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Hundreds of police storm Ukranian protest camp in Kiev
Hundreds of police have stormed a protest camp in the Ukrainian capital, clashing with protesters as they tried to dismantle barricades.
Protesters shouted "Shame!" and "We will stand!" and sang the Ukrainian national anthem.
The storming of the camp at Independence Square came despite a visit by two senior Western diplomats to try to defuse a week-long stand-off between the opposition and president Viktor Yanukovych.
The police tried to dismantle barricades surrounding the camp but then moved back after resistance from protesters.The police took up positions on the perimeters of the camp, then began clashing with demonstrators and trying again to dismantle the barricades.
The confrontation at the protest camp unfolded as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and US assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland were in the city to try to talk to the government and the opposition and work out a solution.
Government dementia pledge 'sets good example'
Industry experts praised David Cameron's plans to double funding into dementia research, with one charity hoping it would "set a good example" across the international community.
Chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, Hilary Evans
– Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, Hilary EvansWe boast some of the world's leading scientists in dementia, and these announcements are a clear backing of their crucial work - this support must continue.
We hope this package of announcements will set a good example to other G8 nations to galvanise international research efforts.
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RSPCA's anti-badger cull advert is banned
An RSPCA advert suggesting that badgers in cull areas would be "exterminated" has been banned following 119 complaints.
The ad featured an image of a syringe and bullet at the top of the page with a headline reading "Vaccinate or exterminate?" before text continued: "The UK government wants to shoot England's badgers. We want to vaccinate them - and save their lives."
Conservative MP Simon Hart, the Farmers' Union of Wales, Welsh Conservative AM Antoinette Sandbach and 116 members of the public complained about the ad, with most saying the term "exterminate" was inaccurate and alarmist.
The RSPCA said the word "exterminate" was used carefully and deliberately, saying it had "a literal meaning of total eradication and a common use meaning of killing on a massive scale".
The Advertising Standards Agency said: "...Consumers were likely to interpret the claim, along with the text 'The UK government wants to shoot England's badgers', to mean that all badgers would be eradicated in the cull areas. On that basis, we concluded the claim was likely to mislead."
It ruled that the ad must not appear again in its current form.
'Small percentage' of Comic Relief cash in arms trade
Comic Relief chief executive Kevin Cahill, speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, accepted that Comic Relief had a "small percentage" of cash in areas such as tobacco and arms firms through managed funds.
"There's no more than 5 percent of our funds in those particular areas," he said.
After being told ethical funds had outperformed FTSE 100 companies index over recent periods, he said: "Our trustees were acting in good faith in what they were doing.
"It's very good to hear that, in fact, the potential exists within ethical funds to match the return because Comic Relief would clearly choose to be in those if the return was equal or better to where we currently are so it's a no brainer for us to be in those funds."
Funding details expected in Cameron's G8 speech
The Prime Minister is expected to announce plans to double Government funding of dementia research in his keynote speech at the first G8 dementia summit later today.
David Cameron also wants to see a similar level of investment from the private and charitable sectors.
- Government investment will double from £66 million to £122 million in 2025.
- A newly established UK Dementia Platform will allow different research teams across the country to share data in order to increase the scale and scope of their work.
- The Medical Research Council is channelling £50 million into dementia research over the next five years.
Comic Relief has avoided ethical investment screening
Comic Relief - which has been criticised for its dealings with the tobacco and arms industries - has avoided a policy of ethical screening for its investments because the charity says it does not want to limit the amount of money it raises.
BBC Panorama highlighted that Comic Relief had £630,000 in shares in BAE Systems, a leading weapons manufacturer, in 2009 despite having a mission statement which talks of a commitment to help "people affected by conflict".
The charity has also given money to help the fight against tuberculosis but had £3 million of its money wrapped up in tobacco companies in the same year, even though smoking is said to be a contributory factor in many TB cases.
And although it aims to reduce alcohol misuse and its spin-off effects, the charity had £300,000 invested in the drinks industry in 2009. Panorama said Comic Relief refused to reveal its current investments.
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PM expected to unveil dementia research package
The Prime Minister is expected to agree to measures designed to boost research into dementia, such as international information-sharing, in a speech at a G8 summit later today.
Britain is hosting the international dementia summit in which David Cameron will give the keynote address.
He is expected to stress the importance of achieving scientific breakthroughs in order to slow down, or even prevent, the onset of the debilitating brain condition, now believed to afflict 36 million people around the world.
The Conservative leader will also focus on the role life sciences plays in the British economy, with GSK announcing £200 million of investment at its manufacturing plants at Ware, Hertfordshire, and Worthing, Sussex, and UCB announcing a further £3 million.
Read more: Dementia replaces cancer as disease people fear most
Comic Relief to conduct 'full review' of investments
Comic Relief is to conduct a "full review" of its investment policy after the charity was criticised for its dealings with the tobacco and arms industries.
A BBC Panorama programme screened last night highlighted the money that the charity has tied up in some areas which appear to run counter to its aims because it does not exercise any sort of ethical screening on its investments.
But chief executive Kevin Cahill said that it will look again at where it puts its funds in order to do "the right thing".
BBC1's documentary claims Comic Relief could have generated more cash from shrewd investments in "ethical" funds.
The charity, which generates huge publicity for its activities with star-studded programmes screened by the BBC, has avoided a policy of ethical screening for its investments because it says it does not want to limit the amount of money it raises.
Uruguay votes to legalise marijuana trade
Uruguay has become the first country to legalise the growing, sale and smoking of marijuana.
A government-sponsored bill approved by 16-13 votes in the Senate provides for regulation of the cultivation, distribution and consumption of marijuana and is aimed at wresting the business from criminals in the small South American nation.
Cannabis consumers will be able to buy a maximum of 40 grams (1.4 ounces) each month from licensed pharmacies, as long as they are Uruguayan residents over the age of 18 and registered on a government database that will monitor their purchases.
When the law is implemented in 120 days, Uruguayans will be able to grow six marijuana plants in their homes a year, or as much as 480 grams (about 17 ounces), and form smoking clubs of 15 to 45 members that can grow up to 99 plants per year.
Registered drug users should be able to start buying marijuana over the counter from licensed pharmacies in April.
Previously the use of marijuana was legal in Uruguay but the cultivation and selling the drug was not.
Queen's speech reigns over Christmas TV screens
Her Majesty beat off competition from Coronation Street and Downton Abbey to top of a poll of the nation's favourite Christmas viewing.
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