December 6, 2010, 10:21 pm
![Image]( "WikiLeaks founder Assange arrested")
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit.
The 39-year-old Australian was held when he attended a central London police station by appointment.
He is expected to appear before a district judge at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court later.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.
"He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010."
A spokesman for City of Westminster Magistrates' Court said Mr Assange must appear before 12.30pm, unless a judge gives special permission for a later hearing.
Police contacted Mr Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens on Monday night after receiving a fresh European Arrest Warrant from the Swedish authorities.
The first warrant, issued last month, was not valid as officials had failed to fill in the form properly. Detectives in Sweden want to question Mr Assange after two women claimed they were sexually assaulted when he visited the country in August.
Mr Stephens said his client was keen to discover what allegations he was facing so he could clear his name.
He said: "It's about time we got to the end of the day and we got some truth, justice and rule of law. Julian Assange has been the one in hot pursuit to vindicate himself to clear his good name."
↧
↧
December 6, 2010, 10:21 pm
![Image]( "Karzai hails British 'sacrifices'")
David Cameron and Hamid Karzai have played down the significance of the WikiLeaks revelations of criticisms of British military operations in Afghanistan, as the Afghan President voiced his "gratitude for the sacrifices and the resources that Britain has brought" to his country.
As the two men met in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Prime Minster stressed that a leaked US diplomatic cable which quoted Mr Karzai as saying Britain was "not up to the task" in Helmand province dated back to before the surge in troops which has seen the UK deployment increased to 10,000 and joined by 20,000 Americans.
Mr Karzai voiced his "respect" for the British military's bravery and skills during talks, said Mr Cameron.
The Prime Minister restated his intention to start the transition to Afghan control of parts of the country in 2011 and complete the withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014. And he announced agreement on a long-term partnership plan which will see Britain offer economic, political and military support for Afghanistan after that date.
During his surprise two-day pre-Christmas visit to troops, Mr Cameron has voiced "cautious optimism" about the progress of military operations and said British troops could start to be withdrawn next year.
His view on the timetable was backed by the head of the UK Armed Forces, Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards, who accompanied him on a tour of bases. Gen Richards hailed the "astronomical" quickening of results on the ground and said success in the mission was "eminently do-able".
Describing himself as a "good friend" of the Prime Minister, Mr Karzai said at a joint press conference in his Kabul presidential palace that there was "some truth and some not-so-truths" in last week's WikiLeaks disclosures.
Asked if he would apologise for his quoted words, he replied: "Britain has been a steadfast supporter of Afghanistan and of the Afghan people. Britain has contributed in the sacrifice of its soldiers, of blood and of resources in Afghanistan, for which the Afghan people are extremely grateful.
"You have been operating as the British Army and trainers and civilians in a very difficult part of the country. We fully understand and appreciate the hard work you have been doing.
"So my word today to the British people on behalf of the Afghan people is gratitude for the sacrifice and the resources that Britain has brought to Afghanistan and the dedication to a stable, strong Afghanistan, a peaceful Afghanistan and an Afghanistan that will be standing on its own feet, rather than being dependent on others."
↧
December 6, 2010, 10:36 pm
![Image]( "Friendly-fire paratrooper mourned")
A British Army paratrooper killed in an apparent friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan was "never prepared to accept less than the best", his family said.
New Zealander Private John "Jack" Howard died while on patrol in the Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province on Sunday.
Initial reports suggest he could have been shot by cannon fire from a low-flying US plane, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The 23-year-old from Wellington, serving in the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was "always striving for the next challenge", his family told New Zealand media.
In a statement in the New Zealand Herald, they said they were "absolutely devastated to lose our son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin."
They went on: "Jack was immensely proud to be both a para and a New Zealander, He was absolutely passionate about what he was doing. His decision to try for the paras, which he regarded as the foremost infantry regiment in the world, reflected this drive and passion."
The incident was the 11th suspected death by friendly-fire since operations began in Afghanistan, and the third this year, the MoD said.
David Cameron said that the latest death of a British service member in Southern Afghanistan was "very tragic" but a consequence of "the fog of war".
It is understood the US jet believed to have been responsible for the death was on a "strafing run" and had been called in by British troops involved in a gunfight with insurgents.
Mr Cameron said: "It is a very tragic case. It is particularly tragic when you have one of these incidents of so-called friendly-fire. There needs to be an inquiry, as there always is in a case like this, so we get to the bottom of what has happened and why a mistake was made in this case."
↧
December 6, 2010, 10:36 pm
![Image]( "Suspect implicates victim's husband")
A suspect in the murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani in Cape Town has reportedly implicated her British husband.
South Africa's News 24 said one of the suspects arrested over Mrs Dewani's death claimed her husband Shrien paid to have her killed.
Mr Dewani has denied any involvement in his wife's murder.
Zola Tongo claimed Mr Dewani approached him about killing his new wife the day the couple arrived in South Africa. Swedish-born Mrs Dewani's body was found the next day in a Cape Town township; she had been shot in the back of the neck.
Tongo said he drove the couple from the airport to their hotel on November 13. Once his wife was out of earshot, the driver said Mr Dewani asked if he could find someone to kill her. Tongo said Mr Dewani offered 50,000 rand each (about £4,500), but paid only 1,000 (about £90).
The case has drawn wide attention in Britain and in South Africa, where crime is high but attacks on foreign tourists are rare.
As a result of his plea bargain, Tongo was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was expected to give evidence against the other suspects, including two South Africans who were arrested soon after Mrs Dewani's body was discovered.
Mr Dewani had told authorities the couple was returning to their hotel from dinner when gunmen forced him and the driver from the vehicle.
