January 18, 2011, 7:34 am
![Image]( "Duvalier quizzed by Haiti officials")
Haitian police have taken the country's former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier out of his hotel - but have refused to disclose whether he was being detained for crimes committed under his brutal regime.
A contingent of police led the former dictator known as "Baby Doc" through the hotel and to a waiting vehicle. He was not wearing handcuffs.
Duvalier, 59, was calm and did not say anything. Asked by journalists if he was being arrested, his longtime companion Veronique Roy laughed but said nothing.
Mona Bernadeau, a senate candidate from the Duvalierist party, said the former dictator was being taken to court but said she did not know why.
Outside the hotel, he was jeered by some people and cheered by others. His removal from the hotel came after he met in private with senior Haitian judicial officials inside his hotel room amid calls by human rights groups and others for his arrest.
The country's top prosecutor and a judge were among those meeting with the former leader in the high-end hotel where he has been ensconced since his surprise return to Haiti on Sunday.
Dozens of Haitian National Police officers were posted inside and around the hotel, some of them in riot gear or guarding the stairwells. A police vehicle for transporting prisoners was parked in front of the hotel's main door and all non-police traffic was halted at the driveway.
None of the officials present would comment on what was being discussed at the meeting. Asked by journalists why he was going to meet Duvalier, Judge Gabriel Amboisse said: "I'm here to assist the prosecutor because he asked me to be here with him."
Duvalier was forced into exile in 1986 in a mass uprising and had been living in exile in France. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others have urged the Haitian government to arrest him for widespread abuses.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville said Duvalier's return increases the chance that he could be charged with atrocities committed during his 15-year rule because it will be easier to bring charges in the country where the crimes occurred. He cautioned, though, that Haiti's fragile judicial system may be in no position to mount a case.
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January 18, 2011, 7:34 am
![Image]( "Peer's relative 'angry' over claims")
A relative of a former Conservative peer accused of making false expenses claims has said he was "shocked" and "quite angry" when told that the politician had used his address as a main place of residence on his claim forms.
Robert Taylor, half nephew of Lord Taylor of Warwick, told a jury at Southwark Crown Court: "I was shocked, I was quite angry, actually, because I had always wondered why he had been quite so friendly, because we didn't on the face of it have a lot in common.
"At the point where we were being doorstepped by the media, I suddenly realised that maybe his wasn't actually a real friendship at all."
The court has heard that the peer submitted forms saying his main residence was in Oxford, where his half nephew lived, when Lord Taylor actually lived in Ealing, west London. He claimed for travelling expenses between the two cities and for night subsistence to cover being in London, the jury has heard.
The prosecution says the peer has agreed that he never stayed at the address in Oxford and had no legal or financial interest in it.
Lord Taylor, 58, is on trial facing six counts of false accounting, relating to claims he made as a member of the House of Lords under the members' reimbursement allowance scheme, on various dates between March 2006 and October 2007. He denies the charges.
Mr Taylor, a professional photographer, said he has lived for eight years at the house in Oxford which is owned by his partner Dr Tristram Wyatt. He said contact with Lord Taylor had been "sporadic" over the years.
Dr Wyatt, asked his reaction when he heard that Lord Taylor had used the house as his main place of residence, said: "Great surprise." Asked why, he said: "Because he didn't live there." He also said he would have said 'no' if asked by Lord Taylor whether he could do so.
Mohammed Khamisa QC, defending, has said that others who spoke to Lord Taylor told him his claims were "acceptable" because members did not receive a salary.
He has told the jury: "You will hear that others with whom he worked, other peers he spoke to, had all told him that what he was doing was acceptable."
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January 18, 2011, 7:34 am
![Image]( "Gay couple hail hotel snub ruling")
A gay couple have welcomed a court ruling which said Christian hotel owners had acted unlawfully when they refused to let them stay in a double room.
Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy said the decision showed no-one was above the law.
They had taken Peter and Hazelmary Bull to court after they were turned away from the couple's hotel in Cornwall in September 2008 having booked a double room.
In a ruling at Bristol County Court, Judge Andrew Rutherford said the Bulls had acted unlawfully and ordered them to pay the couple £1,800 each in damages and their legal costs.
Mr Hall, 46, and Mr Preddy, 38, from Bristol, made the claim for sexual orientation discrimination under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.
They said: "We're really pleased that the judge has confirmed what we already know - that in these circumstances our civil partnership has the same status in law as a marriage between a man and a woman, and that, regardless of each person's religious beliefs, no-one is above the law."
Mr and Mrs Bull, who run the Chymorvah Private Hotel in Marazion near Penzance, Cornwall, were backed by the Christian Institute. They said they would consider appealing against the decision, which means the case could be heard at the High Court and in Europe.
"We are obviously disappointed with the result. Our double-bed policy was based on our sincere beliefs about marriage, not hostility to anybody," Mrs Bull said. "It was applied equally and consistently to unmarried heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, as the judge accepted.
"We are trying to live and work in accordance with our Christian faith. As a result we have been sued and ordered to pay £3,600. But many Christians have given us gifts, so thanks to them we will be able to pay the damages."
Mrs Bull added: "I do feel that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain. The same laws used against us have been used to shut down faith-based adoption agencies. Much is said about 'equality and diversity' but it seems some people are more equal than others."
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January 18, 2011, 11:40 am
![Image]( "Russian bank staff facing probe")
The diplomatic immunity of four Russian officials working at an international bank has been removed as police investigate allegations of criminal activity, it has emerged.
The (EBRD) said in a statement: "The EBRD has agreed to a request from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and from the Russian authorities to lift the immunity of four officials assigned to the EBRD by the Russian government.
"The purpose of lifting the immunity is to facilitate investigations by both UK police and by Russian authorities into alleged criminal activities.
"The officials either work or have worked at the EBRD in their capacity as representatives of the Russian government, a shareholder of the EBRD and one of its countries of operations."
The EBRD said it had already launched an internal investigation. The findings have been shared with the Russian authorities, in accordance with the bank's code of conduct, and will be made available to British police.
The statement continued: "The EBRD is working very closely on this matter with both the UK police and with the Russian authorities."
The EBRD did not name those involved but Russia's Economic Development Ministry said one of the officials was Yelena Kotova, who was removed from her position on the board of directors following the bank's internal inquiry.
The ministry did not name the other three employees but said Russia's prosecutor general's office has ordered a probe into their activities. The Foreign Office said it had been asked by City of London Police to seek waivers of immunity for the officials.
A spokeswoman said: "When requested to do so by the police, the FCO will seek waivers of immunity for individuals from foreign diplomatic missions or international organisations to allow the police to proceed with investigations. The officials hold immunity under the terms of the EBRD's Headquarters Agreement with the UK. The City of London Police wish to investigate alleged criminal activity by a number of officials. We cannot provide more detail."
The EBRD is owned by 61 countries and partly funded by the US and European Union. It uses investments to help develop market economies in formerly communist countries of eastern Europe and central Asia. All of the EBRD's owner countries have representatives on its board of directors.
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January 18, 2011, 11:40 am
![Image]( "Tories 'prefer Clegg to own chiefs'")
Tory voters prefer Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to almost all their own Cabinet ministers, according to a new poll.
