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Police Question UK 'Islamist Plot' Suspects

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 08 November 2014 | 22.11

Counter-terror police have arrested four men in connection with an alleged Islamist terror plot following raids across west London and in the Thames Valley.

The arrests came ahead of this weekend's Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day events.

Earlier this month, senior police officers and MPs said there was likely to be a significant rise in the number of armed police at Sunday's commemorations in London due to increased fears of a terror attack.

A 27-year-old man was arrested at gunpoint in a car in the street in Southall, west London.

Two other suspects, aged 22 and 25, were detained at addresses in Hounslow and Uxbridge, also in the west of the capital.

The fourth man, 19, was detained at an address in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Armed police took part in the operations in Southall, Hounslow and High Wycombe but no shots were fired.

The arrests were made on Thursday evening and in the early hours of Friday.

Counter-terrorism officers were leading searches of various properties in Hounslow, High Wycombe, Uxbridge, Southall, Greenford and Hayes.

The properties include a terraced house on Desborough Avenue in High Wycombe, Sky's Tom Parmenter reported from the scene.

Parmenter said there was some concern in the community over the arrest of the man in the town and the alleged "disproportionate" use of force by anti-terror police.

Youth worker Saqib Deshmukh, who knows the suspect, told Sky News: "One of the concerns that we heard was that it was a disproportionate use of force and armed response. Did it necessitate that? Was there a need for that to happen?

"Was there an actual threat on the ground? And that's a concern - that the actual number of forces and the level of force used is disproportionate and it doesn't merit it based on the evidence."

Local shopkeeper Sutha Tangaraj works opposite the house and told Sky News he saw the armed police arrive.

"At about 7pm or 7:30pm at least half a dozen armed police surrounded the house, they knocked the door and no one answered.

"A lady in the house eventually opened the door and they went and have since been searching ever since."

He said police were at the same address six months ago.

Mr Tangaraj said the man who lives at the property "is a regular customer and lives in the house with his family - his mother is very chatty".

The four men were all taken to police stations in central London. 

Scotland Yard said the arrests and subsequent searches were part of an "ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism".

Sky's home affairs editor Mark White said: "Scotland Yard are officially giving very little in the way of information on these arrests, but sources are suggesting it is linked to an alleged extremist plot against the UK."

The arrests came a few months after the national terror threat level in the UK was raised from substantial to severe, meaning a terrorist attack is "highly likely".


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

War Widows To Keep Pensions After Remarrying

War widows will be able to keep their pensions if they remarry under changes to Armed Forces pension schemes to be introduced next year.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced the changes following a long-running campaign for equal pension rights for partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.

Currently, war widows receiving pensions from schemes in place between 1973 and 2005 lose their entitlements if they co-habit or remarry.

But the new pension arrangements will ensure a spouse or civil partner of all members of the Armed Forces will retain their pension for life if they remarry after 1 April next year.

The scheme is expected to affect some 3,000 widows and cost an estimated £120m over 40 years.

Video: Anna Souby MP On War Widows Pension

Mr Cameron said it is "absolutely wrong" that under the current system some Armed Forces widows lose their pension if they choose to remarry.

"This means that people, who have made huge sacrifices for our country, have had to make an agonising choice between their financial security or loneliness," he said.

"That's why I was determined to put this right and to respond to the concerns of many who have campaigned for a long time on this issue.

"And I am delighted to announce that we will change the rules to ensure that when our Armed Forces widows find happiness with someone else they can keep their pension for life.

"This reflects our clear commitment to uphold the Armed Forces covenant which we enshrined in law."

Veterans minister Anna Soubry told Sky News that the reason it had taken so long was because all governments are reluctant to make changes retrospectively, but the Coalition had decided to evoke the military covenant.

Campaigners welcomed the change.

Irene Willis, chairman of the War Widows' Association, said: "After campaigning for this amendment, which will benefit a small number of war widows whose partners died in service to their country, we are delighted that the Government has decided to provide pensions for life."

Chris Simpkins, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: "The Armed Forces Covenant recognises that no one should suffer a disadvantage due to Service, and that the bereaved are entitled to special consideration.

"That is why today's announcement, that all widows and widowers will retain their pension for life, is so important."


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Hidden Stories Revealed Through WW1 Footage

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

For years, George Lumb's memories of his grandfather as a soldier were based on a handful of black and white photographs from almost 100 years ago.

But one night whilst surfing the web at his home near Rotherham, he came across some video footage from 1915 on the Yorkshire Film Archive's website.

It showed 1,000 troops of the 5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment parading through York before being sent to the front.

And there, on the front row of squad of marching soldiers, he saw his grandfather, George.

"It's amazement more than anything," he said. "We're talking almost 100 years ago and there he is as a young man, with thousands of other young men who went through that war.

Video: Royals Plant Symbolic Poppies

"I am proud of him. And that's me being deep because I'm not that sort of person - I might think it but I don't say it a lot."

There are touching moments in the film like a young girl running across the parade ground, or a woman holding a soldiers hand as he marches over York's Lendal Bridge. 

The regiment were to see some of World War One's most gruelling campaigns. They were also the first regiment to face the horrendous phosgene gas attacks.

Video: WW1 Soldiers Reinterred In France

But despite an arduous campaign, George Lumb and his two brothers, John William and Alburt, all returned home safely to Yorkshire.

The footage forms part of the archive's Filmed And Not Forgotten project to allow public access to their collection.

Martin Watson from the YFA said: "What I think is startling for us is that this is not a happy occasion, but it is an upbeat occasion.

Video: WW1 Centenary: Lights Out In London

"The soldiers are smiling, it's their chance to fight for King and country, they're pleased to go, to make a difference. There isn't that desperately sad feeling that we see later in the war."

For us, almost 100 years on from this film being made, it's a chance to see, close up, the faces of the men we do so much to remember.

The film can be seen here, and the YFA would like to hear from anyone who finds a connection with any of the films in the archive's remarkable collection.

Video: Europe Honours WWI War Dead

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Call For Probe Into 'Cannibal' Killer's Release

The decision not to monitor a man who then murdered a woman in a reported act of cannibalism after he was released from prison must be investigated, a Welsh politician has said.

Cerys Marie Yemm, 22, died after an attack at a homeless hostel in the village of Argoed, South Wales.

Sources have said she was found with substantial facial injuries.

Police fired a 50,000-volt Taser at Matthew Williams to try to stop the attack in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The 34-year-old was arrested but later became "unresponsive" and died in custody.

It is believed Williams had recently been released from jail after serving time for violent behaviour and the Ministry of Justice has confirmed he was not subject to probation conditions.

It is not clear if he had served his full term.

Video: 'I Feel Sickened And Shocked'

Welsh Assembly member William Graham said it was vital to look into the terms of the killer's release.

"It is now clear that Mr Williams posed a risk to the public and I am extremely concerned that monitoring appears to have been deemed unnecessary," he told the BBC.

