The great trees of London

After the Great Storm of 1987, Londoners were asked to nominate the capital's leading landmark trees.

41 were officially awarded "Great Tree" status in 1988 with plaques erected next to each tree.
A further 20 trees were named in 2008 after independent charity, Trees for Cities, asked the public to nominate trees from across London.

London's New Year's Day Parade live online

BBC London is streaming online the three-hour parade through the streets of the capital to herald in 2010.
You can witness the colour and excitement as thousands of cheerleaders march past some of the greatest icons of our city surrounded by pomp and an irrepressible energy.
With their endless enthusiasm, American cheerleaders take over Piccadilly Circus; marching bands, draped in perfect uniforms, keep pace along Pall Mall; and floats from some of London's 33 boroughs proudly announce all that's best from their part of the city.

BBC London will capture this with a live online stream of the event starting at 12pm and finishing at 3pm. Bookmark this page so you can witness the spectacle if you are unable to line the streets to see it for real.
The New Year's Day parade is broadcast by 550 TV stations across the world - including China, USA, Australia - to a potential global audience of 240 million people.
More than 8,500 performers from London, the UK, continental Europe, Japan and the United States will be taking part.
Upwards of half a million people will line the parade route, which - in a break from tradition - will be marched in reverse in 2010.
The parade will start outside the Ritz Hotel, travel to Piccadilly Circus, down Regent Street, along Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, down Whitehall and end up in Parliament Square.
We shall be adding the embedded link to the stream here on Friday morning before the parade starts so please bookmark this page. UK users only.

Abou Diaby signs Arsenal contract extension

Abou Diaby has signed a new long-term contract extension at Arsenal.

The 23-year-old France international midfielder, who signed a contract to the end of 2012 in January 2008, has made 117 appearances for the Gunners.
Diaby said: "This shows my long-term commitment to Arsenal and I am very happy here."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "Abou has a huge presence on the pitch and has the potential to be an influential part of Arsenal for many years."
Diaby, who joined the Gunners from Auxerre in January 2006, added: "I am so pleased to extend my contract.
"It's a great thing for me and hopefully there will be some good years ahead for me here."
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury, who is on loan at Watford, has signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners.

Woods cost shareholders billions

MIAMI -- The sex scandal that engulfed Tiger Woods may have cost shareholders of companies endorsed by the world's No. 1 golfer up to $12 billion in losses, according to a study by two economics professors from the University of California, Davis.

Woods cost shareholders billions

The study, released on Monday by researchers Victor Stango and Christopher Knittel, gave an estimate for damage to the market value of Woods' main sponsors caused by revelations of alleged extramarital affairs that surfaced after he was involved in a minor car accident outside his Florida home on Nov. 27.
"We estimate that shareholders of Tiger Woods' sponsors lost US$5-US$12 billion after his car accident, relative to shareholders of firms that Mr. Woods does not endorse," the researchers wrote, adding that millions of shareholders were affected.

"Our analysis makes clear that while having a celebrity of Tiger Woods' stature as an endorser has undeniable upside, the downside risk is substantial, too," Stango, a professor at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, said in a statement released along with the study.
Woods, believed to be the world's wealthiest athlete who was estimated to earn about US$100 million a year in endorsement deals before his troubles, confessed on Dec. 11 to "infidelity" to his Swedish wife Elin Nordegren. He announced he would take an indefinite break from golf to save his marriage.
Some of the star golfer's main commercial sponsors have backed away from him as a result of the scandal. Others, while standing by him, have said they are evaluating their future relationship.

Stock Market Returns

In their study, the two professors said they looked at stock market returns for the 13 trading days after November 27, the date of the car incident that ignited the Woods scandal.

They compared returns for Woods' sponsors during this period to those of both the total stock market and of each sponsor's closest competitor. They also reviewed returns for four years before the car accident to build up a comparative picture of the sponsors' market performance.

The study looked at sponsors of Tiger Woods for which stock prices were available, in several cases through quoted prices for the parent companies. Sponsors included: Accenture; AT&T; Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf (Electronic Arts); Gillette (Proctor and Gamble); Nike; Gatorade (PepsiCo); TLC Laser Eye Centers.
The report carried a caution that this kind of statistical study might have a "particularly large" margin of error because many sponsors were subsidiaries of larger quoted companies.
Overall, Knittel and Stango concluded that the scandal reduced shareholder value in the sponsor companies by 2.3 percent, or about US$12 billion.
They called the results statistically significant and said the overall pattern of losses at the parent companies was unlikely to stem from ordinary day-to-day variation in their stock prices."

