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Miliband Threatens To Blacklist Tax Havens

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 07 Februari 2015 | 22.11

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Tax havens such as Bermuda, Jersey and Guernsey will have six months to open their books or face international blacklisting if Labour wins the General Election in May, Ed Miliband has vowed.

The Labour leader has accused David Cameron of failing to follow through on demands that all overseas territories and crown dependencies adopt transparency measures being introduced in the UK.

Agreement on action to expose the owners of "shell companies" used to evade tax was hailed by Mr Cameron as a key achievement of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland in 2013.

He said then: "The UK is today leading the way by committing to create a central registry of company ownership.

"Each and every one of our overseas territories and crown dependencies has agreed to sign up to the multi-lateral convention on information exchange to exchange information automatically with the UK and to produce action plans on beneficial ownership."

But so far, according to Mr Miliband, none of the countries around the world over which Britain retains sovereignty has accepted the Prime Minister's appeal to them to "move forward together in raising standards of transparency" and some have ruled out reform.

Among the 10 countries whose leaders were called to No 10, Bermuda has rejected calls to make public the companies registered there.

So too have the Cayman Islands. Gibraltar has taken no further action. Neither has Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

In a letter to the leaders of the overseas territories and crown dependencies, Mr Miliband put them "on notice" that, if elected in May, his government would refer any that failed to produce publicly accessible central registers of beneficial ownership - who profits from a company - to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"I am writing to put you on notice that a Labour government will not allow this situation of delay and secrecy to continue," he wrote.

"Labour will act on tax avoidance where the Tories will not," he added, ending protection from international scrutiny and requesting OECD blacklisting.

Mr Miliband, accused this week of being anti-business, told a conference of Labour councillors in Nottingham: "The current Conservative leadership have become the political wing of offshore hedge funds.

"Unlike them, we will not stand by. We will ensure a country where everyone plays by the rules, from top to bottom."

But a Conservative Party spokesman said: "People should judge Ed Miliband by his record, not his rhetoric.

"For 13 years - including when he was an adviser in the Treasury - Labour did absolutely nothing to tackle tax avoidance. This shows that Ed Miliband is simply too weak to deliver on what he promises.

"In contrast, we are tackling the problem head-on. David Cameron put tax dodging at the top of the global agenda at the UK's G8 summit, securing major new international rules to ensure that companies pay what they owe."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Patients 'Failed' By NHS Complaints System

A health watchdog has accused the NHS of letting down patients who complain about their care.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's investigation looked into 150 complaints regarding allegations that patients had died or suffered avoidable harm because of failings in their care.

It found that 28 of the 150 cases should have been investigated by the NHS as a Serious Untoward Incident (SUI), which is triggered to allow doctors to learn from past mistakes.

But in the vast majority of these cases (71%) the hospital failed to carry out an SUI.

Families interviewed for the review complained they felt "belittled" and "misled" by medical staff who failed to listen to their concerns or give them straight answers.

Patients groups said the findings are "worrying" and suggest the lessons from recent hospital scandals have not been learnt.

Ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor said: "Investigations weren't carried out when they should have been and when they were carried out they did not find out or explain why failings happened.

"When people make a complaint that they have been seriously harmed they should expect it to be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated."

In one case highlighted, a one-day-old baby, identified only as Baby F, was left with permanent brain damage because two doctors and a nurse made "serious mistakes" during blood transfusions.

But the hospital's SUI investigation was "fundamentally flawed and did not identify glaring errors in the conduct and recording of the transfusion and ignored obvious explanations for what happened", the ombudsman found.

Dr Katherine Rake, chief executive of Healthwatch England, said: "Our research shows that tens of thousands of people every year are being failed by the NHS and yet never report it because they have no faith the complaints system will make any difference.

"Even worse, fewer than half of those that do find the energy and courage to raise their concerns ever hear the words 'I'm sorry'.

"What we need is a complete overhaul of the complaints system that ensures every incident is properly investigated and learnt from, and that those affected are treated with the dignity they deserve."

A Department of Health spokesman said the NHS acknowledges that "listening to patients and staff is absolutely vital to improving care".

He added: "That's why we've made hospitals legally obliged to apologise to patients when mistakes do happen, introduced complaints handling as a crucial element of tougher hospital inspections and asked Robert Francis to produce an independent report on how to create a more open NHS culture."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Addicted 2 UR Phone? Here's How To Switch Off

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

It's snowing and they're pinging water balloons with a catapult towards a bunch of green cardboard pigs.

This is a low-budget, outdoor re-enactment of Angry Birds, the smartphone app which gamers around the world enjoy for 200 million minutes per day.

There is a subtle irony in it - this real-life version of the famous game is being played by eight people who have chosen to be forcibly separated from their mobile devices and tablets. They are 'digital detoxing'.

They have come to a £200 per day retreat in Hertfordshire in search of some respite from their "connected" lives - no WhatsApp, no text messages, no phone calls, no Google, no Twitter or Facebook.

"One of the reasons I'm here is that I want to find a balance," says 23-year-old law student Jack Longden.

"Using social media does facilitate a lot of things in your everyday life but I think it also changes the way you live your day-to-day life and puts pressures on you that shouldn't necessarily be there."

Environmental consultant Max Goodman, 26, added: "I'm always plugged in, I've always got my phone on, always got it out, constantly texting so it's kind of non-stop."

And Sarah Horscroft, 22, told Sky News: "I guess part of it is about getting outside and having a break from being attached to my mobile and my smartphone but the main aim is to know that other people feel the same way as I do."

According to research by Nokia, the average person checks their phone every six-and-a-half minutes. Most of us are awake for around 16 hours a day which means we are looking at our phones more than 1,000 times every week.

Britons spend an estimated 62 million hours each day on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, a survey by market research company OnePoll found.

For our children, it is an even bleaker picture - the average child born in 2013 will have spent an entire year of their lives in front of a screen by the age of seven, according to MyFamilyClub.co.uk

Detoxing might not sound like much fun but this Hertfordshire retreat is different - there is a hot tub in the snow, yoga, textile art, outdoor cooking, a whittling class, and of course the Angry Birds imitation.

The aim is to encourage these urban multitaskers to reconnect with the great outdoors, to reconnect with themselves, and to interact with like-minded people face-to-face.

"Digital technology is supposed to free us up but it has actually tied us to our chairs as well," says retreat organiser Martin Talks.

"In the office you are sitting down, at home we sit in front of the TV and one of the worst things you can do for your health is to be sitting down for a long period of time.

"So we are trying to get them up, get them moving around, get them breathing, give them some fresh air and have a bit of fun."

