Crackdown On Nuisance Calls 'Plague' Urged

Company bosses should be held accountable for nuisance calls made to customers, according to a Government task force.

The expert panel said more than a billion unwanted calls are estimated to be made every year and are causing considerable distress to some people.

Complaints to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reached 18,594 for live calls and 22,072 for automated messages between April and June.

Most related to accident claims, payday loans and debt management.

Businesses must prioritise the issue at board level and ministers should review the ICO's powers to hold executives to account if their firm breaks the rules, updating the law if needed, said the Nuisance Calls Task Force.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, who headed the panel, said: "(Consumers) are often confused or misled by requests for consent to being contacted, so today we set out recommendations to introduce tougher rules and more action from businesses, the regulators and the Government.

"Only through concerted and co-ordinated action will we put people back in control of their data and help bring this modern day menace to an end."

High numbers of calls and text messages are still being sent in breach of the existing legislation, according to the report.

It said consumers often do not realise they have given permission to receive messages and called for them to be able to easily withdraw consent.

Companies should ensure any sales leads they buy have been fairly and legally obtained and records of what consent has been obtained, as well as how and when, must be kept.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey said: "For too long nuisance calls have plagued consumers, often at very inconvenient times of the day and in some cases leaving vulnerable people like the elderly too scared to answer the phone.

"That's why we're determined to tackle this scourge through the first ever nuisance calls action plan.

"We've already made progress including making it easier for Ofcom to share information with the ICO about companies breaking the rules, and we're currently looking at lowering or removing the legal threshold before firms could be hit with fines of up to £500,000."

Justice minister Simon Hughes said: "We have already increased the level of fines available to punish rogue companies.

"We now want to make it easier for the Information Commissioner to take action against these companies which break the law.

"Those responsible should be held to account, and we will review how they are made to answer for any wrongdoing."

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Body Found In Search For Stag-Do Briton

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent, in Prague

The family and friends of missing stag weekend reveller Karl Law were today waiting to hear if it was his body pulled from Prague's Vltava River.

Police recovered the body of a man from the freezing water near a city centre bridge, close to where builder Mr Law was last seen three weeks ago.

Mr Law, 35, had become separated from his brother and friends on a pub crawl to celebrate a friend's forthcoming wedding.

Mr Law's family, who have been searching the city since his disappearance, were alerted by police after the body's discovery, but it was too decomposed to be readily identified.

It is also believed the body found on Sunday had only underpants and there was no sign of the clothes Mr Law had been wearing when he vanished.

Family members have been searching Prague for Mr Law

His cousin Steve Stock initially believed the body was not Mr Law's, but the family was awaiting results of a post-mortem examination today.

The absence of clothes might suggest Mr Law was the victim of a crime.

A small group of searchers, led by Mr Law's brother Craig, has been putting up thousands of posters and appealing for help all over Prague.

The group had promised to stay in Prague until there was news "good or bad" and were joined yesterday by the brothers' mother Sue.

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MP Caught Playing Candy Crush In Meeting

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

A Conservative MP has been caught playing Candy Crush on his iPad during a key meeting about pensions.

Nigel Mills was secretly filmed playing the addictive puzzle game during a Work and Pensions Committee session.

The House of Commons authorities have launched an investigation into how the footage was obtained.

A spokesman told Sky News: "This was a breach of the filming rules for House of Commons Committee Rooms, and will be investigated by the Serjeant at Arms."

The decision to investigate the witness who made the film rather than the MP sparked some criticism on social media.

Mr Mills uses his iPad during the meeting

Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch tweeted "that's bad" while Labour's John Prescott said Mr Mills' actions were "unacceptable".

The Sun quoted a source at the meeting who claimed Nigel Mills played the game for around two-and-a-half hours on an iPad allegedly funded by the taxpayer.

Mr Mills told The Sun: "It was a long meeting on pension reforms, which is an important issue that I take very seriously.

"There was a bit of the meeting that I wasn't focusing on and I probably had a game or two.

Mr Mills said he had a "game or two"

"I shouldn't do it but if you check the meeting I would say I was fully engaged in asking questions that I thought were particularly important in how we get the pensions issue right. I shall try not to do it in the future."

Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr Mills would be "embarrassed" by what had happened.

