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Cycling Festival: 70,000 Gear Up For Mass Event

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 03 Agustus 2013 | 20.14

Tens of thousands of riders are taking to the streets of London and Surrey this weekend for the UK's biggest cycling festival.

More than 70,000 cyclists are due to take part in the inaugural Prudential RideLondon festival, which includes four events designed to appeal to riders of all ages and abilities, from plodders to champions.

The highlight is set to be a 100-mile race from London through Surrey on Sunday, with London mayor Boris Johnson taking part in the challenge.

He said he had done a "couple" of 55-mile rides as part of his training programme codenamed "chiselled whippet".

He hopes to complete the route in 12 hours even though the cut-off time for finishers is supposed to be nine hours.

"My team has told me I will never make it. They think I am too clapped out to cycle 100 miles but the more they discourage me, the more determined I am to have a crack," he added.

British Olympic cycling champions Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell will be riding in Saturday's Grand Prix in London's St James's Park.

Ms Trott told Sky News: "I feel like we're actually turning into a cycling nation now, just like Belgium and Holland are. It's grown and grown.

Olympics - Super Saturday Package Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell will be riding in the Grand Prix

"It's been like a knock-on effect from what Chris Hoy did in Beijing, followed by what he did in London. And then two winners of the Tour de France in two consecutive years. It's just getting bigger and bigger."

Staff Sergeant Steve Arnold, 34, of King's Lynn, who had both his legs blown off in Afghanistan, will also be competing in the hope it will help his chances of being selected for Britain at the Paralympics.

He has only been handcycling seriously for a year after it was used as part of his recovery at Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

He added: "I loved representing my country as a member of the armed forces, and I'd love to represent my country in cycling as well. It is going to be a tough field - the hardest I have ever raced against with guys coming from all over the world.

"I can't imagine what it is going to be like racing on the streets of London with all those thousands of people cheering you on."

Saturday will also feature an eight-mile family ride on a traffic-free loop of closed roads in central London.

Up to 20,000 amateur cyclists are to line up for the 100-mile challenge, starting at the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, and then through Surrey's hills before finishing in central London.

Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson, two-time Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell, former Olympic and World champion sprint hurdler Sally Gunnell and soap stars from Emmerdale are taking part.


20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lads Mags: Tesco To Restrict Sales To Over 18s

Supermarket giant Tesco says it will sell lads mags only to those aged 18 or over.

The chain also said it had struck a "modesty deal" regarding the front covers of magazines such as Zoo, Nuts and Front and that Bizarre will be supplied in a bag.

The supermarket is bringing in a raft of measures across its 3,000 stores in the UK in response to customer concerns about the racy images.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We have had in depth conversations with our customers about this issue and we're putting new measures in place based on what they have told us they want.

"We've listened carefully to the concerns raised by the campaign groups but our priority is to make sure we meet our customers' needs and expectations.

"To do that we have secured agreement from the publishers of Zoo, Nuts and Front that their magazine covers will be more modest from now on and the publishers of Bizarre will now supply the magazine in a bag.

"We are restricting the sale of these magazines to people over the age of 18 to reassure parents who do not want their children to be able to purchase these titles.

"And we will ensure these titles are always placed on the back tier of the magazine shelves so that the cover is obscured with only the title visible."

Feminist campaign group Lose The Lads' Mags has been part of a driving force in a campaign maintaining it is unacceptable to treat women like sex objects.

It has been targeting high street supermarkets and newsagents which stock the magazines, declaring that it is "a national scandal" they are putting them up for sale.

The group states: "Lads mags aren't just a bit of harmless fun. By portraying women as dehumanised sex objects they fuel attitudes that underpin discrimination and violence against women.

"Displaying lads' mags in everyday spaces like supermarkets sends the deeply harmful message that treating women like sex objects is normal and acceptable."


20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Car Parking 'Cash Cow' Plan For Homeowners

Householders should be free to turn their driveway into a car park to boost their income and help provide cheaper parking spaces, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says.

The Cabinet minister has promised to clamp down on a "back-door parking tax" that forces residents to seek planning permission to charge commuters to park on their property.

New government guidance will allow homeowners to rent out their drives for a single car without making a planning application.

It comes after some town halls demanded that households apply for "change of use" planning permission costing £385, with the threat of a £20,000 fine if they did not, Mr Pickles said.

Householders could earn more than £200 each month renting out their parking space, according to moneysavingexpert.com.

Mr Pickles said: "Councils should be welcoming common sense ways that help hard-working people park easier and cheaply and for families to make some spare cash.

"Councils shouldn't be interfering in an honest activity that causes no harm to others, unless there are serious concerns.

Eric Pickles Eric Pickles wants new guidelines for renting out driveways

"Parking charges and fines are not a cash cow for town halls. This Government is standing up against the town hall parking bullies and over-zealous parking enforcement."

Several internet companies have been set up to help households rent out their spare or unused dedicated off-street parking space near town centres, train stations and sports grounds.

Mr Pickles said residents would be allowed to rent a single parking space without planning permission, provided there was no public nuisance to neighbours, or other substantive concerns.

Householders wishing to change their garden into a car park or for other commercial uses would still require planning permission, he added.

It emerged this week that some councils were racking up huge surpluses from their parking-charge activities, according to figures from the RAC Foundation.

In 2011/12, English councils had a total current account surplus of £565m from their on-street and off-street parking operations.

This is a £54m increase on the £511m surplus in 2010/11, said the foundation.


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Mark Duggan: 'No Criminality Over Shooting'

The police watchdog has found no evidence of criminality by officers in the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan.

Tomorrow will be the two-year anniversary of the death of his death in Tottenham, north London, which sparked a national wave of riots and looting.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been investigating whether any of the 11 firearms officers involved in Mr Duggan's shooting committed any wrongdoing.

Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, 30, was convicted at the Old Bailey of passing the gun to Mr Duggan after a retrial Kevin Hutchinson (R) was found guilty of supplying the gun to Mark Duggan Gun supplied to Mark Duggan by Kevin Hutchinson-Foster

But a spokeswoman said today: "We have found no evidence to indicate criminality at this stage."

Mr Duggan's relatives are due to gather with justice campaigners later today, along with supporters of Joy Gardner and Roger Sylvester, who both died after being restrained by police officers; and Cynthia Jarrett, whose death when police raided her home sparked the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham in the 1980s.

Shaun Hall and Carole Duggan. Carole Duggan: 'We expect those responsible to be prosecuted'

Mr Duggan's aunt, Carole Duggan, said she wanted the officers involved to be prosecuted.

"It's been two years and we are now waiting for the inquest to get the answers to the questions we have about how and why Mark was killed," she said. "We expect those responsible for Mark's death to be prosecuted and for justice to be served."

Mr Duggan was shot by armed police in Tottenham on August 4, 2011, after marksmen stopped the minicab in which he was travelling.

Officers feared the father-of-four was on his way to carry out a revenge shooting for his cousin's death. An inquest into the 29-year-old's death is due to start next month following a series of delays.

Local outrage at the police shooting marked the start of a wave of rioting, looting, and arson that spread across parts of the country in 2011.

The theme of this evening's event is "Justice delayed is justice denied", and will see the families speak about their ongoing battles for the truth about their loved ones' deaths.

Ms Gardner, who was facing deportation, died in 1993 after police officers restrained her and gagged her with tape.

Rioters and police in Hackney, east London The shooting sparked national riots and looting in 2011

Her mother, Myrna Simpson, said: "It's important for people to fight for justice and don't stop, because there is no other way to get justice but to fight for it.

"I am still fighting for justice for Joy and not only for Joy but for all. I am fighting for justice for everyone that has been unjustly killed."

The meeting will take place at North London Community House in Tottenham.


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Twitter Says 'Sorry' To Women Over Abuse

Twitter's UK boss has personally apologised to women who have been attacked by "trolls" on the social networking site, vowing to do more to protect people from abuse.

It comes as Scotland Yard said its e-crime unit was looking into claims by eight people of abuse.

Twitter found itself in the spotlight after three female journalists said they had been the subject of bomb threats on the site and two other women - an MP and a campaigner - received threats of rape.

The bomb threat tweet was sent to Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, Independent columnist Grace Dent and Europe editor of Time magazine Catherine Mayer, as well as a number of other women.

In separate incidents, Labour MP Stella Creasy and campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, who successfully fought for a woman's face to appear on £10 banknotes, were threatened on Twitter with rape.

Twitter logo Twitter is "committed to making the site a safe place for users"

Two arrests have already been made in relation to those threats.

Meanwhile, TV classics expert Mary Beard silenced an internet troll after naming and shaming him on the site.

Twitter has now clarified its rules on abusive behaviour amid a growing backlash over a series of attacks.

