Sally Bercow Names Teen In New Twitter Row

Sally Bercow has quit Twitter after sparking a new furore by naming a teenage schoolgirl protected by a court order.

Having already embroiled herself in the Lord McAlpine row, the wife of the Commons Speaker named a girl who allegedly ran away with a maths teacher.

Mrs Bercow sent a message to her 59,000 followers on the website on Sunday, asking what had happened to teacher Jeremy Forrest and naming the girl.

Journalists immediately warned her of her mistake and she deleted her tweet hours later, but legal experts said she could be fined for contempt of court.

In the wake of her latest gaffe, she posted late on Monday: "Looking at tweets but (sadly) can't reply (#lawyerswhippedmyass #asdidMrB). So text/email/DM me if you're a mate. Hope 2 b back soon. xx."

But hours later, her Twitter feed was no longer accessible and attempts to reach it directed to a page declaring: "Sorry, that page doesn't exist!"

Some reports suggested she may have taken the step after apparently being hacked.

Teacher Jeremy Forrest has been charged with child abduction

A derogatory message was published on her page overnight, saying: "Hello 1000s of followers (funking lunatics). Stupid woman - password softearev."

Mr Forrest was arrested in Bordeaux in September after a search by police in Britain and France. He was returned to Britain and has been charged with child abduction.

A court made what is known as a Section 39 Order under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, which forbids naming the girl involved in the case.

The order states: "Any publication by whatever media in breach of this order is punishable by a fine in the sum of £5,000."

Sussex Police, the investigating force in the Forrest case said: "We will actively investigate potential criminal breaches of these restrictions."

Mrs Bercow is already under intense scrutiny because of her Twitter account after she waded into the speculation sparked by allegations a senior Tory was involved in child sex abuse.

She posted: "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*."

Lord McAlpine was not named in the BBC Newsnight programme that reported the allegations but was identified later in the subsequent social media frenzy.

After a week, his alleged victim confirmed he had made a mistake and the peer reached a £185,000 settlement with the corporation last week.

Mrs Bercow insisted her post about the peer was not libellous but has now received a letter before action from Lord McAlpine's solicitors.

The former Tory's legal team have made clear they are targeting people who named him on Twitter, warning: "We know who you are."

Mrs Bercow wrote on Twitter: "Thanks for phone calls/texts/tweets. I guess I'd better get some legal advice then. Still maintain was not a libellous tweet - just foolish."

Several users of the site did come to her defence after her second gaffe, suggesting that the name of the teenager is already widely known.

"The Section 39 Order is an ass. In a pub quiz, we'd all know the name," tweeted ‏@shcomben.

"The whole Sally Bercow debacle is a hit (sic) much - wasn't that girl's name common knowledge at the time?" @HartleyR27 said.

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Child Sex Gang Suspects Held In Police Raids

Police have arrested eight suspected members of a child sex gang during a series of dawn raids on several homes in Buckinghamshire.

The men, aged between 21 and 28, were held on suspicion of committing sexual offences against a girl.

Thames Valley Police said the girl, who is under 18, reported being abused between 2007 and 2012, but investigators believe other victims may have fallen prey to the same group and urged them to come forward.

"We believe that it is likely that there are more victims who have not yet spoken to the police and would like to encourage anyone who is a victim to come forward," said Detective Chief Inspector Vince Grey.

"Our number one priority is to protect the victims, both their identities and well-being in such cases."

The abuse of the girl began in 2007 when she was 12 years old, reports said.

Mr Grey praised the girl for speaking to the police, saying she had been "extremely brave and courageous".

"Obviously we can't imagine what she and other victims have gone through," Mr Grey said.

"She's come forward and she's indicated what offending has happened to her, who's been involved in that, and over what time period."

He added that the girl did not go into "great details in terms of other persons, but we believe in terms of what she told us that there will be other victims".

The arrests were part of an investigation lasting several months and some 100 police officers raided 10 homes in High Wycombe in the operation.

Police believe girls may have been groomed - when abusers make friends with potential victims - by members of the gang.

Mr Grey said grooming, which is a specific offence, can then turn "into an abusive relationship of some sort, which can lead to much more damaging exploitation and sexual offences taking place".

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Syria: Britain Supports Rebel Coalition

Britain is to support a coalition of Syrian rebels after recognising it as the "sole legitimate representative" of the country's people.

The National Coalition of the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces brings together opponents of President Bashar al Assad's regime.

Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the decision after meeting with the alliance's leaders last week and speaking to other European countries.

"It is strongly in the interests of Syria, of the wider region and of the United Kingdom that we support them and deny space to extremist groups," he said.

