'Euro Leaders Are Cowards' Over Juncker Vote

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has labelled Europe's leaders "cowards" for electing arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.

Prime Minister David Cameron's only ally was Hungary as he attempted to block Mr Juncker, who he claims is not the right man to force through EU reform.

The Tories have promised a referendum on EU membership should they win the next election - and Mr Hunt believes "cowardice" from Europe's leaders can only make a vote to quit more likely.

"As a result of cowardice yesterday from other European leaders who weren't prepared to say in public what they said in private, they're going to have to work a lot harder to persuade the British people that Europe has a reform agenda," he said.

Mr Hunt claimed the British people would be "proud" of the Prime Minister - and that his position would ultimately help the UK renegotiate its relationship with Europe.

Former Luxembourg premier Mr Juncker was backed by Germany's Angela Merkel

"You're getting European leaders queuing up to say how much they want Britain to stay in the EU, how they'll make compromises," he said.

"We want to be a country in control of our own destiny, we want to stop abuses of the welfare system and NHS.

"We're not going to take part in some grubby face-saving deal where we pretend we've got a deal - a feature of the last government. We want substantive reform in Europe."

Sky's Senior Political Correspondent Jason Farrell said Mr Hunt was not alone with his contentions.

"It might not seem like the most diplomatic language but he's not the only one saying it," he said. "Der Spiegel magazine in Germany has said Angela Merkel voted for a Commission president she didn't want - others have said European leaders have gone for the compromise."

The Prime Minister said his fellow EU leaders had made a "serious mistake" but vowed to keep fighting for reform in Europe.

The PM argued Mr Juncker was not the "right person" for the post

"This is going to be a long, tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle in order to win a war," he added. "It has only stiffened my resolve to fight for reform in the EU, because it is crying out for it."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was an advocate of Mr Juncker, but amid the vote she urged EU colleagues to "compromise" with Britain.

"I think we can find compromises here and make a step towards Great Britain," she said.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "The last 48 hours doesn't show Europe is unreformable, it shows David Cameron is not the man to reform it because he has become toxic.

"Because people doubt his motivations, because people doubt the way he operates, it's made people say 'We're not going to ally with Britain'."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "I think what's clear is that any cards that Mr Cameron may have had to play have been spent, and have been lost over a futile battle that he was bound to lose from the beginning.

"(Any) renegotiation now doesn't look very likely. He has been humiliated today but worse than that, he actually looks very isolated."

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Missing Elvis Impersonator: Man Arrested

Police hunting an Elvis impersonator wanted in connection with a firearms alert that closed a Cornish school have arrested a man.

Police detained a 60-year-old man on land in Widegates, Looe, and recovered two firearms, around 9.30pm on Friday.

The man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and was being taken into custody at Launceston police station.

He was first taken to a local hospital for a medical assessment as a precaution.

Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation.

Police tweeted a version of this photo of Derrel Weaver

Armed officers were called after a domestic-related alert at 60-year-old Derrel Weaver's home in Widegates around 9.30pm on Thursday.

The nearby Trenode Church of England Primary School was closed. Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted a photo of Mr Weaver of Higher Widlake Farm.

The caption read: "Have you seen this man, Derrel Weaver, 60, #widegates Looe, if you see him please ring 999 and do not approach."

Police maintained a "high presence" at the scene near Looe

Another tweet added: "Police are doing everything possible to maintain public safety, but we ask local people to be patient during this time."

Mr Weaver's Google+ page says he owns a tree surgery business and is also a "rock n roll singer".

Local resident Ann Chudleigha said Mr Weaver was a well-known member of the community.

The decision to close the school was made by its headteacher in consultation with police.

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House Sitters Bag Top Properties On Cheap

By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter

More and more young professionals, who cannot afford to get on the housing ladder, are bagging themselves plush temporary accommodation for very little money under "guardian schemes".

Becoming a guardian is a bit like glorified house sitting - often in grand and eccentric properties that would otherwise be left standing empty.

It saves the property owners from forking out on security costs and also keeps squatters at bay.

At the same time, the guardians get to live in buildings they could otherwise only dream of - while paying monthly fees which can sometimes be as low as 20% of the market rental rate.

One of the properties on offer to guardians from Ad Hoc Property Management

Robyn Winfield-Smith is a theatre director who lives in a 10,000 sq ft building in the heart of London's West End.

Her bedroom is a spacious former dance studio.

She says being a guardian works for her and her housemates because they cannot afford typical rents in the capital.

"This enables us to stay within the careers that we want whilst living very cheaply."

Recent figures from LSL Property Services put the average monthly rent in England and Wales at £745 per month.

In London, it's £1,124.

This home in Hampstead Heath is offered as planning permission is obtained

Guardian schemes are only ever temporary, usually for a few months or years, and tend to be while the building owners await planning permission.

But Robyn enjoys the constant change.

"You can bring along all your furniture and create a brand new home every time you move ... Some of the buildings we've had have been extraordinary."

Properties managed by guardian companies include churches, pubs and other commercial buildings as well as privately owned more "normal" looking flats and houses.

Robyn Winfield-Smith enters her London dance studio home

Arthur Duke, managing director of Live-In Guardians, said the number of young professionals applying to be guardians in the past 18 months has grown.

"One of the attractions is the fact that they pay at least 50% of the going market rental which is all inclusive so there's no bills on top and no council tax either.

"We used to get around 8-10 on line applications a day, whereas now we are getting around 15-20."

Critics though warn it is not a solution to the housing crisis.

Antonia Bance, from Shelter, said: "We'd urge caution, [there are] very few tenancy rights attached to property guardianship schemes. If we're looking to solve our housing crisis the thing that we need to do is build more affordable homes."

Robyn admits there are some downsides too, but she is not put off.

"You're not allowed pets, not allowed smoking, and not allowed to have more than two people for longer than three hours  - that's the kind of general rule on guests. But that's fine because what we're getting in exchange is this amazing environment to live in."

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Early Bedtime Rule For Young Offenders Slammed

Young offenders will be ordered to go to bed at 10.30pm under strict new rules announced by the Government.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling revealed the new "lights out" regulation to be imposed on 15 to 17-year-olds in English institutions.

He said those who refuse to obey the new rules will be punished with the removal of privileges such as access to a television.

But prison reform campaigners labelled the plan a "petty restriction" and said it would add to problems faced in understaffed prisons.

More than 800 under-18s are serving custodial sentences in young offenders' institutions.

Mr Grayling said: "The public expects that serious offenders face prison - that is right.

"But it is also crucial that young people, most of whom have had chaotic and troubled lives finally get the discipline so badly needed to help turn their lives around.

