Quincy Actor Jack Klugman Dies Aged 90

Jack Klugman, who starred in TV's The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E. has died at the age of 90.

Klugman seen at a charity benefit in 2004

His son Adam said he passed away on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles.

"He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same," he said.

In the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple, Klugman played sloppy sports writer Oscar to co-star Tony Randall's Felix, a fussy photographer.

In Quincy, M.E., which aired from 1976 to 1983, Klugman played an idealistic, tough-minded medical examiner.

He lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s but trained himself to speak again.

"The only really stupid thing I ever did in my life was to start smoking," he said in 1996.

He said of seeing people smoking in television and films: "It disgusts me, it makes me so angry. Kids are watching."

He returned to acting in a 1993 Broadway revival of Three Men On A Horse.

Klugman then split his time between TV, movies and the New York stage.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Christmas Day Online Sales Surge Predicted

Bargain season begins in force today as online retailers slash prices ahead of an expected onslaught of consumers hitting the high street for the traditional Boxing Day sales.

Amazon's UK website said it had seen sales on Christmas Day increase by 263% over the last five years.

It expects this to be its busiest Christmas Day to date, partly due to the growth in home broadband and the popularity of tablets and smartphones.

The retailer is launching its Boxing Day deals a day early, which include clearance offers and "lightning deals" for a limited time and quantity of stock.

Shopping frenzies are moving from the high street to the internet

Trends seen on past Christmas Days on Amazon include an 11am rush for last minute gift cards, the spending of gift cards at midday and sofa surfing at 8.15pm.

Amazon's vice president of EU retail, Xavier Garambois, said: "The digital revolution has certainly played a part in this growth and Christmas Day is our biggest day of the year for MP3 and Kindle book downloads, as many people are buying content from new devices that they have just received.

"It's not just digital items though, we are seeing purchases of everything from baby products to women's clothing rapidly growing on Christmas Day.

"Many customers are shopping on Christmas Day in a way that has previously only been seen in the retail industry on Boxing Day."

According to MoneySupermarket.com, shoppers in the UK are set to spend a total of £2.9bn in the Boxing Day sales.

Furniture Village said visits to its website on Christmas Day last year peaked at 25,000 at 4pm, with that figure increasing to 50,000 on Boxing Day, suggesting that the majority of customers researched products online before buying from high street stores.

Chris Webster, a spokesman for technology analyst Capgemini, said: "Online tills will be ringing all the way from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, including a massive £300m spent on Christmas morning itself.

"Christmas Day will see a surge in online sales as new tablets and smartphones are put through their paces and vouchers are cashed in for virtual goods such as movies and music.

"This year we're as likely to be downloading Queen's Greatest Hits as watching the Queen's speech."

Meanwhile, high street spending was "acceptable but not exceptional" this festive period, according to the British Retail Consortium.

Head of media and campaigns Richard Dodd said poor accessibility on high streets, a lack of parking and weak consumer demand were to blame rather than an increase in online shopping.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Timberlake Video: Mocked Homeless Man's Appeal

A homeless man from Los Angeles who featured in a mock video produced by one of Justin Timberlake's friends for his wedding wants the star to visit him on Skid Row.

The man, who goes by the name "Eddie", has lived for six or seven years in the neighbourhood which has a large homeless population.

The video, initially posted on the Gawker website, featured a series of LA vagrants, street musicians and others talking into a camera, sending wishes to Timberlake and actress Jessica Biel on their recent Italian nuptials.

Eddie was paid $40 (£25) to appear in the video but said he did not realise it was going to make fun of him.

High-profile lawyer Gloria Allred is representing Eddie who has written an open letter to Timberlake asking to arrange a meeting with him "very soon".

Gloria Allred

He said he wants to talk to the actor-singer "so you can understand my situation, and so that we can talk about this situation involving so many others who are homeless".

Ms Allred challenged Timberlake and his friends to "take action to provide meaningful assistance to 'Eddie' and others like him".

"This issue is not just about fans being upset or anyone being offended by a video," she said. "It is about people being down on their luck and in desperate need of help by those who are in a position to provide it."

Timberlake posted an open letter in October on his website about the video, saying: "I had no knowledge of its existence. I had absolutely ZERO contribution to it."

The video was titled Greetings from your Hollywood friends who just couldn't make it.

"I think we can all agree that it was distasteful, even though that was not its intention," Timberlake added.

Eddie said Timberlake's letter showed he has a "good heart, but (does) not really understand the situation I face or that (is) faced by the thousands living on the streets of Los Angeles and around the country".

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Troops Send Christmas Cheer From Front Lines

British troops stationed at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan have sent Christmas messages back home to their loved ones.

Soldiers serving with the 21 Engineer Regiment wished family and friends a happy festive season, before celebrating with a traditional Christmas lunch and dinner.

Lance Corporal Kane Hollings said: "Big shout out to all my family, my friends, my little dog Bella. I'm sorry I can't be home for Christmas, but I hope you have a good time without me."

Corporal David Allan said: "I'd just like to say Merry Christmas to all my friends and family back home. My mum, my dad, and especially my beautiful wife Cheryl, I miss you and love you and I can't wait to see you in January."

Troops also celebrated the festive season with a Santa sleigh race at Camp Bastion, as some 9,000 troops serving in Afghanistan tried to make the most of a Christmas spent away from their families.

Senior officers serve mince pies and mulled wine to the troops

A major logistical effort saw two-and-a-half tons of turkey, 850kg of Brussels sprouts and 350kgs of Christmas pudding flown in for the troops.

Activities such as carol services, pantomime and sporting competitions were also being carried out at many bases.

At Lashkar Gah main operating base, soldiers are expected to take part in the Lash Dash, a Christmas Day fun run with prizes for the best costumes.

Senior-ranking officers are also keeping up with Army tradition by serving squaddies tea and coffee on Christmas morning.

Thousands of balloons, crackers, party poppers and hats have been ordered and around 130 tons of Christmas post has been delivered to Camp Bastion in the last week, to be dished out among bases.

Troops will also share the 23,500 mince pies and 40,000 After Eight mints flown in for the day.

Major Mark Yates, 40, from Manchester, who serves with The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, 1st Battalion, (1 Lancs), has a cameo role in the pantomime production of Aladdin in Lashkar Gah.

"We're all away from our families but we want to make sure we remember Christmas as it is a link with home," he said.

"Many of us have young children and would probably have gone to see a panto at this time of year.

"It's been a bit of fun between work, but not at the cost of any of our operations."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Floods: UK To Remain On Alert For Another Week

Christmas has got off to a soggy start for many parts of the UK, as more rain falls on flood-threatened areas.

Hundreds of homes and businesses have been swamped with floodwaters as winter rain continues to fall on saturated land.

Staffordshire Police have closed the M6 northbound following an accident in which there were multiple deaths.

Police also closed the junction 10 exit of the M27 at Wickham and the A127 near its junction with the M25 due to flooding.

The Environment Agency (EA) said widespread showers meant many places remain on flood alert despite the persistent heavy rain being expected to ease off by the end of today.

An EA spokeswoman said: "While the worse of the weather is behind us, the risk of flooding continues with rain falling on already saturated ground.

"As a result, flood warnings and alerts will remain in place for much of the week ahead.

"This is because river levels remain high and sensitive to further rainfall."

The rivers Severn, Trent, Avon and Thames are most at risk of flooding, the EA said, and another band of rain is expected to swamp the country on Boxing Day.

Golfers turning up at the fiirst tee of this course are in for a shock

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford said he saw no need to call an inspection and that the William Hill King George VI Chase meeting on Boxing Day should go ahead as planned.

There are more than 150 flood warnings in place across the country, and 256 less serious flood alerts.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning - its second highest alert - for southwest England.

The Met Office said the wettest place in the UK since the heavy rain began last week was Tyndrum in Perthshire with 6.1in (155mm).

Cardinham, near Bodmin in Cornwall, is the wettest place in England with 5.1in (128.8 mm) of rain and the wettest place in Wales has been Mumbles Head in West Glamorgan with 4.2in (107mm) of rain.

Ballypatrick Forest in Antrim has been the wettest place in Northern Ireland, with 3.5in (89mm) of rain.

Swans paddle in the pedestrian area of a flooded park

Some areas have exceeded their full-month December average since December 19 - such as Plymouth, which has seen 5.1in (128.8mm) of rain compared with a December average of 4.7in (118.8 mm).

Lower-level yellow weather warnings have also been issued for much of southern England and Wales.

Following a an extremely dry start, Britain is now set for one of its wettest years ever, the Met Office said.

