In the national and international news today: Blair questioned by schoolchildren on Iraq; high security for Condi Liverpool visit; ASBO figures revealed; Iran earthquake kills 50; Bahrain ferry disaster.
Prime Minister Tony Blair received an unexpected grilling from schoolchildren in Indonesia yesterday. The students, clearly unsupportive of the war in Iraq, asked the PM how he would feel if his relatives were among the civilians killed in Iraq.
"You feel very strongly that what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan was wrong. I understand that. But in those countries now people can vote and their governments should decide what is right and what is wrong," Mr Blair told them. "The best test of what the people truly wanted was how they voted."
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice faces angry protesters as she visits Liverpool today. Police have taken extra security measures for the controversial visit, closing off much of the city centre to traffic.
Dr Rice, number two to President Bush, and widely regarded as the most powerful woman in the world, will attend a Gala Concert at the Philharmonic Hall tonight. Protesters have called on performers and artists to boycott the event.
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Home Office figures released yesterday revealed record numbers of ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders). Manchester came out top in the figures, handing out 1,045 ASBOs since 1999, compared to just 749 in Greater London.
The Government is hailing the figures as evidence of success, but critics say ASBOs are in danger of being used indiscrimately to target juveniles, who make up over half of those receiving the orders.
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An earthquake in western Iran has left 50 people killed and hundreds of people injured. Yesterday's disaster has devastated small villages in the remote regions of Doroud and Boroujerd.
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At least 57 people are dead after a pleasure boat capsized off the coast of Bahrain last night. Up to 25 Britons are feared to have been upon the vessel, which was carrying 150 passengers when it sank.
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