China's execution of Akmal Shaikh enrages Britain

Gordon Brown, ministers and the opposition condemn regime's treatment of Briton said to have been mentally ill

Gordon Brown and other senior British politicians have angrily condemned China for executing a British man said to have had mental problems. Akmal Shaikh, 53, was killed early this morning by lethal injection after being convicted of drug smuggling.

Despite frantic appeals by the Foreign Office for clemency, Shaikh was executed at 10.30am local time (2.30am British time) in Urumqi. Campaigners believe he is the first European in 58 years put to death in China.

Shaikh, a father of three from Kentish Town, north London, was found with 4kg of heroin in his suitcase in September 2007. His supporters say he had suffered a breakdown, was delusional and was tricked into carrying the drugs.

Britain is not planning any retaliation beyond criticism. The Chinese ambassador to London, Fu Ying, was summoned to the Foreign Office to hear first-hand the government's anger. The Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis was to protest about the execution and the Chinese government's related decision to cancel an annual meeting between the two countries, scheduled for January in Beijing, where they were due to discuss China's human rights record.

Lewis said: "China cannot expect to receive the respect they yearn from the international community until they abide by minimum standards of human rights. Engagement with China is non-negotiable and any alternative strategy is simply not credible. But by being so clear in our public criticism of China's handling of this case we are demonstrating that it is not business as usual."

British ministers have been struck by the apparent near-universal support for the execution within China. David Miliband, the foreign secretary, writing on his blog, said: "We have said many times we welcome the economic rise of China and believe its integration into the world system is one of the great opportunities of the 21st century, not just one of the challenges. Events like those of today will only fuel the argument of those who say this is an impossible dream and that the value systems are just too different.

"I don't believe that. But it is a reminder of how different can be our perspective. We need to understand China (and the massive public support for the execution). They need to understand us."

Shaikh learned only yesterday that he would be killed today. He was informed by two cousins who had flown to China seeking a reprieve.

"We are deeply saddened, stunned and disappointed at the news of the execution of our beloved cousin Akmal," said Soohail and Nasir Shaikh in a statement.

The two men said they were "astonished" that the Chinese authorities refused to investigate their cousin's mental health on the grounds that the defendant ought to have provided evidence of his own fragile state of mind.

"We find it ludicrous that any mentally ill person should be expected to provide this, especially when this was apparently bipolar disorder, in which we understand the sufferer has a distorted view of the world, including his own condition."

Amid an angry exchange of words between London and Beijing, the British prime minister said: "I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted. I am particularly concerned that no mental health assessment was undertaken. At this time our thoughts are with Mr Shaikh's family and friends and I send them our sincere condolences."

Brown had raised the case on several occasions, including during a meeting with the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, at the Copenhagen summit and in a personal message in the past few days.

While British ministers have been careful not to promise any retaliation against the Chinese government, their statements demonstrate their anger at what they regard as Beijing's refusal to recognise Shaikh's basic human rights.

In Beijing the Chinese government said it resisted any interference in its judicial affairs. "We express strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the British reaction," said Jiang Yu, a foreign ministry spokeswoman. "We hope the British side will face this case squarely and not put new obstacles in the way of relations between Britain and China."

Chinese judges and lawyers receive instructions from the Communist party on their handling of political cases, but Jiang claimed the country's courts were independent. "China judicial independence brooks no interference." China treated citizens of all nations as equals in dealing with drug-related crime, said Jiang.

The Chinese embassy in London insisted "Shaikh's rights and interests were properly respected and guaranteed" and disputed British claims about his condition. "The concerns of the British side were duly noted and taken into consideration by the Chinese judicial authorities.

"Out of humanitarian consideration visas were granted to the two cousins of Mr Shaikh on Boxing Day and they were given access to meeting Mr Shaikh in China. As for his possible mental illness which has been much talked about, there apparently has been no previous medical record."

China executes three times as many people as the rest of the world's official executions put together ? at least 1,718 in 2008 according to Amnesty International, although the real figure is likely to be much higher.

China has assured British officials that they have gone further than they do with other countries' prisoners to give advance warning of the execution, around three or four days, and allow the family access. Shaikh's cousins were allowed to see him for an hour and a half.

One senior figure closely involved with the case said China's reluctance to give ground was because many of those executed by the state were likely to have mental health problems and that Shaikh was "the tip of the iceberg".

Britain believes China is keen to move on from this case quickly but senior figures say it will inevitably colour dealings between the two countries for some time.

Sally Rowen, the legal director of the human rights group Reprieve, said: "The death of Akmal Shaikh is a sad indictment of today's world, and particularly of China's legal system. ... We at Reprieve are sickened by what we have seen during our work on this case."

Lewis told Radio 4's Today programme this morning: "It's a deeply depressing day for anyone with a modicum of compassion or commitment to justice in Britain and throughout the world."

He said it was "reprehensible" and "entirely unacceptable" that the execution had gone ahead without any medical assessment. "This execution makes me personally feel sick to the stomach but I'm not going to make idle threats.

"This morning is not the time for a kneejerk reaction. It's true we must continue to engage with China but it needs to be clear as that country plays a greater role in the world they have to understand their responsibility to adhere to the most basic standards of human rights. China will only be fully respected when and if they make the choice to join the human rights mainstream and incidents like this do not help the international community's respect or relationship with China."

Lewis said that there had been 27 ministerial representations to China about Shaikh's case in the last two years. Despite the increased international dialogue with China "all of those representations have been in vain and this is a very very different view of what constitutes universal human rights".

