Challenge to minimum alcohol pricing

6 February 2014 Last updated at 18:21

Minimum alcohol price law challenged by Scotch Whisky Association

Whisky producers have now appealed to the Court of Session to have the minimum alcohol legislation stopped

The Scottish government's plan for a minimum price on alcohol has faced a renewed legal challenge.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has appealed to the Court of Session against a European Commission ruling - which overturned an earlier complaint.

They argued the legislation was illegal under European law and that it would not stop alcohol misuse.

Holyrood ministers have said minimum pricing is vital to address Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink".

The SWA, whose members account for more than 90% of the industry's production, has contested the legality of the Holyrood legislation to set a minimum price of 50p per unit.

'Contravene EU Law'

Aidan O'Neill QC, representing the SWA, told Edinburgh's Court of Session: "The Scottish government accepts that it has to justify this measure before this court."

"It is an unusual step, but the government actually accepts it has a duty and a burden to show this measure is a justified one and as such the plan to set a minimum unit price at 50p per unit is justified"

He then stated that normally a government could pass what laws it wished within the bounds of its powers but that this legislation would contravene EU law.

"We have to hold onto the fact that it is accepted that justification has to be made out in this case," he said.

"That is because the Scottish ministers accept that on the face of it this measure contravenes European Union law. They accept this measure falls within the ambit of EU law and is subject to EU justification"

But the Scottish government maintained that it could still be justified. The legislation was said to be aimed at reducing drinking by "hazardous and harmful drinkers" in particular.

They have previously pointed to a recent study that showed alcohol killed an average of 20 people each week across Scotland.

Under the legislation passed by Holyrood a standard bottle of wine with 12% alcohol would have a minimum price of £4.50.

The UK government has shelved plans to introduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in England and Wales. Prime Minister David Cameron cited concerns over evidence it would work and possible legal challenges.

The appeal is set down for six days with about half the time expected to be allocated to the SWA case and half to responses by lawyers acting for the government, with both Scotland's senior law officer, the Lord Advocate, and the Advocate General represented.

Salmon born with 'magnetic map'

6 February 2014 Last updated at 17:46

Pacific salmon migrate with a 'magnetic map'

By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC World Service

Scientists believe the fish are born with an innate sense of the Earth's magnetic field

There is more evidence that salmon use the Earth's magnetic field to perform extraordinary feats of navigation.

A study suggests that Pacific salmon are born with an in-built "magnetic map" that helps them to migrate over thousands of kilometres.

US researchers believe the fish are sensing changes in the intensity and angle of the Earth's magnetic field to establish their position in the ocean.

The study is published in the journal Current Biology.

The epic journey of the Pacific salmon is one of nature's greatest migrations.

The fish hatch inland in rivers and streams, before swimming for hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to reach the open ocean.

After several years of foraging at sea, they make their way back to the same freshwater sites where they spawn and then die.

Lead author Dr Nathan Putman, from Oregon State University, said: "The migration is a lot of effort and it is definitely challenging, and looking at it from the outside, it doesn't seem necessarily intuitive how they could manage that."

Turn north

Previous research has suggested that the fish use the Earth's magnetic field to find their way, with an earlier study led by Dr Putman revealing that Sockeye salmon may possess a memory of the magnetic field where they first entered the sea to find their way back home to their spawning ground.

But now the team says that the fish may also have an innate sense of the world's magnetic field.

The researchers changed the magnetic field and watched how the fish reacted

To investigate, they looked at Chinook salmon hatchlings, which had not yet made a migration out to sea.

Because the intensity and inclination of the Earth's magnetic field change depending on where you are on the globe, the researchers exposed the fish to the sorts of magnetic fields they might experience on their journey through the ocean.

"We put the fish in buckets, we change the magnetic field around them, and the fish change direction in response to the field," explained Dr Putman.

For example, if they altered the magnetic field so it mimicked the northern extreme of the salmon's range, the fish oriented south. If they changed the field so it was the same as that experienced by salmon at the very southern end of their range, the fish turned around and pointed north.

Dr Putman explained: "To try to observe meaningful behaviour in the lab, we needed to have a good prediction of what the fish should do. Since none of these fish are found north of a certain magnetic field, we assumed that they are happiest to the south of that.

"So if they are using the magnetic field to find out where they are, they should think, 'Oh I am a bit north of where I should be', and go south. And likewise with the southern magnetic field."

He added: "It's like they have a map. They know something about where they are based on what field they are in."

Because the fish that were studied had never before made a migration, the scientists think the fish are born with this magnetic sense rather than it being a skill that is learned.

The team believes other sea creatures such as turtles, sharks and whales may also use the same tactics to roam the oceans.

