27/06/2012 BBC News at One

A hugely symbolic moment in Northern Ireland as the Queen

shakes hands with the former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness. More

than just a handshake, the meeting with Northern Ireland's Deputy

First Minister unthinkable for so many years, it took place in

Belfast. Good. It went really well, yeah.

Police say they are treating the explosion which killed a two-year-

old boy in Oldham as "suspicious". We have had some information to

suggest that it might have not been accidental. We are treating it as a

suspicious death and therefore a homicide investigation has been

undertaken. The Prime Minister defends plans to

reform the House of Lords saying it is time to make progress.

With a month to go, the Olympic rings are lowered into place on

Tower Bridge. The Hollywood screenwriter behind

When Harry Met Sally has died aged Later: The countdown to London 2012

enters its final month. We look at the campaign to make sure Britain

and London can emerge as a big Good afternoon. Welcome to the BBC

News at One. The Queen has shaken hands for the first time with

Martin McGuinness, the former IRA commander, now Northern Ireland's

Deputy First Minister, in what has been seen as a hugely symbolic

moment for the peace process. The handshake, which had been

unthinkable, took place in Belfast this morning. It is the first time

they have appeared in public together. The Queen's cousin, Lord

Mountbatten, was killed by the IRA in a bomb attack in 1979.

Departing from Hillsborough Castle, a monarch who is the ultimate

symbol of Britain's authority over the six counties which formed

Northern Ireland when Ireland was partitioned in 1921. Arriving at a

theatre in Belfast, a man who is an Irish republican and who, for years,

waged what the IRA called the armed struggle against the British Crown.

Today, Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and Martin

McGuinness, formerly of the IRA and now Northern Ireland's Deputy First

Minister, came together for an unprecedented meeting. The first-

hand shake had taken place in private. Then, from behind closed

doors, the Queen emerged and there, a few steps behind her, was Martin

McGuinness. She wore green, a colour appropriate to Ireland. He

looked comfortable and made no attempt to avoid being seen in

close proximity to the Queen. Quite the reverse, in fact. Microphones

had been banned so conversations couldn't be recorded. But the

small-talk was all about art, the event so carefully choreographed

was to view Irish portraits and pottery. At one point, Mr

McGuinness seemed to want to talk to Prince Philip but Philip moved

smartly away. It shouldn't be forgotten that his uncle was killed

by an IRA bomb in 1979. Then, the departure and a farewell handshake

in full view of the cameras. The Queen smiled warmly as she and

Martin McGuinness held out their hands to each other. It was all

over in moments and yet how much time has passed and how much pain

has been endured to get to this point?

Once the Queen had departed, Martin McGuinness emerged. He had

apparently greeted the Queen in Irish. It had all apparently been

cordial. Good. It went really well, yeah.

REPORTER: How was it to meet the Queen? Very nice.

In Republican areas of Belfast, where they have little time for the

Jubilee, people were positive about Mr McGuinness's action. I think it

is a good thing. REPORTER: Do you think it is the

right thing to do? Yes. A meeting which for so long was unthinkable

has happened. For Northern Ireland, it is another milestone.

Mark Simpson is in Belfast. You have been reporting from Northern

Ireland for more than 20 years. Give us your thoughts on what was a

momentous step? I think what we witnessed in this quiet corner of

South Belfast was the end of the never-never-never politics of

Belfast, that famous phrase coined by Ian Paisley, which came to

epitomise the stalemate on all sides, not just on the side of

Unionists, but Republicans as well. People said the IRA would never

stop killing people. People of course never, never, never thought

they would see a former IRA leader shake the hands of the British

Queen. It took me back to my days in Derry in the early 1990s when a

TV documentary named Martin McGuinness as Britain's most

dangerous man. My job was to go to his door and ask him what he

thought of that allegation. Today, the man that was claimed to be

Britain's most dangerous man 20 years ago today met the British

head of state. I suppose it is yet another reminder that when it comes

to the peace process never say never.

