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American Sniper Billboard Graffiti: 'Murder!'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 21 Januari 2015 | 20.48

American Sniper Billboard Graffiti: 'Murder!'

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By Greg Milam, US Correspondent

A billboard for the controversial Oscars contender American Sniper has been removed after being daubed with the word "murder".

The red-painted graffiti appeared overnight on the advertisement in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

The movie, which has been nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, has prompted a nationwide debate since it opened across the country.

Its portrayal of the true story of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, credited with being the most lethal sniper in US military history, has been accused of glorifying violence.

Documentary-maker Michael Moore tweeted: "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes."

1/18

  1. Gallery: Who's In The Running For An Oscar?

    Steve Carell transformed himself for Foxcatcher and has been recognised for his performance

Eddie Redmayne is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything

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  • Felicity Jones has won rave reviews for her role as Jane Hawking in The Theory Of Everything and is named in the best actress category

    ]]>

  • Benedict Cumberbatch stars as WWII codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. He is now up for an Oscar and a BAFTA

    ]]>

  • Michael Keaton plays an out-of-work actor/superhero in Birdman. He won the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy

    ]]>

  • Seth Rogen compared the movie to Nazi propaganda before adding that he liked it on Twitter. 

    The criticism prompted the former-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to mock what she called Hollywood leftists "caressing shiny plastic trophies".

    She tweeted: "God bless our troops, especially our snipers."

    The film, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle, has broken the record for the highest grossing January release in history, raking in $100m last weekend.

    Amy Nicholson, film critic for LA Weekly, told Sky News: "I have had a lot of veterans write letters to me and say they don't like what he stood for.

    "I think films like this are troubling to them because they know firsthand how hard it was to serve and they don't like that films like this put a glossy spin on it."

    The movie is based on Kyle's autobiography and tells the story of a career in which he recorded 160 confirmed 'kills'.

    It also relates his efforts to readjust to home life with his wife, played by Sienna Miller.

    Kyle and a companion were shot and killed at a gun range in Texas in 2013.

    They had gone there with the alleged gunman, a US Marine Corps veteran, to help him deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder.

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    • American Sniper Billboard Graffiti: 'Murder!'

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

    By Greg Milam, US Correspondent

    A billboard for the controversial Oscars contender American Sniper has been removed after being daubed with the word "murder".

    The red-painted graffiti appeared overnight on the advertisement in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

    The movie, which has been nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, has prompted a nationwide debate since it opened across the country.

    Its portrayal of the true story of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, credited with being the most lethal sniper in US military history, has been accused of glorifying violence.

    Documentary-maker Michael Moore tweeted: "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes."

    1/18

    1. Gallery: Who's In The Running For An Oscar?

      Steve Carell transformed himself for Foxcatcher and has been recognised for his performance

    Eddie Redmayne is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything

    ]]>

  • Felicity Jones has won rave reviews for her role as Jane Hawking in The Theory Of Everything and is named in the best actress category

    ]]>

  • Benedict Cumberbatch stars as WWII codebreaker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. He is now up for an Oscar and a BAFTA

    ]]>

  • Michael Keaton plays an out-of-work actor/superhero in Birdman. He won the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy

    ]]>

  • Seth Rogen compared the movie to Nazi propaganda before adding that he liked it on Twitter. 

    The criticism prompted the former-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to mock what she called Hollywood leftists "caressing shiny plastic trophies".

    She tweeted: "God bless our troops, especially our snipers."

    The film, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle, has broken the record for the highest grossing January release in history, raking in $100m last weekend.

    Amy Nicholson, film critic for LA Weekly, told Sky News: "I have had a lot of veterans write letters to me and say they don't like what he stood for.

    "I think films like this are troubling to them because they know firsthand how hard it was to serve and they don't like that films like this put a glossy spin on it."

    The movie is based on Kyle's autobiography and tells the story of a career in which he recorded 160 confirmed 'kills'.

    It also relates his efforts to readjust to home life with his wife, played by Sienna Miller.

    Kyle and a companion were shot and killed at a gun range in Texas in 2013.

    They had gone there with the alleged gunman, a US Marine Corps veteran, to help him deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder.

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    Iraq War Report Delayed For 'Some Months'

    The Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war will not be published until after the General Election, it has emerged in a series of letters.

