Wales targeting England novices

Venue: Twickenham StadiumDate: 25 FebruaryKick-off: 1600 GMTCoverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD, Red Button and online from 1525 GMT; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Defence coach Shaun Edwards says Wales will be targeting England's inexperience in Saturday's Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

Wales go to London as strong favourites to achieve their 20th Triple Crown against a new-look England side.

"It's the first time England's axis of eight, nine, 10 [Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson and Owen Farrell] have played together," said Edwards.

"And like any axis you're going to try to put pressure on it."

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“I've played Test rugby and when you are carrying that ball into the first collision or making the first tackle you're not thinking about who's favourites. It's of no consequence”

Shaun Edwards Added Englishman Edwards: "Let's hope we can upset them. That's our job as a defensive unit, to make life as difficult as possible for our opponents."

Morgan, the Scarlets in-form number eight, and Dickson are making their first starts for England, while Farrell moves from centre to make his debut at outside-half.

But Edwards believes the presence at fly-half of 20-year-old Farrell, who moves to the centre to replace the injured Charlie Hodgson, does not weaken England, even though it was Hodgson's charge-down tries that led to wins over Scotland and Italy.

"You've got a guy playing at fly-half who recently won the Grand Final in the English championship in that position," said Edwards.

"I'm sure he will look back at that game and it will give him confidence.

"Every time Owen seems to get into a team people ask if he will be able to take it in his stride and he does. Everything that seems to be thrown at him he just responds to it with great maturity.

"He reminds me very much of his dad - he was like that."

Edwards and Andy Farrell - now part of Stuart Lancaster's coaching set-up - were rugby league team-mates with Great Britain and Wigan.

And Edwards recalled: "He came into the Wigan team when he was 17 and they put him in a room with Dean Bell, who was our captain, to ease his nerves.

"The morning of the match Dean Bell was being sick in the toilet and Andy was saying to him 'don't worry - we'll win this game no problem'."

With Farrell moving to fly-half, England have brought Manu Tuilagi back to fill the vacant centre spot.

Priestland confident of youthful Wales backline

Edwards added: "It [Tuilagi's recall] certainly makes the [England] backline bigger and I'm sure whoever's doing the defence for them will be pleased about that.

"He's probably the best ball-carrying centre in England and he adds a lot of size and power to the back line, which is going to counteract something we have a lot of."

The presence of Tuilagi makes it an interesting match-up against Wales' giant backline that includes George North, Jamie Roberts and Alex Cuthbert.

Edwards describes this as Wales' biggest game since the World Cup and is hoping his side deliver a notable victory.

"There's no doubt rugby plays a big part in the Welsh psyche and people go to work with a smile on their face when their team's done well," he said.

"To win would be very rewarding for the team and for the whole of Wales.

"We're just excited to play rugby on such a big stage and in such a big game. It's probably the biggest game I've been involved in for a few years outside the Rugby World Cup.

"You know how big it is when people keep texting you asking for tickets!"

Wales start favourites following their victories over Ireland and Scotland , but Edwards is not taking anything for granted before visiting a ground that has surrendered just one Welsh win in 25 years.

"I've played Test rugby and when you are carrying that ball into the first collision or making the first tackle you're not thinking about who's favourites," he said. "It's of no consequence."

Antipsychotics death risk charted

24 February 2012 Last updated at 02:24 GMT By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News In the UK 180,000 people with dementia take antipsychotics Some antipsychotic medication may increase the risk of death in patients with dementia more than others, according to US research.

The drugs have a powerful sedative effect so are often used when dementia patients become aggressive or distressed.

A study, published on the BMJ website, argued that antipsychotics should not be used "in the absence of clear need".

Experts said better alternatives were needed to antipsychotics.

A study in 2009, suggested 180,000 people with dementia were taking antipsychotic medication in the UK and said the drugs resulted in 1,800 additional deaths.

Data differences

Researchers at Harvard Medical School followed 75,445 people in nursing homes who had dementia and were prescribed antipsychotics.

The researchers said some drugs were associated with more than twice the risk of death than risperidone, another antipsychotic which was used as a benchmark to compare the other drugs.

