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Obese Could Lose Benefits Unless They Diet

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Februari 2015 | 18.54

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Obese people could lose benefits worth up to £100 a week if they refuse to diet, as a review into sickness payments is ordered by David Cameron.

Drug addicts and alcoholics could also lose benefits if they refuse treatment that would help them get a job, in a move aimed at stopping people claiming as a "lifestyle" choice.

"Too many people are stuck on sickness benefits because of issues that could be addressed but instead are not," said the Prime Minister.

"Some have drug or alcohol problems, but refuse treatment.

"In other cases people have problems with their weight that could be addressed, but instead a life on benefits rather than work becomes the choice.

"It is not fair to ask hardworking taxpayers to fund the benefits of people who refuse to accept the support and treatment that could help them get back to a life of work.

"The next Conservative government is determined to make sure that the hardest to help get the support they need to get them back to a fulfilling life."

Ministers estimate there are almost 100,000 people claiming sickness benefits on the grounds of treatable conditions such as drug or alcohol addiction, or obesity.

At present, there is no requirement for such people to undertake treatment, meaning it is possible to claim without making efforts at recovery.

Of the 2.5 million claiming sickness benefits, about 1.5 million have been claiming for more than five years.

Mr Cameron says he has asked Professor Dame Carol Black to undertake a rapid review in to how best to help those suffering from long-term yet treatable conditions back in to work.

"In particular, I have asked her to consider whether people should face the threat of a reduction in benefits if they refuse to engage with a recommended treatment plan," he said.

"It is vital that people who would benefit from treatment get the medical help they need."

Professor Black, a leading Government adviser on health, work and welfare, said: "I am deeply interested in trying to overcome the challenges these types of benefit claimants pose. 

"These people, in addition to their long-term conditions and lifestyle issues, suffer the great disadvantage of not being engaged in the world of work, such an important feature of society."

Explaining the reasons for the threat to axe benefits from the obese, drug addicts and alcoholics, a Government source said: "As well as the unwarranted expense, this represents an unproductive waste of human potential."

Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum told Sky News: "Obesity is the issue which might bring down the NHS.

"We have the most appalling problem and so far the coalition government have done absolutely nothing serious about it. If this is a sign they are taking obesity serious then I think this is something they should be considering."

He added: "You've got to be very careful about how you do it because all those people who are fat because they have a metabolic and a medical syndrome attached to it, they have got to be protected.

"But for the people who just eat and eat and eat and refuse to take any kind of treatment, then I think there is a salvo that has to be fired across their bows."

However, disability campaigner Ellen Clifford was outraged by Mr Cameron's proposal, telling Sky News: "If you threaten taking away people's benefits that's not actually going to help people. It didn't work in the Victorian times, it's not going to work now.

"That isn't going to suddenly snap people out of an enduring condition. It's punitive and it's savage."

And former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who had a well-publicised battle with booze and is an Alcohol Concern ambassador, criticised the proposal as a "stupid little stunt".

He said the Prime Minister was "pathetic" and was not taking the problem of addiction seriously.


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Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash: Panic Inside The Cab

Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash: Panic Inside The Cab

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By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Frantic attempts were made to stop a Glasgow bin lorry as it killed six people last December, Sky News has learned.

Two men were inside the cab with the driver at the time, desperately trying to rouse him after he had collapsed.

The pair, who Sky News has chosen not to name, shouted to him that he was killing people and shook him.

But their efforts were hampered by a metal rail inside the cab, which separates the driver and the crew, who sit on a raised bench in the rear.

It presented an obstacle and inflicted injuries on at least one of the pair as they were jostled by the erratic movement of the vehicle.

1/5

  1. Gallery: Victims Of Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash

    Jacqueline Morton, 51, who had left work early to collect her granddaughters

Stephenie Tait, 29, was a teacher at St Philomena's Primary school

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Gillian Ewing, 52, was also killed in the accident

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Jack Sweeney, 68, from Dumbarton, was killed along with his wife and granddaughter

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Erin McQuade, 18, with her grandmother Lorraine Sweeney, aged 69

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A succession of collisions meant the driver's weight shifted on the steering wheel which, in turn, caused sudden changes in the lorry's course.

There was an air-brake in the cab which slowly reduces speed but neither of the two crew was trained in how to drive the bin lorry and so neither knew how to bring it to a halt.

The vehicle only came to rest after crashing into the Millennium Hotel in Glasgow's George Square.

The two crew members first realised something was wrong after they had stopped to make the penultimate pick-up of their round outside the Primark store in Queen Street.

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  1. Gallery: Images From The Scene In Glasgow After The Bin Lorry Crash

    The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre

One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street

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Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash: Panic Inside The Cab

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Frantic attempts were made to stop a Glasgow bin lorry as it killed six people last December, Sky News has learned.

