Secret Europe: Visit Portugal Norway Croatia and Sweden for farming escapes

It"s hard to sympathise with people who travel to cities and then complain about the endless traffic, rude people on the metro and bikes hurtling towards them as they gingerly cross the road. these are the reasons these places are called "cities".

Otherwise they would be called "the Norfolk Broads" or "the Black Forest". That said, who doesn"t enjoy a more rural escape now and then?

It gives us the chance to unwind amid the splendours of nature and soak up the bucolic life, free of noise pollution, office workers and having to decide between eight different types of latte in the caf�; every morning.

Take an average, popular holiday destination such as Portugal. sure, there are great resorts along the Algarve coast and cultural delights aplenty in Lisbon, but, instead of swimming with the tide, consider the following itinerary.

Falling for Croatia: See cascading waterfalls at the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park

Douro River Valley, Portugal

Fly into Oporto in the north and head out into the surrounding countryside for an experience a world away from the beach-umbrella fights, overpriced cocktails and signs advertising fried English breakfasts.

Colourful creation: A traditional ceramic rooster from Barcelos, Portugal

Little-known towns such as Barcelos have fascinating experiences lying in wait. It"s in this medieval walled town that one of the most famous symbols of Portugal was created - the colourful ceramic cockerel.

Whether or not you choose to believe the legend that such a beast saved the life of a wrongly convicted man by crowing his innocence, these cockerels make striking souvenirs. In this town, pottery is a serious business and, winding through the streets lined with baroque houses, you"ll come to stalls selling many types of ceramic product.

The Thursday market here is Europe"s largest open-air market. Under 13th-century architecture, the ceramics, folk art and handicraft stalls vie for the attention o f a predominantly local clientele.

For an even more rural escape, the Douro River Valley is a fertile UNESCO World Heritage site, with vineyards sloping back from the water"s edge.

Unspoiled river views complement the local wineries, especially those producing the port wine that takes its name from the region - Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Elsewhere, Croatia was once completely off the beaten track, though destinations such as Dubrovnik and Zagreb are a little more familiar to us these days.

The Dalmatian Coast is tourist friendly - and for good reason. The Makarska riviera, a 35-mile stretch along the Adriatic sea, is overshadowed by the hulking Biokovo Mountain.

Not only is it a great resort for lolling about on the Dalmatian Coast"s fantastic beaches, but it also doubles as a base for heading out to Croatia"s very own Lake District: the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

This UNESCO World Heritage site consists of 16 lakes across an area of 115 sq miles. It resembles a kind of beefed-up, more action-packed version of our own Lake District, with craggy rocks and fiercely dramatic waterfalls. More...River sailing the Gallic way around charming Cahors on the Lot RiverIncredible Ireland: Driving the Ring of Kerry on an Emerald Isle adventureSensational Scotland: Loch and awe among the highlights of the Highlands

At 70 metres, the awesome and quirkily named Veliki Slap is the tallest waterfall, slicing through the dense woodland that is home to an array of local wildlife that includes deer, bears and wolves. Hiking trails thread their way through the park, giving you a chance to surround yourself with some spectacular natural wonders.

The cities of Dubrovnik, split and Zagreb sport a wealth of attractions, both historic and modern. To avoid bumping into too many crowds of camera-toting tourists, head to lesser-known regions such as the Istrian peninsula in the west of the country. There you"ll find the ancient provincial capital Pula, which has Roman architecture from the first century BC. Most notable is the incredible Rovinj amphitheatre, which juts out of the town centre, imposing its iconic shape on the town.

You"re unlikely to see many other holidaymakers wandering through the narrow streets, and you"ll probably have the views of the ancient gates, the baroque church of st Euphemia and the UNESCO-listed basilica to yourself - a glorious change from bustling about for elbowroom at the Sacre-Coeur or the Sagrada Familia.

Fj�llbacka, Sweden

Great cities can be fabulous springboards for an adventure among the usually hidden parts of a country. In Sweden, a trip into Gothenburg is exciting in itself, but heading north along the coast brings even greater rewards.

