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Saturday, June 7, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
What did Lily earn from John Lewis?
25 May 2014 Last updated at 00:41 By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter 
Artists' income from selling records has plummeted in recent years In March, Lily Allen gave a quote that refuses to die.
Keane will have received all of the songwriting royalties from the John Lewis ad 
The John Lewis advert was titled The Bear and The Hare 
Allen won best solo artist at this year's NME Awards 
Tinie Tempah: "An urban, cool brand"
Artists' income from selling records has plummeted in recent years In March, Lily Allen gave a quote that refuses to die."Everyone assumes I made millions from the John Lewis ad," she told Beat Magazine, "but I probably made £8,000."
The only way to profit from the song, she added, was if "some rich kid in Russia asks me to sing it at their birthday party".
"That's how it works."
The interview has since been reported by Digital Spy, repeated in the Telegraph and quoted in a Times' article headlined: "How Lily lifted the lid on what the famous really do to make money."
Allen - whose pithy, no-nonsense interviews are a godsend to newspaper columnists - was undoubtedly exaggerating for comic effect. But she raises the question: What is a hit single worth in 2014?
"Not much, sadly," says Kathy Johnson, a senior tax manager at accountancy firm Saffery Champness.
"Because of downloads and the ability to get hold of a record without paying for it, it's quite difficult to make any money."
Johnson identifies four areas of income for her high-profile clients:
recordingpublishingbranding and sponsorship touringSo, how much could Allen have made from her tie-up with John Lewis?
In the UK, an artist typically gets between 8% and 25% of what you pay for a download or a CD.
Let's say Lily Allen gets the lowest rate. As 99.6% of all singles were sold as downloads last year, that means she received 7.92p every time someone bought Somewhere Only We Know.
According to the BPI, the single was awarded a gold disc in January 2014 - representing 400,000 sales, or £31,680 for Lily Allen.
The song was also included on Now 86, which shifted more than 1.1 million copies to become the UK's best-selling album of 2013.
Allen will also have made money here - but, with 44 songs on the compilation, her share of the proceeds will have been much lower.
Keane will have received all of the songwriting royalties from the John Lewis ad Every time a song gets played in public, the copyright holders get a fee - and that fee can be pretty lucrative.
One play of Somewhere Only We Know on BBC Radio 2 generates £76.20 in royalties. And, according to Radio 2's head of music, a song on the station's playlist gets between "five and 20 plays a week".
But all that money goes to Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin, Richard Hughes - better known as Keane - who penned the song's music and lyrics in 2004.
Allen will have received a separate, but lower, performer's royalty via a company called PPL, which distributed £147m to its members in 2012."PPL revenues generated by plays on radio vary widely depending on the station," spokesman Jonathan Morrish told the BBC.
"For example a play on Radio 1 will typically earn around £40. This money is then split between the record company and the performers - both featured and session musicians.
"So what a singer, or any performer, earns even from one play broadcast on Radio 1 varies from recording to recording, depending on how many [musicians] there are on the track."
Allen's record label will also have earned a micro-payment every time Somewhere Only We Know was streamed online.
On Spotify, the average fee is £0.0035 per play. On YouTube, the label gets an extra $2 (£1.18) every 1,000 views if an advert screens before the video.
"The record label then has its own deal with the artists, and some of those deals are unfair," says Tahir Basheer, a partner at leading music law firm Sheridans.
"Some independent labels will say, 'Any income we get, we'll split half-half'. Some of the bigger labels will say, 'It's a royalty stream, so we'll pay you a percentage'.
But, he adds: "Artists can make money and do make money from digital music platforms."
"You've passed the tipping point now. All those micro-transactions adding up become a viable income stream."
The John Lewis advert was titled The Bear and The Hare John Lewis spent £6m on its Christmas campaign, but it is unclear how much of that went towards securing Lily Allen's services.
Contacted by the BBC, the retailer said: "While we don't disclose specific details of our commercial agreements, we can confirm that Lily Allen received a fee for her performance which appeared on our Christmas 2013 TV advertisement."
"We do a lot of these types of deals," says Mr Basheer. "Typically, the sort of questions one should be asking are: What is the marketing budget around this campaign? How long will the campaign be? Are there any other areas of support John Lewis could offer, such as cross-promotion or tour sponsorship?"
"The people negotiating on behalf of the artist should be asking these questions, because then they can assess and negotiate the correct value of the music."
He says Allen's payment may have been reduced because she was returning from a four-year hiatus and did not appear on-screen during the advertisement.
Nonetheless, "that campaign did a whole lot of good for her, outside of a pure fee".
"She launched her album, she got back on the market. There were other less tangible benefits it would have had for her."
Allen won best solo artist at this year's NME Awards "The one part of the music industry that's really booming right now is ticket sales," says Miss Johnson.
"It's the one income that, if you're a good performer, you can guarantee."
Following the release of her album, Sheezus, Allen has a touring schedule that runs until November 2014 - but fans of the John Lewis advert are unlikely to be the pop star's main ticket-buyers.
And what about those Russian birthday parties?
"It can be a way to make a lot of money," Miss Johnson says. "Quite a lot of our artists are doing things like Bar-Mitzvahs, private parties and opening events.
"You can turn up with a minimal production, rock up and do your set. For my client base it's very lucrative."
Tinie Tempah: "An urban, cool brand" So there is money to be made - but musicians can't rely on simply releasing an album any more.
According to Mr Basheer, "the real 'secret sauce' is the artist pushing themselves as a brand in their own right".
"Take Tinie Tempah, for example. He has an urban, cool brand and other brands want to be associated with him.
"The artist is creative by nature - but with the right team, they can turn that creativity into an entertainment business as well."
As for Allen, after paying taxes and fees to her team, it's possible that £8,000 is all that's left.
But the true figure remains Something Only She Knows.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Your pictures: Squares
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Militants attack Somali parliament
24 May 2014 Last updated at 15:22 The BBC's Mark Doyle: "Al-Shabab can hit almost at will"Islamist militants from the al-Shabab movement have attacked the Somali parliament in Mogadishu, leaving at least 10 people dead. 
