Deadly market bomb hits Iraq city

Deadly market bomb hits Iraq city

At least 15 people have been killed in a car bomb at a market place in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, officials say.

It came as US troops completed their withdrawal from towns and cities in Iraq, six years after the invasion.

Iraqi and US troops are on alert for insurgent attacks during the pullback, which was declared a national holiday.

Ten days ago more than 70 people were killed in a truck bombing in Kirkuk – the deadliest attack in over a year.

Kirkuk, about 250km (155 miles) from Baghdad, was also the scene of two suicide bombings last month, in which 14 people were killed.

The city is the centre of northern Iraq’s oil industry, and home to a volatile mix of Kurds, Arabs, Christians and members of the Turkmen community.

Sunni insurgents and groups including al-Qaeda remain active in the area despite security improvements in other parts of the country, correspondents say.</p

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Fraudster Madoff gets 150 years

Fraudster Madoff gets 150 years

<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45343000/gif/_45343195_breaking_226×170.gif" align="left" width="226" height="170" alt="breaking news” border=”0″ vspace=”4″ hspace=”4″>

Bernard Madoff has been given a prison sentence of 150 years for masterminding a massive fraud that robbed investors of $65bn (£40bn).

US District Judge Denny Chin is sentencing Madoff on 11 charges, including securities fraud and money laundering. </p

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Scientists attack energy industry

Scientists attack energy industry
By Roger Harrabin
BBC Environment Analyst

Britain’s energy systems are no longer fit for purpose, according to leading members of the UK’s best-known scientific academy, the Royal Society.

A meeting of experts at the society said the government must invest hugely to create a new low-carbon economy.

And it must take on the big generating companies who dominate energy policy, participants said.

The government says the key issues on energy will be addressed in its forthcoming energy White Paper.

Electricity ’supergrid’

The experts say ministers must make up lost time by investing massively in research and deployment of renewables; creating a more wide-ranging electricity ’supergrid’; and ensuring that coal-fired power stations capture 90% of their carbon emissions by 2020.

One leading member of the society said privately that the government’s performance on carbon capture so far had been pathetic – although would agree that criticism should not be confined to the UK.

"We can either heat our homes and have hot baths, or fly but not both"

Lord Redesdale

The meeting agreed that failure to develop renewables in time meant that the UK must continue to rely on nuclear power – even though questions over waste and security were unresolved.

First priority on the society’s action list is a big push on energy efficiency in existing homes, taking advantage of the latest technologies.

The call is echoed by the all-party parliamentary climate change group, which is set to insist that landlords should be prevented from letting homes which waste energy.

White Paper

The group’s vice-chairman, Lord Redesdale, said the UK would never reach its climate change targets unless it radically improved policies on existing homes.

He said: "A billion tonnes will have failed to be saved from domestic carbon emissions and this is equivalent to the CO2 pollution from Britain’s aviation sector over the next 25 years.

"We can either heat our homes and have hot baths, or fly but not both. There really does need to be much tougher policies on reducing carbon emissions from the homes."

‘URGENT RESEARCH NEEDS’

• Safe nuclear waste disposal
• Renewable energy
• Bioenergy – from cellulosic crops or algae
• Energy storage
• Nuclear fusion

The government says many of the issues will be addressed in its energy White Paper – although to the frustration of ministers in the energy and environment departments, the Treasury has blocked whole scale investment in home refurbishment until after 2012.

Ministers argue that their policy on carbon capture and storage is ahead of any other major nation – calling for four demonstration projects and insisting that new coal-fired power stations should capture a percentage of their emissions until the technology is fully proven.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said the UK had made major strides recently on energy and climate change.

He listed The Climate Change Act, carbon budgets, and leadership for the Copenhagen climate summit – including the Prime Minister’s suggestion last week that rich nations should transfer $100bn-a-year to poor nations to help with climate change.</p

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Chinese chukkas

Chinese chukkas

By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Shanghai

China’s economic development in recent years has created an ever growing class of entrepreneurs and business people who have made their fortunes.

Now a pastime that some argue started in the country 1,800 years ago only to die out during the Cultural Revolution is making a comeback for the moneyed classes.

In an immaculately tended field in Zhejiang province an unusual event is getting underway.

