Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, goes back to work

Dr Murray has denied he caused Michael Jackson's death

Michael Jackson's former doctor, who is facing a manslaughter charge following the singer's death last June, has returned to work in Nevada.

Dr Conrad Murray was bailed for $75,000 (£48,000) after pleading not guilty to "unlawfully" killing the star, at a court in Los Angeles earlier this week.

If convicted he may face four years in jail. He is due back in court in April.

Dr Murray's lawyer, Edward Chernoff, has stressed the 56-year-old intends "to keep practising medicine".

Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for Dr Murray and Mr Chernoff, said the doctor was making arrangements to work out of another physician's office in Las Vegas, having closed his own premises in the city last August.

"We're not sharing the location because the doctor's primary concern is for his patients' privacy," said Sevcik.

Under the terms of his bail, Dr Murray is allowed to continue to practise medicine, but cannot use certain drugs.

Judge Keith Schwartz told Dr Murray on Monday: "You may not under any circumstances use any anaesthetic agents, specifically Propofol.

Dr Murray, a cardiologist, continues to operate his other practice in Houston, having resumed work there in November.

He is licensed to practise medicine in Nevada, Texas and California, although the California Medical Board is preparing to seek removal of his licence there.

Insomnia

Jackson died at his home on 25 June last year at the age of 50. His death was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by the anaesthetic Propofol.

Dr Murray had been hired to be Jackson's personal physician last spring as the singer prepared for his comeback concerts in London.

He told police he had been giving Jackson Propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, according to an affidavit made public in August.

But he has always maintained he neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed the singer.

Prosecutors had filed one count of involuntary manslaughter.

A hearing has been set for 5 April in Los Angeles.

Indonesia jails former corruption chief over murder

Antasari Azhar said the case was revenge for his anti-corruption work

Former Indonesian corruption chief Antasari Azhar has been jailed for 18 years for murder.

Azhar was convicted of ordering the murder of wealthy businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen last year over an alleged love triangle with a female golf caddy.

Prosecutors had called for the death sentence for Azhar in a trial that gripped the country.

Azhar said he was innocent and the charge had been revenge for his work unveiling corruption among officials.

Judge Herri Swantoro told the packed Jakarta court room Azhar was guilty of "participating in persuading the carrying out of a premeditated murder".

He said the sentence was "not intended as revenge, but to make the defendant aware of his mistakes".

Azhar, 56, said he respected the court's verdict but that "as a citizen and law-enforcer" he intended to appeal against it, the AFP news agency reported.

Azhar's lawyer said the court had ignored evidence and based the verdict on police documents alone.

"The verdict did not touch on the evidence. For us, this trial was just a formality," the Associated Press news agency quoted Juniver Girsang as saying.

In a separate trial on Thursday, senior police officer Williardi Wizar was jailed for 12 years for recruiting the five men who carried out the killing - currently serving sentences of up to 18 years each - and businessman Sigit Haryo Wibisono was sentenced to 15 years for financing the operation.

Election promise

The trial became known in Indonesia as the "sex, lies and golf scandal".

Indonesia's corruption battle

The BBC's Karishma Vaswani said few people were surprised by the guilty verdict, but that the jail term was unexpected, given the prosecution's call for the death sentence.

The sentence is being seeing by many as another example of how Indonesia's judiciary favours some but punishes others, says our correspondent.

But it is longer than those given to other prominent figures convicted of similar charges.

Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of former President Suharto, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the murder of a supreme court judge.

He served less than a third of the sentence before being released in 2006.

Azhar was head of the country's anti-corruption commission, or KPK, until he was suspended on his arrest last May.

As Indonesia's top corruption fighter, he oversaw a number of successful investigations into government officials.

Reducing the country's widespread corruption was a key promise of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election campaign last year.

Corruption is seen as a major impediment to foreign investment in Indonesia and is a major source of discontent among ordinary citizens.

Alec Baldwin 'fine' after being rushed to hospital after daughter called 911

The "30 Rock" star's spokesman is calling an early morning trip to the hospital a simple "misunderstanding."

WNBC News reported that Alec Baldwin was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital early Thursday after his daughter, Ireland, called 911.

She described him as unresponsive, and when medics arrived, he agreed to be taken to the hospital.

He was examined and released an hour later.

"This was a misunderstanding on one person's part," Baldwin's spokesman told WNBC. "Alec was quickly released from the hospital, he's completely fine."

Baldwin's relationship with his daughter, Ireland, was tabloid fodder in 2007 when a voice mail was leaked of him calling her a "thoughtless little pig."

He is expected to host he upcoming Academy Awards show on March 7 with funnyman Steve Martin.

Rio carnival parade to have dancing queen aged seven

Julia Lira will be the youngest ever drum corps queen

A Brazilian judge has overruled objections from a child rights agency and allowed a seven-year-old girl to lead a Rio de Janeiro carnival parade.

The Viradouro carnival drum corps queen is a coveted role normally reserved for sultry models, correspondents say.

The artistic director of Julia Lira's samba school said there was no question of "turning her into a woman" and her costume would emphasise her innocence.

Rio's state child protection agency is to lodge an appeal against the ruling.

According to Brazilian media reports, the judge handling child welfare matters in Rio found no objection to Julia becoming the youngest dancing queen ever to appear in the parades.

