Istanbul protesters defy police
By Anonymous on Jun 16, 2013 12:02 am 16 June 2013 Last updated at 00:02 ET 
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James Reynolds reports on the police raid at Gezi Park
Protesters have clashed with Turkish police in Istanbul, after riot squads used tear gas and water cannon to eject demonstrators from Gezi Park.
The protesters quickly fled the park, but later erected barricades across nearby streets and lit bonfires.
Witnesses said it was one of the worst nights of unrest since the park was occupied 18 days ago.
Thousands of people also took to the streets of the capital, Ankara, to express support for the protests.
The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) also said it would call a nationwide strike on Monday, while another union grouping is deciding whether to join the action.
Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began in earnest on 31 May.
Continue reading the main story Protest timeline
31 May: Protests begin in Gezi Park over plans to redevelop one of Istanbul's few green spaces
3 June: Protesters establish camps with makeshift facilities from libraries to food centres
4-10 June: Protests widen into show of anti-government dissent in towns and cities across Turkey; clashes between police and demonstrators
11/12 June: Night of clashes see riot police disperse anti-government demonstrators in Taksim Square, which adjoins Gezi Park; camps in the park remain
13 June: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issues a "final warning" to protesters to leave Gezi Park
14 June: Government agrees to suspend Gezi Park redevelopment plans until a court rules on the issue, PM holds talks with members of a key protest group
15 June: Police move in, clearing protesters from Gezi Park
The protests began as a local protest against a plan to redevelop Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities.
Earlier in the week the police cleared Taksim Square, in which the park is located, but the government had since appeared to be more conciliatory.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a hate figure for the protesters, had agreed to postpone the redevelopment while the courts considered the project's legality.
However, in a speech to supporters of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara on Saturday he said the park had to be "evacuated" by the security forces.
And late on Saturday riot squads moved in, taking just 30 minutes to dislodge the protesters.
The BBC's James Reynolds, who was at the park, says the officers advanced slowly, wearing gas masks and carrying riot shields, amid a cloud of white tear gas.
Most protesters chose to leave to avoid getting hurt. Some regrouped in nearby streets, but police fired more tear gas in an effort to disperse them.
Clashes then erupted around the city, with protesters ripping up paving stones and tearing down fences to use as barricades. In some areas they chanted: "Tayyip resign."
Police chased protesters to hotels where they had taken refuge, and some activists claimed medical facilities were targeted with water cannon and tear gas.
In Ankara, thousands of protesters gathered for a rally near the US embassy.
International concern Our correspondent says the prime minister has won back the ground that he lost to protesters two weeks ago.
But it is not yet clear which side has won the larger fight for the country's support.
Last month, an Istanbul court issued an initial injunction against the plan to cut down trees in the park to make way for a shopping centre and replica 18th-Century military barracks. The government has appealed against the ruling.
Mr Erdogan's offer was presented as a major concession. But after discussions in Gezi Park on Friday night, the protesters said their movement was more than just a conservation protest and vowed to stay on.
Demonstrators have accused Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and of trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.
The police crackdown on protesters in Istanbul, Ankara, and other towns and cities has drawn international concern, especially from Europe.
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Cameron to meet Putin ahead of G8
By Anonymous on Jun 16, 2013 03:26 am 15 June 2013 Last updated at 23:50 ET 
Mr Cameron and Mr Putin will discuss the conflict in Syria
David Cameron is due to hold talks in London with Russian President Vladimir Putin - expected to focus on the Syria conflict - before the two leaders fly to Northern Ireland for the G8 summit.
Mr Putin has made no secret of his opposition to the US supplying the rebels with weapons.
Mr Cameron will also have a one-on-one meeting on Monday with US President Barack Obama before the G8 summit.
The summit is taking place at the resort of Lough Erne, County Fermanagh.
Differences over Syria have added to the already delicate state of UK-Russian relations.
Arms supplies Russia, a long-time backer of the Syrian regime, has made it clear it is deeply sceptical about US, British and French claims that the Syrian military has used chemical weapons against the rebels.
The US said this had crossed a "red line" set down by Mr Obama.
Washington has talked about arming the Syrian opposition and Mr Cameron has insisted that more must be done to help them - but said the UK had taken no decision about arms.
Moscow could now go ahead with plans to provide sophisticated new air defences to the Syrian regime.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus said the two leaders may choose to focus on where they can agree.
This included the need for a political transition in Syria and preparations for an international conference in Geneva to get this process going.
Fierce fighting But the chances of such a conference are looking bleaker by the day, said our correspondent.