A one-hour drive along the fjord-flecked coastline brings you to Marstrand, a popular holiday spot for Swedes but one they have really been keeping to themselves for way too long.

Star quality: On Sweden"s north-west coast lies the pretty town of Fj�llbacka, once a favourite retreat of actress Ingrid Bergman

Carlsten"s fortress was a jail in the 17th century, with gruesome tours of the facilities available before people watching over coffee at one of the chic waterside caf�s. Two hours drive through fairly unremarkable countryside brings you to Fj�llbacka, the favoured getaway spot of legendary actress Ingrid Bergman. You"ll see her cast in bronze in the town square.

Any time is good for exploring the 200-metre-long Ice Age rock formation that splits the town. Known as King"s Cleft, this oddly shaped natural phenomenon offers views across the archipelago.

In the summer months, small boats can be chartered for seal safaris. the entire town has a wonderfully remote and tranquil atmosphere to it. The archipelago is also flush with islands, some of which have small hotels or B&Bs.

One of the most scenic and accommodating is that of K�ring�n (pronounced "share-in-gan"), a 30-minute motorboat ride from the coast. Just 100 people live on the island, and the most activity you"re likely to see will be a boatload of day-trippers sunbathing or browsing the craft shops.

Not much has changed on the island since the 19th century, and it"s really something to watch the sunset from one of the small restaurant terraces with a glass of wine and tasty local oysters.

Sognefjord, Norway

There"s a parallel experience to be had in Scandinavian neighbour Norway. Flying into Bergen is instantly relaxing, its cobbled streets and medieval houses a sight more scenic than Oslo"s urban modernity.

From here you can take an express boat to the resort of Balestrand, a picturesque hamlet on the north shore of the Sognefjord. If the blossoming orchards and medieval wooden church don"t inspire a rash of spontaneous photography, nothing will.

Pretty in pink: Heather covers the banks of Sognefjord, Norway"s largest fjord

Sognefjord also has a famous boat museum, based at Kaupanger. Fishing and "ice" boats from throughout history are on display, giving a glimpse into this nation"s close relationship with the sea and the fjords.

Another water-based feature is the Jostedal Glacier, the largest ice floe in mainland Europe. Recently established as a national park, the glacier lies across an area of 185 sq miles. there is a glacier museum and visitors" centre to help travellers make the most of their glacial encounter. The Blue Lagoon and the ice caves provide further adventure.

Sure, the beaten track has its advantages: swanky hotels, village-sized shopping malls and multiscreen cinemas. But heading out into lesser known parts is a balm to the traveller"s soul.

How great to find a rural B&B on a tiny island, an outdoor market selling local handicrafts, or a spectacular natural show that casts waterfalls and wolves in leading roles.

All it takes is a broadening of horizons, a decision to try something out of the ordinary and some good old-fashioned research. You"ll want to be able to find your way back to the beaten path, after all.

Leicester 33 Gloucester 11: Geordan Murphy storms behind in to Ireland tab

Geordan Murphy could be in line for a shock recall to the Ireland team to take on England this Saturday.

The Leicester full-back hasn"t played for Ireland since the Grand Slam-winning game against Wales last season.

Three and easy: Ben Youngs races away to score the third Leicester try

But last night, after a stunning performance for Leicester in their three-try win over Gloucester, it was revealed that Murphy will join Ireland"s training squad for the big game.

Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill said: "Geordy is a quality player and when you don"t have players like him for a long time you tend to forget how good they are. With him, there is class all round."

Murphy has been restricted to two performances off the bench since dislocating his shoulder in September, but yesterday"s full 80 minutes will have delighted Ireland coach Declan Kidney.

Murphy"s elevation has been made possible because Ireland have a problem at 15 for the trip to Twickenham. Rob Kearney and his natural successor Luke Fitzgerald are both ruled out with injury.

Murphy helped Leicester power five points clear at the top of the Guinness Premiership, dispatching Gloucester and stretching their winning home run to 28 matches.

