22 Dogs Killed In Mystery Kennel Blaze

An investigation is under way after 22 dogs died in their cages in a fire in east Yorkshire.

Firefighters said the blaze "totally destroyed" a wooden kennel at a dog breeder's home in Graingers Road, Hornsea.

The owners, who are reported to breed Staffordshire bull terriers, returned to their home on Saturday night to find it alight with the dogs inside.

One family member had to be restrained by firefighters as he tried to save the animals, The Times reported.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, said a spokeswoman for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

One neighbour told the Hull Daily Mail: "It is terrible. I could see smoke and flames from my house and saw four fire engines rushing to the scene."

Another resident said: "There has been a lot of people walking down the road and looking at the damage caused by the fire.

"It is a wooden home so when it caught fire it burned down in minutes."

It comes a week after 53 dogs died in a fire at Manchester Dogs Home.

People donated more than £1.2m to the home after the suspected arson attack.

A 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze has been released on bail.

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Thai Murders: 'Beautiful Hannah' Brought Home

The family of a British backpacker murdered in Thailand say they have brought their "beautiful Hannah" back to the UK.

It is nearly a week since the bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and fellow Brit David Miller, 24, were found on a beach in Koh Tao, also known as Turtle Island.

In their first statement since the deaths, Ms Witheridge's family said they travelled to Bangkok on Tuesday.

"The main purpose of our trip was to bring our beloved Hannah home and to obtain information on the investigation," they said.

"We can confirm that we have now returned to the UK with our beautiful Hannah.

The Britons were murdered on Koh Tao

"As a family we feel enormous relief to have Hannah back at home where she belongs.

"We continue to work closely with officers to assist in the investigation and bring those responsible to justice.

"Our family is broken and require time to grieve in private - as do Hannah's many friends."

Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, suffered severe head wounds and Mr Miller, from Jersey, died from blows to the head and drowning, post-mortem examinations showed.

A garden hoe with Ms Witheridge's blood on it was discovered nearby, and investigators are searching for a blunt metal object used on Mr Miller.

Ms Witheridge was caught on CCTV in the hours before her death

Earlier, police hunting the killer told Sky News "sexual jealousy" may be the motive for the killings.

Sky's Jonathan Samuels, who is on the island, said officers have asked police in the UK to speak to British friends of the travellers to find out about their interactions in the days leading up to the murders.

He said: "They are also investigating rumours that they may have had a row with a Thai man in a bar."

Police Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen said: "We have asked the Met Police to go back and ask their friends if they can help with any further information."

He added: "We still believe sexual jealously is at the heart of this crime.

Police are also examining CCTV footage of David Miller

"We are aware of reports they may have been involved in a row in a bar with a Thai man and we are currently investigating."

Police previously said DNA taken from the body of Ms Witheridge matches that of two Asian men.

Officers also said they do not know if the killer is still on Koh Tao, where she and Mr Miller were found murdered.

Sky News has obtained exclusive CCTV video of Ms Witheridge in the hours before she was killed, walking between bars with a group of friends.

Samuels said there had been criticism of the police investigation, with "the finger pointed at different people every day".

A message of support to the friends and families of the two victims

But the chief police officer has given assurances they are taking the investigation seriously.

A cash reward worth about £4,000 is being offered for information.

Two British brothers who were questioned by police were told they were free to return home to Jersey.

Christopher and James Ware, childhood friends of Mr Miller, were spoken to by officers but were never detained or named as suspects.

A group of Burmese migrants who were interviewed by police after bloodstains were found on their clothes have also been eliminated from police inquiries.

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Briton's Body Found After Mexico Hurricane

The body of a British woman who went missing while travelling on a yacht off the coast of Mexico has been found.

The Foreign Office confirmed one Briton had died after a search operation was launched earlier this week for couple Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile.

The pair, from London and Wolverhampton, were reported missing on Friday after their yacht overturned in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

Mr Whitehouse is still missing. Pic: Facebook

The couple are thought to have been living in La Paz, Mexico, for a year.