↧
December 6, 2010, 10:36 pm
![Image]( "No jail for concealed births mother")
A woman who concealed the births of four stillborn babies and kept three of them in her wardrobe for two decades has avoided jail.
Bernadette Quirk illegally buried one baby in a cemetery and wrapped the other three in newspaper and rags and kept them in a small plastic bin with an air freshener, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
The 55-year-old said she gave birth to the babies between 1985 and 1995.
Their remains were discovered last July by Quirk's daughter, Joanne Lee, who contacted police.
Quirk, of St Helens, Merseyside, admitted four counts of concealing births and was given a two-year community order, subject to supervision, and ordered to take part in a women's intervention project.
↧
↧
December 7, 2010, 12:59 am
![Image]( "NHS waiting times 'on the rise'")
NHS waiting times are on the rise after the Government scrapped the 18-week target for treatment, figures have suggested.
Thousands more people are waiting longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment from the time of referral by their GP, early indications show.
The Department of Health scrapped central monitoring of 18 weeks in June but said patients would not expect to return to long waiting times.
NHS trusts no longer have to prove they are treating patients within 18 weeks.
An analysis of figures by Pulse magazine shows 45,000 patients missed out on treatment within 18 weeks during September, up 15% from 39,000 in July.
Some 12.6% of patients needing orthopaedic or trauma treatment and 10.6% needing oral surgery waited more than 18 weeks.
Chaand Nagpaul, from the British Medical Association's GP committee, said trusts were already taking advantage of the fact the target had gone.
"We're getting reports of trusts delaying treatment so they can address financial problems. The Government is engaging in double speak - removing targets on one hand but committed to patients' rights (through the NHS Constitution) on the other."
The NHS Constitution, brought in by Labour, is legally binding and says patients should be treated within 18 weeks.
Figures for July show that 93.3% of admitted and 98.1% of non-admitted patients were treated within 18 weeks, but this has slipped since then.
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:01 am
![Image]( "Archbishop attacks 'nativity bans'")
The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised "the weary annual attempts" in Britain to ban Nativity plays and carol-singing.
Dr Rowan Williams described Christmas as "one of the great European exports" and said that people of other religions "love" the Nativity story.
His remarks come just days after his predecessor, Lord Carey, condemned the attempt to "airbrush" the Christian faith "out of the picture" at Christmas.
Dr Williams wrote in the Radio Times: "Christmas is one of the great European exports. You'll meet Santa Claus and his reindeer in Shanghai and Dar es Salaam - a long way from the North Pole.
"More seriously, the story of the Nativity is loved even in non-Christian contexts."
He said: "The weary annual attempts by right-thinking people in Britain to ban or discourage Nativity plays or public carol-singing out of sensitivity to the supposed tender consciences of other religions fail to notice that most people of other religions and cultures both love the story and respect the message."
Dr Williams said that the "story of defenceless love - even when wrapped up in all the bizarre fancy dress of Christmas as it's developed over the centuries - touches something universal".
He said that "one of the best and most sensitive recent film re-tellings" of the Nativity story had been made by an Iranian Muslim company.
Dr Williams, who recently blessed hotel kitchen staff in India before they mixed Christmas cake batter, added that the Nativity story "says something is happening that will break boundaries and cross frontiers ... there is something here that draws strangers together."
Earlier this month, Lord Carey said that Britain's Christian legacy was "under attack". Citing examples, he said: "The cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear 'Season's greetings'. The local council switches on 'winter lights' in place of Christmas decorations. Even Christmas has become something of which some are ashamed.""
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:06 am
![Image]( "Killer implicates victim's husband")
The husband of murdered honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has been accused in a South African court of plotting her death.
A South African convicted of killing Mrs Dewani claimed Shrien Dewani paid to have his wife killed on a late-night taxi ride to a notorious township.
In a plea agreement submitted in court, Zola Tongo claimed Mr Dewani approached him about killing his new wife the day the couple arrived in South Africa.
The body of 28-year-old Mrs Dewani was found the next day in the township; she had been shot in the back of the neck. Mr Dewani, 30, has denied any involvement in his wife's murder.
Mrs Dewani's father, Viand Hindocha, attended the hearing and left with tears in his eyes. He thanked South Africans who investigated the case, and people around the world who had offered his family support.
Tongo said he drove the couple from the airport to their hotel on November 13. Once the wife was out of earshot, the driver said Mr Dewani asked if he could find someone to kill her.Tongo said Mr Dewani offered 50,000 rand each (about £4,500), but paid only 1,000 (about £90).
As a result of his plea bargain, Tongo was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was expected to give evidence against the other suspects, including two South Africans who were arrested soon after Mrs Dewani's body was discovered.
Mr Dewani's publicist Max Clifford dismissed Tongo's story. "Coming from a taxi driver who admitted to playing a part in murdering his wife, I think it should be treated with contempt it deserves," Mr Clifford told Sky News.
In a statement the Dewani family said: "Shrien is totally innocent of any involvement in this heinous crime. These allegations are totally ludicrous and very hurtful to a young man who is grieving the loss of the woman he loved, his chosen life partner.
"South African police have never sought to speak to Shrien regarding the allegations."
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:06 am
![Image]( "Police 'failed murdered mother'")
A mother-of-two strangled to death by her convicted murderer ex-boyfriend was failed by police and legislators, a watchdog has said.
Maria Stubbings, 50, was murdered by Marc Chivers at her home in Chelmsford, Essex, in December 2008.
