BBC在线收听下载:英国首相宣布调查银行业

BBC news 2012-07-03

BBC News with Sue Montgomery

The British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay $3bn to settle what US officials are calling the biggest healthcare fraud in American history. The authorities say Glaxo has broken US laws in the marketing of several of its products as Paul Adams reports from Washington.

Among the allegations are the GSK tried to get patients under the age of 18 to use an antidepressants Paxil that had only been approved for adults, and that it promoted another drug Wellbutrin for uses that had not yet been approved. Prosecutors also alleged that the company distributed misleading information and influenced doctors with meals and spa treatments, which amounted to kickbacks . In a statement, GlaxoSmithKline expressed regret and said the company had learnt from its mistakes.

The UN human rights chief has warned for nature escalation of the crisis in Syria. Navi Pillay said the violence was being fueled by increasing flow of arms to both the government and the opposition. She didn't specify where the weapons were coming from, but correspondents say the government has been armed by Iran and Russia while the opposition is receiving weapons from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Ms Pillay asked that Syria be referred to the International Criminal Court.

"In my view, both government forces and armed opponents have been involved in actions harming civilians. Those responsible for attacks against civilians must be held accountable, and so I reiterated my call on the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court as I believe that the evidence points to the commission of crimes against humanity."

Four officials from the International Criminal Court who were detained almost a month ago in Libya have left the country after being released. The local authorities in the town of Zintan accused the four of jeopardizing national security after they visited Saif al-Islam, the son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in prison.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a new inquiry into the banking sector following the revelations about interest rate manipulation by Barclays Bank. The inquiry will be carried out by a parliamentary committee and will hold most of its meetings in public. Here's our business reporter Phil Liggett.

The announcement of the inquiry comes in response to a barrage of criticism aimed at the banking industry in recent days. It follows the revelation that employees of Barclays Bank attempted to manipulate Libor, a key benchmark of interest rates widely used in the financial sector. Other global banks are suspected of similar offenses. The review will be carried out by members of both houses of the British parliament, and it will have the power to question witnesses under oath, including sitting MPs.

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President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania has denied any government involvement in the alleged kidnap and torture of the leader of the country's medical association, who was organizing a nation-wide strike. Dr Steven Ulimboka says he was abducted by gunmen last Tuesday, taken to the outskirts of the capital Dar es Salaam and beaten.

The man who looks almost certain to lead Mexico for the next five years says he's going to prioritize energy, labor and tax reforms if he's confirmed as president. Enrique Pena Nieto is about six points ahead of his nearest rival, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, with almost all votes in Sunday's presidential election counted. Will Grant reports from Mexico City.

Six years ago, there was no clear-cut winner in the presidential race, and the runner-up, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, was refusing to recognize the result until every last vote had been counted. This time around, however, the difference between Mr Lopez Obrador and the leading candidate Enrique Pena Nieto is much bigger – a full 7% on the initial results. The trend has been described as irreversible by the country's electoral body, and the incumbent President Felipe Calderon called Mr Pena Nieto the president-elect.

A proposal to declare the South Atlantic sanctuary for whales has been defeated at the International Whaling Commission despite backing from most countries of the meeting, the Latin American plan failed to get the 2/3 majority required. Environmental groups expressed disappointment at the outcome, but a BBC correspondent says some suggested in private the idea had been merely symbolic as there's no whaling taking place in the region.

The Spanish national football team is touring the capital Madrid in an open-top bus to celebrate its victory in the Euro 2012 Championship. Spain beat Italy 4-0 in the final in Kiev on Sunday. Earlier on Monday, the team met the Spanish royal family.

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