October 29, 2011, 1:39 pm
![17 killed in Afghanistan attacks]()
A suicide car bomber has struck a Nato convoy in Kabul, killing at least 17 people, Afghan officials said.
Nato said 13 service members, all of them American, were killed.
Afghan officials had said earlier that four Afghans, including a policeman, were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of former Afghan kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital.
The attack was the deadliest of three separate incidents which targeted either the US-led coalition or Afghan government offices in the country.
In the volatile south, an area traditionally viewed as the Taliban's stronghold, Nato said a man in an Afghan military uniform turned his weapon on coalition and Afghan forces, killing two.
The gunman was also killed, the coalition said in a statement but provided no other details.
The bombing on the outskirts of Kabul appeared to target a Nato convoy which included a military bus.
Nato and Afghan forces sealed off the area as rescuers rushed around the attack site, according to a reporter at the scene.
Two Nato helicopters landed to airlift casualties while coalition troops using loudspeakers ordered bystanders to evacuate the area. Heavy black smoke poured from the bus, which was engulfed in a fireball.
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October 29, 2011, 4:23 pm
![Higgins vows to change Irish values]()
President-elect Michael D Higgins has vowed to lead the country in a necessary transformation away from values based on wealth.
After securing more than 1 million votes, the Labour veteran said he will be a President for all.
Mr Higgins said his seven year term as head of state will be defined by efforts to turn inclusion into reality.
The 70-year-old's resounding victory was formally announced in Dublin Castle marking one of the most remarkable swings in support in an election.
In an impassioned and powerful speech, he set the tone for his presidency with a pledge to lead a sea change in the values of society.
"I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people," he said.
"As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
Mr Higgins' success, secured after transfers from four counts, is the largest total in an Irish presidential election.
"Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems - be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion," he said. "We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come."
Mr Higgins, a poet, professor and campaigner, will be inaugurated on November 11.
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October 29, 2011, 5:43 pm
![Man arrested after woman found dead]()
A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman, police have said.
The 54-year-old woman's body was found on Thursday morning along with a man in his 50s with abdominal injuries, Cambridgeshire police said.
Officers made the discovery at a property in Gainsborough Drive, St Ives, after responding to a call just after 10.40am.
A post-mortem examination determined that the woman died from "compression to the neck", and a murder inquiry was subsequently launched.
Police said they were not in a position to name the woman as she had not been formally identified.
The injured man is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Forensic tests are being carried out at the property where the two were found.
A team from Cambridgeshire police's major crimes department is investigating the murder.
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October 29, 2011, 5:43 pm
!['Five troops killed in Kabul blast']()
Thirteen people killed when a suicide bomber rammed a military convoy in Afghanistan included five coalition troops and eight civilian contractors, Nato has said.
The organisation had initially reported that all 13 killed in the Kabul attack were service members. But after further identification, it confirmed that eight were civilians working for the coalition.
The Taliban suicide bomber hit an armoured Nato vehicle in the deadliest attack on coalition forces in Kabul since the war began.
The explosion, which occurred as the convoy was passing the American University, sparked a fireball and littered the street with shrapnel. Heavy black smoke poured from burning wreckage at the site.
It was reported that 12 of the 13 convoy victims were American, with the other Nato fatality thought to have been a Canadian serviceman. A total of 17 people died in the suicide bombing, with the Afghan ministry of interior saying three Afghan civilians and one policeman were killed.
Eight other Afghans, including two children, were wounded, said Kabir Amiri, head of Kabul hospitals.
The attack, triggered when a vehicle was rammed into the armoured bus, is a major setback for the alliance as it begins to draw down combat troops.
Underscoring the difficulties ahead, the assault occurred on the same day that top Nato and Afghan officials were meeting elsewhere in Kabul to discuss the second phase of shifting security responsibilities to Afghan forces in all or part of 17 of the country's 34 provinces.
It also was a blow to efforts by the US and Afghan president Hamid Karzai to forge peace with the Taliban as Nato plans to withdraw all its combat troops from the country by the end of 2014, with support for the costly war reaching new lows in the West.
The Taliban also claimed responsibility for another suicide bombing outside a government intelligence office in the north-west province of Kunar in which only the bomber was killed. In all, there were three attacks against Nato and Afghan forces, killing at least 21 people.
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October 29, 2011, 5:43 pm
![St Paul's protesters debate leaving]()
Anti-capitalist protesters have begun discussing the possibility of leaving their camp outside St Paul's as religious leaders voiced their support for the group.
A voluntary debate took place within the "tent city" after a demonstrator raised the issue before a crowd of hundreds on the steps of the landmark.
Identifying herself only as Sarah, she said: "I think it is a good idea to debate the possibility of moving from St Paul's into two different camps."
She invited demonstrators to a formal debate on the issue and was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers and heckles, including shouts of "bad Christians", from the gathered throng.
The protester was speaking before Christian leaders threw their support behind the Occupy London movement, which is facing possible eviction from St Paul's after it was forced to close for a week because of the camp.
The cathedral reopened on Friday after shutting its doors for the first time since the Second World War.
St Paul's and the City of London Corporation announced that they would seek separate High Court injunctions in a bid to clear more than 200 tents which have been outside the cathedral for two weeks. But it could take months of legal wrangling before any eviction can take place.
The Dean of St Paul's, Reverend Graeme Knowles, and the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chatres, are due to meet protesters outside the cathedral.
But Reverend Paul Nicolson, of the Church of England, criticised them in a "sermon on the steps". "I do not think they understand the enormity of the injustice that has happened and is happening now," he said.
The Rev Nicolson was joined by Christian charity workers, a Rabbi, humanists, agnostics and other religious leaders in the rally.
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October 29, 2011, 5:43 pm
![Tributes pour in for Jimmy Savile]()
The "larger than life" veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile has died aged 84.
The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was found at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, just after midday, two days before his 85th birthday.
Two of Sir Jimmy's nephews said their uncle died peacefully in his sleep.
Roger Foster and Ian McKenna paid tribute to Sir Jimmy outside his flat.
Mr Foster said: "It is with deep sadness that I can tell you that our uncle Sir Jimmy Savile passed away quietly in his sleep during the night. Jimmy was a wonderful man, his public face is well-known but we knew him as much more than an uncle, he was a very good friend.
"Jimmy will be sadly missed by very many people. We would like to thank the people who have already offered their condolences."
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes to the star - who was described by some as a "court jester".
