What it means when President Xi buys his bun and eats it too

By John Sudworth

BBC News, Shanghai

"Man buys bun" is a headline unlikely to sell many newspapers. Even "President buys bun" wouldn't stop the presses in most countries. For China, though, it's different, and Xi Jinping's weekend visit to a popular Beijing dumpling shop, where he bought and paid for his own pork and onion bun, has unleashed a media storm.

The need to appear normal is of course usually the obsession of democratically-elected politicians. Autocrats, on the other hand, tend to emphasise their elevation above, rather than closeness to the masses, and China's communist rulers, like the members of the country's imperial court before them, have been no different.

Mr Xi is trying to change all that. His bun-eating mission, however pre-planned, is in line with the tone he has set during his first year in office, demanding that public officials curb displays of extravagance and entitlement.

Corruption and perceived aloofness from ordinary lives, he has warned, pose a grave threat to the future of the Communist Party.

Public opinion

A couple of years ago, a photograph of the then US ambassador in Beijing buying his own coffee in Starbucks went viral in China. "Even less imposing than a village chief," was one comment, as thousands more pondered the comparison with the lifestyles of their own elite.

And that's the point of course. The information age means that Chinese officials are now often called to account, not at the ballot box, but in the court of public opinion. Corrupt and extravagant behaviour can be exposed on the internet in less time than it takes to eat a bowl of shark fin soup.

So perhaps we should expect more man-of-the-people moments from President Xi. But the desire to win genuine popular affection, as western politicians well know, can often backfire.

China is discovering that you cannot both court the media and expect to control it, or in other words, you cannot have your bun and eat it too.

There are signs that some of less favourable opinions about Mr Xi's down-to-earth dining are being filtered and blocked - but not all.

"Start thanking him when he fixes our food safety issues," writes one blogger.

Nick Clegg delivers pro-EU message for 2014

BBC News

Nick Clegg has used his new year's message to tell voters the Liberal Democrats are "Britain's party of in" when it comes to the European Union.

The Lib Dem leader said other parties would put "narrow political interest" ahead of the UK economy.

Mr Clegg said UKIP "want out" of the EU, the Conservatives were "flirting with exit" and Labour "don't have the courage of their convictions on this".

He said the EU was not "perfect" but it "means jobs, trade and prosperity".

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU by 2017 - but Mr Clegg urged voters to send a message by backing the Liberal Democrat's in May's EU elections.

"Don't wait for a referendum," he said. "Don't wait for the general election. Make your voice heard now.

"Once Britain finds itself with one foot out the door, we won't just be able to turn back. So don't take that risk."

Mr Clegg pointed to a Confederation of British Industry report published last month that suggested UK households were almost £3,000 a year better off thanks to Britain's EU membership.

'Not in love'

The deputy prime minister said voters should not "let anyone jeopardise our recovery", and he criticised the Conservatives, Labour and UKIP.

"All three would put narrow political interests ahead of the national economic interest," he said.

"So, in a few months, I'm going to ask you to make a different choice.

"The Liberal Democrats are Britain's party of in. Not because we're in love with the EU, or we think it's perfect, but because being in Europe means jobs, trade and prosperity".

Speaking about the coming year, Mr Clegg mocked the "exciting breathless predictions" made by other party leaders in the past.

"After a long period of drama and upheaval in the economy, how about a year of stability rather than surprises?" he said.

"How about we make 2014 about one thing and one thing only: locking in our recovery."

Mid Staffs: Helene Donnelly and Julie Bailey honoured

By James Gallagher

Health and science reporter, BBC News

Two women who led the fight against one of the most shocking failings in NHS history have been recognised in the New Year honours list.

The care at Stafford Hospital left some patients drinking water from vases, it is claimed, and receptionists assessing emergency cases.

Julie Bailey, who set up the campaign group Cure the NHS after witnessing her mother's treatment, was made a CBE.

Helene Donnelly, a nurse who became a whistleblower, was made an OBE.

Figures suggested there were more deaths than would have been expected at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2008.

Patients needing pain relief either got it late or not at all, leaving them crying out for help, and there were cases where food and drinks were left out of reach.

Helene Donnelly worked in the A&E department at the hospital.

She raised nearly 100 complaints about the treatment of patients, turned whistleblower and was a key witness at the Stafford Hospital public inquiry.

She told the BBC she was "tremendously proud and honoured" to receive the CBE for services to the NHS, after what had been a "very difficult time personally and professionally".

Ms Donnelly said she was surprised when she found out: "It was rather surreal really, I was completely shocked, I thought is this some sort of mistake?"

She is now an ambassador for cultural change at the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust and takes staff concerns directly to the chief executive.

"I hope this [honour] is recognition for lots of other people trying to raise concerns and this is also for the positive change we're trying to encourage now."

Campaign to cure

Julie Bailey, who led the campaign for a public enquiry into failings at the hospital, was given a CBE for "services to the care of older people".

Her 86-year-old mother Bella collapsed in the hospital in 2007 after being left without her oxygen supply.

Ms Bailey spent the next eight weeks sleeping on the ward after resolving that her mother should not be left alone in the hospital.

She said she witnessed "utter chaos" on the ward with patients drinking out of flower vases.

Her mother later died at the hospital and Ms Bailey set up the Cure the NHS campaign group with other relatives of patients who had died at the hospital.

Previous inquiries into care had been held in private. The group successfully campaigned for a full public inquiry which concluded in 2013.

Since then new rules, to make hospitals in England publish monthly details of whether they have enough nurses on their wards and making a criminal offence of wilful neglect to hold staff to account, have been announced.

Russia's Mikhail Khodorkovsky granted Switzerland visa

BBC News

Switzerland has granted a three-month visa to the former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was recently freed after 10 years in a Russian jail.

