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Gordon Fraser: Suspended Police Officer Dead

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 20 Oktober 2012 | 18.54

A suspended senior police officer has been found dead on a railway track after being hit by a train.

The body of Leicestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Fraser was discovered on a train line on Friday in Aston Magna, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

The circumstances of his death are being investigated by British Transport Police but are currently not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Fraser had been suspended by the force since December 2010 over allegations of gross misconduct and fraud, pending an investigation by Merseyside Police.

He also faced a separate allegation of perverting the course of justice, being investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary, and was due to appear before St Albans magistrates alongside his wife Teresa, a serving officer with West Midlands Police, on Monday.

It is alleged Mrs Fraser, who has been suspended from her force pending the outcome of the probe, accepted responsibility for a speeding offence committed by her husband in Strathclyde last September.

Leicestershire Police Authority and Leicestershire Police said they were "deeply shocked and saddened" by the death of Mr Fraser.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends," they said in a joint statement.

Mr Fraser had been offered welfare support during his suspension.


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Missing Vet: Man Remanded On Murder Charge

The family of a missing vet vowed to "bring her home" after a man appeared in court charged with her murder.

Clive Sharp, 46, from Bethesda, Gwynedd, was remanded in custody at the hearing at Mold Magistrates' Court.

He is charged with murdering Catherine Gowing, 37, between October 11 and 17.

The vet, who is originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly, in Ireland, failed to arrive at work at the Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold, North Wales, on Monday.

She was captured on CCTV at an Asda store in Queensferry, Flintshire, at 8:06pm on Friday October 12.

Catherine Gowing missing in Wales Ms Gowing was captured on CCTV at an Asda store

After the court hearing, Detective Inspector Iestyn Davies said on behalf of Ms Gowing's family: "Our primary concern and objective is that we find Catherine.

"The support we have received from the police, the public and all Catherine's friends and family has kept us going and will continue to do so.

"We will bring Catherine home."

On Friday, police confirmed a burnt-out Renault Clio found at a disused quarry in Pinfold Lane, Alltami, near Mold, was Ms Gowing's.

Detectives say they have devoted "extensive" resources to the search, including dog teams and underwater search specialists.

Sharp is due to appear before Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday.

:: Anyone with information should call North Wales police on 101.


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Kirkland Attacked: FA Investigation Launched

The FA will investigate the incident in which Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was attacked by a fan during a match against Leeds.

A man ran on to the field from the away end in the 77th minute, seconds after Leeds had equalised and knocked Kirkland to the ground.

He then returned to the stand while trouble continued around him, with a number of other travelling supporters invading the pitch.

An FA spokesman said: "We are investigating the events of last night and awaiting the referee's report."

Bottles and seats were believed to have been thrown, South Yorkshire Police said.

Chief Superintendent Jason Harwin added: "Such incidents are not acceptable and won't be tolerated.

"We will be working with both clubs to identify and quickly bring to justice the persons responsible.

Chris Kirkland attaked (Sky Sports) Kirkland needed treatment after the assault

"Thankfully, such incidents are a rarity and we see a minority spoil it for the majority of genuine supporters."

Former England international Kirkland required treatment after the attack, but was able to continue. The game ended 1-1.

In a post-match interview, Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones described Leeds fans as "vile animals", adding: "You talk about racism, the chanting, that's a form of racism.

"Then (for the Leeds players) to go and wave at them ... not in my book. You don't wave at them after that."

Riot police were present at the game and tried to diffuse ugly scenes in the away end.

Describing the scenes as an "absolute disgrace", Leeds manager Neil Warnock called for Kirkland's assailant to be given a jail sentence.

He said: "They should get the guy and prosecute him and put him in prison. He (Kirkland) went down like a ton of bricks but that doesn't make a difference. Nobody should be on the pitch doing that.

"I am not proud of being Leeds manager when I see that. I don't mind the rivalry between us - there was a great atmosphere.

"To see things like that on the field of play there is no place for it - I am absolutely embarrassed."

Leeds issued a statement after the game pledging to hunt down the man involved.

