Snow Storm Hits America's Northeast

By Amanda Walker, US Correspondent In New York

America's Northeast has been hit by an epic winter storm bringing deep snow and high winds.

Overnight, New England fell under the wintry spell as it shrouded cities like Boston in deep snow, leaving many without power.

By early on Saturday, more than 47cm of snow had fallen in parts of central Connecticut, and more than 40cm covered parts of Mansfield, Massachusetts.

A nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, automatically shot down due to the snow but regulators say there is no threat to public safety.

Across the region thousands of flights were cancelled leaving travellers stranded.

Canada was also hit hard with hazardous driving conditions leaving at least three people dead.

The storm is being blamed for at least four deaths in New York and Canada.

As the blizzard approached, few were taking any chances. In Massachusetts all traffic was banned from the roads. It is the first time the state has done this since the blizzard of 1978 which crippled the region.

The snow has blanketed Brooklyn Bridge

"This is a storm of major proportions," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino warned. "Stay off the roads. Stay home."

Air travel has also been thrown into chaos, with more than 4,300 flights cancelled so far.

The people of New York's Staten Island have learned not to underestimate the power of mother nature.

Many residents there are still without heating after last October's Hurricane Sandy. For them this latest storm has reopened old wounds as they try to rebuild their lives.

Throughout the northeast, more than 500,000 homes and businesses have lost electricity.

Across New York City, 1,700 ploughs were out as workers fought to clear the snow as it landed.

Undeterred shoppers struggled through the streets clinging to their soggy purchases.

One of them, Sarah Lister, told Sky News: "We expect the warnings where we're from in South Georgia but then you come up here and everyone's alarmed about it - so it really must be something to watch out for! But we're going to a Broadway show tonight."

The advice is clear - stay off the roads and keep indoors - but for many tourists the lure of Manhattan's bright lights was too tempting.

Canadian tourist Lynda Caruth said: "We're from Canada so we're used to storms - this is nothing to us, it's like a light flurry. We want to be somewhere warm and cosy so what better thing to do than see a Broadway show."

Paula Coutts, from Leeds, said: "We've been here a week and we were supposed to fly home tonight, but all the flights were cancelled.

"But we're enjoying the snow - we don't mind being out in it. They told us to stay in this morning but we've been out all day - it's not bothered us - we're hardy in England!"

The storm may be strong but for those affected - the small mercy is - it is expected to be brief.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Horsemeat: Schools And Hospitals To Be Tested

Who's In Charge Of Keeping Food Safe?

Updated: 1:38pm UK, Friday 08 February 2013

There are a number of different agencies responsible for food labelling and safety in the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for food standards legislation in England that is principally non-safety, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors standards that are safety based.

Food Standards Agency:

The FSA, a non-ministerial government department, is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food.

This includes food safety and hygiene, labelling for safety and allergies and food law enforcement.

It aims to:

1) make sure foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat

2) ensure imported food is safe to eat

3) make sure food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests in relation to food

4) give consumers the information and understanding they need to make informed choices about where and what they eat

5) make sure regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks

6) ensure enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health.

In the wake of the horsemeat scandal the FSA announced it is demanding a more comprehensive testing programme from food businesses.

Chief executive Catherine Brown said: 'Following our investigations into Findus products, the FSA is now requiring a more robust response from the food industry in order to demonstrate that the food it sells and serves is what it says it is on the label.

"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."

There are separate FSAs for Scotland, Wales and the Irish Republic.

Defra:

In July 2010 food labelling was transferred from the FSA to Defra.

Food standards legislation sets out specific requirements for the labelling, composition and, in some cases, safety parameters for specific high value foodstuffs which are potentially at risk of being misleadingly substituted with lower quality alternatives.

The legislation makes sure consumers are not misled as to the nature of food products when it is sold to them.

It also makes the playing field level for food producers, so they have established standards they can work to when producing well known or traditional foodstuffs.

Most legislation on food standards is developed in Europe, with full involvement from UK Government officials.

Secondary legislation is then used to either implement the requirements or put in place enforcement powers, depending on the nature of the European legislation

Meat:

For a range of meat products there is legislation setting out specific compositional and labelling requirements.

The rules set out minimum meat content requirements for certain meat products sold using reserved descriptions such as sausages, burgers, corned beef, meat pies, pasties, etc.

In addition, there are very specific labelling rules for certain meat products that look like a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat.

Where any added water over certain limits as well as any added ingredients of different animal species to the rest of the meat must be mentioned in the name of the food.

Department of Health:

The DoH takes the lead on nutrition labelling police in England.

In October 2012 it announced proposals for front-of-pack nutrition labelling that displays how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories foods contain.

This is colour-coded and shows a guideline daily amount.

The advertising of food is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Five Killed In Belgium Plane Crash

A small passenger plane has crashed at Belgium's Charleroi airport, killing five people and closing the airport.

The aircraft, a Cessna, had problems on takeoff and tried to return to Charleroi airport but crashed on the side of the runway, Belgian news agency Belga and Flemish state broadcaster VRT said.

