Local Elections: UKIP Makes Significant Gains

Nigel Farage says his party is a "serious player" for 2015 after UKIP made significant gains in the local elections, leaving the other main party leaders admitting there was work to do.

The Prime Minister conceded the Conservatives had to start delivering on immigration and welfare reform, and said the public had become "frustrated" with the status quo.

With just a handful of results still to be called, Mr Farage successfully forecast that his party would win double the 80 seats predicted.

Mr Farage told the leaders of the main parties he would "see them in Westminster" as the results showed UKIP now had the potential to cause an "earthquake" at next year's General Election.

He said: "The UKIP fox is in the Westminster henhouse."

Asked whether the party would widen its pitch to voters beyond the EU and immigration, Mr Farage insisted it already had "clear principles" on cutting taxes and bringing back grammar schools.

David Cameron said the Conservatives had got to work harder

He added: "Don't think the immigration issue is going to go away. The plight of the eurozone is such that immigration is likely to be an even bigger question at the time of the general election."

With two results still to come, UKIP had gained 167 seats - giving them 184 seats in all but with no councils under their control; and Labour had gained 284 seats - giving them 4,111 seats and control of 81 councils - an increase of five.

The Conservatives have lost 225 seats, with 2,702 overall and controlling 41 councils - down 13; the Liberal Democrats are down 275 seats at 893 in total, seeing the number of councils under their control falling from eight to six.

UKIP took seats off both Labour and the Conservatives in their heartlands, which was particularly damaging to Ed Miliband, who has been accused by his own party of running an "unforgivably unprofessional" campaign.

Ed Miliband celebrated in Redbridge but said discontent had built up

Labour lost its grip in the north and, in a serious blow, lost control of Thurrock, a key marginal for the General Election in 2015.

Mr Miliband rejected that he was an electoral liability and told Sky News: "I think we ran a good campaign."

"I think in some parts of the country we have had discontent building up for decades about the way the country has been run and about the way our economy works … so what you are seeing in some parts of the country is people turning to UKIP as an expression of that discontent."

UKIP made its greatest gains in Essex, where Margaret Thatcher once identified the "Essex Man", a man who moved out of London, once voted Labour but switched to the Tories.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg admitted the Lib Dems had a bad night

David Cameron said: "We have got to work harder and we have got to really deliver on issues that are frustrating people and frustrating me, like welfare reform and immigration and making sure people really benefit from this recovery."

Education Secretary Michael Gove told Sky News there were lessons to be learned from UKIP's success.

According to the latest Sky News projection, the results so far would give a hung parliament at the 2015 General Election, with Labour holding the largest number of MPs.

Sky's election analyst Professor Michael Thrasher said UKIP's success suggested the party would claim at least one seat in the House of Commons next year - most likely in Castle Point, Essex.

Sky's European elections coverage starts at 9pm on Sunday

As predicted, the Liberal Democrats suffered significant losses, losing control in Kingston-Upon-Thames and in Portsmouth.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg admitted the party had had a bad night but said: "Actually I think in the areas where we have MPs where we have good organisation on the ground ... we are actually doing well."

Mr Farage celebrated by going on a tour of the areas where he had been most successful.

Siobhan Robbins, who was with him in Thurrock, said: "It was like he was a pop star. People were gathered around him and there was a scrum. I saw two grown men cry. One of them was saying: 'Thank you Nigel Farage. Thank you for showing us the light'."

:: Follow all the results as they come in on Twitter with @skyelections.

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Yacht: Life Raft Discovered Unused

The life raft on the missing yacht Cheeki Rafiki has been found unused in its storage space, the US Coast Guard has said.

The search for the missing British sailors ended at 3am UK time after a search of the capsized boat found the only realistic means of survival had not been not deployed.

Navy divers found a completely flooded cabin with shattered windows, said the Coast Guard.

From left: Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren, James Male and Paul Goslin

"A US Navy warship smallboat crew and surface swimmer captured underwater imagery clearly identifying the raft in its storage space [behind the wheel]. The image was shared with and acknowledged by the families," said a statement.

