Boxer Amir Khan Arrested Over Assaults

Former boxing world champion Amir Khan has been arrested on suspicion of two assaults in Bolton.

Khan, 27, was held after two teenagers were attacked in the early hours of Friday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Just before 1.30am on Friday, police were called following reports of an assault in Bolton.

"Officers attended Russell Street and discovered two 19-year-old men had been assaulted. Their injuries are not serious.

Amir Khan tweeted about the arrest

"A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two section 47 assaults."

The former WBA and IBF light welterweight champion has been released on bail until mid July.

An ambulance spokesman said paramedics attended the scene but those at the scene refused treatment.

Khan's spokesman said he expected the case to be dropped

A spokesman for the light welterweight fighter confirmed he had been questioned by police but was expecting the case to be dropped.

He added that some reports in the media had seen the allegations "blown out of all proportion".

"It was a minor incident and we're expecting the case to be dropped against Amir," the spokesman said.

"We're expecting to formally hear that from police on Monday morning."

Khan later tweeted about the arrest, writing: "All nonsense please don't believe what you read. I'm home with my family and nobody got beat up."

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Royal Welcome In Yorkshire For Tour De France

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were among the large crowds cheering on the world's top cyclists as the Tour de France began in Yorkshire.

Two million people are expected to line the roads this weekend as the county hosts the first two stages of the prestigious bike race.

Some 198 riders in 22 teams were in the middle of Leeds for the start - but the teams did not compete for the first eight miles.

The riders began the first stage in Leeds

The race proper began in the grounds of 18th century stately home Harewood House where the royals chatted with lead riders, including reigning British champion Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish.

There was a display by the world-famous Red Arrows RAF aerobatic team and Kate cut the ribbon to officially start the race.

The centre of Leeds was crammed with cycling fans

The cyclists were then sent on their way in the "Grand Depart".

Scores of towns and villages along the 190km opening stage were packed as the peloton travelled through the Yorkshire Dales to the finish in Harrogate.

Organisers of the 101st Tour hope the Duchess will present the coveted yellow jersey to the stage winner this afternoon, with British sprinter Mark Cavendish tipped as the possible recipient in his mother's home town.

Team Sky tweeted this picture of Chris Froome who was first on the team bus

On Sunday, the riders arrive in York for a 201km stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.

And on Monday, the Tour moves south to Cambridge and a 155km stage ending on The Mall, in central London.

There was some rain in Yorkshire earlier in the day but the weather conditions seemed more favourable later.

Fears the narrow roads and stone walls in the Yorkshire Dales National Park would be too dangerous for the cyclists were dismissed by five-times Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault.

The Team Sky bus makes its way to the start in Leeds

He told Sky News the challenges that Yorkshire poses were just part of the race.

"It's for the riders to adapt to the route, not for the route to adapt to the riders," he said.

Local businesses have been warned to expect up to 700 cars per hour trying to get into what are usually relatively isolated villages, with road closures for the race causing added problems.

Two million people are expected to watch the opening stages of the race

Tens of thousands of tents and caravans squeezed into fields where sheep and cattle usually graze after officials relaxed the area's strict planning regulations for the weekend.

The Welcome to Yorkshire tourism agency predicts the event, which is watched by billions of TV viewers around the world, will bring £100m into Yorkshire's economy.

The race ends in Paris on July 27. 

Alberto Contador of Spain poses for fans before the start of the race

All eyes will be on Britain's Chris Froome to see if he can take the title for Team Sky for the second successive year. 

It would mark a third straight British win, after Bradley Wiggins rode to victory in 2012.

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Robber Gets Life After 'Terrifying Ordeals'

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

A man who attacked and robbed elderly women in "terrifying ordeals" in their own homes has been jailed for life.

Lee Roberts, of no fixed address, struck five times, knocking at the doors of pensioners and then bundling them inside when they answered.

His most shocking attack was on an 87-year-old woman who he "beat black and blue" in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull.

Roberts, 33, shoved his victim against a radiator and then dragged her from room to room as he demanded cash.

She was then left with a cushion tied tightly across her face as he fled with £500 in cash from a bedroom wardrobe.

An image released by police shows the injuries suffered by one woman

Roberts went on to steal a TV and loose change from a 73-year-old and snatched a 91-year-old woman's pension after following her home.

He also stole a handbag from a pensioner when she answered the door, and ransacked a dementia sufferer's home.

Roberts was convicted of manslaughter in 2004 when a 90-year-old man he attacked in his home later died in hospital.

He was released in 2011 but detectives identified him as a possible suspect in a series of robberies last year.

He was linked to a Vauxhall Astra spotted in a supermarket car park and when officers examined the on-board tracker system they discovered the car had been parked outside each victim's address.

Roberts admitted four counts of robbery and one burglary at Birmingham Crown Court and was jailed for life.

He will spend at least six years and nine months in prison before being eligible for parole.

Investigating officer DC Arran Cox from Solihull Police CID described his crimes as "terrifying ordeals for his victims: they were threatened, assaulted and had to watch as their homes were ransacked".

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Warning As Woman Loses £100K In Bank Scam

Police are warning people to be on the alert after an 89-year-old woman was conned out of £100,000 when she was persuaded to transfer it from her account.

The scammers were posing as bank officials and police when they told the victim in Atherstone, Warwickshire, that there was a problem with her bank.

She was told it would be wise to transfer the money to a different account "to be safe".

Officers say people should be on the alert to similar scams being carried out elsewhere in the country.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Paley said: "While people are generally aware of such scams, these criminals target vulnerable members of the community.

"I would urge people to talk to close friends and relatives who they think could be at risk."

Anyone who suspects they have been targeted should call police on 101.

For further information, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org or www.actionfraud.police.uk

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PM's 'Inadequate' Handling Of Child Sex Claims

By Darren McCaffrey, Political Reporter

The Prime Minister is facing criticism for an "inadequate" investigation into what happened to a dossier containing allegations about paedophile activity by politicians in the 1980s.

David Cameron said he wants Mark Sedwill, the permanent secretary to the Home Office, to do "everything he can" to get to the truth.

Mr Cameron is under pressure to launch a full public inquiry

Labour MP Simon Danczuk, whose campaign raised the issue of what happened to the Dickens' file at a hearing of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said there needed to be a full public inquiry.

Describing the response so far as "inadequate", he told Sky News: "The public are very clearly concerned and they won't be satisfied with another review by Home Office officials.

"Reviews like this often prove to be whitewashes.

"The Prime Minister should establish an over-arching review led by child protection experts to draw together the results from all these different case, investigations and institutional inquiries."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said a "thorough" review was needed into what happened at the Home Office, as well as a wider look at what can be done to protect children from abuse in future.

