Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 Desember 2014 | 22.11
With obesity on the rise in the UK, health authorities are rolling out a new programme aimed at getting the nation back in shape through a better diet and more exercise.
Under the scheme, GPs in England will be asked to monitor patients who are putting on weight and offer them help to stop them becoming obese.
Obesity is estimated to cost Britain almost £47bn every year - more than war and terrorism.
A report from the European Commission shows that the obesity rate in the UK has increased over the past decade, making it the second highest in the EU after Hungary.
As part of the programme, thousands of people at risk of diabetes will be offered support to improve their health.
More than three million people in the UK have diabetes.
The programme aims to get people on a healthier diet
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: "The ghost of Christmases past reminds us that 20 years ago we didn't have these problems as a nation.
"The ghost of Christmases future tells us that if we get our act together - as the NHS, as parents, as schools, the food industry - we can get back in shape."
The European Court of Justice recently ruled that people who are obese could also be considered disabled.
But Mr Stevens called that ruling "daft" and said obesity is not "inevitable".
The NHS England leader said those at risk of diabetes can cut their chances of getting the disease by 60% if they lose between five and 7% of their body weight.
Simon Stevens, head of NHS England
The new programme "will offer tens of thousands of people at risk of diabetes proper support to get healthier, eat better and exercise more", Mr Stevens said.
Almost two-thirds of adults in the country are either overweight or obese.
Obesity is calculated through the body mass index, which is determined looking at the weight and height of the person. A BMI of between 25 and 30 means a person is overweight, a BMI of 30 or over means a person is obese.
Forecasters have raised the cold weather alert for large swathes of Britain - warning of ice, plumetting temperatures and up to 10cm of snow.
The Met Office has increased its alert level from yellow to amber - the second highest warning - for the the Midlands and the North of England.
An amber alert means "there is a 90% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow".
The South, Northern Ireland, Wales, East Anglia, London and Kent are on yellow alert, meaning there is a 70 to 80% chance of freezing conditions.
Areas most likely to be affected by snow
In some central and northern parts, up to 10cm of snow could fall later today.
Meanwhile, temperatures could dip below freezing across much of Britain next week - falling to -15C in some parts.
Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "After this evening's low pressure system spirals into the near continent, the remnants of any snow should clear and it will turn icy.
"Scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow are likely to affect many areas during Saturday, but it will turn drier and clearer as high pressure moves in through Sunday and the run up to New Year.
"That period is likely to be the coldest of 2014 with some very low temperatures forecast. Minima of minus 10 to minus 15C are possible with daytime highs barely reaching zero or 1C in central areas."
The Met Office cold weather alert warns conditions could "increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services".
Met Office meteorologist Krista Mitchell said: "This year as a whole has been very mild, so this could be the coldest spell that we've had.
"As we go towards Monday and Tuesday, we will see overnight temperatures really drop, with widespread frost and most places dropping below freezing."
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said it was monitoring the conditions.
"As ever, the public have a vital role to play in terms of helping to minimise disruption," he said.
"We would advise people to prepare for some travel disruption as bridges could be affected by high winds and driving conditions could be challenging in some areas, so please allow extra time for your journeys.
"They should also check the relevant websites, such as Traffic Scotland, for up-to-date travel information before they set off."
A union has hit out at the timing of an announcement that more than 2,700 workers are facing redundancies after parcel delivery group City Link went into administration.
The RMT union has demanded "urgent talks" with Business Secretary Vince Cable after it was revealed on Christmas Day that the company had called in administrators.
The administrators - EY - were called in after years of "substantial losses".
City Link, which employs 2,727 people and is understood to count John Lewis among its largest clients, expects there to be a number of redundancies after no buyer could be found.
As well as the talks with Mr Cable, the union has demanded an investigation into the release of the news, saying it believed there could have been "more cynical motives" behind the decision to "delay" the announcement.
The RMT said it had been told the Coventry-based firm was in administration on Christmas Eve, something which neither the company nor the administrators were prepared to publicly confirm until the next day.
The union's general secretary, Mick Cash, said: "The delayed timing of the announcement that City Link was in administration to tea time on Christmas Day stinks to high heaven.
"Not only was it the most brutal and callous way to treat nearly 3,000 staff but RMT believes there may have been more cynical motives behind it which we want the Government to investigate.
"The disgraceful timing of the City Link announcement at the start of the festive season must not be allowed to delay and hamper efforts to rescue the jobs."
Employee Mark Critchley told Sky News that staff were angry with City Link's managers, who he called "cowardly and underhanded".
"We'd like them to come down here and tell us what's going on and why they've done it," he said.
In an internal email from the company's chief executive Dave Smith, seen by Sky News, Mr Smith apologises to staff for the timing of the announcement.
"I am sorry to break this news to you, particularly at this time of year."
The company's operations at all of its depots have been suspended until Monday.
Customers and those expecting deliveries will then be able to collect their parcels.
Hunter Kelly, joint administrator to City Link, said the strain of the firm's losses "became too great".
"Despite the best efforts to save City Link Limited, including marketing the company for sale, it could not continue to operate as a going concern and administrators were appointed."
