Eleven elderly people accused of being witches have been burned to death by a mob in the west of Kenya, police say.

A security operation has been launched to hunt down villagers suspected of killing them in Kisii District.

The BBC's Muliro Telewa in the region says the gang had a list of the victims and picked them out individually.

The area has witnessed similar attacks in the past when people suspected of engaging in witchcraft have been killed or ostracised.

But our reporter says that this is a surprisingly large number of people to be attacked at the same time.

'Witches meeting'

Anthony Kibunguchy, the provincial police officer, told the BBC that the eight women and three men were all aged between 80 and 96 years old.

The mob dragged them out of their houses and burned them individually and then set their homes alight, our correspondent says.

Residents have been ambivalent about condemning the attacks because belief in witchcraft is widespread in the area, he says.

But local official Mwangi Ngunyi spoke out against the murders.

"People must not take the law into their own hands simply because they suspect someone," he told AFP news agency.

Villagers told reporters that they had evidence that the victims were witches.

They say they found an exercise book at a local primary school that contained the minutes of a "witches' meeting" which detailed who was going to be bewitched next.

The victim's families have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.

Former policeman Ian Shuttleworth is led away by Thai police

A former British policeman has been arrested in Thailand over claims he sold women into slavery.

Ian Shuttleworth is accused of luring Thai women to London under false promises of a job in a restaurant.

Thai police believe the women were then sold to brothel owners who forced them into sex slavery.

Mr Shuttleworth, 45, who runs a security services agency in Bangkok, protested his innocence at a media conference in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Police Major General Panya Maman said: "We arrested him because a victim, whom the suspect sent abroad but now is in Thailand, insisted that the suspect sent her for prostitution."

No charges

Mr Shuttleworth, who was born in St Helens, Merseyside, said: "An allegation has been made and the police have to do their job.

"They must arrest me in the circumstances because of the allegation that has been made.

I know that my dad has nothing to worry about James Shuttleworth

"At the moment, I don't really know exactly what the situation is."

No charges have yet been brought by Thai police.

Mr Shuttleworth's son James, 27, a project manager from Leeds, who was with him when he was arrested, told BBC London he was shocked at the allegations.

But he added: "I know that my dad has nothing to worry about."

He said his father was semi-retired and had been living in Bangkok for around five years.

Bella's owner says she is at least 28 years old

A Derbyshire couple are trying to prove their pet Labrador cross is the oldest dog in the world.

Bella's owner David Richardson, 76, said he bought the mixed breed dog from the RSPCA 26 years ago when she was "at least three years old".

That would make Bella's age more than 200 in canine years.

But the RSPCA said it does not have any records for Bella and Guinness World Records said without the appropriate paperwork it could not be proved.

Mr Richardson said he thought Bella might be the oldest dog in England, but was shocked to realise that she might be the oldest in the world.

Sweet tooth

His partner Daisy Cooper said Bella was showing signs of her age, but still goes for a walk in the park.

She eats little as she has only two teeth left, but loves to suck on sweets.

Mr Richardson said when he went to the RSPCA to buy a dog he wasn't allowed to have an Alsatian because he was 50 years old.

"My choice was between Bella and another dog. She seemed friendlier so I chose Bella," he said.

Gareth Deaves, records manager from Guinness World Records, said "unless we can find some really clear evidence from the RSPCA" they would not be able to prove Bella's age.

According to Mr Deaves, the most recent record for the oldest dog was held by Butch, a 28-year-old from America who died in 2003. The oldest ever dog was Bluey, a sheepdog from Australia, who lived to 29.

Fans waved flags and banners as their teams walked out onto the pitch

Manchester United have beaten Chelsea in the Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out, after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.

About 40,000 British supporters packed the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the game - the first all-English final in the tournament's history.

Many fans had gathered in the city's famous Red Square during the day.

UK police have travelled to Moscow to assist their local counterparts and prevent any trouble after the game.

Police spokesman Yevgeny Gildeyev said more than 6,000 police had formed three giant security cordons around the stadium.

