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Ed Miliband Unveils Labour's Election Pledges

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Maret 2015 | 20.48

Ed Miliband has unveiled Labour's pledges for the General Election, covering the economy, the NHS, immigration and tuition fees.

The Labour leader said the choice for voters is not simply between parties and leaders, but between different visions of the country.

The party's five pledges are:

:: Economy -  Labour claims it will balance the books and cut the deficit every year.

:: Living standards - Boosted by Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy bills until 2017.

:: NHS - Labour says it will recruit 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 more GPs.

:: Immigration - People who come to the UK will not be able to claim benefits for at least two years.

:: Young people - Tuition fees cut to £6,000, more apprenticeships and smaller class sizes for primary school children.

Speaking to delegates in Birmingham, he said: "Today I urge the British people to choose optimism, to choose a country for the many, to choose the good of all, to choose hope - and to recognise that when working people succeed, nothing can stop us as a country."

Mr Miliband claimed "the Tory experiment" over the past five years had failed, and suggested that working people were £1,600 worse off because of David Cameron's Government.

He added: "We know what their plans mean - it means education cut, the NHS undermined, it means social care devastated, our infrastructure crumbling. Britain cannot afford to take that risk."

To applause from supporters, Mr Miliband also criticised the Prime Minister's decision not to participate in some of the upcoming TV election debates.

It is not the first time Labour has unveiled a pledge card. Tony Blair and John Prescott did so successfully in 1997, winning a landslide general election victory.

But the pledges were very different in 1997. First was cutting class sizes, second was quicker punishment for young offenders, third was cutting NHS waiting lists, while getting under-25s off benefits and no rise in income tax made up the other two.

Responding to Mr Miliband's speech, Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: "The real choice at this election is between the stability and strong leadership of David Cameron and the Conservatives working to a long-term economic plan, securing a better future for Britain.

"Or Ed Miliband carried into Downing Street in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP - meaning more borrowing, more debt, higher taxes and weaker defences."


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At Least 8 Killed By Powerful Cyclone Pam

Powerful winds from Cyclone Pam have caused widespread destruction in the Vanuatu islands, killing at least eight people, aid officials have said.

Unconfirmed reports say dozens more people are feared dead.

The Category Fire storm struck the South Pacific archipelago with winds of up to 167mph, threatening more than 267,000 residents.

The storm blew roofs off houses, uprooted trees and downed power lines.

Officials in the capital Port Vila say there is no power or running water.

Vanuatu is about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii and the population is spread over 65 islands. About 47,000 people live in the capital.

There are reports of entire villages being destroyed in more remote areas, according to Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer.

"It's still really quite dangerous outside. Most people are still hunkering down," she said.

"The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands.

Save the Children's Vanuatu Country Director Tom Skirrow added: "The scene here this morning is complete devastation.

"Communications are down across much of the country with the total extent of the devastation unlikely to be known for several days."

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  1. Gallery: Red Alert In Vanuatu Ahead Of Cyclone Pam

    A map showing the location of Vanuatu

A satellite image of Cyclone Pam. Pic: Japan Meteorological Agency

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Clarkson Hints At Possible Top Gear Exit

Jeremy Clarkson has hinted he may be ready to leave Top Gear after being suspended over a bust-up with a producer.

Writing in his column for the Sun newspaper he appeared to refer to himself as a "dinosaur", explaining that "the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters". 

He wrote: "Nature made a mistake when it invented the dinosaur. It was too big, too violent ...

"All the dinosaurs died and now, years later, no-one mourns their passing.

"These big, imposing creatures have no place in a world which has moved on."

Clarkson, 54, has been suspended over a row in which he allegedly tried to hit a producer, named in reports as Oisin Tymon. 

A petition calling for Clarkson to be reinstated has reached more than 840,000 signatures.

But the controversial presenter wrote: "You can start as many campaigns as you like and call on the support of politicians from all sides, but the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters, and move on. 

"We lose one animal and get another. The world turns."

He goes on to say: "As you may have heard, I've been suspended by the BBC following a fracas at a North Yorkshire hotel.

"I don't intend to dwell here on what happened then or what will happen in the future. I'm sure you're as fed up with the story as I am.

"One of the things which has cheered me is how many people have expressed support in the last few days. I'm touched and grateful."

Clarkson is being summoned to appear before a BBC disciplinary panel that will decide his fate.

The panel will be chaired by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland who conducted the investigation into Newsnight's false expose of Lord McAlpine.

The corporation has not revealed when or where the hearing will take place.

:: Read Sky News' interview with a family who say Clarkson launched into an expletive-ridden rant at the producer.

