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Nato considers ending Libya strikes

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Nato considers ending Libya strikes The seven-month Nato Libyan air campaign could end within days after the death of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi who was shot in the head. Nato chiefs will meet in Brussels later to consider halting the campaign after one of its airstrikes injured the tyrant by hitting the convoy in which he was travelling. There were conflicting reports about what happened next. Footage showed a bloodied Gaddafi being grabbed by rebel fighters who according to some accounts fatally shot him. However, acting prime minister Mahmoud Jibril claimed the former ruler had been killed in crossfire after he had been captured alive and was being driven away. He told reporters: "When the car was moving it was caught in crossfire between the revolutionaries and Gaddafi forces in which he was hit by a bullet in the head." A doctor present during Gaddafi's final moments said he died from two bullet wounds, one to the head and the other to the chest. Graphic pictures of the ruthless dictator's battered corpse were shown across the world as Libyans celebrated the end of his rule. With the fall of Bani Walid and Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown where he was hunted down on Thursday, the last major pockets of resistance to the new National Transitional Council appeared to have been overcome. Military commanders are expected to recommend to Nato that the mission should be wound up. It has cost British taxpayers an estimated £300 million. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC: "Nato will now meet to decide when the mission is complete and once we are satisfied that there is no further threat to the Libyan civilians and the Libyans are content Nato will then arrange to wind up the operation. "It has been hugely successful, it has given the Libyans the space to liberate their country from a 40-year tyranny. I think we should be enormously proud of what Nato has achieved." Libya's new leaders promised Gaddafi would be buried in Sirte later according to Islamic custom but a National transitional Council (NTC) official later said the event had been delayed due to a probe by the International Criminal Court. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for a probe, with a spokesman saying images of Gaddafi after capture - and later dead - are "very disturbing". The NTC has said it will declare victory in Benghazi on Saturday and prime minister Mahmoud Jibri will step down. Mr Jibri said: "The forming of the new government is subject to the NTC and I myself will not be part of that new government. I would like to call on Libyans to put aside the grudges and only say one word, which is Libya, Libya, Libya."

Irishman jailed over terror weapons

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Irishman jailed over terror weapons A brother of one of the men blamed for the Omagh bomb atrocity has been jailed for 12 years for trying to buy weapons and explosives in Lithuania. Irishman Michael Campbell was arrested in an undercover operation in the Baltic state of Lithuania after handing over cash to buy a sniper rifle, detonators and timers for the Real IRA. The 39-year-old was convicted by Judge Arunas Kisielus after a two-year trial in the city of Vilnius. He was arrested in January 2008 following the operation involving the British, Irish and Lithuanian intelligence agencies, which believe the explosives would have been used to mount a terror campaign in Northern Ireland and on the British mainland. Prosecutors are still seeking the extradition of his brother Liam Campbell and Brendan McGuigan from the Irish Republic. Liam Campbell is seeking to go before the Supreme Court in London to challenge a civil court ruling which held him liable for the 1998 Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. Campbell was arrested after a six-year sting orchestrated by MI5. Video and intercepted communications showed he paid 6,000 euros (£5,200) for high-grade explosives, grenade launchers, detonators, AK-47s and a special assassin's rifle, to Lithuanian agents posing as arms dealers. He was charged with supporting the splinter group by attempting to smuggle firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices from Lithuania to Ireland. Campbell - from the Upper Faughart area near Dundalk, Co Louth in the Irish Republic, close to the border with Northern Ireland - maintained his innocence and claimed he was the victim of entrapment. Irmantas Mikelionis, chief prosecutor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigations Department of the Prosecutor General's Office, said the explosives could have been used for bombing in London. "If we failed to stop Mr Campbell, we would put in danger the lives of innocent people," he said. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, said Campbell's conviction was another example of what can come from the high levels of co-operation between countries over terrorism. "I have no doubt that this will have dealt a blow to RIRA but we are not complacent and we remain determined to do all that we can to bear down on those who are the enemies of the whole community throughout the United Kingdom."

