Roddick through as Djokovic quits

AUSTRALIAN OPEN Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 19 January-1 FebruaryCoverage: BBC Red Button, Radio 5 Live sports extra, BBC Sport website (Red Button coverage streamed on website throughout fortnight)

By Pies Newbery

Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title in Australia last year

Andy Roddick reached the Australian Open semi-finals after defending champion Novak Djokovic retired in the fourth set of their quarter-final.

The American, seeded seventh, was leading 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 2-1 when his opponent pulled out.

Djokovic suffered physically throughout a desperately hot afternoon, taking a medical timeout in the third set.

Roddick will next face the winner of Tuesday's late match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro.

The first of the men's quarter-finals was dominated by heavy serving in the first set, with a tie-break required after neither player forced a break point.

It was Djokovic who dominated the breaker, backing up his serve with some heavy forehands to race 4-0 clear and eventually take it 7-3.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the men's draw

The pattern of the match continued until game seven of the second set, when some brave sorties to the net paid dividends for Roddick and he finally got the break.

The American then forced another break point two games later but his failure to convert made little difference as he served out the set in game 10.

As Roddick got stronger so Djokovic started to struggle physically, hitting two double faults and then setting up Roddick for a forehand pass to drop serve at the start of the third.

The Serb did well to break back immediately and then save another two break points in game three as suddenly both men looked vulnerable on serve.

Having edged ahead at 2-1, Djokovic called for a medical timeout and received treatment to his right leg which he told the doctor was hindering his service action.

That looked to be the case in the champion's next two service games as he made several listless errors to fall a break behind, and then double-faulted to give up the double break.

Roddick served out the set and, having saved four break points at the start of the fourth set, Djokovic approached the umpire and brought the match to an end after he was broken to love in game three.

Oprah 'considered for Obama seat'

Mr Blagojevich said Ms Winfrey would probably not have accepted the offer

Scandal-hit US Governor Rod Blagojevich has said he considered offering the Illinois senate seat vacated by Barack Obama to talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Mr Blagojevich is facing an impeachment trial in the state senate over claims he tried to "sell" the seat.

He told ABC that Ms Winfrey, one of America's wealthiest women, would have been unlikely to accept.

Mr Blagojevich says he is innocent and that the trial, which he is not expected to attend, has been rigged.

He told ABC's Good Morning America that Ms Winfrey "seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama in a significant way become president".

"She was obviously someone with a much broader bully pulpit than other senators," he said.

But he said Ms Winfrey "probably wouldn't take it" and that it would have been hard to offer the seat to her in a way that "didn't look like it was some gimmick and embarrass her".

Mr Blagojevich's eventual choice for the seat, Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, took office in January after initially being blocked by senators.

Under the 17th amendment of the US constitution, state governors have the power to appoint temporary replacements for senators who resign, die or are expelled, until special elections can be held.

Crisis claims Icelandic cabinet

Prime Minister Geir Haarde had called early elections for May

Iceland's coalition government has collapsed as a result of an escalating economic crisis.

Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the immediate resignation of his cabinet, after talks with coalition partners broke down.

Iceland's financial system collapsed in October under the weight of debt built up during years of rapid growth.

The currency has since plummeted, with unemployment soaring. The economy is forecast to shrink by 9.6% this year.

In a series of protests, demonstrators have accused the government of leading the country to ruin.

Mr Haarde told reporters on Monday: "I really regret that we could not continue with this coalition. I believe that that would have been the best result."

The coalition between Mr Haarde's Independence Party and Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir's Social Democratic Alliance had been under strain for the past three months.

The prime minister said he would speak to Iceland's president to formally dissolve the government.

Last week Mr Haarde called an early general election for 9 May, adding that he would not stand for health reasons.

The Social Democratic Alliance is now expected to look for new coalition partners to form a government until the election.

Parties see in Chinese New Year

Taiwanese were among those praying for a prosperous Year of the Ox

Millions of Chinese people around world are celebrating the start of Lunar New Year, the most important festival in the Chinese calendar.

