LA Airport Attack: 'Gunman Sent Suicide Text'

A man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack at Los Angeles International Airport sent a suicidal text message to his sibling, police have said.

The alleged gunman shot his way past a screening checkpoint, killing a security officer and wounding three other people before being injured in a shoot-out and taken into custody, authorities said.

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Paul Ciancia, who police have said appeared to have a grudge against security services.

His father, who has the same name, called his local police chief around the time of the shooting to report his son had sent the text and he needed to find him, police said.

The elder Paul Ciancia, from Pennsville, New Jersey, telephoned Allen Cummings, telling him one of his children had received the message from the younger Ciancia "in reference to him taking his own life".

At the time, the 23-year-old man was carrying out his shooting using a semi-automatic rifle, authorities said.

The attack caused major disruption to travellers

A motive was not clear, but Ciancia was wearing military fatigues and carrying a bag containing a handwritten note that said he "wanted to kill TSA (Transport Security Administration) and pigs," according to a law enforcement official.

The official said the rant referred to how Ciancia believed his constitutional rights were being violated by TSA searches and that he was upset at former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Ciancia, who managed to enter the secure area of Terminal 3, was reportedly shot in the mouth and leg by two airport police officers.

After getting the call from the suspect's father, Mr Cummings contacted LA police, who sent a patrol car to Ciancia's apartment.

He said: "Basically, there were two roommates there. They said, 'We saw him yesterday and he was fine.'"

A police officer at Los Angeles airport

Mr Cummings said his police department had never had dealings with the younger Ciancia.

Neighbour Josh Pagan, 17, said: "He was never weird toward me. He never gave me any weird vibes."

He added that in the 10 years he has lived across the street from the Ciancia family "they've been nothing but nice to us."

The airport attack disrupted more than 700 flights across the US. One witness at LAX, Brian Keech, said he heard "about a dozen gunshots" from inside the security gate.

Travellers described a chaotic scene as security staff evacuated terminals and rushed them outside to the tarmac.

The man who died was named as 39-year-old Gerardo I. Hernandez - the first TSA officer killed in the line of duty in the 12-year history of the agency, founded in the aftermath of 9/11.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti praised the response of officers and said: "There were more than 100 more rounds that could have literally killed everybody in that terminal today. Were it not for their actions, it could have been a lot more damage."

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pizza Delivery Driver Murder: Two In Court

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent

Two people have appeared in court charged with the murder of a pizza delivery driver in Sheffield.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris had been delivering his last ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of the city on October 27.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who are accused of killing Mr Peiris both appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

The pair were remanded in custody until the next hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on November 15.

Mr Peiris was on his final shift before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

The 25-year-old was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying his family to the UK in the coming days.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Pakistan Taliban Leader After Drone Strike

The number two commander in the Pakistani Taliban has been promoted to leader after its previous chief was killed in a US drone strike.

Khan Said, also known as Sajna, now commands the militant group following a meeting of the supreme ruling council, according to security officials.

Said is believed to have masterminded an attack on a jail in north-west Pakistan that freed nearly 400 prisoners in 2012 and an attack on a Pakistani air force base in the same year.

Previous leader Hakimullah Mehsud had a $5m (£3.1m) US government bounty on his head and was one of Pakistan's most wanted men.

He has been buried after being killed on Friday along with four associates when a drone targeted his car in a compound in the country's North Waziristan tribal district.

A senior US intelligence official confirmed the strike, adding that the US had received positive confirmation that Mehsud had been killed.

A Pakistani Taliban fighter said Mehsud's body was "damaged but recognisable". His bodyguard and driver were also killed.

Hakimullah Mehsud (c) seen with other Taliban militants in a video in 2009

Spokesman for the militant group, Azam Tariq, said: "Every drop of Hakimullah's blood will turn into a suicide bomber. America and their friends shouldn't be happy because we will take revenge for our martyr's blood."

Mehsud, who was believed to be aged in his mid-30s, has been reported dead several times before.

The US offered the $5m bounty after he appeared in a video with a Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at a base in Afghanistan in 2009.

Mehsud was also believed to be behind a failed car bombing in New York's Times Square in 2010, as well as brazen attacks inside Pakistan.

The US National Counterterrorism Centre describes Mehsud as "the self-proclaimed emir of the Pakistani Taliban". 

The CIA and the White House declined to comment on the death.

The killing is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Pakistani Taliban.

A drone strike killed Mehsud's number two, Waliur Rehman, in May and one of his most trusted lieutenants was captured in Afghanistan last month.