Thank you very much. Police say they have launched a homicide

investigation following an explosion in Oldham yesterday which

killed a two-year-old boy. Detectives are waiting to talk to a

man who was inside one of the houses when the blast happened. He

currently remains unconscious in hospital. Several homes were either

destroyed or badly damaged. This whole area is being treated as

a crime scene because detectives say what happened here might have

been deliberate. The explosion didn't just devastate the homes, it

took the life of two-year-old Jamie Heaton. He was watching TV as his

mother put out the washing outside. It's tragic circumstances...

death has devastated many who know the family. I can't imagine what

they are going through. I spent some time with them yesterday. I

have been with them, praying with them, and they have a lot of family

support so our love and prayers are with them at the moment. So how did

this happen? This was the street before the blast. The police

investigation centres around these two homes. Andrew Partington is now

unconscious in hospital. Jamie Heaton lived in the house on the

left. Detectives want to know more about a domestic incident the night

before the explosion. That domestic disturbance was not reported to the

police so we didn't have officers who attended. That forms part of

the ongoing investigation. It might not have been accidental so we are

treating it as a suspicious death. This is as close as the police will

allow us to get to the site of the explosion. If you take a look

around the 100 metres down the street, you can see the bricks and

rubble that's been blown away from the houses on to the cars in the

road. If you come back up towards us, well away from the blast, you

can see the damage that's been caused to some of the houses. The

families are still waiting to return home.

REPORTER: Have you got any possessions? Nothing at all. Just

the money what I went to work with in the morning and clothes I went

to work with. I'm standing in clothes that I wore yesterday

morning to go to work. Today, the Prime Minister called this a

tragedy. He also called for answers as to how it happened.

The Prime Minister has defended plans to reform the House of Lords

saying it is time to make progress despite some Conservative MPs

opposing the idea. Under the proposals, the number of peers

would be almost halved and most members of the Second Chamber would

be elected for 15-year terms. A Bill will be brought forward to

reform the composition of the House of Lords. All three main parties at

Westminster supported Lords reform at the last election, yet the plans

are provoking huge rows and could still founder as have so many

previous attempts over the decades. The Deputy Prime Minister, the

driving force behind the Bill published today. There is a simple

principle at stake. I think most people would agree with it. People

who make the laws of the land should be elected by the people who

have to obey the laws of the land. It is as simple as that. We should

get on with it. His plans would reduce the House of Lords from 800

to 450 members. 80% would be elected and they would serve a

single term of 15 years. Many Tory MPs object to these proposals,

including one parliamentary aide. am opposed to an elected House of

Lords which would be a rival to the supremacy of the House of Commons.

I will back what I said in the House of Commons with a vote when

ever it comes before the House of Commons next week. What to do about

this place divides the Labour Party, too. Ed Miliband says he will

support the plans in principle, but join forces with Tory rebels to

oppose ministers' efforts to impose a strict timetable. That means

other important could be affected. It would be a struggle for the

Government to get its plans through. Its critics point to polls

suggesting people outside Parliament are far more concerned

about the economy. My view is the Lords has undergone a lot of reform.

I don't think it is the number one priority for the nation. Order.

Questions to the Prime Minister. Question Time the Prime Minister

defended the proposals. There is a majority in this House for an

elected House of Lords. But if those who support Lords reform

don't get out there and back it, it won't happen. But the changes to

the House of Lords could provoke the biggest Conservative rebellion

since Mr Cameron became Prime Minister and lead to further

friction between the coalition parties. Perhaps the biggest risk

is that the Government will seem out of touch with the concerns of

the public. There were heated exchanges in the

Commons this lunch time over the Government's decision to delay a 3p

increase in fuel duty until next January. David Cameron insisted it

was not a Government U-turn but Labour called the move another case

of panic at the pumps. Norman Smith is in Westminster. There are a lot

of questions about whether ministers were told in advance

about the Chancellor's decision? Yes, what should be a

straightforward win-win policy for the Government, namely not going

ahead with the increase in petrol duty, it is turning out to be much

more problematic because it comes in the wake of a whole series of

other budget U-turns on pasties and charities and caravans, enaiblging

the Labour Leader to press for further -- enabling the Labour

Leader to press for further U-turns in the budget. But the real anxiety

must be the decidedly mixed response in some sections of the

Conservative Party. In part, over the presentation of the policy, a

sense that there was little notice given to Tory MPs, that this

rethink was under way. In part, over the decision to put up a

relatively junior minister to promote the policy on Newsnight

where she had a bit of a torrid time. Also, there is a credibility

question beginning to emerge with one Conservative MP, with good city

contacts, telling me he feared the succession of budget U-turns might

raise a question mark in the minds of city observers as to how

determined the Chancellor was to press ahead with deficit reduction.

