David Cameron was pressing for progress on a range of human rights issues as he embarked on a second day of summit meetings with fellow Commonwealth leaders amid continued disputes over key issues.
Piracy, forced marriage, calls for the 54-member body to appoint a rights commissioner and pressure on Sri Lanka to properly investigate war crimes trials were among items on his agenda.
Mr Cameron, attending his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) since entering Downing Street, warned it must work harder to uphold basic values if it is to remain relevant.
Leaders will spend most of the day locked in discussion at a retreat in Perth, Australia's Kings Park as they seek agreement on proposals to ensure the organisation has a 21st-century role.
Mr Cameron said on Friday that he expected "good progress" to be made - including on developing a "charter" of rights and freedoms.
That was one of 100-plus recommendations put forward by an Eminent Persons Groups - including former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind - which examined the challenges facing the Commonwealth.
Others which are proving more problematic are the appointment of a independent commissioner for the rule of law and human rights and a call for all member states to repeal laws banning homosexuality.
"I think there is very strong support for the key elements of the Eminent Persons Group," he said. "The Commonwealth is a great organisation, a third of the world's population, 54 countries across six continents, a really great network, but it is a network that must have strong values.
"The Eminent Persons Group report will strengthen those values particularly by having a charter setting out the rights, the freedoms, the democracy that we all believe in, and I think that is important.
"I think we are going to make good progress here in Perth."
David Cameron was pressing for progress on a range of human rights issues as he embarked on a second day of summit meetings with fellow Commonwealth leaders amid continued disputes over key issues.
Piracy, forced marriage, calls for the 54-member body to appoint a rights commissioner and pressure on Sri Lanka to properly investigate war crimes trials were among items on his agenda.
Mr Cameron, attending his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) since entering Downing Street, warned it must work harder to uphold basic values if it is to remain relevant.
Leaders will spend most of the day locked in discussion at a retreat in Perth, Australia's Kings Park as they seek agreement on proposals to ensure the organisation has a 21st-century role.
Mr Cameron said on Friday that he expected "good progress" to be made - including on developing a "charter" of rights and freedoms.
That was one of 100-plus recommendations put forward by an Eminent Persons Groups - including former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind - which examined the challenges facing the Commonwealth.
Others which are proving more problematic are the appointment of a independent commissioner for the rule of law and human rights and a call for all member states to repeal laws banning homosexuality.
"I think there is very strong support for the key elements of the Eminent Persons Group," he said. "The Commonwealth is a great organisation, a third of the world's population, 54 countries across six continents, a really great network, but it is a network that must have strong values.
"The Eminent Persons Group report will strengthen those values particularly by having a charter setting out the rights, the freedoms, the democracy that we all believe in, and I think that is important.
"I think we are going to make good progress here in Perth."
The parents of Joanna Yeates have spoken of their regret that Vincent Tabak will not hang after he was found guilty of her murder.
Instead they hope the rest of his life would be "a living hell".
The killer was jailed for life after a jury took three days to find him guilty of throttling the 25-year-old.
It was revealed after the trial that Tabak was obsessed with images of women being strangled during sex. Jurors were not told how videos found on his laptops had chilling parallels with the way Miss Yeates died. His pornography depicted blonde women being throttled during sex or bundled into car boots. Two weeks before murdering the landscape architect, he paid for sex with a prostitute during a business trip to Los Angeles.
The judge said it would be inappropriate to include Tabak's previous sexual perversions in the trial. But despite being blocked from hearing of his depraved sex secrets, jurors found he was a liar who had been aroused during the attack.
Tabak, 33, showed no emotion as he was found guilty and then jailed for life after Mr Justice Field condemned him as "wicked".
Miss Yeates's parents David and Teresa - who were too distraught to attend court on Friday - said in a statement how they "regret that capital punishment is not a possible option". Her relatives added: "The best we can hope for him is that he spends the rest of his life incarcerated where his life is a living hell, being the recipient of all evils, deprivations and degradations that his situation can provide."
Tabak murdered his next-door neighbour before spinning a web of lies and deceit to cover his tracks. He strangled Miss Yeates in a violent confrontation at her flat in Clifton, Bristol, on December 17 last year.
He scoured the internet for clues to how he could get off the hook before and after her snow-covered body was found by dog walkers on Christmas Day.
Jailing him for life with a 20-year minimum term at Bristol Crown Court, Mr Justice Field attacked him for "a dreadful, evil act committed against a vulnerable unsuspecting young woman in her own home". He added: "That wicked act ended the life of a young woman who was entitled to expect a life of happiness and fulfilment."
More than two thirds of the public wants the coalition to claw back powers from Brussels, according to a poll.
And a majority would support refusing to sign any new European treaty unless that happens.
The research, carried out by Harris Interactive for the Daily Mail, comes after David Cameron suffered a huge rebellion by his own backbenchers over calls for a referendum on EU membership.