    In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, chairman Sir John Chilcot said "very substantial progress" has been made in the inquiry, but there was "no realistic prospect" it could be published before May and that completion of the work would take "some further months".

    Sir John said he had reached an agreement on the details of notes and conversations between former prime minister Tony Blair and US president George W Bush, which will be published in the report.

    The report has been delayed by disagreement over the release of the confidential messages, but the agreement means the "gist" of the communications would be published after Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood blocked the publication of the full exchanges.

    Sir John added that the "Maxwellisation process" - the procedure where individuals due to be criticised in an official report are sent details of the criticisms in advance so they can respond prior to its publication - was currently underway into the inquiry's draft report.

    Mr Blair, speaking on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, denied his decision to enter the Iraq War in 2003 has led to a rise in extremism.

    He said: "Saddam Hussein wasn't exactly a force for stability, peace and prosperity and was responsible for killing many, many hundreds of thousands of people

    "We've got to understand this extremism has grown up over a long period of time, over decades, its roots are deep within a perversion or religion, a perversion of the religion of Islam."

    The inquiry was set up by the Labour government six years ago and heard from its final witnesses in February 2011.

    Mr Cameron wrote to Sir John saying that he would have liked to have seen the report released before the election, but accepted that publication was a matter for the inquiry.

    He wrote: "I have to respect your decision and fully accept that it will not now be possible for you to submit your final report to the Government and Parliament until after the election.

    "I hope very much that you will be able to do so shortly thereafter."

    Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions he said the delay was not down to politicians trying to "dodge" criticism and insisted there was "no mystery" that the report will not be published until after the general election.

    Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says the public will find the latest delay "incomprehensible".

    In a letter to Sir John, Mr Clegg wrote: "Neither administrative processes nor a constant back and forth between the inquiry and witnesses criticised should frustrate an independent report so important to the country's future from being published as soon as possible .

    "If the findings are not published with a sense of immediacy, there is a real danger the public will assume the report is being 'sexed down' by individuals rebutting criticisms put to them by the inquiry, whether that is the case or not.

    "The inquiry into Iraq will both resolve the issues of the past, and set the tone for future British foreign policy. We cannot wait any longer for these lessons to be learned."

    The latest news of a delay comes as MPs prepare to stage a Commons debate next week on the matter.

    Former Attorney General and Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said the public deserved reasons for the "extraordinary delay".

    He told Sky News: "It's absolutely imperative we should have an explanation as to what is going on. I think a chronology setting out what's happened... is essential."

    Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told Sky the delay was "not acceptable to the British people" and that the public should have had the findings before the election.

    "These were major events in 2002/2003, when government in its normal way was abandoned... when we had Alastair Campbell writing dodgy dossiers - or at least editing them - and when we had weapons of mass destruction lauded around which didn't turn out to exist."

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    1. Gallery: Protests At Tony Blair's Chilcot Appearances In 2010 And 2011

      Protesters gather outside Westminster's Queen Elizabeth II building for Tony Blair's appearances before the Chilcot Inquiry in 2010 and 2011

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    Shanghai Officials Feasted As Stampede Killed 36

    Four Chinese officials have been sacked after it emerged some of them were enjoying a sumptuous banquet as a New Year's Eve stampede killed 36 people.

    Seven others have been disciplined over the tragedy on Shanghai's riverfront Bund area, which happened at about 11.30pm after a popular annual light show had been cancelled.

    District Communist Party secretary Zhou Wei and government chief Peng Song were among those who reportedly dined for free at Japanese restaurant Utsusemi, where dinners can cost up to £400 a head.

    The company that owns the restaurant is involved in the property sector and has strong ties with Shanghai officials.

    It was reported the restaurant ran a scheme which allowed officials to sign for meals that were then claimed for from the public purse.

    The city government said the meal - in which officials had sushi and noodles washed down with Japanese sake - broke the Communist Party's frugality rules.

    Shanghai deputy major Zhou Bo said the city sent its "deepest condolences" and "deepest apologies" to families of the victims.

    "The incident of December 31 should not have happened and was totally avoidable," Mr Zhou said at a news conference. "We feel very pained, guilty and responsible for this."

    An investigation into the stampede found there had been insufficient preparations on the riverfront and authorities had been too slow to respond once the stampede happened.

