Kate Middleton Topless Pictures: 'Two Charged'

Two people have been charged over topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge, it is being reported.

Sources told the AFP news agency the accused are the head of the Mondadori Group - the publisher of glossy magazine Closer where some of the shots were printed - and a photographer at regional daily La Provence.

The photos of Prince William's wife Catherine caused a furore when they were published last September, and sparked a criminal probe into how they were obtained.

The couple spoke of their anger about the pictures' publication

Judges in the Paris suburb of Nanterre charged the photographer with "invasion of privacy" for taking images of the former Kate Middleton in a swimsuit while she was on holiday in the south of France with her husband.

Those shots were published in La Provence, but the most intimate pictures showing the Duchess of Cambridge topless and having sun cream applied by William were published in Closer.

Judges are still investigating who took those photos.

Ernesto Mauri, the chief executive of Mondadori, was also charged with "invasion of privacy" for allowing the topless shots to be published.

French authorities promptly banned Closer from any further publication or resale of the topless images after they first emerged.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Bus Stabbing: Boy, 16, Dies

A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed on a bus in London.

Police were called just after 3pm on Tuesday after the boy was stabbed on the route 393 bus.

The bus was stopped at Highbury New Park, and the youngster was treated at the scene by the ambulance service.

He was taken by air ambulance to an east London hospital, where he died late on Wednesday.

His next of kin has been informed.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.

A 15-year-old boy is currently being held at a north London police station on suspicion of attempted murder.

More follows...

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Weather: Britain Set For Year's Hottest Day

Spring sunshine could see parts of the UK enjoy the country's hottest weather of the year so far - before plummeting temperatures and a sudden cold snap take hold.

Large swathes of east Wales and southern and eastern England have been basking in clear skies and bright sunshine, with 20.5C (68.9F) recorded at Frittenden in Kent on Tuesday.

And while temperatures will plunge by Friday, Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day yet of 2013.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "Southeast England looks to keep the warmth over the next few days, but there will be more in the way of cloud around than on Tuesday.

"Temperatures could reach 21C (69.8F) or 22C (71.6F) in the best of the sunny spells there, which would equal the highest temperature we've seen so far in 2013, in Manston and Gravesend on April 14."

But she added that the mercury could drop below double figures in many parts of the country later in the week.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the warmth will last into the weekend," she said.

"Rain will spread across south-east England on Thursday night, allowing the cooler air further north to set in.

"Friday and Saturday look to be fairly cold nationwide, with temperatures reaching a high of just 10C (50F) or 11C (51F) in the South East.

"Scotland and Northern Ireland will see temperatures around 8C (46.4F). It will feel even colder in the northerly wind and we'll also see the return of overnight frosts too.

"Spring is a changeable season so it's not unusual to see spells of warmth along with cold snaps."

Meanwhile, hay fever sufferers have received some good news as experts predicted a shorter hay fever season this summer.

Cold weather over recent months is thought to have delayed the release of silver birch and grass pollen.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rail Fares: Call For Action On Anomalies

Rail passengers in England and Wales could miss out on a cheaper approach to ticket pricing being adopted in Scotland, Campaign For Better Transport (CBT) has claimed.

CBT said Scottish Government plans to freeze off-peak fares in 2014 and 2015 and remove some anomalies which would make some trips a third less expensive than in England and Wales.

The anomalies involve split ticketing - the buying of two or more tickets for a journey, rather than one.

CBT cited the example of an off-peak, walk-on single from Nottingham to Liverpool which costs £48.

However, purchasing singles from Nottingham to Manchester Oxford Road and then from Manchester Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street costs a total of  £33 - a saving of 31%.

A walk-on single from  London to Coventry costs £44.40.

Singles from Euston station in London to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and then Milton Keynes to Coventry total £31.70, a saving of 29%.

In both these examples, there is no need to change train.

CBT has written to Transport Minister Simon Burns demanding that the review of rail fares due this summer follows the Scottish lead in freezing ticket prices and removing anomalies where passengers can end up paying vastly differing sums for the same journey.

CBT chief executive Stephen Joseph said: "The rail fares review must follow the example set by the Scottish Government.

The changes could make train travel cheaper, campaigners say

"North of the border they are making rail travel affordable and simpler. That commitment should be matched in England and Wales, ending fares hikes and simplifying the frustrating and complicated way ticket prices are calculated."

"Straightening out anomalies will be more intricate in England and Wales than in Scotland, but this is no excuse for inaction.

