Dewani Uncle Criticises BBC Over Documentary

The uncle of murdered honeymooner Anni Dewani has accused documentary makers of interfering in the justice system ahead of a programme raising questions about the case against her alleged killer.

Ashok Hindocha, the uncle of Anni Dewani who was killed in South Africa in November 2010, said it is up for a court to look at allegations against her former husband Shrien.

He is accused of ordering the murder of his new bride, who was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi in the outskirts of Cape Town.

A team from BBC series Panorama has obtained police files concerning the prosecution case against Shrien Dewani and has asked forensic experts to examine them.

A BBC spokesman said the experts' findings have exposed "fundamental failings" in the police investigation, and it is in the public interest for them to be aired.

Shrien Dewani is fighting extradition to South Africa

The programme is due to be broadcast next Thursday.

But Mr Hindocha told Sky News that the BBC should pull the programme, and instead hand over the documents to Dewani's defence.

"What the BBC is doing is not correct. This programme should not be run before the trial.

"Justice should be served in a court of law. Let's cross-examine, put the evidence on the table, let everyone see.

"Has all the evidence been presented to the BBC? I don't know.

"The case should be done in a court of law, not in a studio somewhere with public funding. No, that is very wrong."

In July District Judge Howard Riddle ruled that Dewani should be extradited to face trial in South Africa, now that the 33-year-old has recovered sufficiently from mental health problems.

Xolile Mngeni and Mziwamadoda Qwabe

But lawyers acting for Dewani immediately announced their intention to appeal, and are expected to continue with their legal fight next month.

A BBC spokesman said: "BBC Panorama has obtained the secret police files which make up the prosecution case against Shrien Dewani and has commissioned leading forensic experts to review all the evidence.

"Their findings expose fundamental failings in the police investigation.

"Panorama strongly believes it is in the public interest for these matters to be aired.

"We understand that the programme may be difficult viewing for Anni's family and have approached it sensitively, including contacting her uncle, as the representative of the family, in advance, to let him know that it would air on September 19.

"We received replies from Mr Hindocha which did not raise these objections.

"The police evidence we have obtained is neither manufactured nor stolen, nor did we pay for it."

Dewani has undergone treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression at psychiatric hospitals near Bristol since his wife's death.

It emerged that he has been allowed to position a camper van in the grounds of Fromeside hospital, where he spends hours at a time, and is also allowed unregulated access to a laptop and visits to his nearby home every day.

A spokesman for Dewani family told Sky News: "Shrien was committed to clearing his name in a court of law when he was fit and well enough to travel."

So far three men have been convicted over Mrs Dewani's death.

Last year South African Xolile Mngeni was convicted of premeditated murder for shooting her.

Prosecutors claimed that he was a hitman hired by Dewani to kill his wife, something that Dewani has consistently denied.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo was jailed for 18 years after he admitted his part in the killing, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, also pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

The programme calls into question their testimony.

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Jeremy Clarkson 'Considering Bid To Be MP'

Jeremy Clarkson has said he is thinking of running for Parliament - standing in Labour leader Ed Miliband's seat.

The Top Gear presenter suggested he could run as an independent at the next general election.

He tweeted: "I'm thinking I might stand in the next election as an independent for Doncaster North, which is where I'm from. Thoughts?"

In the last election, Mr Miliband had a 10,909 majority in the constituency.

Clarkson's message has so far been retweeted more than 1,000 times - including by John Prescott, Labour's former Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Prescott also replied to the presenter: "Why not stand in Chipping Norton, where you live now? You've got lots of mates there."

Another Twitter user said: "I think you should. At least then there would be one politician who isn't afraid to speak his mind."

However, it remains to be seen how serious the famously mischievous 53-year-old is about the idea.

In the past Clarkson has had to apologise to Mr Miliband's political mentor and predecessor at Labour, Gordon Brown, after calling him a "one-eyed Scottish idiot".

The current Labour leader also hit out at the Top Gear presenter last year, saying he was one of a number of celebrities making light of people suffering from mental illness.

Clarkson's tweet comes after a difficult summer for Mr Miliband who has had to endure a series of criticisms of his leadership from within his own ranks.