The UK's average rainfall in 2012, excluding December, is 1,202mm -  placing it 13th in the list of wettest years since records began in 1910.

Forecasters said December's deluge of rain means this year is now likely to finish among the country's highest rainfall totals on record.

The year 2000 remains the UK's wettest year, with an average rainfall of 1,337.3mm.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Four Brits Injured In Burma Plane Crash

Three people have been killed and at least 11 injured, including four British nationals, after an Air Bagan flight made an emergency landing on a road in Burma.

The plane was carrying Christmas tourists, including 51 foreigners and six crew members, from Rangoon, via Mandalay to Heho airport in Shan state.

The fatalities were all Burmese citizens: a tour guide and an 11-year-old child on board the plane and a man riding a motorcycle on the road where the plane came down.

Airport officials in Heho said that injured passengers were taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Taunggyi for treatment.

Air Bagan said the emergency landing was made on a road about two miles from Heho airport.

"While descending, the plane mistakenly landed ... due to fog beside the runway," state television reported. It said the aircraft made a hard landing on a road and then came to a stop in a nearby rice paddy field.

"The rear end of the plane broke and caught fire," state TV said, carrying a statement posted on Deputy Information Minister Ye Htut's Facebook page. Rescuers brought the fire under control about 45 minutes later, he said.

Witnesses said smoke filled the plane when it hit the ground and was still rising from the plane's badly charred wreckage hours later.

Air Bagan is one of several domestic carriers seeking to profit from a tourist boom in Burma as it emerges from decades of military rule.

It is owned by tycoon Tay Za, who is known for his close links to the former junta and has been blacklisted by the US Treasury which once described him as "a notorious regime henchman and arms dealer".

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Firefighters Shot Dead In House Blaze 'Trap'

Two volunteer firefighters have been shot dead and two others injured when a gunman opened fire as they were responding to a house fire in New York state.

The gunman, named as William Spengler, opened fired on the four men as they arrived shortly after 5:30am on Monday to put out the blaze in Webster, said police chief Gerald Pickering.

Spengler set fire to a car and house to lure the firefighters to his house on the shore of Lake Ontario.

"It does appear it was a trap," an emotional Mr Pickering said at a news conference.

Spengler, 62, had served more than 17 years in prison for beating his 92-year-old grandmother to death with a hammer in 1980 at the house next to where the attack happened.

Police said Spengler died at the scene after shooting himself in the head.

Webster is northwest of New York City

One of the firefighters who died, Mike Chiapperini, was also a town police lieutenant, but it was not clear whether he returned fire.

The other firefighter who was killed was named as Tomasz Kaczowka.

The two wounded firefighters, named as Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino, remained in a critical condition in hospital.

Police were concerned that Spengler's sister, Cheryl Spengler, was in the house where the fire started, reports said.

Spengler reportedly lived there with his sister and mother, Arline Spengler, who died in October.

The gunfire initially kept firefighters from battling the blaze

An off-duty police officer who was driving past the scene also has injuries from shrapnel, Mr Pickering said.

The fire spread and destroyed six other homes in the quiet lakeside town, around 340 miles (550 km) northwest of New York City.

The gunfire initially kept firefighters from battling the blaze.

The neighbourhood's residents were evacuated and searched by police, and a SWAT team was called to the scene.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the shooting was a "senseless act of violence" and offered his condolences to the victims' families.

"New York's first responders are true heroes as they time and again selflessly rush toward danger in order to keep our families and communities safe," he said.

Monroe county sheriff Patrick O'Flynn said: "It's sad to see that that this is becoming more commonplace in communities across the nation."

The shooting in Webster comes 10 days after the shooting rampage at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults were killed.

The Newtown massacre has revived debate in the United States on the country's gun laws, which are far more lax than in most other developed nations.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Piers Unrepentant In Face Of 60,000 Petition

Piers Morgan has renewed his call for a ban on assault rifles as the number of Americans signing a petition to get him out of the country rises.

More than 60,000 people have now signed the petition on the White House website, ensuring the Obama administration will respond.

But Morgan, famous for his sharp tongue and straight talking interview style, has nudged back on Twitter, saying: "Merry Christmas! Even to those who want me deported."

He has also repeated his view that assault rifles should be banned in the US following the latest shooting in which two volunteer firefighters were shot dead in New York state.

The pair were killed, and two others injured, by a gunman who set fire to a car and a house and ambushed them when they arrived at the scene.

The CNN host and former Daily Mirror editor tweeted: "Americans murdered with assault weapons in movie theaters, temples, schools, shopping malls - now, as they put out fires. Where does it end?

"Come on America, ENOUGH: Ban assault weapons & high-capacity magazines, and enforce background checks on 100% of gun sales. Do it now."

Mr Morgan's outspoken views on gun control have sharply divided opinion in the States.

Lanza used a Bushmaster rifle, similar to this one from Rock River Arms

The petition was launched after he interviewed Gun Owners of America executive director Larry Pratt last week in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

Mr Pratt suggested some of the victims could have been saved if the teaching staff had been armed, and were therefore able to stop gunman Adam Lanza.

Mr Morgan, who repeatedly interrupted Mr Pratt and shouted over him when he was talking, appeared incredulous when he claimed more guns were the answer.

Gun control advocates also want high-capacity magazines banned

"You're an unbelievably stupid man, aren't you?" Mr Morgan asked him during the heated debate.

"You have absolutely no coherent argument. You don't actually give a damn about the gun murder rate in America."

Following the interview, a Texas journalist went on the White House website and posted the petition to eject him.

It alleges Mr Morgan "is engaged in a hostile attack against the US Constitution by targeting the Second Amendment".

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

M6 Crash: Three Children Killed On Motorway

Three children have died in a major crash which closed the M6 northbound carriageway at Staffordshire.

Two boys and a girl died in the crash, which took place just over an hour after two people were killed in a separate road collision near Basingstoke.

The M6 crash happened in the northbound lanes between junction 14 and 15 at about 11.25am.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service said that the two boys and one girl were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Crews arrived to find a single vehicle that had crashed and overturned," an ambulance spokesperson said.

The accident occurred on the M6 between junctions 14 and 15

"Three children that were travelling in the vehicle suffered serious injuries.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance crews, nothing could be done to save the two boys and one girl, and they were confirmed dead at the scene."

Two women were also taken to University Hospital North Staffordshire in a stable condition following the accident.

The Highways Agency has confirmed that the weather at the time of the crash was fine and dry.

Motorists on the M6 northbound carriageway wait for the road to clear

The motorway will remain closed in both directions for at least three hours while a recovery operation is in place.

Earlier on Christmas Day, officers were called to a collision on the B3349 Odiham Road near Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Two people in the car were pronounced dead, while a man, believed to be the driver of the vehicle, received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Road closures on the B3011 and the B3349 are expected to remain in place until mid-to-late afternoon.

:: Police are appealing for witnesses to the two fatal crashes to contact them by phoning 101.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen And Royals Attend Christmas Day Service

The Queen has used her annual Christmas broadcast to express gratitude for the outpouring of enthusiasm for her Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.

Delivering the broadcast for the first time in 3D,  Her Majesty said she was struck by the "strength of fellowship and friendship" shown by well-wishers to mark her 60 years on the throne.

"People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations," she said.

The Queen also paid tribute to the armed forces, "whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends" over the holidays.

She also reflected on UK's hosting of the Olympics, praising the "skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes" and singling out the volunteers who devoted themselves "to keeping others safe, supported and comforted."

Earlier on Christmas Day, the Queen was joined other members of the royal family for a church service in Sandringham after recovering from a cold.

But there were some notable absentees from the festivities this year. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent the day with Kate's family, while Prince Harry is serving as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan.

The Queen was given gifts, including a teddy bear, by members of the crowd

Traditionally, the whole family would gather at the Queen's estate home over the festive period.

Wearing a turquoise coat dress and matching hat, the Queen was wished a merry Christmas by about 1,000 well-wishers at St Mary Magdalene.

She was given a variety of bouquets of flowers by around 50 young children who queued up meet her. She was also handed a bag of dog treats for her corgis by a girl in the crowd.

The Queen made the short journey from Sandringham House in a Bentley with princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 91, who missed last year's service with a heart problem, walked the few hundred yards from the house to the church accompanied by the Duke of York and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex.

As the Queen was driven away, the crowd gave her three cheers.

Meanwhile, William and Kate attended a service at Englefield Church in Englefield, Berkshire.

William with Kate as she left hospital

The Duchess has had a testing few weeks, having been forced to announce her pregnancy earlier than planned when she was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London following a bout of severe morning sickness.

