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Thousands Pay Respects To Brothers Killed On M6

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 30 Desember 2012 | 23.39

More than 2,000 people have paid their respects at the funeral of two young brothers who died in a Christmas Day crash on the M6.

Adnan Habib, 10, and Arsalaan, four, were killed when the car they were in crashed near junction 15 on Tuesday.

The brothers, described by their family as "precious jewels", died alongside their 32-year-old aunt, Bushra Tazarib.

Their funeral took place at a mosque in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Hundreds spilled out into the street from the packed mosque and said prayers in pouring rain.

M6 motorway accident on Christmas Day The crash closed the M6 for three hours between junctions 14 and 15

British boxing star Amir Khan was among those present.

He tweeted: "In Wycombe for the funeral of 2 young kids + aunty who died in a car crash on way to a cousins wedding last week. Condolences to the family."

Khan was at the same wedding the three crash victims were travelling to and has described how the occasion turned from joyous to "despair" as news of the tragic accident spread.

Coaches and taxis arrived with mourners from the north of the country, including Manchester, and crowds watched as the coffins, covered in embroidered drapes, were carried inside.

Floral tributes were also brought, which read "Adnan", "Arsalaan" and "sister".

A private burial took place this afternoon for the two boys. Their aunt's body is to be transported to Pakistan, police said.

An inquest into the three deaths has been opened and adjourned by North Staffordshire Coroner Ian Smith.

Two other women were travelling in the car, including the boys' mother who was driving at the time of the crash, and were taken to hospital but discharged after treatment.

All five in the car were from High Wycombe and had been travelling north on the M6 to attend a family wedding in Greater Manchester.

The incident closed the motorway in both directions for three hours from junction 14 at Stafford to junction 15 at Stoke.

The Central Motorway Police Group is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, which is not believed to have involved any other  vehicles.


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Chester Zoo's Baby Boom Of Rare Species

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

Chester Zoo has warned the threat of extinction for some species is now so great that some of its animals may become part of "an insurance population".

The zoo, a registered charity, has been celebrating an unprecedented baby boom with the arrival of some rare creatures that are seriously endangered in the wild.

Among them is Chanua, a female black rhino calf whose arrival has delighted visitors and zookeepers alike. The zoo believes the birth is another step towards sustaining a population ravaged by poachers.

Curator of mammals Tim Rowlands said: "This is not just about visitor numbers, it's about the fact that we have got the animal welfare right, the animal husbandry right and this will help our conservation. We take a major part in the conservation work of the black rhino for example. 

"There is that thought that some of these species in the future may go back [to their natural habitats] but some of the other species won't. They are 'ambassador species' but it's not safe to put anything back at the moment."

Chester Zoo's baby Sumatran orangutan A Sumatran orangutan was among the new arrivals

The zoo has also recently welcomed a baby endangered Rothschild giraffe after searching a 'dating site' for the species online.

Senior giraffe keeper Lizzie Bowen explained that the new arrival was fathered by Thorn, which had shown little interest in potential partners until they found a female called Dagmar.

"We put Thorn's genetic details into an online database and it turned out a perfect match for him," she said.

There are now less than 670 Rothschild giraffes left in the wild following the loss of their traditional habitat in native Kenya and Uganda.

Chester can add rare giant otter pups and a baby Sumatran orangutan to its list of new arrivals - both belong to endangered species.

Chester Zoo's baby okapi The birth of Tafari, the okapi, was a landmark for the zoo

But zookeepers are particularly proud of an okapi calf called Tafari - she's the first okapi to be born at Chester in the zoo's 80-year history.

The zoo's endocrinology lab is the only one in the UK specialising in the study of hormone levels in wildlife. When animals fail to breed clues can sometimes be found by examining hormones.

Mr Rowlands said: "Tafari's arrival is a real landmark birth for the zoo. We've been working with okapi for almost six years and to finally see a beautiful, healthy calf on the ground after all those years of hard work is absolutely fantastic."

The species is found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This year conservationists were shocked to discover that 19 people had been killed and an entire breeding herd of okapi were wiped out after poachers raided a DRC wildlife reserve part-funded by Chester Zoo.


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One In 10 Police Officers Has A Second Job

More than 23,000 police officers and staff are moonlighting in second jobs, it has been reported.

According to the Mail on Sunday, more than one in 10 officers in England and Wales now take on extra work.

This was found to include selling ice cream, undertaking, giving skiing lessons, holding seances and pole dancing.

Police staff are allowed to take second jobs or run companies if approved by their superiors.

Unless there is a direct conflict of interest, permission is usually given.

Figures from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary showed at least 23,043 police staff had second jobs out of a workforce of 201,575 in May 2012.

That was up 19% from March 2011 when 19,329 had second jobs.

The number of investigations into second jobs soared in the nine months to May, with 154 reviews carried out - more than 17 a month.

In the previous year, there were 82 - fewer than seven a month.

Those investigations led to 10 officers either being sacked or resigning, while 65 warnings were given.

A Home Office spokesman said: "It is the responsibility of chief constables to ensure that any secondary jobs held by officers do not harm the public's perception of the police or result in any conflict of interest.

"The Home Secretary will put new proposals ensuring the highest standards of integrity in the police to Parliament in the New Year."

The news came as a senior Labour backbencher warned public confidence in the police has been shaken due to a "dangerous cocktail" including the 'plebgate' affair and the results of the Hillsborough Inquiry.

Keith Vaz, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which will begin an inquiry into police accountability, integrity, internal corruption and malpractice next month, said it is a "defining moment" for the service.

He urged Prime Minister David Cameron to host annual summits with senior officers and called for "a new Magna Carta" for policing.

Writing in the Sunday Express, Mr Vaz also criticised Home Secretary Theresa May for trying to enforce radical changes without having a proper dialogue with officers.

He acknowledged existing police structures needed to be reformed but said Mrs May's changes were "too rapid and too far-reaching".


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Paralympic Heroes Hit Out At Honours List

Leading Paralympians have criticised the New Year honours system, claiming it is easier for able-bodied athletes to get knighthoods.

Cyclist Sarah Storey was the only Paralympic athlete among the knights and dames, despite many racking up more gold medals than Bradley Wiggins or Ben Ainslie, the Olympians given top awards in this year's list.

Dressage rider Lee Pearson, who has won 13 medals including 10 golds at four Games, was one of two Paralympians to get OBEs in the list, which was published on Saturday.

He told the Independent: "Obviously, 10 gold, one silver and one bronze just isn't enough.

"I'm disappointed because I do feel I've given a lot to Paralympic sport and equestrianism. I think 10 gold medals is quite an achievement."

David Weir won 800m T54 final David Weir was given a CBE after winning four gold medals at London 2012

Wheelchair racer and six-time gold medal winner David Weir suggested Paralympians have to work harder to earn recognition than their non-disabled counterparts.

Weir, who was the only disabled athlete among five CBEs in the list, told the Telegraph: "Kelly Holmes was made a Dame when she won two gold medals, but it seems we have to get into double figures to get it.

"Sarah Storey should have been awarded this years ago, and I just feel that sometimes we are left out perhaps because we are not in the public eye.

"It is a bit strange, but I am just honoured to get anything from the Queen for doing a sport I love."

The list was drawn up by the Sports Honours Committee, which is chaired by Lord Coe and includes the former Paralympic athlete baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.


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Olympic Hero Mo Held In US Terror Blunder

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has said he has been questioned by US border officials on suspicion of being a terrorist.

The team GB star even got out his two gold medals to show the customs officers who he was, but to no avail.

Farah, who was born in Somalia and moved to Britain with his father when he was eight, was detained as he was heading to Portland, Oregon, to spend Christmas with his family.

He moved to America last year to work with his coach, marathon champion Alberto Salazar, at the Nike headquarters.

Despite his international fame, the long distance runner revealed he often gets stopped at customs because of his Somali origin.

Farah, aged 29, told The Sun: "I couldn't believe it. Because of my Somali origin I get detained every time I come through US Customs.

"This time I even got my medals out to show who I am, but they wouldn't have it."

The 10,000m and 5,000m Olympic champion also told the newspaper how he had trouble applying for a residency permit to live in Portland.

"We were in Portland on a tourist visa so had to leave and re-enter the country as a resident.

"So we flew to Toronto to stay for a few days, then come back in.

"But when we were there we got a letter telling us we're under investigation as a terrorist threat and we would have to stay away for 90 days.

"We had only packed four days' worth of clothes. We didn't know what to do."

Luckily, Farah's coach had a friend in the FBI, who happened to be a fan of long distance running and knew of Mo, who sorted it out for him.


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Cameron: Britain 'On Right Track' For 2013

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron has used his New Year's message to declare that Britain is "heading in the right direction" on all the big issues and can look forward to 2013 with "realism and optimism".

In a video address, the Prime Minister acknowledged 2012 was "tough", with many families finding it difficult to make ends meet - and admitted he had "no quick fixes" to the UK's economic problems.

But he cited evidence of "real progress" on cutting the state deficit, reforming welfare and improving school standards, which he said was preparing Britain to succeed in the "global race" with emerging economic giants like China and India for the jobs and opportunities of the future.

Mr Cameron said that his administration was "a Government in a hurry" which would not give in to pressure to slow the pace of deficit reduction or rein in reforms to welfare and education.