Administrators EY said some employees will be kept on to help return parcels to customers and help with the winding down of the company.
Customers who had placed parcels with the company on Christmas Eve and recipients who have been told of a failed or pending delivery have been urged to pick up their parcels as soon as possible on or after December 29.
The company's 53 depots will remain open for a short period of time so people can collect their parcels.
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Video:Boxing Day Sales Get Underway
Thousands of people have braved the cold to hit the high street early as stores kick off their Boxing Day sales.
Retailers say big discounts are available - even as a record eight million people shopped online on Christmas Day as some shops started their sales on the internet a day early.
Sky News' Katie Spencer at Selfridges in London said it was "incredibly busy" but noted that a lot of the shopping would likely be done online.
Shoppers searching for discounts online are expected to spend £748m today, or £519,000 every minute, according to data firm Experian and online retailing trade association IMRG.
Lining up outside Harrods department store in London
An estimated 142 million visits were made to retail websites on Christmas Day and an online survey found that more than a third of Britons buy Christmas presents in the post-Christmas sales.
Experian's Giles Longhurst, said: "This year has seen record breaking online shopping rates, particularly on Black Friday, which saw an astronomical £810m in estimated spend due to the massive resources put behind promotions by a wide range of retailers.
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Gallery: Boxing Day Sales Across Nation
Shoppers are out in force as they hunt for a Boxing Day bargain
Crowds flocked to big department stores in London, such as Selfridges
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At Harrods people in the queue were treated to hot coffees
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When the doors opened shoppers who had lined up rushed inside
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Boxing Day is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Continue through for more images
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"Traditionally, the Boxing Day sales have been the busiest day for retailers in the UK, but this year we expect them to come second to Black Friday."
Myf Ryan, director of the Westfield shopping centres, said Boxing Day remained a "huge attraction" for shoppers.
"Last year we had queues out of the door on Boxing Day by 5am," he said.
"This year we expect an exceptionally busy day yet again, fuelled by excellent retail offers and special deals with over 50% off by many of our 600 retailers."
But retail staff will also spend much of their time sorting out disputes with consumers returning Christmas presents.
The new retail ombudsman, Dean Dunham, who takes up his new role on 2 January, said he expected thousands of complaints from shoppers who have been refused refunds.
He said: "If the goods are not faulty, the law places no obligations on the retailer so you have to examine their terms and conditions.
"If their terms say the retailer will not accept returns where packaging is damaged or missing, and most terms do, the retailer will be perfectly within their rights to enforce this."
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Video:Boxing Day Sales Get Underway
Thousands of people have braved the cold to hit the high street early as stores kick off their Boxing Day sales.
Retailers say big discounts are available - even as a record eight million people shopped online on Christmas Day as some shops started their sales on the internet a day early.
Sky News' Katie Spencer at Selfridges in London said it was "incredibly busy" but noted that a lot of the shopping would likely be done online.
Shoppers searching for discounts online are expected to spend £748m today, or £519,000 every minute, according to data firm Experian and online retailing trade association IMRG.
Lining up outside Harrods department store in London
An estimated 142 million visits were made to retail websites on Christmas Day and an online survey found that more than a third of Britons buy Christmas presents in the post-Christmas sales.
Experian's Giles Longhurst, said: "This year has seen record breaking online shopping rates, particularly on Black Friday, which saw an astronomical £810m in estimated spend due to the massive resources put behind promotions by a wide range of retailers.
1/10
Gallery: Boxing Day Sales Across Nation
Shoppers are out in force as they hunt for a Boxing Day bargain
Crowds flocked to big department stores in London, such as Selfridges
]]>
At Harrods people in the queue were treated to hot coffees
]]>
When the doors opened shoppers who had lined up rushed inside
]]>
Boxing Day is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Continue through for more images
]]>
"Traditionally, the Boxing Day sales have been the busiest day for retailers in the UK, but this year we expect them to come second to Black Friday."
Myf Ryan, director of the Westfield shopping centres, said Boxing Day remained a "huge attraction" for shoppers.
"Last year we had queues out of the door on Boxing Day by 5am," he said.
"This year we expect an exceptionally busy day yet again, fuelled by excellent retail offers and special deals with over 50% off by many of our 600 retailers."
But retail staff will also spend much of their time sorting out disputes with consumers returning Christmas presents.
The new retail ombudsman, Dean Dunham, who takes up his new role on 2 January, said he expected thousands of complaints from shoppers who have been refused refunds.
He said: "If the goods are not faulty, the law places no obligations on the retailer so you have to examine their terms and conditions.
"If their terms say the retailer will not accept returns where packaging is damaged or missing, and most terms do, the retailer will be perfectly within their rights to enforce this."
Written By Unknown on Kamis, 25 Desember 2014 | 22.11
Queen Urges Reconciliation In Christmas Message
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Video:Queen's Full Christmas Address
Queen Elizabeth has used her traditional Christmas broadcast to call for reconciliation, citing the Scottish referendum and Northern Ireland.
In her annual address to the nation, the monarch also hailed the medical workers who helped fight Ebola in Africa.
The message was broadcast after the Queen attended the traditional church service at Sandringham.