The condition, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, leaves expectant mothers so ill they cannot keep food or liquids down.

Days later, she and Prince William found themselves offering their condolences to the family of nurse Jacintha Saldanha, 46, who was found hanged in her nurses' quarters after answering a prank call made to the hospital by two Australian DJs impersonating the Queen and Prince of Wales.

The Duke and Duchess are expected to follow their stay in Bucklebury with a visit to Sandringham at some point over the festive period.

In Afghanistan Prince Harry, like thousands of other servicemen, is celebrating Christmas with troops.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cystic Fibrosis Woman Dies After Transplant

The father of a woman born with cystic fibrosis who died after being given a lung transplant from a smoker is calling for hospitals to tell patients about a donor's health history.

Jennifer Wederell, 27, died of cancer on August 24 at her home in Hawkwell, Essex, 16 months after being given the transplant at Harefield Hospital in London.

She was not told at the time of the transplant that the middle-aged donor had been a smoker.

Now Jennifer's father, Colin Grannell, says people facing organ transplants should be told of any adverse history from the donor that might affect a successful transplant.

He says he does not think his daughter would have agreed to the transplant if she had known the full facts.

The hospital says it is sorry she was not given the choice.

Jennifer, who  was on oxygen for 24 hours a day by her mid-20s, had been on the waiting list for a lung transplant for 18 months when she was told there was a match in April 2011.

She received the transplant and married her long-term boyfriend, David, that same year.

But by February of this year, less than a year after the operation, Mrs Wederell had been diagnosed with cancer, with the terrible news that it had spread.

"The shock immediately turned to anger in so far as all the risks were explained in the hour before her transplant and not once was the fact that a smoker's lungs would be used mentioned," Mr Grannell told the Daily Mail.

"She was dying a death that was meant for someone else."

Mr Grannell has set up a Facebook site, Jennifer's Choice, to encourage non-smokers to sign up to the organ donor register.

The Royal Brompton Hospital Trust told Sky News: "The Trust has reiterated its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Jennifer Wederell for their very sad loss.

"It is very rare for patients to specify that they do not wish to be considered for clinically healthy lungs from smokers.

"This is because the risks are much higher if patients decline donor lungs from a former smoker, and decide to wait for another set of organs which are both a match for them and from a non-smoker, to become available.

"However we recognise that Jennifer should have been given the opportunity to make this choice. We have apologised sincerely for this oversight.

"Regrettably, the number of lungs available for transplantation would fall by 40% if there was a policy of refusing those which have come from a smoker; waiting lists would increase and many more patients would die without a transplant."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jamaicans Rescued After Three Weeks Adrift

Five Jamaicans say they drifted on their small boat in the Caribbean for three weeks before being rescued by a cruise ship.

The Island Princess came to the men's rescue on Monday and brought the group on board in a 45-minute operation.

"We noticed the boat slowing down," said passenger Andy Greenberg of Omaha, Nebraska.

"We pulled up and the occupants were screaming: 'No food, no water.'"

Mr Greenberg said the motor on the boat had broken down.

The Jamaicans told cruise workers they were on their way to a barbecue and ran out of fuel, according to Princess Cruises spokeswoman Susanne Ferrull. 

She did not know their condition or ages.

The Island Princess docked in Florida. Pic: Jean-Philippe Boulet

The Island Princess left Fort Lauderdale a week ago and was scheduled to arrive on Tuesday in Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

The Jamaicans asked the cruise workers to give them fuel so they could continue on their way, but that is not the company's usual procedure.

The cruise captain notified the Jamaican authorities and then passengers about the rescue over the ship's public address system.

The Coast Guard declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Instagram Pic Policy Change Prompts Backlash

Some Instagram users are threatening to abandon the service after the firm announced it was giving itself the right to sell people's photos to advertisers.

The Facebook-owned photo-sharing network is introducing new terms of service on January 16 which are an automatic opt-in - unless people decide to leave.

The new terms mean Instagram can share information about the people using the service with Facebook - and with its advertisers.

As well as giving itself the right to sell people's pictures, the new terms mean users will receive no payment themselves and will receive no notification about what is happening to their images.

Tech website BuzzFeed said: "There's an adage that's basically a cliche in tech now: if you are not paying for it, you're not the customer. You're the product being sold.

"Well, there's a reason that it's become cliche, and that's because it's true - over and over and over again."

Instagram users were quick to take to social media such as Twitter to voice their concern - and in some cases their outrage.

User Wardina Safiyyah tweeted: "Shud we all leave IG now? Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos."

Fellow user maggielmcg wrote: "Bye Instagram. As of Jan they will be able to sell user's pics as stock photos with no revenue share."

John Frankel was more forthright, tweeting: "DISGUSTING: Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos."

Wired even wrote an online article telling users How to Download Your Instagram Photos and Kill Your Account.

Instagram explained the changes in its new terms of service, saying: "Some or all of the Service may be supported by advertising revenue.

"To help us deliver interesting paid or sponsored content or promotions, you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you."

Sarah Byrt, of intellectual property specialist Mayer Brown, said: "Instagram may face another user backlash once people see how their photos are used.

"It makes it all the more important that users check their privacy settings. Legally, it doesn't mean Instagram can ignore other rights.

"For example, if the user had taken a picture of someone famous without their consent, or had taken a picture of something protected by copyright, Instagram - or the company using the picture in an ad - still need to think about those issues."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Norovirus: New Warning About Vomiting Bug

Almost 880,000 people could have been affected by an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, according to health officials.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the number of confirmed cases of norovirus is 83% higher than the same time last year,

So far this season, there have been 3,046 cases in England and Wales, compared to just 1,669 cases last season.

But for every reported case there are likely to be a further 288 unreported sufferers, warns the HPA.

The bug has swept the country and has led to the closure of dozens of hospital wards.

It has also affected holidaymakers on two P&O cruise ships, the Oriana and the Azura.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces and objects.

It is known to spread rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools and nursing homes.

Anyone displaying norovirus symptoms is urged to stay indoors

Symptoms include sudden vomiting, diarrhoea, or both, a temperature, headache and stomach cramps. The bug usually goes away within a few days.

Although people can suffer from norovirus at any time of the year, activity increases in the winter months, with most cases seen between January and March.

John Harris, a norovirus expert at the HPA, said: "The number of laboratory confirmed cases has risen again, following the drop in the number we reported last week.

"Norovirus is very contagious so we would urge anyone who thinks they may be unwell with norovirus to stay at home and stay away from hospitals and care homes.

"The infection is short-lived although it is very unpleasant while you are unwell. Most people will not need to go to see their doctor and will recover in a couple of days. It is important to take plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration."

A Department of Health spokesperson said the NHS was "well prepared" for the increase in health problems which are typical at this time of year.

The spokesperson added: "Our weekly published figures show the number of beds closed across the NHS due to norovirus symptoms is around 2%. This compares to 2.9% of beds that were closed during the peak of norovirus cases last winter."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen At Downing Street For Cabinet Meeting

The Queen has become the first monarch since the 18th century to attend Cabinet on a special visit to mark her Diamond Jubilee.

The monarch was met by Prime Minister David Cameron on the steps of Number 10, which had been covered with a red carpet for the occasion.

She wore a deep blue coat and matching dress by Stuart Parvin - immediately dubbed "Thatcheresque" by commentators.

The Queen made the trip without Prince Philip to collect a present bought by the Secretaries of State to mark her 60-year reign.

Cabinet members clubbed together to buy her a set of 60 placemats - one for each year she has spent on the throne.

The mats, which are bespoke and show traditional images of Buckingham Palace, were suggested by the Queen's own aides and made by a Gloucestershire company called Lady Clare Limited.

Officials refused to disclose the value of the gifts. An unspecified donation was also made to the Diamond Jubilee Trust.

Mr Cameron met the Queen outside Number 10

Ministers lined up to shake hands with the monarch before they all went into the final Cabinet of the year.

The Queen took her chance during the meet-and-greet to quiz George Osborne about Britain's gold reserves.

She then sat between Mr Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague for her half-hour stint at the famous Cabinet table.

The Queen is thought to be the first monarch to attend Cabinet since George III in 1781, despite earlier claims Queen Victoria did so.

She only stayed for the first section before leaving ministers to their discussions and moving on to the Foreign Office.

During the meeting, Mr Cameron offered her a "very warm welcome" and congratulated her "on a fantastic jubilee year".

He said Downing Street had researched the last monarch to visit Cabinet and believe it dates back to the 18th century.

George VI, the Queen's father, met Cabinet during World War II, but apparently did not go to the standard meeting.

