15/09/2014 BBC News at One

A global threat needing a global response - President Hollande's

warning about the so-called Islamic State militants. 40 countries,

including ten Arab states meet in Paris to sign up to a collision to

fight IS in Iraq and Syria. We will get the latest live from the French

capital. Also this lunch time... I am in Edinburgh, with just three

days of campaigning to go before people go to the polls.

Alex Salmond and David Cameron are both out i making the final push for

yes and no to independence. Two British tourists have been found

murdered on a beach in southern Thailand. 5, 500 jobs at risk as

phones for you goes into administration. The mission which

aims to land on a Comet later this year has identified which it thinks

is the safest place to sit down. Energy bosses face questions about

exploding pavements after a lucky escape for a van driver. 30,000

front-line workers have been attacked while on duty.

Good afternoon. Welcome to the BBC News. The French President, Francois

Hollande, has said there's no time to lose in the fight against the

militant group which calls itself Islamic State. Speaking oh at the

opening of an international conference in Paris, he said the

jihadists posed a global threat which needed a global response. He

also called for complete support for moderate rebels in Syria fighting

the regime of President Assad. Our security correspondent reports.

David Haines, murdered. James Foley, murdered.

Steven Sotloff, murdered. The recent beheading of these three western

hostages in Syria, by the so-called Islamic State has called galvanise

world leaders to taking decisive action.

They arrived today from 30 countries for a conference in Paris with a

rare unity of purpose - a US-brokered extremists that the

extremists of Islamic State must be uprooted from the Middle East. It

opened with a warning from Iraq. The victims of the occupation are

from all religions and ethnic groups, this terrorist organisation

has killed elderly, children, men and women. It aims to establish a

state which will represent a base for further action throughout the

Middle East and the world. That base is already half

established. This map shows the part of Iraqs and Syria now under control

of Islamic State. They have lost some ground in Iraq. In Syria it is

more complicated. A country torn apart by three years

of civil war, is seeing rebel fight rebel, with the Islamic State the

most powerful force, opposing the regime of President Assad. What will

dislodge them? US air strikes, launched from this carrier in the

Gulf, have driven back Islamic State fighters from Iraq's strategic

damns. RAFFor they dors have -- RAFFor they dors will be joined by

French jets. There is a general acceptance this will take a

concerted international effort on many levels.

It ignores borders and it even claims to establish a state. So,

this is a global threat and the response has to be a global

response. In the Islamic State capital, the

jihadists have had three months to consolidate their grip on power.

Hiding and then killing hostage after hostage. The latest to be

threatened with beheading is a Briton, Alan Henning - a taxi driver

from Salford, kidnapped while delivering aid to Syria's refugees.

Let's speak to our correspondent, who is in Paris. And what are

ministers there hoping to achieve? Well, I think the Americans in

particular have been working towards getting some specifics about what

different countries are able to contribute to this campaign. This

conference comes as part of a long negotiation over exactly that.

America has already got some ten Arab countries to sign up to this.

Some of whom have said they would be happy to carry out air strikes. It

is looking for countries to train and equip the Iraqi army to stop

fighters going to join Islamic State, to stop money being funnelled

to them. It is looking around to see which countries might be able to

help out with the political and the security aspects of this campaign.

You heard President Hollande there, openening the conference, saying

this is a global problem. Every country is involved in trying to

solve it, he said. Thank you very much.

