Expenses: MacShane Letters Protected By Rules

Letters in which a former Labour minister admitted expenses abuses cannot be used to prosecute him because they are protected by parliamentary privilege, an official has said.

Denis MacShane stepped down as an MP after a damning report from the Commons expenses watchdog found he had wrongly claimed thousands of pounds.

The report said he submitted 19 false invoices "plainly intended to deceive" Parliament's expenses authority - which said the case was the "gravest" it had dealt with.

There are now calls for a police investigation into Mr MacShane's expense claims, which was dropped in July, to be reopened.

The Metropolitan Police said: "We are aware of the report and will be assessing its content in due course."

The letters, which were never shown to the original inquiry because of parliamentary privilege, are likely to be examined by the police, but are still protected from being used in court.

Clerk of the Journals Liam Laurence Smyth, who is responsible for parliamentary privilege issues, admitted that many people would find the situation "surprising", but said privilege was necessary for Parliament to function effectively.

Even if Mr MacShane had openly admitted criminal behaviour in his evidence, the police would not be able to rely on the comments in court, he said.

However, he suggested the police might now be able to use the letters as a "map" to further their own enquiries.

Conservative MP Philip Davies, who urged the Met to reopen its investigation, said it was a "sad state of affairs" that Mr MacShane was protected by parliamentary privilege.

"All it will do is further undermine the reputation of Parliament," he said.

"There will be millions of people out there who think that MPs are above the law and that is what the perception will be."

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon found the MP had entered 19 "misleading" expenses claims for research and translation services from a body called the European Policy Institute (EPI), signed by its supposed general manager.

However, the institute did not exist "in this form" by the time in question and the general manager's signature was provided by Mr MacShane himself or someone else "under his authority".

One letter from the MP to Mr Lyon in October 2009 described how he drew funds from the EPI so he could serve on a book-judging panel in Paris.

"I appreciate the committee's ruling that I made no personal gain and I regret my foolishness in the manner I chose to be reimbursed for work including working as the Prime Minister's personal envoy in Europe," he said.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama And Romney Trade Economy Blows

US President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney have each seized on new employment figures to bolster their campaigns with just days to go before Tuesday's election.

Jobs and the economy were the dominant issue in the presidential race as both candidates arrived in the key swing state of Ohio to address voters.

The latest employment snapshot showed the US economy added 171,000 net new jobs in October. It also showed hiring was stronger in August and September than first thought.

Mr Obama, who faces voters with the highest unemployment rate of any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression of the 1930s, told supporters in Hilliard that another month of job growth was "real progress".

But he went on to declare: "We've got more work to do."

At the same time, the unemployment rate rose to 7.9% in October, from 7.8% in September, mainly because more people began looking for work.

Mr Obama waves to supporters during a rally at Lima Senior High School

That news was seized upon by the Republicans as proof the economy is still stagnating, and would be safer in the hands of businessman Mr Romney, who said the jobs report was a "sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill".

In September, the jobless rate had fallen from 8.1% to 7.8% and the drop was used by Mr Obama's campaign as evidence that the fragile US economy was finally on the mend.

Back on the campaign trail after two days lost due to superstorm Sandy on the US East Coast, both men reflected on the past few days' events.

Mr Obama described the disaster as "one of the worst storms in our history", adding: "As a nation, we mourn those who were lost."

Mr Romney said: "We are a nation of generous hearts - and those hearts are called upon in a time of crisis like this."

Both insisted they were the better man to lead the country and were the true agent of change.

Mr Romney said Mr Obama had "fallen short of what he promised" when he was elected four years ago.

"Candidate Obama promised change, but he could not deliver it. I promise change, and I have a record of achieving it," he said.

"The question of this election comes down to this: do you want more of the same or do you want real change? And we bring real change," Mr Romney told a rally in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Mr Romney speaks to supporters in West Allis, Wisconsin

Mr Obama took aim at Mr Romney, accusing him of running dishonest adverts on the automotive industry to scare voters in Ohio, saying: "This isn't a game. These are people's jobs."

The adverts, which have been airing in Toledo, suggest carmakers General Motors and Chrysler are adding jobs in China at the expense of workers in Ohio.

Responding to the ads, Mr Obama said: "Everybody knows it's not true."

Mr Obama accused Mr Romney of trying to alarm Ohioans "just to scare up some votes".

Chrysler and GM officials said the ads were inaccurate.

"After four years as president, you know me," Mr Obama said.

"You may not agree with every decision I've made. You may be frustrated sometimes at the pace of change, but you know what I believe. You know where I stand.

"You know I tell the truth. You know I fight for you and your families every single day as hard as I know how," he added, before heading to another rally in Lima, a city in Allen County.

No Republican candidate for the White House has ever won the election without capturing Ohio.

Mr Obama is thought to be slightly ahead in the state, which delivers 18 electoral college votes.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wiggins Withdraws From Tax Avoidance Scheme

Olympic and Tour de France cycling hero Bradley Wiggins has withdrawn from a controversial tax avoidance scheme.

The 32-year-old was criticised last week for investing in a scheme named Twofold First Services, reportedly owned by a company based in the Cayman Islands.

He told The Guardian: "I had a small investment in Twofold, following guidance from my professional advisers.

"I had, however, claimed no tax relief of any amount in regard to this investment. Given the concerns raised about it, I have now instructed my advisers to withdraw me from the scheme with immediate effect."

The tax partnership reportedly took advantage of farming tax credits to create tax relief described as "abusive" and "artificial" by the Treasury.

In an interview with the newspaper, Wiggins went on to describe his frustration over accusations that his performance was fuelled by drug use – in light of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

He said: "The anger is more: I've got to pick up the pieces. He's still a multimillionaire, and he's not here to answer the questions. I can't not answer them because I've got to go and race next year, and I hate talking about it."

The cyclist, who is the strong favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, said there were a number of drawbacks to his success.

He said: "I wouldn't say I wish I hadn't won the Tour, but sometimes, especially with recent events, the Lance Armstrong stuff, I find it hard being the winner of the Tour and everything that goes with it.

"I wanted to be the winner for the challenge of what the sporting event is about and how hard you can train to do that, and I never wanted all the stuff that went with it."

Wiggins also revealed he finds it difficult to cope with being recognised by fans when he is out with his family.

He said: "They ask your wife to take the photo, which is a bit rude. And after a while that becomes tiresome, especially when you're having a pizza with your children, or you have to have a photo with somebody else's kids while yours stand to the side."

He added: "There comes a point when I've got to start getting on with my life. It would be hard to live my life as it is forever."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

New York City: Power Being Switched Back On

Energy companies have been working day and night to restore power to parts of New York devastated by the powerful Sandy storm.

In the last 24 hours, engineers in Manhattan have managed to repair 11 power grids damaged by the high winds and storm surge.

Around 5,800 homes were still without electricity in Manattan as of Saturday morning.

The worst-hit area of New York remains Queens - with 81,000 people still without power. Brooklyn and Staten Island both have 31,000 and the Bronx has 25,000 without electricity.

Runners make their way through Queens during the 2011 race

A statement from energy firm Con Edison said it had now restored power to 70% of customers - around 645,000 homes.

It said: "The hurricane is the worst natural disaster to strike Con Edison's customers in the company's history.

"Crews are facing thousands of downed wires in New York City and Westchester County.

"Some cannot be re-energized since they are in flood zones with damage that bars the safe re-introduction of electricity."

A man shovels away sand swept in by the storm surge generated by Sandy

But a lot of repair and clean-up work remains on the US East Coast, with parts of New Jersey also badly hit by the storm on Monday night and facing being cut off from electricity until the middle of November.

Motorists in 12 New Jersey counties will only be allowed to buy petrol every other day under order of Governor Chris Christie.

Petrol stations have seen long queues and angry scenes as people attempt to fill up after the storm.

The official death toll for those in the US now stands at 109 people, on top of at least 69 people killed when Sandy tore through the Caribbean.

A woman looks through the wreckage of her home in Staten Island

Estimates put the total damage up to $50bn, according to forecasting firm Eqecat - making it the second costliest after Hurricane Katrina.

It comes after Mayor Michael Bloomberg finally agreed to cancel the New York Marathon after outrage from residents left homeless or beset by power cuts.

The U-turn came just three hours after he defended the decision to hold it.

Concerns were raised that the city's already stretched police force would be redeployed to patrol the race from carrying out relief work and storm victims could be evicted from hotels to make room for people taking part.