He added that one of the tests of the G8 gathering would be to see if it can re-establish the hopes of a renewed political path out of Syria's escalating violence.
On the ground in Syria, there have been reports of the fiercest fighting in months in the country's largest city, Aleppo.
On Thursday, the UN said that two years of conflict had killed at least 93,000 people.
The G8 summit - a meeting of leaders of the world's foremost economic nations - takes place in County Fermanagh on Monday and Tuesday.
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the US and the UK will be represented.
Read in browser » 'Few men' take extra paternity leave
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2013 10:35 pm 15 June 2013 Last updated at 22:35 ET 
Men cannot afford to take additional paternity leave, the TUC said
Fewer than 1% of fathers take advantage of additional paternity leave up to a total of 26 weeks, figures suggest.
The TUC study for 2011/12 found just 1,650 out of 285,000 men took the leave at the statutory rate of £136 a week.
The trade union organisation said this was because fathers could not afford to live on such a rate, which is not normally supplemented by employers.
The Department for Business said a new system of shared parental leave would be introduced from 2015.
The system which allows men to take up to 26 weeks additional paternity leave - and receive additional statutory paternity pay - was only introduced in April 2011 and the TUC figures are based on its first year.
New fathers had already been entitled - and continue to be entitled - to two weeks ordinary paternity leave. They can only claim the extra weeks in their child's first year if the mother returns to work before taking her full maternity leave entitlement.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "A good gift for fathers this Sunday would be for ministers to increase statutory paternity pay rates and for employers to top it up for longer, so that new dads can spend more time with their children.
"Poor levels of financial support are preventing new dads from taking extra time off and are particularly affecting low-paid fathers who simply cannot afford to take leave.
"Extending paternity pay from two to six weeks and paying a better statutory rate would make a massive difference, as has been shown in other countries."
'Better involved' The TUC said in contrast the first two weeks of paternity leave was taken by nine out of 10 fathers. But the difference is that although the statutory rate is the same - £136 a week - many employers typically choose to top this up to full pay throughout that short period of leave.
A spokesman for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills said: "The current system for parental leave is old-fashioned and too rigid.
"This is why we are introducing a system of shared parental leave from April 2015 so that fathers can take more leave if they want to in the early days of a child's life.
"We want to challenge the myth that it is the mother's role to stay at home and care for children.
"Men will be more able to get better involved with the caring of their children from the earliest stages and evidence shows this sort of involvement has significant benefits for children's educational and emotional development in later life."
A separate report by NatCen Social Research and the University of East Anglia has found that men with a partner and children at home work longer hours than other working men.
Three in 10 men in this family situation worked 48 hours a week and one in 10 worked more than 60 hours.
Read in browser » Rouhani hails 'win over extremism'
By Anonymous on Jun 16, 2013 03:23 am 16 June 2013 Last updated at 03:23 ET 
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Supporters of the reformist-backed cleric Hassan Rouhani celebrate his victory
Hassan Rouhani has hailed his election as Iran's president as a "victory of moderation over extremism".
The reformist-backed cleric won just over 50% of the vote and so avoided the need for a run-off.
Thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran when the result was announced, shouting pro-reform slogans.
The US expressed concern at a "lack of transparency" and "censorship" but praised the Iranian people and said it was ready to work with Tehran.
Some 72.2% of the 50 million eligible voters cast ballots on Friday to choose the successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Rouhani issued a statement saying that "a new opportunity has been created for those who truly respect democracy, interaction and free dialogue".
Continue reading the main story Hassan Rouhani
- A religious moderate, fluent in English, German, French, Russian and Arabic
- The only cleric contesting the Iranian presidential election
- Key figure in Iranian politics who has held some of the country's top jobs, including chief nuclear negotiator
- Has the backing of two former presidents
The 64-year-old cleric said: "I thank God that once again rationality and moderation has shone on Iran... This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity... over extremism."
But he also said: "The nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic republic."
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei congratulated Mr Rouhani on his victory, saying: "I urge everyone to help the president-elect and his colleagues in the government, as he is the president of the whole nation."
Ayatollah Khamenei will ratify the vote on 3 August and the new president will then take the oath in parliament.
Sanctions There were scenes of celebration in the capital, as thousands of people, many sporting Mr Rouhani's election colour of purple, took to the streets.
Security officials stood by but did not intervene as crowds chanted: "Long live Rouhani."
Continue reading the main story At the scene
Mohsen Asgari BBC News, Tehran
Minutes after the announcement of the final result of the election, people in Tehran showed their happiness by pouring on to the streets. Standing on the roof of the BBC building in northern Tehran, I could hear cars blowing their horns and some people cheering.