"The crew and swimmer deployed to investigate the overturned boat after a helicopter crew located it 1,000 miles offshore Massachusetts and within the US Coast Guard's search area.

The lfe raft was found stored in the aft portion of the upturned boat

"The Navy surface swimmer determined the boat's cabin was flooded and windows were shattered, contributing to the complete flooding inside."

It had already been announced that the search would be called off in the early hours of Saturday if no signs of possible survival were discovered.

"None of the current developments" indicate the crew are still alive, said the US Coast Guard.

A statement on behalf of Steve Warren's family said it was an "incredibly difficult" time and that the search effort had been "exceptional".

The search effort involved military aircraft and ships

The upturned 40ft yacht had been found on Friday, with divers first knocking on the hull to check for signs of life.

The families had said they were still hopeful their loved ones would be found despite the search being only hours from ending.

Relatives of Steve Warren, 52, Andrew Bridge, 22, James Male, 23, and Paul Goslin, 56, said they had been told "endless stories" of people surviving for months at sea.

The men's familes had campaigned for the search to go on

The vessel ran into difficulties on May 15 and began taking on water while returning to the UK from a regatta in Antigua.

Yacht training and charter company Stormforce Coaching said it had been in contact with the skipper at the time, and that the crew were keeping the situation stable.

The original search was halted after 53 hours amid bad weather but resumed on Tuesday after a request from the UK government and a online petition which collected more than 200,000 names.

The Cheeki Rafiki had been at a regatta in Antigua

The hunt included commercial vessels as well as aircraft from the US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Air Force, the Canadian military and the RAF.

Rescuers scoured more than 21,000 square miles of ocean during their second search for the boat.

Experts had agreed it would be impossible for the crew to survive outside of the life raft in cold, rough seas.

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David Moyes Investigated Over 'Wine Bar Assault'

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is being investigated over claims he assaulted a man in a wine bar.

The alleged altercation between Moyes, 51, and a 23-year-old man is said to have happened in Clitheroe, Lancashire, at around 10pm on Wednesday.

Moyes was having a drink with a friend in the Emporium wine bar when a "minor scuffle" allegedly took place, said Sky's Nick Martin.

Police said no one had been arrested and there are differing accounts of what happened.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place at the Emporium wine bar

They said officers were called to the venue after reports a local man had been assaulted by a 51-year-old man.

The alleged victim did not require hospital treatment, Lancashire Police said.

A spokesman for the Emporium said: "There was an incident outside the building.

"However, it did not affect any of our customers or staff and has been dealt with by the police."

The town centre bar describes itself as "half coffee shop, wine bar and brasserie; half interior design superstore", offering a "unique, intoxicating lifestyle experience".

Moyes was sacked from Old Trafford last month after a disastrous season.

He has been linked to the vacant manager's chair at Celtic and an immediate return to Champions League football.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Yachtsmen Search To Last One More Day

The US Coast Guard has said the search for four British sailors missing in the Atlantic will last for one more day.

Speaking in Boston, Massachusetts, the man leading the hunt said that if nothing was found the search would be called off at midnight on Friday - 5am on Saturday UK time.

Captain Anthony Popiel said he had phoned the men's families: "I informed them that the search would continue throughout the night and into tomorrow.

"If by midnight tomorrow (5am UK time) there are no further developments to indicate search efforts would locate the crew alive we will suspend the search."

Family members of the missing men outside the Foreign Office on Thursday

He added: "It is only after deepest consideration that we suspend active search efforts."

Debris was found in the search area on Thursday, but Captain Popiel said none of the objects located so far match the missing yacht.

"We've informed the British consulate of our plans and appreciate the support we've received with this decision," he told a news conference.

Captain Popiel says he has informed the men's families

"With sincere compassion for the families of these four men, our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time."

Steve Warren, 52, Andrew Bridge, 22, James Male, 23, and Paul Goslin, 56, were on board the 40ft yacht when it ran into difficulties a week ago while returning to the UK from a regatta in Antigua.

An initial search for the stricken vessel was called off on Sunday amid bad weather in the Atlantic Ocean, but began again on Tuesday after pressure from the men's families.

