Leftist wins Uruguay run-off poll

1 December 2014 Last updated at 08:12

Uruguay's leftist candidate Tabare Vazquez has easily beaten rival Luis Lacalle Pou in a presidential run-off.

Final results gave Mr Vazquez, from the governing Broad Party, 52.8%, compared with 41% for Mr Lacalle Pou, of the right-wing National Party.

Mr Vazquez, 74, is a cancer doctor who served as president from 2005-10.

He won the first round of voting in October with more than 46% of the vote but it was not enough for an outright majority.

Incumbent President Jose Mujica was barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term.

'Big shoes to fill'

Speaking late on Sunday, Mr Vazquez called on the opposition to join him in a national accord to tackle the key issues the country was facing.

"I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so that they follow me but so that they guide me, accompany me," he said.

In the capital Montevideo, thousands of his cheering supporters poured into the streets to celebrate.

Mr Vazquez has pledged to boost social spending and keep the economy in its current good shape.

He also wants to reform the education system and fight crime - two of the weakest points of Mr Mujica's government, the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes in Montevideo reports.

Mr Mujica, who is also a member of the Broad Party, remains popular for leading the country through a period of economic growth and introducing social reforms such as legalisation of marijuana, abortion and gay marriage.

Mr Mujica refused to live in a palace when he became president four years ago and instead stayed at his humble farm in the outskirts of Montevideo, where he grows his own vegetables.

His down-to-earth style has put Uruguay in the international spotlight and his shoes will be hard to fill, our correspondent says.

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Clashes at Hong Kong government HQ

1 December 2014 Last updated at 12:03

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Protesters have been "upping the ante", reports John Sudworth

Hong Kong police have clashed with pro-democracy activists overnight, briefly shutting down government offices on Monday.

Protesters fought police armed with pepper spray, batons and water hoses on Lung Wo Road in the Admiralty district.

On Monday, an injunction was granted to clear an area just west of the main Admiralty protest site.

That sparked fears of more violence after what was already some of the worst unrest in two months of protests.

The protesters want the people of Hong Kong to be allowed to choose their leaders in the 2017 elections without intervention from Beijing.

The Chinese government has said it will allow universal suffrage, but candidates for the post of chief executive will be screened first.

After the clashes, Chief Executive CY Leung warned activists not to come back to the protest site later on Monday.

"From this day on, the police will take resolute action when carrying out their duties. I call on the students who are thinking of returning to the occupation area tonight not to do so.

"Don't mistake the police tolerance as weakness."

The unrest flared late on Sunday, after student protest leaders called on supporters to converge on the offices of Mr Leung on Lung Wo Road.

The road is a short distance away from Connaught Road in Admiralty, the major road protesters have been occupying for two months.

Protesters, many wearing hard hats and carrying umbrellas - the symbol of their movement - moved into the area, throwing bottles, helmets and umbrellas towards police.

"I urge everyone to stay here until the morning to keep surrounding the government headquarters. Let's stop the government from functioning tomorrow," a protester in a black T-shirt shouted, Reuters news agency reported.

Police ordered them to retreat, then charged at protesters, eventually forcing them out of the area. Police said that 40 people were arrested and a number of officers were injured.

'No choice'

On Monday morning government offices were shut and staff were told to stay at home. But the roads outside the government site were clear of protesters and open for traffic.

By the afternoon government employees were able to go back to work.

The atmosphere remains tense at Connaught Road where hundreds of protesters are still occupying the area amid a police presence.

Later on Monday, a coach operating company won a court injunction to clear a section of Connaught Road and Harcourt Road, just west of the main Admiralty protest camp.

The site is seen as the major stronghold of protesters and observers say police action to dismantle it could lead to more clashes.

'Overt confrontation'

The activists had public support when they started their protest in September, but that is now ebbing as many Hong Kong residents tire of the disruption.

Last week, police dismantled one of the three major protest camps in the Mong Kok commercial district and made 100 arrests.