    Relatives of the victims have criticised the Shanghai government for reacting slowly, accusing it of withholding information and trying to stop families talking to the media.

    City-level officials have escaped relatively unscathed and, asked why more senior city officials and police were not being made to take responsibility, senior officials said China's law on emergencies meant the Huangpu district government was mainly to blame.

    On Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, one user said the officials had "become scapegoats".

    "Such a large scale event, surely the city government should have been responsible. It's like kicking a ball, just push everything to the local district government, that's easier," the user wrote.

    Another comment said: "Chinese people's lives are so cheap! Disciplined, and that's it! This is so called socialism?!"

    Shanghai has cancelled a series of events since the disaster, including annual Lantern Festival celebrations.


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    'Unnatural Sex' File Given To Abuse Inquiry

    By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

    A secret file on "unnatural" sexual behaviour was not handed over to a Government backed review that looked for official documents linked to child abuse.

    The file prepared for then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s was found recently at the National Archives in Kew and is entitled:  "PREM19/588 - SECURITY. Allegations against former public [word missing] of unnatural sexual proclivities; security aspects 1980 Oct 27 - 1981 Mar 20".

    The Cabinet Office still holds the file. Thirty-five years after it was prepared it remains closed on grounds of national security.

    The Chief Executive of the NSPCC, who led last year's review into government documents from between 1979 and 1999, has said nobody showed it to him.

    Peter Wanless told Sky News: "Under the specific terms of reference set by the Home Office we made the most extensive inquiries possible within a very limited time frame. This specific file was not revealed by any department or individual we consulted.

    "Our remit was to go back over a review by the Home Office and not undertake a new investigation."

    Mr Wanless also joined a growing number of voices demanding that it should now be made available.

    "If there is pertinent material in this file it should be submitted to the sexual abuse inquiry as well as the relevant police force so they can conduct a criminal investigation if necessary."

    Security and intelligence expert Dr Chris Murphy stumbled across the file in November while searching documents at the National Archives in Kew and was immediately alerted by the title.

    "I was looking through the 'PREM' Prime Minister file series for the 1980s," the University of Salford lecturer told Sky News.

    "I think I did a double-take and then started wondering what the potential implications of the title, which is a little vague, could be."

    It is highly likely Margaret Thatcher saw the documents, and was briefed on the security implications, but the identities of those within them remain secret.

    Dr Murphy added: "The fact that this file is concerning the Prime Minister and these allegations are being taken to the Prime Minister I think would strike anybody of being potentially of some interest."

    Sky News highlighted the existence of the file to the Cabinet Office earlier this month.

    A spokesperson for the department said: "In this case, the file was kept closed and retained as it contained information from the security services and advice from the Law Officers. 

    "These classifications are reviewed periodically."

    The department would not reveal whether David Cameron or Home Secretary Theresa May were aware of the contents, but promised it would be made accessible to the child sex abuse inquiry.

    "We are clear that any files that are pertinent to the historical child sex abuse inquiry will be made available to the panel," the spokesperson added.

    Mrs Thatcher's former press secretary, Sir Bernard Ingham, told Sky News he could not recall the file.

    He did, though, confirm that both he and Mrs Thatcher were aware of allegations against a Government minister in the early 1980s.

    Sir Bernard would not name the individual, but said: "I asked him about it and he denied it, so no, I didn't do anything else. What was the alternative?"

    In July last year, the Prime Minister promised the survivors of sexual abuse that "no stone would be left unturned" in the pursuit of the truth.

    Officials at the Cabinet Office have previously attempted to block requests for information relating to Cyril Smith, the late Liberal politician who is now known to have abused youngsters.

    Simon Danczuk MP, who exposed the extent of Smith's offending, told Sky News the "sexual proclivities" file had to be released.

    "I think it is right and proper that the Government now open up this document, let us know what is in there," he said.

    "I think there is a culture within Government departments of not releasing information and that has caused some of the problems we now have in getting to the bottom of who was involved in this paedophile network and who was involved in covering it up."

    The abuse inquiry was announced in July but currently has no chairman, after first Lady Butler-Sloss and then Fiona Woolf were appointed and then stepped down following concerns over their links to the political establishment.

    It is still yet to appoint someone to lead it amid growing calls for action from survivors and campaign groups.