Two adults and three children, reportedly all from the same family, were killed.

There were no immediate indications of what caused the crash, which happened at 10am local time (9am GMT).

Police said the airport, which is a hub for Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, would be closed until 2pm (1pm GMT) and several flights were being diverted.

More follows...

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-LA Cop Names Targets In 'Killing Manifesto'

The former police officer at the centre of a manhunt after a shooting spree that left three people dead has issued a killing list of "high value targets".

Christopher Dorner vowed "warfare" on anyone working for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), promising an element of surprise by attacking where they work, sleep or eat.

In a long diatribe posted on his Facebook page, Dorner lists a number of "high value targets" and says he will use his military training against them.

Officers have been sent to protect more than 40 potential targets, including police officers and their families.

The LAPD has also pulled officers from motorcycle duty, fearing they would make for easy targets.

Police officers carry out door-to-door enquiries

"I never had the opportunity to have a family of my own, I'm terminating yours," Dorner says in his online manifesto.

A former Navy reservist who served in Iraq, Dorner also goes into detail about how he was fired from the LAPD for whistle-blowing about what he claims was brutal behaviour by other officers.

The 33-year-old claims the department has not changed since the Rodney King beating incident and that he was out to correct the officers' "moral compass".

The focus of the manhunt has shifted to the snowy mountains around Big Bear Lake, about 80 miles (130km) east of Los Angeles, where police found Dorner's burned-out pickup truck and tracks leading away from the vehicle.

Dorner's burned-out pickup truck found 80 miles from Los Angeles

Dorner is wanted for the killings of Monica Quan, the daughter of a former LAPD captain and her fiance, Keith Lawrence. They were found shot in their car at their condominium in Irvine on Sunday night, authorities said.

Ms Quan, 28, was an assistant women's basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton. Mr Lawrence, 27, was a public safety officer at the University of Southern California.

Monica Quan was the daughter of Dorner's lawyer

Ms Quan's father, who became a lawyer in retirement, represented Dorner in front of the Board of Rights, a tribunal that ruled against him at the time of his dismissal in 2008.

Authorities also said Dorner opened fire early on Thursday on police in cities east of Los Angeles, killing an officer and wounding another.

In his Facebook manifesto, Dorner says: "I am here to correct and calibrate your morale (sic) compasses to true north."

He said: "I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty. ISR is my strength and your weakness.

"You will now live the life of the prey. Your RD's and homes away from work will be my AO and battle space.

"I will utilize every tool within INT collections that I learned from NMITC in Dam Neck. You have misjudged a sleeping giant.

"There is no conventional threat assessment for me."

Police chief Charlie Beck has appealed to Dorner to turn himself in

He also singles out various celebrities, including Michelle Obama, Mia Farow, Charlie Sheen and Kate Winslet, for praise but does not issue threats against them.

Dorner has a number of weapons including an assault rifle, according to police chief Charlie Beck.

Mr Beck said: "Of course he knows what he's doing; we trained him. He was also a member of the Armed Forces," he said. "It is extremely worrisome and scary."

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said 125 officers were making door-to-door inquiries and a SWAT team was providing added security for local residents, who have been advised to stay indoors.

The scene where two police officers were shot

Schools were put on high alert while investigators examined the vehicle and combed the area. The hunt has spread across three states and into Mexico.

"He could be anywhere at this point, and that's why we're searching door- to-door," Mr McMahon said, adding the manhunt would continue "as long as we can."

A snow storm was expected in the region with temperatures dropping into the teens overnight.

Throughout the day, thousands of heavily-armed officers patrolled highways throughout Southern California, while some stood guard outside the homes of Dorner's stated targets.

Dorner: "There's no conventional threat assessment for me"

Dorner was fired from the LAPD in 2008 for making false statements. Thursday was the eighth anniversary of his first day at work there.

According to documents from a court of appeals hearing, Dorner was fired from the LAPD after he made a complaint against his field training officer, Sgt. Teresa Evans.

Dorner said that in the course of an arrest Evans kicked suspect Christopher Gettler, a schizophrenic with severe dementia.

Richard Gettler, the schizophrenic man's father, gave testimony that supported Dorner's claim.

After his son was returned home on July 28, 2007, Richard Gettler said he asked "if he had been in a fight because his face was puffy". His son responded that he was kicked twice in the chest by a police officer.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Horsemeat Scandal: 'Criminal Activity' Blamed

Who's In Charge Of Keeping Food Safe?

Updated: 10:57am UK, Friday 08 February 2013

There are a number of different agencies responsible for food labelling and safety in the UK.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for food standards legislation in England that is principally non-safety, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors standards that are safety based.

Food Standards Agency:

The FSA, a non-ministerial government department, is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food.

This includes food safety and hygiene, labelling for safety and allergies and food law enforcement.

It aims to:

1) make sure foods produced or sold in the UK are safe to eat

2) ensure imported food is safe to eat

3) make sure food producers and caterers give priority to consumer interests in relation to food

4) give consumers the information and understanding they need to make informed choices about where and what they eat

5) make sure regulation is effective, risk-based and proportionate, is clear about the responsibilities of food business operators, and protects consumers and their interests from fraud and other risks

6) ensure enforcement is effective, consistent, risk-based and proportionate and is focused on improving public health.

