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NHS Volunteers Help Ease Maternity Pressure

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 10 November 2012 | 16.12

By Isabel Webster, West of England Correspondent

Volunteers are being used by the NHS at the Royal Gwent Hospital in South Wales to ease pressure on overstretched maternity wards.

Twenty so-called "maternity buddies" handle babies at the request of new mums while they sleep or shower, sit and chat to keep them company, help with meals, or even change water in flower vases.

The unpaid helpers are given basic training in confidentiality and infection control but are not permitted to carry out any clinical duties including bathing or changing new-borns' nappies.

The buddy scheme was piloted at the hospital over a six-month period and has now gone live due to its success.

Linda Hall, a mother of four and grandmother of two, finds time around her full-time job at a nursery to pop into the postnatal ward whenever she can.

"The midwives are so busy that sometimes the new mums are anxious about buzzing and asking for help," she said.

"So we just come along and get them some milk or some drinks - all the things the midwives struggle to fit into their busy days."

The scheme is intended to free up the midwives so they can focus on clinical care.

Maternity volunteers at Royal Gwent Hospital The NHS is looking to increase volunteers at hospitals

The Royal College of Midwives believes there is a shortfall of around 5,000 midwives in England and Wales as a result of the birth rate exceeding the rate of midwives joining the profession by around 6%.

But the Aneurin Bevan Health Board in Gwent maintains the buddy scheme is not about plugging a staffing gap.

Suzanna Hardacre, the senior midwifery manager at the Royal Gwent Hospital, said: "We're not short-staffed. We don't have any shortages of health care support workers or with midwives. There are sufficient clinical staff to be able to give that care.

"Our volunteers are purely there to enhance the patient and the woman's experience while she is in hospital with us."

A recruitment drive is now underway to bolster the number of volunteers in NHS hospitals across the UK.

Many hospitals already enlist them to help patients eat their meals and the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust says their volunteers sometimes help to make the beds.

But Beverley Lawrence Beech from the Association For The Improvement of Maternity Services warns that unskilled helpers are no substitute for trained health professionals.

"If they really want to enhance patient experiences what they should be providing is community based midwifery. But this is the first step towards removing yet more midwives," she said.

"Frilly hand-holding is no substitute for proper trained midwives who know to look out for things like postnatal depression or infections."


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Olympic Stadium: Dismay Over Delayed Future

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Olympic and Paralympic champions have voiced their dismay at news that the stadium may not open fully until the summer of 2016.

Four bids are still being considered as full-time tenants at the Stratford venue, but each bid will require significant and time-consuming modifications.

Dennis Hone, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Committee, revealed this week that it will not re-open until August 2015 at the earliest and probably not before August 2016.

Olympic champion Jessica Ennis told Sky News it was important the stadium was opened to the public without delay.

She said: "I've some amazing memories of the stadium, like a lot of other athletes.

"I'd love to see it opened to the public as soon as possible."

Leyton Orient Leyton Orient FC are among four bidders to use the stadium in Stratford

Paralympic double gold medallist Hannah Cockroft said it was vital to speed up the process so that the goodwill generated by the success of London 2012 could be tapped into.

"The danger is that if it's not opened fully to the public for four years then that interest will wane," she said.

"It's an amazing venue and people want to see it, they want to be a part of it. I really hope they sort this out, they have to."

A transformation project costing nearly £300m is currently under way at the site and is expected to last up to 18 months.

The park itself will be opened to the public on July 27 next year, one year to the day the Games opened in London.

Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, told Sky News: "The stadium is vital for the legacy of the Games, but the important thing is to get the right tenant in."

The four bidders are West Ham United FC, Leyton Orient FC, a Formula One venture and the University College of Football Business - an academic institution owned and run by Burnley FC.

A final decision is expected in the first half of 2013, or possibly sooner.


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hertfordshire Crash Leaves Three Men Dead

Three men have been killed in a collision between a car and a lorry on the A10 in Hertfordshire.

The men - the driver of the car and two passengers, thought to be in their late teens and early 20s - died at the scene.

They were travelling in a Vauxhall Corsa on the northbound carriageway near Turnford, at 2.15pm on Friday, when the collision with a Mercedes lorry happened.

A fourth person in the car suffered serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel for treatment.

The driver of the lorry was not injured.

Sergeant Colin Jenkinson, of Hertfordshire Police, said: "We are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the collision and are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to get in contact as soon as possible.