Two men were inside the cab with the driver at the time, desperately trying to rouse him after he had collapsed.

The pair, who Sky News has chosen not to name, shouted to him that he was killing people and shook him.

But their efforts were hampered by a metal rail inside the cab, which separates the driver and the crew, who sit on a raised bench in the rear.

It presented an obstacle and inflicted injuries on at least one of the pair as they were jostled by the erratic movement of the vehicle.

1/5

  1. Gallery: Victims Of Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash

    Jacqueline Morton, 51, who had left work early to collect her granddaughters

Stephenie Tait, 29, was a teacher at St Philomena's Primary school

]]>

Gillian Ewing, 52, was also killed in the accident

]]>

Jack Sweeney, 68, from Dumbarton, was killed along with his wife and granddaughter

]]>

Erin McQuade, 18, with her grandmother Lorraine Sweeney, aged 69

]]>

A succession of collisions meant the driver's weight shifted on the steering wheel which, in turn, caused sudden changes in the lorry's course.

There was an air-brake in the cab which slowly reduces speed but neither of the two crew was trained in how to drive the bin lorry and so neither knew how to bring it to a halt.

The vehicle only came to rest after crashing into the Millennium Hotel in Glasgow's George Square.

The two crew members first realised something was wrong after they had stopped to make the penultimate pick-up of their round outside the Primark store in Queen Street.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Images From The Scene In Glasgow After The Bin Lorry Crash

    The lorry crashed into the Millennium Hotel at the top of Queen Street in the city centre

One police officer said it first mounted the pavement 300 metres down the street

]]>

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Sham Wedding Groom Forgot Bride's Name

A couple arrested as they attempted to stage a bogus wedding have been jailed for immigration offences - after the would-be groom was unable to remember his bride's name.

Pakistani Zubair Khan, 28, and Hungarian Beata Szilagyi, 33, were detained minutes before the sham marriage ceremony, the Home Office said.

They were exposed after Khan had to make a phone call to the marriage fixer, Khaliq Dad Khan, to check his bride's name during a meeting with the registrar before the wedding was due to go ahead.

The registrar then notified authorities and the bride and groom were detained on the spot at Hull Register Office last October.

Zubair Khan, of London, was jailed for 20 months and Szilagyi, of Hull, was sentenced to 17 months at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

They both admitted conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Khaliq Dad Khan, 48, who lived with the groom, was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to the same charge.

Andy Sharpe, from Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations, said: "This was a farcical but nonetheless serious attempt to cheat the UK's immigration laws.

"We continue to crack down on sham marriage abuse, and we work very closely with registrars to identify suspicious marriages. We will not hesitate to act where we believe a relationship is not genuine."

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: "The criminal gangs who try to cheat their way around our immigration laws will not escape justice."

He added that investigators had intervened in more than 2,400 suspected sham marriages in 2014 - nearly twice as many as the year before.


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Fatal Pile-Up And Coach Crash Close Motorways

At least one person has died after dozens of vehicles were involved in a motorway pile-up on the M40, with "in excess of 30 people" being treated at the scene.

The crash occurred just before 7.50am this morning on the northbound carriageway between junctions 9 and 10 in Bicester, Oxfordshire. 

That stretch of the motorway has been closed by the emergency services, and is not expected to open until 2.30pm. A couple of southbound lanes have now reopened.

"It is quite a major collision. I understand that there are about 30 vehicles involved," a spokeswoman for the South Central Ambulance Service said.

"We have a lot of resources on the scene - ambulances, our helicopter ambulance, rapid response vehicles, our doctor and our hazardous area response team."

According to the Met Office, it was "quite foggy" in the area this morning, and this would have hampered visibility on the roads considerably.

Traffic was already busier than usual on the M40 as families began their travels for the half-term holidays.

Meanwhile, several people have been "seriously injured" after a coach and a car crashed on the M1 at about 6.45am.

Bedfordshire Police have confirmed that the northbound stretch between junctions 12 and 13 will likely be closed until 1.30pm at the earliest.

The closures could see significant numbers of West Ham fans miss the 12.45pm kick-off against West Brom in the Midlands. They have been advised to avoid both motorways altogether.

More follows...


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Hormone Therapy 'Could Increase Risk Of Cancer'

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Februari 2015 | 18.54

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could increase a woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer by as much as 40%, according to a new study.

The research by Oxford University and published in The Lancet has been welcomed by cancer charities, who are urging more women to study the risks before deciding if they want the treatment.

Around 7,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually and 4,300 women a year die from it - 12 a day.

Liz Aram, from southwest London, underwent HRT for five years and was subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

She is now in remission, but says if she had read this report at the time she was making her decision on HRT, she would have made a different choice.

"I think if I had known this information back then, I probably would have tried to live longer with the symptoms I was experiencing," she said.