China has meanwhile hit back at criticism of its decision to bar a UK parliamentary committee from entering Hong Kong, a former British colony.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing had made clear to the UK government many times that it opposed "the so-called delegation of the British parliament's foreign affairs committee going to Hong Kong for a so-called investigation".

She described the MPs' move as "overt confrontation" in a riposte to the committee's chairman, Sir Richard Ottaway, who accused China on Sunday of acting in an "overtly confrontational manner".

Hong Kong democracy timeline

• 1984: Britain and China sign an agreement where Hong Kong is guaranteed "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years following the handover in 1997.
• June-July 2014: Pro-democracy activists hold an unofficial referendum on political reform and a large rally. This is followed by protests by pro-Beijing activists.
• 31 August 2014: China says it will allow direct elections in 2017, but voters will only be able to choose from a list of pre-approved candidates. Activists stage protests.
• 22 September 2014: Student groups launch a week-long boycott of classes in protest.
• 28 September 2014: Occupy Central and student protests join forces and take over central Hong Kong.
• October 2014: Chief Executive CY Leung dismisses demands for his resignation. Discussions between government and student leaders go nowhere. High court begins granting injunctions to clear protest sites.
• 15 November 2014: Student leaders' attempt to travel to Beijing fails.
• 18 November 2014: Bailiffs move in to clear a portion of the Admiralty protest site.
• 26 November 2014: More than 100 arrests during clearance of Mong Kok site.
• 2017: Direct elections for chief executive due to take place.

Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy

Are you in Hong Kong? What is your reaction to the protests? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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Climate talks open as world heats up

1 December 2014 Last updated at 03:12 By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News

UN climate negotiators are meeting in Peru to try to advance talks on a new global agreement.

One hundred and ninety-five nations have committed to finalising a new climate pact in Paris by 2015's end.

The process has been boosted by recent developments, including a joint announcement on cutting carbon by the US and China.

The two weeks of discussions start amid record-breaking global temperatures for the year to date.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), the global average temperature over land and ocean from January to October was the hottest since records began in 1880.

There is likely to be plenty of heat at the UN meeting as well, as long standing divisions between rich and poor could, once again, hinder progress.

Delegates will try to finalise the key negotiating texts that will form the basis of the Paris deal.

Forward momentum

They will attempt to build on the this year's positive momentum that has seen a new political engagement with the process.

Continue reading the main story

I think the countries 'true colours' will start to come out a bit. That's useful for the public to know"

End Quote Liz Gallagher E3G

In September, millions of people took to the streets of cities all over the world in a demonstration of popular support for a new approach.

Days later, 125 world leaders attended a meeting called by the UN secretary general, where they re-affirmed their commitments to tackle the problem through a new global agreement.

The chances of that happening were increased by November's announcement from the US and China, with the Chinese signalling that their emissions would peak around 2030.

The European Union also contributed to the positive mood by agreeing climate targets for 2030.

There has also been good news on climate finance. The UN's Green Climate Fund (GCF) secured over $9bn in commitments at a recent pledging conference in Berlin.

Now in Lima, the negotiating teams will try to boost these advances and maintain a momentum that will survive to Paris. But observers say there are many "formidable challenges" ahead.

"Ultimately this is not a problem that can be solved by just the US, China, and the EU," said Paul Bledsoe, senior climate fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the US.

"There's a whole series of countries - Canada, Australia, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia - who have not made commitments (to cut emissions) and we don't know yet how robust their commitments are."

Form and function

One key element of the puzzle that needs to be resolved in Peru is the scale of "intended nationally determined contributions" (INDC).

By the end of March next year, all countries are expected to announce the level of their efforts to cut carbon as part of the Paris deal.

But, as yet, there is no agreement on what should be included or excluded from these INDC statements.

"Developed countries want a narrow scope for those guidelines, but developing countries are pushing for finance and adaption in them," said Liz Gallagher from the think-tank E3G, and a long-time observer of the UN talks process.