"Perhaps you saw the vehicle just before the collision took place or maybe you saw something immediately after. Any information you provide could be crucial to our investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.


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Ash Dieback: Crisis Plan To Be Released

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 09 November 2012 | 16.12

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Ministers will hold a crisis meeting today to discuss a deadly fungal disease threatening millions of the UK's native ash trees.

Department of the Environment officials have been liaising with the Forestry Commission and other agencies to discuss the best way to contain the spread of Chalara fungus, known as ash dieback disease.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who is chairing the summit, convened a Cobra crisis committee to examine the latest developments and co-ordinate a plan of action.

Mr Paterson will later outline the Government's response to the crisis.

An ash sapling infected with ash dieback disease An ash sapling infected with the disease

So far more than 100 cases have been reported across the country in Sussex, Berkshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Northumberland, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent and Essex.

The fungal infection is thought to have arrived in the country on wind-borne spores blown in from mainland Europe.

It causes leaves to turn black and drop off before the crown dies back and the tree eventually dies.

Countries such as France and Belgium have been hit hard by the tree disease, but nowhere has its impact been felt harder than in Denmark - which has lost 90% of its ash trees.

It is feared the disease could have the same impact in Britain as the infamous Dutch Elm epidemic of the 1970s, which wiped out most of the country's elm trees.

There are an estimated 80 million ash trees in Britain - one-third of the entire tree population.

Ash Dieback Ash dieback has been found at 115 sites in the UK

In a bid to contain the epidemic, the importation of ash trees has been banned and the planting of new ones has also been halted.

Officials have also carried out surveys on acres of forest and woodland.

Signs warning visitors to take extra precautions to stop the spread of ash dieback are already posted at several National Trust sites, including Ashridge, Hertfordshire.

Ashridge has hundreds of ash trees in its 5,000 acres of woodland. The site is popular with walkers taking in the magnificent countryside - especially in the autumn.

It has also been the setting for several films, including Sleepy Hollow and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Graeme Cannon, Ashridge Estate manager, told Sky News: "It's potentially very dangerous.

"Ashridge is here because ash trees feature very prominently in its background and they have done for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

A view of ash saplings, some of which are infected with ash dieback disease at Arger Fen near Sudbury in Suffolk Some of these ash saplings in Suffolk are infected with the disease

''With ash dieback in the country we'll end up in a situation where we will be losing a lot of our trees and they are an important feature of the British landscape and woodland.

"So far we have not had any confirmed cases in Ashridge but if we do then the impact would be catastrophic.''

Mr Cannon said that several of the ash trees were more than 200 years old.

''Although it seems to be impacting younger trees, we would hate to lose those veteran ash," he said.

Infected saplings have been burned to contain the spread, but visitors to woods are also being asked to do their bit by keeping to marked paths to help reduce the spread of infected leaves.

They are also being advised to clean footwear and bike and car tyres of mud and earth when they get home.

Although the Government claims it has acted as swiftly as it could, there has been some criticism that the response has not been quick enough.


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Malala: Shot Pakistan Girl Thanks Supporters

The schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan has thanked people around the world for their support - as thousands call for her to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala Yusufzai, 15, was flown to Birmingham for specialist treatment after she was shot in the head at point-blank range on a school bus on October 9.

Speaking on behalf of his daughter, Ziauddin Yusufzai said she wanted to thank well-wishers for their humbling support to help her "survive and stay strong".

"She wants me to tell everyone how grateful she is and is amazed that men, women and children from across the world are interested in her well-being," he said in a statement, issued by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

"We deeply feel the heart-touching good wishes of the people across the world of all caste, colour and creed.

Malala Yousafzai with her father in UK Hospital Malala with her father at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital

"I am awfully thankful to all the peace-loving well-wishers who strongly condemn the assassination attempt on Malala, who pray for her health and support the grand cause of peace, education, freedom of thought and freedom of expression."

Mr Yusufzai, his wife and their two sons flew to the UK last month to be with Malala, who is being treated in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. 

The schoolgirl has received thousands of gifts, cards and messages of support since arriving in Birmingham on October 15.

New pictures have also been released showing Malala sitting up reading a book and looking through cards sent to her.

Malala's statement comes as more than 60,000 people signed a petition to nominate her for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

The global petition to have Malala nominated, on Change.org, was started in Canada by Tarek Fatah, a writer and broadcaster.

Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, who was wounded in a gun attack Malala, seen before the attack, blogged about life under the Taliban

It has already achieved support from Canada's four largest political parties and has been replicated by supporters in other countries, including France and Spain.

In the UK, Shahida Choudhary is campaigning for the Prime Minister and prominent politicians to write to the Nobel committee to recommend Malala.

Ms Choudhary said: "Malala doesn't just represent one young woman, she speaks out for all those who are denied an education purely on the basis of their gender."

This Saturday is Malala Day, a global day of action marking one month since she was shot.

Protest in Pakistan against atack on Malala Yousafzai A protest in Pakistan against the attack on Malala Yusufzai

Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown declared the day in his role as UN Special Envoy for Global Education.

Malala Day also coincides with Mr Brown's trip to Pakistan to deliver a petition containing more than a million signatures to President Asif Ali Zardari, urging him to make education a reality for all Pakistani children, irrespective of gender.

Malala, who is widely known as a campaigner for girls' education in Pakistan, was attacked with two other schoolgirls travelling home from school in the Swat Valley.

The gunman who boarded the van in which she was travelling asked for her by name before firing three shots at her.

In early 2009, she wrote an anonymous blog about life under the Taliban, who had banned all girls in her area from attending school.


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Immigration Cases Spiral 'Out Of Control'

Thousands of illegal immigrants could be granted an amnesty to stay in the UK to clear a massive backlog of cases, MPs fear.

The number of outstanding immigration and asylum cases rose by 25,000 in three months and is "spiralling out of control".

The Border Agency (UKBA) caseload is now equivalent to the population of Iceland, said Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

More than 300,000 cases needed to be dealt with at the end of June, up 9% over the previous three months, a committee report indicated.

The Border Agency had 302,064 cases to investigate, trace or conclude by the end of June - more than 25,000 compared with the end of March, figures showed.

Most of the increase came from a rise of more than 24,000 missing migrants denied permission to stay in the UK but whose whereabouts are unknown.

The outstanding cases also included 95,000 in the so-called controlled archives.

l-border-agency-official Immigration minister Mark Harper agrees the report 'raises concerns'

These are effectively the backlog of immigration and asylum cases, which the UKBA has pledged to close by the end of the year.

But to do this it will have to assess all these cases in three months when only 29,000 were removed from the archive in a year, the report said.

"We are concerned that the closure of the controlled archives may result in a significant number of people being granted effective amnesty in the United Kingdom, irrespective of the merits of their case," the MPs said.

While many of the people in the backlog of cases will have already left the country, "we are not convinced that the agency's limited checking regime will have picked up all of the applicants who remain in the country", the MPs went on.

"For this reason we are concerned that the final checks made on these cases should be thorough and that they should not be rushed to meet an artificial deadline."

The report also questioned the consequences for both the individual and the taxpayer if applicants whose cases are closed are then found in the UK.

Mr Vaz added: "There are now about the same number of cases awaiting resolution by UKBA as there are people living in Iceland. The backlog is spiralling out of control."

Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "This report raises some legitimate concerns but we are taking robust action and it is working."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Enniskillen Remembers Victims Of IRA Bomb

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 08 November 2012 | 16.12

By Vicki Hawthorne, Ireland Correspondent

The town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh will come to a standstill this morning for its own special Remembrance Day.

Twenty five years ago - on November 8, 1987 - an IRA bomb exploded as hundreds of people gathered at the town's war memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

Eleven people were killed in the explosion and 63 others were injured. A former headmaster, Ronnie Hill, never regained consciousness after the attack and died in 2000.

Stephen Gault's father Samuel was killed in the bombing and he remembers the day vividly.

He said: "I never heard the explosion, I remember getting a shove on the back and going forward into railings. I must have been knocked out for a matter of seconds because when I came round there was just an eerie, eerie silence.

"I couldn't hear anything, the only thing I could hear was a shop alarm in the distance ringing.

"A choking sensation with the dust. I couldn't breathe, I tried to move, I couldn't move. I was buried to my knees in rubble and I remember thinking 'where's my dad?'.

"And I looked across the ground and he was lying across the ground and I knew right away that he was dead."

Enniskillen bombing aftermath Soldiers scour the area in the aftermath of the Provisional IRA attack

Former town councillor Sam Foster was also there that day.

He said: "Suddenly I heard this roll, an enormous roll like thunder and then there was the explosion and everything fell down around us.

"Debris, glass, people screaming, people shouting, people shrieking, people squealing. It was a terrible situation to be in."

