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One Dead As Stolen Ambulance Collides With Bus

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 11 April 2015 | 20.14

The driver of a stolen ambulance has been killed after the vehicle crashed into a double-decker bus near York.

The person driving the ambulance - who police believe was not a paramedic or a member of ambulance staff - was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the bus and five of its 16 passengers were taken to hospital after the collision on the A64, near the Flaxton junction, about 8.30pm.

Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Another person, travelling in a Toyota Yaris with one other, was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The A64 has now reopened, North Yorkshire police said.

This morning, traffic sergeant Ian Pope said that police had been looking for the stolen vehicle for 20 minutes when they were notified of the collision.

The search began at 8.10pm when the ambulance, which was privately owned and did not belong to Yorkshire Ambulance Service, was reported stolen.

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the crash or saw either of the vehicles beforehand to contact police and quote reference number 556 of 10 April.

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CCTV Shows Gang Plundering Hatton Garden Vault

CCTV footage reportedly showing the men behind the Hatton Garden jewel heist has emerged, after it was revealed the police initially failed to go to the scene despite being alerted by an alarm.

The 17-minute video purportedly shows at least six men arriving at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit company's building in London's jewellery quarter on Good Friday.

The Daily Mirror, which obtained the footage, reported that the group made two separate visits before leaving in a white van on Easter Sunday with the contents of 72 safety deposit boxes in wheelie bins and bags.

Scotland Yard has declined to comment on the pictures.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police continues to investigate why a call from a security firm about the alarm was graded in a way that meant officers did not consider it worthy of a response.

It was not until Tuesday morning that the raid - one of Britain's biggest - was discovered.

The police could face compensation claims running into the millions because officers failed to respond to the alarm, it has also been claimed.

An industry source told the Daily Telegraph insurers could take civil action to recoup losses if they have to pay out to customers.

The Daily Mirror footage is from a camera that centres on a doorway, with an adjacent intercom, at the bottom of a set of stairs that leads to the street.

A number of men appear wearing high-visibility jackets, builder's hats, gloves and dust masks and carrying orange tool boxes and holdalls.

Others in the group are dressed in blue overalls and gloves.

Three men with their faces covered are seen taking wheelie bins in and out of the building.

A white van is seen pulling up shortly before 7am on Sunday, the newspaper reported, and once the bins and bags are loaded into it, the group get in and drive away.

Police have insisted it is too early to say if the handling of the call about the alert would have had an impact on the outcome.

But the revelations have led to anger from potential victims, who spoke of their shock that the police "just weren't there".

Michael Miller, from Knightsbridge, who may have lost £50,000 in uninsured jewellery, said: "I am just so shocked and disappointed to hear the police didn't answer that alarm.

"I mean before, we thought maybe the police didn't even know about that but now we know that they knew something was wrong.

"This completely changes things, the knowledge that something could have been done.

"The police pride themselves on being somewhere in a couple of minutes, but on this occasion they just weren't there."

A store owner near the scene, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's just shocking that someone didn't answer that call that came in when the alarm went off.

"You think what on earth isn't a high priority call if it's isn't a safe deposit alarm going off in there.

"I know they're investigating, but really what is the good of that when the damage is done?"

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Grand National Expects Record Betting Bonanza

More than nine million people are expected to watch the Grand National today, as bookies predict the biggest betting turnover of all time.

The National gets under way at 4.15pm at Aintree with 39 horses lining up to tackle the famous course, over 30 fences and nearly four-and-a-half miles.

Favourite to triumph is Shutthefrontdoor, ridden by jockey AP McCoy, who says he will retire if he passes the winning post first.

The horse has been a consistent 7-1 all week, but the odds are likely to shorten when the public support arrives.

Bookmakers Betfred predict the biggest betting turnover on a single race in British history.

"Normally there is about £150m waged - but we are expecting that figure to be some way north of that today," a spokesman told Sky News.

:: Click here for Sky News Sports Editor Nick Powell's top 10 runners and riders to watch

The winning horse will collect £561,300. Second place brings in £211,100, while the horse finishing third collects £105,500.

This afternoon's rank outsider is River Choice, attracting odds as high as 250-1.

A win for Shutthefrontdoor, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, could cost bookmakers up to £50m, with millions of punters expected to place their faith in the horse.

Some expect the mount to become the shortest-priced National favourite since Red Rum 40 years ago.

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Gallery: Grand National: The Ones To Watch

Shutthefrontdoor

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Lightning Strike Jet Just Seconds From Crash

A passenger plane pulled out of a terrifying nosedive with just seven seconds to spare after being hit by lightning in Scotland, says an air accident report.

The Loganair flight, carrying 30 passengers and three crew members, was moments away from crashing into the North Sea before the pilot wrested back control.

The island-hopping Saab 2000 was flying from Aberdeen to Sumburgh Airport, Shetland, when it hit a snow storm with 70mph winds, an interim report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said.

The 42-year-old pilot decided to abort his approach when he was seven miles away, and the plane was then struck by lightning which travelled from the nose to the tail of the aircraft.

He and the co-pilot wrongly believed the autopilot system had disengaged and struggled to regain control of the plane as it plunged at high speed.

As the co-pilot declared a mayday, the pilot kept trying to gain height - but every move was countered by the autopilot.

When it fell to 4,000ft, the plane suddenly pitched nose down and started falling at 158ft per second.

At 1,100ft - giving the crew just seven seconds to act before the plane crashed into the waves - 'pull-up' alarms sounded, the captain applied full power and the aircraft finally started to climb.

The plane landed safely in Aberdeen, with only minor damage.

No passengers were injured, but many were left shaken by the incident, which took place on the night of 14 December.

Passenger Shona Manson told the Daily Telegraph: "It was really, really bumpy. If it was someone who's a bad flyer, it'd be their worst nightmare.

"We were on descent and I said to my partner, we're going back up again, and just as we started to go up again there was an almighty bang and a flash that went over the left wing.

"Then we were really ascending, and at that point there were a few folk looking around going 'Oh my God, what's happening?' The poor guy across the aisle from me just had eyes like rabbits in headlights."

The report said the crew may have thought the lighting strike had disabled the autopilot because other controls had stopped working.

But it was still functioning and trying to descend to its instructed level for the landing.

The AAIB report said: "Although the pilots' actions suggested that they were under the impression the autopilot had disengaged at the moment of the lightning strike, recorded data showed that it had remained engaged."

It said it had not identified any technical malfunction which might account for the incident, and the investigation is continuing, looking at crew training, autopilot design, and any "human factors".

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British Boy, 7, Killed In Alps Ski Tragedy

A seven-year-old British boy has died in a skiing accident in the French Alps.

The child, who had been on a family holiday in the resort of Flaine in France's Haute Savoie region, went over a cliff after straying off piste, emergency services told news agency AFP.

