Seven killed in blast at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada - BBC News

19 March 2013 Last updated at 12:09 ET

Seven US Marines have been killed and others injured after a mortar shell exploded unexpectedly during a training accident in the US state of Nevada.

A Marine Corps official said the blast occurred on Monday night at the Hawthorne Army Depot.

At least eight men are in hospital, three in a serious condition and five in a stable condition.

It is not clear if the mortar exploded prematurely in its firing tube or if more than a single round exploded.

The US Marines Corps has banned use of 60mm mortars, which normally need three to four troops to operate, until an investigation can establish what caused the incident.

Those caught in the blast at 22:00 local time (05:00 GMT on Tuesday) were members of the 2nd Marine Division.

Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno said it had received nine patients, one of whom died.

All the patients were men under the age of 30, who suffered penetrating trauma, fracture and vascular injuries, said Stacy Kendall, a spokeswoman for the facility.

Marine commander Maj Gen Raymond Fox said in a news release: "We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident.

"We remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time.

"We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."

Newtown shooting: Google adds solitary white candle to US homepage - The Guardian

Google added a small, glowing candle to its main search page after news emerged of the school shooting in the US.

When users hover a cursor over the icon, a text box appears that says: "Our hearts are with the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut."

According to the site, more than 5 million people searched Ryan Lanza, the person incorrectly identified as the suspected shooter, on Friday. The next most popular search was CNN, with one-fifth as many searches at more than 1 million.

A scan of the official doodle blog shows that this appears to be the first time Google has deployed a breaking news icon in this way. The Google doodle began 12 years ago.

Usually, Google doodles appear in place of the search engine's logo. This time, the emblem appears below the search box.

Google is the most popular website in the world and Google Doodles usually signify major historical milestones and anniversaries.

The previous Google doodle appeared on Monday – a picture to celebrate the 197th birthday of Ada King, the Countess of Lovelace, a woman often credited with being the first computer programmer.

A list of most popular doodles was released on Wednesday, with interactive games for the Olympics and playable animation for Valentine's Day.

Apple and Google joining forces to mop up Kodak patents? - TechRadar UK

• Google says Samsung vs Apple verdict has little to do with 'core' Android
• Oracle discloses paying a blogger during Google trial
• Samsung faces long product delays, says expert

Apple and Google may be about to form an unlikely alliance to snap up Kodak's vast army of imaging patents, according to reports this weekend.

Bloomberg sources have claimed the companies have abandoned separate bids to acquire the 1,100 patents and have instead teamed up on a $500m (UK£311, AUD$476m) proposition.

The package of patents has been up for grabs since the iconic film and camera firm entered bankruptcy in January this year and had courted interest from Apple-led and Google-led consortiums.

If indeed Google and Apple do team up on the deal it would offer both companies insurance against future courtroom battles.

Peace process

Although bitter rivals in the smartphone and tablet industry, both sides are looking for ways out of the interminable patent wars that have dominated the headlines in the last couple of years.

Agreements such as these, among rivals, neutralise any potential legal action.

Neither Apple nor Google have so far commented on the story.

Via Bloomberg

Somali troops 'free' 22 hostages - BBC News

23 December 2012 Last updated at 09:18 ET

Twenty-two hostages seized by pirates nearly three years ago have been freed, the authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland say.

They said their maritime force began the operation to free the hostages - and their ship - nearly two weeks ago.

The hostages are showing signs of having suffered physical torture and illness, their statement said.

Successful pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have decreased in the last two years.

This is due to the increased use of private security guards on ships and better co-ordination between naval patrols in the area, the BBC's Mary Harper says.

It is rare for Somali forces to move on pirates in this way, our correspondent says.

The Panama-flagged MV Iceberg One was seized off the Yemeni coast in 2009, and was being held near Gara'ad village on the coast in Mudug region when Puntland's maritime troops surrounded it on 10 December.

In their statement, the Puntland authorities said their troops fought the pirates for two weeks before safely rescuing all 22 hostages on board the ship.

They also killed a number of pirates after intercepting one of their small boats delivering weapons and other supplies to the captured ship.

"After two years and 9 months in captivity, the hostages have suffered signs of physical torture and illness," the statement said. "[They] are now receiving nutrition and medical care."

Mexico bar shootings leave nine dead in Coahuila state - BBC News

6 January 2013 Last updated at 21:17 ET

Heavily armed gunmen in northern Mexico have stormed two bars, killing at least nine people.

The attacks happened within minutes of each other in the city of Torreon.

Police believe they were carried out by gangs fighting for control of drug trafficking in Coahuila state. No arrests have yet been made, police say.

Three other bars were targeted in similar attacks in Torreon in the past few days.

Most of the victims were in the Tornado bar and nightclub. Witnesses say armed men burst into the bar in the early hours of Sunday and began shooting randomly.

Minutes earlier, a similar shooting had taken place at another bar, called Futuro, in another area of the city. Two people were killed there.

News of the attacks spread quickly and most bars and restaurants in the city closed their doors for the night.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who was inaugurated last month, has said reducing violence in Mexico would be one of his government's priorities.

His predecessor, Felipe Calderon, launched a war on the powerful drug gangs in December 2006.

Critics say the deployment of the army to fight the cartels has led to an escalation in violence, affecting mostly innocent victims.

Several drug lords have been arrested or killed. But an estimated 60,000 people have died in drug-related violence in the past six years.

New UK Christian music chart pledged - The Guardian

The UK is to get its own weekly Christian music chart. The Official Charts Company (OCC) said it would unveil the first official Christian and gospel albums chart on 11 March. The top 20 sales list is sponsored by Compassion, a Surrey-based Christian charity focusing on "the spiritual, economic, social and physical needs of children".

According to the Official Charts Company, 600 Christian albums were released in the UK in 2012. The top sellers included Friar Alessandro, the "first ever friar to sign a major label record deal", and English singer-songwriter Matt Redman. Four of the 2012's top 10 Christian and gospel albums were recorded by the King's College choir.

Omar Maskatiya, charts director at OCC, said the company was "committed to profiling and celebrating all sectors of the UK musical landscape".

He added: "The popularity of Christian and gospel music to date has largely been demonstrated through its vibrant live sector … We can now, for the first time, shine the spotlight on those artists who are enjoying significant success through recorded music too."

On Monday, organisers will celebrate the chart's launch with a show at St James theatre, London, with appearances by the London Community Gospel choir and Delirious frontman Martin Smith. Each week, the updated chart will be broadcast on digital radio stations such as Premier Radio and UCB.

BBC's Lord Patten 'did not urge George Entwistle to stay' - Telegraph.co.uk

There was incredulity among MPs when it emerged last week that Mr Entwistle insisted on a full 12 months salary before quitting - even though he was contractually entitled to just half that amount.

In addition, he received £35,000 for legal expenses and £10,000 for public relations as well as 12 months private medical cover.

Lord Patten, who appeared before MPs alongside acting director general Tim Davie, justified the decision.

He described how he had told Mr Entwistle: "We are not urging you to go but we are not urging you to stay."

Mr Entwistle had wanted to leave through a "consensual termination of his contract", but had insisted on leaving the corporation "on 12 months or more", Lord Patten said.

But he said after discussions with lawyers it became clear to him that without doing a deal, the case could develop into one of constructive dismissal or unfair dismissal, ultimately costing even more.

He said: "£450,000 is one hell of a lot of money.