Follow Rebecca on Twitter

Taliban capture British military dog

6 February 2014 Last updated at 17:43

Afghan Taliban capture British military dog

The Taliban has released footage of the dog, apparently called "Colonel"

Continue reading the main story

ISAF officials in Afghanistan have confirmed a military dog went missing during a mission in December last year.

US military sources say the dog belonged to a coalition partner and the BBC understands it was working for British forces.

The Taliban earlier released footage of what they claimed was a dog they captured from US troops.

They said the dog, apparently called Colonel, was wearing a GPS tracking device, a torch and small camera.

Looking rather mournful, on a lead being held by a long-haired Taliban fighter, the small reddish-brown dog was paraded for a Taliban cameraman, reports the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul.

The Taliban said the dog was taken during a night raid in Laghman in eastern Afghanistan in late December.

The insurgents also showed off captured weapons of a type frequently used by American special forces.

Our correspondent says there were local reports a few weeks ago that a senior Taliban commander in the area was seen with a "foreign dog".

But the video is the first positive sighting.

Coalition forces have long used sniffer and protection dogs in Afghanistan, mostly German shepherds, Labradors or spaniels.

VIDEO: Google Search altered to avoid fine

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Google to make 'significant' changes to avoid EU fine

6 February 2014 Last updated at 17:25 GMT

Google has promised to make "significant" changes to how rivals appear in search results in an attempt to avoid a multi-billion euro fine.

The latest changes should be sufficient to end a three-year investigation into the search company, the EU's competition commissioner said.

Google had been accused of giving favourable treatment to its own products in search results.

The company said it looked forward to resolving the matter.

Nigel Cassidy reports.

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Google to make 'significant' changes to avoid EU fine

VIDEO: DiCaprio's Wolf hunts an Oscar

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Leonardo DiCaprio on his Oscar nomination

6 February 2014 Last updated at 00:13 GMT

Could it be fourth time lucky for Leonardo DiCaprio?

The actor has been nominated for an acting Oscar three times in the past, but has failed to carry home a golden statuette.

But 2014 could prove to be his winning year, with an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Talking Movies' Tom Brook talks to the actor.

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Thelma Schoonmaker: The woman behind Martin Scorsese

6 February 2014 Last updated at 00:08

Plastic bag charge a 'complete mess'

By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News

There are growing concerns about the impact of plastic bags on marine life

A cross-party committee of MPs says the government's plans for a 5p charge on plastic carrier bags in England are a "complete mess".

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) says the current proposals are "unnecessarily complicated".

Their report says that bans in Ireland and Wales were simpler and have significantly reduced the impact of plastic bags on the environment.

Over eight billion disposable carrier bags are used in England every year.

Last September, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced plans for a single use plastic bag charge in England that would come into effect after the 2015 election.

Mr Clegg highlighted the threat of plastic bags to marine life and the countryside. The money raised by the levy would go to charity, he said, and the time to act was now.

"This is not a new problem. We've waited too long for action. That's why I am drawing a line under the issue now. The charge will be implemented sensibly - small businesses will be exempt."

But it is the planned exemptions and other rules that have raised the hackles of the EAC.

Fee-free takeaways

The proposals have been drawn up by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

They want the 5p charge to apply only to supermarkets and larger stores. Most small shops and takeaway outlets would not have to pay the cost.

Defra says that the charge should not be a burden to small businesses.

As well as this exemption, Defra does not want the charge to apply to biodegradable bags. Paper bags and reusable "bags for life" will also avoid the levy.

But the EAC believe these rules are making the proposal too complex.

"Ministers have managed to make a complete mess of their planned carrier bags charge by making it unnecessarily complicated," said Joan Walley MP, chair of the committee.

"Carrier bags litter our streets and harm wildlife, and the government is right to want to reduce their use. But Defra seems to have made decisions about the design of this scheme that were based more on wishful thinking than hard evidence."

The MPs' report said many trade bodies representing small retailers were opposed to the exemption as it was confusing for consumers.

The Association of Convenience Stores said the best way of tackling the issue was to ensure that every shop charged for plastic bags.

"We urge the government to listen to the recommendations of the Environmental Audit Committee and ensure that convenience stores are not left out of the carrier bag charge," said ACS chief executive James Lowman.

The EAC said that exempting paper bags was also misguided as it would weaken the message that consumers should recycle their plastic.

The idea that biodegradable bags should avoid the charge was also a bad idea, said the EAC, as they say they are not as green as they sound.

In evidence before the committee, Jessica Baker from the British Plastics Federation recycling grou, said an exemption on biodegradable bags would be "disastrous."

There were also concerns that biodegradable material still presented a threat to wildlife, as it took time to decay.

A Defra spokesman defended the planned exemptions, saying: "Paper bags make up only a small proportion of carrier bags and break down naturally. Biodegradable bags will only be exempt if they are genuinely biodegradable - currently such a bag does not exist."