The Deputy Prime Minister rated below only William Hague when Conservatives were asked who they would like to take charge of the coalition if David Cameron departed abruptly.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hague was backed by 39% in the YouGov research for The Sun, followed by Mr Clegg on 17%.
No other Cabinet minister managed double figures, with Chancellor George Osborne attracting just 5%, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Home Secretary Theresa May tied on 3%.
When the question was posed to voters from across parties, Mr Clegg fared even better, trailing Mr Hague by a margin of 21% to 18%.
The results are a glimmer of hope for Mr Clegg after a period of dismal polling for his party which has seen its backing collapse as low as 7%. The figures will fuel speculation that, while traditional Lib Dems may have been turned off by policy compromises, the party could be picking up supporters from elsewhere.
YouGov interviewed 1,977 adults between January 16-17. The results were weighted to reflect the population.
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January 18, 2011, 11:40 am
![Image]( "Katie Price splits from Alex Reid")
Katie Price has confirmed she has separated from her cage-fighter husband Alex Reid.
The glamour girl issued a statement saying she married Reid "too quickly" and claimed he "changed from the man I fell in love with".
She said: "Alex and I have had a number of difficulties over the past few months.
"I accept that these were in part caused by my marrying too quickly - we all make mistakes and this was one.
"However, Alex changed from the man I fell in love with and some of his behaviour became difficult for me to understand and caused issues."
The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas just 11 months ago.
Price, 32, said she supported Reid's ambition to attract more media attention, but added that his desire to promote himself "contributed to our alienation".
The reality TV star, who divorced her first husband, Peter Andre, in 2009, also said the couple had failed to resolve their differences because "the issues between us are too deep rooted".
The statement went on to say Reid, 35, asked Price to delay announcing their split because he wanted more time to think, but subsequently posed for newspaper photographs with her son Junior in a gym.
Price denied reports she had discussed financial matters with her divorce lawyers, and said claims the announcement had been delayed so her film crew could capture Reid's reaction on camera were a "complete fabrication". She added: "I am deeply upset that my relationship with Alex has failed but I know it is the right thing for my children and I that we separate. My children are my absolute priority in this and they are being shielded from what is happening."
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January 18, 2011, 12:08 pm
![Image]( "Cost of living 'biggest worry'")
The majority of families are worried about inflation, with four out of 10 people saying they are too over-stretched to handle any increase in the cost of living, research has indicated.
The rising cost of essential items is the single biggest concern for families during the coming six months, with 57% citing it as a worry, followed by redundancy at 45% and unexpected expenses at 39%, according to insurer Aviva.
Over the longer term, one in five families is concerned about the impact of rising interest rates on their mortgage, with home loan repayments accounting for around a fifth of the typical family's expenditure.
The study found that many families are ill-equipped to handle a rise in outgoings, with 33% having no savings to fall back on and 40% not currently setting aside anything on a monthly basis.
Even among those families that do save, 25% have less than £2,000 deposited, meaning they would have very little to see them through an emergency.
At the same time, the average families owes £5,360 in unsecured debt, while they have around £89,000 outstanding on their mortgage.
Around 42% of single parents rely on state benefits to help them make ends meet and, unsurprisingly, 45% of this group said the changes the Government plans to make to benefits was their biggest concern during the coming five years.
Louise Colley, head of protection marketing at Aviva, said: "This report gives us an interesting insight into the financial issues facing modern families in the UK.
"Not surprisingly, in today's society, some families are struggling to make ends meet and 39% feel they cannot take on any additional financial obligations.
"While it is encouraging to see that most families are trying to save something every month, it is clear that other demands on their finances mean this amount remains below what is needed to guarantee a secure financial future."
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January 18, 2011, 12:08 pm
![Image]( "Taoiseach defeats plot to oust him")
Taoiseach Brian Cowen will lead the Irish Government into its dying days after defeating a plot to oust him.
But rebel Micheal Martin, who led the charge against the embattled Fianna Fail leader, quit his Cabinet post after a failed leadership challenge.
After a three-hour meeting, Mr Cowen survived in a secret ballot and reluctantly accepted the resignation of his Foreign Affairs Minister.
"It sends a very strong confirmation that there are consequences to the decision and the stand that he took," Mr Cowen said.
John Gormley, leader of junior coalition government party the Greens, will meet the Taoiseach tomorrow to discuss a timetable for the Finance Bill, outstanding legislation and the general election.
Voters expect to go to the polls in about three months, possibly March 25.
Although some backbenchers and one junior minister demanded change, the Taoiseach said he did not expect any further resignations. Government Chief Whip John Curran refused to detail the Taoiseach's margin of victory.
The Taoiseach, who spoke for about 30 minutes in the private meeting and delivered what supporters called a fiery address, said Mr Martin felt honour-bound to step down. He called on TDs to unite behind the decision.
Mr Martin fronted the challenge against the Taoiseach but elsewhere in the Cabinet, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was accused of an eleventh hour u-turn in favour of the Taoiseach and Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin refused to declare support.
The less-than-convincing backing was widely seen as a damaging blow and Mr Cowen will also be troubled by remaining rebel backbenchers left deeply disaffected by the leadership battle.
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January 18, 2011, 12:08 pm
![Image]( "Coke ad ban over 'nutritious' claim")
An ad for Coca-Cola's Vitamin Water has been banned for claiming that the drink is "nutritious" while containing up to five teaspoons of sugar, a watchdog said.
Three people complained that the poster for Vitamin Water was misleading for using the word "nutritious" in the catchline, while one of them understood each 500ml bottle contained more than 30g of sugar.
Coca-Cola said the product actually contained 23g of sugar per 500ml - "a significantly lower amount".
Defending the use of the word "nutritious", Coca-Cola said the product contained "nutritionally meaningful quantities of several nutrients including 25% of the recommended daily allowance of four B vitamins (B6, B12, niacin and pantothenic acid) along with 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C".
All varieties of the product contained the 23g of sugar per 500ml serving to deliver an energy density of 19 kcal/100 ml, which meant they qualified for the category of "low calorie" drinks under EU regulations, it added.
Upholding the complaints, the ASA said it considered that consumers would understand the word "nutritious" in the ad as a claim that Vitamin Water contained added ingredients that were needed by the body in order to stay healthy.
However, it added: "We considered that they would not expect a "nutritious" drink to have the equivalent of four or five teaspoons of added sugar.
"Because Vitamin Water contained about a quarter of a consumer's GDA (guideline daily amount) for sugar as well as the added vitamins, we considered that the description of Vitamin Water as "nutritious" was misleading."
It ruled that the ad should not appear again in its current form.
A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said: "We have always been completely transparent that the drinks contain 23g of sugar in each 500ml bottle, which has been prominently labelled on pack since launch. We do not believe that this detracts from the vitamin and mineral content of the drinks."
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January 18, 2011, 12:08 pm
![Image]( "Fixed-term plans clear Commons")
Proposals to move to five-year, fixed-term parliaments cleared the Commons amid criticisms the legislation amounted to "gerrymandering the constitution" designed purely to benefit the coalition.
The Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill gained its third reading by 320 votes to 234, a government majority of 86, after Nick Clegg told MPs the Bill represented a "simple but absolutely fundamental change".