A Clarence House spokeswoman, said: "The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile's death and their thoughts are with his family at this time."
Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a "larger than life" character who was dedicated to charity work.
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. He has raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.
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October 29, 2011, 5:43 pm
![Hundreds protest over Syrian deaths]()
Hundreds of people marched to the Syrian Embassy in London to show solidarity with those suffering from President Bashar Assad's crackdown in the Middle Eastern country.
The protest came a day after security forces reportedly killed about 40 people in the latest bid to suppress the uprising.
The UN estimates the regime crackdown has killed 3,000 people in the country since March.
Protesters chanted "Get Out Assad" and "Free Free Syria" during a two-hour rally outside the building in Belgrave Square. Campaigners put their numbers at nearly 1,000.
Police stood by watchfully and ensured a distance of more than 100 yards from a small counter protest.
The anti-Assad demonstrators were kept behind railings across the road from the embassy.
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, told them: "Amnesty International is here to say to you, to the Syrian government, and the wider world, that we stand with the peaceful protesters in Syria and across the Middle East and North Africa in their demands for human rights reform. This moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have human rights in Syria.
"Our role will be to continue to document and campaign against the violations being committed and mobilise international pressure for justice, and stand in solidarity with the victims of oppression and those like you working for change."
She added: "Progress in Syria will not be easy, we all know this, but we must imagine a future where Syria has a government that does not terrorise its own people."
Anas el Khani, chairman of British Solidarity for Syria, said: "In eight months, more than 4,000 innocent Syrians have been murdered, including 230 children, over 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring countries. And yet in the face of this brutality, despite all these horrible crimes, the people of Syria are standing strong, and they will never give up the fight for freedom and democracy."
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October 30, 2011, 1:14 am
![Second home tax break could be axed]()
Owners of second homes face losing council tax discounts as part of a shake-up to ease the pressure on hard-pressed families.
Ministers also want to give local authorities powers to axe discounts on empty properties - which can be up to 100%.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is to announce a consultation on the plans.
He will also pledge to review rules under which tax inspectors treat "granny flats" as distinct properties, meaning families who house a relative in an annex face two separate council tax bills. And councils will be encouraged to offer discounts to householders who pay bills online.
The Government believes the reforms, if implemented, will allow a cut in council tax bills for most people. Mr Pickles suggested the bill for a Band D property - £1,196 on average this year - could fall by £20.
His statement is expected to reaffirm that there are no plans for a total revaluation of all 21 million homes in England.
Sources close to the minister said that effectively ruled out Liberal Democrat attempts to impose a "mansion tax" on owners of the highest-value properties.
Under the proposed reforms, local authorities would be given "flexibility" to reduce or remove entirely the current system of tax relief on second homes, many of which are kept as holiday lets. At present, discounts range from 10 and can be worth hundreds of pounds a year.
Sources emphasised there are no plans to drop relief for "exceptional circumstances" such as homes left empty because someone has died, been moved to hospital or a care home or has moved in with someone else for care.
Instead, ministers are keen to target banks and other lenders who repossess homes, forcing occupiers to leave, and then keep the properties empty.
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![Emergency hearing on Qantas crisis]()
Australia's government has ordered an emergency arbitration hearing after Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet amid a bitter dispute with striking workers, stranding passengers around the world.
Government leaders, who expressed frustration over the airline's actions, were expected to argue at the hearing that Qantas should be forced to fly in Australia's economic interests.
"It's not our place to start allocating responsibility, but what I also know is there is a better way to resolve these matters ... than locking your customers out," assistant treasurer Bill Shorten said before the hearing in Melbourne. "We want more common sense than that."
Qantas, the world's 10th-largest airline, announced on Saturday that it would ground all flights.
But chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline could be flying again within hours if the three arbitration judges ruled to permanently terminate the grounding and the unions' strike action.
The unions want the judges to rule for a suspension so the strikes can be resumed if their negotiations with the national flag carrier fail.
"Within six hours, we can get the fleet flying again" after the aviation regulator provides a routine clearance, Mr Joyce told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television. "We have to wait and see what that process generates," he said.
Planes already in the air when the grounding was announced continued to their destinations and at least one taxiing flight stopped on the runway, a passenger said.
Among the stranded passengers are 17 world leaders attending the Commonwealth summit in the western Australian city of Perth. When the grounding was announced, 36 international and 28 domestic Australian flights were in the air, the airline said.
Qantas, which flies 70,000 passengers a day, said 108 planes were being grounded at 22 airports, but did not say how many flights were involved. Spokesman Tom Woodward said 13,000 passengers were booked to fly international flights to Australia within 24 hours of the grounding.
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![St Paul's clergy to meet protesters]()
The Dean of St Paul's and the Bishop of London are to meet anti-capitalist protesters outside the the cathedral after being criticised by priests who support the demonstration.
The Dean, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, and the Bishop, Dr Richard Chartres will meet members of the Occupy London movement outside St Paul's.
But the pair were criticised at a "sermon on the steps" organised by the demonstrators on Saturday.
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds of protesters, tourists and passers-by at the "tent city", the Rev Paul Nicolson said: "I do not think they understand the enormity of the injustice that has happened and is happening now."
The comments came after St Paul's and the City of London Corporation announced on Friday that they would try to gain separate High Court injunctions in order to evict the protesters.
The camp, at least 200 tents strong, forced the cathedral to close for a week. It was reopened on Friday after shutting its doors for the first time since the Second World War.
Mr Nicolson criticised the corporation, saying it had "no moral authority" to begin evicting the protesters. "The citizens of the City of London do not live in the City of London, they go home at night just like the protesters here," he said.
Mr Nicolson was joined by Christian charity workers, a rabbi, humanists, agnostics and other religious leaders at the rally.
Meanwhile, anti-capitalist protesters began discussing the possibility of leaving the camp. A voluntary debate took place within the camp on Saturday night after a demonstrator raised the issue before a crowd of hundreds on the steps of the landmark. Identifying herself only as Sarah, she said: "I think it is a good idea to debate the possibility of moving from St Paul's into two different camps."
She invited demonstrators to a formal debate on the issue and was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers and heckles, including shouts of "bad Christians", from the gathered throng.
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![Caesarean section rules 'to change']()
Women will soon have the right to give birth by caesarean section on the NHS whether there is a medical need for the operation or not, according to a report.
Previously, women were expected to give birth naturally unless there was a medical reason not to.