Perfect model

The MPs said that England should follow the example of Wales and the Irish Republic and introduce a straightforward scheme without exemptions.

MPs are worried that too many rules will limit the impact of a plastic bag fee

The committee's concern were echoed by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign group.

"It's a no brainer of an issue - it's quite clear. In Wales where there is a flat charge across the board, bag consumption went down by 70%," said Andy Walker

"Unfortunately the government is overcomplicating this, we have a perfect model in Wales that is doing the job it was brought in to do and the government should implement it."

Friends of the Earth said the introduction of a plastic bag charge was a small step in the right direction but it was insignificant in terms of dealing with the scale of waste.

"Ministers must take urgent steps to slash waste and turn it into valuable resources, and save some of the phenomenal £650m a year we squander burying and burning reusable and recyclable materials," said Michael Warhurst from the group.

The government expects the charge to raise around £70m for charity, which shops will donate directly. The EAC wants the £19 million that will be raised as VAT from the charge to also go to environmental good causes.

Follow Matt on Twitter.

Evans enjoys record radio audience

6 February 2014 Last updated at 01:27

Chris Evans enjoys record audience on BBC Radio 2

Chris Evans presents the nation's most popular breakfast radio show

BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter Chris Evans pulled in a record weekly audience over the last three months, according to new figures.

The broadcaster, who has hosted early mornings for four years, pulled in 9.85m listeners - compared to 9.35m during the previous quarter.

His Radio 1 counterpart Nick Grimshaw added 700,000 to his weekly audience, after suffering declining ratings.

Rajar's latest research reveals radio listening is at a 15-year high.

It says that 91% of the population aged over 15 listen to the radio each week, the highest level since records began in 1999.

The BBC's principal networks - Radios 1, 2 and 4 - all saw their audiences rise in the last three months, with Radio 2 substantially ahead with 15.5 million listeners each week.

But classical network Radio 3 saw its listenership dip to below two million.

Radio 4 extended its reach to just over 11 million weekly listeners, while Today, its flagship early morning current affairs programme, edged beyond the seven million mark.

Digital-only broadcaster 6 Music saw its audience come close to two million listeners each week, a record high for a station that was saved from the axe in 2010.

BBC Asian Network, another digital-only offering, also attracted a high of 668,000 weekly listeners, up from 555,000 last quarter.

In the last three months of 2013, ownership of digital radios climbed to more than 45% of all adults. A decade ago, the figure was 5.3%.

The number of listeners who tune into radio via their mobile phones has also climbed to nearly 25%, which rises to 45% for young listeners in their teens and early twenties.

"Britain's love affair with radio shows no signs of cooling," said Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of radio.

"We are a nation of audiophiles and so, despite the ever-increasing competition for people's time and the growing range of online audio providers, radio is thriving in the digital age."

She also applauded the "enduring popularity" of the BBC's portfolio of stations.

5 February 2014 Last updated at 19:46

Article written by Fergus Walsh Medical correspondent

• More from Fergus

Bionic hand allows patient to 'feel'

 

Dennis Aabo was able to feel what was in his hand via sensors connected to nerves in his upper arm

Scientists have created a bionic hand which allows the amputee to feel lifelike sensations from their fingers.

A Danish man received the hand, which was connected to nerves in his upper arm, following surgery in Italy.

Dennis Aabo, who lost his left hand in a firework accident nearly a decade ago, said the hand was "amazing".

In laboratory tests he was able to tell the shape and stiffness of objects he picked up, even when blindfolded.

The details were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Implant

An international team carried out the research project, which included robotics experts from Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

"It is the first time that an amputee has had real-time touch sensation from a prosthetic device" said Prof Silvestro Micera from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa.

The scientific advance here was not the hand itself, but the electronics and software that enabled it to give sensory feedback to the brain.

Micera and his team added sensors to the artificial hand which could detect and measure information about touch. Using computer algorithms, the scientists transformed the electrical signals they emitted into an impulse that sensory nerves could interpret.

During an operation in Rome, four electrodes were implanted onto nerves in the patient's upper arm. These were connected to the artificial sensors in the fingers of the prosthetic hand, so allowing touch and pressure feedback to be sent direct to the brain.

Mr Aabo, 36, a property developer, spent a month doing laboratory tests, firstly to check the electrodes were functioning, and then with these fully connected to the bionic hand.

Dennis Aabo spent a month doing laboratory tests of the bionic hand

He said: "The biggest difference was when I grabbed something I could feel what I was doing without having to look. I could use the hand in the dark.

"It was intuitive to use, and incredible to be able to feel whether objects were soft or hard, square or round."

