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Prescott Makes 'Thumping' Return To Frontline

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 Februari 2015 | 23.39

John Prescott is to return to frontline politics ahead of the General Election after Ed Miliband appointed him a climate change adviser.

The former deputy prime minister will be working with heads of state and foreign governments to "raise their ambition", according to the Labour leader.

He wants Lord Prescott to work on an agreement in the run-up to a crucial United Nations summit in Paris at the end of the year.

Mr Miliband said he was inspired to appoint the life peer because of his experience in getting an agreement at the landmark Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

Lord Prescott became known during the premiership of Tony Blair for his pugnacious style and is considered a formidable negotiator.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Miliband said: "His abilities and experience... must be used at this critical time for our future and there is no one better than John at bashing heads together to get a deal."

In his column in The Sunday Mirror, Lord Prescott said he will continue to work with politicians from around the world.

He said: "For the last two years, I've spent my time trying to get agreement from elected parliamentarians around the world.

"From Mexico, to India and Europe, politicians have agreed it could be a way forward. But now we need to get the world leaders involved."

He said he was prepared to work with the current coalition Government in order to try to get a deal in Paris.

Mr Miliband said that following last year's floods climate change had become an issue of national security for Britain.

It would be a "disaster" if the summit failed to achieve a meaningful agreement, he added.

"There is a real danger that this great chance to achieve action is going to slip by, without the world even noticing."

"I do not want to see Britain or any country having to adopt crisis measures to halt the slide into global catastrophe because we missed this critical opportunity now," he said.

Mr Miliband said he would use the talks to push for ambitious carbon emissions targets for all countries.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "I certainly remember the thumping victory in 2001 and the key role that John played there. 

"The truth is John has for many years been one of our strongest campaigners and I think whether it's his work on social media or whether it's his work motivating supporters over many years, he's done a fantastic job.

"The role and brief that John has been given right now is to focus on climate change, but I fully expect that as well as that policy role he'll continue to support the Labour campaign in the months ahead and I certainly welcome that."

Former Labour director of communications Alastair Campbell also welcomed the move, saying on the BBC's Andrew Marr show that Lord Prescott was "absolutely brilliant" when the Kyoto protocol on climate change was being negotiated when the party was in power.


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Cops Release Photo Of Missing Man's Tattoo

Police have released a photo of a missing man's distinctive tattoo in the hope it will help to find him.

Jamie Franklin, 32, has been missing from his home in Sutton, southwest London, since the evening of 20 February.

Mr Franklin is believed to have been heading to Brighton for a tattoo convention but concerns grew and police were called after he failed to contact anyone and could not be reached.

Officers from Sutton Police Missing Persons Unit said it is completely out of character for Mr Franklin not to have regular contact with his close friends.

Mr Franklin is 6ft 2in tall and of slim build. He has a distinctive heart tattoo on his arm and frequently travels on London's rail and tube networks.

Anyone who has information concerning his whereabouts should contact Sutton Police by dialling 101.


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Super Tide And Strong Winds Brew Up Flood Risk

"Super tides", 50mph winds and large waves are threatening to combine to bring flooding misery for coastal communities in England.

The biggest flood risk is in the South West, with four "immediate action required" warnings issued by the Environment Agency (EA), mainly for the Somerset coast; and three for the North West.

Two warnings are also in place around the Wye Estuary in the Midlands. There are also dozens of lower-level amber flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible.

"It's possible we could see some large waves and spray and urge people to take care near coastal paths and promenades and not to drive through flood water," said the EA's flood risk manager Jonathan Day.

The spring "super tides" occur regularly when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon combine.

But the pull of the planets is also at an 18-year peak, making the tides slightly bigger this year, according to the EA.

Surfers on the River Severn made the best of the tidal boost, riding the incoming bore wave on Saturday morning.

Crowds gathered on the banks to watch the phenomenon, which at its peak can reach 13mph and three metres in height.

