UK Police To Probe Thailand Tourist Murders

British police officers are to travel to Thailand to help investigate the murders of tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge.

Detectives from the UK were cleared to work on the case after Thailand's military ruler dropped objections to their involvement.

The agreement came after David Cameron and General Prayuth Chan-ocha discussed controversy surrounding the Thai-led investigation of the killings at a summit in Milan.

The British officers are expected to seek independent checks of DNA samples seen as key to the case against two Burmese men accused of the crime.

There has been concern over the treatment of two Burmese suspects

They are also expected to examine claims by the two migrant workers that they have been mistreated by the Thai authorities.

Mr Miller, 24, and Ms Witheridge, 23, were found dead last month on a beach on Koh Tao, an island in Thailand's Surat Thani province.

Video: Sept 19: CCTV Of Murder Victim

Court proceedings have reportedly started against the two suspects amid international concern about the investigation, including from the Foreign Office and human rights groups.

The Thai leader had previously rejected offers of help and insisted the UK no longer had "any more doubts" about the quality of the investigation following ambassador-level talks.

But sources said he agreed to a British police delegation when pressed on the issue by the Prime Minister at the Asia Europe Meeting in Italy.

A diplomatic source said: "Obviously it is for the Thai authorities to lead and carry out that judicial process. 

"But it is important that it is fair and transparent and that both of the families can be reassured that it is the murderers that have been brought to justice.

Video: Oct 3: Thai Murder Suspects Paraded

"What the PM secured this morning was agreement from the Thai PM that we can send some British police investigators to Koh Tao to work with the Royal Thai Police on this."

The Burmese men who have been charged with the killings were paraded in front of the media after apparently making confessions which were later withdrawn.

The pair have reportedly been charged with three offences - conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape and robbery.

Thai police denied reports that the Burmese embassy had formally retracted their confessions amid claims the pair were tortured.

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Anger At Claims Paramedics Left Body By Bins

MPs and campaigners have demanded an investigation into claims paramedics dumped a man's body beside rubbish bins so they could finish work on time.

The East of England Ambulance Service has apologised over allegations the body of a man, believed to be James Harrison, was mistreated.

The claims came to light after a whistleblower contacted a newspaper claiming the 32-year-old's body was left on the floor at Ely ambulance station for an hour instead of being taken to a mortuary at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

An ambulance crew had been sent to pick up the body after Mr Harrison collapsed and died near his home in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, on 24 September. 

MP Peter Bone said the alleged incident sounded 'appalling'

Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, described the alleged incident as "appalling" and called for an investigation "at the highest level".

He told the Daily Mail: "I've never heard anything like it.

"It seems to be neglect of duty and needs to be looked at the highest level. I hope it is just an appalling one-off.

"It would be extremely worrying if it was a systematic practice for staff at the end of their shift."

North East Cambridgeshire MP Stephen Barclay also called for a "full investigation".

Kathryn Murphy of the Patients Association said: "I would hope that the appropriate measures are taken against the individuals who made such an inhumane decision at such a sensitive time."

The ambulance service has apologised but refused to confirm any details regarding the incident.

Chief executive Anthony Marsh said the trust is "working with the family" to find out what happened.

"We are very sorry for what happened and have launched a thorough investigation," he added.

"This involves working with the family and everyone who responded to the patient."

A spokesman for the service said: "The incident happened on September 24.

"We were called at 5.13am and sent an ambulance, paramedic officers and a community first responder to the patient who was unresponsive."

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious and the case was passed to the coroner.

An inquest was opened and adjourned and will resume on 14 January.

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Labour Pledges One-Week Cancer Diagnosis

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Patients will be guaranteed cancer tests and results within a week under plans outlined by Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Labour has pledged to pump £700m into cancer diagnosis over the course of the next Parliament if they win the General Election.

The money will come from a new levy on tobacco companies, they say.

Mr Miliband says he wants Britain to lead Europe in terms of cancer survival rates and predicts such a huge investment could save 10,000 lives a year.

"Labour has different values on the NHS than this Government," said Mr Miliband as he visited Cancer Research UK in Cambridge.

Video: Miliband's NHS Mansion Tax Plans

"We believe in collaboration rather than free-market competition, in prevention not picking up the pieces, and accountability rather than undermining patients' rights and guarantees.

"Labour has different priorities from this Government. We would raise taxes on the most expensive homes worth over £2m in our country, hedge funds which avoid paying their fair share, and the tobacco firms whose products cause so much ill-health and suffering.

"This money will help pay for the investments we will make with our NHS Time to Care Fund."

Video: NHS Staff Strike Over Pay

The Treasury earned £9.5bn from tobacco duties in 2011-12, but the cost of smoking to the NHS is estimated at between £2.7bn and £5.2bn per year.

Mr Miliband added: "Labour has a plan for the NHS so that it can meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

"We have already said we will guarantee GP appointments within 48 hours. And we have already shown how our Time to Care Fund will ensure the NHS has 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 GPs, 5,000 home care workers and 3,000 midwives so they have the time to care for you.

Video: Ed Miliband's Highs And Lows

"Now Labour is setting out the next stage of our NHS Plan: a guarantee that no-one will have to wait longer than one week for cancer tests and results by 2020.

"It is critical that we improve early diagnosis of cancer - a killer disease that one in three of us will get -  so that we can match the best countries in the world for surviving it.