"That seems to be a tactical move to make sure that finance and adaptation get more political attention than in the past - for me that's where the big tensions in Lima will be."

As well as the INDC discussion, there will be strong debate about what needs to be included in the final text. Parties are likely to clash over the long-term goal of any new agreement and its legal shape.

Many countries, including the US, have signalled that they will be unable to enter a legally binding deal on emissions cuts.

There will also be pressure for countries to come up with significant contributions in the period up to 2020 when a new deal is likely to come into force.

There are concerns that the scale of division between the interests of richer and poorer countries could lead to stalemate.

"I believe the developing countries need to be careful who they allow to speak as their leadership," said Paul Bledsoe.

"I don't believe that petrol states like Saudi Arabia or Venezuela are the appropriate leaders for the interests of less rich countries, most of whom do not have fossil resources.

"It is important that the great majority of developing countries who don't have fossil resources don't get gamed by those who do."

Many attendees believe that the concerns about temperatures, and the engagement of political leaders, as demonstrated in recent months, will be positive for the process.

"I think, this top-down pressure will force countries to think they can't always retreat to their old school lines," said Liz Gallagher.

"Whether that will be positive or negative, I think that disruption to the negotiation dynamic is helpful at this stage.

"I think the countries' 'true colours' will start to come out a bit. That's useful for the public to know."

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.

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Baby found buried on Sydney beach

1 December 2014 Last updated at 05:24

Australian police have urged the mother of a baby found dead and buried in the sand at Sydney's Maroubra beach to come forward.

The body, which was discovered by two young boys, was buried under 30cm (12in) of sand, police said.

Police said they could not immediately tell the age or gender of the baby, as the body was badly decomposed. A post-mortem examination will be conducted.

It comes a week after a newborn was found alive in a drain in Sydney.

"Come and talk to us, seek some advice, we need to talk with you," said New South Wales state police commissioner Andrew Scipione. He also asked that anyone who might know the mother to speak to authorities.

'Tragic event'

Police said that the two boys, aged six and seven, discovered the body on Sunday morning while digging in the sand at Maroubra beach.

The baby was a "very small infant child" and had been buried naked, police said.

"The sex and age of the child is unable to be determined at this point due to the decomposition of the body," Police Inspector Andrew Holland told reporters.

"Obviously everyone is upset," he added. "It's a tragic event. Something like this doesn't happen every day and it affects everyone involved."

He said that police were investigating birth, death and marriage records, and visiting local hospitals, to try to locate the parents of the child.

"Police are concerned about the welfare of the mother involved and hope she sought medical assistance," he added.

The two boys who discovered the body are receiving counselling.

On 23 November, cyclists found a newborn baby abandoned in a stormwater drain in western Sydney.

Police said the boy had been left in the drain for five days before he was rescued.

The mother of the boy has been charged with attempted murder. Her case is expected to be heard in court on 12 December.

New South Wales Police Minister Stuart Ayres said the twin cases raised questions about what should be done to help families that are desperate.

"There is no doubt we find ourselves with two cases that are currently under investigation that requires us to think seriously about what we need to help families that are in crisis," he said according to AFP news agency.

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Huge risk of Ebola spread, warns UN

1 December 2014 Last updated at 10:06 By Mark Doyle BBC international development correspondent, in Freetown

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Tony Banbury: "The goal is absolutely zero human cases of Ebola"

The head of the UN Ebola response mission in West Africa has told the BBC there is still a "huge risk" the deadly disease could spread to other parts of the world.

Tony Banbury declined to say if targets he had set in the fight against Ebola, to be achieved by Monday, had been met.

The targets were for the proportion of people being treated and for the safe burial of highly infectious bodies.

The UN boss was speaking in Freetown, one of the worst-affected areas.

On Sunday in Sierra Leone's capital, bulldozers were clearing large areas for a new burial ground.

At the clearance site, near a rubbish tip, car after car was arriving with bodies, and several hundred workers were digging graves.