She is now scheduled to lead the Viradouro samba parade in the packed Sambadrome stadium in Rio on Sunday night, with millions of people around the country watching her on live TV.

Child's rights advocates have argued it is inappropriate for a young girl to be put in what has been an erotically charged role.

Marco Lira, the girl's father and president of Viradouro, said concerns about Julia's well-being were being exaggerated.

He said his daughter would wear a costume that was not too skimpy for a seven-year-old, and that both he and his wife would watch her closely to make sure she did not get too tired during the 80-minute parade.

"She is my daughter, any father knows what I'm talking about," he added.

"No one wants to exploit their child, she does not need that and I don't need that."

Carlos Nicodemos, director of the Rio de Janeiro state council for the defence of children and adolescents, said the court ruling set a "negative precedent" for Brazil.

He asked what message the decision sent to a nation that has long had a problem with sexual exploitation of children.

EU deal 'agreed' on Greece debt woes

EU leaders have reached a deal on helping Greece tackle its debt crisis, EU President Herman Van Rompuy says.

He gave no further details, but all 27 EU leaders are now set to discuss it.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Greece "will not be left on its own, but there are rules and these rules must be adhered to".

It is an important signal to the markets that France and Germany are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Greece, a BBC correspondent says.

Greece's debt crisis has put pressure on the euro, and it will dominate the EU summit now under way in Brussels.

There was an instant reaction on the markets, where traders welcomed news of the deal. Major European markets rebounded from earlier falls and the euro rose against the US dollar.

Mr Van Rompuy, the new President of the European Council, said the 16 eurozone countries "will take determined and coordinated action if needed to safeguard stability in the eurozone as a whole".

He also stressed that Greece had not asked for financial aid, and added that the EU was expecting "rigorous" action from the Greek government.

The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says the details of the EU help for Greece may not emerge until Monday, when eurozone finance ministers will meet.

It is the first big test for Mr Van Rompuy, who wanted the summit to focus on a new strategy for jobs and growth - a blueprint for the next 10 years. But defending the euro is now a more pressing issue.

EU rules prevent the eurozone from collectively bailing out Greece, but the debt crisis has forced EU leaders to seek ways to help nevertheless.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stressed that "the discussions at the moment are within the euro area," when asked if UK taxpayers' money would be part of any EU aid.

Eurozone contagion fears

The markets remain sceptical that Greece will be able to pay its debts.

Any EU budget support for Greece is likely to come with stringent conditions, to ensure that Athens fulfils its austerity plans and to reassure European voters that their taxes will not be diverted to propping up Greece.

Thursday's talks are all the more urgent coming just hours after a public sector strike brought many services to a standstill in Greece.

The government's decision to freeze public sector salaries and raise the retirement age are among the austerity measures that have angered Greek trade unions.

Other eurozone countries with big deficits, such as Portugal and Spain, are seen as vulnerable if Greece's budget crisis is not tackled resolutely.

Greece's deficit is, at 12.7%, more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. For years Greek spending has ballooned while tax revenue has diminished.

Its debt is about 300bn euros ($419bn; £259bn), and the government estimates it will need to borrow about 53bn euros this year to cover budget shortfalls.

Debt servicing is now costing Greece 11.6% of its gross domestic product and it has to pay more interest on loans now because its credit rating has been downgraded.

Wary of IMF help

Analysts say that powerful eurozone members such as Germany may be able to help by buying Greek government debt or by providing loan guarantees.

In addition, the European Commission may decide to disburse regional aid to Greece earlier than planned.

But EU leaders appear reluctant to call on the International Monetary Fund to shore up the Greek economy. That would be a big blow to pride in the single currency.

Secluded setting

Mr Van Rompuy chose a quiet old wood-panelled library, Bibliotheque Solvay, as the secluded setting for his first summit as EU president. He wanted a relaxed, informal meeting - not crisis talks.

o far the decline of the euro has been substantial - about 9% since early December - but not disorderly, he says.

The European Commission is working on a blueprint for the EU's long-term recovery and growth, called Europe 2020, which is expected by early March.

It will replace the Lisbon Strategy, launched in 2000, which became a victim of the global financial crisis and of fiscal rule-breaking by EU governments.

Mr Van Rompuy is reported to favour tighter EU co-ordination of economic policy and enhanced EU surveillance of member states' budgets.

Flickr co-founder unveils online game Glitch

The game is initially set in a surreal and utopian future

One of the co-founders of popular photo-sharing site Flickr has taken the wraps off his latest web venture, a multiplayer online game called Glitch.

Stewart Butterfield's creation will launch in autumn 2010 but gamers can register to test the game now.

The 2D platform game is initially set in a surreal, utopian future and allows gamers to collaborate to solve puzzles.

It will be free to play, but the firm intends to make money by selling virtual items and premium accounts.

"We want to reach as large an audience as possible," Mr Butterfield told BBC News.

"We want to do for online gaming what the Wii did for consoles."

Bizarre twists

The game is a return to Mr Butterfield's roots, who started Flickr as an online game - called Game Neverending - with his wife Caterina Fake in the 1990s.

"The game allowed you to drag and drop photos into conversations," explained Mr Butterfield.

Over time the pair noticed that most players used the platform to share photographs, and it morphed into Flickr.