It would strengthen Parliament, provide stability and move Britain towards the "new politics", the Deputy Prime Minister told MPs.
Mr Clegg said: "The reforms that this Bill contains are an essential part of the Government's drive to modernise Parliament.
"Currently the Prime Minister can, effectively, call an election on a whim. Something as important as the timing of an election should not be determined by the whims of prime ministers and the self interests of political parties. That is something I believe all parties agree on.
"This Bill proposes the introduction of fixed-term parliaments, bringing a new stability to our political system, and crucially ensuring that when Parliament does dissolve early, that is a matter for this House."
But he faced strong criticism from Labour with shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan telling MPs: "This Bill smacks of gerrymandering the constitution in favour of a particular coalition.
"Make no mistake - this Bill is not for the good of the country, it is for the good of the ministers opposite. What compounds this outrageous piece of attempted constitutional fixing is that they are trying to ram this through at breakneck speed.
"The only urgency is that backbenchers on both sides of the coalition parties are having second thoughts about this so the party managers need to quickly get them superglued together with no way out."
The Bill will see general elections take place on the first Thursday in May every five years from the next time voters go to the polls - which would be May 7 2015. Having completed its Commons stages the Bill will now go to the Lords for further consideration
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January 18, 2011, 12:08 pm
![Image]( "£560m fund for green travel plans")
A £560 million fund to encourage green transport initiatives is at the heart of a local transport White Paper from the Government.
As well as tackling climate change by cutting carbon emissions, the White Paper will also contain initiatives that will encourage growth in the economy.
Launching the White Paper, Transport Minister Norman Baker will stress the Government's belief that action at local level delivers gains at national level.
The document will also set out how local authorities will be given more freedom to decide on their own transport projects, cutting red tape and encouraging innovation in both urban and rural areas, and details the measures central Government will be taking to encourage walking, cycling and increased use of public transport.
Examples of existing innovative schemes which cut carbon and help jobs include the Wheels to Work scheme in the Yorkshire Dales which offers apprentices and trainees the loan of a motorcycle which helps them take up local job offers where they need transport.
Another example is the Carshare Devon scheme which has resulted in 150,000 trips shared per year, bringing carbon and congestion savings to the county.
The White Paper builds on other steps taken to hand back power to local communities, including the £1.4 billion regional growth fund and the new local enterprise partnerships which bring business and civic leaders together.
Mr Baker said: "A good transport system is vital in our efforts to deliver two key Government priorities: to help grow the economy and to reduce carbon emissions.
"Investment in local sustainable transport can deliver quick gains with both objectives, which is why, even in these difficult financial times, we are providing an unprecedented £560 million to take this agenda forward.
"We are clear you can have your green cake and eat it. Money invested wisely in local transport initiatives can both help the economy and cut carbon. It's a win-win for local people and for the country as a whole."
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January 18, 2011, 7:58 pm
![Image]( "Police undercover unit investigated")
Inspectors are to review how an undercover police unit's operations are run and controlled following concerns over the use of a Pc to infiltrate environmental protest groups.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) launched its own review, saying it would look at "the operational accountability of undercover work" and "how intelligence activity is authorised in accordance with law, including consideration of the proportionality of covert tactics".
The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), to which undercover officer Mark Kennedy belonged, is currently run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) with plans to transfer control to Scotland Yard.
Policing Minister Nick Herbert said it was clear something had "gone very wrong" with Mr Kennedy's operation and in future undercover units should not be run by Acpo.
The Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has also been asked to carry out an independent review of Mr Kennedy's deployment as an undercover officer.
The Soca inquiry, requested by Acpo, Nottinghamshire Police and the Met, will be led by Soca's director general Trevor Pearce, who spent five years as chairman of the Acpo national undercover working group, while HMIC's review will be led by Inspector Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Ex-Metropolitan Police Pc Mark Kennedy spent a reported seven years under cover posing as an environmental activist known as Mark "Flash" Stone.
Six protesters accused of planning to invade Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire claimed prosecutors dropped charges against them after Mr Kennedy offered to give evidence on their behalf.
Police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Scotland Yard are also investigating his role.
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January 18, 2011, 8:11 pm
![Image]( "Jobless data 'to test Government'")
The latest unemployment figures will represent a "real test" of the Government's economic strategy, according to a think-tank.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) warned the risk of an employment double dip remained "very real" in the face of cuts in the public sector.
Unemployment will reach "new heights" unless jobs are created in private firms, even if the economy continues to expand.
Speaking before publication of the new figures, Tony Dolphin, ippr chief economist, said: "History suggests the UK economy needs to grow at an annual rate of more than 2% if unemployment is to fall.
"There is a real risk that growth will not be fast enough during 2011 and that unemployment will reach new highs for this economic downturn.
"Substantial cuts in public sector employment put enormous pressure on the private sector to create sufficient new jobs to prevent overall employment falling in 2011. While the prospect of a double dip into negative growth has receded, a double dip in employment is a real prospect.
"The Government's flagship Work Programme to get people back into employment will face considerable difficulties if it is launched at a time when job creation in the private sector is insufficient to offset job contraction in the public sector."
A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said: "The coalition Government is focused on restoring the economy and supporting private sector jobs growth - 300,000 jobs have been created in the private sector over the past year.
"There are jobs available in the economy with Jobcentre Plus alone taking on over 70,000 new vacancies every week - that's around one million coming up through Jobcentre Plus every three months."
Unemployment increased to 2.5 million at the end of last year after a 35,000 jump in the quarter to October, a jobless rate of 7.9%.
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January 18, 2011, 8:11 pm
![Image]( "Wider benefit of statins 'unproven'")
Evidence is lacking to support widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among the "worried well", a study has found.
Statins are highly effective at reducing blood cholesterol levels and are routinely given to heart patients.
But some GPs also advocate their wider use for at-risk patients, and a number of healthy doctors take the pills themselves on a precautionary basis. Low dose statins are also available over-the-counter at pharmacies without prescription.
The new findings from a review of 14 statin trials found that the drugs did reduce death rates and helped prevent heart attacks and strokes.
However the authors, who sifted through data on more than 34,000 patients, concluded there was insufficient evidence to justify widespread use of statins in people with no previous history of heart disease.
They stressed the need for caution when balancing the risks and benefits of statins - and questioned the validity of drug company-sponsored trials.
Lead researcher Dr Fiona Taylor, from the Cochrane Heart Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "It is not as simple as just extrapolating the effects from studies in people who have a history of heart disease.
"This review highlights important shortcomings in our knowledge about the effects of statins in people who have no previous history of CVD (cardiovascular disease). The decision to prescribe statins in this group should not be taken lightly."
The findings are published in the Cochrane Library, which produces comprehensive reviews of drug trial evidence.
The researchers pointed out that all but one of the studies they looked at were industry-sponsored. Dr Taylor added: "We know that industry-sponsored trials are more likely to report favourable results for drugs versus placebos (inactive dummy drugs), so we have to be cautious about interpreting these results."
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January 18, 2011, 8:12 pm
![Image]( "Apple reports record sales levels")
Consumer gadgets giant Apple has reported record sales and profits for its Christmas quarter after demand for iPads and iPhones topped expectations.