The only apparent trouble so far came a few hours before the game, when a dozen young Russians reportedly threw glass bottles at Chelsea fans who were drinking outside a popular bar.

'Bit late'

Ahead of the game, fans took in the sights of Red Square and queued to view the Champions League trophy which was on display.

BBC Moscow correspondent James Rodgers said the UK fans had been joined by Russian supporters keen to meet their British counterparts.

He said the match was "a huge event for Moscow", adding: "It's clear that to Russia this match is not just a game. It's a chance to prove itself as a venue for international sporting events."

Some fans complained about difficulties getting around the city, with delays caused by traffic congestion and long queues to check in to hotels - despite efforts by the Russian authorities to ease their way, with special buses and bus lanes to ensure fans do not get caught in rush hour jams.

FINAL FACTS Some 700 buses transported fans from airports to supporter "camps" More than 6,000 police and military formed cordons around the stadium Police will not tolerate drinking or smoking in Red Square Live - Champions League final So far, so peaceful in Moscow Fans stranded by cancelled flight

United supporter Jim Wilson, 43, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, complained that Moscow authorities had not done enough to help travelling fans.

He added: "Nobody speaks English and there were no signs in English, on the underground or anywhere else."

Chelsea fan Gary Millis, 49, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said he was also finding it difficult to make his way around the city.

"I think they've left everything a bit late, in terms of their planning - they've known for ages that the match would be played here," he said.

While thousands of fans flew to Moscow on charter flights from the UK, others made the journey via other cities such as Helsinki, to cut flight costs.

But one charter flight from Gatwick Airport to Moscow was cancelled on Wednesday because of a technical problem with the aircraft, leaving 224 Chelsea fans unable to travel to the match.

One fan speaks of his Gatwick nightmare

Manchester United are bidding to become European champions for the third time, while it is Chelsea's first appearance in the final.

Eighteen specialist UK police officers - two from the national football policing unit and eight each from the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - are in Moscow.

Their role is to act as "spotters" to try to prevent any English fans causing trouble or engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Fans have described the policing so far as "relaxed".

Speaking from Moscow, Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick said: "Although GMP officers have no powers of arrest abroad and ultimate responsibility for policing the game lies with the Russian authorities, we have been gathering intelligence on potential and known troublemakers, and GMP officers will be in Moscow in an advisory role."

She urged supporters to follow the advice being given - do not travel without a legitimately-purchased ticket, use the official transport provided to the stadium and be mindful of personal safety.

The Met said a number of officers with specialist knowledge of Chelsea followers who posed a risk would be acting in support of local police.

Stand-by

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "We know who the main troublemakers are and if any try to travel to Russia they will be arrested and dealt with by the full weight of the law."

Fans have been taking in the sights of Moscow

Fans were not allowed to travel to the game from British airports unless they had a match ticket, their passport and a flight ticket.

The Russian authorities had laid on a fleet of 700 buses to transport fans directly from airports to supporter "camps", then on to the stadium for the game.

There were no big screens erected to enable those who did make it to Moscow without tickets to view the match.

Alcohol consumption is banned in all public areas in Moscow and supporters face arrest if they drink in the street.

Mr Olmert is seeking a Syrian deal that eluded his predecessors

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has described peace talks with Syria as "exciting", but warned that they might involve "painful concessions".

"It's always better to talk than shoot," Mr Olmert said, though he did not say what the concessions might be.

Earlier, the two sides revealed that they had begun the talks - the first since 2000 - under Turkish mediation.

Previous negotiations collapsed over a possible withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967.

Israel and Syria are still technically at war over the area.

New momentum

Mr Olmert's office on Wednesday said the two sides were talking "in good faith and openly".

The prime minister later told journalists that the "negotiations won't be easy".

He noted that previous Israeli leaders had been prepared to make "painful concessions" for peace with Syria.

Push for Israel-Syria peace Golan Heights facts

In a statement on Wednesday, Syria's foreign ministry confirmed that the two countries had "expressed their desire to conduct the talks in goodwill and decided to continue dialogue with seriousness to achieve comprehensive peace".