In October, Mr Banbury told the UN Security Council that by 1 December, "70% of all those infected by the disease must be under treatment and 70% of the victims safely buried if the outbreak is to be successfully arrested".

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Andrew Harding returns to a British-run clinic criticised for not taking enough patients

This interim goal - the ultimate UN goal is zero Ebola deaths - was set to try to bend down the upward curve in the graph of cases.

Mr Banbury said the 70% targets were being met in "the vast majority" of areas in the three worst-affected countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

"But in some areas", he said, "including here in Sierra Leone - especially in the capital Freetown and in the town of Port Loko - we are falling short. And it is in those areas where we really need to focus our assets and our capabilities".

Ebola burials

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Many volunteer grave-diggers in Sierra Leone have seen their pre-Ebola jobs disappear

• Bodies still contain high levels of the Ebola virus
• At least 20% of new infections occur during burials, WHO says
• Relatives perform religious rites including touching or washing the body
• Safe burial process involves observing rituals differently, such as "dry ablution"
• Volunteers with full protective clothing are trained to handle and disinfect bodies

In its latest report on 29 November, the World Health Organization said 6,928 people were now known to have died from Ebola. More than 16,000 have been infected.

Between 200 and 300 people are dying every week. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are by the far the worst hit countries.

But Mr Banbury said the situation would have been even worse if the UN had not intervened:

"Early on we adopted a strategy to get this crisis under control which involves treatment centres, safe burials and community mobilisation. That strategy is working."

The American UN boss added that, even so, "there is a huge risk to the world that Ebola will spread. It may spread around this sub-region, or someone could get on a plane to Asia, Latin America, North America or Europe... that is why it is so important to get down to zero cases as quickly as possible".

Continue reading the main story

• 4,181 Liberia

• 1,463 Sierra Leone

• 1,284 Guinea

• 8 Nigeria

Getty

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Women's fightback video goes viral

1 December 2014 Last updated at 12:15

A video of two sisters beating up three men, who were allegedly sexually harassing them on a moving bus in India, has gone viral on social media.

The men have been arrested and charged with assault, police said.

Friday's incident, recorded by a passenger on a mobile phone, took place in the northern state of Haryana.

Violence against Indian women has been in the spotlight since the gang rape and murder of a student on a bus in the capital, Delhi, in December 2012.

The attack caused outrage and prompted India to introduce stringent anti-rape laws.

The latest incident happened in Rohtak district when the two students, 22-year-old Aarti and 19-year-old Pooja, were on their way home.

Younger sister Pooja told BBC Hindi that the three young men "threatened us and abused us".

"The men started to abuse me and touch me. I told them 'if you touch me again, you'll get beaten up'. They called a friend on the phone and told him to 'come over because we have to beat up some girls'," Pooja said.

She said they decided to take on the attackers when other passengers did not come to their help.

"No one came forward in the bus to help us. So we took out our belts in self-defence [and hit the men]. If only the other passengers had helped us, we would not have needed to retaliate in this way," she said.

However, the video of the incident shows at least one male passenger repeatedly trying to separate one of the men from the women.

The sisters said the men pushed them out of the bus when it came to a halt after some distance and attacked them again.

They said they retaliated by throwing a brick at the men who then fled.

Analysis: Geeta Pandey, BBC News, Delhi

Women in India are taught early on in life to develop a thick skin while walking on the streets or using public transport - they are told to ignore catcalls and lewd comments, avoid the predatory male gaze, even move away quietly when a man pinches them on the buttocks or elbows them in the breast.

Any woman growing up or living in India knows the feeling of shame and rage that such harassment causes. But despite being told to take flight - not fight - women across India have been regularly fighting back.

As college students, we grew our nails and carried umbrellas to push back a man who got too close for comfort. Sometimes, a particularly bold friend would slap a man.

