World Hot News

Evans is renowned for his love of cars

BBC DJ Chris Evans has paid more than £5m for a Ferrari - making it the most expensive car ever sold at auction.

The star bought the 250 GT SWB California Spyder, once owned by Hollywood actor James Coburn, in Maranello, Italy.

Evans, 42, paid twice the estimated price for the car at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event.

The auction house said the car was sold for 7.04m euros (£5.09m). It had been estimated to fetch 3.4m-3.8m euros.

Coburn, who appeared in The Great Escape, sold the car in 1987 and it has since had a number of private owners.

'Determined'

RM Auctions founder Rob Myers told the BBC News website that the car's link to Coburn was a factor in pushing up the price.

"I think it was a very valuable piece of the car's history and it seemed like the potential buyers were more than usually interested in the car because of that history.

"Chris Evans seemed very determined to have it, but a couple of other people were very determined as well, which drove it to that level.

"We had high expectations for the car, but not that high."

By Steve Schifferes BBC News economics reporter

The billionaire investor George Soros has given his gloomiest assessment yet of the state of the US and world economies.

In an interview with BBC business editor Robert Peston, Mr Soros said that while the "acute phase" of the credit crunch might be over, the fall-out and the impact on the real economy has yet to be felt.

He warned that the "financial bubble" of the last 25 years could well be drawing to an end and the post World War II "super-boom" era could be over permanently.

He says the US slowdown will be "more severe and certainly longer" than most people are predicting.

And he said that the UK was worse-placed than America to weather to coming economic storm, because it had such a large financial sector and has had the biggest increase in house prices.

Gloomy bankers

Mr Soros said that the current mandate of most of the world's leading central banks - where their main focus was fighting inflation - meant there was limited scope for cutting interest rates to help economies recover.

As for the Bank of the England, he said, "it was like a Greek tragedy", because they "couldn't do a U-turn" until there was a full-blown recession, which would finally take away the price pressures.

The Bank of England is warning of higher inflation and slower growth

It was "inevitable" that they would keep rates too high for the good of the economy, he added.

In part, Mr Soros is echoing the gloomy forecast of the world's central bankers in recent weeks.

The head of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, recently told the BBC that the "market correction was still on-going".

Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, warned in the Bank's inflation report that UK inflation would rise above its target while the economy would slow sharply.

Moral hazard

Mr Soros believes that central bankers are partly to blame for the credit crunch because of their past behaviour in bailing out the financial sector whenever it got into trouble for over-lending, the so-called moral hazard problem.

In the US Bear Stearns has had to be rescued

He said that the central banks should explicitly target asset bubbles such as housing booms and try to stop them getting out of control, which is something they have resisted doing so far.

And he said that tougher but smarter regulation would be needed in the future in order to reduce the excess supply of credit in the economy.

These could include measures to force banks to put aside more reserves in good times to help cushion them in bad times.

Misguided markets

Mr Soros believes that oil and other commodities are over-priced, but he sees little chance of the price of oil coming down until there is a big slowdown in the richer economies.

Oil prices have risen relentlessly this year

He sees the price of oil as being driven by higher demand in developing countries such as China, where subsidised energy costs mean there is less price-sensitivity.

He also said that stock markets are still underestimating the severity and length of the economic downturn, especially in the US, and are now having a "bear market rally".

Profiting from the crisis

Mr Soros has credibility partly because he is prepared to invest his own money to back up his convictions.

The private investment fund he has resumed managing made a return of 34% last year betting that the credit crunch was more severe than many people expected.

Mr Soros was the man reported to have made $1bn in September 1992, betting correctly that the British currency would have to be devalued and leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Mr Soros has devoted much of time since then to philanthropy, especially in Eastern Europe.

Critics say tinkering with human embryos is 'immoral'

The government has survived two big challenges to its controversial plans to change the law on embryo research for the first time in 20 years.

A cross-party attempt to ban hybrid human animal embryos was defeated on a free vote, by 336 to 176.

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

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

The votes followed two impassioned debates in the committee stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, aimed at updating laws from 1990 in line with scientific advances.

