Missing Katrice Lee's Mum 'Harassed' On Facebook

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

A woman has been charged with harassing the mother of toddler Katrice Lee, who disappeared on a shopping trip in Germany more than 31 years ago.

Donna Wright, 33, from Spennymoor, County Durham, is accused of sending emails and Facebook messages to Sharon Lee, who is campaigning to have her daughter's disappearance reinvestigated.

Katrice went missing in 1981 on her second birthday as her mother and aunt were food shopping at the NAAFI store on a British army base in Paderborn where her father Richard, from Hartlepool, was stationed.

Mrs Lee believes Katrice is still alive and marched to Downing Street two months ago on the anniversary of her disappearance demanding action.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard that Miss Wright, who did not appear, has been bailed for two weeks on condition she does not contact any member of the Lee family.

The case was adjourned until January 16.

Last month the Crown Prosecution Service launched a public consultation on prosecutions involving social media following a number of high profile cases.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, also published interim guidelines which he said were intended to "strike the balance between freedom of expression and the need to uphold the criminal law".

An image of how Katrice could look now, aged 33, has been created by a charity which helps find missing people.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Smash-Hit Skyfall High In Movie Gaffes List

The latest James Bond movie, Skyfall, may be the most successful film in British box office history - but it is strewn with errors.

It had the second highest number of mistakes in 2012, according to an online list of movie gaffes spotted by filmgoers.

Second only to Men In Black III, with 63 mistakes spotted, Skyfall comes in with 35, www.moviemistakes.com says.

Among the mistakes listed are:

:: Where Bond is fighting on top of the train ... his footwear changes from black lace up shoes to black slip-on ankle boots.

:: Just before Bond reaches the chapel, he plunges into icy water. In the next scene, in the chapel, he is perfectly dry.

:: In the Istanbul chase scene, Eve knocks out the windshield of the car she's driving ... For the rest of the chase, about half the glass is suddenly back in the frame.

::  In the chase through the tube station, Bond and Silva both slide down between the escalators. On the London Underground this area has hard vertical signs at regular intervals, precisely to prevent people sliding down.

:: When on the motorbike on the rooftops of Istanbul, Bond at first has no sunglasses on, then sunglasses on, then no sunglasses.

Men In Black lll stars Will Smith, seen here at the London premiere

The 23rd official Bond film became the first movie ever to take £100m at the British box office at the weekend.

It had already become the highest grossing film in the UK, raking in £94.3m in 40 days, according to the producers.

Globally, the film, which marks the 50th anniversary of the franchise and cost £100m to make, has taken more than $1bn (£613m).

Daniel Craig's third appearance as British secret agent Bond is still on general release more than two months after it first hit British cinemas.

The movie sees Bond battling with villain Raoul Silva (played by Javier Bardem), who aims to take revenge on his former boss M (Judi Dench).

Moviemistakes.com's 2012 top ten reported errors:

1.  Men in Black III - 63

2.  Skyfall - 35

3.  The Dark Knight Rises - 24

4.  The Amazing Spider-Man - 24

5.  Marvel Avengers Assemble - 22

6.  Looper - 14

7.  Prometheus - 13

8.  Argo - 13

9.  Underworld: Awakening - 10

10.  The Hunger Games - 10

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rail Fares: Anger As Commuters Face More Hikes

How Much Will Your Ticket Cost?

Updated: 2:14am UK, Wednesday 02 January 2013

This is a table of rail fare rises, comparing the price of a 12-month season ticket bought in December with one bought from January 2.

The table does not include the price paid if within-London travelcards are also purchased for Tube and bus journeys in the capital.

Where London is mentioned, this means travel to London terminal stations where travel is allowed by any route option shown by the National Rail Enquiry system, Journey Planner, where the journey can be made using only one ticket.

