Man Charged With Murders Of Mother And Son

A man has been charged with the murders of a mother and son who were found with multiple stab wounds at their home in Bolton-le-Sands near Preston.

Paul Chadwick, 34, of Lowlands Road, Bolton-le-Sands, has been remanded to appear before Preston Magistrates on Saturday.

The Crown Prosecution Service had authorised Lancashire Constabulary to charge Chadwick with two counts of murder.

Police discovered the bodies of Lisa Clay, 40, and her six-year-old son Joseph Chadwick at their home address in Lowlands Road on Tuesday, April 9.

The house where Lisa Clay and her son Joseph Chadwick were found

A post mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist revealed that both died from multiple stab wounds.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital with serious stab wounds.

Police were called to the pebble-dashed dormer bungalow in the village of Bolton-le-Sands by a concerned relative.

Anybody with information is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Measles Epidemic: Man Dies In Swansea

Health officials have confirmed a 25-year-old man from Swansea had measles when he died and warned the public to expect more deaths as the epidemic worsens.

The body of Gareth Williams, 25, was discovered by a relative on Thursday morning at his home in the Port Tennant area of the city.

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection, said in a statement: "Tests have today confirmed a diagnosis of measles in a 25-year-old male from Swansea who died on Thursday, 18 April.

"The tests confirm only that the deceased had measles at the time of his death.  Further investigations are being undertaken by the Swansea Coroner to establish the cause of death... we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales.

Parents queue outside a vaccination clinic a few weeks ago

"Measles is a potentially fatal disease and around one in every 1,000 people who contracts measles in developed countries will die.

"We continue to work to end the current outbreak of measles, which is centred on the Swansea area, and which has now passed 800 cases.

Mass vaccination has begun in schools in Swansea on a scale never seen before in South Wales.

Some 5,000 children have been identified as at risk in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and five schools in the area are offering immunisations over the next three days to try to halve that figure.

Public Health Wales has recorded a 10% rise in cases of the virus since last week, bringing the total number affected since the start of the outbreak in November to 765.

Of those, 77 have had to receive some form of hospital treatment.

Last week Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged parents to come forward. 

"It is very important to reiterate that the scientific way to prevent measles, which can be a horrible, even fatal disease, is to make sure that you have had two doses of MMR."

Dr Lyons asked people to remain vigilant for measles symptoms.

She said: "Symptoms of measles include fever, cold-like symptoms, fatigue, conjunctivitis and a distinctive red-brown rash that appears a few days into the illness. 

"Anyone who thinks they or their child may have measles should speak to their GP immediately."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prince Harry To Race To South Pole

Prince Harry has announced he will take part in a race to the South Pole with a team of wounded British servicemen and women.

The 28-year-old will take on teams from the United States and the Commonwealth in the 208-mile (335km) Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge in November and December this year.

Speaking at a conference in London at which the teams were announced, Prince Harry said: "It just remains for me to say to Soldier On Canada, Soldiers To Summits from the US and Soldier On Australia - welcome to the party.

"As a member of the British team, I will have a brew ready for you when you join us at the Pole."

Harry, who took part in the charity's trek to the North Pole in 2011 and is the event's patron, confirmed he will be competing as part of Team Glenfiddich.

He missed out on a bid to conquer Mount Everest with the group last year because of his military commitments and he withdrew early from the successful North Pole expedition to attend his brother's wedding.

The prince had to drop out of a previous trek to the North Pole

He said of the South Pole race: "The format may be different. The scale is certainly different.

"But the aim remains the same - to enable our wounded to do what they and all other servicemen and women do better than anyone else I know - meet a challenge head-on and overcome it and inspire others to do the same.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these men and women have given their all in the cause of freedom, in our cause.

"That they should once again step into the breach - this time facing down the extreme physical and mental challenges of trekking to the South Pole - just underlines their remarkable qualities."

Harry, who is known as Captain Wales in the Army, will race in Team Glenfiddich with Sergeant Duncan Slater, 34, who lost both his legs in a blast in Afghanistan in 2009; Major Kate Philp, 34, who lost her left leg after a bomb blast in 2008; Captain Guy Disney, 31, who lost his right leg in a rocket attack in 2009; and Captain Ibrar Ali, who lost his right arm in a roadside bomb in 2007.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gove Wants An End To Long School Holidays

England's schoolchildren should have shorter holidays and spend more time in the classroom, Michael Gove has declared.

The Education Secretary called for longer school days and term times, warning that the current system is out of date and fit for the agricultural economy of the 19th century.

Mr Gove said pupils are at a "significant handicap" compared to youngsters in East Asian nations, who benefit from extra tuition and support from teachers.

"We've noticed in Hong Kong and Singapore and other East Asian nations that expectations of mathematical knowledge or of scientific knowledge at every stage are more demanding than in this country," he told a Spectator conference in central London.

"In order to reach those levels of achievement a higher level of effort is expected on behalf of students, parents and teachers.

"School days are longer, school holidays are shorter. The expectation is that to succeed, hard work is at the heart of everything."