I find bureaucracy funny Stewart Butterfield

The site was sold to Yahoo in 2005 for $35 million (£22 million) and now hosts billions of photographs.

Mr Butterfield's new venture has been developed by his firm Tiny Speck.

Glitch is set in a perfect future one billion years from now.

However, the world begins to fall apart when scientists notice glitches.

"The only solution is to go to the past and fix it," said Mr Butterfield.

The player journeys back in time - travelling "through the minds of 14 giants" who created the world - trying to fix the problems.

He said the firm had intentionally stayed away from "heavily trod genres" such as "men in tights, fighting dragons".

"There's no fighting in the game," said Mr Butterfield.

Instead, the game is heavily stylised with bizarre and fantastic twists. For example, gamers earn points and progress by taking on tasks such as "animal kinship, gardening, alchemy and bureaucratic arts".

"I find bureaucracy funny," said Mr Butterfield.

Gamers can also unlock powers such as meditation, he said.

"You get to stay very still for a small amount of time and can heal people around you."

Gamers will be able to band together into groups in the game and interact with the it through SMS, widgets and possibly social networks, he said.

Mr Butterfield said that so far, most of the development had focused on the game's engine and underlying technology.

The story line and game play would now be refined in the coming months, he said.

The game will begin limited testing "in the next week or so" and will begin to roll out in a limited form in the summer. The finished game is intended to launch in autumn 2010.

Philippines charges 196 over Maguindanao massacre

The massacre has cast a shadow over the 2010 elections

The Philippines has charged 196 more people with murder over a pre-election massacre in Maguindanao province in November which left 57 dead.

Those charged include Andal Ampatuan Snr, formerly a provincial governor and ally of President Gloria Arroyo.

Mr Ampatuan's son of the same name has already been charged with murder over the attack on a rival political family and journalists travelling with them.

The charges come as campaigning opened for the presidential elections.

Prosecutor Leo Dacera of the Department of Justice said those charged had been positively identified as "direct participants in the commission of the crime of murder", the AFP news agency reported.

The agency quoted justice department papers as saying that all the accused were "answerable as co-principals regardless of the extent or degree of their participation".

It was unclear how many of the accused were already in police custody, but all are expected to seek bail.

Lawyers representing the journalists killed told the BBC the case would now become a logistical nightmare, as bail hearings would delay the start of the trial.

Mass grave

The victims were part of a group on their way to file the candidacy of one of their leaders, Ismael Mangudadatu, for the May elections.

Several women were among the group, including Mr Mangudadatu's wife and pregnant sister.

They were ambushed and shot by around 100 armed men - their bodies were found in a mass grave in a secluded mountainous area of the province.

Killings expose political underworld Election campaign begins

Mr Ampatuan Snr is the head of the powerful Ampatuan clan that controlled local politics in Maguindanao and ran a private army.

He has served in the Philippines Congress and won the governorship of Maguindanao unopposed for several terms.

His son, Andal Ampatuan Jr, was reportedly planning a similarly unopposed run to replace his father, but then Mr Mangudadatu decided to run as well.

He denies the charges and is currently awaiting a bail hearing.

The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Alastair Leithead says all those in custody are also expected to lodge bail applications - all of which have to be heard before the trial can begin.

Lawyer Harry Roque, who represents families of the journalists killed, said that as Mr Ampatuan Jr's bail hearing had already taken so long, he was concerned that so many people had been added to the charge.

"The fact that the system is moving does not necessarily mean that the system is, in fact, healthy," he told the BBC.

"What we need right now are convictions, because the obligation of the state is not just to indict but to successfully prosecute the perpetrators of this act."

Officials said the next step was for all the accused to be transferred from the southern Philippines to Manila for the court proceedings.

Iran 'starts enriching nuclear fuel to 20%' at Natanz

Western powers have urged further sanctions over Iran's nuclear activity

Iran has started the process of enriching uranium to 20% in defiance of the West, Iranian state media says.

It said the process, which experts estimate would take about a year, began at the Natanz plant in the presence of international inspectors.

The move came as Western powers stepped up pressure on Iran, with the US saying it wanted UN sanctions within "weeks".

China, a UN Security Council member, called for further talks over Iran's nuclear programme.

The US and its western allies say Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon - a charge Iran denies.

Iran's top nuclear official, Ali Akbar Salehi, was quoted by state news agency Irna as saying Iran "had started the 20% enrichment in a separate cascade in Natanz" for use in a Tehran research reactor.

He said the cascade contained 164 centrifuges and had a production capacity of 3-5kg (6-11lb) a month - more than the 1.5kg (3.3lb) needed for the research reactor.

A spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that its inspectors were at Natanz on Tuesday, but said that they were not expected to report on activities there until next week.

The BBC's Jon Leyne says Tuesday's announcement is designed to stress Iran's view that it is only acting within its rights.

Iran currently enriches uranium to a level of 3.5% but requires 20% enriched uranium for its research reactor, which is meant to produce medical isotopes. A bomb would require uranium enriched to at least 90%.

Enriching to 20% would take about one year, using the 2,000 centrifuges at the underground Natanz facility, experts say.

But moving from 20% to 90% would take only six months and only require between 500 and 1,000 centrifuges.

Asked if Iran was capable of enriching uranium to 20% and processing it as fuel, Mr Salehi told state news agency Isna: "We have the technical knowledge for this task. However, since it is our first experience we will move more cautiously."

Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and designed to provide civilian power.

It had already announced on Sunday that it aimed to start producing uranium enriched to 20% for its Tehran reactor.

Pressure for sanctions

Mr Salehi also said the government would build 10 new enrichment plants next year, despite the fact that it still had problems with its first one.

The US and France reacted by saying that the time had come "for the adoption of strong sanctions", while the British government described Iran's new position as deeply worrying.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said on Tuesday that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates wanted to see UN sanctions against Iran in "weeks, not months", and that Mr Gates "clearly thinks time is of the essence".

The UN Security Council has already imposed three rounds of sanctions against Iran in an effort to make it cease all uranium enrichment activities and heavy-water projects, which could produce plutonium suitable for use in weapons.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu refused to comment directly on sanctions at a press conference on Tuesday, the Associated Press news agency reported.

"I hope the relevant parties will step up efforts and push for progress in the dialogue and negotiations," he was quoted as saying.

As a UN Security Council member, China's support would be needed for any new round of sanctions against Iran.

Russia, another Security Council member which has been uncertain over backing new sanctions, signalled its disapproval of Iran's move.

"Actions such as starting to enrich low-enriched uranium up to 20% raise doubts in other countries and these doubts are fairly well-grounded," Nikolai Patrushev, head of Russia's security council, was quoted as saying.

"Political-diplomatic methods are important for a resolution, but there is a limit to everything," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for "tough action" from the international community.

"This means crippling sanctions and these sanctions must be applied right now," he said.

In October, a deal brokered by the IAEA was thought to have been struck for Iran to send its uranium to Russia and France for enrichment.

But last month, diplomats said Iran had told the IAEA that it did not accept the terms of the deal - though there have since been other, conflicting messages.

Mr Salehi has said that enriched uranium production would be halted if Iran received fuel enriched to 20% from abroad.

India puts on hold first GM food crop on safety grounds

The cultivation of the BT brinjal aubergine variety has divided opinion

India has deferred the commercial cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop due to safety concerns.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said more studies were needed to ensure genetically modified aubergines were safe for consumers and the environment.

The GM vegetable has undergone field trials since 2008 and received approval from government scientists in 2009.

But there has been a heated public row over the cultivation of the GM crop.

The BBC's Geeta Pandey, who was at the news conference in Delhi, says Mr Ramesh's decision has put any cultivation of GM vegetables in India on hold indefinitely.

'Difficult decision'

"Public sentiment is negative. It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach," Mr Ramesh said.

He said the moratorium on growing BT brinjal - as the variety of aubergine is known in India - would remain in place until tests were carried out "to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals".

The minister said "independent scientific studies" were needed to establish "the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment".

Mr Ramesh said it was "a difficult decision to make" since he had to "balance science and society".

"The decision is responsible to science and responsive to society," he said.

India is the largest producer of aubergines in the world and grows more than 4,000 varieties.

Indian seed company Mahyco - partner of US multinational corporation Monsanto - which has developed BT brinjal, says the GM vegetable is more resistant to natural pests.

But anti-GM groups say there are serious health concerns and they allege that consumption of GM crops can even cause cancer.

The government-controlled Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved BT brinjal for commercial cultivation in October 2009.

Following an uproar from farmers and anti-GM activists, the environment minister held a series of national consultation meetings across India.

Several of the aubergine-growing Indian states have already said they were opposed to BT brinjal.

India allowed the use of genetically modified seeds for cotton in 2002.

Super Bowl XLIV breaks ratings record

The Saints won with a surprise 31-17 win over The Colts

The New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts has become the most-watched programme in US TV history, early figures show.

A record 106.5 million people, watched the game last weekend, according to Nielson media.

The figure tops the 1983 finale of medical drama M*A*S*H which drew 105.97 million viewers.

The previous Super Bowl record was last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona, watched by 98.7 million.

There had been much interest in the game between The Colts - considered the favourites after winning the title just three years ago - and The Saints who were appearing in their first NFL title game.

The Saints' resurgence had been seen as a mirror of the ongoing recovery of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the underdogs' story propelled viewership.

Margin of error

The early viewing figures also drew some congratulations from Alan Alda, the star of M*A*S*H.

"If the *M*A*S*H audience was eclipsed, it was probably due in large part to the fact that the whole country is rooting for New Orleans to triumph in every way possible," he said.

"I am, too, and I couldn't be happier for them. I love that city."

However, it may be hard to tell which programme was really watched by more people because of the margin for error in such numbers.

Nielsen's estimate on Monday was preliminary, and could change with a more thorough look at more figures due on Tuesday.

Sunday's Super Bowl was viewed by more than double the 48 million Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last year.

An average 26.8 million people have tuned in to the latest series of American Idol, which is currently the most-watched series on US television.

Super Bowl XLIV breaks ratings record

The Saints won with a surprise 31-17 win over The Colts

The New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts has become the most-watched programme in US TV history, early figures show.

A record 106.5 million people, watched the game last weekend, according to Nielson media.

The figure tops the 1983 finale of medical drama M*A*S*H which drew 105.97 million viewers.

The previous Super Bowl record was last year's game between Pittsburgh and Arizona, watched by 98.7 million.