He had been freed from a German prison less than a year earlier after serving 15 years for murdering his then girlfriend Sabine Rappold.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said a gap in the law meant no restrictions were placed on Chivers when he was deported to Britain.
The watchdog also tore into "serious failures" in the response of Essex Police after Miss Stubbings contacted them for help.
It found human error, missed opportunities and individual failures meant officers and staff failed to protect the vulnerable woman.
The IPCC called on the Government to close the legal loophole and said Essex Police must review how it handles calls from victims of domestic violence.
Miss Stubbings' brother Manuel Fernandez said he is "outraged and utterly disappointed" by the IPCC inquiry. He said a few "tickings off" and an appeal to change the law "does not cut it" and he will sue Essex Police.
Mr Fernandez said: "Today I am presented with a report which fails to recognise fully the countless errors the police made - it is scant in detail to say the least.
"I question the time the investigation took, and the capabilities of those conducting it, not to mention the cost to the public purse, for a report which is weak and vague. It is nothing less than an insult to my dead sister."
↧
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:06 am
![Image]( "Helicopter rescue as snow continues")
A police helicopter was called in to rescue a dog walker who fell 30ft down a steep snow-covered slope in sub-zero conditions, as the icy weather continued to cause disruptions across the country.
The 51-year-old woman was walking her two dogs in a densely-wooded area of the Valley Gardens in Saltburn, Cleveland, at 9am when she slipped off the footpath.
She rang the emergency services from her mobile, despite only having patchy reception, and officers set out to find her. They struggled to locate the woman as she was hidden from view by trees as the temperature hovered around minus 2C (28.4F).
Colleagues in the Cleveland Police helicopter managed to find her using a thermal imaging camera at about 9.45am. With the help of search and rescue specialists, the woman was lifted to safety on a spinal board as a precaution and taken to the James Cook University Hospital for a check-up.
Elsewhere, motorists were still recovering after hundreds had to spend the night stranded in freezing temperatures as gridlock hit several major routes in Scotland.
Police across the country's busy central belt warned people not to travel unless it was "absolutely essential" after temperatures plunged as low as minus 17C (1.4F) and hampered gritting efforts.
The AA said Monday was one of the busiest days in its history with around 24,000 breakdowns attended - up from 10,500 on a normal Monday.
Many schools in central Scotland were closed and Glasgow University cancelled all exams scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Eighty exams across all disciplines will be affected and will be rescheduled for January.
Brendan Jones, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said temperatures were due to rise from Thursday through the weekend thanks to a shift in the wind direction: "At the moment, temperatures are struggling to get above freezing, but by Thursday most places are going to be above zero - 4C (39.2F) or 5C (41F) across large parts of the country. Many places will have a frost-free night."
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:06 am
![Image]( "WikiLeaks founder Assange in court")
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit.
The 39-year-old Australian was held when he attended a central London police station by appointment.
He is due to appear before District Judge Caroline Tubbs in court one of City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon, court staff said.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.
"He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010."
A spokesman for City of Westminster Magistrates' Court said Mr Assange must appear before 12.30pm, unless a judge gives special permission for a later hearing.
Police contacted Mr Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens on Monday night after receiving a fresh European Arrest Warrant from the Swedish authorities.
Mr Assange was mobbed by photographers as he arrived at court with Mr Stephens and the rest of his legal team. Speaking outside court, Mr Stephens said his client is "fine".
Asked about the meeting with police, he replied: "It was very cordial. They have verified his identity.They are satisfied he is the real Julian Assange and we are ready to go into court."
A WikiLeaks spokesman said the arrest will not disrupt the release of further leaked cables tonight. Speaking via Twitter, he said: "Today's actions against our editor-in-chief Julian Assange won't affect our operations: we will release more cables tonight as normal."
↧
December 7, 2010, 1:06 am
![Image]( "UK drops down education rankings")
The UK has slipped further down world education rankings as teenagers fall behind their peers in reading, maths and science.
Countries including Poland and Norway have overtaken the UK in the last three years as education here has "stagnated".
Britain has fallen from 17th in 2006 to 25th for reading skills among 15-year-olds, according to a major study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In maths, the UK has dropped from 24th to 28th place, it shows.
Around half a million 15-year-olds from more than 70 countries took part in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study 2009, with the results for 65 published.
The study assessed how students could use their knowledge and skills in real life, rather than just repeating facts and figures.
The findings showed that the UK's score for reading was 494, about the same as the OECD average, 493. The top performer for reading was Shanghai-China with a score of 556.
For maths skills, the UK's score was 492, again similar to the OECD average of 496. Shanghai-China was again top-ranked with a score of 600.
In science the UK received a score of 514, placing it 16th. The OECD average was 501, and Shanghai-China was again top with 575.
The UK's results remained similar to those in the 2006 PISA study, when the UK was ranked 17th for reading skills, 24th for maths and 14th for science.
↧
December 7, 2010, 4:24 am
![Image]( "Tuition fees demo 'may be hijacked'")
Police are warning that this week's anti-fees protests could be hijacked by "violent youths".
Thousands of students and lecturers are expected to take to the streets on Wednesday and Thursday to demonstrate against the Government's plans to treble university tuition fees.
But the Metropolitan Police raised concerns that troublemakers could use the protests as an "excuse" for violence.
Protests held last month against the proposals were marred by violent clashes and resulted in numerous arrests.
Commander Bob Broadhurst, head of the Met's Public Order Branch said: "We have seen groups of youths descending on the last few student protests as the day progresses, purely with the aim of using the event as a venue for violence and to attack police.
"It has been obvious that these particular elements are not genuine protesters and they have no intention of protesting about cuts to tuition fees or any other issue. They have turned up purely to take part in violence and disorder.
