Human Remains Are Missing Student Hannah Graham

Police say remains found in a dried-up creek in rural Virginia are those of British-born student Hannah Graham.

A skull and bones were discovered in a heavily wooded area five weeks after the 18-year-old vanished in Charlottesville, a college town about 100 miles southwest of Washington DC.

Her parents, John and Sue Graham, said in a statement: "When we started this journey together we all hoped for a happier ending.

"Sadly that was not to be. We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter.

"Although we have lost our precious Hannah, the light she radiated can never be extinguished."

The University of Virginia student, who moved from Britain to the US when she was five, vanished on September 13 after a night out with friends.

Matthew was the last person to be seen with Hannah, police said

She left an off-campus party alone and then texted a friend saying she was lost, police said.

In CCTV footage, she was seen walking and running unsteadily past a pub and a service station and then on to a block of bars, restaurants and shops.

1/7

1. Gallery: Hannah Graham Search In Rural Area

   Police are scouring the area where remains that might belong to missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham were found

2. The Albemarle County area is home to horse farms

3. Officers sifted through autumn leaves in the heavily wooded area looking for clues

4. Police have blocked off roads

5. Forensic experts must examine the remains

6. Ms Graham, who is British-born, was last seen on 13 September

7. Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr, 32, has been charged with abduction

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr, 32, the last person seen with her, has been charged with abduction with intent to defile her.

The area where her remains were found is six miles (10km) from where 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington's body was found after she vanished in 2009.

Police said forensic evidence connects Matthew to Ms Harrington's killing.

DNA also allegedly links him to a sexual assault in northern Virginia in 2005.

On Monday, he was indicted with rape and attempted murder over that case.

Matthew, who weighs 270 pounds (122kg), was an operating room technician at the university's hospital.

Friends said they were shocked the "gentle giant" could be suspected of murder.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tony Blair Denies Saying Miliband Can't Win

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has denied saying that Labour leader Ed Miliband cannot win the next General Election.

He used Twitter to say that Labour and Mr Miliband are able to come top in the poll in May next year.

His comments came after the Daily Telegraph claimed it had spoken to an insider who said they had heard Mr Blair dismiss Mr Miliband's chances.

Tony Blair was responding to an article in the Daily Telegraph

The Telegraph said the insider had heard Mr Blair tell friends that the Conservatives will win in 2015 because Mr Miliband has failed to connect with voters.

He apparently said that Labour had failed to persuade Britain that it is ready to govern.

Video: Questions Remain Over Ed Miliband

Mr Blair's prediction was made during a private talk with long-standing allies in early October, the Telegraph was told.

The source told the paper: "The Conservatives will be the next government because Labour has failed to make a good case for itself. That is what Tony thinks."

A tweet posted on the Twitter page of Tony Blair Office in response to the Telegraph story on Friday night said: "TB says: the Telegraph story does not represent my view.

"Ed Miliband and the Labour Party can and will win the next election."

Video: Ed Miliband's Highs And Lows

It is not the first time Mr Blair has been less than fulsome in his support for the Labour leader.

In July, he warned Mr Miliband about retreating into a left-wing "comfort zone", adding that the party had not developed a "narrative" for the future of the UK.

Mr Miliband has been under intense pressure in recent months with some in his party publicly saying that he should be replaced.

MPs like Frank Field have said that canvassers are being told on the doorstep that Mr Miliband is an electoral liability.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Schools Urged To Give Body Confidence Lessons

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Schools are being urged to hold lessons in body confidence as a new survey reveals that one in four Britons is depressed by their appearance.

A new project called Be Real aims to tackle the issue which campaigners say is trapping millions of people in the UK in an unhealthy cycle of depression, short-term dieting, cosmetic intervention and eating disorders.

"Low body confidence is a critical public health issue that we cannot ignore," said Caroline Nokes MP, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Body Image.

"It affects everyone - all ages, both sexes - and starts as young as five years old.

Health campaigners say Britain is facing an obesity crisis

"Be Real wants to change attitudes to body image, and help all of us, whatever our size, ethnicity or ability, to put health above appearance and be confident with how we look and feel."

Ms Nokes visited Therfield School in Leatherhead, Surrey, and spoke to Year 8 pupils as part of her work to raise awareness of the issue.

Video: 'Radical' Plan Unveiled To Save NHS

"Through this campaign, we're driving change through three priority areas," she said.

"We want to ensure children and young people are educated about body confidence from an early age, to promote healthy living and wellbeing over weight loss and appearance."

She said Be Real also wanted to "encourage the media, business and advertisers to recognise diversity and positively reflect what we really look like".

Video: Losing 3% Of Weight 'Achievable'

A survey of 2,000 adults across the UK found 26% were "depressed" by how they look, while 28% said they refused to exercise because of body anxiety and 20% skipped meals to lose weight.

More than one in seven people have considered cosmetic interventions and almost a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds are currently taking muscle building supplements to improve their physique.

"Too often the way we look becomes a measure of who we are and there is a growing pressure to achieve an aesthetic ideal that few of us can live up to," said Denise Hatton, chief executive of youth charity YMCA England.

Video: NHS-Funded Classes To Fight Fat?

"When we feel bad about how we look, we make bad choices about our health and are stopped from achieving our full potential.

"We are seeing this amongst young people, both boys and girls, across the country and urgently need to help them become confident about who they are and what they look like."

YMCA youth ambassador Kelsey Hibberd, who helps young people in Southend, Essex, was bullied in her teens and says she would be "thrilled" if body confidence lessons were offered in schools.

Video: 'Sinister' Body Image Culture

"It would mean that young people are learning really valuable life lessons and are not just being judged on grades," she told Sky News Online.

"Your body is just a shell, it's not a measure of you, your intelligence, your morals or your values. I'd be thrilled if these lessons went nationwide into every school in Britain."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

E-Cig Ban Poses Smoking Danger, Says Expert

By Katie Spencer, Sky News Reporter

Growing calls for e-cigarettes to be banned in public risk sending smokers back to tobacco, an industry expert has told Sky News.