But now healthy women can choose to undergo the procedure, according to a draft report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).
The guidelines are being changed as caesarean sections are now much safer than in the past.
There have been cases where women have persuaded doctors to carry out a caesarean section when it was not medically necessary, although such cases were uncommon.
The report is due to be published next month after being checked for any factual errors.
A Nice spokesman said: "This is a draft report and is due for publication next month after consultation. As a result the report could change."
Doctors who do not wish to carry out the procedure for non-medical or ethical reasons will be able to refer women who want a caesarean to other doctors who are willing to do so, The Sunday Times reported.
Women will also have to talk through their reasons for wanting the operation with doctors and midwives before being able to finalise their decision.
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![12-year-olds drink 28 alcohol units]()
Children as young as 12 are drinking the equivalent of 19 glasses of wine a week, a report has found.
A study by the Schools Health Education Unit found that 4% of the 12- to 13-year-olds surveyed drank 28 or more units of alcohol in the last week.
This exceeds the Government's daily unit guidelines for men (three to four units) and women (two to three units).
Three units equates to two small (125ml) glasses of wine (12%) or a whole pint of strong lager (5%) or cider, according to the charity Drinkaware.
The report, based on data collected from more than 83,000 pupils in Years Six, Eight and 10 across the UK, revealed that 11% of Year 10 pupils drank more than 10 units of alcohol in the last week.
Simon Antrobus, chief executive of the charity Addaction, said: "These new figures back up our own experiences. At Addaction, we know children who drink at younger ages are the ones who need help most. We also know that children whose parents misuse alcohol are more likely to develop their own problems later in life. It is essential that these children, and their families, have access to specialist support at the earliest possible opportunity."
Beer, larger and cider are popular choices with boys, while girls are opting for wine and spirits.
Almost a third of the Year 10 boys questioned drank at least a pint of beer or lager in the last seven days, while one in five had had one or more pints of cider. Of the Year 10 girls questioned, one in five drank at least one measure of spirits in the last week, while 16% had had one or more glasses of wine. Around a quarter of all the Year 10s admitted they had got drunk at least once in the last seven days, with about 15% getting drunk more than twice in the week.
Most are drinking at home or the house of a friend or relation, with only a small number buying alcohol from a supermarket, nightclub or off-licence.
Alcohol Concern said: "As well as the well-publicised trouble caused by young people drinking to get drunk in town centres at weekends, involvement in a drinking sub-culture at a young age can easily cause consumption to escalate. This can lead to risky behaviour in terms of sex and violence, and associated disruption to education and social development. Dependency can develop, and recent figures on liver disease in the young show that severe health problems can follow in only a few years."
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![Charles leads Jimmy Savile tributes]()
Tributes have been paid to "larger than life" veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile, who has died at 84.
The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was found at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, on Saturday - just two days before his 85th birthday. His death came after a spell in hospital earlier this month with a suspected bout of pneumonia.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes to the star. A Clarence House spokeswoman said: "The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile's death and their thoughts are with his family at this time."
It is not yet known how Sir Jimmy died but it is believed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a "larger than life" character who was dedicated to charity work.
He started his working life as a miner in his native Yorkshire before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and DJ. He has raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.
Radio presenter David Hamilton said Sir Jimmy worked "tirelessly" to raise funds for various causes. "He was a very energetic character," Mr Hamilton told Sky News. "But most of all, I remember him as just a totally flamboyant, over the top, larger than life character and as he was on the air, he was just the same off."
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.
He was a volunteer at the hospital and ran more than 200 marathons for various charitable organisations.
Former radio colleague Tony Blackburn said Sir Jimmy was a "big, over the top personality". "He was quite a character," Mr Blackburn told Sky News. "He was a one-off - that's the way he'll be remembered, really - but in particular all that money he raised for charity."
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![Assad: Intervention will start war]()
Syrian president Bashar Assad has warned Western intervention against his regime would cause an "earthquake" that would "burn the whole region".
President Assad told the Sunday Telegraph the action could lead to "another Afghanistan".
His comments came after hundreds of people marched to the Syrian embassy in London to show solidarity with those suffering from his crackdown in the Middle Eastern country.
At least three people were killed when a district in the city of Homs was shelled yesterday, a day after security forces reportedly killed about 40 people in a bid to suppress the uprising.
In his interview, President Assad conceded that western powers would "ratchet up the pressure" but said his country was different "in every respect" from Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, where other uprisings had taken place.
He said: "Syria is the hub now in this region. It is the fault line and if you play with the ground you will cause an earthquake...
"Do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?"
"Any problem in Syria will burn the whole region. If the plan is to divide Syria, that is to divide the whole region."
He said "many mistakes" had been made by his forces at the start of the uprising, but said only "terrorists" were being targeted now.
President Assad insisted his response to the Arab Spring was not one of "stubborn government", adding: "Six days after (the protests began) I commenced reform."
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October 30, 2011, 2:04 am
![Clegg attacks Tory eurosceptics]()
Nick Clegg has delivered his strongest rebuke so far to Tory eurosceptics hoping to reclaim powers from Brussels.
The Deputy Prime Minister warned that it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe.
Rewriting the EU's founding texts would open a "Pandora's Box" and leave the continent paralysed when it should be focused on restoring economic growth.
The Liberal Democrat leader's intervention came with David Cameron under massive pressure to bring powers back to Westminster as part of negotiations for any new treaty.
More than 80 Conservative MPs rebelled last week over a call for a referendum on UK membership of the union. And polls have suggested that two thirds of the public - and 80% of Tory voters - agreed with the rebels.
Writing in Observer, Mr Clegg said it was clear the 17 eurozone nations were moving towards more fiscal integration and the European landscape was "about to change". But he complained that "two extremes" were dominating the debate on how Britain should respond.
"On the one hand, there are some who see an opportunity for a more centralised EU, built around a tighter, quasi-federalist core," Mr Clegg wrote. "On the other, are those who imagine a chance for the UK to draw away from the union.
"They relish the prospect of a unilateral raid on Brussels' powers. The irony is that both options require treaty change - Europhiles and Europhobes are clamouring for the same thing. As always, neither extreme of the argument is right. Both would have the UK give up our place at the European top table, sacrificing the influence essential to our prosperity.
"It is only by having a loud voice in a united Europe that we can promote the open economy that will deliver growth. Being shoved to the margins, or retreating there voluntarily, would be economic suicide: a surefire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs."
