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Couple Jailed For Lee Rigby YouTube Videos

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 15 Maret 2014 | 16.13

A man has been sentenced to five years and four months for posting YouTube videos glorifying the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.

Royal Barnes, 23, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, with his wife, Rebekah Dawson, getting a 20-month sentence.

The videos posted by the British Muslim couple were "offensive in the extreme", the court heard.

They published the clips shortly after the brutal murder of Fusilier Rigby in Woolwich last May.

Royal Barnes Barnes filmed himself laughing as he passed flowers left for the soldier

The couple, from Hackney in London, made three videos - the first uploaded on the day after the attack, with Barnes calling it a "brilliant day".

It was edited together with pictures of a man holding a decapitated head, a scene from Woolwich, and images of the World Trade Center.

The second clip showed Dawson ranting about how British troops would be killed on London's streets.

Fusilier Lee Rigby murder trial Fusilier Rigby, 25, was hacked to death in broad daylight on May 22, 2013

A third video showed Barnes mocking the public's grief at Fusilier Rigby's murder and laughing uncontrollably as he and his wife drove past flowers at the murder scene.

Barnes pleaded guilty last month to inciting murder and three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication.

Dawson, 22, who insisted on wearing a full veil in court, also admitted charges of disseminating a terrorist publication.

Rebekah Dawson Rebekah Dawson's video was posted shortly after the murder

Judge Brian Barker QC said the pair showed "a total and continuing disregard" for the effect it would have on the soldier's family and the wider public.

Fusilier Rigby's killers were jailed last month for the attack, which saw them hack the solider to death on the streets of southeast London.

Michael Adebolajo, 29, was given a whole-life term, and Michael Adebowale, 22, was jailed for at least 45 years.


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West Brom Sack Anelka After 'Quenelle' Storm

West Brom say they have terminated Nicolas Anelka's contract for gross misconduct, following his ban for performing the controversial 'quenelle' gesture during a match.

In a statement on their website, the club said their decision was the result the player's conduct while celebrating a goal against West Ham on December 28 and his remarks posted on social media.

"The club considers the conduct of Nicolas Anelka on December 28, coupled with his purported termination on social media this evening, to be gross misconduct," it said.

"As a result the club has tonight written to Nicola Anelka giving him 14 days' notice of termination as required under his contract."

The 35-year-old, whose deal at the Premier League side was due to expire in the summer, had earlier announced he would leave the club over its response to his five-match ban and £80,000 fine from the FA.

He wrote on his Twitter account that he had decided to "put an end" to his contract, saying the club had proposed "certain conditions that I cannot accept".

Nicolas Anelka's tweets The Frenchman's tweets on Friday evening

In three posts written in French on Twitter, the player said: "Following talks between the club and me, propositions were made to me in order to reintegrate me into the squad under certain conditions that I cannot accept.

"Wishing to retain my integrity, I have therefore taken the decision to free myself and put an end to the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion to 2014, with immediate effect."

West Brom previously issued a statement in response, indicating Anelka's words had taken them by surprise.

It said: "The club has received nothing formally regarding the termination of Nicolas Anelka's contract from either him or his advisers.

"The club regards the release of such a statement on social media as highly unprofessional and will make a further statement when appropriate."

It was claimed the quenelle was anti-Semetic, but Anelka says the gesture was merely anti-establishment and made in support of his friend Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, a French comedian who has been convicted seven times of anti-Semitic crimes.

A Football Association commission found it was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper, and that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief.

It accepted there was no intent by Anelka to be anti-Semitic, but banned him for five matches and fined him £80,000. He was subsequently suspended by West Brom.


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Anger Over Bomb Hurled At Belfast Police Car

An explosive device was thrown at a police vehicle in Belfast, just hours after a separate car bomb was found a few miles away.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said the officers targeted had escaped serious injury following the attack near the City Cemetery in the west of the city.

Paramedics treated up to four members of the public for shock but no one was badly hurt.

A PSNI spokesman said: "Police in west Belfast have escaped serious injury tonight after an explosive device detonated close to their vehicle on the Falls Road.

"The incident occurred shortly before 10.30pm close to the entrance of the City Cemetery.

Debris from the blast near City Cemetery. pic: Press Pix / Samuel Severn Debris from the explosion. pic: Press Pix / Samuel Severn

"It is believed some form of explosive device was thrown at their vehicle."

SDLP councillor Claire Hanna tweeted: "Hoping no serious injuries following explosion. Throwback (to) terrorists reduced to trying to embarrass Northern Ireland over St Patrick's. Get off our backs."

The City Cemetery, at the junction of Falls Road and Whiterock Road, is one of Belfast's oldest public cemeteries.

