Jewish Chronicle 'Sorry' Over Gaza Appeal Ad

The Jewish Chronicle has been forced to apologise after it ran an advert for a charity's Gaza appeal, saying it was a "purely humanitarian gesture".

The paper said it was sorry if readers were upset at the decision, adding that space would be provided in next week's paper for anyone who wished to express their objections.

The ad was placed by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation for charities such as Oxfam, the British Red Cross and Action Aid.

The paper published the ad last week

An anonymous Facebook page was created, calling for a boycott of the Jewish Chronicle, claiming aid to Gaza is used by Hamas to fund "rockets" and "terror tunnels".

"At a time when anti-Semitism is at an all-time high since the Nazi's were around, Israel is facing boycott after boycott and pressure from all around the world to stop defending itself," it said.

"It is now well stated … that all money raised in these appeals is given to the 'Government' of Gaza who just happen to be Hamas (an accepted terror group) whose sole purpose is the destruction of Israel and to kill Israelis."

But many Facebook users reacted angrily to the page, insisting the money was not given to Hamas but used to buy humanitarian aid which was then shipped to Gaza.

"Kicking up a fuss about some well-meaning folk trying to help women and children is going to do nothing to help the very regrettable rise in anti-Semitism, quite the opposite in fact," said one.

"The money is used to buy food, medical aid and other essentials for the civilian population, and the material is then shipped to Gaza. There's no way Hamas get anything," said another.

A spokesperson for the Jewish Chronicle (JC) said: "We have received complaints from readers angry at the decision (to run the ad).

A Palestinian family wait to cross from Gaza into Egypt

"We apologise for the upset caused. In response, the JC will be running a free advert encouraging readers to donate to a range of charities supporting Israel."

After the Facebook page appeared, DEC tweeted pictures of its charities delivering what it said were mattresses, blankets and nappies to communities in Gaza.

Hamas and its allies want an end to a blockade on Gaza that has been enforced by Israel and Egypt. Israel says it is worried the group would use any relaxation of the blockade to re-arm. 

A ceasefire in the region is holding after Israel launched airstrikes in the early hours of Thursday morning in response to rocket fire aimed at the country from Gaza late on Wednesday night.

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Woman Held After Baby Suffocates In Oldham

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing the death of a baby of "barely three weeks old" by lying on the child.

The 55-year-old woman is being questioned over the death of a child by "overlaying" - a term used when a baby is believed to have been suffocated when somebody lies on them while asleep.

Police were called after paramedics found the baby was "unresponsive" at an address in Lychgate Court, Oldham.

The infant was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital but was pronounced dead some time later.

Detective inspector Dave Moores, said: "This is an absolutely tragic case in which a baby who is barely three weeks old has died.

"Any death of a baby is always extremely upsetting and keenly felt by family members and even the wider community.

"An investigation is under way and we are committed to identifying how and why this baby died.

"We also have officers supporting family members at what is clearly a very distressing time for them."

The arrested woman, who is understood to be related to the child, remains in custody.

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Boris 'Would Win 2015 Target Seat For Tories'

More than half of voters in an area seen as a prime target for Boris Johnson would vote for him if he stood there in 2015, a poll has found.

A survey in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency suggests the London Mayor could add 10% to the Conservative party's share of the vote if he stood there.

The poll of 1,000 people in the seat being vacated by former deputy chief whip John Randall was carried out by prominent Tory donor Lord Ashcroft.

Mr Randall held the seat with a 11,216 majority in 2010, making in an attractive option that would allow Mr Johnson to capitalise on his popularity with Londoners.

Mr Johnson could challenge Theresa May and George Osborne to succeed the PM

The former MP for Henley has remained tight-lipped about his preference for a seat since announcing that "in all probability" he would try to find somewhere to stand in next year's General Election.

The deadline for would-be candidates to submit their application to the local party is August 28.

When asked who they planned to vote for, 42% of those in the west London constituency said Conservative, 28% Labour and 19% UKIP.

But when offered Mr Johnson as their candidate, the Tory vote rose to 52%, with Labour and UKIP dropping to 23% and 16% respectively.