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Israel had agreed to withdraw from the Golan up to the armistice line of 1967.

Israel has refused to comment on the claim, although a spokesman for Mr Olmert said the current talks were being carried out with the failure of the previous ones in mind, and that the talks had recently gathered momentum.

The US and the EU have welcomed news of the negotiations, and both have praised Turkey's role as facilitator.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the two parties "will reach a peaceful solution".

Analysts suggest that, in return for any withdrawal, Israel would demand Syria sever its ties with Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

However, they add that withdrawal from the Golan would not be popular with Israelis.

The reports of talks in April sparked outrage in the Israeli parliament, where several MPs said they would try to accelerate the passage of a bill requiring any withdrawal from the Golan to be backed by a referendum.

Mr Olmert is currently battling corruption allegations, and the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the prime minister's critics believe the confirmation of peace talks may be an attempt to divert some attention from that.

MPs have a free vote to express their views on this contentious issue

An attempt to cut the 24-week upper limit for abortions to within the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy has been rejected overwhelmingly by MPs.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries, an ex-nurse, who proposed the 20-week limit, said she was not anti-abortion, but said the baby involved "had rights".

But her proposed cut was defeated by 332 votes to 190. MPs are now voting on whether to cut the limit to 22-weeks.

Pro-choice campaigners dismissed efforts to cut the limits as "cynical".

The proposed reductions came in amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Survival rates 'disputed'

It is the second day of debate on the bill, and comes after MPs voted down a cross-party attempt to ban hybrid human animal embryos.

MPs also rejected a cross-party move for doctors to consider the need for a "father and a mother" before allowing IVF treatment.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo insisted there was no evidence requiring the abortion laws to be changed.

In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity Edward Leigh Conservative MP In quotes: Abortion debate Q&A: Abortion law Q&A: The issues explained

"The upper gestational limit for termination of pregnancy was set by Parliament in 1990 at 24 weeks because the scientific evidence of the time was that the threshold of viability had increased and babies were increasingly surviving at 24 weeks and above.

"That was the case in 1990 and it's certainly the case now."

But, David Jones, a professor of bio-ethics, said research on the survival rates for extremely premature babies was "disputed".

In the Commons MPs rejected a bid to reduce the abortion limit to within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy by 393 votes to 71. A further attempt to get the limit cut to 16 weeks was defeated by 387 votes to 84.

Gordon Brown said he would vote to maintain the current limit, while Conservative leader David Cameron said he would vote to lower the limit to 22 weeks.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is also expected to vote against any reduction.

Mrs Dorries said she believed the right of a woman to choose had its limits.

She reached this decision after seeing the "botched" abortion of a baby boy when she was a gynaecological nurse, she said.

"I believe a baby has rights. Those rights kick in if that baby were born it would have a chance of life and if it feels pain as part of the abortion," she said.

'Protect the vulnerable'

Ex-minister Edward Leigh, a father-of-six, who pressed the 12-week limit, said it would bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe.

ENGLAND AND WALES ABORTIONS Under 9 weeks: 54.9% 9-12 weeks: 34.3% 13-19 weeks: 9.2% 20-24 weeks: 1.5% ONS figures from 2006 Abortion: Medical evidence How MPs voted on embryos Abortions 1971-2006

"In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity," he said.

He said that "98% of abortions are social - only 1.3% are for foetuses which are handicapped, 0.4% are for risk to mother's life. "It is a bleak picture of modern Britain ...

"I believe we should give that silent child a voice," he said.

Labour's Claire Curtis-Thomas said she was not opposed to abortion, believing that women have the right to choose. "I just hope they don't choose to have an abortion," she said, adding that she would be happier with a 12-week limit.

"I can't accept that we keep the limit where it stands where there is a possibility of life. The majority of people are deeply uncomfortable with that prospect," she said.

Tory Mark Pritchard, who would like the limit to be 16 weeks, said: "I believe that terminating a child that has been woven and knitted in the womb should be a choice of last resort - not the latest manifestation of Britain's throwaway society."