'Ethically wrong'

On Tuesday, MPs have a further free vote on the emotive issue of cutting the abortion time limit.

Mr Cameron, along with Mr Brown, has backed the use of hybrid embryos as a means to develop treatments for cancer and conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. They also both support the creation of "saviour siblings".

BILL'S KEY VOTES Use of hybrid embryos - Monday 'Saviour siblings' - Monday Role of fathers in IVF - Tuesday Abortion limits - Tuesday How ministers voted Research 'gives me hope' Q&A: Hybrid embryos

However, the majority of the Tory shadow cabinet, including shadow foreign secretary William Hague and shadow home secretary David Davis, backed the unsuccessful attempt to ban hybrids.

Ex-minister Edward Leigh, who led the fight against the creation of hybrid "admixed" embryos, said they were "ethically wrong and almost certainly medically useless".

He said there was "no evidence yet to substantiate" claims the work could lead to treatment for degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

The bill would allow regulated research using hybrid or "admix" embryos, where the nuclei of human cells are inserted into animal eggs. The resulting embryos would be kept for up to 14 days to harvest stem cells.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo says any research done using human embryos "must satisfy the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that it was necessary or desirable".

No human "admix" embryo would be implanted into a woman or animal, she says.

'Too human'?

But Mr Leigh said: "We do not believe that regulation is enough. We believe this is a step too far and therefore should be banned.

"In embryos, we do have the genetic make up of a complete human being and we could not and should not be spliced together with the animal kingdom."

And ex-Labour minister Sir Gerald Kaufman, agreed, adding: "How far do you go? Where do you stop? What are the limits and what are the boundaries?

"If you permit the creation of hybrid embryos now, what will you seek to permit next time, even if you have no idea where it will lead?"

Labour's Chris Bryant, a former Anglican curate, said Mr Leigh's arguments were like those used by church leaders against the smallpox vaccine.

"They were wrong and I think you are wrong today," he said.

Liberal Democrat Evan Harris criticised those who argued hybrid embryos were too human.

"If it's ethically acceptable to use up and destroy fully human embryos with all the potential they have, how is it right to provide for hybrid embryos, with less potential of viability, greater protection?" he said.

A separate attempt to ban "pure" hybrid embryos, that would mix a human egg with animal sperm or vice versa, was also defeated in the Commons by 286 votes to 223, a government majority of 63.

Tory David Burrowes' attempt to stop parents having so-called "saviour siblings" - babies selected to provide genetic material for seriously ill relatives - also suffered defeat.

The Bill would allow the selection of embryos that are a tissue match for a sick older brother or sister.

But Mr Burrowes said it was wrong to create a child for the benefit of another, regardless of "the need".

MPs are being given a free vote on four controversial parts of the bill. The other two areas are:

• Role of fathers in fertility treatment: Would end the requirement for IVF clinics to consider the "welfare" of any child created in terms of need for a father. Debate from 1530 BST Tuesday, with vote at about 1830 BST.
• The upper limit for abortion: Amendments have been put down to the bill to cut from 24 weeks the time limit for abortions. Debate on Tuesday from 1830 BST, with votes at about 2200 BST.

The Roman Catholic Church has branded the use of hybrid embryos as "monstrous" and says tinkering with life in this way is immoral.

Catholic bishops in Britain and the Irish Republic have given £25,000 to scientists using adult stem cells, which is less controversial than using immature ones.

Such cells can be used to create brain, skin, heart and other tissue for treating diseases.

But Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, said the result would keep the UK at the forefront of embryo research.

Conservative leader David Cameron, along with Mr Brown, has backed the use of hybrid embryos as a means to develop treatments for cancer and conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. They also both support the creation of "saviour siblings".

Scientists at Newcastle University announced last month that they had created the first part-human, part-animal hybrid embryos in the UK.

They were created by injecting DNA derived from human skin cells into eggs taken from cows' ovaries which had had virtually all their genetic material removed.

Researchers say these human-animal "admixed" embryos could help solve the current problem of the lack of human eggs from which to generate embryos.