With three days of campaigning left before Thursday's Scottish

independence vote, both sides are intensifying their battle to win

votes. The First Minister and Prime Minister are hitting the campaign

trail again. Jane Hill is in Edinburgh for you. Thank you very

much. Yes, welcome to Holyrood. A matter of days left for both sides

to persuade those crucial undecideds to join their camp. David Cameron

will be here in Scotland later. We think he will warn voters there'll

be no way back if they decide to leave the UK on Thursday. And then

this morning Alex Salmond was out and about meeting business leaders,

arguing a "yes" vote will help to grow Scotland's economy. This report

contains flash photography. The shipyards in the Clyde which

built the QE2 have shrunk in numbers and staff in recent years, now

dependant on Government contracts the former Defence Secretary told

workers a @yard in Glasgow that independence would lead to an

uncertain future. A "no" vote is to protect jobs. It is about skilled

jobs, as it has in the past. A vote yes for separation will put all

these jobs at risk. Defence jobs, engineering jobs. Jobs in ship

building in the Clyde. Apren ta siss here say Alex Salmond

will not meet them to discuss their concerns. The SNP said he did

discuss job prospects with the trade unions. In the final three days both

sides are trying to eliminate the negatives. Labour are trying to stop

the drift of their supporters towards a "yes" vote as a means of

kicking the Conservatives. Across the country Alex Salmond is trying

to sink the accusation that the "yes" campaign is anti-business. At

Edinburgh Airport he said that the warnings flying in from the banks

about independence were simply politically motivated. There are

only one or two who were gulled into the Prime Minister's scaremongering

campaign. This is the difference - these Scottish businesses have

substantial confidence for an independent Scotland. They see it

creating a more prosperous economy. He was meeting those who were

optimistic. Among them the director of Stage Coach. Later today David

Cameron will travel to Scotland to tell voters there's no going back

from independence. He knows it is possible he'll be the Prime Minister

who presided over the ending of a 300--year-old political union. He is

determined to do what he can to prevent it.

Well, let's talk to our assistant political editor Norman Smith, who

is waiting for David Cameron. Are we going to hear, presumably, Norman, a

familiar refrain from the Prime Minister? There are not going to be

any new announcements, no new arguments. What Mr Cameron will seek

to stress is this is a once in a lifetime vote. He will urge Scots

not to use it as an occasion to protest against austerity or the

coalition Government or the Conservatives, but to recognise this

vote lasts forever and is much bigger than any passing Government

or any particular policy. He also have more emotional language that we

saw last time, when he tried to make a positive case for the union rather

than going back to arguments about the economy and sterling and Europe.

Very lastly, expect him to mention one D Beckham - David Beckham - who

has come out and urged Scots to remain in the Union. How far the

support of an English football icon is probably a different point. When

we look at the people he's been surrounding himself with there in

Edinburgh, it takes us back to that old political adage, "it's the

economy, stupid." Alex Salmond very much trying to press the case for

the economic benefits for independence, saying it is

ridiculous to suggest that a country that was the home of Adam Smith

cannot run itself own economy and again repeating that criticism of

David Cameron for bullying businesses and banks to come out and

criticise Scotland's prospects if it chooses go alone. Alex Salmond

stepping into that controversy over whether the Queen yesterday was

signalling her support for the Union, when on her way out of church

she said to on lookers she hoped people would think very carefully

about the future. The SNP is saying that was referendum small talk. Mr

Salmond says she has been absolutely impartial and Buckingham Palace this

lunch time insisting that the Queen believes it is up to the Scottish

people and the Scottish people alone to decide this referendum.

Norman, thank you very much. Well, a quick remind erd that you

will find more on all the key development on the campaign on the

BBC website: From here in Edinburgh, Simon, back

to you. Thank you very much. Two British tourists have been killed in

Thailand. The bodies of the man and woman were discovered not far from

their beach hut. Our correspondent has just sent this

report. The bodies of a young man and woman were discovered on this

beach early this morning. Both were identified as British. Police

re-enforcements were brought in from the mainland to help with the

investigation. All boats were blocked from leaving the island. Koh

Tao lies in the gulf of Thailand. It is popular with divers and normally

quieter than better known neighbouring islands. The Foreign

Office issued a statement, saying:

Violent crime against tourists is relatively uncommon in Thailand, but

there have been a number of high-profile attacks at beach

resorts in recent years. This looks to be a particularly

gruesome attack on this island? Yes, the police have described some

horrifying injuries that were found. That I were fairly confident of

finding the culprits. They believe they have sealed the island off and

you can only get there by boat, quickly enough this morning, to have

stopped the perpetrators from getting away. At the moment, they

are going through the process of questioning the hotel where this man

and woman stayed and any people who saw them last night. It is believed

they may have taken part in a late-night party on the beach, just

before they were killed. Usually the police here do move

efficiently in dealing with these type of crimes. They are not

unknown. Although violent crime against tourists is rarely uncommon.