Michael Clapper, chairman of the Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association, has warned that companies which are introducing bans are being "short sighted".

"There's a very real danger that you're going to send a lot of those people back to smoking," he said.

"We've got an NHS waiting list building up again thanks to smoking related illnesses and as far as businesses are concerned its short sighted of them because we know the science says they don't harm other people."

It's estimated there are two million e-cigarette users in the UK but increasingly public venues are now banning their use - from coffee shops like Starbucks through to pubs chains like All Bar One.

Video: Calls For E-Cigarette Indoor Ban

The public is largely supportive of the move. A recent poll by YouGov and The Sunday Times found 60% of people wanted bans in all public buildings.

While the smoke they produce may be an unsettling sight for non-smokers, the vapour given off is largely water.

Leading experts say the concentrations of carcinogens e-cigarettes contain aren't anywhere near as toxic as smoking and any toxins produced are too low to pose a significant health risk to others.

Shirley Cramer, from the Royal Society for Public Health, says it's easy to understand why some companies want stronger controls.

Video: Confusion Over E-Cigarette Safety

"Now, what we're seeing is this precautionary principle," she told Sky News.

"Employers and people in transport are taking the line 'we banned tobacco, we're going to ban vaping because we don't know enough'.

"There will be more evidence [of their long-term effects] eventually but it's very interesting because if you've already banned it, would you un-ban it?"

The Vape Lab in London's Shoreditch is one venue where users are being encouraged to smoke e-cigarettes.

Video: US To Regulate E-Cigarettes

Pierre Durand, one of the coffee shop's founders insists, rather than ban e-cigarettes in public, it's non-smokers who need to learn more.

"There are many people that need to be educated because since it's a disruptive technology there's not much knowledge and people don't know everything they should know," he said.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Briton Dies During Bangkok Cosmetic Surgery

A British woman has died while having cosmetic surgery in Thailand, according to officials.

The English woman, who has not been named but is aged in her 20s, died while under anaesthesia during a corrective procedure at a clinic in Bangkok.

Police were called to the scene at around 11pm on Thursday and said the woman had stopped breathing after receiving the anaesthetic.

Lieutenant Chaleang Inthip the woman had visited the clinic for surgery on 14 October but was unhappy with the results and was having a corrective procedure when she died nine days later. there were also reports that she died of an infection.

It is understood Sompob Sansiri, the doctor who performed the surgery, did not have the correct certification.

The doctor has been arrested and charged with causing reckless death, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' jail.

The clinic's owner, Dr Somphop Saensiri, 51, is being questioned by police.
 The clinic has been closed for 60 days.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We were informed of the death of a British national in Thailand on the 23 October. We stand ready to provide consular assistance."

Consultant plastic surgeon Michael Cadier, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, told PA: "This tragic case highlights how, if lured by the prospect of what is essentially 'cheap surgery', patients can be left vulnerable.

"Standards for healthcare may vary, and patients frequently undergo 'consultations' with company representatives who have no medical background and are, therefore, not being given the appropriate knowledge in order to give informed consent."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen Of Twitter: Monarch Posts First Message

The Queen has sent her first tweet during a visit to the Science Museum in London.

Her Majesty formally opened the museum's new Information Age Galleries by touching a tablet screen to send her message around the world.

The 88-year-old monarch tweeted through the @BritishMonarchy Twitter account, which was set up in 2009 and has 722,000 followers.

She posted: "It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting.  Elizabeth R."

The Queen's first tweet was confirmed by her @BritishMonarchy account

The message was pre-typed, before the Queen published it to Twitter by touching the screen in front of an audience at the event. 

The £15.6m gallery features more than 800 objects and explores how breakthroughs have transformed the way people communicate over the past 200 years.

The Duke of York is the most prolific tweeter in the royal family, signing off messages he has written on the @TheDukeOfYork account with AY, for Andrew York.

The micro-blogging site has been used by her grandson Prince Harry, who sent his first official tweet in May, but he admitted during the summer he no longer has a personal account when chatting to a group of students who were promoting his Invictus Games on social media.

The Queen and members of her family are represented on Twitter by the account @BritishMonarchy, while @ClarenceHouse covers the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Economy: Third Quarter Growth Slows To 0.7%

UK economic growth slowed in the third quarter of the year, according to the first official estimate of GDP for the period.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured Gross Domestic Product growth of 0.7% in the period, down from output growth of 0.9% in the previous three months.

It charted a slowdown in manufacturing, saying expansion - at 0.3% - was its weakest for 18 months amid concerns for the world economy and the euro area in particular - the country's biggest trading partner.

The service sector, which accounts for more than 75% of the country's total output, showed growth of 0.7% during the three months to September - down from 1.1% in the previous quarter.

Construction output continued to grow

It meant, the ONS said, that annual growth was 3%, down from 3.2%, though total economic output was 3.4% bigger than its pre-crisis peak in 2008.

All the figures are subject to revision but the status quo still leaves manufacturing 4.1% behind and construction 8.2% short of their peaks.

Video: Govt 'Out Of Touch' On Economy

Construction output grew 0.8% in the third quarter.

The performance was widely expected by economists, given forecasts suggesting the eurozone may slip back into recession.

The data for the service sector suggests businesses will be more wary about spending while consumers remain hit by weak wage rises.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Today's strong growth figures show that the UK continues to lead the pack in an increasingly uncertain global economy.

"With all the main sectors of the economy growing, it's clear that our recovery is broadly based.

"But the UK is not immune to weakness in the euro area and instability in global markets, so we face a critical moment for our economy.

"If we want to avoid a return to the chaos and instability of the past, then we need to carry on working through our economic plan that is delivering stability and security."

Labour's shadow chancellor Ed Balls responded: "For all George Osborne's claims that the economy is fixed most people are still not feeling the recovery.

