17/06/2013 BBC News at Ten

Northern Ireland no sign of agreement on the Syrian conflict.

After tense talks this evening Presidents Obama and Putin admit

they have different perspectives on the way ahead.

The two-year conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives - Britain

says it's time to give more help to the rebels. What we do need to do is

bring about this peace conference and this transition so that people

in Syria can have a Government that represents them, rather than a

Government that's trying to butcher them.

Also tonight: The broadcaster Stuart Hall is jailed for 15 months for

indecently assaulting young girls. For the first time in four decades

the Moors murderer Ian Brady is seen in public at a mental health

tribunal. The Co-operative Bank unveils a

rescue plan to fill the �1.5 billion gap in its finances.

And, after 11 nights the Duke of Edinburgh leaves hospital. He'll now

convalesce for up to two months. Coming up here on the BBC news:

Australia's summer time blues continue. The holders are knocked

out of the Champions Trophy by Sri Good evening. The G8 summit is under

way in Northern Ireland but agreement on tackling the Syrian

conflict seems out of reach. After talks this evening President Putin

and President Obama admitted they had different perspectives but they

both wanted to stop the violence and both favoured new negotiations. With

the latest, here's our political editor Nick Robinson.

Enter the United States of America, the world has been waiting to hear

from the man who promised to end wars in the Middle East, but who

appeared to be poised to get sucked into another. In Syria. Warning him

off the next leader to arrive in Northern Ireland, for this summit of

world leaders, Russia's Vladimir Putin. He may look casual, but the

man who is arming President Assad's regime is anything but. Their host,

David Cameron, is determined to bridge apparently unbridgeable

differences, here on the tranquil shores of Lough Erne. He and

France's President Hollande persuaded the EU to lift its ban on

sending arms to the region, something America has now said it

will do. We haven't made a decision to arm the rebels. I completely

understand the concerns that everybody has, that I have, about

elements of the Syrian opposition, but don't let's accept that there's

only one alternative to Assad and that is extremist terrorists.

the discussions here this is the one that will probably matter most, a

fidgety uncomfortable looking Russian President listened as

President Obama said nothing new about arming Syria's rebels but

sought instead to emphasise where the two did agree. With respect to

Syria, we do have different perspectives on the problem, but we

share an interest and reducing the violence, securing chemical

weapons... President Putin said they also agreed on the need to stop the

violence and start peace negotiations. How and when? He

didn't say. So days after America talked about accepting weapons to

Syria, no hint of what that means, unless that is the President told

the Prime Minister when they travelled together in the back of

his limo. Barack Obama and David Cameron may seem to be speeding

together towards greater involvement in the war in Syria. However, the

Prime Minister lacks parliamentary support and so far the President

seems to lack enthusiasm for a policy he spent months resisting.

Adding to David Cameron's problems Boris Johnson who's warning we

shouldn't arm those he calls Syria's maniacs. What we need to see is a

pretty clear way of helping democracy in Syria, helping the good

guys, without putting weapons into the hands of maniacs and fanatics.

There are other issues, tomorrow the leaders will try to reach agreement

on so-called tax transparency or what the campaigners call ending tax

dodging. And the EU and the US have already agreed to start talks to

reduce barriers to trade, which both sides claim could save us money and

create jobs. Two million extra jobs, more choice and lower prices in our

shops. We are talking about what could be the biggest bilateral trade

deal in history. This summit is an advert for the tranquillity of

Northern Ireland, a place scarred for so long by conflict. It's also a

reminder, though, that the world is divided on how to handle the worst

war of our era. The G8 summit brings the first

opportunity for President Obama to visit Northern Ireland. Speaking in

Belfast, Mr Obama told an audience of young people that the peace

process had given the world hope and said the road to a lasting peace was

as urgent now as it had ever been. Our North America editor Mark

Mardell reports. This report contains some flash photographry.

