Dallas Star Larry Hagman Dies

Larry Hagman, who starred in the hit TV series Dallas as the scheming oil baron J R Ewing, has died.

His family said in a statement that the 81-year-old died in a Dallas hospital following complications from his battle with cancer.

He had suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the 1990s after decades of drinking.

Dallas, which made its premiere on the CBS network in 1978, made Hagman a superstar.

The show quickly became one of the network's top-rated programmes, built an international following and inspired a spin-off, imitators and a revival in 2012.

"Larry was back in his beloved hometown of Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved the most," his family said in a statement. "Larry's family and closest friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday."

Hagman with his co-stars Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray

The popularity of Dallas made Hagman one of the best-paid actors in television and earned him a fortune. He lost some of it, however, in bad oil investments before turning to real estate.

Fans and celebrities took to Twitter to pay tribute to him.

Linda Gray, who played J R's wife, Sue Ellen, and was at his bedside when he died, said: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously."

Larry King said: "Larry Hagman was a dear man who had an incredible career. He helped me to stop smoking. He was a very special person."

Actor William Shatner said: "My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Larry Hagman. My best, Bill".

Hagman with Barbara Eden at the I Dream Of Jeannie DVD launch

In July 1995, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, which led him to quit smoking, and a month later he underwent a liver transplant.

Hagman said he quit drinking the moment doctors told him he had cirrhosis of the liver and could die within six months.

Hagman was born in Weatherford, Texas, and his father was a lawyer who dealt with the Texas oil barons Hagman would later come to portray.

His mother was stage and movie star Mary Martin and he became a star himself in 1965 on I Dream of Jeannie, a popular television sitcom.

Barbara Eden, who starred alongside him in I Dream of Jeannie, tweeted: "Larry Hagman not just a great actor, not just a television icon, but an element of pure Americana. I'll miss him."

Hagman and his wife Maj

Hagman started his acting career in theatre in New York where he married Maj Axelsson in 1954 while they were in a production of South Pacific. They have two children, Heidi and Preston.

He served in the Air Force, spending five years in Europe as the director of USO shows.

In his later years, Hagman became an advocate for organ transplants and an anti-smoking campaigner.

He also was devoted to solar energy, telling the New York Times he had a $750,000 solar panel system at his Ojai estate, and made a commercial in which he portrayed a J R Ewing who had forsaken oil for solar power.

He was also a longtime member of the Peace and Freedom Party, a minor leftist organisation in California.

Hagman had a eccentric streak. When he first met actress Lauren Bacall, he licked her arm because he had been told she did not like to be touched and he was known for leading parades on the Malibu beach and showing up at a grocery store in a gorilla suit.

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Britain Braced For More Heavy Flooding

Britain is bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption over the weekend as forecasters predict further heavy downpours.

A deep area of low pressure is set to move in over the weekend, bringing more heavy rain to areas already badly hit by Thursday's downpours.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "England and Wales could see 15 to 25mm quite widely, with up to 50mm possible in some spots."

The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood warnings and over 150 less serious flood alerts.

South and west Wales and the West Country will be worst affected. Strong winds and possible severe gales are expected on Saturday night and Sunday morning,

"There's still some uncertainty about where the strongest winds will be, but it looks like southern counties of England will bear the brunt, with exposed parts seeing gusts up to 70mph," said Robinson.

The risk of flooding is increased as many areas are alreadt saturated by the persistent rainfall earlier in the week.

Driving conditions have been treacherous

The AA's head of special operations, Darron Burness, said: "With more heavy rain forecast across the Midlands, Wales and the South West, road conditions in the affected areas are likely to only get worse as the ground is so saturated.

"Even if you think you know your local roads, don't be complacent, as flash-flooding continues to be a real risk and is catching people out."

Meanwhile, Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday.

The majority of the UK was battered by storms on Thursday leaving hundreds of drivers stranded and thousands of homes without power. More than 100 people had to be evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

An elderly man died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods in Chew Stoke in Somerset.

Three other people had a lucky escape after their car was swept down a swollen river in Warwickshire. The vehicle was carried more than 500 metres before a farmer managed to pull it to the water's edge.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Two elderly females and one male were treated for shock and hypothermia by ambulance crews."

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

A monkey at a sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall had to be resuscitated after falling ill due to the bad weather. The illness to one-year-old Pepper was the latest setback for Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary affter it suffered serious flood damage on Thursday.

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McAfee's Dogs Could Be Key To Murder Riddle

Police hunting the anti-virus pioneer John McAfee think the millionaire's dogs could hold the key to solving the murder of his neighbour.