"Working people are over £1,600 a year worse off since 2010 and these figures now show a concerning slowdown in economic growth too.

"We need a strong and balanced recovery that works for all working people, not just a few at the top."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chancellor Needs Hard Hat For Fight Ahead

It's a rum state of affairs when Britain is apparently punished for having a strong economy.

After all, we've spent the past five or six years telling ourselves that all we desperately need is a bit of growth.

And yet that's how things look today, with the UK fighting off an attempt by the European Union to charge it an extra €2.1bn (£1.7bn) because of the strength of its recovery.

As if to rub it in, that coincides with another set of relatively strong gross domestic product numbers, reminding us that the recovery is indeed in full train.

Now, in truth the EU charge is largely down to long term rather than short term trends - particularly revisions to long-term output levels conducted over the course of the past year or so.

Video: Osborne: Recovery At Crucial Phase

But it nonetheless begs a few questions: first, where will this money come from? Second, is the UK economy really in a position of strength?

The first question is rather awkward for the Chancellor, for while the economy is certainly growing a lot quicker than expected (today's 0.7% growth means GDP is 3% higher than a year ago, and 3.4% higher than before the recession hit in 2008), it isn't bringing in as much tax as had been hoped.

Indeed, while economists had expected the Treasury to reduce the deficit by £10bn, the latest numbers suggest it may end up the same or higher than last year.

Indeed, the OBR had been expecting income tax receipts to rise by 6.5% this year; instead they have fallen by 0.8%.

And when you factor in the extra money the Chancellor will need to pay for the new tax cuts he set out at party conference a few weeks ago, one has to conclude that there simply isn't much cash to spare.

The second question is simpler to answer. The UK economy is doing well at the moment.

Today's growth numbers were more or less in line with expectations, and every sector of the economy - services, production, agriculture and construction - grew at a fair whack in the most recent quarter.

Though don't be fooled by the optics frequently employed by the Chancellor.

Video: Govt 'Out Of Touch' On Economy

You might have assumed, given how many times you've seen George Osborne in a hard hat or (as he was today) in a car factory, that these were the sectors which really drove the recovery.

The detailed figures we got today tell a different story. Since the start of the crisis output in the construction sector is actually down by 8.2%. The output of the motor vehicle sector is, admittedly, up by 4.4% but it has driven growth far, far less than administrative and support activities, up by a whopping 27.8%.

In other words, it is office workers who have driven the recovery, not people in hard hats.

It is the support staff, computer repair engineers and other white collar workers whose sectors have expanded most quickly.

But, to bring things back to the EU once again, the problem is that those office-based sectors don't make and export things overseas.

The one aspect of the economy Britain desperately needs to improve is its balance of trade, which is woefully weak - and, if anything, worsening.

Without an improvement in that, strong GDP or not, Britain's economy will remain imbalanced and potentially vulnerable to future crises.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bedfordshire Woman Arrested On Terror Charges

A woman has been arrested in Bedfordshire on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with Syria.

Counter-terrorism officers took the 25-year-old into custody on Wednesday morning.

She has been taken to a central London police station.

Two properties in Bedfordshire have been searched.

The arrest is the latest in a string of raids on people living in the UK suspected of terror offences linked to the Syrian conflict.

Around 500 Britons are estimated to have travelled to Syria to fight.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

GPs To Pocket £55 For Dementia Diagnosis

Plans to pay GPs a £55 bonus when they make a dementia diagnosis have been condemned as an "ethical travesty".

NHS England confirmed family doctors would receive the cash under a new scheme to ensure sufferers are identified early and given tailored care.

But Dr Iona Heath, ex-president of the Royal College of GPs, told the medical magazine Pulse: "I think the proposal is an intellectual and ethical travesty."

Health experts believe that just under half of the people living with dementia are not being diagnosed.

Under the scheme, GPs will get the cash for every additional dementia diagnosis they make over the next six months.

Video: Sept: Cost Of Dementia Care Soars

Dr Martin McShane, NHS England national director for long-term conditions, said: "Dementia can be devastating both for individuals and their families.

"We know that more needs to be done across the health service to ensure that people living with dementia are identified so that they can get the tailored care and support they need.

"This additional investment is part of a drive to ensure this."

Health chiefs have identified a gap of about 90,000 patients, an average of 12 per practice, who could benefit from a more timely diagnosis.

However, the Patients Association say the scheme is "a distortion of good medical practice".

Chief executive Katherine Murphy said: "We know GPs receive incentive payments to find all sorts of conditions, such as high cholesterol, raised blood pressure and diabetes - but this seems a step too far. It is putting a bounty on the head of certain patients.

"Good GPs will be diagnosing their dementia patients already. This seems to be rewarding poor GPs.

"There is an issue of people presenting late with dementia to doctors, but this is not the right way to go about tackling that.

"If people were given hope that something could be done, that would be the greatest incentive for coming early."

Dr Matthew Norton, Head of Policy at Alzheimer's Research UK said: "For people with dementia, a diagnosis can help them to make sense of the symptoms they are experiencing, as well as opening the door to vital support and treatments.

"The ability to offer a timely diagnosis is important, but it's also critical for people to have access to the services they need once a diagnosis has been given."

"Diagnosing dementia can be a challenge, particularly as the symptoms can overlap with other health conditions, and research is crucial to improve diagnosis methods."

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wife Held Over British Man's Murder In Bali

The wife of a British businessman who was found with his throat slashed and dumped in a Bali rice field has admitted ordering his murder, police have said.

Julaikah Noor Ellis, 45, was arrested on Tuesday night after reporting the disappearance of her 60-year-old husband Robert earlier in the day.

His body was found by a farmer in a ditch in the Bangdun region of the Indonesian island.

Mr Ellis' arms and legs had been tied up and his body wrapped in plastic. There were deep gashes in his neck.

Security guards outside the couple's villa complex in Bali

Badung police chief Komang Suartana said marital problems and money were among the possible motives for the murder.

