Thousands Pay Respects To Brothers Killed On M6

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.

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."

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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."

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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