Blair 'ready to help Spanish peace'

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Blair 'ready to help Spanish peace' Tony Blair stands ready to help cement the peace in Spain after Basque separatist group Eta announced it was laying down its arms, he said. Talks like those in Northern Ireland are needed to consider issues such as decommissioning and the handling of prisoners, the former prime minister said. Eta's historic announcement marked an end to four decades of bombings and shootings in which more than 800 people have been killed. Mr Blair, who now has a central role in attempts to achieve peace in the Middle East as the Quartet envoy, said: "As in Northern Ireland, it is now necessary to address the consequences of the conflict by talks on decommissioning weapons, demobilising Eta, dealing with prisoners and exiles, and achieving security normalisation." He said peace in Spain is crucial to the wider international community. "I stand ready to help personally in any way I can," he said. "The last armed confrontation in Europe is finally over. We should all welcome this and work together to make peace irreversible."

St Paul's closes doors over protest

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St Paul's closes doors over protest St Paul's Cathedral has been forced to close its doors to the public because of the anti-capitalist protest taking place outside. The Dean of St Paul's, the Rev Graeme Knowles, said the decision to close the cathedral was made with "heavy hearts". He said the decision was taken after church officials received a report by health and safety officials. The Dean asked the activists, who have occupied a makeshift campsite outside the main entrance of the house of worship since Saturday, to move on. The cathedral has not been closed since the Second World War, the Dean said. "We have a legal obligation to keep visitors safe and healthy," he added. Earlier in the week, a church official said the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest was causing a "risk to the life of the cathedral". Mr Knowles, who has been forced to cancel a visit to America, said the decision was "unprecedented". He said: "I have written an open letter to the protesters this afternoon advising them that we have no lawful alternative but to close St Paul's Cathedral until further notice. "Health, safety and fire officers have pointed out that access to the cathedral is seriously limited. With so many stoves and fires and lots of different types of fuel around, there is a very clear fire hazard. "Then there is the public health aspect which indeed speaks for itself. The dangers relate not just to cathedral staff and to visitors but are a potential hazard to those encamped themselves. "The decision to close St Paul's Cathedral is unprecedented in modern times. We have done this with a very heavy heart, but it is simply not possible to fulfil our day to day obligations to worshippers, visitors and pilgrims in current circumstances."

£100 fee for late paper tax returns

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£100 fee for late paper tax returns Taxpayers filing their self-assessment forms on paper face a £100 penalty if they fail to do so before the end of the month, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warned. Changes were introduced this year to encourage more people to file their returns online and tackle a hard core of taxpayers who send their paperwork in late. Those who hand in paper returns after the October 31 deadline will be hit with the new penalty regime, even if there is no tax to pay or the tax due is paid on time. Further late-filing penalties also apply after three, six and 12 months, HMRC said. But those who send in their tax returns online have an extra three months' grace, as the deadline is January 31 next year. Those who process returns online can also enjoy a quicker service and have their tax calculated automatically. Most taxpayers using the self-assessment system, which covers the self-employed and those with multiple incomes, have switched to filing online. Out of around nine million people in self-assessment, some 6.9 million filed their returns online last year. The Revenue's rules previously stated that a penalty could not exceed any tax due, but this changed in April when a new schedule of penalties was introduced. The service has said these are aimed at a hard core of taxpayers who regularly sent their paperwork in late, causing a disproportionate administrative headache. Those who send a paper return after this month's deadline will not avoid the initial £100 penalty by subsequently filing online, HMRC warned. To register for HMRC's online services go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/online/.

Australia PM in hint over republic

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Australia PM in hint over republic Australia's prime minister appeared to suggest that her country may yet become a republic in the coming years as she praised the Queen for a lifetime of service. Julia Gillard told the monarch during a reception staged in her honour that it was not known where Australia's future as a nation lay but it remained a "country on the move". The politician praised the monarch for her "long, eventful and greatly productive" life that had remained true to the pledge she made in Cape Town 64 years ago when, as Princess Elizabeth, she devoted herself to the service of the British people and the Commonwealth. In response the Queen paid tribute to the economic, social and industrial strides Australia had made since her first visit in 1954, and how it played its part on the world stage making significant contributions to peace-keeping efforts. Every element of Australian society from MPs and High Commissioners to charity chiefs and gallery directors were invited to Parliament House for the reception hosted by Ms Gillard in tribute to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. During the evening the prime minister said in her speech: "Your majesty, we do not know where Australia's path of nationhood may lead in the times to come. We are, as you once so rightly said, 'a country on the move and will go on being so'. "But we know this for a certainty: Your journey of service will continue, keeping faith with the pledge made in Cape Town so many years ago." Ms Gillard is in favour of Australia becoming a republic and speaking ahead of last summer's general election, the politician stated the death of the Queen would be an "appropriate point" for the country to end the tradition of having a British monarch as head of state. The Queen said in her speech that Australia had "flourished and achieved excellence on the world stage". She also praised the sacrifices made by Australians fighting in Afghanistan. She said: "Their valour has been well recognised, in particular with the awarding of the Victoria Cross to two servicemen for outstanding bravery in Afghanistan. I also share the grief felt by those families, friends and colleagues of the 29 service personnel who have been killed during this conflict."