Tory donor Lord Ashcroft said Mr Johnson had a "unique ability both to galvanise Tories and appeal to supporters of other parties".

The assertion was backed up by 53% of those polled agreeing that Mr Johnson was "different to most politicians, and in a good way".

Only 7% said he was different "but in a bad way".

Mr Johnson has vowed to combine the jobs of MP and Mayor for the last year of his term at London's City Hall if returned to the Commons - but a third of those who backed him in the poll said they would like to see him quit his current post if elected.

Since his announcement earlier his month, Mr Johnson has been installed as favourite to succeed David Cameron as party leader if the Tories fail to win the election or the PM steps down.

He remains behind David Cameron in terms of who would make the best prime minister by 36% to 33% - but well ahead of Ed Miliband on 19% and Nick Clegg on 10%.

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Airport Reopens After Crashed Plane Moved

Flights from Doncaster Sheffield Airport have resumed after a plane which crash landed was cleared away from the scene.

South Yorkshire Police told Sky News they believed the wheels of the aircraft did not come down properly as it made its approach.

Pictures showed the small plane tilted to one side with its wing tip in the air and a fire engine on the scene.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it took one person to hospital with minor injuries.

Investigators arrived at the airport on Saturday morning to inspect the aircraft, which came to a halt adjacent to the runway.

A statement from the airport said: "We are pleased to confirm that the runway at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield reopened at 14.45pm this afternoon.

"The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) have visited the airport and the LinksAir flight, LNQ207, which experienced problems with its undercarriage on landing, has now been moved from the runway area.

"The first departure from Doncaster Sheffield Airport will be the Wizzair flight to Bucharest at 15:30pm.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused to passengers affected by the incident which occurred last night."

LinksAir is a small UK airline operating British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, and runs scheduled flights from Doncaster Sheffield, Belfast City and The Isle of Man.

Other operators using the South Yorkshire airport include First Choice, Thomas Cook, Flybe and Thomson.

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Screams As 35 Sick Migrants Found In Container

A dead man was among 35 immigrants found in a container at Tilbury Docks after crew were alerted by "banging and screaming".

Police have launched a "homicide" investigation after the man was discovered with 34 sick children and adults hiding in a container on a P&O ferry.

Police at the scene in Tilbury Docks

At least seven of those treated at three different hospitals with "significant health problems" were children.

At a press conference at Tilbury Docks, Essex Superintendent Trevor Roe said the man's death was being treated as a crime.

Seven ambulances were sent to the scene and Basildon Hospital said on its Twitter feed that it was "responding to a major incident".

The East of England Ambulance service confirmed a hazardous area response team had also been sent to the scene.

Eighteen patients were taken to Basildon Hospital, nine to London Whitechapel Hospital and seven to Southend Hospital.

Some were suffering from severe dehydration and hypothermia.

A police officer at the scene said they are still trying to determine the nationalities of those involved but they are believed to be of Indian origin, possibly Punjab.

Basildon Hospital is responding to a "major incident"

Essex Police were called after the people were found on the container, which arrived on a ship from Zeebrugge in Belgium and was being unloaded at 7.35am.

Natalie Hardy, from P&O Ferries, said the immigrants were in a container on board the Norstream, a commercial vessel.

She said the ship was scheduled to leave Zeebrugge last night at 10pm and arrive at Tilbury today at 6am.

It was carrying 64 containers, 72 trailers and five lorries and drivers.

The suspected immigrants were found at Tilbury Docks

Ms Hardy said: "They (port authorities) found 35 clandestines on a container in the ferry.

"They had been in there overnight, because the ship was an overnight freight ferry.

"This morning when they went to unload containers there was a noise heard, a banging. One unfortunately was dead and others were taken to hospital."

A spokeswoman for Public Health England said it was not involved in the response to, investigation of or anything to do with the incident at Tilbury Docks.

She said: "If it was ebola, health care professionals are so alert at the moment to signs and symptoms that should there have been anyone who was showing symptoms we would have been notified immediately.

"I think we can be confident that we are not dealing with that."

Police are dealing with the incident alongside staff from Port of Tilbury, UK Border Force and the East of England Ambulance Service, the spokesman said.