He told Australia's Channel Nine: "We have named suspects - one of killers called Ariel and (the) victim's wife who has (ordered) and (planned) to kill the victim.

"Based on the victim's wife's confession, she wanted to take over victim's wealth."

He added: "She says she was hurt by the victim. There were many factors, one of them that her husband was frequently cheating on her."

Mr Suartana claimed Noor Ellis, an Indonesian citizen, was at home at the couple's luxury villa when the killer she had hired slashed her husband's throat in the kitchen.

A man accused of being the killer was arrested in Padangbai, a port in eastern Bali, where he was allegedly trying to flee to Lombok island.

Two maids were also in custody, while police are still hunting a further four suspects.

Police initially said Mr Ellis was an Australian citizen, but subsequently said he was a British passport-holder who had lived in Australia for many years.

"We are coming to terms with this tragedy only very slowly," said Ross Taylor, the president of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute and who said he had known the couple for years.

Mr Taylor said dual national Mr Ellis was a successful businessman who had lived in Indonesia for many years and was well liked.

He said he had been looking at acquiring a fish processing business in Sulawesi and owned a luxury villa in the Balinese seaside district of Sanur where he had settled for the past few years.

Flowers arrived at the villa on Tuesday afternoon from friends paying their respects.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mike Read Sorry For UKIP Calypso Song

Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read has apologised for "unintentionally causing offence" with his UKIP song which he wants to withdraw from sale.

Read had previously defended Calypso, which is sung with a mock Caribbean accent, saying it was "nothing remotely racist" and just a "bit of fun".

The song praises UKIP and its leader Nigel Farage.

Its lyrics include: "When we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage; we can trade with the world again, when Nigel is at Number 10."

Nigel Farage has been promoting the single on Twitter

Read told Sky News: "I'm the last person in the world who would want to cause any offence - I'm absolutely mortified. That's why I've asked the record company to withdraw it."

Read, a former Conservative supporter, used the song to warn his listeners against trusting David Cameron, singing: "The British people have been let down, that's why UKIP is making ground.

"From Crewe to Cleethorpes, from Hull to Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum."

While some were putting bets on whether the song would reach number one, others were less complimentary about the track.

One Amazon customer wrote: "My God, the musical equivalent of the Ebola virus. Anyway, isn't calypso music a bit foreign for UKIP?"

Another said: "Pretty sick with faux Jamaican accent."

The song is advertised on iTunes

Read told the Press Association: "I'm so sorry that the song unintentionally caused offence. That was never my intention and I apologise unreservedly if anyone has taken offence."

UKIP said it regretted that Read had felt obliged to ask his record company to withdraw it from sale.

"This is Mike's song and it is obviously his decision what to do with it," a party spokeswoman said.

"We do think it is a shame that he has been treated so harshly by many in the 'right-on' media, but we respect his decision."

The party said it would donate its share of the proceeds so far to the Red Cross to help make up for income the charity would miss from future sales.

"Were it not for the synthetic outrage, the song would have generated a lot of money for charity, as profits were to be split with the Red Cross for their Ebola Outreach programme," a party spokeswoman said.

"It's a pity those so concerned with political correctness have trodden all over this."

On Wednesday lunchtime the single was still for sale on iTunes.

Read hit the headlines in 1984 when he refused to play the Frankie Goes To Hollywood single Relax because he objected to its lyrics.

He has also turned his hand to musicals, but his 2004 show about the life of writer Oscar Wilde closed after one night due to dreadful reviews and poor ticket sales.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Land Girls To Attend War Effort Tribute

By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

Hundreds of former Land Girls are expected to attend the unveiling of a tribute to their work during the First and Second World Wars.

A life-sized bronze sculpture will be revealed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today.

It honours members of the Women's Land Army (WLA) who worked on farms during the First and Second World Wars when conscription and military casualties led to a shortage of labourers.

James Shallcross is the assistant curator at the National Memorial Arboretum and told Sky News it was important to recognise the role Land Girls played during and after the two wars.

"The Women's Land Army was a major part of the effort to help the country in a time of conflict," he said.

The sculpture is set to be unveiled in Staffordshire

"Without their help the nation would probably have starved and may well have not won the Second World War."

The memorial also honours Lumber Jills, the women who worked in forestry during the Second World War as part of the Women's Timber Corps.

The sculpture depicts a Lumber Jill linking arms with the Land Girl who is holding a pitchfork.

Mary Wright, 84, joined the WLA when she was 17, two years after the end of the Second World War.

"It was very physically demanding, but you were doing something for the country," she said.

"They needed women on the farms because there weren't enough labourers to do the work."

The sculpture was created by Denise Dutton and will be unveiled by HRH the Countess of Wessex.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baker Street Saxophone Soloist Dies

The saxophonist who played the solo on Gerry Rafferty's famous hit Baker Street, but who admitted he was "irritated" by it being out of tune, has died.

Raphael Ravenscroft, 60, found fame almost overnight following the release of the 1978 track.

He went on to work with Pink Floyd, Abba and Marvin Gaye and more recently worked as a session musician for Daft Punk and Duffy.

He died following a suspected heart attack early on Sunday.

Ravenscroft is reported to have been paid £27 for the session with a cheque that bounced, while the hit reached number three in the UK charts and number two in the US.

Rafferty was said to have earned £80,000 a year from the royalties on the song alone.

Gerry Rafferty died after a long illness in 2011

In a radio interview in 2011, Ravenscroft, of Exeter, Devon, said hearing the song annoyed him.

He said: "I'm irritated because it's out of tune. Yeah, it's flat. By enough of a degree that it irritates me at best."

He had already appeared on one disco album by Maxine Nightingale, Right Back Where We Started From, in 1976, as an arranger but emerged as one of pop-rock's most prominent sax men.

In 1990 Ravenscroft, also a former tutor of music at York College, published a successful instruction book, The Complete Saxophone Player.