Michael Gove also wants longer school days

Mr Gove added: "If we look at the length of the school day in England, the length of the summer holiday and we compare it to the extra tuition and support children are receiving elsewhere then we are fighting, or running, in this global race in a way which ensures we already start with a significant handicap."

He later said that he wanted to see schools introduce a longer day for pupils, which he pointed out was already happening in some of the best British schools.

Mr Gove said the Government's changes to teachers' pay, terms and conditions would mean they could be paid more for taking on extra duties.

This would allow headteachers to organise their staff "in a way to get more out of young people", he claimed.

"It may be that there are one or two legislative or bureaucratic obstacles that prevent all schools from moving in this direction but I think it's consistent with the pressures of a modern society," he said.

He insisted that changes to term times and the school day would be "family friendly".

"I think it's the case that the structure of the school term and the school day were designed at a time when we had an agricultural economy," he said.

"Half-term in October, when I was at school in Aberdeen it was called 'tattie holiday' because it was the period when children went into the fields to pick potatoes.

"It was also fixed on a world where a majority of mums stayed home. That world no longer exists and we can't afford to have an education system that essentially its hours were set in the 19th century."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate Middleton: More Patronages For Duchess

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duchess of Cambridge's workload is expected to nearly double in the coming months as she becomes a mother for the first time.

Kate is taking on a further three patronages, taking her total to seven.

Announcing the news, a St James's Palace statement said: "The Duchess will, over the coming months, undertake both private and public visits across the UK to these organisations."

Kate, who is now more than six months pregnant, has chosen Place2Be, SportsAid and the Natural History Museum to add to the four patronages she already has.

The Duchess and her baby bump during a charity visit to a rehab centre

A Palace aide told Sky News Kate's inspiration for choosing Place2Be came from an increased understanding of the need to intervene early with children who experience problems.

"Through her other patronages like Action on Addiction, The Duchess of Cambridge realises early intervention is key for vulnerable children," explained the aide.

The Duchess' experiences as an ambassador for the London 2012 games and her love of sport inspired her second choice, SportsAid, which helps the Olympians and Paralympians of tomorrow by offering funding that helps young athletes focus on competitions.

She is also giving her backing to the Natural History Museum.

"The Duchess of Cambridge visited the museum a number of times as a child. She's an avid supporter," the statement from St James's Palace added.

Kate was an Olympic ambassador

"One of the key things she's interested in, along with Princes William and Harry, is protecting the natural world for future generations."

As her new patronages prepare to experience the new level of exposure which comes with Kate, they ready themselves too for other benefits.

Benita Refson, chief executive of Place2Be, said: "What I hope this will do is help people understand and recognise how vital it is to support any charity or any work that's going on with mental health.

"Along with that we hope will also come the support we need to sustain the services and reach more children across the country."

The Duchess is already Patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery and is Royal Patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Art Room.

Compared to the Queen, who has more than 600 patronages, and the Duke of Edinburgh, who has 700, Kate's seven may seem few in number.

But she is adding to the list which shows an intent to return to work soon after her baby is born.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rolf Harris Questioned By Savile Police

Police have confirmed television star Rolf Harris was arrested in March on suspicion of committing sexual offences.

Police first raided his home in November 2012. He was interviewed under caution a few days later after agreeing to attend a South London police station by appointment. He was then arrested on 28 March.

Harris was honoured for services to entertainment and the community in 2001

The arrest is not understood to be linked to the Jimmy Savile investigation. A statement issued by Scotland Yard said: "An 82-year-old man from Berkshire was arrested by officers on Operation Yewtree on suspicion of sexual offences.

"He has been bailed to a date in May pending further enquiries. The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'others'. He has been bailed by Yewtree detectives until a date in May.

Harris was first named as a suspect on Twitter nearly five months ago by former Surrey police detective Mark Williams Thomas. Since then, police have refused to confirm Harris was being investigated.

Reporters have been gathering outside the entertainer's home this morning but the entertainer has yet to appear.

Harris is originally from Perth, Australia but has lived in the UK for fifty years. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to entertainment, charity and the community.

In June 2012 Harris was one of the comperes at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace and in October 2012 he began presenting a Channel 5 series based around Liverpool University's Veterinary School called Rolf's Animal Clinic.

Both Harris and his publicity agent have refused to comment on his arrest. He is one of 11 men arrested by Yewtree detectives investigating sexual abuse allegations in the wake of the Jimmy Savile probe.

Others questioned by police include Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson, Dave Lee Travis and Max Clifford.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Paul Lamb: New Face Of Right-To-Die Battle

Right-To-Die Witness Statement

Updated: 11:03pm UK, Wednesday 17 April 2013

An extract from Paul Lamb's witness statement at the Court of Appeal outlines his case.

... As a result of the accident, I have been left with quadriplegia and have no function in any of my limbs apart from a little movement in my right hand. I have had to have a urethral catheter inserted and bowel movement is managed by suppositories or enema by carers and manual evacuation of the rectum ever since. This is all immensely distressing to me.