"In some prisons young people are allowed to go to bed when they please. I don't think that is right. Stopping this inconsistency and introducing a strict 'lights out' policy is all part of our approach to addressing youth offending.

Mr Grayling said discipline was 'crucial' for young offenders

"Those who fail to comply will face tough sanctions."

The new rules will be introduced at young offenders institutions Cookham Wood in Kent, Feltham in London, Werrington in Stoke-on-Trent, Wetherby in Yorkshire, and Hindley in Wigan, from August.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "A new lights-out policy will only exacerbate the problem of overuse of physical restraint in the youth secure estate which indicates a lack of trained, experienced staff with enough time to supervise and support the challenging children and young people in their charge.

"As most parents of teenagers know, commonsense discussion, constructive activity, setting reasonable boundaries and encouraging personal responsibility, all work better than new hard and fast rules backed by petty restrictions and harsh punishments."

And Labour MP Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary, said: "Routine is crucial for those with chaotic lives, but sending young offenders to bed early and turning the lights off at 10.30pm falls far short of the reform needed to tackle the growing chaos caused by Chris Grayling's incompetence.

"Prisons are in crisis, becoming more overcrowded by the day. Jails that are violent where prisoners spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells are unlikely to do much to stop criminals reoffending and keep the public safe."

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Armed Forces Day: PM And Salmond Attend

Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond are joining crowds marking the sixth annual Armed Forces Day in Scotland.

Thousands have been enjoying piping, parades and a Red Arrow display in Stirling to honour servicemen and women past and present.

The Princess Royal and Labour leader Ed Miliband are also attending as Stirling Castle provides the backdrop to parachute, helicopter and jet displays.

Those wanting to join in can adopt a "Twibbon", which will add an image of the Armed Forces on to their Twitter or Facebook profile.

Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron meet at the event

Meanwhile, Saracens rugby stars made a surprise visit to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to mark Armed Forces Day.

They were shown how the camp and surrounding air routes are defended and in return put on a coaching session.

Flanker Will Fraser said: "That was hard work. Not only is the stretcher hard to run with but the other kit, such as the helmet and body armour, adds to the difficulty.

"I have total respect for the service personnel here who have done this for real with their wounded colleagues on a stretcher."

England footballers Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart show their support

Meanwhile, the Queen has been honouring First World War veterans on the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, which is widely thought to have sparked the conflict.

The monarch was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London for a Drumhead Service of Remembrance led by the Bishop of London.

Ahead of the Stirling event, a pilot from the Red Arrows posted a remarkable 'selfie' picture on his @RAFRed8 Twitter account.

The image appears to show him flying one of the jets, with another plane visible behind him.

Battle of Bannockburn re-enactments in Stirling

Armed Forces Day was established in 2009 to celebrate the service of Army, Navy and RAF members and their families.

The annual celebration is being staged on the same weekend Stirling marks the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

The two-day event features re-enactments of the legendary clash which saw Robert the Bruce defeat the English army in 1314.

Some 300 'Warriors' are taking part, choreographed by the team behind the battle sequences in hit films Gladiator and Robin Hood.

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UN Calls On Britain To Hold Falklands Talks

A UN committee has approved a resolution calling on the UK and Argentina to negotiate over the Falkland Islands.

The vote's outcome essentially favours Argentina's stance in the 200-year dispute.

Britain has previously rebuffed the South American nation's calls to negotiate the archipelago's ownership, saying it is up to the islands to decide.

Argentina's foreign minister Hector Timerman, speaking at the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, claimed the UK's refusal to "fulfil its obligations to negotiate" over the islands' sovereignty went against the founding principle of the UN.

Mr Timerman claims Britain refuses to discuss ownership. File image

"It is imperative that the United Kingdom sits down again at the negotiating table," he said.

He added that Britain's absence at the meeting, for the fourth year running, indicated a lack of interest in solving the feud.

"What the United Nations has been asking since 1982, year after year, is the resumption of negotiations between the two sides," said Mr Timerman, as the UN committee unanimously approved the resolution on the issue.

Mr Timerman said that Buenos Aires was committed to exploring "all possible avenues to achieve the peaceful settlement of the dispute".

Falklands residents gave speeches at the UN meeting, saying they were "happy with the current status and don't want to change it."

"We would be delighted to have friendly and normal relations with all our neighbours, but instead Argentina does not accept us as a people and refuses to deal directly with our government," said Falklands official Mike Summers.

In a referendum last year, Falkland Islanders voted by 1,513 votes to three in favour of remaining British.

The UK Mission to the UN was critical of the committee for ignoring the outcome of the referendum.

"It is disappointing that once again the C24 has not respected the clear and democratic expression of the Falkland Islanders' wishes and continues to describe the Falkland Islands' constitutional relationship with the UK as a 'colonial situation,'" the mission said.

There have been recent skirmishes between the two countries over the rocky South Atlantic archipelago, which Argentina refers to as Isla Malvinas.

In April, Britain was accused of demonstrating a "show of force" for conducting military exercises on the islands which led to the British ambassador in Buenos Aires being summoned by Argentina's deputy foreign minister.

Last December, the UK accused Argentina of "bullying tactics" over its threat to punish oil firms operating off the Falklands Islands with heavy fines and other penalties.

The islands have been ruled by Britain since 1833, but Argentina claims them as their own and invaded them in 1982 in an attempt to seize control, which resulted in a war between the two countries.

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Liam Neeson's Nephew Critical After Fall

Liam Neeson's nephew is said to be in a critical condition after falling 20ft from a telephone box on a night out.

Ronan Sexton, the son of the actor's sister Bernadette Sexton, suffered serious head injuries after the fall at 4am near Brighton Pier, East Sussex, on Sunday.

Ms Sexton is said to be at her 30-year-old son's bedside where he is fighting for his life.

Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.

A Sussex police spokesman said: "Just after 4am on Sunday, June 22, a 30-year-old Worthing man had climbed on to the top of a telephone kiosk outside Brighton Pier when he fell 20ft to the ground, sustaining a serious head injury.

"He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and was later transferred to Hurstwood Park Hospital in Haywards Heath where he is currently in a critical condition.

"The man had been enjoying a night out with friends, who were present when he fell, and the incident is not being treated as suspicious.

"There is no further police investigation."

Five years ago, Neeson's wife Natasha Richardson died after hitting her head while skiing in Canada.

The Taken star, 62, now lives in New York with their two teenage sons.

In an interview with US show 60 Minutes in February,the Irishman said he was still struggling to come to terms with her loss.

He said: "It was never real. It still kind of isn't. There's periods now in our New York residence when I hear the door opening - she would always drop the keys on the table and say hello.