The Prime Minister is now under huge pressure to return powers to Westminster as part of the process for agreeing an expected new EU treaty.
However, he faces strong resistance from his Liberal Democrat deputy Nick Clegg who does not believe the balance with Brussels needs to be radically changed.
Whitehall officials are said to have been ordered to draw up an assessment of the "risks and opportunities" that could arise for Britain as a result of a new treaty.
Harris Interactive found that 49% of people were in favour of a referendum on EU membership, while 23 of those interviewed believed powers needed to be returned to the UK, compared to 13% did not. Among Conservatives the margin widened to 88.
Just under half thought negotiations should start now, but 32% said they should wait until after the eurozone crisis eases.
The most popular areas for repatriation of powers were immigration (86%), human rights law (71%) and employment law (65%).
Some 54% said Britain should not agree to a new EU treaty until progress is made.
A medal for local heroes scrapped by John Major in 1993 as part of his bid to make the honours system "classless" is to be revived, David Cameron has announced.
Hundreds of British Empire Medals (BEM) will be awarded from next year, as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration, in what will be seen as a fresh initiative in the Prime Minister's Big Society initiative.
Mr Cameron said too few individuals making a real difference in their areas were receiving MBEs - the honour which his predecessor as Conservative premier hoped they would receive instead.
First established in 1917, the BEM was specifically designed for those who "by virtue of their rank" did not qualify for an MBE and was seen as a working-class honour.
Mr Major, who has since been knighted, decided that the distinction had "become increasingly tenuous" and that he wanted more local people to receive their awards from the Queen herself - BEMs being awarded instead by lords lieutenant of the relevant county or local authority on her behalf.
The revived honour will also be bestowed by the lords lieutenant although recipients will be entitled to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party with others whose work has been recognised.
Around 300 per year will be bestowed, although the number is expected to be lower in the first year.
"I am delighted that we are going to start using the British Empire Medal again," said Mr Cameron, who is in Perth, Australia, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
"The medal will be handed out in recognition of the dedication and hard work so many provide to their communities.
"At the moment, the number of people being honoured for the services they provide to their local communities is disproportionately low. I am determined to change that and redress the balance."
The Royal Mail has received over 80,000 applications for 18,000 seasonal Christmas jobs, thousands more than last year, new figures have showed.
The postal group said it was delighted with the strong response to fill the temporary positions, which support the 130,000 full-time postmen and women at their busiest time of year.
The number of applications is 10,000 more than last year, although the Royal Mail said it was still looking for more seasonal workers in areas including Watford, Peterborough, Bristol, Edinburgh, Swansea and Northampton.
Royal Mail's Managing Director of Operations and Modernisation, Mark Higson, said: "More seasonal recruits are required in some areas.
"We look forward to receiving applications from people who want to earn some extra money and help us sort the Christmas mailbag of around two billion items."
Seasonal jobs will be available between mid November and early January 2012.
Royal Mail is recruiting around 1,000 people in London, 1,500 each in the North West and Anglia, 2,000 in the South East, South West, Thames Valley and the North East, 3,000 in the Midlands, around 2,000 people in Scotland, 1,000 in Wales and 400 in Northern Ireland.
The clocks go back for what could be the last time - but only if the Scots agree.
British Summer Time ends at 2am, but if a new Daylight Saving Bill which has received ministerial backing goes ahead it could bring the UK into line with Central European Time (CET) for a trial period of three years.
The bill, tabled by Rebecca Harris, Conservative MP for Castle Point in Essex, calls for a review of the potential costs and benefits of a move to CET and would need further legislation before any trial was launched.
Any "clear opposition" from devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would see the plans dropped.
Moving to CET would mean lighter winter evenings, which supporters claim would cut road deaths, boost tourism and reduce energy use. But any change is likely to face opposition from many in Scotland who do not relish the prospect of an extra hour of darkness in the morning.
Individuals, organisations and businesses have been debating the effects of bringing the clocks back.
Speaking during a visit to Australia, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "interested" in the issue, but believes it can only be changed if all parts of the UK agree.
He said: "Discussions are under way across Whitehall and with the devolved authorities but that's the key - you can only do this if there is real national consensus and pressure between all the nations of our United Kingdom."
SNP MP Angus MacNeil dismissed the plans to stop the clocks from going back, arguing the move would hit everyone living north of Manchester.
He said: "It is no secret that Tories in the south want to leave Scotland in darkness, but fixing the clocks to British Summer Time would mean that dawn wouldn't break in Scotland until nearly 9am. That would have massive implications for the safety and wellbeing of everyone living north of Manchester."
Anti-capitalist protesters camped outside St Paul's are facing legal action to evict them after the cathedral finally reopened following a week of closure.
