Would-Be Labour MP Refuses Blair's Cash

Teenage Victims Named After Fatal Car Crash

Written By Unknown on Senin, 09 Maret 2015 | 00.35

The names of a grandmother and three teenagers killed in a two-car crash in Wales have been revealed.

The 17-year-olds and the 68-year-old woman died and two others are in hospital following the crash in Powys, Mid Wales, just before 10.15pm on Friday.

The woman was named by police as Margaret Elizabeth Challis, from the Merthyr area.

The teenagers were named locally as Corey Price, Rhodri Miller and his girlfriend Alesha O'Connor.

Rhodri, who was driving, had only recently passed his driving test and was also a talented scientist.

Corey was a promising young footballer who had trained with the Cardiff City Football Academy.

The two young men died at the scene and Alesha died later in hospital.

All three were from Barry.

The crash happened as a number of vehicles travelled in a convoy at a known accident blackspot on the A470 near Storey Arms, between Libanus and RAC bends, in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The two cars involved in the collision were a black Volkswagen Golf estate and a green Volkswagen Golf.

The teenagers were in the green Golf and Mrs Challis was a passenger in the black Golf estate, which was not believed to be part of the convoy.

Seven teenagers arrested over the incident have been released on bail. It is understood that they were in other vehicles.

The driver and front-seat passenger in the black Golf estate have been taken to hospital. The driver's condition is described as serious.

The two boys who died were both pupils at Ysgol Bro Morgannwg School in Barry, South Wales.

Head teacher Dylan Jones told Sky News: "They were both very talented individuals. They were both full of fun, very sociable and part of a strong group of friends.

"One was a talented footballer - he spent some years with Cardiff City Academy - and the other is in year 12 and is a talented scientist so it's a very sad loss for us all.

"It's been very shocking. As I understand it there were a number of friends from across a group of schools. It's such unexpected news and we heard it while we were having an eistedfodd here. Luckily we were all together but it was a shock nevertheless."

He added that counsellors will be available over the next few weeks at the school.

Among other tributes paid were those by Cardiff and Vale Schools Football Association and a professional footballer.

The schools FA tweeted: "Hearing terrible news that we've lost a former @CVSFA player in Corey Price. Great player. Thoughts to all his family & friends. #toplad"

Bristol Rovers footballer Mitchell Palmer said: "Very sad to hear about Corey Price, great lad great footballer! Thoughts are with family and friends! RIP big man!"

:: Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Dyfed Powys Police on 101.

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Thatcher 'Turned Blind Eye' To Paedophile MPs

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher knew about politicians sexually abusing children - but failed to act against them, an MP has told Sky News.

Simon Danczuk, who exposed Sir Cyril Smith as a prolific child abuser, said: "There is no doubt about it now, from what we know, that she turned a blind eye to people who were quite clearly paedophiles. That is absolutely clear.

"It is a real stain on Margaret Thatcher's legacy and I don't get any pleasure from saying that, but she turned a blind eye to it."

The Rochdale MP also claimed the Government is refusing to publish at least four other files on historic child abuse because it was worried about what information may come out before May's General Election.

He added: "(The Cabinet Office) have resisted publishing these documents for over 12 months - that's not acceptable.

"They refused to tell the public who nominated Cyril Smith for a knighthood. A journalist managed to get that out of them after going to the Information Commissioner. It was indeed David Steel.

"And we now know they are resisting publishing at least four other files relating to historic child sexual abuse.

"We have to ask the question: Is the Cabinet Office fit for purpose?"

Asked whether Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg were colluding in a "cover-up", he said: "You can't really reach any other conclusion, can you.

"Cameron has spoken on this issue and said we'll leave no stone unturned. But his lack of action says otherwise.

"Nick Clegg has failed continually to really put any action in place. He's the Deputy Prime Minister. David Cameron is the Prime Minister.

"They are at the top of government. The buck stops with them. Why aren't they calling for all these documents to be published? Why aren't they insisting on more action?

"The reality of it is, this is the truth of the matter, we are approaching the General Election. This isn't party political, but they are concerned about what information is going to come out before the General Election, that's the truth of it.

"And the second point is they're more concerned about protecting legacies - the legacies of previous politicians. That's just not acceptable. We need less polishing of halos and more lifting of stones."

The Cabinet Office has denied trying to cover up information about Downing Street's knowledge of Smith's abuse of young boys before he was knighted.

