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[JohnCenaFan28]

A woman sitting near Jean Charles de Menezes on a Tube train when he was shot dead has told how police were "out of control".

Commuter Anna Dunwoodie told the inquest into the Brazilian's death how she was "very, very clear" officers did not shout armed police before opening fire.

Ms Dunwoodie also said she thought firearms officers were a gang, as she described a "sense of panic" from officers as Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head.

Revealing how she felt under pressure during initial interviews with police after the incident, she described how the innocent 27-year-old appeared calm as a gun was held to his head.

Ms Dunwoodie was sat two or three seats to the left of Mr de Menezes when he boarded the train at Stockwell Tube station, south London.

She said she never heard officers shout anything at Mr de Menezes, adding: "I would like to say that on whether I heard anything from police officers, I am very, very clear.

"I had absolutely no idea who they were and had they shouted I would have latched on to that."

She described scenes of panic on the carriage.

Mr de Menezes was shot at point-blank range at Stockwell Tube station on July 22 2005 after being mistaken for failed bomber Hussain Osman.

Mr de Menezes had his eyes closed and looked "almost calm" as firearms officers pointed a weapon at his head, Ms Dunwoodie said.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The next US president must provide more leadership if the world is to bounce back from financial turmoil, Gordon Brown said.

The Prime Minister insisted that countries retreating to isolation and protectionism could wreck chances for a quick and sustainable recovery.

Delivering a keynote speech in Abu Dhabi on the eve of the US election, Mr Brown also highlighted the importance of the Middle East peace process to achieving co-operation.

"In these difficult times, the leadership America has shown has been vital to the co-ordinated interest rate cuts and the international co-operation we have seen which will lead to the meeting of international leaders on November 15," he said. "And I know that leadership will and must continue.

"The next stage of globalisations will require even more international co-operation with American leadership crucial to its success.

"In the coming weeks and months, the whole world will want to work closely with America on a shared common agenda to bring growth and jobs back to our economies; to give greater stability to our financial system; to defeat protectionism in favour of free trade; and of course to work for a more secure world - and in the Middle East, peace."

Mr Brown insisted all governments had a duty to work together to tackle the fallout from the credit crunch and soaring oil prices, and ensure international financial institutions were reformed.

"Because no country, no matter how big, can solve these challenges alone," he said. "And people in every country want to know that every possible course of action is being pursued to guide families and businesses through this difficult time."

The Prime Minister told an international oil conference that the Gulf states, with their massive oil resources and cash reserves, were crucial to stabilising the world economy.

He also gave his most explicit statement yet that they should get a "quid pro quo" of more influence over international financial bodies for agreeing to give the IMF some of their estimated one trillion dollar windfall from high oil prices."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

US tycoon Donald Trump has vowed to create the "greatest golf course in the world" after his plans for a £1 billion resort were given the go-ahead.

Scottish finance secretary John Swinney approved the proposals, saying there was "a significant economic and social benefit" in the project.

The proposals had been rejected in controversial circumstances by Aberdeenshire Council last year, before being called in by ministers.

Mr Trump welcomed the news and said the resort, proposed for the Menie Estate, near Balmedie, Aberdeenshire would be a "tremendous asset" for the area.

He said: "As I have often said, because of the quality of the land we are given to work with, we will build the greatest golf course in the world."

The plans include proposals for two golf courses, a 450-bedroom hotel and housing as well as holiday apartments and golf villas.

The scheme faced strong local opposition, including from environmental groups, but won widespread support in the business community.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The economic and social benefits for the North East of Scotland substantially outweigh any environmental impact."

Mr Salmond, also the local MSP for Gordon, said he had been "cup-tied" from commenting publicly on the issue because of his government position. He said: "It is great to be able to finally speak my mind. In tough economic times, substantial investment of this kind is at a premium."

The scheme received outline planning permission, but a string of conditions rule that the environmentally sensitive sand dunes on the site must remain protected. The conditions also stipulate that no more than 500 houses for private sale should be built.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Defence equipment minister Quentin Davies has apologised for any offence caused after he appeared to dismiss concerns raised by a resigning SAS officer.

Mr Davies told MPs he had said sorry to Des Feely, father of Corporal Sarah Bryant, who was the first female soldier to be killed in Afghanistan, after Mr Feely accused him of insulting the memory of those who have fallen in the conflict.

The minister had previously described Major Sebastian Morley's accusation that the MoD was guilty of "gross negligence" for failing to provide supply better kit as a "travesty". He also said casualties sometimes resulted after commanders chose the wrong kit for operations.

His comments were seized upon by angry Tory MPs at Commons question time, with shadow defence secretary Liam Fox labelling them a "disgrace" which amounted to an "arrogant dismissal of a loyal and committed officer".

Tory former Cabinet minister Douglas Hogg said the comments were "deeply offensive" and damaging to morale, while former Army officer Crispin Blunt argued it was "unsustainable" for a minister to make such remarks.

But after former SAS officer Andrew Robathan asked Defence Secretary John Hutton to apologise, Mr Davies rose to defend himself. Mr Davies said: "You obviously don't know that earlier outside the House I already expressed to the father of one of our gallant soldiers who has died and he said, not directly to me but to the media I understood, he had been upset by my remarks.

"I apologised unreservedly to him and expressed my great regret - obviously any offence was entirely inadvertent, I hope you recognise that. If I have some reason to suppose that operational commanders had been offended by the remarks I'd made then again I would apologise to them pretty directly."

Mr Davies - who defected from Tory to Labour last year and became a minister in the recent reshuffle - made the remarks after Maj Morley had hit out at the continued use of Snatch Land Rovers in Afghanistan.

Repeated warnings about their suitability were ignored by military commanders and Whitehall officials, Maj Morley claimed, leading to the needless deaths of four soldiers.

Cpl Bryant died alongside SAS servicemen Corporal Sean Reeve, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Paul Stout when their Snatch Land Rover was blown up in June.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The UK Independence Party (Ukip) claimed it had rejected the offer of an electoral pact from the far-right British National Party (BNP).

A spokesman for Ukip said that the approach had been made by Christopher "Buster" Mottram, the former tennis player, on behalf of BNP chairman Nick Griffin.

Mr Mottram had been a member of Ukip - which calls for British withdrawal from the European Union - but has now been expelled, the party spokesman added.

He had apparently suggested that the BNP would not stand against Ukip in the south in return for a "free run" in the north.

In a related development, three members of Ukip's national executive - one described by the party as "ex-officio" - were sacked.

Mr Mottram's offer, concerning elections to the European Parliament next June, came during a Ukip meeting in Westminster, which the party claimed the BNP had "gatecrashed".

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever. I'm simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party."

BNP spokesman Simon Darby confirmed that his party had made an approach to Ukip. "It was with a view to ending this ridiculous situation of splitting the anti-Euro federalist vote and it hasn't paid off, frankly," he said.

"We are aware there are people very highly placed in Ukip who are very sympathetic to the logic that the vote could be split - that was where we were coming from. Someone has to take a lead on this if we are not to continue to be propelled into this federalist monster."

London Labour Euro-MP Claude Moraes said the approach to Ukip suggested some "common extreme ground" between the two political parties, even if it was rebuffed. "It is of great concern that these talks could have taken place under any circumstances. They tend to reveal some common extreme ground, even though Ukip publicly distanced themselves from the BNP."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Lewis Hamilton is basking in the glory of becoming the youngest Formula One world champion.

The McLaren driver, 23, triumphed after a nail-biting Brazilian Grand Prix in which he wrested the title away from his nearest rival in the closing metres.

He was trailing in sixth after being overtaken by German driver Sebastian Vettel, but managed to clinch the fifth place needed to win the championship after sweeping past another German, Timo Glock, on the final bend.

Hamilton is the first Briton to win the Formula One crown since Damon Hill in 1996, and he is now on course to become one of the world's biggest sports stars alongside the likes of golfer Tiger Woods, tennis player Roger Federer and footballer David Beckham.

Former driving greats have predicted he will go on to win more championships, earning himself hundreds of millions of pounds in wages and sponsorship deals in the process.

Hamilton said: "It was just one of the toughest races of my life. The last corner I managed to get past Glock - and I can only thank God." He said he still did not know if he had won the title when he passed the finish line at Sao Paolo's Interlagos circuit.

Hamilton - who was watched trackside in Brazil by his family and pop star girlfriend, Pussycat Dolls' singer Nicole Scherzinger - went into the race with a seven point lead over his nearest rival, Ferrari's Felipe Massa. The Brazilian driver had the support of his home crowd and Hamilton was booed when he pushed Massa into second place by only one point.

Hamilton's father Anthony described the crowd's reaction as "a shame" and said they should have been "fair sportsmen".

Last year it was Hamilton who lost by one point, to Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton joins an illustrious list of racing greats, including British drivers Nigel Mansell, James Hunt, Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham and Damon Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees and Mike Hawthorn.

-Nova

[John]

BAGHDAD – A series of bomb blasts across Baghdad killed six people and injured more than 20 others Thursday, police said, in the fourth consecutive day of heightened violence in the Iraqi capital.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials said the U.S. has officially responded to Iraqi proposals for changes in a draft security pact that would keep American troops in the country three more years — but did not say what was in the response.

U.S. officials say attacks in Baghdad are averaging about four a day — down nearly 90 percent from levels in late 2006, when Shiite-Sunni fighting was at its high point and just before the U.S. troop surge that helped bring down violence in the capital.

But there has been a marked uptick this week, with a string of daily bombings in the capital that has killed more than 30 people and wounded around 80 others since Monday. The violence shows that insurgents remain a threat, even in the heavily secured Iraqi capital.

The deadliest attack Thursday came near a checkpoint in central Baghdad when two bombs exploded during the morning rush hour, police said. Four people were killed and seven wounded in the blasts.

Another bomb targeting a government convoy injured six people, police and hospital officials said. Police said the convoy was carrying city workers. The police spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release information.

The twin blasts in the capital's Sunni enclave of Sheik Omar happened at a checkpoint manned by members of an Awakening Council, the mostly Sunni groups that have joined forces with the Americans against al-Qaida in Iraq.

Another two Awakening Council members was killed in a bombing just before noon in southeastern Baghdad. The councils come under frequent attacks by insurgents because they have sided with U.S. forces.

Roadside bombs targeting two separate convoys carrying Baghdad city officials injured eight people, the mayor's office said in a statement. The municipal officials were not hurt in the attacks.

Nine other people were wounded in a roadside bomb attack in Baghdad's sprawling Shiite slum of Sadr City, police said.

Violence has dropped sharply in Baghdad since the Sunni revolt — led by Awakening Councils — against al-Qaida and the routing of Shiite militias in Baghdad and southern Iraq last spring.

The Iraqi Cabinet asked on Oct. 21 for changes to the draft security pact being negotiated with Washington, including a demand for expanded Iraqi legal authority over U.S. soldiers, which the U.S. has described as a "red line."

Other changes would rule out the use of Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries, effectively rule out any extension of the U.S. military presence beyond the end of 2011 and allow Iraqis to inspect U.S. military shipments in and out of Iraq.

Iraqi lawmakers have said the changes are essential if parliament is to approve the agreement by a year's end deadline.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press on Thursday that the U.S. has responded to the proposed changes. He gave no further details and declined to characterize the U.S. reply.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh confirmed the report but did not give details.

But another top Iraqi official said the U.S. accepted some proposals and rejected others, presumably an Iraqi demand for expanded legal control over U.S. soldiers. The official would not elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not supposed to discuss the issue publicly.

Another official said the written response was sent to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who was studying it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason.

Iraq officials have said U.S. diplomats appeared willing to make the changes except for expanded jurisdiction. The Iraqis had urged the U.S. to show flexibility on that issue, which would open the door to limited prosecution by Iraqi courts of major crimes committed by soldiers off post and off duty.

Without an agreement or a new mandate, the U.S. would have to suspend all military operations in Iraq.

Also Thursday, Romania announced it plans to withdraw the country's 500 peacekeeping troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Some Romanian military personnel will remain to work as counselors.

Yahoo.

[John]

TEHRAN,Iran – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has congratulated Barack Obama on his election win — the first time an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to a U.S. president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad sent a message to Obama in which he congratulated the Democrat on "attracting the majority of voters in the election."

The text of the note was carried by the official IRNA news agency on Thursday.

In the message, Ahmadinejad also says he hopes Obama will "use the opportunity to serve the (American) people and leave a good name" during his term in office.

Iran and U.S. have no formal diplomatic relations since 1979 and the hostage drama when militant Iranian students held 52 Americans captive 444 days.

Yahoo.

[John]

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Two thieves were caught in southern Hungary with 12 pigs stuffed in their small van during a routine traffic check, Hungarian police said on Thursday.

Police stopped two men in a Renault Kangoo near the town of Szigetvar, about 220 km (137 miles) south of Budapest, as they attempted to drive off.

"The pigs weighed about 25-30 kg (55-66 lb) each -- they were really squashed into the car very tightly," a spokesman said.

Police said the pigs came from a nearby farm, where 35 pigs have gone missing in recent days.

Yahoo.

[JohnCenaFan28]

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[JohnCenaFan28]

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[JohnCenaFan28]

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[JohnCenaFan28]

Interest rates have been slashed to a 53-year low in a dramatic Bank of England bid to rescue the UK from deep recession.

The shock 1.5% cut by the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the biggest single move since March 1981 and brings rates to levels not seen since 1955.

Experts predicted they could reach an all-time low of 1.5% by mid-2009 as the Bank acts to stave off the worst impact of an economic slump.

Borrowers on standard variable rate mortgages will see average monthly payments on a £150,000 mortgage fall by around £138 - if the cut is passed on in full. But lenders shaken by banking turmoil have been reluctant to pass on cuts in full as interbank lending rates - key in pricing fixed-rate deals - remain high.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper said ministers expect banks to pass on the cuts as rapidly as possible after shoring up the finances of several major players with taxpayers' cash. "The Government has stepped in to make the banking system safe, to support the banks. It is right now that the banks do their bit to support everybody else," she said.

But shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "This is a shot in the arm for the economy, but it shows how sick the patient is."

The Bank of England made the move because of the "substantial risk" of undershooting its 2% inflation target as a sharp recession looms in the wake of September's banking turmoil. "There has been a very marked deterioration in the outlook for economic activity at home and abroad," it said.

Asked whether banks should pass the rate cut on to customers, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said: "We are not going to make specific comments about the specific pricing of individual mortgage products in every single bank. But we are clear that consumers should see the benefit of reduced interest rates.

"The Prime Minister supports the view that banks should pass on the cut. I think the public expects that when there is an interest rate cut of this magnitude, then they should see the benefit.

The deep cuts come despite the official measure of inflation standing at 5.2% - more than double the MPC's official 2% target - underlining how much the worries over an economic slump have grown.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

An historic china manufacturer has gone into administration, it was announced tonight.

Midlands-based Royal Worcester & Spode Ltd, which dates back to 1751, employs 388 people in the UK at sites in Stoke-on-Trent, Lymedale and Worcester.

The firm blamed the situation on a failure to sell its site in Stoke combined with the current economic downturn.

Matthew Hammond, Rob Hunt and Mike Jervis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were appointed joint administrators to the company. The administrators said they were trying to secure a buyer for the business.

Royal Worcester & Spode sources, manufactures and sells earthenware and china products from its three British sites as well as one in North America.

Its US trading subsidiary, The Royal China and Porcelain Companies Inc, does not come under the UK administration.

"The UK will continue to work with the US management team who remain autonomous," PwC said.

Mr Hammond, joint administrator and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Birmingham, said: "The company has been undertaking a restructuring of its business in recent years. This has included reductions in overhead, transition to more cost effective outsourcing of production, relocation of warehousing, new product development and the sale of property to reduce debt.

"However, the inability to complete the proposed sale of a site of strategic importance in Stoke and the effect of the current economic downturn on sales has led to the decision by the directors of Royal Worcester & Spode Ltd to place the company into administration.

"Our immediate priority now is to review all options for the company and immediately seek a buyer for the business. During this process we will work with the company's suppliers, employees and customers to try and ensure that a solution is found to provide a structure to take the business forward. We are working with all stakeholders and will be continuing to use the company's extensive retail network and store concessions to supply customers with the full range of products which are in good supply."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Sir Ian Blair asked the Prime Minister to relax laws on officers confronting terror suspects just a day before Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead, an inquest has heard.

Tony Blair discussed "maximising" legal protection with the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner on the day of the July 21 failed bomb attacks on London.

Innocent Mr de Menezes was killed at point blank range by firearms officers the next morning.

The meeting came to light as a jury was shown a letter Sir Ian wrote to the Home Office on the day of the Stockwell shooting.

Chief Superintendent Steve Swain, a senior officer who helped develop anti-terror tactics at Scotland Yard, refused to comment on the document. When Michael Mansfield QC, for the de Menezes family, asked if Sir Ian was saying officers should be allowed "to just shoot", Mr Swain replied: "I do not remember much of the detail so if you do not mind I would not want to say much about it."

An extract of the letter, read out by Mr Mansfield to the jury at the Oval cricket ground, south London, said: "In the meeting we had with the Prime Minister yesterday, I raised the issue of maximising the legal protection for officers who had to take decisions in relation to people believed to be suicide bombers.

"This is clearly a fast-time decision-making process, one which officers cannot risk the kind of containment and negotiation tactics which would normally be the case. Put simply, the only choice an officer may have could be to shoot-to-kill in order to prevent the detonation of a device.

"In due course I believe we need a document similar to the military rules of engagement."

Police marksmen shot the 27-year-old seven times in the head on a train carriage at Stockwell Tube, south London, on July 22 2005. He had been mistaken for one of the terrorists behind the previous day's failed suicide attacks on the capital.

The letter was "mistakenly" dated July 21 - and had been sent after the shooting, the inquest heard. The inquest, due to last 12 weeks, was adjourned until Friday.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The UK's place at the top of a European league table of cocaine use has been blamed on the Government.

A report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) shows that, for the fifth year running, the UK has recorded the highest number of cocaine users in the EU.

The annual figures show that 7.7% of Britons aged 15-64 have taken cocaine - rising to 11.2% for the 15-24 age group and 12.7% for the those aged between 15 and 34. In each category Spain is second (7%, 8.7% and 9.6% respectively) and Ireland fourth (5.3%, 7% and 8.2%).

Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, commented: "This report confirms Britain's status as the cocaine capital of Europe, not to mention the fact we also have the highest prevalence of amphetamine and ecstasy use amongst adults. It is particularly disturbing that we have the highest proportion of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds using cocaine - the Government's failure is betraying a whole generation of young people.

"This is due to Labour's chaotic, confused and staggeringly complacent approach to drugs. Drugs wreck lives, destroy communities and fuel crime - the fact Labour do not recognise this make them part of the problem, not the solution."

The survey says that 12 million EU citizens aged 15-64 admit to having taken cocaine at some time in their lives, while 11 million have used amphetamines and 9.5 million have used ecstasy.

Cannabis use is much higher - 71 million Europeans say they have tried it - about one in four citizens.

In the UK 30.1% of the 15-64 age group say they have used cannabis, exceeded only by France (30.6%) and Denmark (36.5%). Amongst 15-34 year-olds the rate is higher - 41.4% in the UK compared with 43% in France and 49.5% in Denmark.

The Home Office later welcomed the fact that the report concludes that drug use in the UK is stabilising, with numbers using cannabis and heroin actually falling. A Home Office spokesman said: "Home Office figures published last week show overall drug use in the UK is at an all time low and the number of seizures is up 15% on the last annual statistics.

"Alongside this, new figures ... show the number of problem drug users has remained stable. We continue to focus our efforts on reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs through tough enforcement, education and treatment."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Polling entered its closing stages in a by-election on which much of Gordon Brown's political reputation is riding.

If Labour lose Glenrothes to the SNP it would be the party's second Scottish by-election defeat in less than four months after the loss of Glasgow East to the Nationalists.

The constituency is in Gordon Brown's political back yard and losing would be a particular humiliation as he twice visited Glenrothes to campaign personally - the first time he has done so since becoming Prime Minister. His wife Sarah also campaigned in the constituency.

Losing Glenrothes would leave him as the only Labour MP left in Fife - Dunfermline and West Fife, another constituency which adjoins Mr Brown's, fell to the Liberal Democrats in 2006.

For the SNP. taking Glenrothes would be a spectacular victory. It would boost their number of Westminster MPs to eight, taking them close to their record tally of 11 MPs in the mid-1970s. It would also be the first time that Nationalists have made two successive parliamentary by-election gains.

But if Labour hold the seat in what is expected to be a close result, comparisons could be drawn with the Glasgow Garscadden by-election of 1978, when Labour stopped an SNP advance. On the wider front it would vindicate Mr Brown's decision to campaign there and bolster his leadership of Labour after the knock this received at Glasgow East.

Labour sources said turnout was brisk, with some polling stations seeing up to 150 voters in the first hour of polling. But the party was making no predictions on the outcome. "We are not predicting victory, not predicting defeat - it's for the voters to decide," said a spokesman. We know Lindsay Roy is an outstanding local candidate and we believe that will reflect well in (the) vote."

The SNP said turnout was estimated to be in the 15-20% range at lunchtime. They made no public comment but an SNP source said: "We are in as good a position as we were in at this stage in Glasgow East." The SNP's Peter Grant, the leader of Fife Council, voted early with his wife Fiona.

Labour is defending a majority of 10,664 at Glenrothes - but the SNP overturned a bigger deficit to win Glasgow East. The seat, which fell vacant with the death of Labour MP John MacDougall, is also contested by the Liberal Democrats and the Tories and four other candidates.

Eight candidates are contesting the November 6 by-election: Morag Balfour (Scottish Socialist Party); Maurice Golden (Scottish Conservative and Unionist); Peter Grant (Scottish National Party); Louise McLeary (Solidarity - Tommy Sheridan); Jim Parker (Scottish Senior Citizens' Unity Party); Lindsay Roy (Scottish Labour Party); Kris Seunarine (Ukip); Harry Wills (Scottish Liberal Democrats).

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The economic downturn claimed more jobs when steel giant Corus announced plans to cut 400 posts from its distribution business.

The proposed job losses will be spread across the UK, including 100 in the West Midlands, almost 100 in Shotton, North Wales, 50 in south Wales and 50 in Leeds.

The company said that since the start of the year, its distribution business had been operating in a "volatile and fluctuating" market.

It said: "The impact and continuation of the global economic downturn is having a major effect on steel customers in the automotive, construction and plant and machinery markets. Since September, the business has seen a significant decline in demand.

"As a result, Corus Distribution has introduced a series of actions to reduce expenditure on transport, consumables, energy and other discretionary spending. However, these actions alone will not be sufficient to offset the decline in the market."

Corus said it will start an immediate consultation with workers and will try to achieve the job losses through voluntary redundancy.

"Corus Distribution is committed to ensuring it will do everything possible to assist those people leaving the business, and will be putting in place a range of support services designed to help them through this difficult time," said the company.

The distribution side of the business employs 2,400 workers at 36 sites in the UK and Ireland. The proposed reductions will be spread throughout the business.

Roy Rickhuss, national officer at the steelworkers' union Community, said: "Community will do everything in its power, through the consultation period, to work with the company to save jobs where they can be saved and to help those affected through this difficult time.

"We welcomed the original Corus approach to the current downturn - to avoid knee-jerk reactions and not just cut jobs - so we are disappointed this has not been followed in Corus Distribution. Support will be available from Community's education and training arm, Communitas, to help redundant workers retrain and find new employment."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The cost of every new ID card could nearly double, it has been revealed.

Every person wanting a card will have to pay to have their fingerprints and other biometric data taken, in addition to the cost of the card.

Jacqui Smith said the "market" for providing the service was estimated at £200 million.

Ministers will sign contracts for biometric collection services early next year, and providers could include the Post Office and high street stores.

With seven million adults expected to sign up for cards, the cost for each individual of having their fingerprints and other biometric data taken would be around £29. That is on top of the charge for the card, which has been set at £30. The charge will also apply to anyone wanting a new passport.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "We already know that ID cards will do nothing to improve our security but may make it worse. Now we see that the already substantial cost to the tax payer is going to increase. This is particularly outrageous given the current economic crisis."

In a speech to the Social Market Foundation think tank, Ms Smith defended the cards, saying they would become an accepted replacement for lots of different forms of ID used now.

She said they would provide the "security" and "convenience" lacking for the use of birth certificates, utility bills and driving licences.

She said: "The time is fast approaching when the use of bills and bank statements to prove our identity will no longer cut it, and when our personal dictionary of different passwords for different purposes will become too unwieldy to work effectively."

New figures revealed the estimated cost of the scheme to taxpayers has increased by £45 million. It will now reach nearly £4.8 billion.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Prison officers at a top security jail housing some of the UK's most dangerous criminals have "no confidence" in the Governor, their union said.

Staff at Whitemoor Prison near March, Cambridgeshire, have passed a motion underlining their dissatisfaction with Steve Rodford, said the Prison Officers Association (POA).

The no-confidence vote comes six months after an internal review by Prison Service investigators raised concerns about Whitemoor.

A report - published in May following an inquiry in February - said Whitemoor officers felt they "lacked control" of inmates and "appeared reluctant" to challenge "inappropriate behaviour" for fear of "doing the wrong thing".

The report also said the high number of Muslim inmates at Whitemoor made some staff "anxious and apprehensive" - and it called for an "intelligence assessment" of possible Muslim prisoner "activities".

Mr Rodford asked for an investigation after five prisoners committed suicide between November 2006 and December 2007.

"Prison officers at Whitemoor have passed a motion of no confidence in the governor," said a POA spokesman. "This is an unusual situation at a high-security prison like Whitemoor. But there is no suggestion of any industrial action. They are hoping that this will result in Prison Service officials at a higher level taking action to address their concerns."

He said Whitemoor found it hard to recruit officers and the jail was understaffed.

But local union officials would be left to deal with the problems and there were no plans for national POA leaders to become involved.

Mr Rodford later said: "A vote of confidence was taken at a recent POA quarterly meeting. To put this into context, the POA currently has a membership of approximately 500 members of whom 115 voted against having confidence in the Governor. This equates to 23% of the membership. This vote of confidence was in relation to revised shift patterns, underpinned by minimum staffing levels, in line with national policy."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A 17-year-old youth has been jailed for stabbing three boys over a mobile phone, leaving a knife embedded deep in the skull of one.