Syrian rebel fighters in Maarat al Numan

Mr Hague said the coalition had promised to leave the door open to other opposition groups who wanted to join them.

It has also vowed to appeal to Syrians from all communities and to be a "moderate political force committed to democracy" that would not repeat Mr Assad's abuses.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs the Government would press them to uphold their commitments, while also offering them practical support.

The coalition will be invited to have a political representative in the UK, and there will be assistance for the opposition in setting up political and humanitarian structures.

A £1m package of communications support will be provided, possibly including mobile internet hubs and satellite phones.

A "stabilisation response team" will be sent to the region to help the coalition meet basic needs in areas held by opposition forces.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening is also looking at increasing British assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict.

The opposition alliance was formed from Syria's disparate opposition groups at a meeting in Doha earlier this month.

Syrian soldiers in Aleppo, one of the key flashpoints

The Syrian uprising against Mr Assad's rule started in March 2011 and at first was largely dominated by peaceful protests.

It turned bloody after rebels took up arms in response to a crackdown by the regime. Activists say more than 36,000 have been killed in the conflict.

Mr Hague condemned the "barbaric violence" of Mr Assad's administration, which has seen another 400,000 people become refugees.

He hailed the formation of the coalition as a "major breakthrough" and said a political transition was urgently needed.

The Foreign Secretary refused to rule out of the prospect of Britain arming the rebels directly but said there had not yet been any decision to change policy.

"We rule out no options. It is the job of the National Security Council to look at all options, particularly as this crisis worsens," he said.

"It is foolish to rule out options when we don't know how those situations will proceed."

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Energy Bills: Shake Up Could Push Up Cost

Families could end up paying more after a shake-up in energy prices because cheaper deals will be axed, experts have warned.

New Government plans are expected to force companies to offer just four tariffs per fuel and make them automatically shift customers onto the cheapest.

The tariffs would have to include a standard variable rate and a fixed price for a fixed term, then firms would be able to decide on another two.

Suppliers would be forced to offer one price for each of the options, although they could still offer discounts for dual fuel bills or those paying by direct debit.

The move is aimed to address long-standing concerns about soaring gas and electricity prices and fears the current array of tariffs means many people pay too much.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey

A consultation has now been launched and will run until January, with the Government aiming to have all customers on the cheapest deal by summer 2014 at the latest.

Details of the proposal come weeks after Prime Minister David Cameron sparked confusion by vowing in the Commons that firms would be forced to charge customers the lowest price.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "For too long, people have been stuck on the wrong type of energy tariff, paying more than they need to.

"Our new proposals will make things much clearer and easier to understand so that bill payers can get the best deal and feel the benefits in their pockets."

The Prime Minister added via Twitter: "My promise to ensure energy customers get the lowest tariff is being delivered, despite Labour saying it couldn't be done."

It has been suggested the changes could save families hundreds of pounds a year, but industry figures say some may have to pay more.

They warn a simplification would lead to some of the cheapest offers currently available being axed, because firms will be far more limited.

Energy UK chief executive Angela Knight, representing the energy companies, admitted the shake-up would create a simpler system where people could switch provider more easily.

But she also told Sky News: "Some of the choices will reduce because you can't have a variety of choice, including tariffs that offer you a particularly low rate for a particular time."

Guy Newey, head of energy and environment at centre-right thinktank Policy Exchange, added: "Cutting the number of tariffs and forcing energy companies to put households on the 'best' rate could end cheap deals.

"This risks punishing families who do the right thing and shop around. There is a danger this move could see fewer people switching, reduce competition and therefore push up bills in the long term."

Corin Taylor, an adviser at the Institute of Directors, claimed the reforms "miss the point" because firms would just increase their lowest tariff to compensate.

He argued: "Instead, the Government should be promoting competition and making it easier for new companies to enter the energy market."

Mr Davey, speaking to Sky News, admitted he could not "guarantee" lower energy prices because they were dictated by the world gas market.

But he added: "What I can do is the very best for consumers by making sure we have simpler bills, more competition and help people save energy."

The coalition's plans follow a spate of price hikes among the UK's "big six" power firms, who control 99% of the domestic energy supply.

In October, SSE prices rose by 9%, then British Gas and Npower went up by 6% and around 9% respectively this month.

In December, Scottish Power will hike its bills by 7% and EDF by 10.8%. Meanwhile, German-owned E.ON has denied reports it is planning a 11% increase.

The firms all blame rising wholesale prices, which they say are out of their control.

One firm, Co-operative Energy, has bucked the trend by unveiling plans to slash its electricity charges by 2% from December 21.

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint said: "The cheapest deal in an uncompetitive market will still not be a good deal.

