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The BBC Radio 1 DJ receives a Guinness World Record for having the longest career as a female radio presenter.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “We’re not yet doing enough”
Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed “anger” at the failure of rich nations to honour pledges to combat global poverty.
The United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals were set out in 2000 with the aim of being reached by 2015.
Mr Brown is particularly concerned by the lack of progress in ensuring every child has access to primary education.
Speaking in New York, Mr Brown said he wanted to “press, inspire and push” people to see the virtues of education.
Ensuring education for all was an issue of “security, anti-poverty and health”, he added.
“I’m angry because we made commitments that we would meet these Millennium Development Goals,” he told the BBC at a meeting to review progress towards them.
“I think rich countries have not done enough to honour the promises that we made.”
He added that it was “too easy sometimes for the governments to say something else has come up, some other thing has changed our view”.
Mr Brown, who was UK chancellor at the time the pledges were made, said the governments of wealthy nations needed to face continuing public pressure to ensure they stuck to their pledges.
Turning his attention to poorer nations, he said their governments “have to put resources into education and not into corruption, to put resources into health and not to waste them on prestige projects”.
Mr Brown’s comments came after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the Millennium Development Goals could still be met if enough work was done.
Mr Ban urged world leaders meeting in New York to stick to the task despite the global downturn, insisting they could be achieved by 2015.
More than 140 leaders are meeting to review progress toward the targets.
The UN itself concedes that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to meet some of the targets.
The Millennium Development Goals aim to tackle global poverty and improve living standards for developing countries. We’ve taken key indicators, broken down by UN-defined regions as shown here, and set the 2015 target as a baseline to reveal the true picture of how each region is faring.
Developing nations are on track to meet the poverty target largely because of progress in China. But in Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia the proportion of hungry people has increased. Globally, the number of hungry people rose from 842 million in 1990-92 to 1.02 billion people in 2009.
While countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen great improvements by abolishing school fees and offering free school lunches, the target is unlikely to be met. The drop-out rate is high, and although there has been some investment in teachers and classrooms, it is not enough.
Gender gaps in education have narrowed, but remain high at university (tertiary) level in some developing countries because of poverty. Employment for women has improved but there are still many more women than men in low-paid jobs. There have been small gains for women in political power.
Child deaths are falling but at the current rate are well short of the two-thirds target. They more than halved in Northern Africa, Asia,Latin America and the Caribbean but remain high in parts of Southern Asia. In Sub-Saharan Africa the absolute number of children who have died actually increased.
Although in all regions there are advances in providing pregnant women with antenatal care, the maternal mortality rate is unacceptably high, with progress well short of the decline needed to meet the target. Those at most risk are adolescent girls, yet funding on family planning is falling behind.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has stabilised in most regions, but new infections are rising in some areas and antiretroviral treatment has mushroomed. Global funding has helped control malaria but is still far short of what is needed. On current trends tuberculosis will have been halted and started to reverse.
The world will meet the drinking water target on current trends but half the population of developing regions still lacks basic sanitation. The 2010 target to slow decline in biodiversity has been missed. Improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers has been achieved but their actual numbers are rising.
Levels of aid continue to rise, but major donors are well below target. In terms of volume the USA, France, Germany, UK and Japan are the largest donors. G8 countries have failed to deliver on a promise to double aid to Africa. Debt burdens have been eased for developing countries.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez launches an attack on the hierarchy at former club Liverpool.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The man was seen in a Kia Rio hatchback
A man is being sought after he was caught on CCTV appearing to dump a dog in Dorset.
The man is seen apparently taking the dog for a walk before he heads back to a car which drives off leaving the pet unable to catch up due to a limp.
The footage was taken on a camera at offices owned by British Marine Technology in Weymouth last Friday.
The council is trying to rehome the dog, named Ginger, and trying to find the man.
The footage shows him getting into a rear seat of the car, suggesting at least two other people were present at the time.
Ginger, a Shetland cross terrier and about eight-years-old, was collected by wardens from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
Ginger has been taken in by the council which is trying to rehome her Ian Lewis, dog warden, said: “Her claws were overgrown to the extent they were digging into her pads, which was causing her to limp and pain.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the footage, this was a callous act and beyond belief.
“It may have been an old person’s dog who had died and the new owners didn’t want her or maybe someone thought she would cost lots in vets bills.
“But she is in fine health, absolutely beautiful and has settled in really well.
“I have spoken to the RSPCA who said they will be seeking prosecution.”
The maximum sentence for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is six months in prison and a £20,000 fine.
The man seen on the CCTV is described as white, about 6ft tall , and he was wearing blue jeans and a brown top.
He was in a blue Kia Rio hatchback.
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A tour of the best and worst sights in the town of Denny, which has requested an eyesore-of-the-year award.
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A shoplifter died after he was restrained by a security guard who grasped him tightly around the throat for 10 minutes, a jury hears.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
With an increasing number of luxury student studios and shared apartments on the market, is the student slum over and a historic rite of passage on its way out?
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke resigns amid a power struggle with the country’s president.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The TUC general secretary is calling for an alternative economic strategy The Liberal Democrat leadership is being urged to ensure spending cuts do not hit the poorest in society “disproportionately”.
A motion to be debated at the party’s conference in Liverpool also demands the “inequality gap does not widen”.
It comes as the coalition prepares for next month’s spending review.
