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Plane Crash: Rail Chaos Feared

Police have confirmed two deaths, including that of 59-year-old pilot Alan Matthews, and are expected to announce a third today.

The Piper Cherokee aircraft crashed in Little Haywood in Staffordshire just before midday on Friday, hitting overhead power lines.

The West Coast Mainline remains severely restricted as all rail services between Rugby and Stafford are suspended.

Police said the railway is unlikely to be fully repaired this weekend, as commuters fear that Monday rush hour may be affected.

Residents in Little Haywood described seeing the small white plane plough into the ground at a fork between two major railway lines.

Local resident Derek Higgott, 49, who lives in nearby Back Lane, said it plummeted to the ground "like a stunt plane".

He said: "I was working in my garden. We've got a raised gazebo so I was up on the steps.

"I heard the plane, I looked up, and suddenly it just turned and went straight down like a stunt plane.

"There was a huge thud and black smoke. You could feel the vibration from it and a huge flock of birds all took off."

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene but there were unable to help the victims.

-Yahoo.

Murder probe after two die in fire

Two other occupants of the terraced house in Albert Road, Sheffield, are in a serious condition following the fire which was discovered at about 8pm on Friday.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said one person was arrested and was assisting with inquiries.

She said when fire crews arrived, the mid-terraced home was well ablaze.

Two people were confirmed dead at the scene and the two others were taken to hospital.

She said: "Details of the people involved will not be released until the next of kin have been advised."

Albert Road was closed to allow investigations to be carried out and drivers were warned of "substantial" delays as a result.

-Yahoo.

'Live longer' campaign launched

The new Change4Life initiative - involving companies such as Coca-Cola, Mars and Nestle - starts with television adverts appearing on the nation's screens.

The idea is to "kickstart a lifestyle revolution for every family" by promoting healthy eating and exercise, according to the Department of Health.

Writing for the Sun, Mr Johnson said: "In these tough economic times, families are being confronted every week with lots of difficult challenges.

"For many, eating healthily might rank fairly low on the list of priorities right now. But one of the biggest problems we face as a society - and one with the potential to cause enormous long-term harm - is obesity."

He warns that if the problem is not tackled now then by 2050 two-thirds of men and half of all women in Britain could be clinically obese, at a cost to the NHS of £50 billion.

He continued: "Our aim with this campaign could not be more ambitious - it's to make sure our children live longer, healthier lives. Let's not leave the next generation with a reduced life expectancy, along with a massive health bill that will only get bigger if we do nothing."

Firms including Cadbury, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Kraft, Mars, Nestle and PepsiCo are all taking part alongside major supermarkets Asda, Tesco and The Co-operative Group.

People can call a dedicated helpline and speak to specially-trained advisers for advice on exercise, nutrition and support services.

A website has also been set up to bring together more than 45,000 groups and projects aimed at promoting healthy living.

-Yahoo.

Indian PM asks Pakistan to hand over terror suspects

War is no solution to solve the problems and we want better sense to prevail on Pakistan," Singh told reporters in the northeastern town of Shillong.

Pakistan should hand over "criminals" responsible for the deadly assault in which 172 people, including nine gunmen, were killed in November.

"The (Indian) government will go to any extent to root out terrorism from the country," Singh said.

The premier also called upon the new government in neighbouring Bangladesh to cooperate in cracking down on anti-India militants based on its soil.

Former Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who won the country's new election last week in a landslide, has already said she will not allow her country to be used as a base for militants.

"I hope the new prime minister-elect Sheikh Hasina would take appropriate measures not to allow their territory to be used by militants," Singh said.

"The porous border that India shares with Bangladesh is a matter of concern for us as infiltration and cross-border terrorism does take place."

India says militants in its restive northeastern states are supported by militants from Bangladesh.

This week, six people were killed and another 50 injured in three bomb explosions in northeastern Assam state.

-Yahoo.

Record US deaths in Afghanistan in 2008, lowest in Iraq

According to a tally by the independent website icasualties.org, 314 US troops died in Iraq in 2008, down by nearly two thirds from the 904 US military deaths the previous year, the deadliest since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Some 4,221 American soldiers have died in the war that has cost the US hundreds of billions of dollars.

But in Afghanistan, trends reversed, with 155 US troops killed there in 2008, up from 117 US soldier deaths in 2007. The war launched by the US in 2001 to root out the Taliban has made 630 US troop deaths.

With Washington poised to nearly double its presence in the impoverished country by sending up to 30,000 troop reinforcements, US soldier deaths could continue to trend upward there, top US military officials tacitly acknowledged.

Some 70,000 foreign troops are already deployed in Afghanistan under US or NATO auspices. Non-US troop deaths were at 138 in 2008, up from 115 the previous year. A few more of the nearly 40 nations with troops in the country are also expected to increase their deployments.