The head of state talked about the poignant moment when First World War forces put aside their differences and met in no-man's land during the Christmas truce of 1914.
A sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos called Reconciliation.
She touched on how she felt visiting the poppy installation at the Tower of London last October.
"The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions and the only possible reaction to walking among them was silence.
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Gallery: Royals Attend Church Service
The Queen attended the traditional Christmas service at Sandringham
She was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family
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Camilla was missing due to a back problem
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The Duchess of Cambridge attended but Prince George did not
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William and Kate greeted well-wishers after the service
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"For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind," she said.
Her Majesty also reflected on some events of 2014.
"In Scotland after the referendum many felt great disappointment, while others felt great relief; and bridging these differences will take time," the Queen said.
In contrast, Northern Ireland has already begun the journey to heal divisions between Protestant and Catholic communities.
She said: "The benefits of reconciliation were clear to see when I visited Belfast in June. While my tour of the set of Game Of Thrones may have gained most attention, my visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol will remain vividly in my mind.
"What was once a prison during the Troubles is now a place of hope and fresh purpose; a reminder of what is possible when people reach out to one another."
The Queen began by talking about a sculpture of a man and woman embracing by Josefina de Vasconcellos, called Reconciliation.
Casts of the artwork can be found in the ruins of Coventry cathedral and at sites in Belfast and Berlin.
"Bringing reconciliation to war or emergency zones is an even harder task, and I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk," she said.
The Queen, who wore a purple dress by Angela Kelly and a diamond and pearl brooch inherited from her grandmother, recorded her message sitting next to a table featuring separate photographs of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary.
Also present is an embossed box similar to those sent to soldiers on the frontline in 1914.
The Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952, live on the radio from her study at Sandringham.
Her first televised message came five years later and she has only missed one year, 1969, when she decided the royals had featured enough on TV after an unprecedented documentary.
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Queen Urges Reconciliation In Christmas Message
We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.
Video:Queen's Full Christmas Address
Queen Elizabeth has used her traditional Christmas broadcast to call for reconciliation, citing the Scottish referendum and Northern Ireland.
In her annual address to the nation, the monarch also hailed the medical workers who helped fight Ebola in Africa.
The message was broadcast after the Queen attended the traditional church service at Sandringham.
The head of state talked about the poignant moment when First World War forces put aside their differences and met in no-man's land during the Christmas truce of 1914.
A sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos called Reconciliation.
She touched on how she felt visiting the poppy installation at the Tower of London last October.
"The ceramic poppies at the Tower of London drew millions and the only possible reaction to walking among them was silence.
1/12
Gallery: Royals Attend Church Service
The Queen attended the traditional Christmas service at Sandringham
She was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family
]]>
Camilla was missing due to a back problem
]]>
The Duchess of Cambridge attended but Prince George did not
]]>
William and Kate greeted well-wishers after the service
]]>
"For every poppy a life; and a reminder of the grief of loved ones left behind," she said.
Her Majesty also reflected on some events of 2014.
"In Scotland after the referendum many felt great disappointment, while others felt great relief; and bridging these differences will take time," the Queen said.
In contrast, Northern Ireland has already begun the journey to heal divisions between Protestant and Catholic communities.
She said: "The benefits of reconciliation were clear to see when I visited Belfast in June. While my tour of the set of Game Of Thrones may have gained most attention, my visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol will remain vividly in my mind.
"What was once a prison during the Troubles is now a place of hope and fresh purpose; a reminder of what is possible when people reach out to one another."
The Queen began by talking about a sculpture of a man and woman embracing by Josefina de Vasconcellos, called Reconciliation.
Casts of the artwork can be found in the ruins of Coventry cathedral and at sites in Belfast and Berlin.
"Bringing reconciliation to war or emergency zones is an even harder task, and I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk," she said.
The Queen, who wore a purple dress by Angela Kelly and a diamond and pearl brooch inherited from her grandmother, recorded her message sitting next to a table featuring separate photographs of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary.
Also present is an embossed box similar to those sent to soldiers on the frontline in 1914.
The Queen made her first Christmas broadcast in 1952, live on the radio from her study at Sandringham.
Her first televised message came five years later and she has only missed one year, 1969, when she decided the royals had featured enough on TV after an unprecedented documentary.
More needs to be done to highlight the dangers of loom bands after a number of children got the popular children's accessory lodged in their noses.
Four children were treated at a Scottish hospital in just one week after the rubber bands became stuck, according to an article in the Journal of Laryngology & Otology.
But in a paper entitled Loom bands and young children - a tragedy waiting to happen? staff from the ENT Department at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, said there had been a surge in the popularity of the bands recently, and urged people to be aware of the potential risks.
The report's authors said: "Although the four cases presented were resolved without the need for general anaesthetic, the ever-soaring prevalence and popularity of loom bands necessitates a degree of caution and vigilance from parents, retailers and manufacturers alike.
"We believe there is an urgent need for greater public awareness of their potential hazards."
There is a risk of inhalation when objects become stuck in nasal passages, obstructing the airway, they added.
Loom bands are small loops of elastic in different colours that can be linked together to create jewellery such as necklaces and bracelets.