The study concluded: "The data suggest that the risk of mortality with these drugs is generally increased with higher doses and seems to be highest for haloperidol and least for quetiapine."

However, the way the study was conducted meant it could not say definitively that certain drugs actually caused more deaths, merely that there was a link between the two.

The Department of Health said antipsychotic use was "resulting in as many as 1,800 unnecessary deaths per year. This is simply unacceptable."

Michelle Fraser says two years on antipsychotics had "horrendous" side effects on her father Michael Rainford

"That's why reducing the level of antipsychotics prescribing for people with dementia by two-thirds is one the key priorities in the National Dementia Strategy."

The Dementia Action Alliance - which includes the Alzheimer's Society, Age UK and the Department of Health - has called for all prescriptions for antipsychotics to be reviewed by the end of March 2012.

Dr Chris Fox, who researches dementia at the University of East Anglia, said: "This study provides an interesting insight into the differential harm of these medicines.

"More work is needed on alternatives to these medicines in dementia with behavioural problems.

"In addition, there is a need to consider duration of use in more acute situations such as severe distress. Is six or 12-week use safe in people with dementia?"

Alzheimer's Research UK's chief executive Rebecca Wood said the risks of antipsychotics were "well-established" yet "progress has been frustratingly slow" in reducing their use.

She said the drugs "should only be used for people with dementia where there is no alternative for dealing with challenging behaviour".

Dr Anne Corbett, research manager at Alzheimer's Society, said: "For a minority of people with dementia antipsychotics should be used, but then only for up to 12 weeks, and under the correct circumstances. For the majority, they do far more harm than good."

Trial of Mubarak enters last day

22 February 2012 Last updated at 00:14 GMT The trial against Hosni Mubarak began last August The trial of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak is due to begin its final day, after six months of hearings.

Mr Mubarak is accused of corruption, and of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced him to step down last February after three decades in power.

The prosecution has called for the death penalty for Mr Mubarak, who denies the charges against him.

The judge is expected to deliver his verdict at a later hearing.

His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six senior police officers have also been put on trial. Mr Mubarak's sons face separate charges of corruption.

All the defendants have denied the charges.

Powerful figures

In his closing remarks on Monday, chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman said of the trial: "This is not a case about the killing of one or 10 or 20 civilians, but a case of an entire nation."

He told the court earlier that Mr Mubarak must have ordered police to open fire on protesters, leaving more than 800 dead.

The prosecution says it has taken testimony from 2,000 witnesses, including police officers who discussed orders from above to arm police with automatic rifles and shotguns to use against protesters.

The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says that though most observers say the trial has been conducted relatively fairly, the prosecution maintains that it has been denied access to some of the most important evidence.

The court has not heard logs of calls from the interior ministry in the crucial hours when many of the protesters were killed, prosecutors say, and many key insiders have not given evidence while others have only appeared behind closed doors.

Defence lawyer Farid al-Deeb has said that the Egyptian army was in charge of security when protesters were killed.

He said Mr Mubarak had imposed a curfew on the afternoon of 28 January and transferred responsibility to the head of the army.

Mr Mubarak has attended his trial on a stretcher.

Lawyers for the 83-year-old said he risked suffering a stroke if he tried to sit up.

US backs Red Cross call for Syria

21 February 2012 Last updated at 22:46 GMT British newspaper journalist Marie Colvin: "I saw a baby die today"

The US has backed calls by the Red Cross for a humanitarian ceasefire in Syria to allow aid to reach the worst affected areas.

The White House said "reprehensible actions" by the Syrian government meant basic supplies were "very scarce".

The Red Cross says it is negotiating with both sides for a daily truce of at least two hours.

Meanwhile, Syrian activists say at least 100 people have been killed in the latest clashes.

Witnesses say Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have also intensified their attacks on rebel-held areas of the restive city of Homs.

Responding to the Red Cross appeal, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: "The reprehensible actions taken by the Assad regime, the brutal violence perpetrated by the Syrian leader against his own people has led us to this situation where humanitarian supplies are very scare, and therefore action needs to be taken.

"So we would certainly support the calls for those kinds of ceasefires."

US State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said Washington wanted the violence to stop completely.