But since the 2012 gang rape and murder on a Delhi bus, gender issues have been more in focus and there is a stronger feeling among women today that they won't remain quiet when harassed.

For the sisters, seen in the video fighting men who allegedly teased them and touched them inappropriately, it appeared to be a battle for life and death.

And the women's fight has been brought into the public consciousness by the shocking video - shot reportedly by a pregnant woman on the bus, who despite considerable risk to herself decided to film the whole episode while most other passengers looked the other way.

Police say they received a call from the women on Friday afternoon, and the three men were arrested on Sunday evening.

Senior police official S Anand told The Hindu newspaper that they were contemplating action against the bus driver and his helper.

"The driver was supposed to take the bus to the nearest police station. But he did not do so. The conductor also did not intervene. We are considering legal action against them," he said.

Correspondents say public abuse of women - called "Eve teasing" in India - is rampant in parts of the country.

"Eve teasing" often makes life miserable and even dangerous for women when they go out in public.

Meanwhile, the sisters have received much support on social media and many have been tweeting to praise the #RohtakBravehearts.

Deepti Kaul hoped others would follow the sisters' example:

Shweta Shalini tweeted that "girls have now learnt to fight":

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said male mindsets had to change:

Congress Party MP Naveen Jindal said it was "shameful" that no-one on the bus came forward to help the women:

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Pro-EU parties edge Moldova poll

1 December 2014 Last updated at 10:45

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Ben Bland reports on results from Moldova's parliamentary elections

Latest results from Moldova's parliamentary elections show that pro-EU parties have a narrow lead over those backing closer ties with Russia.

With 89% of the votes counted, the three pro-Western parties have about 44%. The opposition has 39%.

No party appears to be able to form a government, and tough post-election bargaining is predicted.

The elections have taken on a wider significance in the shadow of the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

Moldova and Ukraine have signed far-reaching partnership agreements with the EU, bitterly opposed by Russia.

On the eve of the vote, one pro-Russian party was banned from Sunday's poll - a move criticised by Russia.

Residents of the Russian-backed breakaway region of Trans-Dniester did not take part in the election.

Grand coalition?

According to latest results, the three pro-European parties are set to have 57-58 seats in Moldova's 101-seat parliament, while the two pro-Russian opposition parties are expected to hold 43-44 seats, reports say.

The pro-Russian Socialist Party led with more than 21% of the vote. The Communist Party was in third with almost 18%. The party is a Soviet-era survivor that still uses the hammer and sickle as its symbol, although it is not seen as fundamentally opposed to EU integration.

The pro-EU Liberal Democrats are in second place with 19%. The party wants Moldova to achieve EU candidate status by 2017 and full membership by 2020. Two other pro-Europe parties - the Democrats and the Liberals - are on just under 16% and 9% respectively.

There have been reports that the pro-EU parties may now try to form a "grand coalition" with the communists to keep the country on the European track.

Ukraine has been in crisis since last November, when the former leadership made a last-minute U-turn, refusing to sign a landmark association and free trade deal with the EU - under huge pressure from Russia.

This triggered mass protests in Ukraine that ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, and Kiev later signed the EU deal. But the protests, in turn, led to Russia annexing southern Crimea peninsula in March and throwing support behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Ahead of the Moldova vote, analysts said poll ratings of the Socialists, who want Moldova to turn its back on the EU and join a Russia-dominated economic bloc, had been boosted by their populist campaigning, including concerts by Russian pop stars.

The pro-Moscow parties had been expected to pick up additional votes after the decision to ban the pro-Russian Fatherland party, on the grounds that it had illegally received foreign funding.

Fatherland, whose leader fled to Russia, denies the claim.

Turnout was just under 56%, the central electoral commission said, out of a total of 2.7 million eligible voters.

Parties need to get at least 6% of the vote to gain seats in parliament.

The opposition was also hoping to capitalise on the growing economic problems under the pro-Western government in Moldova - one of Europe's poorest countries.