But is all this really worth £200 per day? (Cheaper options might include - but are not limited to - putting your phone in a drawer).

"You don't need to look at a smartphone first thing in the morning, you don't need to look at it last thing at night, or in the middle of the night. You can actually get a bit of a balance and days [retreats] like this do provide a service in reminding people of that."

With 'wearable tech' likely to take off in the coming years, the chances are that digital devices will pervade our lives even more than they do now.

But experimental psychologist Dr Andrew Przybylski from the University of Oxford does not think there is real cause for concern.

"I think the idea of a 'digital detox' is a really curious one and I think it reflects the fact that a lot of people have an idea that maybe technology is bad for them," he says.

"But if you think about what the things are that people do with digital technology, it's typically finding their way around, talking to their friends and family members. So it's really a question of: what are you detoxing from? Your most important social relationships?

"The advantages of technology are irrefutable. We have a massive cognitive surplus. We have things like Wikipedia and TripAdvisor - sources of information that enrich our lives.

"There are definitely concerns about the downsides of technology but really the evidence is quite shaky."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hunt For Man Who Stole Dying Pensioner's Purse

Police are hunting a man who stole an elderly woman's purse as she lay dying in the road.

Greater Manchester Police were called to Leigh Road, Leigh, following reports an 82-year-old had been hit by a lorry at 11:45am on 4 February.

When they arrived they found the woman dead at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing a man steal her purse before fleeing.

They are now appealing for information to help catch the thief. 

Detective Sergeant Neil Lawless said: "This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence.

"This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman.

"I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road."

The woman has now been identified and her family have been informed.

The suspect is described as white, 6ft (1.8m) tall, between 30 and 40 years old, of medium build and with a dark brown beard.

He was wearing a light grey hooded top with the hood pulled over his head, light blue jeans and black boot style training shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Sgt Lawless said: "If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please call us as soon as possible."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Outrage Over Barrister's 'Appalling' Rape Post

A top barrister has been criticised for claiming men should be cleared of rape if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Writing on his blog, David Osborne said "consent is consent, blind drunk or otherwise", and "regret after the event cannot make it rape".

His comments have been condemned by campaign groups as "ridiculous" and "appalling".

In a post entitled "She was gagging for it", Mr Osborne, a married father-of-four, said: "I have a very simple solution which I hope you will agree is fair.

"If the complainant (I do not refer to her as the victim) was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, when she was 'raped', this provides the accused with a complete defence. 

"End of story and a victory for fairness, moderation and common sense!"

Mr Osborne, who was called to the criminal Bar in 1974, said recent guidelines on rape accusations have "serious consequences for all red-bloodied males who are out on the rut".

The guidelines issued to police and prosecutors mean people accused of rape will increasingly be expected to prove they obtained consent.

Mr Osborne also used the post to criticise Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders.

"She has decided, or rather it has been decided for her, that anybody who makes an allegation of rape must be believed, and everything possible in the trial process must be bent towards the conviction of the accused," he writes.

"Rape trials from now on are no longer to be prosecution led, but conviction led, and when you add into the mix that prison sentences for rape are getting longer and longer, the opportunities for a serious miscarriage of justice are self-evident."

Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said she thought the remarks were a "sick joke".

"This is a legal professional indulging in the oldest stereotypes about rape, probably for attention-seeking purposes, and appearing to condone the predatory behaviour of men who target vulnerable girls," she said.

"I suggest he takes time to look at the impact of rape on survivors and how the situation is made worse by being told by people like David Osborne that it is their fault."

Clare Jones from WomenCentre was quoted by the Daily Mirror and The Independent as saying: "It's appalling.

"We are deeply shocked that even today, in 2015, someone can seriously suggest that the violent crime of rape could be provided with a complete defence if a woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time."

After the blog post came to light, Mr Osborne told the Daily Mirror that women would still have protection in law under his "solution".

He told the newspaper: "The protection in law that they have got seems to me to be twofold.

"Number One: Don't go out in the first place.

"Or Number Two: If you do go out don't get rat-a***d. If you get rat a***d, I'm sorry, you are asking for trouble."

He later added: "I tell you what would drop the rape statistics would be if girls covered up, dressed appropriately and stopped drinking themselves legless."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Listen: Girl, 6, Rings 999 For Unconscious Mum

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 06 Februari 2015 | 22.11

Audio has been released of the moment a six-year-old girl rang 999 after finding her mother unconscious and bleeding from the mouth.

Paramedics have praised "calm and mature" Tianna Measuria for her bravery after she gave her mother's address and monitored her breathing until police officers and an ambulance arrived to help.

The young girl, from Falmouth, Cornwall, was at home when she heard "lots of noise" from Jazmin Carter's bedroom in the early hours of the morning.

As well as answering the operator's questions clearly and politely, Tianna was also heard reassuring the 24-year-old, saying: "Don't worry mummy, don't worry, it's fine." 

Vicki Fallding, who took Tianna's call, said: "It was like speaking to a much older child. I've spoken to adults who, in similar circumstances, are very distressed and not always able to answer all the questions.

"We were all so impressed with the level of detail she was able to provide, and would definitely encourage all parents to teach their children how to get help for them should a similar situation arise."

Miss Carter has said she is "very lucky and very proud" of her daughter, after the little girl remembered her stepfather's instructions of what to do in an emergency.

Tianna's mother has now made a full recovery, and the South Western Ambulance Service has given the schoolgirl a certificate in recognition of her quick thinking and sound judgment.

The nature of her illness has not been released.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jihadi Who Faked Death Gets 12 Years In Jail

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

A British jihadi who posed with the severed heads of Syrian soldiers and faked his own death to sneak back into the UK has been jailed for 12 years.

But Imran Khawaja - who spent six months in Syria alongside insurgents linked to terror group Islamic State - has appealed to other young British Muslims not to make the same mistakes he did.

He acted as a frontman for Rayat Al Tawheed, posting dozens of photos and videos online and boasting of his weapons training and exploits on the battlefield.

He also encouraged other young men and women to become jihadis and travel to the region.

During a two-day sentencing hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in south east London, Khawaja's defence team appealed to the Judge Mr Justice Baker for leniency, claiming the 27-year-old was a "psychologically vulnerable" young man who bitterly regretted his actions.

But prosecutor Brian Altman QC said Khawaja had featured in some disturbing footage of decapitated Syrian government soldiers.

In one video sequence, played before a hushed court, Mr Altman said Khawaja could be seen picking up severed heads from the back of a flatbed truck and saying: "Heads. Kuffar (non-Muslims) Disgusting."