"The visa allows a three-month stay in the Schengen area," the Swiss embassy in Berlin said, referring to the 26-nation free-travel zone in Europe.

Khodorkovsky has been staying in a German hotel following his release earlier this month.

His family lives in Switzerland and he has business there.

At the time of his arrest more than 10 years ago, Khodorkovsky was Russia's richest man, and he used some of his wealth to fund opposition parties.

He was found guilty of fraud and tax evasion, and has always insisted that his conviction was politically motivated.

Since being freed on 20 December, and immediately flying to Germany, he has vowed to stay out of Russia.

But his spokesman admitted last week that he was considering a possible move to Switzerland, because that is where his wife Inna lives and his twin sons go to school.

A spokesman for Khodorkovsky said: "He is very grateful to the Swiss authorities for the speed and efficiency with which they have dealt with his visa application."

Pardons

Khodorkovsky had been due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer.

The pardon came after Russian MPs backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners.

Two members of punk protest band Pussy Riot - jailed for staging a protest in a Moscow cathedral - have also recently been freed.

And last week Russian authorities dropped criminal charges against some of the 30 people accused of taking part in a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic.

Analysts say Mr Putin may have been trying to ease international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi.

US 'to prosecute' Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade

BBC News

The US is proceeding with the prosecution of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade after her arrest earlier this month caused a huge diplomatic row, media reports say.

Ms Khobragade's detention on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her housekeeper led to outrage in India, where she is seen as being victimised.

She has denied all the charges and has been released on bail.

India has demanded an apology from the US over her alleged "humiliation".

But Press Trust of India news agency quoted US sources in New York as saying that the US is gathering more evidence against the diplomat ahead of 13 January, the deadline for her indictment.

The sources said there was no question of dropping the charges against Ms Khobragade or apologising for the arrest.

Ms Khobragade, India's deputy consul general in New York, was arrested in the city on 12 December on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of paying her Indian maid below the US minimum wage.

She was handcuffed and strip-searched after a complaint from the maid, Sangeeta Richard.

The diplomat, who has been released on bail, denies all the charges and has in turn accused Ms Richard of theft and attempted blackmail.

Delhi had already ordered a series of reprisals against the US.

Security barricades around the US embassy in the city were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials. India is also checking the tax status of Americans working at schools in the country.

Indonesia volcano Mt Sinabung in fresh eruptions

BBC News

An active volcano in western Indonesia has let out a series of fresh eruptions, forcing around 19,000 people to flee their homes, officials say.

Mt Sinabung, on the island of Sumatra, erupted nine times late on Monday, shooting lava and gas up to 7,000m (23,000 ft) in the air, officials said.

A 5km (3 mile) danger zone is being enforced around the volcano's crater.

It has been showing signs of life since September, after being dormant for three years.

"On Monday night, 19,126 people fled their homes, and we expect that number to rise," National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

"Mount Sinabung remains on the highest alert level," he said, adding that police and soldiers were patrolling the danger zone to evacuate people.

When the volcano erupted in 2010, at least two people were killed and 30,000 others were displaced.

Before 2010, Mount Sinabung had not erupted in 400 years. It is one of around 130 active volcanoes in the country.

Buenos Aires residents protest over 'heatwave power cuts'

BBC News

Main roads to the Argentine capital Buenos Aires have been blocked by people protesting against power cuts.

They are demanding government action on shortages that have been affecting many parts of the city.

Residents set fire to rubbish bags and tyres on the roads, causing long traffic jams as many left the capital for the New Year festivities.

The authorities are blaming the energy crisis on Buenos Aires' worst heatwave in decades, with temperatures over 38C.

Some neighbourhoods have been without power for two weeks, with a marked increase in the use of air conditioning.

But the opposition accuses the government of mismanaging the crisis.

Buenos Aires mayor, Mauricio Macri, says President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner should change the time zone in the east of Argentina - where Buenos Aires is - to save energy.

Mr Macri, a former ally of Ms Fernandez, said the private energy suppliers cannot take all the blame for the crisis.

"Private companies are also responsible, but the main responsibility is with the federal government," he said.

"The government must control to make sure there is an investment programme, which has not happened in the last decade. And now we are regretting the consequences of that," Mr Macri added.

Argentina's ageing power grid has been struggling to keep up with demand.

The government is supplying emergency help for those in need amidst the high temperatures.

But many are protesting about the lack of service, says the BBC's Irene Caselli in Buenos Aires.

The road blocks included the main highway that connects the capital city to the coast, which is a popular destination for summer vacations.

On Monday, public sector workers in Buenos Aires were told to stay at home in an effort to save electricity.

"It's a shame. The truth is that you should not play with people. I'm talking about the private companies, politicians, everything. I'm very angry," Buenos Aires resident Ricardo Alega told Reuters.

On Sunday night, electricity demand reached a record high for a non-working day, as residents turned on fans and air conditioning units in an attempt to cool down homes.

City officials held emergency meetings with federal officials on Sunday in an effort to co-ordinate assistance to those left without power for days.

An estimated 11.000 people still had no electricity over the weekend. Hundreds of thousands had suffered power cuts over the preceding weeks.

The heatwave is reported to be the worst to hit the city in 40 years.

Burma political prisoners to be pardoned

BBC News

Burma is set to free several political prisoners after the government announced a presidential pardon.

It is not clear how many prisoners will be released, but activists say there are still around 40 political prisoners in the country.

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since steps towards democracy began in 2010.

President Thein Sein has pledged to release all prisoners of conscience by the end of 2013.

"All prisoners who have been sentenced [under the following laws] are pardoned," the government announcement, which was televised late on Monday, said.

"All ongoing cases at the courts will be closed and all accused must be freed immediately."