Speaking on a visit to Harris City Academy in Crystal Palace, south London, Mr Cameron said: "I haven't spoken to Nigel about it. I know he is a very hard-working MP, I know him well, he fights very hard in his constituency for people in Derbyshire, he works very hard in Parliament.

"I'm sure he will be embarrassed by what he saw in the papers today and he will work even harder in the future."

The committee met last Monday and was discussing pensions and the insurance industry ahead of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announcement.

Candy Crush Saga is a free to download mobile game where users pay extra for more moves to improve their score.

It started on Facebook and moved on to mobile devices in 2012. Developer King.com says it is now played more than a billion times a day.

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Shrien Dewani Walks Free As Trial Is Thrown Out

There have been angry scenes outside court after the case against Shrien Dewani, who was accused of plotting to murder his wife Anni on their honeymoon, was dismissed.

Judge Jeanette Traverso said prosecution arguments had "fallen far below" the level needed to secure a conviction, paving the way for Mr Dewani's acquittal.

Mr Dewani, of Westbury-on-Trym near Bristol, denied arranging the murder, and said his 28-year-old bride, whose maiden name was Hindocha, was killed during a botched carjacking in Cape Town in November 2010.

Anni's sister, Ami Denborg, told Sky's Alex Crawford after the ruling: "The justice system has failed us."

In a statement outside court, the Hindocha family said: "The knowledge of not knowing is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives."

Video: Judge Dismisses Dewani Charge

Mr Dewani, who is now free to return to the UK, breathed a large sigh of relief as the judge cleared him.

Members of the 34-year-old's family wept and embraced as he quickly left the dock.

Anni's family bowed their heads as shouting was heard from the public gallery.

The family say they will review the case with their lawyers to see if they can file a lawsuit against Mr Dewani in the UK.

Sky News understands Mr Dewani will return to the UK on Tuesday.

Video: Dewani Extradition Defended

The state's key witness, cab driver Zola Tongo, said Mr Dewani paid him to hire two men to carry out the murder.

The prosecution claimed Mr Dewani, who is bisexual, wanted to get out of the relationship and the men carried out the killing for 15,000 rand (£830).

Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and gunman Xolile Mngeni were convicted for their part in Anni's death.

Qwabe is currently serving a 25-year jail sentence.

Mngeni was serving life for firing the shot that killed Mrs Dewani, but died from a brain tumour in October.

Video: Anger Outside Court After Verdict

Giving her ruling on an application by defence lawyer Francos van Zyl to dismiss the case, Judge Traverso said the evidence from the three men was "so improbable, with so many mistakes, lies and inconsistencies you cannot see where the lies ended and the truth begins".

She added that the only reason not to grant the application would be in the hope that Mr Dewani would implicate himself during the course of his testimony.

However, to do so would be a "manifest misdirection", Judge Traverso said.

South African National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Ncude denied the case had collapsed because of "shoddy" work by the police.

He said: "The judgment centres around evidence that was given by three people. Nothing has been said about the police, nothing was said about how the prosecution could have done better.

Video: Hiring A Hitman In SA

"The fact of the matter is that we were relying on people who were themselves involved and implicated in the case."

The ruling ends a four-year wait for Mr Dewani and his family to clear his name, which has included spells in mental health units, allegations about his private life and a battle against extradition.

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Warning Of Snow And Ice For Large Parts Of UK

A blast of wintry conditions is expected for the UK this week - with the Met Office issuing severe weather warnings for snow and ice in large swathes of the country.

Drivers are being urged to take extra care during Monday morning's rush hour, with snowy showers expected at 200 metres above sea level in some areas.

The warnings are for Scotland, northern England and as far south as the Midlands and into eastern Wales.

A mixture of rain, hail, sleet and snow is expected on lower ground.

The Met Office said: "Accumulating snow may lead to travel disruption on routes over high ground, whilst icy stretches are also likely to form more generally on untreated surfaces.

"The public should be aware of the potential for disruption to travel during Sunday night and Monday morning."

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said snow was likely to fall on Monday over the Cumbrian Fells, the Peaks, Pennines and Snowdonia, although it would be largely dry and sunny elsewhere.

Snow is forecast on Monday and strong winds later in week. Pic: Met Office

She said: "On Monday night it will turn frosty, with temperatures falling to -3C. Some ice is possible in Norfolk."