The Treasury insist there is no weakening in his resolve to

continue with the pace of deficit reduction. There is no uncertainty

in the markets. Nevertheless, what should have been a straightforward

good news announcement for the Government is proving much more

problematic. Thank you very much. A man found

guilty of posting a comment on Twitter in which he threatened to

blow up Robin Hood Airport in South Yorkshire has returned to court in

a bid to overturn his conviction. Paul Chambers was supported by

Stephen Fry and Al Murray today. The 27-year-old was convicted two

years ago of sending a "menacing electronic communication" but he

said the tweet was sent in a moment of frustration when the airport was

closed by snow and he never thought anyone would take his silly joke

seriously. Terrorism suspects should be

allowed to apply for bail according to the independent reviewer of

current terrorism laws. David Anderson QC said while releasing

some suspects on bail would be unthinkable, peripheral players who

pose no risk to public safety do not need to be kept in detention.

The violence in Syria is spiralling out of control, with much of the

country descending into civil war. President Assad admitted that his

country is in a state of war. He told his Cabinet it was a war that

The violence seems to be close -- ever closer to the centre of power.

This area was stormed by rebel gunmen in the early hours,

ransacked, blown up and set on fire. Government officials said the media

workers and guards who were killed were shot in cold blood. They are

seeing this as a broader campaign to silence the media. The attack

came only hours after President Assad had told the Cabinet that it

and the rest of the country were now on a war footing. Growing

concern at the UN. It find itself powerless to stop the carnage,

which has grounded the observers and made it impossible to evacuate

civilians trapped in battle zones like Homs. We are gravely concerned

about the latest concerns of an upsurge of violence and escalation

of fighting by Government forces and by anti-Government armed groups.

Innocent civilians are trapped in the line of fire. This BBC footage,

filmed in northern Syria, provides further evidence that the armed

rebels of the Free Syrian Army are getting more organised and active

by the day. They are heavily outgunned, but despite all the

Government's efforts to wipe them out, they keep coming back.

International diplomacy has no traction. The President is clearly

preparing for the longhaul. Ian Pannell has spent the last two

weeks with the Free Syrian Army in Idlib in northern Syria. He joins

us from the border with Syria and Turkey. Tell us about what you have

witnessed. I think that's very noticeable. Interestingly, when the

planned UN plan was announce then there was a lull in the violence.

It has certainly dropped off, but what we have seen really over the

last few weeks is a marked escalation. In particular, in

response to massacres that have taken place, on going offences in

cities like Homs. We spent two weeks with the Idlib Martyrs

Brigade and this is a confederation of 12 different groups that have

come together. Hundreds of fighters, they claim, 1600 strong and they

are actively planning operations. First of all, we see a change in

their organisation. They are working together, pulling their re-

- pooling their resources and planning attacks across the north.

Secondly, you are seeing a change in strategy and tactics.

Essentially, rather than just defending areas, which we have seen

in the past, effectively acting as a self-defence force in isolated

villages, coming together, offering support when some groups are under

attack and going on the offensive themselves. We joined them on a

number of operations where we saw them actively trying to target Asad

Government military positions, to attack convoys and jet points and

military bases. They say that the UN six-point plan and the

Government didn't stick by it and they are left with no choice,

because the outside world refuses to come to help them. Don't forget,

these are people that the Government calls terrorists. One

thing there is for sure is that the violence looks said to increase.

Thank you very much. Our top story - a hugey symbolic moment in

Northern Ireland as the Queen shakes hands with the former IRA

commander, now Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. I'm

live at Wimbledon whether heather what Watson's timed it perfectly on

the day that Royalty have come to watch. Later, dispersal zones, how

police are using powers to deal with suspected young troublemakers

near the Olympic Park and... We focus on eight Londoners who are

going for gold in a month's time. With just a month to go before the

start of the London 2012 Games, a set of giant Olympic rings have

been lowered from Tower Bridge, suspended over the river Thames.