A fallen tree on top of a parked car in the borough of Queens in New York

There had been growing anger too at the thought of big generators being brought in to power equipment at the finish-line tents in Central Park, while vast swathes of the city's population were still struggling without electricity.

Mr Bloomberg said: "It is clear that it has become the source of controversy and division.

"The marathon has always brought our city together and inspired us with stories of courage and determination.

"We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants, and so we have decided to cancel it.

"We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event - even one as meaningful as this - to distract attention away from all the critically important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city back on track."

An estimated 40,000 runners from around the world had been expected to take part in the 26.2-mile event.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy: Fuel Crisis Grows On US East Coast

A US motorist has reportedly threatened another with a gun as the fuel crisis escalated along the US East Coast in the wake of superstorm Sandy.

Huge queues have been developing outside petrol stations throughout the stretch of the country battered by a storm that has killed more than 90 people.

New York District Attorney Richard Brown said 35-year-old Sean Bailey, of Queens, was arrested after he tried to jump the queue at a petrol station - and pointed a pistol at another driver who complained.

He was arrested on charges of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.

Queues of cars stretching back more than a mile could be seen in areas including New Jersey and parts of neighbouring state Pennsylvania.

New Jersey resident Stephanie Damiano spoke to Sky News while waiting in a queue to but petrol.

Drivers argue at a petrol station in New Jersey

"This line is wrapping around the whole entire highway, there's miles backed up," she said.

"I've been here for two hours and 18 minutes exactly. We're just now reaching the front. There's about a hundred cars behind me now.

"I actually got assaulted last night waiting on the same exact line. I was walking in Walmart parking lot and a guy just got really agitated and assaulted me and tried to get into my car."

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said he expected the shortages to ease over the coming days.

"Some of the gas stations aren't open because they don't have electricity," he said.

"That, over the next few days, should be accommodated. Once mass transit comes back you will have a lot fewer cars trying to buy gasoline."

Meanwhile, fears of lawlessness were rife, with more than 4.6 million homes and businesses across the country still without electricity because of the storm - which has caused up to $50bn worth of damage.

The Guardian Angels, a group of anti-crime volunteers, have been carrying out patrols in Manhattan island.

People wait in line to fill containers with fuel in Edison, New Jersey

Wolfgang Ban, a restaurant owner in Manhattan's Alphabet City neighbourhood, said: "People feel safe during the day but as soon as the sun sets, people are extremely scared.

"The fact that Guardian Angels are on the streets trying to restore law just shows how out of control the situation is in lower Manhattan."

There has also been anger in New York at Mr Bloomberg's decision to proceed with the city's marathon on Sunday - more than 40,000 runners are due in the city.

Frustration has been particularly acute in Staten Island, where rubbish has been piling up, a stench hangs in the air and mud-caked mattresses and furniture line the streets.

New York City councilman James Oddo said on his Twitter account: "If they take one first responder from Staten Island to cover this marathon, I will scream.

"We have people with no homes and no hope right now."

Elsewhere, the US Coast Guard said it had halted its search for the captain of tall ship HMS Bounty that sank off the North Carolina coast.

The search for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge - which employed ships, helicopters and planes - was suspended after more than three days of around-the-clock effort.

New Jersey officials say they will deploy military trucks to serve as polling places on Election Day in storm-battered communities, and are also extending the deadline for mail-in ballots.

The trucks will be parked at polling places that do not have power.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Sees Huge Spike In New Jobs

The United States economy has added 171,000 net new jobs in October, a figure much higher than expected by analysts.

The new hiring figure was stronger than first thought over the previous two months.
Simultaneously, the unemployment rate inched up to 7.9% from 7.8% in September – due to the increased size of the work force.

The figures were released as part of the US Labour Department's last look at hiring before Tuesday's presidential election.

It sketched a picture of a job market that is gradually gaining momentum after nearly stalling in the spring.

Most analysts had expected the rise in the unemployment rate, but the job growth far outpaced the 125,000 forecast.

Since July, the economy has created an average of 173,000 jobs a month, up from 67,000 a month from April through to June.

However President Barack Obama will face voters with the highest unemployment rate of any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt.

The rate ticked up because more people without jobs started looking for work and the government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching.

According to analysts from IHS Global Insight, damage of between $30bn (£18bn) to $50bn (£30bn) in economic losses could drop nominal GDP by 0.2% to 0.3%.

The Wall Street Journal described it as "naïve" a view held by some that a rebuilding programme would boost the nation's GDP.

After the jobs announcement, Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney called the small unemployment uptick a "sad reminder" that economy is at a "virtual standstill".

Throughout the presidential campaign Mr Romney has argued that the recovery should have been stronger by now.

He says voters will decide Tuesday between what he calls stagnation and prosperity

Polls show the two candidates virtually tied in what may be the closest race in modern history.

More follows...

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

MPs' Expenses: Ex-Labour Minister Suspended

Former Labour minister Denis MacShane is being suspended from the Commons over a string of false expenses claims running to thousands of pounds.

The Committee on Standards and Privileges said it would recommend Mr MacShane be suspended as an MP for 12 months after it found he submitted 19 false invoices "plainly intended to deceive" Parliament's expenses authority.

The former minister, who was suspended from the Labour party earlier in the day, said he was "shocked and saddened" that his political career had been destroyed. He is now considering his position as an MP.

Labour declared Mr MacShane's career as a Labour member of parliament to be "effectively over".

The Standards and Privileges Committee said it was impossible to say how much the Rotherham MP claimed "outside the rules", but it "may have been in the order of £7,500".

Chairman Kevin Barron said it was "the gravest case" his committee had considered in its role as Parliament's sleaze watchdog.

Mr MacShane is to be barred from the Commons for a year

Mr MacShane's punishment reflected that his actions were "so far from what would be acceptable in any walk of life", the Standards and Privileges Committee said. He would lose his salary and pension contributions during the period of suspension.

Their recommendation must be approved by the Commons in a what usually amounts to a formality.

Mr MacShane previously had the whip withdrawn by Labour when allegations from the British National Party that he abused his expenses were investigated by Scotland Yard in September 2010. He was reinstated in July when the Met said they were taking no further action.

The committee's report notes that the former minister "has expressed his regret, and repaid the money wrongly claimed".

But it said the "real mischief" of Mr MacShane's conduct was that the "method he adopted of submitting false invoices" allowed him to bypass rules to spend public money as he saw fit.

It said it was "impossible to escape the conclusion" that he claimed in that way to ensure he was not challenged over using taxpayers' cash to fund travel for his work in Europe.

The Labour party has also suspended Mr MacShane

In his statement Mr MacShane said the BNP had won a "three-year campaign to destroy my political career".

He stressed that the police inquiry had found nothing and that the Standards and Privileges Committee "notes that there is no question of personal gain".

"Clearly I deeply regret that the way I chose to be reimbursed for costs related to my work in Europe and in combating anti-semitism, including being the Prime Minister's personal envoy, has been judged so harshly," he said.

Leading media lawyer Mark Stephens defended the former Labour minister.

He said: "I have worked with Dr Denis McShane for over 30 years on campaigns and anti-fascist work.

"This is a huge victory for racists and fascists who have in my opinion abused the parliamentary complaints system to destroy an honourable member of parliament who is a political opponent of the BNP.

" ...the chilling effect of this process will deter principled members of Parliament from rooting out prejudice and fascism wherever it may be found."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Farrow Jailed For Life Over Double Murder

Killer Farrow's History Of Violence

Updated: 1:44pm UK, Friday 02 November 2012

Like so many killers, double murderer Stephen Farrow had a history of violence dating back to childhood.

Jailed for life for the murders of Rev John Suddards and retired teacher Betty Yates, the 48-year-old homeless drifter had slept rough for more than a decade.

But the focus for many has been fixed on Farrows former years, when he was described as an "uncontrollable child" who took pleasure in killing peoples' pets and shooting a swan with an air gun.

His mother said she had "understood there to be something very wrong" with him as a child and after several assessments he was found to have Severe Dangerous Personality Disorder (SDPD).

His fixation with religion was often referenced during his trial at Bristol Crown Court and at the age of 10 he set fire to a church altar and stood and watched as it burned.

Farrow was expelled on his first day of school, experienced bullying, fighting, using weapons, setting fires and robbery.

He went on to claim he had been abused as a child by the priests at his boarding school.

Psychiatrists found him to be a pathological liar, with a "grandiose sense of self-worth".

They said he was arrogant, opinionated and showed no respect for the views of others, deeming him "dangerous", "very dark" and "fraudulent".