Net income in the three months to December 25 rose 78% to 6 billion dollars (£3.75 billion) and revenues climbed 71% to 26.7 billion dollars (£16.7 billion) as Apple's newest product, the iPad tablet computer, became one of the most popular gifts over the festive period.
Apple said it sold 7.3 million of the touch-screen, keyboard-less gadgets - about a million more than Wall Street analysts had been expecting.
The company also sold 16.2 million iPhones, or 86% more of the smartphones than a year ago.
Apple's shares climbed in after-hours trading in New York on Tuesday night, having slipped more than 2% in regular trading following news that chief executive Steve Jobs is taking a further medical leave of absence.
Despite the success of the iPad, which went on sale in April, Apple said it also sold 4.13 million Macs during the quarter, a 23% rise on a year ago.
It sold 19.5 million iPods, a drop of 7% on the end of 2009 but this was offset by an increase in the average amount that people spent on the music devices.
Apple also highlighted its growth in the Asia Pacific region as revenues from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan totalled 2.6 billion dollars (£1.6 billion), about 10% of its total revenues and four-times the level a year ago.
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January 18, 2011, 8:12 pm
![Image]( "Police recreate Jo's final steps")
The final steps of murdered Joanna Yeates have been reconstructed in an attempt to jog memories and catch her killer.
The tragic 25-year-old's last journey, which started after she left work, was retraced by an actress and filmed for BBC's Crimewatch.
This came as police confirmed Miss Yeates did not eat a pizza she was seen buying on her way home, just before she went missing.
The reconstruction focused on what the landscape architect did after she left her firm, BDP, on December 17.
She went first to the Bristol Ram pub on Park Street in Bristol City centre, where she had Christmas drinks with work colleagues.
She spent around two hours socialising with her friends before leaving at around 8pm to make the 30-minute walk home to the ground floor flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, that she shared with her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27.
Seen on CCTV in a Waitrose supermarket at the Clifton Triangle, she then went to a Tesco Express in Clifton village where she bought a pizza. During the filming of the reconstruction, the actress playing Miss Yeates entered the Tesco Express on Regent Street in Clifton village.
She was wearing the same cream-coloured coat as Miss Yeates was wearing on the night she disappeared. She also had a black rucksack and was carrying two plastic bags - including a white bag, which held the bottles of cider she bought previously at Bargain Booze, and a black bag of which the contents have not been revealed, but which police say are not significant.
The Crimewatch reconstruction will be screened at 9pm next Wednesday (January 26).
Avon and Somerset Police said tests on Miss Yeates' body concluded she had not eaten the pizza before she was found dead on Christmas Day three miles from her flat. Detectives said Miss Yeates had made it home to her flat because her shoes, coat, mobile phone, purse and keys were found there - although the pizza, the wrapping and its box are still missing.
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January 18, 2011, 8:12 pm
![Image]( "Tories 'prefer Clegg over cabinet'")
Tory voters prefer Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to almost all their own Cabinet ministers, according to a new poll.
The Deputy Prime Minister rated below only William Hague when Conservatives were asked who they would like to take charge of the coalition if David Cameron departed abruptly.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hague was backed by 39% in the YouGov research for The Sun, followed by Mr Clegg on 17%.
No other Cabinet minister managed double figures, with Chancellor George Osborne attracting just 5%, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Home Secretary Theresa May tied on 3%.
When the question was posed to voters from across parties, Mr Clegg fared even better, trailing Mr Hague by a margin of 21% to 18%.
The results are a glimmer of hope for Mr Clegg after a period of dismal polling for his party which has seen its backing collapse as low as 7%. The figures will fuel speculation that, while traditional Lib Dems may have been turned off by policy compromises, the party could be picking up supporters from elsewhere.
YouGov interviewed 1,977 adults between January 16-17. The results were weighted to reflect the population.
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January 18, 2011, 8:12 pm
![Image]( "NHS reform proposals under fire")
The Government is due to take the first step towards passing controversial legislation that will lead to more than 150 NHS organisations being scrapped.
The Health and Social Care Bill has attracted widespread criticism from unions and policy experts worried that the reforms are "too much too soon".
Under the plans, GPs will be handed the bulk of the £100 billion health budget to buy-in services for patients and a new NHS commissioning board will oversee the process.
All of England's 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) will be scrapped alongside 10 strategic health authorities (SHAs).
PCTs are already being streamlined into "clusters" as part of the transition, with the aim of getting them to work with GP practices and emerging "GP consortia".
The NHS commissioning board will formally establish consortia from April 2012 but experts have warned that PCT staff are already leaving in droves, leading to concerns about patient services in the interim.
Leaders of major health unions have also queried how the NHS will implement the changes at the same time as finding £15 to £20 billion in "efficiency savings" - something no major health service has ever managed.
Doctors' and nurses' leaders have joined unions in warning that plans to create greater commercial competition between the NHS and private firms are "potentially disastrous".
RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said today: "This seminal bill has the potential to transform the NHS, however, at the same time as the service is being tasked with saving £20 billion, we are concerned that the proposed reforms are too much too soon.
"We will be studying each and every clause of the bill to make sure that the reforms deliver better care for patients. Nurses will have a pivotal role to play in the proposed new NHS structure, and we call on the Government to listen to their concerns. It is nursing staff who spend the majority of their time directly with patients."
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January 18, 2011, 8:12 pm
![Image]( "Action due over student grant axe")
Campaigners are due to take part in a day of action against controversial plans to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
It comes as MPs prepare to vote on a motion, during an opposition day debate in Parliament, that calls for the Government to rethink its plans for the grant.
Ahead of this afternoon's debate, campaigners will hold a lobby in the House of Commons.
EMA teenagers from two London colleges will take part in specially-arranged lessons at Parliament during the morning, and students are to hand out "save EMA" biscuits outside Parliament.
The EMA is a weekly payment of between £10 and £30 given to the poorest 16 to 18-year-olds, living in households earning under £30,800 a year, to help them stay in education.
But the Government has announced the grant is to be withdrawn, and it is has already been closed to new applicants.
Campaigners are warning that scrapping the grant will affect thousands of youngsters who rely on the money to help fund their studies.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said the Government's decisions over the EMA have been a "complete shambles".
"First they pledged they would not axe it, now they say they will. They clearly have no understanding of how important the EMA is or the difference it makes to so many people's chances of improving themselves.
"Once again, they look horribly out of touch with the majority of people in the country - something highlighted by the revelation that the Education Secretary decided to axe the EMA despite never having visited a further education college."
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January 18, 2011, 11:01 pm
![Image]( "Group wants 'right-to-die' changes")
The law on helping people to die must be changed because current guidelines have led to an "unregulated situation" where anyone can be assisted to die, campaigners have claimed.
Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton said the 1961 suicide act was "no longer fit for purpose" and new guidelines brought in after the case of right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy should be replaced with an updated law that clearly states which acts are criminal and which are not.
Her comments come as Lord Falconer's inquiry into assisted dying hears evidence on the ethical issues of the controversial debate.
At the moment, anyone acting with compassion to help end the life of someone who has decided they cannot go on is unlikely to face criminal charges and some people travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end their life.
