Retailers Geared Up For 'Busiest Day'

By Tadhg Enright, Business Correspondent

As the last full shopping day before Christmas Eve, today is expected to be the busiest day of the year on high streets and in shopping centres.

The British Retail Consortium expects between £4bn and £5bn to be spent throughout this weekend.

Researchers at the credit card company, Visa, have forecast sales to peak this afternoon between 2pm and 3pm.

At Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London, management think today could be their busiest on record and extra security and traffic staff have been deployed to help customers.

Centre manager Tom Nathan told Sky News: "Everything shows us that when Christmas is on a Tuesday and the schools only broke up yesterday that today is going to be enormous because people haven't had the chance to go and do their full Christmas shop.

"So combine that with buying the turkey - and today is the start of the big turkey run - and today is going to be a huge one I think."

But the Local Government Association said confidence on the high street remained low.

Its annual Christmas survey found that 84% of town centre managers said confidence among shoppers had either not improved or worsened compared with this time last year.

It also suggested that the particularly cold and wet start to the winter could also be taking its toll on the number of shoppers visiting town centres.

Sales at Brent Cross Shopping Centre could be the busiest yet

Normally the busiest day of the year is December 23 - the last day before Christmas Eve - but this year that falls on a Sunday when trading hours for bigger shops are restricted by law to just six hours.

Big name retailers including John Lewis, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer failed in a bid to convince the Government to relax the restrictions on Sunday trading tomorrow.

M&S has responded by opening more than 100 of its stores at 12.01am on Christmas Eve morning to help shoppers get their Christmas essentials in time.

An M&S spokesman said: "We know that the days leading up to Christmas are some of the most hectic for our customers.

"Due to Sunday trading rules, we can only open for six hours on one of the busiest days of the year.

"We hope that these early bird hours on Monday will ease the pressure and give busy shoppers a bit more time to pick up Christmas food orders or last minute presents."

Waitrose, part of John Lewis, will also extend Christmas Eve trading hours in two thirds of its supermarkets by opening an hour earlier at 7am and closing an hour later at 6pm.

Sky News visited one of its four regional distribution centres at its head office in Bracknell, Berkshire, and saw staff working to deliver twice the normal volume of food to its stores.

They will be working 24 hours a day between now and 6am on Christmas Eve to ensure Waitrose shelves remain stocked.

But management are disappointed for them and their customers that trading will be curtailed on December 23 which is usually their most important shopping day.

Waitrose supply chain director David Jones told Sky News: "If you can imagine what you'd normally take in trading over 14 hours and shrinking that into six hours, it's quite challenging as you walk around the supermarket.

"You're trying to get people through checkouts and we would have loved to have had the opportunity to trade for a longer time."

Mr Jones will be taking time out from his executive duties to man the tills in his local branch over Christmas.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Domestic Abuse Charities May Not Cope At Xmas

By Isabel Webster, West of England Correspondent

Cuts to domestic abuse charities are "putting victims at risk" as organisations warn they are expecting more cases than ever during the festive period.

The Association of Chief Police Officers reports a much higher volume of 999 calls from women over the Christmas holiday.

Gwent Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier said: "Normal life is not going on. The children aren't at school. People aren't at work.

"The expectation of a good time adds pressure and alcohol can be an aggravating factor.

"This combination of factors seems to cause a combustion of tensions that are already there."

According to the charity Refuge, one in four women in England and Wales experience domestic abuse in their lifetime and two women a week die.

Carol, a mother-of-four from Bristol, managed to escape her abusive relationship with the help of the grassroots charity, Survive.

Over several years her partner physically and mentally abused her, sometimes in front of her young children.

"The first night anything happened he just took his belt off and started whipping me. I was so shocked as I'd never seen him violent before," Carol said.

"He hit me with his mobile phone, so hard it left an imprint on my chest. He said he was going to kill me and threatened to throw me out the window - picking me up by my throat. He said he was going to rip my head off.

"But the worst part was the mental abuse. I had to walk behind him, I was timed if I went out to pick up the kids and had to ask permission to leave the room to go to the loo.

"I thought if I just did what I was told, if I was better, I could make it right for everyone, but I was never going to win."

Survive chief exec Anna Smith says charity is under increasing pressure

Carol is now safe and rebuilding her life, but the effect on her and her children remains.

Breaking down in tears, she sobbed: "If I'd known what I know now - what a bad effect it would have on my kids I would have got out sooner.

"I tried to protect them physically but you can't protect someone mentally from what they hear, what they see."

Carol maintains that Survive is the one good thing that came out of her ordeal.

But the charity, which supports women in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, is under growing pressure.

It has seen a 76% increase in high risk cases in the last year.

Over the Christmas period it estimates it will have to turn away 15% of the women and their families who need emergency refuge.

Chief Executive Anna Smith said: "We've been cut, yet we're seeing more women and children than ever.

"I am seriously concerned about it. Vulnerable people won't necessarily be able to get access to the help that they need this Christmas."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Heavy Rain Sparks Christmas Misery

Families preparing for Christmas have been hit by floods and travel chaos as heavy rain batters Britain.

The south west of England has been particularly badly affected by the downpours and four severe flood warnings for Devon and Cornwall are now in place.

Conditions are so bad that train passengers in the south west and in Wales have been told not to travel unless it is essential.

Some residents in Helston, Cornwall, were evacuated overnight after river levels rose and the Environment Agency warned that widespread flooding was "imminent".

There are fears about the River Cober in the town with more rain expected later on Saturday, raising fears some families may not be back home for Christmas.

Cornwall Council spokeswoman Trisha Hewitt said: "There is expected to be 30mm of rainfall during a six hour period from 5pm.

"As this is falling on saturated ground, this could cause further flooding."

Floods in Helston, Cornwall, led to homes being evacuated

Across the county, more than 100 homes have been affected so far.

The River Fowey is also subject to a severe flood warning, with another two for the River Caen in Braunton, Devon.

Braunton, which is in north Devon, has already been effectively cut off after the river burst its banks.

Liz Spear, chairman of Braunton Parish Council, said a river was running through the centre of the town.

:: Click for travel and weather updates on the Sky News live blog

:: Click here for all the latest from Sky News weather

:: Click here for the latest Environment Agency warnings

There are a further 101 flood warnings across the country, where flooding is expected, and another 301 alerts where it is considered possible.

Flood-hit streets in York

The water has already led to major issues on road and train networks, spelling trouble for Britons travelling this weekend.

First Great Western urged passengers to avoid any journeys west of Taunton because of flooding and landslips and its Plymouth to Taunton service has been cancelled.

People were being transported by road but this replacement service has also been hampered by the amount of water.

Services between Par and Newquay and Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple have also been suspended.

In South Wales, signal problems are causing major disruption with no services currently between Newport and Cardiff Central. Flooding at Neath is also affecting Swansea services.

Near Brighton, a major signalling problem caused by a fire yesterday that affected electrical cables and railside signalling equipment at Preston Park has sparked problems.

Diversions are in place, with trains between Brighton and Gatwick airport travelling half-hourly and buses laid on for some passengers.

There are also signalling problems affecting some Cross Country and London Midland routes in and around Birmingham.

Flooding near Rhoose Cardiff International Airport is causing disruption on Arriva Trains Wales.

A man wading through Braunton, Devon

And there remain problems on all London Midland routes because of driver shortages that have been an issue since October.

Replacement bus services are also in place between Bedford and Bletchley because of a lack of crew and in Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall due to flooding.

A landslip has caused rail problems in the Glazebrook area near Warrington, affecting some First TransPennine Express services and links to Manchester.

On the roads, the A38 from Bodmin towards Exeter is currently closed because of flooding. The northbound exit slip road on the A19 in Cleveland at the junction with the A139 is also shut.

There are also delays on the A27 eastbound between B2144 and A285 near Chichester because of flooding.

Mike Williams, from the Environment Agency, said: "This is the last weekend before Christmas, so it will be particularly busy with people travelling through the region.

"We would urge people to take extra care when planning their journeys and we aware of the risk of flooding.

"Our teams have been out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare for flooding.

"People need to keep up to date with the weather forecast and remain prepared for flooding in their area and stay away from dangerous flood water or attempting to drive through it."

Rain is affecting much of the UK (Pictures: Met Office)

Britons attempting to get to Heathrow have also been hit by changes to the Heathrow Express service, which on Friday forced thousands of passengers onto the Underground.

Trains are running normally on Saturday but are due to start later on Sunday and will then not run at all on Christmas Day and Boxing Day because of engineering work.

British Airways alone is set to handle nearly 31,000 passengers on Christmas Day as an estimated four million Britons travel abroad for the rest of the holidays.

There was some good news after two main line rail strikes that threatened to cause travel chaos over the Christmas period were called off.

But the train drivers' union Aslef is still striking on Boxing Day in a move that will hit the Underground and has already forced the cancellation of the Arsenal-West Ham United football match.