"We will work with all protesters who want to peacefully protest and we acknowledge and respect their right to do so, but I would warn them to be aware of this violent element, which could harm them and their cause."
Mr Broadhurst called for parents to advise their children of the dangers of attending a protest as youngsters are more at risk if violence breaks out.
Many school children, including some dressed in school uniform, attended previous demonstrations, and the Met was criticised after pupils were "kettled" for several hours during the second of a series of protests on November 24.
"Violence and disorder is often a result of a minority who are determined to cause trouble," Mr Broadhurst said.
↧
↧
December 7, 2010, 5:10 am
![Image]( "WikiLeaks founder held in custody")
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on an extradition warrant.
The 39-year-old Australian is wanted by prosecutors in Sweden over claims he sexually assaulted two women.
District Judge Howard Riddle refused bail on the grounds there is a risk he would fail to surrender.
Gemma Lindfield, for the Swedish authorities, told the court Assange is wanted in connection with four allegations.
She said the first complainant, Miss A, said she was victim of "unlawful coercion" on the night of August 14 in Stockholm. The court heard Assange is accused of using his body weight to hold her down in a sexual manner.
The second charge alleged Assange "sexually molested" Miss A by having sex with her without a condom when it was her "express wish" one should be used.
The third charge claimed Assange "deliberately molested" Miss A on August 18 "in a way designed to violate her sexual integrity".
The fourth charge accused Assange of having sex with a second woman, Miss W, on August 17 without a condom while she was asleep at her Stockholm home.
Assange was ordered to appear again before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on December 14.
Jemima Khan, the sister of Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, film director Ken Loach and veteran journalist John Pilger all offered to stand as surety for Assange. The court heard they were prepared to stake their reputation by offering sureties with a total value of £180,000.
↧
December 7, 2010, 5:36 am
![Image]( "Clarke tackles youth reoffending")
Youth reoffending must be tackled to stop young people becoming "the prolific career criminals of tomorrow", Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has said.
A radically different approach is needed to improve a criminal justice system that "falls short of what is required", Mr Clarke said.
Launching the Government's Green Paper on sentencing, he said the Government "must give higher priority to getting more prisoners to go straight on release".
The Green Paper marks a change in policy that will "put more emphasis on reducing reoffending without reducing the punishment of offenders", Mr Clarke said.
"By reforming criminals and turning them away from a life of crime we will break the cycle. This will mean fewer crimes, fewer victims and safer communities."
Community sentences will be made "more credible with more demanding work and greater use of tough curfew requirements", he said.
Payment by results will be brought in to at least six projects over the next two years, with a "revolutionary shift in the way rehabilitation is financed and delivered". This approach will also be trialled with young offenders, with more responsibility for preventing and tackling youth offending given to local communities.
The sentencing framework will be simplified "to make it more comprehensible to the public and to enhance judicial independence". Issuing more fines will be encouraged and the way they are collected will be improved, he said.
The abuse of drugs and alcohol will be tackled, and treatment for those suffering mental illness will also be improved.
Controversial indefinite sentences for the public protection, widely criticised as a mistake by prison reform campaigners, will be restricted for only the most serious offenders.
↧
December 7, 2010, 5:36 am
![Image]( "Misery continues as snow forecast")
Plummeting temperatures and freezing conditions have caused more misery for motorists as forecasters warned of further snow to come.
Hundreds of drivers battled to get home after spending a night stranded in their cars in bitterly cold conditions as Scotland bore the brunt of a fresh wave of Arctic weather.
One retired couple was left "starving and freezing" for 17 hours on a journey which would usually have taken 40 minutes.
The most recent deluge - which appeared to take the authorities by surprise - forced people to sleep in their cars or abandon them as major routes became impassable.
Meanwhile 40% of children were turned away from classes north of the border.
This came after around 100 youngsters were forced to sleep at their school because bad weather prevented them from getting home.
North-east Scotland and north-west England were battered by more snow and blizzards during the day as temperatures struggled to rise above zero.
While the mercury dipped to minus 18C in Strathallan, Scotland, on Monday night, even at midday on Tuesday the highest temperature was only 4C, recorded in Penzance, Cornwall.
Forecasters said there was unlikely to be a let-up in the freezing conditions.
Up to 15cm is forecast for parts of Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Highlands and the North York Moors while Humberside, Lincolnshire and East Anglia may also wake up to a fresh covering.
↧
December 7, 2010, 5:36 am
![Image]( "RBS sale 'would signal recovery'")
The sale of the Government's shares in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) would be "a symbol of Britain's recovery", its chief executive has suggested.
Stephen Hester made clear he would welcome the move, saying it would help RBS - which is 83% state-owned - and provide a boost to the nation's finances.
The head of Lloyds Banking Group refused to say when the Government's 41% stake in his company should be sold off, but also held out the prospect of a windfall for the Treasury.
The taxpayer was "in the money", Eric Daniels told MPs.
Speaking to the Treasury Select Committee, Mr Hester acknowledged criticism that money invested in banks could be better spent on schools, hospitals and roads.
He denied having discussed the Government's shareholding in RBS - arising from its 2008 bailout - with Chancellor George Osborne.
But he said that sales of the shares would be "a very important positive for both the nation and RBS".
"I think it would be a symbol of Britain's recovery, it would help the public purse, it would be a symbol of RBS's recovery, it would help all sides," he said.
Giving evidence separately to the select committee, Mr Daniels said it was up to the Government when it sold its shareholding in Lloyds.
But asked about the likely price, he said: "The price currently is above the break-even point for the Government, so the taxpayer is in the money."
