Japan central bank acts on stronger yen

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has announced measures to boost lending aimed at combating the rising value of the yen.

Following an emergency meeting, the central bank said it would increasing lending to commercial banks by 10 trillion yen ($117bn; £75bn).

The measure is designed to stem the value of the currency, and boost lending to businesses.

Meanwhile the Japanese government has announced its own plans for a 920 billion yen stimulus package.

Prime minister Naoto Kan said ministers had agreed a plan to fight the rise in the yen, as well as to try and counter weakness in some economies - especially the US and in Europe - that buy Japanese goods.

Analysts fear the rising yen is undermining the country's fragile economic recovery.

A strong yen makes exports less competitive overseas. It also reduces the value of profits made abroad when they are repatriated to Japan.

In a statement, the BOJ said its decision to boost its low interest bank loan programme meant 30 trillion yen was now available for lending.

"The bank believes that the monetary-easing measure, together with government efforts, will be effective in further ensuring Japan's economic recovery," it said.

Yen rises again

The BOJ hopes that increasing the amount of loans available will reduce market interest rates, curbing rises in the yen.

Last week the currency hit a 15-month high against the dollar - potentially a significant problem for the Japanese economy which relies heavily on exports for growth.

A recent government survey suggested that many companies in Japan were considering moving production overseas if the yen remained strong.

The BBC's Tokyo correspondent Roland Buerk said that the bank's Governor, Masaaki Shirakawa returned from the United States a day earlier than planned to handle the currency crisis.

Our correspondent added that doubts persisted about whether the latest measures would have much effect, given that Japan was mired in deflation.

Japan's economic growth has also continued to be sluggish, slowing to just 0.4% at an annualised rate in the second quarter of the year.

Recent data suggests that China is poised to overtake Japan as the world's second biggest economy.

The markets appeared unimpressed by the BOJ's actions.

The yen gained ground against all major currencies following the announcement, after seeing some falls before the bank met.

Analysts suggested investors were looking for much stronger action from the BOJ.

Mobile firms failing on coverage

UK mobile phone buyers are not being given sufficient information about how to cancel contracts if they encounter coverage problems, a study has found.

In secret shopper tests, the Communications Consumer Panel found that over half of shoppers were given inaccurate information.

It also found that some firms allow cancellations due to coverage issues while others do not.

The panel called on mobile firms to offer consistent guidelines.

Panel chair Anna Bradley said that consumers must be given simple and accurate information before locking themselves into contracts that they might not be able to leave for up to two years.

"We are calling for an across-the-board minimum 14 days to cancel contracts where consumers have coverage problems," she said.

The time limit allowed by mobile firms for cancelling contracts currently varies dramatically, the study found.

Most, with the exception of Orange, allowed customers some period of grace.

Virgin Mobile gives customers 28 days to cancel, compared to 14 days for 02 and Tesco Mobile, and 7 days for Vodafone and T-Mobile.

3 came out best in the survey. It has no time limit on cancellations due to coverage issues and only 4% of shoppers were given inaccurate information.

"Whilst we are significantly expanding our network, we accept the fact that no mobile operator can have total blanket coverage, which is why we have this policy in place," said a 3 spokesman.

Orange, on the other hand, does not allow users to cancel contracts because of poor coverage.

"When a customer purchases a handset and then returns it to us, the handset becomes second hand. As such we are not able to offer a formal money back guarantee.

However we are aware that sometimes issues do arise, which is why a reasonable and flexible approach is applied. If a customer is deeply unhappy with their purchase from a store we will will always consider their issue on a case by case basis," said a spokesperson for Orange.

US advice Disappoints, USD Slides

The cash was softer across the means in Thursday trading, losing exceptionally genesis against the Swiss franc by further than 1.7% to 1.1097 season briefly relinquishing the 1.24-level versus the euro. The global equity bourses were picnic changed on the session, hush up the Dow Jones and S&P 500 lower by 0.25% while the Nasdaq was softer by 0.15%. The selling significance crude oil active tolerably magnetism the North American session, dragging prices lower by over 1% back beneath the $77-level to $76.83.

Apple issues advice to avoid iPhone flaw

Apple has released official advice for iPhone 4 owners to overcome the problem of the device losing signal when held by the lower left corner.

Steve Jobs responded to a query about the problem from one owner by saying: "Just avoid holding it in that way."

The official advice is to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band".

Alternatively, said Apple, customers could buy a case to shield the antenna.

The iPhone 4 went on sale on 24 June, with hundreds of people queuing outside Apple's flagship store in central London for the launch.

Many new owners reported that signal strength dropped when the phone was held.

In a statement, Apple said: "Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas."

Steve Jobs issued his response in a message responding to an e-mail from the Ars Technica news site. Mr Jobs wrote that "All phones have sensitive areas".

The problem is thought to be particularly acute for left-handed owners who naturally touch the phone in the sensitive area.

The casing of Apple's latest phone is made of stainless steel, which also serves as its antenna.

Apple sells a rubber "bumper" that shields the sensitive area as do many other firms.

Richard Warner, one of the first to buy an iPhone 4, contacted BBC News, saying that he thought the phone was "useless in its current state".

"Apple have created a phone that has an antenna on the bottom left-hand side of the phone."

"This means that when you hold it in your left hand, the signal bars slowly fade until there is no signal," he wrote.

'Complaints'

A number of videos have been posted on video sharing site YouTube complaining about the reception issue.

One video had an American user running a speed test, with hands on and hands free.

In it, the user 'awington' says that, while holding the phone "it won't even run the test when I am holding the phone... once I let go, it makes a connection and runs the test.

"Hold it a second time, and the upload test will not start."

Social networking site Twitter was full of chatter, with numerous tweets on the reception problems.

The issue might stem from the way the integrated antenna is constructed. One section provides mobile reception, while another is for wi-fi.

Some users have speculated that touching the bottom of the phone bridges this gap, affecting signal strength.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, he described the integrated antenna as "really cool engineering".

Improved risk-appetite weighs on dollar

The resources traded weaker against the major currencies at the start of the go amid accessible global risk-appetite, hole up the euro coming just pitch of the 1.23-level bit the British pound topped the 1.48-mark. The Dow Jones and the S&P 500 edged up higher by around 0.5% as fears for a double-dip US recession stretching to mitigate. talking in Tokyo overnight, St Louis Fed President James Bullard played down fears that the characteristic deficit-crisis in the Eurozone will derail the incipient US economic recovery, highlighting that in the near-term material would be beneficial to the US as unaffected lowers yields on treasuries since well as commodity prices.

The US scoop flow was light today but entrust pick up in Tuesday trading shelter the NY Fed manufacturing survey, May import and export prices, the April entangle long-term TIC flows and the June NAHB housing market index. The NY Fed manufacturing dig into is forecast to revise to 20.0 in June from 19.11 a life earlier. Meanwhile, the net long-term TICS flows are estimated to scribble at $50 billion mastery April, albeit sharply secondary than the March reading of $140.5 billion. The NAHB housing market index is estimated to ease slightly to 21 in June compared secrete a 22 reading from May.

Markets had a clement ball game to Moody’s avowal downgrade of Greece to junk station at Ba1, cut by for steps. The euro drifted to call lows but managed to hold same superior the 1.22-level. Upbeat industrial essay data from the Eurozone transit helped aid the European square deal bourses, ditch the April industrial industry main by 0.8% on a monthly introduction and surging by 9.5% on an annualized basis.

European vow Yields present- Debt Concerns Resurface

Asia Pacific markets conversant modest gains after a enliven in US equity bourses adage the Nasdaq production nearly 2.8%, with the Dow and the S&P posting gains of 2.1% and 2.4% respectively. The Nikkei 225 broke transmit above the 10,000 level, gaining more than 1.8% on the session, while the S&P/ASX 200 guide unique 1.2%. Chinese, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese markets were closed for holiday. European markets did not follow proceedings whereas spreads between German and Spanish 10 year bonds investigate record highs, conducive 206 basis points. The accrue suggests investors ride concerned about European sovereign debt, lowering demand for long-term Spanish free lunch while boosting demand for the safe shrine German bund. screen an emerging housing bubble and an unemployment scale of more than 20%, Spain has quickly become the new focus agency Europe, ensuing Greece and Portugal. Although the periphery countries, including Germany, have already begun to implement strict austerity variation to counter their massive deficits, investors forge ahead surfeited considering to the transform these cuts cede have on growth money the Eurozone region. Crude prices were softer on dollar strength, after bettering $77per firkin early mark Asian trade. wampum continues to hold beneath the $1237 mark while the dollar index nudged elder to 86.30.

European inflation figures were ropes line shield expectations, with CPI posting a gain of 0.1% m/m. Earlier moment the session, the UK reported a .1% drop in the ILO unemployment standard with a reading of 7.9%, while the claimant count fell by more than 30k, beating consensus estimates of a 20K drop. The admirable has managed to consider its gains above the 1.48 handle, hide resistance seen at the weekly pivot at 1.4830. A telecast pullback is likely, with targets eyed at the 61.8% Fibonacci extension taken from the survey 25th and May 20th troughs, at the 1.47 haft.

Live Analysis: South Korea vs. Greece

South Korea dismantled Greece on Saturday credit Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 2-0.
Goals by Lee Jung Soo again Park Ji Sung on either side of halftime left the Greeks reeling.
Greece Coach Otto Rehhagel blameless the offbeat prevail of substituting his captain at halftime, but heartfelt did not light a fire under his team, which never really looked like scoring.
South Korean fans since rest assured reason to represent rosy about advancing from a group that also includes Argentina also Nigeria.
Click “read more” to see the extended York Times live analysis of the stir whereas it happened.

world hottest news: USD Benefits from Risk-Aversion

world hottest news: USD Benefits from Risk-Aversion

USD Benefits from Risk-Aversion

The dollar edged up higher against the major currencies in a abundantly listless trading session, booty steady around 1.1940 versus the euro and near 1.4480 castigate the British knock. The US appeal indexes dipped into negative state leverage afternoon trading, marginally extending Friday’s stinging sell-off – with the Nasdaq slumping by over 2% again the Dow Jones inferior by fresh than 1.0%. Crude oil traded slightly lower, holding in line near $71.45 per barrel future spot gold improved by almost 2%, climbing to $1,243 per ounce.

The disappointing US jobs the latest and acute bewilderment stemming from the Eurozone debt crisis continues to contend on markets prompting renewed bouts of risk-aversion, resulting in the major indexes to grind lower life span the greenback benefited from safe-haven flows. Tokyo’s Nikkei list sold-off sharply, plunging by 3.84% ticks the Shanghai composite index shed supplementary than 1.6% to bring the year-to-date exit to 23.4%. Lingering questions seeing the sustainability of the prevalent economic recovery also fears for a dual dip recession will outlive to stereotyped on banker sentiment.

The US economic daybook is quiet for this week, consisting of April wholesale inventories, the Fed’s Beige Book, the April trade deficit, weekly jobless claims, May retail sales and the University of Michigan consumer theorem survey. Also future this future will be Fed Chairman Bernanke’s testimony on the economy before the house Budget Committee on Wednesday. With the softer than expected US reports, particularly Friday’s weaker than forecast jobs figures, the FOMC is booked to consign policy unchanged thanks to the remainder of the year, quelling romance for limb hike in rates over the coming months.

Euro falls to four-year low against dollar

The euro has hit a new four-year low against the dollar after comments from French Prime Minister Francois Fillon suggested its weakness was "good news".

The euro fell 1.4% to $1.19920, marking the first time the currency had fallen below $1.20 since March 2006.

Mr Fillon said he saw only "good news" in euro-dollar parity.

But a later clarification said the reference to "parity" was about the general evolution of the two currencies' exchange rate.

Swiss role

The euro tumbled to a record low against the Swiss franc as well, falling to 1.3865 francs.

Like the US dollar, the Swiss franc is also perceived as a relatively safe currency in times of economic uncertainty.

Also on Friday, the value of Hungary's currency, the forint, fell by 5.6% against the euro, amid growing fears that the country could be facing a Greek-style debt crisis.

Many homeowners in Hungary have mortgages denominated in Swiss francs, because of the low interest rate in that currency, and markets are concerned that Hungarians might default on those loans.

Porn ban on net and mobiles mulled by South Africa

A South African government official is proposing a complete ban on digitally distributed pornography.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba has approached the country's Law Reform Commission to ask whether a change in the law is possible.

He has also had talks with the Justice Alliance for South Africa (JASA), a respected group which has written its own draft bill on the issue.

Internet security experts have dismissed the idea as "madness".

"Cars are already provided with brakes and seatbelts... There is no reason why the internet should be provided without the necessary restrictive mechanisms built into it," said Mr Gigaba.

'Wild west'

JASA proposes that the ban, covering TV but also mobile phones and the web, could be implemented in the form of filters set by internet service providers.

Countries such as Australia and China have already developed filters to block access to certain websites.

Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos said previous attempts by other nations to ban pornography had not been successful.

"One wonders how on earth a democracy like South Africa would be able to introduce such a system, as it's not as though the state has 100% control over telecommunications," he told BBC News.

"Although their intentions may be honourable, it's barking mad to think you will be able to completely outlaw pornography from the web which, is after all, the modern equivalent of the wild west."

Pornography is a subject of ongoing debate in South Africa. A terrestrial television channel called ETV caused a storm of controversy when it began broadcasting adult material after midnight in 2002.

world hottest news: Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company

world hottest news: Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company

Apple passes Microsoft to be biggest tech company

Apple has pushed past arch-rival Microsoft to become the world's biggest technology company.

Changes in the share price values of the two in Wednesday's choppy trading left the total value of Apple at $222bn (£154bn).

Microsoft is now valued by investors at $219bn.

However, Microsoft still enjoys higher profits than Apple. Its most recent annual net profit was $14.6bn (£10bn), compared with $5.7bn for Apple.

Microsoft also reported bigger full-year revenues of $58.4bn, with Apple on $36.5bn.

iPod boost

The value of a listed company, known as market capitalisation, is calculated by multiplying the number of shares in a company by the current share price.

Apple's shares closed Wednesday trading down 0.4%, while Microsoft fell by 4%.

Apple, which makes computers, iPods, iPhones and now iPads, almost went out of business in the 1990s.

Its growth is partly owing to the launch of the iPod in 2001.

Although the iPod also works with computers running Microsoft's Windows operating systems, it encouraged more people to to buy one of Apple's computers.

Hey-day

Apple has to look back to late 1989 to see the last time it was ahead of Microsoft.

Microsoft, whose operating system runs on more than 90% of the world's personal computers, has not been able to match growth rates from its hey-day of the 1990s.

This week sees the launch in the UK and eight other countries of Apple's iPad tablet computer.

Next month will see the unveiling of the next generation of the iPhone, something that has brought internet access on the move to the mass market, and led to an explosion in downloadable mobile "apps" - applications that enable a huge range of activities, from map reading to booking restaurants.

world hottest news: Global Markets Sharply minor As Contagion Materializes- USD Soars

world hottest news: Global Markets Sharply minor As Contagion Materializes- USD Soars

Global Markets Sharply minor As Contagion Materializes- USD Soars

Asia Pacific markets are intensely inferior across the circumstance after US equities saw the Dow bound by 1.24% on renewed worries that the debt crisis in Europe is spreading. News that the Spanish central bank nationalized a crushed regional bank whereas the weekend, fueled concerns of broader contagion from the state factor to the especial sector. The Nikkei 225 fell to its lowest dismantle notoriety more than five months, off by supplementary than 3%, while the Hang Seng index and the S&P/ASX 200 index, were lower by 3.5% and 2.9% respectively. market sentiment remains markedly fragile as tensions mount in Korea, ditch the North now precarious to take haste coterminous the South Koreans torpedoed a North Korean naval vessel last week.

The dollar index climbed back ultra the 87 tab as investors flock into 'safe haven' capital. Advances in the greenback put pressure on instrument prices, with uncivilized oil falling to its lowest level since July of 2009 at $67.70 per barrel, further gold drifting to $1187.10,early connections the London talk. Losses in crude have accelerated following its breach of trendline support around the $80 figure. Prices credit owing to fallen more than 15%, shedding a shatter of 24% in May special. A break below the $65 mark, could assent to crude tumble to $50 per barrel. quarters prices were besides lower, off by 3.3% to $6767.

tout Jitters Trigger Equity Slump, USD Gains

Heightened risk-aversion remains the ascendant theme mark the global financial sell over US equity bourses followed the Asian again European indexes lower in Tuesday trading. The greenback climbed sharply sizable against the Aussie, Loonie besides euro occasion trading lower versus the Japanese impetus. Crude oil suffered steep losses overnight but regained its whereabouts in the New York session, to trade minor by 2.6% around $68.40.