Tabak denies sex thrill in killing

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Tabak denies sex thrill in killing Joanna Yeates's killer has been accused of strangling her for sexual thrills. Vincent Tabak denied claims he was aroused and gratified by throttling the 25-year-old. Tabak, 33, said he was attracted to Miss Yeates but said sex was not on his mind as he attacked her. He told a jury Miss Yeates had been cheery and happy while flirting with him before the attack. Giving evidence for a second day at Bristol Crown Court, he was asked by prosecution QC Nigel Lickley whether his motivation in killing Miss Yeates was sexual. "What's the difficulty in accepting it is sexual?" the prosecutor asked Tabak. "Is it because there are other sexual elements to what happened?" Tabak replied: "There were no other sexual elements." Mr Lickley asked: "Is the holding of her throat sexual in your mind? Did you derive sexual gratification from holding her throat?" Tabak replied: "Definitely not." The prosecutor asked: "Were you sexually aroused when you went to kiss her on the mouth?" Tabak replied: "No ... I felt attracted to her, yes." Mr Lickley went on ask Tabak whether he thought she was attracted to him "because she made a comment about her cat getting into the wrong place". Tabak said: "She was cheery, happy ... She made the comment (about the cat)." The Dutchman, who denies murder but admits manslaughter, added: "We were standing close to each other, she invited me in for a drink. She made a flirty comment. I thought she was flirtatious."

Student loans office evacuated

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Student loans office evacuated A Student Loans Company office was evacuated after a member of staff opened an envelope and white powder came out, police said. Emergency services were called to the firm's offices in Darlington, County Durham, when an employee reported feeling unwell. Durham Police said the staff member was "recovering well" following medical treatment at the scene. The suspect powder was found in an A4 envelope at the company's offices in McMullen Road. "When opened by a member of staff, white powder emerged," a Durham Police spokeswoman said. "A member of staff then reported feeling unwell. "The premises have been evacuated as a precaution while an investigation is carried out into the origin of the envelope and the nature of the substance. "The member of staff is recovering well after medical treatment at the scene. "The premises will remain closed until the incident is resolved." Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said: "This incident is under control and I must reassure people that we are not aware at this stage of any risk to the wider public."

Osborne's austerity drive bolstered

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Osborne's austerity drive bolstered Chancellor George Osborne's austerity campaign was boosted after new figures showed the Government remained in sight of its fiscal targets. A year after Mr Osborne detailed his far-reaching spending cuts, economists said there was still a chance the £122 billion of borrowings forecast by the Government's tax and spending watchdog for 2011/12 could be met. The outlook follows better-than-expected figures for September, with borrowings of £14.1 billion better than the £15.4 billion seen a year ago, while August's estimate was also revised lower by around £2.2 billion. The updates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) meant the Government has lopped £7.5 billion from borrowings in the first half of the year. To match the March forecast for a £122 billion deficit, the fall over the next six months will have to be slightly bigger at £7.8 billion. North Sea oil tax rises and the delayed impact of the 50p income tax rate may help meet this target, but experts in the City warned that the outlook for social security spending as unemployment rises and the impact of the current economic uncertainty would put strain on current fiscal forecasts. Samuel Tombs, UK economist at Capital Economics, said September's figure was around £1 billion less than the City had been expecting and meant borrowing was now broadly on track to meet the full-year forecast of £122 billion. He added: "Nonetheless, we doubt that these figures fully reflect the recent slowdown in the pace of economic growth and therefore we continue to expect the trend in borrowing to deteriorate in the second half of the fiscal year." Treasury coffers were boosted during September after tax receipts rose 4.2% to £40 billion, boosted by the 20% rate of VAT. Spending on social benefits and debt interest was up on last year, but other spending by Government departments - mostly on public services - fell. A Treasury spokesman said: "One year on from the spending review, and despite the global economic turbulence stemming from the crisis of confidence in the eurozone, today's figures show the Government's progress in delivering its deficit reduction plan." The Office for Budget Responsibility is due to to revise its forecasts on November 29.