"And this is a plan paid for by money raised from the profits of the tobacco firms whose products have done so much to cause cancer in the first place."

Video: Stars Stand Up To Cancer

Mr Miliband came in for criticism at the Labour party conference when he forgot to mention the deficit in his keynote speech, but when it came to the NHS he made no such mistake.

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Petition Against Rapist Footballer Grows

A petition to to block footballer Ched Evans from playing for Sheffield United has reached almost 150,000.

It is believed the striker has been released from prison after serving half of a five-year sentence.

Evans, who denied raping a 19-year-old in his hotel room, was jailed in April 2012 following the incident in Rhyl, North Wales.

The 25-year-old Welsh international admitted having sex with the woman, who told the jury she had no memory of the incident.

Sheffield United has not yet said whether he will be allowed to play for them again.

Earlier this week, manager Nigel Clough said: "We have had one or two discussions, we are awaiting a decision and the owners will make that in good time."

The online petition urged the Bramall Lane club not to welcome him back, but many fans have called for him to be rehabilitated.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.

Earlier this week,TV presenter Judy Finnigan apologised after she said on the ITV show Loose Women that his crime was "not violent" and did not cause "bodily harm".

Evans' case is due to be looked at by the Criminal Case Review Commission in the coming weeks.

The striker scored 48 goals in 113 games for Sheffield United before his imprisonment, including 35 in 42 games during the 2011/12 campaign which was cut short for him due to his trial and conviction.

He has been capped 13 times for Wales.

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'Hundreds' Of UK Terror Arrests This Year

Police have foiled several potentially deadly attacks and arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists so far this year, Britain's counter-terrorism chief has claimed.

Mark Rowley - the UK's National Policing Lead for Counter Terrorism - said officers were dealing with "exceptionally high" numbers of investigations and had been contacted by "dozens" of families concerned that loved ones may be planning to join jihadists in Syria or Iraq.

Amid widespread fears over the influence of Islamic State terrorists, he revealed police have been taking down more than 1,000 pieces of extremist material from the internet each week, including videos of beheadings, torture and suicides.

It comes as the Foreign Secretary said British jihadists returning from Syria or Iraq could be tried for treason.

Britons have been joining IS, currently fighting over Kobani in Syria

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Rowley said: "So far this year we have made 218 arrests and are running exceptionally high numbers of counter-terrorism investigations, the likes of which we have not seen for several years.

"Against an increasing operational tempo we are disrupting several attack plots a year.

Video: Hundreds Of Terror Threats In 2014

"These plots are of varied sophistication, from individuals planning to carry out spontaneous yet deadly attacks to more complex conspiracies, almost all seemingly are either directed by or inspired by terrorism overseas."

Asst Comm Rowley said 16 people had been charged with terrorist offences after returning to the UK from Syria.

He added: "The volume, range and pace of counter-terrorism activity has undergone a step-change.

Video: 'Thousands Of Terror Suspects'

"Public safety is our number one priority and we will always focus our disruption activity against those posing the greatest and most imminent threat.

"Sometimes this means intervening very early - essential to prevent attacks, but presenting enormous challenges in securing sufficient evidence to charge."

He added that more than 80% of the material removed from the internet was related to Iraq and Syria, where the success of Islamic State has prompted fears the group's influence may be growing abroad.

Video: Social Media Terrorism

Asst Comm Rowley said 66 people who have been reported missing to police are feared to have travelled to Syria.

"The growing problem of young, impressionable, and in some cases vulnerable individuals being radicalised online is an increasing risk," he said.

"Extremist groups are using social media in highly sophisticated ways in order to recruit or persuade individuals towards their violent and warped ideologies.

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1. Gallery: The Battle for Kobani Continues

   Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani. American-led forces conducted 21 airstrikes near the border town in the last two days to slow the advance of Islamic State militants, the US military said

2. The US warned the situation on the ground is fluid as militants try to gain territory

3. A US-led coalition aircraft flying over Kobani

4. Smoke rises from a village on the outskirts of Kobani

5. Unidentified armed men run in Kobani

6. Photographers and journalists watch Kobani from a hill

7. Kurdish refugees from Kobani stand in an abandoned village near the Turkish-Syrian border

8. A black flag belonging to the Islamic State is seen in Kobani. The airstrikes appear to have done little to blunt the group's onslaught on the town

9. Unidentified people gather in Kobani

10. A Turkish Kurd watches Kobani near the border crossing in Turkey. Continue through for more images

22. Cundi Minaz, one of four female Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Unit (YPG) who were killed during clashes with Islamic State fighters in Kobani, is buried in a cemetery in the southeastern town of Suruc

23. People attend the funeral of Cundi Minaz

"Dozens of families have contacted us concerned about loved ones or information when they believe someone is travelling abroad.

"It is only through courageous action like that that we can help and we have been supporting such families in every way we can."

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British Jihadists Could Face Treason Trials

British jihadists who go to fight in Iraq or Syria could be tried for treason, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Philip Hammond said those who had gone out to train with Islamic State could be considered to have "sworn personal allegiance" to the terrorists and therefore committed the offence.

Treason used to be punishable by death, but since 1998 the maximum sentence has been life imprisonment.

Philip Hammond said treason was one of many charges that could be used

The last person hanged for treason was William Joyce, who went by the name of Lord Haw Haw, in 1946 for making Nazi propaganda broadcasts.