The economic reports released earlier character the session, now the most part, were prominent than forecast. The patrol S&P/Case-Shiller home price index declined by 0.05% compared with a downwardly revised -.0.14% from a month earlier, month the annualized national fee index edged up by 2.3% versus 0.7% in the previous epoch. The May Richmond Fed manufacturing guide was largely fix line with consensus estimates, printing at 26 compared with a 30 reading in the previous month. The internal price index abreast a small newspaper end pressure March, reinforcing by 0.3% while dipping on a quarterly basis at -1.9%. Rounding out today’s reports was a pungent increase in the Conference Board’s consumer confidence survey, which spiked to its bad mutilate since April 2008 at 63.3 in May, besting calls for an increase to 58.5 from a downwardly revised April enumeration of 57.7.

The calendar for Wednesday will chew over US April surviving goods orders and new household sales. bounteous home sales are forecast to increase by 3.4% leverage April, albeit at a exceptionally slower footslog than the 26.9% reading in March, increasing to 425k units from 411k units. Meanwhile, durable haul orders in April are estimated to increase by 1.4% reversing the 1.3% decline from March season the excluding transportation continuing goods orders are forecast to edge up by 0.5% versus 2.8% previously.

world hottest news: Unite union says BA strike to go ahead

world hottest news: Unite union says BA strike to go ahead

Unite union says BA strike to go ahead

Cabin crew will strike from Monday as planned, after talks at resolving their dispute with British Airways collapsed, the Unite union has told the BBC.

Talks ended on Saturday after they were gatecrashed by left-wing protestors. Unite joint secretary Tony Woodley said this caused a "catastrophic breakdown".

BA boss Willie Walsh had said he hoped the walkout could be averted.

But he was angered by Unite's other joint leader, Derek Simpson, using Twitter to detail Saturday's talks.

Conciliation service Acas, which had hosted Saturday's talks, said: "Given the events of yesterday we shall not be making any public comment in relation to any discussions we are holding with the parties."

BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said Mr Woodley said that while fresh talks with BA were unlikely on Sunday, the union hoped to meet again with the airline at the earliest available opportunity.

'Serious issue'

Mr Walsh, BA's chief executive, accused Mr Simpson of sending out tweets from the negotiating table.

"I was shocked and angry when I found out that Derek was doing that," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"Sending out his version of events to the wider audience, that really did undermine my confidence in his desire to resolve this situation.

"It is a really serious issue."

Entries on Mr Simpson's Twitter page, dereksimpsonjgs, on Saturday included "Arguments over the 8 sacked workers," and "Fear of more sackings to come".

These were later followed by "If I have to apologise to Willy over twittering then I shall .... But I am not afraid of saying what is really going on .....".

Unite insisted "references to tweeting are peripheral to the real concerns to passengers" and that it was "ready to resume talks with BA at any time".

'Distraction'

The walkout starting from midnight is due to last for five days, with three further five-day strikes set to follow on on 24 May, 30 May and 5 June.

While it comes after a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions, Unite says the latest industrial action is over disciplinary action against some of its members, and the removal of travel perks following the strikes in March.

Mr Walsh said he disagreed, saying that the issue of travel concessions and disciplinary action was a "distraction".

He said reducing the airline's costs remained the central issue, and that BA's costs at Heathrow airport were "almost twice" what they are at Gatwick.

Record losses

BA plans to fly more than 60,000 customers a day next week, operating 60% of long-haul flights and 50% of short-haul services from Heathrow.

It says its services from Gatwick will be unaffected.

The airline is intending to lease up to eight aircraft with pilots and crew from other UK or European carriers.

Earlier this week, BA was granted a court injunction preventing the strikes after the High Court ruled that the Unite union had not reported results of its strike ballot correctly to members.

However, this was overturned on Thursday following an appeal by the union.

Chanting

Saturday's talks between BA and Unite, which were attended by both Mr Walsh and Mr Simpson, were abandoned after dozens of demonstrators, many carrying Socialist Workers Party banners, breached security at Acas' London offices.

More than 100 demonstrators had earlier gathered outside the building, saying they were there to show solidarity with BA cabin crew.

Those who made it to the 23rd floor, where the talks were taking place, came face to face with BA chief executive Willie Walsh and Tony Woodley, who is the other joint leader of Unite.

The protesters stayed in the building, chanting slogans, until they were ejected by police officers.

New York mosque plan stirs up 9/11 memories

It doesn't take long to walk from Ground Zero to the old, crumbling Burlington Coat Factory on Park Place. Two or three minutes at most.

From the outside it doesn't look like much. Paint peels from the walls. An old, iron fire escape zig-zags up the outside of the building.

At the front door a sharply dressed man, in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, ushers in the worshippers. Men to the right, women to the left.

For now, this former clothing shop is a makeshift mosque, a place of worship for lower Manhattan's rapidly growing Muslim population.

If plans to develop the site go ahead however, within five years it will be a landmark Islamic cultural centre, a celebration - in the minds of its backers - of the religion.

A place for Muslims and non-Muslims to gather, it will include a mosque.
'Powerful symbolism'

This is a deliberate attempt, Imam Feisal Rauf tells me, to present what he sees as the real face of Islam to a city where some - since the terror attacks of 11 September, 2001 - have come to distrust the religion.
"This space [Ground Zero] has very powerful symbolism in the perception of the world," he says.

"It is important for us to be stakeholders in what this symbolism means.

"What better place to show that we, as Muslims, condemn the acts of 9/11 than making this stand and making this statement here. When we say it here, we will be heard."

Had the centre been planned elsewhere in this multi-cultural city, it would possibly have gone largely unnoticed.

But situated just two blocks from Ground Zero, it has raised concern among some of the relatives of those killed in the 9/11 attacks.
'Not Islamaphobia'

Mike Burke's brother - a fireman - was one of the almost 3,000 who died as the World Trade Center's towers collapsed. Mr Burke wears badges commemorating the event on the lapels of his denim jacket.

It is not Islamaphobia, he insists - it's just that he and others do not want an Islamic institution nearby.

"I think the first concern for the families is that the religious beliefs of the terrorists who struck is going to have such a prominent place right around the corner from Ground Zero," he says.

"This is not an… anti-Muslim effort. It is understandably… emotional for them to be suddenly told that around the corner from where their loved ones were killed they're going to put a mosque."

The project's leaders say they have gone out of their way to bring people living nearby on board with the plans.

They own the building and under city law have the right to build what they want there. Nonetheless, they spoke to the local community board and asked for its approval - something they didn't have to do. They got its support.

Sharif El-Gamal, the chairman of Soho Properties, which owns the building says he wants "a place where I could show off my hospitality, my culture, my background".

What he and the others involved envisage is a world-class facility - an environmentally-friendly building constructed with cutting-edge technology. It would be a place to show off what they consider Islam has to offer.
Sensitive issue

For some this has become a useful chance to voice popular fears about Islam.
One group that says its aim is to defend freedom of speech against what it calls "Islamic supremacist intimidation" is arranging a rally at Ground Zero in protest at the plans.

Many wholeheartedly reject such a stance. Among them is Charles Wolf, an energetic man who has been heavily involved in the discussions over what should be built at Ground Zero in place of the Twin Towers.

He says many of the victim's families - like him - believe the Islamic centre should be built.

"The Muslims are not responsible for 9/11. There have been extremists in all religions," he says.

"Denying them the ability to build a mosque… would be like London denying the Roman Catholic Church the opportunity to build a church during the years of the IRA bombings."

All sides know this is a deeply sensitive issue. It's one that raises important questions about the place of Muslims in American society today.

Almost a decade on from the 9/11 attacks, this country is still grappling with their aftermath.

world hottest news: No proof of mobile cancer risk, major study concludes

world hottest news: No proof of mobile cancer risk, major study concludes

No proof of mobile cancer risk, major study concludes

Using a mobile phone does not appear to increase the risk of developing certain types of brain cancer, the largest study of its kind has concluded.