Ms Wootton said: "What we've really got is an unregulated situation where anyone can go to Switzerland and anyone can be assisted to die in this country. What we want is a better law, a more up-to-date modern law which clearly states which acts are criminal and which acts are not.
"We believe regulating would make a much safer situation and make sure that laws are observed. That's the ideal situation for us."
The chief prosecutor in England and Wales issued new guidelines over assisted suicide in February after right-to-die campaigner Ms Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), took her case to the highest court in the country after the High Court and Court of Appeal held that it was for Parliament, not the courts, to change the law.
Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, said the motives of those assisting suicide would be at the centre of the decision over whether they should be prosecuted and that no further action had been taken in 20 cases considered for prosecution in the 18 months to December last year.
Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence in England and Wales, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but individual decisions on prosecution will be made on the circumstances in each case, Mr Starmer said.
Ms Purdy, from Undercliffe, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, wanted to know what would happen to her Cuban husband, Omar Puente, if he helped her travel abroad to end her life.
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Haitian police have taken the country's former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier out of his hotel - but have refused to disclose whether he was being detained for crimes committed under his brutal regime.
A contingent of police led the former dictator known as "Baby Doc" through the hotel and to a waiting vehicle. He was not wearing handcuffs.
Duvalier, 59, was calm and did not say anything. Asked by journalists if he was being arrested, his longtime companion Veronique Roy laughed but said nothing.
Mona Bernadeau, a senate candidate from the Duvalierist party, said the former dictator was being taken to court but said she did not know why.
Outside the hotel, he was jeered by some people and cheered by others. His removal from the hotel came after he met in private with senior Haitian judicial officials inside his hotel room amid calls by human rights groups and others for his arrest.
The country's top prosecutor and a judge were among those meeting with the former leader in the high-end hotel where he has been ensconced since his surprise return to Haiti on Sunday.
Dozens of Haitian National Police officers were posted inside and around the hotel, some of them in riot gear or guarding the stairwells. A police vehicle for transporting prisoners was parked in front of the hotel's main door and all non-police traffic was halted at the driveway.
None of the officials present would comment on what was being discussed at the meeting. Asked by journalists why he was going to meet Duvalier, Judge Gabriel Amboisse said: "I'm here to assist the prosecutor because he asked me to be here with him."
Duvalier was forced into exile in 1986 in a mass uprising and had been living in exile in France. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others have urged the Haitian government to arrest him for widespread abuses.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville said Duvalier's return increases the chance that he could be charged with atrocities committed during his 15-year rule because it will be easier to bring charges in the country where the crimes occurred. He cautioned, though, that Haiti's fragile judicial system may be in no position to mount a case.
A relative of a former Conservative peer accused of making false expenses claims has said he was "shocked" and "quite angry" when told that the politician had used his address as a main place of residence on his claim forms.
Robert Taylor, half nephew of Lord Taylor of Warwick, told a jury at Southwark Crown Court: "I was shocked, I was quite angry, actually, because I had always wondered why he had been quite so friendly, because we didn't on the face of it have a lot in common.
"At the point where we were being doorstepped by the media, I suddenly realised that maybe his wasn't actually a real friendship at all."
The court has heard that the peer submitted forms saying his main residence was in Oxford, where his half nephew lived, when Lord Taylor actually lived in Ealing, west London. He claimed for travelling expenses between the two cities and for night subsistence to cover being in London, the jury has heard.
The prosecution says the peer has agreed that he never stayed at the address in Oxford and had no legal or financial interest in it.
Lord Taylor, 58, is on trial facing six counts of false accounting, relating to claims he made as a member of the House of Lords under the members' reimbursement allowance scheme, on various dates between March 2006 and October 2007. He denies the charges.
Mr Taylor, a professional photographer, said he has lived for eight years at the house in Oxford which is owned by his partner Dr Tristram Wyatt. He said contact with Lord Taylor had been "sporadic" over the years.
Dr Wyatt, asked his reaction when he heard that Lord Taylor had used the house as his main place of residence, said: "Great surprise." Asked why, he said: "Because he didn't live there." He also said he would have said 'no' if asked by Lord Taylor whether he could do so.
Mohammed Khamisa QC, defending, has said that others who spoke to Lord Taylor told him his claims were "acceptable" because members did not receive a salary.
He has told the jury: "You will hear that others with whom he worked, other peers he spoke to, had all told him that what he was doing was acceptable."
A gay couple have welcomed a court ruling which said Christian hotel owners had acted unlawfully when they refused to let them stay in a double room.
Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy said the decision showed no-one was above the law.
They had taken Peter and Hazelmary Bull to court after they were turned away from the couple's hotel in Cornwall in September 2008 having booked a double room.
In a ruling at Bristol County Court, Judge Andrew Rutherford said the Bulls had acted unlawfully and ordered them to pay the couple £1,800 each in damages and their legal costs.
Mr Hall, 46, and Mr Preddy, 38, from Bristol, made the claim for sexual orientation discrimination under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.
They said: "We're really pleased that the judge has confirmed what we already know - that in these circumstances our civil partnership has the same status in law as a marriage between a man and a woman, and that, regardless of each person's religious beliefs, no-one is above the law."
Mr and Mrs Bull, who run the Chymorvah Private Hotel in Marazion near Penzance, Cornwall, were backed by the Christian Institute. They said they would consider appealing against the decision, which means the case could be heard at the High Court and in Europe.
"We are obviously disappointed with the result. Our double-bed policy was based on our sincere beliefs about marriage, not hostility to anybody," Mrs Bull said. "It was applied equally and consistently to unmarried heterosexual couples and homosexual couples, as the judge accepted.
"We are trying to live and work in accordance with our Christian faith. As a result we have been sued and ordered to pay £3,600. But many Christians have given us gifts, so thanks to them we will be able to pay the damages."
Mrs Bull added: "I do feel that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain. The same laws used against us have been used to shut down faith-based adoption agencies. Much is said about 'equality and diversity' but it seems some people are more equal than others."
The diplomatic immunity of four Russian officials working at an international bank has been removed as police investigate allegations of criminal activity, it has emerged.
The (EBRD) said in a statement: "The EBRD has agreed to a request from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and from the Russian authorities to lift the immunity of four officials assigned to the EBRD by the Russian government.
"The purpose of lifting the immunity is to facilitate investigations by both UK police and by Russian authorities into alleged criminal activities.
"The officials either work or have worked at the EBRD in their capacity as representatives of the Russian government, a shareholder of the EBRD and one of its countries of operations."
The EBRD said it had already launched an internal investigation. The findings have been shared with the Russian authorities, in accordance with the bank's code of conduct, and will be made available to British police.
The statement continued: "The EBRD is working very closely on this matter with both the UK police and with the Russian authorities."
The EBRD did not name those involved but Russia's Economic Development Ministry said one of the officials was Yelena Kotova, who was removed from her position on the board of directors following the bank's internal inquiry.
The ministry did not name the other three employees but said Russia's prosecutor general's office has ordered a probe into their activities. The Foreign Office said it had been asked by City of London Police to seek waivers of immunity for the officials.
