Israel apologies for Kerry criticism

15 January 2014 Last updated at 01:18 GMT

Israel apologises for John Kerry 'obsession' comments

Mr Yaalon (centre) was quoted as accusing Mr Kerry of "incomprehensible obsession"

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Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has apologised for quotes that appeared in a newspaper that lambasted US Secretary of State John Kerry's role in the Middle East peace process.

Mr Yaalon was quoted as saying that Mr Kerry was acting out of "misplaced obsession and messianic fervour".

The US state department expressed anger at the remarks.

However, in a statement, Mr Yaalon's office said that he had no intention to cause any offence.

"The defence minister... apologises if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister."

Israel and the US shared "a common goal" of advancing peace talks with the Palestinians, the statement said.

"We appreciate Secretary Kerry's many efforts towards that end."

The White House said the alleged comments were "inappropriate" given America's support to Israel's security.

It was a rare rebuke to America's ally.

The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in New York says that Mr Yaalon's alleged comments - first published by Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper - may reflect the mind-set of other government officials, but Israelis want to protect their relationship with their strongest ally.

'Framework' plan

Mr Yaalon said a security plan that Mr Kerry had presented to Israel was "not worth the paper it was written on".

"John Kerry - who has come to us determined and is acting out of an incomprehensible obsession and messianic fervour - cannot teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians," he was quoted as saying.

He expressed the hope that Mr Kerry, who has made 10 trips to Israel since March, would terminate his drive for peace and focus his energies elsewhere.

"The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Yaalon made his comments in private conversations in Israel and the US, the Israeli newspaper said.

White House spokesman Jay Carney accused the minister of misrepresenting Mr Kerry's proposals.

"Secretary Kerry and his team have been working non-stop in their efforts to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the deep concern the United States has, and the deep commitment the United States has for and to Israel's future and the Israeli people.

"To question his motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defence minister of a close ally."

Mr Yaalon's comments also drew criticism from Mr Netanyahu.

Mr Kerry has in recent months attempted to inject momentum into Israeli-Palestinian peace talks re-launched last July.

Mr Kerry is a regular visitor to Israel as part of his efforts to reach a peace deal in the Middle East

But the talks have so far shown little sign of progress.

Earlier this month, he held talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives in an effort to secure a "framework" for a final Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

However, Israel is said to be demanding that it maintains a military presence under any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

While the peace talks have been continuing, Israel last week announced plans to build 1,400 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

A dispute over settlement construction led to the collapse of the last peace talks.

Syria says West in talks on security

15 January 2014 Last updated at 01:22 GMT

Syria says West talks to Damascus about Islamist rebels

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister: "Many foreign intelligence agencies have visited Damascus"

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Western intelligence agencies have visited Damascus for talks on combating radical Islamist groups, Syria's deputy foreign minister has told the BBC.

Faisal Mekdad said there was a schism between Western security officials and politicians who are pressing President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

The growth of jihadist groups among rebels fighting President Assad has caused international concern.

Syrian government officials are due to attend peace talks in Geneva next week.

However, the main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, has still not decided whether or not to take part.

Correspondents say the growing disarray of the opposition is frustrating the West and bolstering the confidence of the Syrian government.

In a recent interview, Mr Mekdad told the BBC that many Western governments had finally understood that there was no alternative to the leadership of President Assad.

'Terror threat'

Asked if Western intelligence agencies - including British intelligence - had recently visited Damascus, he said: "I will not specify but many of them have visited Damascus, yes."

On the subject of whether Syria was getting more requests from Western countries to have their diplomats return to Damascus, he added: "Yes, there are many countries who are approaching us. Of course some are waiting for Geneva, some are saying we are exploring the possibilities, some are saying we want to co-operate on security measures because those terrorists they are sending from Western Europe into Turkey, into Syria, have become a real threat to them."

The British Foreign Office told the BBC it does not comment on intelligence matters.

However, the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet said informed sources had confirmed meetings between Western and Syrian intelligence officials.

The growing numbers of foreign Islamist fighters from Europe means there are common concerns, she says, but it is not clear how far the West is prepared to make common cause with a regime it holds responsible for the Syrian civil war.

An official from the Syrian National Coalition recently said the US and Britain had warned they would rethink their support if the group failed to join the peace talks.

Meanwhile, a donor conference to raise funds for the humanitarian crisis in Syria is due to take place in Kuwait City on Wednesday.