Farrow maintained the Church was very important to him, yet he was scornful of religious figures and wanted to kill the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He admitted he had originally planned to crucify Rev Suddards and saw his life in terms of "light and dark", "white and black", "good and evil".

He spoke of the significance of the year 2012 - believing it would mark the start of the second coming of Christ.

Farrow's psychopathic tendencies meant he could be superficially charming and he manipulated people using scams - often directed against the Church.

He used his religious knowledge to "use and abuse" the kindness of others by "wiggling" his way into their lives. He chatted to people about the bible and made them feel he was interesting.

Farrow used people for accommodation, food and money and lived a "parasitic" lifestyle - working for only an estimated 12 weeks in the last 15 years.

The frequent drug user told psychiatrists that he would fantasise about bestiality, raping girls and raping an elderly woman in her home and then killing her husband.

On occasions he appeared to want help for his personality disorder, yet he moved around the country and attempts to contact him by health workers often failed. He would go on to say the "system had failed him".

The homeless drifter, who was receiving benefit payments of £270 a week, would "always" carry knives with him.

As he proceeded through life, his crimes grew in gravity from juvenile delinquency to an aggravated burglary.

Farrow had entered the home of 77-year-old Stella Crow in 1995 and asked her for a room for the night, but when she said no, he threatened her with a knife.

He wrote letters to his family threatening to kill them and also threatened to kill prison officers. Farrow even had a list of targets, which included a prison governor.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist, Dr Tim Rogers, said there are 20 traits of a psychopath - when each is given a score of up to two. Farrow scored 31 out of 40.

Farrow had tried to convince those that assessed him that he was "not just psychotic", but there was "something more" - a claim he hoped would help his defence.

Despite his efforts the jury saw through his facade and found that he was not insane, that he knew what he was doing, that he knew the difference between right and wrong and that he did what he did as a matter of choice.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prison Officer Shot Dead On Motorway In NI

A prison officer shot dead on a motorway in Northern Ireland has been named as David Black by Justice Minister David Ford.

The officer was ambushed on a stretch of the M1 between Portadown and Lurgan, County Armagh, on his way to work at the high security Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn.

The long-serving officer from Cookstown, County Tyrone, had more than 30 years' service in the Prison Service and was approaching retirement.

It is unclear whether his attacker was lying in wait in the bushes on the edge of the road or if, as one unconfirmed report suggested, a gunman opened up fire when another car pulled up alongside.

The attack happened at the M1/M12 turnoff in County Armagh

It is understood the officer's car careered off the road when he was fired on and he died later.

Paul Girvan, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said the man was on his way to begin duty at the top-security in County Antrim, where dissident republicans have been involved in long-running protests against jail conditions.

Jeffrey Donaldson, MP for Lagan Valley, added: "This is a terrible tragedy. Once again, a small minority are trying to drag us back to the dark days."

Politicians on all sides condemned the murder and, even though no organisation has admitted responsibility, security chiefs believe republicans opposed to the peace process were involved.

It is 18 months since renegade republicans claimed the life of police officer Ronan Kerr in Omagh, County Tyrone.

Police attending the scene

A car suspected of being linked to the attack was later found burnt-out at Lurgan, where dissident republicans have considerable support.

The shooting happened at around 7.30am, at the same time as a major security alert further along the motorway at a shopping centre at Sprucefield, near Lisburn, where bomb disposal experts were called in to check a car.

It is believed this vehicle might have been linked in some way to the shooting, according to some sources.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers condemned the murder, describing it as "cowardly and evil attack".

She said: "The thoughts and deepest sympathy of us all are with the family, friends and colleagues of the murdered prison officer.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers condemned the attack

"Like his colleagues across the prison service he was dedicated to serving the whole community in Northern Ireland . This is in stark contrast to the people responsible for this despicable crime.

"The British and Irish Governments, the Executive, the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) and Garda - and above all the people of Northern Ireland - will continue to work together to ensure that those who pursue their aims by violence will not succeed."

Only a day ago, Ms Villiers warned that the threat from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland remained severe.

Ireland's foreign minister Eamon Gilmore condemned the murder "in the strongest possible terms".

"I know that I speak for every decent man, woman and child on this island, North and South, in expressing revulsion at this act," he said.

The motorway was closed following the shooting

Sinn Fein Assembly member John O'Dowd said the shooting was "totally wrong".

"There is no justification for continued conflict in this society," he said.

Mr O'Dowd insisted the extremists would not be allowed to take the region backwards.

"We, as a society, have decided we want to move beyond them. The road they are on is not going to achieve anything."

The man is the 30th prison officer killed in Northern Ireland since 1974.

The dissident protests in Maghaberry have taken place at a time when the NI Prison Service is undergoing a turbulent programme of reform.

The shooting represents a major blow for recently-appointed director general Sue McAllister who took over the reins of the organisation earlier this summer.

Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, called it an "outrageous murder of a professional prison officer".

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Body Found In Missing Vet Search

A body has been recovered by search teams involved in the hunt for missing Irish vet Catherine Gowing.

Ms Gowing, 37, was last seen on the evening of Friday October 12 at a supermarket near her home in New Brighton, Flintshire, north Wales.

Clive Sharp, a 46-year old man from Gwynedd, north Wales, has since been charged with her murder.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "Following information received by members of the public, recent searches have focused on fields in Manor Road, Sealand.

On Wednesday, search team officers discovered human remains in a shallow pool within the field known locally as the Lum.

"At this time, those remains have yet to be formally identified as this will require medical as well as forensic examination. A post-mortem is planned for later today.

"At this time we are not able to comment further. However, Catherine Gowing's family have been informed of this distressing development and clearly our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

"I would ask that they be allowed privacy to come to terms with this news."

Ms Gowing, who is originally from Clonlee, County Offaly, in the Irish Republic, had worked at Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold for the last 18 months.

She was described by her sister Emma as a "beautiful person".

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Pierce said his investigation team continues to urge potential witnesses to come forward.

He said: "This development came about as the result of information from the local community, for which I am very grateful.

"However, I am once again asking for their assistance. The search for evidence relating to Catherine's disappearance continues and I am very eager to hear of any sightings of her Irish-registered Renault Clio 00D 99970 and Sharp's black Volvo S40 AG58 JHE since Friday October 12 and particularly in the Sealand area.

"In fact, I would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in fields in Manor Road, Sealand, to contact police on 101."

Sharp, 46, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and was remanded in custody until January 7 when he is due to enter his plea.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Election: Superstorm Boost For Obama

Barack Obama is returning to the presidential campaign trail after spending the last few days dealing with the aftermath of Monday's deadly superstorm Sandy.

With the election this Tuesday, Democrat Mr Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who tempered his criticism of his rival for three days, are locked in a race so tight that both sides are predicting victory.

The states worst hit by the storm were New York and New Jersey, both believed to be safe Democrat seats - but how Mr Obama managed the disaster could help him elsewhere, in so-called swing states.

A new poll for the Washington Post has suggested nearly eight out of 10 voters said the president had done an "excellent" or "good" job dealing with Sandy.

Almost as many gave positive reviews to the federal government's response generally, and even two-thirds of those who support Mr Romney said Mr Obama was doing well in this area.

Polls show Mr Obama has a slight edge in nine key "battleground" states that are neither reliably Republican nor Democratic.

The president's advisers have insisted his break from campaigning while managing the federal response to the superstorm had minimal impact on his standing.

If anything, it gave him a chance to offer the type of comfort and command in a crisis that only a president can deliver.

Mitt Romney helps pack donated goods for superstorm Sandy victims

Mr Obama, who joined Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie to assess the storm damage, is due to attend rallies in Wisconsin, Nevada and Colorado.

The PR expert and New Yorker, Bob Leaf, told Sky News: "There's no question Obama has gained from it (the storm).

He pointed to "the fact Chris Christie, who was anti-Obama, went on TV saying what a great job he was doing, which alienated a lot of Romney supporters".

Mr Leaf added: "He's handled it well. In crises, if you do it well there is no question that it's got to help you in the public mind especially with a lot of undecided voters.

"It puts Romney in a corner. There is nothing that Romney is doing badly... but he cannot attack the president."

The president's spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said while he remains focused on the storm recovery, he will return to campaigning to make the case to the American people on why they should return him to the White House for four more years.

The storm created headaches for Mr Romney, diverting the public's attention away from the campaign as he was trying to build momentum.

Ahead of events in Virginia, Mr Romney released a web video highlighting a decades-old barbecue chain in Richmond that is closing.