The English champions haven"t lost at Welford Road since September2008. Tries from Lote Tuqiri, Murphy and Ben Youngs ensured the runwasn"t in danger from a resurgent Gloucester side.

Tuqiri settled Leicester"s early nerves with an impressive finish in the 36th minute, with Murphy speeding over three minutes intothe second half and Youngs finishing the job two minutes from time.

"Overall that was a great performance, a great win and we are happy to just keep on collecting the points," said Cockerill.

"I am annoyed now not to have picked up a bonus point, but I would have taken that score before the game."

Tiger feet: Leicester stand off Toby Flood picks up the ball to launch an attack

The sort of guile that Tuqiri showed, diving over the line from a pass by Toby Flood after cleverly sneaking off his wing, will be sorely missed at Welford Road, as Leicester move towards the business end of defending their Guinness Premiership title.

Tuqiri joined Leicester in November on a short-term contract but has now committed to joining rugby league side Wests Tigers.

That move Down Under could happen as early as 6 March, leaving him only two games more in England, as the Sydney- based side try to engineer his early release.

"Lote has been great for us and he"s the model professional," said Cockerill. "We would have liked to have kept him and we nearly did before Wests Tigers came in with a good offer."

The victory stretched Leicester"s winning league run to five matches and they haven"t lost in the Guinness Premiership since the 22-24 reversal at London Wasps on December 6. They have picked up at least one league point from their last 28 Premiership encounters.

Gloucester"s hopes of doing the double over Leicester after winning 12-9 earlier in the season got off to a great start as Nicky Robinson kicked them into a 6-0 lead.

But it wasn"t long before the Leicester pressure told and the boot of Toby Flood took them into a 9-6 lead by the 21st minute before the Tuqiri try sent them in ten points clear at the break.

The game was sealed just after half-time when Murphy dived over after bursting through the Gloucester defence.

Black Horse rides to the Chancellors rescue

Patrick Hosking: On the income & , : {}

Conspiracy theorists scented something doubtful about the timing of Lloyds Banking Groups happy foresee of a lapse to increase yesterday.

It comes usually 3 weeks after the bank last updated shareholders. Had things unequivocally altered so majority in such a short while? Or was it thought beneficial to yield a swell to the banks greatest shareholder, HMG, usually five days prior to Alistair Darling delivers his Budget?

Certainly, the headlines is great for the long-term open finances. After yesterdays share cost surge, the Government is not so far afar from break-even on the twenty-three billion it injected to save Lloyds and the partnership partner, HBOS. Much some-more swell at Lloyds and ministers will be means to execute the rescue as a sure for the Exchequer rather than a unsure drain.

Coming twenty-four hours after better-than-expected supervision borrowing figures, Mr Darling unexpected has a less gruesome backdrop opposite that to benefaction his Budget. There might nonetheless be range for a small rabbit from the hat.

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Taking the Lloyds matter at face value, the experience is enlivening for the wider economy. True, piece of the bad debts alleviation might have been down to over-zealous essay off of dodgy loans last year, when it kitchen-sinked twenty-four billion. But Lloyds is doubtful to risk understating problems right away and risk beating in 6 months.

Heavily borrowed households and firms in Britain appear to be coping even improved than expected. We know that balance and process levels have been falling. But at Lloyds at smallest this direction is even some-more conspicuous than thought.

Anecdotally, that chimes with the experience of alternative bankers who have been agreeably struck by the essential element of British borrowers, utterly personal borrowers.

The common mess on overstretched borrowers at this theatre in the mercantile cycle is proof less strident this time. That is partly since of some-more grown-up work family (forget BA for the moment) that have kept stagnation partially subdued. Employers and employees have concluded shorter hours, compensate cuts, perk reductions and some-more stretchable operative arrangements in welfare to the old proceed of slicing costs sacking people.

It is partly since of the rare monetary loosening. Even struggling borrowers can cling to on for majority longer right away that seductiveness rates are at stone bottom. And lenders have to write off majority less and be concerned majority less when their material houses and bureau blocks is rising in value.