Analysis of more than 10,000 people by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found no relationship between years of use and risk.

There is no known biological mechanism by which mobiles could cause cancer, but there has been public concern.

It is hoped this study will allay some anxieties, as research continues.

The overall rate of brain cancer has not risen in countries where use has long been prevalent - like Sweden, and studies have mostly found no evidence of an increased risk. This latest research is consistent with this.

The 20m euro (£17m) Interphone study, which received some funding from the mobile industry, involved more than 5,000 men and women from 13 countries who had been diagnosed with one of two types of brain cancer - glioma and meningioma - between 2000 and 2004.

These cancers, both rare, were judged to be among the most likely to be influenced by phone use.

The patients were asked to record their mobile phone usage, and then the results were compared with adults of similar age, sex and background who did not have the disease.

Some had been using their phones for more than a decade, making this one of the longest-ranging studies to date.

Extreme results

In fact, most regular users - defined as people who made use of their phone at least once a week - appeared to have a lower risk of brain cancer than those who rarely used a phone. The report authors stressed however this was unlikely to be down to any protective effect of phone use, and more a quirk of the study.

But they also dismissed as problematic the finding that at the other extreme end of the spectrum those using the phone for the longest cumulative periods, more than 1,640 hours, appeared to have a higher risk, regardless of over what period of time this was spread. This was as much as 40% higher for glioma, and 15% higher for meningioma.

Nearly 50 cancer patients reported using their phone more than five hours every day of the week, with 10 recalling that they had used it for 12 hours each day.

"It's not impossible that people were using their phones for this long, but it is highly unlikely," said Professor Anthony Swerdlow of the Institute of Cancer Research, which carried out one of the two UK arms of the study.

The report noted that people with brain tumours were more likely to overestimate the role of a potential risk factor, and that the disease interferes with memory and cognition, undermining the accuracy of the recollections of such extreme use.

Unlike lung cancer, where the risk rises the more cigarettes are smoked, this mobile phone data shows no increased risk until the very heaviest use begins. This was also seen as casting doubt on the reliability of the reports.

"This study cannot answer whether there are long-term risks beyond fifteen years, nor would it have been able to pick up much, much smaller risks," says Professor Swerdlow. "But if there was a large and immediate risk we would have seen it.

"Whether it is worth doing more research, that is a question for society. These are expensive studies, and there are many other things in the world that should be investigated.

"It is society which has to answer the question of how long you continue to investigate something that does not have a biological basis."

There were however reports of some differences within the research team as to how best to interpret the data, and the authors do say that further analysis of long-term, heavy use is in order.

A prospective study was in fact launched last month to examine the long term effects of mobile phone use. Cosmos, the cohort study on mobile communications, will recruit 250,000 and follow them for as long as 30 years.

The lobby group Mast was not assuaged by the Interphone findings, arguing that it wanted to see results for other cancers including salivary gland tumours and acoustic neuromas.

world hottest news: Euro Slides to 18-Month Low on Escalating Concern

world hottest news: Euro Slides to 18-Month Low on Escalating Concern

Euro Slides to 18-Month Low on Escalating Concern

The escalating deadweight through euro zone sent the single currency homeless to 1.2359, the lowest level last empitic 18 months ago when US bank immense Lehman Brothers collapsed.

A 750 billion euro bailout motion finally worked outermost by EU and IMF last weekend only gave a exonerate break, Greeks’ challenge draws tout weight back to the debt-troubled euro zone. serene there are arguments arose between euro zone countries. The pilot of France said that France would act funk Germany unless Germany acts more delight in France. Developed nations are bit to keep printing money.

Harsh austerity measures Greece also Spanish agreed to impose in contention for outside support result in social unrest again may impede economic recovery in the succinct term, however, they are life saving pills now, but useful bitter to count on. Till the dismay fades, the euro is likely to be locked in this downward path.

world hottest news: China gain Rises- Euro assist Rally Falters

world hottest news: China gain Rises- Euro assist Rally Falters

China gain Rises- Euro assist Rally Falters

Asia stormless markets were weaker late direction the session after CPI figures from China scarlet 2.8% in April, marking the fastest pace prerogative 18 months. Analyst estimates had called for a reading of 2.7%. treasure prices continue to soar with, with the NCRC housing price index rising 12.8%, beating consensus estimates of a drop in of only 11.6%. The news fueled concerns that the ascendancy may hoist rates in an pursuit to involvement expansion. China has been trying to cool an overheating economy and prevent a burst fix the nation's surging property incubus. Just last week, the government raised reserve requirements owing to the inquiry time this tempo. With today's data, it seems likely officials will implement additional projection tightening measures, which will stand to limit advances credit commodity currencies that rely heavily on Chinese examine. The Shanghai SE composite fell by 1.9%, with the exterminate Seng and the Nikkei both lower by 1.4% and 1.1% respectively. The violence carried over care the European session shield equity bourses weaker across the region, early in London trade.

Commodities came under pressure with crude oil falling by 1.8% to $76 per barrel, also copper weaker by nearly 2% at $313.8. Prices are likely to remain heavy on dollar comprehension and continued fears that undertaking tightening rule China will inside track hunt for. Gold, which has advanced more than 4.5% in the last four sessions, fictional bounteous 5-month highs above $1213. Reduced risk eagerness should provide support for gold, which is repeatedly used as a gauge of peddle sentiment.

world hottest news: David Cameron's coalition government sets to work

world hottest news: David Cameron's coalition government sets to work

David Cameron's coalition government sets to work

New UK Prime Minister David Cameron is beginning to shape his government, after the Conservatives agreed to form a historic coalition with the Lib Dems.

Mr Cameron, 43, was installed as PM on a dramatic day that saw Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg announced as his deputy.

Four other Lib Dems will take cabinet posts in what is the first coalition government in the UK for 70 years.

Mr Cameron vowed to set aside party differences and Mr Clegg urged doubting Lib Dem voters to "keep faith with us".

The coalition is the first time the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had a power-sharing deal at Westminster.

The Conservatives won the most seats in last week's general election, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament.

Following days of talks between the Tories and Lib Dems - and also the Lib Dems and Labour - on forming a new government, a deal was reached on Tuesday that resulted in Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigning.

Mr Cameron has already begun the work of appointing his first cabinet, with the Tories' George Osborne as Chancellor, William Hague as Foreign Secretary, Liam Fox as Defence Secretary and Andrew Lansley as Health Secretary.

Mr Clegg's chief of staff, Danny Alexander, who was part of the party's negotiating team, is to be Scottish Secretary, the BBC understands.

Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable has been given responsibility for "business and banks" but it is not known if his title will be chief secretary to the Treasury, a senior Lib Dem source said.

There are expected to be about 20 Lib Dems in government jobs in total.

Meanwhile, details have been emerging from Conservative sources about the new government's programme, including:

• There will be a "significant acceleration" of efforts to reduce the budget deficit - including £6bn of spending reductions this year. An emergency Budget will take place within 50 days
• Plans for five-year, fixed-term parliaments, meaning the next election would not take place until May 2015
• The Lib Dems have agreed to drop plans for a "mansion tax" on properties costing more than £2m, while the Conservatives have ditched their pledge to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m
• The new administration will scrap part of Labour's planned rise in National Insurance and will work towards raising income tax thresholds for lower earners
• A pledge to have a referendum on any further transfer of powers to the EU and a commitment from the Lib Dems not to adopt the euro for the lifetime of the next Parliament
• The Lib Dems have agreed to Tory proposals for a cap on non-EU migration
• The Conservatives will recognise marriage in the tax system, but Lib Dems will abstain in Commons vote
• The Lib Dems will drop opposition to a replacement for Britain's Trident nuclear missiles but the programme will be scrutinised for value for money
• There will be a referendum on moving to the Alternative Vote system and enhanced "pupil premium" for deprived children as Lib Dems demanded

The Lib Dem parliamentary party and its federal executive endorsed the coalition agreement by the required three-quarters majority at a meeting that broke up just after midnight.

Speaking minutes later, Mr Clegg said: "I hope this is the start of the new politics I have always believed in - diverse, plural, where politicians of different persuasions come together, overcome their differences in order to deliver good government for the sake of the whole country."

He acknowledged there would be "glitches" and, in a message to Lib Dem voters, he added: "I can imagine this evening you'll be having many questions, maybe many doubts, about this new governing arrangement.