Some reports suggested the boy got lost after attempting the final descent of the day on his own.

Others said he got separated from the group after taking a wrong turn, while skiing with the rest of the group.

An emergency services spokesman said: "He hit a rocky outcrop, then fell 50 to 100 metres (160ft to 320ft)."

His desperate mother raised the alarm at 7pm on Friday, said reports.

The child's body was found by a rescue helicopter, about two hours after the fall, according to reports in French media.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Flaine, France, on April 10.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

An investigation by French authorities is under way.

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Jewel Heist: How Easy Was Vault Break-In?

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 10 April 2015 | 20.14

Drilling experts have demonstrated on Sky News how burglars would have broken through a two-metre-thick wall in a lucrative raid at the heart of London's diamond centre.

They said those behind the heist would have had to use specialist power tools costing thousands of pounds to get through reinforced concrete walls in the basement of the building in Hatton Garden.

But that is a tiny fraction of what the burglars are expected to make from breaking into as many as 70 boxes inside Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd.

Video of an expert using a similar drill on a large block of concrete shows just how big the scale of the operation was - after a minute, it had hardly scratched the surface.

Joel Vinsant, secretary of the Drilling and Sawing Association, told Sky News: "It would take anything from 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half - it's two metres thick so they'd need specialist equipment."

The thieves would also have needed a constant water supply to keep the drill cool as it powered through the thick wall, he said.

"They'd have a lot to set up in terms of getting it under way," he said.

The thieves are thought to have accessed the building on upper floors. Police believe they disabled a lift and climbed down the shaft into the basement, but there was no sign of forced entry anywhere in the building, which the safe deposit company is only part of.

Officers found a scene of chaos when the theft was discovered on Tuesday, with dust, debris and power tools strewn across the floor.

On Thursday, they said only a few people would have the skills to carry out the "sophisticated" operation over the Easter weekend.

Former Flying Squad member John O'Connor has suggested the criminals would have needed help from someone with inside knowledge.

Victims are still being identified, but they are likely to have been left millions of pounds out of pocket.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said one jeweller had told him that five his customers were victims - one had lost emeralds, diamonds and other valuables to the tune of £1m.

He said: "Other customers have told us that they use this safe deposit centre to avoid big insurance premiums, so some of the stuff here won't have been insured.

"A little while ago somebody came and stuck two letters on the sign here in front of the word 'Safe' so it read 'Unsafe' - it was there for a few minutes and reflected a pretty sombre and angry mood here."

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Air Pollution Alert: UK Set For Hottest Day

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

The elderly and people with health problems have been warned to avoid strenuous activity because of harmful levels of air pollution expected to blanket parts of the UK.

The warning comes as forecasters say Britain could enjoy the hottest day of the year so far, with parts of eastern England predicted to reach highs of 22C (71.6F).

Eastern, central and southern England are forecast to be affected by "high" pollution today.

Parts of East Sussex and west Kent are expected to reach "very high" levels, according to the Government's UK-Air monitoring service.

The high levels are due to domestic soot particulates, combined with dirty air from the Continent and some Saharan dust.

With the fine, settled weather conditions the pollution will be trapped over the UK for several hours.

Dr Sotiris Vardoulakis, head of the air pollution group at Public Health England, said: "While most people will not be affected by short term peaks of air pollution, some individuals, particularly those with existing heart or lung conditions, may experience increased symptoms."

Dr Vadoulakis said in areas with very high pollution levels people should reduce physical exertion if they develop a cough or sore throat.

He added: "Adults and children with lung problems, adults with heart problems, and older people should avoid strenuous physical activity.

"People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often."

Winds are expected to pick up in the early hours of Saturday morning, bringing fresher air to all parts of the country.

Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at Asthma UK, said: "Two thirds of people with asthma find that air pollution makes their asthma worse, putting them at an increased risk of a potentially fatal asthma attack.

"When air pollution is high it's vital people with respiratory conditions, including asthma, check air pollution forecasts, carry their reliever inhaler with them at all times, and ensure that they are taking their preventer inhaler every day because this will help build resilience to asthma triggers like air pollution."

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Gallery: Worst Ten UK Cities For Air Pollution

Nottingham is joint top of the list, with a PM10 level of 25. The WHO say most cities across the world are failing to meet safe levels for outdoor pollution

Thurrock is also joint top with a level of 25.

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Woman Held Over M60 Crash 'Murder Attempt'

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a motorway crash which left three people injured.

Police say a red Renault Megane was travelling clockwise at junction 20 of the M60 at 7.10pm on Thursday when it swerved and collided with the central reservation.

A 43-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman and a 19-year-old-man were taken to hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

A 40-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The carriageway was closed in both directions but was later opened.

Police asked anyone with information about the collision to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 3243.

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Easyjet 'Rescue' Flights For Kids After Strike

Easyjet is laying on "rescue" flights to bring schoolchildren home after a French air traffic strike saw hundreds of flights axed.

The budget carrier is running five special flights: Luton to Paris, Paris to Barcelona, Barcelona to Luton, Gatwick to Madrid, and Marrakech to Gatwick.

Larger planes may be used to ease delays caused by the two-day controllers' strike, which started on Wednesday.

Easyjet, one of the worst-hit airlines, had to cancel 331 flights on Thursday and 248 on Wednesday.

Others, including Ryanair, Flybe and BA, were also affected by the industrial action.

Ryanair axed more than 250 flights on Wednesday alone. The Irish carrier's services from the UK to Alicante and Malaga in Spain were among those hit.

French air traffic controllers are set to stage further stoppages in the next few weeks. The first will be from 16-18 April and the second from 29 April to 2 May.

An Easyjet spokesman said: "We recognise that there are a number of passengers across the network who have been affected by these cancellations and still require flights as soon as possible.

"We are operating five rescue flights, prioritising the repatriation of three groups of schoolchildren."

Nathan Thorne, 23, from Goole on Humberside, has been trying to get home from Limoges to Leeds Bradford since his Ryanair flight was cancelled.

He and his younger sister have been unable to get another flight home until next Thursday, when the next strike begins.

Mr Thorne said: "All the flights before next Thursday are booked up and the Eurostar train is extremely expensive."

The controllers were striking over restructuring proposals and government plans to change the retirement age.

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Miliband Attacks SNP's 'Â£7.6bn Black Hole'

Ed Miliband has visited Scotland for the first time in the election campaign - claiming SNP policy would cause a £7.6bn black hole that would need to be funded by cuts or tax rises.

Sharing a platform with Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and Ed Balls he attacked SNP plans for full fiscal autonomy for Scotland.

He said SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon's announcement on Wednesday that nationalist MPs at Westminster could vote for autonomy for Scotland as early as next year was "one of the most significant" events of the campaign.

