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Jodi Breakers Offical Theatrical Trailer

'Jodi breakers' is a cheeky entertainer which takes a peek- a -boo into dysfunctional romantic relationships that eventually lead to breakups. Pairing the vivacious and exciting actors Madhavan and Bipasha together for the first time, the film also stars Milind Soman and Deepanita Sharma along with the ever roguish Omi Vaidya and ever charming Helen . 

Ted movie hits theaters on July 13, 2012.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish...and has refused to leave his side ever since. Ted movie trailer 2012 is presented in full HD 1080p high resolution.

Kirstie Alley: Travolta Is 'Love of My Life'

Kirstie Alley gave a shocking admission to Barbara Walters in an upcoming ABC interview. The actress revealed her true feelings for her Look Who's Talking co-star and friend John Travolta.

Alley, who's currently competing on Dancing with the Stars, told Walters that Travolta, 58, was the "greatest love of my life."

The actress, 61, admits that she fell hard for the star during the filming of the 1989 movie Look Who's Talkingwhere Travolta played her romantic interest. "Believe me, it took everything that I had, inside, outside, whatever, to not run off and marry John. And be with John for the rest of my life," she told Walters.

Pics: John Travolta and Kelly Preston Through the Years

When asked why she didn't, Alley replied, "Because I feel like when you marry someone you're supposed to work hard at it, and you're supposed to make it work."

Both actors worked together for the Look Who's Talking sequels, but went on to pursue other romantic relationships. Kelly Preston, a dear friend of Alley's, married Travolta in 1991, while, Alley went on to marry a few times but is currently single.

Video: Kirstie Alley on 'Cheers' Wild Times

The actress' full interview with Walters will air on Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America.

Oops! Newly Single Taylor Swift Talks Love as Cosmo Declares Her "Crazy for a Kennedy"

We won't say Taylor Swift is difficult to date...but she is quite particular.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan's December issue (on stands Nov. 6), the 22-year-old "Red" songstress laid out the dos and don'ts of being her boyfriend.

"I can't deal with someone wanting to take a relationship backward or needing space or cheating on you," she said. "It's a conscious thing; it's a common-sense thing...I just don't ever want to end up in a relationship that isn't fair ever again."

The country-pop star, who recently split with 18-year-old Conor Kennedy, said she "[needs] that unexplainable spark" in a relationship. "I just need to see someone and feel Oh, no, uh-oh. It's only happened a few times in my life, but I feel like if I was gonna be with someone forever, it would be because I saw them and I thought, Oh, no."

Let's have a look at Taylor's five biggest breakups

"I've had a lot of dark and twisty situations happen," Taylor added, borrowing a phrase from Grey's Anatomy. "Enough to realize that when someone exhibits signs of evoking a dark and twisty relationship and dark and twisty feelings, it's not interesting to me."

Taylor turns Red as Ellen examines her boyfriend history

"I've learned when to get out," she said. So far, her exes include John Mayer, Taylor Lautner, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas and Cory Monteith. "I've never wasted too much time with the wrong person and that's one thing I'm proud of."

We'll give her that one.

Shahrukh, Katrina, Anushka at ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ press conference

Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma at ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ press conference. Photos from the Jab Tak Hai Jaan press meet.

I will never write an autobiography: Amitabh Bachchan

BollywoodWorld.com, As one of India’s most high-profile celebrities, he has been the proverbial goldfish in the glass bowl for decades and is also an inveterate blogger. But no autobiographies for Amitabh Bachchan, who says firmly that some pockets of his life are off limits to the outside world and the blog is not a means to document his life.

Amitabh, who turned 70 Thursday, guards his privacy fiercely and says his blog is “just an interaction with people who are followers”.

“I don’t write it (blog) because I want to document my life. I have never done that. All that I put on my blog is not necessarily all that I wish to share,” Amitabh told IANS in an exclusive interview.

“There are certain things that I don’t to share. There are certain remarks, opinions, which I think are personal and should remain so; I don’t comment on that. It’s just an interaction with people who are followers and who affectionately want to converse with me. It’s not done with an idea to document my life,” he added.

Amitabh has been living the celeb life for four decades. He rose to dazzling stardom in the 1970s with hits like “Zanjeer”, “Sholay” and “Deewar”, then saw his health and career decline after an accident during the shooting of “Coolie” in 1982. In the 1990s, he tried to resurrect it with damp squibs like “Lal Badshah” and “Sooryavansham”.

His tryst with the small screen as the host of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” helped him embark on another glorious journey, making him one of Bollywood’s most enduring stars.

Despite all this and much more, the man himself feels “there is nothing to document”.

“Secondly, if there is any documentation that needs to be done, it needs to be done in a much more professional organisation… than to do it myself. I don’t know how to write an autobiography.

“I will never be able to write one and I will never write one because I personally don’t feel there is anything worth writing,” said Amitabh, who never misses his date with his blog.

His father Harivansh Rai Bachchan penned his autobiography, why can’t he?

“I am happy that my father wrote his autobiography and therefore I am able to gain whatever I could from his works, what happened prior to my existence and for a certain portion of my life when I did exist. But, other than that, the media has got more material than I have. Even though it may not have justifiable information, through this medium (blog) I am able to correct if there is any mistake or if there is a wrong representation,” he said.

Amitabh admits he often gets suggestions to write an autobiography, but doesn’t see any value in it.

“I don’t think in advance what I want to write on the blog. After working the entire day, when I sit in front of the computer and put the date and day after that whatever I think and I feel I start writing. And at times all of a sudden because of some technical problem it just disappears and it feels so bad…that moment just slips off.”

However, he has learned his lesson and become cautious. “I save it… Now I am taking some precaution.” – IANS

No shooting for incomplete part of ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ song: Shahrukh Khan

A portion of a song in Yash Chopra’s “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” was yet to be shot, but now will be left incomplete as the film crew has no desire to tamper with the signature style of the late filmmaker, said the film’s hero Shah Rukh Khan.

“Just a minute and a half of the song was left. He (Chopra) wanted to do it in Switzerland. We don’t have the heart to shoot that part now. We will make it impure if we had to shoot it,” Shah Rukh said at a promotional event of the film here Monday.

Other than this, the film seems to be ready for release.

“The movie is ready for release. He (Chopra) had finished editing and the background mix was happening. The film was locked by Yash ji. The film which you will see has been entirely made by Yash Chopra,” he added.

The love story stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif along with Shah Rukh and is all set to release on the Nov 13, along with Ajay Devgn’s home production “Son of Sardaar”.

Shah Rukh thinks that it is unfair to ask anyone to change their release date and therefore is fine with the simultaneous release of both the films.

“It is unfair to ask anybody to change the release date of their film. Everybody loves their films. Yash ji would have felt the same way. Films will always overlap and it is not fair for us to ask them to change it,” he said.

Talking about box office numbers, Shah Rukh said that he is not looking at collections and just wants the audience to enjoy his film.

“I am not a businessman. I just feel that my films should be enjoyed by all. I have earned enough money and awards in my life, so numbers don’t matter. But you are anxious when your film is all set to release,” he said.

Chopra died of multi-organ failure last Sunday (Oct 21). – IANS

Bollywood dance is popular in Bangkok: Thai actress

Mumbai, (BollywoodWorld.com) The Bollywood song and dance culture has been making waves in the US for a long time. Now, if Thai actress Mamee Nakprasitte is to be believed, people in Bangkok are also picking up the trend.

Having participated in the recently held Bollywood Film Festival in Bangkok, Mamee is a self-confessed admirer of Bollywood. She followed her jig with an Indian dance number in the on-going “Superstar Reality TV Show” back home.

“Bollywood dance has become pretty popular in Bangkok, and there are many teachers there… I’m also happy that many people liked the Bollywood dance I did for the ‘Superstar Reality TV Show’,” she said in a statement.