It is unusual, because for years the game of polo was seen as a deeply suspect pastime of the capitalist classes.

But the sport of kings is making a comeback.

‘Fashion statement’

The day starts with dragon dancers. Many, but by no means all, in the crowd are in their finery.

This is definitely an event for the well-heeled though.

"For a certain person who has bought the big house, the fast cars… there is a point when you think what else can I spend my money on"

Gene Wang

The matches are raising money for Shanghai charities.

Gene Wang is a Shanghainese polo player.

He is a former financial trader who says at the moment he is more interested in "fun" than "work".

An amateur, Mr Wang is typical of the new generation of wealthy players taking up the sport here.

"For a certain type of person, who has bought the big house, the fast cars, the designer labels, who has the mistresses, there is a point when you think, what else can I spend my money on"

He is careful to make clear though, he does not see himself as quite in that bracket, but he does think, for China’s richest, polo is becoming "a fashion statement".

Gene and another Chinese player are paired up with two more experienced team-mates from overseas.

They saddle up and tear off across the grass in front of the marquees.

Gene’s training (three times a week for several months) appears to have paid off. Within minutes he has scored.

On the sidelines watching the matches is Liang Shangyan, a Chinese entrepreneur, one of the first women to take up the sport in China.

"Those who are playing polo are the first generation of the country’s rich people," she explains.

"They are investing in the sport and polo will be popular in China very soon. You can see today that we have the first Chinese team that can compete with their world-class rivals," she says.

That is perhaps a little over-optimistic.

The Chinese players are keen, but helped a lot by the professionals brought in to train them and play alongside them – experts like Tom Crater, an American.

"I cannot believe how fast polo is developing in China," he says.

"I also play in Thailand and Indonesia, and the rate of Chinese people coming and showing interest in the game and learning the game is phenomenal for me," Mr Crater continues.

Mysterious traditions

Polo of course is not just about what happens on the pitch.

In the VIP tent the champagne is flowing freely. The first generation of Chinese people to get rich spent most of their time making money and now they want to enjoy themselves, to appreciate the finer things in life.

The founder of the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club, today’s host in fact, is Steve Wyatt. He says in China polo is becoming the perfect way to show you have made it.

"It is hats, beautiful dresses, finest champagne, whisky and people looking at the best cars," he explains.

"That is completely opposite to the horsey set you might find in Europe."

Some polo traditions are respected, like treading in the divots (the pieces of turf cut out of the ground by horses’ hooves) at half time.

A loudspeaker announcement invites the spectators on to the pitch to replace the turf that has been disturbed, but the commentators have to spell out to people what to do.

It is a reminder that this is still a pastime that is something of a mystery for the moneyed classes here.

However, the organisers of this event say this is a glimpse of the future of the sport worldwide – polo, you might say, with Chinese characteristics.

There is no snobbery.

Anyone can take part. As long, that is, as they have got enough money.</p

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Dark tales

Dark tales

By Swaminathan Natarajan
BBC Tamil service, Ambepussa

At a camp situated on top of a hill overlooking scenic rubber and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka, more than 100 former Tamil Tiger child soldiers are undergoing a year-long rehabilitation course.

Bala, who is now 17 years old, was one of the child soldiers who swelled the ranks of the feared Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"LTTE cadres took me away when I was 13. First I found it hard to carry the rifle. Then I got used to it. I went to the frontline and fired at the troops," he said.

He has not seen his parents since he joined the LTTE and hopes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will help him find them.

‘Scared’

The camp is one of three camps set up by the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate nearly 300 child soldiers and integrate them into society.

The protective accommodation and rehabilitation centre in Ambepussa – located near the capital Colombo – provides an ideal setting for rejuvenating young minds.

Although the camp is surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by the army, the the inmates say the atmosphere inside is more like a hostel.

Most of the inmates of this camp are between 18 and 20. Many say the LTTE took them by force.

"They took me away from my home and gave me military training. When they told me to go to the frontline, I got scared and refused to go. They got angry and beat me so badly. Blood came out of my nose and mouth. Then I went to the battle fearing the punishment," said Kala, who is 17 but went into battle when she was 16.

She escaped with thousands of civilians during the third week of April.