Mr Altman said: "His attitude is quite clearly contemptuous. There is no sign of compulsion or revulsion."

At a court hearing last month, the former security guard pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism, attending a terror training camp in Syria and receiving weapons training.

He was sentenced today alongside two other men, his cousin Tahir Bhatti, who pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and his friend Asim Ali, who admitted terrorism funding.

Bhatti, a taxi driver, was persuaded to travel to Bulgaria last June to pick up Khawaja and help smuggle him back into the UK.

He was sentenced to 21 months for assisting an offender.

Ali was given a 21-month sentence for withdrawing £300 to give to his friend on 24 January last year, two days before Khawaja left for Syria.

Throughout his almost six months in the Middle East, Khawaja's family never alerted the UK authorities.

Instead they embarked on a relentless campaign of text and social media messaging, desperately pleading with him to return home.

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  1. Gallery: British Jihadi Imran Khawaja Jailed

    Imran Khawaja, a British jihadi nicknamed "Barbie" who fled a Syrian training camp because he had "had enough" of conditions there, has been handed a 12 year sentence. All pictures are courtesy of ICSR, King's College London

Khawaja, 27, complained of a lack of toiletries, cocoa butter and condoms for "war booty" during his six-month stint with the Rayat al Tawheed insurgents in the war-torn country last year

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22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mass Web Surveillance By GCHQ Was Unlawful

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

British spies acted unlawfully in accessing millions of personal communications collected by the US National Security Agency (NSA), according to a ruling from Britain's most secretive court.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has never before, in 15 years, ruled against the intelligence and security services.

But it said that up to December 2014 "the soliciting, receiving, storing and transmitting by UK authorities of private communications of individuals located in the UK, which have been obtained by US authorities" breached articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which refer to the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression, respectively.

Documents disclosed by Edward Snowden revealed the existence of the NSA's PRISM and Upstream programmes.

PRISM allowed the NSA access to data handled by internet companies including Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, Google and Apple; in one day it was able to collect 444,743 email address books from Yahoo and 82,857 from Facebook.

Upstream is an NSA interception programme that taps fibre optic cables carrying internet information.

In one month, Upstream collected 160 billion interception records.

GCHQ and the NSA share intelligence gathered by both programmes.

However, this type of information sharing between GCHQ and the NSA is now legal. This is because a legal case resulted in disclosure of the guidelines governing information sharing.

A GCHQ spokesperson said: "Today's IPT ruling re-affirms that the processes and safeguards within the intelligence-sharing regime were fully adequate at all times - it is simply about the amount of detail about those processes and safeguards that needed to be in the public domain."

However, the ruling could open the doors to millions of claims against the intelligence services.

Privacy International and Bytes for All, two claimants in the protracted legal case, are now petitioning the IPT to find out whether their communications were intercepted. If they were, they will seek their deletion.

The IPT told Sky News that anyone with a "reasonable belief" that their communications had been intercepted unlawfully could petition the Tribunal to find out what information GCHQ had gathered on them.

James Welch, the legal director of Liberty, one of the claimants said: "The Intelligence Services retain a largely unfettered power to rifle through millions of people's private communications – and the Tribunal believes the limits and safeguards revealed during last year's legal proceedings are an adequate protection of our privacy.

"We disagree, and will be taking our fight to the European Court of Human Rights."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Farage Cancels Rotherham Event After Protests

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has cancelled a public appearance in Rotherham because of protests outside his party's office.

The politician had been due to cut the ribbon on the campaign office of UKIP's parliamentary candidate Jane Collins, but his staff said he would not be coming out on police advice.

Around 40 people had gathered outside in a noisy but peaceful demonstration.

Many were carrying placards with the slogan "Reject UKIP lies", and shouting that Mr Farage was not welcome in the town.

His visit follows a damning report into way Rotherham Council failed to deal with child sexual exploitation in the town.

UKIP has 10 councillors in Rotherham which is one of its main target seats in the North at the May general election.

Mr Farage denied he was exploiting the abuse scandal with his visit.

He said: "We're the one party that's warned consistently against division within society and multiculturalism and we've warned against it for years.

"We want interculturalism. We've got different religions and faiths but we have to mix together and we have to live under one law.

"So I think to accuse us of exploiting it is not fair.

"We have warned for years that things have been going wrong with increasing divisions within society."

But Rotherham's Labour MP Sarah Champion, said his visit amounted to "rubber-necking" after the scathing report by Louise Casey into the council's mishandling of child sex abuse allegations.

She tweeted: "Hilarious Nigel Farage is trapped inside the Rotherham UKIP shop by people objecting to him coming to rubber neck at victims!"

In response, an unamused Mr Farage tweeted: "Disgraceful Labour MPs think suppressing democracy is 'hilarious' especially given seriousness of Rotherham situation."

Mr Farage was later escorted out of the office by security and police into waiting police car.

Speaking at his party conference in nearby Doncaster last year, Mr Farage told supporters UKIP was parking its "tanks on the Labour Party's lawn" in an assault on its heartlands.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-Children's Doctor Guilty Of Sex Assaults

A former children's doctor has been found guilty of assaulting young girls in the same hospital as Jimmy Savile.

Michael Salmon preyed upon girls at Stoke Mandeville Hospital at a time when Savile also prowled the wards - though there is no suggestion of a link between the pair.

The 79-year-old was convicted of nine indecent assaults and two rapes carried out between 1973 and 1988.

His six victims, one of whom was raped at his home, were aged 11 to 18 at the time.

Jurors at Reading Crown Court had been told how Salmon, a father, carried out many of his attacks behind a screen in his consulting room at the Buckinghamshire hospital.

Often the victim's parents were waiting nearby, believing the consultant paediatrician was completing a medical examination.

The court heard how Salmon thought he was "bomb-proof" because no one would believe a child over him.

"On some of the occasions he handled the breasts of some of the young girls, with the pretence of listening to their heart, and he also on occasions carried out internal vaginal examinations, something for which there was no medical need whatsoever, without a nurse present and without wearing surgical gloves," the court was told.

Salmon raped one girl, 16, when she turned to him believing she was pregnant.

After confirming the pregnancy, the doctor took her to a bedroom at his home and raped her.

"One favour deserves another," he told her.

Salmon raped her again after luring her back by saying she might be pregnant with twins.

Jurors took just over 15 hours to reach their verdict.

The former paediatrician was cleared of carrying out an illegal abortion on his rape victim, as well as a separate rape and indecent assault.

No date for sentencing has yet been set.

Thames Valley Police said other women had come forward with allegations against Salmon since the beginning of the trial last month.