Stella Creasy & Mary Beard Labour MP Stella Creasy (L) and Mary Beard received abuse on Twitter

The firm said it was putting extra staff on the teams which handle abuse reports, and an "in-tweet" report button has been added so people can report abusive behaviour directly from a tweet.

It comes after an online petition calling for a "report abuse" button had attracted more than 120,000 signatures.

Tony Wang, general manager of Twitter UK, has posted a series of tweets saying abuse was "simply not acceptable".

He wrote: "I personally apologise to the women who have experienced abuse on Twitter and for what they have gone through.

New Twitter rules The website has introduced a new security button to report abuse

"The abuse they've received is simply not acceptable. It's not acceptable in the real world, and it's not acceptable on Twitter.

"There is more we can and will be doing to protect our users against abuse. That is our commitment."

Twitter is also working with the UK Safer Internet Centre, which promotes the safe and responsible use of technology.

The rules include "You may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence against others" and "You may not engage in targeted abuse or harassment".

The social networking website added: "User abuse and technical abuse are not tolerated on Twitter.com, and may result in permanent suspension."

Caroline Criado Perez Campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez was threatened on Twitter with rape

In a message posted on its blog, Twitter's senior director for trust and safety, Del Harvey, and Mr Wang wrote: "It comes down to this: people deserve to feel safe on Twitter.

"We want people to feel safe on Twitter, and we want the Twitter rules to send a clear message to anyone who thought that such behaviour was, or could ever be, acceptable."

"We are committed to making Twitter a safe place for our users," they said, adding: "We're here, and we're listening to you."


20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Race Row Over Immigration Spot Checks

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 02 Agustus 2013 | 20.14

The Home Office has been accused of targeting non-whites and using "heavy-handed" tactics in a new immigration crackdown to tackle people working illegally in the UK.

Spot checks on people's immigration status are being carried out at London train and tube stations by UK Border Agency staff.

Witnesses claim the checks appear to be only targeting members of ethnic minority communities.

Sky News reporter James Banks said: "It is not just those who have been stopped who think these tactics are out of order, with some witnesses arguing the checks were prompted by race, not intelligence."

Phil O'Shea, who witnessed one of the operations earlier this week in north London, told the Kilburn Times: "I thought the behaviour of the immigration officers was heavy-handed and frightening.

"They appeared to be stopping and questioning every non-white person, many of whom were clearly ordinary Kensal Green residents going to work.

Border Agency officers arrest two people in Brentwood Border Agency officers detain two people in Brentwood, north London

"When I queried what was going on I was threatened with arrest for obstruction and was told to 'crack on'."

Another onlooker told Sky News: "I think that when we are targeted like this - whatever you look like - I think it is absolutely terrible, and I think you are basing that on prejudice."

Immigration enforcement officers have also arrested 139 suspected immigration offenders in a series of intelligence-led raids at locations including London, Durham, Manchester, Wales and Somerset - and details of the raids posted online by the Home Office.

Updates on the campaign and heavily pixelated images of some of the arrests of suspects have been tweeted by the Home Office with the hashtag #immigrationoffenders - with the tweets linked to pages on the Government website providing more information. Those who have no right to be in the UK face being thrown out.

The move is the latest attempt by the Government to crack down on those illegally in the country, following a controversial "go home or face arrest" advertising van campaign.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "We are sending a clear message to employers who choose to use illegal labour - we will find you and you will pay a heavy penalty. We will not allow the growth of a shadow economy for illegal migrants."

But concerns have been raised about recent anti-immigration operations in London, and Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP for Brent North, has written to Home Secretary Theresa May demanding an investigation into the spot checks which he said violated "fundamental freedoms".

"We do not yet live in a society where the police or any other officers of the law are entitled to detain people without reasonable justification and demand their papers," Mr Gardiner wrote.

UK Border Agency Worker Spot checks are a joint operation between UKBA and British Transport Police

Shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant said: "Intelligence-led operations to remove illegal immigrants are to be welcomed. Racial profiling is not."

Newly-appointed labour peer Doreen Lawrence has pledged to speak out over the stop-and-check operations in her new role.

Asked about the claims of focus on non-whites, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence said: "I'm sure there's illegal immigrants from all countries, but why would you focus that on people of colour? - and I think racial profiling is coming into it."

Mrs Lawrence told ITV1's Daybreak programme that stop-and-search has always been in the forefront of her mind, and she that she has campaigned on the issue for years.

Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, told Sky's Boulton & Co that based on the complaints he had received from people, including white residents, who had witnessed the spot checks, he believed the checks did amount to "racial profiling because the people that have been targeted in Brent are predominantly black and Asian people". "Absolutely, it is random," he added.

Tony Smith, former head of UKBA, told the programme: "The guidance that's given to officers is very clear that it's not okay to profile anybody on the grounds of race or behaviour."

Writing in The Independent, Dave Garratt, the chief executive of charity Refugee Action, warned that the operations could "incite racial tensions".

UKBA The raids at various locations across the UK have been intelligence-led

"Over the last few weeks we've seen some very visible signs of the Government's 'hostile environment' crusade. There have been vans out on the streets with threatening slogans and, reportedly, non-white people being visibly stopped and searched," he wrote.

"The Home Office is responsible for community cohesion. Yet we are increasingly seeing what appears to be hostility towards non-white immigration, which will do nothing but incite racial tensions and divisions within otherwise rich and diverse communities."

A protest against the spot checks and raids took place in Southall, West London, on Thursday. Members of the not-for-profit organisation Southall Black Sisters confronted two immigration officers in the area.

A Home Office spokesman defended the tactics: "We make no apology for enforcing our immigration laws and our officers carry out hundreds of operations like this every year around London.

"Where we find people who are in the UK illegally, we will remove them."

The department said it was looking into whether the stop checks outside London stations - a joint operation between British Transport Police and UKBA - were intelligence-led or random.

And it rejected claims that its tweets with the hashtag #immigrationoffenders may have prejudiced cases, because the suspects have not been identified.

It was unable to state how many of those arrested will face deportation, with some cases taking 72 hours to resolve and others much longer, it said.


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Coventry Football Club Goes Into Liquidation

Coventry City football club has gone into liquidation, Sky Sports News has revealed.

The liquidation has been triggered by a failure between the club's owners and the owners of the stadium to reach a deal over a 10-year lease of the stadium.

The Football League is assessing the situation and level of punishment - likely to be a heavy points deduction - at least 15, according to Sky Sports News.

There is no suggestion yet that Coventry won't be able to fulfil fixtures in League One. Their season starts on Saturday, away at Crawley.

A statement on the club's website read: "The club will hold urgent meetings with the Football League this afternoon to go through the next steps for the football club."


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Balcombe Fracking: Test Drilling Begins

Energy company Cuadrilla has started test drilling for oil in the countryside - as anti-fracking protests enter a ninth day.

The project has been subject to days of delays because of high-profile protests designed to halt delivery of trucks and equipment to the plant.

But the energy company confirmed that equipment had now been tested and test drilling had begun.

A Cuadrilla spokesman said: "We started test drilling at 11.15am, and we will do a 3,000ft vertical well. We will be there for two to three months."

Campaigners fear the project at Lower Stumble, near Balcombe, West Sussex, could lead Cuadrilla to go on to conduct hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

The controversial method of fracking involves high pressure liquid being pumped deep underground to split shale rock and release gas supplies.

Balcombe anti fracking protest Protests have entered their ninth day

Opponents of fracking have highlighted concerns about potential water contamination and environmental damage, as well as small-scale earthquakes.

Police have had to throw up a daily security operation around the test site's entrance as dozens of anti-fracking protesters have turned out to halt deliveries.

More than 30 people have been arrested since last Friday, mainly on suspicion of obstructing deliveries.

This week Cuadrilla's chief executive, Francis Egan, reacted to concerns surrounding the drilling.

He said his firm has "no intention of ruining the countryside and won't ruin the countryside".

Fracking protest in West Sussex Police contained protesters who were stopping vehicles accessing the site

Mr Egan insisted hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was safe and would not pose a threat to the public or people's drinking water.

He said "significant" amounts of oil and gas could be made available through fracking in the UK.

But he acknowledged his firm's activities had been delayed as a result of protests against its exploratory drilling activities in West Sussex.

The sensitivity of the subject was highlighted after former Government energy adviser Lord Howell issued an apology for suggesting fracking could be used in "desolate" North East England without any impact on the surrounding environment.

Lord Howell went on to provoke further criticism when he tried to clarify his comments by suggesting he actually meant "unloved" areas in the North West, such as Lancashire.

His attempt at clearing up the controversy prompted Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to urge Lord Howell to be quiet.

Mr Clegg also suggested that the Conservatives were getting "over-excited" about the controversial extraction technique's potential benefits.


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Royal Couple Formally Register Prince George

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have formally registered the birth of Prince George.

The Duke of Cambridge signed the birth register at Kensington Palace this morning, witnessed by a Registrar from Westminster Register Office. 