According to reports, he lashed out because he was unable to order a steak at the Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes, North Yorkshire, where the production team were staying.

The Sun and Daily Mirror said the hotel's chef had gone home by the time they arrived and they were only offered cold meat platters, although Clarkson had ordered a £21.95 steak.

The papers quoted a source who claimed Clarkson blamed Mr Tymon for not arranging hot food and said there had been a "scuffle".


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India: Nun Critical After Gang-Rape By Bandits

A 72-year-old nun has been gang-raped by bandits at a Christian missionary school in eastern India.

Up to a dozen attackers broke in at around 1am on Saturday before tying up several of the nuns on the premises.

The senior sister was raped as she tried to stop the men stealing from the Convent of Jesus and Mary School, in Ranaghat, West Bengal.

It is understood the nun was not taken to hospital until the following morning.

The woman is said to have been critically injured and has had surgery after the attack.

Father Dominic Gomes, Vicar General of Kolkata (Calcutta) Archdiocese, told Indian news channel NDTV: "After tying three of the five sisters, they entered the principal's room and ransacked it, destroying property and taking money, a laptop and a mobile phone."

Angry school students blocked a rail route and a major highway in protest after the incident.

West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said an inquiry had been launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Ms Banerjee said: "We strongly condemn the incident that took place at the Ranaghat Convent. CID will be examining all aspects to this horrific crime. Swift, strongest action to be taken."

State minister for urban affairs Firhad Hakim described the attack as "heinous" and called for the death penalty to be used on anyone found responsible, the Times of India reported.


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Iron Man Gives Bionic Arm To Seven-Year-Old Boy

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Maret 2015 | 20.48

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr has given a seven-year-old boy a bionic arm.

Video footage of the moment shows the actor dressed as Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man in the popular Hollywood films.

Downey Jr then opens a pair of metal cases marked Stark Industries.

In the cases are an Iron Man arm and a red-and-gold prosthetic limb for the boy, named Alex, who was born with a partially developed right arm.

The bionic arm was created by engineering student Albert Manero, who makes 3D-printed bionic limbs for children around the world.


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Service Marks End Of Afghanistan Conflict

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Queen has led the nation in paying tribute to those who served in Afghanistan over the last 13 years.

Veterans of the campaign as well as next of kin of the 453 service personnel killed in the war attended the special service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

They were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who himself served two tours in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron, other political figures and members of the military were also at the service.

A ceremony has also been held in Kabul.

During the service in London, the Archbishop of Canterbury thanked those who fought in Afghanistan.

In his address, Most Rev Justin Welby said: "Today is a moment for us to say thank you: thank you to all who served, whatever your role.

"We thank you for your faithfulness: you who left family behind, you who trained hard, you who did not turn from danger, you who suffered injury and you who risked yourselves to care for the injured.

"I'm told that each wounded person was supported by up to 80 others by the time they got home. Great is your faithfulness.

"We also thank those of you who stayed behind, who let your loved ones go: you who worried for their safety each day and took your phone to your bedside each night, you who lived with the pining of children, as well as your own fears. Great is your faithfulness."

"And we honour the faithfulness of all those who gave up their lives to give peace and security for others."

Prayers were said for those who were killed in the conflict, for families left behind while their loved ones served and for the Afghan people and its leaders.

A Memorial Cross made from used shell cases was processed through St Paul's Cathedral by representatives from the RAF, Royal Navy and Army.

After being blessed by the Archbishop, it was taken to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire as part of a permanent installation.

After the service, a parade of servicemen marched through the streets of London ending at the Guildhall in the city.

It was made up of veterans representing many parts of the military.

There was also a flypast of aircraft that flew in the conflict: a Sea King helicopter, two Chinooks and two Apaches, followed by an RAF C-130 Hercules and two Tornado fast jets.

Various members of the Royal Family are then hosting three receptions at the Honourable Artillery Company, Horse Guards Parade, and the Guildhall.


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Family: Clarkson Said He'd Have Colleague Fired

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is facing new allegations over the "fracas" at a Yorkshire Dales hotel that led to his suspension by the BBC on Monday.

Four members of the same family who overheard the row say Clarkson told a colleague he would have him fired because there was no hot food at the end of a day's filming.

The Ward family from Leeds told Sky News that Clarkson ranted for up to half-an-hour at the Simonstone Hotel near Hawes and say they were shocked at his language and the way he treated his colleague.

They also claimed he criticised the BBC, saying it was "getting worse".

Sue Ward, 54, a medical receptionist, described Clarkson's behaviour towards the unnamed employee as shocking.