Questioning Mr Hammond in the Commons, Tory backbencher Philip Hollobone said: "Given that, with the assent of this House, Her Majesty's armed forces are now engaged in military action against Islamic State, given that we have all witnessed on television the beheading by a British jihadist of British and American aid workers, and given that the offence of treason still exists, but has not been used since 1946, will the Foreign Secretary ensure that British jihadists who return from Iraq and Syria are prosecuted for the offence of treason?

"Their actions are treachery against Her Majesty, and aiding and abetting enemies of Her Majesty is one of the greatest offences a British citizen can commit."

The Foreign Secretary said there was "a number of offences under English law with which returning foreign fighters can be charged".

He said: "We have had a discussion about the allegiance question. We have seen people declaring that they have sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

"That does raise questions about their loyalty and allegiance to this country and about whether, as my honourable friend rightly says, the offence of treason could have been committed.

"I will certainly draw his remarks to the attention of the Home Secretary, who ultimately will be the person who needs to look at this."

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Report: Mistakes Costing The NHS £2.5bn A Year

The NHS is spending as much as £2.5bn a year on paying for mistakes, according to a new report.

Consultants Frontier Economics found the extra treatment required, extra beds being taken up, extra nursing time, as well as a huge compensation bill, costs the taxpayer a fortune.

Between £1bn and £2.5bn is spent annually on rectifying errors that have resulted in someone being put in greater danger, the consultants found.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will make a speech later setting out why action is needed to reduce the waste from mistakes.

He will say that a culture change is what is needed to tackle the problem that leads to errors being made.

Video: NHS Staff Strike Over Pay

But the Royal College of Nursing is arguing that any poor care is the result of understaffing on wards, which it says is caused by Government policy.

Last year the NHS spent £1.3bn on payouts to people who had sued over poor patient care.

The four most common problems, according to the Department of Health, are falls and trips, bed ulcers, urinary infections caused by poorly fitted catheters and deep vein thrombosis.

Video: Vow To End Year-Long Hospital Waits

People who end up having to be treated for those conditions cost the NHS an extra £200m a year in extra care alone.

Mr Hunt will tell staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital: "I want every director of every hospital trust to understand the impact this harm is having not just on their patients but also on their finances.

"And I want every nurse in the country to understand that if we work together to make the NHS the safest healthcare organisation in the world, we could potentially release resources for additional nurses, additional training and additional time to care.

Video: £1000 A Day Nurses Working In NHS

"It would be tempting to set up a new target or issue a new ministerial decree. But that would be a mistake. Because the culture change we need to develop has to come from inside."

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the Government needed to invest in more staff before patient care could be improved.

He said: "Every nurse's first priority is patient safety, and they are well aware of the effects of poor care.

Video: Hospital Safe Staffing Levels Drive

"Though these proposals are well intended, logic suggests that you need to invest in additional staff first, and then you will find that your short term investment leads to longer-term savings."

Anna Bradley, chair of patients' watchdog Healthwatch England, said: "The principle behind this initiative is absolutely right - what is good for patients is ultimately often cheaper for the system.

"To make this work we need a compassionate and effective complaints system that addresses people's concerns when things go wrong and works with them to improve services for the future."

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British Ebola Nurse To Return To West Africa

British ebola survivor Will Pooley is preparing to return to West Africa to provide medical support in the fight against the epidemic.

He is among the first wave of volunteers from the NHS and Public Health England who have begun training ahead of possible deployment to Sierra Leone. 

The nurse, from Suffolk, said it was "something I need to do".

Mr Pooley worked at a hospice in Freetown, Sierra Leone, before moving to an ebola centre in Kenema where he was infected with the disease.

Some 4,493 people have died from the current ebola outbreak

He was flown home to Britain and admitted to an isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in north London where he was given the experimental ebola drug ZMapp and recovered from the illness.

"There is still a lot of work to do out there and I am in the same or better position than when I chose to go out before," he said.

"It does not seem likely that I will contract it again but it will still be the same question in my mind as it was the first time. It was an easy decision at that time and it is the same now."

Of his friends and family who have already seen the trauma he went through after contracting the illness, he said: "They are always going to be worried. They are very supportive."

Other British volunteers have been asking him what it is like to have ebola and about his experience treating it.

He said: "That is the reason I am here - tonight is about giving them a bit of insight in to what work and life is like out there at the moment.

"People are interested and people have a right to know about it if they are considering going out there.

"I know my mum and dad are worried but they support me because they know this is something I have to do.

Passengers on Amber Vinson's flight are being hunted by US authorities

"My potential immunity is very reassuring for them, or at least it should be, and I will be returning in a more organised fashion than when I was out there originally."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded 8,914 cases of ebola but WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward has warned the number of new cases is likely to hit 5,000-10,000 a week by early December.

In the US, the race is on to track down passengers who shared a flight with a nurse diagnosed with ebola in Texas.

Amber Vinson, 29, was on board a flight from Cleveland, Ohio, to Dallas-Fort Worth on 13 October, the day before she fell ill.

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Barnardo's Accused Of Blaming Victim For Abuse

By Gerard Tubb, North Of England Correspondent

The children's charity Barnardo's has been accused of blaming a victim of child sexual exploitation for her own sexual abuse by a gang of men who had groomed her.

A letter written by a Barnado's project worker in 1993 says that abuse of a 16-year-old girl in accommodation owned by the charity could have been avoided if she had not placed herself in danger.