Stoke Mandeville, in Aylesbury, entered the spotlight following disclosures about Savile's abuse in 2011.

An NHS report into the now-deceased TV personality's crimes there was delayed last year to gather new evidence. It has yet to be published.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tesco Facing Probe Over Supplier Dealings

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 05 Februari 2015 | 22.11

An official investigation is to be launched into practices at troubled supermarket giant Tesco, including delays in payments to suppliers.

The move was announced by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), Christine Tacon, who said she had formed a "reasonable suspicion" that the retailer has breached supply guidelines.

She said she took the decision after considering information submitted to her after Tesco's profit over-statement last September.

She has discussed the practices with Tesco and will now seek more information from direct suppliers and others to determine what further action to take.

The post of Adjudicator was set up in 2013 to monitor the relationship between the 10 largest retailers and their suppliers.

The investigation, which is the GCA's first, is expected to take up to nine months and the Adjudicator has called for evidence to be submitted by 3 April.

It will cover the conduct of Tesco plc from 25 June 2013 (when the GCA was created) to 5 February this year.

A statement said: "The investigation will consider the existence and extent of practices which have resulted in delay in payments to suppliers. This will include in particular, but not be limited to, delay in payments associated with:

:: Short deliveries, including imposition of penalties

:: Consumer complaints where the amounts were not agreed

:: Invoicing discrepancies such as duplicate invoicing where two invoices were issued for the same product

:: Deductions for unknown or un-agreed items

:: Deductions for promotional fixed costs (gate fees) that were incorrect

:: Deductions in relation to historical promotions which had not been agreed.

The investigation, which follows a catastrophic period for Tesco including store closures, will also look into suppliers having to make payments for better positioning of goods on shelves not related to a promotion.

Initially the probe will be restricted to Tesco, but it could be expanded to include other supermarkets if warranted.

Ms Tacon said she had taken the decision "after careful consideration" and urged suppliers with concerns to come forward and give evidence.

She told Sky News she currently had two sanctions at her disposal. "I can make legally binding recommendations and I can require (offenders) to take out - name and shame as people call it – adverts apologising for what they have done."

Once legislation currently going through parliament is in place she will also be able to impose fines.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We have taken action to strengthen compliance and ... we are changing the way we work with suppliers.

"We will continue to co-operate fully with the GCA as she carries out her investigation and welcome the opportunity for our suppliers to provide direct feedback."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "This is an historic day for the Groceries Code Adjudicator and shows we have created a regulator that has real teeth."


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash Driver Breaks Silence

Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash Driver Breaks Silence

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

The driver of the Glasgow bin lorry that crashed and killed six people has said he was unconscious and cannot remember what happened.

Harry Clarke was at the wheel of the truck when it careered down a busy shopping street in the city three days before Christmas.

Speaking to the media for the first time, he told the Daily Record the victims were on his mind "every minute of every day".

But the 58-year-old said his memory is a blank and he cannot remember the time leading up to the tragedy.

"I understand a lot of people want to know what happened that day. I wish I could tell you but I can't," he told the Daily Record.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Images From The Scene In Glasgow After The Bin Lorry Crash

    The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre

One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street

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The streets were busy with Christmas shoppers, many of whom raced to the scene to help

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Ambulance, police and fire crews were quickly on the scene as the scale of the incident became clear

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There were concerns about a potential gas leak after the lorry damaged a gas pipe

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Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash Driver Breaks Silence

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

The driver of the Glasgow bin lorry that crashed and killed six people has said he was unconscious and cannot remember what happened.

Harry Clarke was at the wheel of the truck when it careered down a busy shopping street in the city three days before Christmas.

Speaking to the media for the first time, he told the Daily Record the victims were on his mind "every minute of every day".

But the 58-year-old said his memory is a blank and he cannot remember the time leading up to the tragedy.

"I understand a lot of people want to know what happened that day. I wish I could tell you but I can't," he told the Daily Record.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Images From The Scene In Glasgow After The Bin Lorry Crash

    The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre

One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street

]]>

The streets were busy with Christmas shoppers, many of whom raced to the scene to help

]]>

Ambulance, police and fire crews were quickly on the scene as the scale of the incident became clear

]]>

There were concerns about a potential gas leak after the lorry damaged a gas pipe

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22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

E-Cigarettes Are Harmful To Lungs - Study

E-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals which could damage the lungs and immune system, scientists have discovered.

Experiments carried out on mice found e-cigarette fumes harmed the animals' lungs and made them more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Chemicals generated by the nicotine devices also weakened the immune system's response to viruses and bacteria, causing some mice to die.

Researchers found e-cigarette vapour contains "free radical" toxins similar to those found in air pollution and cigarette smoke.

Although the study said they generated just 1% of the amount of free radicals in tobacco smoke, these molecules can damage DNA and cell membranes.

Professor John Britton of the Royal College of Physicians has previously said that if all of the smokers in Britain began to smoke e-cigarettes, five million lives could be saved - making it a "massive potential public health prize".

The chair of the Tobacco Advisory Group told Sky News: "Inhaling just about anything is likely to provoke an inflammatory response in the lungs, so these recent findings are hardly surprising.

"Therefore, the research seems to support the common sense position that e-cigarettes are unlikely to be harmless.

"However, what matters is whether e-cigarettes help smokers to stop inhaling something we know to be much more harmful - tobacco smoke."

The study was carried out by scientists at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Professor Shyam Biswai said: "Our findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not neutral in terms of the effects on the lungs.

"We have observed that they increase the susceptibility to respiratory infections in the mouse models.

"This warrants further study in susceptible individuals, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) patients who have switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, or to new users of e-cigarettes who may have never used cigarettes."

The study exposed mice to e-cigarette vapour equivalent to doses inhaled by humans for a period of two weeks.

Researchers then infected the mice with pneumonia bacteria or the flu virus.

The results showed the infected mice were far more likely to develop a weakened immune system.

Co-author of the report Dr Thomas Sussan said: "E-cigarette vapour alone produced mild effects on the lungs, including inflammation and protein damage.

"However, when this exposure was followed by a bacterial or viral infection, the harmful effects of e-cigarette exposure became even more pronounced.

"The e-cigarette exposure inhibited the ability of mice to clear the bacteria from their lungs, and the viral infection led to increased weight loss and death, indicative of an impaired immune response."

Results of the study have been published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Can And Should Do More In IS Fight, Say MPs

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

Britain can and should be doing more in the fight against Islamic State, a group of MPs has said.