… From being fit and healthy I have become virtually housebound and have had great problems in adjusting to the severe level of disability which I have suffered.

… I have lived with these conditions for nearly 23 years now … There have been times when I have felt depressed in the past notably in about 2005/2-06. However, now I would say categorically that I am not depressed and I am not taking any medication for depression. I just feel sad about the pointlessness of my life.

… I am provided with carers 24 hours a day every day. An additional carer comes in daily at about 9.30-11am to help with the task of getting me out of bed, washing me, getting me dresses and then seated in my wheelchair. Usually I have breakfast in bed before being washed and dressed. I eat normal food but I am Diabetic and have to make allowances for this.

For the rest of the day, I sit in my wheelchair. In good weather I can go out in theory, but when the weather is not good - which is for most of the year, I do not go out at all. This means that for the majority of the year I am housebound. My body has no thermostat and my temperature can drop very fast and I can get ill very easily in the winter from chest infections, pneumonia and the suchlike. I will not hazard going out in the winter as a consequence.

My days are very long and very tedious. The only part of my body that I can move is my right arm which I can move to a very limited extent. I have a Possum system which enables me to operate the telephone and the computer system. I wear a switch around my neck and I can flick the switch on, which then gets the cursor moving to the place that I want. I have no finger control at all and nor do I have any forward thrust.

...My limited hand movement allows me to throw my hand against a switch to get it on and then the cursor lands on a letter and I can tap it and get it to the right place in order to do what I need to do in terms of operating the Possum system by which I can use the telephone and computer. I cannot send emails using this system and have to ask care staff to do this for me. This presents a problem with private emails. Sometimes I ask my sister to help me in this respect. However, I am keen to maintain my privacy.

… I can operate an electric wheelchair by throwing my right hand onto the joystick and forming a claw onto it, just enough to be able to use my right hand to drive the chair. However, if there was a problem and I went off course with my wheelchair, I would not be able to deal with it. As a consequence I can only go out in my wheelchair with the assistance of a carer.

I have to have someone with me at all times. This means that I cannot develop any sort of relationship with anyone. I do not have any independence at all.

I am fed by carers. I cannot use my hand for example to put pills in my mouth, I cannot do anything with my hand that requires precision. If someone puts a pen in my hand, I can just about make a movement to sign a document.

In the last 23 years, I have endured a significant amount of pain. I am in pain every single hour of every single day. I have received input from various pain specialists. I have considered having operations. I am constantly on morphine. I suffer from severe pains in the back of my head. I suffer from a pain in my shoulders where the bone has worn away.

I consider that I have lived with these conditions for a lot of years and have given it my best shot. Now I feel worn out and I am genuinely fed up with my life. I feel that I cannot and do not want to keep living. I feel trapped by the situation and I have no way out. I am not getting any younger and I cannot carry on as all that my life consists of is being fed and watered. I have very little else in my life. I spend my day sitting in my wheelchair. I can watch movies on television but really I am not interested or engaged in them. I do not enjoy reading and although I have a Kindle, I feel that it is pointless.

I feel that the truth is that I have had enough. I have been in pain since July 1990 and there is no way of getting rid of the root pain. My daily routine is tedious, monotonous and pointless. I often go to bed early at 5pm - such is the pointlessness of it all.

…What I would like to do is be able to hug those people who are closest to me and say goodbye to them. I wish to end my life in a dignified way, preferably without pain. I wish to find peace. I genuinely feel this way and it is not because I am feeling sorry for myself. I want the dignity of dying with loved ones around me at home. I want to be able to say "I love you to bits, and have a good life, and think well of me". I believe that enough is enough. I feel genuinely terrified by the fact of not having any choices left and having no control or autonomy over my life. I do not wish to go to Switzerland. Why should I go to a foreign and alien country to die?

I would like a doctor to help me to die, without pain and suffering, preferably by a lethal injection with my family around me in my own home.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Severe' Blaze Hits Birmingham Paper Mill

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a "severe" fire at a paper mill in Birmingham.

Thousands of tons of cardboard have been burning through the night in at the Smurfit Kappa plant in the Nechells area of the city.

No injuries were reported.

People living near the plant were urged to stay indoors with windows and doors shut, but the material burning is not believed to be toxic.

The fire, which started just after 10pm last night, is expected to take a couple of days to burn out, a fire service spokesman said.

He tweeted that the fire is "in a very large outdoor storage area. Approx 10,000 tons of recycled cardboard bales are ablaze.

"Fire is contained to storage area, high winds are hampering fire fighting, however crews and other agencies are working extremely hard to bring blaze under control."

The site in Mount Street is a recycled packaging mill, according to the company website.

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading producers of paper-based packaging in the world with more than 41,000 employees in 32 countries, the website says.

West Midlands Police said  a helicopter was being used to see if it had spread to other parts of the industrial estate the paper mill is located on.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alps Crash: Last Words Of Brit Driver

The British coach driver who died in an accident in France warned his passengers they were about to crash, giving them time to escape.