"When President Obama took office there was a lot of hope that things were going to change. Well, he didn't change anything," a woman connected to the business said in the video.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Superstorm Sandy: Thousands Stranded In Floods

Millions of people are still without power and tens of thousands are stranded in their properties due to flooding three days after superstorm Sandy battered the US East Coast and killed at least 72 people.

Nearly 20,000 people have been trapped at home in the New Jersey city of Hoboken, just across the Hudson River from New York City, amid accusations that officials were slow to deliver food and water.

One man blew up an air mattress and floated to City Hall, demanding to know why supplies had not reached residents - at least a quarter of homes there are flooded and 90% do not have power.

National Guard troops have arrived in Hoboken to help evacuate stranded people.

In total, about six million homes and businesses remain without power, mostly in New York and New Jersey - while miles of coastline, including Atlantic City, was ripped apart by the storm.

Residents in the flooded city of Hoboken

As the region struggles to recover, a clean-up operation in that state has begun while New York City has taken the first tentative steps to getting back to some form of normality as it re-opens some unaffected parts of the subway system - which suffered the worst damage in its 108-year history.

Three of the region's main airports, John F Kennedy, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia, have also opened and are running limited schedules.

Broadway shows have resumed and people packed on to buses that returned for the first time to city streets since the storm.

Electricity outages continue as far west as Wisconsin in the Midwest and as far south as the Carolinas.

Flood-damaged food is removed from New York shops

The superstorm, which also hit parts of Canada, came ashore over a thousand miles of coastline to engulf 20 states. It is now winding down and its remnants have been felt in the Appalachian mountains.

Sandy brought up to 3ft of snow to parts of West Virginia and Maryland and several more inches are possible before it dies out for good later this week.

Restoring the usually vibrant New York City to its ordinarily frenetic pace could take days, while rebuilding the hardest-hit communities and the transportation networks could take considerably longer.

Power company Consolidated Edison says it could be the weekend before power is restored to Manhattan and Brooklyn, perhaps longer for other New York boroughs and the New York suburbs.

There are still only hints of the economic impact of the storm.

Part of a home rests upside-down in Seaside Heights, New Jersey

Forecasting firm IHS Global Insight predicted it would cause $20bn in damage and $10bn to $30bn in lost business. Another firm, AIR Worldwide, estimated losses up to $15bn.

Amtrak said the amount of water in train tunnels under the Hudson and East rivers was unprecedented, but it said it planned to restore some service on Friday to and from New York City.

Speaking at a shelter, US President Barack Obama told New Jersey residents that the government will support them "for the long haul".

The region took the brunt of its impact and is among the worst affected areas on the East Coast.

The bill for Sandy could top $20bn

Joined by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Mr Obama -  who described the disaster as "heartbreaking for the nation"  - inspected the impact from Sandy, flying high over flooded neighbourhoods and sand-strewn streets.

He told those affected by the storm: "Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. Their world has been torn apart ... they are in our thoughts and prayers.

"For those like the people I have had a chance to meet on this block, throughout New Jersey and throughout the region whose lives have been upended, my second message is: We are here for you, and we will not forget, we will follow up to make sure that you get all the help that you need until you've rebuilt."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy: Dramatic Footage Of Air Rescue

Dramatic footage has been released of people being plucked from their flood-hit homes by helicopter.

Video shows New York Police Department rescue teams loading people onto a helicopter winch to safety, as flood waters rose.

But many people were not as fortunate, and details are emerging of the circumstances surrounding some of those who were killed.

An off-duty police officer drowned in his basement while rescuing his family from superstorm Sandy, police have confirmed.

The unnamed man is reported to have helped his father, girlfriend and baby into the attic of their home on the southern end of Staten Island, New York.

Falling trees have proved particularly deadly

He then went downstairs and never returned. Fellow officers found him in the basement at about 5am on Tuesday.

"Somehow he got trapped in his basement and he drowned in the basement," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

At least 55 people died across the US and Canada, and many are still missing, including two boys aged two and four.

New York was the worst-hit city in the US. In Queens, a 23-year-old woman was electrocuted after stepping on a live wire while taking photographs of a power line that had caught fire.

"She couldn't move. She didn't have a chance," said neighbour Renny Bhagretta, 44.

In Brooklyn, a teacher and student were crushed in the street by giant trees that came crashing down during the height of the storm.

Their bodies were discovered the next morning.

A 75-year-old Manhattan woman was reported to have died after her oxygen machine lost power.

Her grandson ran to nearby Bellevue Hospital for a manually operated tank, but the woman had already gone into cardiac arrest by the time paramedics arrived.

A 13-year-old girl was found dead under a pile of debris in the Tottenville area of Staten Island where four beach front homes were washed away.

Her mother, a church worker, was critically injured and her father, a plumber, was missing, neighbours said.

"They wanted to stay. We tried to convince them to leave. They said they didn't think it would be that bad," said neighbour John Alleva, 47.

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Savile 'Took Girls To Leeds Hospital Block Alone'

Jimmy Savile regularly took teenage girls to a private hospital block alone for a few hours at a time, a former porter has told Sky News.

Terry Pratt said the Jim'll Fix It presenter was given a key to the nurses' accommodation building at Leeds General Infirmary during the 1990s.

Unlike doctors at the hospital, who had to be let in by a porter, he was allowed to take the keys himself.

The ex-worker claimed that Savile, who was a volunteer and fundraiser for the hospital, would arrive with the girls in the early hours of the morning and then leave before dawn.

Mr Pratt, who was a porter at the Leeds hospital from 1989 to 2010, said Savile came in with girls, who were often "dressed up to the nines", on three occasions in one week.

It is understood Savile had his own office in the hospital's Welcome Wing for 10 years from about the mid-1990s.

Given to him because of his fundraising activities, he even had his name on the door. The wing closed down a few years ago.

Savile was regularly given a key to the hospital's nurses' block

The hospital issued a statement responding to the latest claims of abuse by the late television star and DJ.

A spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We continue to be shocked by each new allegation. It is important that they are investigated properly.

"The Trust is in contact with senior detectives from the Metropolitan Police and we have indicated our intention to help with their enquiries. If there are any issues which need to be addressed following the police investigation then we will take action."

Leeds General Infirmary is one of three hospitals, alongside Broadmoor and Stoke Mandeville, where Savile has been accused of abusing children.

Scotland Yard is currently investigating the Top of the Pops presenter's activities, and he is now believed to have been of the UK's most prolific child sex abusers, with about 300 possible victims.

Detectives are following 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation while the BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation during the Savile era.

Girls were said to be dazzled by Savile's celebrity status

It is also looking at the decision-making process that saw a Newsnight investigation into his activities shelved.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said "heads will need to roll" at the BBC if it is discovered that abuse was ignored.

"Serious questions need to be asked and if after we find out what's happened, it's clear that people have turned a blind eye or, worse still, connived with it, then of course they're going to have to be held to account and - if that turns out to be the case - heads will need to roll of course," he told ITV's The Agenda.

Earlier this week it emerged Savile was barred from any involvement with the BBC's Children In Need charity.

Sir Roger Jones, a former chairman of the charity, said he had been uncomfortable about allowing Savile to have any association with their work.

Although he had "no evidence" that Savile was up to anything, he said he behaved strangely, adding: "I think we all recognised he was a pretty creepy sort of character."

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Superstorm Sandy: 'This Is A Wake-Up Call'

Superstorm Sandy is a "wake up call" that could lead to billion dollar flood defences being created in New York City.

Three of New York's top 10 highest floods have occurred in the last two and a half years, and the latest disaster has fuelled calls for major investment in flood defences.

"If that's not a wake-up call to take this seriously I don't know what is," said climate change expert Ben Strauss.

"The city is extremely vulnerable to damaging storm surges just for its geography, and climate change is increasing that risk."

State governor Andrew Cuomo is now considering storm surge barriers - which could cost up to $10bn - or a levee system.

Darkness continued to envelope a large stretch of the Manhattan skyline

"The construction of this city did not anticipate these kinds of situations. We are only a few feet above sea level," he said.

"As soon as you breach the sides of Manhattan, you now have a whole infrastructure under the city that fills - the subway system, the foundations for buildings."

With at least 50 people killed along the east coast - most by falling trees - and millions affected by the high winds, power cuts and flooding, President Barack Obama cancelled campaign appearances in key state Ohio to oversee the government response.

He is due to visit New Jersey to survey some of the widespread devastation caused by superstorm Sandy in eastern US and Canada.

He described the disaster as "heartbreaking for the nation".