George was born on Monday last week at St Mary's Hospital in London. His name was announced two days later.

While most new parents have to travel to a register office to formally register the birth of their child, Westminster City Council registrar Alison Cathcart travelled to Kensington Palace for William to carry out the task.

Royal baby born Prince George undertakes his first media event

A brief statement from the palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have formally registered the birth of Prince George.

"The Duke of Cambridge signed the birth register at Kensington Palace this morning, witnessed by a Registrar from Westminster Register Office."

The register entry from which the birth certificate is produced was filled in by the registrar and signed by William. It gives the date and place of Prince George's birth and his full name as His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.

William's full name, His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Duke of Cambridge, is also given, along with his place of birth in Paddington, Westminster - he was born at the same hospital.

His occupation is listed as Prince of the United Kingdom.


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Daniel Pelka Killers Get 30 Year Minimum Term

Pelka Judge: Abuse Was "Horrifying"

Updated: 1:56pm UK, Friday 02 August 2013

Mrs Justice Cox described Daniel Pelka's murder as "deeply shocking and disturbing" as she jailed Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek for life with a minimum term of 30 years.

Here are her sentencing remarks:

"Mariusz Krezolek and Magdelena Luczak, the sentence for the crime of murder is fixed by law. It is one of life imprisonment and that is the sentence I now impose upon each of you.

"I must therefore specify the minimum term of imprisonment which each of you must serve, before the Parole Board can even consider whether you might be released.

"That is the punitive period I consider appropriate, having regard to the particular facts of the case and the overall seriousness of this offence.

"The facts of this case are deeply shocking and disturbing.

"As the trial has progressed, harrowing details of the unimaginable acts of cruelty and brutality inflicted on little Daniel, over many months, have exposed both the torment and despair he must have suffered and your callous disregard for his pain and distress.

"Time and again, knowing exactly what you were doing to him, both of you concealed your conduct from the authorities by a series of deliberate and elaborate lies, designed to put them off the scent and to prevent them discovering Daniel's true plight.

"Your campaign of cruelty, as it has accurately been described, culminated in the severe blow or blows to his head that killed him.

"He was just four-and-a-half years old.

"Exactly when this appalling cruelty started is not clear. Until your relationship began, in early 2010, Daniel appears to have been a healthy child, developing appropriately and giving no real cause for concern.

"While the evidence demonstrates that systematic cruelty probably began when Daniel started school in September 2011, your complicity in his ill treatment was first evidenced by the displaced fracture to his arm, sustained 14 months before his death on January 5, 2011, when he was just three-and-a-half.

"This serious injury would have resulted immediately in excruciating pain and loss of function, yet you did not take him to hospital until the following day, clearly increasing his mental and physical suffering.

"I have no doubt that you, Mariusz Krezolek, deliberately used considerable force to inflict that injury, and that you Magdelena Luczak, discovering what had happened, joined with him in waiting to see if you could keep it secret, and then in lying to the doctors about how it had happened.

"This determination to lie and to protect yourselves at all costs was to become the hallmark of your subsequent conduct.

"There was further evidence of your real attitude towards Daniel, Mariusz Krezolek, in your description of him in July, to a colleague at work, as 'all f***ed up' and autistic, and not worth beating because he wouldn't feel pain.

"Nevertheless, at the time he started school in September 2011, Daniel was described by the reception staff as appearing to be a healthy and well cared for little boy.

"It may be that he had some behavioural or communication difficulties, as you have constantly suggested, though such difficulties as he had are in my view more likely to have been due to your abusive treatment of him rather than to any other cause.

"They would have warranted, in any event, even greater affection, care and support for Daniel - not less.

"Instead, over the months that followed, he was subjected by both of you to deliberate, escalating and incomprehensible brutality, which continued right up to his death...

"For reasons which are unfathomable, Daniel became a target for derision, abuse and systematic cruelty, designed to cause him significant mental and physical suffering.

"The scale of his suffering was truly horrific.

"He was subjected to acts described by you as punishments but which, in reality, were acts designed to cause pain, to humiliate and to intimidate.

"He was required to kneel on the floor for long periods of time, to run continuously around the living room, or to perform squats repeatedly and slowly.

"He was repeatedly forced to swallow salt, which you admit was poured neat into his mouth from the salt container and which caused him to vomit.

"He was subjected to a form of cold water punishment, being held under cold water until the point of unconsciousness...

"Exactly what form that particular punishment took we will never know, since neither of you has explained it.

"He must have been absolutely terrified.

"He was subjected to regular beatings, as the teachers' observations of bruising and the multiple bruises seen on his body after death testify.

"There were nine separate bruises to his head.

"He was confined for regular and prolonged periods of time in the small, bare box room upstairs. The inner door handle was removed and the metal panel so arranged that he could not even see out of the keyhole.

"The small hand and finger marks on the inside of that door provided a poignant image of his desperate attempts to escape.

"The urine stains to the mattress on which he was made to sleep and the damp state of the carpet testify to his inability to go to the toilet when he needed. There is evidence of him soiling himself.

"It is a particularly grave aggravating feature in this case that, before the fatal blows to his head, Daniel was the victim of chronic and systematic starvation.

"Both of you deliberately deprived him of food over a prolonged period of time. He was literally wasting away. His starvation was so chronic that his bones ceased to grow.

"Expert medical witnesses and others with extensive experience in the field of child protection described their shock at the extent of Daniel's emaciation at his death.

"They regarded it as unprecedented in this country.

"They likened his appearance to those who failed to survive concentration camps and that comparison was not made lightly.

"As the months passed, Daniel increasingly scavenged for food, from other children's lunch boxes, from the playground or from rubbish bins.

"He would have suffered extraordinary hunger, increasing abdominal pain and, ultimately, a feeling of hopelessness.

"You, Magdelena Luczak, knowing of his hunger, gave specific instructions to his teachers that Daniel was not to eat any more food than the small packed lunch he had with him.

"Both of you constructed a careful and wholly untruthful account that Daniel had a serious eating disorder and learning difficulties, which he may have inherited and for which he was receiving medical treatment.

"This account was deliberately designed to prevent interference by school, medical and welfare personnel, and to perpetuate the brutality being meted out to him...

"At some time in the evening of Thursday March 1, 2012, by which time Daniel's weakened physical condition made him particularly vulnerable, I am satisfied on all the evidence that in the minutes preceding the fatal blow or blows to his head, he was subjected to a brutal assault, in which he was given salt and subjected to a form of cold water punishment in the bath.

"It is submitted in mitigation that I cannot be sure that cold water punishment was inflicted in the minutes before he died, but I cannot accept that submission.

"On all the evidence, including the computer searches on the Friday morning, as Daniel lay unconscious, and the failure of each of you to explain them, I am entirely satisfied that it was.

"The preponderance of the medical evidence establishes that the injury then inflicted to his head was severe, resulting as it did in damage to the bridging veins, axonal damage and a large subdural haematoma.

"I am satisfied, Mariusz Krezolek, that this head injury was inflicted by you and that you applied considerable force.

"By their verdict, Magdelena Luczak, the jury clearly rejected your account that you tried to intervene and were sure that you were jointly liable for Daniel's death.

"The combined neuropathological and neurosurgical opinion is that Daniel would have lost consciousness immediately, or almost immediately after this impact so that any lucid interval, involving undoubted mental anguish and physical pain, would, mercifully, have been short.

"Daniel then lay alone in the box room, as his life slipped away, from that Thursday evening until just before 3am on Saturday morning, while you both continued your lives, hoping that he would regain consciousness and that your conduct towards him could continue unabated and undiscovered.

"Your internet searches on that Friday morning reveal both the scale of the cruelty you had inflicted on him and your growing realisation that he was not responding.

"Still you did not take him to hospital, until you discovered in the early hours that he was not breathing and eventually called the emergency services.

"I am in no doubt that before you made that call, you had deliberately planned the detailed lies you would tell in an attempt to deceive the authorities and save your own skin.

"That plan was put into action even in the call to the emergency operator.

"Before your arrest you made concerted efforts to remove evidence by deleting the computer search history, attempting to tidy the house and concealing the stained mattress from the box room.

"You lied persistently when you were interviewed by the police.

"By their verdicts the jury were sure that you continued to lie at this trial.

"Over the nine weeks of acutely distressing evidence I have not observed a single sign of genuine remorse at any stage from either of you.

"In my judgment there is no basis for distinguishing between you in relation to this campaign of cruelty and the assault leading to Daniel's death.

"While the evidence indicates that you, Magdelena Luczak, were the victim of domestic violence by your partner on occasions, I do not consider that lessens your culpability in this case.

"On your own admission you had a supportive network of family and friends to whom you could have turned for help, as well as the names of organisations and contact details provided to you...