In the wake of the horsemeat scandal the FSA announced it is demanding a more comprehensive testing programme from food businesses.

Chief executive Catherine Brown said: 'Following our investigations into Findus products, the FSA is now requiring a more robust response from the food industry in order to demonstrate that the food it sells and serves is what it says it is on the label.

"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."

There are separate FSAs for Scotland, Wales and the Irish Republic.

Defra:

In July 2010 food labelling was transferred from the FSA to Defra.

Food standards legislation sets out specific requirements for the labelling, composition and, in some cases, safety parameters for specific high value foodstuffs which are potentially at risk of being misleadingly substituted with lower quality alternatives.

The legislation makes sure consumers are not mislead as to the nature of food products when it is sold to them.

It also makes the playing field level for food producers, so they have established standards they can work to when producing well known or traditional foodstuffs.

Most legislation on food standards is developed in Europe, with full involvement from UK Government officials.

Secondary legislation is then used to either implement the requirements or put in place enforcement powers, depending on the nature of the European legislation

Meat:

For a range of meat products there is legislation setting out specific compositional and labelling requirements.

The rules set out minimum meat content requirements for certain meat products sold using reserved descriptions such as sausages, burgers, corned beef, meat pies, pasties, etc.

In addition, there are very specific labelling rules for certain meat products that look like a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat.

Where any added water over certain limits as well as any added ingredients of different animal species to the rest of the meat must be mentioned in the name of the food.

Department of Health:

The DoH takes the lead on nutrition labelling police in England.

In October 2012 it announced proposals for front-of-pack nutrition labelling that displays how much fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories foods contain.

This is colour-coded and shows a guideline daily amount.

The advertising of food is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aamir Siddiqi Hitmen Jailed For 40 Years

Two hitmen who stabbed an innocent schoolboy to death by mistake have been jailed for a minimum of 40 years.

Ben Hope, 39, and Jason Richards, 38, both from Cardiff, were each paid £1,000 in "blood money" to murder a middle-aged family man who owed money to a shady businessman.

But the "hit" went wrong when the balaclava-clad killers, who were high on drugs, went to the wrong address in Roath, Cardiff, in April 2010 and murdered teenager Aamir Siddiqi by mistake.

The 17-year-old's frantic parents, Iqbal and Parveen, fought to save their son but were also knifed by the killers, who let out chilling howls.

More follows...

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mother Killed In Hinckley Shooting Named

A mother-of-two killed in a shooting in Leicestershire has been named by police.

Hayley Pointon, 30, died from a single gunshot wound at an address in Hinckley on Sunday night.

Police leading the investigation have appealed for witnesses who may have seen two hooded men nearby at the time of the shooting.

Detective Superintendent Tom Davies said: "Hayley's death has left two young children without a mother and it is vital that those involved are dealt with.

"We are still keen to speak to anyone who saw two men in the area at the time.

"The men both had their hoods up and were said to have left the scene in a dark car that was parked in the street.

"If you were in the area or you have any information about the incident or the events leading up to it, please come forward."

Three men have so far been arrested in connection with the shooting, including a 26-year-old man who has been released without charge.

The other two, who are aged 29 and 36, have been released on bail pending further investigation. Ms Pointon was from the Coventry area.

:: Anyone with information is urged to call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stuart Hall Vows To Fight 'Callous' Sex Charges

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has vowed to fight sex offence charges and "regain my reputation".

He said he had been through a "living nightmare" and questioned why the allegations had taken so long to surface.

The 83-year-old was speaking after a brief appearance at Preston Magistrates Court.

He told reporters: "The allegations are pernicious and callous and cruel and, above all, spurious. I'm not guilty and I will be defending (myself against) the accusations.

"Like a lot if other people in this country today, I'm wondering why it's taken 30 and 40 years for the allegations to surface.

"The last two months of my life have been a living nightmare. I've never gone through so much stress in my life and I'm finding it difficult to sustain.

"Fortunately I have a very loving family and they're very supportive and I think but for their love I might have been constrained to take my own life.

"But they've encouraged me to fight on and fight the charges, regain my reputation and good name, whatever I've represented to this country down the years.

"I was a healthy 83-year-old but I'm now incubating a heart complaint and I'll be very lucky to survive another couple of years.

"But I hope to survive those two years and regain my honour and reputation and more than ever, my life."

Hall faces one charge of raping a 22-year-old woman in 1976 and a further 14 charges of indecently assaulting 10 girls aged aged nine to 16 between 1967 and 1986.

Hall, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, appeared at the same court last month to face separate charges of historic sex offences.

He pleaded not guilty on January 7 to three indecent assault charges dating between 1974 and 1984.

At today's hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 1.

Hall has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

His eccentric and erudite football match summaries have made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Michael Gove In U-Turn On Scrapping GCSEs

Q&A: Gove's GCSE Reforms

Updated: 11:22am UK, Thursday 07 February 2013

Michael Gove's plans had been described as the biggest education overhaul for a generation but now he has been forced into a U-turn. Here is an explainer.