"He said he hadn't done his job properly, it was ridiculous that there was nothing to eat, obviously there was lots of expletives in between all this, and that he would be losing his job, he would see to it that he would lose his job," she said.

"Even someone who's really inept at their job should be told properly, in a proper manner," she said

"But the fact that it was in a public place, I didn't want to listen to that language."

Sue's brother in law Bob Ward, 60, said Clarkson arrived with his co-presenters by helicopter at around 9.30pm and refused to have his picture taken.

"I said 'Any chance of a selfie Jeremy?' and he said 'No, not with the day I've had today'."

Within minutes, Bob's wife Denise, 51, said Clarkson was shouting and swearing and had spoiled the evening they had been looking forward to.

"We were sort of, 'Ooh, celebrities, will we see them?' and then it was just the shock of how can someone be so rude?" she said.

"It was just the swearing and the length of time and this poor guy that he was ripping into," she added.

Top Gear is the BBC's biggest global brand, worth more than £50m a year, but with Clarkson suspended the next three episodes have been scrapped.

The only Top Gear fan among the Ward family, Sue's husband Alan, 56, agreed with the three quarters of a million people who have signed an online petition for Clarkson to keep his job.

"He's brash, we know what he's like, he's been in trouble before and I think he'll be in trouble again," he said.

"I think he'll continue to do that job because without Clarkson there's no Top Gear."

Sky News has approached Clarkson for a comment but he has not responded.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Clarkson's Twitter profile has changed from saying, "I am a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear" to "I am probably a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear".

One fan responded by tweeting "brilliant", while an opponent wrote "You'll soon be changing the verb tense in your profile then?"


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Ex-TV Weatherman Fred Talbot Gets Jail Term

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Reporter

Former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot has been jailed for five years for indecently assaulting two schoolboys.

Talbot  assaulted the pupils, aged 14 and 15, from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in the 1970s, during his former career as a biology teacher.

The judge at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court told Talbot: "You deliberately and indecently assaulted the two of them for your own gratification."

During his trial, Talbot, 65, who was known to millions for his forecasts on a floating weather map for ITV's This Morning show, was described as a "chancer".

He was said to have been "obsessed" with teenage boys and "could not help himself", particularly when he had been drinking.

Victims described how they were forced to sleep naked with him during school trips on canal barges.

One told how boys would take turns to sleep in his bed on one of the trips, and that at one stage Talbot "started talking to me about sexual stuff" before assaulting him.

Talbot resigned in disgrace from the school in 1984 after making indecent comments to two 15-year-old pupils, but hid his past when his TV break came a year later.

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  1. Gallery: Diaries Seized By Cops Helped Convict Talbot

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Jeremy Clarkson Is 'Huge Talent' Says Cameron

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 12 Maret 2015 | 20.48

Jeremy Clarkson Is 'Huge Talent' Says Cameron

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The Prime Minister has called Jeremy Clarkson a "huge talent" as he weighed into the row over the Top Gear presenter's suspension.

Clarkson was suspended following an alleged fracas with a producer on his TV motoring show, reportedly over a lack of catering after filming.

More than 600,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the 54-year-old star to be reinstated.

Clarkson - who is a friend of David Cameron and lives in his Witney constituency in Oxfordshire - laughed off his latest controversy, telling reporters he was "off to the job centre".

When asked if he planned to resign after reportedly trying to punch 36-year-old producer Oisin Tymon, he replied: "I've been suspended, haven't I?"

Asked if his suspension was over a row about food, he said "no, no, no" but said "yes" when asked if he had any regrets about what had happened.

He was later photographed watching Chelsea in their Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge.

Mr Cameron commented: "He's a constituent of mine, he's a friend of mine, he's a huge talent. I see that he said he regrets some of what happened.

"Because he is a talent and he does amuse and entertain so many people, including my children who'll be heartbroken if Top Gear is taken off air, I hope this can be sorted out because it is a great programme and he is a great talent."

BBC director-general Tony Hall said an investigation was taking place into the alleged fracas, adding: "The most important thing in anything like this is to gather the facts.

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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Jeremy Clarkson Is 'Huge Talent' Says Cameron

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

The Prime Minister has called Jeremy Clarkson a "huge talent" as he weighed into the row over the Top Gear presenter's suspension.

Clarkson was suspended following an alleged fracas with a producer on his TV motoring show, reportedly over a lack of catering after filming.

More than 600,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the 54-year-old star to be reinstated.

Clarkson - who is a friend of David Cameron and lives in his Witney constituency in Oxfordshire - laughed off his latest controversy, telling reporters he was "off to the job centre".