The death comes at a politically sensitive time and follows months of debate over potential peace talks between the Taliban and the new government of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who swept to a landslide victory in May elections.

Pakistan's government has been trying to cut a peace deal with the militants to end years of fighting that has killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baby P's Mum Tracey Connelly 'Freed From Jail'

Baby P's mother, who was jailed in 2009 over her son's death, has been released from prison, according to reports.

Tracey Connelly was reportedly freed after the Parole Board recommended her release following a second review of her case.

The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases and would not confirm or deny the reports.

Connelly was jailed indefinitely with a minimum of five years following her son Peter's death.

The Parole Board confirmed recently that a three-member panel had directed her release.

It said then: "Tracey Connelly first became eligible for parole in August 2012, and at that time a Parole Board panel made no recommendation to release.

"This is the second parole review for Tracey Connelly. The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent - arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the Secretary of State."

Steven Barker (L) and Jason Owen

Baby P died on August 3, 2007, with more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.

Connelly admitted the offence soon after being charged and served several hundred days on remand.

She was given a so-called imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence, which carries a minimum term.

Connelly will remain on licence for the rest of her life and if she breaches any of the conditions, she will probably be recalled to custody.

Her son died at his home in Tottenham, north London, a day after police told Connelly she would not be prosecuted over abuse of the 17-month-old.

Connelly was jailed with her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, who were convicted at trial of the same offence.

Barker was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years for raping a two-year-old girl and given a 12-year term to run concurrently for his "major role" in Peter's death.

Owen was jailed indefinitely with a minimum three-year term but later won an appeal to lower it to a fixed six-year term.

He was freed in August 2011 but was then recalled to prison again in April this year.

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

RBS Confirms Plan For £38bn 'Bad Bank'

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has confirmed plans to hive off nearly £40bn of toxic assets into a new division as part of an effort to accelerate its recovery that will be treated with scepticism by advocates of a more radical break-up.

Announcing a third-quarter pre-tax loss of £634m, RBS said £38bn of impaired loans would be placed into an 'internal bad bank' to be called RBS Capital Resolution Division.

The new arm of the bank is designed to provide a clearer distinction between the clean parts of the business and the tens of billions of pounds of legacy loans that critics say have hampered its ability to play a role in aiding the recovery of the UK economy.

Ross McEwan, RBS's new chief executive, conceded that quickening the run-off of these assets - with a target of up to £25bn of the £38bn being shed by the end of 2015 - would incur steeper losses.

The outcome of the four-month review commissioned by the Chancellor, George Osborne, and conducted by City firms BlackRock and Rothschild will see the rebranding of RBS's existing non-core wing, which has already offloaded hundreds of billions of pounds of toxic loans since the bank's £45.5bn bail-out by UK taxpayers in 2008.

Price correct at 09.43 GMT

Sky News exclusively revealed details of the internal bad bank plan and the broader restructuring of the bank, which is 81%-owned by taxpayers, last weekend.

Alongside the new bad bank, RBS will also bring forward the disposal of its US retail bank, Citizens; further shrink its investment banking business; resolve the issue of a dividend-blocking instrument that RBS will need to acquire from the Government; and target new cost-cutting measures that could lead to thousands more job cuts.

Mr Osborne said the reforms were part of a broader objective of "creating a banking system that works for Britain".

"Under this new direction RBS will deal decisively with the problems of the past by separating out the good from the bad, and putting the bad loans in a bad bank.

Stephen Hester left RBS amid his support for investment bank operations

"Our independent analysis shows that the bad bank should be an internal one, funded by RBS, rather than an external one funded by the taxpayer."

In a pointed remark highlighting divisions between the Treasury and Mr McEwan's predecessor, Stephen Hester, the Chancellor said that the new strategy was jointly-supported by RBS's management, the Government and the regulator.

The Bank of England said that it welcomed "the development of a more focused strategy for RBS and the commitments of the Board to specific actions that will bolster its capital position in the next three years".

"These actions should create a more resilient institution that is better able to support the real economy without any expectation of further Government support," it said.

"Given these developments, the Bank of England fully supports the conclusions of the review published today by HM Treasury."

While there was a consensus about the reforms within Government, Mr Osborne may have to brave a more hostile response from figures who wanted a more radical split of RBS.

Among their ranks were Lord Lawson, the former Chancellor; Lord  King, former Governor of the Bank of England; and Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards.

Alongside the new measures aimed at boosting RBS's recovery, a report was published condemning the bank's attitude to lending to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

Mr McEwan pledged to implement the recommendations, and said RBS would target becoming the best SME bank in the UK.