What is the current exam system?

GCSEs, which were first taught in 1986, have two tiers - the highest for brighter pupils, with grades up to A*, and a foundation level which only goes up to grade C.

Critics claim the qualifications have been dumbed down by the use of modules and coursework and having less focus on final exams.

The system also lets private exam boards compete to attract schools to choose their exams, which has led to criticism that schools go to those offering the highest pass rate.

What was Michael Gove proposing?

Mr Gove announced last September that GCSEs would be replaced with a new qualification, the English Baccalaureate Certificate (Ebacc).

This would have removed continuous assessment and coursework from core subjects and put the focus back on traditional end-of-course exams.

The first courses were due to start in September 2015, with the first exams in 2017. Initially, it would only apply to English, maths and science.

EBacc certificates in other subjects, such as history, geography and languages, would be introduced at a later date.

A pupil would earn the full certificate if they passed EBacc level in English, maths, the sciences, a humanities subject and a foreign language.

Mr Gove also planned to make exam boards take charge of a single subject, forcing them to bid for a "franchise" to stop them competing.

Why was there such opposition?

The Commons education committee warned the changes were "too much, too fast" and said the Government had failed to make its case for scrapping the GCSE qualification.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 81% of teachers also felt the plans were being rushed through without enough consultation.

Regulator Ofqual raised concerns about it happening at the same time as other GCSE reforms and a radical shake-up of A-levels.

Lib Dems and others were concerned that the new system could marginalise other subjects like arts and sport.

There were also warnings that plans to have single exam boards per subject could breach EU procurement rules.

What is now being scrapped?

The EBacc has been ditched and GCSEs will continue.

Plans for single exam boards per subject have also been axed.

What will still go ahead?

Mr Gove has struck a compromise after conflict with the Lib Dems in the coalition. EBaccs will go but he is still committed to driving up standards.

The role of coursework will be limited, with a tougher syllabus and exams at the end of two years instead of modules.

Subjects like history and English will be tested with longer, essay-style questions and maths and science will see more complex problem-solving questions.

There will also be extension papers in maths and science for the brightest pupils.

A new National Curriculum will focus on the core knowledge pupils must acquire from the age of 5 to 14 so that they are better prepared for exams.

League tables ranking schools on the number of pupils getting five A*-C grades will also be axed and replaced with an average points score from their performance in eight subjects.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Madeleine Lookalike Sends DNA Sample To Police

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia correspondent

A New Zealand girl repeatedly mistaken for missing Madeleine McCann has given police a sample of her DNA which will be sent to Scotland Yard.

The girl, who has not been named, is understood to have a similar eye defect to Madeleine, prompting members of the public to believe she is the missing child.

The DNA sample is a conclusive way of proving her identity, said Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis of Dunedin Police.

"The results of this process will not be known for some time," he told New Zealand newspaper The Southland Times.

On New Year's Eve police launched a five-day investigation when a retailer became suspicious of a man and a young girl, who bore a resemblance to Madeleine.

Kate and Gerry McCann say they will maintain their search for Madeleine

However, they said they were "absolutely satisfied" she was not Madeleine, and it was not the first time she had been mistaken for the missing girl.

Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's Portuguese holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in 2007 as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.

Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, have never abandoned their high-profile campaign to find their eldest daughter, who would now be nine.

Sightings have also been reported in Sweden, Belgium and Australia.

It is not the first time a child has been DNA-tested in relation to the case of the missing British girl.

In 2011, a young girl spotted in India with a Belgian man and French woman was tested and was also found not to be Madeleine.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stafford Hospital Report To Change Face Of NHS

Victims' Families Speak Of Failures

Updated: 7:20am UK, Wednesday 06 February 2013

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

The families of three patients that died at Stafford Hospital have spoken of the neglect and failings there.

It was March 2010 when 61-year-old Alan Nash walked into Stafford Hospital for a routine colonoscopy.

Inquiries were already underway into a scandal, which suggested that between 2005 and 2008 up to 1,200 patients may have died needlessly.

As a result the Nash family believed the standards of care would be high. But Mr Nash's bowel was perforated and he died the same day.

His daughter Marie Hillman said: "We felt that all eyes would be on Stafford Hospital so there would not be any mistakes. Obviously it is one of the biggest regrets I have that we talked him into going."

His wife Jenny Nash: "I don't exactly know where the room is where they do the colonoscopy. But I was just sitting in the waiting room and it is not a big area anyway.

"I did hear. It was just like somebody had been punched in the stomach where you get that gasp, if you like and it was quite loud. I think that is when they actually perforated it."

Ms Hillman said: "He had gone into hospital for a routine diagnosis. It was just like a nightmare. A nurse said to me, you will probably find that this happened at home. This happened before he came in.

"And I thought there is no way. Dad walked into the hospital, there is no way this happened at home."

The family thought that they were trying to blame Mr Nash and "pass the buck".