In many homes and towns, the Year of the Ox was greeted in traditional style with firecrackers, parties, feasts and incense offerings at temples.

But correspondents say the mood this year was subdued, with many people expressing concern about the economy.

Vietnam is also celebrating its New Year festival - known as Tet.

The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says many people in the Chinese capital braved bitterly cold weather to light incense sticks at temples and pray for a prosperous year to come.

He says the police cordoned off roads around the most popular temples, where beggars traditionally gather to benefit from people's new-year generosity.

In pictures: Lunar New Year

Reflecting widespread concern about the state of the economy, 55-year-old Beijing resident Liu Tieying told the BBC he felt the economy would be a major problem in the coming year.

But he sounded an optimistic note for China, saying he believed the situation would be worse in other countries.

The BBC's Jill McGivering says the Year of the Ox is traditionally associated with calm, fortitude and success through toil.

But she says China has already seen an outbreak of protests and rioting associated with job losses and factory closures - so one of the biggest challenges for the Communist Party will be to maintain public order and confidence in the year to come.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency announced on Monday that the government is to help train as many as one million jobless college graduates over the next three years.

Graduates will also be offered small loans to help them start their own businesses.

Analysts say the moves show the government's increasing concern with rising unemployment.

China's top politicians made high-profile trips over the Lunar New Year holiday.

State television broadcast images of Chinese President Hu Jintao smiling as a baby kissed his cheek on a visit to Jinggangshan, a former base for the communists during the Chinese civil war.

In a speech, he promised more "equal development across society".

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited survivors of last May's earthquake which devastated large parts of Sichuan province.

Chinese people in cities across the world are also marking the festival - with lanterns, incense, lion dances and firecrackers lighting up places as far apart as London, Jakarta and Vancouver.

Vietnam ferry accident 'kills 40'

Officials said many of those who drowned were women and children

A crowded ferry has sunk on a river in central Vietnam, killing at least 40 people, officials have said.

The vessel sank in strong currents about 20m (65ft) from the bank of the Gianh river in central Quang Binh province, south of the city of Vinh.

So far, 35 people have been rescued and at least five people are still missing.

Quang Binh police chief Phan Thanh Ha told the Associated Press the ferry had been loaded with 80 passengers, even though it had a capacity of only 12.

One of the survivors, Cao Thi Huong, told the VnExpress website that the accident happened when passengers stood up in a rush to get off the boat as it approached a pier at about 0800 (0100 GMT).

Officials said many of those who drowned were women and children.

They had been crossing the river from the village of Quang Hai to go shopping ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The boat's captain and owner have been detained for questioning.

Vatican attacks US abortion move

Mr Obama lifted the controversial funding ban in his first week in office

The Vatican has condemned President Obama's move to restore US funding for family planning clinics abroad that give advice on or carry out abortions.

One Vatican official warned against the "arrogance" of those in power who think they can decide between life and death.

Another official said it dealt a blow to groups fighting against "the slaughter of the innocents".

The White House says the move aligns the US with other nations fighting poverty and promoting health care.

On Friday, Mr Obama ended a ban on giving US federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about them.

Robust language

In an interview published in an Italian newspaper on Saturday, senior Vatican official Monsignor Rino Fisichella urged Mr Obama to listen to all voices in America without "the arrogance of those who, being in power, believe they can decide of life and death."

"If this is one of President Obama's first acts, I have to say, in all due respect, that we're heading quickly toward disappointment," Mr Fisichella, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, told the Corriere della Sera.

Another Academy official, Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, said it had dealt a harsh blow to US Catholics and people across the world who are fighting against "the slaughter of the innocents".

The criticism from the Vatican adds to concerns from evangelical Protestant groups that the US decision could presage a wider dismantling of the legal limits of abortion.

Critics of the former funding ban had long argued that it hurt some of the poorest people in the world by denying money to groups that might support abortion, but also work on other aspects of reproductive health care or HIV/Aids.

The ban was first introduced in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. It was rescinded by President Bill Clinton, before being reinstated by President George W Bush in 2001.