When asked if he planned to resign after reportedly trying to punch 36-year-old producer Oisin Tymon, he replied: "I've been suspended, haven't I?"

Asked if his suspension was over a row about food, he said "no, no, no" but said "yes" when asked if he had any regrets about what had happened.

He was later photographed watching Chelsea in their Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge.

Mr Cameron commented: "He's a constituent of mine, he's a friend of mine, he's a huge talent. I see that he said he regrets some of what happened.

"Because he is a talent and he does amuse and entertain so many people, including my children who'll be heartbroken if Top Gear is taken off air, I hope this can be sorted out because it is a great programme and he is a great talent."

BBC director-general Tony Hall said an investigation was taking place into the alleged fracas, adding: "The most important thing in anything like this is to gather the facts.

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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Mass Surveillance: Intelligence Staff Sacked

A number of British intelligence staff have been sacked for inappropriately accessing personal information, it has emerged.

The revelation came in a long-awaited parliamentary report which was announced after whistle-blower Edward Snowden exposed mass surveillance techniques used by GCHQ and its US counterpart.

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) inquiry recommended a single law be introduced to regulate the UK's intelligence agencies and their powers to snoop on private communications.

The ISC report concludes that the legal framework governing GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 is "unnecessarily complicated" and "lacks transparency".

But the inquiry found the intelligence agencies were not trying to cheat the law through mass surveillance programmes.

When asked by Sky News for further details about why intelligence staff were sacked, the committee's spokeswoman MP Hazel Blears replied: "I think we say in the report that these incidents have been extremely rare.

"We also recommend in our report that these matters should be a criminal offence because we regard this as extremely serious indeed.

"If you're trying to get public confidence around privacy then if someone breaches the rules then there ought to be severe sanctions for that kind of breach.

"We're not in a position today to give you the detailed information ... but I think the fact the committee recommends it be a criminal offence gives an indication of how seriously we take it."

The committee said thousands of private communications are read by GCHQ spies on a daily basis using bulk interception methods.

In a section of the report that is heavily redacted, the committee said it is "unavoidable that some innocent communications may have been incidentally collected".

Ms Blears said: "There is a legitimate public expectation of openness and transparency in today's society, and the security and intelligence agencies are not exempt from that.

"While we accept that they need to operate in secret if they are to be able to protect us from those who are plotting in secret to harm us, the Government must make every effort to ensure that information is placed in the public domain when it is safe to do so.

"This report is an important first step toward greater transparency.

"Nevertheless, there is more that could and should be done.

"This is essential to improve public understanding and retain confidence in the vital work of the intelligence and security agencies."

Ms Blears was speaking on behalf of the committee after Sir Malcom Rifkind resigned as its chair following a cash-for-access controversy.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of rights campaign group Liberty, said: "The ISC has repeatedly shown itself as a simple mouthpiece for the spooks - so clueless and ineffective that it's only thanks to Edward Snowden that it had the slightest clue of the agencies' antics.

"The committee calls this report a landmark for 'openness and transparency' - but how do we trust agencies who have acted unlawfully, hacked the world's largest Sim card manufacturer and developed technologies capable of collecting our login details and passwords, manipulating our mobile devices and hacking our computers and webcams?

"No doubt it would be simpler if we went along with the spies' motto of 'no scrutiny for us, no privacy for you' - but what an appalling deal for the British public."


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Farage Race Views Spark Leaders' Twitter Spat

Nigel Farage, David Cameron and Ed Miliband were embroiled in a Twitter spat following the UKIP leader's comments that race equality laws should be scrapped.

Mr Farage said race discrimination laws in the workplace were no longer necessary and should be abolished.

His comments drew fire from David Cameron on Twitter who accused him of "attention seeking" and Ed Miliband, who described the remarks as "dangerous".

Mr Farage immediately returned fire accusing Mr Cameron of not caring and Mr Miliband of believing only in bureaucracy.

Speaking in an interview with the former equalities chief Trevor Phillips, Mr Farage said the worries over discrimination by employers would have been valid 40 years ago but not now.

Mr Farage, who described UKIP as "colour blind", said: "I think the situation that we now have, where an employer is not allowed to choose between a British-born person and somebody from Poland, is a ludicrous state of affairs.

"I would argue that the law does need changing, and that if an employer wishes to choose, or you can use the word 'discriminate' if you want to, but wishes to choose to employ a British-born person, they should be allowed to do so."

Mr Farage was described as "wrong and desperate for attention" by number 10 and was accused of "breathtaking ignorance" by Labour.

Nick Clegg also said he disagreed with Mr Farage's comments.