Police in Northern Ireland have been urged to tighten personal security measures after a separate under-car bomb was found a relatively short distance away from City Cemetery on Friday morning.

It fell from the vehicle and failed to explode, and even though the target has not been positively identified, the PSNI has not ruled out the possibility it was meant for one of their officers.

The device was discovered at Blacks Road, a busy route close to the M1 not far from Woodbourne police station.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for planting the bomb in what appears to have been a deliberate attempt to embarrass Northern Ireland First Minister

Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who are in Washington to meet senior members of the Obama administration as part of St Patrick's Day celebrations.


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Tony Benn: Veteran Labour Politican Dies

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 14 Maret 2014 | 16.12

Tony Benn: A Conviction Politician

Updated: 7:45am UK, Friday 14 March 2014

Tony Benn was one of the most charismatic, iconoclastic and - to many colleagues - infuriating figures of his generation.

Born into a world of privilege, and married to a wealthy American, he entered Westminster as a centre right politician.

But over time he veered to the hard left, renouncing not just his peerage but also the orthodoxy of mainstream power politics.

He had many critics but he stuck to his guns and in later years the pipe-smoking vegetarian acquired cult status, especially among young people.

He was born Anthony Neil Wedgewood Benn on April 3, 1925, at 40 Millbank, Westminster.

The son and grandson of MPs, Benn's links to the Labour movement ran deep.

His next-door neighbours were Sidney and Beatrice Webb, who wrote Clause IV of the Labour Party Constitution which was adopted by the party in 1918 and set out its aims and values.

His father, Viscount Stansgate, was a Liberal MP who defected to Labour and was then elevated to the Lords.

Tony Benn was educated at Westminster School and Balliol College, Oxford, interrupting his studies to serve in the RAF in the later stages of World War II.

In 1950 at the age of 25 he was elected the member for Bristol South-East and went on to serve as an MP for 47 years, a Labour party record.

After his father's death in 1960, he fought a long, hard and ultimately victorious battle to relinquish his peerage and remain in the Commons.

He was a cabinet minister in the 60s and 70s under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, serving as technology minister, postmaster general, and industry and energy secretaries.

His ability was never in doubt but his unwillingness to compromise his ideals often put him at odds with his colleagues.

Wilson once commented waspishly that Benn had "immatured with age". His reply: "I haven't yet decided what I want to do ... when I grow up".

He supported unilateral nuclear disarmament and favoured closer ties between western and eastern Europe.

It was hardly surprising then that he was vilified by the right and once denounced as "The Most Dangerous Man in Britain".

But he also backed the abolition of capital punishment, the ordination of women priests and the televising of Parliament, showing himself way ahead of his time.

His main aim was to achieve peace in the world - he campaigned against both wars in the Gulf, insisting they were about profit, oil and control of the region.

The death of his wife Caroline, an educationalist and writer, in 2000, was a huge blow. They had four children and 10 grandchildren.

Benn retired from the Commons in May 2001 to, as he put it, "devote more time to politics".

He was an assiduous diarist, recording everything in his notebooks every night since 1940, seven volumes of which have been published.

He also wrote several books and tracts, including a powerful polemic against nuclear energy.

At different times he was described - with some justification perhaps - as self-righteous, a crackpot and manic.

But Benn was a compelling performer and when he spoke, people always listened.


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Annual Energy Bills 'To Rocket By 2020'

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Annual household energy bills could rise by more than £600 within seven years so power companies can keep the lights on.

Sky News has learned the watchdog has written to the Treasury ahead of next week's budget to warn of rising costs.

In a new forecast, consumer champion Which? has predicted energy companies will need to spend £118bn on new infrastructure between now and 2020.

This would include building new power stations, replacing grids and building wind farms as part of a drive to sustain Britain's power supply and cut down on carbon emissions.

Which? believes this cost will inevitably be passed on to consumers, and that households and businesses will foot the bill.

This would mean that the average bill would exceed £2,000 a year even if wholesale costs of gas and electricity remain stable - an annual rise of £640 per household.

Average electricity bill breakdown

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: "I don't think consumers know that this is heading their way and that decision has already been made by the Government.

"This is a massive chunk potentially on everyone's bills. This means one thing: that household bills are set to rise, and to rise for many people very steeply for the foreseeable future."

Which? is campaigning for a full market investigation to find out if consumers are paying a fair price for energy.

Sky News also learned that at least one of the 'big six' energy firms is not guaranteeing to make the necessary investment should it not prove profitable for the company.

Energy companies rely on investors - who require a return on their investment - to finance certain projects.

Angela Knight, of Energy UK, the body representing the industry, said: "A lot of this is all about the policy that the Government and previous Government signed up to.

"Right now there is significant concern about the price of a bill and that is before much of this investment comes through.

