VISION-WORLD NEWS

(FRANKS..) Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Baroness Ashton: "President Yanukovych has now staked himself on this" Continue reading the main story Ukraine crisis Latest updates Live Before and after Crisis explained Front-line reports Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders have signed a deal leading to an early presidential poll before the end of the year. The election is part of an agreement to end the country's political crisis. The deal provides for a national unity government, electoral reform and constitutional changes reducing the president's power. The compromise came after hours of talks, mediated by three European Union foreign ministers. The German and Polish foreign ministers met protest leaders, who later announced ...

(FRANKS..) Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Beatrice Muller has lived on the ship for several years With the QE2 heading into retirement, many people are losing their favourite place to spend a holiday and the crew is losing a workplace. But 89-year-old Beatrice Muller is actually losing her home. She is the QE2's only permanent resident. Some years ago she sold her property in the US to live on the liner full time. "I have been on this wonderful ship off and on for 14 years. This is now my only home," she told BBC News. Cruise ship holidays had never appealed to Mrs Muller until, in 1995, she stepped on board with her husband, Bob. Both were taken by it and and returned year after year until Mr Muller died on board in 1999 as the ship sailed out of Bombay. ...

(FRANKS..) Nigeria central bank head Lamido Sanusi ousted Lamido Sanusi has spearheaded reforms in Nigeria's troubled banking sector since his appointment in 2009 Continue reading the main story Nigeria - Troubled Giant Bad luck party? Fuel scam: Decision time Booming illegal oil refineries Guide to Nigeria's trouble spots Nigeria's central bank governor Lamido Sanusi has been suspended by the president pending investigations into "far-reaching irregularities". Mr Sanusi caused shockwaves in Nigeria when he alleged that $20bn (£12bn) in oil revenue had gone missing. Nigeria's state oil firm has denied failing to account for the money, saying the claim was "unsubstantiated". Mr Sanusi is widely respected after undertaking reforms to the banking sector since his appointment in 2009. He was name...

(FRANKS..) A US federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. It is the first time that a southern state has had a voter-approved prohibition on gay marriage overturned. The ruling will not apply pending a possible appeal. Same-sex marriages are legal in 17 US states, most of them in the north-east, and Washington DC. Such unions have been approved either through legislation, court rulings or voter referendums. 'Adding momentum' The ruling by Judge Arenda Wright Allen in Norfolk followed a legal challenge on same-sex marriage by a gay couple. The judge agreed with them that the ban infringes on their constitutional rights and their fundamental freedom to marry. Many expect the case - or one like it - to go all the way to the US Supreme Court, the BBC's Beth McLeod in Washington reports. Virginia is the first state in the old confederacy - a group o...

(FRANKS..) At least six people have died after a car bomb exploded close to the gate of the international airport in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, police say. Eyewitnesses told the BBC it was targeting a UN refugee agency convoy. Most of those who died were passers-by and several UN body guards were wounded in the explosion, the witnesses said. The al-Shabab Islamist group has said it was behind the explosion in one of the most heavily fortified areas in the city - where many embassies are based. Continue reading the main story Analysis Gabriel Gatehouse BBC News East Africa correspondent This apparent increase in militant activity in and around Mogadishu comes amid warnings that weapons destined for the Somali security forces are instead making their way into the hands of clan militia and even al-Shabab fighters. Last year the United Nations partially lifted an arms embargo, in place since 1992. The move was support...

(FRANKS..) Nigeria have recalled Norwich City's Joseph Yobo to their squad for a friendly with Mexico in USA on 5 March. The 33-year-old has not played for Nigeria since they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year. Yobo is Nigeria's most-capped player with 93 appearances and now has a chance to go to the World Cup. "I've always said Yobo is my captain and he'd be recalled when needed so people shouldn't be surprised," coach Stephen Keshi told BBC Sport. As expected uncapped trio Imoh Ezekiel, Ramon Azeez and Michael Uchebo are in the squad too. “ [The NFF] has given, and will continue to give, its unflinching support to Mr Keshi and the team to do Nigeria proud at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals ” NFF statement But there is no place in the squad for regular quintet Sunday Mba, Brown Ideye, John Ogu, Nnamdi Oduamadi ...

(FRANKS..) Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Two people have been killed after their home collapsed from the weight of volcanic ash as Alice Budisatrijo reports. Continue reading the main story Related Stories In pictures: Mount Kelud erupts Indonesia: Volcano nation Animated guide: Volcanoes Thousands of people are evacuating their homes in Indonesia after a volcano erupted in east Java. Mount Kelud spewed ash and debris over a large area, including the city of Surabaya, about 130km (80 miles) away. Two people died after their houses collapsed under the weight of ash, officials said. Some towns were said to be covered by 4cm (1.6 in) of ash. Three major airports in Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta were forced to shut down because of low visibility. There are also fears that debris could damage aircraft engines. Andi Wirson, general mana...

LOVE..... US Senate passes far-reaching immigration reform bill Before reading the final tally, Vice-President Biden warned the chamber not to cheer - or boo - the result Continue reading the main story Related Stories America's immigration conundrum US immigration reforms prove divisive Watch Lives of Latinos in US beyond stereotypes Watch The US Senate has passed a broad immigration reform bill that includes a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. The 68-32 vote comes after months of debate and a recent deal to boost border security spending significantly. But the legislation faces a tough road in the more conservative House. House Speaker John Boehner has said he will not advance legislation that lacks support of most of his fellow Republicans, who remain resistant. After the bill's passage on Thursday, President Barack ...