St Paul's and the City of London Corporation will seek separate High Court injunctions in a bid to clear more than 200 tents which have been outside the cathedral for almost two weeks.
St Paul's said the action had "regrettably become necessary".
The decision came as the doors of cathedral opened to worshippers after being closed since last Friday - the first time it has been shut to the public since the Second World War.
Hundreds of people attended the Eucharist at 12.30pm on Friday, including some of the protesters.
Meanwhile, Fraser Dyer, who worked part-time as a chaplain at St Paul's, followed in the footsteps of its chancellor, Canon Dr Giles Fraser, by resigning from his post over the decision to pursue legal action.
In his resignation letter, published online, the curate at St Peter De Beauvoir Town in east London said he was "embarrassed" by the decision taken by the dean and chapter.
He added: "I do not relish the prospect of having to defend the cathedral's position in the face of the inevitable questions that visitors to St Paul's will pose in the coming weeks and months, particularly if we are to see protesters forcibly removed by police at the Dean and Chapter's behest."
Another senior figure, Canon Mark Oakley, a member of the chapter, told the Telegraph: "I couldn't vote for any course of action that might lead at some point to violent behaviour."
Michael Welbank, who chaired the transport committee of the corporation which voted to seek injunctions, said yesterday: "Protest is an essential right in a democracy but camping on the highway is not and we believe we will have a strong highways case because an encampment on a busy thoroughfare clearly impacts the rights of others."
Syrian security forces have carried out fresh raids after one of the deadliest days in months in the country's uprising, activists have said.
According to the opposition's two main activist groups, about 40 people were killed on Friday as security forces opened fire on protesters and hunted them down in house-to-house raids.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said residents reported heavy machine-gun fire in the central city of Homs and sweeping raids and arrests around the eastern city of Deir el-Zour.
The UN estimates the regime crackdown has killed 3,000 people since March, when the uprising against President Bashar Assad began.
Australian national carrier Qantas Airways has grounded all of its planes around the world due to an industrial action by its staff.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told a press conference in Sydney that all aircraft would remain grounded indefinitely until unions representing pilots and ground staff reach an agreement with the airline over pay and conditions.
"We have decided to ground the Qantas international and domestic fleets immediately," he said.
Flights already in the air when the announcement was made were continuing to their destinations.
The airline had been forced in reduce and reschedule flights for weeks because of a series of strikes over staff concerns that their jobs are being moved overseas.
A suicide car bomber has attacked a Nato convoy on the outskirts of Kabul, causing casualties among Nato service members and Afghan civilians, the US-led coalition said.
Afghan officials said three civilians and one policeman were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of former Afghan kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital.
It was the deadliest of two attacks today which targeted either the US-led coalition or Afghan government offices in the country.
"Initial reports indicate that there has been a vehicle-borne IED attack today against a coalition vehicle in Kabul," Nato said in a statement, using military terminology for a car bomb.
The alliance said "several" of its service members were among the casualties, but provided no other details.
The Afghan Ministry of Interior said three Afghan civilians and one Afghan policeman were killed.
The Taliban claim came shortly after the attack in a text message to media outlets.
A reporter on the scene said that Nato and Afghan forces had sealed off the area. Two Nato helicopters landed to airlift casualties. The back end of a Nato bus appeared to have been blown apart and was turned into a charred shell.
Earlier, a female suicide bomber blew herself up as she tried to attack a local government office in the capital of Kunar province, a hotbed of militancy in north-east Afghanistan along the Pakistan border.
Murderer Vincent Tabak is facing further questioning by police after being jailed for killing Joanna Yeates.
The 33-year-old turned from sordid voyeur to murderer after becoming obsessed with images of women being strangled during sex.
He also paid a prostitute having trawled escort and violent pornography websites.
That the Dutchman was to be interrogated further by police came to light at Bristol Crown Court as the prosecution tried to stop information about Tabak's depraved sex secrets becoming public.
The fresh allegations relate to material discovered on Tabak's computer hard drive.
Nigel Lickley QC told the court it was necessary for Tabak to be questioned about the matters, but spoke cryptically in order not to reveal the full details.
The prosecutor said following questioning of Tabak a decision would be made as to whether proceedings would be commenced.
Jurors were not told how videos found on Tabak's laptops had chilling parallels with the way Miss Yeates died.
His pornography depicted blonde women being throttled during sex or bundled into car boots.
Avon and Somerset Police have refused to give any more information on what Tabak may be questioned about.
Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded in Britain after airline Qantas grounded all of its flights because of a bitter industrial dispute.
The Australian national carrier grounded its global fleet indefinitely until unions representing pilots and ground staff reach an agreement with the airline over pay and conditions.
A Heathrow spokesman said four Qantas liveried planes were due to take off from the airport - meaning hundreds of passengers who were scheduled to depart are now unable to fly.
British passengers abroad who are due to use the carrier will also face travel disruption.