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Mums-To-Be 'Risking Dangers' To Stay Slim

By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter

Experts are calling for better detection of eating disorders among pregnant women over fears the number of mums-to-be resorting to dangerous methods to stay slim could be increasing.

The condition, dubbed by some as 'pregorexia', can affect women who have never before suffered with an eating disorder, as well as those who have battled anorexia or bulimia in the past.

A study for the National Institute of Health Research of 739 women attending their first ultrasound scan found one in 13 had an eating disorder.

One of the psychiatrists behind the research, Dr Nadia Micali, said sufferers do not tend to admit they have a problem for fear of being stigmatised or having their babies taken into care.

She wants to see changes in the way the issue is tackled.

"Many healthcare professionals are not aware of eating disorders and certainly I believe that we should improve our efforts at detecting eating disorders in pregnancy."

Some sufferers resort to extreme methods such as food restriction, over-exercising, using laxatives and self-induced vomiting.

Christina Kelly's babies were induced because of stunted growth in the womb

Mother-of-two Christina Kelly, from Bradford, had anorexia during both of her pregnancies after having suffered from the illness for a number of years.

"The thoughts I would get when confronted with food would be "You are fat', "You are not allowed it", "You are shameful and disgusting".

Her children suffered growth problems in the womb and had to be induced early.

"The guilt I experienced was incredible and the support I received at the specialist unit was essential during my pregnancy."

Consultant obstetrician Dr Pat O'Brien, from University College London Hospital, warned about the effects of eating disorders.

"There is an increased risk of miscarriage in the early part of pregnancy, there's also increased risk of poor growth of the baby, so the baby doesn't get enough nutrition and therefore doesn't grow very well, and for that reason might have to be delivered early."

Some experts say high-profile pregnancies are adding to pressure

There is a belief that factors such as media scrutiny of high-profile pregnancies can also create unrealistic pressure on women, something Dr O'Brien said is unfair.

"The body is made to gain weight during pregnancy partly for the health of the woman but also to deposit some stores there that will feed the baby if the woman's breast-feeding afterwards. A good rule of thumb is that if it's taken you nine months to gain this weight, it often takes nine months to lose it."

The charity B-eat said eating disorders are treatable and recovery is possible.

Chief executive Susan Ringwood said: "Everyone we speak to who has recovered says how grateful they were that someone noticed, spoke to them and felt they were worth helping, even if at the time their reaction gave a different impression."

:: Anyone worried about their eating habits should see their GP or midwife. B-eat also has a range of support services.

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Belfast Hosts Final Push For Lasting Peace

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

A former US peace envoy to Northern Ireland will return to Belfast next week to deal with the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement.

Dr Richard Haass, who was a senior diplomat at the State Department, has three thorny issues on his agenda: flags, parades and dealing with the past.

Previous attempts to address lingering tensions between the two communities have failed, resulting in the worst year of rioting on the streets for a decade.

Dr Haass said: "The news of the violence over the last six to nine months comes as a surprise to be honest, an unwelcome surprise."

Some of the most serious clashes came in north Belfast, where members of the Orange Order were prohibited from completing their annual parade in July.

Loyalists, who support the march, have been encamped by the side of the road since and welcome the latest attempt to resolve the outstanding issues.

Tina Patrick, who organises protesters, said: "I believe it has to be a win-win situation. It's about respect for both communities and I believe when we sit down around a table and can deliver for both communities, a deal will be done."

Some of the most serious clashes took place in north Belfast

Frank Dempsey, who speaks for nationalist residents on Carrick Hill, was less optimistic of an agreement unless people on the ground engage in the initiative.

He said: "I don't want to be pessimistic, pouring cold water on this. The guy's coming here to try and do a job but in my opinion, I think he'll be going back the way he came, scratching his head."

Church leaders are urging the "silent majority" - those who have moved on since the agreement 15 years ago - to express their desire for peace online.

The Methodist President in Ireland, Rev Dr Heather Morris, said: "HopeandHistory.com is an initiative to give voice to ordinary Christian people. I do believe there's a ground swell in terms of hope, especially at this time as Dr Haass is coming."

Dr Haass, who succeeded Senator George Mitchell as America's peace envoy, has three months to navigate his way through the centuries of sectarian division here.