They are aware of the potential damage to the tourist industry. We

have seen a great deal of police attention, very quickly, on that

island this morning, trying to go through the small number. It is not

a well developed island of people staying there and see if they can

find the culprit. Thank you very much. More than 5, 500 jobs are at

risk at Phones 4U. It was put into administration last night after two

mobile networks it sells contracts for decided to end their

relationship with the retailer. Phones 4U were one of the stores you

went to for independent advice They grew rapidly, but suddenly

their future looks bleak. Customers arrived confused, but this

man said he was not surprised. I will just go down to one of the

other phone shops. It was the decisions by Vodafone followed by EE

to end their relationship with Phones 4U which tipped the company

over the edge. In a statement, the owners of Phones 4U attacked

Vodafone, saying... But Vodafone says it has been told it has little

flexibility come due to its debt repayment obligations. The

competition to sell these is getting ever more intense, and the profit

margins for the phone networks are getting slimmer. They have all got

their own shops on the high street, so they are not keen to share any

profits they do make with the likes of Phones 4U. It was Sir John

Caudwell who grew Phones 4U from one small Midlands dealership to a

national chain. In 2006, he sold it for ?1.5 billion to private

investors. It has been sold on again since, in the process, acquiring

plenty of debt. One major business figure says we will miss it. There

will definitely be a lack of competition if Phones 4U disappears.

The internet has caused the demise of many high retailers, like the

virgin Megastore is. Staff at the Staffordshire headquarters were

leaving with their possessions this morning. The administrators will now

try to find a buyer, but there is little optimism that these shops

will be back in the telephones business any time soon. With me now

is a Simon Gompertz. What about customers, some of whom will have

just got a new phone? Yes, the problem is this coincides with the

launch of the iPhone 6. A lot of people at the end of last week, tens

of thousands, I understand, will have ordered iPhone 6s through

Phones 4U and will be expecting them to turn up at the end of this week.

It does not look as though they will turn up. If anybody has ordered a

phone from the company, they are promising a refund on the upfront

payment you made, which could be hundreds of pounds. And then, once

it has not turned up, you have signed a contract, but it will not

be activated, so the monthly payments will not go out. What about

people who have already got a contract coverage? In fact, their

contract will be one of the other companies, not with Phones 4U, and

that will simply carry on. After a couple of years if you think you are

due an upgrade of your handset, that will still haven't happen, you just

get in touch with EE, for example. If you have put your phone in for

repair, then it is likely to centre back, but not to the shop, it will

come back to your address at no extra charge. It is unclear at the

moment about if you have subscribed for an insurance policy, but that

will become clear in the next couple of days.

A global threat - needing a global response.

President Hollande's warning about the so-called Islamic state

A site is chosen for Europe's space mission to land on a comet.

Later on BBC London - the biggest rail franchise on the network gets

up and running today, but will passengers notice the difference?

And the play preparing for its West End transfer.

An inquest into the deaths of six Britons and a

UK-based Colombian killed during a militant attack on a gas plant

In January last year, a group linked to al-Qaeda stormed

Algerian forces laid siege, and by the time they regained

control, 40 workers and at least 29 militants were dead.

The inquest's coroner stood down last week to be replaced

by a judge, after the Government said it might present

Our correspondent Andy Moore is at the court.