Somali soldiers took up positions around the parliament building as MPs were evacuated 
Security forces returned fire as the militants attacked the front of the parliament building 
African Union troops joined Somali soldiers in trying to repel the attack 
Al-Shabab were pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 but are still able to mount attacks in the Somali capital
Explosions and gunfire were heard and witnesses reported seeing bodies.
Somali police were joined by African Union troops as they engaged the attackers.
Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, once controlled large areas of Somalia but was pushed out of major cities in 2011 and 2012.
However, it is still able to mount complex attacks. It has frequently targeted the UN-backed parliament.
A car bomb exploded outside the gates of parliament shortly before midday local time (09:00 GMT), followed by more blasts and bursts of gunfire.
The attackers then stormed the front of the parliament building as security forces fired back.
"Fighting is going on inside the parliament building and we are fighting rebels inside the building but we evacuated members of parliament," Col Mahamed Dahir said.
At least four police officers and several militants were reported killed. Eyewitnesses saw a number of bodies in military fatigues but could not confirm whether they were members of the security forces.
Two MPs were reportedly wounded in the attack as they were taken out of the back of the building.
Somali soldiers took up positions around the parliament building as MPs were evacuated Security forces returned fire as the militants attacked the front of the parliament building African Union troops joined Somali soldiers in trying to repel the attack "The enemy can now access everywhere," MP Mohamed Nor told Associated Press, criticising the army's failure to protect parliament.
An al-Shabab spokesman told the AFP news agency: "The so-called Somali parliament is a military zone. Our fighters are there to carry out a holy operation."
African Union (AU) troops from the 22,000-strong Amisom security force joined the Somali army in fighting the insurgents around parliament, an Amisom spokesman said.
Analysis by Mark Doyle, BBC World Affairs correspondent
Al-Shabab were pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 but are still able to mount attacks in the Somali capital Spectacular attacks on prestige targets attract attention - that's part of their purpose for al-Shabab. But they're just the tip of the iceberg. I've visited Somalia with African Union forces - Amisom - three times in the past year. There were smaller attacks by al-Shabab almost every single day I was there.
The African Union soldiers seek to dismiss these as mere 'harassment' of their garrisons. But these probing attacks - sometimes roadside bombs, sometimes sniper fire - pin the troops down. This is asymmetric warfare and it costs the African Union blood and equipment.
In the past three years Amisom has made significant military advances, pushing al-Shabab out of its fixed positions in Mogadishu and retaking major towns such as Kismayo and Baidoa.
But al-Shabab has the capacity to keep coming back. It is generally accepted in Somalia that if Amisom - with US backing - was not there, the government in Mogadishu would almost certainly fall.
The UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay said he was "horrified" by the attack and paid tribute to the response of Somali and African Union forces.
Somalia has experienced almost constant conflict since its government collapsed in 1991.
With Mogadishu and other towns now under government control, basic services such as street lighting and rubbish collection have now resumed.
Many Somalis have returned from exile, bringing their money and skills with them.
The parliament in Mogadishu - which operated as a transitional assembly from 2004 to 2012 - has been attacked several times, including in 2009 and 2010.
Last month, a Somali parliamentarian was blown up and another shot dead in separate attacks.
In February, al-Shabab militants attacked the presidential palace in Mogadishu, leaving at least 16 people dead.
Al-Shabab, whose name means "The Youth" in Arabic, advocates the strict Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam.
Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Mogadishu'.
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How reliable are medical research checks?
24 May 2014 Last updated at 04:15 By Gabriela Torres BBC Mundo health reporter 
Research into statin drugs is the latest to trigger concern Recent controversy over figures used in the British Medical Journal which were later withdrawn renewed questions over the peer review system - the way medical studies are checked prior to publication.
Research is reviewed by others before publication 
Not all data is shown to reviewers
Research into statin drugs is the latest to trigger concern Recent controversy over figures used in the British Medical Journal which were later withdrawn renewed questions over the peer review system - the way medical studies are checked prior to publication.The BMJ is now investigating two articles that claimed statins, used to reduce cholesterol, could cause harmful side effects in 18-20% of people who took them.
However, it was later discovered that this figure was unreliable - and scientists are still debating what the true level is.
The flaw in the studies was not picked up when they were assessed for publication.
The system used to check papers before they appear in journals is called peer review.
It is a way of validating their work through the scrutiny of the methodology that was used by other experts.
'Worst punishment'But things do go wrong, and the statins debate is not an isolated case.
It reflects an increasing problem in the scientific community: a dramatic increase in the number of papers retracted - or taken back - by journals.When a paper is retracted, it means that the research has so many flaws that it has to be withdrawn by the publications in question. Many consider this action as the worst punishment for a scientist.
In recent years the number of retractions has increased dramatically - in 2000 there were 30 but in 2010 this number had risen to 400.
However, the number of studies published increased by only 44% in that period, according to the journal Nature.
This has serious implications for science.
Although these retractions still represent less than 2% of what is published each year - around 30,000 studies - the way the scientific community works amplifies the impact of any mistakes.
Researchers base their new studies on previously published work, which means that one paper with flaws can influence dozens of others, whose work will then be used by many others before someone spots the mistake.
Research is reviewed by others before publication To some, the large increase in retractions is not particularly surprising.
"It could be, as we and others have argued, a good thing and a sign that science is interested in putting the record straight," says Ivan Oransky, editorial director of the US-based organisation MedPage Today.
"That being said, it is often very difficult for critics to get editors to take their concerns seriously, and retractions are taking longer and longer. So it's a complex story," he adds.
Japanese scientist Haruko Obokata became something of a celebrity last January after publishing a study on stem cells.It was supposed to be a ground-breaking discovery, but turned out to be a case of fraud.
Ms Obakata's work had passed peer review.
But as soon as another research team tried to replicate Obokata's work, it became evident that there had been an "inappropriate handling of the data".
She has recently been found guilty of misconduct.
Replication"Science relies on others to replicate the work, it doesn't necessarily have to be exactly the same, but in a way that guarantees that other results can be replicable," Nigel Hooper, professor of biochemistry School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, told BBC Mundo.