"We expect the Government's fares review to set out a route to simpler and more affordable train travel."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We are working closely with the rail industry to address similar split ticketing anomalies south of the border, but it is vital to remember that due to the size of the network in England the issue is considerably more complex.

"Furthermore, Scottish taxpayers subsidise their railways to a significantly higher level, which if replicated in England would cost families hundreds of pounds more a year regardless of whether they used the trains or not.

"Our fares and ticketing review, due to be published early summer, will outline how we intend to make the system fairer for passengers overall."

Bob Crow, leader of the RMT transport union, said: "The whole issue of anomalies in rail fares is part of the legacy of privatisation of the railways.

"The variance in fares benefits no-one other than the profiteers from the train companies who are free to exploit the travelling public by sowing confusion and chaos.

"The only answer is public ownership under one integrated fares structure."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

£100m 'Wasted' On Training Young Soldiers

Almost £100m is wasted every year by the Ministry of Defence in training 16 and 17-year-old army recruits, campaign groups have claimed.

The report, by Child Soldiers International and ForcesWatch, found it costs the MoD twice as much to train a 16-year-old as an 18-year-old.

The organisations added that the UK was becoming "increasingly isolated" internationally in continuing to recruit people below the age of 18 into the armed forces.

The report found it cost an estimated minimum of £88,985 to recruit and train each new soldier aged 16 to 17-and-a-half, compared with £42,818 for each adult recruit, including salary costs.

Initial training for minors lasted either 23 or 50 weeks, depending on the recruit's trade, but enlisting adults could complete the phase one course in 14 weeks.

The drop-out rate for minors was 36.6% compared with 28.3% for adults but under-18s who complete training are likely to serve for 10 years rather than the 7.6-year average for over-18s.

As a result, the report finds the taxpayer would have saved between £81.5m and £94m each year had only adults enlisted, based on recruiting for a nominal 10-year career and accounting for differing trainee drop-out rates and average career lengths.

Tory MP and former army officer Patrick Mercer said the report needed to be examined carefully.

He said: "I commanded 150 Junior Leaders in the 1980s, the majority of whom went on to be first class infantry soldiers.

"However, social conditions, financial conditions and recruiting have all changed over the last couple of decades and if it now seems that junior entry soldiers are less than cost effective, the whole issue needs to be looked at."

David Gee of ForcesWatch said: "Recruiting minors into the army is a practice from a bygone era. It's not just young recruits who pay the price for outdated MoD policies - taxpayers do too.

"And so does the army, when it finds itself undermanned on the frontline because so many minors have dropped out of training."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cyber Attacks On UK Businesses 'Soaring'

The number of cyber attacks hitting businesses has soared in the past year, Government-commissioned research has revealed.

The survey showed 87% of small firms - up 10% - experienced a security breach last year and 93% of large organisations had also been targeted.

The Information Security Breaches Survey, commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), found some of the attacks caused more than £1m of damage.

Affected companies experienced around 50% more attacks on average than a year ago.

The median number of breaches suffered by large organisations has risen from 71 to 113, while the figure for small firms is up from 11 to 17.

The Government has increased support for small firms to help them protect against electronic attacks.

The Technology Strategy Board has extended a scheme to allow small and medium enterprises to bid for up to £5,000 from a £500,000 pot to improve their cyber security by bringing in outside expertise.

BIS is also publishing guidance to help small firms make cyber security part of their normal risk management procedures.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said that keeping electronic information secure is crucial to a business's bottom line.

"Companies are more at risk than ever of having their cyber security compromised, in particular small businesses, and no sector is immune from attack," he said.

"But there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent the majority of incidents.

"The package of support we are announcing today will help small businesses protect valuable assets like financial information, websites, equipment, software and intellectual property, driving growth and keeping UK businesses ahead in the global race."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Luis Suarez Bite: Liverpool Striker 'Sorry'

Liverpool's Luis Suarez has apologised for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League clash.

The striker said sorry on his personal Twitter account around three hours after the final whistle blew on the game at Anfield.

The 26-year-old wrote: "I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!"

In a statement issued through his club, he added: "I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally.

"I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down."

The FA says it will review match footage - seen by millions of television viewers - that shows Suarez biting the Chelsea defender on the arm.

Cameras captured the striker appearing to sink his teeth into his opponent's upper arm during the second half.