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    Forty-Five Churches Torched In Hebdo Protest

    Written By Unknown on Senin, 19 Januari 2015 | 20.48

    Forty-Five Churches Torched In Hebdo Protest

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

    1/9

    1. Gallery: Niger: Churches Burned Over Cartoon

      A ransacked church in Zinder, Niger, that was set on fire on 16 January, 2015, after thousands of protesters gathered following Friday prayers to vent anger at publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo

    Four people, a policeman and three civilians, were killed and 45 injured on Friday. Continue through for more images

    ]]>
  • ]]>
  • ]]>

  • Forty-five churches have been torched in Niger over the use of a Prophet Mohammed cartoon on the cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine.

    At least five people died and 128 were injured in the capital Niamey during protests against the image on the front of the satirical publication.

    The controversial magazine ran a caricature showing the prophet under the headline "All is forgiven" just days after an Islamist attack on its offices in Paris that left 12 people dead.

    The physical depiction of Mohammed is considered blasphemous by many Muslims.

    Several hundred thousand people also protested in the Chechen capital Grozny at a state-organised rally.

    The region's strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov told the rally in the capital Grozny: "This is a protest against those who support the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

    "This is a protest against those who insult the Muslim religion."

    Demonstrators chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and released balloons into the sky at the event which was described by observers as highly-choreographed.

    1/8

    1. Gallery: Massive Crowds Protest In Chechnya

      People attend a rally to protest against satirical cartoons of prophet Mohammad, near the Heart of Chechnya mosque in Grozny

    Hundreds of thousands of people staged the rally on Monday in Chechnya against French magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the prophet

    ]]>

  • A member of law enforcement forces stands guard during the rally. Continue through for more images

    ]]>

  • Those who spoke to the crowd harangued Western governments for allowing publications to print caricatures of the prophet.

    Russian TV showed live footage of people streaming into Grozny's main square shortly before the speech by Mr Kadyrov - a loyalist of President Vladimir Putin.

    It came just over a week after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the march for unity in Paris following the end of the city's sieges.

    Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Afghanistan demonstrated against the magazine's actions by burning a French flag and calling for the government to cut diplomatic relations with France.

    It came as German group PEGIDA, protesting what it calls "the Islamisation of the West", vowed it would not be silenced after its weekly rally was cancelled following an alleged terrorist threat against one of its organisers.

    At total of 17 people were killed in and around Paris over three days after the attack on the magazine office on January 5.

    The attacks by brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly shocked the country and sparked an outpouring of international support, with many newspapers and magazines around the world reprinting earlier Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

    But the decision by the magazine to place a new cartoon on its front has resulted in outrage across the Muslim world.

    Earlier protests left 10 dead in Niger and violent clashes also occurred between demonstrators and police in Pakistan, Jordan and Algeria.

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    • Forty-Five Churches Torched In Hebdo Protest

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

    1/9

    1. Gallery: Niger: Churches Burned Over Cartoon

      A ransacked church in Zinder, Niger, that was set on fire on 16 January, 2015, after thousands of protesters gathered following Friday prayers to vent anger at publication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo

    Four people, a policeman and three civilians, were killed and 45 injured on Friday. Continue through for more images

    ]]>

  • ]]>

  • ]]>

  • Forty-five churches have been torched in Niger over the use of a Prophet Mohammed cartoon on the cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine.

    At least five people died and 128 were injured in the capital Niamey during protests against the image on the front of the satirical publication.

    The controversial magazine ran a caricature showing the prophet under the headline "All is forgiven" just days after an Islamist attack on its offices in Paris that left 12 people dead.

    The physical depiction of Mohammed is considered blasphemous by many Muslims.

    Several hundred thousand people also protested in the Chechen capital Grozny at a state-organised rally.

    The region's strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov told the rally in the capital Grozny: "This is a protest against those who support the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

    "This is a protest against those who insult the Muslim religion."

    Demonstrators chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and released balloons into the sky at the event which was described by observers as highly-choreographed.

    1/8

    1. Gallery: Massive Crowds Protest In Chechnya

      People attend a rally to protest against satirical cartoons of prophet Mohammad, near the Heart of Chechnya mosque in Grozny

    Hundreds of thousands of people staged the rally on Monday in Chechnya against French magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the prophet

    ]]>

  • A member of law enforcement forces stands guard during the rally. Continue through for more images

    ]]>

  • Those who spoke to the crowd harangued Western governments for allowing publications to print caricatures of the prophet.