In response to today's announcements, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: "After the firesales of Royal Mail and Northern Rock, we will scrutinise George Osborne's plans for the future of RBS very carefully.

"As we argued when, earlier this year, the Chancellor flirted with the idea of a quick sale of RBS to a political timetable, the taxpayer interest must come first.

"The tests for these changes at RBS are whether they see the taxpayer ultimately get its money back and whether they actually boost business lending and radically transform this bank to put an end to business as usual.

"On the banking system more widely, business and the public are right to be concerned that lending to business is still falling while the radical reforms we need are being watered down.

"For example, he is still refusing to implement the Parliamentary Commission's call for a backstop power that would allow for full separation of all the banks, not just one or two, if ring-fencing proves ineffective and does not deliver the cultural change we need."

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mansfield Garden Bodies: 'Daughter' Arrested

The daughter of an elderly couple, found buried in their back garden, has been arrested on suspicion of their murders, according to the Press Association.

Susan Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher, 57, were arrested at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening, said the news agency.

Nottinghamshire Police have refused to confirm the identities of the pair under arrest, but it is understood that they are the daughter of William and Patricia Wycherley and her husband.

The couple, who are believed to have been living outside the UK, are being questioned in police custody.

It comes after human remains - thought to be that of Mr and Mrs Wycherley's - were found at a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, last month.

Police were led to the site following a tip-off.

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers have said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis has shed further light on the remains.

One of the bodies is believed to be that of an elderly white man who was older than 60, well-built and around 5ft 8in.

The second set of remains is likely to be that of a well-built white woman, who was 40 or older and around 5ft 6in.

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined in both cases, the female remains have a "distinctive feature in their anatomy".

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Bill and Pat, who would be 100 and 79 respectively if they were to still be alive today, were known to be quite reclusive.

"But with help from relatives and old friends, we are starting to build a picture of their lives and, more importantly, their movements in 1998, when neighbours say they simply disappeared."

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syria's Chemical Weapons Equipment 'Destroyed'

Syria has destroyed all its declared chemical weapons production facilities, the international chemical weapons watchdog says.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a document - seen by the Reuters news agency - that teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country.

The other two were too dangerous to inspect but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites which had been inspected, it said.

"The OPCW is satisfied it has verified, and seen destroyed, all declared critical production/mixing/filling equipment from all 23 sites," the document said.

Under a Russian-American brokered deal, Damascus agreed to destroy all its chemical weapons after Washington threatened to use force in response to the killing of hundreds of people in a sarin attack on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.

The United States and its allies blamed President Bashar al Assad's forces for the attack and several earlier incidents. The Syrian president has rejected the charge, blaming rebel brigades.

Under the disarmament timetable, Syria was due to render unusable all production and chemical weapons filling facilities by November 1 - a target it has now met.

By mid-2014 it must have destroyed its entire stockpile of chemical weapons.

The first monthly report by the inspectors, covering their work on the ground since October 1, has been sent to the UN Security Council by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

House Prices: 'Tax To Tackle London Bubble'

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

George Osborne is considering slapping new taxes on foreign property investors in an effort to tackle what many see as a house price bubble in London and the South East of Britain.

The Chancellor is actively investigating imposing capital gains tax on foreign owners of British property at the Autumn Statement in December.

The Treasury has already provisionally costed the measures and is awaiting a final decision from Mr Osborne in the coming weeks.

While those living in Britain have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) of 18% or, more commonly, 28%, if they make a profit when reselling all but their main home, non-resident property owners are currently exempt for all their properties.

Mr Osborne could make foreign buyers liable for CGT

Britain's comparatively generous regime is thought to be one of the factors behind the sharp increase in foreign ownership of properties in London.

House prices in London rose by nearly 9% in August, compared with around 2% elsewhere in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Fast-rising property prices have fuelled fears about a housing bubble in so-called 'prime' London areas such as Kensington & Chelsea, where the average home is now worth almost 30 times the average local salary.

The price increases have been driven in part by foreign investment, with around 70% of the most expensive London newly-built properties being bought by non-UK citizens, according to estate agency Knight Frank.

It calculates that 65% of overseas buyers intend to rent their London properties rather than live in them.

At present, these buyers do not have to pay tax on the gains if they go on to sell the property in the future.

Under plans being mulled by Mr Osborne, even overseas buyers would become liable for CGT, as they are in many other countries throughout Europe.