Ivanovic remonstrated with referee Kevin Friend following the incident and the match official briefly spoke to Suarez before allowing the game to continue.

The match ended 2-2, with Liverpool's controversial star - who is a contender for this year's player of the season awards - scoring an equaliser in the dying seconds.

In a later Twitter message, Suarez said he had spoken to Ivanovic and his apology had been accepted.

Suarez apologised on his Twitter account a few hours after the incident

He wrote: "I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting."

A Chelsea spokesman said: "Luis Suarez called Branislav Ivanovic this evening. Branislav appreciated the call and his apology."

Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre, who cancelled a trip to Australia to deal with the fallout from the incident, said: "Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today. 

"His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

"We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA."

The club's manager Brendan Rodgers added: "Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this."

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness said the Uruguayan striker had "crossed a line".

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told Suarez the bite was 'unacceptable'

He said: "I'm not sure what to make of it. Embarrassing. He's making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool, that puts him in the last chance saloon.

"Most important is safeguarding the good name of the football club. Liverpool are world renowned. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, and it will show Liverpool in a very bad light.

"This is not the first time he has bitten someone in the football match. He is risking everything this great club stands for. I've never seen something like that in a football match before.

"There are lines you just can't cross, and he has crossed it today."

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor was coy over whether he would support a punishment, but he expressed his dismay at the incident.

He told Sky Sports News: "It was not good to see to say the least. It was unacceptable.

"I know it's a really difficult one for Liverpool and the FA are going to have to deal with it."

Suarez said he spoke directly to Branislav Ivanovic after the incident

But Marseille's Joey Barton took to Twitter to urge Liverpool to back their player.

He wrote: "Suarez is a good as a player as there is in world football at the minute. Yes, he's messed up and shouldn't have bitten another player but a player like him has to play right on the edge.

"Without it he wouldn't be the talent he is. LFC would be mad not to back him IMO. If they don't I'm sure the queue of Champions League clubs would stretch round the block."

Meanwhile, Suarez has found a new brother in arms in former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who famously bit the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield.

According to Tyson's profile page on Twitter, he made Suarez his 432nd and most recent follow.

Suarez's new Twitter follower: Tyson, who took chunk out of his challenger

Tyson took a chunk out of Holyfield's right ear in the third round of a bout in Las Vegas in June 1997, after which Holyfield, nicknamed the 'Real Deal', became known as the 'Meal Deal'.

Tyson was disqualified from the fight and fined $3m (£1.9m).

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stephen Lawrence Murder 'Sparked Change'

The Prime Minister says the racist killing of Stephen Lawrence "sparked monumental change" in British society - but that "more still needs to be done".

David Cameron made the comments ahead of a memorial service today to mark the 20th anniversary of the teenager's death.

Stephen, 18, was killed by a gang of racists who stabbed him as he waited for a bus in Eltham, southeast London on April 22, 1993.

The police investigation into his death was marred by incompetence and allegations of racism, and it took 19 years to bring any of his murderers to justice.

Mr Cameron described the "senseless killing" of Stephen as "a tragedy". 

A 2012 memorial at the site where Stephen was killed

"It was also a moment that sparked monumental change in our society - change that has been brought about by the tireless efforts of Stephen's family in challenging the police, government and society to examine themselves and ask difficult questions," he said.

"I believe that many of those questions have been answered: from improved community relations to more accountability in policing.

"Much has been achieved, but we know that more still needs to be done.

"We owe this to the memory of Stephen."

David Norris (L) and Gary Dobson (R)

Stephen's mother Doreen will be joined by friends and relatives at the memorial service which is taking place at St Martin-in-the-Fields church near Trafalgar Square.

A number of high-profile supporters of the charitable trust that she set up in her son's name are also expected to attend, and public figures including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

He and his predecessors have attended previous memorial events for Lawrence, despite the troubled background of the case.

To mark the anniversary, a poster has been put up in New Scotland Yard featuring a personal message from Sir Bernard about the investigation.

Doreen Lawrence carrying the Olympic Torch last summer

The poster says: "Twenty years ago the Lawrence family lost their loved son, Stephen.

"We let them down by not catching his murderers. Then last year we finally brought two of his killers to justice. The Met won't forget Stephen Lawrence."

Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor.

Neville and Doreen Lawrence were forced to battle for nearly two decades for justice for their son, and they finally saw Gary Dobson and David Norris jailed for his murder in January last year.