Saturday's wave was one of several large surges expected in February and March.

Meanwhile, heavy snow is also set to add to a turbulent mix of weekend weather, causing travel problems in Pennine areas and the Highlands.

Parts of England's South East have already had snow this weekend, with rural areas of East Sussex, Surrey and Kent seeing some picture postcard scenes.

The Met Office said freezing temperatures on Saturday night would see more wintry showers sweeping in in the morning.

"The whole of the country will experience strong winds and severe gales over the course of [Sunday], meaning it will be a wet and windy day for many - and a snowy and windy day for northern parts," said Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge.

"Winter is not over just yet."


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UK Should Consider Arming Ukraine, Says Stirrup

The UK should consider arming Ukraine as the war with pro-Russian separatists continues to rage in the east of the country, according to a former head of the army.

Speaking on Sky's Murnaghan programme, Air Chief Marshal Lord Stirrup accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of running a "gangster regime" and "gangster foreign policy".

When asked whether the UK should provide weapons for Ukrainian soldiers, Lord Stirrup said: "That is something we need to think about it carefully. There are arguments on both sides.

"If we work to do that it needs to be part of a long-term strategy, not just a short-term knee jerk response.

"It might be appropriate. It is something we need to think about."

Lord Stirrup also warned in his interview that NATO is viewed as "weak" by Mr Putin, adding the West needs a long-term strategy to combat Russia's actions with regards to its neighbour.

He said: "Putin views the West as weak all round and that is a very, very dangerous position for us to be in.

"My concern is that NATO is not spending enough resource on defence."

In recent weeks, RAF jets have twice intercepted Russian planes which were spotted off the coasts of Cornwall and Bournemouth.

Lord Stirrup said Moscow is becoming more aggressive, and testing British defences with "mission rehearsals".

This "very dangerous" game raises the possibility of a mid-air collision Russian aircraft and civilian aircraft, he added.

His comments come after the former defence secretary Liam Fox said the UK should provide sophisticated arms, including drones, to Ukraine.

However, this was ruled out by the Leader of the Commons, William Hague, who said the best approach was to increase sanctions if Russia continues to destabilise Ukraine.

"We are not planning as the UK to send arms to Ukraine, Mr Hague told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

"It hasn't been our approach in any recent conflict in recent years to send arms into those conflicts."

Moscow has long been accused by the West of supporting the rebels since the conflict broke out last April, a claim Russia denies.

A ceasefire between the government and the separatists has broken down amid fierce fighting for the strategically important town of Debaltseve.

On Sunday, Ukrainian forces began the process of withdrawing heavy weapons from the frontline in agreement with separatists.


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Firefighters Battle Industrial Blaze In Erith

Almost 100 firefighters have battled to get a blaze inside a block of industrial units under control.

The smoke and fire from the blaze in Erith, South East London, could be seen from miles away.

More than 50 people called emergency services to report the fire, which happened at around 2am in Yarnton Way.

A storage warehouse was completely destroyed, and the blaze also affected two adjacent units.

While no homes were affected, the London Fire Brigade advised people living near the scene to close their doors and windows due to large volumes of smoke.

Station Manager Norman Perry said: "Fire crews worked hard to bring this under control. 

"The blaze was in an industrial area and we managed to stop it spreading to any residential homes.

"We are likely to be at the scene throughout the morning damping down pockets of fire."

The fire was under control by 5.40am.

The cause has yet to be determined.


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PM Pledges £300m In Fight To Defeat Dementia

More than £300m is to be spent over the next five years on research, medical trials and training to tackle dementia, the Prime Minister has announced.

David Cameron plans to set up an international dementia institute in England in a bid to make the UK a world leader for research and medical trials.

A separate multimillion-pound fund will be launched to help establish an international investment scheme to discover new drugs and treatments that could slow down the onset of dementia or even deliver a cure.

Some 1.3 million NHS workers, from surgeons to hospital porters, will be given training in how to give those with dementia the best possible standards of care.