Ms Sturgeon dismissed Mr Miliband's attack as "desperate" and said the only cuts facing Scottish voters are "the ones that the Tories are proposing and Labour are backing".

:: For full coverage of the General Election click here

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Gallery: Election 2015: Sky News' Poll Of Polls

Almost half (46%) of voters would back the SNP at the General Election, according to Sky's latest poll of Scottish polls

In Sky's poll of polls on 10 April, Labour have a 2% lead over the Tories

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The projection, compiled by Sky's election analyst Michael Thrasher, would give the SNP 49 seats in the House of Commons, compared with 290 for Labour, 265 for Conservatives, 20 for Lib Dems, two for UKIP, and 24 for others

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Labour are under massive pressure north of the border thanks to soaring support for the SNP, which could cost them dozens of seats and even deprive them of a majority.

Almost half (46%) of voters would back the SNP at the General Election, according to Sky's latest poll of Scottish polls.

:: Ed Miliband Profile: The Picture Imperfect Leader

Scottish nationalists hope to wrestle full control over taxation and spending for Scotland if they win kingmaker position in the May 7 election.

But Mr Miliband said this would mean a "£7.6bn black hole" in Scotland's finances that "would need to be filled with more taxes on working people or more borrowing".

"This strikes to the very heart of what I believe in. I will never sell Scotland short by signing up to the SNP's plans," he said.

He challenged the SNP to say where cuts would be made to service the funding gap.

"Which services will be cut? Which taxes will be raised? And what cuts will it mean for pensioners in Scotland when they are taken out of the UK pensions system?" he said.

"The SNP claim in this campaign to be proposing no reductions in spending, but in fact they are planning dramatic reductions in spending. They must now come clean."

Mr Miliband also attacked the Conservatives, saying their campaign is descending into "desperation and panic" after David Cameron unveiled plans to freeze commuter rail fares and offer workers three paid days off for volunteering.

He accused the Tories of deploying personal abuse and "unfunded and unbelievable promises" in their efforts to keep Mr Cameron in power.

Mr Murphy has previously been careful to put distance between himself and Labour's Westminster leadership, saying: "I'm my own man".

It was the first time the two men have shared a platform since the start of the campaign.

Mr Murphy began the speeches, saying his party are "determined to end this Tory austerity".

He said the SNP's plans for fiscal autonomy had not been thought through and were a "slogan in search of a policy".

:: Full Coverage Of General Election 2015

Earlier, Ms Sturgeon denied there are billions of pounds of cuts on the horizon under her autonomy plan.

"This is desperation on the part of the Labour Party," she said while campaigning on the streets of Stirling.

"Instead of putting forward a positive case of their own, they are resorting to the same fears and smears that they resorted to during the referendum.

"The truth is the only cuts on the horizon for Scotland are the ones that the Tories are proposing and Labour are backing."

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who was accused of dragging politics into the gutter by saying Mr Miliband had "stabbed his own brother in the back" to lead Labour, said the SNP "are already pulling Labour's strings".

"Nicola Sturgeon makes a statement, and the Labour leader rushes to Edinburgh to respond," he said.

"If it's like this now, imagine what it would be like with the SNP propping up Ed Miliband in Downing Street. Borrowing, taxes, our defence policy - all of it would have to be signed off by the SNP."

:: Click here to make your own Government with our Shaker Maker

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Saharan Dust Blows In For UK's Hottest Day

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 09 April 2015 | 20.14

Britain is expected to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far, as experts warn the country could be blasted with sand from the Sahara and pollution from Europe.

Large swathes of the UK will bask in glorious sunshine on Friday, with central and eastern areas expected to relish temperatures around 21C.

But the high pressure prompting the warmer weather is also combining to cause some less welcome phenomena.

Sky News meteorologist Chris England said: "Temperatures could well reach 21C, or 70F, in the east on Friday, which would be the highest so far this year.

"However, as well as bringing higher temperatures, high pressure over the UK will also mean two other things.

"The flow from the high pressure coming from the continent is bringing with it pollutants, and we may also see some Saharan dust blowing in from the south.

"The high pressure puts a lid on those pollutants, effectively trapping them in the low atmosphere rather than allowing them to disperse so levels drop."

He said the incoming dust from the south was unlikely to have a major effect on most people.

"There shouldn't be a huge amount of dust from the Sahara and most of us won't notice it," he said.

"We could see a little film of dust on car windscreens, but nothing major.

"The relatively high level of pollutants in the air should only be a concern for people with breathing conditions such as asthma."

A Defra spokeswoman added: "Locally generated air pollution, combined with pollution from the continent and Saharan dust, could cause high or very high levels on Friday.

"This is expected to clear on Saturday and pollution levels will return to low throughout the morning."

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Co-op Group Back In Profit As Rebuild Starts

The Co-operative Group is back in annual profit following the near-collapse of its bank and a series of botched mergers and scandals.

The chief executive of the UK's largest mutual said it had made "solid progress" in its recovery during 2014 amid an overhaul of its governance and sale of businesses including farm and pharmacy operations.

The Co-op cited its rescue programme as a core reason for its return to profit and said it would have broken even at best without its disposals.

Profit-before-member payments of £124m for the year to 3 January, against a loss of £255m a year earlier, came on the back of £9.4bn in revenue.

It said sales growth of 0.4% in its food business and efficiencies in funeralcare offset losses in its insurance arm.

The group acquired 82 new food convenience stores and refurbished more than 700 stores during the period.

It aimed to add another 100 in the current year.

The Co-op said a 2% fall in funeral sales was down to "a year affected by a particularly low death rate".

The Co-op was left reeling in 2013 when it emerged that its banking arm was facing a £1.5bn black hole as it tried to acquire more than 630 branches from Lloyds Banking Group.

The bank's chairman Paul Flowers was subsequently exposed by a tabloid newspaper as a serial drug-user, plunging the Co-op name deeper into crisis even as it surrendered control of the high street lender to American hedge funds.

There was further turmoil at the top last year when Euan Sutherland quit as the group's chief executive after details of his pay package were leaked to the media.

Mr Sutherland was replaced by Richard Pennycook who, along with new chairman Allan Leighton, are presiding over a rebuilding of the Co-op's structure.

Mr Pennycook said: "We made solid progress in 2014 as we successfully concluded the rescue phase of our turnaround.

"The hard work of rebuilding the Co-operative Group for the next generation, and restoring it to its rightful place at the heart of communities up and down the UK, is now under way.

"We significantly reduced net debt, even after meeting our outstanding contributions to The Co-operative Bank.

"This followed the successful sales of our Farms and Pharmacy businesses and detailed work to ensure we have the right cost base in place."

He added: "Given the need to invest in all our businesses, the Board will not be recommending a dividend to members and believes that a resumption of dividend payments is unlikely until the rebuild phase is complete and we have returned to sustainable profitable growth."