Allegations of sex abuse have been made against the late Cyril Smith

The Government has been under pressure to act after claims that a list of names of suspected child abusers, including high-profile men in the establishment, was passed by the MP Geoffrey Dickens to the then-home secretary.

Lord Brittan admitted he received the dossier and passed it on to officials - but no action was ever taken.

"I quite understand people's concerns about these events that were referred to over 30 years ago," Mr Cameron said.

"And that is why I've asked the permanent secretary at the Home Office to do everything he can to find answers to all of these questions and make sure we can reassure people about these events."

Calls for more to be done about allegations of child sex abuse by politicians have increased since the 2010 death of Liberal Democrat MP Cyril Smith, who was subsequently said to have been a paedophile.

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Two Plebgate Libel Cases 'To Be Dropped'

The two plebgate libel cases are close to being abandoned, Sky News can reveal.

Andrew Mitchell is suing The Sun newspaper which printed the original claims that the Tory MP used the term "plebs" during a dispute at the gates of Downing Street in 2012.

And the policeman at the centre of the row, Pc Toby Rowland is seeking libel damages from the former chief whip, repeating his claim Mr Mitchell used the word after being blocked from cycling out of the street through the main gate.

The dispute centres on an altercation at the gates of Downing Street

But Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt has discovered there has been a confidential process of mediation between the two sides, and that they are now close to mutually ending their legal action.

The MP has always maintained he never used the word "pleb", but admits swearing during the altercation.

Mr Mitchell ended up resigning over the row.

Pc Keith Wallis was jailed for lying about the Plebgate affair

He has always claimed the Police Federation used the incident to take revenge for police cuts and had orchestrated a "stitch-up".

Several police officers, and one civilian relative of a police officer, have been arrested for offences arising out of the case.

Pc Keith Wallis ended up being jailed for lying about witnessing the exchange, and at least three others have been dismissed from the police.

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Colchester Murder: Police Issue E-Fit Of Suspect

Detectives investigating the murder of a Saudi Arabian student have released an e-fit image of a man they would like to speak to.

Nahid Almanea was knifed 16 times and left to die on the Salary Brook Trail in Colchester, Essex, at around 10.40am on June 17.

The force said the man in the e-fit was seen running up Hewes Close, away from the Salary Brook Trail at 10.56am.

He is described as white, aged between 18 and 25, of medium build and with dark hair.

He was wearing a long-sleeve plain hooded top that is described as "London bus red" and dark trousers.

Ms Almanea was caught on CCTV on the day of the attack

Ms Almanea, 31, has been described as an "exceptional" English language programme student at the University of Essex who was aiming to study at PhD level.

Essex Police say there are similarities to the killing of James Attfield, 33, who was stabbed 102 times on his arms, hands, back, neck and head, in a park in the town on March 29.

Officers do not know if the pair were murdered by the same person but they are keeping an "open mind".

Police at the scene of Ms Almanea's murder

Chief Inspector Richard Phillibrown, Colchester district commander, said: "We have received excellent support throughout this investigation from the whole community.

"We appreciate their patience whilst the forensic searches continue. We would also urge anyone with information, no matter how small you might think, to contact us."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact the force on 01245 282103 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of £10,000 for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Ms Almanea's murder.

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Airport Security Tightened Over 'Bomb Fears'

Security at British airports has been increased after warnings from the US that terrorists are developing bombs that can be smuggled on to planes without being detected.

US Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson said he had tasked officials to "implement enhanced security measures in the coming days at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States".

However, he declined to say which airports would be affected.

Flights from UK airports direct to the US will be subject to the measures

A statement issued by the US Department for Homeland Security said: "We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and consulting the aviation industry.

"These communications are an important part of our commitment to providing our security partners with situational awareness about the current environment and protecting the travelling public."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the additional security was not expected to cause "significant" disruption to flights.

US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson

He told Sky News: "I would like to reassure the travelling public we have got one of the toughest security regimes in the world, along with the United States.

"It is important that we take these measures to protect the travelling public and the public have confidence when we get information we take the right measures.

"There will be extra security checks but they will be made in the course of events people already go through and I hope there will not be significant delays."

But British aviation security expert Philip Baum said heightened security will inevitably mean longer queues and increased waiting times to board flights at UK airports.

"It will mean an increase in the number of random searches, secondary searches and an increase in the number of passengers asked to remove shoes and possibly all passengers being asked to remove shoes if they're going on certain flights," he said.

"It stands to reason that if we're going to spend longer doing checks, people are going to have to spend longer waiting in line to board flights."

Jabhat al Nusra militants. The Syrian group are said to be behind the plot

US officials said the security alert followed intelligence reports that Islamist groups in Yemen and Syria had joined forces to prepare an attack on the US.

Bomb-makers from al Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are believed to be working together to develop the new devices.

According to ABC News, they are trying to build non-metallic bombs that could evade metal detectors.

An image of home-made improvised devices tweeted by a British jihadist

As a result security enhancements are likely to include greater scrutiny of US-bound passengers' electronics and footwear and installation of additional bomb-detection machines.

Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: "There are terror organisations around the world that seek to do the UK, its citizens, and citizens of many other countries including our Western allies, harm.

"We need to always be vigilant to situations that can develop."

Sky's US correspondent Dominic Waghorn said US officials were also closely monitoring the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) over concerns its success in Iraq might help it recruit jihadists from Europe, who would have easier access to flights bound for US cities.

The thousands of foreign fighters flocking to join ISIS, including an estimated 400 from Britain, is a serious concern, he said.

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Yorkshire Gears Up For 2014 Tour De France

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Yorkshire is putting the finishing touches to its preparations for the Tour de France, which sets off from Leeds on Saturday.

An opening ceremony is being held on Thursday night at the start of what will be the biggest event the region has ever hosted, with a global TV audience of 3.5bn in 188 countries.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will watch 22 teams of nine riders tackle parts of the first day's racing, before Kate presents the coveted yellow jersey to the first stage winner at the finishing line in Harrogate.

British sprinter Mark Cavendish is hotly tipped to take the top spot on the podium in his mother's home town.

The first day's course, which goes through the spectacular scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, has been decked out with yellow bikes and miles of bunting fixed to houses and lampposts.

A cyclist passes a Tour de France mural in Greetland, Yorkshire

On Sunday, the riders travel from York to Sheffield, climbing a total of 3,000ft including a gruelling four-mile-long slog up Holme Moss.

Tourism businesses are preparing for an expected two million spectators and councils have relaxed planning restrictions for camping and off road parking.

More than 300 miles of roads will be closed for part of the weekend with an expected 60 miles of barriers and 30,000 traffic cones helping to keep order.

The Tour was brought to Yorkshire by Gary Verity, chief executive of the Welcome to Yorkshire tourism agency, who snatched it from under the nose of a government-backed bid from Scotland.

"The whole of Yorkshire has embraced not just cycling, but le Tour," he told Sky News.