In 2011, he recorded a tribute to commemorate the funeral of Rafferty called Forgiveness, which combined his saxophone playing with the voices of Grammy-nominated choir Tenebrae.

Rafferty was also famous for his hit Stuck In The Middle With You which he recorded with his band Stealers Wheel.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aid Boss Joins British Troops Battling Ebola

By Alex Rossi, Senior News Correspondent

The International Development Secretary has joined troops on a flight to Sierra Leone to see how British aid is being distributed in the fight against Ebola.

Justine Greening is calling on the international community to do more in the battle against the virus.

During her two-day visit Ms Greening will visit an Ebola training academy which is in the final stages of construction.

She said it is paramount that Britain continues to lead the fight against the deadly disease in Sierra Leone if it is to be stopped from spreading to other parts of the world.

Justine Greening chats to troops before the journey

"I think it matters because we have seen this disease really escalate In West Africa and really the best way we can keep the British public safe and keep the risk to the UK low is to be working with governments like Sierra Leone to help the combat Ebola over there in the first place."

Sitting alongside the minister on the flight are 135 British troops who are forming part of the UK's aid effort.

Video: Extra Troops To Sierra Leone

Major General Tim Radford, who is overseeing the operation, says they will help train local people on how to deal with the epidemic.

"The soldiers will be staying in a base just east of Freetown and they will be training (local) health care workers to go out into the community to look after the local population - we aim to train about 3,500 within the next five weeks."

Army Medic Private Anne-Marie Magaharan, from Catterick 5 Armoured Regiment, says defeating Ebola is just another kind of warfare.

Video: Ebola Tales: The Survivor

"I think it is going to be a good learning experience for some of us to go out and teach people what we have learned ourselves," she said.

"I've spoken to my friends and they've all kind of panicked and because of what I've been taught now I am able to turn around to them now and say exactly what it is and how you can prevent getting it."

The UK has pledged £125m to tackle Ebola in West Africa. The money will help to build at least five new treatment facilities - with 700 beds for patients. Some 750 troops have been sent to build them and will also provide logistical support and training.

1/11

1. Gallery: The Desperate Fight To Contain The Ebola Outbreak

   A man rests outside the clinic.

2. A woman is comforted after medical officials remove her husband, who is suspected of having the disease.

3. Officials try to prevent themselves from spreading the disease.

4. A local who has just brought his brother to the centre. He had to rely on plastic bags tied around his hands to try to protect himself.

5. A man thought to be infected with ebola waits for treatment.

6. Patients wait to be seen by medical staff.

7. Workers try to decontaminate themselves.

8. A worker with a child who may have caught ebola.

9. A makeshift hand-washing station in Monrovia.

10. Decontaminated boots of medical staff.

11. The basic conditions make containing the disease very difficult.

West Africa has been devastated by the Ebola virus. According to the United Nations, more than 4,500 people have already died but the actual figure may be much higher.

But without more help from the outside world experts fear the number of dead could rise to a million by July next year.

Video: Ebola Cases Are 'A Wake Up Call'

1/8

1. Gallery: Hazmat Crews At Ebola Patient's Apartment

   A team of Dallas firefighters tape off the door of the home of the latest Texas health worker to be diagnosed with ebola. Pic: Sana Syed/Twitter

2. A hazmat team decontaminates areas around the health worker's home. Pic: Sana Syed/Twitter

3. Decontamination talks outside the health worker's home. Pic: Sana Syed/Twitter

4. Dallas police officers and firefighters gather to distribute information leaflets in the area around the home of a sick hospital employee. Pic: Dallas Police/Twitter

5. Decontamination efforts at the apartment block. Pic: Sana Syed/Twitter

6. A hazmat crew prepares in Dallas. Pic: Sana Syed/Twitter. Continue through for more images.

Video: Obama: I've Hugged Ebola Nurses

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hurricane Gonzalo Alert Cancels UK Flights

Thousands of passengers are facing travel disruption after Heathrow cancelled 10% of its flights due to storms caused by the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo.

A yellow weather warning is in place across most of the UK as the storm system that battered Bermuda concludes its journey across the Atlantic.

Heathrow said 10% of flights with its biggest 20 carriers would be cancelled due to high winds.

Weather in Perth. Pic: Ashleigh Jolly

"We do not know exactly how many passengers or flights that will have an impact on, although the cancellations are only expected for Tuesday," a Heathrow spokesman said.

Gusts of more than 55mph are likely inland, but could reach 60 or 70mph in coastal areas.

1/17

1. Gallery: Hurricane Gonzalo Blows Across UK

   A train braves the coastal route near Whitehaven in Cumbria, as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo blew into Britain, causing rush-hour misery for road, rail and air travellers

2. Some areas were subjected to gusts of wind up to 65mph, but forecasters predicted that the worst of the weather will be over after Tuesday

4. Rough seas near Whitehaven

5. A woman struggles to hold her umbrella during windy weather on London Bridge

6. People take photographs of heavy seas in front of New Brighton lighthouse near Liverpool

7. People are covered by a breaking wave as they walk along the promenade at New Brighton

8. Looking across the River Mersey at New Brighton

9. A ship close to the seafront in roughs seas at Crosby in Merseyside

10. A runner on the Crosby seafront

11. A photographer on the seafront

12. Large waves hit the seafront at Blackpool

14. A ranger vehicle on the seafront at Crosby

15. Passengers queue to check in at Heathrow Terminal 2 after some flights were cancelled

16. The departures board in Terminal 2 showing cancelled flights

17. The sea off Portland Bill in Dorset

Northern Scotland will have the highest winds - up to 80mph on the coast.

The Met Office said: "The public should be aware of the potential for disruption to travel and possible damage to trees.

"Difficult driving conditions will result, perhaps exacerbated by surface water and spray in places."

The strongest winds will coincide with the morning rush hour in places.