Yassin Elmansouri drove the weapon in so hard that that its handle came away as he tried to pull it out, leaving the boy with injuries he must bear for the rest of his life.

The teenager is beginning an indeterminate life sentence for the attempted murder of his victim, known only as Ahmed.

The attack took place in the Old Kent Road on the afternoon of November 28 last year, Inner London Crown Court in Southwark heard. When Elmansouri and two others tried to rob a boy outside Tesco, the boy's friends stepped in and were subjected to the frenzied attack.

Emergency services arriving at the scene found the knife still embedded in Ahmed's head and rushed the injured youths to London hospitals. There, surgeons were able to save Ahmed's life. Of his two friends, one suffered a chest injury but was later discharged, while the other suffered minor injuries to his shoulder and left the following day.

Meanwhile, Elmansouri had been spotted running away from the crime scene and also left his hat and his mobile phone behind. Police recovered the items and sent them to the Forensic Science Service, which identified the defendant in just a few days, leading to his arrest at home on December 1.

Following an investigation by Southwark CID, Elmansouri's trial began on September 23 and he was found guilty two days later.

On Thursday he learned he must serve seven years of his indeterminate life sentence before he can be considered for parole. A further seven years for each of two counts of grievous bodily harm will run concurrently.

Following the sentence, his victim Ahmed spoke of the devastation the violence wreaked. "The attack has made me more paranoid, and more wary about being in a similar situation again," he said.

"The injury has slowed me down in terms of my reactions when I am asked to perform sudden movements. I am not able to play sport, or run around as I could before. This has added to my frustration as I knew before the attack how able and sporty I was. I will no doubt have to live with this for the rest of my life."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The head of a government agency in charge of vetting bouncers, car clampers and security staff will leave his post, after it emerged it employed dozens of staff without vetting them.

Some 38 temporary staff were cleared to work for the Security Industry Authority before they were given the proper clearance, ministers admitted. They ordered a review of decisions made by the temporary staff, amid fears convicted criminals could have been given permission to work illegally.

The board of the SIA announced chief executive Mike Wilson, who has been in post for only 14 months, would leave next week. In a statement, the chairman of the board, Ruth Henig, said the decision was made by "mutual consent".

The agency was criticised last month after it emerged around 30,000 people working in the industry were doing so without a licence. Auditors also found it overspent by £17 million last year.

The agency was previously attacked after it approved more than 5,000 illegal immigrants to work in Britain. Some illegal workers got jobs in Whitehall, including one employed to guard the Prime Minister's car.

Junior Home Office minister Alan Campbell said not all the decisions made by staff who had not been vetted would be reviewed. Instead a "targeted sample" of licence approvals would be examined.

In a statement to MPs, he said: "We have become aware of some failings in the SIA's compliance with Home Office requirements for security clearance for SIA employees.

"Home Office guidance issued to the SIA stipulates that no person should be employed in a permanent or temporary capacity, without appropriate confirmed security clearance.

"All permanent SIA staff have confirmed security clearance. It became clear, however, that some agency workers had not received appropriate security clearance before commencing employment with the SIA."

Mr Campbell said the 38 agency staff were "removed from SIA premises and had all access to SIA systems withdrawn" while security checks were carried out. As of Thursday, six staff had still not been approved to work.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

America is "facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime and we must act swiftly to solve it", president-elect Barack Obama said.

Flanked by 17 members of his transition economic advisory board, Mr Obama said the US had lost 1.2 million jobs so far this year and he would confront the crisis "head on" immediately after becoming president on January 20 next year.

It was his first public appearance since he became America's first black president-elect by beating Republican rival John McCain in Tuesday's election.

"I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead," Mr Obama said.

"We have taken some major action to date and we will need further action during this transition and subsequent months. Some of the choices that we make will be difficult. It is not going to be quick, it is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in.

"But America is a strong and resilient country and I know we will succeed if we put aside partisanship and politics and work together as one nation. That's what I intend to do."

He said the US needed a rescue plan for the middle class, further extension of unemployment benefits and must work on policy options to help the struggling auto industries adjust to the economic crisis. And he added that the US could not afford to wait to act on his administration's key priorities such as healthcare and energy policy.

He said the financial crisis was "spilling out" into other areas of the country's economy. "We are going to need to see a stimulus package passed either before or after inauguration," he said, adding that it was needed "sooner rather than later".

"A new president can do an enormous amount, to restore confidence, to move an agenda forward, that speaks to the needs of the economy and the needs of middle-class families all across the country.

"I'm confident that a new president can have an enormous impact, that's why I ran for president."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The UK's largest mortgage lenders have vowed to pass on the interest rate cut in full following pressure from Chancellor Alistair Darling.

A flurry of banks and building societies said they were to drop rates by 1.5% after the Bank of England slashed the base rate on Thursday.

The move by lenders came after banking chiefs were hauled in front of the Chancellor and told they must pass on the cut "as soon as possible".

Among those showing their hand were Halifax and Nationwide, respectively the UK's largest lender and building society. Both announced that their standard variable rates (SVRs) would be coming down in line with the Bank of England's announcement.

They followed Lloyds TSB and Abbey, both of which had earlier pledged to drop their rates by 1.5%. Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows also announced that they were to reduce the cost of their mortgages. Later, Nationalised banks Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley also said they were passing on the full interest rate cut to its mortgage customers.

The cuts will provide some much-needed relief for hard-pressed homeowners, reducing the monthly cost of a typical £150,000 mortgage by £138 to £887. People who are heavily mortgaged with a £250,000 loan would see their repayments drop by £230 a month, or £2,757 a year.

Earlier, Chancellor Alistair Darling told banking chiefs to pass on the interest rate cut to customers "as quickly as possible", according to sources. The heads of all high street lenders were summoned to a breakfast meeting at the Treasury at which they were urged to drop mortgage rates.

It follows the shock move by the Bank of England on Thursday to slash the bank base rate by 1.5% to 3% - the lowest it has been in more than 50 years.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the banks' decision to pass rate cuts on to customers.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Brown said: "(On Thursday) we saw decisive action on interest rates from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, and I welcome the fact that a number of British banks have now decided to pass on the interest rate cut to customers, to families and to businesses."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Tory leader David Cameron told business leaders a Conservative government would "unblock" credit to get it flowing through the economy.

He told an audience in Glasgow that Labour's handling of the current financial turmoil was based on myths.

And he said the economy would be more resilient through "Conservative responsibility".

Speaking at the Glasgow Science Centre, he said: "This recession was triggered by a credit crunch and it is now vital that we unblock credit and get money flowing through the veins of our economy, back to businesses and families."

He said the Bank of England should be allowed to regulate debt.

And he told the Scottish audience he would strengthen devolution to encourage business.

He added: "I believe we need to move away from an economy that relies too heavily on the narrow shoulders of finance and housing to drive growth.

"We need to move towards science, more hi-tech services, more green technologies, more engineering, more high-value manufacturing."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A record number of people were declared bankrupt during the third quarter of the year, figures have showed.

A total of 17,341 people were made bankrupt on a seasonally adjusted basis during the three months to the end of September, 12.1% more than in the second quarter and a 9.5% rise compared with the same period of the previous year.

The increase reported by the Insolvency Service reversed the downward trend in bankruptcy numbers that had been seen during the previous six quarters.

The figures also showed a jump in the total number of individuals declared insolvent, while the number of companies going into liquidation rose at its fastest rate for 18 years.

Commentators warned that the figures were the beginning of an upward trend that would see a record number of individuals declared insolvent next year as the economic downturn worsens.

Pat Boyden, personal insolvency expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Bankruptcies have increased for the first time for some months and this significant rise is worrying. (Thursday's) interest rate cut may bring some relief although it may be too late for those in deep financial difficulty."

A total of 27,087 people were made insolvent during the third quarter of the year, 8.8% more than in the previous three months and 4.6% more than during the same period of 2007. Within this figure, 17,341 were declared bankrupt and 9,746 people took out individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), under which interest on debt is frozen in exchange for a set amount being repaid each month.

The IVA number represented a 3.3% rise on the previous three months, but was 3.1% down on the third quarter of 2007.

Mark Sands, director of personal insolvency at KPMG, expects a record 150,000 people to be declared insolvent during 2009.

KPMG said it had seen an increasingly large proportion of homeowners taking out IVAs during the past year, with people with mortgages now accounting for 45% of those seeking help, up from 30% last year. The average debt owed by someone taking out one of the arrangements is now £48,400, but the group said it saw 500 people during the third quarter who had amassed borrowings of more than £100,000.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Steel giant Corus is to cut production by 30% over the next few months and temporarily shut down blast furnaces at two of its UK plants.

The firm, the second largest steel producer in Europe, announced last month it would reduce production between October and December by a million tonnes of crude steel, around 20% of its output, to align production levels with demand.

Corus said on Friday it had now decided to extend production cuts beyond December and expects to produce about 30% less crude steel than planned during the two quarters to the end of next March.

Blast furnaces at Scunthorpe and Port Talbot, as well as one in Holland, will be temporarily shut down.

Corus chief executive Philippe Varin said: "The current slowdown requires us to adapt our operations to the changing environment with maximum speed. We are adopting proactive and responsible measures in the areas of production and costs to optimise our results. Meanwhile, our strategy for long-term growth remains unchanged."

Corus, a subsidiary of Indian firm Tata, said no jobs will be lost as a result of the production cutback. The firm, which employs more than 24,000 workers in the UK, announced 400 job losses on Thursday in its distribution business.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of the steelworkers' union Community, said: "We understand that there will be no permanent capacity cuts. However, we will be having discussions with Corus nationally and locally as to how we might mitigate any damage that may be caused by the shortfall in the order book.

"Community will work to ensure a long-term future for both permanent and contract employees. This revision underlines how the economic crisis is hurting manufacturing in Britain. Community will continue to work nationally for support from the Government.

"We are hopeful that Corus will look to retain capacity to meet long-term demand rather than make a knee-jerk reaction to short-term trends."

Corus has four blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, although one was already idle, and two at Port Talbot as well as one at Teesside, which is not affected by the announcement.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The "Brown Bounce" was in full effect as Labour comfortably held Glenrothes in a crunch by-election.

In a result that seemed to take even party insiders by surprise, their candidate Lindsay Roy coasted to victory with a majority of 6,737.

Although the margin was down a third on that achieved at the 2005 general election, the win will be seen as a huge personal boost for Gordon Brown.

And Mr Brown hailed Labour's victory as a vote of confidence for the Government's response to the economic downturn.

Speaking to reporters in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: "What I have learned from this by-election is that people are prepared to support Governments that will help people through the downturn and offer real help to people. They are less willing to support people who have no idea about how to solve the problems we have got."

Just a few weeks ago Glenrothes looked set to be the third safe seat Labour had lost under his leadership, with the poor performance sparking open calls for him to quit.

However, since then Mr Brown has been boosted by his handling of the global financial crisis, slashing the Tories' poll lead and seemingly impressing voters in Glenrothes.

The seat borders the Prime Minster's Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath constituency, and Mr Brown staked political capital by visiting it twice during the campaign - breaking the precedent that premiers stay away from by-elections. Mr Brown's wife Sarah was also deployed to help bring in support.

Up until the count began the SNP were expressing confidence that they had achieved the 12.3% swing needed to overturn the 10,664 majority. However, the mood soon changed, with one Labour official admitting he was "bewildered" by the turnaround.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond took responsibility for the shortcomings in the SNP campaign. He accused Labour of conducting a "scaremongering" campaign over rising home care charges brought in under the local SNP-led council but pledged to "learn the lessons" from the episode.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

British Airways reported that its half-yearly profits had nose-dived and announced it was already axing services from its summer 2009 schedule.

Pre-tax profits for the period April-September 2008 crashed more than 90% to £52 million, with BA chief executive Willie Walsh describing the half-year as "one of the bleakest on record".

The airline said it was reducing capacity by 1% for summer 2009 and suspending its Heathrow services to Calcutta and to Dhaka in Bangladesh and also axing Gatwick flights to Dublin and Zurich.

Mr Walsh said that a decision on the shape of the winter 2009/10 schedule would be made in the next few months. But he added that he expected more airlines to cease operations and that this could lead to more capacity.

Despite the sharp dip in profits, BA shares rose around 15% as investors welcomed the company's forecast that it expected to make a small profit in this financial year.

The City was also heartened by the news that BA's yields rose more than 10% as a result of higher fares and the impact of a stronger US dollar. Panmure Gordon stockbrokers described the figures as a "reasonable performance in difficult market conditions".

BA's pre-tax profits for the same period last year had been as high as £616 million, but this year BA's had to contend with fuel cost increases of £511 million to £1.49 billion.

Revenues for the six months to September 30 were up 6.4%, despite a weakening in long-haul premium traffic since the summer. Operating profits fell to £140 million from £567 million a year earlier.

Mr Walsh said "The six-month period will be remembered as one of the bleakest on record. The period was hit by a crisis in the banking sector, record fuel prices and several airlines going out of business."

Mr Walsh went on: "I fully expect to see a number of other airline failures and that will take capacity out of the market."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Compensation totalling £4 million has been paid by the Ministry of Defence to service personnel unfairly dismissed from the forces because of their homosexuality, it has been confirmed.

Payments have been made to 65 individuals, with an average payout of £61,500. The cases date back to the period before 1999, when four servicemen won their cases at the European Court of Human Rights

The court's ruling that the ban was a violation of the right to respect for a private life under the European Convention on Human Rights resulted in the lifting of the ban on gays in the military the following year.

Settlements in many cases were agreed years ago, but pay-outs were delayed until the completion of the European court case. Some £3.7 million was paid out to 57 people in 2007/08, following payments of £300,000 to eight people over the two previous years.

Details emerged in the MoD's Claims Annual Report, published earlier this week, which said that no further claims or pay-outs were expected.

Peter Tatchell, of homosexual rights group OutRage!, said: "These payouts are small compensation to people who were often subjected to degrading interrogation and detention, and who lost their job and service accommodation.

"Although this monetary compensation package is welcome and long overdue, what's really important is the official recognition that a grave injustice was done to these people and to hundreds of other dismissed lesbian and gay soldiers, sailors and air crews."

The MoD spokesman said: "Sexual orientation is a private life matter. It is the right of each and every member of the Armed Forces to work in an environment which is free from harassment, intimidation and bullying and have equal opportunities for employment, training and advancement based solely on their merits and abilities.

"Over the past few years the MoD has made strenuous efforts to reach amicable settlements in relation to those legal claims which remained outstanding and we are pleased that compensation has now been awarded in all these cases."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A planned strike by over 200,000 civil servants has been suspended pending fresh talks over a long-running row over pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union were due to walk out for 24 hours on Monday, threatening disruption to jobcentres, benefit offices, driving test centres and coastguard sites.

The union was planning to follow the stoppage with a rolling programme of strikes to hit different Whitehall departments and agencies.

But on Friday the union said that the strike had been suspended for 28 days pending fresh talks aimed at resolving a series of disputes over pay.

The union's national executive decided to suspend the industrial action so that talks could be held with Civil Service officials.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Our national industrial action has been suspended for 28 days. I welcome the dialogue and hope an agreement is possible."

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: "We welcome this reasonable decision in tough economic times and remain committed to an ongoing dialogue."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Britain has issued an appeal for all parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo to work for peace and security in the troubled region.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for serious engagement from all sides in talks currently under way in Kenyan capital Nairobi to find a resolution to the latest round of violence.

The United Nations mission in the Congo, MONUC, reported new clashes between the Congolese army and rebel militias around the town of Goma, where around 250,000 people have been displaced by fighting over recent weeks.

Angolan troops have recently joined Government forces near the eastern city, in a move which it is feared may be seen as provocative by Rwanda, which has been accused of offering support to rebels led by Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda.

In Nairobi, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is chairing a peace summit with Congolese President Joseph Kabila and six other African leaders.

In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Mr Miliband said: "The situation in the eastern DRC remains unstable. The need for a political solution to the region's problems is urgent and I am grateful to the African Union, regional leaders and the UN Secretary General for their leadership and efforts to kick-start this process.

"(The) summit in Nairobi, which Lord Malloch-Brown is attending on my behalf, provided that impetus.

"Continued fighting in the region in the last few days, despite the ceasefire, creates real danger that violence will escalate.

"MONUC's efforts to maintain security on the ground have helped, but humanitarian agencies continue to face challenges in getting assistance to those affected by the recent fighting.

"I appeal to all parties involved to engage seriously and work towards peace and security for the people of the region."

-Nova

[John]

He's off to a great start.

[John]

BAGHDAD – Two Iraqi insurgent groups called on President-elect Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and abandon the war on terror, an Internet monitoring service reported Friday.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, self-styled head of the al-Qaida front group the Islamic State of Iraq, said in a speech posted on an extremist Web site that it would be better "for you and us" to "withdraw your forces," according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors militant Web sites.

"You do not interfere in the affairs of our countries," he continued in an apparent reference to Muslim dominated nations. "We, in turn, will not prevent commerce with you, whether it is in oil or otherwise."

Al-Baghdadi blamed the global financial crisis on the wars "launched in Muslim countries" and said he was issuing the call on behalf of "my brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Chechnya," SITE said.

The U.S. military says al-Baghdadi is an actor who provides a voice for al-Qaida in Iraq propaganda.

In a separate statement, the Mujahedeen Army, a Sunni insurgent group, urged Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq or face "days that will be more difficult than the nightmare experienced by his predecessor."

According to SITE, the statement said both Democrats and Republicans share attitudes hostile to Muslims.

The authenticity of the statements couldn't be verified.

Obama has called for an increase in forces in Afghanistan and a withdraw of combat troops from Iraq in 16 months, but said that the time period wasn't rigid and could be adjusted.

The Islamic State of Iraq purports to be an umbrella organization of religious extremist groups including al-Qaida in Iraq. The Mujahedeen Army emerged in late 2004 and has distanced itself from al-Qaida because of opposition to the terror movement's attacks on Shiite civilians.

Yahoo.

[John]

As of Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at least 4,191 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

The figure includes eight military civilians killed in action. At least 3,388 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The AP count is two fewer than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT.

The British military has reported 176 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia and Georgia, three each; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand and Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan and South Korea, one death each.

Yahoo.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Verdicts of accidental death by drowning have been returned by a coroner on the deaths of seven crewmen aboard the sunken fishing boat the Solway Harvester.

The ship went down in stormy seas off the Manx coast in January 2000, with the loss of the men from the close-knit village of the Isle of Whithorn, in Dumfries and Galloway.

Recording his verdict Isle of Man coroner Michael Moyle said: "My formal finding in respect of each and every one of the deceased is that the cause of death was drowning."

Mr Moyle added that the precise reason for the vessel sinking could not be pinpointed with certainty because of conflicting views from experts.

The coroner was highly critical of the boat's owner, Richard Gidney, for acting "in his own self-interest" during the inquest proceedings.

After being acquitted of manslaughter in 2005, Mr Gidney refused to attend an inquest on the Isle of Man the following year, claiming he had received legal advice that it may "prejudice a civil claim".

Mr Gidney was eventually summoned to give evidence at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court in June this year after a petition from Mr Moyle was granted which ordered his examination as a witness.

The inquest heard that the vessel had experienced three flooding incidents in eight years and that while Mr Gidney had installed a bilge alarm in the fish room of the Solway Harvester, it was not working when the boat began its final trip. As a result, the boat's skipper Craig Mills was not alerted that water was rising in the fish room during the stormy weather.

Mr Moyle drew attention to other equipment shortcomings on the boat, including the fact that the lifeboats on board had not been serviced "for a considerable time".

Skipper Craig Mills, 29, Robin Mills, 33, David Mills, 17, Martin Milligan, 26, John Murphy, 22, David Lyons, 18, and Wesley Jolly, 17, all lost their lives when the ship sank.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The BBC has broadcast an apology for the "grossly offensive" phone call made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on Radio 2.

It ran just after 10am when Ross, who has been suspended without pay for three months for the prank, would normally be hosting his weekly show.

Richard Allinson has stepped in to fill the Radio 2 Saturday morning slot.

The BBC apologised to licence fee payers and said the phone call to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs answering machine should never have been recorded or broadcast.

Ross and Brand left messages claiming Brand had slept with the actor's granddaughter, Georgina Baillie.

The on-air apology will be repeated just after 9pm, when Brand, who resigned as a result of the fallout from the broadcast made on his own Saturday night show, would usually be on the airwaves.

On Friday it was disclosed a second BBC Radio 2 executive had resigned in the wake of the controversy, which sparked more than 40,000 complaints.

Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas quit on Thursday October 30 and that was followed by the resignation of David Barber, the Radio 2 head of specialist music and compliance.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that David Barber has resigned from the BBC." It is thought Barber's job would have involved checking that content complied with BBC guidelines.

The BBC has not identified the person responsible for approving the broadcast which went out on October 18. An internal inquiry is currently being carried out into the events which led to the call being broadcast.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Two former bank chiefs have sent a letter to HBOS calling for its chairman and chief executive to resign.

Sir Peter Burt and Sir George Mathewson, former chief executives of the Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland respectively, oppose the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB.

Sir George said they had sent the letter to chairman of HBOS, Sir Dennis Stevenson.

In it they say that Sir Dennis and HBOS chief executive Andy Hornby should resign - and that Sir George should become the new chairman of the bank and Sir Peter Burt should be its chief executive.

Speaking from his Perthshire home Sir George said: "It is a lengthy, detailed letter. We do not believe the alternatives to the Lloyds takeover of HBOS have been properly explored.

"And, that this deal was conceived in response to a particular problem and then the world changed a week later. As such that deal is no longer the proper deal for the shareholders of HBOS or anybody else."

HBOS is the subject of a £12 billion merger with Lloyds TSB.

Lloyds TSB has said that its acquisition of HBOS would save it at least £1.5 billion a year.

But the SNP has been critical of the takeover and believe many Scottish jobs could be lost.

The former bankers want to keep HBOS an "independent bank" and believe that the merger was no longer required after the Government's bank bailout.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thousands of jobs at two UK car plants could be at risk following a warning from General Motors that it is running on empty.

The world's biggest car company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, said it will be bankrupt within months unless it gets an emergency cash injection from the US government to help it ride out the global financial crisis.

General Motors, which owns Vauxhall, employs around 3,700 workers at plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, which produce around 215,000 vehicles a year.

It needs at least £7 billion in cash to pay its bills each month, the Daily Mail reported.

The firm said it had called off merger talks with Chrysler and was asking the US government for help after using up 6.9 billion US dollars (£4.4bn) in the third quarter of 2008.

A spokesman for GM in the UK said no reference had been made to jobs at the British sites and that discussions between car manufacturers and US officials were ongoing.

The motor industry has been hit by falling demand across the world, with sales of new cars slumping to their lowest level in 25 years.

Figures released earlier this week showed new car sales in the UK fell 23% in October compared to the same time last year.

The reduced demand for new vehicles has prompted a number of UK-based manufacturers to scale back production.

German car giant BMW announced on Thursday that production of the Mini was to be curtailed, with workers at plants at Oxford and Swindon told the two-week Christmas shutdown would be extended to four weeks this year as a result of the credit crunch.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

US President-elect Barack Obama would never have become the British Prime Minister because of "institutional racism" in the Labour Party, the head of Britain's equality watchdog has claimed.

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, told The Times: "If Barack Obama had lived here I would be very surprised if even somebody as brilliant as him would have been able to break through the institutional stranglehold that there is on power within the Labour Party."

He said the Conservative Party had made more progress when it came to its selection procedures than Labour.

He said: "The parties and unions and think-tanks are all very happy to sign up to the general idea of advancing the cause of minorities but in practice they would like somebody else to do the business. It's institutional racism."

He added that he opposed all-black shortlists but said "positive action" was needed by all parties.

His views were supported by Adam Afriyie, Conservative MP for Windsor, who said he did not believe he would see a black PM in his lifetime.

But Sadiq Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, disagreed and predicted a black or Asian Labour PM would be elected in his lifetime.

A Labour Party statement in response to Mr Phillips said it continually reviewed its procedures to ensure its elected positions reflected British society.

A spokesman for the party said it has a "proud record of promoting ethnic minority candidates".

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Two thirds of council chiefs and police commanders involved in the Government's £86 million scheme to tackle violent extremism are not being given key terrorism information, according to a leaked report.

The report, commissioned by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, suggests this failure to share intelligence is hampering the Government's pathfinder programme, which gives local authorities money to allocate to projects aimed at steering young people away from violent extremism, the Guardian reported.

Seventy councils have received £6 million in pathfinder funding in the last two years, with £45 million to be spent on expanding the programme in the next three years.

The joint report by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, due to be released on Monday, looks at the progress of the scheme in 14 areas, including several that have experienced the impact of violent extremism first hand.

According to the newspaper, the report showed one-third of chief executives and local police commanders interviewed did not have access to, or were not briefed on, terrorism data in their area, while two thirds were not entrusted with security information.

The report states: "Whilst it is vital assurances are sought about who has access to restricted information, councils already routinely handle sensitive information on a range of areas and the same trusting, business-like relationships need to be developed on this agenda as others."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Police have launched a murder inquiry after a teenager was stabbed to death.

The 19-year-old suffered fatal wounds on High Road, Ilford, Essex, at about 2.30am after an altercation with a group of men.

A second victim, aged 17, also suffered stab wounds and was taken to an east London hospital, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Police said they believe they know the identity of the dead teenager, and are in the process of informing next of kin.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

St Paul's Cathedral will become a lighthouse of text and light projections on London's skyline.

The project, entitled The Question Mark Inside, was created by public artist Martin Firrell.

The Dean and Chapter of the cathedral commissioned the work to mark the 300th anniversary of the topping out of Christopher Wren's iconic building.

Mr Firrell said the text came from three sources.

"I set up a blog so the public could contribute any ideas they had. The question we put was what makes life meaningful and purposeful," he said.

"The second thing was I interviewed the philosopher AC Grayling, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, and I also spoke to novelist Howard Jacobson.

"I also included my own opinion about what I was being told and incorporated that."

The text will be projected in English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Latin, French, Portuguese and Arabic.