"In any event your relationship has been revealed on the evidence to be an intense and stormy one, marked by heavy drinking, mutual acts of aggression and yet strong physical attraction.

"Your continuing affection for and loyalty towards each other was demonstrated by the intimate gestures observed between you when you were produced before the magistrates court on March 7, 2012.

"That you, Magdelena Luczak, were fully complicit in these acts of incomprehensible cruelty towards your own son is clearly established by the chilling text messages you sent to Mariusz Krezolek, between October 7 and March 2.

"Yours, as the Crown have contended throughout, was always a partnership of equals.

"In relation to the minimum term to be served, it has been common ground before me that the starting point in this case, having regard to the relevant statutory provisions, is 15 years imprisonment.

"That, however, is only the starting point. Each case will depend on its own particular facts, as will the level of overall seriousness.

"There are in this case exceptionally serious aggravating features, as the facts I have set out demonstrate.

"At the time he was murdered Daniel was just four years old and was therefore particularly vulnerable because of his young age.

"However, his vulnerability was considerably increased by his wretched physical condition, which rendered him completely defenceless.

"I am satisfied that acts of brutality were inflicted on him in the minutes before the final blows to his head, including forcing him to eat salt and applying a form of cold water punishment in the bath, thereby inflicting serious mental and physical suffering upon Daniel immediately before his death.

"After the blows to his head there may have been a lucid interval which, though short-lived, would have resulted in Daniel suffering fear, anguish and physical pain before he lost consciousness.

"Further, for the reasons already set out in detail, Daniel had already been subjected to persistent and escalating cruelty on an unprecedented scale over the course of approximately six months before he died, which was plainly designed to cause him, and must have caused him, significant mental and physical suffering.

"Your concerted, deliberate and prolonged starvation of Daniel is particularly grave.

"There was also an earlier serious fracture to his arm, deliberately inflicted, when you delayed in seeking prompt medical treatment for him, causing him severe pain and distress.

"Both of you are in breach of what is probably the most important position of trust, as the parents of a small child who was entitled to their protection, their love and their care.

"Your breach of trust, Magdelena Luczak, is wholly irreconcilable with the loving care that a mother should show towards her own son.

"Both of you carried out a deliberate and cynical deception of teaching, welfare and medical personnel, which was designed to conceal what was happening, to prevent any help being provided for Daniel and to enable you to continue your ill-treatment of him without interference.

"Once you became aware that Daniel had stopped breathing, you made a concerted and deliberate attempt to deceive the authorities from the outset, and to seek to remove evidence of your involvement in Daniel's abuse and death.

"In my judgment there are no real mitigating features in this case.

"The fact that you intended to cause Daniel really serious bodily harm, rather than to kill him, in my judgment provides minimal mitigation in this case.

"This is one of those rare cases where the sustained campaign of cruelty you carried out over many months, which culminated in the fatal blows to his head, amounted in my judgment to conduct likely to cause or which may possibly have caused Daniel's death, notwithstanding that such a consequence may have been unintended.

"The level of culpability for each of you is extremely high. Your expressions of regret and sorrow made now ring hollow in the circumstances of this case.

"I emphasise that the minimum term I now specify is the minimum amount of time that you will spend in prison, from the date of sentence, before the Parole Board can even consider whether you might be released.

"If it remains necessary for the protection of the public you will continue to be detained in custody after that date. You will in any event remain on licence for the rest of your life.

"In all the circumstances, and having regard to what I consider are exceptionally serious aggravating features, I judge this case to be one where the overall seriousness is particularly high.

"The minimum term that each of you is to serve will be 30 years imprisonment."


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Linah Keza: Model Stabbed To Death At Home

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 01 Agustus 2013 | 20.14

A 29-year-old model has been stabbed to death at her home in east London.

A murder investigation has been launched after Rwandan national Linah Keza was found dead by paramedics at an address in King Edward Road in Leyton, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police were also called to attend the knife attack by the London Ambulance Service at around 4.30am.

A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the stabbing and is being questioned over the death at a north London police station.

Scotland Yard confirmed officers had had previous contact with Ms Keza and the murder suspect - and that the case had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

A spokesman said the Metropolitan Police had "voluntarily referred matters" to the IPCC, adding that "it would be inappropriate to comment further".

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Thursday at Walthamstow Mortuary.

Ms Keza was on the books at AMC Agency, which described the former Miss Africa contestant as a "very compassionate, amazing and a professional girl".

"Today is a very sad day for AMC as we have had the sad news that one of our models, Linah Keza, has passed away in tragic circumstances," the agency said in a statement.

"Anybody that has met and worked with her via the agency will miss her greatly."

There was a further outpouring of tributes to Ms Keza on a special Facebook "Remembrance" page.

Anita Karissa wrote: "RIP pretty lady, may God bless n strengthen ur lito gal thru ths n e rest of her precious life."

Another, Priscy Jay, said: "R.I.p lenah. may God strength, most especially the little one."

And Brens Willie Wambedde added: "Rest in Eternal Peace."

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Boy 'Sexually Assaulted' In Toilet At KFC

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Police are investigating reports a young boy was sexually assaulted at a KFC in Glasgow.

The boy, who is aged between five and 10, went into the toilet at the fast food outlet at Renfield Street in the city centre on Tuesday evening.

On rejoining his mother in the restaurant, he told her he had been assaulted.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland told Sky News: "Our enquiries are continuing into an alleged incident.

"Specialist officers are interviewing the child and the area is well covered by CCTV cameras which will be reviewed.

"The boy is back, safe and well with his family."

A spokesperson for KFC said: "We were shocked to hear of this allegation, which does not relate to anybody connected to KFC.

"We are helping police with their enquiries and as the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further at this time."


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Woman's Body Found In Lake At Norwich Uni

The body of a woman has been found in a lake on the grounds of a university in Norwich.

The lake is in a part of the university known as the University of East Anglia (UEA) Broad, which is on a campus site west of the city.

They have not said whether they believe the woman was swimming in the lake, where swimming is forbidden.

The lake, known as the UEA Broad, is at the southern-edge of the campus and is a man-made lake which is not part of the river network. The River Yare runs alongside the lake and the area is accessible and used by the public.

Initial enquiries have been carried out with UEA and at this stage it is believed all students have been accounted for.

Police are unable to confirm the age of the woman at this time and enquiries to identify her are continuing.

Police at the scene Police were called after the body was found. Pic: Heart FM

A force spokesman said: "Police were called to the University of East Anglia, in University Plain, shortly after 8.40am after a member of the public who was fishing in the area dialled 999 after seeing a body floating face-down in the lake.

"Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene along with colleagues from the fire service and ambulance. The air ambulance also attended.

"The body of a woman was recovered from the water shortly before 9.30am.

"Police are still on scene, carrying out searches of the immediate area which remains cordoned off while investigations continue."

While some summer camps are currently being held on the campus, most students have left for the summer holidays.

The so called Ziggurat building overlooks the University Broad. Pic: Susieanna A university building overlooking the broad. Pic: Susieanna

A UEA spokeswoman said: "We were informed that a body was reported in University Broad shortly before 9.00am.

"We have no further details at this time. The university will be fully supporting the police with their inquiries."

A cordon has been put in place around a small beach area.

There are several no swimming signs around the beauty spot, which is popular with joggers and dog walkers.

The lake area was quiet today but several people could be seen swimming and paddling in a nearby river.


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Deputy PM Promises Daniel Pelka Case Review

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has promised an independent review into the death of four year old Daniel Pelka amid calls for teachers and social workers to resign.

Daniel was subjected to a horrifying catalogue of assaults and callous abuse at the hands of his mother Magdelena Luczak and step-father Mariusz Krezolek, who were convicted of his murder on Wednesday.

Mr Clegg said that Daniel's "vile, evil murder" should be "on all of our consciences".

Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek Daniel's mother Magdelena Luczak and stepfather Mariusz Krezolek

He told told LBC 97.3 radio: "Clearly people must have seen something was wrong with this boy."

Asked what the Government could do in response, Mr Clegg said an independent person would be named as soon as possible to conduct a case review into Daniel's death.

The review would play "a disproportionately important role in showing what more we need to do to make sure that people don't fall between the cracks," he said.

Earlier, Luczak's mother told Sky News her daughter was "a normal girl who grew up in a normal home."

pg geoffrey robinson.jpgEryk Pelka Mr Robinson and Daniel's father both criticised Children's Services

Jolanta Luczak said her daughter had called her several months before Daniel's death.

She said: "I remember she called me, she was crying, she said she had a hard life, she did not want to be with this man anymore.

"I told her to come back, pack up and come back to Poland. I wanted her to make a decision and return with the children to Poland, but she told me that Daniel had no documents, no passport.

"I told her that there would be a way, to bring the child back to Poland. But then I didn't hear from her. He did not allow her contact with the family."