"So any time I hear that door opening I still think I'm going to hear her. Grief hits you like a wave, you get this profound feeling of instability."

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Armed Cops Hunt Missing Elvis Impersonator

Police are warning people not to approach an Elvis impersonator wanted in connection with a firearms alert that closed a Cornish school.

Armed officers were called to a "domestic situation" close to Trenode Church of England Primary School near Looe at 9.30pm last night.

The school was closed as a precaution and police are urgently trying to trace 60-year-old Derrel Weaver amid fears he may have a gun.

Police tweeted a version of this photo of Derrel Weaver

Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted a photo of Mr Weaver, of Higher Widlake Farm in Widegates.

The caption read: "Have you seen this man, Derrel Weaver, 60, #widegates Looe, if you see him please ring 999 and do not approach."

Another tweet added: "Police are doing everything possible to maintain public safety, but we ask local people to be patient during this time."

Authorities have asked air traffic to stay clear of the area so the search is not hampered.

Superintendent Jim Pearce said: "We would ask the public to be vigilant at what is obviously a disturbing time for local communities.

Authorities have asked air traffic to stay clear of the area

"There is currently significant enquiries ongoing to locate Mr Weaver and this includes the chance he may be in possession of a firearm.

"There is currently no suggestion that Mr Weaver is any risk to members of the public, but we need to locate him as soon as possible."

Firearms officers are on patrol in the area.

Mr Weaver's Google+ page says he owns a tree surgery business and is also a "rock n roll singer".

Resident Ann Chudleigha said Mr Weaver was a well-known member of the community.

"He's a friend of mine - he's been my neighbour for a long time," she said.

Police are maintaining a "high presence" at the scene near Looe

"He would shoot rabbits - he had a licence. You'd hear him shooting sometimes. He was also teaching some of the locals to paint - he paints lovely pictures."

The decision to close the school was made by its headteacher in consultation with police.

A police spokesman said: "This unusual decision has been taken as a precautionary measure for safety reasons and because of the ongoing police activity in that area.

"We do understand that this will cause some significant inconvenience for some parents and local residents and this decision was not taken lightly, but public safety is the most important concern of the school and police."

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Illegal Immigrant Smuggling Racket Smashed

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Police have smashed an international gang smuggling hundreds of illegal immigrants into Britain using fake documents.

To get into the country the racket provided identity cards, simply inserted new photographs and charged "customers" between £6,000 and £10,000 (£4,800 - £8,000).

The method - far from sophisticated - was eventually clocked by Italian border guards at Rome airport which the gang used as its onward hub. 

Officials said that in total 21 people - including a retired police officer - had been held in the operation which was code named Eagle. Further arrests are planned.

Police said the legitimate holders of the identity card were involved in the scam and would be paid a cut.

The scam involved Albanians travelling initially to Turkey and then on to Britain via Rome.

The illegal immigrants would be "accompanied" through Italian passport control to help provide a cover and so as not to arouse suspicion.

But the gang were rumbled after one passport official began to closely examine an identity card which he suspected was false and the "owner" then ran off.

The gang was smashed after a passport official became suspicious

Footage provided by Italian police showed a couple walking through passport control after having their documents checked - the woman was travelling on a false identity card.

Rome airport police chief Antonio Del Greco said: "The operation was highly organised and highly lucrative as people were charged up to 10,000 euros a time.

"We suspect that at least a dozen people a week travelled to Britain using this method and it was arranged along the lines of a travel agency.

"The illegal immigrants were provided with false documents and accompanied to passport control by an Italian who would then travel with them to provide cover.

"The operation lasted 18 months and although we suspect a dozen people a week went through the true figure could be many more."

It comes just days after it emerged French fishing boats had been used to smuggle dozens of Albanian illegal immigrants across the Channel to remote beaches and cove along the south coast.

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PM Fails To Block Juncker From Top EU Job

David Cameron has lost his battle to prevent arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker from getting the EU's top job.

As expected, European leaders have backed Luxembourg's former leader to be European Commission President, in what critics argue is an "utter humiliation" for the British Prime Minister.

Mr Cameron has been campaigning against the appointment of Mr Juncker, arguing he would block reform of the EU.

He forced a vote on the nomination, breaking with tradition that the Commission chief is approved by consensus of the EU's national heads of government.

In the end only Hungary joined Britain in voting against Mr Juncker's appointment, which was approved by a margin of 26-2.

His nomination, which must be confirmed by a vote in the European Parliament, was announced by European Council president Herman van Rompuy on Twitter.

He wrote: "Decision made. The European Council proposes Jean-Claude Juncker as the next President of the European Commission."

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Hacking Trial Jury Discharged On Final Charges

Jurors who failed to reach verdicts on four final charges in the phone-hacking trial have been discharged by a judge who criticised the Prime Minister for comments that could have caused the case to collapse.

Andy Coulson, the former Number 10 spin doctor, and the ex-News Of The World (NOTW) royal editor Clive Goodman had been accused of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office by paying police officers for two royal phone directories.

But after sitting through eight months of evidence at the Old Bailey, the jury could not reach even a majority verdict and were discharged.

Ex-newspaper editor Andy Coulson has been convicted of phone hacking

It means stinging criticism of David Cameron can now be reported for the first time.

The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said he was "very concerned" about comments the Prime Minister made while the jury was still deliberating.

"What has happened is unsatisfactory so far as justice and the rule of law are concerned," he said.

The News Of The World was shut down in the wake of the scandal

The move to discharge the jury comes after Coulson was found guilty of plotting to hack phones between 2000 and 2006 while working at the NOTW.

The scandal, which cost the 46-year-old his job as the Prime Minister's communications director and led to the closure of his former newspaper, involved a list of high-profile targets, including Kate Middleton and Prince William, actor Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The incriminating email in which Coulson said "do his phone"

His former colleague Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks were cleared of the charges they faced.

Shortly after those verdicts were delivered, Mr Cameron led the way in what the judge called "open season" by apologising for hiring Coulson in 2007.

Sky's Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White, at the Old Bailey, said: "Those comments were very prejudicial, suggesting Coulson had been dishonest.

An emotional Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges

"There was a move by the legal counsel for Coulson and Goodman to have those remaining counts thrown out ... because they felt the jury wouldn't be able to reach fair conclusions.

"However, in essence, that argument is a moot point for the moment because the jury hasn't been able to reach verdicts."

At a heated Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of "wilful negligence" by "bringing a criminal into Downing Street".

David Cameron and Ed Miliband clashed at Prime Minister's Questions

His opposite number replied with regular references to the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, saying the report "made no criticism of my conduct".

The judge praised jurors for their "enormous patience and tolerance" and said they shown "exceptional" dedication.