"I would have just worked on and worked through the tiredness I was feeling as a result of going through the menopause, I would have just soldiered on.

"I think knowing that there's a killer disease and the risk could be increased would have put me off it."

Cancer charities are urging women to talk to their GP about the risks involved before making their final decision on whether or not to have HRT.

"Research had already shown an increased risk of ovarian cancer for women using HRT for longer than five years," said Fiona Osgun, from Cancer Research UK.

"But this new, comprehensive analysis shows there's also a risk if you use HRT for less time than that. Once a woman stops taking HRT her risk of ovarian cancer can go back down over time.​

"HRT is effective at reducing symptoms of menopause and there are many factors at play in a woman's decision to use it or not. If you are thinking of stopping or starting HRT speak to your GP."

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it will now evaluate the findings.

"Our advice has always been that the lowest effective dose of HRT should be used for the shortest possible time," said Dr Sarah Branch, deputy director of MHRA's Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division.

"We will evaluate the findings of this study and its implications for shorter term use and update product information as necessary.

"The decision to start, continue or stop HRT should be made jointly by a woman and her doctor, based on the best advice available and her own personal circumstances, including her age, her need for treatment and her medical risk factors."


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Schoolboy Dies After Lunch Break Altercation

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

A 13-year-old boy has died following an altercation during his lunch break at a grammar school in County Fermanagh.

Oisin McGrath, a student of St Michael's College in Enniskillen, was taken to hospital from the school on Monday.

He was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he lost his fight for life on Thursday evening.

Parishioners at a special mass were told that, on medical advice, his parents had made the difficult decision to withdraw life support.

Their parish priest, Father Seamus Quinn, confirmed the family had also opted to donate the schoolboy's organs for transplant.

He said: "There are no words to describe what they're going through. They're devastated, they're numb, they're in shock. It's a nightmare, except this one you don't waken up from. It's horrendous."

A sixth-form student, aged 17, was detained by police after the incident but later released on bail pending enquiries.

In a statement, St Michael's - a Catholic school for boys - said: "A group of students were playing at lunchtime when one student became unwell and we sought medical assistance.

"He was taken by ambulance to the South West Acute Hospital for medical help."

The school said it would be closed on Friday and would reopen on Wednesday February 18 after a mid term break.

Northern Ireland's Education Minister John O'Dowd expressed his sadness ‎at Oisin's death.

The Minister‎ said: "I am deeply saddened at the tragic death of Oisin McGrath. As a parent myself I can only imagine the grief his parents and family are feeling.

"My thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time. I also extend my sympathy to the whole St Michael's College community.

"The Western Education and Library Board is providing counselling and pastoral support to the school and will continue to do so for as long as is needed."

Oisin McGrath was a popular member of the under-14 team at Belcoo Gaelic football club in County Fermanagh.

In a statement, the club said: "Our thoughts remain with Oisin's extended family circle and friends at this tragic time."

They also included the quote "ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam", which translates as: "On the right hand of God that is his soul."

Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew expressed her sympathy to the McGrath family.

She said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the McGrath family. The loss of a young life after such a tragic incident is devastating for the entire community.

"I offer my sincerest sympathies to Oisín's parents Sharon and Nigel, his younger sisters Ciana and Cairenn and to their entire extended family."


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King Richard III: Fatal Blow To Skull Found

Pathologists at the University of Leicester believe they may have found the killer blow that claimed the life of King Richard III.

Forensic experts have been investigating the trauma inflicted on the former monarch's body at the Battle of Bosworth Field more than 500 years ago.

And they say they discovered an injury to the base of his skull which was consistent with a sword or the top spike of a bill.

Professor Sarah Hainsworth said: "Using modern forensic examination, we have discovered that Richard's skeleton sustained 11 wounds at or near the time of his death – nine of them to the skull, which were clearly inflicted in battle.

"The injuries to the head suggest he had either removed or lost his helmet. The other two injuries that we found were to a rib and pelvis."

Whole body CT scans and micro-CT imaging were used to examine Richard III's injured bones - and academics even tried to determine which medieval weapons were used.

Professor Guy Rutty, also a forensic pathologist with the Home Office, described the breakthrough as a "eureka moment" which "we will all remember".

"I approached this examination as that of any patient - just because he was a king did not make a difference," he said.

"Everyone is treated the same with the same doctor/patient relationship, the same respect in death and the same level of professional investigation."

The whereabouts of King Richard III's remains were a mystery for centuries, until they were found underneath a council car park by the University of Leicester in 2013.

The last king of the House of York, he reigned from 1483 until his death in 1485.


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Labour Denies Pink Minibus Is 'Patronising'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Februari 2015 | 18.55

Using a bright pink minibus to encourage women to vote is not "patronising", Labour's deputy leader has insisted.

Harriet Harman will head up the "woman-to-woman" campaign, which aims to visit more than 70 constituencies before the General Election.