Mr Cameron tweeted: "Nigel Farage is attention seeking. The laws protect people from racial discrimination. It's deeply concerning he doesn't understand that."

Mr Farage immediately hit back posting: "@David_Cameron The people the law doesn't protect are British workers, black or white. Disturbing, though unsurprising, that u don't care."

Mr Miliband tweeted: "I think Nigel Farage's comments today are wrong, divisive and dangerous. The laws we have on equality represent our values as a country."

To which Mr Farage replied: "@Ed_Miliband The laws don't represent these values, Ed. The British people do. We believe in Britain. You believe in bureaucracy."

During the Channel 4 interview, Mr Farage also said people were more worried there were Muslims who wanted to form a "fifth column and kill us" and that there had not previously been a group who wanted to "change who we are".

He said: "So don't be surprised if there isn't a slight increase in people's worries and concerns.

"You know, when you've got British, when you've got people, born and bred in Cardiff, with British passports, going out to fight for Isis, don't be surprised if there isn't an uptick in concern."

He added: "There is an especial problem with some of the people who've come here and who are of the Muslim religion who don't want to become part of our culture.

"So there is no previous experience, in our history, of a migrant group that comes to Britain, that fundamentally wants to change who we are and what we are.

"That is, I think, above everything else, what people are really concerned about."

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "This is one of the most shocking things I have ever heard from a mainstream politician and demonstrates breathtaking ignorance.

"We have made huge progress on tackling racial inequality and discrimination in this country, partly because of Labour's strong anti-discrimination laws, but things are still far from perfect."

It comes as Gillian Duffy, who famously tackled Gordon Brown about the immigration issue during the 2010 election campaign, told Sky News she would be voting for Labour and not for UKIP.


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Turkey: Foreign Spy Detained Over UK Girls

Turkey says it has detained a "foreign spy" for helping three British schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State.

The Turkish foreign minister said an  intelligence agent working for one of the states in the US-led coalition had helped London teenagers Kadiza Sultana, Shamima Begum and Adiza Abase get to Syria.

In an interview published on the official Anatolia news agency, Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Do you know who helped those girls? He was captured.

"He was someone working for the intelligence (service) of a country in the coalition."

Mr Cavusoglu said the agent in question was not American nor from an EU state but did not elaborate.

More follows ...


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Ex-Traveller Set For Divorce Win 20 Years On

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Maret 2015 | 20.48

A former traveller looks set to get a divorce payout from her ex-husband, who became a millionaire 10 years after they split.

Kathleen Wyatt, who is seeking £1.9m from Dale Vince, did not lodge a claim until nearly 20 years after their divorce.

Mr Vince has described letting her make a claim now as "mad", saying: "This could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago."

Supreme Court justices were told that the couple met when students, married in 1981 when in their early 20s, and lived a New Age traveller lifestyle.

They separated in the mid-1980s and divorced in 1992.  

In the mid-1990s Mr Vince began a business career and went on to become a green energy tycoon after launching a company called Ecotricity, now said to be worth more than £57m.

Ms Wyatt, 55, lodged a claim for "financial remedy" in 2011.

Deputy High Court judge Nicholas Francis gave it the green light in 2012 but three appeal judges overturned the decision in 2013.

Now, the Supreme Court justices have ruled it should go ahead, with a judge in the Family Division of the High Court assessing the claim.

One justice, Lord Wilson, said Ms Wyatt's claim was "legally recognisable" and not an "abuse of process".

He noted she had four grown-up children, one of them a son by Mr Vince who had provided "minimal support" for him.

Lord Wilson said £1.9m was "out of the question", but there was a "real prospect" Ms Wyatt would get a "comparatively modest award".

In a statement, Mr Vince said: "I'm disappointed that the Supreme Court has decided not to bring this case to an end now, over 30 years since the relationship ended.

"We both moved on and started families of our own... it's been so long that there are no records, no court has kept anything, and it's hard to defend yourself in such circumstances - indeed the delay itself has enabled the claim, because there is no paperwork in existence.

"I feel that we all have a right to move on, and not be looking over our shoulders. This could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago... it's mad in my opinion."

Ms Wyatt said after the hearing: "It's an important judgment."


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Gazza Claims Hacking Linked To Alcoholism

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has told the High Court having his phones hacked contributed towards his alcoholism.

The 47-year-old started his evidence at the hearing in London to determine what compensation should be paid by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in eight representative cases by telling Mr Justice Mann that he was "fuming".

Gascoigne said he repeatedly changed his mobile because he knew there was something going on with it.

His voice hoarse, and shaking with emotion, he said: "I knew I was getting hacked by the Mirror. This continued for ages. Phone calls to my father and family were getting blocked so I changed my mobile. It happened again so I kept on changing mobiles, five or six times a month."