It is unclear which country would take Mr Demjanjuk

A man accused of being a guard at a Nazi death camp during World War II has finally lost his legal fight to stay in the United States.

John Demjanjuk, 88, migrated to the US in the 1950s. He was extradited to Israel and sentenced to death for war crimes, but the ruling was overturned.

He returned to the US but was accused of lying on his immigration application about working for the Nazis.

The US Supreme Court has now rejected his appeal against deportation.

The BBC's Jack Izzard in Washington says it remains unclear whether any country is willing to take Mr Demjanjuk in - or prosecute him again.

Torture claim

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by the retired Ohio car worker.

DEMJANJUK CASE TIMELINE 1951: Gains entry into the US, claiming he spent most of the war as a German prisoner 1977: First charged with war crimes, accused of being "Ivan the Terrible" 1981: Stripped of US citizenship 1986: Extradited to Israel 1993: Israeli Supreme Court overturns conviction, ruling that he is not Ivan the Terrible 2002: Loses US citizenship after a judge said there was proof he worked at Nazi camps 2005: A judge rules in favour of deportation to his native Ukraine 2006: Loses appeal against deportation 2007: Loses final Supreme Court appeal

Mr Demjanjuk has always insisted he was a prisoner of war with the Nazis, rather than a guard serving under them.

His lawyers have argued he would be tortured if sent back to Ukraine.

Mr Demjanjuk was briefly deported to Israel amid a 30-year legal battle over his past.

At the time, he was suspected of having been a notorious concentration camp guard, known by the nickname "Ivan the Terrible".

But his name was eventually cleared in an Israeli court and he was spared the death penalty.

In 2002, a US immigration judge ruled that there was enough evidence to prove Mr Demjanjuk had been a guard at several Nazi death camps and again stripped him of his citizenship.

He lost an appeal against the decision in 2004.

In December 2006, the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld a 2005 deportation order which said there was no evidence to prove Mr Demjanjuk would be tortured if he returned to Ukraine.

Eurostar said only one train would leave London on Tuesday

Travellers heading for Europe face disruption from two separate strikes by workers in Belgium and France.

A 24-hour stoppage by Belgian rail workers, due to start at 2100 BST on Monday, will halt London to Brussels services through the Channel Tunnel.

Eurostar said it would be able to run only one of its services from London.

A 36-hour stoppage by general workers in France, starting on Wednesday night, is expected to affect pre-bank holiday travel for many Britons.

No connections

Eurostar advised all travellers to and from Belgium on Tuesday that they should change their travel plans and exchange their tickets for alternative dates or obtain refunds from the point of sale.

It said that Brussels Midi station would be closed for the 24-hour strike.

There would be no high-speed onward rail connections from Brussels to destinations in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

The only train leaving London's St Pancras international would be the 19:34 BST service, on the assumption that the Belgian high-speed line would re-open at 21:00 BST.

The French strike is due to begin at 1900 BST on Wednesday and last until 0700 BST on Friday.

Although Eurostar services to Paris are expected to operate as normal during this French strike, there is likely to be severe disruption for travellers within France.

The women were approached on Teignmouth seafront

A man with a fetish for plastic raincoats and cling film has pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults.

Nicholas Green, 47, of The Avenue, Newton Abbot, Devon, was arrested after two women, aged 49 and 46, were assaulted on Teignmouth seafront.

He admitted kissing them on the hand, neck and cheek and suggesting to one she should wear a plastic mac.

Green was given a two-year community order and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for five years.

Since you were a young child you have had a distressing fetish for plastic macs and cling film Sarah Munro QC

During the trial at Exeter Crown Court the prosecutor, Dave Bowen, said Green had previous convictions following a similar pattern.

In 1995 he indecently assaulted a 34-year-old woman, persuading her to put on plastic raincoats before kissing and fondling her.

He also went to the workplace of a 21-year-old woman and got her to put on a plastic "pack-a-mac".

He was also convicted for commonly assaulting a five-year-old girl, who he dressed in a raincoat and offered sweets.

'Incurable' fetish

He was traced, after the latest incident in Teignmouth, through his car registration number.

