Cosy Texts Between PM And Brooks Revealed

Text messages exchanged by David Cameron and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks are likely to cause fresh embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

In one message, Mr Cameron thanked Mrs Brooks for letting him ride one of her horses, joking it was "fast, unpredictable and hard to control but fun".

In another, the journalist, who faces trial in connection with the phone-hacking scandal, praised Mr Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference, saying: "I cried twice."

Both of the messages, which were disclosed by The Mail On Sunday, were sent in October 2009, shortly after Mrs Brooks left her job as editor of The Sun and became chief executive of News International, which owns the paper.

The messages are apparently part of a cache of texts and emails handed to Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards.

Very few have so far been made public.

The leak sheds further light on the close relationship between Mr Cameron and Mrs Brooks, who live near each other in Oxfordshire.

Her husband, the racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks, was at Eton with the Prime Minister.

Mrs Brooks told the Leveson Inquiry earlier this year that Mr Cameron signed some of his missives to her 'LOL' - mistakenly thinking it meant 'Lots Of Love' rather than 'Laugh Out Loud'.

Questions about Mr Cameron's close links with Rupert Murdoch's media empire, and Mrs Brooks in particular, came to the fore after the phone-hacking row erupted.

Mrs Brooks at the Leveson Inquiry

In her Leveson evidence, Mrs Brooks said, at the height of the scandal in 2010, he sent a message through an intermediary urging her to "keep your head up" and expressed his regret he could not be more loyal in public.

It also emerged previously that the Conservative leader rode a police horse, Raisa, which had been lent to Mrs Brooks by the Metropolitan Police.

Lord Justice Leveson is believed to have received a large amount of correspondence from the Prime Minister, Mrs Brooks and former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.

However, the inquiry's lead counsel, Robert Jay QC, has indicated that only "relevant" documents will be released.

Labour frontbencher Chris Bryant has challenged Mr Cameron to publish all the material himself, suggesting he was delaying the process because it was "too salacious and embarrassing".

Mrs Brooks and Mr Coulson, an ex-editor of the News Of The World, are among those facing trial for conspiracy to access voicemails.

In a separate case, Mrs Brooks and her husband are among a group charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has always been happy to comply with whatever Lord Justice Leveson has asked of him."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Contractor Electrocuted At M&S Store In Kent

An investigation is under way into the death of a contractor who was electrocuted in a Marks and Spencer store.

Police said they believed the man died after suffering an electric shock in the M&S store in a Kent shopping centre.

He is thought to have been a contractor who had been called in to repair electrical equipment.

The death was initially treated as suspicious while officers worked out the full circumstances of what happened, but police later said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

The store in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells was not evacuated as the scene of the accident was not in a public area of the shop.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been advised of the incident and their health and safety officer will be liaising with the police.

A police van outside the store after the incident (Twitter pic: @Kent_999s)

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "We were called just before 3.30pm to the store in Calverley Road. It is believed a man suffered an electric shock. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The air ambulance also attended."

The spokeswoman said police were called by paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service who arrived at the scene first.

An M&S spokeswoman said: "There has been a tragic incident at the store today and our thoughts are with the family concerned.

"We are now concentrating on doing all we can to assist the emergency services with their investigation and as such are unable to comment any further at this stage."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tourism Chiefs Slam Departure Tax Increase

The tourist boom enjoyed by London in the wake of the Olympics could be wiped out by next year's increase in airport departure tax, tourism officials have warned.

Around 84% of those questioned in a survey said tourism to the capital would be damaged if the planned rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) goes ahead next April.

And the majority of holidaymakers questioned by the World Travel Market (WTM) also said their travel plans could be affected by an increase in APD.

APD is charged on the carriage of passengers flying from a UK airport on an aircraft that has an authorised take-off weight of more than 10 tonnes or more than 20 seats for passengers.

It varies between £13 and £184 per passenger, depending on the type of seating they use and the distance they are travelling.

The increase that is expected to take effect next year is thought to be in line with inflation.