Maurice Wrightson, 64, from County Durham was taking 52 Britons home from a ski trip when the bus careered off the road before smashing into rocks and bursting into flames near the resort of Alpe d'Huez.

A crane lifts the charred wreckage

Police suspect a problem with the vehicle's brakes meant Mr Wrighton lost control of the vehicle.

The French Minister of Transport, Frédéric Cuvillier, praised Mr Wrightson's courage. "You can't call it a miracle because there is one dead and many wounded," he said. "But the human toll could have been much heavier."

"The driver's courage saved many lives. All the testimonies of the people we have met have confirmed this. His attitude and his actions prevented an even worse situation."

The bus is thought to have had brake problems

UK travel organisation Abta said the passengers, who are staff at a Brighton-based ski company, are now on their way home.

It has since been said that Mr Wrightson, who worked for Stanley-based firm Classic Coaches, alerted his passengers to the imminent crash which allowed them to prepare to escape.

Several passengers leapt from the burning wreckage out of windows. At least four people were said to have been seriously injured, with those hurt being treated in local hospitals.

Firefighters sift through the wreckage

A helicopter was sent to the scene where firefighters battled to put out the fire.

A local police spokesman said: "The driver seems to have lost control on a steep bend in the road and his vehicle crashed into rocks.

"It burst into flames but everyone is now out. Some passengers escaped by jumping out the windows."

TGM group which owns Classic Coaches confirmed in a statement: "Classic is a North East based company and the coach was being driven by a North East based driver."

:: More from Sky News Tyne And Wear

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Npower: Energy Firm Denies Tax Avoidance

Npower has admitted it has not paid corporation tax in the UK for three years - just months after increasing prices by around 9%.

The company made the admission to the Energy and Climate Change select committee - but its boss said they had invested billions in new power stations and wind technology.

Chief Executive Paul Massara said: "Effectively we have invested £5bn in the last five years building power plants, creating jobs, creating employment and helping to keep the lights on.

"If we had not made that investment we would not have the deductibility that we would be allowed. That is a simple accounting UK rule."

Npower reported a 34% rise in profits to £413m last year.

The admission came as the "big six" energy companies were questioned by MPs over topics including profits and how they treat their customers.

A company statement added: "Looking at RWE npower specifically, our investment programme since 2008 has amounted to almost £3bn, which means we have seen a large increase in tax relief.

"This is in no way tax avoidance, and all of our business is taxable in the UK. We've not paid corporation tax because we've been investing hundreds of millions to keep the UK's lights on."

Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: "I wouldn't comment on an individual taxpayer.

"More broadly, the Prime Minister's view is that it is important that companies pay the tax that is due."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jobless Total Up As Income Squeeze Tightens

The unemployment total has risen for the second month in a row while average pay increases were found to be at their weakest on record.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people without work rose 70,000 in the three months to the end of February to reach 2.56 million - pushing the jobless rate up to 7.9%.

The number of people in work fell by 2,000 over the period to just under 30 million - the first time the figure has dipped since autumn 2011.

There were 900,000 out of work for more than a year, an 8,000 increase on the three months to November, while the number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 20,000 to 979,000.

However, those claiming unemployment benefit fell by 7,000 in March.

While the jobless figures suggested a reversal in the resilience of the UK labour market amid the UK's weak economic growth, it was the pay statistics that will most worry those who are seeking a pick-up in consumer spending to boost output.

Pay, excluding bonuses, rose by 1% between November and February compared to a year earlier which was the smallest on record, the ONS said.

With CPI inflation currently measured at an annual rate of 2.8%, the pay figure demonstrates that prices are continuing to rise at a faster pace than wage growth at a time when energy bills and many other costs have soared.

Employers have been limiting pay increases as a way of keeping hold of staff amid the flat-lining economy.

The move has been cited by some economists as a key reason why unemployment levels fell last year: companies wanting to be ready for when recovery came.

While the Government hailed falling jobseeker's allowance claims it admitted there was much still to do to help get people back to work.

GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The Chancellor should heed IMF advice to change course to grow the economy to end this needless waste of human talent."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lowestoft: Death Fall Mum 'Cared Too Much'

A heavily pregnant woman who fell to her death before her three young children were found dead was "beautiful and intelligent".

Fiona Anderson had suffered from mental illness

Fiona Anderson, 23, has been formally identified after she suffered fatal head injuries at a multi-storey car park on Monday morning.

Officers investigating the incident later found the children - named by neighbours as Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old baby Kyden - at their home in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

In a statement issued by Suffolk police, Ms Anderson's mother Kerry, father Michael and sisters, Claire and Laura, said she "cared passionately" but had suffered with mental illness from a young age.

Levina

They said: "Fiona was a beautiful, intelligent girl and a loving and caring person, but she had suffered from mental illness since she was young and we believe she was driven to her actions yesterday.

"This was not our Fiona - she was not herself. She cared passionately about others but often brought stress on herself by caring too much.

