Abu Qatada To Finally Be Deported To Jordan

Timeline: Qatada Legal Battle

Updated: 6:39am UK, Saturday 06 July 2013

Abu Qatada has challenged and ultimately thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him for many years.

Here is a timeline of the legal battle.

1993: Abu Qatada claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994: Allowed to stay in Britain.

1995: Issues a "fatwa" justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998: Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999: April - Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October - Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

2001: February - Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him with £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya".

December - Becomes one of Britain's most wanted men after going on the run from his home in west London.

2002: Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

2005: Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order but arrested again in August under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

2008: April: Court of Appeal rules deportation would breach his human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan might have been obtained through torture.

May - Granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June - Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom house in west London.

November - He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December - Qatada's bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009: Five Law Lords unanimously back the Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments and it is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

He is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

2012: January - European judges rule he can be sent to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but not while "there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him".

February - He is released on strict bail conditions.

April - Rearrested as the Government prepares to deport him after Jordan gives assurances it will "bend over backwards" to ensure he receives a fair trial.

March - Qatada's legal team loses its bid to have the case heard by the Europe's human rights judges, clearing the way for deportation proceedings to continue.

May and August - Siac rejects Qatada's applications for bail.

October - Siac holds appeal hearing.

November - His appeal is granted and he is granted bail.

December - Qatada is moved to a larger residence in the greater London area.

2013:

March 9 - It emerges Qatada has been arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He is ordered to stay in custody and sent to Belmarsh.

March 21 - Police reveal the cleric is being investigated over extremist material.

March 27 - Home Secretary Theresa May loses her appeal over Siac's decision to allow Qatada to stay in the UK. The Home Office vows to appeal.

April 17 - The Home Office formally announces that it is seeking leave from the Court of Appeal to take the case to the Supreme Court.

April 22 - The Court of Appeal refuses permission to go to the Supreme Court, forcing the Home Office to appeal directly to the highest court in the land.

April 23 - Theresa May tells MPs she has signed a new treaty with Jordan that should pave the way to deportation, but warns it might take "many months".

May 10 - Qatada's barrister says he will go back to Jordan voluntarily if the treaty on the use of evidence obtained by torture, guaranteeing he will not be tortured, is ratified by the Jordanian parliament.

May 20 - Qatada is refused bail by the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission after "jihadist material" is found on a computer memory stick.

July 2 - The new treaty between Jordan and Britain is fully ratified, sparking claims Qatada could be on a plane within days.

July 3 - A Jordanian government official tells AFP the cleric is due back on Sunday.

July 7 - Due to be flown from RAF Northholt to Jordan

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Father In Court Over Daughter's Murder

The father of an 11-year-old girl found strangled at her home has appeared in court charged with her murder.

Rebecca Thompson was discovered at the house in Holmefield Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, on Saturday, June 22.

Her father Simon Thompson, 52, was taken to hospital after being involved in a car crash in the early hours of the same day.

He has now appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Rebecca's headteacher paid tribute to the schoolgirl.

In a statement, Rita Cooper, head of Sacred Heart Primary School, said: "It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Rebecca who was in Year Six at Sacred Heart.

"Rebecca was a lovely girl who was hard-working and did well in her learning. She was looking forward to secondary school.

"The whole school is very distressed by this tragedy and our thoughts are with her family and friends."

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Met Approved Stephen Lawrence Friend Bugging

The man who was in charge of the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence authorised a secret recording of a meeting between the teenager's close friend, his lawyers and police detectives, it has been revealed.

Scotland Yard said Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve, who headed up the Met's racial and violent crimes task force, gave permission for at least one meeting between Duwayne Brooks and investigating officers to be recorded - without Mr Brooks' knowledge or permission.

John Grieve says the bugging was necessary to catch Stephen's killers

Eighteen-year-old Stephen was waiting for a bus with Mr Brooks when he was murdered by racists in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Fiona Taylor, who is in charge of the Directorate of Professional Standards, has written to Mr Brooks' solicitor Jane Deighton saying documentation authorising the recording of the meeting in May 2000 has been discovered.

The actual recording has not yet been found and is still being searched for.

Ms Taylor was asked to urgently assess what happened after it emerged at the end of June that the police had allegedly launched some sort of smear campaign against Stephen's parents, Doreen and Neville.

Following those shock revelations it was claimed that the police had made secret recordings of interviews between Mr Brooks, his lawyer and detectives.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation into those allegations last week. Nothing illegal has been uncovered so far.

Mr Grieve, who is now retired, has defended authorising the covert recording of the interviews at the offices of Ms Deighton, insisting it was done in order to protect the integrity of the evidence and make sure he was doing everything he could to find Stephen's killers.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack

Acting within the parameters of the law, he claims that if he had offered Mr Brooks and his legal team the option of recording the interview and keeping it, there would have been objections and the interview would have been quite different. His request to conduct the secret recording was approved by Scotland Yard.

But Mr Grieve has apologised for any "discomfort or dismay" the actions might have caused Mr Brooks and the Lawrence family.

In a statement, Ms Deighton said Mr Brooks was "going to take some time to absorb the enormity of the admission that the former DAC Grieve deliberately deceived him in the guise of providing him with victim support".

Former undercover officer Peter Francis, who worked with Scotland Yard's former Special Demonstration Squad, last month alleged that he had been told to find information to use to smear the Lawrence family, and spoke out about tactics that he said were used by the secretive unit in the 1980s and 1990s.

In the wake of his claims, Mr and Mrs Lawrence called for a public inquiry into the allegations, which the teenager's mother said made her feel "sick to the stomach".

Shadow minister for policing David Hanson said Mr Grieve's admission over the secret recordings "mean an independent inquiry is all the more needed".  

"These differing accounts of secret recordings and the activities of some police officers surrounding the Lawrence case and Macpherson inquiry (the 1998 public inquiry into Stephen's death) make it more vital we get full disclosure," he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he remains open to further probes into the allegations but has so far resisted calls for another full public inquiry.

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Ceremony To Remember Piper Alpha Disaster

The 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster, which claimed the lives of 167 people, has been remembered at a ceremony in Scotland.

The North Sea platform was engulfed in a ball of flames after a gas leak ignited on July 6, 1988.

Hundreds of people have attended a commemoration service in Aberdeen in memory of those who died.

They were joined by politicians, senior figures from the UK oil and gas industry and representatives from the Pound for Piper Trust.

The service, at the North Sea Memorial in Aberdeen's Hazlehead Park, began with the fly-past of a Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth.

The Piper Alpha oil platform on fire in the North Sea in 1988

It was the first aircraft to arrive at the scene of the disaster.

A roll call of those who perished in the disaster was also read out by the Reverend Gordon Craig, chaplain to the UK oil and gas industry, and representatives of the offshore workforce.

A lament played by a lone piper marked the start of a minute's silence for people to pay their respects to the men who lost their lives and all those who have been affected by the tragedy.

Floral tributes were also laid at the garden's central memorial statue, industry officials confirmed.

Speaking ahead of the service, Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said: "Today we remember those who lost their lives on Piper Alpha 25 years ago and we stand with their loved ones who still live with the events of that night.

"What happened on Piper Alpha on 6th July 1988 left an indelible mark on Aberdeen, but this is an important day of remembrance and reflection for all of Scotland and for many communities in other parts of the UK, where families still mourn fathers, sons and brothers who went to work in the North Sea and did not return.

"One hundred and sixty seven people lost their lives as a result of the explosions on board the platform. It is one of the worst accidents of its kind in recent memory."

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Weather: Britain Sizzles As Temperatures Soar

Britain is basking in some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far this weekend as summer finally arrives across the country.

Sun worshippers were set to enjoy highs of up to 28C (82F) to 29C (84F) on Saturday in London, with temperatures soaring to 30C (86F) in parts of southern England on Sunday, while most of the UK will feel the heat in the mid to high 20s.

Crowds gathering in Hyde Park to watch The Rolling Stones later can expect to swelter in the sunshine, and Britain's Andy Murray will feel the glare of more than just the eyes of the Wimbledon faithful tomorrow.