"As a Yorkshireman I have never known anything unite the county and inspire the county like the Tour has done. It is incredible and for me it is quite emotional."

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Man In Court Charged With Two Elderly Killings

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering two elderly people in the West Midlands and London.

Leo Barnes is accused of killing Cynthia Beamond and Philip Silverstone, who were both found dead in their homes 120 miles apart.

The 32-year-old shrugged and smirked as he refused to provide the clerk at Dudley Magistrates' Court with his name, address and date-of-birth.

Barnes, of Balsall Heath, Birmingham, appeared in court alongside Chantelle Moran-Stokes, who is also charged with Mrs Beamond's murder.

The body of Mrs Beamond, aged 80, was found hidden inside her semi-detached house in Halesowen, near Birmingham, on Sunday after she was reported missing by family members.

A post-mortem examination found she died from head injuries suffered during a violent attack.

Mr Silverstone, who had been stabbed, was found dead on Monday at his flat in Belsize Park, north-west London, after concerns were raised for his welfare.

Moran-Stokes, 24, from Darlaston, West Midlands, and Barnes were both remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday.

Mrs Beamond is said to have been killed between June 26 and June 30, while Mr Silverstone's murder is alleged to have taken place between June 27 and July 1.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "West Midlands Police is working with the Metropolitan Police Service on this joint investigation and both forces have continued to update the families of Mrs Beamond and Mr Silverstone throughout."

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Ex-Home Secretary 'Acted On Paedophile Claims'

Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan says he asked officials to "look carefully" at a dossier he received in the 1980s alleging paedophile activity in Westminster.

But he says the issue was not raised with him subsequently.

The Tory peer issued a statement after Labour MP Simon Danczuk insisted he should "share his knowledge" about the file prepared by then-MP Geoffrey Dickens, and handed to him in the 1980s.

According to Mr Danczuk, who has investigated claims of abuse by ex-MP Cyril Smith, it contained information about the "Paedophile Information Exchange (Pie), about paedophiles operating a network within and around Westminster".

An independent review found information was dealt with properly

In a statement, Mr Brittan said: "During my time as Home Secretary (1983 to 1985), Geoff Dickens MP arranged to see me at the Home Office. I invariably agreed to see any MP who requested a meeting with me.

"As I recall, he came to my room at the Home Office with a substantial bundle of papers.

"As is normal practice, my Private Secretary would have been present at the meeting.

"I told Mr Dickens that I would ensure that the papers were looked at carefully by the Home Office and acted on as necessary.

"Following the meeting, I asked my officials to look carefully at the material contained in the papers provided and report back to me if they considered that any action needed to be taken by the Home Office.

"In addition I asked my officials to consider a referral to another Government Department, such as the Attorney General's Department, if that was appropriate.

"This was the normal procedure for handling material presented to the Home Secretary.

"I do not recall being contacted further about these matters by Home Office officials or by Mr Dickens or by anyone else."

The Home Office commissioned an independent review last year into what information it received about organised child sex abuse between 1979 and 1999.

A spokesman said: "The review concluded the Home Office acted appropriately, referring information received during this period to the relevant authorities."

It also disclosed material received from Mr Dickens in November 1983 and January 1984 had not been retained.

However, a letter was sent from Lord Brittan to Mr Dickens on March 20, 1984 explaining what had been done in relation to the files.

According to an extract in the review report, the then-home secretary wrote: "You drew my attention to a number of allegations concerning paedophilia when you called here on November 23 and in subsequent letters.

"I am now able to tell you that, in general terms, the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions is that two of the letters you forwarded could form the basis for enquiries by the police and they are now being passed to the appropriate authorities.

"In other cases there either seems to be inadequate evidence to pursue prosecution, for example the lady who wrote about PIE1 advertising but did not secure any example of the material complained of, or they have already been dealt with in some way by the courts or the police."

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House Prices 'Rise Above 2007 Peak Values'

Average house prices have risen above their 2007 peak values, according to a monthly housing survey.

The Nationwide said that in seasonally-adjusted terms, prices reached the peak in the end of the second quarter.

It said that prices in June recorded their 14th successive monthly rise, up 1% on May's value.

Seen in annual terms, the average rise was 11.8%, making it the fastest pace of growth for nine years.

That annual figure was up from 11.1% recorded in May.

Although rises were seen across the country, disparity continues to grow.

Nationwide house prices from 2007 peak (white line at 100%) until June 2014

The high street lender said: "While all regions recorded annual price gains for the fourth quarter in a row, there is still significant variation across the UK, with the South of England continuing to record the strongest rates of growth.

"In particular, London continued to outperform, with prices up by almost 26% in Q2 compared to the same period in 2013."

It added: "The price of a typical property in London reached the £400,000 mark for the first time, with prices in the capital now around 30% above their 2007 highs and more than twice the level prevailing in the rest of the UK when London is excluded.

"In the UK as a whole, prices are less than 1% above their pre-crisis peak. Excluding London they are 0.4% below peak."

Nationwide said newly-implemented stress tests to ensure borrowers can afford a 3% base rate rise, and 85% of applicants limited to 4.5 times loan-to-income levels are "unlikely to have a significant impact" on transactions or growth in the near term.

It also believes as a result of the measures, prices should not become "detached from earnings".

Mounting expectation of the Bank of England (BoE) raising the base rate have probably helped cool market activity, the lender said.

But it warned that attempts by the BoE's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) to help overcome significant problems in the UK housing market were being hampered by forces outside of its control.

Nationwide said: "It is important to note that the FPC does not have the tools to address the fundamental problem in the housing market – the lack of supply.

"While there are encouraging signs that the pace of construction has picked up, the pace of house building is still well below the expected pace of household formation."

The survey comes as construction data for June indicates a four-month high in homebuilding.

The monthly Markit/Cips purchasing managers' index also showed the fastest pace of hiring in the sector since 1997.

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Met Officer Wins Race Discrimination Case

The Metropolitan Police has said it is "disappointed" an employment tribunal ruled a black female officer had been discriminated against because of her race and sex.

Britain's largest force faces a compensation claim from Carol Howard after a judgment found she was "singled out and targeted" by her boss.

The 35-year-old, a firearms officer in the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), brought a claim of discrimination at the Central London Employment Tribunal earlier this year.

The case found the Met "directly discriminated" against Ms Howard "on the grounds of sex and race" between 31 January and 29 October, 2012.

It also concluded her superior, Acting Inspector Dave Kelly, had subjected her to "a course of conduct which was detrimental to her".

Ms Howard's lawyer has called for a public inquiry

The tribunal judgment said within weeks of becoming her line manager Mr Kelly "formed the view ... that the claimant was dishonest and not up to the standard required for DPG".

He was said to have engaged on a course of conduct "that was designed to, and which in fact did, undermine, discredit and belittle" Ms Howard.

