England Fans Injured In Ukraine Knife Attack

A group of England football fans have been attacked in Kiev ahead of the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine, local media reports.

Around 30 hooded Ukrainians armed with knives brawled with England supporters in a coffee shop, the Komsomolskaya Pravda reported.

The attackers then fled, and no one has been arrested.

Three of the England fans were taken to hospital – one with a stab wound, one with a head injury, and a third with severe bruising.

Three England fans were taken to hospital

It is understood two of the supporters have been released from hospital.

Amateur video showed one of the injured men lying on the pavement with other people attending to him while police and ambulances arrived.

The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of incidents in Kiev involving British nationals. We are providing consular assistance."

The Three Lions will take on their Ukrainian opponents in Kiev's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.

A win for England would move them to within touching distance of a place in next summer's finals in Brazil.

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HS2 Rail Project Comes Under Renewed Attack

HS2: Cases For And Against

Updated: 12:24pm UK, Monday 28 January 2013

Those in favour of high-speed rail say it will create jobs and boost the economy, while critics say the cost - financially and for the environment - is too high.

Here is what two campaigners from opposing sides had to say:

THE CASE FOR

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council (Manchester is included in a later HS2 phase)

High-speed rail is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the rail network in this country. A new, separate, high speed network is the only cost-effective way of extending an existing railway network that is becoming increasingly congested.

It will free up capacity on the existing network for commuter services and inter-city services for smaller towns and give the country a railway fit for the 21st century.

More than that, it will unlock much-needed jobs and investment and help rebalance the UK's economy to ensure that opportunity is open to all.

The Government is to be commended for having the political courage to stick with the plans, in the face of a short-sighted opposition that is as predictable as it is parochial.

The UK's future economic success will depend upon its capacity to compete on a global stage.

For Manchester that means we're up against cities like Munich, Milan and Copenhagen. International-class connectivity already is an essential factor in Britain's future success.

The rest of Europe is already well ahead in the high speed stakes and acting now to catch up is not an optional extra.

HS2 might seem expensive but it is an investment that will ultimately be self-financing. Paris-Lyon opened in 1981 and has paid for itself, and the new high-speed lines in Spain are the only profitable part of the Spanish rail network.

Railways began in Britain. The world's first passenger rail station is right here in my city. But we've fallen behind.

Yes, we need investment in the here and now of transport infrastructure, but just for once, let's also plan and act for our long-term future.

THE CASE AGAINST

Joe Rukin, campaign co-ordinator of Stop HS2, the national campaigning body against HS2

HS2 is completely the wrong priority for Great Britain and any decision to go ahead will not be a rational one, it will be a political one, brought about mainly by strong lobbying by advocates with vested interests.

Building HS2 is like building the Titanic, but without the Steerage section - that will be made up of the rest of the rail network which will be starved of funds if HS2 goes ahead.

But of course commuters will have to help pay the £17.8bn just to get it to run between London and Birmingham.

The supposed benefits are made up by calculating the cash value of time and the jobs figures touted, which are plainly a lie. These would not arrive for decades, at a total cost of £32bn.

And what about the extra costs of environmental protection, inflation, interest, compensation, farm bridges, foot bridges and of course trains?

Having been the treasurer of a national union, I know that union leaders are not always interested in the actual figures.

But the jobs figures on this, based on the amount of money going in, are ridiculously low.

Last week they had the cheek to tout this being environmentally sound. If that is the case, why is HS2 opposed by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Green Party, to start off a very long list of environmental organisations?

HS2 is going through for the same old reasons - because politically it is wanted. It is that simple. You are about to put what money we have left into a fast train for fat cats.

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Michael Le Vell Rape Trial: Live Updates

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9:46am UK, Monday 09 September 2013

Michael Le Vell denies 12 charges of sex abuse

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Suntory Buys Ribena And Lucozade For £1.34bn

Japanese drinks giant Suntory has confirmed it will buy the top-selling Lucozade and Ribena brands from British drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for £1.34bn.