The weather is much hotter than usual for the time of year - the average maximum temperature for July in England is 20.9C (69.5F).

Many parts of the country can expect to enjoy temperatures on par with popular Spanish holiday resorts.

Sunb lovers flock to Fistral Beach in Newquay

On Saturday the soaring temperatures sparked a run on the staples of a British summer, with retailers reporting a spike in sales of disposable barbecues, fresh meat and strawberries.

Waitrose said its burger sales are up nearly 90% this week, with sales of sausages and their vegetarian equivalents also surging. 

"The 'Pimmsometer', our internal barometer of good weather, is starting to move up a gear with sales up by 90%," a supermarket spokesman added.

Tesco meanwhile expects to sell 1.5 million cucumbers, 250,000 disposable barbecues and a million tubs of ice cream over the weekend.

And the heat wave gripping Britain this July shows no signs of letting up, according to Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar, with the good weather expected to last throughout next week and beyond.

The Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, central London

It means the UK is on course to enjoy its longest spell of hot weather since 2006, when temperatures were above 28C in many areas for around a fortnight.

She said: "Finally it seems the summer weather has arrived and is set to stick around for a while.

"This weekend the mercury could rise up to 30C (86F) in the south-east of England, elsewhere will be very warm as well with temperatures into the mid to high 20s.

"This time of the year the average maximum temperature in England is 20.9C so most areas will be above that.

"However, not everywhere will bask in the sunshine. Most of Scotland and Ireland will have cloudier skies with rain across the far north-west on Saturday, slowly spreading south and eastwards bringing a few showers to northern England by Sunday.

The sun rises over a ship off the coast near Tynemouth, in the North East

"Although the north-west of the UK and Ireland will be mostly cloudy, there will be some sunny spells at times and in the sunshine it will still feel quite warm."

"Coastal areas will be another exception to the sunshine and warmth. Throughout the weekend and into next week it will feel cooler around the coasts with onshore breezes. Mist or low cloud may plague some coasts too.

"Although most people will enjoy this sunny period, for some it will be too hot, especially across the south this weekend. UV levels will be very high on Sunday and Monday as will pollen levels for the next few days."

More recently, temperatures peaked at 30.7C (87F) between July 23 and 26, last year.

The previous highest temperature of 2013 so far has been 27C (80F) on June 30, but recent years have seen Britons endure wet and overcast summers.

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Fugitive Murder Suspect 'Using Canal Paths'

Detectives hunting a man suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriend believe he may be using canal pathways to avoid arrest.

Michael Cope, 28, is wanted by police over the "sustained and vicious" killing of mother-of-two Linzi Ashton, 25, whose body was found at her home in Winton, Salford, on Saturday.

Police say Cope has "good knowledge" of the pathways around the Bridgewater Canal between Winton and Leigh after he was last spotted at The Moorings in Worsley at about 9am on Saturday.

More than 30 addresses in the area have been searched as part of the investigation with three arrests made so far.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: "It is vital we find and speak to Michael Cope to assist our investigation into the brutal murder of Linzi Ashton.

"Understandably, her family are absolutely shattered by what has happened to her, and we are committed to giving them the answers that they need.

"We have made it abundantly clear that Cope needs to be found and we suspect that he may well become more and more desperate as the manhunt continues.

"He therefore could be sleeping rough. We urge people to call the police if they notice any suspicious behaviour around their outbuildings, sheds or gardens."

On Tuesday, police released CCTV footage of Cope buying snacks hours before the young mother was murdered.

A Home Office post-mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

Cope was in a brief "acrimonious" relationship with Miss Ashton, who worked at the Duke of York pub in nearby Eccles.

Police had been seeking to arrest Cope since the end of April when Miss Ashton made a complaint of rape against him.

Her body was discovered by a relative at her home in Westbourne Road shortly before 6pm on Saturday. Her two daughters, Daisy, two, and Destiny, seven, were not at the address at the time.

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Nightingale: Police Interview Played In Court

By David Bowden, Defence Correspondent

Former SAS sniper Danny Nightingale has admitted to police that he had an illegal pistol and ammunition at the house he shared with another Special Forces soldier.

The admission came in a police interview played to the court martial trying Nightingale for illegal possession of the gun and ammunition.

Nightingale denies the charges.

The court in Bulford, Wiltshire, has already heard that the defence will claim the pistol and bullets belonged to Nightingale's house mate and not to him.

In the interview with West Mercia Police in September 2011, Nightingale was asked to explain the presence of the pistol and ammunition in his bedroom.

Nightingale told police that he had received the Glock pistol in Baghdad towards the end of his tour in Iraq in November 2007.

The ammunition allegedly stored under Danny Nightingale's bed

"It was given to me by the guys I was training out there, indigenous forces. They knew I liked the weapon ... A keepsake," he said.

In the video played to the court, he says he brought it back intending to get it decommissioned and handed over to his unit as a trophy - but he never got around to it.

"I understand I should have got it decommissioned there and then ... Hindsight's a wonderful thing."

"I apologise profusely for that," he added, describing himself as "naive".

He said the ammunition was in the house because he had just moved out of the sergeants' mess on the base nearby. He said he should have handed it in but had not because he was busy preparing to be deployed to Afghanistan.

He says the ammunition was left over after training sessions on the SAS firing range, and told the police he left it in boxes intending to deal with it when he came back from his operational tour.

Nightingale told the interviewers there was "no malice, no intent to being used, just my poor admin. I don't deny that, it's just a regret I have".

The interview then covers the layout of the shared house and the details of the more than 300 rounds of ammunition found there.

Nightingale is seen in the video to be looking at a picture of the Glock pistol which he says was kept in the top drawer of his wardrobe.

The Glock gun found at his house

He is asked if he ever fired it and replies: "I have stripped it, I've assembled it, but I haven't fired it."

Nightingale repeats his assertion that he intended to deal with the pistol and ammunition once he returned from his tour telling police: "It's been a busy tempo for the last few years."

The trial continues.

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Azelle Rodney 'Unlawfully Killed' By Police

An inquiry into the death of a man shot dead by police eight years ago has concluded that he was unlawfully killed.

Azelle Rodney, who was 24, died after the car he was in was stopped by armed officers in London.

An official report found the police marksman who shot Mr Rodney had no reason to believe he had picked up a weapon - so there was "no lawful justification" for killing him.

The officer who fired the fatal shots could now face criminal charges after the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Mr Rodney's mother Susan Alexander said the report backed her view that her son was "executed" and demanded an apology from Scotland Yard.

Former High Court judge Sir Christopher Holland released his findings following the public inquiry into the shooting in Edgware, north London in 2005.

The VW Golf in which the victim was travelling with two other men was stopped by officers who feared the trio were on their way to stage an armed heist on Colombian drug dealers and had an automatic weapon capable of firing 1,000 rounds per minute.

Mr Rodney's family and legal team spoke out after the report was published

Mr Rodney was shot six times, once each in the arm and back and four times in the head.

Sir Christopher's critical conclusions raise the possibility of the officer, known only as E7, facing criminal charges for the shooting.

He found that even if the armed officer believed Mr Rodney had picked up a weapon, it was disproportionate to fire the four fatal head shots.

E7 told the inquiry that he had seen Mr Rodney start moving around, reaching down and then coming back up with his shoulders hunched.

But Sir Christopher's report dismissed this account, which was also contradicted by eyewitnesses.

It said: "E7's accounts of what he saw are not to be accepted. Prior to firing he did not believe that the man who turned out to be Azelle Rodney had picked up a gun and was about to use it.

"Further, on the basis of what he was able to see, he could not rationally have believed that."

The officer has written to the inquiry to claim that the findings against him are " irrational".

Three guns were found in the Golf - a Colt .45 calibre pistol, a Baikal pistol and a smaller gun that looked like a key fob.

The Colt was not loaded, the Baikal was loaded but was not cocked and the safety catch was on, and the key fob gun was loaded, cocked and the safety catch was off.

During the 11-week public inquiry it emerged that E7 had previously shot two men dead during an incident in the 1980s, and injured another two.