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New CCTV Footage Of 'Panicked' Burglary Suspect

Police have released new CCTV footage of a suspect wanted over a burglary that left a man with "life-changing" injuries.

The suspect is seen removing a pair of surgical gloves as he walks across a car park within minutes of the attack at a home in Wimbledon, south London.

Detectives described the man as being "panicked" in the footage from the Wimbledon Theatre car park, shortly after 10pm on August 11.

The man is believed to be part of a four-member gang involved in the violent burglary at the £2m home of Paul Kohler, 55, who is head of law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Paul Kohler (l) was left with severe injuries after the attack

The balaclava-clad gang had barged into the home of Mr Kohler and demanded money.

The men violently assaulted father-of-four Mr Kohler and attempted to tape his 50-year-old wife to a chair.

The alarm was raised by one of the couple's grown daughters and her boyfriend, who barricaded themselves in an upstairs room and called 999.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Kohler told the Evening Standard: "The first punch in the hall took my eye out, I thought I had lost the eye at that stage because it stopped functioning.

"But I just kept thinking of my wife and daughter and her boyfriend upstairs.

The man was spotted removing a pair of surgical gloves

"They got me on the floor but I managed to stand up and at one stage and trade blows with them."

Response team police arrived within minutes and apprehended two men, however the other two fled the scene on foot.

Detective Inspector Dan O'Sullivan, of Merton Burglary Squad, said: "This new piece of CCTV is crucial in the identification of one of the outstanding suspects, and we are calling to anyone who recognises this man to come forward.

"It is my firm belief that this man and his other outstanding associate would have been stained with blood spatter from the violent attack inside the house."

The last images of the suspect as he leaves the area in SW19

It is still not known in which direction the fourth man headed after leaving the scene in Kings Road, SW19.

Both suspects are believed to be of Eastern European heritage and aged between 20 and 30.

Police are also keen to speak to anyone who saw a silver Volkswagen two-door cabriolet style car which was believed to have been used by the gang.

Mr Kohler continues to receive treatment for multiple facial injuries, including a fractured eye socket, and bruising to his body and limbs.

The two men apprehended during the raid have appeared before magistrates charged with grevious bodily harm and aggravated burglary, and remanded in custody until August 27.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call the Met on 020 8649 3159. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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'Mum Arrested' After Girl Drowns In Hotel Pool

The mother of a three-year-old girl who drowned in a hotel swimming pool near Blackpool has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The youngster is believed to have been staying with her parents at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes, when she got into difficulty in the water on Thursday morning.

She was pulled from the swimming pool and taken to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in a critical condition but died later.

The hotel's owner Chris Webb told Sky News that several other guests witnessed what happened in the pool and gave statements to the police.

Two guests tried to revive the girl before paramedics arrived.

It is understood that the girl's mother was in the pool at the time.

Police confirmed a 40-year-old woman, from Galashiels, Scotland, was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect. She remains in police custody.

Witness Carole Greenwood, who has lifeguard qualifications, told Sky News that she tried to rescue the child.

"Children in swimming pools should be looked after by their own parents. It is not necessary to have lifeguards necessarily because they are there to prevent accidents.

'Parents needs to be aware children can't swim, they are not strong swimmers and they need to wear flotation aids, especially little children."

Ms Greenwood said lifeguards had not been on duty because it was not the policy of private pools.

"Obviously I am devastated for this poor little girl, it's very sad.

"At the time, you are quite shocked because all your training is now coming into action.

"It's something you think you'll never, ever do, but I am satisfied I helped out in this case."

A guest called Darren, who did not want to give his surname, also told Sky News he had seen the girl and her family having dinner at the hotel - and witnessed the paramedics arrive.

"I saw them come out of the ambulance with what looked like a defibrillator," he said.

"My daughter saw the little girl being carried out by somebody."

He said the pool had been shut and "lots of police" had been at the hotel.

He described how he later saw the girl's mother being led away by officers.

Detective Inspector Nick Connaughton, of Blackpool CID, said: "This is a tragic situation where a young girl has lost her fight for life.