"Clearly Mr Shaikh has mental health problems. And whilst we differ with China anyway on the issue of the death penalty ... the biggest single issue here that causes us so much consternation is that they refused to even do a medical assessment knowing that there was evidence of mental health problems; that is what is unacceptable.

"In the context of a working relationship, a constructive positive relationship ... we expect our partners to behave differently and behave better."

Chinese media have yet to report the execution, but the state-run news agency Xinhua carried a statement by the supreme court defending its judgment. "The evidence was certain and the facts were clear," it said.

The court defended its decision to refuse UK requests for a mental examination. "There is no reason to cast doubt on Akmal Shaikh's mental status," it said.

Legal activists disputed the assertion that the government could not intervene in the court system. "China's judiciary is not independent, it is totally controlled by the government," said the civil rights lawyer Teng Biao.

"This case shows the hardline stance of the government. China now can ignore pressure from international society and won't compromise even a little on the issue of human rights."

Shaikh's lawyer for the supreme court review, Zhang Qingsong, said he was not allowed to meet his client.

Following vocal British criticism of China's stalling tactics at the Copenhagen climate conference this month, the rhetorical relations between the two nations have arguably hit a low not seen since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. But experts said the long-term impact would be small.

"The two sides are just posturing for their own citizens," said Wu Qiang of Tsinghua University. "Akmal Shaikh is only an isolated case. Unless the UK raises the issue to the EU level I don't think there will be big influence on relations."

The execution delighted China's nationalists. Online comment was overwhelmingingly favourable.

"Well done! The man deserves the death sentence. China has finally shown it can be tough in front of foreigners," noted a post under a TV clip about the news.

On the website ifeng.com, Chahu18 wrote: "I can't believe the British government condemned this action ... Do they support drug smuggling? Britons, you think it is still 1840 when you could use opium to harm Chinese people? I am with Chinese government this time!"

Reprieve said it had medical evidence that Shaikh believed he was going to China in 2007 to record a hit single that would usher in world peace. It said he was duped into carrying a suitcase packed with heroin on a flight from Tajikistan to Urumqi.

Reprieve said the last European to be executed in China was an Italian, Antonio Riva, who was shot by a firing squad in 1951, along with a Japanese man, Ruichi Yamaguchi, after being convicted of involvement in what China alleged was an American plot to assassinate Mao Zedong and other high-ranking Communist officials.

Shaikh's family thanked Brown, Miliband and other British ministers for their efforts and asked the media for "space to grieve".

Obama to take fight to terrorists

President orders new measures amid inquest over huge lapse of security

Barack Obama yesterday said the US would "not rest" until it has called to account those behind the attempted suicide bombing of a transatlantic flight over Detroit on Christmas Day.

The president said he has ordered new security measures and a review of the failings that allowed a Nigerian Muslim, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to carry explosives onto a US-bound flight.

But Obama added that America would do more than put up additional defences; he had directed his national security officials to "keep up the pressure on those who would attack our country".

"Those who would slaughter innocent men, women and children must know that the United States will do more than simply strengthen our defences," he said. "We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle and to defeat the violent extremists who threaten us, whether they are from Afghanistan or Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia; or anywhere where they are plotting attacks against the US homeland."

The president, speaking publicly for the first time since the failed attack, said he had ordered enhanced security screening and added more federal air marshalls to international flights. He also ordered a review of the watch list of known and suspected terrorists to review whether it is effective and, more specifically, how it was that Abdulmutallab could board a flight to Detroit even though his own father had reported him to American consular officials in Nigeria as a security risk.

Obama's comments came after Al-Qaida in the Arabian peninsula said it was behind the failed bombing. A statement posted on a website said the attack was in retaliation for recent raids on its militants in Yemen which it said had been carried out by US jets and had caused civilian deaths.

"We tell the American people that since you support the leaders who kill our women and children ... we have come to slaughter you (and) will strike you with no previous (warning); our vengeance is near," the statement said.

According to ABC news Abdulmutallab has told his interrogators he had been one of many and there were more "just like him" being trained to attack the west.

Last night ABC released a picture of Abdulmutallab's burned underwear, said to contain traces of explosives.

British officials expressed fears that a number of Britons had travelled to Yemen to train at secret terrorist camps. Senior UK counter-terrorism officials said MI5 was aware of several nationals and British residents who had trained in Yemen's "ungoverned spaces" in the past year.

The US homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, yesterday sought to head off accusations of complacency by acknowledging that security and intelligence failures allowed Abdulmutallab to come close to blowing up the Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit.

She conceded that despite billions of dollars spent on aviation security over the past decade, the US system failed to respond to alerts about Abdulmutallab, and failed to stop him getting any further when airport security in Nigeria and Amsterdam did not detect his bomb.

"Our system did not work in this instance," she told reporters. "No one is happy or satisfied with that. An extensive review is under way." On Sunday, Napolitano had come in for heavy criticism after saying that "the [US side of the] system has worked really very, very smoothly over the course of the past several days".

Republican members of Congress questioned why US officials had failed to follow up warnings from Abdulmutallab's father, Umaru Mutallab, that his son was potentially dangerous.

Peter King, the top Republican on the House of Representatives homeland security committee, said airport security "failed in every respect".

Susan Collins, another senior Republican, demanded to know why the attempted bomber's US visa was not revoked after the warning from his father.

After Mutallab, a banker and former cabinet minister, alerted the US embassy in Abuja about his son's views, Abdulmutallab's file was marked for attention should he apply for another visa. But consular officials did not revoke the two-year multiple entry visa issued at the US embassy in London in 2008. He was added to the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (Tide) watch list, which contains 550,000 names. But he was not put on the much shorter no-fly list.