The letter states that the girl was sexually assaulted but: "The situation could have been avoided if [she] had not been party to the antics of a group of young men."

It goes on: "Having consumed a quantity of alcohol and three valium tablets [she] was not able to maintain control or respond to the situation in a constructive and cohesive way."

Last month chief executive of Barnardo's Javed Khan condemned institutions that had blamed children for their own abuse and called for them to be investigated by the Government's independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation.

Video: Barnardo's Director Responds

The victim, now 37, says the sexual assault that triggered the letter happened in her Leeds flat after British Pakistani men befriended her and let her run up debts before giving her drink and drugs.

"I woke up and I didn't have any clothes on and there were half naked men around," she said.

"I knew I'd been assaulted. I didn't know to what extent, I didn't know if I'd been raped or what, really."

She says she spent years feeling ashamed after being told at the time that the attack, which occurred shortly after she had left a children's home, was her fault.

"Looking back, how I feel now is absolute disgust with predominantly Barnardo's for knowing this happened, for blaming me for it happening and doing nothing about it," she said.

She remained in the flat for a further six months and says her abuse by the men escalated over that time and included rape.

Greg Mulholland, the woman's MP, is demanding an investigation by Barnardo's and Leeds City Council for what he calls "shocking and utterly disgraceful" behaviour.

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1. Gallery: Barnardo's Letter Accused Of Blaming Victim

"To actually blame her for the most appalling abuse and grooming and indeed blackmail that she suffered is really appalling," he said.

"This woman who was then a 16-year-old girl, shortly out of care, very vulnerable, was seriously, seriously let down by the two organisations who were there to protect her."

In a statement Barnado's told us it was shocked at the contents of the letter.

The statement said: "This woman has been very brave in bringing this issue to light. It must have been a very difficult and distressing step to have taken after so many years.

"Barnardo's takes this very seriously and we will fully investigate."

Nigel Richardson, director of children's services at Leeds City Council, said: "We are very sorry to hear about what this young woman was subjected to."

He said the council was very keen to investigate the case, and added: "We are confident that an incident like this would be managed very differently today."

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NHS Alcohol-Related Admissions Near '10 Million'

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

Almost 10 million people a year are receiving NHS treatment because of alcohol, according to new figures.

The report compiled by Alcohol Concern shows the number and cost of treatments for illness and injury caused directly by drinking, like binge-fuelled trips to A&E or liver disease.

It also shows the cost of conditions in which alcohol is a significant factor.

A new online map highlights the total number of alcohol-related NHS admissions hit almost 10 million in England during 2012-13.

While A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related hospital visits, inpatient admissions were responsible for almost two thirds of the total cost burden.

In England as a whole the figures suggest that drinking is attributable for almost half of all head and neck cancer inpatient admissions at a cost to the NHS of £65.3m.

A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related visits

Just over 13% of all malignant breast neoplasm admissions were attributable to alcohol, costing the NHS £27.1m.

In total 9.6 million people in England are now drinking in excess of Government guidelines, with 2.4 million of those classed as high risk.

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1. Gallery: Men & Women: Alcohol Guidance

   Women's bodies, in general, process alcohol at a slower rate than men's, says Drink Aware

2. Alcohol can affect women's fertility, create a greater risk of breast cancer and increase some side-effects of the menopause

3. The NHS estimates that around 4% of UK women show signs of alcoholism

4. Alcohol daily guidelines for women are 2-3 units of alcohol, equivalent to a 175 ml glass of wine

5. Alcohol daily guidelines for men are no more than of 3-4 units of alcohol, equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer

Commenting on the data, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Jackie Ballard said: "The NHS is now facing an intolerable strain from alcohol-related illnesses.

"We need to ensure adequate alcohol care pathways are prioritised and appropriate services are put in place to ease this burden."

Dr Carsten Grimm, Clinical Lead for the Alcohol Service in Kirklees, Yorkshire, said: "It is vital that people understand the full consequences of drinking at unsafe levels can have on their health.

Video: Alcohol NHS Impact Regional Guide

"With almost 10 million alcohol-related hospital admissions, we can see just how serious an impact unsafe levels of alcohol consumption is having on our health system."

A Department of Health statement said the Government is well aware of the costs caused by drinking.

"We know that alcohol-fuelled harm costs society about £21bn a year and are determined to reduce this burden to taxpayers. The rise in admissions is very concerning and we are taking action to tackle cheap and harmful alcohol.

Video: Pill Could Cut Desire For Alcohol

"We have given local authorities £8.2m over three years to tackle health issues in their communities like harmful drinking.

"We are working with industry to promote drinking within recommended guidelines and responsible drinking through local schemes, and are already making headway by removing a billion units from the market over four years." 

Video: 'We've Seen Liver Disease Double'

Video: New Report On Drinking And Health

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Royal Hoax Radio DJ Seeks Work In The UK

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

One of the Australian DJs at the heart of the Royal hoax phone call scandal has told a UK radio conference she would like to work on the airwaves in Britain.

Mel Greig appeared at Radio Festival 2014 in Manchester where she told delegates that making a speech at her engagement party had made her realise she was ready to return to radio.

"When I held that microphone I realised I did want to return to media," the DJ said.

"When I held it and felt so comfortable that's when I thought: 'No, this is what I've always known, this is what I've done, it's such a powerful medium to get our messages across, I don't want to give this up.'"