The club said: "Leeds United Football Club would like to publicly apologise and condemn the action of the fan who came on the pitch and attacked Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

"The club will fully co-operate with the police and the football authorities in identifying the individual concerned."


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Two Held After Children Killed In House Fire

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder by police investigating a house fire in which a woman and two children died.

A 20-year-old woman, a boy aged four and a two-year-old girl were pronounced dead by firefighters after the blaze broke out at a property in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn, on Friday night, a North Wales Police spokeswoman said.

A 23-year-old man and a 15-month-old baby were taken to hospital by ambulance, she added.

Police confirmed the two people in custody are a 45-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

House Fire Fire crews recovered five people from inside the property

Neighbours said the victims lived in a top-floor flat at the property.

Adele Gordon said: "There were people everywhere. This man came running up the street shouting 'my kids are in there, my kids are in there'.

"People started smashing the windows but the smoke was mad, I've never seen smoke like it. It was thick black smoke bellowing out of the house."

Another neighbour, Mike Foster said: "I can't believe it. I'm just in shock. I didn't even know them but I'm just so upset."

A joint investigation is being carried out by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.

A Welsh Ambulance Services spokeswoman said the man and baby were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

The man was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, while the baby was moved to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Both were said to be in a serious condition.

The spokeswoman described the property as a house that had been converted into flats.


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Smoke-Filled Jet Evacuated On Runway

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 19 Oktober 2012 | 18.54

A passenger jet has been evacuated on the runway at Glasgow Airport following reports of smoke filling the cabin.

The incident, at 7.40am, involved a Jet2 aircraft - flight LS177- bound for Alicante in Spain carrying 187 passengers.

The company said the plane, a Boeing 737-800, made an emergency stop on the runway just prior to take off because of smoke in the cabin.

Passengers left the aircraft using inflatable chutes. Strathclyde Police said four people had been taken to hospital and 13 others had received medical treatment at the scene.

"Emergency services are in attendance and the passengers have been evacuated as a precaution," a spokesman said

Scottish Ambulance Service say the injuries are not thought to be serious.

The incident disrupted other flights scheduled to leave Glasgow.


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Boat Race Protester: Swimmer Is Jailed

The man who disrupted this year's Boat Race by swimming into the path of crews on the Thames has been jailed for six months.

Trenton Oldfield, of Myrdle Street, east London, was watched by millions of television viewers as he halted the annual race between Oxford and Cambridge universities on April 7.

He was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court last month of causing a public nuisance.

Oldfield, supported in court by a throng of well-wishers, smirked as Judge Anne Molyneux passed sentence.

Swimmer Trenton Oldfield Halts The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race Oldfield acted dangerously and showed prejudice, the judge said

But he looked surprised as the jail term was handed down.

The judge said Oldfield had acted dangerously, disproportionately, had not shown what he was actually protesting against, and displayed prejudice in sabotaging the event which Oldfield regarded as elitist.

More follows...


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Jimmy Savile Inquiry Now Criminal Investigaton

Judge To Lead BBC's Savile Inquiry

Updated: 6:46am UK, Wednesday 17 October 2012

Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith will lead the BBC's internal inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile, it has been announced.

The corporation also revealed former head of Sky News Nick Pollard will head a review into Newsnight and its decision to axe an investigative report about the late presenter.

A statement issued by the BBC said the Pollard Review would "seek to establish whether there were any failings in the BBC's management of the Newsnight investigation" into claims against Savile - and in the broadcast of tribute programmes after his death.

Meanwhile, Dame Janet will head up a review into the culture and practices of the BBC during Savile's time there and look into whether the broadcaster's child protection and whistleblowing arrangements are "fit for purpose".

The Smith Review will begin only once police have indicated they are happy for it to proceed. Sky News understands Mr Pollard's investigation could start in the next few days.

Downing Street had previously indicated David Cameron could order a public inquiry into the scandal once the BBC and police investigations are concluded.

Number 10 insisted it was still an option after Labour led calls for the Government to set up an independent inquiry into the sex abuse allegations.

A spokesman said: "Nothing has been ruled out, but our view is it would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the two BBC inquiries and the police investigation."