Abdulmutallab has been charged with attempting to blow up an airliner, a crime with a maximum of 20 years in prison, but is likely to face additional charges. A court hearing on a request to obtain DNA samples from Abdulmutallab was postponed until 8 January. No reason was given.

He is now in prison after being released from a hospital near Detroit after treatment for burns to his leg which he suffered when part of his bomb ignited.

Although some security measures have been strengthened, the authorities have relaxed orders to prevent passengers from having blankets or personal possessions on their laps during the last hour of a flight to the US, and to disable electronic maps that tracked the flight path on in-seat television screens; these, and some other restrictions, will now be a matter for individual airlines to decide.

Iran arrests activists' relatives

Nobel laureate's sister held as UK ambassador is called to foreign ministry over alleged western support for protesters

Authorities in Iran intensified their drive to snuff out the opposition movement overnight by arresting the relatives of prominent activists, including the sister of the Nobel laureate and human rights campaigner Shirin Ebadi.

The arrests came as the Iranian foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador in Tehran, Simon Gass, to complain that western countries, including Britain, had fomented renewed protests on Sunday that left at least eight people dead.

Ebadi ? winner of the 2003 Nobel peace prize ? said her sister, Dr Noushin Ebadi, a lecturer in medicine at Tehran Azad university, was arrested at her home last night by four intelligence agents. She was taken to an unknown location. Shirin Ebadi, who is currently in London, said the arrest was intended to pressure her into giving up her human rights work.

"During the past two months, [my sister] has been summoned by the intelligence ministry several times and ordered to persuade me to stop my human rights activities," Ebadi said in a statement posted on the reformist website Rah-e Sabz. "She was also ordered to vacate her home, which adjoins my apartment. She was threatened that if she failed to comply with these two demands, she would be arrested."

The arrest coincided with the detentions of relatives of other prominent figures, including Shapour Kazemi, brother-in-law of the reformist leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Leila Tavassoli, niece of the former foreign minister Ebrahim Yazdi, who has also been detained. It was the second time Kazemi, the brother of Mousavi's wife, Zahra Rahnavard, has been arrested since June's disputed presidential election.

The latest detention came after Mousavi's nephew, Ali Mousavi Khamane, was killed on Sunday in what his family allege was an assassination by security forces. At least 20 prominent figures, including journalists, have been arrested since Sunday's clashes, which took place on the Shia holy day of Ashura.

The Islamic regime insists that the protests ? which occurred in cities all over Iran ? were backed by western governments. A foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mahmanparast, said the unrest was the work of a "tiny minority" and added: "Some western countries are supporting these activities. This is intervention in our internal affairs. We strongly condemn it. In this regard, the British ambassador will be summoned today."

His remarks came after several western countries condemned Sunday's crackdown, which apparently included orders to security forces to open fire. Britain's foreign secretary, David Miliband, said: "The tragic deaths of protesters in Iran are yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protests.

"Ordinary Iranian citizens are determined to exercise their right to have their voices heard. They are showing great courage."

Ali Larijani, speaker of Iran's parliament, seized on foreign expressions of support to accuse the protesters of a pro-western agenda. "The praise ? will damage your reputation and clarifies the motives of this anti-religious group," he told state radio.

British ship 'seized by Somali pirates'

Reports say vessel called St James Park captured in the Gulf of Aden en route to Thailand from Spain

A UK-flagged chemical tanker has been hijacked by Somali pirates, according to reports.

The reports said the vessel, the St James Park, was captured in the Gulf of Aden while on its way to Thailand from Spain and had since changed course for Somalia.

Nigel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting centre said the tanker issued a distress signal late yesterday after being attacked by pirates.

He said the IMB failed to establish communication with the ship but was told by its owner that it had been hijacked.

The St James Park is the first merchant ship seized in the area in more than six months.

Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Programme told the AFP news agency that the ship was believed to be travelling towards the northern coast of Somalia. "It is expected to arrive there later this evening," he said.

The last time a British vessel was captured by Somali pirates was on 23 October when Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized with their yacht off the east coast of Africa.

The couple remain in captivity in Somalia despite a reported deal this month to pay the pirates £100,000 in exchange for their release.

Nick Davis, the chairman of the anti-piracy Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre, said on 5 December that he had arranged the deal, only for the Foreign Office to reject it, saying it would not allow payments to hostage-takers. The pirates' original demand was for $7m (£4.2m).

Frequent piracy has made the waters of the Indian and South Atlantic oceans increasingly dangerous.

The IMB's piracy reporting centre has reported five attacks in the last 10 days.

Many attacks are carried out by well-armed Somali pirates, often dressed in military fatigues and using satellite phones, GPS equipment, automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and grenades.

It is estimated more than 1,200 Somalis are involved in piracy.

Recently they have started to stray further from their traditional hunting grounds, possibly as a result of increased patrols by warships off the coast of Somalia.

This month it was reported a helicopter dropped a ransom of $4m onto the deck of a Chinese coal ship hijacked by pirates in mid-October off the Horn of Africa. The De Xin Hai and its 25 crew had been carrying about 76,000 tonnes of coal from South Africa to Mundra in India.

The PRC reported 306 incidents in the first nine months of 2009, up from 293 in the same period of 2008.

Somali pirates hijacked 32 vessels in the first nine months of 2009, with 533 crew members taken hostage. Another 85 vessels were fired upon.

South Africa second innings ? live!