The other main train problem for the festive period is likely to be engineering work on the West Coast Line.

There are no direct services from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool or Glasgow on December 23 and 24.

Direct services resume on December 27 but with two of the four lines closed up to and including New Year's Eve.

:: SEND US YOUR WEATHER PICTURES - Email news@sky.com or use Twitter @skynews

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

A Middleton Christmas For Kate And William

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to spend Christmas Day privately with the Middleton family, St James' Palace has announced.

Kate and William will break with tradition by not celebrating with the Queen and the rest of the royal family in Sandringham.

The decision will help the couple avoid the public eye and allow Kate to rest as she continues to battle acute morning sickness.

But it will come as a disappointment to royal fans who traditionally turn out to see the family attend church on Christmas morning.

Kate at BBC Sports Personality Of The Year

Last year, Kate and William were a huge draw as they made the walk from Sandringham up to St Mary Magdalene Church for the first time as man and wife.

Staying in Berkshire also means that the Duchess of Cambridge will be within closer reach of King Edward VII hospital in London where she was treated for hyperemesis gravidarum.

The move was made with the approval of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and the couple will visit Sandringham at some point over the holiday.

Prince Harry will also not be at Sandringham this year because he is still serving in Afghanistan.

Kate, 30, is now believed to be close to the end of her first trimester after being forced to go public with her pregnancy early due to her illness.

She spent several days in hospital at the start of December after becoming sick during another weekend with her parents.

Since then, she has been resting at Kensington Palace in central London and cancelled all her scheduled appearances.

The Duchess did manage to recover enough to present the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Award to Bradley Wiggins last Sunday.

And she was also seen going to the wider royal Christmas celebrations at Buckingham Palace earlier this week.

Experts have warned that she could continue to suffer with severe sickness throughout the pregnancy.

Kate was a big hit in Sandringham on Christmas Day last year

Kate's sister Pippa has given an insight into her Middleton family's festive plans.

Writing in the latest edition of The Spectator magazine, she said Christmas in Bucklebury was likely to be "blissfully calm".

"Home is, happily, where I'll be this year," she said. "The Middletons' Christmas should be blissfully calm. We're good at keeping each other's spirits up."

And she revealed that her father Michael liked to surprise the family by appearing in fancy dress.

"He buys a new costume each year and typically gets a bit carried away - a couple of Christmases ago, he appeared in an inflatable sumo outfit," she wrote.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Prank Call: CPS To Consider Charges

Police investigating the royal hospital prank call have handed a file to lawyers for them to consider bringing charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service will now consider the police evidence to see if criminal offences have been committed and whether charges should be brought over the call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated.

A nurse working at the King Edward VII Hospital, where the Duchess was being treated for severe morning sickness, killed herself after being duped by the hoax call from two Australian radio presenters.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, transferred the call from the DJs pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles to the ward where the Duchess was being treated. Another nurse gave them details of her condition.

Jacintha Saldanha and her husband Ben Barboza

Ms Saldanha, a mother-of-two, was found dead in nurses accommodation just three days later on December 7. She had hanged herself.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now consider whether any potential offences may have been committed, Scotland Yard said.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Following the death of Jacintha Saldanha, officers have liaised with the CPS as to whether any criminal offences had been committed in relation to the hoax call made to King Edward VII Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday December 4.

"On Wednesday December 19, officers submitted a file to the CPS for them to consider whether any potential offences may have been committed by making the hoax call."

About 2,000 people turned out for the funeral of Ms Saldanha earlier this week in the small Indian town of Shirva, near Mangalore, where her husband Ben Barboza was born.

Mr Barboza and the couple's two children, Lisha, 14, and Junal, 16, have said that her death has left them "shattered" and her loss has left an "unfillable void."

The Australian DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig have had death threats

Ms Saldanha left three notes, the opening of an inquest into her death has heard. It has been reported that one was critical of the hospital and its treatment of her.

However, officials at the hospital have insisted that they offered her a great deal of support during the fall-out from the hoax and did not criticise her or discipline her.

In a letter to the MP Keith Vaz, who has been supporting the family, John Lofthouse, the Chief Executive of King Edward VII Hospital, said: "Jacintha was reassured on a number of occasions by senior management that no blame was attached to her actions and that there were no disciplinary issues involved, because she had been the victim of a cruel trick."

Following the death of Ms Saldanha, the two DJ's Mel Greig and Michael Christian and other staff at the radio station 2DayFM received death threats.

As many as a dozen staff were moved to safe houses while executives at the broadcaster were given bodyguards.

Miss Greig and Mr Christian gave a television interview apologising to Ms Saldanha's family and saying they too were shattered.

They said their prank had prompted "a tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Flooding Ahead Of Xmas Getaway

Britain has been warned it faces further flooding in some areas as more rain is set to sweep in over the next few days.

So far, southern and south western England have been the worst affected, with deluges in Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire leading to more than an inch of rain in some places.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "There'll be a brief respite from the rain on Friday with drier and brighter conditions across southern parts of England, many central areas and Ireland.

"But, as we head into tonight, there are further heavy and persistent downpours across southwestern parts of England into Wales, continuing to sweep north and eastwards in Scotland.

"About 25-35mm of water is expected, which is more than an inch, and falling on already saturated ground. So localised flooding is likely.

Friday is expected to be the busiest of the festive period for travelling

"Saturday will continue to be another unsettled day with rather heavy and persistent downpours spreading northeastward across all parts of the UK and Ireland."

On Thursday, residents in Wallington, Hampshire, were advised to leave their homes because of fears that the River Wallington could burst its banks.

The weather is forecast to remain unsettled for up to seven days.

The Environment Agency has more than 200 flood alerts in place across the UK, where people should be prepared for flooding, and more than 70 flood warnings, which means flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

It comes as the great Christmas getaway is set to begin, with airports, ports and the transport network braced to cope with high demand.

Some 123,000 passengers are expected to leave through Heathrow Airport today, with thousands more heading across the English Channel by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel.

On the roads, the Highways Agency said more than 250 miles of roadworks will have been completed before Christmas.

A further 57 miles of works will be suspended between today and January 2.

But busy sections of the M4, M25 and M5 will still have works taking place.

Engineering work is also affecting a number of train lines, although strike action over the Christmas period has been called off.

VisitEngland said that as many as 12 million Britons intend to take at least one trip over the festive period, generating around £2.1bn for the economy.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stunt Rider Eddie Kidd: Wife's Assault Charge

The estranged wife of paralysed motorbike stunt rider Eddie Kidd has been charged with assaulting him.

Samantha Kidd is due to appear in court next month accused of assaulting the 53-year-old six times in four months.

The 44-year-old, of High Street, Seaford, allegedly beat her husband between July and October this year.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said they received a report of domestic abuse on December 11.

He said Mrs Kidd was charged after a "prompt and thorough investigation" and bailed to appear before magistrates in Brighton on January 9.

Eddie Kidd received his OBE earlier this year

She must not contact Mr Kidd or visit the area where he lives during that time.

Mr Kidd, who made more than 10,000 daredevil jumps during his career, was paralysed and suffered brain damage in a motorbike accident near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, 16 years ago.

In 1984, aged 18, he broke a world record by jumping 190ft over 14 double-decker buses in London.

He jumped the Great Wall of China in 1993 and was challenged to a duel by Robert 'Evel' Knievel in the same year.

His stunts have also featured in a number of films, including Hanover Street, Riding High and the James Bond movie Goldeneye, in which he appeared as Pierce Brosnan's double.

Mr Kidd carried the Olympic torch through Lewes in July and was made an OBE at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in October.

In 2011, he completed the London Marathon in 50 days, raising nearly £100,000 for the charity Children With Cancer UK.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Miracle Baby' Jessica Home For Christmas

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

A baby born with a rare combination of potentially fatal heart problems has defied the odds to be allowed home for Christmas.

Jessica Muse had open heart surgery within minutes of being born at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital in July and has spent almost all of her life on a high dependency ward.

Her parents, Claire, 31, and Dom, 29, said Jessica had had eight separate operations since then - and that each time they were told she might not survive.

"Up to six weeks, she was sedated most of the time," said Mrs Muse.

"From then on she's had a couple of little hiccups, but it's mainly been ups and she got stronger and stronger until she eventually came off the ventilator at 20 weeks old."

Jessica was diagnosed in the womb at 20 weeks with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a collection of problems with one half of the heart that are fatal unless operated on.

But later doctors discovered she also had a much rarer problem at the top of her heart, which meant major surgery was required as soon as she was born.

Jessica was delivered in one operating theatre as a cardiac team waited in the theatre next door to operate on her heart, which was the size of a walnut.

Consultant paediatric cardiologist Dr Milind Chaudhari said the Freeman is one of only three hospitals in the country capable of providing the multidisciplinary care needed by a baby with such complicated heart problems.