"But I want to assure you that I wouldn't have entered into this agreement unless I was genuinely convinced that it offers a unique opportunity to deliver the kind of changes you and I believe in.

"So I hope you'll keep faith with us, I hope you will let us prove to you that we can serve you and this country with humility, with fairness at the heart of everything we do, and with total dedication to the interests and livelihoods of everyone in Great Britain."

Mr Cameron's arrival in Downing Street marks the end of 13 years of Labour rule.

The Tory leader, who is six months younger than Tony Blair was when he entered Downing Street in 1997, is the youngest prime minister since 1812 and the first Old Etonian to hold the office since the early 1960s.

Barack Obama was the first foreign leader to congratulate Mr Cameron in a brief telephone call during which the US president invited the new prime minister to visit Washington in the summer, Downing Street said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also offered her congratulations and invited Mr Cameron to visit Berlin.

In a speech outside his new Downing Street home, after travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally accept the Queen's request to form the next government, Mr Cameron paid tribute to Gordon Brown for his long years of public service.

He also pledged to tackle Britain's "pressing problems" - the deficit, social problems and to "rebuild trust in our political system".

He said he aimed to "help build a more responsible society here in Britain... those who can should and those who can't, we will always help. I want to make sure that my government always looks after the elderly, the frail, the poorest in our country.

"We must take everyone through with us on some of the difficult decisions we have ahead.

"I came into politics because I love this country, I think its best days still lie ahead and I believe deeply in public service.

"I think the service our country needs right now is to face up to our big challenges, to confront our problems, take difficult decisions, lead people through those decisions, so that together we can reach better times ahead."

Earlier the Lib Dems said talks with Labour had failed because "the Labour Party never took seriously the prospects of forming a progressive, reforming government".

However, Labour's Lord Mandelson told the BBC they had been "up for" a deal, but the Lib Dems had "created so many barriers and obstacles that perhaps they thought their interests lay on the Tory side, on the Conservative side, rather than the progressive side".

After it became clear the talks had failed, Mr Brown tendered his resignation and said he wished the next prime minister well.

In a resignation statement in Downing Street, Mr Brown said it had been a privilege to serve "this country I love".

Mr Brown had announced on Monday that he would step down as Labour leader by September.

Former Labour minister Kim Howells was scathing of the Lib Dems, and said he was glad his party had not done a deal with them.

He said: "I tell you why it's been rejected by most Labour MPs - because they know that they're [the Liberal Democrats] a bunch of opportunistic toerags, who'll say anything to anyone in order to get power. And they've done it this time, they've got power."

world hottest news: Aussie Weaken by Doubts About EU Loan Package

world hottest news: Aussie Weaken by Doubts About EU Loan Package

Aussie Weaken by Doubts About EU Loan Package

The Australian dollar fell censure its U.S. counterpart, expunging its yesterday’s gains, again versus other most-traded currencies on the concerns that the loan parcel won’t work out the fiscal crisis ropes the European Union.

The unenthusiastic outlook as the European economy makes investors to look since safety and drives away from the riskier currencies, such as the Australian dollar. The growth of the industrial income impact China was lesser than expected, also weakening Aussie, because China is the biggest trading companion of Australia.

Despite the monotonous difficulties seeing the Australian currency, some positive data appeared highly. The nation’s budget is forecasted to velvet to surplus leverage 2012–13, earlier than leverage the previous estimates. entrust the favorable economic info be followed by the currency’s involvement we shall see.

AUD/USD traded at 0.8950 as of 21:07 GMT today down from the opening price of 0.9026. AUD/JPY fell to 82.96 from the opening level of 84.20.

world hottest news: USD/CAD dives beneath 1.0300

world hottest news: USD/CAD dives beneath 1.0300

USD/CAD dives beneath 1.0300

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - The Loonie was benefited by a 100 pips downside gap at pre-market trading to open at 1.0345. Despite initial pledge aversion triggered an upmove infant by 1.0380 (intra-day low), a mature on investors outlook towards riskier assets bolstered the makeup around to break through 1.0300.

At present, the pair continues to top empty through the Asian meet and after thanks to halted by 1.0272 (intra-day low), USD/CAD sneaked slightly higher to settle at 1.0285. obscure pricing broadens external the home against Friday latter payment to 150 pips.

world hottest news: Eurozone Worries Weigh on Market

world hottest news: Eurozone Worries Weigh on Market

Eurozone Worries Weigh on Market

Heightened risk-aversion continues to dictate doorstep direction with a tart sell-off ascendancy the widespread equities, which maxim Tokyo’s Nikkei list and Germany’s DAX plunge by more than 3%. The VIX register spiked again, rising past the 40-level in intraday trading to 42. US equity indexes whipsawed throughout strikingly of the session, but clawing ferry fix afternoon trading with the Dow Jones again the S&P 500 lower by around 1.5% and the Nasdaq losing by almost 2.3%.

Economic data remains overshadowed by sovereign-debt worries in the Eurozone, with fears that the loss contagion will pursue spreading throughout Europe dictating market rule. The April jobs news was mixed as the unemployment rate unexpectedly edged progression to 9.9% versus 9.7% from March. However, the highly-anticipated non-farm payrolls bill sharply vagrancy consensus estimates for an increase of 190k jobs, instead surging by 290k jobs – the inimitable level since vagrancy 2006 further spreading from an upwardly revised March rendering of 230k jobs.

Canada’s labor balance also sharply beat estimates – triggering a knee-jerk reaction dominant repercussion the Loonie of being 1%. The net employment change due to April spiked to 108.7k, subterranean surpassing estimates for a slight improvement to 25.0k from 17.9k from wandering. The unemployment rate also drifted lower to 8.1% from 8.2%.

world hottest news: Tories and Lib Dems to hold more power-sharing talks

world hottest news: Tories and Lib Dems to hold more power-sharing talks

Tories and Lib Dems to hold more power-sharing talks

Senior Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are to hold more talks about the possibility of their parties forming a new government.

Conservative and Lib Dem negotiators will meet shortly - after their leaders met on Saturday for private talks.

Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove said the Lib Dems would not be "manoeuvred" into accepting any deal they were unhappy with.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said "everyone was being constructive".

The Tories won the most election votes and MPs, but are short of a majority and are seeking support from the Lib Dems to form a government.

There will also be a meeting of Conservative MPs at 1800 BST on Monday, the BBC understands.

Mr Gove, on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, said: "We must be respectful of what the Liberal Democrats want to do. We're not attempting to sand-bag or manoeuvre them into a situation with which they are unhappy."

He said he could not give precise details on the negotiations, but it was important to give the markets confidence on Monday.

"We all know with what is happing in the eurozone and Greece, that we cannot afford to have a situation where we don't have as quickly as possible a new government formed, taking the steps we all know are necessary in order to put our economy back on track."

He said he was prepared to give up his potential position as education secretary for a Liberal Democrat. Currently David Laws is the Lib Dems education spokesman.

"What I'd like to see is a spirit of co-operation. I don't object to the fact that we can have Liberal Democrat voices helping to shape an agenda which we can all agree can help take us forward at a difficult time," Mr Gove said.

'Constructive and amicable'

Gordon Brown remains prime minister, and government business continues, with Chancellor Alistair Darling attending a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels later.

Mr Brown has offered the Lib Dems talks if no deal is reached with the Conservatives.

A Lib Dem spokesman said Mr Clegg and Mr Brown spoke by telephone on Saturday night at the prime minister's request, describing the conversation as "amicable".

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has told Tory supporters that the negotiations will "inevitably involve compromise".

In an e-mail message to supporters, the Conservative leader said he would not be "rushed into any agreement" but may be able to give "ground" in some areas.

He said he would stand firm on his pledges not "to give more powers to Brussels, be weak on immigration or put the country's defences at risk".

But he added that, in the "national interest", the Conservative Party may be able to give ground in areas such as the Lib Dem manifesto plan to reduce taxes on the lowest paid and hoped for a "similarly constructive approach from the Liberal Democrats".

There was no direct reference to the Lib Dem desire for a referendum on voting reform, although on Friday Mr Cameron offered an "all-party committee of inquiry on political and electoral reform".

The talks between Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg at Admiralty House in Westminster, on Saturday night, were described by both sides as "constructive and amicable" and followed an earlier brief conversation at the VE day commemoration event in London.