Hero

The bionic hand is still a prototype, and due to safety restrictions imposed on clinical trials, Mr Aabo required a second operation to remove the sensors.

"He is a hero," said Professor Paolo Rossini, neurologist, University Hospital Agostino Gemelli, Rome.

"He gave a month of his life and had two operations to test this device.

"We are all very grateful to him."

Prof Rossini said a lot of pre-training was done involving surgery on pigs, and with human cadavers, to ensure they knew exactly how to attach electrodes to the tiny peripheral nerves in the upper arm.

Another member of the team, Dr Stanisa Raspopovic said: "It was a very exciting moment when after endless hours of testing....Dennis turned to us and said with disbelief, 'This is magic! I can feel the closing of my missing hand!'"

Those working in the field in the UK were also enthusiastic.

"This is very interesting work, taking research in upper limb prosthetics into the next stage by adding sensory feedback, said Dr Alastair Ritchie, Lecturer in Biomaterials and Bioengineering, University of Nottingham.

"This technology would enable the user to know how firmly they are gripping an object, which is vital for handling fragile objects - imagine picking up an egg without any feeling in your fingers."

Although a milestone in prosthetics, the bionic hand of movies remains the stuff of science fiction

The international team is now working on how to miniaturise the technology so that it could be used in the home.

"We must get rid of the external cables and make them fully implantable" said Prof Thomas Stieglitz, University of Frieburg, Germany, whose laboratory created the ultra-thin implantable electrodes.

Recently, scientists in Cleveland, Ohio released a video of a patient using a the fingers of a prosthetic hand to pull the stalks from cherries while blindfolded. But the research has yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

There is no precise timetable, but scientists think it could be a decade before a sensory feedback bionic hand is commercially available.

And they believe it may pave the way for more realistic prosthetic devices in the future which can detect texture and temperature.

'Bring it on'

But it will undoubtedly be very expensive, well beyond the means of most patients. And artificial hands still lack the precision and dexterity of the real thing.

The super-functioning bionic hand of science fiction films remains the stuff of fiction.

Nonetheless, Dennis Aabo, who now has his old prosthesis back, is ready to swap it for the bionic hand in any future trial.

"If they offer it to me, I will say bring it on, I'm ready."

6 February 2014 Last updated at 02:15

Article written by Nick Triggle Health correspondent

• More from Nick

What is the Francis effect?

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called it the "Francis effect".

He believes the publication of the public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal - led by Robert Francis QC - has been a catalyst for improving care.

But is this really true?

On one hand, most people agree it has refocused minds in an era when there is so much attention given to targets and balance sheets.

When the 1,800-page report was published on 6 February 2013 one phrase stood out.

The NHS system, it said, had "betrayed" the public and patients by putting corporate self-interest ahead of care.

That criticism sent shockwaves through the system.

Failing hospitals

Much of the past year has been spent with hospitals - and other providers for that matter - looking for ways to improve services, as Jocelyn Cornwall, of the Point of Care Foundation, explains.

"The Francis Inquiry has made a difference and inspired positive change. Senior managers have become more focussed on the quality of care and are listening more intently to feedback from both patients and staff about how services are delivered."

This, according to Mr Hunt, has resulted in something tangible: an increase in the number of nurses working on wards.

To prove this point, he has highlighted data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre - the official statistics body for the NHS - which shows the number of acute, elderly and general nurses (most of which work in hospitals) has risen by 3,500 in the past year to over 172,000.

But it is important these figures are seen in a wider context. The overall numbers - once you include nurses working in community and mental health settings as well - are falling.

Latest figures show there are 351,221 - that is nearly 2,500 down on the total three years ago.

Other key steps highlighted by Mr Hunt include the introduction of tougher inspections and a better regime for dealing with failing hospitals.

The Care Quality Commission launched its new way of inspecting hospitals in September.

This was widely welcomed as officials promised the visits would be longer and more expert-led - that is to say led by doctors and other staff who have experience of working in hospitals.

Although arguably these changes were set in train in 2012 following the appointment of a new leadership team at the CQC.

Happy staff

The point about failing hospitals relates to the 14 trusts placed in special measures, which has led to new management or extra support being put in place.

Again, there is praise for these steps.

Julie Bailey, of Cure the NHS, which helped bring the scandal of Stafford Hospital to national attention, called Mr Hunt "brave" for standing up for patients when she addressed the conference, Francis: A Year On, this week.

But it is also clear there have been some negative consequences, according to Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians.

He said the last year has seen a tendency to "beat up" the NHS, and hospitals in particular.

And this seems to have had an effect on morale.

In the latest quarterly report by the King's Fund think-tank staff morale was highlighted as the number one concern for finance directors above other factors such as finances and waiting times.

Sir Richard said it was now important to start "celebrating success" to improve wellbeing and morale.