Mr McAfee shot dead his pets after they were poisoned two days before Gregory Faull, a retired American builder, was killed.

Officers have dug up the animals' remains, which were buried in the grounds of Mr McAfee's home in Belize, to examine the bullets used to kill them.

Forensic officers are now comparing the bullets to the single casing found by the body of Mr Faull to determine if there is a match.

Police spokesman Raphael Martinez said: "The dogs were exhumed and the slugs were taken out indeed and basically it's just to match the slug that was found in Mr Faull."

The 52-year-old was found dead in his home on the island of Ambergris Cave on November 11. He had a gunshot wound to the head.

Police officers carrying the corpse of Gregory Faull

Mr McAfee has denied he was responsible for the murder and says he went into hiding only because the Belize authorities have a vendetta against him. He believes he was the intended victim of the shooting, not Mr Faull.

Since going on the run he has started a blog, which he promotes on Twitter, and regularly updates.

In it he has given details of how he has disguised himself as a beggar, a salesman and a drunken German tourist to watch police search his home seven times.

In a post about the exhumation of his dogs, Mr McAfee wrote: "Then I watched the police dig up my four dogs that had been poisoned and buried. They cut off the heads and re-buried the bodies. I found this curious."

Mr McAfee amassed a $100m (£63m) fortune from his software business but said he lost all but $4m of it in the financial crisis. He moved to Belize in 2008.

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UKIP Foster Care Row: Investigation Launched

Rotherham Council has launched an investigation into the decision to remove three foster children from a couple because of their membership of the UK Independence Party.

Councillor Paul Lakin, cabinet member for children, young people and family services, made the announcement following widespread criticism from across the political spectrum.

"This was a decision taken by social services professionals and I have ordered an immediate investigation to establish the full facts of this decision and asked for the report to be on my desk on Monday morning," he said.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage condemned the case as "outrageous", while Education Secretary Michael Gove, who was himself adopted as a child, said the Labour-controlled council's decision was "indefensible".

Three children were removed from the care of an unnamed couple from South Yorkshire who have been fostering for seven years.

They took on a baby girl, a boy and an older girl from an ethnic and troubled family background in September.

Less than eight weeks into the placement they were visited by a Rotherham social worker and foster agency official who accused them of belonging to a party with "racist policies" which meant they were unsuitable to look after the children.

Michael Gove has said the council was "wrong" to remove the foster children

The husband and wife told The Daily Telegraph they were left "dumbfounded" and "offended".

The visit followed an anonymous tip-off about the couple's party membership.

Rotherham Council said earlier it needed to consider the children's "cultural and ethnic needs" and highlighted UKIP's policy on multiculturalism.

Mr Gove said: "Rotherham Council have made the wrong decision in the wrong way for the wrong reasons. Rotherham's reasons for denying this family the chance to foster are indefensible.

"The ideology behind their decision is actively harmful to children. We should not allow considerations of ethnic or cultural background to prevent children being placed with loving and stable families. We need more parents to foster, and many more to adopt.

"Any council which decides that supporting a mainstream UK political party disbars an individual from looking after children in care is sending a dreadful signal that will only decrease the number of loving homes available to children in need. I will be investigating just how this decision came to be made and what steps we need to take to deal with this situation," he added.

The couple say the children were take away because of their UKIP membership

Joyce Thacker, strategic director of children and young people's services at the council, said the children had been placed with the couple as an emergency and it was never going to be a long-term arrangement.

"These children are from EU migrant backgrounds and UKIP has very clear statements on ending multiculturalism, not having that going forward, and I have to think about how sensitive I am being to those children," she told BBC Breakfast.

Mr Farage demanded the council apologise "wholeheartedly for the "concern and the upset they have caused".

He told Sky News he had spoken to the couple, who were "very upset and distressed" by what had happened.

"My first and primary concern is that they get a fair deal and these three children get a fair deal because what has happened is outrageous," he said.

"UKIP is a non-racist, non-sectarian political party. I mean, for goodness sake, we have got the Croydon North by-election going on at the moment where Jamaican-born Winston McKenzie is our candidate, so there are absolutely no grounds for this at all."

He said the council was now "backtracking" and had decided the couple can foster again.

"I am pleased that at least they have done that, but what they've said is rather insulting - they've said the couple may foster again, but only white children," Mr Farage continued.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has condemned the decision "outrageous"

"That, frankly, is pursuing an apartheid-style policy, dividing up children and categorising adults. That simply isn't good enough ... heads should roll within that council."

He added: "I think we should be colourblind in these things ... it's the interest of the child that matters, not some politically-correct theory."

