage overflows during heavy rain.

It also pointed out that stricter standards are due to be introduced across Europe in 2015.

Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster said: “The number of bathing waters in England and Wales attaining the highest quality status has almost tripled over the last 20 years – over eight in 10 sites now meet the EU ‘guideline’ standard for water quality.

“The Environment Agency is working hard with others to drive improvements and tackle all sources of pollution, alongside beach users, local authorities, farmers, land managers and water companies.”

Water quality on bathing beaches is monitored for bacteria between May and September.

The Environment Agency said the figures reflected work carried out over two decades improving water quality.

Tougher standards come into force from 2015, but already more than 80% of beaches in England and Wales are clean enough to meet the new measures, the Environment Agency said.

All 79 monitored beaches in Wales met at least the minimum standards, but 10 in England missed out.

They were: Lyme Regis Church Beach, Dorset; Mothecombe, Seaton and Instow, all in Devon; Seaton, Cornwall; Saltburn and Staithes in North Yorkshire; Heysham Half Moon Bay and St Annes, both in Lancashire; Walney Sandy Gap in Cumbria.

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A healthy weight can reduce risks in pregnancy

Many women fail to get proper advice on weight management during and after pregnancy, a UK-wide survey suggests.

Some 63% said their midwife had not explained obesity issues such as body mass index during their first antenatal appointment.

The poll of 6,226 women also found that six out of 10 felt pressurised by celebrity culture to lose weight quickly after giving birth.

They were surveyed by the Royal College of Midwives and website Netmums.

Obese, pregnant women run a greater risk of developing conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.

They are also more likely to experience miscarriages, difficult deliveries, pre-term births and caesarean sections.

The survey found almost half the women who responded were worried about their weight during pregnancy.

But many appeared to be confused about what their correct weight should be, and significant numbers worried unnecessarily that their weight might cause problems giving birth.

As well as missing out on obesity advice during pregnancy, nine out of 10 said that after giving birth they had had no opportunity to discuss their concerns with their midwife.

Overall, 84% said the general advice they received from midwives on weight management was not good.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those who responded said the NHS should provide midwife-led antenatal classes specifically to address healthy eating and weight management.

The survey also suggested that lack of care had damaged many mothers’ self-esteem. When asked how they felt about their body while pregnant, comments ranged from “disgusting” to “fat, ugly and big”.

‘Wake-up call’

Sally Russell, a co-founder of Netmums.com, said: “The results from this survey are a wake-up call to midwives to support women better throughout their pregnancy and inform them of their options.”

Cathy Warwick, RCM general secretary, said good advice on weight management was vital, both to ensure that women kept as healthy as possible during pregnancy, and to avoid the risks being exaggerated.

But she said midwives did not seem to have enough time to discuss concerns with mothers-to-be.

She called on NHS Trusts to make sure resources were made available to ensure women got the advice and support they needed.

About half of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese, with levels rising.

The health watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence put out guidance in July encouraging women in England to attain a healthy weight before they get pregnant.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We know it’s crucial that mothers get the support they need before, during and after birth and we are working with the Royal College of Midwives, the NHS and others to make this happen.

“Obesity can have serious consequences for mothers and babies. Women need information, education and support at every opportunity.

“Health visitors have a key role in making sure that all mothers and babies get advice about what to eat, exercise and lifestyle. We are committed to recruiting an extra 4,200 health visitors who will be able to give professional support to women and we are currently exploring with the profession how best to achieve this.”

In 2009 there were 26,678 full-time equivalent midwives in the UK.

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Stress can have a significant impact on health

Women with high job strain have a 40% increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those in less demanding posts, a US study suggests.

They had an 88% raised risk of a heart attack, and more chance of strokes and damage requiring coronary artery bypass surgery.

Researchers from Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital followed 17,415 healthy women for more than 10 years.

The study was presented to the American Heart Association.

Job strain, a form of psychological stress, is defined as having a demanding job that provides limited opportunity for decision making or to use one’s creative or individual skills.

The researchers also found job insecurity was also associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and obesity – but not directly with poor cardiovascular health.

Stress can trigger the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which at persistently high levels are thought to damage the cardiovascular system.

It can also raise inflammation levels which are thought to destabilise the fatty plaques which build up in the blood vessels and can cause circulatory problems.

Experts are concerned that heart disease can be overlooked in women, as it is often mistakenly thought of as a male problem.

Women may have less common symptoms, such as back pain, burning in the chest, abdominal discomfort, nausea, or fatigue, which makes diagnosis more difficult.

They are also less likely to seek medical help, and tend to present late in the process of their disease.

Researcher Dr Michelle Albert said the study suggested job stress had both a short and long-term effect on cardiovascular health.

She also said it was crucial for employers to monitor job stress, and take action to try to alleviate it.