"She was gentle but ended up under too much pressure.

Addy

"As a family we were close but she would often push us away, keen to do her own thing and not to listen when we offered support. Life was sometimes overwhelming for her.

"She was really popular but just didn't believe she was and had forgotten there were people there that could help her.

"We wish more had been done to recognise her mental health problems, which could be masked by her intelligence and creativity. She would often make costumes for the children, who she loved very much."

Kyden

The family added that Ms Anderson would be remembered as a "girlie girl" who was also a very private person.

Post-mortem examinations have failed to ascertain how the children died and further tests will be carried out, police said.

Neighbours said Ms Anderson was eight months pregnant with a baby girl she had planned on calling Evalie.

CCTV images show Fiona Anderson shortly before her death

She was seen entering the car park in Battery Green Road, Lowestoft, shortly before 8am on Monday, Suffolk police said.

CCTV footage showed Ms Anderson walking around Lowestoft holding a teddy bear shortly before she was found.

Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank said the force was "conducting a meticulous investigation" into the tragedy.

The IPCC said it was awaiting details of the case from Suffolk police.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lowestoft: Pregnant Mum And Kids Found Dead

A heavily pregnant woman who fell to her death at a car park before police discovered the bodies of her three young children has been named locally as Fiona Anderson.

Fiona Anderson was heavily pregnant

Suffolk Police said they were called out at 8am on Monday to the death of a woman in her 20s who suffered head injuries at a car park in Gordon Road.

Officers investigating the incident later found the children at a Victorian terraced house in London Road South.

Tributes left for the children

They were named by neighbours as Levina, three, Addy, two, and an 11-month-old baby boy, believed to have been called Kyden.

Outside the house a number of teddy bears had been left as tributes together with flower bouquets.

Visiting the scene, Mayor of Lowestoft, Nick Webb, said the community was in "absolute shock".

Police at the scene where the bodies of the children were found

He said: "It is just incomprehensible what has happened here and so difficult to get your head around.

"My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones."

Formal identification is expected to take place after post-mortem examinations by a Home Office pathologist at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston conclude.

Police said they were treating the children's deaths as suspicious but added that there was no further threat to the wider community.

Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank, from Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: "We are in the early stages of a large investigation into what has happened.

A police officer arranges the teddies left at the house

"It is too early to be able to come up with a definitive explanation and we will be keeping an open mind.

"Our priorities now are to establish the circumstances behind the woman's death and how it may be related to the deaths of the three children."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon Security Review After Boston

British police are reviewing security arrangements for the London Marathon this Sunday after the bombs in Boston.

Marathon organisers and officers are working together to find out whether there is an international threat and if they should change any arrangements.

The security operation for Baroness Thatcher's funeral on Wednesday is also being reviewed.

The London Marathon passes some of the capital's top tourist attractions

Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry, police commander for the London Marathon, said: "A security plan is in place. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with marathon organisers."

Nick Bitel, London Marathon Chief Executive, vowed to look at whether extra steps need to be taken to safeguard the race and runners.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news from Boston," he said. "Our immediate thoughts are with the people there and their families.

"When an incident of this nature occurs you can't be complacent. You have to see if more needs to be done. That's what we'll be doing in the coming hours and days."

Nick Bitel: "It's a sad day for athletics"

The London Marathon is the world's largest but turnout for the event could now be affected because of the attacks in Boston.

Half a million spectators were expected to line the streets of the capital to watch more than 30,000 runners, but it is possible some will pull out.

The course, starting in Blackheath and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace, takes in some of the capital's top tourist attractions, including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Big Ben and Parliament Square.

As well as the threat of disruption from Irish republican groups and left-wing protesters, police will now be preparing for the possibility of copycat attacks after the blasts in Massachusetts.

Richard Barrett, who analyses terror threats for the United Nations, said they would need to balance the needs of security with the need to allow public events to continue.

"They'll be concerned about copycat attacks and about other sporting events and public galleries," he said.

"The Boston Marathon was a very soft target with 26 miles of spectators and lots of cars and people moving around.

"Security services are used to dealing with these issues but they'll be looking at things again in the light of this attack."

Soldiers rehearsing on Monday for Baroness Thatcher's funeral

Meanwhile, Lord Reid has said experts will be keen to review security arrangements for Lady Thatcher's funeral, which is also due to pass major London landmarks.

He said: "Everyone will have been appalled at the terrible events in Boston. While the culprits and motivation behind the US terror attacks are still unclear, this will obviously entail a review of security arrangements for both Lady Thatcher's funeral and the London Marathon.

"They will require extra vigilance from everyone involved and it is also to be hoped that everyone recognises the added responsibility of co-operating with the police and the authorities at both events."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boston Marathon Explosions: Fears For Britons

Britons are feared to be among the injured following the explosions which rocked the Boston Marathon.

Some 347 of the 25,000 runners taking part in the race were British and several have spoken of the aftermath of the twin blasts.

Abi Griffiths, from London, crossed the finishing line around 10 minutes before the explosions.