"If true, a wider inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his release is urgently required.

"Questions must be answered by authorities and a full explanation provided on the decisions taken in this extremely tragic case."

The Ministry of Justice said a serious further offence review is carried out in all cases where a new offence is committed within 30 days of a prisoner being released.

Gwent Police have said they are not looking for any other suspects in the murder investigation.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also started its own probe into the suspect's death.

The post-mortem examination on Miss Yemm has started but Chief Inspector Paul Staniforth said it would "take some time".

He refused to be drawn on gruesome speculation over the attack, telling reporters it was "unhelpful and very upsetting for the family of the deceased".

It is believed Miss Yemm, who worked at Next, had met her attacker through mutual friends.

Video: 'Two Dead On Our Doorstep'

"I feel stunned, shocked and sick to my stomach," said a friend, who did not want to be named.

"It's horrific. She was a lovely person. She didn't deserve to die like that."

People in Argoed, 20 miles north of Cardiff, have told Sky News they are "sickened" by the apparent savagery of the attack.

The Sirhowy Arms Hotel - where Miss Yemm was discovered - is used by Caerphilly Council to house homeless people while they wait for permanent accommodation.

Local resident Susan Gibbs told Sky: "We have had a lot of problems up there. Every other week, well every other day sometimes, there are police up there."


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Tower Poppy Display Section To Stay On View

A key part of the Tower of London poppy display is to stay on show until the end of the month, before travelling around the country.

Huge demand from the public to keep the installation for the First World War fallen at the London landmark triggered a campaign to extend its lifespan and the Prime Minister has now stepped in.  

The Wave section of the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red artwork will remain on view until the end of November.

Together with the Weeping Window section, it will then be sent on a tour of sites across the UK until 2018 before finally going on permanent display at the Imperial War Museum.

David Cameron said the installation, created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, had become a "much loved and respected monument" in a short space of time.

Video: PM Visits London Poppy Tribute

"I think the exhibition of the poppies has really caught the public imagination, people have found that incredibly moving," he said.

"What we've managed to do is find a way of saving part of the exhibition for the nation and making sure it will be seen by many more people.

"Then it will be permanently saved by the Imperial War Museum - I think the right place for it to be - and something that marks the fact that everybody has found it so moving, so poignant, and such a brilliant idea.

Video: Tower Poppy Tribute From The Air

"By displaying parts of the installation around the country and then permanently in the Imperial War Museum, we have ensured that this poignant memorial will be saved for the nation."

Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha each planted a ceramic poppy at the Tower during a visit there on Saturday.

The tour around the country will be funded using £500,000 of penalty fines paid by banks over the Libor-fixing scandal, as well as donations from the Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation.

Video: Should We Wear Poppies?

General the Lord Dannatt, Constable of the Tower of London, said: "We are delighted that key elements of Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red - the poppies installation at the Tower of London - which has so captured the heart of the nation, are to be preserved for many more thousands of people to see and appreciate over the coming four years."

Large crowds have been rushing to see the display in its entirety, which features 888,246 ceramic poppies that have progressively filled the Tower's famous moat. Floodlights are being used to ensure as many people as possible get to see it before it is dismantled on November 12 - the day after Armistice Day.

A team of 8,000 volunteers has been lined up to start removing and cleaning ceramic poppies, before dispatching them to buyers who have paid £25 each to raise money for armed forces charities.

Video: Poppy Appeal Launched In London

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  1. Gallery: Queen Visits Poppy Installation

    The art installation will eventually consist of over 800,000 ceramic poppies, and serves to symbolise British and Colonial military fatalities in WWI

A total of 888,246 poppies will be planted in the moat by volunteers with the last poppy being planted on 11 November - Armistice Day

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'Cannibal' Death Victim Named By Police

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 07 November 2014 | 22.11

A woman murdered in a South Wales village - in what unconfirmed reports described as a cannibalistic attack - has been named by police.

Sources say 22-year-old Cerys Marie Yemm was pronounced dead at a bed and breakfast in Argoed, in the Valleys, after being found with substantial facial injuries.

Police fired a 50,000-volt Taser at Matthew Williams in an effort to stop his attack, before the 34-year-old man was restrained and arrested.

He later died in custody.

Gwent Police said they were not looking for any other suspects in the murder investigation.

The victim has not yet been named and officers have refused to comment on her injuries or reports they were in a relationship.

The attack happened at around 1.30am on Thursday at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel, used by Caerphilly Council to house homeless people while they wait for permanent accommodation.

Neighbour Susan Gibbs told Sky News: "We have had a lot of problems up there.

"Every other week, well every other day sometimes, there are police up there." 

Leon Gardiner, deputy mayor of the village, 20 miles north of Cardiff, said: "This has hit the community for six."

He told Sky News: "This is the sort of thing you don't ever expect... We've just got to live with it and hope that the hurt goes away - but it will take a long time."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has started its own probe into the suspect's death.

A Gwent Police statement confirmed "a Taser was discharged and a 34-year-old local man was arrested".

It added: "Whilst under arrest, the man became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics administered first aid but he was also pronounced dead at the scene."


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'Fake Rape' Case Investigated After Suicide

The Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating the case of a woman who killed herself after being prosecuted for making an allegedly false rape claim.

Eleanor de Freitas, 23, killed herself in April - three days before she was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of making up an allegation of rape against a man.

The CPS decided to prosecute her after the man reportedly spent £200,000 on a private prosecution.

The A-grade student, who had bipolar disorder, left her family a note blaming her fear of giving evidence as a motive for her suicide.

Lawyers for her family have called on the coroner to postpone an inquest into her death, which was due to start today, so that an inquiry can be carried out into whether the CPS decision to prosecute Miss de Freitas contributed to her death.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said she was "very saddened" by the death in a case she described as "one of the most difficult I have seen".

She added: "I have asked the team which dealt with this case for a full explanation which addresses all of the de Freitas family's concerns.

"I appreciate the family's unease which is why I am looking at this personally in order to satisfy myself of the detail surrounding all the stages of the case.

"Prosecuting cases of perverting the course of justice in connection with an alleged false rape allegation is rare, extremely difficult and always complex and sensitive."

She offered to meet Miss de Freitas' family "to discuss the case and the law surrounding it".

Miss de Freitas' father, David, told the Guardian that his daughter had been prosecuted "despite the fact the police did not believe there to be a case against her".

He added: "There are very serious implications for the reporting of rape cases if victims fear that they may themselves end up the subject of a prosecution if their evidence is in any way inconsistent.

"It is of the utmost importance that the CPS consider very carefully whether such cases are in the public interest."

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the alleged rapist was arrested by police soon after the complaint was made in January 2013 but, due to lack of evidence, he was released and the case was closed.


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Labour Pair Deny Secret Pact Over Miliband

Two of the most senior members of Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet have strenuously denied making a secret pact in the event of the Labour leader stepping down.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow health secretary Andy Burnham were reported by The Times to have struck a "non-aggression pact".