"This is my message to the country at the start of 2013," said the Prime Minister. "We can look to the future with realism and optimism.

"Realism, because you can't cure problems that were decades in the making overnight. There are no quick fixes and I wouldn't claim otherwise.

"But we can be optimistic too because we are making tangible progress. We are doing what's right for our country and what's best for our children's future."

Insisting that "we are on the right track", Mr Cameron said: "On all the big issues that matter to Britain, we are heading in the right direction and I have the evidence to prove it."

The deficit is forecast to be a quarter smaller at the New Year than it was when the coalition Government came to office. There are almost half a million more people in work, and more than 1,000 new academy schools have opened, said Mr Cameron.

And he hailed moves to take millions of low-paid workers out of income tax, freeze council tax bills and deliver the largest-ever increase in the state pension.

"This is, quite simply, a Government in a hurry," said Mr Cameron. "And there's a reason for that.

"Britain is in a global race to succeed today. It is a race with countries like China, India and Indonesia; a race for the jobs and opportunities of the future.

"So, when people say we can slow down on cutting our debts, we are saying no. We can't win in this world with a great millstone of debt round our necks.

"When people say we've got to stop our welfare reforms because somehow it is cruel to expect people to work, we are saying no. Getting people into good jobs is absolutely vital, not just for them, but for all of us.

"And when there is a fight on our hands to change our schools, we are ready and willing to have it, because having a world-class education is the only way our children are going to get on in this world."

He added: "This is what this Government is about: making sure Britain succeeds in this global race and, above all, helping our people succeed - the people who work hard and aspire to a better life for their families."

The message steered clear of the debates over Britain's future in the European Union - due to feature in a long-awaited speech by the Prime Minister in the coming weeks - and gay marriage, which have driven divisions through the Conservative Party over the past year.

Instead Mr Cameron looked back on 2012 as "an extraordinary year for our country", characterised by the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the successful Olympics and Paralympics.

In response, Labour vice chair Michael Dugher said: "It's a case of more of the same from David Cameron.

"In his New Year message, Cameron talks of people who work hard in this country but he's the one hitting hard-working families on lower and middle incomes whilst cutting taxes for millionaires.

"David Cameron stands for the old divide and rule Tory approach of the past - he can't be the One Nation Prime Minister Britain needs.

"Cameron promised change but nothing is changing for the better. Britain's economy is failing under his policies over the last year, with nearly one million young people out of work.

"Prices are still going up faster than wages and borrowing is going up not down, over 7% higher this year than last year.

"This Prime Minister is out of touch, he stands up for the wrong people and he's failing to deliver for working people."


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City Leaders Warn Of 'Civil Unrest' Amid Cuts

City leaders have warned that spending cuts could lead to social unrest and the "break-up of civil society".

The council leaders of three of England's biggest cities - Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield - say the north of England has been unfairly targeted.

But there are also signs of a backlash from rural authorities, mostly Conservative-led, who claim the shires are losing out disproportionately under the Government's cuts.

The criticism presents a headache for David Cameron, who announced in the Autumn Statement that councils must find a further 2% of savings in 2014/15.

David Cameron David Cameron is under pressure from council chiefs

That comes on top of the 27% cuts announced in 2010.

The Labour leaders of Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield - where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is an MP - wrote to The Observer accusing Whitehall of "Dickensian" views.

"Rising crime, increasing community tension and more problems on our streets will contribute to the break-up of civil society if we do not turn back," they write.

"The one nation Tory brand of conservatism recognised the duty of government to help the country's most deprived in the belief that economic and social responsibility benefited us all.

"The unfairness of the Government's cuts is in danger of creating a deeply divided nation.

"We urge them to stop what they are doing now and listen to our warnings before the forces of social unrest start to smoulder."

Separately, The Sunday Telegraph reported that more than 120 rural councils were weighing up a judicial review of the spending settlement for local authorities because it was "grossly unfair" and would hit services in remote areas.


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New Year's Reprieve: Rain Clears For 2013

The heavy rain which has washed out December will stop in time for New Year's Eve celebrations - bringing a brighter start to 2013.

Showers will soak much of Britain overnight and during the day tomorrow - but skies will clear over many parts in time for the evening of the 31st.

Forecasters predict that London - where thousands will turn out for fireworks - should have clear skies, though temperatures will be quite low.

The heavy rain should also subside in time for the celebrations in Edinburgh, but there will still be a risk of some light showers.

Uk weather 2012 is set to become the wettest year on record in the UK

Sky weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said the start of 2013 should be brighter, and less wet, than the worst of December.

The south of the country should be mostly dry during the first few days of the new year, with some outbreaks of rain further north.

Meanwhile, flood warnings remain in place across Britain with another band of miserable weather swamping the country today.

Strong winds and showers followed by more heavy downpours are bringing the last weekend of the year to a wretched end.

Days of almost relentless downpours blighted parts of the country for much of December, punctuated only by the briefest of dry spells.

Hundreds of alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency this month, as several days' worth of rain has fallen in just a few hours at its worst.

It has contributed to a year of bad weather with records, dated up to Boxing Day, showing England on the brink of its wettest year since records began in 1910.


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Attacks On Women In Wapping 'Could Be Linked'

Violent attacks on two women in east London could be linked, police have said.

The women were both stabbed in separate attacks 15 days apart as they walked through the same park in Wapping.

The first attack occurred at around 6.25pm on Tuesday, December 4, as the 38-year-old victim walked through the park, known locally as Wapping Woods, off Garnet Street.

The attacker approached her holding a knife and stabbed her before taking a digital camera from her bag and running off towards The Highway.

Then on Saturday December 29, at around 12.25pm, a 26-year-old woman was approached by a man holding a knife and forced into bushes where she was stabbed.

It is not believed that anything was taken before he ran away towards The Highway.

The victim was taken to an east London hospital in a serious condition, though her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Following the first incident the description of the suspect was given as an Asian male in his late teens or early twenties, between 5ft 2ins and 6ft in height, chubby build with short black straight hair with a brushed forward fringe.

He was wearing a dark, unzipped hoodie with light tassels, and jeans.

The second victim described her attacker as an Asian man, aged around 30 years, 5ft 6 to 7ins in height, with gelled messy hair and light stubble, and wearing denim jeans and a dark jacket.

Given the similarities between the circumstances and victim descriptions in both attacks, they are being treated as potentially linked.

Inspector Joseph McDonald of Tower Hamlets police said: "There are clear similarities between these incidents and officers are doing everything possible to find the man or men responsible.

"The violence used in these attacks is hugely concerning and could easily have led to a fatality.

"I would urge anyone with information that could assist officers to make contact with the police as soon as possible so that we can apprehend whoever is responsible."

Anyone with information should call Tower Hamlets Police on 101 or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Organist Death: Grieving Widow Speaks Of Evil

The widow of Alan Greaves, who died after being attacked on his way to a Christmas Eve midnight mass, said she has not stopped crying over her husband's death and the "evil that has been done".

Mr Greaves, 68, was discovered badly beaten near his church in High Green, Sheffield, on Monday.

The father-of-four died in hospital on Thursday after suffering serious head injuries in the attack.

Two Sheffield men - one in his 20s and the other in his 40s - are in custody after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder.

At the service at St Saviour's Mortomley and High Green Church, Mrs Greaves, a church community worker, thanked the couple's congregation for their support.

Church organist Alan Greaves murdered on Christmas Eve Mr Greaves has been described as a 'gentle soul'

"I've never stopped crying for Alan, and I know that you've never stopped crying with me," she said.

"I've grieved over the evil that's been done, and I know you too have grieved over the evil that has been done.

"I have prayed for you, and I know that you have prayed for me.

"I want to thank you because I really have sensed your very deep love and affection for me.

"You were Alan's Christian family and he loved belonging to this church."

The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, led the service at the church, where Mr Greaves was a lay preacher.

Dr Croft said Sheffield had lost a "shining light".

"There is a sense of shock and a sense of outrage, not just in this community but across the whole city of Sheffield," he said.

"Alan was the victim of a brutal attack as he was on his way to church on Christmas Eve, as he was walking to this church to bear witness to his deep Christian faith.

"There will be immense grief for those who knew Alan well, which includes many in this church and community."

Alan Greaves Flowers left where Mr Greaves was attacked

He went on to speak of the love and support that has been offered to the family and also appreciation for the medical teams that tried to save Mr Greaves's life.

"And in the midst of all this, I am sure, many will be giving thanks for Alan himself, for all he showed us of God's grace and love," he said.

"There will be occasions in the future for many generous tributes to be given.

"Goodness is not as common as it should be and this community and this city have lost a shining light."

Dozens of people attended the church to hear tributes to Mr Greaves, with some having to stand because there were no seats left.

Detectives are still appealing for anyone with any information about the attack to come forward.

Police are treating Mr Greaves's death as murder but say the motive for it is unclear.

Canon Bessant said Mr Greaves had been attacked 250 yards from the church and that his family had been at home.

"His wife wants justice but she doesn't want vengeance. She is not embittered but obviously she wants this person to be caught."

Mr Greaves had recently become a grandfather to twin boys adopted by his daughter in Mozambique.

He and his wife had recently set up a food bank and community project in the area where he was killed.