Hit F5 or select auto-refresh for the latest updates, keep up to date with our full and desktop scoreboards and email all your cricket highlights of the decade to james.dart@guardian.co.uk

32nd over South Africa 76-6 (Boucher 20, Morkel 7), trail by 156 BAD LIGHT STOPS PLAY. It's not getting any brighter out there and, following an over in which Morkel picks up two runs down the ground, the players are off. There probably won't be an official decision on close for the moment, but going on the first three days, I can't sense there being much more play today. Not that my exclamation key cares. Blimey. "Also just been playing with Statsguru," says Andrew Williams, "and this is the first year since the glory era of the fab four that we have three bowlers with averages under 30. I fully expect messrs Onions, Swann & Broad to promptly fall to pieces with injuries, losing mojo, hair getting out of control etc, etc, in the same way that Jones, Flintoff & Hoggard did."

31st over South Africa 74-6 (Boucher 20, Morkel 5), trail by 158 Excellent play from Boucher, thumping two wide ones from Anderson away through cover for fours. "At this rate England could win by an innings and 140-odd," chirps Robin Hazlehurst. "Would that then render Bell officially irrelevant and useless again, poor lad?"

30th over South Africa 66-6 (Boucher 12, Morkel 5), trail by 166 "I enjoyed the tmesis in the 19th over," admits John Starbuck. "Are you going to give us another one before the end of play?" Abso-flippin-lutely not, what with the light getting that bit worse with every passing minute. Boucher picks up the only run, tucking Swann on to the leg side. "Bernard Hughes (27th over) shouldn't speak too soon," warns Darren Kilfara. "If Swanny takes three of the final four wickets this innings, he'll have 10 in this match. In all honesty, between his bowling, batting, personality and general where-the-hell-did-he-come-from factor, it must be easier to develop a man-crush on Swann than virtually any England cricketer of recent memory, with the possible exception of Freddie, no?"

29th over South Africa 65-6 (Boucher 11, Morkel 5), trail by 167 Broad off, Anderson on. Boucher's doing a good job here, taking the sting out of his team-mates collapsing around his ears and not looking in a great deal of danger when on strike. He adds a short single, giving Morkel two deliveries against Anderson, which is negotiated. Just. "Oh puh-lease. This talk (22nd over) about the passing of cricket supremacy is grossly premature," sniffs Andre Kuys. "Just as the Windies did not suddenly pass England in the cricketing hierarchy after the Sabina Park capitulation, please don't get carried away with two good days of cricket. And I believe South Africa won the last series in England, no?"

28th over South Africa 64-6 (Boucher 10, Morkel 5), trail by 168 With fielders crowding the batsman, Morkel is immediately the subject of an LBW shout to Swann, hitting the pad but probably drifting too far down leg, and it's not out. Morkel opts for aggression with the next ball, Swann tossing the ball up and then watching it fly past his right hand and away to the long-on ropes. "Swanny and Warney (25th over)?" ponders Gary Naylor. "I wrote this on 5 June 2007, which I offer not as a piece of Nostradamus stuff, but as an example of the prejudice against county cricketers.

'With England's tail still far too long, it is surprising that Swann is never mentioned as the solution to that problem. Still just 28, he averages 26 with the bat and 33 with the ball (the "wrong way round" as Botham would say), but that's not so distant from Ashley Giles' figures of 26 and 30 respectively. However, where Gilo was the consummate team man, Swann has a reputation for being a bit loud, a bit over-keen on his own appearance and a bit quick to voice his opinions. That description reminds me of another spinner who batted at 8, but I just can't quite think of his name - Australian, I think.'"

27th over South Africa 60-6 (Boucher 10, Morkel 1), trail by 172 Comparative dullness from Broad's wicketless over, but a good one at Morkel, nonetheless. Just the single given up and intensive pressure on the No8. "I've been playing with Statsguru - the best toy ever - and found a good little stat," reckons Bernard Hughes. "2009 is the first year since 1970 when no bowler has taken 10 wickets in a Test." Is that right? Seriously? "Not even Murali, who has done it millions of times. The end of the era of the great bowlers?" Drinks.

26th over South Africa 58-6 (Boucher 9, Morkel 0), trail by 174 Swann gets a full over at Morkel, not renowned as a great player of spin. But he's getting a good stride in and, the final arm ball beating his attempted cut aside, confidently deals with the over. Maiden. "I play hockey down in south London for a club full of Saffas," explains Colin Walker. "They're a lovely bunch, but for the last six years I've been continuously baited for the general rubbishness of English sport. Until today, I've only been able to pathetically respond by bleating on about how it was definitely a try in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final. You have no idea how important an innings defeat for SA today is going to be for me. Oh sweet revenge."

25th over South Africa 58-6 (Boucher 9, Morkel 0), trail by 174 As entertaining as it is watching all of this unfurl from an overheated London office, Vic Marks is actually in Durban, where he has penned a rather timely blog about the growing influence of Graeme Swann. In fact, he even dares to mention Shane Warne and the Twitter addict in the same breath. Boucher retains the strike and faces Broad, who over-pitches and sets up a half-volley which is punched to the long-on boundary. "I'm enjoying this as much as the next Englishman, but is there really any need for the use of quite so many exclamation marks?" asks Thomas Abbott, quite rightly. My apologies. No!

24th over South Africa 54-6 (Boucher 5, Morkel 0), trail by 178 Space for Boucher, who cuts Swann away behind point. But substitute fielder Wright does an excellent job to prevent the boundary and, with Boucher unwilling to expose Morkel to Swan, saves two runs in the process. "My CMOTD is Colly in Cardiff," declares Marie Meyer. "Bless that gorgeous northern man. By the way, here are his runs scored in each type of match/innings (T20, ODI and Test) since arriving in South Africa: 46, 82, 40, 34, 57, 105*, 86, 2, 50, 26*, 91. That's an average of 56." 69, even.

