Man Arrested Over 'Murder' Of Missing Mother

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a mother who went missing after a domestic incident at her ex-partner's home.

Janelle Duncan-Bailey, 25, has not been seen since she disappeared in south London in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A 30-year-old suspect was arrested last night and taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody, Scotland Yard said.

Ms Duncan-Bailey, of Thornton Heath, left her children - boys aged two and seven - with a friend in Bromley while she attended a family function, police said.

She left the friend's at about 4am on Wednesday to return to Thornton Heath, where at about 4.30am she visited her former partner's home.

Police were called there after reports of a domestic incident and Ms Duncan-Bailey left the address with officers.

It is believed she asked to be taken to another friend's house and she was last seen between 5am and 5.30am walking towards flats in Limpsfield Avenue.

Ms Duncan-Bailey was reported missing later that day after she failed to collect her children.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Janelle has never been missing before and her disappearance is totally out of character."

She is described as being black, about 5ft 5in, of medium build and with shoulder-length black hair which may have been enhanced with hair extensions.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Sutton police station on 0208 721 4054 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Belfast Police Injured In 'Sustained Attack'

Several officers have been injured in east Belfast after a crowd of up to 300 people hurled fireworks, bricks and petrol bombs during "a sustained attack", the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said.

A PSNI spokesman said several arrests were made after the public disorder in the Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue areas overnight.

It comes after 10 police officers were injured on Thursday during a demonstration against the decision to reduce the number of days the Union flag is flown from City Hall.

Sky's Ireland Correspondent Vicki Hawthorne said: "The latest disorder has been relatively minor compared to other nights.

"There had been an earlier peaceful flag protest which initially dispersed without incident.

"People in the area have said the police have been too heavy handed in how they have dealt with protesters, and that, they say, has sparked trouble."

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson described the violence against the police as "a disgrace".

He said: "Those responsible are doing a grave disservice to the cause they claim to espouse and are playing into the hands of those dissident groups who would seek to exploit every opportunity to further their terror aims."

He added: "All right-thinking unionists will want to channel their energies into political activity and to support the cause of finding political solutions to the problems that we face.

"In Northern Ireland the ballot box has primacy and is the only vehicle for choosing the people's representatives."

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Burnham: High-Sugar Cereals Should Be Banned

High-sugar breakfast cereals should be banned to stop children getting fat, according to the shadow health secretary Andy Burnham.

The Labour frontbencher said regulation should be introduced to cap the levels of salt, fat and sugar in food.

Mr Burnham has started garnering public and expert opinion on the subject as part of a consultation on tackling obesity.

"If we fail to act we are storing up huge problems for the country and the NHS in the long term," he said.

He is floating the idea of a 30% cap on sugar in cereals, arguing that many children's breakfast cereals are over one-third sugar by weight.

"I don't think any parent would be comfortable with their child eating something that is 40% sugar," he told The Daily Telegraph.

Last week, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures revealed 26.6% of British girls were obese and 22.7% of boys - double that of youngsters in France.

The coalition says voluntary deals with industry through the Responsibility Deal has cut salt, fat and sugar content in our food.

But Mr Burnham says the current voluntary approach is not working and new drastic measures are required to combat childhood obesity.

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Rail Fares Must Not Be 'Ramped Up', MPs Warn

A rise in peak-time fares for rail passengers would just be a tax on commuters and should not be considered by the Government, a report by MPs has said.

Reducing the cost of the railways to taxpayers must not be achieved by "ramping up fares", the chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee Louise Ellman said.

Following Sir Roy McNulty's report into rail costs, the Government is looking at a variety of measures, including managing peak-time demand by increasing fares for those travelling at the height of rush-hour.

The committee's report said: "We recommend that the Government rule out forms of demand management which would lead to even higher fares for commuters on peak-time trains."

The MPs said many lower-paid workers had no choice but to travel at peak times.

The report went on: "Higher prices at peak times might make a difference to demand at the margin but would for the most part be a tax on commuters who have no effective choice over how or when they travel."