ROUTE                          DEC 2012  JAN 2013  % RISE

Leeds-Wakefield              £908      £964            6.16%

Bishop's Stortford-London  £3,560    £3,704     4.04%

Portsmouth Harbour-London  £4,480    £4,668  4.19%

Basingstoke-London         £3,800    £3,960       4.21%

Ramsgate-London            £4,640    £4,864     4.82%

Woking-London              £2,780    £2,896        4.17%

Folkestone-London          £4,612    £4,836      4.85%

Reading-London             £3,800    £3,960       4.21%

Sevenoaks-London           £2,980    £3,112    4.43%

Aylesbury-London           £3,520    £3,632      3.18%

Bedford-London             £4,004    £4,172      4.19%

Hastings-London            £4,400    £4,584     4.18%

Canterbury-London          £4,588    £4,812    4.80%

Deal-London                £4,640    £4,864    4.82%

Dover Priory-London        £4,640    £4,864    4.82%

Ludlow-Hereford            £1,892    £1,992    5.28%

Bangor-Llandudno           £1,084    £1,140    5.16%

Morpeth-Newcastle            £960    £1,008    5%

West Malling-London        £3,712    £3,876    4.42%

Guildford-London           £3,092    £3,224    4.27%

Bracknell-London           £3,800    £3,960    4.21%

Braintree-London           £3,960    £4,124    4.14%

Tunbridge Wells-London     £3,968    £4,132    4.13%

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thailand Killing: Victim's Family Speak Out

The family of Stephen Ashton, who was shot dead at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand, have said they are "completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives".

The suspect has been seen with police at the beach bar

He was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations, they said.

Mr Ashton, 22, from Purley, South London, was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival gangs.

He is said to have been killed by a stray bullet as he danced with friends at a beach bar on the paradise island of Koh Phangan.

Police Colonel Kittakarn Kramomthong, chief of police at the island's station, said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun.

The man is expected to be charged with manslaughter, he said.

Mr Ashton's family have travelled to Thailand and were on the way to Koh Phangan to identify his body formally and make arrangements for his repatriation.

Mr Ashton was shot with a homemade gun (Photo: Facebook)

British ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, is expected to visit the scene on Thursday.

He warned of risks to Western tourists, and urged people to read the travel advice on the Foreign Office website.

"Most people have a very enjoyable holiday, a very trouble-free holiday," he told Sky News. "But there are risks and we've set these out in our travel advice which you can access on the Foreign Office website.

"In particular we do mention that there have been incidents involving Western tourists in Koh Phangan, so there are risks in going anywhere and I think Thailand is certainly not completely trouble free."

Thai police said Mr Ashton was with a group of friends and 300 other tourists celebrating the countdown to 2013 at a pub and restaurant called the Zoom Bar when he was shot by a home-made gun at Haad Rin beach shortly after 4am on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the family said: "As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.

Koh Phangan is in the south of Thailand

"He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.

"We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much loved dad who passed away from a brain tumour in 2011 and the loss of his granddad a few months earlier.

"We were all so proud of him; he was a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew.

Friends paid tribute to Mr Ashton (Photo: Facebook)

"He will be truly missed by his family but also by the many friends he made during his life. We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life.

"We ask that our privacy be respected to allow us to grieve."

Friends expressed their shock at Mr Ashton's death and paid tribute to him on social networking sites.

Robbie-Cameron Gray took to Mr Ashton's Facebook page to express his grief and posted a photograph of the two of them as young boys.

He said: "Don't want to believe it. Still got photos of us on my wall from football and school. Will miss you mate."

Aaron Kelly wrote on Facebook: "Horrible news. Be good up there mate."

Neighbour Dawn Mason, 48, described Mr Ashton as a "very normal, likeable young man".

His family moved to the upmarket area of Purley, south London, about three years ago, she said.

"They've always been very nice neighbours. If Stephen or his sister Emily had parties, they'd always be at the house with their parents so they knew where they were. I went to the house today and the family just seem in complete shock."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two Men Held In Jimmy Savile Abuse Probe

Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.

A 53-year-old was held in Hampshire at around 8am and a 59-year-old in west London at around midday, both on suspicion of sexual offences.

The allegations are not directly linked to Savile, the Metropolitan Police said.

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into allegations against disgraced television presenter Savile and a number of other high-profile figures.

They have separated the inquiry into three strands: claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others. The latest arrests fall under the "others" strand.

So far, officers have questioned 10 people including former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and PR guru Max Clifford.

Last month police said a total of 31 allegations of rape had been made against former Top Of The Pops presenter Savile, who died in October 2011.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the BBC presenter and DJ, mainly alleging sexual abuse.