Daniel Pelka Daniel runs after his mum as she picks him up from school

The MP for Coventry North West, Geoffrey Robinson, said teachers and social service staff had "badly let down" Daniel and should consider quitting their positions.

He told Sky News:  "I think there is something culturally wrong within the social services, and not just in Coventry…

"People seeing a kid beaten, starved to death, it's brutality, sadism of a Nazi kind in our own country and we are allowing it to happen. You can't just say there is nothing we can do about it." 

He said the case was "horrifyingly reminiscent" of the Baby Peter case in 2007, when Haringey child protection services failed to prevent the death of toddler Peter Connolly.

Mr Robinson has called for the immediate resignation of the city's Director of Children's Services, Colin Green - who intends to step down in September - and said those serving under him should also consider their positions.

"Where were these individuals when Daniel needed them most?" he asked. "Bureaucracy triumphed over common sense, care, and compassion. 

"Those who failed Daniel must examine their own consciences, and conclude whether it is appropriate for them to remain in their posts."

Daniel died of a head injury in March 2012 after suffering months of cruelty and violence which turned him from "a beautiful little boy to a bag of bones", according to police.

He was imprisoned in a room with the door handles removed, fed salt when he asked for a drink, deprived of food and forced to defecate in his bed.

Mr Robinson also expressed anger at Daniel's school, which failed to act upon warning signs that suggested he was being abused.

He said: "Daniel was let down," he said. "He was let down badly, by an evil stepfather, an indifferent and selfish mother, but also by the Children's Services in Coventry and by the school that he attended.

"How can the staff at his school have failed to have recognised patterns of behaviour that should have set alarm bells ringing, not only within the school but within the corridors of power within the council?

"How could anyone believe it to be normal for a child to climb on the top of furniture to get to food; to scavenge around bins to access waste; and to steal food from the lunch-boxes? 

"What human being, with the slightest understanding of children, would not have been concerned enough to take action to set alarm bells ringing?"

Daniel's biological father, who moved back to Poland when the boy was a year old, echoed Mr Robinson and questioned why "nobody reacted in time" to ask why Daniel was so hungry.

"If people in school saw that he was taking a food from bins, they should do something," he said. "Go to Magda, or to Mariusz, and ask why the child is hungry.

"They should send the police or social services to check the situation at home; check what they were doing with the child.

"As far as I know they did just nothing. Of course they failed Daniel. Nobody reacted in time. I am not saying they are guilty, but I know they made a mistake."

Luczak and Krezolek will be sentenced on Friday.


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Victoria Cross Soldier Was 'Unlawfully Killed'

A soldier who won a Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan was unlawfully killed, an inquest has found.

L/Cpl James Ashworth  23, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was fatally injured by his own grenade after he was hit by a Taliban bullet just as he went to throw the explosive device into an compound in June last year.

At L/Cpl 'Jimmy' Ashworth's inquest today Anne Pember, the Northamptonshire Coroner, said a post mortem had revealed cause of death as blast injuries caused by an explosion.

She recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while he was serving on operations in Afghanistan.

The citation for the Victoria Cross which he won posthumously in March this year said the 6ft 8ins Grenadier guardsman had needed to expose himself to enemy fire to get his grenade away and in doing so he pushed himself into full view.

He was attempting to clear Taliban compounds in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand Province.

The inquest at Kettering Magistrates Court heard that there had been a four man Taliban sniper team that had been picking people off that the Nato-led forces had been desperate to neutralise.

L/Cpl Ashworth was inching his way towards one of the snipers, being peppered with fire, before pulling out the pin in readiness to throw it.

But before he could release the grenade, he was hit in the chest by a round from another sniper.

Disabled from the bullet's blow, which hit his body armour, he was killed when the enabled grenade went off next to him.

"His total disregard for his own safety in ensuring that the last grenade was posted accurately was the gallant last action of a soldier who had willingly placed himself in the line of fire on numerous occasions earlier in the attack," said the citation.

"This supremely courageous and inspiring action deserves the highest recognition."

His mother Kerry spoke after the hearing, saying: "Losing James has been a devastating experience for all of us who love him.

"He was taken all too soon from us and sadly we share our grief with all the families who have lost loved ones over the years on operational tours.

"James passed away doing a job he loved. At times it was a hard job. But he did get to experience new countries, learn new skills and make some wonderful friends.

His commanding officer Lieut Col James Bowder said: "L/Cpl James Ashworth was the bravest of soldiers and the best of men. His remarkable gallantry, selfless commitment, and tenacity last summer serve as an example for us all.

"His contribution in Afghanistan in 2012 will continue to inspire soldiers in the Grenadier Guards for many years to come."

The Victoria Cross is the most prestigious of all military decorations and only awarded in exceptional circumstances for bravery carried out under direct enemy fire.

It was first created on January 29, 1856, and is hand-made from bronze cannon captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol in 1854-55 during the Crimean War.


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Walthamstow Rape: Police Hunt Three Men

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 31 Juli 2013 | 20.14

Police are looking for three men after a 12-year-old girl was "brutally" raped in London.

The girl was lured to a garage area in Walthamstow, east London, where she was pinned down and raped by two of the men, who are thought to be aged between 17 and 19.

The suspects left the area after the girl managed to call a friend who came to the scene and took her away.

Scotland Yard said the girl met the three men between 12.15am and 12.30am on Saturday, July 27.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a very nasty attack on a vulnerable girl just 12 years old by a group of older males who engaged her in conversation before leading her to a secluded area.

"She was pinned down and two of the males then brutally raped her."

The first of the three men was described as dark-skinned and of mixed race, with a diamond stud in his left ear and a London accent. He told the girl his name was Mo and that he was 17.

He had large brown eyes, short hair, was very skinny and wore a black puffa-style jacket with a hood, black chinos, black trainers and a grey/black T-shirt.

The second was described as black and very tall with big lips. His hair was partly shaven and he wore black trousers with a red and blue shirt.

The third, who did not rape the girl, was black and had a moustache. He wore a blue hooded top and a red and blue cap, and told her his name was Miles.

The attack happened in an area at the end of Hibbert Road, near Theydon Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0208 217 7408 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Stephen Lawrence's Mother Given Lords Seat

The mother of Stephen Lawrence, who has campaigned for justice since his murder in 1993, is being given a seat in the House of Lords.

Doreen Lawrence, 60, is being made a baroness and will sit on Labour's benches in the Upper House as a working peer.

Party leader Ed Miliband signed off the proposal and it was put forward to Downing Street as part of Labour's recommendations.

A new peerages list is expected to be released on Thursday, confirming the appointment.

Stephen Lawrence Stephen's murder in 1993 and its handling by police became notorious

It is understood Mrs Lawrence was persuaded to accept a seat in the Lords by Labour's shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan.

A Labour source said: "Doreen Lawrence is a hero of modern Britain. The strength and courage she has shown in her fight for justice for her son Stephen has had a profound impact on attitudes to racism and policing.

"Her campaigning has changed, and will continue to change, our country for the better. Ed Miliband believes voices like hers should always be heard in Parliament."

Mrs Lawrence led the campaign to expose the failings of the police investigation into her teenage son's murder.

This led to the groundbreaking MacPherson Report which warned of "institutional racism" at Scotland Yard.

A special needs teacher and divorcee, she also founded a charity in her son's name to promote a positive community legacy.

Last year, she was picked to take part in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics and held the Olympic flag.

She was awarded an OBE for services to community relations in 2003 and is also on the board of human rights group Liberty.

Stephen, 18, was killed by a gang of white youths at a bus stop in Eltham in April 1993.

The case and its handling by police became notorious and forced a reassessment of how police investigated racially motivated crimes.

Two of the original murder suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of the murder in January last year.


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Fracking Arrests: Protesters Take On Cuadrilla

By Siobhan Robbins, in Balcombe, West Sussex

The boss of energy company Cuadrilla has told Sky News the company plans to start drilling in West Sussex within the next day or so, as protesters vow to fight on to stop the site from opening.

The drill site in Balcombe has been the scene of anti-fracking protests for the past week, with demonstrators facing off against Cuadrilla over the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique.

Protester Natalie Hynde, the daughter of the Kinks' Ray Davies and the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, today glued her hands to a fellow demonstrator in an attempt to stop a gate at the site being opened.

Police later unstuck the pair and both protesters were arrested.

Anti-fracking protests Balcombe Protesters at the scene of the protest in West Sussex

So far the latest protests have been peaceful following a number of arrests earlier in the week.

Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan told Sky News the company has "no intention of ruining the countryside" and insisted there were only plans for exploratory drilling for oil, not for fracking.

"We would expect to start drilling within the next day or so. It is an oil exploration well - we're not actually going to fracture the well. We've been very clear about that," Mr Egan said.

"If we wanted to do that in the future we'd come back and go through a separate environmental impact assessment and planning application process, which is typically a nine to 12 month process.