The amnesty covers people convicted of or charged with unlawful association, high treason, contempt of government and violating the peaceful assembly law, AP news agency reported.

Rights groups had accused Burma's former military government of wrongfully imprisoning about 2,000 political opponents, dissidents and journalists.

President Thein Sein has introduced major reforms since the elections of November 2010, which saw military rule replaced by a military-backed civilian government.

Many political prisoners have been freed and media restrictions have been relaxed, while the opposition has rejoined the political process.

In response, most international sanctions against Burma have been relaxed.

Canadian firm Bombardier sells 10 jets for $259m

BBC News

Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier has announced it has sold 10 Challenger jets for $259m (£157m) to an anonymous buyer.

This was the second order in a week for the firm.

The previous order, worth a little over $280m, was for five Challenger 300s and five Challenger 605 jets.

Bombardier is one of the biggest manufacturers of business jets with brands such as Challenger, Global and Learjet.

Richard Haass talks 'end without deal' in Northern Ireland

BBC News

Talks to resolve some of the most divisive issues that have hampered the Northern Ireland peace process appear to have broken up without agreement.

Northern Ireland's five main parties met through the night in a final effort to settle differences over parades, the flying of flags and how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

Former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass, who chaired the talks, is thought to have been unable to broker a deal.

Further details are expected shortly.

The overnight negotiations were on a seventh set of draft proposals put forward during the talks.

The only official statement issued so far has come from Sinn Féin.

The party said the proposals tabled provided the "basis for agreement" and they would be recommended for approval to the party executive, the BBC's Andy Martin reported.

But the DUP, the largest unionist party, is believed to be unlikely to "find enough in this document" to agree to it, out correspondent added.

A deadline for agreement had been set for Monday evening, but the talks continued into the early hours of Tuesday.

The three key issues have been:

During the talks, many had expressed optimism that a deal would be reached.

On Sunday, Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt had said the talks were "80 to 90% over the line".

Arriving for discussions on Monday, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said he was "fairly confident" a deal could be reached.

"These issues will not go away so now is the time to deal with them," he said.

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness had said it would be a "humiliation" if Dr Haass and his co-chair, Prof Meghan O'Sullivan, returned to the United States without securing a deal.

Dr Haass and Prof O'Sullivan were brought to Northern Ireland in July by the first and deputy first ministers.

Michael Schumacher's family in bedside vigil after ski accident

BBC News

The family of German motor-racing champion Michael Schumacher are at his bedside as he fights for life following a skiing accident in the French Alps.

Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said his wife, Corinna, daughter Gina Maria and son Mick are in a state of shock at the Grenoble hospital.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion suffered head injuries on Sunday in a fall at the resort of Meribel.

He has been put in a medically-induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain.

"The family is not doing very well, obviously. They are shocked," Sabine Kehm told reporters.

Prof Jean-Francois Payen, of Grenoble University Hospital's intensive care unit, told a news conference that they could not give a prognosis for the 44-year-old driver.

"He is in a critical state in terms of cerebral resuscitation. We are working hour by hour," he said.

Prof Payen said that if Schumacher had not been wearing a helmet "he wouldn't be here now".

"We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head," the anaesthetist said.

Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said that a post-operative scan had shown "diffuse haemorrhagic lesions" on both sides of Schumacher's brain.

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Grenoble says there are precedents for people surviving such injuries.

Induced comas can last several weeks while a patient's condition is stabilised, she adds, and there can be many months of therapy in order to achieve as full a recovery as possible.

Doctors have lowered Schumacher's body temperature to 34-35C (93.2-95F) as part of the coma, slowing his metabolism to help reduce inflammation.

The driver had been skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

He was first evacuated to a hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.

Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an "agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological condition "deteriorated rapidly".

He was taken from Moutiers to the larger facility in Grenoble.

Messages of support have come from around the world.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and her government were, like millions of Germans, "extremely shocked".

"We hope, with Michael Schumacher and with his family, that he can overcome and recover from his injuries," the spokesman said.

Former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who recovered from life-threatening head injuries he suffered at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, wrote on Instagram: "I am praying for you my brother! I hope you have a quick recovery! God bless you, Michael."

On Monday some fans had gathered outside the hospital in Grenoble.

Nuravil Raimbekov, a student from Kyrgyzstan who is studying nearby, described Schumacher as an inspiration.

"I'm worried, of course... but I still hope, and I will pray for him," he said.

Schumacher, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career.

The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

He retired in 2006, and was seriously hurt in a motorcycling accident in Spain three years later, during which he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year.

Michael Schumacher's family in bedside vigil after ski accident

BBC News

The family of German motor-racing champion Michael Schumacher are at his bedside as he fights for life following a skiing accident in the French Alps.

Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said his wife, Corinna, daughter Gina Maria and son Mick are in a state of shock at the Grenoble hospital.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion suffered head injuries on Sunday in a fall at the resort of Meribel.

He has been put in a medically-induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain.

"The family is not doing very well, obviously. They are shocked," Sabine Kehm told reporters.

Prof Jean-Francois Payen, of Grenoble University Hospital's intensive care unit, told a news conference that they could not give a prognosis for the 44-year-old driver.

"He is in a critical state in terms of cerebral resuscitation. We are working hour by hour," he said.

Prof Payen said that if Schumacher had not been wearing a helmet "he wouldn't be here now".

"We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head," the anaesthetist said.

Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said that a post-operative scan had shown "diffuse haemorrhagic lesions" on both sides of Schumacher's brain.

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Grenoble says there are precedents for people surviving such injuries.

Induced comas can last several weeks while a patient's condition is stabilised, she adds, and there can be many months of therapy in order to achieve as full a recovery as possible.