The comments came after Culture Secretary Maria Miller appeared to rule out an independent inquiry as she expressed confidence that BBC chiefs were taking the claims "very seriously".

Labour leader Ed Miliband is insisting that the BBC's internal investigations are not enough and the victims deserve more.

He told Sky News on Tuesday: "I think we owe it to the victims to say 'look we are not going to have the institutions where the activities took place investigating themselves, we are going to have a separate inquiry across all those institutions'.

"I think they deserve truth and justice - and I think that is the best way of getting to it."

He had earlier told ITV1's The Agenda: "These are horrific allegations. In order to do right by the victims I don't think the BBC can lead their own inquiry.

"We need a broad look at all the public institutions involved - the BBC, parts of the NHS and Broadmoor. This has got to be independent."

Labour wants an independent inquiry that has the power to call for documents and summon witnesses and would look at Savile's activities at the BBC, Stoke Mandeville hospital and Broadmoor.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman also told Sky News on Tuesday that Savile's alleged victims would not be satisfied with the BBC investigating itself and insisted wider action was required.

"There was obviously a culture of silence which fermented a situation where more and more victims were able to be abused by Jimmy Savile," she said.

"Instead of just looking at the BBC, we need to look at those other organisations as well. Instead of a number of different inquiries, we need one inquiry to look at all these horrific allegations."

She added: "Until we have really got to the truth, then we can't ever be complacent that these sorts of things won't happen again."

Before Labour's demand, Ms Miller had rejected calls for an outside inquiry to restore the public's faith, warning it could hamper police investigations.

"In terms of a wider inquiry, we have a police investigation on-going at the moment," she said.

"Everybody would agree that it is really important that those individuals who have been victims know that that investigation can go on unfettered and that that should be our priority at this stage."

She cited the three separate internal investigations already launched by the BBC into the affair.

Police believe the DJ and television presenter's alleged catalogue of child sex abuse could have spanned six decades and included around 60 victims and are also investigating.

But former Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair has questioned the validity of a police investigation, given that Savile is no longer alive.

Appearing on Sky News, he said: "I don't quite know what this police inquiry is going to be into. They need to be taken seriously by the responsible authorities and when a man is dead, the police are not that person.

"It just seems to me that the police might be the right clearing house but this really is a matter for other authorities. Jimmy Savile is standing before a different tribunal now."

BBC director-general George Entwistle is due to appear before the Commons culture, media and sport select committee next week where he will face further questions about the affair.

Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said his constituents, who turned out in their thousands to pay tribute to the broadcaster when he died, felt "betrayed and angry".


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Taxi Driver Pleads Guilty To Clubber Murder

A taxi driver admitted today that he murdered nightclubber Sian O'Callaghan.

Father-of-three Christopher Halliwell, 48, of Ashbury Avenue, Swindon, pleaded guilty to the charge during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

More to follow...


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Energy Prices: Urgent Question In Commons

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 18 Oktober 2012 | 18.54

Labour has accused the Government of making up "policy on the hoof" amid confusion over David Cameron's vow to slash energy prices.

Mr Cameron promised during PMQs on Wednesday that new laws would be brought in to force energy firms to give customers the cheapest tariff available.

The announcement appeared to take the Department of Energy and Climate Change by surprise and prompted immediate questions about how it could be delivered.

Labour tabled an urgent question on Thursday morning to demand answers, where shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint accused Mr Cameron of creating "chaos".

She said: "We all mis-speak from time to time and the Prime Minister was under a lot of pressure yesterday but for the Government to spend a day pretending to have a policy they have no intention of implementing is no way to run the country.

"It is like something out of The Thick of It... Millions of families and pensioners worried about how they will heat their homes deserve better than policy made on the hoof and this House needs answers."

Ms Flint asked Energy Minister John Hayes if his department had known of the change in advance, how it would work and when it would be implemented.

"Of course we understand what the Prime Minister was considering because we have been debating and discussing the provisions of the Energy Bill for months," he said.