The President is fighting a close race with Republican rival Mitt Romney and the White House has been keen to portray him as a strong leader ahead of election day on November 6.

More than eight million homes have been left without electricity by the biggest storm to hit the country in generations, which swamped parts of New York's subways system and Lower Manhattan's financial district.

Flood water from Sandy surrounds homes in South Bethany, Delaware

Much of the Manhattan skyline was still in darkness on Tuesday night and it is feared it could be days before electricity is restored to some of those cut off.

Forecasters predict the storm could end up causing around $20bn (£12bn) worth of damages in the US.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said the bad weather will continue.

"The storm is still reacting with cold air from the west, so there will be further heavy snowfall as well as inland flooding," she said.

"Rainfall totals could reach around 6-8 inches, and winds will remain gale force in strength.

"The forecast suggests that the centre of the low will move northwards from western Pennsylvania into the west of New York and then into Quebec by Thursday."

Businesses and homes along New Jersey's shore were wrecked and communities were submerged under floodwater across a large area on Tuesday.

After seeing pictures of the shore, State Governor Chris Christie said: "The devastation is unthinkable."

A strong supporter of fellow Republican Mr Romney, Mr Christie also praised Mr Obama's federal response to the disaster.

Amid the despair, talk of recovery was already beginning.

"It's heartbreaking after being here 37 years," Barry Prezioso of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, said as he returned to his house in the coastal community to survey the damage.

"You see your home demolished like this, it's tough. But nobody got hurt and the upstairs is still livable, so we can still live upstairs and clean this out. I'm sure there's people that had worse. I feel kind of lucky."

The storm reached as far inland as Ohio and caused thousands of flight cancellations, while mobile phone network outages also were widespread.

Meanwhile, parts of West Virginia were buried under 3ft (1m) of drifting snow from the storm.

Mr Obama has issued federal emergency decrees and declared "major disasters" in both New Jersey and New York.

Speaking during a visit to Red Cross headquarters in Washington, he said: "New Jersey, New York in particular have been pounded by this storm. Connecticut has taken a big hit."

More than 80 homes in New York City's borough of Queens were destroyed in a fire caused by the storm.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who toured the area, said: "To describe it as looking like pictures we've seen of the end of World War Two is not overstating it. The area was completely levelled.

"Chimneys and foundations were all that was left of many of these homes."

Neighbour John Frawley, 57, said: "I stayed up all night. The screams. The fire. It was horrifying."

Hundreds of miles away from Sandy's turbulent centre, winds were churning up the waters of Lake Michigan to near record levels.

Officials in Chicago warned people to stay away from the lakefront, and parts of the bicycle path along the shore was closed.

The strong wind and rain has had other unexpected consequences.

Police in New Haven said a skeleton was revealed beneath the town green that may have been there since Colonial times.

Police spokesman David Hartman said a woman was with other bystanders looking at a fallen oak tree, and spotted bones in the upturned roots.

Hurricane Sandy - which was reclassified as a post-tropical storm upon making US landfall - had already killed 69 people in the Caribbean.

Many islands were ravaged by the storm, with an estimated $16.5m (£10.3m) worth of damage in Jamaica and 70% of crops destroyed in southern Haiti.

A Foreign Office spokesperson says that according to 'best esimates' there are 50,000 British tourists and 300,000 residents in the area affected by superstorm Sandy.

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Superstorm Sandy: Wall Street Opens Higher

New York's Dow Jones opened up 0.4% after Hurricane Sandy's arrival on the East Coast forced a two-day market closure.

The S&P 500rose 0.3% , while the Nasdaq fell slightly.

The stock markets did not open on Monday, hours before Sandy hit New York with devastating consequences.

They remained closed on Tuesday as the storm ripped through the city, flooding the financial district and subway system, and leading to wide-spread power outages. 

But New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to signal the reopening of Wall Street.

More follows...

20.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Savile 'Took Girls To Leeds Hospital Block Alone'

Jimmy Savile regularly took teenage girls to a private hospital block alone for a few hours at a time, a former porter has told Sky News.

Terry Pratt said the Jim'll Fix It presenter was given a key to the nurses' accommodation building at Leeds General Infirmary during the 1990s.

Unlike doctors at the hospital, who had to be let in by a porter, he was allowed to take the keys himself.

The ex-worker claimed that Savile, who was a volunteer and fundraiser for the hospital, would arrive with the girls in the early hours of the morning and then leave before dawn.

Mr Pratt, who was a porter at the Leeds hospital from 1989 to 2010, said Savile came in with girls, who were often "dressed up to the nines", on three occasions in one week.

It is understood Savile had his own office in the hospital's Welcome Wing for 10 years from about the mid-1990s.

Given to him because of his fundraising activities, he even had his name on the door. The wing closed down a few years ago.

Savile was regularly given a key to the hospital's nurses' block

The hospital issued a statement responding to the latest claims of abuse by the late television star and DJ.

A spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We continue to be shocked by each new allegation. It is important that they are investigated properly.

"The Trust is in contact with senior detectives from the Metropolitan Police and we have indicated our intention to help with their enquiries. If there are any issues which need to be addressed following the police investigation then we will take action."

Leeds General Infirmary is one of three hospitals, alongside Broadmoor and Stoke Mandeville, where Savile has been accused of abusing children.

Scotland Yard is currently investigating the Top of the Pops presenter's activities, and he is now believed to have been of the UK's most prolific child sex abusers, with about 300 possible victims.

Detectives are following 400 lines of inquiry as part of the investigation while the BBC has launched an inquiry into the culture and practices at the corporation during the Savile era.

Girls were said to be dazzled by Savile's celebrity status

It is also looking at the decision-making process that saw a Newsnight investigation into his activities shelved.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said "heads will need to roll" at the BBC if it is discovered that abuse was ignored.

"Serious questions need to be asked and if after we find out what's happened, it's clear that people have turned a blind eye or, worse still, connived with it, then of course they're going to have to be held to account and - if that turns out to be the case - heads will need to roll of course," he told ITV's The Agenda.

Earlier this week it emerged Savile was barred from any involvement with the BBC's Children In Need charity.

Sir Roger Jones, a former chairman of the charity, said he had been uncomfortable about allowing Savile to have any association with their work.

Although he had "no evidence" that Savile was up to anything, he said he behaved strangely, adding: "I think we all recognised he was a pretty creepy sort of character."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Superstorm Sandy: 'This Is A Wake-Up Call'

Superstorm Sandy is a "wake up call" that could lead to billion dollar flood defences being created in New York City.

Three of New York's top 10 highest floods have occurred in the last two and a half years, and the latest disaster has fuelled calls for major investment in flood defences.

"If that's not a wake-up call to take this seriously I don't know what is," said climate change expert Ben Strauss.

"The city is extremely vulnerable to damaging storm surges just for its geography, and climate change is increasing that risk."

State governor Andrew Cuomo is now considering storm surge barriers - which could cost up to $10bn - or a levee system.

Darkness continued to envelope a large stretch of the Manhattan skyline

"The construction of this city did not anticipate these kinds of situations. We are only a few feet above sea level," he said.

"As soon as you breach the sides of Manhattan, you now have a whole infrastructure under the city that fills - the subway system, the foundations for buildings."

With at least 50 people killed along the east coast - most by falling trees - and millions affected by the high winds, power cuts and flooding, President Barack Obama cancelled campaign appearances in key state Ohio to oversee the government response.

He is due to visit New Jersey to survey some of the widespread devastation caused by superstorm Sandy in eastern US and Canada.

He described the disaster as "heartbreaking for the nation".

The President is fighting a close race with Republican rival Mitt Romney and the White House has been keen to portray him as a strong leader ahead of election day on November 6.

More than eight million homes have been left without electricity by the biggest storm to hit the country in generations, which swamped parts of New York's subways system and Lower Manhattan's financial district.

Flood water from Sandy surrounds homes in South Bethany, Delaware

Much of the Manhattan skyline was still in darkness on Tuesday night and it is feared it could be days before electricity is restored to some of those cut off.

Forecasters predict the storm could end up causing around $20bn (£12bn) worth of damages in the US.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said the bad weather will continue.

"The storm is still reacting with cold air from the west, so there will be further heavy snowfall as well as inland flooding," she said.

"Rainfall totals could reach around 6-8 inches, and winds will remain gale force in strength.

"The forecast suggests that the centre of the low will move northwards from western Pennsylvania into the west of New York and then into Quebec by Thursday."

Businesses and homes along New Jersey's shore were wrecked and communities were submerged under floodwater across a large area on Tuesday.