Documents show Mrs Thatcher was made aware of the claims about the Liberal MP before he was handed the honour in 1988.

The 19-page dossier of information on the decision to give Smith the knighthood contains several letters, including an undated one from a Political Honours Scrutiny Committee member to the then prime minister.

In the letter, marked secret, Lord Shackleton said police investigated Smith in 1970 for "indecent assault against teenage boys" between 1961 and 1966.

But, the letter noted, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided "there was no reasonable prospect of conviction".

The letter to Mrs Thatcher said the case was reported in the Rochdale Alternative Press and Private Eye, adding: "One may regret this kind of press reporting but it could be revived if an award to Mr Smith were made."

Lord Shackleton also said it would be "slightly unfortunate" if this "episode" stopped Smith, who died aged 82 in 2010, receiving the knighthood.

But he added: "We felt it right to warn the honours system would be at some risk if the award were to be made and announced."

The documents were released to the Mail on Sunday following repeated demands for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act since April last year.

The documents were only made public on Friday after an intervention by the Information Commissioner, the paper said.

Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "Those Cabinet files, in my view, should without doubt be published.

"We have to get to the bottom of this, high or low, it doesn't matter. Wherever we find it, we have to root out sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation."

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "There is no cover-up nor was the Cabinet Office forced to release this information by the Information Commissioner.

"This is a sensitive and complex case and it is right that we considered advice from a range of officials. After considering the advice, the Cabinet Office decided to disclose information."

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UK Kurds Mixed About Britons Fighting IS

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

"You lost one son but you have earned thousands of other sons."

That is the message from the editor of the UK's only Kurdish newspaper, Aladdin Sinayic, to the family of the first British person to die fighting Islamic State extremists.

Ex-Royal Marine Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, travelled to Syria in December to fight alongside Kurdish forces but was killed on Monday.

It is believed he quit his military career in order to join the fight against IS alongside Kurdish forces.

At the Kurdish Community Centre (KCC) in Haringey, north London, he is considered a hero.

One visitor to the centre told Sky News: "We think that these people must be very, very sensitive about Kurds and very intellectual. They have a big heart for us."

Another said: "When Erik's body is returned to the UK, we would like to do something special for his family - we want to invite them here and have a ceremony for them."

London is home to thousands of Kurds - a community united not by statehood but by language and culture.

Haringey is more than 3,000 miles from the fight against IS but the suffering of their people in the geocultural region of Kurdistan is at the forefront of their minds.

The walls of the KCC are plastered with pictures of Kurdish martyrs, many of whom have family in London.

"As long as we are awake we talk about these issues," says one man.

"It is part of our lives. Our minds have never been free of thinking about what is going on in Kurdistan."

Another added: "We came here two hours ago together, we are having our tea but at the same time we are talking about what is going on in Kurdistan.

"What, for example, is going to happen tomorrow?"

Telegraf editor Mr Sinayic believes the country's Kurdish community would like to see more Westerners travel to the Middle East to take on IS.

"When you see Britons or other nationalities going there and being in the fight, this is something very very important for us," he says.

"They are honourable."

But one British Kurd who has fought IS does not want to see other Brits risking their lives.

Security guard Yasir Abdullah is originally from Iraq but lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and four children.

Twice he has gambled everything by returning to his village to fight alongside other Kurds.

"I see on the TV what they're doing to the Kurdish or Arabs, or executing, everything, the bad things they do and we thought, we have to stand up to fight against this enemy of humanity," he said.

"But we don't want anyone coming over there to help us.

"We thank everybody - if they want to come over we thank them to not come over there.

"If they want to help us, tell the British Government and American Government more weapons. This is what we want."

Authorities go to great lengths to prevent UK nationals travelling to join IS but those wanting to fight against Islamist extremists seem to be free to do so.

But people who succeed in reaching the battlefield are held in high regard by a community that until recently has felt largely abandoned by the West.

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Would-Be Labour MP Refuses Blair's Cash

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A Labour parliamentary candidate has rejected a £1,000 donation from former prime minister Tony Blair.

Mr Blair has pledged more than £100,000 to help Labour win May's General Election, with £1,000 going to local campaigns in 106 key battleground seats.

However, Lesley Brennan, Labour's candidate in Dundee East, said her constituency would not be accepting the millionaire politician's money.