"We don't go out there and ask someone to repeat the study; the replication is a natural part of the scientific process," he adds.
Damian Pattison, executive director of the PLOS One journal, says: "The thing is that peer reviews aren't exempt from problems.
"It is very difficult to understand what's going on in a paper, unless you see all the data.
"And the problem is that in the majority of cases, the scientists don't include all the data in their report.
"So there may be many reasons why a study may have a good peer review and later it turns out that it is unreliable."
'Selective' presentationDr Elizabeth Iorns, a cancer biologist and CEO of Science Exchange (where scientists can share information), says the literature often does not correct itself.
She believes that the peer review system has several issues, with each reviewer expected to assess a publication that contains data generated by a team of researchers with highly specialised backgrounds.
The individual peer reviewer may not have expertise in all of the techniques used, in particular complex statistical analyses.
And she says: "There is evidence that researchers sometimes selectively present data that supports a specific hypothesis.
"This means that reviewers do not have access to all of the data generated from the research study and cannot determine if the information provided accurately represents the complete dataset."
A couple of years ago, Ivan Oransky founded Retraction Watch with science journalist Adam Marcus. The mission of this blog is to highlight cases of retractions, mistakes and corrections.
These journalists have a lot work ahead of them, judging by the study made by Danielle Fanelli, a natural scientist who specialises in the study of scientific misconduct, bias and related issues and a member of the Research Ethics and Bioethics Advisory Committee of the National Research Council in Italy.
Not all data is shown to reviewers According to a study of his, published in 2009 in PLOS One and based on the metadata of several surveys, about 2% of scientists have admitted to falsifying, making up or modifying elements at least once.
And one third confessed to other "questionable practices", including "to have 'modified research results' to improve the outcome, then to have reported results they 'knew to be untrue'."Additionally, more than 70% of scientists say they have witnessed irregular behaviour from their colleagues.
If this is the case, how reliable are the studies published every day? "I can't really answer that question," says Damian Pattinson.
He admits there is an issue with the availability of the data: "We are campaigning to make all the research data available."
Ivan Oransky admits peer review "certainly has its flaws."
But he said: "As Churchill said of democracy, it's the worst possible system except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
"People have suggested a number of ways to improve peer review.
"One, that we champion, is for journals to embrace post-publication peer review more than they currently do, so that the publishing record really reflects how science works."
Another option, he said, was to make peer review open, not anonymous, in the interests of transparency.
But there is general agreement that, in most cases, flaws in the peer review system are due to human error and have little to do with malpractice.
Belgium boosts security after attack
25 May 2014 Last updated at 00:47 
Police have sealed off streets around the museum in central Brussels Security has been stepped up at Jewish sites across Belgium after a gunman shot dead three people at the Jewish Museum in the capital Brussels.
A fourth victim of the shooting is in a serious condition in hospital 
Police have sealed off streets around the museum in central Brussels Security has been stepped up at Jewish sites across Belgium after a gunman shot dead three people at the Jewish Museum in the capital Brussels.Police are continuing to question one person detained shortly after the attack and a manhunt has been launched for a second suspect.
A fourth victim remains in a critical condition.
The prosecutor's office said the two women and a man were struck by bullets in the face or throat.
Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said he thought the shooting was probably a "terrorist act".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement strongly condemning the killings which he said were "the result of endless incitement against the Jews and their state".
Belgium has a Jewish population of some 42,000, about half of whom live in the capital.
A fourth victim of the shooting is in a serious condition in hospital Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, who was one of the first people to arrive at the scene, spoke of his shock at seeing two of the victims lying at the entrance to the museum.
"You cannot help think that when we see a Jewish museum, you think of an anti-Semitic act. But the investigation will have to show the causes," he said.
Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said Belgians stood "united... faced with this hateful attack".
He said "everything has been mobilised that can be mobilised" to find the killer.
Interior Minister Joelle Milquet said the attacker parked a car outside before entering the museum.
She said the gunman "apparently fired rather quickly, went outside and left".
The attack happened at around 15:50 local time (13:50 GMT) on Saturday in the busy Sablon area of Brussels, which was hosting a three-day jazz festival.
Ine Van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors office, said one person was detained after he drove away from the museum around the time of the attack.
A second suspect left the area on foot. Ms Van Wymersch said security camera footage was being studied to try to identify the person.
Police have cordoned off several streets around the museum.
Man denies attacking father's killer
24 May 2014 Last updated at 13:12 
Gerard Devlin snr was stabbed to death outside his home in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 2006 A west Belfast man has appeared in court accused of attacking his father's killer.
Gerard Devlin snr was stabbed to death outside his home in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 2006 A west Belfast man has appeared in court accused of attacking his father's killer. At Belfast Magistrates' Court, Gerard Devlin, 24, was charged with assaulting Francisco Notorantonio and possessing a screwdriver on the Glen Road on 20 May.
In November 2008, Notorantonio, then from Whitecliff Parade, was jailed for 11 years after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Gerard Devlin snr.
Mr Devlin was stabbed during a fight outside his west Belfast home in 2006.
He died in front of his partner and children.
Four other members of the Notorantonio family were convicted for an offence of affray.
On Saturday, the court was told there was a "long-running dispute" between the families and that at around 15:00 BST last Tuesday, staff at St Theresa's Primary School called the police to report two men fighting outside the school gates.
Ear bittenBoth were later treated in hospital, the court heard - Mr Devlin for an injury to his ear and 27-year-old Notorantonio for stab wounds to his torso and left thigh.
At the scene Notorantonio alleged he had been attacked by Mr Devlin who he said had been armed with a screwdriver, telling officers that he bit his attacker's left ear "to distract him" as he tried to disarm him.
A police officer said police investigations had revealed the incident had been captured on the school's CCTV camera, describing how the footage allegedly depicted Mr Devlin initially attacking Notorantonio's car as it sat in slow-moving traffic, but was "dragged away" by a woman.
Twenty seconds later, he said, Mr Devlin ran back on screen, attacked the car again and it was then that Notorantonio got out and the pair fought for around 10 seconds before members of the public intervened and Devlin ran off.