But she was forced to defend the push at a briefing for journalists after questions were asked about the colour of the 16-seater vehicle.

Ms Harman denied suggestions the campaign was "patronising" to women, and said the colour showed it was "different".

"Is it not magenta or something?" she joked.

"We wanted to mark that this was something different.

"We wanted it to look conspicuous and therefore a white van was not going to do the job."

She added: "It is a very nice looking bus ... It is the correct colour. This is a One Nation Labour colour."

Conservative MP Caroline Dineage said: "The wheels have come off the Labour bus.

"Getting Harriet Harman to drive around the country in a pink van to try and attract the female vote is as patronising as it gets.

"This is clearly just another divisive gimmick that the electorate will see through."

Ms Harman said at the briefing the party doesn't want women to "give up on politics".

"If you look at the figures, the disaffection that there is with politics is even more pronounced among women," she said.

More than nine million women did not vote at the last election.

"We want women to feel that this is their democracy and politics is for them as well as for men."


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Four In Ten Schoolgirls Suffer Sexual Coercion

More than 40% of schoolgirls aged between 13 and 17 in England say they have been coerced into engaging in sexual activity, a study has found.

Most of the schoolgirls say they were pressured into having sex, although some also reported being raped.

The survey found many have also suffered physical attacks, intimidation and emotional abuse.

The study was carried out by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Central Lancashire, led by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Researchers also carried out the study in Norway, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus.

It was the largest of its kind ever carried out in Europe.

It found that a high proportion of teenage boys regularly view pornography and one in five hold negative attitudes towards women.

Some 22% of schoolgirls reported suffering physical violence or intimidation from their boyfriends, including slapping, punching and strangling.

The NSPCC has called on the Government to help children learn about healthy relationships.

Claire Lilley, head of child safety online at the NSPCC, said: "The levels of victimisation revealed by this research shows action is urgently needed by the Government to make updated sex and relationship education a statutory right for every child and young person.

"There needs to be a greater focus in schools on topics such as sexual exploitation and violence against girls and young women, as part of a balanced curriculum.

"The high rates of sexual coercion discovered need to be addressed through education and awareness-raising that challenges attitudes and helps change behaviour.

"We need to nurture children to have positive relationships based on mutual respect."


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NHS Whistleblowers Set To Get Protection

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

NHS staff who blow the whistle about poor patient care are to be protected by sweeping reforms that will bring an end to the cover-up culture in hospitals.

The measures will be announced in Parliament by the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in response to a review that he commissioned into the treatment of staff who speak out.

The review by Sir Robert Francis, who led the inquiry into the Mid-Staffs scandal, has been delayed by two months because he received more than 18,000 responses, many of them from doctors and nurses who were sacked for sounding the alarm.

Sir Robert is expected to warn that poor care at failing hospitals went undetected for many years because staff concerns were suppressed.

Dr David Drew, a consultant paediatrician, says he was sacked for gross misconduct because he spoke out over the death of a toddler.

He says for too long the NHS and Department of Health have done nothing to support whistleblowers.

He told Sky News: "They have not lifted a finger to help us. Patients are suffering, patients are dying.

"The staff who would like to speak up for them are being hamstrung by the people in charge of these hospitals."

Sir Robert is expected to make a series of recommendations to ensure NHS workers can raise public interest concerns without fear of recrimination - and that appropriate action is taken as a result.

Those who mistreat whistleblowers could also be held to account.

However, Sir Robert will not re-open any previous cases under the reforms.

Julie Bailey, whose mother died at Stafford Hospital in 2007 and successfully campaigned for an inquiry into the Trust, said: "In his first inquiry, Robert Francis recommended that there would be criminal sanctions against those who try to silence whistleblowers.

"We need this Government now to put that recommendation into action."

Nurse Jennie Fecitt, who was bullied and victimised after raising concerns about a colleague who had claimed to have qualifications he did not, told Sky News: "My main concern was patient safety.

"He didn't possess the essential qualifications for the job that he was doing which was seeing patients, diagnosing and treating them autonomously as a primary care nurse, no reference to a doctor.

"So he was in a considerable position of responsibility."

Calling for protection for whistleblowers, Ms Fecitt said: "I have a duty to make patients my first concern. It's non-negotiable."


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Man Held In Merseyside Anti-Terror Operation

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences and police are searching five addresses on Merseyside.

The man is being held on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit and Merseyside Police raided the houses after "intelligence received" from law-enforcement agencies.

Police said the searches were expected to take many hours or even days.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "It is our intention to carry out a thorough, professional investigation to determine the circumstances and details of the activity reported.

"We are taking all measures necessary to ensure public safety, which is our primary concern.

"Members of the public will see a lot of police activity at a number of addresses in the coming hours and possibly days.