Inquests into the men's deaths later found that they had been lawfully killed, and the officer received a commendation from the-then Metropolitan Police Commissioner for his conduct.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the Met "deeply regrets" the killing

The two injured men were later tried and jailed.

Sir Christopher found that Operation Tayport, which led to Mr Rodney's death, was not run in a way that would minimise the threat to life.

He also concluded that the "hard stop" on the Golf "fell short of the standards set by the MPS".

Drivers were not supposed to deliberately ram the suspect car but two of the police cars did.

The firearms officers were also supposed to be wearing police caps, but the two that could be seen in a video of the shooting were not.

Two officers also fired rounds into the tyres of the Golf after it had been rammed and hemmed in by unmarked police cars.

Sir Christopher has recommended that Scotland Yard now nominates a senior officer to carry out a review of the operation.

Speaking after the report was published, Mr Rodney's mother Susan Alexander said: "I do not seek to justify what Azelle was doing on the day he died, but he was entitled to be apprehended and, if there was evidence, to be charged and brought before a court of law to face trial before a jury.

"The fact that he was strongly suspected in being involved in crime does not justify him or anyone else being summarily killed."

She said she did not want any further delays in investigating what happened to her son, and asked for apologies from the police and watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "I have read the findings carefully and want to express my personal sympathy to Mr Rodney's family.

"The MPS deeply regrets his death, and I recognise how distressing the inquiry must have been for them."

He said the force accepts recommendations made by Sir Christopher about how officers are debriefed after firearms operations.

The CPS said in a statement: "Following the publication of the report into Mr Rodney's death, the IPCC has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions to ask that we review the case in light of new evidence provided to the Public Inquiry.

"This review will be completed as soon as practicable, in close liaison with the IPCC and in accordance with the Attorney General's undertaking to the inquiry."

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London Riots Looter Wins Deportation Fight

A foreigner who was jailed for looting a shop during the London riots will be allowed to stay in the UK, after a judge ruled deporting him would breach his human rights.

Derrick Kinsasi's lawyers successfully argued that removing him from the country would breach his "right to family life", even though he is not married and has no children.

The 21-year-old, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was convicted in October 2011 of burglary and theft after stealing electrical goods from a branch of Comet.

The Home Secretary decided that although he had some family ties in the UK, they did not constitute family life for the purposes of the Human Rights Act.

Kinsasi appealed to the lower immigration tribunal, which upheld Theresa May's decision to deport him. Judges said he was "minimising his abilities to speak Lingala", the language spoken in his home country.

He then launched another legal challenge in the upper immigration tribunal, telling the court: "I don't have anyone (in the DRC); there is no family to go back to. I have a good life here and it's a year until I go to university. I have my mum, three brothers and a little sister.

"Prison isn't the place for me ... I'm trying to keep my head down through education and get help to sort out my bad habit, so that when I get back out there, I know what to do to keep out of trouble."

Judge Nathan Goldstein overturned the previous ruling and allowed Kinsasi's appeal.

"I find that removing him to the DRC has echoes of exile rather than exclusion and it is unlikely to be proportionate," he said.

"The consequence of his removal to the DRC would amount to a splitting of the family unit."

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Dismembered Woman's Identity Known By Police

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Police have established the identity of a woman whose dismembered body was found buried in a shallow grave.

Her remains were found a month ago on Corstorphine Hill, which overlooks Edinburgh.

Detectives had made repeated appeals for help and issued a facial reconstruction image of the victim.

They now know who she is, but her name will not be released until next of kin have been informed.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie told Sky News: "Identifying the victim was the first priority of this murder investigation and I would like to thank the public and the media for their help in achieving that aim.

"While this is positive news, it also means that a loved one has been lost.

"We are progressing our inquiries into the circumstances of this woman's death and to finding those responsible for it."

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Stone 'Geordie God' Head Discovered By Student

A student has discovered a 1,800-year-old stone head of a "possible Geordie god", buried in an ancient rubbish dump.

The 20cm sandstone head, which dates from the 2nd or 3rd century AD, is thought to have been worshipped as a source of inspiration in war.

The find was made at Binchester Roman Fort, in County Durham, by first year archaeology student Alex Kirton as the team dug at an old bath house.

A similar head, complete with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus, was found at Benwell, in Newcastle, in 1862.

Mr Kirton, 19, from Hertfordshire, said: "As an archaeology student this is one of the best things and most exciting things that could have happened.

"It was an incredible thing to find in a lump of soil in the middle of nowhere - I've never found anything remotely exciting as this."

Dr David Petts, lecturer in Archaeology at Durham University, said: "We found the Binchester head close to where a small Roman altar was found two years ago.

The site where the discovery was made

"We think it may have been associated with a small shrine in the bath house and dumped after the building fell out of use, probably in the 4th century AD.

"It is probably the head of a Roman god - we can't be sure of his name, but it does have similarities to the head of Antenociticus found at Benwell in the 19th century.

"Antenociticus is one of a number of gods known only from the northern frontier, a region which seems to have had a number of its own deities.

"It's possibly a Geordie god, though it could have been worshipped at the other end of the wall."

The find was made as part of a five-year project at Binchester Roman Fort that is attempting to shed new light on the twilight years of the Roman Empire.

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Mum And Child Found Dead In Merthyr Tydfil

The deaths of a mother - who has been named locally - and child in a house in South Wales are being treated as "unexplained", according to police.

Officers found the bodies of Joanne Thomas, who was thought to be in her 20s and a baby after being called to the property in Church Street in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil, at around 4.20pm.

One neighbour told Sky News that social services had been knocking at Ms Thomas' door in the afternoon and called police when no one answered.

Locals said Ms Thomas, who had not been seen for several weeks, had been struggling with depression.

Yonni Bengorion, 45, who lived next door said: "She moved in here about three months ago and was very pleasant.

"Her baby was a beautiful girl. Joanne had problems with depression. The ambulance has been called out here a number of times with her being unconscious.

"I became concerned when I had not seen her for a few weeks and I noticed her washing was still on the line.

"I knocked the door a few times, but did not get an answer.

"I've later discovered that her door had been unlocked the whole time. This is such a tragedy."

Mr Bengorion said Ms Thomas had two older children who would sometimes stay with her at weekends.

He added: "Joanne told me she was happy to come live here because it was a fresh start for her. She told me she had been at a woman's refuge in the past."

The area has been cordoned off and house-to-house enquiries are under way.

Police have yet to confirm the age and identity of the two victims. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out over the next 24 hours to establish the cause of their deaths.

A police spokesman said: "The deaths are currently being treated as unexplained and an incident room has been set up at Cardiff Central Police Station."

Borough councillor Gareth Lewis said he found out about the deaths on Twitter and said it would be wrong to speculate on the nature of what had happened.

He said: "All we know is that a child and somebody else, perhaps a young adult, have lost their lives.

"It is a very close-knit community, the people are very nice and will help the police as much as possible with their inquiry.

"The information started to spread online, and it will have a big impact on this community and its people."

Troedyrhiw is part of an old coal mining area, which Mr Lewis described as a "typical, traditional Valleys community".

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley, of the South Wales Police specialist crime investigations team, added: "Troedyrhiw is a close-knit community in Merthyr Tydfil and local people are obviously shocked.

"We would like to hear from anyone who has seen or heard anything suspicious or unusual in Church Street in recent weeks. The information may seem insignificant but could be important to the investigation."

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Nightingale: Kept Ammo 'Out Of Laziness'

By David Bowden, Defence Correspondent

The former housemate of the SAS sniper Danny Nightingale has been giving evidence at his court martial.

The man, also an ex-Special Forces soldier, known only as N, described himself as Sergeant Nightingale's best friend and had known him for 12 or 13 years, before they were both selected for the SAS.

N pleaded guilty to four charges of illegal possession of weapons and ammunition at an earlier hearing and was sent to military prison.

He shared the house with Nightingale when it was searched by police in September 2011 and they discovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a number of firearms some of which the prosecution claim belonged to Sergeant Nightingale.

He denies charges of illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.

Soldier N described how he and Nightingale were serving together in Afghanistan when N was told their house was being searched by police.