↧
↧
December 7, 2010, 5:36 am
![Image]( "Clegg vows to support fees increase")
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has confirmed he will vote in favour of tuition fee rises, as he tried to minimise damage from a three-way split in his party.
Mr Clegg said he had hopes MPs could "walk through the fire" together by collectively abstaining in the key ballot on Thursday, but it is clear that is not possible.
He accepted that all Lib Dems hold strong views on the issue, and praised the way they have conducted themselves in a "difficult" situation without showing personal animosity.
A significant number of the party's MPs - including potentially some Government members - are expected to go against the coalition agreement by voting no to fee hikes.
There could be repercussions if ministers decide to abstain rather than actively backing Government policy.
Addressing his parliamentary party, Mr Clegg said there had been a "lot of pressure" from the media and protesters.
But he insisted that "to govern was to choose" and, with money tight, the coalition had decided to pump funds into early years education.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Business Secretary Vince Cable for forging a "fair" policy that meant no-one had to pay upfront for their studies.
Mr Clegg also set out the mechanism for dealing with MPs and Government members who decided they could not support the fees measures - but aides refused to reveal those details.
Lib Dem grandees Lord Ashdown and Lady Williams have come to Mr Clegg's aid by appealing to the party's MPs not to vote against the reform package, which will treble the maximum annual charge to £9,000.
↧
December 7, 2010, 6:03 am
![Image]( "WikiLeaks founder vows to fight on")
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wa refused bail but has vowed to fight attempts to extradite him to Sweden.
The 39-year-old Australian was remanded in custody after appearing before a judge over claims that he sexually assaulted two women.
The former hacker turned himself in to Scotland Yard detectives after a two-week guessing game over his location.
His legal team said they will make a second bid to regain his freedom when he appears in court again next Tuesday.
They claimed Swedish prosecutors have been put under political pressure to restart their inquiry to help silence and discredit Assange.
The decision to remand him in custody came despite the offer of a £180,000 surety from backers including John Pilger, Jemima Khan and Ken Loach.
Supporters said the move would not hinder the steady stream of United States diplomatic cables published on the WikiLeaks website.
The latest documents included details of a Nato defence plan for Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
But the organisation suffered fresh blows to its finances as global payment giants Visa and MasterCard said they would no longer service it.
WikiLeaks has already been forced to change domains, its servers and lost the use of PayPal as a series of companies severed ties.
↧
December 7, 2010, 6:35 am
![Image]( "Clarke tackles record jail numbers")
Murderers could serve less time in prison under Government plans that would see shorter sentences, fewer criminals in jail and more offenders handed fines or community sentences.
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke outlined plans which would give judges more discretion over how long killers should spend behind bars.
A "simpler, more sensible" approach that "leaves the judge to do justice in the individual case" will be put in place.
Other plans include letting foreign nationals escape jail as long as they leave the UK forever, wiping the slate clean for young offenders when they reach 18 so they are not hindered by a criminal record, and halving sentences for those who plead guilty early.
The Government's plans immediately came under fire from Tory backbenchers worried criminals would avoid being sent to prison.
Senior Tory Edward Leigh, MP for Gainsborough, said he was concerned by Mr Clarke's comments about prison not continuing to be "an expensive way of giving communities a break", saying: "I'm sorry. Communities deserve a break. They deserve a break from being burgled."
But Mr Clarke insisted that prisons will remain "first and foremost as a place of punishment where people lose their liberty as reparation for what they have done".
"No-one's intending to reduce the sentence for the serious criminal murderer," Mr Clarke said as he outlined plans to scrap legislation that attempts to analyse "each and every sort of murder largely by the method used by the murderer".
"You don't need to tell judges that murder is a serious offence and judges are perfectly capable of setting minimum terms," he said.
He added the current rules were "a complete nonsense" and said: "At the moment, if you murder me you'll be punished more if you use a knife than if you strangle me painfully.
↧
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested by officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit.
The 39-year-old Australian was held when he attended a central London police station by appointment.
He is expected to appear before a district judge at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court later.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.
"He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010."
A spokesman for City of Westminster Magistrates' Court said Mr Assange must appear before 12.30pm, unless a judge gives special permission for a later hearing.
Police contacted Mr Assange's lawyer Mark Stephens on Monday night after receiving a fresh European Arrest Warrant from the Swedish authorities.
The first warrant, issued last month, was not valid as officials had failed to fill in the form properly. Detectives in Sweden want to question Mr Assange after two women claimed they were sexually assaulted when he visited the country in August.
Mr Stephens said his client was keen to discover what allegations he was facing so he could clear his name.
He said: "It's about time we got to the end of the day and we got some truth, justice and rule of law. Julian Assange has been the one in hot pursuit to vindicate himself to clear his good name."
David Cameron and Hamid Karzai have played down the significance of the WikiLeaks revelations of criticisms of British military operations in Afghanistan, as the Afghan President voiced his "gratitude for the sacrifices and the resources that Britain has brought" to his country.
As the two men met in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Prime Minster stressed that a leaked US diplomatic cable which quoted Mr Karzai as saying Britain was "not up to the task" in Helmand province dated back to before the surge in troops which has seen the UK deployment increased to 10,000 and joined by 20,000 Americans.
Mr Karzai voiced his "respect" for the British military's bravery and skills during talks, said Mr Cameron.
The Prime Minister restated his intention to start the transition to Afghan control of parts of the country in 2011 and complete the withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014. And he announced agreement on a long-term partnership plan which will see Britain offer economic, political and military support for Afghanistan after that date.
