A Point of View bbc.co.uk | August 23 The characters in Eric Ambler's pre-war spy novels are adrift in a fractured and uncertain Europe, manipulated by forces they neither understand nor control. The books hold an uncomfortable mirror to the modern world, says philosopher John Gray. A once-famous writer recalls making a curious discovery as a small boy: Among the most peculiar memories of my childhood is that of discovering what was inside the ottoman. This was a sofa with a hinged seat covering a trunk-like storage space. Inside, I found dozens of very small human hands and feet. They were beautifully shaped and delicately carved and had been made in beech and boxwood... They were the hands and feet for the new marionettes. The author is Eric Ambler, whose 1930s novels created a new type of thriller. Born in 1909 into a family of music hall entertainers who ran a puppet show, Ambler seems to have become a writer almost by chance. A scholarship boy who trained as an engineer, ...
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Led Zeppelin face copyright fight http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27497950 A legal dispute faces the band Led Zeppelin over the song Stairway to Heaven, widely seen as one of the greatest rock compositions of all time. The copyright infringement action is being taken on behalf of late guitarist Randy California, who played on the same bill as Led Zeppelin in the 1960s. His lawyers say that he should be given a writing credit on the 1971 track.
Signals in remote seas thought to be from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are "rapidly fading" massive, massive task Trying to locate anything 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) beneath the surface of the ocean, about a 1,000km (620 miles) from land is a massive, massive task Abbott: 'Plane signal' rapidly fading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27000576
Gunmen seize Ukraine police station http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27000700
US Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Geneva to join negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, amid rising expectation of a breakthrough. Mr Kerry had been on a tour of the Middle East, but changed his plans at the invitation of the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Iran's foreign minister said a deal could be reached on Friday. The Israeli prime minister said such an agreement would be "very bad" and Israel would not be bound by it. The talks bring together world powers - the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) - and Iran. The West suspects Iran's uranium enrichment programme is a step towards building nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies. Kerry visit lifts hope of Iran deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24862743
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24818478 Clandestine manoeuvrings to select new Taliban head November 6, 2013 5:25 AM By M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Islamabad Drone strikes have recently killed the senior leadership of the Pakistani Taliban including Hakimullah Mehsud (left) and Waliur Rehman Somewhere along the mountainous border between Pakistan's militant-occupied tribal districts of North Waziristan and South Waziristan, turbaned Taliban commanders are gathering to choose a new leader of the Pakistani Taliban group, the TTP. The time, venue and duration of the meeting remain a closely guarded secret because the area is known as much for being a major militant sanctuary as it is for the constant buzzing of unmanned American spy planes - or drones - looking for targets. During the last three days, these men have been holding secret meetings in undisclosed buildings in the town of Miranshah and elsewhere in the region to mourn the death of their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud,...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24749772 Who in US is to blame for Iraq fiasco? November 6, 2013 2:12 AM By Tara McKelvey BBC News, Washington In September President Barack Obama said, "I was elected to end wars, not start them." Yet ending wars, as he has discovered, can be as hard as waging them. The former US ambassador to Iraq, James Jeffrey, left Baghdad on a hot day in June 2012. He flew away in a special forces helicopter, as he recalls, and looked down at villas and swimming pools. "It was quiet and peaceful," he says. He describes his departure as an "emotional" moment - and says that at the time he felt pleased with the outcome of the war. "We had rescued victory from the jaws of defeat," he says. Sixteen months later, he is less optimistic. One of the main goals of officials in the White House of George W Bush - the ones who started the war - was to build close ties with forward-looking leaders in the Middle East. ...
German spy chiefs set to visit US October 26, 2013 2:55 AM US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki: "We want to ensure we're collecting information because we need it, and not just because we can" Germany is to send its top intelligence chiefs to Washington to "push forward" an investigation into allegations the US spied on its leader Angela Merkel. The heads of foreign and domestic intelligence would hold talks with the White House and the National Security Agency, a government spokesperson said. Earlier, Germany and France said they want the US to sign a no-spy deal by the end of the year. EU leaders have warned a lack of trust could harm the fight against terrorism. As well as the bugging of Mrs Merkel's phone, there are claims the NSA has monitored millions of telephone calls by both German and French citizens. Spain on Friday followed Germany and France in summoning the US ambassador to explain reports of spying on the country. Italy has also...
Obama :Iran should not take comfort from the fact that the US had not taken military action in Syria.
Syria 'lesson' for Iran - Obama September 15, 2013 6:35 PM US President Barack Obama says Iran should draw "a lesson" from the deal reached over Syria's chemical weapons. Iran's nuclear programme is a "far larger issue" for the US than chemical weapons, Mr Obama told the ABC network. Mr Obama said despite the fact that the US had not used force against Syria, a "credible threat of force" could lead to a deal. Mr Obama also confirmed that he had exchanged letters with new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Although the fact that the two leaders have communicated at all will be seen as a step forward, Mr Obama said: "I think this new president is not going to suddenly make it easy." Mr Obama was referring to the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western countries suspect is aimed at acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran denies this and says the programme's aims are purely peaceful. 'Credible threat' Mr...
Death penalty for Xinjiang attackers September 13, 2013 4:49 AM Security in Lukqun was tight following the riots, with many journalists denied access A Chinese court has sentenced three men to death over violence in Xinjiang that left 35 people dead, state media say. The court called the violence on 26 June in Turpan's remote township of Lukqun, about 200km (120 miles) south-east of the region's capital, Urumqi, a "terrorist attack". A mob armed with knives attacked police stations, leading police to open fire, state media said at the time. A fourth man was jailed for 25 years for his involvement, reports said. There are sporadic outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang, where there are ethnic tensions between Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. The court in China's western Xinjiang region gave Ahmatniyaz Sidiq, Urayim Eli and Abdulla Esrapil the death penalty, describing Ahmatniyaz Sidiq as the leader, state-run news agency Xinhua said. The men "spr...
Huge rival rallies grip Egypt http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23472072 MIDDLE EAST 26 July 2013 Last updated at 23:22 GMT Egypt crisis: Huge rival rallies as Morsi is accused Huge rallies by supporters and opponents of Egypt's ousted Islamist president are continuing into the night with five people killed in Alexandria. In what is seen as a trial of strength, supporters of Mohammed Morsi filled the streets around a mosque in Cairo to condemn his removal by the army. Army supporters converged on Tahrir Square, just a few miles away. The detained ex-leader has been formally accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Early on Saturday, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said the sit-in protest by Morsi supporters at the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo would be "brought to an end soon and in a legal manner". He gave no details but said local residents had complained about the encampment. Earlier this week, army...