"At the same time, a lot of our stuff is old and you do have to refresh and replenish."

One move Chancellor George Osborne may deploy to tackle the costs being passed through to consumer energy bills could be freezing the Carbon Floor Price in next week's budget.

The tax policy means polluting industries must pay a minimum amount of money for the right to pollute.

If Mr Osborne were freeze or abolish the Carbon Floor Price, the knock-on effect would prevent around £8 being added to bills each year, according to one energy company source.

In December 2013, HM Treasury released estimates of planned national infrastructure investments relating to 2013-2020 and beyond.


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Norfolk Helicopter Crash: Peer Among Victims

One of four people killed in a helicopter crash in Norfolk was Northern Irish peer and businessman Lord Ballyedmond, according to Sky sources.

The helicopter - an AugustaWestland 8W139 - crashed in a wooded area in Gillingham, near Beccles.

The bodies of the four victims remain at the scene and next of kin are still being informed.

It is not yet known what caused the aircraft to come down, but emergency services are at the site carrying out investigations alongside Air Accident Investigations teams.

Sky's Emma Birchley at the scene, said it was unclear whether fog, which had affected the area earlier on Thursday, was a factor in the crash, which happened at around 7.30pm last night.

Emergency services at the scene of a helicopter crash in Gillingham Emergency services at the site. Pic: Ryan Leddington

"The fog is certainly going to form part of the investigation. It was very foggy last night and it remains foggy now, which has made conditions for the emergency services very tricky," she said.

Chief Inspector Stuart Armes, of Norfolk Police, confirmed all four male occupants on board died in the crash. He said the investigation covered a "considerable area".

The helicopter came down close to Gillingham Hall - one of the homes owned by Lord Ballyedmond, the richest man in Ireland with an estimated wealth of £500m.

As well as being in the in pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing businesses, he also ran an air travel business - Haughey Air - which owned a helicopter charter company.

In 1996, three pilots were killed in a crash while en route from Belfast to his estate in County Down.

It is not yet known if the helicopter the peer was travelling in last night was part of this firm.

Sky's Northern Ireland Correspondent David Blevins said: "The 70-year-old owned Ballyedmond Castle in Rostrevor, County Down, Corby Castle in Cumbria, and 9, Belgrave Square in London, a six-storey townhouse purchased in 2006 for about £12m.

Helicopter crash Traffic backed up on the A143 near the crash scene. Pic: dom_bond

"In the early nineties, he sat in the Irish Senate (Dublin's upper house) before being made a life peer in the Lords in 2004. Lord Ballyedmond initially sat as an Ulster Unionist before switching to the Conservative Party."

Inspector Louis Provart said emergency services were alerted after people living near the crash reported hearing a loud bang.

Roland Bronk, owner of The Swan House restaurant in Beccles, said it was "very foggy" in the area at the time of the crash.

Taxi driver Mark Murray, 22, from Beccles, said: "There is a large stately home nearby and you often see helicopters coming and going from there.

"When they have a game shoot the guests often all arrive in separate helicopters. We don't know if that is linked, but that's the only helicopter activity we see in this area."

The site is just 45 miles from Cley next the Sea, where four US airmen were killed in January when their Pave Hawk military helicopter came down in a marsh.

More follows...


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Leeds Hospital Children's Heart Unit 'Safe'

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 13 Maret 2014 | 16.12

A children's heart surgery centre that was temporarily shut last year over mortality rate fears is safe, a comprehensive review has found.

But NHS England and Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) apologised after the report outlined complaints from 16 families who said they had experienced poor care at the paediatric cardiology unit.

The report was in two parts - a statistical analysis of mortality rates, centred on the 35 children who died following surgery between 2009 to last March, and a report on 16 families who said they felt let down by the unit.

Some parents said there had been a lack of compassion after they lost a child, while a Muslim woman told how she felt pressured to have an abortion, which went against her religious beliefs.

NHS England said in its overview of the report: "We conclude that these families did not get the level of care or service that they deserved and for this we are truly sorry."

Operations at the unit were suspended for more than a week last year after NHS England raised concerns about data on death rates at the centre.

The decision sparked controversy, with some parents and doctors suggesting it was linked to plans for some children's heart surgery units to be closed as part of a nationwide restructuring.

After a fierce campaign by some parents whose children were treated at the LGI and two legal challenges, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt halted the plan and ordered NHS England to re-evaluate the whole process.

Surgery resumed at the LGI unit on April 10 last year. 

Dr Yvette Oade, the chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: "We are pleased for our patients, families and staff that the Mortality Case Review has confirmed the medical and surgical care provided by the children's heart surgery unit in Leeds is safe.

"We are very sorry however that the 16 families who shared their stories with the Family Experience Review felt we did not provide the care they had a right to expect.