"The idea that I did not understand how politically difficult it would be suggests a degree of political innocence on my part which I have to tell you does not exist

"But the options I had were absolutely clear.

"We either had to deal with it quickly there and then, broadly speaking on the terms of 12 months, though that was less than we were asking for, or we had to go to constructive dismissal and constructive dismissal would have landed us with exactly the same amount of money, plus almost certainly another £80,000 of unfair dismissal."

Serena Williams to face Victoria Azarenka in Doha final - BBC News

Serena Williams will meet the woman she is about to depose as world number one when she takes on Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Qatar Open on Sunday.

Williams beat third seed Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-2 in the second semi-final, after Azarenka saw off fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-3.

Second seed Williams had guaranteed she will take the top ranking next week just by making the last four.

Her victory over Sharapova was the American's 60th in 63 matches.

"Conditions were a little tough," said Williams, 31. "Maria's always playing really well and she's just so consistent, so I'm trying to be consistent as well."

Williams needed just 73 minutes to secure her 10th successive win over Sharapova as the Russian struggled to cope with the 15-time Grand Slam champion.

Defending champion Azarenka has a 1-11 record against Williams and has lost their last eight matches, but she heads into the final as the only unbeaten player on the WTA Tour in 2013.

The Belarusian, 22, retained her Australian Open title last month and had too much for Radwanska in Saturday's first semi-final.

Asked about her improvement over the last year, she said: "I've grown up a little bit. It's maturity and a little more experience. The beginning of last year was a kick start for me to find more rhythm and step up my game.

"I also love it here in Doha and it feels like home, so I am glad I am in the final again."

Gangnam Style passes 1bn views on YouTube - The Guardian

It's spawned a new dance style, parodies, copies and a fascination with things Korean – and on Friday afternoon Gangnam Style, the video by the South Korean singer Psy became the first ever to break a billion views on YouTube.

The song – an ironic comment on the rich socialites living in the Gangnam area in central Seoul, the south Korean capital – also had its title added to the Collins Dictionary as one of the phrases of the year (along with omnishambles and fiscal cliff).

The K-pop (Korean pop) song and particularly its video – with its "horseriding" dance – has made 34-year-old Psy an international star who has since performed with Madonna, broken a Guinness World record for the most liked video in YouTube history, and inspired flashmobs: one is scheduled for new year's eve at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin where hundreds of thousands could turn up.

Described by Reuters as "chubby", the South Korean singer had released five studio albums, but had never had a hit in the west until Gangnam style was released on 15 July.

Progress was slow until on 28 July, the video was shared on the social site Reddit – and remarked on by Robbie Williams on his personal blog. At that point it took off, and in late November passed Justin Bieber's Baby as the most-watched video of all time. Ranked second, Baby has a mere 813m views.

Google Maps indoor floor plans hit desktop - TechRadar UK

• Google Maps for Android gets public transport filtering
• Free standalone Google Calendar app out now on Play
• Apple Maps reveals high-security spots, Google Maps adds the right detail

The Google Maps indoor floor plan feature for Android phones is now available on the desktop app.

In a post on Google Maps' Google+ profile, the company said the roll-out will help users plan their trips to the airport and perhaps even make their Black Friday weekend excursions a little more efficient.

The indoor floor plans feature labels for gates at the airport, ATM machines and restrooms as well as different stores and departments within shopping malls.

The post read: "Before heading home for the holidays or out to shop on Black Friday, check out indoor maps of the airport or shopping mall on your desktop to better plan your trip.

"Simply zoom in on a building on Google Maps and you'll automatically see a detailed floor plan with helpful labels."

Libraries and museums on board

Beyond shopping centers and airports, participating venues around the globe include train stations, libraries, museums and more.

Venue owners can reach out to Google if they'd like a floor plan of their building to be added to Google Maps.

Google Wallet to include support across multiple platforms? - ITProPortal

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Google is currently constructing a new version of Google Wallet.

The Wallet homepage has been changed, and now features the announcement, "The next version of Google Wallet, coming soon."

The option to request an invitation to the service (using Google login information) can also be found there and, intriguingly, the link directs you to a preference page, in which users can specify whether they use Android, iOS or another type of mobile device.

The Google Wallet app has only been available for use on one platform - Android - yet it now looks certain to feature support for multiple platforms. Additionally, since iOS does not pack NFC connectivity, the question surely indicates that NFC capability will no longer be necessary for use of Google Wallet.

Google Wallet enables users to convert their mobile phones to wallets, carrying credit and debit card details in a password-protected environment. It can be used for both online and in-store shopping.

Google has set up two other financial services in addition to Wallet, in the forms of the Google AdWords Business Credit Card and a comparison service for things like current accounts, credit cards and car insurance.

Guatamala's coffee rust 'emergency' - BBC News

9 February 2013 Last updated at 00:54 ET

Guatemala has declared a state of agricultural emergency after a coffee tree fungus blighted about 70% of the national crop.

Coffee rust causes trees to lose their leaves, resulting in fewer beans, of inferior quality.

Guatemala is releasing $13.7m (£8.7m) in emergency aid to help small farmers buy pesticides to fight the fungus.

Honduras and Costa Rica have already declared national emergencies. El Salvador and Panama are also affected.

Coffee rust first became a significant problem in the 1860s in what was then called Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). More than 90% of crops were wiped out, and coffee-growing was abandoned on the island.

Coffee is Guatemala's main export, and coffee growers warn that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost.

"If we don't take the needed measures, in 2013-2014 our production could drop by 40%," Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said, according to the Associated Press.

The BBC's Humphrey Hawkesley, in Guatemala, says the outbreak is blamed on climate change, with effects including a two-degree rise in temperature, higher rainfall and an increase in humidity.

John Vandermeer, an ecologist from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, told the journal Nature that his research plot in Mexico had been devastated.

The majority of the trees had lost at least four-fifths of their leaves, while a third had no leaves at all, Mr Vandermeer said.

Fifth arrest in Delhi bus gang rape - BBC News

21 December 2012 Last updated at 01:22 ET

Police in the Indian capital say they have arrested a fifth person in connection with the gang rape on a bus of a young woman on Sunday.

Four people, including the bus driver, have already been arrested.

The 23-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in a Delhi hospital.

There has been outrage in India in the wake of the attack on the woman and her male friend. The government has since announced a series of measures intended to make Delhi safer for women.

"The fifth accused has been arrested in the rape case. His age is being verified before giving details. If [he is a] minor, we have to hold back his particulars as per law," Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.

The men arrested in connection with the incident earlier include a gym instructor and a fruit seller.

The woman has undergone two rounds of surgery since Sunday and remains on life support, doctors at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital said.

Angry MPs have demanded the death penalty for the rapists, and protests and candle-lit vigils have been held in the capital and elsewhere in India.

The woman and her friend boarded the bus in Munirka area and were on their way to Dwarka in south-west Delhi.

They were returning after watching a film in a shopping centre in south Delhi, police said.

Kachin rebels in Burma lose key hilltop - BBC News

26 January 2013 Last updated at 11:00 ET

Ethnic Kachin rebels in northern Burma have been forced to withdraw from a key fortified outpost in their battle with the Burmese army.

The fighters have abandoned Hka Ya hilltop, the last line of defence before the Kachin capital of Laiza, where the rebels are headquartered.

It is not clear whether Burmese forces will now advance on the town.

The Kachin Independence Army has been fighting for greater autonomy against the Burmese forces for 50 years.