His wife said: "I wasn't with him at the time, I was outside. I didn't know he was going to die."

Ms Hillman maintains that there has been no apology at all.

She said: "We would like more answers. We would like reassurance that steps have been put in place that would prevent this from happening to somebody else. But we haven't had that as of today."

In the case, the hospital did not accept that it had breached its duty of care.

Doreen Duff had already suffered a stroke before she moved to Stafford and came under the care of the local hospital.

She developed asthma and other complications and used the Accident and Emergency on a number of occasions before she was admitted. Doreen was 64 when she died in 2008.

Her husband James Duff said: "The A&E department was just chaotic. You couldn't get a doctor. If you did see one they would go off once they had seen you and they wouldn't come back until they had time again. Short staffed, rude, very, very dirty.

"At one time she was discharged from A&E and was back in A&E within an hour. She suffered more strokes and was eventually paralysed from the neck down and couldn't speak.

"When Doreen went in she was quite a bubbly person and had quite a good quality of life. She had lost the use of her left side but she had still got all the right side and she was as bright as a button.

"When she came out she was paralysed from the neck down, couldn't speak and everything had just gone. That was just because of the care she received in Stafford Hospital, a lack of care. Not giving her medication, not given the proper fluids and left in a bed that is wet, in your own faeces.

"After what we have all been through, the relatives of these, the care still isn't as it should be. They are still getting complaints coming through."

Deb Hazeldine suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of her 67-year-old mother Ellen's death from the hospital superbug C-difficile at Stafford Hospital.

"I will never get over it," said Ms Hazeldine who admits that she still struggles to cope more than six years after her loss.

She said: "My mum was diagnosed with bone cancer in March of 2006. She had some aggressive chemotherapy and unfortunately she suffered a fall at home.

"She didn't sustain any injuries at that point and she was taken into Mid-Staffs where she was told she would need physio and rehabilitation just to get her back on her feet."

Her mother was put onto an open ward despite a family request for her to have a side room or an isolation wing.

"She very quickly contracted C-diff and MRSA. She died from C-diff. She was sitting in a bed in a ward and I was sitting opposite her. We were chatting and faeces fell and covered half of the floor. Obviously it was at visiting time and other people were looking across. My mum just started to quietly cry.

"She was mortified that she was in this state. I looked for a nurse and pressed the buzzer and after about five minutes nobody came.

"I got down on my hands and knees and I started to clean it. I couldn't let my mum sit there like that. 

"When she died we had a call from the undertakers that stated that mum had so many hospital infections that the hospital said she had to be buried in a sealed body bag because she would contaminate the ground she went into.

"Even now we are hearing of complaints that there is lack of support on the wards, these families are still raising the same concerns as I was raising six years ago, of having to go in and support their loved ones.

"I don't understand that six years on, I really don't understand that."

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

RBS Strikes Libor Prosecution Deal

RBS Chief Gives Up £4m Shares In Libor Exit

Updated: 7:57pm UK, Tuesday 05 February 2013

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

The head of RBS's investment bank will forfeit millions of pounds in past share awards following political pressure for a prominent scalp from the group's involvement in the global Libor-rigging scandal.

I have learnt that John Hourican, who was brought in to rescue the business after the bank was bailed out by British taxpayers in 2008, is to relinquish roughly £4m in share options awarded to him based on past performance.

He will receive a year's salary in lieu of notice, worth around £700,000.

The details of his exit, including the cancellation of his share options, are expected to be announced on Wednesday by RBS.

Mr Hourican will leave the bank at the end of the month, having overseen a massive winding-down of RBS's investment banking operation during the last four-and-a-half years.

His role is effectively being made redundant by a restructuring of the division, and he is leaving despite the fact that both regulators and the bank's board acknowledge that he had no knowledge of, or involvement in, Libor-rigging misdemeanours.

Mr Hourican was asked by the bank's board to forfeit the £4m he is owed in shares in the last few days, according to insiders, and accepted because he is said to have felt it would be in the best interests of RBS.

In addition, he will not receive any form of bonus or share award for 2012.

The bank, which is 82% owned by UK taxpayers, will on Wednesday agree to pay approximately £400m in fines to UK and US regulators.

The majority of the settlement will cross the Atlantic and will be recouped from past RBS bonus pools, as well as payouts for 2012, following a demand from Chancellor George Osborne.

Around £100m of this will be clawed back from hundreds of senior managers across the RBS markets business, as Sky News revealed last week.

RBS is expected to spell out the details of the clawback arrangements on Wednesday.

Regulatory sources said that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) had told RBS that Mr Hourican retains its confidence and will not be prohibited from taking a future role in the banking industry.

Mr Osborne's intervention underlines the acute political sensitivity surrounding such huge fines being paid by a bank majority-owned by taxpayers.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Osborne hinted that the job of Stephen Hester, RBS chief executive, was safe but added: "It is right that those who are responsible - not just those who are directly responsible, but also those who were doing the supervising - must also bear a level of responsibility."

Last week, Sky News revealed the looming row between RBS and the Treasury over Mr Hourican's share awards.