Detectives have recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which Savile is a suspect.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

River Search For Teen Who Jumped From Ferry

A search is under way for a 16-year-old boy who went missing after he jumped from a ferry into a river in Cornwall.

Jordan Cobb, from Plymouth, was last seen leaping from the Torpoint ferry into the River Tamar, Devon and Cornwall Police have said.

Brixham Coastguard received a distress call at 9.15pm on Monday reporting that a person was overboard near the ferry's slipway in Torpoint.

Authorities conducted an extensive search for the teenager, and officers are now appealing for information.

Chief Inspector Ian Drummond Smith said: "We are treating Jordan as a high-risk missing person and we are working with the coastguard to try and locate him.

"The river was extensively searched by air and sea for several hours, but there remains a possibility that he managed to swim ashore, and I would ask anyone with information to call the police on 101."

The search for the missing teenager resumed early today.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Year Celebrations: UK Welcomes In 2013

Large crowds lined the banks of the River Thames in London and the streets of Edinburgh as the UK welcomed the start of the New Year.

Along the Thames, up to 250,000 people watched a major fireworks display which saw the night sky illuminated with pyrotechnics to round-off a momentous year.

Revellers were able to watch clips from the 2012 Olympic Games during an 11-minute firework display set around the London Eye. Millions more watched it all on television.

In Edinburgh, tens of thousands of people descended on the streets of Scotland's capital for the world-famous Hogmanay celebrations.

Around 75,000 party-goers counted down the last 10 seconds of 2012 before joining in a mass rendition of Auld Lang Syne after the clock struck midnight.

Scottish rockers Simple Minds headlined the Hogmanay concert and street party.

The View, Bwani Junction, Reverend and the Makers and The OK Social Club also played, and fireworks were set off to mark the start of 2013.

Fireworks explode around the London Eye

Pete Irvine, artistic director of the Hogmanay celebrations, said: "I think it's going really well this year. It's really, really busy here tonight - probably busier than we've seen it in some time because the weather is so good."

Following their hard work during the London 2012 Games, more than 150 of the mayor's "Team London Ambassadors" volunteered at the Thames event to help ensure it was a success.

They gave out maps, helped direct people to the viewing areas, and provided guidance and advice on getting home safely.

As daylight broke in London, some 200 clean-up staff cleared 160 tonnes of rubbish left by revellers in Westminster.

The workers took just six hours to clear the streets ahead of today's New Year's Day parade in the city centre.

The Metropolitan Police said 96 arrests were made during Monday night's celebrations, with drunkenness, public disorder and assault the most common offences.

More than 3,500 police supported the organisers and stewards of the event, working alongside colleagues from the British Transport Police and other emergency services to keep revellers safe.

Kisses exchanged during Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh

Chief Inspector John Williams said: "This year saw the viewing areas fill up earlier than ever before with thousands of revellers coming to see in the new year London-style.

"Officers worked hard, alongside the stewards, in very large crowds to keep people safe in what is a challenging policing environment, helping to ensure revellers and visitors alike could make their way home at the end of the night."

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "What an amazing end to an incredible year.

"Watched by hundreds of thousands in the capital and millions around the globe, London has proved, yet again, that it can pull off spectacular world-class events in style."

Today's New Year's Day parade will see a procession of Olympic Games Makers, drummers, stilt walkers and Bolivian dancers greet 2013 as they snake their way through central London.

The New Year celebrations got under way in Edinburgh as early as Sunday night, when a torchlight parade was held.

A record crowd estimated at 35,000, including 7,000 torch carriers, were led by the massed pipes and drums and the Up Helly Aa' Vikings from Shetland.

The procession made its way through the city streets to the burning of the effigy of a Viking boat and a spectacular Son et Lumiere display on Calton Hill.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bulging Bill Of Britain's Obesity Epidemic

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Britain is in the grip of an obesity epidemic costing £5bn a year - and not enough is being done to tackle it, according to the Royal College of Physicians.

A report by the RCP says severely overweight patients are suffering from what it calls "patchy" NHS services and a lack of joined-up thinking from the Government.

Thirty-one-year-old Matthew Briggs, from Strensall, near York, says the NHS was of little help when he weighed more than 31 stone.