"If a pause is the best we can do, then we obviously want to get humanitarian aid and we want international organisations to be able to get humanitarian aid to those who are suffering from Assad's onslaught."

Bombardment

Asked about the possibility of arming the rebels, Ms Nuland said: "We don't believe that it makes sense to contribute now to the further militarisation of Syria.

"That said... if we can't get Assad to yield to the pressure that we are all bringing to bear, we may have to consider additional measures."

The Local Co-ordination Committees, a network of activist groups, said at least 45 people had died during a heavy bombardment of Homs on Tuesday and dozens more were killed when government forces attacked villages in Idlib province.

Violence was also reported in the suburbs of Damascus.

Syria bars most foreign journalists and the numbers of casualties cannot be confirmed.

Opposition groups say the army is reinforcing its presence around Homs in preparation for a ground assault that rights groups have warned could turn into a massacre.

But the BBC's Jim Muir, monitoring events from neighbouring Lebanon, says it is unclear if the bombardment is the precursor to a ground assault.

World and Arab leaders are due to meet in Tunisia on Friday to discuss Syria's future.

But Russia, a key ally of the regime, says it will not attend the "Friends of Syria" meeting because the Syrian government would not be represented.

Russia and China have faced Western and Arab criticism for blocking a UN Security Council resolution that would have backed an Arab League peace plan for Syria.

Mr Assad has been trying to quell unrest for several months.

Unarmed protesters are now being backed by rebel fighters who have defected from government forces and call themselves the Free Syrian Army.

Teenager dies after school injury

28 February 2012 Last updated at 20:45 GMT Floral tributes have been left to Kyle Rees at Portchester School A 16-year-old boy has died after apparently being hit on the head with a hard ball at a Dorset school.

Kyle Rees was hurt at Portchester School, Bournemouth, on Monday and died after being transferred to Southampton General Hospital.

A 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with the incident has been released on bail.

He was held initially for an offence of assault and subsequently on suspicion of manslaughter.

A police statement said: "A cordon is currently in place at the school while officers investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

"Teachers and children have been helping police with their inquiries throughout the day."

Headteacher Debbie Godfrey-Phaure said: "Students and staff are devastated by this terrible tragedy and our hearts and prayers are very much with the boy's family and friends.

"It is difficult to know what to do for the best in these distressing circumstances but our focus must be providing as much support as possible to our close-knit school community as we all try to come to terms with what has happened.

"The next few weeks and months are going to be emotionally testing for our students and staff, but we will be doing all we can for them.

'Talented young man'

"We are also be fully assisting the authorities with their investigations.

"The emergency services cannot be praised highly enough for their prompt actions at the time, and we also pay tribute to the outstanding medical help he received at hospital.

"At an appropriate time we will be celebrating his memory and life at school. He was a memorable and talented young man. He was very popular with his peers and was due to do well in his GCSEs this summer."

Kim Drake, service director for children's social care at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: "We have set up a counselling service at the school to offer pupils, staff and parents support following the incident at the school and we are currently working with both the school and the police with their investigation."

Kyle was injured at about 14:10 on Monday and taken to Bournemouth Hospital.

He was then transferred to Southampton General Hospital in a critical condition, where he died on Tuesday.

China to reform one-child slogans

27 February 2012 Last updated at 18:33 GMT By Viv Marsh BBC News Implementing the one-child law has been hugely controversial China is to overhaul the sometimes threatening slogans used to enforce its one-child policy, the authorities have announced.

Details of the project were published in the Chinese communist party newspaper, the People's Daily.

State media blamed local officials for coming up with phrases such as, "If you don't get sterilised, your house will be demolished".

They said they would be replaced by friendlier expressions.

But they insisted that the one-child policy itself would not change.

The Chinese Communist Party has long appreciated the value of the concise, direct political slogan, but in matters of family planning, street banners and wall posters are frequently seen as lacking tactfulness and taste.

'Kill your family'

Research by China's National Population and Family Planning Commission, published in the People's Daily, concluded that a quarter of slogans posted in furtherance of its policies had been crude and harsh in the past. It described some as spine-chilling.

Among the examples it cited were, "Kill all your family if you don't follow the rule" and, "If you escape (sterilisation), we'll hunt you down; if you want to hang yourself, we'll give you the rope".