“I was (also) excited to wear a sari and do a Bollywood dance at the opening of the Bollywood film festival in Bangkok last month. But it was not easy. I practised a lot,” she added.

Mamee is in India for the Asian premiere of her Thai-American film “Bitter Sweet” at the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) here. The actress is excited about her trip.

“It (Mumbai) is the centre for Bollywood films and I’m so excited. I want to go shopping, sightseeing, eating. And yes, it will be great if I can attend a class of Bollywood dancing,” she said.

Asked if she is also hoping to land a Bollywood role, she said: “I’ve seen some Bollywood movies, but can’t remember their names… (but) I’d love to do a Bollywood film, if I got an offer.”

Directed by Jeff Hare, “Bitter Sweet” stars Kip Pardue, Spencer Garret and James Brolin apart from Mamee. Singer Tata Young makes a cameo in the film.

Mamee said she was nervous acting with actors like Pardue and Brolin.

“I was (nervous), as I’ve never acted with such big Hollywood stars before,” she said.

Did the English dialect come easy to the actress?

“It was not, and I practised a lot. But I guess nothing is difficult, if you spend time on it and I’m really glad I spent a lot of time learning to speak English, as it’s much easier now to do more international films,” she said.

Made at a $5 million budget, the romantic drama was shot in the coffee plantations of Krabi island in Thailand. Mamee says the film will open doors to tourism in her country.

“It is a good promotion for Krabi, as not many people know of it, and I’m sure many people would like to visit it after seeing the film. There are many places equally amazing in Thailand that not many people know about,” she said.

Mamee is one of the versatile actresses on the Thai screen, who has done 12 films, including some international productions. Her last film “The Coffin”, a horror-drama, was screened at the 2008 Cannes festival.

What Are The Top 14 Most Memorable Topless Scenes On Film?

..There are dozens of actresses who have no problem taking off their tops for the sake of a movie role, and their choices can end up either hurting or helping their careers.

Some stars say they'd do it only if the "right role" came along; and others simply refuse to go topless for any reason. And sometimes an actress's decision to go topless for a role can overshadow the movie itself -- which can be good (Demi Moore in Striptease) or bad (Jessica Biel in Powder Blue).

With the advent of the internet, many of these scenes now live on forever, but with topless and nude scenes a-dime-a-dozen, there are few that stand out and stand the test of time. Here are our picks for the top 14 topless scenes on film.

A Blonde Kim Kardashian Is A Sexy Mermaid At Midori Halloween Party

Celebrities love dressing up for special occasions, and Halloween is no exception. We spotted Kim Kardashian attending the Midori Halloween party in New York City over the weekend wearing a spectacular mermaid costume.

The reality star put on a blonde wig and wore a sparkly, fish scale green skirt with a corset-like top that featured seashells over her bosum. She paired the look with several strands of pearl necklaces.

Her boyfriend Kanye West looked like a sailor, opting for a simpler costume - a striped shirt and red loafers.

The couple's water theme was definitely appropriate as Hurricane Sandy set course to hit the Northeast in the next couple of days.

Check out more photos of Mermaid Kim..

Sunny Leone named most dangerous celebrity

Porn star and Bollywood actress Sunny Leone has emerged as the most dangerous celebrity in cyberspace, ahead of Katrina Kaif and Kareena Kapoor, as searching for her on the web is the most risky.

In a study conducted by McAfee, Leone topped the list with 9.95 per cent chances of luring people into clicking on malicious links.

Katrina, who was the most risky celeb in 2011, held the second spot this year with 8.25 percentile. She was followed by Kareena Kapoor, with 6.67 per cent possibility of making users fall into a trap of malware laden websites.

Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu rounded off the top five with 6.5 per cent and 5.58 per cent respectively.

Others who featured in the list are Vidya Balan, Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Poonam Pandey.

Salman Khan, at the eighth position, was the only male star in the top ten.

Jon Hamm Films Mad Men Shirtless. You're Welcome

Apollo/Zeus/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

1.  
2. Pardon our French, but zou bisou bisou.
3. The Mad Men cast is currently shooting their upcoming season in Hawaii, which is exciting, but not nearly as exciting as the photo op it has provided the rest of the world in the form of a shirtless Jon Hamm.
4. So that's what's been hiding under those suits.
5. Check out Mad Men's Christina Hendricks' 10 best red carpet looks!
6. Yep, life's clearly a beach for Don Draper, who was spotted oceanside with onscreen wife Jessica Paré.
7. Both, of course, were in era-appropriate tacky retro swimming ensembles for the shoot, and if Hamm's trunks were maybe a hair on the short side, well, we don't think the wardrobe department will be fielding too many calls from the fashion police on this one.
8. As always, no plotlines for the forthcoming sixth season have yet been disclosed, though the actors were reportedly shooting scenes for the premiere episode. Aloha, indeed.

Nyetimber abandons grape harvest

10 October 2012 Last updated at 09:19 GMT Nyetimber said that maintaining quality was paramount A multi-award winning English vineyard has decided not to harvest its grapes this year because of the bad weather.
Nyetimber, in West Sussex, said the quality and volume of the 2012 harvest was not up to standard.
Cherie Spriggs, winemaker at Nyetimber, said the decision was a difficult one but that "maintaining quality is paramount".
Nyetimber's sparkling wine has been consistently ranked alongside the finest French champagne.
Soil at the vineyard at West Chiltington is geologically identical to the champagne region, but the vines need warm dry weather.
Ms Spriggs said: "My first obligation as the winemaker is to ensure the quality of Nyetimber's wines, and we have collectively come to the decision that the grapes from 2012 cannot deliver the standards we have achieved in the past and will again in the future.
"The decision to not make wine from 2012 is a difficult one, not just for me but for our whole team. However, we all know that maintaining quality is paramount."
Nyetimber's accolades include three times winner of the Best Worldwide Sparkling Wine award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
This year's variable weather included the wettest June since records began.
About three million bottles of English wine were made in 2011, but the figure is expected to be down substantially this year.

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VIDEO: Kabul restaurant for former drug addicts

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ICC holds Saif Gaddafi hearing

9 October 2012 Last updated at 10:29 GMT Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has been detained in Zintan since November last year The International Criminal Court (ICC) is holding its first public hearing in the case of one of the sons of Libyan leader Col Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam.

He is accused of committing war crimes against the rebels who overthrew his father last year.

His ICC lawyers are expected to argue he will not receive a fair trial in Libya, where he is currently held.

But the Libyan authorities say he should be tried in the country where he is accused of committing crimes.

At the beginning of the two-day hearing, Libyan lawyer Ahmed al-Jehani called for the international community to "be patient", telling ICC judges the Libyan authorities "needed time" to organise a fair trial for Saif Gaddafi.

Mr Jehani told the judges they had not ruled out some level of ICC involvement.

This is the first time the ICC defence team has come face to face with the Libyan lawyers in court, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague.

The Libyan authorities have made no secret of the fact that they have absolutely no intention of handing Saif Gaddafi over to the ICC, our correspondent says.

If they do want to play by the rules and win the right to try Saif Gaddafi at home, they must convince the judges they can do the job and that Mr Gaddafi will face a fair hearing at home.

Continue reading the main story Born 1972Stylish, English-speaking bachelorTrained engineerLong seen as likely successor to his father - suggestions he played downPreviously seen as reformist face of his father's regimePlayed key role in rapprochement with the West from 2000-2011Accused of organising brutal crackdown on opposition protests in FebruaryThey must show they are conducting their own investigations, and are willing to prosecute Mr Gaddafi for the same alleged crimes that are listed on the ICC's arrest warrant.

One of the lawyers representing Libya, Philippe Sands, has confirmed Mr Gaddafi is still being held by the Zintan Brigade in Libya, adding he will be transferred to a secure detention facility in Tripoli before trial.

Tug of war

The pre-trial session is part of an ongoing battle between Libya and the ICC over where the son of the former Libyan leader should face justice, our correspondent adds.