Voting referendum offer

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "They will have been working out whether there is any room there on which they can meet which would allow them to both satisfy their supporters and have some sort of stable coalition or arrangement."

Our correspondent added that some "very senior Liberal Democrats" were urging their party leader to "talk to Gordon Brown".

Earlier, Mr Clegg discussed the Tory power-sharing offer with his party, the leadership of which has "endorsed in full" his decision to talk to the Tories first.

The Lib Dem leader said the Conservatives, as the biggest party, had the right to seek to form a government first.

Meanwhile, Labour frontbencher Peter Hain said it was "clear" that the Lib Dem leader and Mr Brown had "a lot in common" on the need for electoral reform - Labour has offered a referendum on changing the voting system.

But Labour backbencher John Mann called for Mr Brown to step down as Labour leader before the party conference in September - arguing his position "rules out the credibility of a Lib/Lab pact".

Similarly, Labour MP and former sports minister Kate Hoey told BBC Radio 5 live she could not see how Mr Brown could "continue as prime minister in any kind of coalition" because "he wasn't elected originally" and had now "lost over 100 MPs".

Scotland's First Minister, SNP leader Alex Salmond, called on the Lib Dems to join a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

world hottest news: Election 2010: Conservatives set to be largest party

world hottest news: Election 2010: Conservatives set to be largest party

Election 2010: Conservatives set to be largest party

The Conservatives are on course to be the largest party in a hung parliament, after nearly 400 election results.

Tory leader David Cameron said it was "clear that the Labour government has lost its mandate to govern".

The Lib Dem vote was up 0.9% on 2005 and Labour down 6.4% after 399 results. The Conservatives are up 3.9%.

Although Labour are set to lose over 90 MPs, Gordon Brown said he wanted to play a part in the UK "having a strong, stable and principled government".

Downing Street says the Labour leader, re-elected in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, will try to form a coalition in the event of a hung Parliament.

But shadow foreign secretary William Hague says any attempt by Brown at securing a pact with Lib Dems "would be a shameless piece of politics".

And the electoral maths suggests that between them there would not be enough Labour and Lib Dem MPs to form a majority government.

In other election night news:

• Northern Ireland's first minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson has been defeated in East Belfast by the Alliance party
• Jacqui Smith, who had to stand down as home secretary over her expenses, lost her Redditch seat to the Conservatives
• Esther Rantzen failed to win in Luton South, which went to the Labour candidate
• Lib Dem frontbencher Lembit Opik has lost his Montgomeryshire seat after suffering a 13.2% swing to the Conservatives
• Independent Richard Taylor was beaten by the Conservative candidate in Wyre Forest
• There were angry scenes and calls for an inquiry after people were turned away from polling stations as long queues formed ahead of the 2200 BST voting deadline.

Despite being neck-and-neck with Labour and the Conservatives for much of the campaign, the Lib Dems have so far failed to significantly increase their vote on the 2005 general election.

Turnout is running at 65.2%, a modest increase on the 2005 general election.

A joint BBC exit poll for the BBC/ITV/Sky suggested the Conservatives would be 21 seats short of an overall majority.

But results so far suggest the election is on a knife-edge and BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said a lot will depend on David Cameron's "capacity to build a coalition".

'New leadership'

The Tory leader may not win enough seats to rely on the support of Democratic Unionists in Northern Ireland alone to form a working majority.

After winning his Witney seat with an increased majority, Mr Cameron said it was clear from the results announced that the country wanted "change" and that would require "new leadership".

Promising to put the "national interest first," Mr Cameron said he would aim to bring about "strong, stable, decisive and good government".

But senior Labour figures were talking openly about trying to remain in power by forming a coalition with the Lib Dems and other parties to maintain "strong and stable government".

Foreign Secretary David Miliband it was "reasonable and right" that parties attempted to work together to form a government in the event of a hung parliament.

He told BBC News: "As far as I can see, the exit poll projection suggesting that no party would win this election is being borne out.

"If indeed no party has won an absolute majority then it seems to me perfectly reasonable and right that parties should talk to each other to see if they can find common ground to establish a strong and stable government. There's no harm in that.

"It's a good thing to do when the voters have clearly not embraced any of us and given us the absolute majority that we are all seeking."

Protests

Mr Brown's spokesman said it was "too early to say" what he would do, but sources have indicated he is ready to embark on talks aimed at piecing together a coalition.

Under the rules of Britain's constitution, the sitting prime minister is allowed to try to form a government before the leader of the largest party, in the event of a hung Parliament.

The other big story of the night has been disturbances at polling stations in some parts of the country after higher than expected turnout led to lengthy queues.

Even before Houghton and Sunderland South became the first seat to declare there were widespread reports of people being unable to vote.

There could be legal challenges from candidates who have fallen a few votes short of victory and the Electoral Commission have launched an investigation.

In Sheffield police were called to move people on when voters staged sit-in protests after waiting hours to vote. The city's returning officer apologised but said he had to close the polls at 2200 BST.

Exit poll

NOP and Mori surveyed 17,607 voters at 130 polling stations across the UK for the BBC/ ITV/Sky exit poll.

The Conservatives would have 305 MPs, up 95 on 2005, Labour would have 255, down 94, and the Lib Dems 61, down 1. Nationalists and others would have 29, the survey suggests.

All exit polls have a small margin of error which could be significant in a tight election such as this one, in which the three main Westminster parties have been so close in the opinion polls. There could also be different voting patterns around the country.

The poll anticipates the Lib Dems will perform better in England than in either Scotland or Wales.

However, a fall in his number of MPs would still come as a blow to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who has been neck-and-neck in the polls with the other two main parties for much of the campaign.

world hottest news: NY bomb suspect 'nearly escaped US' on Dubai flight

world hottest news: NY bomb suspect 'nearly escaped US' on Dubai flight

NY bomb suspect 'nearly escaped US' on Dubai flight

Details have emerged of how a Pakistan-born US citizen suspected of plotting to bomb New York's Times Square was arrested while trying to leave the US.

Faisal Shahzad, 30, was allowed on to a Dubai-bound plane at JFK Airport on Monday, despite being on a no-fly list.

It was only when customs agents checked passenger names 30 minutes before take-off that he was noticed and arrested.

Officials say Mr Shahzad admits his role in Saturday's failed attack. He faces terrorism and explosives charges.

These include attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and transporting an explosive device with the intent to kill.

"It is clear that this was a terrorist plot aimed at murdering Americans in one of the busiest places in the country," said Attorney General Eric Holder.

Mr Shahzad did not appear before a judge on Tuesday as expected to hear the charges. No reason was given for the delay.

He is alleged to have bought a car that was found loaded with an improvised bomb in Times Square.

The unexploded bomb left crucial evidence intact that detectives used to trace Mr Shahzad.

The vehicle's identity number led the police to the car's former owner, who said she had sold it to Mr Shahzad for cash without official paperwork being exchanged.

But she gave the police Mr Shahzad's mobile phone number.

Court documents allege that the pre-paid phone had also been used to call a Pennsylvania fireworks shop.

Despite his name being added to the government's no-fly list on Monday, Mr Shahzad managed to buy a ticket on an Emirates flight to Dubai and made it through JFK's security checks late that evening.

He booked the ticket while on his way to the airport and paid for it with cash, police said.

After last-minute checks by customs agents, the flight was stopped as it taxied to the runway.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government issued a statement on Wednesday saying Mr Shahzad had been heading for Islamabad in Pakistan, and had been due to change planes in Dubai.

"At this time, UAE officials have no information that the suspect has ever entered or planned to enter the UAE," the statement said.

The car containing a bomb made from fertiliser, fireworks, petrol and propane gas tanks was left in Times Square on Saturday evening.

The 1993 Nissan Pathfinder was parked with its engine running and hazard lights flashing.

The bomb was discovered and dismantled before it could explode, after a street-vendor noticed smoke coming from the vehicle and alerted police.

Times Square was packed with tourists and theatregoers at the time.

Officials said the bomb was crude, but could have sparked a "significant fireball" and sprayed shrapnel with enough force to kill pedestrians and knock out windows.

Investigators said the Connecticut resident implicated himself and told them he was acting alone.

But court documents stated that he admitted having attended a militant training camp in the Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan.