"Unless David Cameron stands up to vested interests in the energy market and creates a tough new watchdog with powers to force energy companies to pass on price cuts, his warm words will be cold comfort to people worried about paying their fuel bill this winter."

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SAS Sniper's Case Review 'Inappropriate'

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has said it would be "inappropriate" for him to review the decision to prosecute an SAS sergeant for illegal possession of a weapon.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond wrote to Mr Grieve asking him to examine if proper consideration had been given to whether a prosecution of Sgt Danny Nightingale was in the public interest before the case was brought to court martial.

Sgt Nightingale is serving an 18-month sentence in military detention after pleading guilty to having a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

The father of two, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers medical problems which affect his memory and says he did not remember having the weapon, which was a gift from Iraqi soldiers he had been training.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said: "It would be inappropriate for the Attorney General to review either the decision to prosecute or comment on the appropriateness of the sentence.

"That is a matter for the Court Martial Appeal Court, in due course."

MPs will be able to raise concerns about the case with Solicitor General Oliver Heald later today after Canterbury MP Julian Brazier secured a debate in the House of Commons.

SAS veterans have been outraged by the case, and four special forces veterans, including the former commanding officer of the SAS, have written an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, claiming Sgt Nightingale was "the victim of a monstrous miscarriage of justice".

Sgt Nightingale pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol which had been packed up and returned to him by colleagues after he had to leave Iraq in a hurry to help organise the funeral of two friends killed in action.

He also admitted possessing ammunition.

Sgt Nightingale's father Humphrey has told Sky News his son was bullied into pleading guilty at the court martial.

Humphrey Nightingale said: "We knew Danny was not guilty but the judge made it quite clear that if he did not plead guilty he would be sent to a civilian jail for a minimum of five years.

"Our hands were tied and we had no other option - Danny has a lovely wife and a young family. We expected a lenient sentence - maybe suspended - but instead he was sentenced to 18 months."

Lawyers for Sgt Nightingale plan to lodge an appeal against his conviction and sentence later this week, as well as applying for bail.

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UBS Rogue Trader Adoboli Jailed Over Fraud

A rogue trader who lost £1.4bn in bad deals that nearly brought down Swiss bank UBS has been jailed for seven years for fraud.

At one point, former rising star City trader Kweku Adoboli had stood to run up losses of £7.5bn for his employer.

The 32-year-old admitted to the bad trades, but denied any wrongdoing.

He was convicted of two counts of fraud by abuse of position linked to the £1.4bn loss, but jurors cleared him of four counts of false accounting between October 2008 and September last year.

Judge Mr Justice Keith, sentencing, told Adoboli: "There is a strong streak of the gambler in you. You were arrogant to think the bank's rules for traders did not apply to you."

"The fact is you are profoundly unselfconscious of your own failings."

He sentenced the trader to seven years for one count of fraud and four years for the other, to be served concurrently.

Adoboli will serve half of that term in prison before being released on licence, the judge added.

The trader wiped away tears as he listened to the sentencing.

A judge told Adoboli his fall from grace was "spectacular"

In a statement, UBS said: "We are glad that the criminal proceedings have reached a conclusion and thank the police and the UK authorities for their professional handling of this case."

Adoboli maintained during the two-month trial that senior managers had been fully aware of his activities and had encouraged him to take risks to make profits for UBS.

He wept as he gave evidence for the first time last month, saying everything he had done was aimed at benefiting the bank, where he viewed his colleagues as "family".

Adoboli also said the multi-billion-dollar deals happened at a time when he was suffering from burnout and had "lost control" of his trading.

But prosecutors painted a different picture, saying Adoboli had exceeded his trading limits, failed to hedge trades and faked records to cover his tracks in a bid to boost his status and ego.

They said he saw himself as having a "magic touch" as a trader.

Prosecution lawyer Sasha Wass told jurors he was "a gamble or two away from destroying Switzerland's largest bank for his own gain".

"Mr Adoboli's motive for this behaviour was to increase his bonus, his status within the bank, his job prospects and, of course, his ego," she said.

Ghanaian-born former public schoolboy Adoboli joined UBS as a graduate trainee in 2003 and, at the time of the fraud, was a senior trader on the Exchange Traded Funds desk at UBS' investment banking arm in London.

He was arrested in September 2011 after he confessed his losses in an email to colleagues.

The Crown Prosecution Service said, behind all the technical jargon heard during the trial, the case ultimately rested on whether Adoboli had acted dishonestly.

"He did so, by breaking the rules, covering up and lying," said Andrew Penhale, deputy head of fraud at CPS.

"At the heart of any complex fraud is a simple notion of dishonesty which is something that we can all understand."