The report also recommended that the Government should set out long-term policy on annual season ticket fare increases.

Thousands in the South East pay more than £5,000 for annual season ticket

The committee's comments come two days after inflation-busting average rises of 4.2% for regulated fares, which include season tickets, took effect for passengers.

Thousands of passengers in the South East now pay more than £5,000 for an annual season ticket.

This year's regulated fare rise would have been even higher had the Government not pulled back from the original plan of a greater increase.

The committee also said it was "very concerned" about the safety implications of proposals to reduce staffing at stations and on trains.

Launching the report today, Mrs Ellman, a Labour MP, said: "The number of rail passengers has increased but train companies' unit costs have not come down."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT transport union, said: "While this report reinforces once again that our railways are nothing more than a multi-billion pound rip-off lining the pockets of a bunch of spivs and speculators, it ducks the real issue and that's the cast-iron case for public ownership."

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA transport union, said: "This is the clearest warning to ministers against going down the route of rationing rail travel by pricing passengers off trains through super peak-fare tickets."

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Falklands Row: Sun's Argentina Ad Warns Kirchner

A British tabloid has published a full page newspaper advert in Argentina, warning its president to keep her "hands off" the Falklands.

The Sun was responding to an open letter from Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in which she called for the islands to come under Argentine sovereignty.

A referendum on the islands' status is to take place in March.

Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted that residents of the Falkland Islands must decide their own future.

The Sun's message to Ms Kirchner - printed in English language paper, The Buenos Aires Herald - raises the issue of Argentina's 1982 invasion of the islands.

It mentions the 649 Argentine and 255 British servicemen who lost their lives and says the invasion was in "direct conflict" with the UN principle of self-determination.

The ad in the paper - read by some 50,000 people - disputes Argentina's claim to the islands and points out that British sovereignty dates back to 1765.

It concludes: "Until the people of the Falkland Islands choose to become Argentinian, they remain resolutely British.

David Cameron insists the islanders must decide their own future

"In the name of our millions of readers and to put it another way: 'HANDS OFF!'"

Ms Kirchner's open letter was published in The Guardian and Independent and called for the UK to give up the Falklands - known as The Malvinas in Argentina.

She urged Mr Cameron to abide by a 1965 UN resolution to "negotiate a solution" to the dispute.

But the PM told the leader that she should "listen" to the result of the March referendum.

And he vowed that Falklands residents would have his full backing if they choose to remain British.

"The future of the Falkland Islands should be determined by the Falkland Islanders themselves, the people who live there," he said.

"Whenever they have been asked their opinion, they say they want to maintain their current status with the United Kingdom.

"They're holding a referendum this year and I hope the president of Argentina will listen to that referendum and recognise it is for the Falkland Islanders to choose their future.

"As long as they choose to stay with the United Kingdom they have my 100% backing."

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Hand Transplant Completed For First Time In UK

A 51-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to have a hand transplant.

Mark Cahill said he was "well happy" after an eight-hour operation by doctors at Leeds General Infirmary on December 27.

He said he was now looking forward to being able to "cut my food up, button my shirts, fasten a pair of shoelaces, and (...) hold my grandson's hand."

But the op was immediately lambasted by one of the UK's most renowned surgeons, who suggested that Mr Cahill could be left with a "dead hand at the end of an arm".

Lord Robert Winston said even when nerves were all carefully joined up "these transplanted hands were very limited and most often caused huge inconvenience".

However, doctors in Leeds said a new technique was used during the latest surgery.

It involved Mr Cahill having his non-functioning right hand removed during the same operation as the donor hand was transplanted.

Mark Cahill with surgeon Simon Kay

This procedure allowed very accurate restoration of nerve structures and is believed to be the first time this approach has been used, surgeons said.

Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Simon Kay, who led the surgical team, said: "This operation is the culmination of a great deal of planning and preparation over the last two years by a team including plastic surgery, transplant medicine and surgery, immunology, psychology, rehabilitation medicine, pharmacy and many other disciplines.