The pledges of fresh deployments come after a difficult year which has seen the deadliest bomb attacks to hit Afghanistan since the start of the war.

The number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) doubled in 2008 to roughly 2,000, the US embassy in Kabul indicated. The roadside bombs are the number one killer of US troops in Afghanistan, the US military has said.

Troop increases in Afghanistan are made possible by troops standing down in Iraq, which has seen an improved security situation.

Iraqi deaths also plunged, with some 6,772 Iraqis killed in 2008, down from 17,430 in 2007, according to a tally compiled by AFP. Best estimates for total Iraqi deaths since the war began hover around a low of 90,000.

Iraq's drop in violence comes after the US troop "surge" in 2007 that saw thousands of troops deployed as the country teetered on the edge of civil war.

Much of Iraq's security developments have been credited to the recruitment of Sunni tribesmen and former rebels by the US military to fight against al-Qaeda. The Mahdi Army, the powerful Shiite militia of Moqtada al-Sadr, also agreed to a ceasefire, helping to reduce violence by Shiite extremists.

Iraq began 2009 with an end to the UN mandate on foreign troop presence, gaining formal control of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone -- where most US and Iraqi officials live and work -- and of the southern Basra airport. US troops will continue to play an advisory role to the Iraqi military.

The United States is to pull its forces out of Iraqi cities by June 2009 and end its military presence by the end of 2011 under a deal between Baghdad and Washington that grants Iraqi authorities more control over security operations.

The US military has also handed back to the Iraqis control of part of its airspace and Baghdad airport. The US must now obtain Iraqi permission for all military operations and hand over the files of all detainees in US custody to the Iraqi justice system.

But as part of political bargaining leading up to the vote, the Baghdad government agreed to demands by Sunni parties to hold a referendum on the accord no later than July 30. Should the Iraqi government decide to cancel the accord after the referendum it would have to give Washington one year's notice to leave the country.

The move injects a fresh element of uncertainty on the future of US troops in Iraq just as president-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office in less than three weeks on January 20.

-Yahoo.

Week Two of Israeli blitz on Gaza with no end in sight

Concern rose over the humanitarian situation in one of the world's most densely populated and impoverished places where the vast majority of the population depends on foreign aid.

With international efforts to reach a ceasefire stalled, anger in the Muslim world has spiralled and protests against one of Israel's deadliest ever assaults on Gaza have mushroomed around the globe.

The United States gave its close ally free rein to press ahead with a threatened ground offensive into Gaza , saying the key to a truce was Israel's demand that Hamas permanently stop firing rockets.

"I think any steps they are taking, whether it's from the air or on the ground or anything of that nature, are part and parcel of the same operation," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

"Those will be decisions made by the Israelis."

Hamas's Syria-based chief Khaled Meshaal told Israel that "if you commit the stupidity of launching a ground offensive then a black destiny awaits you.

"You will soon find out that Gaza is the wrath of God," he said in pre-taped remarks broadcast on Al-Jazeera television late on Friday.

President George W. Bush, meanwhile, urged all able parties to press Hamas to stop firing at Israel to facilitate a lasting ceasefire.

"The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected," Bush said in his weekly Saturday radio address, the text of which was released late on Friday.

"I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace."

Bush blamed Hamas for the latest violence and rejected a unilateral ceasefire that would allow the Islamists to continue targeting Israel with rocket and mortar fire.

On the ground, Israeli tanks and troops stood ready along the 60-kilometre (37-mile) border with Gaza, waiting for the green light from the government to advance.

Since unleashing "Operation Cast Lead" in retaliation for consistent rocket fire from Gaza on December 27, at least 436 Palestinians have been killed and 2,290 wounded in some 750 strikes carried out by air and sea, Israeli officials said.

At least 75 of those killed have been children, according to emergency services inside Gaza.

The strikes have demolished Hamas government buildings, the homes of senior Islamist officials, mosques alleged to have stored weapons, roads and tunnels used to smuggle arms and supplies into the territory that Israel has virtually kept sealed since Hamas seized power there in June 2007.

But the offensive has failed to halt rocket fire from the territory, with militants firing some 500 rocke ts and mortar rounds at Israel over the past week, killing four people and wounding several dozen others.

In the latest 25 raids carried out overnight and early on Saturday, missiles demolished a school in northern Gaza, killing a guard in a strike the army said targeted "a college used as a base for firing a large number of rockets."

Missiles also slammed into Gaza City port and a strike killed Mohammad al-Jammal, 40, who sources in Gaza said was a local commander of Hamas's armed wing.

The Israeli military said Jammal was responsible "for the entire rocket launching enterprise in all of Gaza City."

Militants responded overnight with seven rockets and mortar rounds without causing any casualties, the army said.

The Israeli bombardment has demolished dozens of houses as it destroyed Hamas infrastructure amid heightened concern over the humanitarian situation in besieged Gaza, where most of the 1.5 million residents depend on foreign aid.