£1m-plus home sales near 2007 level

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£1m-plus home sales near 2007 level Sales of homes worth at least £1 million have reached their highest level since the peak of the housing market in 2007, Lloyds TSB has said. Britain saw 3,375 sales of such properties in the first half of this year, an increase of 10% on the same period in 2010 and the largest total since the first part of 2007, when there were 3,680 sales. The strength at the top end of the market was in marked contrast to home sales generally, which saw a 9% decline in the first half of this year. Suren Thiru, Lloyds TSB housing economist, said: "Strong demand from wealthy cash rich buyers both in the UK and from overseas, as well as limited supply of such properties, has helped to boost the level of activity at the very top end of the housing market." London drove the rise in luxury sales, accounting for 79% of the total increase. Almost two-thirds of million pound-plus home sales in the first six months of 2011 were in London. The capital saw 2,163 sales in the first half of this year compared with 1,926 in the same period in 2010. Kensington and Chelsea was the biggest luxury property hotspot, with 461 such sales in the first half of 2011, while Westminster enjoyed 375 and Hammersmith and Fulham had 198, coming second and third respectively. The North East as a whole enjoyed the highest percentage increase in luxury sales, with 13 top end homes sold in 2011, compared with three in the first half of 2010. Despite the boost to the luxury market, million pound sales made up just 1.1% of total sales for the first half of the year and even in London they only accounted for 5.7%, Lloyds TSB said. The figures were taken from the Land Registry and Registers of Scotland.

Many too poor to bury their family

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Many too poor to bury their family Financially pressed families cannot afford to bury loved ones, and often taxpayers have to foot the bill, a new report has found. Research by the Local Government Association (LGA) found that councils across England and Wales funded almost 3,000 funerals last year, largely because families could not afford burial costs. Under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, when someone dies outside of a hospital and there is no next of kin or anyone else to foot the bill, the funeral arrangements and costs fall on councils. The report said 52% of councils reported increases in numbers of families claiming not to have enough money to pay for funerals. Councils spent £2,110,000 on funerals, with the average cost per funeral being £950. Most of the councils involved in the study blamed the Government's "outdated" and "confusing" funeral payments service for letting families down. Councillor David Rogers, chairman of the LGA's community wellbeing board, said the Government's complex 25-page form stopped families from claiming grants. He said the process was slow and often failed families burdened with having to pay costs up-front. "The last thing a grieving relative needs is extra stress over whether they're going to be able to pay for and organise the funeral of their loved one," Mr Rogers said. "There is a specific grant available to alleviate that situation, but it's so outdated, complex and confusing that it often prevents people getting the support they're entitled to." Mr Rogers said the funeral payment covered burial or cremation costs but only provided up to £700 for other expenses, including funeral director costs. He said this had not been updated since 2003.

Murdoch makes £1m Milly donation

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Murdoch makes £1m Milly donation Rupert Murdoch said he has donated £1 million to charities chosen by Milly Dowler's family to underscore his regret for the "abhorrent" hacking of the murdered schoolgirl's phone. News International confirmed it was paying the Dowler family £2 million in settlement of their civil claim over the illegal interception of Milly's voicemail messages by a private investigator working for the News of the World after she went missing in 2002. Mr Murdoch is making a further personal donation to be divided between six causes selected by the teenager's family. The News Corporation chairman and chief executive said: "When I met with the Dowlers in July, I expressed how deeply sorry I was for the hurt we had caused this family. "The behaviour that the News of the World exhibited towards the Dowlers was abhorrent and I hope this donation underscores my regret for the company's role in this awful event. "I also hope that through the personal donation something positive can be done in memory of their daughter." The Dowler family added: "Nothing that has been agreed will ever bring back Milly or undo the traumas of her disappearance and the horrendous murder trial earlier this year. "The only way that a fitting tribute could be agreed was to ensure that a very substantial donation to charity was made in Milly's memory. We hope that projects will be undertaken so that some good can come from this." Mr Murdoch's £1 million will be split between charities that represent causes close to Milly and those that provide support to other victims of crime. They are Shooting Star Chase, Child Victims of Crime, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Hampton Pool Trust, Brain Tumour UK and Cancer Research.