During his surprise two-day pre-Christmas visit to troops, Mr Cameron has voiced "cautious optimism" about the progress of military operations and said British troops could start to be withdrawn next year.
His view on the timetable was backed by the head of the UK Armed Forces, Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards, who accompanied him on a tour of bases. Gen Richards hailed the "astronomical" quickening of results on the ground and said success in the mission was "eminently do-able".
Describing himself as a "good friend" of the Prime Minister, Mr Karzai said at a joint press conference in his Kabul presidential palace that there was "some truth and some not-so-truths" in last week's WikiLeaks disclosures.
Asked if he would apologise for his quoted words, he replied: "Britain has been a steadfast supporter of Afghanistan and of the Afghan people. Britain has contributed in the sacrifice of its soldiers, of blood and of resources in Afghanistan, for which the Afghan people are extremely grateful.
"You have been operating as the British Army and trainers and civilians in a very difficult part of the country. We fully understand and appreciate the hard work you have been doing.
"So my word today to the British people on behalf of the Afghan people is gratitude for the sacrifice and the resources that Britain has brought to Afghanistan and the dedication to a stable, strong Afghanistan, a peaceful Afghanistan and an Afghanistan that will be standing on its own feet, rather than being dependent on others."
A British Army paratrooper killed in an apparent friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan was "never prepared to accept less than the best", his family said.
New Zealander Private John "Jack" Howard died while on patrol in the Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province on Sunday.
Initial reports suggest he could have been shot by cannon fire from a low-flying US plane, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The 23-year-old from Wellington, serving in the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was "always striving for the next challenge", his family told New Zealand media.
In a statement in the New Zealand Herald, they said they were "absolutely devastated to lose our son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin."
They went on: "Jack was immensely proud to be both a para and a New Zealander, He was absolutely passionate about what he was doing. His decision to try for the paras, which he regarded as the foremost infantry regiment in the world, reflected this drive and passion."
The incident was the 11th suspected death by friendly-fire since operations began in Afghanistan, and the third this year, the MoD said.
David Cameron said that the latest death of a British service member in Southern Afghanistan was "very tragic" but a consequence of "the fog of war".
It is understood the US jet believed to have been responsible for the death was on a "strafing run" and had been called in by British troops involved in a gunfight with insurgents.
Mr Cameron said: "It is a very tragic case. It is particularly tragic when you have one of these incidents of so-called friendly-fire. There needs to be an inquiry, as there always is in a case like this, so we get to the bottom of what has happened and why a mistake was made in this case."
A suspect in the murder of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani in Cape Town has reportedly implicated her British husband.
South Africa's News 24 said one of the suspects arrested over Mrs Dewani's death claimed her husband Shrien paid to have her killed.
Mr Dewani has denied any involvement in his wife's murder.
Zola Tongo claimed Mr Dewani approached him about killing his new wife the day the couple arrived in South Africa. Swedish-born Mrs Dewani's body was found the next day in a Cape Town township; she had been shot in the back of the neck.
Tongo said he drove the couple from the airport to their hotel on November 13. Once his wife was out of earshot, the driver said Mr Dewani asked if he could find someone to kill her. Tongo said Mr Dewani offered 50,000 rand each (about £4,500), but paid only 1,000 (about £90).
The case has drawn wide attention in Britain and in South Africa, where crime is high but attacks on foreign tourists are rare.
As a result of his plea bargain, Tongo was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was expected to give evidence against the other suspects, including two South Africans who were arrested soon after Mrs Dewani's body was discovered.
Mr Dewani had told authorities the couple was returning to their hotel from dinner when gunmen forced him and the driver from the vehicle.
A woman who concealed the births of four stillborn babies and kept three of them in her wardrobe for two decades has avoided jail.
Bernadette Quirk illegally buried one baby in a cemetery and wrapped the other three in newspaper and rags and kept them in a small plastic bin with an air freshener, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
The 55-year-old said she gave birth to the babies between 1985 and 1995.
Their remains were discovered last July by Quirk's daughter, Joanne Lee, who contacted police.
Quirk, of St Helens, Merseyside, admitted four counts of concealing births and was given a two-year community order, subject to supervision, and ordered to take part in a women's intervention project.
NHS waiting times are on the rise after the Government scrapped the 18-week target for treatment, figures have suggested.
Thousands more people are waiting longer than 18 weeks for hospital treatment from the time of referral by their GP, early indications show.
The Department of Health scrapped central monitoring of 18 weeks in June but said patients would not expect to return to long waiting times.
NHS trusts no longer have to prove they are treating patients within 18 weeks.
An analysis of figures by Pulse magazine shows 45,000 patients missed out on treatment within 18 weeks during September, up 15% from 39,000 in July.
Some 12.6% of patients needing orthopaedic or trauma treatment and 10.6% needing oral surgery waited more than 18 weeks.
Chaand Nagpaul, from the British Medical Association's GP committee, said trusts were already taking advantage of the fact the target had gone.
"We're getting reports of trusts delaying treatment so they can address financial problems. The Government is engaging in double speak - removing targets on one hand but committed to patients' rights (through the NHS Constitution) on the other."
The NHS Constitution, brought in by Labour, is legally binding and says patients should be treated within 18 weeks.
Figures for July show that 93.3% of admitted and 98.1% of non-admitted patients were treated within 18 weeks, but this has slipped since then.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised "the weary annual attempts" in Britain to ban Nativity plays and carol-singing.
Dr Rowan Williams described Christmas as "one of the great European exports" and said that people of other religions "love" the Nativity story.
His remarks come just days after his predecessor, Lord Carey, condemned the attempt to "airbrush" the Christian faith "out of the picture" at Christmas.