The tribunal heard Ms Howard submitted a formal fairness at work (FAW) complaint alleging that she had been subjected to unfair treatment by Mr Kelly in November 2012.

The following day he was said to have approached her and during the exchange he was "shouting at her and waving his hands", with the claimant leaving in tears.

The tribunal noted Ms Howard, from Purley in Surrey, was the only black woman in the unit managed by Mr Kelly.

The DPG provides protection for foreign embassies and missions in London.

The Met says it will review the panel's findings

It went on: "She was singled out and targeted by him for almost a whole year. On his own admission he had formed a negative view of her from very early on."

The panel also found a detective sergeant appointed to deal with the fairness complaint was asked to delete all references to discrimination and harassment relating to sex or race in a report.

This was done "not because they were not supported by evidence in the report, but because the claimant had brought a complaint of race and sex discrimination in the tribunal", the judgment concluded.

Ms Howard's lawyer Kiran Daurka, from Slater & Gordon, called for a public inquiry into how the Met handles race discrimination claims.

"This judgment is a damning indictment on the Met. (Its) conduct and some of its senior officers towards Carol Howard was deplorable," she said.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are aware of the decision of the tribunal. We are disappointed at the tribunal's finding in favour of PC Howard.

"The tribunal's decision will now to be given full and careful consideration. We will review the findings, take legal advice and take forward any learning or actions as appropriate."

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Superbugs 'Could Send UK Back To The Dark Ages'

Britain is to lead the fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs which risk sending Britain "back to the Dark Ages", David Cameron has declared.

Tens of thousands of people around the world are dying from infections caused by bugs that have become resistant to treatment, including salmonella and tuberculosis.

An estimated 627,000 people died from malaria in 2012

The World Health Organisation has warned that unless coordinated action is taken the world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.

"This is not some distant threat, but something happening right now," the Prime Minister said.

"If we fail, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine where treatable infections and injuries will kill once again."

Dame Sally Davies: 'We must act now on a global scale'

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: "We must act now on a global scale to slow down antimicrobial resistance.

"In Europe, at least 25,000 people a year already die from infections which are resistant to our drugs of last resort.

"New antibiotics made by the biotech and pharmaceutical industry will be central to resolving this crisis which will impact on all areas of modern medicine.

"I am delighted to see the Prime Minister taking a global lead by commissioning this review to help new antibiotics to be developed and brought to patients effectively."

Mr Cameron raised the issue with US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel when they met at the G7 summit in Brussels last month.

The initial £500,000 cost of the work will be met by the Wellcome Trust. Director Jeremy Farrar said: "Drug-resistant bacteria, viruses and parasites are driving a global health crisis.

"It threatens not only our ability to treat deadly infections but almost every aspect of modern medicine: from cancer treatment to Caesarean sections, therapies that save thousands of lives every day rely on antibiotics that could soon be lost.

"We are failing to contain the rise of resistance and failing to develop new drugs to replace those that no longer work. We are heading for a post-antibiotic age."

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Internet Firms Take Legal Action Against GCHQ

Seven internet companies have filed a legal complaint calling for an end to GCHQ's alleged use of "malicious software" to break into their networks.

The case against the Government's listening post has been submitted on behalf of internet service providers (ISPs) in seven countries; the UK, the US, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zimbabwe.

The complaints are based on articles published earlier this year in German magazine Der Spiegel, which included claims that employees at a Belgian telecoms group were targeted with malicious software.

It was also reported that intelligence agencies have a range of network exploitation and intrusion capabilities to infect users.

In addition, the reports claimed that German internet exchange points were targeted, allowing agencies to spy on all internet traffic coming through those nodes.

It is alleged by the ISPs that such attacks are a breach of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and interfere with the privacy rights of the employees under the European Convention of Human Rights.

It is the first time GCHQ has faced such an action.

Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, said: "These widespread attacks on providers and collectives undermine the trust we all place on the internet and greatly endangers the world's most powerful tool for democracy and free expression.

"It completely cripples our confidence in the internet economy and threatens the rights of all those who use it. These unlawful activities, run jointly by GCHQ and the NSA, must come to an end immediately."

The complaint has been filed with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), the London court which rules on complaints about intelligence agencies and misuse of surveillance data by government organisations.

The ISPs involved in the action are UK-based GreenNet, Jinbonet (South Korea), Riseup (US), Greenhost (Netherlands), Mango (Zimbabwe), May First/People Link (US) and the Chaos Computer Club (Germany).

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Rolf Harris: 12 Women Seeking Compensation

The Fall Of One Of Britain's Best-Loved Stars

Updated: 6:09pm UK, Monday 30 June 2014

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Despite being born in Australia, Rolf Harris' lengthy career in show business, spanning almost six decades, has ensured he is one of Britain's best-known and, until now, best-loved stars.

From his humble beginnings as a swimming champion in his native Western Australia, he moved to London in 1952 after deciding to abandon a teaching career and study art instead.

Within weeks he was singing in ex-pat clubs and two years after stepping off a liner, he signed a contract with the BBC which marked the start of a lengthy association with the broadcaster.

Artist, singer-songwriter and TV star, his legendary career earned him an MBE, OBE and CBE and Australian honours as well.

He was given a BAFTA fellowship, painted a portrait of the Queen and has met other members of the royal family countless times.

Harris also made numerous TV commercials and appeared at Glastonbury six times - opening the event in 2010 - and singing in front of a crowd of almost 100,000.

Countless generations of children and adults know him through iconic programmes from the 70s, 80s and 90s, such as The Rolf Harris Show, Rolf Harris Cartoon Time, Animal Hospital and Rolf On Art.

His wife of 56 years, Alwen, and daughter Bindi, 49, supported him in court throughout the seven-week trial, although only Bindi was called to give evidence in the case.

She described how she wanted to ''stab herself with forks'' after discovering Harris had been having a relationship with her best friend, who was the subject of seven of the charges.

In his 2001 autobiography, titled after his catchphrase "Can You Tell What It Is Yet", there is a telling passage in which he explained his feelings about his family.

He wrote: ''Alwen and Bindi have to come first. It has only been in the last five years that I have realised this. Late, but better than never.''

Telling, because it was in 1997 Harris wrote to the father of Bindi's best friend to tell him of the affair he had been having with his daughter when his own daughter found out.

He also wrote of how, as his career took off in the 60s, he found himself ogling women in backstage dressing rooms set aside for dancers he worked with.

Harris wrote: ''I tried not to watch - or be seen watching - but it wasn't easy, I spent most of my time reading the same page of a book 14 times realising I was holding it upside down.''

It's also clear he had a difficult relationship with his daughter and wife - blaming himself for not being with them as he devoted his time to his career - leaving them a painful second.