Jim Dixon suffered serious head injuries in the attack. He has endured more than 20 operations since. He said: "Pain is my constant companion.

"Bombs are evil things and the damage that they can do is horrendous."

The bombing shocked Northern Ireland and the world. It was also seen as a turning point in the history of the country which was so jaded by decades of terrorism.

This morning relatives of those killed and people who were injured will again gather at the cenotaph in Enniskillen to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing.

They will remember the moment the bomb exploded at 10.43am, and dignitaries will join the families in an act of remembrance during which wreaths will be laid at the war memorial.

No one has ever been convicted in connection with the IRA attack.

But a specialised group of detectives, the Historical Enquiries Team, has been reviewing such cases and a report on the bomb has been given to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to see if any new evidence can be followed up.


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Supermarkets Cut Petrol Prices By Another 2p

Three supermarket chains have cut their petrol prices again, reducing the cost of fuel by 2p at pumps across the nation.

Asda was the first to announce the discount, which follows similar reductions towards the end of last month.

It will now charge 137.7p for a litre of diesel and 131.7p for unleaded petrol on its forecourts.

Sainsbury's and Tesco followed suit, saying they would also slash 2p off their prices.

Welcoming the move, the president of roadside recovery group AA, Edmund King, said: "Once again the supermarkets have led the way on fuel price reductions.

"We have said there is scope for price cuts given wholesale price falls and welcome the move and hope all the other retailers follow."

He said that many people are cutting back on the number of car journeys they make because of the high cost of fuel.

"This reduction will go a little way towards helping families and businesses keep mobile," he added.

Asda's petrol trading director, Andy Peake, said his company was "leading the way" in reducing the price at the pump.

"Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no one filling up at Asda will be forced to play a postcode lottery," he said.

A Tesco spokesman said: "As Britain's biggest petrol retailer with 490 forecourts, more motorists will make savings at the pumps at Tesco than at any other fuel retailer."

And Sainsbury's head of fuel, Richard Crampton, said: "With Christmas on the horizon, we know that this can be an expensive time of year so we're delighted to announce that we will be lowering our petrol and diesel prices."


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Surgeon Faces Inquiry Over Breast Cancer Ops

A surgeon is to face a criminal inquiry over allegations about his treatment of more than 1,000 breast cancer patients.

West Midlands Police said they were liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the course of the investigation into the conduct of Ian Paterson.

Mr Paterson is alleged by a law firm representing some of his former patients to have performed up to 1,150 "unnecessary, inappropriate or unregulated" operations.

Thompsons Solicitors, which is pursuing negligence claims for several women, said Mr Paterson worked at a number of NHS and private hospitals from 1994, including those run by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which covers hospitals in Sutton Coldfield, Solihull and Birmingham.

An investigation into Mr Paterson by the General Medical Council potentially spans up to 700 cases of an unregulated procedure that involved leaving some breast tissue behind after a mastectomy, Thompsons said.

It is further alleged that up to 450 women could have had invasive breast surgery when a biopsy might have been sufficient.

In a statement confirming the police inquiry into Mr Paterson, who has not been arrested, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Markham said: "West Midlands Police can confirm it has received a referral from the General Medical Council in relation to allegations about the medical practices of a surgeon who previously worked in Solihull.

"A criminal inquiry has been launched and the force is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the course of the investigation."


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Head Teacher Helen Mann Found Dead At School

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 07 November 2012 | 16.12

Police are investigating the death of a head teacher whose body was found at her primary school.

Helen Mann, who was in her 40s, was pronounced dead on Monday at Sytchampton Endowed First School in Worcestershire.

Police and paramedics were called to the school, near Stourport-on-Severn, at 4.20pm.

West Mercia Police said: "Officers are investigating the death, which is being treated as unexplained but is not believed to be suspicious.

"They are compiling a report that will be passed to the Worcestershire coroner."

In a statement issued by Worcestershire County Council, a spokeswoman for the school, Stephanie Gait, said: "It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of our head teacher, Helen Mann.

"We offer our deepest sympathy to Helen's family, friends and colleagues.

"We have taken the decision to close school today and tomorrow and are working with the local authority to provide support to staff and pupils."

Police said members of a local Safer Neighbourhoods team were liaising with the school's authorities following the death.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org


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Sellafield Nuclear Waste Storage Warning

Hazardous waste being stored in run-down buildings at Sellafield nuclear plant is posing "intolerable risks to people and the environment", a watchdog has warned.