The army had been trying to take Hka Ya for more than a week, after the latest ceasefire in the long-running conflict broke down.

Outgunned

The BBC's Jonathan Head, who had just returned from Laiza, says hundreds of Burmese troops have been involved in the attacks, backed by heavy artillery barrages.

He says rebel fighters were heavily outgunned and have now been forced to pull back.

The army advance means government troops are now just 3km away from Laiza, with no more lines of defence in front of them.

Burmese president Thein Sein has previously promised that troops will not take the town, but our correspondent says Kachin people are reluctant to believe him.

Tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the fighting are preparing to flee across the nearby border with China, while the rebel fighter's leadership says it will retreat into the jungle to wage a guerrilla-style war should Laiza fall.

France confirms Mali intervention - BBC News

11 January 2013 Last updated at 13:37 ET

President Francois Hollande says French troops are taking part in operations against Islamists in northern Mali.

French troops "have brought support this afternoon to Malian units to fight against terrorist elements", he said.

Armed groups, some linked to al-Qaeda, took control of northern Mali in April.

Mr Hollande said the intervention complied with international law, and had been agreed with Malian President Dioncounda Traore. A state of emergency has been declared across the country.

The militants said on Thursday that they had advanced further into government-controlled territory, taking the strategic central town of Konna.

Mr Hollande said French military action had been decided on Friday morning and would last "as long as necessary".

"Mali is facing an assault by terrorist elements coming from the north whose brutality and fanaticism is know across the world," Mr Hollande said.

He said Mali's existence as a state was under threat, and referred to the need to protect its own population and 6,000 French citizens living there.

Mr Hollande spoke shortly after the Malian army said that French troops, as well as soldiers from Nigeria and Senegal, were already in Mali.

No details of their numbers or activities have been given.

The UN had previously approved plans to send some 3,000 African troops to Mali to recapture the north if no political solution could be found, but that intervention was not expected to happen until September.

Virgin France files for bankruptcy - BBC News

9 January 2013 Last updated at 12:29 ET

Virgin France has filed for bankruptcy, the latest music chain to fail against a backdrop of consumers shifting to buying music online.

The firm - not affiliated with Richard Branson's Virgin Group - has 26 stores in France, including a flagship outlet on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

It employs 1,000 people and is owned by French investment firm Butler Capital.

The Paris Commercial Court will decide if the firm should pursue a recovery plan or be put into liquidation.

Butler bought 80% of Virgin in 2007 from French media company Lagardere, which had purchased the chain from Mr Branson's Virgin in 2001.

It is not the only music chain suffering.

Most have been struggling for a number of years, having been hit hard by the big growth in music and film downloads - legal and illegal - and by the rise in the sale of chart CDs and DVDs by the big supermarkets.

Virgin's main French rival, the Fnac chain, has also been facing difficulties. At the end of last year, it discontinued its Fnacmusic digital music download service, having failed to gain sufficient market share.

In the UK, music, films and games retailer HMV has warned that it faces an uncertain future in the face of continuing falling sales.

Our Price, Tower Records, Virgin Megastores, Zavvi, MVC, Music Zone, Andy's, Border's and Woolworths are all well-known names that have disappeared from streets in recent years.

Jimmy Savile: BBC staff abused by members of the public in wake of scandal - Mirror.co.uk

BBC staff have been abused by members of the public in the wake of the Jimmy Savile ­scandal.

People who believe the BBC was involved in a cover-up of the disgraced TV star's child abuse have vented their anger on staff, say BBC bosses.

Reporters filming and working near the former Jim'll Fix It presenter's home in Leeds have been among those ­targeted.

The BBC's head of programmes in Yorkshire, Helen Thomas, told MPs about the issue at a meeting in ­Westminster this week.

The incidents took place after the BBC's Newsnight programme dropped an investigation into sex abuse ­allegations against Savile.

A BBC spokesperson said: "There have been a handful of cases when staff have been verbally abused by members of the public when out reporting.

"Staff affected are encouraged to talk to their line manager. There is a confidential helpline which all staff can call to discuss how they have been affected by both ­current or historic ­issues."

In a separate incident, a ­member of staff faced taunts of "paedophile" from a passer-by.

A BBC insider said: "These unwarranted taunts and abuse of innocent members of staff have sent morale ­plunging."

The BBC has set up a review of its culture and practices ­during the Jimmy Savile years to ­investigate whether allegations of sexual abuse were ignored.

A separate police inquiry is dealing with hundreds of ­complaints from people who claim to be Savile's victims.

 

BBC news chief pleads with staff not to Tweet about 'our problems' - Telegraph.co.uk

Ms Unsworth stressed her appointment "is a temporary one" and suggested Ms Boaden and her deputy Steve Mitchell would be back in their posts once Nick Pollard, the former head of Sky News, had concluded his review into why Newsnight cancelled a film last year that would have exposed Jimmy Savile as a paedophile.

She said: "This is a tough time for everyone in the organisation - in particular for those of us in BBC News. And, of course, for some individuals most of all. Both Helen and Steve are outstanding leaders of BBC News whose experience and ability will be much missed in the coming weeks.

"Many of you have today shown a great deal of support for them and they wanted me to let you know how grateful they are for that."

Mr Mitchell's job is being carried out by Ceri Thomas, while Karen O'Connor, an executive in BBC Vision, is acting as Newsnight's editor.

Ms Unsworth continued: "Ceri, Karen and I do not undertake our newduties lightly. We would rather events had not worked out this way, but with our colleagues on the News Group Board, we will collectively do our very best to lead the division through these difficult times. We are relying on the support of all of you to achieve this.

"For the moment, we must focus on what matters most; delivering great journalism for all of our audiences. I have been enormously proud of the way you have gone about your jobs in your usual professional way, particularly over the past 48 hours. We now need to restore some equilibrium to the organisation."

Mario Balotelli criticises life in England after Italy return - BBC News

Mario Balotelli says he will miss little about life in Manchester after taking a swipe at English culture following his £19m move to AC Milan.

The Italy striker was paraded by his new club on Friday and did not shy away when asked what he liked and disliked most about England.

"Good things? Only when I get to Carrington to train, so my team-mates and manager," he said.

"Bad things? Everything else - press, weather, food, the way you drive."

Balotelli, 22, has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Italian giants AC Milan after scoring 30 goals in 80 appearances for City.

He was at the centre of several controversial incidents, both on and off the pitch, during two-and-a-half-years in Manchester.

But Balotelli told a news conference in Milan: "I prefer playing - not talking.

"To be a player for Milan has always been my dream so I'm very happy.

"Now I'm at Milan it's very important above all because I am close to my family and friends. Manchester is not so far, but it's not close like Milan."

Asked whether he planned to return to the Premier League before the end of his playing career, Balotelli added: "It is an amazing league and I think it's the best, together with the crowd and the pitches.

But he added: "I don't know for the future if I could go back or not."

Gaza construction convoy crosses from Egypt - BBC News

29 December 2012 Last updated at 23:32 ET

Egypt has allowed a shipment of construction materials to enter the Gaza Strip from its territory for the first time since 2007.

A convoy of trucks carrying thousands of tonnes of supplies donated by the Gulf state of Qatar entered Gaza via the Rafah border crossing on Saturday.

Egypt had previously followed import restrictions imposed by Israel.

However, Israel has eased its blockade as part of last month's ceasefire deal with the Islamist group Hamas.