A decision on whether to hold a retrial will be made next week, with sentencing possible on Friday.

Coulson faces up to two years in prison.

Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, of the Metropolitan Police, which launched Operation Weeting to investigate phone hacking at the NOTW, said: "Throughout the investigation, we've done our best to follow the evidence without fear or favour.

"We were conscious of the sensitivities and legal complexities of investigating a national newspaper containing confidential journalistic material.

"This investigation has never been about an attack on press freedom but to establish whether any criminal offences had been committed."

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Pair Jailed For Life Over Leicester Fire Deaths

Two men convicted of starting a house in fire in Leicester that killed a mother and three children have been jailed for life.

Tristan Richards, 22, and Kemo Porter, 19, were given minimum terms of 35 years and 25 years respectively after setting the house alight in a bungled revenge attack.

The pair were convicted at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday after a trial that revealed their "misguided and impulsive" arson attack was intended to avenge the fatal stabbing of one of their friends, 20-year-old Antoin Akpom.

Shehnila Taufiq and her three children died in the attack

But they mistakenly set fire to the wrong house and Shehnila Taufiq, who was in her 40s, her 19-year-old daughter Zainab and sons Bilal, 17, and Jamal, 15, all died as the blaze ripped through the house in Wood Hill in September last year.

On Monday, Shaun Carter, 24, was found not guilty of four counts of murder over the blaze, but guilty of four counts of manslaughter.

Nathaniel Mullings, 19, Jackson Powell, 20, Aaron Webb, 20, Akeem Jeffers, 21, and 17-year-old Cairo Parker were all also cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. 

Carter was sentenced to 15 years, while Mullings was ordered to serve 15 years in a young offenders' institution.

Webb, Powell and Jeffers were all sentenced to 12 years in prison.

After their deaths, Dr Taufiq said he would "deeply miss" his family

Parker was given eight years detention on account of the fact he was under 18 years of age.

When he was convicted there had been tears from the public gallery and cries of "he's only a baby!".

The trial against all eight defendants heard how they had intended to attack the house of another man they believed was involved in the death of Mr Akpom.

But they got the address wrong and mistakenly poured petrol through the letterbox of the Taufiq family before setting it alight.

The Taufiq family, originally from Pakistan, had a home in Ireland for 15 years before the children moved to the UK with their mother five years ago, to receive an Islamic education.

(L-R top) Jeffers, Parker, Powell (L-R bottom) Webb, Mullings and Carter

After their deaths, the children's father, Muhammad Taufiq al Sattar, a surgeon working in Ireland, said he would "deeply miss" his "beautiful" wife, daughter and two teenage sons.

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Dr Taufiq said: "I'm satisfied at the sentence and I accept everything.

"My family is with me 24/7 spiritually and these are the main motives for me. My own belief, religion, my God and my family are with me and these are the main motives for me to continue which I have been doing for the last nine months and will continue until my last breath.

"I'm going back to Dublin tonight where I will continue working at the hospital as well as helping at the community centre."

Dr Taufiq said he would be selling the family home, which had been uninsured at the time of the attack.

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Cameron Says Leveson Dealt With Phone Hacking

Hacking Trial Jury Watch Is A Waiting Game

Updated: 2:47pm UK, Wednesday 25 June 2014

By Jim Old, Sky News Producer

I'm not a fan of the public restaurant at the Old Bailey. For a start, it's not really public.

Unlike most English courts, you can't just walk in off the street and wander around the Bailey.

The word restaurant is probably stretching a point too. Think 1970s bus station refectory with cuisine to match.

However, the restaurant (shall we just call it a canteen?) is the traditional gathering place for journalists on "jury watch", the frustrating age-old process of waiting for a jury to return with verdicts.

Twelve good citizens are shepherded into a room at the end of a trial.

The door is locked and they're guarded by a jury bailiff who is sworn at the beginning of every day to keep them in a "private, convenient place" and "suffer no one to speak to them" until they've finished their deliberations.

No one, not even the bailiff, knows what is being said in that room.

There is no way of telling if they're progressing harmoniously or if they're locked in some fierce factional stalemate.

So what does the journalist do? He or she turns up at the court daily at 10am.

The jury file in, the bailiff is sworn and they file out again.

The journalist scrutinises their faces for some tiny indication of how things might be going.

He knows it's pointless to speculate but can't help himself.

How are they looking? Why are two jurors no longer sitting next to each other? Why is A smiling and B looking at her feet?

In the closing weeks of the hacking trial, jury-staring by all parties (defendants, lawyers and press) became so intense, the judge had to tell us to avert our eyes when they came into court.

Sitting around waiting for something to happen does not come naturally to reporters and as the days turn into weeks a certain anxious impatience can creep into the press pack.

Prolific hacking trial tweeter Peter Jukes described the jury watch atmosphere in the canteen as "semi-studious, semi-raucous ... like a school library when teacher's absent."

I'm not afraid of a bit of raucousness but I was afraid of failing to hear the tannoy announcement calling us all back to court 12.

After eight months covering the trial, the idea of missing the verdicts was enough to stop my heart.

With the jury locked in deliberation and no clues as to when it would end, Sky News always had a minimum five-strong team at the Old Bailey.

With all the other colleagues poised to leap into action back at Sky News HQ, I felt a weight of expectation on my shoulders. I could not imagine life after a missed hacking trial verdict.

So I sat in an empty courtroom (with a couple of other nervous types) and stared at the wood panelling behind the jurors' empty seats while listening to the soft hum of the air-conditioning.

When the jury did come back with their verdicts, I was ready (oh so ready) and waiting.

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90-Year-Old Dragged Off Street And Raped

Police in Rochdale have launched an investigation after a 90-year-old woman was attacked in the street and raped.

The woman was attacked as she walked to a butchers in Spotland Road around 6.45am on Tuesday.

A hand was placed over her mouth from behind and she was dragged backwards before she lost consciousness.

When she came round she walked to the shop and they called the police. 

Superintendent Alistair Mallen said: "I am sure the entire community will share our revulsion at this.

"The victim has been through an horrific ordeal and we are all hoping she can make a full recovery.

"She is now being supported by experienced officers and we are doing everything possible to reassure her that we will catch the man responsible.

"This kind of attack is thankfully so rare that it will naturally cause a huge amount of concern in the community.

"I now want people, including the criminal fraternity, to imagine if that had been your mum or grandma. I want to harness these feelings and use them to help the police do their job - catch this man and put him before the courts.

"It may not have struck you as significant at the time, but please, if you saw anything or anyone that you think could be relevant then please call the police."

Police want to hear from people who saw the victim - and potentially her attacker - on Tuesday morning.