After seeing pictures of the shore, State Governor Chris Christie said: "The devastation is unthinkable."

A strong supporter of fellow Republican Mr Romney, Mr Christie also praised Mr Obama's federal response to the disaster.

Amid the despair, talk of recovery was already beginning.

"It's heartbreaking after being here 37 years," Barry Prezioso of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, said as he returned to his house in the coastal community to survey the damage.

"You see your home demolished like this, it's tough. But nobody got hurt and the upstairs is still livable, so we can still live upstairs and clean this out. I'm sure there's people that had worse. I feel kind of lucky."

The storm reached as far inland as Ohio and caused thousands of flight cancellations, while mobile phone network outages also were widespread.

Meanwhile, parts of West Virginia were buried under 3ft (1m) of drifting snow from the storm.

Mr Obama has issued federal emergency decrees and declared "major disasters" in both New Jersey and New York.

Speaking during a visit to Red Cross headquarters in Washington, he said: "New Jersey, New York in particular have been pounded by this storm. Connecticut has taken a big hit."

More than 80 homes in New York City's borough of Queens were destroyed in a fire caused by the storm.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who toured the area, said: "To describe it as looking like pictures we've seen of the end of World War Two is not overstating it. The area was completely levelled.

"Chimneys and foundations were all that was left of many of these homes."

Neighbour John Frawley, 57, said: "I stayed up all night. The screams. The fire. It was horrifying."

Hundreds of miles away from Sandy's turbulent centre, winds were churning up the waters of Lake Michigan to near record levels.

Officials in Chicago warned people to stay away from the lakefront, and parts of the bicycle path along the shore was closed.

The strong wind and rain has had other unexpected consequences.

Police in New Haven said a skeleton was revealed beneath the town green that may have been there since Colonial times.

Police spokesman David Hartman said a woman was with other bystanders looking at a fallen oak tree, and spotted bones in the upturned roots.

Hurricane Sandy - which was reclassified as a post-tropical storm upon making US landfall - had already killed 69 people in the Caribbean.

Many islands were ravaged by the storm, with an estimated $16.5m (£10.3m) worth of damage in Jamaica and 70% of crops destroyed in southern Haiti.

A Foreign Office spokesperson says that according to 'best esimates' there are 50,000 British tourists and 300,000 residents in the area affected by superstorm Sandy.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy: Dramatic Footage Of Air Rescue

Dramatic footage has been released of people being plucked from their flood-hit homes by helicopter.

Video shows New York Police Department rescue teams loading people onto a helicopter winch to safety, as flood waters rose.

But many people were not as fortunate, and details are emerging of the circumstances surrounding some of those who were killed.

An off-duty police officer drowned in his basement while rescuing his family from superstorm Sandy, police have confirmed.

The unnamed man is reported to have helped his father, girlfriend and baby into the attic of their home on the southern end of Staten Island, New York.

Falling trees have proved particularly deadly

He then went downstairs and never returned. Fellow officers found him in the basement at about 5am on Tuesday.

"Somehow he got trapped in his basement and he drowned in the basement," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

At least 55 people died across the US and Canada, and many are still missing, including two boys aged two and four.

New York was the worst-hit city in the US. In Queens, a 23-year-old woman was electrocuted after stepping on a live wire while taking photographs of a power line that had caught fire.

"She couldn't move. She didn't have a chance," said neighbour Renny Bhagretta, 44.

In Brooklyn, a teacher and student were crushed in the street by giant trees that came crashing down during the height of the storm.

Their bodies were discovered the next morning.

A 75-year-old Manhattan woman was reported to have died after her oxygen machine lost power.

Her grandson ran to nearby Bellevue Hospital for a manually operated tank, but the woman had already gone into cardiac arrest by the time paramedics arrived.

A 13-year-old girl was found dead under a pile of debris in the Tottenville area of Staten Island where four beach front homes were washed away.

Her mother, a church worker, was critically injured and her father, a plumber, was missing, neighbours said.

"They wanted to stay. We tried to convince them to leave. They said they didn't think it would be that bad," said neighbour John Alleva, 47.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Superstorm Sandy: Wall Street Opens Higher

New York's Dow Jones opened up 0.4% after Hurricane Sandy's arrival on the East Coast forced a two-day market closure.

The S&P 500rose 0.3% , while the Nasdaq fell slightly.

The stock markets did not open on Monday, hours before Sandy hit New York with devastating consequences.

They remained closed on Tuesday as the storm ripped through the city, flooding the financial district and subway system, and leading to wide-spread power outages. 

But New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to signal the reopening of Wall Street.

More follows...

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

HMS Bounty Sinks: Rescued Crew Member Dies

A woman rescued from the Atlantic Ocean hours after the HMS Bounty was caught by Hurricane Sandy has died.

Claudene Christian, 42, was pulled from the water on Monday - hours after the historic ship went down in the storm off the coast of North Carolina - but was unresponsive.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class David Weydert said Ms Christian, who lived and sailed on the ship, was taken to hospital in a critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

The Coast Guard is still searching for the ship's captain, Robin Walbridge, 63.

The famous HMS Bounty was hit by 18ft waves

Ms Christian, a keen sailor, said on Twitter that she joined the ship's crew in May and a series of posts described how much she was enjoying her life on the sea.

On June 7, she wrote: "So I had a tough day, lost in the sails. But it was sunny warm and I am on a TALL SHIP AT SEA. It's a "Bountyful" life."

Fourteen other crew members were rescued from the stricken vessel, which was about 160 miles from the hurricane's centre.

The captain ordered his crew to abandon ship at about 5am on Monday after the vessel lost power and started to take on water.

Sixteen people were on board the ship when it sank

Coast guards said the crew had put on cold water survival suits and life-jackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies.

The suits are designed to protect people from the cold waters for up to 15 hours.

Rescuers faced 40mph winds and 18ft waves at the scene, which is 90 miles southeast of Hatteras in North Carolina.

The rescued crew were flown to Air Station Elizabeth City for treatment.

Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a call from the owner of the 180ft, three-mast ship, saying she had lost communication with the vessel's crew late on Sunday evening.

The rescued crew were flown to Air Station Elizabeth City for treatment

It regained contact with the ship after receiving a signal from the emergency position indicating beacon registered to the Bounty.

HMS Bounty was built for the 1962 movie Mutiny On The Bounty with Marlon Brando and also appeared in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

The original Bounty was known for the mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789.

People could apply to work on the ship, which was built in 1960 and restored in 2001.

The HMS Bounty Organisation said on its website that it was "dedicated to keeping the ship sailing and using her as a vehicle for teaching the nearly lost arts of square rigged sailing and seamanship."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy Could Mean Costly Delays For Travellers

Airline passengers delayed by Sandy may have to pay out thousands and wait days to reach their destinations, following the grounding of thousands of flights.

Flight-tracking service FlightAware posted details of 13,500 cancelled national and international flights for Monday and Tuesday, almost all related to the stormy conditions.

By early Tuesday, more than 500 flights scheduled for Wednesday were on hold, with more delays expected to be announced later.

More than a hundred UK departures and arrivals from New York and other East Coast cities were cancelled on Tuesday alone. The majority were due to operate via Heathrow. 

A British Airways spokesman said: "We are doing all we can to help customers whose flights have been cancelled and will look to use larger aircraft on some routes when the full flying schedule resumes to help get customers to their correct destination as quickly as we can."

BA's other US flights are operating normally and the company is also flying as usual to Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

Virgin Atlantic had to scrap most of its US East Coast services on Monday and Tuesday. 

"Our flights to America had been very busy at the beginning of this week due to the half-term school holiday. It's very unfortunate that this major storm has come when it has," a Virgin spokesperson said.

Some airports like this one in Washington DC virtually closed down

UK airports were advising passengers due to travel to the US to contact their airline before travelling.

All airlines flying out of the European Union are obliged under the EU Denied Boarding Regulations to provide or pay for later flights, accommodation and refreshments if travellers are delayed.

But there is no such obligation for US carriers. Passengers on these flights should contact their insurers for compensation. 

Under ABTA regulations anyone who booked their flight as part of a package deal can change or cancel their trip with a refund on the package price.

Businessman Alan Shrem was due to return home to Florida from Hong Kong via New York on Monday.

He is now on a waiting list with the next confirmed seat not until November 4.

"They just say: Yeah, it's a pretty big waiting list," said Mr Shrem, throwing up his hands.

In the meantime, he will have to fork out $400 a night to continue staying at a nearby hotel.