Many goods are smuggled from Egypt through a network of underground tunnels into Gaza, which is governed by Hamas.

An Egyptian security official quoted by AP news agency said the shipment had been made in consultation with Israeli officials who were in Cairo on Thursday.

Qatar has pledged more than $400m (£250m) to finance reconstruction in Gaza and improve crumbling housing, schools, a hospital and roads.

A Hamas official said it was a positive step.

"We hope that Egypt will open this crossing permanently for goods so our people can meet their needs," said Ehab al-Ghsain, head of the Hamas government's media office.

Some 170 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed in an eight-day conflict between Hamas and Israel in November.

Earlier this month, Hamas celebrated its 25th anniversary in Gaza with a rally attended by exiled political leader Khaled Meshaal.

Hamas won elections in Gaza in 2006 and came to power a year later after ejecting the rival Fatah faction.

South Sudan army 'shoots down UN helicopter' - BBC News

21 December 2012 Last updated at 13:02 ET

The United Nations says a helicopter from its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has been shot down by the army, killing all four crew members on board.

A spokesman said the aircraft was shot down while on a reconnaissance mission in eastern Jonglei state.

Deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said South Sudan's military had admitted it had hit the helicopter.

However, South Sudan's minister of information told the BBC's that the cause of the incident was not clear.

The UN has been helping those caught up in deadly clashes between rival communities in Jonglei state.

"Initial reports indicated the UN helicopter crashed and burned. The mission immediately launched a search and recovery mission. It has confirmed the death of all four crew members," the UN spokesman said.

"In subsequent communications between the mission and the South Sudanese armed forces, the SPLA [army] told the mission that it has shot down the helicopter in the Likuangole area in Jonglei state."

But South Sudan Minister of Information Barnaba Marial Benjamin told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "There is no proof it was shot down."

"It is being investigated," he said.

"It was flying in an area where there is a lot of rebel activity."

South Sudan accuses Sudan of backing rebel groups on its territory - charges denied by Khartoum.

Relations have been tense between the two countries since the South seceded in 2011.

Google pays $400m for WiFi provider ICOA - Inquirer

ADVERTISING BROKER Google has bought wireless internet provider ICOA for $400m.

Google's recent entry into the 'last mile' market came as it lit up its Kansas city fibre to the home service and offered WiFi services in 4,000 public locations in the US. Now the firm has spent $400m to buy wireless internet firm ICOA.

ICOA provides WiFi connectivity in public places such as airports, restaurants and universities with the firm claiming it owns or operates over 1,500 US locations in 45 states. The firm not only provides connectivity services but content filtering, content partnerships and even advertising.

Google's decision to purchase ICOA is further indication that the firm wants to extend its reach further down the networking stack. ICOA's hotspots can provide Google with not only advertising presence but greater control over how its own services are experienced by users, such as promoting Youtube's growing library of professional content.

Although Google has only recently turned on its Kansas fibre to the home service, given the firm's access to IP transit and its deep pockets it seems highly likely that the company will roll out similar services to other cities in the future. In the meantime, the firm could get some benefits from pushing wireless connectivity without having to dig up many roads.

Update
It turns out that Google didn't acquire ICOA after all. According to multiple reports, both sides have denied the buyout, sparking speculation that it was no more than a hoax press release. We'll bring you more as we get it. µ

BBC warned it could face a full public inquiry, as Jimmy Savile sex abuse ... - Scotsman

The BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of the late TV and radio presenter's alleged sexual abuse. It is also investigating the decision-making process that saw a Newsnight investigation into the Jim'll Fix It star's activities shelved.

Speaking about the double investigation, Mrs Miller said: "The real challenge for the BBC is to make sure that the outcome of these reviews really gets to the bottom of these accusations.

"If the investigations are considered not to suffice because of issues around transparency, process or other such things, then a public inquiry remains an option."

Meanwhile, Savile's cottage in Glen Coe has been boarded up following attacks. Graffiti was daubed on the walls of the cottage, Allt na Reigh, which Savile bought in the 1990s, windows were smashed and an outbuilding was broken into a week ago. Over the past weekend, the windows were boarded up and the walls whitewashed to cover the graffiti.

Keith Ballantyne, owner of Lorn & Isle Tours, said: "It's a shame, because it's a nice house in a nice space.

"It may be if the house suffers further attacks it has to come down. Feelings are quite strong around there. I would rather see the house put to use, but it is part of his estate, which has been frozen."

Savile's estate, valued at ?£4.3 million, has been frozen by his executor, NatWest.

Inspector Donald Campbell of Fort William police, said: "The windows were boarded up as a secure measure to avoid further damage."

India cuts interest rates for first time in nine months - BBC News

29 January 2013 Last updated at 01:39 ET

India has cut its main interest rate for the first time in nine months in an attempt to revive economic growth.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lowered its key rate to 7.75% from 8%.

It also lowered the amount of money that banks need to keep in reserve, a move it said should provide 180bn rupees ($3.4bn; £2.1bn) of extra cash for them to lend.

India's growth has fallen to a three-year low and the RBI has been under pressure to stimulate the economy.

Easing inflation

The slowdown in India's growth had resulted in calls from both the government and business for the central bank to lower the cost of borrowing.

It had resisted the calls saying it had to keep inflation in check. However, the pace of consumer price growth has slowed in recent months.

India's Wholesale Price Index, the country's main gauge of inflation, eased to an 11-month low of 7.18% in December.

Commenting on its most recent move, the RBI said in a statement that the slowdown in the rate of inflation "provides space, albeit limited, for monetary policy to give greater emphasis to growth risks."

The RBI added that it expects inflation to slow further in the coming months.

It said that it expects the rate of inflation to dip to 6.8% in March, compared with its earlier projection of 7.5%.

Psy's Unstoppable Gangnam Style Hurtles Towards 1 Billion YouTube Hits - Contactmusic.com

Psy's Unstoppable Gangnam Style Hurtles Towards 1 Billion YouTube Hits

It's hard to imagine a life before Psy's Gangnam Style, especially for us entertainment writers. Such is its popularity, it's recently become the highest viewed video on YouTube, and if this continues, it'll be the first vid to secure 1 billion hits, we're sure of it. 

But don't take our word for it; YouTube trends manager Kevin Allocca has been talking to MTV about the viral hit-turned-dance floor classic. "There are a number of artists who have a billion views in their catalog ... Bieber has three billion for all his videos," said Allocca. "But we haven't had a single music video pass one billion yet [and] 'Gangnam' is in position to be the one right now." And  with an average of 7-10 million views a day (11 million on Saturdays), Allocca said the tune is still operating at an "incredible" pace that hasn't been seen before. "This is so unlike anything we've seen before," he said. "It's hard to say he'll average seven million a day because that's a ridiculous statement based on what we know about YouTube. But he's operating in a space where there's not a lot of history to work from."

What Bieber started - using the social media video platform to launch a prolific career - Psy seems to have capitalized on, and maybe even bettered. "What Bieber has done is a very special thing in pop culture," he said, noting that "Baby" has been online since February 2010 and has slowed down since its heyday. "He's a poster figure for using YouTube and social media to build a dedicated fanbase who feel very invested in him."

Google and Apple among hundreds hit in high-profile Pakistan hack - BBC News

26 November 2012 Last updated at 07:50 ET

Google, Apple, eBay and Yahoo were among almost 300 sites affected by a hack attack in Pakistan.