Demographics, too, have played a part: majority some-more households than in the 1970s and 1980s downturns have dual adults working. Even if one loses their job, income from the alternative provides a pillow to wand off calamity. Bankers are apropos increasingly assured that when seductiveness rates are lifted, probably in a year or so, the immeasurable infancy of borrowers will be financially clever enough to cope.

Lloyds over-reliance on government-guaranteed indiscriminate appropriation will go on to shroud financier sentiment. So will the understanding with the European Commission that precludes it from profitable a division until 2012 at the earliest. The Black Horse is far from Cheltenham-ready fitness but it is right away absolutely out of the knackers yard.

Investors lapse to batch markets

The infuriating thing about batch markets is that they discharge their favours so lumpily. One share marketplace financier can lay around for twenty years but saying any sure return. Another can, by propitious timing, have a 60 per cent distinction in the space of a singular year, as any one who invested usually a year ago in British shares has usually done.

Drip-feeding income in to the marketplace helps to well-spoken returns. But it can usually grasp so much. Anyone trickling income in to British shares over the past dozen years or so would still be seeking at a gloomy return. They would have been improved putting the income in to holds or even a construction multitude account.

Investors with an eye for the really prolonged tenure are still you do OK, but they have to have a time setting of twenty or twenty-five years to be assured of catching enough longhorn marketplace waves to overtake risk-free resources similar to supervision bonds. The convene of the past twelve months is homogeneous to eight years of normal batch marketplace earnings all concertinad in to a singular moneymaking burst.

Fallow durations can last a prolonged time. The seventeen years to 1925 generated precisely nullity for US share investors, whilst 1966 to 1983 was an additional 17-year famine. The granddaddy of ice ages is in Japan, where shares, in annoy of majority fake dawns, have drifted down for twenty-one years.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 index of blue chips is still twenty per cent bashful of the climb overwhelmed on Millennium Eve. Yet, according to required mercantile wisdom, swell is going to be delayed from hereon in, positively for grown up markets similar to Britain, America and continental Europe. As households save some-more and Western governments find to slight distended deficits by spending cuts or taxation rises, association increase will stagnate and so will share returns.

Even so, in isolation investors have not capitulated. They have proposed to drop their toes behind in to the share market, according to Capita Registrars, that marks their activities. These are partially worldly investors, not the some-more fresh who buy by funds. Contrary to renouned opinion, these investors have a partially great jot down in timing their entrances and exits.

Will they be right this time? Analysts at HSBC reckon the fright of a flatlining batch marketplace might be overdone. First, economies in ubiquitous lapse to direction expansion utterly fast after monetary crises. Second, households are not going to go behind to 1970s levels of preservation and indebtedness, that could case recovery. Third, ecomonies can endure high levels of supervision borrowing so prolonged as they are assured there is a convincing plan to move debt down: Canada and China both enjoyed clever longhorn markets in the 1990s whilst introducing purgation measures.

Markets can climb easily by the majority horrible eras. Between Jul 1932 and Mar 1937, the epoch of Roosevelt, The Grapes of Wrath, mass stagnation and homelessness, the Dow Jones industrial normal climbed by 371 per cent.

Small investors returning to the share marketplace can be sure of nothing. But they see some-more receptive than the armed forces of account investors thoughtlessly pier in to holds as if acceleration had been henceforth abolished.

Pru needs clever personality

Where is Harvey McGrath? The Prudential authority seems to have left to belligerent usually when he is indispensable most.

Pru needs the lawful palm of an experienced authority to well-spoken stormy feathers in the arise of the SocGen faux pas (his arch comparison manager Tidjane Thiam this week really bad misjudged the mood of his shareholders, who wish him 100 per cent clinging to counts Prudential, when he supposed a part-time purpose with the French bank prior to the indirect row swayed him to shift his mind). It needs a persuasive, perceivable comparison City figure to be seen to support, the partially fresh Mr Thiam as he tries to sell to investors the biggest, boldest understanding Pru has ever attempted.