There had been much interest in the game between The Colts - considered the favourites after winning the title just three years ago - and The Saints who were appearing in their first NFL title game.

The Saints' resurgence had been seen as a mirror of the ongoing recovery of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the underdogs' story propelled viewership.

Margin of error

The early viewing figures also drew some congratulations from Alan Alda, the star of M*A*S*H.

"If the *M*A*S*H audience was eclipsed, it was probably due in large part to the fact that the whole country is rooting for New Orleans to triumph in every way possible," he said.

"I am, too, and I couldn't be happier for them. I love that city."

However, it may be hard to tell which programme was really watched by more people because of the margin for error in such numbers.

Nielsen's estimate on Monday was preliminary, and could change with a more thorough look at more figures due on Tuesday.

Sunday's Super Bowl was viewed by more than double the 48 million Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address last year.

An average 26.8 million people have tuned in to the latest series of American Idol, which is currently the most-watched series on US television.

Wife pleads for Sri Lankan Gen Sarath Fonseka's release

Anoma Fonseka said her husband had been "treated like an animal"

The wife of the arrested former presidential contender, Gen Sarath Fonseka, has pleaded with the Sri Lankan government to release him.

A tearful Anoma Fonseka said that although she had now been notified where he was being held, she needed to give essential medication to him.

Earlier Mrs Fonseka said her husband had been "abducted" and was in an unknown location.

Gen Fonseka was detained by security forces at his office on Monday.

The government says he will be court-martialled for "military offences".

'Hell-bent'

Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa in last month's poll.

President Rajapaksa won about six million votes to Gen Fonseka's four million. But the general rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court.

Gen Fonseka's presidential bid was unsuccessful

In an official statement, the government said that the former army chief was "hell-bent" on betraying the country's "gallant armed forces".

It cited as evidence the general's remarks on Monday that he would be ready to give evidence in an international court on war crimes charges against the state.

Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that depending on the evidence being gathered against Gen Fonseka, he might be liable to a court-martial.

He alleged that by meeting opposition politicians while still in uniform, the general might have committed "treason to some extent".

The government says that Gen Fonseka is still subject to military law, despite his retirement.

Gen Fonseka has denied any wrongdoing. His wife earlier accused the security forces of treating him "like an animal" as they dragged him into a vehicle by his hands and feet.

But military spokesman Maj Gen Prasad Samarasinghe told the Associated Press news agency that family members were allowed to see him and he had been allowed to obtain legal advice.

Civil war victory

Opposition politicians say the government is engaged in a witch-hunt and they have promised to hold protests on Wednesday against the arrest, which the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says has left many people in a state of bewilderment.

Gen Fonseka was in charge of Sri Lanka's army when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after 25 years of civil war.

But he and President Rajapaksa fell out over who should take credit for the victory - and both fought the election boasting of their roles in the war.

Our correspondent says the arrest was dramatic but not unexpected - and there must now be questions about whether this is the start of a bigger clampdown on the opposition.

Toyota recalls thousands of Prius cars worldwide

Akio Toyoda: "Let me assure everyone we will redouble our commitment to quality"

Toyota has announced the recall of about 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius model, to fix brake problems.

The total includes more than 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan and 8,500 cars in the UK.

"We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority," the firm said.

The company has already recalled eight million vehicles because of accelerator and floormat problems.

Company president Akio Toyoda made the latest recall announcement at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon.

"We will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers," he said.

After the conference, he told reporters that he might go to the United States next week to explain details about the recall.

The Prius was Japan's top-selling car in 2009 and the world's most popular hybrid model.

Peter De Lorenzo, author of the book The United States of Toyota, told the BBC that the latest recall would be particularly painful for the company.

"The Prius is their shining example of their vision of what we should all be driving and it is everything the new Toyota represents. So for them to have to acknowledge a recall of hundreds of thousands of them is a tremendous blow to their image," he said.

Credit rating agency Moody's said it had put Toyota's credit rating on review for a possible downgrade, following the latest recall.

"This action is prompted by Moody's concern that the growing scale of Toyota's product problems and associated recalls may have longer term impacts on its brand equity, pricing power and market share in key markets," it said.

Toyota's president has come under criticism from Japan's transport minister Seiji Maehara for not reacting quickly enough to recall faulty vehicles, according to reports from the AFP news agency.

"I wish you had taken measures earlier rather than simply saying it was not a major technical problem," Mr Maehara told Mr Toyoda in a meeting, says AFP.

Software update

There would also be recalls of Hybrid Sai, sold only in Japan, and Lexus HS250h, sold globally, the company said on Tuesday.

Johnny Goldstone, greentomatocars.com: "If we were concerned... we would take all the cars off the road without hesitation"

The latest recall refers to third-generation Prius models built before 27 January 2010.

There have been complaints in Japan and the US that the brakes momentarily fail when driven on rough or slippery road surfaces.

Toyota blames a software glitch and says it has already fixed vehicles sold this year.

In a statement, Toyota said it was keen to reassure Prius owners that the cars were safe to drive.

"At no time are drivers without brakes," the firm said.

Toyota said that it would be writing to vehicle owners affected and the procedure - to upgrade the anti-lock braking system - would be carried out free of charge.

In the UK, no other Toyota or Lexus models are affected by the latest recall.

In addition to recalling 133,000 2010 Prius models in the US, Toyota said it will also recall 14,550 Lexus Division HS250h 2010 models to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock braking system.

Separately, Toyota has announced a safety recall on about 7,300 2010 Camry vehicles in the US over problems that could lead to a hole in the brake tube, causing a brake fluid leak. Owners of the Camry models involved will be contacted by post in the middle of February.

Investigation

The US Transportation Department said last week that it was investigating the braking problems with Prius.

Toyota is recalling 436,000 hybrid cars worldwide

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 124 reports from drivers about it, including four of crashes.

There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK.

The US investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking power while travelling over uneven road surfaces.

Mr Toyoda wrote that he had been in contact with US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and assured him that communication would be kept open, would be more frequent, and that Toyota would be "more vigilant in responding" to officials.

Before it announced the Prius recall in Japan, Toyota estimated that its losses would reach $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of vehicles that might have faulty accelerator pedals.

Eastern US braced for major snowstorm

Snow has begun falling - and much more is expected

Government offices, courts and schools have closed early in Washington DC to allow workers to get home ahead of a major snowstorm.

Forecasters have predicted up to 2ft (60cm) of snow, which would make it the snowiest winter in the capital for a century.

Shops in the US capital and surrounding areas are said to be running low on staple supplies as residents stock up.

Blizzard warnings are in effect in much of Delaware and New Jersey.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency two days ago to allow extra preparation time for emergency and road crews.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, 94% of the state's snow removal budget has already been spent, after a major blizzard hit the area in December.

Officials said they would have to use emergency funds to pay for snow removal after this latest storm.

In neighbouring Maryland, nine counties declared snow emergencies, barring cars without snow tyres from driving until the alert is lifted.

Newspapers and TV shows handed out tips on how to deal with the storm, which they have dubbed "snowpocalypse".

Residents were urged to stay off roads, and to prepare for possible power cuts.

Naples pizza makers celebrate EU trademark status

Naples has celebrated the first day of official recognition for the Italian city's most famous culinary creation: the pizza.

The European Union ruling marks the end of a battle that began a quarter of a century ago and aimed to protect Neapolitan pizzas from imitations.

The Traditional Speciality Guaranteed label on Naples pizza was approved last month and came into effect on Thursday.

The pizza makers' association head said the trademark was a great honour.

The EU's agriculture commissioner said Neapolitan pizza was now part of Europe's food heritage.

Slice of action

Th TSG label means that all pizzerias aspiring to supply the real thing are in future supposed to be vetted by a special commission that will check standards.

They include using only San Marzano tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese.

The Italian farmers' association says that half of Italy's 25,000 pizzerias currently use the wrong ingredients, such as East European cheese or Ukrainian flour.

Italy now tops the EU chart for products that are protected - it has 180, more than Spain or France.

Protected status enables producers to not only boast about their exclusivity, but also charge a premium.

And now pizza makers from Naples will get their slice of the action.

Hubble spots Pluto blushing in space

Despite any colour changes, Pluto remains ice-bound and inhospitable

Nasa scientists say that dwarf planet Pluto, on the edge of our solar system, is becoming increasingly red.

Images taken by the Hubble space telescope show that the planet is some 20% redder than it used to be.

Experts say they believe this is because of changes in Pluto's surface ice as it enters a new phase of its 248-year-long orbit.

The new images are said to show frozen nitrogen brightening in the north and becoming darker in the south.

"These changes are most likely consequences of surface ice melting on the sunlit pole and then re-freezing on the other pole," Nasa's Space Telescope Science Institute said in a statement.

But some astronomers have expressed shock at the changes.

"It's a little bit of a surprise to see these changes happening so big and so fast," said Marc Buie, of the Southwest Research Institute. "This is unprecedented."

In 2006, astronomers stripped Pluto of its status as a full planet, downgrading it to a dwarf planet.

Further away and considerably smaller than the eight other "traditional" planets in our solar system, Pluto - at just 2,360km (1,467 miles) across - is smaller even than some moons.

But the red tinge is not thought to have had a marked effect on Pluto's temperature: despite any redness, Pluto's surface temperature is incredibly cold at -233C (-382F)

NI parties agree power-sharing deal

Peter Robinson said the decision had been "unanimous"

The DUP has agreed a deal with Sinn Fein over the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Northern Ireland.

Party leader Peter Robinson said just before midnight that the decision to back the deal had been "unanimous" among the party's 35 assembly members.

A roundtable session of the assembly to discuss the deal is under way.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen have arrived in NI to attend the session.

However, the Ulster Unionist Party has said it will not be attending it.

It said as it was not party to the negotiations it wanted to take the time to consider what was in the deal.

"We have had a very constructive meeting of our assembly group and I had the opportunity to put to them proposals which we have been working on," said Mr Robinson.

"Everyone present believes that this is consistent with our election manifesto and pledges we have made to the people.

"We look forward to going to Hillsborough and the document should be published."

The deal is believed to include new arrangements on the oversight of loyalist parades.

DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland said the loyal orders would be very satisfied by what had been agreed and it should eventually lead to new legislation on parades.

He said there was no mention of either a new policing college or the savers of the Presbyterian Mutual Society in the document.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed the DUP's decision and said: "There's a wonderful chance now in a new spirit for us all to go forward.