Dr Chaudhari described Jessica's treatment as "a massive effort" involving obstetricians, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, respiratory physicians and gastro-enterologists.

"Jessica was born with a very serious form of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, with intact atrial septum," he said.

"She's a bright, alert infant now and she's gaining weight. She still needs a second and third stage operation, but she's on course for that, which is great."

Jessica will return to hospital for her next operation in January, and although her parents know her heart will never work properly, they are delighted to have her home for a family Christmas.

It is no surprise the couple describe Jessica as their "Christmas miracle".

Gazing down at his daughter, Mr Muse said: "It's amazing to have her home, the time we've been through over the past five or six months, it's been unbelievable.

"We've been living at the Freeman Hospital for five months now, so that's basically become our home. It's just nice to get back to some normality and spend Christmas with my family."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wayne And Coleen Rooney's Second Baby Boy

Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen are expecting another baby boy.

The couple confirmed the sex of their second child after Coleen, 26, went for her three-month scan.

The new arrival, due in the spring, will be a brother for the couple's three-year-old son Kai, who was born in November 2009.

Coleen Rooney made the announcement on Twitter

Mrs Rooney announced the news to her 900,000 followers on Twitter, posting: "Absolutely loved seeing our baby on the scan yesterday!!! We decided to find out the sex... It's a ... BOY!! So exciting @WayneRooney."

She announced she was expecting in October and said at the time she was "bursting with excitement".

Her husband, 27, who visited the children's ward at Manchester's Christie Hospital on Thursday, has yet to give his reaction to his 5.5m Twitter followers.

He previously described becoming a father as the "proudest moment of my life".

The Rooneys, who are both from Liverpool, were childhood sweethearts and married in a lavish ceremony in June 2008 when they were both aged 22.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

X Factor Hopeful Who Glassed Man Avoids Jail

An X Factor hopeful who was axed from the show after she glassed her boyfriend has avoided jail.

Lucie Slater, 21 was sentenced to 51 weeks in prison suspended for two years, a two-year supervision order and 120 hours of community service.

Slater, from Ryton, Gateshead, had pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding DJ William Aitken in June.

The couple were drinking wine together at his house when she came across a message on Facebook that she did not like, the court heard.

She almost instantaneously hit him with a glass and threw the laptop across the room.

Slater then drove him to hospital, where she first claimed he had fallen down the stairs but later admitted what happened, the court was told.

Slater, a bar promotion worker, was part of girl band Quantro but they were thrown off the ITV talent show when the attack came to light.

Judge Toby Hedworth said "drink played a greater role than is now suggested."

"I also take into account the affect of your actions on Mr Aitken. All that he has ever sought in these proceedings was an acknowledgement of what happened."

Due to the time he spent in hospital, Mr Aitken lost his business and modelling career because of his injuries, the court heard.

William Aitken said the attack was a 'life changing' experience

Mr Aitken said the experience was "life changing" and called the assault "an act of stupidness" that caused a lot of damage.

"I really really did not think she was capable of something like that. We are not speaking to each other now," he said.

More follows...

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer Boy's Mum Continues Radiotherapy Fight

A mother who has refused to let her seven-year-old son have radiotherapy treatment following surgery for a brain tumour has returned to the High Court.

Sally Roberts, 37, says she fears that radiotherapy will cause her son, Neon, long-term harm.

Doctors have said Neon could die within months if he does not receive the treatment.

The judge has been hearing arguments about the pros and cons of radiotherapy at the court in London.

Ms Roberts' barrister is seeking an adjournment until January to allow the family to find experts who can provide alternatives to radiotherapy.

It is understood Ms Roberts would prefer a type of treatment that involves molecular targeting.

The boy's father Ben, who is separated from Ms Roberts, has agreed to the radiotherapy but is said to be "apprehensive".

The barrister representing the hospital argues that any alternatives will not be as good as the "gold standard" recommended.

On Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled the child could have further surgery to remove a "residual tumour" against Ms Roberts' wishes.

Ms Roberts, who comes from New Zealand but lives in Brighton, wanted the operation delayed until more doctors had been consulted.

But specialists treating Neon said follow-up surgery needed to be carried out urgently and Mr Justice Bodey said the operation should go ahead.

Neon had the seven-hour procedure on Wednesday and the court was told it had gone well and that he is not considered as high risk as he was before the surgery.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Plebgate: Second Arrest Over Mitchell Row

Key Dates Of The Plebgate Scandal

Updated: 12:34pm UK, Thursday 20 December 2012

The row over Andrew Mitchell's argument with a police officer in Downing Street has resurfaced three months on. Here are the key developments.

:: September 4 - Andrew Mitchell is appointed Chief Whip in David Cameron's first Cabinet reshuffle.

:: September 19 - Mr Mitchell tries to cycle out of the Downing Street main gates but is stopped by a police officer who tells him he must use a side exit.

The officer on duty makes a log of the encounter, claiming that the Chief Whip swore and called police "plebs".

:: September 20 - Deputy Chief Whip John Randall is sent an email apparently from a constituent claiming he and his nephew witnessed the altercation.

It claims passers-by had been shocked and suggests some could have filmed it, as well as repeating the "plebs" allegation.

:: September 21 - The Sun runs a story on the row titled "Cabinet minister: police are plebs".

Mr Mitchell apologises for not "treating the police with the respect they deserve" but denies using the language reported.

David Cameron says he has apologised and allows him to keep his job but the Police Federation insist he has to go.

:: September 24 - Mr Mitchell says sorry on television as the row refuses to die away but his apology is dismissed as lacklustre and calls grow for him to quit.

Labour calls on Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to launch an investigation but the appeal is rejected.

:: September 25 - The Daily Telegraph publishes the full police log of the row, piling yet more pressure on the senior Tory.

:: October 4 - Mr Mitchell pulls out of the Tory party conference to avoid being a "distraction".

:: October 12 - The Chief Whip meets representatives of the Police Federation at his constituency office in Sutton Coldfield but officers remain dissatisfied.

:: October 17 - Labour leader Ed Miliband declares that Mr Mitchell is "toast" during Prime Minister's Questions and accuses the Tories of "double standards".

:: October 19 - Mr Mitchell meets David Cameron at Chequers and resigns but continues to deny using the word "plebs".

:: December 15 - Officers investigating the leak of the police log arrest a serving police officer with the diplomatic protection squad on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

:: December 18 - Allegations emerge that the officer was behind the email to Mr Randall in September but never actually witnessed the argument.

New CCTV footage which appears to conflict with the official police account is also revealed by Channel 4 News.

Mr Mitchell claims he is the victim of a "stitch-up" and demands a full inquiry. Number 10 calls the allegations "exceptionally serious".

Met Police Chief Bernard Hogan-Howe says nothing he has seen affects the original police account.

:: December 19 - Police widen their probe into the case to include the email allegations and the possibility of a police "conspiracy".

David Cameron calls for the claims that an officer tried to "blacken the name of a Cabinet minister" to be "seriously investigated".

Senior Tory figures brand the latest developments "appalling" and suggestions begin that Mr Mitchell could soon be back on the front bench.

A 23-year-old man is arrested at 8pm by Scotland Yard on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence in relation to the affair.

:: December 20 - The second arrested man is released on bail, to return in January.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen's Christmas Message Will Be In 3D

The Queen's Christmas message is to be screened in 3D and HD for the first time, it has been announced.

The traditional broadcast will go hi-tech to allow viewers to scrutinise the Queen as never before in her Diamond Jubilee year.

However, viewers will also be able to see the 86-year-old monarch in normal definition during the speech, which will be broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day.

Sky's royal correspondent Paul Harrison said it is the first time any member of the royal family has embraced 3D.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen thought it was "absolutely lovely" and was very keen on the idea.

Harrison said Her Majesty wanted to embrace something new to mark her 60th year on the throne.

It is not known what her message will contain but events such as the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee are likely to feature prominently.

More follows...

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flood Fears Rise Ahead Of A Soggy Christmas

Flooding is set to hit Britain as successive bands of heavy rain move across the country ahead of a damp Christmas.

Most of England, Wales and Scotland is expected to be wet today with heavy rain in some places.

Snow is also likely over the Scottish mountains, especially on southeast-facing slopes of the Grampians where blizzard conditions are possible.

The number of flood alerts and warnings issued by the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is expected to rise during the day.

Heavy rainfall spread this morning

The Met Office said since 6pm last night 39.6mm of rain fell at Cardinham in Cornwall, while 29.6mm fell in London's Hampstead.

Sky News weather presenter Isabel Lang said: "Although it will ease during the day in the South West, there will be persistent rain elsewhere.

"Amounts of rain will vary but a further 25 to 50mm is forecast today which will continue to raise flooding concerns.

"Driving conditions will also be difficult in places with standing water and localised flooding already reported."

Although Friday will largely be dry in the South West, the next band of rain is set to move in by the evening and brings renewed flood risks.