His point is this: happy staff deliver good care.

VIDEO: Bionic hand feels real, says amputee

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Bionic hand feels real, says amputee

5 February 2014 Last updated at 19:38 GMT

Amputee Dennis Aabo lost his left hand in a firework accident ten years ago.

Scientists fitted electrodes to nerves in his arm which connected to a prosthetic hand.

The operation allowed him to `feel' the shape and density of objects even when blindfolded - this gave him much greater control of the prosthesis.

Mr Aabo spent a month doing laboratory tests with the hand, after which he had the electrodes removed.

Much work needs to be done to make a more mobile version that could be worn outside the lab.

The 36-year-old Dane said the bionic hand was "amazing" and he was looking forward to having one permanently.

VIDEO: Crew saved after ship splits in two

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Spain cargo ship splits on French coast at Anglet

5 February 2014 Last updated at 20:26 GMT

Twelve people have been rescued from an empty cargo ship after it split in half on a breakwater off the south-western coast of France.

The Luno collided into the sea wall at Anglet, after its engine failed.

All of the crew members were winched to safety by a helicopter, with one person suffering a nose injury.

Claire Brennan reports.

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Spanish cargo ship splits on French coast at Anglet

VIDEO: Icons who define 'American cool'

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100 portraits of icons who define 'American cool'

6 February 2014 Last updated at 00:42 GMT

The word "cool" is a product of the 1940s African American jazz culture and is now widely used all over the world. But one person's cool may not be another's.

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC has taken the brave step of selecting 100 people whose signature style and originality have left a lasting impression on American culture - and in the view of the curators, have earned the title "cool".

American Cool is not intended to be an exhaustive list. It includes Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Depp and Madonna. Hollywood heartthrobs rub shoulders with sports heroes, and some of the photographs are simply classics from their era.

Jane O'Brien spoke to exhibition curator Joel Dinerstein, a scholar of cool from Tulane University who contributed to an accompanying book, to find out what it takes.

Produced by the BBC's Franz Strasser

Picture This is a series of video features published every Thursday on the BBC News website which illustrate interviews with authors about their new books.

VIDEO: One family's experience of FGM

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Female genital mutilation: A family speaks out against the practice

5 February 2014 Last updated at 23:37 GMT

Doctors and nurses in the UK will be required to log details of the injuries suffered by victims of female genital mutilation (FGM).

The practice has been illegal in Britain since 1985, but no-one has ever been prosecuted for FGM, which is widely carried out by communities originally from the Middle East, Africa or Asia.

At least 66,000 girls and women in the UK are believed to be victims.

Three generations of one Somali family, scarred by the practice, have spoken out.

Reeta Chakrabarti reports.

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Female genital mutilation: Hospitals to log victims

Tube strike commuters endure delays

5 February 2014 Last updated at 22:36

Tube strike: London Underground action disrupts commuters

Transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy said 86% of people who usually pay with Oyster cards had done so

Thousands of Tube passengers have endured delays because of strike action over planned job cuts and ticket office closures.

The first of two planned 48-hour strikes by the RMT and TSSA unions means there is a limited Tube service until Friday morning.

Unions have said they will take part in talks on Friday aimed at resolving the dispute.

But London Underground (LU) urged them to meet earlier and suspend the strike.

'Geared up'

A second 48-hour walkout is due to begin at 21:00 GMT on 11 February.

A board at Bank Station illustrated the extent of the closures

RMT leader Bob Crow said: "Our negotiators are geared up and ready to enter the exploratory talks on Friday.

"In the meantime, the current action continues with the rock solid support of our members and we will be back out on the picket lines early in the morning as the strike heads into its third day."

LU managing director Mike Brown said he welcomed the unions' decision to return to conciliation service Acas, but added: "Why wait till Friday?

"I call on the leaderships of the RMT and TSSA to meet us on Thursday and to suspend the strike so we can get on with talks to resolve this issue and avoid any more unnecessary disruption to Londoners."

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has added his condemnation to the industrial action.

He said he did not think there was "any justification for the vast disruption".

Transport for London (TfL) said services on Wednesday were running on most lines.

Many stations, like Waterloo, were crowded with passengers

There were long queues as commuters had to rely on buses

Many people felt they were better off walking to their destinations

London Mayor Boris Johnson met staff at London Bridge station

Transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy said 86% of Londoners who usually paid for travel using their Oyster cards had done so as normal.

But the TSSA disputed this claim, arguing the service had been reduced by 70%.

TfL says its proposed changes, which will lead to 960 job losses - but none compulsory - will modernise systems and save £50m a year.

Mr Hendy added that many of the jobs, such as those in booking offices "were not worth doing" because of other payment options.