N told the court martial that he admitted he had a gun and ammunition at the house and knew it was serious.

He said that Nightingale was elsewhere in Afghanistan, but was called to the main base.

N said he did not know why Danny Nightingale had been brought in.

"I said: 'Look mate, I don't know what's going on. I've admitted the items found in the house and I'm, for want of a better word buggered, I don't understand why you are here'."

He then told the Court Martial that Nightingale had replied: "I've got the same, mate."

N continued: "He mentioned a Glock pistol and I said 'No, no that's mine.' He said he had one too."

N said that he assumed that Danny had kept ammunition at the house because they were both firing range instructors and that he thought Danny would also assume he kept ammunition at their house, even though they knew it was against regulations.

N said their house was closer to the range than the SAS camp, so out of laziness they kept ammunition to use on the ranges.

He described Nightingale, who was his deputy for a while, as a very good soldier.

"Danny is a very diligent individual, a good soldier and as a 2IC (Second in Command) I couldn't ask for anything more."

N recounted the time he first saw Danny Nightingale after he suffered a brain injury following an endurance race in the Brazilian jungle.

N told the Court: "There was a marked change in him, he was a lot more agitated, hyper, using incorrect words for things."

Nightingale would say he was going to put the saucepan on instead of the kettle to make a drink.

"He'd lost a lot of weight, quite pale, he just didn't look well."

N told the hearing he had a call from Danny Nightingale when he (Nightingale) was in military detention asking him about when the two men moved in to their shared house.

Nightingale wanted to know whether N had helped him carry in his green boxes.

"He said it would help me greatly if you remembered helping me move the boxes."

N said he had not helped his best friend move the boxes in.

N was later asked whether when he shared accommodation with Nightingale he had ever interfered with his housemate's kit.

He replied: "His kit is his kit. As a soldier you don't go rummaging through your fellow soldier's kit. It's not the done thing."

The case is continuing.

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Madeleine McCann: New UK Police Investigation

By Michelle Clifford, Senior News Correspondent

Madeleine McCann's parents have welcomed the launch of a new UK police investigation into their daughter's disappearance.

A Met Police review has identified 38 "persons of interest" who detectives want to speak to in relation to the suspected abduction in 2007 - almost twice as many as previously thought.

Officers say they are moving from the case review to an "investigative stage of the inquiry" and now intend to pursue more information about those individuals - 12 of whom are UK nationals

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is heading up the inquiry, calls this "a critical moment" in the the search for Madeleine.

He said: "We have been in a unique position over the last two years in drawing together three strands - Portuguese, UK and private investigators' material.

"From that vast quantity of material analysed we have identified 38 persons of interest and 12 who are UK nationals, and it is from that position that we are able to move from review to investigation."

The Met intends to apply to issue formal requests to Portugal for evidence to be gathered and to allow a team of British officers to be present during the process.

The working relationship between UK and Portuguese police is now said to be "positive and focused" and in the absence of evidence to the contrary both countries are working on the assumption that Madeleine may still be alive.

Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry say they "warmly welcome" the new probe

DCI Redwood said: "There is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead.

"On that basis I genuinely believe there is a possibility she is still alive. And so I would like to ask the public to continue to look for her."

Madeleine was three when she vanished from her bedroom in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry dined with friends nearby.

The local police investigation was called off a year later, yielding few clues into her disappearance or whereabouts.

In 2011 the Met launched its review of the case and earlier this year it was reported that around 20 "persons of interest" had been identified.

The Home Office said in June that it was prepared to fund any continuing investigation.

Met Officers have made 16 visits to Portugal and officers have met and shared their findings with key members of both the Policia Judiciaria and the judicial authorities.

A spokesman for the McCanns said: "Kate and Gerry warmly welcome the shift in the Met's emphasis from review to investigation.

"It is clearly a big step forward in establishing what happened and, hopefully, towards bringing whoever is responsible for Madeleine's abduction to justice."

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Landlord Growth 'Blocking First-Time Buyers'

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business And Economics Correspondent

First-time buyers are being blocked from the property ladder as the number of wealthy landlords grows, a new report reveals.

The number of landlords as a proportion of the UK population has more than doubled over the past 20 years, according to new research by the Strategic Society Centre (SSC).

In addition, the higher financial status of landlords, versus that of renters or first-time buyers, is contributing to more expensive home prices, the study says.

Among landlords, the average financial wealth is £75,103. That is significantly higher than that same average cash measure among renters, which is just £9,506.

James Lloyd, director of the SSC, said: "The Government champions 'aspiration' and getting people on to the property ladder. But the last decade has seen the unending growth of the private rented sector, with more and more private tenants trapped renting seeing their dreams slip away.

"But building new homes will never be enough for the Government to help people's aspiration for home-ownership without new restrictions to ensure that new-build homes go to new homeowners."

The SSC has called on the Government to tip the balance back in favour of first-time buyers.

Adding to the picture of financial imbalance between private landlords and renters, the research found that proprietors also hold an average property wealth of £479,598.

There are now around 3.6 million households renting privately, up from two million in 2000, the latest government figures show.

Richard Lambert, chief executive officer at the National Landlords Association, said: "Many of those who once would have expected to become first-time buyers remain in the rented sector because they can't build up the deposit to secure a mortgage in the current restricted market.

"The subsequent increased demand for rented property means the private-rented sector has doubled in size in the past five years.

"More people are seeing the business opportunity in letting property, and many landlords already in the sector have expanded their portfolios.

"Demand is definitely there from tenants, landlords and would-be investors for future growth so the private rented sector is going to play an increasingly important role in meeting the need for housing in the future."

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Status Quo Debut Fiji-Based Action Movie

Status Quo stars Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi have shown off their big screen debut - an action film set in Fiji.

The band, famous for hits such as Rockin' All Over the World, star in Bula Quo! where they go on the run with their manager after accidentally getting on the wrong side of a shady gangster.

Rossi, 64, said he was surprised that the film had got a cinema release.

"Normally bands just make documentaries but it's a real movie and that's what it had to be for us. And it's in 200 cinemas, we thought it would go straight to DVD," he said.

However, it is thought some cinemas will only play the film for one night.

Parfitt and Rossi, original members of the Quo five-piece, previously tried acting during a cameo on Coronation Street in 2005 when the band performed at Les Battersby's wedding.

"If I'm honest with you, I thought we were appalling," admitted Parfitt.

Rossi in a scene from the Fiji-based adventure

"But the stunt co-ordinator said we'd like to do a movie with you and we were highly surprised and highly delighted. And especially the fact we've now pulled it off."

The band have also recorded nine new songs especially for the film, as well as a "Fiji Style" version of their track Living On An Island.

Status Quo have not forgotten their on-stage roots, and will be embarking on a Bula Quo! arena tour in December.

Bula Quo! takes its name from the Fijian islanders' traditional greeting.

The film, which is on general release on July 5, also stars Lemon La Vida Loca actress Laura Aikman, US comedian John Lovitz and ex-EastEnder Craig Fairbrass.

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Sex Offenders To Face Lie Detector Tests

Compulsory lie detector tests are set be introduced to monitor convicted sex offenders under a change to the law due to be approved later.

MPs will debate the relevant legislation in the House of Commons and are expected to approve routine use of polygraph screening for the most serious offenders across England and Wales from next year.

If convicted rapists or other dangerous sex attackers are found to have lied about crucial matters or breached the terms of their licence after being released from jail they could be sent back to prison.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright issued a statement saying: "Introducing lie detector tests, alongside the sex offenders register and close monitoring in the community, will give us one of the toughest approaches in the world to managing this group.

"We recently announced the creation of a new National Probation Service tasked with protecting the public from the most high-risk offenders.

"They will be able to call on this technology to help stop sex offenders from reoffending and leaving more innocent victims in their wake."

The Government aims to roll out the tests next spring, subject to the parliamentary timetable.

The move follows a successful pilot scheme in the Midlands. Trials in two areas found the tests made sex criminals more open with probation officers.

Polygraph tests measure blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and levels of perspiration.