'Difficult matter'

But Labour's Chris McCafferty said restricting when a woman can have a termination "is just prolonging the agony" and was "cruel, cynical, ill-informed and inhumane".

"It's a basic misconception that women with an unwanted pregnancy should only enter into the actual decision-making process after counselling with someone they do not know," she said.

Ex-Cabinet minister Ann Widdecombe asked why "viability" of the child should be the only determining factor in setting the limit for abortions.

"There is a substantial body of evidence about foetal pain and foetal distress and if the child who is being aborted cannot live, what's the point of the lethal injection?"

Lib Dem Dr John Pugh said: "There are people in our world today in no way inferior to us in capacity, intelligence and beauty who were born at 22 weeks. That ought to give us cause for reflection."

Government figures show that 193,737 women in England and Wales had an abortion in 2006.

Previous attempts to force a vote on lowering the abortion limit have been defeated, but as there is a free vote on the issue, an unknown number of MPs may choose to stay away, or abstain.

That increases the chances of those campaigning to lower the limit to 20 or 22 weeks, who claim to have the backing of 200 MPs.

Need for father

Ahead of the abortion debate, MPs voted down, by 292 votes to 217, an amendment that makes it a condition of IVF treatment that there be both a "father and a mother".

They also opposed a further bid to ensure there is a "father or a male role model" before fertility treatment, by 290 votes to 222.

Existing legislation requires IVF clinics to consider the "welfare" of any child created, which currently means considering the need for a father.

However, the new bill says this should no longer be the case, saying instead there needs to be evidence of "supportive parenting".

On Monday night a cross-party attempt to ban hybrid animal embryos was defeated.

Roman Catholic cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy voted for a ban, while Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron both opposed it.

A bid to ban "saviour siblings" was voted down by 342 votes to 163.

Senator Edward Kennedy is known as a staunch liberal

US Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumour, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital say.

Mr Kennedy, 76, was flown from Cape Cod to the hospital in Boston at the weekend after suffering a seizure.

Doctors says tests reveal a tumour in Mr Kennedy's left parietal lobe. His wife and children have been with him but have not issued a statement.

The youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy, he is one of the best-known Democratic politicians.

"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," doctors Lee Schwamm and Larry Ronan said in a statement.

Mr Kennedy's treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes radiation and chemotherapy, the doctors said.

"He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital," they added.

He is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days.

Mr Kennedy is the second longest-serving member of the Senate. He has been an active supporter of Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for US president.

Political dynasty

Mr Kennedy was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960.

EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings 1962 Becomes country's youngest senator 1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated 1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young passenger dies 1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter Profile: 'Teddy' Kennedy

Since then he has been re-elected seven times.

Born into a rich and powerful Irish-American Catholic family, the son of Joseph Kennedy, Edward "Teddy" Kennedy became the head of the clan after the death of his three elder brothers.

The eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed while flying a bomber during World War II.

John was assassinated while president in 1963, and Robert was shot dead while running for president in 1968.

Edward, or Teddy, as he is known, ran against sitting President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but failed, after struggling to put the infamous "Chappaquiddick incident" behind him.

He had, in 1969, crashed a car off a bridge, and while he escaped, his young female passenger drowned in the water below. He fled and did not report the incident to police for over eight hours.

He later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two month sentence.

Mr Kennedy is also the father of Congressman Patrick J Kennedy.

Some remarkable footage of a flying fish has been captured by a TV crew filming off the southern tip of Japan.

It is claimed to be one of the longest recorded flights of this acrobatic animal.

The fish was completely airborne for 45 seconds. This beats one previous, impressive report from an American researcher in the 1920s of 42 seconds.

The animal is seen travelling parallel to a ferry, which itself is motoring at about 30km/hour (20mph).

The fish was able to continue flying by occasionally beating the surface of the water with its tail fin. The footage was shot by an NHK crew as it travelled to Yakushima Island.