Anti-fracking protests Balcombe Police and protesters gather at the site in Balcombe

"So there will be no fracturing at the site as part of the current operation."

Many of the demonstrators at the site live outside the area and have created a makeshift camp at the side of the road.

Protest spokeswoman Katy Dunne told Sky News: "We will stay here until we win this war and anywhere the unconventional gas and oil industry goes will face this resistance because there is no social licence for destroying people's health.

"Ninety per cent of Balcombe say they do not want this industry here."

Balcombe anti fracking protest Banners and signs have been put up by the side of the road

Fracking involves high pressure liquid being pumped deep underground to split shale rock and release gas supplies.

Mr Egan said the majority of people in the UK were "open-minded" about the importance of sourcing oil and gas resources for the future.

He said: "I'm not naive enough to think everybody who's camped outside is going to change their opinion overnight. But I do believe that the majority of people in the UK are open-minded about this.

"They do realise that we are in need of oil and gas, and that's nothing against renewables, but we will need oil and gas for decades to come.

"And it's a big question of do we carry on importing it at great cost, or develop our own resources at great benefit?"


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Right-To-Die Campaigners Lose Court Appeal

Road accident victim Paul Lamb and the family of the late locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson have lost a right-to-die challenge at the Court of Appeal.

Judges rejected their appeal against the long-established legal position that voluntary euthanasia is murder.

Former builder and father-of-two Mr Lamb, 57, from Leeds, who wants a doctor to help him die in a dignified way, had won the right to join the litigation to continue the battle started by Mr Nicklinson.

Mr Nicklinson, 58, died at home in Melksham, Wiltshire, in August 2012, a week after he lost a High Court bid to end his life with a doctor's help.

The father-of-two, who was paralysed by a stroke while on a business trip to Athens in 2005, had refused food and contracted pneumonia after he was "devastated" by the decision.

Tony Nicklinson with family The legal battle was launched by Tony Nicklinson and his family

During the appeal hearing the judges heard argument that people who are too sick or disabled to end their "unbearable" lives without help are currently being condemned to "suffer in silence or make desperate attempts to kill themselves".

The ruling was given by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Elias.

Mr Lamb said he was "absolutely gutted" by the decision.

He added: "I was hoping for a humane and dignified end. This judgment does not give me that.

"I will carry on the legal fight - this is not just about me but about many, many other people who are being denied the right to die a humane and dignified death just because the law is too scared to grapple with these issues."

Via Twitter, the Nicklinson family said: "We are sorry to say that we have lost our Court of Appeal challenge."

They said they "will continue the legal campaign and appeal again".

The Court of Appeal granted the family permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, the UK's highest court.

Lawyers for a third man welcomed a ruling in his case asking for clearer guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for carers or health professionals assisting those wishing to end their own lives.

Martin, 48, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, needs the assistance of a doctor, nurse or carer to help him die because his wife does not want to be actively involved in bringing about his death.

His lawyers say that current DPP guidance makes clear that friends or family members are unlikely to be prosecuted, but does not cover health professionals.

Speaking by means of special computer software, Martin said in response to the judgment: "I am delighted by the judgment today. It takes me one step closer to being able to decide how and when I end my life.

"I am only unable to take my own life because of my physical disabilities. Almost every aspect of my daily life is outside of my control.

"I want, at least, to be able to control my death and this judgment goes some way to allow me to do this."

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it has made an application to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court over the issue.

DPP Keir Starmer said: "While I respect the carefully considered judgment of the Court of Appeal, I think it would be sensible for the CPS, if possible, to have the benefit of the views of the Supreme Court before any amendments are made to the DPP's guidelines in this important and sensitive area of the law."


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Scandal Hospital Trust Dissolved

A hospital trust will be dissolved and maternity and paediatric services at Stafford Hospital cut under administrators' proposals.

The hospital will keep its current part-time accident and emergency department but will lose other services in a major shake-up.

Trust Special Administrators (TSA), appointed by the Department of Health in April, said in their report outlining the proposals that "there is no alternative but to make significant change" at Stafford and neighbouring Cannock Chase Hospital.

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Todmorden: Major Clean-Up After Flash Flood

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 30 Juli 2013 | 20.14

A major clean-up is under way after a flash flood burst through homes and swept away roads in a Pennines village.

Walsden, near Todmorden, in West Yorkshire, was hit by up to 18in (46cm) of water last night after a cloudburst and torrential rain.

Residents said the flood caused "sheer devastation" as it poured from a culvert, ripping out huge chunks of tarmac, and destroying roads.

Water is still pouring down a side street and through at least one house.

Around 20 homes have been flooded, and more heavy rain is on the way, bringing the risk of more flooding.

Todmorden flooding Police warn waves from cars will damage homes. Pic: Twitter/@jams1999

Roger Stansfield, who was cleaning up his property this morning, said: "It started raining really heavily and within 15 minutes this road was completely flooded to the depth of my wellington boots.

"There's nothing you can do."

Flash flooding damage Rushing water ripped up tarmac in Todmorden

Flood warden Keith Crabtree said an "unprecedented" amount of rain caused "sheer devastation" in the village.

"Every road in and out of Todmorden was flooded. There's still a lot of water coming off the hillside," he said.

"It happened so quickly. The floods 12 months ago took three days to build up.

"This one, we just got three quarters of an hour of cloudburst and there's just nothing you can do about that."

West Yorkshire Police have asked people to avoid travelling through the area, saying waves from driving through water could damage houses.

Todmorden flooding A man walks through floodwaters. Pic: Twitter/@jams1999

Railway lines are submerged and Walsden station is closed as maintenance crews repair the tracks.

People in the region are still struggling to recover from last year's severe flooding, which caused more than £3m of damage.

Prime Minister David Cameron went to Yorkshire in June 2012 to visit flood victims and warned he would "robustly" negotiate with insurance companies to make sure they paid out.

Todmorden flooding Water floods the tracks but does not stop services. Pic: Twitter/@jams1999

The Environment Agency currently has three flood alerts in place - two in the Midlands and one in the South East.

Joanna Robinson, Sky News weather producer, said: "There'll be further heavy, possibly thundery, showers around this afternoon.

"Torrential downpours will bring the risk of local flooding, especially across northeast England, including West Yorkshire.

"The showers will ease and fade going into the evening, but more general rain will move in from the South West tonight.

Todmorden flooding Parked cars in the floodwaters. Pic: TWITTER @jams1999

"Wednesday will bring yet more rain, locally torrential, to much of England, Wales and Ireland.

"By Thursday, the South East will turn briefly hot and humid, with temperatures up to 31C."


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Twitter: Police Investigate MP Rape Threats

Detectives are investigating a string of sexually explicit and violent tweets sent to an MP as TV classics expert Mary Beard outed an internet troll on Twitter.

Stella Creasy faced a vicious online attack after she spoke out in support of feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, who received threats to rape and kill her on Twitter following her successful campaign to put Jane Austen's picture on the new £10 note.

The Walthamstow MP retweeted some of the sinister messages to her 30,000 followers as she warned the "morons" behind the abuse would face justice.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "Officers in Waltham Forest received an allegation of malicious communications from an MP. The allegation relates to comments made on Twitter and is currently under consideration."

Ms Creasy has called for Twitter to take faster and stronger action against online thugs, and criticised the microblogging site's security policies.

She told Sky News: "This is illegal activity. It would be illegal if someone said this to you in the street, it would be a form of harassment, and it's legal online.

"And what we're looking for is companies like Twitter not simply to ask people to report stuff so they can think about it, but to actually work with the police so they can identify the individuals committing this crime."

She added: "It's not the technology that makes them idiots, it's because they are idiots. And actually Twitter has a role to play in helping us end the violence against women that this represents."

Tory MP Claire Perry, who has been advising David Cameron on measures to tackle the spread of extreme pornography and child abuse on the internet, has also received a torrent of abuse from Twitter users.

Caroline Criado-Perez Ms Perez described how the online abuse had left her feeling "under siege"

The Devizes MP tweeted: "I am tempted to shut down my Twitter account given the trolling going on incl. to me - but that would be giving in."

Meanwhile, Ms Beard silenced an internet troll after naming and shaming him on Twitter.

The professor of classics at the University of Cambridge retweeted the "highly offensive" post from Oliver Rawlings, who has 243 followers on the social networking site.

In his tweet, Mr Rawlings called Ms Beard a "filthy old slut" and made a sexual comment.

Fellow users responded by condemning Mr Rawlings and within minutes he responded: "I sincerely apologise for my trolling. I was wrong and very rude. Hope this can be forgotten and forgiven."

Ms Beard said exposing trolls was the best tactic.

Talking to a fellow user about her decision to highlight the abuse, she tweeted: "It is a tough call. I have increasingly opted for name and shame. It has to be outed. And maybe his friends can say 'stop'."