Melinda Taylor, the ICC's defence lawyer who was arrested while visiting Mr Gaddafi, will be presenting her findings during the hearing.

She is expected to tell the judges she does not believe her client will receive a fair trial in Libya.

Mr Gaddafi has been held in the western mountain town of Zintan for almost a year.

During that time, the Libyan authorities have repeatedly rejected requests to hand him over for trial in The Hague.

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Anger over bonus for Kenyan MPs

9 October 2012 Last updated at 13:28 GMT The demonstrators shouted "thief" at every MP that drove past Angry demonstrators in Kenya have marched to parliament to protest about a huge bonus MPs have voted to award themselves.

Lawmakers in Kenya are among the highest paid MPs in Africa, receiving a salary of about $10,000 (£6,200) a month.

The bonus of more than $105,000 each is to be paid when parliament breaks up ahead of elections due in March 2013.

Analysts says tax increases are likely in order to foot the $23m bill.

'Selfish and unpatriotic'

The BBC's Frenny Jowi in the capital, Nairobi, says the revelation about the send-off bonus for the 222 MPs has angered many people, coming as it does after strikes in the public sector.

It was passed late on Thursday night as part of a last-minute amendment to the Finance Act, she says.

Continue reading the main story

Current earnings:

Monthly salary of 850,000 Kenyan shillings ($9,982), of which $2,350 is taxed"Sitting allowance" of $25 for each appearance in parliamentAnother "sitting allowance" of $25 is paid for each parliamentary committee meeting attended

Proposed bonus:

One-off bonus of more than $105,000 - to be paid at the end of the parliamentary termIn September all schools were closed for three weeks and public hospitals only took emergencies as demands were made for better pay and working conditions.

According to the AFP news agency, someone earning the minimum wage in Kenya would have to work for 61 years to earn the equivalent of the MPs' bonus.

Our reporter says a large crowd stopped traffic on the main road outside President Mwai Kibaki's office in Nairobi.

They then marched towards parliament and have camped outside, chanting "mwizi", which means thief in KiSwahili, when any MP drives by.

"When you look at the situation the country is in right now, we have problems with teachers, we have problems in the health care sector. It is just selfish, it is unpatriotic and plain stupid," one woman at the demonstration told the BBC.

Boniface Mwangi, one of the organisers of the march who earlier this year joined activists to paint murals in the city portraying MPs as vultures, called for a "ballot revolution" to get rid of avaricious politicians at the next election.

He told the BBC the send-off package was "like a thank you token for doing nothing".

The change to the Finance Act still needs to be signed into law by Mr Kibaki - who stands down as president next year after two terms in office.

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Young Pakistani campaigner shot

9 October 2012 Last updated at 12:29 GMT Malala Yousafzai was hit in the head, but is reportedly out of danger Gunmen have wounded a 14-year-old rights activist who has campaigned for girls' education in the Swat Valley in north-west Pakistan.

Malala Yousafzai was attacked on her way home from school in Mingora, the region's main town.

She came to public attention in 2009 by writing a diary for BBC Urdu about life under Taliban militants who had taken control of the valley.

A Pakistani Taliban spokesman told the BBC they carried out the attack.

Ehsanullah Ehsan told BBC Urdu that they attacked her because she was anti-Taliban and secular, adding that she would not be spared.

Continue reading the main story Orla Guerin BBC News, Islamabad

The chilling attack on the young peace campaigner has been leading TV news bulletins here. Malala Yousafzai is one of the best-known schoolgirls in the country. Young as she is, she has dared to do what many others do not - publicly criticise the Taliban.

Malala's confident, articulate campaign for girls' education has won her admirers - and recognition - at home and abroad. She has appeared on national and international television, and spoken of her dream of a future Pakistan where education would prevail.

Even by the standards of blood-soaked Pakistan, there has been shock at the shooting. It has been condemned by Pakistan's Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who sent a helicopter to transfer Malala to hospital in Peshawar.

The head of Pakistan's Independent Human Rights Commission, Zohra Yusuf, said "this tragic attack on this courageous child" sends a very disturbing message to all those working for women and girls.

Malala Yousafzai was travelling with at least one other girl when she was shot, but there are differing accounts of how events unfolded.

One report, citing local sources, says a bearded gunman stopped a car full of schoolgirls, and asked for Malala Yousafzai by name, before opening fire.

But a police official also told BBC Urdu that unidentified gunmen opened fire on the schoolgirls as they were about to board a van or bus.

She was hit in the head and, some reports say, in the neck area by a second bullet, but is now in hospital and is reportedly out of danger. Another girl who was with her at the time was also injured.

'Courage'

Malala Yousafzai was just 11 when she was writing her diary, two years after the Taliban took over the Swat Valley, and ordered girls' schools to close.

In the diary, which she kept for the BBC's Urdu service under a pen name, she exposed the suffering caused by the militants as they ruled.

She used the pen-name Gul Makai when writing the diary. Her identity only emerged after the Taliban were driven out of Swat and she later won a national award for bravery and was also nominated for an international children's peace award.

Correspondents say she earned the admiration of many across Pakistan for her courage in speaking out about life under the brutal rule of Taliban militants.

One poignant entry reflects on the Taliban decree banning girls' education: "Since today was the last day of our school, we decided to play in the playground a bit longer. I am of the view that the school will one day reopen but while leaving I looked at the building as if I would not come here again."

Malala Yousafzai began her blog at the age of 11

She has since said that she wants to study law and enter politics when she grows up. "I dreamt of a country where education would prevail," she said.

Taliban driven out

The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says that Malala Yousafzai was a public figure who didn't shy away from risks and had strong support from her parents for her activism. Indeed, her father, who is a school teacher, expressed his pride in her campaigning.

In a statement about the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said: "We have to fight the mindset that is involved in this. We have to condemn it... Malala is like my daughter, and yours too. If that mindset prevails, then whose daughter would be safe?"

Continue reading the main story

At that time some of us would go to school in plain clothes, not in school uniform, just to pretend we are not students, and we hid our books under our shawls.”

End Quote Malala Yousafzai The Taliban, under the notorious militant cleric Maulana Fazlullah, took hold of the Swat Valley in late 2007 and remained in de facto control until they were driven out by Pakistani military forces during an offensive in 2009.

While in power they closed girls' schools, promulgated Sharia law and introduced measures such as banning the playing of music in cars.

Since they were ejected, there have been isolated militant attacks in Swat but the region has largely remained stable and many of the thousands of people who fled during the Taliban years have returned.

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VIDEO: Nobel winner 'had bad school report'

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Merkel pledges support for Greece

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:02 GMT Chancellor Merkel: "Much has been achieved, much remains to be done"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged her country's continuing support to Greece, during her first visit to Athens since the eurozone crisis erupted nearly three years ago.

Mrs Merkel said Greece had made good progress in dealing with its vast debt but that it was on a "difficult path".

Thousands of people who blame Germany for forcing painful austerity measures on Greece are protesting in Athens.

Police have fired teargas towards some stone-throwing demonstrators.

Correspondents say this highly symbolic visit is a show of support for Greece's continued membership of the eurozone.

It comes as Greece prepares to pass new cuts of 13bn euros (£10.5bn; $17bn) to qualify for more bailout cash, a policy that has sparked growing unrest.

While Germany has contributed the most money to the bailout, BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt says its chancellor is held responsible by many for demanding that Greece make swingeing cuts in exchange for the financing it has received.

'Spirit of collaboration'

Mrs Merkel was met by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on arrival in Athens.

At a news conference after talks with Mr Samaras and business leaders, Mrs Merkel said the pace of reform in Greece had recently "picked up considerably" and that the country had "a good bit of the path" behind it.

She acknowledged that there were "many people suffering in Greece" as a result of the financial crisis and austerity measures, but that the difficult path was necessary to ensure future generations could live in prosperity

Mr Samaras said their meeting had been "dominated by frankness, mutual understanding, solidarity, a spirit of collaboration and a feeling that we can overcome the Greek problem, and obviously, the European problems alike".