Doctors have lowered Schumacher's body temperature to 34-35C (93.2-95F) as part of the coma, slowing his metabolism to help reduce inflammation.

The driver had been skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

He was first evacuated to a hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.

Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an "agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological condition "deteriorated rapidly".

He was taken from Moutiers to the larger facility in Grenoble.

Messages of support have come from around the world.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and her government were, like millions of Germans, "extremely shocked".

"We hope, with Michael Schumacher and with his family, that he can overcome and recover from his injuries," the spokesman said.

Former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who recovered from life-threatening head injuries he suffered at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, wrote on Instagram: "I am praying for you my brother! I hope you have a quick recovery! God bless you, Michael."

On Monday some fans had gathered outside the hospital in Grenoble.

Nuravil Raimbekov, a student from Kyrgyzstan who is studying nearby, described Schumacher as an inspiration.

"I'm worried, of course... but I still hope, and I will pray for him," he said.

Schumacher, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career.

The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

He retired in 2006, and was seriously hurt in a motorcycling accident in Spain three years later, during which he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year.

Who, What, Why: What is the quenelle gesture?

BBC News

French footballer Nicolas Anelka has denied accusations of anti-Semitism after celebrating a goal by performing a controversial hand gesture known as a "quenelle". What is it?

The gesture involves touching or gripping your shoulder with one hand while holding the palm of your other hand outstretched and pointing to the ground. Some describe it as a combination of the bras d'honneur with a bent arm (which means "up yours") and the Nazi salute.

It is the trademark of the hugely controversial French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who once said he would like to put a quenelle - a rugby-ball-shaped serving of fish or meat paste - up the backside of Zionists.

Dieudonne made the gesture when he headed his own anti-Zionist campaign in the European elections in 2009. French media trace it further back, to one of his performances in 2005. It came to greater prominence in September when two soldiers were photographed appearing to make the gesture outside a Paris synagogue.

There are thousands of examples posted online, some at sensitive sites such as the Auschwitz death camp, and Dieudonne's fans can be seen repeating it outside his theatre.

Fans of Dieudonne outside his theatre in Paris

West Bromwich Albion striker Anelka said on Twitter it was dedicated to his "comedian friend" - who has been convicted of making anti-Semitic remarks and now faces a ban on public appearances. Both Anelka and Dieudonne say it is an anti-establishment symbol of defiance. But the French sports minister, Valerie Fourneyron, was one of many to disagree with the footballer's interpretation, saying it was sickening and incited racial hatred.

Jean-Yves Camus, a French academic who studies the extreme right, told the Independent the quenelle has become a "badge of identity, especially among the young, but it is doubtful that all of them understand its true meaning". He says Dieudonne has become the hero of a movement convinced the world is run by Washington and Tel Aviv.

"I think it's likely to be more complex than just being associated with the far right," says Jim Shields of Aston University, an expert on the French far right, because Dieudonne has been involved with anti-racist left-wing activists as well as far-right activists. "At the moment, the use of this gesture seems too diffuse to fit any simple right-left interpretation."

Anelka is not the first French footballer playing in England to make the gesture. Samir Nasri and Mamadou Sakho were also photographed in this way, although Sakho later tweeted that he had been tricked and didn't realise its true meaning.

Peak District sinkhole appears in Foolow, Derbyshire

BBC News

A large sinkhole has appeared in part of the Peak District in Derbyshire.

The hole, which eye witnesses said measures about 160ft (49m) wide, has opened up in the village of Foolow.

Caver Mark Noble, 58, from Eyam, said he saw the hole during a walk on Christmas Day, but believes the land began to fall the day before.

He said he has explored the caves at Foolow in the past as huge cavities were left in the area from an old lead mine.

Mr Noble said: "It's quite a large hole and it's getting bigger all the time. It's probably increased by about 10% since it opened up.

"It is quite interesting but there are two other similar large holes that appeared about half a mile away from this one in the 1970s, so it's not a new thing."

Jahi McMath, 'brain dead' US girl: Life support extended

BBC News

The family of a US teenager declared brain dead after a routine operation went wrong has won an extension to the court order keeping her alive.

The court order keeping her on life support in California had been due to expire on Monday evening.

Jahi McMath, 13, had a tonsillectomy this month to treat a sleep disorder but she began bleeding heavily after surgery and went into cardiac arrest.

Her family says there is still hope for recovery.

However, the Children's Hospital & Research Center, which carried out the procedure, wants to turn off her ventilator.

On Monday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo ordered the hospital to maintain Jahi on a ventilator until 7 January.

Jahi's mother, Nailah Winkfield, said she wept when she heard about the ruling.

She said the delay was an answer to a prayer and a sign that she was right to keep fighting.

"Who wants to know the date and the time their child would die?" she said. "I don't care what anyone has to say about what I'm doing... I have to do what is right for me and for Jahi."

Jahi's family believes she is still alive but the hospital in Oakland, California, has argued in court papers that there is no medical treatment they can give to the teenager because she is "practically and legally" dead.

An independent paediatric neurologist from Stanford University supported that view.

In an earlier ruling, a judge at Alameda County Superior Court agreed and issued an order allowing Children's Hospital to remove Jahi from a breathing machine at 17:00 local time on Monday (01:00 GMT on Tuesday).

Hospital spokesman Sam Singer said they would comply with the judge's new order.

The McMaths are hoping that a New York facility will care for their daughter. Two California care homes have already withdrawn offers to accept Jahi.

It is unclear how the girl's operation on 9 December went so badly awry. She was having her tonsils removed to treat her apnoea, a condition that causes sleepers to experience irregular breathing.

Jahi was declared brain dead three days after surgery.

