28/09/2014 BBC Weekend News

The Conservative Party Conference has got under way

in Birmingham with the Prime Minister admitting it's not

The Tories have been hit by the resignation of a minister,

and the defection of a second MP to UKIP in the space of just a month.

David Cameron described Mark Reckless's decision to leave

the Conservatives as counter-productive and senseless.

Our Political Correspondent Ben Wright reports.

It has been a testing start to the conference for the Tory faithful,

the defection of Reckless and a reckless selfie. UKIP crows.

Yesterday Mark Reckless became the second Conservative MP in one month

to leave for UKIP but this morning David Cameron try to dismiss the

deflection. These things are frustrating and counter-productive

and rather senseless. If you want to have a European referendum and

immigration controlled, if you want to get the deficit down, if you want

to build a stronger Britain we can be proud of, there is only one

option and that is to have a Conservative government after the

next election. David Cameron said a vote for UKIP would let in Labour,

but Tory divisions on Europe continue to fester. The

Conservatives have promised a referendum if they win the next

election. Today David Cameron was pressed on whether he thought

Britain would ever leave the EU. If I thought it was not in Britain's

interests to be in the EU, I wouldn't argue to be in it. I do

this job because I love my country, I care about its future. David

Cameron has always said Britain is better off in the EU but some in his

party want to spell out the cancer -- the circumstances in which it

might leave. It is by focusing on the economy and reform that the

party thinks it can win. Today the Conservatives said they would create

an additional 1 million apprenticeships in the next

Parliament, funded by cutting the maximum level of benefits household

can claim to ?23,000 per year. There would also be a new youth allowance,

and after this people would have to do community work to get benefits.

The evidence is that the cap is too loose, particularly in some parts of

the country, so bringing it down to ?23,000 saves money. That is what

the Tories want to be talking about rather than defections and the march

of UKIP. Joining us

from Birmingham is Assistant These are the last conferences

before a general election and the Prime Minister has been working hard

to get over a dreadful start. Yes, don't be confused by the diplomatic

niceties about Mark Reckless's decision, there is rippling fury

here about it. Just two weeks ago they said he assured their

executives he was going nowhere, and listen to David Cameron this morning

saying he was the sort of Tory who didn't vote much with the Government

anyway. The reason there is such anger is because this is a critical

party conference. It was meant to be a launch pad for the next general

election and they wanted to be focused on their plans for more

apprenticeships. That has now been knocked off course by Mark

Reckless's defection. It seems a really liked John Major circa 1990s

when every conference seemed to begin with some sort of bust up over

Europe. Thank you. The Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

has said Islamic State forces are now under pressure, thanks to air

strikes in Iraq and Syria. This weekend British warplanes were

involved in their first combat missions in Iraq

since MPs approved military action, Clive Myrie is in the Iraqi city

of Irbil. The British involvement so far has

been minimal but strikes have been taking place for weeks now, is there

any evidence they are making a difference? There have been

individual battlefield successes. We are hearing that overnight for

instance the Iraqi forces have managed to retake a dam that had

been held by Islamic State for some time and water supplies in that area

were under strain for the local population. Air strikes have helped

disrupt operations in that area and the Iraqi security furnaces --

forces are now in control of that. We understand that some were killed

in air strikes overnight in Mosul Dam, so there are individual

battlefield successes. Overall the air strikes have managed to stop

Islamic State in their tracks but they haven't been successful in

driving Islamic State away, and that is where the thorny issue of boots

on the ground comes in. Thank you. At least 30 people are thought to

have died in Japan following Hundreds of hikers were trapped

near the summit of Mount Ontake when Rupert Wingfield Hayes reports

from Tokyo. This morning the Japanese military

managed to get a helicopter close enough to the top of Mount Ontake to

start winching off a handful of survivors, but with the mountain

covered in a thick layer of choking ash it is still too dangerous to

land. When rescue teams finally reached the top of the mountain on

foot at lunch time today, they found a grim scene. At least 31 people

were dead and another 30 or more are still missing. Hundreds of hikers

were on the mountain on Saturday lunch time when it suddenly erupted

without warning. Videos shot by survivors shows a massive cloud,

rolling down the mountain at great speed, enveloping everything.

Remarkably more than 200 people managed to clamber down the mountain

through the choking volcanic ash. The volcanic rocks fell like

hailstones, we couldn't breathe so we covered our mouths with towels,

we couldn't open our eyes either. Others were forced to take refuge in

a series of mountain huts close to the summit. Today some of those made

it down the mountain on foot and described a terrifying night. It is

not clear why there was no warning of the eruption on Saturday. Japan

monitors its volcanoes closely, and any that show signs of activity is

immediately closed to hikers, but this time that didn't happen.

Clashes have broken out between police and pro-democracy

Thousands of protestors have gathered for a campaign of civil

disobedience designed to paralyse the city's business district.

The protestors want China to allow Hong Kong's electorate to freely

choose candidates for its next leader in 2017.

Dennis Kimetto has smashed the marathon world record in Berlin

after completing the race in a time of two hours,

The 30-year-old Kenyan knocked 26 seconds off the previous best,

Play is under way on the final day of golf's Ryder Cup in Gleneagles.

Europe began the day leading the United States by ten points to

six and needing just four points from the day's singles matches to

From Gleneagles, here's our correspondent, Andy Swiss.

It was a day for drama, decibel is, and even dancing, Europe arriving

with a 4-point lead and some fancy footwork. The first hole felt more

like football stadium, the home fans filled with optimism. We are going

to take the Ryder Cup! Just to be here for this, that is an

experience. It is chaos going on behind us, it is amazing. Soon the

volume cranked up another notch, and ear-splitting reception for Graeme

McDowell who got the Europeans under way with a nervous drive. Moments

later, he had a chance to take the lead. Somehow though it stayed out.

Early frustration for Europe and instead it was the US that struck

the first blow, Spieth edging ahead. Before long Europe's biggest name

was making his presence felt. Rory McIlroy taking the early advantage

against Rickie Fowler. The visitors have also begun with intent. Hunter

may hand with an early nomination for shot of the day. Two years ago

Europe turned around a deficit, now it is America hoping they can

conjure a comeback. A lot of matches still yet to start but as it stands

Europe are leading into matches, the USA are leading into matches. A

nerve jangling afternoon could be in store.

You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.

The next news on BBC One is at half past six.

Good afternoon. It is reasonably warm and dry outside for many of us

and that is a continuation of the weather we have