These vital signs display subtle changes when someone is deliberately evasive and polygraph experts can usually determine if that person is lying.

Studies have shown that polygraphs are accurate around 85% of the time.

The method is widely used in the US, with 19 states using lie detector tests in criminal cases, including during court testimonies.

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Nightingale: SAS Sniper 'Put Public At Risk'

By David Bowden, Defence Correspondent

SAS sniper Danny Nightingale "put the public at risk" by keeping a working 9mm pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition in the bedroom of his shared house, a trial has been told.

Those dangers "were particularly acute in this case given the quantity of 9mm rounds (172) that were stored in the same bedroom as the gun," said prosecutors.

They claim that Sgt Nightingale also had many rounds of other ammunition, including bullets for a sniper rifle, a smoke grenade and signal flares.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray told the court martial there was "no excuse" for what the defendant did.

Sgt Nightingale: 'Stored bullets, a grenade and a flare in his house'

"No matter how he tries to deny it, the gun and the ammunition were in his bedroom because he put them there and kept them there. These are the plain facts which he will not face up to," said Mr Cray.

The prosecution says that Danny Nightingale told police interviewers that he had brought the gun back from Iraq in 2007 and had intended to have it decommissioned and handed over to his unit as a trophy.

Nightingale has pleaded not guilty to both charges of possessing the gun and ammunition illegally.

Prosecutors say the defence will claim that someone else put the weapon and ammunition into the sniper's room and that he couldn't remember because of a brain injury sustained during a jungle marathon in Brazil in 2009.

The prosecutor told the hearing that "no one is saying that Sgt Nightingale was a bad soldier, in fact his service career is deserving of high praise", but added "even good soldiers can make bad mistakes".

The court has also heard that despite defence claims that Nightingale was mentally impaired after his collapse in the jungle, he was passed fit for deployment to Afghanistan a year later.

The court martial has been told that Sgt Nightingale's housemate, who also worked as a firing range instructor for the SAS and known only as soldier N, has already been convicted of similar charges to Nightingale and is serving a prison sentence.

Concluding his opening statement, the prosecutor posed three questions to the panel:

"Did the defendant put the gun and the ammunition in his bedroom, or did somebody else put it there?

"If the gun and ammunition belonged to somebody else, how did the defendant miss it?

"Is this claim of memory loss in respect of specific and detailed confessions the truth or a lie told to try and avoid the consequences of the truth?"

The trial is expected to last into next week and evidence will be heard from serving Special Forces soldiers, including some who will speak to the court martial via videolink from Afghanistan where they are currently on operations.

The judge has already ruled that none of the SAS witnesses can be identified.

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Shrien Dewani Hearing: Suspect 'Hopeless'

A man accused of orchestrating the honeymoon murder of his wife was overcome by hopelessness and despair during his time in mental health hospitals, a court has heard.

Shrien Dewani is alleged to have arranged the death of his 28-year-old wife Anni, who was shot as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town in November 2010.

The 33-year-old is wanted for trial in South Africa, but his extradition has been delayed due to his ongoing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

At an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court, psychiatrist Dr Alan Cumming described Dewani's time being treated at clinics in Bristol where he "cried all day" as he sank into despair.

He also said that in one incident he reacted to a room search by pulling down his trousers and saying: "If you treat me like a dog I'll bark like one."

Dewani pictured with his late wife

But he also pointed to signs that his condition is now improving.

In a report after visiting him in hospital in March this year, Dr Cumming said he had "no qualms about the quality of care".

Dewani tried to take an overdose in 2011 but since then he has not spoken directly about self-harm or suicide, the court heard.

He has been allowed to use his laptop to access the internet, and to walk home - accompanied by a member of staff - every day for visits.

Dewani was also given permission to buy a camper van, which he set up in the grounds of the hospital and would spend large periods of time in.

Xolile Mngeni (L) and Mziwamadoda Qwaba

During a four-hour interview which took place in 2012, Dr Cumming said Dewani became tearful when talking about his late wife and the topic was "emotionally charged".

The court also heard that South African authorities would make "an exception" for Dewani by allowing him mainstream mental health treatment instead of sending him to a forensic unit.

Members of both Dewani and his wife's families were at court again for the second day of a five-day extradition hearing. Dewani himself has been excused from attending.

Newlywed Mrs Dewani was shot when a taxi in which the couple were travelling was hijacked in the Gugulethu township.

Shrien Dewani and driver Zola Tongo were ejected from the car before Mrs Dewani was driven away and killed.

She was found dead in the back of the abandoned vehicle with a bullet wound to her neck.

Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting Mrs Dewani.

Prosecutors claimed he was a hitman hired by Shrien Dewani to kill his new wife, something that Dewani has consistently denied.

Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the crime, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to charges over the murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

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Stop-And-Search Police Powers To Be Reviewed

The Home Secretary has launched a public consultation into controversial police stop-and-search powers.

Theresa May, in a Commons statement, warned the way the powers were being used was harming community relations as well as wasting police time.

MPs heard people from black or ethnic minority backgrounds were seven times more likely to be stopped by officers than white people.

Mrs May said more than one million stops were recorded every year but on average only around 9% led to an arrest.

This conversion rate and how long each took to process - around 16 minutes - caused a "dreadful waste of police time", she added.

Last year this took up 312,000 hours - equal to 145 full-time officers doing nothing else, Mrs May told the House.

Theresa May speaking to MPs in the Commons

She stressed that the procedure would not be scrapped but announced a six-week public consultation into its fairness.

She said: "Everybody involved in policing has a duty to ensure nobody is ever stopped just on the basis of their skin colour or ethnicity.

"The law is clear that in normal circumstances stop and search should only ever be used where there is a reasonable suspicion of criminality and that is how it should be."

She added: "Firstly, it must be applied fairly and in a way that builds community confidence in the police, rather than undermining it.

"And second, given the scale of recording requirements placed on the police, when stop-and-search is misapplied, it is a waste of police time."

The consultation comes a few weeks after the Government's equality watchdog said police forces were being fairer and more efficient in how the employed the powers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that five forces, including the Metropolitan Police, had reduced their use without compromising crime reduction.

Mrs May has also asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to look at the procedure and their report is due within a few weeks.

Under current laws, police need to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the subject is guilty of some form of criminal behaviour before they can conduct a search.

The Home Secretary said: "At its best stop-and-search is a vital power in the fight against crime. At its worst, it is a waste of police time and undermines public confidence in the police."

She promised a formal Government response would be issued by the end of the year.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights campaigners Liberty, said: "After years of bad and counter-productive practice, it is encouraging that the Home Secretary is waking up to concerns about stop and search.

"Lax powers have failed to increase public safety and only alienated the young. But whether it's snooping or stopping and searching, warm words and guidance are no substitute for tightening up the law."

Mark Hammond, chief executive of the EHRC, added: "Stop and search is a necessary and useful power.

"If it is used proportionally and intelligently the police can protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority groups.

"There is no evidence to suggest that disproportionately targeting black and Asian people reduces crime."

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Payday Loan Firms Put In Spotlight At Summit

Payday loan companies have met ministers and regulators for talks to tackle "deep-rooted" problems in the industry.

The summit looked at whether more can be done to clamp down on issues in the £2bn sector, which has just been referred for investigation by the Competition Commission.

Debt charities have sharply criticised the companies, accusing lenders of being "out of control" and branding the market "toxic".

Ahead of the talks hosted by consumer affairs minister Jo Swinson, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said the Government must take more action.

He said: "We want new rules banning excessive charges, a restriction on the number of times a payday loan can roll over and clearer advertising to help people struggling with spiralling debt."

Ms Swinson told Sky News the focus was consumers' problems, such as people being allowed to take out inappropriate loans.

"We know that nearly half of payday loans go to people who are already in financial stress and there needs to be much more robust affordability assessments so that people who are in that kind of situation get debt advice instead of more debt," she said.

The Competition Commission has the power to ban or limit products and shake up whole markets but its investigation could take up to 18 months.

The payday loan sector is now worth £2bn

The probe was sparked by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) which warned consumers who cannot afford to pay the money back on time are being trapped with one firm when the loans roll over.