23rd over South Africa 51-6 (Boucher 2, Morkel 0), trail by 181 Morkel faces up to a bullish Broad, who quickly digs one in short, which rears up, strikes the batsman on the helmet and flies to Cook at gully. A big appeal, but it didn't look like there was any glove on it, and he survives. For now. "Imagine my delight, yet absolute disgust, at the local pub where I went on my lunch break to watch the cricket, when I was told 'we can't show the cricket because we are screening Honey I Shrunk the Kids'," says a staggered Steven Toone. "Back at work, three wickets later, an extremely annoyed yet delighted England fan." Meanwhile, David Ward adds: "I think we can combine the end of the decade with the events of the last 15 overs and conclude that The End Is Nigh ..."

22nd over South Africa 50-6 (Boucher 1, Morkel 0), trail by 182 "Poor Ben Bradley (20th over)," commiserates Kat Petersen. "I came back from my family Christmas this morning and immediately made the executive decision to 'work' from home with the cricket on. What a winner." Morkel comes out with South Africa in dire, dire straits and faces Swann, the series' leading wicket-taker. Oh, and there are no reviews remaining. "It is an historical truism that momentous events often occur as decades draw to a close," begins Will Bowen. "The French Revolution of 1789, the beginning of World War II in 1939, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 ... Could we be witnessing the passing of cricketing supremacy from the southern hemisphere giants, Australia and South Africa, to England? Only the 2010-11 Ashes series will tell ..."

REFERRAL!!! Smith 22 LBW Swann (22nd over: South Africa 50-6!!!) The decision on the field is out from Aleem Dar as Swann drifts one across, Smith plays and misses and inevitably calls for a review. Hawk-Eye shows it would have gone on and hit leg and ... DECISION UPHELD!

21st over South Africa 50-5 (Smith 22, Boucher 1), trail by 182 Up comes the 50 but, at the time of De Villiers's dismissal, South Africa had gone 5-17 off nine or so overs. Broad's spell is a cracker, one of those real stingers that he's more than capable of. "The absolutely best bit about all of this is the look on Mickey Arthur's face," beams Stuart Wilson. "As one of the most loathsome men in world cricket it is great to see him head in hands. I've got 51 rand and a beverage of my choosing resting on the result of this series and, at the moment, am feeling pretty happy about life!"

20th over South Africa 49-5 (Smith 21, Boucher 1), trail by 183 There's a bit of drizzle hanging around the darkening Durban skies. England won't want to come off today, without a doubt. A single to Smith, followed by another big shout for LBW from Swann, but it was just missing and England wisely opt against a referral. "WHY AM I IN WORK WHEN THIS IS GOING ON????" screams caps lock addict Ben Bradley.

19th over South Africa 48-5 (Smith 20, Boucher 1), trail by 184 HAT-TRICK DELIVERY: BROAD STEAMS IN, CROWD IN GOOD VOICE AND ... Boucher strides forward and takes a quick single short on the off side. Last ball of Broad's superb over and Smith drives uppishly through a space in the gully region for four.

WICKET!!! Duminy 0 b Broad (19th over: South Africa 43-5!!!) Unbe-frickin-lievable! BROAD'S ON A HAT-TRICK! Duminy looks to leave one slanted across, but fails to move the bat fully away and gets a massive inside edge on to his own stumps.

REFERRAL!!! De Villiers 2 LBW Broad (19th over: South Africa 43-4!!!) Having said that Smith looked comfortable, all of a sudden the pressure gets to him. Darting off for a quick single on the off side, Luke Wright, on for Collingwood - shies at the stumps and agonisingly misses. Smith was well short and would've been gone. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER! BROAD PINS DE VILLIERS LBW, the batsman shouldering arms AGAIN! After a conflab with Smith, De Villiers opts for a referral, more in hope than expectation. The replays prove that the ball would have gone on and hit the top of off stump, so there can be no debate: DECISION UPHELD!!!

18th over South Africa 43-3 (Smith 16, De Villiers 2), trail by 189 An understandable referral for England to ask for, especially with the match very much in the balance. But it was the right decision by third umpire Steve Davis. As the floodlights come on, De Villiers then gets off the mark with two to mid on. Another excellent Swann over.

REFERRAL!!!! De Villiers 0 c Prior b Swann (18th over: South Africa 41-3) A massive, massive appeal from Swann and co as De Villiers plays and misses just outside off stump. Andrew Strauss immediately calls for a review, but the video replays are inconclusive and there can be no justification to overturn the decision with the technology at hand. DECISION UPHELD.

17th over South Africa 41-3 (Smith 16, De Villiers 0), trail by 191 Smith remains rock-solid in the face of the hole his opening colleagues have dug for him. As for Broad's over: dot, dot, dot, dot, dot and dot. It's like a June Brown convention. "CMOTD: starting my own cricket club, Arkadin CC in 2007," writes Julien Allen. "I'd played for about 20 clubs and none of them were up to much!"

16th over South Africa 41-3 (Smith 16, De Villiers 0), trail by 191 "Highlight of this decade? TMS: Kallis's stump clunks down, followed a micro-second later by a heart-stiffening, high-pitched, gargled scream by Boycott," reports Richard Read. "England are gonna win this, innit." England now 10-11 for the win, the draw 21-20 and, er, South Africa 189-1. Smith, pressured around the bat, works Swann away for a single. But there is real spin here for Swann. We witnessed a small amount of turn for a part-timer like Duminy and now Swann, buoyed by his two wickets and aided by pressure - from the close fielders and also on De Villiers - is causing all kinds of problems.