Jo 'strangled for sexual thrills'

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Jo 'strangled for sexual thrills' Joanna Yeates's killer has faced allegations that he strangled her for sexual thrills. Vincent Tabak, who denies murder but admits manslaughter, denied claims he had been aroused as he was asked to imagine his victim's last moments. Miss Yeates's relatives watched in a hushed courtroom as he closed his eyes for 20 seconds - the time he claims it took to throttle her. She may have been home for only a few minutes before Tabak was at her door with her cat, Bernard, the prosecution put to him. On his second day in the witness box, Tabak, 33, said he was attracted to Miss Yeates, but claimed sex was not on his mind. He told Bristol Crown Court Miss Yeates had been cheery and happy while flirting with him before the attack. Prosecution QC Nigel Lickley then asked him: "What's the difficulty in accepting it is sexual? Is it because there are other sexual elements to what happened?" Tabak replied: "There were no other sexual elements." Mr Lickley asked: "Is the holding of her throat sexual in your mind? Did you derive sexual gratification from holding her throat?" Tabak replied: "Definitely not." Mr Lickley asked: "Were you sexually aroused when you were holding her throat with your hand over her mouth?" The defendant replied: "Definitely not." Tabak admitted he had misled police as a search was launched for her body and apologised for raising suspicions about landlord Christopher Jefferies. "I am sorry I dragged him into this," he told the jury. He said he was "in a state of panic, turmoil" after dumping her body on a snowy verge in Failand, Somerset, on December 17. He said: "I was exhausted that evening after moving Joanna's body." The court was adjourned until Monday.

Referendum 'options' considered

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Referendum 'options' considered Scots could get more than one option when they vote in a referendum on independence, First Minister Alex Salmond will say. Mr Salmond will put the focus on the constitution when he addresses the Scottish National Party's annual conference in Inverness. The conference is the first since the party's landslide victory in May's Holyrood elections, with the SNP now forming a majority government. That means SNP ministers will be able to bring about an independence referendum, something they failed to do when the party formed a minority administration. In his speech to the conference, Mr Salmond will make clear the Scottish Government's willingness to include a second option of 'devo-max' - increased powers for Holyrood short of full independence - on the ballot paper. The SNP leader will describe this as being a "legitimate proposal". However, he will go on to argue for independence, describing the 'devo-max' option as "not good enough". The First Minister will say: "Fiscal responsibility, financial freedom, real economic powers is a legitimate proposal. It would allow control of our own resources, competitive business tax and fair personal taxation. All good, all necessary, but not good enough." Mr Salmond will add that under this scenario "Trident missiles would still be on the River Clyde, we could still be forced to spill blood in illegal wars such as Iraq, and we would still be excluded from the councils of Europe and the world". No date has been set for the vote but it is expected to take place towards the end of this five-year parliamentary term. Labour's Scottish leader Iain Gray claimed the inclusion of a 'devo-max' option in the independence referendum was "an admission by the Nationalists that devolution does work, most Scots support it, and that the SNP are now trying to move away from separation".

Snap up Libya contracts, firms told

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Snap up Libya contracts, firms told British firms have been urged by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to head to Libya to secure contracts for its reconstruction. With the military campaign all but over after the death of Muammar Gaddafi and the defeat of what appears to have been the last pockets of resistance, Mr Hammond said sales directors should be "packing their suitcases" for Libya. His comments came as Nato prepared to wind down air and sea operations after seven months of air strikes to protect the civilian population from Gaddafi's forces. The body of the ousted dictator, who was captured and killed on Thursday by forces loyal to the revolutionary government, was being kept in a meat store in Misrata while the National Transitional Council (NTC) decided what to do with it. The United Nations called for an investigation into Gaddafi's death amid concerns that he was executed shortly after being captured in his home town of Sirte. Mr Hammond said the Nato mission - in which British forces have flown 3,010 sorties since March - was now "pretty much complete", although he cautioned that there could be "some little pocket (of resistance) somewhere". Trade minister Lord Green has met British businesses to discuss potential opportunities in Libya in the wake of the conflict. There are expectations that the NTC will look favourably on UK firms after Britain's strong military commitment in support of the anti-Gaddafi rebels. Mr Hammond said: "Of course I would expect British companies to be, even today, British sales directors, practically packing their suitcases and looking to get out to Libya and take part in the reconstruction of that country as soon as they can." The Defence Secretary said the mission, despite initial misgivings in some quarters when Prime Minister David Cameron committed Britain to it, had been "hugely successful". "It has given the Libyans the space to liberate their country from a 40-year tyranny. I think we should be enormously proud of what Nato has achieved," he said.