Our Olympics correspondent, James Pearce, is at Tower Bridge. Just

one month to go. That doesn't leave much March gin for error. Immovable

dead lines are fast approaching, but this morning everything seemed

to go according to plan. The Olympic rings hidden away under

Tower Bridge, ready to be unveiled to the world. So, all aboard, as we

waited for the London mayor to signal the start. Release the rings

into position now. Slowly lowered into place, this is likely to be

one of the iconic images. A must- have photograph for tourists in

London. Elsewhere, there is still plenty to do. Horse Guards Parade

being turned into a beach volleyball venue. This is one of

the sports for which thousands of tickets remain on sale. The man in

charge remains confident that everything apart from football will

sell out. I'm pretty sure we will. It's our commitment. That's

important, because you want loud noisy and passionate fans in front

of competitors and fans that look like they want to be there, so we

are in good shape. Inside the park the venues are finished. Most

events look great. The big screen which is being built is bound fob

popular. Much of the work now inside the park is around the edges,

making sure the viewing experience is as good as possible. The gardens

are well looked after and for anybody inside the stadium for

perhaps whom the excitement is getting too much, they can come

outside, sit down, relax and enjoy the view. Sunshine next month would

help, but those without tickets to come inside should be impressed

with what they see. For those without, Tower Bridge is about as

close as many will get to those Olympic rings. Ticketing remains an

issue that won't go away. There are 1.8 million tickets left to be sold.

The vast majority, 1.2 million, for football. There's no chance that

all those tickets will be sold, so the question for the organisers is

what to do with the empty seats. The answer almost certainly will be

fill them with schoolchildren. James, thank you. The United

Nations has expressed concern about the increasing number of so-called

baby boxes across Europe, where mothers can leave unwanted newborn

children. The hatches, also known as foundling wheels, had, until

recently, virtually disappeared. But over the past decade more than

200 have been installed, most of them in Germany. Stephen Evans

reports from Berlin. Baby crib, the sign says, pointing the way to a

journey no mother wants to take. In a Berlin suburb there is a path for

desperate mothers, unable to cope with their newborn babies. This is

the baby box. Inside warmth and comfort. And in this specialist

unit a new life with adoption. Ten years ago this mother took that

route. She was young and in anguish. The father was absent, so she gave

her son away. But changed her mind five days later. TRANSLATION:

came back because I had been confused at birth, but when I came

back I noticed for the first time the colour of his eyes and his hair.

The baby had helped me get my life together. There are about 200 of

these baby boxes across Europe, but the people behind them say the

benefits are obvious. They save lives, but the critics, including

United Nations Committee for the Protection of the Rights of the

Child disagree and say it's much more complex than that. Child

psychologist Kevin Browne, wrote a report and it says the hatches deny

the babies the right to know who their parents are. They take the

right of the child to know their identity and their make-up and

background. Also family upbringing with biological relatives. Hatches

aren't a new idea. Medieval cathedrals like this one in Italy

had windows specially built oh so mothers could pass their babies

through for adoption. Foundling wheels, they were called. Now

they're making a comeback, but times have changed. The critics say

today's baby hatches might discourage women from coming to a

maternity unit to have a baby and encouraging, dangerous secret

births at home. The first box was set up by Gabriele Stagl, so

mothers wouldn't just dump unwanted babies in dangerous places.

should know who your biological parents are, but you can only be

interested in that when you are alive. I think it's very important

to have the chance to be alive, that's even more important than

knowing who is your mum. She says about two babies a year get left

here. Each one given a new life. The National Trust is trying to

raise more than �1 million to buy a stretch of one of the country's

greatest landmarks, the White Cliffs of Dover. The charity

already owns part of the land, but needs this last parcel to make it

complete. It says it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to

secure the cliffs for the nation. Could 2012 be the year when the

Brits do well at Wimbledon? Heather Watson has made it through. Andy

Murray is through to the second round. Our reporter is at the club

for us now. Andy Murray has been joking on the practice ground this

morning and The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince of Wales have arrived

here this afternoon to more good news. There is a British woman into

the third round for the first time in a decade. More meticulous mowing.

Security all sniffed out. A line-up fit for a prince and Wimbledon is

ready for a Royal visit. With all eyes on Britain in Diamond Jubilee

and Olympic year, it seems home- grown players are rising to the

occasion. She recorded her first- ever win at Wimbledon on Monday.