The 34-year-old told Sky News she heard the blast while collecting her bag.

She said: "The ground shook and immediately people sort of looked around - it was just too loud to be something that wasn't serious.

"People kind of didn't know what to do. Then all of a sudden it went into a state of chaos. Police were everywhere, we were being evacuated out of the area and it was really eerie.

"It was very, very scary and what should be a major celebration of the achievement of running 26.2 miles suddenly became a frightening scene."

Shattered windows in buildings lining the route of the marathon

She said police had swung into action quickly.

"This is just such an awful scene to have happened," Ms Griffiths continued. "It felt like it may have come from the inside of a shop.

"Suddenly you looked around and there was this cloud of smoke and then people went into gear. There were police everywhere."

Jez Hughes, a firefighter from Morley, west Yorkshire, was walking to the subway with his wife when they heard two explosions.

He had been standing only 100 yards from the finish line with other competitors after completing his 10th marathon but walked around the corner to meet his wife.

An injured man with shredded clothes

He said: "While we were going to the subway we heard two explosions. I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one.

"My wife is very shook up but we are out here until Thursday evening and no terrorists are going to spoil our day. Don't let them get the better of you."

Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, his wife Sandra and their two children, missed the explosions by just half an hour after he finished the marathon in three and a half hours.

The chartered surveyor, who is chairman of the Lordshill Road Runners in Southampton and was competing in his fourth marathon, said: "There are reports here that the explosions came from a hotel at the finish line and I walked past there a few days ago to pick up my race number.

"It's such a soft target. There are hundreds of thousands spectators on the streets and 27,000 runners, so we got off lightly."

Mark Jenkin, a 34-year-old sports writer from Barnstaple in Devon, said the explosion had put the race into perspective.

After finishing 138th in a time of 2 hours 24 minutes, he told his paper, the North Devon Journal: "It's a beautiful spring afternoon in Boston.

"The people of the city put on a great race and it's such a tragedy this has happened.

"I was feeling tired and a bit disappointed with my time in the race but all that seems irrelevant now. I just feel grateful to be ok."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman Killed In Fire Engine Crash In Dorset

A woman has been killed and her two passengers seriously injured after her car collided with a fire engine that was going to the scene of another fatal road accident.

The woman died in the head-on crash just half a mile from where a man was killed after his car struck a tree on Sunday.

The fire engine was making its way to the first crash when the second one occurred, Dorset Police said.

The two passengers in the woman's car were airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries.

Emergency services were first called at 7.50am after the vehicle left the A35 near Poole and collided with a tree.

The male driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "At 8.10am there was a report received of a second road traffic collision, close to the first collision, but on the B3075.

"This involved a car that was in collision with a fire engine.

"One of the occupants of the car was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and the other two occupants of the car were taken by air ambulance to the Southampton General Hospital where they are being treated for serious injuries."

An investigation has been launched in to both fatal collisions and witnesses are asked to contact Dorset Police.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Measles: Letters Sent To South Wales Schools

Schools in South Wales are sending out letters of consent to parents so their children can be vaccinated against measles.

So far there have been near 700 confirmed cases of the disease and that number is expected to rise - both in Wales and England. About 60 have been hospitalised.

According to experts, the peak of the epidemic will not be seen for nearly four weeks.

The rising number of people infected has prompted fears that a youngster may die from the disease. Experts say that in the developed world around one in 1,000 cases of measles results in a fatality.

About 2,000 pupils could be given the MMR jab this week in South Wales schools to try to slow down the spread of the epidemic, which is centred on Swansea.

Experts believe there are around 40,000 children across Wales who have yet to be vaccinated.

Dr Meirion Evans, of Public Health Wales, said that the number of cases could easily double and that low vaccination rates across the UK mean that no area in the country was safe from an outbreak.

He told the BBC: "Across Wales as a whole there are many, many children who have not had their MMR – we estimate over 40,000 children across Wales.

"Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole."

Another immunisation expert, Dr David Elliman, has warned that London and the north of England are most at risk.

Experts believe the epidemic has arisen as a result of an earlier low uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Many people are thought to have refused the vaccination for their children because of now disproven fears that the MMR vaccine could cause autism.

Dr Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who sparked the scare, had tried to blame officials in Wales for the latest epidemic.

But over the weekend, the Government dismissed his claims, with a spokesman for the Department of Health saying: "Dr Andrew Wakefield's claims are completely incorrect."

More than 2,000 people were vaccinated in at special drop-in sessions set up in South Wales over the weekend to give residents free MMR jabs.

Clinics will be open again next weekend and schools will continue being targeted this week as officials try to prevent the epidemic spreading further.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said the problems in Wales were "historic".

"Our immunisation coverage rates, currently, are extremely high, 95% of children are being vaccinated in this country.

About the situation in Wales, he said: "That is a historic problem, the legacy of bizarre suggestions about vaccines and autism from 15 years ago, that's not the situation currently."