In the early 1960s as his career hit the big time, Alwen visited Australia with him and it later emerged she had contemplated suicide, Harris only finding out about it 30 years later when he found her diary.

Harris described how ''the words struck me like hammer blows'' adding that he ''felt terrible and I kicked myself for my selfishness''.

His awards and honours count for nothing and he will now swap his luxury Thames-side home in Berkshire for the cold harsh surroundings of a prison cell, as a convicted sex offender.

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Pregnant Woman Sexually Assaulted On Bus

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Midlands Correspondent

Clear CCTV images have been released to find a man in connection with a sexual assault on a pregnant woman on a Birmingham bus.

The man sat next to his 33-year-old victim and began rubbing her leg, police say.

As she got up to leave, he stood behind her and appeared to attack her again.

The woman got off the bus and was followed by the man before she approached security guards at New Street station for help.

The attack took place on the number 31 bus from Acocks Green to the city centre on May 20, between 9.30am and 10.25am. 

The man is described as Asian, 5ft 6ins tall, of slim build with black hair and a small goatee beard.

He was wearing a grey jumper with black tracksuit bottoms and is believed to be in his 20s.

Detective Constable Warren Moore, from Force CID, said: "This was an unprovoked assault against an unsuspecting, pregnant member of the public, who was visiting the area.

"The assault made her uncomfortable and unnerved and has had a lasting effect on her. She is unable to use buses through fear of this happening again."

Anyone with information is asked to contact local police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Madeleine: Search Dogs Return To Portugal

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 8:10pm UK, Monday 30 June 2014

Here is a timeline of the key events since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

2007

:: May 3 - Kate and Gerry McCann leave their three children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Jane Tanner, one of the friends eating with the McCanns, later reports seeing a man carrying a child away earlier that night.

:: May 5 - Portuguese police reveal they believe Madeleine was abducted but is still alive and in Portugal, and say they have a sketch of a suspect.

:: May 14 - Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese man Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an "arguido", or official suspect.

:: May 25 - Detectives release a description of the man reported by Jane Tanner three weeks earlier after pressure from the McCanns, their legal team and the British Government.

:: May 30 - Mr and Mrs McCann meet the Pope in Rome in the first of a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search for their daughter.

:: August 6 - A Portuguese newspaper reports that British sniffer dogs have found traces of blood on a wall in the McCanns' holiday apartment.

:: August 11 - Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead.

:: September 7 - During further questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both "arguidos" in their daughter's disappearance.

:: September 9 - The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

:: October 2 - Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the inquiry, is removed from the case after criticising the British police in a Portuguese newspaper interview.

:: October 25 - The McCanns release a new artist's impression drawn by an FBI-trained expert showing the man described by Jane Tanner.

2008

:: March 19 - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers over allegations they were responsible for Madeleine's death.

:: April 7 - Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, fly to Britain to re-interview the seven friends on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine vanished.

:: July 17 - Mr Murat receives £600,000 in libel damages from four newspaper groups over "seriously defamatory" articles connecting him with the child's disappearance.

:: July 21 - The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and Mr Murat.

:: August 4 - Thousands of pages of evidence from the Portuguese police files in the exhaustive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance are made public.

2009

:: January 13 - Mr McCann returns to Portugal for the first time since coming back to the UK without his daughter.

:: March 24 - The McCanns launch a localised new appeal for information focused on the area in the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.

:: April 4 - Mr McCann goes back to Portugal to help film a reconstruction of the events on the night his daughter vanished.

:: April 22 - The McCanns fly to the US to record an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark two years since Madeleine's disappearance.

:: June 14 - Dying paedophile Raymond Hewlett says he was in the Algarve when Madeleine disappeared and has an alibi - but has no plans to reveal it.

:: August 6 - Detectives say they are hunting a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian or New Zealand accent, reportedly seen in Barcelona three days after the little girl went missing.

2010

:: Feb 18 -  Kate and Gerry McCann say they are "pleased and relieved" at a judge's decision to uphold a ban on a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral.

:: Mar 3 -  A newly-released file from Portugese police on possible sightings is called "gold dust" and could lead to a breakthrough, says a spokesman for the McCanns.

:: May 1 - Kate McCann reveals she had thoughts about being "wiped out" in a motorway crash to end the pain of losing Madeleine - but vows never to give up.

:: November 10 - Madeleine's parents launch an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case.

:: November 15 -  The McCanns sign a deal to write a book about their daughter's disappearance.

2011

:: May 13 - The Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the case.

:: November 23 - Kate and Gerry McCann appear at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

They tell how media pressure affected their family life and accuse newspaper editors of hampering the search for their missing daughter.

Kate McCann says she felt "violated" when her diary was published without her permission.

:: December 5 - Scotland Yard detectives spend time in Barcelona as part of their re-examination of the case.

2012

:: March 9 - Portuguese police in Oporto launch a review of the original investigation.

:: April 26 - Scotland Yard says Madeleine McCann may still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like as a nine-year-old.

:: July 6 - British detectives examine a claim that the little girl's body is buried near the apartment from where she vanished. It comes after a self-styled investigator sends police radar scans he claims show a burial site.

2013

:: February 11 - Gerry McCann calls for politicians to implement the conclusions of the Leveson Inquiry in full, backed by legislation.

:: February 13 - Police say the results of DNA tests on a girl in New Zealand who was mistaken for Madeleine reveal that she is not the missing British girl.

:: February 21 - Retired solicitor Tony Bennett who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death is given a suspended jail sentence.

:: May 2 - Madeleine McCann's parents tell Sky News a police review into their daughter's disappearance is making "excellent progress" as they mark the sixth anniversary since she went missing.

:: May 17 - Scotland Yard say they have identified a number of "people of interest" they want to speak to. It believes it has found enough evidence to reopen the case but the Portuguese authorities are still resistant. 

:: June 15 - The Home Office agrees to fund a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

:: October 13 - UK detectives reviewing the case say key details in the timeline of her disappearance have "significantly changed".

:: October 14 - A fresh appeal is launched in a bid to find a suspect detectives say is of "vital importance", with two new separate e-fits - thought to be of the same man seen on the night Madeleine went missing - released by police.

:: October 17 - Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the Scotland Yard team, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, and Mr and Mrs McCann meet officers in Lisbon to be briefed on the Portuguese case.

:: October 23 - Britain's most senior police officer Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defends the way the Portuguese dealt with the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, saying it would have been "very difficult" to immediately know if they were dealing with a serious crime.

:: October 24 - Detectives in Portugal reopen the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance after an internal review uncovers new lines of inquiry and witnesses who were never questioned during the original Portuguese investigation.

2014

:: January 3 - A family source says Kate and Gerry McCann have been denied permission to give evidence at a Portuguese libel trial over a book about the case by former local police chief Goncalo Amaral.

