Newslip Episode 6 15.02.09

Welcome to Newslip. I'm Wesley Gerrard and today's date is Sunday, 15th February 2009.

Lloyds bank has announced it will be paying staff £120 million in bonuses despite its parent company HBOS recording £11 billion losses. Lloyds is already 43% owned by the taxpayer and said that its employees deserved "financial recognition" for hitting targets. The government has said that it has no plans to nationalise the ailing bank.

A controversial right-wing Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, has been banned from entering the UK on the grounds that he could be a threat to public order. Mr Wilders was turned away by airport immigration officials after he arrived to give a showing of his film, Fitna, at the House of Lords. He has incensed Muslims by describing the Koran as 'a fascist book'. The Dutch politician declared that it reflected on Britain's democratic system that they did not allow entry to a democratically elected politician.

On Saturday, newly elected American president, Barak Obama, said that the newly passed 787 billion dollar stimulus plan was a "major milestone on our road to recovery." He went on to say "It will save or create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, ignite spending by business and consumers alike, and lay a new foundation for our lasting economic growth and prosperity," In addition to the cash, the US plans state employment projects akin to those of Roosevelt's 1930s New Deal.

Nine men were arrested in a counter-terrorism operation after being stopped on a motorway by anti-terror police. The men were travelling on the M65, near Preston, Lancashire when they were arrested on Friday night in a joint operation by Lancashire Constabulary and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit. Six of the men were later released without charge, while three men, aged 26, 29 and 36, remained in custody.

Fifty people have died after a US plane crashed into a house on its way to a runway at Buffalo airport, New York State. Analysis of the flight's recorders show that there was a significant build up of ice on the wings leading up to the crash. While it was supposed to land on a southwest runway the plane crashed into the house when facing northeast. After Thursday's crash it was believed to be necessary for a few days to recover all the bodies from the wreckage.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has announced that in the 50 poorest countries of the world, the price of their drugs will be capped at a maximum of 25% of their value in the developed world. In another move to extend healthcare help to the developing world GSK vowed to share patents, allowing for development of cheaper versions of drugs essential for treatment of diseases in poverty-stricken areas of the world.

Police in Italy have warned of a trend in which criminals have diverted their communications activities to web-based phone service, Skype, in order to avoid mobile phone taps. Skype has refused to share the secrets of its data encryption with authorities, making its telephone service secure. Officers in Milan overheard a criminal conversation in which a cocaine traffiker suggests switching to skype in order for consignment details to be given.

The Public relations firm representing the Californian woman who gave birth to octuplets in January has stepped down after it received a series of death threats. Nadya Suleman, the single mother of the octuplets, has fourteen children, all conceived by IVF treatment. Her hiring of a PR firm backfired when public opinion turned when it materialised that Miss Suleman was dependent on state aid.

A right-wing group in India has targeted women for drinking in bars, violently assaulting them. A facebook group has been formed for sympathisers of the women and for Valentine's day it arranged for thousands of pairs of pink women's knickers to be sent to the offices of Sri Ram Sena, the group responsible for the attacks. A more direct form of protest has been arranged with women being encouraged to walk to the nearest pub for a quick drink.

And Newslip's top story this week...

The Australian bush fires that began raging last week have left a total of 181 people dead. A 39 year old man has been charged with lighting one of the fires which killed 21 people. More than 150 actors, sports stars, politicians and musicians have taken part in a fundraising telethon for victims of the mass fires. Memorial services have been held across the country.

That's all for now. Thanks for tuning in and see you all next week. Goodbye.