"I saw a father trying to stop his son being taken away by LTTE cadres – but they shot him down and took his son away"

Former Tamil Tiger rebel

Trying to escape from the ranks of the LTTE can be fatal. The group undertook suicide bombings with pride and encouraged its cadres to swallow cyanide rather than surrender.

"During my training a boy and a girl tried to escape. They were caught and shot before the others," another girl recalls.

During the last few weeks of war it seems the LTTE wanted everyone to fight the advancing Sri Lankan army. Even the children of serving LTTE cadres were not spared.

"My mother was with the Sea Tigers and my father served in the LTTE’s Charles Antony Regiment. Still they took me for training.

"When my father saw me in the frontline, he asked me to run away and surrender. I did that. I came to know that my mother is in a detention centre. I hope my father is alive," says Sevlam.

"I saw a father trying to stop his son being taken away by the LTTE cadres. But they shot him down and took his son away," another young man says.

There are many such dark tales from these children who escaped the clutches of LTTE. For them, life in the camp seems good after having lived in stressful conditions in LTTE controlled areas.

Not everybody was forcibly recruited.

Suresh, in his early 20s, said he joined the LTTE voluntarily. "Our leader Prabhakaran is a good man. I still believe he is alive. I think the second rung of leaders who wanted to enjoy power and money were responsible for child recruitment and other excesses," he says.

Sinhala lessons

They live in a dormitory accommodation. The rooms have huge glass windows opening into a picturesque valley below. They are allowed to play games and watch television.

Compared to the male inmates, the women talked more about their families and showed signs of home sickness. But no one made any complaint about the facilities here.

"We suffered a lot. Every day there was heavy shelling. We had very little to eat," said Mary, another former child soldier.

"Here we get good food. We also learn new skills."

She says her parents and brothers were killed in an air raid and she has no relatives in Sri Lanka. "I want to be a teacher. After I get released from here, I will go to India where some of my relatives are living," she said.

Most of the child soldiers are school drop-outs. They are taught skills like plumbing, electrical works and cooking to make them employable.

They attend English and Sinhala classes. But so far they have not found a teacher to teach them in the language they can understand. For the moment, the few inmates who are well versed in Sinhala act as translators.

"Now that we have found a Tamil teacher in the immediate area, we will soon start Tamil reading and writing classes," says Dr Hiranthi Wijemanne, consultant to the commissioner of rehabilitation.

The former soldiers are allowed to write letters. Their relatives can send money to them. But they cannot go out.

The camp inmates looked relaxed while talking to reporters. They said they were not coached to talk to the media.

The Sri Lankan government says over 9,000 LTTE cadres have surrendered to the army and are kept in various camps. Yet they have not disclosed the names of the people who are in their custody.

Officials hope that these former fighters would be able to integrate into society after the year-long course.

But not all are confident of going back. Some fear they could be killed by rival Tamil groups if they go back.

Their full rehabilitation will be a long and painstaking process.

The names of the child soldiers have been changed to protect their identities.</p

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British man details torture claim

British man details torture claim
By Naresh Puri and Dominic Casciani
BBC News home affairs team

A British man who has accused the government of collusion in his alleged torture in Bangladesh has spoken for the first time.

Jamil Rahman, who is suing the Home office, says he believes MI5 were responsible for his arrest in 2005.

He claims Bangladeshi officers beat him and threatened to rape his wife if he did not confess to being a terrorist.

The BBC cannot verify the claims and the Home Office says it does not condone torture or its use abroad.

In his first interview since launching a legal action against the government, Mr Rahman told the BBC that he was arrested in Bangladesh in December 2005 by the DGFI intelligence agency.

The former civil servant from south Wales had emigrated earlier that year to marry.

Mr Rahman said he believed that two MI5 officers called Liam and Andrew directed his arrest and were aware that he was subsequently subjected to physical and mental abuse.

He was initially held for three weeks before being released. His alleged mistreatment continued at sporadic interviews for another two years.

Speaking for the first time about the alleged abuse, Mr Rahman said that Bangladeshi officers assaulted him after he was taken to an interrogation centre.

"They stripped me naked and said that if I didn’t say what they wanted me to say, they would rape me and my wife and burn her and other family members.

