13/08/2014 BBC News at Six

Britain joins an international mission to rescue

thousands of people from a mountain in northern Iraq.

Those who've escaped are in makeshift camps.

Thousands more remain trapped, living in fear of Islamic militants.

I'm proud of the fact that British aeroplanes and British aid have been

playing a role and will continue to play a role to help these people,

but we need a plan to get these people off that mountain.

We'll be looking at the UK's military options.

Also tonight, unemployment falls to its lowest

level for six years, but wages aren't keeping pace with inflation.

A woman is found guilty of funding terrorism, after trying

to send 20,000 euros to Syria. A rescue operation in the Swiss Alps

after a passenger train derails and a carriage plunges into a ravine.

You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve?

You just put your lips together and blow.

Lauren Bacall, the epitome of Hollywood's golden

era, has died at the age of 89. Tonight on BBC London:

Scotland Yard examines leaflets being handed out on Oxford Street

allegedly supporting the Islamic extremism.

The moments after a brutal attack on a man in Wimbledon.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

Britain is to be part of an international mission to

rescue thousands of people trapped in northern Iraq.

The Prime Minister confirmed this afternoon that plans are being drawn

up to help members of the minority Yazidi sect who are

living on a mountain in fear of militants from Islamic State.

It follows an announcement from the US that

an extra 130 military advisors are to be sent to the region.

RAF Chinook helicopters en route. And earlier today France said it was

to send arms to Kurdish forces to support their battle with the

militants. Our diplomatic correspondent reports. Every day the

scale of the humanitarian crisis and of individual suffering for those

fleeing the extremists in northern Iraq becomes more apparent. It has

been a frightening, gruelling and painful escape for those able to get

away from the fighters of the Islamic state. And there has been

more relief from the air. A third wave of British airdrops of water

and shelter for those trapped and exposed to the searing heat on Mount

Sinjar. David Cameron is now back in Downing Street after his holiday,

weighing up how far to go stepping up Britain's military involvement.

The first thing is to deal with the desperate humanitarian situation

with people who are exposed, starving, dying of thirst on the

mountainside, getting them to a place of safety. Yes, of course we

support the Kurds. As you know, in terms of the ammunition they are

getting, Britain is going to be playing a role in getting that to

them. So far British Tornado strike aircraft are being confined to

aerial reconnaissance. But four RAF Chinook colour copters may well be

used to help pluck fleeing families of the mountain -- helicopters. It

has not been confirmed but they certainly have the capability. This

versatile American built helicopter has been in service for over 30

years in the RAF. Britain has around 60. Only the US has more. It can

carry over 50 fully armed troops weighed down with equipment.

Rescuing civilians, it might carry 70 people or more. If it comes to

that, the RAF would be determined to avoid scenes like these, the often

very dangerous early rescues which underequipped local forces have had

to cut -- had to carry out. Keeping rescued civilians and RAF crew safe

could put British boots on the ground. If one is pulling, as has

happened many times in the past, refugees from an area that is hard

pressed, there may be a requirement to secure the area by the use of

force to protect the refugees. It is Iraqi Kurdish forces like these

written on the US insist must remain the front line, trying to push back

the extremists of Islamic State. France is now offering to arm them

directly. Britain says it will help deliver but not supply weaponry to

them. For now at least, as another aid flight is loaded in Britain,

David Cameron stress is not a military intervention but a

humanitarian one, something the Prime Minister says does not require

the recall of Parliament. to be sent to the region.

The tens of thousands fleeing the militants

are arriving in Iraqi Kurdistan with little food, clothing or shelter.

After surviving the long journey from Mount Sinjar,

many are now making temporary homes in derelict buildings.