Arrested and interviewed, Mr Devlin, from the Donegal Road, claimed he had been the victim and was defending himself, but refused to answer questions when the CCTV footage, allegedly in stark contrast to his claims, was put to him.
History of frictionThe officer said police were objecting to bail on the grounds that if released, Mr Devlin could interfere with witnesses, reoffend and not turn up for court appearances.
Mr Devlin's solicitor submitted that given the history of friction between the families, there had been "enhanced allegations being made from both sides" in the past and that with stringent conditions, police concerns could be assuaged.
Refusing the bail application however, a district judge said he was "sadly, aware of the long and alarming history of dispute between these families" but that there was "too high a risk of of further offences" to release him.
He ordered Mr Devlin to appear in court again via video link on 5 June.
Pakistan PM to go to Modi ceremony
24 May 2014 Last updated at 08:19 
Mr Modi (left) and Mr Sharif (right) are both political conservatives but relations between their countries are fraught with suspicion Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to attend the inauguration of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India on Monday.
Mr Modi (left) and Mr Sharif (right) are both political conservatives but relations between their countries are fraught with suspicion Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to attend the inauguration of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India on Monday. It is the first time since the two countries won independence in 1947 that a prime minister from one state will attend such a ceremony in the other.
The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars in the past 60 years.
Mr Modi is seen as a hardliner on national security issues. His BJP party advocates a tough stance on Pakistan.
But correspondents say his huge election victory gives him a mandate to reach out to Pakistan in a way the previous administration could not.
Bilateral ties suffered badly in the wake of the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, when 166 people were killed by Pakistani gunmen.
Relations improved slightly under outgoing PM Manmohan Singh, but there are still regular skirmishes on the disputed border in Kashmir.
Mr Singh was invited to Mr Sharif's inauguration last year but did not attend.
Analysis from the BBC's Kim Ghattas, in Islamabad
People close to Pakistan's prime minister say he was keen to accept the invitation but it was still a tough decision to make. Turning down Mr Modi's gesture of friendship could have caused renewed tensions between the two countries. But Mr Modi is also viewed warily here, because of his hardline Hindu nationalist positions. And Pakistan's military has not been keen on Mr Sharif's own efforts to improve ties with archrival India.
His decision to travel to Delhi will add to the already growing tension between Pakistan's civilian leadership and the powerful army. Mr Sharif's determination to prosecute former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf and his decision to pursue peace talks with the Taliban are also a source of friction with the army.
Mr Modi and Mr Sharif are both political conservatives who campaigned on pro-business platforms.
However, many Pakistanis view Mr Modi, a Hindu nationalist, with suspicion.
As chief minister of the state of Gujarat, he was accused of doing little to stop the violence during the 2002 communal riots in which more than 1,000 people - mostly Muslims - died.
Mr Modi has always denied the accusations and was never charged.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Duchenne drug 'nears approval' in EU
24 May 2014 Last updated at 01:55 
A new drug could be used to treat children in the UK with Duchenne in 2015 A drug to treat a particular form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been given the green light by the European Medicines Agency and could be available in the UK in six months.
A new drug could be used to treat children in the UK with Duchenne in 2015 A drug to treat a particular form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been given the green light by the European Medicines Agency and could be available in the UK in six months.Translarna is only relevant to patients with a 'nonsense mutation', who make up 10-15% of those affected by Duchenne.
The EMA decided not to pass the drug in January, but they have since re-examined the evidence.
A campaign group said the drug must reach the right children without delay.
There are currently no approved therapies available for this life-threatening condition.The patients who will benefit the most are those aged five years and over who are still able to walk, the EMA said.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease that gradually causes weakness and loss of muscle function.
Patients with the condition lack normal dystrophin, a protein found in muscles, which helps to protect muscles from injury.
In patients with the disease, the muscles become damaged and eventually stop working.
There are 2,400 children in the UK living with muscular dystrophy, but only those whose condition is caused by a particular 'nonsense mutation' - namely 200 children - are suitable to use Translarna.
Urgency in UKThe drug, ataluren, will be known by the brand name of Translarna in the EU. It was developed by PTC Therapeutics.
The next step will see the European Commission rubberstamp the EMA's scientific 'green light' within the next three months and authorise the drug to be marketed in the European Union.
At that point, individual member states, including the UK, must decide how it will be funded.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is calling for urgent meetings with National Institute of Health of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and NHS England to discuss how Translarna can be cleared for approval and use in the UK.
It said families in the UK could have access to the drug by spring 2015.
Robert Meadowcroft, chief executive of the campaign, said: "This decision by the EMA is fantastic news.
"Most of those diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, usually before the age of five, will use a powered wheelchair before they are 12, will not have the muscle strength to pick up a glass of water by the age of 20 and will not live to see their 30th birthday.
"This step forward for Translarna offers much needed hope."
He added that extending the numbers of patients taking Translarna would help to accelerate the development of the drug.
Clinical trials are still ongoing on the drug and the results will have to be sent to the EMA.
Deadly attack on Djibouti restaurant
24 May 2014 Last updated at 22:16 
At least two people have been killed in an attack on a restaurant popular with Westerners in Djibouti, police say.
At least two people have been killed in an attack on a restaurant popular with Westerners in Djibouti, police say.Grenades were thrown at La Chaumiere restaurant in the capital of the Horn of Africa country, officials said. At least another 11 people were wounded.
Unconfirmed reports said that two employees had been killed and several foreigners wounded.
No group has said it carried out the attack and the motive was not immediately clear.
Colonel Omar Hassan, head of police in Djibouti City, told Reuters: "It's a criminal act. We have two people dead and 11 wounded. It was grenades."
Djibouti's ADI news agency reported several explosions around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and said that the area was quickly sealed off by police.
Djibouti, a former French colony, is home to US and French military bases and also contributes troops to the African Union force fighting al-Shabab militants in Somalia.
Its port is also used by foreign navies protecting the Gulf of Aden's shipping lanes from Somali pirates.
VIDEO: Film Review - the week's new films
Film critic Mark Kermode reviews the week's film releases, including X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Heli and Fading Gigolo.