Yet Mr McGrath hasnt been really perceivable and a little of the companys greatest insitutional shareholders protest they have not so majority as met him in the fourteen months he has been chairman.

Compare his backseat proceed with that of Roger Carr, authority of Cadbury, who dominated the counterclaim of the chocolate builder opposite Kraft, bolstering his arch comparison manager Todd Stitzer.

Prus curiously deficient reason for the SocGen event suggests no such shoulder to shoulder oneness in in between Mr McGrath and Mr Thiam.

With $35 billion of shareholder income at stake, even the smallest difference in in between authority and arch comparison manager could be disastrous.

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Top ubiquitous says Afghanistan armed forces in spirit crisis

David Leppard & , : {}

THE head of the armed forces has warned that British infantry are confronting a predicament of deteriorating spirit on the home front that risks undermining the fight in Afghanistan.

In a trusted breeze memo rebuilt for ministers, General Sir David Richards, arch of the ubiquitous staff (CGS), pronounced that new cuts to the counterclaim bill are carrying a accumulative and erosive outcome on the soldiers and their families.

Cuts to housing, shortages of precision apparatus and even the termination of sports events in in in in in in between soldiers tours of avocation were creation them and their family groups feel undervalued, the armed forces arch wrote.

The leaked memo will be seized on by the Tories as opening a new front in the scuffle in in in in in in between armed forces chiefs and ministers over the politically supportive issue of counterclaim cuts.

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It echoes the row last year when Richardss predecessor, General Sir Richard Dannatt, stepped down after vocalization out about apparatus shortages as well as bad compensate and conditions. It after emerged that supervision total had attempted to allegation him over his expenses.

A comparison infantry commander in chief emphasised yesterday that it was not Richardss goal to criticize ministers: Hes not whingeing. Hes simply perplexing to dwindle up what he believes is a critical issue that needs their obligatory attention.

In the memo to the counterclaim board, that comprises ministers and use chiefs, Richards shifts the concentration of critique from the fight bid in Afghanistan to the diagnosis of infantry on their lapse home.

While there had been poignant swell on the front line, Richards said, the diagnosis of soldiers when they returned for twenty-four months in in in in in in between tours is so bad that it is melancholy to criticise the fight effort.

Marked restricted, the memo reports a outline of an inner check of 5,000 soldiers and their family groups at units in Britain, Germany and Cyprus over the past 4 months.

The consult was discussed at the senior manager cabinet of the armed forces house this month. Its formula crop up to be so shocking that Richards motionless to rapt ministers to the key findings.

My biggest regard ... is the deteriorating experience of soldiers and their family groups ... in in in in in in between tours which, the [survey] group reports, is disaffecting attitudes, deleterious spirit and risks undermining the capability to means the debate . . . he wrote.

We need the soldiers to be ready, mentally and physically, to continue steady tours in Afghanistan, in a oppressive environment, with the genuine awaiting of poignant casualties each time.

To say the required spirit and cohesion, they contingency see discernible signs in in in in in in between tours that they and their family groups are valued.

Last Jul the armed forces was forced to have assets of 43m to assistance the Ministry of Defenc keep inside of budget. In Oct a serve 54m cut was voiced so resources could be focused on the fight in Afghanistan. About 14m of those cuts meant delays to upgrades to vital buliding for some-more than 4,000 troops.

The memo says: The group reports the accumulative and erosive outcome that [such cuts] are carrying on the soldiers and their families.

As CGS, I register an early regard about the stroke on morale, the potentially serious downstream stroke on influence and the capability to means the debate in the longer term.

An armed forces orator said: The inform records that soldiers feel increasingly well upheld and resourced on operations and praises healing caring in-theatre and in the UK.

It additionally relays concerns about the outcome of monetary vigour on wake up in in in in in in in between operational tours and provides early notice of the ensuing stroke on morale. Resources are parsimonious at the impulse and Afghanistan is the main effort.