Mr Clegg said there was "sense" in amending the EU's foundations to ensure eurozone members obeyed strict budgetary rules. But he continued: "Having worked in the EU for years, my concern is that tampering with the EU's founding texts is opening a Pandora's box, leaving us paralysed by ideological battles, institutional navel-gazing and special demands from every member state."
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October 30, 2011, 6:49 am
![Thai PM hopeful of floods easing]()
Thailand's prime minister says she is optimistic the country's worst flooding in a half-century will mostly spare Bangkok, as some dykes overflowed but the capital's defences otherwise held firm during critical high tides.
Waters were receding from many inundated areas of Thailand - leaving 381 people dead - but the misery remained for several communities still under water and feverish efforts to protect Bangkok continued as run-off water from the north pushed through on its way to the Gulf of Thailand.
Rescuers evacuated a heavily pregnant woman stranded in the swamped neighbourhood of Thonburi in the northern outskirts of the city.
The network of dykes defending against the city's main Chao Phraya river broke down in at least two neighbourhoods as a record high tide pushed up from the gulf.
Water spilled into streets as city workers and troops rushed to shore up concrete walls with sandbags.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told residents of Bangkok to be "confident" as she headed into a government crisis meeting, saying there may be overflow into some areas but that it would not cause any great damage.
"We will recover soon," she said.
Bangkok's governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said the Chao Phraya reached a record level of 2.53 metres, just above what he previously said were dyke heights of 2.5 metres.
However, the tides were expected to ease below critical levels after Monday, and officials have suggested that the flooding situation will improve after that.
Floodwaters have submerged entire towns across the country's heartland and shuttered hundreds of factories over the last two months. In the past week, the waters have reached into outer neighbourhoods of the capital, while its central districts of skyscrapers, apartment towers and glitzy shopping centres have remained dry.
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October 30, 2011, 6:49 am
![Gun guards to protect British ships]()
Armed guards are to be deployed on British ships for the first time to protect them from pirates, David Cameron has announced.
A legal ban on weapon-toting protection staff will be relaxed so that firms can apply for a licence to have them on board in danger zones.
The Prime Minister said radical action was required because the increasing ability of sea-borne Somali criminals to hijack and ransom ships had become "a complete stain on our world".
He unveiled the measure after talks at a Commonwealth summit in Australia with leaders of countries in the Horn of Africa over the escalating problem faced in waters off their shores.
Under the plans, the Home Secretary will be given the power to license vessels to carry armed security, including automatic weapons, currently prohibited under firearms laws.
Officials said around 200 were expected to be in line to take up the offer, which would only apply for voyages through particular waters in the affected region. It is expected to be used by commercial firms rather than private sailors - such as hostage victims Paul and Rachel Chandler.
Asked if he was comfortable with giving private security operatives the right to "shoot to kill" if necessary, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Frankly the extent of the hijack and ransom of ships round the Horn of Africa is a complete stain on our world. The fact that a bunch of pirates in Somalia are managing to hold to ransom the rest of the world and our trading system is a complete insult and the rest of the world needs to come together with much more vigour.
I want to help lead this process and as part of that we are going to be taking the step of putting armed guards on our ships."
Evidence from other countries with more relaxed regulations over armed guards was that their ships did not get targeted, he said. "We are going to have to license that in a proper way, the Home Office has agreed to do that. But I think this is a big step up for our campaign against this piracy."
Other counter-piracy measures being taken include offering support from Treasury officials to Kenya to help them track down pirates' assets. Mr Cameron also said help could be given to countries such as The Seychelles and Mauritius, both represented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, who were acting to bring pirates to court and imprison them.
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October 30, 2011, 6:49 am
!['3,000 banks' on visa blacklist]()
Nearly 3,000 banks have been put on a Government black-list of financial institutions which cannot be trusted to verify documents supporting student visa applications, officials have said.
Foreign students applying to study in the UK who claim they have funds to support themselves and pay for their course held in any of the banks on the list will receive no points for maintenance, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) said.
The list, which includes 1,977 banks in India, three in Pakistan and 762 in the Philippines, is the latest part of the Government's efforts to crack down on bogus students.
Study is the most common reason for migrants coming to the UK, with three in four of the 228,000 who came to the UK for study last year coming from outside the EU.
A UKBA spokeswoman said: "We have radically overhauled the student visa system in order to tackle abuses whilst continuing to attract the brightest and best genuine students from across the world.
"We need to be confident that those applying for student visas have the funds to support themselves and pay for their course in the UK."
Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of the campaign group Migration Watch UK, said the list was "just one indication of the rampant abuse of the student visa system".
"It is high time that interviews were re-introduced in countries of concern to weed out bogus students before they get a visa," he said. "Once they are here they are not only very difficult and expensive to remove but they also damage the reputation of our very valuable higher education sector."
Officials will give a 30-day notice period when any bank is added to the list to enable potential foreign students to provide financial documentation which meets the new requirements.
The list will also be kept under review, officials said.
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October 30, 2011, 6:49 am
![Tabak partner sorry for Jo's family]()
The former girlfriend of murderer Vincent Tabak has extended her "deepest sorrow" to Joanna Yeates's family.
Her father added a "guardian angel" saved his daughter from the 33-year-old Dutch engineer who hid his depraved sex secrets.
Tanja Morson, 34, initially stood by her boyfriend, finding it impossible to believe he was a killer. But Tabak had deceived and manipulated her.
She turned her back on him after he confessed to a voluntary prison chaplain in February that he had killed the petite 25-year-old landscape architect.
In her only statement, Miss Morson told the Sunday Mirror: "I would like to extend my deepest sorrow and sympathy to the Yeates family for their loss.
"I am thankful to the judge, the jury, the barristers and solicitors for all their ongoing attention and professionalism."
On Friday, Tabak was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years at Bristol Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murdering Miss Yeates.
Miss Morson's father, Geoffrey, who lives in Cambridgeshire, told the paper his daughter was still absorbing the verdict.
The Canadian 68-year-old lawyer added: "He fooled us. He fooled everybody. There was a guardian angel for us, but not unfortunately for Joanna."
During sentencing Mr Justice Field described Tabak as "thoroughly deceitful, dishonest and manipulative".
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October 30, 2011, 6:49 am
![UK aid threat to anti-gay nations]()
Britain has threatened countries which ban homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform, David Cameron said.