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Images Of Missing Boys Feared To Be In Syria

The families of two teenagers from Yorkshire who are believed to have travelled to Syria have issued pictures of the boys after appealing for information about their disappearance.

Hassan Munshi and Talha Asmal, both 17, are thought to have fled to the country after travelling to Turkey on 31 March.

The boys, from Dewsbury, were described as "just two ordinary Yorkshire lads" in a statement released on behalf of their relatives.

It said: "Our number one priority is to get Hassan and Talha back home with their families and we implore anyone who may have any information whatsoever to get in contact with the police.

"Naturally, we are in a state of profound shock and are trying to come to terms with the predicament we find ourselves in and we hope and pray that no other family finds itself in our situation.

"These were just two ordinary Yorkshire lads who enjoyed the things that all young people enjoy at their age - both Hassan and Talha had a promising future, as an apprentice and an A-level student respectively, and we are praying they will be back with us soon and are able to realise that future."

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Gallery: Regime Airstrikes On Fourth Anniversary Of Syria Conflict

A man daubs graffiti on the wall reading Freedom for Syria, in the northern city of Aleppo to mark the fourth anniversary of the Syria conflict

Boys ride their bikes under pre-Baath Syrian flags, adopted by the Syrian revolution during the uprising

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Jewel Heist: Met Police Reveal Fresh Details

Police have revealed new details about the multi-million pound raid on safety deposit boxes in London's diamond centre.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of the Flying Squad, who is leading the investigation, made a statement before taking questions on the jewel heist.

Scotland Yard has previously said up to 70 safe deposit boxes were broken open in Hatton Garden, but that they had not informed the victims because forensic work is still going on.

"Police were called at 8.10am on Tuesday the 7th of April to Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd following reports of a burglary which took place over the weekend," Det Ch Insp Johnson said.

"The building where the theft took place is made up of a number of businesses and this company is in the basement. They are all served by a communal lift and a set of stairs.

"There is no sign of forced entry to the outside of the building.

"The thieves have disabled the lift on the second floor and then used the lift shaft to climb down into the basement. They forced open the doors into the basement where the company is based and then made their way to the area of the vault.

"Once outside, they used a drill to bore holes into the wall. This wall is two metres thick and made of reinforced concrete Once inside, they forced open a safety deposit box, 70 in total.

"The scene remains chaotic down there covered in dust and debris. On the floor, discarded safety deposit boxes, numerous power tools."

He said police were in the process of identifying the owners of the boxes.

"As we do so, we are contacting them to take statements and find out what has been stolen," he said.

"This is a slow and ongoing process. We are still forensically examining the scene for evidence as we go through this process.

"This is painstaking and it is slow but essential to make sure that we are maximising the amount of evidence we capture at this stage, and any opportunities we can give ourselves later to identify who the thieves are.

"Officers are gathering and examining CCTV to identify any possible leads.

"I realise there's been reports in the media around the alarm of being activated on a Friday and the police response. This will form part of the investigation."

More follows...

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Oil Find Near Gatwick May Be 'World Class'

The estimated size of an oil find near Gatwick Airport has been upgraded to 100 billion barrels.

UK Oil & Gas Investments (UKOG) said the Horse Hill-1 well in the Weald Basin was now thought to hold 158 million barrels per square mile.

In May 2014, the British Geological Survey estimated the Weald Basin to hold around 4.4 billion barrels of shale oil.

UKOG described the find as a possible "world class" resource with the potential for "significant daily oil production."

The company's chairman David Lenigas, said it would create "many thousands of jobs" but cautioned that it would take a long time to begin production.

He said: "You've got to work through government process and to work with the local community. Everybody expects you to snap your fingers and all of a sudden the magic panacea is there. The key thing is there is a potential resource of significance here - but the fast track or slow track nature is really going to be determined by Westminster".

The US-based firm which studied the reservoir estimated that recovery of the oil would be limited at between 3% and 15% of the total.

It also insisted there was no need to use the controversial extraction process, known as fracking, to get access to the oil.

Mr Lenigas said: "Horse Hill is a conventional well, with conventional testing and we've got permission from the government authorities for a conventional programme. There will be no fracking at Horse Hill."

But local campaigners believe fracking will be necessary at some point in the future.

Anti-fracking campaigner Charles Metcalfe said: "South East England is the most densely populated corner of England. To start drilling holes all over the place will completely change the nature of our countryside forever. And if the result is that you're not getting very much oil out of it, then that's awful".

Environmental group Greenpeace urged people to focus on clean technologies.

Greenpeace's chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said : "To gleefully rub your hands at a new fossil fuel discovery you need to turn the clock back to the 19th century and ignore everything we have learnt about climate change since. We already have more than enough coal, oil, and gas reserves to fry the planet".

The UK currently produces 770,000 barrels of oil per day, compared to 11.1 million in the United States and 11.7 million in Saudi Arabia.

The announcement helped shares in UKOG rise more than 300% during trading on Thursday.

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Everything You Need To Know About Non-Doms

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 08 April 2015 | 20.14

Who are the non-doms, what tax do they avoid and who introduced these rules anyway? Here is all you need to know.

:: What is non-dom status?

Non-domiciled status can be claimed where you are living in the UK but your father or grandfather was resident in another country when you were born. (Grandfather because non-dom status can be inherited).

It means you do not have to pay UK tax on money earned outside the UK.

:: What if my mother or grandmother were resident outside the UK when I was born?

Tough luck, you do not qualify. The rules are a bit sexist like that.

:: Rules or law?

Actually non-dom status is a tax rule. It was introduced by William Pitt the Younger in 1799 - along with income tax.

The caveat was included as an allowance for ships bringing goods back from the colonies.

:: How many non-doms are there?

Around 116,000. They tend to be very rich.

Among them are HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft gave up his non-dom status in 2010 so he could remain in the House of Lords.

:: And does it effectively turn the UK into a tax haven for the rich as Labour is claiming?

Yes, and no. People may still have to pay tax in the country where they are earning cash.

That said, leaked files earlier this year showed some were paying no tax anywhere in the world by using Swiss bank accounts at the suggestion of HSBC.

:: So do non-doms get away without paying anything in the UK?

They did - but now they only do for seven years. In 2008 Labour tightened the rules.

Those who have lived in the UK for seven years had to pay an annual fee of £30,000 if they wanted to keep their non-dom status.

George Osborne tightened it further still in the Autumn Statement - increasing the fee for those living in the UK for 17 years to £90,000.

:: For really rich people that annual fee still seems a pretty good deal

It has been said. One non-dom told Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam that the Chancellor could raise the annual fee to £250,000 and it would still be worth him staying in the UK.

:: And Labour is going to abolish non-dom status?