"The team was on standby from the end of November awaiting a suitable donor limb, and the call came just after Christmas.

"It was extremely challenging to be the first team in the UK to carry out such a procedure.

"Any organ donation brings something positive from tragedy and I would like to acknowledge the tremendous gift the family of the donor have made at such a distressing time.

"It is still early days but indications are good and the patient is making good progress."

In an interview with ITV's Daybreak, Mr Cahill, from Greetland, West Yorkshire, said: "Eight o'clock on Boxing Day night we got a phone call saying we may have a donor.

"As you can imagine, the day after Christmas it was quite a shock. I'm getting slight movement now, my feeling has just started coming back, but everything's looking very, very good.

"Long term I won't have 100% use of it, but obviously I'm going to have a lot more use than I had with the existing hand.

"I think I've dealt with it pretty well. The only thing you can't do is know what is going to happen after the operation, and as it has turned out it is brilliant. I'm well happy.

"Hopefully I will be able to get back to work for a start, that's a major difference.

"For a start I might be able to cut my food up, button my shirts, fasten a pair of shoelaces, and mainly I'll be able to hold my grandson's hand."

He told the BBC: "It just does not feel like somebody else's hand. As I look at it and move it, it just feels like my hand."

Leeds Teaching Hospitals announced in late 2011 that it was starting to look for candidates for hand or arm transplants.

Potential patients are put through a series of health checks and psychological assessments to ensure they have carefully considered the implications.

Mr Cahill, who lost the use of his right hand due to severe gout, was one of two potential candidates when a donated limb became available.

He was selected because he was the best tissue match.

The team has been working closely with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and also colleagues in Lyon, France, where hand transplants were pioneered in 1998.

The first-ever recipient in France was New Zealander Clint Hallam, who later had his new hand removed.

He lost his original hand in a circular saw accident in prison in 1984.

He eventually decided he could not live with his new hand, which was taken from a motorcyclist who died in an accident, because he said it felt like a dead man's hand.

Doctors indicated Mr Hallam had not stuck to the correct drugs and exercise regime.

His experience cast doubt on the whole procedure although surgeons have pointed out that a number of hand transplants have been successfully completed in the US.

Mr Cahill's operation was dismissed by Lord Winston, a surgeon who helped to pioneer hand transplant surgery in the 1970s.

He said: "History repeats itself. The first hand transplant that I was involved with was done by Willy Boeckx and myself in 1975 in Leuven when I was working there (not 1998) when we were pioneering microsurgery. 

"Even then, I am not sure whether it was the first, probably not.

"What is clear is that since that time there have a number of hand transplants (I followed one in my TV series Superhuman in 1999 - 2000) which showed that, even when nerves and vessels and tendons were all carefully joined up under a microscope, these transplanted hands were very limited and most often caused huge inconvenience to the recipient because of lack of function - essentially a largely 'dead hand' at the end of an arm.

"I really can't see this is much of a breakthrough given that a donor hand has extra inconvenience and complications - not least of which is the serious risk of rejection in spite of the need to take powerful and risky immunosuppressive drugs."

A spokeswoman for NHSBT said it was aware that a limb transplant had taken place.

She said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the donor at this time. Without their agreement for donation, this operation would not have taken place.

"We also send our best wishes to the recipient for a healthy recovery.

"There are currently 10,000 people waiting for a transplant in the UK. NHSBT urges everyone to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and to tell their families of their wishes."

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Jim Davidson 'Vigorously' Denies Sex Claims

Jim Davidson, who was arrested by police investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, "vigorously denies" the claims against him, the comedian's solicitor has said.

Allegations dating back 25 years have been made by two women, according to lawyer Henri Brandman.

Davidson, 59, was one of two men arrested on suspicion of sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree.

Both individuals fall under the strand of the investigation termed 'others' and the Metropolitan Police said the allegations are not linked to Savile.