He said Greece was "determined to fulfil its obligations and overcome this crisis" and was determined to stay in the eurozone.

Mrs Merkel's visit was a "token of proof" of the progress Greece has made, he said.

The capital is said to be carrying out its biggest security operation in a decade, with some 7,000 police on duty.

Protests have been banned for the day in much of central Athens, and within a 100m radius of the route Mrs Merkel's motorcade will travel.

However, outside the lockdown zone, thousands of people gathered, some carrying banners with slogans such as "No to the Fourth Reich".

A three-hour strike was also called for the early afternoon.

Symbolic visit

The crowds have largely been peaceful, though some protesters threw bottles, masonry and rocks torwards police lines. Police fired teargas when one group attempted to break through a barrier to reach parliament buildings.

The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says there is a wave of popular anger on the streets against the visit

Dozens of people have been detained.

But despite the protests, some Athens citizens were upbeat about the visit.

Constantinos Siathas told Associated Press: "I think most people, at least those who think and don't act based on feelings or utopian ideas, are pleased and are expecting a lot from Mrs Merkel's visit."

Earlier, a spokesperson for the leftist Syriza party, Yiannis Bournos, told the BBC's Newsday people were "frustrated and enraged because they clearly understand that Mrs Merkel's visit is just a theatre play for the political support of a collapsing coalition".

The trip is a gamble, our Europe editor says - chaos on the streets would only underline for the German public that Greece is a lost cause.

But he says that the visit - her first to Greece in five years - is sending a symbolic message that she wants Greece to stay in the eurozone.

Speaking on Monday, Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup finance ministers of the eurozone, raised the pressure on Greece, calling on the government to demonstrate it could implement planned reforms "by 18 October at the latest" to qualify for the next bailout instalment of 31.5bn euros.

He was speaking as the eurozone's new permanent fund to bail out struggling economies and banks was formally launched at the finance ministers' meeting.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday that the global economic recovery was weakening, with government policies having failed to restore confidence.

It added that the risk of further deterioration in the economic outlook was "considerable" and had increased.

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Philippines cyber law suspended

9 October 2012 Last updated at 09:17 GMT The new law covers a range of online activities The Philippines' top court has suspended a controversial law targeting cybercrime, following protests by critics who say it stifles free speech.

The new law, called the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, came into effect earlier this month.

It was intended to prevent online child pornography, identity theft and spamming, officials say. Reports say a 120-day suspension is in place.

The law also made libel a cybercrime punishable by up to 12 years in jail.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order preventing the act from being enforced after 15 petitions questioning its legality were filed.

The government says the law is intended to address "legitimate concerns" about criminal and abusive behaviour online.

But protesters say the legislation could be used to target government critics and crack down on freedom of speech.

Under the new act, a person found guilty of libellous comments online, including comments made on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter or blogs, could be fined or jailed.

The act is also designed to prevent cybersex, defined as sexually explicit chat over the internet - often involving "cam girls" performing sexual acts in front of webcams for internet clients.

Government officials would also have had new powers to search and seize data from people's online accounts.

The law generated a number of protests - anonymous activists hacked into government websites and journalists held rallies.

In a statement, Human Rights Watch's Asia director Brad Adams welcomed the move by the court, but urged it to "now go further by striking down this seriously flawed law".

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FA unveils centre of excellence

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has described the opening of its new centre of excellence as an "historic" day for the English game.

The £105m St George's Park complex in Staffordshire will house all 24 England teams, from junior to senior levels.

"We have to get more players through who can be full England internationals and this is where it will happen," Bernstein told BBC Radio 5 live.

"So much work has gone into this for so long and to see it now is fantastic."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given a tour of the park

The 330-acre site was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were given a tour of the park.

Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, said: "Coming here and seeing these wonderful facilities gives me the same feeling as when I first went to the Olympic Park.

"It gives me great pride we have created in this country facilities that are beyond compare anywhere else.

"St George's Park is a concept totally new. It will provide more than just world-class facilities for our national team and more than a university from which hundreds of coaches will graduate.

"It will provide employment and a social hub for local people and will foster community spirit and purpose and hope throughout England."

England's players are using the facility for the first time this week as they prepare for their World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.

Aimed at raising standards of play at all levels, it will provide a centre of excellence for training coaches and for sports medicine, sports science and psychology.

Among the facilities at St George's Park are:

- A senior training pitch, laid out to the exact dimensions of the playing surface at Wembley Stadium and with exactly the same mix of grass and artificial fibres.

Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport

"Everything at Burton is aimed at the future and rivalling the national centres that have been at the heart of the well-being of the game in superpowers such as France, Spain and the Netherlands"

- 11 outdoor pitches, five of which are floodlit and have under-soil heating.

- A full-size indoor 3G artificial pitch with a viewing gallery for up to 200 people.

- An altitude chamber to mimic a variety of playing conditions.

- An indoor 60m sprint track with equipment to measure speed and running style.

- Walls adorned with sporting slogans, such as American Olympian Jesse Owens: "A lifetime of training for just 10 seconds."

- A new Hilton hotel featuring suites named after former England players and managers.

Bernstein described the facility as "inspirational" and said it made him feel optimistic about the future of the nation's football.

He said: "This is the pinnacle clearly - and we hope that this will be an inspiration in a number of ways.

"One of the main objects of this, possibly almost the main object, is to produce thousands of more highly-qualified coaches.

"There's a lot more happening in English football at the moment in terms of youth development. We're trying to move young players away from this physical side, of wanting to win too much when they're too young.

"We want more skill-based football, kids to enjoy their football more. There's a great deal aimed at that."

England's senior men's team have not won a major international tournament since the 1966 World Cup and have failed to reach a semi-final since the 1996 European Championship.

The women's side have made three World Cup quarter-finals and twice finished runners-up in the European Championship.

David Sheepshanks, chairman of St George's Park, said the new complex can help England close the gap on recent World Cup winners such as France and Spain.

"This is a place to inspire young people and young coaches to invest in themselves and go beyond just getting the badge," he said.

"The teachers of the game have the defining influence. We are investing in the teachers so that we can get ahead of what they are doing in France and Spain.

"This is a deliberately long-term view. Really it is the investment in coaches that is crucial and from 2020 onwards we will have winning England teams."

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VIDEO: 'Saudi weapons' found in Syria

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Cole to escape ban after apology

Ashley Cole will not be banned from England duty after apologising to FA chairman David Bernstein.

The left-back, 31, was charged with misconduct on Monday for using an expletive to describe the governing body after the John Terry racism case.

"He apologised publicly the day after. He saw me last night and he apologised personally," Bernstein said.

"He showed real remorse. I looked him in the eye and I accept that. He is free to play for England."

The decision of whether to include Cole in the starting XI in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland will be left to England manager Roy Hodgson.

2001: Makes debut against Albania 2002: Plays in first World Cup 2004: Named in All Star squad for Euro 2004 2010: Named England Player of the Year 2011: Replaces Kenny Sansom as England's most capped full-back (87) 2012: Becomes England's most-capped tournament player after appearing against Ukraine (21) 2012: Misses penalty in Euro 2012 quarter-final loss to Italy "I'm very pleased the chairman has gracefully accepted the apology from Ashley," said Hodgson.

"I know how disappointed and saddened he was by the situation. I'm quite relieved as England manager the situation has been resolved."

Hodgson said Cole was one of the best left-backs in the world and remained committed to playing for his country.

"No-one who is fair-minded could ever question his commitment to England and the England squad," said the manager.

"His contrition is the greater because he realises he may have put his position in jeopardy and I'm very grateful he hasn't done that."

The defender has won 98 caps for the national team and will reach the 100 mark if he appears in both matches.