Ms Perez described how the online abuse had left her feeling "under siege" and terrified in her own home.

She criticised the response from Twitter and claimed to have been blocked by Mark Luckie, one of its senior managers, after he was made aware of her ordeal.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in Manchester in connection with the abuse.

Twitter said it plans to include a button for reporting abuse within every tweet, which is already available on its iPhone app.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee has told Sky News Twitter bosses may be called as witnesses in an inquiry to be held in the autumn on "harmful content on the internet".


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£1.2m Violin Stolen From Sandwich Shop Is Found

A violin worth £1.2m that was stolen from a top musician in 2010 while she was eating in a London sandwich shop has been found.

Police said the 1696 Antonio Stradivarius instrument was recovered from a property in the Midlands last week and is now being held at a secure location in the capital after it was verified by experts.

The 300-year-old instrument and two bows worth £67,000 had been taken from internationally-acclaimed violinist Min-Jin Kym by opportunists while she was in a Pret a Manger cafe at Euston station.

The violin, intact and with some very minor damage, was discovered in its case along with the missing £62,000 Peccatte bow and a bow made by the School of Bazin, valued at more than £5,000.

Korean-born Ms Kym, 35, said: "It's been a very difficult journey; I still can't quite believe what has happened. The loss of the instrument, and the acute responsibility I felt, was at the back of my mind at every moment of the day.

"I'd played the instrument since I was a teenager, so it'd been a huge part of my identity for many years.

"The theft was a crushing blow and the detectives in the case had always, quite rightly, been very careful not to give me false hope. When they told me the good news, it didn't feel real.

Min-Jin Kym - Pic: www.min-jin.com Min-Jin Kym performs on stage. Pic: www.min-jin.com

"I've now gone from devastation to the other end of the scale - an incredible feeling of elation that hasn't left me. I'm still feeling the butterflies in my stomach and am on cloud nine."

Following a public appeal for information and the release of CCTV images on the BBC's Crimewatch, John Maughan, 32, and two teenagers were later sentenced in connection with the theft in 2011 but the violin and bows had not been recovered - until now.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Taylor, who led the hunt, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have recovered the Stradivarius violin after a long and very complex investigation.

"Though it took some time to successfully locate and recover the violin, we were confident it had remained in the UK.

"I always maintained that its rarity and distinctiveness would make any attempt to sell it extremely difficult, if not futile, because established arts and antiques dealers would easily recognise it as stolen property."

The violin's recovery comes as BTP launches Operation Magnum, a long-term initiative to reduce thefts, including pickpocketing, snatch thefts and luggage thefts, at railway stations across the country.

The operation aims to disrupt and deter thieves who target unsuspecting commuters and tourists, while also educating members of the public about how they can best look after their property on trains and at stations.

Louise Deacon, from insurance group Lark, said: "We are looking forward to the outcome of our experts' assessment on the condition of the instrument so we can then liaise with Ms Kym with regards to purchasing back the Stradivari."


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Hospital Family Test: More Than 30 Wards Fail

Patients in 36 hospital wards across England would not recommend them to their family or friends, according to the results of a new test.

The first results of a survey designed to expose poor patient care revealed the large majority were happy with their treatment.

But some 36 of 4,500 wards were given an overall negative figure in June. This was down from 66 in April.

Despite months of criticism, only one A&E department - Chase Farm Hospital in north London - was given a negative score.

And even then, 295 of 516 patients asked about the hospital said they were "extremely likely" to recommend it and another 167 said they were "likely" to do so.

Overall, A&E services scored between 100 to minus 13 and scores for inpatients ranked from 100 to 43.

But there will be disappointment at the response rate, which was just 13.1% across England.

The so-called Friends and Family Test was announced in January and first introduced in April.

Patients are asked one simple question - whether they are likely to recommend the ward or A&E department they were treated in to friends and family.

They chose from six responses ranging from extremely likely to extremely unlikely and were asked to give reasons for their decision.

A score was created for each hospital by subtracting the number of negative responses from the number of positive ones.

More than 400,000 people completed the survey and results relate to around 4,500 NHS wards and 144 A&E services.

NHS England's national director for patients and information Tim Kelsey said the initiative was a "major step forward".

"Direct patient and citizen feedback is vital to improving the services the NHS provides. Trusts can concentrate their focus on improvement with this information," he said.

"From this first publication, we can see a significant and real variation in the quality of customer service across the NHS.

"There are home truths here and everyone will expect those Trusts who have large numbers of their patients choosing not to recommend their services to respond as quickly as possible."

David Cameron, who is on holiday in Portugal, said: "I want the NHS to put patient satisfaction at the heart of what they do and expect action to be taken at hospitals where patients and staff say standards are not good enough."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called it a "historic moment".

"By making these ratings public, we're giving patients the power to choose the best place for their care - and driving other hospitals to raise their game," he said.

However, critics claimed the data had little meaning because it is not specific enough and is not an accurate way to measure hospital performance.

The new patient charity Point of Care Foundation noted that it is currently impossible to tell whether someone's negative response was due to poor care or an issue such as car parking.

Director Jocelyn Cornwell said: "Some hospitals were using much better methods of collecting feedback but they have had to abandon what they were doing and replace it with this rather blunt instrument which is not good for patients, or for developing useful information to improve health services.

"We would ask the Government to think again about how more useful information on patient care could be collected and used to improve services."

NHS England is to publish monthly updates on patient feedback.

By the end of next year, it hopes to roll the test out to include GP practices, community services and mental health services. All other services will be included by April 2015.


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London Stabbings: Murder Probe As Man Held

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was killed and two others - including her sister - suffered serious stab wounds.

The 40-year-old was detained overnight after officers were alerted to attacks at two separate south London flats on Monday evening.

A woman aged 28 and her 17-year-old sister were found with knife wounds at 7.10pm at an address in Tilson Gardens, Brixton.

Police said the teenager had suffered wounds to her head and hands as she tried to protect her sister.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the girl was taken to a south London hospital and is in a serious but stable condition, Scotland Yard said.

Half an hour earlier, another woman, aged 46, was found at a property in Redlands Way with a number of injuries, including stab wounds. Her condition is described as critical.

The stabbings happened at addresses in Brixton. The suspect was arrested in Leigham Court Road, Streatham

Young children were present at the scenes of both attacks and officers want to establish if they saw anything significant.

Forensic examinations were taking place at the two properties, which lie less than a mile apart.

Police said all three victims were known to the man being held in custody at a south London police station.

A woman who lives in Redlands Way said she came outside when she heard a woman screaming that someone was trying to kill her.

She said: "The woman had got out on to the balcony and she was just screaming. There was this tall, black guy who came out of nowhere - it was like a film.

"He just grabbed her and stabbed her in her back - a couple of us saw it. The children were playing out in the park right in front which made it more traumatic.

"People started calling the police and I was trying to get my daughter inside so I could go down to see whether I could do anything.

"The guy escaped but we saw her coming down with bandages and the bandages were bleeding."

It is understood an eight-year-old boy was in the bathroom of the Tilson Gardens property when the attack happened.

The suspect was arrested on a bus in Leigham Court Road, Streatham, south London, shortly before 1am.

Detective Inspector Will Reynolds said there was no suggestion it was a random attack and officers are not looking for anyone else.


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Manchester Stabbing: Girl Fights For Life

Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 Juli 2013 | 20.14

Neighbours have spoken of their shock after a 13-year-old-girl was left fighting for her life from a stabbing attack in which her father died.

The man who is understood to have launched the knife attack at their home in Moston, northeast Manchester, died of stab wounds a short time later after driving a car into the side of a nearby pub.

Police found the seriously injured girl after 10pm on Sunday at a house in Delta Walk along with the body of her 41-year-old father.

He has been named locally as former carpet fitter Robert Jackson, while his daughter, Ayesha, is also thought to have suffered knife wounds.

Neighbours said Mr Jackson was separated from Ayesha's mother, named locally as Sam Collins, and that the teenager was visiting him when the attack happened.

Police have sealed off an area around the house in Moston. Neighbours in Moston heaped praise on Robert Jackson and his daughter

Less than three hours later, officers were called to Watfield Walk in Harpurhey, a two-mile drive away, after reports that a man had threatened a car owner with a knife before stealing the vehicle.

The car was then seen by police near Rochdale Road and the 34-year-old driver - named locally by the single name "Gasper" - drove it into the side of the Alliance Inn pub as officers approached.

He was taken to hospital suffering from a stab wound and injuries from the crash but died a short time later.

Damage to the wall of the Alliance Inn after the suspect crashed a stolen car.Manchester stabbing Alliance Inn Wall damage to the Alliance Inn, which the suspected knifeman crashed into

The two men are said to be known to each other.

