Dozens die as Spanish train derails
By Anonymous on Jul 25, 2013 03:11 am 24 July 2013 Last updated at 15:44 ET 
A train has derailed in north-western Spain, with casualties reported.
Spanish newspapers reported that at least four people had been killed.
The authorities confirmed the train had come off the tracks near the city of Santiago de Compostela, but could not confirm the number of casualties.
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Forensic changes 'threat to justice'
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 07:12 pm 24 July 2013 Last updated at 19:12 ET By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website 
The committee's report says that forensic science needs a coherent strategy
Major crimes could go unsolved unless the government does more to support forensic science, MPs have warned.
The Science and Technology Committee has published the results of a follow-up inquiry into the closure of the Forensic Science Service (FSS).
Private firms and in-house police labs now fill the gap left by the FSS.
The report paints a picture of a chaotic new landscape for forensic provision and says private firms need help to survive in an unstable market.
It says that that unless the government formulates a coherent strategy for forensic science in England and Wales, the criminal justice system could be jeopardised.
Private providers and in-house police forensic teams have filled the hole left by the FSS
Labour MP Andrew Miller, who chaired the committee's inquiry, said: "Forensic science provides vital evidence to the criminal justice system and if the government wants to continue being able to put the most serious criminals behind bars it has a duty to protect its health.
The government announced its decision to close the FSS in December 2010, with the intention that the private sector would expand to fill the gap.
Estimates vary for the size of the forensics market, ranging from about £90m to £65m per annum. But few doubt the market is shrinking, placing private providers under pressure.
Private firms complain that the practice by police forces of bringing forensic work in-house [insourcing] is a major contributor to this decline. That is strongly denied by the government, along with senior police officers.
The committee concluded that it was impossible to know what part insourcing played in this without access to details of police expenditure - which it tried to obtain without success. As a result, it recommends that a working group is established to review the accounting practices of police forces.
'Strategy lacking' The minister for crime prevention, Jeremy Browne MP, gave evidence to the inquiry in parliament and received extraordinary criticism in the report.
The committee claims he "had not prepared for the evidence session", adding that it was "disappointed at his disregard of his responsibility towards a parliamentary select committee".
Continue reading the main story Analysis
Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website
Since the closure of the Forensic Science Service, critics of the decision have highlighted some high-profile blunders. After the death of intelligence officer Gareth Williams, for example, the DNA profile of a forensic scientist was wrongly classified, leading police to chase a phantom suspect.
The Science and Technology Committee's report emphasises realistic changes over radical revision. However, some forensic scientists believe the current system is broken, and that it is only a matter of time before miscarriages of justice are uncovered.
They argue that some central institute is required to lead on quality and carry out the research needed to harness breakthroughs. The MPs recommend statutory powers for the forensic regulator, but observers say this office, which straddles different government departments, is under-staffed and cannot make a difference without additional resources.
Mr Miller added: "Unfortunately, the current minister doesn't think [forensic science] needs a strategy, instead preferring a hands-off approach.
"This is the type of thinking that led to the creation of an unstable forensics market, which led to the demise of the Forensic Science Service and now threatens the success of remaining private forensic science providers."
The committee recommends the forensics brief be moved to the office of the minister for policing and criminal justice because the criminal justice system was the "ultimate customer".
On the question of standards, the report said that some police labs had made little progress towards meeting the same quality benchmark as private providers.
It said the forensic science regulator, Andrew Rennison, had a key role in ensuring labs complied with quality standards. MPs reiterated a previous call for the regulator's position to be strengthened with statutory powers.
There was also concern expressed over a lack of funding for research into new techniques. Mr Miller commented that research was "the lifeblood of forensic science and yet we heard that serious crimes, like rape and murder may be going unsolved as we rely on outdated technology".
Archives risk Responding to the report, a Home Office spokesperson said: "Our police reforms are working and we will ensure forces have access to the best possible forensics services to help ensure our record low levels of crime continue to fall.