More than 200,000 people also signed a petition demanding the operation be resumed and the families of the four sailors have written to President Obama to thank him for his support.

The search, around 1,000 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, includes commercial vessels as well as aircraft from the US Coast Guard, the US Air Force, the Canadian military and the RAF.

"The Coast Guard cutter Vigorous will arrive on scene tonight," added Captain Popiel.

"A US Navy warship has already arrived in the search area and commenced search operations with a helicopter."

More than 17,500 square miles of ocean have been covered since the search resumed three days ago.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Millions Vote In Local And European Elections

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Voting gets under way today in the European elections, the only time outside of a general election when all 46 million voters can take part in a ballot on the political parties.

At the same time voters in England and Northern Ireland will elect candidates in local elections, giving 23 million people the chance to cast a second vote.

The Electoral Commission has warned voters not to take selfies in the booths.

It is not against the law to photograph yourself at a polling station.

But anyone who inadvertently reveals how someone else votes could face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison, if for example they shared a photograph on social media which captured someone completing a ballot paper.

The commission has also raised concerns about election fraud in 16 areas including Slough, Birmingham and Bradford.

In one of the "high risk" areas, Tower Hamlets, there will be police stationed round-the-clock at all 125 of their polling stations to combat concerns about voter intimidation.

There are elections in 161 councils in England and 11 in Northern Ireland.

Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm, with the first council results expected to come in during the early hours of Friday.

The European election results will not be known until Sunday, with initial results expected from 9pm.

Twenty-eight member states vote in the election over the course of four days, with groups of countries voting on different days.

A total of 751 members of the European Parliament will be elected, the number rising from 736 in 2009 to reflect Europe's growing population and the addition of a new member state - Croatia - which joined in 2013.

The European election results will become known on Sunday

The make-up of the new Parliament is likely to have a strong influence on the future direction of the European Union and its move either towards growing unity or separation.

As well as deciding on local councillors and MEPs these ballots will be seen as an important gauge of the electoral mood in the country ahead of the 2015 General Election.

The contest in Scotland is also likely to be viewed as a dry run for September's independence referendum.

Professor Michael Thrasher, from The Elections Centre at Plymouth University, said the contrast between the local and European polls "could not be greater".

He said: "Because of the system of proportional representation and the fact that the UK only selects 73 MEPs the scope for widespread change is limited.

"Not so in the local council version where more than 4,200 seats are at stake.

"Hundreds of these will change hands and the outcome will prove a more reliable guide to the 2015 general election than the Euro equivalents."

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Robber Still On The Run After Fleeing Open Prison

A convicted robber who fled from an open prison on Tuesday remains on the run.

Police have warned members of the public not to approach John Arnold, 30, who is described as white, about 5ft 11in and slim.

He has brown hair and brown eyes and may be wearing green prison-issue trousers.

Anthony Peloe is back in custody

Anthony Peloe, 43, who was convicted of possession of firearms with intent to commit harm in December 2005, escaped with Arnold from Thorn Cross open prison in Warrington.

He has since been arrested by Cheshire police.

These are the latest in a series of embarrassing incidents in recent days where prisoners have absconded from custody.

Police have confirmed that Damien Burns and Dean Jackson, who went missing from Hatfield Prison in South Yorkshire on Monday evening, have now been arrested. Burns was found in Scarborough, while Jackson was found in Durham.

Their escape came a day after a murderer who stabbed a blind man to death was arrested after going on the run from prison.

Arnold Pickering and Thomas Moffett

Arnold Pickering, who was jailed for life in 1991 for killing a man he wrongly thought to be a paedophile, was tracked down to an address in Oldham.

The 44-year-old had failed to return to HMP Kennet in Merseyside after leaving the Category C jail on day release on Saturday.

Another inmate, Thomas Moffett, 51, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for a number of robberies, also failed to return from day release on Saturday but was arrested on Monday night.

These escapes come just weeks after notorious armed robber Michael Wheatley - known as the Skullcracker - absconded from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, while on temporary release.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

British Father Guilty Of Syria Terror Plan

A father of two from Portsmouth has been convicted of preparing to commit acts of terrorism in Syria.