"However, it is absolutely vital to stress - and, I hope, at the same time, reassure the public - that there is no current threat or evidence of an imminent attack."

Anyone with concerns about suspicious activity should contact local police or the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321.


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Man Murdered Woman, 85, In Scissor Attack

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 10 Februari 2015 | 18.55

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A man has been found guilty of murdering an 85-year-old woman by stabbing her seven times with a pair of scissors.

Robert Buczek, 24, killed Eleanor Whitelaw in her home at Morningside, Edinburgh.

During the assault, he dragged her through the house and dumped her in a room while he stole stamps, cameras and jewellery from the property.

After his conviction, the High Court in Glasgow heard that the Polish national had a previous conviction for the assault and robbery of a pensioner when he was 14.

In 2005, in his native Poland, he knocked over an 82-year-old woman and stole her handbag.

His trial for the murder of the Edinburgh pensioner was told how she was found lying covered in blood by her husband, 88-year-old Robert Whitelaw.

She had suffered a fractured skull during the attack and had been struck with the scissors on the neck and body.

Mrs Whitelaw was taken to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary but died 17 days later.

Buczek denied the crime but was convicted unanimously by the jury.

The killer had left his DNA at the house and had also been spotted running in the street by a neighbour.

He will be sentenced on 17 March. 

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie, of Police Scotland, said: "This was a brutal and sustained attack on an elderly lady in her own home and our dedicated enquiry team worked tirelessly to trace the perpetrator.

"Now that Robert Buczek has been convicted, I hope the family of Eleanor Whitelaw will be left with some closure."


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Girl, 4, Among Deadly Bath Truck Crash Victims

Police are investigating the cause of a collision involving a tipper truck that left four people dead, including a four-year-old girl.

The 32-tonne truck, which was carrying aggregate, crashed into cars and pedestrians as it travelled down a steep hill in Upper Weston in Bath, Somerset, just after 4pm on Monday.

The girl, who was walking with her grandmother, died at the scene.

Three men from South Wales, aged 59, 52 and 34, were also killed when the truck overturned and smashed into their car at the bottom of the hill. 

Eyewitness accounts given to police suggest the driver of the truck had been trying to avoid an accident.

The area was busy with parents collecting children from school, and police have asked Weston All Saints Primary School to remain closed today due to the incident.

The young girl's grandmother was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol in a critical condition from a primary school playing field.

Another three patients, two men and one woman, suffered minor injuries and were taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

One of the men - a HGV driver - and the woman remain in hospital with minor injuries, while the second man was discharged overnight.

A makeshift facility at the school was set up to treat several "walking wounded" with less serious injuries.

A detailed examination of the scene has begun, and motorists have been told to avoid the Lansdown Lane area between the High Street and Deanhill Lane, which will remain closed.

Avon and Somerset Police Chief Inspector Norman Pascal said: "This is a tragic incident in which three men and a young girl have lost their lives and we're carrying out a full and meticulous investigation to find out what happened.

"The tipper truck has been recovered and will undergo a full examination and our investigators will be carrying out further inquiries at the scene today.

"We have specially trained family liaison officers supporting the victims' families to make sure they have all the help they need and are being kept updated on the progress of our investigation."

Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster said the council had imposed a 20mph speed limit on parts of the road to improve safety.

"It is a road where we have put speed limits in and flashing lights because it is quite a steep hill coming down," he said.

"There have been attempts by the council over the years to improve safety on the road."

Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police's collision investigation unit on 101.


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Prisoners' Voting Rights Were Breached - Court

More than 1,000 UK prisoners had their rights breached when they were prevented from voting in elections, European judges have ruled.

But the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected the applicants' claims for compensation and legal costs.

The case considered by the court related to 1,015 inmates who were in jail and barred from voting in one or more elections between 2009 and 2011.

The three judges unanimously agreed there had been a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - right to free elections.

This was due to the "blanket character" of the statutory ban.

The court made the ruling as it was identical to other prisoner voting cases in which a breach had been found, while no changes had been made to the law.

There has been pressure on the UK authorities to bring in legislation on prisoner voting.

The Council of Europe's Committee noted last September its "profound concern and disappointment" that a Bill had not been introduced.

Prime Minister David Cameron has previously said the controversial issue should be for Parliament to decide and not a "foreign court".

Sean Humber, the lawyer representing 554 prisoners fighting for the right to vote, welcomed the ECHR's ruling, but said compensation should have been awarded, particularly given the lack of government action.

Pointing out the ruling had confirmed the "unlawfulness" of the blanket ban, Mr Humber said successive UK governments had "cynically sought to drag the matter out through a succession of consultations during the last decade".

Mr Humber, from the firm Leigh Day, said: "Unfortunately, we seem to be in the sad position where the Government is taking an almost perverse pleasure in ignoring successive court judgments and is content to continue violating the human rights of thousands of its citizens.