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself in 2012

Asked if she would move to the UK the DJ replied: "It's beautiful here so, absolutely, I'd love to move here if the opportunity came up."

Ms Greig apologised for her role in the incident at the inquest of nurse Jacintha Saldanha last month, and told the conference of her horror and disgust at the part she played in the prank.

Video: Hoax 'Pressing' On Nurse's Mind

"I was disgusted with myself, that I'd played a part in this poor woman's suicide, it was very hard to deal with."

Ms Greig added: "It was horrific. And at the time I felt that I deserved it, people were saying you deserve to die and I honestly thought I do deserve to die.

"I had failed as a human being - someone has taken their own life because of something I was involved in."

In 2012 Ms Greig and co-host Michael Christian called the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge for acute morning sickness posing as the Queen and Prince Charles.

Jacintha Saldanha, who transferred the call to another nurse on the Duchess's ward, was found dead a few days later.

Video: Hoax Nurse's Family Speak Of Grief

Ms Greig subsequently suffered from depression.

She said that broadcasting wasn't a job but a passion and she'd be a wiser presenter after a tough two years on the sidelines.

She has a regular slot on breakfast TV in Australia but otherwise is "being patient with it and hoping the right opportunity comes up".

Critics accuse the DJ of playing the victim to rebuild her own career - but the Australian insists that's not the case.

"We need to see what we can learn from a tragic situation," the 32-year-old said.

Video: India Remembers Jacintha Saldanha

"I'm hoping that even if one person walks out of this room and it changes their mindset the next time they go to do something that might affect someone, then my job is done."

She also talked about going to hospital for major surgery for endometriosis, a fertility condition, and said: "I was convinced that that was my karma. That I took a mother, and now I don't deserve to be a mother."

A two-day inquest at the High Court heard Mrs Saldanha held herself responsible for the mistake, despite the private hospital's management supporting her and the other nurse as victims of a cruel joke.

Michael Christian has returned to the airwaves on Australian radio.

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Jobless Total Back Below Two Million Mark

The latest unemployment figures show the jobless total below the two million mark for the first time since 2008.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said unemployment fell by 154,000 in the three months to August to 1.97 million, with the jobless rate falling by more than expected to 6% - its lowest level since October 2008.

But the figures also highlighted continuing concerns about wage growth - measured at just 0.7% on an annual basis between June and August.

It meant that earnings were still failing to keep pace with inflation despite annual living cost increases being calculated on Tuesday at just 1.2%.

The ONS statistics also showed that growth in employment had slowed to its weakest pace since May 2013 though it took the total in work to a new UK record of 30.7 million.

The fall in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in September was the smallest since April last year, down 18,600 month-on-month.

There are fears the UK's economic recovery risks being damaged by renewed weakness globally - with some economists forecasting a new recession in the UK's biggest market, the eurozone.

Unemployment has fallen by 538,000 over the past year, the biggest annual reduction since records began in 1972.

Prime Minister David Cameron reacted to the figures by tweeting: "The biggest-ever fall in unemployment in history, taking it below two million, is great news. Our plan is working, but there's still much more to do".

The statistics showed progress on the crisis in youth unemployment - which covers 16-to-24-year-olds - easing by 88,000 over the quarter to 733,000.

There were 162,000 unemployed 16-and-17-year-olds, down by 11,000 on the previous three months.

But the number classed as economically inactive increased by 113,000 in the latest quarter to more than nine million - a figure that risks damaging the Government's attempts to bring down the UK's welfare bill.

More follows...

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Ebola: How To Protect Yourself From Virus

Most of ebola's 4,300 victims have come from West Africa, however, British experts say the UK must also be prepared.

Here are a number of ways people can help protect themselves from contracting the virus.

:: Hygiene is extremely important. Wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol-based sanitiser

:: Keep hands away from the face

:: Avoid contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone, especially someone who is sick, as it is through these fluids, such as vomit, blood and saliva that ebola is passed on

Video: UK's Response To Ebola Threat

:: Avoid handling items that have been touched by that person or any of their body fluids

:: Do not touch the body of someone who has died from ebola.

:: The World Health Organisation says any areas that person may have had contact with, such as bed linen, should be disinfected

:: Do not touch bats and non-human primates or their blood and fluids, and do not eat raw meat prepared from these animals

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1. Gallery: Ebola Exercise Tests UK Readiness

   A nationwide drill to test Britain's readiness for an ebola outbreak has left the Health Secretary "doubly reassured" the country would cope

2. The eight-hour simulation at hospitals across the country proves Britain has "robust plans" in place, says Jeremy Hunt. Continue for more images

:: Avoid travelling to countries where ebola is rife, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone

- Seek medical care immediately if you develop a fever (a temperature of 101.5F or 38.6C) or a headache, muscle pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bruising or bleeding

- Limit your contact with other people until and when you go to the doctor and do not travel anywhere else besides a healthcare facility

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Police Arrest Six On Suspicion Of Terrorism

Three men and three women have been arrested in Portsmouth, Farnborough and Greenwich on suspicion of terror offences.

The arrests come as a result of an operation conducted by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, Thames Valley Police said.

Two of the men, aged 26 and 23 from Portsmouth, were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

A 23-year-old woman from Farnborough and a 29-year-old woman from Greenwich were also arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

A 57-year-old man from Portsmouth, was arrested under Section 38(b) of the Terrorism Act 2000 failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism, Section 5 1(a) Terrorism Act 2006 engaged in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts and Section 17 Terrorism Act 2000 arranging availability of money and property for use in terrorism.