The Duchess of Cambridge and pop star Harry Styles have been seen wearing them - leading to an increase in popularity.
Earlier this year The Entertainer removed loom band charms from its shelves after they were found to contain the chemical phthalates, which can disrupt hormones in children.
The chemicals, which are used to soften plastics, have been banned in toys on sale in the European Union for several years.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to cancel his annual Christmas Day sermon after coming down with a heavy cold.
Lambeth Palace said the Most Rev Justin Welby has been suffering from a "severe cold" for several days and decided this morning that he was too unwell to speak at the annual Canterbury Cathedral service.
A Lambeth Palace spokesman said the Archbishop "is suffering from a severe cold and will, with great regret, no longer be preaching the sermon at Canterbury Cathedral this morning.
"The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Robert Willis, will deliver a homily."
The Archbishop had been due to talk about how the true spirit of Christmas cannot be captured in fairytale endings, using the example of the First World War Christmas truce in 1914.
The Archbishop had been due to say: "The truce illustrates something of the heart of Christmas, whereby God sends his Son, that vulnerable sign of peace, to a weary war-torn world.
"The problem is that the way it is told now it seems to end with a 'happy ever after'.
"Of course we like Christmas stories with happy endings: singing carols, swapping photos, shaking hands, sharing chocolate, but the following day the war continued with the same severity.
"Nothing had changed; it was a one-day wonder.
"That is not the world in which we live, truces are rare."
A burglary suspect has died after being shot with a Taser by officers in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Staffordshire Police had been called to a block of flats after receiving reports of a break-in shortly after 1am on Monday morning.
The occupants of a first floor flat, understood to be a young couple with a little boy, were not inside when officers arrived, according to a force spokesman.
However, another man was in the flat and officers deployed a Taser.
The suspected burglar became unresponsive after being taken to a police vehicle.
Paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service tried to treat the man, but he died a short time later.
Uniformed officers remain on guard outside the flat's doorway, while residents spoke of their shock at the night's events.
The man was tasered at a block of flats in Newcastle-under-Lyme
A resident living on the ground floor with his pregnant girlfriend said he saw a "drunk-looking" man being supported and escorted by at least three police officers into a custody van.
The 22-year-old, who declined to be named, said at about 1.45am he heard the white male call "help me", as he was walked along a short path leading from the front of the flats to the main road.
He added that the first he heard of any trouble was "shouting in the corridor", but initially thought nothing of it.
"I just thought it's the lads having a few beers, but then there was banging," he said.
The resident, who lives right by the front door to the block of flats said he grew alarmed, and helped his six-and-a-half month pregnant girlfriend into her car and off to her parents while he stayed.
A policeman stands guard outside the flat
"It's something when you have to put your missus in the car and send her off," he said. "I just locked the door and wanted nothing to do with it."
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A spokesman for the Staffordshire force said: "A detailed investigation is under way and the scene will remain cordoned off while the investigation continues.
"Local officers will be in the community throughout the day talking to residents."
Politicians in Northern Ireland are thought to have made progress as they try to reach agreement on issues threatening the future of devolved government.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers warned the talks will end later, with or without an agreement, as she prepared to sit down with the Irish Government and the five Executive parties at Stormont.
She said on Sunday: "It's 'make your mind up' time for Northern Ireland's political leaders.
"These talks finish tomorrow (Monday), even if it takes all night. If there's no agreement tomorrow, there isn't going to be one, and the process ends in failure."
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said on Monday: "I do consider us to be making progress.
"I think there is a real chance for us to do the job but it does require all of us to apply ourselves and it will require all of us to stretch ourselves."
Last Friday, politicians struck a deal to cushion the blow of welfare reform from within the Stormont administration's own budget.
They have asked David Cameron for £2bn in loans over 10 years to tackle flags, parades and the past.
Sam McBride, political correspondent with the Ulster Newsletter, explained: "It's very clear that the one thing the political parties in Northern Ireland can agree on, and have agreed on in the process, is to ask for even more money.
"That's not a particularly difficult thing to agree to ask.
"However, if that was to persuade those parties to agree on some of the other issues, it may be that David Cameron would find that tempting to just get them out of his hair really."
Outstanding issues include the legacy of The Troubles and the need for answers for those who were bereaved or injured.
One of the options being explored is a Commission on Information Retrieval, similar to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
But some young people, like recently engaged Andrew Priestley and Jenni Mayne, think politicians focus too much on the past.
Andrew said: "We're 25 and 26 so we didn't live through The Troubles, we didn't live through the past they're maybe focussing on at the minute, we're looking towards our future."
Jenni added: "I've gone away for university and I've come home and at the minute, I'm kind of 'should I have come home?' because in the mainland, things are so much more progressed in terms of our age group."
A paper tabled by the British and Irish governments proposes the establishment of nine new public bodies in Northern Ireland.
One would deal with flags, two with parades and protests, three with the past and three more would promote reconciliation.
If they strike a deal, they will have cracked issues that have lingered since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Two whistle-blowers who had information about MPs' involvement in a paedophile ring could have been murdered, according to a Labour MP who has handed a dossier of evidence to Scotland Yard.