The hack targeted sites that had Pakistani domain names, such as .com.pk, .pk and org.pk.

Hackers exploited an apparent vulnerability in domain name systems, redirecting visitors of popular sites to a different site.

The page featured a picture of two penguins walking across a bridge with the slogan "Pakistan Downed".

The companies themselves were not breached, but it meant key services, such as Google's Gmail, were temporarily down.

Hacker email

The motive for the attack is not known, with many suggesting the hack was carried out to simply highlight weaknesses in systems maintained by PKNIC, the organisation which administers .pk web domains.

PKNIC told the BBC it would be releasing a statement about the attack "soon".

Technology blog ProPakistani said it had received an email from the hackers explaining how they carried out their attack. The perpetrators appear to be of both Pakistani and Turkish origin.

ProPakistani said it would share the information with PKNIC "if they want to resolve the flaws".

It is believed that all of the domains were registered by MarkMonitor, a firm that offers brand protection for companies online by buying up related domains in countries around the world.

When contacted by the BBC, a Markmonitor spokesman said he "unfortunately cannot comment on specific security incidents".

Andrew Marr leaves hospital after stroke - BBC News

1 March 2013 Last updated at 10:56 ET

Broadcaster Andrew Marr has left hospital almost two months after suffering a stroke, the BBC has said.

It added the presenter, who was taken ill on 8 January, will continue his rehabilitation via a physiotherapy regime at home.

The 53-year-old hopes to "recover privately" and is expected to return to work later this year.

He is best-known for presenting BBC One's Andrew Marr Show and Radio 4's Start The Week.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Andrew Marr left hospital earlier on today and continues his rehabilitation at home with his family.

"He says thank you to all the wonderful nurses, doctors and physiotherapists at Charing Cross hospital [in west London] who have looked after him so well.

"He is looking forward to a new regime of physio at home as he prepares for his return to work later this year."

"He and his family hope that people will respect the fact that he wishes to continue his recovery privately," the statement concluded.

Born in Glasgow, Marr began his career in journalism on The Scotsman newspaper in 1981, later moving to London to become its political correspondent.

He was part of the team which launched The Independent in 1986, later becoming its editor, and joined the BBC as political editor in May 2000.

Marr has also presented a number of history programmes along with his politics show, and has had five books published.

He is married to journalist Jackie Ashley and has three children.

Jacintha Saldanha: Funeral due for royal hoax nurse - BBC News

16 December 2012 Last updated at 23:07 ET

The funeral of a nurse who apparently killed herself following a royal hoax call in London is due to take place in her Indian hometown.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, will be buried after a service at a church in Shirva, just outside Mangalore on the south-west Indian coast.

Her husband and two children arrived in the country with her coffin on Sunday.

The nurse had taken a prank call about the Duchess of Cambridge who was being treated for acute morning sickness.

Two presenters on a Sydney-based radio station convinced staff they were the Queen and Prince Charles, and were connected to the duchess's private nurse and given an update on her condition.

Paying tribute

Mrs Saldanha, who transferred the call to another nurse, was found dead days later, in nursing accommodation attached to the King Edward VII hospital.

Her funeral will be preceded by a memorial service and she is to be buried at a cemetery on the church grounds in Shirva.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the service and the authorities have made extensive arrangements, including deploying additional security.

Mrs Saldanha's death has saddened many in India especially in her hometown, with some people saying it is a tragedy that simply should not have happened, reports BBC correspondent Sanjoy Majumder.

Others have called for a fresh investigation to determine what led to her death.

She left three suicide notes, her inquest last week revealed.

Gangnam Style breaks YouTube record - The Guardian

South Korean rapper Psy's Gangnam Style has become most-watched YouTube video of all time with more than 805m views.

The camp video, which has spawned a growing number of spoof and tribute clips, wrested the title from Canadian singer Justin Bieber's Baby, which has more than 803m views.

Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, has become an international star since Gangnam Style's release in July.

Psy's song, which pokes fun at the fashion-conscious residents of an upmarket neighbourhood in Seoul, has topped charts around the world, selling more than 4m copies worldwide.

An array of public figures, including the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, the sculptor Anish Kapoor, and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon have copied his "horse riding" dance. Tribute videos include a parody by students from Eton, which has been viewed more than 2.7m times.

In October Gangnam Style became the first Korean song to top the official UK pop chart.

Earlier this month the rapper was awarded one of South Korea's highest cultural honours, the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, in recognition of his global success.

Watch Gangnam Style below

Psy - Gangnam Style on MUZU.TV.

Jimmy Savile 'took girls on late night hospital trips' - BBC News

31 October 2012 Last updated at 01:13 ET

An ex-hospital porter in Leeds has told the BBC that Jimmy Savile was regularly handed a key to a building there when he arrived with teenage girls.

Terry Pratt said Savile would arrive at Leeds General Infirmary in the early hours, take the girls to nurses' accommodation and leave before dawn.

Leeds General Infirmary has said it "continues to be shocked by each new allegation" it hears about.

Police are probing claims the late TV star abused about 300 young people.

The hospital also says it is helping police with their investigation.

Savile was well known at Leeds General Infirmary over many years as a volunteer and fundraiser.

But Mr Pratt says he became suspicious when the TV star began arriving in the middle of the night in the late 1980s with girls who seemed "star-struck" and were "not streetwise".

Mr Pratt says Savile would pay these late night visits several times a month, with different girls, asking for the key to the accommodation block. He would spend a few hours there and drop the key back about 5am, Mr Pratt added.

Savile - a TV presenter and DJ - died on 29 October 2011, aged 84.

Scotland Yard are following 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation into claims he abused 300 children and young people over a 40-year period.

A BBC inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of alleged sexual abuse by Savile began on Monday.

Cleotha Staples of The Staple Singers dies at 78 - BBC News

24 February 2013 Last updated at 11:48 ET

Cleotha Staples, a member of the chart-topping gospel group The Staple Singers, has died at the age of 78.

The family group had eight US top 40 singles in the 1970s, including the number ones I'll Take You There and Let's Do It Again.

They enjoyed success on the Stax label and Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label.

Friend and publicist Bill Carpenter said Cleotha suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Her sister Mavis paid tribute to Cleotha's "soothing" voice.

"A lot of singers would try to sing like her," Mavis said in a statement. "Her voice would just ring in your ear. It wasn't harsh or hitting you hard, it was soothing. She gave us that country sound."

'Strong' voice

The group, which also featured father Pops, sister Yvonne and brother Pervis, began singing in church in Chicago in 1948.

They were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and received a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2005.

Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which organises the Grammy Awards, described them as "one of Stax Records' most important and successful acts".

"Their songs spread messages of hope, brotherhood and self-respect through some of R&B's finest and most passionate voices, and their music remains as vital today as when it was recorded," he said.

"Music has suffered a great loss, and our thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends and all those who have been moved and influenced by her strong, soulful voice."

Music hackers admit stealing unreleased Michael Jackson tracks - Telegraph.co.uk

Marks and McCormick received six month sentences suspended for one year at Leicester Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to computer misuse offences at an earlier hearing in September.

They were also each ordered to do 100 hours community service.

Mick Jameson, from SOCA's Cyber Department, said: "These men stole thousands of copyrighted files belonging to Sony Music.

"Our remit is to protect businesses as well the public, and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement and industry partners to tackle online criminality."