Among them, the very young and old. Caroline Wyatt has sent

this report from Dohuk. This is now their home,

by a parched roadside half an hour's drive from the Syrian

border inside Iraqi Kurdistan. Yazidi men, women and children, all

in one room in this unlikely sanctuary. The survivors of Mount

Sinjar, this is the next step on their long journey. No private

space, no sanitation and no clean water to wash in. Most of the food

and water has come from local well-wishers. This is the youngest

refugee here. He was ten days old when his mother carried him in her

arms to safety on the mountaintop. His father says other newborns were

slaughtered by Islamist fighters. This woman says the baby is sickly

now and need medical help. The young women escaped the worst fate. Other

teenage girls were taken to prison. The fairies they were sold into

slavery. -- the fear is. As they have done for thousands of years,

the years EDR helping each other survive. But it is hard to explain

to the youngest here why they have been singled out for slaughter --

the UCD are helping each other survive. This woman is 95 and is

almost blind and was lost in the chaos almost when her village was

attacked. She has no idea if her family are still alive. The kindness

of strangers helped her survive. The man next to her character from the

mountaintop down to safety. At last, some hope from outside. Within

seconds, the water is gone. There are now 35,000 refugees from the

minority who have flooded in. They are adding to the numbers here. The

province is home to 400,000 refugees. Northern Iraq as a whole

almost a million displaced people fleeing fighting in Syria and other

parts of Iraq. Most of them loving in places like this. Many survivors

still have not found shelter. This family had to stop just outside the

town of Dohuk to seek refuge from the searing sun. They are called

with a hosepipe by the local police. This woman still has milk for her

baby but many other women do not. Too hungry or traumatised to nourish

a child. The UK has promised to help. The question is how much

longer those on the mountain can wait.

border inside Iraqi Kurdistan. Iain Watson is in Downing Street.

How far is David Cameron prepared to go militarily?

I think he is walking a tightrope between supplying aid and getting

involved in military action. I am told for example that rescuing

people from the mountains might involve British forces but not in a

combat role. We will not be delivering weapons directly to

Kurdish forces but we will help deliver ammunition. The reason the

Prime Minister is holding this fine line if you can claim Britain's

involvement is driven by humanitarian and not military

concerns so he does not have to consult MPs and recall Parliament. A

year ago he did so over Syria and was defeated. That explains his

nervousness. The pressure will continue because one of his former

ministers tonight said, why are emptys being allowed to rob on sun

while innocent civilians fleeing for their lives?

go militarily? Unemployment has fallen sharply

again and is at its lowest level for six years.

In the three months to the end of June, it fell by 132,000,

to just over 2 million. The number of young people out

of work also fell sharply, by more than 100,000, to 767,000 in June.

However, wages are still not keeping pace with inflation raising

questions about any possible rise in interest rates, as our economics

correspondent, Simon Jack, reports. The good economic news keeps rolling

in. There are more people in work than ever before and economic growth

is surging ahead. Does it mean warning flags are out for higher

interest rates? Not necessarily. The Bank of England thinks the economy

will grow 3.5% this year, its fastest since 2007. The unemployment

rate has fallen to 6.4%. But wages are only rising 0.6% and the bank

expects low pay rises for the rest of the year. Given how fast

unemployment has come down, you might think employers would have to

start paying more to attract the available workforce. In fact, wage

growth has been almost nonexistent, lagging far behind the rise in

prices and that is the key conundrum. Why are wages rising so

slowly? Part of the answer may be the huge growth in self-employment.

40% of all new jobs since 2010 have been among the self-employed. This

woman gave up a career with a big company to set up this knitting

Cafe. It came at a cost. I was well paid and now I am on about a quarter

of the salary. I am covering my bills and I have a brilliant life

and I would not change it, but it is about a quarter of the amount of

money. More people working past 65 plus immigration has meant a big

rise in the supply of workers. It has helped keep wages down. For the

Bank of England, no rate rise just yet. Now is not the time, given the

degree of slack, the weakness of wages and given the start of some of

the recovery of productivity. But over the forecast in that time in

our best view, that time will come. If not now, when? I cannot see it

this year. The governor was very clear. There is a lot of

geopolitical risk. No wage growth. We are looking at a rate rise

towards the start of next year. The Bank of England is on the lookout

for higher wages before it makes a move. There is little evidence of

that on the horizon at the moment. During his news conference, Mark

Carney also said the Bank of England is developing contingency plans to

ensure the UK's financial stability, whatever the result of next month's

referendum on Scottish independence. Our business editor, Kamal Ahmed,

is here. Why is he talking about it now? The

governor hardly says anything by mistake. When the referendum happens

on the 18th of September, if there is a yes vote, there is quite a lot

of nervousness among financial institutions about what it will mean

for financial stability. Let us not forget, Edinburgh is the

second-largest financial centre in the UK. What is the relationship

between Edinburgh and London? There have been disagreements about what

currency Scotland will be able to use. The main parties in London have

said already, you cannot use sterling. Alex Salmond has said, we

will be using sterling. There is no agreement on that. There is the

interesting third issue, deposit flight. This is an emotional

response, if there is a yes vote, will people think to themselves, if

I have money north of the border, showed I think about moving it? Mark

Carney has wanted to say today, reassurance, whatever happens on the

18th of September, on the 19th, the Bank of England will still be

standing behind every financial institution in the UK and will do

that until institution in the UK and will do

such time, if there is a yes vote, that Scotland becomes independent

from the rest of the UK. That is what he is trying to do today, a

message of reassurance. Thank you. A woman accused

of trying to smuggle 20,000 euros in her underwear to a Briton

fighting in Syria has been found not guilty of funding terrorism.