Mr Hourican is understood to have stepped in to protect the role of Peter Nielsen, who heads the markets business and whose job is now thought to be safe.

"He has shown real leadership over this," one ally of Mr Hourican said.

The discussions between RBS and the authorities had not been completed on Tuesday night, but people close to the talks said that the final settlement is likely to include fines totalling roughly £400m.

Between £85m and £90m of the total will go to the FSA, with the remaining sum split between the US Department of Justice and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The settlement will make RBS the third bank to acknowledge that employees committed abuses of the Libor-setting regime, either for personal gain or to project a false impression of their bank's health.

Barclays was fined more than £290m, with UBS, the Swiss bank, hit by penalties of $1.5bn (£958m).

Emails and instant messages sent by RBS traders will also be released by regulators depicting the brazen way in which they attempted to manipulate the crucial inter-bank borrowing rates.

One of the outstanding issues on Tuesday night was whether RBS would be able to avoid criminal charges as part of the settlement, for which the DoJ has been pressing.

Settlements with other banks will follow in the coming months.

RBS and the FSA declined to comment. Mr Hourican could not be reached.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Richard III: King's Face Is Revealed

The face of King Richard III has been unveiled to the world after a skeleton found under a council car park was confirmed as that of the 15th century king.

A facial reconstruction of the monarch has been released by the Richard III Society after it was confirmed that a skeleton unearthed in Leicester was that of the king who died in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

The image is based on a CT scan taken by experts at the University of Leicester, who discovered the king's skeleton during an archaeological dig last September with the help of the society.

The skeleton was found in the remains of the choir of the Greyfriars church

King Richard III's skeleton was found in the remains of the choir of the Greyfriars church, which now lies under a social services car park in the city.

The facial reconstruction was unveiled at The Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House in Piccadilly, London.

The earliest surviving portrait of Richard III

Researchers said they had concluded "beyond reasonable doubt" that the skeleton, which showed evidence of an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, was the monarch.

DNA samples from Michael Ibsen - a Canadian-born furniture maker who is a direct descendant of Richard's sister, Anne of York - provided further certainty.

This plaque near Leicester Catherdral has been proved incorrect

The skeleton, with severe trauma to the skull and an arrow in the back, was unearthed on the first day of a three-week dig at the site of what is believed to have been the choir of Greyfriars Church.

Historical records show the long-lost church was the burial site of the monarch, following his brutal death at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

The remains were found in good condition - with feet missing - at a depth of 68cm. The hand were crossed over the front of the pelvis and there was no evidence of a coffin or shroud found.

The king's remains will now be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral, the nearest consecrated ground, in keeping with archaeological practice.

Shakespeare portrayed Richard III as a hunchbacked tyrant but modern historians argue that the king was the victim of Tudor propaganda.

Michael Ibsen helped identify his ancestor

His brief reign from 1483 saw liberal reforms, including the introduction of the right to bail and the lifting of restrictions on books and printing presses.

Richard III was the last Plantagenet monarch, a Yorkist defeated by Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alabama Hostage Siege Ends As Boy Saved

A boy who was held hostage for a week is safe and his captor dead after FBI agents stormed an underground bunker in Alabama.

Officials said the raid went ahead after negotiations with 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes deteriorated and he was seen with a gun.

Fearing the child was in imminent danger, agents entered the bunker to rescue the five-year-old.

The boy, who has been named only as Ethan, was taken to hospital nearby. Officials said he has Asperger's syndrome.

Dykes snatched the boy from a school bus last week after killing the driver, Charles Poland.

Officials break the news to the media

An ambulance that had been parked near Dykes' bunker was seen driving away. But it was not clear if anyone was inside.

Authorities initially declined to elaborate on how they had observed Dykes or on how he died.

However, an official in Midland City, citing information from law enforcement sources, said police had shot Dykes. 

Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter of a mile from where Dykes was holed up, said he heard a boom followed by a gunshot.

Officials had been sending food and medicine to Dykes and the boy in the bunker.

The scene of the hostage drama

Neighbours described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his garden at night with a torch and a firearm.

Government records and interviews with neighbours indicate that Dykes had been in the US Navy, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

He had some scrapes with the law in Florida, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanour was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.

He returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbours.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Savile Police Arrest Man, 65, In South London

Police investigating allegations linked to Jimmy Savile and others have arrested a 65-year-old on suspicion of sexual offences.

The unnamed man was detained at a house in South London.

The allegations are not directly related to any of Savile's offences, police said.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "He falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'others'. We are not prepared to discuss the matter further."

Scotland Yard is leading a national investigation, called Operation Yewtree, into allegations against disgraced television presenter Savile and a number of other high-profile figures.

They have separated the inquiry into three strands: claims against Savile, those involving Savile and others and those involving others.

Most of the allegations relating to "others" have been made against people associated with the entertainment industry, including ex-glam rocker Gary Glitter and comedian Freddie Starr.

So far, 589 people have come forward with information relating to the scandal, with 450 saying they were sexually abused by former Top Of The Pops presenter Savile.

Of those making complaints about the late DJ, 73% were children at the time of the alleged offences.