The projections will appear for eight nights on the dome, the West Front at Ludgate Hill and on to the Whispering Gallery inside the cathedral. They begin after the Lord Mayor's Show firework display, the largest in the country.

Three tonnes of fireworks will be set off in a 20-minute display. Spectators are advised to watch from the South Bank or Victoria Embankment for the best views.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The head of Tesco called for a cut in interest rates at a private meeting with the Bank of England's governor.

The meeting between Sir Terry Leahy and the Bank's Mervyn King took place in the days before Thursday's surprise 1.5% interest rate cut, according to The Guardian.

Sir Terry, chief executive of Britain's biggest supermarket chain, reportedly argued that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) should make a big cut to the cost of borrowing to help restore consumer confidence.

Tesco would not confirm whether or not the meeting took place, but Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Tesco's director of legal affairs, said: "The MPC did a very brave thing. Our concern is to make sure the banks pass the rate cut on."

Thursday's decision by the Bank of England to slash the base rate to 3% - its lowest level for more than 50 years - appeared to take the banking sector by surprise.

It resulted in a scramble by institutions to withdraw tracker products, which automatically track the base rate, with 33 lenders pulling their entire range of the deals for new customers to reprice them.

Banking chiefs were hauled in front of Chancellor Alistair Darling on Friday morning and told they must pass on the 1.5% interest rate cut to customers "as soon as possible".

Nationalised banks Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley were later among a host of lenders to announce they would pass on the cut in full to mortgage customers.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A 15-year-old who was stabbed outside the gates of his school was hit in the head with a brick in a previous attack.

The teenager suffered a punctured lung when he was stabbed shortly after 4pm on Thursday at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Greenford, west London.

He was airlifted to hospital where he is being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old youth around an hour after the incident. He is being held at a west London police station.

Police refused to confirm reports that the suspect attended nearby Brentside High School.

The victim's father told journalists his son had been attacked before.

He said: "There was an incident a month ago when ... he was hit in the head with a brick by another boy. I think that boy went to Brentside High School.

"There were a lot of witnesses and the police came to take statements so we were surprised that the offender has not been apprehended. I think that if the police had taken action that time, then this could have been prevented."

Scotland Yard said no further action was taken over the earlier attack because the victim withdrew his allegation.

A Yard spokesman said: "We received an allegation of assault on September 15 in Greenford. The matter was thoroughly investigated by the school's liaison officers and by officers based in Ealing. However the alleged victim withdrew his allegation."

-Nova

[DUKE NUKEM]

that kid has some bad luck

[DUKE NUKEM]

thats just sad

[Black Widow]

ROYAL staff are furious over an amazing ban on poppies at full state banquets at Buckingham Palace.

Flunkies were ordered not to wear the flower in remembrance of Britain’s war dead at a bash for foreign diplomats. Some claim Foreign Office officials warned they could be FIRED if they did.

Staff said they were told the poignant symbol might offend ambassadors at last Thursday’s dinner — hosted by the Queen.

Even police were told to leave their poppies at home for the annual event, attended by more than 300 guests.

One household source claimed the Foreign Office gave the order.

He said: “They told the Palace that wearing poppies could offend the ambassadors, which is farcical.

“And as the Foreign Office are in charge, we have to listen.

“Staff are disgusted. It’s a total insult to our veterans and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Several household staff are threatening a revolt over the ban.

The source added: “The Royals are huge supporters of the Poppy Appeal and there is a big box of poppies in the staff room for us to wear.

“I’m sure the Duke of Edinburgh or Prince Harry would have been furious at this.”

Thursday’s bash was for new ambassadors and high commissioners working in London.

A Palace spokesman said poppies were ruled out by protocol. He said: “Historically you do not wear poppies with full state ceremonial evening dress.”


The Sun

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the read.

[Black Widow]

Dozens of gamblers hoping to bet on Barack Obama being assassinated have been turned away by a major bookmaker.

William Hill, which has received more than 100 requests, informed customers it would never offer odds on the possible targeting of the US President-elect.

White supremacists have already allegedly plotted an attack on Mr Obama, who will be America's first black President.

William Hill's Graham Sharpe said: "We have no interest whatsoever in betting on the possible death or serious injury of any politician (or anyone else for that matter) in any circumstances."

The bookmaker said, although people have asked to bet on prominent possible assassination targets in the past "on occasion", it was never a major issue.

But the scale of demand for Obama punts prompted the company to set out its position.

"It's not illegal for us to do it, if we choose. But I would seriously question the motives of anyone who did it," Mr Sharpe said.

"We are giving people the chance to express their opinions and make a bit of money but even bookmakers have the occasional moral scruples."

According to William Hill, a record £10m-plus total was gambled on the outcome of the US presidential election.

Mr Obama has been made even money favourite to win again in 2012.

One customer who staked £25,000 on Mr Obama collected £42,000 as a result and another who bet £17,500 received £45,925.


sky news

[DUKE NUKEM]

now thats just crazy

[DUKE NUKEM]

thanks for the read ryan

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for posting this.

[Black Widow]

Police Investigating Possible Abuse As Motive In Double-Murder; Father's Friend Also Killed

(AP) Police in this small eastern Arizona community are looking into the possibility that an 8-year-old boy who is charged with killing his father and another man with a rifle had been abused, the police chief said Saturday.


The boy, who faces two counts of premeditated murder, did not act on the spur of the moment, Police Chief Roy Melnick said.


"I'm not accusing anybody of anything at this point," he said Saturday. "But we're certainly going to look at the abuse part of this. He's 8 years old. He just doesn't decide one day that he's going to shoot his father and shoot his father's friend for no reason. Something led up to this.
"

A judge determined Friday that there was probable cause to show the boy fatally shot his father, Vincent Romero, 29, and Timothy Romans, 39, of San Carlos, with a .22-caliber rifle.


Under Arizona law, charges can be filed against anyone 8 or older. The judge ordered a psychological evaluation.


The boy had no record of complaints with Arizona Child Protective Services, said Apache County Attorney Brad Carlyon.


"He had no record of any kind, not even a disciplinary record at school," he said. "He has never been in trouble before.
"

In a sign of the emotional and legal complexities of the case, police are pushing to have the boy tried as an adult even as they investigate possible abuse, Melnick said. If convicted as a minor, the boy could be sent to juvenile detention until he turns 18.


Police had responded to calls of domestic violence at the Romero home in the past, but authorities were searching records Saturday to determine when those calls were placed, Melnick said.


"We're going to use every avenue of the law that's available to us, but we're also looking at the human side," he said.


Melnick said officers arrived at Romero's home within minutes of the shooting Wednesday in St. Johns, which has a population of about 4,000 and is 170 miles northeast of Phoenix. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.


Romans had been renting a room at the Romero house, prosecutors said. Both men were employees of a construction company working at a power plant near St. Johns.


The boy went to a neighbor's house and said he "believed that his father was dead," Carlyon said.


Melnick said police got a confession, but the boy's attorney, Benjamin Brewer, said police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.


"They became very accusing early on in the interview," Brewer said. "Two officers with guns at their side, it's very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid.
"

Prosecutors aren't sure where the case is headed, Carlyon said.


"There's a ton of factors to be considered and weighed, including the juvenile's age," he said. "The counterbalance against that, the acts that he apparently committed.
"

FBI statistics show instances of children younger than 11 committing homicides are very rare. According to recent FBI supplementary homicide reports, there were at least three such cases each year in 2003, 2004 and 2005; there were at least 15 in 2002. More recent statistics weren't available, nor were details of the cases.


Earlier this year in Arizona, prosecutors in Cochise County filed first-degree murder charges against a 12-year-old boy accused of killing his mother.


Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta, who is not involved in the latest case, said that each case has to be considered on its own merits, but that it would be hard for him to comprehend that an 8-year-old has the mental capacity to understand the act of murder and its implications.


"If they actually prosecute the guy, it's a legal minefield," he said. "And, two, society has to make a decision as to whether they want to start using the criminal justice system to deal with 8-year-olds. That doesn't mean you don't have a troubled kid.
"

Wednesday's homicides were the first in at least four years in the community, where most people know one another, Melnick said.


Romero had full custody of the child. The boy's biological mother visited St. Johns during the weekend from Mississippi and returned to Arizona after the shootings, Carlyon said.


Brewer said the boy "seems to be in good spirits.


"He's scared," he said. "He's trying to be tough, but he's scared."

CBS News

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

A footballer who made an "insensitive" handcuffs gesture to show support for a friend jailed following the deaths of two children has been fined by his club.

Ipswich Town said it was concerned that midfielder David Norris's celebration after scoring a goal had been interpreted as a tribute his friend, former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick.

Club officials said Norris, 27, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, had written a letter of "regret" to the boys' parents and the club would make a donation to charity.

Amanda Peak, the mother of Arron, 10, and Ben, eight, said she was happy with the apology and thought Ipswich's response appropriate.

The boys were travelling in a Toyota Previa people carrier hit by McCormick's Range Rover on the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in June.

Mr Norris may also face action from soccer's governing body, the Football Association, which said it wanted a written explanation within the next week.

Mr Norris held his wrists high after scoring in Ipswich's 1-0 win at Blackpool on Saturday. He made the gesture two weeks after telling journalists that he would stand by former teammate McCormick - who is serving a seven-year jail term for causing the deaths of the youngsters.

An Ipswich Town spokesman said: "Whilst the club has heard David's explanation that his gesture was in no way intended to condone or support the actions of Luke McCormick, he was found to have been insensitive to the possible interpretation. David deeply regrets that his actions have been wrongly misinterpreted."

But Mrs Peak, of Partington, Manchester, said: "That is all we wanted, a letter to say he is sorry and he's shown he's got a heart and it wasn't intended to hurt anyone but obviously it did.

"All we asked for was an apology. I said either ban him for a game or fine him, but don't do both, people make these gestures, but it's not right to ban and fine him. It was something private between him and Luke but private should stay private, it should not be in public."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Gordon Brown hailed the election of Barack Obama as a source of "hope and inspiration" as he urged the United States to join with Europe to build a new global order.

In his annual foreign policy address to the City of London, the Prime Minister called on fellow world leaders to "seize the moment" and lay the foundations for the "first truly global society".

Addressing the Lord Mayor of London's banquet at the Guildhall, Mr Brown acknowledged that while the challenges facing the world appeared "daunting", they also presented the opportunity to build a better future.

He said the "unprecedented" election of Mr Obama as America's next president offered the prospect of a new "dawn of hope", both in the US and the wider world.

"Just days ago, across the Atlantic, our closest ally gave new meaning to its founding creed that all are created equal. Gave new strength to the notion that the American dream is for all Americans," he said. "Whatever one's politics, it can surely only be a source of hope and inspiration that a nation which once would have looked at Barack Obama and defined him only by his colour today sees in him the man they want to be their president and commander-in-chief.

"As America stands at its own dawn of hope - so let that hope be fulfilled through a pact with the wider world to lead and shape the 21st century as the first century of a truly global society.

"I believe that with the far-sighted leadership we have in Europe, the whole of Europe can and will work closely with the rest of the world to meet the great challenges which will illuminate our convictions and test our resolution."

Mr Brown - who earlier signalled that ministers were considering new tax cuts - welcomed plans by Mr Obama and by the governments of China and Germany to inject fresh funds into their economies to keep them going through the downturn.

"This is no time for the old approach of short-term spending cuts in a downturn that would hurt families and businesses today and damage the long-term productivity of the economy," he said.

Mr Brown, who flies to Washington this week for a financial summit of world leaders hosted by outgoing President George Bush, said it was vital that countries did not retreat into protectionism and isolationism in the face of the global downturn.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A coroner has told an inquest into the death of a decorated soldier that he was anxious that the British Armed Forces were "making do" with limited protection in Afghanistan.

Captain David Hicks, of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, suffered shrapnel wounds during an attack at a base "with limited protection" north east of Sangin, in Helmand Province, on August 11, 2007.

Protective walls surrounding the Inkerman base were too low, there was no doctor on site and some soldiers slept under makeshift netting, the inquest heard.

Capt Hicks removed his oxygen mask and shouted "Let me get back out there" as medics tried to treat the open chest wound he suffered during the Taliban rocket attack.

The 26-year-old, from Wokingham, Berkshire, was flown by Chinook helicopter to a medical facility at Camp Bastion for treatment but did not survive. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.

Before recording a verdict of unlawful killing, Wiltshire Coroner David Masters told the inquest at Trowbridge Town Hall: "I don't think making do is a an acceptable proposition for our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan - I'm very anxious about that."

The Inkerman base was originally opened as an Afghan National Army base in May 2007, but was expanded to include 80 British troops in July that year.

Describing the base as having "limited protection" in the summing-up of his evidence, the coroner said: "The accommodation given to C Company is in Afghan mud premises, but the fire group had to make do - they had netting over the walls and that was their accommodation. That gave no protection."

But the coroner later said that since Capt Hicks' death, improvements had been made, so he did not need to make recommendations to the Government.

"There's been improved protection by increasing the Hesco barriers and a doctor is now in place. I have a responsibility to make recommendations, but because of the changes I do not consider in this particular inquest I need to make any specific report."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Some homeowners could be enjoying an interest-free mortgage next year if interest rates continue to fall steeply, it was disclosed today.

Cheltenham & Gloucester, which is part of Lloyds TSB, offered a two-year tracker mortgage of 1.01% below the Bank of England base rate in July and August 2007.

The deal means that if interest rates fall to 1%, as many economists are predicting, people who took out the loan will not have to pay any interest on their mortgage at all, and will only have to make capital repayments.

With the base rate at 3%, homeowners who took out one of the loans are currently paying interest of just 1.99% - the lowest rate members of the industry can remember.

Anyone who took out the loan on an interest-only basis will have monthly mortgage costs of just £165.83 on a £100,000 loan, while those with a repayment mortgage will be paying £423 a month.

But borrowers had to pay a fee of 2.5%, or £2,500 on a £100,000 mortgage, to take out the deal, and once this is taken into account the so-called pay rate is considerably higher, although still highly competitive, at the equivalent of base rate plus 0.24%.

It is not just borrowers with Cheltenham & Gloucester who could see their mortgage rate fall below 1% if interest rates continue to be cut.

In August 2007 the Co-operative Bank was offering a two-year tracker at 0.61% below base rate. Nationwide also had one of 0.27% below base rate, although the group will stop reducing the rate if interest rates fall below 3%.

But these deals only run for two years, meaning that borrowers who are currently on them will have to remortgage within the next 12 months on to considerably higher rates, or stay on their lender's standard variable rate.

However, people who took out lifetime tracker mortgages have the rate they pay in relation to base rate fixed for the life of the mortgage.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

David Cameron has promised tax changes to help firms avoid slashing their workforces in the economic downturn.

Insisting that the Conservatives would not allow joblessness to soar, the Tory leader's comments came after a speech to a Conservative women's conference in which he rejected the idea that mass unemployment was inevitable in a recession.

Challenged about prospective Tory tax cuts, he responded that measures to help businesses were imminent.

"Tomorrow we will be making a very clear announcement about some tax changes that actually will help to encourage businesses to take on workers and to keep workers," he said.

While people would have to "wait and see" for the details, he added: "We will help, we will put money back in people's pockets and we will say where it will come from."

It is thought that the proposals could involve scrapping National Insurance payments for new workers to make it easier for employers to take staff on.

The plans come as Gordon Brown is also hinting at tax cuts to help Britain out of recession.

With the latest figures showing numbers without work jumping by 164,000 to 1.79 million, Mr Cameron said redundancy fears were the biggest worry facing many households today.

Speaking to the Conservative Women's Organisation in Westminster, Mr Cameron rejected the argument that governments could do little to prevent unemployment in a recession.

"There's a certain approach to this which says that however painful this may be, large-scale unemployment is an unavoidable consequence of recession, that because it's the natural movement of the markets, all that Government can do is stand by and pick up the pieces," he said. "I am not one of those people. In fact, I wholly disagree. Today I want to say the Conservative Party will not stand aside and allow unemployment to claim livelihoods and ruin lives on a massive scale. We will not walk on by while people lose their jobs."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Britain's biggest bank HSBC has added to the gloom in the battered banking sector with news of more credit crunch pain and spiralling bad debts.

The group said losses from US loans and mortgages had soared to 4.3 billion dollars (£2.73 billion) in the third quarter as the world's biggest economy slides into recession.

Fellow lender Nationwide Building Society also revealed more woes for the sector, with an 18% drop in underlying interim profits and warnings of two more years of house price falls.

And Abbey-owner Santander, which also owns Bradford & Bingley's branch and savings business, became the latest bank to appeal to shareholders for a balance sheet boost.

Pressure was meanwhile mounting on the HBOS and Lloyds merger from former bank chiefs looking to derail the deal.

The third quarter trading update from HSBC marked the last to come from the big five UK banks.

The group confirmed that third quarter profits were up on a year ago thanks to growth in Asia, but said its pre-tax profits in the nine months of the year so far had suffered.

HSBC also signalled that there may be less support to come from its key Asian market as it said growth was beginning to slow.

Its troubled US consumer finance business saw losses from defaults rise by 700 million dollars (£443 million) in the third quarter alone.

HSBC said it was braced for even higher impairment charges as credit trends worsened.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A group of MPs has called for a ban on "happy hour" drink promotions.

Supermarkets should also be prevented by law from selling alcohol at a loss to encourage people into their stores, they said.

Citing research that showed the real price of alcohol has fallen dramatically, the Home Affairs Select Committee urged ministers to clamp down on irresponsible bars and pubs.

They found the "whole focus" of police resources was in targeting booze-fuelled and football violence, meaning officers were "hitting their targets but missing the point".

Chairman Keith Vaz said: "We cannot have on one hand a world of alcohol promotions for profit that fuels surges of crime and disorder, and on the other the police diverting all their resources to cope with it."

He also called for previously voluntary codes of conduct for the drinks industry to be legally enforceable. Last week a senior officer said police did not need new powers to tackle errant licensees.

Simon O'Brien, who speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) on pubs and clubs, said those selling drink irresponsibly were a "minority". Ministers are reportedly considering a compulsory code for pubs and bars that would outlaw discounts and happy hours.

Publicans have backed the call by MPs to ban "happy hour" drinks promotions but blamed supermarkets for fuelling binge drinking.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said the industry had taken action to end "dodgy promotions" but was hamstrung going further by competition law. Spokesman Mark Hastings said: "In contrast, the supermarkets have done nothing but increase their extreme discounting offers."

The BBPA's own code on how its members should deal with promotions was withdrawn this year after advice that it might break competition law.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Radical cleric Abu Qatada is back behind bars after allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

The 47-year-old will appear before an immigration hearing on Wednesday and could be returned to prison permanently.

The Jordanian, who was once described by a judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe", is accused of trying to flee the country.

UK Border Agency officials allegedly discovered he was planning to escape to the Middle East - despite having his passport taken away.

They convened a hearing on Friday and a judge ruled bail should be cancelled. Qatada was arrested the following day.

Qatada was released in June after the courts ruled it would breach his human rights if he was deported back to Jordan.

Ministers are appealing against the decision but the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled Qatada could be released on bail in the meantime.

He is required to wear an electronic tag, stay for 22 hours a day in his west London home, and barred from using the internet or mobile phones. His bail also bans him from associating with known terrorists including bin Laden.

SIAC first ruled Qatada could be deported because Britain had signed a "memorandum of understanding" with Amman guaranteeing he would not be tortured, but the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling.

Qatada was first arrested in 2001 by anti-terrorism police. He was carrying £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya". He has been convicted of terrorism offences in Jordan in his absence.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Police today appealed for help to find a woman who abandoned her baby daughter at a hospital.

The child, aged two to four months, is yet to be identified by detectives.

The baby, named Amy by nurses who are caring for her, was found abandoned in her pushchair on Saturday afternoon at the back of the emergency department of Grantham Hospital in Lincolnshire.

Officers say the child has been well-cared for and are now keen to find her mother.

A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said: "It's more likely that (the mother) is a local woman and a woman who gave birth at Grantham Hospital, but we cannot rule out that she has come from further afield.

"We would appeal for information from anyone who was in the area at about 3pm on Saturday, and also to any taxi or bus drivers who may have given the baby's mother a lift.

"We would also appeal to the mother. We understand that she has been through an awful lot of emotional trauma and there is support available to her if she needs it.

"Our main priority at the moment is that we find out that the mother is safe and well and reunite her with her daughter."

Police say the child has fair-coloured hair and blue eyes and was wearing a pink baby-grow when she was found.

The baby is now being cared for by staff at the hospital and social services.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A High Court judge accused by newspaper chiefs of bringing in a privacy law by the back door has been defended by Lord Falconer, the former constitutional affairs secretary.

Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has accused Mr Justice Eady of using the Human Rights Act to curb the Press's freedom to expose the moral shortcomings of those in high places.

In a scathing attack, he said the "arrogant and amoral" judgments of the judge were "inexorably and insidiously" imposing a privacy law on British newspapers.

But Lord Falconer, one of the New Labour architects of human rights protections in the UK, said the judge was legitimately interpreting a law which had been passed by Parliament.

Mr Dacre, who is also editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers, lambasted the "wretched" Human Rights Act in a speech to the Society of Editors annual conference in Bristol on Sunday night.

Mr Justice Eady has presided over a string of high-profile newspaper cases, including this year's High Court action by Formula One boss Max Mosley against the News of the World.

Mr Dacre said that in supporting Mr Mosley the judge had "effectively ruled that it was perfectly acceptable for the multi-millionaire head of a multi-billion sport that is followed by countless young people to pay five women £2,500 to take part in acts of unimaginable sexual depravity with him".

Mr Dacre said that the "greatest scandal" was that Mr Justice Eady was given a "virtual monopoly of all cases against the media enabling him to bring in a privacy law by the back door".

Lord Falconer, who left the Cabinet when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister, said: "I think society now puts a value on privacy. There are certain things in life that should be private," he told Today.

Lord Falconer stressed that the Human Rights Act had been introduced by elected MPs and pointed out that any decisions could be taken to the Court of Appeal.

-Nova

[Black Widow]

NINE youths face being locked up for years for gang-raping a girl of 14.

The teenagers, some as young as 13, took it in turns to assault the victim and threatened to kill her over an insult.

A judge said they had committed “a terrible series of crimes” and warned them they must expect custody when they appear for sentencing next month.

Six of the youths were convicted of a total of 13 charges of rape, kidnap and false imprisonment after a six-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, East London.

The three others had already pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Following the verdicts, which the jury returned after 14 hours and 51 minutes, three of the defendants leaped up in the dock and several parents sobbed in the public gallery.

Judge Wendy Joseph, QC, said the youths may not have set out to commit the mass rape but that it had involved “sticking with your mates”.

She said: “It is a tragedy not only for your victim, who will never get over it, it is a tragedy for you too.”

The girl, who bravely gave evidence in court, was grabbed off the street and dragged between three flats in Hackney.

The attack was launched in retaliation for an alleged slur on the gang leader’s girlfriend.


After the case Detective Constable Jonathan Burks praised the victim’s courage and said the youths had acted with a “pack mentality”.

The nine, who are now aged between 14 and 17, were remanded in custody until December 5.


The Sun

[Black Widow]

A MAN says he could have died after an operation left him bleeding heavily and turned his penis black.

Michael Eglington, 53, went to Royal Darwin Hospital last Tuesday to have a wart removed from the base of his penis, The Northern Territory News reports.

He said he collapsed from blood loss as he rushed back to the hospital less than an hour after being discharged.

"Why did they let me go?" he said. "I could have passed out while I was driving."

The internal bleeding caused his penis and testicles to turn black - and his testicles swelled to more than three times their normal size.

The Northern Territory News reports it has seen photographs to prove it.

He was treated under local anaesthetic but said he was sent home straight away.

"Next thing I started feeling a bit warm about the groin," he said.

He said he looked down to see that he was sitting in "an inch of blood" in the chair. He used a nappy to soak up the blood as he drove back to hospital where he collapsed against the emergency counter.

"My shorts, my shirt, everything was covered in blood," he said.

Royal Darwin spokeswoman Michelle Foster said the hospital would not comment until an investigation into the incident was complete.


news.com.au

[JohnCenaFan28]

Campaigners have demanded a public inquiry into the harrowing death of a baby under the noses of social services in a tragic echo of the Victoria Climbie case.

The 17-month-old boy died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year after spending much of his short life being used as a punchbag.

Social workers, police and health professionals failed to save him despite 60 visits over eight months during which he suffered more than 50 injuries. Two days before the baby died, a doctor failed to spot that his back and ribs were broken, later claiming the child was "miserable and cranky".

The tragedy happened under the watch of Haringey council, the same local authority heavily criticised in the wake of the Climbie case eight years ago.

But the council's Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) has defended its handling of the latest case and said no one would lose their job.

Lord Laming, who called for a series of reforms in the wake of Victoria Climbie's death, said the similarities were "dispiriting". Beverley Hughes, the children's minister, asked him to prepare an independent report into the implementation of the reforms across the country.

Mor Dioum, director of the Victoria Climbie foundation, which campaigns to improve child protection, called for a public inquiry, saying: "This case is worse than Climbie. The signs were there and not followed." There were "systematic and operational failures that led to the tragic and sad death of such a beautiful child", he said.

The 32-year-old partner of the baby's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child. House guest Jason Owen, 36, of Bromley, Kent was also convicted of the charge at the Old Bailey. Neither showed any emotion

The baby's mother had already pleaded guilty to the same allegation, which carries a maximum 14-year jail term. All three have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 15.

Described by an officer in the case as a "slob, completely divorced from reality", the baby's mother spent hours in internet chatrooms or watching television. Her boyfriend, who kept knives and Nazi memorabilia in the house, was "sadistic - fascinated with pain", the detective said. Owen was living in the house after splitting with his wife and going on the run with his 15-year-old girlfriend.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for posting.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Gordon Brown hit out at huge interest rate hikes by credit card firms, warning that they must behave "responsibly".

The Prime Minister insisted it was unacceptable to saddle British customers with big increases as the recessions bites.

The Government would act to establish "clear principles" to make sure companies treated people fairly, he added.

Downing Street said Mr Brown had been alarmed by recent examples where credit rates had gone up by 10% overnight, and a store card which was charging 200%.