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Brooks And Coulson To Face New Charges

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Former Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks face new criminal charges over bungs to public officials in return for stories used in the News Of The World and The Sun.

Coulson, who was editor of the NOTW at the time, and the paper's former royal correspondent Clive Goodman are charged with conspiring to pay for information about the royal family, including an internal phone directory known as the Green Book.

Brooks, who edited The Sun, and the paper's chief reporter John Kay are charged with conspiracy to pay Ministry of Defence employee Bettina Jordan Barber £100,000 for information that led to a series of stories in the newspaper.

Ms Barber faces the same charge.

Kay attended a north London police station on Tuesday morning and was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. He was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 29.

Solicitor Henri Brandman, who is representing Kay, said: "Neither my client nor I will be making any comment in respect of the matter at the present time."

Coulson pledged to fight the allegations that he is facing and said: "I am extremely disappointed by this latest CPS decision. I deny the allegations made against me and will fight the charges in court."

The charges follow Scotland Yard investigation Operation Elveden, which began in July last year and is likely to continue for many months.

So far, 52 people have been arrested, including 21 journalists from The Sun, armed forces staff and a prison official.

Before today, the only charge brought was against Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn, accused of leaking information to the NOTW, which was closed by owner Rupert Murdoch 16 months ago in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.

DCI Casburn has denied the charge.

Two arrested suspects, an ex-police officer and a former journalist, were told recently that they would not face prosecution.

The five charged today are expected to appear in court in the next few weeks. The formal charge against them is conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, which could mean jail if convicted.

Coulson, Brooks and others have already been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, over allegations they tried to cover up evidence of phone hacking.

In a news conference during a visit to Northern Ireland, Prime Minister David Cameron was queried on his judgment in both hiring Coulson and becoming a close friend to Brooks.

He said: "I've made it clear on many occasions about this issue and I've also said very clearly we should allow the police and prosecuting authorities to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and I think that is very, very important.

"But I think that, particularly as we get to a situation with pending court cases, that probably we should leave it at that."

Pushed further, and asked if it was embarrassing for him, Mr Cameron said: "I think, as I said, with impending court cases we should probably leave it at that."

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DR Congo Rebels Seize Strategic Goma

A rebel group created just seven months ago has seized Goma and its international airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to witnesses.

Explosions and machine-gun fire rocked the lakeside city, which has a population of more than one million people, as M23 rebels pushed towards the centre.

By early afternoon the gunfire stopped and the fighters, believed to be backed by neighbouring Rwanda, marched through the main streets while their commanders paraded in all-terrain vehicles.

Rwanda has been accused of equipping them with sophisticated weaponry, including night vision goggles and 120mm mortars.

The UN has around 1,400 peacekeepers in and around Goma but they did nothing to prevent the M23 advancing because they do not have a mandate to engage the rebels.

The UN Group of Experts is expected to release a report detailing the role Rwanda has played in the recruitment, financing and arms of the new rebel movement.

Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende said Rwandan soldiers had crossed into Goma, hiking over footpaths across a volcano between the two countries.

Speaking from the capital Kinshasa, he said: "Goma is in the process of being occupied by Rwanda.

"We have people who saw the Rwandan army traverse our frontier at the Nyamuragira volcano. They have occupied the airport and they are shooting inside the town.

"Our army is trying to riposte but this poses an enormous problem for them - this is an urban centre where hundreds of thousands of people live."

The claim that some of the fighters are Rwandan soldiers has not been verified.

Goma was threatened by rebels in 2008 when fighters from the now-defunct National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) stopped just outside the city.

A peace deal was reached the following year, but it collapsed in April when up to 700 soldiers - most former CNDP members - defected from the army.

Analysts say the uprising is fuelled by Congo's vast mineral riches, many of which are located in North Kivu province where Goma is located.

The rebel fighters are thought to be moving from Goma southwards towards nearby Bukavu, another provincial capital.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to contact the M23 leaders and halt their advance.

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On-The-Run James Allen Guilty Of Two Murders

A robber who killed twice while on the run has been found guilty of two counts of murder and jailed for 37 years.

James Allen, 36, savagely attacked 81-year-old Colin Dunford in his Middlesbrough terrace home, then three days later stabbed to death Julie Davison, 50 at her flat in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

The double killing sparked a huge manhunt which ended in Leeds when an off-duty police officer spotted him.

Allen, who had a history of violent crime, attacked Mr Dunford while hiding at a friend's house after being accused of a serious crime in April. Mr Dunford died from serious head injuries.

Allen ransacked the pensioner's home and tried but failed to use Mr Dunford's bank card at a nearby cash machine. 