“Job stress results in absenteeism, sickness, and disability, which can reduce productivity and competitiveness,” she said.

Previous research has tended to focus on the impact of job stress on men.

Some critics believe it is not stress that causes heart problems – but the unhealthy behaviour, such as smoking and drinking, that some people adopt to try to cope with stress.

Ellen Mason, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said the exact mechanism by which stress could change the body’s chemistry to raise the risk of heart disease had still to be pinned down.

But she said there was a growing body of research to suggest that it did have a damaging effect on the lining of the arteries.

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The couple were attacked while walking through a field

The owner of a bull that killed a man and critically injured his wife has said he is “deeply upset” over the “devastating” attack.

A 63-year-old man from Glen Parva, in Leicestershire, died after being attacked on a footpath in Stanford on Soar, Nottinghamshire, on Friday.

His 67-year-old wife, who flagged down a motorist for help, is critically ill but stable in hospital.

Paul Waterfall, of Underhill Farm, said the incident had shocked his family.

The farmer, who keeps 61 heifers and a bull in the field where the attack took place, said: “My family and I are deeply upset by what has happened.

“We are in shock and trying to come to terms with what I can only describe as a devastating and tragic incident.

“Our thoughts are with the couple’s family at this time.”

It is unclear why the bull attacked the couple, who have not yet been named.

Their two sons travelled to be at their mother’s bedside in Nottingham’s Queens Medical Centre on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination of their father’s body is expected to take place early next week.

His parents have also been informed of his death.

Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident.

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It is estimated counterfeit goods, including cigarettes, cost the UK economy billions each year

Shoppers are being warned against buying counterfeit goods, the sale of which can help finance serious organised crime, a charity says.

A Crimestoppers campaign will highlight how those who sell counterfeit goods are often controlled by human-trafficking and drug-smuggling gangs.

Shoppers are more likely to buy fake DVDs, cigarettes and clothes over the Christmas period, it says.

Counterfeit goods cost the UK economy billions of pounds each year.

The Crimestoppers campaign, which will be divided into strands covering fake DVDs, money, tobacco and fashion, will see beer mats and posters being distributed in pubs and clubs.

It is being run with the support of the Home Office, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact), the Bank of England, the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) and clothing company Pentland.

Posters (above) and beer mats will be distributed to pubs and clubs

The Intellectual Property Crime Group estimates that in 2009, the UK audio visual industry suffered a £535m loss in sales due to copyright theft. It is also claimed the British public spends £3bn on fake clothing each year.

In a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by Crimestoppers, 24% of adults said they had knowingly bought a fake DVD.

The founder and chairman of Crimestoppers, Lord Michael Ashcroft, said: “Christmas is a time when many are trying to find ways to reduce costs. I would urge the public not to be tempted to buy cheap fake goods.

“The consequences are far wider than the simple transaction. It can fund serious crimes such as human trafficking.”

Kieron Sharp, director general of Fact, said: “We know that the trade in counterfeit DVDs is controlled by serious organised criminals who are using this to generate substantial profits.

“The trail from the DVD street seller leads all the way back to the gangs who smuggled that person into the UK.

“The human and economic impact of such criminality is severe, with the livelihoods of over 150,000 people who work across the UK’s film and TV industry put at risk.”

A spokesman from Soca said there were examples of organised crime groups who used proceeds from counterfeiting to fund contract killing, weapons trafficking, prostitution, drug trafficking and people smuggling.

He said: “Like any legitimate business, they spread the risk by using the proceeds from one area to fund others.

“There is no doubt that buying counterfeit products puts money into the pockets of serious organised criminals who use that to commit other crimes.”

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Mr Papandreou says he has popular support for painful economic reforms

Greece’s governing Socialists have won control of the capital, Athens, in the second round of local elections dominated by the country’s debt crisis.

Prime Minister George Papandreou’s Pasok party also won most races for regional governors.

Mr Papandreou said he had received a mandate from voters to press on with his austerity plan.

IMF and EU officials are due in Athens on Monday for talks on implementing a 110bn euros ($150bn;£93bn) rescue loan.

In Sunday’s run-offs, Socialist-backed mayoral candidates won in both Athens and Thessaloniki – Greece’s second-largest city – reversing a string of conservative victories dating back to 1986.

In addition, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) won eight of 13 races for regional governor – including in the greater Athens area.

Commenting on the results on Sunday, the prime minister said: “We have ahead of us a clear three-year period… to save and change Greece once and for all.

“We will put all our weight behind the major changes which will allow Greece to breathe, to stand up on its feet.”

Pasok came to power last year. Its parliamentary mandate expires in 2013.

Last week Mr Papandreou dropped his threat to call a snap general election after Pasok avoided heavy defeat in the first round of regional elections.

New figures also due on Monday are expected to show Greece’s budget deficit for last year was worse than previously declared.

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