There were scenes of jubilation as Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated his victory

England have

The film star Arnold Schwarzenegger has been elected governor of California, ousting the incumbent, Gray Davis, three years before his term was due to end.

It is the first time in the state's history that a governor has been sacked mid-term.

With most of the ballots counted, Mr Schwarzenegger has won almost 48% of the vote.

In a victory speech before jubilant supporters, Mr Schwarzenegger thanked the people of California for giving him their trust.

"I want to be the governor of the people," he said. "I know that together we can make this the greatest state in the greatest country in the world."

He pledged to restore trust in California's government and to re-impose discipline on the state's out-of-control budget.

Gray Davis has already accepted defeat, telling supporters voters had decided "it was time for someone else to serve and I have accepted their judgement."

The vote was triggered by Republican activists, frustrated at high levels of unemployment, struggling schools, and the state's budget deficit, which now runs into tens of billions of dollars.

In a two-part ballot, voters were first asked if they wanted to recall - or sack - Governor Davis.

The only other governor in US history to be recalled was North Dakota's Lynn Frazier, in 1921.

Then - regardless of their answer to the first question - they had to indicate who they preferred as an alternative among the 135 alternative candidates running.

With 96.8% of the results in, 54.4% wanted a recall.

Mr Schwarzenegger was running ahead with 47.9% support. His closest rival, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, was on 32.4%.

The Austrian-born film star and former body builder - who made his name in action films such as The Terminator and Total Recall - galvanised the campaign when he announced he would be running on talk show host Jay Leno's television show earlier this year.

Large crowds have gathered to see him at campaign speeches and rallies.

But the political fight has been brutal at times, with Mr Schwarzenegger accused of sexually harassing a number of women, and allegations that he once praised Hitler.

He has denied the allegations, although he made an apology for "rowdy behaviour" on film sets. 

The voice of independent radio

LBC (London Broadcasting Company) joined the airwaves with a signature tune followed by a two hour 'news-feature' programme presented by former BBC reporter David Jessel.

The radio station is the first to challenge the BBC's 50-year radio monopoly. LBC'S intended target audience will be listeners of BBC Radio 4 and BBC London.

The station will broadcast news and features programmes 24 hours a day and present a news service syndicated to other commercial stations.

Details of the station's application for the broadcasting contract were released earlier today by the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

In the application LBC's remit was to produce news "presented without the slightest editorialising...but not without opinion or comment".

LBC pledges that each personal comment will be "prefaced by the statement that a personal viewpoint or prejudice is about to be expressed".

LBC's revenue will come almost entirely from advertising, though critics say its agenda could discourage advertising agencies who may prefer to back commercial stations with younger listeners.

But managing director Michael Levete claims support from advertisers has been most encouraging:

"If the first week's commercial bookings can be repeated throughout the year the company stands to gross ? million a year," he said.

LBC has a budget of more than ? million but the company predicts its setup costs will offset any profit in its first few years.

Other commercial radio stations opening later this year will compete with BBC regional audiences.

Next week Capital Radio starts broadcasting as a general music and entertainment station for London and is expected to draw in BBC Radio 1 and pirate radio listeners.

The new stations are hoping to capture a big share of the estimated 26 million people listening to radio at any one time during the week - and even draw away some TV audiences.

oust: remove from a position or office（取代）

jubilant: full of high-spirited delight（歡呼的）

syndicate: join together into a syndicate（企業聯合）