A report by the Commons Defence Select Committee also found the UK is contributing less than its NATO partners and that the British military lacks a strategy for defeating IS, also known as ISIS.

The report comes after the father of a Jordanian pilot murdered by IS denounced the group as "wild beasts".

The committee's chairman, Rory Stewart, said: "The UK should be focused much more on Iraq. It should be a higher priority.

"That doesn't mean combat troops on the ground. That means, to begin with, just understanding what is going on.

"That means putting military and civilian personnel on to the ground to start mapping who is the enemy, who are these people in ISIS or Da'ash?

"Who are our allies? How do we work with the Sunni tribes? How do we work with the neighbours? What is the US campaign plan? What is the Iraqi campaign plan?

"Once we answer those questions, and we need to answer them urgently, we're not going to begin to play a constructive role fighting ISIS."

Britain only has three military personnel stationed outside northern, Kurdish Iraq.

They have not yet made any specific pledges to send more. That number compares to 3,000 Americans, 300 Spanish personnel and 280 Italians.

Britain has so far contributed 40 heavy machine guns, but Germany is offering a vast arsenal of weapons, including 16,000 assault rifles, 10,000 hand grenades and 8,000 pistols.

RAF aircraft, confined to bombing Iraq and not Syria, have only contributed to 6% of the total strikes against Islamic State positions.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, former deputy supreme commander of NATO forces, is unimpressed with the UK effort, considering it is one of the P5 - permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

He said: "What we need to see from our political leaders is leadership and a preparedness to say, 'This isn't going to be easy, this isn't going to go away, this does affect us dramatically and domestically and internationally'.

"We have a role to play, we have responsibilities as a member of the P5, we have responsibilities in the area, we have history in the area, we have an understanding of the area and we need to be prepared to put our shoulder to the wheel."

The committee emphasised it was not calling for British combat troops to be deployed but saw a need for a strategy which is currently absent.

It also said it was "shocked  by the inability or unwillingness of any of the service chiefs to provide a clear and articulate statement of the UK's objectives or strategic plan in Iraq".

:: Watch the special report - IS: The New Terror - at 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Sky News, skynews.com and our mobile apps - channels Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.


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Four Security Alerts In Northern Ireland

Army bomb experts and police are at the scenes of four security alerts in Northern Ireland.

An explosive device is thought to have gone off underneath a car in Belfast on Wednesday night, and roads have been closed and homes evacuated in two other areas of the city after suspicious objects were found.

Rail services between Belfast and Dublin have also been disrupted after another object was left on the line.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "We believe at this stage that a device may have exploded, or partially exploded under a parked car, causing extensive damage to the car."

Bomb experts are examining an object found at the scene. The car was badly damaged, but no one was injured.

Suspicious objects were also found in the road in North Queen Street and Friendly Street on Thursday.

Rail services between Belfast and Dublin have been suspended after a device was discovered on the line in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

Translink tweeted that the line had been closed between Portadown and Belfast on Wednesday evening after the security alert.

It said: "There is a security alert at Bell's Row Lurgan, until further notice services will make amended calls. Bus subs in place."

Police were alerted after suspicious activity at the Bells Row crossing near Antrim Road.

The PSNI tweeted on Wednesday night: "Police have been made aware of suspicious activity around the Bells Row crossing in the vicinity of Antrim Road, Lurgan, this evening.

"Translink have closed the Belfast to Dublin railway line until further notice."

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams called on those behind the suspected car bomb to stop violence.

Speaking to Reuters, he said: "Clearly whoever is responsible should desist.

"If you want to keep the union or you want a united Ireland, there's now a peaceful and democratic way so these actions should stop."

The threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism is currently severe - meaning an attack is considered highly likely.

Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, said last month that dissident Republicans continued to pose a threat in Northern Ireland.


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Rotherham Council Branded 'Not Fit For Purpose'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 04 Februari 2015 | 22.11

Rotherham Council's Cabinet is to resign after being branded "not fit for purpose" and "in denial" about its shortcomings by an independent government inspection.

They will leave their posts "as soon as transitional arrangements can be put in place", according to a statement.

Government commissioners will be sent to the town to improve standards at the council and early elections will be held.

The inquiry was set up to assess Rotherham council's ability to handle revelations that 1,400 girls were subjected to sexual abuse over a period of 16 years.

It found that: "In particular, it is failing in its duties to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm."

Louise Casey's report was published as it was claimed a police officer and two local politicians have been accused of having sex with underage girls in Rotherham. 

The Independent Police Complaints Commission would not confirm that it had received an allegation of sexual abuse by a police constable but said that so far there had been 20 complaints against ten South Yorkshire officers in relation to their handling of the child sexual exploitation investigation in the South Yorkshire town.

The National Crime Agency also refused to say if it was investigating two councillors but said it was expanding its investigation in light of the new findings.

The report described an "unhealthy" culture within the South Yorkshire authority, with evidence of sexism, bullying and suppressing bad news.

It also cited difficulties within the council when dealing with issues of race and said it has been damaged by "misplaced political correctness". 

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  1. Gallery: Who's Who in The Rotherham Abuse Scandal

    Roger Stone - Leader of Rotherham Borough Council from 2003 to 2014. Resigned when the report was published in August last year.

Shaun Wright - Former Police & Crime Commissioner and Cabinet Member for Children's Services until 2010. Resigned following intense pressure, three weeks after the report was published.

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CCTV Shows Carjacker Dragging Woman Into Road

A carjacker has been captured on CCTV stealing a woman's Mini from her own driveway – and dragging her into a busy main road as she clings on to try and stop him.

Nikki Law-Priddey had left the engine running to de-ice her car when the opportunistic thief sprinted into view and jumped into the driver's seat.

As the criminal began to drive off, the 30-year-old opened the car door in an attempt to seize control of the £16,200 vehicle.

But moments later, she slipped underneath the wheels and lost her grip, leaving her abandoned in the middle of the road.

On Facebook, Ms Priddey wrote: "To say I am in total shock and disbelief about what happened to me on my own doorstep, in broad daylight, is an understatement.

"My car has been recovered by the police and is in forensics. Do not leave your car running to de-ice it – scum like this wait for people just like me to make this mistake.

"Never in a million years did I think this would happen to me."

The business developer, from Birmingham, was left with a broken hand and bruising after the ordeal.

Since she began appealing for witnesses on social media, West Midlands Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of robbery.

A spokesman said: "We'd like to remind people there are always opportunistic thieves around looking for an easy steal, and not to leave cars unlocked and unattended with keys in the ignition."


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McIlroy Settles Multi-Million Pound Lawsuit

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Golfer Rory McIlroy and his former manager have reached a settlement in their multi-million pound legal dispute.