But the minister notably did not confirm Mr Cameron's pledge, instead saying the Government would legislate to "help" customers get the best deal.

"We want to use the Bill to get people the lowest tariffs," he said.

"There are a number of options that are being considered, for example a voluntary agreement with energy suppliers announced in April secured a number of measures which will be evaluated to see if we should make legislation binding.

"This is a complicated area and we will discuss with the industry, consumer groups and the regulator in order to work through the detail."

Mr Hayes said he was "profoundly concerned and disappointed" by recent price hikes and said he would be discussing the rises with the companies "as a matter of urgency".

And he vowed that the Energy Bill would be a "landmark piece of legislation" delivering lower energy prices for businesses and households.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey was giving a speech on energy market reform in the City at the time of the Commons question where he appeared to distance himself from the PM's pledge.

He sidestepped questions about the statement and pointed instead to voluntary agreements secured earlier this year under which firms are forced to tell customers the best deal available.

"We are looking at how that can be built on, and how we can drive switching arrangements. We will be legislating for those arrangements in the forthcoming Energy Bill," he said.

Consumer group Which? urged Mr Cameron not to backtrack.

Executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Just giving people information on the lowest tariff is not enough when trust is at an all-time low in the industry and switching levels are falling."


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UK Car Makers Hit By Fall In Demand

A fall in European demand for British-made cars hits the manufacturing of vehicles across the UK, according to automotive industry figures.

Car manufacturing fell 5.8% in September, with 128,192 cars made in the Britain, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Commercial vehicle production dropped by even more - 20.2% - and the total number of all vehicles made fell by 7%.

It follows recent figures that showed Europe's car market shrunk at its fastest pace for 12 months last month.

Only the UK had managed to buck the trend - but the SMMT said the effects of the eurozone debt crisis had now hit home.

"Declining demand for cars and vans across the major European markets impacted UK vehicle and engine production in September," SMMT's chief executive Paul Everitt said.

"The strong demand for UK products outside Europe and the investment committed by major vehicle manufacturers will secure future growth, although the coming months will be challenging for companies at all levels in the supply chain."

He said European governments had to focus on securing financial stability and economic growth, "or they risk long-term damage to key industries."

Despite the September fall, vehicle production is still up in the year so far, which SMMT said "reaffirms the strength of global demand of UK-built products".

The managing director of Vauxhall Motors, Duncan Aldred, told Jeff Randall Live it was a difficult time for car makers.

"All manufacturers are having to take production breaks in order not to build up excess inventory," he said.

"There is too much capacity at the moment on a european level for the number of buyers there are out there - so clearly, there will be winners and losers."


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Conjoined Twins: Babies Successfully Separated

By Thomas Moore, Health And Science Correspondent

Surgeons have successfully separated conjoined twins just a day after they were born.

The British girls were joined at the abdomen and shared part of their intestines.

In a four-hour operation a team of 20 doctors and nurses at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London were able to separate the twins without complications.

Rosie and Ruby Formosa are now doing well and are smiling "bubbly babies", according to their mum Angela.

Mrs Formosa, from Bexleyheath, Kent, said: "Between 16 and 20 weeks we found out that they were joined. I didn't know what to think. I was shocked and I felt sad.

"We didn't know what to expect until they were born. The doctors could not tell where they were connected."

Angela and Daniel Formosa with GOSH surgeon Edward Kiely and Professor Agostino Pierro holding their twins Rosie (left) and Ruby (right) Formosa. The Formosas holding twins Rosie and Ruby, and doctors involved in the op

The girls were born in July,  six weeks prematurely.

Surgeons would normally wait until twins are several months old before attempting to separate them. But the structural abnormality had caused a blockage in their intestine, which required emergency surgery.

Professor Agostino Pierro, who led the team, told Sky News: "The twins were very small because they were so young. But they are doing very well."

He added: "The babies will need further treatment in the future but we expect that they will both be able to lead happy and normal lives."

Mrs Formosa said she was relieved to have the girls back home.

"They are really well. They are putting on weight," she said. "They are normal bubbly babies who are starting to smile and cry when they want something."

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world's most experienced centres for separating conjoined twins.