"We think the last time a monarch came to the Cabinet was in 1781, during the American War of Independence, but I'm happy to report that relations have improved slightly since then," Mr Cameron said.

Some of the 60 placemats given to the Queen

The Queen joked "gently and humorously" that the Cabinet could make the next Queen's Speech on "the shorter rather than the longer side".

The only other moment she spoke was to wish ministers "happy Christmas" as she left.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said all Cabinet ministers had ensured their shoes were "shiny, freshly polished" for the special visit.

"The Queen seemed very relaxed, in a very good mood and took an enormous interest in the Cabinet discussion," he revealed.

"I think people were perhaps more considered in what they say, but nevertheless it was a proper discussion on the general economic situation and the inflation figures and Afghanistan."

He dismissed warnings from some quarters that the Queen was crossing a constitutional line by attending the Cabinet.

"We are her Cabinet, we operate for her. She was sat in the seat where the Prime Minister traditionally sits and, given it's her Cabinet, she can come any time she wants," he said.

Sky's royal commentator Alastair Bruce said: "It is significant because in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year it puts a focus on what headship of the state is all about and that is supervising the democratic process."

The Foreign Office has also announced that the southern part of British Antarctic Territory is to be named "Queen Elizabeth Land" to mark the jubilee.

The region is a barren, landlocked ice and snow-covered area uninhabited by people and virtually devoid of animal life.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Landslide: Charlotte Blackman Death 'Accidental'

A young man has relived the moment 400 tons of rock buried his girlfriend as they walked beneath a cliff during a family holiday.

Matthew Carnell told an inquest how he noticed "two small stones" drop before "half the cliff face" crashed onto Freshwater Beach in Dorset, burying Charlotte Blackman.

Details of the tragedy were revealed during an inquest into the young care volunteer's death at Dorchester County Hall.

Miss Blackman, from Heanor, was spending a day at the beach with her father, 12-year-old brother Mitchell, his school friend, and Mr Carnell.

Charlotte's mother Rachel remained at their caravan park nearby.

Giving evidence at the hearing, Mr Carnell said the group inadvertently walked into the path of tragedy after deciding to return to camp along the beach.

"Within a minute, my attention was drawn to two small stones," he said.

"Almost immediately, I looked up at the cliff and saw half the cliff face fall a few metres from the sea."

Mr Carnell, who had been with Charlotte for several years, continued: "It happened so fast, it was the blink of an eye. We had no time to get out of the way.

"I grabbed Mitchell and ran a few metres into the sea. With that, a large dust cloud appeared and it was impossible to see for 20 seconds.

"I turned to the area where the cliff face fell, boulders the size of a hay stack. I couldn't see Charlotte at all.

"The height of the boulders from ground level was higher than 10ft. People approached and told us to get out of the way.

"It was complete chaos. I was in a panic and all I could think about was to get Charlotte out of there. I didn't want to stop until I found her.

"I was 10ft away from Charlotte at the time (of the landslide).

The Jurassic cliffs in Dorset where Charlotte was killed

"I remember seeing two little stones, no bigger than a 10p piece. Then the whole lot came down."

Asked by the coroner if there were any signs of cliff fall, Mr Carnell said: "There were a few boulders but they looked like they had been there for years."

Horrified eyewitnesses called emergency services while Miss Blackman's partner and her father desperately tried to pull her to safety.

Mr Blackman himself was also injured in the cliff fall.

He told onlookers concerned for his safety during the rescue attempts that if he was going to "go", it would be with his daughter.

There were conflicting accounts, as witnesses reported up to three different landslides along the beach before the one which killed Miss Blackman.

Her father, however, said he would not have taken his children along the beach if there had been evidence of recent landslides.

The death came a fortnight after Somerset couple Rosemary Snell, 67, and Michael Rolfe, 72, were killed in a landslide at the Beaminster Tunnel, less than 10 miles from Freshwater, following days of extremely heavy rainfall.

But the coroner heard evidence from a scientific expert that the weather may have had little impact on the fatal cliff fall which killed Miss Blackman.

Coroner Sheriff Payne told the hearing Miss Blackman's death could not have been predicted.

He said the National Trust appeared to be doing all it could to warn visitors of the dangers presented by the 100ft cliffs.

And he said there was not sufficient evidence to say if the weather had played a part in the landslide.

He had heard concerns that heavy rain in the county in the preceding weeks may have triggered large sections of the cliff to fall.

He said: "Sadly, Charlotte Blackman died as a result of an accident. It was a sudden act of nature that nobody could have predicted at that time."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sandy Hook Shootings: Protest At Gun Lobby HQ

Protesters have marched on the headquarters of the US gun lobby as the clamour for tighter firearm controls grows in the wake of the Newtown school massacre.

As the first two funerals for young victims of the Sandy Hook shooting took place, 75 activists descended on the Washington DC headquarters of the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA).

The protesters chanted: "Shame on the NRA," and demanded the organisation drop its hardline stance and make way for new gun control laws.

"More than anyone else, the NRA is responsible for the more than 12,000 people murdered by guns every year in this country," said Josh Nelson, the campaign manager for the progressive Credo Action group that organised the protest.

"We call on the NRA's lobbyists to stand down and allow Congress to pass common-sense gun laws."

The activists' cause has been backed by two pro-gun US senators, who have come out in favour of reform after the murder of 20 children and six adults at the elementary school.

Democrats Mark Warner and Joe Manchin, who have so-called "A" ratings from the NRA, said the Newtown massacre has convinced them the time for change has come.

Gunman Adam Lanza

West Virginia's Senator Manchin told MSNBC it was time to "move beyond rhetoric" on gun control.

He said: "I don't know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle. It's common sense."

Senator Warner said "the status quo isn't acceptable" and in a later interview called for "rational gun control".

Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy called for changes to the law during an emotional news conference, where he broke down while describing the ordeal of parents who lost their children at Sandy Hook.

He said: "You try to feel their pain, but you can't. You try to find some words that you hope will be adequate, knowing that they will be inadequate, and you see little coffins and your heart has to break."

He added: "I'm a big believer in hunting rights and a big believer in supporting the Second Amendment, but there's a reality that this stuff has gone too far and is too easy to own.

"Do I think Washington DC needs to get its act together and enact stricter gun control laws at the federal level? You bet I do."

New York's popular mayor Michael Bloomberg made an appearance flanked by relatives of shooting victims and demanded that President Barack Obama make good on his promise to tackle gun violence in the US.

On Sunday, Mr Obama told residents at a vigil in Newtown the US must do more to protect its children.

Since then, White House spokesman Jay Carney has said tighter gun control laws are part of the answer to violence in the US, but the president did not have a specific policy to announce.

Mr Obama is understood to support reinstating a ban on assault rifles that expired in 2004.

Since the shootings, the NRA has been silent.

Requests for comments have gone unanswered, and officials are turning down interview requests until they have more details.

The NRA's 1.7 million-strong Facebook group has disappeared, and the group's Twitter account - which is a favourite platform to communicate with supporters - has not sent a message since before the grim reality of Friday's shootings set in.

Governor Dan Malloy was emotional after victim Noah Pozner's funeral

The massacre has prompted private capital group Cerberus Capital Management to sell its shareholding in Freedom Group, which manufactures the the Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle used. 

The Dick's Sporting Goods chain also announced it was suspending sales of modern rifles and removing all guns from display at stores near Newtown during "this time of national mourning".

But the industry remains powerful, directly employing more than 98,000 people and generating another 111,000 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries, according to the US firearms trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

It also says the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $31.84 billion in total economic activity in the country in 2012 and, along with its employees, paid $2.07 billion in taxes.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Photos Helped Save Baby Danny Davies' Life

The life of a baby with a rare heart condition was saved by a trip to a professional photographer.

Neil and Fran Davies had booked the session for some pictures of their son Danny, who was just a few weeks old.

Danny's illness was spotted after a photo session. Paul Inskip Photography

When the photographs were developed, the parents noticed purple blotches on Danny's skin had got worse and his hands and feet looked almost blue.

Mrs Davies mentioned her concerns about the blotches to a community nurse who sent them to their GP to get Danny's oxygen levels checked.

It was the first step in a chain of events that ended in life-saving treatment at Southampton General Hospital, where baby Danny was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD).

Mrs Davies, from Felpham, near Bognor Regis in West Sussex, said: "At this point, we were remarkably calm and still didn't think it was that serious. We waited in the kitchen on ocean ward in Southampton while the doctors performed some tests on Danny.

Danny's parents noticed blotches on Danny's skin. Paul Inskip Photography

"Next thing we knew we were ushered through to a private room and told Danny had a very rare congenital heart condition and was critically ill. He was struggling to get oxygen around his body and we were told the next 24 hours were critical.