The intervention came after a study of 240 credit cards showed that, while the Bank of England had dramatically reduced its official bank rate from 5% in May to 3% this month, the cost of borrowing on cards had gone up.

The research by banking experts Defaqto for The Independent showed that since May, the average annual percentage rate (APR) on cards rose by 0.4%, climbing from 17.2 to 17.6%.

Speaking at his regular Downing Street press conference, Mr Brown said: "I think we have got to bring the credit card industry in to talk to them to join with us in establishing clear principles to apply to the costs people face on their existing debts.

"This new responsible approach to lending that I think that the credit card industry wants to support will help households through the difficult period that they have. I think by setting new rules and establishing clear practices, I think the public will be in a better position to look at the credit card industry as a whole."

The PM's spokesman said that Mr Brown had been "very concerned" by the actions of some credit card companies, which was "hard to justify". The industry has been summoned to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to discuss the issues, he added.

Mr Brown again dropped heavy hints that the Government is set to cut taxes in a bid to kick-start the economy. He also insisted that any reductions and investment packages should be co-ordinated globally to have the maximum impact, and called for a deal on liberalising world trade to be struck "within days".

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The jobs crisis has worsened with a spate of announcements signalling thousands of redundancies ahead of new figures expected to show the highest number of people out of work since 1998.

A number of household firms signalled more than 5,000 job cuts, adding to the worsening toll of redundancies spreading across manufacturing.

The biggest cuts were at cable group Virgin Media, which said it was axing around 2,200 UK jobs by 2012 under a sweeping restructure.

Yellow Pages directories firm Yell warned it expected to lose another 1,300 jobs from its business over the coming year, housebuilder Taylor Wimpey confirmed it had axed a further 1,000 jobs and it said property sales slumped by 27% since the beginning of July, and technology firm Psion announced more than 200 job cuts after the company warned on profits.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) added to the gloom by unveiling plans to close a factory with the loss of 620 jobs following a review of its activities. The site in Dartford, Kent, is earmarked for closure in 2013 because two of its largest products have been hit by a "substantial" decline in forecast demand. The company said the two products, for treating epilepsy and herpes, accounted for 60% of total manufacturing at the Dartford plant.

Virgin Media said it would not start cutting jobs until the fourth quarter of next year, with the majority of the role reductions taking place before the end of 2010. The job losses come as part of a group-wide overhaul following a review this year made in the wake of the firm's formation by the merger of Telewest and ntl in 2006.

The latest cutbacks at Yell will be felt across the company as the firm looks for annual cost savings of £100 million by the end of March 2010. Reading-based Yell reduced its workforce by a similar amount in the past year, but the company said it hoped the majority of the new job losses could still be achieved by non-replacement of departing staff. The owner of Yellow Book in the United States and Spain's Yell Publicidad employed 13,900 people in September.

The recent raft of job losses at Taylor Wimpey brings its total jobs cull to nearly 1,900 in the UK this year, with the firm offering little hope of better times as it warned there was no immediate end in sight for the property downturn.

Psion, the hand-held computer and mobile phone software specialist, said companies shelving IT projects amid the economic slowdown had hit sales and was now expected to have an impact on full-year figures. Psion is reducing its workforce by 15% in an attempt to save around £15 million a year, although this also includes aims to create 30 jobs by the end of 2008.

The jobless total is expected to top 1.8 million when new figures are released, the highest level since 1998, a year after Labour came to power. The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance is predicted to jump by at least 40,000, increasing pressure on ministers to tackle the growing jobs crisis.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The QE2, which had run aground hours earlier, has sailed serenely out of Southampton on a tide of emotion on its last-ever voyage.

With hundreds of passengers waving from the decks and thousands of spectators watching from the shores of Southampton Water, the 70,000-tonne Cunard liner headed off into maritime history.

Fireworks flashing from the shore, the Dubai-bound ship paused so that its master Captain Ian McNaught could tell the crowd, in a message shown in Southampton's Mayflower Park, how QE2 has been "a symbol of British excellence for 40 years".

It was all so different from the vessel's earlier inglorious entry into Southampton when, as strong westerly winds blew, the liner had run aground on a sandbank near the Isle of Wight.

Passengers had spoken of feeling a shudder as the vessel - packed with 2,700 customers and crew - came to a halt. A combination of five tugs and a favourable tide helped refloat the vessel, which arrived at its Southampton mooring more than an hour late.

Later, as the Duke of Edinburgh toured the ship meeting present and past crew members, two divers went down to check the state of the vessel. Cunard bosses said later that there had been no damage to the hull and that the final departure could go ahead.

The ship moved off from its berth in Southampton's eastern docks and was halted alongside Mayflower Park before finally sailing away from Southampton on a 16-day voyage to Dubai.

Last year Cunard announced that it was selling the QE2 to the Dubai World company for around £50 million, with the vessel becoming a floating hotel and tourist attraction.

In his farewell message, Captain McNaught said: "For almost 40 years, QE2 has been acclaimed all over the globe as a symbol of British excellence."

He added that the vessel had returned to Southampton 726 times in its long career, having been launched by the Queen in 1967, and having come into service in 1969. But this time the ship would not be coming back, he said, adding: "QE2 has striven to serve Southampton and serve her country with flair and fortitude. But now her sea days are done and she passes on to a new life in a new home. We wish her well."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The annual rate at which house prices are falling continued to accelerate during September to hit a new record of 5.1%, Government figures show.

The fall left the average property in the UK costing £208,583, nearly £12,000 less than a year ago and the lowest level since March 2007.

But homes lost only 0.1% of their value during September itself, well down on August's drop of 2.7%.

The figures came as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said estate agents sold an average of just 10.9 properties each during the three months to the end of October, dropping to only six homes in London.

Around 81.8% more chartered surveyors reported seeing price falls than those who saw price rises.

But on a brighter note, a balance of 20% of those questioned said they thought sales levels would increase during the coming three months.

House prices are now falling in all regions of the country on an annual basis, with Northern Ireland seeing the biggest drop of 15.8%, followed by the East Midlands and West Midlands at 7% and 6.8% respectively, according to the Communities and Local Government department (CLG).

Scotland has seen the lowest level of house price falls, with properties losing just 0.8% of their value during the past year.

The annual rate at which house prices are dropping eased in three of the UK's regions during the month, although it accelerated in the other nine.

The figures also showed that while the average cost of a terrace house fell by 1.3% during September and the price of semi-detached homes dropped by 0.7%, there was a 1% increase in detached house prices, while prices for flats and bungalows rose by 0.6% and 0.7% respectively.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A 21-year-old man has been charged with the murder of teenage model Amy Leigh Barnes, police said.

Ms Barnes was taken to hospital with stab wounds after police were called to her home in Farnworth, Bolton on Saturday. The 19-year-old died as a result of her injuries.

Ricardo Morrison, formerly of Birmingham, is due to appear before Bolton Magistrates' Court, Greater Manchester Police said.

The privately-educated teenager had worked on modelling assignments for Cosmopolitan and Nuts magazine and appeared in the teen drama Hollyoaks.

Friends and family paid tribute to the 19-year-old, who was described as having "a personality so bright it just shone through".

Premier League footballer Benni McCarthy said he was "devastated" by Amy Leigh's death.

In a statement issued by his club, the Blackburn Rovers striker said: "Amy Leigh was a friend of mine and I am obviously devastated to hear of this tragedy. My condolences go out to her family and friends at this sad and difficult time."

Footballers have also left comments on a Facebook tribute group to the model. Oldham Athletic player Paul Black wrote "r.i.p. x", while West Bromwich Albion striker Ishmael Miller posted the message: "R.I.P. Amy Leigh."

After leaving Lords Independent School, where her mother Karyn had worked as an art teacher, Amy Leigh studied performing arts at Pendleton Sixth Form College in Salford.

Head of admissions Paul Brown said: "Amy Leigh had a bright future ahead of her. She was very enthusiastic, very keen and talented - somebody with a personality so bright it just shone through."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A terminally-ill teenager who won the legal right to die at home said she was "really shocked" when health bosses tried to force her to have a heart transplant against her wishes.

Officials used a court order to try to take Hannah Jones, 13, from her family and make her have surgery. She had been warned that the transplant might result in death.

But after Hannah insisted to child protection officers that she did not want the operation, High Court proceedings were abandoned and she will now spend her remaining time at home.

Explaining her decision to Sky News, the former leukaemia sufferer, from Marden near Hereford, said she had suffered "too much trauma associated with hospitals".

"I just decided that there were too many risks and even if I took it, there might be a bad outcome afterwards. There's a chance I might be OK and there's a chance I might not be as well as I could be but I'm willing to take a chance," she said.

Her mother Kirsty, 42, a former intensive care hospital nurse, said there was a "chain of unfortunate events" which nearly saw her daughter dragged from the family home.

She said a locum doctor, who had not dealt with Hannah before, rang late on a Friday night and said if they did not bring her into hospital straightaway, police and an ambulance would come to get her. But the family still refused. "It was terribly frightening," she said.

But she said a "fabulous" child protection officer came to the house to help. "She could see what Hannah wanted and she went to the barristers' chambers on the Monday morning and put Hannah's side across, and that ended the proceedings."

Hannah said: "I was shocked really to hear that they could do such a thing, but they didn't do it. I was really shocked."

The teenager has a hole in her heart - meaning it can pump only a fraction of its normal capacity. The damage was caused by treatment for leukaemia diagnosed when she was four. She was previously warned that she had only six months to live and that the only potential long-term solution was a heart transplant.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A jury has been sworn in to try the mother of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, who went missing for 24 days earlier this year.

Karen Matthews, 33, stood in the dock at Leeds Crown Court along with Michael Donovan, 40, as the jurors each took the oath.

Both are on trial charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon, who was nine years old at the time. Matthews and Donovan have already pleaded not guilty to these charges and have also denied perverting the course of justice.

Shannon disappeared on February 19, sparking a massive search operation by West Yorkshire Police which became one of the highest-profile missing person inquiries ever seen in Britain. She was found less than a mile from her home on Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, 24 days after she vanished.

Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on the day she was found. Formerly known as Paul Drake, he is the uncle of Matthews's ex-partner, Craig Meehan.

After the jury of seven men and five women was sworn in, Matthews and Donovan sat a few seats apart in the dock separated by a woman security officer.

The potential jurors were asked a number of questions, including whether they had been involved in the search for Shannon.

The judge, Mr Justice McCombe, also asked them whether they lived in Dewsbury or a number of other places in the Dewsbury area.

They were then asked if they had any connections with organisations including the police, the Courts Service and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Any attempt by Britain to "scuttle away" from Afghanistan before the mission there is complete would deal a "profoundly dangerous blow" to the UK in the fight against terrorism, Defence Secretary John Hutton has warned.

In his first major speech since his appointment last month, Mr Hutton said the premature withdrawal of British troops would send a signal of weakness around the world.

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, he said the national security argument for a British military presence in Afghanistan was now even stronger than it was in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks.

"If walking away then would have damaged those interests, scuttling away now would deal them a profoundly dangerous blow," he said.

"In my view, our engagement is as much a security priority for the UK today as the world wars or the cold war of the last century.

"Terrorism is a constant threat, one that actually cannot be understated, wished away or appeased. It has to be confronted wherever and whenever it threatens our security here at home. That is why we have 8,000 troops in Afghanistan."

Mr Hutton acknowledged that the international forces face another "tough year" ahead, and that ultimate success in the campaign against the Taliban would require patience.

But for Britain to pull out now, he said, would have serious consequences both at home and abroad, enabling al Qaida to re-establish its training camps in the country. "The victims of that kind of defeatism would be the British people," he said. "We would have abandoned our ability to tackle terrorism at source and we would then have to deal with it here on our own streets, for that is where al Qaida would eventually manifest itself.

"I do not want to see British youngsters being indoctrinated into extremism in new al Qaida camps ruled by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Withdrawal would confirm al Qaida propaganda that Britain, like the Soviet Union before it, bombed and then bolted. We would be portrayed as wrong, callous or weak.

"The lessons our friends, vulnerable states, potential aggressors and terrorists would take is that contrary to our experience in the world wars, the Falklands and Northern Ireland, we would give up and go home. I believe very, very strongly we should never send such a message."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Unemployment hit an 11-year high as the Bank of England signalled that interest rates could plunge to record lows to lift the UK out of recession.

Official figures for the three months to September showed 1.82 million people out of work - up 140,000 on the previous quarter and the highest since the end of 1997.

The grim news came as Bank Governor Mervyn King warned of the gloom ahead and said "the world had changed" in the wake of September's financial crisis.

Economists said the Bank would cut rates further - below the all-time low of 2% - to avoid the UK sliding into a Japanese-style deflationary spiral as prices plunge in a recession. Interest rates are already at a 53-year low after the Bank slashed them to 3% and need to fall further still to meet inflation targets, its forecasts showed.

The UK economy was "very likely" to already be in recession and could contract by 2% year-on-year in early 2009 unless rates fall, the Bank warned. "We are moving into very difficult times and people should be concerned that we are moving into very difficult times, but that isn't to say we won't get through it," Mr King added.

Graeme Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, warned unemployment could peak at around 2.8 million in 2010. "For the next 12-18 months the only way for unemployment is up. The UK labour market is about to suffer the consequences of the once-in-a-generation financial crisis," he said.

The Government doubled spending on a "rapid response" unit to help people find work as unemployment edged closer to the politically-sensitive two million mark. Employment minister Tony McNulty said funding for the rapid response service was being doubled to £6 million to give extra support to those hit by redundancies.

The unemployment rate is now 5.8%, the highest since early 2000, while the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance rose by 36,500 last month to 980,900 - the worst monthly increase since 1992. But the grim figures do not take into account recent job loss announcements, including news of more than 5,000 cuts yesterday by firms including Virgin Media, Yell, Taylor Wimpey and GlaxoSmithKline.

Answering accusations that the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had been too slow to act to cut rates, Mr King defended the current framework, saying: "I think it's worked well and I think it will continue to work well. It is always possible to set policy with the benefit of hindsight... there is no way in which the committee can have perfect foresight."

Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation is currently more than double the official 2% target at 5.2% but is set to fall sharply next year as food and energy prices fall back and recession hits demand. The wider Retail Prices Index benchmark is "very likely" to turn negative next year as mortgage interest payments fall, the Governor added.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thousands of NHS workers, including mental health nurses, paramedics and ambulance staff, have voted to strike in protest at a "derisory" pay deal.

Unite, which balloted 77,000 workers, said there was a 3-1 vote in favour of industrial action, with just over half backing walkouts.

The union said industrial action would start before Christmas although officials would not decide until later this week what form the action will take.

Unite said the welfare of patients would be "paramount" during the industrial action, but added that NHS workers were angry at a three-year deal worth around 8%, which was imposed by the Government earlier this year.

Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "The Government's stated aim of controlling inflation with public sector pay restraint was just wrong before. After the economic meltdown, it is completely ludicrous. Pay cuts will only make recession longer and deeper. It's time for the Government to reconsider its policy on NHS pay."

Unite's national officer for health, David Fleming, added: "The stand that our members have taken against the derisory three-year pay deal imposed by ministers has been vindicated.

"Our members were appalled and angry at the three-year pay deal imposed by the Government in the spring. Inflation has now broken through the 5% barrier and their household bills are increasing on an almost daily basis. They were also upset that the Government undermined the independence of the pay review body by imposing its own settlement.

"The door is still open for the Government to reopen negotiations on pay before any action commences and our members would welcome such an initiative. Ministers should cease using the argument that public sector pay fuels inflation, which has been discredited by most reputable economists.

"Whatever action our members take, emergency cover will be maintained at all times and the welfare of patients and clients will remain paramount."

The Government sparked a row with health workers over pay, raising the threat of widespread industrial action, although the deal was accepted by unions, including Unison.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The family of a teenager killed in a suspected gangland shooting has called on the community to provide police with information.

Kadeem Blackwood was walking with friends in the Sunny Hill area of Derby when they got in to an argument with another group of men and the 15-year-old was shot in the chest.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murdering the teenager shortly after 9.15pm on Tuesday in Caxton Street.

A statement released by the family said: "We are distressed about the loss of our precious young boy and we ask members of the community to offer the police any assistance they can.

"This is an extremely traumatic time and we are too upset to comment further."

Detectives said a post-mortem was due to take place. Officers have also met community leaders to discuss the shooting.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Goodman said: "We are now gaining a clearer picture of what happened that night. We understand that Kadeem was walking through the park with a group of friends when they were approached by another group of males.

"Some sort or argument occurred and a shot was fired. At which stage, a number of males involved in the incident ran off."

He added: "Several people have come forward with information and we are grateful for their help. However, we are still asking for people to contact us if they saw or heard anything that night, or if they have any other information which may assist us.

"We urge the community to stand up and be counted."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was drugged and imprisoned in a flat after her mother hatched a plan to make £50,000 from her faked kidnap, a court has heard.

A jury was told Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Michael Donovan, who police believe used an elasticated strap with a noose on the end to restrain her when he went out.

Prosecutors at Leeds Crown Court said Donovan drugged the nine-year-old with Temazepam and travel sickness tablets while imposing "ruled control" with a list of dos and don'ts.

The rules, written down in a document, were found on top of a television, and stated: "You must not go near the windows; You must not make any noise and bang your feet; You must not do anything without me being there; Keep the TV volume low - up to volume eight."

All the time Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, kept up a "wicked and dishonest lie" - knowing all the time where her daughter was as police conducted a massive search operation which eventually cost almost £3.2 million, the jury was told.

Matthews, 33, and Donovan, 40, sat in the dock, separated by a single security officer, listening as Julian Goose QC opened the case against them.

They both deny kidnapping Shannon, who is now 10, and falsely imprisoning her. They also deny perverting the course of justice.

Mr Goose told the court the pair hatched the plan to kidnap Shannon in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February, to get hold of reward money which was offered by newspapers. He said the "overwhelming likelihood is that the reason for the plan was dishonestly to obtain the reward money offered by the press".

The court heard that at its height the money was up to £50,000.

He said Donovan kept Shannon "drugged, subdued and hidden from the public" and bought newspapers which described the extent of the investigation.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Queen has said that she was "enormously proud" of her son's contribution to the charity he set up more than 30 years ago, the Prince's Trust.

She and the Duke of Edinburgh were meeting staff, volunteers and the young people the Trust helps at its headquarters near Regents Park, central London.

Giving a short and rare speech the Queen said: "As we celebrate the many extraordinary achievements of the Prince's Trust ..., so too I should like briefly to reflect on the role of the Prince of Wales, who has given enduring inspiration to it."

The monarch continued: "In public life, highlighting the success of individuals can be a hazardous and invidious occupation. But as the Prince of Wales, our son, approaches his own 60th birthday, may I say that we are both enormously proud to have been reminded here ... of his personal contribution to this remarkable organisation.

"Countless lives have been transformed by the Prince's Trust to which the Prince of Wales has brought vision and conviction.

"For Prince Philip and me there can be no greater pleasure or comfort than to know that into his care are safely entrusted the guiding principles of public service and duty to others."

The Royal couple's minds seem to be very much on the approaching birthday celebrations. Prince Philip chatted animatedly to staff about a fundraising event and plans for a private birthday party at Buckingham Palace.

He joked: "We've got a party at the house but I don't think it's a fundraising event!"

He and the Queen, wearing buttercup yellow, had earlier met a number of young people whose lives have been transformed with the aid of the Prince's Trust.

Ricky McCalla told the pair about the music studio he set up to help get young people off the streets. The Queen looked shocked as he explained that his successful dancing career had been cut short in 2005 when he was shot in the neck during a car-jacking.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

David Miliband has hailed an "important change in approach" by the Syrian government as he confirmed he would make the first visit there by a British Foreign Secretary since 2000.

He said the establishment of diplomatic relations with Lebanon and the curtailment of the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq had helped make the trip possible.

Mr Miliband will go to Damascus as part of a tour to the Middle East next week after accepting an invitation from his counterpart Walid Al-Muallem during his visit to the UK last month.

He said he had been pressing Syria for co-operation on anti-terrorism issues, Lebanon, its involvement with Iraq and the Middle East peace process for 15 or 16 months.

"I think in a significant way there have been important changes in the approach of the Syrian government," he told reporters during a press conference at his official London residence.

"Notably the historic decision to exchange ambassadors with the Lebanon and establish diplomatic relations, but also, in the other areas Syria, while it has important responsibilities, also has an important role to play. The funnelling of foreign fighters and arms into Iraq has certainly been curtailed.

"I was pleased to welcome the Syrian foreign minister here two weeks ago and he invited me back to Syria and I am pleased to take up the invitation. I think it is very, very important that Syria fulfils all its responsibilities, including in respect of Hezbollah but I also think it is important that we find ways for Syria to play a constructive role in the future of the Middle East.

"Syria is a secular state in the Middle East and has potential to play a stabilising role in the region, particularly in respect of issues like the Arab Peace Initiative which I think needs to play a very important part in the development of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East."

He was speaking after talks with his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

Robin Cook's visit in 2000 was the last by a British foreign secretary to Syria, although the then Prime Minister Tony Blair held talks there in 2001 and sent his top foreign policy adviser Sir Nigel Sheinwald, now the British ambassador to America, to Damascus for clandestine discussions.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The £4.5 million Jersey child abuse inquiry has been branded a "shambles" as a police chief was suspended for his role in a discredited murder investigation.

Graham Power, the most senior officer in the force, was suspended after Deputy Chief Officer David Warcup rubbished evidence collected and said there were no suspicious deaths at former children's home Haut de la Garenne.

"There is no suggestion there has been murder or any bodies destroyed," said Mr Warcup, in his first press conference since taking control of the inquiry.

The comments sparked a political row on the island, with Deputy Andrew Lewis, the home affairs minister, attacking officers' conduct as he confirmed Mr Power was suspended. Announcing an independent investigation would be launched, he said: "It is evident that we didn't receive all the information about the historic abuse inquiry that we should have received, and that some aspects of this critically important police investigation have not been conducted properly."

Both Mr Power and his former deputy Lenny Harper denied any wrongdoing throughout their investigation. Mr Power marched into BBC Radio Jersey's studios to deny any wrongdoing. He said: "I strenuously deny any wrongdoing and will rigorously contest any allegations in respect of my role."

Mr Harper, who led the investigation until his retirement in August, was left "stunned" by some of the comments.

Chief Minister Frank Walker revealed more than £1.5 million was "unnecessarily" spent on digging up the site as he spoke of his concern about the damage the scandal had done to the island's reputation.

Mr Walker, who said the total cost of the investigation stood at £4.5 million, added: "I am disappointed to learn that the investigation has not been undertaken in the manner in which it should have been. It would appear there have been certain sums of money that did not need to have been spent."

In a dramatic U-turn, Detective Superintendent Michael Gradwell, the man who is now leading the investigation, categorically dismissed many of the findings of Mr Harper's investigation.

Police revealed that remains found at the former home were almost all animal bones, and that only three were "possibly human", which dated from between 1470 and 1670. The new investigation team also said there was "nothing suspicious" about items found in cellars beneath the building, which included 65 milk teeth.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A serving police officer has been arrested for allegedly helping her son who is accused of murdering his model ex-girlfriend, police sources said.

The 49-year-old woman, an officer with West Midlands Police, was arrested on the day her son, Ricardo Morrison, 21, appeared in court charged with the murder of Amy Leigh Barnes.

The 19-year-old part-time model and actress was stabbed to death on Saturday at her home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Morrison, an amateur footballer and aspiring professional, was remanded in custody when he appeared at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

Hours later, the case took a dramatic twist with police sources confirming his mother had been arrested. Greater Manchester Police said the woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and will be questioned by officers. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We can confirm that the woman is a serving police officer in the West Midlands."

Morrison, originally from Birmingham but currently of no fixed address, appeared in court earlier dressed in a blue sweatshirt and nodded when asked to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief hearing.

Jan Azakli, chairman of the bench, told the defendant: "This case is going to be adjourned until November 19 at Manchester Crown Court."

Miss Barnes was taken to hospital with stab wounds after police were called to her home on Saturday morning. She died in hospital hours later.

Morrison was arrested on Saturday night in the West Midlands and taken to Manchester by police.

Miss Barnes had modelled for Cosmopolitan and Nuts magazines and had appeared in Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 20-year-old university student.

Luke Desmond Campbell, known as Luka to friends, was found stabbed to death in the yard of a semi-detached house in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth, Dorset, after 10am on Saturday.

Two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of murder by officers in London on Wednesday afternoon and were being taken to Bournemouth for questioning.

Detectives are pursuing several lines of inquiry and said the murder was an isolated incident.

Mr Campbell, from St John's Road in Boscombe, was in the first year of a BSc (Hons) degree in software systems at Bournemouth University.

A post-mortem examination found he died of a stab wound to the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Redstone, of Dorset Police, said: "This is a very detailed investigation and we are following several lines of specific inquiry. We are keeping an open mind as to the motive for Luke's murder."

The garden where his body was found, at the junction of St Clement's Road and Cleveland Road, backs on to the main London to Bournemouth railway line.

It is a communal garden which belongs to a semi-detached house which has been converted into several flats.

Officers were alerted to the murder by a man who saw the body while walking across the bridge which spans the railway line.

-Nova

[Black Widow]

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00648/SNN1303RUTH_380_648675a.jpg


SUN Page 3 star Ruth Reynolds set a world record yesterday by kissing 42 lads in just 30 SECONDS.

The 24-year-old glamour girl puckered up to smooch a queue of eager volunteers on the lips in double-quick time.

Her kiss-toric effort easily smashed the previous record of 36 smackers in a minute, set by a German TV host last July.

Lucky lads lined up for kisses at The Sun’s East London HQ to mark today’s Guinness World Records Day.


The Sun

[Kenpachi Zaraki]

More like Page 3 whore :shifty:

[Black Widow]

THE vile mother of Baby P has given birth to another little girl – while she was remanded in prison over her abused toddler's death.

The new baby was taken into care hours after she was born – under police guard – in March.

She is reported to be taking legal action to gain access to her latest child.

Today The Sun has demanded justice for Baby P — and vows not to rest until those disgracefully ducking blame for failing the tot are SACKED.

Four social workers and the doctor who could not spot the 17-month-old had a broken back are named and shamed on the right.

As ALL defiantly carry on working today we call on our army of outraged readers to join our crusade.