Around half of the 1,300 tourism officials questioned for the WTM survey thought the higher resulting air fares from an APD increase would particularly affect people visiting from the growing Bric zone of countries.

This refers to the Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African markets, with Brazilians supposedly the most likely to be put off coming to London.

Of the 1,001 holidaymakers who were surveyed by WTM, more than half said a rise in APD would lead to them altering their holiday plans.

Some said they were likely to swap long-haul trips for short-haul ones. Other respondents said they might book fewer holidays, while around 18% were unsure what they would do.

WTM director Simon Press said: "It's heartbreaking to think the good work of an entire nation (from the Olympics) can be wiped out in an instant by the greed of the Government.

"APD has long been a punitive tax on tourism and its increase will make it even more so and ironically will most likely drive down revenues as fewer tourists come to the UK as a result."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Arrest Over Callum Hilton Hit-And-Run In Bury

A man has been arrested over the hit-and-run death of a 16-year-old boy in Bury, Greater Manchester Police has said.

Police said the teenage victim Callum Hilton was thrown about 20ft when he was struck by a car as he went looking for directions to a party.

The boy, who was out with friends, was crossing Stand Lane in Radcliffe when he was hit by the silver or white Peugeot which did not stop, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

He sustained a serious head injury and was taken to hospital where he later died with his family at his bedside.

Speaking shortly before news of the arrest emerged, Detective Inspector Amber Waywell of Greater Manchester Police said the youngster's family were "going through hell".

Signs highlight the road's 30mph speed limit

The officer added: "Callum's mother and grandfather just want to know what happened to him. It's just awful. I can't imagine what his family, his mother, will be going through.

"A young boy goes out on a Saturday evening and doesn't come home. She must be besides herself with grief and we are trying to support her as best we can."

Callum was heading to a party which had been publicised on Facebook with two friends and his cousin.

The boys, three aged 16 and one aged 18, were all from the Middleton and Heywood areas of Greater Manchester.

The victim suffered head injuries in the incident in Radcliffe, near Bury

"We don't know exactly what address they were going to," the officer said.

"The reason they were crossing the road was because they needed to get directions and they saw the hotel on the opposite side of the road.

"From viewing the CCTV footage Callum and his cousin had made it half-way across the road and the other two were waiting to cross.

"His cousin was slightly ahead so was narrowly missed and Callum was struck by the vehicle."

She added: "It is a busy road, it's a fast road, it's a slope.

A man who lives close to the scene and witnessed the aftermath described how a neighbour, a nurse, and a passer-by battled to save the boy as he lay dying in the road.

A girl visits the scene of the hit-and-run, where flowers have been laid

He said: "As I was coming back home, the boy was already on the floor and there were two people offering first aid.

"One was a neighbour, a nurse who lives further up the hill and one was a guy who was driving past.

"With the boy were three friends, one was apparently his cousin but I don't know any of them.

"It was heartbreaking to watch. The lad was in a very, very bad way. The frustration of standing there as two people try to save a young kid's life was heartbreaking."

He said cars were "always" speeding up and down the road, a hill leading into Radcliffe town centre.

A car later found near Bury town centre with front end damage was examined by police specialists but is thought "unlikely" to have been involved.

More than 800 people have joined tribute groups to the 16-year-old on Facebook, including one called "Justice For Callum Hilton".

Shannon Howarth wrote on Facebook: "RIP Callum, I'll always remember you as my little pal in primary school, definitely didn't deserve to go at such a young age!!! Sleep well, you'll never be forgotten."

The tragedy happened on a busy main road with regular 30mph speed limit warning signs.

Accident signs have been placed near the spot where the teenager was killed to appeal for witnesses.

Next to a lamppost with a flashing "slow down/30mph" sign, a bunch of flowers had been left in memory of the victim.

The card read "Callum xxx".

Anyone with information should call GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Vet's Remains Identified By Police

Human remains found in a shallow pool last week have been identified as those of missing vet Catherine Gowing.