That is what Ed Miliband has said. It's part of his "broadest shoulders bearing the heaviest burden" approach.

However, the Conservatives point out that technically it is more small adjustments on how long people can be non-dom.

The full details of Labour's plans are as yet unclear, but it will allow only "real temporary residents" to take advantage of the tax benefits.

:: If non-doms had to pay UK tax how much would the country get?

Hundreds of millions according to Labour.

:: Then what are the drawbacks?

The UK could lose hundreds of millions, according to the Tories.

There is a fear if the very rich had to pay tax at the same level the rest of the population do then there would be a "flight of cash and talent", ie they would leave the UK and take the investment, fees they do pay, money they donate to the arts and charities with them.

This could be more costly in the long run. In the 13 years it was in power Labour did review non-dom status and decided not to scrap it.

:: Would the rich really move out lock, stock and barrel?

Just as a number of people cry flight, many also point out that London as a financial capital is a significant draw to the very wealthy and the attractions of that would not be wiped out by paying tax - although it is broadly accepted there would be some departures.

The Financial Times has spoken in support of scrapping the status.

Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne, who last week signed up to a letter supporting the Tories on corporation tax, is in favour of the move.

:: Any other issues?

As Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway points out: "If Labour do scrap non-dom status & bring in a mansion tax, one can only imagine the scale of collapse of the prime London property market."

:: And are all party members on the same page with this?

There is some confusion.

Tory Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said in interview that the Tories wanted those based in the UK to pay tax on all their earnings - even those from abroad. Although this has not been the Conservative standpoint.

Meanwhile, an interview with shadow chancellor Ed Balls has been unearthed in which he says the UK could not afford to scrap non-dom status.

:: What do other countries do?

The UK deal is very generous but others, including Belgium and the Netherlands, have similar rules.

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All Passports To Be Checked On UK Exit

By Joanna Simpson, Sky News Reporter

New border checks are being introduced today which will require every passport to be thoroughly verified before a person can leave the UK.

The checks are being introduced at seaports, airports and tunnels which provide exit points from the British Isles.

The changes are expected to particularly affect cross-Channel and Channel tunnel travellers, who will now need to have their passports scanned.

As airlines currently gather passengers' information ahead of time, there is unlikely to be a noticeable difference in queues for passengers.

But there are fears of delays at peak travelling times while the changes are implemented.

Until now, many people have been able to leave the country without having their passport scrutinised.

The Home Office says the changes will strengthen Britain's border security, adding that the implementation of the checks will be staggered at sites across the country.

For the first month all passports will be scanned, but only 25% of passport holders will have their details verified.

In the second month 50% will be checked. By the middle of June, 100% of passports will be fully checked.

Security and immigration minister James Brokenshire said: "It is right that we have an immigration system that is fair, that tackles immigration and that clamps down on anyone who tries to cheat the system by staying here when they have no right to do so.

"Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.

"Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers."

More staff have been brought in to cope with the new measures, but whether the changes will have a detrimental impact on passengers will not be known until peak travelling times, such as the summer months.

A P&O spokesperson said: "They have picked a quiet day for the introduction of the checks.

"The actual scanning of passports is quick, it's the verification that takes longer. We are hoping there will be a fairly seamless transition to the new system."

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Roy Keane Denies 'Road Rage' Allegation

By Becky Johnson, Sky News Correspondent

Roy Keane has pleaded not guilty to a public order offence over an alleged road rage row with a taxi driver.

Keane, 43, from Hale did not appear in person at the brief hearing at Trafford Magistrates Court.

It was alleged that he behaved aggressively towards cabbie Fateh Kerar, 44, during the row in Altrincham in January.

The taxi driver has claimed the argument began when he and his passenger noticed Keane parked in his Range Rover.

Keane, who is currently assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland football team, is charged with a Section 4a Public Order Offence.

He is due to stand trial on 19 June.

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Labour Would Abolish 'Non-Dom' Tax Status

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Ed Miliband has defended his policy to abolish non-dom status after it emerged the shadow chancellor recently said scrapping the tax rule would cost the country money.

The Labour leader unveiled plans to end the rule that allows some of the wealthiest to limit the amount of tax they pay in the UK and stop Britain effectively becoming an "offshore tax haven" for the wealthiest.

But the Conservatives were quick to point out an interview with BBC Leeds in January in which Ed Balls said doing away with non-dom status would be expensive.

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In the interview Mr Balls said: "I think if you abolished the whole status then probably it ends up costing Britain money because there will be some people who will then leave the country.

"But I think we can be tougher and we should be and we will."

The Tories tweeted out a version of the video in which Mr Balls' last sentence was omitted as evidence that the Labour policy was "unravelling".

:: All You Need To Know About Non-Dom Status

However, tackled about the interview during his speech at Warwick University the Labour leader said: "We've found a way to do this that independent experts say will raise hundreds of millions of pounds."

Mr Balls later pointed out: "My interview with BBC in January, when we working on policy, fully consistent with announcement today - but Tories edited my interview."

Mr Miliband announced plans to end non-dom status for all but "real temporary residents".

There are 116,000 non-doms in the UK who pay no tax on their earnings outside the UK because either they, their fathers or grandfathers were born in another country and consider that home. The status can be inherited.

Mr Miliband said: "It works against every business and working person in this country who has to pay more as a result, everybody who relies on public services like the NHS, everybody who believes in Britain and a fair and modern country.

"The United States doesn't do it. No other major country in the developed world does it. No one would propose doing it now if didn't already exist. One rule for some and another for others? It is unjust, it does not work, it holds Britain back and we will stop it."

The Conservatives say scrapping the 200-year-old tax rule would cost the country money because non-doms would simply leave the country.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "We have Ed Balls himself saying it would cost the country money.

"It is a classic example of the economic chaos and confusion you get with Ed Miliband.

"It's why they have no economic credibility."

Mr Osborne tightened the rules on non-doms in the Autumn Statement, charging those who have been resident in the UK for 17 years £90,000 a year to allow them to retain non-dom status.

There had been confusion when Nicky Morgan, the Tory Education Secretary, suggested in an interview on the BBC's Today programme the party would tax all those based in the UK on all earnings - including those earned abroad.

Mr Miliband was also sharply criticised because of the significant increase in the number of non-doms under the last Labour government.

The Liberal Democrats said the "vast majority" of those who took advantage of "non-dom" status spent less than five years in the UK.

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said the policy might be a "shrewd political move" but added: "It's very unclear what additional revenue would be raised, but the UK's international reputation would be put at risk."

Nigel Farage said UKIP would put up the fees for people to retain the non-dom status and would stop it from being hereditary.

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Jewellery Heist: Gems 'Already Out Of Country'

Gems stolen in one of the largest and most daring jewellery heists ever will already be out of the country, a former Flying Squad chief believes.