:: January 13 - British police investigate three burglars who were in the area when Madeleine disappeared, and whose phones were apparently "red hot" after she went missing. A letter is sent to Portuguese police asking for help to track them down.

:: January 29 - Scotland Yard officers, including the detective leading the case, fly to Portugal to meet police there and discuss the latest developments.

:: March 19 - Officers from Operation Grange launch a search for a man who sexually assaulted five British girls in the Algarve between 2004 and 2006.

:: April 23 - Detectives identify five new cases where a lone intruder abused young British girls in holiday apartments in the Algarve.

:: May 1 - Kate and Gerry McCann give an interview to Sky News where they are desperate to find out what happened to Madeleine, even if it is the "worst case scenario" as they back calls for a Child Rescue Alert service similar to the Amber Alert system in the US.

:: May 6 - Scotland Yard plans to dig for evidence in three locations in Praia da Luz are approved, with officers set to use ground penetrating radar.

:: May 8 - British Officers reportedly use a military helicopter to photograph potential excavation sites and hold a four-hour meeting with Portuguese colleagues to agree a timetable for new searches.

:: May 22 - Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley says the investigation will enter a "substantial phase of operational activity" in Portugal in the coming weeks. 

:: June 2 - Portuguese police seal off an area of scrubland to the west of Praia da Luz as they prepare to examine the potential excavation site.

:: June 11 - Police begin to search an area between Praia da Luz and the town of Lagos behind a water treatment plant. The search of the scrubland site was later wound down.

:: June 30 - The British team return to Portugal and plan to speak to a key witness and several suspects the following day.

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Data Roaming Charges Cut By More Than Half

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

The cost of accessing the internet on your phone abroad in EU countries falls by more than half today, with a new cap on data roaming charges.

The tariff, introduced by the European Commission, limits the price of one megabyte of data to 20 cents (16p) – a 55% decrease from this time last year.

Mobile providers must also offer travellers reduced text messages at 5p, incoming calls at 4p per minute and outgoing calls at 15p  per minute.

However, British travellers will still pay considerably more abroad than at home.

In the UK, data costs around £10 per gigabyte. Under the new cap, a gigabyte downloaded abroad would cost £42.

The price cut comes before a major telecoms reform, due to take effect from December 15 next year.

Under the reforms, data roaming will be scrapped altogether in the EU and accessing internet data on a smartphone will cost as much abroad in the EU as in the UK.

The changes have been agreed by the commission and now must be ratified by EU member states.

Neeli Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission, said: "This huge drop in data roaming prices will make a big difference to all of us this summer.

"But it is not enough. Why should we have roaming charges at all in a single market? By the end of this year I hope we see the complete end of roaming charges agreed."

Some operators have warned that scrapping roaming could cost the telecoms industry £5.6bn before 2020.

But other mobile operators including Three have pressed ahead, offering free roaming in many EU countries, well in advance of the new rules.

The new rates apply only to EU member states – countries like Switzerland and Turkey are not affected, nor are countries outside Europe.

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Murderer And Violent Prisoner On The Run

Police are hunting a murderer and another violent criminal after they absconded from an open prison in Buckinghamshire.

Darren Douglas, 46, and Ricardo Dunn, 32, left HM Spring Hill open prison in Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday.

Douglas, originally from Birmingham, is serving a life sentence for murder after stabbing a man to death outside a pub in 1998.

Dunn, from Burnley, was convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent after assaulting a man in the street in 2009.

He is serving an indeterminate sentence.

Chief inspector Olly Wright, of Thames Valley Police, said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen these men in the area and can provide us with information about their movements.

"These men were both convicted for violent offences and I would advise anyone who sees them, to not approach them and call police immediately.

"Both men have links with other areas so may have travelled out of the Thames Valley to those areas. I would like to remind people that it is a criminal offence to harbour these men and anyone caught doing so would be arrested."

"Skullcracker" Michael Wheatley absconded from HMP Standford Hill

The Justice Secretary Chris Grayling was tackled over the latest prisoner absconds in the Commons by his Labour counterpart Sadiq Khan.

He said: "The proportion of offenders who are sent to open prisons who subsequently abscond is 20% of what it was when the other party was in power a decade ago.

"I do not believe it is sensible for this country to scrap open prisons. I believe it is sensible to have tougher risk assessment procedures.

"I think it is sensible not to transfer people to open conditions who have previously absconded.

"Those are changes we have put in place in the last couple of weeks.

"They are helping rehabilitate offenders, They need to be there.

"Is he actually saying that should change?"

But Mr Khan hit back saying: "Nice soundbite. They are absconding after he's made his changes. So much for keeping the public safe."

The issue of prisoners walking out of open prisons has been in the spotlight since "Skullcracker" Michael Wheatley went on the run.

In May, the 55-year-old sparked a nationwide manhunt after he absconded from Category D jail HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

The prolific armed robber - dubbed the "Skullcracker" for pistol-whipping innocent bystanders during raids - went on to rob a building society in Surrey.

He was already serving 13 life sentences for a string of raids when he disappeared, sparking a political row over the day release of dangerous criminals.

After being caught, he was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court to life behind bars and told he will serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole.

It has also emerged that two prisoners, Scott Callaghan, 35, and Billy Harkins, 29, disappeared from the same prison on Saturday.

Callaghan is serving a sentence for perverting the course of justice and Harkins for aggravated burglary, Kent Police said.

Last month Sussex Police revealed that 89 prisoners had gone missing since the 1970s from Ford open prison and are still unaccounted for.

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Coulson And Goodman To Face Bribery Retrial

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

The Prime Minister's former communications director Andy Coulson is facing further court action after the Crown Prosecution Service ruled he will face a retrial on charges he conspired to bribe public officials.

The 46-year-old, who was editor of the News Of The World until his resignation in 2007, will be tried alongside the Sunday tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman.

Last week a jury failed to reach verdicts on the two men, who the Crown alleges conspired together to pay royal protection police officers for copies of royal phone directories.

The prosecution in the eight-month-long Old Bailey trial claimed Coulson and Goodman wanted the phone directories for the purposes of phone hacking - charges both men deny.

Coulson worked as a spin doctor for PM David Cameron

However, the jury found Coulson guilty of conspiring with others to intercept voicemail communications (phone hacking).

His co-accused, former News Of The World editor and News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, was found not guilty of phone hacking, as was the tabloid's former managing editor Stuart Kuttner.

Mrs Brooks was also cleared of other charges, that she attempted to bribe public officials for stories and attempted to pervert the course of justice by hiding evidence that may have been useful to Scotland Yard detectives investigating the phone hacking allegations.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said: "The CPS has taken the decision to proceed with the retrial."

Rebekah Brooks was found not guilty of phone hacking

Coulson was in court to hear the retrial decision, as his defence team prepare for two days of mitigation proceedings ahead of his sentencing on the phone hacking conviction on Friday.