It means the 25-year-old world number one will be spared cross-examination in Dublin High Court.

Talks continued for seven hours after Mr Justice Cregan postponed the opening of the case overnight when he was told lawyers for both parties were making progress on issues.

McIlroy was suing his former management company for £4.5m, alleging he was coerced into signing an "unconscionable" contract at a Christmas party.

Horizon Sports Management was counter-suing him for £13m, alleging breach of contract and unpaid fees for negotiating some of his lucrative sponsorship deals.

At the start of 2013, McIlroy signed a deal with Nike worth $100m (£65m) over five years.

in a joint statement, the two sides said: "The legal dispute between Rory McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future."  

The terms of the settlement were not revealed.

The dispute had rumbled on for 18 months and a previous attempt at arbitration proved unsuccessful. With legal costs included, the lawsuit had run to an estimated £40m.

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  1. Gallery: A Look At The Rise Of A Golf Prodigy

    Born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, a young Rory McIlroy was introduced to golf by his father. He won the 2003 Ulster Boys Championship at 13 and the European Amateur title in 2006

In 2007, at the age of 17, McIlroy won the trophy for best amateur player in the 136th British Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie, Scotland

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Cold Weather And Flu Send Death Rates Soaring

Cold weather and an aggressive strain of the flu virus have led to unusually high death rates in January, figures show.

There were 28,800 deaths registered in England and Wales in the fortnight ending 23 January – a 32% increase on the average number of deaths in this period over the previous five years.

Even when the time of year is accounted for, mortality rates among the over-65s have been higher than expected for the past six weeks, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Dr Richard Pebody of Public Health England said: "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence of significant excess mortality.

"Two important causes of excess deaths during the winter are influenza and cold snaps, although estimating exactly how much can be attributed to each takes more time.

"The main type of flu that has been circulating this winter so far is well recognised to particularly impact groups such as the elderly and those with underlying chronic health problems – resulting in increases in hospitalisations and deaths.

"That is why we recommend these groups receive flu vaccines each year – ideally before the flu season starts."


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New Zealand Judge To Chair Child Abuse Inquiry

New Zealand high court judge Justice Lowell Goddard has been named as the latest chair of the troubled child abuse inquiry.

Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement to MPs that a new statutory inquiry will be established, meaning the current panel will be dissolved.

Current members have been encouraged to reapply for their roles, and the panel has been asked to produce a report on its work so far.

The terms of reference are also being looked at, meaning that the investigations could potentially go back beyond 1970.

However, Mrs May suggested the remit is unlikely to be extended beyond England and Wales

The Home Secretary said she was "more determined than ever" to expose those who had failed victims, and thanked survivors "for their patience, their determination and their willingness to help us get this right".

The first chair of the inquiry was Baroness Butler-Sloss, who stood down in July amid questions over the role of her late brother, Lord Havers, who was attorney general in the 1980s.

Her replacement, Dame Fiona Woolf, resigned after criticism of her links to the establishment, most notably in relation to former home secretary Leon Brittan, who died last month.

The inquiry will be put on a statutory footing under the 2005 Inquiries Act, Mrs May confirmed, with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

Mrs May said she had spoken with many victims since making her last statement on the issue, and that she was "grateful to all of them" for speaking out.

"I am now more determined than ever to expose the people behind these despicable crimes and the people in institutions that knew about abuse but didn't act, that failed to help when it was their duty, sometimes their very purpose to do so," she said.

"And the people and institutions that in some cases positively covered up evidence of abuse."

While Mrs May conceded "not every survivor" would agree with what has been announced, she said there was a great deal of consensus on what the inquiry needed.

Mrs May also confirmed that a previously top-secret file containing allegations of "unnatural sexual behaviour", that named the late British diplomat Sir Peter Hayman, was not seen by a probe into the Home Office's handling of historic sex abuse claims.

She said the Cabinet Office file was similar to a Home Office file that was examined by the review, but confirmed it had additional information.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who has been campaigning on the issue, told Sky News he welcomed the appointment of Justice Goddard and said it "looks like a good appointment".

Alison Millar, from the law firm Leigh Day, which is representing some of the victims, said: "We are very pleased to see that the inquiry will have a much wider remit and the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

"Clearly a lot of thought has gone into the choice of chairperson and it is a brave step by the Home Secretary to appoint a non-UK based judge to oversee this essential inquiry."

Ben Emmerson QC will continue as the inquiry's legal counsel. Reacting to the appointment, he said: "Justice Goddard has all the key qualities necessary to lead the Inquiry's work - absolute independence from the executive, a proven track record of holding state and non-state institutions to account, and the forensic skills necessary to digest and analyse vast quantities of evidence."


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Freezing Temperatures And More Snow Forecast

Written By Unknown on Senin, 02 Februari 2015 | 22.11

Up to 3cm of snow could fall across eastern coasts this week as forecasters warn of more freezing temperatures and travel disruption.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning and advised the wintry conditions could cause widespread disruption.

Forecasters urged the public to beware of "severe or hazardous weather" which had the potential to cause "danger to life or widespread disruption".

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said temperatures could plunge by mid-week which could affect some roads and flights in the South.

"It will remain cold through the week with the increasing risk of bitter northeasterly winds and some snow showers for more eastern and southeastern parts of England," she said.

"This looks most likely to take place during Wednesday and Thursday and it may be that one to three centimetres of snow settles.

"Although not substantial, this may affect some of the major routes such as the A1 and M25 as well as Luton, Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

"Confidence in the detail is low at this stage and if travelling this week it would be advisable to keep up to date with the latest forecasts. It may be that many places away from the east miss the snow altogether."

The forecast comes after snow showers and wintry temperatures swept into the North West last week leading to a dozen rail services between Manchester and Yorkshire being cancelled. 

A fierce blast of cold air also brought more snow and freezing temperatures to some parts of Britain this weekend.


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Bristol Trials Two Smoke-Free Public Squares

Two Bristol squares could become Britain's first major public outdoor spaces to go smoke-free.

Millennium Square and Anchor Square on Bristol's harbourside could be free of cigarette smoke due to a pilot launched by Smokefree South West.

Extensive research in the squares ahead of the initiative found most people were in support of the voluntary ban.

Some 53% described it as a "good or very good idea", with 61% saying the area would be a better place if it were smoke-free.

Fiona Andrews, director of Smokefree South West, said she expected the pilot to police itself.

"This is an exciting initiative that we hope will have a lasting impact not only on Millennium Square and Anchor Square, but on the wider region," she said.