Lang said: "The next band coming through is very moist and warm air. There is the potential for major disruption.

"After a white Christmas in 2010 and an unseasonably warm 2011, we may have a wet 2012 Christmas."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue has made 18 rescues since last night, including 10 water rescues of people trapped in cars and eight from flooded homes.

They continue to receive calls from people affected and police have advised against all but necessary travel in New Forest and Emsworth. Roads are also flooded in Fareham and Portsmouth.

EA flood risk manager Craig Woolhouse said: "Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly.

Flooding last month in Old Malton, North Yorkshire

People have been advised to check their route for disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater.

The EA now offers a free flood warning service on its website.

Mr Woolhouse said: "We urge people to keep up to date with the weather forecast and local news overnight and remain prepared for flooding in their area by signing up to receive free flood warnings and staying away from dangerous flood water."

:: Information is available on the Environment Agency website or by calling the EA Flood Line on 0845 988 1188.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lindsay Sandiford Faces Lengthy Jail Sentence

A grandmother from Gloucestershire may be jailed for up to 15 years after being accused of trafficking cocaine in Bali.

Lindsay Sandiford, 56, was arrested at Denpasar airport in May when 4.79 kg of the Class A drug was found in the lining of her suitcase.

Indonesian prosecutors have recommended a 15-year sentence and told the Denpasar district court she was "legitimately and convincingly guilty of committing a narcotics crime",

Indonesian drug laws have become increasing strict and recently several convicts have received the death penalty or a life sentence for smuggling narcotics.

Two members of an Australian drug smuggling gang known as 'The Bali Nine' are on death row.

Sandiford covered herself with a scarf to avoid being photographed

Prosecutors say Sandiford received a lenient recommendation because she behaved well in court and helped the police to find three Britons and an Indian in connection with the case.

In court, a bespectacled Sandiford wore a blue head shroud to shield herself from the press.

She is expected to present her defence at the next trial hearing on January 3.

The same court sentenced two other Britons this week:

Paul Beales, 40, was jailed for four years for possessing 3.6 grams of hashish and Rachel Dougall to 12 months for failing to report a crime.

A fourth Briton, Julian Ponder, is on trial for trafficking and possessing drugs after allegedly picking up a gift-wrapped package from eastern Bali.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Flood Threat In Run-Up To Christmas

Forecasters have warned people to expect up to seven days of unsettled conditions as a series of wet weather systems engulf the UK.

And pockets of England have been told to prepare for yet more flooding after the Environment Agency issued another round of warnings.

Parts of England and Wales were brought to their knees last month when flood water surged through streets and down roads, cutting off whole communities and forcing dozens to flee their homes.

Rivers burst their banks and fields were flooded as several days' rain fell in just a few hours.

Sections of the transport network also ground to a halt as train travel was disrupted and some small passenger planes grounded.

The UK has experienced pockets of mild, dry weather in the run-up to Christmas, but that is all expected to change from Wednesday.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "There'll be long spells of heavy rain over the next few days, accompanied by strong to gale force winds.

"There'll be an increasing risk of local flooding as the week goes on, particularly across south-west England.

"Up to 50mm of rain is possible over the next 48 hours, but there'll be a brief drier and brighter interlude on Friday before yet more heavy rain over the weekend.

"Despite the unsettled conditions it will be on the mild side for many places."

The Environment Agency has placed five areas under flood warnings - the second most serious of three types of weather warnings, meaning some flooding is expected.

There are three such warnings in place in the South West - including the Somerset Levels - and two for the Anglian region.

More than 20 flood alerts were also issued on Tuesday evening, across the UK, meaning residents should be prepared for the risk of flooding.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy Hook: British Boy's Parents Speak Of Grief

The British parents of a six-year-old boy killed in the Sandy Hook shootings have said they will never regret moving to Connecticut.

Dylan Hockley was one of 20 children and six adults shot dead by gunman Adam Lanza in America's worst school shooting.

He was born in Hampshire to a British father and American mother, Ian and Nicole Hockley, and the family moved to Newtown two years ago.

In a statement released through the British Foreign Office, Dylan's family gave their thanks to the emergency services and first responders who helped on Friday.

"It was an impossible day for us, but even in our grief we cannot comprehend what other people may have experienced," they said.

The couple, who have an older son called Jake, said they had specifically chosen the Sandy Hook area to move to because of its close community and Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the massacre took place.

"Sandy Hook and Newtown have warmly welcomed us since we moved here two years ago from England. We do not and shall never regret this choice. Our boys have flourished here and our family's happiness has been limitless."

They praised the staff at the school including head teacher Dawn Hochsprung, who was killed as she confronted Lanza as he entered the school, and teacher Vicki Soto, who was hailed a hero as she tried to protect her pupils by hiding them in cupboards.

"Though our hearts break for Dylan, they are also filled with love for these and the other beautiful women who all selflessly died trying to save our children."

The statement reads: "Everyone who met Dylan fell in love with him.  His beaming smile would light up any room and his laugh was the sweetest music. He loved to cuddle, play tag every morning at the bus stop with our neighbours, bounce on the trampoline, play computer games, watch movies, the colour purple, seeing the moon and eating his favourite foods, especially chocolate.

"He was learning to read and was so proud when he read us a new book every day. He adored his big brother Jake, his best friend and role model. 

"There are no words that can express our feeling of loss. We will always be a family of four, as though Dylan is no longer physically with us, he is forever in our hearts and minds. We love you Mister D, our special gorgeous angel."

President Barack Obama is expected to appoint Vice President Joe Biden to head a government panel to formulate a response to gun violence in the wake of the Newtown school massacre.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Traveller Family Jailed Over Forced Labour

Five members of a traveller family have been jailed for a total of 18 years after being found guilty of forcing vulnerable men to work for them.

The Connors family enjoyed top-of-the-range cars and expensive holidays. But to live the high life, they picked up men - often homeless drifters or addicts - to work for them as labourers.

The victims lived in squalid caravans on traveller sites as they moved around the country working on the Connors' paving and patio businesses.

Some were also ordered to perform humiliating tasks, such as emptying the buckets used as toilets by their bosses.

James and Miles Connors

William Connors, 52, was jailed for six and a half years and his wife Mary, 48, received a sentence of two years and three months.

The couple's son, John, 29, was jailed for four years. Their other son James, 20, got three years detention in a young offender institution. Son-in-law Miles Connors, 24, received a three year prison sentence.

They were all convicted last week at Bristol Crown Court of conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 2010 and March 2011 following a three-month trial.

Some of the men - called "dossers" by the Connors - had worked for the family for nearly two decades.

Many were beaten, hit with broom handles, belts, a rake and shovel, and punched and kicked by the Connors.

John Connors

The men were paid as little as £5 for a day's hard labour on jobs which would earn the family several thousands of pounds.

They were given so little food that they resorted to scavenging from rubbish bins at supermarkets.

In contrast, the Connors lived in large and well-appointed caravans fitted with luxury kitchens and flat-screen televisions.

William and Mary, known as Billy and Brida, enjoyed exotic holidays, including Dubai and a 10-day cruise around the Caribbean on the Cunard flagship liner Queen Mary 2.

The family also spent the spoils of their enterprise on breaks to Tenerife and Cancun in Mexico.

As well as holidays, they drove around in cars including an A-Class Mercedes saloon, a Rolls-Royce, a red Mini convertible, a Toyota Hilux pick-up, a Ford Ranger and a Mercedes van, and had built up a mounting property portfolio potentially now worth millions of pounds.

Passing sentence, Judge Longman said: "What each of the workers had in common was that when they first met the Connors, they were unemployed and addicted to alcohol.

"Most were homeless, relying on hostels or night shelters at best for their accommodation. Some suffered from mental health difficulties.

"All were vulnerable in some way, and it was this vulnerability which was exploited by the defendants for their own commercial gain."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

News Boss Goes As BBC Slammed In Savile Report

The Deputy Director of BBC News has resigned after the publication of a damning report into the axing of a Newsnight programme on Jimmy Savile.

At a news conference to address the highly critical findings, the BBC announced the resignation of Stephen Mitchell, who had been with the corporation for 38 years.

Mr Mitchell was one of several high-profile figures at the organisation to be criticised in an independent report, headed by Nick Pollard, former head of Sky News.

The report said that the decision to shelve the programme into Savile's "dark side" was "seriously flawed".

It also said that leadership and organisation relating to the decision were in "short supply".

The BBC immediately announced that, as well as accepting Mr Mitchell's resignation, it had put in place a new editorial team at Newsnight.

The report paints a picture of a top-down organisation with rivalries and faction fighting.

It said the BBC's management system "proved completely incapable of dealing" with the issues raised by the axing of the story.

It added that "the level of chaos and confusion was even greater than was apparent at the time".

The report found: "The decision to drop the original investigation was flawed and the way it was taken was wrong but I believe it was done in good faith.