If staff adapted and changed they would have a "job for life", he said.

The industrial action, which began at 21:00 GMT on Tuesday, comes as the government said it was considering plans to declare London Underground an essential service in order to curb the threat of future strikes.

Were it to happen, London Underground would be subject to a "minimum service agreement" under which staff would be required to keep a core level of trains going regardless of any industrial action.

BBC London joins the commuters waiting to board the 139 bus

Government sources have told the BBC that the Conservative Party is considering including the proposal in its manifesto for the next general election.

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn called on the mayor of London to ensure there was "real engagement" with the unions before next week's planned strikes.

Mr Corbyn said the Boris Johnson and the government were more interested in pursuing an "anti-union" agenda.

The two sides have traded accusations over the negotiation process.

TfL's Mike Brown told the BBC: "It's difficult to consult with an empty chair, which is the situation we've faced over the last several weeks."

But Mr Crow rejected the claim, saying: "It's nonsense to say TfL have been negotiating with an empty chair. There have been two weeks of talks and RMT has attended every session, as Acas will confirm.

"We have always had job cuts, it is the way you go about it", he said, before asking the mayor to "do the honourable thing and meet with us".

Mr Johnson described the industrial action as "pointless and unnecessary" and reiterated his call for a ban on strikes affecting London transport, unless it was supported by more than 50% of union members eligible to be balloted.

Bob Crow: We do not call strikes for the sake of it

"That would be reasonable for vital transport functions, such as the London Underground, which has to keep the greatest city on earth moving and on which millions of people will depend for their livelihoods," he said.

He later met staff and commuters at London Bridge station.

In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron "unreservedly condemned" the strike and said Labour leader Ed Miliband ought to do the same.

"We need a modernised Tube line working for the millions of Londoners who use it every day.

"The fact is only 3% of transactions now involve ticket offices so it makes sense to have fewer people in those offices but more people on the platforms and the stations.

"So I unreservedly condemn this strike."

But when Mr Miliband did not comment, Mr Cameron said: "Isn't it interesting that with six questions and an invitation to condemn the strike, not a word?"

On Tuesday, Mr Miliband said it was "deeply regrettable" that no negotiations or meetings with the mayor and TfL seemed to have happened.

Panama Canal work stoppage denied

5 February 2014 Last updated at 20:08

Spanish firm Sacyr denies halting work on Panama Canal

Spanish builders Sacyr denied claims that work at the site had been halted, as Will Grant reports

The Spanish building company leading the expansion project on the Panama Canal has denied that work at the waterway has been halted.

The president of Sacyr, Manuel Manrique, said no date had been set for construction work to stop.

The Panama Canal Authority and the building companies involved are engaged in a dispute over who should foot $1.6bn (£1bn) in extra costs.

The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important shipping routes.

The consortium says 10,000 jobs are at risk, but the canal's authority says it will not "yield to blackmail".

Earlier today, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that talks with the Spanish-led consortium behind the project had broken down.

The Canal Authority also said that work had been halted at the site.

Mr Manrique admitted that work may eventually stop, if the building companies run out of cash, but said no such decision had been taken by the consortium.

"There is still room for negotiation with the ACP," Mr Manrique told the Spanish radio network Cadena Ser.

"This project, like many big projects, has unforeseen costs. We want an arbitration court to decide who will pay for that," he added.

The consortium is made up of Spain's Sacyr, Impregilo of Italy, Belgian firm Jan De Nul and Constructora Urbana, a Panamanian firm.

The Panama Canal links the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

'Inflexible'

Canal Administrator Jorge Quintano accused the consortium of being "inflexible" in its negotiations.

He did not rule out that a deal could still be reached, but said the window of opportunity was getting narrower "by the minute".

The Panama Canal Authority had earlier broken off talks, accusing the consortium of breaching its contract.

The contract involves building a new larger set of locks to accommodate ships carrying up to 12,000 containers. At the moment the biggest ships that can navigate the canal carry 5,000 containers.

Sacyr blames the Panama Canal Authority for the breakdown in talks, saying it had failed to respond to the consortium's latest proposal to settle the dispute.

"Without an immediate solution, we face years of disputes in national and international tribunals," Sacyr said in a statement.

Construction work on the expansion started in 2009 and is due to be finished in June 2015

The secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping told the BBC that "any delay will have an impact on the industry".

Peter Hinchliffe said: "Even at this stage, plans to look at the capacity dimensions of ships and routing are already going ahead, so we are very concerned."

Work began on the expansion in 2009.

Construction was due to be completed in June 2015, nine months behind schedule, with the overall cost of the project estimated at $5.2bn.

Any delay might be expected to cost Panama millions of dollars in lost revenue from toll charges.

The canal, inaugurated in 1914, links the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.

