BBC World Service News 05:00 GMT Monday 16th May 2011

BBC World Service News
05:00 GMT Monday 16th May 2011
Newsreader: Jonathan Izard.

A court appearance in New York by the head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been postponed for a day. Lawyers for Mr. Strauss-Kahn, who’s accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid, say he’s agreed to a physical examination. From New York, Laura Trevelyan reports: (TAPE)
Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been seen in public for the first time since he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. He was taken away from a Harlem police station in handcuffs. Mr.Strauss-Kahn still hasn’t appeared in front of a judge and formally entered a plea. The delay is due to investigators asking for a warrant to check the IMF Chief’s body for scratches. When the IMF Chief does finally appear in court, the judge must decide whether or not to grant him bail. Mr.Strauss-Kahn is expected to plead not guilty to the charges against him.(LIVE)

European Union finance ministers are meeting in Brussels later today to discuss the debt crisis threatening the Eurozone. They will do so without Mr.Strauss-Kahn, who was instrumental in securing IMF support for the struggling Eurozone economies. More from Chris Morris in Brussels: (TAPE) Another full agenda for European finance ministers in rather extraordinary circumstances. They’re likely to approve the terms of a bail-out for Portugal worth €78 billion. And they’ll discuss what to do about Greece, where it now seems that last year’s even larger bail-out hasn’t been enough. Final decisions won’t be made before a team from the EU and the IMF submit their latest assessment of Greek austerity and reform measures. But the realization that one way or another Greece needs further support is furrowing brows in many European capitals. (LIVE)

Libya has poured scorn on an attempt by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court later today to seek approval for the arrest of three top Libyan officials, including Colonel Gaddafi, for crimes against humanity. Libya’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim said ICC practices were questionable, and were designed for prosecuting African politicians. (TAPE) “This is from history. We can see all the indicted figures and persons, they are from Africa. And the target now for another African, they will be targeted by ICC. So this is for the African Union for agreement. It’s decision was taken last year to withdraw from the ICC.”  (LIVE) The ICC arrest warrants are thought to include Colonel Gaddafi’s intelligence chief Abdallah al-Sanusi, and his son, Saif al-Islam. The Libyan Government says it will ignore the Court, pointing out that like the United States, it has not signed up to it.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned against further protests on Israel’s borders, following violence on Sunday which left at least twelve people dead. He said Israel was determined to defend it’s sovereignty. Tens of thousands of Palestinians and their supporters marched towards Israel from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

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Peterborough Development Partnership – Who are They?

07:22 Friday 13th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: You came on to talk about the old PDH site on Thorpe Road.
STEWART JACKSON: Yes I’ve got worries, because although the Council has looked at the site, and produced a supplementary planning document, I am very concerned that there might be a move to go for a monopoly developer on the site, instead of what could be achieved. It’s a very prestigious site. You’ll remember, the last big prestigious site was actually turned over to a prison, about six, seven years ago. It could be the key to the aspirational regeneration of Peterborough. And it’s crucially important, I think, that we, the Hospital, gets the best independent advice. They’ve had advice from King Sturge, I believe, the Trust. I’d like to know what they’ve actually provided, and what they’ve done for their fee, for the Trust.
PAUL STAINTON: Who are these people? Continue reading “Peterborough Development Partnership – Who are They?”

The Whittle Shop in Whittlesford

08:24 Thursday 12th May 2011
Mid-Morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: With Tesco getting the final go-ahead to open an Extra store in Great Shelford, some local people have voiced concerns that this will hit other local shops in the village very hard. At the same time, a village shop in neighbouring Whittlesford has just been reopened by Paul and Beverley Matthews, who’ve been running Falkner Stores in nearby Sawston for 25 years. So we wondered what goes to make a successful local shop. With this in mind, our reporter Suzi Roberts pumped along to Whittlesford to find out. (TAPE) Continue reading “The Whittle Shop in Whittlesford”

Marco Cereste and the Takeover of Peterborough

This website started out in January 2010 with the intention of looking at how the BBC covered issues in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.

It quickly became caught up in the furore surrounding Peterborough City Council’s spending on consultants, an issue which has dragged on ever since, and is still dragging on, due to the resistance encountered on the part of Council to disclose the full facts. Continue reading “Marco Cereste and the Takeover of Peterborough”

School Places and Broken Promises

08:13 Tuesday 10th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: 14% of parents didn’t get their first choice primary school for their child in Peterborough. 95% of Peterborough schoolchildren will be going though to one of their 3 preferred primary schools, from September 2011. Earlier we spoke to Cabinet Member for Education Councillor John Holdich. He admitted to us there was a shortage of school places in Peterborough. Well the new councillor for Ravensthorpe Ed Murphy has been in touch. He says a lack of school places is a big problem in his ward, and the West ward. Ed Murphy is on the line now. Morning Ed.
ED MURPHY: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: When you say a big problem, can you quantify that for us? Continue reading “School Places and Broken Promises”

The BBC Department of Coincidences

Monday 9th May 2011

Co-incidence Part One: Just last week, Marco Cereste, Leader of Peterborough City Council, gained re-election to Stanground Central in a closely fought contest, after the surprise collapse of the Labour candidate in this debate.

Co-incidence Part Two: Today BBC Cambridgeshire is awash with stories about how Peterborough is failing to cope with the terrible problems it’s having with litter, waste and recycling. See this and this.

Co-incidence Part Three: Marco Cereste Leader of Peterborough City Council, of his many accomplishments, is Chairman of PREL, which has controversial plans to build a giant incinerator on land in Fengate, and another giant incinerator at Sutton Bridge.

PS folks: Don’t forget to renew that licence fee.

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Litter, Human Nature and False Economies

09:20 Monday 9th May 2011
Mid-Morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Now along with our many other subjects, we are talking rubbish this morning, particularly the state of Peterborough’s Cathedral Square, which has been slated. Also there’s a rise of fly-tipping in the city, and that’s being blamed on the cancelling of bulk waste removal service. Well a one man campaign almost, over the years that I’ve been presenting this programme, has been waged by Roger Hughes, to try and keep Peterborough tidy. And over the years he has sent me photographs of fly-tipping, and some of the sites in the centre of Peterborough. And today is no exception. Roger, good morning to you.
ROGER HUGHES: Good morning Andy. How are you?
ANDY HARPER: I’m good thank you very much. Tell us then about the state of Cathedral Square. Lots of criticism. Continue reading “Litter, Human Nature and False Economies”