Speaking after sentencing, Gregor McGill, head of organised crime at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "James Marks and James McCormick have been sentenced for hacking the servers of one of the world's largest recorded music companies from their home computers in Daventry and Blackpool respectively.

"Both huge enthusiasts of Michael Jackson, they targeted Sony Music which has the exclusive licence to the late musician's catalogue.

"At the time of his death, there existed recorded but unreleased Michael Jackson music which aroused the attention of Marks and McCormick.

"It was the prosecution's case that these men were fully aware that the files they obtained on their computers were subject to copyright and that they took steps to sell on and to share the music with a wider audience in internet forums.

"In simple terms, these men broke into a computer system and took music files that were not theirs to take. That was criminal activity."

The year after the King of Pop's death, in 2009, the company signed a seven-year deal with his estate - worth up to 250 million dollars (£158 million) - to sell his unreleased recordings.

Lance Armstrong set to avoid charges after confession - BBC News

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is unlikely to face criminal charges, despite his admission that he took performance-enhancing drugs.

Attorney Andre Birotte, who oversaw the federal investigation into Armstrong, said his confession had not yet changed the decision not to prosecute.

"We made a decision on that case a little over a year ago," he said.

Last February, Birotte said his office had closed its investigation into possible crimes by Armstrong.

He added: "Obviously, we've been well aware of the statements that have been made by Mr Armstrong in other media reports. That does not change my view at this time."

Armstrong made the confession that he had taken performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins during an interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.

Legal experts said Armstrong exposed himself to possible charges of perjury or obstruction of justice.

However, that is not the end of Armstrong's legal worries.

He is being sued for £6.9m by a US insurance company, and around £1m by the Sunday Times.

Meanwhile, ABC News in the United States is reporting  that federal investigators are continuing to look into Armstrong and that Birotte "does not speak for the federal government as a whole".

BBC begins to see that the Arab Spring has not sprung - Spectator.co.uk (blog)

Hugely exciting Ten O Clock News last night on the Arab Spring – or 'Arab Uprising' as the BBC now prefers to call it, the word Spring usually being associated with nice things like lambs and daffodils. They had George Alligator in Egypt and Lyse Doucet in Tunisia and some other bloke somewhere else. I like Lyse Doucet, she's less credulous than most.

George Alligator, in a piece which was largely a string of clichés, said that Egypt's democracy was 'a work in progress', at which point I fell off the sofa in hysteria.

Still at least they have now all come around to the view that the Arab Spring – oops 'Uprising' was, as most of us said at the time, bloody calamitous; far, far worse for the people of those benighted countries and worse, in the end, for us too. Did they really think it would end in nice Jeffersonian democrats empowering women and instituting a nice left-liberal secular democracy? I mean, I know The Guardian did, so I suppose it's probable the BBC did too. Do you remember those broadcasts from a year or so back? Unquestioning of the motives of the rebels, uninterested in the real level of support they had across the country, just gung-ho for the cause. Well, now look, you mugs.

Tags: Arab Spring, BBC, Egypt, Media, Middle East

BBC Sound of 2013: is the guitar band back? - Telegraph.co.uk

And there's the rub. These kind of polls are almost too urgently in need of trend setting freshness. Azealia Banks came third in last year's poll but, a year later, has yet to really make her mark, not because she lacks talent but rather because sometimes it takes a while for an artist to find their feet. I wouldn't bet against her coming through big in 2013. But the BBC usually do pick a commercial winner, not often the kind of artist hardcore music fans really care about. Since Adele won in 2009, we've seen poll topping success for Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and Michael Kiwanuka. This year it is probably between the much touted HAIM and the highly saleable Tom Odell. But I would like to see somebody more maverick scoop the prize for once, perhaps Savages, the kind of group you can really believe in.

The lack of a really dominant band or character suggests that the field is still open, so overlooked artists shouldn't give up hope. To these ears, there are plenty about every bit as exciting as the 12 on the long list: LA rock duo Deap Valley, hardcore rapper K Koke, kooky singer-songwriter Foxes, superfast rapper Scruffizer, New York hipster duo Foxygen, sassy British R'n'B pop girl Little Niki, Brooklyn reggae duo Wild Belles to name just a few. Whatever the pundits predict, it is the always the music listeners who decide.

BBC Sound of 2013 on MUZU.TV.

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Tablet wars: Apple and Microsoft vs Amazon and Google - Telegraph.co.uk

Apple and Microsoft are meanwhile seeking to make good money on the devices themselves.

Microsoft, with its first own-brand tablet, Surface, is pursuing a path taken by Apple, seeking a large profit on the device itself and encouraging owners to use its "ecosystem" of services. According to IHS iSuppli, the Surface is even more profitable than the full-sized iPad, with materials and manufacturing for the 32GB version with the Touch Cover keyboard totalling $284. Surface retails for $599, making for a profit margin of 53 per cent.

"From a hardware perspective Microsoft has succeeded with the Surface, offering an impressive tablet that is more profitable, on a percentage basis, than even the lucrative iPad based on current retail pricing," said Mr Rassweiler.

The materials and manufacturing for the Wifi only, 16GB iPad mini, Apple's response to smaller, cheaper tablets form Amazon and Google, meanwhile cost $198, according to the analysis. Given it retails for $329, the teardown shows Apple sticking to its longstanding strategy of pursuing high profit margins, this time around 40 per cent.

"With the iPad mini, Apple is sticking to the premium-brand strategy it has always used for its media tablet and smartphone products," said Mr Rassweiler.

Stronger competition from cheaper hardware is beginning to have an impact, however. Figures this week showed that Apple's dominance of the tablet market has been eroded in recent months, with its market share plummeting from two thirds in the second quarter to half in the third. Overall the tablet market grew almost 50 per cent year-on-year.

Comet redundancies to initially cost government £23m - BBC News

17 December 2012 Last updated at 13:41 ET

Redundancy payments for thousands of former staff at failed electrical chain Comet will initially cost the government £23.2m, administrators Deloitte have revealed.

The money will be paid from the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS).

However, Deloitte said that it expected the RPS would ultimately be repaid in full from assets released from Comet.

The last 49 Comet stores will close on Tuesday. Comet went into administration last month.

Big losses

Comet's demise is one of the biggest High Street casualties of recent years.

The 236-store business was bought last year for the nominal sum of £1 by private equity firm OpCapita.

OpCapita bought the Comet from Kesa Electrical, which also gave OpCapita £46.8m of working capital.

However, OpCapita failed to turnaround Comet's fortunes, as the company continued to suffer from the fall in UK consumer spending during the recession, and the big growth in online rivals.

Comet was founded in Hull in 1933 and began life selling batteries and radios.

The closure of the final Comet's stores comes after Deloitte failed to find a buyer for the company.

Deloitte also revealed on Monday that Comet's losses in the year to April totalled £95m, while its revenues slumped by £200m.

In the subsequent five months, Comet lost a further £31m.

Kesa Electricals was renamed Darty in July this year.

Despite having its headquarters in London, it focuses on the continental market - especially France, where it has more than 200 stores under the Darty name.

Ada Lovelace honoured by Google doodle - The Guardian

Google's latest doodle celebrates the 197th birthday of Ada Lovelace, the 19th century mathematician and daughter of romantic poet Lord Byron.

Often described as world's first computer programmer, Lovelace showed a keen interst in mathematical studies from an early age and was taught by her mother, Annabella, who was also a gifted mathematician.