"Forensic provision is best served by a competitive market with companies competing to provide the best service.
Sue Ferns, from the professionals union Prospect, said: "Today's report vindicates Prospect's warnings when the FSS was closed. We have seen the haemorrhage of highly qualified scientists with years of training and experience.
She added: "We also back the observation that leaving police forces to conduct their own forensic science is a threat to impartiality."
Senior police officers reject this suggestion and point out that advances in technology make it inevitable that forensic techniques migrate from laboratories to the frontline, citing fingerprinting as an example.
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter
Read in browser » Church plans to force out Wonga
By Anonymous on Jul 25, 2013 03:33 am 24 July 2013 Last updated at 15:08 ET 
Justin Welby delivered a blunt warning to the boss of Wonga
The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned the on-line lender Wonga that low-cost credit unions could force it out of business.
The Most Rev Justin Welby told the company that the Church of England wants to "compete it" out of existence.
In a magazine interview, Archbishop Welby said he spoke to Errol Damelin, Wonga's chief executive.
Wonga has been criticised for its high rates of interest. Mr Damelin said they had had a wide-ranging talk.
"I've met the head of Wonga, and we had a very good conversation," the Archbishop told Total Politics magazine.
"I said to him quite bluntly, 'we're not in the business of trying to legislate you out of existence; we're trying to compete you out of existence'."
New unions Archbishop Welby has said he plans to expand the reach of credit unions.
Earlier this month he launched a new credit union aimed at clergy and church staff.
Credit unions charge their members low rates of interest to borrow money.
Wonga has said it charges around 1% a day on its consumer loans, which are short-term, and for small amounts.
In April 2013 the government announced an investment of £38m in credit unions, to help them offer an alternative to pay-day lenders.
Read in browser » Royal baby prince named George
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 05:30 pm 24 July 2013 Last updated at 13:28 ET
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis, Kensington Palace has said.
George had been the bookmakers' favourite for the first name of the prince, who is third in line to the throne.
He will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
They are currently at the duchess's family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, after spending a night at Kensington Palace.
The Duke and Duchess had been expected to pick a traditional royal name for their son, who was born at St Mary's Hospital in London on Monday at 16:24 BST, weighing 8lbs 6oz.
Royal infants usually have historical names which are passed down through the generations.
This is a relatively quick announcement of a name compared to previous royal babies.
It was seven days before the name of a newborn Prince William was announced in 1982, and there was a wait of a month following the Prince Charles's birth in 1948.
All births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, regardless of parentage, must be registered within 42 days at the hospital before leaving or a register office.
Read in browser » Pope warns against drug legalisation
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 08:25 pm 24 July 2013 Last updated at 08:30 ET 
Thousands of pilgrims gathered in the town of Aparecida ahead of the Pope's visit
Pope Francis is due to hold his first Brazilian Mass at a shrine in the state of Sao Paulo, where authorities earlier defused a "low-power" bomb.
He is travelling to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida by helicopter.
On Monday, the pontiff faced chaotic scenes when his car was mobbed by crowds in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
He is in Brazil to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day festival. It is his first trip abroad since becoming head of the Catholic Church in March.
The highlight of the five-day festival will be a prayer service led by Pope Francis on Rio's iconic Copacabana Beach on Thursday.
The pontiff's visit is taking place under tight security, after weeks of protests against the government and corruption.
Explosive device Thousands of pilgrims arrived in the rural town of Aparecida ahead of Wednesday's Mass, scheduled to take place at 10:30 local time (13:30 GMT) at the basilica holding the shrine.
Security has been tightened outside the basilica
A homemade explosive device was discovered there on Sunday, but authorities said it was "of low power" and not near the area where the Pope and pilgrims will visit.
The Vatican later insisted that the discovery was no cause for concern.
Pope Francis is expected to fly back to Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday afternoon to visit a hospital and address young people taking part in a drug rehabilitation program.
