| BBC cuts spending on S4C by £4m BBC Wales plans to cut £4m from the £23.5m it spends annually on programming for Welsh language channel S4C over the next three years. bbc.co.uk |
Campaign launched to build Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine A steam-powered computer designed by the 19th century mathematician Charles Babbage could finally be built after a campaign was launched to bring his dream to life. telegraph.co.uk |
Weird pre-nups Drug tests, weigh-ins and infidelity bonuses bbc.co.uk |
Killer Howell gassed wife on sofa The wife of killer Colin Howell called out to her eldest son as her husband gassed her to death, a court has heard. bbc.co.uk |
Injuries and arrests as anti-cuts protest in south-east London turns violent Police forced to call for reinforcements as hundreds force their way into Lewisham Council meetingPolice tonight arrested several people outside Lewisham town hall in south-east London as demonstrators tried to gatecrash a meeting where councillors were voting to cut the council budget by £60m.Officers had to call for help from the Metropolitan police's Territorial Support Group as 100 protesters tried to force their way into the building."Police have made a number of arrests for criminal damage and public order offences," the Met said in a statement. "A number of police officers were treated for minor injuries."Sue Luxton, a former Green party councillor who was returning home from work at 6.45pm, said she saw 200 to 300 protesters, including a large number of students from Goldsmiths College."People were angry because the council had arranged for only 40 people to attend the meeting, although many wanted to be there," Luxton said. "About 100 people tried to rush in. I think the police were little overwhelmed. There were police with riot shields and police horses. The area was cordoned off – buses couldn't get through."A YouTube video showed much pushing and shoving outside the town hall as police barred protesters holding "fight the cuts" placards and who were chanting: "Let us in."Darren Johnson, a Green councillor, said he voted against the cuts along with two Conservatives. The Labour majority voted in favour while the Liberal Democrats abstained."There are better ways of doing these rather deep cuts in frontline services," Johnson said. "I spoke of the importance of reducing high salaries of officers and cutting budgets for consultants, PR and marketing. These cuts will mean the closure of an early learning centre and less street cleaning."Local councils face large budget cuts after the coalition government significantly reduced local government funding in October's comprehensive spending review. Lewisham has to find savings of £60m in its annual £271m budget over the next three years. Mike Harris, the Labour vice-chair of the council, said: "Lewisham gets 82% of its income from central government. After the CSR, we expect our budget to be reduced by 29% which will have an absolutely devastating effect on local services. Tonight, protesters set off flames and attempted to storm the town hall. The sad thing is, people will get increasingly angry as the cuts begin to bite on the very poorest in society."ProtestLondonPoliceTax and spendingSpending review 2010Mark Tranguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |