British Scientists To Explore Lost Antarctic Lake

Lake Ellsworth Ice Mission Q&A

Updated: 7:42am UK, Saturday 08 December 2012

As the scientists prepare to start drilling, Sky's Thomas Moore answers the key questions about the project.

Where is Lake Ellsworth?

The lake is under the West Antarctic ice sheet, 70km west of the Ellsworth Mountains.

Seismic studies suggest it is approximately 150m deep and is roughly the same size as Windermere.

There are over 360 sub-glacial lakes known to exist below Antarctica's vast ice sheet.

How remote is it?

The team has travelled 16,000km to reach Lake Ellsworth, flying first to the southern tip of Chile and then on to the drilling site in a smaller aircraft that is able to land on ice. In all, the flight time was five days.

Equipment was air-freighted to a runway on the Union Glacier and then hauled by tractor train 280km through the Ellsworth mountain range.

What are living conditions like?

The team will spend six weeks at the camp. Outside the wind-chill can dip to minus 70 degrees Celsius.

They will sleep in four-man clam tents. In the 24-hour daylight of the Antarctic summer, temperatures inside are generally between four and 20 degrees.

A larger tent serves as a kitchen, dining area and office.

A chef provides freshly-cooked food - even bread.

How will the engineers drill through the ice?

The team had to design a sophisticated hot-water drilling rig that could bore through the ice without contaminating the pristine waters of the lake.

Around 90,000 litres of water will be heated to 90 degrees Celsius by a 1.5 MW boiler and pumped at high pressure through a 3.2km continuous hose that has been made to support its own weight and the heavy drill head.

The drill should melt a 36cm borehole through the 3km of ice in around 100 hours.

Once drilling starts there is no turning back - the water in the hose would quickly freeze.

And then?

Once they breakthrough into the lake, scientists will drop down a titanium probe to sample the water at various depths. Built by the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, it contains 3,000 individual components.

Then they will use a highly specialised sediment corer to take a 3m column of the lake-bed.

The equipment has been sterilised to space-industry standards using hydrogen peroxide vapour to prevent surface microbes contaminating the lake.

All this has to be done within 24 hours or the borehole will be too narrow to retrieve the samples

Won't the scientists risk a geyser when they drill through to the lake?

Millions of tonnes of ice are pressing down on the lake. But the engineers have a plan to stop the water bursting back up to the surface when they breakthrough.

The first borehole will stop at 300m, where they will create a cavity. A second borehole will go through the cavity down to the lake. The cavity controls the pressure of the water.

What if they don't find life?

The scientists say that, too, would be significant. It would show there is a limit at which no life can exist on our planet.

But they are confident they will find microbes - wherever else there is water on Earth there is life.

And that would encourage scientists who believe there may be life in the seas below the icy crust of Jupiter's moon Europa.

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Belfast Flag Violence: Rioting In City Centre

Belfast has been hit by another night of rioting as hundreds of loyalists took to the streets to protest over flags.

Eight police officers were injured, with two needing hospital treatment, and five people were arrested following clashes across the city.

Trouble flared at Shaftesbury Square - a popular party spot near Queen's University - after a man tried to drive a black van through a loyalist road block of about 200 people.

Eye witnesses said police officers were pelted with stones, bricks, bottles and other missiles. Two cars were also set on fire.

Police vans cut off part of Belfast's Sandy Row area

Two PSNI water cannons were deployed to the area but were not used against the rioters.

There were also reports of minor sporadic disorder in other parts of the city.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said: "This behaviour is simply not acceptable. These people are only wrecking their own communities and putting innocent people's lives at risk.

"Twenty-one officers have been injured so far this week dealing with this disorder. That's 21 officers who have been pulled away from their roles of protecting the community. This is unacceptable.

"This mob violence and intimidation cannot be allowed to continue and I am urgently appealing to politicians and those with community influence in these areas to do what they can to put a stop to this behaviour now before someone is seriously injured or killed."

A burned out car in Belfast city centre after rioters dispersed

Loyalists opposed to a restriction on the number of days the Union flag can be flown over Belfast City Hall have held protests across Northern Ireland every night since the decision was taken, despite appeals from the First Minister for the pickets to be suspended.

Last night, demonstrations were also held in the greater Belfast area, Bangor, Co Down, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh and Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Police said there were no reports of violence outside Belfast. On Friday night, police clashed with loyalists in Ian Paisley's home town of Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Hillary Clinton appealed for the violence to stop

There are plans for a major protest in Belfast city centre later today. Traders are worried it could affect business on what should be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

During her visit to Northern Ireland US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appealed for the violence to stop.

Much of the anger has been directed towards the non sectarian Alliance Party, whose councillors in Belfast voted to limit the number of days the Union flag could be flown over the city hall from 365 to 17.

A death threat against the party's only MP, Naomi Long, marked a significant escalation in the seriousness of the sectarian tension.

On Wednesday, a constituency office in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim was destroyed in an arson attack. An attempt to burn down Bangor premises occupied by the Alliance Party's Employment Minister Stephen Farry was thwarted.

Belfast city councillor Laura McNamee was also advised to leave her home while two others living in Bangor had their house vandalised.

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Starbucks Tax Row: Protests Planned Across UK

Coffee chain Starbucks is braced for protests over its tax arrangements despite announcing changes to its payments.

The US-owned giant said it expects to pay around £10m in UK corporation tax for each of the next two years, following the revelation that it paid just £8.6m in 14 years of trading in Britain and nothing in the last three years.

Activist group UK Uncut is planning more than 40 demonstrations across the country, "transforming" Starbucks stores into refuges, creches and homeless shelters.

The anti-cuts direct action group said the number of protests planned for today had increased since Starbucks made its announcement.

UK Uncut said it also wanted to highlight the "disproportionate" impact of the Government's spending cuts on women.

Sarah Greene, a UK Uncut activist, said: "It is an outrage that the Government continues to let multinationals like Starbucks dodge millions in tax while cutting vital services like refuges, creches and rape crisis centres.

"It does not have to be this way. The Government could easily bring in billions that could fund vital services by clamping down."

Hannah Pearce, a UK Uncut supporter, said that offering to pay some tax "if and when it suits" does not stop a company being a tax avoider, adding: "This is just a desperate attempt by Starbucks to deflect public pressure - hollow promises on press releases don't fund women's refuges or child benefits."

Union boss Mark Serwotka says Starbucks' tax stance is "scandalous"

She called on the Government to force Starbucks and other tax avoiding firms to "pay their fair share, instead of cutting welfare and tax credits for single mums and disabled women".

A spokesman from Global Women's strike, one of the women's groups supporting Saturday's action, said: "Women - in families, homes, communities and jobs - bear the brunt of austerity.

"At our Women's Centre we see more women cut off benefits, losing their jobs, being made homeless and going hungry.

"Already, 3.5 million children live in poverty, one in five mothers skips a meal to feed her children, and many walk miles to get food handouts because they can't afford the bus fare.

"Women are also expected to pick up the pieces as services disappear or turn people away, saying they are overwhelmed."

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, which is supporting the protests, said: "With hundreds of thousands of public sector workers having their jobs, pay and pensions cut, and people entitled to benefits being demonised and targeted in the most shameful way, it is utterly scandalous that some multinational companies believe they can get away with contributing little or nothing to our economy.

"We fully support this weekend's action which, along with previous campaigns by UK Uncut and others, will highlight the fact that if large companies like Starbucks paid their fair share it would change the debate about public spending overnight."

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Drink-Driving: Crashed Car Shown To Clubbers

A dad whose daughter was killed in a drink-drive crash hopes that parking her wrecked car outside nightclubs will stop others getting behind the wheel while over the limit.

The man, who wants to remain anonymous, lost his eldest daughter in the crash near Fleet, Hampshire, last November.

The 23-year-old was four times over the drink-drive limit when her Vauxhall Corsa collided with a van on her way home from a night out. She died instantly.

Her father has now agreed to let police display her car in town centres in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight in the hope it will encourage others not to drink and drive.

"I wanted to tell my story, her story, because I wanted people to see what devastation they can cause by making that choice," he said.

"It's a split second decision which can have far-reaching consequences.

"To anyone else who would consider getting behind the wheel after having alcohol, I plead with you as a father, as the husband of a devastated mother, as the parent of two grieving children and on behalf of the many people who knew and loved my daughter, please don't.

"You can't imagine the pain you could leave behind, either for your family or for someone else's."

The Smashed campaign will target drivers aged between 20 and 24, who accounted for nearly a quarter of drive-drink arrests last Christmas.

Interviews with some of the emergency service personnel who attended the crash, including paramedic Kate McDougall and firefighter Craig Gregory, have been released on YouTube as part of the campaign.

Sergeant Jay Hewes, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "We don't ever want to tell another parent, partner or child, that someone they love is gone, but chances are that before the year is out, we will have to.

"If one person, regardless of their age, sits up and takes notice, this young person will have left a legacy her parents can take some comfort from and those who knew her can be proud of."

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First Picture Of Kate Hospital Hoax Nurse

The first picture has been released of a nurse who apparently committed suicide after being duped by a prank call.

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha was found dead days after taking the hoax call from an Australian radio station and putting it through to a nurse on the Duchess of Cambridge's ward, who divulged private information about her treatment.

The body of the 46-year-old mother-of-two was discovered at an address near King Edward VII's hospital in London - where she had worked for four years - on Friday morning.

Kate, who is understood to be well under 12 weeks pregnant, was admitted to the hospital on Monday with severe morning sickness and released again on Thursday.

More follows...

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West Coast Rail Debacle 'Cost Taxpayers £50m'

Taxpayers face a "significant" bill over the botched West Coast rail franchise process, a report from a government spending watchdog has said.

The Department for Transport's running of the West Coast bidding process lacked management oversight, with some staff "confused" by the system, the National Audit Office (NAO) report said.

The Government has already indicated that repaying bidding costs to the companies that competed for the franchise is likely to land taxpayers with a bill of around £40m.

Richard Branson's Virgin Trains has been handed the franchise for the next 23 months after the process that saw the route awarded to its rival FirstGroup was abandoned.

In its report, the NAO said staff and adviser costs, legal costs and money for the two reviews set up by the Government following abandonment of the West Coast bidding amounted to £8.9m.

NAO head Amyas Morse said: "Cancelling a major rail franchise competition at such a late stage is a clear sign of serious problems.

"The result is likely to be a significant cost to the taxpayer."

Margaret Hodge branded the bidding process a "fiasco".

Commenting on the report, House of Commons Public Accounts Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said: "The DfT's handling of the West Coast franchise was a first-class fiasco."

Ms Hodge, Labour MP for Barking, said the DfT had "blundered into this major and complex competition for one of the biggest franchises in the country without even knowing how key parts of its policy were to be implemented".

She went on: "The department's conduct was characterised by haste, confusion and weak internal and external communication.

"However, the ultimate failure of this competition was sealed by a rich mix of the department's feeble and forever changing management and almost non-existent oversight."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT transport union, said the final cost of the West Coast fiasco could be as high as £100m.

He said: "This cost will not be borne by the ministers responsible for this debacle.

Bob Crow says the bid debacle could eventually cost £100m

"It will be carried yet again by the British people and will be paid for through cuts in investment and higher fares, with the train operating companies protected and cushioned in the same way as they have been since privatisation was first unleashed."

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "The Government needs to grip the issues that led to the cancellation of the West Coast franchise competition.

"It must get the programme of franchising back on course and give passengers as well as train companies the confidence that new rail franchises will be awarded through a fair and robust process."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "The NAO has made a number of recommendations that mirror many of the findings of the Laidlaw Inquiry in terms of the work we need to do to strengthen our organisation and the structures within it.

"I am pleased to say that we are already taking swift action on this front and I believe the plans we are putting in place to ensure future franchise competitions are conducted on the basis of sound planning, the rigorous identification and oversight of risk, and the right quality assurance, will prevent a repeat of these lamentable failures."

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Snow Alert: Cold Weather 'Beast' To Hit UK

Britain is facing a weather front dubbed the "Beast from the East" next week - with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Temperatures could plummet as low as -6C around London as icy winds blow in over the eastern coast.

Forecasters are also predicting "lots of snow" from Monday - "obliterating" East Anglia and spreading to southeastern areas.

By Tuesday and Wednesday there could be significant accumulation of snow along much of the eastern side of Britain.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said snow which settled in the east tended to stay for longer.

"People should prepare for the cold weather and allow more time to get to work," Jo said.

"The snow could cause considerable disruption because of the accumulation in populated areas," she added.

Overnight frosts will continue throughout next week, with increasingly wintry showers turning from sleet into snow.

A few centimetres of snow could fall in the East and hilly parts of the South East today, but temperatures will be milder than earlier in the week.

There were early reports of snowfall in Luton this morning.

Snow is continuing to fall on higher ground across Scotland, but will struggle to settle after sleet showers.

Weather warnings have been issued for Scotland and north-east England as ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces following rainfall.

Overnight the wind will ease and skies will clear, and temperatures will be close to freezing in most places.

A cold and frosty start is expected for the weekend, with plenty of sunshine.

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Military-Style Training For Unruly Children

Former soldiers are to be drafted into schools to pass on military-style values of teamwork, discipline and leadership to expelled pupils under a £1.9m Government initiative.

Ministers hope the four projects, which aim to engage and motivate troubled youngsters through mentoring in the classroom and outdoor activities, will improve their behaviour and grades.

Last year, only 1.5% of pupils in alternative provision - those who have been excluded from mainstream education - achieved at least five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and maths. This is 40 times worse than those in mainstream education.

Announcing the action, Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "Every child can benefit from the values of a military ethos.

"Self-discipline and teamwork are at the heart of what makes our Armed Forces the best in the world - and are exactly what all young people need to succeed.

Education Secretary Michael Gove

"Exclusion from school should never mean exclusion from education.

"These projects are helping pupils in alternative provision reach their full potential and are helping to close the attainment gap."

Some £600,000 of the funding is going to Commando Joes' in Cheshire; £700,000 to Challenger Troop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent; £400,000 to Knowsley Skills Academy in Prescot, Merseyside; and £200,000 to Newcastle-based SkillForce.

All four ventures use activities including one-to-one mentoring, military-style obstacle courses and team-building exercises to pass on values taught in the military to children.

They also help re-integrate pupils and prepare them for post-16 courses or jobs, as well as helping primary school children in their move to secondary education.

Former bomb disposal expert Mike Hamilton, director of Commando Joes', said: "The instructors are all ex-military personnel - they are role models and kids look up to and aspire to be like them.

Mike Hamilton served in the Royal Engineers for eight years

"When we go to a school playground children hang on every word.

"In some of the deprived areas we work in, young people have not got grassy areas or anywhere to go. When they come to our sessions they get a chance to socialise in a different way, to be part of a team.

"Our motto is No Child Left Behind - we will work with every child and young person to help them feel motivated to learn and be part of their school and community again."

The boost is part of a wider aim to bolster links between the Armed Forces and schools, including expansion of the school-based cadets, developing the Troops to Teachers programme and a rise in the Service Children's Premium for service children.

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EastEnders: Brother Admits Killing Actress

The brother of a former EastEnders actress, whose headless body was found in a London canal, has admitted killing her.

Tony McCluskie pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his sister, Gemma, as he appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Belmarsh Prison saying had he "suffered loss of control". 

The  35-year-old denied murder.

Miss McCluskie went missing after attending the opening of a hospital earlier this year. Her brother, who she lived with, joined friends in launching an extensive search to find her.

Former EastEnders co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella appealed on Twitter for help.

The 29-year-old's headless and limbless body was found, a week after she went missing, floating in the Regents Canal in east London.

A trial was due to begin last month but was delayed because of the discovery of her head in September.

Prosecutors are still waiting for medical reports to establish how the actress, who played Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap in 2001, died.

McCluskie will now face trial for murder on January 14.

Judge Gerald Gordon said that the trial must not be delayed any further.

"The family must have closure", he said.

McCluskie's father, also called Tony, watched from the back of the court as his son admitted to the killing.

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Clinton Slams NI Violence Amid Bomb Finds

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the recent violence on the streets of Northern Ireland and urged all parties to confront the sectarian challenges together.

She was speaking during a visit to the state, where she met First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont before attending a lunch at Titanic Belfast in the city's docklands.

This is her second visit as secretary of state. The last was in 2009 when she encouraged the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Northern Ireland just hours after a bomb was discovered in a car.

Officers investigating dissident republican activity had stopped the vehicle in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Thursday evening.

Armagh's Mayor Sharon Haughey, then 14, with President Clinton in 1995

Two men aged 47 and 49 were arrested at the scene at about 8.40pm. Two others, also in their 40s, were detained later.

Security chiefs believe dissident republicans opposed to the peace process were planning an attack in the centre of the city, next year's UK City of Culture.

Police have also revealed the discovery of a letter bomb at a postbox in a loyalist area of Co Down. The bomb was made safe and taken away for forensic examination.

It comes as tensions have been running high over flags, and the peace that Mrs Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, helped to build remains far from perfect.

A vote to limit the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall has sparked several days of loyalist protests, some violent. 

Mrs Clinton has already visited Dublin and met children at the US embassy

The civil unrest had been threatening to overshadow Mrs Clinton's visit.

Speaking after meeting Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, the US politician told reporters: "I'm very pleased to be back. The place keeps drawing me back".

Mrs Clinton added: "Peace does take sacrifice, compromise and vigilance day after day. We've seen that again this week that the work is not complete. We have seen violence break out again.

"I join with both Peter and Martin and all the leaders and citizens who have condemned the recent attacks in Belfast and around the whole area.

"All parties need to confront the remaining challenges of sectarian division peacefully and together."

Peter Robinson has urged loyalists to suspend their protests over the flag issue. "Those who riot and engage in violence do a disservice to the flag they claim to represent," he said.

His statement followed attacks on the homes and offices of politicians belonging to the neutral Alliance Party, which had encouraged a compromise - the flying of the flag on designated days.

It was 1995 when the Clintons paid their first historic visit to Northern Ireland. Thousands turned out to greet them and to herald the dawn of the peace process here.

Teenager Sharon Haughey, who had written a letter about 'The Troubles' to the White House, welcomed them to Armagh. She's now the city's Lord Mayor and gives them the credit.

"The Clintons have played a very important role in the pathway that I have chosen in my life," she said. "They gave me a platform as a very ordinary 14-year-old schoolgirl. 

"They gave me an extraordinary opportunity and I decided to use that opportunity to help shape that future that I wanted and that's really why I'm here today."

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West Coast Rail Debacle 'Cost Taxpayers £50m'

Taxpayers face a "significant" bill over the botched West Coast rail franchise process, a report from a government spending watchdog has said.

The Department for Transport's running of the West Coast bidding process lacked management oversight, with some staff "confused" by the system, the National Audit Office (NAO) report said.

The Government has already indicated that repaying bidding costs to the companies that competed for the franchise is likely to land taxpayers with a bill of around £40m.

Richard Branson's Virgin Trains has been handed the franchise for the next 23 months after the process that saw the route awarded to its rival FirstGroup was abandoned.

In its report, the NAO said staff and adviser costs, legal costs and money for the two reviews set up by the Government following abandonment of the West Coast bidding amounted to £8.9m.

NAO head Amyas Morse said: "Cancelling a major rail franchise competition at such a late stage is a clear sign of serious problems.

"The result is likely to be a significant cost to the taxpayer."

Margaret Hodge branded the bidding process a "fiasco".

Commenting on the report, House of Commons Public Accounts Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said: "The DfT's handling of the West Coast franchise was a first-class fiasco."

Ms Hodge, Labour MP for Barking, said the DfT had "blundered into this major and complex competition for one of the biggest franchises in the country without even knowing how key parts of its policy were to be implemented".

She went on: "The department's conduct was characterised by haste, confusion and weak internal and external communication.

"However, the ultimate failure of this competition was sealed by a rich mix of the department's feeble and forever changing management and almost non-existent oversight."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT transport union, said the final cost of the West Coast fiasco could be as high as £100m.

He said: "This cost will not be borne by the ministers responsible for this debacle.

Bob Crow says the bid debacle could eventually cost £100m

"It will be carried yet again by the British people and will be paid for through cuts in investment and higher fares, with the train operating companies protected and cushioned in the same way as they have been since privatisation was first unleashed."

Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "The Government needs to grip the issues that led to the cancellation of the West Coast franchise competition.

"It must get the programme of franchising back on course and give passengers as well as train companies the confidence that new rail franchises will be awarded through a fair and robust process."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "The NAO has made a number of recommendations that mirror many of the findings of the Laidlaw Inquiry in terms of the work we need to do to strengthen our organisation and the structures within it.

"I am pleased to say that we are already taking swift action on this front and I believe the plans we are putting in place to ensure future franchise competitions are conducted on the basis of sound planning, the rigorous identification and oversight of risk, and the right quality assurance, will prevent a repeat of these lamentable failures."

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Snow Alert: Cold Weather 'Beast' To Hit UK

Britain is facing a weather front dubbed the "Beast from the East" next week - with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Temperatures could plummet as low as -6C around London as icy winds blow in over the eastern coast.

Forecasters are also predicting "lots of snow" from Monday - "obliterating" East Anglia and spreading to southeastern areas.

By Tuesday and Wednesday there could be significant accumulation of snow along much of the eastern side of Britain.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said snow which settled in the east tended to stay for longer.

"People should prepare for the cold weather and allow more time to get to work," Jo said.

"The snow could cause considerable disruption because of the accumulation in populated areas," she added.

Overnight frosts will continue throughout next week, with increasingly wintry showers turning from sleet into snow.

A few centimetres of snow could fall in the East and hilly parts of the South East today, but temperatures will be milder than earlier in the week.

There were early reports of snowfall in Luton this morning.

Snow is continuing to fall on higher ground across Scotland, but will struggle to settle after sleet showers.

Weather warnings have been issued for Scotland and north-east England as ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces following rainfall.

Overnight the wind will ease and skies will clear, and temperatures will be close to freezing in most places.

A cold and frosty start is expected for the weekend, with plenty of sunshine.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

EastEnders: Brother Admits Killing Actress

The brother of a former EastEnders actress, whose headless body was found in a London canal, has admitted killing her.

Tony McCluskie pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his sister, Gemma, as he appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Belmarsh Prison saying had he "suffered loss of control". 

The  35-year-old denied murder.

Miss McCluskie went missing after attending the opening of a hospital earlier this year. Her brother, who she lived with, joined friends in launching an extensive search to find her.

Former EastEnders co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella appealed on Twitter for help.

The 29-year-old's headless and limbless body was found, a week after she went missing, floating in the Regents Canal in east London.

A trial was due to begin last month but was delayed because of the discovery of her head in September.

Prosecutors are still waiting for medical reports to establish how the actress, who played Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap in 2001, died.

McCluskie will now face trial for murder on January 14.

Judge Gerald Gordon said that the trial must not be delayed any further.

"The family must have closure", he said.

McCluskie's father, also called Tony, watched from the back of the court as his son admitted to the killing.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Military-Style Training For Unruly Children

Former soldiers are to be drafted into schools to pass on military-style values of teamwork, discipline and leadership to expelled pupils under a £1.9m Government initiative.

Ministers hope the four projects, which aim to engage and motivate troubled youngsters through mentoring in the classroom and outdoor activities, will improve their behaviour and grades.

Last year, only 1.5% of pupils in alternative provision - those who have been excluded from mainstream education - achieved at least five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and maths. This is 40 times worse than those in mainstream education.

Announcing the action, Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "Every child can benefit from the values of a military ethos.

"Self-discipline and teamwork are at the heart of what makes our Armed Forces the best in the world - and are exactly what all young people need to succeed.

Education Secretary Michael Gove

"Exclusion from school should never mean exclusion from education.

"These projects are helping pupils in alternative provision reach their full potential and are helping to close the attainment gap."

Some £600,000 of the funding is going to Commando Joes' in Cheshire; £700,000 to Challenger Troop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent; £400,000 to Knowsley Skills Academy in Prescot, Merseyside; and £200,000 to Newcastle-based SkillForce.

All four ventures use activities including one-to-one mentoring, military-style obstacle courses and team-building exercises to pass on values taught in the military to children.

They also help re-integrate pupils and prepare them for post-16 courses or jobs, as well as helping primary school children in their move to secondary education.

Former bomb disposal expert Mike Hamilton, director of Commando Joes', said: "The instructors are all ex-military personnel - they are role models and kids look up to and aspire to be like them.

Mike Hamilton served in the Royal Engineers for eight years

"When we go to a school playground children hang on every word.

"In some of the deprived areas we work in, young people have not got grassy areas or anywhere to go. When they come to our sessions they get a chance to socialise in a different way, to be part of a team.

"Our motto is No Child Left Behind - we will work with every child and young person to help them feel motivated to learn and be part of their school and community again."

The boost is part of a wider aim to bolster links between the Armed Forces and schools, including expansion of the school-based cadets, developing the Troops to Teachers programme and a rise in the Service Children's Premium for service children.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clinton Slams NI Violence Amid Bomb Finds

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the recent violence on the streets of Northern Ireland and urged all parties to confront the sectarian challenges together.

She was speaking during a visit to the state, where she met First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont before attending a lunch at Titanic Belfast in the city's docklands.

This is her second visit as secretary of state. The last was in 2009 when she encouraged the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Northern Ireland just hours after a bomb was discovered in a car.

Officers investigating dissident republican activity had stopped the vehicle in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Thursday evening.

Armagh's Mayor Sharon Haughey, then 14, with President Clinton in 1995

Two men aged 47 and 49 were arrested at the scene at about 8.40pm. Two others, also in their 40s, were detained later.

Security chiefs believe dissident republicans opposed to the peace process were planning an attack in the centre of the city, next year's UK City of Culture.

Police have also revealed the discovery of a letter bomb at a postbox in a loyalist area of Co Down. The bomb was made safe and taken away for forensic examination.

It comes as tensions have been running high over flags, and the peace that Mrs Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, helped to build remains far from perfect.

A vote to limit the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall has sparked several days of loyalist protests, some violent. 

Mrs Clinton has already visited Dublin and met children at the US embassy

The civil unrest had been threatening to overshadow Mrs Clinton's visit.

Speaking after meeting Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, the US politician told reporters: "I'm very pleased to be back. The place keeps drawing me back".

Mrs Clinton added: "Peace does take sacrifice, compromise and vigilance day after day. We've seen that again this week that the work is not complete. We have seen violence break out again.

"I join with both Peter and Martin and all the leaders and citizens who have condemned the recent attacks in Belfast and around the whole area.

"All parties need to confront the remaining challenges of sectarian division peacefully and together."

Peter Robinson has urged loyalists to suspend their protests over the flag issue. "Those who riot and engage in violence do a disservice to the flag they claim to represent," he said.

His statement followed attacks on the homes and offices of politicians belonging to the neutral Alliance Party, which had encouraged a compromise - the flying of the flag on designated days.

It was 1995 when the Clintons paid their first historic visit to Northern Ireland. Thousands turned out to greet them and to herald the dawn of the peace process here.

Teenager Sharon Haughey, who had written a letter about 'The Troubles' to the White House, welcomed them to Armagh. She's now the city's Lord Mayor and gives them the credit.

"The Clintons have played a very important role in the pathway that I have chosen in my life," she said. "They gave me a platform as a very ordinary 14-year-old schoolgirl. 

"They gave me an extraordinary opportunity and I decided to use that opportunity to help shape that future that I wanted and that's really why I'm here today."

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Sex Offences: Tougher Sentences To Be Imposed

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Judges will be urged to consider the psychological and long-term damage to victims of sex offences when passing sentence on perpetrators under new sentencing guidelines.

The new proposals, which will go out to public consultation, will also ensure the judiciary takes into account other aggravating factors, such as filming or photographing sex attacks.

They would see sentences brought up to date with advances in the technology and tactics used by offenders.

A tougher maximum sentence of 19 years should be given for "one-off" rapes, a limit currently only available for those who attack the same victim over a course of time or rape multiple victims, the guidelines state.

Mother-of-two Gabrielle Browne was attacked by a serial sex offender in 2003, when she was out running in preparation for the London Marathon.

In the years since she has devoted much of her energies to fighting for victims' rights within the judicial system.

Particularly when it comes to sentencing, she believes victims' voices are often lost in the process.

She told Sky News that in her case, her attacker could have been stopped before he targeted her, had a judge handed down a custodial sentence for crimes he committed against other women.

"One of the most shocking and disappointing revelations in the lead up to court was when I found out that only six months earlier he had attacked six women in the same park," she said.

"Some of those women were out with their children. For those six offences he received a community supervision order."

The changes are designed to make sure paedophiles, people-traffickers and rapists who operate alone or in gangs are dealt with better in courts in England and Wales.

Sentencing Council member Lord Justice Treacy said: "We're improving guidance for courts to help them deal with these incredibly complex, sensitive and serious offences.

"The perspective of victims is central to the council's considerations. We want to ensure sentences reflect everything the victim has been through and what the offender has done.

"We are looking at the whole context, not just the physical offence but also the tactics employed by offenders like grooming activity, the targeting of vulnerable victims or abuse of a position of trust."

Judges are asked to take into account factors such as stalking and previous abuse by offenders, and the targeting of vulnerable victims like those in care.

The council said the review of the guidelines had come about because the nature of offending has changed and in some cases of sexual exploitation and child grooming perpetrators use technology in offences involving indecent images of children.

"The guidelines reflect these developments so they cover the ways these crimes are committed today," the council said.

For rape, the new guidelines are designed take a broader approach covering a range of scenarios, and to recognise not just the stereotypical "stranger rapes" but to take into account that most rapes are carried out by someone the victim knows, and that many occur within families.

The council said the current guidelines for sexual assault take "too narrow an approach", and focus too much on the nature of the physical activity done by the offender.

It called for fear and intimidation to be taken into account, so an offence would be more serious if violence was threatened or threatening or violent sexual language was used.

For child sex offences the council said it wanted to increase the focus on the behaviour of offenders, how children may have been groomed or exploited, and whether offenders abused a position of trust.

It also said factors such as the use of alcohol or drugs to facilitate the offence and the use of gifts or bribes to coerce a victim should be taken into account.

The guidelines say paedophiles operating in rings or those who abuse a position of trust to create images or videos should be given tougher sentences and called for changes in the way images are classified to aid investigators.

Although Gabrielle Browne welcomes the proposed changes, she believes judges will not be fully armed with all the information necessary to pass sentence until victim impact statements become an everyday part of sentencing.

She said: "When that becomes a routine part of the court process and a routine part of the judge's papers that he considers before passing sentence there is a much greater likelihood that there will be more uniformity in sentencing and taking a victim's views into account."

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Snow And Ice Could Cause More Delays

Commuters may face further disruptions in parts of the UK as forecasters predict more snow, a day after air and train passengers endured miserable delays.

A light dusting of snow sent the UK's transport system into meltdown on Wednesday, with major holiday airport Stansted shut for more than two hours and road and rail journeys delayed.

While England and Wales are expected to enjoy milder conditions on Thursday, Scotland is braced for more cold temperatures and snow.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Today's risk of disruption from winter weather is further northwest across Scotland, northern England and Wales with the potential for ice, rain and heavy snow.

"The snow is most likely to cause problems over around 200m, where several centimetres is forecast, perhaps with as much as 10cm to 15cm building up over higher routes over 400m.

"Lower-lying areas should not be badly affected although some slushy snow is possible for a time."

:: Live transport updates

Overnight temperatures in Scotland plunged to -12C in Braemar, and up to 15cm (6in) of snow could fall on higher ground on Thursday, and 3cm (1.25in) in Aberdeenshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Motorists are warned to be careful on the icy roads

On Wednesday a 79-year-old man was found dead near a school in Angus. It is unclear whether his death was related to the weather and police are not treating it as suspicious.

The Met Office issued an amber alert for most of Scotland on Wednesday night. Four of the six regions in Scotland are under the "be prepared" snow warning, while Orkney, Shetland, southwest Scotland and the Lothian and Borders area have a yellow "be aware" alert until 11am.

Travel networks are likely to be disrupted, especially over the M8 corridor to the east of Glasgow, across Perthshire and over much of inland eastern Scotland.

Friday will bring slightly better weather all round but there could still be some problems with transport, said Lang.

"There may be some snow early on Friday which could again bring some temporary disruption to motorists - in particular over eastern counties of England," she said.

"The main theme for Friday is a drier and brighter one as the weather improves from the west, but with a cold and gusty northerly wind."

Lang said the weekend should be better, however she warned motorists should prepare for difficult driving conditions.

"Travel disruption is unlikely at the weekend - although there will still be icy roads and perhaps some fog on Saturday and the risk of some wintry showers in the north during Sunday."

Passengers' patience wore thin at Stansted

But next week is expected to be much worse, according to Lang.

"The weather is looking much colder next week with the potential for an icy blast from the east. This could bring some significant snow falls across eastern Britain."

On Wednesday, forecasters said the snow that caused transport chaos had amounted to no more than "one or two centimetres in places".

Luton, Aberdeen and Stansted airports were affected by the wintry conditions on Wednesday.

Stansted Airport, in Essex, was shut from about 6am to 8.30am, and passengers' patience wore thin as flights were delayed and then cancelled.

Patrycja Kubiak, from Poznan in Poland, was due to fly home on the 7.05am flight, but at around 8.30am she was told it had been cancelled.

The 20-year-old music student said: "I'm just surprised that such a small amount of snow can cause these problems. It only snowed for half an hour."

Flight schedules for Stansted are currently operating as normal, the airport's website said, and Luton airport also showed no indications of delays.

Rail routes in southern England were also hit by poor conditions.

Trains were cancelled between Watford Junction in Hertfordshire and Harrow and Wealdstone in northwest London, while snow caused delays of up to 90 minutes between London and Reading in Berkshire.

There were cancellations between Barnes and Hounslow via Brentford in west London, while there were delays between London and Ashford International in Kent and also between Sevenoaks in Kent and Hither Green in southeast London.

The A120 was one of the many roads in Essex to be affected by the weather, while the A171 near Scarborough was one of Yorkshire's snow-hit routes.

:: Read more on Sky News Weather, including Thursday's forecast

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'Mega-Mosque' Proposal Rejected By Council

A proposal to build one of the UK's biggest mosques with a capacity for almost 10,000 worshippers has been rejected by planning chiefs in east London.

Just over six hectares in size, they said the proposed mosque building was "too big" and would have an impact on important historic buildings nearby.

Abbey Mills Mosque - also known as the Riverine Centre - would have become one of the biggest Islamic centres in Britain and western Europe.

According to reports, the new mosque would have taken up three times the floor space of St Paul's Cathedral and matched the biggest Islamic building in Britain - Baitul Futuh in Morden, south London - for size.

The Tablighi Jamaat group, a missionary Islamic sect, was denied permission to erect the mosque by members of Newham Borough Council at a planning meeting on Wednesday night.

It was seeking the green light to build a new mosque, a library and a 2,000-capacity dining hall at the southern end of Canning Road in Stratford, near to the Olympic Park.

The Baitul Futuh mosque in Morden, south London

Councillor Conor McAuley, the local authority's executive member for regeneration and strategic planning, said the committee had considered the application "at length and with great care" before rejecting it.

He said the development of new homes and jobs was a priority on the Abbey Mills site, and there were also "concerns" about the size of the proposed buildings and impact on parking and traffic in the area.

"The council undertook a rigorous and extensive consultation about the proposals in the run-up to this decision," said Mr McAuley.

"Our planning policies promote the development of the Abbey Mills site for a mix of residential, employment and community uses, to help create a new local centre near West Ham station and regenerate the area. The creation of new homes and jobs are a priority for Newham Council.

"It is not considered that this application is consistent with these policies. There are also concerns about the size of the proposed buildings and impact on parking and traffic in the local area."

He added: "The applicant's view that the site should only be used as a mosque was discussed at a public inquiry last year relating to the council's planning policy (the Core Strategy). The inspector did not accept their case."

Since Tablighi Jamaat moved to the Abbey Mills site in 1996, it has become embroiled in a series of application and enforcement disputes with Newham Council.

The group, which traces its origins to India in the late 1920s, has been accused in the past of radicalising young Muslims.

Tablighi Jamaat itself has said it "refrains from political or controversial activities and stands for democracy and freedom" and that it "promotes social and religious integration".

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Lollipop Man Killed By Car Outside School

A lollipop man has died after he was hit by a car while escorting a parent across the road to pick their child up from school.

Raymond Elsmore, 82, who had worked for more than 10 years helping children at Queens Inclosure Primary School, Waterlooville, Hampshire, suffered serious injuries in the accident at 3.05pm on Wednesday.

Mr Elsmore, who was wearing his uniform and carrying his lollipop, was hit by the car on Tempest Avenue.

He suffered head injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where he later died, according to Hampshire Police.

It is understood that, as leaving time from the school is 3.20pm, no child witnessed the accident.

However, some youngsters did see him lying in the road as the air ambulance landed to take him to hospital.

The 21-year-old female driver of the car, from Waterlooville, was arrested at the scene and later released on bail.

Flowers have been left at the scene out of respect for Mr Elsmore, who lived locally.

One tribute said: "You are a ray of sunshine. You will be dearly missed."

Local Chris Bray told the Portsmouth News the pensioner would regularly stop to chat to his son.

"You couldn't help but speak to him because he was such a nice, sweet man," he said.

"He would wave to all the cars that went by. He will be terribly missed."

Another parent, Jo Gonzaloz, 43, told the local paper: "We're going to miss him waving every morning.

"He's just the kindest gentleman you could ever know."

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Pregnant Kate: Duchess Is Out Of Hospital

The Duchess of Cambridge has been discharged from hospital after a stay of three days for treatment for severe morning sickness.

Kate, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, left King Edward VII Hospital with Prince William and was taken to Kensington Palace to rest.

A pale, but relaxed looking Duchess, wrapped up against the cold in a coat and scarf, emerged from the building carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers.

She gave a brief smile to the waiting press before being driven away with the Duke of Cambridge by her side.

Kate was receiving treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum - a rare condition which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy and can cause dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine called ketosis.

She was admitted to the central London private hospital on Monday after developing the condition.

William and Kate leaving the hospital earlier

Her discharge comes the day after it emerged two Australian radio DJs managed to trick hospital staff treating the Duchess into revealing detailed information about her condition.

Sydney's 2Day FM presenters, Mel Craig and Michael Christian, impersonated the Queen and the Prince of Wales to dupe staff.

They, and the radio station, have since apologised for the prank call.

However, Christian has been promoting their stunt on Twitter telling followers in a tweet: "Still haven't heard the #RoyalPrank that has the world talking? Listen to it here..."

The hospital has said it "deplores" the stunt and is reviewing procedures.

In a brief statement, St James's Palace said: "Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank the staff at the hospital for the care and treatment the Duchess has received."

Kate's sister Pippa and her brother James spent an hour visiting her at the hospital on Wednesday, while the Duchess' parents Carole and Michael Middleton are thought to have visited their daughter on Tuesday.

There has been no announcement about when the baby is due, who will be third in line to the British throne after William and his father Charles.

The new royal will be the first great grand child of a serving monarch, in direct succession, in almost 120 years.

There has been speculation that Kate could be carrying twins, as the acute sickness she is suffering from is more common in such pregnancies.

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EuroMillions Jackpot Winner Still Unknown

Top 10 National Lottery Winners

Updated: 7:29am UK, Wednesday 05 December 2012

1. Colin and Chris Weir: £161,653,000

The Scottish husband and wife said they were "tickled pink" after becoming Europe's biggest lottery winners in July 2011. The couple have reportedly bought a fleet of cars for friends since their win, as well as a mansion.

2. Adrian and Gillian Bayford: £148,656,000

The couple, from Suffolk, decided to go public after scooping nearly £150m on the EuroMillions August 10 draw.

Mr Bayford said he would carry on running his music shop in Haverhill. Mrs Bayford, a children's ward healthcare assistant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, said she would treat herself to her dream car, an Audi Q7.

3. Anonymous: £113,019,926

One British ticket scooped the massive prize on October 2010 but decided not to go public.

4. Dave and Angela Dawes: £101,203,600

The Cambridgeshire husband and wife hit the EuroMillions jackpot in October last year. It was only the third time the couple had played the lottery.

5. Anonymous: £84,451,320

The haul was won in May 2010 but the winner kept their identity secret.

6. Nigel Page: £56,008,113

Self-confessed white van man Nigel Page took home the win in February 2010. The skydiving enthusiast, who lived in a three-bedroom semi near Cirencester, Wiltshire, married his girlfriend Justine and moved into a mansion in the Cotswolds.

7. Anonymous: £46,432,285

A British ticket scooped the massive prize in February this year but also decided not to go public.

8. Les and Sam Scadding: £45,570,835

Unemployed mechanic Les Scadding and his wife Sam from South Wales bought one of two winning tickets which shared a £90m jackpot in November 2009. The other £45m-winning ticket was bought by a syndicate of seven office workers based in Merseyside. They each banked £6.5m.

9. Cassey Carrington: £45,160,170

The 22-year-old from Nottingham banked the staggering total after matching all five numbers and two Lucky Stars in a EuroMillions draw in February this year. The Iceland store supervisor said she planned to marry painter fiancee Matt Topham this September.

10. Gareth and Catherine Bull: £40,627,241

The Mansfield husband and wife scooped the bumper prize in January this year. Mr Bull, a self-employed builder, said he planned to splash out on an executive box at Manchester United and a new carpet.

His wife said she might go back to her job as a health insurance worker. The couple also said they planned to take their two sons, aged nine and 10, to Florida's Disneyland.

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Girl, Four, Dies After Level Crossing Crash

A four-year-old girl who was injured when the car she was travelling in collided with a train at a level crossing has died in hospital.

Emma Lifsey had been airlifted to Sheffield Children's Hospital after the incident in North Nottinghamshire on Tuesday.

A British Transport Police spokesman said "she was sadly pronounced dead in the early hours Wednesday".

The other person injured in the crash, a 67-year-old woman who was driving the car, remains in hospital and was in stable condition.

The girl's parents, Mark and Zoe Lifsey, said in a statement: "Emma meant the world to us. She was our much-loved daughter and a baby sister to her 11-year-old brother Jack.

"We are still trying to come to terms with the terrible incident on Tuesday afternoon and there are no words that can properly express how utterly distraught we are."

The Beech Hill crossing after the crash

The couple said they were thankful for the support received in the aftermath of the incident, but sought privacy at a time of grief.

They added: "This tragic incident has left us shocked and devastated and we would ask that we can be left to grieve in private at this acutely difficult and sad time for us."

The woman travelling in the car, a black Volvo, sustained serious neck injuries and bruising.

Police were investigating the accident, and said they would talk to any witnesses while experts examine evidence from the scene and the car.

Girl's death has left parents 'shocked and devastated'

The train, a Lincoln to Doncaster service, was damaged but remained upright and on the tracks. No injuries have been reported among passengers or staff onboard.

Speaking at the scene on Tuesday, Inspector Andy Selby of the British Transport Police declined to comment on whether the barriers and lights at the unmanned crossing were working correctly.

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Norovirus: More Than 600,000 Struck By Bug

More than 600,000 people are believed to have been struck down so far this year by the winter vomiting bug, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said.

Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea, while some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps.

Laboratory tests have revealed a 64% rise in the number of people with the norovirus, with 2,313 confirmed cases on December 2, compared with 1,412 at the same point last year.

But the HPA estimates there are 288 unreported cases for each confirmed one, which means 666,144 people are likely to have contracted the illness.

The agency said it was unsure why more people were suffering with the virus but added that the norovirus season was always "unpredictable".

"The norovirus season is always completely unpredictable as it peaks and falls over several months - usually October to April," said Dr Bob Adak, head of the gastrointestinal diseases department at the HPA.

"However, one thing we do know is that every year we will see a large amount of norovirus activity because it is highly contagious.

"The figures for the last two weeks show that there has been a reduction in the numbers of outbreaks in hospitals although there are clearly a lot of other people becoming unwell as we can see from the number of lab reports.

"We would like to remind people to avoid visiting friends or relatives in hospital or care homes if they have symptoms consistent with a norovirus infection as it can lead to ward closures and severe disruption."

The HPA last week reported an outbreak of norovirus had led to the closure of 45 hospital wards across the previous fortnight - the virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing and residential homes.

Dr Adak added: "Norovirus is a short-lived unpleasant infection but most people will fully recover in a couple of days.

"It is important to remain hydrated as you will be losing a lot of fluids due to the symptoms. Over-the-counter medicines can also be useful in reducing headaches and other aches and pains."

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Starbucks Close To Deal On Paying More Tax

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Starbucks will try to end the damaging row over its UK tax affairs by striking a deal with the Government that it believes will involve paying a comparable level of corporation tax to Costa Coffee, the British-based chain.

The US-owned coffee shops group is close to agreeing with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) a binding agreement over its UK corporate and tax structures.

The new terms could land Starbucks with a corporation tax bill of in the region of £10m for the current financial year.

In the 14 years since arriving in the UK, the chain has paid just £8.6m in corporation tax.

I have learned that the two sides have been in discussions about whether the agreement will be backdated as a gesture from Starbucks that would reflect its concern over the impact of the recent row on its image among British customers.

Sources close to the talks said that a retrospective application of the new structure was now unlikely.

A full statement will be made by Starbucks before the end of the week.

The company is unlikely to refer directly to Costa's tax bill, but insiders said that it had been "a reference point" in talks between Starbucks and the Government.

Tax experts questioned the premise of that discussion because Whitbread, Costa's owner, operates under a different tax structure.

In 2010-11, Costa paid around £15m in UK tax, while a year later it is expected to have paid £18m.

Costa has about 1479 shops in the UK, some of which are run by franchisees, while Starbucks owns approximately 720.

Multinationals with large operations in Britain, including Amazon and Google, have faced intense criticism in recent weeks over their minuscule UK tax bills.

The light tax burdens have been generated by a practice called transfer pricing, which involves charges being made by companies in the same group based in different jurisdictions, with the effect of depressing profits in the higher-tax jurisdiction.

In Starbucks' case, that relates to the royalty fee paid to a sister company in the Netherlands for the right to use its brand and coffee recipe.

People close to the talks said the Treasury had indicated that Mr Osborne may refer to the agreement with Starbucks in today's Autumn Statement.

Earlier this week, the Chancellor committed £77m of additional funding to combat tax avoidance and evasion.

The Treasury and Starbucks declined to comment.

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Pregnant Kate: Hospital Admits Falling For Prank

Prank callers have managed to trick hospital staff treating the Duchess of Cambridge into revealing detailed information about her condition.

Australian radio DJs impersonating the Queen and Prince of Wales were given an update about Kate, who was admitted to London's King Edward VII on Monday with severe morning sickness.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian from Sydney's 2Day FM were transferred to a duty nurse who divulged details of how doctors were treating the duchess.

The hospital has said it "deplores" the stunt and will be conducting a review of its phone system.

As Prince William arrived to visit his wife as she spends her third day in hospital, St James's Palace declined to comment on the incident.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes can confirm that an Australian radio station made a hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Prince William visits his wife on her third day in hospital

"This call was transferred through to a ward and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff. King Edward VII's Hospital deeply regrets this incident."

John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, said: "This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore. We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously and we are now reviewing our telephone protocols."

Michael Christian has been posting congratulatory Tweets and reports of the prank from around the world on his Twitter page.

He tweeted: "Can't believe we got put through!"

The radio station has since apologised - saying the the DJs had "the best intentions".

In a statement, 2Day FM said: "2Day FM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by the inquiry to Kate's hospital, the radio segment was done with the best intentions and we wish Kate and her family all the best."

Knowingly or recklessly obtaining personal information without consent is an offence under Section 55 of Data Protection Act 1998, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

During the debate over UK press standards, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called for those guilty of obtaining personal information by deception - known as "blaggers" - to be jailed.

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15 Police Injured In Belfast Union Flag Riots

Eighteen people, including 15 police officers, have been injured during a riot at Belfast City Hall after the passing of a vote to stop flying the Union flag all year round.

The violence spread to parts of east Belfast on Monday night where loyalists who had earlier tried to smash their way into the grounds of City Hall attacked a Catholic church.

A police spokeswoman said reinforcements had to be called in to deal with hundreds of loyalists throwing missiles, including fireworks, bricks and bottles.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said three men had been arrested over the disorder. 

An 18-year-old was arrested in Clandeboye Street on suspicion of riotous behaviour and possession of a petrol bomb.

A 22-year-old was arrested in the Donegall Square area, and a 17-year-old was detained on suspicion of riotous assembly in east Belfast.

Two female officers were taken to hospital

Trouble broke out minutes after Belfast city councillors voted to remove the flag from City Hall.

It is the first time the Union flag has been taken down from the Edwardian building since it opened in 1906.

Councillors agreed by 29 votes to 21 to bring City Hall into line with Stormont and other Government buildings and fly the flag on 17 designated days.

Sinn Fein Policing Board member Gerry Kelly said the PSNI had serious questions to answer about their operation.

He said: "I have to say, and I don't use these words unless I really mean them, it was a disgraceful police operation - or lack of a police operation.

"If that had been 1,000 or more republicans out there ... they would not have left it that they were able to come into the back of City Hall.

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags block the back of City Hall

"They indiscriminately attacked cars. We are very, very lucky that they didn't get into the building or we could have been dealing with a lot more injuries."

Cars belonging to elected members and council staff were damaged during the disorder.

DUP councillor Christopher Stalford condemned those responsible for violence.

He said: "The violence has distracted from the issue we should be focusing on - the parties in Belfast City Council who have voted as a block to strip the City Hall of its flag."

Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said: "The violence which took place at the City Hall and round St Matthew's Church was the responsibility of two groups of people.

The Union flag will now be flown on 17 designated days

"The first is those who went to the City Hall spoiling for a fight, who attacked police officers and council staff.

"But there is a second group which bears responsibility. DUP and UUP politicians fomented this protest, with both leaflets and the use of social media. They called people on to the streets.

"They must have known, from experience as recent as this summer, that violence was almost inevitable. They cannot avoid their responsibility.

"Such violence should be condemned by all civic and community leaders."

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Christmas Shopping Leaves Retailers Nervous

There are signs that Christmas shoppers are adopting a "wait and see" approach in the hope of a price war among retailers in the run-up to December 25.

The latest sales figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show a rise of 0.4% during November, a figure it said was flattered by weak comparisons with last year.

The organisation stated that shops were in a "state of nervousness" about the festive season as a result.

Its survey quoted several toy retailers as saying that Christmas shopping was starting later this year, while online sales also delivered their third worst performance of the year.

Retailers had been hoping for stronger November trading after a battering the previous month when retail sales volumes dropped 0.8% month-on-month, amid declining consumer confidence and rising inflation.

David McCorquodale, head of retail at BRC's survey partner KPMG, said November had been a cautious month: "It appears that consumers know they have to spend before Christmas but are holding off for as long as they can to see if there might be bargains available in the next few weeks.

"Pricing throughout the month and strategic promotions will be fundamental in a key month," he said.

But the BRC said tablet computers were a strong driver of growth in the electrical goods market in November, which also benefited as people bought cooking items ahead of Christmas.

Clothing sales were boosted by the fashion for all-in-one pyjamas, known as onesies.