We urge you to sign our petition for them to be kicked out of their jobs.

Today Haringey Council offered an apology for the horror that shocked the nation – but we say this is not yet enough.

Councillor Liz Santry, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “It is a matter of the deepest sorrow that Baby P died in Haringey."

She also welcomed an urgent child welfare review which was under way today in the borough, ordered by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls.

Ofsted, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary are carrying out the much-needed probe.

Paralysed

Mr Balls said the review – due to make an initial report by December 1 – would involve a “thorough inspection” of all services responsible for safeguarding children in Haringey.

“The case of Baby P is tragic and appalling,” he said.

“It is our duty to take whatever action is needed to ensure that such a tragedy doesn’t happen again, that lessons are learned and that children in Haringey are safe.”

Last night — in the wake of an attempted cover-up by North London’s Haringey Council after Baby P was tortured to death by his evil parents — it emerged one of the social workers was blasted eight years ago over the Victoria Climbie horror.

The public inquiry into the death of the eight-year-old — also tortured to death in Haringey — found Sylvia Henry put an unsigned and undated note in Victoria’s file when working for the NSPCC-run Tottenham Child and Family Centre.

The note said the youngster’s case was closed because the family had moved out of the borough. That was a LIE.

The note had been placed there to cover up lack of action.

The inquiry by Lord Laming was meant to lead to better protection for kiddies like Baby P, who was on an “at risk” register.

But despite being seen SIXTY times by health or social workers the helpless mite died in agony with 50 injuries after eight months of torture.

Two days before he was found killed in his blood-spattered cot, woman doctor Sabah Al Zayyat astonishingly failed to diagnose eight broken ribs and a broken back paralysing him from the waist down.

Social worker Henry had taken part in the crucial decision to return Baby P to his 27-year-old mother — on bail for assaulting him.

An Old Bailey jury was unable to agree whether the tot was finally killed by his evil mum, his sadistic stepdad aged 32 — both of whom cannot be identified — or lodger Jason Owen, 36.

Last night all three were behind bars, awaiting sentence for “causing or allowing” the baby’s death — as more of Haringey council’s arrogance was exposed.

Six months after the horror, a review of social services there was vetoed by head of children’s services Sharon Shoesmith who cited “good performance”.

Shoesmith also chaired a probe into Baby P’s case — which she then claimed was “independent”.

She concluded no staff should be sacked, even though the gullible social worker in charge of Baby P’s case — Maria Ward, 39 — was even fooled by chocolate smears hiding his injuries.

Her married supervisor Gillie Christou, 50, gave the OK for the tot to stay at home.

Haringey only gave cops every document on the case after being ordered to by the trial judge.

Police sources said “boxes and boxes” of evidence suddenly appeared in court.

The council hired a PR firm to give “media training” to staff in the case — and battled to keep them out of the public eye.

Baby P’s natural dad even claimed he was gagged by threats of “legal ramifications”.

A senior legal source blasted: “A***-covering appears to be institutional at Haringey.”


the sun

[Black Widow]

if there smart they will take this child off this cruel heartless bitch.. and let her die in a prison cell

[Black Widow]

A COP says Karen Matthews was more interested in his RINGTONE than her lost daughter Shannon.

Detective Constable Alexander Grummitt told a court today that he attended Matthews' house to break the news of Shannon's discovery.

But when driving Matthews to see little Shannon for the first time in 24 days all she could talk about was his mobile phone ringtone.

DC Grummitt spoke of his amazement at Karen's behaviour telling the jury: “My own personal mobile phone’s got the ring tone of Gnarls Barclay’s Crazy.

“Karen said 'I like that ring tone. You must either Bluetooth or text it to me'.”

The officer said Matthews had not asked anything about her daughter’s welfare during the 30 minute car journey.

Asked what his reaction was, he told the court: “We’ve just found your daughter and you ask about the ring tone on the phone.

“In my opinion it just wasn’t right.”

Detective Constable Mark Cruddace told a jury earlier that when he attended Matthews' home there was a “buzz of excitement in the house” and he got the impression “people knew before we got there”.

Julian Goose QC, prosecuting, asked him if there was “any time when she asked about the welfare of her daughter or where she had been found”.

The officer replied: “No, she didn’t.”

Normal

A local resident who stayed with Matthews during the search for Shannon also gave evidence today.

Natalie Brown told the court: “She acted as if it was a normal day. She helped me clean the house and make cuppas, laughing and joking.”

But she said when police were at the house she behaved differently.

“When the police and press were present she came over as all upset and withdrawn,” she told the jury.

She described her as having a “Jekyll and Hyde character” during the 24-day search.

And at one point she even joked that she would like to have sex with one of the policemen guarding her house.

Mrs Brown recalled a “girly moment” at the residents’ association community house near Matthews’s home.

Mrs Brown said one of the women there commented on a police officer guarding 24 Moorside Road having a “cute bum”.

She was asked by Alan Conrad QC, for her co-accused Michael Donovan, whether “she (Matthews) said she wanted to have sex with him in a room upstairs”.

Mrs Brown replied: “Yes.”

The jury also heard earlier today that huge police resources were used in the search for Shannon.

Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan, senior officer on the case said that 75-85 detectives worked on the search for the nine-year-old compared to 10-15 on a normal murder inquiry.

Detective Brennan also told how detectives working on “live” inquiries, such as murder and stranger rapes, were re-deployed to help in the hunt for the youngster.

“We always hoped we would find Shannon safe and well and we hit it with everything we had got and we had to take people from live jobs,” he said

Yesterday the court heard Shannon was tethered to a roof beam in Michael Donovan's flat so she could not flee her kidnap ordeal.

She was ordered to keep quiet in a strict list of written rules posted at the flat where she was held, it was said.

The nine-year-old was also “subdued” using the sedative temazepam and sleep-inducing travel sickness drug Traveleeze while police launched a massive operation to find her, it was claimed.

But all the time mum Karen — who had sparked the frantic search with a tearful 999 call — KNEW where Shannon was, the court was told.

She and Donovan, who owned the flat, were acting jointly in a “wicked plan” to falsely imprison Shannon, report her missing, and — and in all likelihood — claim a £50,000 reward put up by The Sun for finding her, said Mr Goose.

Donovan, the uncle of Matthews’ then-partner Craig Meehan, and 33-year-old Matthews both plead not guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice over little Shannon’s disappearance in February this year.

The youngster was dramatically rescued by police 24 days later at Donovan’s first-floor flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire.

Dangled

Officers who found her hidden in the base of a divan bed also discovered an elasticated looped strap, secured to the beam so it dangled down through a loft hatch.

The loop had been secured round the little girl at times during her captivity, jurors heard.

That made it possible for her to reach the toilet — but neither the front door or the windows when she was left on her own.

The jury was also shown CCTV footage of Donovan, 40, shopping at Asda and Tesco, collecting his benefits and going to a health centre during the time Shannon was held.

Showing a diagram of the looped noose, Mr Goose said: “It is a reasonable inference that Donovan, who had used other methods of subduing Shannon, employed the strap to restrain her when he left the flat to go shopping.”

The QC told the court that, while Shannon was physically unharmed, Donovan had kept “ruled control” over the youngster.

Police found a set of written rules on top of a television in his flat, giving Shannon instructions.

One warned: “You must not make any noise or bang your feet.”

Another said: “You must not go near the windows.” A third added: “You must not get anything or do anything without me being here.”

A fourth rule stated: “Keep the TV volume low, only up to eight or less.” And a fifth read: “You can play Super Mario and you can play some DVDs and you can play some CD music.” The letters IPU were added — a code Shannon used with her mum at their Dewsbury Moor home to mean “I Promise You”. Traces of the drugs were found on the girl after she was rescued.

Jurors heard the plan to “abduct” the girl was hatched by Matthews, who has six other children, and computer programmer Donovan.

They had intended to eventually release Shannon in a market, then claim dad-of-two Donovan had found her by chance before collecting the reward, the court heard.

The prosecutor said cops recovered at Donovan’s flat a copy of The Sun from March 11, with the headline: “£50,000 for Shannon. Sun ups reward to find lost girl.”

Police also discovered a copy of the Daily Mirror which had been ripped up and dumped in a bin.

Mr Goose said: “Michael Donovan and Karen Matthews acted together jointly. The overwhelming likelihood is that the reason was dishonestly to obtain the reward money offered by the Press. This plan was as dishonest as it was wicked.”

Matthews reported her daughter missing on February 19 in a sobbing call to emergency services.

But the court was told Donovan, who lived alone, had in fact picked up Shannon on her way home from school, telling her he was driving her to a fair. He then allegedly drove her a mile to his home and kept her there — while Matthews set about “misleading” the police probe, jurors heard.

She raised the alarm with neighbours at 4pm and began searching for her daughter before dialling 999 nearly three hours later.

The jury heard a recording of her weeping: “I’ve been everywhere I can think of, friends-wise and family and everything.” Mr Goose said: “She was acting out an elaborate and cruel lie. She maintained the lie in the face of the substantial police work employed to try to find Shannon. She is a consummate and convincing liar.”

The jury was shown a series of videos of Matthews crying and making emotional appeals for her daughter’s return. She said in one: “If anyone has got my daughter — my beautiful princess daughter — please let her come home.”

Yesterday Matthews dabbed her eyes gently with a hanky as she sat in the dock and wept as her appeals were screened. For much of the five-hour court session, she remained impassive, folding her arms and staring straight ahead.

She showed no emotion toward Donovan and did not glance at him once as they sat two chairs apart with a court official between them.

The jury heard the hunt for Shannon was one of West Yorkshire’s biggest-ever for a missing person. Police and volunteers searched more than 1,800 premises — with trained sniffer dogs called in and ditches and rivers scoured.

The court was told the operation cost £3.2million and involved more than 300 officers. Mr Goose said: “Throughout the extensive search Karen Matthews maintained her lie and Michael Donovan watched as the reward money increased.”

He added: “Very quickly in the investigation, substantial sums were offered as a reward for information leading to finding Shannon. At its height a reward of £50,000 was offered by one national newspaper.

“But what was unknown was that Shannon was not missing at all.”

Mr Goose claimed Matthews even gave deliberately misleading lines of inquiry. She once claimed a clairvoyant had told her where her little girl might be and also gave a false description of a man.

Frightened

Cops who rescued crying Shannon after extending their search area found Donovan inches away in another section of the divan bed.

Officers searching the supposedly empty flat had heard her call out: “Stop it, you’re frightening me,” the court was told. Shannon is believed to have been drugged with temazepam for up to nine months before she was taken.

As Donovan was driven to the police station in handcuffs he allegedly told cops: “Get Karen down here. We’d got a plan, we’re sharing the money — £50,000.”

Shannon’s father Leon Rose attended court yesterday. The trial continues.


the sun

[DUKE NUKEM]

nice thanks for the read ryan

[Black Widow]

A MAN with HIV has admitted to sleeping with dozens of women he met in a city's nightclubs – sparking a call for women to attend urgent health checks.

Worried public health bosses in Leicester fear the number of women the man slept could run into three figures.

The Health Protection Agency admits it does not know how many women he slept with over a six-year period, but the organisation believes it is “more than a handful” and possibly more than 100.

Unprotected

And women were today advised to get checked if they had unprotected sex with partners they met at the Burlington Club and the now closed After Dark Club, both in Leicester, between 2002 and last year.

The man, who has not been named, visited the clubs on a weekly basis and frequently slept with women he met there. Usually the sex was unprotected.

Dr Philip Monk, a consultant for the Health Protection Agency East Midlands, said: “He doesn’t know (the number of women he had unprotected sex with). He was going clubbing very regularly. He didn’t have a sexual encounter every time he went out, but it didn’t happen infrequently.

“There is a possibility it could be more than three figures. We believe it was more than a handful.”

He added: “We are concerned that there is a risk that the HIV positive individual may have passed on the infection as a result of the sexual activity he has engaged in.

“Understandably, women who have had sexual experiences with someone they met at either of these venues are likely to be extremely concerned, but it’s important that they either visit their local genito urinary medicine clinic or family planning clinic.”

Dr Monk said they could also contact NHS Direct – on 0845 603 0897 – where staff have been briefed on the case.

“Once they have had the opportunity of a confidential discussion about their personal experience with trained professionals, we can determine what, if any, follow-up is needed,” he said.

It is thought the risk to possibly scores of women only came to light in the last few weeks after the man, a mental health patient, told doctors.

The man, who moved to Leicester in 2002, also admitted to sexual relationships with a number of women he met at the Brandon Unit for mental health patients in Leicestershire.

The agency said it was confident all the women potentially at risk from the unit had been sent a letter.

There is no suggestion that any of the man’s sexual encounters with fellow patients happened there, said the local mental health trust.


the sun

[JohnCenaFan28]

Child services should save this child ASAP.

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

LOL, nice read thanks.

[JohnCenaFan28]

The people who slept with him should have been more careful.

[JohnCenaFan28]

A youth serving life for the alcohol-fuelled murder of father-of-three Garry Newlove, who was kicked to death after confronting vandals outside his home, has lost an appeal against conviction and sentence.

Gang ringleader Adam Swellings, now 20, of Crewe, Cheshire, was present in the dock at the Court of Appeal in London to hear three judges reject his argument that his conviction was unsafe and his 17-year minimum term "manifestly excessive".

Co-accused Stephen Sorton, now 18, of Warrington, waived his right to attend the court for his appeal against his 15-year minimum term.

Reducing the period to one of 13 years Lord Justice Moore-Bick emphasised that even when Sorton has served that term he will not be released until the parole board was satisfied he "no longer presents a danger to the public".

Mr Newlove's widow Helen sat in the public gallery of the packed courtroom for the proceedings. Her husband, a 47-year-old salesman who had overcome stomach cancer, was murdered outside his Warrington home in August last year.

Mr Newlove was attacked after he left his home to confront the gang in Station Road North and was kicked "like a football" by the youths, a jury at Chester Crown Court heard.

Mr Newlove's daughters, Zoe, 18, Danielle, 16, and Amy, 13, witnessed the horrific attack on their father. He suffered massive head injuries and died two days later in hospital.

It emerged after the pair and another teenager were found guilty in January that Swellings had been released from custody for an assault just hours before the attack. Swellings was freed on bail on condition that he stayed away from Warrington but he remained in the town despite the court order.

The unsuccessful conviction appeal by Swellings centred on a claim that the trial judge wrongly admitted "bad character" evidence before the jury relating to other incidents involving the gang earlier on the day Mr Newlove was attacked.

Mrs Newlove has launched a campaign for more to be done to stop youth gangs going on violent, drink-fuelled rampages against law-abiding people.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thousands more job cuts have been announced as unemployment levels continued to soar.

Telecoms giant BT dealt the biggest blow of all, revealing that it was axing 10,000 jobs, mainly among workers and sub-contractors.

The company said it had already cut 4,000 jobs as part of an ongoing efficiency programme which will mainly affect BT's indirect labour force such as agency workers, contractors and offshore staff. A further 6,000 jobs will go between now and March.

BT chief executive Ian Livingston said 7,000 workers left the firm every year so he did not envisage any compulsory redundancies in the latest round of cuts, which will affect head office functions, support staff and customer services.

Asked how long he thought the current economic downturn would last, Mr Livingston replied: "It will get worse before it gets better."

Financial services group Friends Provident announced it was axing 280 posts. Workers' union United claimed the cuts would come at the business's Manchester office and would result in the closure of the firm's main building in the city.

Truck-maker Leyland plans to axe almost 250 jobs and have an extended shutdown at its factory over Christmas because of "severe decline" in demand.

And there was a further blow to the economy after construction equipment firm JCB announced it was to shed almost 400 jobs.

The announcement comes after thousands of JCB workers last month voted to accept a £50-a-week pay cut in a bid to ward off job cuts.

Newspaper group Trinity Mirror also confirmed that it had axed 28 local titles so far this year and "could not rule out" more staff cuts as it upped 2008 cost-cutting plans by £5million.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Gordon Brown has called for "urgent" international action to prevent the world economy sliding deeper into crisis.

Arriving in New York ahead of this weekend's G20 summit of the leading global economies in Washington, the Prime Minister warned that "the cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of any action".

Mr Brown signalled that he intends to press the world leaders meeting in the US capital to produce their own "fiscal stimulus" packages of tax cuts and spending increases along the lines of those currently being drawn up by Chancellor Alistair Darling. Mr Darling will announce his proposals in the Pre-Budget Report on November 24.

However Mr Brown is concerned that their impact in stimulating economic activity will be diluted unless such measures are taken up around the world.

"It is now becoming increasingly accepted around the world that a temporary and affordable fiscal stimulus is necessary," he said.

"This will have most impact if it is co-ordinated internationally. By acting now we can stimulate growth in our economies. There is a need for urgency. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of any action."

China, Germany and Japan have already announced their proposals to get their economies going and US-president elect Barack Obama has said that he will be bring forward his own measures when he takes office in January.

There has already been a co-ordinated 0.5% cut in interest rates by central banks around the world - including the Bank of England - to try to inject new life into the world economy. But even after last week's unprecedented 1.5% cut by the Bank of England - with indications of more to follow - there are fears that such measures on their own will not be sufficient.

Mr Brown said that he would be using Saturday's meeting to press for a reopening of the Doha round of world trade talks following their collapse in Geneva last July.

"A successful conclusion of the Doha round will inject much-needed confidence into the world economy," Mr Brown said.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Investigations are under way after the deaths of two young boys intensified the scrutiny on child protection in Britain.

Manchester City Council is reviewing how troubled young mother Jael Mullings, 21, who is feared to have stabbed her children to death, no longer had a social worker to help her family although they were known to social services.

And police involvement was also being examined after it was revealed that officers had called at the house just hours before the brothers were killed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said that it was launching an investigation hours after Manchester City Council announced that it was also reviewing social services' involvement in the tragedy.

Ms Mullings was arrested on suspicion of killing her boys, Romario Mullings-Sewell, two, and his three-month-old brother Delayno, on Wednesday afternoon.

Both boys, described as "gorgeous" and "beautiful", were stabbed in the stomach and found dead at the family home in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Their mother has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

The boys' deaths come in the aftermath of a child protection scandal in London involving Baby P, prompting another investigation ordered by Children's Minister Ed Balls and Haringey Council issuing an apology.

The Mullings family did previously have a social worker. But this arrangement ended at some point before the children died, according to a spokeswoman for social services at Manchester City Council.

The council said that, as an investigation had begun, it was "not appropriate" to explain why and when contact was ended with social workers or say when the family were last seen by social services.

The council declined to answer further questions, but the local authority confirmed the family were not currently on the "at risk" child protection register and released a statement saying that, while they were known to the council's children's services, they were not "currently involved" with them.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government delivered some first-class news to the Post Office by awarding it a contract to continue with a card account used by millions of people to receive benefits and pensions, ending the threat of closure to thousands of branches.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell told MPs the organisation would retain the business under a new contract running for five years from 2010, with the possibility of an extension beyond that, raising hopes of a brighter future for the service.

Around 2,500 post offices will have shut by the end of the year under a closure programme and there had been warnings that a further 6,000 would be under threat if the Post Office Card Account (Poca) went to a rival bidder such as PayPoint.

Mr Purnell said that in order to support a viable post office network, the competitive tendering process had been cancelled.

"I firmly believe that this is the right decision for our customers, the Post Office and sub-postmasters. The Post Office is a cherished national institution at the heart of many communities. The card account is an important source of income, and brings customers through the doors of post offices across the country."

Around 4.3 million people hold a Poca to obtain pensions and benefit payments including jobseeker's allowance and child benefit.

Around £80 million is paid out every day to account holders, with many of them spending some of the money in post offices or shops run by subpostmasters. The card accounts for one in four visits to post offices, rising to one in two in rural areas.

Alan Cook, managing director of the Post Office, said: "We very much welcome this decision, which enables us to achieve our goal of maintaining a branch network of around 11,500 outlets for the foreseeable future.

"We will, of course, also be working with other Government departments to drive a wide range of services through the network, while at the same time building on our existing range of financial and other products."

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said the announcement was "a victory for common sense", adding: "We hope that (the) decision represents a further indication that the Government is now willing to adopt a more positive approach towards the future of this vital public service."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The British military death toll in Afghanistan and Iraq reached the grim milestone of 300 when two Royal Marines were killed in Helmand province.

The pair, who were serving with the UK Landing Force Command Support Group, died on Wednesday afternoon when their vehicle was struck by an explosive device in the Garmsir district of southern Helmand.

Their deaths brought the total killed in Afghanistan to 124, while 176 have died on active service in Iraq since operations began.

The news came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met in London to discuss the strategic situation in the region, with economic problems and unrest growing in neighbouring Pakistan.

Downing Street said Mr Karzai had praised the work of British troops and expressed "condolences" over the deaths when he met Mr Brown.

US president-elect Barack Obama is planning to send two more combat brigades to Afghanistan and is expected to call on other Nato allies to beef up their own deployments when he takes office in January.

But Number 10 stressed that the talks had focused on how the UK's support operations in Afghanistan could be enhanced rather than the possibility of more troops being sent.

When it was put to the Prime Minister's spokesman that extra forces were set to be deployed, he responded: "I don't agree with the assertion that we now look like we are sending more troops."

A recent ICM poll for BBC Radio 4 found more than two-thirds of the public believe all British troops should be withdrawn from the troubled country in the next year.

But the spokesman rejected suggestions the UK public was not behind the campaign. He said research carried out by Mori for the MoD had indicated more than half the population supported the military presence in Afghanistan.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The council criticised over Baby P's death has apologised for failing to do more to protect him.

The 17-month-old boy died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year despite 60 visits from the authorities over eight months, during which time he suffered more than 50 injuries.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has ordered an urgent inquiry into child welfare services provided by Haringey Council in north London, the same local authority heavily criticised over the death of Victoria Climbie eight years ago.

Liz Santry, the council's cabinet member for children and young people, said staff had gone through a "huge amount of anguish" since Baby P's death 15 months ago. She told Sky News: "We are truly sorry that we did not do more to protect him."

The Government-ordered review will be carried out by Ofsted, for the Healthcare Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

Mr Balls said the investigation, which started on Thursday and is due to make an initial report by December 1, would involve a "thorough inspection" of all services responsible for safeguarding children in Haringey.

The director of children's services in Hampshire, John Coughlan, has been drafted in to work alongside his counterpart in Haringey to ensure proper procedures for safeguarding children are applied while the inquiry takes place.

Ms Santry welcomed the review and said the council was commissioning an independent expert to lead a cross-party review of child protection in the borough.

She said: "This was a really tragic occurrence and the circumstances of his death are really dreadful. As you will know, he died over 15 months ago. For the past 15 months in Haringey there has been a huge amount of anguish and endless discussion about what more we might have done to save this little boy."

She added: "Our duty is to protect our children and we did not do so in this instance, and I would like to say how truly sorry we are."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government has faced heavy criticism after announcing proposals to make schools with satisfactory exam results raise their game.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls outlined plans to push secondaries deemed to be "coasting" to improve their performance.

In such schools, there are pupils who are not fulfilling their potential and should be making more progress, he said.

But teachers warned the Government against putting schools into "crude categories" and said they must focus on providing help rather than castigating them.

Mr Balls said local authorities had been asked to draw up a list of "coasting" schools in their area by January, adding he thought hundreds of schools would be identified.

Last year, the school's watchdog Ofsted warned in their annual report that up to half of England's secondary schools do not give pupils a good education.

Mr Balls said: "We're looking at schools that are often above average, at first sight you would say were good schools or at least satisfactory, but are not making progress in a way we would like.

"Either average pupils are not making enough progress when they arrived at age 11 to taking exams at age 16, or gifted and talented pupils are not being given the support they need, or support is not being given to pupils with special educational needs."

He said local authorities will be given powers to intervene if schools refuse to take steps to improve, such as placing additional governors on the school's board, or issuing a warning notice.

However, Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said categorising schools was an unhelpful Government "fixation". She said: "Each school is unique. Their definition into crude categories is a continuing obsession of the Government. I'd like to see Ed Balls go beyond criticism of schools by category and map out, in conjunction with the profession, a positive and pro-active way as to how the in-depth expertise of teachers and schools can be harnessed for their mutual benefit."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The man accused of murdering 17-year-old Hannah Foster told a jury that he was framed by a gang of men who kidnapped, bound and blindfolded him before forcing him to have sex with her.

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli claimed he was bundled into a car by three men on the night the teenager disappeared.

He said he was taken to a van, where he was forced to have sexual intercourse with a girl, who he now believed to be Hannah.

He told the jury at Winchester Crown Court he believed he had been kidnapped out of "revenge" because he owed £16,000 to a work colleague.

Kohli told the court that his "kidnappers" threatened to kill him and he fled the country to his native India a few days later to "save himself".

The 41-year-old father of two told the court that he repeatedly borrowed sums of money from his colleague, James Dennis, with whose wife he claimed he was having an affair.

But when Mr Dennis asked for the money to be returned, including a statutory demand from a solicitor, Kohli said he threatened to reveal the secret affair. Mr Dennis and his wife, Carole, deny that she had an affair with the defendant, the trial has heard.

He told the jury that he did not know who the girl in question was but he now suspected it was Hannah Foster because his DNA was found in semen discovered by police on her dead body. He said he believed she had also been forced to have sex with him.

Kohli told the trial that on March 13, 2003, the day before Hannah disappeared, Mr Dennis's brother Jonathan threatened him, demanding that he pay his brother back.

Kohli denies the murder, rape and false imprisonment of Hannah Foster. The body of the bright A-level student was found in a bramble-filled ditch at the side of Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, on March 16 2003, two days after she disappeared near to her home.

-Nova

[DUKE NUKEM]

wow thats just sad

[DUKE NUKEM]

that is some scary stuff

[DUKE NUKEM]

when is this war going to be over

[DUKE NUKEM]

what is this world coming to

[Black Widow]

THE childminder of tortured Baby P revealed yesterday that she repeatedly warned Social Services about his pitiful condition — but they failed to act.

Gazing at the tragic 17-month-old’s teddy — by grim irony bearing the words “I love you” — Ann Walker said: “He was dying. I told them about his state. I said things were not right. But nothing was done.”

The tot’s death in Haringey, North London, from horrific abuse could have been avoided, Ann insisted.