"We couldn't quite believe how quickly he'd deteriorated: we went from thinking our son was a healthy newborn to being told his life was in danger within the space of a few hours.

"In fact, we were told that if we'd taken 15 minutes longer to get to Southampton, Danny might not have made it - it was almost unbelievable."

Back home with mum Fran

PA-VSD is a very rare congenital malformation of the heart where the pulmonary valve fails to develop properly, obstructing the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs.

It was a nail-biting time for Mrs Davies, 23, and Mr Davies, a 22-year-old mechanic.

Danny spent four months in hospital undergoing further surgery to reconstruct his heart.

Finally, in October 2010, he returned home. He is now two, has a little sister called Sky and has a new home more suited to his care.

Hospital staff call Danny a real fighter

But he has undergone a further 12 procedures and will need to visit hospital regularly.

Danny has also been referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to see if further treatment, including the possibility of a heart and lung transplant, will help him.

Kevin Roman, consultant in paediatric cardiology, said: "Danny is one of the most complex patients we have ever seen and has been through an incredible journey in his short life.

"He's such a fighter and has quite a fan base here. We will continue to do everything we can for Danny and give him the best outlook in the coming years."

Danny will need regular hospital visits

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Olympics: Boxing Wins Funding Boost For Rio

UK Sport has announced a record pot of £347m to be invested into elite sport in the run-up to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games with boxing given the biggest boost.

Boxing is to receive a 44% increase in funding following the success of the likes of Nicola Adams, Anthony Joshua and Luke Campbell at the London Olympics.

Rowing, cycling, athletics and gymnastics have also been given budget increases for the next four years.

But after its disappointing performance at London 2012 swimming has had its budget slashed to £21.4m, down from £25.1m.

Team GB's swimmers won just three medals, with two going to Rebecca Adlington. Their target was five to seven.

Volleyball is also having its funding cut (down to £400,000 from £3.5m), while basketball, handball, wrestling and table tennis will miss out on the cash altogether after all missing their performance targets in London.

The huge increase in the boxing budget is the biggest for any sport. Some £13.8m will be invested, though £9.55m is conditional on the sport sorting out some internal issues.

Cycling is up to £30.6m from £26.3m, athletics has a £1.7m increase to £26.8m, rowing up from £27.3m to £32.6m, and gymnastics up from £10.8m to £14.5m.

Investment in Paralympic sport also rises dramatically, up 43% on London 2012.

Altogether, UK Sport has announced a record 11% increase in funding for Olympic and Paralympic sports until 2016. No nation has ever put more money into sport after hosting a Games.

UK Sport has set a target for Rio 2016 of at least 66 Olympic medals and 121 Paralympic medals - one more each than the 65 and 120 won in this year's Games.

The funding body's chief executive Liz Nicholl said: "We want to be the first nation in recent history to be more successful in the Olympics and Paralympics post-hosting."

UK Sport's chairman Sue Campbell admitted some sports would be devastated by the news.

She added however: "It isn't about being popular it's about making tough decisions about where public money goes."

Ms Nicholl added that swimming had been braced for bad news.

She said: "It won't be a surprise because we and they were disappointed that they didn't perform in London. They will get there."

She called on those sports disappointed by their decisions "to improve their base, their competition structure, and drive up competition before they can really compete for medals at a world level".

"We have been guided by our no-compromise approach," she added.

British Basketball described the decision to cut its funding totally ahead of Rio as "devastating" and a "waste" of previous investment.

British Cycling's Chief Executive Ian Drake welcomed his sport's budget rise, calling it "recognition of the success of our riders, our coaches and the work we put into identifying new talent".

British Gymnastics, celebrating a 34% boost in funding after London, likewise said it was "delighted" by the increase - helped by Team GB's landmark men's team bronze, Louis Smith and Max Whitlock's pommel horse silver and bronze, and Beth Tweddle's asymmetric bars bronze at this year's Games. They had been set a target of just one to two medals.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer Boy Surgery Ruling Defies Mum's Wishes

A judge has ruled that a seven-year-old boy should have surgery to remove a brain tumour despite the objections of his mother.

Mr Justice Bodey said an operation to remove a "residual tumour" left behind after earlier surgery should go ahead even though Neon Roberts' mother, Sally, refused to consent.

A doctor treating Neon said a scan showed the surgery needed to be carried out "urgently".

He said the tumour could spread without the operation and it was "highly likely" Neon would die within a "relatively short period" without further treatment.

Ms Roberts had told the court she wanted opinions from more doctors before proceeding with further surgery.

It is understood Neon could have the operation today.

Until the presence of the tumour was found by the scan, the court had been due to rule on whether Neon should undergo radiation treatment for cancer, a move that had also been opposed by Ms Roberts.

She told an earlier hearing she was concerned the radiotherapy would have a "damaging effect" on Neon's future.

The boy's father Ben, who lives in London and is separated from Ms Roberts, agreed to the radiotherapy but was "apprehensive", the court heard.

Mr Justice Bodey is expected to hear more argument on the radiotherapy issue at the High Court on Thursday after being updated on Neon's progress.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Nurse: Radio Gives £320K To Family Fund

A memorial fund for the family of the dead nurse who was the victim of the royal hoax call has been set up by the radio station responsible for the prank.

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of radio station 2Day FM, said the remainder of the profits for 2012 should go to a memorial fund to benefit Jacintha Saldhana's family.

The sum is expected to amount to AUS$500,000 (£326,000).

It has also cancelled its Christmas party, saying it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead with the celebrations, and would instead donate the money it would have spent to charity.

Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive, said: "We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the family.

"We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time."

A post-mortem examination on Ms Saldanha, who initially answered the prank call made to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge, is being held today.

Ms Saldanha's family have been left "devastated" by their loss

Ms Saldanha was found dead on Friday days after she was tricked by Australian radio hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who called the King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

She transferred the presenters, believing they were the Queen and the Prince of Wales, to a colleague who divulged details about Kate's treatment for severe morning sickness.

Ms Saldanha, 46, from Bristol, was found dead in a block of nurses' flats close to the hospital, where she stayed while working in London.

MP Keith Vaz met her family on Monday and said they had been "devastated" by the loss of a "loving mother and a loving wife".

Flanked by Ms Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and her two teenage children, Mr Vaz said: "They miss her every moment of every day, but they are really grateful to the support of the British public and to the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

Mr Vaz has called for the hospital to provide the family with more support and to hold an inquiry.

His criticism came after the DJs broke their silence about the nurse's death.

Interviewed on Australian TV networks, the 2Day FM presenters said there had been a "tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".

Mr Christian and Ms Greig have spoken emotionally about the tragedy

Police in London have contacted their Australian counterparts with a view to interviewing the pair ahead of an inquest into Ms Saldanha's death.

In response to Mr Vaz's criticism the hospital said its chief executive John Lofthouse had spoken to the nurse's husband on Friday by phone and offered to meet him whenever he wanted.

Under Australian regulations, the permission of anyone on the receiving end of a radio prank must be sought before the call can be broadcast.

The hospital has denied that anyone within its senior management or media unit was contacted.

The radio station insists appropriate checks were conducted before the pre-recorded item was broadcast.

Ms Saldanha was originally from Mangalore in southwest India, according to reports which have named her children as daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 16.

Scotland Yard said the post-mortem would be held at Westminster Mortuary and it was likely an inquest would be opened and adjourned at Westminster Coroner's Court later this week

The Duchess of Cambridge has cancelled an appearance at the UK premiere of The Hobbit tomorrow because of her pregnancy sickness but The Duke of Cambridge will attend.

23.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lottery Winner Murder: Dorice Moore Found Guilty

A woman has been convicted of murdering a lottery winner and then burying his body underneath a concrete slab at her home in central Florida.

Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore showed no emotion as the verdict was read out and the judge sent her to jail for life for shooting dead Abraham Shakespeare, who had won $17m (£10.5m) in 2006. 

Prosecutors said Moore befriended him in late 2008, claiming she was writing a book about how people were taking advantage of him.

They claimed Moore later became Mr Shakespeare's financial adviser but eventually controlled every asset he had left, including an expensive home, the debt owed to him and a $1.5 million (£933k) annuity.

"She got every bit of his money," Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner said in closing arguments. "He found out about it and threatened to kill her. She killed him first."

The court was told Moore tried to cover up the 43-year-old's death for almost a year, including sending letters and text messages to his family to make it appear he was still alive.

She also allegedly paid a friend to pretend to be Mr Shakespeare, and then call the dead man's mother to say he was okay, but wanted to be left alone.