For more than 50 years, the owners of the Cumbrian nuclear power station have failed to plan how to dispose of radioactive waste, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

The public spending watchdog said some of the older facilities have "deteriorated so much that their contents pose significant risks to people and the environment".

Operators of the nuclear power station do not know how long it will take to build storage and treatment centres for the hazardous material or how much the final bill is likely to be, the report says.

Sellafield, the UK's largest and most hazardous nuclear site, stores enough high and intermediate level radioactive waste to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site Sellafield's radioactive waste could fill 27 Olympic swiimming pools

The highest risks are posed by the ponds and silos built during the 1950s and 1960s to store fuel for early reprocessing operations and radioactive waste, according to the report.

A long-term plan to clean up the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority-owned site, which is managed by Sellafield Limited, was agreed last year after an earlier one stalled because it was "unrealistic".

Progress in 12 of the 14 major buildings and equipment projects considered "critical" for reducing risk, which range in cost from £21m to £1.3bn, failed to achieve what they were supposed to and had not provided good value for money, the NAO said.

The report found there "is still considerable uncertainty in the schedules and costs" of the projects.

Margaret Hodge, who chairs the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: "Projects of this length and ambition are ripe for dithering and delay.

"I am dismayed to discover the clean-up of Sellafield is no different. The authority's revised plan sees critical milestones shunted back by up to seven years.

"After only 10 months of operating under the new plan, performance in 12 out of 14 major projects has been dire.

"Between May 2011 and March 2012, the seven major projects in construction accumulated delays of between two and 19 months.

"My concern is that unless the authority holds Sellafield Limited to a clear and rigorously benchmarked plan, timetables will continue to slip and costs spiral.

"It is totally unacceptable to allow today's poor management to shift the burden and expense of Sellafield to future generations of taxpayers and their families."

Around 240 of Sellafield's 1,400 buildings are nuclear facilities and so far 55 buildings on the site have been decommissioned.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: "Owing to historic neglect, the authority faces a considerable challenge in taking forward decommissioning at Sellafield.

"It is good that the authority now has a more robust lifetime plan in place but it cannot say with certainty how long it will take to deal with hazardous radioactive waste at Sellafield or how much it will cost.

"Securing future value for money will depend on the authority's ability to act as an intelligent client, to benchmark proposed levels of performance and to provide better contractual incentives for making faster progress towards risk and hazard reduction."


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Jimmy Savile 'Was Yorkshire Ripper Suspect'

Jimmy Savile was questioned by detectives investigating the Yorkshire Ripper murders, a senior officer who worked on the inquiry has claimed.

Former West Yorkshire Police detective John Stainthorpe said the disgraced presenter was a suspect in the notorious case more than 30 years ago.

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe has jumped to the defence of Savile, who he claims is innocent and befriended him during visits to Broadmoor high security hospital.

Mr Stainthorpe, who spent 40 years in the force, told ITV's Calendar News: "When the Ripper was really active, one of the suspects put forward by the public was, in fact, Jimmy Savile.

"Obviously, it was not he, but he was interviewed along with many others."

Mr Stainthorpe said the person who gave police the anonymous tip-off was "aiming in the right direction".

"Child perverts soon become child killers," he added.

Peter Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women in 1981 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is held at Broadmoor and has been told he will never be freed.

Sutcliffe has claimed Savile regularly visited him in custody and the pair became friends.

Rubbishing claims the late DJ abused around 300 victims over six decades, he said those making allegations were "jumping on the bandwagon".

Sutcliffe, 66, told The Sun: "It's a load of rubbish. People are just getting carried away.

"He visited a lot. He'd always come and chat with me on visits and I would introduce him to my visitors. Several times he left £500 for charities I was supporting."

Savile, who died a year ago aged 84, is now believed by police to be one of the UK's most prolific child abusers.

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation into the television and radio star's activities. Detectives are following 400 lines of inquiry while the BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation in the era of Savile's alleged sexual abuse.


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Derby House Fire: Man Charged With Murder

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 06 November 2012 | 16.12

A 45-year-old man has been charged with the murder of six siblings who died as a result of a Derby house fire in May.

Paul Mosley, also of Derby, is accused of murdering Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and 13-year-old Duwayne, Derbyshire Police said.

He will appear before Derby Magistrates Court later.

Another man, 49, arrested earlier on Monday, has been released without charge.