Questioned by barrister David Sherborne, who represents victims of hacking and who has said the practice was rife at all three of the group's national titles by mid-1999, Gascoigne said that, to start with, the experience was "so scary".

The former England midfielder, who is complaining about 18 articles - all accepted to have been the product of illegal activity - said: "I couldn't speak to anybody, I was scared to speak to anybody ... my parents, my family and kids, it was just horrendous.

"And people can't understand why I became an alcoholic."

After speaking briefly, Gascoigne was told he would not face cross-examination by Matthew Nicklin QC, for MGN, and his evidence was going unchallenged.

He replied: "I have waited 15 years to be sat here so I am disgusted, really.

"I would like to trade my mobile phone in for a coffin because these guys have ruined my life. I have no life."

In a written statement to the court, Gascoigne said he had benefited from fame but he had also suffered heartache as he faced the end of his playing career.

The constant media pressure had made it hard for him to lead a normal life and his family were no longer as close as they had been, he said.

He also discussed his alcoholism, his treatment for drug abuse and his addiction to Red Bull.

"I have suffered from mental illness, including paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. I am bipolar and I have an addictive personality."

He said he had accused people, including stepdaughter Bianca, of giving stories about him to newspapers.

"I became obsessed about being monitored. I felt that I was being watched or listened into all the time for years and the pressure on me because of that was more than I think any sane person could bear."

While at Everton in 2000, he checked in to the Priory Clinic to get urgent help.

"The main reason why I had to go to get help at the Priory on this occasion was the constant pressure from the media, including articles and threats of articles being published by journalists.

"I was also convinced that my phone was being tapped to get stories about me that very few people knew about. I felt very paranoid at that time about being pursued by the media.

"I felt that I could not cope with the media attention any more and I seriously thought about jumping in front of a train."

Former EastEnders actress Lucy Taggart - previously Lucy Benjamin - told the court that hacking had left her feeling like she was "in a boxing ring without any gloves".

She said: "With each one I always felt like I had to pick myself up and dust myself off and carry on.

"But on the following day or following week there would be another article about something else and it felt like I was being punched and battered and bruised."

She said she still questioned what she had done to deserve "the amount of hacking that took place and the articles that were printed".


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'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 350,000

'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 350,000

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Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson joked he was "off to the Job Centre" as he left his London home after being suspended by the BBC.

When asked if he planned to resign after allegedly trying to punch one of the show's producers, he replied: "!'ve been suspended, haven't I?"

Appearing relaxed as he made his way to a waiting car, he then told the waiting media: "I'm off to the Job Centre."

More than 350,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the 54-year-old to be reinstated

The Top Gear co-host was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly became involved in a "fracas" at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in the alleged bust-up, said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 350,000

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Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson joked he was "off to the Job Centre" as he left his London home after being suspended by the BBC.

When asked if he planned to resign after allegedly trying to punch one of the show's producers, he replied: "!'ve been suspended, haven't I?"

Appearing relaxed as he made his way to a waiting car, he then told the waiting media: "I'm off to the Job Centre."

More than 350,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the 54-year-old to be reinstated

The Top Gear co-host was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly became involved in a "fracas" at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in the alleged bust-up, said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

1/17

  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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Clarkson's Rise: 'You Can't Live Without Him'

Jeremy Clarkson is best known for his role as a presenter on the hit BBC show Top Gear - and his outspoken and often politically incorrect views on a range of issues.

His comments have won him both admirers and detractors, although Clarkson maintains he should not be taken too seriously.

Now aged 54, he was born in Doncaster where his parents ran a business selling tea cosies, and then Paddington Bear toys.

Their success enabled Clarkson to go to Repton public school, from which he was apparently expelled for bad behaviour.

He took a job in the family business but in 1984 branched out on his own, forming the Motoring Press Agency, with journalist Jonathan Gill.

This led to him writing pieces for Performance Car and his acerbic wit later gained him contracts from The Sun and The Sunday Times.

In October 1988, Clarkson was invited to be one of the presenters on Top Gear. It was taken off air between 2000 and 2002, but since its return has become one of the most watched TV shows on BBC Two.

The show owes much to Clarkson's co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, but his strong presence and uncompromising views have undoubtedly made him the driving force, as well as an icon for 'petrol heads'.

His disparaging comments - about Norfolk, workers at Hyundai, global warming, speeding, cyclists and Wales among others - have often landed him in hot water and to calls for him to be sacked.

So far they have been resisted by the BBC, but there are fears the corporation may have no choice but to let him go after the latest episode in which he is alleged to have thrown a punch at one of Top Gear's producers.