Mr Jackson's neighbour Clare Calvert told Sky News: "He was the nicest bloke you'd ever meet ... He'd bend over backwards to help anybody - (he) wouldn't hurt a fly."

She described Ayesha, Mr Jackson's only child, as "lovely".

Another elderly neighbour said he was "very quiet" and "didn't have any enemies".

A woman who lived nearby said: "He was known by everyone as Jacko, always said hello and his girl was absolutely beautiful. I only saw them together yesterday walking down the street."

Flowers are left at the scene of the attack in Moston. Flowers are left at the house in Moston

Ayesha is understood to attend the Manchester Communication Academy.

A friend of Mr Jackson, who did not want to be named, said: "He was a really nice fella. They are dogs on this estate, absolute dogs.

"They'd have you over for a tenner, that's all it takes, a tenner."

Forensics officers are at the scene of the attack, where an area around the house has been sealed off. Flowers have been left nearby.

The attack in Moston happened a short drive from where the suspected knifeman crashed his car into a pub. The attack happened a two-mile drive from where the stolen car was crashed

Sky's Nick Martin, who is in Moston, said: "The priority now will be to ensure that the girl pulls through - she will have critical information about the events that played out here."

Detective Superintendent Simon Barraclough, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "We are in the very early stages of our inquiries and are piecing together the circumstances that led to two men losing their lives and a 13-year-old girl fighting for her life in hospital.

"Obviously the community will be shocked as to what has happened but we can say we do not believe anyone else was involved and are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident."

Harpurhey has been regularly cited as one of the most deprived inner-city areas in Britain. Mr Jackson's mother lives nearby and was recently widowed.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


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Double Yellow Parking Ban Set To Be Lifted

Drivers would be able to park on double yellow lines for 15 minutes under proposals to boost trade in high street shops.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles wants to introduce a "grace period" that would allow motorists to pop into local shops without being hit by hefty penalties.

Eric Pickles, Communities Secretary. The plans have been proposed by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles

Higher fines could be introduced outside London for motorists who park dangerously in order to secure support for the move.

A source close to Mr Pickles told The Daily Telegraph: "The high street is in danger of shrinking or dying off, and over-aggressive parking enforcement is part of the reason why.

"If people are worried about paying a fortune in parking fines, it will make them more likely to do their shop online or go to out of town shopping centres. For too long, parking has been a revenue raiser. It's time to end that.

"There is room for a deal (with the Liberal Democrats). Dangerous parking is a menace to people, whereas if you're in the parking bay or just on the side of the road you're not presenting any risk."

Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis said councils needed "to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement".

Government Set To Ban Car Clamping On Private Land Higher fines could be introduced for dangerous parking

"They should adopt a common-sense approach. Ministers are considering what further steps can be taken to ensure that town hall parking policies and practices support local high streets."

However, Lib Dems warned the plans could be flawed and are reportedly keen to raise the current £70 cap on fines for all illegal parking outside London.

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker told Sky News: "The idea of actually having cars parked for a very long period of time on a double yellow line actually undermines the purpose of a double yellow line and I am advised it is unworkable."

In contrast, Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "I have a lot of sympathy with what Eric Pickles is trying to do.

"I think a lot of small businesses are driven to distraction by over-zealous enforcement of parking rules, so I think a little bit of common sense and flexibility is very much to be welcomed."

A Tory source added: "It seems Norman Baker is increasingly isolated, fighting a one man war against motorists that is out of sync with the rest of the coalition."

However, the yellow-line proposal received a mixed reception from the motoring industry.

AA president Edmund King said: "Rather than just allow drivers to park on double yellow lines, a thorough review of the lines would be more effective.

"Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted. There is plenty of opportunity to ease back on the signs and lines in many places, giving drivers short-term waiting bays instead, so they can stop briefly to buy a paper or loaf of bread."

He added: "Local authorities should be encouraged to do what the Government does with regulations - 'one in one out' - so that yellow lines do not run out of control.

"Lifting restrictions on yellow lines should not be an excuse for hiking parking penalties outside London."

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "We should be careful what we wish for.

"Drivers are already able to make limited stops on double yellow lines and while we support a common sense approach to parking policy, businesses are as likely to be adversely affected by a parking free for all as they are by draconian restrictions."

The Government has previously issued guidance to councils, encouraging them to attract shoppers by setting competitive parking charges and urging them to improve the quality of parking in town centres.

Tory local government minister Brandon Lewis said: "This Government has scrapped Whitehall rules that previously told councils to hike up parking charges, adopt draconian enforcement and impose arbitrary limits on off-street parking spaces.

"Councils now need to play their part in reining back in the over-zealous culture of municipal parking enforcement".


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NHS Direct Plans Withdrawal From 111 Helpline

The troubled NHS 111 hotline is in fresh turmoil after one of its main providers announced it wants to pull out of the service.

NHS Direct, which provides the non-emergency phone line in nine regions of England, said it wanted to quit its contracts because they were too expensive.

It has found that the cost of providing the service, where staff give the public non-emergency health advice, exceeded the contract price.

NHS Direct is now seeking a "planned withdrawal" from the deals after projecting a £26m deficit for the coming financial year.

Its chief executive Nick Chapman said: "We will continue to provide a safe and reliable NHS 111 service to our patients until alternative arrangements can be made by commissioners.

"Whatever the outcome of the discussions on the future, patients will remain the central focus of our efforts, together with protecting our staff who work on NHS 111 to ensure that the service will continue to benefit from their skills and experience."

The announcement came as an undercover investigation revealed "serious failings" in the system, with staff shortages, long waits for callers and unnecessary ambulance call-outs.

In Channel 4's Dispatches programme NHS Undercover, one call centre manager was secretly filmed admitted the service was exposed at the weekends.

"We had a very bad service. Still realistically on the weekends we still are unsafe. We don't have the staff to deal with the calls that are coming in," the worker said.

Reporters posed as trainee call handlers and filmed secretly at centres run by the private health care company Harmoni, which has a third of the hotline contracts in England.

They found many patients had to wait longer than 10 minutes to hear back from a clinician and some workers with no medical training were filmed giving medical advice to the journalists.

A spokesman for Harmoni told the programme: "We provide a clinically safe service. We expect all staff to only provide advice according to their role and their level of training and take a zero-tolerance approach to any breach.

"Our audits show no evidence of widespread poor practice. Our staffing levels are extremely robust with around one clinical adviser to every four health advisers.

"While it has been acknowledged that NHS111 services generally did not get off to a good start, we and other providers have successfully delivered substantial improvements including recruiting 180 more advisers."

The 24-hour phone line replaced NHS Direct as the number to call for non-emergency care but has been dogged by problems since its inception.

Patients complained about unanswered calls, poor advice and calls being diverted to the wrong part of the country.

Doctors claimed its "problematic roll-out" had left patients not knowing where to turn and it has also been blamed for fuelling the current A&E crisis.

Earlier this month, the Health Select Committee attacked ministers for the "premature" launch, claiming it was done with little understanding about how it would affect the wider NHS.

 Direct worked on the 111 pilot, which was based on a cost of £13 per call to cover staff salaries and other costs.

But it says local health commissioners refused to pay more than £7.80 per call when the first 111 contract was awarded in the North East of England.

NHS Direct initially won 11 of the 46 regional contracts for the hotline but pulled out of two before they were even launched.

It now wants to axe the remaining nine in Buckinghamshire, East London and the City, South East London, Sutton and Merton, West Midlands, Lancashire and Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire and Somerset.

A company spokesman said it had encountered "significant problems" when it launched the three contracts in the north west of England and West Midlands in March.

She said the calls took "twice as long as expected" and as a result, NHS Direct did not have "sufficient capacity" to handle all the calls that it received.

The firm had worked on the pilot, which was based on a cost of £13 per call to cover staff salaries and other expenses, but local health commissioners refused to pay so much.

The NHS Direct board remodeled its costs and decided it could bid based on £7 to £8 per call and was later awarded deals covering 34% of the country.

However, its annual report says: "It is now clear that the trust is not able to to provide the 111 service within this lower cost range, and that the 111 contracts that the trust has entered into are financially unsustainable."

David Cameron's spokesman admitted there had been problems with the hotline's launch but insisted performance and patient satisfaction was now high.

"He is confident that we will continue to push up standards and deliver a high level of service for patients across the country," the spokesman said.

NHS England blamed the earlier problems on providers not having enough call handling capacity in place but also claimed they had now been resolved.

The Department of Health said NHS Direct had "struggled to meet the standards required" but defended the hotline as a whole and vowed it would continue.

A spokesman said: "There is widespread consensus that NHS 111 is in principle a good idea.

"It makes obvious sense that for many patients, accessing the NHS by phone is often the quickest and easiest way to get advice and speak to a doctor or nurse when needed.

"So of course it's disappointing that there have been problems with its implementation but these are flaws that can and will be overcome."


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