Businesses and public services will be encouraged to offer greater understanding and support for people with the condition.

And a further three million volunteers are to be recruited to train as "dementia friends" to help care for sufferers. 

Mr Cameron said: "Dementia is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and I am proud that we are leading the world in fighting it.

"Because of the growing strength of our economy, we can invest in research and drug development, as well as public understanding, so we defeat this terrible condition and offer more hope and dignity for those who suffer.

"That way, we can help make Britain a country that offers security in retirement for all."

Other pledges include having the majority of people in England living in "dementia friendly communities" by making shops, transport and other public places more accessible to people with the condition.

And initial dementia assessments by GPs will take place in an average of six weeks and will be followed by better onward support.

There are around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with the number expected to hit a million within the next 10 years.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Dementia Friends is truly changing attitudes and capturing the public's attention.

"Together we are transforming lives today and reaching out for preventative treatments and a cure tomorrow.

"This Government has rightly prioritised dementia.

"We would all acknowledge the work that remains to be done, but the PM deserves credit for the phenomenal achievement in getting dementia on the national and global agenda and this has resulted in significant progress."

Mr Cameron visited High Wycombe on Saturday to meet people with dementia, and dementia friends.

He said: "What today's announcement is about is a very simple but bold ambition, and that is to make the United Kingdom the best place on the planet in terms of researching into dementia, in terms of diagnosing people with dementia and then in terms of treating, helping and caring for them.

"Not just hospitals and care homes, but the whole of our country making dementia friendly communities."


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What's Luring Western Women To Join IS?

By Charlotte Chelsom-Pill, Sky Producer

Young women are being lured online to join Islamic State in Syria by promises of rent free homes and war booty, including fridges and cookers, experts say.

According to recent reports, female jihadists also appeal to impressionable teens on forums and social media with stories about pancakes coated in nutella, pictures of kittens and smiling emojis.

While they may sound far-fetched, the reports are not without substance, Dr Erin Saltman, a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue told Sky News.

She said: "Women have very specific propaganda aimed at them by Islamic State.

"There is propaganda tailored to females, especially young females, which includes the discussion that they will be married upon arrival which gives romantic notions about finding a husband once they get there".

According to a recent report published by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, as many as 550 western women have fled to Iraq and Syria. 

It is feared the three missing teenagers will soon join that number. 

Ross Frenett, director of the Against Violent Extremism (AVE) network and co-author of the report, said many are "conned" into believing they will be joining an Islamic "utopia."

One Tweet written by a young female IS convert and referenced in the report reads: "Hijrah [migration] is FARD [a duty]! :)".

Another message on Tumblr says: "In these lands we are rewarded for our sacrifices involved in our Hijrah for example one is by receiving Ghanimah [war booty]".

"Some of the many things include kitchen appliances from fridges, cookers, ovens, microwaves, milkshake machines ... and most importantly a house with free electricity and water provided to you due to the Khilafah and no rent included."

The report, entitled Becoming Mulan, notes that not only do women encourage others to leave their homes, they often give important travel advice, using private messaging to convey more specific tips on fleeing to Syria or Iraq.

Many posts include the juxtaposition of IS' trademark brutality with western cultural references, it says.

It quotes one girl who tweeted that she hoped to "pull a Mulan" while she was in Syria - a reference to a Disney film in which a woman becomes a soldier, despite being banned from fighting.

However this may not be the product of a carefully-constructed propaganda scheme designed to lure young women from their homes.

Many of the posts simply reflect the inevitable western influences which emerge in messages written by women who are in their teens and 20s, Mr Frenett told Sky News.

Furthermore to suggest that women who join IS have all been tricked by propaganda suggests they don't engage in the same ideological processes as men, he said.

He claims that, like their male counterparts, young women are driven by several factors including outrage over perceived atrocities being carried out in Syria, an engagement with IS ideology and a search for identity. 