The newspaper quoted one figure as saying: "It's about presenting a joint offer to make a contest unnecessary."

But Ms Cooper's spokesman said there was "no foundation whatsoever" to the suggestion.

He said: "The spreading of lies like this only damages the Labour Party and should be seen as exactly what it is - complete and utter garbage. Yvette, the shadow cabinet and the party are united behind Ed's leadership."

Video: 'Complete And Pure Fiction'

The shadow health secretary's spokesman insisted there were "no discussions of this kind", adding: "The party is united behind Ed's leadership and we are confident he will become the next prime minister."

Mr Miliband made no comment and refused to answer questions as he left his home in north London on Friday morning.

Sky's Jason Farrell said: "This is probably the biggest crisis he has faced over his leadership thus far."

Video: Ed Miliband's Gaffes

Mr Miliband was earlier forced to deny reports that several backbenchers had demanded his resignation amid concerns over Labour's prospects of victory at next year's General Election.

Dismissing the reports as "nonsense", Mr Miliband insisted the party was focused "on the country and the things that matter to the country".

In a show of support, former cabinet minister David Blunkett has called for an end to "this bout of political insanity".

Video: Debate: Should Miliband Go?

"When you are standing on the edge of a cliff it is unwise to believe that by jumping you will suddenly learn to fly," he told The Guardian.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said Mr Miliband is "the right person to lead Labour and the right person to lead Britain".

One of Labour's biggest individual donors, JML founder John Mills, urged the party to "rally behind its leader ... not to get involved in internecine fighting like this".

Video: Labour: Potential Future Leaders

But Lord Soley, who as an MP chaired the parliamentary party, issued a bleak vision of the party's General Election prospects and suggested Mr Miliband should take a less prominent role as he was not seen by voters as a "charismatic potential prime minister".

And there was further bad news for Mr Miliband as a recording emerged of shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith saying the party is "dying" and that unless it becomes "much, much more vigorous ... then we are lost".

His remarks were made during a fringe event at a conference organised by CLASS, a left-wing think tank.

Video: Balls Denies Miliband Plot Rumours

A Labour spokesperson said: "Anyone who was at the event would know that this comment was a humorous dig at the age of the people attending the fringe meeting and not a comment on the Labour movement.

"It is ludicrous to twist it in this fashion.‎"


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Arrests Over 'Islamist Plot To Attack UK'

Four men have been arrested by police investigating an alleged Islamist plot to carry out an attack in the UK, according to Sky sources.

A 27-year-old man was detained at gunpoint in the street in west London on Thursday night.

Two others were arrested at addresses in the west of the capital and another in the Thames Valley, at a location believed to be in High Wycombe.

A number of locations and vehicles in those areas are now being searched by officers.

The men - aged between 22 and 27 - were taken to police stations in central London. 

Armed police also took part in the raids at two addresses but no shots were fired.

Scotland Yard said the arrests and subsequent searches were part of an "ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism".

Sky's home affairs editor Mark White said: "Scotland Yard are officially giving very little in the way of information on these arrests, but sources are suggesting it is linked to an alleged extremist plot against the UK."


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UK 'Halves' EU Surcharge, Osborne Says

Britain will pay the European Union half (£850m) of the £1.7bn surcharge it had demanded, Chancellor George Osborne has said.

Speaking after meeting European finance ministers in Brussels, he added that the deal was "far beyond what anyone expected us to achieve".

"Instead of footing the bill we have halved the bill, we have delayed the bill, we will pay no interest on the bill and if there are any mistakes in the bill we will get our money back," he said.

However, Sky's Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet says it appears the EU will still get the full £1.7bn as a result of what he said some would call "clever accounting".

Nisbet explained: "Next year there will be two instalments that will equal £850m that will be paid to Brussels by the UK and it will get its rebate in full. So far so good.

Video: Migrant Movements 'Not Unqualified'

"But the following year, in 2016 it appears that Britain won't be getting all of its rebate back, it will be the rebate minus £850m.

"So in effect Britain over the next few years is still going to be paying about £1.7bn but it's going to be done in a way that spreads the pain over a couple of years."

Mr Osborne said that EU rules would now be changed forever "so this never happens again".

The bill will now be paid in two instalments in the second half of 2015, after the General Election.

The Chancellor said he had got his EU counterparts to agree to changing the system for calculating adjustments to member states contributions.

David Cameron earlier warned there would be a "major problem" if Brussels insists on Britain paying the £1.7bn bill in full.

Video: 'Major Problem' Over EU Bill Demand

The PM went on the offensive after a meeting with other European leaders in Finland, saying Britain would not pay "anything like" the full amount ahead of a looming 1 December deadline.

The £1.7bn demand was made by Brussels after a recalculation of Britain's gross national income in relation to other EU states.

Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan also suggested the devil of the deal was in the detail, saying: "The EU sticks us with a bill. Ministers double it, apply the rebate, return to the original figure and claim victory. We're meant to cheer?" he said.

"Britain is worse off in absolute terms, but a straw man has been knocked down. A prelude to how the pro-EU side will fight the referendum."

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Tasered Man Dies After Valleys Assault Death

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 06 November 2014 | 22.11

A man has died after being shot with a Taser by police at a hotel in the Welsh Valleys - where officers went on to find a woman's body.

Gwent Police say they were called to reports of an assault at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, South Wales, in the early hours.

A spokeswoman said: "A Taser was discharged and a man arrested.

"The woman was located with injuries and was later pronounced deceased.

"While under arrest the man became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics administered first aid, but he also died."

The force said it had referred the incident to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is standard practice when anyone dies while in custody.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called to the hotel at around 1.30am, sending a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and a crew in an emergency ambulance.

A spokeswoman said: "The man and woman were both pronounced dead at the scene."

The Sirhowy Arms hotel is often used to house homeless people while they wait for council-provided homes.


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There's No Plot To Oust Miliband, Says Balls

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has insisted the party is united behind Ed Miliband's leadership denying growing unrest among backbenchers.

MPs are understood to be increasingly disgruntled with Mr Miliband's performance with the General Election campaign just around the corner and there have been claims a letter is being circulated calling for him to go.

At the weekend a YouGov poll put him at an all-time low in the popularity stakes - behind even Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who until now had been the bellwhether for leadership unpopularity.

On Wednesday he carried out a mini reshuffle taking advantage of a vacancy created by Jim Murphy quitting the shadow cabinet to stand for Scottish Labour leader to freshen up his team.

It came as the Labour-supporting New Statesman magazine wrote that he was out of touch with ordinary voters.

However, shadow chancellor Ed Balls denied a Labour rift and said that it was the Conservatives who had been riven by dissent. 

He said: "All I know is that everybody in the Labour Party, from Ed Miliband down, is focused on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, building an economy which works for working people, reforming Europe but not walking away, having tough and fair controls on immigration, saving our National Health Service - that's what Labour's for.