Fire crew killed in Argentina blaze

5 February 2014 Last updated at 16:33

Nine fire crew die in Argentina warehouse blaze

All of those killed were first responders battling the flames at the warehouse

At least nine people have been killed in a fire in a warehouse in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires.

Seven of the victims were firefighters and two civil defence workers who were tackling the blaze at a bank's archive.

Argentina's Secretary for Security, Sergio Berni, said they were crushed when a 7m-high (23ft) wall collapsed on top of them.

It took 10 fire crews several hours to get the blaze in Buenos Aires' Barracas neighbourhood under control.

It is not clear yet what caused the fire, which also left seven people injured.

Rescuer workers had to remove rubble by hand to reach the dead and injured.

Local official Guillermo Montenegro said more victims could still be trapped beneath the debris.

Woody Allen son rebuffs abuse claim

5 February 2014 Last updated at 23:40

Moses Farrow defends Woody Allen over abuse claims

Woody Allen has denied sexually abusing his daughter when she was a child

Woody Allen's adopted son has defended the filmmaker over a claim the director molested his adopted daughter in 1992.

Moses Farrow, 36, told People Magazine he believed their mother, actress Mia Farrow, had used the accusations to turn the children against him.

Dylan Farrow recently renewed the sexual abuse claim after speaking out in an open letter last week.

The authorities investigated her allegation at the time, but Mr Allen was not charged.

The filmmaker has called the allegations "untrue and disgraceful" through his publicist.

'Vengeful'

Moses Farrow, one of the children Mr Allen and Ms Farrow adopted together, told the magazine his mother had "drummed it into me to hate my father for tearing apart the family and sexually molesting my sister".

"I see now that this was a vengeful way to pay him back for falling in love with Soon-Yi."

Dylan Farrow alleges Woody Allen molested her when she was seven years old

Dylan Farrow told People Magazine her brother's comments were "such a betrayal to me and my whole family".

"My memories are the truth and they are mine and I will live with that for the rest of my life," she said, denying her mother had coached her to accuse Mr Allen.

She has previously said she decided to break her silence after two decades, when Mr Allen's latest film, Blue Jasmine, was nominated for an Oscar.

Mia Farrow has not directly responded to Moses' statements but tweeted: "I love my daughter. I will always protect her. A lot of ugliness is going to be aimed at me. But this is not about me, it's about her truth."

The New York Times, which originally published Dylan Farrow's open letter, said on Wednesday it may publish a response from Mr Allen.

Ms Farrow and Mr Allen split in 1992 amid revelations that Mr Allen had an affair with Soon-Yi Previn, Mia Farrow's adopted daughter with pianist Andre Previn.

Mr Allen wed Ms Previn in 1997, and the two remain married.

A panel of psychologists, appointed by US prosecutors and the police at the time of the allegations, concluded that Dylan had not been molested.

The case caused controversy when a prosecutor later said there had been "probable cause" to charge Mr Allen, but he had chosen not to, in order to protect the child.

Mia Farrow has repeatedly alleged that Allen abused their adopted daughter, Dylan

Pietersen - the unanswered questions

5 February 2014 Last updated at 19:07

Kevin Pietersen: The unanswered questions over England exit

By Sam Sheringham BBC Sport

If Kevin Pietersen's England career was loud, brash and over-the-top, the manner of his departure was exactly the opposite.

Ten years of soaring highs and plummeting lows were brought to an abrupt end by a bland and unsatisfactory statement from the England & Wales Cricket Board, with vague allusions to a "team ethic" and the need to bring "clarity for the future".

Just as with the departure of team director Andy Flower the preceding week, there was no news conference and therefore no chance to ask legitimate questions about the reasons behind the decision to jettison such an outstanding talent.

Instead we are left with rumour and conjecture, claim and counter-claim that leaves cricket followers scratching their heads.

Here are the questions that remain unanswered:

Why did Pietersen have to go?

"Neither I nor the wider ECB leadership group have made any decisions as to the future involvement of any individuals in the playing group or in the support staff" - England technical director Andy Flower - 8 January

When Pietersen was dropped in 2012, his offence was clear. In sending provocative text messages to opposition players, Pietersen had crossed a line and was disciplined accordingly.

This time the waters are far muddier. Pietersen's reckless shot selection in Australia clearly irritated his coach and captain, but no-one has actually come out and explained what it is that makes him so unmanageable.

Rumours of a stand-up row with captain Alastair Cook in Sydney  have been angrily denied by the Pietersen camp, as have claims that he was not supportive of his team-mates.

Pietersen was, apparently, sometimes late for team meetings and didn't always tow the party line - but that hardly seems grounds for dismissal.