Pope praises Jordan as tour begins
24 May 2014 Last updated at 16:13 The Pope greets reporters on his plane to the Middle East, including the BBC's Jeremy BowenPope Francis has praised Jordan for its "generous welcome" to Syrian refugees at the start of a three-day visit to the Middle East. Restraining orders 
Preparations were well under way at Manger Square in Bethlehem ahead of the Pope's visit
The Pope was welcomed by King Abdullah II and in a speech at the royal palace, he stressed the need for an "urgent" solution to the Syrian conflict.
He went on to celebrate Mass at a stadium in the capital Amman and will later meet Syrian refugees.
The tour's official purpose is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church.
However, correspondents say many will expect Pope Francis to use his influence to try to ease tensions in the Middle East.
His highlighting of Jordan's role in accepting Syrian refugees came weeks after the kingdom opened a new camp which could accommodate up to 130,000 refugees. Jordan is already host to almost 600,000 people fleeing the conflict, according to the UN.
In his speech, he also called for more respect for religious freedom, calling it "a fundamental human right".
"I cannot fail to express my hope that it will be upheld throughout the Middle East and the entire world," he said. Christian minorities have been subject to increasing attacks in some parts of the Middle East in recent years.
He thanked Jordan for its "efforts to seek lasting peace for the entire region" and said this would also require a "just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".
On Sunday he is to begin two days in the West Bank and Israel.
He told journalists that the trip would be "challenging" but rewarding, AP reports.
By BBC Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen, travelling with Pope Francis
Pope Francis comes across as an approachable, amiable man. Not long after takeoff he came to greet the 50 or so journalists travelling with him. They're mostly reporters who follow the Pope full-time. One woman said that Pope Benedict, Francis's predecessor, never came back to talk to journalists. She asked him to pose for a selfie, which he did with a smile.
He told me he had been in Jerusalem only once before, in 1973 at the time of the Yom Kippur war. The Pope insists his trip is about religion, officially marking the fiftieth anniversary of a visit by Pope Paul VI 50 years ago. But he's heading for Jerusalem, where everything is political. It will take diplomatic skill to avoid controversy.
Palestinians hope he will have something to say about their desire for independence. In Bethlehem, which is in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinians say they are threatened by the encroachment of Jewish settlements. The Israeli government will hope he stays as neutral as possible - a position which would disappoint Palestinian Christians.
Restraining orders The Pope will be accompanied by a rabbi and an imam - friends from his native Argentina - and hopes to improve relations between Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land.
His journey comes only a few weeks after the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed.
Israel has issued restraining orders against several Jewish right-wing activists this week over concerns that they could try to disrupt the visit.
Police said offensive "anti-Christian graffiti" was discovered on the wall of a church in the southern city of Beersheba on Friday.
Preparations were well under way at Manger Square in Bethlehem ahead of the Pope's visit The Pope's journey marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and the head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Athenagoras.
The meeting ended 900 years of separation and enduring antagonism between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity.
On Sunday, Pope Francis will travel to Bethlehem in the West Bank and preside over Mass in Manger Square, near the site where Jesus is believed to have been born.
He will also meet the current Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew, and they will sign a declaration of friendship.
His schedule on Monday is set to include a visit to the al-Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem's Old City followed by the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall.
Pope Francis will be the fourth leader of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Jerusalem, after Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who went there in 2009.
NI21's McKenzie quitting politics
24 May 2014 Last updated at 09:17 
Tina McKenzie is quitting active politics NI21's European election candidate Tina McKenzie is quitting politics.
Tina McKenzie is quitting active politics NI21's European election candidate Tina McKenzie is quitting politics. The party is in disarray, amid calls on its leader Basil McCrea to step aside while allegations of sexual impropriety are investigated.
Mr McCrea has denied the claims that emerged on polling day.
Ms McKenzie told the Irish News she was "disillusioned and no longer interested in politics".
She confirmed to the BBC that while she would remain an NI21 member and still supported its concept, she wanted to step back from active politics to concentrate on her family and business.
While the European election result will not be known until Monday, Ms McKenzie also stood in the council election but was eliminated in the Balmoral district electoral area, having only received 256 first-preference votes.
NI21 was set up by MLAs Basil McCrea and John McCallister, after they quit the Ulster Unionist Party in 2013.
Just before polling day on Thursday, the two men had a very public falling-out.
The party announced on Tuesday that it was dropping its unionist designation at Stormont to describe itself as "other" - a decision described by Mr McCallister on the front page of the following day's News Letter as "crazy" and "dysfunctional".
Friday, May 30, 2014
VIDEO: Should more UK pupils learn Mandarin?
Thousands of pupils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to sit their Mandarin GCSE exams on Friday.
The number of students make up only fraction of those studying European languages and many argue that is a wasted opportunity which could be costing our economy billions.
The BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie reports.
Miliband: Labour 'can win in 2015'
24 May 2014 Last updated at 23:07 
Ed Miliband has said his party's local election performance shows it can win at Westminster in 2015.
Ed Miliband has said his party's local election performance shows it can win at Westminster in 2015.The Labour leader insisted the party was ahead in its target seats.
The claim came despite complaints from some Labour figures about him personally, and its local election campaign.
While it won more than 330 extra councillors in Thursday's poll, projections suggested Labour only secured a 2% lead over its Tory rivals.
Mr Miliband is due to visit Thurrock where his party lost control of the council after a surge in support for UKIP.
He had hailed the Essex town as evidence Labour was "winning back trust" when it took the town hall last year.
But it was left with no one party in control after UKIP took two Labour and three Tory seats on Thursday.
'Desire for change'The Thurrock constituency is one of Labour's top target seats for 2015.
Polling data compiled by Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft on the voting intentions of 26,000 people in 26 Conservative-Labour battlegrounds suggested there could be an average 6.5% swing from the Conservatives to Labour in these marginal seats.
This would be enough to oust 83 Conservative MPs and secure Labour a healthy Commons majority.
Mr Miliband said he was determined to attract voters "from every walk of life".
"The local elections show Labour can win because it is our party which is winning where it matters in dozens of our target seats for the next election," he said.