The deal, part of Suntory's bid to expand overseas to counter a shrinking domestic market, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Energy drink Lucozade and the Ribena juice brand would help Suntory's food and beverage unit move closer to hitting a £12.76bn annual sales target in 2020, it said.

The unit, which debuted on Tokyo's stock exchange in July after a £2.49bn share sale, said it would "actively pursue" more cross-border deals.

"In our international business, we are expanding our business in emerging markets and strengthening our business platform in order to improve profitability by further developing our existing brands and growing our production and sales," the company said in a statement.

Last week, Sky News broke the news that Suntory was in advanced talks on a deal that would pre-empt an auction of the iconic British drinks.

Japan's second-largest drinks maker has plenty of cash after an initial public offering in June that raised £2.55bn.

Lucozade and Ribena are well-loved in Britain but lack global reach, especially in the big emerging markets that are becoming the focus of the British drugmaker's consumer health business.

For Suntory, however, they offer a growth opportunity to counter sluggish demand at home.

Suntory bought the Orangina Schweppes drinks brand for more than £1.92bn in 2009, giving it a significant presence in France and Spain. 

By acquiring a new business with a focus on Britain, Suntory said it expected to further grow sales.

The purchase also allows the Japanese group to extend its reach into countries where GSK already operates, such as Nigeria and Malaysia.

Lucozade and Ribena have combined annual sales of just over £500m a year. 

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Osborne: Economy Showing Signs Of Recovery

George Osborne has said the British economy has "turned a corner" with the latest financial growth figures a vindication of the government's long-term strategy.

"We held our nerve when many told us to abandon our plan," the Chancellor told an audience of academics, think tank members and business leaders in central London ahead of the Conservative Party Conference later this month.

Mr Osborne said there were "tentative signs of a balanced, broad based and sustainable recovery," but warned of the need to make "many billions" more in savings after the next election.

"The plan is working, but the recovery is still in its early stages, plenty of risks remain, and more years of hard decisions lie ahead. Our economy is turning a corner, but we must not take anything for granted," he said.

"This is a hard, difficult road we have been following. But it is the only way to deliver a sustained, lasting improvement in the living standards of the British people.

"More tough choices will be required after the next election to find many billions of further savings and anyone who thinks those decisions can be ducked is not fit for government."

Labour dismissed the Chancellor's speech as a "desperate attempt to rewrite history".

"Three wasted years of flatlining under George Osborne have left ordinary families worse off and caused long-term damage to our economy," shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie said.

"This desperate attempt to rewrite history will not wash when on every test he set himself, this Chancellor's plan A has badly failed - on living standards, growth and the deficit."

Opposition leader Ed Miliband is expected to use his speech to the TUC conference to lambast the Chancellor for being "out of touch with ordinary families" by celebrating while they face the squeeze.

But the Chancellor said that those who argued for a Plan B, like Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, had "lost the argument" as the economy has shown signs of recovery in recent months.

Mr Osborne has been buoyed by revised gross domestic product figures showing the UK economy grew by 0.7% in the second quarter of the year, with predictions it could reach 1% for the third quarter.

The respected OECD think tank has almost doubled its prediction for UK growth this year to 1.5%.

Rising property prices and a summer retail splurge as well as booming car sales have also contributed to the feel-good factor, with surging manufacturing figures for June also helping fuel the improved mood.

Goods exports excluding oil plunged however by 9.3%, and the overall trade deficit more than doubled from £1.3bn to £3.1bn, with real terms wages also in decline.

The economy remains 3% below its pre-crisis level.

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Tommy Robinson: EDL Leader Held At March

English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been arrested on a controversial march that was prevented from going through the centre of one of Britain's biggest Muslim communities.

A tweet on the EDL website stated: "Tommy's been arrested for incitement."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A 30-year-old man was arrested for breaching section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 and inciting others to breach section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.

"He has been taken to a central London police station where he currently remains."

The far-right EDL had lost a High Court battle over where its members are allowed to demonstrate.