"It's the Conservative Party which are riven and divided and defecting left, right and centre. We will focus on Tory division, Labour will stay united."

He added: "I think it is all nonsense."

Another Labour source told Sky News: "We have spent four years being united as a party in a determination to be a one-term opposition.

"We're not going to be distracted by noises-off now."

Another added: "I think the leadership challenge stuff is b******* mainly because there's not a candidate who would be willing to do it"

Mr Miliband's approval ratings have dropped ever since he was elected leader in September 2010. 

There have been occasional bounces, including the energy price freeze announcement at the party conference in 2013, but his ratings were still minus 30 then and it was downhill from there.

Among the notable lows was the "bacon sandwich moment" - when unflattering pictures of him eating were published during the local and European election campaign in May.

Following what has been widely viewed as a disastrous party conference speech in September, during which he forgot to mention the deficit, backbenchers have become more disillusioned with his leadership.

Many, including Labour veterans, have openly said he is a hard sell to people on the doorstep.

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Bakery Faces Legal Action Over Gay Rights Cake

A Christian bakery owner says he faces legal action unless he pays out compensation for refusing to make a pro-gay marriage cake.

Ashers Baking Company, in Northern Ireland, turned down an order for a cake with an image of Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie below the words "Support Gay Marriage".

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland took on the case on behalf of the customer, who is a gay rights activist.

Daniel McArthur, general manager of the bakers, said he has received a letter from the commission claiming he has breached anti-discrimination laws.

He said the company has been told if it does not offer compensation within seven days it will face legal action.

Mr McArthur said: "We feel that the Equality Commission are pursuing us because of our beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman.

"It feels like a David and Goliath battle because on one hand we have the Equality Commission who are a public body, they're funded by taxpayers' money, they have massive resources at their disposal whereas we are a small family business and we have limited resources at our disposal.

"We're continuing to hold to the stand that we took originally because we believe it's biblical, we believe it's what God would want us to do, and we also think that if we do cave in to the Equality Commission at this point it'll put pressure on other citizens who are defending their view of traditional marriage."

Simon Calvert, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: "It is simply baffling for a body supposedly working for equality to be threatening a Christian family with legal action, all because of a cake.

"The Equality Commission has taken four months to dream up new grounds on which to pursue the McArthur family, claiming that they've breached political discrimination laws.

"If supporting same-sex marriage is a protected political opinion, so is supporting traditional marriage. Yet the commission clearly favours one view over another and is prepared to litigate to prove it."

Ashers was founded in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast, in 1992. It has six shops in Northern Ireland and employs around 60 people.

The company was named after a verse from the Bible, which refers to "Bread from Asher".

A spokesman for the Equality Commission said: "The commission has now received a response from the company's solicitors stating that their view remains unchanged that their clients have not acted unlawfully, confirming they have no further proposals to make on their clients behalf and that they will accept service of a civil bill in regard to this matter.

"This case raises issues of public importance regarding the extent to which suppliers of goods and services can refuse service on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief or political opinion.

"The commission will be issuing a civil bill in this case and a decision as to whether or not discrimination has occurred will be a matter for the court."

The Northern Ireland Assembly has rejected several attempts to change the law on gay marriage.


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Man Denies 'Frenzied' 1993 Murder Of Teenager

By Ian Woods, Senior News Correspondent

A man convicted of two attacks on women has gone on trial accused of the murder of a Kent schoolgirl 21 years ago.

Claire Tiltman was stabbed nine times in a "frenzied and remorseless attack," a court heard.

She had celebrated her 16th birthday just four days before she was killed in 1993.

The prosecution in the trial of Colin Ash-Smith, 46, claims that while in jail for the other offences, he befriended and confessed to a fellow prisoner that he had killed the teenager.

Brian Altman QC told the jury at Inner London Crown Court: "This was a killing carried out by a ruthless predatory armed killer, who attacked his chosen victim rapidly and stealthily, allowing her no time for defence or escape."

Mr Altman said that passers-by who came to her aid initially thought she was the victim of a road accident, but nothing could be done to save her and she died from her wounds on the pavement in the North Kent town of Greenhithe.

He told the jury that Ash-Smith - a former milkman - had already stabbed, attempted to strangle, and tried to rape another local woman four years earlier. She had been lucky to survive. Ash-Smith pleaded guilty to the other attacks in 1996.

He said: "The killing of Claire Tiltman did not end his spree because two and a half years later, in October 1995, when he was 27, the defendant attacked and stabbed another local woman some 360m as the crows flies from where the prosecution say he attacked Claire Tiltman in 1993.

"To all intents and purposes Claire's killing was an entirely motiveless attack. There was no sexual interference and nothing was stolen from her. 

"But to her killer Claire was a target for a completely senseless slaughter of an innocent young teenage girl, you might think for no better reason than the warped pleasure he derived from attacking a lone woman and the ultimate power and control it gave to him."

Mr Altman said police discovered journals entitled Assault Plans in which Ash-Smith bragged about his attacks.

Ms Tiltman had been taking her mock GCSE exams at the time of her murder. She had left home to visit her friend.

Ash-Smith has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

The trial continues.


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More Claims Of Abuse By Savile On NHS Premises

Twelve NHS Trusts have been contacted over fresh investigations into alleged abuse by Jimmy Savile on NHS premises.

The NHS Legacy Unit, which oversees NHS investigations into alleged abuse by Savile, passed on information from victims and the Metropolitan Police to the trusts, which are responsible for nine hospitals and health services not featured in earlier inquiries.

The new claims have emerged since 28 investigation reports were published in June, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed in a written statement.

Outstanding investigation reports, including into Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, as well as the publication of investigations into alleged abuse by Savile in children's homes and schools have been delayed until later this year, Mr Hunt added.

The following hospitals and health services are included in the fresh claims:

:: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

:: Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

:: Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale Pennine Acute NHS Trust

:: Scott House Hospital, Rochdale Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust

:: Bethlem Royal Hospital, South London and the Maudsley NHS Trust

:: Shenley Hospital, Central and North West London NHS Trust (now closed)

:: West Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service

:: St Martins Hospital, Canterbury Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

:: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

:: Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust

:: Meanwood Park Hospital, Leeds and York Partnerships Foundation Trust

:: Calderdale Royal Hospital, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

The June investigation reports found Savile had committed "truly awful" abuse against patients at hospitals across the country, and had even boasted about having sex with corpses.

Savile was branded as an "opportunistic sexual predator" who used the NHS and his celebrity status to "exploit and abuse" patients and staff.

Among the findings were claims the former radio presenter performed sex acts on dead bodies in the mortuary at Leeds General Infirmary and at least one other hospital.

The former Radio 1 DJ and Top of the Pops presenter died in October 2011 at the age of 84.

Efa Schimdt, a lawyer with Slater and Gordon which is representing 169 of Savile's alleged victims, said he was not surprised there were more allegations.