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Rugby Football Union: 'Ref-Cam' To Be Trialled

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 23 Desember 2012 | 23.39

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will trial a "ref-cam" for the first time later today during the Championship tie between Newcastle Falcons and London Scottish.

Match official Matt Carley will have a camera attached to his shirt to show television viewers close-ups of the on-field action.

Referees at televised matches are already connected to microphones which help broadcast the dialogue between players and officials.

In both union and league rugby codes, cameras are also located in the dressing rooms.

Rugby ref-cam RFU official Ed Morrison has backed the camera's use on the field

However, this is the first time a camera has been used in this way.

Ed Morrison, the RFU's head of elite referee development, said he was impressed by the quality of the footage in a training ground trial.

"I was gobsmacked really by the quality of the footage that came from it," he said.

"The quality of the filming from this one little camera that was worn on the chest of the referee blew me away really.

Rugby ref-cam The camera will give viewers a brand new aspect on matches

"From that point on I thought: 'There's something in this for us.'"

However former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said football should not follow suit.

"I don't want the general public to listen in to conversations between referees and players on the field," he said.

"There's a lot of interaction, there's a lot of man management, you'd be fascinated how much players talk to referees and referees talk to players.

"That's a way of dealing with them, it's a very effective tool that the referee uses to keep control of the matches."


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IVF Baby Boom At NHS Hospital In Bristol

By Isabel Webster, West Of England Correspondent

The UK's "best IVF centre in the NHS" is celebrating as 750 babies, conceived at the centre, enjoy their first Christmas.

The Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) produced around 450 live babies in 2012 using various forms of IVF and around a further 300 babies with the use of other fertility treatments like surgery or hormone therapy.

So there was plenty of cause for celebration at the Southmead Hospital centre as some of those infants were brought together for a special Christmas party.

New parents Steven and Natasha Watts had tried to conceive naturally for six years and described the process as "heart-breaking", as those around them had successful pregnancies.

"We both so badly wanted to be parents - it was really hard."

They were offered a relatively new fertility treatment known as ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection).

A needle 1/7th the width of a human hair is used to isolate a single sperm which is then injected into a healthy egg and if successful an embryo is then imbedded back into the womb.

Steven and Natasha Watts with their IVF twins Olivia and Matt

This more delicate and accurate form of IVF was successful and Natasha gave birth to healthy twins Olivia and Matthew.

"This is our family now - it's complete. What more could you ask for?"

Lee Booth and Marie Black described feeling "devastated" after discovering their chances of conceiving were extremely slim.

But they spent 18 months receiving help from the centre which eventually resulted in their daughter, Grace.

Lee explained: "We conceived on a frozen cycle and the chances of that are quite slim so we just thought get it out the way and we could focus on the next cycle. So it was quite a surprise when we found out it had worked."

Marie admitted she had been up in the night to take a pregnancy test.

"I did a test, expecting it to be negative. I said to Lee 'Are there two lines on that?'. I just couldn't believe it. I think I did 10 tests in one week!"

The couple are now considering donating some of Marie's eggs as a gift to hopeful-mothers-to-be who can sometimes spend five years waiting for a donor.

IVF techniques

Valentine Akande, centre director and lead consultant for fertility services at the BCRM, has seen the chances for couples with fertility problems get better during the course of his career and believes there is good cause to be optimistic about developments in the field in the future.

He said: "At the centre we offer blastocyst transfer when we grow the embryo in the lab beyond what is normally possible and this has improved success rates remarkably. Success rates can only get better. We're not yet at perfection but hopefully at some stage in the future we'll be in excess of 70%.

"I'm very proud of the team here. We are the best NHS IVF hospital in the UK and there's virtually no category of infertility that we're not able to approach or treat."

The centre is also one of the first in the UK to use IVF Witness, which uses tiny radio frequency IDs to automatically track all samples in their laboratories.

An alarm is sounded if cells from mismatched couples are ever in the same workspace.

It's expensive technology, but it eliminates the risk of mix-ups, which have happened at other fertility clinics around the country, and allows the doctors and scientists to focus on helping couples fulfil their ambitions of becoming parents.

Mr Akande said: "At this time of year, which is all about loved ones, it is great to know that we're helping parents start a longed-for family. It's a wonderful privilege."


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Hospital's £400,000 Payout Over Care Failings

A hospital has apologised and paid out more than £400,000 for 38 cases of failings in patient care.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was "disgusted and appalled" at the accounts of suffering and neglect at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital.

Health bosses are now writing to all of the families involved to apologise, after legal action exposed years of bad practice.

Claims ranged from nurses taunting patients to leaving an elderly woman unwashed for 11 weeks.

Jeremy Hunt Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was 'disgusted and appalled'

In one case, a man had starvation recorded as the cause of his death after being treated at the hospital for two months.

Many of the families are to receive compensation for cases that their lawyer described as "appalling".

In total the hospital has paid out £410,000 in 38 separate cases, five to people who survived, the rest to those whose relatives died.

The hospital did not admit liability but agreed to apologise fully to the families.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said the hospital has massively improved.

"Whilst the Trust has accepted that certain aspects of the care afforded to some patients fell below the standard that they were entitled to expect, all of the cases cited are several years old, in many incidences, more than a decade old.

"This Trust now has the sixth best standard hospital mortality index (SHMI) in the Midlands and East Strategic Health area based on 2012/13 figures which put the figure at 97 - which is below the national average.

"A number of very serious allegations made by the families of deceased patients are not borne out by the medical records.

"Nevertheless, the Trust accepts that, the care afforded to some patients, some years ago - between 2002 and 2009 - fell below the requisite standard and has apologised for the shortcomings."

Mr Hunt said the Government was acting to ensure failings in care were detected more quickly.


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Scottish Boy Who Died Hiking In Oz Is Named

A 14-year-old Scottish boy who died from heat exhaustion after collapsing during a hike in Western Australia has been named.

Ewan Williamson, from Largs in North Ayrshire, was with his father in the Cape Range National Park, south of Exmouth, on Friday when he collapsed.

Police said the pair had not been carrying much water despite temperatures in the region being well above 40C (104F).

Ewan's father called the emergency services and they were found by police around 700m down a gully and not far from a car park.

The teenager was treated on the track before being transferred to Exmouth Hospital, where he later died.

His father is 49 and from Geraldton, in Western Australia's mid-west, but has not been officially named.

A police spokesman told The West Australian: "It is a known path and bush track. They were not lost. It is not suspicious. It is just a tragic accident."

No further details are being released about the death and police are now preparing a report for the Western Australia State Coroner.

Any tourists hiking in the region have been urged to carry plenty of water.


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Sally Bercow's Twitter Account Hacked Again

Sally Bercow's Twitter account has been hacked for the second time in two months.

The controversial wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons had signed off to her followers for Christmas.

However, hours later her account had been hacked and a stream of offensive, sexually explicit messages posted.

The hacker, who struck at 2.20am, criticised the strength of her password in the first post tweeting: "Berkow [sic] password got it. So ******* obvio0us she is a bint."

Mrs Bercow had bid her followers goodbye for the Christmas break saying: "kids break up today & I'm aiming 4 an old-fashioned, twitter-free Xmas. Yes, really".

Her Twitter account was taken down hours after the hack attack, although it was not clear whether it was removed by the hacker, the social networking site or Mrs Bercow herself.

Sally Bercow Sally Bercow arrives to take part in Celebrity Big Brother

Mrs Bercow, who has courted notoriety by posing naked but for a strategically placed bedsheet and appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, was previously hacked in November.

It followed a series of gaffes she had made on the social networking site, including breaching a court order by naming a schoolgirl and linking Lord McAlpine to the flawed Newsnight programme about child abuse.

She had been advised by both her lawyers and her husband not to continue to use Twitter and posted a message saying: "Looking at tweets but (sadly) can't reply (#lawyerswhippedmyass #asdidMrB). So text/email/DM if you're a mate. Hope 2 b back soon.xx"

Days later she was hacked by a user who called her a "stupid woman" and again criticised how easy it was to crack her password.

She closed down her account immediately after but returned to the social networking site just over a week later.


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Andrew Mitchell: Police Tried To Destroy Me

Former Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell has accused the police of trying to destroy his career over the "plebgate" row.

Mr Mitchell was forced to quit amid a storm of protest - fuelled by the Police Federation - over claims he called officers "plebs" during an altercation in Downing Street.

But last week Scotland Yard opened an investigation into a possible conspiracy against the MP after it emerged an email from a civilian witness backing up the claims was in fact written by another officer.

Bernard Hogan-Howe Leaves Number 10 Downing Street Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has broken off from his holiday

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Mitchell said: "These awful toxic phrases which were hung round my neck for weeks and weeks in a sustained attempt to toxify the Conservative Party and destroy my career were completely and totally untrue."

He expressed incredulity at the latest developments in the case, which have led to the arrest of one officer from the diplomatic protection squad and another man from outside the force.

"If you had told me on September 19 (the day of the altercation) that the events revealed last week could take place in Britain today, I simply would not have believed you."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe says his force will launch "a ruthless search for the truth" of the affair.

He broke off from his holiday to be briefed on the progress of the investigation into the events surrounding the row, which is being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, also says it plans an independent review into "issues" with its operations.