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common even in healthy people. These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Newcastle: Arrests After Sunderland Match

A total of 29 football fans have been arrested and three police officers hurt after violence following a derby game in Newcastle.

Missiles were thrown at police as a group of Newcastle fans tried to confront Sunderland supporters in Central Station after the home side's 0-3 defeat at St James' Park.

One officer was taken to hospital for treatment, police said.

Video footage of the violence showed fans picking up empty glass bottles from a bin and throwing them towards rows of police.

A burning bin could also be seen lying on its side in the road.

The violence erupted after crowd trouble marred Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

A total of 14 men were arrested after fighting broke out in the Millwall fans' area of Wembley during the second half of their 2-0 defeat by Wigan, in disturbing scenes which left youngsters in tears and were witnessed by millions on television.

Scotland Yard said 12 of those held were Millwall supporters and two Wigan fans.

Police arrested 14 people after the Millwall vs Wigan FA Cup semi-final

Northumbria Police said they were pelted with missiles during the trouble in Newcastle.

A force spokeswoman said: "The most serious incident involved a group of Newcastle fans in Central Station attempting to confront Sunderland supporters, but they were intercepted by officers from British Transport Police.

"During this incident missiles were thrown at the officers, which resulted in three injuries to officers - one of them requiring assessment at hospital."

Officers said they received reports of minor incidents, including the release of smoke canisters, before and during the match.

It is believed that Newcastle fans were also involved in a series of sporadic incidents of disorder in the city centre following the match, a force spokeswoman said.

Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, of Northumbria Police, said: "The vast majority of fans were well behaved today and enjoyed the Tyne-Wear derby for the great occasion that it is.

"Disappointingly, there was some disorder involving what appear to be Newcastle United supporters following the match in the city centre, including an incident at Central Station.

"Disruptive behaviour of any kind is not tolerated. Inquiries will take place into these incidents and action will be taken against all those involved."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

LSE: BBC N Korea Report Put Students At Risk

Visiting Secretive North Korea

Updated: 2:46pm UK, Friday 12 April 2013

Despite the current tensions on the Korean Peninsula, tourists have been able to travel to North Korea.

A Sky News employee has just returned from a four-day trip. Journalists are strictly banned from the county without visas, which are rarely issued, so we are not revealing her name, but here is her story:

I flew from Beijing to Pyongyang. On the flight with me were lots of North Koreans with plenty of excess baggage: TVs, vegetables and meat.

Nothing felt abnormal. There was no feeling of tension.

Only when I arrived at the Demilitarised Zone were we prevented access to some of the buildings because of the current situation.

Throughout the four-day trip, which was organised by a Chinese travel company, we were assigned two North Korean minders.

One of them was more senior than the other. She watched us and watched her colleague too.

They did not want the war but were also determined to fight if the country decided to start a war. They emphasised to us that they believed in the country from their hearts.

We were not allowed to move freely. We could only do tourist things according to the guidance of the tour "guards".

We were not allowed to take photographs in the car or anywhere without the minder's permission. We were told not to photograph anything that looked bad or makes North Korea look bad.

"Don't bring bad impressions out of Pyongyang," they said.

People were very friendly. There was little traffic, so people would stare at our bus wherever we drove.

People there are very aware of the potential war.

Every time we arrived at the places of interest, the tour guides would always ask us in Korean (the minders would translate into Chinese) about the latest situation and our opinions about the situation, particularly our opinions about the US, as they all believe the tensions are the fault of America.

When we asked the minders what would happen if the war breaks out tomorrow, they said: "If the war breaks tomorrow, until midnight tonight, we are still building the socialist constructions."

We also asked them whether they know where Kim Jong-Un lives and works, as we explained to them that in Beijing, all the top leaders work and live in a place called Zhongnanhai. They all said they had no idea.

The two minders liked to sing. One of the songs they sang was apparently written by a South Korean musician to express his admiration toward Kim Jong-Il.

On one of the days we went to Myohyang San, a North Korean mountain. The six of us on the tour were locked in the restaurant because the North Koreans were so afraid that we would wander around.

There is a museum near the mountain, where gifts from foreign countries are displayed. A lot of them came from Japan.

We asked them how could they receive so many gifts from Japan given that North Korea considers the Japanese as enemies. They told us that the Japanese really admire the leaders, so they gave us many gifts.

We stayed in the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where we could watch international TV channels including the BBC, NHK, (Japanese TV), Phoenix (Hong Kong TV) and CCTV (Chinese TV).

The minders live on a specific floor where they only have three North Korean channels to watch. They never ate with us and when we asked what they had eaten, they always refused to tell us.

We were not allowed to use the local currency, and they never showed us their money. We could use Chinese RMB, US dollars or euros.

There were not many opportunities to see any ordinary North Korean people apart from the shopkeepers, tour guides or waitresses in the hotel.

There is a casino on the underground floor of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where most of the staff members come from Liaoning Province over the northern border in China, and North Koreans are not allowed to enter.

The casino is managed by people from Macau. The staff there told us it was empty because the tensions mean far fewer people are travelling to North Korea.