A report released last month revealed that Savile's victims included an eight-year-old boy and children who were seriously ill.

Branded one of the UK's most prolific known sexual predators, Savile now has 214 criminal offences recorded against his name, including 34 rapes.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Richard III's Remains Found In Council Car Park

Who Exactly Was Richard III?

Updated: 10:41am UK, Monday 04 February 2013

Richard III is probably best known as one of the most infamous villains of William Shakespeare's History Plays.

His fallible and hunchbacked character, who first used the famous phrase "now is the winter of our discontent", is said to be a study in how power can corrupt.

In his battles with the House of Lancaster, at the end of the War of the Roses, Richard is blamed for leading the country into turmoil.

In Shakespeare's play, good finally prevails over evil when Henry VII defeats the flawed King at the Battle of Bosworth and starts the Tudor dynasty.

But was Richard as bad as Shakespeare made him out to be?

One of the main pieces of evidence cited by those who wrote about him after the Tudors came to power was that he was responsible for the deaths of two young princes.

Richard had been put in charge of the 12-year-old Edward V and his nine-year-old brother Richard of Shrewsbury. When there emerged some doubt over whether Edward had a claim on the crown, the boys were imprisoned in the Tower of London and Richard III was crowned King. The boys were never seen again. Tudor and later historians accused Richard III of 'stealing' the crown.

In recent times, some historians have attempted to overturn traditional views of Richard, pointing out that commentators of his age regarded him as a good leader.

The archeologists from Leicester are hoping that the discovery of his body will further re-write those earlier 'biased' accounts.

Dr Sarah Knight and Dr Mary Ann Lund, of Leicester University said: "As researchers and tutors, the discovery has enormous implications for the way we interpret Tudor accounts of Richard III, and prompts us to see the 'foul bunchbacked toad' of Shakespeare's creation in a whole new light.

"After Richard's death at Bosworth and the accession of Henry VII, the hostile accounts of Tudor historians tried to tarnish his memory.

"[Now], we will see clearly for the first time how the historical truth became distorted in transmission and translation."

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chris Huhne Pleads Guilty Over Penalty Points

Chris Huhne has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his ex-wife took speeding points for him a decade ago.

The former Cabinet minister is now expected to stand down as an MP after entering the plea on the first day of his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.

His former wife Vicky Pryce, a former Government economics adviser, denies a charge of perverting the course of justice and her trial is expected to proceed.

Huhne arrived at the court on Monday morning with his girlfriend Carina Trimingham, who he admitted having an affair with in 2010.

The relationship led to the breakdown of his 26-year marriage to Pryce, with whom the politician has three children.

Ms Trimingham watched from the public gallery as he pleaded guilty.

The ex-Energy Secretary, who had harboured hopes of one day leading the Liberal Democrats, now finds his career in tatters and could face a jail term.

Perversion of the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Huhne, 58, spoke clearly as he said "guilty" when asked for his plea. At a pre-trial hearing last week, he had denied the offence.

The charges date back to March 2003 when Huhne's car was allegedly caught speeding on the motorway between Stansted Airport and London.

It was claimed that he persuaded economist Pryce, 60, to take the points so that he could avoid prosecution.

The claims only emerged in 2011 after his marriage fell apart because of his affair.

Mr Huhne stood down from the Cabinet last year, vowing to clear his name.

"I am innocent of these charges, and I intend to fight this in the courts, and I am confident that a jury will agree," he said at the time.

More follows...

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Osborne: Banking Reforms Will Protect Taxpayer

George Osborne is announcing plans to reform Britain's biggest banks to protect taxpayers from another financial meltdown.

Speaking at JP Morgan's administration offices in Bournemouth, the Chancellor said people were still reeling from the 2007 financial crisis that forced the country to bail-out major banks with tens of billions of pounds of taxpayers' money.

"Irresponsible behaviour was rewarded, failure was bailed out, and the innocent - people who have nothing whatsoever to do with the banks - suffered," he said.

"Let's take the anger we feel about the banks and turn it into change to build the banking system that works for us all."

He announced changes to the regulatory system in April, with the Bank of England as the new "super-cop" of the financial system to keep banks safe and protect the economy.

Mr Osborne said the watchdog would have the "power to call time if the party gets out of control".

A new competition regime will take effect in September to make it easier for customers to switch accounts.

And he warned banks they faced "full separation" if they flouted new rules to ring-fence risky operations from savers' deposits.

Mr Osborne hailed 2013 as "the year we re-set our banking system".

"So the banks work for their customers and not the other way round," he said.

"So when mistakes are made, it's the banks and not the taxpayer that picks up the bill."

More follows...

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chris Kyle: Ex-US Navy Seal Sniper Shot Dead

A former US Navy Seal sniper has been shot dead at a shooting range in Texas, according to reports.

Chris Kyle, who also wrote the best-selling book, American Sniper, was killed alongside another man.

It is believed the 38-year-old had been helping a soldier who was recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Local newspapers have quoted Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant who said the pair were found dead on Saturday afternoon at Rough Creek Lodge's shooting range, which is about an hour from Fort Worth.