Now more than 17 stone lighter, and Slimming World's 2012 champion, he says he was offered slimming pills and a drastic diet.

"They gave me very limited options of what I could have," he said.

"You only see your GP for 15 or 20 minutes (and) you've got an entire week or month before you see them again."

He says he eventually relied on a combination of willpower and encouragement from other overweight people to help him slim down so much he is now training for the London Marathon.

The RCP report calls for teams of specialists to be set up around the country along with a national anti-obesity group similar to Action on Smoking and Health, which is credited with helping to reduce the number of people who smoke.

The authors also want to see an obesity champion in each NHS trust, better training for health care professionals, more research into obesity and help for overweight NHS staff.

With around a quarter of UK adults classed as obese, the report says too many doctors and nurses are seriously overweight and setting a bad example to the people they are trying to treat.

Professor John Wass, academic vice-president of the RCP, said: "Britain is getting bigger and whilst we try to prevent the increase in obesity, we must also prepare the NHS for the influx of patients presenting with severe complex obesity."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are committed to tackling obesity and are taking action to help people keep a healthy weight and prevent them needing hospital care for obesity-related conditions.

"The medical profession has a key role in providing advice and treatment to people who are overweight or obese, and the Royal College of Physicians can help its members do this."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Christopher Martin-Jenkins Dies Aged 67

Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the cricket journalist and former president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, has died at the age of 67.

He was diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago, and passed away on New Year's Day.

The Test Match Special commentator was given an MBE in 2009, and served as the MCC's president in 2010 and 2011.

A statement on behalf of his family said: "We are very sad to say that Christopher Martin-Jenkins died peacefully at home this morning after his brave resistance to cancer.

"The family is extremely proud of all that he did to pass on his love of cricket worldwide with his gift of communicating through the spoken and written word.

"He was above all a much-loved husband, brother, father and grandfather. The family would be grateful if our privacy could be respected for the time being."

The official account of Lord's Cricket Ground tweeted: "Sad, sad news to start the new year."

Former England cricket captain Sir Ian Botham wrote: "Very sad to hear of the death of the 'Major' ... Christopher Martin-Jenkins. Our thoughts are with the family. A true gentleman!"

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth described him as a "warm voice from childhood and beyond".

Former England cricketer Graeme Fowler said: "A magnificent writer, broadcaster, and man. The world has lost a gentleman. Cricket has lost a wonderful voice."

Mr Martin-Jenkins was born in Peterborough and had a modest cricketing career before moving into journalism.

He joined the BBC in 1970 as cricket correspondent, and went on to work for The Daily Telegraph and The Times.

His son Robin was a professional cricketer for Sussex until his retirement in 2010, making 162 first class appearances for the county.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Anger Over TV Show's Crude Royal Joke

The broadcasting watchdog has received complaints after a Channel 4 show featured a lewd joke about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year 2012, presented by comedian Jimmy Carr, went out just after the 9pm watershed on Sunday and lasted for two hours.

The show, which had been pre-recorded, also included sexual gags about US President Barack Obama, sprinter Usain Bolt and singer Susan Boyle.

A spokesman for the watchdog Ofcom confirmed complaints had been made about the show, but was unable to say how many.

Most of the controversial material came from Gavin & Stacey star James Corden, 34, and award-winning comic Jack Whitehall, assisted by Jonathan Ross.

Whitehall, 24, made a joke about the bladder infection suffered by the Duke of Edinburgh last summer and also said Olympic gold medallist Bolt could "rake it in" by going to stud like the retired racehorse Frankel.

He and Corden reportedly each drank a bottle of wine during the recording of the show, and Whitehall later told his Twitter followers he had been drunk.

Fresh Meat star Whitehall was named King Of Comedy in a viewer vote for the UK Comedy Awards in December.

Ross was suspended from the BBC in 2008 after he and Russell Brand left lewd messages on the answerphone of veteran Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

He later quit the BBC and said one reason was to avoid the "sheer volume of negative press" he was attracting to the corporation.

Carr himself was the butt of other comedians' jokes in the summer when a row blew up over his tax affairs.

Channel 4 was later reported as saying the programme was a well-known satirical review of the year that had been broadcast after the watershed with appropriate warnings.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More