Labour leader Ed Milband told Sky News: "Being a member of UKIP should not be a bar to adopting or fostering children."

The Daily Telegraph said the couple denied they were racist and told the officials they would not have taken them on if they were.

The wife said: "I was dumbfounded. Then my question to both of them was, 'What has UKIP got to do with having the children removed?'

"Then one of them said, 'Well, UKIP have got racist policies'. The implication was that we were racist."

"I said, 'I am absolutely offended that you could come in my house and accuse me of being a member of a racist party'."

The youngsters were taken away from the couple, who are former Labour voters, within a week last Friday.

She said she was left "bereft", adding: "We felt like we were criminals. From having a little baby in my arms, suddenly there was an empty cot."

Parliamentary by-elections for Rotherham, Middlesbrough and Croydon North are due to take place next Thursday.

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Steel Giant Tata Cuts 900 Jobs Across UK

Indian-owned Tata Steel has confirmed that it will close 12 plants in Britain.

The move will result in 900 job losses, the company confirmed, including 580 in South Wales, 155 in Yorkshire, 120 in the West Midlands and 30 on Teesside.

Sites to close include Tafarnaubach and Cross Keys in South Wales, and it will also reduce shifts at Rotherham and Hartlepool in response to lower demand for products.

The chief executive of the company's European operations, Karl Kohler, said the move was part of a strategy to become an "all-weather steel producer", able to withstand the difficult economic conditions.

Demand for steel in Europe had fallen by 25% since 2007 and was forecast to slump by another 10% this year, Tata said.

Mr Kohler added: "The job losses are regrettable and I know this will be a difficult and unsettling time for the employees and their families affected.

"We will be working with our trade unions and government at a national and local level to ensure we provide them with as much assistance and support as possible."

The company employs 19,000 in the UK and said it remained committed to investing in the business to help create long-term stability.

It confirmed plans to re-start one of two blast furnaces at Port Talbot in the first quarter of next year as part of a £250m investment programme.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Community trade union, said it was "sad news" for those affected by the job losses.

"We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the company to ensure our principle of no compulsory redundancies is upheld, although we are pleased to see the company has already committed to offering a package of training and support for those affected by these changes," he said.

"Sadly, these potential job losses are symptomatic of the continuing failure of the Government's economic policy and yet another reason why we are calling on the British Government to take urgent action to stimulate economic growth ana help revive the manufacturing sector."

A Welsh Government spokesman added: "This is very disappointing news, and a massive blow to those who will be losing their jobs.

"Tata's decision reflects the serious and ongoing challenges faced by manufacturing industries during these very difficult economic times.

"In addition to these challenges, it is clear that high energy costs and uncertainty over UK Government energy policy are having a significant impact on business investment decisions.

"As a Government, we have warned for some time of the need for these costs to be reduced."

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Floods: Man Dies As More Rain Expected

A man has died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods after large parts of the UK were hit by strong winds and heavy rain.

Forecasters said there would be a respite on today with fewer showers, and drier and brighter conditions - but the weather is expected to get wetter again this weekend with gale force winds.

Around 70 flood warnings and about 150 less serious flood alerts are in place for rivers.

The areas most affected by the heavy downpours were Wales and southwest England.

Southwest England was one of the worst hit areas in the floods

But the majority of the UK was hit by the storms as they were pushed eastwards throughout Thursday, causing flash flooding.

Hundreds of drivers were stranded, thousands of homes were without power and more than 100 people were evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after severe weather overnight resulted in a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

Homes in Torquay were evacuated after a landslide: (Pic: Ellacombe Police)

In Chew Stoke, Somerset, emergency services received a call last night reporting a car was wedged under a bridge near a ford.

Fire crews and police went to the scene where they found a man in the 4x4. The unnamed victim was pronounced dead on the way to hospital.

Chew Stoke resident David Smith, 76, said it was the second time in 24 hours in which a 4x4 had got into trouble crossing the ford.

Mr Smith said: "About 24 hours ago, a Land Rover came past here and I flagged him down and told him he ought not to try and cross the ford, but he did and he was swept away in the middle of the ford.

"Fortunately, his vehicle was caught by one of the bollards on the road and he was able to climb out of the window on to the roof.

"We tied a rope around him, from my garden, just in case he was swept away and sort of secured him until the fire brigade arrived about 20 minutes later."

The man died in his car in Chew Stoke, Somerset

Amid the wet and windy weather, thousands of commuters also suffered disruptions, with many train services in the South West and connections to London Paddington either cancelled or delayed.

While the rainfall overnight was lighter compared to earlier in the day, much of it fell on already saturated ground.