"We sincerely apologise to those families and will, of course, ensure we learn from what they had to say and improve our services as a result of this."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Flights Delayed And Cancelled Amid Thick Fog

Cancellations And Delays At Airports

Updated: 8:29am UK, Thursday 13 March 2014

A number of flights have been cancelled at London City Airport and there have been delays at Southampton Airport as thick fog envelopes parts of the UK.

London City Airport

Arrivals

LX 484  SWISS (BSL) Basel, Switzerland/Mulhouse  7:00 AM  Cancelled

LX 484  SWISS (BSL) Basel, Switzerland/Mulhouse  7:00 AM  Cancelled

VG 5070  Cityjet (RTM) Rotterdam  7:05 AM  Cancelled

AF 5070  Air France (RTM) Rotterdam  7:05 AM  Cancelled

KL 2471  KLM (RTM) Rotterdam  7:05 AM  Cancelled

T3 3270  Eastern Airways (DUS) Dusseldorf  7:05 AM  Cancelled

BA 3270  British Airways (DUS) Dusseldorf  7:05 AM  Cancelled

LX 442  SWISS (GVA) Geneva  7:20 AM  Cancelled

LX 442  SWISS (GVA) Geneva  7:20 AM  Cancelled

CJ 8450   BA CityFlyer  (AMS) Amsterdam  7:20 AM  Cancelled

BA 8450  British Airways (AMS) Amsterdam  7:20 AM  Cancelled

CL 926  Lufthansa CityLine  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

LH 926   Lufthansa  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

NH 6235  ANA  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

US 5890   US Airways  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

CJ 8731  BA CityFlyer  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

BA 8731  British Airways  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

AB 5089  airberlin  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

CL 926  Lufthansa CityLine  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

LH 926   Lufthansa  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

US 5890   US Airways  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:30 AM  Cancelled

CJ 8731  BA CityFlyer  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

BA 8731   British Airways  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

AB 5089   airberlin  (FRA) Frankfurt  7:35 AM  Cancelled

LX 450  SWISS  (ZRH) Zurich  8:05 AM  Cancelled

LX 450   SWISS  (ZRH) Zurich  8:05 AM  Cancelled

CJ 3291  BA CityFlyer  (ABZ) Aberdeen  8:20 AM  Cancelled

BA 3291   British Airways  (ABZ) Aberdeen  8:20 AM  Cancelled

Departures

LX 451  SWISS  (ZRH) Zurich  7:30 AM  Cancelled

LX 451   SWISS  (ZRH) Zurich  7:30 AM  Cancelled

VG 5071  Cityjet  (RTM) Rotterdam  7:35 AM  Cancelled

AF 5071   Air France  (RTM) Rotterdam  7:35 AM  Cancelled

KL 2470   KLM  (RTM) Rotterdam  7:35 AM  Cancelled

LX 443  SWISS  (GVA) Geneva  7:50 AM  Cancelled

LX 443   SWISS  (GVA) Geneva  7:50 AM  Cancelled

UA 7751   United Airlines  (GVA) Geneva  7:50 AM  Cancelled

CJ 8732  BA CityFlyer  (FRA) Frankfurt  8:05 AM  Cancelled

BA 8732   British Airways  (FRA) Frankfurt  8:05 AM  Cancelled

AB 5088   airberlin  (FRA) Frankfurt  8:05 AM  Cancelled

LX 485  SWISS  (BSL) Basel, Switzerland/Mulhouse  8:35 AM  Cancelled

LX 485   SWISS  (BSL) Basel, Switzerland/Mulhouse  8:35 AM  Cancelled

Southampton Airport

Arrivals

BE616  Guernsey 07:50 Delayed

AF6455  Guernsey 07:50 Delayed

T34700  Leeds 07:50 Delayed

BE228  Jersey 07:55 Delayed

SI234  Guernsey 08:00 Delayed

SI642  Jersey 08:05 Delayed

BE760  Edinburgh 08:10 Delayed

BE881  Glasgow 08:15 Delayed

GR501 Alderney 09:05  Delayed

BE862 Manchester 09:55 Cancelled

EY7884 Manchester 09:55 Cancelled

BE383 Dublin 10:00  Delayed

BE1012 Amsterdam 10:20 Delayed


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Pedestrian Killed By Police Car In Hastings

A pedestrian has been killed by a police car in East Sussex.

The victim, thought to be a man in his 40s, was hit on the A259 at White Rock, Hastings, on Wednesday evening.

Police and paramedics at the scene tried to save him but he died at the crash site.

Two police officers were travelling in the vehicle, which was responding to a report of a car being driven by a disqualified driver in the area.

One of the officers is reported to have been slightly injured in the collision.