The family said in a statement at the weekend: "We have our strong religious convictions and set of beliefs and we believe that, in this country, a parent has the right to make decisions concerning the existence of their child: not a doctor... and definitely not a doctor who runs the facility that caused the brain death in the first place."

Children's Hospital says it is willing to work with the family to transfer Jahi to another facility, as long as it can legally do so.

"We need to be able to talk to the other facility to understand what it is they are capable of doing," Cynthia Chiarappa, a hospital spokeswoman, said.

"This is not transferring an individual in a vegetative state, but a dead body."

Jahi's family has launched an online fundraising drive, which had collected more than $22,000 (£13,000) by Monday morning, to transfer their daughter to another facility.

The McMaths' lawyer, Chris Dolan, said he was waiting to hear from a hospital in New York, where officials have been considering the case.

"The family is together, and today everybody is praying and being together," Mr Dolan told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday.

Lansbury and Keith lead women-dominated honours list

BBC News

Actresses Angela Lansbury and Penelope Keith become dames in the New Year's Honours list, which features women than men for the first time.

Women - 611 of them - make up the majority (51%) of the list - the previous highest proportion was 47%.

Football boss Karren Brady and ex-Wimbledon champion Ann Jones become CBEs, while Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones becomes an MBE.

Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley receives a knighthood.

Gormley, 63, said he was "very humbled, but also delighted," and accepted his honour as "a recognition" for the art form.

Composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is Master of the Queen's Music, becomes a Companion of Honour, while DJ Pete Tong receives an MBE.

Penelope Keith, 73, who became a household name as Margot Leadbetter in 1970s sitcom The Good Life, said of her honour: "It's a recognition for not only my 54 years being an actress but also for all the charities with which I'm associated and I think they'll be thrilled."

Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury, 88, receives hers for services to drama and to charitable work and philanthropy. She told the BBC: "I'm joining a marvellous group of women I greatly admire like Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.

"It's a lovely thing to be given that nod of approval by your own country and I really cherish it."

Apprentice star Karren Brady, 43, vice-chairman of West Ham Football Club and former Birmingham City managing director, gets a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business. She said she felt "very privileged and very proud, particularly to be recognised for the work I do for other women in business".

Other prominent women include actress Lynda Bellingham, singer Katherine Jenkins and writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig, plus the founders of parenting website Netmums.com, Siobhan Freegard, Cathy Court and Sarah Russell, who all receive OBEs.

In science, Met Office chief scientist Prof Julia Slingo becomes a dame for her services to weather and climate science.

Knighthoods

Former director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer QC receives a knighthood for services to law and criminal justice, with film and theatre producer Michael Codron and former Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker also receiving the honour.

CBEs go to ballet dancer Carlos Acosta, former FA chairman David Bernstein, actor Michael Crawford, who played Frank Spencer in 1970s sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, and presenter Nicholas Parsons, host of the comedy radio game show Just A Minute.

Artist Derek Clarke, a member of the Royal Scottish Academy of Arts, whose career has spanned more than 70 years and who turns 101 on Tuesday, also receives an MBE.

Some 1,195 people have received an award and in total, 74% of awards in the New Year's Honours List are for people who are actively engaged in charitable or voluntary work within their local community.

Barry and Margaret Mizen, whose 16-year-old son Jimmy was murdered in London in May 2008, are created MBEs for services to young people. They set up the Jimmy Mizen Foundation to help young people play a positive role in their communities.

Mr Mizen said: "To us, it's about the hundreds and hundreds of people that support us, it's about all the work the rest of our family do, and it's in memory of a fine and decent young lad whose legacy will be one of peace and community cohesion."

Some other examples are:

Trevor Jarvis, Ambassador for Dementia with the Alzheimer's Society, who has used his own experiences to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.

Christina Selby, who founded Hats4Heroes in 2010 and has since sent nearly 10,000 knitted hats, each containing a chocolate bar, to the British forces in Afghanistan as a way of boosting morale.

Julie Bailey, who set up the campaign group Cure the NHS after being appalled by the care she witnessed her mother and others receive at Staffordshire General Hospital, and Helene Donnelly, a nurse at the hospital who became a whistleblower.

Ms Donnelly said: "I hope this [honour] is recognition for lots of other people trying to raise concerns and this is also for the positive change we're trying to encourage now."

The Order of Merit, which is awarded to individuals of great achievement in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science goes to orchestra conductor Sir Simon Rattle and world-renowned heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub.

There can be only 24 OMs at any one time, making it highly-exclusive. Previous recipients include Florence Nightingale and Sir Winston Churchill, plus honorary members Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

Doctor Marcus Setchell, who delayed his retirement after being asked by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to oversee the birth of Prince George is made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) - an honour in the personal gift of the Queen.

Awards for sport make up 4% of the total, with an OBE going to England and Arsenal Ladies footballer Rachel Yankey and former long-distance runner David Bedford, who was race director of the London Marathon for more than 20 years, while England women's rugby team captain Katy McLean gets an MBE.

Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani 'arrested'

BBC News

The billionaire Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani has been arrested, state media report.

In September, Iran's parliament began investigating his business dealings after he was accused of withholding $1.9bn (£1.2bn) of oil revenue meant to be channelled through his companies.

Mr Zanjani, who claims he is worth $13.5bn, has denied the allegation.

The US and the EU have both blacklisted him for helping Iran's government and several firms evade an oil embargo.

The US and the EU have imposed crippling sanctions on Iran's oil industry since 2012 as part of a drive by the international community to put pressure on the government in Tehran over its controversial nuclear programme.

'Money in account'

On Monday, Iran's official Irna news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhoseyn Mohseni-Ezhei as saying that Mr Zanjani had been arrested and taken to Tehran's Evin prison.

Mr Mohseni-Ezhei did not provide any further details about the case, but Irna said it was related to "financial crimes".