Video: Bermuda Clears Up After Hurricane

Virgin Trains also warned that heavy rain might affect services on Tuesday.

A spokesman said anyone planning to travel should check before setting off. Customers with tickets for Tuesday would be able to travel on Wednesday if they preferred.

Hurricane Gonzalo - which at its peak sustained winds of 110mph - caused severe damage and a power blackout when it hit Bermuda at the end of last week.

Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll, with a crew of 180, has arrived at the British territory to help with the relief effort if needed.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Mail And Amazon Create 32,000 Xmas Jobs

More than 30,000 temporary jobs are to be created for the Christmas postal rush, it has been announced.

Royal Mail said it would take on 19,000 additional workers and online retailer Amazon wanted 13,000 staff.

Privatised last October, Royal Mail said the jobs will start in the middle of November and end in January, with the peak staffing period in December.

The roles will be in support of the company's 124,000 full-time sorting and delivery personnel.

Royal Mail chief operations officer Sue Whalley said: "Christmas is the busiest time of the year for Royal Mail and we plan all year round to help ensure we deliver the best possible service to our customers.

Amazon said it needed thousands of jobs at its warehouses

"Every Christmas, we make a substantial financial commitment in additional resources to handle the festive mailbag, including the recruitment of thousands of temporary workers."

Meanwhile, Amazon said it needed seasonal roles to be filled at eight warehouses around the country and at its customer service centre in Edinburgh.

Video: Royal Mail Brings Some Xmas Cheer

The announcement comes a week after it said it needed 1,000 new permanent positions at its warehouses.

UK operations director John Tagawa said: "Last year, on the busiest day in the run up to Christmas, our customers ordered 4.1 million items - that's about 47 items ordered per second."

It said "hundreds" may end up with permanent positions as a result of the temporary work.

Delivery services have seen a huge demand in recent years amid the rise on online purchasing by consumers.

New services have also been set up to try and alleviate the problem of deliveries when recipients are not at home.

Network Rail launched a 3,000-staff recruitment drive for Doddle, which allows commuters to pick up parcels at train stations.

And Amazon has its own locker pick up points, at certain supermarkets and at some London Underground stations.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hurricane Gonzalo Triggers UK Gales Alert

Gusts of up to 70mph threaten to cause travel disruption and difficult driving conditions as the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo hits the UK.

Gales are expected to affect much of the country on Tuesday, leading the Met Office to issue a "yellow" weather warning for most parts, including the Midlands, northern England, Wales, Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

Tonight will see wet and windy conditions sweeping eastwards, with the strongest winds expected as the rain clears eastwards on Tuesday morning.

Sky News Weather Presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "By this evening, heavy rain and strengthening winds from the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo will push into western parts of the Republic Ireland and Scotland, and will continue spreading eastwards across the UK overnight, clearing all but eastern England by the morning.

"Behind the rain, clearer skies will develop but also blustery showers.

1/4

1. Gallery: Gonzalo's Path To UK

   A 'yellow' weather warning has been issued for most parts. Pic: Met Office

2. The tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo is heading for the UK and Ireland. Pic: NOAA

3. Gonzalo hit the British territory of Bermuda on Friday. Pic: NOAA

4. A NASA satellite image shows the hurricane as it departed the Caribbean

"The heaviest and most frequent downpours will be over the north and west, where winds will also gust up to 70mph around exposed coasts. Elsewhere across the UK and Ireland, gusts are still expected to reach up to 50 or 60mph.

"The stormy conditions could also cause disruption to travel, especially as the strongest winds will be around the morning rush hour time."

A Met Office spokesperson said the weather could see fallen leaves impeding drainage and increasing the risk of surface water, which could affect road conditions.

They also said some damage to trees was possible, given that many are still in full leaf.

Hurricane Gonzalo caused widespread damage in Bermuda, pulling up trees and cutting power to 70,000 people.

Video: Bermuda Clears Up After Hurricane

It approached Bermuda as a Category 3 storm then weakened to Category 2 before moving ashore with sustained winds of 110mph (175kph).

Nearly all of the island's roads were impassable and cluttered with debris and fallen trees, police said.

The roof of Bermuda's hospital was damaged and there was also water damage in its new intensive care unit.

Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll, with a crew of some 180 sailors, has arrived at the tiny British territory to help with the relief effort if needed.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Comparison Sites Under Fire Over 'Kickbacks'

Price comparison websites have been accused of hiding the best energy deals from consumers.

Instead, tariffs are promoted from providers who are paying the sites up to £60 commission when a user switches, according to consumer group The Big Deal.

It claimed CompareTheMarket, uSwitch, Confused.com, GoCompare and MoneySuperMarket use search options that filter out the best non-commission offers.

The Big Deal, which uses an alternative of collective bargaining to negotiate with providers, said some websites have option boxes such as switch "now" or "today", showing only providers that pay commission.

The group's Will Hodson told Sky News: "We're calling on the competition authorities to crackdown on this kickback culture."

"The claim that they are consumer champions has to be challenged - these guys put commission first and consumers second."

It said better switching offers are available that can save consumers up to £200 a year.

The websites said their services were transparent, operating within existing guidelines and saving consumers money.

Uswitch's Ann Robinson told Sky: "The people who use our site save an average £200, and 10% of our users save over £300."

MoneySuperMarket said filter results were "not a loophole" and CompareTheMarket added that "suppliers sometimes stipulate which tariffs they wish to sell on price comparison websites".

Confused.com added that it was "committed to transparency in everything we do".

A spokesman for GoCompare said: "Consumers have to bear in mind that this is a highly orchestrated PR campaign being run by a company with a vested interest in moving customers away from comparison sites to their own collective switching model.

"The Big Deal also makes its money by being paid a commission by the energy supplier to which its customers switch."

The energy watchdog Ofgem said it was considering a regulation overhaul of the sector.

In January, the boss of Co-operative Energy told Sky News comparision websites were misleading customers and pushing up energy bills.