    Russian TV showed live footage of people streaming into Grozny's main square shortly before the speech by Mr Kadyrov - a loyalist of President Vladimir Putin.

    It came just over a week after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the march for unity in Paris following the end of the city's sieges.

    Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Afghanistan demonstrated against the magazine's actions by burning a French flag and calling for the government to cut diplomatic relations with France.

    It came as German group PEGIDA, protesting what it calls "the Islamisation of the West", vowed it would not be silenced after its weekly rally was cancelled following an alleged terrorist threat against one of its organisers.

    At total of 17 people were killed in and around Paris over three days after the attack on the magazine office on January 5.

    The attacks by brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly shocked the country and sparked an outpouring of international support, with many newspapers and magazines around the world reprinting earlier Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

    But the decision by the magazine to place a new cartoon on its front has resulted in outrage across the Muslim world.

    Earlier protests left 10 dead in Niger and violent clashes also occurred between demonstrators and police in Pakistan, Jordan and Algeria.

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    Cameron Defends 'Reasonable' Letter To Mosques

    David Cameron has rejected criticism by some Muslims of a letter sent to mosques in England urging them to do more to root out extremists and prevent young people being radicalised.

    The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it wanted Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to clarify the request - and asked if, like "members of the far right", he was suggesting that Islam is inherently apart from British society.

    In the letter sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders, Mr Pickles and communities minister Lord Ahmad stressed that he was "proud" of the way Muslims in Britain had responded to the Paris terror attacks but added that there was "more work to do".

    There are fears about the spread of terrorism after the attacks in the French capital that left 17 people dead and the arrest of more than two dozen people in anti-terror raids in Belgium, Germany and France.

    Mr Cameron has stepped in to defend the letter.

    Answering questions after a  speech in Ipswich, the Prime Minister said: "I think it is absolutely right to write this letter, to say that we all have a responsibility to fight extremism.

    "Anyone who reads this letter - and I've read the letter - will see that what he is saying is that British Muslims make a great contribution to our country, that what is happening in terms of extremist terror has nothing to do with the true religion of Islam. It's being perverted by a minority who have been radicalised.

    "But everyone needs to help with dealing with this problem of radicalisation.

    "Anyone, frankly, reading this letter, who has a problem with it, I think really has a problem. I think it is the most reasonable, sensible, moderate letter that Eric could possibly have written.

    "Frankly, all of us have a responsibility to try to confront this radicalisation and make sure that we stop young people being drawn into this poisonous fanatical death cult that a very small minority of people have created."

    In the letter, Mr Pickles insisted Whitehall could not combat jihadist ideology alone and Imams must explain to young people what it means to be British. 

    "You, as faith leaders, are in a unique position in our society. You have a precious opportunity, and an important responsibility: in explaining and demonstrating how faith in Islam can be part of British identity," he wrote.

    "We believe together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of British Islam today.

    "There is a need to lay out more clearly than ever before what being a British Muslim means today: proud of your faith and proud of your country.

    "We know that acts of extremism are not representative of Islam; but we need to show what is."

    But the letter immediately drew criticism from some Islamic leaders.

    Harun Khan, deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We will be writing to Mr Eric Pickles to ask that he clarifies his request to Muslims to 'explain and demonstrate how faith in Islam can be part of British identity'.

    "Is Mr Pickles seriously suggesting, as do members of the far right, that Muslims and Islam are inherently apart from British society?"

    Lord Ahmad, who also signed the letter, also rejected the criticism.

    He told Sky News: "This is a positive initiative from the Government, it's not seeking to target any particular community.

    "It's reaching out across the board, across the country, to say we want to tackle this issue of extremism." 

    EU foreign ministers, including Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, are meeting today in Brussels to discuss the terror threat in Europe. Building an alliance - including with Muslim countries - is high on the agenda.

    Mr Hammond said: "The Muslim countries of the world are the ones who have suffered the greatest burden of terrorism and they will continue to be in the frontlines.

    "We have to work closely with them to protect both those countries and the EU countries."