The victim is white and was wearing a white summer dress with a flower print and a cardigan.

The attacker is described as a white male but no other details were available.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call police in Rochdale on 0161 856 8470/8420 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

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Billie Piper To Star In Phone-Hacking Play

By Lucy Cotter, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Billie Piper will star in a new play at the National Theatre inspired by the phone-hacking scandal.

Great Britain, which premieres on Monday, is fictional but based around the relationship between the press, politicians and police.

Sir Nicholas Hytner said the play would not prejudice the trial

Sir Nicholas Hytner who is directing the play says it does not touch on anything which could prejudice the jury in the hacking trial, however lawyers advised them not to put the production on until Monday.

The play was written by Richard Bean, who was behind the award-winning hit One Man, Two Guvnors. He has admitted he could only write when angry with "no one coming out of it well".

Ms Piper will play Paige Britain, the ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers.

Sir Nicholas insisted her character was not based on Rebekah Brooks, the former Chief Executive of News International, who was cleared of phone hacking charges on Tuesday.

But he conceded Richard Bean was inspired by what he saw as "an unhealthy network of relationships at the top of society between press, police and politicians".

Great Britain opens at the Lyttelton Theatre on Monday 30th June.

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Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Coulson arriving at the Old Bailey, earlier

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Mr Cameron has apologised for employing Coulson at Number 10 Downing Street

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

The trial has been ongoing at the Old Bailey in London for nine months

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people. From royalty and Cabinet ministers to victims of crime and bereaved families, nobody was safe."

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Former Inmates Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

The Queen has been shown around Belfast's Crumlin Road Gaol by tour guides with first-hand experience - Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness had both previously been detained at the former prison, known locally as the Crum.

They now share power in devolved government and accompanied Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on a tour of C wing.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Mr Robinson was locked up four times during the 1980s for protesting against the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Sinn Fein's Mr McGuinness was remanded there for six weeks in 1976 when accused of IRA membership.

Among the cells the Royal couple passed in C wing was the room where condemned prisoners were hanged.

The Queen pictured speaking to Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness

In 1996, the Governor emerged through the air-locked doors and slammed the gates shut for the last time.

Since then, the Victorian penal architecture has been restored.

The 19th century building is now a popular visitor attraction and is symbolic of Northern Ireland's journey toward peace.

Among the people the Queen was introduced to was Belfast lottery millionaire, Peter Lavery, who is turning A wing into a boutique whiskey distillery.

The Crum evokes memories of conflict, daring escape and in the case of 17 prisoners, execution.

Her Majesty visits the set of Game Of Thrones in Belfast

Some 25,000 people were imprisoned there, many interned without trial, during the jail's 160-year history.

Former inmates include Eamon de Valera, one of the leaders of Ireland's fight for independence, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and the prominent Unionist, Reverend Ian Paisley.

During their visit to Belfast, the royal couple also toured the set of the television drama Game of Thrones in the Titanic Quarter.

They met members of the cast and production crew, and viewed costumes and props used in the hugely successful first four series.

Other engagements include a trip to St George's Market, a civic lunch in Belfast City Hall and a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.

On Wednesday, the Queen will honour First World War soldiers from Northern Ireland and the Republic during an act of remembrance in Coleraine, County Londonderry.

It is Her Majesty's 21st visit to Northern Ireland, but never before have so many details been released in advance.

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Queen Visits Game Of Thrones Set In Belfast

Safe in the knowledge that there is no dispute over her place as monarch, the Queen has paid a visit to the Game Of Thrones set in Belfast.

Her Majesty was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the visit to the Paint Hall Studios in the city's regenerated Titanic Quarter, where much of the popular Sky Atlantic series is filmed.

The Royals met members of the cast including Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, Kit Harington, who stars at Jon Snow, and Lena Headey, who plays Queen Cersei Lannister.

Local Ballymena-born actor Conleth Hill, who plays the manipulative Lord Varys, was also on hand to show the dramatic influence the hit show has had on telly addicts and the Northern Ireland economy.

Cast members were on hand to greet Her Majesty

The Iron Throne was on display for the Queen, but she did not take the opportunity to test it out for comfort.

Instead she was given her own miniature throne to take back to the palace with her.

The Queen was also shown handmade costumes and props and armoury, while David Benioff and Dan Weiss, executive producers and writers of Game of Thrones, led a tour through the sets for the Red Keep and the Throne Room.

Kit Harington plays Jon Snow in the series

It is not known if the Queen and Duke are fans of the show, which is famous for its violence and nudity.

Northern Ireland is fast developing an international reputation as a leading filming destination, with the powersharing administration at Stormont offering attractive incentives to producers to film in the region.

The adaptation of George RR Martin's story is estimated to be the biggest TV production in Europe and its first four seasons have been credited with bringing a direct economic benefit of £82m to Northern Ireland, creating the equivalent of more than 900 full-time and 5,700 part-time jobs.

Series 4 of Game Of Thrones finished last week.

Earlier, Stormont's first and deputy first minister accompanied the Queen on a tour of a notorious Belfast prison, where both politicians were held during the Troubles.

Once a forbidding facility synonymous with the dark years of the conflict, the transformation of the old Crumlin Road Gaol into a popular visitor attraction is symbolic of Northern Ireland's journey toward peace.

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Phone Hacking A 'Shameful Episode' For Press

Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Updated: 3:43pm UK, Tuesday 24 June 2014

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people. From royalty and Cabinet ministers to victims of crime and bereaved families, nobody was safe."

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Cameron Apology: 'I Was Wrong To Hire Coulson'

Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Updated: 3:43pm UK, Tuesday 24 June 2014

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people. From royalty and Cabinet ministers to victims of crime and bereaved families, nobody was safe."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Colchester Murder Police Appeal To Cyclists

Detectives investigating the brutal murder of a woman who was stabbed 16 times as she walked along a quiet footpath have appealed for two cyclists to come forward.

The man and woman were seen cycling close to where Nahid Almanea, a 31-year-old Saudi Arabian student, was killed in Colchester, Essex.

It is thought they might have seen Ms Almanea, who was walking to the University of Essex last Tuesday when she was attacked.

The pair, believed to both be in their 20s, were seen on Salary Brook Trail, heading towards the Greenstead estate, at 10.45am on the day Ms Almanea was killed.

The woman is described as having long dark hair, and was a wearing a "flowing pattern-tiered shirt".

The man is described as having olive skin, dark and is tall and slim.

Officers have yet to find the murder weapon and say they are keeping an "open mind" about possible links between Ms Almanea's death and that of James Attfield in April.

The 33-year-old was stabbed 102 times in what police described as a "senseless and frenzied" attack.