It is also concerned that firms emphasise the speed of the loan over its cost, and that lenders are encouraged to "skimp" on affordability checks because of the pressure to hand out cash quickly.

Up to half of lenders' revenues were found by the OFT to come from the extra charges and interest coming from loans being rolled over.

The watchdog has written to 50 lenders, giving them 12 weeks to prove they are up to scratch or face being put out of business.

The companies insist they have taken steps to clean up their act, including a new code of practice to make sure loans are affordable and to help struggling borrowers.

From next April, they are also set to be overseen by new regulator the Financial Conduct Authority which could cap interest rates and limit or ban the number of rollovers offered.

The Government is also investing £38m in credit unions to help them offer a more low-cost alternative option.

Russell Hamblin-Boone, chief executive of the Consumer Finance Association, "We call for all payday lenders to step up and meet our standards. Those that don't need to either shape up or ship out."

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, added: "We need to see tough action on advertising, with new rules brought in which would end wall-to-wall advertising on daytime TV and stop the use of glossy celebrity endorsements which conceal the misery of life in debt.

"Much more needs to be done to make the cost of loans and consequences of late repayments clear, and to end the focus on speed rather than affordability."

Labour has accused the Government of "consistently ducked clamping down on predatory pricing and extortionate interest charges" and is also calling for urgent action.

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Woolwich: Lee Rigby Funeral In Next Two Weeks

The funeral of Drummer Lee Rigby will be held in Bury in the next two weeks, according to Sky sources.

Drummer Rigby was attacked as he returned to base in Woolwich after working at the Tower of London in May.

He died from multiple cut and stab wounds, a post-mortem examination found.

Bury has strong links with Drummer Rigby's regiment, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Michael Adebolajo is one of the men charged with Drummer Rigby's murder

The regiment traces its roots back to the famous Bury-based Lancashire Fusiliers. Drummer Rigby is from nearby Middleton.

An inquest heard the soldier, who was 25, suffered such "extensive and serious" injuries that he had to be identified using his dental records.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, of Romford, Essex, and Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, London, are both charged with his murder.

They are accused of hacking the soldier to death, and will be asked to enter their pleas in September.

On Friday they spoke only to confirm their names as they appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from separate rooms at HMP Belmarsh.

The men were told a plea and case management hearing would take place on September 27. They are expected to stand trial on November 18.

They are also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause others to believe that violence would be used.

Adebolajo faces further charges for the attempted murder of two police officers.

He appeared to still have his left arm in a bandage after being shot by armed officers at the scene of Drummer Rigby's death.

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Woman Trapped And Killed At Paintball Centre

A woman has died after becoming trapped by wooden barriers while working at a paintball centre.

The 45-year-old, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the Delta Force Paintball centre in Sparkwell, Devon.

Police and ambulance staff were called to the centre, in Ledgate Lane, at 9.25pm on Friday.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The woman, who was a member of staff, became trapped while unloading wooden barriers from a transit van.

"She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared by HM Coroner. Next of kin have been informed."

South Hams District Council's environmental officers have been informed and will investigate the death, the spokesman added.

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Smethwick Fire: Massive Blaze At Recycling Plant

A blaze at a plastic recycling factory, described by firefighters as one of the biggest ever seen in the West Midlands, is believed to have been started by a single Chinese lantern.

At its height, some 200 firefighters were tackling the blaze at the site in Smethwick, on the outskirts of Birmingham.

An estimated 100,000 tonnes of recycling material and a factory unit were set alight, and crews battled to stop the flames spreading to neighbouring businesses.

The fire was described as one of the biggest ever seen in the West Midlands

Vij Randeniya, chief fire officer at West Midlands Fire Service, told Sky News: "We believe a Chinese lantern dropped onto some bales of plastic and, looking at CCTV, it would appear that was the cause.

"Chinese lanterns have been involved in a number of incidents and firefighters have been campaigning for there to be better controls.

Around 200 firefighters were called to the blaze in Smethwick

"They look really nice but they do pose a danger."

Two firefighters were taken to hospital and 11 more were treated at the scene by paramedics, although their injuries are thought to be minor.

Mr Randeniya said firefighters were tackling "one of the largest fires we've experienced", with intense heat released from the burning plastics.

"These are difficult fires to extinguish and we anticipate being here for a number of days," he said.

A spokesman for Birmingham International Airport said there was no disruption to flights, despite a plume of thick black smoke more than 1,800m high that could be seen from 30 miles away.

A number of roads around the recycling plant were closed but the nearby M5 motorway remained open.

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Hot July Across UK As Summer Finally Arrives

Summer could finally be around the corner with weather forecasters predicting that the UK could enjoy warm weather for the rest of July.

With parts of Britain on Sunday experiencing the hottest day of the year so far - 27.2 Celsius being recorded at London Heathrow - memories of one of the coldest springs on record could soon be banished.

Forecasters have said that a build-up of high pressure will lead to fine weather across the UK resulting in below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures.

Enjoying the sun after one of the coldest spring on record

A few outbreaks of rain are expected between now and Friday but then the warmer weather is expected to return and stay right through into August.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "There will be showers around today, but more prolonged rain will move in from the west tonight, which will extend slowly eastwards tomorrow. 

"The wind will pick up as well. Wednesday and Thursday will see showers or longer spells of rain, but by Friday high pressure will build from the south-west settling things down. 

"This coming weekend looks mainly fine and dry, with temperatures climbing across all areas, not just south-east England. England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will see temperatures into the mid-20s, while Scotland and Northern Ireland will see the low-20s."

"It looks like high pressure will keep things settled and very warm for a good part of July too," she added.

"I'm sure there will be showers around at times and some coastal areas may be cooler, but overall the next few weeks currently look dry and very warm, with plenty of sunshine."  

This follows a particularly cold start to the year, with March being the coldest on record since 1962.

March was colder than the preceding winter months of December, January and February, which had not happened for almost 40 years.

June looks like it was fairly average in terms of temperature, with below-average rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

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Duchess' 'Hotel' Baby Birth Not For Everyone

The Duchess of Cambridge is just weeks from becoming a mum for the first time - in the "hotel-like" environment of a private hospital.

The experience at the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital, where it costs £5,000 for the first day of a normal delivery, will differ significantly from that of most expectant parents.

Manchester couple Chloe Renwick, 27, and Matthew Lee-Cook, 28, whose baby is due at around the same time as the Duke and Duchess', have been speaking to Sky News in the months leading up to their big day on July 17.

The pair, who are more than happy with their NHS treatment at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, told Sky's Adele Robinson what they make of the offering at the other St Mary's - which includes a glass of champagne to toast the new arrival.

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Cameron Meets Newly-Elected Pakistan PM

Afghanistan: PM Knows Risks Needed

Updated: 4:49pm UK, Sunday 30 June 2013

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

For years, the focus of British involvement in Afghanistan has been reasonably straightforward.

Fight the Taliban; force them into some form of submission or docility; limit the casualties among British troops as far as possible; try to prepare the Afghans (politically and militarily) to go it alone.

Now that British military involvement is drawing to a close, things are getting more complicated.

The political situation is in flux. President Hamid Karzai is due to leave office next year, creating instability on the government side.

The Taliban are coming to the negotiating table, and are likely to exhibit all the same qualities of aggression, unpredictability, disunity and stubborn endurance as have characterised them on the battlefield.

The process is already chaotic, and even if it succeeds is bound to collapse and be resurrected again along the way.

But the fact David Cameron went to the presidential palace days after an attack on the outskirts of the compound shows he thinks the main protagonists should react with a shrug of the shoulders to such bumps on the road.

Meanwhile, neighbouring countries are weighing the situation with an eye to extending their own sphere of influence.

Amid this maelstrom, for a British Prime Minister, there are decisions to be made, all in the knowledge that each decision could lead to a trap; each judgment could come back to haunt him.

Mr Cameron plainly knows risks have to be taken. He acknowledged as much when he effectively endorsed General Nick Carter's view that the Taliban should have been engaged in a political process way back in 2001.