According to the Treasury's own internal research, the tax would be unlikely to raise significant sums - tens of millions rather than billions - but would address concerns that overseas investors might enjoy favourable treatment when it comes to property investment.

In last year's Budget, the Chancellor introduced a series of measures levying annual charges on foreign investors who attempt to avoid paying taxes by holding properties through so-called 'wrapper' companies.

The charges have brought in more revenue than expected, something the Chancellor is likely to outline at the Autumn Statement.

However, although imposing new capital gains taxes on overseas investors might address concerns about a destabilising influx of cash into the capital, some within Whitehall fear that they would undermine the Government's message of keeping Britain 'open for business'.

Others are worried that they would cause a sharp fall in foreign demand for London property, which in turn could undermine the broader UK housing market ahead of the next election.

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

First Televised Court Hearing Under Way

Legal proceedings are under way at the Court of Appeal in the first court case in England to be televised.

Convicted counterfeiter Kevin Fisher is applying for leave to appeal against his sentence of seven years.

His legal counsel is Alexander Cameron QC, brother of Prime Minister David Cameron.

It is a moment of legal and broadcasting history, as Sky News' cameras film inside the Royal Courts of Justice for the first time.

Cameras have been banned from courts in England and Wales since 1925.

The rules in Scottish courts are different and earlier this year cameras were allowed to film a murder trial - but only with the permission of all the participants, including the defendant.

Sky News and other broadcasters have been campaigning for a decade for cameras to be allowed to show all trials.

After prolonged negotiations, the Government and the judiciary have agreed to allow cameras inside certain courtrooms.

More follows...

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tunisia: Suicide Bomber Strikes At Beach Resort

A man has blown himself up at a Mediterranean resort town in Tunisia which is popular with British holidaymakers.

The man, who was wearing a belt of explosives, detonated his charge near the Riadh Palm Hotel in Sousse - moments before security forces foiled a similar attack elsewhere.

A would-be suicide bomber who tried to blow himself up at the tomb of former President Habib Bourguiba in the southern city of Monastir was captured by police.

"An attempted attack targeting the compound of the Bourguiba mausoleum was foiled ... and a young man carrying explosives was arrested," said ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Laroui.

The suicide bomber in Sousse, which is situated 90 miles south of the capital Tunis, was the only person killed in the attack, the interior ministry said.

There were no immediate reports of any other casualties.

Tunisia has been battling unrest since the overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's secular dictatorship, and has seen the rise of a hardline Islamist movement that has armed itself and carried out attacks.

Earlier this year, the government began a crackdown on Ansar al-Sharia, one of the most radical groups to emerge since the country's 2011 uprising.

The group's leader is a former al Qaeda veteran who once fought in Afghanistan.

Nine police officers were killed in clashes with militants earlier this month.

More follows...

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sheffield Pizza Man Killed On Final Delivery

A 25-year-old student has been stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery before starting a career as an IT consultant.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, who was originally from Sri Lanka, was found slumped at the wheel of his car on Sunday evening, in the Southey area of Sheffield, as he was on his way to deliver a takeaway.

Detectives say they cannot explain the "brutal and shocking death" of a "career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man".

According to South Yorkshire Police, Mr Peiris was making his last delivery for Domino's Pizza when he died.

Southey Crescent in Sheffield, where Mr Peiris was found dead in his car

He had been working for the chain's branch on Halifax Road in the city, while he studied IT at Sheffield Hallam University.

Mr Peiris had been taking an order to an address in Southey Crescent, which was due around 10pm.

When he failed to arrive, his work colleagues went to look for him.

He was found dead at 10.30pm in the driver's seat of his silver Toyota Yaris, outside the address he was delivering to.

A post-mortem examination showed that he died from stab wounds.

A 50-strong police team is now working on the murder inquiry.

Mr Peiris's family are preparing to travel to South Yorkshire, police said.

The branch of Domino's Pizza in Halifax Road, where the 25-year-old worked

Detective Superintendant Lisa Ray, who is leading the investigation, said no motive had yet been established for the murder.

She said: "Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was a bright, hard-working, intelligent and caring man who had worked hard to develop his career in Sheffield.

"Everything we have learned from his family, friends and workmates at Domino's suggests he was a career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man who was very much planning his future.

"To date, we have found no explanation for his brutal and shocking death.

"I need to hear from anyone who knows anything about his murder.

"A family is grieving for a young man whose life has been taken from him in the most brutal of fashions, and we owe it to him and his family to find the person or persons responsible."

A number of people have been arrested and questioned by detectives since the murder, but have since been released without charge, according to a force spokesman.