Syrian refugees continue to cross into Turkey to flee the fighting

The UN says it is asking for $6.5bn (£4bn) over the coming year for Syria, its biggest ever funding request for a single crisis.

It is believed that more than nine million Syrians have been displaced by the uprising that began nearly three years ago.

Refugee camps outside Syria's borders are barely coping and reports from some besieged communities inside the country have warned of imminent starvation.

The UN says more than 100,000 people have died since the uprising began.

Labour bid to limit RBS bonuses

15 January 2014 Last updated at 01:08 GMT

RBS bonuses: Labour urges Chancellor to enforce EU limit

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Labour is urging Chancellor George Osborne to block any attempt by Royal Bank of Scotland to pay bonuses of up to double its bankers' annual salary.

The Financial Times reported that RBS will seek to invoke an EU rule that it can pay bonuses up to that limit if they are approved by shareholders.

But Labour has tabled a Commons motion calling on the government - RBS's biggest shareholder - to reject it.

A Treasury source told the BBC that RBS had made no request regarding bonuses.

The normal limit for bonuses set by the EU is equivalent to one year's pay but the EU rules do allow this to be doubled with shareholder approval.

However, the Treasury had already launched a separate legal challenge arguing against the EU's right to set any limits on banking bonuses at all, saying that such intervention could lead to an increase in base pay and undermine financial stability.

BBC business editor Robert Peston said the situation created an "awkward twist for the government".

He said: "Although pay levels for bankers have fallen... the sums shelled out still look enormous at a time when earnings for the vast majority of households continue to be squeezed.

Shadow treasury chief secretary Chris Leslie said: "At a time when families face a cost-of-living crisis and bank lending to business is falling, it cannot be right for George Osborne to approve a doubling of the bank bonus cap.

"As the majority shareholder, the government should reject any request from RBS to increase the cap. We will put this to a vote in the House of Commons as part of our opposition day debate on the government's wider failures on banking."

Branch sales

The BBC's political editor, Nick Robinson, said the move by Labour is part of its agenda to argue that the Prime Minister and his chancellor "stand up for the wrong the people".

On Friday, Mr Miliband is expected to flesh out details of a proposal made last year to force the big High Street banks to sell off branches, the BBC understands.

He wants to promote the growth of new banks that could challenge the "big five" - Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays, and Santander.

The BBC's Newsnight reported that Mr Miliband may suggest a cap on the size of banks, possibly based on their share of the UK market.

However, business sources told the programme that such an intervention was another example of an anti-business sentiment in the Labour Party.

Last year, Mr Miliband said a new Labour government would impose a price freeze on energy prices.

New HS2 boss pledges to cut costs

14 January 2014 Last updated at 08:27 GMT

HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins pledges to make savings

Sir David Higgins started as chairman of HS2 on Tuesday

The new chairman of HS2 has pledged to deliver the high-speed rail project more cheaply, as he started the job.

Sir David Higgins also told the BBC his priorities were to build the £50bn project more quickly and "get benefits to the north earlier".

There is "no other way" to make the "step-change" to the UK's transport capacity, he told BBC Radio 4 Today.

Critics argue costs are spiralling but ministers believe HS2 will create jobs and boost the economy.

HS2 would link Birmingham and London by 2026, with tracks to cities including Leeds and Manchester built in a second phase, to be completed by 2032-33.

The projected cost of the project is about £43bn, but this estimate does not include the trains, which will cost about £7bn.

It comes as ministers announced HS2 would have a dedicated further education college to train engineers. Students would be trained in the skills needed to construct the railway, with the college set to open in 2017.

'Can it be quicker?'

Sir David said: "The first thing I want to look at is the overall deliverability. Time - can we make it quicker? Can we get benefits to the north earlier? And then how can we deliver it most effectively? Hopefully that will deliver cost savings."

The former Network Rail chief executive said he had been asked to report back to Transport Secretary Patrick Mcloughlin by early to mid-March on savings.

In the interview, he said HS2 would not affect the existing rail network.

"It's not a case of 'We're going to build HS2 so the existing network will suffer'," he said.

"There will be around the same amount of money spent every year on the existing network as will be spent on HS2 during this 20-year period. The most important thing is integrating those plans."

He said HS2 was a "huge step forward", and would see 18 new "train paths" on the west coast of the UK, with trains that could take up to 1,000 people at a time. The existing network could not do this, he said.

"There's no other way of making this step-change to the transport capacity of the country," said Sir David, who said it would change the country's "connectivity" and rebalance the economy.