Amal El-Wahhabi planned to send the money to her husband. Her friend,

Nawal Msaad, was found not guilty. Jim Kelly is at the Old Bailey.

These are the first two women to stand trial in relation to the

conflict in Syria. The convicted woman, Amal El-Wahhabi, she sobbed

and needed medical help after being found guilty. She will be sentenced

next month. Meanwhile, her friend has walked free. Throughout this

trial, the message from Nawal Msaad has been, I am a modern Western

woman, not an extremist. She told the jury that although she was

brought up a Muslim, she was not religious. Today she was cleared of

funding terrorism overseas. Relieved to have been found not guilty. I

will be forever thankful to my family and mum and sister and father

who have been my strength. The past eight months have been surreal. I

hope I can get my life back. And physically and mentally I am

drained. She was arrested at Heathrow why she was preparing to

board a flight for Turkey. Recorded on CCTV going into the ladies

toilets. When she was detained, she had 20,000 euros ?16,000. She said

she had rolled up the notes and put them in a condom to keep them safe.

She insisted she put them in the waistband of her leggings, not in a

randy work as the prosecution claimed. She had been given the

money by her school friend, Amal El-Wahhabi. She had to recruit a

courier to take the cash to her husband who had gone to fight in

Syria. Aine Davis was over the border in Turkey waiting. Still

believed to be in Syria, he was described by the judge as an

extremist engaged in violent jihad. Since her arrest, Nawal Msaad has

used social media to protest innocence. She said she had no idea

what the money was intended for. She posted the video singing about fake

friends. And on Twitter, she added a logo to the electronic tag she had

to work as part of her bail conditions. All of this they whirled

away from the battlefields of Syria. Nawal Msaad was in her second term

at university when she was arrested. Tonight she would not be drawn on

whether she now Our top story this evening:

Britain is to join an international mission to rescue

thousands of people from a mountain in northern Iraq.

Still to come: No laptops allowed - computers and

tablets are banned at Old Trafford. Later on BBC London:

Fears over anti-Semitism in the capital - the Jewish

community meet to discuss the fallout from the conflict in Gaza.

Prince Harry joins the British Armed Forces team announced

today for the first Invictus Games. today for the first Invictus Games.

Kenya has been classified as a high risk country for the

The World Health Organisation says Kenya is vulnerable

because it's a major transport hub. Since the start of the outbreak

in West Africa, the virus has killed more than 1,000 people.

Today Canada said it was sending up to 1,000 doses of an

experimental vaccine to the region to try to fight the epidemic.

Here, the BBC has been given exclusive access to the Porton Down

research centre - where scientists will carry out tests for the virus.

Our Health Editor, Hugh Pym, has this special report.

the deadly Ebola virus, the race is on to stamp it out in West Africa

and stop it spreading. There is one place you can find it close to home.

Right here in rural Wiltshire. It's stored in freezers under tight

security along with other disease samples at the Government laboratory

at Porton Down. There's no doubt they have to produce dangerous

germs. After World War II, Porton Down was at the centre of the

Government's germ war fair effort. Now dedicated to medical research. I

was given exclusive access to the site now run by Public Health

England. There's been research on Ebola here since the virus was found

in the 19p 0s. They'll test suspected cases from anywhere in the

UK. Patientp samples are highly infectious Medical scientists are

carrying out a process which makes any virus enactive before tests are

carried out. After a seven-hour process, any positive Reading comes

up on this monitor. Ebola is a virus which can pass routine screening.

I'm not concerned about it in the UK. This is our day-to-day life. We

have tested between one and two samples a week for several years

now, from people who've come from abroad. We are well practised in the

procedures of doing the testing and also in how to deal with positive

cases. We coordinate all our activity

through here. The scientists keep in close contact with the public health

office in Central London. There is is a steady call for advice from

doctors but so far no con firmed Ebola case in this country. Would

you say it is a matter of when, not if, a case emerges in the UK? I

wouldn't. We've seen through all the previous Ebola outbreaks in Africa,

we've never seen a case imported into the UK. With the Ebola virus,

the experts know it's never say never where people move easily

through continents. has this special report.

A train has derailed in the Swiss Alps causing at least one

carriage to fall into ravine. It happened near Tieftencastel,

in the east of the country. The train was travelling

from the resort of St Moritz to the northern city of Chur.

Five people have been seriously injured.

Our correspondent Sangita Myska has the latest

The fact no-one was killed in this accident is a miracle. Here in the

heavily wooded Alps three train cars derailed. One hangs precariously off

the edge. Another nose down into the ravine, a third sits below that.