Officers said a 53-year-old was held in Hampshire at around 8am and a 59-year-old in west London at around midday.

Both men were later released on bail until March pending further inquiries.

Davidson had reportedly been detained at Heathrow Airport as he returned to the UK to be a contestant on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother.

Six men and a woman were seen leaving Davidson's house in Stockbridge, Hampshire, carrying boxes.

The late Sir Jimmy Savile

In a statement, Mr Brandman said: "Two women have made allegations in respect of Jim that date back approximately 25 years.

"The complainants were then in their mid 20s. Jim vigorously denies the allegations.

"He answered police questions as fully as he was able after this passage of time.

"He has not been charged with any offence. Neither he nor I will be making any further comment."

Scotland Yard is leading a nationwide 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.

Officers have questioned a number of 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.

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.

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Phone Stabbing: CCTV Of Boy Wanted By Police

Detectives have released a picture of a 15-year-old they want to question over the suspected murder of a teenager in a row over a mobile phone.

The CCTV image, filmed on a bus on Sunday just after 10.30pm, is believed to be the last sighting of Dawda Jallow from Peckham in southeast London, who has been missing since the stabbing.

It shows him travelling on the number 35 bus between Camberwell Green and Newington Causeway.

"If anyone knows him, if anyone knows where he has been staying, if anyone has any ideas that they should put him up for the night, I would urge them not to and call us instead," said Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner, who is leading the investigation.

"He must be staying somewhere and so I am urging the community for their help in letting me know where that is."

The schoolboy is described as black, clean-shaven with cropped black hair, 5ft 5in tall and stocky for his age.

He has brown eyes and speaks with a London accent, although he is a Gambian national.

Police made their fresh appeal as victim Dogan Ismail's family issued a statement about their loss.

Dogan Ismail died of a single stab wound

"Our beloved son, friend, cousin, nephew and grandson has been cruelly taken away from us," they said.

"Words cannot describe how much we will miss him. We want justice for Dogan and his killer caught.

"Anyone with information, please tell the police."

The 17-year-old died from a single stab wound after a confrontation with four males on the Aylesbury estate in nearby Walworth.

He had gone there with his younger brother Orhan, 15, whose BlackBerry phone was stolen from him two days earlier.

It is believed they may have been lured there on the promise of getting it back.

A schoolfriend, who did not want to be identified, told Sky News a text message was sent inviting them to come and retrieve the phone.

DCI Bonner said: "It would appear that on the Sunday they went back onto the estate in an effort to recover that phone."

He added: "The line around him being lured there - I'm aware of that information, but it is not something that has been given to us directly, and we will pursue that with other lines of enquiry."

The incident happened just yards away from where 21-year-old Shaun Chambers, from Greenwich, was killed in a gangland attack on September 26.

Police say the two deaths are not connected.

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People Who Fail To Fight Flab Face Benefit Cuts

Obese people could face cuts to their benefits if they do not attend exercise sessions, under new plans being outlined by a local council.

Westminster City council has published a report looking at how councils can link benefit payments to claimants' lifestyles.

It describes how some local authorities have begun allowing GPs to prescribe leisure activities like swimming and fitness classes.

It is hoped that by using technology such as smart cards, the use of leisure facilities can be monitored leading to housing and council benefit payouts being cut for those not attempting to lose weight.

The document, written with the think-tank the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), states: "Where an exercise package is prescribed to a resident, housing and council tax benefit payments could be varied to reward or incentivise residents."

Obesity costs the NHS £5.1bn a year and the number of Britons who are overweight is expected to increase by 10% over the next decade.

In recent years the responsibility for tackling public health has moved back to local government, despite many councils experiencing funding cuts.

Councillor Philippa Roe, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: "Councils have a great opportunity to improve lives by thinking how public health can be integrated into existing local services, this can lead to savings being shared across the entire public sector.

"This report contains exactly the sort of bright, forward-thinking and radical ideas that need to be looked at."