A police spokesman said the matter is being referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

"The full circumstances of the incident have yet to be established," he added.

Sussex Police have asked for anyone with information to call 101, quoting Operation Marshside.

The car believed to have been driven by the disqualified motorist has not been found.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Cash Incentives 'Could Help People Get Healthy'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 12 Maret 2014 | 16.13

Out-of-shape people are more likely to change their lifestyle and improve their health if offered a cash incentive, research has found.

A study looked at how effective incentives were for 30,000 people set challenges such as quitting smoking.

Newcastle University researchers looked at 16 previous studies and found sums as small as £3 could make people up to 50% more likely to make changes than with standard interventions.

Financial penalties for failure also worked and the research team found that large incentives were not necessarily more effective than smaller ones.

But it was no clear if the positive impact would continue in the long-term after the rewards had stopped and the researchers said more work would be needed to establish whether the policy could save the NHS money.

Newcastle University Research Associate, Dr Emma Giles, said: "This was an interesting finding and we were surprised at just how strong the effect was. 

"People who took part in these reward or penalty schemes were much more likely to adopt healthy behaviours, and if they continued they would have more chance of remaining healthy for longer.

"Many studies used vouchers for supermarkets or similar things rather than actual cash. This might be a more acceptable way of implementing this."

Dr Jean Adams, senior lecturer in public health, said: "We were surprised how few studies we found which had looked at the impact financial incentives can have.

"At this stage we don't know the right level that incentives should be at, so it is not clear if this sort of scheme would save the NHS and country money.

"We try all kinds of techniques to try to help people to quit smoking or otherwise live healthy lives, so why not try this? It is about nudging people to healthier behaviours.

"There is a chance this could save the taxpayer money in the long run."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Ed Miliband To Make EU Referendum Pledge

By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor

Ed Miliband has effectively ruled out an EU in-out referendum, saying there would only be a vote in the event of a significant Brussels power grab.

Refusing to guarantee a referendum, the key initiative from the Labour leader is what he calls a "new lock: there would be no transfer of powers from the UK to the EU without a referendum on our continued membership of the EU".

However, he points out there are no current proposals for such a transfer of powers saying: "It is unlikely there will be any such proposals in the next parliament."

The Labour leader views a referendum as an unattractive, as well as an unlikely option.

Labour has been under pressure to address the referendum question from the moment David Cameron promised that a Conservative government would offer the British people a vote in 2017.

The opposition will hope their new position is robust enough to withstand an onslaught from the Tories this side of the election and beyond.

miliband

Mr Miliband, writing in the Financial Times ahead of a speech on Wednesday, lays out an "agenda for change" in Europe, pledging: "We strongly believe Britain's future is in the EU."

Among his proposals is to extend transitional arrangements for countries joining the EU "so that citizens have to wait longer before gaining rights to work here".

"There should be reforms to rules allowing people to claim child benefit of child tax credit when their children live abroad," he argues.

The Conservative position is in certain respects just as bedevilled as Labour's with caveats, ifs, buts and hypotheses.

But it is clear in its guarantee of a 2017 vote, no matter what.

On that basis, it is certain the Tories will accuse Mr Miliband of retreating to the fence on Europe. It is an attack he will have anticipated, and he will now spend months and indeed years trying to repel it.

Shortly after details of Mr Miliband's pledge were revealed, Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "By his own admission, Ed Miliband says it's unlikely there'll be an in-out referendum on Europe under Labour.

"Only the Conservative Party can guarantee and deliver that in-out referendum."

:: Watch Ed Miliband's speech on Sky News at 10.45am on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Barracks Murder Probe: Serving Soldier Charged

A 23-year-old serving soldier is due in court after being charged with the murder of a corporal at their barracks.

The man, who has been in custody at Shrewsbury police station since his arrest at the weekend, is expected to appear at Telford Magistrates' Court, West Mercia Police said.

The soldier was last night charged with killing Corporal Geoffrey McNeill, of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, after his body was discovered in an accommodation block at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, Shropshire, around 9am on Saturday.

The victim's brother, Jason McNeill, paid tribute to his sibling, who was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim.

"He served his country with the highest degree of honour and dedication," he said.

"He was a much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend, and touched the lives of all who had the pleasure of meeting him.

"The family would like to give thanks for the continued support of the Army, police and all who knew and loved Geoff."

Cpl McNeill was from the battalion deployed to help flood-stricken communities in Worcestershire last month.

Members of the unit met the Prime Minister when he toured flood defences at Upton-upon-Severn.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Barracks Murder Probe: Dead Soldier Named

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 11 Maret 2014 | 16.12

A soldier who police suspect was murdered at a barracks in Shropshire has been named as Corporal Geoffrey McNeill.