"From Cambridge to Redbridge, from Crawley to Amber Valley, people are electing Labour councils to meet their desire for change."
Day in pictures: 21 May 2014
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Neighbours from hell - with style
25 May 2014 Last updated at 01:03 By Joanna Robertson Paris 
Neighbours' Day happens every May across France. It is a time for people to make peace with the people next door. But in the apartment blocks of Paris, bitterness and hostility are thriving.
The sitcom Nos Chers Voisins, or Our Dear Neighbours, reflects the real-life tensions of apartment living 
Continue reading the main story 
This note from Proust reads: "Allow me to thank you Madame, from the bottom of my heart and ask you to convey my regards to the doctor while laying my respectful homage at your feet"
Neighbours' Day happens every May across France. It is a time for people to make peace with the people next door. But in the apartment blocks of Paris, bitterness and hostility are thriving.The people upstairs are having breakfast. I know because there is a particular scraping of chairs and the blunt thud of slippered feet crossing to and fro from kitchen to dining room. He talks, she hums. A pause. They must be pouring the coffee.
Our apartment building, like many in Paris, dates from the late 19th Century. The floors are echoing, antique parquet and there is absolutely no sound insulation.
A sneeze on the fourth floor can be heard on the second.
My neighbour, Madame Joliot, an unabashed television addict, is bemused.
"It is strange," she says. "In all those American soaps, the neighbours are lovely. Helpful, chatty, kind, romantic. But when I watch Nos Chers Voisins - well, that's France!"
The sitcom Nos Chers Voisins, or Our Dear Neighbours, reflects the real-life tensions of apartment living Madame Joliot and several million other French tune in each evening to watch Our Dear Neighbours, the cult TV comedy series of everyday life in a fictional apartment block.
It gives the perfect "front-door spy hole" view of what goes on amongst the neighbours.
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Brief encounters in the hallway, conversations in the lift, little incidents in the courtyard - all the tensions, intrigues, scheming rivalries and absurd pettiness of communal French living are revealed.Madame Joliot herself is caught in the usual tangled web of inter-neighbour dispute.
There is the woman on the floor below who cannot abide Madame Joliot's flowering terraces because, from time to time, leaves blow onto her balcony.
Complaints ensue - formal letters are sent by registered post, threatening legal action unless Madame Joliot personally vacuums the few leaves, with her own vacuum cleaner, whenever they might fall.
On the second floor, the daughter of the building's owner throws deafening all-night parties with dismaying regularity but no-one dares complain lest there be trouble with the lease.
If, however, Madame Joliot's pet dog barks even once in the courtyard in the middle of a weekday, there is hell to pay.
Just above, there is a lady with stilettos - extraordinarily loud when heard through the ceiling. Madame Joliot complained, fountain pen on elegant visiting card duly slipped under doorway.
Continue reading the main story My first baby's pram was slashed so I had to lug it down the cellar steps each night and up again each morning”End Quote Madame Grelois Parisian The reply, a typed letter, sent by registered post, copied to a solicitor, read: "Madame, I have restored and polished my parquet and I have no intention of ruining the effect with rugs just for your benefit."
Leaves, heels and parties are one thing. Vandalism as revenge is quite another and yet, it is relatively common.
Madame Grelois, 72, has lived in the same building in Saint Germain for the last 50 years and raised her children and now her grandchildren there.
"Pushchairs, prams, there is always a problem," she says. "There are mountains of rules but it makes no difference.
"The number of pushchairs that are vandalised - deliberately ruined - when they are left neatly and correctly in the hallway!
"My first baby's pram was slashed so I had to lug it down the cellar steps each night and up again each morning."
With much of Paris living between 19th century walls and floors, it is clear that disturbances between neighbours cannot be anything new.
The writer, Marcel Proust, had his bedroom lined with cork to deaden the noise but it was not entirely successful as a new volume of letters, just published, reveals.
Letters to His Neighbour is a collection of notes written by Proust to his upstairs neighbour, Madame Williams - an accomplished harpist - and her husband, an American dentist whose consulting room was directly above Proust's bedroom.
This note from Proust reads: "Allow me to thank you Madame, from the bottom of my heart and ask you to convey my regards to the doctor while laying my respectful homage at your feet" The dental drill with its rudimentary electric motor sent an unfortunate din through the cork-lined ceiling and into Proust's head - which was trying to concentrate as he composed his complex masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time.
The letters are, of course, exquisitely written and elevate the form of notes-between-neighbours from the depths of the rude and banal to the heights of poetry, wit and grace.
Proust and Madame Williams became intimate friends through their correspondence and Proust's polite requests for silence on certain days and at certain times are put with a delicacy and charm that even the most heartless neighbour could not refuse.
The letters have caused some reflection amongst residents of the more self-consciously intellectual areas of the city and - if the local gossips are to be believed - neighbourly correspondence is once again aspiring to literary art amongst the streets of Montparnasse.
"Veuillez agreer, Madame, ma reconnaissance pour votre charitable souci de mon repos…"
"Madame, with my grateful recognition of your charitable concern for my repose and my greatest respectful gratitude, I am yours, very faithfully, Marcel Proust."
Ah, those were the days.
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Bahraini rights activist released
24 May 2014 Last updated at 20:50 
Nabeel Rajab is a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been freed after serving two years in prison for his involvement in illegal protests.
The Bahraini authorities have come under international pressure to release Mr Rajab
Nabeel Rajab is a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been freed after serving two years in prison for his involvement in illegal protests.Rajab, who heads the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), was convicted in 2012 of taking part in illegal gatherings and disturbing public order.
An appeals court later reduced his original three-year term by a year.
He was one of several leading activists arrested by the authorities after pro-democracy protests erupted in 2011.
AppealSoon after his release on Saturday, Rajab told the Associated Press news agency that he was happy to be out after spending more than 600 days in prison.
He also appealed for the release of all political prisoners, the agency added.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights First, have campaigned on behalf of Rajab throughout his prison sentence, calling on the authorities to release him.
In December 2013, a Bahraini court rejected a request by Rajab's lawyers for early release. They argued that he was eligible because he had already served three-quarters of a two-year sentence.