On Monday, leader Nick Clegg urged the party to hold its nerve over its coalition agreement and said planned cuts were the “only choice”.
TUC leader Brendan Barber, a vehement critic of the cuts programme, is due to address Lib Dem activists at a fringe meeting on Tuesday.
The conference is the party’s first get-together since its leaders formed a coalition government with the Conservatives in May.
Mr Clegg used his speech on Monday to try to assuage fears that the spending cuts were going too far, too fast.
He argued that they were the “only choice” for improving the economy and his party must “hold our nerve” by remaining in partnership with the Tories for the full five years of this parliament.
The conference motion calls for a commitment that “the most vulnerable in society are not disproportionately affected by the government’s austerity measures and to ensure that the wealth and inequality gap does not widen”.
It argues that Lib Dem ministers should have “freedom and resources” to commission research to “fully assess the viability and practicalities of increasing taxation on wealth – including land values”.
The government must prevent a “lost generation” of unemployed teenagers emerging, while ensuring that publicly owned banks do more to lend to businesses, the motion adds.
Whitehall departments have been told to plan for budget cuts of between 25% and 40% ahead of the spending review.
Ministers say this is necessary to cut the deficit, which reached £155bn last year, in order to improve the UK’s economic performance.
But critics, including Labour and the unions, claim the savings programme will hit growth and damage public services.
Ahead of his speech, Mr Barber said: “There is real concern that the government’s programme of deep spending cuts, while our economy is still fragile, will spark spiralling unemployment in both the public and private sectors.
“As the cuts start to bite and people see the public services they rely on every day under threat, people will begin to ask whether there is an alternative to slash and burn economics.
“The answer is that an alternative strategy – based on growth, employment and a rebalanced economy, and paid for by a fairer tax system so that those who caused the recession start to pay their share – is the best way to achieve a sustainable economic recovery.”
There will also be an address by Chris Huhne, the climate change secretary, on Tuesday.
He has issued a stark warning to gas and electricity providers that he will step in unless they stop imposing “outrageous” hidden price rises on customers.
Mr Clegg, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, left the conference straight after delivering his speech, as he is scheduled to attend a United Nations summit on world poverty in New York.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Participating countries have expressed concern over the living conditions The head of the Commonwealth Games has expressed concerns over the living conditions of the athletes in Delhi.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell said the condition of the athletes village has “shocked the majority [of delegates]”.
Mr Fennell’s comments came after a number of participating countries have reportedly objected to the living conditions in the athletes village.
The Delhi Games are being held from 3 to 14 October.
Mr Fennell said in a statement that he had urged the Indian government to take immediate actions because “many issues remain unresolved”.
“The village is the cornerstone of any Games and the athletes deserve the best possible environment to prepare for their competition,” he said.
Reports said that New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland had objected to the living conditions in the athletes village.
“While cleanliness had been a concern for us, further inspection has revealed some issues with plumbing, wiring, internet access and mobile phone coverage,” New Zealand team’s chef de mission Dave Currie said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press news agency.
“We will now be advising sports that the accommodation is less than expected.”
Preparations for the event have been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. There have also been delays in construction and fears over security.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
World’s airlines to make $8.9bn profit, Iata says
The world’s airlines are expected to post a profit of $8.9bn (£5.7bn) this year, an industry body has said, in a sharp upgrade of its previous forecast.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) said the industry recovery had been “stronger and faster than anyone predicted”.
In June, it had predicted a much smaller profit of $2.5bn. In March, it had expected a loss of $2.8bn.
Iata said increasing demand and stable costs were driving the recovery.
However, Iata chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned that there was still uncertainty surrounding the strength of the recovery.
“The $8.9bn profit that we are projecting will start to recoup the nearly $50bn lost over the previous decade. But a reality check is in order,” he said.
“There are lingering doubts about how long this cyclical upturn will last.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Kim Jong-il is believed to be in poor health North Korea’s ruling party will hold its first conference in a generation on 28 September, state media reports say, amid speculation that leader Kim Jong-il is about to name his successor.
The Workers Party is widely expected to promote Mr Kim’s third son, Kim Jong-un, to a senior position.
Observers believe a promotion would anoint him as the heir to his father, the self-styled Dear Leader.
Mr Kim, 68, is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008.
The Korean Central News Agency carried a short statement early on Tuesday announcing the party meeting.
“The conference of the WPK [Workers Party of Korea] for electing its supreme leadership body will take place in Pyongyang on 28 September,” the statement said.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation about the date of the meeting, which is believed to have been delayed several times.
Kim Jong-il was promoted at a previous conference in 1980, which at the time was seen as confirmation that he would succeed his father, Kim Il-sung.
He eventually became leader after his father’s death in 1994, and has led the country into isolation from the outside world.
In recent years Mr Kim is believed to have sought medical treatment in China, one of the country’s few allies. Neither nation has confirmed details of any illnesses or treatments.
Last year, rumours emerged from the secretive state that Kim Jong-un, thought to be aged 26 or 27, was his father’s chosen successor.
Little is known of Swiss-educated Kim Jong-un, and he has never been photographed by Western media.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Future of UK nuclear waste policy hangs on public’s trust
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A delegation led by the Indian home minister visits a town at the centre of recent violence in Indian-administered Kashmir.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Tenor Placido Domingo is to remain the director of the Los Angeles Opera until at least 2013, it is announced.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.