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HS3 Line From Leeds To Manchester Outlined

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Britain needs a third high-speed railway line to create "a northern powerhouse", George Osborne said today.

The Chancellor used a speech in Manchester to argue that he wants to go beyond the north-south HS2 to create an east-west HS3.

In doing so he hopes to create "a collection of cities - sufficiently close to each other that combined they can take on the world".

The east-west connection between Leeds and Manchester would be based on existing rail routes but speeded up with new tunnels and infrastructure.

The first phase of HS2

It is an effort to address Britain's financial dependence on London, which currently accounts for nearly a quarter of the country's economic output.

Mr Osborne said: "The cities of the North are individually strong, but collectively not strong enough. The whole is less than the sum of its parts. So the powerhouse of London dominates more and more. And that's not healthy for our economy. It's not good for our country.

"We need a northern powerhouse too. Not one city, but a collection of northern cities - sufficiently close to each other that combined they can take on the world. Able to provide jobs and opportunities and security to the many, many people who live here, and for whom this is all about."

Together, the North's largest cities have a higher population than hubs such as New York and Tokyo, Mr Osborne added.

The high-speed network with HS3

Under current plans the £50bn HS2 project will provide 225mph trains from London to Birmingham in its first stage, before creating a Y-shaped network with lines to Manchester and Leeds by 2032/33.

The £21bn second phase would then connect Leeds and Manchester - but it remains an aspiration rather than a pledge.

The Government claims at least 60,000 jobs would be created in "the most important investment in the north for a century".

The proposal will be seen as an attempt to win support for the Conservatives outside their southern heartlands before the 2015 General Election, but a number of MPs with constituencies along the route are opposed to the project.

Mr Osborne said: "Of course, there are opponents of the project - just as there were opponents of the original railways. I've discovered that almost everything worth doing in politics is controversial."

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Pregnant Teen 'Killed By Obsessive Ex-Boyfriend'

A court has heard how a man murdered his teenage ex-girlfriend after discovering she was pregnant with his child.

Ben Blakeley, 22, is alleged to have killed 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson whose body was found in a graveyard at All Saints' Church in Didcot, Oxfordshire, last year.

Blakeley, from Reading, Berkshire, denies murdering Miss Parkinson, but he has admitted killing her and disposing of her body.

Miss Parkinson was last seen alive on December 3, 2013, when she was caught on CCTV leaving the One Foot Forward hostel in Oxford where she had been staying.

Half an hour later she was caught by another CCTV camera, this time at Didcot railway station with Blakeley.

Just after midnight the hostel reported Miss Parkinson missing to police after she failed to return.

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution case is that Jayden was killed by Ben Blakeley that same evening in open countryside south of Didcot - there is no dispute between prosecution and defence.

"We cannot be precise about location for this simple reason - unlike most killings the body was moved from where the offence occurred.

Miss Parkinson was last seen alive on December 3

"There is only one person alive who knows the truth and we would invite you to be very sceptical about what he says or has said."

Oxford Crown Court heard Blakeley was an obsessive and controlling character and regularly beat his ex-girlfriend.

Mr Latham told the court: "On any view (their relationship) was difficult. We allege he was controlling, to an obsessive and excessive degree.

"He was violent and abusive to her and controlling and hitting her."

Mr Latham told jurors that Miss Parkinson found the ending of the relationship difficult.

"She found it difficult to let go and hours before her death she left the hostel to meet him - it was the last time she was seen alive," said Mr Latham.

Despite admitting he killed Miss Parkinson, the prosecution refused to accept his plea and he is standing trial for her murder alongside a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The youth has pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but he denies preventing a lawful burial between December 2 and December 10 last year.

The trial continues.

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Iraq: 'More Than 1,500' British Jihad Recruits

Timeline: How The Iraq Crisis Unfolded

Updated: 10:23am UK, Monday 23 June 2014

A look back at the main events in the Iraq crisis, which has seen Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group move to within 50 miles of the capital Baghdad.

December 2011: US troops complete their withdrawal after the 2003 invasion which led to the removal of Saddam Hussein.

August 2013: More than 70 people are killed in attacks at the end of Ramadan. ISIS claim responsibility.

January 2-4, 2014: ISIS declares itself in control of the western city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi following clashes sparked by the clearing of a Sunni-Arab protest camp.

February: al Qaeda formally disowns ISIS, which was at one time an affiliate, because of its extreme methods.

April: Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki wins the most seats in a general election.

June 10: ISIS seizes all of Nineveh province in the north, including the capital Mosul - Iraq's second city. Mr Maliki asks parliament to declare a state of emergency.

June 11: The militants launch a wave of attacks further south, taking Tikrit and freeing hundreds of prisoners in Baiji. An assault on Samarra, 70 miles (110km) north of Baghdad, is repelled by security forces.

June 12: Iraq's air force strikes fighters' positions near Mosul and Tikrit.

US President Barack Obama says he is looking at "all the options" to help the government, which fails to secure authorisation for a state of emergency.

The army abandons its bases in Kirkuk, leaving Kurdish Peshmerga troops to take control.

June 13: A top Shia cleric issues a call to arms, telling the population to take up arms and defend their country.

Mr Maliki claims government forces have started to clear cities of "terrorists" and implements an emergency plan to protect Baghdad.

President Obama rules out sending back troops to fight ISIS.

The rebels move into the towns of Saadiyah and Jalawla in eastern province of Diyala.

June 14: Iran offers to work with the US to tackle the crisis, as Britain pledges an initial £3m in emergency aid to help refugees fleeing the violence.

The Iraqi army's fightback continues, with forces retaking the towns of Ishaqi, al-Mutasim and Duluiyah in Salaheddin province.

Troops also regain much of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

US aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is ordered to the Persian Gulf.

June 15: Photos emerge appearing to show an ISIS massacre of 1,700 captured government soldiers. Baghdad says number is exaggerated.

Reports say militants have overrun Tal Afar, the largest town in Nineveh province.

A bombing in central Baghdad leaves 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Former PM Tony Blair tells Sky News that critics who believe the violence is the result of the 2003 invasion are "profoundly mistaken".

June 16: Video footage purporting to show an ISIS fighter questioning and killing unarmed Iraqi soldiers draws condemnation.

ISIS takes control of Tal Afar and the al Adhim area of Diyala province.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington is "open to discussions with Iran".

June 17: Britain announces it is reopening its Iranian embassy, with William Hague saying the "circumstances are right" as the West looks to improve relations to help tackle the crisis in Iraq.

Iraq's Shia leaders accuse Saudi Arabia of promoting "genocide" by backing Sunni militants.