"It should be worrying to all of us that the Government appears to have so little regard for its international human rights obligations or indeed the rule of law."

But the Ministry of Justice said the issue of prisoner voting should be decided in the UK.

An MoJ spokesman said: "The Government has always been clear that it believes prisoner voting is an issue that should ultimately be decided in the UK.

"However, we welcome the court's decision to refuse convicted prisoners costs or damages."

UKIP's home affairs spokesperson, Diane James MEP, said: "UKIP believes that it should be the British parliament which should have the final decision on which laws are implemented in the Britain.

"There should be no unwarranted interference in a national issue."


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Man In Court Over Alan Barnes Mugging

A man has appeared in court charged with assaulting disabled pensioner Alan Barnes outside his home.

Richard Gatiss, 25, from Gateshead, appeared at Gateshead Magistrates' Court after being charged with assault with intent to rob.

Mr Barnes, 67, suffered a broken collarbone when he was shoved to the ground during the attack in Gateshead on 25 January.

After reading about the mugging, beautician Katie Cutler, 21, set up an online fundraising page hoping to raise £500 to help Mr Barnes move into a new home.

The campaign went viral until it was finally halted with donations standing at more than £330,000.

Mr Barnes met the campaigner last weekend and described her gesture as "magic".

Chief Superintendent Andy McDyer, of Northumbria Police, said: "I'd like to reassure people that since this happened we've been relentless in our investigation and in following up lines of inquiry.

"In the early hours of Monday, officers made an arrest in connection with the investigation and this man has now been charged and is progressing through the court process."

The pensioner, who is 4ft 6in tall and visually impaired, has disabilities from birth after his mother contracted German measles when she was pregnant.

He is a well-known figure in Low Fell and is renowned for being able to quickly calculate how many days old someone is from their date of birth.


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Family Appeal After Dying Pensioner Robbed

Written By Unknown on Senin, 09 Februari 2015 | 18.54

The family of a pensioner whose purse was stolen as she lay dying on a road have urged the thief to give himself up.

Irene Ditcher, 82, was hit by a lorry in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday.

When police arrived they found her dead at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing a man steal her purse before fleeing.

Police have described the theft from Ms Ditcher as a "disgusting" crime.

In a statement through police, Ms Ditcher's nephew and niece said: "We cannot believe that someone has done this to our auntie. We are absolutely disgusted by this person's actions.

"Had Auntie Irene been alive she would have given them the money if they'd asked.

"We just hope their conscience gets the better of them and they hand themselves in to the police."

They said they wanted to thank the public for the kindness shown over their loss.

Detective Sergeant Neil Lawless said: "This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence.                                                                                   

"This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman.

"I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road.

"There are a number of rumours circulating on social media at the moment but I would like to reassure residents we are doing all we can to find out who is responsible.

"However, for us to do so, we need your help.

"If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please call us as soon as possible."

The man is described as white, 6ft, aged between 30 and 40, medium build, with a dark brown beard, wearing a light grey hooded top with the hood up, light blue jeans and black boot-style training shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to phone police on 101 or CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.


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HSBC Helped Clients Dodge Tax - Report

HSBC's Swiss banking arm helped wealthy customers avoid tax and hide millions of dollars, according to a report by a network of investigative journalists.

The British banking giant provided accounts to international criminals, corrupt businessmen, politicians and celebrities, secret files analysed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) show.

The documents have led to criminal investigations in several countries and attempts to get the money back after being stolen by an IT worker in 2007 and passed to authorities in France.

Details of the 30,000 accounts, which hold nearly £78bn of assets, are coming to light after the files were obtained by the French newspaper Le Monde and analysed by the ICIJ.

The files are reported to include evidence that the bank colluded with some clients to hide accounts from tax authorities in their home countries.

While holding a secret bank account is not illegal, they have been used by some to deliberately conceal assets to dodge tax, which is against the law.

"HSBC profited from doing business with arms dealers who channelled mortar bombs to child soldiers in Africa, bag men for Third World dictators, traffickers in blood diamonds and other international outlaws," the ICIJ reported.

According to the files, the bank's clients included former and current politicians from Britain, Russia, India and a number of African countries.

Those named in the files include people sanctioned by the US, such as Turkish businessman Selim Alguadis and Gennady Timchenko, an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was the subject of sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was passed the data - known as the Lagarde List - in 2010 and has since then clawed back £135m from some of the 3,600 Britons identified as potentially avoiding tax.

But some MPs have complained about HMRC's perceived slow progress and the fact that only one evader has been prosecuted to date.

The revelations have sparked a blame game between the Conservatives and Labour over the failure to tackle the problem of hidden accounts and tax evasion.

Ed Miliband said there were questions over the appointment of Lord Green, who ran the bank during the period and was appointed as trade minister in 2010.