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Shot Teens' Mothers Appeal Against Gangs

The mothers of two teenagers who were shot dead outside a New Year party have used the 10th anniversary of their daughters' deaths to urge young people not to get involved in gangs.

Charlene Ellis, 18, and her cousin, Letisha Shakespeare, 17, were killed by bullets fired from a car outside the Uniseven hair salon in Aston, Birmingham, in the early hours of January 2, 2003.

Charlene's twin sister, Sophie Ellis, and her cousin, Cheryl Shaw, were injured in the shooting.

The victims' mothers, Beverley Thomas and Marcia Shakespeare, called on young people to think about the devastating effect gangs can have on people's lives.

Mrs Thomas told the Birmingham Mail: "My message to youngsters is to think about the impact it has on families, the community and how it affects people closest to the victims.

"Burying your child is something you never expect to have to do as a parent. You expect your children to bury you."

Mrs Shakespeare added: "We have made young people realise, and will continue to make them realise, that there are choices, alternatives to violent crime.

"Young people need to know how being with the wrong people can affect them."

Mrs Thomas and Mrs Shakespeare have fought to help rid the city of gangs and weapons since their daughters' murders.

West Midlands Police said the two women were "inspirational" in their fight against gangs and gun crime.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Wallis said: "They are making young people realise there's a real choice of not having to become involved in gang culture.

"It can only lead to a small number of places - to a hospital, to a prison, or at worst, a funeral."

Four men were convicted of murder and attempted murder over the shooting of the four girls following a five-month trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Nathan Martin, 26, Marcus Ellis, 24, Michael Gregory, 23, and Rodrigo Simms, 20, were all jailed for life.

An appeal by all four men was turned down at Woolwich Crown Court in 2006 and they were refused leave to appeal to the House of Lords.

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Thailand Killing: Family Travel To Identify Victim

The family of a British tourist shot dead at a New Year's Eve party in Thailand are travelling to the country to identify his body and make arrangements for repatriation.

Stephen Ashton, 22, was hit by a stray bullet after getting caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival gangs on the island of Koh Phangan.

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

His family members will meet the UK's ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, 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."

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

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

Koh Phangan is in the south of Thailand

Sky producer Sarah Yuen, who is on the island, said the suspect's first court appearance is likely to be delayed until Thursday while Mr Ashton's body is formally identified.

She added that while Thailand is generally safe, there is an "undercurrent of violence" in parts of the country.

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 at Haad Rin beach when he was shot with a homemade gun shortly after 4am on Tuesday.

The Bangkok Post said he was visiting the island with four or five friends and was staying at Pink Bungalow on Haad Rin.

Friends paid tribute to Mr Ashton (Photo: Facebook)

Confirming the identity of the victim, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Thailand on New Year's Eve and we are providing consular assistance to the family."

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."

The tropical island of Koh Phangan, situated north of tourist haven Ko Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, is a popular destination for backpackers and students on gap years.

One of the attractions of the island is its monthly full moon party at Haad Rin Beach, and many people know it as the setting for Alex Garland's novel The Beach, which was made into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

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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%

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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."

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Prostate Cancer: Funding Shortfall Charity Warns

Research into the most common male cancer in the UK is chronically underfunded compared with its female equivalent, a charity has warned.

New figures show that although it is the fourth most common cancer overall, prostate cancer lies 20th in the league table of annual cancer research spending.

The figures, published by Prostate Cancer UK, show that breast cancer - the most common female cancer which has a similar death rate as prostate cancer - received more than double the annual research spend.

While breast cancer research received £853 per case diagnosed, prostate cancer research received £417.

Prostate cancer kills one man every hour.

The number of men with the disease is rising and it is predicted to become the most common cancer of all in the UK by 2030, according to Prostate Cancer UK.

The charity has launched a new campaign, the Sledgehammer Fund, which aims to generate cash to support its work to increase research spending into the disease, as well as improve the support men receive.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "As part of our commitment to improving cancer survival, including ensuring better treatments for all patients, we have invested £104m into cancer research over the past year.