Funeral for Corrie star Driver

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Funeral for Corrie star Driver Hundreds of friends and colleagues of Coronation Street favourite Betty Driver will join her family at her funeral. Stars past and present from the ITV1 soap will pay their respects to the much-loved veteran actress who played the role of Betty Williams (Turpin) for 42 years. She became the longest-serving barmaid in the history of the Rovers Return and her trademark lunchtime hot-pot became a famed dish. Driver, 91, died on October 15 after being in hospital for the previous six weeks. Former colleagues from her days as a big band singer and film star will also attend the service at St Ann's Church in Manchester city centre, which is expected to be a celebration of her life. She appeared in more than 2,800 episodes of Coronation Street and was made an MBE in the Millennium New Year's Honours list. Last year, when the soap celebrated its 50th anniversary, she insisted she would never retire from the show. She said at the time: "I love working. I can't retire, I won't retire - I never, ever will." Driver had originally auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 1964 after a 36-year-career in radio, television and the stage. She was then persuaded to come out of retirement in 1969 to audition for the role of Betty instead. Following her death, her co-stars on the soap paid tribute to "a wonderful actress and remarkable woman". Julie Goodyear, fellow barmaid Bet Lynch, said: "We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend, and a very dear friend." William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, said: "I loved Betty dearly, she was not only a colleague, she was a friend and godmother to my son James. She will be missed in the Street but she will be missed more so as a warm and loving person."

Nato poised to end Libya operations

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Nato poised to end Libya operations Nato is set to end its seven-month campaign in Libya at the end of the month, the alliance's secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has said. Following the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the fall of his final stronghold at Sirte, Mr Rasmussen said the international military mission would start winding down. "We have taken a preliminary decision to end Operation Unified Protector on October 31," he said after a meeting of the alliance's governing body, the North Atlantic Council. "We will take a formal decision early next week." Air patrols are set to continue over Libya during the next 10 days as a "precautionary measure" to ensure the stability of the new regime. They will gradually be reduced in coming days if there are no further outbreaks of fighting with forces loyal to the ousted dictator. Mr Rasmussen hailed the success of the Nato mission in which most of the aerial sorties were carried out by British and French warplanes. "It shows that freedom is the biggest force in the world," he said. In all Nato warplanes have flown about 26,000 sorties, including over 9,600 strike missions. They destroyed about 5,900 military targets, including Libya's air defences and over 1,000 tanks, vehicles and guns, as well as Gaddafi's command and control networks. Mr Rasmussen said it was up to the new National Transitional Council (NTC) government in Libya to decide whether to mount an investigation into the circumstances of Gaddafi's death. "With regards to Gaddafi, I would expect the new authorities in Libya to live up fully to the basic principles of rule of law and human rights, including full transparency," he said. He said Nato had no intention of leaving any residual force in or near Libya. "We expect to close down the operation," he said.

MP quizzes Murdoch over 'hacking'