Dorice Moore showed little emotion in court. Pic: ABC ActionNews

Moore claimed she had been trying to help protect the Lakeland lottery winner's assets from a pending child support case when he was killed by drug dealers.

Her lawyer Byron Hileman argued that there were other potential suspects whom prosecutors refused to consider.

"There were a lot of people who owed Mr Shakespeare a lot of money. One guy owed him a million dollars," he said during his closing arguments.

"The police focused on Dee Dee Moore and they didn't even consider other people."

Moore was briefly banned from the courtroom in Tampa on Monday over concerns that she may have threatened jurors.

She was back a short time later for closing arguments but said she did not want to testify in order to protect her family.

Describing her as "cold, calculating and cruel, Judge Emmett Battles told Moore that she was probably the most manipulative person the court had ever seen.

"Abraham Shakespeare was your prey and your victim. Money was the root of the evil you brought to Abraham," he said.

Moore has 30 days to appeal against the sentence.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

HSBC To Pay £1.2bn In Money Laundering Case

Record Fine: HSBC's Statement

Updated: 8:39am UK, Tuesday 11 December 2012

HSBC released the following statement after confirming it will pay $1.9bn (£1.2bn) to the US Department of Justice over money-laundering.

HSBC has reached agreement with United States authorities in relation to investigations regarding inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.

This includes a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the US Department of Justice. HSBC has also reached agreement to achieve a global resolution with all other US government agencies that have investigated HSBC's past conduct related to these issues and anticipates finalising an undertaking with the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority shortly.

Under these agreements, HSBC will make payments totaling $1.921bn, continue to cooperate fully with regulatory and law enforcement authorities, and take further action to strengthen its compliance policies and procedures.

Stuart Gulliver, Group Chief Executive, said: "We accept responsibility for our past mistakes. We have said we are profoundly sorry for them, and we do so again. The HSBC of today is a fundamentally different organisation from the one that made those mistakes. Over the last two years, under new senior leadership, we have been taking concrete steps to put right what went wrong and to participate actively with government authorities in bringing to light and addressing these matters.

"While we welcome the clarity that these agreements bring, ensuring the highest standards wherever we do business is an ongoing process. We are committed to protecting the integrity of the global financial system. To this end we will continue to work closely with governments and regulators around the world."

In the past several years, the Board of HSBC Holdings plc has taken decisive action to direct management to fix past shortcomings as they have come to light. Since 2011, with new senior leadership teams in place at both HSBC Group and HSBC North America, HSBC has taken extensive and concerted steps to put in place the highest standards for the future.

The Department of Justice has recognised these efforts in the DPA: "Management has made significant strides in improving 'tone from the top' and ensuring that a culture of compliance permeates the institution. The efforts of management have dramatically improved HSBC Bank USA's and HSBC Group's Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control compliance programmes."

As noted in the DPA, HSBC Bank USA already has, over the past several years, undertaken the following voluntary remedial measures:

• increased its spending on anti-money laundering (AML) approximately nine-fold between 2009 and 2011;
• increased its AML staffing nearly ten-fold between 2010 and 2012;
• revamped its Know Your Customer programme, including treating non-US HSBC Group Affiliates as third parties subject to the same due diligence as all other customers;
• exited 109 correspondent relationships for risk reasons;
• clawed back bonuses for a number of senior officers, and
• spent over $290m on remedial measures.

HSBC Group has also undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of its structure, controls, and procedures. A number of these improvements is included in the DPA. Among other measures, HSBC Group has:

• simplified its control structure, allowing the Group to manage risks worldwide more effectively;
• elevated the role of Group Compliance and given it direct oversight over every compliance officer globally, so that both accountability and escalation now flow directly to and from HSBC Group Compliance;
• created the new role of Head of Group Financial Crime Compliance and Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer, who will help to establish a Global Financial Intelligence Unit;
• made other new senior hires with extensive experience handling relevant international legal and regulatory issues, including a new Chief Legal Officer and a new Global General Counsel for Litigation and Regulatory Affairs;
• adopted a set of guidelines limiting business in those countries that pose a high financial crime risk;
• issued a new global sanctions policy using a more extensive and consistent set of lists to screen all cross-border payments;
• commenced a review of all Know Your Customer files across the entire Group - the first phase of this remediation will cost an estimated $700m over five years, and
• undertaken to implement single global standards shaped by the highest or most effective anti-money laundering standards available in any location where the HSBC Group operates.

Over the five-year term of the agreement with the Department of Justice, an independent monitor will evaluate HSBC's progress in fully implementing these and other measures it recommends, and will produce regular assessments of the effectiveness of HSBC's compliance function.

The agreement notes that HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Group have "provided valuable assistance to law enforcement." HSBC conducted multiple extensive internal investigations, voluntarily made employees available for interviews, and collected, analysed and organised voluminous evidence and information.

HSBC is firmly committed to putting in place robust standards that will help promote the integrity of the global financial system. 

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Handcuffed Burglary Suspect Escapes In Cop Car

A handcuffed burglary suspect has escaped from police in Texas - by driving off in their squad car.

Officers from White Settlement near Fort Worth had arrested 41-year-old Darren Porter last Friday on suspicion of breaking into an antiques shop.

But when they left him alone for a few minutes in the back of their car, he managed to roll down a window, reach out and open the door.

Video from a dashboard camera in another squad car shows him then climbing into the driver's seat and taking off.

The second police car then shot off in pursuit, but to no avail.

The antique shop owner, Kenny Boone, said it was a comical scene.

"It kind of reminded me of the Keystone cops," he joked. "They were all running for their police car to chase this guy. I shouldn't say it was funny but it was kind of comical."

The police car was found abandoned in Fort Worth soon afterwards, but Porter was still at large on Tuesday morning.

White Settlement Police Department said the window switches in the back of their squad cars are supposed to be disabled.

But apparently not in this case.

Officers are now checking their other vehicles to make sure the back windows do not open.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Libor Scandal: UK Police Make Three Arrests

The Serious Fraud Office has made three arrests as part of its investigation into the manipulation of the interbank lending rate, Libor.

Its statement read: "Today the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), with the assistance of the City of London Police, executed search warrants at three residential premises" - one in Surrey and two in Essex.

"Three men, aged 33, 41 and 47, have been arrested and taken to a London police station for interview in connection with the investigation into the manipulation of Libor."

It concluded: "The men are all British nationals currently living in the United Kingdom."

Major UK banks declined to comment on the development but Sky sources have suggested that one of the people detained used to work as a trader at the Swiss bank UBS, which has a big presence in the City.

The SFO's criminal inquiry began in July when it decided existing legislation gave it the scope to bring potential prosecutions.

While the identities of those arrested and their employers are not known at this stage, it is known that the SFO's inquiry has been wide-ranging and not limited to Barclays - the only UK bank so far to have been fined in connection with the scandal.

Bob Diamond quit Barclays after its £290m fine came to light

The £290m penalty inflicted on Barclays preceded the departure of its chief executive Bob Diamond and forced the British Bankers' Association to signal it would abandon its responsibility for oversight of Libor amid a clamour among politicians for reform.

Libor, which stands for London interbank offered rate, affects more than £350trn in global transactions and the rates created through the submissions bear a heavy influence in the calculation of a host of financial products including mortgages.

The City regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has been working closely with the SFO in its investigation.

A review of Libor by the FSA's boss Martin Wheatley has suggested a new body be created to oversee Libor with the rates set being based more on actual trades rather than just banks' own estimates.

Around 16 financial institutions have been investigated worldwide over alleged Libor rigging - including a total of three based in Britain.

Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland has previously said it hopes to settle any claims over Libor manipulation soon and warned that potential penalties could be significant.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sex Attacker Jailed By Skin Under Nails

A sex attacker has been jailed after being traced by skin cells left under the fingernails of his victim after she fought him off.

John Elam, 44, attempted to rape a university student in Coventry as she walked home in the early hours of the morning.

He pinned the 20-year-old to the ground but she fought him off, clawing at his face with her nails.

Forensics officers were able to extract DNA from skin cells left under her nails and linked Elam to the attack.

He was jailed for four years and ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register for life by a judge at Warwick Crown Court after admitting he attempted to rape the woman in an attack on June 22 this year.

Detective Sergeant Jim Edmonds, of West Midlands Police, said: "This is a fantastic example of police using advanced forensic analysis to identify a sex attacker.

"We're talking about microscopic skin cells found under the victim's nails, but that's all we needed to get a positive DNA result pointing to Elam as the prime suspect.