She said: “If someone had taken action we would not be mourning the loss of a baby’s life. The warning signs were all there.”

Baby P died with 50 injuries including a broken back after eight months of agony.

Ann looked after him in his final five weeks of life. She was told it was to “give the mum a break”.

She was ordered to report any injuries she found to social worker Maria Ward. Ms Ward told Ann she would visit Baby P.

But Ann claimed she made just one brief visit.

She went on: “It was upsetting. Four or five times I phoned about bruises, marks, nappy rash and dried blood in his ear.

“He always smelt of vomit, his clothes were dirty. His fingers were black and nails were broken. Once he pulled off one of his fingernails.

“He had a large scab on his head that would weep blood. When I took him out of the highchair, I had to wash the blood off it. He was in a terrible state.

“I asked how all this happened. Maria said, ‘We’ve been told he’s accident prone’.”

Devastated Ann, 42, of Tottenham, North London, also claimed her reports were fed to Baby P’s mother.

She said: “Every time Maria had an explanation that she must have got from the mother.”

The Old Bailey heard Baby P’s 32-year-old sadist stepdad tortured the mite as his 27-year-old mum and paedophile lodger Jason Owen, 36, stood by.

All three await sentence.

PM Gordon Brown has ordered a probe into Haringey’s Social Services.

Today it was also revealed a social worker told the Government of failing child protection procedures in Haringey six months before the tragic death of Baby P.


The Sun

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the read.

[JohnCenaFan28]

The jobs carnage sweeping British industry has continued with a fresh wave of cuts ending a week in which unions believe up to 20,000 posts may have been lost.

Unite said changes at Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks would impact on 350 jobs, van-maker LDV announced plans to axe more than 90 production jobs, and the Royal Bank of Scotland is understood to be planning to cut 3,000 jobs from its global banking and markets workforce.

The announcements ended a grim week on the employment front, with a raft of UK companies including BT, JCB, truckmaker Leyland, Virgin Media, Yell and GlaxoSmithKline all shedding labour.

More job losses are predicted, with increasingly dire predictions about the jobless total. Business groups and analysts are constantly revising their expectations up, with some now believing unemployment will go over three million.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, which is in line for a £20 billion taxpayer handout to help shore up its finances, is understood to be cutting posts from its global banking and markets workforce over the coming weeks. A spokeswoman for RBS declined to comment in detail about the job cuts, but she said: "We constantly review our operating model to make sure that it is appropriate to the market condition, and take action accordingly."

Unite said its members at Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks felt "let down" by the move by owners the National Australia Group (NAG). The union said some of the jobs were being outsourced, although it had been assured there would be no compulsory redundancies.

National officer Mary Alexander said: "Outsourcing is a bitter pill to swallow. The industry is engulfed in crisis and staff across the financial services are worried about their jobs. NAG have committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies but our members feel very let down."

The banks said they had agreed a strategic alliance with AXA Life which would handle their 2.3 million retail customers from next year. The 129-strong team of financial planners based in Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks' 342 retail branches would transfer to AXA.

Birmingham-based LDV, which makes about 10,000 vehicles a year, said it intended to shed 95 full-time manufacturing posts due to falling demand for its vans, particularly in Russia and eastern Europe. A company spokesman said the cuts at its Washwood Heath plant, which employs about 1,000 workers, were being made as a direct consequence of a world-wide drop in sales of its Maxus model.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This has been the week when the credit crunch started to bite the real economy with job losses and redundancies coming thick and fast every day. The Government now needs to be as bold in tackling unemployment as it has been in preventing a financial meltdown."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Gordon Brown has pledged that he would do "everything in my power" to prevent a repeat of the Baby P tragedy.

The Prime Minister spoke as it emerged that ministers were warned about Haringey Council's child protection services six months before the little boy's harrowing death.

Speaking on a trip to New York, Mr Brown said: "I am determined to do everything in my power to make sure that this does not happen again. Every family needs to know that their children are safe at night."

He acknowledged there had been correspondence with ministers but refused to be drawn on the details.

Haringey has apologised for not doing more to protect 17-month-old Baby P who died in a blood-spattered cot having suffered more than 50 injuries. Social workers failed to raise the alarm despite 60 visits over an eight-month period, in which time he suffered more than 50 injuries.

Attention is now likely to turn to the Government after it was revealed the council's performance was flagged up by whistleblower Nevres Kemal in February last year - six months before Baby P's death in August.

Downing Street has insisted the correct procedures were followed concerning the whistleblower's claims. "There is an appropriate body for complaints regarding social care," a spokesman said. "It is right that complaints should be directed to the Commission for Social Care Inspection to take appropriate action."

Later, Baby P's natural father has spoken for the first time of his devastation. The father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, condemned the three people convicted of involvement in his son's death.

He said in a statement: "Those who systematically tortured P and killed him kept it a secret, not just from me but from all the people who visited the house up until P's death. Even after he died, they lied to cover up their abuse."

Meanwhile, the three people convicted of involvement in killing Baby P were warned that they faced "substantial" terms in prison. Old Bailey Judge Stephen Kramer told the mother, her boyfriend and 36-year-old Jason Owen that they should not be fooled into thinking otherwise because he had ordered pre-sentence reports. The 27-year-old woman and 32-year-old man from Haringey, north London, and Owen, from Bromley, south east London, were remanded in custody on Tuesday and will be sentenced on December 15.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Loyalist killer Michael Stone has been found guilty of attempting to murder Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in an armed attack on the Northern Ireland Parliament.

The 53-year-old former UDA member was convicted at Belfast Crown Court of the incident at Stormont in November 2006 when he stormed the building, while the Assembly was in session, armed with explosives and other weapons.

Stone, who gained notoriety in 1988 when he killed three mourners at an IRA funeral in West Belfast, claimed his actions at Stormont were all part of an elaborate performance art display. Delivering his judgment in the non-jury trial, Mr Justice Deeney rejected this claim as being "wholly undeserved of belief".

TV cameras in situ to cover political developments in the stalling Northern Ireland peace process captured the moment Stone burst through the revolving doors and was hauled to the ground by two security guards - both of whom were later honoured for their bravery.

The judge said defence evidence that Stone had been taking part in some sort of a "comic parody" was "hopelessly unconvincing" and "self-contradictory". "I am satisfied that Mr Stone went to Stormont to try and murder the two Sinn Fein leaders on November 24 2006," he said.

After the verdict was read out, Stone, dressed in trademark denim jacket and jeans, shouted from the dock: "It is another concession to the Shinners (Sinn Fein)."

As well as the two attempted murder charges, he was convicted on seven other counts, including possession of nail bombs, three knives, a garrotte and an axe, as well as causing criminal damage to the Stormont building.

But Crown prosecutors dismissed these theories as nonsense, accusing Stone of dreaming them up after the event in a bid to explain away murderous intentions. The judge concurred with that assessment and said the defence had failed to put any doubt in his mind that Stone had set out to kill the senior republicans.

The event happened four months before the historic power-sharing deal between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists on the day Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness were due to be nominated as Northern Ireland's new First and Deputy First Ministers.

The trial, which was interrupted in June when Stone sacked some of his legal team, ended in late September with Mr Deeney taking the last six weeks to reach the judgment. Stone, who was released from prison on licence under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement, will be sentenced next month.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Lockerbie bomber has failed in his bid to be freed on bail.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi applied for interim release from jail pending the outcome of an appeal against conviction.

But judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected the application from his defence team.

It emerged last month that the 56-year-old former Libyan intelligence agent had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and the disease had spread to other parts of his body.

Al Megrahi is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 which led to the deaths of 270 people.

British relatives' spokesman Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed, said it was difficult to see the justification for the decision to refuse bail.

"It has never been a goal of our group to seek revenge," said a statement read out on Dr Swire's behalf. "And the refusal of a return to his family for a dying man whose verdict is not even yet secure looks uncomfortably like either an aspect of revenge - or perhaps timidity."

Al Megrahi, who was not in court, was taken from his prison cell in HMP Greenock under tight security to undergo tests at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock in September.

In a statement read by his solicitor, Tony Kelly, outside court, Al Megrahi said: "I am very distressed that the court has refused me bail pending the hearing of my appeal and the chance to spend my remaining time with my family. I wish to reiterate that I had nothing whatsoever to do with the Lockerbie bombing and that the fight for justice will continue regardless of whether I am alive to witness my name being cleared."

Al Megrahi was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in 2001. He lost an appeal in 2002, but was given a fresh chance to clear his name in June last year when the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) referred his case back to appeal judges for a second time. His appeal is due to be heard next year.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Up to 1,350 illegal workers have slipped through another loophole in vetting for sensitive security jobs, the Tories claimed.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was accused of "incompetence" after it emerged licences were revoked when it discovered the immigrants' right to work in the UK had lapsed.

Thousands of three-year licences have been issued to applicants, even though their right to work was due to expire earlier.

There are fears that could mean businesses were misled over the status of employees, allowing them to hold on to jobs by showing valid licences.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the news was more evidence of "systematic incompetence" by the SIA, and he demanded answers from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

"Barely a year after they were hauled over the coals for granting 7,000 illegal immigrants security clearance - and trying to cover it up - we now learn that, as a result of loopholes, the Government has granted over 1,000 more licences to individuals whose immigration status is about to expire," he said.

"When was the minister planning on telling us about this latest debacle? The former head of the SIA resigned over vetting failures last week. At what point will this Home Secretary start to take some responsibility for her department? This episode is yet another illustration of how this Government cannot discharge its first duty - to protect the public."

The SIA's systems were overhauled last year after it was disclosed that applicants' right to work was not being checked, with some illegal immigrants working in Whitehall departments and even guarding the Prime Minister's car. But last week the authority's chief executive, Mike Wilson, was forced to quit after confirming his own staff had not been properly vetted. The National Audit Office also condemned the body for going £17 million over budget.

Officials acted to deal with the new "loophole" last month. Letters were sent out to 2,000 individuals who no longer appeared to be allowed to work legally, according to an SIA spokeswoman. "We recently identified (in partnership with the UK Border Agency) some 2,000 licences that are currently in force, where the right to work may have expired," she said.

"We started appropriate procedures in relation to those individuals. Those who failed to respond with evidence of a continuing right to work (some 1,350) have had their licences revoked and those details appear on the public Register of Licence Holders."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The man accused of kidnapping schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has appeared in court just hours after he was attacked in prison.

On Friday it emerged Michael Donovan, 40, was assaulted yesterday evening at Leeds Prison, where he is being held on remand. Donovan, who is not thought to have been seriously hurt, appeared in court on the third day of his trial alongside Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews.

They are both charged with kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Shannon, who went missing from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February, when she was nine years old.

Giving evidence at Leeds Crown Court, Donovan's niece Caroline Meehan described her uncle as "a bit creepy".

Ms Meehan was asked by Mrs Frances Oldham, QC, for Matthews, if she agreed with the description that her uncle was "a loner, a strange character, a bit creepy and a fantasist?" She replied: "Yes."

The jury was told that Donovan "loved" his two daughters and fought to have custody of them when his marriage broke up. Ms Meehan agreed with Alan Conrad QC, defending Donovan, when he said: "He loved them. They were taken into care after he fought for custody of them."

She also agreed that her uncle changed his name from Paul Drake to Michael Donovan - a name he took from the sci-fi TV show "V".

The jury has been told Shannon was drugged and restrained with a strap tied to a roof beam after her mother hatched an alleged plan to make £50,000 from her faked kidnap. The court heard Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Donovan, who police believe used an elasticated strap with a noose on the end to tether her when he went out.

Later, a Prison Service spokesman said: "We can confirm an incident took place at HMP Leeds at 7pm on Thursday November 13 in which one prisoner was assaulted by another. The prisoner sustained minor cuts and was treated by prison staff."

The case was adjourned until Monday.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Halifax Bank of Scotland could have to be nationalised if shareholders reject a takeover by Lloyds TSB, the bank's chairman said.

HBOS chairman Dennis Stevenson said the bank could need to raise at least £12 billion in capital if investors threw out the deal and a potential £11.5 billion injection of taxpayers' cash.

If HBOS decided to go it alone, there was "no certainty" over sources of funding, he added.

The bank could be forced to raise dearer funds from the Treasury, potentially resulting in "the loss of independent or private sector status for HBOS", Mr Stevenson said.

Mr Stevenson was writing in a circular to shareholders ahead of a meeting in Birmingham to approve the deal on December 12.

If the deal gets the go-ahead, it will create a banking giant with around 145,000 staff and 3,000 branches across the UK.

Last week the bank rebutted calls from the former heads of Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Peter Burt and Sir George Mathewson, to abandon the deal - which they claimed was no longer necessary - and install them as chief executive and chairman.

Competition rules have been waived to allow the takeover - which values HBOS at around £5.4 billion at current share prices - to go ahead.

Separately, the chairman and deputy chairman of nationalised mortgage bank Bradford & Bingley have stepped down, the lender said. Chairman Rod Kent, his deputy Nick Cosh and non-executive directors Ian Cheshire and Steve Webster left the company with immediate effect, B&B said.

Chief executive Richard Pym will take the dual role of executive chairman, the bank said in statement.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Equality campaigners have expressed dismay after official figures showed that the gender pay gap increased to more than 17% in the past year despite concerted efforts to make sure women earned the same as men.

The Government admitted the news was "frustrating" but promised tough new measures to tackle unequal pay.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said its research showed that an average woman who worked full time would miss out on £369,000 over her working life.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the difference in earnings of full-time women and male workers rose by 0.1% over the past year to 17.1%, while for part-timers the gap widened from 35.8% to 36.6%.

Katherine Rake, director of women's campaign group the Fawcett Society, said it was "dire news", especially in the midst of the economic downturn.

She said: "After years of painfully slow progress in closing the pay gap, we have now actually gone into reverse gear with the pay gap widening over 2008 for women working full and part-time. This sadly demonstrates that the Government has failed to take serious action to combat discrimination still facing women in the labour market."

The group urged the Government to make "bold changes" in the forthcoming Equality Bill, including a legal requirement for firms to review their pay structures.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "(The) shock increase in the gender pay gap makes the case for decisive action more pressing than ever. This is an injustice for both women and men. As redundancies mount, more women may find themselves as the sole or main income earner. It's more important than ever that they are not underpaid for what they do."

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, said: "We're frustrated with (the) figures which show more women are suffering from the unfairness of the gender pay gap. That's why our forthcoming Equality Bill is even more important as it will contain tough new measures - which are crucial in tackling unequal pay.

"All employers need to look at their pay practices to make sure they are fair. We are absolutely determined to end unfairness at work."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Prince of Wales was treated to birthday kisses and good wishes from admirers as he celebrated his 60th birthday by promoting the work of his Prince's Trust.

Charles marked the milestone by attending the launch of his trust's first Youth Week - a seven day campaign to highlight the good young people can offer society.

He could not escape reminders of his 60th anniversary and even met one trust volunteer who shared his birthday.

The heir to the throne, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, was left smiling when one woman broke protocol and asked for a "kiss" to mark the special day.

Naiyer Qureshi stepped forward and planted her lips on Charles's right cheek during his tour of two trust projects in Beckton, east London.

An official portrait to mark his 60th birthday showed the Prince of Wales in a formal uniform but a relaxed pose.

Charles is shown wearing the ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards, minus the headdress, in the photograph taken by Hugo Burnand.

The Prince, who has been Colonel of the Welsh Guards since 1975, wears the uniform every year for the Trooping the Colour ceremony which marks the Queen's official birthday.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government said it will look again at its system for avoiding risks from crop pesticides after an environmental campaigner won a landmark ruling that the current measures contravene European law.

A High Court judge said award-winning Georgina Downs had produced "solid evidence" that rural residents had suffered harm from crop spraying with toxic chemicals. He ordered the Government to reconsider how to protect the health of countryside communities.

Miss Downs, who lives on the edge of farm fields near Chichester, West Sussex, launched her independent UK Pesticides Campaign in 2001 and was recently named a "woman of the year". To support her campaign, she collected evidence on DVD from other rural residents reporting health problems including cancer, Parkinson's disease, ME and asthma they believe could be linked to crop spraying.

She accused the Government of failing to address countryside residents such as herself, "who are repeatedly exposed to mixtures of pesticides and other chemicals throughout every year, and in many cases, like mine, for decades".

Mr Justice Collins, sitting in London, allowed her application for judicial review.

The judge said: "I recognise that it is not easy to attribute a particular cause to many chronic illnesses, and a view that a cause has been identified may be wrong. But there is evidence that some long-term illnesses may be attributable to exposure. The DVD (from Miss Downs) makes it clear that those effects do in many cases amount to more than merely transient and trifling harm."

The judge added: "There is in my judgment solid evidence produced by Miss Downs that residents have suffered harm to their health - her own health is an an example - or, at the very least, doubts have reasonably been raised as to the safety of pesticides under the regime which presently exists".

The judge said Hilary Benn, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary, must now rethink and reassess the risks and how to safeguard the public against them.

He ruled Defra's current approach to assessing safety, which involved considering the impact of spraying on "a bystander" who might be close to crops, was "defective and inadequate" as it did not take into account the real impact on rural residents. It also contravened the 1991 EC Directive that harmonised the regulation of "plant protection products" throughout the EU.

Later a Defra spokesman said: "We will look at this judgment in detail to see whether there are ways in which we can strengthen our system further, and also to consider whether it could put us out of step with the rest of Europe and have implications for other member states."

-Nova

[DUKE NUKEM]

wow thats just crazy

[JohnCenaFan28]

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was important that world leaders came to decisions on measures to reverse the massive global economic down turn.

Speaking in Washington where world leaders have gathered for the G20 summit of the world's leading economies, Mr Brown said they faced a "difficult" set of negotiations.

"I think these are difficult talks. I think it is obviously important to make decisions today about what can be done," he said.

"There are a lot of countries with their own interests and their own policy directions at the moment that will have to change. But I believe we are making progress."

Mr Brown dismissed an attack by shadow chancellor George Osborne that the Government's plans to stimulate the economy through tax cuts could cause the "collapse of sterling".

"I believe that at a time when nations are coming together all over the world to deal with these problems, I think people are looking to politicians to be responsible and to show leadership," he said. We are taking the policy that is absolutely essential to take people through these difficult times.

"The Governor of the Bank of England has made it absolutely clear that it is not only right to cut interest rates, but it is perfectly reasonable to have a fiscal stimulus."

Mr Brown expressed disappointment that the Tories had abandoned their previous bipartisan support for the Government over the financial crisis.

"I now regret the partisan talk from the Opposition," he said.

Mr Brown said that he hoped the talks would be able to agree timetables for the reform of the international financial system and the conclusion of world trade talks. He is also pressing other countries to adopt a "fiscal stimulus" package of tax cuts and spending increases, similar to that due to be announced in Britain in the Pre-Budget Report.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Energy firms make some of their biggest profits from their poorest customers, the UK's main consumer watchdog claims.

Consumer Focus (CF) said it estimated power suppliers were making more than half a billion pounds a year in extra charges from people on pre-payment meters. Typical customers using the devices were often those on the lowest incomes, it added.

Jonathan Stearn, CF's campaigner on disadvantage, said energy firms were using customers who pay for their gas or electricity through pre-payment meters to help subsidise cheaper deals for others.

He told the BBC: "Companies could be making up to £550 million a year from extra charges they charge on pre-payment meters.

"The energy companies are making the most money out of those on pre-payment meters and often those are the people on the very lowest incomes."

Energy awareness group National Energy Action (NEA) said pre-payment metered customers paid on average £359 more a year than those with normal meters.

This contrasts with the extra annual cost of between £85 and £100 to maintain the pre-payment boxes - a sum estimated by energy industry regulator Ofgem, the charity added.

An NEA spokeswoman told the BBC that 1,000 people a day are being put on pre-payment meters, with many forced to do so after falling into debt.

She added: "Once you are in debt you are effectively blocked from switching to cheaper deals."

Ofgem has estimated that pre-payment meter customers are missing out on savings worth £250 million.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Gordon Brown has demanded "responsible" behaviour from the Tories after George Osborne warned that he was pushing sterling towards "collapse".

The shadow chancellor was accused of breaking convention and putting extra strain on the crucial G20 financial talks by "talking down" the pound.

In an interview with The Times, Mr Osborne delivered a ferocious attack on the Government's economic policy, insisting that increasing state borrowing in a bid to fight off recession brought major risks.

"The more you borrow as a government the more you have to sell that debt and the less attractive your currency seems," he said. "Sterling has devalued rapidly against the euro and the dollar. We are in danger, if the Government is not careful, of having a proper sterling collapse, a run on the pound."

But, speaking at the summit of world leaders in Washington, the Prime Minister said politicians should not make "partisan" points at a time of crisis.

"I now regret the partisan talk from the Opposition," he said. "I believe that at a time when nations are coming together all over the world to deal with these problems, I think people are looking to politicians to be responsible and to show leadership. We are taking the policy that is absolutely essential to take people through these difficult times.

"The Governor of the Bank of England has made it absolutely clear that it is not only right to cut interest rates, but it is perfectly reasonable to have a fiscal stimulus."

Labour accused Mr Osborne - who has been criticised over his response to the global financial crisis and holiday links with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska - of a "desperate last ditch throw of the dice to save his career".

"At their conference in October, the Tory leadership said they would support the Government in the difficult decisions we had to take to keep the economy on track," a party spokesman said. "Just a few weeks later, a panicking George Osborne is trying to talk down the economy in a desperate last throw of the dice to save his career."

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable branded Mr Osborne's comments "baffling". "Many people will be baffled that George Osborne has apparently failed to notice the fact we've already had a run on the pound, but it's happened gradually rather than in one dramatic moment as with the ERM under the last Tory government," he said.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Around 400 workers at the Port of Dover took part in a rally ahead of industrial action against proposals to outsource their jobs.

Members of trade union Unite employed by Dover Harbour Board waved placards and banners as they marched from the town centre to the company's headquarters on the seafront.

They were voicing their concerns ahead of Tuesday's planned 48-hour strike in protest at the port's chief executive Bob Goldfield's refusal to negotiate on plans to outsource work to private contractors.

Unite regional industrial organiser, Jane Jeffery, described the rally as "fantastic." She said that the 83.8% of Unite members who had voted in favour of the strike felt they were left with no choice but to take industrial action as they had been left "angry" by the way they had not been listened to so far.

Outside Harbour House demonstrators were addressed by Unite national secretary Brendan Gold, regional secretary Steve Hart and MP for Dover and Deal, Gwyn Prosser.

Speaking afterwards Mr Prosser said that many workers had been employed by the board for as long as 30 years.

The Labour MP said: "In recent years the workforce has shown enormous flexibility. They've shown the company they're able to compete with the best.

"So with that background the town is absolutely stunned by the behaviour of the chief executive, Bob Goldfield.

"They've shown great loyalty to the port through good times and bad and are being rewarded by being told their jobs are just going to be hived off without any negotiations at all."

Dover Harbour Board has vowed it will be business as usual during the walk-out as non-striking staff have completed a programme of training in mooring and security skills. The port operates 52 tourist and freight departures, and 14 freight-only departures every day and employs 570 staff in total.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A heroic officer killed in Afghanistan complained of equipment shortages to his fiancee just days before his death in a firefight, it was revealed.

Captain David Hicks, who received the Military Cross for gallantry, told his partner Nicola Billen his men were "sitting ducks" for the Taliban at their makeshift base. In letters and conversations, he repeatedly spoke of his "frustration" that demands for kit went unheeded.

Miss Billen told the Daily Telegraph Capt Hicks had not specified what they were missing, but said: "I keep asking for things and I'm not getting them".

Blaming a helicopter shortage - which hit supplies so badly that on one occasion they had to stop firing mortar rounds to preserve ammunition - he added: "It is ridiculous that we have to make do."

On several occasions the 26-year-old had asked for a doctor for be sent to the remote Inkerman base, north of the volatile town of Sangin, because they were being attacked twice a day by the Taliban. But it was not until he was killed in a battle with the enemy on August 11 last year that a doctor was permanently stationed at the base.

Earlier this week, the coroner at Capt Hicks's inquest criticised the Ministry of Defence for forcing troops to "make do".

In a letter to 32-year-old Miss Billen, just two days before he was killed as he tried bravely to locate Taliban positions, Capt Hicks wrote: "It still remains pretty busy at the minute with a few niggling problems that concern me but I won't go into them now."

The officer, of 1st Battalion Royal Anglians, was in charge of 60 men at the outpost. On the morning Capt Hicks died was he was devastated that a fellow Royal Anglian, Pte Tony Rawson, had been killed the day before. In a final phone call to Miss Billen, minutes before he was killed, he said: "I'm not taking any unnecessary risks but we are being attacked twice a day - it's just too much, we can't keep going like this."

Miss Billen said: "Then we started talking about other things and then the explosion went off and he said 'Sweetheart I have got to go. I will speak to you later I love you'."

Capt Hicks was hit by a shell as he tried to locate enemy position from the top of a sangar observation platform. He could have returned to the UK weeks before his death as he had handed in his resignation, but chose to stay on until his six-month tour was finished.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A police force defended its officers after it was reported some have criminal records for offences such as assault, fraud and gun crime.

Hampshire Constabulary said a criminal conviction does not "preclude employment" after it emerged there are 42 separate convictions among its 4,000 officers.

A force spokesman would not comment on reports that the convictions included benefit fraud, discharging a firearm, possession of a cannabis plant, being drunk and disorderly, assault and theft.

He said they expect "high standards" from officers and staff and each conviction is dealt with according to "individual merits and circumstances".

He said: "Hampshire Constabulary adheres to national standards for the discipline procedures for both police staff and police officers.

"The Home Office sets procedures to be followed for officers with criminal convictions. A criminal conviction does not preclude employment, however very careful consideration is always given to people with convictions."

The spokesman added that some of the convictions against officers happened during their youth before they joined the police service.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said those in the force are subject to the Police and Misconduct Regulations set by Government. The regulations include a reprimand, fine or reduction in rank and decisions are left to individual forces.

Paul West, ACPO lead for the Professional Standards Working Group and Chief Constable of West Mercia, said: "Where wrongdoing is alleged, police officers are investigated and action taken as appropriate to each case.