The show is one of the BBC's biggest money spinners, pulling in millions of pounds from a devoted - and international - audience.

Its success - and Clarkson's vital part in it - saw BBC TV boss Danny Cohen compare him to a top-flight footballer, telling reporters last year that "no one is bigger than the club".

In an interview with Sky News, former ITV boss Michael Grade described him as the "Kevin Pietersen of broadcasting", adding: "You can't live with him or without him," he said.

Last year, Top Gear was censored by regulator Ofcom for breaching broadcasting rules after Clarkson used a "racial" term during the programme's Burma special, which had aired in March 2014.

The year ended with the show's crew having to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which many saw as a reference to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

Top Gear's executive producer Andy Wilman described 2014 as "an annus horribilis" for the show after the claims of racism and the near-riot in Argentina.

It is difficult to find exact figures, but it is safe to say the show has made Clarkson and Wilman multi-millionaires.

The 2012 annual report and accounts of BBC Worldwide - the corporation's commercial arm - show it got a dividend of £4.5m in 2012 from a company called Bedder 6.

The company, which is registered at the west London base of BBC Worldwide was set up by Clarkson and Wilman.

The BBC then owned 50%, with Clarkson reportedly owning around 30% - meaning his dividend would have been around £2.7m in that year, on top of his BBC salary. He has since sold his stake to the corporation.


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IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 10 Maret 2015 | 20.48

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

Sky News has spoken to a former member of Islamic State, who claims he witnessed the man known as Jihadi John murder Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

The former translator said that the masked man in the video was indeed Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old Londoner who has become the face of the world's most notorious terrorist organisation.

"Saleh" said Emwazi is employed as the chief killer of foreign hostages for Islamic State's media wing and that his murderous influence among the group is feared and respected.

Speaking from Turkey, where he fled to escape IS, Saleh explained in broken English how he was employed by the group to convince foreign hostages they were safe. He is the only person to admit seeing Emwazi kill.

He said: "When he killed Kenji Goto I live showed this [saw this] but not near, from a little [distance].

"After he was killed him, three or four person come and take over the body and put in a car. After that, John went on a different road.

"The big boss was there with them. Turkish man say 'put this camera there, change place there' but John [was] the big boss. All time, all time say to all 'fastly, fastly, fastly, we should finish'. So respect him. Only he talks orders – others do."

Saleh suggested Emwazi commanded such respect within the group because of his willingness to murder foreigners. 

"Maybe because he use the knife," he said. "I cannot understand why he is so strong. One man can kill and all people will respect. A Syrian man anyone [in IS] can kill. But strangers [foreigners], only John."

Saleh claims foreign hostages captured and murdered by the group were subjected to numerous mock executions until the procedure became normal. It could explain why many hostages appeared calm in execution videos published online by the group.

He said: "He would say to me 'say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors'.

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  1. Gallery: Jihadi John's email exhanges with Cage and a reporter

    This email Mohammed Emwazi sent to a Mail On Sunday reporter in 2010 revealed his first encounter and his fear of MI5

He later made contact with the campaign group Cage and told them about clashes with border control officers

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Becky Watts' Phone And Computers Recovered

Police investigating the murder of teenager Becky Watts say they have recovered her mobile phone, laptop and tablet computer.

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said the investigation into the 16-year-old's death is likely to continue for several weeks.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Liz Tunks, said: "There is likely to be ongoing police activity at properties in St George and Barton Hill for the next couple of weeks as part of our investigation into the murder of Becky Watts.

"There are specific forensic examinations which we need to complete to help establish exactly what happened to Becky.

"We'd like to reassure the local community that our primary aim is to conduct a meticulous and exhaustive inquiry into Becky's death and even though there have been charges brought in this case, it continues to be an active investigation.

"Although six people have been charged in connection with the case, specialist forensic examinations will continue to help establish the full circumstances surrounding Becky's death."

Becky vanished from her home in Bristol on 19 February, taking her electronic devices with her.

Parts of her dismembered body were found on 2 March.

Her stepbrother, Nathan Matthews, 28, has been charged with her murder. His girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21 has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Four others have been charged with assisting an offender by helping to dispose of and hide Becky's remains.

Two fundraising pages intended to help the teenager's family pay for her funeral have raised more than £11,000.


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IS Hostages Subjected To Execution Rehearsals

By Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent

An Islamic State defector claims militants routinely subjected foreign hostages to mock executions and gave them Arabic names before they were killed.

Speaking exclusively to Sky News, "Saleh" said he was employed by a Turkish man in the group to reassure hostages their lives were not in danger - yet he says he always knew they would be killed.