Jewellery and precious stones, which could be worth millions of pounds, were snatched by thieves from a vault in Hatton Garden, London, over the weekend.

The audacious villains are believed to have broken into the building through the roof and abseiled down a lift shaft to access the vault.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said heavy cutting equipment was then used get into a vault at the premises, where 60 to 70 safe boxes were raided.

The vault is believed to be reinforced with thick metal and concrete protection doors, up to 2ft thick.

This afternoon, questions were raised about security at the premises amid reports guards responded to an alarm on Friday, but left without checking inside.

Safe box owner Gerry Landon said he was devastated after losing the precious items in his safe box, and found the break-in "unbelievable".

"Apparently, as you may have read, the alarm went off at one o'clock on Friday and the the security guards came down," Mr Landon said.

"They more or less looked through the window to see that there was no activity there - and then they left."

Speaking to Sky News earlier, former Flying Squad chief Barry Phillips described the heist as "sophisticated" and "highly organised".

He said the robbery will have been carried out by a "professional team".

"This has all the hallmarks of a TV or Hollywood film production," Mr Phillips said.

"It was a highly organised, sophisticated crime.

"It's highly likely that any gems or jewellery will have already been sourced and out of the country.

"If past jobs of this nature are taken into account, the thieves will have placed all of the jewellery prior to the robbery.

"That takes a high degree of organisation on behalf of the villains."

Neil Duttson, a diamond dealer who buys stones for private clients, said tracing any gems stolen in the heist would be nearly impossible.

He said: "Once diamonds have been re-cut and polished there is no geological map.

"I imagine they will be sat on for six months. You can expect some cheap diamonds will be coming on the market soon."

Police have not put a value on the goods stolen, but estimates vary widely from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £200m.

One victim of the heist, a jeweller from the area, has spoken of his "extreme shock".

He said he feared that a £5,000 watch he bought for his son on the day he was born might have been stolen.

Michael Miller told Sky News he "felt sick" at the prospect of losing up to £50,000 of jewellery and watches during the burglary.

Mr Miller said his goods - like those of many with deposit boxes there - were uninsured.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The suspects have had perhaps several days (over the Easter weekend) in which to get in.

"One report, I'm told, suggested that they used a lift shaft at some stage to get into the centre, which must be pretty heavily protected.

"It's probably going to be some days before we get an idea of exactly how much has been stolen or what indeed has been stolen."

Hatton Garden is known as London's jewellery quarter and the safe deposit boxes are mainly used by local jewellers to store loose diamonds in packets.

Other boxes - around 10% of them - are rented by private individuals and so the true value of the heist may never be known, Mr Phillips said.

1/5

Gallery: From Securitas To Brink's-Mat

The Securitas depot raid in Tonbridge, 2006, was the largest cash robbery in UK history, netting the gang more than £53m after they kidnapped the site manager and his family. Four received life terms

Graff's Jewellers in London's New Bond Street was hit by men whose faces had been disguised by prosthetics in 2009. They took jewellery valued at £40m but the gang was jailed for a total of 71 years

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UK Bank Scandal Costs Hit Â£39bn - Report

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 07 April 2015 | 20.14

Britain's biggest banks have collectively racked up a £39bn bill as a result of financial scandals over just three years, a report has found.

A study by auditors KPMG covered financial results from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered from 2011 to 2014.

It found that more than 60% of their total profits were wiped out by customer remediation, conduct failings and fines over the period, with costs totaling £38.7bn.

Conduct costs last year stood at £9.9bn, just 8% down on 2013, with almost half of the cash relating to the continuing cost of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) and interest rate hedging mis-selling.

However, the report showed the banks were "in a healthier shape and returning to profitability" in 2014.

Their combined pre-tax profits reached £20.6bn, up £7.9bn or 62%.

The boost in profits was against a backdrop of total income falling by 12% to £127.2bn, as banks focused on less riskier activities in the wake of the financial crisis.

It meant, the study said, that shareholders were still getting a low return on equity.

Head of financial services at KPMG, Bill Michael, said: "Banks are undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime change, as they face evolving regulation, technology and society's expectations.

"At the same time, competition is increasing as new challenger banks and peer-to-peer platforms offer customers new ways to borrow and deposit and technology-led services such as PayPal and e-wallets change the way money is transferred and goods and services paid for.

"Domestically focused banking arms are focused on restructuring their business. Those with active investment banking arms face significant challenges around ring-fencing their retail and investment banking activities, which will become mandatory in 2019.

"The UK as a financial centre has largely been built on non-retail banking. If further regulation creates too many strictures on non-retail banking, the industry risks losing its global relevance."

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What's Behind UK's Unseasonably Warm Weather?

The country basked in the highest temperatures of the year so far on Easter Sunday, with 20.7C (69.3°F) recorded in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

And while not everywhere has experienced the sunshine, many parts of the UK and Ireland have seen some unseasonably warm and mainly dry spells.

The generally settled conditions have been the result of high pressure over the British Isles - and with some help from further afield.

At the beginning of the week, high pressure centered to the west of the UK brought warm air from the Azores, although that was modified somewhat by going around the north of the UK.

Long clear spells have also allowed the strong sunshine to do its work, but we have still seen some chilly nights.

The Foehn effect, whereby air warms as it comes down over a mountain range, may have also played a part in the high temperatures seen in Aboyne on Easter Sunday.

But while many areas reaped the benefits of these processes, the high-pressure system spelled bad news for others.

The winds around this system circle around in a clockwise direction, so eastern parts of the UK have had easterly winds dragging in low cloud off the North Sea - causing it to be grey and cool across coastal regions.

Weak frontal systems have also occasionally passed over the north of Scotland, bringing overcast and at times damp conditions.

Through this week the high pressure will begin to drift eastwards, allowing for more direct southerly winds, bringing in warm air from the near continent.

On Friday, temperatures in southeast England could be close to 20C. However, at the same time it looks likelier to become wetter and breezier at times over western areas.

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Girl Punches Suspected Attacker In Face

A 12-year-old girl has fought off a suspected attacker by punching him in the face during an altercation in Greater Manchester.

Police say the girl struck the man as he grabbed her arm as she walked home from school in Sale.

The girl was walking along Moss Lane at around 4pm on 25 March and had just passed Edinburgh Close when the incident occurred.

She was able to run away from the attacker and was not harmed.

Police have now issued an e-fit image of the suspect in an attempt to trace him.

Detective Constable Dan Hayes said: "This young girl has been very brave and worked with our forensic imaging specialists to relive what she went through and produce an accurate image of what he looked like.

"I would ask people to look carefully at this image and if you do recognise this man, or see him hanging around the area, please call us.

"We do not know what this man's intentions were and that is why we are taking this incident very seriously and doing all we can to apprehend this man.