Pierre Borghi: How I gave the Taliban the slip   Continue reading the main story French aid worker and amateur photographer Pierre Borghi spent four months in shackles, imprisoned by the Taliban in a hole in the ground. But an opportunity to escape eventually came his way, thanks in part to the weight he had lost on the "Taliban diet". I was abducted by the Taliban on the evening of Tuesday 27 November. It had been an ordinary, relaxed day in Kabul - no bombs or gunfire or stress. I had been to the supermarket, bought Chinese noodles for dinner and planned a quiet night in watching a zombie movie. This was my second week in Afghanistan on my second visit to the country. I was looking for work in the humanitarian or urban planning sectors while I tried to make it as a photographer. I was walkin...

Kevin Rudd sworn in as Australian PM STORY HIGHLIGHTS Kevin Rudd is sworn in as prime minister Julia Gillard resigns as prime minister, says the privilege of serving was "truly humbling" Opposition leader Tony Abbott calls for voters to back his party in upcoming elections Labor Party was not confident it could win a September general election led by Gillard  Kevin Rudd returned as prime minister of Australia on Thursday, three years after being replaced in the office by his then-deputy Julia Gillard. Rudd challenged Gillard for leadership of the Labor Party on Wednesday and won a 57-45 vote among fellow Labor members of parliament. In the Australian parliamentary system, the leader of the governing party assumes the position of prime minister and on Thursday morning, in Canberra, Rudd was sworn in for a second time. Gillard resigned after the party vote on Wednesday night and announced she will leave politics. A major factor in ...

Rolls-Royce has said that it "regrets" the mid-air failure of one of its Trent 900 engines which happened on a Qantas A380 plane in November 2010. The explosion in the engine had forced an emergency landing of the plane. Rolls-Royce issued the statement after Australia's transport safety regulator blamed the failure on a fatigue crack in an oil feed pipe in the engine. The regulator said the pipe was made with a thin wall section and "did not comply" with the design specifications. "The thin wall substantially increased the likelihood of fatigue cracking," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in its final report on the incident . Rolls-Royce said that it supported the findings of the ATSB. It said the pipe was "one of a small number which had been incorrectly manufactured as a result of a measurement error during a precision drilling procedure", but added that it h...

More than 100 people complained to the corporation about the 32-year-old's cleavage-revealing frock for Saturday night's live final on BBC One. The BBC said: "We're sorry if some viewers found Holly's dress to be unsuitable." It added the dress "was glamorous and wholly appropriate for the occasion". The live final, which was won by Andrea Begley, was broadcast largely before the 21:00 watershed. However it prompted some complaints from viewers who said Willoughby's black lace dress was too revealing. In a statement, the BBC said the presenter "enjoys fashion", adding: "We don't believe it (the dress) would have gone against audience expectations for a TV spectacle such as this." Phillip Schofield, Willoughby's co-host on ITV's This Morning, also leapt to the star's defence writing on Twitter : "139 complaints over Holly's gorgeous Voice...

Michael Jackson's eldest son has spoken publicly for the first time about his father's death as he testified at his wrongful death trial in Los Angeles. Prince Jackson, 16, told jurors his father had some tense phone calls with concert promoter AEG Live, sometimes ending with his father in tears. "He would say, 'They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me'." Katherine Jackson, is suing AEG Live for $40bn (£26bn) over her son's death. The company has denied any wrongdoing. The Jackson family claim AEG Live failed to properly investigate Dr Conrad Murray - the former cardiologist who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 - and missed warning signs about the singer's health. Murray was caring for the singer as he prepared for his This Is It shows. AEG Live said it did not hire or supervise Murray and has argued Jackson had prescription drug and addiction problems long before e...

The BBC's Thomas Fessy says Senegal has been an "important security partner" for the US Continue reading the main story US President Barack Obama has arrived in Senegal on the first leg of a three-nation tour of Africa. It is Mr Obama's second visit to the continent since he became president. He is hoping to boost economic ties with the African countries and promote good governance - all the countries he is visiting have stable democracies. The South African leg of his trip is expected to be overshadowed by the continuing critical condition of former President Nelson Mandela. The White House has said it will defer to the wishes of Mr Mandela's family over whether Mr Mandela is well enough to receive a visit from him in hospital. Mr Obama is visiting Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, excluding Kenya, where his father was born, and Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil-producer which has been hit by an Islami...

Former South African leader Nelson Mandela is in a stable condition, his granddaughter says, though he remains critical. Ndileka Mandela said the 94-year-old's family were taking comfort from messages of support from the public. Meanwhile his daughter Makaziwe said he was "still there" and responding to touch. South Africa's first black president has been in hospital since 8 June with a lung infection. His health has worsened in recent days, prompting current President Jacob Zuma to cancel a foreign visit. He has now arrived back at the hospital. Emotional crowds continue to gather outside the Pretoria hospital. They have been adding messages of support for Mr Mandela, known by his clan name Madiba. Correspondents say South Africans now seem resigned to the prospect of his death. Continue reading the main story Nelson Mandela: Key dates 1918 Born in the Easte...

According to the  Leadership  newspaper nigeria, three teenagers between the ages of 8 and 10, have been caught in the Badarawa area of Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, for their indulgence in gay activities. The young offenders were nabbed when the mother of the 8-year-old boy became curious when she discovered that her child was  always seen with twenty naira note almost each passing day, which she said was not given to him by either parents. After series of persuasion, the mother said her son opened up hat some boys use to give him twenty naira and they normally use nail to pierce his anus and that he use to feel pains but they will always threaten to kill him if he ever tells any one. The boy further described to the mother that the two older boys use to climb him from the back after he is made to pull down  his trousers, then he will feel a sharp pain in his anus, a...

Edward Snowden fled to Hong Kong before the scandal broke Continue reading the main story US spy leaks The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation. The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property. In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data. The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request. His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. The criminal complaint was lodged with a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued, court documents show. Continue reading the main story Who is E...