He said: "We must not stop until we know absolutely everything about how Savile was able to carry out decades of abuse in plain sight.

"The victims are pleased that we are getting closer to understanding exactly how all this was allowed to happen. However, with every new investigation the pain goes on."

Tracey Storey, a specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell which is also representing some of Savile's alleged victims, added: "It is incredibly worrying to see more concerns related to Savile emerge and it is vital that authorities work quickly to fully investigate these new allegations."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

GCHQ Chief Says Social Media Aids Terrorists

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 04 November 2014 | 22.11

The new head of GCHQ has accused social media websites of helping terror groups and called for closer ties with intelligence agencies.

Robert Hannigan, who began his new role at the UK's eavesdropping agency on Monday, said US technology companies must work more closely with intelligence agencies to prevent terrorists from misusing their services to avoid surveillance.

In an article in the Financial Times, he said: "However much they [tech companies] may dislike it, they have become the command and control networks of choice for terrorists and criminals, who find their services as transformational as the rest of us."

He added that GCHQ, MI5 and SIS "cannot tackle these challenges at scale without greater support ... including [from] the largest US tech companies which dominate the web".

Islamic State militants have been using the likes of Twitter and YouTube to post material online, including videos of the murders of British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning and US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in Syria.

Video: How Is Islamic State Funded?

Mr Hannigan said that smartphone and other mobile technologies increased the opportunities for terrorist activity to be concealed in the wake of the exposing of secret cables and documents collected by US and UK authorities by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

He called for better arrangements to allow security and intelligence agencies to police online traffic.

Jamie Bartlett, author of the book The Dark Net: Inside The Digital Underworld, said it was a difficult issue for internet service providers.

He told Sky News: "It is incredibly difficult for them [intelligence agencies] and the police and indeed on the big internet service providers to actually get a handle on just how much propaganda, how much material is being produced and shared by Islamic State and other terrorist groups on these platforms.

"What we've seen with Islamic State and indeed every other terrorist group is quite a sophisticated way of avoiding censorship.

"Islamic State has been really very good at creating hundreds of different accounts on Twitter and Facebook and every time they're closed down, they simply start again."

Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, denied internet companies were failing to assist in investigations.

She said: "The Government and agencies have consistently failed to provide evidence that internet companies are being actively obstructive.

"These companies have consistently proved through their own transparency reports that they help the intelligence agencies when it is appropriate for them to do so, which is in the vast majority of cases."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Henning Murder 'Turned Tide' On IS Recruitment

Henning Murder 'Turned Tide' On IS Recruitment

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: Henning Murder 'Backfired' On IS

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

The beheading by Islamic State of British aid worker Alan Henning may have led to thousands of lives being saved because it has deterred young Muslims from joining the jihad, a member of the government's top anti-radicalisation programme has claimed.

So brutal and callous was the murder of the Salford taxi driver that it has "turned the tide" of British people looking to join the fight in Syria and Iraq, Sky News has been told.  

In an exclusive interview, Sulaimaan Samuel, who works as a National Safeguarding Mentor for Channel, a Home Office scheme to tackle people judged to be at risk of radicalisation, told Sky News that IS propaganda tactics had "backfired".

It is the first time anyone who works as part of the project has given a detailed insight into IS tactics and the threat the group poses online.

Mr Samuel said the "grotesque" beheading of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in August and September led the Muslim community to start to seriously question IS.

British aid worker David Haines was also beheaded later that month. But it was the murder of Mr Henning in October that was the "turning point", Mr Samuel said.

Video: IS Propaganda 'Backfiring'

"I would personally say to Alan Henning's family: do not think his death has been some type of waste because it hasn't, because his death at the hands of IS is the very thing that has caused the Muslim community to realise that what IS stands for is wrong and can never be condoned.

"In Alan's death he has managed to save thousands of lives now and in the future of people who might potentially have been drawn into going out. He will be saving lives in the future.

"What IS has done has backfired."

Security Minister James Brokenshire said he believed the relative effectiveness of the terror group's own brutal propaganda machine had opened people's eyes to the true nature of IS.

1/6

  1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

    Alan Henning, 47, was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. Friends gave him the nickname "gadget" due to his love of technology

He was married for 23 years and he had a teenage son and daughter

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He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

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Mr Henning saw the plight of Syrian people and volunteered with a Muslim charity. He had been to the region at least three times

]]>
Henning Murder 'Turned Tide' On IS Recruitment

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: Henning Murder 'Backfired' On IS

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

The beheading by Islamic State of British aid worker Alan Henning may have led to thousands of lives being saved because it has deterred young Muslims from joining the jihad, a member of the government's top anti-radicalisation programme has claimed.

So brutal and callous was the murder of the Salford taxi driver that it has "turned the tide" of British people looking to join the fight in Syria and Iraq, Sky News has been told.  

In an exclusive interview, Sulaimaan Samuel, who works as a National Safeguarding Mentor for Channel, a Home Office scheme to tackle people judged to be at risk of radicalisation, told Sky News that IS propaganda tactics had "backfired".

It is the first time anyone who works as part of the project has given a detailed insight into IS tactics and the threat the group poses online.

Mr Samuel said the "grotesque" beheading of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff in August and September led the Muslim community to start to seriously question IS.

British aid worker David Haines was also beheaded later that month. But it was the murder of Mr Henning in October that was the "turning point", Mr Samuel said.

Video: IS Propaganda 'Backfiring'

"I would personally say to Alan Henning's family: do not think his death has been some type of waste because it hasn't, because his death at the hands of IS is the very thing that has caused the Muslim community to realise that what IS stands for is wrong and can never be condoned.

"In Alan's death he has managed to save thousands of lives now and in the future of people who might potentially have been drawn into going out. He will be saving lives in the future.

"What IS has done has backfired."

Security Minister James Brokenshire said he believed the relative effectiveness of the terror group's own brutal propaganda machine had opened people's eyes to the true nature of IS.

1/6

  1. Gallery: Profile: Alan Henning

    Alan Henning, 47, was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. Friends gave him the nickname "gadget" due to his love of technology

He was married for 23 years and he had a teenage son and daughter

]]>

He worked as a self-employed taxi driver

]]>

Mr Henning saw the plight of Syrian people and volunteered with a Muslim charity. He had been to the region at least three times

]]>

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Arrested On Terror Charges In Cornwall

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Hayle, Cornwall, on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism.

The man was arrested on Monday evening by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit and Devon and Cornwall Police.

He was being questioned at a police station in the Devon and Cornwall area, police said.

A police spokesman said the man was being questioned "in relation to conflict overseas" - specifically the situation in Syria - and not in connection with any imminent threat to the UK.

West Cornwall local police area commander Superintendent Jim Pearce said: "I would like to reassure the community that this investigation should have very little impact on local residents.

"The arrest was pre-planned and was not made in response to any immediate threat to public safety in Hayle.