Mr Zanjani has acknowledged that since 2010 he has used a web of more than 60 companies based in the UAE, Turkey and Malaysia to sell millions of barrels of Iranian oil on behalf of the government, generating $17.5bn of desperately needed revenue.

After being accused of withholding money earlier this year, Mr Zanjani said that he had already transferred $700m, but that the international sanctions were preventing him from handing over the remaining $1.2bn.

"I will pay it back if they give me an account number tomorrow that accepts up to 1bn euros," he was quoted as saying in an interview with an Iranian magazine. "How can I transfer the money when the oil ministry and the central bank are under sanctions? We also are not able to transfer the money, but the money is in the account."

Last week, the Central Bank of Iran said Mr Zanjani had not transferred the outstanding amount.

The tycoon's arrest came a day after President Hassan Rouhani ordered his government to fight "financial corruption", particularly "privileged figures" who had "taken advantage of economic sanctions".

Earlier this month, Mr Zanjani was also forced to deny any involvement in a major corruption scandal in neighbouring Turkey.

An Azeri businessman and gold dealer, Reza Zarrab, has been accused of bribing ministers to cover up a deal that allegedly saw Iran sell oil and gas to Turkey in return for cash that was then converted into gold by a Turkish bank and exported to Tehran, often via Dubai.

Brazilian Tenharim tribe returns to Amazon reserve

BBC News

Some 150 indigenous people in Brazil's Amazon region have returned to their reserve, several days after seeking refuge in a nearby military base.

Members of the Tenharim tribe fled their lands on Christmas Day, after riots in the nearby town of Humaita.

Local groups accused the tribe of abducting three government workers two weeks ago.

The three men were last seen near the indigenous lands, in Amazonas state, but the tribe denies any involvement.

Local groups say the contractors were abducted and taken to the reserve in retaliation for the death of an indigenous leader.

The police say the man, Ivan Tenharim, was run over by a vehicle on a road that crosses the reserve, but tribe members believe he was murdered.

On Saturday, more than 200 policemen were deployed in the reserve - some 600km (370 miles) south-west of the state capital, Manaus - to begin a search for the missing men.

The police presence may have reassured the indigenous people that it was safe to return.

Clashes between indigenous groups and non-indigenous locals are not uncommon in Brazil as they are often in conflict over land, logging and mining rights.

Al-Jazeera demands Egypt release four journalists

BBc News

Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera has demanded the release of four of its journalists seized by Egyptian police in Cairo at the weekend.

They include its Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and former BBC correspondent Peter Greste.

The journalists had held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, the interior ministry said.

Al-Jazeera said it had been "subject to harassment" although not officially banned from working in Egypt.

There has been a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood since the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi in July. Last week it was declared a terrorist group.

In the past six months, more than 1,000 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces, and thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, including the majority of its leadership.

A court will hear a case to disband the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), on 15 February.

'Arbitrary'

The four journalists who work for Al-Jazeera English are understood to have been detained late on 

Sunday night. They are:

• Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who holds Canadian nationality
• Peter Greste, an Australian
• Producer Baher Mohamed
• Egyptian cameraman Mohamed Fawzy, who is said to have been arrested at home

"We condemn the arbitrary arrest of Al-Jazeera English journalists working in Cairo and demand their immediate and unconditional release, the broadcaster's website said.

"Al-Jazeera Media Network has been subject to harassment by Egyptian security forces which has arrested our colleagues, confiscated our equipment and raided our offices despite [us] not [being] officially banned from working there."

The interior ministry said in a statement that cameras, recordings and other material had been seized from rooms at a hotel in Cairo.

It accused the journalists of broadcasting news that was "damaging to national security".

The BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo says Egypt's military backed government has long accused Al-Jazeera of bias, because Qatar gave financial support to Mr Morsi's government.

Observers say Egypt's media environment has been highly charged since Mr Morsi's overthrow.

Several Islamist channels were closed down immediately after the military intervention in the summer. Al-Jazeera's Egyptian station Mubashir Misr was shut down in September.

The channel previously had its Cairo offices raided, equipment seized, and staff detained. Two of its staff - journalist Abdullah al-Shami and cameraman Mohammad Badr - arrested in July and August remain in detention, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The latest arrests come after deadly clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters across Egypt.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir rules out power share

BBC News

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has ruled out any power sharing with rebel leader Riek Machar to halt violence that has killed at least 1,000 people.

Mr Kiir told the BBC that Mr Machar - his deputy until sacked in July - should not be rewarded with power for rebelling.

The fighting broke out more than two weeks ago in the capital Juba. It has spread to many parts of the country.

South Sudan only became independent in 2011, after decades of conflict.

What began as a power struggle between the two men has taken on overtones of an ethnic conflict. The Dinka, to which Mr Kiir belongs, are pitted against the Nuer, from which Mr Machar hails.

'No reward'

In an interview with the BBC, President Kiir said Mr Machar had not earned the right to share the leadership of South Sudan.

Sharing power, President Kiir said, "is not an option".

"These men have rebelled. If you want power, you don't rebel so that you are rewarded with the power. You go through the process."

He recalled that he did not come to power through a military coup but via the ballot box.

"Elections are coming in 2015 - why did he not wait so that he went through that same process?" he asked.

Mr Kiir also refused to release political allies of his rival who have been detained. Mr Machar has said he will not negotiate unless the men are freed.

Fighting has reportedly continued ahead of Tuesday's deadline set by regional leaders for peace talks to begin.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is in South Sudan to try to help start negotiations.

He has threatened military action against Riek Machar if he refuses to co-operate.

Meanwhile, on the ground, families have been split up as people fled their homes when the fighting started.

Thousands of children are likely to have been separated from their families and many children are surviving on their own in very remote areas, aid agency Save the Children says.