June 18: Iraq's foreign minister asks the US to carry out airstrikes to help reverse the sweeping gains of Islamist militants in the country.

David Cameron warns that if Britain does not intervene in the Middle East crisis then terrorists will "hit the UK at home".

Insurgents are seen parading through the city of Baiji with captured vehicles after reports they have taken over three-quarters of Iraq's biggest oil refinery.

ISIS charts its brutality and tactics in annual reports called al-Naba - The Report, it emerges.

June 19: Iraqi authorities say government forces have retaken the Baiji oil refinery after fierce fighting.

Barck Obama says US troops will not return to combat in Iraq, but he would be prepared to take "targeted action".

The president also announces additional equipment and up to 300 additional military advisers could be provided to help fight the ISIS insurgency.

June 20: Iraq's senior Shia religious authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calls for a new government for the country as it struggles to stop Sunni militants.

Barack Obama piles further pressure on Iraq's PM Nouri al Maliki, saying he needs to take urgent steps to heal the sectarian rift in the country, but stopping short of demanding he quit.

A video of British jihadists urging Western Muslims to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria emerges on social media.

June 21: The family of Naseer Muthana, 20, who appears in the ISIS recruitment video and younger brother Aseel, 17, who followed him to fight in the region say they are "devastated". 

The men's father Ahmed Muthana tells Sky News he believes his son Nasser was radicalised in a mosque in the United Kingdom.

In Iraq, dozens of Iraqi troops are killed as ISIS militants seize the crucial Qaim crossing into Syria.

A Shia preacher loyal to anti-US cleric Moqtada al Sadr warns that the 300 US military advisers en route to Iraq will be attacked.

June 22: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes out in opposition of US intervention in neighbouring Iraq.

President Barack Obama warns ISIS could grow in power, destabilise the region and pose a threat to the US.

The mother of one of two Britons filmed in a militants' video calling for Western Muslims to fight in Syria and Iraq, Reyaad Khan, pleads for him to come home in an emotional Sky News interview.

A former head of counter-terrorism at MI6 tells Sky's Murnaghan programme up to 300 Islamist fighters from Iraq and Syria may have returned to the UK and it would be "impossible" to keep track of all of them.

June 23: Barack Obama warns ISIS could pose a threat to the US, hours after the Islamist militants make dramatic gains by capturing four towns in western Iraq.

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Baghdad for talks with Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.

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Leicester House Fire: Pair Guilty Of Murder

Two men have been found guilty of murdering a mother and her three children in a bungled revenge attack in Leicester.

Shehnila Taufiq, 47, her 19-year-old daughter Zainab, and sons Bilal, 17, and Jamal, 15, all died when a fire engulfed their house in Wood Hill, Leicester, in the early hours of September 13 last year.

Kemo Porter, 19, and Tristan Richards, 22, were found guilty of their murders at Nottingham Crown Court.

Shaun Carter, 24, was found not guilty of four counts of murder but guilty of four counts of manslaughter.

Prosecutors had said the blaze was a "retribution process" for the fatal stabbing of Antoin Akpom, 20, hours earlier, but that the killers attacked the wrong house.

Shehnila's husband and the children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq

Nathaniel Mullings, 19, Jackson Powell, 20, Aaron Webb, 20, Aaron Jeffers, 21 and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

As the verdict for the 17-year-old was read out there were tears from the public gallery and cries of "he's only a baby!".

During the two-month trial, the jury heard football coach Mr Akpom had been stabbed in the back in a confrontation involving two 19-year-olds on September 12.

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, said the defendants were friends of Mr Akpom and they mistakenly targeted the Taufiqs' house, in the belief it was home to one of those involved in the confrontation.

The prosecutor said: "They simply got the wrong house - a tragedy."

The judge Mr Justice John Griffith Williams said he would hear mitigation tomorrow afternoon before sentencing on Wednesday morning.

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Mums-To-Be 'In The Dark About Silent Killer'

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky Reporter

A new campaign has been launched to highlight the need to protect pregnant women from a virus that can cause miscarriages, physical disabilities, deafness and blindness.

Many people carry CMV (Cytomegalovirus) - dubbed the "silent killer" because many people are unaware they have it - however, it can be extremely dangerous to unborn babies.

It currently affects 1,000 babies every year, a higher number than Down's syndrome, but there is no vaccine or screening programme.

It is normally spread through bodily fluids, so doctors say the best way for pregnant women to protect themselves is to wash their hands thoroughly.

Charity CMV Action, backed by pop star Kimberley Walsh, is trying to raise awareness by getting people to take pictures of their hands with the words "Wash away CMV" written on the palm.

Mandy Parks with her daughter Alicia, who was affected by the CMV virus

Professor Mike Sharland, children's infections specialist at St George's Hospital in London, told Sky News it is important to raise awareness among parents.

"In pregnancy because your immune system is a little weaker, if you catch the virus, very rarely it can go across to the baby and cause problems for the baby as well," he said.

Fifteen-year-old Alicia Parks caught CMV when she was in her mother's womb.

It left her blind, unable to talk or walk and needing 24-hour care.

Her mother, Mandy, is backing the campaign to raise awareness and believes more needs to be done to support parents,

"Sometimes I think the system brings you down because you fight for everything. You fight to prove that they are worse than a two-year-old or three-year-old or four-year-old, you fight for a disabled grant to adapt your house, you fight the system to prove that you can't go to work because now you're 24/7 looking after someone."

Research is ongoing into a possible vaccine for the future or more accurate screening programme, but at the moment experts insist the best protection for mothers is to wash their hands.

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Hundreds Of Kids Smuggle Drugs Into School

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

Hundreds of children are bringing drugs, including class A substances, into UK schools every year.

Figures obtained by Sky News show more than 1,000 pupils have been caught carrying drugs in schools over the past three years.

Among those pupils, 27 were found with class A drugs.

Some 93 pupils were charged with drugs offences, including six at primary school.

The figures come from 32 of the UK's 44 police forces but do not include some of the country's largest, including the Met and Greater Manchester.

Campaigners are concerned drug use among children is a problem that is being ignored.

Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of charity Kids Company, which works with children from deprived backgrounds, said: "A lot of (children) are born into households where their parents are prolifically abusing substances.

"What we're seeing now is that eight and nine year olds are beginning to smoke weed and skunk and then they go on to harder stuff.

"Unfortunately, in a lot of neighbourhoods, children see the drug trade as a completely legitimate way of making a living.

"It's become so familiar and in a way it's become so normalised because children are completely surrounded by adults who are using."

One 18-year-old who was addicted to cannabis for three years said drug use had been common among children her age.