"It was not done to protect the Savile tribute programmes or for any improper reason."

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said the BBC accepted the review in its "entirety".

He said the BBC will publish the evidence it gets from Mr Pollard with redactions for "legal reasons".

The report was published at the same time as another review, by the BBC Trust, concluded that airing a Newsnight report that led to Lord McAlpine being wrongly named as a paedophile had resulted largely from a failure by members of the team to follow the BBC's own editorial guidelines.

Among the senior figures criticised in the Pollard report are former Director General George Entwistle and director of news Helen Boaden.

The review blamed in part an "apparent adherence to rigid management chains" for the failure to deal with the issue.

It said Ms Boaden's attempt to alert Mr Entwistle to potential problems posed by the story during an industry lunch was "too casual" and she is criticised for not taking "greater responsibility" as the crisis grew.

Mr Entwistle, who resigned after 54 days in the top job, was criticised for appearing to "have taken a long time to take any real control" of the problems at the BBC.

The review concludes that the BBC does not have to be taken down "brick by brick" but said the Director General's role as editor-in-chief needs to be examined.

It also said it "raises a question about the insularity of some people within the BBC" who are described as being unaware of wider industry practices.

Also criticised was Mr Mitchell, who decided to remove the Savile investigation from the corporation's Managed Risk Programmes List (MRPL) - an internal mechanism to flag up stories that contain some element of potential danger including risk to the BBC's reputation.

Mr Pollard described that decision as "critical", adding: "It was important to establish why he had done this. Very unfortunately, he could offer no convincing reason".

Mr Pollard said that if it had stayed on the MRPL some of what followed "might well have been avoided".

The report also paints an unflattering picture of relations between staff on Newsnight and in the wider BBC, saying the decision to cancel the story led to disagreements between show boss Peter Rippon and his journalists and"relationships... began to break down".

It found there was no "undue pressure" on Mr Rippon from his bosses to drop the story, but said his decision to do so "was seriously flawed".

It went on: "He made a bad mistake in not examining the evidence properly".

It also describes the background to his blog post on the issue, which was later corrected after being found to be factually incorrect, as "chaotic".

The evidence given to the review also reveals Mr Entwistle refused to speak to Newsnight reporter Meirion Jones off-the-record because he "didn't trust him to have an off-the-record conversation".

It also includes evidence from Ms Boaden that Mr Entwistle told her he would not accept her resignation and was going to make a public statement that would make "it impossible for Peter [Rippon] not to resign".

The report includes sections of an email sent to Mr Entwistle two years before becoming Director-General, telling him an obituary for Savile had not been done because of "the darker side" to his life though Mr Entwistle told the inquiry he had not read it.

The review said the email, and others like it, indicates "there was knowledge, not just rumour ... about the unsavoury side of Savile's character" in BBC TV shortly after his death.

Meanwhile the BBC Trust review into the McAlpine error described the incident as a "grave breach which had been costly to all concerned".

The Trust said it resulted in the public being misled.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Savile Inquiry: Ex-Radio One Producer Held

Detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal have arrested former Radio One producer Ted Beston, Sky sources say.

The suspect was arrested at around 6.30am on suspicion of sexual offences and has been taken into custody at a south London police station.

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "He was a long-time producer of Jimmy Savile's radio programmes, in fact at the time that the scandal broke reporters went to question him simply because he was one of those who worked so closely with Jimmy Savile for more than 10 years.

"He said at the time, back in October, that the revelations were a big shock, very upsetting for him, and what was being revealed was a side of Jimmy Savile that he never knew."

The 76-year-old, who worked with Savile in the 60s and 70s, was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Savile and others.

The probe has three strands - claims against Savile, those against Savile and others, and those against others.

Scotland Yard said the latest arrest falls under the strand of the investigation termed "Savile and others".

The man is the eighth person to be arrested by Operation Yewtree detectives.

Other high-profile names arrested in connection with the investigation - set up in the wake of the Savile abuse scandal - include former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and publicist Max Clifford.

On Monday, Starr and Clifford were re-bailed to dates in February and March pending further enquiries.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, and a man in his 70s, reported to be former television producer Wilfred De'Ath, were previously re-bailed to dates in February.

Last week police said a total of 31 allegations of rape have been made against Savile so far.

Some 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints against the BBC presenter and DJ himself, mainly alleging sexual abuse, Scotland Yard said.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hospital Surgery At Weekends Under NHS Plans

By Becky Johnson, Sky Correspondent

Routine operations, scans and consultations could be set to take place on weekends under new proposed changes to the NHS.

The plans are part of a series of measures being discussed by the new NHS Commissioning Board which will take over day-to-day control of the health service from April 2013.

A spokeswoman said: "We are looking at options to provide a greater seven-days-a-week service."

The plans are designed with convenience for patients in mind.

Quality of care and patient safety are also factors behind the proposals after research carried out by University College London earlier this year found patients admitted on a Sunday are 16% more likely to die than those admitted midweek.

The Alexandra Avenue Clinic in London is already open seven days a week.

Dr David Lloyd told Sky News: "It means patients don't have to go two days without seeing a doctor and it means acutely ill patients can be seen in a setting that isn't a hospital and hopefully we can prevent a log-jam in A&E.

"It's one of the adages of the world in hospitals that you admit for seven days a week, and yet everything grinds to a halt at the weekends.

"In fact if you work a seven-day week it means that you can get all the tests done much more quickly, it means that patients have to spend less time in hospital, so in fact you might be able to save some resources."

Patients at the clinic told Sky News it would be more convenient if they could also book hospital appointments on Saturdays and Sundays too.

One said: "I don't want the doctors to work too long hours because that would mean our care is in jeopardy.

"Maybe they could hire more people, in that way it could be good."

Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "For some years we have known, particularly with evidence from North America, that the care of patients at weekends seems to lead to a greater death rate.

"They need all the services, there's some quite good evidence that for instance X-rays and other procedures are not done as frequently at the weekends as in weekdays.

"It may well be the lack or delay to those screening procedures at the weekend is the thing that causes the slight increase in the mortality of patients admitted at the weekend."

NHS bosses are in discussion with doctors about how the changes would affect the way they work.

It is thought no doctor would be forced to work at weekends so incentives may need to be agreed to make weekend working attractive.

The NHS Commissioning Board will oversee expenditure of England's £95.6bn NHS budget from April next year.

It has also allocated £64.7bn for 211 local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which are led by GPs and will take responsibility for local secondary, community and mental healthcare services.

The NHS Commissioning Board will monitor standards. It has said any referral to treatment wait of more than 52 weeks should attract financial penalties and indicated there should be zero tolerance of MRSA.

Sir David Nicholson, the NHS Commissioning Board's chief executive, said: "The NHS can be justly proud of its achievements. 

"People wait less, they are diagnosed and referred quicker and our hospitals have fewer infections. But everyone in the NHS knows we must continue to improve. 

"We want to make the NHS the best customer service in the world by doing more to put patients in the driving seat."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Olympic Sports Await Rio Funding Decisions

Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sports are waiting to hear how much money they will get to help them prepare for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

UK Sport will reveal the critical four-year programme this afternoon with those sports which disappointed at London 2012 facing a cut in their budgets.

Swimming failed to meet its target and there are fears its funding could be slashed under UK Sport's policy of rewarding success.

By contrast cycling, rowing, athletics, judo and canoeing are expecting a financial boost after surpassing their medal and performance targets.

The Government has already announced overall funding for elite sport will be maintained at pre-London levels. Today's announcement is about how the money is to be divided up.

Rebecca Adlington won two of swimming's three medals at London 2012

Swimming only won three medals at the London Olympics after UK Sport set a target of five to seven.

The sport has already had three years of funding withheld until it can prove its new blueprint to get more people in the pool is working.

Tennis has also had funding frozen until it improves its plan to boost participation.

Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: "Tennis has not performed well in terms of participation and is broadly flat, although it got a bit of bounce in the latest figures.

"Their plan simply wasn't strong enough to justify the four-year investment."

Despite Andy Murray's success this year UK Sport is unhappy with tennis

Other sports such as cycling, netball and triathlon have enjoyed general funding rises of more than 30%. All of the Paralympic sports have also seen their grants increase.

Pete Eriksson, head coach of UK Athletics' Olympic programme, told Sky News he was confident of getting the amount they need to maintain and build on their past success.

"It's a numbers game," he said. "The more people that come in to the sport the more chances we have of finding the talented athletes that can perform in the future, and with the coaches we have I am convinced that we will.

"I think it's depending on how UK Sport have seen what we've done this year and their belief in the new structure and the new centre that we have. So I think it's all depending on the future rather than the past.

Mo Farah's two golds in London helped UK Athletics keep its head high

"I think that we will get the funding decision and I'm not too worried that there's going to be less funding to the national team levels compared to what there has been before. I think we'll be fine."