The research said milder expressions should be used to "avoid offending the public and stoking social tensions".

For the past three decades, most Chinese couples in urban areas have been limited to having a single child.

Implementing the law has been hugely controversial, and has frequently involved sterilisation and even forced termination.

The one-child policy has also been blamed for causing a gender imbalance, with families eager to have male children and selectively aborting girls.

The People's Daily said future propaganda would address this issue, and suggested the slogan: "Caring for the girl means caring for the future of the nation."

Upbeat slogans were also mooted to prevent birth defects. The paper said one new slogan would be: "Please get rid of the alcohol and cigarettes before you plan to be a father".

Viagogo defends ticket sale deals

24 February 2012 Last updated at 16:23 GMT Coldplay tickets are among those allegedly allocated to Viagogo by promoters Secondary ticketing website Viagogo has defended the practice of gig promoters selling tickets on its website saying "we don't discriminate".

Channel 4's Dispatches highlighted the thousands of tickets, for acts including Coldplay and Take That, sold in this way for inflated prices.

Viagogo said it aimed "to ensure that if you buy a ticket you get a ticket in time for the event".

It earlier failed in a High Court bid to stop the programme airing.

The company had sought an injunction on the grounds of breach of commercial confidence.

The High Court held the material was not commercially confidential and even if it had been, it would have been in the public interest to report.

The issue of reselling concert tickets is a divisive one, with opponents complaining that desperate fans often have to pay over-inflated prices.

'Premium partner'

On Thursday night's Dispatches programme, fans were shown complaining that tickets were resold at higher prices on secondary ticketing websites within minutes of events selling out.

They also complained that they had believed they were buying from other fans, rather than promoters, and said they had less chance of buying tickets at face value.

Dispatches alleged that Live Nation, which works with artists including Madonna and U2, and SJM Concerts, which works with One Direction and Jessie J, had allocated large numbers of tickets to Viagogo.

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We don't discriminate. We allow anyone to sell on our market place as long as they deliver the tickets that they sell.”

End Quote Ed Parkinson Viagogo UK director Viagogo UK director Ed Parkinson told the BBC News website its business model was to "guarantee that buyers get their tickets and sellers get paid".

"We allow anyone to sell on our marketplace and the overwhelming majority of our sellers are individuals but it also includes larger sellers which can include concert promoters.

"We don't discriminate. We allow anyone to sell on our market place as long as they deliver the tickets that they sell."

Music fans on the Dispatches programme also complained that some desirable tickets at concerts, including for front row seats, were put straight onto ticketing websites.

Mr Parkinson said that, as a "premium ticketing partner" to a number of promoters and organisations, "this will mean that certain premium seats will be made available to us".

Viagogo makes money by taking a cut of a ticket's selling price.

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If promoters put tickets into the secondary market then the result is that prices are brought down whilst also ensuring that some of the tickets available in the secondary are actually genuine ones”

End Quote Concert Promoters Association A spokeswoman said the same rate applied to tickets sold by major concert promoters as those sold by individual music fans.

But she could not comment on any further deals made with partners.

Neither Live Nation nor SJM Concerts have commented on the practice but the Concert Promoters Association (CPA), of which both are members, said some promoters "at least in part, operate in the secondary market".

It said this was because the last government had failed to outlaw the resale of concert tickets, despite lobbying from the CPA.

"If promoters put tickets into the secondary market then the result is that prices are brought down whilst also ensuring that some of the tickets available in the secondary are actually genuine ones," the CPA said in a statement.

The secondary market was "effectively being used as a premium price primary market for those fans who wish to use it for convenience", it added.

Those fans would be happier that a premium paid "went to the artist via the promoter rather than went to a tout", it said.

The CPA said "the real problem" facing fans was that "tickets that touts put onto the secondary market don't actually exist and those that do are not in their possession to sell on".

Earlier this month, Jon Webster, chief executive of the Music Managers Forum, called for a cap on resale values.

He told the BBC: "It reflects badly, at the end of the day, on the artists - probably more so than anyone.

"Punters don't know who the promoters are most of the time so, in the end, the fans blame the artist."