The impact on the airline's finances is less clear. Many of the customers on flights currently being cancelled will reschedule later on, so the airlines will still collect the fares.

But the cost of parking planes for days, along with potential damage, will undoubtedly cost airlines millions.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wandsworth Mother Admits Killing Children

A mother suffering from post-natal depression has admitted killing her two young children at the family home.

Felicia Boots wept at the Old Bailey as she pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mason, nine weeks, and Lily, 14 months, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Boots told the court she killed the children at their house in Wandsworth, south-west London, in May and said she was "eternally sorry".

The 35-year-old, who wore a black suit and white blouse, sent a note to the court which was read by her counsel Kate Bex.

It said: "May 9, 2012, is a day I will be eternally sorry for. It should never have happened. It troubles me more than anyone will ever know.

"Part of me will always be missing. I am a good person. I am a good mum and I never meant any of this to happen. I am truly sorry."

The children's bodies were found by their father, Jeff, an investment banker. Details of their injuries were not given in court, apart from to say they had been asphyxiated.

The Old Bailey heard Boots had suffered post-natal depression after the births of both children but had appeared to be getting better.

She was prescribed antidepressants but had not been taking them after becoming convinced the babies would be taken away from her because of the effects of the drugs on her breast milk.

The couple, who married in 2007 and came to the UK from Canada, had just moved house and were still unpacking when the children died.

"They were a happy family and they were comfortably well-off," Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, said.

On May 9, Mr Boots had gone to work as normal and was sent a picture of Lily by his wife but when he arrived home the house was in darkness.

He found his wife on the stairs, hugging herself and curled up, the court heard.

Mr Brown said: "Mr Boots ran past her and found their two children lying lifeless on the floor of a walk-in cupboard off the main bedroom.

"He very soon returned, very distressed, to his wife. On questioning, she told him she had killed the children at 2pm. She also said she had tried to kill herself."

The court heard that Mr Boots was supporting his wife.

He said: "This plainly is a tragic case. There were signs Mrs Boots had made an attempt on her own life. She had marks to her neck."

Boots was ordered to be detained at a psychiatric unit and the court was told she would be given full support and care if she became pregnant again.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

New York Storm: Sandy Is Heading West

Superstorm Sandy is heading inland after battering parts of the east coast of the United States and Canada, killing at least 17.

The storm lashed parts of the east coast overnight, leading President Barack Obama to declare a "major disaster" in New York and Long Island.

Forecasters say the storm is set to move westwards towards the Great Lakes, and on to northeastern states and parts of Canada.

While it is gradually weakening, gusts of up 50mph are expected, and heavy rainfall will bring flooding to inland areas.

An explosion rocks a flooded New York power plant

The "post-tropical" storm made landfall at 8pm local time on Monday, bringing gusts of more than 85mph (135kph) and a record-breaking 13ft surge of seawater in Manhattan.

The water submerged subway tunnels and roads, while many bridges and tunnels were closed as a precaution.

At Breezy Point in the borough of Queens, 190 firefighters tackled a huge fire that destroyed more than 50 homes. They used a boat to navigate the flood water and rescue 25 people.

New York University hospital was forced to move patients to other hospitals after it lost power and its back-up generator broke down. Among them were 20 babies from neonatal intensive care - some on respirators operating on battery power.

CCTV captures the PATH station in Hoboken, N.J., as it is flooded.

Firefighters said one man had been killed by a falling tree, while two people were also killed when a tree fell onto a vehicle in New Jersey.

Elsewhere in New Jersey a levee broke, flooding the towns of Moonachie, Little Ferry and Carlstadt with up to five feet of water. Rescue workers are at the scene assisting those who are trapped.

Some 670,000 New York homes have been left without power by the storm, with electricity knocked out to more than seven million Americans.

A total of 16 people have been reported dead by local officials in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia and North Carolina, while in Toronto, Canadian police said a woman died after being hit by flying debris.

Sea water floods the Ground Zero construction site.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg said the worst of the storm had passed and officials expected the tidal surge to recede by Wednesday.

Some 84 flights have been cancelled between London Heathrow and the US east coast. Flights from Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham have also been cancelled.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq suspended trading for a weather event for the first time since Hurricane Gloria in 1985.

It had been feared the surge of seawater could damage the underground electrical and communications lines in lower Manhattan that are vital to the nation's financial centre.

The collapsed front wall of an apartment building in New York

Sandy had already killed 69 people in the Caribbean, where many islands were left devastated by the extreme weather conditions.

Haiti was worst-hit, with 52 confirmed dead and many more still missing. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe described the storm as a "disaster of major proportions".

Residents of Cuba's second-largest city of Santiago were left without power and running water for four days.

After battering the Caribbean, Sandy then made its way up the Atlantic. As it made its way toward land, it converged with a cold-weather system that turned into a hybrid consisting not only of rain, high wind and snow.

Earlier, a US sailor on board a replica of the HMS Bounty was recovered from the sea in an "unresponsive" condition and later died. The captain was missing, feared dead after the tall ship went down off the Carolinas.

President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney suspended their campaigning with just over a week to go before election day.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Union Supports Clattenburg Over Chelsea Claim

The referees' union says it is "offering full support" to Mark Clattenburg in relation to allegations made against him.

Chelsea have made a formal complaint against the referee after accusing him of using "inappropriate language" towards two of their players during a controversial defeat to Manchester United.

The European champions confirmed they have reported the official to the Premier League match delegate following the London team's 3-2 loss at Stamford Bridge.

That complaint is set to be passed on to the Football Association (FA).

It is understood Jon Obi Mikel is one of the two players Chelsea believe "inappropriate language" was directed at.

Mr Clattenburg pictured during the fiery clash at Stamford Bridge

A club spokesman said: "We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regards to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents in today's (Sunday's) match.

"The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association. We will make no further comment at this time."

Mr Clattenburg, 37, has vowed to co-operate with any investigation.

Prospect, the union representing football referees, said it had given its full support to Mr Clattenburg.

"Prospect is committed to helping to eradicate racism in football and in society generally," said national secretary Alan Leighton.

"In the context of that commitment, Prospect is offering full support to Mark Clattenburg in relation to the allegations made against him. It is now important that the allegations are fully investigated through the proper process as quickly as possible."

The hotly-anticipated match between two of the Premier League's top three sides was eventful.

Chelsea had two players controversially sent off, including striker Fernando Torres who was dismissed for a second yellow card after allegedly diving.

Meanwhile, Manchester United were allowed a winning goal that some thought was offside.

All of the referee's conversations during the game would have been audible to his two assistants Michael McDonough and Simon Long as well as the fourth official Michael Jones, who are all connected by audio headsets. However, the audio itself is not recorded.

Mr Clattenburg is regarded by Fifa - the sport's world governing body - as one of the top officials in the game.

At the Olympics, he was chosen to referee the final between Brazil and Mexico, and he is expected to be put forward to be part of the English representation at the 2014 World Cup.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fourteen Crew Members Saved, Two Missing

Rescuers have saved 14 crew members of HMS Bounty stranded on lifeboats near the eye of Hurricane Sandy but two are missing.

The captain ordered his crew to abandon the ship, which is located 160 miles from the hurricane centre, after it lost power and the pumps were unable to keep up with the dewatering.

The US Coast Guard said the crew donned cold water survival suits and lifejackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies.

It said: "The first Jayhawk crew hoisted five people into the aircraft and a second helicopter arrived and rescued nine people."

Rescuers faced 40mph winds and 18ft waves at the scene, which is 90 miles southeast of Hatteras in North Carolina.

Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a call from the owner of the 180ft, three mast ship, saying she had lost communication with the vessel's crew late on Sunday evening.

It regained contact with the ship after receiving a signal from the emergency position indicating beacon registered to the Bounty.

The current Bounty was built for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty with Marlon Brando and has since appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

The original Bounty is known for the mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hurricane Sandy: NY Braces For Wall Of Water

Heavy rain and strong winds from Hurricane Sandy have started lashing the northeast of the US, as forecasters warn New York could bear the brunt of the one-of-a-kind superstorm.

Sandy is on a collision course with two other weather systems leading to fears it could develop into one of the worst storms on record in the US.

The superstorm is threatening up to 50 million people on the heavily populated East Coast, and forecasters say it could wreak havoc over 800 miles (1,280km) from the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes.

Authorities are warning New York could get hit with an 11ft (3.3-metre) wall of water that could swamp parts of lower Manhattan, flood subway tunnels and cripple the network of electrical and communications lines that are vital to the nation's financial centre.