"We are now treating this sad death as suspicious and are investigating just how the child came into difficulties in the pool."

The Dalmeny Hotel, which overlooks St Annes beach, is described as a family-friendly resort with a heated indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.

The hotel refused to comment.

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Murder Suspect Dewani 'Fit To Stand Trial'

A South African court has ruled that murder suspect Shrien Dewani is fit to stand trial for the honeymoon murder of his wife.

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that the 34-year-old businessman is not mentally ill and should be tried in October.

He is accused of the murder of his wife, Anni Dewani, in Cape Town.

Her sister, Ami Denborg, said: "It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this.

Sister Ami Denborg said the decision was a 'relief'

"I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened.

"It feels like we're moving forward. It's still a long way to go but at least we're taking steps in the right direction, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction."

Announcing the decision, Judge John Hlophe said the trial date had been set for October 6.

"The draft handed in by the state is hereby made an order of the court," said Judge Hlophe, after receiving an expert assessment which stated Dewani was not mentally ill.

Anni Dewani's body was found in an abandoned car

Director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Western Cape High Court: "The accused is not mentally ill.

"The accused is not certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act."

The South African Press Association reported that Dewani's lawyer, Francois van Zyl, said the mental health panel had made a unanimous decision.

The panel included members such as Professor Tuviah Zabow, who was appointed by the court as a psychiatrist for Dewani.

"We are in agreement. There is no objection," Van Zyl said.

Dewani, whose family attended court, is expected to appear again on September 9 for a pre-trial hearing, before his trial starts on October 6.

The millionaire, from Bristol, is accused of ordering Anni's murder during their honeymoon in November 2010.

She was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Dewani, who has not yet entered pleas, faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

He has previously claimed that the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu township.

He says he was released unharmed but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.

His trial date follows a protracted legal battle over the seriousness of his mental health problems.

Dewani has been detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and was extradited from the UK in April to face trial.

A panel of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist assessed Dewani's mental health over 30 days.

Three men have been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

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Festival Called Off After Fork Lift Truck Death

A music festival has been cancelled after a man died in an accident involving a fork lift truck at the site.

The 33-year-old was setting up the Surround Festival near Stroud, Gloucestershire, on Thursday morning.

Emergency services were called to the Sallywood Farm site in Horsley at around 12pm.

Surround Festival, featuring a range of world class electronic and live acts, was due to start on Saturday.

In a statement, the organisers confirmed one of the team members had died while working.

"The incident involved someone highly experienced in their role, operating equipment they were fully trained to use," they said.

"It was an exceptionally unfortunate accident. Our thoughts are with their friends and family at this difficult time, and we are working closely with local authorities.

"We understand that this is deeply disappointing to everybody expecting to come, as it is for us. We fully intend to make refunds to all ticket holders and are working very hard to get our refund procedure in place.

"We hope you understand if there is a delay in responding to communications, it has been a difficult time and we are doing everything we can. Full details regarding the refund procedure will be announced as soon as possible."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

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Salmonella Outbreak Cause Under Investigation

More than 150 people have been hit with salmonella poisoning, in an outbreak affecting several parts of the UK.

A third of the cases - 55 - have been in Hampshire, with a single east Asian restaurant linked to around two in five of those.

There have also been 43 cases of salmonella in the West Midlands, with another 33 in Cheshire and 25 in London.

All but two of the Cheshire cases are linked to a takeaway restaurant, while 34 of the West Midlands cases are connected to Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital.

A colony of salmonella (Pic CDC)

Public Health England (PHE) said the outbreak was in "isolated clusters" and had been "managed locally".

Genetic tests suggest a single source may be responsible.

Consultant epidemiologist Dr Paul Cleary, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are working with our colleagues across PHE, at the Food Standards Agency, in local authorities and with other public health organisations in Europe to investigate the cause of this outbreak.

"We are making good progress and hope to have more conclusive evidence shortly.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and if there is any further public health action necessary then we will ensure this takes place."

Symptoms of salmonella, which is often associated with poultry and eggs, include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally vomiting and fever.

Most people recover without medical treatment, although doctors say it is important to drink plenty of water.

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