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MP quizzes Murdoch over 'hacking' Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has been challenged over alleged computer hacking at a News Corporation shareholders meeting. Labour MP Tom Watson fired questions at the 80-year-old company chairman during the 90-minute gathering in Los Angeles. He asked Mr Murdoch if he knew that a person who had left prison was hired by News Corporation and hacked the computer of a former army intelligence officer. Mr Murdoch said he was not aware of this but pledged to investigate, saying: "I promise you absolutely that we will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of this and put it right." Mr Watson, who went to the shareholders meeting representing shares owned by the labour group AFL-CIO, has played a key part in the Select Committee probe into phone hacking. He revealed no further details about who was implicated in the alleged computer hacking, but told Mr Murdoch: "News Corp is potentially facing a Mulcaire II." This referred to private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was employed by the News of the World and was jailed along with the tabloid's royal editor Clive Goodman for intercepting the voicemails of royal aides. Mr Murdoch and his sons were re-elected to the company's board of directors and a proposal to oust him as chairman was rejected. The intervention by Mr Watson came as Mr Murdoch said he donated £1 million to charities chosen by Milly Dowler's family to underscore his regret for the "abhorrent" hacking of the murdered schoolgirl's phone. On top of Mr Murdoch's private donation, News International confirmed it was paying the Dowler family £2 million in settlement of their civil claim over the illegal interception of Milly's voicemail messages after she went missing in 2002. Mr Murdoch said: "When I met with the Dowlers in July, I expressed how deeply sorry I was for the hurt we had caused this family. The behaviour that the News of the World exhibited towards the Dowlers was abhorrent and I hope this donation underscores my regret for the company's role in this awful event. I also hope that through the personal donation something positive can be done in memory of their daughter."

Osborne: EU crisis talks 'critical'

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Osborne: EU crisis talks 'critical' A round of weekend negotiations in Brussels will be "critical" in settling the eurozone crisis, Chancellor George Osborne has said. Before leaving for Brussels for talks with fellow EU finance ministers, he said resolving the crisis would be a boost for growth, not just in the eurozone but in the UK and across the world. Mr Osborne is attending a meeting before Sunday's summit of all 27 EU leaders amid growing concern that an answer to the economic crisis in Europe is slipping from the grasp of the member states. A crunch summit was planned for last Monday, but German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced a postponement after realising they were far from agreement on key issues such as a massive reinforcement of an existing bailout fund for struggling eurozone countries, and a major recapitalisation of European banks to help them withstand economic shocks. A sense of indecision and confusion worsened on Thursday night when Paris and Berlin announced that another summit would be held in Brussels next Wednesday - indicating no results were likely from Sunday's meeting. On Friday night, eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels. Now all 27 EU finance ministers, including Mr Osborne, will gather for more talks. On Sunday morning, EU leaders take the stage - and then eurozone countries meet again to consider the conclusions. Mr Osborne said: "The coming days will be critical for resolving the crisis in the eurozone. I am convinced of everyone's commitment to this. A resolution to the eurozone crisis would be the biggest boost to growth in Britain and around the world." Prime Minister David Cameron arrives in Brussels early on Sunday for the half-day summit, although reinforcement of an existing eurozone bailout fund will only involve the 17 eurozone countries. Recapitalisation of Europe's banks, on the other hand, will involve all 27 member states. Opposition leader Ed Miliband said Mr Cameron should demand that all 27 member states are present at Wednesday's meeting. Currently the Prime Minister plans to attend a Commonwealth summit in Australia that day. Mr Miliband told The Guardian: "David Cameron should be banging on the door to maintain British influence. When all the other leading EU nations meet to thrash out a desperately needed deal, we have a prime minister who is going to be on the other side of the world. It is a complete abdication."

Protest forces closure of cathedral

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Protest forces closure of cathedral The doors of St Paul's Cathedral will remain shut to members of the public as an anti-capitalism protest outside continues. The Dean of St Paul's, the Rev Graeme Knowles, has asked the activists, who have occupied a makeshift campsite outside the main entrance of the house of worship since last Saturday, to move on. But despite the drastic closure, the protesters voted to stay in the camp. The Dean said the historic cathedral was forced to close for health and safety reasons adding that the last time it was forced to close was most likely during the Second World War. He said: "The decision to close St Paul's Cathedral is unprecedented in modern times. We have done this with a very heavy heart, but it is simply not possible to fulfil our day to day obligations to worshippers, visitors and pilgrims in current circumstances. "I hope that the protesters will understand the issues we are facing, recognise that their voice has been legitimately heard, and withdraw peacefully." Some of the issues raised by independent health and safety and fire officers included the presence of unknown quantities of flammable liquids, smoking and drinking in tented areas, compromised fire exits and public health issues such as sanitation and food hygiene. However, the Occupy London Stock Exchange group said they have thus far co-operated with fire authorities and said they will seek clarification about the health and safety issues. A wedding, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, will still go ahead, the Dean said. Outside, the activists said they would throw the couple a party. On Friday, the campers decided that they would not leave the vicinity "for the moment".
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