Recorder Sarah Munro QC said: "You have five previous convictions for similar offences and since you were a young child you have had a distressing fetish for plastic macs and cling film.

"You have used various ruses to ask women to put on plastic macs and cling film and your fetish appears incurable."

She warned Green that if he breached a voluntary behaviour contract to work with the probation service he would go to prison for "a very long time".

Johnson played the whole FA Cup final on Saturday

Two members of Portsmouth Football Club's winning FA Cup squad have had their winners' medals stolen.

England defender Glen Johnson, 23, and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, 27, had their medals taken from Oakley Court Hotel in Windsor, Berkshire, during the weekend.

Johnson's went missing from his wash bag while Ashdown's was in his jacket which was stolen from the team hotel.

Portsmouth chairman Peter Storrie said the people responsible had "deprived our players of a lifelong dream".

Thames Valley Police confirmed the medals had been reported stolen on Monday.

'Fingers crossed'

Johnson, who played the full 90 minutes of Portsmouth's 1-0 win over Cardiff City, found his medal missing when he returned to the hotel after Sunday's victory parade.

He said: "We checked out of the rooms on Sunday and left our bags in a safe place to collect them after the parade. But when I got back it was gone.

"I'm just so disappointed. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed someone's going to give it back."

Goalkeeper Ashdown, who was a substitute for the final at Wembley, said his jacket, which contained the medal, went missing after he left it hanging on a chair at the hotel.

Portsmouth chief executive, Peter Storrie, said: "If someone has taken these medals, they have deprived our players of their lifelong dream.

"Clearly someone has come in from outside knowing that these medals were about and focused on taking them."

All Mozambican policemen will have to undergo fitness training

Mozambique police officers are to undergo a compulsory physical training programme, because some of them are too fat to run after criminals.

Interior Ministry advisor Pana Chande told the BBC that the poor lifestyle of many police officers was to blame.

Many of them have very large bellies and drink too much alcohol and smoke cigarettes, he said.

"Some of them are so large it is affecting their health and ability to run," he said.

"We are in a process of training officers and commanders at our training centres… We need men who are able to perform without problems," he told the BBC's Jose Tembe.

Mr Chande said many were slow and inflexible, often unable to chase criminals or act swiftly to avoid crime from occurring.

The physical training involves, among other things, running, gymnastics and simulating the chase of criminals.

He explained that the retraining programme is not a form of punishment, but an exercise aimed at improving the performance of the entire police.

Sarah Ferguson said her daughter was fit and healthy

The Duchess of York has accused parts of the media of making "outrageous" claims that her daughter is overweight.

In an interview with the BBC, Sarah Ferguson said her eldest daughter Beatrice was a fit and healthy size 10.

"The press has been absolutely outrageous, calling her such horrible names... I just think they ought to take more responsibility," she said.

Her remarks come ahead of a TV show in which the duchess helps an overweight family to improve their lifestyle.

Beach bikini

The duchess is a spokesperson for WeightWatchers and has long been concerned about the issue of obesity.

In recent weeks, some sections of the media have criticised 19-year-old Princess Beatrice's figure after she was photographed wearing a bikini on holiday in the Caribbean.

The most important thing we need to do is get people to understand: walk to work, or walk up stairs, take exercise, drink lots of water Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

"Her comment was 'will they be happy if I get anorexia because then they would write about that?'" Sarah Ferguson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"The thing is she is a regular size 10. She's very fit and well and healthy.

"I understand freedom of the press but what I don't understand is when it takes a regular, very healthy girl and tries to completely obliterate her confidence."

Wake-up call

She also spoke about how the family she helped in Hull as part of the two-part reality TV programme for ITV were typical of many others on low incomes.

She said they had not been educated about the ways they could make small, but significant, changes to their lives.

"Dad had diabetes and is now getting over it and I had to say to him 'you do realise, if you go on like this, you could be paralysed, you could lose your limbs', and I think it just gave him such a wake-up call, he'd never been told that," she said.

"The most important thing we need to do is get people to understand: walk to work, or walk up stairs, take exercise, drink lots of water.

"And you know, you can turn on the tap and drink water without having to pay for it."