Kenny Barton, world class performance manager at British Volleyball, says UK Sport should not only base its decisions on whether targets have been met but also take a long-term view.

He told Sky News: "It takes a long time to build a team sport. The progress that our teams have made leading up to the Olympic Games this summer has been nothing short of staggering.

"I think we deserve to keep on that path. I understand the rationale behind the system is about medals. We can't guarantee a medal in Rio, but I would hope we could get a medal four years later."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cystic Fibrosis Woman Dies After Transplant

The father of a woman born with cystic fibrosis who died after being given a lung transplant from a smoker is calling for hospitals to tell patients about a donor's health history.

Jennifer Wederell, 27, died of cancer on August 24 at her home in Hawkwell, Essex, 16 months after being given the transplant at Harefield Hospital in London.

She was not told at the time of the transplant that the middle-aged donor had been a smoker.

Now Jennifer's father, Colin Grannell, says people facing organ transplants should be told of any adverse history from the donor that might affect a successful transplant.

He says he does not think his daughter would have agreed to the transplant if she had known the full facts.

The hospital says it is sorry she was not given the choice.

Jennifer, who  was on oxygen for 24 hours a day by her mid-20s, had been on the waiting list for a lung transplant for 18 months when she was told there was a match in April 2011.

She received the transplant and married her long-term boyfriend, David, that same year.

But by February of this year, less than a year after the operation, Mrs Wederell had been diagnosed with cancer, with the terrible news that it had spread.

"The shock immediately turned to anger in so far as all the risks were explained in the hour before her transplant and not once was the fact that a smoker's lungs would be used mentioned," Mr Grannell told the Daily Mail.

"She was dying a death that was meant for someone else."

Mr Grannell has set up a Facebook site, Jennifer's Choice, to encourage non-smokers to sign up to the organ donor register.

The Royal Brompton Hospital Trust told Sky News: "The Trust has reiterated its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Jennifer Wederell for their very sad loss.

"It is very rare for patients to specify that they do not wish to be considered for clinically healthy lungs from smokers.

"This is because the risks are much higher if patients decline donor lungs from a former smoker, and decide to wait for another set of organs which are both a match for them and from a non-smoker, to become available.

"However we recognise that Jennifer should have been given the opportunity to make this choice. We have apologised sincerely for this oversight.

"Regrettably, the number of lungs available for transplantation would fall by 40% if there was a policy of refusing those which have come from a smoker; waiting lists would increase and many more patients would die without a transplant."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trains Resume Service On East Coast Line

Trains have resumed some service on the East Coast Main Line after overhead wire problems caused chaos for travellers.

East Coast said a half-hourly service was now operating from London King's Cross and other services would "progressively resume throughout the day".

The company had initially hoped that a problem with overhead wiring between Stevenage and Hitchin would be sorted by 7am today.

But another incident on the line early this morning closed all four lines through Hitchin, causing mass cancellations and delays.

Services into and out of King's Cross were stopped after the damage on the line that links London with Edinburgh.

It meant that East Coast, Grand Central and First Hull Trains were forced to start and terminate at Peterborough.

First Capital Connect have been running shuttle train services between Letchworth Garden City and Cambridge, Biggleswade and Peterborough, and Welwyn Garden City and London Kings Cross.

Replacement buses have been running between Stevenage and Luton and Hertford North, and between Letchworth and Biggleswade and Welwyn Garden City.

"We apologise to passengers for the continued disruption to East Coast services this morning," East Coast said.

"Trains are now starting to move again through the affected area near Hitchin. A half-hourly East Coast service is now operating from London King's Cross and we expect services to progressively resume throughout the day.

"Earlier this morning, another train operator's service joining the main line at Hitchin was involved in an incident which led to reports of new overhead power line damage, following damage yesterday afternoon.

"Network Rail - which is responsible for track, signals and overhead lines - tell us that further damage to the overhead power lines was found at just before 07.00 this morning.

"In the meantime we have made arrangements for passengers to travel via alternative routes. Road replacement services are operating between Peterborough and Bedford; and we have been operating a shuttle service between Peterborough and Cambridge using a diesel train.

"All ticket restrictions have been lifted and East Coast tickets are being accepted by other operators on alternative routes."

East Coast advised passengers to turn to Twitter for more information about the disruption, using hashtag #Hitchin.

Passengers stuck on their way into London used Twitter to air their frustrations.

‏@phildoug wrote: "#hitchen all lines 4 lines into London closed on EC train stuck at St Neots, they may turn it round!"

@noelmc66 said: "Travelling on #eastcoast today? Forget it. Peterborough Stn resembling a (well dressed) refugee camp #chaos."

Another, @JRE111S, wrote: "Dear Santa - this year could I have some new overhead cables for the #Hitchin line? some boys on your naughty list seem to have stolen them!"

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer Boy Neon Roberts' Mum Blocks Surgery

The mother of a seven-year-old boy who is at the centre of a legal battle over whether he should have radiation treatment for cancer is also opposed to any further surgery on his brain tumour, a court has heard.

A High Court judge had been due to rule on whether Neon Roberts should have the radiotherapy against the wishes of his mother, Sally, at a hearing on December 8, but proceedings were adjourned after the tumour was found.

Ms Roberts' lawyer told the court on Tuesday that the tumour was part of the original one left behind after the initial operation.

Although this means there is a better prognosis for its removal, the lawyer said the 37-year-old was against any further surgery being carried out.

The judge may now have to rule on both the surgery and radiotherapy.

Ms Roberts, 37, a New Zealander who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, said that after researching the issue and speaking to experts she feared radiotherapy would a "damaging effect" on Neon's future.

The boy's father Ben, who lives in London and is separated from Ms Roberts, agreed to the radiotherapy but was "apprehensive", the court heard.

Doctors said Neon might die within months without radiotherapy treatment.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jacintha Saldanha: Nurse's Funeral In India

Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to the nurse who was found dead after taking a royal hoax call in a small town in India.

The funeral for mother-of-two Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was held in the Catholic parish church Our Lady of Health in Shirva, near Mangalore.

"She was a respected member of the community here," said Sky's Alex Rossi, who was in Shirva.

"When you speak to people amongst those crowds, they will tell you that she was extremely well-liked."

Ms Saldanha was found hanged in her living quarters on December 7 at London's King Edward VII's Hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for pregnancy sickness.

Ms Saldanha's coffin arrives in Mangalore

Three days earlier, Ms Saldanha had transferred a phone call from two Australian DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a nursing colleague who described in detail the condition of the Duchess.

Ms Saldanha's husband  Benedict Barboza and their two teenage children Junal and Lisha arrived in India on Sunday with her body from the UK, where the family moved about 12 years ago.

Mr Barboza held a press conference just five minutes after he laid the body of his wife to rest in the cemetery behind the church.

He said it would take him a long time to grieve and he would stay in Shirva over Christmas with the rest of his family before returning home to the UK.

The funeral took place in Shirva, where Ms Saldanha's husband was born

Sky's Alex Rossi said: "He looked absolutely exhausted throughout. He was tearful."

Before arriving in India, the family attended a memorial mass in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday. They paid an emotional tribute to a "kind-hearted, generous and well-respected woman".

Mr Barboza said: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward.

Ms Saldanha's family paid an emotional tribute to her in London

"From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out."

Ms Saldanha's 14-year-old daughter said: "We will miss your laughter, the loving memories and the good times we had together. The house is an empty dwelling without your presence.

"We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives."

A candle-lit vigil for Ms Saldhana in Mangalore at the weekend

Her son, 16, said: "Our mother, kind hearted, generous and a well-respected woman in both of our lives. You were the core of the family who kept us together."

Memorial services were also held at the hospital where Ms Saldanha worked and in Bristol where her husband and children live.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hampshire Kidnap: Two Arrests Over Abduction

Two men have been arrested in connection with a "terrifying" robbery in which a woman was kidnapped at gunpoint and driven around in her own car.

A pensioner couple were approached by a man last Friday morning outside their home in Rookes Lane, Lymington, Hampshire, before being threatened with a gun.

The man, aged in his 70s, suffered a minor head injury as he confronted the robber.

But the woman, who is in her 60s, was then forced to go with the robber as he stole the couple's car and drove her around the Lymington area, making more demands for money.

He returned to the house around 15 minutes later with the woman, who was released unharmed, before he drove off again in the car which he then abandoned.

A total of £100 in cash was stolen.

A 48-year-old man from Lymington was arrested on suspicion of robbery and aggravated burglary and then released on bail until January 11.

A 44-year-old man from New Milton was arrested on suspicion of robbery last night and remains in police custody.

New Forest district commander Chief Inspector Tony Rowlinson said: "I would like to thank members of the public for their response to our appeals.

"Information received over the weekend gave detectives new leads which had to be followed sensitively as well as swiftly."

