Photos of Boston suspects released
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 03:05 am 18 April 2013 Last updated at 17:49 ET 
Photos of the two suspects, wearing baseball caps, near the scene of the blasts
The FBI has released photos of two suspects it wants to identify as part of the investigation into Monday's Boston marathon bombings.
CCTV captured the two men, one wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap and the other a white cap, near the scene.
FBI Agent Richard DesLauriers warned members of the public not to approach the two men.
US President Barack Obama earlier vowed at a memorial service for victims the perpetrators would be held accountable.
"We consider them to be armed and extremely dangerous," Mr DesLauriers said of the two suspects, during Thursday evening's press conference in a Boston hotel.
He said the FBI was aware of no additional threat.
Mr DesLauriers warned that the only the photos released by the FBI should be used as credible when the public is considering offering tips.
The agency's website crashed within moments of the photo's release.
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Rolf Harris in sex offence inquiry
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 03:01 am 19 April 2013 Last updated at 03:01 ET 
The entertainer and artist has been granted bail until May
Rolf Harris has been questioned by police over historical allegations of sexual offences.
The 83-year-old entertainer and artist was interviewed under caution after attending police premises in south London by appointment in November.
On 28 March, Mr Harris, from Berkshire, was arrested and bailed until May.
He was held as part of the inquiry set up after claims were made against Jimmy Savile although his arrest is unrelated to the former BBC DJ and TV presenter.
Operation Yewtree was set up following the death of Savile in 2011, when hundreds of sex abuse allegations came to light.
The Metropolitan Police did not name Mr Harris after he was first questioned or following his arrest and have still not formally identified him. He is described by them as Yewtree 5.
Although the media was aware of Mr Harris's name in November, they chose only to report that an 82-year-old man had been questioned. His name was first reported by the Sun on its website and later editions of the newspaper on Friday.
His name has not been revealed by the BBC until now for legal reasons, says BBC News home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.
Twelve arrests Mr Harris's home in Berkshire was searched in November but he was not at the house at that point.
Scotland Yard said in March: "An 82-year-old man from Berkshire was arrested by officers on Operation Yewtree on suspicion of sexual offences.
"He has been bailed to a date in May pending further inquiries. The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'others'."
Mr Harris, one of 12 people arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, has not yet made any public comment.
The police investigation has three strands.
One is looking specifically at the actions of Savile, and the second strand concerns allegations against "Savile and others".
The third strand relates to complaints against other people unconnected to the Savile investigations, made by people who came forward after widespread coverage of the scandal.
Other high-profile names who were questioned in connection with the investigation are PR consultant Max Clifford, comedian Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis and comedian Jim Davidson - who all deny any wrongdoing. Gary Glitter, 69, whose real name is Paul Gadd, who was also arrested, has not yet made a statement.
A former driver for the BBC, David Smith, 66, has been charged with past sex offences following his arrest in December.
A former BBC producer, Wilfred De'Ath, arrested last year in Cambridgeshire over an allegation of indecent assault on a girl in the 1960s, has been told he will not face any charges.
Read in browser » Big police operation in Boston area
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 03:17 am 19 April 2013 Last updated at 00:26 ET 
A gunman has shot dead a police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge near Boston, officials say.
Cambridge police say the officer was responding to a report of a disturbance in the area when he was shot and suffered "multiple wounds".
He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police say they are still looking for the gunman and the campus is on lockdown.
A statement on the university's website says a building there is surrounded by the emergency services.
The statement says the situation is considered "extremely dangerous".
The university advises students to stay clear of the area until further notice.
Read in browser » Pakistani police arrest Musharraf
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 02:48 am 18 April 2013 Last updated at 23:59 ET
Pakistani police have arrested former President Pervez Musharraf and presented him in court, reports say.
TV images showed General Musharraf flanked by uniformed police officers at an Islamabad court.
On Thursday a court ordered the former leader's arrest over his alleged attempt to impose house arrest on judges in March 2007.
However, after the ruling police made no attempt to arrest him as he left the court.
Read in browser » Tough inspection plan for nurseries
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 12:10 am 19 April 2013 Last updated at 00:10 ET By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter 
Nurseries and childminders in England will face tougher inspections under proposals expected to be announced by Ofsted later.
Under the plans, childcare providers currently classed as "satisfactory" will be dubbed "requiring improvement" and undergo extra inspections.
The move replicates changes made to school inspection ratings last year.
The Pre-School Learning Alliance warned that real improvements would require better funding for childcare.
Chief Inspector of Education Sir Michael Wilshaw is to announce a consultation on the proposals in a speech to an invited audience.
'Raising expectations' Ofsted says that evidence from its inspections shows that nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are not improving fast enough between inspections, particularly in poorer areas.