The children died after the blaze engulfed their home in Victory Road in the Allenton area of the city on May 11.

Their parents, Mick Philpott, 55, and his 31-year-old wife Mairead, have also been charged with their murders.

They are next due in court for a plea and case management hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday.


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Missing Atiya: Mother's Plea for Information

The mother of a missing girl abducted by her father says she prays her "little bundle of joy" is safe and well, after being taken to Pakistan without her knowledge.

Gemma Wilkinson, 32, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, said not knowing whether five-year-old Atiya is even alive is an "absolute nightmare".

Atiya vanished in November 2009 after going to stay with her father, Razwan Ali Anjum.

The former insurance salesman said he was taking the girl to Southport. Instead he took her to Lahore, Pakistan, and told Ms Wilkinson she was "never going to see Atiya again", courts have heard.

Anjum, who is in his late 20s, returned to the UK shortly after and was jailed by a High Court judge for refusing to reveal where his daughter was.

Judges have imposed jail terms of two years, 12 months and another 12 months in the hope that he would provide information. They have re-jailed him as each sentence neared its end.

Speaking ahead of Atiya's sixth birthday on Wednesday, Ms Wilkinson said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. As to her whereabouts we know nothing. We've had no contact.

"I'm worrying every day, every single day. Everything is affected by it. When I close my eyes I see her.

"I say goodnight to her every night before bed. I pray she's okay. We don't have any proof that she's okay, there is no proof she is still alive.

how missing girl Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson might look aged 4-5 How missing girl Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson might look at 4-5 years of age.

"It's been discussed that she could have been sold, but I don't want to believe it.

"She was so funny. She was a little bundle of joy. She loved her lip gloss and handbags - as soon as she got hold of my makeup bag, everything in it was hers. We just want her home."

Ms Wilkinson's "on-off" relationship with Anjum ended in 2008.

"He's enjoying playing his controlling mind games. It's just sick. Razwan is refusing to say where she is, who she's with and he won't say anything other than 'she's in Iran'," he said.

Detective Constable Emma Constantine, of Greater Manchester Police's Child Protection Unit, said: "As far as we know, Razwan has had no contact with Atiya himself.

"He's never received any letters or photographs of Atiya, so there's no way that he knows how she is."

Detective Superintendent Phil Owen added: "We're working with a range of international agencies in order to find out who may be harbouring her, but it presents its challenges and problems and hopefully this is now the time to tug at heart-strings and generate information from the public."

He argued Anjum "will convince himself that she's looked after" but that he couldn't know that.

:: Anyone with information should phone police on 101, the Foreign Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 0878 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


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Marks And Spencer Reports Fall In Profit

Marks and Spencer has reported a fall in underlying pre-tax profit to £297m for the first half of this year.

The chain blamed pressure on consumers' disposable incomes and volatile trading conditions - hit by bad weather - for the figure, which compares with £307m profit over the same period last year.  

But sales across the 128-year-old group were up 0.9% at £4.7bn driven by strong performance in its food division and internationally.

In its UK stores, however, sales were flat in the second quarter, with a 1.6% rise in food partially offsetting a 1.8% fall in general merchandise sales. 

It follows a 6.8% slump in general merchandise sales in the first quarter as a result of the wet summer weather and problems with stock availability, which left stores short of bestselling womenswear lines.

The group's chief executive, Marc Bolland, told Sky News: "We have repaired our womenswear position strongly over the second quarter.

"The issues we had were with merchandising and stock, we're now bucking the trends."

He added: "The first quarter was a difficult quarter as we explained three months ago, the second quarter has improved quite strongly."

Marks and Spencer, which has 730 stores in the UK and 390 overseas, said it was "well set up" for its busiest time of the year.

"As we approach the all-important Christmas period, we have better than ever Christmas products, to help our customers enjoy a special Christmas at home," Mr Bolland said.

Primark store Primark has been one of the high street's best performing stores

Eighteen months ago, Marks and Spencer launched a plan to transform itself into an "international multi-channel retailer" by boosting its website and making it easier to buy products on smartphones and tablets. 

Mr Bolland said this strategy was making "strong progress", with growth across its multi-channel business.

Retail analysts Conlumino described the results as a "mixed bag".

"While the overall half year numbers look anaemic, there has been a material uplift in fortunes since the first quarter," managing director Neil Saunders said, adding that it is too early to say whether the group is on the path to sustainable growth.