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Who is to censure for the Glasgow suicides? Comment is free The Guardian

The Red Road high-rise flats. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Few sum are known, and even those couple of are unequivocally majority open to dispute. But it seems that the 3 people who threw themselves from the building retard on Glasgow"s Red Road this week were Russians. Serge Serykh, his wife, Tatiana, and her son, who has not nonetheless been named, had initial sought haven in Canada, alleging that the Russian tip military were after them. They left Canada in 2007 after Serykh had turn spooky with the thought that the Canadian supervision was perplexing to kill him since he had unclosed their tract to murder the Queen. Coming to Britain, they alerted an MP to this purported plot.

The family had not been postulated leave to sojourn in Britain, but conjunction were they in evident risk of being deported. Notice of eviction from their charity-leased prosaic appears to have been the majority obligatory trigger for their self-murder pact. The thought is that Serykh had putrescent his mother and his stepson with his paranoia, and swayed them to kill themselves. Yet the actuality that the 3 had to pitch down a large habit prior to they jumped, to mangle the anti-suicide concealment that had been installed, is an denote that they were not the usually people in the closeness who were deliberate to be in risk of anticipating their lives intolerable.

Glasgow city legislature spoken both the retard and the next door neighbour non-professional for home approach at the behind of in 1980. For a prolonged time, the blocks were leased to the YMCA, to residence but a nation people and students. Even prior to "national dispersal" became the central supervision routine for haven seekers, underneath the 1999 Asylum and Immigration Act, haven seekers were being housed there. Campaigners complained about dispersal. People were being sent to areas were there was small understanding infrastructure – couple of immigration lawyers, couple of translators, let alone small possibility of vital nearby family, friends or even associate countrymen. There was not majority open sympathy. After all, people were innate and bred in Glasgow"s Springburn day in, day out, and it was good sufficient for them, was it not?

It"s tricky, politically, when discuss around the diagnosis of haven seekers serves to prominence the abominable conditions that already exist for the working electorate. In part, that was positively the proclivity at the behind of policies that withdrew even the majority simple rights from haven seekers. So, no money, usually vouchers for food. No leisure of transformation for those who competence bolt, even family groups with small children, but holds in a apprehension centre, to be on the protected side.

When apprehension centres were initial determined in Britain, their inmates were accorded the indeterminate eminence of being the usually people in Britain who had no right to diagnosis underneath the NHS. No small item that could supplement to the annoy of a chairman hold in a apprehension centre was left left alone to. When I interviewed a lady in Yarl"s Wood apprehension centre, by telephone, the call was consummated each couple of minutes, and a lapse to the switchboard to request for an additional waylay of the story was necessary. It was usually one some-more sparse small pretence to foster isolation. The crackdown on haven seekers unequivocally successfully changed a populist issue that was annoying for the supervision off the mainstream agenda. But if some-more people saw for themselves the privations that are heaped on refugees to have Britain less of a "soft touch", they would feel zero but dolour for a universe that turns the at the behind of on such a despised and rigourously treated with colour diaspora.

The paradox, of course, is that the harrying of haven seekers was carried out underneath the guess that they were unequivocally "economic migrants". Yet, the prevalent beliefs was that mercantile emigration was a good thing. The supervision used mercantile arguments to accelerate the wider policies on immigration. Those things that angry the citizens – the outrageous vigour on wanting housing that arrogant the bubble, or the downward vigour on salary that kept the smallest salary at a turn extremely reduce than keep – were the unequivocally things that were fuelling "growth", assisted not by haven seekers but mercantile migrants. Now usually Boris Johnson has the balls to go on fortifying mercantile migrants. They are the guys we cannot tax, in box they jump over the country.

Yet a little of the alternative reasons for the bang in immigration were even less tasteful than heated decrease about the dirty rich. Britain indispensable immigrants to staff the NHS. Certain building nations even had to convince the British supervision to stop recruiting in their countries, since the skills-drain was disrupting their own some-more frail health systems so greatly. What an nauseous sort of retreat colonisation that is.