A 48-year-old woman from Portsmouth was arrested under Section 38(b) Terrorism Act 2000 failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "Officers would like to reassure residents that the police activity today is in relation to conflicts overseas and is not linked to any immediate threat to local communities or anywhere else in the UK.

"If anyone from the local community has any concerns or information contact police on the 101 number or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321. All calls will be treated with the strictest confidence."

The arrests follow the detention of three men on Monday in central London by counter-terrorism police.

Five men were arrested last week in a series of dawn raids on central and west London.

Police said afterwards they thought they had disrupted what was believed to be the early stages of what could have turned into a "significant plot".

Two of the five have since been released from custody.

 

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Ebola: Enhanced Screening Starts At UK Airports

Britain is to start enhanced screening today of passengers coming to the UK from the countries worst affected by the ebola outbreak.

Checks will begin at Heathrow's Terminal 1 and will then be expanded to Gatwick airport and the Eurostar rail terminals by the end of the week.

The move is designed to halt the spread of a disease which has killed more than 4,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Previously British Airways was the only airline that operated a direct service to the UK from the affected area.

Although it stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone in August, there are fears that people who have picked up infections in those countries may try to reach the UK by another route.

Video: Ebola: Infected Dallas Nurse Named

About 1,000 passengers a month are said to travel to the UK from the three countries.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that it is "likely" that ebola will be seen in the UK with around 10 cases expected to be confirmed in the next three months.

He said the screening measures being put in place should ensure 89% of people travelling to the UK from the affected region on tickets booked directly to the UK are checked.

Video: New UK Measures To Tackle Ebola

In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Hunt said: "Whilst there are no direct flights from the affected region, there are indirect routes into the UK.

"In the next week, Public Health England will start screening and monitoring UK bound air passengers identified by the Border Force coming on to the main routes from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

"This will allow potential ebola virus carriers arriving in the UK to be identified, tracked and given rapid access to expert health advice should they develop symptoms."

Video: Fear And Panic Over Ebola Calls

Anyone found to have ebola will be moved to the Royal Free Hospital in north London, the UK's specialist centre for treating the most dangerous infectious diseases, Mr Hunt said.

Other facilities may be made available in Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield, to make a total of 26 beds available, he added.

Mr Hunt said screening at airports could be extended to Birmingham and Manchester if the threat level increases, but in the meantime people manning the NHS' non-emergency 111 phoneline will also be taught to look out for potential ebola.

Video: Can UK Be Protected From Ebola?

Britain's latest ebola aid flight delivering equipment to help tackle the outbreak arrived in Freetown on Monday. It includes materials to help build a 92-bed unit being constructed by a UK team.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the epidemic is the "most severe... health emergency in modern times".

A nurse who became the first person to contract the disease in the United States, after treating a sufferer who had flown into the country from the affected area, is still in a stable condition in isolation.

Video: Ebola Crisis: On The Front Line

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Murder Hunt As Teen Dies After Street Attack

A teenager who died after being assaulted outside a grocer's store in Manchester has been described by his mother as a "loveable rogue" who was "always polite".

Jordan Brennan, 17, was found unresponsive in bed at his home in the Gorton area of the city on Saturday morning.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services and a post-mortem examination later found he had died from a head injury.

Police say he was assaulted by a man outside a grocer's shop in the area the evening before he died.

CCTV of the pair, described as of Chinese appearance

Police have launched a murder inquiry and have released CCTV images of a man and a woman they want to speak to about the incident at the shop.

They say that around 7.30pm on Friday, Jordan was with two friends when they went into the store on Hyde Road.

As Jordan was leaving he was assaulted outside the shop by a man who had also been in the shop at the same time as Jordan and his two friends.

Jordan went home and went to bed and at 9am on Saturday and was found unresponsive by his mother.

The man was wearing a white shirt, black jacket and trousers

Detective Inspector Theresa Carter said: "Jordan was very well known and liked and both his family and the wider community are deeply shocked and saddened by what happened.

"At this stage we know that Jordan was assaulted outside the grocer's store, but we don't know exactly what led up to the assault.

"I would also ask that the man involved contacts the police so that we can fully understand what happened inside and outside the shop. We would also like to speak to the woman who he was with."

The woman is thought to be around 25 to 30 years old

Both the man and woman police wish to speak to are of Chinese appearance and about 25 to 30 years old.

The man had a stocky or chubby build and black hair and was wearing a white shirt and a black suit jacket and trousers. The woman was slim and had long black straight hair.

In a statement, Jordan's mother, Kim, said: "Our son Jordan Brennan was 17 years old and was a well-liked young man.

"He was a loveable rogue and was always polite and keen to help anyone who needed his help, be that physical help or just to listen to a friend. He would cheer them up with his usual larking about or joking around.

"He was a pleasure to have as a son and his loss is devastating. He was greatly loved by all that knew him."

:: Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 0161 856 68797 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Midwives Among 400,000 Striking Health Workers

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Hundreds of thousands of health workers have gone on strike in protest at the Government's decision not to give them a 1% pay rise.

For the first time in history, midwives are joining picket lines outside hospitals and ambulance stations across the country.