Some have witnessed their parents being killed and their homes looted or destroyed.

South Sudanese troops loyal to President Salva Kiir pictured at Bor airport - 25 December 2013

Helicopter rescue for ice-bound ship Akademik Shokalskiy

BBC News

Passengers and some crew on a ship stuck in thick ice in Antarctica are to be taken off by helicopter once the weather permits, Russian officials say.

News of the decision came after an Australian icebreaker making a fresh rescue attempt had to turn back.

The Russian-flagged research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy has been stuck in ice for nearly a week. It is carrying 74 scientists, tourists and crew.

The ship is stocked with food and is in no danger, the team on board says.

The third attempt to rescue the vessel - by Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis - failed early on Monday because of fierce winds and poor visibility.

Earlier attempts by Chinese and French icebreakers to reach the ship were also foiled by the thick ice.

The Shokalskiy was trapped on Christmas Eve by thick sheets of ice, driven by strong winds, about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart - the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania.

'Snow showers'

"A decision has been reached to evacuate 52 passengers and four crew members by helicopter from China's Xue Long ship, should the weather allow," a Russian foreign ministry statement said on Monday.

However, the BBC's Andrew Luck-Baker, who is on the Shokalskiy, said that at this morning's briefing they discovered that they would stay on the ship at least until the New Year because of bad weather.

Also, the remaining crew members will stay on board until another, more powerful US icebreaker arrived in up to 10 days' time, he says.

Earlier the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said: "The area where the MV Akademik Shokalskiy is beset by ice is currently experiencing winds of up to 30 knots and snow showers."

"These weather conditions have resulted in poor visibility and made it difficult and unsafe for the Aurora Australis to continue today's [Monday's] attempt to assist the MV Akademik Shokalskiy."

The Chinese vessel, the Snow Dragon, came within seven nautical miles (11 km) of the Russian ship before stalling and being forced to return to the open sea.

The Akademik Shokalskiy is being used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition to follow the route explorer Douglas Mawson travelled a century ago.

Despite being trapped, the scientists have continued their experiments, measuring temperature and salinity through cracks in the surrounding ice.

Those on board include 22 Russian crew. Passengers are of various nationalities, many of them Australian.

One of the leaders of the scientific expedition said via Skype that those on board were in good spirits and wanted their families and friends to know they were safe and well, AFP reported.

"It's Antarctica, we are just taking it one day at a time," said Chris Turney, professor of climate change at the University of New South Wales.

"The conditions are so extreme in Antarctica, you just never know. We are always hopeful."

Huge fire after US oil train derails

BBC News

Wagons from a mile-long train carrying crude oil have burst into flames as they derailed after a collision in the US state of North Dakota.

A plume of thick black smoke could be seen many miles away and explosions were heard.

The incident occurred about a mile outside the town of Casselton.

There are no reports of injuries so far. Officials said local residents had been asked to remain indoors as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services said the last 50 wagons of the train had been uncoupled, but another 56 remained at risk.

The derailment, after a collision involving another goods train, is reported to have happened near an ethanol plant.

Emergency and fire-fighting crews have been sent to the scene.

Correspondents say it is the latest in a string of incidents that have raised alarm about a rise in crude oil traffic on the railways.

US announces six drone test sites

BBC News

The US aviation regulator has announced the six states that will host sites for testing commercial use of drones.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) picked Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia.

The sites are part of a programme to develop safety and operational rules for drones by the end of 2015.

Hitherto mainly used by the military, the potential of drones is now being explored by everyone from real estate agents to farmers or delivery services.

The head of the FAA, Michael Huerta, said safety would be the priority as it considers approval for unleashing the unmanned aircraft into US skies.

Five surprising uses for drones:

1.Help reporters cover stories (the BBC is currently trying them out)

2.Allow real-estate agents to sell luxury homes by showing off that stunning aerial view

3.Deliver beer to music festival-goers

4.Make movies (Part of The Smurfs 2 was filmed with a drone)

5.Track the Sumatran orangutan and other endangered species

Pilots will be notified through routine announcements about where drones are being flown.

The FAA said in a statement that its decision followed a 10-month process involving proposals from 24 states.

The agency said it had considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, aviation experience and risk.

The sites chosen are:

• A set of locations proposed by the University of Alaska in seven zones with varying climates, from Hawaii to Oregon
• Griffiss International Airport in central New York state will test how to integrate drones into the congested north-east airspace
• North Dakota Department of Commerce will test the human impact of drones and also how the aircraft cope in temperate climates
• The state of Nevada will concentrate on standards for air traffic and drone operators
• Texas A&M University plans to develop safety requirements for drones and testing for airworthiness
• Virginia Tech university will research operational and technical areas of risk for drones

The biggest chunk of the growth in the commercial drone industry is currently expected to be for agriculture and law enforcement.

Police and other emergency services could use them for crowd control, taking crime scene photos or for search and rescue missions.

It can cost a police department hundreds of dollars an hour to deploy a helicopter, while an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be sent into the skies for as little as $25.

Farmers, meanwhile, might find it easier to spray crops or survey livestock with the pilotless aircraft.

The FAA estimates as many as 7,500 aircraft could be in the air five years after widespread airspace access is made legal.

However, the commercial use of drones has drawn criticism from both conservatives and liberals.

In a report last December, the American Civil Liberties Union said that giving drones access to US skies would only ensure "our every move is monitored, tracked, recorded and scrutinised by the authorities".

But lawmakers from winning states were delighted with the selections.

"This is wonderful news for Nevada that creates a huge opportunity for our economy," said Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada.

An industry-commissioned study predicted more than 70,000 jobs - including drone operators - would develop in the first three years after Congress loosens drone restrictions on US skies.