Mashudur Choudhury, 31, left for the country with the intention of visiting a military training camp and joining the uprising against the Syrian government.

The jury at Kingston Crown Court were told that Skype conversations he had with fellow Briton Ifthekar Jaman - who is believed to have died while fighting with rebel groups in Syria - suggested Choudhury was preparing for martyrdom.

One message he wrote proposed the four other men he would be travelling with should be called the "Britani brigade Bangladeshi bad boys".

Police warn anyone visiting Syria for military training will be arrested

The court was also shown text messages exchanged between Choudhury and his wife before he left.

"Go die in battlefield. Go die, I really mean it just go. I'll be relieved. At last. At last," his wife wrote.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan told the court: "The evidence clearly shows that this defendant planned for and then travelled to Syria with the intention of attending a training camp.

"The training was to include the use of firearms and the purpose of fighting was to pursue a political, religious or ideological cause.

"At times in his discussions with others the defendant described his intention to become a martyr."

Choudhury left for Syria in October 2013 but it is not known what he did in the country before he was arrested when he returned to Gatwick Airport two weeks later.

A member of the 'Mother Aisha' battalion undergoes training in Aleppo

Brendan O'Dowd, head of the South East Counter Terrorism Unit, warned that anyone travelling to Syria with the intention of joining the uprising faced arrest upon their return.

He said: "Choudhury had considered and planned his trip for some weeks, even months beforehand. He hid behind a history of lies in an effort to misdirect and frustrate our investigation.

"If anyone has a genuine desire to help then they are encouraged to offer aid and support by donating through charities supporting the relief operation.

"Syria is a very dangerous place - best described as a cocktail of high risk and threat. Anyone thinking of travelling to fight Jihad against the Assad regime, think again.

"You are likely to be killed or kidnapped and if you return to the UK you are highly likely to be arrested."

There are believed to be hundreds of Europeans who have joined the uprising in Syria but Choudhury is the first person in the UK to be found guilty of terrorist offences relating to the conflict. 

He will be sentenced on June 13.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Food Worth £1bn Wasted Every Year Across UK

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Food worth £1bn is wasted in the UK every year before it even reaches our fridges, according to figures obtained by Sky News.

Damage, flawed appearance and the cost of recycling are just some of the justifications used for throwing food away.

Food growers, producers and retailers together bin an average of 400,000 tons annually, or more than 950 million meals.

For the first time, Britain's biggest food retailer, Tesco, is expected to publish the amount of food wasted each year within its own UK operations.

The figures will show that more than 50,000 tons - about 1% of all products - gets thrown out.

Matt Simister, Commercial Director, Group Food at Tesco, said: "It really does impact a family's budget.

"What we're saying is that we acknowledge that we have a role to play in helping mums to save more money in the household.

Tesco says it is trying to reduce waste at private distribution centres

"We can reduce the wastage in our own operations, but I think more importantly, we can start to influence the wastage that happens across the whole system."

Families throw away around six meals a week.

Over a year, that can cost up to £700, according to the latest figures from the UK's Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) published in November.

So when you add in what is wasted by consumers too, the total value of is closer to £13.5bn.

At private distribution centres, Tesco says it is trying to reduce the tonnage of edible waste.

Food that is perfectly usable, but unsuitable for store shelves, gets packed up and sent out to charities that feed the hungry.

Even if the economic recovery does ease the pinch on family budgets this year, the cost of some basic foods will continue to rise, according to market experts.

Halving the amount of discarded food is a goal for Wrap

Joe Rundle, a trader at ETX Capital, said: "Corn, coffee meat … everything is going to go up considerably.

"In the short term there are seasonal factors and environmental issues that have caused the spike."

Brazil, a large coffee producer, has experienced drought, and tension between Ukraine and Russia, has prompted a rise in the price of wheat.

"In the long term we are going to see an emerging middle class in the emerging markets that are really going to consume a lot more food and therefore push the price up."

Mr Rundle added: "That will probably mean that consumers are going to have to change the way they consume food and think about the way they waste it."

Wrap wants to halve the amount of discarded food by 2025.