The organisation had wanted to hold the rally in an area in Tower Hamlets, east London, which it says is "subject to Sharia law".

EDL leader Tommy Robinson at a previous rally

But judge Mr Justice King ruled that a police decision to impose restrictions over fears of serious public disorder was reasonable and proportionate.

By 6pm on Saturday, 14 people had been arrested, but it is thought the numbers may have risen.

The Met Police allowed the protest to go ahead, but under strict conditions which meant any march would be held at the outskirts of the borough and close to Tower Bridge.

A counter demonstration was held by anti-fascist and anti-racist groups. Their supporters were among those arrested.

Offences ranged from possession of a pointed blade, possession of a firework, breach of public order, criminal damage and violent disorder.

They are all being held at police stations in east and central London.

Among those in custody is a 15-year-old boy who was arrested for going equipped, Scotland Yard said.

He has been taken to an east London police station where he currently remains.

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Michael Le Vell: Man Held Over Facebook Post

A man has been arrested over a Facebook post relating to the alleged victim in the trial of Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell.

The 45-year-old, from Trafford, Manchester, was detained for breaching the anonymity protection granted to victims of sexual offences.

He has been released on bail.

Under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992, all victims of sex abuse are automatically granted anonymity for life.

On Thursday, a 28-year-old man was interviewed under caution in relation to a tweet that was sent about the alleged victim.

A day earlier, a 43-year-old man was arrested for a similar offence.

Greater Manchester Police said it had also been made aware of other similar comments on social media sites, and was investigating.

The Michael Le Vell case has attracted huge media interest

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Bridge said: "This case has attracted huge interest and we have seen enormous amounts of comment and personal opinion across social media.

"I want to be explicitly clear - victims of sexual abuse, whether the offences are alleged or proven, are automatically granted anonymity for life and identifying such victims, either deliberately or inadvertently, is a criminal offence.

"I also want to stress that ignorance of the law is not a defence and we take these matters very seriously.

"We are monitoring social networks and people are reporting matters to us, so it is simply not worth the risk."

Soap star Le Vell, who has played garage mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV1 soap for 30 years, is being tried under his real name Michael Turner at Manchester Crown Court.

He is accused of sexually assaulting and raping a young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Le Vell, 48, denies five counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Le Vell's case will be back in court on Monday morning when closing speeches from barristers will take place, the judge will sum up the trial and the jury is expected to retire to consider its verdicts.

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Dartford Crossing Bomb Hoax: Man Detained

A 27-year-old man arrested in connection with a bomb hoax which led to the Dartford Crossing being closed and severe delays on the M25 has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

The incident led to drivers being caught in nine-mile-long tailbacks after both the QE2 Bridge and Dartford Tunnels were closed for almost seven hours during rush-hour traffic on Friday evening, while traffic was also stopped from using the A20 at Dover.

The suspect, from Bournemouth in Dorset, is alleged to have made bomb threats.

He was arrested on Saturday and has now been taken to a secure unit under the care of the Health Authority, Kent Police said.

Police said they recovered a cylindrical device with wires heavily sealed inside a bag from a coach.

Traffic was stuck in nine-mile tailbacks

It was found after the force was called at 4.03pm to a report of a male pedestrian behaving unusually. He had alighted from a coach which was Dover-bound and run to a rough area nearby, police said.

Security personnel at a nearby distribution depot detained the man and officers arrested him at 4.15pm before he was taken to a police station where he made threats as to a suspicious device on board the coach.

The vehicle, which had just gone through the toll booths, was evacuated along with the immediate surrounding area, which was extremely busy at the time.

Bomb disposal experts attended the scene and a robotic device was deployed to examine the device more closely.

Police said the detained man made further threats that there was an explosive device on another coach and officers then stopped a coach on the A20 at Dover at 6pm.

The Dartford Crossing was closed for several hours

It was evacuated and the road was closed before being reopened at around 10.45pm after no threat was found. The Dartford Crossing was reopened at around 11.45pm.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Price said: "We were dealing with a very challenging situation, with two scenes in extremely busy areas. Our main priority was to ensure the safety of the public, our officers and our partners at the scene.