She tweeted: "Received donation from Tony Blair. Instinct was to not accept. Discussed with team. Dundee East is not accepting the £1,000."

When the donation was announced last week, a Labour spokesman said the party was "delighted" Mr Blair had put his own money behind efforts to get Ed Miliband into No 10.

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Gallery: Protests At Tony Blair's Chilcot Appearances In 2010 And 2011

Protesters gather outside Westminster's Queen Elizabeth II building for Tony Blair's appearances before the Chilcot Inquiry in 2010 and 2011

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In a letter to candidates, Mr Blair said: "I know how hard it can be to raise money to fund a local campaign, but for you, in one of our 106 battleground seats, it is even more vital.

"This is where the election will be won for Labour and that is why I am making a donation to all 106 campaigns.

"As one of our key seat candidates you know better than most the scale of the challenge we face, but I have every confidence that with your drive, determination and organisational skills, you will deliver a successful local campaign that will also see our party returned to government."

Ms Brennan's decision not to take the cash was praised by many, with her message forwarded hundreds of times on social media.

One tweeter, Jon L Foster, wrote: "So good to hear. I think if Labour officially distanced themselves from Blair, they'd win a huge amount of votes back."

However another, Steve Spear, said: "How principled of you, you know best, after all this is the guy who won 3 elections for Labour minimum wage etc."

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Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Maret 2015 | 22.11

The names of a grandmother and three teenagers killed in a two-car crash in Wales have been revealed.

The 17-year-olds and the 68-year-old woman died and two others are in hospital following the crash in Powys, Mid Wales, just before 10.15pm on Friday.

The woman was named by police as Margaret Elizabeth Challis, from the Merthyr area.

The teenagers were named locally as Corey Price, Rhodri Miller and his girlfriend Alesha O'Connor.

Rhodri, who was driving, had only recently passed his driving test and was also a talented scientist.

Corey was a promising young footballer who had trained with the Cardiff City Football Academy.

The two young men died at the scene and Alesha died later in hospital.

All three were from Barry.

The crash happened as a number of vehicles travelled in a convoy on the A470 near Storey Arms, Brecon, between Libanus and RAC bends.

The two cars involved in the collision were a black Volkswagen Golf estate and a green Volkswagen Golf.

The teenagers were in the green Golf and Mrs Challis was a passenger in the black Golf estate, which was not believed to be part of the convoy.

Five male drivers, aged 17 and 18, who were in other vehicles, have been arrested, Dyfed Powys Police said.

The driver and front-seat passenger in the black Golf estate have been taken to hospital. The driver's condition is described as serious.

Superintendent Chris Curtis said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time.

"We are working with South Wales Police in order to provide support to the families affected and also the communities they live within.

"We will work with partners to ensure that the incident is fully investigated."

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Dyfed Powys Police on 101.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fan Trouble Mars Villa's Cup Quarterfinal Win

Aston Villa's win over West Bromwich Albion in a heated FA Cup quarterfinal was marred by crowd trouble, with seats thrown by visiting fans and home supporters invading the field during and after the game.

Villa beat its Midlands rival in a 2-0 victory thanks to second-half goals by Fabian Delph and Scott Sinclair. Each side had a player sent off in the closing minutes.

There were worrying scenes toward the end of the derby, as West Brom fans threw seats into the section of the crowd below them containing Villa supporters.

Some Villa supporters jumped over the hoardings and ran onto the pitch during stoppage time in premature celebration, before several hundred fans invaded the field of play as the final whistle sounded.

Some Villa players were mobbed by supporters celebrating the win for the club, while other players from both teams scrambled to get off the field.

Delph said his captain's armband and left boot were removed, and that some fans "tried to kiss me and were biting me... it was scary".

West Brom manager Tony Pulis said. "It's disgraceful. We don't want to see those scenes. They've beaten us, and for that to happen, that's just mindless idiots."

He criticised the stewarding at Villa Park and felt the players' safety was in jeopardy, but confirmed his squad were fine.

"It puts players at danger and you don't want to see that. We were seeing that in the 1970s and 1980s, we don't want to go back to that," Pulis said.

The Football Association is set to investigate and Villa have said sorry for the problems.

"We are very disappointed that what should have been a very memorable and proud moment for our fans was marred by the actions of those who could not control themselves," a statement from Villa read.

"They have let both themselves and their club down."