The Star-Telegram reported that witnesses told police a gunman opened fire on the men, then fled in a truck belonging to one of the victims.

The newspapers said a 25-year-old man was later taken into custody in Lancaster, southeast of Dallas. The motive is unclear.

Scott McEwen, who co-wrote American Sniper, paid tribute to his friend.

"It just comes as a shock and it's staggering to think that after all Chris has been through, that this is how he meets his end, because there are so many ways he could have been killed," he said.

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History details Kyle's four combat tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars he was awarded for bravery.

It has been claimed he killed 160 people during his career.

After leaving the Navy he founded Craft International, a company that provided combat and weapons training to military, police and corporate and civilian clients.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gay Marriage: Tories Call For Delay To Vote

Around 180 Conservative MPs are reportedly poised to oppose or abstain in a vote on gay marriage to be held on Tuesday.

MPs will vote on the proposals, which will also allow civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage and enable married people to change their legal gender without having to end their union, for the first time when the Bill has its second reading on Tuesday.

Backbenchers have made no secret of their opposition to the move and were left even more angered when the Tory leadership made clear earlier this week it would not include marriage tax breaks in next month's budget - something that would have been seen as a concession to disgruntled traditionalists.

Twenty five chairmen or former chairmen of Conservative Party associations have sent the Prime Minister a letter warning that the policy will cause "significant damage" at the ballot box.

Michael Gove supports the legislation

The letter calls for a decision to be postponed until after the 2015 general election.

It closes by saying: "Resignations from the Party are beginning to multiply and we fear that, if enacted, this Bill will lead to significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run up to the 2015 election."

David Cameron views the introduction of same-sex marriage as the "Conservative Party delivering the promise it made".

But Geoffrey Vero from Conservative Grassroots told Sky News: "It's very dangerous to scratch the core beliefs of many people and this is a matter which should be taken much more slowly and debated across the country."

Minister for culture Ed Vaizey said he did not think the issue would tear the Tory party apart and told Sky News he thought it was a "civilised debate".

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a big supporter of reforms, said: "Every year thousands of people choose to marry in a church rather than a registry office because they believe marriage is sacred. Religious freedom is not just for heterosexuals - we should not deny anyone the right to make a lifelong commitment to another person in front of God if that is what they believe and that is what their church allows."

Education Secretary Michael Gove has also thrown his support behind the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage and promised teachers would not be disciplined for refusing to promote it.

Concerns have been raised ahead of the Commons vote that thousands of teachers could face the sack because they object to the new law.

But Mr Gove made clear that while teachers would have to explain that it is legal, they would not be required to actively promote it.

Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, Mr Gove explained his stance, saying it was wrong to say to gay men and women that their love is less legitimate.

He said: "It's wrong to say that because of how you love and who you love, you are not entitled to the same rights as others. It's wrong because inequality is wrong."

He continued: "Marriage is not undermined by extending it to gay people - it is reinforced by including everyone equally."

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Welsh Secretary David Jones are expected to vote against the plans while Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will vote against or abstain and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is poised to abstain, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow are gay Christians who would like to marry in their local church where their five children were baptised. Tony said: "It's just about fairness, it's just about being the same as everybody else. We're not asking for more than anyone else, just the same."

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iraq: 33 Dead In Bomb Blast And Gun Attack

At least 33 people have been killed in a co-ordinated suicide car bombing and gun attack on a police base in northern Iraq.

A car bomb went off before two militants dressed in police uniforms and armed with guns, grenades and suicide vests stormed the compound in the city of Kirkuk, police said.

A further 70 people were injured in the the rush-hour attacks - shattering a relative calm in recent days in the war-torn country.

Police said there were still bodies trapped under the collapsed debris of buildings following the blast.

An injured man is stretchered away from the scene

The blast caused extensive damage to nearby buildings and vehicles.

The gunmen burst threw the main gates of the police base in the direction of the headquarters block.

They threw several grenades, but were killed before they could get there, witnesses said.

"I saw a vehicle stop at the checkpoint at the main entrance, and the police started checking it," said Kosrat Hassan Karim, who was nearby when the attack took place.

Rescue workers look for survivors among the debris

"Suddenly, a loud explosion happened, it was terrifying.

"I saw many people killed inside their cars."

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack.

Kirkuk, an ethnically mixed city, is at the centre of a dispute over oil and land rights between Baghdad's central government and the autonomous northern Kurdish region.

The unresolved row is persistently cited by diplomats and officials as the biggest threat to Iraq's long-term stability.

Firefighters tackle a smouldering vehicle

Tensions between Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni factions in Iraq's power-sharing government have been on the rise this year.

Militants continue to carry out almost daily strikes, with at least one big attack a month.

Last month a suicide bomber disguised as a mourner killed at least 26 people at a funeral at a Shiite mosque in the nearby city of Tuz Khurmato.

Days earlier, a suicide bomber driving a truck killed 25 people in an attack on a political party headquarters in Kirkuk, which is 105 miles north of the capital Baghdad.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More