The 32-year-old, from 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, was discovered at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill at 9am on Saturday.

A 23-year-old serving at the barracks has been arrested on suspicion of Cpl McNeill's murder.

The victim's brother, Jason McNeill, paid tribute to his sibling, who was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim.

"He served his country with the highest degree of honour and dedication," he said.

"He was a much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend, and touched the lives of all who had the pleasure of meeting him.

Clive Barracks Corporal McNeill's body was found at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill

"The family would like to give thanks for the continued support of the Army, police and all who knew and loved Geoff."

Detective Inspector Steve Tonks, of West Mercia Police, said: "The investigation is in its early stages and extensive enquiries are continuing."

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday, but police said further tests were needed to establish how he died.

An MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected at this difficult time.

"We are assisting West Mercia Police with their investigation and it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this time."

Cpl McNeill was from the battalion deployed to help flood-stricken communities in Worcestershire last month.

Members of the unit met the Prime Minister when he toured flood defences at Upton-upon-Severn.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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Edinburgh Child Killer Theresa Riggi Found Dead

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Theresa Riggi, who killed her three children in an Edinburgh flat in 2010, has been found dead at a high security hospital.

The 49-year-old was jailed for 16 years for killing her children, twins Gianluca and Austin, aged eight, and five-year-old Cecilia.

They were stabbed to death in a flat in August 2010.

After killing the three children, Riggi was badly injured after creating a gas explosion and jumping from the second floor balcony of the property.

She broke her pelvis but might have been killed had a neighbour not attempted to catch her, breaking her fall. When emergency services arrived, Riggi was also found to have stab wounds which were believed to have been self-inflicted.

California-born Riggi, who was initially charged with murder, admitted culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility in March 2011.

On Monday, a Nottinghamshire Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we were called to Rampton in the early hours of this morning to the death of a woman.

"It's not being treated as suspicious and we are preparing a file for the coroner."

The children's deaths came amid a bitter custody battle between Riggi and the children's father, Pasquale.

In July 2010, Riggi had gone missing with her three children and they were the subject of a missing persons appeal.

Police eventually traced them to a flat on the west side of Edinburgh on July 21, 2010, but officers took no further action.

On August 3, Theresa Riggi failed to turn up to a custody hearing.

The judge duly instructed that she be traced and a decision taken by social workers as to whether her children should be taken into care.

The next day, August 4, the children were found dead with several stab wounds each.

The couple had moved to the UK because of the children's father's work in the oil industry. He is originally from Colorado.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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New Rules To Tackle Excess Skin Op 'Lottery'

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

A woman who says she has almost two stone (12 kilos) of spare skin after losing more than half her body weight is supporting new national guidelines for corrective surgery.

Kerry Trotter, 39, wants a body contouring operation to remove excess skin on her stomach, arms and legs after a gastric bypass helped reduce her weight from 27 stone (171 kilos) four years ago to 11 stone (70 kilos) today.

"It hangs, it stops you from doing things," she explained at home in Penshaw, County Durham.

"It affects your self-confidence, you don't want to do certain things because you know it's there, it moves, it's not easy."

Kerry Trotter. Kerry Trotter with a pair of her old trousers

Kerry says a hospital appointment to assess her for surgery was cancelled because it had been decided she didn't fit the eligible criteria for surgery in her area.

Consultant plastic surgeon Mark Soldin from the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), says a postcode lottery has prevented people who have lost a lot of weight from getting the help they need.

"I've seen many patients whose lives have been transformed through receiving body contouring reconstructive plastic surgery," he said.

"However, there are many other people who, simply due to their postcode, are denied this procedure and are left to deal with the huge physical and psychological problems caused by excess skin."

Kerry Trotter before she had a gastric bypass. A picture of Kerry before her gastric bypass

New guidelines on who should get help, accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, are being introduced from Tuesday for hospitals across England.

They follow research showing many hospitals have no procedures in place for weight-loss patients who need corrective surgery, despite the problem causing significant health concerns.

A study of 67 primary care trusts in England showed 23 excluded any reference to body contouring procedures, while patients denied the treatment were more likely to suffer a range of problems including depression and an increased chance of putting weight back on.

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Dog Attack: Armed Police Catch Pitbull

Written By Unknown on Senin, 10 Maret 2014 | 16.12

A 22-year-old woman is in hospital with "serious injuries" after being attacked by a dog on the outskirts of Lincoln.

The attack happened near the city's Outer Circle Road in an area close to a quarry at around 10.30pm on Sunday.

It sparked a hunt using armed officers and a helicopter, with police warning local people to stay away from the area.

Dog attack happened near the Outer Circle Road in Lincoln The dog attacked the woman near the city's Outer Circle Road

The animal was caught at around 1.30am and police confirmed the attack victim was not its owner.