No one envies his task of making riots a thing of the past so that Northern Ireland can achieve its hope of a shared future.

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School Uniform Costs 'Must Be Cut' - Minister

Schools are being urged to avoid branded uniforms and allow parents to "shop around" to cut costs for cash-strapped families.

Schools minister David Laws said the cost of clothing was often "unnecessarily high" at a time when family budgets were being squeezed.

An Office of Fair Trading investigation last year suggested that three quarters of schools placed restrictions on where uniforms could be bought.

That typically added £5 to the price tag for each item, leaving parents an estimated £52m a year worse off.

Mr Laws announced the new guidance for schools at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow.

Exclusive single supplier contracts should not be used, unless regular tendering processes are run to ensure firms provide value for money.

They should also not enter into 'cashback' agreements with shops.

Compulsory items of uniform should be available relatively cheaply, and branding should be kept "to a minimum", under the guidelines.

Schools are urged to avoid changing specifications frequently.

Mr Laws told Sky News the revised guidance on uniforms would end the "over-reliance" by schools on single supplier agreements.

"It ought to be possible for parents to shop around, to get good quality school uniforms but from different suppliers," he said.

"Schools should avoid changing their school uniforms too often and requiring parents to buy different items.

"They ought to keep in mind what is specified in a school uniform and keep it as cheap as possible.

"And they ought to enable standard items like trousers and shirts and so forth to be bought from some of the big supermarkets and other shops where actually those items can be bought very cheaply.

"I think schools can actually do this and give parents a better deal but without actually compromising on quality."

Asked why the guidelines were not being pushed further, the minister said he did not think it was necessary for ministers to legislate and "set out hundreds of pages of bureaucracy in order to get schools to do what is the right thing".

He said he expected schools to follow the guidance, but if they failed to, the Government would respond to parental complaints.

According to an Ipsos Mori put out by Mumsnet, female support for the Lib Dems has fallen by 15% since 2010.

Asked if the move was a bid to win the female vote at the next general election, Mr Laws said households were facing "living cost" challenges across the country and that his party would be making a series of announcements this week on "actions that we are going to take to help hard-pressed families".

Sky's Anushka Asthana said: "The Lib Dems are putting this out today in an attempt to appeal to parents and to say they are on the side of struggling families."

"What the Government wants to see is policy where uniforms can be bought anywhere - at supermarkets or at the more expensive suppliers.

"It is part of what they are doing here at Glasgow, which is trying to say that in government, despite only having 57 MPs, they are having an impact and their policies are pushing through.

"But there is a lot of debate whether this policy will make much difference," she added.

Stephen Twigg, shadow education secretary, said: "Labour have been calling for action on school uniform prices to deal with the cost of living crisis. Yet the Lib Dems have done nothing for three years."

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Nick Clegg: Coalition Best For Economic Recovery

A majority government led by the Conservatives or Labour after the 2015 general election would result in "the wrong kind of recovery" for the UK economy, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said.

An outright victory for Ed Miliband's Labour Party would wreck the recovery, while David Cameron's Tories would not have the same commitment to fairness that the Lib Dems have brought to the coalition, he said.

Speaking at his party's annual conference in Glasgow, the Deputy Prime Minister said that another coalition government would be the best outcome for the country because it would enable his party to act as a restraining influence on the  larger parties of the left and right.

The sacrifices of the past few years would be "squandered" by a single-party government of either of the larger parties, he said.

"Our message to the British people in 2015 will be essentially this: We will say 'We've done very good things in Government - let us finish the job, but finish the job fairly'," Mr Clegg told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show.

Nick Clegg says a coalition government would be the best outcome in 2015

"There are millions of people in this country who've made huge sacrifices and we've gone through this very difficult time over the last two or three years. That would be squandered if you have a single-party government of either Labour or Conservatives in 2015.

"It is my genuine belief that if we go back to the bad old days, not of coalition or balanced politics, but of either the left or the right dominating government on their own, you will get a recovery which is neither fair nor sustainable.

"I think Labour would wreck the recovery, and under the Conservatives - who don't have the same commitment to fairness which we do - you would get the wrong kind of recovery."