He said: "I think this is a very serious situation and the Government has some serious questions to answer.

"We need to know why HMRC apparently did not act, apart from at the margins, on the information that they seem to have been given about what was going on.

"We need to know from the Government why they appointed Stephen Green of HSBC as a trade minister well after this information was passed to HMRC.

"I would like to see the Government explain what they did.

"We cannot have a country where tax avoidance is allowed to carry on and where government just turns a blind eye."

City Minister David Gauke told Sky News he "was not aware of any evidence" that Lord Green had been involved in any improper activity.

Mr Gauke called on Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who was City Minister in the years up to 2007, to make an urgent statement in the Commons about what he knew about the claims and why the Labour government allowed large-scale tax avoidance and evasion to take place.

The bank said in a statement that since the period in question, it had "implemented numerous initiatives designed to prevent its banking services being used to evade taxes or launder money".

"Although there are numerous legitimate reasons to have a Swiss bank account, in some cases individuals took advantage of bank secrecy to hold undeclared accounts," the statement continued.

"This resulted in private banks, including HSBC's Swiss private bank, having a number of clients that may not have fully met their applicable tax obligations.

"We have taken significant steps over the past several years to implement reforms and exit clients who did not meet strict new HSBC standards, including those where we had concerns in relation to tax compliance," it added.

"We are fully committed to the exchange of information with relevant authorities and are actively pursuing measures that ensure clients are tax transparent, even in advance of a regulatory or legal requirement to do so.

"We are also co-operating with relevant authorities investigating these matters and we acknowledge and are accountable for past control failures."

HMRC said in a statement: "We have systematically worked through all the Lagarde data.

"As a result tax, interest and penalties have now been paid by those who hid their assets in Switzerland to get out of paying tax.

"The decision to prosecute is made by the Crown Prosecution Service based on the facts."


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Anger As BAFTA Fails To Remember Bob Hoskins

Organisers of Sunday's BAFTA awards have been criticised for forgetting to mention in their 'In Memoriam' feature the award-winning actor Bob Hoskins, who died in 2014.

Hoskins, 71, won a BAFTA in 1986 for playing George, the cockney chauffeur to a high-class prostitute in the film Mona Lisa.

The star died from pneumonia last April but was omitted from a montage which was played during the ceremony.

Viewers took to Twitter after the Long Good Friday star was not featured alongside other late actors such as Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney and Lauren Bacall who all died last year.

Hoskins retired from acting in 2011 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

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  1. Gallery: Bob Hoskins: The Cockney Who Went To Hollywood

    Bob Hoskins and Jaime Winstone share a joke as they attend the Made In Dagenham premiere.

Hoskins and Sally Hawkins attend the Made In Dagenham premiere in 2010.

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Bank Warns Public On 'Free Trial Scams'

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has called on regulators to intervene after accusing firms offering free product trials of taking its customers for a ride.

The bank said that since June last year it had helped 37,000 customers halt charges, usually £80 a month, that were hidden in the small print in 30-day 'free trial' deals for beauty and nutrition products.

It said that the so-called deals - often advertised through social media - "took advantage of consumers" who believed they were only handing over a small fee for postage.

"Clever advertising and pop-ups on social media websites lure customers into what they believe to be a free trial of a cream or tablet.

"They are asked to enter their card details to pay a small fee to cover postage and packaging.

"In reality, by providing their card details and entering the free trial they are agreeing to a recurring subscription, if they do not cancel within the trial period.

"At its worst point, RBS and NatWest were receiving over 390 calls a day from customers to complain of charges of around £80 a month being applied to their accounts that they did not recognise.

"Customers receive the goods but don't know about the recurring costs associated or that they have to stop the trial.

"Subscription details and charges should all be laid out in the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of the agreement, but the bank has found instances where the T&Cs only appear after the customer has agreed to them, where they're hidden at the bottom of the page or where they're greyed out making them near impossible to find.

"The bank estimates that at its peak this was costing customers over £30k per day and over £2.9m in fees since June last year."

RBS said it had raised the issue with Visa, MasterCard and Cards UK and provided them with the details of merchants causing regular complaints and as a result over 1,000 companies had been stripped of their acquirer relationship.

Terry Lawson, head of fraud at RBS added: "Too many of our customers have fallen victim to these scams.

"We want to help raise awareness so that both our customers, and the wider public, are aware of these scams and look out for unclear or confusing T&Cs."


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NHS To Probe Thousands Of Patient Deaths

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Februari 2015 | 18.54

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Thousands of patient deaths are to be investigated to see whether they could have been avoided in a new drive to make the NHS safer.

For the first time anywhere in the world the medical notes of around 2,000 patients who have died in England will be analysed by experts every year.

The data will be used to give the most comprehensive ever estimate of avoidable mortality in hospitals around the country.