Achieving that target should also mean the cost to consumers comes down too.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Biker Simon Andrews Dies After Race Crash

A "superb" biker has died after crashing during a top competition in Northern Ireland.

Simon Andrews was injured on Saturday as he approached a corner on the fourth lap of the Superstock race at North West 200.

The 31-year-old, from Evesham, Worcestershire, was treated at the scene and then airlifted to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was placed in intensive care.

He died on Monday with his parents, Stuart and Dee, his girlfriend Lisa and best friend Breakers, by his bedside.

Andrews was riding for the Penz13.com BMW team and no other bikers were involved in the crash.

His father Stuart Andrews said his son "loved road racing" and "loved competing" at the event which runs between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine.

He added: "He has had a motorbike since he was four years old and started racing when he was 16.

"From that first race Simon progressed to riding for the factory Honda TT Legends team and his mum and I are very proud of his racing achievements.

"Road racing was in his blood and Simon preferred the roads to short circuits. He was fully aware of the dangers involved but he loved the challenge that that offered."

North West 200 event director Mervyn Whyte said "This is a very sad day and I want to offer my condolences to Simon's family and friends and to his race team.

"Simon was a superb rider and a great character in the paddock. He was a huge asset to our race. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him. He will be sadly missed."

The Superstock race is for "stock" road-going production motorcycles which feature only minor modifications, including the removal of all stock road equipment such as lights and mirrors.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough: Jurors Will Examine Stadium

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

A fresh stage in the Hillsborough Inquests begins today in which jurors will examine the layout of the Sheffield stadium.

After hearing what are described as "uncontroversial facts" and seeing a computer-generated 3D graphic of the ground, members of the jury will visit the location themselves on Friday.

The new phase in the proceedings follows a three-week adjournment which was granted after lawyers asked for more time to consider pathology evidence.

It begins with a presentation by a senior detective working for Operation Resolve - a separate police investigation into the causes of the 1989 disaster in which 96 people lost their lives.

Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin will cover a number of topics including previous inquiries in an address expected to last two days.

The tragedy occurred during a 1989 FA Cup semi-final

The inquests, which are being held in a converted office block in Warrington, are expected to last for up to a year and have so far heard from relatives of those who died. 

Their evidence, described as 'pen portraits', covered 11 days. 

After the last one was read out, lawyer Michael Mansfield QC, who is acting for many of the bereaved families, told the coroner: "They wish to express both to you and your counsel and to everyone in this court their appreciation… for the care, for the patience, for the understanding that has been extended to each of them.

"This has enabled them to unlock painful memories, as you described them last week, upsetting but also uplifting. It has provided… a permanent testament to the dignity of the human spirit."   

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Four British Yachtsmen Feared Dead In Atlantic

Four Britons are thought to have died after the yacht they were sailing from the Caribbean to the UK capsized in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

The crew was returning from Antigua Sailing Week in a 40ft performance racer cruiser when it ran into difficulties 620 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts on Thursday.

Contact with Andrew Bridge, 21, James Male, 23, Steve Warren, 52, and Paul Goslin, 56, was lost in the early hours of Friday while they were diverting to the Azores.

US and Canadian aircraft as well as merchant vessels carried out a search on Friday and Saturday, but now the operation has been called off.

Missing: James Male (L) and Paul Goslin

The Britons had been sailing the boat, called the Cheeki Rafiki, back from Antigua for yacht training and charter company Stormforce Coaching when they went missing.

Director Doug Innes said the vessel had first started taking on water on Thursday.

But he said the company had been in contact with the skipper at that time, and the crew were keeping the situation stable.

He said it was possible the crew took to a life raft after contact was lost.

Mr Innes added: "Although the search efforts co-ordinated ... were exceptional we are devastated that the search has now been called off so soon."

He went on: "Our thoughts are with the four yachtsmen and their families and we hope and pray for them all."

Andrew Bridge (L) and Steve Warren have also disappeared

Mr Bridge's aunt, Georgina Bridge, said that her nephew was the captain on the yacht and was travelling back from taking part with the three other yachtsmen in the Antigua Week regatta.

She told Sky News: "Obviously the family are really concerned that the search has been suspended and we are really hoping that it will be resumed.