Andrew Neather, who was once an confidant to Blair, Straw and Blunkett, and is right away a journalist, last year purported that whilst ministers publicly clung to the mercantile evidence for immigration, they secretly revelled in the thought that it would "rub the right"s nose in diversity". This the vigour organisation MigrationWatch described as "dynamite", alleging that it valid that the Labour supervision had on purpose attempted to shift the inlet of Britain, and have it "multicultural". But it isn"t dynamite. It"s usually a glance of the sparse tribalism that as well mostly engulfs the domestic process.

The discuss around immigration has been funny for years. The right claims to hold up globalisation since it will widespread resources opposite the world. But the heading tranquil examination in globalisation in life is Europe, that they hate. Likewise, Europe stays a house pet plan of the left, most of whose manifold members would explain the free marketplace is a force to be distrusted and feared.

Essentially, for most years now, the supervision has pursued policies written to inhibit those who need refuge in Britain for reasons of compassion, and to capture those who will move mercantile clout. I can"t be the usually chairman who wonders either this competence be a uncanny approach of going about formulating tellurian mercantile equality.

Back in Glasgow, it is reported that Serykh was well known to be pang from serious mental illness, and his purported story positively does not rebut that. Yet the actuality that he and his family were scored equally together by a wire as they fell, is unequivocally majority piece of the unaccompanied abhorrence of this event. One cannot assistance meditative that Serykh"s mother and stepson contingency have been held in the invisible holds of the 43-year-old"s seizure for most years already, incompetent to entrance the assistance they indispensable to free themselves, anywhere. What can be done, though? In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the open sermon focused on snub about the thought that Britain was a "soft touch" for haven seekers. The supervision dealt with that complaint unequivocally effectively, and but a good understanding of opposition. Who wants to live in a nation or a universe that"s a soft hold for damaged, desperate, sick, uneasy people, when it can be this place, a place where usually the "economic argument" ever gets any traction?

• Samaritans provides trusted support, twenty-four hours a day, for people who are experiencing ­feelings of trouble or despair, together with those that could lead to suicide. Their phone series is 08457 90 90 90

Senator"s loitering strategy leave half a million Americans but benefits World headlines The Guardian

Jim Bunning has used parliamentry manners to hold behind the 30-day prolongation package. Photo: Michael Reynolds/EPA

The US Senate is well well known as the physique where legislation goes to die, and a Republican senator from Kentucky has outlayed multiform days illustrating that point at the responsibility of scarcely 500,000 out-of-work Americans.

Since last week Senator Jim Bunning has used his payoff underneath the chamber"s parliamentary manners to hold up a 30-day prolongation of stagnation benefits, health word assistance, appropriation for highway and infrastructure projects opposite the country, and alternative aid.

In sell for light his objections he final the parliament come up with a approach to compensate for the $10bn prolongation package by shortening spending elsewhere, eliciting scoffs from Democrats who note that he voted for President Bush"s $1.7tn taxation cuts for the wealthy.

Nearly each vital object on President Barack Obama"s agenda, from health word remodel to cap-and-trade meridian regulation, has stalled in the Senate after flitting the House of Representatives.

The Senate"s rules, devised in a less hostile time, concede jagged energy to singular senators and the minority celebration to deflect off legislation. Republicans have already shut off nominations for judgeships, inhabitant security posts and probity dialect positions. They have forced the Democrats to arrange 60 of 100 senatorial votes to ensue with legislation a jot down series of times this congressional session, according to a total by the Associated Press.

Democrats have cited Bunning as an e.g. of what they call a settlement of Republican obstructionism. As the already freezing gait of the chamber"s commercial operation belligerent to a halt, Democratic personality Harry Reid lined up a method of Democrats to malign his actions and call for him to repel his parliamentary conflict to the legislation.

"There are millions of Americans who can"t find jobs," pronounced Ben Cardin of Maryland. "Because of the conflict of a senator, the benefits that should be paid this week cannot be paid this week. It"s wrong for us to have this opening since of the objections of one senator. It"s spiteful the economy. Those dollars are being lost since of the conflict of one senator."