TRANSLATION: Suddenly there was a big bang, it felt like the train had

hit a rock or boulder. We were thrown around. And immediately knew

something had happened. Mountain Rescue teams winched the injured to

safety. 11 passengers are in hospital. Five seriously ill. The

remaining 190 or so were led, on foot, to safety. Along the same

track that had brought them here from the ski resort of St Moritz.

Most were holiday-makers attracted by the unspoilt deep forests of

eastern Switzerland. It was a landslide brought on by unseasonably

heavy rain that caused the derailment. A rare accident in a

country laweded for its train safety.

Myska has the latest Manchester United has banned fans

from bringing laptops and tablet computers to football

matches at Old Trafford. The club said it was reacting

to security intelligence. Our chief sports correspondent

Dan Roan is at Old Trafford. What's the thinking behind this?

Manchester United originally wrote to their fans earlier this week

ahead of a pre-season friendly telling them they'd become the first

English club to ban the use of tablets like this, I pads, lap tops

inside the ground. They wouldn't be allowed in. Though phones would be

permitted. The assumption was this was down to fears over copyright and

an increasing trend of fans to film match action in high quality. Today,

the club admitted it was down to, as you say, security intelligence. This

was merely bringing them in line with Government ledge Islation which

restricted the use of such devices by passengers travelling through UK

airports. Because of the size of this ground they faced a says eaveic

risk. Interestingly, neither the football authorities or police have

given any advice of this kind. Many believe it is as much to do with

protecting lucrative exclusive TV Dales as it is with security.

Thank you. What's the thinking behind this?

Thank you. Lauren Bacall who's died, aged 89.

Famous for her partnership with Humphrey Bogart - both professional

and personal - Bacall's smouldering look became one of the defining

images of Hollywood's golden era. Our Arts Correspondent David Sillito

looks back at her life. You know how to whistle, Steve? You

put your lips together and blow. In Rarely has a scene debut made quite

such an impact. Humphrey Bogart was entranced by this 19-year-old

actress. He was 25 years her senior. She was tough, wise beyond her

years. Had that look. Chin down, eyes up, a woman in total control.

However, looks can deceive. I was really nervous. I had no confidence

in myself. So I found my head would shake. I found the only way I could

keep it still was to hold my head down and look up. The couple fell in

love, they marred in 1945 and made three more films together. Wait a

minute, you better talk to my mother. This, perhaps their best.

Hello, who's this? The police? This isn't a police station. If you know

it then... Look, this is not a police station. They had 11 happy

years together before Bogart's death from cancer. Born Betty Perske, her

inspiration had been Betty Davis. One critic said her voice sounded

like it had been smoked in vodka. She exuded confidence. I'm looked

upon as a woman in total control and command. I don't need anyone, I have

the answers. Just like all those parts I played. Well, as we all

know, no-one's that sure of themselves I don't think. If they

are, I don't want to meet them. It was her stage role her hero Betty

Davis played which brought her a Tony award. But it was only in 2009,

in recognition of over 50 film roles, she finally got her hands on

an honorary Oscar. A man, at wrath! Well, this is quite an event I must

say. This was something I never expected. The ice cool confidence

then may have just been an act. But the chemistry was real. Hollywood's

golden age has lost another star. I don't think I'll ever be angry

again at anything you say. Lauren Bacall who's died at the

abling of 89. Time now for a look at the weather.

Good evening. Some of us today have played dodge the showers. As you can

see, a real speckling of showers cloud. A bit of a lottery out there.

The showers will recede through the night but persist in the far north

and west. Some of the them through Wales will really mean business.

They'll move over southern England. By the middle of the afternoon, they

could be heavy and slow-moving. By 4.00, we might see finer weather

over parts of Cornwall. A rash of sharp showers likely into parts of

South Wales along that south coast with rumbles of thunder. Hail mixed

in there as well. If you manage to Dom the showers, we could see highs

of 21 degrees. A rash of showers up into the north of England and

southern Scot lands. Northern Ireland and central areas of

Scotland and to the north slightly quieter, more promising. Lighter

winds. Any showers could hang around for quite a time. A ridge of high

pressure will tend to build during Friday. That will help quiten things

down. Hopefully, far fewer showers around on Friday. A pleasant start.

Some lovely sunshine coming through. There is a chance, towards the east

of the Pennines stretching to the east Midlands and west of London, we

could catch a thundery downpour. Top temperatures on Friday of 22

Celsius. The high pressure stays with us Friday night into Saturday.

In rural spots, a chilly start to the weekend. It could be a shock to

the system to the far north and West. Generally, for the next few

days, a messy picture. Fewer showers around. Lighter winds. Some cooler

nights. You might have to return to sleep under a duvet again.

That is all from the BBC News at 6.00. Now on BBC One, time