In addition to his role with the BCHR, Mr Rajab is deputy secretary general of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
Before his imprisonment in July 2012, Mr Rajab was repeatedly detained in connection with the pro-democracy protests that erupted in the Gulf kingdom the previous year.
The Bahraini authorities have come under international pressure to release Mr Rajab Amnesty said that he was punched in the face several times by riot police as he led a demonstration in February 2012, and in May 2012 was charged with "insulting a national institution" in comments about the interior ministry he posted on Twitter.
In June 2012, Rajab was sentenced to three months in jail over different tweets he wrote about the prime minister. The conviction was eventually overturned on appeal, but only after he had begun his two-year sentence for taking part in unauthorised protests.
At his trial, Mr Rajab told the court that he had been held in dire conditions and subjected to ill treatment, including being placed in solitary confinement with a dead animal and kept almost naked.
BCHR's founder, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is serving a life sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government. He was convicted on evidence that was widely accepted as having been secured under torture.
Art school library destroyed in fire
24 May 2014 Last updated at 18:54 
The library was recognised as being one of the finest examples of art nouveau in the world The iconic library at Glasgow School of Art has been lost in the fire which swept through the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building on Friday.
Mackintosh was a 28-year-old junior draughtsman when he drew up plans for the building 
The library was recognised as being one of the finest examples of art nouveau in the world The iconic library at Glasgow School of Art has been lost in the fire which swept through the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building on Friday.The library was recognised as being one of the finest examples of art nouveau in the world.
Broadcaster Muriel Gray, who is the art school's chairwoman, said: "This is an enormous blow and we are understandably devastated."
However, she revealed that the art school's archives were safe.
Ms Gray, a former student at the school, confirmed that most of the building was still standing.
"The most amazing, almost miraculous news is that the majority of the building is still intact," she said.
"Due to one of the most astonishingly intelligent and professional pieces of strategy by the fire services, they succeeded in protecting the vast majority of the building, apparently by forming a human wall of firefighters up the west end of the main staircase and containing the fire."
She added: "Also, after ensuring no lives were in peril, they displayed an impressive understanding of the precious nature of the building, and due to their careful and meticulous handling of each developing situation the damage is considerably less than we dreaded.
"We have run out of words with which to thank them, but the school has most certainly gained a new gallery of heroes."
Ms Gray, who had burst into tears when she saw the building on fire, also confirmed that many students had lost some, or all, of their work, but other work had been preserved.
She said curators and academic staff were hoping to be allowed into the building in the next few days to assess what could be salvaged.
"The joy that our archives are safe combines with the delight in seeing most of our beloved building bruised and battered, but most certainly not destroyed," she added.
Speaking about the loss of the library, Ms Gray said: "Mackintosh was not famous for working in precious materials. It was his vision that was precious and we are confident that we can recreate what was lost as faithfully as possible.
"Our main concern right now is the welfare of the students and the impending graduation and everyone is working hard together to achieve the best outcome for all."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said more than 90% of the structure was viable and they had protected up to 70% of the contents.
The fire service has yet to confirm the cause of the blaze, which some students have suggested could have started in the basement when a spark from a projector caught a piece of foam.
The UK government has said it would make a significant contribution towards the costs of restoring the building.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said it would contribute "in the millions, if necessary" to restore a "priceless gem".
Mr Alexander, who was visiting the site on Saturday afternoon, said: "We've seen the appalling damage to the Glasgow School of Art. It's a hugely important building not just for Glasgow and Scotland but for the whole of the United Kingdom.
"The UK government will be willing to make a significant financial contribution towards the cost of rebuilding.
"Obviously at the moment we don't know the precise extent of the damage or what the costs will be, so I can't put a figure on it, but the chancellor and I have spoken this morning and we both think it is appropriate."
He added: "This is going to be a costly business but it's a very important landmark for the whole of the UK so we stand ready to provide an appropriate share of the funds that will be necessary to bring this hugely important building back to life."
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who also visited the site, said , Ms Hyslop said: "It was truly heartbreaking to see the Mackintosh Building in flames.
"We are all thankful that no-one has been hurt and for the heroic efforts of firefighters to safely evacuate the site and save the building and as much as possible of the work it contains.
"I know from speaking to Professor Tom Inns [director] that GSA is determined that the school will recover, and rebuild and renew the Mackintosh building and what it stands for.
"He can count on support from friends of the GSA in Scotland and around the world, including the Scottish government.
"We have already invested heavily in the School in recent years, contributing around £55m to the new Reid building and to conservation of the Mackintosh building.
"We know the restoration will run into millions of pounds, and we are committed to strongly supporting the funding effort required."
She added that the Scottish Cabinet would discuss the issue on Tuesday and would then make an announcement on the restoration plans."
An ecumenical church service was held at Renfield St Stephens in Bath Street for those affected by the fire.
Fire broke out at the listed building at about 12:30 on Friday.
Eyewitnesses said the fire appeared to have started when a projector exploded in the basement of the building on Renfrew Street in the city centre.
Chief Fire Officer Alasdair Hay: "We took a roll call and we are as confident as we can be that nobody has been injured in this fire"Everyone who had been in the packed building was said to have escaped safely.
Final year students had been preparing for their end-of-year degree show in the building when the blaze broke out.
The main fire was extinguished by about 17:00.
The Mackintosh building, completed in 1909, is "unique" in that it is a working art school as well as a work of art.
Mackintosh was a 28-year-old junior draughtsman when he drew up plans for the building It has an A list rating, meaning it has been classified by Historic Scotland for its age and rarity.
From the facade to the fixtures and fittings every detail shows the craft of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Scotland's most-lauded designer.
In a statement issued at 21:30, Assistant Chief Officer Dave Boyle said crews had been working "absolutely flat out" in an effort to save "this treasured building and many of the items it housed".
He said: "While the priority from the outset was to save life we have also been working closely with Glasgow School of Art staff to ensure firefighters conducted an effective salvage operation.
"We are of course very conscious the Mackintosh is a world-renowned building that is a key feature of this great city, and that the artworks it stores are not only valuable but also cherished."