Speaking in Lashkar Gah, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "I think you can argue about whether the settlement we put in place after 2001 could have been better arranged.

"Of course you can make that argument. Since I became Prime Minister in 2010 I have been pushing all the time for a political process and that political process is now under way.

"But at the same time I know that you cannot bank on that, which is why we have built up the Afghan army, built up the Afghan police, supported the Afghan government so after our troops have left, and they will be leaving under the programme we have set out, this country shouldn't be a haven for terrorists."

Drawing the Taliban into peace talks months after 9/11 would indeed have been thinking the unthinkable, but the Prime Minister is of the view  - though even he might not have been in 2001 -  that unless all sides are engaged, a political settlement will not hold.

Then there is the involvement of neighbouring countries.

Pakistani links with the Afghan Taliban have been until now a source of considerable frustration for the British, who have decried the often malign influence of elements within Pakistan on Afghanistan.

Now, though, those very links are seen as an opportunity - an avenue through which Pakistani politicians might put leverage on the Taliban to show themselves reliable partners for peace.

The risk, as ever, is that if Pakistan throws its weight around within Afghanistan, there is a tendency for the Afghan leadership to rush to the arms of Pakistan's arch enemy India, with the potential only to escalate the problems.

All in all, it is hard to calculate what the situation will look like in a month, let alone a year. Come back soon, Mr Cameron!

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Salford Murder: Police Seek Linzi Ashton Ex

The ex-boyfriend of a 25-year-old mother who was "brutally murdered" in her home is being hunted by police.

Detectives in Salford said Michael Cope, 28, was their main suspect in the death of Linzi Ashton and have warned locals against "harbouring" him.

Bar worker Ms Ashton had clearly suffered face and head injuries when her body was found on Saturday evening by relatives, police said.

It is understood her daughters Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two, were not at home in Westbourne Road, Winton, at the time.

The couple had an "acrimonious" relationship, police said, and officers had been called to the address in the past. Because of this, the case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Ms Ashton's children were not at home at the time of the attack

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said: "I have named Michael Cope as I believe he is responsible for Linzi's death.

"Linzi and Michael Cope have been in a relationship and that relationship has been acrimonious and the subject of reports to police.

"A young woman has been brutally murdered and our thoughts are with her family and friends at what is obviously a totally devastating time for them.

"I will take a dim view of anybody who provides assistance to Cope knowing that he is being sought by Greater Manchester Police."

A post-mortem examination on Ms Ashton's body was taking place on Sunday.

Neighbours have laid flowers close to the scene as police continue to look for clues.

Tributes were also left at the Duke of York pub in Eccles town centre, where Ms Ashton worked. One read: "Our Lovely Princess Linzi. Fallen too soon. Forever in our hearts and memories."

It is thought Ms Ashton was last seen alive by a friend in the Eccles area shortly before 2am on Saturday.

:: People are advised not to approach Michael Cope. Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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Meat From Diseased Cattle Sold By Defra

Meat from cattle slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is being sold for human consumption by Defra, the food and farming ministry has said.

The meat is banned by most supermarkets and burger chains, The Sunday Times reported.

Tesco, for example, rejects it because of "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers".

But carcasses from around 28,000 diseased animals are sold to caterers and food processors every year.

The meat then finds its way into schools, hospitals and the military, or is used in products such as pies and pasties, the newspaper said.

A Defra spokeswoman said: "All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before it can be passed fit for consumption.

"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed there are no known cases where TB has been transmitted through eating meat and the risk of infection from eating meat, even if raw or undercooked, remains extremely low."

Cattle which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by Defra, which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.

Compensation ranges from £81 for a dairy calf up to £1,717 for an older breeding bull. Payments for pedigree cattle vary from £639 to £4,471.

Meat from slaughtered cattle is sold with no warning to processors or consumers that it comes from a bTB-infected herd.

A spokeswoman for the FSA said: "All meat must be marked with an identification mark which will indicate the approval number of the plant of origin.

"However, meat from TB reactors (animals that have failed tests for TB), once it has been passed as fit for human consumption, is not required to be marked in any way to distinguish it from other meat.

"Meat which passes the post-mortem inspection is fit for human consumption and does not need additional labelling."

The spokeswoman said that where an inspection of a carcass reveals tuberculous lesions in more than one organ or region it is declared unfit for human consumption and destroyed.

If the lymph nodes in only one organ or part of the carcass are infected, that area is removed and the rest is considered safe to enter the food chain.

"Cooking this meat would be an additional safety step, but we would emphasise the risk even before cooking is very low," she said.

George Browning, an organic farmer in Frankton, Warwickshire, told Sky News he would be "happy enough" to eat meat from a TB-infected animal.

"It's a waste for one thing," he said. "I'd rather eat something that had had TB than had been filled with drugs of all sorts, which I'd view as more unsafe to eat.

"People have got used to having cheap food and if you want cheap, you can't afford to be picky about what's in there."

The Sunday Times claimed Defra's reassurances contrasted with experts' warnings that rising levels of bTB in cattle are becoming a serious threat to human health.

Such claims have been used to justify a cull of tens of thousands of badgers which are said by some to help spread the disease between cattle.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dundee's Landmark Tower Blocks Demolished

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A church in Dundee was the meat in a "demolition-sandwich" when two neighbouring tower blocks were blown down.

St Martin's Episcopal Church is situated just metres from Butterburn and Bucklemucker Court multi-storeys, which have been razed to the ground.

The congregation was decanted elsewhere for their Sunday worship, where prayers were said for the church to survive intact.

The top of one of the buildings appeared to fall onto its side

The Bishop of Brechin, the Right Reverend Dr Nigel Peyton, told Sky News before the demolition: "We'll be praying for everyone involved in the whole day, really. 

"There'll be a lot of other neighbours anxious about their properties and we'll be praying for them. We are confident that the blow down of the 'multis' will go well. 

"We've made our preparations, we've talked to the contractors and have a lot of confidence in them and we've certainly told our insurers!"

A huge pile of debris was left after the towers were brought to the ground

Preparations for the plume of dust included sealing the church organ in plastic, removing valuable items from the premises and taping up exterior doors.

The demolition of the 25-storey blocks removed two landmarks that have been prominent on the Dundee skyline since 1971. 

The 374 flats were demolished by explosives placed strategically in the structure of the buildings. 

A cloud of dust hangs over Dundee after the demolition

More than 10,000 detonators were used by the contractors SAFEDEM, which has worked on the tower blocks for several months, removing internal fittings and weakening support walls prior to the final 'blow down'. 

An exclusion zone has been set up closing off 20 surrounding streets and, as well as St Martin's Church, around 600 homes and 60 business premises were evacuated.   

Dundee City Council advised people in the area to keep windows and vents closed, not to hang out their washing and to cover garden fish ponds.

The demolition took place as part of a regeneration project for Dundee's Hilltown area.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Meat From Diseased Cattle Sold By Defra

Meat from cattle slaughtered after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is being sold for human consumption by Defra, the food and farming ministry has said.

The meat is banned by most supermarkets and burger chains, The Sunday Times reported.

Tesco, for example, rejects it because of "public-health concerns surrounding the issue of bTB and its risk to consumers".

But carcasses from around 28,000 diseased animals are sold to caterers and food processors every year.

The meat then finds its way into schools, hospitals and the military, or is used in products such as pies and pasties, the newspaper said.

A Defra spokeswoman said: "All meat from cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB must undergo rigorous food safety checks before it can be passed fit for consumption.

"The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed there are no known cases where TB has been transmitted through eating meat and the risk of infection from eating meat, even if raw or undercooked, remains extremely low."

Cattle which test positive for bTB must be slaughtered. Unless a private slaughter is arranged, the animals are taken to slaughter by Defra, which then pays compensation to farmers based on the market value.

Compensation ranges from £81 for a dairy calf up to £1,717 for an older breeding bull. Payments for pedigree cattle vary from £639 to £4,471.

Meat from slaughtered cattle is sold with no warning to processors or consumers that it comes from a bTB-infected herd.