15th over South Africa 40-3 (Smith 15, De Villiers 0), trail by 192 A big shout for LBW from a pumped up Broad and his England team-mates, but De Villiers just about got an inside edge and survives.

WICKET!!! Kallis 3 b Broad (15th over: South Africa 40-3!!!) Kallis leaves a straight one, Bell-style, and Broad's delivery rips into the off stump. Incredible. Huge, huge, huge wicket: Kallis just chose to leave one of a decent length, it nipped back delightfully and the batsman watched his off stump driven out of the ground. This is seriously GAME ON!.

14th over South Africa 40-2 (Smith 15, Kallis 3), trail by 192 Kallis is quickly off the mark with two runs, before Smith is beaten sweeping by Swann. Back to you CMOTD. "I thought you were referring to the well known entrepreneur 28/12/2009 10:04 PM

Firms devise pay policies to avoid tax

Big companies construct complex schemes that risk infuriating the government as it tries to crack down on tax avoidance

Britain's leading companies are devising pay schemes that enable top executives to escape the new 50p rate of income tax for high earners that takes effect in April, the Guardian has learned.

Some of the biggest companies in the country are constructing complex pay schemes that risk infuriating government ministers, who are determined to crack down on tax avoidance. Some of these schemes are "nakedly" intended to allow senior boardroom bosses to pay a tax rate of 18% instead of the 50% top rate, according to one industry expert.

The new schemes have come to light only weeks after Alistair Darling announced a new supertax on bankers' bonuses in the pre-budget report amid growing public anger about top pay.

The plans for complicated pay policies are being presented to senior institutional investors in the City who are briefed each year by remuneration consultants about pay schemes for major companies. Investors vote on executive pay schemes in an advisory capacity, but most companies try to gain their biggest shareholders' approval for pay changes.

Many investors had been braced for proposals that would have allowed boardroom executives to enjoy rises in their base salaries, which were largely frozen during 2009 because of the onset of the recession. However, they have found that the plans they are being asked to consider are extremely complicated and are being constructed to adapt to the changing tax environment from April when the government has announced income tax for high earners will rise.

Peter Montagnon, head of investment affairs at the Association of British Insurers, whose members control a fifth of the stock market, said: "We have noticed a lot of interest in tax efficiency. This is liable to produce some very complicated share schemes which shareholders will have to scrutinise closely."

When it was announced in April, the government said the new 50% band will be levied on the estimated 350,000 people with incomes above £150,000 a year ? easily capturing the executives in the boardrooms of Britain's biggest companies.

A number of pay plans are currently on the drawing board and differ subtly from the current schemes used in Britain's biggest boardrooms. Many of them seek to re-classify executives' income as capital gains, which attract a lower tax rate.

Most pay schemes for FTSE 100 executives are currently based on awards of shares or options that are linked to performance criteria over three to five years. The income tax is paid when the shares or options actually "vest" (when the executive gains control of them).

But the new schemes being drawn up are based on a system known as restrictive stock. These seek to shift most of the tax liability to a capital gain on any profits made at the end of the three- to five-year period when the shares vest.

They use complicated financial instruments to minimise the income tax paid by the director when the stock is received and transfer some of the economic risk to the executive. While shareholders are not able to formally veto pay practices they dislike, they have a vote on remuneration reports at companies' annual general meetings (AGMs) each year although the outcome is only advisory.

Jon Terry, head of remuneration at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "A number of these restrictive stock-type arrangements will come forward this AGM season."

Montagnon is also warning major companies that shareholders are unwilling to endorse pay plans that are overly complicated and purely designed to pass on the cost of the extra tax to the company from the executive who might otherwise be liable.

"We can't support schemes which end up costing the company more than would otherwise have been the case or simply shift the tax burden from the individual to the company. Shareholders recognise that schemes should be efficient in relation to tax implications, but there is a limit. Shareholders cannot support schemes which are nakedly for the purpose of avoiding tax," he said.

Darling's new supertax on bonuses led to threats that star bankers would leave the UK to live and work in countries with less punitive tax regimes. He announced this month that the tax would become effective immediately, last until the end of the current tax year in early April, and be paid by banks on bonuses over £25,000.

While it has been subjected to some refinements by Revenue & Customs ? including clarifying the definition of a "bank" ? the government is determined to press on with the payroll tax on bonuses and made clear it intends to clamp down on any avoidance techniques, such as deferring payments beyond the tax year.

Banks and City traders have earned a reputation for tax avoidance. Earlier this year, Royal Bank of Scotland found itself having to defend the way commodities traders in its Sempra division were being paid to minimise income tax and national insurance contributions. Sempra, now up for sale by the bank in which the taxpayer has a 84% stake, has also paid traders in jars of platinum sponge ? one form of the valuable metal ? or in gold bullion.

Trouble emptying the nest? Be tough

Guide tells parents to stop doing the ironing in order to empty the nest amid record graduate unemployment

With graduate unemployment at its highest for more than a decade, the lure of the parental nest has never been stronger.

But mollycoddling mothers and fathers should resist the urge to make home too comfortable for their recently qualified offspring, according to government guidance.

A manual published today instructs parents to show a bit of "tough love" as they try to encourage their children to get a job. That means making them do their own washing and ironing, emptying the fridge of student-friendly snacks and cutting back on handouts.