"Our officers will continue to maintain a presence in the area, offering reassurance to the local community."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact police or call the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.


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Holiday Pay Should Include Overtime

Overtime should be taken into account when holiday pay is calculated, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled.

The tribunal ruled on two cases against Hertel UK and BEAR Scotland, which related to the UK's interpretation of the Working Time Directive.

Workers for these companies claimed their holiday pay was less than it should have been because their employers did not factor in voluntary overtime completed in the period prior to time off.

Brian Gordon, managing director BEAR Scotland, said they were "disappointed" by the decision.

"We believe that this interpretation of the Working Time Directive is significant for all UK employers, public and private, and we will reflect on our position before considering how to respond," he said

But unions welcomed the ruling, with Unite executive director Howard Beckett saying: "Up until now some workers who are required to do overtime have been penalised for taking the time off they are entitled to.

"This ruling not only secures justice for our members who were short changed, but means employers have got to get their house in order."

Business groups have described the ruling as a "blow" to business, with Confederation of British Industry director-general John Cridland warning of "punitive costs potentially running into billions of pounds".

"Not all will survive - which could mean significant job losses," he said.

"These cases are creating major uncertainty for businesses and impacting on investment and resourcing decisions.

"We need the UK Government to step up its defence of the current UK law, and use its powers to limit any retrospective liability that firms may face."

Tim Thomas, head of employment policy for manufacturers' organisation EEF, said firms will have little option but to factor the additional costs in to future pay negotiations and to reduce overtime, while one in four could cut jobs.

Some businesses had already prepared for the worst, with John Lewis setting aside £40 million to reimburse workers. 

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Government will review the judgement in detail as a matter of urgency."

He said a taskforce has been set up to discuss how to limit the impact of the decision for businesses, adding: "Employers and workers can also contact the Acas helpline for free and confidential advice."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

GCHQ Shouldn't Have Unfettered Access To Data

For a man who would prefer to remain in the shadows, he's got an incendiary turn of phrase.

Social media, he said, is the "command and control networks of choice for terrorists and criminals".

Technology companies, said Robert Hannigan, are "in denial about its misuse".

And the new head of GCHQ, has called for "a more sustainable relationship between the (intelligence) agencies and the technology companies.

"Increasingly their services not only host the material of violent or child exploitation…," ah pity - that's where the argument for greater government access to the data on users of social media begins to collapse.

In invoking visceral fears of child molesters, the head of the UK's surveillance agency is preying on the nation's deep dark fears to seek national permission to snoop into every corner of our lives.

Video: Social Media Aiding Terrorists

I'm reminded at this point of a private conversation I had with a Cabinet minister who was pushing the Communications Data Bill - which has since been shelved.

"If you've got nothing to hide you have nothing to fear," the minister said.

Really?

"Paedophile rings and terrorists are getting ahead of us. We need to get access to their data to prevent their attacks," the minister added.

One can safely assume that the new GCHQ boss, Mr Hannigan, and the minister are entirely decent people with a dependable grasp of the notion that free speech is the blood of democracy.

Video: Oct: IS Video Of US Weapons Drop

But whatever the horrors that terrorists have in store for us, the spies have not made the strategic case for the abandoned "Snoopers' Charter" or for even wider powers to suborn the private sector into conducting surveillance of its own clients.

"Trust me" isn't a good enough position to take when the spy agencies have been exposed for the bugging of allies and the wholesale mining of private communications.

In the UK they don't even face judicial oversight when dipping into phone and internet data. Warrants are issued by ministers, not magistrates.

Mr Hannigan argues that Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has "embraced the web as a noisy channel in which to promote itself" and that GCHQ, MI5 and the Secret Intelligence Service cannot "tackle these challenges at scale without greater support from the private sector".

That is obviously a Bad Thing.

Video: Sept: New Pro-IS Accounts

But so is a licence to almost unlimited plunder of private data because it won't just be the "trustworthy" Western powers that demand it.

If gobble, faceache, twaddle, whatsit, and instabore were to agree to share their data with Western spooks, they would have to open their servers to the scrutiny of China, to Russia, or North Korea too.

The spy chief is angry that Islamic State has harnessed the borderless freedom of the internet to its own advantage. So should anyone be who is repulsed by the videos of mass murder and beheading it has been sending out.

But that isn't an argument for censorship or the unfettered right for spy agencies to mine our metadata and peek into our online lives.

They cannot and should not be trusted to do that.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM Risks Boxing Himself Into A Corner Over EU

Written By Unknown on Senin, 03 November 2014 | 22.11

Like it or not, if you want to get something done in Europe the first priority is to get the Germans on side.

That's why David Cameron's hopes of significant reform to the Free Movement of People principle have suffered a serious blow.

In a frosty conversation in the sidelines of a recent Brussels summit, Angela Merkel reportedly told Mr Cameron he was approaching a point of no return and she would prefer to see Britain leave the EU rather than change the free movement law.

Yes, those very rules that the Prime Minister promised to put at the heart of his renegotiation strategy.

Mr Cameron is at risk of boxing himself into a corner - promising sweeping changes to Britain's relationship with Brussels that he can't possibly deliver.

Video: Johnson Reacts To Merkel Comments

One school of thought in Number 10 is that it's the taking part that counts.

They believe the PM will get credit just for trying to stand up against Brussels.

Others argue he shouldn't be banging on about Europe in the first place.

Increasingly, Conservative high command is worried that UKIP is being allowed to dictate the election battleground.

At a recent Tory away day, the US Strategist Jim Messina told MPs that every moment they weren't talking about the economy was a wasted moment.

Mr Cameron can't change political thought in Germany - but he can mould the terms of the debate back at home.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Fine And Dandy': Teen's Pride At Killing

Ann Maguire's highly dangerous teenage killer was described by a psychiatrist as having a "gross lack of empathy for his victim and a degree of callousness rarely seen in clinical practice".

Those who were present when the popular teacher lay dying after fleeing the attacker said she spoke about her children and the fact she was loved.

At the same time, the then-15-year-old calmly sat down at a computer and told fellow pupils: "I stabbed her. Pity she didn't die."

Other students had heard him warn that he was going to attack the Spanish teacher with a knife, but did not take him seriously.

:: Follow Sky News correspondents from Leeds Crown Court

Even when he brandished the 21cm (9in) blade and winked at one classmate, those present may have been mindful of his earlier warning that he would "kill them" if they told.

One schoolboy who witnessed the attack said he remembered sitting "in absolute panic and shock" as the killer repeatedly stabbed the 61-year-old in the neck and back - even punching her at one point.

She fled and he pursued her, before a female staff member helped her into a workroom and blocked the door.

It was clear to the witnesses that the teenager was pleased with what he had done - the boy even said "good times" to horrified pupils as he returned to the classroom.