Downing Street has insisted Prime Minister David Cameron "stood behind" his Cabinet colleague for as long as he could after criticism from some allies of Mr Mitchell.

Number 10 issued a statement after newspapers quoted members of the Mitchell camp claiming he had been left "swinging in the wind" by the premier who they say failed to act on CCTV evidence that cast doubt on the police account.

Meanwhile, former police minister Nick Herbert said that while corruption in the police is not endemic, it is also not an "aberration".

He added: "The idea that serving police officers might have conspired to bring down a cabinet minister could hardly be more serious."

Mr Mitchell has admitted swearing at police who refused to let him ride on his bicycle through Downing Street - but has strenuously denied calling them "plebs".


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Queen Misses Sandringham Church Service

The Queen has missed a Sunday church service on the Sandringham estate because she is suffering from a cold.

Buckingham Palace said that the monarch was getting over the end of the cold and wanted to make sure it was "over and done with by Christmas" so stayed away from the service.

A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen was getting over the tail end of a cold. We are expecting business as usual next week."

The Queen usually visits St Mary Magdalene Church each Sunday when she is in Norfolk.

Britain's Prince Charles (2ndL) and Cami The Royal Family attends church at Sandringham on Christmas Day last year

However, the Duke of Edinburgh, 91, did attend the service at the church, which is just a few hundred yards from the house, with the Duke of York and his daughters and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their daughter.

Dozens of well-wishers had gathered outside the church to watch the Royal Family attend the service.

Mary Relph, 78, said that she has waited outside the church to spot the Queen every time the monarch has attended a service since 1988.

"I don't remember her ever missing it," she said.

Duchess of Cambridge The Duchess of Cambridge greets crowds outside the church last Christmas

"I remember her going around the back once. I am disappointed but I hope she is OK."

However, the Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said this was not the first time the Queen had missed a church service on the Sunday before Christmas.

The Queen traditionally spends the festive period with her family at her Norfolk estate.

However, this year the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced they are planning to spend Christmas at the Middleton family home.

And Prince Harry is currently serving as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan.

Princess Eugenie and the Queen at Sandringham Princess Eugenie and the Queen with children at the church last Christmas

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Flood Warnings Amid More Travel Misery

Scores of flood warnings are in place across the country after days of heavy rainfall, as homeowners, businesses and travellers suffer more disruption.

Around 160 flood warnings have been issued for England and Wales, along with 31 in Scotland, which means flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

There are also almost 300 alerts where flooding is possible, and one severe warning remains active at Helston in Cornwall - meaning there is a danger to life.

Further heavy downpours are predicted during the day. In the Stonehaven area of Aberdeenshire, dozens of homes are being evacuated due to "significant flooding".

Many residents in the South West of England face Christmas with floodwater in their homes, and communities across the UK are on alert.

In Cornwall, Lostwithiel residents looked on helplessly overnight as flood water lapped at the sandbags protecting their homes, although water levels have been steadily dropping there.

And in Stoke Canon, Devon, 30 properties have been flooded after the River Exe burst its banks - with 20 residents moved to safety.

Flooding in Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire, (Pic: COLINTHIRD1969) Flooding in Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire, (Pic: COLINTHIRD1969)

For train passengers, the chances of getting home for Christmas could be hampered by the effects of the heavy downpours.

Those unable to travel on Saturday because of cancelled services will put further pressure on the network as they reschedule their journeys.

Dozens of routes have been affected by heavy rain in recent days, and flooding was so bad in the South West that First Great Western advised passengers not to travel west of Taunton unless their journeys were essential.

Several train operators struggled to provide replacement buses due to flooded roads and a lack of available vehicles.

Most of the flood warnings are in the South West, Midlands and the Anglian region.

Engineers work on flooded railway line Engineers work on the flooded railway line in Exeter (pic: Mike Yearworth)

There will be some heavy rain in Scotland today, while England, Wales and Ireland will have drier conditions during the day.

However, it will turn wet later, with outbreaks of rain moving into the South West of England and then heading north.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Tonight outbreaks of rain will move into the south-west of England and then spread to all of the south, including southern Wales by midnight.

"The rain will continue spreading further north into the rest of Wales, central England, the Midlands, the Republic of Ireland and as far north as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

"Some of the rain will be heavy, especially for south-west England and southern Wales."

In Looe, Cornwall, heavy rain caused two landslides which cut off the nearby the village of Hannafore.

In Umberleigh, Devon, a police helicopter helped in the search and rescue of a woman who had been swept away from her vehicle during flooding in the area.

Flood rescue A woman is rescued from flood water in Devon (pic: Devon & Cornwall Police)

She was found clinging to branches of a tree on the banks of the swollen River Taw.

Her husband and son were rescued by passers-by while the woman had tried to clamber to safety onto the top of the car but was swept away.

She managed to grab hold of a branch and clung on while a police helicopter hovered overhead. Robin Goodlad, the RNLI's incident commander said the rescue had been an "heroic" effort.


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Christmas No.1: X Factor Fights Hillsborough

The coveted title of Christmas number one single will be announced later, with the smart money on the Hillsborough charity single to take the prize.

Sales of the Justice Collective's version of The Hollies' hit He Ain't Heavy - He's My Brother edged ahead of X Factor winner James Arthur earlier in the week.

By Friday it had sold 15% more than its nearest rival, Arthur's version of Impossible, said the Official Charts Company in its final sales bulletin before tonight's chart rundown.

The Hillsborough track, which features names such as Robbie Williams, Sir Paul McCartney and Spice Girl Mel C, is being sold to help cover the legal costs of the families of the 96 victims of the 1989 stadium disaster.

Williams also has a single out but he asked fans to buy the Hillsborough single instead of his, called Different, when he realised they would clash.

X Factor contestant James Arthur X Factor winner James Arthur is hoping to come out on top

On Wednesday, Chancellor George Osborne said that he will give the fund the VAT on sales of the Hillsborough single, "ensuring that as much money as possible goes towards helping these families".

The Official Charts Company's managing director Martin Talbot said on Friday that the momentum was in favour of the Justice Collective.

But he warned that they "have opened up their lead in just two days - it could easily be closed over the next two days".

The Official Charts Company said: "Given the large sales volumes of the top two singles, other tracks which have been tipped as Christmas Number 1 contenders may now be out of the running."

Those include Psy's mega-selling international smash Gangnam Style and another internet hit, the £1 Fish Man by East End market trader Shahid Nazir which went viral in the summer.

BRITAIN-FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-HILLSBOROUGH-DISASTER-PROBE Comedian John Bishop is among stars on the Hillsborough single

YouTube blogger Alex Day, who gate-crashed the Official Christmas Singles Chart Top 5 last year, is in the chart with Stupid Stupid.

The Pogues and Kirsty McColl's enduring hit Fairytale Of New York also features. It has re-entered the Official Christmas Singles Chart Top 20 every year for the past seven years.

The Eddie Stobart Truckers also look set to enter the Official Singles Chart Top 40 on Sunday with their re-working of The 12 Days Of Christmas.

Since 2002 the Christmas number one has been dominated by reality TV contests which end just in time for the winner to release a single.

The trend began with Popstars: The Rivals but since 2005 winners of The X Factor have topped the Christmas chart five times.

The pattern was broken in 2009 when an internet campaign saw Rage Against The Machine's single Killing In The Name outselling Joe McElderry.

X Factor winner Matt Cardle was top in 2010 and in 2011 The Choir winners Military Wives were number one.

The Official Christmas Number 1 will be revealed on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show later and the full Top 100 will be published on www.officialcharts.com.


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Boat Capsize: Missing Person Search Called Off

An intensive air and sea search for a person believed to be missing in the water after a small boat capsized, has been abandoned.

The Coastguard said the alarm was raised after two people were found holding on to the side of an overturned vessel in Poole Harbour, Dorset.

The boat capsized near Brownsea Island and members of the public on the shore dialled 999 and the men were rescued by helicopter and taken to Poole Hospital.

One man was reportedly rescued from the water while the other was found clinging to a bouy.

Lifeboats had worked alongside Coastguard helicopters in a search for the third person believed to have been on board.

Portland Coastguard coordinated an intensive air and sea search of the harbour over three hours but the man was not found. 

A marker bouy placed in the location of the capsized boat indicated that a casualty in the water would have remained within the harbour area during the search.

Volunteers searched the shore and several private boats joined Coastguards to assist in the search.

A Coastguard spokesperson said: "Portland Coastguard received 999 calls shortly before 11am reporting that there were people in the water from a small capsized boat in the Whitley Lake area just inside the harbour entrance.

"Both coastguard rescue helicopters were on exercise nearby and were on scene quickly".

The search involved two coastguard rescue helicopters, RNLI lifeboats from Poole and Swanage, Coastguard rescue teams from Swanage and Poole as well as local vessels and other members of the emergency services.


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Paralympian Aims To Turn Convention On Its Head

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 16 Desember 2012 | 23.39

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A British Paralympic judo player aims to be the first in his sport to switch to able-bodied competition.

Sam Ingram will claim a world first in judo if he can follow the trail, blazed by Oscar Pistorius and others, in making the transition from disabled to non-disabled sporting competition.

The partially-sighted judoka won a silver medal at this year's London Paralympics and a bronze in Beijing 2008.  He now intends to fight for Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games against non-disabled athletes.