"There may well have been a lot of people in the area at the time of the incident who have potentially vital information and I would ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who recognise this man, to come forward."

The man is described as white, aged in his late 50s, 5ft 8in tall, of large build, with short, greying hair, a long face and a pointy nose.

He was wearing silver-framed rectangular glasses with an orange or brown tint to the lenses.

He was also dressed in a black jacket, a white polo T-shirt, loose fitting blue jeans and black shoes.

Anybody with information is urged to call police on 0161 856 7530 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Mosque Collapses In Birmingham Street

A mosque has collapsed in a Birmingham street, believed to be caused by building work on the property.

Crews were called to the mosque in Walford Road, Sparkbrook, around 11.30pm on Monday and arrived to find much of its roof had fallen in.

No one was thought to be inside the terrace property at the time and, despite its location on a residential street, nobody else was hurt.

Search dogs from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and a police helicopter searched for anyone who might have been trapped in the rubble.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said the "collapse was caused by ongoing structural works inside the premises".

A skip and safety fencing were pictured outside the property, indicating building work had been going on before the collapse.

A fire service spokesman said: "Structural engineers have been in attendance and contractors came out to make the building safe at about 3am.

"A K9 team has been through the property internally and externally and we're confident no persons were inside."

The collapse shut Walford Road while emergency services cleared the debris.

Access was also restricted to surrounding streets.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said the incident was not a police matter and the council had been notified.

A safety inspection of the building would be carried out, police said.

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FIFA: Greg Dyke Returns Watch Worth Â£16,000

FA chairman Greg Dyke has returned a watch worth £16,000 he had been given as a gift during the World Cup, FIFA has announced.

Mr Dyke was given one of the limited edition Parmigiani watches by the Brazilian FA during a FIFA Congress meeting in Sao Paulo.

Sixty-five of the watches were handed out in goodie bags totalling more than £1m.

The FA boss initially refused to hand his back after the watches were recalled, having promised to donate it to the FA's official charity partner, Breast Cancer Care, so it could be sold at auction.

But with the prospect of being sanctioned if he did not return the watch, FIFA's ethics committee has confirmed Mr Dyke has returned the watch and proceedings on the matter have now been closed.

A FIFA statement said: "Mr Greg Dyke has returned the CBF Parmigiani watch.

"As a consequence, the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee has decided to close the proceedings in respect of a possible breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics."

Mr Dyke insisted he was not aware of how much the gift was worth when he first received it and, once he was told, said he would allow it to be auctioned by Breast Cancer Care.

The charity is looking to raise £500,000 for their cause by next summer.

Press Association Sport reports that all of the watches will now be auctioned for a Brazilian charity and Mr Dyke will make a personal donation to Breast Cancer Care.

More follows...

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Skin Cancer Rise Blamed On Package Holiday Boom

Written By Unknown on Senin, 06 April 2015 | 20.14

The cheap package holiday boom of the 1960s and 70s means pensioners are now seven times more likely to develop the deadliest form of skin cancer.

New figures from Cancer Research UK show that men aged 65 and over are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma than their parents' generation.

Older women are around five times more likely to develop the disease.

Each year, some 5,700 pensioners are now diagnosed with melanoma each year in the UK compared with 600 in the mid-1970s.

Age is a big risk for melanoma, but the increase is blamed on package holidays which became popular in the 1960s.

Getting sunburnt once every two years can triple a person's risk of developing the disease.

Professor Richard Marais, Cancer Research UK's skin cancer expert based in Manchester, said: "It's important for people to keep an eye on their skin and seek medical opinion if they see any changes to their moles, or even to normal areas of skin.

"Melanoma is often detected on men's backs and women's legs but can appear on any part of the body."

Malignant melanoma is the country's fifth most common cancer overall and the second most common cancer in young adults aged 15 to 34.

Each year, 2,100 Britons die from the disease.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said: "Sun damage accumulates over time so avoiding sunburn - and sunbeds - is key, as well as getting to know your skin type so you don't overdo it on the beach or even in the garden."

Retired teacher Sue Deans, 69, from Croydon, south London, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2000 after having a mole removed.

She said: "I was part of the generation where package holidays became affordable and you could go abroad nearly every year.

"I don't think there was much understanding at the time about the impact that too much sun can have on your risk of getting skin cancer."

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CCTV Appeal As Woman, 93, Hurt In Hit-And-Run

Police are hunting for a driver who left a 93-year-old woman lying in the middle of the road after a hit-and-run crash.

They have issued a CCTV image of the silver Chrysler Voyager thought to have struck Isobel Rawes in Shirley, West Midlands.

The pensioner is still in hospital being treated for the serious injuries she suffered.

Police said she was hit as she crossed Stratford Road at around 11.50am on 24 March.

A spokeswoman said: "The driver failed to stop at the scene and left the victim lying in the carriageway before driving away in the direction of the M42.

"Following extensive CCTV inquiries, police have identified the car as a silver-coloured Chrysler Voyager.

"It is believed that the vehicle will have damage to the front passenger side."

Sergeant Adam Green, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "I would urge anyone that has seen a Chrysler Voyager with damage to the front passenger side to come forward.

"It may be that the driver has confided in a friend or family member or a neighbour has noticed recent damage.

"It is important that we speak to the driver in order to understand the reasons for the collision and the subsequent driving away from the scene to provide answers to the family of Mrs Rawes."

Anyone with information can contact the collision investigation unit on 101.

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Conservative Candidate 'Defects To UKIP'

A Conservative parliamentary candidate has defected to UKIP, the party has claimed.

While the defection took place in a constituency neither party is expected to win, Nigel Farage called it "another hammer blow to Tory pretensions in the north of England".

The Conservative Party denied Mike Whitehead had defected, saying he had been sacked.

Mr Whitehead, who is standing in the Hull West and Hessle constituency in Yorkshire, is a councillor on East Riding Council.

He said he was "disgusted" with the behaviour of the ruling Tory group in East Yorkshire and the "wilful refusal" of the party to intervene at a national level.

He insisted the "secretive" council should be "opened up" and made more transparent.

Responding to the news, Mr Farage said: "I am delighted to be welcoming Mike to the party at this exciting time.

"His move to UKIP just underlines that today the real party of opposition to Labour in the north is UKIP," he said.

"It is another hammer blow to Tory pretensions in the north of England".

Mr Whitehead said he had been increasingly worried about the behaviour of the controlling group of Tories since 2011, when seven Conservative councillors from Haltemprice and Howden resigned, citing bullying and intimidation.

He added: "In my opinion, the behaviour of the ruling group has only gotten worse since then.

"Now, that same group have managed to gain control of the local party structures by ensuring they are responsible for the organisation of the local election campaign.

"However, the Conservative Party at national level has declined to get involved in what it sees as a remote internal squabble out in the shires."