He had previously said: "This was a shocking crime committed against a couple who were subjected to an unprovoked, terrifying attack in their own home and car."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clegg: 'Rich Pensioners May Lose Benefits'

Nick Clegg has called for wealthy pensioners to lose free bus passes and the winter fuel allowance as he tries to revive his party's fortunes.

The Deputy Prime Minister, in a major speech on the welfare state, insisted the Government has an "absolute duty" to ensure the system is fair to all.

He said this means not paying out to "people who do not need it" and "looking again at universal benefits paid to the wealthiest pensioners".

Such a move would lead to means-testing for the winter fuel allowance, free bus travel, prescriptions and television licences.

David Cameron has committed to keeping universal benefits in place until 2015 but many Tories are keen for reform.

Following his deputy's speech, his spokesman said: "The Prime Minister made a commitment to protect those benefits and he believes in keeping his promises."

Mr Clegg admitted the benefits shake-up had been "painful and controversial" at times but he claimed the Lib Dems had ensured it was firmly anchored in the political centre ground.

"When two thirds of people think the benefits system is too generous and discourages work then it has to be changed, or we risk a total collapse in public support for welfare existing at all," he told the Centre Forum think tank.

"We need welfare protection for people who fall on hard times. Of course. But you cannot ask low income working people to pay through their taxes for people who aren't in work to live more comfortably than they do."

Mr Clegg sought to put distance between the Lib Dems and the Tories by pointing out that he blocked bids to cut housing benefit for the under 25s and to only pay child benefit for the first two children in a family.

Mr Clegg's speech comes after polls put the Lib Dems in fourth place

The speech, to the Centre Forum think tank, comes on the eve of his fifth anniversary as Lib Dem leader and as the party battles a major slump in support.

He is under intense pressure as further polls show his party has been pushed into fourth place behind the UK Independence Party (Ukip). One poll had Ukip on 14%, ahead of the Lib Dems on just 8%.

Deputy leader Simon Hughes has admitted that "there is a little bit of chatter" about the leadership because of the dismal poll ratings.

Meanwhile, Mr Clegg's former director of strategy Richard Reeves has revealed the leader is attempting to win back votes by setting out the Lib Dem position well before coalition announcements are made.

In an attempt to turn the tide before local elections next May, Mr Clegg apparently wants to show the "inner workings of government" but this will inevitably strain the partnership.

Mr Reeves, writing in The Guardian, suggests the coalition could collapse before 2015 if the tactic fails.

"2013 is the year the Liberal Democrat strategy - deliver, then differentiate - will be tested," he said.

"A more assertive stance in act two of coalition should mean greater support and more votes. If not, the curtain will probably fall on the coalition before 2015."

Mr Clegg conceded that governing in difficult times had meant the party acquiring a "harder edge" but said the alternative was "a retreat to the comfort and relative irrelevance of opposition".

In his address, he suggested many Conservatives believe everyone out of work is "a scrounger" - a jibe at Chancellor George Osborne who said Government should support "strivers" not "shirkers".

"The siren voices of the Tory right who peddle this myth could have pulled a majority Conservative government in the direction of draconian welfare cuts," he said.

He declared that the Tories wanted to implement an extra £10bn in welfare cuts but were kept down to £3.8bn by the Lib Dems, branding some of the earlier plans "extreme".

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough Single Tipped For Xmas No 1

X Factor winner James Arthur is set to be denied top spot at Christmas by a charity single featuring the talents of Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams and dozens of other stars.

The version of the Hollies' hit He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Justice Collective is produced by Williams' long-time collaborator Guy Chambers, with all the proceeds going to cover the legal costs of the families of the Liverpool supporters killed in the Hillsborough disaster.

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, comedian John Bishop and Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram have all called on the Chancellor to waive VAT on the single.

George Osborne has already done so for the X Factor winner's single, the proceeds of which are also going to charity.

The Hillsborough song was inspired by the sight of two children who walked out to the track during a tribute to the dead at Liverpool's cross-city rivals Everton.

It comes after a damning report into the handling of the crowd crush at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 which left 96 fans dead.

A spokesman for bookmakers William Hill said the song was 1/7 to be Christmas number one with Arthur 9/2 second favourite.

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo said: "The Christmas charts have become a little less predictable since Rage Against The Machine denied the X Factor another sure-fire Christmas number one a couple of years back, so anything now seems possible."

The song, originally a number three hit for The Hollies in 1969, got to number one when it was re-released in 1988.

Chambers said the song "created an incredible impression" when it was played at Goodison Park following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report.

He said: "It made a lot of people cry and the song had immense power. I just listened to it and I thought I certainly couldn't write a better song than that.

"It's about raising awareness about the injustice that happened and spreading good will among the whole country so they can get behind it."

The single also includes contributions from former X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson, Spice Girl Mel C, Holly Johnson, Gerry Marsden and Paul Heaton.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Amy Winehouse Inquest To Be Reheard

The inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse will be reheard after it emerged the original coroner was not eligible to deal with it.

Deputy Assistant Coroner Suzanne Greenaway recorded a verdict of misadventure after the Back To Black star was found dead at her north London home last year, aged 27.

It has now emerged that she was not qualified to oversee the inquest.

Winehouse had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and was found to have five times the drink-drive limit of alcohol in her blood when she died.

The singer was found dead at her north London home in January 2011

The original inquest into her death heard that she had died after going on a drinking binge following a long period of not drinking.

The St Pancras Coroner's Court heard that Winehouse turned to drink after kicking a drug habit in 2008. She had been taking drugs to stop her from drinking but refused therapy.

Dr Christina Romete told the inquest: "She was one of the most intelligent young women I've ever met. She was very determined to do everything her way, including her therapy. She had very strict views on that."

Ms Greenaway was appointed to the role in July 2009 by her husband, Andrew Reid, who was the coroner for Inner North London, after she had worked as a solicitor and barrister in Australia.

Amy Winehouse with her father Mitch

But she stepped down in November when it emerged she did not have the requisite five years' experience in the Law Society.

Dr Reid resigned from his position this month after investigators found he had not "thoroughly" checked his wife had the requisite qualifications for the position.

Under British law, Ms Greenaway would have needed either five years with the Law Society or five years of experience as a qualified medical practitioner.

She met neither set criteria.

The new hearing will be at St Pancras Coroner's Court on Tuesday January 8.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Paralympian Aims To Turn Convention On Its Head

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A British Paralympic judo player aims to be the first in his sport to switch to able-bodied competition.

Sam Ingram will claim a world first in judo if he can follow the trail, blazed by Oscar Pistorius and others, in making the transition from disabled to non-disabled sporting competition.

The partially-sighted judoka won a silver medal at this year's London Paralympics and a bronze in Beijing 2008.  He now intends to fight for Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games against non-disabled athletes.

The 27-year-old is originally from Coventry but has settled in Edinburgh, where he trains with Scotland's elite judo players.

Sam told Sky News: "If I was selected for Glasgow, I'd prove to myself that all the hard work's paying off. I think I'd prove to other people that just because you have a disability, it doesn't mean that you've got to be pigeon-holed or limited; you can break through.

"People who have been told they'll never walk again have confounded the predictions - it is possible.

The Paralympian intends to take part in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

"For people with visual impairment, if you can cope with the guys who can see perfectly well, there's no reason why you shouldn't compete against them. I might have a slight disadvantage but, hopefully, I've got other advantages. If I make it to Glasgow, and it goes well, you never what's going to happen - maybe the Olympics in Rio after that."

The main difference between Paralympic and non-disabled judo comes at the start of a fight. When visually-impaired judo players begin a contest they are already gripped onto each other's jacket. In a non-disabled fight, they begin apart and the early exchanges are usually taken up with trying to secure a grip on the opponent.

"In Olympic-style judo," says Sam, when you begin grip-fighting, you have got to see where your opponent is and that's why it's a little bit difficult for people with visual impairment," Sam said.

Although Sam would be the first in judo to take the step from disabled to non-disabled competition, he wouldn't be the first British athlete to do so. Swimmer and cyclist Sarah Storey and archer Danielle Brown have previously competed for Great Britain in Paralympics and in Commonwealth Games for England.

In the wake of the Paralympics in London, there is evidence that disabled people around the UK feel more enthusiastic about sport, even if at least one survey suggests that may not translate into participation.

A post-Paralympics survey by the English Federation of Disability Sport showed that watching the Paralympics encouraged eight out of 10 disabled people to consider taking part in more sport, a large increase.

Shirley-Anne Duff says disabled athletes train as hard as able-bodied ones

However, results from a Sports and Recreation Alliance survey conducted with sports clubs in October 2012 indicated that nine out of 10 (89%) clubs have noticed no change in the number of disabled people joining their club.

There is little doubt, however, that disabled participants who do cross the sporting threshold are still basking in the glow of London 2012.

Sky News attended a training session of the Lothian Phoenix wheeelchair basketball team in West Lothian.