Simon, there was silence in court as the names of all 40 workers who were

killed were read out. There was emotion, there were tears, as loved

ones paid tribute to those people, including the seven British

residents who died. Wives, brothers, fathers, stood in front of

a picture of their loved one and paid tribute to them.

At dawn on January 16, 2013, gunfire erupted at this gas plant in the

Algerian desert. Heavily armed militants stormed the site. Dozens

of Western workers were seized. When the Algerian military eventually

recaptured it, many Western hostages were freed, but many others died.

There were fears gunfights, 29 militants were killed. This inquest

is likely to hear that at least one of the Britons was hit by a Algerian

gunfire. Relatives of the seven British residents will be among the

first to speak at this inquest. Many have said they still do not know how

their loved ones died. They are hoping to get answers. The crisis

began on the 16th of January, a Wednesday, when gunmen attacked the

sprawling Compaqs, taking hundreds hostage. The initial assault by

Algerian forces killed many, but many hostages escaped. On Saturday,

the final assault came, with 11 gunmen still in one corner, with

seven hostages. The man who masterminded the assault, Mokhtar

Belmokhtar, is still believed to be at large. The chaotic events which

happened in the Algerian desert in 19 months ago will now be the

subject of intense scrutiny. The original coroner stood down after

the British government said the inquest was likely to present

sensitive material. It is now being held before a High Court judge. The

wife of one man told how, in the confusion afterwards, his body was

placed in a mortuary with the terrorists. A lot of the relatives

spoke about the need to get truth and justice from this inquest, and

to hear from all of the parties concerned, including the British and

own cheery and garments. The wife of one man said she had been tortured I

not knowing. -- the British and Algerian governments.

A child cancer specialist has admitted a series of sexual assaults

Dr Myles Bradbury, who worked at Addenbrooke's Hospital

in Cambridge, pleaded guilty to 25 offences at Cambridge Crown Court.

Let's speak to our correspondent Jordan Davies.

What was the court told? Dr Myles Bradbury stared straight ahead today

as he pleaded guilty to 25 sexual offences on young boys in his care,

some as young as 11. These offences included sexual assault, voyeurism

and making over 16,000 indecent images. Dr Bradbury has been

released on bail, and as he walked past reporters today, he muttered, I

am sorry. He was a blood cancer specialist at Addenbrooke's Hospital

in Cambridge. He was suspended after a complaint was made about his

behaviour. Today, he pleaded guilty to 25 sexual offences. The judge

asked for a psychiatric evaluation. He said, the court will wish to

understand how this pattern of behaviour has developed. Dr Myles

Bradbury will have to sign the sex offenders register. He will be

sentenced at a later date. Now we're often being told to make

sure we have one - but it seems that half of all adults

between the age of 18 and 60 still don't have a pension - with millions

saying they simply can't afford it. That's according to

a survey commissioned for the It also found that one in five

adults don't trust pension firms. We are on a trip to the seaside, and

where better to start than a pensioners' pub? Our survey

suggested around half British workers do not have a pension, and

four out of ten say it is because they cannot afford it. People like

Adam, a trainee hair colour technician, one ?500 a month. Saving

up for a pension, putting money aside each month, just is not

feasible. Our study asked people why they had not taken out a pension.

11% said they would rather have the money today. Katie is 26 and on the

minimum wage, as a carer. I am still doing my studying, so it is not

beneficial to me to pay into a pension at the moment. The

Government is trying to change that with auto enrolment, but they have

got a job on their hands, because one in five of us do not trust

pension companies. We have got to get millions of people into a

pension at all, and then we have got to build on the basic minimum level.