A spokeswoman said: "When requested to do so by the police, the FCO will seek waivers of immunity for individuals from foreign diplomatic missions or international organisations to allow the police to proceed with investigations. The officials hold immunity under the terms of the EBRD's Headquarters Agreement with the UK. The City of London Police wish to investigate alleged criminal activity by a number of officials. We cannot provide more detail."
The EBRD is owned by 61 countries and partly funded by the US and European Union. It uses investments to help develop market economies in formerly communist countries of eastern Europe and central Asia. All of the EBRD's owner countries have representatives on its board of directors.
Tory voters prefer Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to almost all their own Cabinet ministers, according to a new poll.
The Deputy Prime Minister rated below only William Hague when Conservatives were asked who they would like to take charge of the coalition if David Cameron departed abruptly.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hague was backed by 39% in the YouGov research for The Sun, followed by Mr Clegg on 17%.
No other Cabinet minister managed double figures, with Chancellor George Osborne attracting just 5%, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Home Secretary Theresa May tied on 3%.
When the question was posed to voters from across parties, Mr Clegg fared even better, trailing Mr Hague by a margin of 21% to 18%.
The results are a glimmer of hope for Mr Clegg after a period of dismal polling for his party which has seen its backing collapse as low as 7%. The figures will fuel speculation that, while traditional Lib Dems may have been turned off by policy compromises, the party could be picking up supporters from elsewhere.
YouGov interviewed 1,977 adults between January 16-17. The results were weighted to reflect the population.
Katie Price has confirmed she has separated from her cage-fighter husband Alex Reid.
The glamour girl issued a statement saying she married Reid "too quickly" and claimed he "changed from the man I fell in love with".
She said: "Alex and I have had a number of difficulties over the past few months.
"I accept that these were in part caused by my marrying too quickly - we all make mistakes and this was one.
"However, Alex changed from the man I fell in love with and some of his behaviour became difficult for me to understand and caused issues."
The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas just 11 months ago.
Price, 32, said she supported Reid's ambition to attract more media attention, but added that his desire to promote himself "contributed to our alienation".
The reality TV star, who divorced her first husband, Peter Andre, in 2009, also said the couple had failed to resolve their differences because "the issues between us are too deep rooted".
The statement went on to say Reid, 35, asked Price to delay announcing their split because he wanted more time to think, but subsequently posed for newspaper photographs with her son Junior in a gym.
Price denied reports she had discussed financial matters with her divorce lawyers, and said claims the announcement had been delayed so her film crew could capture Reid's reaction on camera were a "complete fabrication". She added: "I am deeply upset that my relationship with Alex has failed but I know it is the right thing for my children and I that we separate. My children are my absolute priority in this and they are being shielded from what is happening."
The majority of families are worried about inflation, with four out of 10 people saying they are too over-stretched to handle any increase in the cost of living, research has indicated.
The rising cost of essential items is the single biggest concern for families during the coming six months, with 57% citing it as a worry, followed by redundancy at 45% and unexpected expenses at 39%, according to insurer Aviva.
Over the longer term, one in five families is concerned about the impact of rising interest rates on their mortgage, with home loan repayments accounting for around a fifth of the typical family's expenditure.
The study found that many families are ill-equipped to handle a rise in outgoings, with 33% having no savings to fall back on and 40% not currently setting aside anything on a monthly basis.
Even among those families that do save, 25% have less than £2,000 deposited, meaning they would have very little to see them through an emergency.
At the same time, the average families owes £5,360 in unsecured debt, while they have around £89,000 outstanding on their mortgage.
Around 42% of single parents rely on state benefits to help them make ends meet and, unsurprisingly, 45% of this group said the changes the Government plans to make to benefits was their biggest concern during the coming five years.
Louise Colley, head of protection marketing at Aviva, said: "This report gives us an interesting insight into the financial issues facing modern families in the UK.
"Not surprisingly, in today's society, some families are struggling to make ends meet and 39% feel they cannot take on any additional financial obligations.
"While it is encouraging to see that most families are trying to save something every month, it is clear that other demands on their finances mean this amount remains below what is needed to guarantee a secure financial future."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen will lead the Irish Government into its dying days after defeating a plot to oust him.
But rebel Micheal Martin, who led the charge against the embattled Fianna Fail leader, quit his Cabinet post after a failed leadership challenge.
After a three-hour meeting, Mr Cowen survived in a secret ballot and reluctantly accepted the resignation of his Foreign Affairs Minister.
"It sends a very strong confirmation that there are consequences to the decision and the stand that he took," Mr Cowen said.
John Gormley, leader of junior coalition government party the Greens, will meet the Taoiseach tomorrow to discuss a timetable for the Finance Bill, outstanding legislation and the general election.
Voters expect to go to the polls in about three months, possibly March 25.
Although some backbenchers and one junior minister demanded change, the Taoiseach said he did not expect any further resignations. Government Chief Whip John Curran refused to detail the Taoiseach's margin of victory.
The Taoiseach, who spoke for about 30 minutes in the private meeting and delivered what supporters called a fiery address, said Mr Martin felt honour-bound to step down. He called on TDs to unite behind the decision.
Mr Martin fronted the challenge against the Taoiseach but elsewhere in the Cabinet, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was accused of an eleventh hour u-turn in favour of the Taoiseach and Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin refused to declare support.
The less-than-convincing backing was widely seen as a damaging blow and Mr Cowen will also be troubled by remaining rebel backbenchers left deeply disaffected by the leadership battle.
An ad for Coca-Cola's Vitamin Water has been banned for claiming that the drink is "nutritious" while containing up to five teaspoons of sugar, a watchdog said.
Three people complained that the poster for Vitamin Water was misleading for using the word "nutritious" in the catchline, while one of them understood each 500ml bottle contained more than 30g of sugar.
Coca-Cola said the product actually contained 23g of sugar per 500ml - "a significantly lower amount".
Defending the use of the word "nutritious", Coca-Cola said the product contained "nutritionally meaningful quantities of several nutrients including 25% of the recommended daily allowance of four B vitamins (B6, B12, niacin and pantothenic acid) along with 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C".
All varieties of the product contained the 23g of sugar per 500ml serving to deliver an energy density of 19 kcal/100 ml, which meant they qualified for the category of "low calorie" drinks under EU regulations, it added.
Upholding the complaints, the ASA said it considered that consumers would understand the word "nutritious" in the ad as a claim that Vitamin Water contained added ingredients that were needed by the body in order to stay healthy.
However, it added: "We considered that they would not expect a "nutritious" drink to have the equivalent of four or five teaspoons of added sugar.
"Because Vitamin Water contained about a quarter of a consumer's GDA (guideline daily amount) for sugar as well as the added vitamins, we considered that the description of Vitamin Water as "nutritious" was misleading."
It ruled that the ad should not appear again in its current form.
A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said: "We have always been completely transparent that the drinks contain 23g of sugar in each 500ml bottle, which has been prominently labelled on pack since launch. We do not believe that this detracts from the vitamin and mineral content of the drinks."
Proposals to move to five-year, fixed-term parliaments cleared the Commons amid criticisms the legislation amounted to "gerrymandering the constitution" designed purely to benefit the coalition.
The Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill gained its third reading by 320 votes to 234, a government majority of 86, after Nick Clegg told MPs the Bill represented a "simple but absolutely fundamental change".