Coach Shirley-Anne Duff told us: "I think there's a lot more awareness of paralympic sport and understanding of the athleticism that's involved, that these athletes train just the same as regular athletes - they train hard and they play hard.  Wheelchair basketball is such a fast paced and exciting sport that people are really able to relate to it because it's so similar to the running ball game."

Gavin Macleod, chief executive of Scottish Disability Sport, said: "I think (the Paralympics) gave people with a disability the perception that sport is for them, that there is something out there that they can do.  There are pathways there and there are opportunities so I think a whole awareness was raised around the Games, which is fantastic."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hampshire Robbery And Kidnap: Police Appeal

Police have appealed for a suspected armed robber to give himself up after a woman was kidnapped and driven around in her own car.

The man approached a house in Rookes Lane, Lymington, Hampshire, on Saturday morning, and pointed a gun to threaten the people who live there - the woman, who is in her 60s, and a man in his 70s.

The man received a minor head injury during a confrontation with the suspect inside the house, where money was demanded. No shots were fired, and about £100 in cash was stolen.

The robber then stole the couple's car, a silver/grey Peugeot 207 convertible, which was driven erratically at speed around the local area.

The woman was forced to travel in the front passenger seat of the car, but was not injured and was returned home around 15 minutes later.

The suspect drove away into Newenham Road, where he abandoned the car at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Chief Inspector Tony Rowlinson said: "I am appealing directly to the suspect to consider the consequences of his actions.

"From our initial inquiries, we understand you might be facing personal and painful circumstances in which you feel trapped and desperate for money.

"However, think long and hard about the distress and fear you are causing. I am imploring you to explore your conscience and do the right thing by contacting police to tell us where you are before you make any more reckless choices, which could hurt innocent people. Please phone us on 101.

"My appeal extends to any family or friends who think they may know this person or their current whereabouts. Please contact the police with what you know about this man."

He added: "This was a shocking crime committed against a couple who were subjected to an unprovoked, terrifying attack in their own home and car. I would like to praise their immense courage in dealing with the robber, who was violent towards them."

Police said they were linking the incident to a robbery on December 5 at Brockenhurst railway station.

Chief Inspector Rowlinson said: "I am calling on the community to be alert in spotting and reporting any suspicious behaviour or any information about the suspect's identity or location.

"We cannot confirm at this time whether the gun seen by the couple was real or an imitation firearm, but my advice to members of the public is to phone police on 999 immediately if you see someone matching the suspect's description. Do not approach him; his behaviour is unpredictable, and he could become distressed and agitated if approached."

He also appealed for help from the driver of a 4x4 car, saying: "We remain particularly keen to trace and speak with the driver of a sandy-coloured 4x4 car.

"This motorist is an important witness as it is reported the 4x4 car stopped in West Lane in Lymington to allow the Peugeot 207 to drive past while the robber was at the wheel.

"The woman has told police she waved at the 4x4 driver, who waved back, but did not appear to realise the reality of the situation inside the Peugeot."

The suspect was described as white, 35-55 years old, 5ft 10in, of average build, with dark hair.

The suspect, witnesses or anyone with information have been asked to contact CID at Southampton Central police station by phoning 101 and quoting Operation Prenton. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by phoning Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

UKIP 'Now The UK's Third Largest Party'

The UK Independence Party has surged to a record poll rating, knocking the Liberal Democrats into fourth place.

The ComRes poll for The Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror put UKIP on 14% - a six-point gain on last month and the party's highest rating in a ComRes poll.

Two other polls in Sunday newspapers - the Observer's Opinium and the Mail On Sunday Survation - also put UKIP at 14%.

The findings will alarm Tory MPs who fear the party is haemorrhaging support over issues such as Europe, the economy and its support for gay marriage.

The ComRes poll, which interviewed 2,002 people online between December 12 and 14, put the Conservatives on 28%, down three points from a month ago and 11 points behind Labour, who are down four on 39%.

Support for the Lib Dems is down to single figures at 9%, a one-point fall on the month, which puts five points between them and Nigel Farage's party.

ComRes/Independent On Sunday/Sunday Mirror

Mr Farage told Sky News: "All the way through UKIP's history people have doubted what UKIP can achieve.

"We've shown in the last two European elections what we're capable of - and I would remind people in 2009 that we came second across the entire United Kingdom.

"And what's happened in 2012 is that all the big issues that we've campaigned long and hard for for many, many years - and taken much abuse for - those issues have become absolutely at the centre ground of what people out there are talking about.

"Unless we see some really substantial change from the Government and from the Labour party in particular - with a U-turn on Europe, open-door immigration, gay marriage and other things - there's no reason to think that this level of support for UKIP can't be maintained."

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles told Sky's Murnaghan programme that he takes UKIP, which he describes as "a party of dissent", very seriously.

"They represent a voice, and I am very firmly of the view the only way to deal with them is to get dug in, and to fight them on the ground on community issues," he said.

But Mr Pickles said this does not mean the Tories should not form a pact with UKIP.

"I think it is absolutely wrong (that it can be) always assumed that some kind of deal could be done and people would flood back to us. Governments sometimes have to make some very difficult decisions," he said.

He also said: "I think it's important that if we do have a referendum on our future with Europe it's got to be on the basis of not trying to outsmart UKIP or trying to ensure that we can bring the whole conservative party in one - it should be in the national interest."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rescuers To Bring Swamped Ship Ashore

Rescuers searching for the body of a crewman who died when stormy seas overcame his boat will bring the battered vessel ashore today.

Eleven other crew onboard the Vos Sailor had to be rescued when the boat was damaged and took on water during severe weather yesterday.

The Vos Sailor, an emergency response and rescue vessel, had been operating on the Balmoral oil field 120 miles off Aberdeen on Scotland's north-east coast.

Grampian Police said one man was fatally injured. His body has not yet been recovered.

The 42.5-metre vessel is operated by Aberdeen-based Vroon Offshore Services.

A Vroon spokeswoman said last night: "The vessel is still adrift and there is a support vessel with it. A salvage team will bring it ashore tomorrow."

Coastguards launched a rescue mission after a mayday call at 4.30am and 11 crew members were winched to safety.

At the time of the incident, winds in the area were reported to be 60-75 knots with 6.5-metre waves.

Non-essential crew on the nearby North Sea Producer, a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, were evacuated to other rigs as a precaution because the disabled boat was drifting.

A Grampian Police spokeswoman said last night: "The vessel sustained significant damage and 11 crew members were winched to safety during an operation co-ordinated by the coastguard in Aberdeen.

"It appears at this time that one crew member has suffered fatal injuries.

"Efforts are ongoing to recover the vessel which will be brought into Aberdeen harbour in due course."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Hoax: Nurse's Body Flown To India

The body of the nurse who apparently took her own life after being duped by a prank call from has been flown to India for her funeral.

Mother-of-two Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead in her nurses' quarters at London's King Edward VII's Hospital by a colleague and a security guard on December 7.

The Order of Service for the Westminster mass

Three days earlier the Indian-born nurse transferred a call from two Australian DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to her co-worker.

Her colleague then explained the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was staying in the hospital for pregnancy sickness.

Ms Saldanha's funeral will take place on Monday afternoon (local time) at Our Lady of Health Church near Mangalore in Shirva, the hometown of her husband Benedict Barboza.

Residents will be able to pay final respects to the body before the mass and the burial ceremony.

The family with Keith Vaz (right) following Saturday's mass

Ms Saldanha's frail mother lives with her other daughter and a son in Mangalore, in the western state of Karnataka.

Mr Barboza accompanied her body on Sunday's flight to India along with their two children.

On Saturday Junal and Lisha, described the "unfillable void" left in their lives by their mother's death as a mass was held at Westminster Cathedral.

Following the service, Mr Barboza paid an emotional tribute: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward.

"From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out.

"Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live.

Ms Saldanha's widower arrives in India

"Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life."

Ms Saldanha's daughter said: "We will miss your laughter, the loving memories and the good times we had together.

"The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives."

Her son said: "Our mother, kind hearted, generous and a well respected woman in both of our lives. You were the core of the family who kept is together.

Ms Saldanha worked at the hospital where the Duchess was treated

"Your priority for us was a good education and a bright future. You taught us right from wrong which we appreciate.

"You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today. When we achieved good grades and merit, your pat on our backs encouraged us more."

Standing outside the cathedral alongside their local MP Charlotte Leslie and MP Keith Vaz, who has been campaigning on behalf of the family, Mr Barboza said the family "could not have foreseen the unprecedented tragedy that has unfolded in our lives".

He thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron for their condolences.

Memorial services have already been held at the hospital where Ms Saldanha worked and in Bristol where her husband and children live.

Ms Saldanha left two notes in her room and also had marks on her wrist when her body was discovered, Westminster Coroner's Court in London heard on Thursday.

A provisional date of March 26 has been set for the next inquest hearing.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More