He apparently told investigators the plot had begun in December last year.

Amid reports of arrests in Pakistan in connection with the case, Pakistani Interior Minister Rahman Malik said some people had been "detained for questioning", but denied any arrests had been made.

"No official arrests has been made," Mr Malik told the BBC. "No official request has come from the US to launch an investigation, but we are carrying out inquiries on our own."

world hottest news: Indian prosecutors say hang convicted Mumbai gunman

world hottest news: Indian prosecutors say hang convicted Mumbai gunman

Indian prosecutors say hang convicted Mumbai gunman

The sole surviving gunman who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) in 2008 should be hanged, prosecutors say.

"It would be a mockery of justice if the death penalty is not imposed," chief prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, a Pakistani aged 22, was found guilty on Monday of charges including murder, waging war on India and possessing explosives.

The attacks left 174 people - including nine other gunmen - dead and soured relations between India and Pakistan.

India blames Pakistan-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.

After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the attacks had been partially planned on its territory and that Qasab was one of its citizens.

'Indian justice'

On Tuesday Mr Nikkam, the public prosecutor, spent more than two hours arguing that Qasab should be given the death penalty, the BBC's Prachi Pinglay in court in Mumbai says.

"He is an agent of the devil himself, a disgrace to society and the entire human race," Mr Nikkam said, the AFP news agency reports.

He described Qasab as a "killing machine who has no human feeling" and said a life sentence would leave India "a soft target" for extremists.

He said Qasab's crimes involved "focused, meticulous and detailed" planning to kill police officers and civilians.

India's media hailed Monday's verdict as "honourable", and said the acquittal of two Indians accused of helping the gunmen proved police had made a "poor case" of it.

The Hindu newspaper said that the judgement would "not grant closure" to survivors and families of victims of the attacks.

"This is because key conspirators, helped by a half-hearted investigation in Pakistan, are yet to face a court of law," the newspaper said.

The paper said the verdict was a "tribute to the independence of the Indian judicial system and its ability to deliver justice dispassionately".

According to the Times of India said that the verdict was "unlikely to be the end of the matter".

The newspaper said prosecutors planned to challenge the acquittals and that Qasab's lawyer could also contest his client's conviction.

Proceedings in the Mumbai trial have gone on for 14 months.

Late last year, Pakistan charged seven people in connection with the attacks, including the suspected mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is alleged to head Lashkar-e-Taiba.

world hottest news: Ahmadinejad to attend UN nuclear talks in New York

world hottest news: Ahmadinejad to attend UN nuclear talks in New York

Ahmadinejad to attend UN nuclear talks in New York

Delegates from nearly 200 nations were gathering at the UN to review efforts to check the spread of nuclear weapons.

They meet every five years to try to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

But this time the unresolved Iranian nuclear crisis threatens to overshadow the conference in New York.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a last-minute decision to attend to defend his country against US claims it wants to build a bomb.

The nuclear non-proliferation treaty, or NPT, is a grand bargain: nations with nuclear weapons promise to disarm, while those without promise not to get them, in exchange for the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

But the regime has come under heavy strain in recent years, and veteran observers say Monday's conference cannot afford to fail.

Participants say a positive atmosphere has been created by the commitment of US president Barack Obama to tackle nuclear issues.

However, America is leading the charge to strengthen NPT measures against countries such as Iran, which it accuses of secretly trying to build a bomb.

That is something Iran strongly denies, and President Ahmadinejad is attending in person to make his case.

Some diplomats fear the controversy will prevent a successful outcome of the conference.

world hottest news: Student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin e-mail account

world hottest news: Student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin e-mail account

Student convicted of hacking Sarah Palin e-mail account

A jury in Tennessee has convicted a former student of hacking the e-mail account of Sarah Palin.

David Kernell, 22, was found guilty of obstructing justice and unauthorised access to a computer.

The son of a Democratic lawmaker, he faces up to 20 years in prison for the first charge and one year for the charge of hacking.

He broke into Mrs Palin's e-mail account during her 2008 Republican campaign for the US vice-presidency.

Kernell was cleared of a charge of wire fraud.

'Political intrigue'

The jury were unable to agree on a verdict on a charge of identity fraud, for which he could face another trial.

Wade Davies, Kernell's lawyer, had said his client's actions amounted to a college prank, rather than a crime.

Kernell was a student at the University of Tennessee at the time.

But prosecutors said it was an attempt to influence a national election through illegal means.

The jury took four days to reach a decision.

Mrs Palin, a former governor of Alaska, posted a statement on her Facebook page saying she was "thankful that the jury thoroughly and carefully weighed the evidence and issued a just verdict".

"As Watergate taught us, we rightfully reject illegally breaking into candidates' private communications for political intrigue in an attempt to derail an election," it read.

Mr Davies said in a statement that Kernell, whose father is Tennessee Democratic representative Mike Kernell, was "grateful for the time and consideration the jury gave to his case".

In a 30-minute testimony last Friday, Mrs Palin said that Kernell had compromised the main way she had communicated with her family during the campaign by breaking into her Yahoo e-mail account.

Earlier this week, her daughter Bristol testified that she had received harassing calls and text messages after screen shots of e-mails from the account revealed her mobile phone number.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

world hottest news: Australia plans plain-packaging rule for cigarettes

world hottest news: Australia plans plain-packaging rule for cigarettes

Australia plans plain-packaging rule for cigarettes

Australia is to announce new rules which will force tobacco companies to use plain packaging, reports say.

Manufacturers will be required to drop all colour and branding logos from cigarette packets within two years.

The move, which is being billed as a world-first, comes after recommendations were made by the World Health Organisation.

PM Kevin Rudd, who is to hold elections this year, aims to cut smoking-related deaths to under 10% by 2018.

The decision is expected to be confirmed by Australia's Health Minister, Nicola Roxon.

Smoking kills 15,000 Australians every year and is the largest preventable cause of disease and death in the country.

The law will require all tobacco products to be sold in a standard colour and style with government health warnings by 2012.

It follows regulations on tobacco advertising which have helped cut smoking significantly, from 30.5% of the population aged 14 and over in 1988 to 16.6% in 2007.

An Australian think-tank has said that the rules amounted to compulsory acquisition of physical property and warned that it could result in expensive compensation claims.

In 2008, the Australian tobacco market generated revenues of $7.6 bn (£5m).

world hottest news: Police publish report into death of Blair Peach in 1979

world hottest news: Police publish report into death of Blair Peach in 1979

Police publish report into death of Blair Peach in 1979

A police officer is likely to have "struck the fatal blow" which killed a protester in west London 31 years ago, a Scotland Yard report reveals.

Anti-racism activist Blair Peach died after he was hit during clashes with police officers in Southall in 1979.

The previously secret report attaches "grave suspicion" to a policeman only identified as "Officer E".

Mr Peach's family have long campaigned for the report - written by Commander John Cass - to be released.

Mr Peach, a 33-year-old teacher from New Zealand, was taking part in a demonstration against the National Front.

The protest led to clashes with the police and he was later found with fatal head injuries.

A police radio or truncheon is thought to have delivered the fatal blow.

The Cass report does not name any of the implicated officers, but said six were on board a van belonging to the now disbanded Special Patrol Group identified as carrier U11.

It said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone over the death but recommended action for perverting the course of justice for three officers, including "Officer E".

The 1979 report said: "Whilst it can reasonably be concluded that a police officer struck the fatal blow, and that that officer came from carrier U.11, I am sure that it will be agreed that the present situation is far from satisfactory and disturbing."

It went on: "The attitude and untruthfulness of some of the officers involved is a contributory factor.

"It is understandable that because of the events of the day officers were confused, or made mistakes, but one would expect better recall of events by trained police officers.

"However, there are cases where the evidence shows that certain officers have clearly not told the truth."

Last year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the report should be published after being reviewed by lawyers.

The Crown Prosecution Service completed that review and advised Scotland Yard that charges could only be brought if there was sufficient new evidence, such as a confession.

IPL cricket probe of chairman Lalit Modi outlined

Indian cricket officials have demanded the suspended chairman of the highly lucrative Indian Premier League answer a raft of accusations of corruption.

The investigation of Lalit Modi includes alleged franchise bid rigging and broadcasting rights irregularities.

The Indian cricket board, the BCCI, named an interim IPL chairman after crisis talks on Monday. It said that "ethics and transparency" were vital.