DPP urges U.S. to respect Taiwan people's will on beef imports

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) expressed its hope Wednesday that the United States will understand and respect the desire of Taiwan's people not to accept controversial beef imports from the U.S.

DPP urges U.S. to respect Taiwan people's will on beef imports

DPP spokesman Tsai Chi-chang said Taiwan's people have spelled out their demand to the government to prohibit the import of potentially hazardous U.S. beef products, referring to a consensus reached between the ruling and opposition parties to resume a ban on various U.S. beef imports.
On Tuesday, the DDP legislative caucus accepted a revised motion by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) to write into law that hazardous substances, including cattle skulls, brains, eyes, spinal cords, and intestines, as well as ground beef and other related beef products from areas in which mad cow disease has been reported in the past 10 years, are banned from entering Taiwan.

The revision to the Act Governing Food Sanitation, however, sparked fears among officials who participated in negotiations with the U.S. on the beef issue that Taipei-Washington relations could be affected.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Trade Representative office issued a joint statement saying the proposed amendment "would constitute a unilateral abrogation of a bilateral agreement."
Tsai argued that there would be no "U.S. beef import protocol" if the government had not promoted the agreement in secret, a practice showing its lack of respect for the people's will.
Consequently, there would have been no possibility of U.S. retaliation, Tsai added, blaming National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi, who was allegedly responsible for the negotiations, for the dispute.
Tsai also pointed out that a video conference held by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) -- the U.S.' de facto embassy in Taiwan -- had failed to convince Taiwan's people that the high-risk beef parts are safe for consumption.
Meanwhile, DPP legislative caucus head Wang Sing-nan said President Ma Ying-jeou should apologize for his administration's hasty decision to lift the ban on U.S. bone-in beef and that Su should step down to shoulder responsibility.
KMT caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang called on the U.S. government to respect the legislature's decision and said the caucus would ask related agencies to explain the decision to their American counterparts at an appropriate time.
Lu contended that the amendment in fact would not be very restrictive, blocking only 1-to-2-percent of U.S. beef and related products from entering Taiwan, while still allowing the U.S. to ship 98 percent of its beef products to Taiwan.
Although the administration made mistakes in forging the Taiwan-U.S. protocol, it is now not too late to amend the flaws, Lu argued. He also recognized the president's respect for the Legislative Yuan's decision, describing it as respect for democratic politics.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the nonprofit Consumers' Foundation, Hsieh Tien-jen, urged people to take part in a public hearing, to be held later Wednesday, on the foundation's proposed referendum on U.S. beef imports.
Hsieh called for the locals to stand out to say no to U.S. beef.

'Bubble' foot massagers found to be substandard

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Seven out of eight “bubble” foot massagers were found to be substandard in a random inspection conducted jointly by the Consumer's Foundation (CF) and the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI).

'Bubble' foot massagers found to be substandard

The CF and BSMI tested eight bubble foot massagers available in the market, including products by Supa Fine, Carrefour, SAMPO and Chanson. The results showed that 5 samples failed to meet the standard requirement in the electromagnetic interference category.

Failing the electromagnetic interference means that the bubble foot massagers are prone to be influenced by surrounding electronic equipment. In come cases, the massagers might even be switched on by electromagnetic interference without the user noticing, the CF said.

Four samples were found to have different key components as compared to the prototypes submitted for tests, which means that manufacturers changed the components without testing. Two samples did not meet structural inspection requirements and might lead to electric shock dangers. One product was found to have an electromagnetic coil that heats to temperatures above standard requirements. In serious incidents, it might lead to a short-circuit fire.
Only one product by SAMPO passed all of the above tests.

Hospitals to be shut down if found involved in fraud: minister

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- After three doctors were found to have colluded with patients to defraud insurance companies, the Department of Health (DOH) minister said Wednesday that the DOH will order the hospitals at which they work to suspend operations if they are found to have concealed information about illegal conduct by their doctors.