"These city centre squares are often full of children playing and this pilot will provide a smoke-free environment for kids and their families to enjoy."

The smoke-free zones will be promoted with signs that thank people for keeping Bristol smoke-free, healthy and clean.

Millennium and Anchor Squares house the At-Bristol science museum, shops and restaurants, regularly host events and festivals and are frequented by large numbers of children playing.

The pilot builds on the smoke-free play parks project, which reduced smoking near playgrounds in the Southwest by 34% through signs asking people not to smoke.

Councillor Daniella Radice, Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhoods at Bristol City Council, said: "In this year that Bristol is proud to be the European Green Capital, I am excited to see how this pilot can change people's habits and make Bristol an even more enjoyable place to live and to visit."

Smokers' group Forest has criticised the ban as an example of "creeping prohibition".

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places. Now campaigners want to ban it outside. This is creeping prohibition.

"Extending public smoking bans to outdoor areas is illiberal and unwarranted.

"Smoking in the open air harms no-one apart, perhaps, from the consumer - and that's their choice."

The pilot follows a major report last year by former health minister Lord Darzi which suggested that London and other UK cities should ban smoking in public spaces and parks.

Cities including New York, Toronto and Hong Kong have already banned smoking in key outdoor locations.


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Cameron's 'All-Out War' On Mediocre Schools

Headteachers at coasting state schools face the sack, David Cameron has said - but he has promised to protect funding per pupil after the General Election.

In a speech in north London, the Prime Minister vowed an "all-out war on mediocrity" and promised that any English school assessed by Ofsted as requiring improvement will be put under new leadership unless it can show it has plans in place to bring about rapid change.

Coasting schools will also automatically be considered for academy status.

The country's best headteachers, backed by high-performing neighbouring schools or expert sponsors will take over the running of the schools.

They will be expected to introduce reforms to boost results that could involve new discipline policies or changes in personnel, such as removing headteachers.

The move comes as part of a Conservative manifesto commitment to give all children a good start in life, regardless of where they are from.

Mr Cameron said: "As parents we're hardwired to want the best for our kids. No one wants their child to go to a failing school - and no one wants to them to go to a coasting school either.

"So this party is clear. Just enough is not good enough. That means no more sink schools - and no more 'bog standard' schools either. We're waging an all-out war on mediocrity, and our aim is this: the best start in life for every child, wherever they're from - no excuses."

Eton-educated Mr Cameron has previously insisted he wants to spread the advantages he enjoyed to "every child in Britain" and pledged to end the education "lottery".

The reforms build on existing powers that allow failing schools to be converted into academies.

Around 1,200 schools have made the transition, mostly under the coalition.

:: Mr Cameron will be answering questions from a young people this afternoon as part of Sky News' Stand Up Be Counted campaign. Take part using the Twitter hashtag #AskTheLeaders.


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Briton Linked To Chopped-Up Thai Girl Murder

A British man is the focus of an international manhunt after a Thai bar girl's body was found chopped up in a suitcase.

The remains of Lazami "Pook" Manochat were found along with the body of a dead dog.

Shane Looker, 45, from Stoke-on-Trent, is thought to be the last person to have been in contact with the dancer.

Thai police believe Mr Looker fled to Malaysia. They think he may have been trying to make his way to Ibiza.

The luggage holder in which the girl's body parts were found had been dumped into the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi, 70 miles from the Thai capital Bangkok.

It was discovered on 9 November - more than a week after the Thai dancer was last seen with Mr Looker on 1 November.

According to reports in Thailand, DNA tests on nail clippers and a toothbrush and skin under the victim's nails also link Mr Looker as a suspect.

Reports in Thailand said Mr Looker and Miss Manochat had been seen on CCTV leaving the Nana Plaza region of Bangkok in November last year.

The area is notorious for its go-go bars and brothels and regularly attracts men from all over the world in search of sex.

An arrest warrant had been issued by Kanchanaburi provincial court for Mr Looker and the Royal Thai Police are seeking assistance from Interpol to arrest him.

The British Foreign Office said it has not been contacted by police in relation to the manhunt.


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Five Hurt As London Bus Roof Ripped Off

Five people have been treated by paramedics after a London bus had its roof ripped off.

Pictures posted on Twitter showed a double-decker with upper-floor seats and handrails visible in Kingsway, in the Holborn area of the London.

It appeared as though the bus may have clipped a tree overhanging the road - close to a sign warning of "overhanging trees".

Ethan Meade posted pictures of the damage, writing: "Roof off the 91 bus just ripped off on Kingsway, next to #LSE."

He said: "I saw the roof fall down off the side of the bus, and the glass shatter everywhere.

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  1. Gallery: Roof Of Bus Ripped Off By Tree

    A double-decker bus has collided with a tree in Kingsway, ripping the roof off. Pic: Jonathan MacDougall

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Tories Count On Times Tables Learning Plan

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 01 Februari 2015 | 22.11

All schoolchildren in England will be expected to pass tough tests before leaving primary school as part of a "war on illiteracy and innumeracy," the education secretary has said.

Nicky Morgan is planning for pupils to be forced to learn their 12 times tables off by heart and write a coherent short story by 11.

They would also be expected to know long division and show they can use "accurate punctuation, spelling and grammar".

Headteachers who fail to ensure enough pupils meet the standards face being sacked if the Conservatives win the General Election, she indicated.

In an article for The Sunday Times, Ms Morgan said she expected England to reach the top of European league tables for English and maths by 2020, and be in the top five internationally - a significant leap from the current ranking of 23rd.

She said: "We will expect every pupil by the age of 11 to know their times tables off by heart, to perform long division and complex multiplication and to be able to read a novel.

"They should be able to write a short story with accurate punctuation, spelling and grammar. The new tests for 11 year olds we are introducing next year will be strengthened to ensure that every young person is meeting the mark."

She laid out her plans as David Cameron prepared for a speech on Monday in which he is expected to further outline Tory education policies.

Ms Morgan said she is "absolutely fighting" for the schools budget to be protected for five to 16-year-olds if the Conservatives remain in power after May's vote.

Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, she also dismissed reports that Chief Whip Michael Gove is receiving her ministerial papers through back channels in the Department for Education as "complete nonsense".

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, meanwhile, claimed the Government's schools policy was allowing more unqualified teachers into classrooms which was damaging England's international position in education.

The Labour frontbencher said: "David Cameron's flawed schools policy is damaging our education system and failing to close the learning gap between disadvantaged children and the rest.

"Many parents will be shocked to learn that David Cameron's government has changed the rules to allow unqualified teachers into the classroom on a permanent basis, leading to a 16% rise in the last year alone.