But ambulance service providers say they may be forced to prioritise their care and are bringing in extra staff from the military to fill in the gaps.

Several trade unions will be involved in the action, including those representing nurses, paramedics, hospital porters and ambulance crews as well as the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

The strikes could see around 400,000 refuse to work in England for four hours from 7am, with action planned later in Northern Ireland.

Video: NHS Health Workers Go On Strike

Contingency plans have been worked out, and union members will deal with emergencies.

The Royal College of Midwives will take part in the action for the first time in the organisation's 133-year history.

Cathy Warwick, the college's chief executive, said: "Midwives are caring people who often work long hours of unpaid overtime just to keep our understaffed, under-resourced maternity services running in the midst of a decade-long baby boom.

"They deserve this modest 1% pay rise."

Video: Hospitals To End Parking Charges

Unions are protesting at the Government's decision not to accept the independent pay review body's recommendation to award a 1% pay rise to all staff. 

Instead, ministers took the decision to award a 1% pay rise for those on top of their pay band but not to those on "progression pay increase", who automatically get a fixed average pay increase of 3%.

The unions say the number of NHS England health workers who will not benefit from the additional 1% is around 600,000.

In Wales, thousands of NHS workers will vote on whether or not to strike after a similar offer was made. In Scotland, all staff were granted the recommended 1% pay rise. No decision has been made in Northern Ireland.

Video: Hospitals Relying On Holiday Locums

The average annual private sector pay increase is currently around 2.5%, while last year it was recommended that MPs should see their pay increase by 11% by 2015.

Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "We are working through some of the toughest times in the history of the NHS.

"A pay award for all staff on top of increments would have cost £450m more - the equivalent of 14,000 newly qualified nurses.

"Hard-pressed staff would have been put under greater pressure or may have had to be reduced."

Video: Hundreds Sent Home At Night

NHS bosses say non-emergency appointments will be postponed during the strike and emergencies won't get ignored.

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News Organisations Reveal Leaders' Debate Plan

By Jason Farrell, Political Correspondent

Sky News, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have announced joint plans for a series of party leader debates across TV and the internet in the run-up to the 2015 General Election.

The news organisations describe the debates as "vital in engaging voters with the political process" and have written to David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage inviting them to take part. 

It follows the first ever leader debates in 2010, which were watched by 22 million people.

April 2010: the Sky News leaders' debate

The format for 2015 would see three different styles of debate – one of which will include the UKIP leader. The broadcasters say they are "responding to the changes in the political landscape".

Sky News and Channel 4 intend to host a straight head-to-head contest between the two leaders, who could become Prime Minister.

Video: 13 May 2014: Public Expects Debates

The debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband would be chaired by former Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman with Sky News' Kay Burley introducing the programme and presenting the post-debate analysis.

The BBC would broadcast a similar debate to the 2010 format where the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders are pitted against each other. This would be presented by David Dimbleby.

ITV would have a four-way contest between the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP leaders. This would be chaired by ITV presenter Julie Etchingham.

The Head of Sky News John Ryley said: "There are only 24 weeks to go before the start of the General Election Campaign.

"Sky, Channel 4, the BBC and ITV have put together a clear compelling proposal; three debates during the election campaign. It's now critical that the political parties engage and start negotiating for the debates seriously."

The leaders have agreed in principle to the debates, but the Prime Minister has resisted pinning down the detail. Privately, some senior Conservatives believe it was the 2010 debates that cost David Cameron a majority and they want him to try and wriggle out of Round Two.

Video: 22 Apr 2010: Sky Leaders' Debate

Previously, the debates were at weekly intervals in the last three weeks leading up to polling day. Mr Cameron has suggested they should happen before campaigning gets under way.

Last year he said: "I want the debates to take place. They were good in the last election." But he added: "I thought they took up too much of the campaign, so I think we could start them a bit earlier."

In May this year it was reported the Prime Minister was ready to sign up for three debates, including one with Mr Farage. The Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said "all options are on the table."

The proposal addresses Mr Cameron's concerns by suggesting the three debates take place at fortnightly intervals beginning in early April.

They propose this happens within the six-week campaign period "at a time when the parties will be setting out their policies - to help further engage the audience with the election."

The suggested dates are April 2, April 16 and April 30.

Video: 23 Apr 2010: Leaders' Debate Review

Live debates have now become a normal part of the political landscape. Mr Clegg and Mr Farage clashed over Europe, and the bitter battles between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling energised the Scottish independence fight. 

However, while 2010 was the television election – 2015 will engage more widely with voters online and using social media.

As well as live studio audiences, comprising members of the general public, questions will also be provided to the leaders using social media including Twitter and Facebook to ensure the widest possible audience engagement. Each broadcaster will make their debate available live to all other media outlets.

In a joint statement, the news organisations said: "All four broadcasters believe televised party leader debates are vital in engaging voters with the political process. The broadcasters intend to transmit the leaders debates live for all their extensive audiences, on air, online and on social media, which together have a mass reach amongst the British population."

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Google Bombarded With Requests To Delete Info

Google says it has received 18,304 requests from Britons asking it to remove information about their past under the EU's 'right to be forgotten' legislation.

The submissions came from more than 6,000 people who asked the search engine to erase links to more than 60,000 websites.

Altogether just over 145,000 requests have been made to Google by people across Europe wanting to improve their reputations.

That is an average of 1,000 a day since last May when the process began.