According to the Met Office, "a bit of sleet" could even travel as far south as the Midlands in the coming days.

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1. Gallery: Snow And Ice Across Parts Of UK

   The Met Office issued warnings for snow, ice and wind across Britain. Here Abigail Wright, aged eight, makes a snow angel as she and her family enjoy the overnight snow at the summit of the Kirkstone Pass in Windermere, Lake District

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Osborne: Lib Dems Would Cause 'Economic Chaos'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

George Osborne has placed himself on a collision course with the Lib Dems - warning that they, as well as Labour, would trigger "economic chaos" in Britain.

The Chancellor has also accused Nick Clegg's party of wanting to place "hefty income rises" on families.

The intervention could tip the Coalition into open civil war after a week in which the Lib Dem leader failed to turn up to watch Mr Osborne deliver his Autumn Statement, and a senior colleague criticised the scale of cuts that were unveiled.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Osborne says: "The Liberal Democrats are now arguing with themselves, so it's hard to work out exactly what they think."

He said the party wants tax rises instead of cuts but can't find the money needed through a property tax alone.

Video: Osborne Defends 'Balanced' Plan

"If you want higher taxes to do the heavy lifting, you'd also need to increase taxes like income tax or national insurance."

He admitted that, under his plans, there would be cuts for departments but also big reductions in the welfare bill.

Suggestions being put forward include pushing single parents to return to work a year earlier than at present, when their child turns two, and restricting child benefit to the first two children in the family.

Video: Osborne Reveals Boost For Buyers

"There's a clear choice: a competent plan to stay on course to prosperity with us; or a return to economic chaos with all the alternatives," he writes.

The article is likely to infuriate Mr Osborne's Treasury colleague, the Lib Dem chief secretary Danny Alexander, as well as the leader, Mr Clegg.

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Archbishop Welby Warns Hunger Stalks The UK

The Archbishop of Canterbury says he was left more shocked at the plight of poor families in the UK being forced to rely on food banks than the suffering in African refugee camps.

Hunger "stalks large parts of the country" while the scale of waste was "astonishing", said the Most Rev Justin Welby.

He made his comments ahead of the publication on Monday of a parliamentary report he has backed that sets out a series of proposals aimed at preventing people going hungry, and urges swift action by the Government and food industry.

The sharp increase in food banks has led to fierce political rows

In an article in The Mail on Sunday Archbishop Welby said, although less "serious", the situation of a family having to turn to food bank in the UK had shocked him more than terrible suffering in Africa because it was so unexpected.

Archbishop Welby wrote about his visit to a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the scene that he encountered.

Video: Food Banks Help One Million Britons

"It was deeply shocking but, tragically, expected," he wrote.

"A few weeks later in England, I was talking to some people - a mum, dad and one child - in a food bank.

"They were ashamed to be there. The dad talked miserably.

"He said they had each been skipping a day's meals once a week in order to have more for the child, but then they needed new tyres for the car so they could get to work at night, and just could not make ends meet.

"So they had to come to a food bank. They were treated with respect, love even, by the volunteers from local churches. But they were hungry, and ashamed to be hungry.

Video: Red Cross To Help Britain's Hungry

"I found their plight more shocking. It was less serious, but it was here."

The sharp increase in the number of food banks across the country in recent years has proved politically divisive.

Earlier this year, ministers were accused of "taking food from the mouths of children" after blocking millions of pounds of European funding agreed for British food banks.

Cash to help people suffering extreme poverty across the EU was backed in a vote at the European Parliament but the Government said food aid was better decided nationally rather than by Brussels.

Archbishop Welby has called for changes to allow food companies to pass on goods they could no longer sell.

Video: Cameron's Secret Visit To Food Bank

Under the current system it costs retailers to give away surplus food to the hungry.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "As a country we have enough food to go around, and we agree that it is wrong that anyone should go hungry at the same time as surplus food is going to waste.

"There is a moral argument as well as a sustainability one to ensure we make the best use of resources.

"While this report outlines important areas for consideration, we should remember that this country has been through the deepest recession in living memory, and sticking to this Government's long-term economic plan is the best way to improve living standards."

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Three Arrested After Anti-Terror Raids

Three men have been arrested by anti-terror officers on suspicion of supplying forged documents, Scotland Yard has said.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command made the arrests during searches at addresses in London and the East Midlands.