His message was echoed by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, who told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "As the Labour Party is pulled off leftwards by the unions, and the Tory Party is pulled off rightwards by some of their backbenchers - you really need the Liberal Democrats in the mix - keep this country anchored in the centre ground."

He said Labour was facing "huge challenges on its credibility on the economy" and that the party had "a lot of growing up to do" on the issue "to be in anyway convincing to the British people".

"I don't think you could trust a majority Labour government with the economy, but nor do I think you could trust a majority Conservative government to keep our society fair," Mr Alexander said.

Neither politician would be drawn on which party they would prefer to form a coalition government with.

Mr Clegg said that there had so far been no discussions with the Conservatives about whether the two parties would continue their coalition in the event of a hung Parliament.

He indicated that a further rise in the £10,000 income tax threshold would be one of the conditions for the Lib Dems forming another coalition, and that his party would put at the heart of its next manifesto a further upgrading to take everyone on the minimum wage out of income tax altogether.

Mr Alexander says Labour has "a lot of growing up to do on the economy"

Mr Clegg said whichever party gained the "clearest mandate, the most votes and the most seats" at the election had the democratic right to attempt to form a government.

Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown said the coalition had proved that parties that do not like each other could still govern together well in the national interest.

He told The Observer: "It has held together better, better than we expected. Both sides don't like each other but they nevertheless trust each other."

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Iran And Britain To Hold Talks In New York

The British and Iranian foreign ministers will meet in New York later this month in a bid to restore diplomatic ties.

Both countries want to improve relations following the attack on the British embassy in Tehran in November 2011, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said.

The talks between British Foreign Minister William Hague and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, she added.

"They will be meeting, but we have no further details at this stage," she said.

Mr Zarif set up his Twitter account at the beginning of September

There have been signs of a thawing relationship between Tehran and the West following former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's departure in June.

President Hassan Rouhani is slowly taking control of the country while trying to strike a more reconciliatory tone following Mr Ahmadinejad's turbulent years in office.

Mr Zarif, a moderate who studied at Denver University and has spent some time in the West, recently took to Twitter to send a Happy New Year message to the Jewish community.

The UK suspended diplomatic relations with Iran after demonstrators stormed its Tehran embassy - an attack Britain said appeared to be state-sponsored.

Hardline students stormed the UK embassy in November 2011

But British Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs last week: "We have effectively reached out to the Iranian government after the recent elections. And I have written to President Rouhani, so we are prepared to start trying to have a relationship with them."

The UN has imposed a number of crippling sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, which the West suspects has a military angle.

Iran denies this, saying its nuclear activities have peaceful purposes like power generation and cancer treatment.

President Rouhani has put Mr Zarif in charge of nuclear talks with world powers; it was previously under the control of Iran's top security body.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has confirmed he exchanged letters with Mr Rouhani over Syria, but the two men have not spoken directly.

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Woman's Body Found In House: Man Charged

A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman's body was found at a house in Walsall.

Bank employee Jasvir Ram Ginday, from Victory Lane, in the town, will appear at Walsall Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Nine other people - four men and five women - arrested at the house in Victory Lane have been released on police bail.

West Midlands Police said the body was found at the property at around 8pm on Friday following a missing persons inquiry.

The body has not yet been formally identified and further forensic tests are due to be carried out on Tuesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarbit Johal, leading the investigation, said: "We are undertaking numerous enquiries and are still really keen to speak to anyone who may have information that could help this investigation."

:: Anyone with information is urged to call 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Gordon Brown Portrayed As Macbeth Of Politics

A new one-man comedy-show aims to shed light on the personality behind former prime minister Gordon Brown.

The 62-year-old, who took over the leadership of Labour Party from Tony Blair between 2007 and 2010, has largely stayed out of the public eye since he left Downing Street three years ago.

But a new play - The Confessions of Gordon Brown - has thrust the politician back into the spotlight.

Chiefly a monologue set during the tail end of Mr Brown's premiership, writer and director Kevin Toolis said a lot of Mr Brown's troubles stemmed from his image.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "Politics is very cruel. How you look on the telly is really, really important - a lot more important than what you are actually saying.

Journalist Kevin Toolis, writer/director of The Confessions of Gordon Brown

"He did have a secret re-imaging programme called Operation Volvo where he had his teeth done, his hair, they really spent an awful long time reshaping him into somebody who was more acceptable to what we call 'south land' - the southern-middle classes."