Mrs Formosa said: "When I was pregnant they were saying that the survival chances were quite low.

"For them to have been operated on and doing so well, it is amazing."


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Manchester Robbery: CCTV Shows Violent Attack

Police have released footage of the moment a gang of robbers burst into a supermarket armed with a crowbar, an axe and a hammer.

Two shop staff were lucky to survive the attack, which happened at a store in Greater Manchester as they were locking up.

The pictures show the four men - all wearing hoods or balaclavas - grapple with the workers as they gain entry to the building, where they stole a large sum of money.

One of the robbers, wearing a grey hooded tracksuit top, can be seen raining down blow after blow with a hammer - his target just out of shot.

The raid happened at the KP Supermarket in Tavistock Square, Harpurhey, Greater Manchester, at 8.15pm on Saturday.

One of the staff managed to call the police while the gang was still in the store, but they drove away from the scene moments later in a waiting car.

The two workers, men aged 50 and 37, suffered head and back injuries and were left shocked by the attack - but their injuries are not life-threatening.

All four robbers are white, thought to be aged between 25 and 28 and were wearing balaclavas or hoods and dark clothing.

Detective Constable Tina McAndrew of North Manchester CID said: "The robbers used shocking levels of violence during this raid.

"The staff were effectively rushed by the robbers, so they had little option but to struggle with them. They clearly came off much worse as these offenders were determined to use whatever violent means necessary to escape with the cash."

:: Anyone with information is asked to call North Manchester CID on 0161 8563240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Flooding Fear As More Heavy Rain Forecast

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 17 Oktober 2012 | 18.54

Heavy rain has fallen in parts of Britain for the second night, bringing with it the risk of flooding to some areas.

By Friday afternoon, a band of rain that hit the South West had swept across Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England.

Up to 35mm of rain fell in some areas of the South, leading the Environment Agency to issue more than 30 flood alerts for the South West.

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "Last night's (Friday) heavy rain has cleared the South now with the cloud breaking to bring a fine day for most places.

"Flooding concerns are likely to increase again late on Sunday and into Monday as a frontal system sweeps in across southwest Britain, bringing heavy rain.

"As a result, the Environment Agency has now issued seven flood warnings across the southwest region.

"Fortunately, the weather forecast is a positive one for most of this weekend with sunny spells for many, but expect cold mornings with some patchy frost and fog".

The Environment Agency has said Sunday's expected deluges could result in significant disruption.

In a statement, the agency said: "We're warning communities across South West England and southern Wales to be vigilant and alert for flooding as heavy rain is set to return on Sunday afternoon and into Monday."

A man was also killed when a falling tree hit his car near Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, hitting two cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Mini, at about 2.45pm on Friday.

The driver of the Mondeo, a 64-year-old man from Sheffield, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A front seat passenger in the car, a woman, was also taken to hospital for treatment. Her injuries are not believed to be serious. A woman from the mini has been taken to Frimley Park Hospital for treatment after being freed from the vehicle by the fire service.

Her condition is not believed to be life threatening. In total, more than 500 homes and businesses were flooded across England and Wales.

Parts of the UK were left devastated by heavy floods last week. Yorkshire was the area worst hit as more than the average rainfall for September fell in just a few days in many areas.

A couple drowned in a swollen river in Wales and a block of townhouses in Newburn, Newcastle, were condemned to be knocked down after floodwater gouged out the earth under their foundations.


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Part-Time Work Drives Britain To Record Employment

Official figures show employment has reached a new record high with the UK jobless rate falling to 7.9% despite the country being mired in recession.

Upbeat figures of recent months, which came as something of a surprise, have led economists to question how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates GDP growth.

The latest employment figures, also released by the ONS, showed the number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in September fell by 4,000 to 1.56 million.

The unemployment total fell by 50,000 between June and August to reach 2.528 million, helping the unemployment rate to drop to 7.9% from 8.1% the previous month.

The employment total of 29.59 million was the highest since records began in 1971. As in previous months, the performance was largely driven by people in temporary jobs.