"Improving outcomes for men with cancer will be essential in meeting this aim.

"That is why we are investing £35m in the biggest publicly funded clinical trial ever to take place in this country to look at the effectiveness of treatments for prostate cancer."

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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 saw in the start of the New Year.

Along the Thames, up to 250,000 people were expected to watch a major fireworks display as the night sky was set to be 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 were expected to watch 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 partygoers 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.

Fireworks explode around the London Eye

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

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.

"There's a moon in the sky, it's actually not cold and it's not raining.

"We've been very lucky with the weather and I think we are going to be very lucky with the crowd and all the performances tonight on many stages."

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.

Kisses exchanged during Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who organised the event, said: "Our New Year's Eve fireworks will cap a triumphant year for London."

He added: "As we welcomed the world to the magnificent celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the glorious success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, London was at its very best.

"From the thrilling sporting action to the breathtaking cultural celebrations, it has been an unforgettable year and I am immensely proud of the contribution that our Ambassadors made to that success.

"As we go into 2013 with a spectacular fireworks display I hope we can build on that energy and enthusiasm to make ours the best big city in the world."

Early celebrations got under way in Edinburgh on Sunday night with a torchlight parade.

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.

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IDS: Tax Credit System 'Haemorrhaging Money'

More than £10bn of public money has been lost in fraud and error under the tax credit system put in place by Labour, the Work and Pensions Secretary has claimed.

Attacking the welfare model developed by the last government, Iain Duncan Smith said tax credits were "not fit for purpose" but had been extended ahead of the 2005 and 2010 general elections in a pitch for votes.

The system was "wide open to abuse" and "haemorrhaging money", he wrote in an article for The Daily Telegraph.

"In the years between 2003 and 2010, Labour spent a staggering £171bn on tax credits, contributing to a 60% rise in the welfare bill.

"Far too much of that money was wasted, with fraud and error under Labour costing over £10bn."

Mr Duncan Smith said HM Revenue and Customs conducts checks on far fewer tax credit claims than suspected benefit fraudsters.

That is despite about one in 12 tax credit claims being incorrect or fraudulent, compared with fewer than one in 25 benefit claims.

Payments are based on estimates of income for the coming year, and after 2008 HMRC did not attempt to reclaim overpayments of less than £25,000.

That is set to be reduced to £5,000 under the coalition, alongside moves to require proof of payments from those claiming for childcare or that children aged between 16 and 19 are in full-time education.

The Government hopes to save more than £300m in the next three years by reducing fraud and error, and also wants to recover more than £400m in unpaid debts.

Mr Duncan Smith is overseeing a fundamental overhaul of welfare which will see tax credits rolled into a new Universal Credit which is meant to simplify the system and better incentivise work.

"Even for those in genuine need of support, tax credits were not fit for purpose," he said.

"The system was haemorrhaging money while at the same time trapping people in a system where those trying hard to increase the amount of hours they worked weren't necessarily better off."

Mr Duncan Smith said tax credit payments had risen by 58% in 2005 and by more than 20% in the two years before the 2010 election.

"At the most basic level, Labour used spending on tax credits as an attempt to gain short-term popularity. They knew what they were doing - it was a calculated attempt to win votes," he claimed.

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Foiled Car Bomb Attempt In Belfast Condemned

An apparent attempt to kill a policeman in Northern Ireland with a car bomb was an attack on the entire community, Stormont's Justice Minister has insisted.

Police have blamed dissident republicans for placing the booby trap device under the officer's car in east Belfast.

They said the unexploded viable bomb, which was discovered by the off duty policeman on Sunday afternoon, was clearly intended to kill.

His car was parked at his home on the Upper Newtownards Road - a busy route into the city centre.

The scene, which was sealed off until late on Sunday night amid an extensive security and forensic operation, is close to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) headquarters at Knock and the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.

Army robot used to examine the device

Justice Minister David Ford condemned those responsible, saying: "This was an attack not only on a police officer and his family but on our whole community. The officer was serving the community - he was working for all of us."