The Foreign Office issued a statement advising those due to travel with the airline in the next 48 hours to check on the Qantas website or to consult their tour operator.
The carrier plans to "lock out" all employees involved with industrial action from Monday evening. Staff will not be required to turn up at work and will not be paid.
The airline had been forced to reduce and reschedule flights for weeks because of a series of strikes over staff concerns that their jobs are being moved overseas.
A Qantas spokesman said 600 flights have been cancelled because of the industrial action - affecting 70,000 passengers.
The strikes have cost the airline 15 million Australian dollars (£10 million) a week.
Flights already in the air when the announcement was made were continuing to their destinations but all others were cancelled. The airline said customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice and a full refund would be available for those affected.
Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott has blamed a "cloned" government credit card for apparently excessive spending by his officials.
The Labour peer said fraud was the "only explanation" for some examples that had emerged, and called on the Cabinet Secretary to investigate.
The comments came after records suggested that staff in his private office used a card to spend more than £15,000 in bars, restaurants and cafes over two years.
A bill for £456 was run up at an Australian casino in 2004 when the then-Cabinet minister was visiting to review the country's gambling laws.
Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, Lord Prescott stressed that he had never personally held a government procurement card.
He highlighted payments such as £2,000 on the same day from a camera shop in China and £360 at two golf clubs in Kent.
"I have got no idea about particular entries," he said.
"You would certainly remember anyone buying £2,000 worth of camera gear but it's news to me.
"The same thing with the golf - I don't even play bloody golf.
"It has been established some cards were cloned and that is the only explanation for some of the things on here."
A 16-year-old girl has died after a hang gliding crash, police said.
The incident, in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, is being investigated by officers from Derbyshire Constabulary and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
A police spokesman said: "At approximately 13.45 on Friday 28 October, a hang glider crashed to the ground during a training flight at Darley Moor, Ashbourne.
"Unfortunately the 16-year-old pilot died from her injuries shortly afterwards at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
"Police are working with air accident investigators to determine the cause of this tragedy."
A spokeswoman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said two investigators were working at the scene of the crash.
She added: "Investigations continue today. The glider will be taken to AAIB headquarters in Farnborough."
A traditional Aussie barbie has seen the Duke of Edinburgh showing off his culinary skills.
Philip could not resist entering into the spirit of the occasion and flipped a steak sizzling on a grill as he joined cooks attempting to hold a record-breaking barbecue.
The event was the last engagement in the Queen and Duke's 11-day tour of Australia, and the monarch told the crowds: "We have been overwhelmed by your kindness and support.
"Once again we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories of our time here and the warm Australian welcome we have received on our 16th visit to this beautiful country."
The Queen has received a rapturous welcome during her tour and Perth residents followed the national mood and turned out in their tens of thousands for a final glimpse of the royal couple.
The visit has already secured its place in history as yesterday Prime Minister David Cameron, in Perth for a Commonwealth leaders' summit, secured the agreement of the 15 nations where the Queen is head of state for a change in the rules of succession which will put royal daughters on the same footing as sons.
Those in line for the throne will also be allowed to marry Roman Catholics for the first time in 300 years without giving up their claim.
The 85-year-old Queen's visit has been billed by commentators as her last in light of her age.
But Buckingham Palace has dismissed speculation that it was a farewell tour.
A royal source said: "The Queen and Duke have really enjoyed themselves. The Queen has been bowled over by the reaction."
The veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile has died, sources said.
The 84-year-old was found at his home in an apartment block in Roundhay, Leeds, just after midday. The cause of death is unknown.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 12.10pm today to the discovery of a man's body at a house in Roundhay, Leeds. The body of a man in his 80s was found at the property. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."
The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was admitted to hospital suffering from a bout of pneumonia in September.
BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "I am very sad to hear of Sir Jimmy Savile's death. From Top Of The Pops to Jim'll Fix It, Jimmy's unique style entertained generations of BBC audiences. Like millions of viewers and listeners we shall miss him greatly."
Sir Jimmy started his working life as a miner in his native Yorkshire before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and DJ. Known for his trademark jewellery, tracksuit and tinted glasses, he raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.
Sir Jimmy raised £20 million for the creation of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1983 following damage caused by severe weather to the old pre-fab wooden huts which had housed spinal cord injury patients.
A woman leaving the apartments after visiting a friend said she had seen Sir Jimmy in a restaurant about two weeks ago and claimed he seemed ill.
She said: "He was really, really poorly. He really should not have been out. It's the first time in all the times we've seen him that he didn't have a joke. You could tell he was really ill yet he was still dressed in his string vest in a smart restaurant. I'm really sorry he's gone, we'll all miss him. He was a character."
She added: "He always used to say to me and my friend - who are both in our nineties - when we used to be going out and we'd bump into him, he'd say, 'are you clubbing, girls?'"