The latest Ofsted figures show that in 2012 the majority of England's nurseries and childminders were judged "good" (62%) or "outstanding" (12%) by inspectors - but 25% were judged "satisfactory" with 1% classed as "inadequate".
Under the proposed changes from September only "good" or better will be deemed acceptable by Ofsted.
The watchdog says the proposals "will raise expectations and tackle weaker settings".
Nurseries and pre-schools "requiring improvement" will undergo more frequent inspections and will have a maximum of four years to achieve a "good" rating.
Those which fail to do this are likely to be then judged "inadequate" and may face having their registration cancelled.
"We all know from the research that children's early years are a period of rapid development and vital for building a secure foundation for future personal and academic success," Sir Michael is expected to say.
"Parents, whatever their circumstances, want their children to access good quality childcare and get a good early education that sets them up well for statutory schooling.
"Yet too many providers are not good enough, particularly in the most deprived areas. We must be tougher on weak settings. From September 2013, nurseries and pre-schools judged less than good will need to improve rapidly."
Sir Michael added that Ofsted would encourage good or outstanding childcare providers to support weaker ones.
Ofsted's most recent report on early years providers said that despite an overall improvement many children were not well prepared for school, particularly in poor areas.
The report, analysing inspection reports from 2011-12 said: "It is a concern that 34% of children are not working securely in communication, language and literacy by the end of the early years foundation stage."
"It is also worse in deprived areas where 41% of children are not working securely in communication, language and literacy as a whole," it adds.
Mixed reactions Sir Michael added that inspections would include a focus on qualifications held by early years staff.
Groups representing childcare providers had a mixed reaction to the plans, broadly welcoming the focus on improvement.
But Neil Leitch of the Pre-school Learning Alliance warned that the term "requires improvement" may mean little to parents: "Any setting, regardless of Ofsted rating, should always be looking to improve.
"While we welcome the aspiration of high-quality childcare, without a rethink on policy and adequate funding from government, we struggle to see how a real improvement will be made."
Purnima Tanuku, of the National Day Nurseries Association, urged the government "to make sure that there are sufficient support mechanisms in place to help weaker settings get better."
She warned that local authority cuts had reduced the amount of local improvement work and free training for staff.
Anand Shukla, of the Daycare Trust, added: "We are particularly concerned by the suggestion that Ofsted will be the sole arbiter of quality in the early years. Ofsted is ultimately a regulator with a limited remit and is not resourced to enable it to influence providers in all parts of England.
"Local authorities tend to have local intelligence and are closest to providers."
Read in browser » PM to launch local election campaign
By Anonymous on Apr 19, 2013 02:36 am 19 April 2013 Last updated at 02:36 ET 
David Cameron, with his wife Samantha, during last year's local elections
David Cameron is set to launch the Conservative campaign for the local elections in England.
The prime minster is expected to appeal for the votes of "hard-working people", during a visit to the Midlands.
Elections will be held for 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities in England, along with Anglesey in Wales, on Thursday 2 May.
The Greens will launch their campaign in Oxford later. Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP have already begun campaigning.
At a speech in Warwickshire, Mr Cameron is expected to tell party members: "Remember what we're fighting for.
"Yes, we're fighting for our councils but it's about more than that.
"We're rebuilding our country. Backing hard-working people. Making this a country where if you work hard and do the right thing, you will get on."
'Key achievements' Mr Cameron is also expected to hail progress on welfare reform, immigration and cutting income tax.
Aides said he would also insist Tory-led town halls run better services and highlight what he sees as key achievements of the coalition administration in Westminster.
They are to include job creation, progress on reducing the deficit, cuts in the income tax threshold and capping benefits.
Mr Cameron is also expected to highlight the government's scheme to encourage local authorities in England to freeze council tax bills by providing central cash to cushion the cut in real-terms income.
But although it has helped keep the average rise to a below-inflation 0.8% across the country this year, many Conservative authorities are among the third of the total which have rejected the offer.
'Significant gains' The Conservatives came third, behind UKIP and the Liberal Democrats, in the most recent local by-election, in Eastleigh, Hampshire, triggered by Chris Huhne's resignation and subsequent jailing for perverting the course of justice.
Nigel Farage's UKIP Party is fielding a record number of candidates in the 2 May poll. He said his party would "establish a bridgehead" in the poll.
Labour is expected to make significant gains among the 2,449 seats up for grabs as they were last fought for in 2009 when Gordon Brown's government was unpopular nationally.
Leader Ed Miliband pledged to "stand up for those without power", as he launched the party's campaign earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg began the Lib Dems' campaign on Monday.
Speaking during a visit to Kendal in Cumbria, he said the party had the "right priorities in tough times" and had proved it could be relied upon to deliver local services "as fairly as possible".
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