The 27-year-old is originally from Coventry but has settled in Edinburgh, where he trains with Scotland's elite judo players.

Sam told Sky News: "If I was selected for Glasgow, I'd prove to myself that all the hard work's paying off. I think I'd prove to other people that just because you have a disability, it doesn't mean that you've got to be pigeon-holed or limited; you can break through.

"People who have been told they'll never walk again have confounded the predictions - it is possible.

Sam Ingram The Paralympian intends to take part in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games

"For people with visual impairment, if you can cope with the guys who can see perfectly well, there's no reason why you shouldn't compete against them. I might have a slight disadvantage but, hopefully, I've got other advantages. If I make it to Glasgow, and it goes well, you never what's going to happen - maybe the Olympics in Rio after that."

The main difference between Paralympic and non-disabled judo comes at the start of a fight. When visually-impaired judo players begin a contest they are already gripped onto each other's jacket. In a non-disabled fight, they begin apart and the early exchanges are usually taken up with trying to secure a grip on the opponent.

"In Olympic-style judo," says Sam, when you begin grip-fighting, you have got to see where your opponent is and that's why it's a little bit difficult for people with visual impairment," Sam said.

Although Sam would be the first in judo to take the step from disabled to non-disabled competition, he wouldn't be the first British athlete to do so. Swimmer and cyclist Sarah Storey and archer Danielle Brown have previously competed for Great Britain in Paralympics and in Commonwealth Games for England.

In the wake of the Paralympics in London, there is evidence that disabled people around the UK feel more enthusiastic about sport, even if at least one survey suggests that may not translate into participation.

A post-Paralympics survey by the English Federation of Disability Sport showed that watching the Paralympics encouraged eight out of 10 disabled people to consider taking part in more sport, a large increase.

Shirley-Anne Duff Shirley-Anne Duff says disabled athletes train as hard as able-bodied ones

However, results from a Sports and Recreation Alliance survey conducted with sports clubs in October 2012 indicated that nine out of 10 (89%) clubs have noticed no change in the number of disabled people joining their club.

There is little doubt, however, that disabled participants who do cross the sporting threshold are still basking in the glow of London 2012.

Sky News attended a training session of the Lothian Phoenix wheeelchair basketball team in West Lothian.

Coach Shirley-Anne Duff told us: "I think there's a lot more awareness of paralympic sport and understanding of the athleticism that's involved, that these athletes train just the same as regular athletes - they train hard and they play hard.  Wheelchair basketball is such a fast paced and exciting sport that people are really able to relate to it because it's so similar to the running ball game."

Gavin Macleod, chief executive of Scottish Disability Sport, said: "I think (the Paralympics) gave people with a disability the perception that sport is for them, that there is something out there that they can do.  There are pathways there and there are opportunities so I think a whole awareness was raised around the Games, which is fantastic."


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Hampshire Robbery And Kidnap: Police Appeal

Police have appealed for a suspected armed robber to give himself up after a woman was kidnapped and driven around in her own car.

The man approached a house in Rookes Lane, Lymington, Hampshire, on Saturday morning, and pointed a gun to threaten the people who live there - the woman, who is in her 60s, and a man in his 70s.

The man received a minor head injury during a confrontation with the suspect inside the house, where money was demanded. No shots were fired, and about £100 in cash was stolen.

The robber then stole the couple's car, a silver/grey Peugeot 207 convertible, which was driven erratically at speed around the local area.

The woman was forced to travel in the front passenger seat of the car, but was not injured and was returned home around 15 minutes later.

The suspect drove away into Newenham Road, where he abandoned the car at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Chief Inspector Tony Rowlinson said: "I am appealing directly to the suspect to consider the consequences of his actions.

"From our initial inquiries, we understand you might be facing personal and painful circumstances in which you feel trapped and desperate for money.

"However, think long and hard about the distress and fear you are causing. I am imploring you to explore your conscience and do the right thing by contacting police to tell us where you are before you make any more reckless choices, which could hurt innocent people. Please phone us on 101.

"My appeal extends to any family or friends who think they may know this person or their current whereabouts. Please contact the police with what you know about this man."

He added: "This was a shocking crime committed against a couple who were subjected to an unprovoked, terrifying attack in their own home and car. I would like to praise their immense courage in dealing with the robber, who was violent towards them."

Police said they were linking the incident to a robbery on December 5 at Brockenhurst railway station.

Chief Inspector Rowlinson said: "I am calling on the community to be alert in spotting and reporting any suspicious behaviour or any information about the suspect's identity or location.

"We cannot confirm at this time whether the gun seen by the couple was real or an imitation firearm, but my advice to members of the public is to phone police on 999 immediately if you see someone matching the suspect's description. Do not approach him; his behaviour is unpredictable, and he could become distressed and agitated if approached."

He also appealed for help from the driver of a 4x4 car, saying: "We remain particularly keen to trace and speak with the driver of a sandy-coloured 4x4 car.

"This motorist is an important witness as it is reported the 4x4 car stopped in West Lane in Lymington to allow the Peugeot 207 to drive past while the robber was at the wheel.

"The woman has told police she waved at the 4x4 driver, who waved back, but did not appear to realise the reality of the situation inside the Peugeot."

The suspect was described as white, 35-55 years old, 5ft 10in, of average build, with dark hair.

The suspect, witnesses or anyone with information have been asked to contact CID at Southampton Central police station by phoning 101 and quoting Operation Prenton. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by phoning Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Lord Coe Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Lord Sebastian Coe is to receive the Lifetime Achievement award at tonight's BBC Sports Personality of the Year event.

The award recognises his remarkable career as an athlete and his huge contribution to sport in the UK, including the vital role he played in the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Lord Coe became chairman of the board for the London 2012 bid team in 2004 and was pivotal in transforming the city's campaign to host the Games.

His final speech that secured London as the hosts is remembered as a truly inspirational moment, focusing on the need to engage young people in sport to create the next generation of champions.

He is also remembered as one of Britain's greatest athletes, becoming a double Olympic champion and 12-time world record-holder.

He won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 800m at both the Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

He retired from athletics in 1990 and became a Conservative MP for Falmouth and Camborne, a Government Whip then Private Secretary to William Hague.

In 2002, he was made a peer, and received a knighthood in the 2006 New Year's Honours List.

He has recently been elected as Chairman of the British Olympic Association in order to help Team GB build on the success of London 2012.

Previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Sir Steve Redgrave (2011), David Beckham (2010), Seve Ballesteros (2009), Sir Bobby Charlton (2008), Sir Bobby Robson (2007), Bjorn Borg (2006), Pele (2005), Sir Ian Botham (2004), Martina Navratilova (2003), George Best (2002) and Sir Alex Ferguson (2001).

The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates those who have made a significant contribution to sport and demonstrable success in their relevant sport throughout their careers.


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UKIP 'Now The UK's Third Largest Party'

The UK Independence Party has surged to a record poll rating, knocking the Liberal Democrats into fourth place.

The ComRes poll for The Independent On Sunday and the Sunday Mirror put UKIP on 14% - a six-point gain on last month and the party's highest rating in a ComRes poll.

Two other polls in Sunday newspapers - the Observer's Opinium and the Mail On Sunday Survation - also put UKIP at 14%.

The findings will alarm Tory MPs who fear the party is haemorrhaging support over issues such as Europe, the economy and its support for gay marriage.

The ComRes poll, which interviewed 2,002 people online between December 12 and 14, put the Conservatives on 28%, down three points from a month ago and 11 points behind Labour, who are down four on 39%.

Support for the Lib Dems is down to single figures at 9%, a one-point fall on the month, which puts five points between them and Nigel Farage's party.

ComRes/Independent On Sunday/Sunday Mirror ComRes/Independent On Sunday/Sunday Mirror

Mr Farage told Sky News: "All the way through UKIP's history people have doubted what UKIP can achieve.

"We've shown in the last two European elections what we're capable of - and I would remind people in 2009 that we came second across the entire United Kingdom.

"And what's happened in 2012 is that all the big issues that we've campaigned long and hard for for many, many years - and taken much abuse for - those issues have become absolutely at the centre ground of what people out there are talking about.

"Unless we see some really substantial change from the Government and from the Labour party in particular - with a U-turn on Europe, open-door immigration, gay marriage and other things - there's no reason to think that this level of support for UKIP can't be maintained."

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles told Sky's Murnaghan programme that he takes UKIP, which he describes as "a party of dissent", very seriously.

"They represent a voice, and I am very firmly of the view the only way to deal with them is to get dug in, and to fight them on the ground on community issues," he said.

But Mr Pickles said this does not mean the Tories should not form a pact with UKIP.

"I think it is absolutely wrong (that it can be) always assumed that some kind of deal could be done and people would flood back to us. Governments sometimes have to make some very difficult decisions," he said.

He also said: "I think it's important that if we do have a referendum on our future with Europe it's got to be on the basis of not trying to outsmart UKIP or trying to ensure that we can bring the whole conservative party in one - it should be in the national interest."


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Rescuers To Bring Swamped Ship Ashore

Rescuers searching for the body of a crewman who died when stormy seas overcame his boat will bring the battered vessel ashore today.

