Obama homage to 'hero' Mandela
By Anonymous on Jun 28, 2013 09:41 pm 28 June 2013 Last updated at 21:41 ET 
President Barack Obama will visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years
US President Barack Obama is set to meet South African President Jacob Zuma, as the country continues to hold prayers and vigils for ailing former leader Nelson Mandela.
Mr Obama's Air Force One landed in Pretoria on Friday evening, as part of his three-country tour of Africa.
The US president has described Mr Mandela as a "hero for the world".
But prior to his arrival he said he did not expect to see the former leader, who is critically ill in hospital.
The 94-year-old was admitted on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.
His ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, said on Friday she felt it would not be right for President Obama to visit him while he was in a critical condition.
"I'm not a doctor but I can say that from what he was a few days ago there is great improvement, but clinically he is still unwell," she said.
'Legacy will linger' Mr Obama travelled to South Africa from Senegal. During his weekend trip, the US president will visit Robben Island, where Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
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Winnie Madikizela-Mandela spoke of "a very difficult situation"
He is also expected to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and give a major speech at the University of Cape Town. The address is due to take place on Sunday night.
On Friday, Mr Obama said it was unlikely he would see Mr Mandela.
"I don't need a photo op," he said aboard Air Force One after leaving Senegal. "The last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned with Nelson Mandela's condition."
He added: "I think the main message we'll want to deliver is not directly to him, but to his family - is simply profound gratitude for his leadership all these years, and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him, his family and his country."
Mr Obama met Mr Mandela in 2005 when he was still a US senator. Both men became the first black presidents of their nations and have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
The US president has described Mr Mandela as a "hero for the world", whose "legacy will linger on through the ages", and who had inspired his own activism as a student.
Mr Obama will finish his Africa tour in Tanzania. It is his first prolonged trip to the continent since he became president in 2009.
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West 'should have talked to Taliban'
By Anonymous on Jun 28, 2013 10:11 pm 28 June 2013 Last updated at 22:11 ET 
General Nick Carter said the Taliban should have been involved in talks after they were ousted
The West should have tried talking to the Taliban a decade ago after they had just been toppled from power, the UK's top general in Afghanistan has said.
Gen Nick Carter said it would have been much easier to find a political solution when they were on the run.
His comments in the Guardian come days after attempts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table stalled.
Gen Carter also warned Afghan forces would need military and financial support after troops leave in 2014.
The Kabul government would have only shaky control over some areas, he said.
Negotiation attempts A major conference on the future of Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, over a decade ago did not include the defeated Taliban former government of Afghanistan.
Gen Carter, deputy commander of the Nato-led coalition, acknowledged it was easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight but added: "Back in 2002, the Taliban were on the run.
"I think that at that stage, if we had been very prescient, we might have spotted that a final political solution to what started in 2001, from our perspective, would have involved getting all Afghans to sit at the table and talk about their future.
"The problems that we have been encountering over the period since then are essentially political problems, and political problems are only ever solved by people talking to each other."
Last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed caution over whether peace talks on Afghanistan with the Taliban could take place.
A row over the status of a Taliban office in Qatar's capital Doha has overshadowed efforts to start peace negotiations there.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the row had simply underlined the diplomatic and practical difficulties that remained for anyone wishing to talk to the Taliban.
Gradual withdrawal Gen Carter said he was confident that Nato's handover of security to Afghan forces would eventually bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
He said that overall the police and army had been shaped into sustainable institutions strong enough to protect a critical presidential election next year and guarantee stability for the majority of the country after Western forces withdrew.
However, he added that the Afghan army and police would still need help in the years to come because they had been built up very quickly.
However, he expressed optimism about Afghanistan's future as long as the US and its allies came through on promises of financial and military support.
Some 8,000 British troops are still serving in Afghanistan, around half of them at Camp Bastion in Helmand province, many of them still mentoring or advising Afghan forces.
Until last year, the UK had 137 bases in Helmand but the gradual withdrawal ahead of the end of combat operations by 2015 means the mission is gradually changing with just 13 bases still operating.
Read in browser » Arctic Monkeys headline Glastonbury
By Anonymous on Jun 28, 2013 07:46 pm 28 June 2013 Last updated at 02:13 ET 
Almost 120,000 people were on site by Thursday
The Glastonbury Festival starts in earnest today, as the main musical programme gets under way.
Acts on the opening day include Rita Ora, Chic, Dizzee Rascal and headliners Arctic Monkeys.
Drummer Matt Helders told the BBC the band would "have some fun" with their set.
By Thursday evening, 118,000 ticket holders were on site - giving Worthy Farm in rural Somerset a population about the same size as Chester.
Another 62,000 people are due to arrive by the time the festival is fully underway.
The three-day event caters to all tastes, with cutting-edge dance acts Skrillex and Rudimental rubbing shoulders with veteran entertainers like Kenny Rogers and Sir Bruce Forsyth.