The situation worsened after a Russian ban on Moldova's import of agricultural products - including wine, meat, fruit and vegetables.

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South Korea boat sinks off Russia

1 December 2014 Last updated at 10:55

One person has died and at least 52 are missing after a South Korean fishing boat sank off Russia's far eastern Chukotka peninsula, officials say.

The trawler Oryong 501 became stranded in the Bering Sea at around 05:20 GMT, the South Korean government said.

The 60-strong crew comprised 35 Indonesians, 13 Filipinos, 11 South Koreans and a Russian inspector.

Russian media said seven people had been saved, but weather and water conditions were hampering the search.

The boat sent no distress signal before the incident, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing law enforcement officials.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the 1,590-tonne Oryong 501 was built about 40 years ago and was operated by Sajo Industries.

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US researcher guilty of poisoning

8 November 2014 Last updated at 02:21

A US neuroscientist has been found guilty of murdering his wife by lacing her energy drink with cyanide.

Prosecutors said former University of Pittsburgh researcher Robert Ferrante concocted the plan to kill Autumn Klein after she pressured him to have a second child.

Ferrante now faces a mandatory life sentence.

Ms Klein's relatives burst into tears upon hearing the guilty verdict in the Pittsburgh court.

"Justice for Autumn," said her mother, Lois Klein, outside the court.

The jury deliberated for 15 hours over two days before finding Ferrante, 66, guilty of first-degree murder.

Ferrante hung his head when the verdict was read out.

Police said Ferrante had given the supplement to his wife on 17 April 2013. She died three days later.

Prosecutors described him as a "master manipulator" and said he may also have acted out of fear that she was having an affair or was planning to divorce him.

Ferrante had denied poisoning his wife, saying he had bought the cyanide for stem cell experiments.

Police said Ferrante used a university credit card two days before Ms Klein fell ill to buy more than 8oz (220g) of cyanide.

His lawyers made the case that Ms Klein, 41, might not have been poisoned at all, citing three defence experts who said poisoning couldn't be conclusively proved.

The prosecution, however, maintained that a test on Ms Klein's blood had revealed a lethal level of cyanide.

The blood was drawn while doctors tried for three days to save her life, although the results were not known until after she had died and her body was cremated.

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Apec agrees anti-corruption network

8 November 2014 Last updated at 10:24

Countries of Asia and the Pacific region have agreed to set up a network to share information on corruption.

Apec members said in a statement that the purpose of the agreement, proposed by China, was to deny safe haven to anyone engaged in corruption.

It comes amid efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping to clamp down on corrupt officials, including those who try to escape abroad.

Apec leaders are expected to back the deal at a summit in Beijing next week.

US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed the move as a "major step forward".

"Corruption not only creates an unfair playing field, it not only distorts economic relationships, but corruption also steals from the people of every country the belief that the system can work for everybody," he told journalists.

Extradition concerns

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) group statement said it had set up the Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET).

The network commits its 21 member states to "deny safe haven to those engaged in corruption, including through extradition, mutual legal assistance and the recovery and return of proceeds of corruption".

It will also "establish measures and systems to protect whistleblowers".

Officials say that the proposal was initiated by China and backed by the US.

But correspondents say it is not clear how the agreement will work between countries that do not have bilateral extradition treaties.

The US, Canada and Australia - all seen as friendly to Chinese emigrants - have no extradition treaties with China because of concerns about capital punishment and the alleged use of torture in the Chinese judicial system.

China is currently involved in a huge campaign to root out corruption at all levels of society.

More than 13,000 Chinese officials were found guilty of corruption and bribery in the first nine months of 2014 alone.

This year saw the launch of Operation Fox Hunt, widening the scope of the campaign to include officials who have fled abroad.

President Xi has warned that the campaign would target both "tigers" and "flies", indicating that no-one, even senior party members, was exempt from the crackdown.

Since he came to power, some of China's biggest political heavyweights, including the vice-chairman of China's parliament and the former security chief have been targeted.

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