"They told me to say I was al-Qaeda and the organiser of the 7/7 [London suicide] bombings."

"It was all to do with the British … Even the Bengali intelligence officer told me that they didn’t know anything about me, that they were only doing this for the British"

Jamil Rahman

The 31-year-old told the BBC that two British men would question him separately. He later concluded they were the same balaclava-wearing men to whom Bangladeshi officers turned to for orders during his arrest.

"The first time [they interviewed me] they tried to be friendly, they came in trying to show they were my friends, calm and relaxed, nothing wrong. I tried to demonstrate my innocence – I thought this is wrong, because they were British I might get some justice.

"But they just said ‘they had not done a good job on you’ we need a ten minute break. The DGFI guys would take me to a room and beat me."

Surveillance pictures

Mr Rahman says that he was questioned about bomb plots and shown scores of surveillance pictures taken in the UK.

"They were questioning me on the July 7 bombings, showing me pictures of the bombers. I didn’t even know who they were. They showed me hundreds of pictures. Black, white, Chinese, bearded non-bearded, woman, man, young and old. Every time, they came for a new session, same pictures with new ones.

"They showed me maps, terrains of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, UK, they asked me to draw things out and write names next to pictures.

"The main thing they wanted me to be is a witness against another British man in Bangladesh. They pressured me so much to be a witness against this guy in court.

"We firmly reject any suggestion that we torture people or ask others to do so on our behalf – Mr Rahman has made a lot of unsubstantiated allegations."

Home Office

"They threatened my family. [The MI5 officers] they go to me: ‘In the UK, gas leaks happen, if your family house had a gas leak and everyone got burnt, there’s no problems, we can do that easily.

"It was all to do with the British," he said. "Even the Bengali intelligence officer told me that they didn’t know anything about me, that they were only doing this for the British."

Mr Rahman admits that he attended meetings in the UK of the radical Islamist group, al-Muhajiroun, but that he rejected their ideology before his emigration for marriage.

In a statement, the Home office said it would respond vigorously to any action that Mr Rahman brings.

"We firmly reject any suggestion that we torture people or ask others to do so on our behalf. Mr Rahman has made a lot of unsubstantiated allegations. They have not been evidenced in any court of law."

The Bangladeshi government has not answered BBC requests for a response to Mr Rahman’s allegations.

At least seven former detainees are now alleging British collusion in their mistreatment abroad. Their cases list 19 alleged officers – although it’s not clear whether they are all separate people because of the use of pseudonyms. </p

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Missing Claudia’s honour defended

Missing Claudia’s honour defended

A friend of Claudia Lawrence has dismissed claims that the missing York woman could have had affairs with up to 40 married men.

Suzy Cooper said reports about 35-year-old Ms Lawrence’s private life were "wholly inaccurate".

Ms Cooper, who has known the University of York chef for about two years, said she was speaking out for her friend who was "unable to defend herself".

Ms Lawrence has been missing since leaving work 18 March.

‘Crime victim’

Police are treating her disappearance as suspected murder.

Ms Cooper said of her friend: "She is happy, funny, extremely caring, and would never wish harm on anyone.

"She may have had a couple of affairs in her 35 years but this should not detract from the kind, loyal, and loving person she is.

"The allegations that she has had 30 to 40 affairs with married men are wholly inaccurate."

Ms Cooper added: "It should not be forgotten that Claudia has neither committed a crime, nor has she invited this speculation about her life.

"It is my absolute belief that she has been taken by someone – it is therefore she who is the victim of a crime and she does not deserve to have her character judged and disrespected in this way."</p

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Bercow faces first day as Speaker

Bercow faces first day as Speaker

Tory MP John Bercow will get down to work chairing Commons proceedings after being elected Speaker of the House.

Mr Bercow got 322 votes to fellow Tory Sir George Young’s 271 in the third and final round of secret voting.

Gordon Brown and opposition leaders welcomed the appointment of Mr Bercow, who stood on a platform of reform and pledged to heal public "anger".

However, he is unpopular among some in his party who feel the ex-right winger has become too close to New Labour.

It is believed some Conservative MPs hope to be able to mount a challenge to unseat him after the next election.

First challenge

Mr Bercow will be in the chair for business in the Commons on Tuesday.