President Obama can still move a crowd. In fact, he can provoke

Belfast into doing a Mexican wave even before he told the audience

their part of the world was an inspiration to others, striving to

find peace after conflict. But that they could aim even higher. They're

studying what you're doing. And they're wonder wondering perhaps if

Northern Ireland can achieve peace, we can too. So you're their

blueprint to follow. You're their proof of what is possible. Because

hope is contagious. They're watching to see what you do next. Perhaps

peace has become commonplace here. His purpose, to inject new

aspiration into a process that's flagging a little. He certainly

succeeded with this young audience. Oh my God, completely incredible. A

day I will never, ever, ever forget! It was very moving, very touching,

to the heart. It was motivational to - it showed our future and made us

want to strive for more peace in the future and gives us a good aim for

Northern Ireland. This is the sort of uplifting inspirational speech

the President is so good at, about the ending of conflict, the bringing

of peace. The day-to-day diplomacy of that is a lot harder. Good

afternoon, MrPresident and Prime Minister... The Prime Minister and

the President toured April integrated school, a project of the

peace. But they can't paint a clear picture of how they want to deal

with the conflict in Syria. His note says, dream big dreams, but shifting

policy without even talking about it hardly seems visionary. Three cheers

for the Prime Minister... The President doesn't seem in any

hurry. And some hope he does hold back. Weapons could get in the hands

of a group, then pass to another more extreme slam yis group, they

could get in -- Islamist group, and get in the wrong hands, it could

really hurt our ability in the region to pull things together.

While he worked, the First Lady watched Riverdance, there's still an

undeniable glamour about this couple but for all the enthusiasm there's

hesitation, Obama seems to fear one misstep could bring about a terrible

fall. Mark joins us now from the summit

srep u in - venue in Fermanagh. What's going on? Well, it is quite

extraordinary, this most eloquent of leaders, five days has passed since

his official announcement that the military aid would be give given to

the rebels, without explaining what that is. This is the first time that

he's actually announced, has used the word Syria in talking - in

public, and he hasn't explained what it means at all, what the change of

policy is going to amount to. You could say he is in the middle of

these delicate diplomatic talks and that's what's going on, that he

doesn't want to ruin that. I don't think it's that at all. I think that

the President hasn't decided exactly how he wants to approach this, how

deeply he wants America to get involved. There is no so far path

out of the maze. There is one thing going on tonight I must tell you,

that at this dinner there's a proposal to reach an agreement

around five fairly bland points, I am not sure Russia will go with

that, but there could be process on that. So far, no agreement at all.

Thank you very much. The broadcaster Stuart Hall has been

jailed for 15 months for indecently assaulting girls as young as nine.

Hall, who's 83, initially denied the accusations but pleaded guilty in

April. The judge at Preston Crown Court said the repeated sexual abuse

of children was a serious crime but there have already been complaints

that the sentence is too lenient. Our correspondent Judith Moritz

reports. In his heydey Stuart Hall broadcast

his brand of zany game show fun to 200 million people across Europe.

Today, he cut a subdued figure, arriving at court in the knowledge

that he faced jail. Hall made his name in the 1970s as the ex-uber apt

host of It's A Knockout. But there was a dark side. Today, the court

heard that he spent two decades abusing 13 girls as young as nine,

some were in court as Hall was jailed for 15 months. This woman was

17 when Hall indecently assaulted her in 1975. Her identity is

protected by law. I wish I had made a stink at the time, maybe somebody

would have, I don't think he would have got done but maybe they would

have had a word with him, done something. Now I won't be the only

person feeling guilty, other people who worked with him. Stuart Hall was

arrested at his home last December. At first he denied the charges

making this speech outside one court hearing. The allegations are callous

and cruel and above all, spurious. I am not guilty. Hall's denials have

upset and offended his victims. The majority of whom only came forward

after the publicity surrounding his arrest. He called them liars when he

was interviewed by police. He called them liars when he stood outside the

Magistrates' Court and by his plea he accepts that he was the liar. His

whole life has been a lie. As Stuart Hall is driven away to begin his

sentence it's in the knowledge that had he assaulted the girls in more

recent years his jail term would have been longer than it is today.

The judge in the case explained that he could only sentence Hall anned

the guidelines which -- under the guidelines that applied at the time

the offences were committed. On the same day that this episode of It's a

Knockout was filmed he assaulted a teenager girl. Roz ran the school

board on later ensew - -- score board on later episodes, she never

saw evidence of the behaviour. pulled the wool over everybody's

eyes. It's sad and disgusting also known for football commentary.

Today the BBC said it was appalled at his crimes and apologised to his

victims, some of whom plan to sue the Corporation. As Hall crouched in

the prison van on the way to jail the Attorney General's office said

it had already received requests to review his sentence. His barrister

said the broadcaster had once brought laughter to millions, but

that tonight he will feel desperate fear as the cell door slams shut.