Speaking to Sky News, John Mann claims he has evidence relating to the suspicious deaths of two men – a former Lambeth council official named Bulick Forsythe, and a caretaker whose name he did not disclose.
He said the police were already aware of the potential link between one of the deaths and the child sex abuse ring, which involved "highly influential" politicians during the 1970s and 1980s.
Although Mr Mann has now handed the information to the Metropolitan Police, he has been aware of it since the 1980s and 1990s, when he said the police declined to fully investigate.
"Bulick Forsythe had significant information in relation to child abuse. The second was a caretaker who said he had tapes relating to sex parties that were taking place," he added. "Mr Forsythe went to the police at the time and got nowhere. What I want to see is both those suspicious deaths reinvestigated."
Video:Police Appeal For Help Over Abuse
His dossier includes 22 names of MPs he believes were involved in paedophile rings in north Wales, Lambeth, Dolphin Square in London, Rochdale, and one other location which he declined to name for legal reasons.
The MPs named include 14 Conservatives, five Labour politicians and three from other parties. Of them, 13 are former ministers.
Mr Mann told Sky News that he has given the police enough evidence on some of the suspects that he would expect the police to act "soon".
"I am confident there will be people arrested," said Mr Mann. "In some cases I'd be surprised if it didn't happen soon."
The prospect of arrests for child abuse by MPs is likely to intensify calls for an inquiry into the historical allegations.
Video:Victim: Ministers Abused Children
Home Secretary Theresa May has been dogged by setbacks after two successive chairs were forced to resign over their links to establishment figures in positions of power at the time.
Mrs May said last week that the inquiry should have the powers of a statutory inquiry in order to compel witnesses to give evidence but members of the panel are reported to be "devastated" that the existing inquiry, which has started preliminary work, is to be disbanded.
Scotland Yard detectives were already investigating "credible" claims that the murders of three young boys - aged between seven and 16 - were linked to high-profile abusers, including MPs. One victim was allegedly run over by a car.
Last Thursday, a fresh appeal was launched for further victims of historical abuse at the Dolphin Square estate, in southwest London, to come forward.
Children were allegedly taken to sex parties at the plush property, which was popular with politicians.
A second man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an off-duty police constable was beaten to death in Liverpool.
Neil Doyle, 36, was attacked by a group of men during a Christmas night out with colleagues from Merseyside Police.
Two other off-duty officers suffered facial injuries in the attack, which took place near the Aloha nightclub in Colquitt Street at around 3.15am on Friday.
A 28-year-old suspect from Huyton walked into a police station on Friday evening and is still being interviewed by detectives.
Now a 30-year-old man from the same area has been arrested and taken to a police station for questioning.
Both men were also arrested on suspicion of assaulting the two other officers.
Detectives are investigating the possibility they were targeted because of their jobs.
PC Doyle got married in July and was due to go on honeymoon next month.
In a statement, his widow Sarah said: "Neil was very well loved by all of his family, friends and colleagues and it is a great loss to us all.
"We are finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with what has happened and need time to be left to grieve."
Mr Doyle, who joined the force in May 2004, was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, but died a short time later.
A post-mortem examination concluded he died from fatal bleeding around the brain, consistent with an assault.
Chief Constable Sir Jon Murphy said: "On behalf of everybody connected with Merseyside Police I extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to his wife Sarah and the rest of his family.
"Constable Doyle was enjoying a Christmas night out with his work colleagues.
"At around 3.15am Neil left the Peacock bar and walked with two colleagues along Colquitt Street in the city centre.
"The three officers were subjected to an apparently unprovoked and vicious attack by a group of males."
Mr Doyle had received a commendation for his actions in arresting three men after a violent robbery.
The two other officers required hospital treatment. One suffered a fractured cheekbone.
Victims of domestic abuse are being warned to beware of Christmas gifts containing hidden spyware.
Abusers will hide cameras or listening devices inside presents such as mobile phones, laptops and toys to snoop on their targets, say campaigners.
Jennifer Perry, CEO of Digital-Trust, which helps victims of digital abuse, said: "Surveillance technology is getting cheaper, better disguised, simpler to use and easier to find.
"We work with a range of domestic violence professionals who are telling us that digital abuse is making it much more difficult to help women and keep them safe."
She said new smartphones given by a possessive spouse could include an app that can turn on the microphone remotely and eavesdrop on their partner's conversations.
Emma, a woman with a jealous and controlling partner, said: "I had been out having coffee with a friend and when I returned he played back part of our conversation.
"I couldn't figure out how he had done it.
"Had he hired someone to follow me? Did he bug the cafe? It was my domestic violence case worker who told me to check my phone.
"I found he had put spyware on my phone and had been listening and reading my texts for months."
Digital-Trust said listening devices can be hidden in everyday products such as extension cords, phone chargers and carbon monoxide detectors, all of which will function normally.
It said the new Paddington Bear movie will promote sales of a voice-activated Paddington Bear recorder, which could become popular with people who want to spy on their partners or have shared custody of children.
"An abuser can send the bear home with the child and then during their next visit the abuser can listen to the recordings and charge the battery," Ms Perry warned.
"Add a small tracking chip in the bear and the abuser will also be able to track the child and its mother."