It would strengthen Parliament, provide stability and move Britain towards the "new politics", the Deputy Prime Minister told MPs.
Mr Clegg said: "The reforms that this Bill contains are an essential part of the Government's drive to modernise Parliament.
"Currently the Prime Minister can, effectively, call an election on a whim. Something as important as the timing of an election should not be determined by the whims of prime ministers and the self interests of political parties. That is something I believe all parties agree on.
"This Bill proposes the introduction of fixed-term parliaments, bringing a new stability to our political system, and crucially ensuring that when Parliament does dissolve early, that is a matter for this House."
But he faced strong criticism from Labour with shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan telling MPs: "This Bill smacks of gerrymandering the constitution in favour of a particular coalition.
"Make no mistake - this Bill is not for the good of the country, it is for the good of the ministers opposite. What compounds this outrageous piece of attempted constitutional fixing is that they are trying to ram this through at breakneck speed.
"The only urgency is that backbenchers on both sides of the coalition parties are having second thoughts about this so the party managers need to quickly get them superglued together with no way out."
The Bill will see general elections take place on the first Thursday in May every five years from the next time voters go to the polls - which would be May 7 2015. Having completed its Commons stages the Bill will now go to the Lords for further consideration
A £560 million fund to encourage green transport initiatives is at the heart of a local transport White Paper from the Government.
As well as tackling climate change by cutting carbon emissions, the White Paper will also contain initiatives that will encourage growth in the economy.
Launching the White Paper, Transport Minister Norman Baker will stress the Government's belief that action at local level delivers gains at national level.
The document will also set out how local authorities will be given more freedom to decide on their own transport projects, cutting red tape and encouraging innovation in both urban and rural areas, and details the measures central Government will be taking to encourage walking, cycling and increased use of public transport.
Examples of existing innovative schemes which cut carbon and help jobs include the Wheels to Work scheme in the Yorkshire Dales which offers apprentices and trainees the loan of a motorcycle which helps them take up local job offers where they need transport.
Another example is the Carshare Devon scheme which has resulted in 150,000 trips shared per year, bringing carbon and congestion savings to the county.
The White Paper builds on other steps taken to hand back power to local communities, including the £1.4 billion regional growth fund and the new local enterprise partnerships which bring business and civic leaders together.
Mr Baker said: "A good transport system is vital in our efforts to deliver two key Government priorities: to help grow the economy and to reduce carbon emissions.
"Investment in local sustainable transport can deliver quick gains with both objectives, which is why, even in these difficult financial times, we are providing an unprecedented £560 million to take this agenda forward.
"We are clear you can have your green cake and eat it. Money invested wisely in local transport initiatives can both help the economy and cut carbon. It's a win-win for local people and for the country as a whole."
Inspectors are to review how an undercover police unit's operations are run and controlled following concerns over the use of a Pc to infiltrate environmental protest groups.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) launched its own review, saying it would look at "the operational accountability of undercover work" and "how intelligence activity is authorised in accordance with law, including consideration of the proportionality of covert tactics".
The National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), to which undercover officer Mark Kennedy belonged, is currently run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) with plans to transfer control to Scotland Yard.
Policing Minister Nick Herbert said it was clear something had "gone very wrong" with Mr Kennedy's operation and in future undercover units should not be run by Acpo.
The Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has also been asked to carry out an independent review of Mr Kennedy's deployment as an undercover officer.
The Soca inquiry, requested by Acpo, Nottinghamshire Police and the Met, will be led by Soca's director general Trevor Pearce, who spent five years as chairman of the Acpo national undercover working group, while HMIC's review will be led by Inspector Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Ex-Metropolitan Police Pc Mark Kennedy spent a reported seven years under cover posing as an environmental activist known as Mark "Flash" Stone.
Six protesters accused of planning to invade Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire claimed prosecutors dropped charges against them after Mr Kennedy offered to give evidence on their behalf.
Police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Scotland Yard are also investigating his role.
The latest unemployment figures will represent a "real test" of the Government's economic strategy, according to a think-tank.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) warned the risk of an employment double dip remained "very real" in the face of cuts in the public sector.
Unemployment will reach "new heights" unless jobs are created in private firms, even if the economy continues to expand.
Speaking before publication of the new figures, Tony Dolphin, ippr chief economist, said: "History suggests the UK economy needs to grow at an annual rate of more than 2% if unemployment is to fall.
"There is a real risk that growth will not be fast enough during 2011 and that unemployment will reach new highs for this economic downturn.
"Substantial cuts in public sector employment put enormous pressure on the private sector to create sufficient new jobs to prevent overall employment falling in 2011. While the prospect of a double dip into negative growth has receded, a double dip in employment is a real prospect.
"The Government's flagship Work Programme to get people back into employment will face considerable difficulties if it is launched at a time when job creation in the private sector is insufficient to offset job contraction in the public sector."
A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman said: "The coalition Government is focused on restoring the economy and supporting private sector jobs growth - 300,000 jobs have been created in the private sector over the past year.
"There are jobs available in the economy with Jobcentre Plus alone taking on over 70,000 new vacancies every week - that's around one million coming up through Jobcentre Plus every three months."
Unemployment increased to 2.5 million at the end of last year after a 35,000 jump in the quarter to October, a jobless rate of 7.9%.
Evidence is lacking to support widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among the "worried well", a study has found.
Statins are highly effective at reducing blood cholesterol levels and are routinely given to heart patients.
But some GPs also advocate their wider use for at-risk patients, and a number of healthy doctors take the pills themselves on a precautionary basis. Low dose statins are also available over-the-counter at pharmacies without prescription.
The new findings from a review of 14 statin trials found that the drugs did reduce death rates and helped prevent heart attacks and strokes.
However the authors, who sifted through data on more than 34,000 patients, concluded there was insufficient evidence to justify widespread use of statins in people with no previous history of heart disease.
They stressed the need for caution when balancing the risks and benefits of statins - and questioned the validity of drug company-sponsored trials.
Lead researcher Dr Fiona Taylor, from the Cochrane Heart Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "It is not as simple as just extrapolating the effects from studies in people who have a history of heart disease.
"This review highlights important shortcomings in our knowledge about the effects of statins in people who have no previous history of CVD (cardiovascular disease). The decision to prescribe statins in this group should not be taken lightly."
The findings are published in the Cochrane Library, which produces comprehensive reviews of drug trial evidence.
The researchers pointed out that all but one of the studies they looked at were industry-sponsored. Dr Taylor added: "We know that industry-sponsored trials are more likely to report favourable results for drugs versus placebos (inactive dummy drugs), so we have to be cautious about interpreting these results."
Consumer gadgets giant Apple has reported record sales and profits for its Christmas quarter after demand for iPads and iPhones topped expectations.
Net income in the three months to December 25 rose 78% to 6 billion dollars (£3.75 billion) and revenues climbed 71% to 26.7 billion dollars (£16.7 billion) as Apple's newest product, the iPad tablet computer, became one of the most popular gifts over the festive period.
Apple said it sold 7.3 million of the touch-screen, keyboard-less gadgets - about a million more than Wall Street analysts had been expecting.
The company also sold 16.2 million iPhones, or 86% more of the smartphones than a year ago.