Jade Clement, from Poole, Dorset, who now campaigns for the charity Fixers, said: "I always had a friend that I was smoking with. We constantly had to lie, tell our parents we were going to the cinema or swimming - anything like that so we could get a tenner.

"I was meant to be in school ... (but) if I had weed left over from the night before then I wasn't going in.

"I couldn't be bothered. It didn't interest me (and) the only reason I went in was so I could plan (to take drugs) with my friends ... that's all school was really about."

The Government says drugs have 'no place whatsoever in the classroom'

Schools in affluent areas say they are equally concerned about the likelihood their pupils will be exposed to drug use.

At The Hall, a prestigious independent school in north London, former addicts are invited to speak to pupils to warn them about the dangers of drug use.

Thirteen-year-old student Callum said: "It's quite daunting that I'll be offered drugs in the next three to five years. It leads me to think, 'What will I say? Will I be pressured?'"

The Government said banned items like alcohol and drugs have "no place whatsoever in the classroom".

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We've introduced a range of powers for teachers to ensure discipline, behaviour and safety are maintained.

"Teachers can now search a pupil without consent when they suspect they may be in possession of a prohibited item.

"Changes to the system mean a school's decision to exclude a pupil cannot be reversed by an appeals panel.

"Our guidance also makes clear that teachers can use force to remove disruptive pupils from the classroom when necessary."

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Colchester Stabbing Victim's Mum 'Terrified'

The mother of a vulnerable man who was stabbed more than 100 times in Colchester has told Sky News she has "total faith" in the police investigation.

Jim Attfield's murder in a park in March is being investigated alongside last Tuesday's killing of Saudi student Nahid Almanea elsewhere in the town.

"I know they are not leaving any stone unturned," Mr Attfield's mother Julie Finch told Sky News as police announced they had made a "significant development" in the investigations.

"Every bit of information they get, any bit of evidence, anything they find is thoroughly, thoroughly looked at."

Mr Attfield was found in Castle Park just miles from the other killing

Police have said it is not yet clear if the two killings were carried out by the same people, but acknowledge the attacks, in which the victims were stabbed multiple times, bear "obvious similarities".

In the statement on Saturday, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Worron of Essex Police said: "A criminal profiler from the National Crime Agency has carried out a thorough assessment of all the evidence in connection with both murders.

"A decision has been taken that they remain separate but parallel investigations at this time.

Police have been searching the site MS Almanea's murder for several days

"However the circumstances of both crimes mean that we must consider the possibility that the same killer or killers are responsible."

Ms Finch said she was "terrified" for her daughters following the murders.

"They don't go out on their own, I won't go out on my own. And it just goes to prove with this latest murder, it doesn't matter what time of day it is, where you are," she said.

Mr Attfield was seen on CCTV at a pub hours before his killing

"Everybody just has to be so much more vigilant, not just for their own safety, they have to be aware of the safety of people around them because obviously for these murderers to be caught will depend of information coming from the public."

Mr Attfield, a father-of-five, suffered from a brain injury after being hit by a car four years earlier.

His body was found with wounds on his arms, hands, back, neck and head in Colchester's Castle Park in the early hours of March 29. 

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Government 'Has Lost Control Of The NHS'

A Conservative health minister is under fire after she was recorded chuckling and saying the Government no longer has any proper "day-to-day control" over the NHS.

Jane Ellison was taped telling a private meeting of the Tory Reform Group that providing political direction to the health service "is a bit like being on a high-wire without a (safety) net".

She said reforms driven through by former health secretary Andrew Lansley, which gave doctors operational control for the day-to-day running of services, meant the Government "pretty much gave away control of the NHS".

Her comments were seized upon by Labour, which accused ministers of "washing their hands of responsibility for our NHS".

Jamie Reed, the shadow health minister, told the Observer newspaper that patients in "full-to-bursting A&E departments" would not find the reforms as thrilling as Ms Ellison appeared to.

"Mr Lansley's NHS shake-up was a £3bn fiasco that nobody wanted and nobody voted for," he said.

"All it succeeded in doing was in increasing bureaucracy and driving costs up."

The changes pushed through by Mr Lansley handed GPs control over 80% of the £100bn-a-year NHS budget, with doctors split into groups to commission services, including from private companies.

A spokesman for the Department of Health told Sky News: "Giving operational control for the day-to-day running of services to doctors was the right decision but we've always been clear that ministers are responsible for the NHS.

"We're proud of its performance in challenging circumstances."

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Colchester Police Hunt Suspect In Brown Jacket

Detectives hunting the killer of student Nahid Almanea have revealed new details about a man they want to question.

Police said a suspect who was seen near the scene of the 31-year-old Saudi's murder was wearing a distinctive brown jacket.

The man, who is described as aged between his late teens and 30, and of average build with thick dark hair, was seen on the Salary Brook Trail, where Ms Almanea was stabbed.

Police search a pond near the scene of the murder

The details were revealed as it emerged "hundreds" of officers from at least three forces are now working on the case.

Police also repeated their appeal to help identify a man wearing a bright red hooded top seen running nearby. 

This morning officers drained a local pond as part of their investigation but said they have yet to find the weapon used in the killing.

An image of the jacket police say a suspect was wearing

Det Chief Superintendent Steve Warron, who is leading the investigation, said an "intensive fingertip search" was being carried out and two other bodies of water would also be examined.

He also urged local residents to check their gardens and bins for any items they did not recognise such as bloodstained clothing or footwear, that may have been discarded by the killer.

Sky's Joe Tidy, reporting from Colchester, said police had described the latest development as significant rather than major, and that enquiries were running in parallel with the probe into the murder of Jim Attfield, found stabbed to death in the city in March.

"Police say there are obvious similarities with the murder of Jim Attfield that are too significant to ignore so they are looking to work alongside each other in both cases," he said.

Mr Attfield's mother, Julie Finch, told Sky News she was concerned that the killer or killers of her son, had not yet been found.

The last known picture of Ms Almanea before her murder

"You turn on the news and every story is a murder or someone is in court for murder," she said.

"Until you're in a situation where you've lost someone you don't notice it.

"But now I'm terrified for my girls. I won't go out on my own and it proves with this latest murder that it doesn't matter what time you go out or where you are. Everyone has to be so much more vigilant."

Ms Almanea was stabbed 16 times while walking along a path on Tuesday morning.

Jim Attfield was found stabbed to death in March

The student from Saudi Arabia had been taking an English language course at the University of Essex as part of her studies for a life sciences PhD.

Police released a CCTV picture of the 31-year-old taken moments before her death and a map of her likely route from the home she shared with her brother to the spot on the Salary Brook trail where her body was found.

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 01245 282103, Essex Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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