"M&S has still underperformed the market in fashion and growth in general merchandise remains elusive on a like-for-like basis.

"All of this points to the fact that M&S still has plenty of issues to resolve and there is still much work to be done."

The results came as Associated British Foods revealed that revenue across its 230 Primark stores had grown by 17%.

The clothes retailer has been one of the best performing stores on the high streets in the UK, Ireland and Spain because of its low prices and quick adoption of fashion trends.

The group, which also includes Twinings, Silver Spoon and Ryvita among other brands, reported a 17% rise in full-year profit.

Following "exceptional performance", the company said its adjusted pre-tax profit was £974m and revenue was up 11% to £12.3bn.


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Delicate Diplomacy On Cameron Gulf Arms Tour

Written By Unknown on Senin, 05 November 2012 | 16.12

David Cameron is attempting to cement major UK arms sales and bolster relations with allies on a three-day tour of the Gulf and Middle East.

The Prime Minister will personally spearhead a push to persuade the United Arab Emirates to buy 60 of BAE's Typhoon jets over French rivals in a deal reported to be worth upwards of £3bn.

On Tuesday, he will travel to Saudi Arabia - Britain's biggest trading partner in the region - which is also considering adding to its fleet of aircraft.

Downing Street said the visit - Mr Cameron's second to each country as premier - was part of a wider effort to build a "reinvigorated partnership" between Britain and the region's leaders.

Reinforced military ties are seen as crucial amid continued fears over Iran's nuclear ambitions and the threat Tehran could seek to badly disrupt oil supplies by blocking the Straits of Hormuz.

Mr Cameron has first flown to a military airbase near Dubai, where a number of RAF Typhoons, are stationed to promote the aircraft to military and political figures from the UAE.

He will also hold talks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Prime Minister of the UAE on the potential for a joint work on the next generation of military aerospace equipment.

David Cameron having breakfast with troops in Dubai David Cameron having breakfast with troops in Dubai

The Government hopes to secure deals for 100 Typhoons to be sold to the region in the coming year - worth at least £6bn to British firms.

Mr Cameron faces a tough balancing act, however, as he attempts to secure billions in investment from the oil-rich states while addressing concerns about the human rights records of their regimes.

The Arab Spring has led to an increased focus on largely autocratic rule in many states, including crackdowns on pro-democracy and other protest movements.

The Government has been criticised for failing to condemn abuses and accused of continuing to sell military equipment with insufficient guarantees it would not be used in repression.

But Saudi officials reacted angrily to an "insulting" inquiry into it by the Commons foreign affairs committee, warning it would be "re-evaluating" relations.

"We want to work together with the Gulf countries towards a future that is rich in prosperity, strong in defence and open in its handling and pursuit of political and economic reform," Downing Street said ahead of the visit.

On Wednesday, Mr Cameron will make a short visit to the Middle East before flying home for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Downing Street ahead of the crunch EU budget summit.


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HSBC Sees 52% Profit Drop For Third Quarter

HSBC has announced a 52% fall in third quarter profit, as the bank taking further hits on US anti-laundering fines and mis-selling insurance in the UK.

It confirmed setting aside another $800m (£500m) to cover fines from US authorities, taking the total bill to $1.5bn (£937m).

Sky City Editor Mark Kleinman exclusively reported the £500m hit over laundering fines on Sunday.

It said the final cost over US fines could go even higher.

HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said no agreement had been reached with US authorities and the final resolution will likely involve criminal as well as civil charges.

The bank said it also set aside an extra $353m (£220m) to compensate UK customers over mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI), raising the total estimated cost to £1.12bn.

Shares in HSBC were down 2.6% in early Monday trading, and was the biggest faller in the FTSE 100 index.

More follows...


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Living Wage: Ed Miliband Wants Pay Shake-Up

Labour leader Ed Miliband will later vow to deliver a "living wage" of at least £7.20 per hour to millions of people if he wins power at the next election.

The wage - the minimum rate deemed necessary for an acceptable standard of living - is a key plank of Mr Miliband's "One Nation" vision for the country.

It is significantly higher than the minimum wage, which currently stands at £6.19 per hour for over 21s and even less for teenagers.

The living wage for London would be £8.30 because the cost of living in the capital is higher.

Labour is looking at three ways to make the new pay terms the norm, including naming and shaming listed companies who do not comply.

Firms who fail to pay enough could also be blocked from Whitehall contracts, while Treasury-funded incentives could go to higher paying companies.