But he conceded that "deep prejudices" against gays in some countries meant the problem would persist for years.
The Prime Minister said he had raised the issue with leaders of some of the states involved when he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia over the last two days.
Britain was "putting the pressure on" he said over an issue that was one of the stumbling blocks of a summit beset by failure to make significant progress on strengthening human rights protections.
It was not a problem that would be solved however by the next time Commonwealth leaders are due to meet in Sri Lanka in 2013. Mr Cameron also issued a clear warning to Sri Lanka to improve its human rights record or face boycotts of the 2013 summit.
He declined to discuss whether the UK could stay away but said he shared a "similar view" of the need to change with Canada, whose prime minister Stephen Harper has said he will not attend.
Ending bans on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an highly-critical internal report into the future relevance of the Commonwealth - authored by experts from across the member nations including ex-Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind.
"We are not just talking about it. We are also saying that British aid should have more strings attached," Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show in an interview recorded at the summit in Perth.
"This is an issue where we are pushing for movement, we are prepared to put some money behind what we believe. But I'm afraid that you can't expect countries to change overnight.
"Britain is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights. We are saying that is one of the things that determines our aid policy, and there have been particularly bad examples where we have taken action."
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A suicide car bomber has struck a Nato convoy in Kabul, killing at least 17 people, Afghan officials said.
Nato said 13 service members, all of them American, were killed.
Afghan officials had said earlier that four Afghans, including a policeman, were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of former Afghan kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital.
The attack was the deadliest of three separate incidents which targeted either the US-led coalition or Afghan government offices in the country.
In the volatile south, an area traditionally viewed as the Taliban's stronghold, Nato said a man in an Afghan military uniform turned his weapon on coalition and Afghan forces, killing two.
The gunman was also killed, the coalition said in a statement but provided no other details.
The bombing on the outskirts of Kabul appeared to target a Nato convoy which included a military bus.
Nato and Afghan forces sealed off the area as rescuers rushed around the attack site, according to a reporter at the scene.
Two Nato helicopters landed to airlift casualties while coalition troops using loudspeakers ordered bystanders to evacuate the area. Heavy black smoke poured from the bus, which was engulfed in a fireball.
President-elect Michael D Higgins has vowed to lead the country in a necessary transformation away from values based on wealth.
After securing more than 1 million votes, the Labour veteran said he will be a President for all.
Mr Higgins said his seven year term as head of state will be defined by efforts to turn inclusion into reality.
The 70-year-old's resounding victory was formally announced in Dublin Castle marking one of the most remarkable swings in support in an election.
In an impassioned and powerful speech, he set the tone for his presidency with a pledge to lead a sea change in the values of society.
"I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people," he said.
"As we leave behind a narrow revisionism that valued a person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation. That is what we all leave behind now for which a million people have given me a mandate.
Mr Higgins' success, secured after transfers from four counts, is the largest total in an Irish presidential election.
"Now we must respond collectively and co-operatively for what we all must recognise as our shared problems - be it unemployment, mortgage distress or any form of exclusion," he said. "We must now work to our strengths at home and abroad. Not only co-operatively and collectively but sustainably for the benefit of all our of our present generations and those to come."
Mr Higgins, a poet, professor and campaigner, will be inaugurated on November 11.
A 53-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman, police have said.
The 54-year-old woman's body was found on Thursday morning along with a man in his 50s with abdominal injuries, Cambridgeshire police said.
Officers made the discovery at a property in Gainsborough Drive, St Ives, after responding to a call just after 10.40am.
A post-mortem examination determined that the woman died from "compression to the neck", and a murder inquiry was subsequently launched.
Police said they were not in a position to name the woman as she had not been formally identified.
The injured man is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Forensic tests are being carried out at the property where the two were found.
A team from Cambridgeshire police's major crimes department is investigating the murder.
Anti-capitalist protesters have begun discussing the possibility of leaving their camp outside St Paul's as religious leaders voiced their support for the group.
A voluntary debate took place within the "tent city" after a demonstrator raised the issue before a crowd of hundreds on the steps of the landmark.
Identifying herself only as Sarah, she said: "I think it is a good idea to debate the possibility of moving from St Paul's into two different camps."
She invited demonstrators to a formal debate on the issue and was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers and heckles, including shouts of "bad Christians", from the gathered throng.
The protester was speaking before Christian leaders threw their support behind the Occupy London movement, which is facing possible eviction from St Paul's after it was forced to close for a week because of the camp.
The cathedral reopened on Friday after shutting its doors for the first time since the Second World War.
St Paul's and the City of London Corporation announced that they would seek separate High Court injunctions in a bid to clear more than 200 tents which have been outside the cathedral for two weeks. But it could take months of legal wrangling before any eviction can take place.
The Dean of St Paul's, Reverend Graeme Knowles, and the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chatres, are due to meet protesters outside the cathedral.
But Reverend Paul Nicolson, of the Church of England, criticised them in a "sermon on the steps". "I do not think they understand the enormity of the injustice that has happened and is happening now," he said.
The Rev Nicolson was joined by Christian charity workers, a Rabbi, humanists, agnostics and other religious leaders in the rally.
The "larger than life" veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile has died aged 84.
The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was found at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, just after midday, two days before his 85th birthday.
Two of Sir Jimmy's nephews said their uncle died peacefully in his sleep.
Roger Foster and Ian McKenna paid tribute to Sir Jimmy outside his flat.
Mr Foster said: "It is with deep sadness that I can tell you that our uncle Sir Jimmy Savile passed away quietly in his sleep during the night. Jimmy was a wonderful man, his public face is well-known but we knew him as much more than an uncle, he was a very good friend.
"Jimmy will be sadly missed by very many people. We would like to thank the people who have already offered their condolences."
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes to the star - who was described by some as a "court jester".
A Clarence House spokeswoman, said: "The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile's death and their thoughts are with his family at this time."
Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a "larger than life" character who was dedicated to charity work.
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. He has raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.
Hundreds of people marched to the Syrian Embassy in London to show solidarity with those suffering from President Bashar Assad's crackdown in the Middle Eastern country.
The protest came a day after security forces reportedly killed about 40 people in the latest bid to suppress the uprising.
The UN estimates the regime crackdown has killed 3,000 people in the country since March.
Protesters chanted "Get Out Assad" and "Free Free Syria" during a two-hour rally outside the building in Belgrave Square. Campaigners put their numbers at nearly 1,000.