As tradition dictates, the site was drenched with rain on Thursday. What was forecast as a short, sharp shower turned into an all-day deluge.
It did little to dampen spirits, however. Revellers either retreated to indoor arenas or made the most of the sludge - creating impromptu mud slides and assault courses around the 900-acre site.
Heavy rain on Thursday drenched the site
Angels Performances also got underway at the vaudevillian Shangri-La area, where an early-afternoon soundcheck by Japanese brass punk band Asakusa Jinta drew such a crowd that it turned into a full-blown set.
Shangri-La is tucked away in the darker confines of the South-East corner, and harbours some of the alternative spirit of the original Glastonbury Festival in 1970.
This year's theme is Heaven and Hell - the idea being that Glastonbury's year off in 2012 coincided with the apocalypse, and revellers must now enter the afterlife.
Split into two areas, guests can choose to party in the seven circles of hell - where bars are strewn with bullets and rifle shells, and transgender nurses perform "an enema of the soul" on unwitting volunteers.
If you would prefer to spend an evening in heaven, where the sofas are trimmed with fur, and the bars have working fountains, you must first convince an "admin angel" that you are worthy of the honour.
The lucky few will be given a gold wristband… and be forced to remove their wellies, in case they mess up the Glastonbury God's pristine white carpets.
Dressed like a film set, it is one of many distractions from the music. Others include a giant (and currently mud-strewn) Twister board; and the Block9 nightclub - which has been designed to look like a 50ft tower block with a life-size, flaming tube train bursting out of the fifth floor.
But music will be the focus of the weekend, with The Rolling Stones the main attraction on Saturday night.
"It's one of those things you thought might never happen," Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis told the BBC. "It was amazing when we got the call to say they'd confirmed."
Eavis added that her father Michael, who established the festival in 1970, was "thrilled" by their appearance.
The weekend is expected to bring dry weather
Meanwhile, The Rolling Stones' former bassist Bill Wyman also takes to the stage on Friday with his band The Rhythm Kings.
And Solange Knowles plays during the afternoon, two years after her sister Beyonce headlined the Pyramid Stage.
Opening the festival's second-biggest arena - the Other Stage - on Friday morning will be Liam Gallagher, making an unbilled appearance with his new band Beady Eye.
The former Oasis frontman headlined the festival in 1995 and 2004, although he claimed not to have enjoyed the experience.
"You can hear the crowd talking while you're playing," he complained. "They don't put any money into the PA and it's full of idiots."
Rumours of further "secret appearances" are always rife at Glastonbury, and this year's crop range from the likely (Fatboy Slim and Radiohead's Thom Yorke) to the fanciful (David Bowie).
Rain is forecast to continue until 08:00 BST on Friday morning, but the sun is due to shine on the festival for the rest of the weekend.
Read in browser » Heart risk warning over painkiller
By Anonymous on Jun 29, 2013 12:08 am 29 June 2013 Last updated at 00:08 ET 
Diclofenac is used for conditions such as headaches, back pain and arthritis
People with heart problems have been advised to stop using one of the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs in the UK.
The medicines regulator said painkiller diclofenac could significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke for some patients.
The advice has been updated after a European review of the risks.
Millions of people take diclofenac for a range of conditions including headaches, back pain and arthritis.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the drug should not be used by people with serious underlying heart conditions.
People who have suffered heart failure, heart disease or a stroke should stop using it completely.
Smokers and people with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and diabetes have been advised to use the drug only after consulting their GP or pharmacist.
The MHRA said diclofenac would continue to provide safe and effective pain relief, apart from patients in certain "at risk" groups.
Dr Sarah Branch, deputy director of the MHRA's vigilance and risk management of medicines division, said: "Whilst this is a known risk and warnings have been included in patient and healthcare information for some time, this advice is now being updated."
Six million prescriptions were written for diclofenac last year and the drug is also available over the counter.
Read in browser » Lions aim for historic series win
By Anonymous on Jun 28, 2013 06:07 pm Second Test: Australia v Lions
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
- Date: Saturday, 29 June
- Kick-off: 11:05 BST (20:05 local)
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website
The British and Irish Lions must be ruthless in the second Test against Australia to secure a series victory, says assistant coach Rob Howley.
Victory in Melbourne would secure the Lions' first series success since the 1997 triumph in South Africa.
And Howley insists the players know what is required to beat the Wallabies.
"The side that has been selected has Test match animals that have made decisions in games - they understand what is required," he said.
Adam Jones Q & A
Adam Jones British and Irish Lions prop
"We know we can play a lot better than last week. Saying that, we know Australia are going to raise their game again. It is last-chance saloon for them, but we are confident we can go out and do it. It is a massive occasion and we are starting to realise how big this could be in relation to your rugby career and what a big deal these Lions tours are if you can get to that next level."
Australia are far from beaten and fought back from losing the first Test the last time the Lions toured Down Under in 2001 for their first-ever series victory.
But head coach Warren Gatland is not resting on his laurels and has made five changes from the 23-21 victory in Brisbane.