On the phone a friend excitedly told me how people had left their cars and were walking toward Vali-Asr Square in central Tehran, which has witnessed many of Mr Rouhani's rallies in the past 10 days.
The reaction of the people showed how much they trusted the electoral system, after there had been much debate within the opposition about whether to boycott the election or take part.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent a message of congratulations to the people and called them the real winners of the election. Iran's supreme leader had urged everyone - even those who do not like the Islamic system but love their country - to vote.
After the last presidential election in June 2009, millions of Iranians took to the streets to demand a re-run, when the supreme leader dismissed claims by the three defeated candidates of widespread fraud.
On Saturday, some chants were heard calling for the release of political prisoners, a policy Mr Rouhani appears to support.
One of Mr Rouhani's main election pledges was to try to ease international sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme.
Iran has been suffering economic hardship, with rising unemployment, a devalued currency and soaring inflation.
But although Mr Rouhani has pledged greater engagement with Western powers, correspondents caution that power remains in the hands of the ruling clerics and the Revolutionary Guard.
Western powers remained circumspect in their assessment of the result.
The US said it respected the vote and would "engage Iran directly" to find a "diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme".
But White House spokesman Jay Carney did congratulate Iranians for their courage in voting.
The UK Foreign Office urged Mr Rouhani to "set Iran on a different course for the future: addressing international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme... and improving the political and human rights situation for the people of Iran".
France said it was "ready to work" with the new leader.
But Israel's foreign ministry said Ayatollah Khamenei remained in charge, adding: "Iran must conform to the demands of the international community and stop its nuclear programme and cease spreading terrorism in the world."
Surge of support Mr Rouhani, who has held several parliamentary posts and served as chief nuclear negotiator, had not been an obvious landslide winner.
Continue reading the main story Election results
- Hassan Rouhani: 18,613,329
- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf: 6,077,292
- Saeed Jalili: 4,168,946
- Mohsen Rezai: 3,884,412
- Ali Akbar Velayati: 2,268,753
- Mohammad Gharazi: 446,015
- Votes cast: 36,704,156
The surge of support for him came after Mohammad Reza Aref, the only reformist candidate in the race, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing on the advice of pro-reform ex-President Mohammad Khatami.
Mr Rouhani thus went into polling day with the endorsement of two ex-presidents - Mr Khatami and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was disqualified from the race by the powerful Guardian Council, a 12-member body of theologians and jurists.
In the end, Mr Rouhani won 18,613,329 of the 36,704,156 votes cast. This represented 50.71% of the vote, giving him enough to avoid a run-off.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf won 6,077,292 votes to take second place (16.56%).
Saeed Jalili came third and Mohsen Rezai fourth.
Read in browser » Man held as four stabbed in mosque
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2013 11:00 pm 15 June 2013 Last updated at 21:15 ET Four men, one of them a police officer, have been stabbed at a mosque in central Birmingham.
A 32-year-old was arrested at the scene on Washwood Heath Road in Ward End on suspicion of attempted murder.
The condition of the four men is said to be stable at a hospital in the city.
West Midlands Police said the officer suffered stab injuries as he tried to detain the man. Police were called at about 23:00 BST on Saturday and are continuing patrols in the area.
Read in browser » Ecuador minister in Assange talks
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2013 08:00 pm 15 June 2013 Last updated at 20:00 ET 
Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for a year
Ecuador's foreign minister is due to arrive in the UK for talks with his British counterpart over the situation of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Mr Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador but will be arrested by British authorities if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Ricardo Patino will visit Mr Assange later and meet William Hague on Monday.
Mr Assange is wanted in Sweden where he faces sexual assault allegations by two women, claims he denies.
He arrived at the Ecuadorean embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London a year ago on Wednesday after the UK Supreme Court refused to reopen his appeal against extradition.
The British government has spent about £3m on police officers to guard the embassy around the clock.
Degree of flexibility The UK has insisted it will not allow Mr Assange out of the country without police officers arresting him for breaking bail conditions.
The Australian national fears he will be extradited to the US if he is sent to Sweden.
Wikileaks is being investigated by US authorities for publishing thousands of confidential military documents.
Mr Patino said he hoped his visit would help to move the situation forward and Mr Hague would show a degree of flexibility.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We remain committed to seeking a diplomatic solution to this situation and must also ensure that our laws are followed.
"The UK has a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of sexual offences, and the British police must fulfil this."
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