Profits for the so-called big five comparison sites have climbed 400% since 2005, reaching a combined total of £170m last year.

The Big Deal said it has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over the hidden cost claims of the comparison firms.

The CMA is currently investigating the energy market over concerns of tariff and previously said the big energy providers could be split up, separating retail arms from their supply divisions.

The big six providers currently supply around 92% of all consumers - down from 99% five years ago - according to recent estimates.

Energy costs for consumers have more than doubled in the last decade, despite falling inflation and a squeeze on wages since the financial crash.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Denies Murder After Wife Beheaded

A man who allegedly beheaded his wife has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Naveed Ahmed is accused of killing Tahira Ahmed at their home in Merton Avenue, Northolt, west London, on 27 May.

A post-mortem examination found that both the victim's arms had been broken, she had suffered stab wounds and her head had been cut off.

The couple are reported to have had two children aged between six and 12.

Ahmed, who is 41, entered his plea at the Old Bailey via video link from prison.

He will stand trial for killing the 38-year-old on 19 January next year.

18.55 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hurricane Gonzalo Sparks UK Gale Warning

Gale force winds are threatening to cause major travel disruption and hazardous driving conditions as the tail end of Hurricane Gonzalo hits the UK.

A "yellow" alert - warning of severe weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption - has been issued by the Met Office for much of Britain on Tuesday.

A 'yellow' weather warning has been issued for much of the UK on Tuesday

Strong gales of up to 60mph and heavy rain will sweep across the UK for around 24 hours, particularly affecting Northern Ireland, northern England, North Wales, southern and eastern Scotland.

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said: "The remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo are forecast to affect us during Monday night and Tuesday, bringing a spell of very heavy rain followed by gale or severe gale force northwest winds.

1/4

1. Gallery: Hurricane Gonzalo's Path

   The latest predicted route of Hurricane Gonzalo sees it travel across the Atlantic towards the UK and Ireland. Pic: NOAA

2. Forecasters say a downgraded weather system could hit Ireland in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with this image showing their current margin of error. Pic: NOAA

3. Gonzalo could hit the British territory of Bermuda on Friday. Pic: NOAA

4. A NASA satellite image shows the hurricane as it departed the Caribbean

"It will arrive across the northwest and spread rapidly eastwards taking an area of heavy rain across most parts.

"The winds will become strong and squally and turn northwesterly through Tuesday with gusts of 60mph possible."

The Met Office said: "There is the potential for some significant disruption to travel from the very strong winds on Tuesday, particularly as the strongest winds will coincide with rush-hour in places.

Video: Bermuda Clears Up After Hurricane

"Difficult driving conditions are also expected thanks to large amounts of spray on the roads and potential for wind-blown debris."

Hurricane Gonzalo has caused widespread damage in Bermuda, pulling up trees and cutting power to 70,000 people.

It approached Bermuda as a Category 3 storm then weakened to Category 2 before moving ashore with sustained winds of 110mph (175kph).

Video: Sky News UK Weather Forecast

Nearly all of the island's roads were impassable and cluttered with debris and fallen trees, police said.

The roof of Bermuda's hospital was damaged and there was also water damage in its new intensive care unit.

Royal Navy ship HMS Argyll, with a crew of some 180 sailors, was expected to arrive on Sunday to help with recovery efforts.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ched Evans Rape Inquiry Will Be Fast-Tracked

A "substantive" investigation into Ched Evans' rape conviction is expected to take place "within the next few weeks", the Criminal Cases Review Commission has said.

The disgraced footballer, who continues to protest his innocence, has had his case prioritised by the body, which examines possible miscarriages of justice.

If the review goes in Evans' favour, his conviction could potentially be overturned, as the CCRC has the authority to direct cases to the Court of Appeal.

A CCRC spokesman told Sky News: "In line with our published policy on prioritisation, and in relation to the facts of the case and the issues raised in Mr Evans' application to us ... we now expect our substantive investigation to begin within the next few weeks."

"The decision to prioritise the case simply brings forward the starting point of the investigations to decide whether or not there may be grounds for us to refer the case to the court of appeal.

Video: 'Heartbreaking' If Evans Re-Signs

"It does not in any way represent a judgment by the commission as to the merits of the case or its chances of being referred."

Evans was released from jail on Friday after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a woman.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror shortly before he was released, he said he was "ashamed" of his actions but insisted he is innocent of rape.

The 25-year-old striker added that cheating on his girlfriend, Natasha Massey, was "unforgivable".

"It was something that should never have happened," he said.

"I cheated on my girlfriend and had sex with this girl - but it was definitely consensual."

A statement posted on Evans' website from his family and girlfriend said he would "continue the fight to clear his name".

It added: "Chedwyn Evans maintains his absolute innocence and his family, friends and many who know the true facts of the case believe that his conviction was a gross miscarriage of justice."

Katie Russell, of charity Rape Crisis, told the Sunday Mirror the player's words were insulting to his victim.

"His protestations of innocence and sympathy only for his girlfriend are insulting, harmful and hurtful - not only to his victim, but also to the countless other victims of sexual violence out there," she said.

"He has never taken a moment's responsibility for his crime nor shown any regard for the terrible impact it has had on her."

The former Sheffield United player's release has divided opinion over whether he should be allowed to return to football.