The Scottish journalist said he spoke to many members of Mr Brown's inner-circle including Ed Balls and Douglas Alexander to "try to build up an image of who that man was" and "the construction of his leadership".

"Gordon Brown was a man really who devoted his life to politics, every single second of his life," he said.

"What I really wanted to get at was the fusion of the morally, good qualities that Gordon Brown had. He was an incredibly experienced man, a dominant figure in 20 years of British politics, who should have been supremely qualified to be Prime Minister, yet somehow the negative qualities made him a very bad leader."

Referring to Mr Brown's rivalry with Mr Blair, from whom he seized power, Mr Toolis added: "He ascended the throne more like Macbeth than Henry IV."

Actor Ian Grieve plays Gordon Brown in the comedy

Actor Ian Grieve has been cast as the ex-PM in the play which had its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival and is now on at the Trafalgar Studios in London.

He said he researched the role by watching lots of footage of Mr Brown on the internet and reading everything that was available about him to help him "build the character".

"I had to get it out of my head in a way that I was playing a real person," he said.

"It was about finding the character inside and the humanity of it. What makes this man tick."

Mr Grieve also revealed that he was sometimes forced to stray from the script and ad-lib with the audience when people shouted their opinions at him.

Asked what they say, he replied: "Oh, 'I don't believe you', or 'I never liked you in the first place'."

"The most daunting thing is the fact that I'm actually not a politician and don't have all the answers ... sometimes you realise that the audience knows more about the subject than you do."

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Family Calls For Calm After Leicester Killing

The uncle of a man killed in Leicester has appealed for calm and unity following the killing last Thursday.

Antoin Akpom was found injured by police officers in Kent Street and later died.

"Antoin was a loving and devoted father, a hard working young man recognised as a positive role model for all sections of the community," Ronnie Akpom said at an emotional news conference.

"The memory of his infectious smile and kindness will remain with everyone that knew him.

"An innocent life has been lost and the family calls for everyone to keep calm and united and to assist the police with their inquiry so that the people who did this will be brought to justice.

A flower tribute left at the scene for Mr Akpom

"He was from a good family. His mother Cheryl is well known for her work in the community and promoting community cohesion, and more than ever we need cohesion in the community now."

Mr Akpom's uncle also expressed sympathy with relatives of a family who died in a fire hours after the killing.

"Our deepest condolences go to the Taufiq family from Wood Hill who have also tragically lost family members," he said.

Four members of the Taufiq family died in the fire

Police have been investigating links between the two crimes - although there is no suggestion that the fire victims were involved in the death of Mr Akpom - with one theory being the house was mistakenly targeted.

Neurosurgeon Muhammad Taufiq al Sattar is mourning the death of his wife Shehnila Taufiq who perished in the fire at the couple's terraced home in Wood Hill, in the Spinney Hills area of Leicester, in the early hours of Friday.

Their children, 19-year-old daughter Zainab and sons Jamal, 17, and Bilal, 15, also died in their fire.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire

Roger Bannister, Assistant Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, said: "While we are investigating links between the two crimes there is absolutely no evidence to suggest those who died in the fire, or indeed anyone else who lives in that property, was involved in the assault in Kent Street.

"Because of the close proximity - in terms of time and location - of the two incidents, it is right that we look at whether there are links between the two crimes.

A 19-year-old man is being questioned over the death of Mr Akpom after being arrested in London on Friday, but two women also held over the killing have been released without charge.

Muhammad Taufiq lost his wife and three children in the fire

Police originally detained three women - aged 19, 20 and 27 - and two men aged 19 and 49 on Saturday in connection with the blaze, though two of the women have since been released without charge.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz visited Wood Hill on Sunday after police lifted a cordon which had been in place since the house fire and attended a tribute to Mr Akpom at Leicester Nirvana FC.

"The whole city is in shock. The police have done a superb job so far and I think everyone wants to see the perpetrators of these five deaths brought to justice as quickly as possible," he said.

A minute's silence was held before matches played by Leicester Nirvana over the weekend out of respect for Mr Akpom, who coached and played for the club.

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