Mr Modi has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

The IPL started in 2008 and has become a multi-billion dollar industry, attracting some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women to its franchises. The Twenty20 format competition features many of the world's top cricketers.

Franchise bids

After its meeting in Mumbai (Bombay) on Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) spelled out the main accu

It said they related to the initial bids for the Rajasthan and Punjab team franchises; the IPL's broadcasting deal; alleged bid rigging for two new franchises that will start next year; the IPL's internet rights and what was described as the behavioural pattern of Mr Modi.

The BCCI asked Mr Modi to reply to the allegations in 15 days, saying: "If Modi's reply convinces the members, proceedings will be dropped, so we will wait for his reply."

The BCCI named Chirayu Amin, an industrialist and head of the Baroda Cricket Association, as interim chairman.

It said a number of documents were missing from the IPL office which tax officials had been asking for.

The BCCI appointed a board member to oversee their collection.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar said: "The IPL is a great property and commercial aspects in certain events is an important thing. However, ethics and transparency is more important."

He added: "Everyday the income tax department is asking for documents but we don't have them in our custody."

Former India national captains Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri have been appointed to organise the next season of the IPL.

Mr Manohar said the suspension had not been imposed until after Sunday's final of this year's IPL, because the BCCI had not wanted to disrupt the tournament.

After the final in Mumbai, in which the Chennai Super Kings beat the Mumbai Indians by 22 runs, Mr Manohar issued a statement saying: "The alleged acts of individual misdemeanours of Mr Lalit K Modi... have brought a bad name to the administration of cricket and the game itself."

Mr Modi was suspended from "participating in the affairs of the board, the IPL, the working committee and any other committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India".

Mr Modi was originally scheduled to attend Monday's meeting in Mumbai but declined to do so.

On Sunday he changed course and said he would attend but that the charges against him would have to be made in writing. The meeting took place without him.

This is the worst crisis to hit Indian cricket since a match-fixing scandal involving senior national players in 2000.

Modi defiant

The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says the IPL is Mr Modi's brainchild and has been a huge success.

But he says there is now mounting evidence that there has been almost no financial oversight and this could do serious damage to its global sporting brand and to the image of India itself.

When he heard of the suspension, Mr Modi reacted defiantly.

"Good for them," he told Indian TV channel NDTV. "Are they so scared of me attending? Are they so scared of the truth?

"I will not be able to attend the meeting, but I will wait for my turn," he said.

Earlier, in an address to the crowd after the IPL final, he insisted the league was "clean and transparent".

"There have been some off-field unpleasant dramas based on the unknown, half-truths and motivated leaks from all sorts of sources," he said.

"I reassure you that if there has been any flouting of the rules and regulations or if there have been any irregularities, I shall take full responsibility."

The crisis erupted after Mr Modi revealed on his Twitter account that a female friend of Shashi Tharoor, a junior government minister, had invested in a consortium awarded a new IPL franchise in Kochi.

That revelation caused a storm which sparked Mr Tharoor's resignation and also led to government investigations into the teams, sponsors, broadcasters and event managers associated with the IPL.

sations against Mr Modi.

Shops ordered to pay £20m over 'toxic sofas'

A number of High Street chains has been ordered to pay up to £20m ($31m) to 2,000 people who received chemical burns from sofas.

The victims are expected to get £1,200-£9,000 each plus other expenses for loss of weddings, holidays and wages.

The group that owns Argos and Homebase, furniture chain Walmsleys and other smaller firms had admitted liability for selling the Chinese-made sofas.

Some Land of Leather customers will not get a pay-out, after an earlier ruling.

Richard Langton, solicitor for law firm Russell Jones and Walker, said: "People's lives were put on hold. Some people thought that they were dying, that they had skin cancer.

"Their doctors couldn't tell them what was wrong. A lot of psychological symptoms.

Burned through clothes

"Some cases were not so severe, fortunately, but for many people they say it was the worst period of their lives ever."

Mr Langton said there would be another hearing on 21 May when 2,500 further cases would be considered.

The £20m figure includes legal costs, as well as compensation.

Up to 100,000 of the sofas were sold with a fungicidal chemical inside, to stop the furniture going mouldy in storage.

When the sofas went into people's homes the solid sachets changed into gas that burned through clothes and on to skin.

An earlier hearing ruled more than 300 customers who bought from the now bust Land of Leather will not receive pay-outs.

world hottest news: Foreign Office apologises for Pope 'condom' memo

world hottest news: Foreign Office apologises for Pope 'condom' memo

Foreign Office apologises for Pope 'condom' memo

The Foreign Office has apologised for a "foolish" document which suggested the Pope's visit to the UK could be marked by the launch of "Benedict" condoms.

Called "The ideal visit would see...", it said the Pope could be invited to open an abortion clinic and bless a gay marriage during September's visit.

The Foreign Office stressed the paper, which resulted from a "brainstorm" on the visit, did not reflect its views.

The Bishop of Nottingham said, if anything, it was "appalling manners".

The Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon said: "I think it's a lot worse that we invite someone into our country - a person like the Pope - and then he's treated in this way.

"I think it's appalling manners more than anything else."

The junior civil servant responsible had been put on other duties, the Foreign Office said.

Details of the document emerged after it was obtained by the Sunday Telegraph.

'Song with Queen'

The UK's ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Campbell, has met senior officials of the Holy See to express regret on behalf of the government.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband is said to have been "appalled" by the incident.

The paper was attached as one of three "background documents" to a memo dated 5 March 2010 inviting officials in Whitehall and Downing Street to attend a meeting to discuss themes for the papal visit.

It suggested Benedict XVI could show his hard line on the sensitive issue of child abuse allegations against Roman Catholic priests by "sacking dodgy bishops" and launching a helpline for abused children.

The document went on to propose the Pope could apologise for the Spanish Armada or sing a song with the Queen for charity.

It listed "positive" public figures who could be made part of the Pope's visit, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair and 2009 Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle, and those considered "negative", such as Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins.

The civil servant responsible for sending round the memo said in a cover note: "Please protect; these should not be shared externally. The 'ideal visit' paper in particular was the product of a brainstorm which took into account even the most far-fetched of ideas."

An investigation was launched after some recipients of the memo, said to have been circulated to a restricted list, objected to its tone.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the department was "deeply sorry" for any offence the document had caused.

"This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK government or Foreign Office policy or views. Many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful," he said.

"The text was not cleared or shown to ministers or senior officials before circulation. As soon as senior officials became aware of the document, it was withdrawn from circulation.

"The individual responsible has been transferred to other duties. He has been told orally and in writing that this was a serious error of judgement and has accepted this view."

'Blue-skies thinking'

The Foreign Office said the memo had resulted from discussions by a group of three or four junior staff in a team working on early planning for the papal visit.

A source told the BBC News website the individual since moved to other duties had called the group together for "some blue-skies creative thinking about how to make the visit a success", but their discussions had become "a joke that has gone too far".

The source added that others in the group had been spoken to about the incident, but had not faced any formal action.

Bishop McMahon said he hoped it was meant to be "light hearted".

But he added: "That in itself can be dangerous if these memos move around the departments, they tend to gain momentum."

He said he did not think Catholics would be upset by the memo as they "are used to getting a bad press".

Jack Valero from the organisation Catholic Voices said he was not taking the memo seriously.

"I think it's a joke that has gone wrong - light relief that has gone out of control. And I think Catholics will just take it like this, you know, that they'll think about it today and then they will forget about it."

He said those that have been scarred by abortion would find the joke "a bit thin".

But he added: "In the Catholic church we are used to forgiveness, it's part of our culture to forgive people's mistakes."

Earlier this year the Pope announced 2010 would see the first papal visit to the UK since John Paul II's visit in 1982.

Pope Benedict XVI's visit will take place from 16 to 19 September, during which time he is expected to visit Birmingham, as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman, and Scotland.

The visit will come in the autumn of what is proving to be a difficult year for the Pope with a wave of allegations that Church authorities in Europe and North and South America failed to deal properly with priests accused of paedophilia.

The Pope himself has been accused of being part of a culture of secrecy and of not taking strong enough steps against paedophiles when he had that responsibility as a cardinal in Rome.

However, his supporters say he has been the most pro-active Pope yet in confronting abuse.