Mr Whitehouse, who is believed to be a scuba instructor, is reportedly still missing.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national, reported missing along with another British national earlier this week off the coast of Mexico.

The hurricane affected power and water supplies

"The Embassy is working with the local authorities and consular staff are providing assistance to both families at this very difficult time."

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit the Baja California Peninsula last Sunday.

Three other people have been confirmed dead following the storm - two Korean citizens and a German man who reportedly died from a heart attack.

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Salmond: 'No' Voters 'Tricked' By Westminster

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has said No voters in the referendum were "tricked" by a late promise of more devolved powers for Scotland - and the "writing is on the wall for Westminster".

People who voted against independence are "angry and hurt" that the three main party leaders' promises for extra powers for Scotland are now being "reneged on", he said.

He told Sky's Murnaghan programme that within 24 hours of Friday's No victory there was already disagreement between Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband on the timetable for devolution.

The "logjam" was caused by Mr Cameron saying it should go in tandem with constitutional reform in England, including barring Scottish MPs from voting on solely English matters, while Mr Miliband disagreed, Mr Salmond said.

He questioned why they had not already thought of that when they signed former prime minister Gordon Brown's timetable for the transfer of more powers to Scotland.

There were clashes in Glasgow on Friday night between Yes and No voters

Mr Salmond, who announced he was standing down as Scottish First Minister after voters rejected independence by 55% to 45%, said if the "Westminster gang" think Scots will accept the delay "they've got another thing coming".

The majority of voters under 55 backed independence, while most people over 55 voted against it, so the "destination is pretty certain" for Scotland, he said.

He said it was these No voters who are feeling most angry by Westminster's broken promises and fear they may have "impeded progress for the next generation".

The so-called West Lothian question about the voting rights of Scottish and English MPs has been met with wariness from Labour, which has most of Scotland's 59 seats.

"David Cameron doesn't think he can carry his own backbenchers, never mind the threat from UKIP, unless he links Scottish progress to changes in England," Mr Salmond said.

"Ed Miliband doesn't want to do that because Labour would lose their majority over English business in the House of Commons. That is the logjam the Westminster leaders got themselves into.

Voters in Scotland voted against independence by 55% to 45%

"There is a big issue there, but shouldn't they have thought of that before they made a solemn vow and pledge to the Scottish people."

Speaking on Murnaghan, Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman accused Mr Cameron of "slipping and sliding" on his promises for extra powers for Scotland.

Asked about the issue of ensuring English votes for English laws, she said the matter "must be sorted out" but "it's got to be done properly".

A Downing Street spokesman earlier said: "The three pro-Union parties have made commitments on further powers for the Scottish Parliament and we have set out a clear timetable to do this.

"Lord Smith of Kelvin has agreed to oversee the process to take forward the devolution commitments with powers over tax, spending and welfare all agreed by November and draft legislation published by January.

"This Government has delivered on devolution and we will do so again in the next Parliament."

Earlier, politicians from opposing sides of the referendum campaign went to a special church service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh aimed at healing their divisions.

On Monday, Mr Cameron will host a summit at Chequers to discuss his plans for "English votes for English laws" with senior Tories, including some of the loudest critics of his decision to back Mr Brown's power transfer timetable.

The meeting is being widely seen as a bid to head off potential backbench rebellion on constitutional reform.

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Miliband Sets Out Plan For £8 Minimum Wage

Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged to raise the national minimum wage to at least £8 an hour if he becomes Prime Minister.

The minimum wage is due to rise from £6.31 an hour to £6.50 on October 1, but Mr Miliband plans to add £1.50 an hour on to that by 2020.

His increase would add around £60 a week, or £3,000 a year, to the pay packets of workers currently on the minimum wage.

And he said the rise would save the taxpayer "hundreds of millions of pounds" in welfare payments.

One in five UK workers - more than five million people - are categorised as being on low pay, defined as wages of less than £7.71 an hour.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Miliband said: "Too many working people have made big sacrifices but in this recovery they're not seeing the rewards for their hard work because, under the Tories' failing plan, the recovery is benefiting a privileged few far more than most families.