Ms Gowing, who was originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly, in Ireland, was last seen on October 12 at a supermarket near her home in New Brighton, Flintshire, North Wales.

A 46-year old man, from Gynnedd, North Wales, has been charged with her murder.

The remains were found on Wednesday in a shallow pool within a field in Sealand, Deeside.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Mark Pierce said: "The post mortem confirmed our fears and the results have been passed to Catherine's family.

Police are appealing for any sightings of Ms Gowing's Renault Clio

"We are also awaiting identification of further remains found on the banks of the River Dee in Ferry Lane, Higher Ferry, Chester, on Friday. The search continues for further remains and any other evidence which will assist this investigation."

Ms Gowing was reported missing when she failed to arrive for work at the Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold, Flintshire, on October 15.

Later that week police recovered her car which had been burned and abandoned in a disused quarry.

Clive Sharp, 46, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and was remanded in custody until January 7, when he is due to enter his plea.

DCI Pierce repeated his appeal for any information regarding any sightings of Ms Gowing's Irish registered Renault Clio, registration 00D 99970, and Clive Sharp's black Volvo, registration S40 AG58 JHE, since October 12, particularly in the Sealand area.

He said: "I would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in fields in the Manor Road area of Sealand to contact police on 101."

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mobo Awards: Emeli Sande Scores Hat-Trick

Singer-songwriter Emeli Sande has taken a hat-trick of titles at the Mobo Awards, beating Jessie J and Tulisa Contostavlos to the Best Female gong.

The 25-year-old also won Best Album for her number one-selling Our Version Of Events and Best R&B/Soul act at Liverpool's Echo Arena

Sande, who also opened the night with a specially-crafted rendition of My Kind Of Love, said she was "over the moon".

"I really didn't expect to win three and getting the Album of the Year was a big thing for me, so I feel like all the hard work pays off when you get acknowledgement like that," she said.

London hip-hop artist Plan B snapped up Best Male Act and Best Hip Hop/Grime, which he collected from rising global star Rita Ora.

Mobo founder Kanya King MBE said this year's event had been particularly special.

She said: "Each year we're staggered by the calibre of the talent on display at the Mobo Awards.

"This year has been outstanding and we're honoured to showcase the best of the best on the night.

"Tonight has been a night for not only homegrown talent such as Emeli Sande and Plan B, who we've championed from the beginning of their careers, but also less represented genres of music such as gospel, jazz and African, which are equally important for Mobo."

Winners JLS - JB Gill, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and Oritse Williams

TLC's Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas collected this year's Mobo Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

Members of Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes's family jetted in to celebrate the honour on her behalf. The singer - the L in TLC - died in a car accident 10 years ago.

Rita Ora flew in from the US leg of her tour to pick up Best Newcomer.

Chart star Labrinth, who was a major hit with fans lining the red carpet, was awarded Best Song in association with PRS for Music for Earthquake and treated the room to a mash-up of his biggest hits.

His fellow chart toppers JLS collected the gong for Best Video for Do You Feel What I Feel and got the crowd on their feet with a performance of their newest single, Hottest Girl In The World.

Misha B presented Rachel Kerr with the Best Gospel gong for her smooth, spellbinding vocals, and D'Banj was awarded Best African Act.

Best Jazz went to Zoe Rahman, who collected the accolade from Delilah and previous double Mobo Award winner YolanDa Brown.

And after an outstanding year, Nicki Minaj beat off stiff competition for Best International Act. Sean Paul was awarded Best Reggae.

The night also saw guest of honour Dionne Warwick presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award to celebrate half a century in the business.

 "It means I'm being thought of in a very, very special way and it's always a pleasure to be thought of in that way," she said.

The event - now in its 17th year - was interspersed with a series of performances from special guests including rapper Wiley, who shared the stage with Skepta and Ms D to perform his new release Can You Hear Me and number one single Heatwave.