Pressure still on BBC in Gaza row

Israel has lifted a ban on UN and foreign aid workers entering Gaza

The BBC is under pressure to air a charity appeal for aid to Gaza after other channels agreed to broadcast it.

Director general Mark Thompson has said by airing the appeal the BBC would risk reducing public confidence in its impartial coverage of the conflict.

But Communities Secretary Hazel Blears urged a review of the decision as 2,000 protested at the BBC's London HQ.

BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons voiced concerns over political interference in the BBC's editorial independence.

Earlier, rival broadcasters ITV, Channel 4 and Five agreed to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal. It will be screened for the first time on Monday.

'Objective coverage'

In a blog message on the BBC website explaining the decision, Mark Thompson said: "Inevitably an appeal would use pictures which are the same or similar to those we would be using in our news programmes but would do so with the objective of encouraging public donations.

"The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story."

When we have turned down DEC appeals in the past on impartiality grounds it has been because of this risk of giving the public the impression that the BBC was taking sides in an ongoing conflict BBC director general Mark Thompson Mark Thompson on Gaza appeal Send us your comments

He stressed the corporation would "continue to cover the human side of the conflict in Gaza extensively across our news services where we can place all of the issues in context in an objective and balanced way".

Earlier on Saturday, police said at least 2,000 protesters gathered outside the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London, and chants of "BBC, shame on you" were heard as a petition was handed in to the corporation.

There were seven arrests at the rally - five people were arrested on suspicion of obstructing police at the Piccadilly Circus junction with Regent Street.

One person was arrested on suspicion of assault of police outside St Martin's in the Field, Trafalgar Sqaure, while another was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs.

Veteran politician Tony Benn, a speaker at the protest, said: "We can't ignore suffering in the interests of what the BBC call impartiality.

Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza humanitarian appeal: Launched by UK charities on 22 January to raise money for Gaza aid relief and reconstruction Participants: Action Aid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision Information on 0370 60 60 900 or at DEC website

"We can't allow others to die when we have an opportunity to save their lives."

Earlier, ITV and Sky had been in agreement with the BBC that they would not air the appeal. But ITV later reversed its decision.

Sky says it is still considering the Disasters Emergency Committee's request.

The DEC - an umbrella organisation for several major aid charities - wants to raise funds for people in need of food, shelter and medicines as a result of Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip.

Previous DEC appeals shown on multiple TV and radio channels have raised millions of pounds for victims of wars and natural disasters.

'Human suffering'

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the British public could "distinguish between support for humanitarian aid and perceived partiality in a conflict".

"I really struggle to see in the face of the immense human suffering of people in Gaza... that this is in any way a credible argument," he added.

Tony Benn on the decision by the BBC not to broadcast the appeal

"They [the BBC] still have time to make a different judgement to recognise the immense human suffering."

Shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell said it was "clearly a decision for the BBC and other broadcasters " whether they showed the appeal.

But the Conservatives believed it should be played to allow the public to make up their own minds about the appeal, he said.

Liberal Democrat media spokesman Don Foster said the BBC's "disgraceful" decision must be reversed.

"It is unbelievable that the BBC claims to know better than either the government or the 12 major charities that form the DEC about whether aid can get through," he added.

In a letter to the BBC director general on Saturday, BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons expressed concern that the "level and tone" of some of the political comment was "coming close to constituting undue interference in the editorial independence of the BBC".

He assured Mr Thompson the Trust would "do everything in our power to ensure that you are given the space to make the editorial decisions you feel, after due consideration, are right in the circumstances".

BBC's chief operating officer Caroline Thomson defends the veto

BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the corporation was facing "quite a lot of pressure", but its position had been shored up "a little bit" by the Trust's move.

"In other words - a warning to government to say, 'Keep your tanks off our lawn,'" our correspondent said.

Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of the global humanitarian group Care International, said it was not a time for politics.

"As far as being impartial is concerned, that's our job... we know exactly what we are doing on the ground, there are a lot of people in real danger at the moment."