Hospitals to be shut down if found involved in fraud: minister

Yaung Chih-liang told reporters that he was pained to learn that the three doctors have been indicted for fraud.
They are Yang Chao-jan, a physician at the DOH-run Keelung Hospital; Lai Teh-hsing, a surgeon at Yee Zen General Hospital in Taoyuan County; and Wu Kuo-ching, a surgeon at St. Joseph's Hospital in Yunlin County.

Their licenses to practice were rescinded after evidence was seized by law-enforcement personnel and they all confessed to having colluded with a fraud ring since 2003, making fake medical treatment records and surgery reports to claim cancer payments from life insurance companies, according to the DOH.

Seven other individuals who acted as "patients" in the cases were also indicted by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for fraud.
Aside from the defendants, another four doctors practicing in other hospitals were also listed as suspects, Yaung said.
If the hospitals where the law-breaking doctors worked are discovered to have deliberately hidden information about their illegal practices, the facilities will be punished and might even be forced to close, Yaung noted.
A local newspaper report said that day that the fraud in the medical sector -- in which doctors were stealing samples from cancer patients to perform surgery on non-cancer sufferers to make fraudulent insurance claims -- might have involved more than 10 hospitals and funds of over NT$1 billion.
The case promoted the DOH to take the rare action of sanctioning the doctors before the court's ruling, the reports said.

4 people shot dead in Finnish mall

HELSINKI -- A gunman clad in black went on a shooting rampage early Thursday at a mall in Finland's largest city, killing four people, police and witnesses told state media.

4 people shot dead in Finnish mall

Hundreds of people in the mall were panicked by the shots, witnesses said.
Police identified the shooter as 43-year-old Ibrahim Shkupolli and said he was still on the loose.
One woman and three men were shot dead at the Sello shopping mall in the city of Espoo, police spokesman Jurki Karlio told The Associated Press, adding that all trains to the mall were halted as police searched for the gunman.
He said there were "many hundred people" inside the mall at the time.
State broadcaster Yle reported that the gunman was born in 1966 and was previously known to police.
A witness told the broadcaster a gunman dressed in black began randomly shooting at people on the second floor of the Sello mall. Another witness told Finnish radio that a panic ensued as the shooting began.
"There were loads of people who were crying, and many vendors who were completely panicked," the unnamed witness said.
The Sello shopping mall describes itself as one of the Nordic region's largest with more than 170 shops. It opened in 2005.
Finland, a nation of 5.3 million, has 1.6 million firearms in private hands and ranks among the top five nations in the world in civilian gun ownership.
Politicians, social workers and religious leaders have all urged tighter gun laws, more vigilance of Internet sites, and more social bonding in the small Nordic nation, which is known for its high suicide rates, heavy drinking and domestic violence.
Previous shootings in Finland have been linked to schools. In September 2008, a lone gunman killed nine fellow students and a teacher at a vocational college before shooting himself in the western town of Kauhajoki. In November 2007, an 18-year-old student fatally shot eight people and himself at a high school in southern Finland.
Both young men fired guns in YouTube clips posted before the shootings, shot themselves in the head and used .22-caliber handguns bought from the same store.

Indonesians to bury popular former president Wahid

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Thousands of mourners thronged roads Thursday in Indonesia to say farewell to late President Abdurrahman Wahid, a beloved, one-eyed cleric who reached out to religious minorities in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.

Wahid, who ruled for nearly two years of tumult as Indonesia embarked on a path to democracy in 1999 after three decades of dictatorship, died in a hospital Wednesday. He was 69.
A memorial service was to be led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before his burial in his East Java hometown, Jombang, where about 5,000 supporters had gathered to welcome his motorcade. Wahid's body was being flown from the capital, Jakarta, as a week of national mourning got under way.

There was a massive outpouring of sentiment for a man whose open style, impromptu joke telling and naps during his own speeches endeared him to the masses. Weeping admirers lit candles and incense and said prayers at vigils held at mosques, churches, temples, schools and landmarks.
Wahid, known fondly by his nickname Gus Dur, was a democratic reformer and proponent of moderate Islam who ultimately was unable to implement his ambitious ideas amid the financial and political chaos that dominated the vast island state of 235 million people during his presidency.
A White House statement said Wahid was "a pivotal figure" in Indonesia's transition to free government who "will be remembered for his commitment to democratic principles, inclusive politics, and religious tolerance."
During his short term, from October 1999 to July 2001, Wahid led a broad coalition of unity but was eventually impeached after firing Yudhoyono, then a Cabinet minister, for refusing to declare a state of emergency when the army positioned tanks facing the Presidential Palace.
Wahid had been in the intensive care unit of Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta for the past week.