Nevertheless the scope of online propaganda is proving powerful and has taken authorities by surprise.

"This phenomena has caught everyone in the western world off-guard," he said.

"We will see more girls leaving from the UK before we get on top of this issue."


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Prezza's Return: Labour's Fantasy Frontbench

By Darren McCaffrey, Political Correspondent

Lord Prescott's return to Labour's frontline is more about bringing in a big name to appeal to the "Lidl People" than it is about climate change.

The Labour veteran may have been a prime mover on Kyoto but he also earned the sobriquet "Two Jags" and was once pilloried for using an official car to make the 230m-journey from his hotel to the party conference.

No, his return is more about his voter appeal - especially to the traditional working class people in the northern constituencies being targeted by UKIP.

And about bolstering his shadow cabinet.

When it comes to the election campaign trail, Lord Prescott is to Ed Miliband what Boris Johnson is to David Cameron: a "star player" and the perfect Labour antidote to Nigel Farage.

All three – Prescott, Farage and Johnson – manage to weather media storms with barely a dent to their popularity.

With Lord Prescott's  return, here's a look at some other talents Mr Miliband might look to employ.

DEPUTY LEADER: Alan Johnson.

The former Home Secretary's name has continued to pop up as a possible future leader should Ed Miliband fall on his sword. So why not keep your enemies close? Or at least make the transition simple.

SHADOW FOREIGN SECRETARY: David Miliband.

A role he would comfortably fit in to, having served from 2007-10. He would likely enjoy a good working relationship with Hillary Clinton, widely tipped as the 45th US President, who once revealed she had a crush on him. It could add an extra dimension to the "special relationship".

SHADOW CHANCELLOR: Alistair Darling.

Having also served in the role, he emerged from the global financial crash and leadership of the Scottish referendum No campaign with his credentials intact. With relations between the two Eds currently at the top said to be strained – a pair of safe Labour hands maybe precisely what the party needs.

SHADOW HOME SECRETARY: Tony Blair.

The man who said he would be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime". He may even been able to re-introduce his policy of marching petty criminals to cash points.

SHADOW JUSTICE SECRETARY: Cherie Blair.

The former first lady of British politics, has been Queen Counsel since 1995 and a leading specialist in human rights law. She would also become Britain's first ever female Lord Chancellor.

SHADOW BUSINESS SECRETARY: Lord Mandelson.

The master of the dark arts and Labour's ultimate comeback kid, who once said he was "intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich". He could help repair the sour relations between many businesses and Labour, over a glass of champagne and canopy on the yacht of a Russian oligarch of course.

SHADOW EDUCATION SECRETARY: Tony Robinson

Baldrick always had a "cunning plan" and undoubtedly this actor, historian and author would enthuse our children - digging deep into the past.

OPPOSITION CHIEF WHIP: Alex Ferguson

The former Manchester United manager and Labour supporter, could take his "hair dryer treatment" to Parliament, keeping rebellious backbenchers in line and tempting rivals with some great transfer deals. 

SHADOW DEFENCE SECRETARY: Clare Short.

She resigned over Labour's Iraq War and is strongly against renewing trident but Clare Short could at least prove useful in managing relations with the SNP in any coalition.

SHADOW CULTURE SECRETARY: Alastair Campbell.

Blair's former spin doctor, is a former newspaper political editor and a big Burnley fan. His deft communication and strategising skills which could prove useful in helping to improve Ed Miliband's photo opportunities and stop him eating bacon sandwiches.  


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Police Identify Chelsea Racism Suspects

Three Chelsea supporters wanted in connection with alleged racism on the Paris Metro have been identified, police say.

The men, whose names have not been released, are accused of being among a number of Chelsea fans caught on camera shouting racist chants ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris St Germain.

Video footage shows the group preventing a member of the public - Souleymane Sylla - from entering an underground train. 

Some chanted: "We're racist, and that's the way we like it".

Their pictures were released as part of an investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police.