Eleven other crew onboard the Vos Sailor had to be rescued when the boat was damaged and took on water during severe weather yesterday.

The Vos Sailor, an emergency response and rescue vessel, had been operating on the Balmoral oil field 120 miles off Aberdeen on Scotland's north-east coast.

Grampian Police said one man was fatally injured. His body has not yet been recovered.

The 42.5-metre vessel is operated by Aberdeen-based Vroon Offshore Services.

A Vroon spokeswoman said last night: "The vessel is still adrift and there is a support vessel with it. A salvage team will bring it ashore tomorrow."

Coastguards launched a rescue mission after a mayday call at 4.30am and 11 crew members were winched to safety.

At the time of the incident, winds in the area were reported to be 60-75 knots with 6.5-metre waves.

Non-essential crew on the nearby North Sea Producer, a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, were evacuated to other rigs as a precaution because the disabled boat was drifting.

A Grampian Police spokeswoman said last night: "The vessel sustained significant damage and 11 crew members were winched to safety during an operation co-ordinated by the coastguard in Aberdeen.

"It appears at this time that one crew member has suffered fatal injuries.

"Efforts are ongoing to recover the vessel which will be brought into Aberdeen harbour in due course."


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Royal Hoax: Nurse's Body Flown To India

The body of the nurse who apparently took her own life after being duped by a prank call has been flown to India for her funeral.

Mother-of-two Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead in her nurses' quarters at London's King Edward VII's Hospital by a colleague and a security guard on December 7.

The order of service for a mass held in memory of Jacintha Saldanha held at Westminster Cathedral in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 15, 2012. See PA story ROYAL Hospital. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire The Order of Service for the Westminster mass

Three days earlier the Indian-born nurse transferred a call from two Australian DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to her co-worker.

The second nurse then explained the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was staying in the hospital for pregnancy-related sickness.

Ms Saldanha's funeral will take place on Monday at Our Lady of Health Church near Mangalore in Shirva, the hometown of her husband Benedict Barboza.

Residents will be able to pay final respects to the body before the mass and the burial ceremony.

The family of nurse Jacintha Saldanha speak outside Westminster Cathedral The family with Keith Vaz (right) following Saturday's mass

Ms Saldanha's frail mother lives with her other daughter and a son in Mangalore, in the western state of Karnataka.

Mr Barboza accompanied her body on Sunday's flight to India along with their two children.

On Saturday Junal and Lisha, described the "unfillable void" left in their lives by their mother's death as a mass was held at Westminster Cathedral.

Following the service, Mr Barboza paid an emotional tribute: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward.

"From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out.

"Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live.

Jacintha Saldanha's widower Barboza arrives at the airport to attend the funeral of his wife in Mangalore Ms Saldanha's widower arrives in India

"Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life."

Ms Saldanha's daughter said: "We will miss your laughter, the loving memories and the good times we had together.

"The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives."

Her son said: "Our mother, kind hearted, generous and a well respected woman in both of our lives. You were the core of the family who kept us together.

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince WiIliam, leaves the King Edward VII hospital in central London Ms Saldanha worked at the hospital where the Duchess was treated

"Your priority for us was a good education and a bright future. You taught us right from wrong which we appreciate.

"You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today. When we achieved good grades and merit, your pat on our backs encouraged us more."

Standing outside the cathedral alongside their local MP Charlotte Leslie and MP Keith Vaz, who has been campaigning on behalf of the family, Mr Barboza said the family "could not have foreseen the unprecedented tragedy that has unfolded in our lives".

He thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron for their condolences.

Memorial services have already been held at the hospital where Ms Saldanha worked and in Bristol where her husband and children live.

Ms Saldanha left two notes in her room and also had marks on her wrist when her body was discovered, Westminster Coroner's Court in London heard on Thursday.

A provisional date of March 26 has been set for the next inquest hearing.


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Peter Ndlovu Injured In Zimbabwe Car Crash

Former Sheffield United, Coventry City and Birmingham City striker Peter Ndlovu has been critically injured in a car accident in his native Zimbabwe.

His older brother Adam, 42, died in the crash at Victoria Falls on Sunday morning.

"I understand that efforts are being made to airlift Peter Ndlovu from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo," tweeted David Coltart, the country's sports minister.

"My prayers are with you Peter, be strong."

An as-yet unidentified woman who was travelling with the Ndlovu brothers was also killed, Zimbabwe's NewsDay reported.

The newspaper said Adam was at the wheel of Peter's BMW X5, when a tyre burst and the vehicle veered off the road, hitting several trees before rolling.

Peter, 39, made more than 100 appearances for the three English league teams, scoring 91 goals. He also spent a short period on loan to Huddersfield Town.

Sheffield United tweeted: "Our thoughts are with former player Peter Ndlovu, who has been critically injured in a car accident in his native Zimbabwe."

A statement from Birmingham City read: "The thoughts of everyone associated with Birmingham City Football Club are with Peter Ndlovu and his family following news of a serious car crash in Zimbabwe.

"Peter was a very popular player during his time at St Andrew's and we hope he pulls through this difficult time."

Former Coventry team mate Darren Huckerby wrote: "Terrible news about Peter Ndlovu and his brother, hope he pulls through."

Peter has been working as a coach for the Zimbabwe Young Warriors Under 23 team.

His brother Adam was also a professional footballer, carving out a career in Switzerland, Zimbabwe and South Africa.


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York Stabbing: Police Hunting Michael Bennison

Police hunting an "extremely dangerous" man wanted on suspicion of trying to murder his girlfriend have issued an urgent warning to the public.

Michael Bennison, 28, is suspected of stabbing his 27-year-old girlfriend with a bladed item in York on Friday afternoon.

North Yorkshire Police have urged Bennison to hand himself in and warned members of the public not to approach him.

He is believed to have stabbed his girlfriend at an address on Healey Grove, in the Huntington area of York, at around 1pm on Friday.

She was taken to York District Hospital with multiple wounds, including a punctured lung, and is said to be in a stable condition.

Bennison is described as extremely dangerous. He is believed to still be in the York area.

He is white, 5ft 10in tall, with short brown hair, blue eyes and a strong build.

He has a wide nose and a noticeable mole on both cheeks.

Detective Inspector Shaun Page, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Michael, if you see or hear this appeal I cannot urge you strongly enough to hand yourself in to the police as we need to speak to you as a matter of urgency.

"You are only making matters worse for yourself by not speaking to the police.

"Anyone who knows where Bennison is, or may be shielding him, must contact the police immediately.

"You are not helping him and may even be committing offences yourself.

"If any members of the public see Bennison they should not approach him, rather they must call 999 immediately."

:: Anyone who can help to locate Bennison should contact North Yorkshire Police on 999 immediately or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference number 12120210314.


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Kate In First Public Engagement Since Hospital

The Duchess of Cambridge will make her first public appearance this evening since leaving hospital over a week ago - as she attends a TV sports award show.

She is due to present the main prize and lifetime achievement honour at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in London's ExCel centre.

Kate will be there as an official ambassador of Britain's Olympic and Paralympic team, St James' Palace said.

The pregnant royal, who was treated in hospital for severe morning sickness, is not expected to attend the entire ceremony but will arrive in time for the presentations.

Her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, will not attend the event as he remains in Anglesey in his role as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, according to a Palace spokesman.

The Duchess, who is less than 13 weeks pregnant, has not been seen in public since leaving the King Edward VII Hospital in London on December 6.

London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) chairman Sebastian Coe Lord Coe will receive the lifetime achievement award

The royal was there for three days for a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which leaves expectant mothers so ill they cannot keep food or liquids down.

Kate was then told by doctors to have a period of rest at her home at Kensington Palace.

She was recently forced to miss three royal engagements - a Centrepoint Royal Albert Hall fundraiser, the British Military Tournament and The Hobbit film premiere.

The country's stars will gather at the ExCel to celebrate a year of sporting achievement hailed as the nation's greatest ever.

London 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe will receive the lifetime achievement award.

Olympic and Paralympic heroes dominate this year's Sports Personality shortlist, with golfer Rory McIlroy the only one of the 12 nominees not to have won medals at London 2012 this summer.

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins is the bookmakers' odds-on favourite after his historic triumph in the Tour de France and gold in the Olympics time trial, followed by heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.


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Mousa Death: Doctor 'Acted Dishonestly'

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England correspondent

A former army doctor has been found guilty of misleading and dishonest conduct following the death of an Iraqi detainee in 2003.

A tribunal of medical watchdogs found Dr Derek Keilloh failed to carry out a proper examination of Baha Mousa.

He was also held responsible for failing to assess the health of other detainees.

Dr Keilloh had been on duty as a regimental medical officer in September 2003 and was about to end his shift when he was called to treat Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist who had been arrested by British soldiers in Basra 36 hours earlier.

He had been hooded for almost 24 hours, handcuffed and violently assaulted.

He had extensive injuries including a broken nose, fractures ribs and severe bruising to his face and neck.

He suffered 93 separate injuries at the hands of the soldiers.

Dr Keilloh tried to resuscitate Mousa but was unable to save him.

The medic subsequently said he identified only a small amount of dried blood around the nose and repeatedly denied any knowledge of other injuries.

It is claimed he insisted under oath that he had seen nothing untoward.