Singers Rihanna and Robbie Williams are among the celebrities who have stepped out in their own versions of the adult romper suits.

The colder weather helped boost winter clothing ranges and boots.

Food sales faded throughout the month but the launch of festive Christmas adverts helped boost sales of Christmas crackers and confectionery.

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Andrew Parsons Charged Over Wife's Death

A man has been charged with murdering his American beauty therapist wife at their home in Oxfordshire.

Andrew Parsons, 38, will appear at Oxford Magistrates Court, accused of killing his wife Janee in Lucerne Avenue, Bicester.

Mrs Parsons, 31, was found by police after they were called to her detached home on Saturday.

Despite attempts by officers and ambulance staff to resuscitate her, she was declared dead at hospital.

A post-mortem examination found that the mother-of-two died from multiple stab wounds, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Kidman, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are keen to speak with anyone in Lucerne Avenue who may have important information to help us establish the circumstances of this tragic incident."

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Corfu Sex Attack Video Given To Essex Police

Police are trying to trace a young woman, believed to be British, who was videoed being sexually assaulted while on holiday in Corfu.

Essex Police were handed footage from a video camera in August which features the "shocking" attack alongside more routine holiday clips.

They are now trying to track the woman who was subjected to the ordeal on a hotel bed in Kavos during the early hours of July 30.

It is suspected that her attacker was a fellow Briton who was holidaying with a group of friends.

Most of the people staying in the resort at the time are thought to have been British.

Police have been investigating for months but have now decided to make their appeal public.

Detective Inspector Hayley King said: "We don't know when the young woman returned to the UK or which airport she flew back into. We strongly believe that she is from the UK.

"The offence took place in a hotel room. We don't though know which hotel it is in Kavos, and there are many."

In a bid to help the victim identify herself, police have said she was wearing a number of coloured wristbands obtained from local clubs.

:: Anyone with information is urged to contact Essex Police's sexual offences investigation team in Brentwood on 01279 625428 or email soit@essex.pnn.police.uk

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West Ham Denies Carroll Attacked Photographer

West Ham football club has denied claims that its player Andy Carroll physically attacked a photographer in Dublin.

According to The Sun, Paddy Cummins, who works for the paper, was assaulted while Carroll and his teammates were out for a Christmas party after beating Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Sun said the photographer had been knocked down during the alleged attack.

No arrests have been made. The club confirmed players had given statements to Irish police.

West Ham said in a statement: "Andy Carroll was in Dublin as part of a social trip with full permission of the management team.

"Andy agreed to have a number of pictures taken at the request of a photographer who was waiting on the street.

"Despite this, the photographer then carried on taking photos in the close proximity of Andy and was politely asked to stop by the private security team working on the trip.

"When he then continued taking more photos he was restrained by the security team for Andy's safety.

"Eyewitnesses state at no point was there any physical contact between Andy and the photographer."

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Norfolk Shooting: Councillor And Wife Dead

A man and a woman found dead outside their Norfolk home were council leader Keith Johnson and his wife Andrea, according to reports.

Mr Johnson, 58, was a Conservative councillor for North Norfolk District Council and was a familiar face in the local area.

The couple were both found with gunshot wounds near their home in Compit Hills in Roughton, near Cromer, on Sunday.

They have not yet been formally identified.

Police were called to a bungalow at 2.50pm on Sunday after reports of gunshots.

A spokesman from Norfolk Constabulary said they found the body of a woman in her early 40s, in the front garden, and the body of a man in his late 50s, in a nearby back garden.

Detectives are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said he was "deeply shocked" by the news.

"I've known Keith for some years through his work on the council and we both attended the wedding of a mutual friend a few years ago," he said.

"We've always been on very good terms despite the fact I'm Lib Dem and he was a Conservative.

"I didn't know Andrea beyond seeing them both at civic events but she was always good for a friendly chat.

"I share the community's sense of disbelief and my heart goes out to all of their family and friends."

The couple have been described by their local newspaper as "prominent and much-loved" figures in their community.

Mr Johnson was also a former Cromer mayor and a long-serving member of both the district and town council.

He was elected as council leader earlier this year, had helped organise the town's Christmas market, launched at the weekend as part of a series of festive events.

On Friday he attended the opening of a Waitrose store in nearby North Walsham.

Mr Johnson's close friend, Benji Cabbell-Manners told the Eastern Daily Press of his "terrible shock" at hearing the news.

Detective Superintendent Peter Hornby, who is leading the inquiry into the deaths, said: "Whilst I understand this is a very shocking incident for the neighbours of the two people involved, I can reassure them that, at this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it."

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M1 Crash: Two Men Killed And Motorway Closed

Two men have been killed in a crash on the M1 which forced the closure of a section of the motorway.

The collision between two black BMW cars happened shortly before 2.40am on the southbound carriageway between junctions four and five, near Watford in Hertfordshire.

One of the drivers and his front seat passenger were killed, while another two men travelling in the same car were taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London, with "serious injuries", a Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said.

Two men who were in the other BMW are being treated in Watford General Hospital, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, she added.

An investigation is now under way to determine the cause of the crash, which resulted in the closure of five junctions of the motorway in both directions.

The northbound carriageway has since reopened but southbound between junctions four and five - Edgware to Watford - is expected to remain closed until at least mid-morning.

Drivers have been advised to use the A1, A40 or M40.

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EastEnders' Rita Simons Accused Over Deaf Op

An EastEnders star who wants her deaf six-year-old daughter to have an operation to help her hear says she has been accused of abusing the child.

Rita Simons, who plays Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap, said she and her husband, Theo Silveston, have encountered "extraordinary" hostility making the decision.

Their daughter Maiya, who has a twin sister Jaimee with perfect hearing, will undergo a cochlear implant operation to give her hearing in both ears.

Simons told Hello! magazine the hostility "comes mainly from people who firmly believe that deafness should be embraced rather than treated as a physical deficiency that should be corrected".

EastEnder Rita Simons speaks out in the latest edition of Hello! magazine

She said: "I totally respect their point of view. But when a 19-year-old girl told me that I was an 'abuser' to let my child have a cochlear implant, I was horrified and deeply hurt.

"I would throw myself in front of a bus for my girls, and yet I was being judged by someone who didn't know me or understand my emotional stance at all."

Simons said she wanted to treat Maiya, who featured with her in a BBC documentary about deafness, the same way as Jaimee.

She told the magazine: "We've brought Maiya up as a hearing child, and she attends the same mainstream school as her twin sister.

"She was born with some hearing; when that goes completely it will leave a void in her life and she will miss it.

"All we want to do is give her back what she has lost and help to expand her life.

"If you've got the opportunity to give your child the gift of sound, why would you not do that?"

Simons added: "We know it's not a miracle cure and her hearing won't be perfect.

"But, in time her brain will process what it is hearing and compensate, making sounds more familiar to her."

:: Read the full interview in Hello! Magazine out now.

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Hospitals 'Full' And Putting Patients At Risk

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Hospitals in England are "full to bursting" and putting patients at risk, a review by a health watchdog has said.

The Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2012 found emergency admissions are rising and inefficient hospitals are struggling to cope.

The recommended bed occupancy level for hospitals is 85% but the analysis suggests most trusts operate closer to 90% for the vast majority of the year.

The report points out that quiet times of the year such as weekends and bank holidays distort the true strain on services.

Roger Taylor, co-founder of Dr Foster, told Sky News: "A large number of hospitals in the UK for quite a lot of the time are operating at levels of occupancy between 95-100%.

"These are levels where it is really really difficult to give patients the quality of care you would like to."

Almost a third of hospital beds, Dr Foster found, were occupied by patients who didn't really need to be there.

Mr Taylor said: "3% of all hospital beds are occupied by people whose only diagnosis is dementia.

"These are people who have not been able to get the care in the community and as a result have ended up in A&E and put into a hospital bed - they really shouldn't be there."

In response to the research Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "NHS mortality rates are low, but we want them to be the lowest in Europe.

"This data can help the NHS to spot and act on poor care more quickly. We expect all hospitals and regulators to examine this data carefully and take action wherever services need to improve."

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was named Dr Foster's Trust of the Year for providing good quality and efficient care for patients.

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Winter Weather As Snow Hits Northern UK

Snow is continuing to fall across the north of the UK, with up to 10cm settling across the high mountains overnight.

Glasgow and Edinburgh have seen up to 5cm fall overnight, with up to 4cm settling in Teesside and County Durham.

The mountains in Cumbria, Northumbria and parts of Scotland have been decorated with a blanket of 10cm of snow.

Sky's weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Winter started on December 1 and the weather has become more seasonal.

"In fact it looks set to stay that way with a continued threat of frost, ice and snow.

"Even looking ahead towards Christmas the rather cold and wintry story continues."

And the rest of this week is bound to be frosty, said Lang.