"One in five of the men and women employed in Britain today do the hours, make their contribution, but find themselves on low pay.

"But if you work hard, you should be able to bring up your family with dignity."

A Burger King worker was the inspiration for Labour's latest policy

Mr Miliband added: "This week Labour's Plan for Britain's Future will show how we can change and how we can become a country that rewards hard work once again. Because Labour is the party of hard work, fairly paid."

The announcement came on the eve of Labour's annual conference in Manchester - the last before next year's general election.

Mr Miliband said he was inspired to bring in the hike after meeting a woman who worked in Burger King.

He said: "She had worked there for six years and I think she was number two there, but was paid just above the minimum wage.

"She said, 'It's incredibly hard for me. I live three miles away. I can't afford a car and there aren't many buses. I often have to take a taxi. That's where my wages go.'"

Mr Miliband added: "It's just so ­grindingly hard, and it's time we stood up for people doing these hours."

The planned increase, which would affect around 1.4 million jobs, would be introduced in annual stages by the Low Pay Commission before October 2019.

The promised rate is said to be similar to that in force in Australia and EU countries such as Belgium and Germany, but still lower than in France and New Zealand.

Mr Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "I can assure you, it doesn't cost money, it saves money. It saves hundreds of millions of pounds in getting the welfare bill down."

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Devolution Wranglings Could End In Stalemate

Devo Max: What New Powers Can Scotland Have?

Updated: 4:18pm UK, Friday 19 September 2014

David Cameron has pledged new powers for Scotland that some have said amount to Devo Max. However, it's not quite as clear cut as that.

What is Devo Max?

Scottish Parliament basically gets power over everything - apart from defence and foreign affairs. Maximum devolution.

Is that on offer?

No it's not, although some say David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have come close to that.

What powers does Scotland already have?

It makes its own laws on health, education, law and order, environment, social services, housing, local government, tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and some areas of transport. It can also raise or lower its income tax by 3p, but has not used this power.

What does Westminster have control of?

Defence, social security, immigration, benefits, foreign policy, employment, broadcasting, trade and industry, nuclear energy, oil, gas and electricity, consumer affairs and the constitution.

What powers will be given away in this quasi Devo Max deal?

It is not entirely clear. More power over setting income tax is definitely on the agenda, and control of housing benefits too. Holyrood is unlikely to get control over the oil take or corporation tax.

Under Gordon Brown's 12-point plan, giveaways include power over borrowing, job creation, social care and employment rights. The Scottish Parliament will also be confirmed as permanent, binding future governments to ensure its continued existence.

But what about England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Well, Mr Cameron has also promised more powers for Wales and Northern Ireland and to listen to the "millions of voices of England". He has promised to address the problem of "English votes for English laws" or the West Lothian question as it is also called. 

At the moment Scotland's 59 MPs can vote on matters that affect all of the UK but English MPs cannot vote on Scottish matters where powers have been devolved to Holyrood. 

With the promise of new powers for Scotland's Parliament, it has led to calls of "unfair" and for England to get more powers and the Prime Minister has said he will deliver. A sort of devolution revolution, if you will. 

Leader of the House of Commons William Hague is in charge of drawing up these plans but do expect that the Lib Dems and Labour will have rival versions. No cross-party consensus has been reached as with devolved powers for Scotland.

Make no mistake, it's a major shake-up - and yes, it will be an election issue.

So when is all this going to happen?

Gordon Brown has tabled a House of Commons debate over his planned 12-point power giveaway and the timetable for its delivery in mid-October.

There intention is that a new draft law to be drawn up by January 25 (Burns Night). Alex Salmond has agreed to talks to thrash out the details of these new powers but he will clearly be trying to get as close to delivering Devo Max as he can - having lost the battle for independence. It will not be passed until after the General Election in May but as there is a cross-party agreement theoretically, this should not provide a problem.