The ECB statement talks about rebuilding the "team philosophy", but nobody is offering a coherent argument to explain why a captain who made such a push for Pietersen to be reintegrated into the side in 2012 has now helped decide the team would be better off without him.

Was he friendless in the dressing-room?

"Kevin has had his moments in the past where he certainly has been divisive in the dressing-room, but to be fair to Kev, since coming back from his 'reintegration' he has been much improved" - Graeme Swann, 27 January

The ECB has talked about rebuilding the "team ethic" without Pietersen, but just how divided was the dressing-room during the Ashes tour and how far was the 33-year-old responsible for any ill-feeling?

Several pundits have pointed at Pietersen's standard fielding position at fine leg during the series to suggest a disconnect with his team-mates, but he was stationed there because of his knee problems.

Following his retirement, Swann told BBC Sport that rumours of rifts were "a made-up pack of lies" and suggested Pietersen's behaviour had improved since 'textgate'.

What changed so drastically during the final two Tests for things to reach a point where Cook wanted Pietersen out?

Did Andy Flower or Ashley Giles have an input?

"There was no discussion about leaving Kevin out. He's another million-pound asset at least, he might be worth a bit more than that. Kev has been a fantastic player for England for many years" - Ashley Giles, 15 January

The ECB described Pietersen's departure as the "unanimous decision" of the England management, including the selectors. This raises several interesting questions.

Did Flower, who remains a selector but no longer the coach, have a hand on the hammer that drove the final nail into the coffin of a player he clearly disliked?

Did Giles, England's limited-overs coach and the favourite for the permanent job, consent to Pietersen's departure and thereby reduce his chances of winning the WorldTwenty20 in Bangladesh?

Less than three weeks earlier, Giles described Pietersen as a "million-pound asset"  and made it clear the controversial star did feature in his plans.

What if the new coach wants Pietersen in his team?

"It's a very strange decision for England to make now. A new director of cricket will be appointed in April and won't have the opportunity to pick a star player. They should be making those decisions on their own" - former England captain Michael Vaughan

The ECB have promised to scour the globe to find the best possible candidate to rebuild the wreckage of the Ashes series and put the team back on the right track for the World Cup and Ashes series in 2015.

Several of the front-runners - including Pietersen's mentor Graham Ford - are known admirers of the batsman and would surely want to start with a clean slate and pick the best possible England side.

Although the ECB statement did not categorically shut the door on a Pietersen return, BBC Sport understands that the new coach will be told that the Surrey batsman is unavailable for selection.

Was Pietersen the only player causing trouble?

"If that situation arose another 100 times, I would phone Kev another 100 times. It wasn't done for any other reason than that I saw a team-mate struggling and, as far as I'm concerned, that becomes the responsibility of the players" - Matt Prior, December 2012

Broadcaster Piers Morgan, a strong supporter of Pietersen, has alleged that wicket-keeper Matt Prior tried to instigate a dressing-room mutiny against Flower during the Melbourne Test.

Morgan told his 3.95m Twitter followers  that Prior called Flower a "headmaster" and urged the players to take possession of the team.

In response, Prior accused Morgan of an "attempt to knock someone who has only ever had the team's best interests at heart".

Was there a growing movement against Flower, and if so, will the coach's departure help harmonise the team?

Is the cull over?

For a variety of reasons, England's Ashes tour has accounted for Jonathan Trott - who left Australia because of a long-standing stress-related illness - Swann, Flower and now Pietersen.

If the ECB really is committed to "looking to the future", as their statement declared, will more players have to go?

Prior, James Anderson and Monty Panesar are all the wrong side of 30 and have been some way off their top form. Clarity over their futures would surely be of benefit as the team looks to move on.

Who will replace Kevin Pietersen?

The need to manage Pietersen's workload has restricted him to just nine one-day international and one Twenty20 appearance since February 2012, so it is in the England Test team that he leaves the biggest void.

With opener Michael Carberry unlikely to keep his place and no timescale yet put on Trott's recovery, suddenly England are looking for three new batsmen in their top six.

Eoin Morgan, Gary Ballance and James Taylor will all be pushing for selection, but not for many years has the England team looked more open or exposed.

Also related to this story

• Cook influential in Pietersen exit 05 Feb 2014 England
• Prior dismisses Piers Morgan claims 05 Feb 2014 England
• Pietersen's England career over 04 Feb 2014 England
• Dressing-room verdict clear on Pietersen - Agnew 04 Feb 2014 Cricket
• Pietersen - always the man apart 05 Feb 2014 Cricket
• Vaughan & Boycott on 'box office' Pietersen 04 Feb 2014 England
• Gallery Pietersen's England career in pictures 04 Feb 2014 England
• England in Australia 2013-14 02 Feb 2014 England
• Get Inspired: CRICKET 19 Jul 2013 Get Inspired

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