Police are also investigating allegations that another group of men - believed to be Chelsea fans - sang racist songs as they arrived into St Pancras Station in London on Wednesday evening.

A member of the public reported the men, who were believed to have been returning home from the same PSG match.

Chelsea have suspended five supporters from attending matches following the Paris incident after carrying out their own investigation.

Manager Jose Mourinho said he was "disgusted" and "ashamed" by the behaviour, adding that the club would be writing to Mr Sylla to apologise.

He told Sky Sports he hoped Mr Sylla would accept the club's invitation to attend the return game against Paris St German on 11 March. 

However Mr Sylla told French newspaper Le Parisien: "I appreciate Mr Mourinho's invitation, but I can't get my head around being in a stadium at the moment".

In an interview with the Guardian, he said: "What happened has left me really afraid. I just want justice to be done, no more than that.

"I was a little bit hurt physically but in terms of morale I was hurt a lot. It has really affected my life. I can't go back into the Metro, it makes me really afraid.

"I don't think you should be denied the right to take the Metro because you're black. That's what they wanted."


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Missing Girl's Family 'Cannot Stop Crying'

Missing Girl's Family 'Cannot Stop Crying'

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The father of Amira Abase, one of three British teenagers thought to have run away to Syria, has said his family "cannot stop crying" and appealed for her to return home.

Clutching a teddy bear in a Chelsea Football Club jersey, Abase Hussen, 47, said his family was "completely different now" since Amira, 15, had disappeared along with Shamima Begum, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16.

The three girls were last seen on Tuesday morning as they left their homes in East London, telling their families they would be out for the day.

They are believed to have boarded a Turkish Airlines flight at Gatwick which landed in Istanbul on Tuesday evening with the intention to cross into Syria and join terror group Islamic State.

Speaking at Scotland Yard, Mr Hussen said: "We are depressed, and it's very stressful. The message we have for Amira is to get back home. We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think twice. Don't go to Syria."

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  1. Gallery: Final Pictures Of Missing London Schoolgirls

    These pictures were taken from Kadiza Sultana (l) and Shamima Begum's (r) twitter accounts

Kadiza and Shamima are feared to be on their way to Syria with a third girl, 15-year-old Amira Abase

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Scotland Yard is urgently trying to trace three teenage girls who are from the same East London school

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CCTV captured images of the girls at Gatwick Airport before boarding a flight to Turkey

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CCTV captured images of the girls at Gatwick Airport before boarding a flight to Turkey. Kadiza Sultana is pictured here

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Missing Girl's Family 'Cannot Stop Crying'

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

The father of Amira Abase, one of three British teenagers thought to have run away to Syria, has said his family "cannot stop crying" and appealed for her to return home.

Clutching a teddy bear in a Chelsea Football Club jersey, Abase Hussen, 47, said his family was "completely different now" since Amira, 15, had disappeared along with Shamima Begum, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16.

The three girls were last seen on Tuesday morning as they left their homes in East London, telling their families they would be out for the day.

They are believed to have boarded a Turkish Airlines flight at Gatwick which landed in Istanbul on Tuesday evening with the intention to cross into Syria and join terror group Islamic State.

Speaking at Scotland Yard, Mr Hussen said: "We are depressed, and it's very stressful. The message we have for Amira is to get back home. We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think twice. Don't go to Syria."

1/7

  1. Gallery: Final Pictures Of Missing London Schoolgirls

    These pictures were taken from Kadiza Sultana (l) and Shamima Begum's (r) twitter accounts

Kadiza and Shamima are feared to be on their way to Syria with a third girl, 15-year-old Amira Abase

]]>

Scotland Yard is urgently trying to trace three teenage girls who are from the same East London school

]]>

CCTV captured images of the girls at Gatwick Airport before boarding a flight to Turkey

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CCTV captured images of the girls at Gatwick Airport before boarding a flight to Turkey. Kadiza Sultana is pictured here

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