Video: Teacher's Sister: Ann Embraced Life

The boy, who cannot be named, chatted to them "as if nothing had happened", telling them: "Everything I've done is fine and dandy."

He remained remorseless as he underwent psychiatric assessment in the wake of the brutal killing.

He discussed having planned the murder for years in advance, saying "The killing was always on my mind since year eight, the thought of homicide, murdering her."

The teenager had even taken a bottle of Jack Daniels into school on the day of the murder with the intention of "celebrating" his actions.

"I wasn't in shock, I was happy," he later told a psychiatrist.

Video: Anne Maguire's Family Pay Tribute

"I had a sense of pride. I still do."

As the court heard, the fact the boy's family life "was marked by love and support" made his actions all the more "inexplicable".

Prosecuting barrister Paul Greaney QC said: "The murder was committed in public in front of many young people. The damage to those children remains to be seen but it is not difficult to imagine.

"The court would be entitled to conclude that the defendant derived pleasure from the public nature of the killing.

"The prosecution does not accept that this defendant's psychiatric make-up affords any mitigation."

Video: Police Welcome Sentence For Teen

And the teenager's state of mind would also appear to make little difference to the many people who loved and admired Ann Maguire, including her widow, Don.

"I can no longer be a dad, I need Ann," he said, in a statement read out to the court.

"Facing the world is very difficult, days are difficult, special days are especially so. There will be no closure, no end. Present and future are but words."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Insane Psychopath' British Banker In Court

A British investment banker charged with the murder of two women in Hong Kong has been remanded in custody.

Banker Rurik Jutting, 29, was arrested after the women's bodies were discovered at an apartment in Hong Kong's Wan Chai district.

During his appearance he wore black trousers and a black T-shirt. He was remanded in custody and will return to court on 10 November.

Mr Jutting had recently quit his job with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and reportedly left an out of office email message urging correspondents to contact someone "who is not an insane psychopath".

The message, which has not been verified by the bank, read: "I am out of the office. Indefinitely. For urgent enquiries, or indeed any enquiries, please contact someone who is not an insane psychopath.

"For escalation, please contact God, though suspect the devil will have custody (Last line only really worked if I had followed through)."

Video: Victims' Friend Talks To Sky News

Last Monday he posted a Facebook photo of his balcony in the high-rise J Residence, which has a gym, clubhouse and rooftop pool, and said he was starting a "new journey".

He wrote: "Stepping down from the ledge. Burden lifted; new journey begins. Scared and anxious but also excited. The first step is always the hardest."

Officers arrived at the 31st floor flat early on Saturday after receiving a call from the suspect.

They discovered the body of Jesse Lorena, 30, lying naked in the living room with knife wounds to her neck and backside.

Police also found a small amount of cocaine and a 12-inch knife in the flat.

Assistant Commander Wan Siu-hung told reporters: "We believe the death was caused by a sharp object which cut the throat of the deceased.

1/5

  1. Gallery: Banker Charged Over Hong Kong Killings: The Victims

    Jesse Lorena was found in the living room with wounds to her neck and buttock

  2. Police believe Sumarti Ningsih died on 27 October. Her body was found in a suitcase

  3. Jesse Lorena was well-known in Hong Kong's Wanchai district

  4. A friend said Ms Lorena worked expat bars to build a better life in her native Indonesia

  5. Away from her life in Hong Kong, Ms Lorena wears a traditional headscarf in Facebook photos

"This led to copious bleeding. When the police found her, she was lying in the living room. The room was messy."

Eight hours later, at about noon on Saturday, police widened the forensic examination of the apartment and made the second discovery.

The body of the second woman, named in a court document as Sumarti Ningsih, 25, was found in a brown suitcase on the apartment's balcony with the feet hanging out.

A police source quoted by the South China Morning Post said: "She was nearly decapitated and her hands and legs had been bound with ropes.

"She was naked and wrapped in a towel before being stuffed into the suitcase. Her passport was found at the scene."

She too had wounds to the neck. Police say she died on 27 October.

1/4

  1. Gallery: Suitcase Murder: Briton Appears In Hong Kong Court

    Rurik Jutting recently left his banking job. Pic: Facebook

  2. Police have been searching the flat where the women's bodies were found

  3. One of the bodies was found hiden in a suitcase on the balcony

  4. Assistant Commander Wan Siu-hung said both victims had injuries to the neck

Police sources have told local media they believe the women were Indonesian and worked in the sex industry.

Mr Jutting studied history and law at Cambridge University and was a member of the prestigious rowing club and the history society, which is called Clio.

He had worked for Merrill Lynch from 2010 until only a couple of days ago, spending three years at their offices in London before moving to Hong Kong in July last year. Prior to that he worked at Barclays in London.

The neighbourhood of Wan Chai is effectively Hong Kong's red light district. A large number of women from southeast Asia spend time in the district's many bars and clubs.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a British national had been arrested in Hong Kong, although did not specify the nature of the crime.

"We are in touch with the local police and stand ready to provide consular assistance," she said.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Merkel Warns Cameron On EU Immigration: Reports

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported to have made clear she will withdraw her support for Britain's continued EU membership if David Cameron insists on pushing through curbs on immigration.

News weekly Der Spiegel quoted government sources as saying Ms Merkel fears the UK is approaching "the point of no return" and is becoming worried for the first time that a British exit is a real possibility.

In response to the report, Downing Street said Mr Cameron remained determined to address the issue of immigration in renegotiating Britain's EU membership.

Chancellor George Osborne also said the Conservatives would "make sure Britain gets a fair deal".

Ms Merkel is reported to have told the PM on the sidelines of an EU summit last month that his efforts to limit immigration undermined core principles of bloc.

Video: 'We Will Fight For UK's Interest'

"Should Cameron persist (in this plan), Chancellor Angela Merkel would abandon her efforts to keep Britain in the EU," the sources were quoted as telling the magazine.

"With that a point of no return would be reached," they said, adding: "That would be it then."

There was no suggestion in the Der Spiegel report that Germany would itself push Britain towards the exit.

Ms Merkel has said she strongly backs continued British membership, but not at any price.

Video: Johnson Reacts To Merkel Comments

No member state has ever left the 28-nation bloc, although there is a legal mechanism for a country to do so if it chooses. Other member states cannot force a country out.

The Prime Minister wants to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership ahead of the Conservatives' promised referendum by the end of 2017.

He is under pressure to tighten the UK's immigration controls to counter the growing popularity of UKIP.

Mr Cameron will be aware of the need to calm Tory jitters ahead of this month's crunch by-election in Rochester and Strood, where the party is desperate to prevent a second seat falling to UKIP.

Video: Closer Look At Immigration Figures

The Sunday Times reported he was drawing up plans to ban migrants who do not have a jobs and deport those who are unable to support themselves after three months in the country.

A German government spokesman said the general principle of freedom of movement in the EU is not negotiable, but added there is a strong interest in the two countries discussing how to tackle abuse of that freedom.