But the plans for England, Wales and Scotland do not have to work to the same timetable. They could be far more contentious as the parties are unlikely to agree on plans. Any English votes for English laws will put Labour at a distinct disadvantage as it effectively loses 40 MPs if its Scottish politicians are not included.

In addition, English MPs may be reluctant to allow new powers for Scotland to go through when they don't know "what's in it for them". 

In short, this could get messy and take a very long time.

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Alice Gross Police Search Is Largest Since 7/7

By Tom Parmenter, Sky Correspondent

The search for missing teenager Alice Gross is now the biggest deployment of Metropolitan Police search assets since the 7/7 terror attacks in London.

The 14-year-old from Hanwell, west London, has been missing for 24 days and police continue to make new appeals for information.

Detectives revealed this week they are also searching for Latvian national Arnis Zalkans, 41, who disappeared from his home in nearby Ealing on September 3 - a week after Alice disappeared.

The 41-year-old was jailed in his native country in the late 1990s for murdering his wife and burying her in a forest following a dispute about her sexuality.

Police are also hunting for Arnis Zalkalns who disappeared at the same time

It has also emerged Zalkalns was arrested in London on suspicion of indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl in 2009, but was never charged.

Search teams, including dogs and divers, have been deployed across west London looking for Alice, and police say the search area is being widened.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, said: "I would like to thank the local community who have shown great support to the search effort and police investigation so far.

"Our officers are working through the weekend - carrying on those searches. We will not stop our hunt for Alice. Whilst we have already seized many hundreds of hours of CCTV we still need the public's help.

"If you are a shop owner, have CCTV at your home, or were out filming in the areas of Ealing and Hanwell and have footage from the afternoon of Thursday 28 August when Alice was last seen, and right up to the 3 September when Arnis Zalkalns was last seen, then please get in touch with us.

"Save the footage, call into our incident room on 020 8358 0100, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Zalkalns was seen on CCTV cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal

Some 630 officers from eight police forces have been involved in the hunt. They have searched 25sq km of open land and 5.5km of canals and rivers.

On Friday night, police searched a former home of Zalkalns in Hanwell.

The owner of the house, Radoslav Andric, said he last saw Zalkalns at the rental property two days before Alice went missing on August 28.

Mr Andric said the Latvian builder moved out more than a year ago, but had returned to see friends.

Police have recovered the suspect's red Trek bicycle from the property.

Forensic officers have also searched Zalkalns' semi-detached house in Ealing, where armed officers have been seen standing guard.

Zalkalns has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone since September 3, nor has he returned home to his partner and young child.

He was seen on CCTV footage cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal 15 minutes after the last sighting of Alice.

Detectives believe he is likely to have seen Alice as they were both going north along the canal towpath.

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Two Britons Missing After Hurricane In Mexico

Two Britons have disappeared off the coast of Mexico following a hurricane.

The pair, believed to be Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood, were reported missing on Friday after their yacht overturned in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

They are reportedly a couple from Wolverhampton and London.

Mexican marines and sailors are taking part in a search operation.

Mr Whitehouse is believed to be a scuba instructor living in the city of La Paz.

The pair were believed to be living on their yacht in La Paz for around a year.

A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office said: "We are in touch with the local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the families at this difficult time."

The hurricane left a trail of destruction

The British Embassy in Mexico has advised UK nationals in Baja California and Baja California Sur, the areas affected by the hurricane, to leave through Los Cabos International Airport.

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit last Sunday, causing the evacuation of around 18,000 tourists.

The hurricane affected power and water supplies, as well as phone services, triggering widespread looting.

Power has been restored to around one-fifth of people in the resort cities of Los Cabos, with 200 electricity workers dispatched to the area.

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Miliband: More Important Things Than Devo Max

Ed Miliband has side-stepped the issue of constitutional change, saying the issue matters - but is not the priority for most voters.

Prime Minister David Cameron says all parts of the UK should have more powers after the independence referendum in Scotland, but Mr Miliband says the process is being rushed.