"He initially admitted sexual assault but we felt the seriousness of the attack warranted a stronger charge of attempted rape, and that's what we pushed for, and the evidence we secured against him eventually gave Elam little option but to plead guilty."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gay Marriage: Mixed Reaction To New Plans

Gay weddings in the Churches of England and Wales will be explicitly banned under new laws on same-sex marriage, the Government has announced.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said other religious organisations would be able to "opt in" and offer weddings to homosexual couples.

David Cameron has backed the idea of gay marriage in church but Mrs Miller said there was too much opposition.

Unveiling the Government's plans in the Commons, she promised that religious freedom would be protected via a "quadruple lock".

As well as the ban for the established churches, it will be illegal to force a religious organisation or individual to conduct a gay wedding or allow it to happen on their premises.

It will also be unlawful for organisations or ministers to let such a marriage go ahead unless their governing body has expressly opted in.

And the Equality Act will be altered so that a discrimination claim cannot be brought where there is a refusal to marry a same-sex couple.

Mrs Miller said she would now continue to consult on how best to implement the Government's plans in legislation to be introduced early in the new year.

"I am absolutely clear that no religious organisation will ever be forced to conduct marriages for same-sex couples, and I would not bring in a Bill which would allow that," she said.

MP Stewart Jackson: This is a mistake

She told MPs that the changes would allow equality and faith to co-exist "without threat or challenge to each other" and ensure "marriage remains a vibrant institution".

But Tory backbenchers called for the plans to be postponed until after the next election and insisted there was no public majority in favour of allowing gay couples to wed.

Conservative MP Nick Herbert, who is openly gay, was heckled when he declared he backed the Government and agreed that the proposal had "widespread support in the country".

Fellow Tory Peter Bone shouted out "no it doesn't" and his colleague Sir Roger Gale later said letters from his constituents suggested 98% were opposed. 

Mrs Miller insisted that the plans struck "the right balance" between protecting religious freedom and giving same-sex couples the same chance to marry as heterosexuals.

"For some, this is contentious, a radical reform or indeed a reform too far," she said. "But the historical facts show that over the generations marriage has had a long history of evolution.

"For me, extending marriage to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, this vital institution."

The Culture Secretary added: "I would never introduce a Bill which encroaches or threatens religious freedoms."

Shadow equalities minister Yvette Cooper said: "Those who argue marriage should never change are out of touch with public feeling."

As many as 130 Tory backbenchers are against the plans and could oppose Mr Cameron, who has pledged to offer a free vote on the issue.

Earlier Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough, told Sky News: "I believe this is a mistake. It's a very divisive issue and an unnecessary piece of legislation.

"It is fundamentally an un-Conservative policy and if (Prime Minister David Cameron) presses ahead with this it will be a disaster for the party and the country."

Gay rights campaigners welcomed the move but critics accused ministers of ignoring a petition signed by 500,000 opponents, calling it "disgraceful".

Colin Hart, campaign director of the Coalition For Marriage, claimed: "There were serious flaws with the consultation.

"Not only was it loaded in favour of ripping up the centuries-old definition of marriage, but lacked even the most basic of safeguards to check the identity of those taking part."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Census: Rise In Immigrants Boosts Population

There has been a large rise in the number of migrants living in England and Wales, according to the results of the 2011 census.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the population of England and Wales now stands at 56.1 million people - a rise of 3.7 million since 2001.

Some 55% of the growth - around 2.1 million people - was due to migration from outside the country.

The number of foreign-born residents has increased to 13%, from 4.6 million to 7.5 million.

In London one person in three was born abroad, compared to the North East where the figure is one in 20.

The majority of those from abroad come from India, Poland and Pakistan. Poland is a new addition to the top ten of where people came from and did not feature at all in the last census in 2001.

Dr Scott Blinder, deputy director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said there had been "a very noticeable change in the population of England and Wales" over the last decade.

It is the second major tranche of information to be revealed from the 2011 census, covering topics including ethnicity, country of birth, religion, health and housing.

The data also shows there has been a big fall in the number of people who consider themselves to be Christian.

Numbers dropped by four million over the past decade - from 37.3 million in 2001 to 33.2 million last year.

There was a 10% increase in those stating "no religion".

The census shows the make up of the population is changing

The British Humanist Association (BHA) described the increase in the number of non-religious people - from 15% in 2001 to 25% last year - as an "astounding" 67% relative rise.

But it said the figures did not offer a complete picture when it came to the number of practising Christians living in England and Wales.

The census also shows 86% of people recorded their ethnicity as white, a fall on 2001. It remains the majority ethnic group in all areas apart from London.

All other ethnic groups grew over the 10 years since 2001.

Two million respondents listed their partners or fellow household members as being of different ethnic groups - 47% more than in 2001.

The number of people claiming to have mixed ethnicity almost doubled, up by 563,000.

Some 91% of respondents to the 2011 census claimed to speak English. Just 4% of households had no English speaking residents.

The statistics also offer a snapshot of how people live.

Since 2001, the proportion of people owning properties through a mortgage or loan has decreased from 39% to 33% but the number of people who own homes outright increased from 29% to 31%.

Ownership of cars and vans has also gone up - increasing by 3.4 million to 27.3 million, a rise of 14%.

Last year there was an average of 12 cars for every 10 households - up on 11 cars per 10 households in 2001.

London was the only region where the number of vehicles was lower than the number of households.

Four out of five people claimed to be in good health.

The questionnaire was sent to around 26 million households in England and Wales on March 27 last year.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Belfast Flag Protest Riots 'A Disgrace'

Rioters have been warned against "holding Belfast to ransom" after a petrol bomb attack on a police officer by suspected loyalists which is being treated as attempted murder.

A gang of 15 men targeted, surrounded and smashed the unmarked vehicle on Monday night outside the offices of Alliance Party MP Naomi Long in Newlands Road.

It was the worst incident in another night of violence in parts of east and south Belfast involving loyalists who took to the streets again in protest against a decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said that while the matter was a sensitive issue, the clashes would not be tolerated.

"There can be absolutely no excuse or justification for this kind of thuggish and lawless behaviour," she said.

"It is a disgrace. We condemn it unreservedly and it should stop immediately.

"...Those people engaged in the kind of violence we have seen in the past few days are not defending the Union flag. They are dishonouring and shaming the flag of our country.

"There is nothing remotely British about what they are doing. They discredit the cause that they claim to support."

A car set alight in the Newtownards area over the weekend

Police Service Of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said the officer was lucky to escape with her life.

"This was a planned attempt to kill a police officer which also put the lives of the public in danger and it is fortunate there were no injuries," he said.

Officers were also attacked with petrol bombs in south Belfast close to the M1.

More talks are planned later between Peter Robinson, the Northern Ireland First Minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Mike Nesbitt, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

They will try to agree some sort of political strategy to ease tensions and end the violence.

It follows a meeting in Belfast on Monday between the pair, who have been heavily criticised by nationalists over their leadership since the trouble flared a week ago.

The Alliance Party has been the focus of loyalist anger

Ms Long's Alliance Party has been blamed by loyalists for supporting the nationalist SDLP and Sinn Fein in pushing the vote through Belfast City Council to lower the flag.

She said: "If Northern Ireland is to move forward then we need a strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for the democratic process. We need this urgently before lives are lost."

Mr Robinson said: "The attempted murder of a police officer in East Belfast was a despicable act of terror.

"The masked men responsible do not act in the name of our Union Flag. They are bringing shame on it. My prayers are with the police officers at the centre of this attack."

There were also protests in Limavady, Co Londonderry, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, where the car of a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Ian McCrea, was surrounded by angry loyalists.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said some of the violence was intense - and there was clearly some paramilitary involvement.

:: Witnesses have been urged to contact police at Strandtown on 0845 600 8000 or through the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman Gives Birth In Rescue Helicopter

A woman has given birth in a helicopter taking her to hospital from her remote island home.

The drama happened after the woman, from Unst in the far North of Scotland, went into labour in the early hours.

Shetland Coastguard received a call from her doctor at 4.30am, asking about ferry times from the island.

It was decided to send a helicopter which landed 90 minutes later - but not soon enough, as it turned out.

The woman was quickly put on board but minutes after the helicopter took off she started to give birth.

It was left to paramedic Marcus Wigfull, who had only ever visited maternity wards during his training, to deliver the child.

"To be honest, I wasn't nervous," he said.

"It all happened so quickly and my training just kicked in. It all went very smoothly.

"We knew we had about a 15 to 20-minute transfer time to the hospital.

"But within five minutes of bringing the mother on board we realised we weren't going to make it (in time)."

The baby was born at 6.30am above a small island called Lunna Holm.