People living in nearby homes were evacuated in the alert. A local church offered them shelter while army technical officers worked to make the scene safe.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said it was very fortunate no one was killed or injured.

"Initial investigations would indicate that this was a viable device placed below an officer's car some time in the last 48 hours," he said on Sunday night.

"It was clearly intended to kill the police officer. His family and neighbours in the vicinity were also put at risk of serious harm.

"Obviously there are people out there who are still intent on causing murder and mayhem."

Map showing the road where the bomb was placed

Dissidents have repeatedly targeted security force members in recent years.

In November, long-serving prison officer David Black, 52, was shot dead in a motorway ambush in Co Armagh as he drove to work.

A group styling itself the "new IRA" claimed responsibility for that attack. The faction was formed in the summer when a number of splinter groups joined forces.

In April 2011, newly-qualified police officer Ronan Kerr, 25, died when a dissident booby trap car bomb exploded under his vehicle at his home in Omagh.

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Revellers Get Ready For New Year Knees Up

Spectacular shows of fireworks and entertainment will take place across the globe as revellers welcome in the new year.

A dazzling display of pyrotechnics and lights is set to illuminate London's night sky to round-off a momentous year in the capital city.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who has organised the event, said: "Our New Year's Eve fireworks will cap a triumphant year for London.

"As we welcomed the world to the magnificent celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the glorious success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, London was at its very best.

"From the thrilling sporting action to the breathtaking cultural celebrations, it has been an unforgettable year and I am immensely proud of the contribution that our Ambassadors made to that success.

"As we go into 2013 with a spectacular fireworks display I hope we can build on that energy and enthusiasm to make ours the best big city in the world."

Last year's London celebrations saw Big Ben lit up

Up to 250,000 people are expected to crowd on to the banks of the Thames to watch the display, with millions more seeing it on television.

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

They will be giving out maps, helping direct people to the viewing areas, and providing guidance and advice on getting home safely.

Scots rockers Simple Minds will be headlining the Hogmanay concert and street party in Edinburgh.

The View, Bwani Junction, Reverend and the Makers and The OK Social Club will also be playing to an anticipated crowd of 80,000, and fireworks will be set off to mark the start of 2013.

Celebrations got under way in the city last night with a torchlight procession. 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.

Sydney's fireworks are expected to be bigger than last year

The central Pacific Ocean island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island) and the eastern-most island in the island nation of Kiribati will be the first to usher in the new year at 1000 GMT.

Sydney will be the first major world city to see in the new year at 1300 GMT, with some 1.5 million people expected to attend the city's events.

As one of the largest new year events in the world, the traditional firework show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will display more than 100,000 firework patterns, costing 6.5m Australian dollars (£4.2m).

American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the US in the southern Pacific Ocean, will be the last place on Earth to herald in the new year on Tuesday at 1100 GMT.

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Paralympic Heroes Hit Out At Honours List

Leading Paralympians have criticised the New Year honours system, claiming it is easier for able-bodied athletes to get knighthoods.

Cyclist Sarah Storey was the only Paralympic athlete among the knights and dames, despite many racking up more gold medals than Bradley Wiggins or Ben Ainslie, the Olympians given top awards in this year's list.

Dressage rider Lee Pearson, who has won 13 medals including 10 golds at four Games, was one of two Paralympians to get OBEs in the list, which was published on Saturday.

He told the Independent: "Obviously, 10 gold, one silver and one bronze just isn't enough.

"I'm disappointed because I do feel I've given a lot to Paralympic sport and equestrianism. I think 10 gold medals is quite an achievement."

David Weir was given a CBE after winning four gold medals at London 2012

Wheelchair racer and six-time gold medal winner David Weir suggested Paralympians have to work harder to earn recognition than their non-disabled counterparts.

Weir, who was the only disabled athlete among five CBEs in the list, told the Telegraph: "Kelly Holmes was made a Dame when she won two gold medals, but it seems we have to get into double figures to get it.