When asked if he could see Cole being captain on the occasion of the landmark cap, Bernstein said: "I think that is unlikely. We've made it clear on previous recent occasions that the standard we expect from our captains are very, very high indeed, so I think that's unlikely. I'm not going to rule anything out, but unlikely."

Responding to the FA's judgement in the John Terry racism case, Cole tweeted on Friday: "Hahahahaa, well done #fa I lied did I, #BUNCHOFT***S".

The Chelsea defender was subsequently charged and has until 16:00 BST on Thursday, 11 October to respond.

Cole's tweet came after his evidence to an independent FA commission - which found Terry guilty of racially insulting Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and QPR last season - was questioned.

As well as deleting the message, Cole soon issued an "unreserved apology" to the FA before his personal apology to Bernstein.

His statement read: "I was really upset and tweeted my feelings in the heat of the moment. I apologise unreservedly for my comment about the FA."

Former England captain Alan Shearer told the BBC at the weekend that Cole should be banned for Friday's World Cup qualifier against San Marino as a punishment.

Cole responded by retweeting a message which criticised Shearer.

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Red Cross to launch Spain appeal

9 October 2012 Last updated at 10:25 GMT More and more Spaniards rely on food hand-outs The Red Cross is to make its first ever public appeal in Spain to help those affected by the economic crisis.

It will ask Spanish people to donate money to help 300,000 of the most vulnerable people.

Before the crisis, it mainly helped immigrants but, with one in four adults out of work, more and more Spanish families rely on food hand-outs.

A campaign video shows a family with an all but empty fridge receiving a box of groceries from the Red Cross.

Continue reading the main story Tom Burridge BBC News, Madrid

The 10th of October is always Little Flag Day in Spain, when people wear a small white badge with a red cross and volunteers, and those working for the Red Cross collect money from people on the streets of Spanish cities.

The Spanish Red Cross says this is the first time they have launched a domestic appeal to raise money for Spanish families.

The 300,000 people the Red Cross wants to help represent a very small minority, who are living in difficult conditions as a result of the economic crisis.

However this is one of Spain's most recognised charities, known in the past for public appeals for disaster-hit or poverty-stricken countries abroad. And a campaign in Spain, to help Spanish people, is symbolic and will draw attention to the often invisible, social impact of the economic crisis.

On Wednesday, the organisation will announce its Dia de la Banderita (Little Flag Day) appeal in 30 of the country's provinces, El Pais newspaper reports.

The video shows a Spanish family - a father, son and daughter - sharing an omelette made from a single egg. Their mood lifts when the Red Cross box arrives.

The Spanish Red Cross is one of the country's most-recognised charities, previously best known for making public appeals for disaster-hit and poverty-stricken countries, the BBC's Madrid correspondent Tom Burridge reports.

It is warning of rising levels of inequality, which could lead to social unrest.

On Monday, the IMF forecast that Spain would miss its deficit targets in 2012 and 2013 due to a much bigger economic contraction than forecast by the Spanish government.

It predicted the economy would contract by 1.3% next year, compared to a government forecast of 0.5%.

It estimated that Spain's deficit would reach 7% of GDP in 2012 and 5.7% in 2013, compared with EU-agreed targets of 6.3% and 4.5%, respectively.

The country has the highest unemployment rate - 24.3% - in the EU, while 51.5% of young people are out of work.

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Pinter theatre hosts first Pinter

9 October 2012 Last updated at 13:15 GMT Scott Thomas (left) previously acted in Sir Harold Pinter's play Betrayal A theatre in London's West End is to present a play by Sir Harold Pinter for the first time since being renamed after the late English playwright.

The Harold Pinter Theatre, formerly the Comedy, will host a production of his 1971 work Old Times from 12 January.

The show will star Kristin Scott Thomas, who previously performed at the theatre in 2011 in an acclaimed staging of Sir Harold's 1978 play Betrayal.

Rufus Sewell and Lia Williams complete the cast of Ian Rickson's revival.

Lady Antonia Fraser, Sir Harold's widow, said it was "a dream come true" to have "this production in this theatre".

When it was still known as the Comedy, the Panton Street playhouse enjoyed a long association with the Nobel Prize-winning dramatist.

Williams previously trod its boards in a 2001 production of Pinter's The Homecoming, while the playwright appeared himself there in a 1995 staging of his play The Hothouse.

Set in a secluded farmhouse, the enigmatic Old Times sees three characters - Kate, Deeley and Anna - reminisce about their early days together in London.

Kristin Scott Thomas has been seen in UK cinemas this year in the films Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Bel Ami, In Your Hands and The Woman in the Fifth.

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VIDEO: One-minute World News

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ICC probes new match-fixing claim

The International Cricket Council has launched an "urgent investigation" into match-fixing allegations.

India TV has alleged six umpires were willing to fix World Twenty20 games ahead of the tournament in a programme broadcast on Monday.

"You have got to substantiate the allegations first. They've got to see the evidence and make a judgement on it. You have got to keep policing everything in cricket but it just seems ripe for people to get involved illegally and start betting scams."

Cricket's governing body has called on the broadcaster to hand over evidence that could help its investigation.

It said: "None of the umpires named were involved in any of the official games of the ICC World Twenty20."

India TV has alleged the umpires - whom it says are from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh - were willing to fix matches for money during the tournament, which was won by West Indies on Sunday.

However, a seventh umpire approached during the sting operation earlier in the summer declined to get involved, the station claimed.

In a statement responding to the programme's claims, the ICC said it was aware of the allegations and called on the station to "turn over any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations".

It added: "The ICC reiterates its zero tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. The ICC will not make any further comment on this issue."

The latest allegations come almost a year after Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed for their roles in a betting scam during a Test series against England in 2010.

Another Pakistani player, Danish Kaneria, was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board in June for corruption in a fixing case in English county cricket that also involved Mervyn Westfield.

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VIDEO: Mission to the 'edge of space'

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Police pursuing 120 Savile leads

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:29 GMT Police say there could be as many as 30 victims

Police investigating alleged sexual abuse of girls by the late Jimmy Savile are pursuing 120 separate lines of inquiry, Scotland Yard has said.

Commander Peter Spindler, head of specialist crime investigations, said police had recorded eight allegations against Sir Jimmy, including two rapes.

He later told the BBC there could be up to 30 victims, spanning four decades.

Police said it would be a joint inquiry with children's charity the NSPCC and it would be named Operation Yewtree.

During a press briefing at the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London, police said the alleged victims were mainly girls who were aged between 13 and 16 at the time.

Cdr Spindler said of the eight criminal allegations, six were alleged indecent assaults on young teenage girls.

He praised the alleged victims for "shining a light" on the abuse.

"Information is coming in as we speak probably," said Cdr Spindler.

"The reality is this really has captured the public's mind. We are getting calls from victims, from witnesses and third parties who believe they know something about it."

He said Sir Jimmy's pattern of offending behaviour appeared to be on "a national scale" and he had a "predilection for teenage girls".

Cdr Spindler said the first allegation dated back to about 1959 but most seemed to be in the 70s and 80s.

The briefing was told that a range of different names had been reported to police, as well as Sir Jimmy's.

Police 'assessment'

Cdr Spindler said police were not investigating the BBC.

But he said Scotland Yard had been in contact with ITV and the BBC to gather information. He said they were also contacting alleged victims the organisations have been talking to to see if they would co-operate.

Police said they had recorded eight allegations against Sir Jimmy

Asked if allegations related to any institutions other than those mentioned in previous claims - the BBC, Jersey children's home Haut de la Garenne, or Duncroft Approved School in Staines, Surrey - he said he had contacted Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Leeds Royal Infirmary.

Cdr Spindler said police wanted a swift conclusion to what he described as an "assessment" rather than an investigation.

He said it was being carried out by Scotland Yard and being led by its serious case team, which looks at complex and historical cases.

Seven staff are working on it, and this would be increased to 10 on Wednesday, he added.