Apple's shares climbed in after-hours trading in New York on Tuesday night, having slipped more than 2% in regular trading following news that chief executive Steve Jobs is taking a further medical leave of absence.
Despite the success of the iPad, which went on sale in April, Apple said it also sold 4.13 million Macs during the quarter, a 23% rise on a year ago.
It sold 19.5 million iPods, a drop of 7% on the end of 2009 but this was offset by an increase in the average amount that people spent on the music devices.
Apple also highlighted its growth in the Asia Pacific region as revenues from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan totalled 2.6 billion dollars (£1.6 billion), about 10% of its total revenues and four-times the level a year ago.
The final steps of murdered Joanna Yeates have been reconstructed in an attempt to jog memories and catch her killer.
The tragic 25-year-old's last journey, which started after she left work, was retraced by an actress and filmed for BBC's Crimewatch.
This came as police confirmed Miss Yeates did not eat a pizza she was seen buying on her way home, just before she went missing.
The reconstruction focused on what the landscape architect did after she left her firm, BDP, on December 17.
She went first to the Bristol Ram pub on Park Street in Bristol City centre, where she had Christmas drinks with work colleagues.
She spent around two hours socialising with her friends before leaving at around 8pm to make the 30-minute walk home to the ground floor flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, that she shared with her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27.
Seen on CCTV in a Waitrose supermarket at the Clifton Triangle, she then went to a Tesco Express in Clifton village where she bought a pizza. During the filming of the reconstruction, the actress playing Miss Yeates entered the Tesco Express on Regent Street in Clifton village.
She was wearing the same cream-coloured coat as Miss Yeates was wearing on the night she disappeared. She also had a black rucksack and was carrying two plastic bags - including a white bag, which held the bottles of cider she bought previously at Bargain Booze, and a black bag of which the contents have not been revealed, but which police say are not significant.
The Crimewatch reconstruction will be screened at 9pm next Wednesday (January 26).
Avon and Somerset Police said tests on Miss Yeates' body concluded she had not eaten the pizza before she was found dead on Christmas Day three miles from her flat. Detectives said Miss Yeates had made it home to her flat because her shoes, coat, mobile phone, purse and keys were found there - although the pizza, the wrapping and its box are still missing.
Tory voters prefer Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to almost all their own Cabinet ministers, according to a new poll.
The Deputy Prime Minister rated below only William Hague when Conservatives were asked who they would like to take charge of the coalition if David Cameron departed abruptly.
Foreign Secretary Mr Hague was backed by 39% in the YouGov research for The Sun, followed by Mr Clegg on 17%.
No other Cabinet minister managed double figures, with Chancellor George Osborne attracting just 5%, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Home Secretary Theresa May tied on 3%.
When the question was posed to voters from across parties, Mr Clegg fared even better, trailing Mr Hague by a margin of 21% to 18%.
The results are a glimmer of hope for Mr Clegg after a period of dismal polling for his party which has seen its backing collapse as low as 7%. The figures will fuel speculation that, while traditional Lib Dems may have been turned off by policy compromises, the party could be picking up supporters from elsewhere.
YouGov interviewed 1,977 adults between January 16-17. The results were weighted to reflect the population.
The Government is due to take the first step towards passing controversial legislation that will lead to more than 150 NHS organisations being scrapped.
The Health and Social Care Bill has attracted widespread criticism from unions and policy experts worried that the reforms are "too much too soon".
Under the plans, GPs will be handed the bulk of the £100 billion health budget to buy-in services for patients and a new NHS commissioning board will oversee the process.
All of England's 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) will be scrapped alongside 10 strategic health authorities (SHAs).
PCTs are already being streamlined into "clusters" as part of the transition, with the aim of getting them to work with GP practices and emerging "GP consortia".
The NHS commissioning board will formally establish consortia from April 2012 but experts have warned that PCT staff are already leaving in droves, leading to concerns about patient services in the interim.
Leaders of major health unions have also queried how the NHS will implement the changes at the same time as finding £15 to £20 billion in "efficiency savings" - something no major health service has ever managed.
Doctors' and nurses' leaders have joined unions in warning that plans to create greater commercial competition between the NHS and private firms are "potentially disastrous".
RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said today: "This seminal bill has the potential to transform the NHS, however, at the same time as the service is being tasked with saving £20 billion, we are concerned that the proposed reforms are too much too soon.
"We will be studying each and every clause of the bill to make sure that the reforms deliver better care for patients. Nurses will have a pivotal role to play in the proposed new NHS structure, and we call on the Government to listen to their concerns. It is nursing staff who spend the majority of their time directly with patients."
Campaigners are due to take part in a day of action against controversial plans to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
It comes as MPs prepare to vote on a motion, during an opposition day debate in Parliament, that calls for the Government to rethink its plans for the grant.
Ahead of this afternoon's debate, campaigners will hold a lobby in the House of Commons.
EMA teenagers from two London colleges will take part in specially-arranged lessons at Parliament during the morning, and students are to hand out "save EMA" biscuits outside Parliament.
The EMA is a weekly payment of between £10 and £30 given to the poorest 16 to 18-year-olds, living in households earning under £30,800 a year, to help them stay in education.
But the Government has announced the grant is to be withdrawn, and it is has already been closed to new applicants.
Campaigners are warning that scrapping the grant will affect thousands of youngsters who rely on the money to help fund their studies.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said the Government's decisions over the EMA have been a "complete shambles".
"First they pledged they would not axe it, now they say they will. They clearly have no understanding of how important the EMA is or the difference it makes to so many people's chances of improving themselves.
"Once again, they look horribly out of touch with the majority of people in the country - something highlighted by the revelation that the Education Secretary decided to axe the EMA despite never having visited a further education college."
The law on helping people to die must be changed because current guidelines have led to an "unregulated situation" where anyone can be assisted to die, campaigners have claimed.
Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton said the 1961 suicide act was "no longer fit for purpose" and new guidelines brought in after the case of right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy should be replaced with an updated law that clearly states which acts are criminal and which are not.
Her comments come as Lord Falconer's inquiry into assisted dying hears evidence on the ethical issues of the controversial debate.
At the moment, anyone acting with compassion to help end the life of someone who has decided they cannot go on is unlikely to face criminal charges and some people travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end their life.
Ms Wootton said: "What we've really got is an unregulated situation where anyone can go to Switzerland and anyone can be assisted to die in this country. What we want is a better law, a more up-to-date modern law which clearly states which acts are criminal and which acts are not.
"We believe regulating would make a much safer situation and make sure that laws are observed. That's the ideal situation for us."
The chief prosecutor in England and Wales issued new guidelines over assisted suicide in February after right-to-die campaigner Ms Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), took her case to the highest court in the country after the High Court and Court of Appeal held that it was for Parliament, not the courts, to change the law.
Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, said the motives of those assisting suicide would be at the centre of the decision over whether they should be prosecuted and that no further action had been taken in 20 cases considered for prosecution in the 18 months to December last year.
Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence in England and Wales, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but individual decisions on prosecution will be made on the circumstances in each case, Mr Starmer said.
Ms Purdy, from Undercliffe, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, wanted to know what would happen to her Cuban husband, Omar Puente, if he helped her travel abroad to end her life.