"Labour will ensure that all teachers are qualified and continue to train to improve their teaching as a condition to remaining in the classroom.

"This is how we improve the learning and life chances for all children and raise our international position in reading, writing and maths."

:: Click here for the In the Margins console


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Viral Campaign Raises £200K For Mugging Victim

Donations for a disabled pensioner who was mugged outside his home have reached more than £200,000.

After reading about the mugging of 67-year-old Alan Barnes, beautician Katie Cutler set up an online fundraising page that went viral and has raised 400 times its original £500 target in just two days.

Mr Barnes, who has disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant, broke his collarbone when he was pushed over by his attacker.

People were moved to help after hearing that Mr Barnes was too afraid to return to his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

Following reports of the attack, which police described as "disgraceful", Ms Cutler set up the Help Alan Barnes online donation page on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.

She wrote: "I was so upset that anyone could target a disabled pensioner and be so cruel.

"We can't take away what has happened but with a little donation we can make the future a prettier one and help towards the cost of his new home. Thank you all."

One online contributor, Lorraine Susan, said: "I really hope this fund helps him get settled somewhere nice & safe.

"At least he knows there are literally thousands on his side."

Mr Barnes is a well-known figure in Low Fell and is renowned for being able to quickly calculate how many days old someone is from their date of birth.


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Missing Mum: Body Suffered 'Violent Assault'

The body of a woman believed to be missing mother-of-four Samantha Henderson was violently attacked around the head and neck, a post-mortem examination has shown.

Detectives say they are "confident" the body, which was found in a lake at Ham Common in Poole, Dorset, on Friday, is that of Ms Henderson.

The 25-year-old, who has children aged six, four, two and one, was last seen leaving Corfe Castle Primary School on 21 January at 3pm.

She was reported missing the next morning.

Ms Henderson's boyfriend Dominic Isom, 27, of Corfe Castle, has pleaded not guilty to her murder.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to stand trial in July.

Detective Inspector Neil Devoto, of Dorset Police's major crime investigation team, said: "This afternoon a post mortem was carried out on the body recovered in Hamworthy.

"It confirmed that the victim had suffered a violent assault that appears to have been focused on her head and neck.

"Detectives are confident the body is that of Samantha Henderson, the 25-year-old mother-of-four from Corfe Castle missing since last week.

"The coroner is aware of the death and formal identification by her next of kin is expected to take place this weekend.

"Although we have recovered a body and a man is charged with murder, it is still vital that people come forward with any information that could help us build a picture of exactly what happened."

Police still want to hear from anyone who saw Ms Henderson's blue Peugeot 307 estate car with the registration HV04 ZFM in the Corfe Castle or Ham Common areas from 3pm on the day she was last seen.

Mr Devoto, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Samantha's death has understandably shocked local people, who have rallied around her family, friends and neighbours in both Corfe Castle and her original home town of Poole.

"Her close family are being supported and regularly updated by specially trained family liaison officers.

"They have asked for privacy at this sad time.

"I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support to officers carrying out this investigation and their patience while we conduct searches.

"Their continued caution on social media is also appreciated and important, as inappropriate comments could cause further hurt to her family or potentially prejudice future criminal proceedings."


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Troops May Be 'Least Worst Option' In IS Fight

A former head of the army has told Sky News he believes there will need to be a debate on sending British troops to fight Islamic State if other options are unsuccesful.

The UK has carried out airstrikes against IS in Iraq, but not Syria, and has also provided equipment and training to local forces.

But there is a deep reluctance to commit boots on the ground to the fight, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying when the Commons approved airstrikes that sending combat troops would be "wrong". 

Lord Dannatt told Sky's Dermot Murnaghan that the limited steps taken were not likely to be enough to defeat the jihadists who have seized control of large areas of northern Iraq and Syria.

"If this mission is right, and task is right and everything else has failed, there has got to be a debate about whether a least worst option is to provide boots on the ground," he said.

"I'm not calling for it now but I think we need to watch this very carefully."

His comments came after a video was released showing the beheading of Japanese hostage of Kenji Goto by IS.

Professor Peter Neumann, a terrorism expert at King's College London, said the airstrikes had slowed Islamic State's momentum, as seen in the success of Kurdish forces in driving the jihadists out of the Syrian town of Kobani.

"They cannot be defeated militarily but that does not mean military means are completely useless," he told Murnaghan.

He added that the militants could only be ultimately defeated once people within Iraq and Syria rose up and forced them out.

Lord Dannatt admitted there had be a reluctance to see soldiers engage in combat against IS following the experiences in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

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  1. Gallery: Syria: Aftermath Of Kobani Siege

    A fighter of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) flashes a victory sign as he patrols in the streets in the northern Syrian town of Kobani

Kurdish forces battled Islamic State fighters outside Kobani on Tuesday, a monitoring group said, a day after Kurds took full control of the northern Syrian town following a four-month battle

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Mosques Offer Tea And Cake To Ease Tensions

Mosques across Britain have opened their doors to the public, in a bid to bring communities together and alleviate tensions about terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks.

More than 20 venues are serving tea and cakes to visitors who want to understand more about Islam.

Sunday's Visit My Mosque event was organised by the Muslim Council of Britain "to demonstrate unity and solidarity during what has been a tense time for faith communities".

The Finsbury Park mosque in north London, where radical cleric Abu Hamza was once imam, is among those taking part.

Hamza was jailed in New York for terrorism offences last month, and in recent years, the place of worship has undergone a change of leadership, with a renewed emphasis on inter-faith dialogue.

But after the attacks on the offices of the satirical magazine and a kosher supermarket in Paris by gunmen who claimed they were acting to revenge insults against the Prophet Mohammed, the mosque said it had received threats.

General Secretary Mohammed Kozar told Sky News: "Most of them are nasty drawings about our prophet and our books.

"Some of them make death threats against our community, so it's quite frightening for our community and our mosque."

The shootings by three gunmen, who claimed they were operating on behalf of Islamic State and Al Qaeda in Yemen, prompted Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to write to the Britain's mosques urging them to do more to root out extremists and prevent young people being radicalised. 

Sunday's outreach programme at the mosques followed the killing of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto by Islamic State jihadists.

Former army chief Lord Dannatt told Sky News' Dermot Murnaghan that the best way to combat extremist ideology was for communities to work together. 

"It's really important that our communities - particularly where there are large Muslim populations - organise themselves and conduct matters in such a way that particularly young Muslims have a stake in the future of this country, and this country has a future in them," he said.


22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More
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