Cdr Spindler said a provisional search of Scotland Yard's records could not find any record of any previous investigation into Sir Jimmy, and they were only aware of the previous involvement of Surrey Police.

The aim of the investigation is to produce a final joint report with the NSPCC, looking at the lessons learned and sharing the findings with other relevant agencies, he said.

Police hope to produce the report by the end of next month.

Peter Liver, of the NSPCC, said the charity had had 17 calls to its helpline directly related to the allegations.

'Comprehensive examination'

On Monday, chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, said any BBC inquiry would take place after the police investigation.

He said the corporation must "command credibility" in how it dealt with the allegations.

Earlier on Monday, BBC director general George Entwistle promised a "comprehensive examination" of allegations that Sir Jimmy abused girls while working for the corporation.

He also apologised to women involved "for what they've had to endure here".

Sir Jimmy died in October 2011, at the age of 84.

The face of Top of the Pops in the 1960s, he hosted TV favourite Jim'll Fix It on BBC 1 in the 1970s and 1980s and was knighted in 1990 for his charity work.

But recently allegations have emerged about serious sexual assaults on under-age girls at the height of his fame.

Some of the allegations - publicised in an ITV documentary - refer to incidents on BBC premises.

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Hammond set to discuss BAE merger

9 October 2012 Last updated at 13:51 GMT The government says British security and jobs must be preserved Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is to discuss a proposed merger between BAE and EADS with his French and German counterparts at a Nato meeting later.

The firms are deciding whether to ask for an extension to Wednesday's stock exchange deadline for them to announce whether the deal will go ahead.

The merger would create a powerful defence and aerospace giant.

EADS denied talks were set to collapse, saying France and the UK had made "significant progress" over key issues.

"We are surprised to see the reports from Berlin," said an EADS spokesman, following reports from the German news agency DPA that the talks had failed.

"The two companies will discuss the situation and possible steps forward this afternoon," he added.

On Monday, Mr Hammond said he did not think there was any chance the deal would be settled by the deadline.

The British and Americans are both insisting that the French and German governments reduce their stakes in EADS.

At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Monday night, a senior BAE Systems executive, Nigel Whitehead, made it clear he shared that goal and understood the need to ensure Britain's national security interests were protected.

On Monday, Mr Hammond said he did not think there was any chance of getting a deal done by the stock exchange deadline on Wednesday, but it was up to the two companies to decide whether to ask for an extension.

Meanwhile, BAE's largest shareholder, fund manager Invesco Perpetual, said on Monday that it had "significant reservations" about the proposed merger, and "does not understand the strategic logic" of the deal.

Invesco, which owns 13.3% of BAE, does not appear to be alone. More than 30% of the UK firm's shareholders have expressed qualms, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Defence markets

Ministers believe there are potential benefits to the merger which could open up new defence markets.

But unless they are satisfied that national security and the relationship with the US are protected, they could still block the deal.

The two companies announced they were in discussions over a possible merger on 12 September.

But since then both BAE and EADS, which is largely controlled by the French and German governments, have denied reports that the talks are in trouble.

On Friday evening, 45 Conservative MPs wrote to the prime minister voicing concerns over the planned deal, saying it would hand the bulk of Britain's defence industry to a company which would not safeguard UK interests.

Earlier, Chancellor George Osborne said the proposed $45bn (£28bn) merger must ensure British security and jobs are preserved.

EADS boss Tom Enders has previously urged politicians not to interfere in the proposed deal.

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Jordan appoints envoy to Israel

9 October 2012 Last updated at 13:58 GMT Jordan's King Abdullah has appointed a new ambassador to Israel, filling a post that has been vacant for two years, officials have said.

Walid Obeidat was sworn in by the king at a brief ceremony late on Monday.

Jordan's ambassador was not replaced in 2010 when his term expired, a move seen as a sign of frustration at the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Last week, Mr Obeidat was threatened by leaders of his tribe that he would be disowned if he accepted the post.

Unconfirmed media reports said they offered to nominate him as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections if he turned down the diplomatic appointment, and also that a wealthy member of the tribe promised him 5m Jordanian dinars ($7m; £4.4m).

"This tribe was and will remain loyal to its nation and will not reconcile with its enemies, in order to liberate all Palestinian land," a statement said.

"This tribe was among the first to warn against the dangers of the Zionist project in the 1920s," it added.

There was no immediate reaction from the tribe on Tuesday.

Jordan fought alongside other neighbouring Arab states in a series of military conflicts against Israel between 1948 and 1973, but in 1994 the two countries signed a peace treaty.

Mr Obeidat will present his credentials to Israeli President Shimon Perez in Jerusalem next week, according to the Jordanian embassy.

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Barclays to acquire ING Direct UK

9 October 2012 Last updated at 08:47 GMT Barclays will be taking on ING Direct's 1.5 million UK customers Barclays Bank has agreed to buy ING Direct UK, taking on its £10.9bn deposits and £5.6bn mortgage book.

The deal will involve the transfer of 750 ING Direct staff and 1.5 million customers to Barclays.

Dutch banking group ING announced it would exit UK retail banking in August, as it seeks funds to repay a bailout from the Dutch government in 2008.

Barclays said it would eventually integrate the ING customers into its existing UK retail business.

"We intend to maintain the high standard of service and honour the existing terms and conditions [customers] have experienced with ING Direct," said the head of Barclays' UK retail banking business, Ashok Vaswani.

ING said it would incur a 260m-euro ($335m; £210m) after-tax loss on the sale.

The loss was in part due to its agreement to sell its mortgages to Barclays at a price 3% below the level at which ING values them in its accounts.

The deal follows a similar sale by ING of its US business to credit card firm Capital One at the beginning of this year.

The Dutch bank, which has its head office in Reading, first launched its "ING Direct" online banking venture in the UK in 2003. It continues to operate similar ING Direct units in Australia and across much of Europe.

Competition

The withdrawal of ING from the UK will further increase the concentration of UK banking services into a small number of players.

It follows the emergency merger of Lloyds and Halifax Bank of Scotland in 2008 amid the financial crisis, as well as the acquisitions of Abbey, Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester by the Spanish bank Santander.

The government has sought to increase competition, with the sale of Northern Rock's depositors and branch network to Virgin Money.

In addition, as a condition of Lloyds buying Halifax Bank of Scotland, the EU forced Lloyds to sell 632 of its branches, which are now set to be bought by the Co-operative Bank.

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Zetas drugs lord 'may be dead'

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:05 GMT Heriberto Lazcano is one of the founders of Los Zetas Top Los Zetas drug cartel leader Heriberto Lazcano has apparently been killed in a shootout in northern Mexico, the navy says.

Officials said they were still awaiting final forensic results, but that the body appeared to be "El Lazca".

However, Mexican media later reported that the authorities may no longer be in possession of the corpse.

Lazcano is a founder of Los Zetas which has been implicated in a string of mass killings and kidnappings.

His death would be a victory in the fight against cartels, say analysts.

The state prosecutor of Coahuila state, where the shooting happened, is due to give a news conference at 15:00 GMT.

As the wait continued for confirmation of Lazcano's demise, Mexican media said that his body was reportedly missing.

The Milenio newspaper said that it seemed alleged family members had reclaimed his corpse, although it said other accounts suggested attackers had broken into the funeral home to steal the body.

Gang split

Mexican police believe a recent surge in mass killings is due to a split within the Zetas cartel.

Lazcano is thought to be the leader of one faction, while the other is led by Miguel Angel Trevino Morales.

In the nearly six years of Felipe Calderon's presidency, more than 50,000 people are believed to have died in violence blamed on organised crime.

Two alleged gang members were killed in a gun battle with the navy on Sunday in the region of Progreso, some 125km (80 miles) west of the Texan border in Coahuila state.

The navy said there was "strong evidence" one of the bodies was Lazcano.

"Information was obtained after the first forensics tests were carried out that yielded indications that suggest that one of the bodies is Heriberto Lazcano," the Associated Press quoted the navy's statement as saying.