A spokesman for Sheffield Hallam University said Mr Peiris graduated in 2011.

He said: "The university is saddened to hear of the tragic death on Sunday of Thavisha Peiris, who successfully graduated in 2011 with a degree in information technology.

"We encourage anyone with information to contact South Yorkshire Police."

Anyone with information is urged to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 1253 of October 27.

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Back-To-Work Schemes 'Legally Flawed'

The Government's back-to-work schemes, under which people on benefits work for free, are legally flawed, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Judges upheld an earlier ruling which found that 2011 regulations underpinning the schemes, which have been criticised as "slave labour", were invalid.

The legal battle focused on several cases including graduate Cait Reilly who had been made to work for two weeks cleaning and stacking shelves in a Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham.

The 24-year-old graduate said she gained nothing from the fortnight and felt as though she was simply giving her labour for free.

The other case was that of 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamieson Wilson, from Nottingham, who had to do unpaid work cleaning furniture and was stripped of his jobseeker's allowance for six months.

The Supreme Court dismissed Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith's appeal on the issue of the legality of the back-to-work schemes, holding that the regulations were "invalid" as they did not give sufficiently detailed "prescribed description" of the schemes.

It also held that the Secretary of State had failed to provide sufficient information about the schemes to Ms Reilly and Mr Wilson.

Iain Duncan Smith is pleased with the ruling on 'slave labour'

However, the judges ruled that regulations did not constitute forced or compulsory labour, leaving both sides claiming victory.

Following the judgment Ms Reilly, who said she had been unfairly labelled a 'job snob' for challenging the scheme, said: "I am really pleased with today's judgment, which I hope will serve to improve the current system and assist jobseekers who have been unfairly stripped of their benefits.

"I brought these proceedings because I knew that there was something wrong when I was stopped from doing voluntary work in a local museum and instead forced to work for Poundland for free.

"I have been fortunate enough to find work in a supermarket but I know how difficult it can be. It must be time for the Government to rethink its strategy and actually do something constructive to help lift people out of unemployment and poverty."

In February, Court of Appeal judges unanimously agreed the 2011 "work for your benefits" regulations failed to give the unemployed enough information, especially about the sanctions for refusing jobs under the schemes.

Lawyers said that the ruling meant that all those who had their jobseeker's allowance withdrawn for failing to comply with the back-to-work scheme were entitled to reclaim their allowance.

The Government appealed to the Supreme Court and then fast-tracked the Jobseekers (Back-to-Work Schemes) Act retrospectively through parliament.

Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) said the Government aim was to retrospectively "make lawful what the appeal court declared unlawful" in order to avoid a multimillion-pound bill in pay-outs to individuals who had been unlawfully sanctioned.

Solicitor Tessa Gregory, from Public Interest Lawyers, was at the Supreme Court with Ms Reilly and expressed their "delight" at the court's ruling in relation to the legality of the 2011 regulations.

Responding to the ruling, Mr Duncan Smith said: "We are very pleased that the Supreme Court today unanimously upheld our right to require those claiming jobseeker's allowance to take part in programmes which will help get them into work.

"We have always said that it was ridiculous to say that our schemes amounted to forced labour, and yet again we have won this argument.

"Ultimately this judgment confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits."

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt lost his appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling, which found he had no power to announce cuts to A&E and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital.

18.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Storm: Battle To Get Britain Working Again

Up to 61,000 homes are still without power following the most powerful storm to hit Britain for a decade.

The authorities are continuing to clear away debris and fallen trees while engineers work to restore power and rail services slowly return to normal.

Dubbed St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, the storm claimed four lives and caused transport disruption on road, rail, air and sea as it ripped across the country, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

National Rail said it was not yet able to say how services would be affected today, but urged travellers to check with their train operator, while ferry services from Dover are still delayed because of rough seas.

The storm, which is now over Scandinavia, will today be replaced with far lighter winds and rain, but dozens of areas in southern England still remain on flood alert, the Environment Agency said.

Insurers are counting the cost of the storm, but say it is too early to tell whether it will compare with the multi-billion pound hits caused by previous severe weather events.

Fallen trees caused major delays for Monday morning commuters

On Monday morning, winds of up to 100mph swept through the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England after first hitting land in the early hours.

Up to 2.4in of rain - half the monthly average - fell in a just few hours during the storm in areas including Hampshire and Devon, causing flash-floods.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell on the caravans she and her family were living in while renovation work was taking place at their home at Edenbridge in Kent shortly after 7am.

