Monthly Archives: June 2011

30 June 2011 Last updated at 14:00 ET By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News The Tammar wallaby is the “model species” for research on kangaroos and their relatives Scientists have gone some way to explaining why kangaroos produce much less methane in their burps, flatus and manure than farm animals such as cows. They … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 12:49 ET The EU Commission says it has kept the size of the bureaucracy stable The European Commission – the EU’s civil service – says it plans to cut its administration costs by 6bn euros (£5.4bn) in the period to 2020. The Commission will cut its staff of about … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 17:08 ET Mary Bousted accused Ed Miliband of being “ill-informed” about planned pension changes The head of one of the unions striking over pensions has said Ed Miliband “should be ashamed of himself” for urging workers to call off the action. Mary Bousted, leader of the Association of Teachers … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 10:45 ET Plumbers are among a number of groups of traders targeted by the HMRC Some 600 plumbers have come clean on unpaid tax, prompting questions about the success of a campaign in which 50,000 letters were sent out by the tax authority. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 08:13 ET The US soldiers’ role is to advise and assist Iraq’s security forces in fighting insurgents Three US soldiers were killed in action in southern Iraq on Wednesday, the military has said. The deaths make June the deadliest month for American soldiers in the country in two years. … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 16:34 ET At least 13 people have been killed after a passenger bus in southern Afghanistan hit a roadside bomb, police officials say. The attack took place on the highway between Kandahar and the south-western province of Nimroz. Nimroz police chief Abdul Jadar Pordalai said more than 30 people … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 12:58 ET The bank crisis threatens the salaries of thousands of teachers, police and soldiers Two former executives of the failed Kabul Bank have been arrested over huge fraud that led to its near collapse. Deputy Attorney General Rahmatullah Nazari said the bank’s founder and its former chairman Sherkhan … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 13:59 ET Syrian troops are consolidating their hold on north-western villages near Turkey Rival rallies have been held in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, as troops continue their assault in nearby north-western villages, activists say. Around 1,000 anti-government protesters gathered in at least two locations, but activists said they were … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 11:50 ET Irish activist demonstrates damage to the propeller shaft of the Saoirse Irish activists planning to sail in a flotilla to Gaza have accused Israel of sabotaging their ship. It is the second vessel due to participate that has had its propeller damaged while moored in a Mediterranean … Continue reading

30 June 2011 Last updated at 12:38 ET Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Ben Brown reports from London, Colette Hume reports from Wales and James Cook has the latest from Scotland Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers have gone on strike across the UK over planned pension changes. Teachers from … Continue reading