"I also hope that with the election of other UKIP councillors, I can help open this secretive council up and make it more transparent and work better for the residents rather than to the benefit of the few."

Hull West and Hessle is safe Labour territory - former home secretary Alan Johnson is defending a 5,700 majority from the 2010 general election when the Conservatives finished third.

A Conservative Party spokesman said UKIP's announcement was "cynical, misleading and utterly calculating to try and score political points".

He said: "This man is not our candidate for Hull West and Hessle. He was sacked last week.

"He refused to support the local Conservative council candidate and so we wrote to him last week to say that his position was untenable and he could not stand for us at the general election.

"We were already selecting a new candidate for this constituency.

"This is typical UKIP - cynical, misleading and utterly calculating to try and score political points."

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'Radical' Pension Changes Come Into Force

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Major changes to pension rules come into effect today which will allow savers to have more control over their money when they retire.

People aged over 55 are now able to cash in their pensions and spend them as they wish.

The changes were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement and were expanded in last month's Budget.

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Retirees are no longer required to use their pension pot to buy an annuity when they retire.

They can now take their pot in one go, or use it like a bank account to withdraw money in slices.

The changes will apply to the 320,000 people who retire each year with a defined contribution (DC) pension.

Around 540,000 people will be able to take control of their savings from today, according to estimates from the Government.

And from next year, as many as six million pensioners who already have an annuity will be allowed to sell them for cash.

Critics of the new system say savers will be tempted to go on a spending spree, leaving the state to pick up the tab later on.

But Pensions Minister Steve Webb told Sky News: "We're not going to have two million people making decisions this week or this month.

"We certainly think there will be many thousands of people who have planned very carefully and put the capacity in place.

"But I think lots of people, although they in theory could use these new freedoms, in fact if you're in your late 50s and still working, you may go on saving into a pension for many years to come."

Government advisor and pension expert Ros Altmann said: "This is a radical departure from the past. I would trust people with their own money.

"Now it's up to the industry to offer better products and more choice."

The freedoms come at a price: those who choose to tap their defined contribution pension pots for cash should be aware of income tax thresholds.

Some 25% of a person's savings can be taken tax free. Any extra that is withdrawn is liable for income tax at 40% if the total exceeds £42,386 when added to annual income.

The revenues from this could raise an extra £1bn for the Treasury, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The Government's free, impartial, Pension Wise service has been established to offer guidance to everyone eligible for the freedoms.

Pensions minister Steve Webb said: "It is right that people should have the power to make their own decisions about how they spend their own money after decades of careful saving - ending the effective obligation to buy an annuity will give people back control of their financial affairs."

It came as SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon launched her party's plan for pensioners, listing "the kind of policies" they will pursue if they secure a significant number of seats in the General Election.

"We will maintain the 'triple lock' on pensions, we'll set the single-tier pension at £160 a week, we'll resist any further increases in the state retirement age in Scotland until we have tackled and closed the life-expectancy gap (and) we will absolutely oppose any attempt to take away the winter fuel allowance."

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Warm Easter Weather To Continue All Week

The warm Easter weather looks set to continue into the week.

Temperatures could reach 21C (70F) in some places, when the average UK temperature for April is 11.4C (52F) and for England is 12.4C, according to the Met Office.

Despite many holidaymakers expected to return from the Easter break on Monday the continued high pressure will ensure conditions in most areas will remain settled for the rest of the week.

The South and South West of England will see the best of the warm weather while in northeast Scotland it will be sunniest while northwest Scotland could see some cloud developing.

Most of Northern Ireland, particularly the east coast, will also enjoy spells of sunshine.

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Most places will continue with the dry and sunny conditions - however, eastern coastal regions and Irish sea coasts may be affected by sea fog.

"It will feel warm in the sunshine today, with top temperatures of 12-18C (54-64F)."

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Tories Pledge 1980s-Style Housing Revolution

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 05 April 2015 | 20.14

A 1980s-style housing "revolution" doubling the number of first-time buyers by 2020 has been pledged by the Tories, if they are elected.

The plan would mean half a million people a year getting their feet on the housing ladder, George Osborne said.

Labour claims Britain's chronic housing shortage is being fuelled by coalition schemes such as Help to Buy and no action is being taken to boost supply.

Ed Miliband's party unveiled plans on Saturday to take the new ISA scheme for first-time buyers announced in the Budget and use it to finance wide-scale house building.

Speaking on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, Mr Osborne said: "We do need to build more homes. We need to make sure all those brownfields in our cities and towns are being used for that purpose."

And he pointed to government help being provided to assist people onto the housing ladder, including the new ISA where savings are topped up for a deposit.

Mr Osborne also revealed more than 50,000 people had registered for a scheme offering cut-price homes for first-time buyers.

And a future Tory government would extend the existing Help to Buy scheme in England, which helps those struggling to raise a deposit.

He said: "I am a great believer in a home owning nation, a home owning democracy where families can get on the housing ladder."

Mr Osborne has said as many as one million people would enjoy direct government help to purchase properties over the next parliament.

"I think we can deliver a revolution in home ownership," the Chancellor said.

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"In the next parliament I would like to see over a million more people helped into home ownership by a Conservative government.

"I would like to see us double the number of first-time buyers up to half a million. That is the kind of level we saw in the 1980s.

"There is no reason why our country can't achieve that again."

Since 2010 there have been 1.2 million first-time purchases and Mr Osborne wants at least 2.4 million more over the next five years

Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said: "More warm words on housing from the Chancellor will be cold comfort to the record number of young people and families priced out of home ownership over the past five years.

"Under this Tory-led government we've seen the lowest levels of housebuilding in peacetime since the 1920s and home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low.

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"Labour's Better Plan will ensure Britain builds the homes working people need.

"Labour will get at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020, backed by a comprehensive plan - the first in a generation - and a £5bn Future Homes Fund to support the building of homes for first-time buyers."

The Tory pledge came as a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showed the party overtaking Labour to move into a one point lead by 34% to 33%.

But Opinium research for The Observer had the Conservatives down one point on 33%, level-pegging with Labour (unchanged), while UKIP was up one point on 14%.

Liberal Democrats were down one on 7%, Greens were unchanged on 7% and the Scottish National Party were up one on 4%.

In a dramatic development on Saturday, an inquiry was ordered into the leak of a UK Government account of a private meeting between SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

The Daily Telegraph published the diplomatic memo which suggested she had indicated that she would prefer to see Conservatives remain in power after the 7 May General Election.

Ms Sturgeon complained of a "dirty tricks" attempt to halt the party's advance.

She said it was "100% untrue" that she had expressed such a preference - a denial backed by French diplomats at the meeting.

But the memo was seized on by Labour leader Ed Miliband as a "damning revelation" of the SNP leader's true views.