As the hurricane approaches the coast, rescuers have saved 14 crew members of HMS Bounty stranded on lifeboats near the eye of storm - but two remain missing.

Key evacuation areas affecting New York City and adjoining areas

:: Live Updates on Hurricane Sandy

Sandy, a Category 1 hurricane, is currently about 380 miles (615km) southeast of New York City, with winds of about 85mph (140kph).

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said it strengthened as it turned toward the coast on a predicted path toward New York, Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. It is moving at 15 mph (24 kph).

The centre of the storm was positioned to come ashore Monday night in New Jersey, meaning the worst of the storm surge could be in the northern part of that state and in New York City and on Long Island.

Sandbags have been used to thwart flooding in low-lying areas

The massive storm, which is hundreds of miles across, is set to stay until at least mid-week, bringing hurricane winds, flooding rains and snow in the Appalachian mountains.

Hundreds of thousands of people have already evacuated coastal areas, but much focus remains on New York.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered the evacuation of 375,000 people in low-lying areas of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

"If you don't evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you," he said.

"This is a serious and dangerous storm."

Police officers monitor Times Square subway station

New York and other cities shut down schools and suspended all train, bus and subway services on Sunday night because of the risk of flooding.

Nearly the entire coastline of Staten Island has been evacuated. Parts of lower Manhattan, like Battery Park and Ground Zero, have also been evacuated amid the threat of flooding.

All US stock markets will be closed on Monday and possibly Tuesday, the operator of the New York Stock Exchange said, reversing an earlier plan that would have kept electronic trading going on Monday.

A state of emergency has already been declared in nine states - including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

US President Barack Obama has cancelled a planned campaign appearance in Florida and returned to Washington to oversee the federal government's response to the ever-threatening hurricane.

Mr Obama promised the government would "respond big and respond fast" after the storm hits.

The projected storm track passes over New York

"My message to the governors as well as to the mayors is anything they need, we will be there, and we will cut through red tape. We are not going to get bogged down with a lot of rules," he said.

Federal Emergency management administrator Craig Fugate warned the "time for preparing and talking is about over".

"People need to be acting now," he said.

Airlines have cancelled more than 7,600 flights, with British Airways, Virgin and American Airlines have halted some departures to the eastern coat of the US.

At Heathrow, 47 departures and 12 arrivals have been cancelled.

Sandy was blamed for 66 deaths in the Caribbean before it began travelling northward parallel to the eastern seaboard.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Breast Implant Firm Founder Freed From Prison

The founder of French breast implant firm Poly Implant Prothese has been freed from prison after serving eight months for refusing to pay bail.

Jean-Claude Mas, 73, was jailed in March after he was charged in January with causing grievous bodily harm after the implant scandal erupted which sparked a global health scare over potentially faulty products.

Mas' released was ordered by a French judge but he will still be "placed under judicial supervision," his lawyer Yves Haddad said, without giving details of the conditions.

More follows...

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gary Glitter Arrested By Savile Police

Former pop star Gary Glitter has been arrested as part of a police investigation sparked by sexual abuse claims against the late Jimmy Savile.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was taken from his central London home by officers early on Sunday morning and is to be questioned at a police station in the capital.

The ex-glam rock star, who had a string of hit singles in the 1970s, is being held on suspicion of sexual offences.

Gadd, 68, was detained by officers working on Operation Yewtree, which is investigating allegations of child sex abuse against Savile and others.

A police spokesman said: "Officers working on Operation Yewtree have arrested a man in his 60s in connection with the investigation.

"The man, from London, was arrested at approximately 0715 on suspicion of sexual offences, and has been taken into custody at a London police station.

"The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'Savile and others'."

Gadd served almost three years in jail in Vietnam after being convicted in March 2006 for child abuse offences.

He had moved to Vietnam to avoid media attention into his private life.

Gadd was deported back to the UK in 2008.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Earthquake Off Canada Sparks Tsunami Alert

Thousands of people in Hawaii have been ordered to leave their homes after a tsunami was triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Canada.

Initial warnings have now been downgraded but residents and tourists are still being advised to stay on higher ground until and all-clear is given.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the west coast of Canada, around 96 miles (155km) south of Masset in the Haida Gwaii region, at just after 8pm local time.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was followed by a 5.8 magnitude aftershock several minutes later.

An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people who live in Hawaii's coastal zones were urged to move to higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued.

The earthquake hit around 96 miles off the coast of Canada

This was later downgraded to an advisory and video footage of the island of Oahu showed relatively small waves rolling towards the shore.

Lenore Lawrence, a resident of Queen Charlotte City on the Haida Gwaii, said the quake was "definitely scary".

She said the shaking lasted more than a minute and that several things had fallen off her mantlepiece. 

Residents in parts of British Columbia were also evacuated but the province seemed to escape the biggest quake in Canada since 1949 largely unscathed.

Lucy Jones, a USGS seismologist, said: "This isn't that big of an earthquake on tsunami scales. The really big tsunamis are usually up in the high 8s and 9s."

Tremors were felt across a wide area in British Columbia, both on its Pacific islands and on the mainland.

"It looks like the damage and the risk are at a very low level. We're certainly grateful," said Shirley Bond, British Columbia's minister responsible for emergency management.

Officials downgraded a tsunami warning to an advisory for southern Alaska and British Columbia. They also issued an advisory for areas of northern California and southern Oregon.

The first wave of the small tsunami, about four inches, hit the southeast Alaska coastal community of Craig.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jimmy Savile: Thompson's Office 'Was Warned'

The Jimmy Savile child abuse allegations were flagged up to the office of former BBC boss Mark Thompson at least twice, according to new claims.

The then director-general's office was formally alerted by journalist Miles Goslett in May and by an ITV email in September, The Sunday Times reports.

According to the paper, his aides were told on both occasions that the allegations concerned Savile's alleged abuse of minors on BBC premises.

Mr Thompson, who has since left the BBC and is about to start a job as chief executive of The New York Times, denies he was ever personally informed.

Mr Goslett is said to have spoken to Jessica Cecil, the head of Mr Thompson's office and asked to speak to him about allegations that Savile had molested underage girls on BBC premises.

Ms Cecil told Mr Goslett to speak to the press office and said she did not tell Mr Thompson of the allegations.

A BBC spokesman said: "Jessica Cecil's firm recollection of this brief call is she advised the journalist to put their points to the BBC press office. She then informed the BBC's director of communications about the call."

A spokesman for Mr Thompson said: "Mark was not aware of the conversation between Miles Goslett and Jessica Cecil on May 18, 2012. He was on holiday at the time and this brief conversation was not relayed to him, either then or subsequently."

Hundreds have come forward claiming to be Jimmy Savile's victims

On September 7, ITV is reported to have contacted Mr Thompson's office with detailed questions about its findings based on interviews with 10 victims.

Again, Mr Thompson was not informed.

The former BBC chief has previously said he was neither "notified nor briefed" about details of Newsnight's investigation into the Jim'll Fix It star which was later controversially dropped.

He later told reporters he had "formed the impression it [the Newsnight investigation] was about sex abuse" after a conversation at a party but when he called the news department he was told it had been axed for editorial reasons.

Police have now described Savile, who died in 2011, as a sexual predator who could be one of the worst paedophiles the UK has ever seen.

Hundreds of people have come forward claiming to be his victims. Around 130 have so far been questioned. A further 114 assault claims have been made.

Amid major questions about the culture at the BBC and its decision not to proceed with the Newsnight programme on Savile, the corporation has ordered three inquiries.

The chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, has said he is dedicated to getting to the bottom of the scandal, vowing there would be "no covering our backs".

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday that the broadcaster "must tell the truth and face up to the truth about itself, however terrible".

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told Sky News that the BBC should take it as a wake-up call to become more open.

"I think it's in all our interests for the BBC to be held in the highest esteem that it deserves and I think the problem at the heart of the BBC is that the organisation is too secretive," he told Sky's Dermot Murnaghan.

"I think it should think now that it should open itself up to Freedom of Information requests. I think it should look towards publishing a lot of its expenditure online... I don't think it can see itself away from the real world."

Childline founder and ex-BBC TV presenter Esther Rantzen told Sky News: "There are so many questions that need to be answered.

"What happened when people witnessed bad things happening when Jimmy Savile was at his height?

"How is it that this pain-staking piece of journalism (Savile investigation) was not transmitted on one of the flagship programmes (Newsnight)?"

She added: "What happened in the last four weeks is too late. I want the right judgements to have been made far earlier."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More