He has been accused at the 'fitness to practice' tribunal in Manchester that he failed to act with 'openness and honesty'.

Mousa, 26, had been arrested by soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

A public inquiry concluded the injuries, heat, exhaustion, hooding and stress positions had contributed to the detainee's death.

Dr Keilloh, a 28-year-old captain at the time of the incident, had only been his job as regimental medical officer for eight weeks.

Ahmed Al Matairi, who was detained in Basra, has told the medical tribunal he had heard Mr Mousa cry:  "I am innocent.  I am not a Baathist.

"My wife died six months ago. Blood! Blood! I am going to die."

His 22-year-old wife had died of cancer prior to his detention.


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Kate Prank Call 'Could End Radio Wind-Ups'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 09 Desember 2012 | 23.39

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News correspondent

One of Britain's most notorious DJs has told Sky News the death of a nurse after a prank call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge could mark the end of such radio wind-ups.

Steve Penk built his career winding up unsuspecting members of the public and high profile celebrities.

In 1998, his Capital Radio show famously got put through to then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Penk now believes the tragic consequences of a stunt that saw a nurse apparently take her own life days after putting a hoax call from two Australian DJs through to the ward where the pregnant duchess was being treated could change the entire radio industry.

He told Sky News: "I think there will be huge fallout. I think it will be, for want of a better phrase, the death of the wind-up phone call.

Radio DJ and prankster Steve Penk talks about the repercussions of the royal phone hoax that led to a nurse's apparent suicide. Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi Egypt's President 'Backs Down On New Powers' Mohamed Morsi is reportedly abolishing a decree granting him sweeping new powers, which sparked days of protests. Boris Johnson and Michael Gove Top Tories Launch Gay Marriage Campaign Nineteen senior Tories sign up to a new campaign supporting same-sex weddings in defiance of party traditionalists. Steve Penk thinks there will be a fallout over the tragedy

"Ofcom (media regulator) will wrap it in so much red tape that it will make it almost impossible to get these things on the air, which I think is a shame because they can be entertaining."

Mr Penk has duped hundreds of people through his career at various radio stations.

Often people were set up by friends or relatives who wrote in and suggested victims. Unlike the Australian stunt, permission was then sought from the victim before the calls were broadcast.

Mr Penk now owns The Revolution 962 in Oldham and has cancelled his latest prank show after the hoax call to the hospital treating the duchess.

AUSTRALIA Hoax 1 DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian from 2Day FM made the prank call

He feels sympathy for the two DJs who are now being vilified for their role in the stunt.

He added: "You can't predict something like this, I genuinely feel very sorry for them.

"I think it is unfair that at the moment the blame is at their doorstep."


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Boy Killed By 'Teen Driver' At Caravan Site

A seven-year-old boy has died after being hit by a BMW car allegedly driven by a teenager at a caravan site.

A 16-year-old boy is being questioned by police after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The accident happened at the Shirenewton caravan site, east of Cardiff, south Wales, at around 3pm on Saturday.

"A seven-year-old boy from the caravan site was apparently in collision with a red BMW 3 series estate," a South Wales Police spokesman said.

"The boy was taken to the University Hospital of Wales where he later died from his injuries. Specially trained police officers are supporting the family.

"A 16-year-old youth from the area, who is believed to have been driving the BMW at the time, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is in custody and inquiries are ongoing."

Anybody who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


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Senior Bishops To Tweet Christmas Sermons

The country's senior bishops are set to tweet their Christmas Day sermons for the first time this year in a Christmas Tweet campaign.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams (@lambethpalace), the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu (@johnsentamu) and Archbishop Designate Justin Welby (@bishopofdurham) will also be joined by congregations and clergy from across the Church of England (@c--of--e).

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, churchgoers in the 16,000 parishes of the Church of England are being encouraged to live tweet the joy and meaning of Christmas to the 10 million UK Twitter users.

Rev Arun Arora (@RevArun), director of communications at the Archbishops' Council, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for parishes to take the good news of the first Christmas out of churches and into people's lives and homes.

Archbishop Rowan Williams Current archbishop Rowan Williams will take part in the Christmas tweeting

"It is the first time that the joy and excitement of Christmas will have been broadcast widely on Twitter. There are large numbers of social media enthusiasts to be found in pews and pulpits across the country.

"This is an invitation for them to join together to celebrate the joy of the Christ Child coming into the world, taking the real meaning of Christmas to a new digital audience. Churches from all denominations will be invited to broadcast their services via Twitter."

A Twitter spokesperson said: "Twitter brings you closer to the things you are passionate about - and for millions of people across the globe that is faith.

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu Archbishop of York John Sentamu completes the line-up of senior clergy

"It is fantastic to see the Church of England embracing Twitter and using it to share their Christmas message with new audiences."

The campaign will use the hashtage #ChristmasStartsWithChrist, which goes live on Christmas Eve.

Tweets can be expected from carol, crib and midnight services, before carrying on into Christmas morning when the highlights of the sermons at Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and Durham Cathedral will be tweeted.


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Tycoon's Plan To Fight Fires From The Air

By Richard Suchet, Sky News reporter

A multimillionaire has pledged his time, his money - and his helicopter - to provide firefighters with air support.

Property tycoon Jeremy Paxton, 52, is expecting to stump up a seven-figure sum to cover the costs involved.

The experienced pilot has offered to fund the one year trial entirely.

He told Sky News: "It gives me a chance to really pursue my love of flying and do something useful at no cost to the fire and rescue service and at no cost to the taxpayer. So I thought: what's not to like about it? Let's give it a go."

"I was surprised to find out that the fire service don't actually have a flying fire engine.

"If something can be added to their existing asset base by volunteer pilots with volunteer helicopters that ends up saving one life, it will be worthwhile. And I think it will save many."

The idea has been inspired by 601 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, a group of wealthy amateur aviators who fought alongside the RAF in the Second World War.

Private fire pilot Jeremy Paxton in action Millionaire Jeremy Paxton shows off his airborne firefighting skills

Mr Paxton has already started to line up his own squadron of millionaire helicopter pilots who could, at their own cost, assist other fire services across the country if the trial in Wiltshire proves successful.

From April, he will be on call three days per week at the 550-acre Lower Mill Estate of holiday homes in Cirencester - which he owns,

If his services are required, he is capable of being airborne in three minutes.

He will then fly to Fire and Rescue HQ in Trowbridge where he will pick up staff and specialist equipment before setting off to the incident.

Mr Paxton will not be working as fireman himself but will ferry personnel and specialist kit.

Using four custom-made pods, the helicopter will be capable of carrying equipment to deal with four types of emergency - road accidents, animal rescue, forest fires, and deep water rescue.

At twice the size of the Isle of Wight, it can take fire crews over an hour to reach the most remote parts of Wiltshire.

After leaving Trowbridge, Mr Paxton can reach any part of the county in under 16 minutes.

Jeremy Paxton Mr Paxton inspects his helicopter before taking off

But Tam McFarlane from the Fire Brigades Union is not supportive of the idea: "The public rely entirely on a professional fire and rescue service so we have to be accountable to the public. Accountable financially to the public as well.

"We can't rely on multimillionaires giving us charity. Where will it end? Is Roman Abramovich going to lend us his yacht for floods?

"Clearly, it's untenable."

The chief of Wiltshire's fire service, Simon Routh-Jones, believes Jeremy's offer will bring "tremendous benefits".

"We're a very large county. That gives us logistical problems getting around. What Jeremy will bring is that added value to get to incidents quickly," he said.

"We should be looking outside the box. It is not - and I stress - it is not to substitute what we are doing.

"It is to add to the safety of the general public that they serve. And why wouldn't I want to look at it when you've got somebody with Jeremy's level of expertise and wealth that he can bring to assist us in being able to deliver a service?"


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Kate Prank: Jacintha Saldanha Family's Grief

British police may want to speak to two Australian DJs following the death of the nurse who answered their prank call to the Duchess of Cambridge's hospital.

The Australian authorities confirmed they have had contact from the Met Police concerning 2Day FM presenters Michael Christian and Mel Greig.

The pair hoaxed King Edward VII's hospital staff where the pregnant Duchess was treated for extreme morning sickness.

Jacintha Saldanha - the nurse who took the call and put it through to colleague who divulged private information about Kate's treatment - was found dead on Friday.

Nurse Family The nurse's family are finding it hard to come to terms with her death

New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas said Scotland Yard had been in touch - but emphasized there was no suggestion that a crime had been committed.

He said: "There has been a request for assistance from London's Metropolitan Police to the New South Wales Police through the Australian Federal Police.

"The request has gone to the city central command - the area where the 2Day FM office is.

The company which owns the Australian radio station has called an emergency meeting to discuss the DJs' future.

Mr Kaldas added: "I have to stress, it hasn't been indicated to us that an offence has occurred, they haven't actually asked for anything yet - they've simply touched base, let us know of their interest and they'll get back to us if they want something done.

"Nothing has been requested of us yet."

A bouquet at the digs where nurse Jacintha Saldana lived A bouquet left in memory of the nurse at her digs in London

Scotland Yard confirmed contact had been made with the authorities in Australia but did not elaborate further.

Meanwhile, Ms Saldanha's family in the UK and India have been paying tribute to the mother of two teenagers.