The aspiring architect was set upon by a gang of five or six men, but the remainder of the killers have never been punished.

Neville Lawrence has chosen to remember his son privately

The detective leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, said the inquiry is still live and that his team will follow any leads that come up.

"It's a live investigation. All avenues of the investigation will be left open and we will revisit them whenever we feel we have to. You never close your mind to anything," said Detective Chief Inspector Driscoll.

"We will endeavour to follow all the leads that we can."

Mrs Lawrence said she does not dare to get her hopes up about the future of the case, while her former husband said he has not given up hope of further charges being brought.

"It took us nearly 20 years to get this result and we did not know whether we would get it," Mr Lawrence said.

"I do not know if I am going to live another 20 years but I have not given up on the detectives finding a way to get the others."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon: Show Of Solidarity For Boston

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

A 30-second silence will be held before the start of today's London Marathon as a mark of respect to victims of the Boston bombings.

Organisers say most of the 36,000 runners are also expected to wear black ribbons "to show solidarity" with the people of Boston.

Virgin London Marathon has pledged to donate £2 for every finisher to The One Fund Boston set up to raise money for victims of the explosions.

Richard Inchley who has been registering runners for the marathon says events in Massachusetts have not deterred competitors from taking part in the 26.2 mile challenge.

"People are more determined ever to take part, and I can't think of a single person who wasn't eager to wear the ribbon. One German runner was in tears as he showed me video footage of him crossing the line in Boston as the bomb went off behind him. But I think running in London will be a kind of therapy for him."

Every participant is being given a black ribbon to wear during the race

British runner Jack Cummings who ran in the Boston Marathon said he will also run again today.

"My wife and daughter were across the street from the second blast. It was very unnerving as people at the finish line didn't know what was happening."

He added: "I was very apprehensive about running today. I felt so empty after what happened in Boston, but I didn't want to disappoint the charity, and today I'm running for all those in Boston that got hurt or died."

Despite the death and capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, security has been stepped up to reassure the runners and spectators.

The Met is in close contact with the FBI and Boston Police and there is nothing to suggest any link with the bomb attacks.

The police prescence during the London race is being stepped up by 40%

Malcolm Baker, a former Police Counter-Terrorism Officer, told Sky News: "The main objective of the police is to provide reassurance and public safety for both the runners and spectators and secondly it will be to deter any copycat attacks."

Despite the 40% increase in police presence, the marathon will maintain its carnival atmosphere.

Hundreds of runners will turn out in fancy dress for the winding route from Black Heath to Buckingham Palace past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.

Half a million people usually turn up to watch the spectacle.

One volunteer race official, Lesley Inchley, said: "I think there will be even more people than usual coming to watch. Spectators will want to lend their support to the runners and send a really clear message that we won't be frightened by bombers."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nurses 'Drowning In Sea Of Paperwork'

Nurses are "drowning in a sea of paperwork" and spend much of their working hours doing admin, a survey reveals.

The poll by the Royal College of Nursing found its members, who work for a combined 14.3 million hours a week, are being prevented from caring for patients.

Over four in five nurses (81%) said that having to complete non-essential paperwork prevented them from providing care.

Almost nine in 10 of the 6,000 nurses surveyed said the amount of non-essential paperwork such as filing, photocopying and ordering supplies had increased in the last two years.

In February, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he had commissioned the NHS Confederation to work with bodies to see how paperwork could be reduced.

"These figures prove what a shocking amount of a nurse's time is being wasted on unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy," said Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN.

"Yes, some paperwork is essential and nurses will continue to do this, but patients want their nurses by their bedside, not ticking boxes.

"We are encouraged that the Government has acknowledged this issue, and the ongoing review by the NHS Confederation is a step in the right direction, but urgent action is needed now."

Labour's shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: "David Cameron is cutting the NHS front line and wasting billions on a chaotic reorganisation, leaving hospitals to operate without enough staff. Now form-filling is taking nurses away from their patients for longer and longer.

"Under this Government, close to 5,000 nursing posts have been axed, with over 800 going in the last month alone.

"On understaffed wards, a nurse's time becomes increasingly precious - they must be free to care for patients. Ministers must stop the job losses and ensure all hospitals have enough staff to provide safe care."

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said the coalition Government has significantly cut the amount of red tape in the NHS and is examining how to reduce bureaucracy further.

He added: "NHS staff need to be free to do what we were trained to do - look after patients, so patients not paperwork must be our NHS's priority."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More