The guide, produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, also has blunt advice for those with lofty ambitions. "Yes, some people will make it as actors and scriptwriters," it says, "but many just waste away the years."

"Do" and "Don't" lists aim to help anxious parents "motivate not alienate". Dos include allowing your child to relax once they graduate ? though a few weeks with their feet up should not slide into a few months. Parents should also arrange a regular update of progress.

On the don't list is perhaps the worst sin: nagging. "It might work in some circumstances, but most young people want a job and know there is a lot of competition," the guide says. "Nagging can make young people feel more stressed and makes failure to get a job worse".

There are times when it doesn't pay to be "too supportive". "Sometimes, it really is necessary to show tough love," says the guide. "If you are making life too comfortable at home, why would they get a job? If you are providing free board and lodgings, a well-stocked fridge, washing and ironing done, plus an allowance, there's not much drive there. So cut back to help increase their motivation."

The guide may be well-timed. Earlier this month, the Office for National Statistics revealed more people in their 20s or 30s were living with their parents than at any time in the past 20 years. Around 25% of men and 13% of women aged 25 to 29 still live with their parents. Although one in three "adult-kids" said they couldn't afford to buy or rent their own home, others were choosing to become "kippers" ? kids in parents' pockets.

The authors of the ONS report dubbed graduates who returned home to live with their parents "boomerang children", saying their numbers were being swelled by growing student debt.

Last month research revealed graduate unemployment rose by 44% in 12 months and is now at its highest level for 12 years.

Scores killed in Nigeria clashes

Fighting underlines fears of religious instability in region months after uprising by Boko Haram sect

A surge of violence between Islamist militants and security forces in northern Nigeria has left at least 38 people dead, officials said today.

The fighting underlines fears of religious instability in the region, months after an uprising by the Boko Haram sect ? the so-called "Nigerian Taliban" ? was crushed with the loss of hundreds of lives.

There were conflicting reports about the cause of the latest clashes, which happened in the northern city of Bauchi.

The BBC said they came after open-air preaching by members of a radical Islamist sect known as Kala Kato, or Giants of the Living, alarmed residents, who complained to the authorities.

Such preaching was banned in the state after the uprising by Boko Haram in July. Fighting sparked by a Boko Haram attack on a police station in Bauchi left more than 700 people dead.

Mohammed Barau, a Bauchi state police spokesman, said the recent violence began with an internal dispute in which members of the Kata Kalo sect accused each other of making their leader gravely ill. Fighting spilled into the street and sect members attacked a military unit, he said. Officials added that the militants had been armed with spears and arrows, while other reports said they had machetes and cutlasses. The officials said at least one soldier and two bystanders, as well as the sect's leader, Malam Badamasi, died in the clashes.

Atikur Kafur, the Bauchi state police chief, said: "All in all, 38 people were killed, including a soldier and two innocent neighbours. Among those killed is the leader of the sect. We made 20 arrests, including nine adults and 11 juveniles, while 14 were injured."

Kafur said bomb-making tools and explosives [and] two AK47 rifles with several rounds of ammunition had been found at the sect leader's premises. A large cache of swords, daggers and gunpowder was also recovered.

Kala Kato has been described as a non-conformist Islamist sect made up of poor tradesmen, labourers and other working people. Uprisings by its members in the northern city of Kano in 1980 and in Yola in 1992 claimed thousands of lives.

There have been periodic bouts of religious violence in Nigeria over recent years. The country is roughly divided into a predominantly Muslim north and a Christian south, but the unrest has generally been motivated by rivalry over resources or local politics.

The Nigerian security forces faced allegations of an over-zealous response to the July uprising, most notably in connection with the death of the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf. Nigerian police said Yusuf had been fatally injured while trying to avoid capture, but the commander of the army operation said he had personally captured him alive and handed him to police.

Human Rights Watch in Nigeria called for an investigation into the death of Yusuf, calling it "extrajudicial" and "illegal".

More snow forecast as cold snap returns

Heavy falls predicted for Wales, while south-east likely to be hit by rain

The cold snap returned to Britain today ? just in time to disrupt the country's return to work after the Christmas break.

Train services were disrupted at Glasgow, Inverness airport was forced to close and roads across the country saw black ice cause accidents.

Snowfalls of up to 30cm (12in) have been forecast for high ground in Wales, prompting warnings to inexperienced hikers venturing onto the mountains of Snowdonia or the Brecon Beacons.

Snow showers have already hit parts of the west country, the Midlands ? up to Dorridge and neighbouring areas south of Birmingham ? and parts of the north-east.

Areas spared snow were instead likely to experience heavy rain, particularly the south-east.

"You can virtually draw a line from Suffolk to the Bristol Channel and say that, south of that, there will be no snow," Stephen Davenport, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said. "Temperatures may be as mild as 10C (50F) in the south-west of England today, but in other areas, such as Scotland, they will struggle to get above freezing."

The Welsh assembly said stockpiles of salt and grit had been built up in readiness and a contingency plan was in place to divert supplies from motorways if snow threatened to disrupt main roads.

An assembly spokeswoman said local authorities had agreed a mutual help plan if any found themselves struggling to cope.

Holiday engineering work is adding to the disruption caused by ice to rail services between Gasgow, Ayr, Largs, Ardrossan and Wemyss Bay.

On the roads, the A66 at Stockton-on-Tees, the A19 at Sunderland and the A42 in Leicestershire have all seen long delays caused by accidents.

The father of a man who went missing in freezing and snowy weather just before Christmas appealed today for his safe return. Adam Passfield failed to return home after an evening out with football club friends in Chelmsford, Essex, 10 days ago. Police marine unit officers have resumed a search of the river Chelmer, which flows through the town centre.