Dr Williams wrote in the Radio Times: "Christmas is one of the great European exports. You'll meet Santa Claus and his reindeer in Shanghai and Dar es Salaam - a long way from the North Pole.
"More seriously, the story of the Nativity is loved even in non-Christian contexts."
He said: "The weary annual attempts by right-thinking people in Britain to ban or discourage Nativity plays or public carol-singing out of sensitivity to the supposed tender consciences of other religions fail to notice that most people of other religions and cultures both love the story and respect the message."
Dr Williams said that the "story of defenceless love - even when wrapped up in all the bizarre fancy dress of Christmas as it's developed over the centuries - touches something universal".
He said that "one of the best and most sensitive recent film re-tellings" of the Nativity story had been made by an Iranian Muslim company.
Dr Williams, who recently blessed hotel kitchen staff in India before they mixed Christmas cake batter, added that the Nativity story "says something is happening that will break boundaries and cross frontiers ... there is something here that draws strangers together."
Earlier this month, Lord Carey said that Britain's Christian legacy was "under attack". Citing examples, he said: "The cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear 'Season's greetings'. The local council switches on 'winter lights' in place of Christmas decorations. Even Christmas has become something of which some are ashamed.""
A mother-of-two strangled to death by her convicted murderer ex-boyfriend was failed by police and legislators, a watchdog has said.
Maria Stubbings, 50, was murdered by Marc Chivers at her home in Chelmsford, Essex, in December 2008.
He had been freed from a German prison less than a year earlier after serving 15 years for murdering his then girlfriend Sabine Rappold.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said a gap in the law meant no restrictions were placed on Chivers when he was deported to Britain.
The watchdog also tore into "serious failures" in the response of Essex Police after Miss Stubbings contacted them for help.
It found human error, missed opportunities and individual failures meant officers and staff failed to protect the vulnerable woman.
The IPCC called on the Government to close the legal loophole and said Essex Police must review how it handles calls from victims of domestic violence.
Miss Stubbings' brother Manuel Fernandez said he is "outraged and utterly disappointed" by the IPCC inquiry. He said a few "tickings off" and an appeal to change the law "does not cut it" and he will sue Essex Police.
Mr Fernandez said: "Today I am presented with a report which fails to recognise fully the countless errors the police made - it is scant in detail to say the least.
"I question the time the investigation took, and the capabilities of those conducting it, not to mention the cost to the public purse, for a report which is weak and vague. It is nothing less than an insult to my dead sister."
A police helicopter was called in to rescue a dog walker who fell 30ft down a steep snow-covered slope in sub-zero conditions, as the icy weather continued to cause disruptions across the country.
The 51-year-old woman was walking her two dogs in a densely-wooded area of the Valley Gardens in Saltburn, Cleveland, at 9am when she slipped off the footpath.
She rang the emergency services from her mobile, despite only having patchy reception, and officers set out to find her. They struggled to locate the woman as she was hidden from view by trees as the temperature hovered around minus 2C (28.4F).
Colleagues in the Cleveland Police helicopter managed to find her using a thermal imaging camera at about 9.45am. With the help of search and rescue specialists, the woman was lifted to safety on a spinal board as a precaution and taken to the James Cook University Hospital for a check-up.
Elsewhere, motorists were still recovering after hundreds had to spend the night stranded in freezing temperatures as gridlock hit several major routes in Scotland.
Police across the country's busy central belt warned people not to travel unless it was "absolutely essential" after temperatures plunged as low as minus 17C (1.4F) and hampered gritting efforts.
The AA said Monday was one of the busiest days in its history with around 24,000 breakdowns attended - up from 10,500 on a normal Monday.
Many schools in central Scotland were closed and Glasgow University cancelled all exams scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Eighty exams across all disciplines will be affected and will be rescheduled for January.
Brendan Jones, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said temperatures were due to rise from Thursday through the weekend thanks to a shift in the wind direction: "At the moment, temperatures are struggling to get above freezing, but by Thursday most places are going to be above zero - 4C (39.2F) or 5C (41F) across large parts of the country. Many places will have a frost-free night."
The UK has slipped further down world education rankings as teenagers fall behind their peers in reading, maths and science.
Countries including Poland and Norway have overtaken the UK in the last three years as education here has "stagnated".
Britain has fallen from 17th in 2006 to 25th for reading skills among 15-year-olds, according to a major study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In maths, the UK has dropped from 24th to 28th place, it shows.
Around half a million 15-year-olds from more than 70 countries took part in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study 2009, with the results for 65 published.
The study assessed how students could use their knowledge and skills in real life, rather than just repeating facts and figures.
The findings showed that the UK's score for reading was 494, about the same as the OECD average, 493. The top performer for reading was Shanghai-China with a score of 556.
For maths skills, the UK's score was 492, again similar to the OECD average of 496. Shanghai-China was again top-ranked with a score of 600.
In science the UK received a score of 514, placing it 16th. The OECD average was 501, and Shanghai-China was again top with 575.
The UK's results remained similar to those in the 2006 PISA study, when the UK was ranked 17th for reading skills, 24th for maths and 14th for science.
Police are warning that this week's anti-fees protests could be hijacked by "violent youths".
Thousands of students and lecturers are expected to take to the streets on Wednesday and Thursday to demonstrate against the Government's plans to treble university tuition fees.
But the Metropolitan Police raised concerns that troublemakers could use the protests as an "excuse" for violence.
Protests held last month against the proposals were marred by violent clashes and resulted in numerous arrests.