"We are holding out great hope that Andrew and the guys on board Cheeki Rafiki will be found.

The yacht reportedly capsized on the way back from the Caribbean

"We are hopeful that they were able to launch a life raft and that they are still on board that, so we would just really like the search to be resumed."

A US Coastguard spokesman two US and one Canadian aircraft had been helped by three commercial vessels until the search  ended at 5am local time.

He said: "We searched with multiple assets over 4,000 square miles for pings from the vessel's personal locator beacons.

"After receiving no more transmissions we believe that we would have found them by now if we were going to find them.

"These beacons are small devices and the ones being used have a very short battery life."

Mr Bridge, who is from Farnham in Surrey, was being paid by Stormforce for his role on the yacht, a spokeswoman for the firm said.

But Mr Goslin, from West Camel, Somerset, Mr Warren, from Bridgwater, Somerset, and Mr Male, from Southampton, were also described as "very experienced offshore yachtsmen".

Antigua Week is regarded as one of the world's top regattas.

Stormforce, which was acting as the managing agent for the Cheeki Rafiki, is based in Southampton.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pfizer's £69bn Takeover Bid For AstraZeneca

Pfizer-AstraZeneca Takeover Explained

Updated: 10:38pm UK, Sunday 18 May 2014

Pfizer has expressed an interest in taking over AstraZeneca but what does that mean for Britain and British jobs, and what can the Government do about it?

:: So is there a bid or isn't there?

It's more of a proposal than a bid, really. Pfizer has made it clear it wants to buy British-based AstraZeneca and that it will pay £63bn for it but there's no official bid.

AstraZeneca has made it plain it's not interested, at least not for that amount, and the management haven't even held talks.

:: If it doesn't want to be bought isn't that the end of the story?

No. Pfizer can raise its bid or launch a hostile takeover offer in which it appeals directly to AstraZeneca's shareholders to sell up – which they may do thinking it is a better deal. Kerching.

:: Why does Pfizer want AstraZeneca so much?

It's made it pretty clear that buying AstraZeneca would allow it to be domiciled in the UK so it can pay tax to the British Government.

Corporation tax in the UK is 20% from next year but in the US companies pay 38% of profits in similar taxes.

:: What will it mean for the 6,700 British AstraZeneca staff?

Uncertainty and potentially job losses - Pfizer's boss has admitted this.

There are real fears Pfizer will asset strip AstraZeneca leading to significant redundancies and substantial damage to British scientific research capabilities.

:: But I read Pfizer had guaranteed jobs

No, it has guaranteed it will base 20% of its worldwide research and development staff in Britain – not quite the same thing.

It won't say how many people or where in the UK they will be based, although it has said it will keep AstraZeneca's new Cambridge research facility.

:: Are the guarantees worth the paper they are written on?

In a way yes, in a way no. Under the Takeover Panel rules the guarantee is legally binding for one year although Pfizer insists it will honour its pledges for five years.

However, crucially, there is a clause that says these obligations could be changed "should circumstances significantly change" ie plenty of wriggle room.

In addition it takes 10 years for a drug to get from the lab to the doctor's surgery so a five-year guarantee means little to Britain's scientific researchers.

:: Can't the Government do something?

Ultimately no. The Enterprise Act only allows it to step in under the public interest test ie if it affects national security or financial stability – which it doesn't.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has suggested the law could be changed to include scientific research and development as public interest.

In any event the final say goes to the European Commission and it will make the decision based on competition.

:: And what about competition?

Don't forget while Pfizer is bigger than AstraZeneca, neither are small concerns. A merger will create a huge firm. It will represent the biggest ever takeover of a British firm by a foreign company.

There are very real concerns such big "big pharma" will completely ruin small science research outfits.

Remember AstraZeneca and Pfizer have sites all over this world, this is not just about the UK and US politicians have also raised concerns over jobs.

:: So what are the positives of a takeover?

Well Pfizer will be paying tax to the Government and investing in Britain - all good.

And it says that the combined power of both companies will bring improved treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

In addition, it is investment in science, which is key to the Government's economic strategy.