Allen's victims were Julie Davison and pensioner Colin Dunford

The next night, friends of Mr Dunford became worried after he failed to turn up at his local club for a drink and they found him dead in his home in Leven Street.

By then, Allen had disposed of his bloody clothes and cycled 30 miles to Whitby and then on to Scarborough, North Yorkshire, where he sold a stolen gold ring.

A day later he was back in Whitby and was seen hanging around the communal hallway of the Edwardian terrace home, which was divided into flats, where Ms Davison lived.

Police believe he talked his way into her home, then launched a merciless attack on her before wrecking her home while looking for things to steal.

Allen was caught on CCTV in Scarborough selling stolen ring

Ms Davison, the mother of a 28-year-old son in Preston, had epilepsy and when her body was found by her brother-in-law, she had suffered serious head and neck injuries.

Investigators linked the two killings and a major manhunt was launched. Allen had walked out of Ms Davison's flat wearing some of her clothes, then bought a new outfit at a sports shop and caught a bus to Leeds.

It was there that he is thought to have sold her laptop to a market trader, lying low by talking his way into staying with other people on the margins of society.

The manhunt drew national publicity and ended at 7.20am on April 29, when an off-duty officer on Crown Point Road in south Leeds, who was travelling to work, saw a man fitting the Allen's description. 

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Hamas: Israel And Gaza Agree On Ceasefire

A Hamas official has said Israel and Gaza militants have reportedly agreed to a Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.

The official said the truce will be announced in Cairo tonight and will come into effect from 10pm UK time.

Speaking ahead of talks in Jerusalem, Israel's prime minister said his country would be a "willing partner" in a long-term solution to the conflict, as the UN secretary general urged strong caution against a ground offensive.

Israeli homeowners inspect damage after a rocket attack in Beersheba

Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that his country will not tolerate rocket attacks on its cities and people but said he wanted to work towards a diplomatic resolution.

At least 118 people have been killed in Gaza and four Israelis are also dead as the conflict continues.

Ban Ki-Moon said his "paramount concern" is for all civilians, both in Israel and Gaza.

Gaza residents flee their homes on November 20

"Further escalation would be dangerous and tragic for the entire region," he added.

Six Palestinian men accused of being spies for Israel have been executed at an intersection in Gaza, just hours after the UN boss called for a halt to the conflict during talks in Cairo with the Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby.

Witnesses said the six men were dragged out of a van and forced to lie down in the street before they were shot by masked gunmen.

A bus in southern Israel damaged by a rocket attack from Gaza

Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, reporting from Gaza, said: "We understand six men were taken into a square ... and were executed in front of crowds."

It has been reported that five of the bodies lay in a pile as a mob stomped and spit on them. A sixth body was tied to a motorcycle and dragged through the streets as people screamed, "Spy! Spy!"

The Hamas military wing has claimed responsibility for the executions.

Earlier Israel's air force dropped leaflets across areas of Gaza City urging people to evacuate their homes "immediately".

"For your own safety, you are required to immediately evacuate your homes and move toward Gaza City centre," the one-page Arabic-language leaflet said.

Israeli troops near the Gaza border prepare weapons ahead of any invasion

Sky's Sam Kiley said the leaflet drop could be part of a propaganda exercise to show Hamas that Israel is seriously considering an imminent ground invasion.

Elsewhere Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi has said that talks with both sides of the conflict will have "positive results" in the coming hours.

Meanwhile a man identified as the most elusive top Hamas commander. and a founder of its military wing, has urged the group's fighters to keep up attacks on Israel.

Mohammed Deif, seriously wounded in an Israeli airstrike in 2003, reportedly said on Hamas-run radio that fighters "must invest all resources to uproot this aggressor from our land".

Palestinian militants fired a rocket toward Jerusalem on Tuesday, causing an explosion moments after air raid sirens sounded across the city.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told the Commons: "We have made clear that Hamas must bear primary responsibility for the start of the current crisis but also that all side have responsibilities."

"We quickly called on Israel to seek every opportunity to deescalate their military response and to observe international humanitarian law and avoid civilian casualties."

The US has confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will fly from Asia to meet key officials in Jerusalem, Ramallah and then Cairo, as it emerged that Barack Obama has not asked Israel to hold off a ground invasion.

Egyptian officials have held talks with an Israeli envoy and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, but Hamas has insisted on the lifting of a six-year blockade of the Gaza Strip by the opposing side.

Militants said they fired 16 missiles at the southern Israeli city of Beersheba after Israel's military targeted roughly 100 sites in Gaza overnight, including ammunition stores and the Gaza headquarters of the Hamas-backed National Islamic Bank.

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