1/11

1. Gallery: Sports Stars Whose Careers Survived Criminal Convictions

   Former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams was jailed for four months in 1990 for drink-driving. After admitting to an alcohol problem he set up the Sporting Chance addiction clinic

2. Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson served three years in prison after being convicted of rape in 1991. He returned to professional boxing after his release

3. In 1998 ex-footballer Vinnie Jones was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage against a neighbour. He was also found guilty of an air rage incident in 2003

4. American figure skating champion Tonya Harding received three years' probation for her part in an attack on Olympic rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. Others involved in the plot were jailed

5. Boxer Adonis Stevenson served four years in prison for managing prostitutes, assaults and making threats before turning pro in 2006. He went on to become WBC world light-heavyweight champion

6. In 2007 Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick served 21 months in prison for his involvement in illegal dog fighting. On his release he joined the Philadelphia Eagles and now plays for the New York Jets

7. Former Chicago Bulls basketball star Dennis Rodman has made as many headlines off the court as on. In 2008 he was sentenced to community service, counselling and probation for domestic violence

8. Scotland U21 international footballer Craig Thomson pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent behaviour with underage girls in 2011. He remains on the sex offenders register and now plays non-league football

9. American basketball star Lamar Odom, married to Khloe Kardashian, received a three-year suspended sentence for drink-driving in 2013. His most recent team was the New York Knicks, but they released him in July

10. Former Watford, Wigan and Middlesbrough footballer Marlon King, who has previously served time for drink-driving and sexual assault is currently serving 18 months for dangerous driving

11. Forest Green Rovers striker Lee Hughes served three years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving and played for Oldham and Notts County after his release

Many Blades fans have called for Evans to be rehabilitated but more than 151,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club to block his return.

Sheffield United Community Foundation patron Charlie Webster said if Evans re-signed for the club she would be "heartbroken" and "disappointed".

She told Sky News: "It would send out the wrong message to the next generation to watch Ched Evans score a goal and cheer him on as a hero."

Ms Webster also said it would "wrong" for her to stay in her role with the foundation if the club took him back.

On Saturday, Sheffield United dismissed reports that the club has offered a new contract to convicted rapist Ched Evans as "false and damaging".

The club's co-chairmen, Kevin McCabe and Jim Phipps, said they had not yet made a decision about whether to re-employ him.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Firms Consider Paying For Egg Freezing

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Correspondent

British companies have said they would consider following Apple and Facebook's lead by paying for female staff to freeze their eggs.

With the US tech giants now offering the fertility treatment as a benefit, Sky News asked 18 city firms if they would consider providing the same perk.

Two said yes - Spacious, who provide office space, and the bike light company Blaze.

Its founder Emily Brooke said she would even like the option herself.

Facebook and Apple sparked a worldwide debate by offering the perk

She told Sky News: "It just gives you a little bit more freedom and takes the pressure off later on in life.

"The women in my team are just as ambitious as I am, they work incredibly hard and I wouldn't expect them to take up the opportunity, I wouldn't want them to necessarily, but I would like them to have the option."

Two years ago Sarah Brocklehurst had her eggs frozen. Now 43, she knows it isn't a guarantee she'll be able to conceive in the future but says it has given her a choice.

She said: "Just being able to freeze the eggs allowed me to take a little beat to relax, be able to look around sensibly at looking for a man that I wanted to be with, not just a man that I could have a child with, which is what I think - some women unfortunately fall into that trap.

"And also fix things like my career and my living situation. So I think it's the best thing I could have done really."

This week one of Europe's largest fertility clinics is opening on the edge of the city of London.

Video: New IVF Treatment Gives Women Hope

For £200 Create will offer businesswomen fertility tests in their lunch hour and the chance to freeze their eggs so they can concentrate on their careers.

But the centre's medical director believes all women over 29 should be routinely tested for free on the NHS to assess their chances of starting a family.

Professor Geeta Nargund said: "We need to be proactive if we want to help the nation's fertility in the long run and spend less in the long run on fertility treatments.

"We want to invest in proactive fertility screening on the NHS. Many times people say I wish I knew this, I wish I was able to find out about this five years ago."

Video: New Hope For Women Considering IVF

With so many advancements in fertility treatments there are some who believe couples may be relying too much on science as a quick fix if they delay having a family.

Professor Melanie Davies from the British Fertility Society said "I know there are social pressures and I know that one has to find Mr Right but if you're in a good situation a good relationship the best advice is to get on and have children naturally

"That is far more successful than freezing ones eggs and more successful than having IVF at a later stage."

At a cost of around £7,000 for three rounds of egg freezing, women will need a decent salary or generous employer to pay for it, but all experts agree that age is still likely to be the biggest factor when it comes to a couple's chances of starting a family.

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More

Web Trolls To Face Two-Year Jail Terms

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Internet trolls who target people with abusive material online will face up to two years in jail under Government plans being set out by the Justice Secretary.

Chris Grayling said he was determined to crack down on trolling with harsh punishments because it was leading to "absolute misery for victims".

He said the venom thrown at people over the internet would never be acceptable in real life.

Mr Grayling said it was "terrible" that the model Chloe Madeley recently received rape threats after defending controversial comments made by her mother, Judy Finnigan, about convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Chris Grayling said trolls are causing 'absolute misery for victims'

He said: "We already have offences in place to deal with this appalling behaviour, but we've toughened up the law to make sure these crimes can be properly investigated and those who commit the most serious offences face a longer prison sentence."

Cases are currently dealt with under the Malicious Communications Act in the magistrates courts, with a maximum sentence of six months.

Video: Trolling Victim Nicola Brookes

Now Mr Grayling is changing the law so the most serious cases can be passed on to the Crown Courts where they could result in much longer sentences.

It comes after Peter Nunn was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail after an online "campaign of hatred" against the Labour MP Stella Creasy.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Mr Grayling said trolls were "cowards who are poisoning our national life".

And Ms Madeley told the paper she supported the change, describing the current laws as outdated.

They were drawn up 10 years ago before Twitter existed.

Video: Chloe Madeley Slams Internet Trolls

She said: "The current law obviously needs to be reviewed. It needs to be accepted that physical threats should not fall under the 'freedom of speech' umbrella.

"It should be seen as online terrorism and it should be illegal."

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair said trolling is "probably the most challenging thing facing policing over the next 10 years".

He told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "A huge amount of people's lives, especially young people's lives, is now lived on the internet.

"And if it's lived on the internet and there are criminals on the internet then police are going to have go into the internet."

18.54 | 0 komentar | Read More