He was joined in the dock by private detective Glenn Mulcaire and four former News Of The World journalists, who have all admitted their part in phone hacking at hearings before the trial began.

Mr Edis told the court: "Between them these defendants utterly corrupted this newspaper which became at the highest level a criminal enterprise."

He went on: "This was systemic misconduct approved and participated in by the editor himself."

Clockwise from left: Evans, Thurlbeck, Coulson, Weatherup, Mulcaire, Miskiw

Coulson and the other defendants face the prospect of up to two years behind bars.

In court alongside Coulson and Mulcaire are former colleagues Neville Thurlbeck, Greg Miskiw and James Weatherup, who have all admitted their part in phone hacking.

A sixth defendant, former News Of The World reporter Dan Evans, was told he will be sentenced at a later date.

He testified during the trial and told the court he was hired by Coulson, in part because of his phone hacking skills.

He also claimed phone hacking was an "open secret" at the News Of The World, where "even the office cat knew about it".

Mr Edis told Monday's hearing he would be seeking court costs from the defendants totalling a combined sum of £750,000.

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Car Hits Schoolgirls On Pavement: One Dead

A 14-year-old girl has died and two others have been injured after being hit by a car on their way to school in Witney, Oxfordshire.

The crash, which also injured a male pedestrian in his 40s, happened just after 8am in Curbridge Road when the car mounted the pavement.

The 18-year-old driver of the Citroen has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The girls were walking to school

Those hit were taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where the girl was pronounced dead.

One of the girls is understood to have been treated for serious injuries, while the other was unharmed.

The man is believed to have suffered a serious hip injury.

The Citroen is taken away from the scene

Inspector Paul Winks of Thames Valley Police said: "This is just an urban 30 miles an hour road, it's fairly straight, visibility is good.

"So I'm not 100% sure what happened this morning, it's something we need to establish.

"It may take weeks or even months to determine exactly what's happened here."

All three of the girls went to the nearby Henry Box School.

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Four Men Arrested Over Gang Rape In Slough

Four men have been arrested over the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl who was attacked at a secluded nature spot in Slough.

Two men aged 33 were arrested along with a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old.

The two 33-year-olds were bailed until August 3, Thames Valley Police said, while the other two men remained in custody.

The teenager was raped in woods near the Jubilee River in the Berkshire town on Friday.

She had apparently met a group of men earlier in the day and shopped at an off-licence with one of them.

The two of them then walked along Spackmans Way before following a footpath into woods near Jubilee River, police said.

Once there, they were met by four other men from the original group, who were in a silver car, and the girl was raped by "several of the men".

On Sunday, Detective Inspector Nicola Hurdley called for anyone who had seen anything to get in touch with police.

She said: "I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen these men in the Chalvey area last night, around early evening, and who may have seen them driving around in a small silver car.

"All the men are described as being Asian."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101.

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Benefits Street In The Clear After Complaints

The controversial series Benefits Street, which received more than 900 complaints, has been cleared of breaching broadcasting rules.

The Channel 4 show, which followed the lives of people living on James Turner Street in Birmingham, caused a stir when it was screened in January.

Complainants expressed fears about the way in which benefit claimants in general were represented, concerns about the treatment of under-18s and the portrayal of what appeared to be criminal activities.

But the regulator Ofcom said the broadcaster did not breach any of its responsibilities under the broadcasting code.

The series was a ratings hit for Channel 4 but drew criticism for allegedly demonising those living on the breadline.

Ofcom ruled that the show did not claim to reflect the experiences of all claimants but had focused on residents in that street.

A spokesman for Ofcom said: "After a thorough assessment of the evidence, Ofcom found sufficient steps were taken before, during and after production to protect the welfare of the children that appeared in the programme and that any potentially offensive material was justified by the context in which it was presented. Ofcom has therefore concluded that the series did not breach its rules."

There were also 40 complaints about the programmes demonstrating criminal techniques, including shoplifting methods.

But Ofcom said it was satisfied that there was an editorial justification for their inclusion and there were not enough details for people to copy the techniques, so did not investigate further in its ruling.

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: "We welcome Ofcom's finding that Benefits Street did not breach the code in any respect.

"We are proud that our robust duty of care protocols for the child contributors have been praised for 'demonstrating best practice', and for the recognition that we 'ensured the interests of the under-18s who featured in Benefits Street were protected and that due care was applied before, during and after production'."

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Mortgage Approvals Fall To 11-Month Low

UK mortgage approvals have dropped to their lowest level since June last year, according to the Bank of England (BoE).

It said 61,707 loans were agreed in May, down from the April figure of 62,806.

The May figure was a fifth below January's peak of 76,000.

Those loans totalled £15bn, which was also the lowest since June 2013.

New capping rules, known as the Mortgage Market Review (MMR), were brought in at the end of April to ensure borrowers have sufficient ability to increase repayments if rates rise.

Under MMR, lenders have been forced to increase their scrutiny of potential customers.

Applicants are asked detailed questions about their spending habits, such as gym fees, monthly expenditure on toiletries, and the ratio of fresh produce to other food types.

Would-be customers are also quizzed on what they consider to be essential and non-essential outgoings.

Meanwhile, the total amount of consumer credit continued to rise in May compared to April, up 13% to £740m.

But the net change in credit card lending dropped by more than half in May.

April's £428m new credit card lending plunged to £182m in May, possibly because people decided to clear outstanding debt ahead of applying for a mortgage.

On the weekend, homeowners were told to expect interest rates returning to their pre-recession levels within a decade.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, BoE deputy governor Sir Charlie Bean, the Bank's longest-serving senior policy maker, said that this lower rate was only caused by a range of temporary factors.

Last week bank Governor Mark Carney suggested that even once borrowing costs rise, the "new normal" for them to settle at would be around 2.5% - significantly lower than the long-term average of 4-5%.

However Sir Charlie said that in the "long term", meaning beyond five or ten years, it could easily rise again towards 5% - the level traditionally considered "neutral".

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Manhunt For Convicted Burglar Who Fled Jail

A convicted burglar who has absconded from a Yorkshire prison is being hunted by police.

Damian Pearson, 24, fled HMP Hatfield open prison in Doncaster at around 7am.

South Yorkshire Police did not elaborate on how that happened but have appealed for help to find him.

Pearson was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for burglary at the beginning of 2013.

He is not thought to be dangerous but members of the public are advised not to approach him.

Pearson is described as white, 6ft 1in slim build. He has links to Doncaster, in particular the Wheatley Park area.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

HMP Hatfield, near Hatfield Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, houses 266 prisoners and is a Category D men's prison and Young Offenders Institution.

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Sir Elton Says Jesus Would Back Gay Marriage

Sir Elton John has revealed plans for a "very quiet" wedding - and said he believes Jesus Christ would support gay priests getting married.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the star told Dermot Murnaghan he hopes to marry David Furnish some time next year and that it would be a low-key affair.