The Moors murderer Ian Brady has appeared in public for the first

time in decades. He was taking part in a hearing to assess his sanity as

he seeks to move from a maximum security hospital to a prison. Brady

is 75 and has been on hunger strike for years but is being force-fed.

Our north of England correspondent Danny Savage reports. Ian Brady,

child serial killer who has been behind bars for 50 years. Today he

was seen publicly for the first time in decades. He attended his mental

health Tribunal wearing sunglasses and with a feeding tube in his nose.

He has refused food for years. He wanted this public in hearing. In

the 1960s, he brutally tortured and murdered five youngsters. Families

of his victims heard today how Ian Brady thinks his crimes were petty

compared to what soldiers and politicians do in war. He insists

that he is sane. This author has interviewed Ian Brady a number of

times. The Lockerbie bomber, another one he complained about recently.

Yes, I've killed five people, but that is not as bad as so-and-so who

killed many more. An expert witness said today that his personality

disorder could be characterised by superiority, self-centredness,

contempt and hostility. He now wants to be moved to a normal prison,

where he believes he will be more free to end his life in his own way.

Most of Ian Brady's victims were dumped in shallow graves in the more

land above Manchester. He even took trophy pictures of his accomplice,

Myra Hindley. It is still poignant because one of the young victims,

Keith Bennett, is still buried here. His body has never been found,

despite repeated appeals from his mother for that vital piece of

information that would lead police to his body and allow her to give

him a proper burial. That darkness has left relatives feeling that Ian

Brady must give something if he wants something. If we could get Ian

Brady to point out exactly where Keith Bennett is, because he knows

where he is, then after that he can go and do whatever the hell he wants

to do. But this hearing is about his condition, not his crimes. Ian Brady

may speak for himself as the tribunal continues.

Labour is promising to give all state schools in England the same

rights as academies and free schools, that is if it wins the next

election, including more freedom over what they teach. Labour also

said they would not allow any more free schools independent of local

authority control to be set up after 2015. Currently there are nearly

3000 academies and 81 free schools with more than 200 approved to open,

some from September this year. Reeta Chakrabarti has more details. This

goal landscape has changed dramatically under the coalition,

with mushrooming of academies and the start of free schools. Labour

took a major step today in setting out how it will respond, saying that

standards and not school structures were key. Where school freedom

promotes higher standards, we will extend those freedoms to all

schools. So if a freedom that is currently afforded to an academy is

serving to drive up standards, that freedom should be available to all

state funded schools. So if Labour were to lead the next Government,

they would extend to all schools powers to set their own curriculum,

and the freedom to decide the length of the school day and term. Around

half of all secondary schools in England have not become academies

and the headteacher here says they already enjoy the freedoms that

academies have. She says she is disappointed in Labour's project. My

message to Labour would be to talk to us. Let us help you develop a

policy and go forward. Without does help a new and taking that on board,

it will not happen. -- without us helping you. Free schools are

intended to provide more choice. They are a favourite of Michael

Gove. Labour says that too many open in areas with spare places in good

local schools. But Harpenden free school opened because there was a

need and here they think that losing free schools would be a shame.

reason we set up in Harpenden was because of the need for school

places. More than 60 did not get offered a place on admissions day.

There is a real desire and passion from parents in the area for

different educational model to be used as well. Labour would open

parent led academies, set up in areas are proven need like this, and

which could only employ fully qualified teachers, unlike in free

schools. But ministers said these were free schools under a different

name and amounted to a backhanded compliment. Basically he is

acknowledging that free schools and academies are popular with parents

and they are driving up standards. He have to say that he is in favour

of them, which is a big move from where the Labour Party were in the

past. Academies were in fact started under

Labour. The plans today for all schools, not just academies, but

this is a significant step in the party reclaiming some of its own

land. The Co-op needs to raise �1.5

billion in capital. The Co-operative Bank made some history to date with

�1.5 billion rescue that did not involve money from us, from

taxpayers, and with a controversial move to become more like mainstream

banks with investors owning a big chunk of it. The Co-op bank's

customers can breathe a sigh of relief because their savings will be

safe. But for the group, the nature of the rescue represents a serious

strategic failure. The Co-op bank is becoming much more like a

conventional bank, with shares on the stock market, and much less like

a mutual, like a co-operative. Their difficulties stem from loans in

property to other companies that went back and generated big losses.