Ivan Velazquez Caballero, known as El Taliban or Z50, was arrested last month

"The Navy Department is co-ordinating efforts with Coahuila state, and will be awaiting the conclusions of the forensics examination in the case," the statement said.

The navy has been at the forefront of operations against drug cartels.

Lazcano is suspected of involvement in hundreds of killings, including that of crusading newspaper editor Francisco Ortiz Franco in 2004.

The US had put up a $5m (£3.1m) reward and Mexico another $2.3m for information leading to Lazcano's capture.

On Monday the navy said it had arrested suspected regional Zetas leader, Salvador Alfonso Martinez Escobedo, who the navy says was behind the 2010 murder of 72 migrants in northern Tamaulipas state.

Officials say Escobedo works for Trevino Morales.

Trevino Morales, known as Z40, has a reputation for equal if not greater brutality than Lazcano and remains at large.

Police also recently arrested Ivan Velazquez Caballero, known as El Taliban or Z50.

He had reportedly been at war with Trevino Morales and was believed to have joined the rival Gulf Cartel.

Gulf Cartel head Jorge Costilla, alias "El Coss", was also captured last month.

Infamous for mass killings and use of extreme violence, the Zetas control key drug-trafficking routes in north-eastern Mexico.

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Syria intelligence complex bombed

9 October 2012 Last updated at 11:53 GMT Video footage taken by activists in Harasta, which could not be verified, showed a large explosion Rebels have carried out a suicide bomb attack overnight on an intelligence agency compound in a suburb of the Syrian capital, Damascus, reports say.

The al-Nusra Front, a jihadist militant group, said explosives-filled vehicles had been blown up outside the Air Force Intelligence complex in Harasta.

Residents said there were several huge blasts, followed by fierce clashes.

One activist group said dozens of people were killed and expressed fears for the fate of the agency's prisoners.

Human rights activists say hundreds of opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have been detained and tortured by Air Force Intelligence (AFI) across the country since the uprising began in March 2011.

AFI is seen by some as the elite agency of Syria's intelligence empire.

Though smaller than Military Intelligence, in the past it has played a leading role in operations against Islamist opposition groups, as well as covert actions abroad, and has a reputation for brutality.

'Citadel of repression' Continue reading the main story

The fate of hundreds of prisoners being held in the basements of the [Air Force Intelligence complex] is still unknown”

End Quote Rami Abdul Rahman Syrian Observatory for Human Rights A statement issued by the al-Nusra Front said it had targeted the AFI "because it is one of the most notorious security divisions, and a citadel of repression whose extent is known only to God".

The group, which has claimed to be behind a series of deadly bombings since January, said a vehicle packed with nine tonnes of explosives had been driven up to the AFI compound in Harasta and blown up.

Twenty-five minutes later, another al-Nusra Front fighter blew up a one-tonne bomb hidden inside an ambulance, targeting survivors, it added. The fighters then fired mortars at the complex, the statement said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group, reported that several large explosions had shaken homes overnight in Harasta, as well as in the nearby suburbs of Jobar and Qabun.

The blasts were followed by violent clashes in several parts of Harasta, with government forces firing heavy weapons and mortars, it added.

SOHR head Rami Abdul Rahman told the AFP news agency that dozens of people had been killed in the suicide attacks.

The al-Nusra Front has said it was behind many of the bombings that have rocked Syria this year

"The fate of hundreds of prisoners being held in the basements of the [security complex] is still unknown," he added. "The regime has not said a word about what happened last night."

The SOHR is one of the most prominent organisations documenting and reporting incidents and casualties in the Syrian conflict. The group says its reports are impartial, though its information cannot be verified.

A Syrian official told the Associated Press that a suicide bomber had detonated a car bomb near the AFI complex, while pro-government al-Ikhbariya TV reported that the blast was followed by clashes.

'Unbearable' conflict

Elsewhere on Tuesday, government forces continued to attack rebel strongholds in the central city of Homs.

State TV reported that soldiers had secured large parts of the Khalidiya district and were now "pursuing the remnants of the terrorists".

Military aircraft and artillery have been targeting the Homs district of Khalidiya

News of the violence came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the Syrian government to immediately declare a unilateral ceasefire, and the opposition to abide by it.

"It is unbearable for the Syrian people to continue like this," he told a joint news conference in Paris with French President Francois Hollande.

Mr Ban also called on countries to stop supplying weapons to both sides.

On Monday, the BBC found evidence that weapons intended for the Saudi military have been found at a base used by Syrian rebels.

The BBC's Ian Pannell saw crates from a Ukrainian arms manufacturer - addressed to Saudi Arabia - at a rebel camp in the city of Aleppo.

Meanwhile, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said the alliance has "all necessary plans in place to protect and defend Turkey if necessary", amid escalating tensions on its border with Syria.

Turkish and Syrian government forces have been exchanging artillery fire since Syrian shells killed five Turkish civilians last week.

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Sandusky jailed for US sex abuse

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:33 GMT Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Bellefonte, Pennsylvania courthouse

Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing young boys for more than a decade, US media reports say.

The sentence, issued by Centre County Judge John Cleland, means Sandusky, 68, is likely to die in prison.

The former coach was convicted of 45 counts of molesting boys in June.

His November 2011 arrest triggered a crisis at the US university famed for its football programme.

He appeared at the Tuesday hearing at the Pennsylvania courthouse wearing a red prison jumpsuit and with his wrists shackled.

His lawyers said that Sandusky plans to appeal.

Before the hearing, in a recording released to a Penn State campus radio station on Monday, he proclaimed his innocence.

"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart," Sandusky said.

"In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged, disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner and that was after marriage. Our love continues."

He was expected to repeat his claims of innocence during the hearing on Tuesday. The court was also expected to hear from some of Sandusky's victims and their families.

Some his friends and family members have written letters in support of him to the judge, and the disgraced former coach's wife, Dottie, was expected to attend the hearing.

Decade-long abuse

In June, Sandusky was convicted on 45 out of 48 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years.

He molested boys he met through the Second Mile, a charity he founded for at-risk youth. The trial heard that the boys were abused at Sandusky's home, in hotels and at Penn State athletic facilities.

Eight men aged between 18 and 28 testified during the nearly two-week trial, providing graphic details of their ordeals.

In addition, two Penn State administrators are awaiting trial for failing to report the suspected abuse and lying to a grand jury.

Penn State had boasted one of the proudest college football traditions in the US. In the aftermath of Sandusky's arrest, the institution's president and legendary football coach Joe Paterno were both fired, and many results were ruled invalid.

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Syrians caught in a no-man's land

8 October 2012 Last updated at 21:55 GMT By Ian Pannell BBC News, Aleppo The streets of Aleppo, damaged by heavy shelling

"We are dead." It was a terrifyingly simple assessment of the grim reality for Aleppo's residents.

Abu Stayf says he has lost his wife and six children; they were all killed when a rocket landed on his house.

Yet he refuses to leave. He sleeps in an abandoned basement on a street where rotting rubbish piles up and rubble from shelled buildings spills across the pavement.

Caught in a no-man's land between government forces and rebel fighters, he asks: "Where should I go? You'll die wherever you go. Our homes have been destroyed, our children are dead and we have no-one left."

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Bashar al-Assad is killing us even though we worshipped him and his family for 42 years”

End Quote Abu Stayf Aleppo resident The bakery just down the road was the target of a government attack a few weeks ago in which 20 people died, according to activists.

It was the final straw for many of the residents and most of them have now fled.

But Abu Stayf won't leave. He sits on a vinyl-covered chair with two friends while artillery shells crash in neighbouring streets; the sound and fury of gun battles breaking bouts of pregnant silence.

"We have no food, no water, no electricity. There is shelling every day, bombardment every day," he says.

'Between two fires'

Abu Stayf lives on the edge of the historic old city. With the medieval citadel at its heart, the Unesco World Heritage Site used to draw thousands of tourists to Aleppo every year.