His comments come after former prime minister Gordon Brown said he was "utterly convinced" powers for Scotland would be delivered following the No vote.

But speaking ahead of the Labour Party conference in Manchester, Mr Miliband said: "The last few months have been about keeping our country together. The next eight months will be about how we can change our country together.

"Right across Britain, people are yearning for change. Constitutional change matters.

Scots voted to remain part of the UK by 55% to 45%

"But we all know something else matters even more. Our country doesn't work for everyday working people and only works for a privileged few at the top. And we've got to change it."

It followed the earlier speech by Mr Brown, whose intervention in the campaign has been credited with helping to secure a No vote, and who insisted the timetable for devolution he set out two weeks ago was on track.

A resolution on more powers will be signed by him and the three main party leaders in the House of Commons on Monday, he told a news conference in Dunfermline, Scotland.

The civil service is already working on the plans, which will be published "by the end of October," he added.

He said the timetable was a "way of bringing people together" and "this is time for Scotland to unite".

David Cameron is to sign the new powers proposals on Monday

"These are men who have been promise makers and they will not be promise breakers. I will ensure that as a promise keeper that these promises that have been made will be upheld.

"We will lock in today the promises that have been made and why the timetable we set out will be delivered."

He said the laws that will form the Scotland Bill, and eventually the Scotland Act, will be ready by Burns Day (January 25).

Mr Brown also praised Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, who dramatically quit on Friday night after the country turned out in record numbers to reject a break from the UK by 55% to 45%.

Mr Salmond was a "fierce and formidable opponent" but people owed him a "debt of gratitude" for what he had done for Scotland, he said.

The outcome of the referendum vote saw 2,001,926 opting for the No camp, with 1,617,989 voting Yes to independence.

The Yes campaign won majorities in four areas, including Dundee and Glasgow.

Six people were arrested in Glasgow city centre on Friday night as police separated rival union and independence supporters.

Hundreds of people crowded into George Square, with a chorus of Rule Britannia countered by the Scottish anthem, Flower of Scotland.

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Thai Murders: Hannah DNA Matches Asian Men

DNA taken from the body of murdered British tourist Hannah Witheridge matches that of two Asian men, Thai police say.

Officers also said they do not know if the killer is still on the island of Koh Tao, where she and David Miller, 24, were found murdered.

Sky News has obtained video of Ms Witheridge filmed in the hours before she was killed.

In the exclusive footage, she is seen on CCTV walking between bars with a group of friends.

Ms Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, suffered severe head wounds and Mr Miller died from blows to the head and drowning, post-mortem examinations showed.

Their bodies were found in a rocky area of Sairee beach on Monday.

A garden hoe with Ms Witheridge's blood on it was discovered nearby, and investigators are searching for a blunt metal object used on Mr Miller.

Sky's Jonathan Samuels, on Koh Tao (Turtle Island), said: "Today the head of Thailand's police flew to the island by helicopter - really a sense of how seriously now the Thai authorities are taking this investigation.

"He confirmed that two men's DNA that was found on Hannah's body have been analysed and he has confirmed those two samples are from two Asian men.

"Of course they have no idea at the moment, as far as we understand, who these two men may be.

"They have questioned many people on the island, but so far they tell us they have no firm suspects."

Ms Witheridge is seen leaving a bar with friends

DNA on a cigarette butt has been matched to semen found on Ms Witheridge, and officers say the cigarette was smoked by more than one person.

Police Colonel Kissana said officers have still not come up with the exact number of suspects, and confirmed they are looking for both male and female suspects.

He said reports that the FBI are involved in the investigation were incorrect, but confirmed they have British assistance.

A cash reward worth about £4,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the killers, he added.

Meanwhile, two British brothers who were questioned by police have been told they are free to return home to Jersey.

Christopher and James Ware, childhood friends of Mr Miller, were spoken to by officers but were never detained or named as suspects.

A group of Burmese migrants who were interviewed by police after bloodstains were found on their clothes have also been eliminated from police inquiries.

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