"It should be remembered that there are just over 140,000 police officers in the country, the overwhelming majority of whom serve the public with dedication. From December 1 new Police and Misconduct Regulations will come into effect which will simplify and speed up the discipline process."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The parents of a talented graduate who was killed on safari in Africa while she travelled on a gap-year trip around the world have spoken of their loss.

Claire Spruce was on the trip of a lifetime to celebrate the end of her student life when she was hit by a lorry in Malawi. Miss Spruce, from Cam, near Dursley, in Gloucestershire, had just completed a doctorate in clinical psychology and would have been 27 last Monday.

She had started her year-long trip in September and was travelling through the continent with tour group Absolute Africa, visiting Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar and was to start volunteer work with an South African charity.

The group were waiting in Malawi to cross into Zambia on November 7 and had parked up near the border. Miss Spruce and other members of the group crossed the road to buy lemonade when a lorry came hurtling towards them. The group scattered but Miss Spruce fell and was hit and killed by the vehicle.

The lorry driver, a 24-year-old man with no licence, tried to escape but was caught by the driver of Miss Spruce's tour group. He is now in prison in Zambia facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Miss Spruce had already been to China, India and Vietnam and had been regularly updating her family and friends with emails about her travels. She was due to go on to South Africa, her mother Colleen's home country, and volunteer for the Kathleen Voysey Health Clinic and Soup Kitchen in Durban, where she had worked before.

After visiting Cape Town and Johannesburg, Miss Spruce was to fly to Australia to work for a while before continuing on to New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.

Her father David said today he last heard from his daughter via email the night before she was killed.

"She told us about the things she had done and what she had seen, the various safari trips she had been on where she had seen the wildlife at close quarters, the Masai Mara and the remote villages," he said.

"She told me not to forget her birthday and that she would be on a house boat on the Zambezi river. This trip was the end of her student life and a spring board into her profession. She said Malawi was one of the most wonderful countries she had been to."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Hailed as "the greatest Children in Need" ever, the charity telethon is on course to smash the previous £37 million record haul.

Already a total of £20,991,216 has been counted after the seven hour television extravaganza that featured performances from acts like Take That and Girls Aloud as well as a troupe of singing newsreaders.

Despite the economic downturn, the live show topped last year's record total of £19,089,771 and led presenter Terry Wogan to claim it was "the greatest Children in Need since we started".

Deep-pocketed Londoners donated the most money to the cause with a total of £2,741,249. Viewers from Scotland raised £1,751,780; in Wales £1,208,812; and Northern Ireland £711,260. In the English BBC regions viewers in the East raised the most with £1,765,774; followed by the North West with £1,707,550; and the West Midlands with £1,692,356.

However, reformed boy-band Take That made one of the largest single donations, adding a £250,000 contribution after singing their new song Greatest Day.

The event, hosted by Terry Wogan and Fearne Cotton, had the theme "Doing Something Different", with viewers and stars encouraged to go outside their normal routines to raise money.

Cast members of The Bill got into the spirit of things by performing a medley of Blues Brothers hits including, appropriately, Jailhouse Rock, while performing an elaborate dance routine in various police scenarios. Stars from EastEnders also did their bit for Britain's disadvantaged children, performing a string of popular show tunes from musicals including Moulin Rouge, My Fair Lady, Saturday Night Fever and Mary Poppins.

Another highlight was Wogan's lumbering attempt to beat Tess Daly in the Strictly Come Dancing dance-off which judge Bruno Tonioli described, charitably, as "a good performance for radio".

The cast of Coronation Street meanwhile joined in the fun by taking some expert fashion advice from How To Look Good Naked's Gok Wan, who got into the spirit of 'doing something different' by dressing in drag.

McFly kicked off the show, singing the official single for this year's event, Stay With Me and Do Ya. There were also performances from Sugababes, Leon Jackson, Stereophonics, Alesha Dixon, Razorlight, John Barrowman, Duffy, Il Divo, Jason Donovan and Russell Watson among others. An eagerly awaited appearance from dancing BBC newsreaders came late on with Fiona Bruce leading a troupe dressed in brightly-coloured Seventies garb to belt out a variety of ABBA hits.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Police are appealing for witnesses after the body of a man with injuries to his throat was found in the driveway of a house in High Wycombe.

The discovery was made in Telford Way, Downley.

Officers are now patrolling the area and speaking to residents.

Supt Richard List from Thames Valley Police said: "We are currently awaiting post-mortem results which should determine the cause of death.

"It is crucial to the police investigation at the moment that anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the area between 6pm on Friday night and 8am this morning contacts us."

The man has not yet been identified and a post-mortem examination is to take place at High Wycombe General Hospital this afternoon.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact High Wycombe police station on 0845 8 505 505.

-Nova

[DUKE NUKEM]

i hope they find the person that did this

[DUKE NUKEM]

wow i wish this war was over

[Black Widow]

Three people are dead after their vehicle crashed into a garden wall in Oldham while being pursued by a police car.

The two men and one woman were killed when their Vauxhall Vectra hit the wall shortly after 3.30am.

A second woman in the car survived the crash and was taken to hospital where her condition is described as critical.

Greater Manchester Police said a police patrol had earlier attempted to stop the car in Oldham town centre.

However, the driver made off and the officer began a pursuit.

The crash happened shortly afterwards in Middleton Road, Chadderton.

Speaking at the scene, Superintendent Alan Greene said the victims appeared to be "quite young".

He added: "The vehicle was going at considerable speed, so much so that the police car could not keep up with it."

Paul Kelly, 40, a warehouse manager who lives about 100 yards from the scene, said he was woken up by a huge explosion at around 3.45am.

He said: "It was so loud I thought something had come into my house. I ran to the window and could see the car in flames."

A spokeswoman said: "GMP's Professional Standards Branch is aware and the matter has now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

In a separate incident, a man was killed when a car being followed by police crashed on a motorway.

Officers were following the vehicle along the M1 northbound at junction 29a, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, after it failed to stop.

The man, thought to be a rear seat passenger, was killed when the Vauxhall Corsa left the carriageway at around 2.00am and hit a bank.

The driver and another passenger were arrested near the crash scene.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed of the incident.


sky news

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

George Osborne mounted a robust defence of his warning that sterling faced "collapse" - insisting he had a duty to tell voters the truth.

The shadow chancellor said he was right to speak out, despite coming under fire for breaching convention and putting crucial G20 negotiations at risk by "talking down" the pound. The intervention drew an angry response from Gordon Brown, who stressed that politicians should not speak "irresponsibly" at a time of crisis.

The row is seen as having upped the pressure on Mr Osborne amid criticism from within the Tory Party of his response to the global financial crisis and controversial contacts with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. But Mr Osborne insisted he was obliged to warn that Government plans to borrow billions of pounds for tax cuts and higher spending risked disaster.

"My job as shadow chancellor is to tell the British people the truth about the British economy," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr show.

"The truth that it is the worst prepared economy in the world for recession. The truth that we have got the highest personal debt in the world. The truth that the pound has fallen by a record amount against other currencies.

"I am telling the public the truth and that is the job of elected politicians, particularly opposition politicians, in difficult times."

Mr Osborne went on: "We are warning the country that Gordon Brown is abandoning fiscal responsibility and when a government does that it stacks up debt for future generations and stacks up tax rises for future generations as well."

In his interview with The Times, Mr Osborne highlighted a 30% fall in value of the pound over recent months against a basket of currencies, and said Government policies were creating a "danger of having a proper sterling collapse, a run on the pound".

Some MPs suggested that a plunge in the pound when currency markets open tomorrow could leave Mr Osborne in serious difficulties - especially as David Cameron has so far failed to voice support for his close ally. However, Mr Osborne dismissed the idea that he would be partly to blame for further falls.

"What the markets are doing (is) looking at the economic fundamentals," he said. "They are not looking at what politicians - be it myself or indeed any other politicians - are saying. These are hard headed market operators. They are looking at the fundamentals and they are making a judgment about the British economy. They are making a judgment that we are worse placed than other economies - the US and some other European countries."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Members of Haringey council's Labour group maintained a wall of silence after attending an emergency meeting to discuss fresh developments in the tragic case of Baby P.

The councillors present at the meeting did not want to talk about what had been discussed and left the building by a rear exit down an overgrown back alley.

Local councillor Ali Demirci refused to confirm he had even attended the meeting, he said: "I can't talk about this, I can't discuss what was said, you will have to speak to Labour Party head office." However, the wall of silence was angering local residents who believed councillors were "covering up" the events that led to Baby P's death to "save their own necks".

One local resident, Stephanie Biber, was so enraged she marched to the Hornsey and Wood Green Labour Party head offices and stuck a poster to the front window that read: "Sharon Shoesmith you have blood on your hands. Council tax payers of Haringey refuse to pay council tax until Sharon Shoesmith is sacked."

Sharon Shoesmith is head of children's services at the council.

Mrs Biber said: "Sharon Shoesmith should resign, this is the final straw and I'm just so angry about it all. I've written to my bank asking them not to pay council tax to Haringey Council until she has been sacked."

Another tax payer, Con Saunders, 61, said: "I've lived here nearly all my life and I've never known anything like this, it's a disgrace and it's not the first time it's happened.

"You want to know what was being discussed by the councillors this morning? Alibis, they're working on alibis. They all stick together and will wriggle out of this one. They're just covering up the events to save their own necks."

Later, a spokesman for Haringey's Labour group confirmed: "This morning the Labour group of Haringey council were further updated on the tragic case of Baby P. The purpose of the meeting was solely to ensure councillors were fully informed on all aspects of the case and the review commissioned by central government."

According to The Sunday Telegraph, the council's legal department advised that the child did not need to be taken into care just nine days before he died. At a meeting of council officials on July 25 last year, a lawyer advised social workers that the evidence that Baby P was being abused was not strong enough to warrant removing the child from his mother, the paper said.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government is preparing to unveil multi-billion pound pre-Christmas tax breaks after Gordon Brown claimed world leaders had signed up to his blueprint for reviving the global economy.

Downing Street sources indicated that the reductions would be targeted at low-income families, probably through the tax credit and winter fuel payment systems.

Along with increases in spending, the "fiscal stimulus" package could be worth between £15 billion and £30 billion - all funded through extra state borrowing. Depending on how much was directed towards lowering taxes, the average family's bill could be slashed by up to £1,000.

But the Tories launched a furious attack on the principle behind the plans, insisting the Prime Minister was trying to "max out the credit card" at the expense of future generations.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne ruled out either proposing "unfunded" tax cuts, or supporting the Government's package - due to be unveiled in the Pre-Budget report next week.

"We are warning the country that Gordon Brown is abandoning fiscal responsibility and when a government does that it stacks up debt for future generations and stacks up tax rises for future generations as well," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr show. "The choice in British politics is going to be funded tax cuts from the Conservative Party, and a tax con by the Labour Party that has abandoned 15 years of rhetoric on fiscal stability."

The comments risked infuriating Conservative right-wingers, some of whom support the idea of upfront tax cuts and find themselves arguably more aligned with Labour than their own leadership.

Mr Osborne also questioned Mr Brown's assertion that the G20 had accepted his call for co-ordinated cash injections and tax cuts in order to kickstart growth.

The premier said the gathering in Washington had made an "historic" pact to work together on fiscal measures, and insisted countries would be bringing forward their own plans over the coming weeks.

But Mr Osborne claimed the final communique from leaders indicated otherwise. "It is three and a half thousands words long, has 21 words on fiscal stimulus, and says it should be done where appropriate and providing it is consistent with fiscal sustainability," he said.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Home Office's top civil servant has admitted in a leaked document that serious violent crime has been allowed to rise due to a focus on targets.

The department's permanent secretary Sir David Normington said there were now more offences such as murders, serious assaults and rapes than a decade ago.

In a 101-page briefing paper for new Home Office ministers last month, he suggested that because police had been given incentives to tackle less serious offences in a bid to reduce crime figures, they were less able to combat violent incidents.

Targets for reducing overall crime previously had a "focus on volume", according the document obtained by the Mail on Sunday.

"This meant that the police and other practitioners had incentives to tackle the more frequent but less serious offences as opposed to the more serious ones," he added.

Sir David said the Government's strategy would now focus on violent crime as it strives to get serious violence figures down.

He wrote: "In view of the fact that more serious violence has not reduced in the way that we would have wanted in recent years, and that these offences cause the most harm to individual victims and to society as a whole, our long-term strategy on violence focuses on seriousness. This includes homicides, serious wounding and serious sexual offences such as rape.

"Recorded crime statistics do indicate that despite recent falls, the levels of the most serious violence are higher than they were 10 years ago."

A Home Office spokeswoman said recorded crime fell 6% last year, and all types of violent crime had gone down by 40% since 1997.

"But we know there is more work to do - with particular crime types, and in particular areas," she said. "Although it represents less than 1% of recorded crime, reducing serious violence will always be a priority for us. We announced a new focus on serious violence earlier this year - to save lives, reduce harm and protect the public."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Home Secretary has hit out at corporate high-fliers who entertain their clients at lap-dancing clubs.

Jacqui Smith branded the practice "bizarre" as the Government prepared to unveil a crackdown on the sex trade that is expected to criminalise most people who use prostitutes.

Ms Smith said lap-dancing venues appeared to have become an acceptable place for work nights out, adding that new laws would make it harder for them to open.

"If I were a business person and I were wanting to make the best impression on clients, who presumably are female as well as male, I do think it's a bit bizarre that you would take them to a lap-dancing club," she told the Observer.

A new licensing regime due to be announced later this month will see such clubs, which are currently treated the same way as pubs, subjected to the same tough rules as sex shops.

Ministers say the move will give local residents more powers to object to the venues opening, and get them closed down.

"It's not a complete ban on lap-dancing clubs, but it's saying you don't operate in a vacuum, you have an impact on the community around you," Ms Smith said.

"I would hope it would make it harder for them to open, certainly in residential areas, and I would suspect that some of them will be closed when the licences come up for renewal."

This week Ms Smith will outline separate plans to criminalise paying for sex with a woman who is being "controlled for another person's gain".

The new offence will incur a large fine and result in a criminal record for the perpetrator. It covers women who are controlled by pimps or who are drug addicts and working to pay off their dealers, as well as those trafficked for sex. It is understood that not knowing a woman's circumstances will be no defence, and kerb crawlers will be "named and shamed".

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Fashion retailer Next is the latest major firm to plan job cuts next year, it was reported.

The company, which had more than 39,000 full-time equivalent staff last year, is planning the move as it prepares for a bleak year ahead, the Observer reports.

High street trading has been hit by faltering consumer confidence, but Next is also bracing itself for higher clothing import costs due to the pound's current weakness.

The job cuts are likely to affect those in support roles rather than its stores, the newspaper said, although the company was unavailable for comment.

The news adds to a week of gloom with thousands of jobs set to go at several major companies including BT, Vodafone and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey as the UK sinks into recession. Unemployment has already hit an 11-year high above 1.8 million, official figures showed.

Next's like-for-like sales fell 4.4% in the 14 weeks to November and the group expects a further decline during 2009.

While lower interest rates and falling fuel and food bills could give customers more discretionary cash to spend on clothes, the group expects rising unemployment and falling house prices to reduce earnings and encourage people to save more.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Figures showing that up to 55,000 lone parents may be forced to take out emergency loans because of a push by ministers to get them into work was condemned as "scandalous".

Opposition parties are warning that moving lone parents off Income Support and on to Jobseeker's Allowance could leave them facing a delay of between one and two weeks to receive benefit payments.

The Government estimates up to 55,000 parents will be affected, forcing many to take out crisis loans from its Social Fund, paid through Jobcentre Plus.

The changes mean that from November 24, a lone parent's Income Support may be stopped when their youngest child is aged 12 or over, or will be 12 in the next year. This will be changed to 10 in 2009 and seven in 2010.

The Department for Work and Pensions has said the lone parent can make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance. It insists the changes to the benefits system are designed to "help people get skills for work and move into paid employment."

Work and Pensions minister Kitty Usher said: "The planning assumption for the number of lone parents who may require a lone parent transition loan is 55,000 for Phase 1 of the lone parent changes only."

But her comments have provoked anger from the opposition parties.

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Jenny Willott, who obtained the answer from Ms Usher in a parliamentary written question, said: "The Government cannot allow these changes to force parents into debt. It is scandalous that ministers have designed changes to the benefit system that will force lone parents to take out loans simply to make ends meet.

"Our benefits system is so complex it is completely failing vulnerable families that, despite careful budgeting, will be left struggling to make ends meet in increasingly difficult times."

Shadow welfare reform minister James Clappison added: "In principle, we support moving lone parents on to Jobseeker's Allowance, but it is outrageous that the Government should plunge them into debt in this way."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Police have arrested two more people over the murder of a 15-year-old boy shot dead in a park, a force said.

Officers investigating the death of Kadeem Blackwood in Derby arrested the 48-year-old woman and 20-year-old man in the past 24 hours, Derbyshire Constabulary said.

Michael Hamblett-Sewell, 19, of Derby, was remanded in custody on Saturday charged with Kadeem's murder.

And an 18-year-old man remains in custody after his arrest on Saturday in connection with the killing.

Kadeem suffered a single shotgun wound to the chest while with friends at Caxton Street recreation ground at about 9.19pm on Tuesday.

He was taken to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary but died from his injuries.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A man whose body was found on a driveway outside a house died of multiple stab wounds to the neck, police said.

But Thames Valley Police say they are still not sure who the man is or whether he was murdered or took his own life.

The man's body was found in the driveway of a house in Telford Way, in Downley, High Wycombe, at 8am on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Wycombe General Hospital and revealed the man died of haemorrhaging due to multiple stab wounds to his neck.

The man is black, with a slight beard at the point of his chin and is thought to be in his 30s. He was wearing dark grey jogging bottoms and a light coloured fleece top with stripes on the arms. He was also wearing a black beanie hat and white trainers.

A mobile phone was found on the man which police are using to try to establish who he is.

The house was cordoned off as forensic officers worked at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Saunders, the senior officer investigating the death, said: "We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and at the moment cannot say for sure whether there was third party involvement in the death or not.

"We still do not know the identity of the man.

"It is crucial to the police investigation surrounding the death that anyone who saw anything suspicious at the time or who has any other information contacts us. Similarly, if you know who the dead man is, we would like to speak to you."

-Nova

[Darth Fozzy]

They better not, I just got a job working for Next!!

[Black Widow]

YOU have made your voices heard in the fight for justice for Baby P.

In just four days, over 200,000 caring Sun readers have signed our petition to bring the people responsible for the tragic death of Baby P to justice.

We have never had such an overwhelming response to a story - but there is still more to do.

The neglect, abuse and shambolic decisions that led to the death of the 17-month-old toddler have shocked our nation. But those who could have saved him are still going unpunished.

Baby P died in his blood-soaked cot covered in bruises and paralysed from the waist down because of a broken spine.

He had been horribly abused by his mother, her boyfriend and their paedophile lodger.

The child had every chance to be saved during one of 60 visits by Haringey social services.

But despite Baby P being on the council's “at risk” register, the abuse went ignored.

The Sun has called for the sackings of children’s services boss Sharon Shoesmith, Gillie Christou who was in charge of the council’s child protection register, social workers Maria Ward and Sylvia Henry and Dr Sabah Al Zayyat.

Please sign our special Sun Petition and show you care.


The Sun

[Black Widow]

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00653/SNN1812F-280_653373a.jpg


THE Shannon Matthews trial was halted yesterday following the prison attack last week on kidnap suspect Michael Donovan.

Donovan, 40, had sat through a morning of evidence on Friday, hours after being punched to the ground at Armley Jail by a lag.

Judge Mr Justice McCombe yesterday told the Leeds Crown Court jury about the attack for the first time and sent them home for 24 hours because Donovan needed more “medical attention”.

He added: “His counsel has asked that we don’t sit today for that to be allowed.”

The judge said the attack had “nothing to do with” the defendant and was something that “regrettably” happened on occasions in prison.

Donovan is alleged to have kidnapped Shannon, nine, in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorks, in February.

The court has heard he kept her in his flat for 24 days as part of a £50,000 reward sting with her mum Karen Matthews, 33.

Both deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting justice.

The trial continues today.


the sun

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for the news.

[JohnCenaFan28]

That pic's creepy, thanks for the read.

[JohnCenaFan28]

David Cameron has ditched the Tories' promise to match Labour's planned spending up to 2011, insisting it was now unsustainable.

In a significant shift of policy, the Conservative leader said the Government's investment plans were based on "heroic assumptions" about the country's economic recovery.

"Labour's economic mismanagement makes it vital for the long-term health of our economy that we set a new path for restraining the growth of spending," he told reporters.

"That means for the year 2010/11 we need change, not more of the same.

"That means reducing planned government spending growth and not matching Labour's spending plans.

"To be absolutely clear - to stop future tax rises the growth rate of spending in 2010/11 will have to be lower than the growth rate laid out by Labour.

"The growth rates of spending in the years beyond 2010/11, pencilled in by the Chancellor last year, are also now unsustainably high."

Mr Cameron also warned that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's proposed "fiscal stimulus" was merely storing up tax rises for the years to come.

A £30 billion injection to the economy would mean an 8% rise in income tax later, he claimed.

Mr Cameron said recent forecasts meant the British economy could not withstand previous spending commitments without inflicting bigger tax rises on the public later.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Inflation is now dropping at its fastest rate for 16 years thanks to falling fuel prices.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) - the Government's official benchmark of the cost of living - slowed to 4.5% in October from 5.2% the previous month.

The 0.7% decline - much bigger than economists expected - is the biggest monthly drop since April 1992, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

As crude oil prices plummet from their record highs of mid-July, the average price of a litre of petrol fell 7.1p to 104.5p in the month to October, with diesel dropping 7p to an average 116.3p.

Although CPI is still more than double the Bank of England's 2% target, the bigger-than-expected monthly fall brings home warnings of the threat of deflation - negative inflation - next year from Bank Governor Mervyn King and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Soaring food, energy and petrol costs have pushed the CPI to record highs this year but the latest lower figure also reflected falling meat prices in October as supermarkets cut prices, compared with 12 months earlier when costs were on the way up.

Meanwhile, the lower crude prices saw transport costs ease at their quickest rate for almost 20 years as the cost of sea and air transport as well as air fares fell.

The wider measure of inflation, the Retail Prices Index, fell to 4.2% in October from 5% the previous month - the biggest slowdown in the annual rate since January 1993.

Falling fuel costs also contributed to the decline but the RPI also includes house prices hit by the ailing property market.

Mr King warned in the Bank's latest inflation predictions last week that this rate was "very likely" to turn negative next year. The Bank has warned of a danger of undershooting the CPI's 2% target next year as prices fall in a looming recession - signalling the prospect of further rate cuts to come from the current 53-year low of 3%.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

One of the police officers who found Shannon Matthews has told her mother's trial that the little girl was frightened and crying when she emerged from the bed where she was hidden.

DC Paul Kettlewell told a jury at Leeds Crown Court that they were searching Michael Donovan's flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, when they heard a child's voice.

He said the voice said: "Stop it, you're frightening me."

The officer went on: "Then I went into the bedroom. My colleague turned towards me and, as I was beginning to think perhaps the voice came from inside the bed, there was a noise inside the bed as a small girl started to emerge."

He described how other officers passed the nine-year-old to him.

He told the court: "She was frightened and she was crying."

Donovan, 40, and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, both deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

DC Kettlewell described how officers forced their way into the flat after no-one answered the door but neighbours assured them Donovan was inside.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Plumbing and building supplies firm Wolseley has announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs and close more than 200 branches in the UK and Ireland.

The Reading-based firm, which trades as Plumb Center and Build Center, said the moves reflected its expectations for a further decline in trading. The company also shed 5,050 positions between August and the end of October, mainly in North America.

Wolseley, which operates more than 1,900 branches in the UK and Ireland, said the latest job cuts would be phased over the next few months,

Wolseley's headcount reduction is one of the biggest in recent days, after a raft of UK companies including BT, JCB, truckmaker Leyland, Virgin Media, Yell and GlaxoSmithKline all announced plans to shed labour.

The job cuts at Wolseley's UK and Ireland division are expected to reduce annual costs at the company by £80 million.

The pressure on Wolseley to reduce overheads was highlighted by first quarter figures, with group trading profits down 30% due to lower profitability at its UK and American operations.

Wolseley said revenues in the UK and Ireland division decreased by about 10% with trading profits down by around 65% in the three months to October 31.

The company said its building materials brands such as Build Center and Brooks in Ireland continued to be affected by the rapid deterioration in new residential construction.

The company's consumer-focused business Bathstore also reported a significant deterioration in revenues in the first quarter.

However, Wolseley said Plumb Center continued to show resilience, with more than two-thirds of revenues coming from the residential repair and maintenance market.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has announced new laws to protect vulnerable children - but he admitted they would not have saved Baby P's life.

The Government unveiled legislation that will require every local authority to set up a multi-agency Children's Trust Board.

Mr Balls said the new measures would bring a "strengthening of accountability" to child protection around the country.

But he added they would not solve the issues raised by the death of Baby P, who died in August last year after suffering over 50 injuries despite repeated visits by the authorities.

Haringey Council in north London is under fire for its handling of the case, which came seven years after Victoria Climbie was murdered in the same area.

Mr Balls said: "I don't think we are saying for a moment that the Children's Trust Boards and these measures would in themselves have prevented what happened in Haringey."

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes told a conference of directors of children's services in central London there was no other option.

She said: "We haven't got, I think, any feasible alternative Plan B for making these local arrangements be the way in which we protect our children."

Mr Balls played down growing calls for a public inquiry into Baby P's death, although he insisted he had not ruled it out.

He said the ongoing investigations into child protection in Haringey and across the country were the best way of responding to the tragedy, adding: "What people want is action rather than endless reviews."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Lewd phone messages from Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were a "very serious editorial lapse", the BBC's director-general said.

BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the corporation had "crossed a boundary" by broadcasting the messages left on actor Andrew Sachs's answerphone on Brand's Radio 2 show.

Facing questions by MPs in a Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing at the House of Commons, director-general Mark Thompson said: "I am very aware that this was a very serious editorial lapse. There were errors in judgment."

Sir Michael and Mr Thompson defended the corporation's actions in the aftermath of the scandal.