ACO Boyle added: "We are acutely aware this period is the culmination of years of endeavour for students and that their irreplaceable work is inside the Mackintosh.
"Work to save everything that can be saved is ongoing and we will continue to work closely with GSA staff and students throughout this operation."
Fire crews arrived on the scene within four minutes of the alarm being raised.
Search and rescue teams led a number of people to safety. There were no reports of any casualties.
Police cordoned off Renfrew Street, and smoke was also drifting across the M8. Large crowds of students and onlookers gathered near the scene, with several people in tears as they watched the events unfold.
Students watched on in horror as the iconic building went up in flamesAustin Yuill, who works as a chef at the art school, told the BBC: "I'm told it started in the basement and it's worked its way all the way up through the five floors.
"As far as I know it started from a spark which has gone on to foam, expanding foam."
Charles Rennie Mackintosh is lauded as Scotland's most influential architect and designer, with the art school building which bears his name considered by many to be his greatest masterpiece.
Mackintosh was a 28-year-old junior draughtsman at a Glasgow architecture firm when he drew up the designs for the building, which features distinctive heavy sandstone walls and large windows.
The dramatic art nouveau design took about 12 years to be completed, opening in 1909, but it signalled the birth of a new style in 20th Century European architecture.
The president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Iain Connelly, said the value of the building "goes well beyond Glasgow or even Scotland".
In recent years, Glasgow School of Art has produced many of the UK's leading contemporary artists such as Douglas Gordon and David Shrigley and three recent Turner Prize winners: Simon Starling in 2005, Richard Wright in 2009 and Martin Boyce in 2011.
Other former students include actors Robbie Coltrane and Peter Capaldi and artist Peter Howson.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
House prices 'soar' in seaside towns
BBC News - Aberdeenshire seaside house prices soar, Halifax finds /**/ .bbccom_display_none{display:none;} 
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Scotland business Home World UK England N. Ireland Scotland Wales Business Politics Health Education Sci/Environment Technology Entertainment & Arts Scotland Politics Scotland Business Edinburgh, Fife & East Glasgow & West Highlands & Islands NE, Orkney & Shetland South Tayside & Central 24 May 2014Last updated at 12:17 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Aberdeenshire seaside house prices soar, Halifax finds 
Fraserburgh experienced the biggest percentage price rise in the survey Continue reading the main storyRelated StoriesUK house prices 'up 8% in a year'Property market 'still constrained'Scottish house prices rise by 3.5% Five seaside towns in Aberdeenshire have recorded at least a doubling in house prices since 2004, a report by Halifax has found. 
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Accessibility links Skip to content Skip to local navigation Accessibility Help BBC iD BBC iD Settings Sign out BBC navigation News Sport Weather iPlayer TV Radio More… Search term: Scotland business Home World UK England N. Ireland Scotland Wales Business Politics Health Education Sci/Environment Technology Entertainment & Arts Scotland Politics Scotland Business Edinburgh, Fife & East Glasgow & West Highlands & Islands NE, Orkney & Shetland South Tayside & Central 24 May 2014Last updated at 12:17 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Aberdeenshire seaside house prices soar, Halifax finds Fraserburgh experienced the biggest percentage price rise in the survey Continue reading the main storyRelated StoriesUK house prices 'up 8% in a year'Property market 'still constrained'Scottish house prices rise by 3.5% Five seaside towns in Aberdeenshire have recorded at least a doubling in house prices since 2004, a report by Halifax has found. Fraserburgh experienced the biggest rise with a 141% increase - from an average price of jut over £53,600 in 2004 to more than £129,000 in 2014.
Cove Bay, Peterhead, Inverbervie and Stonehaven saw the next biggest gains.
In the UK as a whole, house prices in seaside towns have risen by about £500 a month over the last decade.
But Halifax found that coastal living was still significantly cheaper than property prices across Britain generally.
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland was found to be the least expensive seaside town out of the 196 looked at across Britain, with an average house price of £83,760.
'Unique lifestyle'Salcombe in Devon was found to be the most expensive coastal town, with average house prices at £615,344.
Craig McKinlay, mortgage director at Halifax, said: "Seaside towns provide a unique lifestyle opportunity and remain popular places for people to live, while also attracting those looking for second homes or holiday properties which can place additional upward pressure on house prices.
"For once, oil and water have mixed - with Aberdeenshire at the heart of Scotland's vigorous energy industry, it's little wonder that seaside houses have increased so substantially."
The study used figures from the Land Registry and the Registrar of Scotland.
UK seaside towns with biggest house price increases since 2004TownCurrent pricePercentage increase since 2004 Source: Halifax 1. Fraserburgh Scotland £129,235 141% 2. Cove Bay, Scotland £180,499 119% 3. Peterhead, Scotland £130,234 118% 4. Inverbervie, Scotland £215,593 114% 5. Stonehaven, Scotland £228,037 101% 6. Aldeburgh, East Anglia £446,576 95% 7. Montrose, Scotland £118,441 94% 8. Prestonpans, Scotland £168,772 93% 9. Wadebridge, South West £371,670 91% 10. Workington, North £131,557 91% More on This Story .related-links-list li {position: relative;}.related-links-list .gvl3-icon {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;} Related Stories UK house prices 'up 8% in a year' 20 MAY 2014, BUSINESS Property market 'still constrained' 08 MAY 2014, SCOTLAND BUSINESS Scottish house prices rise by 3.5% 29 APRIL 2014, SCOTLAND BUSINESS From other news sites Carluke Gazette Seaside area house prices increase 9 hrs ago Easier Rising tide of Scotland's seaside town house prices 15 hrs ago Northampton Chronicle and Echo House prices by sea 'increase 42%' 19 hrs ago Wales Online House prices rise in seaside towns, but coastal living still cheaper 19 hrs ago Herald Scotland Rooms with a view: Property prices double beside the sea 23 hrs ago About these results Related Internet links Halifax Registers of Scotland Land Registry The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print More Scotland business stories RSSLand ownership mapping plan unveiledA mapping project to work out who owns every part of Scotland is to be completed within 10 years, the Scottish government says.
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