The former president died during surgery to remove a blood clot in his heart, said professor Yusuf Misbach, head of his medical team. Wahid's condition had deteriorated because of complications with diabetes and kidney failure, he said.

Wahid had struggled with illness for years and was confined to a wheelchair. Nearly blind, he also suffered serious kidney problems and diabetes.
"We lost a great statesman who had dedicated all of his life to the nation, struggling for the sake of those suffering from injustice," his younger brother, Solahuddin Wahid, told The Associated Press.
Presidential spokesman Julian Pasha noted Wahid's widespread popularity.

"We lost one of our greatest figures, who was very much loved by people from all walks of life," said Pasha.
Abdurrahman ad-Dakhil Wahid was born Sept. 7, 1940. His father, Wahid Hasyim, was an independence hero and a minister of religion in the government of Sukarno, Indonesia's founding father.
Abdurrahman Wahid once led the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic group. As chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Wahid continued to push for interfaith dialogue and accepted an invitation to visit Israel in October 1994.
In 1997, he traveled to Tel Aviv where he jointly signed a peace charter promoted by the Simon Perez Institute, a courageous effort at diplomacy in a country that still has no formal diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
"He was a very open person. ... All minorities, underdogs or those suffering always felt secure with him. That was very extraordinary," said Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Catholic priest. "He was a humanist. ... For people like me, he emitted a friendly Islam that made us feel safe."
Wahid was an opponent of Suharto in the dictator's final years in power. Wahid attempted to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate political killings, disappearances and massacres during Suharto's 32-year rule, but political opposition was too great.
Wahid was elected Indonesia's third president on Oct. 20, 1999. While in office, he worked for peaceful solutions to secessionist movements in restive provinces such as Aceh and Papua.
He visited East Timor after it became a new nation and apologized for human rights abuses committed by Indonesian forces during its brutal 24-year occupation. Wahid also removed the powerful Gen. Wiranto from his Cabinet over his alleged role in the bloodshed in East Timor.

North Korea bans foreign currencies

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has banned the use of foreign currency, another sign its hard-line communist government is intent on reasserting control over the country's nascent market economy.

Reports say the decree warns of severe punishment for anyone using U.S. dollars, euros, yuan and other non-North Korean currencies. Foreign currencies previously were accepted in some shops, restaurants and other outlets, particularly those catering to foreigners.
The order, issued by North Korea's state security bureau and going into effect Jan. 1, aims to "forbid the circulation of foreign currency," China's state-run CCTV television

said in a brief report late Wednesday.
The Daily NK, a Seoul-based online news outlet, said the order prohibits all individuals and organizations apart from banks from possessing foreign currency. It said the decree was posted in public and at workplaces, and went into effect Dec. 28.
There was no mention of the new ban Thursday in official North Korean state media. In Seoul, a South Korean official confirmed the ban, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media on intelligence matters.
The order comes weeks after the government redenominated North Korea's currency, the won, as part of a far-reaching currency overhaul aimed at curbing runaway inflation and reasserting control over the economy.
The restrictions come as impoverished North Korea faces tightened sanctions for its nuclear defiance that have curtailed its arms exports and other traditional sources of hard currency.
Unable to feed its people, the government began allowing some markets in 2002, including some permitting farmers to trade in produce.
While an economic success, the markets also sold banned goods such as movies and soap operas from rival South Korea. The country's largest wholesale market in Pyongyang was reportedly shut down in mid-June.
The currency overhaul sought to rein in those who had profited from market commerce by ordering North Koreans to exchange a limited amount of the old bills for new ones, and to deposit their savings in banks.
The redenomination reportedly sparked anger among North Koreans who fear they may never be able to withdraw the deposits. Authorities ordered border guards to open fire on anyone who crosses the North Korean border without permission, an apparent attempt to thwart defections by people disgruntled over the currency reform.

News around the world

The great trees of London

London's New Year's Day Parade live online