Alex Dodge, watch manager at Shetland Coastguard, said: "This is the first time that a baby has been delivered on the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Sumburgh.

"We would like to congratulate the mother and father on the birth of their son, who is reported to be doing well."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Runny Nose Turns Out To Be Leaking Brain Fluid

A woman who complained for months about her runny nose was horrified to find out that fluid was leaking from her brain.

Several doctors had reassured Aundrea Aragon from Tucson, Arizona, that the clear liquid was simply caused by allergies.

"I was scared to death and desperate," the 35-year-old mother said. "I knew it could not be allergies. The fluid would come out like a puddle."

The steroids and antibiotics she was prescribed had no effect.

"I was walking around with toilet paper shoved up my nose and changing it every ten minutes," Mrs Aragon recalled.

Cerebral spinal fluid streamed through Aundrea Aragon's nose. (File image)

Surgeons at the University of Arizona eventually noticed two small cracks in the back of her sphenoid sinus, which were caused by cerebral pressure.

While the human body replaces brain fluid, Mrs Aragon was at risk of developing meningitis, according to surgeon Dr Michael Lemole.

"If you are leaking brain fluid out your nose then you have the potential for catastrophic meningitis, the kind where bacteria crawls into your brain and 24 hours later you are essentially in a coma or dead," he explained.

Using an endoscopic procedure, doctors were able to avoid invasive surgery and fix the condition with a minimal recovery period.

They used tissue from her nose and belly to repair the cracks.

Mrs Aragon is now recovering well at home after the operation in October, but she will need to be monitored for the rest of her life in case of another leak.

23.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer Patient Taken From Hospital By Mother

Fears are mounting for an 11-year-old girl with leukaemia and a heart catheter who was removed from a Phoenix hospital by her parents.

The child, Emily, had been receiving chemotherapy up until last week after an infection forced doctors to amputate her right arm and insert a catheter in her heart.

The device was due to be taken out when her mother unexpectedly changed her clothes and walked her out of the hospital last Wednesday night.

Police have said if the catheter is left in too long, it could lead to serious complications.

"If she contracts an infection, it really could just be a matter of days that could result in the young girl's death," Sgt Steve Martos said. "It's pretty serious."

The authorities had been held back initially by US health privacy laws that kept them from releasing the parents' names.

But police said on Monday that the US Border Patrol stopped the girl's father, Luis Bracamontes, 46, as he crossed into Arizona from Mexico over the weekend.

But he provided no clues to the girl's whereabouts and denied having any involvement in removing her from the hospital.

Police also released his wife's name, Norma Bracamontes, 35.

Neither parent is charged with a crime yet, but authorities want the child brought back to the hospital before it is too late.

The girl's father is a Mexican citizen with US residency. Emily and her mother are US citizens.

Authorities speculated they might have been concerned about paying the hospital bill.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Who Threw Rabbit In River Is Jailed

A man has been jailed for snatching a homeless man's rabbit and hurling it into a river.

The animal's owner, John Byrne, had been begging on Dublin's O'Connell Bridge when his pet Barney was taken from his arms and thrown into the River Liffey.

The 37-year-old jumped into the water after his beloved pet and gave him the kiss of life, but was unable to save the rabbit. Both were pulled from the river by firefighters.

Gary Kearney pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to cruelly torturing or terrifying an animal and was sentenced to four months in prison.

The 20-year-old, who is originally from the Crumlin area of Dublin and was brought up in care, also admitted breach of the peace during the incident on July 3, 2011. He has 138 previous convictions.

Outside the court, Mr Byrne, who has been living on the streets for 23 years, said he was in shock when he saw Barney swimming around in circles, looking up at him.

John Byrne was scared a seal would eat his rabbit

"I wasn't going to leave him there," he said.

"I had to get him, I had to jump in to get him. Barney died in my arms. I got him under the bridge and gave him the kiss of life."

Mr Byrne said the sentence sent out a clear message to people who abuse animals that they will not walk out of court laughing.

He said: "I was scared. Wouldn't anybody (be scared) going into freezing cold water? And there is a seal there that would have eaten Barney.

"I can swim and I'd done life-saving before. Only for that I was gone. The current would have pulled me under."

He added that one of his three dogs, Lily, would not go out begging with him after witnessing the incident.

Within days of his pet's death, Mr Byrne was given a Compassionate Citizen Award for going above and beyond the call of duty to help an animal in need.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate Pregnant: William At Wife's Bedside

The Duke of Cambridge has returned to his pregnant wife's bedside as she continues her hospital treatment for severe morning sickness.

Kate was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in central London on Monday where she is likely to remain for the next few days.

Prince William headed in ignoring the massed ranks of the world's media on the pavement outside.

Presenters and crews from TV networks in America and elsewhere have set up camp since the couple's news was announced on Monday.

It is understood the rest of the royal family were told about the pregnancy only a few hours before the rest of the world.

Prince William arrives at the hospital on Tuesday

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and Kate's family are said to be "delighted".

The child will be third in line to the throne, whether it is a boy or girl, after Prince Charles and Prince William.

The Prime Minister was among the first to congratulate the royal couple on Twitter. "I'm delighted ... They will make wonderful parents," David Cameron said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg tweeted: "... a perfect way to round off the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year."

Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate."

Julia Gillard, prime minister of Australia, called it "delightful news" and Jay Carney, press secretary to US president Barack Obama, said: "On behalf of everyone here in the White House, beginning with the President and the First Lady, we extend our congratulations."

Only last week Kate took to the hockey field while visiting her old school

Thomas Misrachi, a journalist with BFM TV in France, is among the media throng outside the hospital. On Monday he immediately booked the Eurostar from Paris.

He told Sky News: "Their wedding was huge news in France and news of a baby is just the same.

"Your royal family still has a certain magic - it is unusual for us because we don't have a royal family."

St James's Palace would not say when the royal couple became aware of the pregnancy - only that it was "recently".

Royal baby memorabilia is already being created (Pic. Emma Bridgewater)

It is understood that the pregnancy has not passed the 12-week point and the announcement was prompted by the Duchess's medical condition.

It was reported that the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children, is treating her.

Kate is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare condition which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy and can cause dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine called ketosis.

News that Kate's condition may indicate she is carrying twins has prompted bookmaker William Hill to cut the price of the royal couple having two babies from 33/1 to 25/1 following a number of bets overnight.

The Duchess' engagements this week have all been cancelled, said St James's Palace.

Kate and William were married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

:: Bookmaker William Hill said the favourite names so far are Frances and John, both at 9/1, while Charles, Victoria and George are 10/1.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dutch Linesman Death: Teens To Be Charged

Dutch prosecutors say they will charge three teenagers with manslaughter for allegedly taking part in an attack on a linesman over a youth football match.

Volunteer linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen died in hospital on Monday, a day after he was beaten and kicked by players from Amsterdam team Nieuw Sloten.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen's own son had been playing in the game, which was held in the town of Almere.

Prosecutors said the three males, two 15 and one 16, would be arraigned on Thursday on charges of manslaughter, assault and public violence. Their identities were not released.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen's team, Buitenboys, have not announced the exact cause of his death, but Dutch TV station RTL said he had brain damage.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen left after Sunday's match and was not aware anything was wrong. He returned to his club later that night and collapsed.

"You can't believe this could happen. That kids of 15 or 16 are playing football, you come to watch and see something like that," said Buitenboys chairman Marcel Oost.

"He did it every week. He enjoyed doing it. He was a real football man - he was always here."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a statement he was "deeply shocked" by Mr Nieuwenhuizen's death.

Dutch sports minister Edith Schippers said: "It is absolutely terrible that something like this can happen on a Dutch sports field."      

Parents and other volunteers regularly referee and officiate at sports matches involving their children in The Netherlands, where youth football and hockey is popular and well organised.

Anton Binnenmars, of the Royal Netherlands Football Association, said: "It is too crazy for words that somebody involved in a sporting hobby becomes a victim of this kind of aggression."

Police said they would not rule out arresting more suspects.

Nieuw Sloten said in a statement on their website they had banned the players involved and pulled their team out of the league. Such incidents "do not belong on a football field", the statement added.

The Dutch FA said all Nieuw Sloten's matches next weekend had been cancelled at the club's request.

The attack in Almere was even discussed at a news conference in Spain on the eve of Ajax's Champions League match against Real Madrid.

"You can't imagine it happening," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer. "That boys of 15, 16 years short circuit like that. You wonder about the parenting ... this is too ridiculous for words."

The death is almost exactly a year since a Dutch amateur footballer fatally kicked a 77-year-old supporter following a match.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More