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    7/7 Widow Jailed For Stealing Son's Compensation

    A widow of a 7/7 bombing victim has been jailed for two years and eight months for stealing £43,000 from her son's compensation.

    Louise Gray, 42, spent £250,000 of her own compensation money before turning to her son Adam's fund, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

    Gray, 42, from Ipswich, is said to have frittered away the money on cars, clothes and luxury holidays.

    She admitted stealing £43,000 between July, 2012, and November, 2013, at an earlier hearing.

    Her husband, accountant Richard Gray, 41, was one of 52 people killed in the 2005 London bombings as he commuted to work.

    Judge David Goodin told Gray: "The offence you have committed against your son, the trust you betrayed - a second hammer blow following the death of his father - is so serious it can only be met by a custodial sentence."

    The judge added: "The theft of £43,000 is one thing. The theft of £43,000 by a parent from a young adult's trust is quite another, when that sum represented most - practically all - the compensation he received for his father's tragic death.

    "It's an act of wickedness almost beyond belief.

    "He has lost not one parent, but two."

    Adam was 11-years-old when his father was killed by suicide bomber Shehzad Tanweer on a Circle line Underground train.

    The children's money was placed in trust until their 18th birthdays, but Adam gave his cash to his mother to look after when he turned 18.

    When he arranged to meet her in November 2013 to ask for the money because he was looking to buy a property, she confessed she had spent it, the court was told.

    Adam took civil action to try to recover the cash and his mother was ordered by a county court judge to repay him the £43,000.

    He also reported the matter to police and she was prosecuted for theft.

    The court heard that Gray had offered to pay her son £10,000 followed by further monthly payments but the offer had been rejected.

    Gray was supported in court by her partner, Umar Shamshoom, who is the father of her three-year-old daughter.


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    Jobs Pledge From 'Party Of Roofers And Retailers'

    David Cameron has been setting out his plan for full employment, promising to make Britain the "jobs factory of Europe" as the economy returns to health.

    The Prime Minister, who was speaking in Ipswich, said the country is "coming out the other side" after a "tough few years".

    With just months before the General Election, he has promised to treble start-up loans for young business people and urged voters to stick with his recovery plan.

    Labour however, has said the Tories are out of touch if they think the economy is "fixed" and that most workers are now worse off.

    In his speech, Mr Cameron said: "Our aim is very clear - our aim is for a Britain of full employment.

    "What I mean by that is a higher rate of employment here in Britain than in any other advanced economy. Full employment means for me that anyone who wants a job is able to get a job in our country."

    "We haven't solved all our country's economic problems, but the plan is working.

    We are getting Britain back to work and increasingly with those jobs people can see a better living standard, better security for themselves and their families. That's what I want to continue with."

    Mr Cameron said he regards the Conservatives as the party of the roofers and the retailers; the builders and the businesswomen.

    His plans to boost jobs included: three million more apprenticeships; controlling immigration and migrant benefits to get more Britons back to work; extra support for small business, such as cutting red tape and keeping taxes low; investment in infrastructure.

    The Prime Minister said the boost in start-up loans - which are typically around £5,000 - will create at least 100,000 jobs by 2020.

    In a wide ranging speech and question and answer session afterwards, he also said it was the government's ambition to lift the amount people had to earn before they paid tax to £12,500, and to cut the benefits cap to £23,000 from £26,000.

    Labour has hit out at the PM's boasts about a healed economy, saying it shows they are out of touch with normal working people.

    Labour shadow Chancellor Ed Balls responded to Mr Cameron's speech by saying: "We want to have a job for all.

    "But I think David Cameron's speech today will seem like empty words to people who've been struggling in the last few years with wages not keeping pace with prices, many people forced to work part time, zero hours contracts meaning that often people don't know if they'll work when they wake up in the morning.

    "This is not the way to run an economy and what Labour says is 'let's have a plan to make sure our economy works for all working people, not just a few'. David Cameron's had five years and he's not delivered."

    The Prime Minister's jobs pledge comes as the gap between Britain's best and worst-performing cities has "dramatically widened", according to a new study.

    The Centre for Cities research group says for every 12 jobs created since 2004 in cities in southern England, only one was created in cities in the rest of the country.