Police stood by watchfully and ensured a distance of more than 100 yards from a small counter protest.
The anti-Assad demonstrators were kept behind railings across the road from the embassy.
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, told them: "Amnesty International is here to say to you, to the Syrian government, and the wider world, that we stand with the peaceful protesters in Syria and across the Middle East and North Africa in their demands for human rights reform. This moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have human rights in Syria.
"Our role will be to continue to document and campaign against the violations being committed and mobilise international pressure for justice, and stand in solidarity with the victims of oppression and those like you working for change."
She added: "Progress in Syria will not be easy, we all know this, but we must imagine a future where Syria has a government that does not terrorise its own people."
Anas el Khani, chairman of British Solidarity for Syria, said: "In eight months, more than 4,000 innocent Syrians have been murdered, including 230 children, over 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring countries. And yet in the face of this brutality, despite all these horrible crimes, the people of Syria are standing strong, and they will never give up the fight for freedom and democracy."
Owners of second homes face losing council tax discounts as part of a shake-up to ease the pressure on hard-pressed families.
Ministers also want to give local authorities powers to axe discounts on empty properties - which can be up to 100%.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is to announce a consultation on the plans.
He will also pledge to review rules under which tax inspectors treat "granny flats" as distinct properties, meaning families who house a relative in an annex face two separate council tax bills. And councils will be encouraged to offer discounts to householders who pay bills online.
The Government believes the reforms, if implemented, will allow a cut in council tax bills for most people. Mr Pickles suggested the bill for a Band D property - £1,196 on average this year - could fall by £20.
His statement is expected to reaffirm that there are no plans for a total revaluation of all 21 million homes in England.
Sources close to the minister said that effectively ruled out Liberal Democrat attempts to impose a "mansion tax" on owners of the highest-value properties.
Under the proposed reforms, local authorities would be given "flexibility" to reduce or remove entirely the current system of tax relief on second homes, many of which are kept as holiday lets. At present, discounts range from 10 and can be worth hundreds of pounds a year.
Sources emphasised there are no plans to drop relief for "exceptional circumstances" such as homes left empty because someone has died, been moved to hospital or a care home or has moved in with someone else for care.
Instead, ministers are keen to target banks and other lenders who repossess homes, forcing occupiers to leave, and then keep the properties empty.
Australia's government has ordered an emergency arbitration hearing after Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet amid a bitter dispute with striking workers, stranding passengers around the world.
Government leaders, who expressed frustration over the airline's actions, were expected to argue at the hearing that Qantas should be forced to fly in Australia's economic interests.
"It's not our place to start allocating responsibility, but what I also know is there is a better way to resolve these matters ... than locking your customers out," assistant treasurer Bill Shorten said before the hearing in Melbourne. "We want more common sense than that."
Qantas, the world's 10th-largest airline, announced on Saturday that it would ground all flights.
But chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline could be flying again within hours if the three arbitration judges ruled to permanently terminate the grounding and the unions' strike action.
The unions want the judges to rule for a suspension so the strikes can be resumed if their negotiations with the national flag carrier fail.
"Within six hours, we can get the fleet flying again" after the aviation regulator provides a routine clearance, Mr Joyce told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television. "We have to wait and see what that process generates," he said.
Planes already in the air when the grounding was announced continued to their destinations and at least one taxiing flight stopped on the runway, a passenger said.
Among the stranded passengers are 17 world leaders attending the Commonwealth summit in the western Australian city of Perth. When the grounding was announced, 36 international and 28 domestic Australian flights were in the air, the airline said.
Qantas, which flies 70,000 passengers a day, said 108 planes were being grounded at 22 airports, but did not say how many flights were involved. Spokesman Tom Woodward said 13,000 passengers were booked to fly international flights to Australia within 24 hours of the grounding.
The Dean of St Paul's and the Bishop of London are to meet anti-capitalist protesters outside the the cathedral after being criticised by priests who support the demonstration.
The Dean, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles, and the Bishop, Dr Richard Chartres will meet members of the Occupy London movement outside St Paul's.
But the pair were criticised at a "sermon on the steps" organised by the demonstrators on Saturday.
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds of protesters, tourists and passers-by at the "tent city", the Rev Paul Nicolson said: "I do not think they understand the enormity of the injustice that has happened and is happening now."
The comments came after St Paul's and the City of London Corporation announced on Friday that they would try to gain separate High Court injunctions in order to evict the protesters.
The camp, at least 200 tents strong, forced the cathedral to close for a week. It was reopened on Friday after shutting its doors for the first time since the Second World War.
Mr Nicolson criticised the corporation, saying it had "no moral authority" to begin evicting the protesters. "The citizens of the City of London do not live in the City of London, they go home at night just like the protesters here," he said.
Mr Nicolson was joined by Christian charity workers, a rabbi, humanists, agnostics and other religious leaders at the rally.
Meanwhile, anti-capitalist protesters began discussing the possibility of leaving the camp. A voluntary debate took place within the camp on Saturday night after a demonstrator raised the issue before a crowd of hundreds on the steps of the landmark. Identifying herself only as Sarah, she said: "I think it is a good idea to debate the possibility of moving from St Paul's into two different camps."
She invited demonstrators to a formal debate on the issue and was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers and heckles, including shouts of "bad Christians", from the gathered throng.
Women will soon have the right to give birth by caesarean section on the NHS whether there is a medical need for the operation or not, according to a report.
Previously, women were expected to give birth naturally unless there was a medical reason not to.
But now healthy women can choose to undergo the procedure, according to a draft report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).
The guidelines are being changed as caesarean sections are now much safer than in the past.
There have been cases where women have persuaded doctors to carry out a caesarean section when it was not medically necessary, although such cases were uncommon.
The report is due to be published next month after being checked for any factual errors.
A Nice spokesman said: "This is a draft report and is due for publication next month after consultation. As a result the report could change."
Doctors who do not wish to carry out the procedure for non-medical or ethical reasons will be able to refer women who want a caesarean to other doctors who are willing to do so, The Sunday Times reported.
Women will also have to talk through their reasons for wanting the operation with doctors and midwives before being able to finalise their decision.
Children as young as 12 are drinking the equivalent of 19 glasses of wine a week, a report has found.
A study by the Schools Health Education Unit found that 4% of the 12- to 13-year-olds surveyed drank 28 or more units of alcohol in the last week.