The controversial 'right to be forgotten' law covers the 28 countries in the EU, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Video: Assange: Google Is Like The NSA

According to Google, the highest number of requests have come from France (29,010), followed by Germany (25,078) and then Britain.

Altogether the submissions covered more than 497,000 web links, of which 42% - more than 200,000 - have been jettisoned.

Among all websites, Facebook's social network has had the most links erased so far - 3,332 - while Google's own YouTube video site has had nearly 2,400 removed.

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Even when blocked from Google's search results in Europe, however, content can still appear in listings posted in other parts of the world, including the US.

Under the new law EU citizens can request that links to "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant" information be removed from Google search results.

In short, Google must remove articles if the impact on the individual's privacy is greater than the public's right to find it, the European Union Court of Justice found.

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The legislation has been widely criticised for allowing murderers, rapists and paedophiles to bury information about their past and for undermining freedom of speech.

It followed a landmark case brought by a Spanish man who complained that an auction notice of his repossessed home on Google's search results infringed his privacy.

Google has given examples of links which have been deleted including one to old article about the murder of a woman's husband in Italy. This was removed because the story mentioned the wife.

Video: Jimmy Wales: 'Don't Use Google'

The company says it has turned down requests from financial professionals seeking to remove links to material describing arrests or convictions for past misconduct.

It also rejected a demand from a "media professional" in the UK to erase four links to embarrassing content.

There are fears the whitewashing of search results could extend beyond the EU after a Japanese judge ruled Google should remove information that suggested a man once had ties to a criminal organisation.

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British Troops Back In Iraq To Help Beat IS

The Ministry of Defence has said a "small specialist team" of UK soldiers are in Iraq and working near the front line of the fight between the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish fighters.

Based near the Kurdish capital of Irbil in the north, they are training peshmerga forces in the use of heavy machine guns the UK supplied to them in September.

The Sunday Times reported that the soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, which is based in Cyprus.

An MoD spokeswoman said: "The Government has previously made clear its intention to provide training to the peshmerga as part of the continued effort to assist in the fight against Isil (IS).

UK troops are training Kurdish peshmerga forces in the use of UK arms

"The Defence Secretary has approved the deployment of a small specialist team of non-combat Army trainers which is now in the Irbil area providing instruction on operating, employing and maintaining the heavy machine guns that were gifted by the UK last month."

British troops invaded Iraq in March 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

1/10

1. Gallery: The Moment RAF Jet Attacks IS Truck

   The RAF carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on 1 October, 2014 (All pictures: MoD)

2. Tornados destroyed a heavy weapon position, which was attacking Kurdish forces, and an armed pick-up truck (pictured). The red circle shows the path of the missile fired at the vehicle

3. The strikes were the first since MPs voted to support aerial raids in Iraq last Friday

4. The targets were in the northwest of Iraq

5. The moment the truck, which had a mounted machine gun, was destroyed by a Brimstone missile

6. A plume of smoke rose above the area

7. The strike was successful, according to an initial assessment, said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

8. The Tornados safely returned to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the sortie

9. Six of the GR4 fighter jets are based on the island in the Mediterranean

10. The aircraft began their combat missions on Saturday

The last British combat troops from the war left in April 2009, with a small number staying on to train Iraqi forces until 2011.

RAF Tornado fighter jets have been involved in US-led bombing raids on IS fighters for the past two weeks.

But there is strong resistance among British politicians to any ground troop involvement in fighting against the Islamist group, which controls vast areas of Iraq and Syria.

Video: RAF Jets Attack Targets In Iraq

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Revenge Porn Offenders To Face Prison

By Harriet Hadfield, Sky News Reporter

Publishing sexually explicit pictures of former partners is to be made a criminal offence - and could carry up to a two-year prison sentence.

It is known as revenge porn and involves uploading private images with the intention of embarrassing or shaming an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend.

The issue was brought into sharp focus after celebrities including pop stars Rihanna and Tulisa Contostavlos fell victim to the cruel craze.

In the last two and a half years 149 cases of revenge pornography were reported to eight police forces in England and Wales and figures reveal the victims include children as young as 11.

An anonymous victim of revenge porn told Sky News: "I felt humiliated, I was shocked that someone had stooped to that level to try and humiliate me because I didn't think that I had disrespected someone enough for them to do something like that to me.

Video: Revenge Porn Victim Tells Her Story

"It makes you feel dirty, it makes you feel unconfident and if something can be done about it, I think it should be."

There is currently no law in the UK that deals directly with the issue but proposed changes to legislation would apply to online and offline images and those convicted could face a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the distribution of such images was "almost beyond belief".

"We want those who fall victim to this type of disgusting behaviour to know that we are on their side and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice," he said.

Video: Revenge Porn Police Stats

"That is why we will change the law and make it absolutely clear to those who act in this way that they could face prison."

The change in the law would be made via an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.

Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive for the charity Victim Support, said: "This type of behaviour can be extremely distressing for its victims causing them significant psychological harm.

"We are pleased that people who commit these gross violations of privacy will now face prosecution and victims of revenge porn know they have the full backing of the law."

Video: Revenge Porn Victims As Young As 11

But some experts are questioning whether a specific revenge porn offence will work.

Lawyer Myles Jackman told Sky News: "It is very difficult as there are a number of different scenarios in which revenge porn might be created and not all of them will fit this one scenario.

"Creating an offence that catches all is almost impossible."

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