    In The Margins: The 150 Key Election Constituencies


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    Fresh Travel Misery For Eurostar Customers

    Written By Unknown on Minggu, 18 Januari 2015 | 20.49

    Fresh Travel Misery For Eurostar Customers

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

    Eleven Eurostar services are to be cancelled today because of "power supply problems" - meaning more headaches for stranded passengers.

    Services between London, Paris and Brussels have been hit by continuing delays after a lorry fire led to the closure of the Channel Tunnel on Saturday.

    Now Eurostar has said six trains that were due to leave from London between 2pm and just after 8pm, along with five leaving from Paris and Brussels, will be cancelled.

    The company said that one of the two tunnels used by its trains will remain closed all day.

    "In addition, Eurotunnel experienced new power supply problems this morning which meant that both tunnels were again closed for two hours," it said in a statement.

    1/10

    1. Gallery: Travel Chaos In London And Paris

      This was the scene at St Pancras International station in London as Eurostar services are cancelled in both directions on Saturday

    The company said trains would not be running on that day

    ]]>

  • Large queues of passengers formed - but they were told they would be unable to travel

    ]]>

  • It was a similar scene at Gare du Nord station in Paris - this board shows all services were cancelled

    ]]>

  • Passengers had to make alternative arrangements

    ]]>

  • "This closure was a separate incident, unrelated to the problems experienced yesterday."

    The services departing from London at 2.04pm, 3.31pm, 5.04pm, 6.04pm, 6.31pm and 8.04pm have been cancelled.

    In Paris, the services leaving the French capital at 4.43pm and 6.43pm will not be running, while in Brussels, the 3.56pm, 5.56pm and 6.56pm trains have been cancelled.

    Eurostar and the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle car service were stopped on Saturday after the fire on the French side of the railway's south tunnel.

    The incident led to long queues at St Pancras station in London as services were cancelled for most of the day.

    Queues formed again at the station this morning, where Eurostar services resumed after 8am.

    There were similar scenes in Paris and Brussels. 

    Eurostar had earlier said it would run a full service today, but only "for passengers who have an existing reservation for this date".

    People were warned that trains could be delayed by between 30 minutes and an hour.

    Eurostar advised people whose trains were cancelled on Saturday not to arrive at stations unless they had already been re-booked.

    People booked on the services cancelled on Sunday have been asked to "postpone their travel and rebook for an alternative date".

    Eurotunnel services resumed at 2.45am UK time.

    Eurotunnel spokesman John O'Keefe said a "smouldering load" was found in the trailer of the lorry.

    The alarm was triggered after CO2 detectors were activated in one tunnel, Eurotunnel said. No one was injured.

    In March, hundreds of Eurostar passengers were delayed after a lightning strike triggered a fire in a building close to the entrance to the tunnel in Kent.

    Although there was no damage to the track, four trains in and out of England were affected.

    Three eventually reached their destination but the fourth, which had been heading to Paris, was forced to turn back to London.

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    • Fresh Travel Misery For Eurostar Customers

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

    Eleven Eurostar services are to be cancelled today because of "power supply problems" - meaning more headaches for stranded passengers.

    Services between London, Paris and Brussels have been hit by continuing delays after a lorry fire led to the closure of the Channel Tunnel on Saturday.

    Now Eurostar has said six trains that were due to leave from London between 2pm and just after 8pm, along with five leaving from Paris and Brussels, will be cancelled.

    The company said that one of the two tunnels used by its trains will remain closed all day.

    "In addition, Eurotunnel experienced new power supply problems this morning which meant that both tunnels were again closed for two hours," it said in a statement.

    1/10

    1. Gallery: Travel Chaos In London And Paris

      This was the scene at St Pancras International station in London as Eurostar services are cancelled in both directions on Saturday

    The company said trains would not be running on that day

    ]]>

  • Large queues of passengers formed - but they were told they would be unable to travel

    ]]>

  • It was a similar scene at Gare du Nord station in Paris - this board shows all services were cancelled

    ]]>

  • Passengers had to make alternative arrangements

    ]]>

  • "This closure was a separate incident, unrelated to the problems experienced yesterday."

    The services departing from London at 2.04pm, 3.31pm, 5.04pm, 6.04pm, 6.31pm and 8.04pm have been cancelled.

    In Paris, the services leaving the French capital at 4.43pm and 6.43pm will not be running, while in Brussels, the 3.56pm, 5.56pm and 6.56pm trains have been cancelled.