"Loving husband" and father-of-three Donal Drohan, 51, originally from Waterford in the Irish Republic, died after his car was hit by a tree at the bridge over the River Colne in Watford.

In Hounslow, west London, two people were killed by an explosion, thought to have been caused by an uprooted tree rupturing a gas main, which devastated three houses and damaged two others.

Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young warned that the impacts from the storm are still around and urged the public to remain alert.

John Lee, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said it was the most powerful storm in years.

"There will no doubt be some disruption still following the damage caused by strong winds and heavy rain, but the weather will be quite different," he said.

"It will be blustery with some showers, especially in the west, but a lot lighter.

"On Friday there is an indication that stormy weather could return, but it's likely to bring heavy rain rather than strong winds."

:: Keep up to date with the latest travel information in your area:

TRAINS:

Greater Anglia
Stansted Express
East Coast
East Midlands Trains
C2C
First Hull Trains
Grand Central
London Midland
South West Trains
Southeastern
Southern Railway
First Capital Connect
Arriva Trains Wales
London Overground
London Underground

PLANES:

Heathrow Airport

FERRIES:

Brittany Ferries

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Energy Prices: MPs To Turn Up Heat On 'Big Six'

Energy: Who Are The Big Six?

Updated: 10:56am UK, Tuesday 29 October 2013

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

As energy bills continue to dominate in Westminster, MPs will today hear from the "Big Six" companies – who together supply over 99% of British homes. So who are they?

:: British Gas

Much to the annoyance of MPs and the public, five out of six of the companies have failed to put up their chief executives. British Gas will instead put up Ian Peters, managing director of energy.

He will be seen as a key witness because British Gas (which also operates as Scottish Gas) is the UK's largest supplier of energy to households with almost 10 million residential customers.

British Gas has announced that the bills for dual-fuel customers will rise by 9.2% from 23 November. That is an 8.4% increase in gas prices and 10.4% in electricity.

The average annual bill will go up by £123 to £1,444. That is despite an overall profit in 2012 of over £600m.

:: E.ON

Tony Cocker is the only chief executive agreeing to stand in the spotlight today. His company, E.ON, has yet to announce price rises although it is expected to do so soon.

E.ON – which used to be called Powergen – operates in over 30 countries, serving 26 million customers.

Its price increases last year brought the average bill to £1,370. Its sales revenues in 2012 rose by 5% to £132.1bn with profits in excess of £800m

But the previous chief executive said the results were down to one-off effects and warned that parts of the business remained barely profitable.

:: EDF

Martin Lawrence, the managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, will represent EDF today.

The company – which supplies around 3.7 million households in Britain - has also not announced a price increase as yet although it was one of the later ones to do so last year as well.

In 2012 it put up the average dual-fuel bill by 10.8%

The company's UK retail arm made a loss of £92m in 2012. But the success of its power generation arm – with nuclear power stations, coal plants and a gas power station – meant it was able to announce profits above £900m in the summer.

:: SSE

This latest storm of controversy around energy bills began with an announcement by SSE of an 8.2% increase in dual-fuel prices. This pushed up the average to £1,380

That is despite profits of over £400m in 2012. The company blamed wholesale prices but also green levies attached to bills through Government policy. The row led David Cameron to pledge to roll back the levies.

The company is putting forward Will Morris, managing director of retail.

:: npower

With 3.5 million UK customers npower is a huge player in the UK and one of the largest gas and electricity companies across Europe.

The company has announced its price rises to come in at the start of December. The electricity price will increase by 9.3% with gas going up by 11.1% – making the average bill 10.4% higher – up to £1,459.

In March the company faced controversy when it announced a 34% increase in profits to £413m – although the figure relating to domestic supply is lower.

The company is putting up Guy Johnson, its external affairs director.

:: Scottish Power

Neil Clitheroe, CEO retail and generation, will appear in front of MPs. The company is the most recent to announce price rises this winter of 8.6% - an 8.5% rise in in gas and 9% in electricity.

That means the average household bill will go up by £113 to £1,424.

It revealed that it had more than doubled pre-tax profits to £712m in July – and an £890m divided to its Spanish parent, Iberdrola, also caused anger.

:: Watch MPs question representatives from the Big Six on Sky News from 2.30pm.

:: Watch a live debate on energy between shadow energy minister Caroline Flint and energy minister Michael Fallon at 5.30pm on Sky News.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Savile Chauffeur David Smith Found Dead

A former driver charged with sex offences as part of the investigation triggered by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has been found dead.