"On Tuesday colder north winds will bring in more widespread snow showers across northern and eastern Scotland, with these spreading across hillier parts of eastern England on Wednesday," she said.

"During Thursday another Atlantic frontal system is set to sweep east bringing in more persistent rain, preceded again by a period of snow."

Frozen flood water at York Racecourse, North Yorkshire, on Sunday

Further south, including Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, escaped the snowfall but were greeted with rain and very cold temperatures instead.

Eastern England shivered in temperatures dipping to -4C and it dropped to -7C in western Scotland.

But hasn't been cold all over Britain - areas of Cornwall and west Wales enjoyed far warmer highs of 11C.

The extreme weather in parts of the UK caused signal failures on transport, meaning delays for passengers on Sunday.

The big chill comes just days after severe flooding hit Britain, from which many areas are still recovering.

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Open Prison Fugitive Arrested By Police

Fugitive Ivan Leach, who absconded from an open prison, has been found by police in Camden, north London.

The 47-year-old had been on the run from North Sea Camp open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire since October 9.

Police arrested him on suspicion of a number of offences this morning in the Camden area, Scotland Yard said.

Leach, also known as Lee Cyril, was wanted for questioning about a rape in Scotland committed while police hunted for him.

On October 15, a woman was woken and raped by an intruder in her home in Perth, and the following day a mattress was stolen from her home.

Leach, from Preston, was jailed in 2005 for robbing a 90-year-old woman in her home in the city.

He was given a life sentence with a minimum tariff of five years.

Leach is currently in custody in a north London police station.

Police had warned people not to approach the fugitive under any circumstances.

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First Text Was Sent To A Mobile 20 Years Ago

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

Monday marks 20 years since the first text message was sent to a mobile phone.

The first SMS was sent on December 3, 1992, when a 22-year-old British engineer called Neil Papworth - an employee of the technology company Sema - used his computer to send the message "Merry Christmas" to an Orbitel 901 mobile phone.

Texting has now surpassed the traditional phone call as the most common method of staying in touch.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Papworth said he never envisaged that texting would be so popular.

"Back then I had no idea - I was just doing a day's testing. It wasn't until the 10th anniversary that I realised and thought 'Wow, that was a big thing'.

"And here we are another 10 years later and text messaging has gone on to even bigger and better things now."

According to figures released by Ofcom, more than 150 billion texts were sent in the UK last year, almost triple the amount sent five years ago.

Its most prolific users are 12 to 15-year-olds, who send an average of 193 texts every week, almost four times as much as the UK average.

In fact, most of us are now more likely to text a friend than to pick up the phone or have a face-to-face conversation with them.

But the first half of 2012 saw two quarterly declines in the volume of SMS messages sent in the UK.

The drop is being put down to the meteoric rise in web-based communications - many of which are freely available on smartphones and tablets - like WhatsApp, Blackberry Messenger (BBM), iMessenger, Google Talk and MSN Messenger.

An increase in communication through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook is also thought to be having an impact.

SMS stands for Short Messaging Service and a message is traditionally under 160 characters in length.

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Weather: Snow Continues As Mercury Plunges

Weather forecasters are warning of more snowfall in parts of England and Scotland, as Britons continue to shiver in below-freezing temperatures.

Overnight temperatures dropped to -6C in many parts of the country, from central Scotland through to Cumbria and Buckinghamshire.

Many areas will see up to 3cm of snow, while 15cm is predicted to fall in the Scottish mountains.

Sky News weather producer Jo Wheeler said there would be "significant snowfall" in the Scottish mountains and the Pennines later.

She said: "There is also the possibility of seeing between 1cm and 3cm of rain, even at lower levels for parts of the East and North East."

Many areas are likely to see about 3cm of snow

Edinburgh, the Pennines, the Peak District, County Durham, Yorkshire, Norfolk and East Anglia are all expected to be affected.

The Met Office has issued a low-level severe weather warning across most of Scotland, north and east England, and north Wales, because of the freezing temperatures and snowfall.

"Following showers of rain, sleet and snow on Saturday, ice is expected to form on untreated surfaces on Saturday evening and persist well into Sunday morning. Further wintry showers are likely to affect eastern coastal counties through the night.

"The public should be aware of possible disruption to travel."

The Met Office believes the freezing temperatures will last into next week, possibly followed by more snow.

The white start to the month has been enough to prompt record numbers of punters to place bets on snow falling on Christmas Day.

According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, more money had been staked on a white Christmas on Saturday than by any other December 1 in its history.

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Starbucks Tax Backlash: Firm Pledges Action

Starbucks has announced it is reviewing its tax affairs after a public backlash over the low amount of tax the US company pays in the UK.

The Seattle-based company reportedly paid just £8.6m in corporation tax in 14 years of trading in Britain.

It recently revealed it paid no corporation tax for the past three years, despite sales of £1.2bn in the UK.

Now, the coffee chain has revealed it is in talks with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Treasury over its tax affairs as part of a bid to "build public trust".

"Starbucks is committed to the UK for the long term and we have invested more than £200m in our UK business over the past 12 years," the statement said.

"Starbucks has complied with all the tax laws in this country but has regretfully not been as profitable as we would have liked.

"We have listened to feedback from our customers and employees, and understand that to maintain and further build public trust we need to do more.

"As part of this we are looking at our tax approach in the UK.

"The company has been in discussions with HMRC for some time and is also in talks with the Treasury."

The firm is one of many multinationals to have the amount of tax they pay in the UK put under the spotlight.

Starbucks operates more than 700 stores in the UK

Chancellor George Osborne is set to address the issue in his Autumn Statement on December 5.

On Sunday Mr Osborne announced extra investment to help clamp down on the multinational companies' tax avoidance.

Last month, the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is charged with monitoring government financial affairs, questioned senior executives from Starbucks, Google and Amazon on why they pay so little tax in the UK while racking up millions of pounds' worth of sales.

"I assure you we are not making money," Troy Alstead, the chief financial officer of Starbucks, told the committee.

"It's very unfortunate. We're not at all pleased about our financial performance here. It's fundamentally true everything we are saying and everything we have said historically."

His comments came despite operating more than 700 UK stores and employing nearly 8,500 people, along with plans to employ another 6,000 staff and open 300 outlets.

Companies are able to sidestep the taxman legally by conducting different operations in different countries, and constructing complex global frameworks that allow them to move money through offshore subsidiaries and locations.

The three leading US companies and their corporate tax rates

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George Osborne Takes On The Tax Avoiders

Little Christmas Cheer From Osborne

Updated: 1:01pm UK, Sunday 02 December 2012

By Peter Spencer, Political Correspondent

Borrowing costs up, growth forecasts down. Little wonder, then, that George Osborne's Autumn Statement will look more like January's credit card bills than Santa's stocking.

And there's a rare degree of unanimity across Fleet Street about what form the nasty fiscal news will take.

This seems to point to behind-the-scenes briefings of a kind Lord Leveson would like to outlaw.

But for now it's everywhere.

The expectation is that George Osborne will announce tax rises on the pension pots of the wealthiest AND a freeze on many benefits.

It's also predicted there'll be a lowering of the annual limit of tax relief on pension contributions from £50,000 to £30,000. Alongside this, it seems, we can expect a freeze on out-of-work benefits.

However, any form of mansion tax - or splitting council tax bands - is likely to be ruled out. That's a battle the Lib Dems have lost.

A battle that Tory backbenchers appear to have won, by contrast, is agreement to delay the 3p per litre rise in fuel duty planned for January.

While that last one will come as some comfort for many, the overall picture is bleak.

No surprise there, given that economic experts from the Independent Office for Budget Responsibility to the Governor of the Bank of England agree that unless the Chancellor's prepared to let his debt reduction target slip further into the future, he has no choice but to make himself deeply unpopular.

Though he knows this as well as anyone, he's sticking doggedly to his script.

Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, he said: "We are still all in this together. Everyone must make a contribution to dealing with our debts, from the richest in our society to those living a life on benefits.

"The road ahead may be longer than we thought, but it leads to a better future. Let's have the courage to stay the course."

Labour say that course is made that desperately more uphill and potholed by HIS actions. Trying to cut the deficit too far and too fast.

But they know that if THEY'D won the election there'd still have had to be deeply unpopular austerity measures following the economic meltdown of 2008.

Governments across Europe have been falling like dominoes for precisely that reason.

But, in the short term at least, Mr Osborne's offering will be judged on the basis of fairness. Or otherwise.

Research by the consumer group Which? suggests that almost one in four UK households are already feeling "financially squeezed".

For them at least, any talk from the Treasury of discomfort (that favourite doctor's euphemism) will mean what it really means. Pain.

Which is why, for the Chancellor, the political stakes this week could hardly be higher.

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