The trust offers advice for anyone who suspects they are being monitored at www.digital-trust.org.
Some patients who need an ambulance may soon have to wait longer for it to arrive even if they are classed as a serious case, under new proposals seen by Sky News.
In a letter, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives suggests the target time to get to patients suffering a range of "serious but not the most life-threatening" problems, including strokes and seizures, could be increased to 19 minutes.
The current target for an emergency vehicle to reach people in life-threatening situations is eight minutes.
According to the memo, NHS England says there will be no changes to response times where patients have "immediately life threatening" conditions such as cardiac arrest, choking and major bleeding - known as Red 1 calls.
In these instances, a "fast response" car is often sent ahead of a fully-crewed ambulance to meet the time limit.
Video:Labour: Ambulance Changes 'Unsafe'
For serious cases like strokes and fits - Red 2 calls - there would be an extra three minutes added on to the response time.
But a proportion of Red 2s would have the eight-minute target scrapped in favour of a 19-minute one for a full ambulance crew to be sent on its own.
Andy Burnham, Labour's shadow health secretary, said: "This has all the hallmarks of a panic move and suggests Jeremy Hunt's only solution to the A&E crisis is to give up and move the goalposts.
"Rather than getting ambulance response times back up to established standards, it looks like he is running up the white flag. The situation in the NHS is now serious and Jeremy Hunt is failing to provide the leadership it desperately needs.
Video:A&E Waiting Times: The Figures
"While there may be a case for reviewing these rules, this is not the way to do it. It is nothing short of dangerous to make a snap decision at the start of the most difficult winter in the NHS for years.
"Hunt's decision risks leaving thousands of seriously ill people waiting longer for ambulances this winter. The Health Secretary needs to provide urgent reassurance that this change can be safely made and won't put lives at risks."
But a Department of Health spokesman insisted there were "absolutely no plans" to increase ambulance waiting times.
"We have given ambulances an extra £50m this winter to ensure the service remains sustainable and the Secretary of State agreed that NHS England should investigate a proposal from the ambulance services themselves to see whether the service they offer the public could be improved," the spokesman said.
Video:'We're Looking At Options For NHS'
"No decisions have been made, and the Secretary of State would only agree to proposed changes that improve response times for urgent cases."
In an interview with Dermot Murnaghan, Chris Grayling told Sky News: "This is not something that has been decided. The Health Secretary will not give the go-ahead to something that weakens the support the Ambulance Service provides to our community."
The long-range weather forecast now goes as far as Christmas Day - and reveals where it is most likely to snow.
The data, which at this stage is still open to change, indicates that on 25 December it will be mainly dry and a sunny day for all areas.
It will be chilly as well with the winds coming in from a cold northerly direction and temperatures for some will be just below the average for the time of year.
There will be the risk of some showers as well, especially across Scotland, Ireland, northwest England and parts of Wales, some of which could turn to sleet and snow over high ground.
Snow is most likely over the tops of the Scottish Highlands, mainly over 200m (650ft).
1/7
Gallery: Snow Blankets Parts Of UK
Middleham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales after overnight snow
The blanketing of snow came overnight, showing that winter is well and truly here. Continue through for more images
Survivors have welcomed reports, in a letter seen by Sky News, that Theresa May is planning to scrap the panel set up to investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse.
The letter, signed by more than 60 victims and representatives who wish to remain anonymous, lists a series of demands for the Home Secretary regarding the Child Sex Abuse Inquiry.
It calls for a statutory inquiry to be declared, a public announcement that the existing panel will be scrapped and replaced on a "transparent fit-for-purpose" and the appointment of an inquiry chair who has "demonstrable experience and ability in challenging the establishment".
It reads: "Following the mistakes of the last six months, we consider your proposals as an opportunity to place the inquiry on to a firm footing whereby it can focus on dealing with organised and institutional abuse and cover ups at the highest levels.
"It is important that the inquiry is centred on bringing perpetrators before the courts, holding those that have failed in their professional duty or covered up allegations or been obstructive to account and delivering justice for survivors."
May says survivors want the appointments to be more transparent
On Sunday a letter to panel members obtained by the investigations website Exaro News revealed the Home Secretary says she is considering three options in the hope of regaining the trust of "survivors" of sexual abuse.
She wrote: "Survivors have stressed that if they are to have confidence in the inquiry, it must have the power to compel witnesses.
Video:'No Transparency' In Abuse Inquiry
"I am clear I want to give the inquiry those powers and there are three options for doing this. i) Convert the current inquiry into a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, subject to consultation with the chairman once appointed. ii) Set up a statutory inquiry under the 2005 Inquiries Act. iii) Establish a royal commission."
But the panel believe that the decision to disband the inquiry has already been made.
The Home Office has not confirmed or denied reports the panel is to be dismissed.
Video:Esther Rantzen On Abuse Panel
A statement released on Saturday night said: "The Home Secretary is determined that appalling cases of child sexual abuse should be exposed so that perpetrators face justice and the vulnerable are protected.
"She is absolutely committed to ensuring the Independent Panel Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse has the confidence of survivors. The Home Secretary is also clear that we have to balance the need to make progress with the need to get this right."