Today, Heather Watson is the first Brit through to the third round,

blowing away her American opponent in straight sets. There was genuine

concern that Andy Murray's first- round match could be a stringle,

but dangerous -- struggle, but dangerous Nikolay Davydenko never

materialised. One down, he seemed to say, as once again he shoulders

the expectations of a nation. a nice compliment. He should see it

like that. I remember in my time I thought all the attention in hol

hand, I felt like -- Holland, I felt the pressure, but then I

didn't care. Maybe that's the way for Andy to look at it. Also, there

is less pressure. Not one to particularly enjoy the attention,

Murray was no doubt pleased to know he'll be joined in the second round

by Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong from the women's draw.

James Ward, will play tomorrow. For British tennis it's already been

our best start in Wimbledon in six years. It was a masterful display

from Heather Watson. 6-1, 6-4 there. There's another Brit in action for

the home fans to cheer on, Jamie Baker resumes his match a little

later against Andy Roddick. The writer, Nora Ephron, best known for

her work on romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally has died at

the age of 71. Her 15 film credits also include Sleepless In Seattle

and Julie and Julia. She was nominated for an Oscar three times,

but never won. Our Arts Correspondent, David Sillito,

reports. Oh, oh, When Harry met Sally, the jokes, the cynicism, the

romance, it breathed new life into a jaded formula, the romantic

comedy. I'll have what she's having. Nora Ephron was the writer. Her

parents had been screen writers. Her films such as Sleepless in

Seattle, featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan updated the old plots for

a modern audience. Nora Ephron's breakthrough had been Silkwood, a

drama about the nuclear power industry. Her romantic comedies had

grown out of her writing. Everything is copy, her mother had

once said and the ups and down of her life in a new world of casual

sex, feminism and divorce gave her materialism for journalism and

essays. Her divorce from the Watergate journalist, Karl

Bernstein, became Heartburn. It was clear that a story had happened to

me and I hoped that some day I could make it into a funny story.

You knew when it was happening that there were elements of it that some

day might be funny. You may think that boning a duck is an impossible

feat. Her most recent film, Julie and Julia, saw her reunited with

Meryl Streep, who today described her friend as an expert in all

departments of life. Tom Hanks said her company, her films, she has

lifted us all with wisdom and wit. And mixed with love. Nora Ephron,

who has died at 71. Now a look at who has died at 71. Now a look at

the latest weather. Messy picture today, in that you can see behind

me, the extent of the cloud. We are starting to see a little sun, so

together with the high humidity that we have at the moment, that

will mean some intense downpours for places this afternoon. I think

that's really the main thing to watch for, the heat brewing up some

pretty nasty showers and it's humid for all. Lots of mist around. The

most likely area for the showers is the east of England, but very

different in Scotland. We have got a weather front here and it's rain

and drizzle, but for Northern Ireland after a wet morning it

would brighten up. What a difference across eastern Scotland.

Cool with the fetch of the sea and all the rain. It will improve for

the north of England, but with it the risk of showers. Inland, across

Wales and south-west, here we should see brightening skies, but

again it's really quies misty and foggy around the coast -- quite

misty and foggy around the coast. There will be lighter rain in

certain areas. There is a risk we might see rain for the play this

afternoon at Wimbledon. For tomorrow, more likely to be heavier

downpours, but again quite a small chance. Hopefully, this evening, as

the patchy rain moves away, it will brighten. In the west, you can see

what is taking place, more rain. It will get closer again and more

humid through the night. Quite uncomfortable. Temperatures not

falling much below 16 to 18. Nasty conditions if you are caught in the

rain tomorrow morning through the rush across Wales, into north-west

England and Northern Ireland and Scotland. Particularly, for

southern and eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the rain

will be closely followed by some heavy showers, there is a risk of

flooding. Fairly brisk winds in the north picking up in the south, but

the showers much more scattered. Some escaping and as a result of

sun, a warmer day tomorrow. 25 or 26 potentially in some areas. That

doesn't last, because by Friday we are back to windier weather.

Showery weather too. Fresher weather too. We have blow pressure

back with us. You can see some fairly strong winds blowing the