On Tuesday, around 400,000 Roman Catholics joined a ceremony on Copacabana Beach to mark the opening of World Youth Day.
There was transport chaos shortly before the event when the Rio metro system was brought to a standstill for two hours by a power cut.
Continue reading the main story Pope's visit to Brazil - main events
Wednesday:
- Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception of Aparecida and to the St Francis of Assisi of the Providence of God Hospital in Rio
Thursday:
- Visit to the Varginha community in Rio, welcoming ceremony at the World Youth Day on Copacabana
Friday:
- Meeting with young prisoners and a Way of the Cross ceremony on Copacabana
Saturday:
- Meeting with Brazil's leaders in Rio and a prayer vigil with young people
Sunday:
- Holy Mass for the World Youth Day in Rio, farewell ceremony and departure for Rome
Crowds of people hoping to attend the Mass were left stranded, while others crammed onto buses and taxis heading to the beach.
Travel chaos also ensued on Monday when the pontiff's car became stuck in one of Rio's infamous traffic jams, after his driver reportedly took the wrong turn and missed lanes that had been cleared by the security services.
Correspondents said Brazil was reviewing security around the pontiff following the incident.
The Pope, who is from neighbouring Argentina, was officially welcomed at the state governor's palace by Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff on Monday.
However, police outside later fired tear gas to disperse people who were protesting against the government, but also against the cost of the papal visit.
More than a million young Catholics are expected to gather in Rio for World Youth Day, which takes place every two years, and is a celebration of the Catholic faith.
Some 30,000 army and police are on duty throughout his visit.
Read in browser » Cause of cat allergy uncovered
By Anonymous on Jul 24, 2013 07:48 pm 24 July 2013 Last updated at 19:48 ET By Helen Briggs BBC News 
Cats are common culprits for pet allergies
Scientists have discovered how allergic reactions to cats are triggered, raising hopes of preventative medicine.
A University of Cambridge team has identified how the body's immune system detects cat allergen, leading to symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.
New treatments to block this pathway raise hopes of developing medicines to protect sufferers, they say.
Allergy UK says the research is "a big step forward" in understanding how cat allergen causes allergic reactions.
Researchers led by Dr Clare Bryant of the University of Cambridge studied proteins found in particles of cat skin, known as cat dander, which is the most common cause of cat allergy.
They found that cat allergen activates a specific pathway in the body, once in the presence of a common bacterial toxin.
This triggers a large immune response in allergy sufferers, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, sneezing and a runny nose.
Continue reading the main story Cat allergies
- Cats are among the most common culprits for pet allergies
- People with cat allergies are allergic to proteins in the cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin)
- Symptoms of a cat allergy can develop in a few minutes or take hours to appear
- Some people with allergic asthma have severe flare-ups after coming in contact with a cat
Dr Bryant told BBC News: "We've discovered how the cat allergy proteins activate the host immune cells.
"By understanding the triggering mechanism, there are now drugs that have been designed that are in clinical trials for other conditions, such as sepsis, that could potentially then be used in a different way to treat cat allergy and to prevent cat allergy."
The charity Allergy UK said the research, published in Journal of Immunology, was a big step forward in understanding how cat allergen causes such severe allergic reactions.
"Cat allergen is particularly difficult to avoid as it is a 'sticky' molecule that is carried into every building on people's shoes and clothes," said director of clinical services Maureen Jenkins.
"It can also still be found in a home, on the walls and ceiling or fittings, even a few years after a cat has ceased to live there.
"Therefore, this new information identifying the specific receptor interaction in the immune system could pave the way for treatments for those with persistent disease triggered by cat allergen and, in the future, potentially dog and house dust mite allergen."
Allergic reactions happen when the immune system overreacts to a perceived danger.
Instead of responding to a harmful virus or bacteria, it misidentifies allergens, such as cat dander, and mounts an immune response.
The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.
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