A spokeswoman for the FSA said: "All meat must be marked with an identification mark which will indicate the approval number of the plant of origin.

"However, meat from TB reactors (animals that have failed tests for TB), once it has been passed as fit for human consumption, is not required to be marked in any way to distinguish it from other meat.

"Meat which passes the post-mortem inspection is fit for human consumption and does not need additional labelling."

The spokeswoman said that where an inspection of a carcass reveals tuberculous lesions in more than one organ or region it is declared unfit for human consumption and destroyed.

If the lymph nodes in only one organ or part of the carcass are infected, that area is removed and the rest is considered safe to enter the food chain.

"Cooking this meat would be an additional safety step, but we would emphasise the risk even before cooking is very low," she said.

George Browning, an organic farmer in Frankton, Warwickshire, told Sky News he would be "happy enough" to eat meat from a TB-infected animal.

"It's a waste for one thing," he said. "I'd rather eat something that had had TB than had been filled with drugs of all sorts, which I'd view as more unsafe to eat.

"People have got used to having cheap food and if you want cheap, you can't afford to be picky about what's in there."

The Sunday Times claimed Defra's reassurances contrasted with experts' warnings that rising levels of bTB in cattle are becoming a serious threat to human health.

Such claims have been used to justify a cull of tens of thousands of badgers which are said by some to help spread the disease between cattle.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Duchess' 'Hotel' Baby Birth Not For Everyone

The Duchess of Cambridge is just weeks from becoming a mum for the first time - in the "hotel-like" environment of a private hospital.

The experience at the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital, where it costs £5,000 for the first day of a normal delivery, will differ significantly from that of most expectant parents.

Manchester couple Chloe Renwick, 27, and Matthew Lee-Cook, 28, whose baby is due at around the same time as the Duke and Duchess', have been speaking to Sky News in the months leading up to their big day on July 17.

The pair, who are more than happy with their NHS treatment at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, told Sky's Adele Robinson what they make of the offering at the other St Mary's - which includes a glass of champagne to toast the new arrival.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dundee's Landmark Tower Blocks Demolished

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A church in Dundee was the meat in a "demolition-sandwich" when two neighbouring tower blocks were blown down.

St Martin's Episcopal Church is situated just metres from Butterburn and Bucklemucker Court multi-storeys, which have been razed to the ground.

The congregation was decanted elsewhere for their Sunday worship, where prayers were said for the church to survive intact.

The top of one of the buildings appeared to fall onto its side

The Bishop of Brechin, the Right Reverend Dr Nigel Peyton, told Sky News before the demolition: "We'll be praying for everyone involved in the whole day, really. 

"There'll be a lot of other neighbours anxious about their properties and we'll be praying for them. We are confident that the blow down of the 'multis' will go well. 

"We've made our preparations, we've talked to the contractors and have a lot of confidence in them and we've certainly told our insurers!"

A huge pile of debris was left after the towers were brought to the ground

Preparations for the plume of dust included sealing the church organ in plastic, removing valuable items from the premises and taping up exterior doors.

The demolition of the 25-storey blocks removed two landmarks that have been prominent on the Dundee skyline since 1971. 

The 374 flats were demolished by explosives placed strategically in the structure of the buildings. 

A cloud of dust hangs over Dundee after the demolition

More than 10,000 detonators were used by the contractors SAFEDEM, which has worked on the tower blocks for several months, removing internal fittings and weakening support walls prior to the final 'blow down'. 

An exclusion zone has been set up closing off 20 surrounding streets and, as well as St Martin's Church, around 600 homes and 60 business premises were evacuated.   

Dundee City Council advised people in the area to keep windows and vents closed, not to hang out their washing and to cover garden fish ponds.

The demolition took place as part of a regeneration project for Dundee's Hilltown area.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Salford Murder: Police Seek Linzi Ashton Ex

The ex-boyfriend of a 25-year-old mother who was "brutally murdered" in her home is being hunted by police.

Detectives in Salford said Michael Cope, 28, was their main suspect in the death of Linzi Ashton and have warned locals against "harbouring" him.

Bar worker Ms Ashton had clearly suffered face and head injuries when her body was found on Saturday evening by relatives, police said.

It is understood her daughters Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two, were not at home in Westbourne Road, Winton, at the time.

The couple had an "acrimonious" relationship, police said, and officers had been called to the address in the past. Because of this, the case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Ms Ashton's children were not at home at the time of the attack

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said: "I have named Michael Cope as I believe he is responsible for Linzi's death.

"Linzi and Michael Cope have been in a relationship and that relationship has been acrimonious and the subject of reports to police.

"A young woman has been brutally murdered and our thoughts are with her family and friends at what is obviously a totally devastating time for them.

"I will take a dim view of anybody who provides assistance to Cope knowing that he is being sought by Greater Manchester Police."

A post-mortem examination on Ms Ashton's body was taking place on Sunday.

Neighbours have laid flowers close to the scene as police continue to look for clues.

Tributes were also left at the Duke of York pub in Eccles town centre, where Ms Ashton worked. One read: "Our Lovely Princess Linzi. Fallen too soon. Forever in our hearts and memories."

It is thought Ms Ashton was last seen alive by a friend in the Eccles area shortly before 2am on Saturday.

:: People are advised not to approach Michael Cope. Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cameron Meets Newly-Elected Pakistan PM

David Cameron has promised to "stand together" with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism after holding talks with the country's newly-elected prime minister.

Mr Cameron, the first world leader to visit Nawaz Sharif since his surprise landslide victory in June, said the battle required "tough and uncompromising" action, as well as efforts to tackle the causes of extremism and radicalisation.

Afghanistan was high on the agenda for the Prime Minister following his visit to Camp Bastion and talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai a day earlier.

Afghanistan was on the agenda following Mr Cameron's visit to Camp Bastion

"I profoundly believe that a stable, prosperous, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan is in Pakistan's interest, just as a stable, prosperous, peaceful and democratic Pakistan is in Afghanistan's interest," Mr Cameron said.

He told Mr Sharif: "I know you and President Karzai will work together towards those ends."

Mr Cameron's visit came as a car bomb exploded in a market in Peshawar, killing 15 people and injuring 28. At least three children were among the dead.

Speaking after his meeting with Mr Cameron, Mr Sharif condemned the attack.

Children were among those killed and injured in the blast in Peshawar

"Pakistan has suffered the most in terms of human and financial losses," he said.

"We are, therefore, resolved to tackle the menace of extremism and terrorism with renewed vigour and close cooperation with our friends."

Mr Cameron said Mr Sharif was in a "strong position" to put pressure on the Taliban to negotiate a peace deal.

"Pakistan has had this democratic transition, which ... will raise its profile in a thoroughly good way in the eyes of the world," he said.

Mr Cameron holds a news conference in Islamabad following the talks

The Prime Minister also used the talks to urge Pakistan to go "further and faster" in boosting trade links with the UK, after a Number 10 source said there was "potential for British business given the growth in the Pakistan economy".

Following this visit to Pakistan Mr Cameron became the first serving Prime Minister to visit Kazakhstan as he began a visit to the mineral-rich country with hopes of boosting British trade.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev

Mr Cameron follows in the footsteps of former prime minister Tony Blair who has played a key role in helping Kazakhstan's development since leaving office.

But campaign group Human Rights Watch has condemned President Nursultan Nazarbayev's. regime. Mr Nazarbayev has been in power since the Soviet era and has led the country's economic transformation on the back of its mineral wealth, but has been labelled a dictator by critics.

An open letter to the Prime Minister, signed by Human Rights Watch's UK director David Mephan, said the group had been documenting human rights abuses in Kazakhstan for over 15 years.

The Prime Minister said the issue would be on the table during the talks. He said: "On human rights, in all the relationships we have, there's never anything off the table, we raise and discuss all these issues and that will be the case in Kazakhstan as well.

"I think it is important to make this visit and it's very much something I chose and wanted to do.

"Kazakhstan is one of the rising economic powers in the world. I think it's very important that British business, British investment and British firms get a proper chance in Kazakhstan, they're doing that, I want to help them to do that."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More