:: What next?

MPs on House of Commons committees have been hearing from the firms and from unions worried about job cuts but ultimately that is just talk.

Under Takeover Panel rules having indicated its interest on April 26, Pfizer has until May 26 to make an official bid.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Carney: UK Housing Market Has 'Deep Problems'

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

The British housing market has "deep, deep" problems, according to the Governor of the Bank of England.

In an interview with Sky's Murnaghan show to be broadcast in full later this morning, Mark Carney warns that rising house prices represents the biggest current risk to the economy.

And the number of large mortgages being approved to house buyers is on the rise, he adds.

Mr Carney says that the UK is in need of new house building.

He says that compared to his home country of Canada, for example, the UK built half the number of new homes every year despite having twice the population. 

Canada builds around 200,000 new homes a year compared to just 133,000 similar properties that were built in the UK last year.

Mr Carney said: "The issue around the housing market in the UK … is there are not sufficient (numbers of) houses (being) built."

Mark Carney has issued a warning over the UK housing market

Asked if more houses need to be built, Mr Carney replied: "That would help us out.

"We're not going to build a single house at the Bank of England. We can't influence that.

"What we can influence … is whether the banks are strong enough. Do they have enough capital against risk in the housing market?"

Mr Carney said they could also check lending procedures "so people can get mortgages if they can afford them but they won't if they can't".

"By reinforcing both of those we can reduce the risk that comes from a housing market that has deep, deep structural problems," he added.

Mr Carney said there was evidence that large mortgages, where lenders approve loans of more than four times people's salaries, are on the rise again.

"We don't want to build up another big debt overhang that is going to hurt individuals and is very much going to slow the economy in the medium term," he said.

"We'd be concerned if there was a rapid increase in high loan-to-value mortgages across the banks. We've seen that creeping up and it's something we're watching closely."

Last week, Mr Carney surprised many by playing down the chances of an imminent rise in interest rates despite fears of a growing house price bubble.

But he admitted the issue was the biggest current threat to the economy.

"The biggest risk to financial stability, and therefore to the durability of the expansion, centres on the housing market and that's why we're focused on that," he said.

Prices are currently rising at more than 10% a year across the country.

Analysis by Sky News has shown the number of £1m properties has doubled since 2008.

Earlier this month, the OECD think tank called on the Bank of England to impose measures to help quell rising house prices.

Both the coalition and Labour are committed to building hundreds of thousands of new homes.

However, construction still lags behind Government targets.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said: "In 2010 we inherited a broken housing market, but our efforts to fix it are working.

"We've scrapped the failed top-down planning system, built over 170,000 affordable homes, and released more surplus brownfield sites for new housing.

"We've also helped homebuyers get on the housing ladder, because if people can buy homes, builders will build them."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pig Hearts For Humans 'A Step Closer'

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Doctors have made a breakthrough in research that could lead to animal organs being transplanted into humans within the next 20 years, according to a leading British scientist.

Experiments in America have proved a pig's heart can be kept alive inside another animal for more than a year using a combination of genetic modification and new drugs.

In controversial research at the US national medical research agency NIH, a team led by Dr Muhammad Mohiuddin transplanted the hearts of genetically engineered pigs into the abdomens of baboons and kept one beating for 600 days.

Anne Higgs says she would accept a pig's heart

Dr Mohiuddin said his research will "instill a new ray of hope for thousands of patients waiting for human donor organs".

Professor Chris Mason, from the department of biochemical engineering at University College London, called the development a big breakthrough.

"It is very early, it is not in man and it's not even in the position of a heart, but it's a huge step forward," he said.

With around 1,000 patients dying in the UK while waiting for an organ transplant, Professor Mason welcomes the prospect of farming pigs to produce organs on demand.

"We are talking 10, 15 or more years away," he explained.

"This is early proof of the concept that shows that a pig heart can be transplanted into a non-human primate and not be rejected."

Heart attack victim Anne Higgs has been waiting for a heart transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for four years and says she would have no qualms about accepting a pig's heart.

"It's another grasp at life," she said.

"Yes I would take it, I would run all the way to the Freeman with that little heart."

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