The men, aged 28, 33 and 30, remain in custody at a police station in central London.

The latest arrests follow dawn raids in London on Thursday, in which a 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess and supply fraudulent documents.

A further two men, aged 33 and 43, were arrested in Dover on Sunday after Scotland Yard anti-terror officers with armed support officers and Kent Police stopped a car going outbound at Dover.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at the same port on Monday morning. 

Under the same operation, two men, aged 24 and 40, were arrested on Monday in east London.

Warrants for the further detention were granted until Sunday December 14 for each of those five people previously arrested in connection with the investigation and all five remain in custody.

Searches linked to those arrests were carried out at four addresses in east London, one in south London and two in north Wales as part of the investigation.

These searches have now been completed.

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David Haines' Widow Brands IS Killers 'Cowards'

By Katie Stallard, in Sisak, Croatia

The widow of murdered aid worker David Haines has told Sky News the militants who killed her husband are cowards.

Speaking at their home in Sisak, Croatia, in her first television interview, Dragana Haines said:  "They consider themselves brave, but that's not bravery.

"It's a cowardly act to behead someone who has his hands tied behind his back, who is kneeling.

"You are a coward if you are going to behead someone who is helpless. You're not even a human being.

"You must be a monster to do something like that."

Video: Widow Recalls 'Love At First Sight'

Mr Haines grew up in Scotland and served as an aircraft engineer in the RAF, but he found his calling in humanitarian work.

He met Dragana, his second wife, in post-war Yugoslavia.

He was working for a German reconstruction charity, and she was a translator for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

They married in 2010 and settled in Croatia, where their daughter, Athea, was born.

In March 2013, he was kidnapped while working for a French aid agency in Syria.

Video: Dragana Haines: Athea Is My Purpose

"Every day was a challenge," Mrs Haines said.

"Waking up in the morning and thinking OK should I be hopeful? Will it be a day when they will call me, or he will call me and say 'OK I'm free, I'm coming back'?

"Or will it be a day when they will call me and say something bad has happened?"

In June, Islamic State released a video showing Mr Haines, and warning he would be next to be killed.

"I saw him in the video," Mrs Haines said through tears.

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1. Gallery: Profile: David Haines

   David Haines was born in Holderness, East Yorkshire in 1970. He was raised in Scotland, where his parents still live

He studied at Perth Academy. After school he worked for Royal Mail before becoming an RAF engineer

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Young Carers More Likely To Be Bullied

Young adult carers on average miss 48 days of school and are more likely to be bullied than other students.

They are also more likely to drop out of college or university, while those in employment miss work an average of 17 days a year.

Those are the main findings of a survey by the Carers Trust charity, which spoke to 295 carers aged 16-24.

Lauren Cooper sometimes cares for her young cousin

It estimates there are around 375,000 young adults in the UK who step in when their families with care needs are left without adequate support.

Moira Fraser, interim Chief Executive of the Carers Trust said: "This research paints a gloomy picture.

Video: Mobile App To Help Carers

"It shows young adult carers are experiencing difficulties in their education, employment prospects, health and socialisation.

"They are not being identified and supported so they face multiple barriers that will have a significant and lasting impact on their future."

The survey also found young adult carers have higher rates of poor mental and physical health and rarely get the assessments they are entitled to.

Lauren Cooper, aged 13, cares for her grandparents, uncle and sometimes her disabled cousin.

She told Sky News: "Sometimes I can sit down and fall asleep, it is that busy and hectic."

As part of its Time To Be Heard campaign, Carers Trust is calling on the Government to make sure the implementation of the Care Act 2014 and Children and Families Act 2014 is adequately funded and monitored.

It says this would be "an important step towards ensuring that young adult carers can put aside heavy caring responsibilities and instead put their energy into education, training and employment."

Among its other demands is that the Government includes young adult carers in additional financial support programmes, such as Pupil Premium and the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

Another survey has found that grandparents and other family members raising relatives' children face stigma and discrimination at the school gate.

Families, known as kinship carers, told charity Grandparents Plus they felt that they were treated differently by other parents, mistreated by social workers and teachers and the children they raised were bullied or excluded by others.

The charity is calling on the Government to support the UK's estimated 200,000 kinship carers by guaranteeing they receive support, offering them the same rights as those who adopt and ensuring the welfare system does not "penalise" them.

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