Saleh said the execution rehearsals took place so that when the moment of death finally came the hostages were not expecting to be killed and were relaxed to appeal for their release on camera.

He said: "He would say to me 'say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors'.

"So they don't worry. Always I say to them 'don't worry, doesn't matter, nothing dangerous for you'. But at the end I was sure [they would die].

"Maybe they [the captors] raise their voice, but without hitting. All the time he say to him 'it's a rehearsal, don't [be] afraid'.

"I will explain. He want, when he will kill you really… [it] don't enter his [hostage's] head. Exactly, of course, you [hostages] should say this message: 'I'm living in ISIS and will stay and continue'."

Saleh worked as a translator before he was employed by IS. He fled across the border to Turkey to escape the group and claims to have looked after a hostage with an English accent.

He said: "This man from England, or Netherlands, I don't know. He was speaking English so nice. Sometimes I don't understand what he say.

"He was with mask. All questions around gun, around job in Syria. 'Who send you to Syria? Who is your partner there? When you came into Syria? Where you stayed in Idlib? In Aleppo?' All thing [the time he] give answer. 'No, I'm press, I'm press'.

"So after that he said to me, the Turkish man, 'don't worry, don't worry'. After that he was so afraid."

Saleh claimed hostages were given Arabic names to convince them they were amongst friends in order to calm them down. He says Kenji Goto was given the name "Abu Saad".

"ISIS gave the hostages an idea; 'You should be Muslim and come with us'. When I went to the rehearsal he said to [Kenji] Goto 'Abu Saad'. Maybe I was thinking to myself 'maybe they try [find] this name so hard, 'Kenji Goto'.

"Maybe they could not say [Kenji Goto] so [they say] Abu Saad. But when I noticed Goto, when they said Abu Saad to Goto, direct [he] relax."

"Saleh" said Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, is employed as the chief killer of foreign hostages for Islamic State's media wing and that his murderous influence among the group is feared and respected.


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Olympians Among TV Cast Killed In Air Crash

Olympians Among TV Cast Killed In Air Crash

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Three French sports stars were among 10 people killed after two helicopters apparently collided during filming for a reality TV show in northern Argentina.

Camille Muffat, who won an Olympic gold medal in swimming at the London 2012 games, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, and champion sailor Florence Arthaud were taking part in the French series Dropped.

They were in two helicopters flying over mountains near Villa Castelli, in La Rioja province.

Photographs showed the burning wreckage of the aircraft in dry scrubland with people gathered nearby.

The other seven victims - five French nationals and two Argentine pilots - were not immediately named.

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  1. Gallery: Argentina Helicopter Collision Kills Olympians

    French athletes Florence Arthaud (left), Camille Muffat (centre) and Alexis Vastine about to board the helicopter which crashed in Argentina, killing them and seven others

The wreckage of a helicopter crash in Villa Castelli, northern Argentina. The two aircraft apparently collided with 10 people on board. Crash images by Gabriel Gonzalez

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French sports stars Camille Muffat, Alexis Vastine and Florence Arthaud died in the incident

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Camille Muffat won Olympic swimming gold in London. Boxer Alexis Vastine also won a bronze in Beijing, and Florence Arthaud was considered one of the world's top sailors

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Police confirmed eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots had been killed

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Olympians Among TV Cast Killed In Air Crash

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Three French sports stars were among 10 people killed after two helicopters apparently collided during filming for a reality TV show in northern Argentina.

Camille Muffat, who won an Olympic gold medal in swimming at the London 2012 games, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, and champion sailor Florence Arthaud were taking part in the French series Dropped.

They were in two helicopters flying over mountains near Villa Castelli, in La Rioja province.

Photographs showed the burning wreckage of the aircraft in dry scrubland with people gathered nearby.

The other seven victims - five French nationals and two Argentine pilots - were not immediately named.

1/9

  1. Gallery: Argentina Helicopter Collision Kills Olympians

    French athletes Florence Arthaud (left), Camille Muffat (centre) and Alexis Vastine about to board the helicopter which crashed in Argentina, killing them and seven others

The wreckage of a helicopter crash in Villa Castelli, northern Argentina. The two aircraft apparently collided with 10 people on board. Crash images by Gabriel Gonzalez

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French sports stars Camille Muffat, Alexis Vastine and Florence Arthaud died in the incident

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Camille Muffat won Olympic swimming gold in London. Boxer Alexis Vastine also won a bronze in Beijing, and Florence Arthaud was considered one of the world's top sailors

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Police confirmed eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots had been killed

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20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More
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