Staff at the casino are all Chinese. When we asked to go to the casino, one of the minders said to us: "You must be non-communists, because communist members don't go to casinos."

Wherever we go to visit, they always asked us if we think their places or things are pretty. They only wanted to show us the good side of the country.

As soon as we travelled outside the capital city, it felt very like the real North Korea: rural, no tall buildings, only farmland.

We never felt the tension of war on our trip. On the streets, on our tour, in the hotel and even at a school we visited, the students were studying as normal.

The people we spoke to asked us if it was true that living in Beijing is hard. They think living in North Korea is the happiest thing in the world.

It feels as though those North Koreans who have travelled outside the country have never mentioned what the outside world really looks like.

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Millwall Fighting: Arrests After Fans Clash

Police have arrested 11 people after violence broke out among Millwall fans during the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan.

During the second half of their 2-0 loss to Wigan on Saturday, around 20 Millwall fans began fighting with each other behind the goal at Wembley Stadium.

The disturbing scenes, which were witnessed by millions on television, left some fans bloodied and youngsters in tears.

Skirmishes began towards the end of the game

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Ten people have been arrested following sporadic disorder among fans in the Millwall supporters' area at Wembley.

"Investigations into the circumstances of the incidents are continuing."

Some fans were left bloodied by the violence

Alex Horne, general secretary of the FA, said: "The Metropolitan Police and the FA are investigating scenes of sporadic violence and disorder in the Millwall FC end at the FA Cup semi-final.

"The FA and Wembley Stadium will work with police and representatives of Millwall FC to review all events.

Millwall promised to ban those involved

"We will look to ensure those involved are identified and we would call for criminal charges and a football banning order to be brought against them.

"The FA deplores the scenes which have taken place, which are unacceptable. Everything will be done to take action against those involved."

Millwall have long had an unwanted reputation for hooliganism and Saturday's scenes were a throwback to the 1980s.

It is unclear what sparked the clashes

The club's chief executive Andy Ambler said it would do all it could to find those responsible.

"Our position is clear. Anyone associated with our club found guilty of violent behaviour will be banned indefinitely from Millwall matches in addition to any punishment they receive from the authorities," he said.

"Having worked so hard to show the positive side of our club both on and off the field, we cannot allow the actions of a mindless minority to undermine that.

The match ended 2-0 to Wigan Athletic

"At this stage we are still in the process of establishing the full details of what happened in a section of the ground during the second half.

"When we have those facts at our disposal and the police have completed their investigations we may be in a position to comment further." 

Millwall chairman John Berylson, who flew in from the United States for the game, said: "There are always a few idiots. That's not our fan-base and we don't even know who those people are. We will be investigating."

Police moved in after the violence started

And the team's captain Danny Shittu added: "Today was meant to be a good day out at Wembley. I'm disappointed by it.

"It's sad to hear about these things happening on a day like today. Things like that shouldn't be going on, It should be a great day for both sides."

Wigan's chairman Dave Whelan, whose team will face Manchester City or Chelsea in the final next month, said he was appalled by what he saw.

Millwall fans were condemned for the fighting

"I can't understand why the Millwall fans would fight each other," he told the BBC.

"I understand if they want to fall out with the visiting team, but why would they fall out amongst themselves? It just gives football a very, very poor reputation."

"We know Millwall are a tough club, their team's tough to play, the supporters are Millwall Millwall Millwall... straight through. But don't fight each other."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Firefighters Tackle Blaze At Scottish Zoo

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirm that animals have died after a "fierce fire" broke out at a zoo.

The blaze, which has now been brought under control, occurred overnight in the tropical house of the Five Sisters Zoo at Polbeth, West Calder, West Lothian.

Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Ruth MacLeod told Sky News: "The firefighting operations are still continuing but it is contained.

"We do expect to be there for a number of hours yet."

No people were thought to have been injured in the blaze.

Ms MacLeod had earlier said: "We are currently trying to rescue two dwarf crocodiles and an otter."

The zoo is located some 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh

A total of 11 fire engines, including specialist appliances, were involved in the operation at its height.

The fire service spokeswoman said: "The alarm was raised at 3.50am this morning to reports that the tropical house at the zoo was well alight.

"We had six fire appliances mobilised, along with five specialist appliances.

"Around 50 firefighters tackled the fire. The building involved was single storey, approximately 25 metres by 15 metres."

Fire crews used lines of hose to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

The privately-owned zoo was established in 2005 and is some 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh.

According to the zoo's website, it is "probably one of the few places in the world where you can see at close hand a West African Dwarf Crocodile".

The privately-owned Five Sisters Zoo was established in 2005

The zoo is home to over 100 species of animals, including meerkats, monkeys and assorted reptiles.

Ms MacLeod told Sky: "The Five Sisters Zoo arranged for a vet to attend to the affected animals and they are currently producing an inventory of any animals not accounted for.

"Fire investigators will be mobilised to try and establish the cause but it is too soon to speculate at this point."

16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More