The same study, conducted by the Teal Group research firm, found that the worldwide commercial drone market could top $89bn in the next decade.

Israel releases 26 Palestinian prisoners

BBC News

Israeli authorities have freed a group of 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of a US-brokered agreement to resume direct peace talks.

The government approved the releases on Saturday, but they were delayed by at least 48 hours to allow victims' families to launch legal appeals.

The prisoners committed murder or attempted murder before the 1993 Oslo accords and have served 19 to 28 years.

They make up the third tranche of a total of 104 prisoners to be freed.

The 52 men released in August and October were hailed as heroes of the Palestinian cause by President Mahmoud Abbas.

'Time-bombs'

Eight of the men were driven late at night to checkpoints leading into Gaza and East Jerusalem.

The other 18 prisoners were heading to Ramallah in the West Bank.

Palestinians celebrate the releases as victories over Israel - something deeply resented by families of Israeli victims of political violence, our correspondent says.

Relatives of the victims of the latest prisoners being freed - 18 from the West Bank, three from Gaza and five from East Jerusalem - have staged days of protests against the releases and appealed to the Supreme Court to block them.

In the past, the court has allowed such releases to take place.

"One of the things we knew when we captured these detainees is that they needed to stay in prison for the maximum period," Meir Indor of Israeli victims' association, Almagor, told the Jerusalem Post.

"These men are time-bombs. Wherever they go they kill, because that's the purpose of their lives."

The Israeli government has stressed that if any of the prisoners "resume hostile activity" they will have to serve the remainder of their sentences.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also defended the decision to free those behind deadly attacks at a meeting of his Likud party on Monday.

"Leadership is judged by the ability to implement decisions, difficult as they may be,'' he said. "We were not elected to make easy decisions."

The Palestinian minister for prisoner affairs, Issa Qaraqai, dismissed the Israeli complaints, saying: "Israel is a murderous state and these prisoners are freedom fighters."

Our correspondent says that after the two previous releases, the Israeli government has sugared what the right-wing parties within its coalition regard as a bitter pill by making announcements about Jewish settlement plans in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli media reports suggest Mr Netanyahu is likely to unveil plans to build an additional 1,400 housing units, including 600 at Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem.

About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Palestinians say continued settlement construction undermines the direct peace talks, which have shown little sign of progress since resuming in July after a three-year hiatus.

Our correspondent says the wheels of the process continue to turn but it does not seem to be going anywhere. US Secretary of State John Kerry is due in the Middle East this week for another attempt to give them a sense of direction, he adds.

Volgograd blasts: IOC 'confident' Games will be safe

BBC News

The International Olympic Committee president says he has confidence that Russian authorities will deliver a "safe and secure" Games in Sochi.

Thomas Bach wrote to President Vladimir Putin to express condolences for the "despicable" attacks that struck Volgograd within 24 hours.

Investigators say the attacks on a railway station and trolleybus, which killed at least 31 people, were linked.

They struck just over a month before the Winter Olympics begin.

Volgograd was also targeted in October, when a suspected female suicide bomber killed six people in an attack on a bus.

It is being widely assumed in Russia that the people who carried out the Volgograd bombings were involved in the Islamist-inspired insurgency against Russian rule in the Caucasus republics of Chechnya and Dagestan, and that the target was the Games, says the BBC's Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford.

In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry did not blame any particular group but likened the attacks to acts by militants in the United States, Syria and elsewhere.

It called for international solidarity in the fight against "an insidious enemy that can only be defeated together", reported Reuters news agency.

Regional Governor Sergei Bozhenov said the bombings were a "serious test" for all Volgograd residents and all Russians.

Russians nervous

Investigators say at least 14 people were killed in a suicide bombing on a trolleybus in Volgograd on Monday morning.

It came a day after 17 people died in another suicide attack at the central station in the city. Scores were injured in the two attacks.

In his statement, Mr Bach said he was "certain that everything will be done to ensure the security of the athletes and all the participants of the Olympic Games", which open on 7 February.

But correspondents say despite intense security in Sochi, Russians are palpably nervous that following these attacks in Volgograd - which lies 700km north-east of Sochi - bombers could also strike elsewhere.

No-one has admitted carrying out either bombing, but they came several months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov threatened new attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including the Olympics.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the Investigative Committee - Russia's main federal investigating authority - said identical explosives were used in the two attacks.

"This confirms the theory that the two attacks are linked. It is possible that they were prepared in the same place," he said.

President Putin has ordered security measures to be tightened across Russia and in particular in Volgograd.

The US condemned the attacks and offered its "full support to the Russian government in security preparations for the Sochi Olympic Games".

The UN Security Council said its members condemned "in the strongest terms" the "criminal and unjustifiable" acts.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter he was "shocked and saddened" by the attacks, and offered Moscow whatever help was needed.

Busy market

The latest explosion took place near a busy market in Volgograd's Dzerzhinsky district.

Maksim Akhmetov, a Russian TV reporter who was at the scene of the blast, said the trolleybus was packed with people going to work in the morning rush hour.

He described the scene as "terrible", adding that the bus was "ravaged" and that there were "bodies everywhere, blood on the snow".

Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said the injured include a pregnant woman, two 16-year-olds and a baby aged about six months whose parents are assumed dead.

The regional governor announced five days of mourning.

The force of the explosion removed much of the bus's exterior and broke windows in nearby buildings.

"It is now possible to preliminarily say that the explosive device was set off by a suicide bomber - a man whose body fragments have been collected and sent for genetic testing," the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The first blast rocked Volgograd-1 station at lunchtime on Sunday, when it was packed with people travelling to celebrate the New Year.

An Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus region has led to many attacks there in recent years.

Insurgents have also attacked major Russian towns.