Today, it is one of many neighbourhoods that are being fought over in a vicious civil war that pitches the government of President Bashar al-Assad against the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Some of the residents who have stayed behind are unhappy with both sides. One man who did not want to give his name said: "We are between two fires, wherever the FSA goes they are a target for the regime."

Most like Abu Stayf reserve their harshest criticism for their president.

"The FSA is providing us with food, water and electricity. Bashar al-Assad is killing us; he's destroying our houses even though we worshipped him and his family for 42 years".

The makeshift refugee camps often only have a handful of toilets for thousands of people

Whichever side they support, civilians have long borne the brunt of a conflict they did not choose and that no-one seems capable of stopping.

The city's hospitals are a grisly testament to an indiscriminate campaign of shelling by the Syrian army.

Many of those who decided to leave Aleppo have been given rooms with family and friends elsewhere in the province.

But even here they are not truly safe, as rural areas face daily attacks from government helicopters, fighter jets and artillery.

Forlorn and forgotten

Thousands of families have made their way to the border with Turkey.

For many months Ankara opened its arms to those fleeing, but in the last few weeks the gates have remained largely closed and the olive groves and buildings around the border have now become a makeshift camp.

Misery haunts those trapped here. Some complain that they have been camped out for weeks with no washing facilities and only a handful of toilets for thousands of people. They are the forlorn and the forgotten.

"We are refugees, we have our rights. Even if we are animals, we have rights," said one man who wanted to remain anonymous.

Like many here, he is angry at what he sees as the indifference of the international community and he demands to know: "Where is the world and the relief organisations?"

Many Syrians, fighters and civilians, ask the same question.

The FSA recently announced the start of a decisive battle for Aleppo. President Assad has vowed to crush them.

In truth, each side has made small advances and concessions in the last few weeks, but neither is winning.

There are only losers - the dead, the wounded and the displaced - as Syria's descent into chaos goes unchecked.

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TV's Collins guilty of harassment

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:30 GMT Collins verbally abused and physically assaulted his former lover Anna Larke TV personality Justin Lee Collins has been sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work for harassing his former partner Anna Larke.

Collins, 38, of Kew, south-west London, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of harassment causing fear of violence between January and July 2011.

The court heard Collins began a "campaign of abuse", keeping a dossier of Ms Larke's past sexual experiences.

After the hearing Ms Larke said she was "absolutely ecstatic" at the verdict.

Justice John Plumstead ordered Collins to carry out the unpaid work within 18 months and told him to pay £3,500 in prosecution costs.

Sentencing Collins, Judge Plumstead said it had not been a "run of the mill case of domestic violence".

"This is a serious matter and any violence within a relationship, where people should be able to rely on each other, is a breach of trust," the judge said.

Telling the star that he did not think a financial penalty would "meet the bill", he said the community order would be "humble work" for the star.

"It's intended to make you pause and think about what you have done," the judge told Collins.

A jury heard Collins subjected the video games public relations worker, from Pirton near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, to sustained emotional and domestic abuse during their seven-month relationship.

'Lies of abuser'

The court was told that Collins made her sleep facing him, throw away DVDs because they featured actors she found attractive and made death threats against her.

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We are absolutely ecstatic with the verdict and are relieved the jury were able to see through the lies of an abuser.”

End Quote Anna Larke The entertainer and presenter had denied the charge, claiming Ms Larke was a compulsive liar.

The verdict was returned after nearly 12 hours of deliberation over three days.

The couple lived together in Kew from January to July last year and had a deeply troubled relationship as Ms Larke tried to overcome alcoholism.

Collins did not show any emotion as the verdict was announced.

Outside court, Ms Larke and her family said in a statement: "We are absolutely ecstatic with the verdict and are relieved the jury were able to see through the lies of an abuser.

"We will not rest on our laurels in the wake of this good news and intend to go out into the world and use this experience to empower women to stand up to domestic abuse.

"We will also be campaigning to have emotional abuse properly recognised in law and do our utmost to end the much reported culture of celebrities using their positions to abuse people without fear of reprisal."

Anna Larke had a seven-month relationship with Mr Collins

She thanked police and prosecutors for their "brilliance throughout" and the general public for their "unwavering support and belief".

Det Insp Justine Jenkins, who led the investigation, said: "No-one should endure this sort of violent behaviour from anyone, least of all from someone with whom they have an intimate relationship.

"I hope the outcome serves as a warning to anyone who thinks it is ok to treat another person in this manner."

Baljit Ubhey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said there was evidence that Collins subjected Larke to "physical, psychological and verbal abuse".

Collins' agent said: "Given the verdict, we will not be putting out a statement at this time."

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Man arrested over Rothko damage

9 October 2012 Last updated at 09:36 GMT A photo of the defaced painting was posted on social media website Twitter A man has been arrested in connection with the defacement of a Mark Rothko painting at the Tate Modern in London.

The 26-year-old was held in Worthing by Sussex Police at about 21:00 BST on suspicion of causing criminal damage, the Metropolitan (Met) Police said.

Earlier a Russian man named Vladimir Umanets who has claimed responsibility for defacing the artwork told the BBC: "I'm not a vandal."

The BBC understands the arrested man is Mr Umanets.

He was due to be taken to London overnight for questioning by detectives from the Met.

Words were scribbled with black paint on the painting, Black on Maroon, on Sunday.

The artwork is one of Rothko's Seagram murals.

Speaking to the BBC before the arrest, Mr Umanets, founder of a movement he calls Yellowism, claimed to be responsible but denied his actions were criminal damage.

He said he was a big fan of the artist and added: "Art allows us to take what someone's done and put a new message on it."

Works by the modernist US painter have sold for tens of millions of pounds.

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VIDEO: Protests greet Merkel in Athens

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VIDEO: Rare turtle fossil found in landfill

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PM: UK economy 'slowly healing'

9 October 2012 Last updated at 09:47 GMT David Cameron: "We need to make sure that every part of plan A is firing on all cylinders"

The UK is going through a "slow and difficult healing process" as it rebalances its economy, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

His comments came as the International Monetary Fund said it now expected the UK economy to shrink by 0.4% this year.

Mr Cameron said the government was doing "everything it can" to encourage growth in difficult economic times.

He said they had cut the budget deficit by a quarter in two years and there were "positive signs" for the future.

According to the IMF the prospects for the global economic recovery have weakened as government policies across the world have failed to restore confidence.

The fund has downgraded its overall estimate for global growth, with one of the biggest individual country downgrades applied to the UK.

'Progress'

The IMF now expects the British economy to shrink by 0.4% this year, compared with its forecast of 0.2% growth in July.

David Cameron, who is in Birmingham for his party's annual conference, defended his government's economic strategy and said there were "positive signs" the UK economy was changing.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, he said: "What is happening in Britain is a rebalancing of our economy.

"We need more private sector growth, we need a smaller public sector, we need to make more, sell more overseas and manufacture more.

"It's a slow and difficult healing process, but it is taking place."

On government prospects for cutting the budget deficit, Mr Cameron said the government was "on the right track".

"People are very understanding of the difficult inheritance we had - a record budget deficit, the biggest of anywhere in the developed world," he said.

"The deficit is down by one quarter in two years. It was 11% of GDP when we came to power- it's now 8%. That is progress."

Latest forecasts Previous forecasts (July)

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook

He refused to comment on suggestions that figures expected in the chancellor's autumn statement in December will show the deficit has increased this year.

"We don't have those figures yet. We have to wait until the end of the year to see what the deficit is.

"It's wrong to take one month's figures or make a judgement half-way through the year."

In response to the IMF downgrade, the Treasury highlighted the fact that the IMF had "repeated its advice that the first line of defence against [slowing growth] should be to allow the automatic stabilisers to operate, monetary policy easing and measures to ease the flow of credit - all of which the UK is doing".

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