David Smith, 66, was the first person to be charged by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation.

He had pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency on a child following his arrest in December.

Smith leaving court in May

But he failed to turn up at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the start of his trial, prompting police to go to his home in Effingham Road, Lewisham.

Scotland Yard said: "At approximately 14:20 officers entered the address and found the body of a man. A FME (forensic medical examiner) attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Next of kin are being informed."

Smith's barrister, Sandy Canavan, had told the court she was "concerned" that her solicitor had been unable to contact him ahead of the trial as she had regularly been in touch with him.

She told the court Smith was the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Police have separated the Yewtree investigation into three parts, the first concerned with the actions of Savile, while the second concerns allegations against what has become known as 'Savile and others'.

Smith was investigated under the third strand, concerning accusations of sexual abuse unconnected to Savile, but made by people who came forward following publicity surrounding the Savile allegations.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Transport services including trains, planes and ferries have been cancelled or disrupted after a severe storm struck the southern half of the UK.

More than 200 trees fell on railway lines across the South and the South East, with Network Rail saying its engineers would be working to remove them "as soon as possible".

East Coast Trains said fallen power cables and flooding at the southern end of its network had caused delays and cancellations to services and urged passengers not to travel, while First Capital Connect told its passengers there would be "no services until further notice".

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Other operators including Greater Anglia Trains, East Midlands Trains and C2C Trains suspended services until at least 12pm because of fallen trees and damage to overhead power lines.

Hurricane-force winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A tree on the tracks at Keymer, West Sussex. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees and flooding affected parts of the M6 in Merseyside.

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews worked to remove trees and other debris.

Meanwhile, rough seas caused the Port of Dover to suspend ferry crossings temporarily, while Brittany Ferries cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

More than 130 flights were cancelled from Heathrow airport, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Among the transport operators affected by the storm are:

Trains

:: Southern Railway was not able to resume services, including the Gatwick Express, at 9am as planned because of a large number of trees obstructing the line.

:: South West Trains has warned people not to travel at all on Monday and will be running a "significantly reduced timetable".

:: Southeastern Railway is running a high speed service between Ashford and St Pancras International but warned passengers the service would be "very busy". Its metro and mainline routes are suspended because of the number of branches and trees on the line.

:: East Coast Trains said disruption was expected throughout the day between London Kings Cross and Peterborough because of overhead line problems.

:: Greater Anglia Trains services including the Stansted Express will be suspended until at least 12pm because of damage to overhead power lines and trees on the line.

:: First Capital Connect has said it has "no indication of when services will resume" but warned some routes may remain closed all day.

:: London Overground services have been suspended.

:: East Midlands Trains has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras because of fallen trees. Travel is not expected to resume until at least 12pm.

:: C2C trains are suspended until 12pm because of the amount of debris on the track.

:: Eurostar cross-channel services are running, although speed restrictions are in place.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport has cut capacity for all airlines on Monday, including a 20% reduction between 6am and 11am. About 130 flights have been cancelled and the airport recommends all passengers contact their airline.

:: Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service", while Stansted, Luton and Bristol airports have not yet announced any cancellations.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

:: The Port of Dover has reopened after a temporary closure, although passengers are urged to contact their ferry operator before travelling.

:: Ferries have been cancelled between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

Roads

:: The Highways Agency has issued a severe weather alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans, motorbikes and other vulnerable vehicles.

:: Both crossings over the Severn estuary were closed but have since reopened.

:: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the southbound Dartford Crossing, is closed with traffic diverted through the tunnel.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mangaung: G4S Prison In 'Torture' Claims Probe

A South African prison run by British security firm G4S has been accused of torturing inmates with electric shocks and subjecting them to forced injections.

Insiders at Mangaung Correctional Centre, near Bloemfontein, said water was thrown over inmates to increase the impact of the electric charge.

The South African government has temporarily taken over the running of the jail from G4S and launched an investigation.

In a statement, it said G4S had "lost effective control of the facility" following "recent stabbing and hostage incidents".

G4S - which is trying to recover from a series of damaging incidents with the UK government - says it has seen no evidence of abuse by its employees.

The Wits Justice Project - part of the journalism department of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg - obtained footage showing alleged abuse inside the high security prison.

It collected accounts of electric shocks and beatings from almost 30 prisoners during a year-long investigation.

In one video, the click of electrified shields and shrieking can be heard. It also shows a prisoner resisting a medication.

"Some said they would pass out when the shocks became too intense," said Ruth Hopkins, a journalist with the project.