In correspondence with Charles Babbage, who was working on the ideas for a machine that is now recognised as a forerunner of the modern computer, Ada demonstrated her gift for mathematics and was described by him as 'the enchantress of numbers'.

She was introduced to him by another female scientist famous in her day, the mathematician Mary Somerville, who mentored Ada during her relatively short life.

Babbage was impressed by the mathematical skills Ada possessed and invited her to translate a piece in Italian written by Luigi Menabrea describing Babbage's 'analytical engine', so that it could be published in England.

Her notes include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine, while she also speculated on its future ability to create graphics and complex music.

Born in 1815, she had no relationship with her father, who died when she was eight. In 1835, she married William King, who was created Earl of Lovelace in 1838. She died in 1852 at the age of 36.

Her lasting legacy as role model for girls and young women considering careers in technology is remembered on Ada Lovelace Day, which is dedicated to the celebration of the achievements of women in science and technology.

A Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban has undergone ... - BBC News

3 February 2013 Last updated at 09:28 ET Continue reading the main story

A Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban has undergone surgery in Birmingham.

Malala Yousafzai, 15, was attacked in October after campaigning for girls' rights to education.

A bullet was removed from her head by surgeons in Pakistan, before she was flown to the UK for further treatment.

Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital said a titanium plate and cochlear implant were successfully attached in two operations on Saturday.

Presidential visit

A spokesperson said she was continuing to recover and was in a stable condition after the surgery, which lasted five hours.

They said the medical team was "very pleased" with the progress Malala had made so far and that she was awake and talking to staff and members of her family.

The 15-year-old had been discharged as an inpatient from the hospital in January after undergoing weeks of specialist treatment.

The Queen Elizabeth is also home to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, which has treated many of the injured servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan.

In December the president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, visited her at the hospital.

Malala's family are currently living in the West Midlands.

Her father has been appointed education attache at the Consulate of Pakistan for the next three years.

US Odd Couple actor Jack Klugman dies at 90 - BBC News

24 December 2012 Last updated at 18:46 ET

Tim Allman reports on the life and career of actor Jack Klugman

US actor Jack Klugman, who starred in hit TV series in the 1970s and 80s, has died at the age of 90.

He passed away in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, his son Adam said, without giving further details.

Klugman played a no-nonsense medical investigator in Quincy M.E. and a sloppy sports writer in The Odd Couple.

The actor lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s but later trained himself to speak again. He returned to acting in the 1990s.

"He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same," son Adam Klugman was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

His brother David added: "His sons loved him very much. We'll carry on in his spirit."

BBC's 'big talents' made staff after claims of 'tax avoidance' - Telegraph.co.uk

Those 804 contracts are with "on-air talent" who are paid more than £50,000 for their work.

Having reviewed those contracts, the BBC said that 131 people will be moved onto staff contracts when their current freelance deals expire.

The BBC declined to discuss the individuals affected, but the Deloitte review makes clear they include some of the most famous and highly-paid presenters on television and radio.

There is no suggestion that any of the presenters has broken any tax rules in their dealings with the BBC.

Anthony Fry, a member of the BBC Trust, said that the stars affected will have no choice but to accept staff contracts. He said: "Will we allow exceptions? We will not. There will be no exceptions because someone is a big talent."

Zarin Patel, the BBC's finance director, insisted that the Deloitte report showed "no evidence" that the BBC was party to tax avoidance.

However, she admitted that stars using personal service companies could reduce their tax bill by writing off up to 5 per cent of their income as "management expenses". The use of such arrangements "give the public the perception that individuals can avoid tax," she said.

Jeremy Paxman, the Newsnight presenter, claimed earlier this year that he had been told by the BBC that he had to set up a company to receive his earnings from the corporation.

Ms Patel insisted the BBC had done nothing wrong by pushing some workers to register themselves as companies in ealier years.

People registered as personal service companies can also pay corporation tax of 21 per cent on earnings. Individuals paid under the PAYE tax system incur income tax of up to 50 per cent.

East Midlands Airport shut by Spitfire undercarriage collapse - BBC News

7 January 2013 Last updated at 13:41 ET

East Midlands Airport was closed for two hours after a Spitfire's undercarriage collapsed as the plane was coming in to land.

The pilot was not injured but the runway was closed while debris was cleared away.

Flights to East Midlands Airport were diverted to Birmingham during the closure.

A spokesman for East Midlands Airport said the aircraft had been removed from the runway and all flights had resumed.

Edward Coxon, from Hartshorne in Derbyshire, who was plane-spotting at the airport at about 15:30 GMT, said: "I was just looking at the planes coming in when all of a sudden there were loads of blue lights coming in from the other end of the runway.

"That's when I saw the plane in the middle of the runway. I could hear on the radio that there was only one person on board and he was fine."

The World War II Spitfire belonged to Rolls Royce who are based at the airport site in Castle Donington.

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Google to fix Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 'December' bug but other problems remain - ITProPortal

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Google has announced that it plans to release a new patch for Android 4.2. The Internet giant said it hopes that the impending upgrade will correct a previously reported glitch found on its People app, which at present does not allow users to create events in the month of December.

The People app acts as a digital diary, allowing users to store contact information and organise upcoming events.

"We discovered a bug in the Android 4.2 update, which makes it impossible to enter December events in optional fields of the People app (this bug did not affect Calendar)," the company wrote in a Google+ post.

"Rest assured this will be fixed soon so that those of you with December birthdays and anniversaries won't be forgotten by your friends and family."

This is not the sole bug to be found in the current iteration of the Jelly Bean OS, as reports have surfaced highlighting other areas in need of repair.

According to some reports, the new range of Nexus tablets - the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 - have been particularly affected by several bugs.

The issues listed include randomly readjusting brightness levels when the device is left on an auto-brightness setting, increased drain on battery life, an erratic Bluetooth signal and sudden system reboots.

Music groups enjoy share of BBC performing arts fund - BBC News

27 February 2013 Last updated at 21:05 ET

Cheltenham Music Festival is among 19 music organisations that are celebrating after winning a grant from the BBC Performing Arts Fund.

It will receive £10,000 from the charity fund, which will go towards hosting a fellow who will develop a programme to help new composers.

Composer Alex Wilson said he was "honoured" to have been selected.

The arts fund, totalling £190,000, was raised through phone voting on BBC talent show The Voice.

"The fellowship will provide me with valuable experience in a number of disciplines relevant to my ongoing development as a musician," said Wilson.

The grant, he continued, would "hopefully lead to fruitful working relationships with a variety of international organisations and musicians."

Recipients of the other 18 fellowships include an assistant conductor with English Touring Opera, a DJ with a music station in Exeter and a composer with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Each fellow will work under the guidance of professional mentors to develop their skills as well as lending support to their placement organisation.

"We are delighted that the money raised through the phone voting on The Voice will be used to support the next generation of musical talent," said Miriam O'Keefe, director of the fund.

"Working with some of the most well-respected arts and music organisations in the UK will not only nurture this talent, but will give the fellows the experience and confidence to pursue their musical ambitions."

Since it was established in 2003, the BBC performing arts fund has allocated £4m to performance artists and community groups around the UK.

Iran moves Rafsanjani daughter to solitary confinement - BBC News

31 December 2012 Last updated at 12:36 ET

The jailed daughter of the former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been moved to solitary confinement, the BBC has learned.

A spokesman for Iran's judiciary said Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani was moved as punishment for her behaviour in jail.