He also revealed his thoughts about the Pope - describing him as a "wonderful" man whose tolerance was an example to the Church of England.

Sir Elton shares his thoughts with Dermot Murnaghan

The entertainer also spoke about the launch of a new fund to support the training of young athletes determined to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics.

He said he hoped a concert, performed for the charity SportsAid at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire last night, would raise £500,000 for the fund.

Sir Elton told Murnaghan that the global fight for gay rights was stalling and that he planned to talk with Vladimir Putin in Russia on the subject in November.

Sir Elton performs at Stoke Park for SportsAid

"Globally, we seem to have gone backwards over the last 18 months," Sir Elton said.

"I will see Putin and talk to him - I don't know what good it will do though."

Discussing gay rights, he said that the Church of England might learn from the humility and tolerance of Pope Francis.

"The new Pope has been wonderful, he's excited me so much," Sir Elton said.

"He's stripped it [the Church] down to the bare bones and said it's all basically about love."

Sir Elton hopes to marry David Furnish next year

Sir Elton agreed that gay clergy should be allowed to get married and suggested that the celibacy vow for Catholic priests be abolished.

"These are old and stupid things. If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen.

"He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that's what the church should be about."

Asked about his own wedding, he said: "I don't think we can get married until next year.

"However, when we do do, it will be very quiet and off the cuff - we had our big shebang when we had our civil union."

Sir Elton also described the Glastonbury festival as the ultimate music event - but said he had never been asked to perform there.

Murnaghan spoke to Sir Elton at the concert for SportsAid at Stoke Park. The aim of it was to create a new athlete fund that will help young people who hope to represent Great Britain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sir Elton, who has been involved in the charity since its creation in the 1970s, explained how he hopes to create Britain's next Olympians.

He hoped the money raised would mean "for the next eight years 20 kids will get a grant of £2,000 that they normally couldn't get.

"It is just a way of supplementing their incomes and giving them hope for the future," he said.

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England Fan Bites Supporter's Ear Off In Brazil

Police are hunting an England fan who bit another fan's ear off after the national side's World Cup defeat against Uruguay.

The victim was left with half his left ear ripped off and bloodied in the attack, police have confirmed.

The attack happened before Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez bit an Italian player, which led to him being banned.

But details of the fan's attack have only just emerged.

Video footage obtained by the Sunday People appeared to show the moment the attack took place on the top tier of the Arena Corinthians.

Several men can be seen in a melee before one is led away by stewards.

When asked what happened, the victim appears to tell the camera: "He bit off my ear."

Blood can be seen dripping down his neck but he continues to smile and laugh.

Luis Suarez consoles England captain Steven Gerrard after the game

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore tweeted that he had seen the footage and claimed it would be "the biggest story in the UK, especially who did it".

Chief Superintendent Rachel Barber said: "We were made aware during the England vs Uruguay match in Sao Paulo that an incident had taken place which resulted in an England fan having a portion of his ear bitten off by another England fan.

"In the immediate aftermath, we managed to make contact with the victim and offered advice and support.

"The day after the attack, the victim chose to make a formal complaint to the local police, and they opened an investigation."

No arrests have been made yet but interviews with witnesses gave police a name for the alleged attacker, Ms Barber said.

Police went to England's final match against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte in case the assailant travelled to the match but did not find him there.

Chief Superintendent Barber added: "Efforts are ongoing to identify the suspect and bring him to justice either in the UK or, if possible, back in Brazil where the offence occurred."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident in Sao Paulo on June 19 involving a British national and we provided consular assistance."

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All Staff Get Rights To Work From Home

By Emma Birchley, Sky News correspondent

The right to request flexible working arrangements is about to be extended to apply to all staff and not just parents and carers.

From Monday, workers who have been in their job for six months will be able to ask for flexitime, to job share or to work from home.

The change will extend flexible working rights to around 20 million people.

Many businesses who already offer it say it increases staff motivation and productivity and reduces absence.

Workers may be able to avoid painful commutes to work

It has been an option for all employees at the small advertising agency Osbornenash in Norwich since they set up three years ago - and it has paid off.

Managing director Carole Osborne said: "For us as a business it has helped because we want to be able to recruit the best staff that we possibly can ... it's important that we are flexible around their lives and then also that they can be flexible around what we as a business offer our clients."

The company's senior art director, Neil Wright, has two young daughters and is able to change his hours to suit his family life.

"Obviously family is important to everyone particularly having two children and my wife also works full time," he said.

"It's very valuable to be able to balance life and work equally."

The team at Osbornenash support flexi hours

But employment lawyer Fraser Younson, a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, fears it could leave bosses with tough decisions about whose request to prioritise.

Flexibility will not be an option for all businesses and there are various grounds on which they can reject an application.

Christopher Soule, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said that one reason might be if the request worked out as too expensive for the employee's company.

But Mr Soule believes that many companies will embrace the opportunities.

"About 70% of our members already do some kind of flexible working," he said.

"It will make people think about whether it will help their business and improve their business and improve their staff relations."

Workers will have the right to appeal if the decision does not go their way and apply again 12 months later.

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GPs Who Miss Cancer 'To Be Named And Shamed'

GPs who repeatedly fail to spot signs of cancer in their patients may be named and shamed, it has been reported.

Surgeries will be marked out with a red flag on an NHS website for patients if they are deemed to be missing too many cases.

Doctors will also be red-flagged if patients have to make repeated visits before being referred for tests, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Practices will be given a green rating on the NHS Choices site if they have quick referral times for patients who show possible signs of having the disease.

Jeremy Hunt says surgeries could "do much better" with cancer diagnosis

But GPs have hit out at the plan, with one labelling it "very unhelpful" and saying it would be counter-productive.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said tough action must be taken to bring standards at surgeries with poor cancer referral rates into line with those with highest standards.

"We need to do much better," he told the newspaper.

"Cancer diagnosis levels around the country vary significantly and we must do much more to improve both the level of diagnosis and to bring those GP practices with poor referral rates up to the standards of the best."

A survey of 70,000 patients showed that one in 10 cancer sufferers had to see their GP at least five times before being referred to hospital to be diagnosed.

More than a quarter had seen their GP at least three times before being sent to a specialist.

Dr Monah Mansoori told Sky News: "I think we're going to end up having a system where GPs will start to refer defensively, they're just going to refer anything that's vaguely, possibly going to be a cancer because they don't want to be black marked and put on this list.

"It's very unhelpful, it's going to make people not confident in their GPs and more of them will end up at A&E and this is the problem they are supposedly trying to prevent and I think there's another issue, they haven't really said what they're going to do after they've put this black mark on GP's practices that perhaps aren't performing as well."

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