Wing Tommy Bowe has made a remarkable recovery from breaking his hand at the start of the tour to take over from Alex Cuthbert.
Ben Youngs replaces Mike Phillips at scrum-half while flanker Dan Lydiate replaces Tom Croft, who drops to the bench.
Lock Geoff Parling and prop Mako Vunipola step in for the injured Paul O'Connell and Alex Corbisiero.
Around 30,000 Lions fans are expected at the 54,000-capacity Etihad Stadium and captain Sam Warburton has said he cannot wait for the occasion.
"Normally, you are pretty nervous in the week going into a big game for your club or country, but the feeling ahead of this one is complete excitement, knowing what you could achieve," he said.
Captain James Horwill starts for Australia despite facing an International Rugby Board appeal against a decision which cleared him of stamping or trampling.
He was cleared at a disciplinary hearing after he was cited after his boot came into contact with the head of Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones.
Australia have kept James O'Connor at fly-half despite struggling in the first Test.
Kurtley Beale, who missed a last-minute penalty that would have given the Wallabies victory, starts at full-back in place of the injured Berrick Barnes.
Australia: Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels); Israel Folau (NSW), Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW), Christian Leali'ifano (ACT Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies); James O'Connor (Melbourne Rebels), Will Genia (Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW), Stephen Moore (ACT), Ben Alexander (ACT), James Horwill (Reds - capt), Kane Douglas (NSW), Ben Mowen (ACT), Michael Hooper (NSW), Wycliff Palu (NSW).
Replacements: Saia Fainga'a (Reds), James Slipper (Reds), Sekope Kepu (NSW), Rob Simmons (Reds), Liam Gill (Reds) Nick Phipps (Rebels), Rob Horne (NSW), Jesse Mogg (Brumbies).
Lions: Leigh Halfpenny, Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North, Jonathan Sexton, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Grant, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray, Owen Farrell, Alex Cuthbert.
Read in browser » US travel warning over Egypt clashes
By Anonymous on Jun 29, 2013 02:34 am 28 June 2013 Last updated at 23:30 ET 
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At least one person was killed in Alexandria as protesters stormed a local Muslim Brotherhood office
The US has warned Americans not to travel to Egypt and has told non-emergency diplomatic staff to leave, as clashes continued in the country.
The state department also urged US nationals in Egypt "to remain alert".
The warning came as at least three people - including a US citizen - died in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi.
Tensions have been rising ahead of a mass rally planned by the opposition on Sunday, calling Mr Morsi to step down.
His supporters are stressing what they see as Mr Morsi's "legitimacy", rejecting the opposition's demand.
Sunday is the first anniversary of the president's inauguration.
'Unprecedented exodus' In a warning on Friday, the state department said it had "authorised the departure of a limited number of non-emergency employees and family members" from Egypt.
It asked Americans "to defer non-essential travel to Egypt at this time due to the continuing possibility of political and social unrest".
Cairo's main airport was packed with departing passengers, and all flights leaving for Europe, the US and the Gulf were fully booked, officials were quoted as saying.
The officials - who spoke on condition of anonymity - described the exodus as unprecedented, the Associated Press reports.
On Friday, two people died in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood - the political movement supporting President Morsi.
There are conflicting reports about how one of them - the US national - died.
Continue reading the main story Mohammed Morsi's first year
- June 2012 - Narrowly wins presidential election. Orders parliament to meet in defiance of a military decree dissolving it
- July 2012 - Submits to a Supreme Court ruling that the parliamentary elections were invalid
- August 2012 - Dismisses Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Annan and strips military of say in legislation and drafting the new constitution
- November 2012 - Rescinds a decree stripping the judiciary of the right to challenge his decisions, after popular protests
- December 2012 - Public vote approves draft constitution boosting the role of Islam and restricting freedom of speech and assembly
- March 2013 - Court halts his plans to bring parliamentary elections forward to April, citing failure to refer the electoral law to the Constitutional Court
- June 2013 - Puts Islamists in charge of 13 of Egypt's 27 governorships - controversially he appoints a member of the former armed group Gamaa Islamiya to be governor of Luxor
Egyptian officials say the victim - who is believed to have been taking photos of the clashes - was stabbed in the chest, but other reports say he was hit by gun pellets.
The state department confirmed the death, saying it was "providing appropriate consular assistance from our embassy in Cairo and our Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department".
The other fatality in Alexandria on Friday was an Egyptian man who was shot dead, according to medical sources.
Dozens more people were injured.
The office of the Muslim Brotherhood was set on fire, and the authorities are reported to have called in riot police and army helicopters to try to quell the violence.
In Port Said, also in the north, an explosion left one person dead and five injured, officials said.
Meanwhile, in Cairo thousands of Morsi supporters rallied outside the main mosque.
President Morsi earlier this week warned that divisions threatened to "paralyse" Egypt.
He offered a dialogue with the opposition - a move rejected by his opponents.
Mr Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair.
His first year as president has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy.
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