The Opposition leader is believed to have worked closely with his brother David on the strategy, in a sign relations between the pair are finally thawing.

He will meet with leaders of Labour local authorities across the UK who are already implementing the pay structure.

He will say: "There are almost five million people in Britain who aren't earning the living wage; people who got up early this morning, spent hours getting to work - who are putting in all the effort they can - but who often don't get paid enough to look after their families, to heat their homes, feed their kids, care for elderly relatives and plan for the future.

"Too many people in Britain are doing the right thing and doing their bit, helping to build the prosperity on which our country depends, but aren't sharing fairly in the rewards.

"It's not how it should be in Britain, it's not how we will succeed as a country in the years ahead because we can't go on with an economy that works for a few at the top and not for most people. We need to change it."

He will continue: "This Government is stuck in the old mindset: saying nothing can be done and making it worse with tax cuts for millionaires and tax rises for everyone else.

"It is only a Labour government that will address the living standards crisis faced by so many.

"Even when money is tight and Britain is run by a Tory-led government, Labour councils have been driving the living wage forward. First in London and now across Britain.

"There are already scores of British businesses who are saying that the living wage makes sense for them because it improves staff retention and reduces absence rates.

"We will learn from them and find ways to help other businesses become living-wage employers."

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that every person moved onto the living wage would save the Treasury around £1,000 in tax credits and from increased taxes.

A number of major firms already pay workers and contractors a living wage or higher.

Barclays has paid it in London since 2007, while 19 local authorities have been accredited as "living-wage employers".


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Man, 20, Stabbed To Death In Washington

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 04 November 2012 | 16.12

A murder investigation has been launched after a 20-year-old man died from multiple stab wounds in northeast England.

The victim was found with a number of injuries in Warkworth Close, Washington, at around 3.40am after reports of someone being stabbed in the area, Northumbria Police said.

A spokesman for the force said: "The man was taken to hospital but was declared dead."

Patrols have been stepped up in the area following the stabbing and police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.


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Cosy Texts Between PM And Brooks Revealed

Text messages exchanged by David Cameron and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks are likely to cause fresh embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

In one message, Mr Cameron thanked Mrs Brooks for letting him ride one of her horses, joking it was "fast, unpredictable and hard to control but fun".

In another, the journalist, who faces trial in connection with the phone-hacking scandal, praised Mr Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference, saying: "I cried twice."

Both of the messages, which were disclosed by The Mail On Sunday, were sent in October 2009, shortly after Mrs Brooks left her job as editor of The Sun and became chief executive of News International, which owns the paper.

The messages are apparently part of a cache of texts and emails handed to Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards.

Very few have so far been made public.

The leak sheds further light on the close relationship between Mr Cameron and Mrs Brooks, who live near each other in Oxfordshire.

Her husband, the racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks, was at Eton with the Prime Minister.

Mrs Brooks told the Leveson Inquiry earlier this year that Mr Cameron signed some of his missives to her 'LOL' - mistakenly thinking it meant 'Lots Of Love' rather than 'Laugh Out Loud'.

Questions about Mr Cameron's close links with Rupert Murdoch's media empire, and Mrs Brooks in particular, came to the fore after the phone-hacking row erupted.

Rebekah Brooks Mrs Brooks at the Leveson Inquiry

In her Leveson evidence, Mrs Brooks said, at the height of the scandal in 2010, he sent a message through an intermediary urging her to "keep your head up" and expressed his regret he could not be more loyal in public.

It also emerged previously that the Conservative leader rode a police horse, Raisa, which had been lent to Mrs Brooks by the Metropolitan Police.

Lord Justice Leveson is believed to have received a large amount of correspondence from the Prime Minister, Mrs Brooks and former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.

However, the inquiry's lead counsel, Robert Jay QC, has indicated that only "relevant" documents will be released.

Labour frontbencher Chris Bryant has challenged Mr Cameron to publish all the material himself, suggesting he was delaying the process because it was "too salacious and embarrassing".

Mrs Brooks and Mr Coulson, an ex-editor of the News Of The World, are among those facing trial for conspiracy to access voicemails.

In a separate case, Mrs Brooks and her husband are among a group charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has always been happy to comply with whatever Lord Justice Leveson has asked of him."


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Teenager Killed In Hit And Run

A 16-year-old boy has died following a hit and run crash in Bury, Greater Manchester.

More follows...


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