BBC News political correspondent Carole Walker says his first challenge will be to establish his authority over the House.

Mr Bercow was elected on a platform of radical reform, declaring himself the "clean break candidate".

"I continue to believe the vast majority of members of this House are upright, decent, honourable people"

John Bercow

Profile: John Bercow

How runners and riders fared

Bercow speech in full

Analysis: Bercow’s battles ahead

Our correspondent says Mr Bercow will be under pressure to deliver on his promises and help put in place new procedures and systems to restore public trust in Parliament.

Mr Bercow is a passionate, maverick figure who has undergone a remarkable political journey, she added.

Once a right-wing Thatcherite, he became an outspoken social liberal who fended off rumours he might defect to the Labour Party.

He won the support of many Labour MPs, who are convinced he will stand up to Conservative leader David Cameron, but there was a marked lack of applause from the Tory benches.

Mr Bercow’s election was given royal approval in a traditional Parliamentary ceremony on Monday night.

‘Upright and decent’

Buckingham MP Mr Bercow beat nine other candidates, including Labour’s Margaret Beckett and Tory veteran Ann Widdecombe, to be named 157th Speaker.

He replaces Michael Martin who quit after nine years amid the furore over MPs’ expenses.

After the result was announced, Mr Bercow was dragged to the chair, a tradition for the new Speaker, congratulated his nine rivals and told MPs it was the "greatest honour" of his political life.

He said MPs felt "very sore and very vulnerable" in the wake of the expenses scandal but added "large sections of the public also feel angry and disappointed".

"We do have to reform but I just want to say that I continue to believe that the vast majority of members of this House are upright, decent, honourable people who have come into politics, not to feather their nests, but because they have heeded the call of public service," he said.

Topped voting

He was welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg in short speeches in the Commons chamber.

But Mr Bercow previously angered many Tories when he agreed to act as an adviser to Gordon Brown on support for children with learning difficulties.

Mr Bercow and Sir George Young topped the first two rounds of voting with 179 votes and 112 respectively in the first round, 221 to 174 in the second and 322 to 271 in the final round.

The new Speaker formally took up the role in an "approbation" ceremony – the process of royal approval in the Lords chamber.

His predecessor Michael Martin became the first Speaker to be forced from office in modern times following widespread public anger at the number of MPs who were seen to take advantage of the Commons’ expenses rules.</p

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Great white sharks display ruthless hunting tactics

Great white sharks display ruthless hunting tactics
Great white sharks use a premeditated hunting strategy akin to that used by some human serial killers, researchers say.

Australia PM escalates car spat

Australia PM escalates car spat

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has challenged the opposition to prove claims that he abused his position to help a friend’s car-dealing business.

Mr Rudd said opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull must resign if he fails to produce an e-mail on which the claims are based by Monday afternoon.

Mr Turnbull has called for the prime minister to stand down, accusing him of lying to parliament over the issue.

Analysts say it is the biggest test of Mr Rudd has faced since he was elected.

The row has been brewing for weeks, since it emerged that car dealer John Grant lent a car to Mr Rudd for use in his constituency.

Mr Grant is a friend and neighbour of the prime minister, and opposition politicians believe Mr Rudd tried to help him secure money from a Treasury fund called OzCar to help his business.

Rudd warning

On Friday Treasury official Godwin Grech told a Senate committee he thought he could remember receiving an e-mail regarding funding for the car salesman.

An e-mail then surfaced in Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper purporting to contain that exact request from the prime minister’s office.

"Hi Godwin, the PM has asked if the car dealer financing vehicle is available to assist a Queensland dealership, John Grant Motors, who seems to be having trouble getting finance," the alleged e-mail said.

"If you can follow up on this Asap that would be very useful."

Mr Rudd, however, says the e-mail is fake and has asked the police to investigate.

He also issued a stark warning to the leader of the opposition.

"If when parliament resumes in 24 hours Mr Turnbull fails to produce this e-mail, this e-mail upon which his entire case against the government is based, for authentication, he has no alternative but to stand in the parliament, apologise and to resign," he said.

Mr Rudd and his Treasurer Wayne Swan have both denied in parliament trying to help Mr Grant obtain funds.

Mr Turnbull said they both misled parliament and have to quit.</p

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