Staff at Lincoln County Hospital had raised the alarm when the woman was admitted with her injuries.

It is the latest attack by what is thought to be an American pitbull-type dog.

Last month 11-month-old Ava Jayne Marie Corless was mauled to death by a dog believed to be of that species while in bed at a house in Emily Street, Blackburn, Lancashire.

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Energy Bills To Show Codes To Help Consumers

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky Correspondent

Homeowners are being offered a new way to potentially save money on their energy bills - QR (or quick response) codes.

The Department for Energy and Climate change wants all energy companies to add the codes to their bills to give customers an easier way of finding out how much they have spent on gas and electricity.

Ed Davey Ed Davey says the move will make a 'real difference'

The codes are small box shapes with unique combinations of black and white dots, and are similar to barcodes, providing easy access to information through your smartphone.

In order to read them, customers will need to download a QR reader app on their phones.

This is the latest announcement from the Government to help consumers get a better deal, with collective switching and simpler tariffs already introduced.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey said: "We're determined to make energy markets work better for consumers - and despite all the evidence showing that QR codes on bills would make a real difference to people, energy companies still haven't done anything about it.

"That's why we're acting to make sure people have a quick, straightforward way to compare the best deal for them with a simple swipe of their phone.

"With so many of us using smart phones and tablets nowadays it would be strange if we weren't using the latest technology to help us save money at home."

The Big Six The big six energy companies have all raised prices in recent months

The Government says studies have shown that the technology would be helpful for customers, but there has been no voluntary move by the energy sector to introduce QR codes, therefore it is taking action under the Energy Act to modify the energy company licences to have QR codes included as part of energy bills.

Energy UK, which represents the industry, told Sky News: "Energy companies are working hard to streamline tariffs, improve customer information and encourage choice so people have all they need to compare and switch.

"And it's working - around quarter of a million customers switch every month and nearly a million did last November and December alone."

Despite concerns from some campaign groups, ministers insist the QR codes will also benefit vulnerable consumers or those who do not use smartphones, because people with smartphones will be able to help friends and family less comfortable with technology.

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Paralympics: Gallagher Wins GB's First Gold

Partially-sighted Kelly Gallagher has won Britain's first ever Winter Paralympic gold medal with victory in the Women's Super-G.

The 28-year-old and her guide Charlotte Evans were the first skiers out on the Rosa Khutor course in Sochi and clocked one minute 28.72 seconds.

She then waited as her rivals failed to beat her time.

Jade Etherington won bronze with the help of guide Caroline Powell for her second medal of the competition.

Britain has had athletes in every Winter Paralympics since the first event in 1976, but had never won gold.

The three medals won so far surpasses the minimum target of two set by UK Sport.

Kelly Gallagher. Britain won gold and bronze in the Super-G

"It was nerve-wracking but I'm delighted with the result," said Gallagher.

"Normally when we compete, even in big events like World Championships, there is nobody interested in what we are doing but here there has been a lot of hype and pressure, as well as expectation, and maybe we let some of that in, so today we just decided to ski and see what happens.

"I have to thank Charlotte for getting me to the line. We just threw ourselves at it. I prayed for the strength to ski and have fun."

Gallagher, from Bangor in County Down, has oculocutaneous albinism, a condition with affects the pigment in her hair, skin and eyes.

She started skiing for the first time when she was 17 on a trip to Andorra.

Brits celebrate Paralympic Winter Games medals. Etherington, Powell, Gallagher and Evans celebrate

Gallagher and Evans have been working together since 2010 and have previously won silver and bronze medals in the 2011 and 2013 World Championships.

Evans added: "I was yelling a lot and she wasn't doing what I told her, but finally it paid off. It didn't feel as good as we wanted to on the course, but who cares, we won a gold medal and it feels amazing."

The pair are in action again in Tuesday's Super Combined event.

Etherington and Powell will both compete in Friday's slalom.

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TV Licence Dodgers May Not Be Prosecuted

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 09 Maret 2014 | 16.12

Pressure Grows Over TV Licence Prosecutions

Updated: 1:18pm UK, Saturday 08 March 2014

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

What crime led to 180,000 people being hauled in front of magistrates in 2012, resulted in 70 prison sentences and accounted for one in nine of all cases heard by the courts?

OK, OK, I know you've read the news story and realise the answer is failure to pay a television licence fee.

Magistrates have long objected to being asked to deliver criminal records to these offenders, who tend to be poor, are often older and about two-thirds of whom are women.

They think it is an over-reaction and a waste of court time.

Instead, they want to divert cases to the civil system, along with parking offences or failure to pay your gas bill.

So could their argument be gathering steam in Parliament?