Rising star Misha B treated crowds to a version of her debut single Home Run, and Angel wowed the crowd with a super smooth version of his single Wonderful.

Stooshe performed their cover of TLC's Waterfalls on stage, introduced by T-Boz and Chilli.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cosy Texts Between PM And Brooks Revealed

Text messages exchanged by David Cameron and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks are likely to cause fresh embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

In one message, Mr Cameron thanked Mrs Brooks for letting him ride one of her horses, joking it was "fast, unpredictable and hard to control but fun".

In another, the journalist, who faces trial in connection with the phone-hacking scandal, praised Mr Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference, saying: "I cried twice."

Both of the messages, which were disclosed by The Mail On Sunday, were sent in October 2009, shortly after Mrs Brooks left her job as editor of The Sun and became chief executive of News International, which owns the paper.

The messages are apparently part of a cache of texts and emails handed to Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards.

Very few have so far been made public.

The leak sheds further light on the close relationship between Mr Cameron and Mrs Brooks, who live near each other in Oxfordshire.

Her husband, the racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks, was at Eton with the Prime Minister.

Mrs Brooks told the Leveson Inquiry earlier this year that Mr Cameron signed some of his missives to her 'LOL' - mistakenly thinking it meant 'Lots Of Love' rather than 'Laugh Out Loud'.

Questions about Mr Cameron's close links with Rupert Murdoch's media empire, and Mrs Brooks in particular, came to the fore after the phone-hacking row erupted.

Mrs Brooks at the Leveson Inquiry

In her Leveson evidence, Mrs Brooks said, at the height of the scandal in 2010, he sent a message through an intermediary urging her to "keep your head up" and expressed his regret he could not be more loyal in public.

It also emerged previously that the Conservative leader rode a police horse, Raisa, which had been lent to Mrs Brooks by the Metropolitan Police.

Lord Justice Leveson is believed to have received a large amount of correspondence from the Prime Minister, Mrs Brooks and former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.

However, the inquiry's lead counsel, Robert Jay QC, has indicated that only "relevant" documents will be released.

Labour frontbencher Chris Bryant has challenged Mr Cameron to publish all the material himself, suggesting he was delaying the process because it was "too salacious and embarrassing".

Mrs Brooks and Mr Coulson, an ex-editor of the News Of The World, are among those facing trial for conspiracy to access voicemails.

In a separate case, Mrs Brooks and her husband are among a group charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has always been happy to comply with whatever Lord Justice Leveson has asked of him."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Contractor Electrocuted At M&S Store In Kent

An investigation is under way into the death of a contractor who was electrocuted in a Marks and Spencer store.

Police said they believed the man died after suffering an electric shock in the M&S store in a Kent shopping centre.

He is thought to have been a contractor who had been called in to repair electrical equipment.

The death was initially treated as suspicious while officers worked out the full circumstances of what happened, but police later said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

The store in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells was not evacuated as the scene of the accident was not in a public area of the shop.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has been advised of the incident and their health and safety officer will be liaising with the police.

A police van outside the store after the incident (Twitter pic: @Kent_999s)

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "We were called just before 3.30pm to the store in Calverley Road. It is believed a man suffered an electric shock. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The air ambulance also attended."

The spokeswoman said police were called by paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service who arrived at the scene first.

An M&S spokeswoman said: "There has been a tragic incident at the store today and our thoughts are with the family concerned.

"We are now concentrating on doing all we can to assist the emergency services with their investigation and as such are unable to comment any further at this stage."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tourism Chiefs Slam Departure Tax Increase

The tourist boom enjoyed by London in the wake of the Olympics could be wiped out by next year's increase in airport departure tax, tourism officials have warned.

Around 84% of those questioned in a survey said tourism to the capital would be damaged if the planned rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) goes ahead next April.

And the majority of holidaymakers questioned by the World Travel Market (WTM) also said their travel plans could be affected by an increase in APD.

APD is charged on the carriage of passengers flying from a UK airport on an aircraft that has an authorised take-off weight of more than 10 tonnes or more than 20 seats for passengers.