Many of the loans were made by the Britannia building society, which

the Co-op board in 2009. It needs to raise capital, the shock absorbers

that all banks are obliged to have to absorb future losses. As part of

the rescue, providers of �1.3 billion of bombs and riskier loans

to the Co-op bank are being asked to swap them for shares and new bonds.

Small investors provided 5% of the �1.3 billion and typically have

invested less than �1000 each. Mike Smith, one of the retail investors,

was telephoned by the Co-op today with the bad news. I have been a

member of the Co-op most of my life. How can it possibly trust them in

the future? And what of them being different from other banks? Very

disappointed. I feel that they have let society down. Why am a great

believer in the Co-op movement. -- I am a great believer. I feel they are

no longer trust with and just like another bank -- trustworthy.

silver lining is that they are sorting out their problems and not

being bailed out by taxpayers. is shocking, is that while the Co-op

was managing its affairs, it was being encouraged by the Government

to travel in size by buying branches from Lloyds. What was the Treasury

and Lloyds doing by using the Co-op is the biggest vehicle for the

biggest piece of banking strategy that the Government had? After the

great crash of five years ago, this fall from grace shows that things

have not worked out. The newly elected President of Iran has said

he hopes the world will engage with his constructive approach to his

country. He is considered to be a moderate

and used his first news conference to signal a change of tone. The new

President knows how to hold a press conference, and the days when he was

a run's chief nuclear negotiator saw plenty of them. His biggest task is

to get the UN to ease its sanctions against Iran, so he needed to

demonstrate plenty of reasonableness here. The question of sanctions is a

major problem that we are facing. We will act in order to reduce and

solve the problem of sanctions. There was a huge turnout of

journalists, even though almost every Western news organisation has

been prevented from covering the election. Some asked in code terms

whether political prisoners would be released. He said don't worry, there

will be change, but it takes time. One man in the audience called out

that the political prisoner should be released. Hassan Rohani coped

with the embarrassment pretty well, but while the security police sorted

out the heckler, the new President was hustled out by his minders. I

have covered plenty of presidential news conferences in Iran over the

years, but I have never seen anything remotely like that. It

really does look as though people feel after the election that the

harsh, old rules have been lifted, perhaps just a little bit. There is

an increasing sense of desperation in Iran now, and as a result of

sanctions the economy is dire. Even officially inflation is nearly 30%

and food prices are going up twice as fast as that. So how does the new

President improve things? By persuading the outside world that he

is going to soften the hard line on the new Clio issue -- nuclear issue.

The Iranians Government may take up the opportunity of a new

relationship with the global community. If Iran is prepared to

make that choice on nuclear issues, we are prepared to respond in good

faith. Hassan Rohani's popularity means that he can probably allow the

nuclear inspectors to see some of what they want. He will realise that

he does not have to do all that much to make the outside world feel

hugely relieved, even grateful. Police are studying photographs

published in a Sunday newspaper which shows the art collector

Charles Saatchi with his hands around the neck of his wife, Nigella

Lawson. He said that the pictures show the couple having a playful

tiff. Scotland Yard officers are deciding whether to investigate.

The Duke of Edinburgh has left hospital in London ten days after he

was admitted for exploratory surgery. Prince Philip spent less

time at the clinic than Buckingham Palace had predicted but will now

convalesce for up to two months before taking up his public duties

again. Nicholas Witchell reports. It has been his longest stay in

hospital and for part of it after the exploratory surgery of more than

a week ago he was in intensive care. But he emerged looking fit and

relaxed. After thanking medical staff, he walked out of the hospital

with a wave, but apparently without difficulty. It is still not clear

why he required surgery. Buckingham Palace only said that he was in good

condition today and certainly he looked cheerful as he was driven to

Windsor Castle to rejoin the Queen. There, this afternoon, another

ceremonial highpoint of the summer. They are annual service of the

Garter. -- the annual service. Just as at Trooping the Colour, the Queen

was not accompanied by her husband. She took part in the procession

escorted by Prince Charles and Prince William. For the family, the

priority now will be to make sure that the royal routine continues,

but without the Duke for the moment. June is normally one of the busiest

months of the year for the Queen and the Duke. This year she continues as

normal while he convalesce that Windsor. Unlike in past years, he

will not be with the green at Royal Ascot, which starts tomorrow, or for

the week when the Queen is based at Holyrood House in Edinburgh. The