Downing Street described the report of Ms Merkel's warning as "speculation", but said Mr Cameron would press ahead with renegotiating changes to EU immigration.

"The Prime Minister's view on this hasn't changed," a Number 10 spokeswoman said.

Video: EU Demand: What Are PM's Options?

"He was clear before the European Council that he recognises the British public have got concerns about the impact of EU migration here in the UK, and he is going to address these as part of the renegotiation."

Reacting to the reported remarks, Mr Osborne said: "We will fight for Britain's interest, we will make sure that Britain gets a fair deal in Europe and then make sure the British people have the final say in a referendum."


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Teacher's 'Savage' Killer Must Serve 20 Years

A teenager who murdered Leeds school teacher Ann Maguire in front of other pupils showed no emotion as he was handed a minimum of 20 years in jail.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, had a "deep-seated and irrational hatred" for his Spanish teacher at Corpus Christi College in Leeds.

Ahead of the killing in April he had also planned to murder two other teachers, including one who was pregnant.

He had previously accepted responsibility for unlawful killing but this morning issued a formal guilty plea to the murder charge at Leeds Crown Court.

:: Follow Sky News correspondents from Leeds Crown Court 

Video: Anne Maguire's Family Pay Tribute

Two months before the murder, the boy sent a message on Facebook which said of Mrs Maguire: "The one absolute f****** bitch that deserves more than death, more than pain and more than anything that we can understand."

He even showed some other pupils the 21cm knife he planned to attack Mrs Maguire with on the day of the murder but "many did not take him seriously", the court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said the teenager stabbed Mrs Maguire seven times in the neck and back as she leaned over a desk to look at another pupil's work. 

When she tried to run away, he chased her.

Video: Police Welcome Sentence For Teen

Another teacher, Susan Francis, saw Mrs Maguire running down a corridor, saying: "He's stabbed me in the neck", with the boy pursuing her. The female teacher pushed her colleague into a room and then blocked the door to prevent the boy getting in.

The teacher said that, as Mrs Maguire lay injured, she spoke about her children and the fact that she was loved. A paramedic who tried to save her said later that the stab wounds were the worst he had ever seen.

Meanwhile, the boy went back to the classroom and sat down "as if nothing had happened", Mr Greaney said

Mr Greaney said that the boy's parents are "decent and responsible" and at a loss to understand what has happened but that the boy was currently "highly dangerous and has psychopathic elements to his personality".

1/9

  1. Gallery: Tributes To Leeds Teacher After Her Death In April

    Pupils, staff and members of the public paid tribute to Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, 61, who was fatally stabbed at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds.

  2. This message reads: 'R.I.P Mrs Maguire. A wonderful teacher and lady! You will be dearly missed.'

  3. 'Miss Maguire. Such happy memories of you as my teacher and head of year in year 11. I am so pleased I got to be head girl during the time you wear head of year 11.'

  4. 'Mrs Maguire. Such a tragedy and so sad to lose you. You taught me more than 20 years ago. You taught my children too. You will be missed by many and more.'

  5. 'Mrs Maguire. Thank you for everything you did for me, I'll never forget it! You were a true inspiration among the whole of the school community! I hope one day I touch as many hearts as you did.'

  6. 'Your presence we will miss, your memories we will treasure, Mrs Maguire we love you and will think of you forever. All my love to you, your family and friends.'

  7. 'Mrs Maguire you were a wonderful teacher, you will be sadly missed. Lots of love.'

  8. 'Mrs Maguire, RIP. A lovely woman, always had a smile and was a wonderful teacher. A pleasure to have known you.'

"That his anger and hatred in fact became focused upon a person as decent and loved as Ann Maguire only makes this more tragic," he added.

Mrs Maguire's husband Don said the "callous cruelty" of the murder "defied comprehension".

"Now all dreams have gone forever - the centre of our lives is missing." Her daughter Kerry said the murder "has stripped me of my key support in life: my mummy," he said.

The judge said the boy showed a "total and chilling lack of remorse", adding that the teenager's pride in what he did and lack of remorse was "truly grotesque".

1/14

  1. Gallery: School Community Mourns Teacher - April 2014

    Schoolchildren arrive at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Neville Road, Leeds, a day after a teacher was stabbed to death.

  2. A school staff member grieves outside the school gates.

  3. Flowers and a picture of Mrs Maguire, who taught Spanish.

  4. People comfort each other outside the school.

  5. Monsignor Paul Fisher conducts a mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church for people to pray and pay their respects to Mrs Maguire. Click through for more images...

He said that the public killing would leave many "traumatised forever" and showed a level of violence which was "savage and cowardly".

But he paid tribute to the boy's parents, who sat in court, and to the "calm dignity" of Mrs Maguire's family.

Outside court, Mrs Maguire's family paid tribute to those who had supported them during "this terrible nightmare".


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Call For More Parents To Adopt Siblings

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 02 November 2014 | 22.11

By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter

A shortage of people willing to adopt more than one child means some brothers and sisters are being split up.

Each year in the UK some 6,000 children need adopting and nearly half of them have siblings, according to research by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF).

But matching a pair or group of siblings to a new family is not always easy.

John Simmonds, director of policy, research and development for BAAF, told Sky News part of the reason could be that many prospective adopters get used to the idea of raising just one child.

"The expectation is: 'That's what I can manage, that's what I have in mind when I'm thinking about having children of my own'," he said.

He added that apart from cases where placing siblings together is not appropriate, keeping brothers and sisters with each other is important, particularly as many of the children will have had a difficult start to life.

"Someone doesn't want to add to the trauma of separating children from their birth parents to also separate siblings from each other."

Brothers and sisters are also among the children who wait longest to be matched with a family.

During next week's National Adoption Week the BAAF is hoping to encourage more people to consider adopting siblings.

Karen Goodman, a social worker with 30 years' experience in children's services, told Sky News there is a need for as many potential adopters as possible.

"Social workers and the adoption panels will always try to find prospective adopters who can take sibling groups, but it's a challenge and it's a tall order.

"Also boys are harder to place than girls and the older the children are, the harder they are to place."

Civil partners Scott and Tristan Casson-Rennie adopted two young brothers, Frasier and Brandon, seven years ago.

Scott said: "When they came to live with us and we had some tricky times people would say, 'Well wouldn't it have been better if you just had one of them?'... No."

The boys - who have four siblings elsewhere - are now 15 and 16, and told Sky News they were lucky to have been able to stay with each other.

"I was on my own so I didn't have any other siblings around but when Brandon come along I felt happy again. I felt like I can move on with another person beside me."

Brandon said: "I think it would have been really, really hard to live by myself."

Despite some challenges, their parents hope others will consider the positives of adopting siblings.

Tristan said: "We have two amazing boys that have gone on to do some wonderful things in their teenage years and they will go on now to be amazing adults.

"I firmly believe that is a part of keeping them together, so that they can bounce off each other."


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