"Sarah Storey should have been awarded this years ago, and I just feel that sometimes we are left out perhaps because we are not in the public eye.

"It is a bit strange, but I am just honoured to get anything from the Queen for doing a sport I love."

The list was drawn up by the Sports Honours Committee, which is chaired by Lord Coe and includes the former Paralympic athlete baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

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Murdered Organist: Bishop To Lead Prayers

The Bishop of Sheffield will today lead prayers for a church organist who died days after being attacked on his way to midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Grandfather Alan Greaves, 68, was discovered badly beaten near his church in High Green, Sheffield, on Monday.

Two men are in custody after being arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said one was in his 20s and the other in his 40s. Both were from Sheffield.

He added: "Officers are searching a number of properties in the area and there has been a high-visibility police presence in High Green today."

The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, will lead this morning's service at St Saviour's Mortomley and High Green Church, as the community gathers to remember Mr Greaves.

Mr Greaves has been described as a 'gentle soul'

A spokesman for The Diocese of Sheffield said: "The church service will follow the normal pattern of a liturgy reflecting the Sunday after Christmas, but prayers will be offered for Alan, his wife Maureen and his family as well as for the wider congregation and community."

Detectives are still appealing for anyone with any information about the murder to come forward.

Mr Greaves, a father-of-four, died in hospital on Thursday after suffering serious head injuries in the attack.

Police are treating his death as murder but say the motive for it is unclear.

His widow, church community worker Maureen Greaves, 63, told The Sun: "There was no motive.

"We are devastated. It is just not what you expect, somebody to walk down the street and get murdered - and at this time of year as well, it's just dreadful."

Police say they're baffled by the killing

Canon Simon Bessant, from St Saviour's, described Mr Greaves as a "good man" who fell victim to an evil act.

He said: "He was a gentle soul. He wasn't foolish - he would have handled the situation as best as anyone would, but we don't know what he encountered."

Canon Bessant said Mr Greaves had been attacked 250 yards from the church and that his family had been at home.

"His wife wants justice but she doesn't want vengeance. She is not embittered but obviously she wants this person to be caught."

Mr Greaves had four adult children and had recently become a grandfather to twin boys adopted by his daughter in Mozambique.

He and his wife had recently set up a food bank and community project in the area where he was killed.

Dr Croft has sent a message to every parish in his diocese asking for prayers for Mr Greaves, his widow and their family.

In it, he said: "Please would you hold Alan's family and the church family at High Green, with Simon Bessant the Vicar and the wider family of Church Army, in your prayers in the coming days and especially this Sunday morning."

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City Leaders Warn Of 'Civil Unrest' Amid Cuts

City leaders have warned that spending cuts could lead to social unrest and the "break-up of civil society".

The council leaders of three of England's biggest cities - Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield - say the north of England has been unfairly targeted.

But there are also signs of a backlash from rural authorities, mostly Conservative-led, who claim the shires are losing out disproportionately under the Government's cuts.

The criticism presents a headache for David Cameron, who announced in the Autumn Statement that councils must find a further 2% of savings in 2014/15.

David Cameron is under pressure from council chiefs

That comes on top of the 27% cuts announced in 2010.

The Labour leaders of Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield - where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is an MP - wrote to The Observer accusing Whitehall of "Dickensian" views.

"Rising crime, increasing community tension and more problems on our streets will contribute to the break-up of civil society if we do not turn back," they write.

"The one nation Tory brand of conservatism recognised the duty of government to help the country's most deprived in the belief that economic and social responsibility benefited us all.

"The unfairness of the Government's cuts is in danger of creating a deeply divided nation.

"We urge them to stop what they are doing now and listen to our warnings before the forces of social unrest start to smoulder."

Separately, The Sunday Telegraph reported that more than 120 rural councils were weighing up a judicial review of the spending settlement for local authorities because it was "grossly unfair" and would hit services in remote areas.

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