"By any definition this is a humanitarian crisis and more," said Maxwell Gaylard, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile French President Nicolas Sarkozy was due to arrive in Israel on Monday for ceasefire talks, a day after the arrival of foreign ministers from current European Union president the Czech Republic, Sweden and France.

-Yahoo.

Three people are now believed to have died when a light aircraft crashed into overhead power lines on the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire.

The plane came down near the village of Little Haywood, causing disruption for thousands of rail passengers.

The aircraft was registered to the pilot of the plane, Alan Matthews, 59, from Walsall, who died in the crash.

The line is expected to be closed until Monday, affecting travel between London Euston, the North West and Scotland.

The remains of the aircraft will be removed from the scene on Saturday as investigations into the cause of the crash continue, British Transport Police said.

Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been examining the scene.

Trains delayed

Mr Matthews' wife Jenny confirmed the 59-year-old was piloting the light aircraft that crashed shortly before 1200 GMT on Friday.

Mr Matthews is registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club, near Lichfield in Staffordshire.
His wife said he had 19 years flying experience and it was thought he had arranged to go flying with a work colleague and possibly another person.

Police said that two people died in the crash but they believed a third person had also been on board. British Transport Police said a pathologist was expected to confirm this on Saturday.

Local resident Derek Higgott, who lives close to the crash scene, said: "I heard the plane, I looked up, and suddenly it just turned and went straight down like a stunt plane.

"There was a huge thud and black smoke. You could feel the vibration from it and a huge flock of birds all took off."
Police said it was expected post-mortem examinations would be carried out on Sunday.

All rail services on the West Coast Mainline between Rugby and Stafford remained suspended.

A Network Rail spokesman said engineers had been unable to get onto the site because of the investigation, but were hoping to start work on Saturday afternoon.

"It's probably about a day's work and we hope to finish by Sunday evening. It should be clear for Monday morning commuters," he said.

There will be a reduced service and delays of up to 60 minutes on Virgin Trains services between London and north-west England which are being diverted via Coventry and will not call at stations between Nuneaton and Stafford.

On local services run by London Midland there is a replacement bus service calling at stations between Stafford and Rugby, with up to an extra hour added to journey times.

BBC

The funerals of two of the three teenage boys killed in a car crash near Nenagh, Co Tipperary on New Year's Eve have taken place.

The funeral of the third teenager killed in the crash, 16-year-old Paraic Bourke, will take place later this afternoon.

The three teenagers were killed when the car in which they were travelling left the road and hit a tree at Kilboy on the Nenagh to Dolla road.
14-year-old Stuart Donnellan's funeral took place at St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh this morning.

300 mourners attending the mass heard that Stuart was a good friend who was greatly loved by all who knew him.

The mourners heard how Stuart was easygoing and fun to be with and a great fan of Liverpool Football Club.

Fr Anthony McMahon said the events of the last few days had shocked everyone in Nenagh and neighbouring parishes. He said it was every parent's worst nightmare when the knock came at the door.

The private funeral of 17-year-old Adrian O'Brien took place at Youghlara Church in Newtown.

A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl injured in the accident are said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

RTE

Gardaí in Dublin are appealing for information in connection with the death of a 27-year-old man who drowned in the River Liffey on Monday.

The man went into the water near Aston Quay at around 2am.

Gardaí are keen to speak to several people who were standing at the taxi rank on Aston Quay at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí.

RTE

Cardinal Sean Brady has made his first public comments on the handling of child sex abuse allegations by the Diocese of Cloyne.

In a statement yesterday, Cardinal Brady acknowledged 'the extent to which people feel let down, angry and bewildered by recent events.' (Read the full statement)

He was responding to a report published last month by the Catholic Church's child protection body, the National Board for Safeguarding Children, which found that practices in the Cloyne diocese were 'inadequate and in some respects dangerous'.
The report found that church authorities in the Diocese of Cloyne broke their own rules on reporting allegations.

A schoolgirl's allegation, as well as four similar allegations, was not reported by the diocese to the gardaí.

In his statement Cardinal Brady says the findings have 'brought further anxiety to victims of abuse'.

Cardinal Brady says the Board would seek a written commitment from church leaders that they would implement fully, existing statutory guidelines on the issue.

He also says that he had suggested that it might also consider reviewing current practice in every Diocese.

Cardinal Brady said the Board should prioritise the publication of its first annual report.

'This will provide the first public overview and assessment of the standard of implementation of statutory guidelines on reporting and on a one-Church policy throughout the Church in Ireland,' he said.

Victims' support organisation One in Four, which gives support to victims of sexual abuse, said it welcomed the statement by Cardinal Brady, but said his response was 'too little too late'.

The group continued its call for the resignation of the Bishop of Cloyne.

RTE