This exceeds the Government's daily unit guidelines for men (three to four units) and women (two to three units).
Three units equates to two small (125ml) glasses of wine (12%) or a whole pint of strong lager (5%) or cider, according to the charity Drinkaware.
The report, based on data collected from more than 83,000 pupils in Years Six, Eight and 10 across the UK, revealed that 11% of Year 10 pupils drank more than 10 units of alcohol in the last week.
Simon Antrobus, chief executive of the charity Addaction, said: "These new figures back up our own experiences. At Addaction, we know children who drink at younger ages are the ones who need help most. We also know that children whose parents misuse alcohol are more likely to develop their own problems later in life. It is essential that these children, and their families, have access to specialist support at the earliest possible opportunity."
Beer, larger and cider are popular choices with boys, while girls are opting for wine and spirits.
Almost a third of the Year 10 boys questioned drank at least a pint of beer or lager in the last seven days, while one in five had had one or more pints of cider. Of the Year 10 girls questioned, one in five drank at least one measure of spirits in the last week, while 16% had had one or more glasses of wine. Around a quarter of all the Year 10s admitted they had got drunk at least once in the last seven days, with about 15% getting drunk more than twice in the week.
Most are drinking at home or the house of a friend or relation, with only a small number buying alcohol from a supermarket, nightclub or off-licence.
Alcohol Concern said: "As well as the well-publicised trouble caused by young people drinking to get drunk in town centres at weekends, involvement in a drinking sub-culture at a young age can easily cause consumption to escalate. This can lead to risky behaviour in terms of sex and violence, and associated disruption to education and social development. Dependency can develop, and recent figures on liver disease in the young show that severe health problems can follow in only a few years."
Tributes have been paid to "larger than life" veteran DJ and broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile, who has died at 84.
The star, who presented the first episode of Top Of The Pops as well as his long-running show Jim'll Fix It, was found at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, on Saturday - just two days before his 85th birthday. His death came after a spell in hospital earlier this month with a suspected bout of pneumonia.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the tributes to the star. A Clarence House spokeswoman said: "The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile's death and their thoughts are with his family at this time."
It is not yet known how Sir Jimmy died but it is believed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Known for his trademark catchphrases, tracksuits and tinted glasses, friends and colleagues described Sir Jimmy as a "larger than life" character who was dedicated to charity work.
He started his working life as a miner in his native Yorkshire before running a series of clubs and working as a wrestler and DJ. He has raised millions for charity and for many years was a regular marathon runner in support of good causes.
Radio presenter David Hamilton said Sir Jimmy worked "tirelessly" to raise funds for various causes. "He was a very energetic character," Mr Hamilton told Sky News. "But most of all, I remember him as just a totally flamboyant, over the top, larger than life character and as he was on the air, he was just the same off."
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.
He was a volunteer at the hospital and ran more than 200 marathons for various charitable organisations.
Former radio colleague Tony Blackburn said Sir Jimmy was a "big, over the top personality". "He was quite a character," Mr Blackburn told Sky News. "He was a one-off - that's the way he'll be remembered, really - but in particular all that money he raised for charity."
Syrian president Bashar Assad has warned Western intervention against his regime would cause an "earthquake" that would "burn the whole region".
President Assad told the Sunday Telegraph the action could lead to "another Afghanistan".
His comments came after hundreds of people marched to the Syrian embassy in London to show solidarity with those suffering from his crackdown in the Middle Eastern country.
At least three people were killed when a district in the city of Homs was shelled yesterday, a day after security forces reportedly killed about 40 people in a bid to suppress the uprising.
In his interview, President Assad conceded that western powers would "ratchet up the pressure" but said his country was different "in every respect" from Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, where other uprisings had taken place.
He said: "Syria is the hub now in this region. It is the fault line and if you play with the ground you will cause an earthquake...
"Do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?"
"Any problem in Syria will burn the whole region. If the plan is to divide Syria, that is to divide the whole region."
He said "many mistakes" had been made by his forces at the start of the uprising, but said only "terrorists" were being targeted now.
President Assad insisted his response to the Arab Spring was not one of "stubborn government", adding: "Six days after (the protests began) I commenced reform."
Nick Clegg has delivered his strongest rebuke so far to Tory eurosceptics hoping to reclaim powers from Brussels.
The Deputy Prime Minister warned that it would be "economic suicide" for Britain to "retreat to the margins" of Europe.
Rewriting the EU's founding texts would open a "Pandora's Box" and leave the continent paralysed when it should be focused on restoring economic growth.
The Liberal Democrat leader's intervention came with David Cameron under massive pressure to bring powers back to Westminster as part of negotiations for any new treaty.
More than 80 Conservative MPs rebelled last week over a call for a referendum on UK membership of the union. And polls have suggested that two thirds of the public - and 80% of Tory voters - agreed with the rebels.
Writing in Observer, Mr Clegg said it was clear the 17 eurozone nations were moving towards more fiscal integration and the European landscape was "about to change". But he complained that "two extremes" were dominating the debate on how Britain should respond.
"On the one hand, there are some who see an opportunity for a more centralised EU, built around a tighter, quasi-federalist core," Mr Clegg wrote. "On the other, are those who imagine a chance for the UK to draw away from the union.
"They relish the prospect of a unilateral raid on Brussels' powers. The irony is that both options require treaty change - Europhiles and Europhobes are clamouring for the same thing. As always, neither extreme of the argument is right. Both would have the UK give up our place at the European top table, sacrificing the influence essential to our prosperity.
"It is only by having a loud voice in a united Europe that we can promote the open economy that will deliver growth. Being shoved to the margins, or retreating there voluntarily, would be economic suicide: a surefire way to hurt British businesses and lose jobs."
Mr Clegg said there was "sense" in amending the EU's foundations to ensure eurozone members obeyed strict budgetary rules. But he continued: "Having worked in the EU for years, my concern is that tampering with the EU's founding texts is opening a Pandora's box, leaving us paralysed by ideological battles, institutional navel-gazing and special demands from every member state."
Thailand's prime minister says she is optimistic the country's worst flooding in a half-century will mostly spare Bangkok, as some dykes overflowed but the capital's defences otherwise held firm during critical high tides.
Waters were receding from many inundated areas of Thailand - leaving 381 people dead - but the misery remained for several communities still under water and feverish efforts to protect Bangkok continued as run-off water from the north pushed through on its way to the Gulf of Thailand.