8% of your celery, for most people, will not get you a comfortable

retirement. One in five people survey said they were investing in

something other than a pension. This mobile delicatessen owner explained

that he has opted for a buy to let. I am so employed. I do events and

weddings and things. I do not think the return that you will get will be

valid, from a pension. In Southampton there is a really high

student population, and it is right in the centre of town, it is a

wicked location, it is always going to rent, no matter what. As we go

down the promenade, time for some words of warning about what the

future could hold. Younger people will know that when they get to

retirement, the state pension is going to be around ?20 a day. Now,

if you think you will be happy living on ?20 a day for the rest of

your life, when you have reached retirement, fine, do not do

anything. But if you think you might want more, to have a decent

lifestyle, then unless you do some saving now, you will not have any

money coming in from that pension later. Taking the plunge and putting

money into a pension plan might not be everyone's choice, but one thing

is for certain - when it comes to keeping our heads above water, when

we retire, we will all have to plan ahead.

Viewers in England can see that report in

full on Inside Out tonight at 7.30, here on BBC One.

Europe's Rosetta space mission, which aims to land

on a comet later this year, has identified what it thinks is

The ice mountain known as 67P is highly irregular in shape, with deep

Scientists say they have found a relatively smooth region,

but are under no illusions how difficult the task will be.

Our science correspondent Pallab Ghosh has the details.

Oddly-shaped, cratered and craggy, the comet that the Rosetta

spacecraft will land a probe on in just a few weeks time.

These close-up pictures show that its surface has jagged cliffs

and rather than having a flat surface on which to land,

Many areas are strewn with boulders, they look like small grains of rice,

Later this morning, the Rosetta team will announce where

on this inhospitable surface it plans to set down.

The area chosen is relatively flat and fairly free of boulders, but

still precarious. There are some cliffs and boulders, and in the end,

this turned out to be the best place, but even here, as you can

see, the risk is high. Even if the lander, called Philae,

does set down safely, there is little gravity on the comet, so what

is to stop it from flying off? The idea is that once Philae lands

on the surface, it will fire it into the surface

and latch onto the comet. This is the latest photograph

taken by Rosetta. This comic is a small body, we have

only just seen over the last two weeks images of where we are going

to land, and we have had to make all of the calculations so quickly. So

this is the most difficult thing that space scientists have ever

tried to do. This is the latest photograph

taken by Rosetta. Its solar wing glistening

in the sunlight and the comet Pallab Ghosh, BBC News. Prince Harry

turns 30 today, making him eligible for an estimated ?10 million from

his late mother's estate. He thanked everyone who helped to put together

the Invictus Games, then started his birthday celebrations at the closing

ceremony. Time for a look at the weather,

with Nina Ridge. It was a rather grey, murky start,

once again, but things are brightening up nicely. On the

satellite picture, you can see the clearer skies. But there is thick

cloud further north and east. There is some rain across north-east

England and Scotland. There has been a week feature which has been moving

through the North Sea, causing this. That will stay for the rest of the

day across north-east England and parts of Scotland. The north-west

corner is getting some sunshine as well. Temperatures here reaching

around 15. A little bit cloudy through the afternoon for Northern

Ireland, where there is the risk of the odd shower. Heading south, a

better chance of seeing some brighter skies, with some sunshine

breaking through. That might just trigger the odd shower. Not too many

expected across southern parts of Wales and southern England. Through

this evening and overnight tonight, we have still got this area of cloud

and rain which is moving through Scotland, heading up into the

Northern Isles. Elsewhere, tonight should be mainly dry. It could be

turning quite misty and murky. Another grey start to Tuesday

morning. So, fairly overcast first thing tomorrow morning. Come the

afternoon, we will see the skies brightening up, with some sunshine

breaking through. More likely to stay cooler and more cloudy towards

the north-east. With that afternoon sunshine comes the small risk of a

shower. Around the middle part of the week, it will stay fairly cool

to the north-east, but some warmth arriving for southern and western

areas, a little bit humid as well. That will bring it the risk of some

potentially thundery showers on Wednesday afternoon. Always staying

more cool and cloudy towards the north-east of the UK.

Now a reminder of our top story this lunchtime...

A global threat, needing a global response.

President Hollande's warning about the so-called Islamic State

That's all from us - now on BBC One, it's time