Sky News has asked the Home Office "whether the Home Secretary or any other Home Office representative has told any panel member that the panel will definitely be scrapped" and whether the Home Secretary has decided yet "whether she will disband the existing panel".
Video:4 Dec: Abuse Victim Andy Kershaw
So far, they have not responded.
In her letter, Mrs May explained that "survivors also feel that the process by which the panel was appointed should have been more transparent".
There is a feeling within the current inquiry that too much attention is being paid to a "vocal minority of survivors".
Video:5 Dec: New Hope For Abuse Probe
Panel member Sharon Evans, chief executive of Dot Com Children's Foundation, herself a survivor of abuse, has written to the Home Secretary expressing that she is "devastated" at the prospect of the inquiry being dissolved and informed Mrs May the panel had been told in off the record terms that they will be stood down after Christmas.
Mrs Evans noted that the panel has met with 70 survivors so far. Some 90% of them support the inquiry as it is, she said.
But the inquiry, which was set up in July of this year to investigate whether public bodies and other non-state institutions failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales, lost two chairpersons - Fiona Woolf and Baroness Butler-Sloss - due to conflicts of interests.
Video:Abuse Survivor Slams Govt Inquiry
Some survivors have also said they have lost confidence in the rest of the panel.
Six months on, the Home Secretary will be keen to gain the trust of survivors and the public as a whole.
Written By Unknown on Minggu, 21 Desember 2014 | 22.11
By Nazaneen Ghaffar, Weather Presenter
The long-range weather forecast now goes as far as Christmas Day - and reveals where it is most likely to snow.
The data, which at this stage is still open to change, indicates that on 25 December it will be mainly dry and a sunny day for all areas.
It will be chilly as well with the winds coming in from a cold northerly direction and temperatures for some will be just below the average for the time of year.
There will be the risk of some showers as well, especially across Scotland, Ireland, northwest England and parts of Wales, some of which could turn to sleet and snow over high ground.
Snow is most likely over the tops of the Scottish Highlands, mainly over 200m (650ft).
1/7
Gallery: Snow Blankets Parts Of UK
Middleham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales after overnight snow
The blanketing of snow came overnight, showing that winter is well and truly here. Continue through for more images
The Home Office has failed to confirm or deny reports that Theresa May is planning to completely scrap the panel she set up to investigate allegations of historical child sex abuse.
In a letter to panel members obtained by the investigations website Exaro News, the Home Secretary says she is considering three options in the hope of regaining the trust of "survivors" of sexual abuse.
She wrote: "Survivors have stressed that if they are to have confidence in the inquiry, it must have the power to compel witnesses.
"I am clear I want to give the inquiry those powers and there are three options for doing this. i) Convert the current inquiry into a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, subject to consultation with the chairman once appointed. ii) Set up a statutory inquiry under the 2005 Inquiries Act. iii) Establish a royal commission."
But the panel believe that the decision to disband the inquiry has already been made.
May says survivors want the appointments to be more transparent
The Home Office has not confirmed or denied reports the panel is to be dismissed.
A statement released on Saturday night said: "The Home Secretary is determined that appalling cases of child sexual abuse should be exposed so that perpetrators face justice and the vulnerable are protected.
Video:Esther Rantzen On Abuse Panel
"She is absolutely committed to ensuring the Independent Panel Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse has the confidence of survivors. The Home Secretary is also clear that we have to balance the need to make progress with the need to get this right."
Sky News has asked the Home Office "whether the Home Secretary or any other Home Office representative has told any panel member that the panel will definitely be scrapped" and whether the Home Secretary has decided yet "whether she will disband the existing panel".
So far, they have not responded.
Video:4 Dec: Abuse Victim Andy Kershaw
In her letter, Mrs May explained that "survivors also feel that the process by which the panel was appointed should have been more transparent".
There is a feeling within the current inquiry that too much attention is being paid to a "vocal minority of survivors".
Panel member Sharon Evans, chief executive of Dot Com Children's Foundation, herself a survivor of abuse, has written to the Home Secretary expressing that she is "devastated" at the prospect of the inquiry being dissolved and informed Mrs May the panel had been told in off the record terms that they will be stood down after Christmas.
Video:5 Dec: New Hope For Abuse Probe
Mrs Evans noted that the panel has met with 70 survivors so far. Some 90% of them support the inquiry as it is, she said.
But the inquiry, which was set up in July of this year to investigate whether public bodies and other non-state institutions failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse in England and Wales, lost two chairpersons - Fiona Woolf and Baroness Butler-Sloss - due to conflicts of interests.
Some survivors have also said they have lost confidence in the rest of the panel.
Video:Abuse Survivor Slams Govt Inquiry
Six months on, the Home Secretary will be keen to gain the trust of survivors and the public as a whole.
A second man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an off-duty police constable was beaten to death in Liverpool.
Neil Doyle, 36, was attacked by a group of men during a Christmas night out with colleagues from Merseyside Police.
Two other off-duty officers suffered facial injuries in the attack, which took place near the Aloha nightclub in Colquitt Street at around 3.15am on Friday.