According to Junji Yonezawa, at the Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Outlying Islands, the animal's flight-time of 45 seconds must be close to its physical limit, as brachial respiration is impossible while moving through the air.

There are some 40 species of "flying fish" in the family known as Exocoetidae. The animals are found worldwide in warmer waters.

Their flight ability comes from a glide rather than a powered flapping.

Joey Barton was jailed for six months

Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been jailed for assault and affray.

Barton, 25, was captured on CCTV in Liverpool on 27 December 2007 punching one man 20 times before an attack which left a teenage boy with broken teeth.

The Newcastle and England midfielder, from Widnes, admitted the charges last month but reporting restrictions were only lifted on Tuesday.

Sentencing him to six months in jail, Judge Henry Globe QC said it was a "violent and cowardly act".

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Barton, of Foxbank Road, had been on a Boxing Day night out with his brother, cousin and other friends in Liverpool city centre.

Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson, 27, of Childwall, Liverpool, and his brother Andrew Barton, 20, also of Foxbank Road, Widnes, also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults.

Punched on floor

Barton had drunk 10 pints of lager and five bottles of lager during the night, before going to a McDonald's restaurant on Church Street.

The group got into a heated discussion with some youths inside the restaurant, before leaving and walking up Church Street towards Bold Street.

TIMELINE: BAD NEWS BARTON 2004 February: First red card for Manchester City April: Storms out of City ground after being dropped July: Criticised by manager for sparking mass brawl in pre-season friendly game December: Stubs cigar into eye of team-mate Jamie Tandy at Christmas party (fined six weeks' wages) 2005 May: Involved in early hours road accident, injuring pedestrian July: Altercation with teenage fan during Asian tour (fined eight weeks' wages) 2006 September: Drops shorts in direction of Everton fans during game (police take no action) 2007 November: FA probe tackle on Dickson Etuhu after Barton's move to Newcastle but no action December: Describes Newcastle fans as "vicious" 2008 May: Jailed for assault

The Barton group was involved in some verbal exchanges with others before the attack happened.

Joey Barton was caught on CCTV knocking an unidentified man to the ground. He then straddled him and punched him four or five times as his cousin threw food at the victim before the Premier League player punched him up to 15 times more.

Minutes later, the midfielder attacked a 16-year-old, punching him and leaving him with broken teeth.

The hearing was told the footballer was remorseful about the incident and had admitted to an alcohol problem.

Two character references were read out in court about Barton, who has a tendency to lose his temper both on and off the field.

The first reference, from Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan, was read to the court by Stuart Driver QC, mitigating.

Keegan said he first knew the player when he was Manchester City manager.

He said of that period: "There were a number of issues in his life and events, some of which have been very well documented.

"Had I been asked to give character evidence for him then, I probably wouldn't have been able to do so."

'Total abstinence'

He added that since then he had seen a "massive change" in Barton and that he was now "a far more responsible individual".

A second reference was given by Peter Kay, of the Sporting Chance clinic, which has been supporting Barton while on bail.

Mr Kay said: "Joey recognises he has an addiction to alcohol and the only way forward is total abstinence."

He also said Barton "despises" the man he becomes after consuming alcohol.

Sentencing, Judge Globe told him: "Without doubt, the most serious of the three offenders is you.

"You were restrained by others but ignored them and acted in an extremely violent and aggressive manner.

"You have a high profile as a footballer and you know that draws attention to you. Yet you drank to excess and behaved in an aggressive, disgraceful manner."

Barton was also ordered to pay £2,500 to the youth whose teeth were broken.

Andrew Barton was jailed for four months suspended for two years for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Wilson received a six-month sentence suspended for two years for affray and common assault.

Originally from Huyton, Merseyside, Joey Barton began his football career with Manchester City in 2002.

Barton was sold by them to Newcastle United in June 2007 in a £5.8m deal, four months after he had made his full international debut for England.

His club said in a statement: "Newcastle United notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton at Liverpool Crown Court today.

"The club is considering the verdict and will be making no further comment at this moment."