Prisoners also complained about suffering broken limbs and other serious injuries, she said.

G4S is trying to recover from a series of damaging incidents in the UK

One former prisoner told the BBC electric shocks were used as "torture".

A staff member at the prison hospital said inmates were injected with Clopixol Depot, Risperdal, Etomine and Modecate - anti-psychotic drugs that can cause memory loss, muscle rigidity and strokes.

Former inmate Thabo Godfrey Botsane claims he was beaten by security officers because a cell in his unit had been set alight.

"They stripped me naked, poured water over me, electroshocked and kicked me," he said. "They left me naked and bleeding on the floor. A guy from the prison intelligence unit - not a nurse - came back and he injected me in my buttocks."

Former warders Pule Moholo, Dehlazwa Mdi and Themba Tom said they remember the sound of inmates screaming.

"There was a sound-proof room called the 'dark room'. EST members would bring inmates there, strip them naked, pour water over them and electroshock them," Mr Tom said. "We would try not to hear the crying and screaming. It was awful."

G4S did not immediately comment when contacted by Sky News.

Andy Baker, regional president of G4S for Africa, told the BBC that administering and prescribing injections was not the domain of G4S staff but of a separate medical staff.

When asked about allegations of electric shocks and beatings, he said there had "never been an abuse of this type or nature" to his knowledge.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Storm: Two People Killed By Falling Trees

Two people have been killed by falling trees in the severe storm which has been battering southern England.

A 17-year-old girl died after a tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

A man in his 50s was killed after a tree fell on his car in Lower High Street, Watford, in the early hours of this morning.

A 14-year-old boy is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Around 270,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

One tree devastated three houses and damaged two others when it fell on a gas main and led to an explosion in Hounslow, west London.

Three people escaped from the properties before firefighters arrived, and an elderly woman was taken to hospital.

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

Crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution following the blast.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines in daylight for fallen trees, branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

Damage to power cables across a rail track near St Albans Pic: Network Rail

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

The Environment Agency said there were 12 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 132 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "The worst is just about over. The storm is clearing out into the North Sea, but it is currently bringing 70 to 80mph gusts to East Anglia and Kent. These winds should slowly subside in the next hour."

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

More follows...

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Storm: Britain Braced For Hurricane-Speed Winds

An amber weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic and moves towards Britain.

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds of up to 80mph and torrential rain  - which will first strike the south-west of England  - could leave a trail of destruction as the storm sweeps north-east across the country, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.

Frank Saunders, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: "We are confident that a severe storm will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday.

"We are now looking at refining the details about which areas will see the strongest winds and the heaviest rain."

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

The much-anticipated storm has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscof, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

It has been compared to the Great Storm of 1987

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in south Wales in 1989.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and keep checking the forecasts as the powerful storm approaches.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

David Beckham Involved In LA Car Collision

David Beckham has been involved in a car collision in Los Angeles but is unhurt, Sky News has confirmed.

His black Range Rover and a white Accura were damaged on Friday near the football star's home.

Photos of the scene showed the white 4x4 with a damaged front mudguard.

The complete front bumper of Beckham's SUV appeared to have been torn away in the impact.

Beckham's 14-year-old son Brooklyn was also in the car at the time.

After the collision Beckham, 38, waited for police to arrive.

"There was an incident on Friday between David and a woman driving a car," a source close to Beckham told Sky News.

It is understood that no action is to be taken against either driver.

"No one was hurt and there was no need for drivers to exchange details," the source told Sky.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ten Cars Explode In Baghdad, Killing Dozens

Ten cars rigged with explosives have blown up in Baghdad killing more than 38 people.

The bombs were hidden in parked cars and detonated over a 30-minute period in busy streets, mainly in Shia areas.

In a separate incident, at least 12 soldiers were killed in the northern city of Mosul, when a man driving a car blew himself up outside a government bank.

The soldiers were waiting to collect their salaries, police said. 

One of the wrecked cars is lifted away

At least 100 people were injured in the Baghdad attacks, many hurt as they attended markets.

Hundreds have been killed in Iraq this month, with the often sectarian-fuelled violence reaching its highest level since 2008.

Around 1,000 people were killed and more than 2,000 hurt in September alone, according to the UN.

And unofficial counts for October suggest more than 600 have been killed.

Sunni militants, including the local offshoot of al-Qaeda, are believed to be responsible for the attacks, which usually target Shia areas.

The Shia-led government has been accused of failing to address grievances among the Sunni Arab minority, including allegations of abuses by security forces.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More