Rescuers evacuated a heavily pregnant woman stranded in the swamped neighbourhood of Thonburi in the northern outskirts of the city.
The network of dykes defending against the city's main Chao Phraya river broke down in at least two neighbourhoods as a record high tide pushed up from the gulf.
Water spilled into streets as city workers and troops rushed to shore up concrete walls with sandbags.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told residents of Bangkok to be "confident" as she headed into a government crisis meeting, saying there may be overflow into some areas but that it would not cause any great damage.
"We will recover soon," she said.
Bangkok's governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said the Chao Phraya reached a record level of 2.53 metres, just above what he previously said were dyke heights of 2.5 metres.
However, the tides were expected to ease below critical levels after Monday, and officials have suggested that the flooding situation will improve after that.
Floodwaters have submerged entire towns across the country's heartland and shuttered hundreds of factories over the last two months. In the past week, the waters have reached into outer neighbourhoods of the capital, while its central districts of skyscrapers, apartment towers and glitzy shopping centres have remained dry.
Armed guards are to be deployed on British ships for the first time to protect them from pirates, David Cameron has announced.
A legal ban on weapon-toting protection staff will be relaxed so that firms can apply for a licence to have them on board in danger zones.
The Prime Minister said radical action was required because the increasing ability of sea-borne Somali criminals to hijack and ransom ships had become "a complete stain on our world".
He unveiled the measure after talks at a Commonwealth summit in Australia with leaders of countries in the Horn of Africa over the escalating problem faced in waters off their shores.
Under the plans, the Home Secretary will be given the power to license vessels to carry armed security, including automatic weapons, currently prohibited under firearms laws.
Officials said around 200 were expected to be in line to take up the offer, which would only apply for voyages through particular waters in the affected region. It is expected to be used by commercial firms rather than private sailors - such as hostage victims Paul and Rachel Chandler.
Asked if he was comfortable with giving private security operatives the right to "shoot to kill" if necessary, Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Frankly the extent of the hijack and ransom of ships round the Horn of Africa is a complete stain on our world. The fact that a bunch of pirates in Somalia are managing to hold to ransom the rest of the world and our trading system is a complete insult and the rest of the world needs to come together with much more vigour.
I want to help lead this process and as part of that we are going to be taking the step of putting armed guards on our ships."
Evidence from other countries with more relaxed regulations over armed guards was that their ships did not get targeted, he said. "We are going to have to license that in a proper way, the Home Office has agreed to do that. But I think this is a big step up for our campaign against this piracy."
Other counter-piracy measures being taken include offering support from Treasury officials to Kenya to help them track down pirates' assets. Mr Cameron also said help could be given to countries such as The Seychelles and Mauritius, both represented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, who were acting to bring pirates to court and imprison them.
Nearly 3,000 banks have been put on a Government black-list of financial institutions which cannot be trusted to verify documents supporting student visa applications, officials have said.
Foreign students applying to study in the UK who claim they have funds to support themselves and pay for their course held in any of the banks on the list will receive no points for maintenance, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) said.
The list, which includes 1,977 banks in India, three in Pakistan and 762 in the Philippines, is the latest part of the Government's efforts to crack down on bogus students.
Study is the most common reason for migrants coming to the UK, with three in four of the 228,000 who came to the UK for study last year coming from outside the EU.
A UKBA spokeswoman said: "We have radically overhauled the student visa system in order to tackle abuses whilst continuing to attract the brightest and best genuine students from across the world.
"We need to be confident that those applying for student visas have the funds to support themselves and pay for their course in the UK."
Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of the campaign group Migration Watch UK, said the list was "just one indication of the rampant abuse of the student visa system".
"It is high time that interviews were re-introduced in countries of concern to weed out bogus students before they get a visa," he said. "Once they are here they are not only very difficult and expensive to remove but they also damage the reputation of our very valuable higher education sector."
Officials will give a 30-day notice period when any bank is added to the list to enable potential foreign students to provide financial documentation which meets the new requirements.
The list will also be kept under review, officials said.
The former girlfriend of murderer Vincent Tabak has extended her "deepest sorrow" to Joanna Yeates's family.
Her father added a "guardian angel" saved his daughter from the 33-year-old Dutch engineer who hid his depraved sex secrets.
Tanja Morson, 34, initially stood by her boyfriend, finding it impossible to believe he was a killer. But Tabak had deceived and manipulated her.
She turned her back on him after he confessed to a voluntary prison chaplain in February that he had killed the petite 25-year-old landscape architect.
In her only statement, Miss Morson told the Sunday Mirror: "I would like to extend my deepest sorrow and sympathy to the Yeates family for their loss.
"I am thankful to the judge, the jury, the barristers and solicitors for all their ongoing attention and professionalism."
On Friday, Tabak was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years at Bristol Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murdering Miss Yeates.
Miss Morson's father, Geoffrey, who lives in Cambridgeshire, told the paper his daughter was still absorbing the verdict.
The Canadian 68-year-old lawyer added: "He fooled us. He fooled everybody. There was a guardian angel for us, but not unfortunately for Joanna."
During sentencing Mr Justice Field described Tabak as "thoroughly deceitful, dishonest and manipulative".
Britain has threatened countries which ban homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform, David Cameron said.
But he conceded that "deep prejudices" against gays in some countries meant the problem would persist for years.
The Prime Minister said he had raised the issue with leaders of some of the states involved when he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia over the last two days.
Britain was "putting the pressure on" he said over an issue that was one of the stumbling blocks of a summit beset by failure to make significant progress on strengthening human rights protections.
It was not a problem that would be solved however by the next time Commonwealth leaders are due to meet in Sri Lanka in 2013. Mr Cameron also issued a clear warning to Sri Lanka to improve its human rights record or face boycotts of the 2013 summit.
He declined to discuss whether the UK could stay away but said he shared a "similar view" of the need to change with Canada, whose prime minister Stephen Harper has said he will not attend.
Ending bans on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of an highly-critical internal report into the future relevance of the Commonwealth - authored by experts from across the member nations including ex-Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind.
"We are not just talking about it. We are also saying that British aid should have more strings attached," Mr Cameron told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show in an interview recorded at the summit in Perth.
"This is an issue where we are pushing for movement, we are prepared to put some money behind what we believe. But I'm afraid that you can't expect countries to change overnight.
"Britain is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights. We are saying that is one of the things that determines our aid policy, and there have been particularly bad examples where we have taken action."