Her daughter Lisha wrote on Facebook, "I miss you, I love you", while her husband Ben Barboza has set up a tribute page on the social networking site.

He wrote: "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances. She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India."

In India, her sister-in-law Celin D'Souza said: "I will really miss her a lot. She was a good-natured sister-in-law. I cannot forget her, she was so good."

Winter Whites Gala - Inside Prince William was without Kate at the Winter Whites Gala in London

The hospital where Ms Saldanha worked has condemned the stunt as "truly appalling" while a prominent Conservative MP has called for the DJs to be sacked.

In a letter to the Australian radio station 2Day FM's parent company, Lord Glenarthur, Chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital, said he wanted to "protest" against the "extremely foolish" gag.

The letter to Southern Cross Austereo said the immediate consequence of the station's "premeditated and ill-considered actions" led to the "humiliation" of Ms Saldanha and another nurse.

"The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words," it added.

Tory MP Conor Burns, a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said: "The presenters should lose their jobs and there needs to be a serious review as to what they regard as entertainment and what is inappropriate."

News of the nurse's death has led to a huge backlash against the two presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles during the prank on their 2Day FM show.

Southern Cross Austereo said the pair are being "babysat" and kept away from hostile media coverage.

Spokeswoman Sandy Kaye said: "We're seriously concerned about their welfare and we're doing whatever we can to help them."

The Duke of Cambridge made no comment on the situation as he attended a charity function in London on Saturday night without Kate - who is resting after her three day stay in hospital.


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'Whale Skin' Cocktail: London Bar Raided

A London bar has been raided by police for allegedly serving cocktails flavoured with illegal whale skin.

The Metropolitan police targeted the Nightjar bar in Hoxton, East London, where a drink called the Moby Dick was listed in an online menu.

It was described as containing Laphroaig whisky, Drambuie, ale and bitters, along with a "whale skin infusion".

There is a Europe-wide ban on the sale of whale meat and products, except under strict restrictions in Greenland and Denmark.

Police were tipped-off in October that the bar was serving whale skin illegally, and raided the City Road premises on December 3.

It was carried out by officers from the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit and an officer from the United Kingdom Border Force.

"One item from the premises was seized," said a police spokesman. "This has been sent for analysis."

No arrests have been made.

Nightjar director Edmund Weil said: "We did have a drink on this year's menu which included a small amount of scotch whisky infused with a single 2 x 5cm strip of dried whale skin.

"The strip was purchased in a shop by an employee while on a trip to Japan in autumn 2011.

"Until the police visit, neither ourselves nor our employees were aware of the legislation under which the bottle was seized.

"In hindsight we realise that regardless of the legal framework around such products, it was an error of judgement on our part to include this on our menu, and we would like to offer our apologies to anyone who may have been offended by it.

"We have removed the drink entirely from our menu, which will be reprinted before Monday to reflect this."


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Top Tories Launch Gay Marriage Campaign

London Mayor Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Michael Gove are among more than a dozen senior Conservatives who have launched a new group to campaign for gay marriage.

David Cameron supports the plans to allow same-sex weddings to be held in places of worship and has promised a free vote, but more than 100 Tory MPs are expected to oppose the change in the Commons next year.

The new group has been put together by Nick Herbert, the former police minister who resigned from the Government in September's reshuffle.

As well as Mr Johnson and Mr Gove, it includes Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who is Catholic, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt, an evangelical Christian, former Tory ministers Lord Fowler and Nicholas Soames and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson.

In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph announcing the formation of the group, the 19 declared: "Marriage should be open to all, regardless of sexuality.

"We recognise that civil partnerships were an important step forward in giving legal recognition to same sex couples.

"But civil partnerships are not marriages, which express a particular and universally understood commitment."

Nick Herbert Former police minister Nick Herbert is spearheading the campaign

Mr Herbert, who is in a civil partnership, said changing the law was "the right thing to do".

"It is precisely because marriage is such a uniquely important institution that we should ensure that all couples who want to enter into it, regardless of their sexuality, can do so," he added.

"Conservatives who believe in marriage should feel this most strongly."

However, Mr Herbert insisted it would be wrong to "compel religious organisations to marry same-sex couples against their will" and called for legal "safeguards" to prevent it.

Under the proposals, due to be fleshed out this week, churches and other venues will be allowed to "opt in" to holding civil marriage ceremonies.

Ministers will offer a guarantee that no institution will be forced to marry gay people on their premises - but Tory MPs and religious groups have questioned whether it would stand up to challenges under the Human Rights Act.

Legislation is expected to be introduced before Easter, and could take effect about a year later - with the first ceremonies likely be held in spring 2014.


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Sir Patrick Moore, 89, Dies At Home

Man Who Brought Space To The Masses

Updated: 2:17pm UK, Sunday 09 December 2012

Sir Patrick Moore - knighted in 2001 - was the astronomer who, more than any other scientist living or dead, could explain to the world at large the marvels and intricacies of the universe - and beyond.

TV personalities come and go, but Sir Patrick, famous for his monocle, outlasted them all.

For more than 40 years, he presented BBC TV's popular The Sky At Night programme, a wonderland of information for the expert, the novice and his huge army of fans who had no particular scientific bent at all.

It became the longest running television series with the same presenter. His knowledge of outer space was prodigious and he possessed a unique ability to transmit that knowledge in a comprehensible and attractive form to the layman.

But Sir Patrick, despite an occasional irascible nature and a tendency towards eccentricity, was a kindly man and modest with it. Once he said he would like to be remembered as an amateur astronomer who played cricket and the xylophone.

Patrick Caldwell Moore was born on March 4, 1923. He was educated privately, because of illness.

His interest in astronomy was fired at the age of six when he read a book called Guide To The Solar System, published in 1898.

"I picked up that book by sheer luck and sat down by the armchair and read it through. I understood most of it - which wasn't bad for a six-year-old."

At the age of eight he was given a 1908 model Woodstock typewriter on which all of his 170 books were written. He claimed to be able to type at 90 words a minute - using only two fingers.

Then, when he was 11, he was nominated as a member of the British Astronomical Association - the youngest ever member. He published his first paper, on small craters in the Mare Crisium on the Moon at the age of 13 - exactly 50 years before he was to be president of the association.

The paper was accepted and he was asked to present it. "I wrote back saying, 'Thank you for your letter. I'd be honoured but you've got to understand I'm only 13'. They replied: 'We don't see what that's got to do with it'."

As a young man Sir Patrick knew Albert Einstein. He said of him: "He was an interesting man, totally unworldly. He was a violin player and I accompanied him playing Saint-Saens's 'Swan'. I wish I had a tape of it."

He served with the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1945, as a navigator in Bomber Command. To get into the armed forces at only 16 he had to lie about his age and fake his medical.

The girl he was to marry was killed during the war in an air raid. He said since: "My whole life ended in one day. These things happen. You accept them.

"As far as I was concerned, that was that. It's the reason I have never married. But I don't like living alone."

Nevertheless he did live alone for most of his life at his beloved Selsey in Sussex.

His career as an astronomer blossomed. Whereas hardly anybody could name the Astronomer Royal, Sir Patrick became a household name. Within the span of half a century he observed what must be the most spectacular period in the history of any science.

He always said that the Cold War never affected astronomers. "The International Astronomical Union is the only organisation I know that always has been totally international.

"At the very height of the Cold War, at one stage the president was a Russian, the vice-president was American. In space research the Cold War went on. In pure astronomy it didn't."

Sir Patrick's years on television began while space travel was "bunk" in the unguarded words of Britain's then Astronomer Royal in 1956.

But within six months Sputnik I was beeping in the heavens. Within three years men were in space and within 12 years they were on the Moon.

When Sir Patrick began broadcasting, cosmologists contemplated an eternal universe and continuous creation and birth by the Big Bang as equally unprovable.

But his popularity as an astronomer incurred the jealousy of those who regarded themselves as superior to him.

One of his great triumphs was to explain, on TV, the existence of a giant black hole at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. Various scientists tried to do it, unsuccessfully, in a variety of weird and wonderful ways.

Sir Patrick had a map of the Milky Way drawn on the floor of the studio. He walked towards the centre and then apparently disappeared.

He passionately wanted to go into space himself. "But I'm the wrong age, the wrong nationality and the wrong medical grade. Besides," he joked, "it would need a very massive rocket to launch me."

He used to gaze at the stars and say: "We are a very, very small speck in the universe, about as important as a single ant in the whole of the world."

In 2000 he suffered a paralysis in his right hand which considerably restricted his activities as a musician and a writer. He was also forced to cancel lectures.

This disability even prevented him from opening the letter telling him he was being considered for a knighthood.

He became an OBE in 1968 and a CBE in 1988. He was knighted in the 2001 New Year list "for services to the popularisation of science and to broadcasting", an honour which earned him congratulations from around the world.

In July, 2004, at the age of 81, Sir Patrick by his own admission "nearly died" after a severe bout of food poisoning caused, he believed, by a duck's egg he had eaten.

He battled on and in 2007 presented a special 50th anniversary episode of the show from his back garden with special guests including Queen guitarist Brian May.

Five years on he hit the headlines again when in an interview to mark the show's 55th anniversary he warned of the danger of another world war and declared "the only good Kraut is a dead Kraut".


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