"We had received threats of a very serious nature that required regional and national co-ordination and declared this as a critical incident.

"Obviously a lot of people were caught up in long delays but this could not be avoided as we had to ensure public safety and as soon as clearance was obtained the road was immediately opened.

"We would like to thank the public for their patience ... and also thank our partners, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, South East Coast Ambulance Service, the Highways Agency, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent County Council and others who all worked to ensure the safety of everyone involved."

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Duke Of York Challenged In Palace Grounds

Prince Andrew has been challenged by police in the gardens of Buckingham Palace after returning from an engagement in London.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man was ordered to verify his identity by two officers at around 6pm on Wednesday.

The Duke of York had been at an event in Piccadilly to support new business ventures.

Two men were arrested over a break-in at Buckingham Palace on Monday

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "On Wednesday, September 4, at approximately 6pm two uniformed officers approached a man in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to verify his identity.

"The man was satisfactorily identified. No weapons were drawn and no force was used."

The confrontation came after an intruder was able to scale a fence and get inside the palace on Monday night, before being arrested by police.

A security review has been launched following Monday's suspected burglary.

None of the Royal family were at home during the suspected burglary

Police said the man had been found shortly before 10.30pm "in an area currently open to the public during the day" and arrested for burglary, trespass and criminal damage.

A second man was arrested outside the Palace for conspiracy to commit burglary.

The Met Police spokesman said: "Both men have been bailed to return to a central London police station and enquiries continue.

"A review of the specific circumstances of this incident is being carried out. No members of the Royal Family were at Buckingham Palace at the time of the incident."

The spokesman added that security would form part of the review.

The Queen made her traditional appearance at a Highland Games on Saturday, as details of the break-in emerged.

She was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales at the Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire, where the Royal party watched pipe bands and dancers perform in front of a large crowd.

The Queen has been spending her summer break at Balmoral Castle since the beginning of August and is not expected to return to the Palace until October.

The break-in is one of the most serious security breaches at the Palace since 1982, when Michael Fagan evaded guards to get inside the Queen's private chambers while she was still in bed.

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TUC: Miliband To Press On With Reforms

Labour leader Ed Miliband is to use his speech to the TUC on Tuesday to say he is "absolutely determined" to continue reforming Labour's relationship with the unions - despite warnings that more unions will pull the plug financially.

Mr Miliband is fighting fresh Tory claims that the unions are "pulling the strings" of his party after a disciplinary process found no rules had been breached in the Scottish constituency of Falkirk where there had been allegations of candidate selection-rigging.

Would-be Falkirk MP Karie Murphy has been reinstated to the party after an internal investigation cleared both her and the Unite union of the claims.

Before the investigation, a bitter public row broke out between Unite boss Len McCluskey and Mr Miliband, who was pushed to propose radical changes to Labour's historic links with the union movement.

Mr McCluskey, who appeared on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, said he was not looking for an apology from Labour. He wants the unions and Labour to focus on jobs.

One union, the GMB, has responded by slashing its affiliation fees by more than £1m and others could follow, leaving Labour with a huge black hole in its finances.

But Mr Miliband is to tell the conference: "We need to build a party truly rooted in the lives of all the working people of Britain once more.

"That is what my reforms are about. It is the right thing to do. We have to change.

"And I am absolutely determined to make this change happen."

Labour has stressed that its Falkirk findings came after "key evidence" was withdrawn - with Falkirk MP Eric Joyce claiming people were "prevailed upon" to do so.

Senior MP Tom Watson - who quit his shadow cabinet post over the row - said Ms Murphy was owed an apology for the way she had been treated.

But a senior Labour source insisted: "There is no prospect of an apology."

Elsewhere, the conference agenda will focus on unemployment with the TUC claiming the number of jobless could be almost double the official total.

It says that, as well as the 2.5 million official jobless figure, a further 2.26 million people want a job but are not classified as unemployed.

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