A 28-year-old suspect from Huyton walked into a police station on Friday evening and is still being interviewed by detectives.
Now a 30-year-old man from the same area has been arrested and taken to a police station for questioning.
Both men were also arrested on suspicion of assaulting the two other officers.
Detectives are investigating the possibility they were targeted because of their jobs.
PC Doyle got married in July and was due to go on honeymoon next month.
In a statement, his widow Sarah said: "Neil was very well loved by all of his family, friends and colleagues and it is a great loss to us all.
"We are finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with what has happened and need time to be left to grieve."
Mr Doyle, who joined the force in May 2004, was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, but died a short time later.
A post-mortem examination concluded he died from fatal bleeding around the brain, consistent with an assault.
Chief Constable Sir Jon Murphy said: "On behalf of everybody connected with Merseyside Police I extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to his wife Sarah and the rest of his family.
"Constable Doyle was enjoying a Christmas night out with his work colleagues.
"At around 3.15am Neil left the Peacock bar and walked with two colleagues along Colquitt Street in the city centre.
"The three officers were subjected to an apparently unprovoked and vicious attack by a group of males."
Mr Doyle had received a commendation for his actions in arresting three men after a violent robbery.
The two other officers required hospital treatment. One suffered a fractured cheekbone.
Victims of domestic abuse are being warned to beware of Christmas gifts containing hidden spyware.
Abusers will hide cameras or listening devices inside presents such as mobile phones, laptops and toys to snoop on their targets, say campaigners.
Jennifer Perry, CEO of Digital-Trust, which helps victims of digital abuse, said: "Surveillance technology is getting cheaper, better disguised, simpler to use and easier to find.
"We work with a range of domestic violence professionals who are telling us that digital abuse is making it much more difficult to help women and keep them safe."
She said new smartphones given by a possessive spouse could include an app that can turn on the microphone remotely and eavesdrop on their partner's conversations.
Emma, a woman with a jealous and controlling partner, said: "I had been out having coffee with a friend and when I returned he played back part of our conversation.
"I couldn't figure out how he had done it.
"Had he hired someone to follow me? Did he bug the cafe? It was my domestic violence case worker who told me to check my phone.
"I found he had put spyware on my phone and had been listening and reading my texts for months."
Digital-Trust said listening devices can be hidden in everyday products such as extension cords, phone chargers and carbon monoxide detectors, all of which will function normally.
It said the new Paddington Bear movie will promote sales of a voice-activated Paddington Bear recorder, which could become popular with people who want to spy on their partners or have shared custody of children.
"An abuser can send the bear home with the child and then during their next visit the abuser can listen to the recordings and charge the battery," Ms Perry warned.
"Add a small tracking chip in the bear and the abuser will also be able to track the child and its mother."
The trust offers advice for anyone who suspects they are being monitored at www.digital-trust.org.
Some patients who need an ambulance may soon have to wait longer for it to arrive even if they are classed as a serious case, under new proposals seen by Sky News.
In a letter, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives suggests the target time to get to patients suffering a range of "serious but not the most life-threatening" problems, including strokes and seizures, could be increased to 19 minutes.
The current target for an emergency vehicle to reach people in life-threatening situations is eight minutes.
According to the memo, NHS England says there will be no changes to response times where patients have "immediately life threatening" conditions such as cardiac arrest, choking and major bleeding - known as Red 1 calls.
In these instances, a "fast response" car is often sent ahead of a fully-crewed ambulance to meet the time limit.
Video:Labour: Ambulance Changes 'Unsafe'
For serious cases like strokes and fits - Red 2 calls - there would be an extra three minutes added on to the response time.
But a proportion of Red 2s would have the eight-minute target scrapped in favour of a 19-minute one for a full ambulance crew to be sent on its own.
Andy Burnham, Labour's shadow health secretary, said: "This has all the hallmarks of a panic move and suggests Jeremy Hunt's only solution to the A&E crisis is to give up and move the goalposts.
"Rather than getting ambulance response times back up to established standards, it looks like he is running up the white flag. The situation in the NHS is now serious and Jeremy Hunt is failing to provide the leadership it desperately needs.
Video:A&E Waiting Times: The Figures
"While there may be a case for reviewing these rules, this is not the way to do it. It is nothing short of dangerous to make a snap decision at the start of the most difficult winter in the NHS for years.
"Hunt's decision risks leaving thousands of seriously ill people waiting longer for ambulances this winter. The Health Secretary needs to provide urgent reassurance that this change can be safely made and won't put lives at risks."
But a Department of Health spokesman insisted there were "absolutely no plans" to increase ambulance waiting times.
"We have given ambulances an extra £50m this winter to ensure the service remains sustainable and the Secretary of State agreed that NHS England should investigate a proposal from the ambulance services themselves to see whether the service they offer the public could be improved," the spokesman said.
Video:'We're Looking At Options For NHS'
"No decisions have been made, and the Secretary of State would only agree to proposed changes that improve response times for urgent cases."
In an interview with Dermot Murnaghan, Chris Grayling told Sky News: "This is not something that has been decided. The Health Secretary will not give the go-ahead to something that weakens the support the Ambulance Service provides to our community."