Democratic aides have circulated a list of projects halted by Bunning"s action. The travel secretary, Ray LaHood, pronounced Bunning"s movement has forced his dialect at the moment to lay off 2,000 workers but pay.

Bunning, a backbencher well well known for his critical temperament, was to run for his third tenure this November, but was sensitively pushed out by the Republican leadership. His Republican colleagues have shown small open await for his stream manoeuvre, that has put them in the worried on all sides of possibly station opposite operative category impoverished Americans or undercutting their criticisms of Democrat spending plans.

"Bunning is sketch the line on necessity spending. He"s you do it in a approach that shows cruel disregard for the some-more than one in 10 operative Kentuckians whose jobs left in the mercantile meltdown," wrote Lexington Herald-Leader, a Kentucky newspaper. "We"ve turn in the habit of to [his] bizarre, selfish behaviour."

Toyota trainer Akio Toyoda apologises forward of US barbecuing Business The Guardian

Akio Toyoda fears Toyota might have grown as well quickly. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

The trainer of the embattled Japanese carmaker Toyota has conceded that his company"s exile expansion over the past decade has dark the concentration on safety, in a deeply ashamed reparation for faults in accelerators and brakes that have led to a immeasurable stop of 8.5m cars.

In created justification forward of a potentially humbling coming prior to US Congress on Wednesday, Toyota"s president, Akio Toyoda, affianced to place a high priority on mending "quality over quantity" and supposed personal shortcoming for the reserve crisis: "I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name. For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well."

The Japanese captain of industry"s dramatically worded reparation is Toyota"s ultimate repairs carry out practice in a tale melancholy to turn out of control. It came less than a day after Toyota perceived a grand jury summons in New York that could lead to a rapist charge of the company, in further to a authorised direct from the US Securities and Exchange Commission for all papers on Toyota"s you do of inadequate accelerator pedals.

In the home republic of Japan, the association has been criticised by a supervision central for the "light" reply to potentially fatal technical problems. Transport apportion Seiji Maehara pronounced Toyota had lacked transparency: "There is a good probability that Toyota didn"t share report with the supervision properly."

Safety regulators and politicians are nonetheless to be confident with Toyota"s reason of the causes of technical problems in the cars. In particular, there is questioning in Congress about Toyota"s justification that slipping building mats have caused accelerators to jam, rather than some-more elemental electronic difficulties. On Monday, a leaked inner memo revealedexecutives braggadocio about saving $100m (£65m) by tying the range of a stop on building mats.

During a conference currently at the US House of Representatives, a late amicable workman from Tennessee, Rhonda Smith, recounted her Lexus accelerating uncontrollably over 6 miles to some-more than 100mph on a main road in Oct 2006.

"I put the car in to all accessible gears, together with neutral. I put it in to retreat and it stayed in retreat as it sped down the widespread at 100mph," pronounced Smith, who attempted to place a phone call to her father to contend a last goodbye prior to "god intervened" and the car slowed.

She pounded both Toyota and the US inhabitant main road trade reserve administration department for unwell to get a hold on the problem: "Shame on you, Toyota, for being so greedy. And contrition on you, NHTSA, for not you do your job."

A keenly awaited showdown will take place when Toyota"s boss is quizzed by Congressmen tomorrow. The corporate boss, who took the tip pursuit at Toyota in June, is expected to get a severe float notwithstanding powerful subsidy from hundreds of Toyota dealers in the US who have arrived in Washington with badges celebration of the mass "I am Toyota in America". Governors of states containing Toyota factories have forked out that the Japanese organisation employs 172,000 people in the US and have urged lawmakers to provide 63-year-old Toyoda with respect.

In created justification forward of the hearing, Toyoda said: "Toyota has, for the past couple of years, been expanding the commercial operation rapidly. Quite frankly, I fright the gait at that we have grown might have been as well quick.

"We pursued expansion over the speed at that we were means to rise the people and the organisation, and we should unequivocally be aware of that. I bewail that this has resulted in the reserve issues described in the recalls we face today."