Every hospital chairman will have to write to the Health Secretary annually setting out their plan for eradicating unnecessary deaths.

Jeremy Hunt said: "I'm determined to go even further in rooting out poor care.

"I want all hospital boards to have a laser-like focus on eradicating avoidable deaths in their organisation; even one life lost to poor care or safety error is too many."

The announcement comes as a new analysis revealed that 11 hospital trusts put under 'special measures' 18 months ago because of their high death rates have dramatically improved their care.

Extra staff, management changes and mentoring by more successful NHS organisations cut death rates at the 11 hospitals by more than 9% - three times more than the national average.

Health analysis company Dr Foster, which carried out the research, estimated that at least 450 lives have been saved as a result.

Roger Taylor, who led the research, said: "We were not expecting to find such a strong result.

"It is remarkable to see this intervention has produced a real change and improvement for patients.

"It has saved lives and produced better care."

A further eight hospital trusts have since been put into special measures, bringing the total to 19.

The Department of Health said the trusts have employed an extra 1,800 nurses and 110 doctors. Almost 130 senior managers have been replaced.

Mr Hunt will this week publish a report on the culture change in the NHS in the two years since the inquiry into the Mid-Staffs hospital scandal.

He is expected to announce new measures to support staff to speak up about poor or unsafe care.

Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne says the review is not ambitious enough.

He added: "Labour is looking at whether we can go further and have a mandatory review of case notes for every death in hospital - not just for a sample of cases as Jeremy Hunt proposes.

"But as well as initiatives to measure avoidable harm, we need action to prevent it from happening in the first place. The sad truth is that by turning the NHS upside down with a damaging reorganisation and causing a crisis in A&E, the Tory-led Government is making care problems more likely, not less."


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Prince Charles: UK Youth Extremism 'Alarming'

The Prince of Wales has voiced concern over the "alarming" radicalisation of young people in the UK.

In a radio interview Prince Charles said the extent to which young people are becoming radicalised is one of the "greatest worries".

He said it was particularly concerning "in a country like ours where you know the values we hold dear".

"You think that the people who have come here, born here, go to school here, would abide by those values and outlooks," the Prince told BBC Radio 2's The Sunday Hour.

His comments came as he kicked off a six-day tour of the Middle East. 

The Prince of Wales landed in Jordan late on Saturday, where he is due to hold talks with King Abdullah II.

Jordan has carried out three consecutive days of airstrikes on Islamic State targets after the terrorist group released a video showing 26-year-old Jordanian pilot Moaz al Kasabeh being burned to death.

Prince Charles said preventing the radicalisation of Muslim youth was a "great challenge" and something that could not be swept "under the carpet".

He expressed particular concern over the threat posed by young Muslims coming into contact with extremists online, describing it as "frightening".

"I can see I suppose to a certain extent, some aspect of this radicalisation is a search for adventure and excitement at a particular age," he said, adding that he had tried to create alternative paths for young people through his work with The Princes Trust charity.

The Prince's tour will also see him travel to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

His first official stop in Jordan was a Syrian refugee camp to see how thousands displaced from their homeland are rebuilding their lives.

The Prince was joined by International Development Secretary Justine Greening.


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'Suspicious' Cliff Death: Police Search For Clues

By Siobhan Robbins, West of England Correspondent

Specialist police officers are searching a cliff face in Bristol where a man died under suspicious circumstances.

Jamie Tipper, 28, from Old Market, died after falling at the Avon Gorge on 20 December last year.

Detectives are investigating whether he was murdered or not.

Trained officers will use ropes to abseil down the rock face looking for items which might help to prove what led to Mr Tipper's death.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains on bail until mid-March.

Detective Inspector Andy Bevan from Avon and Somerset Police said: "We've received further information relating to the death of Jamie Tipper which has resulted in us calling in the rope access team to help with a search of the cliff face at Avon Gorge on Sunday.

"The team has been tasked to look for specific items relating to the inquiry."

Police are also trying to trace a taxi driver and two men seen walking in the area at the time of Jamie's fall.

DI Bevan added: "These people may hold important information and I would urge them to come forward.

"We're keeping Jamie's family fully up-to-date with our progress."

Mr Tipper's mother, Debra, said the family has been "shattered" by his death and believes "somebody out there has to know more".


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Teenager, 16, Charged Over Woman's Rape

A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 46-year-old woman in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

The woman was allegedly pushed to the ground and raped by a stranger in the early hours of Wednesday.

Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to Manchester Road in the Heywood area of Rochdale at around 1.25am.

The woman was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, where she reported having been attacked at the junction of Birnam Grove and Argyle Street.

A police spokesman said the 16-year-old boy has been charged with rape and attempted rape and will appear at Rochdale Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Police urged any witnesses who may have seen any individuals around that area to get in touch.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Serious Sexual Offences Unit on 0161 856 1741 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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