"This isn't just about structures or protocols, it obviously has to be about inspired leadership and people accepting in leadership positions that the citizens want this to work."

He said there had not been enough movement on the Irish language but that was "work for another day".

Commending his own party's negotiating team, he added: "I believe that the Assembly and political institutions can now proceed on the basis of equality, fairness and partnership.

"They also have to deliver for all citizens, that is the collective responsibility of all the political parties."

On Thursday night Mr Robinson said there was a basis for a deal which he could recommend to his party and to the community.

DUP assembly members gathered at Stormont at about 2200 GMT.

"An essential element of the Democratic Unionist manifesto is the requirement for community confidence and we believe that this can be the basis of gaining that confidence," Mr Robinson said.

"It does more than dealing with devolving further powers. It deals with how we deal with the powers that we have."

The DUP decision has been welcomed by Alliance Party leader David Ford, who is widely tipped to be the new justice minister.

He said: "This is what the people of Northern Ireland have waited so long to hear and it means that the Executive can get back to the real work of providing quality services and strengthening our economy.

"We may face a few challenges in the coming months as regards the justice devolution process, but I am very hopeful that this will signal a new, more positive era for Northern Ireland."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he always thought a deal would be "scrambled over the line".

"What we need to see now when we see the deal this morning is does it answer all of the questions and all of the issues," he said.

"We will have to take our turn with other parties in proofing what is proposed, not trying to create problems, but pre-empting any possible shortcomings or problems there are with it so we can actually improve it."

Snowmen

However, Traditional Unionist Voice, which opposes mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein, described the DUP as "snowmen who had melted".

Its leader Jim Allister said: "The DUP MLAs who buckled tonight not only let themselves down, but, more importantly, let their country down."

Referring to the fact that 14 DUP assembly members reportedly voted against a deal on the table on Monday, he added: "The deal the DUP so meekly accepted tonight is the same deal they rejected.

"The deal hasn't changed, only the snowmen of the DUP who melted once the heat came on."

Earlier on Thursday it emerged that policing and justice powers could be transferred to Northern Ireland in April if the DUP and Sinn Fein were able to reach a deal.

Talks between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP have been going on for the last 10 days.

The relationship between Sinn Fein and the DUP - Northern Ireland's two biggest political parties - has been strained for some time because they disagreed about the timetable for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.

Haiti PM: Child abduction issue 'distracts' from relief

Haiti's prime minister says the needs of Haitians should not be overshadowed

The Haitian prime minister has warned that the case of 10 US missionaries charged with child abduction is a "distraction" from earthquake recovery.

Jean-Max Bellerive said more than 200,000 people had died in the quake and one million still needed help.

The group of missionaries has been charged with child abduction and criminal conspiracy.

They deny allegations that they tried to smuggle 33 children across the border to the Dominican Republic.

When stopped on the border last Friday, the group said they were taking the children to an orphanage. But it has since emerged some of the youngsters' parents were still alive.

'In good faith'

Mr Bellerive said the case of the missionaries risked diverting international attention from the continued plights of the Port-au-Prince residents who had lost their homes and livelihoods.

"I believe it's a distraction for the Haitian people because they are talking more now about 10 people than they are about one million people suffering in the streets," he said.

Laura Silsby says the group acted out of compassion

The group's lawyer, Edwin Coq, said his clients were "naive" but not malicious in their actions.

"They had no idea they were violating the law. They were acting in good faith and they just wanted to help," he said.

But, in comments reported by the Washington Post, he added: "If there is someone that the justice system must retain for some questioning, it is the leader of the group, Madame Laura."

From Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said for the first time that the two governments were discussing the diplomatically sensitive case.

"It was unfortunate, whatever their motivation, that this group of Americans took matters into their own hands," Mrs Clinton added.

Haitian officials have said that the cases of the 10 US citizens will now be sent to an investigating judge who will decide how to proceed.

If convicted they face lengthy jail terms, says the BBC's Paul Adams, in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.

'Kidnappers'

After Thursday's hearing the 10 missionaries were taken back to the jail where they have been kept since last Friday.

Amid chaotic scenes, the group was bundled into a van outside the court.

"I feel good," the group's leader Laura Silsby told reporters. "I trust in God."

The five men and five women, most of them from Idaho, were due to have a hearing earlier in the week, but that was postponed because of a lack of interpreters.

Mr Bellerive has labelled the Americans "kidnappers".

Justice Minister Paul Denis has said that they should be tried in Haiti despite the damage done to the country's judicial infrastructure and casualties among judges and court staff.

There had been suggestions that the 10 could be tried in the US.

"It is Haitian law that has been violated, it is up to the Haitian authorities to hear and judge the case," he told AFP news agency.

"I don't see any reason why they should be tried in the United States."

The US ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, said that the US would do all it could to ensure the group were treated fairly and in accordance with Haitian law.

Single village

The children, who are from aged from two to 12, are now in the care of the Austrian-run SOS Children's Village in Port-au-Prince.

Twenty-one of the children were from a single village outside the capital and were handed over willingly by their parents, our correspondent says.

Residents in the village of Callebas told an Associated Press news agency reporter that they had handed their children over through a local orphanage worker who said he was acting on the Americans' behalf.

The worker is said to have promised the families that the missionaries would educate their children in neighbouring Dominican Republic.

A number of parents in the badly-damaged village said they would find it difficult to provide for their children if they came back.