The ONS also reported that part-time employment increased by 125,000 between March and May to a record high of 8.13 million.

The number of people in part-time jobs because they could not find full-time work was close to a record high at 1.4 million.

Youth unemployment fell by 62,000 to 957,000, the lowest figure for over a year but only 50 thousand were shown to have taken jobs.

Self-employment increased, up by 35,000 to 4.2 million while the data also showed a rise of 13,000 in the numbers on Government-supported training and employment programmes, leaving the total at 158,000.

Separate figures on pay growth show average wage settlements are still lagging behind inflation, standing at 2.2% annually in September.

The figures were welcomed by the Government.

Minister for Employment Mark Hoban said: "It's a real landmark to see more people in work than ever before. Despite the tough economic times, the private sector continues to create jobs and our welfare reforms are encouraging people to return to work - with 170,000 fewer people on the main out-of-work benefits than in May 2010.

"The big fall in youth unemployment is particularly welcome, but we know this remains a challenge, which is why we have the £1bn Youth Contract offering nearly 500,000 work experience places, apprenticeships and wage incentives to help young people get a job."

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "These may be the best figures for some time, but we still need to do much, much better.

"There are still hundreds of thousands of young people without work, over a million people working part-time who want full time-jobs and wages are still trailing below inflation."

Bernard Brown, partner and head of business services at KPMG added: "Today's workforce will not be around forever and unless businesses across the country put plans and people in place to share expertise and experience, they will find themselves bereft of the skills which can make them competitive.

"It's well known that organisations benefit from a blend of youth and experience. Employers will do well to remember this or risk an uncertain future for individuals and organisations alike."


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Gatwick Airport Planning Second Runway

Gatwick Airport bosses have started to draw up detailed options for a new runway which could help resolve the UK's air capacity crisis.

But Gatwick said it would honour a 1979 legal agreement that states no runway can be built at the West Sussex airport before 2019.

The options, to be submitted to a Government-appointed aviation commission, will assess the environmental and economic impacts of a new runway.

The chief executive of Gatwick, which serves 197 destinations and handles around 34 million passengers a year, said a new runway would benefit passengers.

"I believe a new runway at Gatwick could be affordable, practical and give passengers a greater choice of routes to key markets," Stewart Wingate said.

"We have the space, capability and access to financial resources."

London's busiest airport, Heathrow, is operating close to full capacity after the Government blocked a third runway because of the resulting increase in planes flying over the city.

Mr Wingate said a new runway at Gatwick had "clear practical advantages" over expansion at Heathrow.

"When compared with a third runway at Heathrow, we would have a significantly lower environmental impact whilst adding significantly more capacity," he said.

He added that it would also be preferable to other London alternatives.

"Stansted is half empty today, we already have much better surface transport links and feel our business case will be much stronger," he said.

"As for the Estuary airport concepts, there are major questions on affordability, environmental issues and whether they are deliverable."

Gatwick has safeguarded the land that would be required for a new runway since it was bought by Global Infrastructure Partners in 2009.

It estimates that for the rest of this decade, London's airports will be relying on their existing physical capacity.

As such, its submission to the commission will evaluate how the capacity of its existing runway can be maximised.

It will also argue that a second runway would help ensure that London's airports provide the South East and the rest of UK with the connectivity needed in the future.

The commission, led by the former head of the Financial Services Authority Sir Howard Davies, will make its full report into the South East's airport capacity in 2015.


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Missing Woman And Four Children Found

A mother and her four children have been found safe after a judge ordered a nationwide search for them.

The hunt for Jennifer Jones and Jessica, 14, Tomas, 12, Eva, nine, and David Palacin Jones, eight, was sparked after the mother failed to obey a court order for the youngsters to be returned to their father in Spain.

All five were found at 11am today in Gwent - more than 50 miles away from her home in Llanelli, Wales.

After losing a legal battle in the High Court against her divorced Spanish husband Tomas Palacin Cambra, Miss Jones left London and is thought to have travelled home.

She and her children were not at the property when police and social services called, prompting a judge to release their details and launch an appeal for information.