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said there would be "drier and brighter conditions today with much lighter winds than yesterday".

"Rain from overnight across eastern parts of East Anglia and the southeast of England will clear this morning to leave central and eastern England dry with sunny spells, although it could remain quite cloudy to the south-east of London.

Driving conditions have been treacherous

"Sunshine too for Wales and the west of England but also some sharp showers near coastal areas."

But she warned that on Saturday "the rain will become heavy and persistent through the afternoon with winds strengthening as well".

Ghaffar added: "There will be the risk of further localised flooding as the heavy rain falls on already saturated ground. Overnight Saturday there will be stormy conditions across central and southern parts of the UK with severe gale force winds."

The Met Office said some areas saw up to 60mm of rain during Thursday, causing river levels to rise and surface water flooding.

Western Power said 2,500 customers in the South West and 500 in Wales were without power because of high winds bringing down power lines, but that it was working to reconnect them as quickly as possible.

The AA said the last few days have been some of its busiest for flood-related call-outs, with many roads impassable.

:: Send us your flooding photos and videos.

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Spurs Fan Attacked: Two Charged Over Stabbing

Two Italians have been charged with attempted murder after an attack on Tottenham Hotspur supporters in a Rome pub left one man seriously hurt.

Ashley Mills suffered serious injuries to his skull and thigh. The 25-year-old remained in the San Camillo hospital in Rome for observation, but police said his life was not in danger.

The Spurs fans were drinking in the pub ahead of their team's Europa League match with Lazio when a group of about 50 masked assailants stormed the bar.

Police in Rome are investigating whether anti-Semitism, rather than football rivalry, was behind the attack.

Investigators were quoted in Rome newspaper Il Messaggero as saying that a mixed group of Roma and Lazio "Ultras" - fanatical fans, often with radical political views - might have joined together in the attack.

The two men charged are supporters of Lazio's cross-town rivals, AS Roma.
 
A police spokeswoman said: "They have been charged with attempted murder for involvement in riots and causing serious injury with a knife and are due to appear in court soon."

The Drunken Ship after the attack

The hooligans, their faces covered by motorbike helmets and scarves, were armed with knives, baseball bats and knuckle dusters as they stormed The Drunken Ship pub, witnesses and police said.

Witnesses said some of the assailants had shouted "Jews" at the Tottenham fans. The north London team is known for having a large Jewish fan base.

The attack left seven people injured, including an American and a Bangladeshi, and the pub in tatters, its windows broken, chairs and tables overturned, and blood stains on the floor.

Police have named other injured British fans as Dave Lesley, Stephen Tierney and Christopher Allen.

The attack was immediately blamed on Lazio "Ultras", who are known to include far-right extremists and fascist sympathisers.

But Lazio president Claudio Lotito denied  hissupporters were responsible. He noted that the attackers' faces were covered, urged authorities not to jump to conclusions and called for a full investigation.

"When it emerges who was really responsible, some people will be surprised," he said in the aftermath of the assault.

Italian reports said police had found baseball bats and knives in the homes of the two suspects who have been charged.

One of the two, who was apprehended at the scene, had talked to the other suspect shortly before the 1am raid, as well as with a notorious Lazio "Ultras" fan, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

There were no reports of violence during the 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night, but some Lazio fans reportedly aimed anti-Semitic chants at Spurs supporters.

UEFA, the European football's governing body, is expected to decide whether Lazio should incur sanctions.

In the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane in September, Lazio fans aimed monkey noises and gestures at black Tottenham players, leading UEFA to fine the club £32,500.

The attack confirms Rome's reputation as a dangerous city for English football fans, with supporters of Manchester United, Middlesbrough and other English teams also involved in violence in recent years.

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Dog Attacks: Royal Mail Vows Tougher Action

The Royal Mail plans to step up action against the owners of dogs that attack postal workers.

The group said there had been more than 3,000 attacks in the year ending in April, while the Communication Workers Union estimated the number of postal workers suffering dog attacks was closer to 5,000 a year.

An independent inquiry into dog attacks found that tougher legal sanctions should be introduced against owners of dangerous dogs after attacks take place.

The report lamented that, under current legislation, no action can be taken if a dog attacks a postal worker in the private property of its owner, including front gardens - limiting the legal protection available to postmen and women.

"Private property should no longer be an exception to the law which provides for realistic sanctions," former High Court judge Sir Gordon Langley, who headed the inquiry, told Sky News.

He said there could be exceptions, such as in the case of a burglar, but added: "In principle there is no reason that I can see why there should be this radical distinction between public property and private property when one's talking about dangerous dogs."