An amendment calling for the change by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is gathering support from across the political divide with a variety of motivations.

Some object to the "poll tax" nature of the fee - a £145.50 levy on the rich and poor is clearly regressive.

Others feel that criminal sanctions including prison are simply not the right response, particularly given the vulnerability of those it affects.

Then there is the idea of easing pressure on courts and prisons appeals across the political system.

And finally, there are those who simply detest the BBC.

The corporation itself would be uneasy about the change because of fears it would reduce the incentive to pay.

Even a 1% rise in evasion would cost £35m, which the Beeb tells us is equivalent to 10 local radio stations (or, to put a different spin on it, 11 Jeremy Clarksons).

What is notable about this story is that Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, has called Mr Bridgen's intervention "really interesting".

He says Maria Miller, the Culture Secretary, agrees and both departments will be doing some "serious work on the proposal".

In reality, any such change would be discussed as part of BBC Charter renewal.

The next round is due to be completed by the end of 2016, with talks starting around 18 months beforehand.

That means the middle of next year - probably not until after the General Election.

The magistrates, it seems, will have to wait.

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Man Arrested After 'Explosives' Found

A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing explosives after "potentially hazardous material" was discovered at a property in South Yorkshire.

Around 50 homes in Chestnut Grove in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, were evacuated and a cordon put in place around the area.

The material is being assessed by police and army bomb disposal experts, who were seen coming and going at a bungalow in the cul-de-sac.

Speaking at the scene, Superintendent Liz Watson said officers acted on information that a local man had been buying items which could be explosive if put together.

She said: "The police had received some information regarding a gentleman that lives in the local area that's been purchasing hazardous material."

Explosives found in Mexborough Police vehicles parked at a pub near the scene

Police said the 55-year-old who was arrested remains in custody in Doncaster.

Evacuated locals either spent the day with relatives or at a centre in Mexborough set up by Doncaster Council.

Supt Watson said: "I'd like to personally thank residents for the patience, co-operation and community spirit that has been shown today.

"Some of the people evacuated from their homes this morning were elderly and vulnerable, but our partner agencies and members of the community really rallied round to ensure that all those who had to leave their homes for several hours were well cared for."

Supt Watson said the incident had caused concern among the community, but that the multi-agency response was necessary to ensure the suspicious items could be removed safely from the property.

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£140m Pothole Repair Fund After Winter Storms

By Tadhg Enright, Sky Correspondent

An extra £140m is being made available by Westminster to help local councils repair roads which have been battered by this winter's severe weather.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Having the right infrastructure in place to support businesses and hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.

"This extra money will help make a real difference to the millions of road users and local residents who rely on local roads, giving them safer and smoother journeys."

Some £36.5m of the cash will be ring-fenced for councils which experienced the worst of the flooding and it brings the total amount of emergency government funding for these authorities to £80m.

All councils in England can apply for a share of the other £103.5m in additional funding to cover the cost of repairs after the wettest winter on record.

roads damaged by England's record wettest winter This winter has been England's wettest on record

Some of the most serious flooding was experienced in the Surrey County Council area where at least £15m - half its annual budget - has already been spent on repairing battered roads since Christmas.

Repair teams have been working at weekends to patch roads where a combination of rainwater and groundwater has caused more erosion than an average winter.

John Furey, Cabinet Member for Transport, Highways and Environment with Surrey County Council, told Sky News: "It's double the problem for this year. The reason is that it's been a continuous flooding situation, not something that happened and then we could deal with it. 

"The biggest problem has been the inspection times. We haven't been able to get in and look and see how much has needed to be done. 

"Now we're doing it. We've started the recovery stage. Now we're looking at what needs to be done and looking at what government is going to put into this."

Road repairs Repair teams have been working at weekends to patch up roads

Surrey County Council will have to apply for extra financial help from the Government and its allocation will depend on the length of affected roads in its jurisdiction.

It does not expect its allocation to cover all the money spent on repairs and other budgets will have to be trimmed.

The Government intends to release the money by the end of this coming week and it hopes that councils will have completed repairs in time for the summer holidays.

Delays will cost motorists money too, as experienced by the increase in those seeking repairs to their cars at Reigate Motor Company.

car tyre damaged by England's record wettest winter The fund will be used for for fixing potholes and other dangers

The garage's director Simon Youthed told Sky News that business was particularly brisk and that potholes were to blame.

"We always see damaged cars at this time of year, but certainly the floods have had their effect on the roads, certainly in this area," he said.

"It's predominantly cars going through potholes, usually at speed, that often the drivers don't see. 

"One of the road wheels tends to go down into the pothole with force ... (and) that can either damage the wheel itself, it can damage the tyre, it can damage the suspension springs."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.


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