When criticised for "lamentable slowness", Sir Michael replied: "There was no lack of speed. This is something I do not accept. I refute and reject any allegations there were more actions the trust should have taken. The trust is doing its job of holding the executive to account."

The grilling was the second session held by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in its ongoing inquiry into the commercial operations of the BBC.

The terms of reference for the inquiry, published in July, include the benefits, opportunities and risks for the BBC undertaking a range of commercial activities in the UK and abroad. They also include the future of BBC Worldwide and other BBC commercial subsidiaries and how the money returned to the BBC by its commercial operations is invested.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham previously said the calls to Sachs were a "serious lapse of broadcasting standards" and the BBC management was "too slow" in recognising the seriousness of the situation.

Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas also quit on October 30 and that was followed by the resignation of David Barber, the Radio 2 head of specialist music and compliance. It is thought Barber's job would have involved checking that content complied with BBC guidelines.

The BBC Trust will discuss the furore, which saw Brand quit and Ross suspended, when it meets later this week.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government has launched a new campaign to ensure workers are paid the minimum wage, with a warning to rogue employers that they face tougher penalties.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said a small number of employers were "cheating" their workers, flouting the law and undercutting honest competitors.

He helped kickstart a roadshow in Downing Street which will visit 28 towns and cities across the UK in the coming months, giving workers advice on their entitlements and how to make a complaint if they have been underpaid.

The Government is cracking down on employers paying below the statutory hourly rate of £5.73 for workers aged 22 and over, £4.77 for 18 to 21-year-olds and £3.53 for those aged 16 and 17.

Employers will face unlimited fines from next year in the most serious cases instead of the current maximum limit of £5,000.

Lord Mandelson said he was proud to see the difference made to millions of workers by the minimum wage, adding: "More than one million workers benefited from its increase last month and it's important that we make sure everyone knows what they're entitled to - that's what this campaign is all about.

"Of course, most businesses treat staff fairly, but the small number who cheat their workers are flouting the law and undercutting honest competitors.

"Our changes will make sure everyone caught not paying their workers properly faces a stiff penalty - we are determined to ensure workers are paid fairly."

The roadshow, which will have facilities to report cases of abuse, will visit Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Edinburgh and Glasgow in November, Leeds, Huddersfield and Sheffield in December, Peterborough, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham and Newcastle in January and Plymouth, Portsmouth and London in February.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Authorities have cracked down on a human trafficking gang in what is thought to be the largest operation of its kind ever in the UK.

More than 200 staff from nine different organisations took part in the crackdown on the organised crime group believed to be trafficking people into the UK for cheap labour.

Three men were arrested at a field near Holbeach, South Lincolnshire, on suspicion of human trafficking for the purposes of labour exploitation.

Northamptonshire Police said more than 60 men and women from Eastern European countries including Poland and Lithuania had been taken to Kettering, Northants, where they are now being treated as potential witnesses and victims.

Officers also searched 21 houses in Kettering and across the Midlands as well as a business premises in Market Harborough, Leics.

A spokeswoman said four men and a woman had also been arrested on suspicion of people trafficking and money laundering.

The huge crackdown, codenamed Operation Ruby, involved the East Midlands Foreign National Crime Team, Northamptonshire Police, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, the UK Borders Agency, the Migrant Helpline, Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

It centres on allegations people were recruited through advertisements and agencies in Eastern Europe to travel to the UK on the promise of work.

When they arrived, it is thought their documents were taken from them and a proportion of their wages was withheld to pay for housing and transport costs.

Det Supt Glyn Timmins, director of Investigations at Northamptonshire Police, co-ordinated the operation.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Barclays has said that executive directors will not receive any annual bonus this year as the bank seeks to pacify investors over its £7 billion fundraising.

The bank also announced that all members of its board, including chief executive John Varley and investment banking boss Bob Diamond, are to be put up for re-election at its AGM next April.

It follows criticism of Barclays' plan to raise money from Middle East investors, which is seen as more costly than accepting Government cash.

Barclays announced the scheme to raise funds through Middle East investors at the end of last month as it sought to avoid part-nationalisation under the Government's scheme.

It is bringing on board Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan - a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family - and gaining additional support from the Qatari Investment Authority and Challenger, which represents Qatar's royal family.

The Association of British Insurers - which represents around a fifth of UK shareholders - has slapped a provisional "amber" top warning on the deal.

And institutional investors, such as Legal & General, are said to have been putting pressure on Barclays to change the terms of its deal after being left angry at the cost involved and lack of greater opportunity to participate.

But in a further concession to shareholders, Barclays said that its Middle Eastern investors would allow ordinary shareholders to buy as much as £250 million of the preferred stock they have agreed to purchase from Barclays.

The proposals will be put before shareholders on November 24.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Negotiations are under way to free two Britons and 23 other crew members on a huge oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates.

The hijackers have made contact with the owners of the Saudi-owned Sirius Star, which is thought to be heading to the Somali coast.

The two Britons and their crewmates are all believed to be safe, ship owners Vela International Marine Ltd said.

The tanker was fully laden when it was seized by a group of armed men on Sunday, a company spokesman said.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed that two of those on board are British but could not give any details of their role on the ship.

He said: "We are seeking more information on the incident."

A spokesman for the Royal Navy said he could not say if British servicemen were involved in any attempts to rescue the vessel. It is our policy not to discuss operational matters," he said.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth, who is in Kenya, said the hijacking of the Sirius Star underlined the scale of the challenge presented by piracy.

"The taking of such a large vessel so far out to sea represents a step change in capability for the pirates," he said.

"Alongside our international partners, Her Majesty's Government is deeply concerned, not least because two of the crew are British. Our thoughts are with the men and their families at this difficult time. We call on those holding the men to release them and the rest of the crew immediately."

-Nova

[Kenpachi Zaraki]

WASHINGTON: President-elect Barack Obama has reportedly picked a former high-

ranking Clinton administration aide to serve as the next
attorney general, the country's
top law enforcement official.

Eric Holder, a former US attorney who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton, would be the nation's first black attorney general. An Obama official and two Democrats in touch with the transition team confirmed Tuesday that Holder was Obama's top choice, but the Obama official said the decision was not final. Holder did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Word of Holder's likely appointment surfaced while Washington was abuzz with reports that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former president's wife, was at the top of Obama's list to be the next secretary of state, the top US diplomat.

Obama and Hillary Clinton met at the president-elect's transition headquarters in Chicago last week. Earlier, the former first lady had been widely mentioned as a possible vice-presidential choice after Obama vanquished her in the lengthy and often bitter Democratic presidential primary.

Obama, who ran for president on a platform of change, was raising eyebrows with his heavy focus on officials from the former Clinton administration in his transition team and his consideration of them for his Cabinet. He has already named Rahm Emanuel, a key Democrat in Congress and a top White House official under Clinton, to serve as his chief of staff.

The expected appointment of Holder, who served on the search committee that settled on Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as Obama's vice-presidential running mate, emerged after the president-elect's aides began canvassing senators about Holder's chances for confirmation. The Senate must confirm cabinet secreteries by a simple majority vote.

In particular, the Obama aides questioned whether Holder's confirmation would be delayed because of his involvement in President Clinton's end-of-term 2001 pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich.

One person involved in the talks said the Obama team has received some assurances that, while the Rich pardon would come up during Senate hearings, the nomination likely would not be held up. All those who spoke about Holder did so on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years on the run. The financier was convicted in 1983 of doing illegal oil deals with Iran while U.S. hostages were held there, as well as tax evasion and tax fraud. Holder said he was ``neutral, leaning towards favorable'' on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

Holder, 57, also a former judge and U.S. attorney in Washington, is widely respected in legal circles and among Justice Department career lawyers. He has been on Obama's short list to be attorney general since before the election, and already has had private conversations about how he would run the department.

One of his top priorities, according to a person familiar with his thinking, is to rebuild the department's reputation after its fiercely independent image was tarnished by charges of political meddling by the White House during the Bush administration.

For that reason, Holder has been reluctant to lobby for the attorney general's post for fear the Rich pardon would invite an explosive nomination process and further strain the department's credibility, this person said.

Also Tuesday, the Obama daughters got a tour of their new White House residence from Jenna and Barbara Bush.

President George W. Bush's twin daughters showed their rooms to Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, as they toured the residential areas of the White House with their mother, Michelle, at the invitation of first lady Laura Bush. The Obamas spent about an hour at the mansion, said Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush.

Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was also with the group. "The first lady graciously invited Mrs. Obama, her mother and the girls to visit what will be their new home," said Michelle Obama's spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld. "Of course, Mrs. Obama greatly appreciated this invitation to provide an opportunity for the girls to feel at home and become comfortable in this transition process."

The visit was private, with no media coverage or photos. Earlier in the day, the Obama family visited top choices for schools "to make sure we find the right fit," Lelyveld said. She would not name the schools.

A small motorcade was parked outside the Sidwell Friends, a Quaker school attended by Chelsea Clinton, on Tuesday for about 40 minutes, and a similar motorcade was at the back entrance of Georgetown Day School on Monday. The Georgetown Day motorcade left after a group of people emerged, but Michelle Obama was not seen among them. Both Georgetown Day and Sidwell Friends are private institutions.

The president-elect's family also has discussed public school options for the two girls, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee said last week.

Barack Obama, meanwhile, called five foreign leaders Tuesday, continuing to respond to the congratulatory calls that poured in after his election two weeks ago from dignitaries around the globe.

The Obama transition office said Obama expressed his appreciation for their congratulations. The calls included: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Obama also spoke by video to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's international climate change summit on Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California.

"Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will ... help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change,'' Obama said.

timesofindia.com

[JohnCenaFan28]

Thanks for this.

[JohnCenaFan28]

An "expensive" Government health reform has so far failed to deliver real benefits for patients, experts have said.

Progress in implementing the policy has been "painfully slow" and, in some areas, has stalled completely, they said.

Practice-based commissioning, introduced in 2005, has also delivered little in terms of financial savings for the NHS, according to the new report from the King's Fund think tank.

The policy was introduced as a way of allowing GPs to run local budgets and "buy-in" services such as hospital and community care.

It was seen as a necessary step to providing more patient care in the community, thereby cutting costs and the number of referrals to hospitals.

The Government intended GPs to provide a range of services using practice-based commissioning, including diabetic care, diagnostic testing (such as X-rays) and dermatology.

But the report, which is the culmination of two years' work, found that very few GPs were using the scheme to commission new services.

This is despite the fact they have been paid almost £100 million in incentive payments, it said.

The report also said the Government had failed to learn lessons from the Conservative Party's similar experiments in the 1990s with GP fundholding.

And it called for a major shake-up of the reform, although it did not say it should be abandoned altogether.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A serving police officer facing investigation after being included in a list of British National Party members has been named by Merseyside Police.

Steve Bettley was included in a list of thousands of BNP supporters which was leaked on an internet blog. His name was part of the main entry of a family member.

Merseyside police confirmed it is investigating whether serving officer Pc Bettley has links with the party.

A spokesman said: "We understand that the British National Party names a Steve Bettley for an alleged association with the party. Whether Merseyside Pc Steve Bettley was, or is, a member of BNP is subject to an ongoing inquiry.

"Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe has reiterated our position that membership of the British National Party is totally incompatible with the duties and values of Merseyside Police. We will not accept a police officer or police staff being a member of BNP."

Officers are banned from joining or promoting the BNP because it would damage race relations, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Merseyside Black Police Association (MBPA) said: "Due process must be allowed to take place and we appeal for calm in that respect. MBPA also supports Merseyside Police to ensure the safety and security of those who it feels may be at risk as a result of being associated with the BNP as a result of the publication of personal details on to the internet. We condemn any and all unlawful acts and will assist Merseyside Police to hold those to account who perpetrate such behaviour."

Leader Nick Griffin pledged to take court action against those behind the leak.

He said: "It was entirely wrongly used without authority by a very small group of previous party members who were expelled late last year who then passed it on, to who we simply don't know. All we can say is that if we find out who it was and they are one of those covered by the High Court injunction, then they are going to prison."

Mr Griffin claimed that members had received threatening calls as a result of the list's publication - calls he said were part of an "established dirty tricks campaign" from the Labour Party.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The families of two British crewmen being held hostage by pirates on a hijacked oil tanker said that they hope the pair "will be home safely very soon".

Peter French, from County Durham, and James Grady, from Strathclyde, are on the Sirius Star, which is currently anchored off the coast of Somalia.

A statement said the families of the two men "greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed by people throughout the UK and beyond, about Peter and James. They hope that Peter and James will be home safely to their families very soon."

The men are the tanker's chief engineer and its Second Officer, although the Foreign Office could not confirm which man held which role.

The Sirius Star was attacked at the weekend and the pirates who have taken control of the vessel have taken it to a stronghold near the town of Eyl.

The Saudi-owned ship was fully laden with two million barrels of oil when pirates boarded it and is the largest vessel ever to be hijacked in a region which has become notorious for piracy.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for the immediate release of the crew.

He said the problem of piracy was "a grave danger to the stability in the region".

Speaking to the BBC as he arrived in Beirut for talks with the Lebanese government, Mr Miliband said: "The United Kingdom is very worried about the piracy in the Gulf of Aden and in Somalia. We call on those holding the (Britons) to release them and the rest of the crew immediately."

He said the Royal Navy was involved in efforts to resolve the situation.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Government claims to prioritise victims of crime were questioned as a committee of MPs delivered a damning report into compensation for people injured in violent attacks.

Less than 5% of those eligible for payouts of up to half a million pounds from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority were even applying, the Public Accounts Committee found.

Two-thirds of victims were unaware of the scheme and those who did apply were hampered by a complex application form and suffered delays in receiving their money because of bureaucracy, they said.

Many victims also spent money on expensive lawyers because they did not know free legal help was on offer, the MPs found.

Their report, Compensating Victims of Violent Crime, criticises the Ministry of Justice for affording the agency a "low priority" despite its claims to put victims at the "heart" of the criminal justice system.

Ministers failed to set the body rigorous targets, they said, as costs and bureaucracy increased and standards slipped. Despite applications falling 23%, the time taken to resolve the average complaint has risen from one year to 17 months.

The costs of administering the scheme rose by £6 million between 2000 and 2006, while staff productivity fell. Committee chairman Edward Leigh said it was "absurd" that so few people were applying for money they were due.

He said: "The Ministry of Justice's declared objective is to place victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. If the scheme for compensating victims of violent crime is anything to go by, that objective is a long way from fulfilment.

"A large proportion of citizens who are injured by violent criminals are left in ignorance of the compensation scheme, leading to the absurd situation that only 5% apply for compensation."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

An impromptu shrine to Baby P grew rapidly as the Chief Inspector of Schools warned she could not ensure a similar tragedy would never happen again.

The north London cemetery where the little boy's ashes were scattered has become the focus for public outrage over the 17-month-old child's death.

But despite calls for action to ensure the tragedy is never repeated, the Chief Inspector of Schools warned that she could not ensure this.

Christine Gilbert said: "I really wish I could guarantee that something so tragic would never happen again. I can't guarantee it. I do feel that every one of us involved in child protection in any way has to take stock, has to look at what they are doing and has to look at what has gone on in the particular case."

Meanwhile, the doctor accused of failing to spot Baby P's broken back shortly before his death said she had been "deeply affected" by the "shocking and tragic" events.

The little boy died in a blood-splattered cot in August last year after suffering more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, her boyfriend and a lodger.

Haringey Council in north London - the same local authority criticised over eight-year-old Victoria Climbie's murder in 2000 - is under fire for failing to prevent his death.

Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat examined Baby P at a child development clinic at St Ann's Hospital in north London shortly before his death. The doctor, who qualified in Pakistan and worked in Saudi Arabia before coming to Britain in 2004, noticed bruises to his body.

But she decided she could not carry out a full systemic examination as the boy was "miserable and cranky".

A post-mortem examination later revealed injuries including a broken back and ribs, believed to have been obtained prior to the examination. Dr Al-Zayyat has since had her contract with Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is responsible for child services in Haringey, terminated and has been banned from working unsupervised until the end of an inquiry.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Car parts manufacturer Bosch said 250 jobs were at risk at one of its plants.

The German company said it has started a 90 day consultation with staff at its Miskin plant in South Wales because of a "sharp decline in customer orders."

The plant, which makes alternators for the automotive industry, has already seen the number of agency workers slashed and announced an extended Christmas shutdown because of the downturn.

A Bosch spokesman said: "Due to the current difficult market environment, Bosch has experienced a sharp decline of customer orders in the last quarter of 2008."

She added: "We were hoping that 2009 would see a return in stability, but unfortunately our customer order reductions continue. As a result we will not have sufficient work to retain our entire existing Bosch workforce in full-time employment.

"As of now we expect that 250 jobs spread across all areas and functions within the plant are now at risk. From today we will enter into a 90 day period of consultation with our plant council. It is with great regret that we have had to make this decision and we will continue to keep all employees fully informed during this difficult process."

The news is the second blow for the South Wales economy in as many days following the announcement that 337 manufacturing jobs are at risk at Hoover in Merthyr Tydfil.

South Wales Central AM Chris Franks said his thoughts were with the Bosch workers and their families.

"I have spoken to the Economy Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, and he has given me his assurance that he and the One Wales government will be offering the company all possible support to try and keep these jobs at the plant," said Mr Franks.

"This area has already suffered significantly with the 200 job losses announced at L'Oreal last month. With that in mind the One Wales government ministers will be doing all they can to alleviate the combined effects on this community. I will now be writing to the management at the Bosch plant and looking to meet with them at the soonest opportunity."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Anti-war activists are set to urge the Government to bring the "occupation" of Afghanistan to an end and bring UK troops home.

Leaders of the Stop The War Coalition will hand in a letter to 10 Downing Street stating that the conflict has been a "disaster" for the Afghan people.

The letter, signed by MPs including Jeremy Corbyn (Labour, Islington North) and George Galloway (Respect, Bethnal Green and Bow), Lord Ahmed and writer Michael Rosen, said the lives of British troops were being "wasted" in a war without purpose or popular support.

The protest was being held on the seventh anniversary of the "liberation" of Afghanistan.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The recession would last until "doomsday if David Cameron was Prime Minister", the joint leader of the country's biggest trade union will say.

Derek Simpson of Unite will tell a conference he believed there would be no stimulus for the economy if the Conservatives were in power.

He will tell a meeting in Harrogate of community health workers: "There would be cuts in public spending, public servants would lose their jobs and vulnerable families would lose the support they desperately need.

"The current generation of parents are Thatcher's children. They had badly funded schools and a social services network bled dry by Tory cost cutting. Among this generation is an army of the poorly educated and economically deprived.

"All that stands between them and disaster is the support of social and health services."

Mr Simpson will pledge to urge the Prime Minister to increase training places for community health workers as a recession begins to bite, adding: "I have feeling that Gordon's ready to listen.

"Throughout the recession your client list will grow and you need support, support which the Conservatives have dismissed out of hand."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

A 56-year-old man was arrested after the body of a baby girl was found at a house, police said.

Officers attended an address in Warrington, Cheshire, following the hospital admission of a woman who complained of abdominal pains and blood loss.

It is understood she had recently given birth.

The man was later bailed pending further inquiries, police said.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "At 3pm on Tuesday a 35-year-old woman was admitted to Warrington General Hospital suffering from abdominal pains and significant blood loss.

"Initial medical assessment indicated she may recently have given birth.

"Cheshire Police were notified and inquiries took them to an address in Warrington where the body of a baby girl was discovered.

"A 56-year-old man from Warrington was arrested in connection with this matter and has been bailed pending further medical and police inquiries."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Lloyds TSB shareholders overwhelmingly backed the bank's rescue takeover of ailing rival Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS).

They voted 96% in favour of the controversial deal at the Lloyds TSB Group general meeting in Glasgow. They also backed plans to raise a total of £5.5 billion through the issue of new shares and special preference shares to strengthen Lloyds' balance sheet.

Both Lloyds and HBOS - whose shareholders will vote on the proposed merger next month - said the vote was a "milestone" for the deal.

But concerns over thousands of possible job cuts if the takeover goes ahead led to a protest by unions outside the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and some shareholders' voicing their opposition.

Competition rules have been waived to allow the merger, which is expected to be completed by January 2009. If it gets the go-ahead, it will create a banking giant with around 145,000 staff and 3,000 branches across the UK.

The majority of the 372 shareholders at the meeting cast their vote electronically, while the remainder cast a paper vote. These were added to the thousands of those who cast their vote by proxy.

Speaking after the vote, Lloyds TSB chairman Sir Victor Blank said it was an "important milestone".

"This is overwhelming endorsement for the logic of this transaction," he added.

An HBOS spokesman said: "We welcome today's overwhelming vote by Lloyds TSB shareholders in favour of the acquisition. The vote represents another very important milestone for the deal."

During the meeting, which lasted just under three hours, Sir Victor told shareholders: "We do appreciate that many of our employees may feel apprehensive at this time but, in creating what we believe will be the UK's leading financial services company, we believe the combination will generally provide enhanced opportunities for those who work in our group."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The family of two boys killed by ex-Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick in a crash on the M6 said measures to crack down on speeding motorists and drink-and-drug drivers were too little, too late.

Phil and Amanda Peak lost their sons Arron, 10, and Ben, eight, after McCormick's Range Rover hit their people carrier on the motorway near Stoke-on-Trent in June. McCormick is serving a seven-year sentence after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving.

Mrs Peak questioned why the Government had not brought in a lower drink-drive level earlier, while Mr Peak said motorists who exceed the speed limit by large amounts should be banned straight away. Mrs Peak also urged the UK to come into line with countries such as Sweden and Poland, which have an extremely low legal blood-alcohol limit.

The British Medical Association (BMA) backed the call, saying a lower legal blood alcohol limit was needed to cut road deaths. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA's head of science and ethics, said: "The science is clear: a 50mg limit would lower the number of road crashes, deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

"The introduction of the current limit, backed up by police enforcement and a hard-hitting media campaign, led to a dramatic fall in the number of deaths on the road, but the position has been stagnant since 1993. We need a new impetus, with a lower limit, to reduce the 2,946 deaths and around 30,000 injuries that occurred on Britain's roads last year."

The BMA would continue to lobby the Government to lower the limit, she added.

The Government proposals were announced by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. Ministers are to provide £2 million to fund the introduction of digital breath-testing equipment to free up police resources, as well as helping forces to introduce targeted drink-drive checkpoints to strengthen deterrence.

The Government will also consult on the question of reducing the legal alcohol limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Mr Fitzpatrick said there would be a "very serious discussion" about whether to lower the limit during the consultation on the new proposals.

He also said the Government was planning to remove an outdated option for drivers caught moderately above the drink-drive limit to request a second test by a doctor and potentially fall back under the limit while waiting for them to arrive.

Other proposals made include the possible creation of a new offence to bring drug-driving more into line with drink-driving, which would make it illegal to drive after taking a drug "which is both illegal and impairing". The Government is also proposing to introduce a higher tariff of six penalty points on a licence for drivers who exceed the speed limit by a dangerous and very large margin - for example by more than 20mph. This would mean motorists could lose their licence for two serious speeding offences.

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

The Government has refused to release a detailed report into the mistakes made by authorities in the Baby P case.

A serious case review was carried out after the little boy died in a blood-splattered cot in Haringey, north London, in August last year.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, her boyfriend and a lodger despite repeated visits by the authorities.

A 15-page summary of the serious case review was published at the end of an Old Bailey trial last week.

But the Information Commissioner has ruled that the full report cannot be made available to opposition MPs because of the risk of identifying the professionals involved, the House of Commons has heard.

There are fears that releasing reports might lead to professionals who make mistakes in child welfare refusing to co-operate with serious case reviews, MPs were told.

Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove acknowledged that Children's Secretary Ed Balls had his hands tied and called for a change to the law.

He asked Mr Balls: "Does he not agree with me that it is quite wrong to put the interests of a bureaucracy which has failed ahead of proper scrutiny?"

The Children's Secretary replied: "I endeavoured to see yesterday whether I was able to release the full confidential serious case review to Parliamentarians.

"But the clear professional advice to me was that would be the wrong thing to do, both given the ruling of the Information Commissioner but also the importance of making sure that in future serious case reviews are done properly."

-Nova

[JohnCenaFan28]

Top UK firms joined the growing list of companies cutting jobs as hundreds of losses were announced and fears were expressed of further redundancies.

Almost 600 cuts were announced in the defence, aerospace and drug industries, some as part of wider global job losses running into thousands.

Aerospace giant Rolls-Royce, defence firm BAE Systems and Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca were the latest firms to unveil job cuts, with union leaders fearing fresh waves of redundancies. Meanwhile an historic paper mill in Dartford, Kent could shut with the loss of 127 jobs.

Rolls-Royce said it would axe up to 2,000 jobs worldwide, including 140 in the UK, after reviewing the impact of the current economic "uncertainties". Consultations started with unions about the proposed job losses at the assembly and test facility in Derby, part of the group's civil aerospace business.

Rolls-Royce, which employs 39,000 workers globally, 60% of whom are based in the UK, said the announcement was the first stage in a more general programme aimed at matching the group's capacity more closely with the expected load in its facilities.

Unite national officer Bernie Hamilton said the news was "bitterly disappointing", adding: "Rolls-Royce must take a measured approach to this temporary downturn in the airline industry. In the past the company has cut too many jobs and Rolls-Royce struggled to meet the upturn in the market. If there are to be redundancies in the UK, they must be voluntary. Unite will not accept any compulsory redundancies."

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca said it planned to cut 1,400 jobs and close three plants in Europe as part of a programme to improve efficiency, hitting 250 jobs at its Macclesfield site.

"These moves are a continuation of AstraZeneca's programme to improve the organisation's productivity and efficiency," said executive vice president David Smith. "I realise these changes are difficult for our affected employees, with whom we will be consulting in the coming months. We believe these changes are necessary for the long-term strength of the business."

BAE Systems announced the loss of up to 200 jobs in its land systems business in the UK, hitting factories in Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester, Barrow and Telford. The firm blamed the cuts on a decline in workload on the UK Ministry of Defence's Armoured Fighting Vehicle programmes.

Bosses at ArjoWiggins began a three-month consultation with workers to discuss the closure of Dartford Paper Mill in Kent. The company said plans to restructure its manufacturing, concentrating operations in Belgium, was necessary due to declining market conditions in Europe.

-Nova