The Royal Mail and workers' unions welcomed the inquiry's recommendations.

The postal group said it would actively pursue legal action against the owners of dangerous dogs and take a more "robust" approach to suspending deliveries to addresses where attacks take place.

Chairman Donald Brydon said: "Dog attacks cause injuries and terrible trauma to our staff.

"Nobody should have to endure this and our staff are at an increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do."

The union, which has criticised the Government for failing to take action on dangerous dogs, said the report should spur politicians into action.

New laws to tackle the problem have been introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland and have been planned in Wales.

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CCTV Attack: Man Held Over Teenager Assault

A man has been arrested after a 16-year-old girl was punched in the head in an apparently random attack caught on CCTV.

The shocking footage shows a man jogging up behind the 16-year-old and hitting her around the head.

The girl was left lying on the ground in Plaistow, east London, as her attacker casually jogged off.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man, aged 34, was arrested yesterday evening in connection with the assault of a 16-year-old female in High Street, Plaistow.

"He remains in custody at an east London police station."

The teenager is now recovering after the attack which happened outside the Black Lion pub at around 12.30pm on November 13.

The girl, who needed work on her teeth following the assault, is said to be "bearing up really well".

Anyone with information can contact Newham Violent Crime Unit on 020 8217 5890 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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BBC Appoints Tony Hall As New Director-General

The BBC has named Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead, as its new director-general.

Lord Hall started a 28-year career at the BBC as a trainee and was head of news and current affairs at the corporation from 1996 to 2001.

He replaces George Entwistle, who was forced to resign from the position, after just 54 days in the job, in the wake of the Jimmy Savile and Lord McAlpine scandals.

Announcing the appointment, Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC Trust, said his background in news "will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences".

Lord Hall is currently the chief executive of the Royal Opera House and is expected to take up the role of director-general in early March. Until then Tim Davie will continue in his role as acting director-general.

The appointment of Lord Hall to the £450,000-a-year post was made after a direct approach from the BBC Trust. In a statement released to announce his appointment the BBC said it did not approach any other candidates.

Lord Hall said: "This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just to people in this country – but to tens of millions around the world too.

"It's been a difficult few weeks – but together we'll get through it."

He was a candidate for the role of director-general in 1999 but did not apply for the job upon the departure of Mark Thompson from the role.

Lord Patten said: "Tony Hall has been an insider and is a currently an outsider. As an ex-BBC man he understands how the Corporation's culture and behaviour make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world.

"And from his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the sometimes justified criticisms of the Corporation – that it can be inward looking and on occasions too institutional."

Lord Hall, who became a cross bencher in the House of Lords in 2010, has been successful at the helm of the Royal Opera House and praised for initiatives such as the relay of performances to screens across the UK.

He sits on a number of boards but will be stepping down from those roles before taking up his position at the corporation.

Ian Woods, senior news correspondent for Sky News, said: "He is untainted by the problems over the last few months at the BBC. He hasn't been at the corporation for a decade but he knows exactly the problems that need to be addressed there.

"He has experience in BBC journalism and it is the BBC's journalism which has been the problem for the corporation over the last few weeks."

The announcement followed the revelation by the BBC trustee Anthony Fry that Mr Entwistle refused to leave the post of director-general without a £450,000 pay-out. This was twice as much as he was entitled to under the terms of his contract.

Mr Fry told the Public Accounts Committee that the BBC Trust was given the choice of accepting Mr Entwistle's terms, or facing a lengthy legal battle which could result in Mr Entwistle receiving an additional £80,000.

He said: "I was looking at two positions. I accepted the director-general's resignation at £450,000... or we took the view of summoning the full trust and firing the director-general for a cost of £450,000.

"The legal advice from Baker & McKenzie was that we had no grounds in legal terms for firing the director-general without compensation."

Mr Entwistle also got a pension worth £40,000 a year, thousands to deal with legal issues arising from the Jimmy Savile investigations and £10,000 for professional communications advise to deal with the fall out.

MPs were also incensed to learn that he will continue to have his private medical bills paid for over the next year.

In a letter to BBC staff to announce the appointment of Lord Hall, Lord Patten wrote that it was a significant day for the BBC.

But he wrote: "There are still very serious questions to be answered through the two on-going independent inquiries into the Newsnight investigation that was dropped and the culture and practices of the BBC during the years Jimmy Savile worked here, as well as a review into sexual harassment.

"But it is also marks the beginning of a new phase for the BBC. And the key challenge will be re-establishing our reputation with the public. I hope you will all support Tony Hall as he goes about the important work of doing just that."

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