Commander Bob Broadhurst, head of the Met's Public Order Branch said: "We have seen groups of youths descending on the last few student protests as the day progresses, purely with the aim of using the event as a venue for violence and to attack police.
"It has been obvious that these particular elements are not genuine protesters and they have no intention of protesting about cuts to tuition fees or any other issue. They have turned up purely to take part in violence and disorder.
"We will work with all protesters who want to peacefully protest and we acknowledge and respect their right to do so, but I would warn them to be aware of this violent element, which could harm them and their cause."
Mr Broadhurst called for parents to advise their children of the dangers of attending a protest as youngsters are more at risk if violence breaks out.
Many school children, including some dressed in school uniform, attended previous demonstrations, and the Met was criticised after pupils were "kettled" for several hours during the second of a series of protests on November 24.
"Violence and disorder is often a result of a minority who are determined to cause trouble," Mr Broadhurst said.
Youth reoffending must be tackled to stop young people becoming "the prolific career criminals of tomorrow", Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has said.
A radically different approach is needed to improve a criminal justice system that "falls short of what is required", Mr Clarke said.
Launching the Government's Green Paper on sentencing, he said the Government "must give higher priority to getting more prisoners to go straight on release".
The Green Paper marks a change in policy that will "put more emphasis on reducing reoffending without reducing the punishment of offenders", Mr Clarke said.
"By reforming criminals and turning them away from a life of crime we will break the cycle. This will mean fewer crimes, fewer victims and safer communities."
Community sentences will be made "more credible with more demanding work and greater use of tough curfew requirements", he said.
Payment by results will be brought in to at least six projects over the next two years, with a "revolutionary shift in the way rehabilitation is financed and delivered". This approach will also be trialled with young offenders, with more responsibility for preventing and tackling youth offending given to local communities.
The sentencing framework will be simplified "to make it more comprehensible to the public and to enhance judicial independence". Issuing more fines will be encouraged and the way they are collected will be improved, he said.
The abuse of drugs and alcohol will be tackled, and treatment for those suffering mental illness will also be improved.
Controversial indefinite sentences for the public protection, widely criticised as a mistake by prison reform campaigners, will be restricted for only the most serious offenders.
Plummeting temperatures and freezing conditions have caused more misery for motorists as forecasters warned of further snow to come.
Hundreds of drivers battled to get home after spending a night stranded in their cars in bitterly cold conditions as Scotland bore the brunt of a fresh wave of Arctic weather.
One retired couple was left "starving and freezing" for 17 hours on a journey which would usually have taken 40 minutes.
The most recent deluge - which appeared to take the authorities by surprise - forced people to sleep in their cars or abandon them as major routes became impassable.
Meanwhile 40% of children were turned away from classes north of the border.
This came after around 100 youngsters were forced to sleep at their school because bad weather prevented them from getting home.
North-east Scotland and north-west England were battered by more snow and blizzards during the day as temperatures struggled to rise above zero.
While the mercury dipped to minus 18C in Strathallan, Scotland, on Monday night, even at midday on Tuesday the highest temperature was only 4C, recorded in Penzance, Cornwall.
Forecasters said there was unlikely to be a let-up in the freezing conditions.
Up to 15cm is forecast for parts of Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Highlands and the North York Moors while Humberside, Lincolnshire and East Anglia may also wake up to a fresh covering.
The sale of the Government's shares in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) would be "a symbol of Britain's recovery", its chief executive has suggested.
Stephen Hester made clear he would welcome the move, saying it would help RBS - which is 83% state-owned - and provide a boost to the nation's finances.
The head of Lloyds Banking Group refused to say when the Government's 41% stake in his company should be sold off, but also held out the prospect of a windfall for the Treasury.
The taxpayer was "in the money", Eric Daniels told MPs.
Speaking to the Treasury Select Committee, Mr Hester acknowledged criticism that money invested in banks could be better spent on schools, hospitals and roads.
He denied having discussed the Government's shareholding in RBS - arising from its 2008 bailout - with Chancellor George Osborne.
But he said that sales of the shares would be "a very important positive for both the nation and RBS".
"I think it would be a symbol of Britain's recovery, it would help the public purse, it would be a symbol of RBS's recovery, it would help all sides," he said.
Giving evidence separately to the select committee, Mr Daniels said it was up to the Government when it sold its shareholding in Lloyds.
But asked about the likely price, he said: "The price currently is above the break-even point for the Government, so the taxpayer is in the money."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has confirmed he will vote in favour of tuition fee rises, as he tried to minimise damage from a three-way split in his party.
Mr Clegg said he had hopes MPs could "walk through the fire" together by collectively abstaining in the key ballot on Thursday, but it is clear that is not possible.
He accepted that all Lib Dems hold strong views on the issue, and praised the way they have conducted themselves in a "difficult" situation without showing personal animosity.
A significant number of the party's MPs - including potentially some Government members - are expected to go against the coalition agreement by voting no to fee hikes.
There could be repercussions if ministers decide to abstain rather than actively backing Government policy.
Addressing his parliamentary party, Mr Clegg said there had been a "lot of pressure" from the media and protesters.
But he insisted that "to govern was to choose" and, with money tight, the coalition had decided to pump funds into early years education.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Business Secretary Vince Cable for forging a "fair" policy that meant no-one had to pay upfront for their studies.
Mr Clegg also set out the mechanism for dealing with MPs and Government members who decided they could not support the fees measures - but aides refused to reveal those details.
Lib Dem grandees Lord Ashdown and Lady Williams have come to Mr Clegg's aid by appealing to the party's MPs not to vote against the reform package, which will treble the maximum annual charge to £9,000.