Ms Silsby has said her group had met a Haitian pastor by chance when they arrived last week, and that he had helped them gather the children. She also admitted that they did not have the proper paperwork.

"Our intent was to help only those children that needed us most, that had lost either both their mother and father, or had lost one of their parents and the other had abandoned them," she said from her jail cell on Wednesday.

Toyota mulling Prius recall after brake concerns

Toyota is considering recalling some Prius models in Japan and the US following concerns about the hybrid's brakes, the carmaker has confirmed.

The US Transportation Department is investigating braking problems in the 2010 Toyota Prius after Toyota admitted brake problems with the model.

The carmaker had said it had fixed the problem in January.

Toyota has already recalled more than eight million cars worldwide over concerns about accelerator pedals.

"There are reasons to believe that a recall could be put in place [in the US and Japan], but it's still early hours and early days," said Toyota UK's managing director Miguel Fonseca.

"There is still an investigation going on with the relevant authorities."

Further investigation

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 124 reports from drivers about the braking issue, including four of crashes.

There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK.

The investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking power while travelling over uneven road surfaces.

As depressing the brakes further activated normal braking, Toyota said the glitch was not legally a safety hazard and said it had received no reports of any accidents related to it.

'Very disappointed'

Mr Fonseca told the BBC that the braking problem was "not a defect, but a characteristic of the way the ABS system is tuned", before adding that there had been "no issues with this in the UK".

However, he did say that "we are very disappointed to have let customers down and accept that we could have handled [the problem] better."

On Thursday, the carmaker reported a net income of 153 billion yen ($1.68bn; £1.06bn) for the final three months of 2009, compared with a loss of 164 billion yen a year earlier.

The firm also said it still expected higher sales and to make a profit this year, despite the heavy blow to the company's reputation.

Toyota estimates its losses will reach $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of vehicles that might have faulty accelerator pedals, but a recall of Prius models would send this figure even higher.

"The losses could escalate if it turns out that the trust and reputation the company built up over a period of decades has been demolished almost overnight," said BBC business reporter Jorn Madslien.

national prayer breakfast

Obama Calls for ‘Civility’ at Prayer Breakfast
By todayinusa

President Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to not question one another’s motives and to make an effort to move beyond the cynicism and skepticism that has weighed down the politics of Washington, saying: “Civility is not a sign of weakness.”

In an appearance today at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Obama conceded that policy differences would often separate the political parties. But he challenged lawmakers and religious leaders to step beyond their comfort zones and unify on at least some daily challenges, not only when a calamity like the Haiti earthquake strikes.

“Too often that spirit is missing without the spectacular tragedy,” Mr. Obama said. “We become numb to the day-to-day crises. We become absorbed with our abstract arguments, our ideological disputes, our contests for power. And in this tower of babble, we lose the sound of God’s voice.”

The National Prayer Breakfast, which has been held for the last half-century in Washington, drew criticism by some liberal groups this year because the sponsor of the event, an evangelical Christian network called The Fellowship, is allegedly tied to legislation in Uganda that calls for the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals.

The president, along with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, denounced the proposal in Uganda.

“We may disagree about gay marriage,” Mr. Obama said, “but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, whether it is right here in the United States or as Hillary mentioned more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.”

He added, “Surely we can agree to find common ground when possible, parting ways when necessary, but in doing so, let us be guided by our faith and by prayer.”

Mr. Obama spoke openly about how he has been sustained during his first year in office by faith and prayer. He does not frequently attend Sunday church services, but often speaks with a small circle of pastors, who provide spiritual guidance and support.

“While prayer can buck us up when we are down, keep us calm in a storm, while prayer can stiffen our spines to surmount an obstacle – and I assure you, I’m praying a lot these days – prayer can also do something else,” Mr. Obama said. “It can touch our hearts with humility. It can fill us with a sense of civility.”

The president also addressed something that he rarely speaks about: his citizenship. Questions were initially raised by conservative groups during his presidential campaign and continue to regularly flare up on talk-radio programs and Tea Party rallies.

“Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith,” Mr. Obama said, “or for that matter my citizenship.”

The crowd applauded and laughed. The president did not.

Mr. Obama struck similar tones to previous speeches in which he has called for civility, including his appearance last year at the National Prayer Breakfast. He acknowledged that politics has always been messy, saying: “We shouldn’t over-romanticize the past.”

“But there is a sense that something is different now, that something is broken, that those of us in Washington are not serving the people as well as we should,” Mr. Obama said. “At times, it seems like we are unable to listen to one another, to have at once a serious and civil debate. This erosion of civility in the public square sews division and cynicism among our citizens. It poisons the well of public opinion.”

Along with Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, a bipartisan array of Washington officials was seated on the dais at the National Prayer Breakfast, including several heads of state, members of the Cabinet and members of Congress.

Mrs. Clinton delivered the keynote address at the prayer breakfast, speaking openly about how her faith has sustained her. But she denounced “religion cloaked in naked power lust, used to justify violence” in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond.

The solemn morning was interrupted by a few moments of humor, including when Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, stepped to the microphone to offer a prayer. Just as he did, the alarm on his Blackberry went off and was amplified throughout the hotel ballroom.

As he apologized and fumbled to turn it off, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, turned to him and said: “It’s time for prayer!”