Ms Rafsanjani began a six-month prison sentence in September after being found guilty earlier this year of "spreading anti-state propaganda".

The former MP is the most politically active of Mr Rafsanjani's children.

She has been active in a series of protests among women political prisoners against what they say are arbitrary and illegal restrictions on prisoners, BBC Persian's Kasra Naji reports.

Her brother was recently freed from same prison, Evin in Tehran, after posting a hefty bail. He had been accused of corruption.

Their detention has been a big talking point in Iran.

Observers say their father is coming under pressure from Islamist hardliners within Iran's judiciary who are concerned that he may decide to run again in next year's presidential elections.

One of the founders of the Islamic Republic, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was president of Iran from 1989 to 1997.

For almost three decades he was seen as one of the most influential politicians in Iran, with a reputation in the West as a key pragmatist.

His power and influence has been on the wane since losing the 2005 election to right-winger Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

But he is regarded as a figure that could mobilise the opposition at a time of increasing tension in Iran on both domestic and foreign policy issues.

Ex-BBC producer arrested over Jimmy Savile abuse claims - BBC News

11 November 2012 Last updated at 10:30 ET

A former BBC producer has been arrested in connection with the inquiry into abuse claims made against Jimmy Savile.

Wilfred De'Ath, who is in his 70s, was held in Cambridgeshire at 07:15 GMT.

A Met Police spokesman did not confirm his name but said a man was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences and taken into police custody locally, before being bailed until December.

He added the man was held as part of the Operation Yewtree probe into claims Savile sexually abused young people.

Police believe the former BBC TV presenter and DJ, who died last year aged 84, may have abused as many as 300 people over a 40-year period.

Mr De'Ath once produced a Jimmy Savile radio show. Neighbours at his flat in Cambridge said detectives removed bags from the property.

A number of individuals are being investigated as part of the operation. These include people who allegedly carried out abuse with Savile as well as others who are suspected of abusing independently of Savile.

The Met said the latest arrest "falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed others".

Former pop star Gary Glitter was the first person to be arrested in connection with the Met's Savile abuse inquiry.

Glitter, 68, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested on suspicion of sex offences and bailed until mid-December.

At the beginning of November police arrested entertainer Freddie Starr on suspicion of sexual offences.

He has denied claims made against him and was bailed after a number of hours of questioning.

Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman charged with breach of trust - BBC News

13 December 2012 Last updated at 13:46 ET

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been charged with breach of trust in connection with a long-running financial scandal.

But Mr Lieberman has been cleared of more serious offences, including money-laundering and bribery.

He said he did not have to resign but was studying the indictment with his lawyers.

The charge against one of the most powerful politicians in Israel comes five weeks before a general election.

Mr Lieberman's party recently joined that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the elections and the Foreign Minister said he would consider how the indictment would affect the vote before he took any further action.

"A final decision will be made after consultation with my lawyers and in the consideration of not hurting the voting public," he said hours after the Justice Ministry announced its decision.

Israeli law on the matter is complex. The BBC's Kevin Connolly says it is thought that being under indictment does not prevent Mr Lieberman from running for parliament but it might force him to resign as a minister.

Opposition parties had called for his resignation if he was charged and the our correspondent says they might go to court to force the issue.

The case dates back more than a decade. Prosecutors had suspected Mr Lieberman had received illicit funds from businessmen and laundered them through shell bank accounts.

The Attorney-General decided there was apparently insufficient evidence to take the matter to trial and charged Lieberman with the lesser offence of receiving official material from the investigation against him.

Spell is broken: BBC's Merlin runs out of magic ideas as show faces axe - Mirror.co.uk

BBC children's drama Merlin will be axed at the end of this series – because its bosses have run out of ideas.

Executives at production company Shine say they have teased out the Arthurian legend to its limit over five series.

But they also promise a ­"spectacular" conclusion for the Saturday night hit, with a two-parter over Christmas.

Creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy said: "We felt it was best told across five series... bringing to a conclusion the battle for Camelot."

Colin Morgan, who plays the title role, said the show had run its course and added: "We've arrived at its strongest point and achieved what we set out to do."

BBC1 controller Danny Cohen paid tribute to the creators' decision to end on a high, adding: "We will miss it in the schedule.

"I hope fans will tune in over the coming weeks to see the spectacularly dramatic final episodes, and we have ambitious plans for new drama in the Saturday evening slot in 2013."

Merlin, which pulled in seven million viewers despite competition from The X Factor, will be replaced with a family drama in 2013.

The cast are sad that Merlin has ended – but support the decision not to push it past it's sell-by date.

Morgan said the series – which has been sold to 183 countries - had "run its natural course".

 He added: "The show has grown and grown each year and now we've arrived at its strongest point and we've achieved what we set out to do."

Angel Coulby, who plays Guinevere, said: "I believe the key to any successful show is making sure you leave people wanting more."

Libor scandal: RBS bankers must meet fines - Osborne - BBC News

1 February 2013 Last updated at 23:06 ET

Any fines by US authorities on Royal Bank of Scotland over the Libor scandal should be met by bankers not taxpayers, Chancellor George Osborne has insisted.

A ruling on the involvement of RBS in the fixing of the key industry interest rate is due imminently.

It is expected to be higher than the fine of nearly £300m imposed on Barclays last year.

RBS, which is majority owned by the government, is now in final talks with US and UK authorities over Libor.

An announcement could be made within days. In effect, the fine imposed by the British financial authorities will be the UK taxpayer paying the UK taxpayer, but there has been concern over how the US fine was to be paid.

Bonus awards

Senior sources at the Treasury said the chancellor had made it clear that the financial penalty imposed by American regulators must be covered by deductions from the bonuses of bankers at RBS.

These would be either clawed back from previous years or deducted from future bonus awards.

Two leading banks, Barclays and UBS, have reached settlements with regulators over their involvement with Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate), with fines of £290m and £940m respectively.

Libor tracks the average rate at which the major international banks based in London lend money to each other.

BBC business editor Robert Peston has said the talks include "other necessary remediation, including a possible senior resignation".

But the bank's board does not believe chief executive Stephen Hester needs to resign.

Family of sucide reporter blame BBC for his death - Telegraph.co.uk

According to the family, Russell, who was single, was alledgedly harassed by a female colleague at the BBC after he spurned her advances.

He had spent three months off work through stress and anxiety but had recently returned two days a week.

"He wanted to move to a different station with the BBC but was told he couldn't do that until he was working full time.

"He had time off earlier this year but to me, the BBC ignored his concerns and refused to listen to him."

Mr Joslin, who also has a grown-up son, Stephen, 48, and daughter Angela, 39, said: "He took his work very seriously and this year for the first time I noticed he was very unhappy at work. We noticed a change in his demeanour.

"As a family we would welcome an investigation because there are certain things Russell was unhappy about, and if there is something that needs to be looked at, his employers should take it seriously so that we can establish ourselves what has happened."

An inquest into Russell's death was opened and adjourned yesterday in Leamington Spa, Warks.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire's news editor Sue Curtis, who had known the reporter for nearly 20 years, said he had brought "considerable talents to the BBC" and that he had been "an amazing creative talent".

Last night, a BBC spokesman said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with Russell Joslin's family at this sad time.

"This is a difficult time for everyone who knew him. The BBC is committed to working constructively with the family to ensure that their concerns are vigorously addressed.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further until the facts are established."