    Eurostar and the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle car service were stopped on Saturday after the fire on the French side of the railway's south tunnel.

    The incident led to long queues at St Pancras station in London as services were cancelled for most of the day.

    Queues formed again at the station this morning, where Eurostar services resumed after 8am.

    There were similar scenes in Paris and Brussels. 

    Eurostar had earlier said it would run a full service today, but only "for passengers who have an existing reservation for this date".

    People were warned that trains could be delayed by between 30 minutes and an hour.

    Eurostar advised people whose trains were cancelled on Saturday not to arrive at stations unless they had already been re-booked.

    People booked on the services cancelled on Sunday have been asked to "postpone their travel and rebook for an alternative date".

    Eurotunnel services resumed at 2.45am UK time.

    Eurotunnel spokesman John O'Keefe said a "smouldering load" was found in the trailer of the lorry.

    The alarm was triggered after CO2 detectors were activated in one tunnel, Eurotunnel said. No one was injured.

    In March, hundreds of Eurostar passengers were delayed after a lightning strike triggered a fire in a building close to the entrance to the tunnel in Kent.

    Although there was no damage to the track, four trains in and out of England were affected.

    Three eventually reached their destination but the fourth, which had been heading to Paris, was forced to turn back to London.

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    1. Ex-MI5 Boss: Terror Laws 'Not Fit For Purpose'
    2. Breaking News: Donetsk Airport 'Retaken From Separatists'
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    5. Indonesia: Foreigners Executed By Firing Squad


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    Diposting oleh Unknown di 20.49 0 komentar

    Ex-MI5 Boss: Terror Laws 'Not Fit For Purpose'

    The former head of MI5 has warned that Britain's anti-terror laws are "not fit for purpose".

    Lord Evans' comments about the powers of intelligence and security agencies were reported as the Prime Minister said Britain is facing a "very severe threat" from Islamist extremists, including so-called "lone-wolf" terrorists.

    Lord Evans told the Sunday Telegraph: "The ability of the police and security agencies to do this important work of protecting our society and its vulnerable people is under threat from changing technology.

    "They can only do this if they have the tools to do so - and the tools at their disposal are no longer fit for purpose."

    David Cameron is currently pushing for tougher requirements for internet firms to alert authorities to suspicious online exchanges, ban encrypted communications and store data.

    Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown hit out at the push for increased powers, telling Sky's Murnaghan programme: "The whole nation is made a suspect under these proposals."

    He added that while he believed Mr Cameron's demand for increased powers was "sincere", it was "connected to the general election", and said the PM was "cavalier" about the protection of civil liberties.

    When asked if the message from the US to allies would be to keep up with the changes to anti-terror laws implemented by Washington, the US ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun, told the same programme: "Sure, and we work very closely with the UK and other partners around the world to try to achieve that balance."

    Mr Cameron earlier spoke to US TV network CBS about measures to tackle extremism at home.

    He said: "In Britain's history, we've had some very intense times of terrorist threats.

    "Certainly we face a very severe threat.

    "That's what we're calling it: severe, because we believe an attack is highly likely. 

    "But frankly, we've been in this struggle against extremist, Islamist terrorism now for well over a decade and a half, so we know what it takes to win, but it's going to take a lot of perseverance."

    He said the terror threat "keeps morphing" over time, "but it's still based on the fundamental problem of a poisonous death cult narrative which is the perversion of one of the world's major religions".

    Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and his US counterpart John Kerry are set to host talks in London with ministers from around 20 countries, including Arab states, to discuss ways of tackling Islamic State.

    Members of the coalition fighting IS extremists in Syria and Iraq will meet for the summit on Thursday.

    On Friday Mr Cameron vowed to tackle what he called the "poisonous narrative of Islamist extremism that is turning too many young minds".

    He was speaking following two days of talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington where they said a new group would be set up to exchange information and expertise to tackle the terror threat.

    There are fears about the spread of terrorism after the Paris attacks that left 17 people dead and the arrest of more than two dozen people in anti-terror raids in Belgium, Germany and France.

    On Saturday, an 18-year-old woman who was arrested at Stansted airport in Essex on suspicion of terrorist offences was released on bail.

    Anti-terror officers arrested the teenager when she arrived on a flight at around 4pm on Friday.


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