Dyfed Powys Police said the family had been found and Mr Palacin Cambra was "overjoyed" with the news.

A Gwent police spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the four children missing from the Llanelli area were found in the Gwent area just after 11am this morning.

"Police and local authority are now working together with family members to ensure the ongoing safety of the children."

Judge Mr Justice Roderic Wood, who asked on Tuesday for the public's help finding Miss Jones and the children, is due to analyse developments at a High Court hearing in London later.

Lawyers representing Mr Palacin Cambra updated the judge at a private hearing earlier before Ms Jones was found.


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House Fire: Father Escaped With Child In Arms

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 16 Oktober 2012 | 18.54

A doctor who lost his wife and all but one of his five children in a suspected arson attack escaped their blazing home with a child in his arms.

Dr Abdul Shakoor, who suffered minor injuries as he desperately tried to rescue his family from their Essex home, is being treated at Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford.

He was moved there last night to be closer to his critically ill daughter - three-year-old Maheen, who is fighting for her life at a burns unit.

Dr Shakoor's wife Sabah Usmani, sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira, died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday.

Ford Focus. A Ford Focus was found blazing yards away from the house

A third son, Muneeb, nine, later died at the Princess Alexandra hospital, where Dr Shakoor worked and was also being treated until late last night. Police have not said which of the children he was able to bring outside.

According to neighbours, Dr Shakoor had to be physically restrained from going back inside the property and police have said he "fought hard" to save his family.

Police, who have started a painstaking forensic examination of the house, are now investigating whether the family were not the intended targets of the attackers.

But they stressed it was an isolated incident and there was no evidence that a serial arsonist was involved. There had been no previous problems with racism in the area.

Sabah Usmani and husband Dr Shakoor with his wife, Sabah

Dr Shakoor, who reportedly left from a first-floor window as flames engulfed the house, is said to be in "severe shock".

Witness reports suggest between one and four people were in the area at the time of the fire. Such sightings will form key lines of inquiry, police said.

A Ford Focus was found burning a short distance from the house when fire crews arrived at the address.

The vehicle was not connected to the family but that fire is also being treated as arson.

Flower tributes have been left close to the house. One message read: "RIP little angels and your special mummy xxx."

Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, who is leading the investigation, said the local community and Islamic groups could hold the answer to who was behind the attack.

He said: "Nobody expects such a catastrophic incident in their own neighbourhood."

Flowers are left close to the scene where four children and their mother died in a fire. Flowers have been left close to the scene

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, the couple had lived in Saudi Arabia, where the children were born, for more than a decade before moving to the UK.

Parvez Hamid, 43, and Safia Anwar, 38, said they had known the couple since they moved to Harlow and some of their children attended the nearby Abbotsweld Primary School together.

Mrs Anwar said: "They were a wonderful family. Their children were best friends with our own."

Mr Hamid said: "Their children were so well behaved and I was always envious that mine weren't the same."

Neighbours raised the alarm after being woken in the early hours. It is thought some form of fuel may have been used to start the fire.


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Hillsborough Tragedy Set For New Inquest

The Attorney General has paved the way for a new inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough tragedy by applying for the verdicts of the original hearing to be quashed.

The move comes after a report into the 1989 disaster revealed a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

Dominic Grieve told the House of Commons: "I believe that these deaths, arising as they do from a common chain of events, should all be considered afresh.

"However, before reaching any final view on the scope of the application, I want to give the families affected the opportunity to make any representations in respect of the family member or members they lost.

"I will therefore be in contact with each family seeking views."

Mr Grieve said that any criminal proceedings emerging from the fallout of the Hillsborough Panel Report, which said many of the victims could have survived and scores of police statement were altered to prevent criticism of officers, could affect when the new inquest could take place.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said a "large number" of current and former officers will be investigated over their actions on the day of the tragedy and during the subsequent alleged cover-up.

Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said the move "marks one of the biggest steps forward in the fight for justice for the families in 23 years".

"The undeniable fact is that the original inquest was unsound and this application, if successful, will mean that evidence will be able to be heard after the 3.15pm cut off imposed by the original Coroner in the 1989 inquests," he said.

"For the first time in over two decades, all the evidence can now be reviewed into the disaster and potentially a new verdict recorded on the death certificates of the deceased."


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Teachers 'Buying Breakfast' For Hungry Pupils

Rising numbers of children are going to school on an empty stomach, according to a new report.

Four in five teachers (79%) claim their pupils are turning up for lessons hungry, with more than half (55%) saying the numbers have increased in the past year.

Two-thirds of 500 teachers surveyed (68%) said the main reason was parents not caring if their children have a decent breakfast.

Some 57% of teachers suggested a lack of money was to blame for pupils not being fed at home.

Many teachers end up buying food for youngsters out of their own pocket in a bid to help, the report found.

Nearly one in three (31%) of those questioned said they take food into school to give to hungry pupils.

The report, by Opinion Matters for cereal maker Kellogg's, says 13% of primary school teachers apparently spend up to £24.99 a month feeding youngsters.

It warns that arriving for school hungry can impair a child's concentration, cause behavioural problems and affect learning.

The report suggests breakfast clubs are a cost-effective way to ensure children eat before lessons.

But it adds many clubs in schools across England have closed in the past year due to a shortage of funds.

Karin Woodley, chief executive of education charity ContinYou, said: "Many families are really struggling financially and, in extreme cases, this means that there simply isn't enough food to go round.

"Breakfast clubs can provide a lifeline for these families, so we're extremely concerned to hear that many are being forced to close."

Earlier this year, a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers found young children in England are being served "very small" school dinners and given a limited choice despite paying more for their meals.

It revealed almost a third of teachers do not believe school meals are value for money, with some warning that pupils are often being given chips, pasta and rice rather than vegetables and salad.

It also found there had been an increase in free school meals - a measure of poverty - as more families were hit by economic problems.

The report comes as separate figures suggest number of the UK's poor and destitute receiving emergency food aid has almost doubled in the past six months.

The Trussell Trust, the country's largest organiser of food banks, said that from April to September nearly 110,000 adults and children were referred for emergency help by professionals such as the police, social workers and job centre advisers and GPs.

:: The Opinion Matters survey for Kellogg's questioned 500 teachers between August 7-21.


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Gary McKinnon: May Blocks Extradition To US

Long Wait Over Extradition Ruling

Updated: 12:47pm UK, Tuesday 16 October 2012

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. Here is a summary of the key events in his case:

:: 2001-2002 Between February 1 2001 and March 19 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London.

He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America.

US prosecutors also allege he deleted files which shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours.

Mr McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs.

:: 2002 Between March 19 and August 8, Mr McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government.

On October 31, the District Court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, says on November 12: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

:: 2004 The US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on August 12 and, on October 7, the US government files a request for his extradition.

:: 2005 On March 31, a warrant for Mr McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street Magistrates' Court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on June 7.

:: 2006 Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on July 4 for McKinnon to be extradited to the US.

:: 2007 Mr McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the High Court on April 3.

:: 2008 The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on July 30 and McKinnon - who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on August 25 - also loses his bid to get the European Court of Human Rights to stay the extradition on August 28.

Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from Mr McKinnon's legal team on September 13 to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis.

:: 2009 In January, Mr McKinnon wins permission in the High Court to seek judicial review of Ms Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces that it will not bring charges against him in Britain.

Mr McKinnon makes a bid at the High Court in July to force the Government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two High Court judges refuse to block his removal.

Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial".

The following month, Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the September 11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens.

In November, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which Mr McKinnon could be sent for trial while Mr Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion."

:: 2010 Mr McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May.

Later that month, the new Home Secretary Theresa May gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered.

Now Prime Minister, Mr Cameron discusses Mr McKinnon's case with US President Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found.

It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain.

:: 2011 The Government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) says in June.

But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the Government to change the Extradition Act anyway.

:: 2012 The High Court expresses concern in January over the length of time Mr McKinnon's case in taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July.

In March, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House.

On October 16, the Home Secretary announces she is blocking Mr McKinnon's extradition on health grounds.


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