It varies between £13 and £184 per passenger, depending on the type of seating they use and the distance they are travelling.

The increase that is expected to take effect next year is thought to be in line with inflation.

Around half of the 1,300 tourism officials questioned for the WTM survey thought the higher resulting air fares from an APD increase would particularly affect people visiting from the growing Bric zone of countries.

This refers to the Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African markets, with Brazilians supposedly the most likely to be put off coming to London.

Of the 1,001 holidaymakers who were surveyed by WTM, more than half said a rise in APD would lead to them altering their holiday plans.

Some said they were likely to swap long-haul trips for short-haul ones. Other respondents said they might book fewer holidays, while around 18% were unsure what they would do.

WTM director Simon Press said: "It's heartbreaking to think the good work of an entire nation (from the Olympics) can be wiped out in an instant by the greed of the Government.

"APD has long been a punitive tax on tourism and its increase will make it even more so and ironically will most likely drive down revenues as fewer tourists come to the UK as a result."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Arrest Over Callum Hilton Hit-And-Run In Bury

A man has been arrested over the hit-and-run death of a 16-year-old boy in Bury, Greater Manchester Police has said.

Police said the teenage victim Callum Hilton was thrown about 20ft when he was struck by a car as he went looking for directions to a party.

The boy, who was out with friends, was crossing Stand Lane in Radcliffe when he was hit by the silver or white Peugeot which did not stop, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

He sustained a serious head injury and was taken to hospital where he later died with his family at his bedside.

A car later found abandoned near Bury town centre is undergoing forensic tests.

Speaking shortly before news of the arrest emerged, Detective Inspector Amber Waywell of Greater Manchester Police said the youngster's family were "going through hell".

The officer added: "Callum's mother and grandfather just want to know what happened to him. It's just awful. I can't imagine what his family, his mother, will be going through.

"A young boy goes out on a Saturday evening and doesn't come home. She must be besides herself with grief and we are trying to support her as best we can."

Callum was heading to a party which had been publicised on Facebook with two friends and his cousin.

The victim suffered head injuries in the incident in Radcliffe, near Bury

The boys, three aged 16 and one aged 18, were all from the Middleton and Heywood areas of Greater Manchester.

"We don't know exactly what address they were going to," the officer said.

"The reason they were crossing the road was because they needed to get directions and they saw the hotel on the opposite side of the road.

"From viewing the CCTV footage Callum and his cousin had made it half-way across the road and the other two were waiting to cross.

"His cousin was slightly ahead so was narrowly missed and Callum was struck by the vehicle."

She added: "It is a busy road, it's a fast road, it's a slope.

A girl visits the scene of the hit-and-run, where flowers have been laid

A man who lives close to the scene and witnessed the aftermath described how a neighbour, a nurse, and a passer-by battled to save the boy as he lay dying in the road.

He said: "As I was coming back home, the boy was already on the floor and there were two people offering first aid.

"One was a neighbour, a nurse who lives further up the hill and one was a guy who was driving past.

"With the boy were three friends, one was apparently his cousin but I don't know any of them.

"It was heartbreaking to watch. The lad was in a very, very bad way. The frustration of standing there as two people try to save a young kid's life was heartbreaking."

He said cars were "always" speeding up and down the road, a hill leading into Radcliffe town centre.

More than 800 people have joined tribute groups to the 16-year-old on Facebook, including one called "Justice For Callum Hilton".

Shannon Howarth wrote on Facebook: "RIP Callum, I'll always remember you as my little pal in primary school, definitely didn't deserve to go at such a young age!!! Sleep well, you'll never be forgotten."

The tragedy happened on a busy main road with regular 30mph speed limit warning signs.

Accident signs have been placed near the spot where the teenager was killed to appeal for witnesses.

Next to a lamppost with a flashing "slow down/30mph" sign, a bunch of flowers had been left in memory of the victim.

The card read "Callum xxx".

Anyone with information should call GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More