The missing 22-year-old is described as approximately 6ft tall and of slim build with short, straight brown hair. He was wearing jeans, trainers and a red checked shirt with a black leather jacket.

His father, Kevin, said: "We were hoping that he would walk thorough the door on Christmas Day, embarrassed but safe and well. We can only hope the new year will bring good news."

Clegg calls for reform of 'clapped out' politics

In new year message, Liberal Democrat leader says 2009 tested his belief in politics 'to breaking point' and calls for 'big, permanent change for the better' in 2010

Nick Clegg today called for a new era of candour in Westminster to remove the "despair" people feel about politicians.

In his new year's message, the Liberal Democrat leader said "2010 must be the year we press the political reset button" and tackle the lack of faith in the political system.

"As the countdown to the next general election finally begins, I have a simple question for the other party leaders: what do you believe, really believe? People don't want leading politicians clinging on to power for its own sake, or just telling people what they want to hear. There's got to be more to it than that," Clegg said.

While condemning the "Punch and Judy" politics of the Commons, he said both Labour and the Conservatives had failed to show they gave more than lip-service to the need for "change". The general election has to be held by 3 June 2010.

"I have a confession to make: 2009 tested my belief in politics to breaking point," Clegg said.

"I remember once looking round the House of Commons during another Punch and Judy session of prime minister's questions. In the real world, youth unemployment had just reached its highest level ever, our brave soldiers were facing extraordinary dangers in Afghanistan, the bankers were still gorging themselves on bonuses, and the economy was in the middle of the worst recession in generations. And what were the politicians doing? Yelling and guffawing at each other as if the world outside didn't exist.

"So I don't blame anyone for feeling a sense of despair about our clapped out political system. You are being taken for granted by the people in charge. Big money is hollowing out politics with some rich donors not even bothering to say whether they pay full British taxes or not. And to top it all the expenses scandals exposed some MPs as spivvy property speculators and tax evaders rather than public servants."

So 2010 had to mean "big, permanent change for the better" where politicians "set things on a new course".

Clegg said: "Of course both Labour and the Conservatives have learned to parrot the language of change. But where's the proof they mean it? Despite all the hot air about fixing politics they have both voted against giving people the right to sack MPs who've seriously broken the rules.

"Both have refused to clean up the rotten system of party political funding. Both refuse to give you your say by introducing fair votes to the House of Commons. And both refuse to shake up the City of London, so that bankers can never again play Russian roulette with your savings.

"Some people say, what's the point of voting when the same old parties always win? I say: vote for what you believe in. If you like what the Liberal Democrats stand for, vote for it. If you want real change, not phoney change, vote for it. If you think things should be different, vote for it."

The Liberal Democrat leader said "a belief in fairness" was his most prominent belief. And he promised "new ideas to make Britain the fair country I believe most people want it to be" including targeted help for the most needy children in school, measures to reduce independence on the City in favour of a "new, green economy".

"I hope in the coming months even more people will get a chance to find out what I believe in, and the beliefs of the Liberal Democrats. If enough people share our convictions, our beliefs, then 2010 really can be the beginning of something new."

Bodies of girl, 4, and man found in house

Child dies at scene and woman is taken to hospital as police recover firearm at Aldershot property

The bodies of four-year-old girl and a man have been found inside a house, Hampshire police said today.

Officers were called to the address at Church Hill, Aldershot, at 10.11am by neighbours concerned about a domestic dispute, a police spokeswoman said.

Inside the house police found the body of a man along with a girl and a woman who had both suffered head injuries. Despite emergency first aid, the girl died at the scene. The woman was taken to hospital by the Surrey air ambulance.

A firearm was recovered from the property. Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said a large number of police vehicles arrived earlier today. He added that the street had been closed to traffic, but people could still walk through a police cordon.

Use sand to help boys write, says government

Guidance will include advice to set up role-play activities specially designed to interest the youngest boys, such as builders taking phone messages

Nurseries and childminders are to be told to encourage three- and four-year-old boys to write using materials such as chocolate powder and coloured sand in a bid to stop them falling behind girls, it emerged today.

Government guidance being sent out next month will include advice to set up role-play activities specially designed to interest the youngest boys, such as builders taking phone messages and writing up instructions, post office workers filling in forms, and waiters taking orders.

It is designed to tackle the "stubborn" gender gap among young children. According to official data, more than one in six boys cannot write his own name or simple words such as "mum", "dad" or "cat" after a year of school. Half as many girls have the same problem.

Boys will also be encouraged to make marks on the floor and walls outside.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "Some boys don't enjoy writing or see it as relevant ? but teachers and practitioners can make it fun and relevant. The guidance will offer practical examples about how to do this.

"Because boys don't seem to be as interested as girls in drawing and mark-making, it is important that practitioners ensure that this doesn't then result in limited access to resources such as paper, crayons, paint etc, and insufficient opportunities or encouragement for boys to write."

Writing targets for five-year-olds have come under fire from child development specialists, who argue that many children, especially boys, do not develop the fine motor skills needed for writing until they are six or seven.

The controversial Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) introduced last September ? the so-called nappy curriculum ? includes 69 "learning goals" that children are expected to reach by the time they begin school aged five.

Figures published in the summer showed that girls outperformed boys at most levels at that age, with 78% of them able to hold a pencil and write recognisable letters, compared with 62% of boys.

Almost three-quarters of girls could write a simple shopping list, or a letter to Father Christmas, but only 55% of boys could do so at the same age.