HS2 has so far commanded cross-party support but Labour appeared to change its tone last year, saying it would not give the project a "blank cheque".

Sir David said the project continued to see a "good line of communication with both sides [the opposition and government]".

"The most important thing now is to have a proper engagement with the Commons and explain the work that's going to happen over next few months," he said.

Olympic Games

Sir David was responsible for ensuring the Olympic Park was built on time and on budget, ready for 2012 Games, as chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority.

His appointment last September was viewed as a clear sign that the government was sticking to its plans for the controversial project, despite opposition, including from some of its own MPs.

Ministers claim the countries railways will be overwhelmed without HS2. They also say it HS2 will create tens of thousands of jobs, boost the UK's economic prospects and slash journey times to and from London.

But critics believe the case for the high-speed line is flawed and costs are increasing.

BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott said Sir David had two main tasks - to keep costs down and to convince people HS2 is worth the money.

Care home workers strike over pay

14 January 2014 Last updated at 00:45 GMT

Glasgow City Council care home workers strike over pay

By Jamie McIvor BBC Scotland local government correspondent

Council care workers in Glasgow are beginning a 48-hour strike over changes to their pay and working conditions.

The union, Unison, said the changes may leave some staff at the council's care homes almost £1,500 a year worse off.

Glasgow City Council said staff would not have basic salary cut, but some may lose shift allowances. It said plans were in place to minimise disruption.

The strike will affect 600 people in 15 elderly care homes and one home caring for people with physical disabilities.

Unison said the council's changes would mean new roles for staff, longer shifts and pay cuts of up to 7%.

'No alternative'

Brian Smith, Unison's Glasgow branch secretary, said: "We have not taken action lightly but have no alternative. Again, we ask Glasgow City Council to work with us to reach an agreement.

"These changes will affect the vulnerable people our members care for.

"The lowest paid staff are being asked to take on new tasks like dispensing medicines - and at the same time they are being forced to work longer shifts and to accept massive pay cuts."

The union said the new shift patterns would mean a wage loss of up to £1,495 per year for 182 staff.

Mr Smith added: "We are concerned increasing shifts to 12-and-a-half hours - and reducing staff/resident ratios at night - will undermine the standard of care that we can provide.

"Our residents have complex needs and caring is a demanding job. We must maintain a competent and confident workforce who can give the care our residents deserve."

Glasgow City Council said only 111 out of 536 staff voted in the strike ballot. Of those who voted, 82 voted for the strike.

The council said it had made changes the union wanted, including giving staff more time with residents and offering staff two out of three weekends off.

Staff contracts

It also plans to make up to 160 temporary staff at care homes permanent.

A council spokesman conceded that some staff would see their take home pay reduced but said this was because they would be working fewer unsociable hours. He stressed basic pay was not being cut.

The spokesman said: "We have been very surprised that Unison has refused to offer 'live and limb' cover, just as we are very disappointed that Unison has moved to strike action at all.

"The new workforce plan, which meets the wish of staff for more weekends off and for greater contact with residents, has been agreed to in writing by 93% of staff.

"One of the major benefits of the plan is that 160 staff in temporary positions will receive permanent contracts.

"At a time when there is still great uncertainty in the economy with increased use of zero-hours contracts we believe it is a major plus that we can offer workers secure employment."

The spokesman said that by moving staff to permanent contracts the council could help to reduce its reliance on agency staff within care homes.

He added: "This represents a good deal for staff, the council and the council tax payer, but primarily for care home residents, who will enjoy enhanced continuity of care."

VIDEO: Horsemeat scandal's lingering legacy

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Did the horsemeat scandal change our habits?

14 January 2014 Last updated at 06:49 GMT

A year after the horsemeat scandal first hit the headlines, there are still concerns about the origin of some food in the UK.

A study by the consumer organisation Which? found that in some areas, local authorities had not carried out any hygiene tests on food served in places like restaurants, schools and hospitals.

But, as Breakfast's Tim Muffett reports, the impact of the scandal on our eating habits may be softening.

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Horsemeat scandal: How tastes changed

VIDEO: WW1 soldier diaries published online

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WW1 soldier diaries published online

14 January 2014 Last updated at 08:02 GMT

Diaries from British soldiers describing life on the frontline during World War One are being published online by the National Archives.

About 1.5 million pages from soldiers who recorded their lives from the outbreak of war to their departure from Flanders and France will be made available.

The project is part of the government's World War One centenary programme.

Robert Hall reports.

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WW1 soldier diaries placed online by National Archives